At least two private equity funds are seeking to acquire stakes in Venezuelan companies that have survived the country's economic crisis, spurred in part by optimism that the Biden administration could ease sanctions on the South American nation, according to a dozen sources familiar with the talks.

Rising demand for lithium is stoking prices for the electric vehicle battery metal, fueling long-delayed expansions that still may not produce adequate supplies that automakers need to meet aggressive production plans.

* India medical oxygen production up 10-fold (Adds detail from call)

A mixed martial arts fighter who joined anti-coup protests in Myanmar was wounded by a homemade bomb and later arrested, the military said on Thursday, among blasts in at least three cities as the junta battles to assert its control of the country.

Volkswagen is looking for outside money in its plan to build up to six battery cell factories in Europe by 2030, Chief Executive Herbert Diess said on Thursday, adding he was open to listing some of those activities on the stock exchange.

Linde , the world's largest industrial gases company, hiked its 2021 earnings forecast on Thursday, as a strong performance in its healthcare and electronics businesses helped it beat first quarter forecasts.

The European Union's top court on Thursday upheld the EU's partial ban on three insecticides linked to harming bees, preventing their use on certain crops.

The European Union's top court on Thursday upheld the EU's partial ban on three insecticides linked to harming bees, preventing their use on certain crops.

* Quarterly results beat expectations (Adds background, CFO quote)

Solvay said on Wednesday it expects free cash flow to reach the upper end of its 2021 guidance range after the Belgian chemicals group beat first-quarter earnings expectations, helped by cost cuts and strong automotive sales.