FILE - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Alex Saab stand together during an event marking the anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez, in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan.
Alex Saab, Colombian-born businessman and former Venezuelan industry minister who served as a key financial ally to Nicolas Maduro, has been deported to the United States for the second time, as Venezuela's interim government signals a dramatic break from the Maduro era.FILE - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Alex Saab stand together during an event marking the anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez, in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 23, 2024(AP Photo/Jesus Vargas)Colombian-born businessman Alex Saab, a key financial operative for former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, has been deported to the United States for the second time, in what analysts say signals a striking new era of law enforcement cooperation between Washington and Caracas.Venezuelan authorities confirmed on Saturday that Saab, 54, had been expelled to the US, citing his alleged involvement in criminal activity on American soil. The move comes weeks after Maduro himself was captured and transferred to New York to face charges of narcoterrorism conspiracy, raising questions about how comprehensively Venezuela's interim leadership is distancing itself from the former administration.From Hugo Chavez's Inner Circle to Maduro's Import CzarSaab is a Colombia-born businessman who cultivated close ties with Venezuela's government during the final years of Hugo Chavez's presidency, which ran from 1999 to 2013. He subsequently became the architect of a sprawling import network that underpinned Maduro's administration, making him one of the most consequential figures in Venezuela's opaque state economy.His significance to US federal prosecutors lies not merely in his own alleged crimes, but in what he potentially knows. Sources familiar with the matter say Saab could furnish American authorities with information that materially strengthens the criminal case against Maduro.Cape Verde Arrest, US Extradition, Prisoner Swap: Saab's Transnational Legal JourneySaab's legal troubles have played out across multiple jurisdictions over half a decade. He was first detained in Cape Verde in 2020 on allegations of money laundering and corruption, before being extradited to the United States the following year. He was subsequently released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange negotiated with Caracas, a deal that granted him clemency in return for the freedom of American detainees held in Venezuela.Following his release, Maduro appointed Saab to his cabinet, elevating him to the role of industry minister. That appointment was short-lived. After US special forces captured Maduro in Caracas this past January, acting president Delcy Rodriguez, formerly Maduro's vice president, stripped Saab of all his government posts.Why Venezuela Called Saab a Colombian to Bypass Its Own ConstitutionThe deportation presented a legal complication: Venezuela's constitution technically prohibits the extradition of its own citizens. Authorities resolved the issue by classifying Saab as a Colombian national rather than a Venezuelan one, enabling the country's migration authority, SAIME, to order him "deported" rather than extradited.In a formal statement, SAIME said the decision had been taken on the grounds that Saab "is involved in the commission of various crimes in the United States of America, as is public, well-known and reported."Joint US-Venezuela Raids Signal Dramatic Break From the Maduro EraSaab's arrest in Caracas in February was itself notable. According to a US law enforcement official, it was carried out through a joint operation involving both American and Venezuelan authorities, representing an unprecedented degree of bilateral collaboration that would have been unthinkable under Maduro's rule.The arrest took place roughly one month after Maduro's own detention. Together, the two events suggest that Rodriguez's interim administration is actively facilitating Washington's long-standing pursuit of senior figures from the prior government.Maduro an
China has agreed to buy 200 Boeing aircraft, according to US President Donald Trump and Boeing, marking the company’s biggest breakthrough in the Chinese market in years. The deal comes amid renewed US-China trade talks and could pave the way for additional aircraft orders in the future.U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping while leaving after a visit to the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing, China, May 15, 2026. (REUTERS)Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is set to re-enter the Chinese aviation market after US President Donald Trump announced that China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, marking the first major order from the country in nearly a decade.Trump made the announcement after a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, describing the agreement as part of a broader push to revive trade and commercial ties between the world’s two largest economies. Boeing later confirmed the deal, though it did not disclose the aircraft models, delivery schedule, or financial details, according to Reuters.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the order could eventually rise to as many as 750 aircraft if relations and negotiations continue to progress, according to Reuters. It is also reported that the proposed transaction could initially be worth between $17 billion and $19 billion, with the value likely to increase if future commitments include additional widebody aircraft.Boeing regains access to a crucial market after years of stalled Chinese ordersThe deal is being viewed as a major breakthrough for Boeing, which has struggled to secure fresh Chinese orders since 2017 due to worsening US-China trade tensions, the prolonged 737 MAX crisis and growing competition from European rival Airbus. Reuters and Azerbaijan-based publication AzerNews both reported that China had largely shifted toward Airbus in recent years as Boeing’s position weakened in the country.Reuters reported that market expectations ahead of the summit were higher, with discussions previously centering around a possible 500-aircraft package. The final announcement of 200 jets disappointed some investors, causing Boeing shares to fall more than 4% during Thursday trading.Despite the muted market reaction, the agreement is being seen as strategically important because China remains one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Reuters reported that Boeing and Airbus estimate China will require nearly 9,000 new aircraft by 2045 as air travel demand continues to rise.Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg accompanied Trump during the Beijing visit alongside several American business leaders, including executives from GE Aerospace, Apple and NVIDIA. Reuters reported that the delegation was aimed at securing commercial agreements and reviving economic cooperation between Washington and Beijing after years of strained ties.According to the Associated Press, Boeing described the visit as a major step toward reopening the Chinese market to Boeing aircraft orders. The company also indicated that additional commitments could follow beyond the initial batch of 200 aircraft.The aircraft announcement emerged as one of the clearest business outcomes from Trump’s meeting with Xi. Reuters reported that the broader summit also included discussions on tariffs, Taiwan, technology exports and geopolitical tensions, though few major political breakthroughs were announced publicly.For Boeing, however, the agreement could signal the beginning of a renewed relationship with one of its most critical global markets after years of uncertainty and stalled salesGet Latest real-time updatesStay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US news. HomeNewsTrump, Boeing announce China’s agreement to buy 200 aircraft, reopening key market after years of tensionsMore
Donald Trump China Visit LIVE: In a United States' President's first visit to China in over a decade, Donald Trump landed in the country for a two-day visit and a Summit with his counterpart Xi Jinping, hoping to secure economic wins, maintain the trade truce the United States secured in last fall and discuss the thorny issue of Iran war which has shot up energy prices across the world. Stay tuned with us for LIVE updates on Donald Trump's China visit.Over the next two days, Trump will participate in bilateral meetings with Xi. A state banquet and a working lunch are also planned during Trump's visit. The US president will leave China on 15 May. Since China gets nearly 60 percent of its crude through the Strait of Hormuz, and with peace talks at a stalemate, the Iran war and disruptions to oil trade are likely to come up for talks between Trump and Xi. Stay tuned for Donald Trump China Visit LIVE Updates.Follow updates here:14 May 2026, 05:55:28 AM ISTDonald Trump China Visit LIVE: Hit with sanctions in 2020, how Marco Rubio entered China again - Hint: Name spelling changeDonald Trump China Visit LIVE: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also among the diplomats who have landed in Beijing for Donald Trump's Summit with Xi Jinping. But how was he allowed to land in China in spite of the sanctions?In 2020, Marco Rubio was hit with sanctions after he called the Chinese government ‘communist of human rights abuses’. In January 2025, after Rubio became secretary of state, Chinese officials and state media began spelling the first part of his surname with a different Chinese character, Agence France-Presse reported. Changing the spelling of his name allowed him to land in China.14 May 2026, 05:43:32 AM ISTDonald Trump China Visit LIVE: Elon Musk, Jensen Huang join Trump – CEOs accompanying Trump on his China visitDonald Trump China Visit LIVE: Joining Donald Trump on the trip is a group of CEOs including Elon Musk and Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang. Apple's Tim Cook, BlackRock chief Larry Fink and Boeing chief Kelly Ortberg are also among those who were invited to join Trump on his China visit.Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, Cargill's Brian Sikes, Citigroup's Jane Fraser, Coherent's Jim Anderson, GE Aerospace's H Lawrence Culp Jr, Goldman Sachs's David Solomon, Illumina's Jacob Thaysen, Mastercard's Michael Miebach, Meta Platforms executive Dina Powell McCormick, Micron Technology's Sanjay Mehrotra, Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon and Visa's Ryan McInerney have also travelled with Donald Trump to China.About the AuthorChanchalChanchal is an Assistant Editor at LiveMint, where she handles the desk as a shifthead, works on political reporting, general news coverage, offering key political developments from India and around the world. With over 11 years of experience in digital journalism, Chanchal brings a strong editorial perspective shaped by years of writing on political developments across the world, and newsroom leadership. At LiveMint, she focuses on delivering accurate, insightful stories with clarity and context. Based in Delhi, Chanchal has worked with leading media organizations before she joined Mint. those include India Today where she worked as a shift head until 2022. She has also spent years at India.com, education vertical of India Today and a well-reputed publishing house earlier in her career as a trainee reporter. Her work and contribution to journalism have been recognized with the Digistar Award twice at HT. Outside the newsroom, she enjoys Netflix, painting, reading, sketching and crocheting. She can be reached at her official email address, chanchal@htdigital.in for any news leads. She is particularly interested in all stories linked to elections, public policy, and governance reforms, and strives to break down complex political issues into understandable narratives for readers across digital platforms, ensuring depth, balance, and factual integrity. Outside of work, she scrolls through Instagram, LinkedIn
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