Intelligent Community Forum has named the 21 locations shortlisted for its Intelligent Community of the Year, 2015 award.

Strong growth is expected in the Middle East and north Africa over the next two years, but most of this will be down to the economic output of the region's high-income economies, according to the World Bank.

China, the UK and Germany emerged as the most attractive locations for investors in a survey by US-based location marketing firm, Development Counsellors International.

A survey by Eurochambres, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, reports that conflict will be the main obstacle to future economic growth.

According to the start-up cities index 2014, compiled by entrepreneur platform Startups, aside from London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol are the leading locations for new businesses in the country.

US-based law firm Blank Rome has identified the US as the leading destination for the increasing levels of FDI flowing out of China.

US cities are starting to recover from the 'great recession', which started in 2008, but, according to the speakers at a recent National League of Cities press conference, an infrastructure deficit is holding them back from further growth.

The Bombay High Court has granted telecommunications company, Vodafone, relief from a $490m bill for allegedly underpricing its shares in a historic rights issue.

A recent survey of UK-based small and medium-sized enterprises found that such companies view the Chinese market as the most promising source of future growth.

The latest eastern European outlook by Swedish bank SEB predicts that the Polish and the Baltic economies will continue to grow in the two years to 2016.