2024-10-19 18:40
BELIZE CITY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Storm Nadine weakened to a tropical depression on Saturday as it chugged across Guatemala, after dumping heavy rain and bringing strong winds to neighboring Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The storm is expected to swirl across Guatemala and into Mexico's southeastern states of Chiapas and Tabasco through early Sunday, a forecast from the U.S. National Hurricane Center showed. Nadine, moving west at about 13 mph (21 kph), was blowing maximum winds that had slowed to near 35 mph (56 kph), the NHC said. In Guatemala, the nation's disaster agency released a video of a river swollen with rain, threatening to spill its banks. It recommended some residents self-evacuate, while others should reinforce their roofs, doors and windows. Earlier in the day, strong winds were blowing as far north as 195 miles from Nadine's center. The NHC's tropical storm warning had stretched from Belize City to Mexican beach resorts Cancun and Cozumel. Cancun's beaches were empty on Saturday as tourists were advised to stay indoors. The storm system is expected to dump four to eight inches (102 mm to 204 mm) of rain through Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, according to the NHC, with some isolated areas expected to receive more than 12 inches (305 mm) through Tuesday. In Belize, low-lying bridges and sections of the Coastal Highway south of Belize City were at risk of being submerged, according to the nation's principal hydrologist. Nadine began lashing the Central American nation with rains late on Friday night, with showers and thunderstorms bringing up to 2 inches (51 mm) of rain, Belize's chief meteorologist Ronald Gordon told Reuters. Popular tourist destinations off mainland Belize - including San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker - were also likely facing storm damage. Nadine will likely continue to weaken through Saturday and should dissipate over southern Mexico on Sunday, the NHC said. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/tropical-storm-nadine-sweeps-across-belize-dumps-rains-mexicos-yucatan-2024-10-19/
2024-10-19 18:15
Oct 19 (Reuters) - Cuba issued a hurricane warning for its northern coast regarding Hurricane Oscar, which is forecast to make landfall in Cuba on Sunday night, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Saturday. The warning was for the provinces of Holguin and Guantanamo, according to the latest NHC advisory. The government of the Bahamas has also issued a warning for Oscar, which formed east of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the NHC said in an earlier advisory on Saturday. A hurricane warning was also in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Oscar is about 70 miles (115 km) west of Grand Turk Island and about 365 miles (590 km) east of Camaguey city in Cuba, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (136 kph), according to the NHC. Heavy rainfall from Oscar will lead to flash flooding along with potential mudslides across portions of eastern Cuba, especially within the Sierra Maestra mountain range, the latest advisory said. Hurricane Oscar is also expected to produce a dangerous storm surge for portions of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas on Saturday night, and along the north shore of Cuba later on Sunday, according to the NHC. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/hurricane-warning-issued-oscar-bahamas-nhc-says-2024-10-19/
2024-10-19 16:49
ABIDJAN, Oct 19 (Reuters) - London-listed Endeavour Mining (EDV.L) , opens new tab said on Saturday it had a goal of producing about 200,000 ounces of gold per year from 2025 from its second gold mine in Ivory Coast. Lafigue Mine, inaugurated on Saturday, is located about 500 kilometres (km) northeast of the commercial capital Abidjan, in the Dabakala region. It began gold production in early August and is expected to produce between 90,000 and 100,000 ounces by the end of the year, the company said. In a statement, Endeavour said it had invested 250 billion CFA francs ($415 million) in the project, which it expects to have a minimum mine life expectancy of 13 years. It said the mine could contribute more than 380 billion CFA francs in taxes and revenue to the West African nation. "With Lafigue, we are shaping the future of Endeavour in Cote d'Ivoire," Endeavour CEO Ian Cockerill said at the inauguration ceremony. "Our partnership with Cote d'Ivoire, which already features two operating mines, Lafigue and Ity, is a growing one." He cited the Tanda-Iguela site, discovered in 2022, where exploration is ongoing, and which he said could become another "flagship asset" for Endeavour. Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, is seeking to develop its long-neglected mining sector to diversify its income streams. Mines Minister Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly in June told Reuters that the country's gold output could reach at least 100 metric tons per year within the next five years. Other mining companies operating in Ivory Coast include Barrick Gold (ABX.TO) , opens new tab , Perseus Mining (PRU.AX) , opens new tab and Roxgold. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/endeavour-mining-targets-200000-ozyear-gold-ivory-coast-mine-2024-10-19/
2024-10-19 13:00
NEW DELHI, Oct 19 (Reuters) - India's trade minister on Saturday said the country has sought a critical mineral partnership agreement with the United States as he hopes for talks on a broader trade pact between the two nations. "I had suggested that critical mineral MoU (memorandum of understanding) to be converted to a critical mineral partnership and become a starting point to become an FTA (Free Trade Agreement)," Piyush Goyal told reporters at a press briefing in New Delhi. Earlier this month, India and U.S. signed an initial pact to cooperate on strengthening supply chains in the two countries for lithium, cobalt and other critical minerals used in electric vehicles and clean energy applications. The MoU fell far short of a full critical minerals trade deal that would allow India to benefit from the $7,500 U.S. electric vehicle tax credit. Minerals-focused trade deals , opens new tab are one way that the U.S. President Joe Biden's administration hopes to open up access for trusted allies to a $7,500 per vehicle EV tax credit introduced in last year's climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/india-seeks-critical-mineral-agreement-with-us-hopes-trade-pact-minister-says-2024-10-19/
2024-10-19 11:28
BARCELONA, Oct 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand's sailors docked out to a Maori dance, rousing chants and a traditional war canoe on Saturday, shaking hands with excited supporters as they set off for an America's Cup showdown with their British challengers off Barcelona. A huge crowd, mostly wearing New Zealand's signature black kit, crammed the dock in the Mediterranean port while a flotilla of boats clustered around "Taihoro" as the holders' AC75 monohull was towed out towards a sparkling sea. Skipper Ben Ainslie's British crew were also given a big send-off, with blaring horns and cheers, as "Britannia" followed the New Zealanders out through the harbour under blue skies. Britain are hoping to stem a New Zealand tide, with the Kiwis on matchpoint with a 6-2 lead, with two races scheduled. The only thing that was missing for what could be the last day of racing in the first-to-seven-points series was wind, with the huge New Zealand flag drooping from the crane at their base. Regatta Director Iain Murray said that forecasts showed "a glimpse of life" and the possibility of an increasing breeze ahead of racing, which is due to start at 14:10 local time (1200 GMT). "Hopefully, this sea breeze will get strength and build," said Murray, adding that Sunday's outlook was similar. If officials decide that there is not enough wind, races will be pushed back to the following day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/sports/americas-cup-teams-await-sea-breeze-matchpoint-clash-2024-10-19/
2024-10-19 01:05
SYDNEY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Beaches in Sydney re-opened on Saturday for swimmers after authorities cleared thousands of black pollution balls washed ashore, which testing found to be formed from chemicals similar to those in cosmetics and cleaning products. Around 2,000 of the mystery black balls, some golf ball-sized, had washed onto beaches across Sydney since Tuesday, forcing the closure of eight beaches, including the iconic Bondi Beach, and a massive clean-up operation, amid fears they were highly toxic. "Based on advice from the Environment Protection Authority, we can now confirm the balls are made up of fatty acids, chemicals consistent with those found in cleaning and cosmetic products, mixed with some fuel oil," said New South Wales Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings in a statement. He added the balls, which continued to appear on Friday in fewer numbers, are not harmful to health when left on the sand, but should not be touched. The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority said laboratory testing was continuing, to try to determine where the balls came from. "It is still somewhat of a mystery and may take a few more days to determine origin," said EPA Executive Director Stephen Beaman. Sydney's ocean beaches, famed for golden sand and clean water, draw tourists from around the globe. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/sydneys-mystery-toxic-beach-balls-are-cosmetic-cleaning-product-waste-2024-10-19/
