Latest news with #GeologicalSurvey
The Sun
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
5.3-magnitude earthquake strikes central Pakistan, no casualties reported
ISLAMABAD: A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck central Pakistan early Sunday morning, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor occurred at approximately 3:30am local time (2230 GMT), with its epicentre located 60 kilometres north-northeast of Barkhan in Balochistan province. No immediate casualties or damage were reported following the shallow quake. Pakistan lies along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it highly vulnerable to seismic activity. The region's rugged terrain often complicates disaster response efforts. In 2015, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in Pakistan and Afghanistan claimed nearly 400 lives, with relief operations hindered by difficult access. The 2005 Kashmir earthquake, measuring 7.6, was even more devastating, resulting in over 73,000 fatalities and displacing 3.5 million people. Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province, has faced multiple quakes in recent years. A 2021 tremor in Harnai district killed at least 20 people, with landslides delaying rescue efforts.
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Earthquake of 5.1 magnitude rattles northern Iran amid Israel war
Jun 21, 2025 01:56 AM IST A 5.1-magnitude earthquake shook northern Iran on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, as Israel pounded the country with repeated waves of air strikes. State television said the earthquake measured 5.5 and "shook the area around the city of Sorkheh in Semnan province". (Representational) Official news agency IRNA reported no casualties and only "minimal damage". The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) some 37 kilometres (23 miles) southwest of the city of Semnan, the USGS said. State television said the earthquake measured 5.5 and "shook the area around the city of Sorkheh in Semnan province". It said the tremor was also felt in the capital Tehran, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) from Sorkheh.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford CEO says rare earths shortage forced it to halt production
Ford CEO Jim Farley said that a rare earth minerals shortage is hurting production and caused the automaker to temporarily shut down one of its plants last month, according to an interview with Bloomberg TV. Rare earth minerals, which are a set of 17 metallic elements, are integral to automobile production, and enable features like windshield wipers, seat belts and speakers to function. About 90% of the U.S.'s rare earth minerals come from China, the world's largest producer of rare earths, according to data from the Geological Survey. China has leveraged its grip on rare earths and their widespread utility amid a trade war with the U.S. In April, Beijing announced greater export controls on the materials — a sticking point in tariff negotiations — along with other retaliatory trade measures. The controls require businesses to apply for a license to export rare earths, which U.S. automakers say they have been struggling to secure. Earlier this week, on June 11, following two days of discussions in London, U.S. and Chinese negotiators struck an agreement under which Beijing would resume regular exports of rare earths to the U.S. "The centrality of rare earth export restrictions to the trade deal underscores the criticality of minerals to the U.S. economy as well as the severity of the chokehold Beijing holds on global supply chains," policy experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote in a research note. "Hand-to-mouth" Farley said the slowing flow of the critical minerals into the U.S. has presented a challenge for Ford. "It's day to day," he told Bloomberg TV Friday. "We have had to shut down factories. It's hand-to-mouth right now." Ford did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment. Ford Chief Financial Officer Sherry House addressed disruptions caused by new restrictions on rare earth minerals from China at a June conference. "There are many components that rare earth minerals are in. And any of those that are coming from China require you to now go through export control," she said. "And so there's an additional layer of administrative process that has to happen." The process isn't reliable, she added, noting that sometimes it goes "really smoothly," while other times applications are not approved quickly. "Most frequently, it goes through; it just may take more time," she said. For now, Ford is able to manage the cumbersome process, House said, but added that it has the potential to become a "larger issue for us." Farley also told the outlet that he is optimistic about the developments in trade talks between the U.S. and China, and hopes that rare earth supply constraints will ease soon. He added that Ford is awaiting approval of applications with China's Ministry of Commerce to export more rare earths. "We have applications into MOFCOM and they are being approved one at a time," Farley told Bloomberg TV. Video shows Air India plane crashing in Ahmedabad Air India plane crashes shortly after takeoff, carrying more than 240 people Israel ready to launch operation into Iran, U.S. officials say
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Ford CEO says rare earths shortage forced it to shut factory
What is samarium, the rare earth element at the center of U.S.-China trade talks? Ford CEO Jim Farley said that a rare earth minerals shortage is hurting production and caused the automaker to temporarily shut down one of its plants last month, according to an interview with Bloomberg TV. Rare earth minerals, which are a set of 17 metallic elements, are integral to automobile production, and enable features like windshield wipers, seat belts and speakers to function. About 90% of the U.S.'s rare earth minerals come from China, the world's largest producer of rare earths, according to data from the Geological Survey. China has leveraged its grip on rare earths and their widespread utility amid a trade war with the U.S. In April, Beijing announced greater export controls on the materials — a sticking point in tariff negotiations — along with other retaliatory trade measures. The controls require businesses to apply for a license to export rare earths, which U.S. automakers say they have been struggling to secure. Earlier this week, on June 11, following two days of discussions in London, U.S. and Chinese negotiators struck an agreement under which Beijing would resume regular exports of rare earths to the U.S. "The centrality of rare earth export restrictions to the trade deal underscores the criticality of minerals to the U.S. economy as well as the severity of the chokehold Beijing holds on global supply chains," policy experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote in a research note. "Hand-to-mouth" Farley said the slowing flow of the critical minerals into the U.S. has presented a challenge for Ford. "It's day to day," he told Bloomberg TV Friday. "We have had to shut down factories. It's hand-to-mouth right now." Ford did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment. Ford CFO Sherry House addressed disruptions caused by new restrictions on rare earth minerals from China at a June conference. "There are many components that rare earth minerals are in. And any of those that are coming from China require you to now go through export control," she said. "And so there's an additional layer of administrative process that has to happen." The process isn't reliable, she added, noting that sometimes it goes "really smoothly," while other times applications are not approved quickly. "Most frequently, it goes through; it just may take more time," she said. For now, Ford is able to manage the cumbersome process, House said, but added that it has the potential to become a "larger issue for us." Farley also told the outlet that he is optimistic about the developments in trade talks between the U.S. and China, and hopes that rare earth supply constraints will ease soon. He added that Ford is awaiting approval of applications with China's Ministry of Commerce to export more rare earths. "We have applications into MOFCOM and they are being approved one at a time," Farley told Bloomberg TV.
12-06-2025
- Science
Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano erupts for the 25th time since December. Lava reaches over 330 feet
HILO, Hawaii -- One of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea on Hawaii's Big Island, began spewing lava from the north vent Wednesday, the latest event in an ongoing eruption that began almost six months ago. Lava fountains reached heights of more than 330 feet (100 meters) and feeding multiple lava streams. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the fountains were likely to go higher. The latest event was preceded by gas-pistoning, in which gas accumulates at a lava column's top within a vent, on Tuesday. The observatory said this process causes the lava surface to rise or piston. 'Eventually, gas escapes as splatter/lava is erupted, and lave drains back into the vent,' the observatory wrote on its Facebook page. These were occurring up to 10 times an hour, but increased in intensity until a small, sustained dome fountain began to feed flows to the crater floor a day later. It is the 25th eruptive episode since the volcano on the southeastern part of the island began erupting Dec. 23. It has been pausing and resuming since.
