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Since coming back to the White House earlier this year, President Donald Trump has made rare earth minerals one of his top priorities.

He’s focused on securing enough supply for the United States economy.

In March, Trump went as far as signing an executive order, where he invoked wartime powers to increase the production of rare earths.

And this week, he signed several agreements with a number of Asian countries, in the hopes of gaining access to the minerals.

This is all to counter China’s global dominance in this sector and Beijing’s recent restrictions on rare earth exports.

So, why are these minerals so crucial for the US economy? And can Trump break China’s monopoly?

Presenter: Bernard Smith

Guests:

Brian Wong – Assistant Professor in Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong.

Gracelin Baskaran – Mining Economist and Director of the Critical Minerals Security program at Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Huiyao Wang – President and Founder of Center for China and Globalization.

MANCHESTER UNITED are one of multiple Premier League clubs interested in Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude.

Bellingham, 20, followed in his brother’s footsteps when he left newly-promoted Sunderland to join German giants Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

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But now, according to reports from German outlet Bild, the midfielder’s next move could bring him back to the UK.

The highly-rated prospect has struggled to find minutes under manager Niko Kovac after starting in the opening two games of the season.

He has played just 74 minutes in the four league games since those games, and could grow frustrated at the lack of opportunities at the club, having been the main man at Sunderland last season.

These frustrations didn’t take long to boil over, with Jobe’s father Mark Bellingham reportedly storming to the dressing room to confront club officials after the youngster was substituted at half-time in their season opener against St Pauli.

The fallout from the scene saw the families of all players banned from the dressing room at Signal Iduna Park.

And it was not the only distraction affecting the youngster off the field, following news emerging on Monday that Mark and Jobe’s mother Denise Bellingham have appeared to separate after more than twenty years together.

United would pose an interesting option for the Stourbridge native to rekindle his meteoric rise, with their midfield struggles being one of their biggest issues under Ruben Amorim this season.

There is a sense that despite having much left to prove on the biggest stages, Bellingham could make an instant impact at Old Trafford.

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However, if game time is the deal-breaker in Dortmund, then tales such as that of the consistently snubbed teenager Kobbie Mainoo could be a warning sign to steer clear.

Bellingham joined the Germans in summer for a fee of £27million, and it is hard to picture the Red Devils getting him for anything less than that.

Another club interested in the England youth international’s services is reportedly Crystal Palace, who were also interested in him while he was with the Black Cats.

Palace have been excellent this season, sitting four places above United in sixth, despite having European football to contend with.

He could partner Eagles starlet Adam Wharton, or potentially open the door for an exit for the 21-year-old, who United are also interested in.

Sept. 19 (UPI) — Britain’s outgoing spy chief, Richard Moore, warned Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no intention of negotiating peace with Ukraine because he doesn’t view the former Soviet republic as having its own sovereignty.

Moore made the remarks at the British consulate in Istanbul as he prepares to step down from his role as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service. He has led the organization, also known as MI6, for five years.

“I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukraine capitulation,” Moore said as he address efforts by Britain and the United States to broker a deal to resolve the conflict.

Putin “is stringing us along,” Moore added. “Because the issue … has always been sovereignty: Putin denies Ukraine’s sovereignty and its very existence as a country and nation.”

Moore said Putin has attempted to portray that Russian victory over Ukraine is “inevitable,” but accused the president of lying to his people and the world.

“He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal,” Moore said, adding that Putin doesn’t have the ability to take Ukraine by force.

“Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he — and many others — underestimated the Ukrainians,” Moore said.

“Indeed, Putin’s actions have strengthened Ukrainian national identity and accelerated the country’s westward trajectory, as well as persuaded Sweden and Finland into joining NATO.”

Moore chose Istanbul for his farewell speech because he said Turkey is of “pivotal importance” to the international community.

“On almost all of the issues that I have grappled with as chief of MI6, Turkey has been a key player,” he said.

Moore spent eight years living there, including four as British ambassador from 2014 to 2017. He also studied in the country as a student and his daughter was born there.

Upon Moore’s departure later this month, MI6’s current technology lead, Blaise Metreweli, will take over as head of the organization. She will be the MI6’s first female chief since its founding in 1909.

Former Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale is part of a US-based consortium’s attempt to take over League One club Plymouth Argyle.

Talks with the private equity firm are said to be at an early stage.

Plymouth owner Simon Hallett said last month that a previous agreement to sell a stake in the club had fallen through.

Bale would be following the lead of former Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric, who was part of group that acquired control of Swansea in April.

The Croatia midfielder has taken on a minority stake with the stated aim of generating worldwide attention on the Welsh club.

Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady previously became part of the new Birmingham City’s ownership group, while Wrexham have generated huge amounts of revenue from publicity attached to their Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Plymouth were relegated to the third tier last season after an ill-fated return to the Championship.

The ambitious pre-season appointment of Wayne Rooney as manager did not work and his replacement Miron Muslic resigned at the end of the season and joined German club Schalke.

Former Manchester United midfielder and Watford boss Tom Cleverley was appointed as manager on 13 June.

It is not known what role, if any, five-time Champions League winner Bale will have at Plymouth should the planned takeover succeed.

The former Southampton and Tottenham man, 35, retired from playing in 2023.