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UN warns that transporting dead bodies in Congo could spread Ebola
U.N. migration agency warned on Friday that transporting Ebola victims’ bodies between different areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), often to be buried by their families, could spread the virus. As of July 14, more than 2,000 Ebola deaths and 700 cases have been reported in Congo and Uganda, and two-thirds occurred outside of clinics or hospitals. The International Organization for Migration stated that this makes it difficult to control burials. This often fatal virus spreads by direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals or people. Symptoms include high fever, vomiting, internal bleeding, and other symptoms. The Bundibugyo virus strain is responsible for this epidemic. Ebola is highly contagious even after death, so funeral practices are a crucial component in outbreak control. Andrew Mbala, IOM, said: "If we do not manage the dead bodies properly and if we do not engage the community... it means that there will be a greater spread in the community." IOM officials stated that the transportation of bodies between districts is a "special challenge" as families want to bury their relatives in their own communities. Mbala said that there have been many crossings of bodies in the country. 105 corpses were found during the IOM Ebola surveillance at the points of entry or crossings to different health control zones in the country. IOM warns that if bodies are not handled properly, they could spread the virus to new areas. IOM said that the bodies were sent to be sampled and investigated, then given to a team for a dignified and safe burial. Mbala mentioned a case where a corpse was moved from an area to another and contributed to infections in the newly affected Tshopo Province. IOM Regional Director Frantz celestin stated that the outbreak had grown by 70% in two weeks. On average, more than forty new cases were reported every day. Officials from the U.N. agency said that community resistance hinders efforts to ensure safe burials. The teams responsible for handling the bodies and burying them have been met with opposition and in some cases attacks. Mbala stated that "we have seen in the community an element of resistance" during the 'burials. World Health Organization officials stated that?four out of five identified contacts of those with Ebola were being monitored now, but one of the five cannot be tracked, usually because of insecurity or distrust in communities preventing health workers from reaching these people. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Editing by Miranda Murray, Alexandra Hudson)
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Botswana: Anglo chooses De Beers as buyer and weighs options to "optimal structure".
Anglo American chose a preferred bidder for its De Beers stake, and Botswana is weighing up whether to exercise its first refusal right on its own or with Anglo American's selected bidder. Anglo sold De Beers in May 2024, as part of an overall restructuring that was prompted by the 'falling diamond prices' and the growing popularity for synthetic diamonds. Private buyers and the government of Botswana (which already owns 15%) have shown interest in this business. Moeti Mohwasa, Botswana’s Minister of State President, Defence and Security, told lawmakers that Anglo American had conducted a competitive bid process with three shortlisted bidders. The Global Diamond Consortium was the preferred bidder. Mohwasa said that the proposal of including Angola Namibia in the consortium was welcomed. He did not reveal the consortium partners but stated that it was important to find an experienced operator who would be backed up by a long-term, stable ownership structure, and a credible turnaround plan. An Anglo American spokesperson said that the company is progressing with the sale and will provide updates when appropriate. Sources have previously stated that only two consortia are still in the running to own stakes in De Beers. This is down from six groups in 2025. Two groups are in the running for De Beers stakes, down from six in 2025. Mohwasa stated that Botswana had "complete freedom" to either proceed with the preferred bidder in partnership or to exercise their preemption rights by themselves or in conjunction with a third-party. He added that Botswana is currently working with its financial advisers to assess the optimal deal structure. Mohwasa stated that the sale transaction is likely to conclude by the end of the 2026 quarter, subject to a number of conditions, such as the Botswana Government's approval.
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Gold prices rise but will lose weekly value due to inflation and rate hike concerns
Gold rose a little?on friday, but it was on track for a weekly decline, as tensions between the U.S. and Iran pushed up oil prices, raising inflation fears and supporting upcoming interest rate hikes in the U.S. Gold spot rose 0.4%, to $3,987.23 an ounce, by 1221 GMT. It had fallen earlier that day to its lowest level since July 1. Prices have fallen over?3% for the entire week. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery dropped 0.03% at $3,990.90. Fawad Rasaqzada is a Forex.com market analyst. He said, "When the prices go down, it's inevitable that some short sellers will take advantage." If oil prices rise, they will continue to put pressure on gold, because it will increase inflation expectations. This will lead to higher interest rates and more people buying bonds. Gold's appeal is diminished by the expectation of higher interest rates, as it is not a yielding asset. Iran announced that it had launched new strikes against U.S. facilities across the Middle East, following a sixth night of Washington's attacks on Iranian military installations that limited traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The oil prices are expected to rise by a significant amount this week. Lorie Logan, the Dallas Federal Reserve president and the first new colleague of Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh to publicly demand an interest rate increase was Lorie Logan on Thursday. While?Fed vice chair?Philip Jefferson said he was open to raising interest rates if inflation did not improve in the near future. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, traders are now pricing in a 50% chance that rates will be raised by September. Gold discounts in India reached a month-high this week as buyers stayed away in the hope of lower prices. Meanwhile, premiums in China remained largely unchanged. Silver spot fell 0.6% per ounce to $55.18, platinum declined 2.7% to 1,573.76, while palladium dropped 0.6% to 1,241.75.
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Baghdad wants more US energy investment. ConocoPhillips and BP join forces in Iraq
ConocoPhillips announced on Friday that it had acquired a 42% share in BP Energy Company?Kirkuk Ltd. This will allow ConocoPhillips to join BP in redeveloping 'four' oilfields located in northern Iraq. The agreement will be signed by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during his official visit to Washington. He is looking for greater U.S. investments in Iraq's power, oil and gas sectors after the disruptions caused due to the conflict with Iran. The contract covers more than 3 billion barrels equivalent of initial gross recoverable resource, with additional exploration potential across the Baba, Avanah and Jambur domes in the Kirkuk oilfield, and the Bai Hassan, Jambur, and Khabbaz field. The deal comes as BP reshapes their portfolio under Meg O'Neill who was appointed CEO in April following a career with Exxon Mobil. O'Neill pledged to "simplify the Company, tighten Capital Discipline?and Focus Investment on its Highest-Return Oil and Gas Assets while Recycling Capital through Select Partnerships and Asset Sales. This is an effort by the U.S. to increase investment in Iraq's sector, which has been increasingly dominated by Chinese firms over recent years. Zaidi’s cabinet approved a deal a few weeks ago with HKN Energy, a U.S. company to develop the Himreen Oilfield in northern Iraq. It also cleared a collaboration agreement with General Electric for the expansion of the country’s?power transmission and generation. Kirkuk, which was discovered about a hundred years ago, is one of Iraq's oldest oilfields. It still has significant reserves and is therefore central to Baghdad’s plans for sustaining crude production in the future. BP stated that the deal will not affect contract terms, operator roles, or the planned 'handover of operatorships to an entity staffed primarily by their employees. The companies said that the joint venture will not require substantial capital contributions. The deal should be completed by 2026. (Reporting and editing by Anil D’Silva in Bengaluru, and Vijay Kishore.)
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Gold prices rise but will lose weekly value due to inflation and rate hike concerns
Gold prices climbed on Friday but were set to fall?weekly? as tensions between the U.S. and Iran pushed up oil prices, raising inflation fears and supporting an expectation of higher U.S. rates. Gold spot rose 0.7%, to $3.996.29 an ounce, by 1010 GMT. It had fallen as low as it has been since July 1, earlier in the day. Prices are down by over 3% for the entire week. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery gained 0.2% to $4,000. Fawad Razaqzada is a Forex.com market analyst. He said that when the price drops, some short sellers will profit. If oil prices rise, they will continue to put pressure on gold, because it will increase inflation expectations. This will lead to higher interest rates and more people buying bonds. Gold's appeal is diminished by the expectation of higher interest rates, as it is not a yielding asset. Iran announced that it had launched new strikes on U.S. installations in the Middle East, on Friday. This follows Washington's sixth night of strikes against Iranian military bases limiting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The oil prices are expected to rise by a significant amount this week. Lorie Logan, the Dallas Federal Reserve president and one of Kevin Warsh's newly appointed colleagues, publicly called for an interest rate increase on Thursday. Philip Jefferson, the?Fed vice chair, said he was open to raising interest rates if inflation did not improve in the near future. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, traders are pricing in a 50% chance of a rate hike for September. Gold discounts in India reached a?month-high this week, as buyers held off in anticipation of lower prices. Premiums in China remained largely unchanged. Silver spot fell by 0.03% at $55.4891, while platinum fell 1.7% to 1,589.41 and palladium increased 0.7% to 1,257.65.
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Weekend Reads: Crude pricing, resource wars and empires
Want some inspiration? Weekend Reads is a weekly roundup of what the Open Interest team has read, watched and listened to. This week, the Open?Interest team has chosen to focus on the 'race to reinvent critical mineral resources,'?oil benchmarks that are under pressure and great-power geopolitics. This weekend, we are reading... MIKE DOLAN is a columnist for ROI Finance & Markets. The Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Survey found that China was viewed as more favorable than the United States in 36 countries. The U.S. Department of Energy released this release by ROI Metals columnist ANDY HOME. It details five research awards that Oak Ridge National Laboratory won. This shows that global competition for essential minerals is not just about building mines and smelters. These awards are for research into motors which don't require critical minerals, as well as additive manufacturing and high-performance steels. GAVIN MAGUIRE: ROI Global Energy Transition columnist Gerard Reid, European energy investor, argues that Europe's most recent electrification plans are not bold enough. JAMIE MCGEEVER, ROI Markets columnist: According to a new Fed paper, the U.S. AI capital expenditure boom could result in a worsening of the U.S. Current Account than was previously anticipated. If this were to happen, it would worsen the global imbalances which the IMF warns pose a threat to financial and economic stability. CLYDE RUSSELL is a columnist for the ROI Asia Commodities columnist. This article by Petroleum Economist explores crude oil benchmarks. It examines how the Dubai benchmark almost failed during the Iran crisis, and how they continually adjust. Listening to... ANNA SZYMANSKI ROI?Editor in Charge: Breakingviews Global - Editor Peter Thal Larsen sat with McKinsey's CFO Yuval Athmon recently to discuss the benefits and costs of AI usage by corporations. We're always watching you. RON BOUSSO: Columnist for ROI Energy, Sarah Paine, military historian shows in this lecture?how the tension between continent and maritime empires shaped our history. Although I do not agree with her classification of the U.S., as a maritime empire, her thesis provides a useful perspective for understanding today's geopolitics. The opinions expressed are solely those of their authors. These opinions do not represent the views of News. News is committed to the Trust Principles and to a free, independent, and impartial news service.
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Environmental plastics may cause cardiac risk, suggests study
In a small study, we also describe an experimental vaccine that prevented pancreatic carcinoma in people with high genetic risks. Higher levels of plastic in blood linked with heart attacks A small Italian study suggests that heart attack survivors have higher levels in their blood of tiny plastic particles compared to those who never had a heart attack and people whose blood vessels supply the 'heart' are normal. Researchers say that the study of 61 subjects adds to the growing evidence that environmental pollutants may affect cardiovascular health. According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in 84% heart attack survivors. Patients with heart attacks had more plastic types in the blood. Polyethylene was the most common plastic type, and is used widely in consumer goods and packaging. Researchers also collected information on the smoker status of the patients and the pollution exposure they had experienced in the previous two years. Smokers and patients exposed to high levels of pollution over a long period were more likely than others to have microplastics present in their blood. Those who smoke or are exposed to high levels of air pollutants have plastics in their blood. Only 12.5% of those patients do not smoke and did not experience higher levels of pollution. In a press release, Professor Emanuele Barato, from Sapienza University of Rome, and Sant'Andrea University Hospital, said that the findings "do not prove" that microplastics are responsible for heart attacks. However, they do reveal a strong link between microplastics and cardiovascular disease. The accompanying editorial states that while cardiovascular effects from plastic exposure have been largely speculative up until recently, new clinical evidence has shown that plastic particles are able to enter the bloodstream and accumulate in the vascular tissue, while laboratory experiments indicate that they trigger mechanisms that cause vascular injury. The editorial concludes that "despite substantial uncertainties, the convergence between epidemiological, medical, and mechanistic data suggests that plastic contamination may represent an underestimated cardiovascular risk factor." PANCREATIC CANCER VACINE PROMISING AT EARLY STAGE TRIAL Researchers report that an experimental vaccine targeting the most common genetic driver of pancreatic carcinoma prevented the cancer in high-risk individuals from developing the disease in a trial. Cancer Discovery reported that the study was believed to be a first-inhuman demonstration of a vaccine targeting KRAS mutations being able to safely generate lasting immune response. KRAS mutations can be found in the majority of pancreatic cancers as well as pre-cancerous lesions. Researchers at John Hopkins University are developing a vaccine called mKRAS VAX that will cause the immune system recognize and destroy cells with any of six mutations. Twenty participants with a high genetic risk of pancreatic cancer, and an abnormality in the pancreas identified by imaging, received four doses over a period of 13 weeks. The vaccine activated immune cells in 18 participants (90%) that were capable of "recognizing and remembering KRAS mutants. The immune cells were detectable up to two years after vaccination. After a median follow up of 16.5 month, none of the participants developed pancreatic carcinoma or a high-risk lesion that required surgical removal. The vaccine has been found to be safe with only mild or moderate side effects. These include injection site reactions, fatigue and flu-like symptoms. Investigators point out that the study is primarily designed to evaluate safety and immune responses and does not prove that the vaccine prevents cancer of the pancreas. In a statement, Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee from the John Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center said: "This is only the beginning. But the findings suggest that your immune system is becoming activated." "We still have a lot to do but this is an excellent start in the prevention of crime, something that no one thought about before." In 2020, the?KRAS vaccination was tested on patients who underwent surgery and were at a high risk of recurrence. This study concluded that when the vaccine triggered a strong immunity response, patients were disease-free for a minimum of five years. This study was prompted by the success of 2020 testing. Researchers have conducted a second study in which they will test the vaccine on patients who are undergoing surgery for high-risk pancreatic cysts. The researchers will be able to observe how the vaccine-induced immune cell directly affects precancerous tissue in this new study. Sign up for the newsletter to receive it in your email inbox. (Reporting and editing by Nia Williams; Nancy Lapid)
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Hungary uses water to protect UNESCO bird sanctuary amid drought
The Hungarian authorities are 'channeling' water into a large area of the Hortobagy Park National Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in order to prevent its marshlands from drying out due to this year's severe dry spell. Hortobagy, or "Puszta", is a tourist magnet in eastern Hungary. It consists of plains and wetlands and is a stopover for thousands of birds that migrate to Africa. They build nests here and breed before flying south as the autumn approaches. The largest marshland is "Fekete ret", which was once part of the?former Tisza floodplains, and its lower lying parts were irrigated with floodwaters. The area dries up for the very first time in 2013. In 2022, during the last severe drought, the area dried up completely. More than 800 hectares were destroyed. Lajos Gal, regional unit manager at the 'Hortobagy Directorate of National Parks, with over?three decades experience in marshes, said that the groundwater level in the area had been decreasing continuously. "This year is very special because heat came very early and we began the year with an extremely large water deficit. The spring did not rain... and the swamps could not be filled. "This year, we were able to obtain water from the Water Department for ecological water replenishment. Gal stated that about 2,000,000 cubic meters of water have been channeled into the marshes, and is still flowing out of the Nyugati canal. The entire area would have been completely dry without this irrigation canal. Migratory Birds Affected Climate change, and the resulting?lessening of precipitation, have had a long-lasting impact on bird migration patterns. "The spring migrations are starting earlier... "The spring migrations?are starting earlier... He said that many species of birds he saw as a child have almost disappeared. However, he added, "There are also species like the little pygmy Cormorant which I almost never saw when I was growing up, but there is now a nice population in the Black Meadow." Gal suggested that a long-term fix should be sought and the water flowing into Hungary should also be retained to the maximum extent possible. This will ensure the survival and health of the wetlands which can create a microclimate as well as affect the groundwater balance. (Writing and editing by Gareth Jones.)
Official: Zimbabwe's only lithium salt plant is unable to process metal from third parties
An official stated on Friday that Zimbabwe's only lithium sulphate facility, owned by China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt?, has no capacity to process minerals from other producers. This is ahead of an export ban for concentrates next year.
Africa's largest lithium producer will implement a ban in January to encourage miners to process the battery metal at home, creating higher-valued export earnings and more jobs?in its economy.
The government told lithium miners to send their concentrates directly to local plants.
One of the plants in Zimbabwe, owned by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and operated by Prospect Lithium -Zimbabwe has not yet been completed. Its operator claims that it does not have capacity to process 'third party material.
We don't have the capacity to process minerals from other sources. "Our concentrator plant produces about 400,000 tons of ore per year, so we do not have room for other players," said mine manager Mthokozisi Gaiath during a mine visit by Mines Minister Polite Kambamura.
He added, "For the moment, this plant (sulphate plant) only has a capacity that can manage what we make at the concentrator plants."
Kambamura, who spoke during the visit to Japan, insisted that the ban on exporting concentrates would still be implemented early next year.
The January 2027 deadline remains in place. We cannot discuss a delay at this time. We urge all producers not to miss that deadline," said the minister.
Sinomine Resource Group’s Bikita Mining and Kamativi?Company (the Zimbabwean subsidiary of China’s Yahua Group) are currently building plants that are unlikely to be ready by the end of January 2027.
Chinese companies dominate Zimbabwe's Lithium?sector, after investing around $2 billion since 2021 in mining and processing facilities. This has helped the Asian giant consolidate its grip on the global supply chain for battery metal. (Reporting and writing by Philimon Bolawayo, Editing by Jan Harvey).
(source: Reuters)