3 d. ago Global clean energy goals at risk as China tightens grip on key minerals, IEA warns

Asian giant controls over half of world's refining capacity for lithium, cobalt and rare earths

Events

6 d. ago Global supply chains threatened by lack of Chinese rare earths

Licensing delays under new regime put at risk shipments of materials crucial for products from EVs to fighter jets

Events

2 w. ago From the archive: Food fraud and counterfeit cotton: the detectives untangling the global supply chain – podcast

We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors.This week, from 2021: Amid the complex web of international trade, proving the authenticity of a product can be near-impossible. But one company is taking the search to the atomic levelBy Samanth Subramanian. Read by Raj Ghatak Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago UK sent Israel thousands of military items despite export ban, study finds

Trade data analysis shows British firms have exported items including munitions since suspension of key licencesUK firms have exported thousands of military items including munitions to Israel despite the government suspending key arms export licences to the country in September, new analysis of trade data shows. The research also raises questions over whether the UK continued to sell F-35 parts directly to Israel in breach of an undertaking only to sell them to the US manufacturers Lockheed Martin as a way of ensuring the fighter jet’s global supply chain was not disrupted, something the government said was essential for national security and Nato. The findings have led the former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell to call for a full investigation, adding it was a resigning matter if the foreign secretary, David Lammy, was shown to have misled parliament in breach of the ministerial code when he told MPs in September that much of what the UK sends to Israel was “defensive in n...

Events

3 w. ago What are Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, where are they and what does this deal with Trump involve?

More than 50 per cent of Ukraine’s critical rare earth mineral resources are in regions illegally annexed by Vladimir Putin and partially occupied by his forces

Politics

3 w. ago US and Ukraine sign minerals deal that solidifies investment in Kyiv’s defense against Russia

Move seals a deal to create a fund the Trump administration says will begin to repay roughly $175bn provided to UkraineThe US and Kyiv have signed an agreement to share profits and royalties from the future sale of Ukrainian minerals and rare earths, sealing a deal that Donald Trump has said will provide an economic incentive for the US to continue to invest in Ukraine’s defense and its reconstruction after he brokers a peace deal with Russia.The minerals deal, which has been the subject of tense negotiations for months and nearly fell through hours before it was signed, will establish a US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund that the Trump administration has said will begin to repay an estimated $175bn in aid provided to Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Ukrainian officials say Kyiv 'ready to sign minerals deal' with US today

Ukraine and the US are said to be close to agreeing a landmark rare earth minerals deal which will allow the Americans to plunder the eastern European nation's mines

Politics

4 w. ago Trump says Russia peace deal 'going smoothly' but Ukraine Rare Earths deal '3 weeks late'

Donald Trumphas given an update on the progress of the Ukraine Russia peace deal and says it is running smoothly. However, he has also called out Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being "three weeks late" signing Rare Earths Deal

Politics