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Inside Vietnam’s plans to dent China’s rare earths dominance

By Francesco Guarascio and Khanh Vu
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam plans to restart its biggest rare-earths mine next year with a Western-backed project that could rival the world’s largest, according to two companies involved, as part of a broader push to dent China’s dominance in a sector that helps power advanced technologies.
The move would be a step toward the Southeast Asian country’s aim of building up a rare-earths supply chain, including developing its capacity to refine ores into metals used in magnets for electric vehicles, smartphones and wind turbines.
As an initial step, Vietnam’s government intends to launch tenders for multiple blocks of its Dong Pao mine before the year’s end, said Tessa Kutscher, an executive at Australia’s Blackstone Minerals Ltd, which plans to bid for at least one concession. She cited unpublished information from Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which did not respond to requests for comment.
The auction’s timing could change but the government plans to restart the mine next year, said Luu Anh Tuan, chairman of Vietnam Rare Earth JSC (VTRE), the country’s main refiner and Blackstone’s partner in the project.
The proposed restart of Dong Pao – whose timeline, scale and degree of foreign financial support have not been reported previously – comes as many nations fret about their vulnerability to supply disruptions due to China’s stranglehold on strategic minerals and its disputes with the U.S. and its allies. Beijing this year imposed export curbs on minor metals used in semiconductors, which an influential Chinese policy adviser warned was “just a start”.
Vietnam has the second-largest rare-earth deposits, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. But they have remained largely untapped, with investment discouraged by low prices that are effectively set by China because of its near-monopoly on the global market. Visiting Hanoi this month to upgrade bilateral relations, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an agreement to boost Vietnam’s ability to lure investors for its rare-earth reserves.
In interviews with Reuters, 12 industry executives, investors, analysts and foreign officials described plans for Vietnam, including investments they said showed how talk of derisking supply chains to reduce reliance on China is translating into action. Some acknowledged the difficulties of forging a rare-earths hub but said the gambit could make Vietnam a viable player while assuaging strategic worries, even if China remained dominant.
Kutscher said Blackstone’s investment in the project would be worth around $100 million if it wins. She added that the company was talking to potential clients, including electric car makers VinFast and Rivian, about possible contracts with set prices that would shield suppliers from fluctuations and guarantee buyers a secure supply chain.
Sealing such deals would address a hurdle faced by developers in Vietnam. In recent years, Japanese investors Toyota Tsusho and Sojitz abandoned projects at Dong Pao after China ramped up supply, pummelling prices. The Japanese firms did not respond to requests for comment.
Yet despite the focus on derisking, it is unclear whether clients would be ready to pay a premium for Vietnam, said Dylan Kelly, of investment firm Terra Capital, noting the market in general was opaque.
Asked about VinFast’s potential involvement, a spokesperson for parent company Vingroup said the group’s entity in charge of raw-material procurement, VinES, had no current plans with Blackstone involving rare earths. He did not address subsequent questions about VinFast specifically.
Rivian did not reply to a request for comment.
RIVALLING MOUNTAIN PASS
Effective exploitation of Dong Pao – which has sat dormant for at least seven years, according to an official at state-controlled miner Lavreco, which owns a concession – would propel Vietnam into the top league of rare-earths producers.
But refining rare earths is complex, and China controls many processing technologies. Dong Pao’s estimated deposits also need to be reassessed with modern methods, according to Blackstone.
Still, rare earths at Dong Pao are relatively easy to access and are mostly concentrated in bastnaesite ores, according to the Hanoi University of Mining and Geology.
These are typically rich in cerium, used in flat screens, and lanthanides, such as praseodymium and neodymium, which go into magnets.
Tuan said VTRE hoped to win a concession that would allow it to extract about 10,000 metric tons of rare-earth oxide (REO) equivalent a year, roughly one-third of the mine’s expected annual output. Production could start around the end of 2024, he said.
That would put Dong Pao’s output slightly below that of California’s Mountain Pass, one of the world’s largest mines, which produced 43,000 metric tons of REO equivalent in 2022, according to the USGS.
Vietnam also plans to develop additional mines. In July, Hanoi set a target to produce up to 60,000 tons of REO equivalent a year by 2030. China set a domestic quota of 210,000 tons last year.
Those goals would see Vietnam producing 5% to 15% of China’s projected output by the decade’s end, said David Merriman, a research analyst at consultancy Project Blue, who expects China to increase production over that period.
Vietnam’s targets were “ambitious, though they are not entirely out of the question”, he said.
U.S. ENCOURAGEMENT
The U.S. agreed during Biden’s visit to help Vietnam better map its rare-earths resources and “attract quality investment”, according to a White House fact sheet, a move that could encourage U.S. investors to bid for Vietnam’s new concessions.
Reuters could not determine whether concrete plans involving U.S. investors exist at this stage. Officials at the U.S. embassy in Hanoi, the White House and Department of Commerce did not reply to requests for comment.
But recent U.S. attempts to gain a foothold in the Vietnamese industry did not succeed, said John Rockhold, a consultant to the rare-earths sector and president of the Hanoi chapter of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, adding that one such plan involving VTRE collapsed this year.
That plan would have involved the shipment to the U.S. of rare earths refined by VTRE and possible future investment in Vietnam of $200 million, according to a non-public report for unspecified U.S. investors seen by Reuters.
VTRE confirmed the shipment deal had foundered.
Instead, VTRE in April announced a deal to supply 100 metric tons of rare-earth oxides this year to Australian Strategic Materials. ASM declined to comment on Dong Pao’s exploitation.
Blackstone, which is a partner in that deal, operates a nickel mine in Vietnam and has determined that its processing facility in the country could handle ore from Dong Pao, according to a company statement.
FROM ORE TO MAGNET
Ultimately, VTRE plans to play a role in the whole rare-earth industry from ore extraction to the final products, said Tuan, who with his wife owns most VTRE shares, according to a list of shareholders he showed to Reuters. Blackstone said the ownership information accorded with its assessment following due diligence.
This is not an easy feat. The U.S. currently exports its rare-earth ores to China for processing as it lacks its own facilities.
An existing VTRE factory in northern Vietnam specialises in separating rare-earth oxides from the extracted ore. The plant has capacity to process 5,000 tons of REO a year but the company plans to treble that to accommodate input from Dong Pao, Tuan said.
Once separated, oxides are turned into metals for use in magnets and other industrial applications. The metallization process is controlled by China, which produces 90% of rare-earth metals, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
But VTRE is running a pilot project to build a metallization factory with South Korea’s Setopia, said Setopia, which has no previous experience in the sector.
The initial combined investment would be around $4 million, mostly from Setopia, a Setopia official told Reuters, with a plant possibly ready next year.
In the downstream industry, South Korean and Chinese magnet firms are set to open factories in Vietnam, Reuters reported in August.
Dudley Kingsnorth, a professor at the Western Australian School of Mines at Curtin University, said Vietnam had some way to go, including in improving environmental practices, to realise its rare-earth goals.
Still, he said, Vietnam “has the resources, the mining and processing expertise to provide alternatives to China”.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio and Khanh Vu in Hanoi; additional reporting by Melanie Burton in Melbourne, Ju-min Park in Seoul, Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington, Mai Nguyen and Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi; editing by David Crawshaw)
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12 Nintendo Switch tips and tricks you probably didn’t know (but definitely should)

Regardless of how long you’ve owned your system, there are certain Nintendo Switch tips and tricks that you might not have known about (if you haven’t already, the Black Friday deals on the Switch might be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for). In this post, we’ll try to correct that by summarizing some of the features that have enhanced our personal use of the gadget.
There exist numerous tips and tricks to enhance your usage of Nintendo’s entertaining and portable system, such as customizing your Switch or remapping buttons to save space or even locate misplaced Joy-Cons. Though in this article we’re only going to talk about items you can customize with the Switch consoles themselves, so there’s no need to buy anything else, you might also want to have a look at some of the greatest Nintendo Switch accessories.
12 helpful hints for the Nintendo Switch
Remap your buttons if you’d like. Want to obtain extra saves? Our best Nintendo Switch advice and techniques are included here.
Recently, there has been a lot of interest in dark mode, in part due to the perception that it could aid with eye strain and, in part, because it looks cool. There is, in fact, a dark mode for the Nintendo Switch. Just select Basic Black from the Themes menu under System Settings. This will alter the background of the menu pages and home screen to black; the games will remain unchanged.
2. Modify the avatar on your Nintendo Switch profile
Upon initializing your Nintendo Switch, you will be prompted to select an avatar and establish a profile. You can, however, always alter your avatar afterwards. Simply tap your symbol in the top-left corner to access your profile page, and then select User Settings > Edit symbol.
3. Remap the buttons on a Nintendo Switch
a picture of one of the top Nintendo Switch tutorials
Remapping the buttons on your controller is something you might not be aware of if you’ve owned your Nintendo Switch for a while, as it was only made possible via an update released in April 2022. Navigate to Controllers and Sensors > System Settings > Change Button Mapping.
On the Nintendo Switch, buttons for both Joy-Cons and the Switch Pro Controller can be remapped. You may adjust the purpose of each button and the joystick’s orientation by simply choosing a controller. It is possible to adjust the Joy-Con inputs for both horizontal and vertical gaming.
Although the Nintendo Switch is incredibly portable, its usefulness when traveling without a power source may be limited by its short battery life. Although a battery charge typically lasts three to four hours, there are a few strategies you can take to extend its life.
One of the most obvious solutions is to lower the brightness of the panel. This is by default set to automatic. To adjust the brightness to a fixed lower level, navigate to the settings page. Disabling controller vibration under ‘Controllers and Sensors’ is an additional choice. Additionally, you can lower the volume and enter flight mode.
To monitor battery life more closely, you can enable the battery percentage display option (System Settings > System). Of course, a portable power bank can be a wise purchase if you plan to use your console for an extended period of time without access to electricity.
Have you lost your Joy-Cons? No worries, the Switch comes equipped with a feature that allows you to find controllers (so long as they are in the same area; it won’t work if they are at someone else’s house). To view the controllers connected to your console, navigate to Controllers > Find Controllers.
If the missing controller has fallen behind the sofa or under the bed, you can locate it by highlighting it and pressing the L or R button on the one you have. If not, it should vibrate. To make both Joy-Cons vibrate in case you lose them, tap the touch screen.
We adore the Nintendo Switch, but if you primarily use digital downloads, you may quickly run out of space once you’ve accumulated a library of games due to the device’s lackluster hard drive capacity. Archiving games that you aren’t playing right now is one way to solve the problem. While maintaining game saves, this frees up space.
Simply select Manage Software > Archive Software after highlighting the game and pressing +. System Settings > Data Management is another way to archive. Choose Quick Archive to receive recommendations based on file size and playtime recently. Select the software you wish to archive by clicking Manage Software.
Naturally, there’s a good risk that your hard drive will eventually run out of capacity, especially if you have the original Switch or Switch Lite, which only have 32GB of space (the 64GB OLED model doubles that). The truth is, you will most likely need to buy a MicroSD card at some point. Third-party choices are supported by the consoles, and Black Friday is frequently a good time to locate deals.
You can move game data between the microSD card and the console if you’re using one (System Settings > Data Management > Move Data Between System / microSD Card). Click Move Data after choosing your destination and the games you wish to transfer. One advantage of purchasing physical games—which are frequently less expensive if you discover a deal at a store like Amazon—is that they don’t take up as much room.
Finding out that a game only supports one save file and that you have to erase the old one in order to create a new one or restart the game can be annoying at times.Making several user profiles is an easy way to get around this. Since every profile has its own save data, you can make a save for every profile you have. Go to System Settings > Users > Add Users to establish a new profile. When you launch a game after that, you’ll be able to select from your many profiles
On the Switch, you can’t record very long gameplay videos, but you can at least snap screenshots and record brief gameplay clips of the previous 30 seconds. You may now transmit screenshots from the Switch to your phone instead of the very restrictive Facebook or Twitter option that was previously the sole way to share images.
Press ‘A’ to bring up the Sharing and Editing options when you open the screenshot on your Switch, and then choose Send to Smartphone. To establish a wireless connection between the devices, you must first use your phone to scan one QR code. After that, you must scan a second code to view an image on a web page. You are free to use the image however you see fit after saving it to your phone.
Using friend codes, you can connect and play games with other Switch users. By accessing your user profile, you may see your code—a 16-digit code that will show up next to your icon. The majority of online multiplayer games, including Fortnite, require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, although some do not. To play online against your trusted pals, you’ll need to add them.
Since the Nintendo Switch is not region-locked, you can purchase games from retailers across the globe in addition to those in your home nation. The drawback is that it can be a little tricky to obtain a digital code from another nation. The code requires you to set up a profile in the nation where it was obtained, however this is a simple and free process.a
Navigate to System > User settings. Select an icon and a nickname for the profile by tapping Add New User. Following that, you’ll need to register as a new user online. Simply follow the instructions, making sure to select the correct nation for your profile and provide a second email address for verification. When you’re finished, you can use your profile to log into the eShop (you’ll notice the currency is different) and use the sidebar menu to redeem your voucher.
You can use any of your profiles to play the game after downloading it. But, if you remove the newly made profile, you won’t be able to access it.
Your Nintendo Switch home screen allows you to customize the wallpaper and rearrange the icons as you see fit. By selecting Custom, you have the option to design your own background color and pre-made themes. You’ll need a microSD card to transfer an image to your Switch in order to add a custom wallpaper. Proceed to System Settings > Themes > Change Theme after that. After selecting Custom, choose the desired image to use.
Once you have more than 12 titles, you may additionally group Switch software. Scroll all the way to the right from the Home Menu and choose “All Software.” In order to examine your software by groups, press the L button. “Select Create new group,” check the titles you wish to include, organize them as you see fit, and give the group a name. It is possible to establish up to 100 groups, each with 200 titles.
12. Understand how to perform a Nintendo Switch hard reset.
The Nintendo Switch could occasionally freeze on you, just like any other electrical gadget. Hard resets are typically able to remedy this. The console should reset if you hold down the system’s power button for up to 15 seconds. In more severe situations, you can conduct a full factory reset by deleting the memory by heading to System Settings > System > Formatting Options > Initialize Console.
If you’re still in the market for a Nintendo Switch system, check out our guide to the top Nintendo Switch bargains or the prices shown below for your area. We also have a post about the top games for the Nintendo Switch.
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Maria Menounos Saw Signs of Pancreatic Cancer a Year Before Her Diagnosis — Here’s What Doctors Missed

In December 2022, about a year and a half ago, Maria Menounos received the horrifying news that she had pancreatic cancer. Since then, the TV and podcast host has had surgery to remove the tumor along with her spleen, a fibroid, and 17 lymph nodes. She has also turned into an ardent supporter, striving to increase public awareness of the illness. It’s a crucial job since, according to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), pancreatic cancer can be difficult to diagnose because the organ is situated too deep in the abdomen for medical professionals to feel or see tumors, and because symptoms aren’t always evident. Menounos’s route to a diagnosis, which included several missed indications and months of doctor appointments, serves as an example.
During a recent episode of Hoda Kotb’s podcast, Making Space, Menounos talked about how she had been experiencing severe bloating for several months prior to receiving her diagnosis. She said, “I looked like I swallowed a basketball for at least a year and a half or so.” In March 2022, Menounos stated, she had a test for celiac disease and had an endoscopy and colonoscopy in an attempt to “get to the root of what’s happening,” but the physicians “didn’t find the source.”
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She continued, “I was attempting to exclude items from [my] diet to see if there was a difference, so I kept snapping pictures of [my bloating]. “I told myself that there was a problem and that I would keep looking for it until I found it.”
Eight months before receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, in April 2022, Menounos suggested that her pancreas might be the issue on an episode of her own podcast, Heal Squad. Menounos recounted the incident, saying, “[I said,] ‘I think something’s wrong with my pancreas,'” and that “a whole discussion about the pancreas” ensued. She described her remarkably precise prediction as “so random.”
Menounos began to have new-onset diabetes in June 2022, which is another sign of pancreatic cancer. Menounos recalled, “I said, ‘I don’t have this,’ first.” “I have no reason to develop Type 1 diabetes at 43 years old or older.” In retrospect, it appears that doctors overlooked this further warning indication. Research suggests that newly developing diabetes in adults over 50 “may be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer,” according to PanCAN. having diarrhea and what she had previously described as “excruciating” stomach discomfort. Menounos’s agony persisted even after CT scans, blood tests, and stool examinations revealed nothing abnormal. Ultimately, a growth on her pancreas was discovered during an MRI in December 2022. A biopsy later identified the abnormality as a stage 2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
Menounos was fortunate to have been diagnosed with cancer at an early stage and to have had the means to receive treatment. However, during the course of the year, Menounos’ doctors missed several symptoms even with those resources. The E! News alum is committed to sharing her experience because it validates the strength of persistence and self-advocacy in the doctor’s office.
Menounos stated earlier this month in a PanCAN ad that the best thing you can do for your health is “early detection, paying attention to your body and the signals it’s giving you.” “I want people to realize that they need to pay attention and take charge of their health.” According to PanCAN, signs of pancreatic cancer specifically can include back or abdominal pain, sudden-onset diabetes, jaundice, nausea, loss of appetite, changes in stool, and enlargement of the pancreas (also known as pancreatitis).
It’s important to be aware of the signs of cancer and other health problems and to make sure that medical professionals give your worries due consideration. Menounos emphasized, “You can’t just listen to somebody else tell you what’s happening in your body.” “If the suffering continues, you must not give up.”
Read about these famous people who have discussed their autoimmune diseases before you leave:
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8 teens face murder charges in deadly beating near Las Vegas high school

After the attack, Jonathan Lewis, 17, passed away, according to the Clark County coroner’s office. It was stated that complications from numerous blunt force injuries were the cause of his death. Homicide was recorded as the cause of his death.
After the attack, Jonathan Lewis, 17, passed away, according to the Clark County coroner’s office. It was stated that complications from numerous blunt force injuries were the cause of his death. Homicide was recorded as the cause of his death. In KLAS
The ages of all eight are thirteen to seventeen. The teenagers’ names were withheld for a while due to their age. In Nevada, a case involving a 16- or 17-year-old accused of murder is immediately sent to the adult court system. We call this procedure “certification.” Although it is not always the case, judges have the authority to certify minors over 14 as adults for any type of felony offense, including murder.
The incident took place on Wednesday, November 1st, close to Rancho High School on the 1900 block of Searles Avenue.
LVMPD Lt. Jason Johannson stated at a press conference on Tuesday that all 10 individuals involved were Rancho High School students. Johannson declared that there was insufficient evidence to classify the occurrence as a hate crime and called the footage “void of humanity.”
Eight of the ten had been recognized by police as of Tuesday, according to Johannson. All eight were taken into custody by police and the FBI early on Tuesday.
According to Johannson, Lewis was not defending himself and was lying on the ground when he passed out. The altercation was allegedly about a vape pen and some stolen wireless headphones.
The father of the younger Lewis, Jonathan Lewis, revealed to 8 News Now that his 17-year-old son passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 7, due to the wounds. Lewis, an out-of-state resident, expressed his hope that the passing of his son would spark a discussion about youth violence in the Las Vegas area.
In a statement to 8 News Now after the arrest, he stated, “We all must be held accountable for our choices.” “In our community, we should be able to live in harmony and experience love! For me, justice is just now beginning to be understood. For me as a father, a big part of justice is identifying the real reasons why, at this age, our kids choose violence—the underlying causes, the fear of ongoing resource conflict and reliance on a dysfunctional system—and creating our own self-regulated riches and health instead!
Two persons who were still unidentified were requested to be identified by police. As of Tuesday afternoon, neither of the two’s photos had been made public.
It is suggested that anyone with information get in touch with the LVMPD Homicide Section via email at [email protected] or by phone at 702-828-3521. Call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or use their website to remain anonymous.
“Instead of enslaving yourselves to anger, rage, and cowardly violence, I’m calling on the youth to use their collective mob voice to demand change, create a deep sense of community, and do something with your power,” stated the older Lewis.
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