Latest News
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Vivici, a Dutch startup that produces alternative proteins, receives a $34 million funding.
Vivici, a Dutch startup that produces food ingredients, announced on Monday it had received funding of 32.5 million Euros ($34 million) to increase its production. The company produces a dairy protein using a process known as 'precision fermenting'. This is a refined version of brewing in which microbes multiply to produce animal proteins or enzymes. Vivici believes that the demand for alternative protein will be driven by the need of food producers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to lessen their vulnerability to seasonal agricultural swings. "The whey market, which is closest to us, is already a $13-billion market," Vivici CEO Stephan van Sint Fiet said. We operate in a huge market. "From our perspective, we believe that the market potential is in the hundreds and millions." ABP, the Netherlands largest pension fund and Invest-NL (the Dutch government investment fund) led the investment. Existing shareholders DSM-Firmenich en Fonterra were also involved. Vivici didn't disclose the amounts invested by each individual or the valuation of the entire company. It said that the funding would be used to launch new products, access new markets internationally, and establish long-term production capabilities. Vivici has announced that it recently signed agreements with various food producers to supply its first product which was launched in the United States last year. Van Sint Fiet stated that the protein was identical to that found in milk but made using a more environmentally friendly method, which uses a fraction of water, energy and land. It's dairy without the animal.
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Palliser requests that Rio Tinto seek Australian shareholder approval on dual listing
Palliser Capital, a London-based hedge-fund, urged Rio Tinto on Monday to let the company's Australian investors vote on a proposal that would seek an independent review of Rio Tinto's dual-listing. Palliser, the UK shareholder of the global miner, was set to vote for a resolution that would review its dual-listed structure. Rio Tinto advised its investors to vote no. Documents published by the company in advance of its annual general meetings in London and Perth revealed that the resolution was only put up for vote to its UK shareholders. Palliser wrote in a company letter that this action has denied Australian shareholders the right to vote on an issue of equal importance to them. Rio Tinto has a corporate structure that requires two AGMs: one for the UK listed plc shareholders, and another for the Australian listed limited shareholders. Palliser and over 100 other shareholders requested in December a resolution calling on an independent review of the merits to unify Rio Tinto’s dual-listed corporate structures. Rio Tinto's spokesperson said that Palliser had submitted a request for notice of the annual general meeting for the company's London-based shareholders but hadn't done so for its Australian shareholders. The spokesperson explained: "They've now told us that they want to submit a request notice for Rio Tinto Limited's AGM, and we've shown them how to do it." Reporting by Adwitiya Shrivastava from Bengaluru, and Clara Denina from London; Editing and production by Leroy Leo & Alan Barona
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Trump and Macron discuss Ukraine Peace Prospects at White House
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that the United States was close to a mineral deal with Ukraine. He and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the prospects of ending the Ukraine conflict despite their stark differences in how to proceed. In response to reporters' questions, Trump said that the much-anticipated revenue-sharing deal with Ukraine was "very close." He and Macron were meeting in the Oval Office. He suggested that he may meet Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to seal the deal later this week or in the next week. Zelenskiy may sign the agreement this week or next, according to Trump. He also said that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin some time. Macron said that Europe would be prepared to offer security guarantees, including peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of ceasefire. Trump said that the United States supported the idea of sending European Peacekeeping troops. He said he raised the concept with Putin, and that Putin would accept the idea. When asked if Ukraine would be willing to cede land to Russia in a negotiated settlement of the war, Trump replied, "We'll See" and said that talks had just begun. Macron was the first European leader since Trump regained his power one month ago to visit Trump. He attended a morning session at the White House that lasted for an hour and forty-five minutes. Both leaders also participated in a videoconference with other G7 leader about Ukraine. The two leaders held a press conference together at 2 pm EST after their bilateral discussions. Keir starmer, the British prime minister, will visit Trump in the coming days amid concern in Europe about Trump's hardening of his stance towards Ukraine and overtures made to Moscow regarding the three-year conflict. Macron and Starmer will try to convince Trump to not rush into a ceasefire agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, at all costs. They will also discuss the importance of keeping Europe involved and discussing military guarantees for Ukraine. Trump and his team are negotiating with Ukraine a revenue-sharing agreement for minerals to recover some of the money the Biden administration sent to Kyiv as weapons to fight Russia. Zelenskiy rejected last week U.S. requests for $500 billion of mineral wealth in Ukraine as a repayment for Washington's wartime assistance, saying that the United States has not provided anywhere near this sum and have offered no specific guarantees regarding security in the agreement. Macron wants to take advantage of the relationship that was built between him and Trump during their first terms as presidents. He said that a bad deal was tantamount to capitulating to Ukraine, and would send a weak signal to America's enemies including China and Iran. "I'll tell him: deep down, you can't be weak before President (Putin). It's you, not your character and not in your interest," he said during an hour-long social media question-and answer session ahead of his visit to the White House on Monday.
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Gold Reserve can enforce a $1.1 billion arbitration against Venezuela in Portugal
Gold Reserve announced on Monday that the Lisbon Court of Appeal had confirmed its arbitration award against Venezuela and given it the green light to enforce approximately $1.1 billion in Portugal. In afternoon trading, shares of the company increased 1.5% to C$2.63. The company stated that the decision supports its ongoing efforts in Portugal to enforce its arbitral award, where it claimed it had obtained attachments orders "against numerous bank accounts" with more than $1.4 Billion. It added: "Recovery in Portugal legal proceedings is not guaranteed due to a number of factors." It added that "further court orders will be required in order to try to collect any of the funds attached." The Venezuelan Information and Communication Ministry did not respond immediately to a comment request. The Canadian company stated that its efforts to enforce the arbitral ruling in Portugal were in addition to the ones being undertaken in the U.S. This included its participation in an auction organized by a court of shares of Citgo Petroleum, the parent company of Venezuelan-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum. It was to be used to pay 18 creditors in Venezuela for debt defaults as well as expropriations. Citgo Petroleum, Venezuela's largest overseas asset, has been targeted by creditors who are seeking compensation for the nationalization wave of late President Hugo Chavez and the failure to pay debts made by President Nicolas Maduro. Gold Reserve said that any recovery from the U.S. courts proceedings will offset the amount recovered in Portugal. (Reporting from Pooja Menon and Marianna Pararaga in Bengallu; Additional reporting provided by Vivian Sequera, Caracas; editing by Sriraj Kalluvila).
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Sources say that two tankers in the Mediterranean Sea were likely blown up by lumber mines
Three sources familiar with the investigation told reporters on Monday that mines set off by timers and attached to ship hulls are likely to have caused the explosions which damaged two crude oil tanks in the Mediterranean Sea between January and February. At least five ships have been damaged. This includes explosions aboard the Greek-managed Seacharm and Seajewel, which were reported last week. These incidents have sparked concerns about a new threat to security in the normally safe waters of Mediterranean. This is at a time when the shipping industry has been dealing with attacks on the busy Red Sea route. The alleged attackers are not known. According to data and sources on ship tracking, the vessels recently visited Russian ports. Greek and Italian authorities are investigating the cause of damage to the vessel. Sources who were familiar with the situation but spoke under condition of anonymity said that the location and type of blasts suggest the presence of limpet mines. One source said that "strong indications" suggest the use of BPM 1 or BPM 2 type limpet mines. Source: The explosives were used on Searcharm and Seajewel which were damaged in the Mediterranean between January and February. Two other sources confirmed that the damage to one of the Seacharm tankers was consistent with a device explosive such as a mine or limpet. Two maritime security sources have also indicated that limpet mines were behind the explosions on both tanks, based on their assessments and the damage. The Italian judiciary said that they were not allowed to make any comments while the investigation was ongoing. Thenamaris of Athens, the company that owns and operates Searcharm and Seajewel referred all questions to the Greek and Italian authorities who are overseeing the investigation. The name of the mines comes from a disk-shaped sea snail which clamps to rocks. One source said that the mines were attached to ships using magnets, and they usually contained TNT (trinitrotoluene), explosives which are activated by a timer. The Greek coastguard and military are investigating the explosion on Seacharm, off the Turkish coast. A military source revealed that the armed forces had been asked to determine the type of explosives used based on the sample of debris. Italian prosecutors launched a terrorism probe into the Seajewel event. Sources in maritime security have not ruled intentional damage out for the Koala and other tankers that were recently damaged by explosions. This includes the Koala which was damaged in the Russian Baltic Sea Port of Ust-Luga in this month, and the Russian cargo vessel Ursa Major which sank in December off Spain after reporting an explosive. Reporting by Renee Maltezou and Yannis Souliotis, Editing by Christina Fincher
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Sources say that India's gold imports in February will hit a 20-year low due to record prices.
India's gold exports will drop by 85% from the previous year in February, to the lowest level in 20 years. Record prices of the precious metal are causing a decline in demand, according to a government official, three bank dealers, and. Reduced gold imports may help India reduce its trade deficit, and could also support the rupee, which is currently trading at a record low against the US dollar. India is the second largest consumer of gold in the world. "Banks, jewellers and other businesses have cleared very little gold through customs this month." We are unlikely to see an improvement in import numbers unless prices crash within the next two to three days," said a government representative who refused to be identified as he wasn't authorised to speak to the media. On Monday, spot gold prices reached a new record of $2.956.15 an ounce. The official said that India's gold imports are expected to drop to 15 metric tonnes in February. This is the lowest monthly figure for at least 20 years, down from 103 tons of gold in February 2024. India imported an average of 76.5 tonnes of gold per month in the last decade. The price spike killed demand and we were stuck using the gold that we bought in January. "There's no point in importing any more gold in February," said the head of the bullion division at a bank that imports gold in Mumbai. Last week, the price of 10 grams of gold in India reached a new record high. A Mumbai-based dealer in bullion said that at least two Indian banks had moved gold stored at a free-trade zone to the U.S. because the Indian market was trading below par. He said that when the U.S. offers a nearly 1% premium on gold, it makes no sense to sell in India at a discount of $35 per ounce. A bullion dealer in Kolkata said that the sharp decline in imports in February was an unusual occurrence for the jewellery sector, since the wedding season in India is still ongoing. Normally, demand increases during this time. In India, weddings are the main reason for gold purchases. Bullion in the form jewellery is a key part of brides' attire and a very popular gift. (Reporting and editing by Christina Fincher; Reporting by Rajendra Jhadhav)
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Baker Hughes names Ahmed Moghal CFO
Baker Hughes, a U.S. oilfield technologies firm, announced on Monday that Ahmed Moghal has been appointed as its Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. The shares of the company dropped 1.3% during morning trading. Moghal was the former finance director for the Industrial and Energy Technology (IET) division of the company. Baker Hughes, which is currently undergoing a strategic pivot in order to maximize its IET portfolio in order to grow and expand in the natural-gas and LNG sectors and to scale new energy and digital business, made the appointment. "... It is important to have a CFO who has a deep understanding of both our business segments and can foster collaboration, as well as a strong track record in financial performance and an understanding of the growth strategy, said CEO Lorenzo Simonelli. Keith Mackey, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said that Moghal’s extensive experience in the company is a great asset. Buese’s departure, however, appeared "relatively sudden" considering she had held the position since late 2022. Buese, a Houston-based Texas company, said that he will serve as a strategic advisor to the company until he departs on April 30. (Reporting and editing by Pooja menon in Bengaluru, Tasim Zahid and Leroy Leo)
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Gold Reserve wins $1 billion in arbitration against Venezuela
Gold Reserve announced on Monday that the Lisbon Court of Appeal had confirmed its arbitration award against Venezuela and given it the green light to enforce approximately $1.1 billion in Portugal. The company stated that the decision supports its ongoing efforts in Portugal to enforce its arbitral award, where it claimed it had obtained attachments orders "against numerous bank accounts" with more than $1.4 Billion. It added: "Recovery in Portugal legal proceedings is not guaranteed due to a number of factors." It added that "further court orders will be required in order to try to collect any of the funds attached." The Venezuelan Information and Communication Ministry did not respond immediately to a comment request. The Canadian company stated that its efforts to enforce the arbitral ruling in Portugal were in addition to the ones being undertaken in the U.S. This included its participation in an auction organized by a court of shares of Citgo Petroleum, the parent company of Venezuelan-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum. It was to be used to pay 18 creditors in Venezuela for debt defaults as well as expropriations. Citgo Petroleum, Venezuela's largest overseas asset, has been targeted by creditors who are seeking compensation for the nationalization wave of late President Hugo Chavez and President Nicolas Maduro’s failure to pay debts. Gold Reserve said that any recovery from the U.S. courts proceedings will offset the amount recovered in Portugal. (Reporting from Pooja Menon and Marianna Pararaga in Bengallu; Additional reporting provided by Vivian Sequera, Caracas; editing by Sriraj Kalluvila).
Congo bans exports of cobalt for four months in order to curb the oversupply
The Democratic Republic of Congo has temporarily stopped cobalt exports in order to reduce the flow of metals on the market, which they claim is oversupplied.
In a press release, the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances' Markets (ARECOMS) said that the ban would be in effect for at least four month.
"This is a measure to regulate the supply of goods on the international markets, which are currently experiencing a glut," Patrick Luabeya said in a statement.
He said that the ban will be in effect on February 22. It could be modified or lifted after three months.
Bloomberg News was the first to report on this temporary ban.
China's CMOC Group, the world's largest cobalt producer, increased its production of the metal last year to 114,000 tons, up from 56,000 tons. This was due to the increase in copper production at two mines located in Congo.
CMOC did not respond immediately to emailed inquiries. CMOC is the largest cobalt producer in the world.
Eurasian Resources Group (another big Congo cobalt manufacturer) did not respond immediately to questions sent via email, while Glencore refused to comment.
Congo is the top cobalt producer in the world. Cobalt is a critical component of batteries used for electric cars and mobile phones. Congo is the second largest copper producer in the world.
The agency stated that the ban applies to all cobalt mined in the country. This includes small-scale or artisanal mining.
(source: Reuters)