Pranay Kotasthane on the Political Economy of Rare Earths and Critical Minerals
In a February 2 2026 interview, Takshashila deputy director Pranay Kotasthane dissected the political economy of rare earths and critical minerals, highlighting China’s overwhelming production dominance and India’s strategic ambitions. He explained the distinction between rare earths and broader critical minerals, noting the urgency driven by clean‑energy and defense supply chains. Kotasthane outlined India’s nascent Critical Elements Mission, its policy and auction mechanisms, and the untapped potential of recycling to close the supply gap. The discussion also touched on geopolitical uncertainty, the law of one price, and even Pakistan’s modest rare‑earth reserves.
India’s PM Modi Visits Israel, Seeks Closer TiesーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel for a two‑day state visit, meeting President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The agenda focused on deepening defence collaboration, expanding trade in high‑tech and agricultural sectors, and signing memoranda on...
A Conversation With John Jovanovic
John Jovanovic, President and Chairman of the Export‑Import Bank of the United States, outlined the agency’s strategy to boost American exporters and manufacturers overseas while reinforcing domestic supply chains. He highlighted EXIM’s financing tools that level the playing field against...
Bringing Advanced Prosthetics Within Reach for AllーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
South Korean artificial limb manufacturers are leveraging 3D printing and advanced manufacturing to produce prosthetic devices at a price comparable to a smartphone. The new approach combines digital scanning, customizable design files, and low‑cost polymer materials, dramatically reducing production time...
Germany Greenlights Controversial Peter Thiel Backed Drone Deal | DW News
German lawmakers have approved a contract to purchase combat drones from a Peter Thiel‑backed startup, despite vocal opposition from several parties. The deal, valued in the low‑hundreds of millions of euros, aims to equip the Bundeswehr with advanced unmanned‑air capabilities. It...
'China Does Not Often Change Course' | DW News
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concluded a two‑day visit to Beijing aimed at strengthening long‑standing economic ties between Germany and China. While praising cooperation, Merz urged Chinese officials to address what he described as unfair trade practices affecting German firms. The...
How Eco‑friendly Are Canals? | DW News
Canals remain vital to global trade, moving billions of tons of cargo annually, but their construction and operation can disrupt ecosystems and generate emissions. Recent studies highlight the need for smarter, greener canal designs that mitigate habitat loss and reduce...
What Does Germany's Friedrich Merz Want From China During His Trip? | DW News
German leader Friedrich Merz began the second day of his inaugural state visit to China, where President Xi Jinping pledged to elevate bilateral ties to a "new level." During the talks, Merz announced that China has agreed to purchase up...
Cuba on the Brink, With Michael Bustamante
In a recent episode of The President’s Inbox, Michael Bustamante, Chair in Cuban and Cuban‑American Studies at the University of Miami, examined the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Cuba. The discussion highlighted how travel bans, remittance restrictions, and tightened...
Supreme Court Tariffs Ruling and Business Impact | Economic Update | Deloitte Insights
The U.S. Supreme Court this week nullified a series of tariffs imposed under the Emergency Powers Act (EPO), ruling that the administration’s claim of a “persistent trade deficit” did not meet the legal standard for a national emergency. The decision opens...
Manifest Vegas | John Kirkman, CBRE, on Real Estate in Supply Chain
John Kirkman of CBRE opened the Manifest Vegas session by emphasizing that a company’s real‑estate portfolio is the structural backbone of modern supply‑chain execution. He framed the discussion around how occupiers and investors must rethink location strategy in light of...
Trump Says the 'State of the Union Is Strong' — Do Most Americans Believe Him? | DW News
Donald Trump delivered a record‑long State of the Union, lasting 1 hour and 48 minutes, and used the platform to proclaim that America is at its strongest despite polling showing 57% of Americans disagree with his assessment. He highlighted a...
Emergency Workers Evacuate Tourists and Residents in Bali Amid Floods | DW News
DW News captured emergency workers wading through waist‑deep water as torrential rains battered Bali’s coastal towns, forcing the evacuation of dozens of tourists and local residents from flooded streets and low‑lying hotels. The video shows rescue teams using boats and...
Nickel Market Faces Structural Shift as Top Producers Coordinate Supply Discipline
The video examines a structural shift in the nickel market as Indonesia, the Philippines and other top producers tighten supply discipline, driving LME prices sharply higher. After three weeks of trading in a $16.5‑$18k/ton band, prices jumped nearly 5% to...
Returns at a Crossroads: The State of Reverse Logistics & Circularity
Supply Chain Now’s latest episode tackles the growing importance of reverse logistics and circularity, framing returns management as a strategic lever for retailers and luxury brands. Hosted by Scott Luton and Deborah Dole, the discussion features NRF’s Vice President of...
How Dependent Are Germany and China on Each Other? | DW News
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his first official trip to China, meeting President Xi Jinping who pledged to lift bilateral relations to a "new level." Both leaders stressed the desire to deepen economic cooperation, noting that China was Germany's largest...
What's Behind the Anthropic-Pentagon Dispute? | DW News
Anthropic, a spin‑off from OpenAI, faces an ultimatum from the Pentagon demanding full, unrestricted access to its AI models by Friday or risk losing up to $200 million in government contracts. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also wants the company to drop...
Training up Philippines Railway TalentーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
Facing worsening commuter congestion, the Philippine government is advancing a series of large‑scale railway projects across the archipelago. To ensure safe and efficient operation, Japan has pledged to train thousands of young Filipino workers in railway technology, signaling, and maintenance....
The 'Mismatch' Within Germany's Labor Market | DW News
Germany’s labor market is paradoxically tight: employers report millions of vacancies for skilled roles while the unemployment rate hovers near 5.5%. Demographic aging, regional imbalances and a lag in vocational training have created a structural mismatch between job seekers and...
The #1 Executive Blind Spot
Executives routinely underestimate how consuming enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations are, treating them like routine IT upgrades instead of operational overhauls that demand sustained senior and key-user engagement. Consultants say clients must participate deeply—defining requirements, testing, making rapid decisions and...
Key Takeaways From Donald Trump's State of the Union Address | DW News
President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term, declaring the United States “bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever.” He outlined a midterm agenda focused on tightening immigration enforcement, cutting federal spending, and...
'Talks Less, Do More' – The Challenges of Merz's Visit to China | DW News
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz embarked on his first official visit to China since assuming office, positioning himself as the latest Western leader seeking to reset bilateral relations. The trip arrives amid warnings from German industry about mounting competition from Chinese...
What Is Nearshoring? | DW News
Nearshoring involves moving production and services to nations nearer a company’s primary market, a trend gaining momentum across Europe. Firms cite shorter lead times, lower transportation expenses, and reduced exposure to geopolitical disruptions as primary incentives. The strategy sits alongside...
On the Mind: MWC Day Two
At Mobile World Congress Day Two, Deloitte’s Julie Shen led a panel of Intel and Deloitte executives to map the next wave of telco‑driven edge computing and AI. The discussion framed 2026 as the "year of telco main‑character energy,"...
Breaking Down Russia’s War on Ukraine’s Water
Russia has systematically weaponized Ukraine's water infrastructure over four years, striking dams, treatment facilities, and pumping stations with missiles and artillery. These attacks have crippled civilian water supply, sanitation, and agricultural irrigation, creating immediate humanitarian crises. CSIS expert David Michel...
The Evolving CMC Landscape for mRNA-LNPs
In a recent Advancing RNA Live segment, CMC consultant Sujit Jain outlined the current maturity levels across process development, analytical methods, and supply‑chain logistics for mRNA‑LNP products. He highlighted that COVID‑19 vaccines and liver‑targeted therapeutics now operate on a reproducible,...
Why Tariffs Are Becoming Unsustainable For Automakers
The video examines how U.S. tariffs on foreign‑made auto parts are becoming financially untenable for manufacturers, a point underscored by a major dealership group’s February earnings call. Toyota illustrates the pressure: despite an 8% U.S. sales rise in 2025 and record...
The Truth About AI in CNC Machining Nobody Wants to Admit
The video tackles the often‑unspoken reality of artificial intelligence in CNC machining, spotlighting CloudNC’s Cam Assist as a game‑changing tool that automates CAM programming while keeping the operator in control. By offloading repetitive pocket‑by‑pocket toolpath creation to AI, Cam Assist can...
Cuba’s Oil Crisis
The video examines Cuba’s deepening oil shortage, arguing that the island nation will not receive a new external lifeline in the near term. The speaker notes that traditional allies—China, Russia, Mexico and Brazil—are unlikely to boost shipments, even as Brazil now...
How Unified Is the EU when It Comes to Supporting Kyiv? | DW News
The DW News segment marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full‑scale invasion, asking how cohesive the European Union remains in backing Kyiv. With President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv and the war now in its fifth year, the discussion...
Trump Tariffs Create Chaos, Says Former Spain Official | The Pulse 2/24
President Donald Trump’s latest import levy of 10% has taken effect, with the White House signaling a possible increase to 15% and a 150‑day window for implementation. The abrupt move follows a Supreme Court decision that struck down earlier global...
Crucial Partners: The Volatile and Indispensable U.S.-India Linkage
The Asia Chessboard episode examines the volatile yet indispensable U.S.-India linkage, featuring Brookings senior fellow Dr. Tanvi Madan and former NSC staffer Mike Green. They trace the partnership from Reagan’s 1980s national‑security memorandum through the post‑Cold‑War pivot that recognized India’s...
How the Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP) Operates?
The World Health Organization’s Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP) is designed to close the gap between high‑income manufacturers and low‑ and middle‑income countries that struggle with limited production capacity, skilled workforces, and costly health products. By convening technology owners, local...
Steel & Aluminum Tariffs, "First Sale", And U.S.-Taiwan Deal
The Trade Guys dissect the United States’ ongoing steel and aluminum tariffs, highlighting that the 25% and 10% duties remain in place and continue to shape import pricing. They examine a Senate proposal to amend the “First Sale” rule, which...
How XDC Trade Network Is Using Blockchain to Digitise Global Trade
XDC Trade Network is deploying a blockchain‑based infrastructure to digitise global trade workflows, creating a shared digital layer for invoices, purchase orders and other trade documents. The platform connects existing enterprise systems rather than replacing them, enabling secure, multi‑party data...
Iran's Regime Caught Between New Protests and US Military Buildup | DW News
Iran's hard‑line regime is confronting growing internal dissent as students stage a second day of anti‑government protests, while externally it hints at a diplomatic opening with the United States despite a massive U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. Foreign...
Nuclear Talks to Resume: Prospects for a US-Iran Diplomatic Solution | DW News
Iranian Foreign Minister announced a “good chance” for a diplomatic solution as the United States prepares to resume nuclear talks on Thursday. White House envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking on Fox News, said President Donald Trump is curious why Tehran has...
European Leaders Coordinate Response to Trump's New Tariff Escalation | DW News
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new worldwide 15% tariff, following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down most of his earlier tariff regime. European leaders, spearheaded by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are preparing a coordinated response to mitigate the...
Trump Doubles Down on Tariffs: How Will the Global Economy React? | DW News
President Donald Trump announced a new tariff increase, raising the levy on imports from most of the United States' trading partners from 10% to 15%. The move follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down large portions of his...
Mastering Decision Intelligence in Volatile Supply Chains | Andy Kohm, SCIP at Manifest 2026
Andy Kohm, CEO and co‑founder of Skip, opened the session by framing decision intelligence as the missing link in today’s volatile supply chains. He described Skip as a supply‑chain intelligence platform that overlays existing legacy systems—ERP, PLM, S&OP—and aggregates every...
Manifest Vegas | Prabhat Pinnaka on AI in Supply Chain
The video highlights a discussion at the Manifest Vegas conference where Prabhat Pinnaka emphasizes the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence on supply‑chain operations and the role of the Institute for Supply Chain Advancement (ISCA) in up‑skilling the workforce. Pinnaka notes that...
Tariff Wars! What Are the Rates? Who Pays? What’s Next?
The event featured Brent Nyman, a former Treasury deputy under‑secretary, presenting his latest research on U.S. import tariffs. He explained how statutory tariff rates—those set by law—jumped from near‑zero to about 28% after the 2024‑25 Trump‑era announcements, while the...
Supply Chain Analytics in Action | Lessons From UPS on Digital Transformation, Technology, and AI
The MITx MicroMasters webinar featured UPS Vice President Vandana Ramani, who outlined how the global logistics leader is turning supply‑chain analytics, advanced technology and artificial intelligence into concrete operational actions. Ramani explained that her current mandate is to digitally transform UPS’s...
Manifest | Interview with Ryan Kalisky, WareMatch, on 3PL Digital Marketing
The interview spotlights WareMatch, a tech startup founded by Ryan Kalisky and Ben, which aims to modernize how third‑party logistics providers (3PLs) market their services. Kalisky likens the platform to a "Shopify for 3PLs," offering a digital storefront that lets...
Manifest | Nicolas Odet, Hardis Group, on AI-Driven Supply Chain Optimisation
Hardis Group President Nicolas Odet warned that AI alone adds little value without a deep grasp of supply‑chain processes. The company’s strategy centers on operational intimacy, configuring AI‑driven software only after thorough collaboration with customers. Hardis’ visibility platform links WMS,...
Manifest Vegas | Sandra Leyva Martinez, CHEP, on the Evolution of Circular Supply Chains
Sandra Leyva Martinez, Head of Sustainability for the Americas at CHEP, outlined how the company is accelerating the shift from linear to circular logistics through deforestation‑free timber sourcing, zero‑product‑waste redesign, and advanced digital traceability. She highlighted CHEP’s 2025 sustainability milestones...
Manifest Vegas | James Wee, Descartes on Execution-Aware Platforms for Last Mile Logistics
James Wee, General Manager of Descartes Fleet Solutions, emphasized that execution‑aware platforms are becoming the gold standard for last‑mile logistics. He described how real‑time execution data must feed back into planning, creating a continuous feedback loop that eliminates decision latency...
Is The Strait of Hormuz Closed? | Did Iran Close the Strait for a Military Exercise | NO!!!
Iran announced a temporary, partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz on February 17 to conduct live‑fire drills coinciding with renewed nuclear talks with the United States. The shutdown affected only a small segment of the waterway and lasted a...
Manifest| Mark Ang, GoBolt, on Moving From Cost Centre to Customer Experience
Mark Ang, CEO of GoBolt, argues that logistics should be treated as a customer‑experience lever rather than a mere cost centre. By unifying technology, warehouses, and a proprietary AI routing engine, GoBolt delivers real‑time visibility and carbon‑efficient deliveries for brands...
Manifest Vegas | Karolina Smith, RateRunners, on Supply Chain Invoice Reconciliation
Karolina Smith of RateRunners explains why quoted shipping rates often diverge from final invoices, citing carrier dimensions, weight, and variable fees. She highlights a case where a client uncovered $200,000 in unexpected residential surcharges within a single week. RateRunners’ platform...