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Category: World News

  • What Are “Rare Earths” and Why Are Countries Racing to Secure Them

    Freepik

    Why They Are So Important

    Everyday Technology

    Rare earth is in nearly everything we use. They are essential for manufacturing smartphones, screens, speakers, cameras, lasers, hard drives, and computers. They allow components to be miniaturized and devices to perform better.

    Energy Transition and Electric Mobility

    These elements are vital for advancing sustainable technologies.

    • Electric cars rely on permanent magnets made of neodymium and praseodymium in their motors.
    • Wind turbines use rare earth to generate energy more efficiently.

    As the world accelerates the shift to clean energy, global demand for these metals is rising rapidly.

    Defense and Geopolitics

    The same elements are used in radars, drones, satellites, and guided missiles, making them strategic for national security. Countries controlling production or exports gain political power and global influence.

    What Are Rare Earth?

    Despite the name, rare earth isn’t actually rare in the Earth’s crust. They are special because they occur in low concentrations and are mixed with other minerals, requiring expensive and complex processes to separate them.

    These elements — called rare earth elements (REEs) — include 17 metals: the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. Their magnetic, electrical, and luminescent properties make them essential for modern technology and the green economy.

    Who Dominates Production — and What’s the Problem?

    Production Concentration

    Although deposits exist in many countries, extraction and refining are heavily concentrated in China, which produces over two-thirds of global mining and nearly all refining of certain types.

    Why Few Countries Explore at Scale

    Several reasons:

    • Low profitability relative to investment required.
    • High environmental impact, producing toxic and radioactive waste.
    • Complex infrastructure, as the process involves separation, purification, and manufacturing of alloys and specific magnets.

    What Is at Stake for Countries?

    Energy and Industrial Security

    If rare earth supplies are disrupted by trade barriers or geopolitical disputes, entire industries — like electric vehicles and defense — could halt.

    Strategic Autonomy

    To reduce dependence, many countries are investing in new mines, local refining, and recycling components containing rare earth. It’s a race for technological independence.

    Green Economy Transition

    In a low-carbon economy, access to rare earth is crucial. Those controlling these resources will have a competitive advantage in clean energy production and sustainable technologies.

    The Strategic Role of Rare Earth

    Rare earth go beyond technology: they are key to economic and geopolitical independence and to developing sustainable solutions in energy, transportation, and communication. Investing in research, recycling, and responsible extraction is both strategic and an opportunity to create cleaner technologies while reducing reliance on a few global suppliers.

    References

  • Gaza Needs Peace: Why an Agreement Now Could Save Thousands of Lives

    Flickr/Rusty Stewart (Creative Commons)

    The Hope Born from Diplomacy

    Amid the devastation that marks Gaza, talks of a possible U.S.-mediated agreement between Hamas and Israel are growing. After months of conflict, with thousands of civilians dead and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, the search for a truce is no longer just political — it has become a matter of survival.

    The Human Cost of War

    Hospitals without power, malnourished children, entire families buried under rubble — this is the daily reality for the people of Gaza. According to international agencies, more than one million people in the region face extreme hunger, while the blockade prevents the entry of basic supplies. Each day without an agreement means more lost lives and a future even further from reconstruction.

    The Role of the United States and the International Community

    The direct involvement of the United States in negotiations brings a rare opportunity for effective mediation. Although Washington and Tel Aviv have historically maintained close relations, international pressure for a ceasefire has been growing. A resolution that ensures security for Israel and dignity for Palestinians could pave the way for lasting peace — something decades of violence have failed to achieve.

    Why Palestine Must Act Now

    For Gaza, accepting a peace agreement is not surrender — it is survival. The rebuilding of cities, the return of children to school, and the reopening of hospitals depend on a stable environment and international cooperation. As the fighting continues, it is the civilian population that pays the highest price, without voice or refuge.

    The Chance for a New Beginning

    The future of Gaza cannot be defined only by resistance, but by the ability to turn suffering into reconstruction. A fair agreement, accompanied by humanitarian aid and political guarantees, could restore hope to a people who have struggled for years to exist. Peace may not erase the scars of war, but it is the only path capable of preventing new ones from being created.

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  • Italy Confirms Right to Citizenship by Descent and Overturns Restrictive New Rules

    In a historic decision, Italy’s Constitutional Court rejected the restrictions imposed by Law 74/2025, which limited Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) to children and grandchildren of Italian citizens. The court reaffirmed that citizenship by blood is a birthright, acquired automatically under the law in force at the time of birth, with no generational limits. This ruling opens the door for millions of descendants of Italians worldwide who had been excluded by previous reforms.

    What the Constitutional Court Ruled

    In ruling No. 142/2025, issued on July 31, 2025, Italy’s Constitutional Court addressed three fundamental principles:

    1. Citizenship by Descent is a Birthright: Italian citizenship by blood is acquired automatically at birth, according to the law in effect at that time, with no need for subsequent recognition.
    2. No Generational Limits Before 2025: Before Law 74/2025, there were no generational limits on the transmission of Italian citizenship by descent.
    3. Need for Individual Judicial Review: Restrictions on citizenship must allow for individual legal review, and arbitrary administrative rules are insufficient.

    This decision allows individuals affected by previous reforms, such as Law 74/2025, to legally challenge those restrictions.

    Impact on Diaspora Communities

    Millions of people, especially in Latin America, lost the right to Italian citizenship by descent due to the 2025 reforms. In Brazil, for example, many descendants of Italians who migrated in the 19th and early 20th centuries were excluded. The Constitutional Court’s decision represents a significant victory for these communities, enabling them to claim their Italian citizenship.

    Next Steps and Legal Implications

    Following the Constitutional Court’s ruling, descendants of Italians affected by the 2025 reforms can now seek judicial recognition of their Italian citizenship. The Court also emphasized that significant changes to citizenship rules must occur through proper legislative processes, not arbitrary administrative decisions. This ensures that future reforms respect the rights of citizens and the Italian diaspora.

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  • Child Malnutrition: The Deadly Cycle Trapping Generations in Poverty

    Pixabay

    More than just a health issue, child malnutrition is a silent sentence condemning millions of children to a future of misery. Scientific studies and reports from international organizations reveal that lack of essential nutrients in childhood harms not only physical growth but also cognitive development, resulting in adults with lower productivity and greater vulnerability to poverty.

    The Impact of Malnutrition on Child Development

    Malnutrition in childhood severely affects physical and mental development. Research shows that malnourished children have stunted growth, impaired cognitive development, and a higher risk of chronic diseases later in life. Additionally, malnutrition can cause nutritional deficiencies, weakening the immune system and increasing susceptibility to infections.

    Poverty and Malnutrition: A Vicious Cycle

    Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of malnutrition. Families in vulnerable economic situations have limited access to nutritious food, perpetuating malnutrition and maintaining the poverty cycle. Moreover, malnutrition increases healthcare costs, reduces productivity, and slows economic growth, keeping poverty and disease ongoing.

    Long-Term Consequences of Child Malnutrition

    Childhood malnutrition has lasting effects. Studies indicate that malnourished children are at greater risk for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Malnutrition also affects school performance and employment opportunities, limiting economic prospects and perpetuating poverty.

    The Need for Immediate and Sustainable Actions

    It is urgent for governments and international organizations to implement effective policies to combat child malnutrition. This includes improving access to nutritious food, promoting healthy feeding practices, and ensuring adequate healthcare for at-risk children. Only with coordinated actions can the poverty cycle be broken, ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future for upcoming generations.

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