Author: josh
Southeast Asian deaths linked to air pollution could rise by up to 10% by 2050, costing the region nearly $600 billion, even as overall pollution levels decrease, according to a new study published in the Environment International journal on Oct. 8. The study, led by Steve Yim, head of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, estimates the economic cost of pollution-linked deaths under different emissions scenarios: low, medium and high. The study estimates that the region will take a $447 billion hit from air pollution-related deaths under the low emission scenario, and $591…
Good morning from Riyadh, where we are hosting the Fortune Global Forum. We’ve had some fascinating conversations about the business implications of the convergence of technology, geopolitics, demographics and more. AI was top of mind, from Google president Ruth Porat’s predictions about curing cancer to influencer Jordi van den Bussche’s business that’s built on creating 10,000 videos of himself every day, using an AI-generated avatar. With its investments in AI infrastructure and obvious strengths on the power front, Saudi Arabia is a country that is building out data centers and positioning itself as a hub for AI, entertainment, sports, finance,…
Brazil’s leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed confidence on Monday that his country and the United States will reach a trade deal. U.S. President Donald Trump also signaled that a deal is likely. The statements came a day after the two presidents held talks on the sidelines of a regional summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, which Lula described as a “very good meeting.” Trump, who headed to Japan from Malaysia, also said he and Lula “had a great meeting” on Sunday. “We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo. “They’d like to do a deal.” Earlier,…
Barclays Plc is returning to Saudi Arabia after an 11-year absence, marking both a strategic expansion for the British lender and a symbolic validation of Riyadh’s growing status as the Middle East’s corporate command hub. The move, first reported by Bloomberg, comes as the kingdom accelerates efforts under the country’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify its oil-driven economy and attract multinational headquarters into its capital. The bank, which exited Saudi Arabia in 2014, is now securing a new investment banking license and plans to open offices in Riyadh by early 2026, CEO C.S. Venkatakrishnan said in an interview with Bloomberg TV,…
When Offerpad launched nearly a decade ago, its vision was simple: Give homeowners real estate solutions that fit their needs. The company’s cash offer became the foundation, offering sellers a fast, certain and convenient way to move forward. Understanding that many homeowners choose to work with a real estate agent, Offerpad built the Agent Partnership Program to strengthen collaboration with agents and reward shared success. Agents who bring a seller’s home to Offerpad before it’s listed can earn 3 percent after a successful close. Sellers can review cash offers early in the process, and agents can guide them in choosing…
The Chinese Communist Party’s official mouthpiece called on the world’s biggest economies to “jointly safeguard hard-won achievements” from their latest trade talks, ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Trade negotiators from China and the U.S. announced Sunday that they’d struck a slew of agreements on issues spanning tariffs, shipping fees, fentanyl and export controls over two days in Malaysia. That marked a significant cooling of tensions, after a recent volley of tariff threats and fresh export curbs threatened to derail the bilateral relationship. Striking a conciliatory tone, the People’s Daily said Monday the progress showed Beijing and Washington were capable of handling…
Ireland’s president for the next seven years is an independent lawmaker who has long spoken in support of Palestinians and has been vocal about her distrust of European Union policies. Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, 68, secured 63% of votes in a landslide election victory on Saturday, comfortably defeating her center-right rival, former Cabinet minister Heather Humphreys. The politician won after Ireland’s left-leaning opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, united to back her, and she is expected to be a voice unafraid to challenge Ireland’s center-right government. While Irish presidents hold a largely ceremonial role and do not have executive powers like shaping laws, they…
President Javier Milei’s party is on track to finish first in Argentina’s midterm vote in early counting, putting the libertarian leader on the brink of a major comeback from a September local election defeat that prompted a market selloff and a US financial lifeline. Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza, received 41% of votes with 92% of ballots counted, according to data published by Interior Minister Guillermo Francos on Sunday. The main chapter of the rival Peronist party had 24.5% of votes, a much lower level than it garnered in a runaway victory over Milei in a Buenos Aires province vote…
For a week every October, people organizing international catch-ups and meetings on both sides of the Atlantic may be briefly confused: Did I just miss that conference call? Why is my grandmother calling me so early? Most people quickly remember: It’s that strange time each fall when Europe and the United States are out of sync as they switch from daylight saving time to standard time. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. And for those that do — mostly in Europe and North America — the date of the clock change varies, partly because of how time-related laws were developed…
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed voted Sunday to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in Mascoutah, Illinois, and the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners but threatens to complicate the aerospace company’s progress in regaining its financial footing. “Boeing claimed they listened to their employees – the result of today’s vote proves they have not,” Brian Bryant,…