U.S. Image Plummets Internationally as Most Say Country Has Handled Coronavirus Badly

Since Donald Trump took office as president, the image of the United States has suffered across many regions of the globe. As a new 13-nation Pew Research Center survey illustrates, America’s reputation has declined further over the past year among many key allies and partners. In several countries, the share of the public with a favorable view of the U.S. is as low as it has been at any point since the Center began polling on this topic nearly two decades ago.

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U.S. Image Plummets Internationally as Most Say Country Has Handled Coronavirus Badly | Pew Research Center

U.S. Trustworthiness Rating Dives in 2020 Best Countries Report

The world’s trust in a country entering an election year with its impeached president facing trial in the Senate and stirring global alarm over the U.S. killing of an general, has dropped by more than 50% since 2016, the sharpest drop of any country assessed in the 2020 Best Countries report.

Additionally, the United Kingdom has experienced the second-greatest drop in the world’s trust since 2016, according to Best Countries data. Last December’s elections firmly entrenched Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his vow to push forward with Brexit and take the country out of the European Union

By contrast, America’s neighbor to the north, Canada, is seen as the world’s most trustworthy country, according to the report, a position the nation has held since the annual global survey

The Top 5 Countries in the World 
Switzerland 
Japan 
Germany 
Australia

Read more: U.S. Trustworthiness Rating Dives in 2020 Best Countries Report | Best Countries | US News

France: French President Macrons ratings creep up amid town hall meetings

French President Macron’s ratings creep up amid town hall meetings Surveys suggest French President Emmanuel Macron has stemmed a hemorrhage in support as he tours the country to take part in a "great national debate", part of his government's response to anger expressed by the "Yellow Vest" protest movement.

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http://www.france24.com/en/20190125-france-macron-ratings-national-debate-yellow-vests-opinion-polls-policy-economy-taxes

US President Trump: Poor TV Ratings Show The Trump Presidency Is Already In Danger Of Being Canceled - by Jason Easley

Donald Trump's failure to draw a big audience for his joint address to Congress suggest that America is already tired of the President Trump show and is considering a 2020 cancelation.

The numbers for Trump’s speech via The Hollywood Reporter, “The event predictably topped the night’s few other telecasts, grossing just more than 43 million viewers on eight networks airing coverage between 9 and 10:15 p.m. ET. On par with early metered market stats, a cumulative 27.8 overnight rating among households, it’s still a ways off from President Barack Obama’s first joint sessions meeting — or even his first State of the Union. Compared to Obama’s first address in 2009, Trump’s pull is down by 17 percent. Fox News, which the Trump audience has show itself to be especially fond of, led coverage on cable and broadcast with 10.8 million viewers during the speech — while NBC News topped among the Big Four with 9.1 million viewers.”

Another sign of Trump’s limited support was the fact that the top-rated network for his speech was the partisan Fox News network. Trump’s speech didn’t bring the country together. The American people didn’t tune in to give him a chance. Out of a population of 325 million, roughly one-eighth of America tuned to see President Trump.

None of this means that Trump is automatically doomed. The President’s base of support is solid and loyal to the core, but he is also a president who may never be able to expand his appeal beyond that base.

Read more: Poor TV Ratings Show The Trump Presidency Is Already In Danger Of Being Canceled

World's Happiest Countries: Australia Tops OECD Better Life Index and Turkey lowest- by Andy Reinhard

The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is the latest institution to jump into the happiness-rating business with its new Better Life Initiative, a detailed survey of 24 indicators in 11 categories--ranging from civic engagement to environmental quality--across its 34 member states plus Brazil and Russia.

When all of the categories are weighted equally, the top-performing country in the world is Australia, cited for its strong community spirit and high level of life satisfaction. The lowest-ranked country among those studied was Turkey, whose weak scores on the same two criteria dragged it below Mexico, Chile, and Brazil. The US placed 3rd after Norway.

The OECD emphasizes on its Better Life Initiative web site that the rankings aren't absolute: By changing weightings on the criteria--say, to emphasize education or housing--users can alter the overall country scores according to their areas of interest.

Read more: World's Happiest Countries: Australia Tops OECD Better Life Index - Bloomberg

Europe’s Top 10 Restaurants Headed by Italy - by Richard Vines

Osteria Francescana, a modern establishment with just 12 tables in the northern Italian city of Modena, was named Europe’s finest today in The Daily Meal website’s inaugural list of the 101 Best Restaurants in Europe.

It was followed by Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain, in second; Noma, Copenhagen, third; Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, London, fourth; Guy Savoy, Paris, fifth; then Aqua (Wolfsburg, Germany), Varvary (Moscow), Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium), L’Arpege (Paris) and JB (Ljubljana, Slovenia).

Some of the rankings will raise a few eyebrows: For example, the fact that Ducasse at the Dorchester places above Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athenee and Le Louis XV in Monaco.

The list spans about 30 countries. France is home to the most restaurants, followed by Spain and Italy,
The list was compiled through a seven-month process, involving the website’s editors and more than 200 food writers and bloggers. It’s one of a number of rankings, including the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, for which I work. Panelists voted in two categories: cuisine and style/decor service.

Read more: Europe’s Top 10 Restaurants Headed by Italy, Website Says - Bloomberg

French downgrade sends stocks slumping

Stock markets and the euro traded lower Friday as Greek debt swap talks were put on hold and France’s finance minister confirmed that Standard & Poor’s has downgraded the country’s credit rating.

Francois Baroin confirmed media reports that the rating has dropped one notch from the top triple-A level to AA+. Various reports said Germany and the Netherlands would keep their top ratings.

Earlier, representatives of private bondholders said crucial negotiations between the Greek government and its private creditors on a deal needed to avoid default had been "paused for reflection," which raised concerns the negotiations were close to collapse.

The talks are aimed at renegotiating the face value of bonds Greece has issued in order to reach an agreement on how much of a haircut the banks will take voluntarily.  By making the deal voluntary, Greece would dodge a legal default, which risks triggering a much deeper financial crisis that could curtail European lending.

For more: French downgrade sends stocks slumping - Business - CBC News

whatdoestheinternetthink.net: What does the Internet think about you, your country or whatever

For the complete report from whatdoestheinternetthink?net click on this link

What does the Internet think about you, your country or whatever

Have you ever wanted to know what the internet thinks about you, or how it rates your country, your favorite food, your religious denomination, your political preference, your favorite sport, or even your favorite politician? Well, now you can know it with whatdoesinternetthink.net. Check it out. You probably will be amazed as to some of the results the site comes up with.