39 h. ago China jails smugglers of weapon metal antimony, taking tough stance on critical minerals

A Chinese court has convicted 27 individuals of smuggling more than 166 tonnes of antimony, a critical mineral used in weapons, semiconductors and flame retardants, in a significant enforcement action under Beijing’s tighter export controls for dual-use items. The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in Guangdong province ruled that the group had illegally shipped the critical mineral without obtaining export licences, according to a statement released on Tuesday. Lead defendant Wang Wubin was...

Events

39 h. ago China jails antimony smugglers in tough stance on critical minerals

China jails antimony smugglers in tough stance on critical minerals  South China Morning Post

Events

4 d. ago Trump urges China’s Xi to free jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai

Trump urges China’s Xi to free jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai  Al Jazeera

Politics

4 d. ago Why China’s growing demand for rare earth steel is bad news for America’s F

At a sprawling industrial complex in the Inner Mongolian city of Baotou, workers feed bag after bag of rare earth additives into roaring furnaces, turning ordinary steel into a high-performance alloy worth twice as much. This is the front line of a technological leap being powered by China’s dominance in critical minerals and its strategic industrial policy. The advanced rare earth steel being produced is used in the country’s most ambitious engineering projects – from high-speed railways to...

Politics

7 d. ago Man in China jailed 4 years for poisoning and killing 9 pet dogs

Man in China jailed 4 years for poisoning and killing 9 pet dogs  CNA

Events

9 d. ago US seeks ‘constructive’ reset with China as trade tensions ease: Greer

The United States is striving for a more “constructive” relationship with China after this year’s trade war and will continue to pursue a “managed” bilateral trade relationship, its chief trade envoy said, despite concerns lingering over China’s grip on critical minerals and pushback over the White House’s recent approval of H200 AI chip sales. The comments by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer came after Beijing and Washington fought fiercely throughout the year for the tariff war. The...

Events

9 d. ago Silicon Valley Is Racing to Make Critical Minerals—and Blunt China’s Dominance

Silicon Valley Is Racing to Make Critical Minerals—and Blunt China’s Dominance  The Wall Street Journal

Politics

1 week ago How China pulled off a critical mineral tech revolution in just 10 months

When a European start-up developed a breakthrough technology capable of transforming low-grade bauxite – once considered waste – into high-quality feedstock for aluminium production, they announced it at an industry conference in Miami, United States. The innovation not only promises to revive exhausted mines, but also opens a new door to extracting critical minerals and rare earth elements essential for semiconductors, electric vehicles and national defence. With Western governments from...

Politics

1 week ago How China pulled off a critical mineral production tech revolution in just 10 months

When a European start-up developed a breakthrough technology capable of transforming low-grade bauxite – once considered waste – into high-quality feedstock for aluminium production, they announced it at an industry conference in Miami, United States. The innovation not only promises to revive exhausted mines, but also opens a new door to extracting critical minerals and rare earth elements essential for semiconductors, electric vehicles and national defence. With Western governments from...

Politics

1 week ago In race to end China’s chokehold on critical minerals the U.S. needs all the friends it can get

In race to end China’s chokehold on critical minerals the U.S. needs all the friends it can get  Fortune

Politics

1 week ago Chinese team reports way to extract hypersonic weapon fuel boron from seawater

Scientists from Northwest A&F University in China have developed an innovative technology to extract and collect boron from seawater. Boron is a lightweight element used as solid fuel in scramjet engines on some advanced Chinese hypersonic weapons. Neodymium-iron-boron rare earth magnets – used extensively in industrial and military applications – have drawn particular attention amid ongoing trade tensions over critical minerals. These high-performance rare-earth magnets not only rely on...

Events

1 week ago Chinese scientists report way to extract hypersonic weapon fuel boron from seawater

Scientists from Northwest A&F University in China have developed an innovative technology to extract and collect boron from seawater. Boron is a lightweight element used as solid fuel in scramjet engines on some advanced Chinese hypersonic weapons. Neodymium-iron-boron rare earth magnets – used extensively in industrial and military applications – have drawn particular attention amid ongoing trade tensions over critical minerals. These high-performance rare-earth magnets not only rely on...

Events

1 week ago Why Chinese firms are taking operational risks on African projects

China’s big money is returning to African infrastructure as its state-owned firms evolve from mere builders into long-term financiers and operators. This is so they have enough “skin in the game”, according to one analyst, as Beijing seeks lasting influence over key transport routes and critical mineral supply chains in Africa. Across the continent, these companies are increasingly financing, building and operating key infrastructure under public-private partnerships (PPP). This financing model...

Events

1 week ago The Critical Minerals Report (12.07.2025): How Washington, Brussels, London, and Beijing Are Rewiring the Critical Minerals Supply Chains

The Critical Minerals Report (12.07.2025): How Washington, Brussels, London, and Beijing Are Rewiring the Critical Minerals Supply Chains  InvestorNews

Politics

2 w. ago Why China may be better placed than US in tussle for rare earths

During his Southeast Asia trip in October, US President Donald Trump sealed deals with Malaysia and Thailand on the same day – both aimed at securing and diversifying America’s supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim agreed to step up cooperation on building and expanding critical minerals supply chains, according to a White House statement. They also agreed to strengthen the security of critical minerals and rare earths supplies in...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump praises DR Congo and Rwanda leaders, who sign his deal as fighting continues

US President Donald Trump praised the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda for their courage as they signed a deal on Thursday aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo and opening the region’s critical mineral reserves to the US government and American companies. The moment offered Trump – who has repeatedly and with a measure of exaggeration boasted of brokering peace in some of the world’s most entrenched conflicts – another chance to tout himself as a dealmaker...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump praises African leaders, who sign his deal as fighting continues

US President Donald Trump praised the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda for their courage as they signed a deal on Thursday aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo and opening the region’s critical mineral reserves to the US government and American companies. The moment offered Trump – who has repeatedly and with a measure of exaggeration boasted of brokering peace in some of the world’s most entrenched conflicts – another chance to tout himself as a dealmaker...

Politics

2 w. ago Britain vows to ‘wrest control’ of critical mineral supplies from China

Britain vows to ‘wrest control’ of critical mineral supplies from China  politico.eu

Politics

2 w. ago U.S. searches for critical minerals as push to counter China's dominance grows

U.S. searches for critical minerals as push to counter China's dominance grows  NPR

Politics

2 w. ago China’s PBOC underlines tough stance on virtual currencies like stablecoins

China’s PBOC underlines tough stance on virtual currencies like stablecoins  South China Morning Post

Politics