Seaway crude oil pipeline system resumes full operations after leak
A portion of the Seaway pipeline went down on Tuesday night, impacting crude oil flows on the pipeline, which runs from Cushing, Oklahoma, to the Freeport, Texas, area and connects to the Enterprise Crude Houston (ECHO) terminal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Trump's cold brew: New York coffee shops warn of higher prices amid steep tariffs
The Trump administration has targeted Brazil with steep US tariffs of 50%. Coffee shops in the heart of New York are bracing for impact. When the Trump administration announced another wave of sweeping tariffs, particularly on Brazil, Stone Street Cafe's managing partner was first confused. Then came fear. A cafe already runs on slim margins and extra costs passed on from tariffs could risk everything. 'If these tariffs are long term, it will put our business in jeopardy,' Antony Garrigues, managing partner of Stone Street Cafe, said. 'In New York City, the operating costs are already so high, and these tariffs will make everything much more expensive. 'In the end, if people cannot afford our coffee, and we do not have a profit margin, we will not make it.' Stone Street Cafe, based in Manhattan, sources green coffee beans from more than 35 different countries, including Brazil. But Brazil is not the only coffee-producing nation facing tariff pressures: Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia and Indonesia are also affected. 'These tariffs are not paid by the country. The costs are passed down to the business owner, and consumer,' noted Garrigues. 'For now, we are going to try and absorb as much [of] the cost as we can. But at the end of the day, this is a business – so we may have to increase the prices.' With the growing effects of climate change already inflating coffee prices, other cafes have already done so. Aside from coffee Ciao Gloria, in Brooklyn, also imports cocoa powder from Brazil. Jams sourced from Italy now face Trump's 15% tariff on exports from the European Union. The cafe raised prices by about 25 cents per cup, but plans to absorb any additional tariffs costs, at least for now. 'I'm selling sugar and caffeine – I'm basically a drug dealer,' joked owner Renato Poliafito. 'So I want to make sure the menu is affordable.' But then he turned serious. 'We have to be vigilant about analyzing the situation before jumping to price increases.' Customers are already scrutinizing their receipts. US coffee prices rose 14.5% in the year to July, according to official data. 'It's this idea of shifting baseline where we normalize something being expensive when it shouldn't [be], and it's very scary to see,' said Helina Seyoum, 29, who has reverted to making coffee at home. 'Now a morning coffee becomes a burden, because you're obsessing over the costs.' A daily cafe trip was how Aley Longo, 28, made sure she escaped the confines of her studio apartment and spoke to people outside work in an 'affordable' way. Now it's strictly a weekend activity. Trump's tariffs are 'bad for Americans, and our quality of life', Longo said, 'and we are suffering, whether it's as tiny as just being able to buy coffee out, or something so much bigger'. Those behind the counter know what it's like to watch the price of a regular purchase grow. Allon Azulai, who owns Kos Kaffe in Brooklyn, which imports beans from countries including Colombia, Honduras and Kenya, described nervously asking vendors for their latest prices each week, as tariffs and mounting demand looms large. 'Right now the industry is so unstable and what worries me if tariffs continue is cafes that do not have big pockets will not be able to survive,' said Azulai. As US cafes come under pressure, the coffee producers they source from are also preparing for disruption. Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer and exporter. The US is the leading destination of its coffee: about a third of its coffee imports are Brazilian. The Brazilian Soluble Coffee Industry Association, which represents producers, said the 50% US tariff on the country's exports amounted to a 'clear competitive disadvantage' as other leading countries for coffee production face lower rates, ranging from 10% to 27%. 'This decision not only harms the Brazilian industry but could also negatively affect American consumers, who benefit from the quality and competitive price of our coffee,' the association said. Brazilian producers and exporters still hope they can lobby for coffee to be exempt from US tariffs, arguing the US produces very little coffee domestically. The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, had previously suggested products not cultivated on American soil could be granted zero tariffs, they note. If that fails Brazil's Coffee Exporters Council says it will at least seek to reduce the tariff on coffee to 10%, in line with other Brazilian goods, including oil, orange juice and aircraft. 'We remain optimistic and hopeful,' the council said. New coffee export deals with the US are on hold and shipments ready to go are stuck in storage, adding costs for exporters. China has meanwhile approved 183 new Brazilian firms to export coffee, although the exporters' council cautioned that sales may take time to materialize. In Vietnam and Colombia – the world's second and third largest coffee-producing nations, respectively – exporters hope that lower US tariffs on their coffee will help them steal a march on Brazil. 'The US can't grow coffee at scale, so tariffs won't bring production back home,' Timen Swijtink, founder of Lacàph Coffees in Vietnam, said. 'With the tiny margins in our industry, any tariff cost goes straight to the American consumer.' Even with 20% US tariffs on Vietnam, the country's farmers 'are resilient and will find new markets', added Swijtink, 'with global demand strong and China's demand growing like a rocket ship'. With the US tariff on Colombia only at the baseline 10%, small coffee growers across the country are shrugging off any immediate impacts. 'The average coffee farmer won't feel it, at least for now,' said José David Posada, a fourth-generation coffee farmer and owner of Capilla del Rosario, a finca in Medellín. 'It's the exporters who will be impacted.' There is also a sense among some that, given Brazil's tariffs are at 50%, Trump's tariff war could even help Colombian business. The country's coffee cultivation is vital to the national economy, representing 8% of total Colombian exports. Posada said: 'The fact that Brazil has a higher tariff, obviously that's going to have a positive impact on us, right?' Guilherme Morya, a coffee analyst at Rabobank, said the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee may, at least in the short term, shift American buyers toward other sources. 'Colombia gains a price advantage, and being the second-largest supplier, it becomes the most obvious candidate to fill this gap,' he said. But Alejandro Lloreda, a farmer at family-run Cafetal de la Trinidad, which produces specialty coffee, cautioned the difference would only give Colombia 'a temporary advantage'. 'A coffee tree can take two to three years to produce, and the tariff situation could well change before then,' he said. Back in New York, cafe owners find themselves in an equally uncertain position. 'The tariffs are to small businesses' detriment,' said Poliafito, of Ciao Gloria. 'Big businesses can find a way around it. But we will suffer the costs.' 'It's scary to not know if we can continue our business,' added Nick Kim, manager of Koré Coffee in Manhattan. 'It's really a shame, and sad, that you know bad things are coming, but you cannot do anything to change it. We have no option but to see what will come.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
FLOURISHING AFTER 50: My husband and I split up last year. I'm now broke and too ashamed to ask for help
Dear Vanessa, I'm 54 and feel like my whole life is falling apart. My husband and I split up last year, and since then, my finances have spiralled. I'm drowning in credit card debt and behind on my mortgage. Some days I can't even get out of bed - the worry makes me feel physically sick. I feel too ashamed to tell my adult kids how bad it is, and I've started avoiding my friends because I can't afford to go out. I know I need to face this, but the anxiety is crippling me. Where do I even start when my mind is a mess, and my money is worse? Megan. Dear Megan, Thank you for putting this into words. It takes real courage to say, 'I need help.' So many women over 50 are carrying this silent burden. Debt is one of the biggest causes of financial stress for people rebuilding after separation - and the shame that comes with it can feel just as heavy. Debt loses its power when you face it step by step. Start by writing down exactly what you owe - credit cards, loans, mortgage, everything. Seeing the true numbers can feel terrifying, but it is the first step to taking back control. Next, look at what's coming in. Are you working? Could you pick up a few extra shifts or side work to bring in even a few hundred dollars more each week? Small extra amounts add up over time. Think about what you own too - do you have a spare room you could rent out for a while? Could you sell things you no longer need to ease the pressure? Every bit of extra cash helps. Contact your bank and ask about hardship options. Many lenders will work with you to pause payments or restructure what you owe - they would rather help than see you fall further behind. And please call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007. It's free and confidential - they talk to people in your exact situation every day. Remember, this is not just about money, it's about how this stress is weighing on your mind and body. I asked Chelsea Pottenger, founder of EQ Minds and an expert in mental wellbeing, for her thoughts too, because your headspace needs care just as much as your finances. Chelsea says: 'When money stress builds up, it triggers survival mode - your mind can freeze and your body reacts with panic. The shame feeds isolation, but you are not alone and you don't have to stay stuck. 'Try tiny resets such as a short walk, fresh air, and deep breathing to calm your nervous system so you can face the next step. And please, tell someone you trust, there is power in sharing what you're carrying.' Megan, this fear will start to shrink once you take action - one small step, then another. That is how you go from stuck to steady. You do not have to do it alone. If you want to see more about what financial stress does to the body and how to break that cycle - watch my conversation with Chelsea. We talk through what really happens in your mind under pressure, and simple steps that can help you rebuild your money and your mental health, one day at a time. Take a breath. Watch when you're ready. And remember - help is out there, and you deserve it.
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Farmers in US midwest squeezed by Trump tariffs and climate crisis
Seventh-generation farmer Brian Harbage grows corn, soybeans and grass, and runs a cattle operation across five counties in western Ohio. In the world of agriculture, his work makes up a large business. And still, the past two years have been immensely challenging amid the twin threats of the climate crisis and the Trump administration. Last year, regions of the eastern corn belt saw just 20% of crops harvested due to a drought that brought little precipitation between June and October. It was part of a climatic cycle that involved drought, heat and wildfires that cost crop producers $11bn nationally. 'Last year, we got a good crop started, and then it just quit raining. Our yields were definitely reduced by at least 25-30%,' says Harbage. This year, it's been almost the complete opposite. Excess rainfall has fueled severe disease and pest pressure on the several thousand acres of soybeans and corn he planted in the spring. 'There were three-day windows, it seemed like. It would just start to get dried out and it would rain,' he says. 'We finished up [planting] at the beginning of June. We like to be finished by 15 May. Anything that's planted later means that it was probably planted in marginal conditions since we were rushing to get it in, and secondly, it doesn't have near enough time to mature before harvest.' With the 2025 harvest of corn and soybeans approaching – America's biggest two crops and the linchpins of agriculture – crop growers are facing down the gauntlet. Climatic swings, rocketing operating costs and low international demand, caused, in large part, by government policy in the shape of tariffs, has created the perfect storm. 'Farming is not for the worrisome,' says Harbage. 'We always kid that we are crisis managers.' Suicide rates among farmers are 3.5 times the national level. In 2023-24, China bought 24.9m metric tons of soybeans worth $13.2bn, largely used to feed its 427-million-strong pig herd. At under 6m metric tons, US farmers' second biggest international soybean market, Mexico, lags far behind. Since 2017, when tariffs were first introduced by President Trump, crop farmers have been struggling with the decline of China as the leading market for soybeans and an important market for corn exports. Last month, reports emerged that exports of soybeans – America's largest grain export by value – had hit a 20-year low. 'Tariffs are probably something that will help in the long run, for the whole country; in the short run it's terrible for farmers,' says Harbage. 'We're really taking it on the chin now because if we can't export, our prices are low. And if we can't export and we have a terrible crop then it's a one-two punch. I see what the government wants to do, but it's hurting me in the near term.' Farmers and rural Americans are keen to highlight that their political and voting preferences are rarely fueled by a single issue or event such as tariffs. Many continue to back Trump, despite the obvious financial challenges the president's policies are fomenting. Trump has been largely silent on addressing the pain his tariffs have caused farmers and ranchers, despite rural voters being a cornerstone of his political base. On 10 August, he posted to Truth Social a demand that China quadruple its purchases of American soybeans. The president claimed that China was 'worried' about having a soybean shortage, although China has vowed to increase its domestic soybean production yield by 38% by 2034. What's more, some market analysts say that Trump's post didn't make the rounds on Chinese social media, suggesting his demand may not have been heard by the country's political leaders. With the soybean harvest in the midwest set to start about a month from now, and corn following weeks later, the fear that China may not buy a single shipload of grain this season is growing for many. 'With [tariffs] in place, we are not competitive with soybeans from Brazil. Our marketing year starts 1 October and usually by now we'd see China making commitments to pre-purchases for soybeans. China has not made a single purchase for US soybeans,' says Virginia Houston, director of government affairs at the American Soybean Association, a lobbying organization. 'No market can match China's demand for soybeans. Right now, there is a 20% retaliatory duty from China.' To appease his farming base, the Trump administration announced $60bn in subsidies for farmers over the next decade in the recent tax bill, but that has drawn criticism from those who say that farmers shouldn't be subsidized on taxpayers' dime. Others have reported that funding is going to select producers in specific regions of the US, benefiting bigger producers rather than family farms. Adding to the export challenges, the price of commodity crops in the US has been in steady decline for the past three years due to a smaller cattle herd and falling ethanol production. Houston says that when she speaks with the White House and Congress to share the struggles farmers are facing due to tariffs, the response is that 'they support farmers [but] we are one cog in the wheel of this complex relationship. 'The farm economy is in a much tougher place than where we were in 2018 [during Trump's previous China trade war]. Prices have gone down while inputs – seed, fertilizer, chemicals, land and equipment – continue to go up.' All the while, unpredictable weather conditions continue to make planning more difficult. For much of this summer, afternoon storms had been a near-daily occurrence in Indiana, Ohio and elsewhere in the eastern corn belt, causing ponding that kills early plant growth. Diseases such as northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot and tar spot soon followed. 'When it's being attacked by disease, it's not growing to its full potential because it's trying to fight off the disease,' says Harbage. Although he treated his crops for disease, the heat and humidity that have been an uncommon feature of life this summer can overcome the effects of fungicides. On top of that, Harbage says he'll have to spend additional money on propane to dry his corn before sending it to consumers, again due to the high moisture content. If Trump walked into his farm today, Harbage says he'd have one message. 'The exports is number one. That's the number one fix. We have to get rid of what we're growing, or we have to be able to use it,' he says. 'China, Mexico and Canada – we export $83bn worth of commodities to them a year. So if they're not buying, we're stuck with our crop.' In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, chat on or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@ or jo@ In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at
