US President Joe Biden (File image: Reuters) As Americans deal with the highest inflation in decades, President Joe Biden has declared that combating rising costs is a priority for his administration. Lately, he has cited one policy in particular as an inflation-fighting tool: shrinking the nation’s budget deficit. “Bringing down the deficit is one way to ease inflationary pressures in an economy,” Biden said this month. “We reduce federal borrowing and we help combat inflation.” The federal budget deficit — the gap between what the government spends and the tax revenue it takes in — remains large. But Biden has pointed out that it shrank by $350 billion during his first year in office and is expected to fall more than $1 trillion by October, the end of this federal budget year. Rather than stemming from any recent budget measures by his administration or Congress, the deficit reduction largely reflects the rise in tax receipts from strong economic growth and the winding … [Read more...] about Biden’s curious talking point: Lower deficits offer inflation relief
What do shingles look like and feel like
Seven days of paternity leave more than enough, say some dads
IPOH: While some fathers feel that seven days of paternity leave is too short, others believe it is more than enough. Marketing designer Muhammad Luqman Hakim Mohamed Radzi, who will soon have his second child, said seven days will be good enough to “settle matters related to a newborn”. ALSO READ : SMEs unhappy with longer paternity leave “There are a number of things to be done such as registering the baby’s name and getting a birth certificate. “Most infants also develop jaundice a few days after birth so the extra days of leave will be important for the men as they need to accompany their wife and newborn to the doctor,” he said in response to the Dewan Rakyat’s passing of amendments to the Employment Act on March 21, which saw the three-day paternity leave extended to seven days. Working fathers are eligible for paternity leave for up to five children. They must also have worked at the company for at least 12 months to be entitled to such leave. Before this, the … [Read more...] about Seven days of paternity leave more than enough, say some dads
Leading executives share 16 tips that nurture corporate finance
The success of a well-run business is not determined by its financial performance levels alone, and that is why leaders need to take a holistic approach and consider how each area of the establishment and decisions made about specific contributions to the company can build it up or weigh it down. advertisement advertisement As you work towards achieving your financial goals, it’s also important to find the right balance and prioritize how to maintain a steady cash flow and make wise choices about how and where to invest your time and money to elevate the organization. Below are 16 members of Fast Company Executive Board to share some of the best practices they’ve received about how to manage their company finances. 1. DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE. advertisement As Warren Buffet says: “Think long-term.” As a manager, you have to live months or years ahead of where your company is now. Ask where you want to be in a year and invest … [Read more...] about Leading executives share 16 tips that nurture corporate finance
How to get your child to eat vegetables
If you want your toddler to eat more vegetables, you should reward them for it, new research shows. Just don’t make the reward other food like sweets or dessert. A study presented at the 2022 European Congress on Obesity in Maastricht, Netherlands, found that giving children stickers or small toy crowns may help them develop a taste for healthy food. Experts carried out the three-month research programme on children on aged one to four at nurseries in Limburg, Netherlands. Researcher Britt van Belkom from Maastricht University Campus Venlo, said: “It’s important to start eating vegetables from a young age. “We know from previous research that young children typically have to try a new vegetable eight to 10 times before they like it. “And so we looked at whether repeatedly asking children to try some vegetables would make them more willing to eat their greens. “We were also interested in whether providing a fun reward would make a difference.” Overall, 598 children took … [Read more...] about How to get your child to eat vegetables
Crude hovers around $110, India has a lot to worry about
Representative image Oil prices continue to surge over fears of supply disruption as Russia faced collective sanctions from the US and allies following its invasions of Ukraine. On March 2, Brent crude futures rose by as much as $8 and touched $113.02 a barrel, the highest since June 2014, before easing to $111.75, news agency Reuters reported. Such elevated prices have wide ramifications for India, given that about 85 percent of the crude processed by domestic refiners is imported. High prices can put upward pressure on inflation, increase the cost of inputs for various industries, make transportation expensive, raise the import bill and lead to deterioration of the current account. The Economic Survey of 2021-22 had flagged the risk of imported inflation, arising from elevated global energy prices but the Budget for 2022-23 and the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee have taken a relatively benign view on crude oil prices—they have estimated that it would … [Read more...] about Crude hovers around $110, India has a lot to worry about
Rupee trades at record low of 76.96 a dollar on soaring crude prices
The rupee hit an all-time low of nearly 77 a dollar on Monday after crude oil made fresh surges on news reports that the US and its European allies were weighing a ban on Russian oil. This was the fourth consecutive session when the currency weakened. At 12.11pm, the home currency was trading at 76.96 a dollar, down 1.03 percent from its previous close. It opened at 76.96 a dollar and touched a record low of 76.97 during the day. Analysts says that the higher crude is likely to widen India's current account deficit. A higher current account deficit is likely to put further pressure on the domestic currency. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and likely lower exports of Russian crude oil will keep the oil prices elevated for a protracted period. "We note increasing risks of global crude prices staying elevated in the next 6-9 months due to large imbalances in the global crude oil markets," an analyst said. Brent soared to a near 14-year high of $140. Oil reached its highest … [Read more...] about Rupee trades at record low of 76.96 a dollar on soaring crude prices