Updated

Alex Saab, a former close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, pleaded guilty in a US court to charges of laundering bribe and fraud proceeds linked to Venezuela's welfare programs. The plea marks a significant development in a long-running US prosecution of Saab, who had previously been extradited to face the charges. The case has been closely watched as part of broader US legal efforts targeting figures connected to the Maduro government, and Saab's guilty plea could have implications for ongoing US-Venezuela relations.