6 h. ago China extracts critical mineral rubidium from brine for first time

Chinese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in the commercial extraction of the critical metal rubidium directly from salt lake brine, potentially slashing dependence on imports – mostly from Canada – that now supply two-thirds of China’s needs. This industrial-scale method produces ultra-pure rubidium chloride from ultra-low concentrations, offering a new domestic source for this strategically vital material. The Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes (ISL) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)...

Politics

18 h. ago Crypto, China, critical minerals: inside Pakistan army chief’s US visit

Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, was set to arrive in Washington on Thursday, three weeks after his country’s flare-up with neighbouring, nuclear-armed rival India. Munir will stay in the US until June 18 and is expected to attend the US Army’s 250th anniversary celebrations on June 14 in the nation’s capital – a day that coincides with US President Donald Trump’s birthday, according to three people familiar with the matter. The Pakistani general is likely during his visit to travel to...

Politics

21 h. ago Critical mineral industries in China’s far west using Uyghur forced labor: report

Critical mineral industries in China’s far west using Uyghur forced labor: report  Radio Free Asia

Politics

34 h. ago Applications for 2,576 Hong Kong subsidised flats to open in third quarter of 2025

Public housing tenants can apply to buy more than 2,500 subsidised flats in Hong Kong in the third quarter of this year, with the homes to go for 60 per cent of the market price, the Post has learned. An insider said on Thursday that the Housing Authority would offer 2,576 new subsidised flats at a site in Kowloon this year under the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, which focuses on residents living in public housing estates. Prices would range from HK$1.15 million (US$146,500) to...

Politics

34 h. ago Applications for 2,576 Hong Kong subsidised flats to open in third quarter

Public housing tenants can apply to buy more than 2,500 subsidised flats in Hong Kong in the third quarter of this year, with the homes to go for 60 per cent of the market price, the Post has learned. An insider said on Thursday that the Housing Authority would offer 2,576 new subsidised flats at a site in Kowloon this year under the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, which focuses on residents living in public housing estates. Prices would range from HK$1.15 million (US$146,500) to...

Politics

34 h. ago Trump touts ‘done’ deal with Beijing on rare earth minerals, Chinese students

Trump touts ‘done’ deal with Beijing on rare earth minerals, Chinese students  PTV News

Politics

39 h. ago Japan weighs tightening rules on visa popular among Chinese nationals

Japan is considering increasing the minimum investment threshold for its business manager visa in a bid to make it harder for foreigners to obtain residence status and launch commercial operations in the country, as the scheme becomes increasingly popular with Chinese nationals. The visa, which offers relatively accessible entry for foreign entrepreneurs, permits stays of up to five years for those who either invest 5 million yen (US$34,711) or hire two full-time employees while maintaining an...

Politics

40 h. ago China approves world’s biggest amphibious plane, AG600, for mass production

China’s home-grown AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, has been given the green light for mass production, marking a step forward in building an independent and globally competitive aviation industry. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certified the plane on Wednesday, confirming that its developer, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic), has established a reliable system to consistently produce aircraft that meet safety standards, according to...

Politics

51 h. ago Trump says US gets rare earth minerals from China and tariffs on Chinese goods will total 55%

Trump says US gets rare earth minerals from China and tariffs on Chinese goods will total 55%  AP News

Politics

51 h. ago US to access Chinese rare earth minerals; here’s what Trump says Beijing will get in return

US to access Chinese rare earth minerals; here’s what Trump says Beijing will get in return  theweek.in

Politics

51 h. ago Trump's Deal With China: Beijing To Supply Rare Earth Minerals Under New Deal, US To Allow Chinese Students

Trump's Deal With China: Beijing To Supply Rare Earth Minerals Under New Deal, US To Allow Chinese Students  ABP Live English

Politics

52 h. ago Trump says US gets rare earth minerals from China in trade deal, tariffs on Chinese goods go to 55%

Trump says US gets rare earth minerals from China in trade deal, tariffs on Chinese goods go to 55%  AP News

Politics

53 h. ago Trump: Tariffs on Chinese goods set at 55 percent, US to get rare earth minerals in deal

Trump: Tariffs on Chinese goods set at 55 percent, US to get rare earth minerals in deal  The Hill

Politics

53 h. ago Trump announces US will get magnets, rare earth minerals from China; says tariffs on Chinese goods going to 55%

Trump announces US will get magnets, rare earth minerals from China; says tariffs on Chinese goods going to 55%  The Economic Times

Politics

54 h. ago China grants export permits to rare earth giant for US, Europe shipments

A top Chinese rare earth exporter, which hosted President Xi Jinping during a 2019 inspection, said it had obtained export permits for several destinations, including the United States. Investors welcomed the news, sending the company’s shares higher. JL MAG Rare-Earth said on Wednesday that it had also been granted licenses for Europe and Southeast Asia, and that it would export magnetic materials, components and motor rotors. “After the export controls imposed on medium and heavy rare earth...

Politics

56 h. ago Indonesia’s green groups welcome move to axe mining permits in Raja Ampat

Indonesia’s green groups and Papuan residents have welcomed President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to revoke almost all nickel-mining permits in the country’s biodiversity gem of the Raja Ampat Islands, but urged authorities to protect other small and outlying areas from damage brought by such activities. Raja Ampat, an archipelagic region in Southwest Papua, has been dubbed the “last paradise on Earth” due to its extremely rich terrestrial and marine biodiversity, which includes 540 species of...

Politics

58 h. ago How Indonesian fintech firm is bridging funding gaps for women entrepreneurs

Across Indonesia’s vast archipelago, millions of women running small businesses in rural areas remain locked out of traditional banking – a gap increasingly filled by fintech firms offering microloans as economic pressures mount. One of the most prominent players in this space is Amartha, a Jakarta-based lending platform that connects borrowers in remote communities with financial institutions. Founded in 2010, it now counts about 3 million active borrowers – 99 per cent of them women operating...

Economics

66 h. ago ‘Making a dent’: race is on to reap rare earths elsewhere amid China’s dominance

Beijing’s imposition of rare earth export restrictions from April – playing its trump card in the face of Washington’s intensifying tariffs and tech curbs – helped send a message to Washington ahead of this week’s discussions over bilateral export-control issues. Considered a trump card because rare earths have an outsized impact on auto, electronics and defence industries, and China dominates the supply chain, the trade in such critical minerals is widely expected to be among the key topics...

Politics

3 d. ago How rare earth minerals could give China the upper hand in U.S. trade talks

How rare earth minerals could give China the upper hand in U.S. trade talks  NBC News

Politics

3 d. ago Pressured by US tariffs, Chinese exports expand in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia

Chinese exports to major industrial centres in Southeast Asia rose by double-digit percentages in the first five months of the year to satisfy growing consumer markets, feed offshore factory investments and offset losses from high US tariffs. Shipments to factory-magnet Vietnam increased by 18.8 per cent from January to May, compared with the same period in 2024, according to official data released on Monday. Meanwhile, exports to Thailand grew by 20.9 per cent, and Indonesia took 16.8 per cent...

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