LITHIUM COPPER RARE EARTHS PERU CHILE
Mundra to Chile, Adani amps up the volume of its heavy metal rock
Adani Group has signed an agreement with Codelco to explore a copper project in Chile. This partnership aims to ensure a secure supply of copper for its operations in Mundra, Gujarat. The agreement comes amid rising copper demand in India and a need for more imports.
Adani eyes Chile's copper riches: Kutch Copper and Codelco sign MoU to explore Kaburkaala project
Adani Group's Kutch Copper Ltd has signed an MoU with Chile's state-owned Codelco to explore the Kaburkaala copper project in northern Chile. The partnership aims to combine Adani's investment and technical capabilities with Codelco's geological expertise, potentially securing long-term copper supplies for the group's Mundra smelter as India seeks to strengthen its domestic copper supply chain.
Cigarettes to get costlier: ITC hikes Gold Flake Premium prices for the second time this year; here's how much a pack will now cost
ITC Ltd has raised the price of its Gold Flake Premium cigarettes by Rs 10 per pack, taking the MRP of a 10-cigarette pack to Rs 135 from Rs 125. This is the second price increase for the brand in 2026, following a hike in June. The revision comes as cigarette makers face higher taxes and pressure on legal market volumes, while ITC looks to expand its FMCG and other non-cigarette businesses.
TS Inter 1st and 2nd year exam system to end: Telangana CM announces new 10+2 education model from next academic year
Telangana will introduce the 10+2 education system from the next academic year, merging Classes 11 and 12 with the school education structure and replacing the separate Intermediate system. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has outlined a three-stage schooling model from nursery to Class 12, with the reforms aimed at improving education quality and reducing student dropouts after Class 10. The government is also reviewing residential school projects and infrastructure upgrades.
In 2025, over 1,000 volunteers searched telescope images for galaxies that bend light; they helped find 497 possible cosmic lenses
Volunteers from around the world are actively participating in the Space Warps project to analyze galaxy images. They help identify rare gravitational lens candidates using data from the Euclid Space Telescope. This collaboration combines human observations with machine-learning systems for more accurate results. The project emphasizes the importance of citizen science in exploring vast astronomical datasets.
China's rare earth export value surges 46.4% to $584.3 million despite decline in volumes
China's exports of rare earth ores and metals increased significantly in value during the January to October 2026 period. Despite the value increase, export volumes saw a decline of 8.7 percent in the same timeframe. China's export value for refined petroleum products also rose sharply, while quantities fell slightly during these months. In contrast, the export of fertilizers experienced a notable decline both in value and volume.
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US extends 178 China tariff exclusions to January 9
The US has extended tariff exemptions on 178 categories of Chinese goods until January 9, 2027, giving businesses more time to import these products without additional duties. The move comes as Washington and Beijing continue trade negotiations, with both sides discussing commitments on agricultural exports, rare earths and critical minerals.
Huang in suspense, chips may crack
Huang is a hands-on boss at Nvidia. Although he owns a small amount of the company's stock, replacing him will be difficult. In the new political dispensation, Washington may be forced to take a harder look at its export control regime and make it more watertight. 'Jensanity' offers a good trigger.
NMDC in talks with Russia's Rosatom over lithium investments, sources say
Indian state-run miner NMDC Ltd is in talks with Russia's Rosatom to invest in lithium projects. These discussions are part of India's strategy to secure supplies for battery and EV industries. NMDC aims to enhance its global mineral diversification strategy and has formed a team for due diligence. The Indian government is investing in domestic processing of critical minerals to reduce import dependence.
Explained: Why copper prices could fall further after four-month low amid US election outcome
Copper prices fell to a four-month low following the US midterm election outcome, which raised doubts over AI data centre demand and import tariffs. Despite a minor Monday bounce and tight supply constraints, analysts at TD Securities warn of potential further downside in the near term.
Rare earth magnet scheme: Coal India, IRP seek no sops; other contenders include ReNew, Prozeal
The scheme will run for seven years from the date of award, including a two-year gestation period for setting up an integrated manufacturing facility, and five years for incentive disbursement on the sale of REPM. These magnets are among the most powerful in the world and are widely used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, high-end electronics, aerospace and defence systems.
Inside Rs 77,000 cr plan rewiring India’s tech DNA forever
The initiative is already delivering results, with 38 facilities in active production plugging domestic gaps and 16 units progressing through machinery setup. Small and medium enterprises drive half of these ventures.
White dwarf WD J1328-1450 has a double debris disc; one ring may be hiding a Pluto-sized survivor
Astronomers have discovered a white dwarf named WD J1328-1450, located 1,600 light-years away, has two separate rings of gaseous planetary debris. Unusual signals detected around the star suggest that two planetary bodies may be maintaining the rings, with the outer object potentially reaching Pluto-like or even Moon-like dimensions. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into what planetary systems may look like after their stars die.
China's giant pandas make public debut at US zoo
Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang have made their public debut at Zoo Atlanta after their arrival. The pandas were flown from Chengdu to Atlanta in September as part of a ten-year loan. Zoo Atlanta has renovated facilities to host the pandas, providing locally grown bamboo for their diet. The black-and-white mammals are considered vulnerable, with their population threatened by habitat loss and poaching.
Centre proposing parity in mineral taxation, states' rights to remain intact: Union Mines Secretary
Proposed amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act are intended to create tax parity across states. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imports by fostering local production and processing of critical minerals. The Indian government has introduced significant subsidies to support industries establishing lithium and nickel processing facilities. Approximately 58 entities are now registered under a recycling program for electronic waste.
Battery component makers may get up to 50% capital subsidy
The ministry of heavy industries is evaluating various subsidy models to enhance domestic battery component manufacturing capacity. Proposed support includes capital subsidies and sales-linked incentives to promote local production. India aims for sufficient manufacturing capacity to support 50 GWh of annual battery cell production by 2032. Current costs of battery materials are significantly higher compared to those from China.
Voyager 1 lost? Where is NASA's spacecraft right now, and how long will it last?
As NASA's Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 traverse the vast reaches of interstellar space, they confront various power and communication obstacles. Recently, Voyager 1 encountered a setback, losing contact momentarily when its fault protection system triggered due to inactive thrusters. Thankfully, engineers swiftly restored communication and introduced power-saving strategies to prolong the mission.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has 13 times more deuterium than a famous Solar System comet, hinting at its 7-billion-year-old origins before Sun was born
Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS may have formed more than 7 billion years before our Sun was born. A new study using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered unusual chemical clues that could reveal the comet's ancient origins and the conditions in which it formed. Its deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio was also 13 times higher than that of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
Charting the global economy: Central banks hold rates steady
Global central banks have opted to keep interest rates unchanged amidst growing inflation worries stemming from energy costs. While the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank signaled potential hikes during their December meetings, the US economy displays robust growth from business investments and consumer activity.
‘Moved’ by Greece's quest to reacquire ‘stolen sculptures of the Parthenon,’ a Chilean engineer brought a marble to officials; archaeologists find it belonged to an even older temple razed by Persians
Enrico Tosti-Croce unearthed a marble fragment believed to originate from the Parthenon, a relic from his father. With the ongoing debate surrounding the Parthenon Marbles affecting his decision, he chose to return the stone to Greece. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to belong to the Hekatompedon instead. Tosti-Croce felt fulfilled to restore the marble, which was met with gratitude from the Greek Ministry of Culture in a heartfelt letter.
In 1997, Sweden used copper-smelting slag beneath a road near Luleå; after 10 years, copper, nickel and zinc leaching had declined below recommended thresholds
A decade-long study in Sweden investigated the environmental effects of incorporating copper slag in road construction. The researchers observed a significant reduction in the leaching of metals like copper, nickel, and zinc over time. While initial tests indicated high metal concentrations in various materials, the findings imply that the environmental concerns related to these materials are primarily short-lived.
Lula's 4th term offers fresh push to India-Brazil ties
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's fourth Presidential term is expected to enhance India-Brazil relations significantly. His personal commitment to strengthening ties with New Delhi aligns with the need for UN Security Council reforms. Brazil's National Security Advisor, Celso Amorim, visited India to solidify their strategic partnership after the BRICS Summit. Lula's past state visit initiated landmark cooperation, particularly in rare earth resources critical for India's growth.
Pixxel sets up US subsidiary to serve federal agencies
Pixxel in September raised $100 million (around Rs 945 crore) in the largest funding round in India’s spacetech sector, co-led by Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek and UK-based space investor Seraphim, ET reported.
21 years after the discovery of the last dwarf planet, scientists may have found a sixth one beyond Neptune
Vera Rubin Observatory may have identified a new dwarf planet called ED138, hidden beyond Pluto's orbit. Researchers are in the process of assessing ED138's size, a task expected to take several months. This finding is noteworthy as it holds the potential to be recognized as the sixth dwarf planet. Difficulties in locating such remote celestial bodies stemmed from their position in the southern hemisphere.
India's deeptech dream remains import dependent for critical components
The founder of a spacetech startup developing rockets said geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine war, disrupted the supply of critical components. “Parts that were earlier available within weeks are now taking months to arrive, making it harder for startups to plan development and testing schedules,” the founder said, requesting anonymity.
Meesho Q2 loss narrows; Info Edge names Sanjeev Bikhchandani CEO
Happy Thursday! Meesho’s losses shrunk as revenue grew in the second quarter of FY27. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Lula’s Brazil election win: How he thwarted Trump’s Latin America ambitions
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s presidential election against Flávio Bolsonaro, stopping a conservative streak in Latin America. This victory challenges U.S. influence in the region and complicates President Trump's strategies. Lula's administration may seek collaboration with Washington while maintaining Brazil's independent foreign policy. Domestic congressional dynamics present challenges for Lula as he pursues reforms amidst conservative opposition.
NAN GreenMet, Chile's Enaex collaborate to set up Rs 750-cr explosives manufacturing facility
NAN GreenMet has partnered with Enaex to create an integrated explosives manufacturing plant in India. This venture involves an investment of Rs 750 crore and aims to begin commercial operations in 2027. The facility will cater to the rising demand in India's explosives market, projected to grow significantly in the coming years. The joint venture plans to provide a range of advanced blasting solutions for mining and infrastructure projects.
Diversification plan: NMDC scouts for mining assets across four continents
NMDC is actively seeking mining assets worldwide, including critical minerals to support various industries. The company aims to earn 20 percent of revenues from minerals other than iron ore. This expansion aligns with government initiatives to secure raw material supplies and decrease import dependency. NMDC's strategy is expected to enhance its role in India's manufacturing sectors. Industries such as automotive, renewable energy, and electronics will benefit from these efforts.
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