Sweden on Thursday announced plans to try to boost its mining sector, particularly when it comes to rare earths, and counter European dependence on China. Resource-rich Sweden is already home to Europe's largest iron ore mine, and has since found considerable rare earth deposits at the same Arctic Circle site in Kiruna. Rare earth minerals are essential for renewable energy generation, defense and electric vehicle production, modern computer manufacturing and other core industries. China accounts for roughly 70% of global mining and refining. What did the Swedish government say about the plan? The government in Stockholm on Thursday declared the mining of critical metals and rare earth minerals to be a national security interest. This should ease and accelerate the permit process for new extraction projects and help attract investments, according to Energy Minister Ebba Busch, who is also deputy prime minister. Trump Accuses China of Interference In 2020 US Polls, Orders FBI Probe "Sweden must become a leading mining nation," she said as she outlined the new strategy, saying the government intended to "streamline authorization procedures so decisions can be taken more quickly." "We believe that this can contribute significantly to both Sweden's the EU's and NATO's defense capabilities," Busch said, calling European industry's dependence on China a "systemic risk." Busch also said the move would make it easier for the state to assign land for mining projects, an area of tension with the Sami reindeer-herding indigenous people, who say the expansion of mining could spell the end for their traditional way of life. The energy minister also said the government was looking into setting up a state-owned investment company for the mining sector. 'International Community Must Hold Pakistan Accountable': India Slams Crackdown on PoK Protesters "Today, to put it plainly, the governemnt lacks concrete tools to wisely contribute to accelerating and attracting investments in crucial strategic projects," she said. What are Sweden's existing mining credentials? Sweden has been a European mining giant since the 10th century and the opening of the vast Falun copper mine, which at one point produced as much as two-thirds of the continent's copper. The distinctive deep red color that adorns many houses, churches and other buildings in the country is called Falu Red and hails from the disused mine. It's now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sweden's modern-day Falun is the vast LKAB iron ore mine in Kiruna in the Arctic Circle. Sweden holds around 60% of Europe's known iron ore deposits and, as of 2021, was responsible for around 90% of the continent's iron ore extraction, around one-third of that from Kiruna alone. The vast frozen mining town made headlines in recent years because of the need to relocate various homes and buildings including the church in Kiruna because of subsidence as the giant operation literally undermines the city. More than 90% of Sweden's mines operate in the sparsely populated and resource-rich Norrland region in Sapmi, the traditional territory of the Sami. Near the Kiruna mine is the Per Geijer find, a flagship EU project seeking to reduce mineral reliance on China. This is an area where around 1.2 billion tons of mineral resources, including around 2.2 million tons of rare earth oxides, have been identified. Mining group LKAB is examining the potential of the deposit but estimates that obtaining permits to excavate on Sami land could take 10 years. Four of the EU's 47 strategic projects aimed at reducing mineral dependence on China are located in Sweden. Edited by: Sean Sinico Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first. DW News Oneindia

C hennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 24 (ANI): Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Friday reiterated his demand for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), saying the DMK's campaign against the medical entrance examination would continue until it is scrapped. Sharing a post by DMK leader TRB Rajaa on X, Stalin wrote, "#BanNEET". Rajaa, in his post, said the DMK's campaign against NEET had been "consistent, uncompromising and relentless". "The DMK's crusade against NEET is consistent, uncompromising and relentless. We didn't just join the fight. We started it. We never left it. We will stay on course till we #BanNEET," Rajaa said. #BanNEET https://t.co/xcZvis8Xwb — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) July 24, 2026 Stalin's remarks came amid ongoing protests in Delhi over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination, with the Opposition demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a detailed discussion on the issue in the Parliament Monsoon session. Earlier on Thursday, Stalin had said NEET had failed to fulfil its three principal promises of reducing students' burden, eliminating commercialisation and improving standards, and alleged that the examination had merely shifted the centre of learning from schools to coaching centres. "The problem with NEET has always been structural, not merely procedural. Recent events have vindicated that concern," Stalin had said in a post on X. He had also called the ongoing student protests a "wake-up call" for the Union Government and urged it to "trust the states" and abolish NEET. Stalin had further said that the abolition of NEET should be at the centre of the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. "The students' protest in New Delhi has now captured the attention of the entire country. We were the first to warn that NEET was designed to enable large-scale irregularities. That is why the DMK has opposed NEET from the very beginning, consistently pointing out the dangers it poses," he had said. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday said its protest at Jantar Mantar would continue until the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, even as activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving a written assurance from the Union Government on the NEET examination issue and systemic reforms. In a post on X, CJP said, "We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Protest will continue at Jantar Mantar till the resignation of Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan." The CJP delegation is scheduled to meet Union Ministers at 12.30 PM on Friday for discussions on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and reforms in the examination system. Wangchuk ended his hunger strike on Friday in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Medanta Hospital after receiving the written assurance. "The Ministers who came from the government's side also provided this assurance. For the past two days, a very tough--how shall I say--a kind of 'bargain' was going on because I wanted these assurances in writing. It took two extra days for this, and I would have sat longer if needed, but finally, today, they have given the assurance in writing," Wangchuk said. Meanwhile, the Opposition has continued to demand Pradhan's resignation and a detailed discussion on the alleged NEET paper leak during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Earlier, PM Modi had assured strict action against those responsible for alleged paper leaks and said the Union Cabinet would consider a draft Bill providing for Fast-Track Courts and stringent punishment for offenders. (ANI) iframe{min-width: 0px !important;box-sizing: border-box;}

A cycling-enthusiast governor rode into an unexpected political storm in Turkey when he found himself sacked after photos of him in snug cycling shorts went viral. He has since also become the centre of a campaign pressing for his return to office amid an outpouring of affection. Mehmet Fatih Cicekli, the governor of Ardahan province in eastern Turkey, was removed from his post on July 17 by a presidential decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. While no reason was given for his dismissal, it came after some Turkish politicians criticised him for wearing cycling tights during a public event promoting the sport and for posting the photos on social media. Inan Akgun Alp, a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party, accused Cicekli of allegedly prioritising social media over official duties, adding the tight attire was inappropriate for a governor. "He goes around in tights, spends all day cycling, with bodyguards in front of him, cycling in tights until the evening," the T-24 news website quoted Alp as saying during a parliamentary debate last week. "A governor cannot wander around the city centre like this." Samil Tayyar, a former legislator from Erdogan's ruling party, which has roots in Turkey's Islamic movement, said the attire was contrary to cultural norms, especially in a conservative, traditional province like Ardahan. He argued that other politicians wore sweatpants while cycling. "People can wear whatever they want in their private lives, but a governor cannot visit the public in tights while on duty; it does not align with the seriousness of the state. In a traditional social setting like Ardahan, it is completely unacceptable," Tayyar wrote on X. Cicekli, who was appointed governor in January by Erdogan, defended himself by arguing that what he wore was normal cycling attire. "(We will) keep pedalling. I am an athlete who practices sailing, rowing and cycling. The clothes I'm wearing are sportswear," T-24 quoted him as saying. A petition campaign to try and get him reinstated has gathered more than 10,000 signatures, with supporters arguing that the governor was engaged in important work in Ardahan, promoting sports, youth activities and bicycle tourism, the opposition-leaning Halk TV reported. In an emotional farewell to his supporters in Ardahan on Wednesday, Cicekli said: "I believe that I have not let down those who vouched for me and stood by me throughout my journey until now. I believe that this is the greatest honour of all." As he left Ardahan, a province that borders both Armenia and Georgia, local cyclists accompanied his vehicle to send him off as a show of support, Halk TV reported. Nacho Sanchez Amor, a member of the European Parliament from Spain who serves as the rapporteur on Turkey, expressed support for Cicekli and suggested Alp was promoting the ruling party's "Islamist conservative agenda."