🇺🇸 Shutdown twist: White House says back pay not guaranteed
The administration said furloughed federal workers are not assured back pay during the ongoing shutdown, a break from recent precedent that affects roughly 750,000 employees and raises legal and political stakes. The move intensifies pressure on Congress as key data releases are delayed and agencies brace for wider disruptions.
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🪙 Gold tops $4,000 for the first time
Gold surged above $4,000 an ounce as investors sought safety and bet on Federal Reserve rate cuts while the U.S. shutdown clouds the outlook. The rally caps a year of outsized gains and has spilled into silver and gold ETFs, signaling broad flight-to-quality.
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🧪 Nobel Chemistry honors metal-organic frameworks
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi won for developing metal-organic frameworks, porous materials that can store gases, catalyze reactions and clean up emissions. The pick spotlights how a once-niche chemistry now underpins cleaner energy and industrial applications.
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🤝 Gaza talks inch forward with swap lists exchanged
Negotiations in Egypt took a step as Hamas handed over lists of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners for a potential exchange while mediators discussed a phased halt to fighting and withdrawals. Officials urged caution, yet the move signals incremental momentum toward an agreement on ending the war and planning what comes next.
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⚡ Russia hits Ukrainian power plant as winter nears
An overnight strike seriously damaged a thermal power plant and injured workers, part of Moscow’s campaign to batter the grid before freezing temperatures set in. Kyiv says it intercepted most drones and is striking back at Russian energy sites, underscoring how electricity remains a key front in the war.
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👋 Those are today’s News Vitals. This was written by AI with human oversight. We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen, so please double-check important info. See you next time.
