The United Kingdom has assisted the United States in seizing a Russian-flagged oil tanker named ‘Bela-1’ in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Britain and Iceland. The British Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force supported the US operation at Washington’s request. The tanker, recently renamed ‘Marinera,’ was reportedly under US sanctions and had previously evaded capture near Venezuela. Russia has strongly protested the seizure.

According to the British Defence Ministry, the operation was conducted in accordance with international law. The ministry stated that the vessel had used a false flag and was linked to international terrorism and criminal networks, including alleged ties to the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. The tanker had turned off its tracking systems and attempted to change its flag during the pursuit.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK would continue to act against “shadow fleets” that threaten global stability. He clarified that no British troops boarded the vessel and praised US forces for their professionalism despite adverse weather. Britain also allowed the US to use its military bases for the operation.

The Lebanese Army announced that it has successfully completed the first phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah. In a statement released on Thursday, the army said the operation covered the area from the Israeli border to the Litani River and achieved its set objectives. The army added that future phases will expand the disarmament effort to other parts of Lebanon.

According to the statement, the army now controls the entire area south of the Litani River, except for several positions still held by Israel near the border. Despite being weakened by the November 2024 war with Israel, the Iran-backed Hezbollah has refused to surrender its weapons in other parts of the country. Under a ceasefire agreement in effect for over a year, Israel was expected to withdraw from Lebanese territory but continues to hold five strategic border positions.

The Lebanese Army said it will continue operations in the south to neutralize unexploded ordnance and locate tunnels dug by Hezbollah, while taking permanent measures to prevent armed groups from rebuilding their military capabilities.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that it has laid off 571 Palestinian employees due to a severe financial crisis. The agency, which has supported Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria for over seven decades, said the layoffs were unavoidable as donations have sharply declined. UNRWA’s spokesperson described the financial situation as unprecedented.

According to the agency, it spent about 880 million dollars in 2025 but received only 570 million in donations, leading to a major deficit. The spokesperson warned that a significant shortfall is expected in 2026 as well. All dismissed employees were based in Gaza but had left before the war began on October 7, 2023, and had been unpaid for more than ten months. The spokesperson said it was impossible to predict when or if they could resume their duties.

Since the war began, more than 300 UNRWA staff members have been killed in Gaza, while about 12,000 continue to work in Palestinian territories. Israel has accused the agency of harboring Hamas members and obstructed its operations in Palestine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian troops in Ukraine are on a 'sacred mission'. He made the remarks on Wednesday at an event with military personnel and their families at the Church of St. George the Victorious in Moscow. Putin compared the soldiers’ role to that of Jesus Christ, saying they are working to protect their homeland and its people.

Putin said that throughout Russian history, soldiers have been viewed as fulfilling a 'sacred mission' sent by God. Addressing the children of service members, he urged them to be proud of their parents and relatives currently engaged in the war, emphasizing that the Russian people have always taken pride in their fighters.

According to the report, Russian forces began their military operation in Ukraine in 2022, and the conflict continues. Since January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has been attempting to bring an end to the hostilities.

Two Indian nationals detained by Bangladeshi fishermen near the Chapainawabganj border were returned to India by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The incident occurred at Daraa Beel in Gomostapur upazila, close to the 219th international pillar at Charaldanga border. The detained individuals, identified as Bachchan Moholdar and Raju Moholdar from Malda district’s Habibpur police station area, were reportedly fishing when they accidentally crossed into Bangladeshi waters.

According to Major Tanim Hasan Khan, acting commander of BGB’s 16th Battalion, the two men were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) following a flag meeting between the two border forces on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting took place at 4 p.m., and the handover occurred around 5 p.m. after BGB personnel rescued the men from local fishermen at Ketabbazar area.

The BGB confirmed the return on Thursday morning, emphasizing that the incident was resolved peacefully through coordination between the two border forces.

A police officer was killed in Iran near Tehran during ongoing protests, according to a report by Fars News on Thursday. The incident occurred in Malard County, west of the capital, as the officer, identified as Shahin Dehghan, was attempting to control the demonstrations. The report stated that efforts are underway to identify those responsible. The killing took place on the twelfth day of nationwide protests.

The protests began on December 28 when Tehran’s merchants demonstrated against the sharp decline of the Iranian currency and rising prices. The movement quickly spread to other cities across the country. According to AFP, demonstrations have now reached 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people, including several members of the security forces.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the officer’s death as unrest persists in multiple regions of Iran.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in talks to convert a $2 billion Saudi loan into a defense deal involving JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, according to a report citing sources. The discussions come months after the two countries signed a mutual defense agreement, signaling deepening military cooperation. The proposed deal could be worth around $4 billion, with half covered by the loan conversion and the rest allocated for other military equipment purchases.

Sources indicate that the talks primarily focus on the supply of JF-17 jets jointly developed by Pakistan and China. Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu recently visited Saudi Arabia, where bilateral defense cooperation was discussed. Retired Air Marshal and analyst Amir Masood noted that Pakistan is negotiating or finalizing defense export deals with six countries, including Saudi Arabia, though he could not confirm specific details.

The discussions reflect Saudi Arabia’s efforts to restructure its security partnerships amid uncertainty over U.S. commitments in the Middle East. Neither Pakistan’s defense ministries nor Saudi officials have issued formal comments on the matter.

The United States has suspended all ongoing food aid programs in Somalia following reports that Somali officials were involved in stealing food assistance. U.S. State Department officials announced the decision on Wednesday, citing a zero-tolerance policy toward theft. The move comes after allegations that Somali officials destroyed a warehouse funded by the U.S.-backed World Food Programme and stole 76 metric tons of food aid intended for impoverished Somalis.

According to the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, Foreign Assistance, and Religious Freedom, the theft deprived vulnerable Somalis of essential food supplies. U.S. officials stated that any future assistance to Somalia will depend on the federal government’s acknowledgment of responsibility and corrective action. Somali officials did not immediately comment on the suspension.

The suspension underscores Washington’s insistence on accountability in aid distribution and signals potential delays in humanitarian support until Somalia addresses the allegations.

Air travel in the French capital Paris was severely disrupted on Wednesday due to intense cold and heavy snowfall. Around 100 flights were canceled at Charles de Gaulle Airport and at least 40 more at Orly Airport, according to the country’s transport minister. The cancellations began early in the morning as authorities worked to manage runway conditions and ensure passenger safety.

The French news agency AFP reported that forecasts on Tuesday night had already warned of possible flight disruptions. Paris Transport Minister Philippe Tabarro told CNews that the situation was expected to normalize by the afternoon. Thousands of passengers were affected by the cancellations, facing delays and travel difficulties.

Airport authorities urged travelers to stay in contact with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates as operations gradually resumed.

Britain and France have agreed to send troops to Ukraine following a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, as part of a 20-point peace plan mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement came after the 'Coalition of the Willing' summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where leaders from 27 nations gathered to strengthen post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. The declaration was signed by Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Starmer stated that Britain and France would establish military bases across Ukraine after the ceasefire, though their forces are unlikely to engage directly with Russian troops if hostilities resume. Macron said the plan includes a multinational European force led by the United States and a ceasefire monitoring mechanism involving European participation. Italy and Poland declined to send troops, while Germany indicated possible contributions to a joint force.

The initiative marks a significant step in post-war planning for Ukraine, though Moscow’s acceptance of the arrangement remains uncertain.

Iran has warned that it may launch preemptive attacks if there are clear signs of enemy aggression. The warning came from Iran’s newly formed Defense Council in a statement broadcast by state media. The council said that crossing Iran’s ‘red lines’ of security, independence, and territorial integrity would not be tolerated. It added that any hostile acts against Iran would be met with a firm response, for which the instigators would bear full responsibility.

The statement further declared that any violation of national interests, interference in internal affairs, or attempts to destabilize Iran would be answered decisively. The council emphasized that Iran would no longer limit itself to retaliating after being attacked but would take proactive measures to safeguard its security. Although the statement did not name any specific country, it comes amid heightened tensions involving the United States and Israel.

The Defense Council was established last June following a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel under the directive of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Heavy fighting between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has forced thousands of civilians to flee Aleppo. Authorities reported on Wednesday night that more than 45,000 people have been displaced since the clashes began on Tuesday. Most of the displaced are moving toward the Afrin valley in the northwest. Many residents are leaving on foot through humanitarian corridors established by the Syrian army, though it remains uncertain when they might return.

Residents described desperate conditions as they fled the violence. Ahmed, a resident of Aleppo, said they escaped the fighting without knowing where to go. Another displaced person, 41-year-old Ammar Razi, said he and his family were forced to leave the country with their six children, uncertain if they would ever return.

Officials confirmed that nine people have been killed since the fighting began. In response, schools, universities, and government offices in Aleppo were closed on Wednesday, and flights at Aleppo airport were suspended until Thursday evening.

At least two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday in Gaza, according to local health authorities. The Israeli military said the strike was carried out in response to an earlier attack on its soldiers and was aimed at a senior Hamas fighter. Doctors reported that several others were injured when the strike hit a house in Gaza City, but the identities of the deceased were not immediately confirmed. Hamas did not issue any immediate comment on the incident.

The Israeli army stated that Hamas fighters had opened fire on its troops earlier in the day, prompting the retaliatory airstrike. The military claimed the targeted Hamas member had led attacks against Israeli forces, though no Israeli casualties were reported. On the same day, a pro-Israel Palestinian militia in Rafah, southern Gaza, claimed responsibility for killing two Hamas members.

The events reflect continuing hostilities in Gaza, with both Israeli forces and local militias reporting deadly exchanges.

Venezuela has claimed that at least 100 people were killed in a United States-led operation conducted to capture President Nicolás Maduro. The announcement was made on Wednesday, January 7, by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. The government had not previously released an official death toll, but the Venezuelan military separately published a list naming 23 dead soldiers. Officials alleged that a significant portion of Maduro’s security forces were deliberately executed during the operation.

Cuba reported that several of its military and intelligence personnel stationed in Venezuela were also killed in the same operation. Cabello stated that during the assault, President Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, was taken and suffered a head injury, while Maduro himself was wounded in the leg. In his weekly program broadcast on state television, Cabello paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, describing them as brave.

The Venezuelan government has declared a week of national mourning starting Tuesday in honor of those killed, according to Cabello’s televised remarks.

The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker named Bela-1 in the North Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. According to US authorities, the vessel was detained for violating sanctions by transporting oil from Venezuela. The US defense secretary stated that sanctions and the embargo on illegal Venezuelan oil would be enforced globally. Reports indicated that US forces attempted to board the tanker by helicopter after it ignored orders from the US Coast Guard.

Russia condemned the seizure, calling it a breach of international maritime law. The Russian transport ministry cited the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation in international waters and prohibits the use of force against vessels registered in another country. Moscow argued that Washington had no legal authority to detain the ship.

The incident has heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington. A US press secretary declined to comment on whether the move would anger Russia but said the tanker violated sanctions and that its crew would face trial in the United States for leaving Venezuelan waters unlawfully.