The United States says it has seized two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports in “back-to-back” operations in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean.

US forces boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera after a pursuit lasting almost two weeks as it travelled through the waters between Iceland and Scotland. The UK Royal Navy gave logistical support by air and sea.

A second tanker – the M/T Sophia – was accused by the US of “conducting illicit activities” and boarded in the Caribbean.

The moves come as the US seeks to choke off most exports of Venezuelan crude oil, and just days after its special forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a lightning raid on his residence in Caracas.

Venezuela’s leadership is co-operating with the US on the second tanker seized in the Caribbean, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

“They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they co-operate and work with the United States,” he told reporters.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had said that Venezuela – which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves – “will be turning over” up to 50 million barrels of oil worth some $2.8bn (£2.1bn) to the US.

Rubio, who briefed US lawmakers on the ongoing operation in Venezuela on Wednesday, said that the US would sell oil that is in Venezuela “in the marketplace at market rates” and that the US would control how the proceeds were dispersed “in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people”.

He said the US had a considered plan for the future of Venezuela, and that the administration was “not just winging it”.

Rubio said the Trump administration’s plan in Venezuela was stabilisation, recovery and then transition.

But the discussions surrounding oil were only one component of concern US lawmakers had over the escalating conflict.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said lawmakers needed answers to lingering questions of how many US troops could be involved and how much money the US involvement in Venezuela will cost.

Republicans largely appeared to back the administration’s moves in the region, though some expressed concern about what kind of say Congress had.

The Senate is expected to vote next week on a bipartisan war powers resolution – an attempt to block continued military action in Venezuela. A war powers resolution – created in the wake of the Vietnam War – limits a president’s power to involve US armed forces in hostilities without congressional approval.

“If we’re going to have continued engagement in the next phase, I think it has got to be subject to war powers,” North Carolina’s Thom Tillis said.

Meanwhile, Missouri’s Josh Hawley said that if the administration’s actions were a law enforcement operation, then it does not require congressional approval, but “if it’s a military operation involving a foreign head of government, even one we don’t recognise officially, that’s a very different situation”.

China – the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil in recent years – has condemned the US moves and accused it of threatening global energy security.

The seizure of the two tankers was announced by the US military in separate posts on social media on Wednesday.

The US European Command said the M/V Bella 1 – using the former name of the Marinera – was boarded “for violations of US sanctions”.

“The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro”, a Coast Guard cutter.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence said RAF surveillance aircraft and a naval support vessel, the RFA Tideforce, were among the UK military assets that took part in the operation, following a US request for assistance.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the action was “in full compliance with international law”, and “formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions- busting”.

The vessel has been accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil.

Images published by Russian state broadcaster RT show a helicopter close to a ship that appears to be the M/V Bella 1.

The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping shows that the tanker had changed its name to Marinera, and was sailing under the Russian flag. Its home port stated as the southern Russian city of Sochi on the Black Sea.

(BBC)

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the  Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.

Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Pakistan flexed their muscle in the first T20I  in Dambulla, beating Sri Lanka by six wickets with 20 balls to spare. The win was set up by their bowling unit. On a two-paced pitch, Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed picked up three wickets each and a returning Shadab Khan two.

Sri Lanka’s innings never got going. Sent in, they found themselves on 38 for 4 in the seventh over. They recovered to reach 127 for 6 in the 18th but lost the last four wickets for the addition of just one more run.

In reply, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub gave Pakistan a start of 59 in 5.5 overs. Ayub fell for 24 but Farhan carried on, bringing up his fifty off 35 balls. Pakistan did lose three quick wickets when they were around 100 but by then, the result was all but decided. Shadab scored a quick 18 not out off 12 balls and picked up the Player-of-the-Match award.

Given the rain concerns, the pitch had been under covers for the last couple of days. When Salman Agha opted to bowl after winning the toss, he expected his bowlers to make use of the moisture in the surface. He was’t let down. Mirza and Mohammad Wasim largely bowled good lines and lengths, and with some balls skidding through and some holding into the pitch, the run scoring wasn’t easy. When the Sri Lanka openers, Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka, tried to attack, they lost their wickets. As a result, Sri Lakna could manage only 35 for 2 in the powerplay.

Playing his first match for Pakistan since June 2025, Shadab Khan didn’t take long to make an impact. With his third ball, he trapped Kusal Mendis lbw. Two balls later, he had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind with a googly. De Silva, who was playing his first T20I since the 2024 T20 World Cup, made a run-a-ball 10.

At times, Shadab turned his legbreak square. In his third over, he should have had Janith Liyanage caught at long-on. However, Farhan not only dropped the catch but also parried the ball for a six. Still, Shadab finished with 2 for 25 from his four.

Abrar Ahmed, introduced in the 12th over, also struck in his first over. He had Charith Asalanka caught behind to make it 72 for 5. He also had Liyanage dropped off his bowling; this time Mirza grassed a chance at short fine leg. Liayanage rode his luck and added 38 off 23 balls with Wanindu Hasaranga for the sixth wicket. The pair was severe on Mohammad Nawaz, taking 16 off him in the 15th over.

At 106 for 5 with five overs to go and Dasun Shanaka yet to bat, Sri Lanka must have had their sights on 150. But Abrar got rid of Hasaranga and Liyanage in his successive overs. From there on, the end was swift. Mirza and Wasim shared the last three wickets to wrap up the innings.

Sri Lanka had hit their first six in the tenth over of the innings, Pakistan off the tenth ball. Maheesh Theekshana bowled one full outside off and Ayub launched him over extra cover. In the next over, Farhan took Pakistan’s six tally to three with back-to-back hits off Nuwan Thushara. Sri Lanka, in their whole innings, had managed only two.

The pitch had eased out by then but at the same time, the Sri Lanka bowlers showed none of the discipline of their counterparts. Theekshana did bowl Ayub in the sixth over but Sri Lanka needed much more than that.

Shanaka brought Hasaranga on immediately after the powerplay. It was like a last throw of the dice. But with no scoreboard pressure, Farhan and Agha could afford to play him out. Eventually, he dismissed Agha – ironically off a full toss that the batter tried to hit for a six – and finished with 1 for 17 from his quota.

In the meantime, Farhan kept smashing the seamers and took the side past 100 in the 12th over. There was a little hiccup around that time as Pakistan lost three wickets for 12 runs in the space of 19 balls but it did not change anything.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 129 for 4 in 16.4 overs  (Sahibzada Farhan 51, Saim Ayub 24, Salman Agha 16, Shadab Khan 18*; Maheesh Theekshana 1-31, Dushmantha Chameera 1-34, Wanindu Hasaranga  1-17, Dhananjaya de Silva 1-04) beat Sri Lanka 128 in 19.2 overs  (Pathum Nissanka  12, Kusal Mendis  14, Dhananjaya de Silva 10, Charith Asalanka 18, Janith Liyanage 40, Wanidu Hasaranga 18, Dasun Shanaka 12; Salman Mirza 3-18, Mohammad Wasim 2-07, Shadab Khan 2-25, Abrar Ahmed 3-25) by six wickets

(Cricinfo)