The Pentagon sent a report to Congress on the minerals, 80% of which come from China and could be used as a trade war weapon. Chinese state newspaper the People's Daily today again hinted that Beijing will stop exporting essential 'rare earth' minerals to the U.S. in a bid to pressure Donald Trump in a trade war. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited a rare earth company in southern China last week, sparking speculation of Beijing’s possible retaliation on Washington with the natural resources. China accounted for 80 per cent of rare earth imports between 2014 and 2017 to the United States. The group of 17 elements are used in various objects, including hospital scanners, nuclear power stations and LED lights. #trade_war

Oklahoma residents are warned to prepare for the 'worst-case scenario' as the Midwest braces for flooding and forecasters predict the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers will rise to 'record-breaking' levels 😱💧

This proud 'pole-dancing rat' certainly wasn't shy as it slid its way down Subway handrails that many New Yorkers touch every day. The shocking sight of the rodent climbing the metal bars has attracted over 10,000 views so far on social media page Subway Creatures. The footage by Sebastian, was shot on a New York Subway F Train. 😱 #NYC

Striking photos show the terrifying moments before and after the D-Day landings as troops fought to liberate western Europe. The photographs predominantly show North American troops from the US and Canadian armies during the daring operation on June 6, 1944. Terrified-looking US troops can be seen preparing to disembark at Omaha beach on the coast of Normandy and attempting to deal with the chaos of the landing once they finally waded ashore. 🗿 #history

An impatient pooch decided to honk the car horn when its owner took too long. Hilarious footage shows the man rush out the shop, only to find determined dog in the driving seat. The hounding was filmed at a gas station near Wichita, Kansas. 🐶😂 #funny

#K9 👮🏻‍♂️

😂 #lol

Wednesday's match-up between the Cubs and Astros took an emotional turn during the end of the fourth inning when a young was struck by foul ball. The Minute Maid Stadium fell silent as Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr.'s line-drive collided with a toddler sitting behind Chicago's third base. Looking up to the stands in horror, a shaken Almora quickly dropped to his knees in tears on the outskirts of the batter's box, as a panicked father was seen rushing his screaming daughter (right) up the stairs and out of the stands. She was taken to hospital and is said to be doing well. Almora was told that and cried tears of relief (center). ⚾️😢

A man set himself on fire near the White House on Wednesday morning with shocking footage showing him engulfed in flames. Several seconds later, security staff run towards him with a fire extinguisher to quell the blaze, with the incident happening less than a mile from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.He managed to stand upright before officials got to him, amid reports that he was wearing a protective suit would have given him some protection from the flames.The man suffered burns on 85% of his body and there was a suspicious package on fire near the man which was also extinguished, according to TMZ. He was later transported to a nearby hospital with 'life threatening' injuries. Several tourists and visitors were in the vicinity, but there were no other injuries. National Park Service police and the U.S. Secret Service officers also assisted at the scene to try and establish what happened in Washington D.C. 😱🔥

In a theme park not so far away... Star Wars heroes Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and creator George Lucas open the $1BILLION Galaxy's Edge experience and dedicate it to Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew, who died last month 😳🗿much #WOW

Tour bus carrying Catholic pilgrims bursts into flames after colliding with a cargo truck in Mexico leaving at least 21 dead and 30 injured. 😱🔥

It's the story America can't bear to hear: As newly released FBI files claim civil rights champion Martin Luther King sexually harassed dozens of women, TOM LEONARD probes the troubling truth. 😳 #facepalm

Tampa city council aide Carrie Henriquez (inset) was caught on video at the council meeting on Thursday, walking behind Chairman Luis Viera - her boss's arch rival on the council - just as she breaks into a coughing fit. Henriquez continues out of the council chambers, coughing again. Viera turns in shock to council member Guido Maniscalco, Henriquez's boss. 'Did she just say something?' Viera says to Maniscalco. Henriquez vehemently denies that she said anything, maintaining that she was trying to stifle her coughing until she could get out of the council chambers so as to not disrupt the meeting. 🤣 #LMAO #facepalm

Dashcam video has captured the terrifying moment a two-year-old girl ran out onto a busy road in Michigan before she was rescued by a quick-thinking cop. The footage, filmed last Friday, shows Michigan State Police Sergeant Joseph Richards driving his patrol car along a road near Alpena before he spots the toddler unsupervised. 👮🏻‍♂️

Drone crashes into the back of a drift racing car while trying to keep up with it in spectacular footage tries to keep up with the 1000 horsepower Nissan 6.7l Turbo car, from Polish racers Energo Drift Team, as it sweeps around corners, with clouds of smoke billowing from its tyres. 😂 #losers

US-based firm Alaka'i Technologies revealed its Skai vehicle which is inspired by current drones and powered by hydrogen fuel cells. It can take off and land vertically and has a range of 400 miles. The passenger-carrying model of the Skai was unveiled this week near Los Angeles which also says the vehicles could be used as cargo carriers and ambulances of the sky as well as taxis. 😳 #future

Footage shows the 442ft Viking Sigyn floating hotel colliding with the 89ft Mermaid on the River Danube close to Parliament amid torrential rain Budapest, Hungary. The Viking appears to hit the Mermaid from behind, before the smaller Soviet-era vessel, which was carrying 35 people, spun sideways on impact. The Mermaid capsized before sinking in seven seconds on a fast-moving stretch of the river. Seven passengers are in hospital with hypothermia from the frigid water which was around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. One person was found some two miles from the scene of the crash, but rescuers say the chances of finding more survivors is 'minimal'. The Hungarian national ambulance service said this was 'not just because of the water temperature, but the strong currents in the river, the vapour above the water surface, as well as the clothes worn by the people who fell in.' Hungarian police have launched a criminal investigation.😱🚢👮🏻‍♂️

New York's rodent problem exposed: Interactive map reveals the city's rat hotspots, as the number of sightings increases 40% in eight years. For dwellers of The Big Apple, seeing rats in the streets and on subway platforms is part of normal life. 😱 #NYC