Business

Australia added 65,200 jobs in December and the unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, beating forecasts. Markets increased the chance of an RBA rate rise in February after the report.

U.S. natural gas futures rose roughly 60% over two days as an Arctic cold wave boosted expected heating demand; retail gas prices generally take months to reflect market moves.

Berlin-based Cloover announced $22 million in Series A equity and access to about $1.2 billion in debt financing, bringing total available debt to more than $1.3 billion and supported by a €300 million guarantee from the European Investment Fund.

The UK government announced low and zero-interest loans for homeowners to install solar panels, heat pumps and batteries, and pledged £5 billion for free insulation and clean-technology upgrades for low-income and fuel-poor households as part of a £15 billion "warm homes plan".

The Utah State Pinball Championships took place Jan. 17–18 in Salt Lake City and South Jordan, and the winners will represent Utah at North American events in March. Utah also surpassed the criteria to be called a pinball “super state,” recording more than 140 sanctioned tournaments and 520 unique players this year.

Canada will allow up to 49,000 China-made electric vehicles a year at a 6.1% tariff, restoring limited market access that had largely been closed since 2024. The article reports Tesla prepared earlier by upgrading its Shanghai plant to build Canada-specific vehicles and could restart China-to-Canada shipments faster than some rivals.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he feels in a better place as NASCAR prepares for 2026 and has returned to a Chase-style playoff format that removes the "win, and you're in" rule.

A collision between two high-speed trains in Adamuz, Spain, killed at least 21 people and injured dozens, officials said; authorities say investigators have been ordered to probe the cause.

Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill updating New Jersey's e-bike rules on his last day in office, changing speed class definitions and adding requirements for registration, licensing and insurance. Lawmakers said the changes follow a series of serious and fatal crashes, and local enforcement will initially emphasize safety and education.

Valentino Garavani has died at 93, his foundation announced; he was an Italian fashion designer known for 'Valentino red' and dressing many high-profile clients.

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.

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 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's economy grew 5.0% in 2025, meeting the government's target, driven by a surge in exports while domestic consumption remained weak.

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'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.

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'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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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’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.