insert_link Business / Economics Emerging markets experience 9% drop in Foreign Direct Investment Global foreign direct investment flows could rise modestly in 2024 after a marginal increase last year due to higher investment in some European economies, the United Nations trade body said on Wednesday. Emerging Markets have seen a decline in Foreign Direct Investment in 2023 by 9 percent to $841 billion. Meanwhile, developing Asian countries bore the brunt with a 12% decrease, and China reported an unusual 6% drop in FDI […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 8
insert_link Lifestyle Austrians are the happiest nation in Europe Despite the pandemic and war, most Europeans reported they were quite satisfied with their lives in a 2022 survey. Austria came out top, while Germany and Bulgaria brought up the rear. Deutsche Welle reports that Austrians have been ranked as the most satisfied people in the European Union, according to Eurostat. On a scale of 1 to 10, Austrians rated their overall life satisfaction at 7.9, putting them ahead of […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 21
insert_link Health / Medical Gaza health system on the brink of collapse The World Health Organisation says the health system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse. According to a WHO health emergency officer, the organisation needs more aid and medical supplies to assist with the unfolding "catastrophe". Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York. todayJanuary 18, 2024 40
insert_link World Outside spending on 2024 elections tops $318 million Former President Donald Trump at a watch party during the 2024 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 15, 2024. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) By Anna Massoglia and Jimmy Cloutier via OpenSecrets Outside spending on 2024 federal races is outpacing all previous election cycles, according to an OpenSecrets analysis of campaign finance reports. Super PACs and other outside groups that can raise and spend unlimited […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 18
insert_link World Ukraine will work with ‘any reality’ after US elections Ukraine will work with whoever wins the US presidential election later this year, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told AFP on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. With former US president Donald Trump the frontrunner to win the Republican nomination, there are fears Washington's policy on Ukraine would change if he wins. With Congress already divided on giving more arms to Ukraine, some worry Trump will […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 10
insert_link Business / Economics Oil demand growth to halve in 2024: IEA World oil supply will continue to rise this year, the International Energy Agency said Thursday, as it predicted that demand growth would continue a downward slide throughout 2024. The Paris-based IEA, which advises oil-consuming nations, said it expects increase in global oil demand to halve from 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd) last year to 1.2 million bpd in 2024. It cited economic headwinds, tighter efficiency standards and growth in […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 21
insert_link World Japan-US summit expected in April Japan and the United States are planning a leaders summit for April according to Kyodo News. Citing government sources, the reports say Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida is expected to visit Washington as a state guest. todayJanuary 18, 2024 28
insert_link Opinion Pieces At Davos Forum, Secretary-General Warns of Global Norms Collapsing, Highlights Need to Rebuild Trust, Reform Governance UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland: Thank you very much for your warm welcome. It’s good to be back — to be back and to see Davos highlighting the global crisis in trust. I believe this crisis is the direct result of a paradox facing our world. In the face of the serious, even existential threats posed by runaway climate chaos, and the […] todayJanuary 18, 2024 11
insert_link World Report says Beijing delayed key info about covid virus for two weeks in early days of pandemic An American newspaper says Chinese scientists knew vital information about the Covid 19 virus just before the start of 2020 … two weeks before revealing it to the world. The Wall Street Journal says it's seen documents compiled by US congressional researchers that make the claim. Here's Andrew Wood in Hong Kong. todayJanuary 18, 2024 8
