Japan's industry ministry said on Saturday it has approved ​an additional 631.5 billion yen ($3.96 billion) ‌to accelerate research and development at chipmaker Rapidus. The support is part of the ​government's efforts to boost domestic ​production of advanced semiconductors and strengthen ⁠chip supply chains. With the latest ​funding, Rapidus' total research and development ​assistance amounts to 2.354 trillion yen. Learn More

The European Union on Monday launched the critical minerals section of its energy and materials procurement platform, which aims ​to give more power to regional buyers and cut dependence on ‌dominant producer China by aggregating their purchases. The platform is part of the bloc's RESourceEU strategy , announced in December to develop its supply chains for rare earths and other ​strategic minerals needed for the energy transition and defence applications. China ​controls up

After six weeks of a war with Iran that has jolted energy markets and fueled worries about the global economy, Americans are confronting what the conflict means for their lives, even as a fragile ceasefire takes hold. For a 65-year-old Marine veteran interviewed in Colorado, the U.S. and Israeli strikes finally dealt with a threat he believes Washington ignored for decades, while a retired businessman in California criticized the war as pointless and ego-driven. Learn Mor