As US-China relations hit new lows, Washington is redoubling efforts to address a major Achilles’ heel: its dependence on Beijing for rare earth elements – essential materials in various hi-tech products from smartphones and electric car batteries to Javelin missiles and F-35 fighter aircraft, reports South China Morning Post. IAC Desk
While China – the world’s largest coal producer and consumer – is officially calling for a reduction in its reliance on the polluting fuel, its statistical consumption patterns tell a different story, reports Asia Times. admin
Maintaining and building Australia’s business ties with Asia needs more care and attention, a group of corporate chiefs says. Major corporations and business groups will soon launch the results of a two-year study into the challenges of engaging with Asia as the region seeks to deal with COVID-19, according to the Australian Associated Press. IAC […]
The government has taken all-out measures with priority on agriculture sector, to tackle the food crisis amid the coronavirus situation, said Bangladesh Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque. Amid the global pandemic, farmers are also facing adverse situation along with the rest of the world. To address this, the government is giving various incentives including […]
Refineries in the Asia-Pacific are gradually getting back to normal operations following run cuts in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. A number of refineries in India reduced rates to as low as 35%-40% in the first half of April, with some taking units such as CDUs offline. With the lockdown eased, some refineries have […]
Despite India’s global advantage in terms of hectares of arable land, it significantly lags smaller countries in exports ($) per hectare, mostly due to low yields and farm productivity; low focus on value addition; and large domestic market, Financial Express reports. IAC Desk
An agriculture ministry proposal to ban a set of widely used pesticides has kicked up a storm, with the chemicals ministry opposing the ban, and advocacy groups supporting it, citing cases of pesticide poisoning, reports Mint. IAC Desk
One of the encouraging aspects for those hoping for a V-shaped economic recovery from the novel coronavirus in China has been the increase in the price and demand for many key metals. There is a further aspect that supports the quick rebound thesis – falling Chinese inventories of many metals, from steel rebar to iron […]
ArcelorMittal, one of the world’s biggest steelmakers, is considering selling a 420km-long railway and other infrastructure assets in Canada to reduce debts and strengthen its balance sheet, Financial Times reports. IAC Desk
Mining giant Rio Tinto launched a high-level review of its operations in Western Australia after the company blew up a 46,000-year-old Aboriginal heritage site to expand an iron ore mine, Bangkok Post reports. admin
