ع
Sections
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Documents & Memoirs
Regions
  • Gulf
  • MENA
  • Europe
  • USA
  • Asia
  • World
More
  • Videos
  • Cartoons
  • World in photos
  • Infographics
  • Profiles
  • Newsletter

LATEST ISSUE

Latest Issue
Magazine Archive
النسخة العربية
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Tag
  • mineral wealth

An Afghan miner extracts gold ore in the Ghulak Dara Valley in the Shighnan district of Badakhshan province, northeastern Afghanistan, on 28 July 2026. AFP

Will Trump entertain the Taliban's rare-earth invitation?

Afghanistan's mineral resources, including its coveted rare earths, are estimated to be worth more than $1tn, but so far China has been the main extractor, but a recent offer could change that

Kamal Alam 12 September 2026
Underwater image of a diver among fish at the North Seymour Island dive site in the Galapagos archipelago, Ecuador, taken on 8 March 2024. ERNESTO BENAVIDES / AFP

The global race for rare earths reaches the ocean floor

A critical mineral found on Japan's seabed has caught US attention, and the two are teaming up to see whether it can yield future benefits and reduce their dependence on China

Abdulfattah Khattab 08 September 2026
Diana Estefanía Rubio

New front in race for rare earths opens under the sea

In the Pacific, the US and Japan are looking to exploit deep-sea mineral resources to counter China’s dominance of rare-earth supply chains, amid environmental concerns and unresolved international…

Al Majalla - London 18 August 2026
Eduardo Ramon

The G7 gets serious about critical minerals

With China dominating the 'rare earths' needed to power the technology of the future, the West is playing catch-up in a race that began years ago. Finally, a plan is emerging.

Abdulfattah Khattab 20 January 2026
Al Majalla

The six noble gases countries are fighting over

Odourless, colourless gases such as helium, neon, radon, argon, krypton, and xenon power key industries. They are rare, difficult to extract, and hugely valuable, yet largely under the radar.

Abdulfattah Khattab 07 December 2025
US President Donald Trump (L) and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (R) hold up signed documents on a trade deal during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 26 October 2025. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP

Will Trump’s critical minerals blitz pay off?

The US president has been on a mission to secure new supply chains—and counter China's grip

Christina Lu 11 November 2025
Shutterstock

Thorium: Egypt’s mineral treasure lying in its black sands

A metal that can be converted into a fissile material for nuclear power is plentiful in the Arab world's most populous country. If science can harness its potential, Egypt has a valuable asset.

Marcelle Nasr 09 September 2025
A worker mining lead sulphide in the border area between Morocco and Algeria. Alamy

Algeria’s mineral wealth gives it a new edge

The country has passed a new minerals law seen by its backers as a catalyst for investment. But critics say it surrenders sovereignty. Which way will the pendulum swing?

Rabia Abdul Salam 04 September 2025
Eduardo Ramon

The rare earths powering industries and fuelling conflicts

From Africa to the Arctic, certain metals and minerals are so highly sought after for today's strategic industries that countries will go to war over them. What are they? Al Majalla digs deeper.

Abdulfattah Khattab 18 August 2025
Al Majalla

China's rare earths edge puts US industry on the back foot

America’s economy heavily depends on imported minerals vital for technology, energy, and defence. In 2024, the US was 100% import-reliant for 12 of the 50 “critical” minerals identified by the US…

Al Majalla - London 12 August 2025
  •  Load More
  • Popular
  • Editor's Pick
A US Navy sailor directs a Eurocopter AS-332 Super Puma helicopter on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is supporting US military operations in the war with Iran on 16 August 2026. US. Navy/REUTERS
Politics

US troops leave Iraq, but double down in the region

30, Sep 2026

Why 30 September should be understood less as a US exit from the Middle East than as the end of a particular model of American intervention

Caroline Rose
Eduardo Ramón
Documents & Memoirs

Exclusive interview with the man who caught Eli Cohen

30, Sep 2026

Ibrahim Hamidi spent years following the story of Mossad's 'spy in Damascus ', but some secrets remained untold. He then learned that the man who could answer them was still alive

Ibrahim Hamidi
Moroccan Foreign Minister Bourita & Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar agreed to advance their
relationship on security, trade, and regional integration on 16 September 2026. @USAmbUN/X
Politics

Morocco expands ties with Israel: why now?

28, Sep 2026

After months of behind‑the‑scenes talks, Rabat and Tel Aviv are deepening ties under a new phase of the existing Abraham Accords, with Western Sahara being dangled as an incentive

Mohamed Sharki
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping view portraits of former US presidents at the White House, Washington, DC, on 24 September 2026. Reuters
Politics

US-China summit: did Xi get what he wanted?

29, Sep 2026

Why the Chinese president's visit to Washington could be considered a success, despite no big movement on trade, Taiwan, and technology

Charbel Barakat
Soldiers from the Ethiopian National Defence Force chant slogans after completing their training at an officers' training ground 70 kilometres northeast of the city of Gondar, Ethiopia, on 14 September 2021. AFP
Politics

Turmoil in Tigray: the view from Ethiopia's neighbours

30, Sep 2026

While many would like to see Addis Ababa distracted, they also worry about a refugee spillover should a civil war break out. It might be a case of 'be careful what you wish for'

Sergey Eledinov

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter

Get the best of Al Majalla, straight to your inbox.

Your newsletter subscriptions are subject to Al Majalla privacy policy and terms and conditions.

OPINIONS

G7 agrees to release 100 million barrels of reserve diesel

Alexandra Sharp
Alexandra Sharp

Jamil Molaeb’s 'Journeys of Cities': where new meets old

Mimoza Al-Arrawi
Mimoza Al-Arrawi

Said Jawish Interview Part 2: tracing the cable to Cohen

Ibrahim Hamidi
Ibrahim Hamidi

Russia boosts its defence budget with an eye on Europe

Con Coughlin
Con Coughlin
MORE FROM OPINIONS
logo
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Documents & Memoirs
  • Gulf
  • MENA
  • Europe
  • USA
  • Asia
  • World
  • Videos
  • Cartoons
  • World in photos
  • Infographics
  • Profiles
  • About Al Majalla
  • Al Majalla Team
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact us
logo

© Al Majalla Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

0:00:00
0:00:00