International
Venezuelan FANB reiterates commitment to electoral process
August 24|
Venezuela’s Minister of Defense, G/J Vladimir Padrino López, rejected on Thursday in a televised speech, the calls of opposition sectors to subvert the constitutional order and disregard institutions.
The military leader asserted that by instructions of the Venezuelan President and Commander in Chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, Nicolás Maduro Moros, he extends to the military commanders a call to ignore the extremist voices that seek to cloud the constitutional process of presidential elections, scheduled for the end of 2024.
He also denounced that the new attacks aim at hindering the work that the people and the Government of Venezuela are carrying out to recover the welfare of the nation, and in this sense, they add to the policy of illegal economic sanctions imposed on the country by the United States and which affect to a greater extent the most vulnerable sectors of the country.
Padrino López read a communiqué in which the FANB denounces new attempts by extremist sectors of the national opposition, in alliance with external factors, to intervene in the country by means of media manipulation and the biased use of international organizations, with the purpose of questioning the authorities and institutions of the country. A plan that he defined as an escalation against the stability of the republic.
The document assures that the military authorities will guarantee the security and the correct performance of the electoral process in accordance with the constitutional mandate, without detriment to the rest of their obligations, among which stand out the fight against irregular armed groups, the fight against drug trafficking, the approach to the scourge of illegal mining and the support to the Military Community Brigades for Education and Health, known as Brocomiles.
The General in Chief assured that the Bolivarian National Armed Force is firmly attached to the Constitution and ratifies its unconditional loyalty to President Nicolás Maduro.
Finally, the Vice-President for Political Sovereignty, Security and Peace also assured that the political conscience of the Venezuelan people will prevent them from falling into the provocations of the national right wing and its foreign allies.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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