 |  | | Unfinished Revolution |
 AFTER more than five months of
continuous protests, I stand today
in Change Square with thousands
of young people united by a lofty
dream. I have spent days and
nights camped out in tents with fellow
protesters; I have led demonstrations in
the streets facing the threat of mortars,
missiles and gunfire; I have struggled to
build a movement for democratic change
- all while caring for my three young children.
We have reached this historic moment
because we chose to march in the streets
demanding the resignation of President
Ali Abdullah Saleh, an end to his corrupt
and failed regime and the establishment
of a modern democratic state. On June 4,
our wish for Saleh´s departure was granted,
but our demand. |
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| |  | | IT´S SPRING-LIKE
IN MOROCCO! |
| PERHAPS no Arab ruler
responded as wisely to this
year´s pro-democracy
protests as the king of
Morocco - although that is
an exceptionally low bar.
When other dictators in the Arab
world answered protesters with gunfire,
King Mohammed VI grudgingly
accepted demonstrations, at least
when he was in a good mood. His
regime claimed that antigovernment
activism underscored the country´s
openness, and on Friday the king
announced constitutional reforms
that seem likely to reduce his own
role in governing the country.
These days, as much of the Arab
Spring has faded into an Arab winter
of repression, Morocco still feels fairly
spring-like. You can tell that from
the denunciations of the regime... |
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Obama touts 49% rise in investment
WASHINGTON THE White House on Monday touted a 49 percent rise in foreign investment in the US economy in 2010, promoting foreign cash flows as a key driver of the recovery and jobs growth.
A report by President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors found that firms supported by foreign funds employed 5.7 million US workers, often on favorable terms and produced $670 billion in goods and services.
“Investments by foreigndomiciled companies and investors create well-paid jobs, contribute to economic growth, boost productivity, and support American communities,” Obama said in a written statement.
“The United States consistently receives more foreign direct investment than any other country in the world.
“By voting with their balance sheets, businesses from abroad have clearly stated that the United States is one of the best places in the world to invest,” he said, touting a productive workforce and culture of innovation.
As he launches his 2012 reelection bid, Obama is trying to convince Americans that his policies will boost sluggish economic and jobs growth, despite pain still felt by consumers and an assault from his Republican foes.
The CEA report said that in 2010, foreign direct investment rebounded sharply and rose by 49 percent from the levels plumbed during the economic crisis in 2009.
It said that that the United States also continued to receive the most foreign direct investment of any nation in the world, though did not give specific figures to back up the analysis.
The report did however cite figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), saying that the US stock of inbound investment in 2009 reached $3.1 trillion.
The CEA study also revealed that most of the foreign investment in the United States originated from firms in other advanced nations, especially from those in Canada, Europe and Japan.
Only two percent of the total came from companies in fast emerging economies Brazil, China and India.
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