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Power is being tested in different ways across the globe, from streets filled with protesters to boardrooms shaping trade and policy.

Governments are juggling pressure at home while bracing for consequences abroad, often with fewer tools and less trust than in past crises.

Today’s stories show how quickly domestic decisions can spill into global markets and diplomacy, and why leaders are struggling to stay ahead of events rather than react to them.

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Iran’s security forces pushed harder as protest deaths reportedly climbed past 2,500, marking one of the bloodiest stretches of unrest in years. Demonstrations spread even as arrests accelerated and internet access narrowed.

Outside pressure intensified after new tariff threats aimed at countries trading with Tehran entered the conversation. Regional governments are watching closely as rhetoric edges closer to direct confrontation.

Oil markets and shipping insurers are already reacting to the shifting risk picture. Tehran now faces a narrowing set of choices as internal pressure collides with external constraints.

China posted a record trade surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion after exports surged late in the year. Shipments to Southeast Asia and Europe offset weaker sales to the U.S.

A parallel look at the numbers framed the surplus as fuel for a broader trade dispute over industrial subsidies and manufacturing scale. Trading partners are debating how aggressively to respond without triggering retaliation.

The export boom highlights how uneven global demand has become. Pressure is building on governments to decide whether protection or accommodation comes next.

Political and business leaders began arriving in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum as wars, trade disputes, and election-year uncertainty dominate the agenda, outlined in an opening preview. Organizers say discussions this year are less about long-term vision and more about managing immediate shocks to growth, security, and supply chains.

Delegations are expected to focus heavily on artificial intelligence, industrial policy, and geopolitical fragmentation. The tone reflects a world where coordination is harder and unilateral moves are increasingly common.

Private meetings often matter more than public panels at Davos. This year’s gathering is shaping up as a barometer of how fractured global leadership has become.

Russian missiles and drones hit Ukraine’s power grid again during freezing temperatures, leaving widespread outages after a major strike. Emergency repairs are racing against the weather as air defenses stretch thin.

Some personnel at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar were advised to leave amid heightened warnings tied to the conflict in Iran and potential regional fallout, according to diplomats. The advice highlights how tensions over Iran’s unrest are reverberating across allied military deployments in the Middle East.

An IMF warning highlighted how artificial intelligence could widen wage gaps without stronger safety nets. Governments are weighing how quickly policy can catch up with automation.

Saks Global filed for Chapter 11 protection after its Neiman Marcus deal, keeping stores open under a financing package. Department-store balance sheets matter because vendor networks and mall landlords can get dragged into restructurings.

Gold set another record while silver surged as traders priced rate paths and political risk. Safe-haven flows can tighten financial conditions even without a stock selloff.

Yen weakness stayed in focus as officials repeated warnings while markets tested levels that invite intervention risk. Currency swings matter because they feed directly into import prices and earnings forecasts.

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The dollar rebounded in global trading as investors unwound defensive positions and recalibrated currency bets after a volatile start to the week, reflected in broad moves tracked during Asian markets. Trading patterns showed heightened sensitivity to political headlines and central-bank signaling rather than a single economic catalyst.

Court filings tied to Saks’ bankruptcy detailed how vendor terms tightened and lender protections unraveled after the Neiman Marcus acquisition added heavy leverage. The record shows financial strain building well before shoppers saw any visible changes on the sales floor.

A deep look at diverging U.S. and Chinese energy strategies highlighted how subsidies, scale, and supply-chain control are shaping global manufacturing competitiveness. Power costs and access to low-carbon infrastructure are increasingly influencing where factories expand or pull back.

New research tracking vaccination behavior found that a large share of people who were initially hesitant ultimately chose to get vaccinated once access improved and social norms shifted. The findings suggest convenience, community behavior, and timing played a larger role than mandates or messaging alone.

Britain’s latest offshore wind auction attracted strong interest and cleared at higher prices. Developers are betting that scale, improved technology, and long-term contracts can offset higher financing and construction costs.

Some Iranians are still using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to skirt a nationwide communications blackout, showing the technology’s resilience even in restrictive environments. The story underscores how space broadband is becoming a critical connectivity option in geopolitical crises.

Los Angeles handled Atlanta comfortably as LeBron addressed speculation tied to his agent’s comments in a game recap. Attention is shifting toward roster stability as the trade deadline approaches.

Golden State pulled away from Portland with Stephen Curry directing a free-flowing offense in a Tuesday win. Ball movement continues to define their late-game execution.

NBC finalized its broadcast team and added a second sideline reporter, outlined in coverage plans. The network has now locked in production for the season’s biggest broadcast.

The film academy elevated museum executive Amy Homma to oversee its massive archival holdings, shifting a key role as preservation and access efforts expand. The move puts a single office in charge of how historical materials are conserved, digitized, and shared with researchers and the public.

Michelle Williams joined Daniel Craig and Cillian Murphy in Damien Chazelle’s upcoming project, adding another marquee name to a cast already drawing awards-season attention. Early dealmaking suggests the production is moving quickly toward scheduling and packaging, even as studios keep budgets tighter than the last pre-strike cycle.

The 2026 Golden Globes drew a smaller TV audience than last year, extending a multi-year effort to stabilize viewership after format and broadcaster changes. Awards telecasts are now leaning harder on streaming clips and social reach to compensate for softer live viewing.

Saks Global’s Chapter 11 filing marked one of the most significant collapses in U.S. luxury retail in years, following debt-fueled expansion capped by its Neiman Marcus acquisition. Court filings detailed in bankruptcy documents showed how rising interest costs and slowing sales left little room to maneuver, even as stores remained open.

The company secured new financing to stabilize operations, outlined in a separate summary, but the filing exposed deeper structural problems facing department stores. Luxury brands increasingly favor direct-to-consumer sales, cutting into the exclusivity and margins that once justified expansive physical footprints.

Higher rates magnified those pressures by raising inventory costs and shortening patience among lenders and suppliers. A closer look at the deal’s aftermath showed how timing turned leverage into a liability just as consumer demand softened.

Attention now turns to whether vendors restore normal shipment terms and whether shoppers notice changes on the sales floor. The outcome will influence mall landlords, logistics providers, and luxury brands still reliant on wholesale, making this restructuring a bellwether for the sector.

A black bear broke into a Tennessee candy store for the fourth time in a year, prompting wildlife officials to step in after repeated damage at the shop in Gatlinburg.

A Reuters photo gallery captured unusual winter scenes from around the world, including ice swimmers in Britain and the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in China.

A British inventor set a new world record by driving a modified wheelie bin at 66 miles per hour, turning an everyday trash container into a Guinness-certified speed machine during the attempt.

Animals at Rio de Janeiro’s BioParque zoo got frozen treats like watermelon popsicles and icy meat snacks as temperatures topped 40°C this week, delighting visitors and keeping critters cool amid an extreme summer hea

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—The Five Minute Daily Team