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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.
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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).
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.)
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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.
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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.
Why Japan is not giving up on laden U.S. Steel deal
Days after President Joe Biden joined his election rival Donald Trump in voicing issue about a Japanese purchase of U.S. Steel, the maker began promoting the advantages of the deal on signboards near its factories from Alabama to Pennsylvania.
The billboards may be the most public indications of what some Japanese officials say in private - that in spite of high hurdles, Nippon Steel could still guide through the fraught $15. billion acquisition of the renowned American manufacturer.
The offer may well hinge on whether regulators avoid. election-year politics by clearing the acquisition after Nov. 5,. and, seriously, on whether Nippon Steel can win over the. prominent United Steelworkers (USW) labour union.
Opposition from the Pittsburgh-based union has. significant ramifications in an election year where Pennsylvania. is viewed as a crucial battlefield state.
The offer is efficiently on life support after Biden's. statement last month that U.S. Steel need to stay. domestically owned and run, stated David Boling, a previous. U.S. trade official in Japan who now works for seeking advice from firm. Eurasia Group.
Investors appear to concur. Biden's remark, which followed. Trump's pledge to obstruct the offer if he wins the Nov. 5 election,. sent out shares in both business tumbling. U.S. Steel shares last. traded at $41.10, well listed below the $55 per share price Nippon. Steel has actually used.
Nonetheless, it is still premature to state the offer. dead, 4 senior Japanese authorities speaking on condition of. privacy told - a view shared by some experts,. consultants and attorneys. The White House declined to talk about. whether Biden's statement implied the purchase might not continue.
Continuous regulative evaluations in the U.S. may serve to purchase. time, thus delaying a final decision till after the election. when the campaign rhetoric has actually dissipated, the authorities and. others said.
In Addition, Nippon Steel might still take steps to. ringfence its U.S. operations to reduce issues about foreign. ownership.
And finally, the officials and others state, Nippon Steel. could make its way through tough talks and yet win over the. steelworkers.
Publicly, Tokyo has actually looked for to distance itself from the. deal, stating it is a commercial matter - a method widely seen. as an attempt to play down any debate ahead of a summit. between between Japanese premier Fumio Kishida and Biden in. Washington on April 10.
HIGH OBSTACLES
U.S. Steel's shareholders are because of vote on the acquisition. on April 12, however with the firm's board having unanimously. recommended shareholders authorize, experts expect it to pass.
The next real obstacle is regulative. The Committee on Foreign. Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a government panel that. vets deals on nationwide security premises, is examining the. deal. Nippon Steel stated the offer is also being taken a look at. by antitrust authorities in several countries consisting of the U.S.
. An influential U.S. Senator on Tuesday advised the White Home. to probe Nippon Steel's direct exposure to its tactical rival China, a. connection the firm has actually said is extremely minimal.
While by law CFIUS should complete considerations within 90. days, in practice it can take much longer through an increasingly. typical procedure where celebrations withdraw and refile their. applications, its most current yearly report shows.
There is unlikely to be a choice until after the. election, said Expense Reinsch, a previous U.S. commerce authorities. now advising the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Biden's comments have actually not torpedoed the proposed acquisition,. he added.
2 of the Japanese authorities said the timing of the deal. ahead of the election has stifled dispute about its economic. benefits which a hold-up might help calmer heads dominate.
But taking Biden at his word, getting around foreign. ownership concerns won't be simple.
Nippon Steel has been at pains to worry its deep roots in. the United States. It has had a presence there considering that the 1980s. and has 4,000 staff members in the nation.
Nick Wall, a business M&A partner with Allen & & Overy in. Tokyo, stated U.S. regulators may give conditional approval to. the offer if the company makes changes to the management structure. or makes sure senior personnel are U.S. nationals.
There could be structures put in location to guarantee it's owned. and managed by U.S. people, even if the financial control lies. in Japan, said Wall, who is not associated with the deal.
The sensitive defence sector provides one such example.
The American subsidiary of British defence professional BAE. Systems works with the U.S. government under an unique. agreement where the influence and control of its foreign parent. is limited.
A Biden adviser stated the policy concern was settled by. the president which if the offer is to consist of foreign. partners it would require a various technique, decreasing to. sophisticated.
That puts the concentrate on the USW, which blasted the offer and. both companies for not consulting it before the deal was. announced. In a letter to its members on Tuesday, USW leadership. called Nippon Steel's latest promises to support employees a. collection of empty guarantees.
But a source close to Nippon Steel, who declined to be called. due to the level of sensitivity of the negotiations, stated the union could. be using the political scenario to improve terms and appears. to remain participated in talks.
There will be no issue to clear U.S. Steel shareholders. conference, anti-trust assessment, and CFIUS evaluation, if they. are handled generally, said Shinichiro Ozaki, senior analyst at. Daiwa Securities.
But the most important thing, both before and after Biden's. declaration, stays whether Nippon Steel can reach an. contract with USW..
(source: Reuters)