A Vietnamese court has sentenced 23 officials and businesspeople for illegally exploiting and exporting rare earths from a northern mine, in a case the court called "especially serious."
Among those jailed was former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Linh Ngoc, who got three years for violating state regulations. Other sentences ranged up to 16 years. Four additional defendants received suspended sentences.
The group was found guilty of unlawfully licensing and profiting from rare earth and iron ore mining at the Yen Phu site in Yen Bai province between 2019 and 2023. The materials were sold for nearly $30 million, much of it to China.
The trial follows the US Geological Survey’s sharp downgrade of Vietnam’s estimated rare earth reserves—from 22 million to 3.5 million tons—dropping it from second to sixth place globally. The cut casts doubt on Vietnam’s hopes to rival China in a sector vital to high-tech industries.
Rare earth extraction is lucrative but environmentally hazardous, generating toxic waste and requiring costly processing.
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Vietnam has approved a $1.5 billion project by the Trump Organization and Kinhbac City to build golf courses, resorts, and homes. Work is set to begin this quarter and finish by mid-2029.
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Azerbaijan and Vietnam formalized a strategic partnership as President Ilham Aliyev and Communist Party leader To Lam signed key agreements in Baku.
Japanese retailers Aeon and Sumitomo are set to significantly expand their operations in Vietnam, with plans to increase their presence and tap into the country's growing consumer market.
Even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C — the goal set by nearly 200 countries — rising seas will still pose a major threat to coastal communities for centuries, scientists say.
A new report from the International Energy Agency warns that most critical minerals for clean energy are now controlled by a few countries, especially China, risking supply disruptions and higher prices globally.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Türkiye, Fahad bin Assaad Abu al-Nasr, and his wife, Rana Abdullah Bahamdan—chair of the Ankara Asia-Pacific Group—hosted a cultural event called “Tea Journey in Asia and the Pacific” on Wednesday to celebrate International Tea Day on May 21.
A Vietnamese court has sentenced 23 officials and businesspeople for illegally exploiting and exporting rare earths from a northern mine, in a case the court called "especially serious."
Hundreds of roof tiles fell from the Drum Tower in Fengyang County, Anhui province, China, narrowly missing visitors.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
The Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025, scheduled for May 18–19, will host 200 international guests, including 40 current and former European officials.
Amazon continues to set the benchmark in logistics and operational excellence through its sophisticated inventory management techniques, enabling it to maintain a competitive edge and deliver exceptional customer service at scale.
A new report from the International Energy Agency warns that most critical minerals for clean energy are now controlled by a few countries, especially China, risking supply disruptions and higher prices globally.
Hundreds of roof tiles fell from the Drum Tower in Fengyang County, Anhui province, China, narrowly missing visitors.
The bitter public feud between tech giants Elon Musk and Bill Gates has escalated, as Gates blames Musk for cutting off aid to vulnerable populations—while Musk counters by questioning Gates’ moral authority over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani held a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday to discuss next steps following the European Union’s recent decision to lift all economic sanctions on Syria.
Even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C — the goal set by nearly 200 countries — rising seas will still pose a major threat to coastal communities for centuries, scientists say.
A new report from the International Energy Agency warns that most critical minerals for clean energy are now controlled by a few countries, especially China, risking supply disruptions and higher prices globally.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Türkiye, Fahad bin Assaad Abu al-Nasr, and his wife, Rana Abdullah Bahamdan—chair of the Ankara Asia-Pacific Group—hosted a cultural event called “Tea Journey in Asia and the Pacific” on Wednesday to celebrate International Tea Day on May 21.
A Vietnamese court has sentenced 23 officials and businesspeople for illegally exploiting and exporting rare earths from a northern mine, in a case the court called "especially serious."
Hundreds of roof tiles fell from the Drum Tower in Fengyang County, Anhui province, China, narrowly missing visitors.
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