Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 4

As China, US race for critical minerals, Africa needs to make rules

Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals are essential for modern technologies. They are key to industries ranging from electronics and telecommunications to renewable energy, defence, and aerospace systems.The global demand for these minerals has been growing, as has the competition for them.The supply and production of these

US soybean farmers are dangerously overdependent on China

For many years now China has been our soybean farmers’ biggest overseas customer – by a large margin. In 2024, China accounted for more than half of American soybean exports. The next largest customer, the European Union, accounted for only a tenth. In up years and down for US exports, China’s lead has been large.Some of the down years began with China’s retaliation for the tariffs President

Regulators in the U.S. have moved to block one of Hong Kong’s largest telecommunications companies from accessing domestic network

Regulators in the U.S. have moved to block one of Hong Kong’s largest telecommunications companies from accessing domestic networks, citing national security concerns. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced on Wednesday that it had initiated proceedings to potentially bar HKT Trust and HKT Ltdand its subsidiaries from interconnecting with American networks, escalating concerns over

PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS SHOW RECENT GAINS FOR CHINA’S SOFT POWER

Several public opinion surveys published over the last few months paint a picture of China’s role in the world from the perspective of both Chinese and international respondents. These build on previous surveys from the past year that show how despite polarized views, global attitudes towards China have improved at the expense of the U.S., especially in the Global South. (Meanwhile, polls showing

EROME COHEN, THE “EVERGREEN PINE OF RULE OF LAW IN CHINA,” REMEMBERED

Jerome Cohen enjoyed the longevity of a truly righteous man, however, following an extended illness he has now left us. His passing truly marks the end of an era. In what seems like another age, years ago Jerry Cohen, our master, ventured to this distant land of China to contribute his talent to the opening of that door, hopeful of being able to propagate the rule of law for the sake of broader

Jaws Drop at Clip of Surreal Neighborhood in China: ‘Real-Life Dollhouse’

A video of a striking complex in Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan Province, has captivated thousands online with its dollhouse-like architecture.The footage, filmed and shared by Jimmy (@jimmyvisitsworld on TikTok), gives viewers a glimpse into a maze of stacked apartment units that appear almost too whimsical to be real. Since being posted on October 7, the clip has amassed more than

How US Is Fighting China’s Rare-Earths Dominance

China’s announcement last week of sweeping new curbs on rare-earth elements signaled a new stage in the economic showdown with Washington—one in which Beijing is willing to weaponize its overwhelming advantage in the global supply of critical minerals.The new restrictions, announced by China’s Ministry of Commerce, will prohibit U.S. defense contractors from receiving Chinese rare-earth materials

Map Shows US’ Critical Minerals as China Battle Heats Up

The trade battle between China and America has been intensifying this year, with various tariffs being imposed by both sides, and now, rare earth minerals have taken center stage. A map, created by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of the Interior, shows more than 800 areas identified by researchers as showing geological evidence of systems containing 23 types of minerals in the

State Dept Employee Allegedly Took Top Secret Docs, Met Chinese Officials

A State Department employee has been accused of removing classified documents from government facilities and covertly meeting with Chinese officials for several years, according to federal prosecutors.Ashley Joachim Tellis, an unpaid State Department senior adviser, is facing a felony charge of unlawful retention of national defense information after investigators found more than 1,000 pages of

Taliban minister confronted by rare challenge on trip abroad: women journalists

Three days after being excluded from a press conference fronted by Taliban’s foreign minister in India, women journalists took their seats in a powerful show of force to question him about the social exclusion of Afghan women.An image from Reuters news agency shows Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi facing a row of women journalists inside the Afghan Embassy in Delhi on Sunday.It was a rare