International

Venezuelan FANB reiterates commitment to electoral process

Photo: Prensa Presidencial

August 24|

Venezuela’s Minister of Defense, G/J Vladimir Padrino López, rejected on Thursday in a televised speech, the calls of opposition sectors to subvert the constitutional order and disregard institutions.

The military leader asserted that by instructions of the Venezuelan President and Commander in Chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, Nicolás Maduro Moros, he extends to the military commanders a call to ignore the extremist voices that seek to cloud the constitutional process of presidential elections, scheduled for the end of 2024.

He also denounced that the new attacks aim at hindering the work that the people and the Government of Venezuela are carrying out to recover the welfare of the nation, and in this sense, they add to the policy of illegal economic sanctions imposed on the country by the United States and which affect to a greater extent the most vulnerable sectors of the country.

Padrino López read a communiqué in which the FANB denounces new attempts by extremist sectors of the national opposition, in alliance with external factors, to intervene in the country by means of media manipulation and the biased use of international organizations, with the purpose of questioning the authorities and institutions of the country. A plan that he defined as an escalation against the stability of the republic.

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The document assures that the military authorities will guarantee the security and the correct performance of the electoral process in accordance with the constitutional mandate, without detriment to the rest of their obligations, among which stand out the fight against irregular armed groups, the fight against drug trafficking, the approach to the scourge of illegal mining and the support to the Military Community Brigades for Education and Health, known as Brocomiles.

The General in Chief assured that the Bolivarian National Armed Force is firmly attached to the Constitution and ratifies its unconditional loyalty to President Nicolás Maduro.

Finally, the Vice-President for Political Sovereignty, Security and Peace also assured that the political conscience of the Venezuelan people will prevent them from falling into the provocations of the national right wing and its foreign allies.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”