Economy
Chip shortage could blight Britain as demand for potatoes grows in Europe – Bristol Live
The UK could experience a shortage of chips as the demand for potatoes grows in Europe. After heavy flooding last month, the price of spuds has soared on the continent and buyers are targeting Britain, the Daily Star reported.
A “perfect storm” of inflation, labour shortages, environmental disaster, Brexit, rising fuel and distribution costs, has caused the problem.
Aramco posts nearly 300% leap in second-quarter profit as oil demand recovers – CNBC
Saudi state oil giant Aramco reported a stunning 288% increase in net income to $25.5 billion for the second quarter, while maintaining its dividend of $18.8 billion, as big oil benefits from higher prices and a recovery in worldwide demand.
Aramco’s net income of $25.5 billion for the quarter compares to $6.6 billion in the same quarter of 2020. The result beat expectations, with analysts expecting a median net income of $24.7 billion for the quarter.
Environment
California State Water Resources Control Board Votes To End Water Diversions For Over 5,700 Farmers – California Globe
The California State Water Resources Control Board unanimously voted 5-0 on Tuesday to stop water diversions for thousands of Californians in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed on Tuesday.
According to the new limitations, 5,700 water right holders, including farmers and landowners, would no longer be able to divert water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin River watersheds for agricultural use. Those who want to divert 55 gallons or more per day from water sources in this region must send in a petition to the Deputy Director of the Board to get approval. All water use also has to be reported by those who have water rights in the region.
As wildfires worsen, more California farms are deemed too risky to insure – Grist
Stu Smith got an email from his insurance company last summer with some bad news: His premium was more than quadrupling.
Smith is the co-owner of Smith Madrone, a wine operation in the mountains near California’s Napa Valley, and he had held a wildfire insurance policy with the company for more than 30 years. Now, though, the insurer had decided Smith’s property was too risky to keep on its customer rolls at anything close to its longtime price. If Smith wanted to renew his policy, he would have to pay annual premiums of more than $55,000, up from just $12,000 the year before.
Young farmers lose hope as drought closes in: ‘It’s like a sad country song’ – Guardian
They are land rich and resource poor. Most have hundreds of acres of fertile soil, some thousands, but little money in the bank and – most importantly – no water. Now the young farmers of the Klamath Basin, an agricultural community on the border of Oregon and California, fear they might be the last generation of their kind.
“It sounds like a sad country song, but that’s the current situation we’re in,” said Bryce Balin, 28, who manages his family’s 2,200-acre farm. An all-organic enterprise, Balin raises grass-fed cattle, livestock feed, winter hay and potatoes, all set against a panorama of dry, alpine hills.
French wine production falls to ‘historically low’ level after vineyards devastated by severe frost — RT World News
France’s agriculture ministry reported on Friday that it has experienced one of the worst years on record for wine production, as a devastating late-spring frost sent output to “historically low” levels not seen since 1977.
Prudential in talks to buy out and shut coal-fired plants in Asia – Guardian
The British insurer Prudential is working with the Asian Development Bank on a scheme to buy out coal-fired power plants in Asia in order to shut them down within 15 years.
Its backers say the plan is designed to limit use of the polluting fossil fuel while allowing workers time to find new jobs and incentivising countries to invest in clean energy alternatives.
NSW farmers growingly increasingly concerned with rural impact of Sydney lockdown – Sky News Australia
The heart-breaking rural impacts of the Greater Sydney’s lockdown are starting to be felt with farmers concerned the overabundance of produce could have long-lasting effects on crops in future seasons.
Health
US hospitals face staffing shortages amid latest COVID-19 wave: Snapshots from 5 states – Becker’s Hospital Review
As U.S. hospitals deal with more patients, both COVID-19 and non-COVID, some are facing staffing shortages. Here are snapshots from five states where some facilities are facing staffing strains.
Nursing shortage forces Texas hospital to scale back labor and delivery services – Becker’s Hospital Review
A nursing shortage has forced Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine, Texas, to intermittently shut down its labor and delivery unit, according to Kaiser Health News.
Physicians who work at the facility said Big Bend Regional has shut down its labor and delivery unit for four- to five-day stretches. According to the physicians, Big Bend said the unit would be open Monday mornings to Thursday mornings until more nurses are hired.
If Big Bend Regional Medical Center’s labor and delivery unit is closed, physicians are directed to send patients to the next closest hospital, which is more than an hour away.
The post Daily Digest 8/9 — Chip Shortage Could Blight Britain as Demand for Potatoes Grows in Europe; Aramco Posts Nearly 300% Leap in Second-Quarter Profit as Oil Demand Recovers appeared first on Peak Prosperity.
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