Europe’s Achilles’ heel: how rare earths leave the EU wide open to economic blackmail from China

By Gracia Abad Quintanal, Profesora Agregada de Relaciones Internacionales, Universidad Nebrija

In recent years, rare earth elements have become the focal point of renewed competition between the world’s major powers. These materials are crucial to the manufacture of all manner of products, ranging from weapons to medical products, AI hardware and cars.

In this new panorama, the United States and Europe are at a disadvantage, as China controls as much as 90% of the global trade in rare earths. This is largely because it has been quietly but continuously promoting the extraction and refining of these…

Read complete article

~	Lions have two types of roar – new research

~	‘The main thing you’ve got is TikTok’: how the social media ban could harm African diaspora youth

~	Should we ‘get over’ print books in the digital age – or are they more precious than ever?

~	A backlash against AI imagery in ads may have begun as brands promote ‘human-made’

~	How to donate your poo to science or medicine

~	How food assistance programs can feed families and nourish their dignity

~	What makes a true Santa is inside – and comes with the red suit

~	Nigeria: Generation of children at risk of missing out on education in the north

~	Ukraine: Peace plan must not compromise on justice or accountability

~	From Kingston to the world: Jamaican music and film legend Jimmy Cliff passes on at 81