China arrests Rio Tinto staff on spy charges

Four employees of the Shanghai office of Australia’s Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest mining company, have been arrested over allegedly stealing China’s state secrets, the Shanghai state security authority said Thursday, according to Xinhua. An Australian, identified by the Australian government as Stern Hu, had been held along with three Chinese co-workers since Sunday, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said

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Rio Tinto scraps deal with Chinalco

A deal between mining giant Rio Tinto and Chinalco, a state-owned Chinese aluminum company, was called off after it became a hot-button issue in Australian politics. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto announced it has signed a non-binding agreement with BHP Billiton for iron ore production in Western Australia.

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