Good morning. Donald Trump names a new Federal Trade Commission head, among some ambassadorships. We do a deep dive into the soft power of weather science. And a pilates instructor offers her best travel tips. Listen to the day’s top stories.
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Another day, another round of appointments for Donald Trump’s second term. The president-elect named Andrew Ferguson to serve as the chair of the US Federal Trade Commission, a role currently held by Lina Khan. He also selected Mark Meador to serve as a commissioner on the agency’s board. And two folks are jetting abroad: Ron Johnson will serve as ambassador to Mexico, while Kimberly Guilfoyle will be the envoy to Greece.
Looking at international relations, China got a head start on a looming trade war with the US by showcasing a new range of tools it’s prepared to use if Trump makes good on his tariffs threat. Reuters reported that Beijing may allow the yuan to weaken next year.
Photographer: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images North America
The latest on Luigi Mangione: The man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare’s CEO is fighting extradition from Pennsylvania, where he was arrested. He was locally charged with possessing an illegal gun and using fake identification but more serious charges await in New York.
The fight against inflation appears largely won—we’ll get another data point with the monthly CPI reading today—but tensions over price pressures could still affect interest-rate cuts. The stock market doesn’t seem worried, but some say it should be. Stay tuned through the data release at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
Donald Trump’s return to the White House will give China’s Xi Jinping the chance to become what he calls a “weather superpower.”
A critical source of US soft power is the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency has trained scientists from dozens of countries in weather forecasting, providing free data and expertise.
But its influence and funding may be under threat when Trump takes office.
China’s ready to step in—it’s ramped up its weather bureau spending and plans to offer more than 2,000 training fellowships to scientists from developing countries.
Bitcoin’s $100,000 milestone shows it’s gained wider acceptance as a tradable asset and portfolio investment, Lionel Laurent writes. But its lack of real-world adoption shows it’s not the same as fiat currency.
Byrony Deery focuses on wellness with retreats both online and around the world. Photographer: Karis Kennedy
Wellness expert Bryony Deery is always on the move. So naturally, Bloomberg Pursuits asked for her best travel hacks. Top of the list: Use an app to sort out your jet lag ahead of time, and look at the humble hotel ice bucket as help to depuff.
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