International News

Venezuela Opposition Leader Denounces Arrest Of Aides

Published

2 years ago

March 23, 2024

Spread the love

Venezuela’s opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado condemned on Wednesday, the arrest of two of her staffers and accused the government of attacking her party for fear of losing July’s presidential election.

Venezuela-Protests

Her comments came after the country’s top prosecutor earlier in the day announced the arrest of two senior officials from Machado’s Vente Venezuela party over an alleged anti-government conspiracy.

Attorney General, Tarek William Saab said Henry Alviarez and Dignora Hernandez were plotting to “rally the masses using labor and student unions to incentivize a military wing” to lead an uprising and “generate destabilization in the country.”

Seven other Machado aides have been arrested in recent days, and warrants have been issued for several more.

The attorney general did not mention any measures against Machado herself.

“Today, as you all know, arrest warrants were issued for nine Venezuelans, most of them members of our campaign team,” Machado said at a press conference in Caracas. “Two of the members of these teams were kidnapped and forcibly detained.”

“Everything, absolutely everything, said by the prosecutor” was false, she added.

“This is a shameful attempt to shut down the electoral process.”

Though she was disqualified from the July 28 election and banned from holding public office for 15 years, Machado has continued to try to challenge President Nicolas Maduro’s attempt to secure a third term.

Maduro’s regime knows “there is no way they can win an election,” she told reporters in the capital.

Attorney general Saab said the arrest warrants for Machado’s staffers stemmed from a confession by another of her aides, Emil Brandt Ulloa, who was arrested on March 9.

In a video, Bradnt allegedly admits to the conspiracy, and claims it was financed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

“We have revealed a series of conspiracies, threats and actions that have as a common denominator the intention of sowing violence and chaos in the country and threatening the life of the president” as well as “high civil and military authorities,” said Saab.

Vente Venezuela condemned what it described as the “kidnapping” of Alviarez and Hernandez, and said the “repression of the regime” was intensifying.

The party’s headquarters were shuttered Wednesday.

In a video circulating on social media, police officers were seen forcing a woman, widely identified as Hernandez, into a van as she shouted: “Help, please!”

“Vente Venezuela is not a terrorist organization … Our route is electoral, we want a peaceful transition,” Orlando Moreno, coordinator of the party’s human rights committee, told AFP.

– ‘Power at any cost’ –

Venezuela goes to the polls on July 28 with Maduro seeking re-election after 11 years in office marked by sanctions, economic collapse and accusations of widespread repression.

In October, Machado overwhelmingly won an opposition primary, capturing 92 percent of the votes.

But the Supreme Court in January upheld the administrative order barring her and her potential stand-in, Henrique Capriles, from holding public office.

Machado, 56, has accused Maduro of violating an agreement signed in Barbados last year, in which his administration promised to hold a free and fair vote in 2024 with international observers present.

The deal led the United States to ease sanctions, allowing Chevron to resume limited crude extraction — a decision it is now reconsidering given Machado’s continued exclusion from the ballot.

On Thursday, Brian Nichols, the top US diplomat for Latin America, called for “the immediate release” of Machado’s staff.

“Maduro’s escalating attacks on civil society and political actors are totally inconsistent with Barbados Accord commitments but will not stifle the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people,” he wrote in a statement on social media platform X.

Argentina and Uruguay also demanded the release of the opposition aides, while Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil accused the United States and Argentina of being “accomplices” to “fascists”.

Machado has so far refused to bow out of the presidential race, though it is unclear how she will overcome the state’s hurdles to her participation.

Official nominations for presidential candidates open on Thursday.

“Once again, those who seek to stay in power at any cost lash out against those who oppose them,” Capriles wrote on X.

AFP

International News

W/Cup: Germany Recalls Retired Goalie @ 40

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

thecolumnng

Spread the love

Manuel Neuer has been called up to Germany’s World Cup squad – two years after his international retirement.

The 40-year-old was named as part of Julian Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for the tournament this summer, having not featured for his country since Euro 2024.

Among the list include Premier League players Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade – both of Newcastle – Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz and Brighton’s Pascal Gross.

Injured duo Serge Gnabry and Anton Stach and forwards Karim Adeyemi, Kevin Schade and Niclas Fullkrug are among those to miss out.

Germany’s World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)

Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle)

Midfielders: Pascal Gross (Brighton), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart)

Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)

International News

Mikel Obi Claims Credit For Alonso’s Chelsea Appointment

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

thecolumnng

Spread the love

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has opened up on the club’s decision to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new manager.

The Blues confirmed the Spaniard as their next head coach following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, with Alonso set to take charge ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Mikel had previously been vocal about Chelsea’s managerial philosophy, urging the club’s ownership to move away from short-term head coaches and interim appointments and instead bring in a proper manager with full control over the squad

Speaking on his most recent podcast, Mikel said:

“I am glad the owners listened to me, and listened to the fans.
“Forget about coaches, what we have always had are managers, and what we need is a manager who decides on the players he wants out and the players who can stay.

“We need a strong personality, and that is what we have got now in Alonso.

“That title has been changed from coach to manager, but I hope it’s not just words and he is actually allowed to manage the squad. But I am very happy with the appointment.”

Chelsea are still in the hunt for Europa League football, and a win over Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season would go a long way in determining whether Alonso inherits a European stage to build on next season.

International News

Enzo Maresca Gets 3Yr Deal To Replace Pep At Man City

Published

6 days ago

May 19, 2026

thecolumnng

Spread the love

Enzo Maresca is believed to have signed a three-year deal to replace outgoing Man City manager Pep Guardiola, after it was revealed that the legendary head coach will be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season.

Speculation around Guardiola’s departure date has been rife as the season draws to a close, despite the Catalan having one year left on his contract.

According to report, Man City’s sponsors were among those to have been told that Guardiola will be calling time on a remarkable trophy-ladened spell on Sunday.

The report also shared that Maresca, Guardiola’s former assistant, was a front-runner for the vacant spot at the dugout, with Fabrizio Romano confirming on Tuesday morning that the ex-Chelsea manager will be taking over.

The Italian head coach has been out of work since his mutual departure from Stamford Bridge under strained circumstances on January 1.

But even before his acrimonious mid-season exit, Maresca has been viewed as a long-term successor to Guardiola following their stint working together at Man City.

The 46-year-old served as Guardiola’s assistant between 2022 and 2023 after previously coaching Man City’s youth sides, before departing to earn Championship promotion with Leicester.

Maresca then went on to win the Uefa Conference League and the Club World Cup with Chelsea during his 18-month spell in west London.

Guardiola is set to celebrate his time in English football with an open-top bus parade in Manchester after winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season, but until Monday night, the manager had been notably vague over his future plans.

But before news broke of his shock exit, Guardiola had been keen to tamp down any suggestions that he would be commemorated with any fanfare.

‘The club don’t have to do anything, honestly,’ Guardiola, who has yet to officially confirm his departure, said. ‘The important thing in our lives is that when you look back, you can look with a big smile and say “that was good”.

‘Bernardo (Silva) and John (Stones) can feel that. We spoke about it over the last few days. When you’re old, a grandfather, you can look at the memories. That is the most important thing in life.’

Tired of addressing his contractual situation, Guardiola added with a dose of sarcasm: ‘Whatever happens at the end of the season – and when I extend my contract for three more years – I can look back and say, “how nice has that been?”

‘That is the most important thing by far. Most of the people who lived this time here together can feel it.’