Wear Diamonds & Eat at home🍞
This Week in Review☕️: US and China agree to 90-day truce | Restaurants have increased menu prices by 15% | Do you use Olive Oil on your salad? | Russia finds 500 carat gem | Gen Z is health-conscious
Quick Bites:
World News 🌍 : US and China announce deal.
🇺🇸🇨🇳 So, the US & China Are… Kind of Friends Again? (For 90 Days, At Least)
Big news from the world’s two biggest economies this week as the US agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports to 30% from its current 145%.
China, in return, will lower its levy on American goods to 10% from 125%.
Hmm.. After what we can only assume was a very dramatic espresso & Swiss chocolate-fueled negotiation weekend in Geneva, both countries agreed to lower tariffs for 3 months to keep things civil(ish) 🍫☕️🍫☕️
"This resets the tone between the world’s two largest economies", The Wall Street Journal reports.
Translation: “We’ll pretend to play nice while watching each other closely through very expensive binoculars.” 🕵️
Key Highlights, reported by AP News:
-90-Day Truce: Both countries have agreed to a 90-day pause in escalating trade tensions to facilitate ongoing negotiations
-Market Response: Following the announcement, US stock markets surged, with the Dow Jones rising over 900 points (2.2%), the S&P 500 up 2.4%, and the Nasdaq climbing 3.3%
-Ongoing Issues: Despite the tariff reductions, certain tariffs remain in place, particularly those related to fentanyl concerns and specific sectors like automobiles and steel
-What will happen in the future?: The agreement was reached after high-level discussions in Geneva, with both sides expressing a commitment to solve their issues
-Temporary easing: of trade tensions is seen as a positive step toward stabilizing economic relations globally and has given much-needed relief to investors
Luxury 💎: Russia finds its biggest-ever diamond at 468 carats.
100 missed calls from the Ambani family
State-controlled Russian miner called "Alrosa" says it has unearthed the country's largest ever diamond of jewelry quality- an amber-colored gem at 468.30 carats.
When you find a 500-carat diamond and still can't find your Airpods 🤯
Key Highlights reported by Bloomberg:
-The diamond has been named “80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War” to honor the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II
-The gem was discovered at the Mir mine in a region called Yakutia
-Alrosa has invested around 70 billion rubles ($762 million) to revitalize the Mir mine as it had been closed due to flooding since 2017
-Alrosa aims to increase production to 2 milion carats annually by 2030, with the mine expected to operate until 2048
-The miner accounts for nearly 30% of the global diamond supply, and this discovery reinforces Russia's significant role in the international diamond market
Alrosa has been subject to international sanctions since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022
Food 🍽️: Consumers are likely to stop eating out at restaurants due to rising costs.
Prices have increased by 4% over the past year, outpacing the overall inflation rate of 2.4%. In cities like New York, menu prices have jumped up to 15% .
In addition, fast food is no longer cheap; a quick burger and coke can now amount to $15, making it less affordable for many.
Guys, what is this decade?? We’ve already survived:
💡 A global pandemic (hi, COVID)
💡 Vax cards for brunch
💡 Lab-grown meat on menus
💡 Border chaos & political meltdowns
💡 Fake news becoming just.. news
💡 Saying anything= You're canceled
💡 A never-ending proxy war
💡 $300 electric bills for “sustainable living”
💡 Climate change turning April into July
💡 And oh yeah… WEIGHT GAIN because we stress eat Cookie Dough at midnight
And now? $3 for ONE hash brown at McDonald’s??? That was our comfort food for f*ck sake
Key Highlights:
🏠 More people are eating at Home: Costco reports increased sales in meat and produce as consumers opt for home-cooked meals over dining out. In addition, consumers plan to spend 7% less on restaurants this summer
🩺 Health: Gen Z, in particular, prioritize healthful eating
-The popularity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic has led to reduced appetites and smaller portion sizes, affecting restaurant revenues
📉 Industry Impact:
-Major chains are closing locations; Denny's, Red Robin, and TGI Fridays have announced multiple closures in 2025
-Restaurants are adapting by offering value meals and promotions to attract cost-conscious customers
Health 🥬 : Alternative cooking oils are taking over restaurant kitchens.
Vegetable oil has always been a staple to cook different cuisines, whether that's fried chicken or a bucket of popcorn at the movies.
But, they are often created from indigestible seeds and grains that our body can’t properly digest, Bloomberg Pursuits reports.
When you're in denial about your unhealthy diet:
Us💡: We eat fresh poultry cuts smothered in wheat powder and boiled in olive juice
Our Nutritionist💡: That's fried chicken
Every cook's most dependable, all-purpose kitchen ingredient has taken a massive hit to its reputation.
However, alternative cooking oils are now making their way to eateries and high-end grocery stores to cater to increasingly health-conscious customers.
Edible oils extracted from plants are commonly known as vegetable oils. These include canola, soybean, cottonseed and safflower oil.
Experts claim that consuming too much of these oils via cakes, chips, deep fried fast food and takeout meals, can cause chronic inflammation in the body. There is also evidence linked to heart disease.
Oils like olive oil and avocado oil have come under increased demand due to being healthier alternatives.
Our Thoughts💡: Now that we think about it, vegetable oil is definitely difficult to digest.. We've noticed we find it very hard to get back to work after getting Chinese for lunch
Umm when you've both eaten too much Kung Pao Chicken and Hakka Noodles so you skip the foreplay 🐷
Quicker Bites:
India and Pakistan declare a ceasefire after a brief conflict in Kashmir, with both sides claiming victory.
US and Saudi Arabia sign a $142 billion defense agreement, expanding their strategic partnership.
UN aviation council holds Russia responsible for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
Houthi missile attack on Tel Aviv airport prompts Israeli airstrikes in Yemen.
UN reports over 50 million people in West and Central Africa are at risk of hunger due to ongoing crises.
Climate change concerns intensify, with global temperatures surpassing 1.5°C over the past year.