The Syrian government has announced an immediate nationwide ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a move that Syrian state media says effectively consolidates state authority across almost the entire country and brings an end to nearly two weeks of clashes.

The ceasefire is anchored in a comprehensive 14-point agreement that provides for the gradual integration of the SDF into Syria’s military and state institutions. Officials in Damascus described the accord as a major step toward restoring national unity after years of fragmentation brought on by the civil war.

Speaking in the capital, President Ahmed al-Sharaa said the agreement would enable Syrian state institutions to reassert formal control over three key eastern and northern governorates: al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor and Raqqa. He emphasised that the deal creates a framework for stability, governance and security to return under a single national authority.

The announcement followed high-level talks in Damascus between President al-Sharaa and the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack. Barrack welcomed the ceasefire and broader agreement, describing it as an important step toward a “unified Syria” and a reduction in long-running internal tensions.

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi was expected to attend the meeting in Damascus but was unable to travel due to adverse weather conditions. His visit has been rescheduled for Monday, according to President al-Sharaa, underscoring continued engagement between both sides as the agreement moves toward implementation.

Kurdish-led forces established their autonomous administration in northern and eastern Syria nearly a decade ago, during the height of the country’s civil war. The SDF received strong backing from the United States, which armed and trained the group as its primary local partner in the campaign against the Islamic State group (IS).

With sustained US military support, the SDF succeeded in driving IS from large parts of northeastern Syria and subsequently governed a mix of Kurdish- and Arab-majority areas, developing parallel civilian and security institutions during years of conflict.

Under the new agreement, Syrian authorities will assume control of civilian institutions, border crossings, and strategic oil and gas fields that have long underpinned Kurdish self-rule. These measures are intended to bring economic assets and administrative systems back under central state management.

The deal also outlines the integration of SDF military and security personnel into Syria’s defence and interior ministries, subject to a vetting process. In addition, Damascus will take over responsibility for prisons and detention camps holding tens of thousands of foreign IS fighters and their families, a move officials say will strengthen national oversight and long-term security arrangements.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has reaffirmed her intention to lead the country, declaring that she will assume the presidency “when the right time comes,” as Venezuela navigates a critical political transition.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News during a visit to Washington, Machado said she believes she will one day be elected president, describing her ambition as part of a broader mission to rebuild the country. She said her goal is to help turn Venezuela into “that land of grace,” adding that she hopes to become the nation’s first woman president when conditions allow for a democratic transfer of power.

Machado’s remarks came a day after she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump, describing the gesture as recognition of what she called his commitment to Venezuela’s freedom and democratic future. The symbolic act drew international attention and underscored her effort to strengthen ties with key global actors at a moment of heightened uncertainty for the South American nation.

The political landscape in Venezuela has shifted dramatically following the US operation on 3 January that led to the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and his transfer to New York, where he is facing multiple charges related to drugs and weapons trafficking. The move has intensified diplomatic activity around Venezuela’s future governance and raised questions about who will ultimately lead the country through its next phase.

Despite Machado’s prominence within the opposition and her movement’s claim of victory in the widely disputed 2024 elections, President Trump has so far stopped short of formally endorsing her as Venezuela’s next leader. He has argued that she lacks sufficient domestic backing at this stage. Instead, the US administration has been engaging with interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice-president and is currently overseeing the transitional administration.

Addressing questions about her role, Machado stressed that she remains focused on serving Venezuela in the most effective way possible. “I want to serve my country where I am more useful,” she said, adding that she believes she has a clear mandate from supporters who see her as a central figure in the country’s democratic aspirations.

During her visit to Washington, Machado also met with several US senators as part of broader efforts to rally international support. Outside Congress, her brief comments to reporters were frequently interrupted by supporters chanting “María, presidente” while waving Venezuelan flags, reflecting the enthusiasm of her backers and the continued visibility of her leadership bid.

A federal law enforcement officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel during an attempted arrest, US authorities have said, in the latest flashpoint amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement in the city.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the incident followed a car chase involving a Venezuelan national who was in the United States illegally. According to the agency, the pursuit ended in a crash in the Hawthorne area of Minneapolis, after which the driver fled on foot.

DHS officials said the officer caught up with the suspect, but was then confronted by two additional individuals who joined the scene. The three are alleged to have attacked the officer, with one using a shovel. In response, the officer discharged his weapon, striking one of the men in the leg. Authorities said the injury was not life-threatening.

The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened anxiety in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent last week. That earlier shooting sparked protests in the city, which later spread to other parts of the United States, placing federal immigration operations under intense public scrutiny.

Following Wednesday’s shooting, fresh clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement near the scene. Local media, including the Minnesota Star Tribune, reported that several vehicles believed to belong to the federal government were damaged during the unrest.

City officials appealed for calm, urging residents to avoid further escalation and emphasising the importance of peaceful protest. They also stressed the need for clear communication between law enforcement agencies and the community as investigations into recent incidents continue.

The political response has been swift. In a social media post on Thursday morning, US President Donald Trump warned that he could invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials failed to act to “stop the professional agitators”, signalling a tougher federal stance should unrest continue.