CARACAS: Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Monday ordered his armed forces to carry out a national exercise next week in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat of possible military action.
“I have given the order to the armed forces’ joint chiefs of staff to start preparations for a national civil-military exercise for the integrated armed defense of the Venezuelan nation,” he told thousands of supporters in a Caracas rally.
The drill will take place August 26 and 27, he said.
Maduro’s government has seized on Trump’s warning last Friday that he was looking at a range of scenarios against Venezuela, “including a possible military option if necessary.”
Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino called it “crazy,” saying it showed America had “dropped its mask” in terms of wanting to attack his country.
The Maduro administration says Trump’s words bolster its oft-repeated claim that Washington has designs to grab control of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves, the largest in the world.
The threat, made in response to Venezuela’s deepening economic crisis and Maduro’s moves toward what the US labels a “dictatorship,” has been rebuffed by all of Latin America — even countries opposed to Venezuela.
The Pentagon said it had received no orders from Trump to ready any sort of military action against Venezuela.
US Vice President Mike Pence, who is touring allies in Latin America to marshall joint action against Caracas, said Trump’s warning stood — but he hoped a “peaceable solution” would be found.
The Caracas rally stretching in front of Maduro took up the president’s exhortations against the United States with cries of “Yankee go home!“
The leftist leader vowed to “defend the country with tanks, planes, missiles.”
Venezuela, an ally to Cuba and Russia, reportedly bought Russian anti-aircraft defenses and tanks years ago, under Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez.
Pence, on his first stop of a tour taking in Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Panama, said the United States intended to prevent Venezuela becoming a “failed state.”
“We will not stand by as Venezuela crumbles, but it’s important to note, as the president said, that a failed state in Venezuela threatens the security and prosperity of the hemisphere,” Pence told reporters in the Colombian city of Cartagena.
He told CNN in an interview that Venezuela risked becoming “a greater problem for narcotics traffic” and “greater migration” — both of which he said directly threatened the security and economy of the US.
On Sunday, Pence stood by Trump’s threat of possible military action, saying the US president “says what he means and means what he says.”
But he expressed hope a “peaceable solution” could be found.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who has led criticism of Maduro, told Pence on arrival “that the possibility of a military intervention shouldn’t even be considered.”
Many Latin American countries have bitter memories of past US adventures in the region. Those include invasions, gunboat diplomacy and the propping up of military dictators.
Even the Venezuelan opposition coalition on Sunday rejected “the use of force, or the threat of applying such force, by whatever country against Venezuela.”
China, too, said it stood against foreign powers interfering in other countries.
Maduro, in a later televised event with various ambassadors stationed in Caracas, said he wanted a regional “closed-door presidential summit” to talk about Venezuela and Trump’s threat.
“The threat of war can only dissipate with dialogue,” he said.
Washington has already imposed unilateral sanctions on Maduro and nearly two dozen of his officials for what it sees as a shift to “dictatorship.”
The sanctions came in response to a new loyalist body, an all-powerful Constituent Assembly, that supersedes the legislature controlled by the opposition.
The body has joined with the loyal supreme court to quash dissent and arrest opposition politicians.
Venezuela’s economy is heavily reliant on oil exports. Shipments to the United States — its biggest paying customer — account for 40 percent of its crude production, but only eight percent of US oil imports.
The US sanctions so far have targeted individuals and not Venezuela’s oil industry, which would have consequences for US refineries.
Maduro orders Venezuela military drill after Trump threat
Maduro orders Venezuela military drill after Trump threat
Nigel Farage promises tighter UK borders and tax cuts in election ‘contract’
Immigration control receives top billing in policy plan
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Reform seeks to tempt voters away from Sunak’s Conservatives
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MERTHYR TYDFIL, Wales: Nigel Farage, whose entry into the election has damaged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s faint hopes of victory, set out his policy plans on Monday, describing them as the first step to becoming the dominant party on the right of British politics.
On Monday he said the earlier-than-expected election had come too soon for his Reform UK party but called on supporters of Sunak’s Conservatives to “join the revolt” and pitched Reform as the only ones who could hold to account Labour, whose leader Keir Starmer is forecast to become the next prime minister.
Farage is one of Britain’s most recognizable and divisive politicians and has pressured successive governments into more aggressive stances on cutting immigration. He played a pivotal role in the 2016 vote to leave the European Union.
But his career has been spent campaigning from the sidelines of British politics, having stood unsuccessfully for a seat in parliament seven times and led parties which, despite attracting millions of votes, have failed to weaken the grip of Britain’s two main parties — the Conservatives and Labour.
This time Farage is standing in Clacton-on-Sea, southeast England, where polling shows he could win a place in parliament, but under Britain’s electoral system Reform is only expected to win, at most, a handful of seats across the country.
“We are not pretending that we are going to win this general election,” Farage said at the launch of a 24-page policy document, which he described as a “contract” with voters for the next five years.
But he added: “Our aim and our ambition is to establish a bridgehead in parliament and to become a real opposition to a Labour government.”
Reform chose Merthyr Tydfil for its launch to highlight what it says is Labour misrule in Wales.
Farage’s unexpected entry into the election race — having initially said he would not run and wanted to concentrate on campaigning for Donald Trump in the United States — has split support among Britain’s right-of-center voters.
The Labour Party is around 20 percentage points ahead in opinion polls and forecast to win a large majority. Reform overtook the Conservatives in one poll last week, and Farage has set a target of winning six million votes at the July 4 election.
Other polls put them far behind the governing party.
“JOIN THE REVOLT“
The Reform campaign has so far focused on Farage and his populist appeal.
The 60-year-old received an expensive private education and worked as a commodities trader but has successfully styled himself as a man of the people taking on an out-of-touch political establishment.
Reform’s policies are designed to appeal to the right of center voters who would typically back Sunak’s Conservatives, and they demand change across all the main policy areas.
Immigration, the issue on which Farage has for more than a decade struck a chord with voters, received top billing.
Reform promised to immediately freeze “non-essential” immigration, leave the European Convention on Human Rights, and push migrants arriving by small boats back to France before they land on British shores. They also proposed an extra payroll tax on companies who employ foreign workers.
That tax was one of a raft of measures, including shaving 15 billion pounds off the benefits bill, to raise money that would be spent on tax cuts elsewhere, including raising the income tax threshold to 20,000 pounds, slashing fuel duty by 20 pence per liter and getting rid of value added tax on energy bills.
“This is not a protest document, this is not a protest vote,” Farage said. “We’re unashamedly radical, we want change, this isn’t working.”
In India, Muslims and Hindus come together to celebrate Eid Al-Adha
- Hindu-majority India has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population, comprising 200 million people
- Muslim and Hindus traditionally get together during religious festivals to celebrate each other’s holidays
NEW DELHI: Indian Muslims and Hindus celebrated Eid Al-Adha on Monday in the spirit of togetherness, as they shared meals to mark the Feast of Sacrifice.
With over 200 million people professing Islam, Hindu-majority India has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population.
Indian Muslims joined in communal prayers across the country on Monday to start their celebrations of Eid Al-Adha, the second of the two main holidays observed in Islam.
“Eid is the most sacred festival for us. The day starts with morning prayer in the mosque nearby, then we prepare the sacrifice of the goat,” Mohammed Altaf, who lives in Delhi, told Arab News.
Eid Al-Adha commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son. To reflect his readiness to do so, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal, usually a goat, sheep or cow, and distribute the meat among relatives and the poor.
The holiday is also a time of unity and togetherness for Muslims, with many looking forward to spending the day with friends of different faiths.
“I cherish (welcoming) my Hindu neighbors to my home when they come for a special meal,” Altaf said. “I live in a mixed-housing society, and it has been custom for many years to invite my Hindu friends from the community and outside to partake in the food that we prepare on this special occasion.”
Altaf’s household usually makes several preparations of mutton and at least one sweet dish to serve the guests.
“Not only that, we distribute the raw meat of the sacrificed animals to our relatives and Hindu friends, too. This meat is very sacred, and everyone understands that,” he added.
Indian Muslims have faced increasing discrimination and challenges in the past decade, accompanied by tensions and riots ignited by the majoritarian policies of the Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, which rose to power in 2014.
Despite incidents of communal violence, Altaf believes that there are people “who know the value of celebrating the festival together,” in order to keep “the secular spirit of India alive.”
The spirit of togetherness binds India’s diverse communities, said Naser Khan, a resident of Malerkotla city in Punjab.
“Eid Al-Adha means happiness … This is a very pure festival, and we celebrate it with lots of joy,” Khan said.
“In India, Eid is not a one-religion festival. Here, people from all faiths participate in each other’s festivals. On Eid, we invite our Hindu and Sikh friends to dine with us and partake whatever we prepare. It becomes an occasion to assert our sense of community and strengthen our communal bonding.”
Prof. Espita Halder, a Hindu woman from Kolkata, was also joining the festivities with her Muslim friends this Eid.
“We need to create a narrative of harmony. People come close to each other during this festival,” she said.
Meha Dhondiyal, another Hindu woman based in Lucknow, said Eid has always been “a part of our lives.” She learned the tradition of joining Eid feasts from her father and has since carried it forward with her own Muslim friends.
“A nation that celebrates together stays together. Festivals are not only religious but of shared culture. And it makes us happy to celebrate Diwali and Holi festivals with Muslim friends,” Dhondiyal told Arab News.
“It’s also important that in this time of provoked hate due to politics, we keep alive the real alternate narrative of harmony and togetherness. It’s the best way we can think of telling our Muslim friends that they’re not alone. We are together.”
In India, Muslims and Hindus come together to celebrate Eid Al-Adha
- Hindu-majority India has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population, comprising 200 million people
- Muslim and Hindus traditionally get together during religious festivals to celebrate each other’s holidays
NEW DELHI: Indian Muslims and Hindus celebrated Eid Al-Adha on Monday in the spirit of togetherness, as they shared meals to mark the Feast of Sacrifice.
With over 200 million people professing Islam, Hindu-majority India has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population.
Indian Muslims joined in communal prayers across the country on Monday to start their celebrations of Eid Al-Adha, the second of the two main holidays observed in Islam.
“Eid is the most sacred festival for us. The day starts with morning prayer in the mosque nearby, then we prepare the sacrifice of the goat,” Mohammed Altaf, who lives in Delhi, told Arab News.
Eid Al-Adha commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son. To reflect his readiness to do so, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal, usually a goat, sheep or cow, and distribute the meat among relatives and the poor.
The holiday is also a time of unity and togetherness for Muslims, with many looking forward to spending the day with friends of different faiths.
“I cherish (welcoming) my Hindu neighbors to my home when they come for a special meal,” Altaf said. “I live in a mixed-housing society, and it has been custom for many years to invite my Hindu friends from the community and outside to partake in the food that we prepare on this special occasion.”
Altaf’s household usually makes several preparations of mutton and at least one sweet dish to serve the guests.
“Not only that, we distribute the raw meat of the sacrificed animals to our relatives and Hindu friends, too. This meat is very sacred, and everyone understands that,” he added.
Indian Muslims have faced increasing discrimination and challenges in the past decade, accompanied by tensions and riots ignited by the majoritarian policies of the Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, which rose to power in 2014.
Despite incidents of communal violence, Altaf believes that there are people “who know the value of celebrating the festival together,” in order to keep “the secular spirit of India alive.”
The spirit of togetherness binds India’s diverse communities, said Naser Khan, a resident of Malerkotla city in Punjab.
“Eid Al-Adha means happiness … This is a very pure festival, and we celebrate it with lots of joy,” Khan said.
“In India, Eid is not a one-religion festival. Here, people from all faiths participate in each other’s festivals. On Eid, we invite our Hindu and Sikh friends to dine with us and partake whatever we prepare. It becomes an occasion to assert our sense of community and strengthen our communal bonding.”
Prof. Espita Halder, a Hindu woman from Kolkata, was also joining the festivities with her Muslim friends this Eid.
“We need to create a narrative of harmony. People come close to each other during this festival,” she said.
Meha Dhondiyal, another Hindu woman based in Lucknow, said Eid has always been “a part of our lives.” She learned the tradition of joining Eid feasts from her father and has since carried it forward with her own Muslim friends.
“A nation that celebrates together stays together. Festivals are not only religious but of shared culture. And it makes us happy to celebrate Diwali and Holi festivals with Muslim friends,” Dhondiyal told Arab News.
“It’s also important that in this time of provoked hate due to politics, we keep alive the real alternate narrative of harmony and togetherness. It’s the best way we can think of telling our Muslim friends that they’re not alone. We are together.”
Marcos wishes Muslims jubilant celebration as Philippines observes Eid Al-Adha
- Muslims constitute around 10 percent of the nearly 120 million population
- June 17 was declared a national holiday to observe Eid Al-Adha in the Philippines
MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wished Muslims a fruitful celebration on Monday as the Catholic-majority Southeast Asian nation observed Eid Al-Adha.
Muslims make up around 10 percent of the nearly 120 million, predominantly Catholic population, according to 2024 data from the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos.
The minority community is collectively referred to as the Moro people, in reference to the 13 ethnolinguistic groups that form the largest non-Christian group in the country. Most live on the island of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago in the Philippines’ south, as well in the capital Manila and the central-western province of Palawan.
Earlier this month, Marcos declared June 17 a national holiday to observe Eid Al-Adha, the second of the two main holidays observed in Islam.
“As we observe Eid Al-Adha, let us embrace the lessons of sacrifice and unconditional faith. May this celebration inspire us to uplift lives and create a Bagong Pilipinas rooted in righteousness and peace,” Marcos said in a statement issued on Monday, referring to his New Philippines slogan.
“I wish you a jubilant celebration of your faith and vows of sacrifice. Eid Mubarak!”
Eid Al-Adha commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, and also marks the culmination of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage that is one of the five pillars of Islam.
For Muslim Filipinos, like other Muslims across the world, Eid is an “opportunity to learn to rekindle the spirit of faith, self-sacrifice, kindness and generosity,” said former NCMF commissioner Yusoph Mando.
Mando said he spent the holiday with family and friends, as Eid for many was about learning to cherish the time spent with loved ones.
Though much of Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Bangladesh, observed Eid Al-Adha on Monday, Filipinos joined Muslims in other parts of the globe, including in Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen, in starting the celebrations on Sunday.
Ebra Moxsir, a retired police colonel and national president of the Imam Council of the Philippines, said that Eid Al-Adha was “a time for unity and solidarity among Muslims.”
But for others, Eid celebrations are quieter this year as they reflect on the sufferings of Palestinians in Gaza.
“We did not spend time with a lot of relatives like before because we could not feel complete happiness with the genocide going on in Gaza,” Enisha Alin Guro, a resident of Marawi City, told Arab News.
Guro said her celebrations are muted “out of sympathy for the people of Gaza who will not be celebrating Eid as a complete family or with food on the table or a home to go home to.”
Vladimir Putin to visit Kim Jong Un in North Korea this week
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un extended an invite to Putin during a visit to Russia’s Far East last September
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Kremlin said, an extremely rare trip that underscores Moscow’s burgeoning partnership with the reclusive nuclear-armed state.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un extended an invite to Putin during a visit to Russia’s Far East last September. Putin has not visited Pyongyang since July 2000.
“At the invitation of the Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin will pay a friendly state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on June 18-19,” the Kremlin said.
After North Korea, Putin will visit Vietnam on June 19-20, the Kremlin said.
Russia has gone out of its way to publicize the renaissance of its relationship with North Korea since the start of the war in Ukraine, which has triggered the biggest crisis for more than 60 years in Moscow’s relationship with the West.
For Putin, who says Russia is locked in an existential battle with the West over Ukraine, courting Kim allows him to needle Washington and its Asian allies while securing a deep supply of artillery for the Ukraine war.
The United States and its allies say North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia to help it fight in Ukraine, though North Korea has repeatedly denied the claims as a fiction invented by Western propagandists.
