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Trump tariffs on Brazil's chemical exporters lead to order cancellations
Brazilian chemical companies, who exported $2.4 billion in products to the U.S. during the past year, are facing a wave of contract cancellations, as President Donald Trump threatened a new tariff of 50% on Brazil's exports starting August 1. Andre Cordeiro of Brazilian chemical lobby Abiquim said that since Trump's announcement export orders for certain resins, compounds and other materials used in the production of fertilizers have been cancelled. Brazil supplies these products to the U.S. agricultural sector. Cordeiro explained that "fundamentally these decisions are made because it is bet on whether he will apply the tariff." Cordeiro added that some other companies have also had contracts cancelled. In some cases, sellers have secured export finance for an order that was later revoked. He refused to identify the exporters. He said that the losses associated with tariffs extend beyond direct exports. Almost every industry, from steel to oil, machinery to agricultural products, uses chemicals to manufacture their products. No one can produce coffee or grains without using some type of chemical product. Cordeiro said that the chemical industry is losing both export business as well as local sales from clients who export goods to the U.S. He said that Brazilian plywood exporters use chemicals to bond and have themselves faced cancellations of orders from the United States. Chemical preservatives are also used by orange juice producers, who sent 42% their exports to America last year. Brazilian companies such as Braskem could be affected by the U.S. Dow Chemical, with its 10 plants in Brazil, and large exports of silicon for processing to the U.S. is also in danger. Braskem and Dow have not yet commented. Exxon Mobil operates in Brazil, but declined to comment. It serves clients from various industries. Abiquim said that tariffs were unjustified due to Brazil's chemical industry running a trade deficit of $7.9 billion with the U.S. (Reporting and editing by David Gregorio.)
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MSF reports that at least 652 Nigerian children have died of malnutrition during the last six months.
Medecins Sans Frontieres reported on Friday that at least 652 children in Nigeria's state of Katsina died of malnutrition during the first half of 2025. The organization attributed this to the funding cuts made by international donors. Insecurity is a problem in Katsina in the north. MSF (also known as Doctors Without Borders) said that the massive budget cuts in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union are having a real impact on malnourished children. The United Nations Food Agency announced on Wednesday that it would be forced to stop food and nutrition assistance for 1.3 millions people in the northeast of Nigeria, which is ravaged by insurgency. Stocks have run low. The United States withdrew funding from the health sector, and Nigeria budgeted 200 billion Naira ($130million) to cover the shortfall. MSF reported that the number of Katsina children with severe malnutrition increased by 208% in comparison to the same period in the previous year. "Unfortunately, 652 children have died in our facilities as of the start of 2025." Insecurity in Katsina has forced many to abandon their farms due to banditry. In an effort to curb the activities of criminals, both the government and local vigilante groups have worked together.
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It's time to get rid of capital gains tax on your house.
The original version of this article was published in On The Money, a newsletter that shares personal finance insights and tips from the United States every two weeks. Subscribe here to get it free. It's time to get rid of capital gains tax on your house. My humble opinion: The most important personal finance story! This week, President Donald Trump has announced that he is considering eliminating capital gains taxes from home sales. Trump told reporters at the Oval Office that if the Fed lowered the rates, then we wouldn't have to do anything. "But we're thinking of no tax on capital gain on houses." According to current law, homeowners may exclude up $250,000 (single filers), or $500,000 for joint filers (increased gains) from the sale of their primary residence. These thresholds are unchanged since 1997. According to a study by the National Association of Realtors, 34% of homeowners (30 million) have equity in their home that exceeds the $250,000 threshold. More than 10% (8 millions) have equity enough to go beyond the $500,000 limit. Recently, Congress passed legislation to make permanent the tax cuts that were passed during Trump's first term in office. The bill also fulfills Trump's election promises by including new tax breaks for seniors, auto loans, tips, overtime pay and seniors. Who could benefit from the end of capital gains tax on home sales? Would you be more likely to sell your home if capital gains tax were eliminated? Would you be more inclined to sell your house? Let me know what you think by writing to me. It's a Gas Recently, have you noticed lower gas prices? U.S. gas prices may fall below $3 per gallon for the first summer in four years, as bad weather has dampened fuel demand. Imports have also risen to fill up inventories. Gasoline is at a low price, which is great news for Americans who are traveling this summer. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, consumers faced record-high prices at the pump. The summer is usually the U.S.'s peak gasoline season, but this year the demand has been lower. The U.S. gasoline demand is expected to drop permanently from its 2018 peak due to the increased use of fuel-efficient cars and changes in driving habits following the pandemic. What will be the impact of lower gas prices on your driving habits and how? READ, WATCH and LISTEN Coke's switch to cane sugar will be costly and hurt US farmers Goldman and BNY launch tokens linked to money market funds Trump Executive Order to Open Up 401(ks) to Private Markets Delta's plans to use AI for ticket pricing is criticized by US lawmakers Luxury heavyweights battle to overcome shopper fatigue What's behind the recent rally in meme stock? How Americans deal with late career layoffs Portfolio manager: Don't risk everything, but preserve capital Big Alcohol is ready to fight back against buzzy cannabis drinks that steal sales Are you holding too much technology? Are you bursting at the seams with technology stocks in your portfolio? Due to the recent strong performance of technology stocks, equity investors may be overweighting them. The Magnificent 7 stocks have risen by almost 25% over the last year, compared to 17% growth for the Nasdaq Composite Index. The performance of the Magnificent 7 (which includes Google, Tesla and others) has been mixed in recent years. They have all recovered since April after a fallout following Donald Trump’s "Liberation Day", which announced sweeping tariffs around the world. According to LSEG Datastream, the group accounted for one-third the weight of S&P 500 on Friday due to its massive market cap. This is their biggest combined presence since the beginning of the year. My retirement portfolio is made up of target-date funds that are rebalanced regularly. The tech sector is at 24% which is slightly lower than the average. Have you rebalanced your portfolio recently? Tell me what you think about the Magnificent 7 or the tech sector in general! (by Lauren Young)
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Arpege, a Parisian restaurant with three Michelin stars, switches to plant-based meals
Alain Passard is a French chef who has mastered the art of roasting. He decided to remove almost all animal products in his Arpege restaurant. Arpege had already eliminated red meat in its dishes back in the early 2000s. Passard's new menu will exclude meat, dairy and fish. However, honey from the restaurant's beehives is an exception. Passard said that his passion for the natural world motivated him. He added that seasonal vegetables could also help reduce the environmental impact of a restaurant. Passard's 68-year-old fame was largely due to his roast dishes such as "poulet à foin", or chicken cooked with hay. But he has become a leading figure in the growing vegetable dining scene in Paris. Passard said, "Everything I did with the animal is a memory that will last a lifetime." Today, I'm more inclined to a cuisine of emotions, a culinary style that I would describe as artistic. It's more like painting and sewing... today I'm a new chef. Arpege, the first three-star restaurant in France, has made the switch to plant-based foods. It joins Eleven Madison Park, a New York restaurant that did the same under the chef Daniel Humm. The menu includes a "mosaic", a tomato dish, aubergine flambée with melon confit and a carrot, onion and shallot dish. The most expensive set menu is 420 euros (about $493) and the lunch cost 260 euros. In recent years, meat consumption has declined in some countries. Organisers of the Paris Olympics in 2012 set out to reduce the amount meat served to spectators and athletes. ($1 = 0.8526 euro) (Reporting and writing by Noemie Olivier and Lauren Bacquie; Editing and proofreading by Gabriel Stargardter, Louise Heavens and Lauren Bacquie)
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Holtec's request for restarting Michigan nuclear plant is approved by the NRC
Holtec International has received approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to submit a number of requests that will lay the foundation for the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan. The agency and the company announced this on Thursday. Holtec will be able to load fuel with the approvals, but it will still need additional approvals for the plant that ceased operation under a new owner in May 2022. Holtec plans to restart the Palisades plant, a decommissioned 800 megawatt facility. It will also install two small modular units (SMRs) based on the existing technology of light water reactors (LWRs), at the same site. Holtec, in partnership with Hyundai Construction, plans to build ten gigawatts worth of SMRs across North America by 2030, starting first at Palisades. Holtec purchased the plant in order to decommission, but hopes to now reopen it. It is the first U.S. Commercial reactor to restart operations after ceasing to operate. Holtec stated that "Once Palisades is returned to service it will generate over 800 megawatts (safe, reliable and carbon-free) of baseload power, enough to power 800,000 homes... increase grid reliability and meet growing energy demands in Michigan and beyond." The company did not specify a date for the start-up. Holtec announced in March that it hoped to reopen its plant by the fourth quarter 2025. The NRC stated that "while these NRC approvals allow Holtec fuel to be loaded, there are several licensing actions still under NRC review, and additional requirements need to meet before the plant can begin operating under its original operating license which expires March 24, 2031," The NRC transferred the operating authority of PNP from Holtec Decommissioning International LLC to Palisades and restored key documents including emergency plans, security plans, and maintenance and inspection programmes. (Reporting by Sarah Qureshi in Bengaluru Editing by Marguerita Choy)
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Three trapped workers are rescued from Newmont's Red Chris Mine in Canada
Newmont said that three contract workers were rescued from the Red Chris copper-and-gold mine in British Columbia after 60 hours of being underground. Bernard Wessels said that some operations have been resumed at the mine, but the underground mine is still suspended. He made this statement at a Newmont news conference. Wessels stated that Newmont would reopen its underground mine following a thorough investigation of the incident. Kevin Coumbs (Hy-Tech Drilling), Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty, were trapped in the mine after two "falls of ground" at the accessway. The walls and floors collapsing in a mine is a serious safety concern for the mining industry. The miners were sheltered in the designated refuge bay of the mine for two days. Wessels stated that the men were "in good spirits" and had walked themselves to their vehicle. They were also relieved to have escaped. He added that the three miners stayed where they were told to stay and followed all safety protocols. Newmont owns 70% of the mine and Imperial Metals Corp. holds the remaining 30%. Wessels stated that Newmont conducted a thorough psychological check on the miners. Newmont says it conducts monthly investigations into its operations and that this incident was a surprise to the company. Newmont acquired the Red Chris mine in 2023 as part of its larger purchase of Australian miner Newcrest. Red Chris has two mines, an open-pit mine and an underground mine.
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Copper demand falls ahead of critical week
The dollar rose on Friday, and copper prices dropped. Physical buyers took a break ahead of the week which could be pivotal in bringing clarity to the U.S. tariffs on imports of copper and the U.S. agreements with other nations. The price of three-month copper at the London Metal Exchange fell by 1.0%, to $9,772 per ton, as of 1600 GMT. This was below the 21-day average, which is $9,802. The COMEX copper contracts, which reached a record-high of $5.959 per lb last Thursday, fell 0.9% to $5.752 and were trading at a premium of 30% over the LME benchmark. The premium is still below the proposed 50% tariff by President Donald Trump, as the market awaits confirmation of the deadline of August 1, and the list of copper products that will be affected. Will the announcement of the tariff be delayed because there is so much uncertainty? Will there be any exemptions?" Alastair Munro is a senior base metals analyst at Marex. Chile, Canada, and Mexico are the U.S.'s main copper suppliers. The current copper prices have slowed down physical buying. This was a very active activity when the price of copper was $9,600 around mid-July. However, the availability of relatively little stock in LME registered warehouses has also been reduced. Munro said that the support is being provided ahead of September which is a time of seasonal growth in demand. The Shanghai Futures Exchange monitors copper inventories in storage warehouses The exchange reported that the number of metric tons fell by 13% to 73 423 this week. This is the lowest level since last December. The U.S. already has trade agreements with Japan Indonesia and the Philippines. Trump will be in Scotland this Friday to inaugurate a new golf course and to meet British Prime Minister Keir starmer. Trade talks between the United States and China are scheduled to begin next week in Sweden. LME aluminium dropped 0.5% to $2.632 per ton. Zinc fell 0.7% to $2.823; lead slipped 0.4% to $1,015; tin declined 1.3% to $34,050, and nickel fell 1.8% to $15,170. (Reporting and editing by Kirsten Doovan, Vijay Kishore, and Paul Simao; Reporting by Polina Devitt)
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Sources say that Citigroup's head for energy transition has moved to Moelis.
Citigroup's global director of clean energy investment banking will leave the U.S. bank to advise on mergers and acquistions at boutique Moelis. This was confirmed by people familiar with this matter on Friday. Serge Tismen will officially join Moelis at the end of September after a gardening leave. One source said that he will advise clients of the bank on all aspects of dealmaking and will be reporting to Anton Sahazizian who is the head of Moelis mergers and acquistions. I was unable contact Tismen to get a comment. Citi and Moelis spokespeople declined to comment. LinkedIn shows that Tismen worked at Citi's Investment Bank for over two decades. He took over the leadership of a new division in 2021 to attract more business from companies that are working to reduce carbon emissions by developing hydrogen fuel, vehicle charger infrastructure, carbon sequestration, and biofuels. Donald Trump has been putting pressure on the U.S. government to promote clean energy. His administration has attempted to rollback environmental regulations, and measures that were put in place by the former president Joe Biden to encourage renewable energies. Trump has canceled tax credits that support renewable energy generation and ordered the Department of the Interior review any regulations that favor wind and solar power over other sources of energy. The rest of 2025 is expected to be a year of significant deal-making, and the forecast includes a number of mega-mergers. (Reporting and editing by David French, David Gregorio, and Isla Binne in New York)
The key facilities of Iran's nuclear program
The Omani Foreign Minister said that a sixth round of U.S. - Iran nuclear talks would be held in Muscat on Sunday, following the announcement by U.S. president Donald Trump that Tehran will not be permitted to possess a nuclear device.
Trump stated on Wednesday that U.S. military personnel are being removed from the Middle East, because it "could be a dangerous area".
Here are some of Iran’s most important nuclear facilities.
Where are Iran's nuclear facilities?
The Iranian nuclear programme is spread out over many different locations. Despite the fact that Israel has been threatening airstrikes for decades, some sites are only built underground.
IRAN HAS A NUCLEAR WEAPONS SYSTEM?
The United States, as well as the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, believe that Iran had a secret and coordinated nuclear weapons program which it stopped in 2003. The Islamic Republic has denied ever possessing or planning one.
Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities as part of a 2015 agreement with world powers. The deal fell apart in 2018, when Trump, then in his first term of office as president, pulled out the United States and Iran began to abandon the restrictions.
IS IRAN INCREASING ITS URANIUM ENRICHMENT?
Yes. Since the deal fell apart, Iran has expanded its uranium-enrichment programme. The time it takes to reach weapons-grade uranium to build a nuclear weapon is now days or a little over a week instead of a year as was the case under the 2015 agreement.
It would take more time to actually make a bomb using that material. The exact time is not known and the debate continues.
Iran enriches uranium up to 60% fissile purity, which is close to 90% weapons-grade. It has two sites where it does this. In theory, the country could make six bombs if they enriched the material further.
NATANZ
Complex at the centre of Iran's nuclear enrichment program, located on a plain bordering mountains south of Tehran in the Shi'ite holy city of Qom. Natanz is home to two enrichment facilities: the massive, underground Fuel Enrichment plant (FEP) as well as the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plan (PFEP).
In 2002, an exiled Iranian group revealed that Iran was building secretly Natanz. This sparked a diplomatic standoff with the West over Iran's nuclear intentions. The standoff continues to this day.
The FEP is a facility designed for commercial enrichment, with a capacity of 50,000 centrifuges. There are approximately 16,000 centrifuges installed, of which 13,000 are operational, and they refine uranium up to 5% purity.
The FEP is described by diplomats who are familiar with Natanz as being three floors underground. It has been a long-running debate as to how much damage Israeli aircraft could cause.
Other means of damage have been used to destroy centrifuges in the FEP, including an explosion that occurred and a power outage in April 2021 which Iran claimed was an Israeli attack.
The PFEP above ground houses only hundreds centrifuges, but Iran enriches up to 60% purity here.
FORDOW
Fordow, on the other side of Qom is a site for enrichment dug into the mountain. It's probably better protected against potential bombardment as the FEP.
Iran was not allowed to enrich at Fordow under the 2015 agreement with major powers. The centrifuges are mostly advanced IR-6 machines. Up to 350 of these can enrich up to 60%.
In 2009, the United States announced that Iran has been building Fordow secretly for years without informing the IAEA. Then, U.S. president Barack Obama stated: "The size of the facility and its configuration are inconsistent with a peace programme."
ISFAHAN
Iran's second-largest city, Isfahan has a major nuclear technology center on its outskirts.
The facility includes the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant and the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), which can convert uranium to uranium hexafluoride, which is then fed into centrifuges.
Diplomats claim that Iran stores uranium enriched at Isfahan.
There is equipment at Isfahan to make uranium metal, a process that is particularly proliferation-sensitive since it can be used to devise the core of a nuclear bomb.
Isfahan will be a new location for 2022, according to the IAEA. It has machines that can make centrifuge components.
KHONDAB
Iran has a heavy-water reactor that is partially constructed. It was originally named Arak, and it's now called Khondab. Heavy-water reactors are a risk for nuclear proliferation because they produce plutonium easily, which can be used, just like enriched Uranium, to create the core of atom bombs.
The 2015 agreement saw construction halted and the core of the reactor removed, then filled with concrete, rendering it useless. The reactor would be redesigned to "minimize the production of Plutonium and not produce weapon-grade Plutonium during normal operation". Iran informed the IAEA it planned to begin operating the reactor by 2026.
TEHRAN RESERVE CENTRE
The Iranian nuclear research facilities at Tehran include a reactor for research.
BUSHEHR
The only nuclear power plant in Iran, located on the Gulf Coast, uses Russian fuel, which Russia takes back after it has been used, reducing proliferation risks.
(source: Reuters)