FIVE MINUTE DAILY

Drone attacks near a key Russian port and fresh strikes in southern Ukraine cast uncertainty over renewed Geneva peace talks.

In Washington, the Supreme Court limited presidential tariff authority, reshaping the legal boundaries of U.S. trade policy even as new duties were proposed.

And in Italy, Team USA delivered a record-setting performance at the Winter Olympics.

Together, the week’s developments highlight a world where security, economic leverage, and national competition are closely connected.

Forward this to a friend who wants the world in five minutes.

New strikes in the Black Sea set fires at Russia’s port of Taman, as Ukraine kept up pressure on energy-related infrastructure. Russian drones also fell into Ukraine’s Odesa region, leaving some communities dealing with power and water outages.

Talks in Geneva next week are meant to restart a U.S.-brokered process that has stalled before over territory and security guarantees. Meetings in Munich underscored European concerns, especially around what “binding” security commitments would actually mean if a ceasefire were reached.

Markets and fuel prices remain sensitive as the fighting runs through ports, pipelines, and power grids. Even if negotiators make progress, conditions on the ground could complicate any deal, with both sides trying to strengthen their positions beforehand.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act when imposing sweeping global tariffs, striking down much of the policy as detailed in the Supreme Court tariff ruling. The decision limits the use of emergency powers to levy broad import taxes without congressional approval.

The ruling immediately halts key tariffs and raises questions about whether businesses could seek refunds for duties already paid. The majority opinion narrows how presidents can use emergency economic powers in future trade disputes.

Within hours, Trump announced plans to pursue new tariffs under different statutory authority, including a temporary 15 percent levy under the Trade Act of 1974. The response signals continued volatility in U.S. trade policy as legal and political battles over executive authority continue.

At the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, the United States secured its 11th gold medal, setting a new national record for most golds won at a single Winter Olympics, a milestone highlighted in coverage of Team USA’s 11th gold medal. The achievement surpassed the previous record of 10 set in 2002.

The record-clinching victory came in mixed aerials freestyle skiing, pushing Team USA to the top of the gold medal count at the Games. American athletes also captured titles across alpine skiing, figure skating, speedskating and hockey.

The performance marks one of the strongest Winter Olympic showings for the United States in decades. The breadth of victories reflects sustained investment in winter sports development and international competition.

U.S. officials have released new findings on suspected Chinese nuclear test–related activity in western China, adding fresh scrutiny to Beijing’s weapons program. According to Washington, the intelligence suggests preparations consistent with efforts to expand or modernize nuclear capabilities.

Satellite imagery and intelligence assessments point to construction and containment features at a remote site long linked to past testing. Analysts say the disclosure comes amid a broader buildup of missile silos and warheads that has accelerated in recent years.

Chinese officials have denied conducting secret tests and insist the country’s nuclear arsenal is defensive. Rising tensions surrounding the allegations threaten to complicate arms-control discussions and deepen mistrust between the world’s two largest powers.

Washington’s Iran posture hardened after a 10-to-14-day decision window surfaced alongside new military positioning in the region. Markets are already pricing higher disruption risk as U.S.-Iran tensions push oil higher and raise the odds of retaliation beyond a single exchange.

A widening deployment that surrounds Iran adds pressure to the diplomatic clock and narrows room for miscalculation. Escalation would hit households through fuel costs and could spill into shipping, insurance, and broader inflation expectations.

Investors watching Thursday’s stocks-and-oil split are treating the next two weeks as a live stress test for global risk assets. Any strike-and-response cycle would quickly become a test of alliance cohesion, domestic politics, and energy-market resilience.

European Union foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Feb. 23–24 to finalize a new round of sanctions on Russia, focusing on enforcement and broader restrictions. The talks, held just before the invasion’s anniversary, could affect energy markets, defense coordination, and ties with Moscow.

After Washington hosted a high-level session on Gaza reconstruction and regional stabilization, officials began planning further diplomatic outreach outlined in U.S. peace board discussions. Regional governments are assessing the proposal’s economic and security implications, with upcoming meetings set to test whether it can secure broader multilateral support.

Russia warned that tensions around Iran have reached an unprecedented level as the United States advances a major military buildup in the Middle East, urging restraint amid rising conflict risks. The warning comes as nuclear talks stall, U.S. strike threats grow, and joint Russian-Iranian naval drills highlight fears of escalation.

SCIENCE-BACKED

If the scale keeps creeping up no matter what you try, it may not be a willpower problem. It may be a biology problem.

Fridays is a medically supervised weight loss program built around GLP-1 medications, licensed providers, and real lifestyle coaching.

You get a personalized plan, virtual clinical support, help with insurance, and ongoing accountability.

This is science-backed weight loss designed for real, sustainable progress.

Take the quick online assessment to see if you qualify.

Click here to get started today.

_{Please support our sponsors!}

This week’s headlines show how security, economic power, and global stability are increasingly intertwined. Fighting around Black Sea ports and energy infrastructure underscores how modern wars target supply chains as much as territory, with markets reacting in real time to battlefield developments.

At home, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling narrows presidential authority even as new trade actions keep policy uncertainty high. That tension — between institutional limits and executive ambition — mirrors broader questions about how democracies balance power during periods of economic strain.

Meanwhile, record Olympic success offered a rare unifying moment, even as nuclear tensions with China and rising risks around Iran signal a more fragmented global order. Together, these stories point to a world where competition — military, economic, and strategic — is intensifying, and where markets, diplomacy, and domestic politics are tightly linked.

A deer trapped between fence bars was freed by rescuers using hydraulic tools in a swift fence rescue effort

Two players set a new mark for the longest pickleball marathon after rallying for hours straight to claim a Guinness World Records title.

Osaka officials said gold bars donated anonymously to the city will be sold to help fund long-needed upgrades to aging water pipes in a rare case of civic-minded generosity turned into infrastructure support through a gold donation plan.

Thank you for reading Five Minute Daily. Share this edition with a friend, and subscribe to stay informed each Sunday morning.

—The Five Minute Daily Team