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US Embassy in Venezuela Reopens Amidst Government Shutdown and Epstein File Revelations
Washington D.C. - The United States is taking steps to normalize relations with Venezuela, reopening its embassy in Caracas after seven years of closure, while simultaneously grappling with a partial government shutdown and the fallout from newly released "Epstein files."
Laura Dogu, the US chargé d'affaires for Venezuela, arrived in Caracas on Saturday to reopen the diplomatic mission, which had been closed since 2019, according to Euronews. This move signals a thaw in bilateral relations following the deposition of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a US military operation almost a month prior.
However, domestic issues continue to plague the US government. A partial government shutdown began on Saturday due to disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over immigration enforcement policies, Euronews reported. House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrat lawmakers for the impasse, citing their "lengthy demands," but expressed confidence that he has enough votes to end the shutdown by Tuesday. "It will be a few days before a government funding package comes up for a vote," Johnson stated, all but confirming the shutdown would extend into the week, according to Euronews.
Adding to the complex political landscape, the release of new "Epstein files" by the US Department of Justice continues to generate controversy. These files contain emails suggesting that Jeffrey Epstein and his associates sought to exploit the political and economic turmoil in Libya for financial gain, Euronews reported. An email dated July 2011 revealed plans to access frozen Libyan state assets through a network of former British and Israeli intelligence officials.
The Epstein files have also drawn in prominent figures like Bill Gates. Emails included in the released documents allege that Gates contracted an STD and wanted to secretly give Melinda Gates antibiotics, according to The Verge. Gates has dismissed these accusations as "absolutely absurd."
In other news, concerns have been raised in Europe regarding the safety of German gold reserves stored in the United States. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the Defence Committee in the EU Parliament, questioned the security of the 1,236 tonnes of German gold held in the US, as reported by Euronews. This concern arises amidst growing distrust in the US government due to the Trump administration's policies, including tariff threats and pledges to conquer Greenland.
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