International

Guaidó expects to meet in Colombia with delegations at summit called by Petro

Photo: Reuters

April 24 |

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó announced that he arrived in Colombia where he will request to meet with the delegations that will participate in the International Conference on Venezuela convened by the president of that country, Gustavo Petro.

“I hope that the summit can ensure that the Maduro regime returns to the negotiating table in Mexico and a credible timetable for free and fair elections is agreed upon as a solution to the conflict,” Guaidó stated in a statement released on his Twitter account.

The opposition leader, who claimed to have crossed the border on foot, said he will hold meetings with the Venezuelan diaspora and stressed that his struggle seeks to make the “rights of Venezuelans count”.

“The struggle for the freedom of Venezuela demands to do it united, and goes through achieving the necessary guarantees for a primary that is respected and that is the unifying factor of the majority. For this struggle to work, we must ensure that the presidential election is really an opportunity for change and reunion for Venezuela”, the statement said.

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The Colombian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that because “only countries invited to this dialogue will participate”, Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva Duran did not invite Guaidó, “so his attendance at the conference is not counted on”.

“As has been publicly and repeatedly stated, the conference is a meeting space with part of the international community,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Guaidó, who until January was considered interim president after the 2015 Parliament voted to eliminate the interim government he presided over and leave in office a Council of Administration and Protection of Assets, assured that the government has raised threats against him in recent days and demanded the cessation of persecution against his family and the freedom of the nearly 300 politicians in Venezuela.

In 2019, after proclaiming himself interim president of Venezuela, at the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice prohibited Guaidó from leaving the country.

However, on several occasions he has defied the measure against him and has left the country. Guaidó has participated in two international tours that have taken him to the US, Colombia and several countries in Europe.

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Over the weekend, a delegation of the Unitary Platform of the opposition met with Petro and said they hoped that from the initiative in Bogota would emerge an “exhortation” for the return to negotiations with the government in Mexico.

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.