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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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 Japanese star Miho Nakayama found dead at 54


Japanese actor Miho Nakayama was found dead in a bathtub in her Tokyo home on Friday. She was 54.

Ms Nakayama found success as a singer in the 1980s and 90s - at the height of J-pop's influence - but was best known for starring in the 1995 film Love Letter.

An acquaintance discovered Ms Nakayama on Friday after she failed to show up for work. They called the paramedics, who confirmed her death at the scene, local media reported.

The cause of her death is under investigation.

Ms Nakayama had originally been scheduled to perform a Christmas show in Osaka on Friday, but cancelled her appearance, citing poor health.

A statement on her website, published by her agency, confirmed her death on Friday.

"We are stunned by the sudden occurrence of this event," the statement said, adding that her cause of death was not confirmed.

Ms Nakayama, who was one of Japan's most popular teen idols in the 1980s, also enjoyed an illustrious acting career - most notably as the lead actor in Love Letter, a 1995 film about a grieving widow's letters with a stranger.

The film became a massive box office hit and garnered critical acclaim both domestically and internationally. Ms Nakayama's performance earned her several best actress awards.

Ms Nakayama leaves behind a son, who is in the custody of her ex-husband, musician Hitonari Tsuji.

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