In many of the world's major cities, traffic gridlock comes as standard. With such high number of vehicles on the roads leading to heavy pollution and frustratingly long commuting times, the case for mass rapid-transit systems is becoming increasingly difficult for many cities to ignore.

The rising price of oil coupled with newfound environmental concerns have left many countries looking to source alternative energy supplies and biofuel – long used in households across Africa – has emerged as one potential source of alternative energy. But as investors look to exploit biofuel's potential, questions are already being raised about the sustainability of the sector.

As the global economic balance of power shifts from west to east, international financial centres in Asia are growing in prominence at the expense of their developed world counterparts. But is this shift a permanent one?

fDi handed out awards to Europe's top-ranking locations at a ceremony in Cannes in March, while leaders of the winning cities and regions react to their successes.

Birmingham in the UK has had to contend with an outdated image of it being a post-industrial ghost town in recent years, but while its inward investment figures are still dwarfed by London, its efforts to increase the level of investment it attracts are bearing fruit.