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DOJ sues California for ending enforcement of emission standards for trucks
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday that it had sued California to stop the state from enforcing emissions standards for trucks. The DOJ announced that it had filed two lawsuits in federal court this week against the California Air Resources Board regarding the state's enforcement on preempted emission standards through the so-called Clean Truck Partnership with heavy-duty trucks and engine manufacturers. In a press release, the DOJ said that these actions "promote President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to ending the electric vehicle mandate, leveling the regulatory playing fields, and promoting consumer choice in motor cars." Four major truckmakers including Daimler, Volvo and others sued the state earlier this week to prevent it from enforcing strict emission standards Trump declared null in June. Trump, the Republican president, wants to limit California's authority under federal Clean Air Act, which allows it to set pollution limits that are stricter than required by federal law, as well as Gavin Newsom, Democratic governor, who can promote electric cars to combat climate change. "President Donald Trump, and Congress, have invalidated the Clean Air Act Waivers that were the basis of California's action. Adam Gustafson is the acting assistant attorney for the DOJ Environment and Natural Resources Division. He said that CARB should respect democracy and stop enforcing illegal standards. Reporting by Andy Sullivan, Bhargav Asharya; Editing Caitlin and Rod Nickel
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One dead in suspected gang-related Orebro shooting, Swedish police say
Police said that a man was killed in Orebro, Sweden on Friday. The crime was probably gang related. The second victim was taken to hospital after being injured near the Orebro Mosque. The police declined to comment on how serious the injuries were. "I would like to emphasize that we do not see any link to the mosque at this time. A police spokesperson said that they do, however, see a link to criminal groups. Police said that no arrests had yet been made, but at least one suspect has been seen leaving the scene. The police said that the case is being investigated for murder and attempted killing. Sweden has experienced gang violence for more than 10 years. The number of fatal shootings in Sweden is among the highest of all European countries. The murder rate is comparable to that of other countries. The police stated in a press release that the shooting incident in Orebro was believed to have been linked to a criminal network. In February, ten students and teachers died in an attack in Orebro (about 200 km west of Stockholm), in what was Sweden's most deadly gun attack. The shooter in the February shootings was an ex-student who killed himself and was not affiliated with any criminal gangs. Investigators did not find a clear motive for the shooting. (Reporting from Stockholm by Anna Ringstrom and Essi lehto, with additional reporting by Johan Ahlander, Niklas pollard, and editing by Terje solsvik, Toby Chopra and Clelia Oziel. William Maclean is the editor.
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Tsingshan invests $800 million in Zimbabwe's steel plant
A top official of the Chinese nickel producer Tsingshan Holding Group said that it plans to invest $800,000,000 in its steel factory in central Zimbabwe via its unit Dinson Iron and Steel Company. This was revealed during a company media tour held on Friday. Tsingshan is one of the largest nickel producers in the world and has made substantial investments in Zimbabwe. Tsingshan has also invested in ferrochrome mining, coking coal, and lithium mining in Zimbabwe. Wilfred Motti, project director at the company, said that the funds will be used to build a new blast furnace to increase the capacity of the facility from 600,000.0 metric ton carbon steel per year to 1.2,000,000 metric ton. Motsi, however, said that first the company will assess whether the market can support a large increase in production of carbon steel. He added that the funds will be used to construct centering, rolling, and steel plants, as well as a blast-furnace. "We're ready for the next step, but will carefully examine market conditions before we commit." "We need to make sure that the market will accept this much product," said Motsi. In the first phase, a 50 megawatt thermal power station was built to reduce Zimbabwe's dependence on its overloaded electricity grid. Management said that the plant would also generate power from furnace gases to cover around 20% of its requirements. Jenfan Muswere said that the plant will help to reduce the steel import bill for Zimbabwe, which is estimated at around $1 billion per year.
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PAHO: Measles outbreak in North America worsens, with 18 deaths so far this year
The Pan American Health Organization reported Friday that measles deaths in Mexico, Canada, and the United States have increased, as has the number of cases. Why it's important According to the U.N. agency, 71% of the cases were in people who had not been vaccinated, and 18% occurred in people whose vaccination status was unknown. By the Numbers PAHO data showed that as of August 8, 10139 measles cases and 18 deaths related to them had been confirmed in 10 countries across the Americas. This represents a 34-fold rise compared with the same period of 2024. Fourteen of the 18 deaths occurred in Mexico. Three in the United States, and one in Canada. PAHO reported that the majority of deaths in Mexico were among Indigenous people aged between 1 and 54. KEY QUOTES "Measles can be prevented with two doses a vaccine that has been proven safe and effective. To stop these outbreaks countries must strengthen routine immunizations and conduct targeted vaccinations campaigns in high-risk areas, said Daniel Salas. CONTEXT PAHO states that measles is highly infectious and spreads quickly among people who are not vaccinated, particularly children. A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States (CDC) revealed that the vaccination rate for certain diseases, including measles and diphtheria, decreased from the previous year among U.S. kindergarteners. (Reporting by Benjamin Mejias Valencia; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
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Russia is expecting a record-breaking sunflower harvest in 2025 despite the problems in southern Russia
Analysts say that the sunflower harvest is expected to reach a record in Russia this year despite the forecasts of a decline in the southern regions. This is due to the increase in acres and the good predictions for other regions in the country. IKAR, a Russian consultancy, forecasts 17.9-18 million metric tonnes compared with 16.2 million in 2024. SovEcon expects 17.9 millions tons. The decline in southern regions has been offset by the high figures of the Centre and Volga Regions, where conditions are favorable, and we estimate the yields will be above average," stated Andrei Sizov. Rosstat, the Russian state statistical agency, recorded that sunflower acres in Russia were expected to increase for the 2025 harvest, despite falling wheat margins. However, the increase was greater than analysts predicted, increasing by 13.2%, or 11.043 hectares. The market is pushing for a larger area of oilseed crops and fewer wheat crops. This is a powerful driver that will lead to new records for oilseed production in particular with favorable weather conditions", said Vitaly Shamaev. Igor Pavensky is the head of Rusagrotrans' analytical centre. He said that the company has increased its forecast of this year's harvest of sunflowers in Russia from 17.5 million tons to 18.5 million tons. This was primarily due to the reassessment the area under cultivation. Exports of sunflower oils could surpass Ukraine's, the current world leader in this field. Analysts say that this year's hot, dry weather in Ukraine's south regions has affected the harvest. SovEcon predicts that sunflower oil exports in Russia will reach a record 4.5-4.7 million tonnes in the next season, up from 4 million in 2024/25. Rusagrotrans expects to see a rise from 5.0-5.1 million to 5.4 millions, and IKAR from 4.65 to 5.2-5.3 million. (Reporting and editing by Nigel Hunt, Mark Porter, and Olga Popova)
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The economy of Peru grew by 4.52% in June, which was less than expected
The INEI statistics agency reported that the economy of Peru grew by 4.52% in July, which was less than expected despite growth across most sectors. Analysts polled by. Peru's mining and energy sectors, which are the third largest copper producers in the world, have grown by 1.01% over the past year. The fishing sector has also seen growth. Washington imposed a 50 percent levy on copper imports, a major Peruvian export. The measure was a watered down version of the original tariff. Construction and commerce both grew by 9.57%, and 8.76% respectively. Andean nations are recovering from the recession that began with the term of President Dina Bouluarte. Protests against the government impacted the mining industry and foreign investment in the country. Last month, Central Bank Chief Economist Adrian Armas stated that the economy is expected to grow by more than 4% for the month of June. However, he warned that the July number may have been affected by protests from informal miners who blocked a copper corridor. According to estimates by the central bank, GDP growth is expected to be around 3.1% in 2019. By 2026, it should drop to 2.9%. (Reporting and writing by Marco Aquino, Benjamin Mejias Valencia; Editing by Natalia Siniawski, Rod Nickel)
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After Geneva's failure, the US takes a tough stance on plastic pollution.
The failure of the sixth round of U.N. discussions on Friday to curb plastic production has dampened hopes for tackling this major source of pollution. Many supporters of restrictions are pessimistic that a global agreement will be reached during the Trump Administration. Participants said that a three-year push for a legally binding treaty to reduce plastic pollution, which chokes the oceans and damages human health, now seems to be drifting. Many states and activists blamed the failure of oil producers, including the United States. They said that the United States had hardened their long-held views and encouraged others to reject limits on new plastic production which would have curtailed output of polymers. Debbra Cisneros is a Panamanian negotiator who told us that the United States was less open in the previous rounds under Joe Biden’s administration. "This time, they just didn't want anything." "It was difficult because they were always against us on each of the key provisions," she said after the 11-day negotiations. The anti-plastic campaigners did not expect Washington to change its position after President Donald Trump signed in February an executive order encouraging the purchase of plastic drinking straws by consumers. Bjorn Bealer, International Coordinator of International Pollutants Elimination Network, a global network consisting of more than 600 public interest NGOs, said: "The mentality has changed, and they are looking to extract even more oil and natural gas from the ground." The U.S. State Department didn't immediately respond to an inquiry about its position and role in the negotiations. John Thompson, the U.S. delegate to the talks, declined to answer questions about its outcome. Washington expressed concern that the new regulations could raise the cost of all plastics. A spokesperson for the State Department said previously that each party must take actions according to their national context. Trump's administration has also reversed a number of U.S. environmental and climate policies, which it claims place an excessive burden on the national industry. Washington also showed its strength in the talks on another global environmental accord earlier this week when it threatened to take action against states that supported a proposal intended to reduce shipping emissions. Production limits are crucial for a coalition of 100+ countries looking to reach an ambitious agreement in Geneva. Sivendra Michael, Fiji's delegates, compared excluding this clause to "sweeping the floor while not turning off the water." The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), said that for every month of delay, nearly a half-million tons of plastic waste are accumulated - some of it washing up on beaches in island states. "CONSENSUS IS DEAD" Some participants blamed the organizers as well, the International Negotiating Committee Inc. (INC), an U.N.-established organization supported by the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP). The delegates were able to laugh and jeer at a formal meeting that lasted for less than one minute, an hour before midnight was set as the time when negotiations would conclude. Ana Rocha Global Plastics Policy director for environmental group GAIA said, "No one understood. Everyone was shocked." It's like they are playing with children. Agnes Pannier Runacher, France's Ecology Minister, called the proceedings "chaotic". When asked what went wrong, INC chairman Luis Vayas Valdivieso attributed the failure to the division between the countries and referred to the negotiations as complex. "But we've made progress, and that is important," he added. U.N. provisions rules require that all states agree. This is a constraint some find unworkable - especially in the context of a U.S. government that is moving away from multilateralism. "Consensus has died." "You cannot agree on a deal in which all countries that produce and export oil and plastics can decide what the deal will be", said IPEN's Beeler. Some delegates, campaigners and others suggested voting as a way to break the impasse or to abandon the U.N. led process altogether. The WWF, among others, called for ambitious states to pursue their own deal in the hopes of bringing plastics-producing countries on board later. The talks produced two draft agreements, one of which was more ambitious than another. Both were rejected. The next meeting is not yet known. States have agreed to meet at a future date. David Azoulay is the Managing Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law in Geneva. He said that it was a positive development when the top plastics producer, China, publicly acknowledged the importance of addressing the plastics' full life cycle. "This is a new development, and I believe this opens up an interesting opportunity." Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Emma Farge and Valerie Volcovici; Additional reporting in Washington by Hansen Holger and Valerie Volcovici Editing by Dave Graham & Tomaszjanowski
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The US manufacturing industry stalls production in July
The U.S. factory output was unchanged in the month of July, suggesting that manufacturing activity is stalling while businesses deal with higher import tariff costs. The Federal Reserve reported a flat reading for manufacturing output on Friday, following a 0.3% rise in June that was upwardly revised. The economists polled had predicted that production in the sector, which represents 10.2% of GDP, would decline by 0.1%, following a 0.1% increase reported previously in June. In July, the production at factories increased by 1.4% compared to last year. The output of motor vehicles and parts fell by 0.3% in July after a 2.5% drop in June. In July, automakers typically close production lines for maintenance and new model development as well as the summer break. The factory output, excluding motor vehicles fell by 0.1% in July after increasing 0.5% in June. Citigroup economist Veronica Clark said that tariffs on steel and aluminum could lead to longer or wider-spread shutdowns in the summer. Donald Trump has imposed 50% duties on steel and aluminium, as well as 25% taxes on motor vehicles and their parts. Trump has justified the duties by claiming that they are necessary to revive the long-declining U.S. industry base. However, economists say this cannot be achieved in a short time period, citing the high production costs and labor costs. The production of furniture, miscellaneous transport equipment, and electrical appliances, as well as furniture, and other related products, increased. The production of machinery and primary metals declined. Durable goods manufacturing increased by 0.3%. The nondurable manufacturing sector saw a 0.4% decline in production, which was reflected across all categories. The mining output dropped 0.4% in August after falling 0.3% the previous month. Utilities production slid 0.2%. This followed a surge of 1.8% in June. The overall industrial production dropped by 0.1% in July after increasing 0.4% in June. The industrial output increased 1.4% year-over-year. The capacity utilization rate for the industrial sector has fallen to 77.5%, down from 77.7%. This is 2.1 points below the average for 1972-2024. The manufacturing sector's operating rate dropped to 76.8% in July from 76.9%. This is 1.4% below the long-term average. Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci and Andrea Ricci (Reporting)
UN report: Major Rwandan coltan supplier bought smuggled Congolese mineral minerals
A forthcoming UN report claims that Rwandan-based Boss Mining purchased coltan from Congo.
Mineral trade is used to finance M23 rebels in eastern Congo
Boss, Rwanda and other countries deny any involvement in the smuggling of goods from Congo
Reade Levinson and David Lewis, Sonia Rolley
According to a report reviewed by the United Nations, a Rwandan company called Boss Mining Solution purchased minerals that were smuggled out of rebel-held areas in neighboring Congo. This helped fund an insurgency there. This is the first time that the U.N. has publicly named a company accused of being complicit in the trafficking of minerals looted in Congo after M23 insurgents took over a major mining area in the country last year. Boss Mining is named in a U.N. document that documents how recent territorial gains by M23 in Congo have further destabilized an area beset by decades-long conflict. U.N. accuses the heavily armed rebels of plundering Congo’s natural resources, and of committing atrocities on civilians. They are backed by Rwanda's government. The report stated that illegal mining and smuggling minerals into Rwanda from M23-controlled zones had "reached unprecedented heights". Diplomats said that the report, which was presented to the U.N. Security Council's sanctions committee for Congo at the beginning of May, will be published shortly. M23 has not responded to our requests for comment. Corporate records show that Eddy Habimana is a Rwandan entrepreneur who runs Boss Mining. U.N. investigators had identified Habimana as a minerals trafficker a decade earlier, with ties to rebels fighting in the eastern Congo. Habimana refused to comment on allegations made in an unpublished U.N. Report. According to Rwandan corporate records, two Russian-born mining executives also own Boss Mining. Yolande Makolo said on Wednesday that the U.N. Report "misrepresents Rwanda’s longstanding concerns about security" regarding Hutu groups who have attacked ethnic Tutsis both in Rwanda and Congo. This threat "requires a defense posture in our borders." The Congolese government spokesperson did not respond immediately to our questions, but officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have accused Rwanda of fomenting conflict to plunder Congo’s mineral wealth. Mineral sales have been crucial to M23's funding. Insurgents swept through large areas of eastern DRC this year, including mines that produce gold, copper and tin, as well as the largest coltan mining operation in the world. An analysis of 2024 customs records revealed that Boss Mining was one of several Rwandan companies exporting significant volumes of coltan, despite the fact Rwanda produces very little of this metallic ore. Rubaya is the Congolese mine area, now controlled by the M23 group, which produces 15% of all the coltan in the world. The ore can be processed into tantalum, a heat resistant metal that is in demand by manufacturers of mobile phones, computer systems, and other electronics, aerospace, and medical applications. M23 insurgents took control of the two main crossings to Rwanda when they seized Bukavu, a border city located on the Congolese side, and Congo. According to a forthcoming U.N. Report, smuggled Congolese mineral are transported to Rwanda through these cities. They do so at night to "avoid detection." According to the report, 195 tons were discovered in just the last week of march. The report stated that Boss Mining purchased some of the minerals. Habimana responded to previous questions in June about Boss Mining operations by saying that his company had "never purchased coltan" from Rubaya. "All materials we purchase are in compliance with international guidelines designed to ensure mining doesn't fund armed group or contribute to abuses of human rights," he added. M23's rapid advance in eastern Congo has reignited a conflict that dates back to the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and has caused millions of people to be displaced. The rebels are determined to topple the Congolese Government. The Rwandan government has denied for years that it is involved in the trade of coltan looted by its neighbor, or that it supports M23. Rwanda's ruling Tutsi majority party shares the same concern as M23 about the alleged threat of rival Hutu groups in eastern Congo. According to a confidential U.N. document, Rwanda had 1,000 troops in Congo as of April. Rwanda and Congo signed on Friday a peace agreement mediated by the United States that will see Rwandan troops withdrawn from Congo. The agreement does not include the M23. The rebel group is a part of an independent, parallel mediation that Qatar leads to try and end hostilities. Success in these talks is crucial to any lasting peace.
MURKY SUPPLY CHAINS An analysis of customs data revealed that Boss Mining exported 150 metric tonnes of coltan in 2024, worth at least $6.6 million. This figure represented 6.5% of all Rwandan coltan exports in 2024. Boss Mining was the sixth largest exporter of ore for the year. According to a Boss Mining worker who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak with the media, Boss Mining doesn't mine its own coltan, but instead buys it from Speck Minerals and other sellers. According to an employee of Boss Mining and a database online from the Rwanda Mining Board, the company has a mining license in Rwanda's Burera District where they mine wolframite. According to maps and the mining industry press, there are no major coltan mines in that area. According to reports from the Rwanda Mining Association, and the Rwandan mining press, Habimana also represents Speck Minerals. According to a publication from the 2024 Rwanda Mining Association, Habimana also uses this number for Boss Mining. Boss Mining's employee said that Speck operated two mines, in the Gakenke district and Muhanga district of Rwanda. These mines produce a total of 18 tons of colltan per month. In a 2018 audit conducted by a Thai smelter of the Muhanga Mine, the site owner was listed as Eddy Habimana and the mine name was listed as Speck. According to the audit, the production was 2.3 tons per month at that time. Habimana, in response to questions last month about Boss Mining in text messages, described the two mines in Muhanga & Gakenke as being part of Boss Mining operations. Was unable to verify current production at either mine. Habimana refused to answer any questions regarding Speck, or the employee's claims about production. U.N. investigators as well as non-governmental organisations and sources from the mining industry have accused M23 and their Rwandan supporters of smuggling minerals from Congo illegally for more than a decade. According to a U.N. Report published in December 2024, the scale of the trade increased after M23 took Rubaya. The rebels established a parallel government that controlled mining, trade, transportation, and taxation on minerals produced in the area. U.N. 2024 report stated that the rebels had taken Rubaya and established a parallel administration to control mining activities, trade, transport, and taxation of the minerals produced there. U.N. experts said that the resulting mixing of Congolese coltan with Rwandan production is "the most significant contamination of supply chain" to date. According to the report 2024, M23 received $800,000 per month in taxes from the coltan mines in eastern Congo. Mining experts claim that official statistics on Rwanda's production of coltan are not reliable. In May 2024, the central bank of Rwanda suspended publishing export statistics shortly after M23 had seized Rubaya. An analysis of the customs records revealed that Rwanda exported 2,300 tons ore coltan last year. Eleven geologists and mining experts who are based in the area said that Rwanda exports much more coltan than it produces. They have all visited mines and found that the Congo has a much larger mine site and more miners. Bill Millman, a mineral consultant based in the UK, said that Rwanda's coltan exports for 2024 are "totally implausible". Rwanda's government has not commented on its coltan output. In January, the DRC cut diplomatic ties with Rwanda after M23 took over the Congolese capital of Goma. Congo's army has repeatedly struggled to quell Rwanda-backed revolts. Kigali, however, has benefited for years from the corruption in the Congolese minerals trade and the lack of regulation.
RUSSIAN CONNECTION Rwandan records of company show that Boss Mining, which was established in 2013, is owned by Habimana. The managing director denied buying Congolese colltan. These records reveal that Boss Mining also has two other owners, Yuriy tolmatchev (the managing director who denied purchasing Congolese coltan) and Alexander Konovalchik. According to UK and Russian company records, and Russian mining press reports, both men are dual citizens of the UK and Russia and have worked in the mining sector for decades. Now they live and work in Britain. According to corporate records, the two men own other companies which buy the coltan from Boss Mining. They are also directors of Metarex Ltd., according to Cyprus corporate records. According to corporate records from the United Arab Emirates provided by corporate intelligence firm Diligencia, Metarex is 100% owner of Novacore FZE. Tolmatchev manages Novacore, which according to corporate records and an analysis of customs data, purchases all the coltan produced by Boss Mining. Tolmatchev declined to comment on Novacore’s purchases. He stated that Boss Mining was the smallest exporter of coltan in Rwanda but refused to give more details. He said he had no idea what local traders were doing in North Kivu, the Congo province where the Rubaya mine is located. Tomaltchev responded that the company does not buy material from Congo. Konovalchik was not able to comment on the U.N. Report. He said that all minerals purchased by Boss Mining are "from Rwandan Sources". He then referred any further questions to Habimana. He said, "I don't control day-to-day operations." Reade Levinson reported from London, David Lewis from Nairobi, and Sonia Rolley from Paris. Filipp Lebedev contributed additional reporting from London. Marla Dickerson, Silvia Aloisi and Marla Dickerson edited the article.
(source: Reuters)