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What are Rare Earth Elements Used For?

There are 17 rare earth elements (REEs) in all — 15 lanthanides plus yttrium and scandium. It’s a fairly diverse group, with each rare earth mineral having different applications, pricing and available supply.

However, REEs are often placed in the same basket because they do not occur separately from each other in nature. Aside from that, separation is tricky — before modern methods were available, the process was too difficult and expensive to pursue.

Despite the market’s complexity, it’s worth taking a closer look at the different rare earths and their uses. As global governments take steps to meet energy transition goals, demand is expected to grow immensely, creating opportunities for investors with knowledge of the sector. Read on to learn more about this important group of critical metals.

In this article

    Are rare earth elements really rare?

    Many rare earth investors will be familiar with the adage that rare earth minerals are not that rare — in fact, according to the US Geological Survey, most rare earths are more plentiful in the Earth’s crust than gold, silver and platinum.

    As of 2024, there were more than 90 million metric tons of rare earth reserves. Rare earths can be found in carbonatite deposits, alkaline igneous systems, ion-adsorption clay deposits and monazite-xenotime-bearing placer deposits.

    The key point to note is that even though REEs are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust worldwide, “minable concentrations are less common than for most other mineral commodities,” as per the US Geological Survey.

    In terms of the availability of specific elements, lanthanum and cerium are relatively abundant in rare earths mineral deposits, while neodymium and praseodymium are much less so; meanwhile, erbium, ytterbium and lutetium are rare. Yttrium is as common as lanthanum and cerium in some types of deposits, but scandium is also very rare.

    Rare earth minerals are usually divided into ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ varieties based on their atomic weight. While the concentration of different REEs varies within each given deposit, every deposit is usually dominated by either heavy or light rare earths, with some elements being much more abundant.

    What is the difference between rare earth minerals, rare earth elements and rare metals?

    Rare earth elements and rare earth metals refer to the specific category of 17 elements on the periodic table, and rare earth minerals refers to the minerals, such as monazite, that contain these metals.

    While some use the phrase rare earth minerals to refer to the metals themselves, rare earths are not minerals in the strict sense of the term. Due to their chemical properties, the 17 rare earth elements are classified as metals on the periodic table. However, rare earth elements are not found as pure metals in nature, but are rather locked up in minerals that are mined and refined to obtain the metals.

    The term rare metals instead refers to a loosely defined group of resources, including tantalum, niobium, indium, zirconium and gallium. These metals are genuinely rare and valuable, but they are not members of the REE category. However, their important use in technologies such as microtechnologies, superconducting magnets, touch screens and new energy technologies can often lead them to be confused with rare earth elements.

    How are rare earths used in manufacturing and industry?

    As mentioned, although REEs are grouped together in the ground, their applications vary widely.

    In the light rare earth category, cerium is used as a polishing agent for different types of glass, including LCD screens. Cerium is the most abundant rare earth, and is about as common in the Earth’s crust as copper.

    Lanthanum is used as a catalyst for refining petroleum and to improve the alkali resistance of glass, especially in camera lenses. This light REE is also used to make the carbon arc lights used by the motion picture industry.

    Europium is used in chemical formulations for LEDs, CRT displays and florescent bulbs.

    As for heavy rare earths, yttrium is also used in LEDs and florescent bulbs. While erbium has several uses, it’s most commonly used to make glass optical fibers as it can amplify network signals.

    As mentioned earlier, one of the REEs that is rare in terms of mine supply is scandium, a critical metal that is as strong as titanium, as light as aluminum and as hard as ceramic. There are a number of new applications emerging for scandium, including alloys for high-end sports equipment, as well as for automotive and airplane parts.

    Rare earths are also critical to modern defense systems and military equipment such as radar, guidance systems, precision-guided munitions, lasers, satellites and night vision goggles.

    Several rare earth metals are essential to rare earth magnets, which you can learn more about below.

    What are rare earth magnets and how are they used?

    Rare earth magnets are stronger in terms of weight or volume than any other magnet type. The REEs praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and dysprosium are often used in rare earth magnets, which are finding increasing uses, especially when space is limited.

    Magnets made from neodymium, boron and iron, called neodymium magnets, are the strongest available, and these magnets can be found in the motors of wind turbines, as well as electric vehicles. Fellow rare earth elements dysprosium or terbium are sometimes added to neodymium magnets to improve their ability to operate at high temperatures.

    Samarium-cobalt magnets are favored in military applications such as jet engines and missile systems because these magnets can operate at extremely high temperatures.

    Praseodymium and dysprosium are also commonly used in industrial magnets in order to improve coercivity and resistance to corrosion.

    One of the most promising markets for rare earth magnets is electric vehicle motors. However, it’s important to note that permanent neodymium magnets are not strictly necessary to the construction of any electric vehicle. In fact, Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S main motor does not contain any type of magnet.

    How will rare earth elements be used in the future?

    Applications for rare earth magnets are rapidly growing as new technologies evolve. However, lack of secure supply has driven some industries to seek out alternative technologies that don’t require REE magnets.

    Still, rare earth magnets are not going away anytime soon. REEs are an important part of the technology that drives modern life. They can be found in smartphones, computers and televisions, and are an important component in green energy technologies such as wind turbines and many electric vehicle motors. Plus, their role in defense technology makes rare earth sources critical.

    Understanding the different types of rare earths is the first step toward making an investment in this space. It’s also useful to understand rare earth supply and demand dynamics, from the top-producing countries to the nations with the top rare earth reserves. Being aware of the outlook for the rare earth industry can also help investors make the right moves.

    For investors who decide they are interested in the longer-term potential for the rare earth metals sector, there are plenty of ways to invest in rare earths, including the biggest rare earth companies and the top rare earth stocks.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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    US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink to step down amid high-stakes war diplomacy

    U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is stepping down, the State Department confirmed Thursday, as the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

    Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesperson, said Brink would be leaving her role, though she didn’t give a specific departure date. 

    The news comes at a critical moment for U.S. foreign policy as officials work to ease tensions and end the grinding war in Eastern Europe.

    Brink, a career diplomat with decades of experience, was nominated by then-President Joe Biden and unanimously confirmed by the Senate in May 2022, just months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

    She became the first U.S. ambassador to serve in Kyiv since 2019, helping reestablish America’s diplomatic presence after embassy staff were evacuated in the early days of the war.

    Before serving in Ukraine, Brink was the U.S. ambassador to Slovakia and worked in top roles at the National Security Council. She speaks Russian and is known for strongly defending U.S. interests in Eastern Europe.

    While in Ukraine, Brink was a vocal supporter of American military aid and often appeared publicly with Ukrainian leaders. Her resignation comes as the Trump administration shifts focus toward ending the war through diplomacy and renewed talks with Russia.

    Also on Thursday, U.S. and Russian officials held rare face-to-face talks in Istanbul aimed at repairing long-strained diplomatic relations. The State Department said the two sides exchanged formal notes to finalize an agreement that would stabilize banking services for each country’s embassies, a step seen as key to keeping diplomatic missions operational.

    In recent years, both countries have imposed financial restrictions on each other’s embassies and slashed staffing due to the fallout from the war. A finalized banking deal could open the door to restoring some of those lost diplomatic connections.

    The State Department said follow-up talks are expected, though no date has been set.

    Brink’s departure lands at a moment of major transition in U.S. foreign policy. Her exit may also clear the way for a new ambassador more closely aligned with the Trump administration’s push for a ceasefire deal.

    The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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    Myanmar’s deadly earthquake exposes void left by US in global disaster responses

    As civil war-torn Myanmar struggles to recover from a devastating earthquake, the United States is facing criticism that it has abandoned the country in its hour of need – and is ceding global leadership on disaster response to its rivals.

    The 7.7-magnitude quake, which struck on March 28 and killed thousands, is the first major natural disaster since the Trump administration canceled billions of dollars in lifesaving programs under its drive to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the main US humanitarian aid agency.

    USAID used to administer most of America’s foreign aid – 61% of the $71 billion total budget in 2023. But since taking office in January, the Trump administration has laid off thousands of its employees, and cut 83% of USAID programs – including staff and programs working to help Myanmar. On Wednesday, they also announced that all foreign staff would be laid off.

    Those cuts have been felt in the meager US response to the Myanmar quake, according to experts, exposing a void in international relief measures for major catastrophes.

    “Not only did the United States only send a paltry amount of assistance, it sent only three workers, which then subsequently were fired while they were on the ground in Myanmar providing assistance.”

    At least 3,550 people died and nearly 5,000 others were injured when the earthquake hit the impoverished Southeast Asian nation – which has already endured years of civil war since a military coup in 2021, leaving nearly 20 million people in need of aid.

    The military government does not control all of the resource-rich country, as it battles a patchwork of powerful ethnic militias and pro-democracy groups.

    A boy tries to gather water from the crack in a road damaged by the earthquake in Mandalay, March 30
    LIFT/UNOPS

    “The needs are massive right now,” said Matthew Smith, CEO of human rights organization Fortify Rights, based in neighboring Thailand. “And unfortunately, the aid effort is not as robust as it could or should be.”

    Two days after the quake, the US pledged $2 million in assistance to Myanmar – later increased to a total of $9 million – for emergency shelter, food, medical care and water, according to a post on X from State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

    But Smith says that with minimal staffing on the ground, it is unclear how that money would be channeled.

    “There’s nobody to administer that aid, there (are) no aid workers on the ground, there’s no deployment happening,” Smith said. “To so drastically cut it the way that they have was reckless and irresponsible.”

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the American response in Brussels last week. The US is “not the government of the world,” he said, adding that although Washington would continue to provide some humanitarian assistance, others should do more.

    “There are a lot of other countries in the world and everyone should pitch in,” Rubio said. “I don’t think it’s fair to assume that the United States needs to continue to share the burden (of) 60-70% of humanitarian aid around the world.”

    Comparisons have been made to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in February 2023, when the US deployed hundreds of relief workers and pledged $185 million in assistance.

    “In the past, the US government has certainly been one of the most effective response teams to mass-scale natural disasters,” Smith said.

    ‘Strategic mistake’

    Multiple countries are filling the gap left by Washington’s limited earthquake response, including China, Russia and India – which have sent aid, rescue teams and mobile medical units to Myanmar.

    Tom Fletcher, the United Nations’ humanitarian affairs chief – who spent several days visiting the areas worst affected by the quake – said the world “can’t be reliant on US support alone.”

    This year’s humanitarian appeal from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has only been 7% funded – which will hamper relief efforts around the world, he added.

    “I’ve been in touch with China, with Russia, other countries that are moving aid in to try to ensure that we get as much global support as possible,” Fletcher said.

    Beyond the humanitarian impact of the US retreat on assistance, ex-USAID official Bencosme said ceding this ground to adversaries such as Beijing and Moscow is a “strategic mistake” from a soft power perspective.

    Families displaced by the earthquake queue for bottled water in Mandalay.
    MPA

    “Other actors will fill in that leadership void, which makes it difficult for the US to leverage international assistance or international help in the future,” Bencosme said.

    Smith, of Fortify Rights, said some of the countries providing help to Myanmar are also facilitating the military’s attacks on rebel-held areas, which have continued since the disaster.

    “It’s deeply troubling, ironic sadly, in some ways that the same countries that are providing the Myanmar military junta with weapons that the junta is using to kill civilians, those are the same countries now arriving into Myanmar to help with the aid effort,” he said.

    More than 400 houses burned down after a fire broke out following the earthquake in the Sein Pan area of Mandalay.
    More than 400 houses burned down after a fire broke out following the earthquake in the Sein Pan area of Mandalay.
    Zaw Zaw
    Earthquake destruction in Mandalay on April 1, 2025.
    Earthquake destruction in Mandalay on April 1, 2025.
    Zaw Zaw

    Reduced to ashes

    For the homeless residents of Mandalay’s Sein Pan district, in the epicenter of the earthquake zone, aid can’t come fast enough.

    The informal settlement of wooden shacks was built on a landfill dump, and the tremors ignited a huge fire which spread rapidly, residents said.

    “The fireball emerged from the ground immediately after the earthquake,” said resident Kyi Thein, as she stood on the charred remains of her home. “The fire spread out across the district and wiped out all 400 houses. Everybody ran away and now nothing remains.”

    A man cries in front of his destroyed home in Mandalay.
    MPA

    “I hope the government authorities will provide aid to us,” Kyi Thein said. “We are now depending on private donors for a living, but we need support.”

    Another Sein Pan resident, who did not wish to share her name for security reasons, said the flames were so intense that they were unable to save any possessions.

    “The entire neighborhood was reduced to ashes,” she said. “I’m relieved to have survived. I just want my home back.”

    In the quake’s aftermath, junta leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing made a rare request for international aid. But the UN human rights office says the military has also been using its routine strategy of blocking and controlling access to aid and humanitarian workers.

    The remnants of burned homes after a fire broke out following the earthquake in Sein Pan district, Mandalay on April 4, 2025.
    The remnants of burned homes after a fire broke out following the earthquake in Sein Pan district, Mandalay on April 4, 2025.
    Zaw Zaw
    A monk walks through an earthquake-hit area in Sein Pan district, Mandalay on April 4, 2025.
    A monk walks through an earthquake-hit area in Sein Pan district, Mandalay on April 4, 2025.
    Zaw Zaw

    Two weeks after the disaster struck, workers in the impacted areas are no longer looking for survivors – they have now switched to a recovery and aid operation.

    But the challenges of doing so without the support they need are growing.

    “We need to use proper machines to recover bodies under the collapsed buildings,” said 41-year-old Ei Mon Khine, an official from a social assistance association who was working on the scene. “When the rescuers do not arrive in time, the dead bodies become spoiled and deformed,” making it harder to recover the remains, she said.

    People who have lost their homes are also dealing with temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), along with thunderstorms that rolled through last weekend.

    “There was heavy wind and rain, and you have people living in tents outside on the street, so it made an already difficult situation even worse,” said Sara Netzer, Myanmar country director for the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), based in Yangon.

    “We need to ensure that we are already thinking about how we can build some temporary shelter for people, and that will also help prevent this spread of disease as well.”

    Many quake-hit communities in Mandalay and the neighboring Sagaing region were already hosting those displaced by the civil war, she added, showing the “resiliency” of Myanmar, but increasing the need for help before more heavy rains arrive.

    “I think it’s illustrative of the kind of race against time that we have right now, before the monsoon season starts here in Myanmar,” Netzer said.

    This post appeared first on cnn.com
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    Halcones Precious Metals Closes Final Tranche of Life Offering and Announces Non-Brokered Offering

    Halcones Precious Metals Corp. (TSX-V: HPM) (the “Company” or “Halcones”) announces that it has closed the second and final tranche of its previously-announced private placement of units (the “Offering”) of the Company (the “Units”) pursuant to which the Company issued 7,707,200 Units at a price of $0.07 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $539,504 (the “Final Tranche”). Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (“Common Share”) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.10 per Common Share for a period of 36 months following the date of issuance. Together with the first tranche of the Offering, the Company has issued an aggregate of 31,152,200 Units for gross proceeds of $2,180,654.

    The Offering was led by Clarus Securities Inc. and iA Private Wealth Inc., as co-lead agents, on behalf of a syndicate of agents (collectively, the “Agents”) that included Red Cloud Securities Inc. and Haywood Securities Inc.

    The Company plans to use the net proceeds of the Final Tranche to continue the exploration work on its Polaris Project as well as for general corporate working capital purposes.

    In connection with the Final Tranche, the Agents received an aggregate cash fee equal to $37,765.28. In addition, the Company issued to the Agents, 539,504 non-transferable compensation warrants (the “Compensation Warrants”). Each Compensation Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to $0.07 for a period of 36 months from the date hereof.

    The Common Shares and Warrants issued pursuant to the Final Tranche are not subject to a statutory hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws as the Final Tranche was completed pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106. The Final Tranche remains subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

    Non-Brokered Offering

    Further to the closing of the Offering, Halcones announces a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 7,150,000 units (the “NB Units”) to be priced at $0.07 per NB Unit for gross proceeds of up to $500,500 (the “NB Offering”).

    Each NB Unit will be comprised of one Common Share and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “NB Warrant”). Each NB Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.10 per Common Share for a period of 36 months following the completion of the NB Offering. Securities issued under the NB Offering are expected to carry a hold period of 4 months and one day from the date of issue as may be required under applicable securities laws.

    The Company plans to use the aggregate net proceeds of the NB Offering to continue the exploration work on its Polaris project as well as general corporate working capital purposes.

    The NB Offering is scheduled to close on or about April 22, 2025 and is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

    Certain insiders of the Company may acquire NB Units in the NB Offering. Any participation by insiders in the NB Offering would constitute a ‘related party transaction’ as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). However, the Company expects such participation would be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value subscribed for by the insiders under the NB Offering, nor the consideration for the NB Units paid by such insiders, will exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.

    A material change report including details with respect to the related party transaction is not expected to be able to be filed less than 21 days prior to the closing of the NB Offering as the Company has not received confirmation of the participation of insiders in the NB Offering and the Company deems it reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of potential financing opportunities and complete the NB Offering in an expeditious manner.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

    About Halcones Precious Metals Corp.

    Halcones is focused on exploring for and developing gold-silver projects in Chile. The Company has a team with a strong background of exploration success in the region.

    For further information, please contact:

    Vincent Chen, CPA
    Investor Relations
    +1 (778) 990-9433
    vincent.chen@halconespm.com
    www.halconespreciousmetals.com

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

    This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, regarding the Offering, NB Offering, the Company’s intended use of proceeds from the Offering and NB Offering, the approval of the Offering and NB Offering by the TSXV, the Company’s ability to explore and develop its Polaris project and the Company’s future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward- looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Halcones, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; risks associated with operation in foreign jurisdictions; ability to successfully integrate the purchased properties; foreign operations risks; and other risks inherent in the mining industry. Although Halcones has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Halcones does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

    NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    Source

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com
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    China ramps up military ‘rehearsals’ around Taiwan, outstrips US in air, maritime, space

    China has been ramping up its military actions around Taiwan in what one top commander warned on Thursday are not just drills, but ‘rehearsals.’

    ‘China’s unprecedented aggression and military modernization poses a serious threat to the homeland, our allies and our partners,’ Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. ‘With military pressure against Taiwan increasing by 300%, China’s increasingly aggressive actions near Taiwan are not just exercises, they are rehearsals.’

    Beijing has long looked to assert its dominance over Taiwan as it aims to ‘reunify’ the island with mainland China in a move the West and Taipei have warned is against Taiwan’s wishes and would disturb the region’s status quo.

    Taiwan identifies as a sovereign nation. However, it is officially recognized by China, the United Nations and the U.S. as part of the ‘One China’ policy – though the U.S. has increasingly warned Beijing against disrupting regional stability by forcibly ‘reunifying’ the island with the mainland. 

    ‘While the [People’s Liberation Army] PLA attempts to intimidate the people of Taiwan and demonstrate coercive capabilities, these actions are backfiring, drawing increased global attention and accelerating Taiwan’s own defense preparations,’ Paparo said. 

    But it is not only China’s military posture toward Taiwan that concerns top military commanders. 

    ‘China’s outproducing the United States in air missile, maritime and space capability and accelerating these,’ Paparo said. ‘I remain confident in our deterrence posture, but the trajectory must change.’

    The Indo-Pacific commander warned that China is outstripping the U.S. in the production of fighters at a rate of 1.2 to 1, and warned that the U.S. is falling behind when it comes to shipbuilding, as well as some missile and space-based capabilities. 

    ‘They built combatants at the rate of 6 to 1.8 to the United States,’ Paparo told the lawmakers, in reference to China’s investment in producing ships, aircraft and weaponry. 

    ‘We’ve got to get at the problems of why we don’t have enough [of a] combat logistics force – and that’s shipbuilding. Why we don’t have enough labor,’ Paparo said. ‘And those are looking hard at pay and incentives in order to recruit and retain those people.’

    This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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    Hegseth quips ‘99.9%’ of DEI initiatives are gone from the military under Trump’s watch

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth quipped that the Trump administration has wiped out ‘99.9%’ of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI) from the military during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. 

    President Donald Trump questioned Hegseth about whether the military had eradicated 100% of DEI efforts under his leadership, as Cabinet members shared updates on their own agencies’ attempts to purge such policies. 

    ‘99.9, sir – I’m going to get that last point,’ Hegseth said. 

    The Trump administration has unveiled multiple initiatives to curb DEI initiatives within the military, including signing an executive order in January barring transgender people from enlisting and serving openly in the military. 

    However, two federal judges issued nationwide injunctions in March blocking the Trump administration from enforcing the ban while the lawsuit is pending. In a judgment rendered on March 19, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes of Washington, D.C., said the Trump administration’s order was ‘soaked in animus,’ and discriminated based on a person’s transgender status.

    ‘Indeed, the cruel irony is that thousands of transgender servicemembers have sacrificed – some risking their lives – to ensure for others the very equal protection rights the Military Ban seeks to deny them,’ Reyes wrote in the decision.

    Trump signed another executive order in January banning DEI content in K–12 schools that receive federal funds. While military service academies were originally exempt since they are not classified as K–12 institutions, the Pentagon issued instructions to the Naval Academy to remove DEI-related books from its library in March. 

    Included in the list of nearly 400 books purged are ‘How to be Anti-Racist’ and ‘Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America’ by Ibram X. Kendi, as well as ‘Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America,’ by former Georgia Rep. Stacey Abrams.

    Kendi is the founding director emeritus of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. He rose to national prominence following the 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

    Hegseth has made clear that the Pentagon will not tolerate any DEI initiatives under his watch. 

    ‘The President’s guidance (lawful orders) is clear: No more DEI at @DeptofDefense,’ Hegseth said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, in January. ‘The Pentagon will comply, immediately. No exceptions, name-changes, or delays.’ 

    The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

    This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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    Israel’s political leaders steering ceasefire talks frustrate mediators

    When discussions began over releasing Israeli hostages shortly after the October 7 attack by Hamas, the negotiators tasked to strike a deal were mostly intelligence and security professionals. But in February, Israel made an important change that those now involved say has had a profound slowing effect on the discussions to resurrect the broken ceasefire: The file was taken over by the prime minister’s closest political aide, Ron Dermer.

    With Dermer, says a source involved in the negotiations, there’s a “significant difference in momentum,” from when Israel’s team was led by intelligence chiefs David Barnea and Ronen Bar.

    “There is a clear shift in [Israeli] priorities,” the source said. “Negotiations are seemingly being politicized from the Israeli team.”

    Now, Barnea, who directs the Mossad, has been sidelined and Bar, who ran the internal security service Shin Bet, has been fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, causing an uproar in Israel.

    The decision to push aside career national security professionals in favor of Netanyahu’s closest adviser was intended to give Netanyahu more control over the negotiation process, an Israeli source familiar with the negotiations said.

    An Israeli official pushed back on claims that Dermer’s position at the helm of negotiations has hampered progress or politicized the negotiations, saying, “Negotiations need to be judged by results, not process.”

    An Israeli official pushed back on claims that Dermer’s position at the helm of negotiations has hampered progress or politicized the negotiations, saying “negotiations need to be judged by results, not process.”

    “To reach a deal, you need someone who actually represents the will of the government that will authorize said deal, not ‘dissent,’ which only served to undermine negotiations,” the official said.

    The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that started as President Donald Trump took office collapsed last month when Israel re-launched its military operations and US and Israeli officials accused Hamas of rejecting a deal to extend it, which Hamas denied.

    There had long been indications Israel planned to resume its war against Hamas after the first phase of the ceasefire deal, when 38 Israeli and Thai hostages were released over six weeks.

    Netanyahu regularly cites freeing the hostages as a top priority. But so is the destruction of Hamas, and critics have accused him of prioritizing the latter at the expense of the former, namely because that is also where the prime minister’s political interests lie.

    Destroying Hamas has long been the priority of key right-wing members of Netanyahu’s governing coalition, who have invariably threatened and followed through on threats to quit the government.

    With Dermer in charge of the negotiations, Netanyahu can more deftly manage the delicate political balancing act that has influenced Israeli decision-making at every critical turn of the ceasefire negotiations.

    During the many months of ceasefire negotiations last year that ultimately led to a ceasefire deal in January, Israeli security officials balked at Netanyahu’s shifting positions and stall tactics that they believed were influenced by political considerations and delayed the brokering of a deal. But with Dermer now in charge and intelligence leaders marginalized, those dissenting views have featured less prominently in Israeli security discussions and in Israeli press reports.

    While in the US to meet Trump earlier this week, Netanyahu rejected accusations that freeing the hostages isn’t a top priority.

    “The president looked at me and told the journalists who were present: ‘This man is working constantly to free the hostages.’ I hope that this shatters the lie that is being circulated to the effect that I am not working for them, that I don’t care. I do care, and I am doing it and we will be successful,” Netanyahu said.

    The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel recently made a direct appeal to Dermer, whose title is the Minister of Strategic Affairs, accusing him of leaving them “in complete darkness.”

    “When you were appointed as head of the negotiating team, we were promised that this would help reach a breakthrough on a new agreement,” the letter said. “In reality, more than a month has passed and there is no progress in sight.”

    Barnea and Bar had regularly shuttled to Egypt and Qatar, as well as other countries, for ceasefire talks that included the heads of the CIA, Egyptian intelligence and the prime minister of Qatar.

    Now Dermer speaks less with mediators from Egypt and Qatar, which maintain direct relationships with Hamas, according to the source involved in the negotiations.

    The US point person has also shifted from the former CIA director to the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who has accused Hamas of intransigence that caused the recent ceasefire to break down.

    “If you’re the Trump team, you blame Hamas but behind the scenes I believe they are trying to push both sides,” the American who works with the hostage families said.

    A spokesperson for Witkoff didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Ongoing negotiations to release hostages

    Witkoff and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler have tried to figure out formulas to get Hamas to release the remaining Americans – one living and four dead – and get the truce extended enough to try to negotiate the next phase.

    “The US is doing everything possible to release alive and deceased US hostages, which necessitates the deal,” said an Egyptian official. While Israel “doesn’t see hostages superseding breaking Hamas.”

    Most recently, Hamas agreed to an Egypt- and Qatar-backed proposal that mirrored one Witkoff presented last month to release the lone living American hostage, Edan Alexander, along with four others and extend the peace through Ramadan and Passover.

    Israel quickly countered, demanding 11 living hostages, almost half of the 24 remaining. That would more dramatically cut into what Hamas views as their greatest leverage over Israel.

    “We’re still working on the Witkoff plan for an extension,” said a diplomat familiar with the discussions. “I think we have some wiggle room that we can work on.”

    Israel had early in the ceasefire delayed launching negotiations for the second phase whose terms stipulated the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire and a withdrawal by Israel’s military from Gaza.

    That could have meant the survival of Hamas – even if not in power – and flown in the face of Netanyahu’s goal of “total victory.” It would also have threatened Netanyahu’s government.

    Those second phase talks never began.

    “There’s no clarity on the [Israeli] objective,” the first source involved in the talks said, adding: “Americans are getting impatient.”

    As Israel’s latest operations have taken the death toll in Gaza over 50,000, there has been promising movement to resurrect the truce, those involved say.

    Hamas is feeling the pressure, both from Israel’s military and widescale protests by Palestinians in Gaza, said a US official familiar with the negotiations.

    “Hamas is struggling for oxygen,” said the official who accused Hamas of missing American opportunities last month to keep the ceasefire going. “They’re not very quick to move.”

    The American working with the hostage families has felt “some air being breathed back into the process.”

    “There’s a real sense of urgency and push on the part of the Americans and the [Egyptian and Qatari] mediators,” the source involved in the negotiations said.

    To try to salvage the ceasefire, hostage envoy Boehler made an unprecedented move: meeting directly with officials from Hamas, which the US considers a terrorist organization.

    With much of Hamas’ leadership inside Gaza decimated, it’s not clear if the military leaders still fighting Israel are on the same page as the political leadership engaging with mediators, including Boehler, the source involved in the negotiations said.

    “Stubbornness in Hamas also unhelpful. They need to account for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza,” the source said.

    Meanwhile, the discussions continue with the Israeli team led by Dermer, but which still includes security professionals working on the technical details.

    “The Israeli team is putting a lot of effort, but the way it’s being managed tactically from the top,” the source said, “the current structure of the negotiation team is not as helpful as needed for progress.”

    This post appeared first on cnn.com
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    World

    Prince Harry meets war victims in unannounced visit to Ukraine

    Prince Harry met with war victims on Thursday in an unannounced visit to Ukraine as part of his ongoing work with wounded veterans, a spokesperson said.

    Harry visited the Superhumans Center, an orthopedic clinic in Lviv that treats and rehabilitates wounded military personnel and civilians, to see top-notch services provided in a country in the midst of war. The center provides prosthetics, reconstructive surgery and psychological help free of charge.

    The Duke of Sussex, who served 10 years in the British Army, has made helping injured soldiers one of his most prominent causes. He founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to offer wounded veterans the challenge of competing in sports events similar to the Paralympics.

    Harry was accompanied by a contingent from the Invictus Games Foundation, including four veterans who have been through similar rehabilitation experiences.

    The visit to the area in western Ukraine that has frequently been targeted with Russian missiles was not announced until after he was out of the country.

    He traveled to Ukraine after spending two days in a London court where he is appealing the British government’s decision to strip him of his government-funded protection after he quit working as a member of the royal family in 2020 and moved his family to California.

    The prince is no stranger to war, having served two tours in Afghanistan, where he flew missions as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner.

    Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles III, is the second member of the royal family to visit Ukraine. His aunt, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, became the first British royal to travel to the country since Russia’s 2022 invasion when she made an unannounced visit to Kyiv last year.

    The royal family has been outspoken in their support for Ukraine. King Charles warmly greeted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a show of support at his estate on the North Sea coast just two days after his extraordinary dressing down by US President Donald Trump at the White House.

    Harry’s older brother, Prince William, met with Ukrainian refugees during a two day visit to Estonia last month.

    This post appeared first on cnn.com
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    Italian scientist’s remains found in Colombia spark multinational investigation

    An Italian scientist has been found dead in Colombia, according to local authorities, after several pieces of a human body were discovered lying on a path in the coastal city of Santa Marta on Sunday.

    City police said their investigation showed that a bracelet found on the remains belonged to Alessandro Coatti, a biologist who had recently embarked on a trip through South America. More remains were later found at two other locations around the city.

    Coatti had been staying at an establishment in the city and had presumably been visiting the scenic shoreline Tayrona area on April 5, police said. But what happened to him remains the subject of an urgent investigation by local authorities.

    “At present there is no further detail about what happened; it is under investigation,” read information provided by the Colombian prosecutor’s office on Thursday. “It is not yet known what occurred or where.”

    Only three pieces of his body have been recovered, it also said.

    Santa Marta mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello has vowed to find those responsible; in a public notice on Monday, the city described Coatti’s death as a homicide and announced a 50 million peso (approximately US$11,300) reward for information that would help Colombian authorities.

    Coatti had worked in London for the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for eight years before leaving the organization in 2024 to travel South America, the organization said.

    “Ale was funny, warm, intelligent, loved by everyone he worked with, and will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to his friends and family at this truly awful time,” the RSB said in a statement, calling him a “passionate and dedicated” scientist who led the group’s animal science work.

    Rome’s chief prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi said Coatti had visited Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador before travelling through Colombia, alone, according to Italian state broadcaster RAI.

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    State Dept upgrades travel advisory for El Salvador, considered safer than France, other European countries

    The State Department upgraded the travel advisory for El Salvador on Tuesday, now ranking the Central American nation as safer than several European countries. 

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele’s leadership as ‘crucial in improving the security of his country for foreign travelers.’ 

    ‘Gang activity, violent crime, and murders in El Salvador have significantly dropped,’ Rubio wrote on X, announcing the U.S. travel advisory for El Salvador has been updated to ‘Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.’ 

    The travel advisory says ‘gang activity has decreased over the last three years,’ and ‘this has caused a drop in violent crimes and murders.’ 

    ‘Keeping Americans safe overseas is our highest priority,’ Rubio wrote. 

    Many media users noted that the travel advisories for Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden all remain at ‘Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.’ 

    The State Department warns of the increased risk of ‘terrorism’ in all countries. For France and Spain, ‘civil unrest’ is also considered a concern for American travelers. 

    ‘El Salvador just got the U.S. State Department’s travel gold star: Level 1: safest it gets,’ Bukele wrote. 

    ‘EL SALVADOR NOW SAFER THAN MOST OF EUROPE,’ one X user, who has millions of followers, wrote. In reaction to the contrast, Elon Musk, the tech billionaire heading the Department of Government Efficiency, responded, ‘Wow.’ 

    Musk has been a vocal critic of mass migration in Western Europe, and the billionaire earlier this year campaigned on behalf of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in Germany ahead of national elections in February. 

    President Donald Trump, meanwhile, will welcome Bukele to the White House on April 14 for an official working visit to discuss ‘El Salvador’s partnership on using their supermax prison for Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members, and how El Salvador’s cooperation with the United States has become a model for others to work with,’ White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during Tuesday’s press briefing. 

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently visited the Terrorism Confinement Center, abbreviated CECOT, in El Salvador, where the Trump administration so far has sent more than 200 people removed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. 

    This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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