Venezuelan lawyer and politician with a long career in public office
Venezuela’s government and opposition are engaging in talks aimed at stabilizing the country, rebuilding institutions, and paving a path toward elections after recent earthquakes and political upheaval. Washington says it will facilitate rather than dictate the process, while opposition leaders push for reforms to the electoral council and judiciary.
The Edinburgh International Festival spotlight has showcased a mix of traditional and experimental concerts as leading ensembles and performers adapt to economic pressures and changing audiences. Notable moments include high-profile collaborators, large-scale works, and debates about funding and the role of patronage.
The United States has removed Syria from its state sponsor of terrorism list, and has also delisted the al-Nusrah Front. Damascus says the move unlocks investment and accelerates reconstruction as it seeks to reintegrate with the global economy. Washington frames the step as a path to stability, while analysts caution continued regional risks.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been moved to a US facility after a January capture in Caracas. They face drug-trafficking and weapons charges; a June 2027 trial date has been set, with prosecutors seeking long prison terms.
The Maduro case has tested whether a sitting foreign head of state can be prosecuted in U.S. courts. Maduro argues sovereign and conduct-based immunity, while prosecutors urge continued proceedings. The trial date remains set for June 2027, with disputes over immunity ongoing.
Alex Saab has pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in Miami and will forfeit $195 million as part of a deal to cooperate with US investigations. The plea follows a long-running case tied to alleged bribes, shell companies, and the CLAP program in Venezuela.
Cilia Flores, wife of Nicolás Maduro, has asked a judge to allow her to await trial on home confinement due to a worsening heart condition. Her lawyers propose a Brooklyn-based home under 24/7 surveillance, with limits on visitors and recorded calls, while trial remains scheduled for next June. Flores and Maduro have pleaded not guilty to cocaine trafficking charges and face immunity challenges.
The Maduro regime faces new torture-related charges in a Manhattan indictment, while Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, remain jailed in New York after a January capture. Prosecutors allege a system of torture and coercion against political opponents, intensifying a contentious US case that already accuses them of narcoterrorism.
The United States has filed a new indictment charging Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores with conspiracy to commit torture, adding to existing drug-trafficking and weapon charges. The couple, captured in Caracas and detained in Brooklyn, plead not guilty and await trial set for June in New York as prosecutors portray a system of repression linked to narcoterrorism and organized crime.
Alvaro Pulido Vargas has been arrested in a Homeland Security Task Force operation and will appear in federal court in South Florida. He faces money-laundering charges linked to Venezuelan government contracts and bribery schemes tied to CLAP food and medicine programs. The case also involves associates and a broader network moving funds through multiple countries. The investigation traces bribery, fake contracts, and illicit payments across the U.S., Antigua, the UAE, and beyond.
The US has filed a new indictment accusing Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, of leading a state‑sponsored system of repression that tortured opponents, including American citizens. They have pleaded not guilty and deny the charges as they await trial in New York next June.
The United States has been partnering with Venezuela’s interim government since Maduro’s capture, with Trump and Rodriguez pledging elections but no dates yet. Opposition figure Maria Corina Machado has pressed for elections by July 2027 as protests rise across Caracas and other cities.