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Voters, diplomats, and communities across the country offered an early look at the pressures shaping the year ahead. A surprisingly tight House race in Tennessee hinted at shifting suburban loyalties, stalled Kremlin negotiations exposed the limits of fast-track diplomacy, and escalating rhetoric toward Somali immigrants signaled rising tensions at home.

Together, they sketch a political landscape growing more volatile by the week. Forward this to a friend who wants the world in five minutes.

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Republican Matt Van Epps won a closely watched U.S. House special election in Tennessee’s 7th District, holding a traditionally conservative seat but by a slimmer margin than past races. The contest drew national attention and heavy involvement from party leaders as both sides tested messages ahead of next year’s midterms, with Democrats eyeing suburban gains and Republicans working to shore up their majority through candidates like Van Epps.

The district has long favored Republicans by double digits, so the smaller gap is being parsed as an early signal of voter mood under divided government. Turnout patterns, including strong Democratic performance in Nashville-area suburbs, will be scrutinized by strategists looking for soft spots in the House map. A handful of similarly structured districts could decide control of the chamber.

With the House already narrowly split, every special election becomes a mini-stress test for both parties’ coalitions. The result suggests Republicans can still win in conservative-leaning areas but may need sustained national support to do so, while Democrats see potential paths to flipping seats if national conditions shift even slightly in their favor next year.

Russia and the United States left a five-hour Kremlin meeting without a Ukraine peace compromise after President Vladimir Putin met Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to review a draft cease-fire framework, according to a detailed Kremlin briefing. The talks stretched past midnight but ended with both sides saying “compromises have not yet been found.”

The meeting followed months of shuttle diplomacy and leaked draft proposals that alarmed Kyiv and some European governments, who fear any deal that locks in Russian territorial gains. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned against “games behind Ukraine’s back” as casualties remain high.

Military support decisions in Washington and European capitals now hinge on whether diplomacy advances or stalls. A prolonged deadlock could keep pressure on energy routes and European security planning, even if front lines quiet over the winter.

During a Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump said he does not want Somali immigrants in the United States, arguing they rely too heavily on safety-net programs and “contribute nothing,” in remarks captured in a closely watched immigration report. He made no distinction between citizens and noncitizens and urged them to “go back” to Somalia.

The comments came as federal authorities prepared a targeted enforcement sweep in Minnesota focused on Somali immigrants with final deportation orders, described in a separate operation outline. Minnesota hosts the nation’s largest Somali community, most of whom are U.S. citizens, and local officials have warned the plans are deepening fear and mistrust.

The pairing of rhetoric and enforcement plans raises immediate questions about civil rights protections, community policing, and how local authorities will respond if large-scale sweeps proceed. It also sets up another flashpoint over immigration heading into an election year.

Former European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has been formally accused of procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and breaching professional secrecy over an EU-funded diplomatic training program, according to prosecutors’ charge announcement. She and two other senior officials were detained and then released as the investigation continues.

The case centers on whether inside information helped the College of Europe secure a lucrative contract, and it has rattled Brussels’ diplomatic circles. The outcome will shape how the EU polices conflicts of interest around publicly funded projects.

Norway’s minority government secured backing from several left-wing parties for its 2026 fiscal plan, ending a standoff that threatened the cabinet. The Labour-led coalition reached a deal in parliament on the budget package, which was at risk of rejection over climate and welfare spending. The compromise averts a snap political crisis in a major European energy exporter just as governments weigh how fast to shift away from fossil fuels.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit focused on trade balances and the war in Ukraine, according to an official visit preview. He is expected to press for fairer market access for European exporters and to urge China to lean on Russia toward a cease-fire.

The trip comes as Europe debates how to reduce strategic dependence on Chinese goods while keeping economic ties. Any concrete steps from Beijing on Ukraine, or new trade concessions, will be closely watched ahead of France’s G7 presidency in 2026.

A 28-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder and other counts after allegedly shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House, killing one, according to a detailed charging account. Investigators say he opened fire from a car in a busy downtown area.

The attack has intensified questions about security in the capital and how online threats are monitored. Officials say there is no broader ongoing threat but are reviewing protective measures for federal sites.

Employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say a new federal accommodations policy could force many workers with disabilities back to the office while their telework requests are reprocessed, according to an internal policy review. Staff members describe feeling “stranded” as existing agreements are set to expire.

The dispute highlights how evolving telework rules intersect with disability rights and retention of specialized public health staff. Advocates warn other agencies may follow suit if the policy stands.

Israeli authorities said human remains recently handed over from Gaza do not match any known hostages, based on DNA testing. Officials nonetheless pledged to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing for aid shipments after a brief closure. The episode underscores how fraught and painstaking efforts remain to account for hostages, even as humanitarian groups push for more predictable access to the enclave.

The U.S. dollar is headed for a ninth straight daily loss as traders ramp up bets on more Federal Reserve rate cuts, according to a new market snapshot. Futures now imply a high chance of another quarter-point cut this month and a lower peak for interest rates next year.

Lower yields are easing pressure on global borrowers but complicating life for savers and central banks trying to contain inflation. The shift also keeps attention on whom Trump will nominate as the next Fed chair.

U.S. stock indexes ticked higher Tuesday as bond yields and bitcoin stabilized following the previous day’s volatility, according to a concise index recap. The S&P 500 rose 0.2%, with Boeing leading gains after upbeat cash-flow guidance.

The move suggests investors remain cautiously optimistic that rate cuts can support growth without reigniting inflation. Still, mixed results from retailers and consumer brands show households are becoming more price sensitive heading into year-end.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas signaled that another policy rate cut is possible at its December 11 meeting after third-quarter growth slowed to 4%. The central bank governor said weaker-than-expected GDP and low inflation make further easing more likely. How aggressively the bank moves will affect the peso, borrowing costs, and Manila’s effort to keep investment flowing despite fiscal constraints.

Researchers have demonstrated a noninvasive imaging technique that measures blood sugar through the skin, potentially reducing the need for finger-prick tests for people with diabetes, according to a detailed research summary. The method uses specialized optics to track how glucose changes light signals in tiny blood vessels.

If the approach proves reliable outside the lab, it could lead to wearable devices that continuously monitor glucose without needles. That would broaden access to tight glucose control, especially in low-resource settings.

Engineers have built a device that can generate and detect entangled photons at room temperature, a step toward practical quantum communication systems, according to a new project overview. The prototype uses integrated photonics to shrink equipment that previously required bulky cryogenic setups.

Room-temperature operation could make it easier to deploy secure quantum links over existing fiber networks. Researchers say the work moves quantum key distribution closer to everyday telecommunications infrastructure.

A longevity startup backed by a prominent tech founder is seeking a valuation of about $5 billion, even though it has yet to generate clinical data. Reporting on Retro Bio says the company is close to closing one of the largest private financings in biotech, focused on drugs that might slow aging-related decline. The deal underscores investor appetite for high-risk, high-reward bets at the intersection of biology and big data.

Jaylen Brown scored a season-high 42 points as Boston beat New York 123–117 in a tight rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinal. A late breakaway dunk sealed the win after the Knicks rallied from a double-digit deficit. The victory helps the Celtics keep pace near the top of the East while New York continues to integrate new lineup pieces.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 38 points as the defending champions beat Golden State 124–112, with Oklahoma City pulling away late after a Warriors push. The road win reinforces the Thunder’s status as an early-season favorite, while Golden State’s loss adds pressure as it searches for defensive consistency and bench production.

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff bracket is set, with Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, and Oregon securing the top four seeds and first-round byes, according to the updated CFP bracket. Traditional powers share the field with surprise qualifiers from the Group of Five.

The expanded format is expected to boost television audiences and ticket sales but also raises concerns about player workload. Early-round games on campus could introduce new weather and travel variables into championship races.

A rare Fabergé Imperial Winter Egg — crafted for Russia’s last tsar — fetched a record $30 million at auction, underscoring soaring demand for historic luxury art pieces. The egg’s intricate rock-crystal casing, platinum mounts, and thousands of tiny diamonds drew intense bidding, cementing the object’s status as one of Fabergé’s most prized creations.

The Associated Press released its “Top 100 Photos of 2025,” compiling compelling images from across the globe — from conflict zones and natural disasters to quiet everyday scenes and moments of resilience. The gallery offers a broad visual record of the turbulence and hope that shaped the year.

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened renovated galleries and unveiled a new “Gallery of the Five Continents,” bringing together European, African, Asian, American and Oceanic art, including classical paintings and objects from across the globe. Observers say the redesign marks a move toward a more inclusive and global presentation of art history.

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This week’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a reminder that more than a billion people worldwide live with disabilities, yet many still lack access to basic health care and financial services. The annual observance, framed in a new global message, emphasizes that progress on universal health coverage and inclusive economies is inseparable from disability rights.

Recent health and development data show that people with disabilities are more likely to face poverty, unemployment, and catastrophic medical costs. Many still encounter physical barriers in clinics, inaccessible digital systems, or policies that treat disability as a niche issue rather than a core test of whether services work for everyone. In some countries, disability-related expenses can consume a large share of household income, forcing difficult trade-offs between medication, schooling, and food.

To close these gaps, global agencies and governments are experimenting with “inclusive health financing” and broader social protection reforms. That can include targeted subsidies for assistive technologies, insurance schemes that cover long-term support needs, and investments in community-based rehabilitation, as outlined in new policy guidance. When designed well, these mechanisms reduce out-of-pocket costs and bring services closer to where people live, while training health workers to provide respectful, non-discriminatory care.

The next test is whether commitments translate into budgets and enforcement. Advocates are watching upcoming national health plans, disability strategies, and social spending debates for concrete targets on accessible facilities, sign-language interpretation, and accessible digital tools. They also point to workplace policies, from telework options to reasonable accommodations, as a key link between health, income, and dignity. How governments and employers respond will help determine whether disability inclusion becomes a permanent pillar of health and economic policy — or remains an annual talking point.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team