Daily News Summary – 2026-01-15 – en

The U.S. Department of Education released National School Heat Action Guidelines to protect students from dangerous heat waves, with cooling upgrades and scheduling changes.

A global crackdown arrested dozens linked to illegal logging networks, using traceability technology to disrupt supply chains worth billions.

Three pro-Palestinian activists in the UK ended a 73-day hunger strike after the government decided not to award a defense contract to Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems.

Health authorities are implementing a variant-specific vaccine booster strategy for 2025-2026, focusing on efficacy, vulnerable populations, and efficient procurement.

SAMHSA announced $231 million in funding to expand the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, supporting staffing, outreach, and performance metrics.

Banking authorities worldwide are mandating comprehensive climate stress tests, transforming climate risk into a core capital requirement with new disclosure timelines.

The Suez Canal crisis has led to a fundamental restructuring of maritime logistics, with traffic down 60% and alternatives like the Cape of Good Hope adding costs and time.

A major fraud investigation has expanded with a focus on asset tracing, uncovering systemic governance failures and leading to international enforcement efforts.

The ISO 15118 standard for EV charging communication is becoming mandatory globally, reshaping policy, markets, and communities with interoperability requirements.

Federal regulators approved a 2.2-gigawatt offshore wind project off Maryland, with grid upgrades and job creation, marking a step in America's clean energy transition.

The first tanker of Venezuelan crude arrived at Curaçao, part of the U.S. strategy to extract oil post-Maduro, with logistical support from traders like Vitol and Trafigura.

Financing has been secured for regional hydrogen hubs in the U.S., though policy shifts have realigned funding priorities, with economic impact and job creation potential.

Two crane accidents in Thailand killed 34 people, exposing systemic safety failures and corruption in the construction industry, with the same contractor involved.

Australia has removed or restricted 4.7 million social media accounts for children under 16 in the first month of its ban, with global ripple effects and mental health concerns.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado offered her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump in a symbolic gesture during a White House meeting.

X has announced stricter rules for its AI chatbot Grok after controversy over deepfake generation, facing global regulatory pressure and investigations.

Worldwide AI spending is projected to reach $2.52 trillion in 2026, with infrastructure leading the charge, according to Gartner forecasts.

Trials of autonomous terminal operations at major ports have shown efficiency gains of up to 35%, with improved throughput and worker transition programs.

Humanitarian operations are facing unprecedented security risks and funding shortages, with 2024 being the deadliest year on record for aid workers.

The EU has approved a landmark trade agreement with Mercosur after 25 years of negotiations, creating the world's largest free trade zone with economic benefits and farmer opposition.