Good morning. Donald Trump’s Treasury search goes up another level. The hunt for the next pandemic is taking place deep in the jungle. And Rafael Nadal retires after a legendary career. Listen to the day’s top stories.

Kevin Warsh (left) and Marc Rowan. Source: Samuel Corum/Paul Yeung/Bloomberg

You’re hired! Maybe. Donald Trump is scheduled to hold interviews today for the Treasury secretary post with former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh and Apollo Global Management’s Marc Rowan, people familiar said. Warsh is seen by markets as a seasoned candidate. Yesterday, the president-elect reached again into the ranks of loyalists to fill cabinet positions, tapping Cantor Fitzgerald boss Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department and former WWE chief Linda McMahon as secretary of education. Here’s a rundown of who’s been named so far.

Russia said it was ready to talk with Trump about a potential cease-fire with Ukraine. But a Kremlin spokesman cautioned “freezing this conflict will not work for us,” state media reported. Reuters earlier reported that Moscow may be open to negotiations on halting the war along current battle-lines. War in Ukraine as well as in the Middle East overshadowed the G-20 summit, let alone the looming return of Trump.

Checking in with markets, US stock futures ticked higher as traders looked ahead to Nvidia’s results. Investors are keen to see if the world’s most valuable company can continue its remarkable run fueled by spending on AI hardware. Some key market metrics are starting to suggest the dollar’s rally may have plateaued. Get all your key market themes right here.

Other corporate giants in the news: Comcast is said to be planning to spin off cable-TV channels including MSNBC, CNBC and USA, reducing its exposure to a business that’s losing viewers and advertisers. It’s all part of how one the world’s largest media companies wants to restructure itself. And more bad news at Target, which said consumers are spending less on nonessential items such as clothes and home products.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump arrive to attend a viewing of the Starship launch Photographer: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

SpaceX achieved new feats during the sixth major test launch of its Starship system but nixed an eagerly anticipated midair “catch” of the rocket’s booster as Trump looked on. Click here if you missed the blastoff. Elon Musk’s space company has big ambitions as it looks to boost its value. What’s next for SpaceX? We asked a former NASA astronaut.

Culicoides, these midges are the main transmitter of the Oropouche virus.

Five years after Covid-19, governments are relying on remote fever clinics to spot future threats.

• Scientist are on the hunt for new and emerging viruses in the depths of the Amazon basin. The region is one of the world’s most biodiverse areas, but it’s also a breeding ground for malaria, dengue and what is yet to be discovered.
• The clinics are being supported by Abbott Laboratories, a $150 billion-plus behemoth that’s tests gained renown as the first line of defense against Covid.
• The coronavirus crisis clearly caught most governments unprepared. This explainer back in 2020 looks at what drove its emergence.
• Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has health experts worried with his anti-vaccine position.