International
Nicolás Maduro announces the closure of the Venezuelan Embassy and consulates in Ecuador
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, announced on Tuesday, at the virtual meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), the closure of the Embassy and consulates of the Caribbean nation in Ecuador, in support of Mexico, after the assault by the Ecuadorian Police on the diplomatic headquarters of this country.
“In the face of that aberrant act of arrogance of President (Daniel) Noboa (…) I have ordered the closure of our Embassy in Ecuador, the closure of the Consulate in Quito, the immediate closure of the Consulate in Guayaquil and that the diplomatic personnel return to Venezuela, immediately,” the president said at the meeting.
Maduro gave the order to the chargé d’affaires – head of Venezuela’s diplomatic mission in Ecuador -, Pedro Sassone, to return to the Caribbean nation “until international law is expressly restored.”
The Venezuelan president indicated that the assault by the Ecuadorian Police on the Embassy of Mexico was an “act of barbarism,” so he expressed his support for Mexico’s proposal to expel Ecuador from the United Nations (UN) “until he apologizes to the international community and restores the situation to its original legal status.”
“The (former) Vice President Jorge Glas must be returned to the Embassy of Mexico, recognize him political asylum, give him the approval and travel to recover his physical health from torture, in Mexico,” he added.
The leaders of the Celac are meeting this Tuesday, virtually, to address this incident, for which Mexico filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in which it asks to suspend Ecuador from the UN until it offers a public apology for indening its diplomatic headquarters.
The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, asked at the virtual summit to be in his complaint against Ecuador in the ICJ.
López Obrador reaffirmed that his complaint seeks “an expulsion from Ecuador from the United Nations, as long as there is no apology and an offer of non-repetition, never again to make a scoundrel” such as the raid on Mexico’s diplomatic headquarters on April 5.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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