U.S. strikes Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured

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Weekend Briefing

From Reuters Daily Briefing

By Robert MacMillan, Reuters.com Weekend Editor

Welcome to the Weekend Briefing and happy new year to everyone. We have live coverage of the U.S. strikes on Caracas, where Trump says special-forces troops captured President Nicolas Maduro and flew him out of the country. We'll be on this all weekend, so be sure to check back with us. I also recommend our On Assignment podcast, in which our correspondent travels to Syria's coast to examine how the new rulers are trying to win over the Alawite religious minority.

Sparklers likely started Swiss fire

REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Latest: Dozens of young partygoers at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana were transferred to specialist burn units across Europe with serious injuries. The fire in the ski-resort town killed at least 40 people.
Investigation: Witnesses reported seeing staff at the Le Constellation bar carrying "fountain candles" atop bottles of champagne. Questions have also arisen about a foam material used to soundproof the ceiling of the basement where revelers danced.

Zelenskiy's new adviser faces a big job

At the center of things: Kyrylo Budanov, a decorated war veteran who serves as Ukraine's military spy chief, will take the spot once held by power broker Andriy Yermak, who resigned amid a corruption scandal. Volodymyr Zelenskiy hopes his new choice can restore trust in his leadership as Russian forces advance and the U.S. pressures Kyiv to end the war.
Ukraine and Russia: Moscow accused Kyiv of trying to mount a drone strike on one of Vladimir Putin's residences. Ukraine disputes the account. Finland is investigating damage to an undersea telecom cable and seized a Russian ship in connection with the probe. Putin changed the law to allow Russia to ignore judgments in criminal cases issued by foreign and international courts.

Unrest flares in Iran

A threat from the West: President Trump threatened to come to the aid of protesters in Iran if security forces fire on them. Unrest over worsening economic conditions has left several people dead and posed the biggest internal threat to Iranian authorities in years. A senior Iranian official said U.S. interference would destabilize the Middle East.
Trouble in the south: Yemen's southern separatist movement, backed by the United Arab Emirates, said it plans to hold a referendum on independence in two years after seizing land last month. Saudi-backed forces are trying to recapture that land for the government, and according to the secessionists, they used airstrikes. Confused? We explain. And while we're on the subject, what's the grudge between the Saudis and the UAE?

Israel recognizes Somaliland

Everybody reacts: Israel defended its decision to recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, despite objections from Somalia and other countries. Some opponents of the move worry that Israel could use Somaliland as a place to forcibly exile Gazans.
Elsewhere in Africa: International aid staff who got into al-Fashir in Sudan following the paramilitary RSF's departure found the city largely deserted. More than 100,000 people were estimated to have fled as the group's siege plunged the city into famine. Guinea's coup leader was elected president. Axis International is demanding nearly $29 billion from Guinea – more than its 2024 GDP – after it revoked the company's permit to operate a bauxite mine.

Grok, minors, minimal clothing

Whoops: Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok produced "images depicting minors in minimal clothing" on X because of lapses in safeguards, xAI said. When contacted for additional comment, xAI replied with the message, "Legacy Media Lies."
Proxy fight: Lululemon Athletica's founder Chip Wilson nominated three independent directors to the board after the CEO departed, leaving no clear successor. Elliott Management is capitalizing on its $1 billion bet on Lululemon by trying to get a former Ralph Lauren executive hired as the new chief.

Before I forget…

China began the week with a massive military display that encircled Taiwan. It ended the week by reinstating a 13% tax on contraceptive drugs and devices to spur its birth rate. Xi Jinping will host South Korea's president for the second time in two months.
The U.S. could deny migrants asylum on the grounds that they present a public-health risk. Flu cases are rising across the country. A measles outbreak in South Carolina is growing.
The Amazon Soy Moratorium has saved millions of acres of tropical land from deforestation. Now some of the world's biggest soybean traders plan to leave the compact to save money on taxes.
An Air India pilot was removed from a plane scheduled to fly from Vancouver to Delhi after failing two breathalyzer tests. More India transportation news: Kolkata will end its tram service. I'll miss them.
A power failure shut down train service through the Channel Tunnel linking Britain with the continent, causing travel mayhem for thousands before New Year's Eve.
A hiker died in Colorado's first suspected fatal mountain-lion attack in more than 35 years.

And thank you to everyone who reads to the bottom. Your notes touched me. I'm looking forward to another year of writing for you.

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