International

Guanipa Detained as Maduro government cracks down ahead of controversial elections

Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, announced on Friday (May 23, 2025) the arrest of opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, linking him to an alleged “terrorist network” accused of planning to disrupt Sunday’s legislative and gubernatorial elections.

“He is one of the leaders of this terrorist network,” Cabello said during a state television broadcast. “Four phones were seized, along with a laptop. The entire plan is there,” he added, insisting that a sabotage plot targeting the elections had been uncovered.

Opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ) condemned what it called the “kidnapping” of Guanipa, a former lawmaker and senior party figure. “The dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro has kidnapped Juan Pablo Guanipa, a national leader of Primero Justicia and the entire country,” said the party in a statement. “He has led our party and our nation with integrity and courage.”

Guanipa is now among more than 50 individuals reportedly detained in the lead-up to the regional elections.

His last public appearance was on January 9 of this year, when he joined opposition leader María Corina Machado at a massive protest in Caracas defending the contested victory of opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. The protest took place on the eve of Nicolás Maduro’s controversial inauguration for a third six-year term, following a disputed election certified by the Chavista-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE).

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Cabello also announced the arrest of other individuals allegedly involved in the “conspiracy,” including several foreigners. He aired footage of Guanipa in handcuffs, wearing a bulletproof vest and flanked by masked officers dressed in black.

A post later appeared on Guanipa’s X (formerly Twitter) account, reading: “If you’re reading this, it means I have been kidnapped by Nicolás Maduro’s regime forces.” The post continued: “I don’t know what will happen to me in the coming hours, days, or weeks. But what I do know is that we will win the long battle against the dictatorship.” Shortly afterward, a pre-recorded video was also posted, captioned: “Unjustly imprisoned today, but never defeated.”

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.