International

Venezuela rejects Guyana’s position on Geneva Agreement

Photo: Resumen Latinoamericano

October 2 |

The Government of Venezuela rejected this Sunday through a statement the disregard by the Cooperative Republic of Guyana of the Geneva Agreement of 1966 and the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people over the territory of Guyana Esequiba.

“Venezuela rejects Guyana’s communiqué with which they intend to disregard the Geneva Agreement of 1966 and demands that they desist from the servile conduct to the interests of Exxon Mobil, stop the militarization of the area, adhere to international legality and sit at the negotiating table as the only mechanism for the resolution of the territorial dispute”, pointed out the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yván Gil.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil underlined that the Guyanese Government “ignores the fundamental premise of said agreement, which was agreed between Venezuela and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, before the Cooperative Republic of Guyana existed”.

Likewise, the Venezuelan communiqué reiterates that it does not recognize the judicial mechanism as a means to solve the controversy, since it affirms that this excludes the nature and object of the Geneva Agreement.

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Regarding this agreement, the Government reaffirms that it must reach a practical and satisfactory solution for both parties through political negotiations.

In view of the position of the Ambassador of Guyana to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Bricket who, although she recently expressed the relevance of the Geneva Agreement, later contradicted it, the Government of Venezuela stated that this position “ignores the fundamental premise of said agreement, which was agreed between Venezuela and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, before the Cooperative Republic of Guyana existed”.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.