Ivanka’s Trump Discount Card | IMF’s Recovery Warning | Canada’s Best Employers

Plus: The French Duck Breeder That’s Helping To Vanquish Omicron

Good morning.

Ivanka Trump has long attempted to minimize the privileges afforded by her name—but the New York investigation into her family’s business is making it harder to do so. We’re also looking into the International Monetary Fund’s worsening outlook for the global economy, and what makes Canadian employers rank among the country’s best. Finally, don’t miss this story about how a French firm best known for duck breeding has unlocked a $1 billion contract to make Covid-19 vaccines in Europe. 

In The News Today

A first-of-its-kind legislation in San Jose, California, would force gun owners to pay a fee and carry liability insurance in an effort to reduce gun violence. 

Taliban officials and their supporters have carried out acts of violence—including rape and mob attacks—against LGBTQ+ people in Afghanistan “with impunity,” a new report by Human Rights Watch said.

Top Take-Aways

President Joe Biden denied any intention to deploy U.S. troops in Ukraine but reiterated the threat of “serious economic consequences”—including personal sanctions against Russian leader Vladimir Putin—should Moscow make a move against Kyiv. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is seeking alternative sources of natural gas for Europe in case Russia cuts off supplies.

In her 2009 book The Trump Card, Ivanka Trump argued that “there’s just no way to measure the advantage I’ve gained from having the Trump name,” but the New York attorney general’s investigation into the Trump Organization’s financial dealings does offer some indication of the millions that she saved in buying real estate in her father’s Trump Park Avenue tower.

The IMF warned the global economy is in a weaker position entering this year than previously expected due largely to the ongoing disruptions spurred by the pandemic in the U.S. and China, the world's two largest economies.

Former Google human resources veteran Laszlo Bock is on a mission to help organizations keep employees engaged and effective in their jobs. To that goal, his company Humu, which has just raised a $60 million Series C funding round, combines AI technology with the “nudge” theory.

Silicon Valley is increasingly getting used to the European Union calling the shots on regulation. Next on the agenda: forcing Meta, Google, Apple and other social and gaming networks to track and report child sex abuse material.

What make an employer great in the U.S. may not matter as much across the northern border. Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 10,000 Canadians working for businesses with at least 500 employees to compile the annual ranking of Canada's Best Employers. 

Today's Must Read

In Case You Missed It

A congressional ethics watchdog found found “substantial reason to believe” Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.) broke an assortment of ethics laws, including misusing official resources, soliciting or accepting improper gifts, and offering federal employment to a primary opponent.

Tips You Can Trust

You may be able to expedite your IRS tax refund, or at least avoid serious delays, by following a few simple steps right off the bat. 

With the right tools and motivational techniques, you can turn an unmotivated team into a highly-energized crew that's passionate about its work and your company—here are two tips to get started.

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