US Seeks to Counter China's Critical Mineral Dominance
The United States launched an initiative to establish a trade zone for critical minerals, aiming to challenge China's dominance in the industry, according to the BBC. The State Department hosted the first Critical Minerals Ministerial event on Wednesday, with representatives from countries and organizations including the UK, the European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in attendance.
Delegates at the ministerial discussed the availability of and access to minerals crucial for manufacturing products ranging from smartphones to weapons, the BBC reported. The US seeks to ensure a stable supply chain of these minerals, which are essential for various industries.
Novo Nordisk Faces "Painful" Price Cuts
Shares in Novo Nordisk, the Danish company that produces Ozempic and Wegovy, experienced an 18% plunge after the company warned of impending profit and sales declines due to significant price cuts, according to the BBC. Chief Executive Maziar Mike Doustdar described the pricing pressures as "unprecedented" and "painful" on Wednesday.
The BBC reported that Novo Nordisk anticipated profits and sales to fall by as much as 13%. The company attributed the situation to a deal made with former US President Donald Trump to lower the cost of weight-loss drugs for Americans. Novo Nordisk has recently announced thousands of job cuts amid warnings of increasing competition.
Ugandan Opposition Leader Remains in Hiding
Bobi Wine, Uganda's most prominent opposition figure, remained in hiding nearly three weeks after a disputed election, The Guardian reported. His whereabouts have been unknown since he fled what he described as a night raid on his home by police and military.
The Guardian noted that Wine's disappearance coincided with an escalating social media feud with the country's military chief. Following the election, Wine alleged mass fraud and called on supporters to protest.
Human Rights Watch Report Highlights Global Democratic Recession
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report stating that the world is in a "democratic recession," with almost three-quarters of the global population living under autocratic rulers, levels not seen since the 1980s, according to The Guardian. The report cited abuses led by figures like former US President Donald Trump, as well as actions in Russia and China, as threats to the global rules-based order.
The Guardian noted that Trump launched his Board of Peace in Davos last month, with supporters including several far-right leaders, such as Argentina's Javier Milei and Hungary's Viktor Orbán.
Prediction Markets and Catastrophic Events
The Guardian reported on the rise of prediction markets, where individuals can bet on various events, including catastrophic world events. One example cited was the prediction of Donald Trump's actions in Venezuela.
According to The Guardian, in the hours before an attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, someone placed a series of bets that Donald Trump would oust Nicolás Maduro on a prediction market platform, netting them nearly $500,000 when it happened.
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