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Machado vows to lead Venezuela ‘when right time comes

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Machado vows to lead Venezuela 'when right time comes'

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has reaffirmed her intention to lead the country, declaring that she will assume the presidency “when the right time comes,” as Venezuela navigates a critical political transition.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News during a visit to Washington, Machado said she believes she will one day be elected president, describing her ambition as part of a broader mission to rebuild the country. She said her goal is to help turn Venezuela into “that land of grace,” adding that she hopes to become the nation’s first woman president when conditions allow for a democratic transfer of power.

Machado’s remarks came a day after she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump, describing the gesture as recognition of what she called his commitment to Venezuela’s freedom and democratic future. The symbolic act drew international attention and underscored her effort to strengthen ties with key global actors at a moment of heightened uncertainty for the South American nation.

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The political landscape in Venezuela has shifted dramatically following the US operation on 3 January that led to the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and his transfer to New York, where he is facing multiple charges related to drugs and weapons trafficking. The move has intensified diplomatic activity around Venezuela’s future governance and raised questions about who will ultimately lead the country through its next phase.

Despite Machado’s prominence within the opposition and her movement’s claim of victory in the widely disputed 2024 elections, President Trump has so far stopped short of formally endorsing her as Venezuela’s next leader. He has argued that she lacks sufficient domestic backing at this stage. Instead, the US administration has been engaging with interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice-president and is currently overseeing the transitional administration.

Addressing questions about her role, Machado stressed that she remains focused on serving Venezuela in the most effective way possible. “I want to serve my country where I am more useful,” she said, adding that she believes she has a clear mandate from supporters who see her as a central figure in the country’s democratic aspirations.

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During her visit to Washington, Machado also met with several US senators as part of broader efforts to rally international support. Outside Congress, her brief comments to reporters were frequently interrupted by supporters chanting “María, presidente” while waving Venezuelan flags, reflecting the enthusiasm of her backers and the continued visibility of her leadership bid.

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Referee Michael Salisbury Dropped After Controversial Man Utd-Forest Decision

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Referee Michael Salisbury Dropped After Controversial Man Utd-Forest Decision

Referee Michael Salisbury has not been selected for any match in the final round of Premier League fixtures following controversy over a key decision during Manchester United F.C.’s victory over Nottingham Forest F.C. last weekend.

Salisbury allowed Matheus Cunha’s goal for United to stand despite the ball appearing to strike the hand of Bryan Mbeumo during the build-up.

After being advised to review the incident by the video assistant referee (VAR), Salisbury chose not to overturn the goal. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited later admitted the goal should have been disallowed.

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Referees in English football generally apply a more lenient interpretation of handball laws compared with some other countries, although decisions must still remain within the official laws of the game.

Referees’ chief Howard Webb reportedly told Forest there were arguments supporting the decision not to award handball, but acknowledged that “football’s expectation” would have been for the goal to be ruled out.

The incident marked only the 17th occasion in seven Premier League seasons — and the fourth time this campaign — that a referee has rejected the recommendation of the VAR after reviewing footage at the pitchside monitor.

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Salisbury, who has officiated 13 Premier League matches this season, has not been assigned to any of Sunday’s final-day fixtures, all of which kick off simultaneously.

Meanwhile, James Bell has still been appointed as VAR for Fulham F.C.’s match against Newcastle United F.C. despite criticism surrounding another recent VAR decision.

Bell faced scrutiny after not recommending a review of a challenge by Kai Havertz on Lesley Ugochukwu during Arsenal F.C.’s game against Burnley F.C. on Monday.

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WHO Warns Ebola Cases in DR Congo Likely to Rise Further

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WHO Warns Ebola Cases in DR Congo Likely to Rise Further

The World Health Organization has warned that Ebola infections and deaths linked to the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are expected to rise further as health officials continue tracing the spread of the virus.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that there are now 600 suspected Ebola cases and 139 suspected deaths connected to the outbreak.

So far, 51 cases have been confirmed in DR Congo, where the outbreak began, while neighbouring Uganda has recorded two confirmed cases in its capital, Kampala. One of the infected travellers from DR Congo has died.

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Speaking in Geneva, Ghebreyesus said the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola likely began spreading “a couple of months ago” before being detected.

Although the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday, the agency stressed that the situation does not currently meet the threshold for a pandemic.

“WHO assesses the risk of the epidemic as high at the national and regional levels and low at the global level,” Ghebreyesus said after the organisation’s emergency committee reviewed the situation.

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Health officials say the epicentre of the outbreak remains eastern DR Congo, particularly Ituri province, where confirmed cases have been reported in Mongwalu, Bunia, Rwampara and Nyakunde. Cases have also emerged in North Kivu province, including the cities of Goma and Butembo.

According to WHO officials, healthcare workers are among those who have died, increasing concerns over the outbreak’s severity and the risk of wider transmission.

Investigators are still trying to determine how long the virus circulated before being identified. The first known patient was reportedly a nurse in Bunia who developed symptoms and died on 24 April. Her body was later taken to Mongwalu, one of two gold-mining towns heavily affected by the outbreak.

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The current outbreak marks DR Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak, but officials say the Bundibugyo species presents unique challenges because it has not been seen for more than a decade.

Bundibugyo has previously caused only two known outbreaks and historically killed around one-third of infected patients.

There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, although experimental vaccines are under development. Health experts say vaccines designed for the more common Zaire strain of Ebola may offer limited protection, but this has not yet been confirmed.

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Train Driver in Deadly Bangkok Crash Tested Positive for Drugs

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Train Driver in Deadly Bangkok Crash Tested Positive for Drugs

The driver of a freight train involved in a deadly collision with a public bus in Bangkok has tested positive for drugs and now faces charges of reckless driving, Thai police have confirmed.

The crash occurred on Saturday afternoon at the busy Asoke-Din Daeng railway crossing when the freight train slammed into a public bus that had reportedly become stranded on the tracks.

The impact caused the bus to burst into flames, killing eight people and leaving dozens injured.

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Initial investigations suggest heavy traffic prevented the bus from clearing the crossing in time. Authorities also believe the congestion stopped the manually operated railway barriers from closing properly before the train approached.

The Asoke-Din Daeng crossing is known as one of the busiest and most congested traffic points in Bangkok.

Police said both the bus driver and the railway guard responsible for lowering the barriers have also been charged in connection with the incident.

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Pichet Kunadhamraks, director-general of Thailand’s rail transport department, announced that mandatory drug and alcohol testing would now be required for all train drivers and railway personnel before starting work shifts.

Authorities have not disclosed which substances were detected in the train driver’s urine test.

According to preliminary findings from the train’s black box, the emergency braking system was activated only about 100 metres (330 feet) before impact — a distance investigators say was too short to prevent the collision.

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