The Indictment of Maduro

 This article first appeared in New English Review.

As a retired DEA agent, I could not help but feel a sense of pride seeing Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro being led into the DEA office in New York to be processed (fingerprinted and photographed). It was very similar to my feeling of pride in 1989 when Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega was brought to the US by DEA agents. Like Noriega, Maduro is not charged with being a dictator or a political foe of the US. Like Noriega, Maduro is faced with serious charges for his involvement in facilitating the smuggling of drugs into the US. Noriega was convicted and served 3 decades in prison in the US, France, and Panama. Maduro's guilt or innocence will be decided by a federal court as well.

As for the military action that resulted in Maduro's arrest in terms of international law, that will be widely discussed in the days, weeks, and months ahead. What happens in Venezuela now is open to question. Whether it will follow the path of Panama after Noriega or Iraq after Saddam Hussein, I have no idea. Much of that will depend on how the Venezuelan military and the populace react.

I am not a lawyer, so take it for what it's worth. In my view, in terms of US law, there is little to debate, although the Democrat left has already condemned the action. Some are already demanding that Maduro be returned to Venezuela. That will not happen. These legal points were argued and settled in the Noriega case. No US law has been violated in bringing Maduro to justice.

For the benefit of those who may not know, under American conspiracy statutes, those who are involved in the importation of drugs to the US are chargeable, even if they have never previously set foot in the US. Drugs destined for the US represent a crime against the US, and everyone involved in that activity is indictable. Among the charges Maduro is facing are 21 USC 841 (a) (1) pertaining to manufacture, possession, and distribution of controlled substances, 21 USC 952 pertaining to importation of controlled substances, and 21 USC 963, conspiracy to commit the above offenses. Since the drugs in question were destined for the US, our courts have jurisdiction.

It is also legally irrelevant how the defendant came into the custody of US authorities-unless such action violates the "conscience of the court". Albeit vague, the term does have legal implications. In this case, it is a result of a military action. Are the courts going to rule that the invasion of Venezuela was unconstitutional?

I will leave the questions of international law, failure to consult with Congress, and the righteousness of going into Venezuela to the experts and the local bartenders. I have my own opinion and concerns, but the main point here is that legally, the prosecution of Maduro et al. is on solid ground. 

Final comment: Today DHS Secretary Kristi Noem made a statement praising the work of her department, the military, the FBI, and the CIA. Call it inter-agency rivalry or whatever, but I was taken aback that she did not mention DEA. I was not following the case over the years as to who was doing what, and I am certain that many agencies had a part in this. But there must be a reason that Maduro was processed in the DEA office.

Italy: New Year's Eve in Florence

Piazza Duomo, Florence-in quieter times

In Europe, New Year's Eve was difficult, to say the least. The worst incident happened in Crans Montana, Switzerland, a Swiss ski resort in the Swiss Alps, where young celebrants accidentally set fire to the roof of a nightclub. The death toll is over 40. It is the top news story all over Europe, and there are several nationalities among the dead and injured.

Meanwhile, the usual riots and torched cars broke out all over France. There were riots in Dutch cities as well as in Germany.

In Florence, young men described as North Africans engaged in a mega brawl in front of the famed cathedral (Il Duomo). The article below from Il Tempo, translated by Fousesquawk, has a brief video of the incident.

Radio Genoa has a much clearer version of the video here (hat tip Gates of Vienna).

Shocking video, the mega brawl by foreigners in Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square) in Florence

January 2, 2026

Foreigners rampaging in Cathedral Square on New Year's Eve. Around 12:40 am, some 20 youths of Maghrebian (North African) origin started a violent brawl, using tables, chairs, and bottles. The incident began in Republic Square and then moved to a pizzeria in Cathedral Square. The outside of the location was vandalized. During the brawl, a bottle was thrown inside, fortunately without hitting any of the employees. Law enforcement intervened at the location to report the situation under control. In these images, the fury of the groups of North Africans.

"The images of the mega brawl that took place in Cathedral Square deeply wound Florence and the residents of Florence," said European Parliament deputy of Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy party), Francesco Torselli, municipal councilor of Fratelli d'Italia, Alessandro Draghi, and the president of the National Youth of Florence, Simone Sollazzo. "Brutal, gratuitous, senseless violence exploded in the heart of the city in one of the most beautiful squares in the world, and, at least on paper, among the most protected. Shocking scenes that require serious reflection: How is it possible that all this has happened right here, before the eyes of everybody?"Fratelli d'Italia members write. Municipal Counselor for Security, Andrea Giorgio, speaks of the exploitation of the incident on the part of the center-right. 

"New year, the usual Torselli: The brawl incident in Cathedral Square is serious and will be investigated by law enforcement, but as usual, the Fratelli d'Italia European Parliament deputy exploits it and says things that are not true, forgetting that the right has been governing for three years, and the Italians are still awaiting answers on security,"  Giorgio asserts. "The propaganda mechanisnm from the right is always the usual: distort reality, constructing polemics and lies to cover their failure, and attack Mayor Funaro and the administration (...) "Describing the most beautiful New Year's Eve in Florence in recent years by summarizing it with only one incident, serious-not to minimize it, but still limited like that, is to manipulate reality." But the images speak clearly.

How to Get Promoted to Full Professor at Columbia University

"Entry only for Aryans"

Sign in Nazi Germany

Columbia University 2024

An associate professor at Columbia University named Manan Ahmed was captured on videotape blocking an unidentified student from accessing a part of the campus during the spring 2024 encampment fiasco.

I am cross-posting an article from The College Fix dated December 29, 2025, which shows a video of a verbal confrontation between Ahmed and an unidentified student in which Ahmed is telling the student "you can't go in", apparently referring to the spring pro-Palestinian encampment. The video clip ends at the point when the student tells Ahmed he is going in and invites (Ahmed) to stop him. What happened after that is not shown. The video was posted on X December 3, 2025, by the group, Columbia Jewish and Israeli Students.

You might think that Columbia would take some sort of disciplinary action against a professor who blocks a student from entering any part of public space on campus.

Wrong!

Columbia has now reportedly promoted Ahmed to full professor, according to the X posting.

"Jews not wanted here"

According to the website of Columbia's Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, Ahmed is still listed as an associate professor. However, the History Department lists him as a full professor.

It would appear that Columbia University has still not learned its lesson.

Austria: Move to Ban Sharia Law

In an interview with an Austrian newspaper, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker has called for a ban on the use of Sharia law in Austria. Whether that happens apparently depends on the opinions of other coalition partners in the government, as well as certain government ministers.

The article below in Die Presse is translated by Fousesquawk.

Sharia-ban: Neos (New Austria and Liberal Party) and SPO (Social Democrat Party of Austria)  generally agreeable to change in law, Justice Ministry skeptical

The coalition partners of the SPO (Social Democratic Party of Austria) are generally in agreement with the changes. The SPO, however, first wants to hear specific suggestions. The SPO-led Justice Ministry warns of hasty decisions. 

Caption: Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker wants a Sharia ban

December 30, 2025 at 11:10

In an interview with the Standard, Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker has called for a ban on Sharia. He is not willing to accept Sharia being applied in Austria, even in individual provisions.  This would be a legal system for a religious state, which contradicts our values. We should send a clear signal even if, in specific cases, there is no contradiction to our own laws. The Austrian People's Party now wants to ban the use of Sharia law in Austria permanently. If it were up to them, a corresponding proposal could be adopted in January at the government retreat. However, that would first need an agreement with the coalition partners. 

On Tuesday, the SPO took a wait-and-see attitude, but did not reject the proposal out of hand. "It is our opinion that Austrian law applies to all and must stand above Sharia law," says a spokesperson for Philip Kucher, head of the Parliamentary group. If legal clarifications must be given, we are open to that. However, the Integration Ministry must now be involved. Minister Claudia Plakolm must say which legal changes are necessary in her view. After that, the usual coordination process will take place within the coalition. Therefore, it is too early to say what the SPO's position will be.

The Neos are in favor of a change in law, in principle. "In our governmental program, we have agreed that we want to prevent the use of Sharia law in personal and marriage issues in Austria, and thus, take a further step against oppression and for full equality of women and men," they say in a (Neos) statement. That is currently being negotiated and should be implemented as quickly as possible. However, only those laws passed by the national Council are currently valid.

The Justice Ministry, led by Anna Sporrer (SPO), views changes with skepticism. International private rights would also be affected by changes-and in this area, many people, as well as our economic relations with other countries, would be affected. "The area of international arbitration is especially considered an economic engine in Austria. This is no place for hasty political decisions," the Ministry says in a statement.

In its government program and, most recently, within the framework of the National Action Plan against violence against women, the Federal Government has agreed to examine potential changes in international private rights within the framework of a working group in 2026. The working group already began its work in December.

"Possible legal changes must be coordinated broadly and with care. If one aspect is adjusted here, that has repercussions on many other legal areas, for example, family law, where a possible nullification of a marriage could lead to disruptions in custody and alimony rights or to undesired polygamy," the Justice Ministry states. Because of the international component and relations with other countries, the Foreign Ministry will also have to be involved in the matter.

The Sharia issue in Austrian law became more acute this year when a civil court validated an agreement between two business persons based on Sharia law. The specific provisions did not violate the fundamental values of Austrian law. Austrian courts also frequently apply foreign laws in family law matters, including Sharia. That applies in cases in which marriages were entered into on the basis of foreign law. However, even here, Islamic rules cannot contradict Austrian legal principles.

Italy: 9 Arrests in Genoa for Funneling 7 Million Euros in Charitable Funds to Hamas

Mohammad Hannoun

-Ansa (IT)

Italian authorities have arrested 9 people in Genoa accused of funneling 7 million euros to Hamas through 3 charities, ostensibly set up in Italy to benefit the Palestinian people. The most significant arrestee is Mohammad Hannoun, considered one of the top leaders in the Palestinian community in Italy. 

We are in the process of providing English subtitles to a Corriere della Sera video contained in this article from today's edition.

*Update (January 29, 2025

Here is the aforementioned video from Corriere della Sera. Subtitling by Gates of Vienna, Vlad Tepes, and RAIR Foundation USA. Translation by Fousesquawk.

2025 Fousesquawk Jerk of the Year: Tim Walz

This year's winner of the Fousesquawk Golden Penguin Award is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Walz, of course, already showed the world in 2024 that he was a jerk when he became Kamala Harris' running mate for vice president. She couldn't have picked a worse running mate. The guy became a national joke as he repeatedly came out bouncing around the stage like a jack-in-the-box.

This year, Walz has denounced the ICE raids in his state, calling them "public theatrics".

Now, it has been revealed that under his watch as Minnesota governor, one of the biggest frauds in US history was going on right under his nose within the Somali community, largely in Minneapolis, the largest Somali community in the US. Whether Walz has any active involvement in all this remains to be seen, but, regardless, Tim Walz is the winner. He is the 2025 Fousesquawk "Jerk of the Year". 
 

France: Multiple Stabbings in Paris Metro

This afternoon in Paris, three women were stabbed at 3 different Metro stations by the same attacker. The suspect, identified tentatively as a 20-year-old man from Mali and previously known to police, was arrested at Sarcelles (northern suburb of Paris).

The French blog, Francois deSouche, has posted 2 excerpts of updated articles from Le Figaro and Le Parisien-with links to the entire articles. The excerpts are translated by Fousesquawk.

Note that there is a discrepancy in the articles, one stating that the attacks occurred on Friday, while another reports it as Saturday. The reference to Saturday is clearly incorrect since this attack occurred today between 4:15-4:45 pm, Paris time. 

(Since this translation was completed, the headings of Francois de Souche's post have been updated. The updated information indicates that he had previous arrests for robbery and sexual assault, had been given an order to leave the country, was placed in a detention center, but since he could not be deported within 90 days due to lack of appropriate travel documents, he was under house arrest,)

Paris: 3 women stabbed in the Metro at 3 different stations: Assailant already known to police. He was born in 2000 and is of Malian origin. He was arrested at Sarcelles. (Update)

12-26-2025 at 18:56

Born in 2000, the individual was already known to police services for various crimes, including property crimes, the Paris Prosecutor's office told Le Figaro

Le Figaro

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

According to our information, the terrorist theory is ruled out; it is more likely the work of an unstable or psychologically fragile person.

The attacks took place on Friday between 16:15-16:45, a police source told us, at the stations of Arts-et-Metiers, Republique, and Opera, information confirmed to Le Parisien by RATP (Public Transport). The victims were quickly treated by Paris emergency personnel. Fortunately, these 3 women only have slight injuries, 2 of them, specifically, to the back and thigh, a police source states. "The young woman was injured in her thigh, a woman who was present at the Republique station at the time of the attack stated, "there was a lot of blood, it was a deep cut."

Le Parisien

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The attacker, who was reported to be on the run, was reportedly arrested at Sarcelles, according to our information. The vital prognoses of the victims are not critical, and the injuries were reportedly superficial. 

The individual in question, "thin, of African origin, and wearing a khaki coat", first attacked a woman with a knife at the Republique station before continuing his rampage at the Arts-et-Metiers station, then Opera (station).

{-------}

Le Figaro

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several women were attacked with a knife when they were at the Metro on line 3. The incidents occurred on Saturday between 16:15- 16:45. The perpetrator fled.

The suspect fled and is reportedly still being sought. Of Malian origin born in 2000, according to a police source, he is dressed in a puffy, green and black jacket.

{....}

Le Parisien

Netherlands: Eritrean Human Smuggler Extradited to Netherlands

An accused Eritrean human smuggler has been extradited from the United Arab Emirates to the Netherlands, where he is charged with human smuggling and extortion.  Kidane H., along with Walid D. (already on trial in the Netherlands), are both charged with imprisoning Eritreans on their way to Europe in camps in Libya, where they were beaten, tortured, and raped. In addition, family members, many of whom were living in the Netherlands, would be extorted for money to release their relatives.

Torture camp in Libya.

-Algemeen Dagblad

This is another aspect of the migration issue in Europe that is often overlooked.

The article below in NOS is translated from Dutch by Fousesquawk.  

NOS News Today 18:31

Notorious Eritrean human smuggler extradited to the Netherlands

A notorious Eritrean human smuggler was extradited today from the United Arab Emirates to the Netherlands. 41-year-old Kidane H. is suspected by the Public Prosecution Office of atrocities against migrants who were on their way to Europe.

He stands charged in one of the largest human smuggling cases ever in the Netherlands. Last month, the Public Prosecutor's Office demanded 20 years in prison for the other main suspect in the case, Walid D.

The two men allegedly ran a very violent organization together. Eritreans on the way to Europe were imprisoned by them in camps in Libya. There, the migrants were tortured and raped.

At that time, family members of the victims were called. They had to listen to how the victims were beaten and then pay to have them freed. If they did not do that, their family members were held longer. One of the victims told NOS (News) how traumatic the time in Libya was.

Escape in Ethiopia

According to the prosecution, the main suspects made a lot of money from the beatings and extortion of primarily Eritrean refugees. Since many of the extorted family members of the Eritrean victims are living in the Netherlands, the Public Prosecutor's Office is prosecuting the men here.

Kidane H. was originally charged with human smuggling in Ethiopia, but he escaped from there in 2021 during a court hearing. Since then, he has been sought internationally. 

On January 1, 2023, H. was arrested in Sudan in an international police operation led by the United Arab Emirates. That country suspected him of money laundering. For that, he has since served a prison sentence, after which he could be extradited.

Life sentence in absentia

The verdict in the case against co-defendant Walid D. is scheduled for the end of January. His lawyers would like to call Kidane H. as a witness. It is not yet clear when that would happen, and if it would affect the verdict. Kidane H. will be tried in a separate trial.

In Ethiopia, he was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia for human smuggling in Africa. In the Netherlands, he will stand trial for other charges. The Public Prosecutor's Office suspects Kidane H. as well as Walid D. of participating in a criminal organization between 2014 and 2020, in which they engaged in human smuggling, hostage taking, extortion, and violence.

In addition to the 2 main suspects, there are also 5 others standing trial on suspicion of receiving and transferring money. The investigation is being led by the Royal Marechausee (Military Police), who, among others, is working with Italy, the International Criminal Court (ICC), Europol, and Interpol police services.

News Hour produced this video on the human smuggling network.

Italy: Attempted Sexual Assault Against 14-Year-Old Boy: 25-Year-Old Egyptian Charged

Hat tip Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes

Reggio Emilia

Italian media is reporting the arrest of a 25-year-old Egyptian migrant and asylum-seeker in Reggio Emilia, who allegedly accosted a 14-year-old boy after they both got off a bus. The man allegedly approached the boy, stripped down naked, and groped his victim in his private parts before the boy managed to escape into an ice cream shop.

The below article from  Gazetta di Reggio is translated by Fousesquawk

Reggio Emilio, sexual attack at bus stop. The victim is a 14-year-old student who was returning from school. 25-year-old arrested

The suspect targeted him on public transport, then once he was off the bus, chased him from behind trying to touch him. The boy escaped to an ice cream shop and asked for help. Now the break thanks to the investigation by the Mobile Squad (police).

December 21, 2025 09:24

Reggio Emilia- A 14-year-old was victim of a sexually based attack in the early afternoon of November 19, near via Settembrini in Reggio Emilia. The incident occurred around 2 pm after the boy had gotten off the bus and was heading home, returning from school. According to what was reconstructed by the investigators, the attacker reportedly noticed him on board the public transport and followed him when he got off. Under a pretext, he allegedly tried to initiate a conversation, but the boy, suspecting bad intentions, tried to get away. The man then came up from behind, stripped down naked, and groped his private parts. The boy escaped into an ice cream shop asking for help, and they called the police from here.

Following the investigation, the National Police Mobile Squad executed a pre-trial jail custody order against a 25-year-old man of Egyptian nationality, with minor violations against property and (who is) an asylum-seeker, suspected of sexual violence against a minor.

The video cameras installed inside the bus and those of the commercial businesses, in fact, allowed the reconstruction of the events before and after the attack. The 14-year-old, after getting off the bus, with his backpack on his back and drawing folder in hand, was walking back home when the delinquent approached him, and, under a pretext, began talking to him. The victim, however, perceiving the bad intention, tried to get away in various ways, but the man suddenly came up behind him, stripped down naked, and groped him in his private parts. The boy managed to escape, finding refuge in an ice cream shop, and the intervention of passersby caused the attacker to flee.

The victim's account, which was immediately confirmed by the images on the video surveillance acquired and analyzed by the Mobile Squad invesigators, in the witness statements, and a video that the victim himself managed to capture in the tense moments prior to the attack, provided the prosecutor's office with a solid evedentiary framework, fully shared by the judge of preliminary investigation, who issued the custody order. The 25-year-old was put in jail, where he will remain pending an evidentiary hearing.  

Informativa

Sweden: SD Wants to Revoke Foreigners' Right to Vote in Municipal/Regional Elections

The Swedish Democrats party, which opposes mass migration into Sweden, wants to change a law that allows non-Swedish residents to vote in municipal and regional elections.

The article below from Insikt24 is translated by Fousesquawk.

 

Sweden Democrats want to revoke the right to vote for foreign citizens

December 16, 2025

The Sweden Democrats want to revoke the right to vote for foreign citizens who now have the possibility to vote in municipal and regional elections. The party believes that only Swedish citizens should have the right to vote in Swedish elections.

Currently, foreign citizens have the right to vote in municipal and regional elections if they have turned 18 on election day, and have been registered in Sweden for at least 3 consecutive years before election day. According to figures from the Central Statistics Bureau, SCB, there are currently just over 600,000 foreign citizens who can vote in this election. In some municipalities, the proportion who lack Swedish citizenship is over 10% while some municipalities have as many as over 20% foreign citizens.

Insert:

Right to vote in regional and municipal elections

You have the right to vote in regional and municipal elections if you:

*  Have turned 18 years on election day

*  Are a Swedish citizen or are registered in the municipality, region, or 

* citizen of an EU country, Iceland, or Norway and are registered in a municipality and region or

* citizen of another country, or stateless, and have been registered in Sweden at least 3 consecutive years prior to the election, and are registered in a municipality or region.

These rules apply to those who reside in Sweden as well as to those who reside abroad, for example, if you study or work abroad but are still registered in Sweden.

Caption: These have the right to vote in municipal and regional elections. Source: Electoral Authority

The Sweden Democrats, however, want to change the fact that foreign citizens have the right to vote in municipal and regional elections. In a posting on the X platform, formerly Twitter, the SD states that they "believe that only Swedish citizens should have the right to vote in Swedish elections," and that the current system, therefore, needs to be changed. In an image in the posting, the party has also written a text with the message, "foreigners should not vote in Swedish elections."

In the current election system, non-Swedish citizens are allowed to vote in municipal and regional elections, with certain restrictions.

We believe that only Swedish citizens should have the right to vote in Swedish elections and therefore, we want to change the present system.

FOREIGNERS SHOULD NOT VOTE IN SWEDISH ELECTIONS.

SD

Sweden: Iraqi Convicted of Raping 100-year-old Woman: 4 Years and No Deportation

Shakir Mahmoud Shakir

-Expressen

This week in Sweden, a 38-year-old Iraqi man was convicted of raping a 100-year-old woman in a home care setting. Rather than getting 30 years or so in jail and deportation, the rapists got 4 years in jail and no deportation, apparently thanks to the presiding judge, Mohamed Ali.

One juror is now saying that he favored deportation. He himself is an immigrant from India, who says he is "tired of criminal immigrants".

The article below from Fria Tider is translated by Fousesquawk. Note that the reference below to jurors/political judges refers to people who are appointed by political parties.

Caption: "I am a native of India, and sometimes I think the Sweden Democrats are right," says juror Pran Malhotra (on right) after the verdict against Shakir Mahmoud Shakir (on left).

Juror: "I want to deport the rapist. I am tired of immigrants."

Posted December 18, 2025 at 12:56

Law and Justice: The news that Iraqi Shakir Mahmoud Shakir, 38, is escaping deportation after having raped a 100-year-old in home care has sparked severe criticism. Now, one of the jurors says that he wanted to deport Shakir, but after a conversation with District Court Judge Mohamed Ali, they came to the conclusion that the rapist should stay.

"I am tired of these immigrants. I am an immigrant myself. I was born in India," says juror Pran Malhotra to Riks (News).

Shakir Mahmoud Shakir was sentenced yesterday to prison for raping a 100-year-old woman in home care.

At the same time, he was acquitted of another charge involving a very similar aggravated rape of a different 94-year-old woman.

Although the prosecutor requested deportation, it was not granted. Behind the judgment were District Court Judge Mohamed Ali and jurors (political judges) Inger Grönberg (MP), Pran Malhotra (S), and Eva Svalling. None of the jurors gave any dissenting opinion, but stood behind the line that deportation would be "disproportionate".  

In an interview with Riks, Malhotra says that he actually had a different point of view than his official one.

"I want him to be deported, " he says.

Malhotra states that the question of deportation was discussed after contact with the (presiding) judge of the court, Judge Mohamed Ali, and that the position changed.

"But then, it was last week, the (presiding judge) said that I should call again. So that he would investigate what more he could do in this case. And one day, we had a short conversation in the morning. And that was when the position changed from deportation to 4 years," Malhotra tells Riks.

When asked about his views on criminal immigrants, the juror expresses himself sharply.

"They should be severely punished and just sent back. No more discussion on it."

"I am a native of India, so sometimes I think the Sweden Democrats are right. Those are my opinions, " he tells Riks.

Riks says that they have sought out Judge Mohamed Ali, who was appointed by the (coalition) government in June of this year.

The Brown Shooting

 Since I have posted numerous articles about Brown University over the years, I am following the shooting case there with great interest. The reason I haven't posted anything about it yet is that we don't have all the facts. As Providence authorities themselves have cautioned, there has been so much speculation and chatter going around online.

Keep in mind that the name of the original "person of interest" made its way into the public sphere before he was released. As to the primary person captured on surveillance cameras that is the object of a manhunt, there is at least one name that has been bandied about online without any basis in fact, and it would be irresponsible for me to throw it out here. 

So there is so much we don't know, such as were the two victims who died specifically targeted? What was the motive of the shooter(s)? As to the second individual whose image was released to the public yesterday, I suspect that person will be identified. The problem is that after almost a week of the incident, those 2 individuals now being sought could be anywhere by now.  

At any rate, I think it is best to await the facts and not rely on wild Internet speculation or even fake news.