The briefing for Thursday, January 1.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is expanding travel restrictions to an additional 20 countries and the Palestinian Authority, doubling the number of nations affected by limits on travel and immigration to the U.S. The move adds five countries to a full travel ban and imposes new restrictions on 15 others, bringing the total affected nations to 37.

The expanded ban includes Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria on the full restriction list, along with people traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents. Fifteen additional countries now face partial restrictions, including Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The administration cited concerns about widespread corruption, fraudulent documents, high visa overstay rates, and national security issues.

The restrictions take effect January 1, though current visa holders, permanent residents, diplomats and certain other categories remain exempt. The administration suggested the expansion after an Afghan national was arrested in a shooting of National Guard troops over Thanksgiving weekend, though he has pleaded not guilty to charges.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his New Year address that a peace agreement to end the war with Russia is "90% ready," with the remaining 10% to "determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe." The announcement comes as peace negotiations reach a critical juncture after nearly four years of conflict.

The major remaining obstacle centers on the eastern Donbas region, where Russia currently controls about 75% of Donetsk and 99% of Luhansk. Zelensky emphasized that Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas would mean "everything will be over," rejecting Russia's demand for full control of the industrial region. Moscow has consistently refused to compromise on this maximalist aim throughout negotiations.

Following talks with President Trump in Florida, Zelensky said Washington offered security guarantees for 15 years, though implementation timelines remain unclear. The Ukrainian leader stressed that "signatures under weak agreements only fuel war" and called for concrete security commitments to be ratified. Russian President Putin, in his own New Year address, told troops "we believe in you and our victory."

The Trump administration announced it is freezing Child Care and Development Fund payments to all 50 states pending additional verification, with Minnesota facing particular scrutiny over alleged fraud at day care centers. All states must now provide enhanced administrative data and verification before receiving funding, while Minnesota faces demands for attendance records, licensing data, and inspection reports.

The decision stems from fraud investigations at Minnesota day care centers run by Somali residents, which the administration has used to target the state's large Somali diaspora. Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O'Neill called it a response to "blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country." The move came after federal agents conducted fraud investigations in Minneapolis.

Minnesota officials condemned the action as politically motivated. Governor Tim Walz called it part of "Trump's long game," while Attorney General Keith Ellison said he was "exploring all legal options" to ensure child care services aren't disrupted. The administration is also investigating Minnesota's unemployment insurance program and threatening to withhold SNAP food aid from Democratic states.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te announced a special $40 billion defense budget over eight years to purchase U.S. weapons and build a "Taiwan Dome" air defense system. The announcement came as China concluded two days of military exercises around the island that Beijing called "Justice Mission 2025," designed to test joint operations capabilities.

The budget, allocated from 2026 to 2033, will fund precision-strike missiles and joint U.S.-Taiwan equipment development. Lai pledged to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030, responding to U.S. pressure after Trump demanded Taiwan spend up to 10% of GDP on defense. Currently, Taiwan allocates 3.3% of GDP to defense, or about $31 billion for 2026.

China's military drills featured rocket launches, aircraft and warships in response to planned U.S. arms sales worth over $11 billion and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's comments about potential military intervention if China attacks Taiwan. In his New Year address, Lai vowed to "firmly safeguard national sovereignty" against China's "expansionist ambitions," while Chinese President Xi called Taiwan's eventual annexation "unstoppable."

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on four Venezuelan oil firms and designated four oil tankers as blocked property, continuing its pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro's government. The Treasury Department targeted ships called Nord Star, Lunar Tide, Rosalind and Della, which officials say are part of a "shadow fleet" serving Maduro's regime.

U.S. Southern Command announced it struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days, killing eight people while others jumped overboard. The military said three boats were traveling in formation and had "transferred narcotics between vessels" before the strikes, though no evidence was provided. These attacks bring the total boat strikes to 35 and deaths to at least 115 since September.

The escalation includes the first known CIA operation on Venezuelan soil, with a drone strike targeting a docking area allegedly used by drug cartels. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. "will not allow the illegitimate Maduro regime to profit from exporting oil while it floods the United States with deadly drugs." Trump has announced a "blockade" of sanctioned tankers and demanded Venezuela return seized U.S. company assets.

Bulgaria became the 21st country to join the eurozone on New Year's Day, replacing the Bulgarian lev with the euro despite political instability and public skepticism. Opinion polls show the 6.5 million population roughly equally divided on the currency change, with many fearing price increases and loss of national identity.

The transition comes amid political chaos, with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's government losing a confidence vote in December after mass protests. Bulgaria has held seven elections in four years, with an eighth expected this spring, leaving the country without a regular budget and hampering structural reforms.