Latest news with #Birch
CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
U.S. trade deal offers initial relief but leaves Europe on the backfoot
After an initial sigh of relief at the U.S. and European Union avoiding further escalation by striking a trade agreement, concerns have grown that the framework deal is "unbalanced" and leaves Europe on the backfoot. The two trading partners on Sunday announced an agreement that includes a 15% tariff rate on most EU goods to the U.S. Some goods like aircraft components and certain chemicals are not set to be hit by tariffs, while autos will see duties reduced to the 15% rate. The agreement also includes provisions for the EU purchasing U.S. energy and increasing its investments in the country. The agreement halves the 30% tariff rate U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened the EU with and avoids any further escalation through for example countermeasures. Yet analysts and economists remain cautious as to the impact on both sides as negotiations are still set to take place. "It's a climb down from a much worse place," Cailin Birch, global economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit, told CNBC's "Europe Early Edition" on Monday. However, she noted, "a 15% tariff is still a big escalation from where we were pre-Trump 2.0." Birch also pointed out that a lot of uncertainty remains, with details about the steel and pharmaceutical sector still being unclear. European leaders struck similar notes overnight, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying that while the EU was able to protect its core interests, he would have welcomed further easing of transatlantic trade. France's minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, meanwhile said in a Google-translated social media post that while the deal would bring "temporary stability" to some sectors, it is "unbalanced" overall. Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, warned that while the "crippling uncertainty" was over, the damage for Europe is more frontloaded in comparison to the long-term impact on the U.S. "The deal is asymmetric. The US gets away with a substantial increase in its tariffs on imports from the EU and has secured further EU concessions to boot. In his apparent zero-sum mentality, Trump can claim that as a "win" for him," he said. As it will take some time for U.S. consumers to feel the impact of tariffs, Trump's supporters may not immediately realize they are being hurt by the president's policies, Schmieding explained. This may encourage Trump to continue to pursue economic policies that are "bad" for the U.S., he added. The Economist Intelligence Unit's Birch meanwhile pointed out that the U.S. also did not get everything it may have wanted from the deal. "Both sides are, are kind of set back a bit from this deal," she said. "The U.S. didn't make any headway on a lot of issues that have in recent history been critical to their trade approach to the EU. So agricultural standards, the tech industry regulating standard that has been a big bugbear, there was no real mention of those standards whatsoever," Birch explained, acknowledging that the deal is not yet done.
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
With the opening of Claudine, is Rhode Island ready for a fine dining comeback?
Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Advertisement Many Rhode Island chefs steer clear of attaching themselves to a fine dining moniker altogether, wary of the baggage it carries: a high price point, pretension, exclusivity, and unsustainable economics. But walk into some of the state's most lauded restaurants and you'll find a full dining room, caviar, Advertisement For Claudine, however, embracing a The interior of Claudine, a fine dining restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island. Maurisa Arieta 'I think that when I was a young boy, fine dining was something that maybe your parents would show you, or you would see on television,' said Josh Finger, Claudine's co-founder and executive chef who believes there's a wider audience for fine dining than ever before. 'Now, with the rise of people being foodies, it's very cool. And the exposure is incredibly high, which I think only helps.' Chefs across the state embraced Claudine's arrival, but are watching closely. Some said the traditional, high pressure fine dining model comes with a unique set of challenges, but they also recognize its place in Rhode Island's culinary culture. They're also asking: Could Claudine's success set the stage for a fine dining resurgence in the smallest state? A few other 'Rhode Island is interesting because it's a microcosm of the greater world,' said Matt Jennings, who previously headed the now-shuttered Farmstead in Providence for eight years. Not long after opening Newport's 'No one wants to have a special occasion restaurant, because that's an unsustainable restaurant,' said Rojas, who previously cooked at Advertisement He expects Claudine will have a place in Rhode Island, and points to Patrons dine inside Oberlin in Providence, R.I. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Before Oberlin, chef Benjamin Sukle owned Birch, the tiny haute cuisine hotspot in Providence that opened in 2013. The restaurant was praised nationally, but closed six months into the pandemic. Two years later, 'When Birch closed, and then when Big King closed, I felt like, I don't say the word 'shameful,' but I felt like it was a big hole missing in what to me rounds out any place that's to be considered a dining destination,' Sukle said. No matter the concept — fine dining or fast casual — the biggest challenge is always the same: keeping the seats full. Inside of Persimmon in Providence, R.I. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff/The Boston Globe Champe Spiedel, the chef and co-owner of Persimmon in Providence, said he views Michelin-starred Per Se, Advertisement 'We want to take all the trappings — all the plates, and the silver, and the crystal, and the hospitality,' said Spiedel. 'And the food as well — I wanted the same ingredients, I just wanted to do it a different way.' Speidel, who has been nominated for multiple Many restaurants are embracing what Speidel describes as 'modern fine dining,' which strikes a balance between elevated and approachable. The debate over fine dining comes as the Michelin Guide — which recognizes outstanding restaurants with one, two, or three stars — is coming to Boston. Some chefs applauded the move. Outside of Boston, critics said they are skeptical of Michelin's traditional benchmarks, and said it overlooks smaller markets, like Rhode Island. Related : 'There are a lot of places in New England that are 'Michelin-worthy' but would never get that recognition without the guide expanding here — including my own,' Sukle Some chefs said Michelin needs to reinvent itself to stay relevant. For years, the Michelin guide awarded stars to mostly European cuisine led by white chefs. Advertisement 'I don't see Michelin as the benchmark of excellence,' said Jennings, who now lives in Vermont. 'We're seeing the adaptation to smarter menu engineering and more experiential dining.' The next wave of fine dining is not 'going to be white tablecloth candlesticks and giant Bordeaux glasses. We're headed in a new direction,' said Jennings. Michelin isn't what keeps Robert Andreozzi up at night. Though best known as the chef behind Providence's 'I hope that where that lands us is we're able to open up that premier fine dining spot,' said Andreozzi. 'I would love to do that. I think you sort of need to go into it knowing that you're not going to make any money.' Opening any restaurant remains a challenge: real estate is scarce, build outs are pricey, and banks are hesitant to invest. 'I hope Claudine is successful in that regard. We need a restaurant like that, and a restaurant like that being successful is going to inspire another young chef to take that risk and open up,' said Andreozzi. Nicks on Broadway chef and owner Derek Wagner. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Derek Wagner agreed that there's been a 'broadening' of what fine dining means in the years since he opened Nicks on Broadway in 2002. At the time, he wanted it to be a place 'where my peers could come and eat — the musicians, students, and the artists — and can experience fine dining in an approachable way.' Advertisement Wagner said he crafts his menus to express a sense of place, and today's fluidity of fine dining's definition allows chefs like him to be creative in every facet of the dining experience. He said he's unsure if a typical fine dining restaurant's priorities 25 years ago included ethos, staff welfare, farmer welfare, community engagement — all a driving force behind Nicks. Just a few weeks into service, Claudine is betting on it. Chefs and co-owners Josh Finger and Maggie McConnell in front of their restaurant Claudine in downtown Providence, R.I. Maurisa Arieta The restaurant is the dream of chef-owners Maggie McConnell and Finger, who met at Per Se in New York. McConnell, a Providence native and former pastry chef at The French Laundry, always imagined returning home to open a restaurant. 'Josh and I separately have both dreamed of Claudine our whole lives, and then upon meeting and falling in love, Claudine became a reality,' said McConnell. McConnell said the word the couple keeps coming back to is 'intentionality,' which she explained manifests in everything, including the decor, menu, and beverage service. Every dish is chosen with purpose, and the tasting menu is meant to be conceived as an entire body of work. 'We want everybody to feel like they're comfortable here,' said Finger. 'With fine dining, some people might find it to be stuffy, and that's one thing that we really want to break down the walls on.'
Toronto Star
22-07-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
‘She could have died.' Alberta mother feared the worst for 4-month-old with measles
Months after fearing she would lose her baby girl to measles, Morgan Birch says she wants Canadians to educate themselves more about the importance of vaccines. Birch's daughter, Kimie Fukuta-Birch, was too young to be eligible for the vaccine, which is not routinely given to children under a year old. But she feels her baby would not have been infected if more people around her had received the vaccine.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-07-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘She could have died.' Alberta mother feared the worst for 4-month-old with measles
Months after fearing she would lose her baby girl to measles, Morgan Birch says she wants Canadians to educate themselves more about the importance of vaccines. Birch's daughter, Kimie Fukuta-Birch, was too young to be eligible for the vaccine, which is not routinely given to children under a year old. But she feels her baby would not have been infected if more people around her had received the vaccine. 'Basically as parents it's your responsibility to educate yourself with the help of your pediatrician and health-care professionals,' she said. 'I feel this was completely preventable.' Birch, who lives in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., said she is also worried that her daughter may suffer long-term health complications as a result of her getting measles at such a young age. 'It's not just that parent or child who it affected when they don't vaccinate, there's a whole other population that needs to be protected by vaccines.' Birch isn't certain where her daughter got infected, but said she took her out in the Fort Saskatchewan community before she got sick. Alberta has become a hot spot for measles, with the province reporting nearly 1,380 infections since the beginning of March. This is more than the total number of cases reported in the United States. Ontario has also reported more than 2,270 infections since an outbreak began last fall. Alberta's immunization rates against measles for children fall below the recommended rate of 95 per cent that scientists say is needed to prevent the illness from spreading. The province's 2024 data shows that by age two, 80 per cent of children received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and 68 per cent received both doses. Alberta's vaccination schedule for the two-part shot calls for the first dose at 12 months and the second at 18 months. But even by age seven, only 71.6 per cent had received both doses, provincial data shows. However, it's not the only province with low immunization rates against measles among children. Three out of the four Atlantic provinces told The Canadian Press they also had immunization rates below the 95-per-cent threshold, while one province, Newfoundland and Labrador, has not responded to requests for its data. Last week, Dr. Kimberley Barker, regional medical officer of health for Sussex, N.B., said measles cases were rising due to factors such as vaccine hesitancy. In some cases, she said parents are too busy and may underestimate the seriousness or risk of infection. Barker said officials are ramping up immunization campaigns when schools start in September to make it easier for kids with busy parents to get vaccinated. Other provinces are also making it easier to get immunized through walk-in clinics, community health centres and health-care providers. Birch explained how the consequences could be severe for those who don't follow recommendations from their local public health officials and doctors. She recalled that before her daughter's bout of measles, she was a happy baby. But it took a month for Kimie to recover from the infection. And although she is now back to her 'happy self,' Birch said she seems to be falling sick more than she used to. 'Her immune system has to be built up again.' Overall, Canada has a total of 3,822 confirmed measles cases from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, as of July 5. New Brunswick has confirmed 14 cases. Shelly Bolotin, director of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto, said the first does of the measles vaccine is usually given at 12 months. But children as young as six months can also be given the shot if they are travelling or living in an area with an outbreak. Although, she added those children who receive a dose at six months will still need to receive two subsequent doses. 'As people are going out of town and taking trips — if they are going to measles endemic areas — they can protect their infant if they're a minimum of six months old,' Bolotin said, adding it takes up to two weeks for the vaccination to take effect. Bolotin said the incubation period for measles is up to three weeks from the time a person is exposed to the disease until they start experiencing symptoms. Measles infects the immune cells, erasing a lot of the previous immunity and leaving the person susceptible to other bacterial and viral infections for several years, she said. 'The technical term is measles immune amnesia.' Children who recover from measles can experience other infections more frequently because they have lost this immunity and don't realize that this is a long-term effect of measles infection, she noted. There is also a rare and fatal form of neurological deterioration — subacute sclerosing panencephalitis — that happens in four to 11 in every 100,000 cases, she said. This disorder occurs when measles remains in the body latently, she added. Some of the symptoms include behavioural changes, cognitive decline, jerks, and seizures,with the onset of the disease being late childhood or adolescence. 'Canada worked very, very hard to eliminate measles, and we achieved measles elimination in 1998 which means the World Health Organization has recognized that it wasn't circulating regularly in our country, and now we're at risk of losing that,' Bolotin said. 'And that would be a shame.' Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Dr. Anna Banerji, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, said some children suffer from complications after measles such as pneumonia, hepatitis or encephalitis. Measles can also cause deafness and blindness, especially if the child is malnourished. After recovering from a bout of infection, Banerji said some children have temporary low immunity. 'It can take a while to recover,' she said. Meanwhile, Birch said she will carry the heartbreak, frustration and feeling of helplessness as she watched her four-month-old daughter fight measles. 'She could have died,' she said of her daughter. 'A lot of kids died from measles back before there were preventive measures in place.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
‘She could have died.' Alberta mother feared the worst for 4-month-old with measles
Months after fearing she would lose her baby girl to measles, Morgan Birch says she wants Canadians to educate themselves more about the importance of vaccines. Birch's daughter, Kimie Fukuta-Birch, was too young to be eligible for the vaccine, which is not routinely given to children under a year old. But she feels her baby would not have been infected if more people around her had received the vaccine. 'Basically as parents it's your responsibility to educate yourself with the help of your pediatrician and health-care professionals,' she said. 'I feel this was completely preventable.' Birch, who lives in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., said she is also worried that her daughter may suffer long-term health complications as a result of her getting measles at such a young age. 'It's not just that parent or child who it affected when they don't vaccinate, there's a whole other population that needs to be protected by vaccines.' Birch isn't certain where her daughter got infected, but said she took her out in the Fort Saskatchewan community before she got sick. Alberta has become a hot spot for measles, with the province reporting nearly 1,380 infections since the beginning of March. This is more than the total number of cases reported in the United States. Ontario has also reported more than 2,270 infections since an outbreak began last fall. Alberta's immunization rates against measles for children fall below the recommended rate of 95 per cent that scientists say is needed to prevent the illness from spreading. The province's 2024 data shows that by age two, 80 per cent of children received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and 68 per cent received both doses. Alberta's vaccination schedule for the two-part shot calls for the first dose at 12 months and the second at 18 months. But even by age seven, only 71.6 per cent had received both doses, provincial data shows. However, it's not the only province with low immunization rates against measles among children. Three out of the four Atlantic provinces told The Canadian Press they also had immunization rates below the 95-per-cent threshold, while one province, Newfoundland and Labrador, has not responded to requests for its data. Last week, Dr. Kimberley Barker, regional medical officer of health for Sussex, N.B., said measles cases were rising due to factors such as vaccine hesitancy. In some cases, she said parents are too busy and may underestimate the seriousness or risk of infection. Barker said officials are ramping up immunization campaigns when schools start in September to make it easier for kids with busy parents to get vaccinated. Other provinces are also making it easier to get immunized through walk-in clinics, community health centres and health-care providers. Birch explained how the consequences could be severe for those who don't follow recommendations from their local public health officials and doctors. She recalled that before her daughter's bout of measles, she was a happy baby. But it took a month for Kimie to recover from the infection. And although she is now back to her 'happy self,' Birch said she seems to be falling sick more than she used to. 'Her immune system has to be built up again.' Overall, Canada has a total of 3,822 confirmed measles cases from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, as of July 5. New Brunswick has confirmed 14 cases. Shelly Bolotin, director of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto, said the first does of the measles vaccine is usually given at 12 months. But children as young as six months can also be given the shot if they are travelling or living in an area with an outbreak. Although, she added those children who receive a dose at six months will still need to receive two subsequent doses. 'As people are going out of town and taking trips — if they are going to measles endemic areas — they can protect their infant if they're a minimum of six months old,' Bolotin said, adding it takes up to two weeks for the vaccination to take effect. Bolotin said the incubation period for measles is up to three weeks from the time a person is exposed to the disease until they start experiencing symptoms. Measles infects the immune cells, erasing a lot of the previous immunity and leaving the person susceptible to other bacterial and viral infections for several years, she said. 'The technical term is measles immune amnesia.' Children who recover from measles can experience other infections more frequently because they have lost this immunity and don't realize that this is a long-term effect of measles infection, she noted. There is also a rare and fatal form of neurological deterioration — subacute sclerosing panencephalitis — that happens in four to 11 in every 100,000 cases, she said. This disorder occurs when measles remains in the body latently, she added. Some of the symptoms include behavioural changes, cognitive decline, jerks, and seizures,with the onset of the disease being late childhood or adolescence. 'Canada worked very, very hard to eliminate measles, and we achieved measles elimination in 1998 which means the World Health Organization has recognized that it wasn't circulating regularly in our country, and now we're at risk of losing that,' Bolotin said. 'And that would be a shame.' Dr. Anna Banerji, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, said some children suffer from complications after measles such as pneumonia, hepatitis or encephalitis. Measles can also cause deafness and blindness, especially if the child is malnourished. After recovering from a bout of infection, Banerji said some children have temporary low immunity. 'It can take a while to recover,' she said. Meanwhile, Birch said she will carry the heartbreak, frustration and feeling of helplessness as she watched her four-month-old daughter fight measles. 'She could have died,' she said of her daughter. 'A lot of kids died from measles back before there were preventive measures in place.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
