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☆ IMF says U.S. should keep open trade, work with China to resolve disputes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva (R), with Director of Strategic Communications Julie Kozack, speaks at a press briefing on the global policy agenda during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings at IMF headquarters in Washington, DC, on April 13, 2023. The U.S. would be better served by maintaining its open trade system rather than imposing new punitive duties on Chinese goods, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday, adding that Washington and Beijing should work together to resolve their trade tensions. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack told a regular news briefing that such trade restrictions as those announced by President Joe Biden on Tuesday can distort trade and investment, fragment supply chains and trigger retaliatory actions. "With respect to the tariffs, our view is that the U.S. would be better served by maintaining open trade policies that have been vital to its economic performance," Kozack said. "We also encourage the U.S. and China to work together toward a solution that addresses the underlying concerns that have exacerbated trade tensions between the two countries."

Persons: Kristalina, Strategic Communications Julie Kozack, Julie Kozack, Joe Biden, Kozack Organizations: Monetary Fund, Strategic Communications, International Monetary Fund Locations: Washington ,, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Japan, Germany, China

☆ How Spotify AI plans to know what's going on inside your head, and find the right track for it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Trevor Laurence Jockims | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Over the past decade or more, Spotify has been investing in AI and, in particular, in machine learning. Its recently launched AI DJ may be its biggest bet yet that technology will allow subscribers to better personalize listening sessions and discover new music. The AI DJ combines personalization technology, generative AI, and a dynamic AI voice, and listeners can tap the DJ button when they want to hear something new, and something less-directly-derived from their established likes. Behind the dulcet tones of an AI DJ there are people, tech experts and music experts, who aim to improve the recommendation capacity of Spotify's tools. A Spotify spokesperson said the generative AI tool allows the human experts to "scale their innate knowledge in ways never before possible."

Persons: Y, we've, they're, it's, Julie Knibbe, —, Knibbe, they've, Ben Ratliff, Ratliff Organizations: Spotify, Discover, Technology

☆ DeSantis signs law to release records that could explain why Jeffrey Epstein got minimal charges in Florida
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis signed a bipartisan bill into law that unearth more Jeffrey Epstein records. The law will allow for the release of records from a 2006 Florida grand jury. Victim advocates hope that the release of the Epstein grand jury records will shed light on why prosecutors brought limited charges, and what else they may have known at the time. The Associated Press reported that a state judge decided not to release the records Thursday morning, citing the impending law. The Palm Beach police chief was so outraged that the grand jury only charged Epstein with one count that the FBI got involved.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, —, DeSantis, Julie K, Barry Krischer, Alex Acosta, Brown, Acosta, Donald Trump's, Ghislaine Maxwell Organizations: Service, HB, Prosecutors, Miami Herald, Associated Press, Palm Beach police, FBI, US Locations: Florida, Palm Beach, Manhattan, Miami

☆ New sickle cell gene therapies are a breakthrough, but solving how to pay their high prices is a struggle
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Bertha Coombs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The approval of two gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease has given hope to patients who suffer from the debilitating disease, which overwhelmingly affects Black people and people of color. Sickle cell has forced him to leave his job and at times taken him away from his family. Still, he's hesitant to try the new one-time gene therapies because they require months of intensive medical preparation, including chemotherapy, to prepare patients' bone marrow stem cells for extraction and gene editing. Vertex Pharmaceuticals ' gene therapy Casgevy lists for $2.2 million, while Bluebird Bio 's treatment Lyfgenia lists for $3.1 million. Kanter said it will take time to ramp up capacity and to set up facilities across the country to treat patients at scale.

Persons: Michael Goodwin, Goodwin, I've, I'm, he's, …, Goodwin's hesitancy, Julie Kanter, Kanter Organizations: Health, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, University of Alabama, National Alliance of Sickle Cell Centers, for Disease Control, National Alliance of Sickle Cell Locations: Birmingham

☆ Aaron Rodgers is causing major headaches for ESPN after his bizarre comment about Jimmy Kimmel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers has sparked a controversy with his latest quip about comedian Jimmy Kimmel. AdvertisementESPN is grappling with a wave of backlash after Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers made a bizarre and unfounded quip about comedian Jimmy Kimmel being linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Kimmel, who is one Disney's biggest names as the host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live! Advertisement"There's a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, really hoping that doesn't come out," Rodgers said." "I can see exactly why Jimmy Kimmel felt the way he felt, especially with his position.

Persons: Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Kimmel, Rodgers, Kimmel, Jeffrey Epstein's, —, Jeffrey Epstein, Pat McAfee's, I've, Epstein, doesn't, Anthony Fauci, Joe Biden's, Travis Kelce, McAfee, Aaron, Pat McAfee, Aaron Rodgers pic.twitter.com, @ESPN, Julie K, Brown, Mike D, Sykes, Perez mused, Bob Iger Organizations: Jets, Service, ESPN, Chiefs, NFL, Disney, Front, York Post

Steam feeding into the Unit 3 turbine generator of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Waynesboro, Ga. “The United States is now committed to trying to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy,” John Kerry, President Biden’s climate envoy, said in September. One recent Pew survey found that 57 percent of Americans favor more nuclear plants, up from 43 percent in 2016. A NuScale engineer gave a tour of a control room simulator, modeling the company’s plans for new nuclear reactors, in 2013. “The demand for clean energy is almost unprecedented,” said Maria Korsnick, president of the Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry group.

Persons: Biden, ” John Kerry, Biden’s, “, ”, Jacopo Buongiorno, Jimmy Carter, Rosalyn Carter, Bruce Springsteen, Dan Reicher, Gavin Newsom, Reicher, Clinton, Jeffrey Collins, Arnie Gundersen, John Williams, “ It’s, Patty Durand, Julie Kozeracki, Kendrick Brinson, Jay Wileman, Bill Gates, Dow, Roger Blomquist, NuScale Power, Jose Reyes, Adam Stein, it’s, they’re, Ahmed Abdulla, Robert Taylor, Leah Nash, NuScale, David Schlissel, Joshua Freed, didn’t, Maria Korsnick Organizations: Unit, Republicans, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Associated Press, Madison, Natural Resources Defense, California Gov, Democrat, Associated, Fairewinds Associates, Components, Workers, Georgia, Southern Company, Georgia Power, Georgia Public Service Commission, Energy Department, The New York Times, GE, Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Vogtle . Ontario, Tennessee Valley Authority, Argonne, National Laboratory, Energy, Nuclear Regulatory, NuScale, ”, Breakthrough Institute, Carleton University, Soaring, Institute for Energy Economics, United, Nuclear Energy Institute Locations: U.S, Waynesboro, Ga, Savannah, Georgia, United States, ”, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Jenkinsville, Vogtle, South Carolina, South, Canada, Tennessee, Argonne, Chicago, Idaho, Wyoming, California, Alaska, Maryland, Pueblo County, Colo

☆ A childcare center founder explains what she learned after 3 decades and why it's so hard to make the business work
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After three decades, Julie Clark recently sold CAST Preschool and Childcare Center in Connecticut. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementJulie Clark, the cofounder of the CAST Preschool and Childcare Center in Woodbury, Connecticut, said her "goal was really to form a community, not just a school." After more than 30 years, Clark sold her childcare center this past summer. It's hard for centers to find staffSome teachers had worked for CAST Preschool and Childcare Center for at least 15 years.

Persons: Julie Clark, Clark, could've, —, I've, Allison Robinson, Robinson, We've, Julie Kashen Organizations: CAST, Service, Department of Labor, The Century Foundation, Labor Statistics Locations: Connecticut, Woodbury , Connecticut

Some childcare operators told Insider the end of pandemic-era funding could make the problem worse. To keep the doors open at her Southampton Township, New Jersey, childcare center, she needs to find new clients or new funding. Jackson is just one of many providers across the US entering a period of uncertainty after a pandemic-era infusion of federal childcare funding ran out at the end of last month. That funding expired on Saturday, along with $13.5 billion in childcare funding from other pandemic-era legislation. She added: "What we're likely to see is childcare providers doing everything they can to continue to operate.

Persons: —, Jackson, Patti Smith, Joe Biden's, they'd, Allyx Schiavone, Lauren Bauer, Molly Kinder, Julie Kashen, Kashen, Schiavone, Cristi Carman, they're, Carman, Shannon Hampson, Hampson, we're, Rep, Katherine Clark, Julia Pollak, ZipRecruiter, there's, Grant Organizations: Service, Greenway, National Association for, Education of Young Children, Rescue, Friends Center for Children, American Progress, Brookings Institution, The Century Foundation, Care, American Locations: Southampton Township , New Jersey, Maryland, Lincoln , Nebraska

Families are "squeezing to make ends meet," caught between rising prices and a lack of accessible child care, Kim Bracey, chief executive of the YWCA York, told Powell. Julie Keene, owner of Flinchbaugh’s Orchard, zeroed in on inflation, and pressed Powell on the uncertain environment businesses have having to navigate. In conversations with shopkeepers, Powell and Harker focused on aspects of the businesses and the owners' backgrounds - not inflation or the impact of interest rates. Speaking with Reuters ahead of their arrival at her shop she said high interest rates were pressing her hard. "I mean, lower the interest rates," she said.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Evelyn Hockstein, Powell, Kim Bracey, Julie Keene, Keene, Bracey, Gallup, Alan Greenspan, Patrick Harker, Michelle Wright, Mane, Wright, Harker, Drayden, Jennifer Heasley, Howard Schneider, Dan Burns Organizations: Federal, Federal Reserve, REUTERS, Monday, YWCA York, Philadelphia Fed, Luxe, York Central Market, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Pennsylvania, York , Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Flinchbaugh’s Orchard, zeroed, Keene, Powell

☆ China PMI, bumper 'Golden Week' travel give glimmers of hope for economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

PMI data released by Caixin Media and S&P Global showed both manufacturing and services losing some momentum. “We see increasing evidence of a near-term growth stabilization,” Nomura analysts said in a research note on Saturday, thanks partly to the raft of policy measures unveiled since late July, they added. While domestic travel for the Golden Week holiday appears strong, Chinese consumers are leaving the mainland in fewer numbers. Preliminary statistics from ForwardKeys, a global travel data provider, last week showed that Chinese travel within Asia was down 33% on pre-pandemic levels. On the first day of the Golden Week holiday, the number of mainland Chinese tourists entering Hong Kong was still less than half of 2018’s level, the city’s government said over the weekend.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Stringer, “, ” Nomura, Julie Kozack, Xu Jiayin, Xu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Bureau, Statistics, PMI, Caixin Media, P Global, Getty, China State Railway Group, Ministry, Transport, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, NBS, ” Citi, International Monetary Fund, Bank, Golden, Evergrande Group Locations: Hong Kong, Nantong, China's Jiangsu, AFP, China, Hangzhou, China's, Zhejiang, Beijing, Asia

TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese entertainment company that has acknowledged its founder sexually assaulted hundreds of boys over the span of half a century, took a new name on Monday: Smile-Up. Higashiyama, tapped last month to head the old Johnny’s, will now be president of both Smile-Up and the new company. “All things with the Johnny’s name will have to go,” Higashiyama told reporters at a Tokyo hotel. Payments will begin next month, Higashiyama said. That causes great pain to the victims,” said Junya Hiramoto, who heads a group of Johnny’s victims.

Persons: Noriyuki Higashiyama, Johnny’s, ” Higashiyama, “, Johnny Kitagawa, Higashiyama, Kitagawa’s, Julie Keiko Fujishima, Fujishima, ”, Mary, Kitagawa, Johnny, Yoshihito Kawakami, Junya Hiramoto, Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Johnny, Associates, Johnny’s, BBC, Johnny & Associates, Associated Press Locations: Tokyo, Johnny’s, Japan

☆ IMF says US government shutdown is 'avoidable risk,' urges parties to reach consensus
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An American Flag on the U.S. Capitol Building is seen in Washington, U.S., August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said a looming shutdown of the U.S. government posed an "avoidable risk" to the nation's economy, and urged parties to reach consensus on continued funding for the federal government. "We certainly are urging the parties to come together to reach a consensus and find a way forward," IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack told reporters at a regular briefing. "We do see a shutdown as an avoidable risk for the U.S. Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Julie Kozack, Joe Biden, McCarthy, Kozack, Andrea Shalal, Mark Porter Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, Democratic, House Republicans, Biden, United Auto Workers, Big Three Detroit, Thomson Locations: American, Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ IMF sees signs China stabilizing, says reforms can boost medium-term growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Fund sees China's GDP growth slowing to about 3.5% over the medium term, but this can be accelerated with economic reforms, she added. Some analysts see growing risk that China will drift into an era of Japan-like stagnation with an aging population and slowing productivity growth. "We expect that China's growth will slow to around 3-1/2 percent against the backdrop of demographic headwinds and slowing productivity growth," Kozack said. "But we also think that higher growth over the medium term is within reach for China. China should seize the opportunity to rebalance its economy through short-term macroeconomic policy support and medium term reforms."

Persons: Julie Kozack, Kozack, David Lawder, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF, Bank, Thomson Locations: China, Marrakech, Morocco, COVID, Japan, Beijing

☆ Why the end of federal child care funding matters — whether or not you have young kids
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Erik Ortiz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"It's going to be a child care apocalypse," she said. "If someone came to me today and said they wanted to open up a child care center, I'd say, 'Don't do it.' That amounts to about 3.2 million children losing child care. In June, the GOP-controlled Legislature in Wisconsin voted to end its Child Care Counts subsidy program, with funding to help child care providers expected to be exhausted by February. On the federal level, Democratic members of Congress have introduced bills this year to expand federal subsidies for child care providers and create federally funded, but locally run, child care centers.

Persons: Rossignol, shouldering, Julie Kashen, Kashen, Cathy Creighton, Creighton, Jade Lebel, Lebel, It's, Kat Brockschmidt, Rawasia Organizations: The Century Foundation, GOP, Republican, Democratic, Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations Buffalo Co, Employers Locations: Maine, Alaska , California, Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, U.S, Montgomery County , Maryland

TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese boys-band production company at the center of an unfolding sexual abuse scandal, Johnny & Associates, chose three former judges Wednesday to head its effort to compensate hundreds of victims. “We recognize that the late Johnny Kitagawa carried out sexual assaults over a long period, and we apologize to the victims from the bottom of our hearts,” the company said. Among the latest was Kao Corp., a chemical and cosmetics company, which cited “considerations for people’s various feelings” on Tuesday. McDonald’s Japan has also said it will stop using Johnny’s stars in future deals, but past ads featuring them remained on its official site. Johnny’s stars are extremely popular, leading to sponsorship revenue and hit TV shows.

Persons: Johnny Kitagawa, Kitagawa, Julie Keiko Fujishima, Johnny's, Noriyuki Higashiyama, Johnny’s, “, ”, McDonald’s, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Johnny & Associates, Asahi Group Holdings, Suntory Holdings, Kao Corp, Public, NHK, Japan Federation of Bar, Business, Rights Locations: Tokyo, Japan, McDonald’s Japan

TOKYO (AP) — Several major Japanese companies have decided to stop using stars who are represented by Johnny & Associates, an entertainment company at the center of a sexual assault scandal. Victims have come forward, demanding an apology and financial compensation from Johnny & Associates, which remains one of this nation’s most powerful entertainment companies. Critics say the mainstream news media kept silent because it didn’t want to lose access to Johnny’s stars for their programming. But public opinion has shifted dramatically in recent months, with the wave of companies dropping Johnny's expected to grow. Suntory Holdings said it will stop using Johnny’s personnel in its ads and has formally demanded improved corporate governance.

Persons: Johnny &, Junichi Okada, Toma Ikuta, Sho Sakurai, Johnny, Julie Keiko Fujishima, Johnny Kitagawa, Fujishima, Kitagawa, Hibiki, Hokuto, Atsushi Katsuki, Johnny's, ”, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Johnny, Johnny & Associates, Beverage, Asahi Group Holdings, Johnny’s, Japan Airlines, Nippon Life Insurance, Suntory Holdings, Asahi, Twitter Locations: Tokyo, SixTONES

☆ Head of Japan's top pop agency resigns after admitting founder Johnny Kitagawa sexually abused minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The head of Japan’s top pop agency Johnny & Associates stepped down Thursday after admitting that her uncle, the company’s late founder, had sexually abused minors for years, following months of international scrutiny and an independent investigation. Julie K Fujishima, the niece of Johnny Kitagawa, announced her resignation in a news conference Thursday, saying the company would compensate the victims of her uncle’s abuse, according to public broadcaster NHK. It was the first time the agency has addressed the media about the scandal, according to NHK. He alleged that over the course of four years, beginning in 2012 when he was 15, he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by Kitagawa. In 1999, a Japanese magazine published accounts of other young men and boys who claimed they were sexually abused by Kitagawa.

Persons: Julie K Fujishima, Johnny Kitagawa, Kitagawa, Noriyuki Higashiyama, Higashiyama, “, Jae, Mary Kitagawa, Fujishima, Kauan Okamoto Organizations: CNN, Johnny, NHK, BBC, Johnny & Associates, Associates Locations: Tokyo

Fujishima said the alleged sex abuse had really happened and that she would stay on the company’s board to see through a victim compensation program. A group of men who accused Kitagawa of raping them as children said they were pleased the company apologized, but some had reservations. The three-month probe concluded that Johnny Kitagawa sexually assaulted and abused boys as far back as the 1950s and targeted at least several hundred people. The men who have come forward say Kitagawa raped, fondled and abused them while they were working for his company as dancers and singers. One man who came forward recently said he was routinely molested when Kitagawa had yet to found his company.

Persons: Julie Keiko Fujishima, Johnny Kitagawa, ” Fujishima, Fujishima, Kitagawa, Yukihiro Oshima, Noriyuki Higashiyama, “, ” Higashiyama, ”, Higashiyama, ” ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Johnny & Associates, BBC Locations: Tokyo

☆ Japan's Johnny Kitagawa sex abuse scandal forces shake-up at J-pop agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Francis Tang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The niece of Johnny Kitagawa, the late J-pop magnate at the centre of a sexual abuse scandal that has shocked Japan, said on Thursday that she had stepped down as the head of the talent agency her uncle had founded. As more Japanese media took up the story, lawmakers voiced outrage, while the United Nations' human rights experts also criticised the talent agency for its handling of the allegations. At a press conference televised live by most broadcasters, Kitagawa's niece Julie K. Fujishima said she had stepped down as president on Tuesday. Noriyuki Higashiyama, a former member of the popular 1980s boy-band Shonentai, was the new head of the agency, Fujishima said. But the scandal blew up this year as more victims came forward after the BBC's report, leading to demands for stricter laws to prevent child abuse and a formal apology from the agency.

Persons: Johnny Kitagawa, Kitagawa, Kitagawa's, Julie K, Fujishima, Noriyuki, Higashiyama, Francis Tang, Kantaro Komiya, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Chang, Ran Kim, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: BBC, United Nations, Johnny, Associates, Johnny's Juniors, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, East Asia

The president of one of Japan’s most influential entertainment agencies resigned after an independent investigation confirmed the company’s founder, Johnny Kitagawa, had sexually abused young men in his care since the 1970s. His reputation as a hitmaker associated with some of Japan’s most popular boy bands protected Mr. Kitagawa from scandal, even after his death in 2019 at age 87. Under immense scrutiny, Johnny & Associates announced in May that it was forming an internal investigative panel to “prevent the recurrence” of future abuse. At a news conference on Thursday, Julie Keiko Fujishima, Mr. Kitagawa’s niece, acknowledged the results of the investigation and apologized on behalf of herself and the company. She also announced she had resigned as the company’s president on Wednesday.

Persons: Johnny Kitagawa, Kitagawa, Julie Keiko Fujishima, Kitagawa’s Organizations: Johnny & Associates Locations: Japan

Here are some details of the impact:* DEATHThe war has caused death on a level not seen in Europe since World War Two. The war has left nearly 500,000 troops either dead or injured, according to the New York Times. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Sept. 21 that 5,937 Russian soldiers had been killed since the start of the war. When added to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, Russia now controls about 17.5% of Ukraine, an area of about 41,000 square miles (106,000 square km). Shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, international oil prices spiked to their highest levels since the records of 2008.

Persons: Chasiv Yar, Violeta Santos Moura, Sergei Shoigu, Julie Kozack, William Burns, Putin, Guy Faulconbridge, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, United Nations, Human Rights, New York Times, Russian, Reuters, Belfer, Harvard Kennedy School, International Monetary Fund, CIA, European Union, Kiel Institute, Thomson Locations: Chasiv, Ukraine, Donetsk, Europe, United States, Ukraine's, Russia, Crimea, Russian, UNHCR, UKRAINE Russia, Massachusetts , New Hampshire, Connecticut, wastelands, RUSSIA, Moscow, China, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, Japan

☆ Oil companies are approaching influencers and enlisting PR firms to reach younger generations on social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

TikTok influencers with millions of followers are partnering with companies like ExxonMobil and Shell. These companies are also using PR firms that help them target millenials and younger generations, The Washington Post reports. Oil companies are paying social media influencers to promote their brands and reach younger audiences, according to reports from The Washington Post and DeSmog. "ExxonMobil, like many companies, works with influencers to educate consumers about the full benefits of our rewards program," Julie King, a spokesperson for ExxonMobil, told Insider. For example, Edelman, a public relations firm, works with Shell to promote it to millenials and younger audiences, the Post reports.

Persons: influencers, Sam Bright, DeSmog's, They're, Curtis Smith, Julie King, Instagram influencer Nora Capistrano Sangalang, —, Meredith Steele, influencer, Edelman Organizations: ExxonMobil, Shell, Washington Post, Morning, The Washington Post, DeSmog, Companies

More than a quarter said they would have to cut wages — from a median hourly wage of about $12. Nearly a third of providers, including 44 percent at those owned by minorities, said they might consider leaving their job or, in the case of home-based child care, closing altogether. “Federal funding made a huge difference,” said Julie Kashen, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation and an author of the new report. Without the grants, she said, the center, which her parents started 40 years ago, would have closed during the pandemic. She used the money to raise hourly pay to $15 “because they all deserve it,” she said.

Persons: ”, Julie Kashen, Jen Whyte Organizations: Century Foundation Locations: Millcreek , Utah

☆ Did You Know Teslas Can Fart? 6 Smart Devices With a Childish Sense of Humor
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Julie Kling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

BRAKE WIND Every Tesla offers ‘Emissions Testing Mode,’ which allows you to deploy fart noises throughout the cabin. Illustration: John W. TomacRECENTLY, I went to Austin, Texas, to help out a friend who had just given birth. It soon became clear that my postpartum assistance would mainly involve driving her Tesla around town to buy beer and Pampers. One day, while I was testing the limits of that 3.1 second 0-60 mph acceleration time—something my 2010 Honda CRV could only dream of—the empty passenger seat…farted.

Persons: John W, Tomac Locations: Austin , Texas

☆ IMF urges Fed, central banks to keep tightening to reduce inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said inflation momentum has slowed in the United States, but remained a pressing concern. The IMF warned in April that lurking financial system vulnerabilities could erupt into a new crisis and slam global growth this year, edging its 2023 global growth forecasts lower. "We believe that central banks should stay the course on monetary tightening to decisively reduce inflation." "We also see that inflation momentum has slowed, but that inflation does remain a pressing concern," Kozack said. "Our advice remains unchanged, which is that the Fed would need to stay the course on monetary policy to ensure a durable reduction in inflation and to ensure that inflation expectations ... remain well-anchored."

Persons: Sarah Silbiger WASHINGTON, Julie Kozack, Kozack, Andrea Shalal, Paul Simao Organizations: El Progreso Market, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Monetary Fund, U.S . Federal Reserve, IMF, Thomson Locations: Mount Pleasant, Washington ,, United States, U.S

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