Latest News
-
MAHA Report on US Children's Health Targets Food and Drug Marketing
In its second report, released on Tuesday, the Commission "Make America Health Again" said that it will tackle what is perceived as an epidemic among American children. It has called for changes, such as full-fat dairy in cafeterias, and to limit marketing of drugs and food. The commission was established by Donald Trump via an executive order, and is led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a longtime anti-vaccine activist. It builds on the findings of a commission report from May. This report linked the rising rates of childhood diabetes, obesity, autism and ADHD to processed foods, overprescriptions of medications, and vaccinations. The report also alarms food industry groups by pointing out pesticides such as glyphosate - a key ingredient in weedkillers that has been the subject of thousands lawsuits - as a possible health risk. Sources first received drafts of the latest strategy document in early August. It calls for changes to school meals, including full-fat dairy products, and suggests investigating vaccines and prescription drug safety. The report does not recommend any changes to the U.S. approval or regulatory process for agrochemicals, which is a major demand from some MAHA activists. The report states that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will instead work to increase public confidence in their pesticide review processes and reform their agrochemical approval processes to ensure "timely availability" of these chemicals to farmers. Last month, health advocates and other experts stated that the draft recommendations lack scientific basis and do not address the true causes of poor child health. The report calls on increased federal oversight and enforcement for direct-to consumer prescription drug advertising. It places a particular focus on violations that involve children, social media and telehealth. In order to combat misleading marketing, the report proposes to explore new guidelines that limit direct advertising to children of unhealthy food. The Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture should work together with restaurants to raise awareness and educate children about healthy foods that are age-appropriate. Peter Lurie of the Center for Science in the Public Interest told the media ahead of the publication of the report that "the topics (Kennedy), wishes to focus on are not the main causes of chronic diseases and many are missing (tobacco reduction, alcohol reduction, sodium reduction, sugar reduction)." The contents of the previous report had also been criticized by industry groups. After the release of the MAHA Commission's first report, more than 250 groups representing farmers and ranchers as well as agrochemical firms called for greater participation in the activities of the Commission. In response, the White House held meetings with farm and food groups during the summer. Kennedy stated during a Senate Hearing last week that HHS met with 140 agricultural interests in the last three months. He said, "We consult every stakeholder within the farming community on everything we do." Focus on Nutrition, Not Regulation The report suggests that some meat-processing plants and farms should loosen their water discharge standards and other pollution standards. The report includes a number of policy recommendations, including the creation of a National Institutes of Health Chronic Disease Task Force and a government-defined definition of "ultraprocessed foods." It also proposes restrictions on artificial food dyes that, according to a May report, were potentially associated with autism. However, this was not backed up by any evidence. Kennedy has in the past promoted debunked claims that vaccines cause autism. This area is a controversial one. The report recommended that the EPA work with Agriculture Department in order to promote precision pesticide applications with the goal of reducing the overall use of pesticides. However, it did not recommend any regulatory action. In the report, it was recommended that the EPA, USDA and NIH collaborate to develop a framework for studying cumulative chemical exposures. This includes pesticides. The report recommends using advanced methods that use human-relevant models in research. Pesticides have exposed a growing divide between MAHA activists, and Republican politicians who are closely linked to the agriculture industry. In August, hundreds sent a protest letter to the White House against a proposal by Congress that would shield manufacturers of pesticides and "forever chemicals" from lawsuits. Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington and Leah Douglas, Renee Hickman and Waylon Cunningham from Chicago and New York. Editing by Caroline Humer & Bill Berkrot.
-
Bolsonaro is called the leader of a coup attempt by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice
Brazilian As he cast his first vote in the last phase of Jair Bolsonaro's trial, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes labelled the former president as the leader of a group of criminals that attempted to overturn 2022 elections. Bolsonaro will be sentenced within a few days for orchestrating a coup attempt to stay in power following his defeat by Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, formerly the leftist president, after he lost the 2022 presidential election. The charges are the result of a massive investigation which has revealed alleged plots. These include plans to assassinate Moraes who presided over the 2022 elections, and is now in charge of the coup trials. Bolsonaro is accused of being a member of an armed criminal group, trying to violently eliminate democracy, organizing a military coup, damaging government property, and protecting cultural assets. His lawyers maintain his innocence in all cases. Bolsonaro is accused of inciting riots when he allegedly incited thousands of his supporters to storm and destroy the Congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court of Brasilia in the capital of the country in January 2023. Moraes, the first of five members in a panel of justices to start public deliberations Monday, was the member who began it. He said that the crimes alleged had been acknowledged by the high courts in previous rulings, and the task now is to find the perpetrators. Moraes stated that "there is no doubt" that an attempt was made to eliminate the democratic rule-of-law, that a coup was attempted, and there was a criminal group that damaged public property. Moraes' role in the case made him a targeted by Bolsonaro allies. This included U.S. president Donald Trump and his government, who imposed sanctions against the judge and imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports into the U.S. After Moraes is expected to vote Justice Flavio Dino. He was Lula's former Justice Minister. Luiz Fux will follow him, followed by Carmen Lucia and Cristiano Zánin, an ex-attorney for Lula, who preside over the panel. The panel does not include two Supreme Court Justices who were appointed by Bolsonaro. The verdict is expected to be announced by the end this week. Bolsonaro could face a sentence of over 40 years if convicted. However, the maximum prison term in Brazil is 40 years. Bolsonaro may be able to avoid the full sentence even if convicted. His supporters, who are already barred from him running for office before 2030, hope that a future president will grant a pardon. Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas The former Bolsonaro cabinet member, who pushed Congress to grant amnesty to the ex-president last week, was seen by many as positioning the Governor as the heir apparent to Bolsonaro’s coalition for next year’s elections. (Reporting and writing by Ricardo Brito, Brendan O'Boyle and Isabel Teles; editing by Sharon Singleton Brad Haynes and Paul Simao).
-
EIA: US natgas production and demand will reach record highs by 2025, before declining in 2026
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its Short-Term Energy Outlook Tuesday, predicting that the U.S. Natural Gas Production and Demand will both reach record highs by 2025 before declining in 2026. EIA predicted that dry gas production would rise from 103.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2024 to a record 106.6 bcfd by 2025, before slipping to 106.0 bcfd by 2026. This compares to a record of 103.6 bcfd for 2023. The agency also predicted that domestic gas consumption will rise from 90.5 bcfd, a record in 2024, to 91.5bcfd by 2025. It then eases to 91.4bcfd by 2026. The EIA forecasts for August 2025 for production and demand were lower than the September projections. EIA expects falling oil prices and rising gas prices in 2026. This should result in crude oil's lowest premium over gas since 2005. The agency expects that drilling activities in the U.S. will be centered more in regions with high gas production in 2026. The agency predicted that average U.S. LNG exports will rise to 16.3 bcfd by 2026, from 11.9 bcfd at the record level in 2024. The EIA predicted that U.S. coal output would increase from 512.1 million short tonnes in 2024 (the lowest since 1964) to 521.9 millions tons in 2020, before dropping to 492.5 millions tons in 2030, the lowest level since 1963. EIA predicted that carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from fossil fuels will rise from a low of 4,777 billion metric tonnes in 2024, to 4.849 in 2025, as oil, gas and coal use increase, before decreasing to 4.826 in 2026, as oil and coal usage decline. (Reporting and editing by Mark Porter, David Gregorio and Scott DiSavino)
-
EU split over climate target, deal next week in doubt, draft shows
The latest compromise proposal from the European Union showed that there is a split among member states over how ambitious they want to be with their new climate target. This puts into question plans to reach a deal by next week. EU countries are currently negotiating a legally-binding 2040 climate change goal, which their ministers were planning to approve on a September 18 summit. This move is intended to reaffirm EU commitment to fighting climate change in advance of this year's U.N. global climate negotiations at the COP30. France, Poland, and the Czech Republic, for example, want to postpone the agreement and escalate the discussions to the government leaders. Climate change has caused Europe to become the fastest-warming continental in the world, unleashing deadly fires and heat. But the target has stoked tensions between governments over how much they should invest on global warming while also trying to increase defense spending and support struggling industry. The latest compromise proposal from the member countries shows that governments are divided on how much of the emission target can be achieved by purchasing foreign carbon credits, which would reduce the effort required by European industries. The document, which was dated 9 September and seen by, stated that "the level, timing, and conditions of international carbon credit contributions to the 2040 goal, require political discussions." The ambassadors of EU countries will discuss this on Friday. Overall, the goal would be to reduce net EU greenhouse gas emission by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040. A portion of this could be covered by purchasing foreign carbon credits. In 2036, the Commission proposed that countries purchase credits to cover 3% each of their 2040 emission target. In the compromise proposal these numbers are now surrounded by brackets, which indicates that countries have not agreed on them. Document was written by Denmark which currently holds the rotating EU presidency. A spokesperson for Denmark’s EU presidency stated that it had spoken with each EU member state before writing the compromise. They are still trying to reach an agreement next week. If the EU fails to reach a deal by next week, it could miss the mid-September deadline for submitting new climate plans to U.N. in time for the global COP Climate Summit in November. The draft also showed that other changes to the proposal will give countries more assurances about the EU's future green policies and their impact on industry when they are designed.
-
Gold rallies to a new record high on U.S. interest rate cuts and Fed tension
Gold reached a record-high above $3,600 per ounce on February 2, fueled by investors' and central bankers' demand and expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts. Gold spot was trading at around $3,637.39 per troy ounce by 1524 GMT, a rise of over 38% this year. Analysts predict that gold will trade between $3,600 and $3900 in the short to medium term. They also expect it to reach $4,000 in 2019 if geopolitical and economic uncertainties continue. In a survey published in July, analysts predicted that gold prices would average $3,220 an ounce this year, compared to $3,065 per ounce in April and $2,756 per ounce in January. Ricardo Evangelista is a senior analyst at ActivTrades. He said that the dollar's bearish outlook, based on expectations of Fed cutbacks, investors' distancing themselves from U.S. investments, and tariff-related uncertainty, supports gold. Since President Donald Trump returned in January, the dollar has dropped by nearly 11%. The expectation of more rate cuts in the U.S. will further weaken the U.S. dollar, which makes gold denominated in dollars cheaper for holders of foreign currencies. According to CME Group's FedWatch, traders see a 92% probability of a rate cut of 25 basis points in September at the Fed meeting. Trump's criticisms of Powell, and his attempts to remove Lisa Cook as Governor have raised concerns about the Fed's autonomy and led to further gold purchases. Carsten Menke, Julius Baer's analyst, said: "The most bullish factor is...potential interference with the U.S. Federal Reserve as well as concerns over the dollar's position as a safe haven." Security concerns from the Middle East, as well as between Russia and Ukraine, are also factors that have boosted gold's appeal. Gold purchases by central banks, such as China's, have also boosted gold prices. The World Gold Council reports that central banks are planning to increase the gold portion in their reserves, while decreasing dollar reserves, over the next five-year period. Exchange traded gold funds that are backed by physical gold have also seen significant increases in assets. The SPDR Gold Trust is the largest physical gold exchange traded fund in the world. Its holdings rose to 990.56 tonnes on September 2, a 12% rise so far this season and the highest since August 2022.
-
Trump EPA wants to accelerate AI infrastructure permits
The Environmental Protection Agency proposed on Tuesday new measures to speed up the construction of infrastructure required for rapid building of data centers in artificial intelligence. This would allow companies to begin building before obtaining an air permit. The proposal comes just six months after the EPA launched an initiative called Powering the Great American Comeback, which emphasized the agency's priority on quickly building power generation in order to meet the soaring demands from data centers. Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator, said: "Clean Air Act permits have been a barrier to innovation and growth for years." "We will continue to fix this broken process." The EPA proposal redefines the pre-construction requirements of power plants, manufacturing and other infrastructure. This will allow companies to begin some construction without regard to air emission before obtaining Clean Air Act permits. The Trump administration is focused on winning the race for rapid development and scaling-up of AI throughout the nation. It has already launched an executive action package aimed at increasing energy supply in order to fuel its expansion. The United States and China, two of the world's most powerful economic rivals, are engaged in a technology arms race for an economic and a military advantage. AI's massive data processing requires an increase in energy supplies, which is straining many utilities and grids. New Source Review Program of the Clean Air Act will not permit construction of major installations before they have obtained air permits. The EPA, under the Trump administration has taken what it describes as the biggest deregulatory action in its decades-long history. This includes a move that would repeal the scientific and law foundations for regulating greenhouse gases, which most scientists and ecologists agree are driving climate change. (Reporting and Editing by Bill Berkrot.)
-
Reactions to Israel's attack against Hamas leaders Qatar
Israel attacked the Hamas leadership in Qatar, where this Palestinian Islamist group had long been based. Here are some comments from state and national leaders in response. ISRAELI PREMIER MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU "Today's operation against top terrorist leaders of Hamas is a completely independent Israeli operation. Israel is fully responsible for the event, as it was Israel who initiated, conducted and conducted it. "Qatar condemns the cowardly Israeli assault that targeted the residential buildings in Doha, the Qatari capital where several members of Hamas' Political Bureau resided." This criminal attack is a flagrant violation of international law and norms and poses a grave threat to the safety and security of Qataris. Majed al Ansari, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said on X that "While Qatar condemns the attack, it confirms it will not accept this reckless Israeli behavior and the disruption of regional stability, nor any acts that target its security or sovereignty." UNITED NATIONS SECRETAIRE-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES Israel's strikes violate Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity in a flagrant manner. Guterres said that all parties should work to achieve a ceasefire permanent, and not destroy it. POPE LEO Israel's recent attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar is a very serious matter. Leo told ANSA that the situation was very serious outside of Castel Gandolfo - the papal summer residence. SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia denounces the Israeli aggression in the strongest possible terms and condemns the flagrant violation to the sovereignty of Qatar, a sisterly state. The Foreign Ministry warned of "the dire consequences that will result from Israel's persistent criminal violations of international law, and its flagrant violation of all international norms and principles." LEBANESE PRESIDENT, JOSEPH AOUUN It is part of a series of Israeli aggressions that demonstrate Israel's determination to attack all efforts to achieve security and stability in the region. IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY Iranian media reported that the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said Israel's attacks on Hamas officials were 'dangerous,' and violated international law. UAE FOREIGN MODERATION The United Arab Emirates condemn the "blatantly cowardly" Israeli attacks on Qatar. This is a dangerous escalation which violates international law as well as the sovereignty of another Gulf state. In a recent statement, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that the UAE is fully in solidarity with Qatar. The UAE also supports all efforts to ensure its security. Turkey The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Israel's targeting of Hamas's negotiating team while ceasefire negotiations continue is a sign that it does not want peace but instead wants to continue the war. This situation is a clear indication that Israel's expansionist policies in the Middle East and its terrorism policy are a part of their state policy.
-
Reactions to Israel's attack against Hamas leaders Qatar
Israel attacked the Hamas leadership in Qatar, where this Palestinian Islamist group had long been based. Here are some comments from state and national leaders in response. ISRAELI PREMIER MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU "Today's operation against top terrorist leaders of Hamas is a completely independent Israeli operation. Israel is fully responsible for the event, as it was Israel who initiated, conducted and took full responsibility." "Qatar condemns the cowardly Israeli assault that targeted the residential buildings in Doha, the Qatari capital where several members of Hamas' Political Bureau resided." This criminal attack is a flagrant violation of international law and norms and poses a grave threat to the safety and security of Qataris. Majed al Ansari, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said on X that "While Qatar condemns the attack, it confirms it will not accept this reckless Israeli behavior and the disruption of regional stability, nor any acts that target its security or sovereignty." UNITED NATIONS SECRETAIRE-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES Israel's strikes violate Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity in a flagrant manner. Guterres said that all parties should work to achieve a ceasefire permanent, and not destroy it. POPE LEO Israel's recent attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar is a very serious matter. Leo told ANSA that the situation was very serious outside of Castel Gandolfo - the papal summer residence. SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia denounces the Israeli aggression in the strongest possible terms and condemns the flagrant violation to the sovereignty of Qatar, a sisterly state. The Foreign Ministry warned of the "dangerous consequences" of Israel's persistent criminality and its flagrant violation of all international laws and norms. LEBANESE PRESIDENT, JOSEPH AOUUN It is part of a series of Israeli aggressions that demonstrate Israel's determination to attack all efforts to achieve security and stability in the countries within the region. IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY Iranian media reported that the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said Israel's attacks on Hamas officials were 'dangerous,' and violated international law. UAE FOREIGN MODERATION The United Arab Emirates condemn the "blatantly cowardly" Israeli attacks on Qatar. This is a dangerous escalation which violates international law as well as the sovereignty of another Gulf state. In a recent statement, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that the UAE is fully in solidarity with Qatar. The UAE also supports all efforts to ensure its security.
What is Trump's new reciprocal tariff regime?
U.S. president Donald Trump has shattered a global trading system that dates back more than 75 years with a new 10% U.S. baseline tariff on all goods and higher reciprocal rates of tariffs for countries that, according to his administration, have high barriers against U.S. imported goods.
Here are some of the key features of Trump's new tariff regime, as detailed by his executive order.
High Tariffs on Major Trade Partners
The reciprocal rate is meant to capture policies like currency manipulation, lax laws on pollution and labor, and burdensome regulations which keep U.S. goods out of foreign market.
The European Union is hit with a tariff of 20% by the United States. This will increase to 45% in Vietnam, 24% in Japan, 25% in South Korea, and 26% in India.
China, with a $295 billion trade surplus in 2024, will receive a reciprocal tariff of 34%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that this rate would increase to 54% if combined with Trump's February 20% duties imposed due to the U.S. overdose crisis. Trump promised to impose a 60% tariff on Chinese goods as part of his election campaign in 2024.
Britain, Brazil, and Singapore, who had trade deficits last year with the U.S., were still given the 10% baseline rate. White House officials claimed that many countries would have higher deficits with the U.S., if they had fairer policies.
The U.S. Office of the Trade Representative reported that Russia would not be on Trump's list despite a $2.5 Billion goods trade surplus in 2024 with the U.S.
REPRIEVE MEXICO AND CANADA
The tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico have not been reciprocated because Trump has maintained his 25% fentanyl duty, as well as 10% for Canadian potash and energy.
The tariff exemption will be in effect for all goods that comply with the U.S., Mexico and Canada Agreement on Trade. This is a welcome relief to U.S. automobile manufacturers. Trump previously stated that the USMCA exclusion granted a month earlier would expire on Tuesday.
Officials said that the fentanyl tariffs would remain in place until conditions regarding drug trafficking and migration at borders improve. If they are removed, a 12% import duty will replace them for products not complying with USMCA origin rules.
METALS, AUTOS TARIFFS A DIFFERENT THING
Certain tariffs will not stack on top the reciprocal duty. Imports subject to a separate 25% tariff under Section 232 of Trade Act of 1962, such as autos, auto parts, and steel and aluminum, will be excluded.
This exemption also applies to other sectors that are subject to Section 232 investigations or could be investigated in the future, such as copper, lumber and semiconductors. In a future annex, other products will be listed as exempt, such as certain minerals, energy, and energy products.
IMPLEMENTATION AND AUTHORITY
The baseline 10% tariff will go into effect on April 5 at 12:01 am EDT (0401 GMT), while the higher reciprocal tariffs will be in effect the following day, at the same time.
Trump has invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the 1977 law he used in February to justify his tariffs against Chinese, Mexican and Canadian products over fentanyl. IEEPA was not used for tariffs prior to Trump's current administration, but only to impose economic sanctions.
Trump declared a state of national emergency in accordance with IEEPA due to the "large, persistent and growing" U.S. goods trade deficit which grew more than 40% by 2024, reaching $1.2 trillion.
The executive order stated that "This trade imbalance reflects asymmetries of trade relationships which have contributed to atrophying domestic production capacity in the United States, particularly that of its manufacturing and defense-industrial bases."
CHINA'S EXEMPTION FOR SMALL PACKAGES IS ENDED
Trump signed a separate executive order ending the duty-free exemption "de minimis", which was granted to packages coming from China or Hong Kong that were valued under $800. This loophole had been exploited for years by Chinese ecommerce giants, including Shein Holdings and PDD Holdings Temu, to avoid tariffs in the U.S. by shipping directly to consumers.
Trump's administration attempted to close the de minimis exception earlier this year. It blamed it for allowing unscreened fentanyl-precursor chemicals to enter the U.S., an assertion that was verified by a last year investigation.
The administration decided to delay the exemption in order for the Commerce Department and Customs and Border Protection to implement adequate measures. The decision to close the loophole was first reported earlier Wednesday. Reporting by David Lawder, Editing by Lincoln Feast.
(source: Reuters)