This Week in Explainers: Why the anti-Khamenei uprising is Iran’s most powerful yet

Protests, shootings, and seizures. The first 11 days of the year have unleashed chaos the world over.

On January 3, the US struck Venezuela and captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Celia Flores, from their house in Caracas. Now, Donald Trump has his eyes set on Venezuelan oil. The US president said that the South American nation “will be turning over” up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US, which would be sold at its market place. He added that he would control the money raised and use it to benefit the people of Venezuela and the US.

Amid this, the US continues to seize Venezuela-linked vessels. The US Coast Guard boarded and captured a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday (January 7), which has escalated tensions with Moscow. The ageing tanker, which was sanctioned by Washington in 2024, was heading to Venezuela to pick up oil last month when US forces had first attempted to seize it.

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After Maduro’s capture, Trump has turned his attention to Greeland, renewing his interest in controlling the territory. The White House has said that the US is considering a “range of options” to acquire the island, including the use of military force. Denmark is not sitting quietly. The Danish defence ministry has warned that soldiers will be required to shoot first and ask questions later if the US invades Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of the Nato nation.

In the US, the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an immigration agent has led to widespread anger and protests. Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman, was shot and killed by an ICE agent on Wednesday (January 7). While the Trump administration said that the woman tried to run over officers, a video debunks its claims.

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Iran’s protests have been ongoing for two weeks. Over the last few days, the stir, which started over the economic crisis and has snowballed into anger against the Islamic Republic’s regime, has only intensified despite internet shutdowns and lethal crackdowns.

In our weekly roundup of world news, we talk about all this and more.

1. After the US captured Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, Donald Trump made his plans for the South American nation clear. He wants to “run” the country. What he means is that he wants to control its vast oil reserves and benefit from them. Despite the US president’s promise that American firms would enter Venezuela to repair infrastructure and extract wealth, industry experts say that significant barriers remain. We explain.

2. Piling further pressure on Venezuela, the US forces on Wednesday seized a Russia-flagged oil tanker. Part of a shadow fleet, this rusty vessel was sanctioned in 2024, and the US Coast Guard attempted to seize it last month as it was heading to Venezuela. Now its capture has further strained ties between Washington and Moscow. But will Russia hit back?

3. Greenland is back in the spotlight as Donald Trump has once again reiterated that he wants to control the territory. The White House said that it was looking at many options to acquire the region, including the use of military force. There have also been talks of purchasing Greenland. We decode Trump’s plan.

4. It has been two weeks now, and the unrest in Iran continues. Protesters have poured into the streets in Tehran, Mashhad, and other parts of the Islamic Republic. They have heard chanting “Death to the dictator” and “Don’t be afraid, we are all together,” calling for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the return of monarchy under Reza Pahlavi. The government has tried everything it can, from offering subsidies to an internet blackout and a crackdown. But nothing seems to work. Is the regime under a real threat?

5. In a shocking development in Minneapolis, a US immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman, Renne Nicole Good. This has led to anger and protests across the country. However, the Trump administration tried to cover up the killing by saying Good was attempting to run over ICE agents. A video exposes their lies.

6. A Russia sanctions bill is in the works in the US. Donald Trump has given a go-ahead for legislation that looks to impose 500 per cent tariffs on countries trading with Moscow. This is likely to hurt both India and China, the largest importers of Russian crude. Pushing for this is Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Once a Trump critic, he has now become a strong supporter. Here is what we know about Graham.

7. Gen Z uprisings shook the world last year. Now Pakistan is seeing a Gen-Z revolution of its own, not on the streets but online. An article titled “It is Over” written by Zorain Nizamani, a Pakistani PhD student based in the US, was published in a prominent Pakistani daily on January 1. The piece said that Pakistan’s ruling elites no longer influence the country’s youth. However, this did not go down well powers that be and was taken down after alleged pressure from Pakistan’s army.

Soon, screenshots from the article surfaced online and went viral on social media. Many Pakistanis have accused the state of censorship. This story explains the controversy.

That’s all from us this week. Have a good day. And bookmark this page for more such explainers.

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