International

Venezuela and the United States are committed to “gaining trust” and maintaining communications

The Governments of Venezuela and the United States agreed on Wednesday to work to “gain trust” and maintain communications “in a respectful and constructive way,” after the first “virtual meeting” between officials from both countries, without diplomatic relations since 2019, Caracas reported.

The person in charge of these conversations by the Venezuelan Executive, Jorge Rodríguez, indicated in X that in this first meeting the parties expressed their willingness to do a joint work to “improve relations” between the nations.

“We show our rejection of the misrepresentations that about this dialogue and repeatedly have been published by spokespeople of the US Government. We warn that we will always respond with the truth,” remarked the also president of Parliament.

According to him, his delegation insisted “that the dialogue should be limited to what was agreed in Qatar,” alluding to pacts that Caracas and Washington signed in parallel to the negotiations in Barbados between the Executive and the Democratic United Platform (PUD), the largest opposition bloc, from which an electoral guarantees agreement emerged.

The Government of Nicolás Maduro,” Rodríguez added, “also reiterated that, “in order to continue regaining mutual trust and relations between governments, the principles of self-determination, sovereignty and reciprocity must be respected.”

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For her part, the White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, reiterated – at a press conference – the US request for the dialogue process to be in “good faith” and reaffirmed the request that the presidential elections on July 28 in Venezuela be competitive and inclusive.

Since March 2022, when a delegation from the White House traveled to Caracas to meet with Maduro, the talks between the United States and the Caribbean country are intermittent, and with ups and downs.

Among the agreements reached, is the partial lifting of U.S. sanctions against Venezuela last October, a relief that was reversed six months later, by Caracas – according to Joe Biden’s Executive – not complying with what was agreed in Barbados.

International

Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka

Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.

The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.

An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.

The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.

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Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.

Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.

Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.

Internacionales

Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages

May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.

In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.

Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.

International

Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.

During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.

“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.

“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”

Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.

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On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.