Alphabet’s Massive AI Spending Surge Signals Confidence in Google’s Growth Engine 
Wildfires ignite infection risks, by weakening the body’s immune defences and spreading bugs in smoke 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Drug pollution in water is making salmon take more risks – new research 
The UK is surprisingly short of water – but more reservoirs aren’t the answer 
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Decreasing South Korean cardboard production due to fewer goods being shipped is pulling down waste paper demand in and out of South Korea.
According to the Korea Paper Association, the country’s cardboard production dropped from 511,412 tons in December to 478,083 tons in July of this year.
As cardboard is used in container boxes for numerous products, its supply and demand reflect a country’s economic index.
Paper production plants use waste paper thrown away by households and businesses that are collected by waste processing facilities.
South Korea also exports wastepaper.
The Ministry of Environment reported that South Korea’s paper production companies had 148,000 tons of waste paper in storage as of September, which is twice the average storage amount.
As wastepaper continues to pile up, the national average price of waste paper per kilogram dropped from 149 won in January to 108 won in September, while the price of exports plummeted from US$242 per ton in September of last year to $129 in September of this year.
