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Mexico orders Paris auction house to stop selling pre-Colombian artworks
Mexico's government announced on Thursday that it had taken legal action to force Millon, a French auction house, to stop the planned sale this week of 40 precolombian artifacts Mexico considers to be its cultural heritage. Mexico has launched "appropriate legal procedures before?the?relevant?authorities", and reached out via diplomatic channels to repatriate the artifacts, Culture Secretary Claudia Curiel stated in a social media post. She said, "The protection of cultural heritage is the responsibility of the State and an act historical justice." Millon will hold an in-person sale of a precolombian collection entitled "Les Empires of Light" (The Empires of Light), in Paris, on Friday. Millon didn't immediately respond to the '?request for comments. On Thursday, the auction house's site displayed a message that it was under maintenance. Curiel sent a letter dated Tuesday to?Millon in which she stated that Mexico's anthropology institution INAH had?determined 40 of the artifacts?advertised at the auction house were protected by Mexican law. In a letter, she stated that "These goods are the property of the nation, unalienable, and incontrovertible. Their export has been prohibited since 1827 and as such, their presence outside national territory is derived from an illegal extraction." Mexico has been trying to retrieve?artifacts from private collections all over the world that are part of its precolonial history. Although some governments have accepted repatriations of artifacts, others remain the subject of extended disputes. The iconic headdress with bejeweled motifs is said to be the one that belonged to Aztec Emperor?Moctezuma, before he fell to Spanish conquistador Hernan cortes. The Austrian Weltmuseum, which houses the headdress, has stated that transporting it would damage its delicate iridescent quetzal feathers. Mexico launched a separate lawsuit against Millon in 2023 over 83 items it had put up for auction that it determined to be part of its cultural heritage. At the time, ARTnews reported that?Millon had told the trade outlet it would proceed with the sale. It said all of its lots were "irreproachable" and met criteria set by French law and UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural agency. Reporting by Raul Cotes, Writing by Sarah Morland and Editing by David Gregorio
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Russia aims to increase exports of Urals grade to China
Urals crude differentials have remained unchanged in a'muted market,' while traders are looking at a broader discounting to Brent grade, as Russia diverts its exports from India to China, with higher freight costs and wider discounts. Some market participants expect that the discount for Urals will increase by up to $5 per barrel, from the current $10-12 on a delivered-to port basis. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban asked for a fact-finding mission to assess damage caused to the Druzhba Oil Pipeline in Ukraine on Wednesday. He suggested that this could unblock EU funding to Ukraine. MOL Group, a refiner, said that in an email statement sent on Thursday, the Croatian pipeline operator JANAF should allow transit to Hungary and Slovakia of Russian oil transported by sea. It added?that these imports are not subject to EU sanctions. PLATTS WINDOW * There were no bids or offers made on Thursday for Urals BTC, CPC Blend, and Azeri BTC, traders said. * The Caspian Pipeline Consortium which transports oil from Kazakhstan to a Russian terminal on the 'Black Sea,' increased its exports by 12% in 2012, reaching 70.52 millions metric tons. * The United States has slowed down the sale of international assets owned by the Russian oil giant Lukoil to exert pressure on Russia during the peace talks in Ukraine. (Reporting and Editing by Shailesh Kumar)
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What caused the cocoa crisis in Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria?
Ivory Coast, Ghana and the other half of the cocoa-producing countries have had difficulty selling beans and paying farmers due to the abundance of cocoa harvested globally and the lower cocoa price. What are the reasons why the two countries performed worse than their rival producers? How did we get here? Cocoa is not traded freely in Ivory Coast or Ghana. The government-appointed 'cocoa regulators' of the two countries sell 80% of the 'beans? to global traders one year in advance. Based on these sales, they set a price fixed for the farmers when the season begins in October. Farmers sell their beans at this price to local collectors, who then sell them to licensed buyers. Licensed buyers sell the cocoa either directly to global traders, or to local traders that sell to global traders. Cocoa regulators in most countries adjust the farmer's price to reflect the lower-quality mid-crop, which is usually between April and September. Ivory Coast's main crop price was set at $5,000 per metric ton in October last year, while Ghana set the price at $5,300. The price of cocoa futures has fallen to $3,100 per tonne, but they have lost more than half their value in just one year. The price drop had an immediate impact on global cocoa traders. They would suffer?severe losses' if they bought Ivorian or Ghanaian beans, and then sold them to futures market prices. They stopped buying them. Sources in the industry said that Ivorians farmers were also not paid for their beans as of last month. The Ivory Coast government noted that cocoa stocks were piled high. What has Ivory Coast, GHANA done so far in response? Ivory Coast launched a program late last month in order to get cash?to farmers. The government bought 100,000 tons of main crop cocoa from farmers for a price of half a million dollars. The cocoa regulator in Ghana cut the fixed farmer prices by almost a third on 12 February, to about $3,580 a ton, after estimating that the country held cocoa stocks of around 50,000 tons. Sources have confirmed that Ivory Coast plans to reduce its fixed farmer price, starting March 1, by about a quarter in order to encourage sales to international traders. The government announced earlier this week that it would announce a "new farmer price" by the end February, one month earlier than normal. Why did the price of cocoa in the world plummet? World cocoa prices, which nearly tripled to record levels by 2024, have lost around three-quarters of their value since then. This was partly due to a drop in demand as high prices forced chocolate makers to reduce bar size, add non-cocoa ingredients, like wafers and nuts, or substitute cocoa butter for alternative fats. According to traders, the favourable weather conditions have led to larger and healthier crops. The global market is expected to record an excess of between 300,000 and 400,000 tons in this season. Ivory Coast, Ghana and other countries with large surpluses of beans, do not have the means to store them in warehouses. The price of cocoa in futures markets has a lag of about a year before it is reflected in the chocolate sold at retail. COCOA IS IMPORTANT TO THE IVORY COAST AND GHANA ECONOMIES. Cocoa exports account for almost 40% of Ivory Coast revenue and 15% of Ghana's. This makes cocoa one of the largest sources of foreign currency earnings?for both West African countries. Ghana, like Ivory Coast is struggling to recover from the deepest economic crisis it has experienced in a decade after defaulting on and restructuring a large portion of its $30 billion debt. Ghana's cocoa regulator has found it more difficult and expensive to obtain financing for its cocoa purchases. Nearly two million cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast, and their dependents - most of whom are below the poverty level - rely on chocolate as a livelihood. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; May Angel)
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HOLD Gupta, a businessman, was denied permission to appeal the Trafigura nickel fraud case.
The 'London High Court' refused to allow Indian businessman Prateek gupta, who was found guilty of defrauding commodities trader Trafigura by using fake nickel cargoes. The Geneva-based 'Trafigura' alleged that Gupta had been the mastermind behind a fraudulent "Ponzi Scheme" where he and his firms agreed to deliver high-quality nickel 99.8% but delivered low-value materials or even worthless ones instead. Gupta admitted he didn't deliver high-grade Nickel cargoes, but said Trafigura?staff designed the scheme. Former Trafigura head nickel trader Sokratis Oikonomou denies this. Last month, Judge Pushpinder Saini found that Gupta's companies and Gupta had induced Trafigura to sign contracts by making "false and fraudulent representations". The judge said that Trafigura's ex-employees, including Oikonomou were "wholly?innocent?of any wrongdoing". Gupta asked for permission to appeal this ruling, and was?refused. However, he may still apply directly to the Court of Appeal. Nathan Pillow, Trafigura's attorney, told the hearing on Thursday that Trafigura owed an additional $140 million for interest, in addition to its $500 million principal. Trafigura's spokesperson stated that Gupta was owed $700 million, plus legal fees. The spokesperson stated that Trafigura will take action to enforce the judgment and recover the amounts awarded. Gupta’s lawyers didn’t immediately respond to an?request for comments. Gupta has agreed to limit his monthly living expenses to 5,000 pounds ($6,763.50), from 20,000 pounds. Trafigura received its first complaints in November 2022 about the cargoes that it had sold. The trial concluded in December. The discovery led Trafigura to carry out additional inspections, charge $590 million and then sue Gupta's companies in February 2023 over what they called "systematic fraud". Reporting by Sam Tobin Editing Emelia Sithole Matarise and David Goodman
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German court issues injunction against AfD party and suspends 'extremist classification' by spy agency
The BfV's domestic intelligence service cannot refer to the Alternative for Germany as a right-wing extreme for the time being, the Cologne administrative court ruled on Thursday. This is a major boost for the party ahead of five state elections in this year. The court granted the AfD's injunction to stop the?BfV from referring to the AfD as a right-wing extremist by 2025. The injunction will remain valid until a court ruling on the case is made, but when this may be is not clear. The court said in a press release that "following examination under the summary procedure it cannot be established at this time that the applicant as a person is dominated by these positions." In May, the spy agency classified the far right AfD as an "extremist", which allowed it to increase monitoring of the biggest opposition party in the country. The decision to label the AfD extremists in May triggered a flurry of reactions along the fault lines of German politics. Some lawmakers called for the AfD to be banned, while the party claimed it was an attack on democracy. The decision was also strongly criticized by the?administration of U.S. president Donald Trump, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging German authorities to reverse it. (Writing and Editing by Ludwig Burger, Madeline Chambers, and Friederike Heine)
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Ford recalls 4.3 million US cars over software issue
Ford Motor Company announced Thursday that it will recall 4.3 million SUVs, pickup trucks and pickups in the U.S. because of a software error which could cause exterior lights and trailer brakes to stop working. The recall includes the F-150 from 2021 to 2026, the F-250 SD from 2022 to 2026, the Lincoln Navigator, Expedition and Maverick, as well as some Ranger, E-Transit, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The Integrated Trailer module may not be able to communicate with the vehicle when towing a?trailer. This could lead either to a loss in brake or turn signal 'lights,' or a complete loss of brake functionality. Ford will 'fix the issue with an over-the -air software update. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that trailer lights and brakes not working can decrease the driver's control of the trailer, increasing risk?of a collision. Ford has identified 407 incidents which may be linked to the recall issue. Ford and NHTSA discussed this issue during a meeting held in December. Ford reopened their investigation in January, taking into consideration the views of NHTSA. Ford has said that it is unaware of any accidents related to the recall issue. The company stated that 'the problem may cause the trailer to stop contacting the vehicle when it is started. David Shepardson reported the story. (Editing by Louise Heavens, Mark Potter and Mark Potter).
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Sweden's Einride raises 113 million dollars ahead of US listing
Swedish autonomous trucking firm Einride announced on Thursday that it has raised $113 million in private equity investment ahead of its merger with a blank check company and public listing of shares in the U.S. scheduled for the first half. The funding 'was committed by both new and existing investors, including EQT Ventures. It will 'help support the technology roadmap of the company and its global expansion across North -America, Europe, and the Middle -East. Einride stated that the?listing? now values the company as a $1.8 billion equity value, compared to the $1.8 billion valuation when the announcement was made?in November of last year. Investors are enthused by the autonomous technology, as firms try to capitalize on the strong demand for automated cargo shipping. Investors have committed a total of $213 million to the company's public listing.
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Russia accuses Ukraine that it is threatening European energy safety with the Hungary/Slovakia Oil Stoppage
The Russian Foreign Ministry's Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of a threat to Europe's energy security by stopping the flow of?Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline into Hungary and Slovakia. Ukraine says that the pipeline has still not been repaired after being damaged by Russian air strikes in late January. On Monday, in another incident, Kyiv's drones hit a Russian pumping station servicing the same.pipeline. Hungary blocked this week new EU sanctions against?Russia, and an EU loan for Ukraine in response to the oil shutdown. Zakharova said that the inaction of Brussels is surprising because the blockage by Ukraine of the Druzhba Oil Pipeline threatens energy security for Hungary, Slovakia, and Europe as a whole. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said that Brussels had requested?Ukraine speed up repairs on the damaged pipeline. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian President, said the?day after that it could not be repaired quickly. (Reporting and writing by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Andrew Osborn).
Chinese workers in BYD Brazil factory signed contracts with violent clauses, private investigators say
The employees who taken a trip from China to northeast Brazil to build a brand-new factory for electric car maker BYD made approximately $70 per 10hour shift, over two times the Chinese per hour base pay in many areas. For numerous, that made signing up a simple decision but going out would be much harder.
The Chinese employees worked with by BYD specialist Jinjiang in Brazil needed to hand over their passports to their new company, let most of their incomes be sent out directly to China, and shell out an almost $900 deposit that they might only get back after 6 months' work, according to a labor contract seen .
The three-page file, signed by among 163 workers who labor inspectors said were freed from slavery-like. conditions last month, consists of clauses that violate labor laws. in both Brazil and China, according to Brazilian investigators. and 3 Chinese labor law professionals.
Other formerly unreported clauses gave the firm the power. to unilaterally extend the labor agreement for six months and. problem 200 yuan fines for conduct such as swearing, quarreling or. walking shirtless at the site or in their living. quarters.
Many of the stipulations are book 'warnings' of required. labor, said Aaron Halegua, an attorney and fellow at New York. University Law School, who won settlement for Chinese employees. who sued their companies for forced labor in the Northern. Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory.
He included that keeping workers' passports or needing. any type of efficiency bond or security payment would not be. allowed under Chinese laws and policies.
Jinjiang, which deals with BYD factory construction throughout. China in cities such as Changzhou, Yangzhou and Hefei, has. contested the claims, saying the findings by Brazilian labor. inspectors are irregular with the realities and the outcome of. baffled translations.
The claim that Jinjiang's workers were 'shackled' and. ' saved' is totally off base, said Jinjiang in a declaration. last month.
Alexandre Baldy, senior vice president for BYD Brasil, informed. Reuters the carmaker had no understanding of any violations until. the very first reports by Brazilian media in late November, when BYD. called Jinjiang about the claims.
Baldy and BYD Brasil President Tyler Li then met on Dec. 2. with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. They informed. Lula at the time that BYD was dealing with the problem, according to. 2 people knowledgeable about the conversation.
Lula's workplace did not instantly respond to a request for. remark.
Two weeks later, a raid by labor inspectors found the. workers living packed in accommodations without bed mattress. Thirty-one employees were packed in a single house with only one. restroom and food piled up on the ground along with personal. valuables, in what inspectors said were degrading. conditions.
Baldy rejected discussing the matter with Lula in their. meeting and stated the business had no understanding of the Jinjiang. labor agreement. BYD is taking action to make sure this. scenario never ever takes place again, he informed Reuters.
Inspectors have supplied no evidence that BYD understood of the. infractions, but BYD is straight accountable, stated Matheus. Viana, acting chief of Brazil's Department of Examination for the. Elimination of Slave Labor, due to the fact that the carmaker is accountable. for the actions of a third-party specialist on its website.
REPLACING FORD
The formerly unreported contract uses fresh details of. how a plant held up as a beacon of closer Brazil-China relations. ended up being the website of scandal for BYD in its most significant market outside. of China.
BYD concurred in late 2023 to take control of and invest greatly in. electric automobile production in an industrial park in Camaçari,. near the capital of Bahia state, the website of a Ford Motor Co. plant for two decades.
Ford abandoned the plant in 2021, firing some 5,000 employees. as it ended manufacturing in the country.
For President Lula, former head of a metalworkers union in. Sao Paulo, the BYD offer promised to deliver 21st-century. making jobs in a fortress of his Employee Celebration.
News of the big investment stirred hopes the Chinese company. would revive two times as many tasks as Ford had removed, in a. state where practically 10% of people are jobless.
However when BYD generated the Chinese professional to develop the. factory, Antonio Ubirajara Santos Souza, planner of the. regional union of building and construction employees (Sindticcc), stated it was a. sign the business didn't play reasonable.
In a declaration to Reuters, BYD stated the firm is devoted to. creating local tasks which when the factory complex is fully. functional, it will have 20,000 employees, consisting of Brazilians.
During the December raid, inspectors found copies of 10. contracts with similar provisions to those seen , they. said. Some employees informed inspectors they did not have contracts,. and others stated they just signed theirs after months in Brazil.
BYD and Jinjiang will be charged with obstructing the probe. since they did not provide inspectors with the address for the. workers' accommodations when asked for, stated Daniel Santana, a labor. inspector investigating the case, exposing the two companies to. a potential fine.
PROBE STIRS REGIONAL RESIDENTS
Numerous Chinese employees are still working at the. building website along with Brazilians, union leaders told. Reuters. Union authorities say the Brazilian employees grumbled. this month of irregularities at the website, consisting of a lack of. drinking water.
BYD shared images with Reuters of new accommodations and. snack bars it provided to staff members. Still, the regional. building and construction employees union, Sindticcc, has decided to sue both. BYD and Jinjiang over past offenses.
Local political leaders likewise raised issues about other projects. in Bahia slated for construction by Chinese firms, such as a. bridge in the state capital Salvador budgeted at 7.6 billion. reais ($ 1.28 billion), which some regional residents fear might be. the most recent in a series of tasks leaning on imported labor.
We can never bring advancement to our state at the expense of. servant labor, said Alan Sanches, a state congressman.
Bahia Governor Jeronimo Rodrigues told Reuters BYD is still. anticipated to create 10,000 local tasks and that the state can not. lose that opportunity. Still, he said, BYD needs to offer work. in good conditions.
Julio Bonfim, head of the metalworkers union of Camaçari,. stated he currently alerted BYD officials that his office will not. accept Brazilians losing out on job opportunities to workers. brought from China.
If that happens, he said, the factory will face its very first. strike under BYD before production even begins..
(source: Reuters)