Reuters NEXT

With a record $1 trillion of dry powder, North American private equity firms flush with cash are poised to snap up assets. Yet, not all sectors will be equally attractive in the post-pandemic world.

In all regions of the world democracy is facing both traditional and emerging threats. We speak to some of those with direct experience and ask what can be done to defend democracy in the modern world?

Activist owners and institutional shareholders are pushing companies to embrace greener and healthier businesses. How easy is it for giant listed companies to change course? Executives and corporate innovators explain what it takes.

Five times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth than their white peers. Less likely to have breast cancer but more likely to be diagnosed late and die. Black women suffer worse health outcomes and fatality rates. What needs to change so that Black women are heard in healthcare settings? And what needs to happen to build Black representation at the highest levels of medical policy making?

How can countries export and import labor to accelerate development, without resorting to exploitation and feeding corruption? What changes are needed for a more equal balance in the rights of employers and immigrant workers?

Southeast Asia’s digital economy is the fastest growing in the world, beating out other expanding markets like Brazil, China, and India. We look at the tech and platforms enabling this rapid growth.

How can under-represented communities claim their equal right to be portrayed accurately, in fully fleshed out roles, instead of stereotypical bit parts that reinforce racism? Dive into ways to create, produce and distribute the breadth and depth of stories overlooked in today’s media landscape.

What support systems must be put in place at the government and private sector levels to ensure women can return to the workforce after falling out of it in record numbers during the pandemic. Look at how to resolve the disproportionate burden of caregiving and close the widening gender gap as women suffer further setbacks to achieving parity in the workplace (look at pay parity as well).

What is the next frontier in inclusivity, equality and equity in the workplace? How can employers create environments and policies that embrace and support LGBTQI+ employees’ physical, mental and social health, and career growth?

Activist owners and institutional shareholders are pushing companies to embrace greener and healthier businesses. How easy is it for giant listed companies to change course? Executives and corporate innovators explain what it takes.

Central banks around the world face a new set of risks as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic: Inflation is rising and the ocean of cheap liquidity needs draining. How will central banks respond, and what can emerging economies do to avoid taking the pain of the developed world’s decisions?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world have had to implement policies they never thought possible, from lockdowns in liberty-loving nations, furlough schemes among the fiscally conservative, and mass vaccination of sceptical citizens. Yet, for the most part, these policies have been accepted (and in some cases embraced) – why? What lessons can be taken from the way the world has adapted to life in a pandemic, and what does it mean for future policymaking?

The music world has changed radically as listeners shift from buying singles and albums to playing endless music on streaming platforms. And those platforms are inundated with 60,000 new tracks uploaded to Spotify every day. Where is the value now for musicians and songwriters? How can artists break through? What are the new business models that could reset the industry?

In an age of visual, interactive and multimedia journalism, how can information be gathered and curated to bring greater insight into complex issues, beyond good-bad, black-white? How can news coverage avoid pandering to audiences' biases, and expand boundaries by being more diverse, inclusive and representative of our full experiences?

How can under-represented communities claim their equal right to be portrayed accurately, in fully fleshed out roles, instead of stereotypical bit parts that reinforce racism? Dive into ways to create, produce and distribute the breadth and depth of stories overlooked in today’s media landscape.

The iconic cartoon show was set in 2062, but the reality of flying cars and other innovations to ease urban congestion could arrive even sooner.

Persistently low interest rates, a rise in digital banking and young customers’ penchant for non-conventional credit players are eroding banks’ profit, threatening the survival of their brick-and-mortar networks and undermining their business model. How can traditional banks re-invent themselves? Bankers and disruptors discuss their strategies.