Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to new charges of torturing people, including Americans, to stay in power. They are facing trial in the United States on these accusations as well as earlier drug-related charges.
Key Facts
Maduro and his wife entered pleas of not guilty to torture charges.
The charges accuse them of torturing political opponents in Venezuelan prisons.
The indictment says Maduro started using torture after becoming president in 2013.
They are also charged with narcoterrorism and drug trafficking in previous cases.
The U.S. brought these cases after capturing them in a military operation in Caracas.
Maduro's lawyer says he should have immunity as a leader of a sovereign country.
The trial is set to begin on June 14, 2027, in New York.
The charges include conspiracy to commit torture involving violence and military detention.
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Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's former leader, and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York court to plead not guilty to new charges of conspiracy to commit torture. They were captured by US forces in January and face additional accusations, including drug trafficking and narcoterrorism, with a trial set for June 2027.
Key Facts
Maduro and Flores were arrested in January during a US military raid and taken to New York.
They denied torture charges and other accusations, claiming sovereign immunity as leaders of Venezuela.
The new indictment accuses them of running a violent repression system causing deaths, harassment, and torture of thousands of Venezuelans.
Reported torture methods include electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, isolation, starvation, and psychological abuse.
US prosecutors claim Maduro authorized torture of specific individuals, including some US citizens.
Maduro and Flores previously faced charges related to cocaine trafficking and working with terrorist-labelled drug cartels.
Flores requested release on bond citing health problems but was denied.
Their trial is scheduled for June 2027 in federal court in New York.
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Latin music is growing in popularity, reaching more listeners than ever in the U.S. and increasing music revenue in Latin America. Salsa, a style of Latin music with deep cultural roots, continues to stay relevant by honoring its history while attracting new audiences worldwide.
Key Facts
In early 2026, 54% of U.S. listeners said they casually listened to Latin music monthly, a record high.
Latin America’s recorded music revenue grew 17.1% in 2025, marking 16 years of steady growth.
Streaming made up 88.1% of Latin America’s music revenue in 2025.
Salsa music’s history comes from African, Caribbean, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and New York Latino communities.
Oscar Hernández, pianist and director of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, learned salsa from legendary musicians like Tito Puente and Celia Cruz.
Hernández has won four Grammy Awards and worked with famous artists including Rubén Blades, Paul Simon, and Gloria Estefan.
The Spanish Harlem Orchestra balances keeping salsa’s traditional sound while updating it for new audiences.
A 2026 collaboration with conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Philharmonic brought salsa to audiences who had never attended a classical concert before.
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An Egyptian farmer named Khaled al-Shahat found a large pink granite stone on his land, which led archaeologists to dig up parts of statues belonging to King Ramses II. These discoveries, including a giant statue head and other pieces, are helping experts learn more about ancient Egypt and its history.
Key Facts
Khaled al-Shahat found an unusual pink granite stone about 1.3 meters long on his farmland.
The stone had two royal titles of King Ramses II, who ruled Egypt from 1279 B.C. to 1213 B.C.
Archaeologists uncovered a giant statue head about 1.6 meters tall, showing Ramses II wearing the double crown.
The statue’s size suggests it would have been about 28 feet tall when complete.
A second large statue, missing parts like legs and base, was also found nearby.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities honored Khaled al-Shahat with a certificate and a trip to Saudi Arabia for his honesty in reporting the find.
Excavations are ongoing to study the statues and learn more about the history and architecture of the area.
The discovery may change what experts know about the history of this region in the Nile Delta.
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Yemen’s Houthis fired multiple missiles at the al-Maashiq presidential palace in Aden, targeting the Saudi-backed government. The attack killed two bodyguards but left key officials unharmed, and it marks a serious escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and government forces.
Key Facts
The Houthis launched five missiles targeting the al-Maashiq presidential palace in Aden.
Two bodyguards were killed; the prime minister and other officials were reported safe.
The palace is the base for Yemen’s internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government.
This missile attack is the first of its kind directly on the government headquarters.
Fighting continues in Taiz city, a strategic area under Houthi siege, crucial for control of a key shipping route.
Pro-government forces are defending Dhubab airport against a Houthi attack in Taiz governorate.
The Saudi-led coalition reports over 20 Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and other infrastructure in 11 days, causing deaths and injuries.
The coalition accused the Houthis of receiving ballistic missiles from other regional countries.
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Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected calls to quit amid ongoing student protests against corruption and a luxury resort linked to President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Demonstrations turned violent in the capital Tirana, with clashes between protesters and police causing damage and injuries.
Key Facts
Protests in Albania’s capital, Tirana, have continued for three days with thousands of participants.
Demonstrators are angry about corruption and the sale of coastal land to a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.
Police used water cannons, tear gas, and batons to control the crowds.
Government buildings and public property were damaged, including burnt bins and broken bus stops.
At least 65 people were arrested and 89 were treated for injuries, including police officers.
Prime Minister Edi Rama denied corruption allegations and said he will not resign.
Protests have spread to smaller cities, with students boycotting universities.
Rama emphasized continuing European Union membership talks despite the unrest.
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Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in a New York court to face new charges of leading a torture campaign in Venezuela. Both denied the accusations and pleaded not guilty as the court plans to set a trial date.
Key Facts
Nicolás Maduro and his wife were brought to court in New York after being captured in a US military raid in January.
They face accusations of running a state-sponsored system that tortured many victims, including Americans.
Maduro denied the charges, calling them false during the court appearance.
The indictment claims Maduro personally recommended torture methods and threatened victims.
Cilia Flores, a former attorney general, is also accused of ordering torture and denied guilt.
Maduro was Venezuela’s president from 2013 until his capture in 2024.
Prosecutors asked to move the trial date from June 1 to June 14.
Torture is illegal under international law and can be prosecuted anywhere, but cases against foreign officials in the US are rare.
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Lubna Speitan, a British-Palestinian member of the Green Party, has received death and rape threats after the party passed a motion declaring Zionism as a form of racism. The motion, which supports Palestinian rights and challenges the connection between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, has caused strong reactions from other UK political parties and public figures.
Key Facts
Lubna Speitan received threats online after the Green Party passed a motion calling Zionism racism.
She reported these threats to the police and believes they are meant to intimidate her.
The motion passed with 1,022 votes to 813 at the Green Party conference.
Other UK parties and politicians, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, criticized the motion as wrong and anti-Semitic.
The motion supports Palestinian self-determination and a single democratic state for Muslims and Jews in historic Palestine.
It clarifies that not all Jews are Zionists and targets the ideology of Zionism, not Jewish people.
Speitan denies media accusations linking her to terrorism and calls those allegations guilt by association.
The Green Party is investigating members’ views that conflict with party values.
The UN once passed, then repealed, a resolution declaring Zionism a form of racism.
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The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has asked the Green Party of England and Wales for more details about a recent motion that describes Zionism as a form of racism. The EHRC is reviewing whether this motion could lead to discrimination against Jewish people, while the Green Party says it opposes antisemitism and will not exclude Zionist members.
Key Facts
The Green Party passed a motion calling Zionism an ideology promoting a Jewish state that dominates non-Jewish people in historic Palestine.
The EHRC wrote to the Greens to assess if the motion may break the Equality Act 2010 by potentially discriminating against Jewish people.
Many Jewish groups, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs criticized the motion and raised concerns about antisemitism.
Labour said it would end power-sharing with Greens on local councils unless the motion is disowned.
Four of five Green MPs and two former party leaders expressed criticism of the motion.
The Green Party said the motion is a political statement and does not affect membership rules or disciplinary processes.
The Greens reaffirmed their commitment to fight antisemitism and support Jewish members.
The EHRC said it will decide if action is needed after reviewing more information from the party.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino apologized to council members over controversy about a secret plan to sell World Cup marketing rights but did not share new information. European football officials remain unhappy and want more answers, with some pushing to remove him before the next FIFA election.
Key Facts
Infantino apologized for surprising council members with a secret plan on selling $4.2 billion in World Cup rights.
He did not provide new documents or details about this plan or a World Cup red-card case involving player Folarin Balogun and U.S. President Donald Trump’s intervention.
UEFA, European football’s main body, is leading efforts to remove Infantino from FIFA presidency before the March election.
FIFA Vice President Debbie Hewitt said Infantino must answer written questions about his plan to satisfy critics.
Some council members say Infantino lacks integrity and cannot restore FIFA’s damaged reputation.
UEFA has filed court requests in the U.S. for evidence for a criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland, related to possible financial mismanagement.
The secret plan involved a private equity deal with investor Joshua Kushner, related to commercial tournament rights.
There is discussion about whether FIFA should continue awarding a peace prize originally created to be given to President Donald Trump.
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Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel entered an Israeli army base and clashed with police about military service rules. Meanwhile, a child in Gaza survived after witnessing a tragic Israeli strike that killed her family.
Key Facts
Ultra-Orthodox Jews protested against army conscription by storming an Israeli military base.
The protests led to clashes with Israeli police forces.
The child in Gaza was the only survivor of her family after an Israeli airstrike.
The child witnessed her mother burn alive in the strike.
The events happened amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Al Jazeera reporter Ava Warriner covered this story for Jerusalem Daily.
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The Palestinian legislative elections, planned for June 2026 and the first in 20 years, have been postponed to September 2027. Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi said this delay disappointed many and blamed older Palestinian leaders rather than Israeli restrictions for the postponement.
Key Facts
The first Palestinian legislative elections in 20 years were scheduled for June 2026 but postponed to September 2027.
Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi called the delay a "terrible disappointment" for young Palestinians who have never voted.
Sinijlawi said the postponement reflects a refusal to change by older Palestinian leaders.
President Mahmoud Abbas promised French President Emmanuel Macron and others to hold elections by June 2026.
France led 15 countries to recognize a Palestinian state based on reforms and elections.
Sinijlawi named Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh as a main figure behind the postponement.
The activist warned that countries donating money to Palestine might reconsider funding if elections do not happen.
The issue relates to broader Israeli-Palestinian tensions and questions about political reforms within Palestinian leadership.
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Azerbaijan has started enforcing new school rules banning Islamic headscarves for female students in state schools. This has sparked rare protests in the capital, Baku, and other regions, and led to arrests and internet disruptions.
Key Facts
The Azerbaijani education ministry began enforcing uniform rules that turn away female students wearing hijabs.
Protests have occurred in Baku and several southern districts like Masally and Jalilabad.
Azerbaijan is a secular country with a government that limits religious and political dissent.
Around 37 people were detained for disrupting public order during protests.
The rules ban clothing that goes against secular principles in state schools but do not specifically mention the hijab.
A mother protesting was detained and warned to remove her child's hijab or face prison.
An activist who started an online school for students banned from class was reportedly detained.
Internet access to Instagram and TikTok has become difficult without VPNs since the protests began.
Azerbaijan’s government is concerned about religious influence from neighboring Iran, which has many ethnic Azerbaijanis.
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Ukraine has restarted attacks on Russian oil refineries, seeing these strikes as their main way to push Russia toward peace talks. This action follows President Donald Trump's announcement of an energy ceasefire, which Ukraine's leadership opposes since it was made without agreement from both Russia and Ukraine.
Key Facts
Ukraine is attacking Russian oil refineries again to pressure Russia in peace negotiations.
President Donald Trump declared an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but Ukraine did not agree to it.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine is “done” with the ceasefire.
A democracy expert from Kyiv says the ceasefire needs agreement from both sides to work.
Russia continues to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite the ceasefire claim.
Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russia and frozen Russian assets.
The U.S. is trying to normalize economic relations with Russia but wants Russia to make real concessions first.
Ukraine might need to be cautious in its actions to keep U.S. support strong.
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Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to new U.S. charges accusing them of conspiracy to commit torture. The U.S. also charges them with drug trafficking and weapons offenses, and they appeared in court in New York after being captured in a U.S. military operation in January.
Key Facts
Maduro and Flores deny the new U.S. charges of plotting torture.
They were taken from Caracas by a U.S. military operation in January.
They face earlier charges including drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession.
The U.S. says they ran a system of torture and violence targeting political opponents and others.
Torture methods allegedly included beatings, electric shocks, sleep deprivation, and threatening families.
Maduro has been Venezuela’s president since 2013 and was re-elected most recently in 2024.
Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, is acting president after Maduro’s capture.
Rodriguez initially condemned the U.S. action but now works with the Trump administration to open Venezuela’s oil industry to foreign companies.
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A Florida man named Dale Smith Jr. was arrested for the 2011 disappearance and murder of Michelle Parker. Michelle's mother, Yvonne Ellis Stewart, expressed relief and hope after the arrest, although Michelle has not yet been found.
Key Facts
Michelle Parker disappeared in November 2011 after appearing with Dale Smith Jr. on a TV show about their lawsuit over an engagement ring.
Dale Smith Jr., Michelle’s ex-fiancé, was arrested by Orlando police on a second-degree murder charge.
Michelle’s abandoned car was found the day after she disappeared, and her cellphone was later found in a nearby area.
Michelle and Dale had twins together, and Michelle had another child from a previous relationship.
Police said new digital evidence led to arresting Smith, whom they consider responsible for Michelle’s murder.
Michelle’s mother said she is waiting for the trial and will not do interviews.
Smith’s lawyer said Smith denies the charges and has maintained his innocence for 15 years.
The couple had a legal dispute over an engagement ring that was featured on the TV show The People's Court shortly before Michelle vanished.
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Pope Leo XIV has begun resuming some of his duties after lung surgery to remove a part of his right lung because of lung cancer. The Vatican says he is recovering well and plans to leave the hospital on October 20.
Key Facts
Pope Leo XIV had surgery to remove a lobe of his right lung due to a nodular lesion linked to lung cancer.
He started celebrating Mass and reading documents again while still in the hospital.
The pope met with Vatican officials and had physiotherapy sessions during his recovery.
Doctors say his recovery is progressing as expected, with good healing seen on his chest X-ray.
The pope hopes to lead the Angelus prayer from the hospital but it is not confirmed.
Pope Leo's public audiences are canceled until October 20, when he is expected to be discharged.
He plans to travel to South America next month, based on his recent statements.
The Vatican has not shared details about the cancer’s stage or specific characteristics.
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Two well-known housing estates in south London, Cressingham Gardens and Central Hill, will not be demolished after 10 years of debate. The local council, now led by the Green party, plans to invest in fixing and improving these homes instead.
Key Facts
The two estates are notable for their 1960s low-rise design, which residents appreciate.
Lambeth council originally wanted to demolish the estates to build new social and affordable homes.
The Labour party was in charge when demolition was planned, but the Green party took control after recent elections.
A 2022 review found very little increase in social housing would come from demolition.
Residents and experts criticized poor communication and delays during the redevelopment plans.
Cressingham Gardens was designed to encourage community with homes facing each other and green play areas.
Central Hill was built on a slope to maximize light and views, led by one of the few women architects of that time.
The current council leadership has committed to repairing homes and using empty properties instead of demolition.
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The Fierce festival, Britain’s longest-running live art festival, returned to Birmingham showcasing a range of unique performances, from virtual reality experiences to physical dance pieces. The festival features both conventional theatres and unusual venues, highlighting diverse cultural themes and immersive art.
Key Facts
Fierce festival began in 1998 and lasts one week annually in Birmingham.
The event uses traditional theatres and unconventional spaces like industrial areas and a gothic hall.
One featured work is a VR experience called Traversing the Mist, set in a virtual gay sauna.
Dance performances explore themes such as identity, homosexuality, and cultural heritage.
The festival includes international artists, with work connecting to African and European histories.
American choreographer Faye Driscoll presented her award-winning show Weathering at the UK premiere.
The festival’s focus is on sensory, physical, and live experiences involving bodies and emotions.
Events include diverse formats such as artist dinners, swimming pool performances, and long-duration shows.
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The United States has plans to use its largest non-nuclear bomb, called the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), against Iran’s nuclear and energy sites if President Donald Trump orders military action. Experts say the bomb would cause significant damage above ground but might not destroy Iran’s underground nuclear facilities or fully achieve US goals.
Key Facts
The MOAB is the biggest non-nuclear bomb in the US military, weighing nearly 10 tonnes.
It contains about 8.5 tonnes of high explosives and is about 9 meters (30 feet) long.
The bomb is dropped from a Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, as it cannot fit in stealth bombers.
The MOAB has only been used once in combat, in 2017, against Islamic State tunnels in Afghanistan.
The bomb explodes above ground to create a powerful blast radius of about 1 km (0.6 miles).
Military experts say it can destroy buildings and forces above ground but may not reach deeply buried underground targets.
Some US officials question how effective using the MOAB would be against Iran’s nuclear sites.
The bomb’s name comes from a phrase used by Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War.
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