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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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54 killed in Gaza airstrikes, Netanyahu orders more pressure


Israeli airstrikes in the besieged Gaza Strip have killed at least 54 Palestinians and wounded many more, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to increase pressure on Hamas, Al Jazeera reported.

Israeli forces continued their bombardment of Gaza throughout Saturday, killing at least 54 Palestinians, a report said on Sunday (April 20). The death toll in the besieged enclave has risen to more than 51,150.

Netanyahu vowed to continue the war in Gaza after Hamas rejected another temporary ceasefire offer and demanded a deal to end the conflict in exchange for the release of prisoners. Netanyahu ordered an escalation of attacks to increase pressure on Hamas.

The death toll in the Gaza Strip since Israel's genocidal offensive in October 2023 has risen to 51,157, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Saturday. The number of injured has also risen to 116,724. Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the streets, but rescuers have not been able to reach them.

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