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After 43 days of gridlock, Washington flickers back to life as Congress ends the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

Across the Atlantic, Europe retools its AI laws to keep pace with innovation, while a fragile calm in Gaza tests whether ceasefires can truly hold.

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The House is preparing to vote on a stopgap funding bill that would reopen the federal government after 43 days.

The measure, already passed by the Senate, extends funding through late January and leaves health-insurance subsidies to be addressed separately.

The deal emerged from bipartisan talks after weeks of furloughs, travel delays, and halted services.

House leaders say reopening agencies will “stabilize basic functions” and restore pay to 2.2 million federal workers.

Markets have already reacted to the expected resolution, with analysts noting that global equities rose overnight on easing fiscal uncertainty.

If approved today, the bill would avert further disruptions while setting up another funding deadline early next year, when long-term spending and healthcare debates will return to the floor.

European officials are drafting amendments to the region’s sweeping privacy and AI laws after companies warned of regulatory overlap.

Internal documents show potential changes to enforcement timelines under the AI Act and GDPR, which together govern data use across the bloc.

The European Commission’s tech chief said the goal is to “create legal certainty” without weakening consumer protections.

Early proposals would clarify compliance deadlines for generative models and high-risk AI systems, according to a briefing note.

Any adjustments could influence global standards for data protection and AI safety, as regulators balance innovation against privacy and accountability.

The U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has held through its first week as teams coordinate exchanges of hostage remains and Palestinian bodies.

Forensic verification and logistics continue to slow the process, but mediators say both sides remain committed to the agreement.

Aid deliveries tied to the truce have also expanded, with more trucks entering Gaza under international supervision.

Diplomats working through Cairo and Doha warn that progress on humanitarian access is crucial to prevent renewed fighting.

Maintaining the truce could pave the way for broader political talks, though both sides remain wary after two years of conflict.

Moscow said it is ready to resume negotiations with Kyiv in Istanbul, reviving a dormant channel even as fighting grinds on; the overture was relayed in a diplomatic statement. Kyiv has previously rejected terms it says would reward aggression.

Brussels said frontline states including Greece, Cyprus, Spain, and Italy qualify for additional assistance via a solidarity pool as crossings rise, detailing criteria in a support notice.

Russia’s foreign ministry said it is ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, reviving a dormant peace channel. Officials described the offer as conditional on Kyiv’s willingness to “recognize realities on the ground,” according to a statement.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating a cluster of infant botulism cases potentially tied to certain ByHeart formula batches. The agency said all affected infants are hospitalized but stable as it tests product samples from multiple states. Details are listed in the FDA’s outbreak report.

Economists expect modest monthly increases when the Consumer Price Index is released Thursday, offering the first full inflation snapshot since the government shutdown began.

Federal courts have delayed full restoration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments even as Congress moves to reopen agencies. Lawmakers included food-aid funding in the new spending package to stabilize benefits through early 2026.

A high court order kept parts of SNAP on hold even as Congress moves toward a funding deal, with the day’s developments tracked in a rolling shutdown update.

Global shares rose as traders anticipated passage of the U.S. funding bill, with Treasury yields easing and investors repositioning for resumed economic data releases. The rally reflected renewed risk appetite in overnight trading.

Brent crude held near $66 a barrel as traders balanced reopening optimism with signs of steady OPEC output. Energy desks reported muted volumes after a week of volatility in the oil markets.

Chevron projected 10% annual growth in cash flow through 2030, citing cost discipline and asset optimization. Executives said new efficiency targets would sustain buybacks even at lower prices, according to company guidance.

Blue Origin plans to launch NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes today on its New Glenn rocket after a weather delay. The mission will study Mars’ magnetosphere and test the vehicle’s reusable capabilities, described in the launch briefing.

Oceanographers unveiled results from a cruise that traced an unexplored stretch of a mysterious Arctic seafloor ridge, a discovery described in a research dispatch.

Scientists unveiled AlphaSync, a continuously refreshed database for protein structure prediction designed to reduce model drift and improve reproducibility, according to the St. Jude release.

Artemi Panarin scored twice as the Rangers defeated Nashville 6–3 for their first home win of the season. The victory snapped a five-game skid and lifted New York in the division standings, noted a league roundup.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored a decisive basket in the final seconds as the 76ers edged Boston 102–100, sealing Philadelphia’s fourth straight win, according to the game recap.

Rising amateur Kai Trump will tee off at this week’s Annika Invitational in Florida after receiving a sponsor exemption, marking her first professional appearance. Coverage from the tournament announcement.

Cleto Escobedo III, longtime music director and on-air presence for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” died at 59, as tributes poured in after the announcement.

Amazon said its ad-supported Prime Video now reaches 315 million monthly viewers worldwide, a milestone shared in a viewership update.

An IDFA premiere about a family’s loss in Gaza shared first footage ahead of festival screenings, with scenes previewed in a festival note.

The expected passage of a House spending bill would end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, reopen federal agencies, and restore pay to millions of employees. The Senate-approved measure funds operations through January 30 while deferring health-policy debates.

The shutdown’s economic cost has been uneven: private contractors lost revenue, families missed benefits, and GDP likely shrank modestly. Analysts say reopening will lift confidence, but a temporary deal may simply shift uncertainty into next year. Market watchers note that stocks rebounded on optimism that a resolution will stabilize consumer sentiment.

The bill’s design reflects political fatigue more than consensus. It resets negotiations but leaves larger disputes—on spending caps, entitlements, and healthcare—untouched. As attention turns to early 2026, lawmakers face a compressed window to craft a durable budget.

What to watch: today’s House margin, agency restart timelines, and whether Congress adopts a regular appropriations process instead of another round of stopgaps.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team