Page 48 - MIN ECEM

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 19 July 2017

Venezuela rejects Trump sanctions threat, reviews relations

By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN bans and has frozen the
FABIOLA SANCHEZ assets of high-ranking of-
Associated Press ficials in recent weeks, but
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) refrained from broad sanc-
— Venezuela rejected tions against the country
President Donald Trump’s that could deepen its eco-
call to halt a rewriting of its nomic crisis. Venezuela’s
constitution that is widely opposition called Monday
seen as a move to con- for a 24-hour nationwide
solidate the government’s strike to pressure Maduro to
power, saying Tuesday drop his plans to rewrite the
that it is reviewing its rela- constitution. The opposition
tions with the United States said that more than 7.5 mil-
in response to Trump’s lion people voted against
threat to impose econom- the constitutional assembly
ic sanctions. at unofficial ballot boxes
Foreign Minister Samuel set up nationwide and in
Moncada said on state expatriate communities
television that the election Sunday. While that number
of members of a constitu- cannot be independently
tional assembly will take verified, it’s roughly equiva-
place as planned on July lent to the number of votes
30. He said President Nico- garnered by winning can-
las Maduro has asked him Samuel Moncada, then Venezuela’s deputy minister of foreign affairs for North America, speaks at didates in recent Venezue-
to reconsider the country’s the Venezuelan consulate in New York. Moncada, who was recently named Venezuela’s foreign lan elections, an indication
diplomatic relations with minister, said on state television Tuesday, July 18, 2017, that the election of members of a consti- that Venezuelans would
the U.S. “The constitutional tutional assembly will take place as planned on July 30, and said President Nicolas Maduro has vote down the constitu-
asked him to reconsider the country’s diplomatic relations with the U.S.
assembly is happening,” (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) tional assembly if asked in
Moncada said, adding an official referendum.
that Venezuela is “con- from anyone.” the assembly. Maduro’s control of his ruling party. Canada, Mexico, Brazil,
ducting a deep review On Monday, Trump threat- socialist supporters want The U.S. is a major market Germany, Argentina, Co-
of relations with the U.S. ened to take unspeci- the assembly to grant him for the oil exports that drive lombia and the European
government because we fied “economic actions” if more power over the few Venezuela’s economy. Union have also come out
don’t accept humiliation
Maduro goes ahead with institutions still outside the Trump has imposed travel against the effort. q
TS Don lashes southeast Caribbean with heavy wind, rain

By DANICA COTO Country Retreat, a hotel in on Tuesday afternoon as it Barbados, Trinidad and To- gained strength far out to
Associated Press Grenada. “I just hope the prepared to open shelters bago and other nearby is- sea. It was centered about
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) whole island is spared as across the island. lands through Wednesday 1,415 miles (2,280 kilome-
— Tropical Storm Don be- much as possible.” The Maurice Bishop Inter- morning. Officials in Grena- ters) east of Hilo, Hawaii,
gan lashing the southeast The storm weakened as it national Airport is sched- da said people should ex- with maximum sustained
Caribbean with heavy rain approached the region, uled to close early Tuesday pect between two to five winds of 105 mph (165
and wind on Tuesday as it with maximum sustained evening and reopen by inches (5 to 13 centimeters) kph) and was moving to
approached the region af- winds dropping to 40 mph late Wednesday morning. of rain starting Tuesday af- the northwest at 8 mph (13
ter forming in the Atlantic (65 kph), according to the Meanwhile, the island’s ternoon. kph).And newly formed
Ocean. U.S. National Hurricane water and sewer authority They also warned of land- Tropical Storm Greg was
A tropical storm warning Center. said it would switch off all slides and said waves of up edging away from the
was in effect for Grenada It was located about 120 water systems until further to nine feet (three meters) Mexican coast.
and St. Vincent and the miles (190 kilometers) east- notice. were expected. It was centered about 435
Grenadines, while a tropi- southeast of Grenada and The storm’s center is ex- Forecasters said Don is ex- miles (700 kilometers) south-
cal storm watch was in ef- was moving west at 22 mph pected to move through pected to further weaken west of the Mexican port
fect for Bonaire. (35 kph) late Tuesday after- the Windward Islands late late Tuesday or Wednes- of Manzanillo with winds
“The shutters are up,” said noon, forecasters said. Tuesday and drop be- day. of 40 mph (65 kph). It was
Joan Charles, administra- The government of Gre- tween 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 In the Pacific, meanwhile, moving west at 9 mph (15
tive assistant at Barry’s nada closed all businesses centimeters) of rain across Hurricane Fernanda re- kph).q