NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2026 5AM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump says Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country. The Venezuelan government has not confirmed a Maduro's capture, but Trump posted a message on social media early today, saying it came during a large-scale military strike overnight and that the operation was conducted alongside U.S. law enforcement. Victor Omae is a journalist in Caracas, he spoke to the BBC about the strikes. We have seen smoke columns coming up, especially around the area of La Carlotta, that's a military airport inside the city. And also for the Tuna, there's a military installation in the western part of the city also. And we have heard reports about explosions in the port of La Guaira and in another airport outside Caracas, towards the east side. At least seven explosions, rock-caracas amid rising tensions. They sent

people rushing into the streets, and it's not clear if there are any casualties. The Trump administration has been increasing pressure on Maduro's government. Sanctioned oil tankers have been seized, and the U.S. has been striking alleged drug smuggling boats since September. Those strikes are believed to have killed at least 115 people. The U.S. accuses Maduro of running a narco state and rigging in election. Maduro has said that Washington wants to take control of Venezuela's oil reserves. President Trump is currently at Mara Lago. He says he will brief reporters on the situation later this morning. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration is warning all commercial and private U.S. pilots at the airspace over Venezuela and the small island of Kurosau off

limits due to safety of flight risks. United Arab Emirates has pulled its troops out of southern Yemen and Saudi Arabia has called for talks with various groups vying for power there, this after a rivalry between the two broke open in the Arab world's poorest nation, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. The Defense Ministry of the United Arab Emirates says its forces have returned home, but the separatist movement that the UAE backs in Yemen, known as the Southern Transitional Council, has announced a new constitution for the South and described it as a step toward independence from the Houthi-controlled north. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile,

acts the government that the Houthis toppled 10 years ago. The country has been in civil war ever since, and it's now complicated further by the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Saudi Arabia has now invited all the factions from southern Yemen and is now complicated further by the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Saudi Arabia has now invited all the factions from southern Yemen to negotiate and find a comprehensive political solution. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv. And from Washington, this is NPR News. Firefighters in Denver still working to put out a huge five-alarm fire.

The fire broke out last night near the Glendale area at an apartment building under construction. Pictures posted on social media by Denver's fire department show flames tearing through the building as thick smoke rises into the sky. The fire caused significant power outages. Questions are intensifying over safety measures at a bar in Switzerland where a New Year's Eve fire killed at least 40 people. Authorities believe the blaze likely began when sparkling candles atop champagne bottles were held too close to the ceiling. Stocks lost ground this week, but still notched double-digit gains for 2025. NPR Scott Horsley reports that pasta lovers also had something to celebrate. All the major stock indexes were in the red for the holiday shortened trading week.

the Dow slipped two-thirds of a percent. The S&P 500 index fell about 1 percent, and the NASDAQ dipped one and a half percent. Despite the slump in the final days of the year, 2025 was still a good one for stock investors. A lot of big investors took a break in the week following Christmas, so trading volumes were light. Turning from the stock market to the supermarket, there was some positive news in the pasta aisle. The Trump administration is backtracking from its threat to impose triple-digit tariffs on imported pasta from Italy. The Commerce Department says Italian pasta will likely face much lower anti-dumping duties when the final rates are set in March. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

Elon Musk, Tesla has lost its place as the world's best-selling electric vehicle following a decline in sales for the second consecutive year. Chinese rival BYD overtook Tesla for the top spot. This is NPR News.