5 d. ago ‘Drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping’: the lawless rush for rare earth minerals in Venezuela

Guerrilla groups have seized control of mining areas, exploiting Indigenous people and fuelling environmental ruin on the border with ColombiaFor months, Brig Gen Rafael Olaya Quintero, commander of the Orinoco naval force, has been chasing tin and coltan traffickers across the waterways at Colombia’s border with Venezuela.His mission has become more urgent since the global shift towards clean energy has generated an unprecedented rush for rare earth elements and critical minerals. These materials are vital components in electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, fighter jets and guided missiles, with demand also driven by increased defence budgets in the EU, US and China, and throughout the world. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago China ‘made a real mistake’ by ‘firing shots’ on rare earths, Bessent says

US Treasury secretary says US will protect itself from supply shocks in 12-24 months

Politics

1 week ago China's rare earth export delay offers US a chance to weaken Beijing's grip on the market

China’s promise to delay its newest restrictions on the export of the rare earths that are crucial to many high-tech products for one year as part of a trade agreement creates an opportunity for the U.S. and its allies

Politics

1 week ago Britain would do well to remember where its power over China lies | Simon Jenkins

It’s ridiculous for the government to splurge on defence while it slashes spending on its most valuable asset: cultureThe US has backed down in its tariff war with China. Thanks to Donald Trump’s egotistical diplomacy, rare earths can again flow one way, soya beans the other, and less of the chemicals used to make fentanyl in between. No matter that the war was Trump’s own idea and seems to have been a stunt. The stunt is over. Trump has played his favourite game of dealmaker, much to the discomfort of millions.Meanwhile Britain still cannot make up its mind if China is its enemy. In 2008 British officials visited the Beijing Olympics authorities to discuss the next games in London in 2012. The government told them to “raise” human rights issues, about which the British government was most concerned. I am told the Chinese reacted with sympathy at the Britons’ embarrassment at broaching the matter, and then everyone got down to business. Soon China was a friend, certainly to David Ca...

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump says he'll lower tariffs on China following 'amazing' meeting with Xi Jinping

‘I thought it was an amazing meeting,’ Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after he departed Busan, ranking the talks a ‘12 out of 10’

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump says rare earths dispute ‘settled’ after Xi Jinping meeting in South Korea – live updates

Summit on sidelines of Apec was the first between the leaders of US and China since 2019, and comes after tensions have been strained by Trump’s trade warIn the days leading up to the Trump-Xi meeting, American officials signalled that the US president did not intend to make good on a recent threat to impose an additional 100% import tax on Chinese goods.Also that China had shown signs it is willing to relax its export controls on rare earths as well as revive buying soybeans from the US.The relationship with China is very good.Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump lowers tariffs and says deal reached on rare earths in ‘amazing’ Xi Jinping talks: Live updates

Trump says first meeting with Xi in six years was a 'great success' with agreements on a range of issues

Economics

1 week ago Trump says agreement reached on tariffs and rare earths in ‘amazing’ Xi Jinping talks: Live updates

Trump met with Xi Thursday morning local time in South Korea

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump speaks after Xi Jinping meeting in South Korea – live updates

Summit on sidelines of Apec was the first between the leaders of US and China since 2019, and comes after tensions have been strained by Trump’s trade war In the days leading up to the Trump-Xi meeting, American officials signalled that the US president did not intend to make good on a recent threat to impose an additional 100% import tax on Chinese goods.Also that China had shown signs it is willing to relax its export controls on rare earths as well as revive buying soybeans from the US.The relationship with China is very good.Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump calls China’s Xi Jinping ‘a tough negotiator’ ahead of meeting amid escalating trade tensions and fragile global markets

High-stakes sit-down follows months of tensions and tariff threats over China’s rare earth export controls

Politics

1 week ago Donald Trump and Xi Jinping hold meeting in South Korea amid hopes for trade deal – live updates

Summit on sidelines of Apec is the first between the leaders of US and China since 2019, and comes after tensions have been strained by Trump’s trade warIn the days leading up to the Trump-Xi meeting, American officials signalled that the US president did not intend to make good on a recent threat to impose an additional 100% import tax on Chinese goods.Also that China had shown signs it is willing to relax its export controls on rare earths as well as revive buying soybeans from the US.The relationship with China is very good.Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Exact date rare Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS will make closest flyby of Earth

3I/ATLAS makes its closest approach to the Sun today, but when does it swing past Earth?

Politics

2 w. ago ‘The world is watching’: What Trump and Xi want from trade summit

US and Chinese leaders expected to unveil deal to extend tariff truce amid tensions over rare earths and tech controls

Politics

2 w. ago Trump and Xi talks could end months of global economic chaos

High on agenda for the leaders of the US and China will be rare earths and tariffs, with a chance of a relationship resetAhead of Thursday’s long-awaited first meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping since the US president’s return to office, officials from both sides have been hammering out the contours of what a trade deal between Washington and Beijing might look like, an agreement that could bring an end to months of global economic chaos caused by the US-China trade war.The two leaders have not met in person since 2019. Since then, the war in Ukraine and increasing concern in Washington about China’s technological advances, as well as longstanding issues about the imbalanced US-China trade relationship, have strained the bonds between the two superpowers. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Poignant moment Trump is gifted priceless Abe golfing relic ahead of signing landmark deal... and issuing gushing praise of Japan

Trump is in Japan to meet the country's first female leader Sanae Takaichi. The president lavished praise on her and signed deals on trade and rare earths. Trump was also showered with gifts.

Economics

2 w. ago Trump hails Japan’s ‘great’ new female PM Sanae Takaichi as he seals tariffs and rare earths deal

Tokyo and Washington celebrate ‘new golden age’ of friendship

Economics

2 w. ago From rare earths to Russian oil, here’s what Trump hopes to get out of meeting Xi Jinping

Experts do not expect US and China to resolve all their issues before the two presidents meet, but they are hoping for enough progress to stop the rivalry from doing more global economic damage. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports

Politics

2 w. ago Trump live: President threatens to send National Guard into more cities – ‘We can do as we want’

President Trump met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a conservative nationalist, in Tokyo and inked a deal to strengthen US access to rare earth minerals

Politics

2 w. ago Trump refuses to rule out third term as he signs rare earths deal with new Japanese PM: Live updates

President Trump met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a conservative nationalist, in Tokyo and inked a deal to strengthen US access to rare earth minerals

Politics

2 w. ago US and China seek to strike a deal over rare earths, tariffs, soybeans

The United States and China are not going to resolve all the issues that divide them before presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet Thursday in Busan, South Korea

Economics