The Houthis is a rebel based group in Yemen.  A ship in the Gulf of Aden was recently attacked, although no damage was caused, this attack is suspected to be from the Yemeni rebel group. This rebel group has done similar attacks in the past, dirubting shipping in the area. The US military has targeted this rebels group with airstrikes, destroying their drones. The Houthis have been attacking and targeting ships since November in response to the conflict between Isreal and Palestine; although the ships were not directly linked Isreal or the USA.

This situation highlights the continuous conflict in the Middle East, maritime security concerns, and the use of military actions in response to threats. The connection is made between the rebel attacks on the ships and their motive to presure Isreal on the Gaza conflict. My takeaway the regional dynamics are unpredictable with many stakeholders competing for protecting their interests. Moving forward it is likely that efforts to adderss the causes of conflicts, like political instability, will be important in preventing future problems.

The importance of this artcle is lies in the coverage of the continuous conflicts going on in the Middle East and their impact on maritime security. It also informs readers about the recent attacks in the Gulf of Aden. It impacts many parties such as, shipping crews, reginal goverments, and international actors that are involved in the regions stability and security.

Link : https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc

• Mayssa Alaweni

According to the New York Times Article, Led by Its Youth, U.S. Sinks in World Happiness Report by Sopan Deb, the latest World Happiness Report for 2024 has been alarming, especially for Americans, particularly those under 30, who have seen a significant decline in happiness levels over the past decade. This year marks the first time the United States dropped out of the Top 20 in the rankings, highlighting a crisis among its youth. Factors contributing to this decline include disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, social media pressures, and anxiety over global issues like climate change and political polarization. While Finland keeps its title as the happiest country, the report underscores the need for attention to mental health and social well-being, emphasizing the importance of addressing causes of unhappiness among younger generations. The findings prompt a call for action to create environments conducive to greater happiness and fulfillment, particularly for the youth.

This article caught my eye because it’s not a standard political or news article that I see very often. I’m Scandinavian, half Norwegian and half Finnish to be more accurate, so I am well aware of the World Happiness Report. I’ve always thought it was interesting to see where the Scandinavian countries are ranked vs the US, especially because I get to experience the difference in their society’s. There is a greater emphasis placed on work-life balance there, and the culture is more collaborative and equal. One of the things mentioned in the article that acts as a stress-inducer for young people is climate change. I don’t see this as a problem in Scandinavia because everyone is actively combating climate change and there’s a lot more social solidarity overall.

I think that the audience is Americans of all ages, although mainly the younger generation. It aims to educate why America is getting ranked so low on the happiness index. By addressing these specific reasons, hopefully people will know what needs to be done. Covid and its destructive wake, one of the main factors, will eventually fade out. However, social media and anxiety surrounding global issues is more prevalent and needs to be dealt with.

Tesla shares drop after an alleged arson attack on Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin, causing Tesla to halt production. The facility is likely to be without power for several days, resulting in a decrease of shares by 4.5%, and a stock decrease of 7.1%. Left-wing extremist group Vulkangruppe also known as Volcano Group, claimed to be responsible for the attack in a letter posted to an news site called Kontrapolis. The letter could not be authorized. The new factory is expected to double its capacity to 100 gigawatt hours of battery production, and to produce 1 million cars per year. The expansion plans for this Gigafactory has caused controversy as plans to plant more trees have been scraped to make way for the expansion of the factory. Environmental activists have been occupying nearby forests to discourage the expansion of the factory. The Volcano group as well took responsibility for another arson attack that took place in 2021 at Tesla’s Gruenheide site.

While it’s true that many businesses contribute to environmental degradation, Tesla often finds itself under the microscope of environmental activists, likely due to its remarkable success. Being one of the most heavily invested and exaggerated companies, Tesla naturally becomes a prime target for dissenting groups. Despite the undeniable impact of The Volcano Group’s actions, Tesla’s status as the 9th largest multinational corporation suggests that the fallout from this incident may not significantly affect its operations in the long term.

I empathize with The Volcano Group’s motivation to protest against a corporation like Tesla, given concerns about its carbon footprint. However, there are undoubtedly more constructive avenues for expressing dissent and catalyzing change without resorting to destructive actions. It is important to recognize that the individuals employed at the Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin often lack the power and direct influence over corporate decisions. The Volcano group’ actions have undoubtedly affected the workers of the Tesla Gigafactory, when they should be pointing their frustration towards the people in power over the corporate decisions.

In a Reuters article titled “Bitcoin hits record above $72,000 as demand frenzy intensifies” by Hannah Lang, Amanda Cooper, and Harry Robertson, they discuss Bitcoin reaching its highest price ever, $72,000. People are becoming increasingly excited about Bitcoin because more money is flowing into it, and they hope the government might lower interest rates. There’s an event in April called the “halving,” which could make Bitcoin even rarer, thus potentially increasing its value further. In the UK, the government has allowed some new ways to trade digital money, but only for professional investors, warning that regular people could get hurt. Big money managers are now betting more on Bitcoin than ever before. Other digital currencies like Ethereum are also experiencing increases in value. Big investors are feeling very positive about Bitcoin, which is impacting the stock prices of companies like Coinbase, as well as others like Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital, which are experiencing fluctuations.

To be honest, I had not heard anything about cryptocurrency in the past two years. Supposedly, this market was on the verge of collapse because Bitcoin dropped from around $60,000 to $20,000, but apparently not. When I saw this article, I was surprised as I was not expecting the price to be that high. My takeaway is that I regret not purchasing even a fraction of a Bitcoin; I mean, my money would be worth three times as much. I think its value will continue to rise until demand reaches a peak, causing it to drop again, but overall, I believe the price will fluctuate between $60,000 and $80,000. However, at some point in the next few years, it could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This could potentially lead to Bitcoin replacing the US dollar as the international currency or financial asset, as it is not managed by a bank or a country, which could also generate distrust due to lack of regulation. However, I’m not sure how many people currently use it as currency, but I know that El Salvador has adopted it as an official currency and financial asset, allowing its population to use it for transactions alongside the US dollar. This demonstrates that it’s only a matter of time before people recognize it as a legitimate currency and give it more attention, potentially transforming it into something truly significant.

As Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, countries around the world are making an effort to deal with the conflict, and many European countries have sided with Ukraine. Recently, a German military officer’s phone call was hacked by Russian agents, exposing his conversation and embarrassing Germany. The officer was talking about long-range cruise missiles, and how they could be used to kill Russian troops, a clear violation of German policies. Germany has maintained that it does not want to be involved in the war directly, and this audio leak pushes them further and further towards that as it increases tensions. This largely has only a political effect, as sanctions are already in place against Russia. This heightens political tensions between Germany and Russia, which only worsens the global situation. 

Russia and Germany are very large economies, dominating their areas in the world. Russian and German societies vary widely, with business practices in the two countries being very different. Both have recently recovered from the fall of the Soviet Union, and even the effects of World War 2 can still be seen in both countries. Both are large exporters, with much of Europe relying on Russian gas and oil. Germany is a powerhouse in Europe, with main industries being automotive and chemical exports. The situation between these two countries, as well as the world, continues to be watched very closely as the war in Ukraine rages on. It is likely that more countries will be forced to involve themselves with the war as it progresses. 

The article itself, apnews, is reliable, offering an unbiased look at current world events. The audience is mostly US and European citizens, who are looking to keep up with the current events happening. The impact of the phone leak is likely minimal. Most countries were already aware of Germany’s involvement in the war and their plans to continue support for Ukraine. The phone leak mainly serves as a way to publicly humiliate Germany, with Russia showing it’s ability to listen in on and spy on Germany military happenings and conversations with ease. This will mainly affect the German government and military as they work to contain the leak and tighten security. 

Link

In the article Boeing tells pilots to check seats after Latam plane incident, it has been revealed that this week, another Boeing plane issue has arised. The 787 Dreamliner plane suddenly dropped on a Latam Airlines flight, causing 50 people to be hurt. The incident occurred after a flight attendant accidentally hit a button on the pilots seat that caused him to hit controls and soon send the plane’s nose down. Passengers were thrown against the roof of the plane, causing people to think that this could’ve been the end of their lives. Latam has been investigating ever since this accident and has concluded that pilots have to check their seats before take off.

Latam says the incident involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner

One can assume that this in fact will have an impact on the international business industry, especially since this is our way of getting to places all over the world. Less and less people are more likely to not want to fly after seeing these failures time and time again, causing sales and profits to drop. Boeing is a main supplier for airline companies so it could be possible that companies won’t trust Boeing as much anymore due to wanting their customers to be safe, not to mention also wanting their money to go to good spending.

The affect of this drop will most definitely have an impact on not only the business world, but average consumers. Just a couple months ago, I wrote my last blog on Boeing as well and how they weren’t having a good start to their year, and now I am back writing about them. I wish this wasn’t the case and now that makes me more worried about our safety if just a simple accident can send a plane down, causing passengers to receive major head injuries. Taken that this was an accident on a flight attendant’s part, the plane itself doesn’t take full blame, but at this rate what else are we to assume with everything that has been going on with Boeing? Overall, I do hope that Boeing steps it up soon and figures out what they are doing wrong and how to fix it. I hope that all passengers are safe and healthy now, and I truly hope I won’t have to be writing about this company again.

Written by: Leah Karamol

Japan’s Economic Decline: A Troubling Trend

In tracing Japan’s economic journey, the narrative starts from the hopeful outlook of the 1970s, gradually transitioning to a state of decline today. Despite initial optimism and aspirations to surpass the United States, Japan’s economic pinnacle in the 1980s was followed by a prolonged period of stagnation and deflation from the 1990s onward. Efforts such as Abe Shinzō’s Abenomics aimed to rejuvenate the economy, yet challenges like rapid population aging and declining productivity persisted. As Japan’s global economic standing slipped with Germany surpassing it as the third-largest economy, further decline looms with India poised to overtake. Urgent measures are imperative to combat issues like labor shortages, foster innovation, and ensure efficient resource allocation to halt further economic deterioration and regain a competitive edge. (Takatoshi Ito, 2024) For more information from the article.

The article discusses Japan’s economic trajectory and its challenges, which resonate with topics covered in class, such as macroeconomics and global business dynamics. Concepts like economic growth, stagnation, and

Japanese stores closing

decline is evident, paralleling discussions on economic cycles and factors influencing national economies. Moreover, the importance of innovation and productivity echoes themes explored in class, reflecting the role of these factors in driving economic competitiveness. Personally, my experiences in studying international business have taught me the significance of understanding global economic trends and their implications for businesses and markets. My takeaway from the article underscores the need for Japan to prioritize structural reforms and policies that foster innovation and address demographic challenges. Looking ahead, the next steps for Japan involve implementing strategic initiatives to boost economic growth and regain global competitiveness, particularly in the face of rising economic powers like India and China.

The article is important because it shows how Japan’s economy is struggling and why it matters to everyone, not just Japan. People who care about economics, like policymakers and investors, would find it interesting. Japan’s economic problems affect the whole world because it’s a big player in the global economy. If Japan doesn’t fix its economy soon, it could cause problems for everyone. My opinion is that Japan needs to make changes fast to avoid more trouble. But if they do it right, they can bounce back and have a better future, although I am biased by being Japanese I believe Japan should overcome these things that they are going through such as National Fertility, etc.

List of countries by GDP (nominal)

In a Reuters article titled “Bitcoin hits record above $72,000 as demand frenzy intensifies” by Hannah Lang, Amanda Cooper, and Harry Robertson, they discuss Bitcoin reaching its highest price ever, $72,000. People are becoming increasingly excited about Bitcoin because more money is flowing into it, and they hope the government might lower interest rates. There’s an event in April called the “halving,” which could make Bitcoin even rarer, thus potentially increasing its value further. In the UK, the government has allowed some new ways to trade digital money, but only for professional investors, warning that regular people could get hurt. Big money managers are now betting more on Bitcoin than ever before. Other digital currencies like Ethereum are also experiencing value increases. Big investors are feeling very positive about Bitcoin, which is impacting the stock prices of companies like Coinbase and others like Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital, which are experiencing fluctuations.

To be honest, I have not heard anything about cryptocurrency in the past two years. Supposedly, this market was on the verge of collapse because Bitcoin dropped from around $60,000 to $20,000, but apparently not. When I saw this article, I was surprised as I was not expecting the price to be that high. My takeaway is that I regret not purchasing even a fraction of a Bitcoin; I mean, my money would be worth three times as much. I think its value will continue to rise until demand reaches a peak, causing it to drop again, but overall, I believe the price will fluctuate between $60,000 and $80,000. However, at some point in the next few years, it could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This could potentially lead to Bitcoin replacing the US dollar as the international currency or financial asset, as it is not managed by a bank or a country, which could also generate distrust due to lack of regulation. However, I’m not sure how many people currently use it as currency, but I know that El Salvador has adopted it as an official currency and financial asset, allowing its population to use it for transactions alongside the US dollar. This demonstrates that it’s only a matter of time before people recognize it as a legitimate currency and give it more attention, potentially transforming it into something truly significant.