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Environmental NGO Sues Trump’s EPA and Citibank for Funding Freeze
A nonprofit environmental group sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Saturday and Citibank, requesting billions of dollars to fund solar and other projects that have been frozen by the bank due to the Trump administration's cuts in federal spending. Climate United Fund claims that by freezing grant money approved by Joe Biden’s administration, "EPA has acted in order to prevent Citibank's disbursement of funds, harming Climate United and its borrowers as well as the communities they are serving." This is just one of many lawsuits filed by nonprofits, state attorneys general, and others to fight President Donald Trump's Republican moves to reverse Democratic Biden’s policies. Trump wants to reduce federal spending, shrink the bureaucracy, and reshape U.S. foreign, immigration and social policies. In a few cases, judges have blocked Trump's attempts. However, he has won some legal victories. Climate United in Washington, Citibank, and the EPA have not responded to comments made by their spokespeople. The suit was filed at the federal court of the capital. Climate United claims in its court filing it was selected by the EPA for the National Clean Investment Fund Program last April, and that they planned to lend to developers across the country to support solar energy, electric trucks and efficient housing. The group stated in a press release that the program was created to help hard-working Americans save money on groceries and to keep the lights lit. "We are going to court to protect the communities we serve, not because we want it but because we must." Climate United claims it is owed $7 billion. This is part of the $20 billion in funding that was approved by the "self serving" Biden Administration. According to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin this amounted "to intentionally tossing gold bars off Titanic" before he left his office. Last month, officials in the Trump administration instructed federal prosecutor Denise Cheung that she should launch a criminal investigation into funding. She refused to comply, stating that she did not believe the request was supported by any evidence.
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Venezuelan President says that flights bringing migrants back from the US are 'affected.'
The Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro stated on Saturday that flights scheduled to bring Venezuelan migrants back from the U.S. were affected by "this unjustified, tremendous commotion" after the Trump Administration canceled a Chevron license to operate in South America. Maduro had earlier said that, if it were up to him, Chevron would stay in Venezuela. He was referring to the decision made by U.S. president Donald Trump last week to revoke a license for Chevron, citing a lack of progress in electoral reforms and migration returns. Maduro did not directly mention the name of the company when referring to the migrant flight. He claimed that flights and communication between the countries were affected. Maduro, and his government, have always rejected the sanctions imposed by the U.S. Maduro, his allies and the government have praised the country for its resilience in the face of the sanctions. However, they have blamed the sanctions historically for some economic hardships. Reporting by Chizu Nomiyama; Editing by Margueritachoy and Chizu Nomiyama
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Barrick is 'committed' to a'mutually beneficial resolution' in Mali
In a memo that was seen on Saturday, Barrick Gold's chief operating officer for Africa & the Middle East stated in a memo that it remains "fully committed and engaged" to finding a resolution with Mali which is mutually beneficial to both parties. Since 2023, the Canadian miner Barrick and the Malian government are locked in a dispute over the new mining code of this West African nation. This code gives the Malian state a larger share in Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto Gold Mining Complex. Barrick announced on 13 January that it had been forced to suspend its mining operations in Mali following the seizure of around three metric tonnes of gold from its complex by the government. Since early November, the government has been blocking Barrick's gold exports. Reports on February 19, 2019 stated that Barrick signed an agreement to settle the dispute. The state then approved the agreement. One person involved in the process said that the deal was taking time to finalise, even though there have been no major problems since then. According to a person familiar with previous deals, it took the government "some time" before they signed deals with other Mali mining companies. Sebastiaan Bok, the CEO of the company, sent a memo to its staff on Saturday. He said that there were "no major developments at this time". He said: "As a gentle reminder, until further notice all non-critical activities will be temporarily paused." Staff salaries and bonuses were not affected by the suspension. One of the complex's vendors told Barrick in early March it owed two months of payments.
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Kyiv reports that at least 14 people were killed and 37 injured in a Russian missile attack on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported on Saturday that Russian drone and missile attacks overnight on Dobropillia, a city in eastern Ukraine, and a settlement near Kharkiv left at least 14 dead and 37 injured, including five kids. According to the Ministry, Russian forces used drones and multiple rockets to attack Dobropillia, damaging eight multi-storey building and 30 vehicles. Eleven people were killed, including five kids, in the attack. Thirty others were also injured. Three civilians died and seven were injured in a separate attack by drone on Kharkiv in the northeast. "Such attacks show that Russia's goals have not changed." It is therefore vital to continue doing our best to protect life, to strengthen our air defences and to increase sanctions against Russia. "Everything that helps Putin finance war must be destroyed," Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Facebook. The Russians launched their first major missile strike on Friday against Ukrainian gas and energy infrastructure, a day after the U.S. suspended intelligence sharing. This increased pressure on Kyiv, as President Donald Trump tries to end the war quickly. Military analysts believe that the pause in U.S. intelligence and military assistance could undermine Ukraine's air defenses, as it is running low on advanced missiles. Dobropillia is located in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, about 22 km (13.67 mi) north of Pokrovsk. The Russian troops have been attacking this key city for several weeks. FIGHTING CONTINUES In an effort to gain an edge, both sides are continuing to engage in hostilities despite the efforts of the U.S. to bring Kyiv to the table for negotiations. The Kirishi oil refining plant, which is one of Russia's biggest, houses a tank. In recent weeks, Russian forces have intensified their efforts to expel Ukrainian troops from Kursk. Last August, Kyiv's forces launched a lightning invasion over the border, capturing a large area of Russian territory. On Saturday, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that its troops were in Afghanistan. retook Three villages in the Kursk area were taken by Ukrainian forces. Could not independently confirm the report. (Reporting and editing by Kim Coghill, Louise Heavens and Kim Coghill; Additional reporting by Lucy Papachristou, Guy Faulconbridge and Guy Faulconbridge).
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Ukraine's steel production increases despite the loss of a coking coal mine
The Ukrainian Steel Producers' Union reported on Saturday that despite the loss in eastern Ukraine of its key coking coal mining facility in Pokrovsk, the steel sector still maintained growth in 2025's first two months. Metinvest, the Ukrainian steelmaker, has suspended operations in Ukraine's sole coking coal mine. The company cited a deteriorating situation due to Russian advances. Data showed that the raw steel production rose 9.9% between January and February 2025, to 1,18 million metric tonnes. Since the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022 leading steel mills have been destroyed. Ukraine, once a major exporter and producer of steel, reported a 70.7% decline in production in 2022, to 6.3 millions tons. The output dropped to 6 million tonnes in 2023, but increased to 7,58 million tons in 2020. Steelmakers' Union said in October that the closure of Pokrovsk could lead to a drop in steel production to 2 to 3 million metric tonnes in 2025. The producers have stated that they would like to import coking coal from another Ukrainian mine if the mine were taken over by Russian troops. However, this would increase costs. (Reporting and editing by Louise Heavens, with Pavel Polityuk)
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Lammy, UK's Lammy, says that Britain and the Philippines are committed to rules-based orders
David Lammy, British Foreign Minister, said that Britain and the Philippines are committed to an international order based on rules. Lammy, on an official visit to the Philippines, said that both countries had stood together, supporting Ukraine, and promoting a free, open Indo-Pacific. Lammy and his Philippine counterpart said at a press conference that they were charting a course for their relationship in the face of global instability. They also emphasized that it was important to strengthen ties with other like-minded countries, such as the Philippines. The Philippines and Britain have signed a framework agreement for enhanced cooperation in multiple areas including defence, regional safety, and climate change, opening the door to deeper collaboration when it comes to addressing challenges and opportunities shared by both countries. Lammy and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo both signed the agreement, and both highlighted their commitments to expanding economic ties in the Indo-Pacific and promoting regional stability. "We are countries committed to international law." We are a country that is committed to the rule-based order. "We are countries who take our obligations under UN Charter seriously," Lammy stated. Manalo, for his part, expressed the appreciation of his country to Britain's "firm commitment to a free and peaceful Indo-Pacific Region," and added that both nations had agreed to continue participating and exchanging in joint military exercise. Manalo stated, "We are pleased with the United Kingdom's Indo-Pacific strategy towards a more deliberate engagement within the region including the Philippines." In the face of rising tensions and confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, the Philippines is expanding its security partnerships. It has also maintained its longstanding alliance with the United States.
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Russian Kirishi refinery damaged by debris in Ukrainian drone attack
The governor of Leningrad, a region in the northwestern part of Russia, said that a tank at the Kirishi oil refining plant, one of Russia's biggest, was damaged during an aerial attack by Ukraine. Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) refinery is one of the top two refineries in Russia. According to industry sources, it refines approximately 17.7 million tonnes of Russian crude per year (355, 000 barrels per day). Alexander Drozdenko said that the governor of Leningrad Region, Alexander Drozdenko on Telegram, "Air defences destroyed one drone as it approached, and the other was destroyed on the territory of enterprise." He said that the external structure of a tank was damaged when the debris fell. He said that no one was hurt. It was not immediately apparent the extent of damage at the refinery. Surgutneftegaz - one of Russia's largest oil companies - and Ukraine have not yet commented. Kirishi refinery is responsible for producing 2.3 million tonnes of gasoline or 5.3% of the total amount of fuel in Russia. According to industry sources, it also produces 7.6% percent of the country's fuel oil, 16.3% percent of its diesel fuel and 3.4% percent of its aviation fuel. According to the Russian defence ministry, 31 Ukrainian drones have been destroyed in Russia. This includes 26 drones that were destroyed in Krasnodar. (Editing by Himani Sakar)
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MOL’s Green Hydrogen Production Vessel Makes First Onshore Delivery
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced that green hydrogen produced from offshore wind using the demonstration yacht Winz Maru was supplied onshore in the central breakwater area of Tokyo, as part of the Wind Hunter Project.This marks the first time in the world that a ship has supplied green hydrogen, produced on its own while underway, for use on shore, according to MOL.Between FY 2021 and FY2 023, MOL conducted a demonstration test in Omura Bay in Sasebo City with the Winz Maru, successfully completing all phases of hydrogen production, storage and usage of stored hydrogen onboard.Since, MOL has focused on supplying domestically produced green hydrogen from the Winz Maru in Tokyo Bay to onshore facilities.The Winz Maru simplifies handling and transportation of hydrogen, a difficult process for hydrogen gas, by converting produced green hydrogen to methylcyclohexane (MCH) onboard the vessel in Tokyo Bay.To ensure sufficient supply, MOL has modified the MCH tanks and added turbine generators to the vessel.In addition, safety measures have been taken in light of rougher sea conditions in Tokyo Bay, compared to Omura Bay.MOL plans to continue its green hydrogen production activities in Tokyo Bay, producing about 100 Nm3 of hydrogen, or the equivalent of about 200 liters of MCH, in FY 2025, while at the same time supplying electricity to a trailer home and other facilities in the central breakwater area of Tokyo.MOL is also working on supplying hydrogen and studying a large demonstration vessel for the Wind Hunter.“Assuming that the hydrogen value chain will be established domestically in the future, we aim to construct and commercialize a large demonstration vessel as early as the 2030s,” MOL said in a statement.
China's coal exports increase in January and February despite the risks to outlook
China's coal exports increased 2.1% in the past year, according to official data released on Friday. The import arbitrage was still open, despite the risks that could affect the outlook of imports.
China releases data for both months together to reduce the impact of Lunar New Year which can fall in either month.
Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that imports from January to February were 76.12 millions metric tons. This is up from 74.52million tons the previous year.
Two major industry groups last week called for limits on coal imports from China, especially low-quality coals, due to an oversupplied marketplace. A warm and unseasonably dry winter has affected both the demand for coal as well as domestic prices.
Shenhua, a major coal miner, also suspended its spot imports in order to protect domestic sales from port stocks.
The plan of Indonesia, a major supplier, to begin using its government-set benchmark prices for international transactions on March 1 will create uncertainty for buyers and could cause further imports this month.
Analysts at Guosheng Securities stated in a report that the requirement to use government index – which ranges between $1.5 and $14 higher than the ICI index based on the grade coal – is expected to raise the cost of China’s coal imports.
In a recent note, LSEG analysts stated that this will likely reduce China's coal demand and lead buyers to switch to domestic coal.
Analysts at the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association predict that imports of coal will drop by 1.9% this year to 525 millions tons, down from a record high in 2024.
Guosheng Securities reported that thermal coal imports fell even more dramatically, falling 4.9% to 385 millions tons due to a weaker yuan as well as a narrowing of import arbitrage.
China has also imposed 15% tariffs on U.S. imports of coal as tensions in trade between the two largest economies increase. Analysts say that shipments from the U.S. make up only a small part of imports, and could be replaced by other foreign suppliers.
According to the Statistics Bureau, China's coal consumption will increase by 1.7% annually in 2024. (Reporting and editing by Christopher Cushing; Colleen howe)
(source: Reuters)