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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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Caitlin Clark stalker sentenced to more than 2 years in prison


A Texas man who sent harassing online messages to basketball superstar Caitlin Clark has been sentenced to serve 2.5 years in prison.

Michael Lewis, 55, was arrested in January in Indianapolis, only one mile away from where Clark's team, the Indiana Fever, play their matches.

Authorities said that Lewis sent hundreds of threatening and sexually explicit messages to Clark over the course of a month. Clark told police she had to alter her appearance in public due to her fear of the threats.

Lewis denied to police that the posts were threatening, saying that he was writing them for "just the same reason everybody makes posts". He also told police that he had "an imaginary relationship" with Clark.During a contentious court hearing on Monday, Lewis told the judge that he wanted Clark to "be safe", aimed to point out holes in her security and claimed he had "never threatened her, I've never thought about threatening her".

The judge in the case warned that his remarks could breach his plea bargain with prosecutors. Lewis had been facing up to six years in prison for harassment and stalking.

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