4 h. 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

9 h. ago China’s Beating America to the Moon. Witnesses Tell House Space Committee Needs More Government Action.

China’s Beating America to the Moon. Witnesses Tell House Space Committee Needs More Government Action.  Coalition For A Prosperous America

Politics

26 h. 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

26 h. 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

62 h. ago Collapsed UK China spy case due to ‘shambolic’ failures, not conspiracy: inquiry

A high-profile case against two British men accused of spying for China collapsed because of “systemic failures” and not a government conspiracy, a UK parliamentary inquiry concluded on Wednesday. The handling of the case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry was at times “shambolic” and reforms are needed to prevent “similar issues” happening again, the cross-party committee of MPs and members of the House of Lords said in its report. Ex-parliamentary researcher Cash and China-based...

Events

62 h. 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

64 h. 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

8 d. ago China Briefing 27 November 2025: COP30 wraps; Climate and critical minerals at G20; Coal use up

China Briefing 27 November 2025: COP30 wraps; Climate and critical minerals at G20; Coal use up  Carbon Brief

Politics

8 d. ago Tesla cofounder leads U.S. ‘urban mines’ to compete with China in battery recycling, critical minerals

Tesla cofounder leads U.S. ‘urban mines’ to compete with China in battery recycling, critical minerals  Fortune

Politics

9 d. ago Corrupt Chinese officials hold sham votes to approve projects, state media warns

Corrupt local officials in China are manipulating collective decision-making procedures for personal gain and to mask their activities, state media has warned. A report published on Wednesday highlighted examples of behind-the-scenes manipulation where subordinates were told how to vote in advance, and of collusion between corrupt officials or sham public consultations. “In recent years, to standardise collective decision-making, systematic procedures and requirements were introduced in many...

Events

1 week ago UK launches critical mineral strategy to cut dependence on China

UK launches critical mineral strategy to cut dependence on China  MSN

Politics

1 week ago China, allies drive agenda at G20 South Africa summit amid US no

The G20 summit in Johannesburg delivered major wins for African countries on debt, climate and critical minerals processing, but the progress was undercut by an unprecedented US boycott. The United States will host the event next year when it takes over the rotating Group of 20 presidency. But when the summit ended on Sunday, there was no US leader present for the ceremonial handover. With the US a no-show, China and its allies drove the consensus on a Global South agenda that has dominated G20...

Politics

1 week ago UK launches critical minerals strategy to reduce dependency on China

UK launches critical minerals strategy to reduce dependency on China  The Guardian

Politics

2 w. ago Marcos’ cousin faces plunder charges in Philippine corruption scandal

Plunder, corruption and bribery charges were recommended against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s cousin for his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. The Department of Public Works and Highways sought these charges against former House speaker Martin Romualdez during a filing at the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday. The same charges were also recommended for resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, who was formerly head of the House of Representatives’ appropriations committee. Romualdez...

Politics

2 w. ago US lawmakers press for new tactics to challenge China’s grip on rare earths

US lawmakers on Wednesday called for a change in Washington’s strategy to evade China’s chokehold on rare earth mineral supplies, arguing that new approaches are needed in parallel with President Donald Trump’s efforts to speed up domestic production. Proposals to dismantle the chokepoint – including new technologies and development of components that do not require the critical minerals as inputs – were presented during a hearing of the US House Select Committee on China. The suggestions came...

Politics

2 w. ago US races to secure China rare earths deal as worries over chokeholds linger

The administration of US President Donald Trump hopes to confirm a deal to secure rare earth supplies from China by Thanksgiving, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview, framing the agreement as vital to shoring up America’s supply chains. The remarks came as the Council on Foreign Relations, a US-based think tank, warned in a new report that the US’ reliance on Chinese critical minerals remained a major strategic vulnerability that Washington needed to address. A rare earths deal...

Politics

2 w. ago German Finance Chief Asks China for Access to Critical Minerals

German Finance Chief Asks China for Access to Critical Minerals  Bloomberg Law News

Politics

2 w. ago EU recalibrates on China as it seeks rare earths breakthrough

Under pressure from Beijing’s chokehold on rare earths and the simmering feud over chipmaker Nexperia, EU officials have been asked to tone down their public rhetoric on Beijing, even as the bloc moves forward aggressively with its de-risking plans. Brussels is in “de-escalation mode”, several official sources confirmed, as it looks to convince China to issue more licences for the export of the critical minerals vital to hi-tech manufacturing and ensure the supply of chips from beleaguered...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Don’t mention the war’: EU recalibrates China discourse amid rare earths deal

Under pressure from Beijing’s chokehold on rare earths and the simmering feud over chipmaker Nexperia, EU officials have been asked to tone down their public rhetoric on Beijing, even as the bloc moves forward aggressively with its de-risking plans. Brussels is in “de-escalation mode”, several official sources confirmed, as it looks to convince China to issue more licences for the export of the critical minerals vital to hi-tech manufacturing and ensure the supply of chips from beleaguered...

Events

3 w. ago Asean, China, Japan and South Korea hold ‘transformative’ critical minerals opportunity

Southeast Asian economies, along with China, Japan and South Korea, have a “transformative” opportunity to enter the world’s critical mineral supply chain, said Yasuto Watanabe, Director of the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). Critical minerals – essential raw materials for the production of hi-tech gadgets, cars and aerospace equipment – will make the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) supply chain “more resilient and sustainable”, said Watanabe, who also...

Politics