Global Craze for Korean Seaweed Drives Up Prices
A global surge in the popularity of Korean culture is causing the price of "gim," dried seaweed, to rise, worrying gim-lovers in South Korea, according to BBC World. South Korea is the world's largest producer and exporter of dried gim, a staple on everyday dining tables across the country.
Lee Hyang-ran, a gim vendor in Seoul for 47 years, told BBC World that Westerners once considered Koreans eating "something weird that looks like a piece of black paper." Now, she says, "they all come here" to buy it.
US Seeks to Counter China's Dominance in Critical Minerals
The United States is attempting to break China's dominance in the critical minerals industry by launching an effort to form a trade zone for these resources, BBC Business reported. These minerals are essential for manufacturing products ranging from smartphones to weapons.
On Wednesday, the State Department hosted the first Critical Minerals Ministerial event, attended by countries and organizations including the UK, the European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to BBC Business. Delegates discussed the availability of and access to minerals crucial to manufacturing.
Prediction Markets See Bets on Catastrophic Events
The Guardian reported on the rise of prediction markets, where individuals can bet on a range of events, including catastrophic ones. As an example, The Guardian cited an instance on January 3 where someone placed a series of bets that Donald Trump would oust Nicolás Maduro, netting them nearly $500,000 when it happened.
Green Energy Drives China's Investment Growth
China's clean energy industries drove more than 90% of the country's investment growth last year, according to an analysis reported by The Guardian. The sector is larger than all but seven world economies and accounts for more than a third of China's economic growth. The green energy sector contributed to a record 15.4 trillion yuan ($2.1 trillion) of business last year, The Guardian noted.
US-Russia Nuclear Arms Treaty Expires
Sky News reported that the last remaining treaty capping the arsenals of Russia and the US expired, marking the first time in over half a century that there are no legal limits on their missiles and warheads. "We're about to enter a world without nuclear arms control," Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent for Sky News, wrote. "It means, for the first time in more than half a century, there will be no legal limits on their missiles and warheads, and there are fears we are on the brink of a new era."
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