US, South Korea strike deal on AI, quantum computing - https-//www.semafor.com

The US and South Korea are set to strike a deal to cooperate on AI and quantum computing, even as contentious trade issues linger. The pact is aimed at securing an edge over China in the race for tech superiority, Bloomberg noted. Officials, though, are less confident that a trade agreement discussed in July will be finalized, as the countries remain deadlocked over the details of Seoul’s $350 billion investment pledge. Analysts raised similar concerns after Trump’s meeting with Japan’s new prime minister, which scored high on chemistry, but low on concrete trade breakthroughs. Trump’s Asia tour so far underscores the challenges he faces in “turning a series of eye-popping foreign investment pledges into reality,” Politico wrote.— J.D. CapeloutoMore from Semafor FlagshipA library devoted to Arabian horsesIran faces growing domestic dissent, Trump threatsProminent Venezuelan writers worry over US oil plansMoscow’s reaction muted after ally Maduro toppledEurope rallies around Greenland following Trump threatsSaudi Arabia opens stock market to all foreignersA library devoted to Arabian horsesUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:33pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 4:03am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkSharedavid/nicolasA first-of-its-kind library in Abu Dhabi delves into the Middle East’s long history of equestrianism. Boasting more than 14,000 titles on equine history, breeding, horse medicine, sport, and saddlery, the Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts Library offers a comprehensive body of literature tracking horses’ history in the region, which is a considerable one: The Arabian horse has been bred continuously since at least the 7th century — though various, possibly apocryphal histories suggest it could be more than 4,000 years old — making it one of the world’s oldest and most sought-after breeds. The combination of literature and equestrianism is particularly auspicious, the curator told Arab News: “We can learn much about ourselves when we ride and when we read.”— Brendan RuberryADIran faces growing domestic dissent, Trump threatsUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:31pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 4:01am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMorteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIran’s embattled regime is facing growing domestic dissent along with threats from US President Donald Trump, though analysts said he is unlikely to deploy his Venezuela playbook against Tehran. Iranian authorities have arrested hundreds as widespread demonstrations stemming from economic angst have also included anti-regime slogans. Trump threatened to intervene if authorities kill protesters, but Tehran has more resilient defenses than Venezuela, and a US invasion aimed at regime change risks fragmenting the protest movement, an Iraqi journalist wrote in Al Jazeera. Washington is more likely to pursue targeted strikes, Eurasia Group’s Ian Bremmer told Semafor. “Change… is ultimately in the hands of the people of Iran themselves,” the son of the last Shah told The Wall Street Journal.— J.D. CapeloutoProminent Venezuelan writers worry over US oil plansUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:29pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 3:59am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareCarlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo/ReutersProminent Venezuelan voices cautioned against Donald Trump’s campaign to swiftly restore oil investment in the country without prioritizing democratic reforms.It would be delusional to believe that “Venezuela’s vast oil reserves [make] democracy unnecessary,” an economist argued. Foreign firms would only return to Venezuela if there were a “legal framework… approved by a legitimate legislature and enforced by a legitimate executive,” a Latin American energy policy expert wrote.Maduro’s replacement, Delcy Rodríguez, may be more open to cutting oil deals with Washington, but the country’s democratic movement will be “deeply betrayed,” given she is an “emblem of the regime,” the founder of Caracas Chronicles said.One journalist was “cautiously optimistic,” though, that US interests would align with those of Venezuelans.— J.D. CapeloutoADMoscow’s reaction muted after ally Maduro toppledUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:26pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 3:56am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareAlexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via ReutersThe US capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro prompted a restrained response from Moscow, as it navigates losing a key Latin American ally, while eyeing potential gains from Washington’s actions.“For Russia, the situation is deeply uncomfortable,” a Kremlin adviser told The Guardian: Even as it condemned US aggression against Caracas, the Kremlin is focused on Ukraine, and has little appetite to antagonize Washington “over a distant theater.”On the other hand, the US’ actions offer Moscow a “ready-made argument to justify” its war in Ukraine, a BBC News Russian reporter wrote.The muted response may also stem from embarrassment and envy that Washington’s Venezuela operation quickly achieved what Moscow could not in Ukraine, prompting begrudging admiration from Russian pro-war bloggers.— J.D. CapeloutoEurope rallies around Greenland following Trump threatsUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:23pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 3:53am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareYoan Valat/Pool via ReutersEuropean leaders rallied to defend Greenland after US President Donald Trump said he was “very serious” about his intent to seize the autonomous Danish territory.Greenland was the “immense elephant” in the room as European, US, and Ukrainian officials met Tuesday to discuss security guarantees for a post-war Kyiv, the BBC wrote.Denmark’s leader warned that a US annexation of Greenland would end NATO.But European leaders — still dependent on Washington to contain Russia — have been hesitant to criticize Trump’s military interventionism in Venezuela, although his actions there have even unsettled some of Europe’s far right, who are torn between their ideological support for Trump and their concerns over American expansionism, Le Monde reported.— J.D. CapeloutoADSaudi Arabia opens stock market to all foreignersUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:22pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 3:52am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareFaisal Al Nasser/ReutersSaudi Arabia is opening its stock market to all foreign investors starting February, part of the kingdom’s efforts to draw more capital and reduce its dependence on oil. Until now, restrictions stipulated that foreigners meet certain requirements, including managing at least $500 million in assets. But Saudi is trying to turn around its stock market, which saw a 13% drop last year — worse than other emerging-market peers — as oil prices fell. A wider investor pool could also help spur a spate of IPOs; as many as 100 companies are reportedly in the pipeline to go public. Despite economic reforms, it would take a stable oil price “for most investors to re-engage” in Saudi this year, a strategist said.— J.D. CapeloutoTop StoriesData centers get makeovers to blunt NIMBY criticismRendering of a confidential data center in the Netherlands. Courtesy of Gensler.The White House’s Greenland problem starts growing on Capitol HillKevin Lamarque/ReutersIn Venezuela, Rubio the ‘careful’ meets Trump the aggressiveJonathan Ernst/ReutersTrump administration eyes next steps on Venezuelan debtGaby Oraa/ReutersTensions grow over Somaliland after Israeli FM visit Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Bernadett Szabo/File Photo/Reuters.Saudi opens stock market to allMohammed Benmansour/ReutersNvidia speeds up chip release as AI competition intensifiesSteve Marcus/ReutersCongress starts to take Trump’s interest in Greenland more seriouslyJonathan Ernst/ReutersThe Worldat a GlanceUpdated 8:53pm GMT+5:30US seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker, in challenge to MoscowUpdated Jan 7, 2026, 10:23am ESTJan 7, 2026, 8:53pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareHakon Rimmereid/via ReutersThe US military on Wednesday seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker accused of evading a naval blockade around Venezuela, a move that is sure to rankle Moscow.Sanctioned tankers have been trying to get around the US’ oil embargo en masse; American forces also apprehended a second “stateless, sanctioned” tanker on Wednesday.The unilateral interceptions could complicate Ukraine peace talks between the US and Russia, which is said to use a fleet of shadow tankers to circumvent Western sanctions.The flare-up comes after US President Donald Trump said Caracas will hand over millions of barrels of oil, and the energy secretary said Washington would oversee Venezuela’s oil sales “indefinitely.”— J.D. CapeloutoBeijing vows fiscal support for debt-stricken provincesUpdated Jan 7, 2026, 7:08am ESTJan 7, 2026, 5:38pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMaxim Shemetov/ReutersChina pledged fiscal support for its debt-saddled local governments, but analysts said the stimulus may not be enough to shift forecasts for growth in the world’s second-biggest economy. The finance ministry indicated it would expand central government bond issuance and bolster transfers to provincial authorities, though it was unclear if the overall scale of the fiscal effort would be markedly different from one undertaken in 2025. China’s provinces are grappling with mountains of debt driven in part by huge overinvestment in infrastructure and a massive expansion of spending during the pandemic. The latest measures will “partially alleviate local fiscal pressures, but are insufficient to fully reverse local government austerity,” analysts at the research firm Trivium wrote.— Prashant RaoWhite House focuses on affordability as midterms loomUpdated Jan 7, 2026, 7:01am ESTJan 7, 2026, 5:31pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareEvelyn Hockstein/ReutersUS President Donald Trump urged Republicans to tackle rising health care costs while Democrats unveiled a push on cheaper housing, a sign that upcoming midterm elections will likely focus on affordability. The GOP faces an uphill battle holding its narrow House majority after the expiry of popular Obama-era tax credits pushed prescription drug prices up, part of a wider affordability problem hitting the party’s poll numbers; Semafor’s politics team reports today that some Republicans want to steer their party back to the issue rather than discussing upheaval in Venezuela. Trump believes the stakes are high for him: He told lawmakers he would be impeached again if Democrats won, and floated, then dismissed, the possibility of canceling the elections altogether.— Tom ChiversEurope agrees to provide military support for UkraineUpdated Jan 7, 2026, 6:57am ESTJan 7, 2026, 5:27pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareLudovic Marin/Pool via ReutersEuropean powers agreed to put boots on the ground to defend Ukraine as part of a proposed peace deal. Britain and France would establish military bases in Ukraine, while the US offered satellite and drone monitoring to detect any ceasefire breaches. European leaders touted the pledge as a diplomatic breakthrough, and framed Washington’s willingness to participate as a significant convergence of US and EU positions after months of tensions. But progress may be limited: Moscow has already rejected the idea of European troops on Ukrainian soil, and the agreement says a response “may include” military action, rather than promising it. “It’s Article 5 lite, not Article 5-like,” Euractiv said, referring to the NATO guarantee of mutual defense.— Tom ChiversVenezuela agrees to give US 50 million barrels of oilUpdated Jan 7, 2026, 6:45am ESTJan 7, 2026, 5:15pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareVenezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez (center). Marcelo Garcia/Miraflores Palace/Handout via Reuters.US President Donald Trump said Venezuela will hand over up to 50 million barrels of oil, the latest sign of the new leadership in Caracas seeking to placate the White House. Venezuela’s government has criticized the Trump administration after the US captured its leader Nicolás Maduro to stand trial on narco-trafficking charges, yet has also taken conciliatory steps: Along with the oil-sale deal, the country’s new president Delcy Rodríguez is open to granting US companies rights to explore Venezuela’s oil fields. But Rodríguez faces pressure from a regime that has long opposed the US and which is mostly still intact. “She’s sandwiched between US firepower and Venezuelan firepower,” one expert told The Wall Street Journal. “She can’t kowtow too much.”— Prashant RaoWashington ups threats to buy or take GreenlandUpdated Jan 7, 2026, 6:39am ESTJan 7, 2026, 5:09pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMarko Djurica/File Photo/ReutersUS leaders stepped up pressure to annex Greenland, raising the prospect of using financial or military means to take control of the Danish territory. The various remarks by the White House press secretary and the US secretary of state, as well as several lawmakers, came after European leaders voiced solidarity with Copenhagen, which has sought to repel US demands. Washington’s campaign, on the heels of its shock ousting of Venezuela’s leader, illustrates a stark geopolitical shift: Where once the US was at least the rhetorical backer of a liberal, rules-based international order, the world is now one “that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power,” a senior Trump administration aide told CNN.— Prashant RaoCopper futures surge to record highUpdated Jan 7, 2026, 6:38am ESTJan 7, 2026, 5:08pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareJonny Hogg/File Photo/ReutersCopper futures surged to a record high, driving revenues for African producers in particular.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, which has tripled output in the last decade to become the world’s second-largest copper supplier after Chile, has seen its currency leap 28% against the dollar over the last year, while Zambia, also racing to boost copper mining, saw similar gains. Copper is vital for new technologies, from data centers to electric vehicles, and supply growth is slow, because opening mines can take decades. Copper is key to African growth, Business Insider Africa reported, but the continent faces a familiar, and regularly unmet, challenge of ensuring that populations share the proceeds.— Tom ChiversEurope rallies around Greenland following Trump threatsUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:23pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 3:53am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareYoan Valat/Pool via ReutersEuropean leaders rallied to defend Greenland after US President Donald Trump said he was “very serious” about his intent to seize the autonomous Danish territory.Greenland was the “immense elephant” in the room as European, US, and Ukrainian officials met Tuesday to discuss security guarantees for a post-war Kyiv, the BBC wrote.Denmark’s leader warned that a US annexation of Greenland would end NATO.But European leaders — still dependent on Washington to contain Russia — have been hesitant to criticize Trump’s military interventionism in Venezuela, although his actions there have even unsettled some of Europe’s far right, who are torn between their ideological support for Trump and their concerns over American expansionism, Le Monde reported.— J.D. CapeloutoMoscow’s reaction muted after ally Maduro toppledUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:26pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 3:56am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareAlexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via ReutersThe US capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro prompted a restrained response from Moscow, as it navigates losing a key Latin American ally, while eyeing potential gains from Washington’s actions.“For Russia, the situation is deeply uncomfortable,” a Kremlin adviser told The Guardian: Even as it condemned US aggression against Caracas, the Kremlin is focused on Ukraine, and has little appetite to antagonize Washington “over a distant theater.”On the other hand, the US’ actions offer Moscow a “ready-made argument to justify” its war in Ukraine, a BBC News Russian reporter wrote.The muted response may also stem from embarrassment and envy that Washington’s Venezuela operation quickly achieved what Moscow could not in Ukraine, prompting begrudging admiration from Russian pro-war bloggers.— J.D. CapeloutoProminent Venezuelan writers worry over US oil plansUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:30pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 4:00am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareCarlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo/ReutersProminent Venezuelan voices cautioned against Donald Trump’s campaign to swiftly restore oil investment in the country without prioritizing democratic reforms.It would be delusional to believe that “Venezuela’s vast oil reserves [make] democracy unnecessary,” an economist argued. Foreign firms would only return to Venezuela if there were a “legal framework… approved by a legitimate legislature and enforced by a legitimate executive,” a Latin American energy policy expert wrote.Maduro’s replacement, Delcy Rodríguez, may be more open to cutting oil deals with Washington, but the country’s democratic movement will be “deeply betrayed,” given she is an “emblem of the regime,” the founder of Caracas Chronicles said.One journalist was “cautiously optimistic,” though, that US interests would align with those of Venezuelans.— J.D. CapeloutoIran faces growing domestic dissent, Trump threatsUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:31pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 4:01am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMorteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIran’s embattled regime is facing growing domestic dissent along with threats from US President Donald Trump, though analysts said he is unlikely to deploy his Venezuela playbook against Tehran. Iranian authorities have arrested hundreds as widespread demonstrations stemming from economic angst have also included anti-regime slogans. Trump threatened to intervene if authorities kill protesters, but Tehran has more resilient defenses than Venezuela, and a US invasion aimed at regime change risks fragmenting the protest movement, an Iraqi journalist wrote in Al Jazeera. Washington is more likely to pursue targeted strikes, Eurasia Group’s Ian Bremmer told Semafor. “Change… is ultimately in the hands of the people of Iran themselves,” the son of the last Shah told The Wall Street Journal.— J.D. CapeloutoSaudi Arabia opens stock market to all foreignersUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 5:39pm ESTJan 7, 2026, 4:09am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareFaisal Al Nasser/ReutersSaudi Arabia is opening its stock market to all foreign investors starting February, part of the kingdom’s efforts to draw more capital and reduce its dependence on oil. Until now, restrictions stipulated that foreigners meet certain requirements, including managing at least $500 million in assets. But Saudi is trying to turn around its stock market, which saw a 13% drop last year — worse than other emerging-market peers — as oil prices fell. A wider investor pool could also help spur a spate of IPOs; as many as 100 companies are reportedly in the pipeline to go public. Despite economic reforms, it would take a stable oil price “for most investors to re-engage” in Saudi this year, a strategist said.— J.D. CapeloutoUS reduces number of recommended childhood vaccinationsUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 7:22am ESTJan 6, 2026, 5:52pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareAnnie Rice/File Photo/ReutersThe US health regulator reduced the number of routine vaccinations recommended for children. Vaccines, including those for flu, hepatitis, and meningococcal disease, will no longer be universally recommended: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr is a longstanding vaccine skeptic, and one physician told The Wall Street Journal that “[making] vaccines optional… puts children in harm’s way.” The Department of Health, however, said that the move brings the US system in line with that of Denmark, which has a lean vaccine system; other Western countries, including Australia, Canada, and the UK have schedules more like the previous US one.— Tom ChiversIran offers $7 handouts to quell deadly protestsUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 7:21am ESTJan 6, 2026, 5:51pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMajid Asgaripour/WANA via ReutersIran said it will offer citizens a monthly cash handout equivalent to $7, in an effort to end deadly protests now entering their 10th day.A currency collapse and surging inflation have squeezed living standards, with protests having erupted in 27 out of Iran’s 31 provinces; at least 35 are dead, including four children. Demonstrators have called for political change, with chants of “freedom” and “death to the dictator,” a sign of mounting anger toward the regime itself. US President Donald Trump threatened Tehran with reprisals if more protesters die. Iran’s president fell short of making political concessions, instead pledging tax cuts and modest handouts, a move which itself underlined the government’s limited fiscal capacity.— Tom ChiversChina-Japan feud escalates after Beijing unveils export curbsUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 7:20am ESTJan 6, 2026, 5:50pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareStringer/ReutersChina blocked exports of a raft of goods with potential military applications to Japan, ramping up recent tensions between the Asian powers. It was not immediately clear how punishing the new curbs would be, but their symbolic value is significant: Beijing had appeared to be lowering the temperature in the countries’ row over remarks by Japan’s prime minister that Tokyo’s forces could intervene militarily were China to invade Taiwan. Of particular concern was whether Beijing would include rare earths in the restrictions — China accounts for about 70% of Japan’s supply. “Japan has no choice but to endure this situation for a while,” one Tokyo-based expert told the Japanese news agency Kyodo.— Prashant RaoZelenskyy reshuffles government in face of alleged corruptionUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 7:15am ESTJan 6, 2026, 5:45pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareStringer/ReutersUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reshuffled his government, as part of his efforts to combat alleged corruption. Among the departures was the head of the security service, who is credited with some of Ukraine’s most successful operations against Russia. An anti-corruption investigation has already seen a top Zelenskyy ally resign, straining the president’s relationship with other key figures, Euronews reported. Zelenskyy is also increasingly downbeat about the prospects of ongoing US-brokered peace talks, The New York Times said. He has previously voiced optimism but, over the weekend, “made some of his most skeptical comments in months,” suggesting that Moscow “may block everything,” and saying the reshuffle was necessary to bolster Ukraine’s resilience.— Tom ChiversTrump’s Greenland threats loom over Ukraine talks in ParisUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 7:10am ESTJan 6, 2026, 5:40pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareSarah Meyssonnier/ReutersTransatlantic talks in Paris today, ostensibly focused on backing Ukraine, risk blowing up over US President Donald Trump’s threat to annex Greenland. The first year of Trump’s second term has been characterized by discord between the US and Europe over issues ranging from trade to security, with particular disagreement over Ukraine: Europe has sought to increase military support, while the US has pressed for a negotiated truce, at times appearing to favor Moscow over Kyiv. Officials hope that “keeping Greenland to one side,” as Politico put it, will allow for progress on Ukraine talks, but as a leading analyst warned, the stability and predictability that Brussels has sought in ties with Washington “is a pipe dream.”— Prashant RaoTop Venezuela opposition figure tries to court TrumpUpdated Jan 6, 2026, 6:57am ESTJan 6, 2026, 5:27pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareLeonhard Foeger/ReutersVenezuelan Nobel prize-winning opposition leader María Corina Machado sought to win over US President Donald Trump in order to gain his backing to guide her country through its upheaval. Trump has dismissed Machado’s chances of ruling Venezuela, in part because US intelligence indicated she would struggle to run the government. He also resents her over her acceptance of the Nobel, which he has openly coveted: One source told The Washington Post it was her “ultimate sin.” Machado has recently praised the president and offered to share the Nobel with him, part of what an aide characterized as a long game: “She’s been in the fight for decades,” the aide told the Financial Times. “She can wait a few more months.”— Prashant RaoVenezuelan officials crack down on dissent Updated Jan 6, 2026, 6:54am ESTJan 6, 2026, 5:24pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMaxwell Briceno/ReutersVenezuelan authorities launched a broad crackdown on dissent as the country’s new leader consolidated power, undermining early hopes that Washington’s capture of Nicolás Maduro could allow for democratic reforms. Exiles had cheered Maduro’s ouster over the weekend, but analysts largely cautioned that because the US left the rest of Venezuela’s regime in place, any flowering of freedoms was highly unlikely. That caution appears to have been well-placed: Security forces detained more than a dozen journalists, deporting one, and deployed paramilitary forces to ward off shows of support for Maduro’s removal.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was meanwhile sworn in to the presidency and chaired her first cabinet meeting. “Everything changes,” El País wrote, “yet nothing really changes.”— Prashant RaoMaduro pleads not guilty, insists he is still Venezuela’s presidentUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 5:22pm ESTJan 6, 2026, 3:52am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareJane Rosenberg/ReutersNicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to US drugs and weapons charges on Monday and insisted he is still president of Venezuela after being captured by American forces over the weekend.The arraignment in New York set off what will likely be a long court process shaped by highly unusual circumstances.In Venezuela, Maduro’s former No. 2 Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president, after calling for “cooperation” with Washington. Rodríguez, whom the White House sees as a capable partner on economic issues, will face the challenge of fielding US demands without being perceived by Maduro loyalists as too conciliatory to Washington.The uncertainty has led ordinary Venezuelans to hunker down and stock up on basic supplies.— J.D. CapeloutoHow China views the US’ capture of Nicolás MaduroUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 5:26pm ESTJan 6, 2026, 3:56am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareFlorence Lo/ReutersExperts debated whether US action against Venezuela will embolden China in its pursuit of Taiwan.Beijing may see a Taiwan invasion as easier for the world to swallow if global norms shift toward “tolerating more problematic behavior,” a Carnegie Endowment fellow argued.Nicolás Maduro’s capture will also “vindicate” Beijing in its pursuit of a military and tech buildup, a veteran China reporter wrote.But others pointed out that for Beijing, the issue of Taiwan — which it sees as a breakaway province — is domestic, and not a matter subject to international law or precedent.Some in Taipei see Maduro’s capture as a deterrent against Chinese aggression, given that it showcased US military might against a country equipped with Chinese weapons.— J.D. CapeloutoMarco Rubio’s portfolio expands with new Venezuela taskUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 5:28pm ESTJan 6, 2026, 3:58am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareJonathan Ernst/ReutersUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio emerged as the driving force behind the ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, underscoring his growing portfolio and prominence within the Trump administration.Once the subject of a potential assassination plot by Venezuelan security forces, Rubio built much of his political career denouncing Maduro’s regime, and he is “the mastermind” of the Caracas operation, a Venezuelan Republican strategist told Politico.Rubio — who is already national security adviser, archivist, and USAID administrator — is now “the Viceroy of Venezuela,” The Washington Post wrote, facing the daunting task of determining the country’s post-Maduro future.Rubio is so busy that the White House is weighing giving adviser Stephen Miller a larger role in Venezuela operations.— J.D. CapeloutoNovo Nordisk launches weight loss pill in USUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 5:26pm ESTJan 6, 2026, 3:56am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareTom Little/ReutersNovo Nordisk launched the pill version of its popular GLP-1 weight loss drug Wegovy in the US on Monday, marking a new era in obesity treatment. The debut of the medication, the first of its kind, is set to accelerate a price war, given that it is priced significantly lower than the jab-based versions. The Danish pharmaceutical giant, which also makes Ozempic, had a rough 2025 as it lost ground to American rival Eli Lilly, but it is banking on the weight loss pill to regain its advantage. Oral medications are “the next battleground” for the two companies, CNBC wrote; Lilly is still working on its own pill variant.— J.D. CapeloutoChina’s biotech boom drives up lab monkey pricesUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 5:32pm ESTJan 6, 2026, 4:02am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareChina Daily via ReutersThe price of lab monkeys in China surged to a five-year high, delaying some drug trials, as the country’s biotech boom runs into resource constraints. The primates are raised for at least four years before being used in trials, and breeders did not increase their populations during an investment downturn in 2023. But Chinese companies inked a record number of licensing deals with foreign drugmakers in 2025 — worth more than $123 billion — accelerating research, meaning “monkey supplies are limited” a UBS analyst told the Financial Times. Global investors are now more trusting of data from Chinese clinical trials, Reuters wrote, but geopolitics could come in the way: US lawmakers recently passed new rules targeting Chinese biotech firms.— Brendan RuberryUK’s Starmer calls for closer ties with EUUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 5:33pm ESTJan 6, 2026, 4:03am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareVuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pivoted toward restoring the country’s ties to the EU. In a major speech Saturday, he called for “closer alignment” with the bloc’s single market, which Britain quit after Brexit, and said it was in the “national interest” to have a closer relationship. Migration was a major driver of the Brexit vote, but the number of non-EU arrivals surged after Britain left, reducing the salience of EU migration, and trade barriers have hurt the British economy. Accordingly, polls suggest a majority would back rejoining the single market even if it meant a return to freedom of movement with EU countries, and most think Brexit was a mistake and a failure.— Tom ChiversFinland seizes Baltic ship suspected of cable sabotageUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 8:29am ESTJan 5, 2026, 6:59pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareFinnish Police/Handout via ReutersFinland seized a ship suspected of sabotaging a telecommunications cable in the Baltic Sea, the latest maneuver in a quiet battle over underwater infrastructure. Cables and pipelines carry vital data and fuel, and apparent sabotage is on the rise. Several cables to Taiwan are broken each year, allegedly by China, and Beijing also uses regulatory pressure to deny or delay installations and bolster its influence in the South China Sea; Russia has been linked to a series of incidents in the Baltic, usually involving ships dragging their anchors. International law is murky over whether cable sabotage is “piracy, terrorism, or even… an armed attack,” and legal loopholes hinder international efforts to prevent it, an expert wrote for Foreign Affairs.— Tom ChiversConcerns rise over China’s growing naval mightUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 8:25am ESTJan 5, 2026, 6:55pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareTingshu Wang/ReutersChina’s increasingly advanced military capabilities are alarming the West and reshaping the global balance of naval power, analysts said. Beijing recently unveiled research submarines capable of traversing the Arctic, and the US expects it to be able to send nuclear-armed boats to the North Pole within a few years, where they would be troublingly close to potential NATO targets, The Wall Street Journal reported. And the Pentagon believes that China now has anti-ship ballistic missiles capable of striking targets up to 5,000 miles away, a class of weapon described as “carrier killers.” The weapons “pose a potent threat to surface ships across much of the Pacific,” one analyst told the US Naval Institute’s news site.— Tom ChiversTrump base largely quiet after Maduro arrestUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 8:17am ESTJan 5, 2026, 6:47pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareTrump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe watching the US military operation in Venezuela. @realdonaldTrump/Handout via ReutersUS President Donald Trump mostly kept Republicans and his America First base on side following the removal of Venezuela’s leader from power. Though the ouster of Nicolás Maduro is ostensibly a violation of Trump’s pledge to avoid foreign entanglements, few senior conservative lawmakers have criticized the move, thanks in part to a monthslong campaign to quell opposition within the GOP, with even regular critics of the White House holding fire. Still, the administration may face legislative pressure down the line, while rank-and-file Trump supporters are “bewildered, if not angry,” the former Trump aide Stephen Bannon told The New York Times. On an episode of his podcast, Bannon compared the Venezuela operation to the US “fiasco in Iraq.”— Prashant RaoQuestions loom over Venezuela’s leadershipUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 6:40am ESTJan 5, 2026, 5:10pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareDelcy Rodríguez attending a meeting. Delcy Rodríguez via Instagram/Handout via ReutersUncertainty mounted over who was in charge of Venezuela following Nicolás Maduro’s removal from power. Top US leaders have differed over the extent of Washington’s future involvement, and elections do not appear to be in the immediate offing. Venezuela’s interim leader, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, has alternated between taking a conciliatory approach towards Washington and striking a defiant tone. And María Corina Machado, the Nobel prize-winning opposition leader, has been cast aside by the White House, which has downplayed the extent of her domestic political support. James Fallows, who penned an iconic 2002 piece outlining poor US planning for the aftermath of the Iraq invasion, wrote: “Apparently no one in the US government has asked, What happens the next day?”— Prashant RaoChevron, Exxon shares surge after Maduro captureUpdated Jan 5, 2026, 6:37am ESTJan 5, 2026, 5:07pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareLeonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo/ReutersShares in US oil giants Chevron and Exxon surged in pre-market trading while oil prices slipped as investors sought to balance the differing short- and long-term implications of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s arrest.Venezuela controls the world’s biggest known oil reserves, but its production in recent years has been relatively small — its 800,000 barrels per day are barely 5% of US output — and political upheaval could disrupt that further. But prospects are strong for firms such as Chevron, the only major US oil company present in Venezuela. And the potential for a huge additional tranche of crude to hit an oversupplied market could weigh on already-low oil prices: ING warned of “downside risks” to its 2027 price forecast.— Prashant RaoTrump repeats threat to annex Greenland Updated Jan 5, 2026, 6:37am ESTJan 5, 2026, 5:07pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareA military drill in Greenland. Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo/ReutersUS President Donald Trump repeated his threat to annex Greenland, while his capture of Venezuela’s leader raised the specter of action against Iran. Denmark’s prime minister demanded Trump “stop the threats” against the autonomous Danish territory after the US leader told The Atlantic soon after Nicolás Maduro’s weekend capture that “we do need Greenland”; European leaders have “underpriced” the risk of the US taking Greenland, a top geopolitics analyst wrote.Others are watching Washington’s actions, too. Iran — which has been convulsed by deadly protests — must now regard Trump’s warnings against it as more credible, The Wall Street Journal reported, while even Canada should be wary of “an imperial America,” The Globe and Mail wrote in an editorial.