SBS News In Easy English 8 January 2026

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TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to SBS News In Easy English. I'm Catriona Stirrat.

A US immigration officer has fatally shot a woman during a mass deportation raid in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

The shooting occurred on a snow-covered street as federal agents attempted to clear a vehicle blocking their path.

President Donald Trump is defending the officer's actions on social media, while local leaders are condemning the use of force as unnecessary.

Witness Brandon Hewitt reported that he filmed the victim's body being moved to an ambulance and emphasises that even as a conservative, he finds the officer's actions unacceptable.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is describing the shooting as "totally avoidable" and is urging people to demonstrate peacefully.

"I have a very simple message, we do not need any further help from the federal government to Donald Trump and Christy nome, you've done enough. We've been warning for weeks that the Trump administration's dangerous, sensationalised operations are a threat to our public safety, that someone was going to get hurt just yesterday, I said exactly that what we're seeing is the consequences of governance designed to generate fear, headlines and conflict."


Authorities are flagging a total fire ban for all of Victoria tomorrow.

Parts of the state, particularly the Mallee, northern country, north-eastern, and north-central districts, are experiencing an extreme heatwave, and the resultant fire dangers.

David Nugent from the State Control Centre says that danger looks like it will soon spread.

"Tomorrow will be particularly challenging if we have any fires. The hot temperatures, and also forecast thunderstorms across the eastern part of the state with many of those storms producing lighting that may well start additional fires for us."

Firefighters are currently battling two main bushfires in the state, with both ground crews and aircraft invovled.

One is at Longwood, between Euroa and Seymour in the state's north, where resdients have been told to leave immediately.

That fire has forced the closure of the Hume Freeway.

The other fire is at Mount Lawson, on the border with New South Wales.



The United States says it is actively discussing buying Greenland.

President Donald Trump has again suggested the possibility of the US controlling the island in recent days.

Fears have been expressed that the United States' involvement in the military operation last weekend in Venezuela could serve as some sort of template or inspiration for US action in Greenland.

The large island of 57,000 people is controlled by Denmark - a NATO ally of the United States.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says Mr Trump views Greenland as strategically important.

"The president has been very open and clear with all of you and with the world that he views it in the best interests of the United States to deter Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic region. And so that's why his team is currently talking about what a potential purchase would look like.”

Germany's Foreign Minister, Johann Wadepuhl, says the future of Greenland is for Denmark and the people of Greenland to decide.

Whilst the UN says it believes in the territorial integrity of member states.



In football, Manchester United has started life without Ruben Amorim with a two-all draw against Burnley in the English Premier League.

United sacked their coach after last weekend's game against Leeds, with Darren Fletcher serving as interim coach.

United led two goals to one against 19th-placed Burnley, after two goals in the space of ten minutes from expensive striker Benjamin Sesko early in the second half.

But a goal from Jaiden Anthony in the 66th minute ensured Burnley earned a point.

United are in seventh place on the ladder, 16 points off top spot.

That was SBS News In Easy English. I'm Catriona Stirrat.

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