Burkina Faso's gold production is expected to reach 45 tons in 2017, Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba told Parliament on Friday.

"Mining activities should see substantial growth to reach 45 tons of gold production," said the prime minister.

The increase can be achieved as two new mines will start production and will bring the total of operational mines to 10 in the West African country, he said.

The prime minister said zinc production is expected to remain at its historical level of 130,000 tons.

Revenues from mining operations hit 189.9 billion CFA Francs (307 million U.S. dollars) in 2016, a 12.8 percent increase from the previous year. Burkina Faso has set incentive measures to attract more investment in its mining sector.

The MOAB, which weighs about 22,000 pounds, is nicknamed "Mother Of All Bombs."

The White House has accused Russia of trying to cover up the suspected chemical weapon attack in Syria, though Trump has said the United States will not launch a ground war in the Mideast country, according to Market Watch.

In addition, the Trump administration is also navigating rising tensions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

On the economic front, the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand declined 0.1 percent in March, seasonally adjusted, missing market consensus, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday.