Nicolas Maduro appears in US court

Former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York federal court on Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing, while recovery efforts continue in Venezuela after last month's devastating earthquakes. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both wearing beige jail jumpsuits, faced a judge who set their trial date for June 1, 2027. They are charged with narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and two weapons-related charges. Both have pleaded not guilty. Maduro's lawyer previewed a possible defence based on sovereign immunity, arguing that as a former head of state he is protected from criminal prosecution in the United States. As he left the courtroom, Maduro waved to the gallery. The case is expected to be one of the most consequential criminal trials in decades.

Meanwhile, the human toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela more than a month ago continues to rise. The official death toll now stands at more than 5,000, with tens of thousands still missing. The earthquakes, of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, hit within 38 seconds of each other near the capital Caracas, devastating the northern coastal region of La Guaira. Entire social housing complexes collapsed, and families have been digging through the rubble themselves, often without help from the government. International search and rescue teams have largely left, and local authorities have begun burying unidentified victims.

Survivors describe a chaotic and inadequate government response. Many residents say they have been left to fend for themselves. In one case, a 12-year-old girl named Fabiana was rescued after 32 hours under the rubble; she survived by eating ketchup and grated cheese. In another, a security guard was pulled alive after eight days buried in an underground car park. But for most families, the search for missing loved ones continues. Victor Calderon, a fisherman, lost 26 relatives. Diana and Jose, whose two sons were playing PlayStation when the quake hit, still hold out hope of finding them alive.

The United States has pledged more than $310 million in aid, and the United Nations estimates the damage at $6.7 billion, equivalent to 6% of Venezuela's economy. Humanitarian organisations on the ground say the scale of destruction is comparable to the Turkey earthquake or the front lines in Ukraine. About 1.8 million people are affected, and around a million are living on the streets. The government insists it has done everything in its power, but many Venezuelans say they feel abandoned. For most, the fate of their former president in a US courtroom is a distant concern compared to the immediate struggle to survive and recover.