Critical minerals: the new arena of U.S.–China competition
The U.S. and China are locked in a growing struggle over critical minerals, the materials that power everything from electric vehicles and microchips ...
Qatar opened the Doha Forum with a stark warning that Gaza ceasefire talks have entered a critical moment, as officials said the current pause in fighting cannot yet be described as a lasting halt to hostilities.
Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani set the tone early, telling delegates that negotiations over Gaza remain fragile. He said the pause now in place falls short of a true ceasefire, stressing that only a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and restored stability would allow Gaza’s residents to move freely again. The message was measured but direct, a reminder that regional diplomacy is wrestling with conditions that are still unsettled.
He noted that mediators remain in close coordination as they search for the next steps toward a more durable halt to hostilities. Türkiye’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan described the ongoing conversations around an international stabilisation force for Gaza as complex. He said Ankara is ready to contribute but warned that any mission must begin with clearly defined responsibilities, from separating Palestinians and Israelis at the border to resolving the long list of operational questions that remain open.
Ukraine’s future featured strongly as well. The U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said discussions have brought the sides closer to peace than at any point since the conflict began. He cautioned, however, that the path ahead is uncertain, and any potential deal still requires agreement on issues that have proven difficult to align. He said NATO must stay firm as hybrid threats from Russia continue.
Energy security shaped another part of the agenda. Qatar’s energy minister Saad Al Kaabi said he expects the EU to resolve its remaining sustainability legislation concerns by the end of the year. He delivered an upbeat assessment of long term LNG demand, pointing to rapid growth in Asia and the rising power needs driven by AI. His warning was directed elsewhere: without new investment, supply may fall short and trigger volatile price increases.
The Doha Forum continues with high level discussions on mediation, security and the shifting balance of global influence.
Rivers and reservoirs across Spain and Portugal were on the verge of overflowing on Wednesday as a new weather front pounded the Iberian peninsula, compounding damage from last week's Storm Kristin.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unveiled a new underground ballistic missile base on Wednesday (4 February), just over a day before the start of mediated nuclear negotiations with the United States, slated for Friday in Oman.
Morocco has evacuated more than 100,000 people from four provinces after heavy rainfall triggered flash floods across several northern regions, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
A second group of Palestinians receiving medical treatment arrived in Egypt from Gaza via the Rafah border crossing on Tuesday (3 February).
The World Health Organization has added the Nipah virus to its list of the world’s top 10 priority diseases, alongside COVID-19 and the Zika virus, warning that its epidemic potential highlights the global risk posed by fast-spreading outbreaks.
The U.S. and China are locked in a growing struggle over critical minerals, the materials that power everything from electric vehicles and microchips to missiles and advanced radar systems, as both sides move to secure control over supply chains that underpin economic and military power.
Greek authorities have arrested a member of the armed forces on suspicion of leaking highly sensitive military information to foreign handlers allegedly linked to China.
Norwegian prosecutors have launched a corruption investigation into former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland after newly released documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein allegedly showed possible benefit transfers during Jagland’s time in senior international roles.
Russian troops in Ukraine have lost access to Starlink internet terminals after Kyiv and SpaceX moved to block unauthorised Russian use, a disruption Ukrainian officials described as a major blow to Moscow’s battlefield operations.
Mexican federal officers detained Mayor Diego Rivera on Thursday during coordinated raids that also led to the arrest of the municipality’s security director and the heads of public works and the land registry.
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