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- The top 25 stories curated by editors and fellow readers!

Editor's Pick

When Not to Obey Orders
[[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily the
Austro-Prussian War of 1866, a Prussian officer defended himself from
reprimand by arguing that he was simply following orders. His
commander, Prince Frederick Charles, reportedly replied: “His
Majesty made you a Major because he believed you would know when not
to obey his orders.” It’s a simple vignette, but the question that
it raises is anything but simple: When should a military officer
disobey orders? I have always believed that those who answer, “only
when those orders are illegal,” have probably not thought hard
enough about the question. An officer’s oath of office, professional
ethics, and obligation to subordinates may at times require him to
dispute or even disobey a legal order.

Published in the Joint Forces Quarterly, the article elicited what I
can only describe as a storm of protest from civilian academics and
political pundits who perceived it as a wholesale challenge to the
concept of civilian control of the military. Richard Kohn of the
University of North Carolina excoriated the article, writing, “It
should be assigned in every military school from pre-commissioning
through Capstone so that it can be exposed for what it is: an attack
on military professionalism that would unhinge the armed forces of the
United States.” Although flattered, I noted he had missed my point
completely. Admitting that military officers have moral autonomy and
the obligation to act according to their conscience is not the same as
granting them the license to do so free of consequences. The risk to
career and reputation involved in such decisions means they will never
be taken lightly.

Continued here
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Editor's Note: It's not a topic that fits well into the curriculum of
any school - there is no handy acronym that will teach an officer when
to disobey orders. Discussions on the subject tend to gravitate to a
very binary focus: the differentiation between legal and illegal
orders. As officer candidates, regardless of service, we learn that we
have a duty to obey all orders that are not illegal, yet many of us
learn that it's not quite as simple as that.

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Beginnings of Roman London Discovered in Office Basement
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The discovery has been described as one of the most important pieces
of Roman history in the City of London.

Work

How A Fintech Saved Itself By Targeting Buy-Now, Pay-Later Addicts
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This story appears in the December/January 2025 issue of Forbes
Magazine. Subscribe The future looked grim in mid-2022 for
Minneapolis-based Sezzle, an also-ran in the fast-growing buy-now,
pay-later fintech business.















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NATO tool using AI can flag vessels behaving suspiciously amid sea
cables sabotage threat
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NATO says it has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool
that can flag vessels that are behaving suspiciously.

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Netflix says its brief Apple TV app integration was a mistake
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The short-lived support for Apple's watchlist has been rolled back,
according to a spokesperson. It was too good to be true after all. The
short-lived support for Apple's watchlist has been rolled back,
according to a spokesperson. It was too good to be true after all.














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China sends message to tech leaders: We need you - WSJ (No paywall)
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping signaled to leading technology entrepreneurs
and CEOs that he needed the private sector to deliver economic growth
and self-sufficiency, more than four years after a crackdown by
Beijing that dented confidence.

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Russias advance in Ukraine is slowing. Heres whats happening and why.
- WSJ (No paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
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The slowdown comes at a critical time for both sides. Russia wants to
trade gains on the battlefieldand the impression that further advances
are inevitablefor a favorable deal in peace talks proposed by Trump.
Ukraine, meanwhile, wants to show that it can still fend off its giant
neighbor.














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The new survival guide for private equity: Go big or get back to
basics - WSJ (No paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
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The landscape of successful firms is increasingly divided between
behemoths with several business lines such as Blackstone and Apollo
Global Management and top performers that have focused on their roots
of buying and selling companies for a profit. Firms that fall in the
middlethose that are big, but not big enough, or whose returns are
good but not greatare finding it difficult to raise money.

Work

Toyota's Third-Generation Hydrogen Fuel Cell Promises More Range
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Toyota sold a total of 1,778 hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles
(FCEVs) globally last year. To make matters worse, last year's
performance was down a whopping 55.8% compared to 2023, so you'd think
the Japanese automaker's foray into hydrogen propulsion would come to
an end. But no.














Work

Released Gaza hostages face long, wrenching recoveries - WSJ (No
paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
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Five-year-old Uriah Brodutch was asked recently by his kindergarten
teaching assistant whether hed had any dreams lately. Yes, the boy
said, he had dreamed about men taking him away from his home and
killing other people.

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Squeezed between Putin and Trump, Europe sees a moment of truth - WSJ
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MUNICHAs the U.S. and Russia begin negotiations this coming week about
the fate of Ukraine and European security, the shared view in
Washington and in Moscow these days is open contempt for the leaders
of Europe.














Work

The hottest job in a world at war: Gun-for-hire | Mint - WSJ (No
paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
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Soldiers-of-fortune are back in forcemanning Ukraines front lines,
filling Gulf monarchies barracks and fighting Africas civil wars.
Colombia, racked by decades of conflict, is a top source of hired
guns.

Work

The new plan for Western companies is ABC: Anything but China - WSJ
(No paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
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In recent years, many multinationals decided they had become
overreliant on suppliers in China, prompting them to pursue a
so-called China Plus 1" strategy of augmenting China-based suppliers
with those in other countries.














Work

Trump administration officials to meet with Russian counterparts on
Ukraine war - WSJ (No paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
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Top U.S. officials are leaving for Saudi Arabia for talks with Russian
envoys on how to end the war in Ukraine, signaling that the Trump
administration is eager to push for an agreement.

Work

Why Zelle Is the New King of Peer-to-Peer Payments (Sorry, Venmo and
PayPal) - Inc (No paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
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Peer-to-peer payments are a fast-growing way for consumers to pay
bills and exchange funds. And the horserace for market leadership in
that field has a new leader. In 2024, Zelle topped $1 trillion in
transactions for the first time. Some 151 million people used the
payments network, which is co-owned by seven of the largest U.S.
banks. And an increasing number of accounts are tied to small
businesses.














Work

DOGE Is Seeking Access To Critical IRS System That Holds Taxpayer
DataHeres What To Know - Forbes (No paywall)
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The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency is reportedly
seeking access to a sensitive Internal Revenue Service systemwhich
could enable its operatives to see the financial details of every
taxpayer and businessa move that could further amplify criticism and
legal pushback against the increasingly powerful agency and Musks
influence on the government.

Work

SpaceX is so close to turning its rocket headquarters into an actual
city
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Billionaire SpaceX founder Elon Musk has often exulted his dream of
colonizing the Red Planet with 1 million people. But before Musk gets
his Martian city, he'll have practice with one right here on Earth --
that is, if all goes according to his launch company's plans.













Work

Xi Jinping meets Chinas tech titans including Alibabas Jack Ma - FT
(No paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
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Beijing hosts business tycoons as authorities seek to reinvigorate
economy

Work

Alzheimer's biomarkers now visible up to a decade ahead of symptoms
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Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have devised a biomarker
test that can spot small amounts of clumping tau protein in the brain
and cerebrospinal fluid, which lead to Alzheimer's disease. Catching
these clumps early while still in minute quantities can enable
effective intervention.

Work

The Dangers of Presidential Impoundment - Foreign Policy (No paywall)
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Analysis: The Dangers of Presidential Impoundment

Work

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Let Him Fire US Agency Head - Bloomberg
(No paywall) [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
[[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
Justices asked to step in on emergency basis, person says Trump
seeking to remove head of US whistleblower agency

Work

Pope's health stable as he continues treatment in hospital
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"Pope Francis rested well during the night. His clinical condition is
stable, and the diagnostic and therapeutic process prescribed by the
medical staff continues. This morning, he received the Eucharist and
followed the Holy Mass on television.

Work

The #1 Protein You Should Be Eating More Of On the Mediterranean Diet,
According to Dietitians
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More of a lifestyle than a diet, the Mediterranean diet has been
linked to numerous health benefits. Centered around
minimally-processed, nutrient-dense foods, the diet prioritizes
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Work

China courts frazzled Europe as Western alliance wavers
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The world shook this weekend as deep cracks appeared in the
transatlantic alliance during a glitzy security summit in Munich. One
guest was ready to capitalise: China.

Work

European leaders regroup in Paris for strategy huddle after Trump
diplomatic blitz on Ukraine
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PARIS (AP) -- French President Emmanuel Macron called leaders from key
European Union nations and the United Kingdom to his ornate Elysee
Palace on Monday for an emergency meeting on how to deal with the
U.S., a once rock-solid partner.

Work

In many countries, people breathe the cleanest air in centuries. What
can the rest of the world learn from this?
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I'm lucky to have grown up with far cleaner air than my parents or
grandparents did. In fact, air quality in the United Kingdom is now
better than it was for several generations.1 Take a look at the charts
below, which show the centuries-long trajectory of two key pollutants
in the UK.

Work

How jiu-jitsu stole tech's heart
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Escaping a chokehold can teach once-sheepish coders how to maintain
composure and pivot. Tobi Duschl is on top of me, depriving me of
oxygen.

Work

Generative AI is already being used in journalism - here's how people
feel about it
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Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has taken off at lightning
speed in the past couple of years, creating disruption in many
industries. Newsrooms are no exception.

Work

BMW's next-gen EVs depend on an unassuming black box called 'Heart of
Joy'
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The all-in-one ECU was designed in-house make BMW's new electric
vehicles stand above the crowd. The all-in-one ECU was designed
in-house make BMW's new electric vehicles stand above the crowd.

Work

Zelensky lands in UAE as US and Russia prepare for Ukraine peace talks
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Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he had arrived in the
United Arab Emirates for a visit with a "large humanitarian
programme", ahead of an expected meeting between Donald Trump and
Vladimir Putin.

Work

Russian Marines Flying Soviet Flags Paraded Right Into A Ukrainian
Minefield In Kursk. Drones Finished Them Off.
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Confidently rolling toward Ukrainian lines in western Russia's Kursk
Oblast in up-armored vehicles brazenly flying the flag of the defunct
Soviet Union, an assault group from the Russian 155th Naval Infantry
Brigade paraded right into a minefield laid by the Ukrainian 47th
Mechanized Brigade.

Work

Home delistings soar 64% to the highest level in nearly a decade as
buyers turn down sellers
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BYHouses in the New York City borough QueensLiao Pan--China News
Service/VCG/Getty Images

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Like it or not, AI is learning how to influence you
[[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
[[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and
exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More When I
was a kid there were four AI agents in my life. Their names were Inky,
Blinky, Pinky and Clyde and they tried their best to hunt me down.

Work

Living at high altitudes may alter how the brain processes emotions
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A new study published in the journal Neuroscience has found that
long-term exposure to high-altitude conditions can slow down the way
people recognize faces and change the way their brains process
emotions.

Work

Four years after deadly blackout, doubts remain over reliability of
Texas' power grid
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AUSTIN -- In February 2021 the electricity went out at the home of the
Shah family in Northwest Austin while temperatures dipped below
freezing for days. They felt lucky to have a gas fireplace that kept
working, and stayed warm sitting around it covered in blankets.

Work

South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron, 24, found dead
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South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron has been found dead in Seoul, police
have said. The 24-year-old was found in her home in the city's
Seongsu-dong district by a friend at around 16:55 (07:55 GMT) on
Sunday.

Work

Older AI models show signs of cognitive decline, study shows
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People increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) for medical
diagnoses because of how quickly and efficiently these tools can spot
anomalies and warning signs in medical histories, X-rays and other
datasets before they become obvious to the naked eye. But a new study
published Dec.

Work

World's 'first openly gay imam' shot dead in South Africa
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Muhsin Hendricks, a pioneering figure dubbed the world's first openly
gay imam, has been shot dead in South Africa. The 57-year-old cleric
ran a mosque in Cape Town intended as a safe haven for gay and other
marginalised Muslims.

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Dozens killed in Mali illegal gold mine collapse
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More than 40 people, mostly women, were killed after an illegal gold
mine collapsed in Mali on Saturday. The collapse took place near
Kenieba, in Mali's western, gold-rich Kayes region.

Work

Rwanda-backed rebels reach the center of east Congo's 2nd major city
in an unprecedented expansion
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BUKAVU, Congo (AP) -- Rwanda-backed rebels reached the center of east
Congo's second largest city, Bukavu, on Sunday morning and took
control of the South Kivu province administrative office after little
resistance from government forces, many of whom fled the rebels'
advance.

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How a Network of Amateur Sleuths Helps Rescue Women Kidnapped by ISIS
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No international body is searching for hundreds of Yazidi women and
girls still held captive by the Islamist terrorists. Instead, their
fates depend on a ragtag army of activists, relatives and armchair
detectives. The investigator's eyes dart between the two photographs.

Work

Home insurance crisis: Are these states next?
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Giulia Carbonaro is a Newsweek Reporter based in London, U.K. Her
focus is on U.S. and European politics, global affairs and housing.
She has covered the ups and downs of the U.S. housing market
extensively, as well as given in-depth insights into the unfolding war
in Ukraine. Giulia joined Newsweek in 2022 from CGTN Europe and had
previously worked at the European Central Bank. She is a graduate of
Nottingham Trent University. Languages: English, Italian, French.
Email: [email protected].

Work

A Year After Navalny's Death, the Russian Opposition Struggles Without
Its Charismatic Leader
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In the year since the death of Navalny, the Russian opposition has
struggled to find its footing against President Vladimir Putin.

Work

Napoleonic Trump Post Stirs Debate About Presidential Powers
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?He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,? Trump posted on
his social media site Truth Social as well as on Elon Musk?s X
platform (formerly Twitter) on Saturday. The White House account on X
also shared the message alongside Trump?s official presidential
photograph.

Work

US Government Struggles to Rehire Nuclear Safety Staff It Laid Off
Days Ago [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
[[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
It is having problems contacting people who were fired in Trump's
blitz to shrink the federal workforce.

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Brexit?s unfinished business: Gibraltar talks stuck in limbo
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Four-way talks between London, Madrid, Brussels and Gibraltar began in
2021 in a bid to hammer out one of the trickiest remaining issues
thrown up by Brexit: how a 6.8km rock off the southern coast of Spain
can function outside the EU.

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A German drone manufacturer backed by Peter Thiel says it will double
its production capacity in Ukraine in 2025
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German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems has said it will double its
production capacity in Ukraine in 2025.

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Uber's CEO says no one wants to compete with Tesla--or Elon Musk
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BYPhoto by Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images

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Open source code repository says 'far-right forces' are behind massive
spam attacks
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The open source code repository Codeberg has blamed the far right for
a recent campaign of abuse and harassment across its systems.

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Bosch's brake-by-wire system may be the next big leap in automotive
tech [[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
[[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
Bosch has just completed testing its new new brake-by-wire technology
on public roads. The Bosch development team traveled more than 2,050
miles (3,300 km) across several climate zones to reach the Arctic
Circle in six days ... in a Nissan Ariya.

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NASA's 'Stranded' Astronauts Coming Home Earlier Than Expected
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[[link removed]}&lead=419599&emailid=145588&nl=daily]
Finally! Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are scheduled to return to
Earth in March after a months-long delay.

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