Happy New Year's Eve, everyone.

From CNN, I'm Aaron Matheson, with the five things you need to know for Wednesday, December 31st.

We start off the coast of Venezuela, where the U.S. has been pursuing an old rusty oil tanker for about two weeks.

Recently, crew members aboard that ship appear to have painted a crude image of a Russian flag

on the ship's hull.

A U.S. official familiar with the matter said, the move is believed to be an attempt at claiming

Russian protection.

By claiming Russian status, the legalities of seizing the vessel could become more complicated.

The official added that the new insignia was spotted by Coast Guard personnel, who are trailing

the tanker as its sails away from Venezuela.

Now, it wasn't clear exactly when the new flag appeared on the side of the massive tanker,

but it has been resisting seizure since December 21st.

American officials don't expect it to return to Venezuela to load up with oil, and it's possible

the Trump administration will abandon its efforts to seize the ship.

But until then, assets have been ready in case the order comes from the White House to re-attempt

a seizure of the tinker.

More news coming up, including the upcoming inauguration of the mayor of New York City,

and what the man who led

two failed prosecutions against President Donald Trump told Congress in a deposition.

The House Judiciary Committee has released a transcript and video of its close-door hearing

with Jack Smith.

You might remember that name.

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