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Signals shifted overnight across diplomacy, markets, and domestic politics, with decisions landing faster than explanations. Allies weighed intent, investors parsed risk, and lawmakers tested how far they could bend old lines. The throughline was uncertainty—who controls it, who absorbs it, and who moves next.

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Russia said a hypersonic Oreshnik missile hit Ukrainian infrastructure in a broader overnight attack. Ukraine described the retaliation narrative as a pretext, while local officials reported damage in the west.

Early details remain limited, but the Lviv target underscored how strikes are pushing closer to the European Union’s border. Escalation risk rises when new systems enter the rotation, because air defense planning and deterrence messaging both shift.

Pressure now lands on allies to calibrate help without widening the war, with leaders watching whether the strike changes near-term talks. A new weapon narrative can harden negotiating positions even when the battlefield impact is contested.

A House vote advanced a bill to restore and extend health subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage after the aid expired. The margin reflected a coalition that cut across party lines in a rare rebuke of leadership discipline.

Timing matters because premium bills rise quickly when federal support lapses, and insurers set rates months in advance. Renewing support can stabilize enrollment and reduce churn, but the measure still faces a narrower path in the Senate.

Political stakes widen as the vote tests how much room lawmakers will take to defy their own leaders on kitchen-table costs. Health policy fights often become proxy battles over budget rules and election-year messaging, and this one is already headed that way.

President Donald Trump said a planned second wave of strikes on Venezuela was called off as cooperation improved. Markets parsed the claim alongside talk of massive energy investment and the continued presence of oil tankers meant to enforce security around exports.

Earlier messaging from U.S. officials sketched a longer-term framework for controlling oil sales and routing revenues through U.S.-managed accounts. Critics see sovereignty and precedent risks, while supporters argue the plan could stabilize output and pressure rival influence.

Energy traders already tied price moves to Venezuela supply uncertainty and spillover from Middle East tensions. More volatility now raises the odds of faster policy shifts from producers, refiners, and governments.

Clashes in Aleppo’s Kurdish districts forced evacuations before authorities announced a ceasefire meant to stop renewed fighting. Aid groups are now watching closely to see whether roads reopen and people can actually return home safely.

Remarks on Taiwan cast the outcome as dependent on China’s leader while emphasizing a preference for maintaining the status quo. Allies are parsing the comments carefully to gauge whether long-standing U.S. positions are holding steady or quietly shifting.

Lebanon’s military reported broader control in southern areas amid Israeli demands for stronger Hezbollah disarmament. Much will depend on whether troops stay in place and whether enforcement holds once the headlines fade.

A Portland shooting involving a U.S. border agent left two people wounded. The incident immediately drew attention from city officials, federal authorities, and protest groups.

The U.S. decision to exit a U.N. climate treaty triggered warnings about economic and competitiveness costs. Allies and industry groups responded with warnings about trade friction and stalled cooperation.

Germany’s president accused the U.S. of undermining the international order in unusually blunt remarks. The language points to what could be growing divergence with allies on defense, trade, and sanctions.

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U.S. job openings fell more than expected in November as hiring momentum slowed. Markets are now digesting what that softer tone says about the economy heading into early 2026.

Traders are adjusting positions ahead of index rebalancing that can trigger sharp moves in gold and silver futures. Past rebalances suggest price action can get choppy even without a clear shift in the underlying story.

Glencore shares jumped while Rio Tinto slipped as traders reacted to renewed merger chatter. Price moves reflected uncertainty over whether a deal would actually come together or clear political hurdles.

Engineers created an octopus skin material that can shift color and texture on demand. Adaptive surfaces could broaden uses in robotics and displays, especially where lightweight camouflage or signaling matters.

Traces of toxins on ancient points suggest poison arrows date back far earlier than once assumed. Earlier complex toolmaking reshapes how researchers think about planning, social learning, and survival strategies.

A coming EU overhaul would lean on voluntary best practices rather than binding requirements for major platforms. Regulatory design choices can steer investment in networks and determine how quickly new services roll out.

A late Super Cup win over Atletico booked Real Madrid into a Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona. Another Clasico now headlines the tournament as familiar rivals meet on a big stage again.

A strong short program put Malinin out in front as the U.S. championships got underway. Skaters and coaches will be watching closely to see whether he can carry that form through the free skate.

Several national teams are planning pre-World Cup friendlies in the United States ahead of 2026. Early planning hints at where teams expect smooth logistics and strong turnout.

Paramount Skydance reaffirmed a $30-per-share bid for Warner Bros. Discovery while dismissing a rival offer, keeping antitrust and financing questions center stage. How the ownership question shakes out could influence everything from release plans to labor talks and streaming strategy.

A new streaming bundle will pair services under one subscription as the platform expands in Europe. The move mirrors a broader push to package services together as competition tightens.

Studios and talent teams used events around the Globes to build early visibility ahead of upcoming guild votes. Attention generated over the weekend often carries forward into streaming performance and longer theatrical runs.

Europe ordered X to preserve Grok documents through the end of 2026 as scrutiny grows over unlawful and harmful content tied to the chatbot. Preservation orders raise the stakes because internal records can shape enforcement outcomes long after public attention fades.

A wave of reports described Grok tools being used to create nonconsensual sexualized imagery, including content involving apparent minors, with platforms and app stores facing questions about continued distribution. A broader app store debate now puts pressure on gatekeepers to define what safety standards apply to general-purpose AI features embedded in social apps.

Operators responded by limiting access to image generation features for most users, shifting some functions behind paid verification. New controls like the image generator shift can reduce casual abuse, but determined users may still route around guardrails if prompts and sharing channels remain available.

Next steps hinge on how regulators interpret duty-of-care obligations under existing online safety regimes and how quickly platforms can demonstrate effective mitigation at scale. Enforcement decisions could influence product design across the sector, because “open” generation tools are increasingly colliding with real-world harms and legal liability.

Police in a Pennsylvania township captured an emu that had been roaming local streets for days, ending the unusual escape without injury in a local report.

Some unusually gifted dogs learned new toy names by overhearing human conversation in the eavesdropping study.

Archaeologists near Sunderland uncovered an apparent Roman whetstone production hub, expanding the map of Britain’s industrial past in the new find.

A Waymo birth turned a routine ride in San Francisco into an unexpected delivery room.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team