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Hard Numbers: Biden’s ad buy, German nuke games, Kwoks lose big, Bolsonaro’s sick cabinet

280 million: Democratic candidate Joe Biden plans to spend $280 million on campaign ads in his battle against US President Donald Trump. Although Trump trails the former vice president by 7 points in an average of national polls, the incumbent has set aside less than half that amount for ads of his own.

500,000: About half a million people would die instantly if a large nuclear bomb were detonated in Frankfurt, Germany's most populous city, according to a new simulation from Greenpeace. It is estimated that the US — the only atomic power that stores part of its arsenal in other countries — has maintained between 15 and 20 nukes on German soil since the end of the Cold War.

8 billion: The uber-rich Kwok family, which owns Hong Kong's largest real estate empire, lost $8 billion over the past twelve months. The steep drop in the dynasty's net wealth is partly attributed to lack of investor confidence in Hong Kong as China has moved to assert fuller control over the city. It's also worth noting that the Kwoks publicly oppose the new security law that China has imposed on the former British colony.

8: Jorge Oliveira, Brazil's secretary of the presidency, is the eighth member of President Jair Bolsonaro's cabinet to have tested positive for the coronavirus. Bolsonaro — who recently survived COVID-19 himself — is part of a select group of world leaders who continue to play down the threat of the pandemic, and is often seen meeting people without social distancing or wearing a mask, even as Brazil has tallied more 2.8 million cases and close to 100,000 deaths.

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CEO and Co-Founder of Anthropic Dario Amodei speaks during the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 20, 2026.
REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

The release of Antrhopic’s Mythos, a powerful AI model with an extraordinary ability to identify software vulnerabilities, appears to have rattled the Trump administration.

Chris, an Army veteran, started his Walmart journey over 25 years ago as an hourly associate. Today, he manages a Distribution Center and serves as a mentor, helping others navigate their own paths to success. At Walmart, associates have the opportunity to take advantage of the pathways, perks, and pay that come with the job — with or without a college degree. In fact, more than 75% of Walmart management started as hourly associates. Learn more about how over 130,000 associates were promoted into roles of greater responsibility and higher pay in FY25.

Microsoft and North America’s Building Trades Unions announced an expanded partnership to bring no‑cost AI training to millions of workers in the building trades. The effort reflects a simple idea: the people building the future should also be equipped to thrive in it. The partnership builds on training that has already reached more than 1,500 instructors across 50 states and North America, expanding access through a recognized AI literacy credential on LinkedIn Learning. It also extends to the next generation of skilled professionals through NABTU’s TradesFutures programs in 34 states, helping strengthen workforce pathways as demand for AI infrastructure grows. Read the full blog here.