Gold! Paris Olympics and Reuters NEXT APAC
From Reuters Next NEWSLETTER
It’s been more than a couple of weeks since my last missive as I popped over to Singapore to host Reuters NEXT APAC on July 9 – the first Asia iteration of our global live journalism series. Around 350 business and policy leaders joined us in Singapore, as more than 4 million people watched online, for a day of fascinating discussions on topics from geopolitics to AI. For more on that, hop to ICYMI.
In the meantime, I’m joining millions of others tuning into the first week of the Olympics in Paris – even if does mean some early starts in wintry Down Under. Head to our Olympics 2024 microsite to keep on top of all the news from Paris, from sporting achievements to security concerns. You can view the daily schedule of events and keep tabs on your country’s progress via the live medal tally.
The Olympics is, of course, big business. It is expected to buoy France’s economic growth this year, although high costs and safety worries have dented tourist bookings. Paris police, meanwhile, raided the city’s flea markets in a crackdown on fake fashion ahead of the Games, while global advertisers are tapping into record ratings for women’s sports by hiring more female athletes to head up marketing campaigns.
Spare a thought for the Olympic surfers (and journalist colleagues) who missed the spectacle of the extravagant (and somewhat controversial) Opening Ceremony on the Seine over the weekend, instead enjoying the view from their floating athletes’ village in beautiful Tahiti.
ICYMI (in case you missed it)
Reuters NEXT APAC, July 9. Our first NEXT outing in Singapore broke news and prompted thoughtful discussions about some of the biggest challenges facing the region and the wider world.
- In conversation with Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni, Sri Lanka Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry discussed the latest in his country’s attempts to restructure $12.5 billion in debt within a few weeks, a major step for the island nation to emerge from its worst financial crisis in decades.
- Singapore Minister of Communications and Information Josephine Teo said in an interview with Reuters East Asia and Pacific Editor Soyoung Kim that the future looks “messy” without an internationally agreed upon framework for artificial intelligence governance.
- DBS Group CEO Piyush Gupta sat down with Reuters Breakingviews Asia Editor Una Galani to discuss the Singapore bank’s acquisitions strategy and the outlook for Asia growth amid growing geopolitical risks.
- Galloni also spoke with Alibaba Group Vice President Kaifu Zhang, who said the Chinese tech giant’s international e-commerce unit is tapping generative AI-powered tools to help cross-border merchants with translation, content creation and product returns.
- Singapore Exchange Chief Executive Officer Loh Boon Chyespoke with Reuters Global Breaking News Editor for Finance & Markets Vidya Ranganathan, saying the exchange has no immediate plans to allow cryptocurrency listings on its bourse, adding that conditions are still not ripe for such a move.
Reuters NEXT Newsmaker, July 19. Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called for broad-based wage hikes in an interview with Reuters Japan Bureau Chief Yukiko Toyoda. Watch the video and read the story.
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