World News brings you the key developments reshaping global geopolitics on January 8.
From the U.S. military seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic and Moscow’s sharp pushback, to rising tensions within NATO over Greenland, and anti-ICE protests spreading across American cities - this edition tracks how power, enforcement, and resistance are colliding across continents. Pankaj Mishra brings the details.
#WorldNews
#TrumpNews
#GlobalTensions
#USRussia
#NATO
#GreenlandCrisis
#HighSeas
#ICEProtests
#Geopolitics
#Jan8News
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From the U.S. military seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic and Moscow’s sharp pushback, to rising tensions within NATO over Greenland, and anti-ICE protests spreading across American cities - this edition tracks how power, enforcement, and resistance are colliding across continents. Pankaj Mishra brings the details.
#WorldNews
#TrumpNews
#GlobalTensions
#USRussia
#NATO
#GreenlandCrisis
#HighSeas
#ICEProtests
#Geopolitics
#Jan8News
~HT.410~PR.282~
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening. On World News Today, escalation at sea, fractures within alliances and unrest
00:08on America's streets. From a dramatic US military seizure of a Russia-flagged oil tanker in
00:15the Atlantic, triggering sharp condemnation from Moscow to protests against immigration
00:20enforcement spread across multiple states in the United States. We begin with the high
00:26seas confrontation that is rapidly widening global fault lines.
00:33New visuals have surfaced of US forces boarding and seizing a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the
00:40Atlantic Ocean after a weeks-long pursuit, a move that has escalated tensions with Moscow and piled
00:47fresh pressure on Venezuela. The vessel, formerly known as Bella One, had been sanctioned by
00:54Washington for operating within what the US calls a shadow fleet, transporting illicit oil.
01:01Here's what unfolded on the high seas.
01:07Russia now threatens nuclear retaliation after the United States seized a Russian oil tanker at sea.
01:14What began as a sanctions enforcement operation is now triggering dangerous escalation between two
01:22nuclear powers. So what exactly happened? And how close is this to spiraling out of control?
01:29Let's break it down. On January 7, 2026, US forces, including Navy SEALs and the Coast Guard, boarded and seized a
01:39Russian-flagged oil tanker called Marinara, about 190 miles south of Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean.
01:48This wasn't a sudden move. The tanker had been under pursuit for nearly two weeks. Back on December 21st, in the Caribbean Sea, the ship evaded an initial U.S. boarding
02:00attempt while heading to load sanctioned Venezuelan oil. According to U.S. officials, this ship was part
02:07of a so-called shadow fleet, vessels accused of secretly moving oil for Russia, Iran, and Venezuela in
02:16violation of U.S. sanctions. During the chase, the tanker allegedly changed its name, flag, and
02:23registration, a classic tactic to avoid capture. By the time U.S. forces boarded it, the ship was empty, but the message was
02:32already clear. At the same time, the U.S. also seized another tanker, the Sofia, in the Caribbean, described as stateless and
02:41linked to Chinese operators. Here's where things get more dangerous. During the operation, Russian naval assets, including a
02:50submarine and surface vessels, were in the same area, escorting the tanker. Russia had formally axed the U.S. to
02:58stop the pursuit. Washington refused. U.S. European Command says there was no direct confrontation, but the
03:05proximity alone raised alarms. The crew, which includes Russian nationals, was detained. Russia claims they
03:13were taken hostages. The U.S. says this is a lawful detention with possible criminal charges for sanctions
03:19evasion. Moscow's response was immediate and explosive. Senior Russian lawmakers called the
03:26seizure piracy, an attack on Russian sovereignty. One official openly suggested torpedoing U.S. ships
03:34and evoked Russia's nuclear doctrine, which allows nuclear use if sovereignty is threatened. So far,
03:41no military retaliation has happened, but the rhetoric alone is enough to rattle global nerves.
03:48This incident doesn't exist in isolation. It comes amid war in Ukraine, tightening U.S. sanctions on
03:55Russian energy, and a major shift in Venezuela. Just days earlier, the U.S. captured Nicolas Maduro,
04:03installed an interim government, and demanded Venezuela cut ties with Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba.
04:10Venezuela has now agreed to sell tens of millions of barrels of oil to the U.S.,
04:15with Washington controlling the sales. China has called this economic bullying.
04:22The big question now, will Russia move beyond words, or will diplomacy step in before a single
04:29miscalculation turns a tanker seizure into a global crisis?
04:39Russia has meanwhile strongly condemned the tanker seizure, accusing the United States of acting beyond
04:45international law. Moscow says the tanker, renamed Marinera, was legally sailing under the Russian flag,
04:52backed by a temporary permit issued late last year. Russia insists Washington had no authority
04:59to use force against a vessel on the high seas. Here's Moscow's response.
05:03Russia is furious, and the warnings coming out of Moscow are explosive. After U.S. forces seized a Russian
05:16flagged oil tanker in international waters, Russian officials are now openly talking about sinking American
05:23boats. The vessel at the center of the storm is the tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1.
05:30U.S. military forces, working with the Coast Guard, boarded and seized the ship in the North Atlantic,
05:37north of Scotland, under a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court. Washington claims the tanker was part of
05:44a network transporting sanctioned oil linked to Venezuela and Iran. But Moscow strongly rejects that claim.
05:52Russia's foreign ministry says the seizure was illegal, calling it a gross violation of international
05:59maritime law. Officials insist the ship was lawfully registered under the Russian flag and was operating
06:06in accordance with both Russian and international regulations. They are also demanding the immediate
06:12release of the vessel, safe treatment of Russian crew members and their return home. Then came the most
06:19alarming statement. Russian lawmaker Alexei Zhuralev warned that the U.S. must be stopped,
06:25even suggesting torpedo attacks and sinking American post guard vessels. His message, the U.S. is acting
06:33with total impunity and only force will make it back down. To attack with torpedoes, to sink a couple of
06:41American Coast Guard boats, normally they guard their shore several thousand kilometers away from it.
06:46I think the United States, which is in a kind of euphoria of impunity after the special operation in
06:53Venezuela, can only be stopped now with such a click on the nose. Washington claims the marinara vessel was
07:01part of a network of ships used to transport sanctioned oil linked to Venezuela and Iran.
07:07Meanwhile, in Russia, the seizure has been framed as a direct violation of international law and Russian
07:13sovereignty. Russian officials have insisted that the tanker was lawfully registered under the Russian flag and
07:20was operating in accordance with both Russian and international regulations. The Russian Ministry of Transport
07:27earlier said the marinara received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation flag on
07:34December 25, 2025. According to the Ministry, the vessel was boarded by U.S. naval forces on the high seas outside the
07:43territorial waters of any state, after which contact with the tanker was lost. Russian authorities have repeatedly cited the
07:511982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation in
07:58international waters and restricts the use of force against foreign-flagged vessels. The situation is even tenser
08:06after reports that Russian naval assets, including a submarine, were operating nearby during the seizure.
08:13The Kremlin hasn't officially endorsed threats of retaliation, but the rhetoric alone shows how fast this
08:20incident is escalating. Another ship seized, another flashpoint at sea, and a growing risk that sanctions
08:27enforcement could turn into something far more dangerous. In a rare and chilling warning, Denmark has told
08:34the United States that its troops have standing orders to open fire if Greenland is invaded. Even if the
08:42the aggressor is a NATO ally. The warning follows renewed statements from the United States President
08:49Donald Trump, who has once again described Greenland as a national security priority and pushed the idea
08:56of a U.S. takeover. Seven European and NATO nations have publicly backed Denmark, reaffirming that Greenland
09:04is Danish territory and not for sale. Here's why this rhetoric is rattling the alliance.
09:12Danish soldiers in Greenland would shoot first and ask questions later if the U.S. invaded. Why are we
09:21talking about it now? Well, U.S. rhetoric about Greenland has heated up. President Trump has called
09:28Greenland a national security priority, and that prompted Denmark's defense ministry to confirm to
09:34reporters, yes, Danish soldiers would resist. No hesitation, no exceptions, even if the invading force
09:42came from a NATO ally like the U.S. This isn't some new policy. It's actually from 1952, a Cold War era
09:51military directive. Back then, Denmark was worried about the Soviets moving into the Arctic. The rule told
09:58Danish troops in Greenland to immediately take up arms against any invading force without waiting for
10:04orders. Fast forward to today, and it turns out that rule is still in effect. Here's the context. Denmark has
10:12about 7,000 deployable troops, though only a small number are stationed in Greenland at any given time.
10:19The U.S. does have a presence there at Patufik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, but under the 1951
10:27Defense Agreement. That means roughly 150 American personnel operate there for missile warning and space
10:34surveillance. But Denmark still controls the territory. The U.S. doesn't own Greenland. It doesn't get to
10:41expand bases at well. So does this mean war? Right now, the rhetoric seems aimed at pressuring
10:49Denmark into a deal, not prepping an invasion. Officials in Washington have said military action
10:55is always an option, but buying Greenland peacefully is still the preferred path.
11:01Well, that's something that's currently being actively discussed by the president and his national
11:05security team. And I would point out that the acquisition of Greenland by the United States
11:10is not a new idea. This is something that presidents dating back to the 1800s have said is
11:15advantageous for America's national security. But here's why it matters. Greenland is part of
11:22Denmark, a NATO member. If the U.S. tried to take it by force, NATO Article 5 would kick in,
11:29and suddenly allies would have to choose sides. That's why seven European countries — Denmark, France,
11:36Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and UK — came out together saying,
11:42Greenland belongs to its people. We stand with Denmark. The U.S. doesn't have a historical claim
11:49either. Greenland has been under Danish control for centuries, got home rule in 1979, and full
11:55autonomy in domestic affairs since 2009. Past attempts by the U.S. from Truman's 1946 purchase offer
12:03to Trump's 2019 proposal have all been rejected. And this comes right after the U.S. operation in
12:10Venezuela, where American forces captured Maduro and seized millions of barrels of oil. That's why
12:17analysts are paying attention, because using military force to secure resources could destabilize
12:23alliances, fracture NATO, and invite opportunistic moves from Russia and China. It's not WW3 tomorrow,
12:30but it's a tension you definitely want to watch. So here's the bottom line. Denmark is sending
12:37a clear message. Greenland is theirs to defend. Any attempt to take it by force will be met with
12:43armed resistance. And in the Arctic, in 2026, that's a line you don't want to cross.
12:49So from alliance tensions abroad to unrest at home across the United States, protests are unfolding
13:01against immigration enforcement as we speak, with demonstrations reported in New York, North Carolina,
13:08and Texas. Activist groups have organized coordinated rallies outside federal buildings,
13:14accusing United States authorities of heavy-handed immigration policies. Crowds have already gathered
13:20in New York City, while multiple protests are scheduled across North Carolina this evening.
13:25Here's the latest from the ground. What began as an immigration raid in Minneapolis has now
13:32exploded into nationwide outrage. An ICE agent shot and killed a 37-year-old mother of three,
13:40and within hours, protests erupted, schools shut down, and federal vehicles were attacked.
13:47Now, officials are telling very different stories about what really happened. Wednesday morning,
13:53in a quiet, snow-covered neighborhood just south of downtown Minneapolis, Renee Nicole Macklin-Good
13:59sat behind the wheel of her SUV. Minutes later, she was dead, shot in the head by a federal immigration
14:07officer. ICE and Homeland Security officials quickly claimed the shooting was self-defense,
14:13saying the woman tried to ram officers with her vehicle. I want to reiterate, first with all of you,
14:19the facts of what happened today. At 1025 AM Central Time, Immigration and Customs Enforcement were
14:25carrying out lawful operations here in Minneapolis. Because of the adverse weather that Minneapolis has
14:30seen in recent snow, one of the vehicles became stuck and ensnared in the snow. Law enforcement were
14:36attempting to push out this vehicle, and when a mob of agitators that were harassing them all day began
14:42blocking them in, shouting at them, and impeding law enforcement operations. ICE officers and agents
14:49approached the vehicle of the individual in question, who was blocking the officers in with her
14:54vehicle, and she had been stalking and impeding their work all throughout the day. ICE agents
15:00repeatedly ordered her to get out of the car and to stop obstructing law enforcement, but she refused to
15:06obey their commands. She then proceeded to weaponize her vehicle, and she attempted to run a law enforcement
15:13officer over. This appears as an attempt to kill or cause bodily harm to agents, an act of domestic terrorism.
15:23The ICE officer, fearing for his life and the other officers around him and the safety of the public,
15:28fired defensive shots. He used his training to save his own life and that of his colleagues. He was
15:34treated at a local hospital, has been released, and is now with family. I encourage the American people
15:40at this point in time to pray for him, but also to pray for the deceased's family and her loved ones.
15:45But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called that explanation garbage, saying video footage directly
15:52contradicts the federal account. According to witnesses, Macklin Goode was trying to leave the
15:58area when agents surrounded her car. One nearby resident says an officer stood in front of the vehicle,
16:05pressed against the hood and then fired multiple shots through the windshield. Despite federal
16:11officials labeling the incident domestic terrorism, local leaders aren't buying it. Mayor Frey and
16:18Governor Tim Walts both say this tragedy was predictable and preventable. This morning we learned that an ICE
16:25officer shot and killed someone in Minneapolis. My deepest condolences to the family, to the loved ones who
16:30had to learn about this tragic event on national television. We've been warning for weeks that the
16:36Trump administration's dangerous sensationalized operations are a threat to our public safety,
16:42that someone was going to get hurt. Just yesterday I said exactly that. What we're seeing is the
16:48consequences of governance designed to generate fear, headlines, and conflict. It's governing by reality TV,
16:55and today that recklessness cost someone their life. I've reached out to Secretary of Homeland Security
17:01Kristi Noem and I'm waiting to hear back. Let me be clear, that Trump and his, Donald Trump and his
17:08administration may not care much about Minnesota, that's been pretty evident, but we love this state.
17:13We won't let them tear us apart, we'll not turn against each other. To Minnesotans I say this, I feel your
17:19anger. I'm angry. Within hours, protesters flooded the streets chanting, ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA. Some
17:28demonstrators clashed with heavily armed federal agents wearing gas masks. Chemical munitions were fired,
17:35ICE vehicles were damaged, and spontaneous protests spread to other cities across the country.
17:42Minneapolis public schools canceled classes and activities for two days, citing safety concerns.
17:49This shooting happened just one mile from where George Floyd was murdered in 2020, reopening deep
17:55wounds in a city still shaped by police violence protests. The twin cities have also become a major
18:03target of the Trump administration's latest immigration crackdown, particularly against the
18:08Somali-American community. More than 2,000 federal officers have been deployed to the area as ICE operations
18:15intensify. Family members described Renee Macklin-Good as compassionate, deeply religious, and devoted to
18:23her children. She had just dropped off her six-year-old son at school that morning. The FBI is investigating the
18:30shooting. Federal officials stand by the agent. City and state leaders are demanding accountability,
18:36and tensions remain high as protests continue. One woman is dead, a city is on edge, and once again
18:44America is confronting the explosive intersection of immigration enforcement, federal power, and the use
18:50of deadly force.
18:53So, tonight, a world where enforcement is pushing into open confrontation. Alliances are being stress tested,
19:00and domestic pressures are spilling onto the streets.
19:03That's world news for you. I am Bhankaj Mishra.
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