Evening Brief: Trump Confirms CIA Covert Operations in Venezuela, Microsoft Releases Annual Digital Threats Report, Zelenskyy Offers Drone to Keep US Support

  Judge Orders Chicago ICE Agents to Wear Body Cameras Amid Protests and 1,000 Arrests A US federal judge in Chicago ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to wear body cameras during ongoing enforcement operations following reports of violent clashes with protesters and bystanders. US District Judge Sara Ellis said she was “startled” by televised footage showing tear gas and aggressive tactics during the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” which has led to over 1,000 arrests since September. Ellis also summoned a senior ICE official to court next week to explain how agents are conducting the crackdown. She previously barred officers from using riot control measures on peaceful demonstrators and journalists. The ruling follows state criticism over ICE’s lack of transparency and a recent fatal shooting tied to the operation. A federal judge said she planned to order federal agents engaged in Homeland Security’s “Operation Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement push in Chicagoland to wear and use body-worn-cameras https://t.co/oSqj9F8DGe — The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 16, 2025 Governor JB Pritzker welcomed the decision, citing concerns over misleading federal accounts of incidents. ICE officials said camera deployment would take time but agreed to comply once available.   Trump Warns Hamas to End Internal Violence or Face US Military Action President Donald Trump warned Thursday that the US would “have no choice but to go in and kill” Hamas members if internal fighting in Gaza continues. The threat follows Trump’s earlier comments downplaying the militant group’s recent executions of rival gangs after the ceasefire and hostage deal that ended two years of war with Israel. Trump said Hamas must disarm or face US intervention, though he gave no details on potential action. His remarks come as Israel pressures Hamas to complete the return of hostage remains under the US-brokered truce. Gaza’s a ‘TOUGH neighborhood’ says Trump He stands by his ‘strong statement’ on Hamas ‘If they don’t behave, we’ll take care of it’ https://t.co/dd6GrOB1L1 pic.twitter.com/0vJqZEQeH1 — RT (@RT_com) October 16, 2025 Washington has deployed 200 troops to Israel to help oversee the ceasefire but says none will enter Gaza. Hamas claims it has complied with the deal, while US officials say they see no violation so far.   US Southern Command Chief Steps Down Amid Tensions Over Caribbean Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), is stepping down less than a year into his tenure as the Pentagon escalates strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels off Venezuela, US officials said Thursday. His departure comes amid reported disagreements over the legality and objectives of the mission, which has killed 27 people since September and involved about 10,000 US troops in the region. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Holsey’s 37 years of service but did not address the reported tensions. The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that Adm. Alvin Holsey, the Commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), who just returned from a trip visiting troops and foreign officials in the Southern Caribbean, will retire at the end of 2025. Holsey has served as the… pic.twitter.com/naC3SeMIMC — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 16, 2025 Holsey’s exit follows a wave of senior Pentagon dismissals under Hegseth, including several top commanders.   Ex-Marine Daniel Duggan Appeals Extradition from Australia Over Alleged Training of Chinese Pilots Former US Marine pilot Daniel Duggan appealed his extradition from Australia to the United States on Thursday, arguing legal flaws in the process. The US accuses Duggan of illegally training Chinese military aviators while working for the Test Flying Academy of South Africa in 2012, alleging he received about $61,000 and travel benefits for the training. Duggan, 57, denies wrongdoing and says he is being used as a political pawn in US-China tensions. Former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan has appealed his extradition from Australia to the United States.https://t.co/NvA3x332dN — Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) October 16, 2025 Australia’s former attorney general approved the extradition last December, but Duggan’s defense claims it is unlawful since he was an Australian citizen at the time of the alleged conduct. Australian Federal Court Justice James Stellios of the Federal Court will deliver a ruling at a later date. Duggan, who renounced his US citizenship in 2012, has been held in maximum security since his 2022 arrest. His wife urged the government to stop the extradition, calling the case politically motivated.   Microsoft: Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea Ramp Up AI-Driven Cyberattacks and Disinformation Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have sharply increased their use of artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct cyberattacks and spread online disinformation against the United States, Microsoft said in its annual digital threats report released Thursday. The company identified more than 200 cases of foreign adversaries using AI-generated content in July—double the total from a year earlier and over ten times higher than in 2023. Microsoft found that these nations are using AI to enhance espionage, automate cyberattacks, and create fake digital identities, including cloning officials and improving phishing schemes. The US remains the top target for such operations, followed by Israel and Ukraine. NEW: According to Microsoft’s new Digital Defense Report (2025), nation-state cyber operations are expanding rapidly, with state-backed actors from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea widening their targets and tactics. While financially motivated ransomware and extortion still… pic.twitter.com/E9VgoYiHqX — GeoInsider (@InsiderGeo) October 16, 2025 North Korea has used AI personas to secure remote tech jobs in the US to steal data and install malware. Microsoft warned that outdated defenses make US systems vulnerable and urged stronger cybersecurity investments as AI accelerates both offensive and defensive capabilities.   Venezuelan Power Brokers Sought US Support for Post-Maduro Transition, Washington Rejected Senior Venezuelan officials led by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and her brother Jorge Rodríguez secretly proposed plans to Washington through Qatari intermediaries to create a “Madurismo without Maduro” government, according to sources familiar with the talks. The proposals, made in April and September, outlined a transition in which Delcy Rodríguez would assume the presidency while exiled former general Miguel Rodríguez Torres would head a transitional government. The goal was to convince US officials that the Rodríguez siblings offered a more acceptable alternative to President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration rejected the plan, concluding it sought to preserve Venezuela’s ruling structures and the alleged “Cartel of the Suns” drug network under a new image. The discussions followed increased US military operations in the Caribbean targeting drug-smuggling vessels linked to Venezuela. Trump confirmed this week that he is considering land operations and has authorized the CIA to conduct covert actions in the country, deepening tensions between Washington and Caracas.   Panama President Accuses US Embassy of Visa Threats Amid Pressure to Curb China Ties Panama President José Raúl Mulino accused an unnamed US Embassy official Thursday of threatening to revoke visas for Panamanian officials as part of Washington’s effort to pressure Panama to limit its relations with China. Mulino called the alleged threats inconsistent with his goal of maintaining strong US ties but offered no evidence. The US Embassy did not comment, though the Trump administration has recently revoked visas across Latin America for figures accused of ties to China’s Communist Party. The dispute comes as US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, push Panama to reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal. China’s influence in Latin America is deeper than ever. Since joining the WTO in 2001, China’s trade with the region has surged, reaching $518 billion in 2024 and overtaking the U.S. as South America’s top trading partner. But it’s not just trade: China has financed over $286… pic.twitter.com/7Vj9PRGzTH — U.S. Global Investors (@USFunds) October 14, 2025 Mulino said the canal remains neutral and criticized any US attempt to use visa policy as leverage in its rivalry with China.   Syria, Kurdish Forces Reach Deal to Integrate US-Backed SDF Into National Army The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reached an agreement in principle to merge the US-backed force into the national army as a unified formation, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said Thursday. The deal, seen as a breakthrough after months of stalled talks, outlines a mechanism allowing tens of thousands of SDF fighters and security personnel to join as cohesive units rather than individually. The agreement follows the rise of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s Sunni-led government in Damascus after Bashar Assad’s ouster in December. Abdi said the plan includes integrating Kurdish police into national security forces and could help resolve broader tensions from Syria’s 14-year civil war. NEW | SDF Integration: Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi said on October 11 that he and the Syrian transitional government reached a “preliminary agreement” last week to integrate the SDF and Kurdish internal security forces into the state’s defense and… pic.twitter.com/n2GEkIiL8m — Critical Threats (@criticalthreats) October 14, 2025 The SDF, which played a central role in defeating ISIS, will reportedly receive prominent posts within the defense establishment. Abdi also called for a decentralized Syrian state and expressed optimism that Turkey might show flexibility toward the merger.   Zelenskyy Offers Drone, Energy Deals to Keep US Support as Trump Weighs Ukraine Strategy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday to push for more air defense systems, long-range weapons, and energy aid as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure. Kyiv has proposed joint drone production with US companies, offering technology-sharing agreements that would allow American manufacturing of Ukrainian-designed drones. Ukraine is also negotiating liquefied natural gas imports and energy cooperation, including potential US use of Ukrainian pipelines and gas storage to expand exports to Europe. The outreach comes as Ukraine seeks to re-engage Washington after months of lagging Western funding and amid Trump’s renewed focus on ending the Russia-Ukraine war following his success in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza. Trump has hinted he may pressure Russia further, possibly approving long-range Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United States for talks on the potential U.S. provision of long-range weapons after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Russia he may send Kyiv long-range Tomahawk missiles. pic.twitter.com/1dQzZYXSaE — The Associated Press (@AP) October 16, 2025 Ukrainian officials hope Trump’s push for global peace will translate into stronger US involvement in resolving the war.   MI5 Chief Says China Poses Daily Threat to UK Security as Spy Case Fallout Deepens MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum said Thursday that China poses a “daily” threat to Britain’s national security through espionage, cyberattacks, and covert interference, as controversy grows over the collapse of a high-profile spy case against two men accused of aiding Beijing. McCallum said MI5 thwarted a Chinese-backed threat as recently as last week and expressed frustration that prosecutions were not pursued, though he noted such decisions are outside the agency’s control. The head of MI5 says he will “never back off” from confronting threats from China as he revealed his officers disrupted a case linked to Beijing in just the past week. Full story: https://t.co/cs997DxRI3 pic.twitter.com/CHCwoJy53K — Sky News (@SkyNews) October 16, 2025 Prosecutors dropped charges against researcher Christopher Cash and academic Christopher Berry after government officials declined to testify that China was a national security threat during the alleged offenses. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denied political interference, later releasing documents calling China “the biggest state-based threat” to the UK’s economy. McCallum listed China, Russia, and Iran as the top state threats, citing a 35 percent rise in espionage investigations and warning of increasing “ugly methods” like sabotage and violence. He also flagged potential dangers from artificial intelligence and noted MI5 has disrupted 19 terror plots since 2020.   Cambodia and South Korea Pledge Crackdown on Online Scams After Student’s Death Cambodia and South Korea agreed Thursday to strengthen cooperation against online scam networks after the death of 22-year-old South Korean student Park Min-ho, who was reportedly forced to work at a scam center in Cambodia. South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina met Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh, urging tougher action and faster repatriation of South Koreans trapped in scam operations. Hun Manet expressed regret over Park’s death and pledged stronger protection for South Korean citizens. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met with South Korea’s Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina. The South Korean delegation sought Cambodia’s cooperation in rescuing South Korean citizens trapped in scam operations and kidnapping cases. pic.twitter.com/0Wt5UeTc00 — Noan Sereiboth​  (@noansereiboth) October 16, 2025 South Korea estimates about 1,000 of its nationals are among the 200,000 people working in Cambodian scam sites, many under coercion. Cambodian authorities said they will repatriate 59 South Koreans on Friday. Seoul imposed a travel ban on several Cambodian regions linked to the case, calling it a necessary safety measure despite Phnom Penh’s concerns over economic impacts. Both countries agreed to handle the issue bilaterally as global attention grows on Southeast Asia’s role as a hub for online fraud and human trafficking.   Sources: News Agencies