International

Nicolás Maduro rejects OAS statements on Essequiba Guayana

Photo: EFE

November 3 |

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday rejected the recent statements made by the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, on Essequiba Guiana, the part of Guyana that Caracas claims as its own.

“He is a despicable being who serves the vile interests of transnational corporations that seek to strip our country of a part of its territory,” the Venezuelan president said on the social network X, urging him not to interfere “in the affairs of Bolivar’s homeland.”

Nicolás Maduro described Almagro as an interventionist, for which he asked Venezuelans to participate in the consultative referendum that the South American country will hold on December 3.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has on numerous occasions claimed sovereignty over Guayana Esequiba, which comprises about two thirds of Guyana’s territory, by “historical right”.

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In the opinion of the Venezuelan government, with his declarations, the OAS Secretary has placed himself “on the margin of international legality, seeking to generate an unprecedented crisis in the Caribbean”, an attempt which, he assured, “will succumb”.

The Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, also rejected Luis Almagro’s comments and emphasized that her country has ample historical, legal and political reasons to defend its legitimate rights over the territory of the Essequibo.

The official assured that the OAS Secretary General demonstrates his ignorance on the history of Latin America and added that Guyana’s attempts to threaten Venezuela with the regional organization will be met with the fierce rejection of the Venezuelan people.

Venezuela called for a consultative referendum on December 3, which proposes the creation of a state (province) in Essequiba Guyana and the nationalization of its inhabitants.

The region of 160,000 km2 and rich in minerals and biodiversity, is administered by Guyana, which relies on an award signed in Paris in 1899 which sets limits that Venezuela rejects.

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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.