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US judge confirms Red Tree as the starting bid for Citgo parent's auction
According to a court document, a U.S. Federal judge confirmed on Monday that a $3.7billion offer made by Red Tree Investments, an affiliate of Contrarian Funds to pay bondholders and creditors in an auction for shares of the parent company of Venezuelan-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum was the starting bid. The offer, which had been recommended by a court officer overseeing the auction, unleashed a battle among 16 creditors seeking to cash proceeds from the auction, with some supporting the bid because it includes a payment agreement with holders of a bond issued by Citgo's ultimate parent, Caracas-headquartered PDVSA, and others saying it was too low. A consortium led miner Gold Reserve had submitted a $7.1 Billion proposal. Rival bid Other creditors and lawyers representing Venezuela filed objections against Red Tree's bid. These were overruled U.S. district judge Leonard Stark. Stark's decision stated that "Red Tree’s bid represents the best balance between the evaluation criteria which can be summarized as the price and the certainty of closing", adding that this offer should encourage competitiveness. The judge asked Robert Pincus, the court officer, to suggest a time period to top off Red Tree’s offer. This is expected to result in a winning bid for the auction whose final hearing will be held in July. Pincus' final bid recommendation was to be "more focused on price, and less on certainty", as instructed by the Judge. A previous round of bidding last year saw most creditors reject a $7.3billion offer from an affiliate hedge fund Elliott Investment Management because it included conditions. Red Tree's selection as the stalking horse for this round is expected to encourage other bidders to offer up to $3 billion in compensation to holders of PDVSA 2020 bonds that were collateralized by Citgo equity. Citgo is valued between $11 billion to $13 billion. The final bids in the auction are expected to be below $8 billion. The more money paid to bondholders will leave less to pay other creditors. These include foreign oil companies, mining companies, and industrial conglomerates, whose Venezuelan assets have been expropriated.
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ADM closes soybean processing plant at Kershaw, South Carolina
Grains merchant Archer-Daniels-Midland will permanently close its soybean processing plant in Kershaw, South Carolina, later this spring as part of a cost-cutting and consolidation push announced earlier this year, the company confirmed to on Monday. ADM has cut jobs and downsized some operations ever since February, when it announced that it would be cutting costs by $500 to $700 millions over three to five year. Dane Lisser, ADM's spokesperson, said: "After exploring many alternatives, we have determined that our Kershaw crushing plant does not align with our future operating needs." Still reeling from a scandal that sent the stock price of the company plummeting last year, the company is now facing tough headwinds due to rising trade tensions with key markets, including China, which is a major soybean importer. According to sources in the industry, Kershaw will be closing as the first U.S. soya processing plant after a multi-year expansion of industry-wide facilities amid an escalating demand for vegetable oil from biofuels manufacturers. The biofuel sector, however, has recently slowed down production because of the uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy on biofuels and the possibility of a worsening trading war. According to industry sources, the Kershaw plant is one of the smaller soy processing plants operated by ADM. It has the capacity to crush up to 50,000 bushels per day. ADM has said that it will assist Kershaw employees in finding new jobs, and offer financial severance to those who choose to leave the company. However, the number of affected workers was not disclosed. According to South Carolina Department of Commerce statistics, the Kershaw plant employed 11 to 50 workers.
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Prosecutors say that a Russian attack killed one person in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
According to local prosecutors, Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv region in the northeast, Monday. One person was killed in a village near the border. According to a report posted on Telegram, which was released after a ceasefire of 30 hours announced by Moscow for Easter had expired, a Russian drone killed a man riding a scooter in Ivashki. The statement added that an artillery attack by the Russians hit a private home area in Kupiansk. This is a place where Russian military activity has increased in recent months. Kupiansk, which was captured by Ukrainian forces later in that year in a massive counter-offensive after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, was initially occupied by Russian troops. At least once, Russian forces entered the city briefly. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; Oleksandr Kozoukhar, Ron Popeski)
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US Antimony restarts Mexico Smelter Plant after Over a Year
United States Antimony Corp announced on Monday that it had restarted operations in its Madero plant in Mexico. This comes more than a year since the miner of critical minerals stopped operating in Latin America. Why it's important China has banned the export of critical minerals such as gallium, antimony and germanium to the United States. This is part of a escalating tech and trade war between two major economies. China is expected to produce almost half the world's supply of antimony by 2023. Prices of the mineral are soaring as a result of China's heavy export restrictions. This has disrupted global supply chains. U.S. president Donald Trump also pushed to increase domestic production of important minerals, such as antimony to counter China's near-total control in the sector. Minerals are widely used to make ammunition, infrared weapons, night-vision goggles and nuclear weapons, as well batteries and photovoltaic devices. CONTEXT United States Antimony announced in March of last year that it would cease all operations in Latin America, and sell its Mexican subsidiary. This decision was taken after a review of financial performance, negative cash flow of the unit and low prices of antimony. What's Next? The company announced that it had begun processing the antimony ore purchased from international sources in the Madero Smelter. Next week, the second and third shipments will also arrive at the facility. U.S. Antimony stated that it plans to produce approximately 200 tons of antimony each month at the Madero Smelter by the end of 2025. (Reporting and editing by Sahal Muhammad in Bengaluru, Vallari Srivastava from Bengaluru)
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The Russian Economy Ministry has cut its Brent price forecast for 2025 by almost 17%
According to documents obtained by, the Russian economy ministry's forecast for the average Brent crude price in 2025 has been cut by 17% compared to what they thought it would be in September. Interfax reported that in the ministry's baseline scenario for economic forecasts of 2025, the ministry assumes the average price of Brent to be $68 per barrel, down from $81.7 per barrel in its September predictions. The Ministry of Finance estimates that the price for Urals - Russia's main blend - is $56 per barrel - compared to the $69.7 barrel price on which Russia has based their budget 2025 - and lower than the $60 "cut-off" price, which determines the amount of money sent to the National Wealth Fund Reserve (NWF) budget reserve. In the baseline scenario, we assume at some point that the export price drops below the cutoff, but then goes up. In this scenario, we do not deplete our NWF," a ministry representative told Interfax. Oil and gas revenues account for a third (or more) of the budget. The representative said that "from a budgetary standpoint, these conditions are difficult, but normal." The Russian rainy day NWF is now the main source for financing Russia's persistent budget deficit. The liquid assets of the fund have fallen by two-thirds, from $112.7 to $39 billion. According to the new estimates, the rouble value of Russian oil has decreased by 21.5% to 5,281 Roubles per barrel compared to the previous forecast. In April, the Russian central bank had warned that due to a lower global demand, oil prices may be lower for several years than expected. Urals prices dropped to their lowest level since 2023 early April, trading at around $53 a barrel. They traded below $60 per barrel last week. The first quarter of this year saw Russia's oil revenues fall by 10% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the average price for Urals in roubles since April began was 31% lower than the planned amount, forcing the government to sell foreign currency for first time. The ministry said that it did not expect a recession to occur due to the trade wars of U.S. president Donald Trump and believes global growth will be slightly higher than 2% this year. Interfax quoted the representative of the ministry as saying: "The world's still bigger than the United States. So some flows will be directed." The Ministry maintained its forecast of 2.5% for the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in Russia and raised its inflation forecast from 4.5% to 7.6%. The rouble is also expected to be stronger this year than it was previously forecasted, with an average of 94.3% of the dollar per rouble, compared to an earlier prediction of 96.5 roubles. (Written by Lidia Kelley in Melbourne and Gleb Brnski in Moscow, edited by Leslie Adler & Darlie Butler)
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Russia's Nornickel maintains 2025 nickel production forecast
Nornickel, a Russian company that is one of the largest nickel producers in the world and also the biggest palladium producer, maintained Monday its nickel production forecast for 2025 as 204,000-211,000 tons. The company reported that it produced 42,000 tonnes of nickel in 2025's first quarter, down 1.1% from the previous year. Palladium production fell 0.6%, to 741,00 ounces. The production of platinum increased by 0.6%, to 180,000 ounces. The company's Senior Vice-President Alexander Popov stated that the modest drop in nickel production was due to short-term scheduled repairs and maintenance. This was done to ensure a steady operation of its main technological units. Nornickel said that the decrease in nickel production is due to maintenance work at its various plants. Nornickel faces pressure in the domestic market due to the 40% rise of the rouble against the U.S. Dollar, which reduces revenues, and high interest rates which impact investment plans. The company faces falling or stagnating metal prices internationally due to lower demand in the wake of market turmoil triggered by U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs. Nornickel may not be directly subject to Western sanctions but the measures have led some Western producers to refrain from buying Russian metal. They also complicate payments and restrict access to Western equipment. BCS analysts wrote in a report that they believe the threat of a global slowdown due to tariff wars would negatively impact the metals portfolio of the company. (Reporting and writing by Anastasia Lyrchikova; editing by Kirsten Doovan and Ros Russel)
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India imposes temporary tariffs of 12% on certain steel imports
A government notification announced that India had imposed a temporary tariff of 12%, known locally as a "safeguard duty", on certain steel products in order to curb unbridled imports. India, the second largest producer of crude iron and steel in the world, announced that the tariffs will be effective for 200 days starting Monday. The Ministry of Finance stated that "the safeguard duty imposed by this notification will be in effect for a period of 200 days (unless earlier revoked or modified) after the publication of the notification." India's steel tax increase is the first major trade policy decision since U.S. president Donald Trump imposed duties on a number of countries in April. New Delhi's tariffs primarily target China, the second largest steel exporter to India in 2024/25 behind South Korea. According to government data, India became a net steel importer for the second year in a row during the fiscal year 2024/25. Shipments reached a record high of 9 million metric tonnes, a figure not seen since the early 1990s. Steel Authority of India, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, and JSW Steel, New Delhi's largest steelmaking body, have raised concerns about imports. Reporting by Neha Misra and Surbhi Arora; Editing and Toby Chopra and Alison Williams
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In March, India's infrastructure production rose 3.8% year-on-year.
Government data released on Monday showed that India's infrastructure production grew by 3.8% in March, mainly due to strong steel and cement output. The infrastructure output (which tracks eight different sectors and accounts for 40% of industrial production in the country) grew by a revised 3,4% in February compared to an initial estimate of 2,9%. Cement production increased 11.6% in march, compared with a revised 10.8% rise in February. Steel production rose 7.1%, against a revised advance of 6.9% a month before. Fertilizer output grew by 8.8%, compared to 10.2% the month before. Coal production increased 1.6% compared to 1.7% in February. The electricity generation in March was 6.2% higher than the revised 3.6% growth in the previous month. Refined oil products were up 0.2% compared to 0.8% the month prior. In March, crude oil production fell 1.9% compared to a 5.2% decline in February. Natural gas production also declined 12.7% compared to a 6% decrease in February. The infrastructure output increased by 4.4% during the fiscal years 2024-25.
Colombia's peace opened wildlife to discovery, but new violence irritates progress
For more than five years as violent conflict raved through Colombia's highlands and jungles, wildlife thrived.
From brilliantly colored orchids to tiger-striped frogs, scientists have actually revealed a wealth of new animal and plant types in the years since a 2016 peace deal saw most rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) lay down their weapons. The accord made it safe to go into numerous parts of the country, typically pristinely preserved amid the conflict.
Peace, it turned out, used a boon for nature research study. Researchers have found roughly triple the number of new plant types in Colombia each year considering that the peace treaty as they did before the deal, according to a brand-new analysis by Colombian botanist Oscar Alejandro Perez-Escobar shared exclusively with Reuters.
But the FARC offer did not end Colombia's conflict. Though the accord opened numerous areas of Colombia up for science, other armed groups - consisting of former FARC fighters who declined the peace deal - and criminal offense gangs filled the vacuum in some areas and brought restored dangers for both researchers and wildlife. Although deforestation fell to a 23-year low last year, it is growing again in 2024 as severe drought fed wildfires, and illegal logging, mining and roadbuilding ruined the jungle. And for environmentalists, Colombia is now the world's most dangerous location-- with 79 killed in 2015, the most ever in one nation in a single year, according to not-for-profit International Witness.
The analysis of some 14,000 Colombian plant types taped at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew revealed that scientists have published approximately 178 brand-new finds in the years considering that the peace deal. That compares with 53 typically in the years before the accord.
The analysis, which has not been peer-reviewed, also represented the imbalance in between the couple of years of information given that 2016 as compared to centuries of prior species discovery.
While the analysis reveals a jump in publications after the peace deal, it does not show the accord was the cause, Perez-Escobar said.
He recalled his first exploration after the peace offer, traveling with a team of scientists from 16 countries through a. mountainous community as Colombian soldiers safeguarded their relocations. in 2018.
I was excited, however likewise anxious, said Perez-Escobar, who. works for Kew Gardens in Britain. Delighted of the potential customers of. discovering brand-new types ... however likewise worried because of the threat. it represented going there.. That expedition became part of a wave of biodiversity research in. Colombia's previous rebel strongholds, which scientists had. steered clear of for worry of kidnapping or death at the hands of. the FARC. On the trek high above the treeline into the. mountainous Paramo ecosystem, he spotted small yellow-and-brown. flowers - a brand-new species of orchid. A paramo is a very damp,. cold and frequently foggy alpine meadow high up in the Andes. Since then, Perez-Escobar working in partnership with local. organizations has actually assisted to determine two new blooming plants in. a cloud forest and in 2015 the first recognized polymorphic orchid. in its genus of 1,200 species, meaning it flowers 2 different. kinds of flowers on the very same plant.
CROCODILES, DRONES & & DEFORESTATION
As a biology trainee in the 1990s, botanist Mauricio. Diazgranados would collect plants in the mountains an hour's. drive from Bogota.
I could see the helicopters shooting at the guerrillas and. the guerrillas fighting back, said Diazgranados who now works. as science director of the New York Botanical Garden.
At one point, he worked as a volunteer park ranger in the. Sumapaz location where the FARC as soon as kept its head office. He said. he was as soon as apprehended by rebels on suspicion of spying however. handled to leave during the night and get away.
Diazgranados later helped to organize dozens of science. explorations into previously unsafe areas under Colombia BIO,. a government program introduced to better understand the country's. wilds after the peace deal. He still has actually cardboard boxes filled. with dried plant samples that he believes are brand-new types but has. yet to describe in publication.
While the dispute may have assisted to shelter Colombia's. wildlife for years, it is the country's place and geography. that helped it to grow into what it is today.
Located near the warm band of the Equator where North and. South America satisfy, the nation includes beaches, tropical. rain forests and 3 distinct chains of the Andes that soar. from deep valleys to more than 5,000 meters (17,000 feet). The. variety of these environments has encouraged more species to. evolve over time. Colombia topped a list this year of countries thought to have. the most undiscovered plant types, according to a study led by. Kew Gardens scientists that was released in August.
It is not only the peace offer that is driving more. discoveries, Diazgranados said. More trained scientists are. investigating Colombia than ever, he stated, including some turning. away from neighboring Venezuela in the middle of the financial and political. crisis there. Researchers at Colombia's state-run Alexander von Humboldt. Biological Resources Research study Institute have actually found lots of new. species including beetles, frogs, a spider and a caecilian - a. rare group of legless amphibians that live underground. It can. take several years for a types discover to be confirmed as new.
They were unattainable areas, however also locations with huge. information and natural wealth, said Jhon Cesar Neita, who. curates Humboldt's entomology and invertebrate collection, about. former FARC-held locations that opened to research.
Everybody researchers wished to go.. Scientists with the Wildlife Preservation Society (WCS) have. likewise tape-recorded another 10 amphibian finds, including a. green-brown striped rain frog to be called for Colombia's peace. offer: Pristimantis pactumpacis.
After the peace offer, WCS researchers were able to use. drones to count eastern Colombia's critically endangered Orinoco. crocodiles in an area formerly too unsafe, stated WCS. Colombia's clinical director, German Forero.
But after more than 100 individuals were reported killed in. violence associated to armed groups in the location this year, Forero. said, WCS staff presently can not take a trip back to where the. Orinoco crocodile lives.
LOSING GAINS. Colombia has put the security problem in focus at this year's U.N. Biodiversity Conference, COP16, picking the style Peace with. Nature for the occasion being kept in the southwestern Colombian. city of Cali. More than 10,000 soldiers, police and U.N. guards. are mobilized to protect the top, while delegates from nearly. 200 countries go over how best to maintain nature worldwide.
There is presently intense fighting in between the equipped. groups in some of the most biodiverse parts of the country,. according to sources within the Colombian military. In the. Pacific province of Choco, home to verdant jungle and. famously wet weather condition, the ELN rebels are fighting the Clan del. Golfo criminal activity gang, while competing FARC dissident groups face off. in numerous Amazon provinces.
Along with continuing violence by armed groups, Colombia is. now likewise at risk of fast ecological decrease, scientists. warned. Logging has actually jumped 40% in the very first 3 months. of this year, according to government information.
Environment Minister Susana Muhamad in April blamed a group. of former FARC fighters called the Estado Mayor Central for the. forest clearing in the Amazon rain forest, stating it obstructs. outsiders from going into locations it controls while pressing. residents to cooperate. It's unpleasant, the mental pressure that the armed. groups are exerting on the neighborhoods, Muhamad said in an. April statement. In this case, they are putting nature in the. middle of the conflict.
The faction of the recently splintered EMC led by Alexander. Diaz Mendoza, better understood by his nom de guerre Calarca Cordoba,. stated in a declaration the group has no participation in. logging and deals with communities to improve sustainable. practices. The group stated it obstructs entry in order to prevent. federal government efforts to financialize the forest through products. like green bonds.
(source: Reuters)