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Venezuela Shifts Diplomacy: Embassies in Norway and Australia to Close, Focus Turns to Africa

  Venezuela announced it will close its embassies in Norway and Australia as part of a sweeping diplomatic restructuring. The government of President Nicolás Maduro described the move as a “strategic re-assignation of resources,” aimed at strengthening alliances in Africa. In place of the closures, Venezuela will open new embassies in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe , which officials called “sister nations and strategic allies” in the fight against colonial and hegemonic pressures. Consular services for Venezuelans in Norway and Australia will continue through other diplomatic missions, with details to be provided in the coming days. The decision comes amid heightened tensions with the United States and follows weeks of geopolitical maneuvering. Norway’s foreign ministry confirmed the closure of the embassy in Oslo, while Australian officials have yet to comment publicly on the development. This shift underscores Caracas’ intent to reconfigure its global presence, prioritizing regi...
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Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Shoot Down US Reaper Drone: Aerial Clash Escalates Tensions

 

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for shooting down another of the U.S. military’s MQ-9 Reaper drones. The rebels released footage showing wreckage that corresponds to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft. According to the Houthis, they used a surface-to-air missile to down the Predator drone over their stronghold in the country’s Saada province. The video includes close-ups of parts with the logo of General Atomics, the manufacturer of the drone, and serial numbers matching known components made by the company.

This incident is part of a renewed series of assaults by the Houthis following a relative lull in their pressure campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. While U.S. officials have not immediately commented on the Houthi footage, CBS News previously reported an anonymous U.S. military official acknowledging a drone crash in Yemen.

The MQ-9 Reaper drone, which costs around $30 million each, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and has an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. Since the Houthis seized Yemen’s north and its capital of Sanaa in 2014, the U.S. military has lost at least five drones to the rebels, including this recent shootdown. The ongoing conflict in Yemen continues to escalate tensions in the region, with the Houthis also launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, demanding an end to the war in Gaza.

As the situation unfolds, both sides remain on high alert, and the international community closely monitors developments in this volatile region. The downing of the U.S. Reaper drone adds another layer of complexity to an already fraught conflict landscape.

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