10 Tuesday, June 15, 2021 Economy & Business Elon Musk tweets and Bitcoin jumps Rare earth metals at heart Agencies citing concerns over the en- ergy required by the servers Bitcoin rallied after Tesla’s that underpin the cryptocur- of China’s rivalry with the US billionaire chief executive rency. and founder Elon Musk said Electricity is a primary his electric car company will input of Bitcoin and other resume accepting the world’s cryptocurrencies. The coins In 2019, the United States imported 80 percent of its rare earth minerals from China biggest cryptocurrency once are mined by computers that Agencies its miners user clean energy. process complex algorithms Musk made the com- in halls that span the area of What if China were to cut off ments on Twitter in response several football pitches. In the United States and Europe to Magda Wierzycka, chief April, researchers at Cam- from access to rare minerals executive of South African bridge University estimated that are essential to electric financial services company that the electricity consump- vehicles, wind turbines and Sygnia, who said his tweets tion of the Bitcoin network is drones? on Bitcoin are tantamount almost 120 terawatt-hours At a time of frequent geo- to “market manipulation” per year, more than the ener- political friction among those and should have triggered an gy consumption of the UAE three powers, Washington investigation by the US Se- at 119.45 terawatt-hours, and Brussels want to avoid curities and Exchange Com- this scenario by investing in mission. the market for 17 minerals Bitcoin, the world’s larg- with unique properties that est cryptocurrency, jumped today are largely extracted more than 12.4 per cent at and refined in China. 8:44am UAE time on Mon- “The expected exponential day to trade at $39,319. Come ‘clean’ growth in demand for miner- Ethereum, the world’s sec- als that are linked to clean en- ond-largest cryptocurrency, Elon Musk, chief executive ergy is putting more pressure gained about 6.3 per cent to of Tesla, said his company on U.S. and Europe to take a $2,484. would resume accepting closer look at where the vul- “What we have seen with Bitcoins once its miners nerabilities are and the con- Bitcoin is price manipulation use clean energy. Sygnia crete steps these governments by one very powerful and in- chief executive accuses the can take,” said Jane Nakano, a fluential individual,” Wierzy- billionaire of manipulating senior fellow at the Washing- cka said in an interview with the digital asset’s prices ton-based Center for Strategic South Africa’s Money Show with his tweets and International Studies. radio programme. In 2019, the United States “This [Ms Wierzycka’s imported 80 percent of its comments] is inaccurate. and on course to overtake rare earth minerals from Chi- Tesla only sold ~10 per cent Pakistan. na, the U.S. Geological Survey of holdings to confirm BTC Wierzycka, the richest says. could be liquidated eas- woman in South Africa, said The European Union gets A photo taken in 2012 shows a rare earth refinery near Baotou, China, the country dominating the global mining and refining of the minerals. ily without moving market. Musk’s recent social media 98 percent of its supply from When there’s confirmation activity on the price of Bit- China, the European Commis- Last week the U.S. Senate up its market share, aided by a Chinese firm is a minority of reasonable (~50 per cent) coin should have made him sion said last year. passed a law aimed at improv- Beijing’s heavy government shareholder. clean energy usage by miners the subject of investigation Amid the transition to ing American competitiveness China dominance subsidies. Elsewhere, Australian with positive future trend, by the SEC if Bitcoin was a green energy in which rare that includes provisions to im- ● Amid the transition to MP Materials relaunched company Lynas has won sev- Tesla will resume allowing listed company. earth minerals are sure to play prove critical minerals supply green energy in which rare the mine in 2017 and aims to eral contracts in the United Bitcoin transactions,” Musk “The [Bitcoin] volatility a role, China’s market domi- chains, following a similar ex- make it a symbol of America’s States, including an ore refin- said on Twitter. we have seen is an unexpect- nance is enough to sound an ecutive order issued by Presi- earth minerals are sure to industrial rebirth, saying the ery in Texas for the military In May, public criticism ed function of what I would alarm in western capitals. dent Joe Biden in February. play a role, China’s market concentration of rare earths that was supported by the De- of the digital currency’s en- call market manipulation by Rare earth minerals with Washington aims to boost dominance is enough to at its site is one of the world’s fense Department. ergy needs by Mr Musk and Elon Musk,” Wierzycka said. names like neodymium, pra- production and processing of sound an alarm in western largest and highest-grade rare In Europe, Bernd Schafer, a Chinese regulatory crack- “If that happens to a listed seodymium and dysprosium rare earths and lithium, an- capitals. earth deposits, with soil con- CEO and Managing Director down caused the virtual company, he would be in- are crucial to the manufacture other key mineral component, centrations of seven percent of rare earth mineral consor- currency’s price to plum- vestigated and severely sanc- of magnets used in industries while “working with allies and ● Rare earth minerals with versus 0.1 to four percent else- tium Eit Raw Materials, said met more than 53 per cent tioned by [the] SEC.” of the future like wind turbines partners to increase sustain- names like neodymium, where. this month that an “action to $30,000 after reaching Musk knowingly and electric cars. And they are able global supply and reduce praseodymium and The company’s aim is to plan” will soon be presented an all-time high of $64,899 pumped up the price of Bit- already present in consumer reliance on geopolitical com- dysprosium are crucial to separate rare earth minerals to the European Commission in April. Musk has roiled coin by writing tweets in- goods such as smartphones, petitors,” Deputy Director of the manufacture of from each other via a chemi- on how to boost production. Bitcoin and other digital to- cluding those mentioning computer screens and tel- the National Economic Coun- magnets used in industries cal process, and then by 2025 Europe, however, faces kens with a string of social Tesla’s $1.5 billion purchase escopic lenses. cil Sameera Fazili said. of the future like wind manufacture the magnets that a more complicated path to media posts. Last month, the of the cryptocurrency and Others have more tradi- The best hope for boosting turbines and electric cars. industry uses -- as market- achieving this goal, said Da- tycoon reversed a decision then “sold a big part of his tional uses, like cerium for American production can be leading Chinese firms cur- vid Merriman, a specialist in to allow purchases of Tesla exposure at the peak”, she glass polishing and lantha- found at the Mountain Pass rently do. batteries and electric cars for electric vehicles with Bitcoin, added. num for car catalysts or opti- mine in California. players in the sector, the mine The project was supported London-based consultancy cal lenses. Once one of the major suffered as China rose and ate by the U.S. government, while Roskill. Microsoft bolsters video game line-up as Xbox turns 20 years

Agencies most passionate community,” battles and the games’ rich computers and Switch. Microsoft has been play- unit chief Phil Spencer said dur- graphics, Microsoft stressed “Hades”, which snagged ing on the strength of its Xbox Microsoft has unveiled a ing a streamed event on the sec- that all but a few would be avail- five honors this year at Brit- unit as it vies with Luna and batch of new titles for Xbox at ond day of a virtual Electronic able for play at its subscription ain’s prestigious BAFTA Games Stadia cloud gaming services the world’s premier video game Entertainment Expo (E3). Xbox Game Pass service. Awards, is a “dungeon crawler” run, respectively, by Amazon trade show, including award- Microsoft revealed a coming The company also highlight- that challenges players to fight and Google. In coming weeks, winning sensation “Hades” and take of beloved “Halo”, along ed titles that will be exclusive to their way through the under- cloud gaming with Xbox Game long-time hit “Halo”. with new creations such as Xbox, which competes with rival world. The line-up of new titles Pass Ultimate subscriptions will The Xbox maker showed science-fiction action title “Star- consoles Sony PlayStation and comes as Microsoft works on be possible through internet off 30 new games coming to its field” and a vampire-battling Nintendo Switch. software and a plug-in device browsers Chrome, Edge and Sa- console, which in November adventure called “Redfall” from Award-winning “Hades” to let people play Xbox video fari, according to Microsoft. will celebrate two decades on Bethesda Softworks. from San Francisco-based Su- games on internet-linked televi- Many are expected to tune the market. Microsoft recently-acquired pergiant is coming to Xbox as sions without need of consoles. in on the closing day of E3 “Our team strives to make Bethesda Softworks, the maker well as PlayStation, the inde- “As a company, Microsoft is on Tuesday for a Nintendo Xbox a place where you’ll find of hits including “Fallout” and pendent studio said Sunday. all-in on gaming,” chief execu- streamed event at which it may the greatest games, the most “Elder Scrolls.” “Hades” has so far only been tive Satya Nadella said in intro- reveal a new version of its cov- dedicated developers, and the As trailers depicted tense available for play on personal ducing the plan last week. eted Switch consoles. Gaming sensation ‘Hades’ is coming to Xbox

Comeback Vinyl record sales surge in US during COVID-19 pandemic

Agencies the rabbit hole and now it seems I cord Store Day, which is being held in business, said Michael Kurtz, can’t escape.” on June 12 and July 17, include co-founder of Record Store Day. Vinyl record sales surged during At 20, Emanuel is part of a everything from Black Sabbath to That’s up from about 1,000 stores the pandemic as music lovers fat- new generation drawn to the warm The Blind Boys of Alabama, and when the business bottomed out tened their collections, and audio sound, album art and retro vibe of the Buzzcocks to The Notorious as people shifted to digital music, cassettes began a comeback as vinyl records, joining with older B.I.G. he said. well, keeping business spinning at Americans who grew up with the Many of those are one-time Record albums and compact record stores. format to increase sales. exclusives available only on Record discs account together account for Easing restrictions on indoor Vinyl record sales soared in Store Day, making them rare and about $1.1 billion in annual sales, shopping and continued interest in 2020 during the pandemic year, collectible. a far cry from the $10 billion spent vinyl records provide stores — and growing 29% to $626 million and The story of its start begins in on streaming services like Spotify, shoppers — something to cheer on surpassing compact discs in sales Maine, where Chris Brown from according to RIAA. Saturday, the first of two Record revenue, according to the Record Bull Moose Music pitched the idea Nonetheless, new record stores Store Day dates. Although many Industry Association of America. in 2007, and was joined by Eric are opening up. stores were closed during the Audio cassettes, of all things, Levin from the Alliance of Inde- In California, Michael Miller early part of the pandemic, people are also seeing renewed inter- pendent Music Stores. and a friend who have a collection were listening to records at home est — though still something of a A year later, the first Record of 5,000 to 6,000 albums apiece and boosting online and curbside novelty when it comes to overall Store Day launched. decided to open a store in Febru- pickup sales of vinyl. sales — thanks to some help from Will Emanuel discusses his interest in vinyl records at his home. These days, retailing is far dif- ary during the pandemic in Twen- Will Emanuel, a University Hollywood and Netflix. ferent from the golden era when tynine Palms, not far from Joshua of Maine student stuck at home “Guardians of the Galaxy” mixtape with the Clash and other sic stores, those local music hubs teens rushed to their local store to Tree National Park, which has a outside Portland, bought about 50 featured a grooving mixtape with artists from the ‘80s. where people can thumb through flip through 45-rpm records. thriving art and music scene. to 55 albums during the pandemic. hits from the 1960s and 70s that That surge in interest in re- albums, CDs and cassettes, and Megastores like Virgin and “My wife says you want to open “I was absolutely itching to build a became a chart topper, while Netl- cords and cassettes bodes well for talk music. Tower Records are long gone, but a store right now, in the desert? I collection,” said Emanuel. “I fell in fix’s “Stranger Things” featured a the annual celebration of indie mu- New releases, a hallmark of Re- about 1,400 record stores are still say sure, why not?” Miller said.