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CME’s trading systems suffered a major outage that froze key futures markets, even as Russia launched one of its biggest air assaults on Ukraine while a top presidential aide resigned in a corruption probe.

A global Airbus A320 software recall is stranding passengers and reshuffling airline schedules across Asia. We also track new crackdowns in Russia, shifting U.S. asylum rules, and breakthroughs in aging science.

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A cooling failure at a Chicago-area data center forced CME’s main trading platform offline, halting futures and options tied to everything from oil and gold to U.S. Treasuries and stock indexes.

Prices stopped updating during thin post-Thanksgiving trading, leaving brokers and algorithmic traders briefly flying blind.

The disruption, one of the largest in years for a major exchange operator, underscores how tightly global finance depends on a small number of data centers and software systems.

Regulators and market participants are now likely to press CME and its vendors for more transparency on redundancies and stress-testing.

The incident could accelerate debates over whether critical financial infrastructure needs stricter oversight similar to power grids or payment systems.

Russia launched a vast overnight barrage of drones and missiles that killed at least three people and knocked out power for more than 600,000 households, with Kyiv and several regions reporting severe damage to energy infrastructure in what officials described as a vast overnight attack.

Officials said roughly three dozen missiles and nearly 600 drones were involved, making the strike one of the most intense in recent months as winter sets in.

At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted the resignation of his powerful chief of staff Andriy Yermak after anti-corruption investigators searched his home, in a probe linked to alleged kickbacks in the energy sector and

A major software recall for Airbus A320 jets has grounded aircraft and forced last-minute cancellations and delays across Asia and beyond.

Regulators ordered airlines to apply a software fix to flight-control systems before affected planes can fly, after an earlier incident raised safety concerns.

Carriers in Japan, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Europe, and the U.S. are juggling schedules and swapping aircraft to keep holiday traffic moving.

Industry sources say Airbus now believes the repairs will be less burdensome than initially feared, involving a relatively simple rollback rather than extensive reprogramming, but airlines must still take jets out of service long enough to complete checks.

The recall, one of the largest in Airbus history, comes just as the A320 family has become the backbone of global short-haul flying.

The disruption highlights how software issues, not just mechanical problems, can ripple through aviation networks during peak travel periods.

Russian officials have formally designated Human Rights Watch “undesirable”, effectively banning the organization’s work in the country and criminalizing cooperation with it.

The move extends a years-long campaign against independent media and civil society, as authorities clamp down on criticism of the war in Ukraine and domestic repression.

China’s military and coast guard carried out patrols around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a move described by state media as protecting China’s maritime sovereignty and raising concern in the region.

The patrols come amid rising tension with Philippines over overlapping claims and recent joint exercises with U.S.-allied forces.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Israel in early December for his first official visit since taking office, with meetings planned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Berlin says talks will focus on bilateral ties, efforts to stabilize the Gaza ceasefire, and broader regional security, underscoring Europe’s continuing diplomatic role in Middle East negotiations.

The World Health Organization released its first global guideline on infertility care, urging countries to expand access to safe, affordable treatments and to better regulate clinics.

The document emphasizes infertility as a public-health issue rather than a niche specialty, calling for protections against exploitative pricing and unsafe procedures, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

A powerful post-Thanksgiving winter storm is pushing across the Midwest and northern Plains, with forecasters warning of heavy snow and dangerous driving conditions. Advisories stretch from Nebraska and Iowa through Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, adding another complication for travelers returning home after the holiday.

Rescue teams responded to blasts on two sanctioned oil tankers off Turkey’s coast near the Bosphorus, triggering fires but no immediate mass casualties.

The vessels are reportedly linked to networks accused of helping Russia and Iran skirt energy sanctions, raising fresh questions about maritime security and enforcement in a key shipping corridor.

Saudi Arabia is considering sharply lowering January crude prices for Asian buyers to the lowest levels in about five years.

The potential move reflects concerns over weak demand and ample supply and could ripple through global energy markets, lowering import costs for major Asian economies while pressuring rival producers.

U.S. stocks rose for a fifth straight session, with the S&P 500 gaining in shortened post-holiday trading and the Dow also finishing higher.

The Nasdaq, however, notched its first monthly loss since March, highlighting how rate-cut hopes have buoyed some sectors while tech names remain more volatile.

The U.S. dollar is on track for its biggest weekly drop in about four months, as traders increasingly bet on a Federal Reserve rate cut in December.

Softer U.S. data and more dovish commentary from policymakers have pushed investors toward riskier assets, lifting some Asian and European currencies.

U.S. shoppers spent an estimated $8.6 billion online on Black Friday, according to new e-commerce tracking data.

That’s roughly a 9% jump from last year’s digital spending, suggesting that despite lingering inflation and economic uncertainty, consumers are still hunting for deals—often from their couches rather than in store lines.

Researchers identified new compounds produced by a little-studied blood bacterium that reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and collagen damage in lab-grown skin cells, according to early work on indole metabolites.

The findings hint at future microbiome-based skin therapies, though the results remain preliminary and far from human testing.

A seven-year ETH Zurich study uncovered how proteins, bubble structures, and surface-flow dynamics create long-lasting beer foam, with research on beer-foam physics suggesting broader industrial applications in food, cosmetics, and firefighting.

A population study of more than six million people found that neighborhoods dense with cannabis retailers saw higher cannabis-related ER visits, based on findings on store density and health impacts.

The research raises questions about how zoning decisions may influence community health.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and other stars headlined a busy NBA Cup slate, where the Los Angeles Lakers swept their group after a win over Dallas.

The victory secured a knockout-round berth and added momentum for Los Angeles as the in-season tournament narrows to elimination games.

The Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Phoenix Suns 123–119 to record their 11th consecutive victory, improving to 19–1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points as Oklahoma City continued its early-season surge in both regular-season standings and NBA Cup play.

Iran’s football federation says it will boycott next week’s 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, after U.S. authorities denied visas to several delegation members.

The move injects geopolitical tension into the early stages of the expanded tournament, even as Iran has already secured its place in the finals.

Animated sequel “Zootopia 2” topped the Thanksgiving box office with about $19.7 million, while musical fantasy “Wicked: For Good” crossed the $200 million domestic milestone.

The results suggest family-oriented and franchise films still dominate holiday moviegoing, even as competition from streaming remains intense.

Actor Jenna Ortega used a film festival appearance to say it is “very easy to be terrified” of AI in filmmaking, warning that some uses risk flattening human emotion and individuality.

She also acknowledged potential benefits but argued there are “certain things it’s just not able to replicate,” adding her voice to an ongoing industry debate over automation and creative work.

Qatar’s new Doha Film Festival wrapped up with Guillermo Galoe’s drama “Sleepless City” winning best film.

Organizers framed the event as a bid to build the Gulf state’s profile as a regional cinema hub, while programmers highlighted stories from across the Middle East and beyond.

The U.S. government has paused all asylum decisions nationwide after an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard members near the White House, killing one, in an attack detailed in early reports from Washington officials and later confirmed through federal guidance referenced in new immigration directives.

The pause also extends to new visa issuance for Afghan passport holders as agencies review vetting protocols and potential gaps exposed by the incident.

The suspect reportedly entered the United States under a program for Afghans who supported U.S. operations abroad.

Supporters of the freeze say the system needs an immediate security audit, while critics argue current screening is already rigorous and warn that linking an isolated attack to broad asylum restrictions could harm thousands seeking protection.

The nationwide halt affects migrants at the border, long-term U.S. residents awaiting status decisions, and Afghans evacuated after the fall of Kabul.

Filings may continue, but adjudications are on hold, prolonging uncertainty for families already facing years-long backlogs.

Advocates say people in detention or unsafe transit countries could face heightened risk as delays grow.

Next steps hinge on how quickly agencies finish their review and whether courts intervene.

Legal challenges are expected to argue that an indefinite pause violates asylum law, while diplomatic tensions could rise as Afghan visa processing slows.

Observers will watch for timelines, any exceptions for urgent cases, and whether new vetting standards emerge from the federal review.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team