{
  "id": 15875156,
  "title": "The ‘critical’ and ‘weighty’ reasons for Washington’s support of Flávio",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/as-razoes-criticas-e-pesadas-da-torcida-de-washington-por-flavio",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-21T09:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Brazil Journal",
    "slug": "brazil-journal",
    "url": "https://braziljournal.com/as-razoes-criticas-e-pesadas-da-torcida-de-washington-por-flavio"
  },
  "original_language": "pt",
  "account": "Japan's high-tech industry is facing a shortage of yttrium, a critical mineral used in lasers, superconductors, and electronics, due to China's control over its exports. Japan has sought diplomatic help from the US to secure access to the mineral, but so far, without success. The country is particularly concerned as its stockpiles are dwindling, and there is a limit to conservation efforts. Brazil, which is the main producer of heavy rare earths outside of Asia, has become a strategic interest for the US, with the possibility of accessing its critical mineral reserves. The US is keen on reducing its dependence on China, which currently dominates the global supply of rare earths.",
  "summary": "It's the definition of a critical mineral in practice. Japan's high-tech industry is about to run out of stock of yttrium – a chemical element used in the production of lasers, superconductors, metal alloys and electronics.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}