32: A construction crane fell onto a moving train in northeast Thailand on Wednesday morning, killing at least 32 people and injuring another 66. The train was mostly carrying students and workers. The incident occurred after the crane accidentally dropped a concrete wedge onto the train, causing it to derail.
12: Hungary’s opposition Tisza party expanded its lead over Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz to 12 points, according to a Median poll, up from 10 points in a corresponding November survey. Orbán’s grip on power looks increasingly slippery ahead of the April election, as Peter Magyar’s opposition group continues to build momentum.
$1.2 trillion: China posted a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025, driven by booming exports to non-US markets after firms diversified away from the United States. Strong competitiveness and excess capacity offset weak domestic demand, but risk heightening trade tensions as China leans on exports to sustain growth.
350: French farmers drove 350 tractors to Parliament in Paris on Tuesday to protest the European Union’s trade deal with South America that they worry will jeopardize their livelihoods. The deal, expected to be signed this weekend, would create the largest free trade zone in the world.When eager minds need a weekend pass to an unforgettable museum, we are there. Learn more.
America used to be the anchor of the global humanitarian system, David Miliband tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World, but after the US pullback of foreign aid, the world is confronting the consequences of what happens when that anchor is pulled up.
In the Pacific Northwest, acoustic monitoring is helping detect endangered southern resident orcas and alert nearby vessels in real time. By combining underwater sensors, edge computing, and AI, Microsoft and conservation partners are helping ships reduce noise and collision risks in critical feeding areas. The initiative offers a glimpse of how emerging technologies can support biodiversity conservation while balancing environmental and commercial interests. Read the full story here.
In his latest Quick Take, Ian Bremmer asks whether the United States should be pushing countries to choose between American and Chinese technology as the AI race accelerates.