The United States is spearheading an initiative to counter China's dominance in the supply of critical minerals, essential for manufacturing a wide range of products from smartphones to weapons. The State Department hosted the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial event on Wednesday, attended by representatives from countries and organizations including the UK, European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to BBC Technology. Delegates discussed the accessibility and availability of these crucial minerals.
Meanwhile, in other international news, Canada is set to open its first diplomatic outpost in Greenland, a move seen as a show of solidarity following former U.S. President Donald Trump's past interest in acquiring the territory, according to BBC World. A delegation of senior Canadian officials, including Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand, traveled to Nuuk on Friday to formally open the consulate, accompanied by a Canadian Coast Guard ship. Simon stated that Canada "stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland." Prior to Canada's opening, only Iceland and the United States maintained a full diplomatic presence in Greenland. France is also planning to open a consulate in Greenland.
In Japan, Trump has endorsed Sanae Takaichi, the current Prime Minister, ahead of a snap election scheduled for Sunday, BBC World reported. Trump, in a Truth Social post on Thursday, described Takaichi as "a strong, powerful, and wise leader... one that truly loves her country," adding, "She will not let the people of Japan down!" While it is uncommon for U.S. presidents to publicly support candidates in foreign elections, Trump has previously endorsed Javier Milei of Argentina and Viktor Orban of Hungary.
In the financial sector, the price of Bitcoin has fallen to its lowest level in 16 months, despite Trump's previous support for cryptocurrency, according to BBC Technology. A single Bitcoin dropped as low as $60,000 (£44,000), its lowest since September 2024, before experiencing a slight rally. The cryptocurrency reached an all-time high of $122,200 in October 2025. Joshua Chu, co-chair of the Hong Kong Web3 Association, told Reuters, "Those who bet too big, borrowed too much or assumed prices only go up are now finding out the hard way what real market volatility and risk management look like."
Finally, in Australia, the Royal Australian Mint released two commemorative coins to mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II's birth, but the portrait featured on the 5 and 50 cent silver coins has drawn criticism for its lack of resemblance to the late monarch, BBC World reported. The coins were released in an online ballot that closed on Wednesday. One online commenter described the portrait as "the most unpleasant portrait on a coin." The Royal Australian Mint defended the portrait, stating, "Our coin images don't always capture the full beauty of a de
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