PolicyTrade

US and Australia Forge $8.5 Billion Critical Minerals Partnership Amid China Export Restrictions

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have finalized an $8.5 billion critical-minerals deal at the White House. The partnership aims to reduce reliance on Chinese exports amid new restrictions on rare-earth materials.

Strategic Alliance to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have signed an $8.5 billion agreement focused on critical minerals, according to reports from the White House. The deal, reportedly negotiated over several months, aims to strengthen supply chains for rare-earth elements essential for technology and defense applications. Analysts suggest this move responds to China’s recent export controls, which require foreign firms to seek government approval for shipments containing trace amounts of Chinese-origin rare-earth materials.

PolicySocialmedia

Trump Administration Accounts Flood Bluesky, Face Immediate Backlash and Mass Blocking

The Trump administration has expanded its social media presence to Bluesky, with multiple federal agencies creating accounts that immediately posted politically charged content. According to platform tracking data, the White House account has become one of the most blocked on the network within 48 hours of joining.

Federal Government Expands Social Media Presence to Alternative Platform

The Trump administration has brought its social media strategy to Bluesky, with the White House and numerous federal agencies joining the platform on Friday. According to reports, the administration’s approach appears designed to engage with users on a platform known as a left-leaning alternative to Elon Musk’s X.

Emigration and ImmigrationPolicy

Chamber of Commerce Sues Over Trump’s $100K H-1B Visa Fee, Tech Executives Voice Opposition

The US Chamber of Commerce has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee. Tech executives including Elon Musk and Satya Nadella have voiced opposition, arguing the fee would harm American businesses’ ability to attract global talent while the White House defends it as necessary reform.

Legal Challenge to H-1B Visa Fee Increase

The US Chamber of Commerce has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s implementation of a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, according to reports. The business organization, which represents more than 3 million companies, argued in its complaint that the fee would “inflict significant harm on American businesses,” sources indicate. The legal challenge comes as the administration defends the measure as a lawful and necessary step toward program reforms.