International

President Maduro celebrated with the people ten years of government

Photo: Presidential Press

April 16 |

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro celebrated this Friday the tenth anniversary of his government with the people, highlighting their support in various battles and victories.

“I can truly tell you that ten years later, I am proud of the battle we have fought, of the Venezuelan people and of the history we are writing and the one we are about to write,” said the head of state during the inauguration of the Expo Government 2023 in Caracas (capital).

The Venezuelan president stated that in these ten years of administration they have “demonstrated the strength and the path in an intense struggle”.

“We have had a hard time, but we have faced all circumstances, whatever they may be, we have applied the principle of always trusting in the creative powers of the people, who have not failed and have not gone wrong, responding heroically with sacrifice. It has been the turn of the people, the working class, the commoners, the commoners”, he said.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

Likewise, he assured that they will guarantee social rights at optimum levels. “Let no one have any doubt that we will guarantee all social rights created by the Constitution, in revolution and defended by us. We are going for more and better”, he added.

This act was propitious to unveil the milestone 4,500,000 of the Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela (GMVV) achieved in revolution, after the delivery of 87 houses in the “Cinco Águilas Blancas” housing development in the state of Mérida.

“They know what it is to build 500,000 houses per year, maintain the system of missions, stability and peace in the country, and achieve the economic growth that we achieved last year, and maintain the economic growth that is going to be one of the largest in Latin America this year 2023 with less than 10 percent of the income that Venezuela had in 2013,” he reflected.

International

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.