German inflation confirmed at 2.1% in May
German consumer prices, harmonised to compare with other European Union countries, had risen by 2.2% year-on-year in April.
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Reuters
4 minutes ago
- Reuters
US, Mexico reach agreement on reducing sewage flows across border and into San Diego
July 24 (Reuters) - The United States and Mexico on Thursday reached an agreement aimed at finding a permanent solution to a decades-long sewage crisis, in which Mexican sewage has flowed into the Tijuana River and across the U.S. border, emptying into the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Mexican Environment Minister Alicia Barcena signed a memorandum of understanding in Mexico City, in which Mexico agreed to expedite the expenditure of $93 million worth of improvements to the Tijuana sewage system and commit to several projects to account for future population growth and maintenance. Some of the Mexican projects would now be completed four years ahead of schedule, the EPA said. The U.S. in turn committed to releasing funds that would complete the expansion of a sewage treatment plant by the end of August. The plant is on the U.S. side of the border but treats sewage pumped in from Mexico. "This is a huge win for millions of Americans and Mexicans who have been calling on us to end this decades-old crisis," Zeldin said in a statement. Though both countries have long cooperated on water and sewage issues, the Tijuana sewage crisis, exacerbated by rapid growth in the border city and an underfunding of infrastructure projects, has often been a sore point. The deal comes amid other cross-border tensions on matters including immigration, drug-trafficking and gun-running. "I want to emphasize that what we are really doing is trying to solve, once and for all, the problem of wastewater in the Tijuana River. And I believe we are also doing it jointly, with both countries making commitments," Barcena told a joint press conference with Zeldin. Millions of gallons of treated and untreated sewage from Tijuana's overburdened system makes its way daily into the Tijuana River and reaches the ocean in the San Diego suburb of Imperial Beach, which has posted "Keep out of Water" signs on its beach for much of the past four years, depriving surfers of waves and Imperial Beach of crucial summer tourism revenue. The International Boundary and Water Commission, a body governed by U.S.-Mexican treaty agreements, has measured up to 50 million gallons per day (2,200 liters per second) of sewage-contaminated water from the Tijuana River toward Imperial Beach. Around half was raw sewage with the remainder a mix of treated sewage, groundwater and potable water from Tijuana's leaky pipes, IBWC officials have said. The IBWC operates the sewage treatment plant north of the border, which will increase its capacity to 35 million gallons per day, up from 25 million gallons per day, the EPA said. Every extra gallon treated is a gallon kept out of the ocean. Barcena said Mexico also committed to doubling the capacity of the San Antonio de los Buenos sewage treatment plant, which was recently repaired after years of delay. Before the recent repairs, the plant 6 miles (10 km) south of the border had been spewing at least 23 million gallons of sewage per day (1,000 liters per second) into the Pacific Ocean, whose prevailing currents flow north much of the year, further fouling San Diego waters.
Reuters
34 minutes ago
- Reuters
Brazil VP hails 'good' and 'fruitful' conversation with Lutnick on tariffs
BRASILIA, July 24 (Reuters) - Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said on Thursday that he had reiterated his country's willingness to negotiate proposed U.S. tariffs on imports from Latin America's No. 1 economy during a conversation on Saturday with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Alckmin said he and Lutnick had a "good" conversation last week that lasted about an hour. The U.S. has announced 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports starting August 1, a measure U.S. President Donald Trump has tied to judicial measures against former president and ideological ally Jair Bolsonaro, who has been accused of plotting a coup. Brazilian officials have been holding discussions with local companies to evaluate the potential impacts of the tariffs, while also preparing measures to mitigate those effects and studying potential countermeasures. But Brazilian authorities have said they have been struggling to contact high officials of the U.S. government for direct negotiation. "The conversation (with Lutnick) was fruitful," Alckmin said, noting the specifics of the discussions should be kept confidential. "We didn't create this problem, but we want to resolve it," the Brazilian VP added. The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Reuters
36 minutes ago
- Reuters
UK consumers save more as they brace for tougher times, GfK says
LONDON, July 25 (Reuters) - British consumers remained in a cautious mood this month ahead of possible tax increases later this year and added to their savings, according to a survey published on Friday. The consumer confidence index from market research firm GfK dipped to -19 in July from a six-month high of -18 in June. Economists polled by Reuters had mostly expected a reading of -20. "The data suggests that some people may be sensing stormy conditions ahead," Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, said. "With speculation growing over possible tax rises in the Autumn budget, and price pressure contributing not just to higher inflation already but also to the likelihood of worse inflation to come, the news is worrying." Finance minister Rachel Reeves is expected to raise taxes for a second year in a row in her next annual budget plan after Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced into u-turns on plans to save billions of pounds on welfare spending. GfK's savings index, which is not part of its headline confidence gauge, jumped seven points to +34, its highest level since November 2007, shortly before the global financial crisis deepened. Official retail sales data for June, due at 0600 GMT, are expected to show a rise in sales volumes after a sharp fall in May, according to the economists polled by Reuters.
