Good morning. It's Friday, Jan. 9, and we're covering a landmark EU trade deal, White House renovation plans, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
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European Union member states are set to vote today on the Mercosur trade agreement with South American countries. If it passes, the deal stands to create one of the world's biggest trade zones, covering roughly one-quarter of global gross domestic product.
Twenty-five years in the making, the deal would lift over 90% of the tariffs between the EU and five countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. That includes eliminating tariffs on EU spirits and cars, and lowering EU tariffs on beef to 7.5%. European farmers have largely protested the latter, blocking roads into Paris yesterday, with demonstrations also cropping up recently in Germany and Belgium.
Member countries representing 65% of the bloc's population are needed for passage. France and Poland have come out against the agreement. Italy is expected to join Germany to vote in favor. If passed, the deal will be signed Monday, Jan. 12. |
Saudi Arabia yesterday accused the United Arab Emirates of helping Yemeni separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi flee to Abu Dhabi, escalating infighting between Yemen's anti-Houthi factions. The UAE has not commented as of this writing.
While Saudi Arabia and the UAE joined forces in 2015 to combat the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen's civil war, they've since aligned with different anti-Houthi groups. Al-Zubaidi leads the Southern Transitional Council, an Emirati-backed group pushing for an independent nation in southern Yemen. After seizing two southern governorates from Saudi-backed forces last month—including an oil-rich region bordering Saudi Arabia—the STC last week announced a constitution for a new southern nation. Riyadh responded with deadly airstrikes, helping Saudi-backed forces regain some control in recent days.
Yemen's internationally recognized executive body expelled al-Zubaidi Wednesday, charging him with treason for failing to attend crisis talks in Riyadh this week. See conflict map here. |
The White House outlined updated plans for its East Wing renovation and new 89,000‑square‑foot ballroom at a National Capital Planning Commission meeting yesterday.
The two-story structure will include a 22,000-square-foot banquet hall, offices for the first lady, and a movie theater. Officials said demolishing the wing to build the $400M ballroom would be cheaper than renovating it. The presentation followed a lawsuit accusing the administration of bypassing required federal reviews. A judge let construction continue under supervision, and the administration submitted applications to the NCPC and Commission of Fine Arts in December, the two panels that review construction on federal land. The privately funded project aims to expand space for state functions, enhance security, and replace costly temporary tents.
The White House has undergone several renovations in its over 200‑year history, including Harry Truman’s postwar rebuild and John F. Kennedy’s restoration program. Formal presentations are expected in the coming weeks, with project completion targeted for 2028. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> No. 10 Miami beats No. 6 Ole Miss Miami in Fiesta Bowl, securing spot in College Football Championship Jan. 19; No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon face off at 7:30 pm ET for entry into title game (More) |
> Taylor Swift leads iHeartRadio Music Award nominees with nine nods, followed by Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alex Warren; ceremony airs March 26 (More) |
> Disney casts "Titans" star Teagan Croft and "Zombies" star Milo Manheim as leads in live-action adaptation of 2010 animated fairy-tale film "Tangled" (More) |
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> NASA postpones spacewalk and considers bringing International Space Station crew back early due to medical issue with unidentified astronaut; condition is reportedly stable (More) |
> Google infuses Gmail with AI features, including a writing assistant that learns users' style over time and an advanced inbox search (More) |
> Engineers design pills with biodegradable radio frequency antennas; could allow healthcare providers to know if and when a patient takes their medication (More) |
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In partnership with Frontieras |
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The Hidden Answer to AI’s 8,000% Energy Surge |
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> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.0%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq -0.4%) as investors rotate out of technology stocks and await latest jobs report today (More) |
> US trade deficit in October falls 39% month-over-month to roughly $29B—the lowest level since 2009—as imports fell by 3.2% amid tariff decisions; data released yesterday was delayed due to last year's government shutdown (More) |
> General Motors to record $7.1B hit in Q4 2025 following its restructuring in China and decision to pull back from EV efforts amid weakening demand (More) |
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> Senate votes 52-47 to advance resolution aiming to block President Donald Trump from deploying the military in Venezuela without congressional approval (More) |
> Minnesota officials say state investigators were barred from accessing evidence pertaining to ICE agent killing 37-year-old woman blocking a road earlier this week; FBI to lead the investigation (More) |
> Volcano guides at Italy's Mount Etna protest new safety restrictions amid uptick in volcanic activity (More) |
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> The Fight That Made Phones Mobile
1440 Explores | Sony Kassam. A battle with a telecom giant. A stunt call on a New York sidewalk. A forgotten memo that rewired the world. Our editor-in-chief uncovers the origin story of the mobile phone with Marty Cooper, the father of the cell phone, and Arlene Harris, the first lady of wireless. (Watch) |
Prefer audio only? Listen to "1440 Explores" on Apple or Spotify. |
> Harvesting Hits
The Dial | Carolina Abbott Galvão. Brazil's youth are dancing to songs about cattle ranching, soybean farming, and pesticides. How did agronejo—a subgenre of country music that celebrates agribusiness—dominate the Brazilian charts? (Read) |
> Afro Sheen Empire
Planet Money | Staff. George Johnson, 98, recounts how he built a beauty company that funneled money into the Civil Rights Movement and Black pop culture. (Listen) |
> Sea Lions Versus Salmon
The Atlantic | Katherine J. Wu. In the Pacific Northwest, people are killing sea lions to save salmon. Is it ethical to kill one protected species to safeguard another? (Read) |
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The Year Is Young, So Feel That Way |
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... and want to see something cool? A jewel for England's first king.
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Historybook: Jean-Pierre Blanchard makes the first manned balloon flight in the US (1793); President Richard Nixon born (1913); Activist and singer-songwriter Joan Baez born (1941); Catherine, Princess of Wales, born (1982); iPhone makes its debut (2007). |
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