Costco to Raise Hourly Wages for US Workers to Over $30

In a bold statement on January 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning to the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—threatening to impose a 100% tariff if they pursue the creation of a new currency or support alternatives to the US dollar. Trump emphasized the need for commitments from these countries to refrain from actions that could undermine the dollar's dominance in international trade. The remarks came amidst ongoing discussions about the BRICS alliance potentially moving away from reliance on the US dollar. According to Trump, the notion that these countries could attempt to replace the dollar without consequence is no longer viable. He posted on his Truth Social platform, asserting that the U.S. government would require a clear commitment from BRICS members against such initiatives. This escalation of rhetoric highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding global currency standards and the U.S. position in international economic affairs.

Walgreens Boots Alliance has announced the suspension of its quarterly dividend payment to shareholders, marking the first time in 92 years that the company has opted not to distribute cash dividends. The decision, reported on January 30, 2025, comes as the Deerfield-based retail pharmacy faces ongoing financial difficulties. In an effort to streamline operations, Walgreens plans to close approximately 1,200 stores over the next three years, including locations in Chicago. The company has been implementing cost-cutting measures, which include recent layoffs in Illinois and other regions. According to Walgreens, the suspension of dividends is designed to assess and refine its capital allocation policy as part of a broader turnaround strategy. A company release emphasized that cash needs associated with litigation and debt refinancing critically influenced the decision. Walgreens reported a substantial net loss of $265 million in the first quarter of this year, in stark contrast to a loss of $67 million in the same quarter the previous year.

The Archbishop of New Orleans, Gregory Aymond, has removed top leaders of Second Harvest, a church-affiliated food bank, after they allegedly resisted pressure to contribute $16 million towards settling claims of child sexual abuse against clergy. The dismissals, announced on January 30, include board chairperson Bert Wilson and President Natalie Jayroe, who served for 19 years. The former leaders contend that they were forced out for refusing to allocate funds intended for anti-hunger efforts to the church’s bankruptcy settlement. According to various sources, Second Harvest is a non-profit governed independently, although tied to the archdiocese. Aymond’s letter did not detail reasons for the firings, but he assured that operations at Second Harvest would not be affected. Critics, including former committee chair James Adams, argued that Second Harvest should not be liable or expected to contribute to settlements as it does not directly engage with children in the church's context. The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in May 2020 to handle over 500 abuse claims against its clergy.