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Today’s news moves across politics, sport, and markets, with stories that gained momentum quickly and are still unfolding. A repost sparked outrage and questions about digital reach, the Winter Olympics opened with more than pageantry on display, and a new diplomatic timeline is beginning to shape expectations in Europe.

Elsewhere, markets reacted to shifting bets on growth and technology, while culture and sports delivered moments that may carry more weight than they first appear.

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Former President Donald Trump reposted a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama on his social platform, briefly amplifying content that had circulated among extremist accounts before being removed. The post drew swift condemnation after the video spread widely and triggered backlash from civil rights groups and Democratic leaders.

Trump deleted the post after criticism intensified, though the clip had already circulated across multiple platforms and reached a large audience. Rapid spread matters because high-profile amplification can normalize fringe content before moderation or removal takes effect.

The episode fits a broader pattern of racially charged and misleading material gaining traction during election cycles. Escalating use of provocative digital content raises renewed questions about platform responsibility and political norms as campaigns accelerate.

The Milan-Cortina Winter Games opened with a dual-cauldron ceremony spread across multiple sites, anchored by Italian cultural tributes. Athletes paraded as organizers leaned into a made-for-broadcast spectacle suited to a fragmented, multi-venue Olympics.

Politics surfaced inside the stadium as the U.S. delegation’s moment drew mixed reactions, underscoring frayed public sentiment in parts of Europe. Global sporting events now carry higher reputational stakes for hosts, sponsors, and visiting officials amid sharper geopolitical alignments.

Attention is already shifting to operations and security after the rollout highlighted the Games’ geographic complexity. Transport reliability and venue coordination will shape both the viewing experience and the long-term case for hosting mega-events across distributed regions.

A new June deadline put added pressure on Kyiv and Moscow to show a path toward an agreement as battlefield realities harden. Deadline-driven diplomacy raises the stakes for what gets traded, guaranteed, or frozen in place.

Talks now run alongside decisions on long-term support, with allies weighing how to fund weapons and reconstruction while keeping domestic politics steady. Competing endgame visions make timing as important as terms, since delay can shift leverage.

Next steps will test whether deadlines move leaders or simply reset expectations, especially if front-line conditions change before summer. Market, energy, and security planning across Europe will follow any sign that negotiations are moving from signals to specifics.

Regulators escalated scrutiny with an EU TikTok warning tied to concerns about addictive design features and risks to children. A confirmed breach could bring major fines and force product changes that ripple across social platforms.

Caracas lawmakers pushed forward an amnesty bill that could free hundreds of political prisoners as the country navigates a volatile transition. Credibility hinges on transparency and follow-through, since legitimacy and sanctions relief often turn on human rights benchmarks.

Cuba expanded power outages and fuel rationing as reduced oil supplies disrupted electricity generation and transportation, outlined in the latest developments. The shortages are deepening economic strain and compounding daily hardships for households and businesses across the island.

A fifth straight monthly drop in the FAO food price index points to easing pressure across several key categories. Grocery costs may cool unevenly, however, as transport expenses and currency swings can still push shelf prices higher.

A jury delivered guilty verdicts in the federal obstruction case tied to an illegal betting investigation involving Yasiel Puig. Sentencing now looms, renewing scrutiny of integrity safeguards around sports wagering.

Rural communities remained without electricity as restoration stretched toward two weeks after an ice storm downed lines and toppled trees. Longer outages amplify health and economic risks once households exhaust backup heat, water, and fuel.

A major Stellantis write-down underscored how quickly automakers are revising electric-vehicle plans. Investors are re-pricing the sector around demand uncertainty, pricing pressure, and the cost of retooling factories.

A sharp rebound lifted the Dow above 50,000 as buyers returned after a sell-off. Milestones matter less than breadth, since leadership concentration can hide weak participation underneath headline gains.

Shares of Strategy jumped as Bitcoin rebounded from recent lows, drawing renewed investor interest. Analysts cited the company’s strong cash position as a buffer against volatility, even as ongoing crypto price swings continue to sharply sway related equities.

SpaceX’s strategic pivot toward lunar objectives shifts near-term focus to Artemis-linked milestones. NASA’s schedule and the broader commercial space race now hinge on whether Starship can meet demanding refueling and launch requirements.

An FDA update on food-color labeling signals a lighter regulatory touch in how companies describe color additives. Consumer advocates and manufacturers alike now have new incentives to test what “natural” messaging means in practice.

Fresh CDC data on measles cases and outbreaks point to ongoing transmission and continued reporting. Stronger vaccination coverage is critical, as even small gaps can sustain clusters that strain local contact-tracing capacity.

Deadline moves compiled in the trade deadline recap sent multiple starters to new teams as contenders chased matchup advantages. Chemistry and health now matter as much as talent, since tight playoff windows punish slow adjustments.

Detroit’s blowout win ended New York’s streak, with the recap highlighting a brutally uneven shooting night. Standings are tightening quickly as contenders juggle minutes and depth heading into the second half.

Rugby’s annual tournament returned with a packed calendar in the Six Nations slate. Early results can set selection and strategy for weeks, since bonus points and tiebreakers often decide the table.

Design houses and newcomers landed on the calendar in a Paris schedule update that maps out March’s runway season. Retail buyers and brand investors use these lineups as early signals of creative direction and commercial momentum.

A festival moment captured in Sandler snub jokes kept awards chatter lively as campaigning intensifies. Studio strategies often shift after public buzz, especially when streaming releases chase late-season attention.

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Stellantis stunned markets with a Stellantis EV charge that underscored how quickly carmakers are rethinking electric-vehicle timelines. More companies are wrestling with slower-than-expected adoption, higher battery costs, and uneven charging infrastructure.

Capital allocation has become the central battleground as manufacturers decide whether to double down on new platforms or extend profitable gas and hybrid lineups, a tension outlined in MarketWatch analysis. Supplier contracts, factory tooling, and workforce plans all get harder to unwind once billions are committed.

Policy still pulls in two directions, since emissions standards and incentive programs can reward EV investment while consumer preferences punish mispriced models, a dynamic raised in WSJ coverage. Financing rates also matter, because monthly payments can swing demand more than brand loyalty when vehicles cost more upfront.

Watch for three signals next: pricing behavior, product cadence, and how much cash automakers keep reserving for batteries and software, with clues likely emerging after strategy reset details. A sustained pullback could slow charging buildouts and suppliers’ expansion plans, while a rebound in demand would quickly reward companies that kept production flexibility.

Book lovers got an early glimpse of the 2026 Booker Prize as organizers unveiled the judging panel, offering a first signal of the perspectives likely to shape next year’s shortlist.

A photo-driven opening-night recap offered a vivid snapshot of the Games’ first moments, giving readers a fast visual tour of the ceremony and its early highlights.

Plans for a 300-firefighter EU unit signal that climate response is shifting from a seasonal scramble toward a permanent, coordinated capacity.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team