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Global Travel Industry Reels as Middle East Conflict Triggers Deep Market Shock

Stranded passengers wait near Emirates Airways customer service office at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. Travel stocks have plunged sharply as the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran triggers the most severe disruption to global aviation since the pandemic. Major Middle Eastern hubs—including Dubai, the world’s busiest international airport—have remained closed for days, stranding tens of thousands of passengers and forcing airlines to reroute or cancel flights on a massive scale.  Oil prices have surged by about 7% amid rising geopolitical tensions, adding further pressure to airlines already grappling with operational chaos. Higher fuel costs are expected to squeeze margins across the sector, with analysts warning that the ripple effects could last for weeks.  European travel giants have been hit especially hard. Shares in TUI dropped 8.5% in early trading, while Lufthansa and other major carriers saw declines of up t...

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How to Live Longer and Healthier: Advice from a Top Insurance CEO


Living longer is not the same as living better. That’s the message of Roy Gori, the president and CEO of Manulife, Canada’s largest insurance company. He spoke at the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, about the challenges and opportunities of increasing life spans.

According to Gori, the average American life span has increased by almost 13 years since 1950, from 65 to 77.5 years. But that doesn’t mean people are enjoying those extra years. Only 85% of the average American’s life span is spent in good health, which means the average American can expect to spend nearly 12 years in poor health.

Gori identified four main barriers to extending the health span, or the number of years a person spends in good health, in tandem with the life span. These are:

  • Poor diet: Gori said that 60% of the average American’s diet consists of ultra-processed foods, which are linked to illness and obesity. He also said that children are especially vulnerable to the effects of unhealthy eating habits.
  • Loneliness: Gori said that loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking, as it increases the risk of early death and various diseases. He cited a recent AARP survey that found that a third of Americans ages 45 and older say they’re living in social isolation.
  • Lack of exercise: Gori said that physical activity is essential for maintaining health and preventing chronic conditions. He said that only 23% of Americans meet the recommended guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.
  • Inadequate health care: Gori said that the American health system is not designed to support longer and healthier lives. He said that the system is focused on treating diseases rather than preventing them, and that it is costly and inefficient.

Gori said that these barriers can be overcome by individual and collective actions, such as adopting healthier lifestyles, building social connections, engaging in lifelong learning, and reforming the health system. He said that Manulife is committed to helping its customers and employees achieve their health and wellness goals, by offering incentives, tools, and programs.

Gori concluded by saying that living longer and healthier is not only possible, but desirable, as it can improve the quality of life and create new opportunities for personal and social development. He said that the World Economic Summit is a great platform to share ideas and best practices on how to navigate longer life spans.

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