Ahead of President Nicolás Maduro's expected inauguration later this week, two U.S. citizens were among a group of seven individuals arrested in Venezuela on January 7. Maduro has branded the detainees as "mercenaries," adding to the tension surrounding his third-term.
During a speech on Tuesday, Maduro claimed that the detained U.S. citizens were "very high level," though he did not provide further details or evidence to substantiate the claims. The arrests have raised questions regarding their potential motivations and the broader political climate in Venezuela.
"Just today we've captured seven foreign mercenaries, including two important mercenaries from the United States," Maduro said, as he prepares to officially take office on Friday. His upcoming inauguration follows a highly disputed election in July 2024, which the opposition claims was rigged, alleging they had won by a landslide.
Despite the public announcement, neither the U.S. Department of State nor Colombia's foreign ministry immediately responded to requests for comment, leaving details about the arrests unclear.
This latest roundup of detainees adds to growing concerns from Venezuelan human rights groups, who have long warned about the country's pattern of arbitrary detentions. These groups have highlighted the troubling trend of a "revolving door" of prisoners, where new arrests occur even as older detainees are released, often including foreign nationals.
Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis, coupled with the strained relations between Maduro's government and Western nations, has fueled tensions within the country. The full details of the arrests remain unclear.
Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, expressed confidence on Friday that unresolved issues between Washington and Ank...
A gas explosion at a karaoke restaurant in the Andean town of Huancane left 10 people dead, including eight students, and seriously injured three othe...
Europe is entering a period of long-term population decline just as right-wing parties push to restrict migration. A widening gap now separates Europe...
French naval forces opened fire on a swarm of unidentified drones that flew over one of the country’s most sensitive military installations, the Îl...
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with world leaders, sports stars, and FIFA officials on hand to fin...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that a new phase of attacks against alleged drug traffickers will target land-based sites and “anybody” involved in the illicit trade.
President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday approved a migrant repatriation flight from the United Sates days after Caracas said comments by U.S. President Donald Trump had effectively halted the programme.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday pledged his “absolute loyalty” to the Venezuelan people as tensions continue to rise with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The White House has defended a U.S. admiral's decision to conduct multiple strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel in September, saying he had Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's authorisation, even as critics questioned the legality of a strike on survivors.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with world leaders, sports stars, and FIFA officials on hand to finalise matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.
Faced with mounting public outrage following one of the deadliest environmental disasters in the nation’s recent history, the Indonesian government has pledged to investigate and potentially shut down mining operations found to have contributed to the catastrophic flooding on Sumatra.
Israel was cleared on Thursday to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, a decision made by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which sparked a major controversy.
Britain’s King Charles III welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday, marking the beginning of his three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. The visit, the first by a German President to the UK in 27 years, comes as the two countries continue to strengthen ties post-Brexit.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to cooperate more closely on geopolitics, trade and the environment, as the European Union seeks China's help to end the war in Ukraine.
Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, expressed confidence on Friday that unresolved issues between Washington and Ankara could be resolved within four to six months, describing the relationship as strong and stable.
A gas explosion at a karaoke restaurant in the Andean town of Huancane left 10 people dead, including eight students, and seriously injured three others, local authorities said Friday, December 5.
Europe is entering a period of long-term population decline just as right-wing parties push to restrict migration. A widening gap now separates Europe’s demographic needs from its political choices.
French naval forces opened fire on a swarm of unidentified drones that flew over one of the country’s most sensitive military installations, the Île Longue submarine base in western Brittany, officials confirmed on Friday.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with world leaders, sports stars, and FIFA officials on hand to finalise matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment