Minnesota officials say FBI blocked their access to ICE shooting probe

BBC:

Minnesota officials say FBI blocked their access to ICE shooting probe

12 hours ago
Madeline Halpert

Minneapolis

Eloise Alanna/BBC
Flowers have been left at the scene of the shooting in tribute to Renee Good


Minnesota officials say the FBI has blocked their access to an investigation into the fatal shooting of a woman by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.

People have taken to the streets of Minneapolis to protest the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who died on Wednesday after being shot in her car.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has accused the Trump administration of blocking state officials from involvement in the case, but the US vice-president said the investigation is a federal issue.

Officials have offered differing accounts of the incident, with the Trump administration claiming the ICE agent was acting in self defence, while local officials say the woman posed no danger.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has claimed the ICE agent shot Good multiple times because she was trying to run over the officer in her car.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation said it would investigate the incident.

Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said the FBI had initially agreed to a joint investigation with state officials but then reversed course and denied the state access to materials and evidence.

Without the ability to access all the necessary case materials and evidence, the BCA has "reluctantly withdrawn" from the investigation, the BCA's superintendent Drew Evans said in a statement.



Politicians divided on Minneapolis shooting


Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Walz said he was worried the federal government would not be able to carry out an unbiased investigation.

"It feels now that Minnesota has been taken out of the investigation," Walz said. "It feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome."

Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Thursday that the investigation into the shooting was a federal issue, arguing it would go against precedent for a local official to be involved in prosecuting the case.

Videos of the incident show ICE agents approaching a car which is in the middle of the street, and tell the woman behind the wheel to get out of the SUV. One of the agents tugs at the driver's side door handle.

As the vehicle attempts to drive off, one of the agents points their gun at the driver and several shots are heard.

The car then continues to drive away from the officer and crashes into the side of the street.

At the scene of the crash on Thursday, blood from the shooting could still be seen in the snow. People set up a vigil at the site to honour Good, lining the bank with candles and roses.

Hundreds of demonstrators showed up throughout the day, shouting insults at ICE and offering their neighbours coffee on the cold winter day.

Susie Hawyard, a minister, said she went to the scene of the shooting as soon as she heard the news to verify "with my own eyes" what happened.

Eloise Alanna/BBC
Members of the community have been gathering to pay their respects to Good


"I was horrified," she said. "I saw the car, I saw Renee's car, I saw Renee's blood."

Protesters also gathered at a federal building in Minneapolis early Thursday morning, where they were met with armed officers. The protests remained largely peaceful there, as residents expressed their anger over the killing of Good.

"They cannot get away with killing someone. There has to be consequences for actions," said Gavin, one of dozens of people outside the federal building.

Those who knew Good said she was a poet and guitarist who had just moved to the city of Minneapolis.

Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that her daughter was "probably terrified" during the confrontation with officers that saw her fatally shot.

"She was extremely compassionate," Ganger told the daily newspaper. "She's taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being."

Even those who did not know Good said they were touched by her death.

"Renee was everything that was good about our community," said Nimco Ahmad, a Somali immigrant who grew up just blocks from the incident.

Ahmad said she and others were gathered to help ensure justice would be secured for Good.

Eloise Alanna/BBC
Nimco Ahmad said the shooting has shaken up the welcoming community of Minneapolis


The exclusion of state authorities from the probe into Good's killing is likely to undermine public trust, said Edward Maguire, a criminology professor at Arizona State University.

"From a criminological perspective, jurisdictional claims in cases like this are often less about legal requirements and more about political efforts to control the investigation and shape its outcome," he said.

But the state could still file criminal charges later against the federal officer who killed Good, said Bryna Godar, a staff attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Is PAS really a 'snake' that bites its friends?

Is PAS really a 'snake' that bites its friends?

James Chai
Published: Jan 8, 2026 11:15 AM
Updated: 6:50 PM



COMMENT | When Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh presented his ideas to his boss, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, he was probably looking for a big break in his political career.

Three days before the meeting with Zahid, Akmal organised an Umno Youth special convention, where the youth wing he leads called for its party to leave the government.

“Umno members are not cowards,” he said.

However, Akmal went further. He saw the split of Malay parties as a tragedy, and revived the grand dream of combining the two largest Malay parties, Umno and PAS, in the Muafakat Nasional tent.

This was opportunistic as PAS leaders now felt betrayed by Bersatu after the Perlis menteri besar crisis, where a coup resulted in the PAS menteri besar being replaced by a Bersatu leader.

Akmal even had the backing of PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who wanted MN to be “immediately” launched after Umno leaves the coalition government.

Every Malay party leader has tried to unify the Malays (former Umno president Onn Jaafar’s Kongres Melayu, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah, Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s “Kongres Maruah Melayu”, and the current prime minister’s Bumiputera Economic Congress).

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh


The moves were made because they stoked a profound longing among Malays and would almost guarantee electoral dominance. Imagine the most prominent Malay-Muslim leaders seated together with a common Malay agenda.

And then imagine Akmal as the first proposer. If it worked this time, Akmal would have achieved a rare feat in Malaysian political history.

However, this was not meant to be.

Zahid did not seem convinced and urged his party not to “indulge in nostalgia”, and promised to stay with the coalition government for now.

He also said Umno does not want to be “bitten by the same snake a second time”.

PAS’ betrayal of Umno

In Malay culture, snakes are commonly used as imagery to describe a hidden betrayal that is close to you or two-faced behaviour.

For Zahid to use such a harsh description shows that Umno has not moved on from its perceived betrayal by PAS after they formed MN in 2019.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Notwithstanding the hype around the pact, it was a project that lasted for barely five months. It was not even a formal coalition; it was only a charter signed by both parties to champion Malay-Muslim issues.

Yet, Umno expected some degree of loyalty from PAS, and felt betrayed when PAS went on to form a formal political coalition with Bersatu. Even after five years, Zahid still doubts PAS’ sincerity and accuses them of abandoning the project.

Most political parties have the right to be cautious of PAS. The Islamic party has partnered with most major political parties, and almost all of them ended acrimoniously.

The only time PAS could work well with its partners was when the others were small, bordering on insignificant: Gerakan, Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (Berjasa), and Malaysia National Alliance Party (Ikatan).

Based on their coalition track records, there seem to be at least three reasons why it is hard for others to work with PAS.

Why PAS always abandons partners

First, PAS’ long-term thinking sees every partner as merely a tool. What cannot be taken away from PAS is that it has a clear long-term vision that has not changed since its founding in 1951.

PAS believes in a government and society that is led by Islamic leadership, with Islamic precepts and syariah law governing every aspect. While the zeal and gradient of this may vary through the decades, the long-term vision did not change.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang


Under PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, this takes a more exclusivist tone of marginalising non-believers.

Another proof of PAS’ long-term vision is its launch of the “Wawasan Induk Negara Sejahtera 2051” that lays its grand vision of how Malaysia should be transformed at the party’s 100th year.

That is why it does not see coalition partnership the same way other parties do. It does not matter who they work with, as long as it serves them to get closer to the party’s long-term vision.

PAS used to hold on to the principle of “tahaluf siyasi” (or political pact) to justify working with BN (1974), Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (1990), Barisan Alternatif (1999), Pakatan Rakyat (2008).

It then changed to a new strategy called “ta’awun siyasi” (or political cooperation), which is a looser concept that allows it to work with as many parties as possible - even at the same time.

It was what helped justify a flexible partnership with arch-rival Umno, but still formed a political coalition with Bersatu. It was why this was perceived as a betrayal to Umno but was logical to PAS and its long-term vision.

‘Big brother’ tendency

Second, PAS has a “big brother” tendency that is growing by the election. When times are good, it would not take long before PAS shows how uncomfortable they are playing second fiddle.

In 1999, when it won 27 seats (from the previous seven seats) as part of Barisan Alternatif with DAP, Keadilan, and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), it became overzealous and started pursuing kharaj land tax on non-Muslims, mandating Muslim dress codes, banning gambling and restricting alcohol, and pushed for syariah enactments in Kelantan and Terengganu.

DAP left the pact. The current rift with Bersatu is similar, as PAS is not only the largest party in Parliament now, but has also made breakthroughs in Sabah and Negeri Sembilan to feel confident.

Even when times are bad, PAS has a track record of making unilateral decisions and violating coalition principles. Despite rejections by DAP and PKR, PAS insisted on implementing hudud when it was part of Pakatan Rakyat.

Similarly, Umno’s main grievance against PAS was that the Islamic party did not consult Umno before forming Perikatan Nasional, resulting in the severance of trust and the MN structure.

And this can be attributed to how PAS works. Its ulama leadership is the central authority. The veto authority of its ulama outweighs any coalition discussion.

It is hard for PAS to view its ulama as being subservient or even equal to other coalition partners. After all, any partnership is meant to serve PAS’ highest truth of governing the country with Islam. There could not be anything higher.

Third, PAS’ ideological stance will not shift. In its party constitution, 2003 Islamic State document, official speeches, and multiple peer-reviewed journals, it is unambiguous that PAS is intent on an Islamic state that runs on Islamic precepts and syariah laws.

The short diversion to use “negara berkebajikan” (welfare state) in 2011 was simply a matter of relabelling and sequencing (welfare first, to lead to an Islamic state).

Other parties are aware of this, but were still open to working with PAS because of what they bring. PAS has one of the most disciplined party machinery that could be mobilised in an instant.

Its 70-year grassroots infrastructure is mature, covering pre-schools to secondary schools, youth volunteering corps, and civil society. In a world where voters are split, a party that could deliver between 30 to 40 MP seats with certainty is a kingmaker.

By this time, every party knows what it is like to work with PAS. Yet, most parties are still tempted to consider, given PAS’ seemingly unstoppable electoral ascendency.

These parties will convince themselves that they could manage PAS’ behaviour and eventually come out on top. However, they should ask Bersatu how this turned out.

JAMES CHAI is a visiting fellow at Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute and the author of the bestselling book titled “Sang Kancil: A Tale of How Ordinary Malaysians Defied the Odds” (Penguin Random House). More of his writing can be found at jameschaiwriting.substack.com He could be reached at jameschai.mpuk@gmail.com

Appeals for Najib's full pardon to take centre stage at Umno AGM

Appeals for Najib's full pardon to take centre stage at Umno AGM

Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
Published: Jan 9, 2026 3:51 PM
Updated: 8:03 PM



Calls for former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak to receive a full pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong are expected to top the agenda at Umno’s upcoming general assembly.

Party secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that out of the 662 motions received thus far from delegates nationwide, 104 of them are seeking debates regarding ensuring “justice” for the former Umno president.

“One of the hottest and most submitted motions by divisions (are those) demanding justice and a full pardon for (Najib),” Asyraf told a press conference at the Umno headquarters in Menara Dato Onn today.

The motions, he disclosed, are more about appealing for mercy and pardon on Najib’s behalf.

“(Delegates who submitted the motions) are well aware that the power to grant pardons does not lie with the government, but is an absolute prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“The language used in most of the motions (hints at) appeals for compassion from the king,” he said.

Istana Negara


He noted that besides debates on Najib’s situation, 56 divisions had submitted motions urging the government to expand and comprehensively implement TVET programmes for youths.

On Dec 26 last year, the High Court convicted Najib of 21 money laundering charges and four counts of power abuse in his trial related to the global financial scandal, 1MDB.

Following the conviction, judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah sentenced Najib to 15 years in jail and an RM11.38 billion fine for his power abuse charges, as well as five years’ jail for each of his money laundering charges.

If he cannot pay the fine, he will have to serve 10 additional years in jail in default.

However, the imprisonment terms were ordered to run concurrently, making it a total of 15 more years in prison for Najib, which he is to start serving after he exhausts his ongoing jail term for his SRC International case.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak


On Dec 22, the High Court had also dismissed Najib’s bid for house arrest, with judge Alice Yoke ruling that the royal decree on the matter was invalid under the law.

No motions to leave govt for now

Asyraf also affirmed today that there have been no motions submitted thus far concerning demands for Umno to leave the unity government.

However, he pointed out that the issue could be raised by speakers in relation to other matters, stressing that Umno will not attempt to silence such voices if the topic is brought up.

“As for the motions officially submitted to Umno’s headquarters, not a single one calls for Umno to withdraw from the unity government, of which Umno is a key party.

“But, as usual, we cannot prevent delegates from raising issues… issues may be raised or debated, but at the Umno headquarters secretariat level, we do not block anything,” he said.

Emphasising that no submitted motion is ever rejected, he said that since the Umno annual general assembly is typically regarded as a platform for reflection and introspection, there is no point in preventing grassroots’ voices from being heard “officially, directly, and personally”.

‘Too early to talk elections’

When asked if any motions encouraging cooperation with other parties for future state and general elections were submitted, Asyraf answered in the negative.

“So far, none. I think it’s still too early. Previously, motions like ‘no DAP, no Anwar, no Bersatu’ usually only came closer to election time.

“This year, we may have two Umno general assemblies because the 2025 (assembly) was supposed to be held in November (last year), but was postponed due to the Sabah state election… so in 2026, there will certainly be another one,” he added.

Earlier this week, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had maintained that the party will remain part of the coalition government until the end of the current parliamentary term and the 16th general election.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi


Zahid had also, for the time being, ruled out any return to past political arrangements, referring to the short-lived Muafakat Nasional pact between Umno and PAS.

The deputy prime minister’s stance on the matter came despite Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh previously urging Umno to leave the government and assume the role of the opposition to rebuild its strength.

During a special Umno Youth convention on Jan 3, Akmal had also stressed that Malay unity must begin with Umno and PAS as the two largest Malay-based parties.

Govt allies not invited

On a separate matter, Asyraf said today that representatives of Umno’s unity government allies have not been invited to attend the party’s assembly, scheduled to take place between Jan 14 and 17 at the World Trade Centre.

“We did not invite outsiders because we want to focus internally, so that delegates can speak openly. Umno has strong traditions of courtesy and Malay etiquette, (so) if outsiders are invited, (delegates) may hold back.

“Umno, by tradition, is polite and refined. So, if Umno (members) wants to speak, let it be within the family, where people can speak properly and respectfully,” he said.

He noted, however, that figures from BN component parties, including MIC and MCA, as well as Friends of BN, are expected to attend the event, with invitations having already been extended.

James Chin snubs Zaid for denying Akmal, UMNO subtly advocating “one-race, one-religion country”

James Chin snubs Zaid for denying Akmal, UMNO subtly advocating “one-race, one-religion country”






THAT he has completely “missed the sarcasm” of political commentator Prof James Chin on the desire of UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh to step down has infamously pitted former de-facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and the former in a ‘witty’ exchange over making Malaysia a “one race, one religion” country.


This follows the mocking by the inaugural director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania that the staunch defender of race and religion should stay put given “the Malay nationalists want you to stay and take over UMNO and bring UMNO into MN (Muafakat Nasional)”.



“Then you will implement your vision of “one race one religion” country. Make Malaysia Malay Again!” Chin had reacted on his Facebook page.



However, the Opposition-slant UMNO member took the Sarawakian-born academician’s words at face value by coming to the defence of Akmal’s action while denying that the ultimate goal is “to create a one-race, one-religion country”.


“Akmal and those UMNO members who wish to play no more part in the Madani government are not bent on creating a one-race and one-religion country as Chin puts it,” rebutted Zaid in a FB post.

“If the Malays and UMNO were that way inclined, they could have done so after 1969. Why revert to parliamentary democracy after only three years of the Emergency? Is that not generosity or considerate on our part?”



Zaid who acted as the defence counsel of disgraced former premier further Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his SRC International Sdn Bhd trial further alluded to the so-called ‘generosity’ of the Malays as the host of the country.

The founder of Zaid Ibrahim & Co, the largest private law firm in Malaysia (which he no longer owns), further contended that the anger that Akmal and grassroots UMNO members have against the party’s leadership stems from its president being overly protective and generous toward Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP.


“That’s not being racist,” he insisted.

“If the Malays and UMNO are deep in racism, why open up the economy with privatisation and free enterprise when Mahathir (twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) was ruling the country for 22 years so much so that the non-Malays still control the leverage of the economy in the country till today?”

Surprised at Zaid’s claim that UMNO isn’t into that whole “one-race, one-religion” vibe, Chin took a pot shot at the former for his denial.

“My goodness, Zaid, you of all people should know better – you’ve bounced around UMNO, PKR, DAP and even played president for KITA (Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air). But sure, tell us again how UMNO’s totally over ‘one-race, one-religion’ vision.”



Added the senior associate at the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR):


Anyway, being the respectful Sarawakian that I’m, I won’t stoop to arguing with my elders.

Zaid’s been dropping absolute gems of madness these past few years; like insisting Najib isn’t getting a fair trial and in that infamous case involving a s*x video allegedly depicting a prominent opposition leader, Zaid assessed the video as a “documentary” rather than pornography, and the scrapping of MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963)

All I can say is thank you so much for stalking my posts, Zaid! Please, keep quoting me; I need the extra publicity.” – Jan 9, 2026

Colombia sees 'real threat' of US military action, president tells BBC

BBC:

Colombia sees 'real threat' of US military action, president tells BBC

4 hours ago
Ione Wells

BBC South America Correspondent, in Bogotá



BBC speaks to Columbian President Gustavo Petro


Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has told the BBC that he believes there is now a "real threat" of US military action against Colombia.

Petro said the United States is treating other nations as part of a US "empire". It comes after Trump threatened Colombia with military action. He said that the US risks transforming from "dominating the world" to becoming "isolated from the world."

He also accused US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of acting like "Nazi brigades". Trump has significantly expanded ICE operations as part of what the administration says is a crackdown on crime and immigrants who illegally entered the US.

The BBC has approached the White House for comment.

Following US strikes on Venezuela and the seizure of Nicolás Maduro, US President Donald Trump said a military operation targeting Colombia "sounds good".

Trump has also repeatedly told Petro to "watch his ass", remarks Petro strongly condemned.

Trump and Petro spoke by phone on Wednesday evening, after which Trump said he would meet his Colombian counterpart at the White House in the "near future. Writing on his Truth Social platform late on Wednesday after the call, Trump described his conversation with Petro as a "Great Honour". A Colombian official said at the time that the conversation had reflected a 180-degree shift in rhetoric "from both sides."

But on Thursday, Petro's tone suggested relations had not significantly improved.

He told the BBC the call lasted just under an hour, "most of it occupied by me," and covered "drug trafficking Colombia" and Colombia's view on Venezuela and "what is happening around Latin America regarding the United States."

Petro strongly criticised recent US immigration enforcement, accusing ICE agents of operating like "Nazi brigades".

President Trump has often blamed immigration for crime and trafficking in the US, using it to justify large-scale enforcement operations, and has accused countries like Colombia and Venezuela of not doing enough to tackle drug-trafficking.

Since returning to the White House, the US president has sent ICE agents to cities across the country. The agency enforces immigration laws and conducts investigations into undocumented immigration. It also plays a role in removing undocumented immigrants from the US.

The administration says it deported 605,000 people between 20 January and 10 December 2025. It also said 1.9 million immigrants had "voluntarily self-deported", following an aggressive public awareness campaign encouraging people to leave the country on their own to avoid arrest or detention.

About 65,000 people were in ICE detention as of 30 November 2025, according to data obtained by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse's immigration project, a compendium of government data from Syracuse University.

This week a US immigration agent shot dead a 37-year-old US citizen in the city of Minneapolis, sparking protests overnight.

Federal officials said the woman, Renee Nicole Good, had tried to run over immigration agents with her car but the city mayor, Democrat Jacob Frey, said the agent who shot her had acted recklessly and demanded agents leave the city.

Petro said ICE had "reached the point where it no longer only persecutes Latin Americans in the streets, which for us is an affront, but it also kills United States citizens."

He added that if this continued, "instead of a United States dominating the world – an imperial dream – it is a United States isolated from the world. An empire was not built by being isolated from the world."

Petro said the US has for "decades" treated other governments, particularly in Latin America, as an "empire" regardless of the law.


What is ICE and what powers do its agents have to use force?


The two leaders have long been adversaries, frequently trading insults and tariff threats on social media.

Following the US's military action in Venezuela, Petro accused Washington of seeking wars over "oil and coal," adding that if the US had not pulled out of the Paris Agreement, where countries agreed to limit global temperature rising by reducing fossil fuel use, "there would be no wars, there would be a much more democratic and peaceful relationship with the world. And South America."

"The Venezuelan issue is about this," he said.

After Trump's comments threatening military action in Colombia, demonstrations were held across the country in the name of sovereignty and democracy.

Petro told the BBC that Trump's remarks amounted to a "real threat", citing Colombia's loss of territory such as Panama in the 20th century, and said "the prospect of removing [the threat] depends on the ongoing conversations."

Asked how Colombia would defend itself in the event of a US attack, Petro said he would "prefer it to be about dialogue." He said that "work is being done" on this.

But he added: "Colombia's history shows how it has responded to large armies."

"It's not about confronting a large army with weapons we don't have. We don't even have anti-aircraft defenses. Instead, we rely on the masses, our mountains, and our jungles, as we always have."

Petro confirmed he had also spoken to Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting president and former vice president and oil minister, and invited her to Colombia.

He said Venezuela had "long been subject to interference by various intelligence agencies," adding that while such agencies had permission to operate in Colombia, it was solely to combat drug trafficking. He denounced attempts at what he said were other "covert operations" in Colombia.

He did not directly comment when asked whether he feared the CIA could carry out covert operations similar to their actions in Venezuela in Colombia, or whether he feared his own government or inner circles may have informants.

Maduro was captured by the US army's Delta Force, the military's top counter-terrorism unit, after a CIA source in Venezuelan government helped the US track his location.

Gustavo Petro said Colombia preferred dialogue with the US, but added the country's history showed "how it has responded to large armies"


As the world's largest producer of cocaine, Colombia is a major hub for the global drug trade. It also has significant oil reserves, as well as gold, silver, emeralds, platinum and coal.

The US has said it will control sales of Venezuelan oil "indefinitely" as it prepares to roll back restrictions on the country's crude in global markets.

Speaking aboard Air Force One after the Venezuela operation, Trump described Petro as a "sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States," adding: "He's not going to be doing it for very long."

Petro denied the claims, saying it has "always been proven that I'm not involved in that."

"For 20 years I have been fighting against the drug cartels, at the cost of my family having to go into exile," he said.

A former guerrilla, Petro has pursued a "total peace" strategy since taking office, prioritising dialogue with armed groups. Critics say the approach has been too soft, with cocaine production reaching record levels.

Asked what failed and whether he accepted responsibility, Petro said coca cultivation growth was slowing and described "two simultaneous approaches."

"One, talking about peace with groups that are bandits. And the other, developing a military offensive against those who don't want peace."

He said negotiations were ongoing in southern Colombia, "where the greatest reduction in coca leaf cultivation has occurred" and "where the homicide rate in Colombia has fallen the most." Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant.

The policy of dialogue, he said, was intended to "de-escalate violence", adding: "we're not fools, we know who we're negotiating with."

‘Pride glamping’ event to go ahead despite Selangor PAS objection

FMT:

‘Pride glamping’ event to go ahead despite Selangor PAS objection

NGO says the two-day retreat in Hulu Langat involves camping activities at a registered venue and does not violate any law

Activities at the ‘Glamping with Pride’ event in Hulu Langat next weekend include campfire storytelling, a runway show, a skit competition, and a ‘HIV Hunger Games.’

PETALING JAYA: A pro-LGBT group has confirmed that it will go ahead with its “Glamping with Pride” event scheduled for Jan 17 and 18 in Hulu Langat despite an objection from Selangor PAS.

Jejaka, the NGO behind the event, said the programme is a “private, community-based retreat focussed on wellbeing, peer support, and health awareness”.

“It involves lawful camping activities at a registered venue and does not violate any Malaysian law. Camping, gathering, and community education are legal activities in this country,” it said in a statement today.


The group also noted that participation is limited and vetted, with the venue disclosed only to confirmed attendees to ensure safety and prevent public disruption.

“We will carry on with our activities as planned, in full compliance with the law,” Jejaka said.



The statement comes in response to Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar, who called for an investigation into the event which he claims openly promotes lifestyles and ideologies that run contrary to Malaysia’s religious values, cultural norms, and legal framework.

Sukri said the programme, advertised in a poster that has gone viral on social media, raised concerns about public order, morality, and youth protection.

The poster, with the location listed as “to be announced”, features a rainbow motif, cartoon illustrations of people of diverse gender expressions around a campfire, and the tagline “two nights of warmth and love”.

Activities include campfire storytelling, a “HIV Hunger Games,” a camp runway show, and a skit competition. A QR code for registration notes that slots are limited.


Jejaka also said political attention on the LGBT community is misplaced at a time when Malaysians are facing pressing national issues, including cost of living, corruption, and public health.

“We call on all parties to act with restraint, proportionality and humanity. Malaysia is strengthened not by fear and moral panic, but by allowing its people to live with dignity,” it said.

FAM turmoil deepens as Dollah, Zainal among exco members expected to resign

Former Harimau Malaya legend Datuk Dollah Salleh is among those expected to resign from their executive committee (exco) roles in the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). - Social media pic, January 8, 2026


FAM turmoil deepens as Dollah, Zainal among exco members expected to resign


Former Harimau Malaya legends are considering stepping down amid rising controversies, with a possible mass resignation leading to fresh FAM elections



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 24 hours ago
8 January, 2026
4:03 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR – Former Harimau Malaya legends Datuk Dollah Salleh and Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan are expected to resign from their executive committee (exco) roles in the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), according to sources.

Sources said the duo, who were only recently appointed to the committee, are considering stepping aside amid mounting controversies surrounding the national football body. “They do not want their names to be tarnished by the ongoing issues revolving around FAM,” a source told Scoop.

“Both Dollah and Zainal have built strong reputations over decades in Malaysian football, and they feel the current situation could reflect poorly on them.” The source added that both former national stars are keen to refocus on coaching, which remains their primary passion. “They want to get back to coaching and contributing directly on the field, rather than being dragged into administrative controversies,” the source added.

Meanwhile, Dollah and Zainal are not alone in contemplating their exit. As many as eight exco members out of the 16-member committee are expected to step down, a move that could pave the way for an extraordinary congress and fresh FAM elections in the coming months. “If these resignations materialise, it will likely trigger a congress to allow for new elections,” the source said.

“There is a growing belief that a reset is needed to restore confidence in the association.” Among those also understood to be considering resignation are FAM acting president Datuk Wira Yusoff Mahadi, deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundaram, and vice-president Datuk Seri Haji Rosmadi Ismail.

It is understood that Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, who is currently serving as the honorary president, could be reinstated as FAM president should the committee step aside.

Speculation over a possible mass resignation intensified ahead of a ‘special’ FAM meeting scheduled to take place Hilton Hotel in Petaling Jaya, with several exco members seen arriving at the venue earlier in the day. When contacted, one exco member declined to confirm the reports but acknowledged the growing talk surrounding the meeting.

“You’ve heard about the resignation talk? Let’s wait for the meeting to conclude and then we’ll see what happens,” the member said.

FAM has been under heavy scrutiny in recent months following the suspension of seven mixed-heritage players over eligibility issues, which raised serious questions about due diligence, documentation processes, and internal coordination within the association.

The controversy has also fuelled concerns over possible FIFA intervention should further governance shortcomings be uncovered, adding to the pressure on FAM’s leadership as Malaysian football navigates one of its most turbulent periods in recent years. – January 8, 2026

‘A betrayal’: PAS shuts door on Perlis government after leadership crisis

‘A betrayal’: PAS shuts door on Perlis government after leadership crisis



Bersatu’s Abu Bakar Hamzah was sworn in as Perlis mentri besar in Arau December 28, 2025, after the resignation of his predecessor, Mohd Shukri Ramli. — Bernama pic

Friday, 09 Jan 2026 2:36 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — PAS has ruled out joining the Perlis government, saying it will reject any invitation to take up positions in the state administration amid what it describes as an attempt to bring down the government.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the decision was final, even if overtures were made.

“We have decided not to accept any positions even if we are invited because of the attempt to bring down the state government,” he told a press conference in Marang today, according to The Star.

Hadi said PAS’s stance on not joining the Perlis state administration had been clearly stated and decided by the party’s top leadership.


“PAS considers it a betrayal to bring down the government led by former Perlis menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli,” he said, as reported by Berita Harian.

The stance comes as Perlis undergoes a period of political upheaval following a change in leadership.

The state government is now led by Bersatu’s Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah as menteri besar, with four other Bersatu representatives forming the state executive council.


The transition followed the resignation of former menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli in December, who cited health reasons for stepping down.

His departure came after eight statutory declarations were submitted by state assemblymen — three from PAS and five from Bersatu — withdrawing their support for him, The Star reported.

The three PAS assemblymen involved — Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) — were subsequently sacked from the party.

PAS has since decided that the three seats will remain vacant, with the next state election not due for another two years.

PAS’s refusal to be drawn into the Perlis administration underscores the party’s effort to distance itself from the manoeuvring that destabilised the state government, even as Bersatu consolidates its grip on the state leadership.

Umno Youth plays down Akmal resignation rumours, says chief is hitting Sabah campaign trail

Umno Youth plays down Akmal resignation rumours, says chief is hitting Sabah campaign trail



Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh (right) and Umno Youth secretary Hafiz Ariffin at the airport as they head to Sabah, amid speculation over Akmal’s political future. — Picture via Facebook/Hafiz Ariffin

Friday, 09 Jan 2026 3:40 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — An Umno Youth leader has moved to dismiss speculation that the wing’s chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh is preparing to resign, using a Facebook post and a planned campaign trip to Sabah to underline that he remains politically active.

Umno Youth secretary Hafiz Ariffin appeared to brush off the rumours in a Facebook post today, sharing a photo of himself with Dr Akmal at the airport and questioning the reports as the pair prepared to fly to Sabah.

“What news is this? There’s so much work that needs to be done,” Hafiz wrote, adding: “Let’s go Kinabatangan and Lamag! Fight on!”

Hafiz later confirmed to Free Malaysia Today (FMT) that the reports were untrue, saying he was travelling with Dr Akmal to Kinabatangan, Sabah, to assist Umno’s campaign for the upcoming by-election.

“It’s not true,” he said.

“In fact, we are heading to Kinabatangan now for (tomorrow’s) nominations for the by-election.”


The denial followed a report by Malaysiakini citing unnamed sources who claimed Dr Akmal had expressed an intention to resign as Umno Youth chief and as the Merlimau assemblyman.

According to the report, the Melaka executive councillor had informed a group of Umno Youth leaders via a WhatsApp message while he was in Shanghai, China, that he would relinquish all party positions and his state seat upon returning.

Speculation over Dr Akmal’s future intensified earlier this week after he hinted that he might step aside, saying “perhaps it is time for me to step aside” following Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s rejection of his call for the party to leave the federal government.

Zahid also dismissed Dr Akmal’s proposal for Umno to revive cooperation with PAS under the Muafakat Nasional charter.

Dr Akmal had tabled the proposal during an Umno political bureau meeting on Monday, framing it as a matter of principle after the party’s continued participation in government.

Speculation swirls, but Umno sec-gen says Akmal is still in Youth chief post

Speculation swirls, but Umno sec-gen says Akmal is still in Youth chief post



‘As an elder brother’, Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said he has counselled Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh to stay the course despite differences of opinion within the party. — Bernama pic

Friday, 09 Jan 2026 4:41 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — Umno has denied receiving any official resignation letter from its Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, dismissing viral claims on social media as speculation and hearsay.

The party’s secretary-general, Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, said no formal notice had been submitted and stressed that Umno does not base leadership decisions on rumours circulating online.

“There is none. So far, no official letter has been received. As the party’s secretary-general, we do not base our position on what is being said on social media or on talk that is going around,” he said when asked to comment by Harian Metro.

The denial comes amid mounting speculation over the position of Dr Akmal, following reports that he was preparing to step down as Umno Youth chief and as the Merlimau state assemblyman.

Earlier today, an Umno Youth leader sought to play down the rumours by pointing to Akmal’s continued political activity.

Umno Youth secretary Hafiz Ariffin shared a photo on Facebook of himself with Akmal at the airport as they prepared to fly to Sabah, questioning the reports and suggesting the focus remained on party work.

“What news is this? There’s so much work that needs to be done,” Hafiz wrote, adding: “Let’s go Kinabatangan and Lamag! Fight on!”

Hafiz later confirmed to Free Malaysia Today (FMT) that the reports were untrue, saying he was travelling with Akmal to Kinabatangan, Sabah, to assist Umno’s campaign for the upcoming by-election.

“It’s not true,” he told FMT. “In fact, we are heading to Kinabatangan now for (tomorrow’s) nominations for the by-election.”

Speculation was fuelled by a report by Malaysiakini citing unnamed sources who claimed Akmal had expressed an intention to resign from his party posts and state seat.

According to the report, the Melaka executive councillor had informed a group of Youth leaders via a WhatsApp message while he was in Shanghai, China, that he would relinquish all positions upon returning.

Asyraf Wajdi, however, sought to place the issue in context, saying differences of opinion within the party were normal and should not be a reason for leaders to lose heart or step aside.

“On a personal level, as an elder brother to Dr Akmal — and as someone responsible for placing him in that position — differences in views are something ordinary,” he said.

Recalling his own time as Youth chief, Asyraf Wajdi told Sinar Harian there were moments when his views were not accepted by the party’s top leadership, but that this was part of organisational life.

“That did not mean we should resign or become demoralised. That is normal in the tradition of an organisation,” he said, adding that Umno’s guiding principle remained consultation and consensus-building.

“Sometimes our views are accepted, sometimes they are not. What matters is that we are guided by syura — agree to disagree, and if there is disagreement, we eventually reach a consensus.”

Speculation over Akmal’s future intensified earlier this week after he hinted that he might step aside, saying “perhaps it is time for me to step aside” following Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s rejection of his call for the party to leave the federal government.

Zahid also dismissed Akmal’s proposal for Umno to revive cooperation with PAS under the Muafakat Nasional charter, which Akmal had tabled during a party political bureau meeting on Monday as a matter of principle.

***

'Dah takut kaukau, wakakaka

China condemns Maduro capture but some see it as a chance to assert its global position

Thanks 'MF' for "Beijing rhetoric post Maduro is much stronger than usual, coming from keen observers, familiar with language coming out from official circle."

This post has been inspired by that statement:





China condemns Maduro capture but some see it as a chance to assert its global position

Story by Janis Mackey Frayer



Qiu Xiaoqi, China’s special envoy for Latin America, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on Friday. (Marcelo Garcia/Miraflores Palace / via Reuters)© Marcelo Garcia/Miraflores Palace


BEIJING — An attack on a country after a military buildup and embargo at sea. A leader deposed by a superpower that views them as illegitimate.

While some are drawing parallels between the United States’ dramatic action in Venezuela and China’s ambitions for Taiwan, experts say Beijing is less concerned about the self-ruled island’s sovereignty and instead views the attack as an opportunity to undermine America’s global leadership.

As the Trump administration withdraws from global institutions and upends long-standing norms, Beijing has sought to cast itself as the true champion of the rules-based international order. Chinese state media commentaries on the Venezuela attack argue that the U.S. is now one of the biggest threats to that order, and that its actions have undermined its credibility in Latin America.

“This is a country which just behaved like a hegemon, right?” said Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. “How can you trust a country that would deal with its weak neighbors this way?”

China has strongly condemned the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, saying it violated international law and threatens peace and security in Latin America. It said the U.S. should immediately release Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are set to appear Monday in a New York court on drug trafficking and other charges.


On Monday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping appeared to refer to the attack on one of his country’s main South American allies, saying the world was experiencing turbulence and that “unilateral bullying seriously impacts the international order.”

“All countries should respect the development path independently chosen by other peoples, abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and major countries should take the lead,” he said during a meeting in Beijing with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, without mentioning the U.S. by name.



Chinese leader Xi Jinping appeared to criticize the U.S. attack on Venezuela, saying “unilateral bullying seriously impacts the international order.” (Andy Wong / AFP via Getty Images)© Andy Wong


His comments came a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said no country “can play the role of world policeman, nor do we agree that any country can claim itself to be an international judge.”

China has long served as an economic lifeline for the heavily sanctioned Venezuela, accounting for the majority of its crude oil exports. It has expressed support for Venezuela in recent months amid President Donald Trump’s military buildup, though it has no security commitments to the country and experts say it has avoided more concrete action in part to preserve the U.S.-China trade truce.

Maduro was seized hours after he met in Caracas with Qiu Xiaoqi, Beijing’s special envoy for Latin American affairs, in his last publicly reported official meeting.



Maduro being escorted by DEA agents at Stewart Airport in New Windsor, N.Y., on Saturday. (Obtained by NBC News)© Obtained by NBC News


It is unclear whether Qiu and the rest of his delegation are still in Venezuela. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday that there were “no reports of Chinese personnel in Venezuela being affected by U.S. airstrikes.”

In a caption accompanying photos and videos posted on his Instagram account, Maduro described the meeting as “a fraternal encounter that reaffirms the strong ties of brotherhood and friendship between China and Venezuela.”


China, which is already South America’s top trading partner, is seeking to expand its influence in the region, even as Trump has put it at the center of his national security agenda. Though Beijing has emphasized economic ties and nonintervention in its approach to Latin America, there was a greater focus on military and law enforcement cooperation in the policy paper it released last month.

“All the countries in the region have more or less healthy relations with China,” said Bárbara Fernández Melleda, an assistant professor of Latin American studies at the University of Hong Kong. “And if the United States becomes hostile against China through Latin American countries, that’s a new scenario.”

The U.S. attack on Venezuela, where Chinese companies have invested billions, has raised alarm in China, Wu said.

Latin American countries may feel pressured “to be more cautious in dealing with China on the economic front in the future,” he told NBC News in an interview. “And also for the Chinese business community, they see not just uncertainty but rising risk from this region.”

'Two different issues'

The U.S. attack on Venezuela has also raised fears that it could embolden China to move against Taiwan, the self-ruling island democracy that Beijing claims as its territory and has vowed to bring under its control, by force if necessary.

And for some users on China’s heavily censored social media, Trump’s assertion that the U.S. was “in charge” after Maduro was captured was a source of inspiration.

“The arrest of the Venezuelan president set a good example for us. Taiwan’s William Lai must be trembling in fear now!” read one comment on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, referring to Lai Ching-te, the president of Taiwan.

But Venezuela and Taiwan are “two different issues,” according to Wu at Fudan University. “Venezuela is an independent sovereign state, and Taiwan is part of China,” he said, adding that China prefers “a peaceful solution to the Taiwan issue.”


The events in Venezuela will not “dramatically alter Beijing’s calculus on Taiwan,” said Ryan Hass, director of Brookings’ John L. Thornton China Center, adding that China will focus on protecting its interests in Latin America.

“Privately,” he said on X, “I expect Beijing will emphasize to Washington it expects to be given the same latitude for great power exemptions to international law that the U.S. takes for itself” — particularly in the South China Sea, a strategically vital shipping route that China claims virtually in its entirety.


The Taiwanese government has yet to comment publicly on Maduro’s capture.

The island has been under growing pressure from Beijing, which encircled it last week in a large-scale military exercise that simulated a blockade. The live-fire drills followed the announcement of an $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan by the U.S., the island’s biggest weapons supplier.


The U.S. strike in Venezuela could slow down China’s timetable for an attack on Taiwan, “but may give ammunition to U.S. skeptics” on the island who worry that Washington won’t come to its defense, said Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub who is based in Taiwan's capital, Taipei.

The U.S. military’s ability to carry out a Maduro-style “decapitation strike,” especially against Venezuela’s largely Chinese defense systems, could make Beijing think twice about testing its military against Washington’s, Sung said via a messaging app.




A fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on Saturday. (STR / AFP via Getty Images)© STR

But the strike also reinforces the view that the U.S. is “preoccupied with the Western Hemisphere, and skeptics will wonder in whose sphere of influence Taiwan falls within this Monroe Doctrine 2.0,” he said, referring to Trump’s twist on the 19th-century U.S. foreign policy.


Others say China has refrained from attacking Taiwan not because it lacks global permission, but because it is simply not ready.

“China has never lacked hostile intent toward Taiwan; what it truly lacks is the ability to carry it out,” Wang Ting-yu, a senior lawmaker from Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party, said Sunday in a post on Facebook.

“China is not the United States, and Taiwan is certainly not Venezuela. If China could really do it, it would have acted long ago!”

Janis Mackey Frayer reported from Beijing and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong.

Trump's ICE shooting own Americans

After ICE kills Renee Good, another Portland US Border Patrol shooting leaves man and woman injured



Portland and Oregon leaders said at a news conference yesterday evening that they had no details on what led to the shootings, even whether the violence was linked to immigration enforcement. — File pic via X

Friday, 09 Jan 2026 12:24 PM MYT


WASHINGTON, Jan 9 — A US ‌immigration agent shot and wounded a man and a woman in Portland, Oregon, authorities said yesterday ;eading city and state officials to call for calm given public outrage over the ICE ‍shooting death of a Minnesota woman a day earlier.

"We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in ‌the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more," Portland police chief Bob Day said in a statement.

The Portland shooting unfolded Thursday afternoon as US Border Patrol agents were conducting a targeted vehicle ‍stop, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

The statement said the driver, a suspected Venezuelan gang member, attempted to "weaponize" his vehicle and run over the agents. In response, DHS said, "an agent fired a defensive shot" and the driver and a passenger drove away.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the circumstances of the incident.


Portland and Oregon leaders said at a news conference yesterday evening that they had no details on what led to the shootings, even whether the violence was linked to immigration enforcement.

While they said the FBI was investigating, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, both Democrats, called for a pause in the federal immigration crackdown pending a full and independent investigation.


"There was a time when we could take them at their ‍word," Wilson said of how federal ‍officials had described the shooting. "That time is long past."

At the same news conference, state Senator Kayse Jama, who arrived in the US 28 years ago as a refugee from Somalia, addressed federal immigration agents: "We do not need you, you are not ​welcome, you need to get the hell out of our community."

In an earlier statement, Portland police said that the shooting took place near a medical clinic in the eastern part of the city. Six minutes after arriving at the scene and determining federal agents were involved, police were informed that two people with gunshot wounds - a man and a woman - were asking for help at a location about 2 miles (3 km) to the northeast of the medical clinic.

Police said they ‌applied tourniquets to the man and woman, who were taken to a hospital. Their condition was unknown. The shooting came a day after a federal agent from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a separate agency from ‍the Border Patrol within the Department of Homeland Security, fatally shot a 37-year-old mother of three in her car in Minneapolis.

That shooting ‌has prompted two ‍days of protests in Minneapolis.

Officers from both ICE and Border Patrol have been deployed in cities across the US as part of Republican ‍President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

While the aggressive enforcement operations have been cheered by the president's supporters, Democrats and civil rights activists have decried the ‍posture as an unnecessary provocation.

US officials contend criminal suspects and anti-Trump activists have ⁠increasingly used their cars as weapons, though video ‍evidence has sometimes contradicted their claims. — Reuters

Maduro is gone, but his regime is intact. What happened behind the scenes?

Guardian:


Maduro is gone, but his regime is intact. What happened behind the scenes?

Alejandro Velasco



In the early fray of foreign interventions, evidence is largely circumstantial. But here the circumstances tell a powerful story

Fri 9 Jan 2026 00.00 AEDT


As late as Saturday afternoon, fires continued to smolder in parts of Caracas. Residents throughout the city, stunned and anxious, filled grocery stores and gas stations, stocking up before a future unknown. Everywhere the question hung in the air like the smoke still clouding Venezuela’s capital: what next?

After months of military buildup, deadly strikes at sea and a looming ground war, the United States made good on its threats to attack Venezuela in a dramatic overnight raid that ended with Nicolás Maduro in a New York City jail cell. Yet 48 hours later, little else appeared different in Caracas: Maduro’s inner circle remained in place; state institutions remained in their control; streets were calm, if tense, while authorities called on people to return to their daily lives. In other words: move along, nothing to see here.



If this is regime change, it seems a strange sort, one that leaves the regime otherwise intact, and which raises a more pressing question than what comes next: what happened? Of course, much remains speculative. But at this point, information available suggests that after over a decade of tight cohesion around Maduro, his inner circle calculated they were better off without him and struck a deal with the Trump administration: Maduro in exchange for staying in power.

In the early fray of foreign interventions, evidence is largely circumstantial. But here the circumstances tell a powerful story. First the raid itself. To be sure, US forces – covert and conventional – have formidable superiority over Venezuela’s military apparatus, whose primary plan to combat US intervention has long been asymmetric rather than head-to-head war. Still, the absence of even minimal organized resistance to a raid that involved multiple low-flying, slow-moving aircraft traversing densely populated and otherwise heavily defended Venezuelan airspace for more than two hours invites speculation not only about prior knowledge of the attack by Venezuela’s military, but about stand-down orders for the bulk of the country’s armed forces.

Then came Donald Trump’s press conference. That he flatly stated the US intended to take control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and “run” the country were striking enough claims. Perhaps most stunning, though, was Trump’s assertion that Maduro’s vice-president – Delcy Rodríguez – would remain in place if she “does what we want”. Summarily sidelined after years of building a government-in-waiting and offering up their country to Trump on a platter was Venezuela’s expatriate opposition, led by the Nobel laureate María Corina Machado. In a bid to placate the US president, she had earlier dedicated her peace prize to Trump. It didn’t work: “She doesn’t have the respect” of the country, Trump said.


More likely for Trump, Machado didn’t have the respect of the people who matter in a transition: military, police, institutions. Here Rodríguez’s own statements over the weekend are key. Though initially striking a defiant tone on Saturday, calling for Maduro’s immediate return and proclaiming him Venezuela’s only president, by Sunday she declared her desire to cooperate with the US. By Monday morning, after a ruling by Venezuela’s supreme court declaring Rodríguez next in line after Maduro’s kidnapping and unlikely return, and surrounded by Maduro’s erstwhile inner circle and newly installed national assembly, she took the oath of office to become Venezuela’s president.

The speed and seamlessness of a post-Maduro transition, especially in the wake of a violent military assault, seems more than extraordinary. It seems calculated if one considers the incentives and agendas of various major actors. Key players in Maduro’s government had just one card to play against the Trump administration’s mounting pressure: only we can ensure stability in any transitional context. As defense minister, Vladimir Padrino López commands the nation’s military and its vast economic interests; as interior minister, Diosdado Cabello can keep police forces as well as sprawling paramilitary groups – colectivos – in check; as national assembly president, Delcy Rodríguez’s brother Jorge Rodríguez can deliver legislative authority; and as former head of PDVSA, Venezuela’s national oil company, Delcy Rodríguez can manage the oil sector directly.

Given this array of institutional and extra-institutional control, the alternative – a full-scale regime change with the opposition installed in power through foreign military intervention – would result in chaos for the US to fend with and manage. As an occupying force, and despite widespread rebuke of Maduro and his government, US troops on the ground would provide ready targets to insurgent sectors of the military, police, colectivos and nationalist groups while an opposition long in exile and with little local standing moved to rebuild the entire state apparatus from scratch. Even if Trump believed in democracy promotion, which he has amply disavowed at home and abroad, a quagmire of his doing would alienate far too many in his Maga base.

In exchange for continuity in power, Delcy Rodríguez and others ultimately provided Trump with two prizes: oil and Maduro. Venezuela’s vast reserves – the largest in the world – have long been in Trump’s sights, especially as his rejection of the climate crisis and renewable energy drives his embrace of fossil fuels. In fact, Maduro himself had offered Trump major concessions for US oil companies to return to Venezuela under favorable terms. Yet his offer came with a condition to stay in power. As the administration mounted an ever louder case labelling Maduro the head of a multinational “narco-terrorist” cartel, striking a deal with him became untenable. That opened the door to others in his milieu to make a move handing Trump not just oil concessions, but Maduro as well.

Maduro proved an especially attractive, and necessary, prize for others in the Trump administration. Since taking office, the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has sought a spectacular display of US military prowess in order to proclaim a supposed return of US might. Lethal strikes against alleged drug boats had some effect. But each day the vast force of 15,000 troops splayed across the Caribbean went unused was a day the US lost credibility and seemed taunted by Venezuela. A made-for-television commando raid offered an opportunity to grandstand the power of the US military. Secretary of state Marco Rubio claimed a prize of his own in the bargain: cutting off the last source of material support for Cuba’s socialist government, leaving it vulnerable as never before to Rubio’s dream of regime change on the island of his parents.


Even with prior collusion between the US and Venezuela, the scenario ahead remains rife with risk for Caracas and Washington. Delcy Rodríguez’s government must now strike the most delicate of balances: following the Trump administration’s orders while holding aloft the banners of independence and even anti-imperialism that have been hallmarks of Venezuelan governments going back 26 years. Further, her government needs to thread this needle with an armada off Venezuela’s coast, resurrecting gunboat diplomacy for the 21st century. But it has been some time since Venezuela’s leaders paid more than lip service to ideology, so the bargain may not be difficult after all. Especially considering the US is under constraints of its own: despite the threat of additional strikes, Trump’s continuing resistance to a full-scale invasion means his own ability to force his will upon Caracas is not unlimited, giving Venezuela’s government some room to maneuver.

For now, the smoke from Saturday’s assault has cleared from Caracas. But the machinations and intrigue behind this extraordinary moment in global politics remain darkly veiled. Through the fog, for the people that matter most – Venezuelans in and out of Venezuela – the tragedy of a nation in the throes of a seemingly endless crisis shows no signs of abating.


Alejandro Velasco is an associate professor of history at New York University

At least 13 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, including five children

Guardian:

At least 13 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, including five children, civil defence agency says

Attacks bring total number of Palestinians killed by Israel to 425 since October ceasefire took effect

Agence France-Presse

Fri 9 Jan 2026 09.45 AEDT

Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli attacks in the Palestinian territory on Thursday killed at least 13 people, including five children, despite a ceasefire that has largely halted the fighting.

Four people including three children were killed when a drone struck a tent sheltering displaced people in southern Gaza, agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

In the north of the Gaza Strip, an 11-year-old girl was killed near the Jabalia refugee camp and a strike on a school killed one person, while a drone near Khan Younis in the south killed a man, the agency added.

Two more Palestinians in Gaza, including a child, were killed in other attacks, reported the agency, which operates under Hamas authority.

When asked by AFP, the Israeli military said it was checking the reports.

Later on Thursday evening, four more people were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a house in an eastern area of Gaza City, Bassal said, adding that rescue work to search for several people who were missing had begun.

“The death toll has risen to 13 as a result of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since this morning in a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli military said a projectile was launched “from the area of Gaza City toward the state of Israel” but that it fell within the Gaza Strip.

“Shortly after, the (military) precisely struck the launch point,” it said in a statement.

Since 10 October, a fragile US-sponsored truce in Gaza has largely halted the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, but both sides have alleged frequent ceasefire violations.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told AFP that the strikes in Gaza on Thursday “confirm the Israeli occupation’s renunciation of its commitment to the ceasefire”.

Israeli forces have killed at least 425 Palestinians in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

At least 21 people were killed on 22 November in Israeli strikes, making it one of the deadliest days in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.

The Israeli military said militants have killed three of its soldiers during the same period.