International
Von der Leyen urges Caricom to defend peace in Ukraine in the face of “an unpredictable world”
The president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, urged on Wednesday the countries of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to raise their voices for peace in Ukraine since today’s world is “unpredictable” and it is “more important than ever to remain united.”
“We believe in freedom and people’s right to decide their own future. That’s why you have been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the war,” Von der Leyen said at a press conference as part of the 48th annual meeting of Caricom’s heads of government in Barbados.
“Ukraine is a future member of the European family and supporting them means supporting us. It is also important to ask for peace, not only in Ukraine, but also in the Middle East, Sudan and Haiti,” he added.
These statements come hours after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, called his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and warned him that, if he does not act “quickly”, his country could disappear.
The relationship between Trump and Zelenski has deteriorated following the talks held this week in Saudi Arabia between a US delegation and Russian representatives to end the war, in which neither Ukraine nor its European allies participated.
The European leader was accompanied at the conference by the new president of Caricom and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, whom she congratulated for her “exemplary leadership” to “fight against climate change that is truly existential” and amplify the voice of small island countries “for the benefit of humanity”.
“We have the goal of making the Caribbean islands feed on 100% renewable energy and we have discussed how to strengthen our cooperation with resilience and preparation to work together when natural disasters hit the area,” said the president of the EC at the meeting, which will last until Friday.
He also celebrated that Barbados is leading the way towards “a green transition and development” and stressed that “renewable energy provides energy independence, energy security and is the energy of the future.”
On the other hand, he highlighted the cooperation between Europe and the Caribbean countries in the field of health, after attending the signing of an agreement between the German institute of biomedical research BioMed X and Barbados.
This is within the launch of four projects of the global community investment initiative Global Gateway, one of which, under the title ‘Renewstable’, is the first for the storage of green hydrogen in the Caribbean.
In this regard, Mottley welcomed “EU support and cooperation, in particular to confront this existential (climate) crisis and build resilience”.
“Renewable energy is clearly a response to the climate crisis,” said the Prime Minister of Barbados and president of Caricom.
Mottley agreed with Von der Leyen that “the world faces very difficult challenges,” highlighting climate change, which affects the whole world and especially small island states such as Barbados.
Caricom members are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobag
International
MPV Denounces Electoral Blockade as Secretary-General is Disqualified for May Elections
The anti-Chavista party Movement for Venezuela (MPV) denounced on Monday that it was “prevented” from submitting its candidates for the regional and legislative elections on May 25, elections rejected by opposition leaders Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado.
“MPV, being an active and recognized party in the National Electoral Council (CNE), was prevented from submitting candidates for the current electoral process,” stated the political group through a communiqué on X.
Additionally, the group denounced that its Secretary-General, Simón Calzadilla, was “suddenly disqualified,” as the opposition leader warned last Friday. He also explained that he attempted to access the CNE’s automated candidate submission system but, as he added, the portal showed that he was not authorized to create a user and submit the MPV candidates.
For the party, its “strong decision” to participate in the May elections “highlighted the true nature of this electoral process,” which it described as “extremely flawed.”
International
Maduro Plans Major Workers’ March on May 1st to Defend Venezuela’s Freedom
Nicolás Maduro, who swore in for a third term in January following his controversial re-election, called on Monday for the “working class” and the “armed people” to gather for a concentration on May 1st for peace, as part of the celebration of International Workers’ Day.
“Let’s have a powerful march of the working class, the combat bodies, and the Bolivarian National Militia in all the cities of the country, from end to end, working class and armed people in the streets shouting for peace,” said the chavista leader in a broadcast on the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), surrounded by military authorities.
He also stated that Venezuela is more armed than “ever” to “defend the sacred dream of a free homeland, the sacred soil of a heroic land, Venezuela.”
Maduro called on all military personnel to “stay in shape” with a “deployment capacity” and also to have “a very clear view of the entire national territory.”
International
Venezuela accuses Guyana of “warlike intentions” after UK defense deal
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez denounced what she called “warlike intentions” from Guyana on Saturday (April 12, 2025), following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and the United Kingdom aimed at strengthening bilateral defense cooperation.
“Guyana threatens Venezuela with its founding fathers. The UK and the U.S. are the architects behind the territorial dispossession of our Guayana Esequiba. These are the same actors who forged a fraudulent arbitration award in 1899 to strip Venezuela of its land,” Rodríguez stated via Telegram.
Rodríguez, who also serves as Venezuela’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, warned the region about “these drums of war, in clear violation of the CELAC declaration that recognizes Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace.”
“Venezuela will stand firm in defending its legitimate rights, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in all scenarios,” she added.
MPV Denounces Electoral Blockade as Secretary-General is Disqualified for May Elections
Maduro Plans Major Workers’ March on May 1st to Defend Venezuela’s Freedom
Honduran Police Offer $135K for Tips Leading to the Arrest of Romeo Vásquez
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead
-
International4 days agoDominican Republic mourns over 200 dead in Jet Set nightclub collapse
-
Central America4 days agoNicaragua seeks ICJ intervention in Gaza conflict amid escalating violations
-
Central America4 days agoU.S. Government says deported migrants should remain in El Salvador for life
-
International4 days agoTwo fans killed in gate collapse outside Chile’s Estadio Monumental
-
International3 days agoTrump Authorizes Military to Take Control of Federal Land Along U.S.-Mexico Border
-
International4 days agoItalian biologist found dead in Colombia; investigation underway
-
International2 days agoVenezuela accuses Guyana of “warlike intentions” after UK defense deal
-
International2 days ago
Nightclub Collapse in Dominican Republic Claims 226 Lives
-
International4 days agoMaduro signs Economic Emergency Decree to counter U.S. sanctions on Venezuela
-
Central America2 days agoSpanish Ex-Congresswoman Calls for ‘Bukele-Style’ Security Policies in Europe
-
International4 days agoVenezuelan oil shipments resume after tariff-induced delays
-
International4 days agoConstitutional Court Removes Yoon: Lee Jae-myung’s Rise Sparks Warnings of a Radical Shift
-
Central America3 hours agoHonduran Police Offer $135K for Tips Leading to the Arrest of Romeo Vásquez
-
International3 hours ago
Maduro Plans Major Workers’ March on May 1st to Defend Venezuela’s Freedom
-
International3 hours agoMPV Denounces Electoral Blockade as Secretary-General is Disqualified for May Elections