International

The Government accuses the opposition of an alleged plan to tear down a bridge in Venezuela

The Government of Venezuela accused the opposition of an alleged plan to tear down a bridge in the south of the country, with the aim of “causing anxiety” in the population in the face of the presidential elections on July 28.

“We have detected and unveiled a serious plan to demolish (…) the first bridge over the Orinoco River, the Angostura Bridge,” said the executive vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who also reiterated the denunciation of plans to attack facilities of the national electricity system.

According to the official, members of the opposition elaborate these “perverse plans” because “they do not want an election, because they already know they are defeated” and, therefore, “they want to sabotage” the July elections.

“Efremism, which seeks to cause suffering to the people of Venezuela, who have attacked the national electricity system, which has promoted the terrible economic blockade against our homeland, (…) now has these perverse plans against the vital infrastructure of the nation,” he said.

According to Rodríguez, between 10% and 20% of the “guayas (thick and resistant wire) that support the bridge” have been cut, so the Executive decided to divert the circulation of cargo transport over the Orinoquia bridge – the second on the Orinoco River – and set, at 40 kilometers per hour, the maximum speed limit for private vehicles.

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For his part, the Minister of Transport, Ramón Velásquez, reported plans to rehabilitate the bridge, which include the restitution of the wires, general maintenance, lighting and the installation of a surveillance system through cameras.

The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) activated a plan ordered by President Nicolás Maduro to protect the electrical system from alleged sabotage that, according to the head of state and candidate for re-election, prepares the majority opposition against this sector.

According to the president, the opposition is preparing an “electric war” by seeing himself, he assured, “lost” in the presidential elections, and claimed to have “six, eight, nine, ten proofs” – which he did not show – of these facts.

The Government also accuses the opposition of wanting to carry out a coup d’état and of looking for guarimbas (protests) in the country.

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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.