Evening Brief: ICE Officer Kills Driver in Minneapolis, US Seizes Iran-Linked Oil Tanker, South Korea Asks China to Mediate With North Korea

US Air Force Awards Boeing $2B Deal to Keep B-52 Bombers Flying Into the 2060s The US Air Force awarded Boeing a $2 billion contract in December to begin upgrading its B-52H Stratofortress bombers, aiming to extend the aircraft’s service life into the 2060s. The work will modernize two aircraft first, adding new Rolls-Royce engines, updated avionics, and other systems before the upgrades expand to the full fleet of 76 bombers, which will be redesignated as B-52Js. The broader modernization program is projected to cost $48.6 billion and addresses the impending obsolescence of the B-52’s original engines, which can no longer be supported after 2030. Thank you, @USAirForce, for your partnership to continue development of the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program. This phase focuses on modifying and flight-testing two B-52 aircraft before full production to increase efficiency, range and operational lifespan of the… pic.twitter.com/rhrQ5TR6iF — Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) January 6, 2026 The Air Force plans to retain the B-52 for its long range and heavy payload capacity as it retires older bombers and fields the B-21 Raider, ensuring the platform remains a core part of US strategic strike capabilities for decades to come.   Pentagon Plans Performance Bonuses for Top Civilian Workers The Department of Defense plans to award cash bonuses to its top-performing civilian employees by the end of the month, under guidance issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The initiative directs Pentagon agencies to reward the top 15 percent of civilian workers with bonuses equal to 15 percent to 25 percent of base pay, capped at $25,000, using existing agency budgets and subject to funding availability. Hegseth announced the plan in December as part of broader efforts to recognize workforce performance during a year marked by budget pressure, workforce reductions, and prolonged uncertainty. The bonuses, which are separate from a one-time payment issued to service members, must be paid by January 30 and do not replace prior awards.   US Seizes Russia-Flagged, Iran-Linked Tanker After Two-Week Atlantic Pursuit US forces seized an oil tanker tied to Iran and sanctioned by Washington on Wednesday after tracking the vessel for more than two weeks in the North Atlantic Ocean, officials said. The ship, formerly named M/T Bella 1 and now flying a Russian flag as the Marinera, was intercepted under a US federal court warrant for alleged sanctions violations that include smuggling cargo linked to Iran-funded groups. The Department of Homeland Security led the operation with support from the Coast Guard and military, using aerial surveillance and pursuit after the tanker evaded a December interdiction attempt in the Caribbean. In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two “ghost fleet” tanker ships— one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean. Both vessels —the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor… pic.twitter.com/EZlHEtcufX — Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 7, 2026 The seizure, about 300 miles south of Iceland, forms part of broader US efforts to enforce sanctions and block “ghost/dark fleet” tankers linked to Russia, Iran and Venezuela from transporting oil amid ongoing pressure on Venezuela’s government and its oil exports. The US also seized a second sanctioned vessel, M/T Sophia, in the Caribbean the same day.   US Warships Pull Back After Maduro Capture as Military Presence Shrinks in Caribbean US military forces have begun scaling back their naval presence in the Caribbean following last weekend’s operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, defense officials said Wednesday. Several warships, including the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) and USS San Antonio (LPD-17), moved north of Cuba into the Atlantic, reducing US troop levels in the region to about 12,000, though they remain available for redeployment if needed. The drawdown comes after US forces completed the Maduro raid, which involved extensive air and naval assets and culminated in his arrest and transfer to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. While President Donald Trump has not ruled out a limited ground deployment to protect oil infrastructure, officials said the ship movements signal that the main mission has ended even as the administration continues interdictions of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers and maintains military pressure in the region.   US Seizure of Maduro Reshapes Russia’s Calculus on Ukraine and Global Power The US operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is reshaping the strategic landscape for Russia by weakening Moscow’s influence in the Western Hemisphere while giving the Kremlin new arguments to defend its war in Ukraine. Russia stands to lose a key ally and billions in energy investments in Venezuela after US President Donald Trump moved to assert US control there, marking another setback following Russia’s failure to protect partners in Syria and Iran. At the same time, Russian officials and analysts point to the operation as evidence that major powers enforce spheres of influence through force, a narrative Russian President Vladimir Putin has long used to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The episode has revived scrutiny of past Russian signals suggesting a willingness to trade influence in Venezuela for freedom of action in Ukraine, an idea rejected by US officials in 2019 but now resurfacing amid Trump’s more assertive foreign policy. As the war in Ukraine continues, the Maduro operation risks complicating Western efforts to uphold international norms while reinforcing Moscow’s claim that global politics now operates on a might-makes-right basis.   Zelenskyy Seeks Another Trump Meeting as Peace Talks Hit Key Roadblocks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that he wants a new meeting with US President Donald Trump to advance peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, focusing on contested issues including security guarantees, control of the eastern Donetsk region, and the fate of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Zelenskyy told reporters that he hopes to discuss a Ukrainian proposal for long-term security commitments from Washington that would extend beyond 15 years if a ceasefire is reached, and urged Trump to increase pressure on Russia, which remains resistant to peace talks and continues military attacks. ⚡️🇺🇸🇺🇦 Zelenskyy suggested meeting with Trump in the near future “I think I will meet with him in the near future. I think I will have a meeting in Washington, maybe somewhere else. Let’s see what the president (of the US) has in mind,” the Ukrainian president said. pic.twitter.com/24sFe4hWmO — MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) January 7, 2026 The appeal comes as Ukrainian and US officials revisit these core disputes in discussions in Paris and as Kyiv pushes Western allies to translate symbolic diplomatic pledges into legally binding guarantees. Zelenskyy also suggested bold US action against Russian allies might strengthen deterrence, though the White House had no immediate comment on his request for another summit.   Deadly Clashes Force Mass Evacuations From Kurdish Areas of Aleppo Fighting escalated Wednesday in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo after the military ordered tens of thousands of civilians to evacuate two predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods, triggering the deadliest clashes in recent months between government forces and Kurdish-led fighters. Syrian authorities declared the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh districts closed military zones and launched what they described as a limited operation in response to attacks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), while the SDF accused government troops of besieging and shelling civilian areas. Fierce fighting between government forces and Kurdish fighters in Syria’s Aleppo has prompted a mass exodus of civilians amid flight suspensions and highway closures, as casualties rise https://t.co/0k4JOp1WzV pic.twitter.com/OxSSkosjek — Reuters (@Reuters) January 7, 2026 At least 12 people were killed across government- and SDF-controlled zones, dozens were wounded, and more than 46,000 residents were displaced across the province.   Taiwan Says China Used War Games to Deter Global Support and Mask Economic Strains China’s large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last week aimed to counter growing international backing for the island and divert domestic attention from Beijing’s economic problems, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau said Wednesday. The drills, known as “Justice Mission 2025,” involved rocket launches toward Taiwan and the deployment of warships and aircraft, disrupting flights and alarming regional allies. Taiwan’s security agency said the exercises carried clear political intent, pairing military pressure with cyberattacks, disinformation, and online influence campaigns to undermine confidence in Taiwan’s government and military while fueling nationalist sentiment in China. Lawmakers are debating proposed amendments to Taiwan’s National Security Law that would outlaw advocating for war against Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/2x5ZnRxHip — TaiwanPlus News (@taiwanplusnews) January 7, 2026 Beijing said the drills were meant to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity, reiterating its claim over Taiwan, which Taipei rejects.   South Korea Asks China to Mediate With North Korea on Nuclear Standoff South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help mediate the North Korean nuclear crisis and reduce tensions between the two Koreas during a summit in Beijing earlier this week. Lee made the request as communication channels with North Korea remain closed and Pyongyang continues to expand its nuclear arsenal after talks with the United States collapsed in 2019. China, North Korea’s main trading partner and diplomatic backer, urged patience and reiterated calls for restraint, according to Lee. 🗣️ South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged China to play a mediator role with North Korea amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula 👉 He said communication between the two Koreas is blocked, with “zero trust” and hostility dominating relations https://t.co/HvVJxqaiz9 pic.twitter.com/M0lsMlm6Oe — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) January 7, 2026 The appeal reflects Seoul’s effort to restart dialogue and pursue phased denuclearization in exchange for incentives, even as North Korea rejects further talks and international pressure mounts over its ongoing weapons development.   Japan Halts Hamaoka Reactor Reviews After Utility Faked Earthquake Data Japan’s nuclear regulator on Wednesday scrapped safety screenings for two reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant after determining that the operator, Chubu Electric Power Co., fabricated seismic data to underestimate earthquake risks. The decision affects the No. 3 and 4 reactors at the central Japan plant, which sits near the earthquake-prone Nankai Trough and has sought approval to restart operations since 2014 and 2015. The Nuclear Regulation Authority launched an investigation earlier this year following a whistleblower tip and confirmed the falsification in December, calling it a serious breach of safety standards. Japan’s nuclear regulator said it was halting the screening needed to restart Chubu Electric Power’s only nuclear power plant after the ‍company ⁠reported inappropriate seismic data handling ‍for the regulatory review. https://t.co/GfIzn4HBjg — The Japan Times (@japantimes) January 7, 2026 The setback complicates Japan’s push to restart nuclear reactors amid high energy costs and carbon reduction goals, more than a decade after the Fukushima disaster left public trust in nuclear power deeply divided.   Sources: News Agencies