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Nigeria vows to combat extremism following Trump's addition of nation to watchlist
The Nigerian Government on Saturday pledged to continue fighting violent extremism, and expressed hope that Washington would remain an ally. President Donald Trump had added the West African country to a U.S. Watch List over what he called threats to Christianity. The Federal Government of Nigeria continues to defend its citizens regardless of their race, religion, or creed. "Like America, Nigeria cannot help but celebrate our diversity as it is our greatest strength," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release. The ministry said that Nigeria is a country of God-fearing people who respect tolerance, faith, diversity, and inclusion in accordance with international rules. Trump announced on Friday that he would add Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producing and most populous nation, to a list of "Countries Of Particular Concern", a group of countries the U.S. believes have violated religious freedom. The list also includes China Myanmar, North Korea Russia and Pakistan. Joe Biden, the Democratic successor to the Republican U.S. president, removed the country from the U.S. State Department's list in 2021. "Christianity faces an existential danger in Nigeria. The killing of thousands of Christians is a daily occurrence. "Radical Islamists have been responsible for this massacre," he said in a post on social media last Friday, without providing any details. Nigeria is a nation with more than 200 ethnicities that practice Christianity, Islam, and traditional religions. It has a history of peaceful coexistence, and mosques and churches are scattered throughout its cities. It also has a history of violent clashes between groups. Religious differences can sometimes be conflated with other faultlines, such as ethnic divides or conflicts over land and water. Since 15 years ago, Boko Haram, an extremist Islamist group, has terrorized the northeastern part of Nigeria. This insurgency has claimed tens and thousands of lives, mainly Muslims. Trump asked the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee also to investigate the issue and provide a report to him. In the early part of this year, a U.S. subcommittee conducted a hearing about Christian murders in Nigeria. In a Friday X-post, Tom Cole, the chairman of the Appropriations committee, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole said that the designation "sends a clear message: The U.S. won't ignore Christian persecution." Reporting by Doina and Susan Heavey, in Washington; and Camillus Eboh, in Abuja. Editing by MacDonald Dzirutwe & Andrea Ricci.
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Scientists attempt to prove link between Amazon Gold Mining and disability in babies
Indigenous women in the Amazon say they are afraid of getting pregnant. The rivers that were once the lifeblood for their people are now contaminated with mercury due to illegal gold mining. This poses a threat to the unborn children. Alessandra Korap, a leader from the Munduruku tribe, said that "breast milk is no more reliable." The family of Rany Ketlen, aged three, lives in Sai Cinza a Munduruku village surrounded by illegal mining. They struggle to understand why Rany is unable to lift her head or suffer from muscle spasms. Scientists could have an answer soon. Rany is among at least 36 children in the area who have neurological disorders that cannot be explained by genetic testing, according to the preliminary results of a study on the effects of mercury contamination. Scientists have warned about the dangers that mercury poses to Indigenous children living in the Amazon. However, no study has established a causal relationship between disabilities and these communities. This study could soon establish this link. Eat the fish poisoned by mercury or go hungry. Rosielton Saw is Rany's dad. He has been a miner in their village, following his father Rosenildo, for many years. The older man, sitting in the one-bedroom wooden house of the family, said that he was aware that the mercury the family used was harmful. Rosenildo Saw stated that mining 30 grams of gold a week is "enough" to sustain oneself. Surubim is a carnivorous, mercury-accumulating fish. The family eats it regularly. Rany Ketlen drinks the broth because she has severe swallowing issues. Recently, health officials from the government have reported that dozens of patients in other parts of the region suffer from similar disorders. A lack of testing and medical care have made it difficult to get a complete picture of the issue or determine the exact cause. Researchers are now collecting data about neurological disorders that have been linked to mercury poisoning. These range from acute brain malformations to memory problems, and will be concluded by 2026. Scientists involved in this latest, unpublished study, supported by Brazil's top public health institute, say that the main suspect is mercury, which seeps into waterways from miners who use it to bind the tiny specks gold they extract from riverbanks. This is a largely illegal trade fueled by record high prices for precious metal. Mercury has contaminated the river fish, a staple of Indigenous communities, and it has accumulated at alarmingly large levels in placentas and breast milk, as well as offspring, and is often more than twice or three times higher than the threshold that pregnant women should be concerned about. Zildomar Munuruku, chief of Zildomar and also a nurse said that despite the advice from health officials, he could not tell his people to stop consuming fish. He said, "If we follow their rules we will starve." MERCURY WILL LINGER EVEN IF MINING STOPS. Next month, world leaders and diplomats will gather in the Amazon to attend the United Nations Climate Summit, also known as COP30. The Brazilian organizers called it "Forest COP" to focus global attention on threats facing tropical rainforests, their inhabitants and illegal mining in the region. Since he took office again in 2023, Brazilian President Luiz-Inacio Lula Da Silva has forced thousands of Indigenous miners from their lands. Mercury is not broken down by air, water or soil. This causes a long-lasting health crisis. The Health Ministry released a statement saying that the Brazilian government had increased monitoring of mercury levels within the Munduruku Indigenous Territory. It also trained public health officials on how to recognize early signs of Mercury poisoning. Paulo Basta is a researcher with the public health institute Fiocruz who has been studying mercury contamination in Indigenous peoples for over three decades. The new data, papers and interviews reviewed by indicate that the humanitarian crisis caused by illegal mining in the Amazon will have lasting consequences for the current and future generations. In a 2021 study, Basta and colleagues found that 10 out of 15 mothers in three Munduruku village villages tested had high mercury levels. In a previous study, 12 out of 13 Yanomami villagers where mining was prevalent had dangerous levels of mercury in their bloodstream. Basta's team collected nearly all 546 cases registered in the government databases as of March 2025. Basta stated, "That is just the tip." Tens of thousands people live in the Munduruku Yanomami and Kayapo territory. It is not easy to prove causation. Basta's research team is currently working on a study that will provide the missing piece of the puzzle: proof showing mercury causes disabilities. They are testing babies in their first year of life by following 176 women during pregnancy. The researchers' preliminary findings showed that in Sai Cinza where Rany Ketlen lives with her family, mercury levels were five times higher on average for mothers than what the Brazilian Health Ministry considers to be safe, and three times as high for babies. Raylene Ketlen, Rany's one-year old sister, is among them. She has yet to show any symptoms. Cleidiane Carrvalho is a nurse and a former researcher who has spent years trying to link researchers with sick Indigenous children. She was worried that without their studies, the crisis would be "silenced and neglected forever." It has been difficult to prove a causal connection between mercury contamination and health problems. Researchers at Fiocruz found that Indigenous communities are often lacking in basic health care and vulnerable to infectious diseases. These can all cause neurological disorders. In small Indigenous communities, marriages between close cousins are more common, and can lead to genetic disorders. The 36 patients without inherited genetic disorders are likely to have mercury poisoning, but this does not exclude other causes, according to Fernando Kok, geneticist and Fiocruz researcher at the University of Sao Paulo. The tests that detect mercury in the body are only snapshots of what a person ate recently, and cannot be used to prove a previous contamination as a source of neurological issues. Kok stated, "It is a perfect crime because it leaves no sign." (Reporting and editing by Brad Haynes, Claudia Parsons and Adriano Machado; reporting by Ricardo Brito and Manuela Andreoni)
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Amman Mineral, an Indonesian copper miner, is one step closer to obtaining export permits
Amman Mineral Internasional, a copper miner in Indonesia, said Saturday that the Indonesian energy ministry had endorsed the export of 480,000 dry metric tonnes of concentrate. The recommendation is valid for six-months from October 31. Amman Mineral requires the support of the Trade Ministry to obtain an export permit. The ministry said that Amman has not yet applied for one. Amman, in a press release, said that the return of copper concentrate exports had allowed it to avoid overloading its storage facilities. It added that this would allow mining to continue. Indonesia has been banning the export of copper concentrates, raw minerals and other raw materials since mid-2023 to encourage domestic processing. Amman, however, was permitted to export up until December 2024. By that date, it was expected to have commissioned a smelter which would process the concentrates into copper casthodes used in making wires, cables, and electronic devices. The smelter temporarily halted operations in July and August of this year due to damage to its flash-converting furnace and sulphuric acids plant units. Amman added that repairs could be completed in the first half 2026. The smelter was already partially operational. (Reporting and editing by Muralikumar Aantharaman; Bernadette Cristina, Stanley Widianto)
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Japan’s KEPCO Buys Majority Stake in Ireland’s Simply Blue Energy
Japan’s Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) has signed a share subscription agreement with Ireland’s Simply Blue Group’s offshore wind development arm, Simply Blue Energy OSW (SBE OSW).The strategic investment marks KEPCO’s first investment involving management participation in an offshore wind developer.KEPCO will acquire a majority stake in SBE OSW through its wholly owned subsidiary, KPIC Netherlands BV.Simply Blue Energy OSW is actively engaged in multiple offshore wind projects across Europe and elsewhere and possesses extensive experience and expertise in offshore wind development from the early stages of project formation.With KEPCO’s investment, SBE OSW aims to accelerate the expansion of its offshore wind portfolio. “This investment represents a pivotal moment for us at Simply Blue Energy OSW Ltd. The support from KEPCO provides the strength and resources needed to scale our operations and advance our offshore wind initiatives. Together, we are poised to deliver significant contributions to the clean energy transition,” said Hugh Kelly, Co-Founder and CEO, Simply Blue Group.“We are honored to embark on a partnership with Simply Blue Energy, a developer possessing a pioneering spirit and extensive expertise in the field of offshore wind power. Through this collaboration, we aim to further advance offshore wind development for both companies and contribute to achieving a carbon-neutral society,” added Toru Kuwahara, Executive Vice President, and General Manager of Global EX Division of KEPCO.
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Sources say that two more east Texas refineries have returned to normal operation.
People familiar with the plant's operations said that Motiva Enterprises’ 640,500 barrels per day (bpd), Port Arthur, Texas refinery, along with two other refineries in the east Texas Gulf Coast, were now operating normally following repairs. Sources at both plants say that the Motiva refinery in Louisiana and Valero Energy’s Port Arthur refinery with a capacity of 380,000 bpd suffered multiple malfunctions due to a loss of nitrogen gas. Sources familiar with the operations of the plant said that the TotalEnergies Port Arthur refinery, which produces 238,000 bpd, suffered a boiler failure on October 26. This caused the refinery's steam supply to be cut off. Steam is needed both for the production of electrical power and the refining of crude. Marie Maitre, spokesperson for TotalEnergies, declined to comment on the operations of the refinery. No comment was received from Motiva or Valero's spokespersons. Sources claim that the Motiva refinery restarted its units on October 27, after the nitrogen supply was interrupted. Sources claim that Valero's refinery units restarted Tuesday. Sources said that TotalEnergies units were operating again by mid-week. Sources said that TotalEnergies' disruption occurred just days after the refinery completed a two-month planned overhaul. TotalEnergies started the overhaul of the 35,000 bpd Continuous Catalytic Reformer (CCR) in mid-August. The CCR, three diesel hydrotreaters that have a combined throughput capacity of 84,000 bpd and a naphtha hydratreater with a throughput rate 42,000 bpd along with an sulfur block and the 40,000 bpd ACU-2 CDU with its 51,000 bpd Vacuum Distillation Unit-1 (VDU-1 (VDU), ACU-2 was closed, but ACU-1 CDU continued to operate at 150,000 bpd. CDUs work at atmospheric pressure to break crude oil down into feedstock for other refinery units. The VDUs are also capable of converting crude oil to feedstocks but they operate under vacuum pressure. Reformers add octane boosting components to unfinished gas by converting refining waste. Hydrotreaters are used to remove sulfur from motor oils and feedstocks in order to comply with U.S. Environmental rules. Reporting by Erwin Seba, Editing by Muralikumar Aantharaman and Himani Skar
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As tensions in Venezuela rise, US Senators are seeking answers about the 'anti-drug strategy'
The Republican and Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee stated on Friday that the Trump administration has yet to provide any details about its operations against the drug cartels or their legal basis. Since early September, U.S. airstrikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people. This has caused tension between Washington DC and Caracas. In a rare instance of bipartisanship on the strikes, Republican senator Roger Wicker and Democrat Jack Reed stated in a joint statement that they had not received the information requested from the administration regarding its strategy to combat drug cartels. Reed of Rhode Island is the top Democrat in the committee that oversees the U.S. Military. Wicker of Mississippi is its chairman. The Trump administration claims that the targeted boats were carrying drugs without proving it or explaining publicly the legal justification of the decision. Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has also ordered an extensive military buildup on the Caribbean. In a letter dated September 23, Wicker and Reed stated that they had requested "Execute Orders", relating to anti-drug trafficking activities. In a second letter dated October 6, Wicker and Reed asked for any written opinions regarding the legal foundation for the anti-drug trafficking operations. The legislators said that they did not receive the requested information before Friday. Kingsley Wilson, Pentagon Press secretary, responded in an email when asked for a comment: "Several of these documents were made available yesterday to the Chairman, Ranking Member, and their respective staffs." The Department also provided its fourth bipartisan update on these operations yesterday to Senate staff. Trump denied that he would consider strikes in Venezuela on Friday, contradicting his own remarks from last week amid increasing expectations that Washington could soon expand its operations relating to drug trafficking. (Reporting and editing by Daniel Wallis, Clarence Fernandez, and Patricia Zengerle)
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Prince William's trip to Brazil leaves the Andrew scandal in the past
Prince William will be in Brazil next week to receive his multi-million dollar environmental prize. He hopes to divert attention from the scandal surrounding his uncle Andrew to the causes of the royal family. William, the British heir, will make his first Latin American visit and will see some of Rio de Janeiro’s most famous sights. The goal is to bring the attention of the public to a number of environmental projects in advance the award ceremony for the Prince's Earthshot Prize. The visit came just days after King Charles stripped Andrew of his princely title and expelled him from his mansion. He also banned his brother from public life in an effort to protect the royal brand against any further damage caused by Andrew's links to Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offenders. FOCUS IS THE EARTHSHOT PRICE William's three-day visit will be devoted to his main environmental philanthropic cause. This is to find innovative ways to combat climate changes and award five winners with 1 million pounds each ($1.3 million). William will visit Sugarloaf Mountain, the Maracana Soccer Stadium, the Christ The Redeemer Statue and the Copacabana Beach where he will be playing volleyball, according to a Kensington Palace spokesperson. Kate, his wife, is currently in remission following cancer treatment and will not join him. South America is not a common destination for British royals, who prefer to travel to Europe or other foreign lands where they are the head of state. Charles has not been to Brazil, Latin America or South America since 2009. The Earthshot events this year will be held a week prior to the United Nations COP30 Climate Summit, which will also take place in Brazil. The prince will be attending in place of his dad. Earthshot Prize CEO Jason Knauf said that the city was the ideal place to host the biggest and best Earthshot yet. The winners will announced on the 5th of November at a ceremony that will include performances by Australian popstar Kylie Minogue, and Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil. The summit will bring together more than 1,000 world leaders, including global mayors, world-leading scientists and some of the biggest philanthropists. (Reporting and editing by Andrew Heavens; Michael Holden)
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Ukraine condemns attack on vital power substations for nuclear plants
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned on Friday what they called Russian attacks on critical substations that supply external power to Ukraine's nuclear reactors. A ministry statement released late Friday stated that Russia had carried out "targeted attacks" on these substations. It added that "Deliberate attacks on civilian energy installations which directly affect the safe operations of nuclear facilities bear the hallmarks and are a grave breach of international humanitarian laws." The ministry referred back to a Thursday statement by the U.N. nuclear monitor, the International Atomic Energy Agency. It reported that military activity had "caused damage to critical substations for nuclear safety and security" in Ukraine. IAEA reported that incidents near two nuclear power plants, South Ukraine and Khmelnitskyi, led to each plant losing its external power line. The IAEA added that a third station at Rivne was forced to reduce the power at two of its reactors. The incident did not indicate which party might be behind it. Russia and Ukraine accuse one another of military activities that threaten the safety of Ukraine's four nuclear power plants, especially Zaporizhzhia. In the first weeks of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces captured the Zaporizhzhia Plant, Europe's biggest with six reactors. In its statement, the IAEA referred to ongoing efforts to connect the second of the two external powerlines to the Zaporizhzhia Plant. This is vital for keeping nuclear fuel cool and preventing meltdowns. The plant does not generate any power right now. The IAEA and the Ukrainian statements were not met with any Russian response. The Zaporizhzhia Plant's external links were unavailable for 30 days between September and October. This forced officials to use emergency diesel generators. Kyiv and Moscow both blamed each other for the outage, and both claimed to have disrupted efforts to fix it. (Reporting and editing by Ron Popeski)
Nigeria's Dangote refining plant ramps up production in response to new fuel import duties
Nigeria's Dangote Petroleum Refinery is increasing production to meet the national demand for petrol and diesel, said it on Saturday. This comes after the government approved an import tariff on fuel that aims to protect domestic production. In a memo released this week, the government stated that the continent's largest oil producer, Nigeria, has been working to reduce its dependence on imported fuel. The 15% import duty is intended to protect recent multi-billion dollar investments in domestic refinery. Anthony Chiejina is a Dangote Group spokesperson. The company spent $20 billion on the construction of the 650,000 barrels per day refinery. He said that the new tariff initiative will discourage the dumping substandard fuel products. He said that the Dangote Refinery is currently increasing output. The refinery launched last year, but it has been struggling to compete with cheap imports.
Chiejina stated that "our refinery is currently loading more than 45 million litres per day of petrol, and 25 million litres per day of diesel which exceeds Nigeria’s demand."
The refinery, which began producing petrol in September 2024 has been able to reduce the price of fuel at the pump and eradicate shortages. Local fuel traders claim that the price cuts are part of an undercutting strategy.
They warned that if the measure was poorly implemented it could cripple the fuel importation, create a monopoly in refining, and make Nigeria vulnerable to fuel shortages on the long-term.
Billy Harry, the head of Nigeria's Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, said that if importers of petroleum products are not managed properly, they will lose their business.
He added: "If local refineries do not have proper regulation, monopoly can harm the market."
(source: Reuters)