Asian food supplies

The International Monetary Fund has slashed its US economic growth forecast as aggressive Federal Reserve interest rate hikes cool demand but predicted that the United States would "narrowly" avoid a recession. In an annual assessment of US economic policies, the IMF said it now expects US Gross Domestic Product to grow 2.9 percent in 2022, less than its most recent forecast of 3.7 percent in April. For 2023, the IMF cut its US growth forecast to 1.7 percent from 2.3 percent and it now expects growth to trough at 0.8 percent in 2024. Last October, the IMF predicted 5.2 percent US growth this year, but since then, new Covid-19 variants and stubborn supply chain disruptions have slowed recovery, while a sharp spike in fuel and food prices prompted by Russia's war in Ukraine further stoked inflation to 40-year highs. "We are conscious that there is a narrowing path to avoiding a recession in the US," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told a news conference on Friday, … [Read more...] about IMF slashes US growth forecast to 2.9%, sees ‘narrowing path’ to avoid recession

The outdoor apparel company Patagonia will cover bail expenses for employees arrested amid protests following the Friday Supreme Court ruling Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, according to Bloomberg. The company, which maintains a longstanding tradition of activism, previously offered to cover bail expenses for employees arrested at protests for different causes, Bloomberg reported . Patagonia released a statement Friday, saying that “training and bail for those who peacefully protest for reproductive justice” will extend to both part-time and full-time employees. Healthcare for Patagonia employees includes “a more holistic approach” that involves “supporting employees’ choices around if or when they have a child,” the company said. Healthcare plans offered include coverage for abortion care along with “travel, lodging and food” expenses for employees facing abortion restrictions. The company also said that employees receive “time off to vote” along with the … [Read more...] about Patagonia To Bail Out Employees Arrested At Pro-Abortion Protests

Have you ever looked at another person’s daily accomplishments and thought, “How do they do it”? By the time most are pouring a second cup of coffee in the morning, some super-achievers have gone for a 5-mile run, hit inbox zero, and nailed the rough draft of that report due next week. Oh, and they figured out the day’s Wordle, too. advertisement advertisement After more than a decade of writing and practicing productivity techniques, I’ve learned that these folks generally do know more about how to get more done. And you can adopt those practices, too. But, why would you? Getting more done in less time can mean that you have more free time to do the things you love with the people you love. Or, it can create space to fill with more work that could have a detrimental effect on your mental and physical health. I learned this the hard way last year. advertisement advertisement Don’t make the same mistakes. Instead, practice … [Read more...] about The ultimate guide to purposeful productivity (your mental health will thank you)

US President Joe Biden attends a working lunch with other G7 leaders to discuss shaping the global economy at the Yoga Pavilion, Schloss Elmau in Kuren, Germany, June 26, 2022. (Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS) WASHINGTON — The United States aims to raise $200 billion in private and public funds over five years to fund needed infrastructure in developing countries under a G7 initiative aimed at countering China’s multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road project, the White House said on Sunday. US President Joe Biden will unveil the plans, flanked by other Group of Seven leaders, some of whom have already unveiled their own separate initiatives, at their annual gathering being held this year at Schloss Elmau in southern Germany. Increasingly worried about China, G7 leaders first floated plans for the project last year, and are formally launching it now under a fresh title, “Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment” while dropping the moniker “Build Back Better World” … [Read more...] about US to raise $200 billion for G7 vs China’s Belt and Road

Scene from “Flower of Evil” Piolo Pascual and Lovi Poe, stars of the local adaptation of the South Korean series “Flower of Evil,” see nothing wrong with remaking old concepts as opposed to creating original ones. “I completely understand why some people say we should focus on creating our own stuff, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong or I don’t think it’s bad to acknowledge other people’s works, especially if it’s something this beautiful,” Lovi told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent media junket. “A lot of countries are doing it, and so have we, for many years now. Of course, you always want to do something original, but the bottom line here is that if we would be able to give the old concept a new and different take, then I think it’s still worth doing,” added Piolo, who swore that the series will be appreciated even by non-KDrama fans. “We Filipinized it, so it’s not KDrama at all. It’s made in such a way that even people who prefer stuff other than KDrama will fall … [Read more...] about How Piolo Pascual and Lovi Poe ‘Filipinized’ K-drama series ‘Flower of Evil’

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline A federal appeals court issued a temporary stay Friday blocking a nationwide ban on Juul Labs' electronic cigarette products, just a day after the Food and Drug Administration ordered Juul merchandise to be pulled off store shelves due to marketing concerns. Key Facts Juul argued in a court filing Friday that the FDA ban was unlawful, calling it an "arbitrary" ruling that has nothing to do with safety. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals judges who issued the stay Friday did not rule on the merits of Juul's argument, but determined the company could continue selling its products while the case proceeded in court. The FDA told Forbes the agency “does not comment on possible, pending or ongoing litigation.” Key Background The FDA claims Juul has not been able to prove its marketing meets FDA standards by failing to demonstrate that its products are safe. The federal agency has specifically … [Read more...] about Appeals Court Halts Ban On Juul Vaping Products—For Now

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A House panel revealed for the first time internal documents from Juul Labs that Democrats said detailed the e-cigarette company’s plan to directly reach teenagers. The hearing, which featured Juul cofounder James Monsees and chief administration officer Ashley Gould, comes as part of a House Oversight Committee investigation into the company’s role in what the Food and Drug Administration has dubbed a youth vaping epidemic. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the amount of high schoolers who used e-cigarettes jumped to 20.8% in 2018 from 11.7% the previous year. The panel requested last month that Juul turn over a wide-ranging set of internal communications related to its marketing and social media strategies. Panel members used some of those documents to question executives about the San Francisco company’s efforts to recruit social media influencers and to talk to teenagers face-to-face. … [Read more...] about Juul Funded High Schools, Recruited Social Media Influencers To Reach Youth, House Panel Charges

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A print Juul advertisement that ran in Vice Magazine in 2015 as part of the e-cigarette company'’s ... [+] launch campaign, “Vaporized.” Juul 'Vaporized' ad in 2015 via Stanford Research Into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising Juul Labs, the maker of the most popular U.S. e-cigarette, is growing meteorically—on track to generate an estimated $1 billion in sales this year, up more than 300% from a year ago. However, its products haven’t only gained traction among smokers trying to wean themselves off cigarettes. They are also a hit with teenagers. What medical experts are calling a Juul-driven “youth nicotine epidemic” is gaining heightened attention from regulators like the Food and Drug Administration, which on Thursday said it is seeking a nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars and will sharply restrict the sales of fruity-flavored nicotine vaping cartridges. Juul, likely aware of the … [Read more...] about The Disturbing Focus Of Juul’s Early Marketing Campaigns

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Meow Wolf opened its first permanent installation in 2016 in Santa Fe. Known as the “House of Eternal Return,” it instantly became a nation-wide sensation due to its interactive and unexpected exhibits. What makes Meow Wolf so different than a typical art installation is that it’s not something you look at; it’s something you immerse yourself in. The exhibit creates a world that visitors walk through and engage with, allowing (and encouraging) interaction in a choose-your-own-adventure type experience, complete with secret passages and other hidden gems. One of the most famous examples in Santa Fe is a washer/dryer that, when opened, reveals a slide that visitors can use to access a room of lost socks below. In this way, the experience of visiting Meow Wolf is different than anything before it. The success has prompted more installations to be built around the country, including what’s called “Convergence Station” … [Read more...] about Where To Stay and What To Do When Visiting Meow Wolf In Denver

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin This year’s Fourth of July is set to be the top holiday weekend to travel with nearly half (46%) of summer travelers planning to vacation over Independence Day, according to Vacasa’s 2022 Summer Travel Trends report . Vacasa’s search data also revealed the following destinations as the most popular spots for 2022: Bethany Beach, DE; Alabama Gulf Coast, AL; Outer Banks, NC; Cape Cod, MA; Oregon Coast, OR. In order to impress their guests, hotels and resorts throughout the country are planning spectacular fireworks displays ranging from a “Free as a Bird” experience to a “Big Bay Boom.” Mohonk Mountain House , New Paltz, New York With its picturesque setting in the Hudson Valley and situated on a private glacial lake with views of the Catskill Mountains, this Victorian castle resort provides a one-of-a-kind mountain retreat for a Fourth of July celebration. With activities like tomahawk throwing, family … [Read more...] about Resorts To Offer Spectacular Independence Day Celebrations