Iraq is in talks with Exxon Mobil Corp. for oil storage in Asia and other markets where it sells crude, as it looks for access to facilities to ensure continued supply to customers during times of crisis.
Iraq’s state oil marketing company SOMO is considering storage sites in Singapore and “wherever there is an opportunity to target major markets including Asian market and European market,” Director General Ali Nizar told reporters in Baghdad. It’s also looking at the US as an option, he said.
I’ve tried my fair share of productivity tools, from to-do apps to AI assistants, but Google’s Gemini promised something different: an AI that could step into my daily workflow and make my day run smoother.
For a week, I used Gemini as my productivity partner, handling everything from note-taking to quick work tasks, all on my phone.
Here’s what worked surprisingly well, where it fell short, and whether it’s ready to replace the tools you already rely on.
Before I could test Gemini properly, I had to define what being productive actually meant for me. That meant listing the recurring tasks, deadlines, and errands that usually clutter my brain.
To test whether it could truly help, I picked a handful of tasks I already do every day:
Usually, I juggle Google Calendar, sticky notes, and mental reminders, and somehow still forget some events. I wanted to see if Gemini could act as a single point of control for scheduling and planning.
I started small: asking Gemini to add events, set reminders, and even suggest optimal times for tasks based on my existing appointments.
Gemini smoothly handled voice prompts such as Hey Google, schedule a 45-minute writing block tomorrow morning or Hey Google, schedule a meeting with Sarah on Monday at 2 p.m.
I could also ask Gemini to check for time conflicts with other events, and I could easily get it to reschedule meetings.
I still had to confirm a few entries by opening Google Calendar, but not having to type made things easier.
To use Google Workspace apps with Gemini, open the Gemini app, tap your profile icon, tap Apps, and toggle on Google Workspace.
Gemini quickly became more than just a calendar assistant. Instead of juggling separate apps for notes, reminders, and tasks, I asked it to maintain a running list of things I needed to do.
Adding items was effortless: Add buy cat food, finish the article draft, and call insurance to my to-do list. Gemini stored everything in Google Tasks.
For me, having a single, voice-accessible to-do list was a simple way to keep track of everything.
Another way I leaned on Gemini was for note-taking and quick summaries.
During calls, meetings, or brainstorming sessions, I sometimes forget to capture key points.
With Gemini, I could dictate notes in real time: Summarize this into key takeaways.
I got a short, structured summary that was much easier to review later. I asked it to add the summary to Google Keep so I could reference it later.
By centralizing note-taking and summarization, Gemini replaced note-taking apps, text editors, and sometimes even voice recorders.
It made capturing, organizing, and recalling information faster and more consistent.
Email is one of those tasks that always seems to take up more time than it should. Half the battle is deciding what to say and how to say it, especially when the tone matters.
That’s where Gemini turned out to be helpful.
Instead of staring at a blank draft, I tapped the Gemini icon in the upper-right corner of the Gmail app.
I started typing short prompts into Gemini: Write a polite follow-up to a client who hasn’t replied in a week.
Within seconds, I’d get a draft that was 80% there. All I had to do was tweak the details to match my style.
Then, I would tap Insert, and Gemini would automatically paste the text into a new Gmail message.
However, it wasn’t perfect. Sometimes the replies came out too formal or too cheerful, but it gave me something concrete to edit rather than starting from scratch.
Gemini felt like the most natural choice for quick research.
Need to check the renewal process for insurance? Want to compare two phones?
Gemini is faster than sifting through Google Search results, especially on the mobile app, where links and ads clutter the page.
However, it will not replace in-depth research. I wouldn’t use it for making financial decisions, but it’s fine for quick questions.
The real benefit was avoiding the distraction trap of browsing through numerous search results.
Although Gemini was great for everyday productivity, a week of testing revealed its limitations.
The biggest one is consistency. Sometimes it provided concise answers, but other times it responded with vague summaries.
I also noticed task management hiccups. Adding items to my to-do list worked fine, but when I asked Gemini to update or reorder them, it sometimes misinterpreted my prompts.
Another disadvantage is the lack of offline functionality. Gemini becomes unreliable if my connection is spotty. That makes it harder to trust as an assistant compared to, say, a calendar app that works offline.
After a week of relying on Gemini for scheduling, lists, notes, and quick research, I found that it can absolutely lighten the load of everyday tasks, especially when paired with Android’s built-in apps.
That said, Gemini still has rough edges. Its occasional vagueness and reliance on internet connectivity mean it isn’t ready to fully replace a dedicated productivity system.
By Junko Fujita and Rae Wee
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s stressed government bond market and soaring stocks are set for more volatility on Monday after the resignation of fiscal hawk Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Yields on super-long Japanese government bonds (JGBs) have already been hovering near record highs due to global concerns about fiscal deficits and domestic political pressure on Ishiba. Japan’s Nikkei share gauge has recently slipped from last month’s record high.
Attention now focuses on potential successors for Ishiba and a potential return to the “Abenomics” policies of the late Shinzo Abe, Japan’s long-time leader who presided over massive fiscal stimulus and unprecedented monetary easing from the central bank.
“A knee-jerk reaction of the markets would be a bear-steepening of JGBs, weaker yen and mildly higher stock prices as they see higher risks of an Abenomics-like reflationary policy,” said Naka Matsuzawa, chief macro strategist at Nomura Securities in Tokyo.
Ishiba’s relatively conservative fiscal stance has been seen as a positive for the JGB market, where yields are still relatively low globally, but concerns about Japan’s massive debt pile and widening fiscal deficits remain concerns.
The country’s outstanding debt is nearly 250% the size of its gross domestic product, the highest in the developed world. Japan’s budget requests for the next fiscal year amounted to a record for the third straight year, the finance ministry said last week.
“Yields on super-long bonds will likely rise from Ishiba’s resignation,” said Katsutoshi Inadome, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management. “There has been an upward pressure on super-long bond yields due to uncertainties about fiscal conditions, and the pressure will increase.”
The 30-year JGB yield last week jumped to an unprecedented 3.285%, while the 20-year yield hit 2.69%, the highest since 1999. The surge in yields spells ever higher borrowing costs for the government, corporations and the public.
The JGB market was dealt a blow in mid-July when Ishiba’s coalition suffered a considerable defeat in upper house elections. Outsider parties campaigning on tax cuts and increased spending gained seats, and speculation has swirled for weeks about pressure within Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for him to resign.
That all came to a head on Sunday, with Ishiba saying that he must take responsibility for election losses and instructing the LDP to hold an emergency leadership vote.
LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has named Kashmiri and Pakistani-origin Shabana Mahmood as the new home secretary – this is for the first time in the UK’s history that anyone from a Pakistani and Muslim background has risen to the powerful position of the head of the Home Office.
The announcement came in the wake of Angela Rayner’s resignation as Deputy Prime Minister over her flat’s scandal. The Home Office oversees immigration, policing, and national security administration.
“It is the honour of my life to serve as Home Secretary. The first responsibility of the government is the safety of its citizens. Every day in this job, I will be devoted to that purpose,” Mahmood said.
Mahmood was born to Kashmiri-Pakistani parents, Zubaida and Mahmood Ahmed, in Birmingham in 1980. Her parents are originally from Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, but decades ago moved to Jhelum’s Bohriyan village near Ludhar. Shabana spent her early years in Saudi Arabia before returning to the UK. She pursued her law degree at Lincoln College, Oxford, and qualified as a barrister specialising in professional indemnity cases.
She entered politics in 2010. She was elected as an MP from Birmingham Ladywood, marking a turning point in her political career. She was one of the UK’s first female Muslim MPs. Since then, she has held several key roles, including Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Shadow Minister for Prisons.
Last year, she spoke to Geo News at length on how she has faced harassment and intimidation from members of the local Pakistani community. She is now facing the worst kind of racist and Islamophobic attacks from the far-right extremists after her appointment as the Home Secretary.
After winning the 2024 election, she was appointed as justice secretary and lord chancellor. She introduced several schemes to manage the overcrowded prisons and to address the court backlogs. Last week, she introduced major legislation in Parliament aimed at reforming the prison system in the UK.
Home Secretary Mahmood is set to take on one of the toughest briefs in government as pressure mounts over record Channel crossings, asylum hotels, and migration.
As lord chancellor and justice secretary over the past year, Mahmood has been tasked with tackling the jail overcrowding crisis and has just introduced major legislation to Parliament to overhaul the prison system earlier this week.
The courts’ backlog has also been a key focus of her brief, but the daughter of immigrants, of Kashmiri origin, has also been drawn into immigration policy that will form much of her new day job.
Mahmood backed Sir Keir Starmer after he said that Britain risked becoming an “island of strangers” in May, although she avoided using the term.
Asked whether she would repeat the Prime Minister’s language, she said: “I agree with the Prime Minister that without curbs on migration, without making sure that we have strong rules that everyone follows, and that we have a pace of immigration that allows for integration into our country, we do risk becoming a nation of people estranged from one another.
“And what he has described is something that I absolutely believe in, and which are the values of the Labour Party, which is a desire to see this country as a nation of neighbours.”
Earlier this summer, Mahmood also said the European Convention on Human Rights must be reformed to win back public confidence across the continent.
On Tuesday, she further told the Lords Constitution Committee that it is “perfectly fine” for ministers to question the UK’s interpretation of upholding the treaty, adding that European colleagues view the UK as being more on the “maximalist end of the spectrum”.
The former barrister will now be in charge of proposals to tighten the use of Article 8, the right to family and private life, of the ECHR in immigration cases, which are expected to be brought this autumn.
As justice secretary, she also proposed a change in the law for foreign criminals to be deported immediately when they receive a custodial sentence, at a time the Home Office has been working to increase the number of returns of migrants with no legal right to be in the UK.
Announcing the plan last month, she said: “If you abuse our hospitality and break our laws, we will send you packing. Deportations are up under this Government, and with this new law, they will happen earlier than ever before.”
Her appointment has been welcomed by the founder of Blue Labour, Lord Glasman, who told Politico the move was “fantastic”.
“She’s now clearly the leader of our part of the party.”
Mahmood told Geo News last year that in her 14 years of public life as a Pakistani-Kashmiri origin Muslim woman in the UK, she has encountered intimidation and harassment, emphasising that being a Muslim woman in public life is challenging.
Mahmood explained that she had not previously discussed such harassment because she did not want people, “especially our sisters, daughters, to perceive politics negatively and be deterred by the challenges of intimidation and harassment”.
In her constituency in Birmingham, which she won around 15 years ago, Mahmood, a leading figure in Starmer’s closest circle, faced a lot of misinformation, fake news, and misogynistic attacks from a group of men who were vying to oust her in this election.
In several parts of the constituency, her posters were ripped off. She had been accused of the things she has not done, and for that purpose social media sites such as TikTok and Instagram have been used to direct hate at her.
She expressed that being the sole Muslim woman in a key role in parliament is a motivating factor.
Responding to a query about the Palestine issue and the ongoing war in Gaza, she said innocent children are being killed, cruelty is rampant, and millions of people are deeply saddened and affected by it.
She stated that the Labour Party believes in a two-state solution and that is the only way to end the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Highlights of the New 911 Turbo S
Atlanta. The new Porsche 911 Turbo S has big shoes to fill. Its predecessor was already considered the benchmark for a sports car that blends performance, long-distance comfort, exclusivity and everyday usability. Now the 911 Turbo S raises the bar once again. Available as a coupe and Cabriolet, the new generation debuts with significantly improved performance, a more muscular design, refined aerodynamics, an optimized chassis and an extensive list of optional equipment for personalization.
“The 911 Turbo S is the most complete and versatile way to drive a Porsche 911. Whether in daily use, on long highway trips or on the track – we have been able to make the new 911 Turbo S even more comfortable, more customizable and at the same time significantly faster than its predecessor,” says Frank Moser, Vice President of the 911 and 718 model lines.
The newly developed, high-performance T-Hybrid powertrain achieves a system output of 701 hp (523 kW), a 61-hp increase over the previous model. This makes the new 911 Turbo S the most powerful production 911 to date. The maximum torque of the powertrain is 590 lb.-ft. and is available over an extremely wide range of 2,300 to 6,000 rpm. Peak horsepower is available across an especially broad powerband between 6,500 and 7,000 rpm.
The T-Hybrid technology, which first appeared last year in the current 911 Carrera GTS, has been developed further for the 911 Turbo S. While a single electric exhaust gas turbocharger (eTurbo) is integrated into the T-Hybrid system in the GTS, two eTurbos are used in the new 911 Turbo S. The turbines and compressors were specifically designed to meet the requirements of the top-of-the-range model. The two eTurbos not only contribute to the considerable increase in power, but they also improve responsiveness.
The particularly compact, 1.9-kWh high-voltage battery is the same as the energy storage unit in the 911 Carrera GTS. An eight-speed PDK with an integrated electric motor sends power to the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive system. The Turbo S Coupe is capable of a 0-60 mph sprint in 2.4 seconds (-0.2 seconds compared to its predecessor). It takes 8.4 seconds to reach approximately 124 mph, which is an improvement of 0.5 seconds. The top track speed of the new 911 Turbo S is 200 mph.
The new 911 Turbo S has a curb weight of 3,829 lbs., which is a 180-lb. increase from its predecessor, but a modest one considering the additional components of the performance hybrid system. The additional weight is more than compensated for in all areas relevant to driving dynamics. The best proof of this is the lap time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. As part of the final development drives conducted in fall of 2024, a lightly camouflaged 911 Turbo S achieved a time of 7:03.92 minutes under the supervision of a notary – in the region of 14 seconds quicker than its predecessor.
“You don’t feel the weight gain. On the contrary – the car is much more agile, has more grip and is significantly faster than its predecessor in all relevant sections of the track,” says Porsche Brand Ambassador Jörg Bergmeister, who was involved in the development and testing of the new 911 Turbo S and set the official lap time.
The new Porsche 911 Turbo S improves in many areas to match its more potent powertrain. This includes a new generation of tires that offer significantly improved dry handling while maintaining good wet performance. The rear tires now measure 325/30 ZR 21, making them 10 mm wider than those of the previous car. Dimensions for the front tires remain the same as before at 255/35 ZR 20. The standard Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system is fitted with new brake pads, the material mixture of which comes from motorsport and is designed with the increased power and associated braking demands in mind. The new pads are useful from both a performance standpoint and in offering improved brake pedal feel. The front brake rotors have a 420-mm diameter as before, while the rear rotors grow to a diameter of 410 mm, which is a 20-mm increase compared to the rear rotors of the previous 911 Turbo S. This means that the new model is equipped with the largest PCCB system that Porsche has ever installed in a two-door model.
An updated design optimizes cooling for both the powertrain and brakes while delivering enhanced aerodynamics. Active, vertically arranged cooling air flaps in the front of the vehicle and an active front diffuser work in conjunction with an active front spoiler and an extendable, tilting rear wing to reduce drag or lift as the scenario demands. As a result, the drag coefficient of the 911 Turbo S Coupé is reduced by up to 10 percent compared to its predecessor in the most efficient position. In addition, the active aerodynamics aim to improve wet braking behavior: In wet mode, the cooling flaps in the front close to help protect the front brake rotors from excessive water spray.
An electro-hydraulically controlled Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (ehPDCC) system is included as standard equipment. The system, also available as an option on the the 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid, uses the 400-volt electrical system and high-voltage battery to operate. It reduces body roll when changing direction and increases agility when entering and exiting corners, actuating more quickly than the hydraulic PDCC system used in the previous 911 Turbo S. The system works with cross-connected active coupling rods, in which pressure is built up by oil volume flow depending on the driving situation. This improves comfort and agility at the same time. For enhanced everyday usability, an optional front axle lift is available as an option. Because it uses the same 400-volt system as the ehPDCC system it can lift the front end faster than the system associated with prior models. Continuing in the footsteps of previous 911 Turbo models, front and rear track widths are greater for the Turbo S than the contemporary 911 Carrera models.
A new Sport Exhaust System is included as standard equipment and features a muffler and exhaust tips made of titanium, which save weight while enhancing both aesthetics and sound of the car. Changes to the 3.6-liter boxer engine, which uses asymmetrical timing, result in a sharp, throaty sound.
With the new 911 Turbo S, Porsche continues the styling strategy already in place on Turbo models from other product lines. Numerous contrasting elements are designed in Turbonite, a color reserved for Turbo variants. These include the Porsche crest and the “turbo S” lettering at the rear. In addition, Turbonite accents in the slats of the engine grille and around the windows differentiate the range-topping model. The selection of wheels for the 911 Turbo S also includes new center lock designs in Turbonite.
As is typical for a 911 Turbo model, the body is wider than on the current 911 Carrera models. The rear quarter panels also feature intakes that channel process air to the engine. On the redesigned rear fascia, striking ventilation openings additionally emphasize the width. Oval shaped titanium exhaust openings are available as an option.
The interior also features many accents in Turbonite including the door panels, steering wheel, dashboard and center console surrounds. The instrument cluster, and Sport Chrono stopwatch get the same treatment, along with deviated stitching in Turbonite. The seat belts and several buttons in the center console are also finished in this color. Carbon fiber trim inserts with integrated Neodyme accents create a sporty and especially premium looking interior along with a perforated black Race-Tex headliner.
The 911 Turbo S coupe is delivered as a two-seater as standard, but rear seats are optionally available at no additional charge. The Cabriolet is only offered in a 2+2 seat configuration. Porsche equips the new 911 Turbo S with HD Matrix Design LED headlights as standard. The Sport Chrono Package including tire temperature gauge, the specifically tuned Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) chassis, the ehPDCC system, and the titanium Sport Exhaust System are also standard equipment. In the interior, adaptive 18-way Sport Seats Plus with memory function and “Turbo S” lettering on the headrests are fitted as standard. The Turbo S-specific embossing on the seat surfaces and door panels is a reinterpretation of the design features of the original 911 Turbo.
Additional customization is possible through Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur including Turbo Exclusive Design wheels with carbon fiber blades painted in Neodyme, a lightweight roof in visible carbon fiber, Exclusive Design rear lights and air intakes in the rear side section trimmed in carbon fiber. The attention to detail is more extensive than ever before. For example, carbon fiber windshield wiper arms are available as an option for the first time, offering 50 percent weight savings over the standard component. As in the past, customers may choose from colors beyond the standard palette through the Paint to Sample program. The interior can also be enhanced with details such as decorative stitching in contrasting colors, personalized leather embossing, and personalized painted vehicle keys.
The Porsche Design watch configurator offers the possibility of designing your personal “sports car for the wrist” – tailored to your 911 Turbo S down to the last detail. The new black dial with design elements in Turbonite reflects its relationship to the car it references. In addition to Turbonite, all exterior colors (including Paint to Sample colors) are available for the color ring around the dial, while the titanium case features a black titanium carbide coating. The strap is made of original Porsche vehicle leather and stitching thread. A highlight is the hot stamping with the lettering “turbo S”. The timepiece is powered by the COSC-certified Porsche Design caliber WERK 01.200 movement, which features a flyback complication. The individually selectable winding rotor is designed to look like the wheels of the car it is matched to. Caseback engraving is also available. The 911 Turbo S chronograph is made by hand in Porsche’s own watch manufactory in Grenchen, Switzerland.
U.S. market arrival and pricing
The new 2026 Porsche 911 Turbo S is available to order and carries an MSRP of $270,300 for the coupe and $284,300 for the Cabriolet. Prices exclude a $2,350 fee for delivery, processing and handling. Arrival in U.S. Porsche Centers is expected by Spring, 2026. The Total Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) shown excludes taxes, title, registration, other optional or regionally required equipment, dealer charges, and any potential tariffs.
Further information, film and photo material in the Porsche Cars North America Newsroom: newsroom.porsche.us
Speaking today at a briefing held in Monte Carlo at the Rendez-vous event, Angela Yeo, Senior Director, Analytics at global ratings agency AM Best has highlighted how investors’ appetite for catastrophe bonds has helped the space continue to grow.
With third-party capital deployed in reinsurance anticipated to grow by almost 7% this year, with AM Best and Guy Carpenter projecting it to end the year at a new high of $114 billion, Yeo explained how a lot of this growth boils down to the substantial growth that’s been seen within the catastrophe bond market in 2025.
“In the first half of 2025 we’ve already seen record issuances reaching nearly $17 billion, which has already surpassed full year 2024 issuances. And we think that it is quite realistic to expect the year ending in about $19 to $20 billion,” Yeo explained.
“The total outstanding bond amounts is about $53 billion year to date, which is both a record in itself, but it is also now clearly the biggest sub segment under ILS.”
According to Artemis’ data, total cat bond and related ILS issuance in just the first six months of 2025 almost broke the annual record set in 2024 of $17.7 billion, while new annual records were set for 144A property cat bond and total 144A cat bond and related ILS issuance.
However, the total cat bond issuance record was broken soon after July 1st and at $18.4 billion at the time of writing, according to Artemis’ data, is on track to hit and exceed the $20 billion mark.
Yeo continued: “So, the next biggest sub segment is collateralized reinsurance, which could range between $46 and $50 billion without estimates. It is very difficult to know the exact figures as a lot of these deals are private.”
Yeo also highlighted how cat bond sponsor diversification has shifted throughout 2025, particularly regarding small-to medium-sized US domestic insurers, which has seen their market share increase from 21.2% in 2024 to 35.2% in 2025.
“So, what are the factors for cat bond growth? Well, investors just love them. The risk attachment is remote very much within the upper layers, the perils are very well defined. They are performing strongly and they’re still attractive, not correlated, typically, with other broader capital markets,” Yeo commented.
Adding: “The collateral yields themselves may be low in 2025 due to some of the actions taken by central banks. However, they’re still opposed to 2021 levels. So, we have seen good evidence that supply is still up in all disasters from investors.”
Later on, AM Best also highlighted how casualty securitization has continued to see steady growth across the ILS market.
“There’s different risks being securitized, so there’s a lot of movement in the market, and we’re watching that very carefully,” Yeo added.
She continued: “I think one of the attractions of cat bonds has been that they are relatively short term, and to securitize a more long-term risk is something that in the past people had doubts about it, but we have seen first steps towards that development. So, I think we will see more of that.”
Further adding to this, Greg Carter, Managing Director, Analytics, EMEA & Asia Pacific, explained how the industry appears to moving towards a point where casualty securitization is perhaps becoming more of a receptive instrument for investors.
“I think the non nat cat space is seeing growth, and there’s a lot of interest, but I think it’s that long tail nature. And if you look at the kind of risks that suit ILS structures, it’s those risks that can be modeled reasonably accurately. Catastrophe buffer fits that well, I think casualty fits it less well, but there’s a lot of work ongoing, and we are reaching the critical mass where it becomes a more receptive instrument for investors,” Carter explained.
Taipei, Sept. 7 (CNA) Taiwan’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.6 percent in August, staying below the 2 percent alert level for the fourth straight month, but low-income households continued to feel sharper price pressures, according to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).
The uptick, from 1.53 percent in July, was mainly driven by typhoons and heavy rain that pushed up prices for vegetables, pork and dining out, the agency said Friday when it released August CPI data.
While overall inflation pressure has eased, a breakdown by income groups showed that low-income households continued to shoulder a heavier burden, the data indicated.
Their CPI rose 1.82 percent in August from a year earlier, higher than the overall index, compared with 1.62 percent for middle-income households and 1.5 percent for high-income households.
From January to August, CPI for low-income households climbed 2.03 percent, above the 2 percent alert line, while the increases for middle- and high-income households were 1.89 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, the data showed.
The agency noted that CPI for low-income households has historically run higher than the overall index, as food — the main driver of recent price hikes — takes up a greater share of their spending.
Among the major categories in the CPI, food prices rose the most in August, up 3.18 percent, followed by miscellaneous items (2.59 percent), housing (1.8 percent), healthcare (1.75 percent), and education and recreation (1.26 percent).
Clothing dropped 0.85 percent, while transportation and communications fell 1.34 percent.
The DGBAS said short-term weather factors had temporarily driven up prices but predicted CPI growth could ease in September if conditions stabilize. Still, essential goods will likely keep low-income households under greater strain, it added.
