President Donald Trump insists that the U.S. government would run Venezuela after an audacious military operation that plucked leader Nicolás Maduro from power and removed him from the country. Hours after the operation, Trump said the United States would run Venezuela at least temporarily and tap its vast oil reserves to sell to other nations. The dramatic action capped an intensive Trump administration pressure campaign on the South American country and its autocratic leader and months of secret planning resulting in the most assertive American action to achieve regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Legal questions are being raised about the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuela’s president and U.S. plans to “run” the South American country. Nicolás Maduro was seized in the middle of the night and U.S. officials say he'll face narcoterrorism conspiracy charges in New York. Experts say the U.S. military's capture of Maduro may violate international law. A former Navy attorney says he sees no legal basis for the U.S. to go into another country and take a leader without an extradition treaty. Congress hasn't authorized military action in the region but also hasn't passed measures blocking the Trump administration from acting.

A grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson have burned to death in Gaza when their tent caught fire. Thousands of Palestinians are enduring colder weather in makeshift housing. The shaky 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely ended large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza. But the death toll continues to grow and aid groups say not enough shelter materials are getting into Gaza. American actor and film producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Friday. Rafah is the only crossing between the territory and a country other than Israel. And it remains closed despite Palestinian requests to reopen it to people and aid.

President Donald Trump says Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to a peace deal, but he acknowledges that negotiations could still break down and leave the war dragging on for years. Trump spoke Sunday as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort. Earlier Trump had what he described as an “excellent,” two-and-a-half-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump insisted he believed Putin wants peace, even as Russia launched fresh attacks on Ukraine while Zelenskyy flew to the United States. Trump and Zelenskyy both acknowledged thorny issues remain, including whether Russia can keep Ukrainian territory it controls.

Winter rain has lashed the Gaza Strip and flooded camps with ankle-deep puddles as Palestinians displaced by war try to stay dry in fraying tents. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled for an expected meeting on Monday with U.S. President Donald Trump about the second phase of the ceasefire. The first phase that took effect on Oct. 10 was meant to bring a surge in humanitarian aid for Gaza including shelter. The ceasefire agreement's progress has slowed but the deal has mostly held. Its second phase is expected to be even more challenging with issues including Gaza's security and governance.

Top diplomats from Thailand and Cambodia have started talks in China to address their border dispute. The meeting comes after a new ceasefire was signed, halting weeks of fighting that killed over 100 people and displaced more than half a million. The talks, mediated by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, aim to ensure a lasting peace. China, along with the U.S. and Malaysia, seeks to mediate the crisis. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold trade privileges unless a ceasefire is maintained. China has also announced emergency aid for Cambodia and expressed readiness to support ongoing dialogue.