Human Times
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North American Edition
21st January 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Supreme Court weighs firing of Fed's Cook by social media

The Supreme Court will today hear arguments over President Donald Trump’s request to lift a lower court judge's decision barring ​him from firing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook while her legal challenge to the removal continues. Reuters says the justices may focus on Trump's use of social media. In August, Trump posted to his Truth Social account a letter addressed to Cook informing her that "you are hereby removed" from the role of Fed governor. Cook and her lawyers argue that this action violated her rights under the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment, which provides that no person may be "deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law."
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WORKFORCE

U.S. workers rally against Trump's immigration policies

Thousands of workers and students protested across the U.S. yesterday, on the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's second term, in opposition to his immigration policies. Demonstrations were sparked by the recent fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by federal agents in Minneapolis. Protesters gathered in cities including New York and Washington. Organized by groups such as Indivisible and various labor unions, the protests highlighted widespread disapproval of the use of force by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here," chanted students in Cleveland.
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STRATEGY

GameStop faces massive store closures

GameStop is set to close around 470 stores in January, leaving it with fewer than 2,000 locations. California will see the most significant losses, with 50 closures, followed by Texas with 44 and New York with 30. Founded in 1984 as Babbage's, GameStop became the largest video game chain during the 1990s and 2000s. However, the shift to digital downloads has severely impacted its business. Despite a brief resurgence in 2021 due to a stock trading frenzy, the company has struggled to achieve consistent profitability. Ryan Cohen, co-founder of Chewy, now chairs the company.
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LEADERSHIP

CEOs view political unpredictability as major risk

American business leaders have offered only limited public criticism of President Donald Trump’s economic agenda, with analysts citing concerns about retaliation. Individual CEOs, including Exxon Mobil's Darren Woods and JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, have raised narrow objections affecting their sectors, such as Venezuela policy and Federal Reserve independence, and the US Chamber of Commerce’s Suzanne Clark has urged support for free markets without naming Trump directly. Experts say the muted response contrasts with Trump’s first term and reflects uncertainty over policy direction. Surveys show executives view political unpredictability as a major risk, while economists warn limited pushback could invite heavier regulation in future.
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REMUNERATION

Moonshot pay packages fail to deliver

So-called "moonshot" CEO pay packages worth $100m or more have largely failed to deliver superior returns for shareholders, according to analysis by compensation firm Equilar. Of 21 U.S. CEOs awarded nine-figure equity incentives in 2020–21, around three-quarters of companies underperformed the S&P 500. On average, executives have realized only about a quarter of the potential value, with half forfeiting most or all of their awards. Only four CEOs, including KKR’s co-chief executives, fully met their targets. Many schemes were cancelled or restructured as share prices fell, with boards concluding the incentives no longer aligned with shareholder interests. While designed to drive long-term performance and retention, the evidence suggests oversized pay packages often misjudge targets, dilute shareholders and fail to generate commensurate value.
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LEGAL

No ruling on Trump's tariffs

The Supreme Court yesterday issued three decisions but refrained from addressing the contentious issue of President Donald Trump's global tariffs. The court has not yet announced when it will release its next set of rulings.
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TECHNOLOGY

Law librarians are 'at the forefront' of using AI

Law librarians are emerging as key leaders in the legal sector’s adoption of artificial intelligence, rather than being displaced by it. Staffing in law firm, corporate and academic law libraries has risen sharply, reflecting growing demand for expertise in AI-driven research and knowledge management. Librarians are increasingly responsible for evaluating AI tools, training students, lawyers and judges, and shaping institutional policies on responsible use. Law schools are actively recruiting librarians with AI and data science skills, while firms rely on them to integrate generative AI alongside traditional research platforms.
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INTERNATIONAL

EU's ‘Made in Europe’ law aims to boost industrial production

The European Commission will later this month propose new rules to ensure investment decisions prioritise local companies, and key foreign investments are subjected to strict conditions around sharing technologies, hiring local workers and establishing joint ventures with European companies. The proposal aims to strengthen the resilience of the EU's supply chains and safeguard the bloc's single market and industrial capacity. The proposed conditions in the draft Industrial Accelerator Act, which Bloomberg says upends a free-trade philosophy that has governed decades of policy, will also introduce strict new rules on public procurement processes, including requirements for a minimum percentage of European-origin content in purchased products.

Korea moves to extend labor protections

The South Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to introduce new rights for freelancers and platform workers by May 1. The proposed Basic Rights of Working People Act will presume worker status in civil disputes, shifting the burden of proof to employers. The change aims to protect up to 8.6m workers, allowing them to claim unpaid wages and severance. The act also strengthens labor inspectors' authority. However, critics argue it falls short, as it does not redefine "worker" in the Labor Standards Act, thus limiting its effectiveness. Yoon Ji-young from Workplace Gapjil 119 noted the need for stronger enforcement.

Louvre closes for third time in a month

The Louvre Museum in Paris closed on Monday for the third time this month due to a staff strike, as unions demand better pay, recruitment, and maintenance. The museum's management have reported a loss of "at least one million euros" from previous closures. Union leaders, including Valerie Baud from the CFDT, expressed concerns over the management style of director Laurence des Cars, saying: "If we get the pay but continue with this governance model, we won't be out of the woods." The strike follows a recent security breach that has intensified scrutiny on museum management.
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OTHER

Lawsuit challenges L.A. schools' segregation policy

A conservative group, the 1776 Project Foundation, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), claiming its policy to address segregation discriminates against white students. The policy, which dates back to 1970 and 1976 court orders, provides benefits to schools with predominantly non-white students. The foundation argues that this policy violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, and seeks a permanent injunction against race preferences in school operations. A district spokesperson said: “Los Angeles Unified remains firmly committed to ensuring all students have meaningful access to services and enriching educational opportunities.”
 
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