Top of The World: US President Joe Biden called the airlift of more than 120,000 Americans, allies and Afghans an “extraordinary success.” And, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet with Biden in Washington DC on Wednesday, in what has been described as a show of renewed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Also, opposition parties in Venezuela announced in a strategy shift, that they will participate in the November local and regional elections.
Independent experts commissioned by the UN's top human rights body have alleged the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro committed crimes against humanity.
World leaders pledged billions in the race for vaccines and drugs to fight the coronavirus — but some nations, including the US, were conspicuously absent. And, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro detained two Americans allegedly trying to oust him from leadership. Also, as South Koreans turn to drive-in movies for entertainment, artists around the world are finding inspiration in quarantine.
A year has passed since 1,400 soldiers defected from Venezuela's military hoping for the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro. But Maduro is still firmly in control and some soldiers feel they gambled their careers away while they struggle to get by in neighboring Colombia.
President Nicolás Maduro's government has accused more than 20 lawmakers of treason and conspiracy or similar crimes, most recently on Monday. The World's Marco Werman speaks with opposition politician Juan Andrés Mejía, who recently fled to the US to avoid being detained by Maduro's regime.
Dubbing their planned offensive "Operation Venezuela," ex-army sergeant Eddier Rodríguez said there were around 150 men ready to take part with his group.
Two Venezuelan lawmakers sought refuge at foreign embassies in Caracas on Thursday, as the government of President Nicolás Maduro cracked down on allies of opposition leader Juan Guaidó who supported his attempted uprising last week.
Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, evading arrest in a Spanish diplomatic residence, on Thursday disclosed he met with senior military officials before a failed uprising against President Nicolás Maduro this week.
Venezuelans heeded opposition leader Juan Guaidó's call to take to the streets on Wednesday in a bid to force President Nicolás Maduro from power, but there was little concrete sign of change in a crisis that increasingly looks like a political stalemate.
Reuters witnesses said several dozen mostly young armed men in military uniform accompanying Guaidó exchanged gunfire with soldiers acting in support of Maduro outside the La Carlota air base but the opposition did not appear to be about to take power by force.
Armed civilians loyal to embattled President Nicolás Maduro are more trusted than the military to restore order and quell dissent in Venezuela.