NEOM delays could force the 2029 Asian Winter Games from Saudi Arabia to Korea or China.
Saudi Arabia’s plans to stage the 2029 Asian Winter Games at Trojena, a ski resort being built within the Neom mega-project, have come under scrutiny as construction delays raise doubts about readiness. The Olympic Council of Asia has opened talks with officials in China and South Korea about potentially stepping in as hosts if the site is not completed on time. Trojena, a $19 billion development intended as a showcase for Saudi ambitions, has encountered engineering and budget challenges. Saudi officials insist the project remains on schedule, but contingency discussions highlight risks surrounding Neom’s $1.5 trillion blueprint.
A coalition of nearly 100 countries was unable to agree on a Global Plastics Treaty.
Talks in Geneva aimed at creating a Global Plastics Treaty collapsed after nearly 100 nations failed to bridge sharp divides over production limits and chemical regulation. Oil-producing states, led by Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran, resisted binding caps, while many other countries pressed for mandatory reductions and stronger oversight. The stalemate leaves the world without a framework to address soaring plastic waste, despite growing evidence of its health and environmental toll.
Days after announcing its first-ever fashion partner, the NFL names Breitling as its watch partner.
The NFL’s Breitling partnership marks the league’s first global collaboration with a luxury watch brand and includes two special team-edition collections: the Chronomat Automatic GMT and the Endurance Pro, designed for all 32 franchises. The watches will roll out worldwide during the 2025 season, with activations tied to major NFL events like the Super Bowl and the International Games. The partnership, which comes just days after Abercrombie & Fitch was named the league’s first fashion partner, is indicative of the NFL’s push into lifestyle branding while giving Breitling a powerful stage to reach fans worldwide.
Researchers in China have developed a new type of concrete that can “supercool” buildings.
A team of researchers in China has created a new cement that reflects heat instead of absorbing it, keeping buildings cooler and cutting the need for air conditioning. The material uses alumina- and sulfur-rich compounds to form reflective crystals, which bounce sunlight away more effectively than standard concrete. Tests at Purdue University showed it could stay more than five degrees cooler than the surrounding air and as much as 26 degrees cooler than conventional cement under strong sun. Production of the mixture also reduces carbon emissions by a quarter compared to Portland cement, offering a potential shift toward lower-impact construction.
The U.S. Army is turning to influencer marketing to entice recruits and meet its targets.
The U.S. Army has begun working with social media influencers to reach Gen Z, a generation it has struggled to recruit through traditional methods. Fitness creator Steven Kelly and slackliner Breannah Yeh are among those paid to showcase Army training and branded experiences, while dozens more were invited to the Army’s anniversary parade for behind-the-scenes content. The initiative, designed to make military life appear relatable and aspirational, reflects a shift in strategy after the Army missed its goals in 2022 and 2023. Early results suggest the approach may be paying off, as the Army announced it had already met this year’s target months ahead of schedule.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Cindy Sherman’s New Yorker cover is a historic first for the weekly.
How does the market respond when a living artist goes museum-level mainstream?
Audemars Piguet, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu are all over the U.S. Open.
Tadao Ando has broken ground on Uzbekistan’s National Museum.
