
Nippon Steel, US seek 8-day pause in litigation to resolve deal concerns
WASHINGTON :Nippon Steel and the Trump administration on Thursday asked a U.S. appeals court to extend a pause in their litigation for eight days, to give them more time to reach a deal allowing the Japanese firm to move forward with its $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel.
The court is likely to approve an extension of the pause, first granted on April 7 when President Donald Trump ordered a second national security review of the proposed tie-up. That pause was set to expire on June 5.
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CNA
2 hours ago
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Senior Taiwan official visits site of new Alaska LNG project
TAIPEI :A senior Taiwanese official said on Saturday he had this week visited the site of a potentially enormous new liquified natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska that the Trump administration has been pushing hard to allies in Asia as a supply option. Energy developer Glenfarne had said on Tuesday that 50 firms had formally expressed interest in contracts worth more than $115 billion from its Alaska LNG project, a massive infrastructure deal championed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Writing on his Facebook page, Pan Men-an, secretary-general to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, said he had attended an energy conference in Alaska at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and visited the state's North Slope. Phase One of the project is expected to deliver natural gas about 1,230 km (765 miles) from the North Slope to the Anchorage region. "Despite the freezing temperatures, we talked enthusiastically about building resilience and responsibility as democratic partners in the face of global climate change and the challenges of authoritarianism," Pan wrote. "In the face of trade challenges and international turbulence, we have no choice but to rise to the occasion," he said, without mentioning whether he had signed any deals while there. The presidential office said late on Friday that Pan had been accompanied by Fang Jeng-zen, chairman of Taiwan's state-owned energy company CPC. CPC in March signed a non-binding agreement to buy LNG and invest in the project, a move Taiwan's president has said would ensure the island's energy security. If built, the Alaska LNG project will export up to 20 million metric tons of the superchilled gas a year. It would open direct access for U.S.-made LNG to Asian markets without having to go through the Panama Canal or around the Horn of Africa, reducing transit time and costs. Taiwan has pledged to massively ramp up its purchases from the United States, including energy, to reduce a yawning trade surplus that has angered Washington.

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
India, central Asian countries express interest in joint rare earths exploration
NEW DELHI – India and five central Asian countries have expressed interest in jointly exploring for rare earths and critical minerals, they said in a joint statement on June 6 after the fourth meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue. The announcement comes amid global alarm over China's decision to curb exports of rare earth alloys, mixtures and magnets, spooking industries ranging from automobiles and clean energy to defence. India and the central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – also called upon 'relevant authorities' for an early meeting of the India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum, which last met in September. 'The ministers also encouraged exchange of delegations to explore new areas of cooperation in critical minerals,' the statement said, adding the sides agreed to hold their next meeting in 2026. Rare earths are a group of 17 elements used in the creation of magnets that power motion for cars, cellphones, missiles and other electronics. China mines about 60 per cent of the world's rare earths and makes 90 per cent of rare earth magnets. Beijing, however, has announced export restrictions on these in April as part of its sweeping response to US President Donald Trump's tariffs. India is holding talks with companies to establish long-term stockpiles of rare earth magnets by offering fiscal incentives for domestic production, as it looks to reduce dependence on shipments from China. It also plans to launch incentives for recycling 24 critical minerals – a plan that is in the final stages of approval – as it looks to secure the minerals needed for green energy transition. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Singapore exploring 'worst-case scenario' solutions for its Harvard students: Vivian Balakrishnan
SINGAPORE: Singapore is trying to find solutions to deal with the "worst-case scenario" where Singaporean Harvard University students are not able to physically study in Boston, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said on Saturday (Jun 7). His ministry will continue to seek clarification on international student visas with the US State Department and Department of Homeland Security, he told reporters, though he made no promises that the matter would be resolved in time. Dr Balakrishnan on Saturday completed a four-day working visit to Washington DC. This was the first ministerial visit to the US since both countries elected new governments. Harvard's ability to enrol international students was thrown into turmoil last month after the US government said it would block the university from accepting foreign students, affecting study plans. Though all Singaporean students are set to be affected by the visa issue and possible delays in processing their applications, those studying at Harvard have the "greatest concern", and Singapore's ambassador to the US, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, has held a virtual townhall with them. "We are also trying to find solutions to deal with the worst-case scenario where they would not be able to physically study in Boston," Dr Balakrishnan said, adding that the ministry has some ideas about how to help the students deal with that "without impairing their academic and professional progress". Those who are not in the US yet and have not secured visas may need to have backup plans, he said. "But my main point is we will stay in touch, and we will continue to keep you informed." A court on Thursday ruled that the government cannot enforce US President Donald Trump's latest move to bar most new international students at Harvard from entering the country, following legal action by the university. Beyond Harvard, Reuters also reported last month that the US ordered its consular offices to stop scheduling new visa interviews for students and exchange visitors. "I am not in a position to give any guarantees that this will be resolved in time," said Dr Balakrishnan, when asked about contingencies being planned for Singaporean students. He noted that it is already June, and the academic year in the US usually begins in August. "We will have to watch this space, but rest assured that we will continue to do our best to try to at least get clarification, get certainty ... (and) thereafter, give our students specific advice," he said. Dr Balakrishnan said he hoped that there will be clarifications from US authorities in the next few days, but that these are domestic political issues. "The situation confronting our students is not confined to Singapore, but indeed to all international students," he said. "It is not directed at us. Nevertheless, you can become affected as collateral damage." He added that it is in the interest of both countries keep opportunities open to Singaporeans who want to study and even work in the US. "I hope we will be able to find suitable solutions for our students who want to pursue educational opportunities in the United States." "NO HURDLES" Dr Balakrishnan also said there were no challenges in interacting with his US counterparts during his trip. "There were no hurdles or impediments interacting with the Americans ... We got along in our own usual direct and constructive manner," he said, adding that there was no anxiety on that front. "The anxiety is that we have reached the end of a world order that has prevailed for 80 years, and we are now in a period of transition to a new world order." Singapore has benefited from open trade and free flow of investments and the multilateral rules-based order, he said. "That is clearly changing, and the time of greatest danger is the interregnum – the transition period from one world order to the next. That is why this is a time where we need to be alert, we need to keep our eyes and ears open, and we need to respond promptly and quickly to changes." It is also important to interact frequently, candidly, openly and constructively, especially with a superpower which is of "great strategic importance to us", he said. In response to a question on how tariff discussions are going, Dr Balakrishnan said it will take time because the US is looking for multiple rounds of negotiation with its trading partners. Based on conversations with senators and members of Congress from the two major US political parties, there is still a recognition that trade, investment, intellectual property protection, reliability and supply chain security are vital issues, he said. "Do not just look at the headline numbers of what the tariffs are, but rather think about the primary considerations and anxieties of policy makers across the whole world," he said. Negotiators from different countries have to exercise discretion and care in how they seek to preserve and protect their national interests.