All articles by Alex Blair

Alex Blair is a UK-based reporter for GlobalData Media. He writes on topics including conflict, geopolitics, defence and sport.

Explainer: what is lithium ‘fingerprinting’?

Scientists in Australia say they have developed a new method of ‘fingerprinting’ lithium, a major breakthrough in tracing the supply…
Analysis: gold prices hit all-time high as Iran’s president dies

Gold prices hit an all-time high on Monday (20 May) following the premature death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and…
UK court case launched over Brazil Iron mining project

More than 100 residents of a traditional Quilombola community in Bahia, Brazil, have launched a legal case in the UK…
Why is the cost of Valentine’s Day gifts rising?

As Valentine’s Day prompts a spike in jewellery sales, analysts have pointed to geopolitical risks and supply chain disruption as…
IoT in Latin American mining – a solution to worker safety?

Home to half of the world’s lithium, Latin America is repeatedly touted as holding the keys to the green energy…

Q&A: Vigalab CEO José Reyes on IoT in Latin American mines

Chilean technology company Vigalab uses internet of things (IoT) technology to bring connectivity to fleets of industrial mining vehicles. In…
Carmakers face fresh allegations of Uyghur forced labour in China

Fresh allegations of complicity in human rights violations by Tesla, Volkswagen, BYD, Toyota and General Motors have been made by…
Samsung poses threat to Taiwan’s ‘silicon shield’

Samsung Electronics will challenge and potentially supplant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) as the world’s largest and highest-valued semiconductor producer,…
Critical Mineral Geopolitics: Latin America’s untapped potential

Every day, 160km south-east of Antofagasta in Chile, some 2,500 miners don their overalls and head to the Escondida copper…
Critical Mineral Geopolitics: Latin America’s untapped potential

Every day, 160km south-east of Antofagasta in Chile, some 2,500 miners don their overalls and head to the Escondida copper…