A Pacific island nation wants to mine the ocean floor. Many islanders fear this could taint their ocean forever. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/23/asia-pacific/politics/pacific-island-nation-mine-ocean/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #mining #oceans #cookislands #pacificislands
President Trump has cleared the way for a race to the abyss to extract critical minerals, even though seabed mining technology remains under development and commercially unproven. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/22/world/politics/trump-minerals-deep-sea-mining/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #rareearths #mining #oceans #batteries #pollution #sustainability #us #donaldtrump
Scientists present at the latest effort to hash out international rules for deep-sea mining say it's unclear if it's possible to restore damaged sea floor ecosystems — or how long it would take. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/07/20/earth-science/sea-floor-mining-warning/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #earthscience #oceans #mining #coral
India is looking to boost its output of rare-earth magnets to cut its reliance on China, which controls about 90% of the world's processing of the minerals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/10/india-rare-earth-china-reliance/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #india #china #rareearths #mining #trade
Unusually large quantities of antimony — a metal used in batteries, chips and flame retardants — have poured into the United States from Thailand and Mexico since China barred U.S. shipments last year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/09/us-minerals-china-export-ban/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #rareearths #china #us #trade #mining #gallium #germanium
The global supply of heavy rare earths hinges in part on the outcome of a monthslong battle between a rebel army and the Chinese-backed military junta in the hills of northern Myanmar. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/08/asia-pacific/politics/china-rare-earth-myanmar-rebels/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #myanmar #rareearths #mining #southeastasia #china
Japan will from January attempt to extract rare earth minerals from the ocean floor in the deepest trial of its kind. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/03/japan/japan-deep-sea-mineral-extraction/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #oceans #mining #china #donaldtrump
With tensions increasing between Russia and Nordic countries, the 500-kilometer-long Malmbanan train line remains a prime target. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/03/world/politics/sweden-arctic-railway-militarized-future/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #sweden #arctic #climatechange #russia #rail #mining