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Olympics-Biathlon-Ponsiluoma peaks on final shoot for sweet Swedish biathlon gold
After a poor start for the highly-anticipated Swedish biathlon team, Martin Ponsiluoma was able to shake off the dust on Sunday with a 'perfect series? of five shots in the final shoot. He also had a superb last lap. This resulted in him winning gold at the men's 12.5"km pursuit. The Swede, known to his team as "Ponsi", piled pressure on France's Emilien Jacquelin who missed two times to incur costly penalty loops. "I tried not to look at his targets but I heard and thought it was two misses so I tried to focus on myself. Ponsiluoma said after his gold victory, "Make a quick and clean'shoot. He admitted to being afraid of the chasing pack, which included Olympic and World champions. He said, "I was nervous but I felt on the last part of the loop, that this is okay, so I tried to enjoy it." The Swedish team was criticized for not being able to explain the reasons why their first few races did not go according to plan. But Ponsiluoma’s gold has cleared away all those cobwebs. "Yeah it feels incredible, and I'm hoping that?it will bring a lot of?energy to the team." He said, "We have great chances to win the next races as well. I hope that we take them." Sturla Laegreid, who snuck in front of Jacquelin to win the silver medal, was able to do so because Jacquelin missed his opportunity. Laegreid said to reporters that it was about doing one thing at a?time" after he won the silver medal. He also received two bronze medals in the sprint and individual races. "Ski one meter, shoot one shot, do my very best right now, and then, at the end, count the results." "I never thought I would be able to catch Martin. He's an extremely strong skier and I know he didn't push himself in the final lap. So he won the gold medal like a true champion." Reporting by Philip O'Connor, Editing by Andrew Cawthorne
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Palestinian officials claim that Israeli airstrikes have killed nine Palestinians in Gaza, including a tent camp.
Palestinian civil defense and health officials reported that nine Palestinians died in Israeli airstrikes on Sunday,?in the northern and southern Gaza Strip. Health officials reported that a 'Israeli airstrike' on a tent camp housing displaced families killed at least four people. Meanwhile, medics confirmed that a second strike in Khan Younis to the south resulted in five deaths. A senior Israeli official confirmed that Israel Defense Forces had struck Hamas terrorists in response to a "violation (on Saturday)" in Beit Haoun, where terrorists emerged through a tunnel located east of the yellow border. Officials called Sunday's strikes "precise", and in accordance with international law. They also said that Hamas has committed "more than six violations" of an October ceasefire. This includes deploying east of "Yellow Line", which was agreed upon under the?"ceasefire agreement to demarcate Israeli and Hamas controlled areas. Israel and Hamas'repeatedly accused one another?of violating a ceasefire agreement, which is a key component of U.S. president Donald Trump's plan for ending the Gaza War. The military announced on Saturday that it had located armed "terrorists", near IDF troops operating in northern Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, it continues?to destroy tunnels underground in the northern Gaza Strip according to the agreement. It reported that it had observed several 'gunmen' emerging from a tunnel, and then 'entering under the rubble of an east of Yellow Line building. The military claimed that Air Force aircraft had "attacked" the building, killing two gunmen. Gaza's health ministry has reported that at least 600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli fire since the Gaza agreement began. Israel reported that four soldiers had been killed in Gaza by militants during the same time period.
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Trump and Netanyahu agreed that the US should pressure Iran to reduce oil sales to China.
Axios, citing U.S. officials who were briefed about the issue, reported that President Donald 'Trump' and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed at a White House meeting on Wednesday to work towards reducing Iran’s oil exports. Axios quoted a senior U.S. government official as saying, "We agreed that we would go full force and exert maximum pressure on Iran, such as regarding Iranian oil sales to China." China's Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Sunday, which was the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday. China is responsible for over 80% of Iran’s oil exports. Iran's oil revenues would be affected if this trade were to decrease. U.S. diplomats and Iranians held nuclear talks last week through Omani mediators in an effort to revive diplomacy. This was after the U.S. President positioned a 'naval flotilla' in the region as the American military prepared for possible sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran. Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Che pan and Ryan Woo, Beijing; Editing and Sergio Non by Diane Craft and Sergio Non
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New Zealand prepares for heavy rain and severe gales following floods that killed one person
New Zealand's forecaster warned Sunday of intensifying heavy rains and severe 'gales' for the country's North Island. This comes a day after flooding that was linked to the death of a single person led to power outages and road collapses, as well as home evacuations. The weather forecaster stated that "a significant low deepens today east of the North Island, bringing severe gales and heavy rain to the eastern, middle, and southern North Island." On its website, the weather service said that the worst of the storm was expected to arrive late Sunday. This would be followed by a gradual easing on Monday. Heavy rains began 'bashing large areas of the country Friday and causing the flooding. The authorities declared a state-of-emergency on Sunday for the Otorohanga District, a hard hit agricultural region with about 10,000 residents, located 180 km south of Auckland, the nation's largest city. On Facebook, the 'Otorohanga district council said that teams of geotechnical engineers "spent last night assessing slips" and checking the structural stability of roads in the area. Powerco reported on its website that 2,452 homes remained without electricity on the North Island. Authorities reported that a man died Saturday in his car, apparently drowned by floodwaters. They also said that 80 people had been evacuated to an emergency center. Images shared on social media showed vast semirural neighborhoods submerged, and sections of road that had collapsed where floodwaters receded. Reporting by Sam McKeith, Sydney Editing Rod Nickel
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Judge rules that Exxon Mobil may sue the California Attorney General for defamation regarding recycling
The federal judge rejected the California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s request to dismiss Exxon Mobil’s lawsuit accusing Bonta of defamation for criticizing Exxon Mobil’s?advanced? plastics recycling initiatives. Bonta claimed that he had immunity from suit because he criticised Exxon while in his official capacity of Attorney General and within the "heartland' of his employment duties. The Beaumont, Texas judge said that whether Bonta criticised Exxon with good faith is a factual question to be decided later. Truncale said he had no jurisdiction to hear the claims made against the Sierra Club, Baykeeper Heal the Bay, and Surfrider Foundation. Bonta's Office did not respond immediately to requests for comment. This campaign of lies aimed at derailing our advanced recycling business has to stop. "We refuse to allow others to attack our reputation and technologies?for financial and political gains," said an Exxon spokesperson in a press release. Exxon is increasingly willing to defend itself against critics who claim that its operations are harmful to the climate or increase greenhouse gas emissions. In January 2025 the company based in the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas sued Bonta, almost four months after California filed a lawsuit accusing Exxon for decades of lying about the limitations on recycling. Exxon manufactures polymers that are used to create single-use plastics. Bonta, a Democrat from California, objected Exxon’s promotion of their advanced recycling technology. This process converts hard-to recycle plastic into fuel. REVIEW SOME CHALLENGING STATEMENTS Exxon alleged that Bonta had made 14 statements in interviews, on-line posts, and other public appearances. Three statements claimed that Exxon’s recycling plan "was not based on truth", that plastic waste "piled up" in Houston, despite recycling efforts and that only 5% of U.S.?plastic?waste was recycled, while the remainder polluted the environment, waters, oceans and wildlife. Two of these statements were taken from an interview. In a 46 page decision, Truncale stated that it "wouldn't be unfair" for the statements to be reviewed as possible defamation, because they clearly involved Exxon or were based on Texas-based sources. The judge stated that Bonta's immunity as an official "depends on whether his statements are objectively false." He added that Bonta made a statement in an email with a link to a fundraising campaign, and that "campaigning was not Bonta’s job." Truncale's appointment to the bench was made in 2019 by Republican president Donald Trump. Jonathan Stempel, New York; David Gregorio, Matthew Lewis and Matthew Lewis.
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Italian PM Meloni offers debt suspension to African states affected by climate shock
Giorgia meloni, the Italian prime minister, said that Italy and their 'African partners' had centered their recent talks on a re-evaluation of the continent's?debt burden. Rome offered countries a chance for them to suspend payments when they are hit by extreme weather events. Meloni, at the end of the second Italy-Africa meeting in Addis Ababa, said: "Today we once again focused on a central issue for?Africa which is debt." "We launched a wide initiative on debt conversion for joint development project. We are adding debt suspension clauses to?this for nations that have been affected by extreme weather events. Meloni will attend the plenary of the 39th meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of?African Union on Saturday in Addis-Abeba. She didn't give any?details about how the suspension mechanism proposed would work, or which states might?take it up. Italy's foreign policy has placed a high priority on cooperation with African nations, notably through its "Mattei Plan," whose goal, according to Rome, is to create long-term partnerships for energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. (Reporting and editing by Tomaszjanowski)
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Mali renews Barrick Mining’s Loulo licence for another 10 years
Mali's military leader said in a Friday statement that the government had approved a draft decree renewing Barrick Mining Loulo's gold mining permit for another 10 years. Mali, Africa's largest gold producer, settled a dispute with Barrick in November over profit-sharing, control and ownership of the Loulo-Gounkoto complex of gold mines after two years' negotiations. The dispute was sparked by 2023 mining codes that increased taxes and increased state stakes in projects. Barrick has agreed to withdraw from the World Bank’s dispute tribunal its arbitration case, while Mali said that it would release all employees of the Canadian company, drop all charges and give operational control to the Canadian miner. Barrick conducted a feasibility study as part of the permit renewal. The study identified economically viable reserves that could support six years of open-pit mining or 16 years of underground mines. Gross annual production is estimated to be 420,920oz, according to the statement. Loulo-Gounkoto, located in western Mali, is the 'largest producer in the country and Barrick's most lucrative mine. It will generate almost $900,000,000 in revenue by 2024. (Reporting and writing by Mali Newsroom; Editing and proofreading by David Gregorio).
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Sources say Valero, a US refiner, will import up to 6 million barrels Venezuelan crude oil in March.
Valero Energy will buy up to 6.5 millions barrels of Venezuelan oil in March for its Gulf Coast refining plants, making it 'the top foreign refiner since the United States captured Nicolas Maduro, in January. Valero is one of the first U.S. oil refiners that resumed imports after the United States signed a landmark $2 billion oil deal with Venezuela's interim government, and started to ease sanctions. If Valero can buy 10 or more cargoes of Venezuelan crude next month, which is equivalent to 210,000 barrels a day, then it will surpass U.S. oil giant Chevron in the United States as the largest refiner. This would be the highest amount of Venezuelan crude oil Valero has processed since the United States sanctioned Venezuela's oil industry in January 2019. Sources told us last month that Chevron, which is the only U.S. oil company producing in Venezuela, will increase its exports to 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) in March from 220,000 in January. Chevron refines about half of its exports in its refineries and sells the remainder to other U.S. refining companies. Valero receives a large share of the Venezuelan oil that Chevron sells to U.S. refining companies. Six sources claim that Chevron will supply Valero most of the oil the refiner plans to import in March. Valero also has negotiated a few?cargoes with trading houses, including Trafigura. Trafigura was the first company authorized by the U.S. Government last month to trade Venezuelan oil alongside Chevron. According to a shipping schedule seen by the. Sources warned that the loading schedules are not finalized, and may still be revised. The sources spoke under condition of anonymity in order to discuss confidential information. Vitol, Trafigura and Trafigura have declined to make any comments. Chevron PDVSA and Chevron did not respond immediately to requests for comments. A spokesperson for Valero referred to remarks made by executive Randy Hawkins following the release of its fourth quarter earnings on January 29, 2019. Hawkins said that Valero is in discussions with Venezuelan oil sellers and expects it to be a large portion of the heavy-crude purchased in February and march. Valero had a long-term agreement with PDVSA to purchase crude oil before U.S. sanctioned. Valero’s total refinery capacity for Venezuelan crude was around 240,000 bpd, before the expansion of its 435,000 bpd Port Arthur, Texas refinery, scheduled to take place in 2023. Hawkins stated that the company expects to now be able to?process a much greater?volume? of Venezuelan crude oil. VENEZUELA IMPORTS RAMP UP The United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated in Caracas that Venezuela's oil exports and production are expected to increase "dramatically" in the next few months. After production cuts were reversed last month, the country's oil output reached 1 million barrels per day (bpd) this month. Exports jumped to 800,000 bpd during January. Wright, NBC News' correspondent on Thursday, said that oil sales in Venezuela under U.S. management have reached $1 billion since Maduro was captured. Another $5 billion will be deposited into a U.S. controlled fund over the next few months. Since January, the United States has issued 'general licenses' authorizing oil exports to Venezuela, fuel supplies, equipment for oil and natural gas production, oilfield extensions, and new investments. According to three sources, Valero is considering purchasing oil directly from PDVSA using the new authorizations. This could allow them to increase their volumes. PDVSA has so far refused to sell to companies that do not have individual U.S. licensing, as there are still questions about what is allowed and what is prohibited, according to sources.
Diamond market is struggling, so Botswana will boost its mining exploration
Bogolo Kenewendo, the Mines Minister, said that Botswana intends to increase mining exploration in order to diversify its economy beyond diamonds.
Long regarded as an African success, the country in Southern Africa has been hard hit by the prolonged decline of the global diamond industry, driven by the economic uncertainty and growing popularity for lab-grown stones. About one third of Botswana’s revenue is generated by diamonds.
Debswana Diamond Company is Botswana’s joint venture with De Beers, which accounts for 90% of country’s diamond sales. The company has no plans to boost production amid a sluggish economy.
Debswana CEO Andrew Motsomi stated that it was not a good idea to burn cash and store up (diamonds).
According to data from the finance ministry, Botswana's stockpile was 12 million carats by the end of December. This is nearly twice the government-allowed inventory of 6.5 millions carats.
U.S.
Kenewendo stated that while diamonds would?remain as the backbone of mining, the government is pushing forward with its plans to expand the mineral base including critical minerals.
She said that a newly formed state-owned exploration firm would be focused on increasing exploration levels.
We were more interested in diamonds and less interested in other valuable minerals. Kenewendo said on the sidelines of a mining conference for Africans in Cape Town that "we're now going to change this". If you have only explored 30% your country, this shows that we are very focused on diamonds.
Investors are a bit hesitant to invest in exploration. She added that you can lose a great deal of money if you explore and don't find anything. We want to make sure that we are armed with the correct data and that we know where everything is so we can decide if we would like to invest in that area.
Botswana has emerged as a copper-mining hotspot and is one of the top diamond producers in the world.
The U.S., and China are competing for copper and cobalt, two critical minerals used in advanced manufacturing.
Kenewendo stated that the U.S. expressed an interest in exploring and mining with Botswana, but talks were still at a very early stage.
She said, "We'll see what happens." "We are just investing in general in the mineral sector." (Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo. Mark Potter (Editing)
(source: Reuters)