Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is due to make his first appearance in a United States federal court in Manhattan on Monday, two days after he was seized in a U.S. military operation in Caracas and flown to New York. Court officials say the hearing, scheduled for around noon, will be an initial appearance and arraignment on long standing U.S. federal charges.
Maduro faces a four count indictment accusing him of leading a 25 year narco terrorism and cocaine trafficking conspiracy that allegedly used Venezuela’s state institutions and security forces to move tons of cocaine into the United States. The charges include conspiracy to commit narco terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and related weapons offences involving machine guns and explosives.
He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn alongside other high profile inmates while awaiting trial. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the case aims to hold Maduro and his inner circle accountable for turning Venezuela into what prosecutors describe as a corrupt, drug fueled regime.
The court hearing comes as Venezuela remains in political limbo after Maduro’s removal, with rival power centres in Caracas and intense international debate over who should lead a transition. Analysts expect a lengthy legal process in the U.S., which could complicate efforts to negotiate Venezuela’s political future while its former leader is in American custody.
About the author
Fit again Lookman eager to face ‘special’ Arsenal in UCL
Ademola Lookman has declared himself fit and ready to face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano tomorrow. The Atletico Madrid forward missed the club’s last two La Liga matches after suffering an abductor complaint in the Copa del Rey final. Lookman returned to full training with his teammates on Monday, easing fears that he could miss the crucial clash against the Premier League side. He said he feels much better and is focused on helping Atletico reach the Champions League final. The Nigeria international described Arsenal as a “special” team and admitted the tie carries extra emotion for him because of his London roots. He grew up in the city and began his professional career there, making the semi final a meeting of his past and present. Lookman has made a […]
Simeone says Atletico chasing redemption against Arsenal
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says his team are chasing redemption when they face Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi final on Wednesday. Atletico recently suffered a painful defeat in the Copa del Rey final and are under pressure to deliver a major trophy for their fans. The Spanish side will host Arsenal at the Civitas Metropolitano, where Simeone wants his players to draw strength from the atmosphere and show courage and character. He said the club owes its supporters a big European night after tens of thousands of them travelled to Seville for the cup final only to return home disappointed. Simeone admitted that Atletico have experienced many painful near misses in recent years, including Champions League final defeats in 2014 and 2016. He believes this semi final offers another chance for the team to […]
Sanwo Olu says Hamzat best to succeed him as governor
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has described his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as the best person to take over from him as governor in 2027. He said Hamzat has the experience, capacity and deep understanding of governance needed to lead the state. Sanwo Olu spoke after a closed door meeting at Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat formally informed him and key stakeholders of his intention to run for governor. The meeting was attended by members of the State Executive Council, party leaders and influential figures within the All Progressives Congress. Addressing journalists, Sanwo Olu said there was broad agreement among stakeholders that Hamzat is fit, ready and well prepared for the job. He praised his deputy as a loyal partner who has played a central role in shaping policies and projects over the past seven years. The governor noted […]
₦1m salary useless without stable Naira – NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress says a monthly salary of 1 million naira is meaningless for workers without a stable currency and better economic conditions. NLC President Joe Ajaero said this in an interview in Abuja, stressing that workers are more concerned about the real value of their income than the figures on paper. Ajaero explained that rising inflation and the continuous fall of the naira have sharply reduced the purchasing power of workers. He noted that many employees struggle to afford basic needs such as food, transport, healthcare and housing, regardless of how high their nominal salary appears. According to him, what matters is not just wage increases but policies that can strengthen the naira and bring down the cost of living. He argued that without price stability and a stronger currency, even a 1 million naira monthly wage will […]
Chad deports Nigerians fleeing jihadist violence
Chad has arrested and deported hundreds of Nigerians who fled jihadist violence in the Lake Chad region and sought safety in its territory, Nigerian and humanitarian sources say. Many of those affected are from states in northern Nigeria that have endured years of attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups. According to Nigerian officials in Borno State, the Chadian authorities recently rounded up irregular Nigerian migrants in several towns and transported them to the border for return to Nigeria. Local sources say some of those detained had lived in Chad for years after fleeing earlier waves of insurgent attacks and had been surviving through informal work and begging. Humanitarian agencies report that thousands of Nigerians remain displaced around the Lake Chad Basin because of ongoing insecurity and repeated attacks by jihadist groups. Many crossed into neighbouring Chad, Niger and […]
Ghana pulls out of US aid talks over data demand
Ghana has withdrawn from talks on a new United States health aid deal after objecting to US demands for access to sensitive personal health data. The move is a fresh setback for President Donald Trump’s push to link parts of US foreign aid to wider data sharing agreements with partner countries. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the proposed bilateral agreement would have provided about 109 million dollars in US health assistance to Ghana over five years. In return, Ghana would have been required to grant the US extensive access to its national health data systems, including real time information on disease trends and other patient level records. The government of President John Dramani Mahama decided that the conditions posed serious risks to privacy and national security and could breach Ghana’s data protection and health laws. After months […]
Related
Ukraine blasts Israel over grain ‘stolen’ by Russia
Ukraine has sharply criticised Israel over shipments of grain that Kyiv says were stolen by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories and delivered to Israeli ports. Ukrainian officials accuse Israel of ignoring repeated warnings and allowing vessels carrying the disputed cargo to dock and unload. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Ukraine had summoned the Israeli ambassador to Kyiv to deliver a formal protest note. He warned that Israel’s actions risk damaging bilateral ties and could trigger diplomatic and legal steps if the latest ship is allowed to offload its cargo. According to Ukrainian and international media reports, at least one Russian bulk carrier previously docked in the Israeli port of Haifa with nearly 44,000 tonnes of wheat that Ukraine says was taken from Russian occupied regions. Investigations by journalists have suggested that several shipments of grain from occupied areas have already […]
US reviewing latest Iran proposal, says talks continue
The United States says it is carefully examining a new proposal from Iran aimed at breaking the deadlock over the ongoing war and tensions in the Gulf. Officials in Washington say they are still reviewing the details and will consult allies before taking a position. Iranian officials have outlined an offer that focuses first on ending the conflict and easing restrictions on vital shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. Under the proposal, discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme would come later, after a ceasefire and security guarantees are in place. This approach does not fully match the public stance of the United States, which insists that nuclear issues must be addressed from the start of any broader agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested that Tehran may be trying to gain time, saying Washington will not allow Iran […]
King Charles to urge Trump on unity with Britain
King Charles III will use his state visit to the United States to call on President Donald Trump to work more closely with Britain, as both countries face strained relations and global tensions. The King is expected to stress that the historic bond between the two nations has survived many challenges and must remain strong in the future. Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in Washington for a four day state visit that includes a full ceremonial welcome at the White House, private talks with Trump and a rare address to a joint session of the US Congress. It will be only the second time a British monarch has addressed Congress, highlighting the importance of the trip. Relations between the US and UK have cooled in recent years, as Trump has pushed a more inward looking approach and clashed with […]
Attenborough’s historic gorilla encounter revisited
The most iconic moment in Sir David Attenborough’s broadcasting career came in 1978, during filming in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, where he had an unexpected close encounter with a family of mountain gorillas. The footage was recorded for the landmark series Life on Earth, and shows Attenborough sitting calmly among playful gorillas in a forest clearing. At one point, a female gorilla studies him closely from just a few feet away, a moment he later described as deeply meaningful and unlike any other interaction he had experienced with wildlife. The original goal of the expedition was scientific: to illustrate how primates use thumbs and fingers to interact with their environment. To achieve this, the crew climbed steep terrain in Rwanda’s volcanic region in search of the then-endangered mountain gorillas. At the time, the species was under severe threat from […]
White House reviews security after DC shooting
The White House is set to conduct an internal review of presidential security procedures following the shooting incident that occurred during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington. According to senior officials, the review will examine how an armed suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was able to get close to restricted areas inside the venue while President Donald Trump and several cabinet members were present. Allen was eventually subdued by security personnel after a brief exchange of gunfire in which a federal agent was injured but is expected to recover. Despite the breach, Trump has expressed confidence in the United States Secret Service, stating that agents acted effectively to neutralise the threat and secure all high-profile individuals at the event. A senior White House official confirmed that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will convene a meeting with security […]
Eight children missing after orphanage attack in Kogi
Eight children remain missing after an armed attack on an orphanage in Kogi State, in north-central Nigeria, authorities have confirmed. According to the state’s information commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, gunmen stormed the unregistered facility on Sunday and abducted 23 children along with the orphanage’s owner. Security forces were able to rescue 15 of the children following what officials described as a rapid and coordinated response. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, security sources indicate the presence of a cell linked to Boko Haram in the area, which has experienced repeated incidents of violence. The commissioner noted that the orphanage was operating without official authorization and was located in a remote area, outside the oversight of relevant authorities. He called on operators of similar institutions to ensure proper registration and coordination with government agencies, particularly given the current security […]