JOSHUA GOODMAN

Trump’s incoming chief of staff is a former lobbyist. She’ll face a raft of special interests

As Donald Trump prepares to return to power, his victory is likely to embolden those who think they can get his ear.

Trump’s pick of Rubio as America’s top diplomat could reshape US policy in Latin America

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Sen. Marco Rubio to become U.S. secretary of state is likely to jolt Latin America after decades of neglect from Washington.

International court to launch external probe into misconduct accusations against top prosecutor

The International Criminal Court will launch an external probe into sexual misconduct accusations against its top prosecutor, keeping alive a case the court’s internal watchdog had closed within five days.

A Virginia jury acquits an ex-CIA recruit in an assault case that led to sexual misconduct reforms

A former CIA officer-trainee has been acquitted of charges that he attacked a female colleague in a stairwell at CIA headquarters. A Virginia jury on Wednesday acquitted Ashkan Bayatpour of assault and battery charges in a 2022 case.

Recent whale deaths highlight risks from Antarctica’s booming krill fishery

The Associated Press has learned that two humpback whales were found dead and another seriously injured this year in huge nets used to collect krill for fishmeal and human dietary supplements near Antarctica.

International prosecutor who charged Netanyahu vows to cooperate with sex misconduct investigation

The International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor has called for an internal investigation into allegations he tried to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship.

Takeaways from AP investigation into misconduct allegations against prosecutor who charged Netanyahu

As the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor weighed war crimes charges this year against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he was engulfed in a behind-the-scenes personal crisis.

International court prosecutor who charged Netanyahu faces sexual misconduct accusation

As the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor sought war crimes charges this year against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he was engulfed in a behind-the-scenes personal crisis.

A Venezuelan media tycoon is charged in a bribery conspiracy in Florida

A Venezuelan media tycoon has been charged in federal court in Florida for what authorities say was his role in laundering money in a conspiracy to siphon more than $1 billion from Venezuela’s state oil company.

Watchdog blasts DEA for not reporting waterboarding, torture by Latin American partners

A federal government watchdog is blasting the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for failing to timely report human rights violations committed by Latin American law enforcement partners who admitted to torturing crime suspects.

Tren de Aragua gang started in Venezuela’s prisons and now spreads fear in the US

Law enforcement authorities across the U.S. are increasingly focused on a Venezuelan gang behind a spate of violent crimes. The Tren de Aragua traces its origin more than a decade ago to an infamously lawless prison.

Veteran CIA officer who drugged and sexually assaulted dozens of women gets 30 years in prison

A longtime CIA officer who drugged, photographed and sexually assaulted more than two dozen women in postings around the world has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.

DEA closing 2 offices in China even as the agency struggles to stem flow of fentanyl chemicals

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is closing two of its offices in China, a move that comes even as the agency struggles to disrupt the flow of precursor chemicals from the country that have fueled a fentanyl epidemic.

New CIA workplace assault case emerges as spy agency shields extent of sexual misconduct in ranks

A veteran CIA officer is facing assault and battery charges accusing him of drunkenly groping a woman and forcibly kissing her during an impromptu party in the office last year celebrating his 50th birthday.

Opposition candidate burst into Venezuelan politics just months before being chased into exile

For millions of Venezuelans, Edmundo González was the undisputed winner of the country’s July 28 presidential election.

Opposition presidential candidate González flees Venezuela for asylum in Spain

Former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has fled into exile after being granted asylum in Spain, delivering a major blow to millions who placed their hopes in his upstart campaign to end two decades of single-party rule.

Ex-Green Beret behind failed Venezuela raid released pending trial on weapons charges

A federal judge ordered the release Wednesday of a former U.S. Green Beret indicted in connection with a failed 2020 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

US government seizes plane used by Venezuelan president, citing sanctions violations

The U.S. government has seized a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, citing violations of sanctions and export control laws. That’s according to a Justice Department announcement Monday.

Maduro opponents take to streets to revive protests disputing Venezuelan election results

Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro are taking to the streets in an attempt to revive protests against him following last month’s disputed election.

Maduro taps a hard-line loyalist to oversee Venezuela’s police, raising fears of a further crackdown

Venezuelan electoral official asserts ‘lack of transparency and veracity’ in Maduro’s reelection

A Venezuelan electoral official has denounced what he calls a “grave lack of transparency and veracity” in last month’s presidential vote in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner despite claims he was trounced by the main opposition candidate.

Venezuela will order opposition leader to testify in latest crackdown following disputed election

Venezuela’s government will order former opposition candidate Edmundo González to provide sworn testimony in an ongoing investigation into what it considers attempts to spread panic in the South American country by contesting the results of last month’s presidential election.

Elite prosecutor misused position by offering Justice Department card in DUI stop, watchdog finds

A Justice Department watchdog found one of the nation’s most prolific federal narcotics prosecutors flouted ethics rules last year when he drunkenly handed his business card to Florida police investigating a hit-and-run crash.

Latin American effort to mediate Venezuela standoff loses steam as Maduro consolidates rule

It was a rare diplomatic gamble when the three leaders of Latin America’s largest democracies inserted themselves into the high-stakes standoff between Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and his opponents over who won the country’s presidential election.

UN expert panel sent to Venezuela blasts lack of transparency in presidential elections

A panel of experts from the United Nations said Venezuela’s recent presidential elections lacked “basic transparency and integrity.”

Co-founder of Smartmatic voting machine company charged with paying bribes for Philippine contracts

A federal indictment has charged three current and former executives of Smartmatic in a scheme to pay more than $1 million in bribes to put its voting machines in the Philippines, a setback for a company that has been feuding with allies of Donald Trump over unsubstantiated claims that it manipulate

DNA on weapons implicates ex-U.S. Green Beret in attempted Venezuelan coup, federal officials say

Federal investigators say they have uncovered the DNA of a former U.S. Green Beret on some of the 60 automatic weapons he allegedly smuggled from Florida to South America as part of a failed 2020 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Takeaways from AP report on fear of repression in post-election Venezuela

A Venezuelan aid worker’s arrest while catching an international flight has cast a spotlight on the climate of fear and repression engulfing the South American nation in the wake of its disputed presidential election.

An aid worker’s airport disappearance stirs fear of repression following disputed Venezuela election

A Venezuelan aid worker’s arrest while catching an international flight has cast a spotlight on the climate of fear and repression engulfing the South American nation in the wake of its disputed presidential election.

Venezuela’s top prosecutor announces criminal probe against opposition leaders González, Machado

Venezuela’s top prosecutor has announced a criminal investigation against the opposition’s presidential candidate Edmundo González and its leader Maria Corina Machado over their call on the armed forces to abandon their support for President Nicolás Maduro and to stop repressing demonstrators.