Evening Brief: US Drug War Strikes Kill at Least 115, Saudi Airstrikes Hit Emirates-Backed Separatists in Yemen, Zelenskyy Appoints New Chief of Staff

Retired USS Nimitz Reactors Proposed to Power AI Data Center in Tennessee A Texas-based energy firm has proposed repurposing the nuclear reactors from the soon-to-be-retired USS Nimitz (CVN-68) aircraft carrier to generate electricity for data centers in Tennessee, according to filings with the US Department of Energy. HGP Intelligent Energy wants to transfer the carrier’s two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors to Oak Ridge National Laboratory after the Navy removes them during the ship’s decommissioning, a process set to begin after the carrier’s final deployment ended in December. The company says the reactors could produce up to 520 megawatts of power to support energy-intensive artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure at lower cost than building new reactors. ⚛️ A Texas energy company is proposing nuclear power for a data center. Dallas-based HGP Intelligent Energy has submitted a proposal to connect retired nuclear reactors to a data center project in eastern Tennessee. The plan would generate hundreds of megawatts of power as data… pic.twitter.com/dm0enrX9fq — Chron (@chron) December 31, 2025 The proposal comes as the US government pushes to expand domestic AI capacity and as the Navy weighs long-term plans for disposing of or reusing reactors from its aging Nimitz-class fleet. The plan, still under review, would mark the first attempt to reuse supercarrier reactors for civilian power generation.   Saudi Airstrikes Hit UAE-Backed Separatists as Yemen Alliance Frays Saudi warplanes struck forces linked to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southern Yemen on Friday as Riyadh moved to retake camps seized by separatists in the oil-rich Hadramout governorate. The clashes involve Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, STC fighters, and local authorities aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The violence follows the STC’s expansion last month into Hadramout and Mahra, where it displaced Saudi-aligned forces, prompting a Saudi-led operation that officials described as a security measure rather than an act of war. Saudi jets from the Saudi-led coalition carried out multiple airstrikes on positions held by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen’s oil-rich Hadramout province over the past 24 hours, as fighting intensified between rival forces on the ground. Xinhua… pic.twitter.com/ZuUhvY9exg — Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) January 2, 2026 STC leaders accused Saudi Arabia of causing fatalities and blocking mediation, while Saudi officials said separatists refused to de-escalate and obstructed diplomatic efforts. The confrontation unfolded Friday in southern Yemen, underscoring deepening fractures within the anti-Houthi coalition in a conflict that has lasted more than a decade.   Investigators Say Champagne Sparklers Likely Sparked Deadly Swiss Bar Fire Swiss investigators said Friday they believe sparklers attached to Champagne bottles ignited a deadly fire at a crowded New Year’s Eve celebration in the Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana. The blaze tore through the Le Constellation bar early Thursday, killing 40 people and injuring 119 others, many of them teenagers and young adults. Authorities are examining whether the upward-shooting sparks struck the ceiling, whether sound-dampening materials met safety rules, and whether fire extinguishers and escape routes were adequate. Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles started a fire in a bar at an Alpine ski resort that left 40 people dead and another 119 injured during a New Year’s celebration. AP’s @stmcneil is live in Crans-Montana for @MSNOWNews pic.twitter.com/11A0ZxEXbN — The Associated Press | AP 360 (@AP_GMS) January 2, 2026 The victims included Swiss, French, Italian, and other European nationals, and officials warned that prosecutions could follow if criminal liability is found. The incident occurred during peak holiday crowds at one of Switzerland’s best-known ski resorts and ranks among the country’s worst peacetime tragedies.   Zelenskyy Names Intelligence Chief as New Chief of Staff Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday appointed military intelligence chief General Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff, a move aimed at tightening Ukraine’s focus on security, defense development, and peace negotiations as the United States leads diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s nearly four-year invasion. The change follows the dismissal of former chief of staff Andrii Yermak amid an anti-corruption investigation in the energy sector. Budanov, a prominent wartime figure who has led Ukraine’s military intelligence since 2020, brings experience in intelligence operations, special missions, and international talks, including contacts tied to prisoner exchanges. I had a meeting with Kyrylo Budanov and offered him the role of the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of… pic.twitter.com/SCs6Oj2Rb7 — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 2, 2026 The appointment comes as fighting continues, with new missile and drone attacks reported on both sides, and as US, European, and Ukrainian officials work to finalize a peace deal that Zelenskyy says is close but still hinges on unresolved issues such as territory.   Russia Presents Drone Debris to US, Claims Ukraine Targeted Putin Residence A senior Russian military official on Thursday handed alleged Ukrainian drone debris to a US military attaché, saying it proved Kyiv targeted a Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod region earlier this week. Russia claims Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones toward the site and said the incident could affect ongoing US-brokered talks to end the war in Ukraine. Ukraine and Western governments have denied the allegation, with Kyiv calling it disinformation aimed at straining relations with Washington. 🚨🇷🇺🇺🇸 Decrypted data from UAV shot down over Novgorod region handed over to the US Embassy’s military attaché office – Russian Defense Ministry https://t.co/VbK7lxfwn3 pic.twitter.com/GLnOVyNQA3 — Sputnik (@SputnikInt) January 1, 2026 The exchange occurred in Moscow as US officials reviewed the claim, with reports indicating American intelligence found no evidence that Ukraine targeted President Vladimir Putin or his residence.   Pakistan Court Sentences Journalists, YouTubers to Life Over 2023 Riots A Pakistani anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Friday sentenced seven people, including three journalists, two YouTubers, and two retired army officers, to life imprisonment for inciting violence and spreading hatred against state institutions during riots in May 2023. The convictions stem from unrest that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, when supporters attacked military sites and government property across the country. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the verdict after trials held in absentia, as all seven defendants have been living abroad to avoid arrest. Prosecutors said the men used media platforms to encourage violence, while at least one defendant called the ruling politically motivated. Pakistan court sentences journalists to life over links to protests after Imran Khan’s arrest https://t.co/wnM9lo3ED5 https://t.co/wnM9lo3ED5 — Reuters (@Reuters) January 2, 2026 The case highlights ongoing tensions in Pakistan over political dissent, media freedom, and accountability for the violence that erupted after Khan’s arrest.   Sources: News Agencies