International
Essequibo referendum campaign begins in Venezuela

November 7 |
The electoral campaign for the consultative referendum for El Esequibo began this Monday in Venezuela by organizations with political purposes, guilds, unions, universities, civil society, the Popular Power and indigenous communities.
For this purpose, this weekend, the regional, municipal and parochial campaign commands were sworn in, with the objective of joining wills and calling for the unity of all the people in defense of the territory of the Guayana Esequiba.
The consultative referendum is scheduled for December 3, in which the population will have to answer five questions, as informed by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
“I keep receiving photos of the formation of the ‘All Venezuela’ Campaign Commands, throughout the national territory. I am sure it will be a campaign of national pride, of union of Venezuelans in defense of our historical rights over the Essequiba Guyana”, wrote Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in his account in the social network X.
Likewise, he highlighted that “there is strength in unity, therefore, Venezuelans are united for a single cause of national love: our Essequibo. On 3D we voted 5 times Yes!”.
Previously, the President responded to the statements made by the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, who expressed himself against the historical rights of Venezuela over the Essequiba Guyana.
“Outrageous is the position of this gentleman against a free and independent nation, it is obvious, he is a despicable being who serves the vile interests of the transnationals that intend to dispossess our country of a part of its territory”, said President Maduro.
Meanwhile, he assured that “the Essequibo is part of the whole of Venezuela, it belongs to us because of the heritage and historical struggle of our Liberators and Liberators”. Likewise, he reiterated the firm position of the South American nation “for Peace, dialogue, diplomacy and Justice”.
On the other hand, she acknowledged the work of the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, and the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fanb) for acting quickly, denouncing and rejecting the attempt to disregard the historical right of the country.
Venezuelan Vice-President: national sovereignty resides in the people
In the afternoon hours of this day, thousands of people took to the streets throughout the Venezuelan territory as a show of support to the referendum to be held on December 3.
In Caracas (capital), the march was attended by the Venezuelan Executive Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, who made exclusive statements to the teleSUR news multiplatform in which she highlighted Venezuela’s will to defend the Essequiba Guyana.
“From very early, six in the morning, Venezuela dawned in tricolor, all Venezuela singing our Bolivarian National Anthem. All of Venezuela began with military marches and all the states of the country joined in, marching with a single purpose: to defend our Guayana Esequiba, to tell Guyana that it acts as an employee of Exxon Mobil. To tell Almagro. To tell the United States that they are not in charge here, that the people of Venezuela are in charge here”, he emphasized.
In view of the approval by the Guyanese Parliament of a motion ordering the Venezuelan people not to carry out the referendum, Rodriguez stated that sovereignty resides in the people.
“Here the people of Venezuela rule, national sovereignty resides in the people, and on December 3 we will all go out to vote five times yes to the five questions. Five times yes for the defense of our historical morality, for the defense of our legacy of the liberator Simón Bolívar, for the defense of what belongs to us, which is Essequiba Guyana”, he stressed.
International
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.
During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.
“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.
“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”
Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.
On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.
International
Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition

he Vatican’s post offices and select collector shops began selling special edition stamps this week to mark the period between the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor.
Known as “Sede Vacante” stamps, they feature an image used on official Vatican documents during the interregnum between popes — two crossed keys without the papal tiara. These stamps went on sale Monday and will remain valid for postal use only until the new pontiff appears at the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards, and parcels. “Once the new pope is elected, the stamps lose their postal validity, but their collectible value rises,” said Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collectors’ shop across from St. Peter’s Square.
The Vatican has issued the stamps in four denominations: €1.25, €1.30, €2.45, and €3.20. Each is inscribed with “Città del Vaticano” and “Sede Vacante MMXXV” — Latin for “Vacant See 2025.”
International
Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may

The conclave, which in the coming weeks must choose the successor to Pope Francis, will strictly follow a precise protocol refined over centuries.
The 135 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, will cast their votes four times a day — except on the first day — until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The result will be announced to the world through the burning of the ballots with a chemical that produces the eagerly awaited white smoke, accompanied by the traditional cry of “Habemus Papam.”
The start date for the conclave could be announced today, as the cardinals are set to hold their fifth meeting since the pope’s passing. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested it could begin on May 5 or 6, following the traditional nine days of mourning. According to German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the conclave could last only “a few days.”
Although the late Argentine pontiff appointed the majority of the cardinal electors, this does not necessarily ensure the selection of a like-minded successor. Francis’ leadership style differed significantly from that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, a German theologian who was less fond of large public gatherings. It also marked a contrast with the popular Polish pope, John Paul II.
The Argentine Jesuit’s reformist papacy drew strong criticism from more conservative sectors of the Church, who are hoping for a doctrinally focused shift. His tenure was marked by efforts to combat clerical sexual abuse, elevate the role of women and laypeople, and advocate for the poor and migrants, among other causes.
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