Our daily jaunt around the world

🌍🥤 Two different arms of the World Health Organization released reports about whether aspartame, a common artificial sweetener, causes cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer says it identified a possible link between aspartame and a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma, citing limited evidence from three large clinical studies – though people are safe from repercussions if they stay within the recommended daily limit (equivalent to 9-14 Diet Cokes per day). In a separate report published yesterday, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives say the current evidence for a link between aspartame and cancer in humans is “not convincing.”

🇷🇺 Several high-ranking Russian military officers have been detained by Moscow since the Wagner Group rebellion began, per the WSJ. At least a dozen senior Russian officers – including Gen. Sergei Surovikin, Russia’s head of aerospace forces – were arrested for questioning hours after Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin started his short-lived rebellion against Moscow last month, multiple sources told the Journal. Some of the Russian officers were reportedly suspended from duty or fired for suspected disloyalty, while a handful of others are still being detained.

🇨🇳 Foreign direct investment in China fell 80% in Q1 2023 compared to the same period last year. Ever since China in 1978 first opened itself to foreign direct investment – aka foreigners investing in domestic companies – the country has consistently seen more money coming in than going out. But a new analysis from research firm Rhodium Group has found foreign direct investment in China fell from $100 billion in Q1 of last year to $20 billion this year, which is roughly equal to the investment outflow from China for the first time ever. Experts say the trend can largely be attributed to President Xi Jinping’s new national-security agenda that’s made Chinese investments a riskier proposition for foreign entities in recent months.