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Daily Briefing

Men with guns and explosives burst into a live news broadcast in Ecuador, the launch of a Chinese satellite causes a pre-election political storm in Taiwan, and the fighting in the Gaza Strip intensifies.

Plus, an interview with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani .

By Edson Caldas

Today's Top News

Workers lie on the floor as hooded and armed people take over a TV studio in Ecuador. Reuters TV/via REUTERS

Gunmen with explosives stormed a TV station on-air in Ecuador during a wave of violence around the nation that prompted President Daniel Noboa to name 22 gangs as terrorist organizations to be hunted by the military. We have an explainer on the country's recent flare-up of violence.
The launch of a Chinese satellite that flew over Taiwan, prompting an erroneous air raid alert, sparked a political storm on the island about China's motives only days out from presidential elections. Taiwan goes to the polls on Saturday in what China has called a choice between "peace and war."
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun acknowledged errors by the planemaker as more than 170 jets remained grounded, telling staff the company would ensure an accident like the mid-air Alaska Airlines panel blowout "can never happen again." Here is what airlines and regulators are doing about the 737 MAX 9 jets.
Republican presidential rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley will square off in their first head-to-head debate as they fight to emerge as the clear alternative to frontrunner Donald Trump in the race for the party's White House nomination. Follow the latest on the 2024 US elections.

MIDDLE EAST IN FOCUS

Iraq wants a quick and orderly negotiated exit of US-led military forces from its soil but has not set a deadline, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said, describing their presence as destabilizing. Bureau Chief Timour Azhari talks to the Reuters World News podcast about his interview with Sudani.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank, after pressing Israel's leaders to offer a pathway to a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza is intensifying despite a promise to scale down the war.
Retailers are stocking up on goods before China's Lunar New Year holiday and seeking alternatives to transportation via the Red Sea in a scramble to avoid empty shelves this spring, executives and experts told Reuters. US and UK forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis on Tuesday.

Business & Markets

Overview of the Congress Center ahead of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French President Emmanuel Macron and key Middle East leaders are slated to attend next week's World Economic Forum. We look at what to expect from the gathering in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.
For private equity investor Imad Ghandour changes in Saudi Arabia's laws are prompting a rethink and his firm may buy, for the first time, minority stakes in the kingdom's companies. It is exactly an effect the country's leaders aim for as they seek to woo billions of dollars in new capital to wean its economy off fossil fuels.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi touted his country's economic prospects at a major business summit in his home state as companies Maruti Suzuki and Adani unveiled investment plans worth nearly $30 billion combined. Modi's pitch comes just months before national elections, in which he will seek a third term.
Billionaire hedge fund manager William Ackman, who joined other Harvard graduates in successfully calling for the university's president Claudine Gay to resign, is pressing forward with his efforts to reshape the school's governance by backing a bid by four dissident alumni to join its board of overseers.
The euro zone may have been in recession last quarter and prospects remain weak, European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos said, adding that the recent rapid slowdown in inflation is likely to take a pause now. Euro zone growth has been hovering on either size of zero for most of 2023.

Ukrainians seek recognition for fallen soldiers

Ukrainian actor Anna Birzul visits the grave of her younger brother Bohdan Krotov. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

After her younger brother was killed in November fighting Russian forces, Anna Birzul spent two days stricken with grief. Then she sprang into action, penning a petition asking President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to award 29-year-old Bohdan Krotov the highest military honor, Hero of Ukraine.

Her petition is one of at least 2,000 submitted, usually by a relative or a friend, since Russia's full-scale invasion calling on Zelenskiy to honor a fallen soldier.

Read the full report.

And Finally...

"Star Wars" will return to theaters with "The Mandalorian and Grogu." REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Baby Yoda's next adventure will take the young alien, seen only on a hit "Star Wars" streaming series, to movie theaters. The first feature film inspired by "The Mandalorian" will start production this year. Jon Favreau, creator of the series, will direct the movie.

Read more here: Baby Yoda heads to big screen in new "Star Wars" movie

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