Asian countries including those from South-East Asia are tightening grip on key minerals

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JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia will develop a policy to ban exports of rare earth raw materials to "avoid exploitation and loss of resources", its prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday.

Rare earths are a group of 17 elements used in products from lasers and military equipment to magnets found in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and consumer electronics, such as smartphones.