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  China controls the rare earths the world buys - can Trump's new deals change that? US President Donald Trump has signed a flurry of deals on his Asia visit to secure the supply of rare earths, a critical sector that China has long dominated. The deals with Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia differ in size and substance and it's too early to assess their tangible impact. But they all include efforts to diversify access to the minerals that have become essential for advanced manufacturing, from electric vehicles to smartphones. The agreements, which aim to lock partners into trading with the US, are a clear bid to reduce dependence on China, ahead of a key meeting with its leader Xi Jinping. They could eventually challenge Beijing's stranglehold over rare earths, but experts say it will be a costly process that will take years. "Building new mines, refining facilities, and processing plants in regions such as Australia, the United States, and Europe comes ...
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 Dozens killed as passenger plane crashes in Kazakhstan


A passenger plane carrying 67 people crashed in Kazakhstan, killing dozens, local officials said.

 The country's Emergencies Ministry said 25 people survived.

 The plane, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, caught fire as it crashed near the city of Aktau. The cause of the crash was not known.

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 was on its final route from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny in Russia. It was diverted due to fog, reports said.

 Video verified by Reuters news agency showed the plane hurtling towards the ground at high speed, its landing gear down.

 A huge fireball erupted seconds after it attempted to land. The Embraer 190 plane was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, the transport ministry said.

 Most of those on board were Azerbaijani nationals, but there were also some passengers from Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

 Authorities said Aktau airport was open and operating normally. The BBC has contacted Azerbaijan Airlines and Embraer for comment.


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