10 Things Global News - 7th January 2026
Succinct, unbiased news from around the world
US Military Option Raised in Greenland Dispute
Trump Says Venezuela Will Hand Over Oil After US Operation
Russia Escorts Tanker Sought by US in Atlantic Standoff
UK And France Commit Troops To Post-Ceasefire Ukraine
Putin Calls Troops’ Mission Holy At Christmas Service
Saudi Coalition Strikes Yemen After STC Leader Flees Talks
Tourists Stranded on Socotra as Gulf Rift Halts Flights
China Bans Dual-Use Exports to Japan Over Military Tensions
Israel Orders Doctors Without Borders to End Gaza Operations
Swiss Bar Fire Sparks Probe After Safety Checks Lapsed
The White House said President Donald Trump and his team are discussing a range of options to acquire Greenland and that using the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal. It described acquiring Greenland as a US national security priority and said common adversaries have been increasingly active in the Arctic.
European leaders including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark issued a joint statement saying Greenland belongs to its people and only Denmark and Greenland can decide their relations. Denmark’s prime minister warned that any attack by the US would spell the end of Nato.
Meanwhile, Greenland and Denmark said they had asked to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio quickly. Rubio told lawmakers the administration did not plan to invade Greenland and would prefer to buy it from Denmark, while Denmark’s foreign minister said a meeting should resolve misunderstandings.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian
President Donald Trump said Venezuela will turn over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States following a US military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power. Trump said the oil would be sold at market price, with the proceeds controlled by him to benefit both Venezuela and the United States.
As a result, the announcement sharpened scrutiny of how quickly the plan could affect energy markets. Trump said the US oil industry would be operating in Venezuela within 18 months, but analysts previously told the BBC it could take tens of billions of dollars and potentially a decade to restore output, limiting any near-term impact on global supply.
Meanwhile, administration officials said the oil has already been produced and is being transferred to US facilities for refining. Analysts noted that while the volume sounds large, it is small relative to US daily consumption and unlikely to significantly lower petrol prices. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but production has been declining for years.
Sources: CNN, BBC
Russia has dispatched at least one naval vessel to escort an oil tanker that the United States military has been pursuing and attempting to seize, according to US officials. The move has deepened a confrontation over the ship, formerly known as the Bella 1 and now renamed the Marinera, which Washington says violated sanctions linked to Venezuela.
The incident has become a visible point of friction between the two countries. The tanker was stopped by the US Coast Guard in the Caribbean in December but refused boarding and sailed into the Atlantic. It has since been reflagged as Russian, added to a Russian registry, and accompanied by Russian naval assets while remaining under US surveillance.
Meanwhile, US officials say they hold a seizure warrant and prefer to board the vessel rather than sink it. Russia says the tanker is operating legally under its flag and has criticised what it calls disproportionate US and Nato attention. The standoff follows Washington’s declaration of a blockade on sanctioned oil shipments linked to Venezuela.
Sources: New York Times, BBC
Britain and France have signed an agreement committing to deploy troops inside Ukraine once any ceasefire with Russia takes effect, marking a significant step in European security planning. The declaration was signed in Paris by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Emmanuel Macron and President Volodymyr Zelensky and sets out a European-led multinational force to guarantee a peace deal.
The agreement foresees British and French forces operating on Ukrainian soil as part of a reassurance force, alongside a proposed US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism. The UK and France also plan to establish military hubs across Ukraine to support deployments and protect weapons and equipment.
However, the move carries risks. Russia has opposed any foreign military presence in Ukraine after the war, and officials cautioned that the deployment would only occur once a ceasefire is agreed. While US envoys said Washington strongly supports the security guarantees, the plan underlines Europe’s growing willingness to take the lead in enforcing a future peace.
Sources: The Independent, Le Monde
President Vladimir Putin attended an early Russian Orthodox Christmas service on Wednesday at the St George Victory Bearer church near Moscow, standing among uniformed servicemen and their families. After the liturgy, he said Russia’s warriors carry out a mission of defending the Fatherland and its people, describing it as a holy mission.
His appearance came as the war launched by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears the end of its fourth year, with the Kremlin casting the conflict as a national mission and leaning on patriotic and religious symbolism.
In a Christmas greeting published on the Kremlin website, Putin praised the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations for strengthening social unity and safeguarding Russia’s historical and cultural heritage. He said religious organisations focus on mercy and charity, care for those in need, and support participants and veterans of what Moscow calls a special military operation.
Sources: Reuters, Greek City Times
The Saudi-led coalition has launched air strikes in Yemen’s southern Dhale governorate after the leader of the Southern Transitional Council failed to attend planned talks in Riyadh. The coalition said Aidarous al-Zubaidi was due to fly from Aden on Tuesday night but did not board the plane and fled to an unknown location.
The coalition said it received intelligence that al-Zubaidi had mobilised armed forces equipped with armoured vehicles and heavy and light weapons, which later moved into Dhale. It said pre-emptive strikes were carried out early on Wednesday to disable those forces and prevent an escalation.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s internationally recognised government announced that al-Zubaidi had been removed from the Presidential Leadership Council and referred for investigation on charges including high treason. The STC, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, has recently seized territory in southern Yemen, exposing tensions within the Saudi- and Emirati-backed coalition as efforts continue to contain the conflict.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters
Hundreds of foreign tourists have been stranded on Yemen’s remote Socotra island after flights were halted amid the deepening rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Air traffic at the island’s main airport stopped after Emirati troops withdrew last week under a Saudi deadline, as the two Gulf allies backed opposing forces in renewed fighting on Yemen’s mainland.
Travellers who flew in over the New Year have been unable to leave. Some said they were running out of cash and had not been warned about the risk of conflict when booking trips. Flights had largely operated via the UAE, whose control over the island has waned as Saudi-backed forces moved against UAE-aligned separatists.
Socotra’s strategic importance has come into sharper focus. The island, long insulated from Yemen’s civil war, sits near key shipping routes linking Europe, Asia and Africa. Control over its airport and connectivity has become a proxy for wider influence as the Saudi-Emirati fallout spills beyond the mainland.
Sources: NBC News, Al Jazeera
China has banned exports of dual-use goods to Japan that could enhance Tokyo’s military capabilities, citing rising tensions linked to Taiwan. Beijing’s commerce ministry said the prohibition applies to items for Japanese military users and any other end-users deemed to strengthen Japan’s military power, warning of legal consequences for violations.
Japan lodged a formal protest, with senior officials saying a measure exclusively targeting Japan and deviating from international practice is unacceptable and should be withdrawn. The ban did not specify products, but Chinese authorities indicated it could cover technology such as drones and navigation systems that can be adapted for military use.
The move follows recent frictions between the two countries, including Japanese statements suggesting possible military involvement if China acts against Taiwan and Chinese military drills around the island. Beijing framed the controls as a response to what it called erroneous remarks that violated the One-China principle, while markets in Japan reacted cautiously as officials assessed the potential impact.
Sources: Associated Press, Bloomberg
Israel has ordered Doctors Without Borders to cease operations in the Gaza Strip after the group refused to comply with new licensing rules, including registering all Gazan employees and limiting public criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war. The organisation said it was told it could no longer bring supplies or international staff into Gaza and must end activities by the end of February.
As a result, one of Gaza’s largest remaining medical providers faces closure. Doctors Without Borders says it supports more than 20 percent of remaining hospital beds, treats trauma and malnutrition cases, and distributed large volumes of water last year. It warned that withdrawal would have catastrophic consequences for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
Israel says the measures are needed to prevent militant infiltration and accuses the group of political activity and security risks. A government report cited past statements by the organisation criticising Israel’s campaign. Doctors Without Borders rejected the accusations, calling restrictions on speaking out an outrageous overreach and insisting it would never knowingly employ militants.
Sources: New York Times, Times of Israel
Swiss authorities have acknowledged failing to carry out required fire safety inspections at a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, where a New Year’s Eve blaze killed 40 people and injured 116. Officials said periodic checks were not conducted between 2020 and 2025, despite rules requiring annual inspections.
Prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the bar’s managers on suspicion of involuntary homicide, bodily harm and causing a fire. Investigators believe the blaze began when sparklers on champagne bottles ignited material near the ceiling. Authorities have also revoked the operating licence of another venue owned by the same group.
Meanwhile, the local council said it would hire an external expert to review all public venues and has banned pyrotechnics in enclosed spaces. Of those injured, 83 remain in hospital, and the average age of the victims was 19. Switzerland will hold a national day of mourning on Friday.
Sources: DW, CNN
On this day ….
On this day in 1927 the first transatlantic telephone call was made, linking New York and London through a combination of radio transmission and landline infrastructure.
Though expensive and limited in quality, the call marked a decisive step toward real-time global communication. Governments, financial markets, and news organisations soon adapted to a world where distance mattered less than ever before.
The breakthrough helped accelerate diplomatic coordination, international commerce, and crisis management across borders.
In hindsight, it laid early foundations for the interconnected systems that now define globalisation, illustrating how communications technology often reshapes power and decision-making faster than institutions anticipate.
Trump’s Venezuela raid is being sold as a clean “win”, but the strategic ledger tells a very different story—and the implications run straight through India.I just broke down how the Maduro operation exposed America’s biggest weaknesses and road‑tested a three‑weapon playbook that’s already live in India’s information space.If you care about India’s strategic autonomy and how power actually operates behind headlines, this is worth a read.👉 Full analysis here:
https://substack.com/@geopoliticsinplainsight/p-183843075