EDITION 1058
24 FEBRUARY 2025

On this day in 2022, some eight years after illegally annexing Crimea, Russia invaded Ukraine; Russian President Vladimir Putin cited several reasons for the war, including the false claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other government officials were neo-Nazis.

So, as another week passes into the annals of history, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. Please feel free to share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can also subscribe, learn and engage. I would be very grateful if you did.

Just before you dive in, remember our POTENTIAL workbook [see below] is on offer for only £99. This unique workbook will help guide your organisation to its highest potential. Contact us today to start your transformation.

William Montgomery
Editor and CEO of TEN

1. How your body language can let you down. Your gestures, posture, and facial expressions all communicate strong messages to those around you. However, many people don't realise the impact their body language has. The next time you're in a crucial meeting, take a moment to ask yourself these two questions: READ MORE

2. UK employers plan to cut jobs. UK employers are scaling back hiring plans and increasing redundancies, a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development survey found, with upcoming increases in National Insurance contributions and the National Minimum Wage being a driving force. Nine in ten businesses expect higher employment costs, 25% are planning redundancies in the next three months and 24% are scaling back investment plans. Retail, hospitality and leisure employers expect the sharpest cuts. Separate research shows confidence among small firms reached its lowest point in 10 years at the end of 2024, not including the Covid pandemic. BBC

3. Lead to succeed. To build a thriving modern workplace, leaders must prioritise four key areas. These areas include fostering a culture of continuous learning, promoting diversity and inclusion, ensuring employee wellbeing and leveraging technology to enhance productivity. By focusing on these priorities, leaders can create an environment where employees feel valued and motivated to perform at their best. This approach not only benefits the workforce but also drives organisational success. If you need help in these areas, we can help. CONTACT US

4. Wages up 6% as unemployment static. Pay for UK workers grew 6% in the last quarter of 2024, while unemployment stayed at 4.4%, despite forecasts of a 0.1 point increase, the Office of National Statistics has found. There were 14,000 fewer people on payrolls in December than the previous month. But there were just 1,000 more job vacancies in January from December, to a total of 819,000, and experts have said the job market may be cooling. Businesses warned that planned increases to national insurance payments and a rise in minimum wage coming in April may bring about job cuts. The Guardian

5. Tackling sexism in the armed forces. Sexism and misogyny remain persistent issues in the armed forces, where women often face discrimination, harassment, and unequal treatment. Despite efforts for equality, many female service members report being undermined or overlooked due to their gender. Progress has been made, but ongoing reforms are needed to ensure a truly inclusive environment where all are treated with respect. To what extent, if at all, do you think sexism and misogyny is a problem in the armed forces today? Please share your views in our latest poll. VOTE HERE

6. Life expectancy growth falling. Life expectancy improvement is falling across Europe, research has found. Growth in life expectancy fell from 0.23 years from 1990 to 2011 to 0.15 years from 2011 to 2019. Experts say poor diet, inactivity and obesity are the causes. Deaths from heart disease also fuelled the decline between 2011 and 2019. The four nations of the UK saw the greatest decline, with England the worst, where life expectancy growth fell from 0.18 to 0.07 years over the same period. Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium maintained or boosted life expectancy growth. The Telegraph

7. Diabetes on the rise. More than 12 million people in the UK are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to Diabetes UK. Around 4.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, up from 4.4 million last year - a record high. Of these, 90% have type 2, which is linked to excess weight and typically develops in middle age. (Type 1 is an autoimmune disease that often starts in childhood.) Another 1.3 million are thought to have undiagnosed type 2, while 6.3 million have pre-diabetes, meaning elevated blood sugar levels that increase the risk of developing type 2. Globally, sugary drinks caused 2.2 million cases of type 2 diabetes in 2020, including 35,000 in the UK. The Guardian

8. Not just for the rich and famous. Once regarded as something only for celebrities and the super-wealthy, pre- and postnuptial agreements are steadily gaining more support from the British public, according to a new survey. YouGov found that 55% of adults now believe these agreements, which outline how assets should be divided, are a good idea—up from 42% just two years ago. Furthermore, 41% of people feel that such agreements can help reduce the stress of divorce proceedings, reflecting a growing acceptance of these legal arrangements as a practical and useful solution. The Independent

9. Europe’s best beaches. Elafonissi on the Greek island of Crete is the best beach in the world, according to Tripadvisor's latest annual ranking. Greece appears twice in the global top 10, with Myrtos beach on Kefalonia in 10th place, following Praia da Falésia in Portugal (5th) and Playa de Muro in Spain (8th). Other beaches in Italy, Spain, France and Iceland are in the global top 25, while Weymouth and Gorleston-on-Sea in the UK are among Europe's best 25. The lists are based on traveller reviews and ratings over the past year. The Independent

10. The bottom line. One in five girls born in 2030 will live to be 100 years old, rising to one in four by 2047, according to ONS projections. Daily Mail