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A remote desert site is drawing new international scrutiny. A stretch of pristine mountain terrain became the focus of an urgent rescue effort. And in a quiet conference room in Geneva, negotiators are again testing how far compromise can stretch.

Today’s developments span strategic rivalry, natural risk, and uneasy diplomacy — each carrying consequences that extend well beyond the immediate moment. Here’s what’s unfolding and what could come next.

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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.

An avalanche tore through a backcountry of California’s Sierra Nevada, killing multiple skiers and prompting a large-scale search-and-rescue operation, according to authorities. Officials said recent storms and shifting snow conditions created unstable layers that collapsed on a steep slope.

Rescue teams deployed helicopters, search dogs, and avalanche beacons to locate victims in rugged terrain far from groomed resort runs. Backcountry travel has surged in popularity in recent years, increasing the number of people exposed to areas where avalanche forecasting and careful preparation are essential.

Forecasters cautioned that warming temperatures following heavy snowfall can quickly heighten the risk of slides across the region. The disaster is likely to renew calls for closer attention to avalanche forecasts, proper safety equipment, and conservative route planning during peak snow season.

Russian and Ukrainian representatives convened in Geneva for another round of negotiations aimed at narrowing differences over a potential ceasefire. Delegations said discussions centered on humanitarian corridors and prisoner exchanges, while broader territorial disputes remain unresolved.

Earlier diplomatic efforts faltered over security guarantees and the status of occupied regions, allowing battlefield dynamics to shape leverage on both sides. International mediators continue to push for incremental agreements that could limit civilian harm, even if a comprehensive settlement remains elusive.

Economic strain, combat fatigue, and shifting political timelines are increasing pressure on both governments to demonstrate progress without surrendering core demands. Developments in Geneva may influence Western military aid decisions and Moscow’s strategic calculations as the conflict enters its next phase.

Thousands marched in Pristina to mark the anniversary of independence as a war-crimes case involving former guerrilla leaders approaches a pivotal stage. The proceedings have intensified debate over the court’s legitimacy, adding strain to regional politics amid ongoing normalization talks with Serbia.

A new report described torture, rape, and forced labor risks for migrants and asylum seekers in Libya in a stark update. Europe’s migration debate stays tied to what happens in transit countries, and the findings intensify calls to change interception-and-return policies.

Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz during military drills as indirect talks with the United States continued. Traffic through the critical oil shipping lane was disrupted, and even a brief interruption can ripple through global energy markets.

Cuba is bracing for potential new restrictions on oil shipments and tourism following signals from Donald Trump’s campaign outlining a tougher policy approach. Any reduction in energy supplies and a decline in American visitors would add strain to an economy already grappling with shortages and sluggish growth.

Police said they have cleared members of Nancy Guthrie’s family and are continuing to sort through a wave of new tips, laying out the latest developments in the case. Investigators are narrowing their focus as leads come in, signaling the search is shifting from broad outreach to more targeted follow-ups.

Israeli forces expanded ground and air operations in Gaza in the latest escalation, intensifying clashes across multiple neighborhoods. Growing casualties and widespread infrastructure damage are increasing pressure on regional mediators to secure pauses that would allow humanitarian access and aid deliveries.

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Stocks fell across Asia and the U.S. after Donald Trump signaled potential new tariffs and a tougher trade stance. Investors moved into safer assets as concerns grew that renewed trade tensions could weigh on global growth and corporate earnings.

January’s inflation print strengthened the case for earlier easing in a closely watched update. Mortgage renewals and corporate borrowing costs can shift rapidly when the front end of the curve moves.

Bayer’s Roundup settlement proposal gives investors new assumptions for cash outflows and legal reserves. Large settlements can stabilize a balance sheet while also setting a precedent that other mass-tort defendants should watch closely.

European regulators approved a higher dose of Wegovy in a final decision. Competition in obesity drugs now depends on supply, dosing options, and long-term adherence, not just headline demand.

Meta’s multiyear chip commitment in today’s disclosure signals that inference-heavy workloads are becoming the default. Hardware bottlenecks can shape which products launch first and which models stay behind paywalls.

NASA detailed the next steps for its Artemis program, including astronaut assignments and mission timing, in a program update. Plans to return humans to the moon are central to U.S. efforts to reestablish deep-space leadership and build a foundation for eventual missions to Mars.

Ami Nakai moved into first after the short program in today’s standings story. Medal races tighten fast when the top group sits within a few points heading into the free skate.

Italy’s men’s speed skating team delivered a dominant performance to win the team pursuit gold at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, ending a 20-year drought in the event and thrilling the home crowd. The result underscores Italy’s strength in long-track speed skating as the Games continue.

Connecticut native Mac Forehand is aiming for a medal in Olympic big air freestyle skiing as he prepares for his latest run in a hometown profile. Strong performances could elevate his standing in a discipline where a single clean trick can reshape the podium.

Civil rights leader and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson died at 84, closing a decades-long chapter in American political and social activism. Jackson helped shape national conversations around race, voting rights, and economic justice, building coalitions that influenced generations of political leaders.

New series follows Gordon Ramsay behind the scenes of his restaurant empire, tracing the pressures of expansion and the demands of brand management in an early review. Celebrity-driven food programming continues to serve as a dependable draw for streaming platforms competing for global audiences.

Meta’s multiyear commitment for millions of chips in the latest agreement captures a larger shift: AI is moving from headline-grabbing training runs toward always-on inference that must be fast, reliable, and cheap per query. Hardware buying is following that reality, with buyers prioritizing compute density, networking, and power efficiency as much as raw performance.

Capital spending is ballooning because the workload is becoming continuous, and the reporting points to massive infrastructure budgets that extend beyond chips into data-center builds, cooling, and grid access. Supply constraints also reshape competition, as pre-purchases by a few large firms can absorb capacity and raise the effective cost of entry for smaller players.

Inference-heavy systems also change which components matter, and the deal details highlight a growing role for CPUs and specialized networking alongside GPUs. That shift invites more competitors, but it also makes integration harder because performance now depends on how the full stack is tuned for latency, memory movement, and deployment at scale.

A bigger question sits underneath the purchase orders: when does AI spending start paying back in durable revenue, and who gets the margin along the way. Investor skepticism can build when costs arrive immediately while monetization arrives unevenly, so each earnings season becomes a referendum on whether the compute buildout translates into products people pay for. Watch for signals in pricing, usage caps, and enterprise contracts, because the next phase will be decided less by benchmark wins and more by unit economics.

Police and wildlife officials rescued a swan stranded on a frozen New York pond in a coordinated response as fluctuating temperatures turned open water into ice.

Humanoid kung-fu robots starring in China’s most-watched Lunar New Year gala captured widespread attention with acrobatic moves.

Cities across Britain marked Shrove Tuesday with costumed pancake races and crowded street celebrations in a festive gallery that showcased the annual tradition ahead of Lent.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team