Rising food and fuel costs increase urgency for Africa's bioeconomy transition
Just as large parts of the world were starting to glimpse the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine set off further shockwaves across the globe, including the largest price increase in food commodities in almost 15 years and the biggest two-year increase in energy prices in nearly five decades. To aggravate the situation,
Read MoreRand Paul vows to introduce amendments to gun safety bill
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday condemned parts of the recently announced bipartisan gun safety deal, describing some provisions as “constitutional deficiencies” and vowing to introduce amendments as it comes to the Senate floor. “Unfortunately, this legislation was assembled as many are – in secret, absent well placed leaks to journalists,” Paul wrote on Twitter. “There doesn’t appear to be a willingness or time provided to read, understand, debate or amend this bill.”
Read MoreManufacturers, transportation groups push back on Biden gas tax proposal
Lobbying groups representing manufacturers, construction contractors and civil engineers on Wednesday criticized President Biden’s proposal to suspend the federal gas tax to combat sky-high fuel prices. The business groups argued that the effort won’t bring relief to consumers at the pump and could derail major transportation projects paid for by the Highway Trust Fund, which is funded by the gas tax. “Our nation achieved historic progress with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but this move is likely to derail its implementation by suddenly disrupting its funding, dela
Read MoreFed chief says recession 'a possibility' as bank hikes rates
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged Wednesday that the central bank’s battle against high inflation could tip a so-far resilient U.S. economy into a recession. Testifying before the Senate Banking Committee, the Fed chief ceded that the bank’s ongoing series of interest rate hikes could slow the economy enough to halt job gains and economic growth — the two signs of an economy in retreat. Inducing a recession is “not our intended outcome, but certainly a possibility,” Powell said when asked by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) if the Fed could trigger a downturn.
Read MoreEra of pandemics shows need for global wildlife action
Even as COVID-19 cases persist unabated, a frightening string of monkeypox outbreaks has spread globally in recent months. Both pathogens are likely of zoonotic origin. One is new and the other is not, yet both viruses should give policymakers reason to act to end this “
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