| Image: Getty Images (Julia Demaree Nikhinson) |
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Good morning, Quartz readers! |
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President Trump will address global leaders this Thursday. Days after his inauguration, Trump is set to speak, via video, at the World Economic Forum. |
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Trump’s tariff threats are looming. Canada and Mexico haven’t met the president’s criteria and could face steep hikes come February. |
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Tech leaders praise Trump’s day-one orders. NetChoice, which represents Amazon, Google, and Meta, calls Trump’s rollback of Biden-era regulations key to U.S. tech leadership. |
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A ‘Crypto Task Force’ is coming. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is shifting its focus on cryptocurrency assets to create a clearer regulatory framework. |
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… Meanwhile, crypto could be “just another payment option,” according to Bank of America’s CEO. Brian Moynihan suggested big banks may adopt crypto payments if new regulations allow. |
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Nvidia’s back on top. The chipmaker reclaimed the title of the world’s most valuable company, surpassing Apple. |
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A Costco strike is now on the table, with workers prepared to walk off the job unless the retailer meets their demands for higher wages and better benefits. |
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The Teamsters union, which represents over 18,000 Costco workers nationwide, has been negotiating for months, arguing that Costco’s record profits show the company isn’t living up to its claims of treating workers better than its competitors. Costco, which employs over 300,000 people across the U.S., has pushed back on these claims. |
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In the past two weeks, wildfires driven by 100 mph winds have devastated northern Los Angeles, burning more than 12,000 buildings and leaving at least 24 people dead. |
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Thousands have been forced to evacuate as the fires destroyed homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods. With no significant rain in sight, experts expect the damage to reach tens of billions of dollars, with much of it uninsured. |
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