The head of Defense of Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino López, assured, in a video released this Sunday, that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) does not break down with sanctions or with reward “blackmail”, after the United States offered 15 million dollars for information that leads to his capture.
“We do not break down with sanctions or reward blackmail, here the brave are in formation (…) with weapons to, according to our Constitution, defend our territory, our independence, our territorial integrity and our national sovereignty,” said the head of Defense of Venezuela.
Padrino López, in office since 2014, made a call to “not fall into the game of psychological war” or “that plan”, as well as to “stand firm” and defend, “serene and bravely”, the people.
He assured that today the Armed Forces are “much more united” and “aware of the historical moment that the homeland is living,” and thanked the “solidarity” of the military institution with him and the leader of Chavismo, Nicolás Maduro, for whose capture the US increased the reward from 15 to 25 million dollars, after his swearing-in for a third term in a row.
On Saturday, the FANB said that a “spurious reward will not make a dent in the physical and spiritual strength” of both, and that this “aggression only further strengthens cohesion and absolute union in the demand for respect” to its “leaders and hierarchical superiors”.
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The US also offers a reward of 25 million dollars for information that leads to the capture of the head of the Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello.
In addition, the FF.AA. expressed its “most energetic and categorical rejection” of the sanctions of the United States, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom announced on Friday, when Maduro was sworn in as president for the period 2025-2031, a fact that the largest anti-Chavista coalition, which claims the electoral victory of Edmundo González Urrutia, denounced as the consummation of a “coup d’état”.
The opposition leader, who claims to be “very close to Venezuela” and “ready for safe entry,” said on Friday that, as “commander-in-chief” and “president-elect,” he orders “the high military command to ignore illegal orders given to them by those who confiscate power” and to prepare “their security conditions to assume office.”
Vatican speeds up Sistine Chapel preparations for upcoming conclave
Work is accelerating inside the Sistine Chapel as the Vatican prepares for the papal conclave set to begin on Wednesday. The preparations include the installation of a wooden floor, the setup of a stove for burning secret ballots, and the iconic chimney that will signal the election results.
A nearly five-minute video released by the Vatican on Saturday shows technicians assembling scaffolding beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes and laying a false wooden floor, where large tables will be placed to accommodate the 133 cardinals expected to vote.
Elsewhere in the chapel, workers are installing the heavy stove that will be used to burn the ballots. The footage, dated Friday, also shows firefighters climbing the tiled roof to prepare the chimney flue, which will emit either white smoke when a new pope is elected, or black smoke if no decision has been reached.
“This is a key stage for the Catholic Church,” said Silvio Screpanti, deputy director of Vatican infrastructure, on the Vatican’s official website. The stove has been discreetly tested, and in case of any issues, a technician will remain in a nearby technical room with a remote control to manage the stove, which now operates electronically.
A team of five electricians, five technicians, and two florists will remain on-site throughout the conclave. After taking an oath, they will stay within Vatican grounds with no outside contact, including with their families.
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Some of these workers have participated in previous conclaves, while younger staff will receive guidance from more experienced colleagues, ensuring a smooth transition for future conclaves.
Venezuela achieves 22% drop in maternal mortality in first months of 2025
Maternal mortality in Venezuela decreased by 22% during the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced on Saturday.
The significant reduction is attributed to a combination of public health policies focused on primary care, obstetric surveillance, and the promotion of community health, Rodríguez explained during a broadcast on the state television channel, following a meeting of the Sectoral Vice Presidents Council.
“These are lives saved thanks to the joint efforts of medical teams, community brigades, and the national healthcare system,” she said.
Contributing factors include the strengthening of prenatal care programs, free access to safe childbirth services, and the deployment of mobile medical units in remote areas. Additionally, emergency obstetric protocols were reinforced and specialized staff received further training.
The council meeting also addressed other areas of government action.
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In the economic sphere, officials reviewed progress in the “13 Productive Engines” initiative, designed to boost key sectors such as agriculture, energy, tourism, and the pharmaceutical industry. The goal is to stimulate domestic production, generate foreign currency, and reduce external dependency.
In education, over two million students participated in the 19th edition of the National School Sports Games, held between March and April. Authorities highlighted the importance of these events in supporting the comprehensive development of the nation’s youth.
The government also assessed the national rain mitigation plan, which includes structural and preventive measures such as drainage maintenance, reinforcement of vulnerable areas, and the activation of early warning systems.
Trump signs order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to halt federal funding for two public media outlets, PBS television and NPR radio, accusing them of being biased.
NPR and PBS are partially funded by American taxpayers but rely heavily on private donations.
Trump has long maintained a hostile relationship with most media outlets, which he has referred to as the “enemy of the people.”
An exception is the conservative Fox News channel, some of whose hosts have played important roles in the administration of the Republican magnate.
“National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) receive taxpayer funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB),” Trump said.
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“Therefore, I direct the CPB board and all executive departments and agencies to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS,” he added.
The Republican leader argued that “neither of these entities provides a fair, accurate, or impartial portrayal of current events to the taxpayer citizens.”
At the end of March, Donald Trump called on Congress to end public funding for these two “horrible and completely biased networks.”
