Category: Asia

Why does China restrict the rare earths trade?

Many of the high-tech devices we depend on—cell phones, laptops, and hundreds of others—would not exist without an obscure group of earth elements called rare earths. China supplies over 97% of the world’s rare earth needs but has enforced strict export restrictions, creating controversy and uncertainty about future global supplies of these critical raw elements.
CONTINUE READING

Syria: A new destination for only al-Qaida’s Foreign Fighters?

Syria has become a magnet for foreign fighters coming from Iraq, the rebel forces of the Libyan city of Misrata, from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Lebanon. International media and many experts have attributed this massive affluence of foreign fighters to al-Qaida’s call on Muslims to join the Syrian revolution and fight against al-Assad’s regime. However, not all foreign fighters seem to be al-Qaida driven: another transnational Islamic democracy-based ideology is “recruiting” its combatants to help in the Syrian struggle.
CONTINUE READING