Worldwide News August, 9th 2021

Science

Some Climate-Change Effects May Be Irreversible, U.N. Panel Report Says

Rising seas, melting ice caps and other effects of a warming climate may be irreversible for centuries and are “unequivocally” driven by greenhouse-gas emissions from human activity, a scientific panel working under U.N. auspices said.

• One of the Coldest Places on Earth Is On Fire
• U.K. Led the World in Slashing Carbon Emissions. Now Comes the Hard Part.

U.S. Steps Up Pressure on Businesses Over Forced Labor in China

Amid a broad review of its trade policy with China, the U.S. is stepping up pressure on American businesses to sever ties with the Xinjiang region—the world’s leading producer of cotton and solar-panel materials—over Beijing’s alleged use of forced labor.

Sexual-Assault Allegation at Alibaba Triggers Outrage, Investigation

A firestorm of public criticism has prompted Chief Executive Daniel Zhang to intervene in a situation that has stirred questions about sexual harassment in Chinese workplaces.

Silence and Fear Follow Afghan City’s Fall

Several residents of Kunduz said they believed the Taliban would control the northern Afghan city for the long haul.

China’s Producer Prices Jump Despite Efforts to Cool Commodities Costs

Factory-gate prices rose at an unexpectedly fast clip in July, matching the highest level in more than 12 years as crude oil and coal prices soared—though economists say the price pickup is unlikely to last.

Belarus’s Lukashenko Tightens His Grip a Year After Disputed Election

With Russia’s support, the country’s leader has withstood pressure at home and abroad since opponents accused him of stealing last year’s presidential vote.