Posts by Mark Darwin
Fast Company Discusses the Future of AI
The fear surrounding artificial intelligence in design feels eerily familiar. As a designer who witnessed the transition from drafting tables to digital workstations, I’ve seen this pattern before. The same arguments against AI today mirror those made against computers 40 years ago – concerns about losing soul, craft, and artistry in design work. Fast Company…
Read MoreWorld’s 500 richest people surpass US$10 trillion in wealth in 2024
THE world’s 500 richest people got vastly richer in 2024, with Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang leading the group of billionaires to a new milestone: A combined US$10 trillion net worth. An indomitable rally in US technology stocks played a key role in turbocharging the trio’s wealth, as well as the fortunes of…
Read MoreSingapore-flagged ship collides with Japan-flagged ship in Chinese waters
A SINGAPORE-FLAGGED ship collided with a Japan-flagged ship in Chinese waters on Dec 30. Singapore bulk carrier Yangze 22 collided with Japanese bulk carrier Vega Dream in the Changjiang River at about 10 pm, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Dec 31. No injuries to the crew on either ship were reported, said…
Read MoreCitigroup, BofA exit global climate-banking alliance
CITIGROUP and Bank of America said they are leaving a global climate-banking group, becoming the latest Wall Street lenders to exit the coalition in the past month. In a statement, Citigroup said while it remains committed to achieving net zero emissions, it is exiting the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). Bank of America said separately on…
Read MoreGold heads for biggest gain since 2010 in mixed year for metals
GOLD is heading for its biggest gain in 14 years, with a 27 per cent advance fuelled by US monetary easing, sustained geopolitical risks and a wave of purchases by central banks. While bullion has ticked lower since Donald Trump’s sweeping victory in November’s US presidential election, its gains over 2024 still outstrip most other…
Read MoreDollar dominates on cautious Fed, Trump trade
THE US dollar hit a two-year high and was on track to post an annual gain against almost all major currencies on Tuesday (Dec 31) as the prospect that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates higher than peers led the US currency to dominate rivals. Traders have adjusted for the US central bank to…
Read More2024: a year of market volatility
2024 UNFOLDED as a year marked by global turmoil and uncertainty: The war in Ukraine raged on, conflicts in the Middle East escalated, and Donald Trump’s unexpected return to the US presidency drove a hawkish shift at the Fed. The global economy maintained steady growth, with inflation moderating and monetary policies beginning to ease in…
Read More‘Failed’ deliveries had issues like conflict zones: SingPost’s fired CEO, CFO
A “SIGNIFICANT majority” of the shipments involved in Singapore Post’s (SingPost) parcelgate fiasco were linked to known issues like conflict zones. This was the comeback from the company’s former group chief executive Vincent Phang and group chief financial officer Vincent Yik on Tuesday (Dec 31) – whom, along with Yu Li, head of its international…
Read MoreHong Kong’s billionaire Cheng family seeks to sell China toll roads for US$2 billion
THE infrastructure arm of Hong Kong’s billionaire Cheng family is seeking to sell a bundle of roads in mainland China worth about US$2 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. CTF Services, formerly known as NWS Holdings, is in early-stage discussions with China’s state-owned Yuexiu Group, the people said, asking not to be identified…
Read MoreHong Kong’s billionaire Cheng family seeks to sell China toll roads for US$2 billion
THE infrastructure arm of Hong Kong’s billionaire Cheng family is seeking to sell a bundle of roads in mainland China worth about US$2 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. CTF Services, formerly known as NWS Holdings, is in early-stage discussions with China’s state-owned Yuexiu Group, the people said, asking not to be identified…
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