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.
China has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order, which threatens to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported to the U.S. from any country that imports oil from Venezuela.
U.S. officials defended their decision to deploy extraordinary wartime powers to deport 137 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador last weekend, despite a federal judge’s temporary block and Venezuelan authorities denying that the individuals were affiliated with criminal gangs.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced in a televised address on Saturday that his government has reached an agreement with the United States to resume repatriation flights of Venezuelan migrants, with the first flights scheduled to begin on Sunday.
Venezuela has reached an agreement to resume repatriation flights for migrants from the United States, with the first flights scheduled to begin on Sunday, March 23. The move aims to provide a structured return process for Venezuelans wishing to come back to their home country.
Venezuela celebrates the canonization of the so-called "Doctor of the Poor," Jose Gregorio Hernandez. On Tuesday, Pope Francis canonized a physician who died more than 100 years ago, revered for his selfless service during a past pandemic.
The European Commission has called for enhanced preparedness across Europe, urging improved stockpiling of critical supplies and encouraging citizens to maintain emergency provisions for at least 72 hours.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, highlighted the potential for international investors, particularly from the Global South, to contribute to the development of Russia's Arctic region, driven by the opening of the Northern Sea Route due to global warming.
Israeli citizens have protested outside the Knesset and Prime Minister’s residence against a controversial law that would alter the judicial appointment committee, a move critics warn could shift power within the judiciary and spark a constitutional crisis.
Britain's proposed assisted dying law for terminally ill individuals may be delayed until 2029, following amendments to the legislation that extend the timeline for implementation and add new safeguards, with the bill still needing approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The European Union’s enlargement process continues to move forward, but without mention of Georgia. In a speech at the European Policy Center in Brussels on March 25, European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted the EU’s commitment to integrating Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
Mexican forces have dismantled a massive meth lab in Zacatecas, dealing a blow to a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
Serbia’s parliament has officially accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, setting a 30-day deadline for the formation of a new government or the calling of snap elections.
A devastating overnight drone attack on Kyiv, attributed to Russian forces, resulted in the deaths of three people, including a five-year-old child, and left ten others injured.
FIFA announced that the winners of this year’s 32-team Club World Cup, set to take place in the U.S. from June 14 to July 13, will receive up to $125 million in prize money, as part of a total prize pool of $1 billion for the tournament.
A South Korean appeals court has cleared opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of election law violations, overturning a previous conviction that could have hindered his presidential aspirations, though prosecutors plan to appeal the ruling.
China is expected to remain the top investor in chipmaking equipment in 2025, despite a 24% year-over-year decline, with global semiconductor investments rising 2% to $110 billion, driven by the growing demand for AI chip production.
German Finance Minister Joerg Kukies will travel to the United States on Wednesday to meet with U.S. counterpart Scott Bessent and officials from the IMF and World Bank, focusing on strengthening economic ties and addressing global financial challenges.
Italy is conducting a study of its space and satellite communications market, with the possibility of issuing a call for tender later this year, signaling the country’s growing interest in expanding its role in the satellite communications sector.
The European Commission has called for enhanced preparedness across Europe, urging improved stockpiling of critical supplies and encouraging citizens to maintain emergency provisions for at least 72 hours.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, highlighted the potential for international investors, particularly from the Global South, to contribute to the development of Russia's Arctic region, driven by the opening of the Northern Sea Route due to global warming.
Israeli citizens have protested outside the Knesset and Prime Minister’s residence against a controversial law that would alter the judicial appointment committee, a move critics warn could shift power within the judiciary and spark a constitutional crisis.
Britain's proposed assisted dying law for terminally ill individuals may be delayed until 2029, following amendments to the legislation that extend the timeline for implementation and add new safeguards, with the bill still needing approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The European Union’s enlargement process continues to move forward, but without mention of Georgia. In a speech at the European Policy Center in Brussels on March 25, European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted the EU’s commitment to integrating Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
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