Morning Brief: Court Upholds Fat Leonard’s Sentence, Disguised US Military Plane Raises Scrutiny, UK Poised to Approve Mega Chinese Embassy

  Tear Gas, Protests, and Prosecutor Resignations Follow Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis Federal immigration officers used tear gas and chemical irritants against protesters in Minneapolis on Tuesday as tensions escalated following the fatal shooting of a local woman by an immigration agent. The confrontations unfolded six days after Renee Good, 37, was shot and killed while driving away during an immigration operation, an incident now under Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation. Protests spread beyond the city, with students walking out of a suburban Minnesota school to oppose the Trump administration’s expanded immigration sweeps. The fallout reached the US Attorney’s Office, where at least five federal prosecutors resigned amid internal concerns over how the Justice Department is handling the case. ICE agents fired tear gas and pepper balls at demonstrators in Minneapolis on January 13 as protests continued nearly a week after an ICE officer fatally shot legal observer Renee Good pic.twitter.com/rCkdjwfMC8 — TRT World (@trtworld) January 14, 2026 Minnesota, along with Minneapolis and St. Paul, has sued the federal government to block or limit the deployment of more than 2,000 immigration officers, arguing the crackdown violates constitutional rights. Homeland Security says it will continue enforcement operations, while courts consider challenges to the use of force and broader federal authority in the state.   Disguised US Military Plane in Venezuela Strike Raises Legal and Congressional Scrutiny US military forces used an aircraft painted to resemble a civilian plane to strike a suspected drug-smuggling boat off Venezuela’s coast on September 2, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday, raising questions about compliance with the laws of war. The aircraft, part of a covert surveillance fleet, also carried internal munitions, a configuration that experts say may have further concealed its military role. The strike marked the first in a months-long US campaign against alleged drug boats tied to Venezuelan networks, an effort that has killed at least 115 people and culminated this month in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Pentagon officials say all aircraft comply with US and international law, but military manuals prohibit combat operations conducted under civilian disguise, a practice known as perfidy. NEW: The Pentagon has told lawmakers it chose an aircraft painted in civilian colors to carry out a lethal Sept. 2 strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean because the unit could be the quickest ready for the operation—not because it was trying to deceive the targets.… — Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) January 13, 2026 The operation has triggered bipartisan concern in Congress, where the Senate is preparing to vote on a war powers resolution that would block further military action in Venezuela without authorization. Lawmakers are also questioning the legality of follow-on strikes, the secrecy surrounding the administration’s legal rationale, and US President Donald Trump’s broader plans to exert long-term control over Venezuela.   Venezuela Sends Envoy to Washington on Same Day Opposition Leader Meets US Officials Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, is sending Ambassador Félix Plasencia to Washington this Thursday to meet senior US officials as the United States and Venezuela explore restoring diplomatic ties. Plasencia’s visit comes on the same day opposition leader María Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump in the US capital. The competing visits highlight the power struggle in Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro’s removal from office in a US military operation that led to his capture and transport to the United States on criminal charges. Venezuela is planning to send an envoy to Washington on the same day that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is due in the US. Former foreign minister Félix Plasencia, now posted to Venezuela’s embassy in London, will arrive in Washington on January 15 to meet with… pic.twitter.com/FkuzTY1YbM — Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) January 14, 2026 Washington and Caracas are discussing reopening embassies and resuming formal relations after years of conflict. Rodríguez and Machado represent rival factions vying for influence over Venezuela’s future leadership amid ongoing diplomatic talks. The US and Venezuelan information offices have not commented publicly on the visits.   Greenland Rejects Trump’s Push for Control as NATO Allies Move to Contain Crisis Greenland has become the focus of a growing geopolitical dispute after US President Donald Trump said he wants to take control of the Arctic island, raising alarm among NATO allies and residents. Trump has argued that owning Greenland would strengthen US security and counter perceived Russian and Chinese activity, while the White House has not ruled out using force. Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said Tuesday that Greenland would choose Denmark, NATO, and the European Union over the United States, a statement Trump dismissed. The dispute centers on Greenland’s strategic location and potential access to shipping routes and critical minerals as Arctic ice melts. Greenlanders hoped for a diplomatic solution ahead of a meeting in Washington between the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio https://t.co/8TWdFW1fN4 pic.twitter.com/jIYrZmDwMV — Reuters (@Reuters) January 14, 2026 US Vice President JD Vance is set to meet Wednesday in Washington with Danish and Greenlandic officials, as Congress considers legislation to block any attempt to annex Greenland without NATO approval. Greenland residents and European allies have pushed back, insisting the island belongs to its people and rejecting US claims of security threats.   UK Poised to Approve Mega Chinese Embassy Despite Security Warnings Britain’s government is expected to approve plans for a massive new Chinese embassy near London’s financial district this week, despite years of political opposition and security concerns. The proposed embassy at Royal Mint Court, close to the Tower of London, would be China’s largest in Europe and replace several smaller diplomatic sites across the city. Critics, including lawmakers from multiple parties, warn the location sits near sensitive financial data cables and could facilitate espionage or intimidation of Chinese dissidents. 🇬🇧🇨🇳 – UK | CHINA 🔸 The Telegraph reveals a secret room planned beneath China’s future London mega-embassy, located right next to the carrying sensitive British financial data cables. 🕵️ Raising fears of industrial espionage as the Starmer government appears close to approval… pic.twitter.com/sYdQOR4hRD — NEXUSx (@Nexus_osintx) January 12, 2026 China bought the site in 2018, but local authorities initially blocked the project over safety and protest concerns before Beijing resubmitted its plans under the current Labour government. The decision is due by January 20 and comes ahead of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s expected visit to China, as London seeks to maintain diplomatic ties while facing growing scrutiny over alleged Chinese spying and political interference.   Iran Judiciary Signals Swift Trials and Executions as Protests Kill Thousands Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, said Wednesday that authorities plan to move quickly with trials and executions of people detained in nationwide protests, despite warnings from US President Donald Trump. Mohseni-Ejei made the remarks in a state television video as security forces continued a violent crackdown that has killed at least 2,571 people, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. The protests, which have spread across Iran, represent the deadliest unrest in decades and have left more than 18,100 people detained. Iran’s chief justice, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, signaled an accelerated crackdown, saying the judiciary will move swiftly toward trials and executions. “If we want to do a job, we should do it now,” he said. “If we want to act, it must be done fast.” https://t.co/rrueZfY01u pic.twitter.com/8vP8OlCBHY — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 14, 2026 Trump warned that the United States could take military action if Iran carries out executions, following recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during a conflict sparked by Israel. The developments unfolded as Iran prepared funerals for 100 security personnel killed in the unrest, while residents reported ongoing fear, school closures, and heavy security presence. Activists also reported expanded access to Starlink satellite internet as authorities searched for illegal dishes and maintained partial communication shutdowns, complicating efforts to independently verify the toll.   Crane Collapse Derails Train in Thailand, Killing at Least 29 A construction crane fell onto a moving passenger train in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday, triggering a fiery derailment that killed at least 29 people and injured 64 others. The crash occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima province as the train traveled from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, officials said. The crane was part of an elevated section of a Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project being built under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Authorities said 195 passengers were on board the three-car train, with the last two carriages sustaining the most damage. At least 27 dead and 80 wounded after a construction crane toppled onto a passing train in Thailand’s Sikhio district, Nakhon Ratchasima. pic.twitter.com/l9u5Oj7sl4 — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) January 14, 2026 Rescue crews continued searching the wreckage and treating the injured, while Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan ordered an investigation. The accident raises new safety concerns about the multibillion-dollar rail project, which has already seen a deadly tunnel collapse along the same route in 2024.   Sources: News Agencies