March 19, 2023: Monocle’s editorial director Tyler Brûlé, Juliet Linley and Marcus Schögel on the weekend’s biggest talking points. Plus, check-ins with our friends and correspondents in Palma and Istanbul.
Tag Archives: March 2023
Front Page: The New York Times – March 19, 2023
20 Years After U.S. Invasion, Iraq Is a Freer Place, but Not a Hopeful One
Conversations with dozens of Iraqis offer a portrait of a nation that is rich in oil, hobbled by corruption and unable to guarantee its citizens’ safety.
A Sandwich Shop, a Tent City and an American Crisis
As homelessness overwhelms downtown Phoenix, a small business wonders how long it can hang on.
Sandy Hook Families Are Fighting Alex Jones and the Bankruptcy System Itself
As the families seek more than $1.4 billion awarded by courts for Mr. Jones’s lies, a New York Times review shows he is transferring millions of dollars to family and friends, potentially out of reach of creditors.
A Four-Decade Secret: One Man’s Story of Sabotaging Carter’s Re-election
A prominent Texas politician said he unwittingly took part in a 1980 tour of the Middle East with a clandestine agenda.
World Economic Forum: Top Stories- March 18, 2023
0:15 Silicon Valley Bank collapse explained – On 10 March, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) failed after a ‘run’ on the bank from customers wishing to draw cash. The bank didn’t have enough funds to pay them. So federal regulators had to step in and shut it down. Silicon Valley Bank is the biggest US bank to fail since the 2008 financial crisis and the second-biggest ever. Just a few days ago, it was a respected player in the tech space, with thousands of venture capital-backed start-ups among its customers. So how did things go wrong so quickly? Watch the video to learn more about the Silicon Valley Bank collapse.
2:14 Aviation will be net zero by 2050 – Altogether, aviation is currently responsible for 2.5% of global emissions. Without action to reduce emissions, demand could see this soar 300% by 2050. 65% of the way to net zero will come from switching to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Its production uses a fraction of the carbon footprint generated by petroleum fuel.
3:49 AI detects lung cancer better than humans – It reads routine chest X-rays to highlight up to 29 abnormalities. Including the patient’s risk of lung cancer so a radiologist can take a look. Usually, human radiologists scour X-rays by eye. But 20% of lung cancer risks go undetected this way, causing a potential delay in diagnosis and poorer outcomes. The new tool was developed by Qure.ai and is being scaled up in partnership with AstraZeneca. The tool was trained using over 4 million X-rays. In trials, it was 17% more sensitive than a human. Early data indicates impressive accuracy for identifying risk of malignancy
5:18 Researchers restore movement for stroke victims – Doctors implant electrodes in the patient’s neck. These stimulate undamaged parts of the spinal cord and bring movement back to paralyzed arms and hands.
_____________________________________________
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London
March 18, 2023: The weekend’s biggest discussion topics. A round-up of the day’s papers, what we’ve learnt this week and a guide to Ibiza’s lesser-known, more peaceful corners.
Reviews: The Top Museum Exhibitions In March 2023
It’s the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death and The Musée National in Paris along with The Albertina Museum in Vienna are commemorating the occasion with two outstanding shows centered around the legendary artist’s work.
The new landmark Vermeer exhibition in Amsterdam showcases 28 known works by the artist, providing a rare opportunity to see a significant collection of his masterpieces in one place. Learn about these thrilling shows and more in this video.
Finance Preview: Barron’s Magazine – March 20, 2023
Barron’s Magazine – March 20, 2023:
Banks Survived Another Week—and the Biggest Ones Look Like Winners
The nation’s banking giants will be beneficiaries of the industry’s turmoil. They have cheap stocks, and hefty dividend yields.
First Republic Bank and SVB Both Courted Wealthy Clients. That Wasn’t Enough.
Investors and customers fell in love with these two Silicon Valley banks and their CEOs. Then they fled as the crisis hit.
Why Regulators Didn’t Spot the Risks at Banks—How to Stop the Next Failure
The banking sector is in turmoil. But the causes are very different from 2008.
The Fed’s New Bind
Some economists say the Federal Reserve must pause its interest-rate-rising campaign to help bolster banks, while other economists say that such a pause would indicate the Fed isn’t serious about taming inflation.
Front Page: The New York Times – March 18, 2023
Banking Crisis Hangs Over Economy, Rekindling Recession Fear
Borrowing could become tougher, a particular blow to small businesses — and a threat to the recovery’s staying power.
Arrest Warrant From Criminal Court Pierces Putin’s Aura of Impunity
A highly symbolic move by the International Criminal Court, which accused President Vladimir V. Putin of war crimes, carries moral weight.
Mortgages, Wine and Renovations: Silicon Valley Bank’s Deep Tech Ties
More than many other banks, SVB catered to how risky tech start-ups and their backers do not adhere to normal business practices.
After Police Killing of Walter Scott, a Department Tries to Rebound
The North Charleston Police Department has hired more Black officers, cut down on traffic stops and invited Mr. Scott’s brother to speak to recruits.
The New York Times Book Review – March 19, 2023
The New York Times Book Review – March 19, 2023:
In Matthew Desmond’s ‘Poverty, by America,’ the Culprit Is Us
The new book by the sociologist and author of “Evicted” examines the persistence of want in the wealthy United States, finding that keeping some citizens poor serves the interests of many.
Read Your Way Through São Paulo
Brazil’s ultra urban megacity overwhelms the landscape and the imagination. Paulo Scott recommends books that peel back its layers.
With Karl Lagerfeld, the Clothes Were Only Part of the Story
The fashion world’s hunger for larger-than-life figures glorified the designer. But a cozy new biography shows him to be more business whiz than artist.
Health: 39% Of Americans Suffer Sleep Disorders
This Friday, March 17, is World Sleep Day, an annual event that aims to raise awareness of the importance of getting a good night’s sleep. This year’s campaign tagline is “Sleep is essential for health.” According to a study by the American College of Cardiology, up to 8 percent of deaths from any cause could be attributed to “poor sleep patterns”, while those with healthier sleep habits are less likely to die prematurely.
Data from Statista Consumer Insights shows that in the United States, 39 percent of respondents said they had suffered from a sleep disorder (problems falling asleep or staying asleep, insomnia, etc.) in the 12 months prior to the survey. Italians were among the worst sleepers in the survey at 48 percent reporting a sleep disorder, while India registered a higher share of good sleepers, with only 26 percent suffering from poor sleep.
Melbourne Architecture: A Tour Of ‘Somers House’
Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Coastal Retreat 00:37 – The Importance of Accessibility and Sustainability 01:12 – A Weather Responsive Home 01:34 – A Private and Hidden Retreat 01:59 – Abstract and Composed Facade 02:24 – Easy and Hidden Accessibility 02:58 – Amanda Oliver – Long-Term Collaborator 03:38 – The Details and Materials 04:10 – Proud Moments
Responding to its beachfront location, Somers House provides residents with a sense of protection from the strong, salty winds, creating opportunities for them to comfortably watch changing weather roll in from multiple vistas. The design brief detailed a dream home in which architecture and interior design work in unison to embrace the changing seasons, welcoming in the warm weather and sealing off from the cold.
Externally, Somers House engages the imagination of onlookers whilst revealing little of the true nature of its interiority. A large, shallow arch forms a cave into which cars can be parked and the abstract architecture of the dream home enhances the sense of privacy afforded to its residents. The red ochre colour of the exterior is intended to reference the colours of the earth and both grounds the home and allows it stand out among the colours of the surrounding flora.
A house tour of the dream home instantly reveals the ways in which accessibility has been considered. Wheelchair access is ensured across all three levels and the bathrooms are especially designed in order to establish maximum levels of comfort. Sliding doors allow residents access to the fresh coastal air and draw the sound of the sea into the home. Precise detailing solidifies the status of Somers House as a dream home.
The presentation of each fireplace is refined and sophisticated, reflecting the client’s interest in craftmanship. A sustainable material palette of concrete, steel, timber, stone and brass allows for a multi-faceted tactile experience to take place across the home. Representing the complete realisation of an idea, Somers House forms a compelling response to its beachfront location. An accessible coastal retreat, the dream home is a testament to the ability of Kennedy Nolan to be led by both client and site.
Boomers Daily 