Plans by Allseas to operate deep-sea polymetallic nodule collectors for The Metals Company (TMC) in the Pacific, targeting 3 million wet tonnes per year from over 4,000 m water depth, are alleged to “directly” violate the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in a Greenpeace-commissioned legal opinion by Professor André Nollkaemper. The analysis argues that TMC’s reliance on a unilateral US permit bypasses the International Seabed Authority, which holds exclusive regulatory competence over the Area. Greenpeace Netherlands and five other NGOs have sent an urgent letter pressing the Dutch government to intervene against the planned commercial system.

China’s new Mineral Resources Law, in force this week, introduces explicit provisions for import–export controls and “countermeasures” against activities deemed to threaten its mineral resource security and supply chain stability, according to Ministry of Natural Resources official Yan Bo. The overhaul, the first major rewrite since 1986, lets Beijing define and update a list of “strategic minerals”, refine a state reserve system by product, capacity and origin, and requisition resources or directly organise mining during crises. Analysts at BMO and Rare Earth Exchanges say this effectively hardwires China’s dominance in rare earths and other critical minerals into a legal tool for long-term geopolitical competition.

Senior figures from UK civil engineering, infrastructure, construction, water, energy and transport have received King’s Birthday Honours, signalling government recognition of major project delivery and sector leadership. Recipients include leaders involved in complex rail and highway upgrades, strategic water resilience schemes and grid-scale energy infrastructure, where long-term asset performance and whole-life cost management are central. The awards are likely to strengthen the voice of practising engineers in policy discussions on net zero, infrastructure funding and climate adaptation standards.