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A sudden U.S. move against Venezuela’s leader is rippling through diplomacy, markets, and energy politics. At the same time, Wall Street is reassessing whether the AI boom carries an overlooked inflation problem just as central banks weigh rate cuts.

Pressure is also building in the Arctic, where Greenland has reemerged as a strategic flashpoint pulling Denmark and Washington into sharper alignment debates.

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A dramatic weekend operation left Nicolás Maduro captured and headed for a Manhattan courtroom as U.S. officials frame the move as a criminal case with geopolitical consequences. Markets are weighing oil’s muted reaction against the risk of escalation in a country with vast reserves.

A fast-moving timeline is now being mapped across sanctions, strikes, and extradition moves as Washington’s pressure built into a decisive overnight raid. Legal and diplomatic blowback is rising as Venezuela’s interim leadership signals cooperation while demanding clarity on what comes next.

A courtroom fight over jurisdiction and evidence now collides with a strategic fight over who controls the state and its oil revenues. Regional stability could hinge on whether a transition emerges quickly or violence spreads across borders and shipping lanes.

Wall Street’s AI enthusiasm is running into a new warning that AI-driven inflation could become the underappreciated constraint on growth and rate cuts. Rising costs for chips, power, and construction are turning data-center expansion into a macroeconomic variable, not just a tech story.

Capital spending plans have stayed aggressive as large platforms chase scale, which is pushing up demand for scarce inputs and skilled labor. Central banks could face harder choices if inflation re-accelerates while markets still expect easing, creating a sharp repricing risk.

Policy decisions in the first quarter may set the tone for whether AI remains a tailwind for equities or becomes a source of cost shock. Portfolio strategy now depends on whether productivity gains arrive fast enough to offset the spending surge.

Copenhagen delivered a blunt message after Greenland dispute revived talk of U.S. control over the Arctic territory. Greenland’s leadership is also rejecting rhetoric that implies an external decision over its future.

Security concerns are driving the argument as Arctic leverage collide with questions about minerals, basing, and shipping routes. Long-running debates over autonomy and independence have now become entangled with great-power competition.

Allies are watching the Venezuela episode as a reference point for what Washington might try next, which is why Denmark response is landing so sharply. Arctic cooperation could tighten or fray quickly depending on what comes after the latest warnings.

Beijing says a fragile Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire is being implemented gradually after a flare-up that raised fears of a wider border crisis. Regional stability matters because trade corridors and tourism flows can swing quickly when security deteriorates.

A new diplomatic push is underway as South Korea’s president arrives in China shortly after North Korea fired missiles, adding urgency to security talks. High-level meetings could shape coordination on sanctions, deterrence, and crisis hotlines.

Trade pressure is rising after a tariff warning to India tied energy imports to broader geopolitical alignment. Supply-chain exposure runs both ways, so any escalation could spill into prices for consumers and manufacturers.

Las Vegas is gearing up for CES preview as companies lean into AI across phones, cars, health tools, and home devices. Energy demand and practicality are emerging as the fastest reality checks.

A single-engine aircraft went down at Provincetown Municipal Airport after Cape Cod crash left the pilot dead. Investigators will focus on weather, mechanical factors, and flight conditions to determine what happened.

Skywatchers caught the year’s first supermoon as the Wolf Moon rose over cities from the Americas to Asia. Visibility matters because January’s lunar and meteor events tend to draw large crowds and can strain parks, observatories, and local traffic plans.

Crude dipped again as traders processed post-strike pricing that reflects oversupply fears alongside geopolitical risk. Energy equities moved differently, highlighting how companies can benefit even when benchmarks fall.

Global assets stayed relatively calm while investors assessed Venezuela and waited for clearer policy signals. A fragile balance remains as the same headlines that lift defense and energy names can hit broader sentiment.

Several reports are being watched for whether data-center demand remains strong, with this week’s market calendar flagging AI-related read-throughs. Guidance could matter more than beats as investors decide how long the capital-spending cycle can run.

Wellington ordered a review after a medical portal breach exposed fresh concern about health-data defenses and vendor oversight. Cybersecurity risk is increasingly being treated as a public-safety issue, not just an IT budget line.

Early missions signaled another fast year as SpaceX listed new January launches across Starlink and satellite deployments. Launch frequency matters because cheaper access to orbit can reshape communications, imaging, and defense planning.

A statement win headlined the weekend slate as Jaylen Brown scored 50 in a rout that underscored Boston’s shooting depth. Contender separation often shows up in these stretches when rotations tighten.

Late-game execution decided one of the day’s finishes as Devin Booker’s last-second 3 sealed a comeback win. Close results can swing seeding quickly as schedules compress.

A marquee individual line powered Brooklyn as Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets past Denver in a high-scoring matchup. Trade-season narratives often start with games like this that highlight fit and usage.

A new milestone landed as “Fire and Ash” hit $1.03B worldwide, reinforcing the franchise’s ability to pull global audiences into theaters. Release strategy for 2026 blockbusters now has a fresh benchmark for what “must-see” looks like.

A packed calendar is building with Critics Choice red carpet arrivals putting new films and series back in the spotlight. Momentum matters because voter attention can swing quickly between nominations and final ballots.

Studios opened the year with stronger totals as weekend ticket sales rose compared with the same period last year. A healthier theatrical run can change what gets greenlit and how streaming deals are priced.

Sunday’s finale reshaped the postseason picture as Week 18 outcomes locked in seeding, matchups, and a new list of teams entering January with legitimate Super Bowl paths. Parity showed up again as late-season defense and turnover margin mattered more than highlight offenses in several games.

Denver grabbed the conference’s top slot after a decisive win that secured a first-round bye, while Jacksonville clinched its division with an explosive finish that kept pressure on the rest of the AFC. Drama also spilled into the draft order as a late win shifted No. 1, underscoring how even “meaningless” games can reset a franchise’s next five years.

The bracket now turns on quarterback health, travel, and rest advantages, with top seeds gaining time to heal while wild-card teams face short weeks and cross-country flights. Matchups will also hinge on whether teams built around pass rush and coverage can keep explosive attacks from dictating tempo in domes and warm-weather stadiums.

Upset potential looks high because several likely hosts closed the season unevenly while a few road teams enter hot with clear identities. Betting lines and coaching decisions will react quickly as injury reports roll in, so early-week practice participation may become the most important data point before kickoff.

A record-setting auction saw a bluefin tuna sell for $3.2 million in Tokyo’s first fish sale of 2026.

Streamer IShowSpeed drew millions of views after a viral clip showed him racing a cheetah during a stop on his Africa tour.

A surprise awards darling emerged when animated musical KPop Demon Hunters won big at the Critics Choice Awards.

A lighthearted political moment emerged after a town in New Zealand named a goat mayor for the day during a festival.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team