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Big conversations in Davos revealed new fault lines, while a familiar war tested endurance in less visible ways. Elsewhere, a quieter update pointed to how much preparation still lies ahead for humanity’s next giant leap.

The through line today is pressure — political, physical, and technological — building in very different places at once.

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President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland set off friction at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where European leaders pushed back against U.S. pressure and warned of strain on long-standing alliances. The issue quickly became a dominant topic in private meetings as concerns grew over sovereignty and alliance trust.

Debate over Greenland has sharpened anxieties inside NATO, with Denmark defending its authority over the territory and partners urging restraint. China entered the discussion by distancing itself from the dispute while cautioning against security dependence on any single power, widening the geopolitical stakes.

Greenland’s role in Arctic surveillance, missile defense, and future shipping routes has elevated the dispute beyond symbolism. Diplomatic handling in the coming months will shape alliance coordination, Arctic policy, and broader transatlantic relations.

Repeated strikes on Ukraine’s power and gas infrastructure have left communities facing rolling outages and heating shortages as winter conditions intensify. Urban centers have relied on backup generators and emergency shelters, while residents in smaller towns have turned to improvised heating to get through prolonged cold spells.

Local authorities have expanded emergency services to stabilize hospitals, transit systems, and water supplies under persistent strain. Repair crews continue to work under threat of renewed attacks, slowing restoration efforts and stretching resources.

Sustained damage to the energy grid has widened the conflict’s humanitarian toll and complicated long-term recovery planning. Prolonged infrastructure losses are also reshaping regional security calculations as neighboring countries brace for spillover risks.

NASA approved a new set of Artemis science instruments designed to study lunar terrain, surface behavior, and radiation exposure ahead of extended human missions. The payloads will collect detailed measurements on how the Moon’s regolith interacts with charged particles and extreme temperature swings.

Researchers aim to close key data gaps that affect astronaut safety and equipment durability during longer stays on the lunar surface. Understanding radiation patterns and surface conditions will guide decisions on shielding, landing site selection, and mobility systems.

More precise lunar data is expected to improve mission planning and reduce operational risk. The findings will also inform future habitat design, power generation strategies, and timelines for sustained exploration beyond Earth orbit.

An evacuation order pushed families to move for the first time since the ceasefire, raising fears the truce could fray further. Humanitarian conditions stayed tight as displacement pressures compounded damaged shelter and limited services.

New election figures underscored a crowded field and another potential leadership change in a country that has seen frequent political resets. Voters also face a referendum component that could shape constitutional rules and coalition math.

Beijing addressed embassy planning questions while signaling the issue sits inside domestic legal processes. London’s next moves matter because diplomatic footprint fights can spill into trade, security coordination, and public diplomacy.

An electrical problem forced Air Force One to return shortly after takeoff, prompting officials to continue the trip on a different aircraft. Ongoing concerns about fleet reliability remain in focus as replacement aircraft delays and retrofit challenges persist.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams announced her retirement, closing a career marked by multiple missions and extensive time spent on spacewalks. Leadership transitions draw attention to how experience gaps can affect anomaly response, training depth, and mission readiness.

The Supreme Court heard arguments over President Trump’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, opening a rare legal fight over presidential authority and the Fed’s independence in a case before the Supreme Court weighing Trump’s bid to fire a Fed governor.

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A new signal from the IEA pointed to faster oil demand growth in 2026, forcing traders to rethink how tight supply could get. Higher energy prices tend to ripple through inflation, trade balances, and consumer confidence, making the outlook relevant well beyond the oil market.

Asian markets opened unevenly as investors stayed cautious and pushed more money into gold, sending prices to a fresh high. Moves like these often hint at broader unease, with defensive positioning showing up before any policy changes take shape.

A review of recent earnings showed that beating expectations hasn’t been enough to lift shares the way it used to. Markets appear less forgiving, with investors reacting sharply to guidance, margins, and even small signs of slowing momentum.

Public health agencies issued new alerts after rare parasitic infections appeared outside their typical regions. Earlier detection and coordinated monitoring are becoming more important as travel, climate shifts, and trade expand exposure risks.

A new WHO guide connects street safety, green space, and access to play with stronger physical and mental health outcomes for children. Urban design choices increasingly shape how kids grow up, especially as cities get denser and traffic heavier.

The screwworm notice emphasized recognizing rare infestations early to limit spread. Faster detection can reduce severe outcomes and protect agriculture, where outbreaks can be costly and hard to eradicate.

Toronto pulled away behind a strong offensive push led by Immanuel Quickley, turning the game into a track meet Golden State couldn’t match. Injury absences reshaped the Warriors’ rotation, showing how quickly spacing and late-game options can thin out.

Los Angeles closed strong against Denver as Luka Doncic piled up a triple-double and controlled the tempo down the stretch. Tight races in the West leave little margin, where a single rally can flip momentum and nudge playoff positioning.

Chicago ran away from its opponent after matching a team record with 25 made 3-pointers. Hot shooting can exaggerate a result, but it also hints at schemes clicking when ball movement and spacing line up.

A capstone appearance at the Metropolitan Opera closed a major chapter in Denyce Graves’ performing career. Artists at that stage often redirect their influence toward teaching, directing, and shaping the next generation from behind the scenes.

Internal strategy discussions explored whether Netflix should lean more heavily into theatrical releases ahead of a high-profile partnership. Decisions about where films debut tend to ripple through talent contracts, release timing, and how audiences find new work.

The zombie sequel 28 Years Later jumped to the top of the weekend box office, pushing past Avatar: The Bone Temple in its debut frame. Early dominance like that often dictates how aggressively studios spend on marketing and how fast sequel conversations move forward.

A sharp escalation around Greenland talks turned a long-simmering strategic question into an alliance-level crisis at Davos. European capitals treated the messaging as more than bluster because the island sits on Arctic routes that matter for surveillance, undersea cables, and missile-defense geography.

Greenland’s location gives outsized leverage over North Atlantic security, especially as sea ice patterns shift and military planners map new operating lanes. Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenland’s own self-rule framework add legal complexity, while resource prospects raise the stakes for investors and governments alike.

Reporting on Trump’s Davos posture tied the push to national-security claims and a willingness to keep pressure on allies, even as markets reacted. A broader read on allied blowback showed the dispute spilling into public diplomacy and sharpening questions about how NATO handles internal coercion.

What to watch now is whether negotiations shift toward basing rights, investment packages, or joint Arctic infrastructure instead of outright ownership language. Allied leaders also have to decide how far to harden trade, defense planning, and crisis channels if the rhetoric turns into concrete steps.

NASA engineers confirmed Velcro fragments are being tested on upcoming lunar payloads to see how dust exposure degrades everyday materials.

Axolotl fandom is booming as pink salamanders jump from lab curiosity to plushie celebrity.

Strange orb-like lights seen across much of Texas over the weekend sparked UFO talk online before experts linked the display to a SpaceX Starlink rocket launch from Florida on Jan. 18.

Thanks for reading—stay sharp and stay curious. Forward this to a friend and subscribe if you want the world in five minutes every morning.

—The Five Minute Daily Team