Rare

China’s domain is spreading far beyond rare earths. Even where the US had no rival: the sea

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While the United States is has launched yet to the search of those minerals and rare earths that China governs well above the rest of the planet, even with the pentagon and the Apple very Inverting a stratospheric sum, Beijing has been adding and building A small empire that begins to make many nations nervous. To Japan and Taiwan, who believed the seas as nobody: Washington. Maritime ambition. In a context of growing strategic rivalry with the United States, China has intensified their Naval operations long range as part of an explicit demonstration of its global ambition. Already We tell it: Between May and June, the aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong They carried out combined exercises in waters near Japan, operating beyond the so -called “First Islands Chain” and entering the “Second Chain”, including Guam in Equation, an important military enclave United States. Nerves The presence of these two aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific not only caused Concern in Japanbut also revealed the New scope of the Chinese Navy, which seeks train their units To operate independently, far from the continental coasts, both in peace and war times. The ability to perform air operations from ships in open sea (including Removal and landings of fighters and helicopters up to 90 times a day) provides China an operational experience that, although still incipient, anticipates a future use of these assets as force projection instruments beyond their immediate influence areas. Shandong Inroads under construction, in 2019 Aircraft carrier as a message. Beyond its military utility, Chinese aircraft carriers represent a powerful status symbol international. For the Government of Xi Jinping, the possession and deployment of these ships constitutes an affirmation that China has left behind the limitations of a regional power and progressly advanced towards the image of global power. Even though Three Chinese aircraft carriers current (the liaoning, the Shandong and the still inactive Fujian) operate with conventional propulsion and are below technologically of the Eleven nuclear aircraft carriers From Washington, his exercises are promoted in official media as an unequivocal signal of the country’s maritime rebirth. And one more when falling. In addition, the possibility that The fourth carriercurrently under construction, use nuclear propulsion and electromagnetic catapults indicates a gradual but ambitious evolution. Plus: The recent opening to the public Shandong in Hong Kongafter completing their maneuvers, reinforces that nationalist propaganda approach aimed at strengthening the legitimacy of Chinese leadership through military power. CNS FUJIAN Dispute for the Pacific. China’s aircrafts not only serve for training or to project distant influence, they also constitute a Operational tool Within the framework of Territorial disputes Activated in the Sea of South and Eastern China. Analysts agree that Beijing could use them to reinforce your claims in front of Japan, South Korea or Southeast Asian countries, or even to exert coercive pressure on Taiwan through A maritime block that prevents the flow of goods and communications. Although in a direct conflict with the United States the aircraft carriers would be vulnerable to missiles and torpedoes (and would probably have a limited role in a immediate confrontation by Taiwan), its value lies in the control of broad areas, surveillance, political intimidation and support for combined naval operations. As He pointed out A Japanese academic to NYT, these platforms allow pressure on both military and civil vessels, becoming a hybrid instrument of economic and military coercion. Evolutionary logic. From the Strait crisis from Taiwan in 1996, when the United States deployed two combat groups Of aircraft carriers to deter Beijing, China understood the need to develop its own naval response capacity. The starting point was the acquisition of the helmet of An old Soviet aircraft carrier In Ukraine, converted into the Liaoning and incorporated in 2012. Since then, the advance has been progressive but constant. The Shandong, released in 2017was the first built entirely in Chinese shipyards, while The Fujianeven in the test phase, it incorporates for the first time a system of Electromagnetic catapultkey technology to operate heavier and better armed aircraft. A long way. Despite these advances, experts like Narushige Michishita They warn in the New York Times That Chinese naval operations are still in a rudimentary phase, marked by a slow but disciplined learning curve. China prefers to avoid expensive errors and seeks, however, consolidate a coherent maritime doctrine and functional that allows, in a few decades, to compete from you to you with the great naval powers of the world. The Indo-Pacific Theater. Plus: the simultaneous display Of the Liaoning and Shandong in deep waters, it has a double value: it allows the Chinese fleet to operate in unknown environments and reinforces its capacities for future intervention scenarios in critical areas, such as the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf or even the Mediterranean. According to him Timothy Heath researcher of the Rand Corporation, the aircraft carriers will offer China the ability to project aerial missions in any balloon area Where your Navy sails, beyond the only foreign base that currently maintains in Yibuti. In that sense, the control of routes to the Middle East or the Strait of Malaca, vital for Chinese economic and energy interests, will probably be one of the Strategic objectives in the medium term. A symbols war. I remembered the Times that, as Beijing builds More warshipsconsolidated alliances with African countries and reinforces its port diplomacy in Asia and Africa, the Indo-Pacific converts On the board where a new naval power competition is outlined, with the aircraft carriers as a tool of that Geostrategic ambition. While the aircraft carriers do not guarantee maritime domain (especially in front of a power with Interdiction capabilities as the United States), its value lies both in its operational function and its symbolic weight. In other words, Beijing is no longer satisfied with defending their coasts, but with drawing routes on waters that, until recently, only dominated Your main rival. Image | RHK111, Tyg728, Ministry of National Defense The People’s Republic of China/ Li Gang/ Xinhua In Xataka | China … Read more

Stress for not running out of rare earth is dominating technological ones. Apple has just spent 500 million

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Apple has signed An agreement with MP Materialsa US mining company, to ensure the supply of magnets made of rare earths over the next few years. The company led by Tim Cook will invest 500 million dollars In this company with the purpose of eliminating its current dependence on Rare earth from China. However, the supply of rare land magnets of American origin will begin in 2027. This strategic decision is Apple’s response to two needs. The most obvious is that those of Cupertino need to have access to rare earth magnets without being conditioned by The iron control that China currently exercises on the global supply chain of these chemical elements. In addition, its investment in MP Materials has been very well received by the administration of Donald Trump as part of the commitment acquired by Apple at the end of last February. And is that on the 24th of that month the Cupertino announced that will invest 500,000 million dollars During the next four years in the US and will create 20,000 new jobs. In any case, this scenario invites us to ask us two questions. On the one hand it is important to identify why rare earth magnets are so important for Apple and other technology companies. And it is also crucial that we know how China has achieved dominate in such a forceful way the global supply chain of rare earths. Rare earths are essential to make advanced technology “Rare earth materials are fundamental to producing advanced technology, and our association with MP Materials will help strengthen the supply of these vital elements here, in the United States,” has declared Tim Cookthe Director General of Apple. Permanent magnets made with rare earths, such as neodymium or samarium-colto, are very attractive for electronic devices manufacturers because they have high magnetic force, great resistance to demagnetization and high thermal stability, among other remarkable qualities. In fact, they are not essential only for the electronics industry; They also have a leading role in the sector that is dedicated to the manufacture of electric cars, in the aeronautical and in the advanced armament production industry. The problem for the US and its allies is that currently the rare earth supply chain It is almost completely controlled by China. This Asian country produces 70% of rare earths and controls 90% of the processing industry of these chemical elements. Rare earth magnets are very attractive due to their high magnetic force, great resistance to demagnetization and high thermal stability On April 4, just 24 hours after Donald Trump announced the taxes that he was going to apply to the importation of most products from abroad, The administration led by Xi Jinping responded. And he did it forcefully. In early December 2024 He chose to prohibit The export of some critical minerals to the US, among which were three essential metals for the chips industry: Gallium, Germanio and Antimony. Shortly after the Chinese government added two more critical metals to its list of export restrictions: the Scandio and the Disposio. These chemical elements are probably less known than metals prohibited by China previously, such as Gallium or Germanio, but are at least as important as the latter because They have a fundamental role In the industries of integrated circuits, telecommunications and the manufacture of storage devices. The ability to put pressure from China had not yet been extinguished. Just ten days later, on April 14, the Administration did not hesitate take another step forward With the purpose of putting in check, in addition to the industries that I just mentioned, those of electric cars, aeronautics and advanced armament. To achieve this, it effectively suspended, in addition to the export of the most valuable rare earths, that of high -power magnets that have a critical role in the industries that I have cited in this same paragraph. This is the context in which MP Materials has erected as a crucial actor for the US. And this mining company is the owner of the only site in this country that contains some of the rare earths necessary to manufacture high -power industrial magnets. This is the reason why it has become A very valuable strategic resource For the country led by Donald Trump. The US plan pursues Develop your own supply chain of rare earths with the purpose of eliminating any dependence on the global market of these chemical elements. Image | Daniel L. Lu More information | Reuters In Xataka | The US will not be able to contain the technological development of China. Experts from the chips industry forecast it

The Pentagon gets fully into the Rare Earth War with China. Has invested 400 million in the most promising US mine

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The US Department of Defense is about to establish itself as the largest shareholder of MP Materials. A few hours ago has announced who will buy shares of this mining company for A value of 400 million dollars. And, in addition, it will provide additional 150 million to help this company Extract and process rare earths which contains its Mountain Pass site, which is in California, although it resides very close to the border with the Nevada state. This mine is the only US site that contains some of the rare earths that are necessary to manufacture high -power industrial magnets, so it has become a very valuable strategic resource for the country led by Donald Trump. The US plan pursues Develop your own supply chain of rare earths with the purpose of eliminating any dependence on the global market of these chemical elements, which is controlled by China. The entry of the Department of Defense in the MP Materials shareholders reflects with absolute how important this mine for the US is from the point of view of national security. What is not yet clear is if it contains the rare earth range and in the right amount to meet the needs of US companies. In any case, with its investment the Pentagon intends to ensure the supply of rare earths to manufacture High power magnets for military applications For at least ten years. Why are rare earths so important to the US and its allies On April 4, just 24 hours after Donald Trump announced the taxes that he was going to apply to the importation of most products from abroad, The administration led by Xi Jinping responded. And he did it forcefully. In early December 2024 He chose to prohibit The export of some critical minerals to the US, among which were three essential metals for the chips industry: Gallium, Germanio and Antimony. Shortly after the Chinese government added two more critical metals to its list of export restrictions: the Scandio and the Disposio. These chemical elements are probably less known than metals prohibited by China previously, such as Gallium or Germanio, but are at least as important as the latter because They have a fundamental role In the industries of integrated circuits, telecommunications and the manufacture of storage devices. Chinese authorities are retaining in ports throughout the country not only rare earths, but also high -power magnets The ability to put pressure from China had not yet been extinguished. Just ten days later, on April 14, the Administration did not hesitate take another step forward With the purpose of putting in check, in addition to the industries that I just mentioned, those of electric cars, aeronautics and advanced armament. To achieve this, it effectively suspended, in addition to the export of the most valuable rare earths, that of high -power magnets that have a critical role in the industries that I have cited in this same paragraph. The Chinese authorities are retaining in the ports throughout the country not only the rare earths, but also the high -power magnets acquired by the electric cars manufacturers of the entire planet, the aerospace companies, the chip factories and Armament companies. Many of these organizations have high -power magnet reserves made with rare earths, but possibly only allow them to subsist a few months. Europe in particular is in an extremely delicate position. China’s export controls are directed mainly to the US, but the old continent It does not remain unscathed. At least for the moment. In fact, in Germany, which as we all know is the heart of the European car industry, There are already experts who assure that if China continues to retain rare earths and electric motors some essential parts of the electric cars production chain will stop in a few weeks. For the European car industry this blow would be very difficult to fit. European companies that are dedicated to the manufacture of semiconductors are also in a very compromised situation. According to Reuters Many European chip production lines They will stop very soon Due to the shortage of crucial supplies, which has led the European Chamber of Commerce to meet with officials of the Ministry of Commerce of China to ask them to allow rare earth supply to European companies that are dedicated to the production of integrated circuits. Image | The Pentagon More information | The Washington Post In Xataka | The US will not be able to contain the technological development of China. Experts from the chips industry forecast it

Japan believes to have the largest deposit of rare earths hidden on a tiny island. And it is already date to extract them

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The Rare earth They are an element of great economic and geopolitical value and China stands as the greatest power. To its Japanese neighbors He didn’t make any grace have to depend on them and, after an exhaustive search, a year ago they found the treasure: A huge site of rare earths at the bottom of the ocean. Japan has already set date to start extracting them. January 2026. It is the date on which Japan will begin with the first test extraction, according to Nikkei Asia. They expected to start this year, but the delivery of the necessary duct to reach the deposit did not reach last May and delayed the project for a year. The duct, manufactured in the United Kingdom, has cost 12,000 million yen (about 71 million euros) and will allow them to reach a depth of 5,500 meters. The Chikyu. The Japanese Marine-Terrestrial Science and Technology Agency or JAMSTECfor its acronym in English, will use the chiichyu, the name received by the Japanese drilling boat with which these valuable minerals will extract. In 2022 they already did a test at 2,500 meters deep In front of the coast of the Ibaraki Prefecture, but the challenge they face now is to drill more than double deep: 5,500 meters. If they get it, it would be the first time that rare earths are extracted to so much depth. In the first phase, Chikyu will extract 35 tons of mud. It is estimated that a ton of mud contains about 2 kilos of rare earths, so, in the best case, we could be talking about 70 kilos of rare earths. A key discovery. As we said, Japan found the site almost a year ago in front of the island of Minami-Torishima, located about 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. The site is located in the exclusive economic zone of Japan, so their extraction corresponds to them. Among the minerals it contains, one of the most abundant would be gadolinio, used in the nuclear industry, and the disposium, used mainly in magnets for electric vehicles. It would also be rich in manganese, cobalt and nickel nodules, key components in the creation of batteries. The amount is not clear and is decisive. At first there was talk of a site of 16 million tons, which would place Japan in third place behind China (44 million) and Brazil (21 million). However, a Analysis of the University of Tokyo He pointed to the loot would be much more juicy: 230 million tons. If confirmed, Japan would overcome China and be placed as the largest reserve of rare earths in the world. Independence. Japan’s efforts to find rare earth date back to 2022 and had a clear goal: to be independent. Currently, Japan depends on imports to meet their needs of rare metals, with 60% of them from China. The Japanese government invested 6,000 million yen (about 42 million euros) in the first extractions and have made it a priority since then. Friction. As we said, China currently has the largest reserve of rare earth and that gives it A huge power. Just a few weeks ago something unusual happened: A combat fleet, headed by two Chinese aircraft carriershe entered the Japanese ZEE near the island of Minamitori. Japan He did not confirm If he presented a formal protest and just declared that he had sent “the appropriate message.” It is not the first time that China enters the Japanese area, nor are the friction between the two countries, But it is certainly a somewhat controversial maneuver given the economic importance of the area. Image | TNFSA In Xataka | Yonaguni’s Japanese island was known for its beauty and Bad Bunny. Now it is a military strength because of Taiwan

This city of China is the world epicenter of rare earths. The problem is that nobody thought of its inhabitants

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To get an idea to what extent It has control Of those precious minerals that form the set of rare earths, the greatest enemy that China has is not outside its borders. It is such a monopolization in the sector that the danger has in “house” through of the smugglers. And of all enclaves, one stands out greatly as an epicenter of the entire heart. His name is Baotou, and everything that shines for the surrounding inhabitants is not gold. A normal city in appearance. Baotouan industrial core of 2.7 million inhabitants on the border with the Gobi desert, seems to the naked eye a second category Chinese city like so many others: shopping centers with western chains, local restaurants overflowing and children playing late. However, a short journey to the outskirts is enough to discover His true nature: A landscape dominated by factories, smoking chimneys and an environmental legacy forged by one of the most strategic and persecuted sectors of the planet. The heart of rare earths. Yes, the enclave houses More than 80% of the Rare reserves of China. Since in the 30s they were discovered in the nearby Mining District of Bayan Obo elements such as Cerio, Lantano or Samario, its exploitation has turned the city on a chain axis on global supply on industries such as electronics, automotive and defense. We have counted before: During the 90s, China increased its production by 450%, while other countries, such as the United States, They closed their mines. This concentration made Beijin the almost exclusive supplier of these critical metals, and today, in the midst of the commercial war with Washington, its control has been transformed In diplomatic weapon. Economy vs Human Cost. The problem? The Guardian told that mineral wealth has favored the economic development of Baotou, whose GDP per capita It widely exceeds the national average. However, prosperity has Your reverse: Processing plants generate toxic (often radioactive) waste that are discharged into huge artificial rafts. The most infamous, the Weikuang dam, for years was the largest landfill of rare earth waste on the planet, without adequate coating and directly close to the Yellow River. In fact, official reports have confirmed that these activities caused a 87% decrease of ammoniacal nitrogen in a tributary between 2020 and 2024, although accumulated ravages remain visible. Yin mountains on the outskirts Cancer and poison. For example, numerous studies They have documented devastating consequences in the health of nearby communities: from bone malformations to a “Epidemic” of cancer. Exposure to these elements, capable of crossing the blood brain barrier, has been associated with motor and sensory disabilities, as well as alterations in fetal neurological development. Not just that. 2020 investigations revealed that the dust of the streets contains concentrations so high that the children of Baotou and surroundings are exposed to dangerous levels Just to breathe. Daily particle ingestion rates in mining areas far exceed the limits considered safe. A washing … halfway. Given the growing international criticism, China has tried to clean its image. In 2022, state media announced that Weikuang’s dam had been transformed into an urban wetland, now supposed paradise of migratory birds. The reality? Explained the medium British that when arriving at the place, what one is located is a concrete wall that hides a dry and desolate lodazal. Behind, ruins of ancient “villages of cancer” and oxidized industrial structures extend. New homes built for displaced are practically empty, and foreign journalists are It usually blocks actively to prevent them from talking to residents. Rural sacrifice. So things, Baotou exemplifies an uncomfortable truth: the China domain In the rare earth market it has been possible not only for its geological reserves, but for a political decision where rural communities have been allowed to support Toxic costs of a globalized economic boom. It is not an exempt problem from China, of course, the same thing happens in other sectors such as AI and its data centers (we recently counted it with the Elon Musk Supercomputer). Be that as it may, and although there are less polluting technologies to process these metals, they are rarely used: its implementation would make the low costs that have cemented the Chinese position. If you want, in a context of growing international pressure and commercial sanctions, the extractive model It reveals both the fragility of environmental balance and the rawness of contemporary geostrategic priorities. Image | 柏尔莫华, 天王星 In Xataka | The key to China’s success with rare earths are not the rare earths: it is the magnet In Xataka | China’s domain of rare earths has nothing to do with geography: it is born from 39 university programs

There are people growing rare plants at home and reluctant their ‘children’ for hundreds of euros

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In salons with filtered light and shelves that previously kept books a business as green as surprising: that of collection plants. It is not exotic plants without more, we talk about leaves with unique patterns and impossible hybrids; a niche where Some plants are worth more than vision proand where fans with a good eye -and best hand – They are turning their hobby into a business. If you want a rare plant, do not go to the nursery because you will not find it, you better go to Wallapop. However, although the market is full of enthusiasts willing to pay surprising figures for some species, there is still the big question: Can you live from selling plants? We have talked to two of them to tell us more details about this hobby turned into business. Fever to have more plants at home During the pandemic, many launched Bake bread either sport at home. Others, on the other hand, found their passion between pots and cuttings. Interest in exotic plants or the Urban gardens I already came from before, and it makes all the meaning, especially in the cities. Filling the plant house goes beyond decoration, responds to the need to connect with nature. If we add it to the context of confinement, the trend exploded. At the same time there was a boom of ‘plantfluencers’ on Instagram and the snowball has not stopped growing since then. It was precisely Through the book of @Plantitiscrónicaa well -known influencer, with whom I lived (on Instagram @Viviyverde), began in this of plants. Although with a much smaller account, today it has made the leap and cultivate rare specimens (especially Alocasia) that sells through Wallapop. In Sergio’s case (on Instagram @Sergiodendron), his reference was Sidney Plant Guy. Setting in his videos, he learned until his Philodendron and Epipremnum They would give him almost monstrous sizes sheets. To collect to cultivate Collecting plants in floors has a problem: space. Precisely this is what led Sergio to sell some of his plants. In nature, many of these tropical species climb the trees in search of the precious light. The moss tutor seeks to replicate these conditions. “They are plants that become giant immediately, my house was filled,” he tells us between laughs. When a plant becomes very high, it has to Cut it and extend the tutor. And what did he do with the part of the plant he cut? He didn’t fit him at home, so he started selling them. Collecting plants in floors has a problem: space. This was what led Sergio to sell some of them. Sergio’s hall is a real jungle. Once he reached the maximum of tutors he could have, he started with the Anthuriumone of the most fashionable species in this plant collecting. He acknowledges that it is relatively new in the cultivation of this species, but has captivated him: “It is a very diverse genre. The special thing they have is that they are easy to hybridize between different species.” Sergio usually buy his plants in other countries in Europe and creates his own hybrids on his floor in Madrid, many of them sell them In Wallapop. When asking how many plants he has at home he answers with another question: “What do you consider? In total estimated that you have more than 300 plants, 70 larger and the rest are small outbreaks. For Vivi, going from collecting to sell was somewhat more intentional. After a time collecting and creating content on plants, he saw that there was a market and launched a growth store. He currently has two stores in one of the rooms in his house where he cultivates especially Alocasia. It has more than 200 plants on its floor. On the left: one of Vivi’s cultivation stores. On the right, the orders of the week ready to leave. I lived too Sell ​​in Wallapopbut on his Instagram we see that his store is more professional. It has its logo, the packaging is very much curled and it even has merchandising. One of the things you like best is to pack them. It is a very important part if you want to sell plants: you have to get perfect to your destination. “Shipments must be made Monday or Tuesday. If they are sent later, the plant can spend the weekend in a warehouse and arrive in poor condition.” Another aspect to consider is legality. Selling plants within the European Union is legal And it does not require any permission, but if imported from other countries you have to have a phytosanitary certificate. “It’s a mess,” says Sergio. Since last year Wallapop informs the Treasury, So you have to declare income, in addition to being discharged in freelancers. The most sought -after plants What are the most expensive plants? Tropical plants are the ones that most attract these collectors, species such as Philodendron, Anthurium, Alocasia and Monstera They are the most common. But anyone is worth it, It must be a rare species and, if it has a unique, better variegation. In Botany, the variegation is the “state of the plant that shows tissues of different colors or of diverse constitution.” For example, one Albo Variegata Monster It is like the Monstera Normal (the classic ‘Costilla de Adam’), but with white spots. The whiter and pretty the pattern is, the more it will be paid for it. Wallapop is full of rare tropical plants and some are nothing cheap. But not all plants of the same type are worth the same. A Monstera Thai Constellation that can cost us from 60 euros (or more, depending on the size), than a Monstera Thai Constellation Miracle Tricolor that It can exceed 600 euros. The difference? That the second has the pattern in green, white and yellow, a rarity (or miracle, as its name says) that the price increases a lot. Fever by Alocasia and Anthurium It is also booming. Exist 113 species of Alocasia And more than 1,000 … Read more

An old island has been discovered by accident under the sea full of rare land. The problem is that it has no owner

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We are approaching a point where to say that rare earth moves the world in general, no Only the technological oneno longer sounds so hyperbolic. It happens that a single nation has most of the cake right now. We already said it, China has built The most elegant economic power lever in modern history with those desired minerals. Hence, the rest of the nations strive to find the new “gold” where there is a track, however small. An underwater island has emerged as possibility, the problem is for whom. An accidental finding. The story began when an international team of scientists discovered that a part of the known underwater highlands Like Rio Grande Riselocated about 1,200 kilometers from the coast of Brazil, it was actually A tropical island Tens of millions of years ago. Although training was already known by the scientific community as a chain of volcanic mountains submerged from The late cretaceousthe New research revealed that their western part was once above sea levelforming a terrestrial ecosystem that gradually disappeared under the waters due to tectonic activity and the weight of the accumulated volcanic rock. Revelation not only transforms the understanding of the paleoclimatic geography of the region, but also opens the door to a possible International dispute for its valuable mineral resources. The keys of the past. The discovery began in 2018 when British and Brazilian scientists noticed that certain rocks in the marine bed of the Rio Grande Rise They showed an unusual composition, more similar to lava deposits and terrestrial red clay than to marine formations. Published subsequent studies in Scientific Reports They confirmed that this clay (rich in kaolinite, hematite and goetite, typical tropical soil minerals) was not only a rarity in the oceanic background, but an unequivocal evidence that this segment of the high plateau was emerged between 44 and 47 million years agoduring The Eocene. With a very high chemical alteration index (93), these clays reveal an intense subaéreal weathering and a warm and humid climate, with implications that go beyond geology: the island could have been a stop point For migratory birds Between South America and Africa, offering one more piece in the puzzle of the biological exchanges of the past. A mineral treasure. But there is more, of course. Beyond its scientific value, the Rio Grande Rise houses an invaluable economic wealth. Their Ferromanganese scabs contain high levels of Essential metals As cobalt, nickel and lithium, all fundamental for the global energy transition, from batteries for electric vehicles to wind and solar energy storage. However, what attracts the most attention is your rare earth concentrationespecially the ititrium, a whitish and soft metal used in strategic technologies: aerospace alloys, superconductors, industrial lasers, LEDs and precision lenses. In a context where China overwhelmingly dominates the extraction, refined and manufacture of these materials (with Up to 90 % of world production), any new source acquires critical geopolitical importance. It is no accident that the Brazilian interest in this area has intensified after Beijing’s decision to restrict export. The dilemma of sovereignty. And here lies the big problem. The Brazilian government He has shown A clear intention to claim the Rio Grande Rise as part of its continental platform, based on the argument that training He was united to the continent in the past. However, the highlands is 652 nautical miles from the coast, very outside the limit of The 200 established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to delimit exclusive economic zones. This raises a challenge legal and diplomatic Complex, in which Brazil will seek to strengthen its exploration rights without violating international agreements. At the same time, warnings arise on the impact that an eventual mining exploitation could have little studied in depth ecosystems. Thus, the tension between the economic use of these resources and the need to preserve marine biodiversity appears as unresolved background dilemma. Global competition. In this way, the ancient island of Rio Grande Risetoday hidden under kilometers of water and centuries of geological oblivion, has reappeared as a Unexpected actor in the race for the strategic resources of the 21st century. Fosilized red soils, formed under disappeared tropical jungles, now lie next to metal scabs coveted by industries around the world. If you want, the finding not only highlights the scientific value of oceanic missions, it also exposes the growing global competition for those critical minerals in so many areas. In that new power map, where the control of raw materials marks the border between technological independence and structural dependence, even a sunk island millions of years ago can tip the balance of the future. Or at least that Think Brazil. Image | Pexels In Xataka | What are the rare earths, the elements that move the technological world and separate China from the West In Xataka | The great promise of Deng Xiaoping: China has waited more than 30 years to control the world economy with rare earths

The key to China’s success with rare earths are not the rare earths: it is the magnet

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The response of the Chinese administration to the tariff pressure to which the United States wanted to submit in early April was immediate: significant restrictions on the export of rare earths. A measure that ended up relaxing this week, with the granting of licenses of export for six months. A truce to which the United States accessed by lowering another of the key elements in this commercial war: The admission of Chinese students in American universities. These are one of the most important pieces of the geopolitical board: they are scarce chemical elements, difficult to extract and refine, and a key resource For the technological, automotive and energy industry, among many others. China is controlling access to these elements to defend their interests, but the key is not just to isolate its rivals of this precious material: is in the disability outside China to take advantage of them. China is the fundamental piece in its prosecuted. China controls rare earth production by 70% and 90% processing them. In the case of heavy strange earth, a subgroup of them even more scarce, their participation in the refining is 99%. According to the newspaper The New York TimesChina has up to 39 university programs so that its students can train and develop their career in the chemical industry specializing in this field. It is just a sample of the importance it has for the country led by Xi Jinping to continue controlling this geopolitical weapon. This graph is the best visual test of China’s domain in rare earths. The access toll. Although the focus on how they are affecting the restrictions on the export of rare earths to the supply chain is currently, there is a key that has gone unnoticed: the real problem is not access, it is the difficulty of working even in the case of obtaining them. When the Ministry of Commerce of China and the General Administration of Customs They imposed access controls for the export of medium and heavy rare earthsthe supply chain staggered. From their entry into force, all exporters were obliged to obtain specific licenses for each shipment, even if they are products in which they have already been refined, such as magnets. Why touch the rest. These licenses are a complex bureaucratic process, slow and studied case by case. Although the primary political objective is the United States, European companies that need heavy land (or materials manufactured with them, such as magnets), are seeing supply interruptions. Suzuki has already arrested swift production in Japan Due to the scarcity of pieces, Musk You are having trouble building your robots and, in Europe, the secretary general of CLA (European Association of Automation Suppliers) made an urgent call: production is entering the paralysis phase. “With a deeply interconnected global supply chain, China’s export restrictions are already paralyzing production in the European supplier sector.” The magnet as geopolitical treasure. William Huo, ex-intel and one of the most prominent figures in the critical analysis of Western industrial policy, summarizes it in the best possible way: West has been focusing on optimizing spreadsheets instead of factories, And now he is not able to manufacture a single magnet. The industry depends on the Chinese refining of rare earths to manufacture high performance magnets. Without them, there is no competitiveness in electric cars, defense, nuclear or consumer technology. The rest is not prepared to refine rare earths. “Middle East has oil. China has rare earths.” They are words of Den Xiaoping in 1992, who was the top leader of the People’s Republic of China. The country has been acquiring the necessary knowledge to extract and refine these materials, while the rest of the world enjoyed a comfortable (and economic) dependence. West has tried to self -abuse with at least 10% of the remaining rare lands. Countries like Norway and Sweden are finding new deposits, and have confirmed the intention of exploiting them not beyond 2030. None of this is enough. Refining is the main bottleneck for the use of rare earths in industry, an expensive, sensitive process and with complex waste management. In Xataka | China has built the most elegant economic power lever in modern history: rare earths

China has built the most elegant economic power lever in modern history: rare earths

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He Rare Earth Agreement announced last night says more than what appears to be a simple commercial truce: China has the most sophisticated geopolitical weapon we have seen. One that is capable of paralyzing entire sectors of any developed economy. And with the elegance of who closes a tap. China controls the entire ecosystem of Rare earth: The Ganzhou mines. Processing plants. He know-how technical. Specialized labor. Even the only American Mountain Pass mine Send your material to China to refine it. It is the same difference between having oil and controlling the refineries of the world. China has built a monopoly on elements that are the blood of the digital economy: Without neodymium there are no wind turbines. No Disposio there are no Tesla engines. Without Terbio there are no iPhone screens. Deng Xiaoping He saw it in 1992: “Middle East has oil. China has rare earths.” Three decades later, That prophecy is a reality and a definition of the present. And the interesting thing is that West has financed its own vulnerability. For decades, US and European companies outsourced the extraction and processing of “dirty” minerals to China, celebrating the margins that gave them that specialization. That dependence has had a strategic cost. And now… The same companies that built the supply chains to maximize their efficiency now discover that they also optimized their vulnerability. And China executes in a way we could call “civilized blackmail“. It does not close the whole tap, but it does slow down the supply with bureaucracy. Ask for forms, photos of the factories, customer listings, production details. That, in addition to a bureaucratic nuisance, is also to open a window to the industrial secrets of its competitors. Industrial espionage, but institutionalized, disguised as commercial policy. You take it or leave it. When he negotiates, he does it from a position of strength. The agreement, of only six months, works as a constant reminder. Each western company now knows that its production depends on Chinese benevolence. And if a geopolitical escalation of any kind arises, the industrial blackout can be almost instantaneous. The West now discovers that economic interdependence can become a lethal weapon, because China has shown that in the technological era, who controls critical materials controls the rules. The agreement last night postpones the moment in which the West will have to decide if he is willing to pay the price (economic and strategic) to recover his mineral sovereignty. China has won this pulse and has plenty of strength to win all the following. In Xataka | China monopolizes rare earths. An enemy has come out of home: the smuggers Outstanding image | Wikimedia Commons

Ozempic and blindness, we have been on the track of an extremely rare adverse effect for months. Now the AEMPS has taken a step forward

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A few days ago the The United Kingdom warned on an unexpected effect associated with the use of Ozempic and treatments based on the same principle, the phenomenon of Ozempic Babies. Now the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has also issued a statement but this time as a consequence of a very different effect. Adverse reaction. This week the AEMPS, the agency in charge of ensuring that the drugs meet the required standards, has issued A statement To warn of a very uncommon ocular adverse reaction “associated with treatments based on the semaglutida, the active compound of drugs such as Ozempic, Rybelsus or Wegovy. The notice occurs after the Committee for the Risk Assessment in Pharmacovigilance (PRAC) of the European Medication Agency (EMA) reviewed the risk of developing an ocular condition called Niana, which can cause loss of sudden vision. While the agency affects that the frequency of appearance of this type of eye problems is “very low”, it recommends that a sudden loss of vision is carried out an ophthanmological examination for Evaluate the possibility to interrupt the treatment. Noiana. Noiana is an acronym that refers to calls Previous ischemic optical neuropathiesNaion in English. These ailments are caused For the infarction of the optic nerve head. In other words, blood does not reach this eye region and a loss of vision occurs, which is typically fast but painless. It is an unknown and infrequent disease, not only in the context of those who follow a trailer treatment: its prevalence in the general population is approximately 10 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. A year on track. A year agoa study I found indications of the relationship between the treatments of Semaglutida and Niana. Indications such as those that gave rise to the evaluation by the Pract. The Committee reviewed clinical and preclinical essay data together with suspicion of adverse reactions, explains the AEMPS. This work resulted in the conclusion that trailer treatment can be associated with a risk of developing this disorder but indicate that with a very low frequency. The AEMPS speaks of “an increase in the risk of developing Niana of approximately double compared to people not exposed to this treatment. This corresponds to an additional case of NOIANA for every 10,000 patients treated with semagglutida for a year.” And what about the “other ozempic”? The AEMPS statement focuses on the drug -based drugs such as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy but does not indicate whether similar effects have been detected on similar treatments such as those based on the tirzepatida, such as Zepbound and Mounjaro. A medication with side effects. Like any drug, the semaglutida has a series of Contraindications and side effects. It should be remembered in this sense that the success of drugs such as Ozempic began when it was observed that this treatment against diabetes made those who followed it lost weight. In Xataka | “Ozempic face”, “Ozempic language” and “Ozempic teeth”: the other very visible effect of consuming the medicine to lose weight Image | Chemist4u / Amanda Dalbjörn

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