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→ NewsSpain: at least 39 reported dead after two high-speed trains collide
At least 39 people died and 122 were injured after two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in Cordoba, Spain; officials say an Iryo service derailed and a second train struck the derailed carriages or debris, and authorities have opened an investigation and established a DNA office for relatives.
Trump's Greenland threat divides readers on UK rejoining the EU
Independent readers were divided after an analysis said Donald Trump's tariff threat over Greenland could prompt the UK to move closer to the EU; some cited US unpredictability and security concerns, while others pointed to the Brexit vote and lengthy negotiations.
HDFC Bank's recovery gains momentum with lending expansion
HDFC Bank reported better-than-expected results driven by nearly 12% year-on-year loan growth and a 28.45 trillion rupee loan book, and its CFO said the bank expects loans to expand faster than the overall banking system in the next financial year.
China meets 2025 growth target as export boom offsets weak domestic demand
China's economy grew 5.0% in 2025, meeting the government's target, driven by a surge in exports while domestic consumption remained weak.
Two trains derail near Cordoba, Spain, leaving at least 10 dead
At least 10 people were reported dead and more than 25 seriously injured after two high-speed trains derailed near Adamuz in Cordoba, and train services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended.
China reports 5% real GDP growth driven by resilient exports
China's real GDP expanded 5% last year, meeting Beijing's official target, as a surge in exports helped offset a decline in trade with the U.S.; customs data showed a record $1.19 trillion trade surplus for 2025 driven by a 5.5% rise in exports.
Tire wear patterns can reveal what's wrong with your car
Different tire wear patterns are linked to distinct mechanical issues: center wear often aligns with overinflation, edge wear with underinflation or alignment issues, and cupping, feathering, or one-sided wear point to balance, alignment, or suspension problems.
Dodge Charger wins North American Car of the Year despite controversy
Dodge's renewed Charger was named the 2026 North American Car of the Year, beating finalists that included the Honda Prelude and Nissan Sentra. The model was noted for its combination of performance, everyday usability, and updated technology.
Mark Martin says Steve Phelps' NASCAR exit is a needed reset
Mark Martin called Steve Phelps' resignation as NASCAR commissioner a necessary reset after a federal antitrust lawsuit and the release of private text messages, saying the move is about timing and optics as the sport moves forward.
Taiwan's Flagship Chip Maker Plans Major Expansion Beyond Taiwan.
TSMC plans to spend tens of billions to build several new chip fabs in Arizona as part of a larger U.S. expansion; a recent Taiwan-U.S. trade deal includes more than $250 billion in Taiwanese spending in the U.S. and $250 billion in credit guarantees.
Student-loan borrowers get extra time before tax refunds can be seized.
The Department of Education announced a temporary pause on wage garnishment and the Treasury Offset Program to give defaulted student-loan borrowers more time to arrange repayment before filing taxes. The pause was announced on January 16.
American cities building the most homes rely heavily on immigrant construction workers
Harvard research finds that metros issuing the most building permits have a high share of foreign-born construction workers, and experts warn that stepped-up immigration enforcement could worsen a nationwide construction worker shortage.
EU and Mercosur sign landmark free trade agreement
The EU and Mercosur signed a long‑awaited free trade agreement in Asunción after more than 25 years of negotiations. The pact removes over 90% of tariffs on goods and services but still needs ratification by the European Parliament.
Carney to Join U.S.-Led 'Board of Peace' for Gaza
A senior government official said Prime Minister Mark Carney will take a role on a U.S.-led 'Board of Peace' for Gaza; President Trump announced a founding Executive Board on Jan. 16 and said he would serve as chairman.
States led by Texas and New Hampshire move to put bitcoin on public balance sheets
Texas has allocated about $5 million to a bitcoin ETF as a placeholder for a state strategic reserve, and New Hampshire approved a $100 million bitcoin-backed municipal bond that officials plan to issue this year.
Biffle family and NASCAR hold remembrance for crash victims
On Jan. 17, family members, NASCAR figures and fans gathered at Bojangles Coliseum to remember seven people who died when the Cessna carrying Greg Biffle experienced mechanical trouble and attempted a return to Statesville Airport on Dec. 18, 2025.
Warren Buffett's college question that he said can build wealth and success
Warren Buffett described a classroom exercise in which students choose five classmates whose lifetime earnings they would take 10% of, and he noted that anyone can work to become one of those chosen; the exchange appears in the CNBC program "Warren Buffett: A Life and Legacy," airing Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. ET.
Schwarzman Scholars announce 2026–27 cohort of 150 recipients
Schwarzman Scholars has named 150 recipients for its 2026–27 program, chosen from more than 5,800 applicants; over 50 are from the U.S. and will begin a one-year master’s program at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in August 2025.
Unexpected expenses take about 10% of retirees' income, research shows
Research from the Center for Retirement Research finds 83% of retiree households face unplanned expenses in any year, and among those households the average annual amount is about $6,000, roughly 10% of yearly income.
Iceland cruise experiences differ from Norway and Alaska
Iceland’s most famous landscapes — geysers, glaciers, lava fields and waterfalls — lie inland and are rarely visible from a ship, so shore excursions and overnight stays are commonly needed to reach them.
Delivering for Uber Eats after a career in corporate marketing helped him stay humble.
Jay Mandel, a 48-year-old former corporate marketing executive in New York, supplements his income by delivering for Uber Eats and says the work has been humbling while bringing in a few hundred dollars a week.
Black Women Face Rising Job Loss and Lean on Each Other
Employment among Black women rose to a 7.8 percent unemployment rate by December 2025, and many midcareer and senior Black women have formed peer networks such as the Discord group 'Black Women Rising' to share leads, résumé help and mutual support.
Agentic commerce: How a Walmart executive says AI could change shopping
Walmart executive Daniel Danker said many "agentic commerce" AI tools lack consumer appeal and described potential uses such as personalized apparel previews and AI that remembers typical orders to reduce scrolling.
Millennial says lower pay is worth more flexibility and control as a business owner
Lloyd Fisher left a decade in corporate marketing and started Oak Avenue Landscaping in December 2023; in 2025 he reported about $52,000 in net income and roughly $430,000 in revenue while prioritizing flexible hours and sustainable, all‑electric equipment.
Auto Insurance: Amica ranks highest in customer satisfaction as of early 2026.
Surveys and user reviews at the start of 2026 show Amica leading in auto insurance customer satisfaction, with J.D. Power reporting a 735 score in New England and U.S. News noting strong customer service in a survey of over 1,100 users.
AI therapy for people with AI psychosis prompts debate
The article examines the paradox that the same generative AI systems linked to so-called AI psychosis are also being proposed as tools to help people experiencing AI-induced mental health issues, and it reports that OpenAI is adjusting ChatGPT to flag suspected cases and to connect users with human therapists.
Mercosur and EU to sign long-awaited trade deal
Mercosur and the European Union will sign a trade agreement on Saturday that eliminates tariffs on more than 90% of bilateral trade and aims to create one of the world’s largest free-trade areas; signing will take place in Asuncion with senior EU officials and some Mercosur leaders present.
PJM proposes backstop process to support power grid reliability
PJM's Board of Managers outlined actions for 2026 to integrate new large loads while preserving reliability and affordability for the 67 million people it serves, including an immediate backstop generation procurement process and a broader market review that will inform possible changes to the recent price floor and ceiling.
AMD's AI Phase 1 surge is real but valuation upside may be limited
The article reports AMD saw meaningful data center revenue in its latest quarter as Phase 1 of the AI infrastructure capex cycle peaks; it also warns that AMD's elevated valuation could compress as spending shifts from securing capacity to utilizing it.
ETF landscape is shifting as income, active management and crypto gain ground
Bloomberg reports equity ETFs still draw the bulk of investor flows, while income strategies, active ETFs and crypto are increasingly being incorporated into model-driven portfolios, according to panels held at the ETFs in Depth event.
