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☆ Diamond markets are tumbling because Americans love lab-grown stones
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A surge in demand for lab-grown stones has weakened a key corner of the diamond market, Bloomberg reported. But synthetic stones are taking a bigger share of the diamond market. Lab-grown stones are faster-made, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly alternative to mined diamonds. Five years ago, synthetic diamonds sold at a 20% discount to natural stones. "Ultimately," he said, "they are different products and the finite and rarity of natural diamonds is a different proposition."

Persons: De Beers, Paul Rowley, Rowley Organizations: Bloomberg, Diamond, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, India

[1/4] Vehicles leave Yellowknife on the only highway in or out of the city after a state of emergency was declared due to the proximity of a wildfire, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada August 16, 2023. REUTERS/Pat Kane Acquire Licensing RightsAug 17 (Reuters) - Canadian fire crews battled early on Thursday to prevent wildfires from reaching the northern city of Yellowknife, where all 20,000 residents are leaving after an evacuation order was declared. Water bombers flew low over Yellowknife as thick smoke blanketed the capital of the vast and sparsely populated Northwest Territories. This is Canada's worst-ever wildfire season with more than 1,000 active fires burning across the country, including 265 in the Northwest Territories. The deadline for residents to leave Yellowknife is noon local time on Friday (1800 GMT).

Persons: Pat Kane, Justin Trudeau, Rebecca Alty, Alty, Mike Westwick, Diamond, De Beers, Lytton, Divya Rajagopal, Devika Syamnath, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Vehicles, REUTERS, Water, Territories, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, CBC, Thomson Locations: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, Territories, Alberta, Hay, Fort McMurray, British Columbia, Toronto

☆ Canada wildfires: what are the causes and when will it end?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Here are some questions and answers about Canada's wildfires, which have charred millions of hectares and polluted the air in that nation and the U.S.WHAT PARTS OF CANADA HAVE WILDFIRES HIT? Wildfires are common in Canada's western provinces, but this year the eastern provinces of Nova Scotia, Quebec and parts of Ontario have also reeled from out-of-control wildfires. This week, the focus returned to the west, as wildfires burned about 16 km (10 miles) northwest of Yellowknife, the capital of the vast, sparsely populated Northwest Territories. As of Wednesday, there were 1,054 active wildfires in Canada, including 230 in the Northwest Territories and 669 deemed out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. Widespread spring fires across the whole of Canada are also unusual, and research shows fire seasons across North America are getting longer.

Persons: Pat Kane, Mike Westwick, De Beers, Lytton, Fort Smith, Justin Trudeau, Ellen Whitman, David Ljunggren, Divya Rajagopal, Ismail Shakil, Rod Nickel, Jonathan Oatis, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Reuters Graphics, Northwest, Enterprise, Northwest Territories, Diamond, Atlantic Canada, Canadian, Canadian Forest Service, Thomson Locations: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, U.S, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest, Hay, Fort McMurray, United States, Fort, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, East Coast, New York, Washington, Chicago, North America

☆ Diamond Giant De Beers to Let Botswana Keep Half of Production
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Alexandra Wexler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/diamond-giant-de-beers-to-let-botswana-keep-half-of-production-110d3570

Persons: Dow Jones Locations: botswana

☆ Why Do Mosquitoes Like Me So Much?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Mosquitoes seek out carbon dioxide (which in part is why they’re so good at finding us), and the more we exhale, the more carbon dioxide we send into the air, inviting bugs our way. If you were to do a vigorous workout outside, you might breathe more heavily and exhale more carbon dioxide, which might usher in mosquitoes, Dr. Potter said. Sweat sends a powerful signal to mosquitoes too, Dr. McBride added — particularly sweat that’s lingered for a few hours, mixing with bacteria on our skin. And if you’ve had a few beach-side beers or happy hour margaritas, you might also emit some alcohol in your sweat, Dr. Bazzoli said, which can lure mosquitoes in. Some fragrant personal care products such as certain perfumes and scented soaps and lotions (including sunscreens) can attract mosquitoes, Dr. Bazzoli said, so if you’ll be spending time outdoors when mosquitoes are around, try to use products that are fragrance-free, and consider skipping the perfume completely.

Persons: Christopher Bazzoli, haven’t, Bazzoli, —, Potter, Sweat, McBride, you’ve Organizations: Cleveland Clinic, Research

☆ Botswana, De Beers agree 'in principle' to new diamond sales deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Brian Benza | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An interim sales agreement is in place until the new pact is finalised, the two partners said in a statement. "The transformational new agreements between Botswana and De Beers reflect the aspirations of the people of Botswana, propels both Botswana and De Beers forward, and underpins the future of their Debswana joint venture through long-term investment," the statement said. Botswana, the world's second largest diamond producer after Russia by output, supplies 70% of De Beers' rough diamonds. Diamond sales, almost entirely from Debswana, account for two-thirds of Botswana's foreign currency receipts and a fifth of its gross domestic product. Debswana's diamond sales hit a record $4.6 billion last year, compared to $3.5 billion in 2021.

Persons: De Beers, Lefoko Moagi, Debswana, De, Okavango Diamond, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Masisi, Felix Njini, Nelson Banya, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Botswana Mines, De Beers, De, HB Antwerp, Thomson Locations: Botswana, Russia, Nairobi, Harare, Nilutpal

July 1 (Reuters) - Botswana and De Beers Group have agreed a new diamond sales deal in which the African country, the world's No. 1 diamond producer by value, gradually increases the share of rough stones it gets from their joint venture Debswana over the next decade to 50%, the government and the mining company said on Saturday. The Botswana government and De Beers said they had agreed on a 10-year sales deal for Debswana's rough diamond production through to 2033, and on a 25-year Debswana mining licence valid until 2054. The Botswana-De Beers agreement allows the partners to advance the investment required to secure Debswana's position as one of the world's leading gem producers, De Beers said. Botswana, where De Beers has been present for 50 years, is heavily reliant on diamonds, with two-thirds of its foreign currency receipts coming from mining, sales and ancillary activities linked to the precious stone.

Persons: De Beers, Debswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, weren't, Felix Njini, Promit Mukherjee, Nelson Banya, Leslie Adler, David Holmes Organizations: De Beers Group, Okavango, Thomson Locations: Botswana, Debswana, pula, Nairobi, Harare, Nilutpal

☆ Botswana mining growth seen flat amid dim diamond outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GABORONE, March 1 (Reuters) - Botswana expects output from its mining sector to be flat this year, as the diamond industry loses its sparkle due to a contraction in consumer spending and weaker demand for diamond jewellery, a finance ministry official said on Wednesday. Diamond trading grew 41% in the year as Botswana also benefitted from Western buyers shunning stones from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, Botswana expects diamond output to decline by 1%, while diamond trading growth is seen slowing to 7% from 41% last year. Finance ministry estimates show that government expects mineral royalties to fall to 4,5 billion pula ($3.41 billion) in 2023, from 6.1 billion pula last year. Dividends due to the state will also decline to 11,3 billion pula from 15 billion pula in 2022.

☆ The Oil-and-Gas Executive Who Hopes to Shine as De Beers’ New CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Jenny Strasburg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In Personal Board of Directors, top business leaders talk about the people they turn to for advice, and how those people have shaped their perspective and helped them succeed. Previous installments from the series are here. Al Cook spent 27 years working for oil-and-gas companies. His newest job brings him closer to an entirely different resource: diamonds.

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