Corporate America and foreign countries have seen China as the world’s factory for decades. Its hundreds of millions of consumers called it “one of the biggest opportunities,” and predictions were made that this would be “China’s century.” China became a major manufacturing hub in the late 1970s and early 1980s, opening the country's economy to foreign investment. Yet, that is all set to change as foreign companies shift investments and their Asian headquarters out of China.
globalEDGE Blog Archive October 2023
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The podcast industry has grown astronomically worldwide over the past couple of years. Its popularity took off during the height of the pandemic, when many people found themselves with lots of free time to listen to and record podcasts, and it has been taking off ever since. The ability to listen to podcasts while doing chores, cooking, and driving creates an immense amount of flexibility for listeners. It can be put on in the background of almost any task, drawing more people in towards audio content.
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The arrival of smartphones in the early 2000s marked a watershed moment in the world of photography. Film and digital cameras, once the unrivaled champions, suddenly faced formidable competition. In a surprising turn of events, digital cameras are making a stylish comeback, becoming an essential accessory in social media, especially adored by the younger generation for their “it-girl” charm.
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The coal industry is undoubtedly one of the world’s largest energy sources. According to statista.com, coal has been the second-largest energy source consumed in the world since at least 2019. The sector accounted for over a quarter of the energy consumption in 2022. Along with oil, natural gas, and petroleum, coal is considered a fossil fuel.
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The El Nino-La Nina cycle is a naturally occurring phenomena- resulting from interactions between the ocean surface and atmosphere over the tropical Pacific- that been going on for hundreds of years, with episodes happening roughly every 2 to 7 years. The El Nino and La Nina patterns are opposing climate cycles in the Pacific Ocean. However, with rising surface temperatures in the sea, the effects of El Nino are beginning to compound.
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Singapore’s economy has seen a dramatic transition in recent years, with the exponential rise of its digital industry. This explosion of the digital economy has had a profound impact on many sectors and has been essential to Singapore’s economic development.
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The Himalayan glaciers constitute a vast glacier system stretching over 2,000 miles across India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh. As global temperatures continue to rise, these glaciers face a large threat.
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Bubble tea, also known as “boba” or “boba tea,” has been making waves around the world, transcending borders and significantly impacting global businesses and trade. With its unique blend of traditional tea flavors, brown sugar-sweetness, an occasional caffeine kick, and chewy tapioca pearls- its claim to fame-, bubble tea’s journey from small teahouse delicacy to international stardom is a testament to innovation, cultural exchange, and the beverage’s irresistible charm.
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The Israel-Hamas conflict is one of the world’s longest-running conflicts, and its impact extends far beyond the region’s borders. The conflict significantly disrupts trade, supply chains, and investment, often leading to volatility in international markets. Recently, the situation has escalated, with both sides launching airstrikes and rocket attacks, causing widespread death, destruction, and displacement of thousands of people.
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Intense labor movements have been making global headlines recently; you might be aware of the strikes in Hollywood and the film industry, but let’s shift gears to the Three Giants and United Auto Workers (UAW). UAW has taken a bold stand against automotive giants - General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford. Select plants of these powerhouse companies are facing targeted strikes, all unfolding after the union’s contracts expired two weeks ago.
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The Women’s World Cup ended in late August, with Spain coming out victorious for the first time ever. Women were banned from playing football for years in many countries, who were fearful that women’s football would become more popular than men’s following the league’s suspension during World War 1.
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Demand for electric cars has steadily risen over the past few decades. Modern-day electric vehicles, or EV, began to truly become popularized in the late 20th century. This surge in interest and production can be attributed to several factors, such as increased environmental concerns, increased cost competitiveness with conventional gas vehicles, and improved vehicle ranges. Electric cars offer a range of benefits in fuel costs, pollution emissions, and less maintenance due to them offering an efficient electric motor.
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As the medical industry continues to advance each year, experts are seeing significant success in collaborations with Artificial Intelligence; the combination of these two markets is helping many patients get their diagnoses faster and efficiently.
Recent examinations have shown that AI has allowed radiologists to decrease 50% of their workloads. Also, instances of false positives given to patients have lessened. This new advanced system may eventually save millions of lives, specifically as experiments continue to measure how AI takes on cancer.
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Argentina’s lithium mining industry is rapidly expanding, signaling a robust growth phase. Projections indicate that by 2030, Argentina could outpace or at least compete head-to-head with its neighboring counterpart, Chile, to become the foremost lithium producer in the Latin American region.
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Raising children has always been expensive, no matter where you live. Nevertheless, in recent times, millions of people struggle to put money away as they approach one of life’s key financial milestones. The high pace of inflation is to blame, increasing the expenses by almost 20% and leading to a current decline in birth rates.
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For all of the television and film fanatics out there, you have our sympathies. You may have experienced boredom the past few months after Hollywood screenwriters and actors went on strike for almost five months. The effects of the strikes go beyond boredom, however, and hold many implications for the international entertainment industry.
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Since the early beginnings of farming, humans have used natural practices such as cross-breeding plants to find the best produce for consumption and growing. These practices change the size, color, and amount of seeds in a fruit, among other characteristics.
In the 1970s, however, scientists began genetically modifying foods to make the changes more predictable and favorable. The first genetically modified organism, or GMO, produce available for purchase was a tomato in 1994. Now, GMO crops are grown in 24 countries and imported and sold in 43.
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Two years after the collapse of China’s real-estate bubble, worries that it may collapse again are starting to rise. China’s largest private property developer, Country Garden, is struggling to pay back their enormous loans. Dealing with strict government regulations has made it even more difficult for companies to deal with their growing debt.