The U.S. government, through the Department of Agriculture (USDA), is preparing to breed and release billions of sterile male New World screwworm flies over southern Texas and Mexico to combat a flesh-eating maggot infestation. This pest, known as the New World Screwworm, poses a threat to livestock, wildlife, and pets by spawning flesh-eating larvae that can cause severe damage. The flies are sterilized using radiation before being released from airplanes, disrupting the pest's reproduction cycle.

The initiative, valued at approximately $30 million, aims to protect the American beef industry and biodiversity in the region. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that this method has been used successfully before and the government is committed to eradicating the pest again. The plan involves weekly releases of up to 400 million sterilized flies to halt the spread of the parasite along the border. The operation addresses the urgency of controlling this invasive species, which threatens both economic and environmental stability in affected areas.

Americans preparing for Independence Day gatherings will see a mixed picture on food costs. The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates that a standard menu for 10 people—burgers, pork chops, chicken, sides and dessert—will average $70.92 this year, a modest 30-cent decline from the record $71.22 set in 2024. Although overall inflation has cooled, the Farm Bureau notes that high input costs continue to squeeze producers; farmers still capture only about 15% of the retail food dollar.

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Brazil’s TV Globo said the presenter Eliana will anchor a new weekly programme on its weekend grid beginning in 2026. The project is in development, the network said on 3 July, without detailing format or time slot. Eliana signed a three-year exclusive contract with Globo in June 2024 that envisaged a dedicated show within 12 months; scheduling conflicts and existing Sunday advertising commitments are understood to have pushed the launch beyond the original target.

The announcement was released hours after Globo disclosed it had secured close to R$60 million (US$11 million) in advertising for the prime-time culinary reality “Chef de Alto Nível”, hosted by Ana Maria Braga and set to premiere on 15 July. Friboi, Outback and Brastemp each paid about R$19.6 million for sponsorship packages, with additional deals still under negotiation. The reality show is fully recorded and will be promoted across the company’s broadcast, streaming and pay-TV platforms.

France intensified its campaign against the planned EU–Mercosur trade accord, with Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard accusing the European Commission of trying to "passer en force"—force the deal through without sufficient consultation of member states or farmers. Speaking alongside her Polish counterpart, Genevard said the Commission had not "truly involved" governments in the negotiations and warned that pushing ahead could bring protesters "back to the streets."

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In KwaZulu-Natal, a group of unemployed doctors has staged their third protest of the year with a sit-in outside the premier’s office in Pietermaritzburg, demanding action on vacant posts within the health sector. The doctors have raised concerns about rising unemployment among medical practitioners despite a high demand for healthcare services and dire conditions at public health facilities. The South African Medical Association's Samatu general secretary, Dr. Cedric Sihlangu, criticized the provincial government for employing final-year medical students to fill gaps while qualified doctors remain unemployed.

The Public Servants Association in KwaZulu-Natal has expressed support for the protesting doctors, highlighting disparities with other provinces actively filling such posts. Meanwhile, in Gauteng, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen is overseeing efforts to contain a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak at the Karan Beef feedlot in Heidelberg. The outbreak has spread to four provinces, prompting a vaccination campaign that has already inoculated around 3,000 cattle. The agriculture department has allocated R43 million for vaccines, with the first batch having arrived last week. Officials warn that the disease's spread could lead to trade restrictions from international partners.

JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, officially began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on June 13, 2025, after delaying its initial debut by one day. The Brazilian company, which generates over half of its $80 billion in sales from North America, pursued the U.S. listing to access a broader investor base and tap into the deep pockets of American institutional investors. JBS’s shares opened at $13.65, giving the company a market valuation of approximately $15 billion.

The debut on the NYSE marked a consolidation of its dual listing, as it continues to trade on the São Paulo stock exchange, where its shares had previously traded at a discount compared to U.S.-listed rivals. Following the listing, JBS prepared to issue bonds for the first time in the U.S. market, successfully raising $3.5 billion in debt with demand nearly five times the supply. The company’s leadership, including patriarch José Batista Sobrinho, celebrated the milestone, highlighting ambitions to expand EBITDA and potentially increase the company’s valuation by up to four times. JBS also noted that U.S. ranchers are expanding their herds from a seven-decade low, which could support a recovery in beef supplies. The company’s stock showed positive momentum after the NYSE debut, with forecasts suggesting a potential market value increase of up to 280% to 300% driven by margin improvements and the U.S. listing.

JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker and a Brazilian company, made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on June 13, 2025, after delaying its initial trading by one day. The company’s shares opened at $13.65, giving it a market valuation of approximately $15 billion. This listing marks JBS’s strategic shift from its Brazilian roots to broaden investor access, particularly targeting American institutional investors. Over half of JBS’s $80 billion in sales now come from North America.

The company’s move to the NYSE follows years of effort and comes amid strong earnings and growing consumer demand for protein in the U.S. market. Following the listing, JBS issued $3.5 billion in bonds with demand nearly five times the offer, aiming to extend debt maturities. The company projects investments of up to $6 billion over the next five years and anticipates a potential stock value increase of up to 280-300% in the U.S. market. The listing also consolidates JBS’s dual presence on both the São Paulo and New York stock exchanges, with hopes that the U.S. listing will close the valuation gap compared to its U.S.-listed competitors. The company’s public debut was marked by José Batista Sobrinho, JBS’s founder, ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. However, the listing has drawn scrutiny due to JBS’s past bribery and corruption scandals and its substantial donations to former President Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, which some U.S. lawmakers warn could negatively impact American family farmers.

JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, delayed its planned debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) by one day, eventually listing on June 13, 2025. The Brazilian company’s shares opened at $13.65, giving it a market valuation of approximately $15 billion. This move consolidates JBS’s dual listing, broadening investor access by shifting part of its capital market presence from Brazil to the U.S. Over half of JBS’s $80 billion in sales now come from North America, reflecting the company’s strategic focus on the U.S.

market. The listing was marked by a trading volume of $285 million on its first day, with shares rising slightly. JBS’s decision to list in New York aims to tap into the deeper pools of institutional investment capital available in the U.S., as its shares traded at a discount on the São Paulo stock exchange compared to its U.S.-listed rivals. Following the listing, JBS prepared to issue bonds for the first time in the U.S., successfully raising $3.5 billion in debt with demand nearly five times the offering, intending to extend maturities on its debt. The company projects investments of up to $6 billion over the next five years and anticipates a potential increase in its stock value by up to 280-300% in the American market. Additionally, JBS has expanded its global footprint by initiating exports of Brazilian beef to Vietnam, strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia. The company’s founder, José Batista Sobrinho, also known as Zé Mineiro, ceremonially rang the opening bell at the NYSE to mark the listing.

The U.S. government, through the Department of Agriculture (USDA), is preparing to breed and release billions of sterile male New World screwworm flies over southern Texas and Mexico to combat a flesh-eating maggot infestation. This pest, known as the New World Screwworm, poses a threat to livestock, wildlife, and pets by spawning flesh-eating larvae that can cause severe damage. The flies are sterilized using radiation before being released from airplanes, disrupting the pest's reproduction cycle.

The initiative, valued at approximately $30 million, aims to protect the American beef industry and biodiversity in the region. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that this method has been used successfully before and the government is committed to eradicating the pest again. The plan involves weekly releases of up to 400 million sterilized flies to halt the spread of the parasite along the border. The operation addresses the urgency of controlling this invasive species, which threatens both economic and environmental stability in affected areas.

Americans preparing for Independence Day gatherings will see a mixed picture on food costs. The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates that a standard menu for 10 people—burgers, pork chops, chicken, sides and dessert—will average $70.92 this year, a modest 30-cent decline from the record $71.22 set in 2024. Although overall inflation has cooled, the Farm Bureau notes that high input costs continue to squeeze producers; farmers still capture only about 15% of the retail food dollar.

Read more

Brazil’s TV Globo said the presenter Eliana will anchor a new weekly programme on its weekend grid beginning in 2026. The project is in development, the network said on 3 July, without detailing format or time slot. Eliana signed a three-year exclusive contract with Globo in June 2024 that envisaged a dedicated show within 12 months; scheduling conflicts and existing Sunday advertising commitments are understood to have pushed the launch beyond the original target.

The announcement was released hours after Globo disclosed it had secured close to R$60 million (US$11 million) in advertising for the prime-time culinary reality “Chef de Alto Nível”, hosted by Ana Maria Braga and set to premiere on 15 July. Friboi, Outback and Brastemp each paid about R$19.6 million for sponsorship packages, with additional deals still under negotiation. The reality show is fully recorded and will be promoted across the company’s broadcast, streaming and pay-TV platforms.

France intensified its campaign against the planned EU–Mercosur trade accord, with Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard accusing the European Commission of trying to "passer en force"—force the deal through without sufficient consultation of member states or farmers. Speaking alongside her Polish counterpart, Genevard said the Commission had not "truly involved" governments in the negotiations and warned that pushing ahead could bring protesters "back to the streets."

Read more

In KwaZulu-Natal, a group of unemployed doctors has staged their third protest of the year with a sit-in outside the premier’s office in Pietermaritzburg, demanding action on vacant posts within the health sector. The doctors have raised concerns about rising unemployment among medical practitioners despite a high demand for healthcare services and dire conditions at public health facilities. The South African Medical Association's Samatu general secretary, Dr. Cedric Sihlangu, criticized the provincial government for employing final-year medical students to fill gaps while qualified doctors remain unemployed.

The Public Servants Association in KwaZulu-Natal has expressed support for the protesting doctors, highlighting disparities with other provinces actively filling such posts. Meanwhile, in Gauteng, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen is overseeing efforts to contain a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak at the Karan Beef feedlot in Heidelberg. The outbreak has spread to four provinces, prompting a vaccination campaign that has already inoculated around 3,000 cattle. The agriculture department has allocated R43 million for vaccines, with the first batch having arrived last week. Officials warn that the disease's spread could lead to trade restrictions from international partners.

JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, officially began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on June 13, 2025, after delaying its initial debut by one day. The Brazilian company, which generates over half of its $80 billion in sales from North America, pursued the U.S. listing to access a broader investor base and tap into the deep pockets of American institutional investors. JBS’s shares opened at $13.65, giving the company a market valuation of approximately $15 billion.

The debut on the NYSE marked a consolidation of its dual listing, as it continues to trade on the São Paulo stock exchange, where its shares had previously traded at a discount compared to U.S.-listed rivals. Following the listing, JBS prepared to issue bonds for the first time in the U.S. market, successfully raising $3.5 billion in debt with demand nearly five times the supply. The company’s leadership, including patriarch José Batista Sobrinho, celebrated the milestone, highlighting ambitions to expand EBITDA and potentially increase the company’s valuation by up to four times. JBS also noted that U.S. ranchers are expanding their herds from a seven-decade low, which could support a recovery in beef supplies. The company’s stock showed positive momentum after the NYSE debut, with forecasts suggesting a potential market value increase of up to 280% to 300% driven by margin improvements and the U.S. listing.

JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker and a Brazilian company, made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on June 13, 2025, after delaying its initial trading by one day. The company’s shares opened at $13.65, giving it a market valuation of approximately $15 billion. This listing marks JBS’s strategic shift from its Brazilian roots to broaden investor access, particularly targeting American institutional investors. Over half of JBS’s $80 billion in sales now come from North America.

The company’s move to the NYSE follows years of effort and comes amid strong earnings and growing consumer demand for protein in the U.S. market. Following the listing, JBS issued $3.5 billion in bonds with demand nearly five times the offer, aiming to extend debt maturities. The company projects investments of up to $6 billion over the next five years and anticipates a potential stock value increase of up to 280-300% in the U.S. market. The listing also consolidates JBS’s dual presence on both the São Paulo and New York stock exchanges, with hopes that the U.S. listing will close the valuation gap compared to its U.S.-listed competitors. The company’s public debut was marked by José Batista Sobrinho, JBS’s founder, ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. However, the listing has drawn scrutiny due to JBS’s past bribery and corruption scandals and its substantial donations to former President Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, which some U.S. lawmakers warn could negatively impact American family farmers.

JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, delayed its planned debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) by one day, eventually listing on June 13, 2025. The Brazilian company’s shares opened at $13.65, giving it a market valuation of approximately $15 billion. This move consolidates JBS’s dual listing, broadening investor access by shifting part of its capital market presence from Brazil to the U.S. Over half of JBS’s $80 billion in sales now come from North America, reflecting the company’s strategic focus on the U.S.

market. The listing was marked by a trading volume of $285 million on its first day, with shares rising slightly. JBS’s decision to list in New York aims to tap into the deeper pools of institutional investment capital available in the U.S., as its shares traded at a discount on the São Paulo stock exchange compared to its U.S.-listed rivals. Following the listing, JBS prepared to issue bonds for the first time in the U.S., successfully raising $3.5 billion in debt with demand nearly five times the offering, intending to extend maturities on its debt. The company projects investments of up to $6 billion over the next five years and anticipates a potential increase in its stock value by up to 280-300% in the American market. Additionally, JBS has expanded its global footprint by initiating exports of Brazilian beef to Vietnam, strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia. The company’s founder, José Batista Sobrinho, also known as Zé Mineiro, ceremonially rang the opening bell at the NYSE to mark the listing.