Shea Stevens

In a taped interview aired on state television, Maduro said the U.S.

wants to force his nation to change its government in order to take Venezuela's oil.

The U.S.

has carried out nearly three dozen strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and East Pacific since early September, killing at least 115 people.

China is imposing a 13 percent surcharge for contraceptives as one of many efforts to try to boost that nation's birth rates.

Details from NPR's Emily Fang.

Taiwan is vowing to defend its sovereignty in wake of China's live military exercises around the island.

President Lai Ching-te vows to defend his nation against what he calls China's expansionist ambitions.

China's military drills were held amid anger over U.S.

plans to sell a massive arms package to the island, which Beijing considers a renegade province.

On Asian markets, shares are mostly higher but down a fraction in Tokyo.

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Swiss authorities are not speculating on a possible cause for the fire that killed at least 40 people and injured some 115 others on New Year's Eve.

The blaze broke out at a ski resort bar in the city of Krons, Montana.

Archaeologists have found what they say is the oldest known cremation pyre used to burn the body of an adult.

NPR's Nell Greenfield-Boyce reports that the pyre was found in Africa, and it dates back nearly 10,000 years.

The Trump administration has canceled leases for three public golf courses in Washington, D.C.,

A nonprofit that manages the courses on federal property in the last five years says the Interior Department canceled its 50-year lease.

The National Links Trust says the lease cancellations come after the government had already spent $8.5 million on capital improvements.

This is NPR News.