Dark clouds… US trade officials have halted imports from the Xinjiang province as part of a crackdown on China’s human-rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities. Xinjiang produces over 40% of the world’s polysilicon, a key component of solar panels. Now panels from companies like Jinko Solar and Trina Solar can’t enter the US, and delays are expected to last at least six months. Trade troubles might spread beyond solar, since a quarter of the world’s tomato paste and 13% of its wind turbines also come from Xinjiang.
A-list after-party… in the metaverse. Crypto winter hasn’t stopped celebs from bringing the virtual heat. Last week, mega-fluencer and entrepreneur Paris Hilton debuted her virtual Malibu mansion on meta-gaming site Sandbox (think: digi-martinis by the meta-pool). The Sandbox has 2M users and 300 partnerships with big names like Snoop Dogg, Tony Hawk, Gucci, and Adidas. These “phygital” deals could help celebs and brands profit from fresh forms of entertainment (picture: a Snoop meta-concert). Still, this year virtual-land prices are down 85%.