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TOPIC COLLECTION

Oil / Gas / Mining

Included topics:
US President Donald Trump listens in the Oval Office of the White House on July 29. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Trump election claims debunked, US-China AI gap: 7 US-China relations reads

From smaller US-China AI gap to crawfish soup on Mars, here are highlights from our overseas correspondents in the second half of July 2026.

Indonesia

Unknown number of people missing after Indonesian ferry fire kills 5

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China energy security

Iran war could still alter Beijing’s policy calculus: economist

The plastic on Bali’s beaches shocked her. Now, she turns waste into eco-fashion

For Ella Doeringer, an 18-year-old artist and fashion designer, sustainability and environmentalism are the key drivers of her brand Dirtyfinger.

18 year-old Ella Doeringer repurposes fabric for one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. Sustainability and environmentalism are core ethos in her artwork and fashion design. Photos: Ella Doeringer

In Focus | Will new EV batteries fast-charge the global automotive industry?

Amid a fiercely competitive domestic market, China’s battery tech leads in global innovation and cost reduction, promising safer, faster EVs.

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Climate crisis: Hungary closes nuclear power plant, Greece wildfires spread

Sustained drought is affecting the lives of many, with so-called megafires among multiple consequences of the extreme weather.

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Why US, EU curbs on Chinese power inverters risk upending green supply chains

As Western governments move to end dependence on world’s top producer, analysts warn rapid decoupling could drive up costs and derail projects.

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Staff members assemble inverters at an industrial park in Tongxin county in Wuzhong, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on February 20, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Iran’s foreign minister warns of any ‘adventurous action’ by US

Abbas Araqchi said Iran would retaliate if the US follows through on Trump’s threat of fresh attacks on the country.

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How high jewellers turned to other metals in response to pricey gold

Designers like Cora Sheibani, Joy Bonfield-Colombara and Inesa Kovalova are exploring the properties and potential of various metals.

Beijing to impose exit bans for export control, tech transfer breaches

New rules give extra teeth to efforts to stamp out critical mineral smuggling and leaks of strategically vital technology.

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The regulations take aim at technology transfers, seeking to prevent know-how in sectors Beijing considers strategically vital from moving overseas. Photo: Xinhua

Outside In | China’s export success is a by-product of self-reliance

But while the export surge is an accidental consequence of self-sufficiency and competitive manufacturers, the solution is not protectionism.

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Containers sitting stacked at the Port of Shanghai on July 14 in China. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Video | China is world’s green energy leader, yet heavily reliant on coal

Report by NGO Global Energy Monitor finds loophole that keeps the country heavily reliant on coal.

Elite company: the firms that were China’s most valuable before CXMT

Chipmaker’s ascent to highest market capitalisation ends two decades on top for energy conglomerates, lenders and consumer brands.

Style Edit: De Beers Group redefines luxury with warm-hued Desert diamonds

Music stars such as Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Rihanna and Doja Cat have all been spotted wearing warm-coloured diamonds.

Rihanna wears "Desert diamonds" to the 2026 Met Gala. Photo: WireImage

US sanctions Mahan Air’s China network over alleged support for Iran’s IRGC

Two Shanghai companies and a Chinese executive targeted as Washington expands pressure campaign from Iranian oil to aviation and cargo.

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Mahan Air has been under US sanctions since 2011 over its alleged support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Photo: Reuters

Opinion | Can the West really decouple from China?

Instead of trying to ‘catch up’, Western economies should focus on boosting resilience in key sectors without disrupting global supply chains.

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De Beers Group unveils its Desert diamonds campaign in Shanghai

The Shanghai event drew top retailers like Chow Tai Fook and Chow Sang Sang, alongside global diplomats and influencers.

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HK’s gold imports set to rise after hitting 11-year high last month: analysts

Investor appetite, international precious metals trading hub ambitions drive growth as imports hit highest volume since late 2014.

Gold bars: Photo: Shutterstock

China’s solar surge nears milestone – even as Beijing hits brakes on sheer scale

Coal capacity is projected to lose its long-held crown this year, despite a pivot from raw solar panel expansion to quality.

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US sanctions mainland China, Hong Kong firms over Iranian oil shipments

Six targeted tankers allegedly carried crude to China as Washington links economic campaign to US Navy enforcement.

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Inside America’s US$1.5 billion play for Southeast Asian energy

Gas exports and mini reactors serve US interests as much as Asia’s – provided promised projects actually lead anywhere.

A power plant and transmission lines in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. The International Development Finance Corporation has reportedly held talks with Vietnam on grid modernisation. Photo: AP

Opinion | China should lean into its defining AI advantage – accessibility

Chinese systems need not top every benchmark before becoming major suppliers of the world’s artificial intelligence infrastructure.

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People walk past Qwen’s booth during the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 2. Chinese open-weight models accounted for 41 per cent of downloads on Hugging Face in the year to February 2026, compared with 36.5 per cent for American models. Photo: Xinhua

Delhi leads EV charge in India’s clean air push but not everyone goes with flow

Starting in 2027, any newly registered three-wheeled vehicles and small trucks must be electric, with two-wheelers following the next year.

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Iranian missile salvoes and US-Saudi strikes shatter brief Middle East lull

Joint air strikes hit Tehran-backed militia sites in Iraq after dozens of drone and missile attacks across the region.

Record Chinese biotech out-licensing meets rising US scrutiny

Surging cross-border deals out of China are running headlong into intensifying US national security fears.

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Washington is increasing scrutiny of Chinese biotech at a time when the innovation pipeline in the world’s second-largest economy is experiencing rapid growth. Photo: Shutterstock

China’s battery makers fight over Middle East energy-storage market

BYD, Sungrow win contracts for storage at massive UAE solar plant, as EV battery makers seek better margins selling storage systems.

Demand for battery energy-storage systems, like this unit from BYD, has soared in recent years. Photo: Handout

Australia weighs first refinery in 60 years as Middle East war strains fuel supply

With only two operating plants left nationwide, Canberra orders a study on a major new Western Australia facility.

Clothing for sensitive skin: why fashion brands are ditching synthetics for natural fibres

Labels like Sylva and Saint Haven are swapping polyester for seaweed and cellulose in a bid to prevent irritation – but can clothing really heal your skin?

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Oil / Gas / Mining
The latest news on fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas), including mining, gas supply chains, carbon footprint and carbon emissions. Also covers climate science, renewable energy, batteries and lithium, plus clean energy and fuel poverty.