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.
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.
In the annual State of the Union speech, US President Donald Trump touted the economy and promised to lower health costs for Americans while slamming Democratic plans he argued would bankrupt the country and cut benefits in a largely political address to Congress.
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.