Japan's banana supply is threatened by a shortage of ethylene gas, a key ripening agent derived from naphtha. The country imports most of its oil, and disruptions to petroleum supplies have led to critically low naphtha inventories, impacting banana ripening and potentially causing price hikes and shortages for this staple fruit.
Lab research from the University of Maryland suggests Methylene Blue may support scalp health and hair follicle regeneration. It protected human hair follicle stem cells from oxidative stress and death, particularly when exposed to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, offering hope for hair loss concerns.
A 38-year-old Singaporean doctor, Chan Bingyi, was jailed for 18 months for negligently administering EDTA too quickly and at a high concentration during an aesthetic treatment, leading to the death of 31-year-old Lau Li Ting due to EDTA toxicity and cardiac arrest.
SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of Yeochun NCC, a major producer of ethylene ...
The global polyester supply chain, dominated by Asia, faces mounting pressure from the energy crisis as costs for chemicals and dyes soar. Bindal Silk Mills CEO Avichal Arya reports migrant workers are leaving Surat, India's textile hub, due to cooking gas shortages, threatening global orders. Polyester, which accounts for 59% of global fibre production and is derived from oil, faces further risk from potential Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
China is poised to import a record 800,000 tonnes of US ethane in April, up 60% from normal levels, as petrochemical firms pivot to alternative feedstocks following Middle East conflict disruptions that have curtailed naphtha and LPG supplies. The surge comes as ethane margins outperform naphtha by roughly tenfold, with new domestic processing capacity further driving demand. The timing coincides with a planned mid-May visit by Donald Trump to Beijing where energy trade is expected to feature in discussions.
