Opportunity International's Tim Strong explains how a WhatsApp-based AI tool gives smallholder farmers locally relevant advice on what and when to plant. The technology is designed to help farmers make better decisions and reduce the cost of uncertainty as weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable.
Absa AgriBusiness agricultural economist Zama Sangweni says El Niño could reduce summer crop yields and put upward pressure on food prices. She explains how more severe weather could also reshape regional trade and why countries including Zambia may be especially exposed through agriculture, employment and hydropower.
Bloomberg News Chief North Asia Correspondent Stephen Engle and ABC News State Department reporter Shannon Kingston tell Bloomberg This Weekend that President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping's summit highlighted efforts to establish dialogue on AI while building trust between the two countries. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Engle and Kingston examine the significance of Xi's state visit, China's push to be treated as an equal to the US and the diplomatic signals surrounding the meetings.
What does it actually take to bring a Rust Belt city back to life? Micron is building one of the largest semiconductor factories in US history in Syracuse, a city that experienced major job loss after companies including GE, Carrier and General Motors left the area. Rob Simpson of CenterState CEO explains what attracted Micron to the city, local business owner Darin Price talks about what the investment means on the ground, and Brookings economist Joseph Parilla makes the case that Syracuse could be a model for reindustrialization across America.
On Bloomberg This Weekend, writer and photographer Alexandra Marvar explains how apps such as Merlin are making birding easier and more accessible, helping draw new people to a hobby that offers an escape into nature. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Marvar also explores whether technology can remove some of the challenge, learning and satisfaction that traditionally come with identifying birds.
Mexico's foreign minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez tells Bloomberg This Weekend that the country maintains a strong relationship with the US while insisting cooperation on security must respect Mexico's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, he says Mexico remains cautiously optimistic about ongoing trade negotiations as it seeks relief from US tariffs on automobiles and steel.
Author Sharon Weinberger tells Bloomberg This Weekend that Silicon Valley's relationship with the defense industry has transformed as technology companies and investors increasingly embrace national security work. Speaking with host Christina Ruffini, Weinberger says the growing power of AI and defense technology companies is testing the government's ability to provide effective regulation and oversight.
New York Times Kyiv bureau chief Andrew Kramer tells Bloomberg This Weekend that Russia and Ukraine are increasingly targeting each other's economies as the war shifts toward attacks on energy, transportation and export infrastructure. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Kramer says Ukraine is using its expanding drone arsenal to target Russia's oil industry and its ability to finance a prolonged war.
Ritholtz Wealth Management founder Barry Ritholtz tells Bloomberg This Weekend that rising bond yields reflect both a normalization of interest rates and inflationary pressures from factors including tariffs and higher energy prices. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Ritholtz says higher yields have made fixed income more attractive while investors should consider whether strong equity gains have pushed their portfolios away from their intended allocations.
Bloomberg News meteorologist Craig Allen tells Bloomberg This Weekend that the nor'easter will bring waves of heavy rain and strong winds to the Northeast, along with risks from falling trees, localized flooding and dangerous coastal conditions. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Allen says coastal flooding could affect Long Island, the Jersey Shore, Connecticut and Massachusetts as rough ocean conditions persist through multiple high-tide cycles.
China ran a $1.2 trillion trade surplus last year, many of its companies don't need to make a profit, and its exports are growing at two to three times the rate of the global economy. Michael Froman, former US Trade Representative under President Obama and now president of the Council on Foreign Relations, tells us why Xi Jinping sees a consumer-led economy as a political threat, and what happens when China finally runs out of countries willing to buy.
Bloomberg Mideast geoeconomics lead Dina Esfandiary tells Bloomberg This Weekend that a protracted Iran war, marked by cycles of escalation and pauses in fighting, is a key scenario as deep divisions over the Strait of Hormuz complicate diplomacy. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Esfandiary says Gulf Arab states are pressing to avoid further escalation as they seek to limit the economic and security damage from the conflict.
