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Sources: State Department revamps energy bureau and eliminates climate office
Four sources who are familiar with the notification said that the Trump administration terminated federal employees responsible for U.S. climate policy, climate aid and global climate policy as part of a reorganization at the State Department. Career employees at the Office of Global Change in the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs played a leading role in U.S. negotiation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The office's officials also represented the United States in the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization and their respective sectors of commercial aviation and shipping. The firings come after Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, as well IMO negotiations on decarbonization measures in order to allow the global shipping industry reach net-zero emission levels by "around 2020". The United States is a member of the ICAO and has agreed to take part in its Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. (CORSIA), and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Trump's administration has, however, recently opposed ICAO’s decision to increase sustainable aviation fuel. It is unclear how or if America will continue to take part in these international accords, or whether certain office functions will be merged into other bureaus. The Trump administration is aggressively reversing existing U.S. Climate Policy and has dismantled U.S. Agency for International Development. Requests for comments from the State Department were not answered. According to documents internal and another source with knowledge of the situation, there are also changes in the works at the Bureau of Energy Resources of the State. The bureau was established during the Obama administration and helped to gather allies and partners in support of sanctions against Iran's oil exports. The bureau, which employs about 80 people, has been focusing on the development of alternative minerals, oil, and gas and weaning countries away from Russian fossil fuels in recent years. According to internal documents, the Bureau of Energy Resources will be absorbed by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. This is "to ensure that a laser-like concentration on expanding and exporting American Energy." Sources familiar with the situation say that many employees working on other issues than critical minerals are expecting to be laid off within days. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue; Humeyra Pauk, Valerie Volcovici; Timothy Gardner).
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Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo set a new record of 58 in the Zurich Classic
Isaiah Salinda, Kevin Velo and their 14-under par 58 on Thursday took the lead in the first round of the Zurich Classic New Orleans at TPC Louisiana. Salinda, Velo and their best-ball format were 12 under par through the first 11 holes - an eagle for Salinda on the par-5 7th and all the other birdies - before slowing down. The team ended with four pars, and one birdie on the last five holes. Salinda is ranked No. 163 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Velo is ranked No. Both players have never won on the PGA Tour. Salinda Velo and Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark, who shot a 13-under 59, are only one-shot ahead. The brothers did not make a single bogey. Collin Morikawa, Kurt Kitayama and the Australian Cam Davis are tied at 11-under 61 with Paul Peterson of Germany and Thomas Rosenmueller and Norwegian Kris Ventura. Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland and Shane Lowry from Ireland both opened with a 64 at 8-under. McIlroy is playing in his first tournament after winning the Masters, completing his career Grand Slam. On Friday, the tournament will switch to foursomes (alternate shots). After the 36-hole cut is made, four-ball will play on Saturday followed by foursomes on Sun. Field Level Media
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Weekly oil prices drop on the possibility of more global supply
Oil prices rose on Friday, but are still on course for a loss of a week's worth as a potential OPEC+ production increase and a ceasefire in the Russia/Ukraine conflict could raise supply while at the same time contradictory U.S. Tariff signals limit demand. Brent crude futures rose 5 cents, to $66.60 per barrel at 0001 GMT. They are on course to drop 2% this week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), which is a blend of West Texas and Texas, rose 6 cents a barrel to $62.85, but it was expected to fall 2.9% this week. In an interview with CBS News, Russian Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the United States and Russia were moving in the right directions to end the conflict in Ukraine. However, some specific aspects of a deal still need to be agreed. Stopping the war in Ukraine by Russia and easing sanctions could lead to more Russian oil reaching global markets. Russia is a member of OPEC+, which includes the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. It is also one of the largest oil producers in the world, along with the U.S. Trump criticised Vladimir Putin on Thursday after Russia bombarded Kyiv overnight with missiles and drones, saying, "Vladimir! STOP!" Earlier this week, it was reported that several OPEC+ member countries had also suggested the group increase oil production for a second consecutive month in June. Abbas Araqchi, the Iranian foreign minister, said on Thursday that he is ready to travel to Europe to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme. If successful talks are held with Europe and the U.S., sanctions against Iranian oil exports will likely be lifted. Iran is OPEC's third largest oil producer, behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Even with the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, the two world's largest oil consumers, the outlook for demand remains cloudy. Due to the higher costs resulting from the trade conflict, businesses are raising prices and reducing financial guidance. This has also caused global supply chains to be tense and prompted fears of an economic slowdown in which oil demand could be affected.
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Brazilian miner Vale posts 17% drop in Q1 net profit
The Brazilian miner Vale announced on Thursday that its net profit for the first quarter of 2014 was down 17% from a year ago, due to lower iron ore costs. Vale, the world's largest iron ore producer, reported a net profit of $1.39 billion for the three months ending in March. Analysts polled by LSEG expected a profit of $1.68 billion. Vale's earnings report stated that lower iron ore costs had a negative impact on its results. However, this was offset in part by the company's efforts to reduce the cost of iron ore production and the effects of the Brazilian real appreciating against the U.S. Dollar. The adjusted core profit, which is based on earnings before taxes, depreciation, and interest, was $3.12 billion. This represents a 9% decline from the previous year and comes close to analysts' expectations of $3.16 billion. Vale's output and sales report, released last week, showed a net revenue of $8.12bn for the third quarter, down 4% on an annual basis and below analysts' estimates of $8.03bn. Reporting by Marta Nogueira from Rio de Janeiro, and Andre Romani from Sao Paulo. Editing by Brendan O'Boyle.
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Budget watchdog: UK water crisis partly blamed on regulators
A budget watchdog in Britain said that the regulators had failed to invest enough in the water industry. This has led to an environmental crisis. The public is angry with water companies in England, Wales and Scotland over their rising bills. This comes after sewage spills polluted Britain's rivers in the last few years due to aging pipes and overcrowded treatment plants. After the National Audit Office report was released, Geoffrey Clifton Brown, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts said: "The government's failure in regulating this sector properly is now falling on the bill-payers who are left to pay the tab." The average household water bill in England and Wales is expected to increase by 26% this year. According to the NAO, water sector requires "unprecedented investment" in order to meet the challenges it faces, including a weakened financial performance, a declining public trust, and a falling investor confidence. In October, as Britain's largest water provider, Thames Water, was on the verge of financial collapse the government began a review of water industry. The report is expected in June. The government's Environment Department (DEFRA), in response to the NAO Report, said that new laws allowing water managers to be criminally charged if they violate environmental rules will help improve the industry. A Defra spokeswoman said that "the government has taken immediate action to fix water industry - however, change will not occur overnight." The NAO stated that Britain must build nine new reservoirs and invest an estimated 47 billion pounds ($62.52 million) in water infrastructure over the next five-year period. The report highlighted that there was no national plan for water and that regulators, Ofwat and the Environment Agency as well as the Drinking Water Inspectorate did not understand the state of infrastructure. The report also criticised the way Ofwat sets prices for water consumers. It said it was difficult to understand for investors, and questioned whether its review process was suitable given that major infrastructure projects require a long-term approach. ($1 = 0.7517 pound) (Reporting and editing by Sharon Singleton; Sarah Young)
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Eastman Chemical cuts spending in the face of market uncertainty and forecasts a quarterly profit that is below expectations
Eastman Chemical said Thursday that it will cut expenses to respond to the market volatility caused by President Donald Trump's tariff plans. In extended trading, shares of the company fell 3.5% to $78.00. Chemical companies are facing a weak market and high input prices, especially in Europe where the regulatory environment is challenging. This has forced them to rethink strategies. Trump's unpredictable trade policies have added to the uncertainty in the chemical industry. On Thursday, Dow Jones said that it expected earnings to be further pressured due to the persistent uncertainty. LSEG data shows that the company expects its second-quarter adjusted profits to range between $1.70 to $1.90 per common share. This is below Wall Street's expectations of $2.18. Eastman said that it would also increase its cost-reduction target to $75 million net of inflation and reduce capital expenditures for 2025 to $550 million, as opposed to its previous forecast of $850 million. The chemical company beat its first-quarter profit expectations, thanks to a strong performance at Kingsport and increased selling prices for its products. Eastman Kingsport in Tennessee uses advanced technology to recycle plastic waste into monomers that can be used to create new plastic products. The facility can recycle approximately 110,000 metric tonnes annually. According to LSEG data, the company reported a profit adjusted of $1.91 for the quarter ending March 31 compared with an average analyst estimate of $1.89.
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Stocks rise with tech shares, but dollar falls after recent gains
The major stock indexes rose Thursday as investors waited for further developments in U.S. China trade conflict. Meanwhile, the dollar fell after recent gains. The S&P 500 Technology sector rose 3.5% in one day, which is the highest of any sector within the benchmark index. After-hours trades for Alphabet, the parent company of Google, saw shares rise more than 3% following its release of first-quarter earnings. These results included earnings that exceeded analysts' expectations. The stock closed the regular session with a 2.5% gain. This earnings season will still bring us more results from the top U.S. technology companies. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that on Thursday trade talks were underway between the U.S.A. and China. This was in response to Chinese claims that there had been no discussion about easing the ongoing trade conflict. Beijing said that earlier, the U.S. would have to remove "all unilateral tariff measures" against China if they "truly wanted" the solution of the trade dispute. On Wednesday, the White House signaled that it would be open to reducing tariffs against China. Trump's tariff plan has caused a lot of volatility in the markets over the past few weeks. Thomas Martin, Senior Portfolio Manager at GLOBALT Atlanta said: "There is still a great deal of volatility. But add to that a market that has been oversold in virtually every measure." The first-quarter earnings report has been mixed. Businesses across industries have said they are increasing prices and are uncertain about the future because of Trump's policies and trade war. Unilever, the maker of Dove soap, pointed to a deteriorating consumer confidence in the United States. Meanwhile shares of International Business Machines plummeted after the company announced that 15 of its government contract were shelved as part of a cost-cutting initiative by the Trump Administration. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 486.63 points or 1.23% to 40,093.40. The S&P 500 increased 108.91 or 2.03% to 5,484.77. And the Nasdaq Composite increased 457.99 or 2.74% to 17,166.04. The MSCI index of global stocks rose by 11.65 points or 1.44% to 819.86. The pan-European STOXX 600 closed at 0.36%. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.5%. Ryosei Acazawa, the Japanese tariff negotiator, was reportedly making final preparations to travel to the United States on April 30 for a second round with his counterpart. The economic data released on Thursday revealed, among other things that the number of Americans who filed new claims for unemployment benefits increased marginally in the last week. This suggests the labor market is still resilient. Treasury yields in the United States fell amid expectations of lower tariffs than expected. Investors weighed up the possibility of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates for the first time in June. Beth Hammack, President of the Fed Bank of Cleveland, called on Thursday for patience in monetary policy, given the high level of uncertainty. However, she did not exclude a rate cut by June depending on economic indicators. The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10 year notes dropped 7.8 basis points from 4.387% to 4.309% late Wednesday. In the past week, Trump made verbal criticisms of Fed Chair Jerome Powell and then withdrew calls for his resignation. The Treasury Department issued the final coupon debt of the week, $44 billion worth of seven-year notes on Thursday. The Tuesday two-year auction was a soft one, but the Wednesday five-year sale saw a good response. The dollar weakened against major currencies. The dollar was down 0.63% to $1.1383. The dollar fell 0.58% against the Japanese yen to 142.61. The dollar rose on Wednesday but has been one of the worst victims of Trump's tariffs. It was expected to decline for the entire month. Gold prices rose after falling by more than 3% the previous session. Spot gold increased 1.4% to $3333.90 per ounce. Investors also weighed the weaker U.S. Dollar when determining oil prices. Brent crude futures increased 43 cents or 0.7% to settle at $66.55 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), which settled at $62.75, rose by 52 cents or 0.8%.
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Farmers in Northern Mexico fight drought after water dispute with US
This cattle ranching community in northern Mexico has a lot of dead animals scattered around the town. The drought, which has been going on for years, is forcing local farmers to think about moving to another area to find water and land. According to data from the government, more than 64% Mexico's land is suffering from some form of drought. The northern states, especially Chihuahua with its most severe levels of drought, are hardest hit. Mexico and the U.S. have been in heated negotiations about Mexican delays in delivering water quantities laid out in 1944's treaty. Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions if Mexico did not increase its water deliveries, which U.S. officials claim have devastated Texan Farmers. Mexico's government claims that drought has affected its ability to comply. Farmers in the Chihuahua town of Julimes are worried about their future. "I don’t think we'll hold out for much longer," said Leopoldo Ochoa 62 as he rode his granddaughter behind his herd on horseback. A lack of grass and water has forced farmers in northern Chihuahua to relocate their herds from the mountains where they usually graze. Ochoa is a resident of Valle de Zaragoza which depends on the La Boquilla Dam. If there isn't any more water, then we will need to look for another ranch. Imagine leaving this ranch at 60 years old, where you have lived your entire life, said Manuel Araiza. He added, "It's sad but the truth is that this will all come to an end." While diplomats in Mexico negotiate water deliveries to the U.S.A., Chihuahua farmers consider their future. Estreberto Monje, 57, said: "My children told me that this was no longer profitable. I should sell my animals." "The truth is that we've never experienced anything like this." (Reporting by Jose Luis Gonzalez, writing by Cassandra Garrison, editing by Sandra Maler)
US to develop AI on Energy Department Lands
On Thursday, the administration of Donald Trump announced that it had identified 16 sites in the United States Energy Department where data centers and energy plants could be built to support artificial intelligence.
Why it's important
The rapid growth of AI has led to the first surge in U.S. electricity demand in 20 years, sending Big Tech companies and utility companies scrambling for new data centers and energy plants.
DOE stated that the potential sites were positioned to allow rapid construction of data centers, with in-place infrastructure and the ability for fast-tracking permits for new energy production such as nuclear reactors.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (an independent body that regulates nuclear power) has not yet made it clear how the process of accelerating nuclear power would work.
KEY QUOTE
The Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said, "The race to dominate AI is the next Manhattan Project, and we can win with President Trump and the innovation from our National Labs." He was referring to a secret U.S. program to create the first nuclear weapon in World War Two.
BACKGROUND
Energy Department is a top land manager in the United States. The Energy Department did not respond immediately to a query about the locations of 16 sites.
Under former president Joe Biden, the DOE claimed that it had identified five sites in Washington, Nevada, South Carolina and other states, which could host clean energy projects, including solar, nuclear and wind power.
The DOE had to clean up the land after it was contaminated with nuclear weapons development and other Cold War work.
WHAT'S NEXT?
DOE encourages private-public partnerships, seeking input from energy developers, data center developers and the general public. It wants to start operations of AI infrastructure by the end of 2027. (Reporting and editing by Elaine Hardcastle; Timothy Gardner)
(source: Reuters)