In early 2025, Sian traveled deep into the mountains of Shan State, on Myanmar’s eastern border with China, in search of work. He had heard from a friend that Chinese companies were recruiting at new...

YouTube video by Gertrude Saxinger

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a $400 million investment in an Australian rare earth mining project, aiming to secure critical minerals essential for technology and defense industries. This partnership between the Pentagon and Australia's mineral resources sector underscores growing strategic interests in diversifying supply chains amid global geopolitical tensions. Rare earth elements like neodymium and dysprosium are vital for manufacturing electronics, electric vehicles, and advanced weaponry. The investment is part of broader efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese imports, which currently dominate the global market for these materials. Australian officials have emphasized that the funding will accelerate infrastructure development at the mine site, creating jobs and boosting local economies. Environmental concerns remain a key consideration, with both governments pledging to adhere to sustainable mining practices. This move highlights the increasing importance of resource security in international relations, as nations seek to balance economic interests with ecological responsibilities.

The race for green transition supplies is on. But where’s the thrill in metals, discreet and hidden yet widespread? Mining, intensive due to low concentrations, throws up waste elements like arsenic. ...

In early 2025, Sian traveled deep into the mountains of Shan State, on Myanmar’s eastern border with China, in search of work. He had heard from a friend that Chinese companies were recruiting at new...

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a new type of material resource which have attracted significant attention in recent years. REEs have emerged as essential metals in modern-day technology due to their u...

Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir tightens military control over mining in KP, displacing civilians to attract US investment in rare minerals.

What Happened and Why It MattersMalaysia has paused a rare earth pilot site and two tin operations in Perak after...

Myanmar's rare earth mining operations are creating a hidden environmental health crisis as global demand surges. The Lancet warns that extraction is pr… #Environmentalhealth #Globalhealth #Miningsafety #Myanmar #Rareearthmining

Rare-earth mining in Myanmar is polluting the Mekong River with toxic metals, threatening ecosystems, food security, and water supplies across mainland Southeast Asia.

"As much as technology is hailed as the panacea of the future, most of these innovations have a dirty underside: production of these new technologies requires companies to dig up what are referred to ...