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Strain is showing across systems that once looked stable. In Iran, economic collapse is spilling into the streets with lethal consequences. In the U.S., federal funding is becoming a political lever with real-world fallout for families.

And abroad, China is moving aggressively to lock in influence where trade routes, minerals, and alliances intersect.

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Iran’s currency protests entered a second week as at least 25 people were reported killed and more than 1,000 arrested in clashes spreading from Tehran’s bazaar to several cities. Fresh reporting on widening unrest describes a plunging rial, heavy security deployments, and a police chief vowing to “deal with the last of these rioters.”

Recent demonstrations began with shopkeepers angry over soaring prices and a collapsing currency but have evolved into broader chants aimed at Iran’s clerical leadership. Memories of earlier protests over Mahsa Amini’s death still hang over the streets, shaping how authorities balance tear gas and arrests with calls for dialogue.

The U.S. administration moved to freeze more than $10 billion in childcare and family assistance funds to California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, citing alleged fraud and misuse. A notice from the Health and Human Services Department outlined a halt on access to the Child Care and Development Fund and other programs while reviews proceed.

Governors in affected states argue the decision could leave low-income parents scrambling for childcare and basic support. Advocacy groups see the action as part of a broader political pattern tying federal funds to deeply contested issues and future election strategy.

China’s top diplomat kicked off a tour of Africa focused on ports, railways and sea lanes that link the continent to Asia and Europe in a bid to frame major projects as mutual growth opportunities. Early statements emphasize a partnership approach to infrastructure investments while reassuring partners about debt and security concerns, according to reporting on the trip’s opening leg.

African governments are weighing Beijing’s promises against worries over repayment risks and strategic dependence on a single global power. Decisions taken on this tour will shape competitive dynamics among China, the U.S. and Europe for influence over minerals, trade routes and geopolitical alignments.

Cyprus kicked off its six-month EU presidency by putting Ukraine front and center, inviting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to an opening meeting packed with European leaders. The moment was designed to keep Kyiv’s membership ambitions and security guarantees firmly on the table.

Japan fired back at China’s new limits on dual-use exports, calling the move unacceptable and warning it could disrupt global supply chains. Attention quickly turned to rare earths and industrial materials, where any tightening would ripple through autos, electronics, and manufacturing.

China launched an anti-dumping investigation into a chipmaking chemical imported from Japan, deepening an already tense trade standoff. The probe adds pressure at a time when technology controls are becoming a central tool in regional power politics.

Most regional Federal Reserve bank directors voted against changing the discount rate before the December meeting, highlighting internal policy debate. Details on the Fed board vote split matter because such disagreement can affect future monetary decisions.

G7 finance ministers will meet next week to talk through how far governments are willing to go to secure rare earth supplies, including whether price floors should come back into play. Ideas that used to live in policy memos are now showing up on meeting agendas as supply risk turns into an immediate concern.

France said it is coordinating with allies on how to respond if the U.S. escalates talk or action around Greenland. The conversations are still informal, but the issue is starting to drift from rhetoric into alliance planning.

Global stocks wobbled after a strong start to the year, with U.S. benchmarks hovering near record highs while traders parsed fresh economic data and central-bank signals. Live market coverage slipped modestly as investors rotated among sectors rather than rushing for the exits.

European stocks pulled back after a strong start to the year as investors slowed risk-taking and waited for fresh economic data. Geopolitical headlines and uncertainty around energy and defense spending added to the cautious tone.

A new development deal for an oral obesity drug underscores how quickly competition is expanding beyond injections. Drugmakers are betting that pills could open the market to more patients and reshape pricing and access over time.

From laptop chips to factory floors, artificial intelligence dominated the early days of the CES tech show in Las Vegas. A tour of headline gadgets showcased AI-powered PCs, home robots, and health devices promising to personalize everything from workouts to blood-pressure checks.

A new prototype electric sedan from Sony Honda Mobility turned heads at CES with massive in-car displays, gaming integration, and a software-first design. Presenters framed the concept as a glimpse of cars that behave like rolling entertainment hubs, where over-the-air updates matter as much as horsepower.

Researchers at the University of Wollongong won a NATO grant to develop AI-based defenses against cyber attacks on drone systems. The work matters as drones play a growing role in critical infrastructure monitoring and disaster response.

Memphis edged San Antonio 106–105 after late scoring from Cam Spencer and a last-second block by Santi Aldama. The Grizzlies overcame 23 turnovers to beat a Spurs team led by Victor Wembanyama’s 30 points.

Washington built a 26-point lead on hot shooting and free throws, then nearly squandered it before closing out a 120–112 win over Orlando. CJ McCollum poured in 27 points while rookie center Alex Sarr added 23 and eight rebounds in a victory.

Minnesota beat Miami 122–94 for its second lopsided victory over the Heat in four days. Anthony Edwards scored 26 points while Rudy Gobert anchored the paint in a performance as another statement from a Wolves team eyeing a top playoff seed.

Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr, known for hypnotically long takes and stark portrayals of rural life in films like “Satantango” and “Werckmeister Harmonies,” died at age 70. An appreciation of his career notes that festival juries and cinephiles embraced his bleak yet beautiful style even as it remained far from the multiplex mainstream.

Revelers in Pasto, Colombia, flooded the streets with elaborate floats, foam battles, and body paint for the annual Black and White Carnival, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. A vibrant photo gallery shows giant puppets, musicians, and artisans turning the mountain city into a weeklong street theater.

Tokyo’s fire brigades kicked off the year with their traditional New Year’s Fire Brigade Review, combining modern fire engines with Edo-era costumes and acrobatic ladder stunts. Images from the annual display capture performers balancing high above the ground and teams in hazmat suits rehearsing for disaster.

Legal and political battles over vaccines are flaring again, even as COVID-era emergencies fade from front-page news. Two fresh cases in the United States highlight how questions about profits, patents, and public-health authority are colliding in courtrooms instead of clinics.

In one lawsuit, drugmaker Bayer filed claims against several COVID-19 vaccine producers, arguing that their shots relied on mRNA-related technology covered by its intellectual-property portfolio. Company lawyers say years of research and investment deserve compensation when others build commercial products on top of foundational advances. Vaccine makers counter that some patents are overly broad or that governments’ emergency powers and existing licenses already limit what they owe, setting up a complex fight over how to value basic science once it becomes a global lifeline.

A separate case in Louisiana pits medical associations and parents against state rules championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that tighten exemptions and alter school vaccination requirements. A federal judge just allowed the challengers’ lawsuit over new vaccine policies to proceed, rejecting arguments that concerns about measles and other outbreaks make the measures unreviewable. Plaintiffs argue that the changes undermine established public-health guidance and could lower immunization rates, especially in communities already targeted by misinformation.

Taken together, these cases illustrate how vaccine debates are shifting away from emergency approval battles toward slower questions about governance and compensation. Courts now must decide who controls key medical platforms, how far elected officials can go in reshaping school requirements, and where to draw lines between individual choice and community protection. Outcomes will shape incentives for companies to invest in next-generation vaccines and influence whether state-level experiments spread, stall, or backfire in the next outbreak.

Public-health experts worry that a noisy legal and political climate could blur clear messages about routine childhood shots. Clearer communication, transparent data on safety and effectiveness, and consistent standards across jurisdictions will matter as much as courtroom victories if officials want to rebuild trust. Investors, meanwhile, are watching closely because new rules on licensing, liability, and mandates could determine which vaccine makers and technology holders win in the long run.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team