Highly-Valued Opium Farming Banned in Afghanistan, Taliban Enforces Harsh Punishment Against Violators
On April 3, the Taliban government in Afghanistan implemented a repressive ban on the cultivation of drugs in the country. Those caught opposing the law are to be punished according to the Taliban’s interpretation of...
Biden Admin to Allow More Ethanol in Gasoline to Ease the ‘Putin Price Hike’
U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will relax a regulation preventing the sale of high-ethanol content gasoline during summer months in a bid to reduce consumer pump prices he says...
‘Zero-COVID’ Lockdown in Shanghai Compounds Xi’s Political Dilemma
News analysis Over the past two years, cities and entirely provinces in China implemented economically and socially destructive “zero-COVID” lockdowns and other control measures to squash the virus. Shanghai, however, stuck to a milder “precise...
Oil Prices Fall 3% in Global Trade as US, China Adjust for Impact of Ukraine War
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues into its second month, oil prices edged lower this week after Moscow said it would reduce military operations near the capital of Ukraine and signaled willingness in considering a...
Consumer Electronics Demand Down ‘Especially in China’ Says TSMC Chief
The head of an industry-leading semiconductor manufacturing company says consumer demand for personal electronics is waning while production costs are on the rise. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) Chairman Mark Liu gave comments on March...
Workplace Drug Testing Data Shows Growing Ratio of Post-accident Positives Among American Workers
A new set of data published by a leading American narcotics screening firm revealed results indicating 2021 presented a year with not only a dramatic increase in workplace drug use, but an exponential increase in...
China’s Online Retailer Firm JD.com Expands Layoffs as Economy Worsens
As Beijing’s regulators turn up the heat on a heavily saturated internet sector, adding financial pressure to tech companies already impacted by profit declines and a struggling Chinese economy. The mounting financial strain has resulted...
Japanese Startup Builds Electroshock Bracelet to Inflict Pain On Metaverse Users
A Japanese startup has created a bracelet that transfers and mimics bodily movements into virtual reality settings while also delivering to users haptic, virtually generated stimuli, such as pain. H2L, a Tokyo-based, Sony-backed startup that...
Chinese Mobile Giant Huawei Reports Decrease in Sales but Soaring Profit as Top Executive Is Released from House Arrest
Chinese telecom maker Huawei announced Monday, March 28, that despite a decrease in sales, its overall profit rose by 76 percent in 2021.The company claimed 2021 revenue of 636.8 billion yuan ($99.9 billion), down 28.6...