NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2026 12AM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Flight restrictions in the Caribbean were lifted moments ago. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says airlines have been informed and regular flights will now resume. The restrictions were put in place as U.S. forces pushed into Venezuela overnight to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The two are being held in a facility in Brooklyn. President Trump says they'll now be facing justice.

The overwhelming evidence of their crimes will be presented in a court of law and I've seen it. I've seen what we have. It's both horrible and breathtaking that something like this could have been allowed to take place. Trump, meanwhile, posted an image of captured Venezuelan leader Maduro on social media in the hours after

he was taken into custody by U.S. forces. As NPRS. Franco Ordonez reports, Trump has used his social media to share key images regarding the mission. President Trump used his social media, media site True Social to post updates on the ousted Venezuelan leader, including a photo of Maduro in custody. In the photo, Maduro appeared to be in handcuffs, wearing a gray Nike sweatshirt, wearing sun-blocking eyewear and ear protection. He was also holding a water bottle.

Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil. Trump then posted images of U.S. officials during the overnight mission, including including tight shots of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, defense secretary Pete Hegesith, and the president himself. The president has long used his social media presence to amplify his actions and communicate directly with the American people. Franco, Ordonez, and Pierre News. Countries across Europe are offering Switzerland help

in dealing with the large number of severely burned survivors from a fire at a ski resort on New Year's Eve. At least 40 people were in. killed in the blaze and a hundred others were injured. As Terry Schultz reports, a criminal investigation has now been opened against the owners of the ski resort where the fire took place. The French couple that owns and manages the bar in Crown Mantana, Switzerland has been placed under investigation for manslaughter by negligence, causing bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Officials say they're looking into whether there were sufficient

safety measures on the premises after victims said they were trapped inside without access to an escape route. Though no formal conclusions have yet been shared publicly, authorities have said they believe the ceiling caught fire from lit sparklers carried inside the bar for New Year's Eve celebrations. The European Union has activated support mechanisms to help Switzerland, sending specialized burn care experts, and coordinating the evacuation of dozens of patients to other hospitals around Europe to relieve the overwhelmed facilities in the region. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. And you're listening to NPR News. Hollywood had a lackluster year at North American box offices in 2025, but NPR's Bob Mandela reports that the global picture was much brighter.

U.S. moviegoers proved hard to pry away from their TV sets in 2025, but international audiences seemed happy to return to cinemas. This world goes much deeper than you imagine. Avatar Fire and Ash and the car racing movie F1, which each did quite well in the U.S., did twice as well in other countries, and almost all Hollywood blockbusters, did a lot. at least half of their business overseas. So where North American box office increased just over 1%. International numbers rose 16% to $24.6 billion. That includes the year's biggest box office smash, the Chinese animated fantasy, Nejah 2.

We will change my destiny. The global totals were up substantially from 2024. They still trail pre-pandemic records by about 20%. Bob Mandello, NPR News. War plans from Saudi Arabia carried out more strength. Strikes on targets in Yemen on Saturday that's according to southern separatists in that country who say a military camp in the port city of Mukhala was hit, along with other areas where their forces are stationed. Yemen has been engulfed in a civil war for more than 10 years.

Kenyans are mourning the death of a beloved elephant named Craig. He symbolized the country's efforts to protect elephants from poachers. Craig died Saturday in his home in Ambecelli National Park. He was 54 years old. Officials say he died of natural causes. He was one of only a few of what are called super tuskers. Those are elephants whose tusks weigh more than 100 pounds. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.