Iran and US hit tankers in biggest wave of attacks on shipping since war began

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By Enas Alashray, Idrees Ali and Jana Choukeir Reuters Iran said on Wednesday it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. sank five Iranian oil tankers, in the biggest wave of attacks on shipping by both sides since the start of the six-month-old war. The attacks sent the price of ‌oil surging, with benchmark Brent crude futures breaching $100 a barrel for the first time since July. At least one seafarer aboard a tanker was reported killed and another listed as missing. The ‌incidents follow a month of relative calm, during which the U.S. has sought to pressure Iran through economic means. Iran said it had fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan. Jordan said it intercepted 18 missiles, with the remaining two ​falling harmlessly in unpopulated areas. A U.S. official said all American troops were accounted for. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would sharply escalate its response to any further attacks, and said I...
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Dominican Republic creates state miner to explore for rare earths

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By Sarah Morland Reuters

The Dominican Republic on Tuesday said it will create a state mining firm to explore and exploit the nation’s key mining resources, including rare earth minerals.

The Dominican presidency said in a statement that the state firm, Empresa Minera Dominicana S.A., or Emidom, will explore, exploit and run economic viability studies on the country’s natural resources.

The firm will be able to negotiate contracts and alliances with international firms and it will have a nine-member board, led by the minister of the presidency.

Emidom is also tasked with managing the Avila mining reserve in southern Pedernales province, which borders with Haiti and was in 2018 declared an area to be explored for possible rare earth projects.

Last year the U.S. military, opens new tab said a team of its engineering researchers worked with local authorities in the highlands of Pedernales to evaluate the area’s viability.

The Caribbean nation is home to Canadian firm Barrick Gold’s (ABX.TO), opens new tab Pueblo Viejo, the largest gold mine in Latin America and the Caribbean.



from The Times Of Earth https://ift.tt/PTN7Y26

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