Political unrest and social conflictsactive

In an interview with Esquire, Brad Pitt has opened up like never before about his recent years, revealing the roughest aspects of his life and personality. For example, he mentioned that he resumed drinking and how a brief period in the past was marked by suicidal thoughts. The 62-year-old actor said in the interview that, after staying sober for seven years, he currently drinks occasionally and with care and limits, although he acknowledged that more than once he underestimated the risks of relapsing into excess. "I was sober for seven years and then I fell again," Pitt confessed in the conversation, adding: "I trusted myself too much a couple of times and thought, 'This is not good for me.'" Regarding his current consumption, he explained: "I can have a few (drinks), but not many. I have to be professional about it." On the other hand, he stated that at one point he promised himself never to miss a morning again: "You can miss a lovely morning if you drink too much the night before, and it's just not that interesting." A few years ago, the actor had made public his participation in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, which apparently changed in recent years. In previous years, Pitt had said that attending recovery groups was essential to facing his problems. He even publicly acknowledged Bradley Cooper for helping him in s…

A group of citizens, mostly members of the Vente Venezuela party, mobilized this Monday to the residence where Perkins Rocha, a lawyer and national leader of the movement led by María Corina Machado, lives in Caracas, to demand his full freedom and that of all political prisoners. The protesters gathered in front of the house where Rocha remains under house arrest (with an electronic bracelet and constant police surveillance) and chanted slogans like "Perkins, friend, your people are with you." The leader responded from his house window, greeting the attendees. Rocha was detained on August 27, 2024, in the context of the repression following the presidential elections of July 28 of that year. He remained more than a year and a half at El Helicoide and on February 8, 2026, was transferred to house arrest. He is the only one of his case (which involved eight defendants) who has not received amnesty or full freedom. On July 15, a court rejected his defense's requests to modify the measure. His lawyer, Omar Mora Tosta, spoke out in the context of these demands. He stated that "there cannot be a democratic transition while there are political prisoners" and that "there can be no dialogue, no transition to democracy with political prisoners, there must be absolute freedom for all." He emphasized that Perkins Rocha "represents an iconic person in the defense of the state..."

The United States Senate introduced a bill proposing to reactivate and expand the sanctions of the NICA Act against the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, in an initiative promoted by Republican Senator Ted Cruz. The proposal was sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for analysis and is in the initial phase of the legislative process, according to Nicaragua Investiga and official records of the U.S. Congress. On August 7, 2026, the upper chamber formally introduced Bill S.5369, which not only seeks to extend the existing sanctions but also to expand the powers of the Executive and add additional pressure mechanisms. The bill's title — whose full text has not yet been officially published — anticipates an expansion of U.S. actions against Managua. The bill aims to broaden the scope of sanctions against Managua. The NICA Act was approved in December 2018 and, in 2021, complemented by the RENACER Law. According to the information disseminated, the new initiative responds to the need to renew the extraordinary powers of the U.S. Executive and update the pressure mechanisms on the Nicaraguan government. Among the possible changes that the U.S. Congress typically considers in reforms of this kind are restrictions on strategic economic sectors, controls over investments and multilateral financing, as well as monitoring violations…

Bishop Silvio Báez called for maintaining spiritual rebellion in the face of "the arrogant shouts of the dictator who believes himself eternal," interpreting this Sunday's gospel as an invitation to keep walking with faith amid oppression, uncertainty, and attempts to impose a "forced normality." In his reflection, the prelate linked the passage of Jesus walking on water with the situation of peoples subjected to fear, fatigue, and setbacks after failed efforts to achieve social change. He placed one of his most direct definitions there: there is no need to fall into discouragement or lose the ability to dream of "a just and free society." Báez started from the account in Matthew 14:22-31. He recalled that Jesus asked the disciples to get into the boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and that during the night the vessel was shaken by large waves due to an opposing wind. Based on that scene, he explained that the boat represents human existence and also the Church. According to his reading, life proceeds like a navigation on the high seas, exposed to obstacles, uncertainties, and forces that hinder progress. The boat appears as an image of the Church in the face of authoritarian powers

Twelve Mayangna Sauni As forest rangers from the Sauni As territory are still detained in Nicaragua after arrests made between 2021 and 2024. According to Confidencial.digital, these events occur in a context of increased presence of settlers, mining companies, and extractive activities in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve. The community rangers have played roles in territorial surveillance and environmental protection in the face of various external pressures. Eight of those detained were prosecuted and received sentences ranging from 25 years in prison to life imprisonment, subject to review, in procedures that, according to specialized sources, may have raised questions about procedural guarantees. Regarding the other four rangers, two have already been sentenced, although the duration of their sentences has not been made public, and two remain in custody without official information about their judicial situation. The Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners in Nicaragua identifies the twelve as members of the Mayangna Sauni As community in the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. Territorial context and legal situation The Mayangna Sauni As territory is part of Bosawas and is one of the 23 indigenous territories demarcated and titled approximately between 2005 and 2019 under Law 445, which recognizes indigenous communal property. According to specialists consulted by Confidencial.digital, the process of sanitation...

Nine days before the start of the dialogue between the opposition (AN2015) and the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez and just a week before they will once again convene to put their feet under the table not only to share some coffee and refreshments but also to define the transition in Venezuela under the umbrella of the United States, we take a look at what has been discussed and the agreements reached in this space of political negotiation. Although the establishment of this civil-military table took place last Thursday, August 6, at the Carlota military airbase, the first formal approach occurred on August 1 after a phone call between the leaders of each delegation, Jorge Rodríguez, current president of the AN (interim government), and Dinorah Figuera (president of the National Assembly 2015). Topics Attention to victims of the double earthquake Strengthening democracy Political rights and guarantees These topics were announced through a statement on August 1 and have not been modified so far. Dialogue between Chavismo and the opposition begins with a call and presentation of the delegations Members The dialogue table is composed of six members from each negotiating team: the deputies from 2015 Marco Aurelio Quiñones, Juan Millán, Sergio Vergara, Juan Miguel Matheus, and Ramon López Interim government: Jorge Rodríguez, president of the AN, the …

The costs of forcing Caracas to hold free elections are too high for Washington now.

Hundreds of people marched on Saturday in the town of Soller, in the island of Mallorca against mass tourism.

It was registered near the municipality of Santa Ana Del Táchira, in Venezuelan territory, close to Colombian urban centers such as Cúcuta and Bucaramanga.

The 007: 'Up to 50,000 would bet on Ceuta'. In Italy, border controls for 19 non-EU nationals

Almost 500 years ago, a Moroccan man traveled thousands of kilometers from Florida to the Pacific coast and became the first known visitor of the Old World to contemplate the North American West.

It has been more than a week since the crisis that took place in Ceuta, mainly on Thursday, July 30, when tens of thousands of people, mainly young men, crossed the border from Morocco, which did not do enough to prevent it. It was Juan Jesús Vivas, the mayor of Ceuta, who described what happened as an "invasion." He reaffirmed this before the European Parliament, where he stated that it was not a migration crisis, and called for greater involvement from the European Union because Ceuta and Melilla are the only borders between Europe and African countries. The mayor also told the King that the population felt "sad, helpless, and worried." Today, he continues to denounce before the government an "unsustainable" situation, as "between 8,000 and 11,000 people" still remain in Ceuta. However, there is still no exact number of those who entered, only of those who returned, so estimates vary between 60,000 and 80,000. There is also no exact number of fatalities, so figures range from 50 to 100, which is why some mothers are searching for children who entered but nothing has been heard about them since. Despite the above, the consequences are clear in the sense that criticisms of Sánchez's government stand out, there are differing positions between Spain and Morocco, and a rift has also opened within the European Union, especially with Italy. There is also no unanimity regarding whether it was...

China's Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) won the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris, France, on Saturday, defeating fellow Chinese team AG. AL 4-3 in a seven-game final. The victory marks KSG's first international title. The Honor of Kings competition began on July 30, with 20 clubs taking part. Both KSG and AG. AL advanced to the final without dropping a single game in the group and knockout stages. The two teams have faced each other several times in previous competitions, with both sides recording wins. AG. AL, however, had generally held the upper hand. Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) wins the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup in Paris, France, August 8, 2026. /Honor of Kings Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) wins the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup in Paris, France, August 8, 2026. /Honor of Kings Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) wins the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup in Paris, France, August 8, 2026. /Honor of Kings Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) wins the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup in Paris, France, August 8, 2026. /Honor of Kings The best-of-seven final got off to a fast start, with KSG taking the opening game. AG. AL responded with a narrow win in the second game to level the series, but KSG quickly adjusted its strategy and regained the lead by winning the third. AG. AL then found its rhythm and won the next two games in a row to move within one game of the title at 3-2. Facing elimination, KSG fought back in the sixth game with targeted attacks that effectively contained AG. AL's offense. AG. AL made a late push to turn the game around, but KSG held on to force a decisive seventh game. The Esports World Cup 2026 opened in Paris on July 6 and will run through August 23. This year's Esports World Cup is the first edition to be held outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event features more than 2,000 professional players and over 200 clubs from more than 100 countries and regions, competing across 25 tournaments and 24 games for a record prize pool of more than $75 million. (Cover: Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) wins the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup in Paris, France, August 8, 2026. /Honor of Kings)

The internal elections of the Broad Front are entering the final stretch. While in interviews and debates journalists strive to expose - with little success - the differences between the candidates to lead the party, at the internal level there remains a series of historical conditions and groups of belonging that shape and incline the votes of the militants towards Constanza Martínez or Gael Yeomans. On one side, there are the groups (as they call themselves) from the Autonomous Left, Democratic Revolution, and Commons, among others. On the other side, groups from the Libertarian Left, which led to Convergence; social and regional movements, such as the well-known "From the mountains to the sea." But this positioning based on origins does not explain everything, and that is where the nuances emerge. Because some feel they have more street credibility than others. Some swear more loyalty to Boric's government than others. Some consider that they promote a tougher opposition to Kast than others. Thus, the winning leadership is not indifferent, as it could shape the type of opposition the FA aspires to, its defense of the previous government, and, most importantly, the efforts it develops to activate social mobilizations. "Our list recognizes what the FA has done," said Martínez in a debate on CNN Chile. "We recognize what has been done, but it's a cycle that must be passed," responded Yeomans. "It's not just about resistance," said Mar…

NEW YORK.– The American president, Donald Trump, traveled to Las Vegas to talk about the economy. But for a few hours, the media and social networks focused on another issue: what happened to the president's hair? Images of the leader during the event in Nevada showed hair that appeared blonder, more voluminous, and thicker than usual, a detail that quickly caught the attention of those browsing the platforms. A new look? Trump's fuller head of hair drew double takes, memes, and speculation online after a speech in Las Vegas. https://t.co/hUmSY0GObf — USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 8, 2026 Soon, AI-generated images circulated of Trump answering questions near Marine One, the presidential helicopter, with a huge, voluminous blonde hairstyle. Another image showed him with abundant hair from a 360-degree angle. In another, members of the cabinet appeared with grown-out blonde hairstyles. And since Trump, whose unmistakable hair has been the subject of jokes, imitations, and memes not only now but for decades, theories quickly emerged. "Is it a toupee or did he get a transplant?" asked journalist and commentator Aaron Rupar on X. "There’s no way that’s Trump’s real hair. Absolutely none!" wrote another user. Trump Hair memes taking over X 😂 pic.twitter.com/l9PJPqVXat — 🤍Silva Tetro🖤 (@tetro_silva) August 7, 2026

The president of the Communist Party (PC), Lautaro Carmona, arrived in Cuba for the third time and met this Saturday with the president and the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, Miguel Díaz-Canel. Also participating in the meeting with the leader was the general secretary of the organization, Bárbara Figueroa, who traveled with the communist leader to the island to participate in the commemorative events for the 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro's birth on August 13. Díaz-Canel specified that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss "important issues on the inter-party agenda" and to reaffirm "the commitment to consolidate our historic relations of solidarity and cooperation." Last January, Carmona completed his second trip to the island, during which he also met with Díaz-Canel. "This meeting took place in a context marked by the criminal imperialist offensive led by Donald Trump and the United States, expressed, among other actions, in the invasion of Venezuela on January 3 and in the successive threats against other countries, with a particularly odious direction against Cuba," he declared at that time.

Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David Venturella accused the Associated Press on Saturday of misreporting his agency’s body camera policy in an article on how ICE decides what footage may be released to the public. Venturella alleged the report, published Friday, incorrectly portrayed a provision governing the expedited release of footage after serious…

People from São Paulo who sought to get vaccinated against measles this Saturday (8), in the city of São Paulo, found long lines at vaccination posts. According to the De Olho Na Fila portal, from the São Paulo city hall, of the 62 vaccination sites open, 57 had long lines around 1 pm. At the same time, two posts - AMA UBS Pari (in the East Zone) and AMA UBS Massagista Mário Américo (in Casa Verde) - had medium lines; and AMA UBS Jardim São Jorge Paulo Eduardo Elias (on Raposo Tavares) had a small line. The two posts marked as “no line” by the portal – AMA UBS Fazenda do Carmo (in Cidade Tiradentes) and AMA UBS Vila Medeiros (in Vila Medeiros) – had outdated information, with data only from the morning. Related news: Companies should facilitate vaccination of workers against measles. Measles vaccination campaign vaccinated 280,000 people in SP in one week. State of São Paulo confirms 23 cases of measles; 16 did not get vaccinated. At AMA UBS Integrada Água Rasa Dr. Marcos Andrade Corsato, in the area between the neighborhoods of Tatuapé and Mooca, in the East Zone, the line started outside the post. The wait, around noon, was over an hour to get the immunizer. Ana Beatriz Chacur, 42 years old, had been in line for about half an hour with her twin daughters, 12 years old, and her husband, 47. They sought the immunizer after receiving information about the need for vaccination…

Spain on Saturday introduced temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy, escalating a dispute between the EU partners over migration. The move follows Italy’s decision to impose similar controls after more than 70,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s Ceuta enclave from Morocco, most of whom later returned.

The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) launched a water rationing system on Friday affecting more than 180,000 customers in the San Juan metropolitan area and six neighboring municipalities, due to a drought that brought the Carraízo reservoir to historic lows. The alternating 48-hour water cuts, initiated on August 7, modify the population's and tourism's access to basic services, in a context of water emergency recognized by the local government and U.S. federal agencies. According to PRASA, the measure responds to the most severe drought recorded in Puerto Rico in over a decade and could extend until the end of August or longer if significant rains do not occur. Governor Jenniffer González declared a state of emergency and explained that the schedule divides the metropolitan area into two sectors, which alternate water access every 48 hours. According to Reuters, hospitals and healthcare centers receive priority in supply with tanker trucks. The climate context worsens the situation: the U.S. Drought Monitor reports that 25% of Puerto Rico's territory suffers from severe drought and another 36% from moderate drought. According to historical data, July 2026 was the driest month in San Juan in 120 years, coupled with high temperatures that increase water demand. The New York Times reports that the lack of rains and infrastructure management...

Spain on Saturday began temporary border checks on travellers from Italy in response to Rome imposing similar measures at the end of July, after a mass migrant rush into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.

A court in Coclé province found a teacher criminally responsible for the crime of harassment in the school environment, committed against five students, in a process originating from events that occurred in 2019 at an educational center in the district of Penonomé. The sentence to be served will be formally announced on August 14, when the reading of the verdict takes place. The Oral Trial Court was composed of judges Liseth Espinoza, who acted as president; Naida Flor Ríos Vega, as rapporteur; and Virginia Rodríguez, as third judge. The decision was made after several days of trial, during which the parties' evidence was presented and evaluated, before the final arguments that preceded the guilty verdict. Although criminal responsibility has already been determined, the final sentence to be imposed by the court is still pending. During the individualization hearing, prosecutors from the Public Ministry Katherine Torres Real and Yarisel Fernández requested four years of imprisonment. The same sentence was requested by José Julián Pérez, the complainant's lawyer and public defender for the victims, who also proposed that the aggravating circumstances of the case be considered. The defense held a different position. Public defender Rodrigo Frago Madrigales requested that the minimum sentence of two years in prison be applied. Once this phase was completed, the court held the resa hearing…

The Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua faces a humanitarian and human rights crisis under the government of Daniel Ortega. Between 2015 and 2024, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) recorded 68 murders of indigenous people, a figure that, according to the organization, could be higher due to the absence of official records and the context of repression and censorship. In its report "Violence against indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples of the Caribbean Coast in Nicaragua," presented in August 2025, the IACHR describes the events as part of a deliberate policy of extermination, driven by impunity, forced displacement, and the destruction of the cultural foundations of the communities. According to the IACHR, violence has taken on extreme and repeated forms. Between 2020 and 2024, three emblematic massacres were reported: the attack on the Mayangna community of Alal (January 2020), the Kiwakumbaih massacre (August 2021), and the attack on Wilú (March 2023). These actions involved mutilations, torture, sexual violence, including the rape of girls and indigenous women, and the total destruction of several communities. The report emphasizes that the crimes occurred in contexts of premeditated attacks, forced displacements, kidnappings, and a systematic campaign of terror. Both the IACHR and the Human Rights Expert Group on Nicaragua (GHREN) affirm that the perpetrators acted "with the tolerance and acquiescence of the State," which...

The Communist Party (PC) condemned this Saturday the government's decision of José Antonio Kast to end Chile's participation in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), after 55 years of alliance with the group. Through a statement, the party stated that the decision "constitutes an anachronistic folly that severely compromises the relations and sovereignty of the Chilean state with the global community" and confirms "the political will of subordination to the U.S. administration in international matters." It was last Thursday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that "the decision responds to the fact that the organization was created as a political movement in a different global context and does not respond to the new challenges and the current international reality." However, the PC supported the creation of the group in 1955 by "countries fighting for the overcoming of colonialism, racism, imperialism, and the Cold War, in pursuit of strategic autonomy, self-determination, and relations of cooperation and equality among countries to guarantee peace and access to development for all." Additionally, the political party added that NAM is composed of governments that advocate for "multilateralism and their sovereign right to national independence in the face of any imperial political imposition." In this regard, the PC pointed out that the government's decision goes against those objectives of "for…

The havoc caused by the recent earthquakes in Vargas state on June 24th dealt a heavy blow to the coastal economy, but did not manage to halt the fishermen's work. Among the mourning for the fallen colleagues, the persistent fear of visitors, and a drastic drop in the number of buyers, the maritime community fights daily to stay afloat. To revive local commerce, workers have adjusted the prices of fresh fish to affordable levels and also provide constant support to the refugee neighbors, while making an urgent call to Caracas residents to come down to the docks to do their shopping. This week, Efecto Cocuyo toured the fishing docks of La Zorra in Catia La Mar, Macuto, and the well-known Mercado El Mosquero in Maiquetía and confirmed that all these sales points are fully operational and ready to serve consumers from early morning hours. La Zorra: Between declining sales, own logistics, and support for the shelters At the La Zorra dock in Catia La Mar, the day begins early despite the mourning for the colleagues who died after the seismic movement. Although only one fisherman, Alexander Ávila, spokesperson for the Popular Council of Fishermen (Comppa) of this port, died in that port, he explained that production has decreased considerably because the activity depends largely on the capital's tourism. …

The opposition parties PPD, Socialist Party, Broad Front, Communist Party, Liberal Party, and Christian Democracy announced for this Saturday, August 8, a series of simultaneous meetings in the regions of the country, with the aim of advancing political coordination against the government of President José Antonio Kast. In the Metropolitan Region, the regional directives of the six groups will meet to discuss the country's political situation and promote regional coordination. According to a statement issued by the groups before the activities, the call seeks to "offer a real and responsible alternative to the government of José Antonio Kast." "From Arica to Punta Arenas, the regional leaderships of each opposition party will meet to discuss Chile's future and the problems of each territory, and to articulate an opposition that does not live only in Congress nor is decided exclusively from Santiago, but is built in every corner of the country," they stated. The parties indicated that the call aims to replicate in the territories the coordination that progressive forces have built at the national level, incorporating regional directives and local political leaderships. According to the document, the sessions will be focused on "articulation, reflection, and the definition of common objectives," with attention to upcoming debates on labor issues...

MADRID.– One of the most consulted analysis voices in the Spanish press in these days after the migratory crisis that shook the planet was that of Jorge Dezcallar (Palma de Mallorca 1945). With a long and prestigious diplomatic career, he was Spain's ambassador to Morocco, to the Holy See, and in the United States, and he led the Spanish intelligence services between 2001 and 2004. He assures that if measures are not taken, the serious episodes that occurred in Ceuta could be repeated. –You have described what happened in Ceuta as an "assault" and not just a simple migratory crisis. Why do you insist on that distinction? –Because 72,000 people are not a migratory crisis; they are an outrage that can be described as a flood or an assault because to enter Ceuta they had to overcome physical barriers like the sea or the fences. It was President Pedro Sánchez himself who first spoke of a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and I couldn't agree more because that is what happened. –Last Tuesday, Interior Minister Grande Marlaska told the press that the events that occur do not always have responsible parties... -There are responsible parties. In 2021, 12,000 Moroccans entered Ceuta, and now 72,000 have done so. Failing once can happen, but failing twice is unacceptable. –As a former director of the CNI, do you believe there was an intelligence failure in not anticipating this massive entry? –I don't know what he did or didn't do…

Following Italy’s rejection of its ultimatum to lift the border checks imposed in response to the Ceuta migration crisis, Spain has in turn announced that it will carry out checks on travellers from Italy. From midnight on Saturday, travellers from Italy would initially be subject to random checks at ports and airports until September 7, Spanish state broadcaster RTVE reported, citing a decree issued by the Madrid government. The checks are intended to verify the identity and nationality of...

Spain introduced new border checks on arrivals from Italy, as a migration dispute between the countries escalated into a tit-for-tat that is testing the unity of the European Union.

The measures came into effect at midnight on Saturday, August 8, and will last through September 7.

After receiving the presidential sash, Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration ceremony gave way to a religious "prayer and praise." He then delivered his first speech as the president of Colombia, where he spoke about security and criticized Petro's government.

Spain, random checks on travelers from Italy in effect from midnight

In an escalating diplomatic crisis, Spain has now imposed border controls on all air and sea travel from Italy. The move follows similar measures introduced by Rome in the wake of an influx of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. Simon Moritz has the details.

Spain has introduced border checks for travellers arriving from Italy after Rome's measures over the Ceuta crisis, from IDs to trips with children and pets.

Caracas experiencing power cuts for first time in 7 years despite government pledges to invest in grid

The provisional detention of former director of the National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG), Luis Oliva, will remain in effect as the investigation into alleged aggravated unjustified enrichment progresses. The guarantee judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama, Marisol Ortiz, refused to modify the precautionary measure, considering that the procedural risks that justified keeping him in custody still persist. The decision was made during a review hearing requested by the defense of the former official, who was in charge of the AIG during the administration of former President Laurentino Cortizo. Ortiz determined that the detention remains necessary and proportionate, taking into account the nature of the case and the particular circumstances of the investigation being conducted by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. During the hearing, the Public Ministry was represented by prosecutor Jenisbeth Malek, while Oliva was assisted by his lawyer Carlos Eugenio Carrillo Villarreal. Once the decision was announced, the defense announced that they will file an appeal to try to modify the precautionary measure imposed on the former official. The hearing before the Superior Court of Appeals of the First Judicial District is scheduled for August 25 at 8:30 a.m., at the Plaza Fortuna building. The magistrates will then determine whether to confirm the resolution adopted by Ortiz or to replace it.

James Talarico leads Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, signalling a potential shift in the Republican stronghold.

In the last few hours, a new Argentine citizen was detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It is Matías Pourrain, a 34-year-old player who plays for Miami United, a team in the fourth tier of American soccer. The young man was arrested on Thursday at Fort Lauderdale Airport in Miami, when he was trying to board a plane to Los Angeles, to play a match in that city. At the time of his detention, he was with the rest of his teammates. Since then, the family has launched a campaign for his release and assured that Pourrain entered the United States legally. In an interview with LA NACION, his lawyer, Regina Borges de Moraes, stated that the Argentine still has a pending application for permanent residence and that his arrest is unusual because he did not commit any crime nor does he have a criminal record. “He is okay, scared, but okay,” she said. She also expressed that she will try to file a motion next week for the player to be released on bail. The payment would be between US$1500 and US$3000. A life linked to football Pourrain is 34 years old and has dedicated his entire life to football. He started his career at Real Pilar, in Argentine lower divisions. “Dreams will remain dreams until we decide to turn them into goals and make them come true,” he wrote in u…

After revealing her delicate health condition, for which she requested full freedom to treat her cancerous injuries, the family of Judge María Lourdes Afiuni Mora announced this Friday that she received notification of her unconditional release and the complete closure of the case against her. Nelson Afiuni, the judge's brother, announced on social media that his father received from an official the notification that ends the process. "This afternoon my father received from an official the notification of FULL FREEDOM AND TOTAL CLOSURE OF THE CASE against the judge. She and my mother are at the clinic, and I am going to my parents' house to get the notification and publish it," he wrote. Hours later, the family issued a public statement expressing their satisfaction with the decision. The text, signed by Nelson Afiuni Mora and Thelma Fernández, the family's legal representative, states: "The family of Judge María Lourdes Afiuni Mora receives with satisfaction the decision that definitively ends the process against her and fully restores her freedom, formally closing a case that should never have existed." JUDGE'S CASE STATEMENT @mariafiuni pic.twitter.com/IwX6ZFgPT8 — Nelson Afiuni (@nelsonafiuni) August 7, 2026 The document describes the outcome as "the end of a long and painful chapter marked by serious violations of human rights and due process." It adds that...

Move comes in response to Rome imposing similar measures after mass migration rush to Ceuta Spain has announced it will introduce temporary border checks on visitors from Italy in response to Rome imposing similar measures after a mass rush of people from Morocco into Ceuta. The checks, which come “amid the persistent irregular migration pressure” facing Italy, will start at midnight on Saturday and last until 7 September, Spain’s interior ministry said in a statement. Continue reading...

The Federal District Section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB-DF) launched this Friday (7) the Legal Violence Meter, a tool that serves as a guide on the different levels of violence a woman may face. The launch took place at the seminar "20 Years of the Maria da Penha Law: Legislative Innovations, Challenges, and New Horizons," held on the day the Maria da Penha Law (Law No. 11,340/2006) celebrated two decades. Related news: Domestic overload exposes women to violence, say experts. Rio: police stations will have a special room for women victims of violence. Women take to the streets for the voting of the Misogyny Bill. The material outlines the different levels of violence a woman can face, organized into three stages: "Stay Alert," "Protect Yourself," and "Run Away." From there, it describes, for each situation, the violent action and the feeling the victim usually experiences. From signs of psychological and moral violence, such as public humiliation, control of clothing and social media; progressing to patrimonial violence and emotional and/or sexual blackmail. In the third and most severe of the three stages are direct physical violence, sexual abuse, threats with weapons, and even attempted homicide. For the Women’s Director of OAB/DF, Nildete Santana de Oliveira, who presented the violence meter, the action is a step forward in protecting women in the Federal District.

Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes, is today immersed in fear under the marital autocracy of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. The country, which once fought to free itself from oppression, now faces a regime that uses violence, persecution of its former allies, and the dismantling of institutions to perpetuate itself in absolute power. Information gathered by DW Spanish mentions that the dictatorship turned the country into the only sovereign state with two presidents, persecuted former Sandinista allies, and closed the political system with exiles, imprisonments, and revocation of nationality from dissidents. In the final stages of this process, the presidential couple extended their control over territory and resources. In October 2025, they handed over an additional 62,000 hectares to the Chinese company Thomas Metal, which was already operating nearly 200,000 hectares for mining extraction, while eight Chinese firms received concessions over more than 565,000 hectares in the North Pacific and the Caribbean, according to the Nicaraguan publication Confidencial Digital. Writer Gioconda Belli, a former Sandinista militant and later persecuted by the regime, described the extent of repression in personal and legal terms: “They have sent us into exile, taken away our nationality, confiscated everything, our homes, even our retirement pensions.” She added that in the country there are “illegal detentions, without any presence of law, without due…

Italy introduced border controls after the massive arrival of about 78,000 migrants from neighboring Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Spain responds with a reciprocal measure.

The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) met this Friday with the delegation of deputies from the National Assembly elected in 2015, regarding the public complaint made the day before about the assault suffered by journalist Deisy Martínez, from Efecto Cocuyo, and the restrictions imposed on coverage of the first in-person meeting of the dialogue. During the meeting, the members of the delegation expressed their rejection of the events and showed solidarity with the journalistic profession. The SNTP, led by its secretary general, Marco Ruiz, took the opportunity to deliver to the deputies a document containing a diagnosis and an action agenda that the union considers necessary to advance in building and restoring guarantees for the exercise of freedom of expression, the right to information, and press freedom. #NOW | Regarding the public complaint made yesterday by the SNTP about the assault on journalist Deisy Martínez, from @EfectoCocuyo, and the restrictions on coverage of the first in-person meeting of the dialogue, we spoke with the delegation of deputies of the… pic.twitter.com/4QU4SkSwlC — SNTP (@sntpvenezuela) August 7, 2026 These proposals have been presented by the SNTP to various actors and interlocution bodies, including the most recent Program for Peace and Coexistence. The union insisted on the need to guarantee…

The former deputy and leader of the opposition delegation, Dinorah Figuera (i), attends alongside the President of Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez / EFE Representatives of the interim Government and the National Assembly elected in 2015 celebrate a new day of talks this Friday, this time at the Meliá Hotel in Caracas, in a closed-door meeting to which the press was again not invited for full coverage. The session is part of the first cycle of work, which remains in permanent session until next Wednesday, August 12. The process officially began on Thursday, August 6, at the Simón Bolívar Convention Center, located in La Carlota, where both delegations established the plenary, agreed on the methodology and negotiation cycles, and ratified the agenda of topics. The official delegation is led by Jorge Rodríguez, President of the National Assembly and coordinator of the dialogue for the Executive. The opposition is led by former deputy Dinorah Figuera. After the first meeting, the parties issued a joint statement in which they committed to work under principles of respect for national sovereignty, good-faith negotiation, seeking benefits for the country, political, peaceful, democratic, and constitutional solutions, mutual recognition, and equal treatment. The three priority axes of the agenda are attention to the victims of the double earthquake of June 24, 2026, strengthening of…

With a tough conservative speech, critical of the left and the Colombian political class, De la Espriella became the most voted president in the country's history. However, the outgoing leader, Petro, has not acknowledged the electoral victory and declared himself in "civil disobedience".

The ICE, the immigration police of Donald Trump's government, detained last Thursday Matías Pourrain (34), an Argentine footballer who plays in a league in the United States. "It was detained by ICE at Fort Lauderdale Airport when he was about to board a domestic flight to Los Angeles. Matías was not trying to enter or leave the United States. He was simply traveling from one U.S. city to another," the footballer's family stated in a statement. And they assured that Pourrain "entered the United States legally with a visa." "He has a pending asylum case for years, a valid work permit, Florida ID, and no criminal record," the family close to Pourrain detailed. The family denounced that the footballer has legal permission to be in the country and launched a plea for help through media and social networks to spread the case. Pourrain plays for Club Lyon in Florida, in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). In Argentina, Pourrain played for Real Pilar, the team that achieved promotion to Primera C in June 2019. View this post on Instagram The family members expressed that "during all these years, Matías has worked, paid his taxes, maintained his documentation, and built a life and community here." "Today he remains in ICE custody while his lawyer works to secure his release and ensure that all his rights are respected."

Labor rights defenders demand that any political agreement, such as the one initiated this Thursday in Venezuela, prioritize the restitution of labor rights and the full exercise of union freedom. The demand was made on August 7 by the Venezuelan Observatory of Union Freedom, an organization that groups defenders of workers' rights. "The Venezuelan working class demands the full restitution of labor rights and union freedom as a fundamental part of the topics and agreements of the national dialogue table," the organization stated in a communiqué published on its X account. The statement comes at a time when various union sectors insist that there can be no talk of real dialogue without first guaranteeing workers' right to organize, negotiate collectively, and defend their interests without restrictions. According to the Observatory, these guarantees are an essential condition to move towards effective democracy. PUD calls for real progress in the dialogue table installed in La Carlota The organization, whose motto is "Without union freedom there is no democracy," has maintained a critical stance for years regarding the limitations faced by unions in Venezuela. With this new statement, it seeks to ensure that labor issues occupy a central place in the political discussions taking place in the country.

Judge María Lourdes Afiuni Mora's brother, Nelson Afiuni, clarified in a public statement the health condition that the lawyer has presented in recent weeks. According to the document, Afiuni experienced dizziness, vomiting, and hypertension, which prompted her urgent transfer to a healthcare center, where she was stabilized under observation. Specialized studies and contrast scans ordered by the oncology team treating her revealed the presence of three new tumor lesions located in different parts of the body, which require immediate medical attention to avoid irreparable consequences. Public health status statement of Judge @mariafiuni pic.twitter.com/PLuZBWKxLM — Nelson Afiuni (@nelsonafiuni) August 6, 2026 The family directly links this deterioration to the accumulated consequences of more than 16 years of what they describe as a prolonged process of persecution, unjust deprivation of liberty, detention conditions, and lack of timely medical attention during critical stages. They highlight that Afiuni was sentenced to five years for a corruption offense that, according to them, could not materialize, as there was no money or promise of benefit in exchange for the questioned judicial decision, as recorded in the procedural records and acknowledged by the case prosecutor. Judge María Lourdes Afiuni suffers a health relapse, her family reports The statement emphasizes that the only daughter of…

Members of the Venezuelan National Assembly of 2015 along with current members this Thursday in Caracas / EFE The Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) wished for "real progress" in the dialogue between Chavismo and an opposition sector, which officially began this Thursday and in which María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia are not participating. "Our commitment will be with every effort that produces concrete results and contributes to the advance of the democratic transition, in accordance with the roadmap presented to the country," the PUD stated in a message published on X. #Communiqué | The Democratic Unitary Platform reaffirms the validity of its roadmap for a democratic transition in Venezuela and demands the full and immediate freedom of all political prisoners. The reconstruction of the country depends on the restoration of the state of… pic.twitter.com/lC2axojCr8 — Unidad Venezuela (@unidadvenezuela) August 6, 2026 The PUD promised to work for a "democratic, constitutional, peaceful, and sustainable transition that allows rebuilding the country and opening a future of freedom, justice, and prosperity for all." In this context, it emphasized that the "cessation of political persecution," the return of exiles, and the restoration of civil and political rights are "indispensable conditions to move towards true national reconstruction," which also "requires legitimate and effective institutions." In this diál…

The White House negotiates without Machado. Congress shields her legitimacy. What’s the strategy?

A group of United Nations human rights experts condemned this Thursday the recent measures taken by the United States against Cuba, describing them as an attempt to alter the constitutional order of a sovereign state through threats and coercion. They also urged the international community and civil society to act quickly to prevent a "silent Gaza" from erupting on the island, as four members of the U.S. Congress warned after visiting Cuba, according to the organization. Since July 23, U.S. unilateral sanctions—which have been expanded since June 2026 to affect key sectors of the Cuban economy—include energy companies, further blocking fuel acquisition, even for humanitarian reasons, which, as the UN highlights, occurs at a time when the island is suffering from a severe oil shortage, recently experiencing its third large-scale national blackout. In recent days, it was also reported that the energy crisis has led to uncollected garbage accumulating in different sectors of Havana, increasing the risk of disease spread. In response, several human rights rapporteurs, including George Katrougalos, Zaina Jallad, and Sofía Monsalve Suárez, denounced that "the humanitarian consequences are already turning into a full-blown crisis that threatens the rights to health, life, ...

US-backed negotiations between Venezuela's interim government and a faction of the opposition began on Thursday after nearly a week of delays, the two sides said. The talks aim to reshape the country's political system and lay the groundwork for eventual elections after years of political turmoil.

The closure of two ministries in Bolivia, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Ministry of Planning and Environment, sparked a series of criticisms among academics, analysts, and organizations linked to those sectors. President Rodrigo Paz announced on Monday the closure of both departments as a way to promote a more "efficient" state and eliminate "bureaucracy." The leader explained that a state agency will be created to develop the projects that the Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Culture, Folklore, and Gastronomy had and to "give agility" to alliances between "public and private" sectors with the aim of generating an impact on the economy from those sectors. Meanwhile, he indicated that the Ministry of Development Planning and Environment will be eliminated and that some of its responsibilities, "the necessary ones," will be transferred to another agency. In this new structure, the tourism agency will depend on the Ministry of the Presidency, and the Ministry of Planning and Environment will depend on the Ministry of Economy. Criticisms have centered around the political weight that the issues managed by the two closed departments will have. Tourism operators questioned the closure of the ministry after nearly 50 days of road blockades that paralyzed tourism in the country, causing millions in losses for a sector that, at least in discourse, is considered strategic. "This decision was made just when the sector needs support the most..."

Among other priorities, the leader proposed a new state of emergency and more police powers. From the Chilean Police School, the President elaborated on the announcement he made yesterday in a national broadcast.

The National Mining Company (Enami) selected Rio Tinto to carry out the lithium project, Altoandino Salars, last May, formalizing the agreement in July. The alliance is awaiting the free competition certificate from China, which they expected to have between July and August. However, the approval from the Asian power could be delayed by a few more months. "We are on a fixed schedule of activities; the last thing we are waiting for is the free competition certificate from China, which has just been delayed. It should have been delivered now in July or August, and they will delay it a few more months," anticipated Enami's executive vice president, Juan Carlos Sáez, in the Chamber of Deputies. The executive said, "When that happens, we will immediately enter into another line of business with Rio Tinto and the partnership will be declared. From that moment, Enami will hold 40% and Rio Tinto 60%, the investments we have made so far will be returned, and the business will start to flow. That is what needs to happen; we are open to all alternatives, and what we see is that a well-executed job has been done and that we have a very good disposition to finish it and that it serves to leverage the development plans that the company has." The agreement has already overcome other antitrust hurdles. The alliance process was favorably approved by Chile in mid-July 2026, particularly by the National Prosecutor's Office...

Morocco said that this number may increase and recommended that families who cannot contact or find their loved ones "not rely solely on social media in their search"

This Thursday, the death of José Ricardo Breijo, a 71-year-old Uruguayan-Venezuelan citizen, who had been under house arrest since last May, was announced. He had been detained for more than two years in Tocuyito prison, in Carabobo state, accused of terrorism. The news was announced by journalist and activist Carlos Julio Rojas through his social media. Rojas, who closely followed the case, described him as a "brother for life" and held the authorities responsible for the deterioration of his health and for denying him full freedom "until his last breath." He attributed the death to respiratory complications resulting from the conditions of confinement. Breijo was detained at the end of 2023 after photographing a flag with inscriptions in Arabic at a commercial premises in Caracas, in the context of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. According to his testimony and that of human rights organizations, he was trying to sell the image to afford medical treatment. With great sadness, I must announce the death of my brother for life, the Uruguayan-Venezuelan political prisoner José Breijo (71 years old), who was under house arrest after being unjustly accused of terrorism and held more than two years in Tocuyito... — Carlos Julio Rojas (@CarlosJRojas13) August 6, 2026 He was accused of terrorism, an accusation that defenders described as arbitrary. He remained r…

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) ordered the dismissal of the case against four former officials of the Apure Governor's Office, who were being prosecuted for alleged acts of corruption that occurred during 2022. The decision was recorded in sentence No. 779 and benefits former administrator Laura Rodríguez Sterling, former treasurer Jorge Luis Salazar Rangel, former Head of Billing and Payment Arnoldo Javier Santana Lovera, and former comptroller Jhonnys Alberto García Romero. The four officials were detained between August and October 2022, after then-Governor Eduardo Piñate reported a presumed case of corruption. According to the investigation conducted by the Public Ministry, the accused would have demanded commissions of up to 30% from suppliers in exchange for expediting the payment of invoices. They arrest the administrator and treasurer of the Apure governor's office for presumed corruption. At the time, the accused faced charges for crimes contemplated in the Anti-Corruption Law, as well as for the crime of conspiracy. However, the Constitutional Chamber decided to end the process through the dismissal. The case had been open since 2022, and the oral trial had begun in June 2023.

The European Commission is discussing with Spanish officials fresh financial support to potentially bolster border force and humanitarian assistance as the city of Ceuta grapples with the aftermath of an unprecedented surge of migrant arrivals.

Plus, airlines are pushing back against ICE enforcement at airports, and a former politician shares what prison taught him about phone addiction.

After fleeing France’s worst wildfire in decades, residents of Le Porge, a village west of Bordeaux, returned home 13 days later. They found a town in ruins.

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Working at the European Commission is one of the most coveted civil service jobs in Brussels. Yet, officials employed there describe high pressure, bureaucracy and burnout. Our colleague Seb Starcevic has interviewed dozen officials from different commissioners’ cabinets and directorates-general, varying in age, nationality and seniority. On the podcast, Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton parse through what these insiders had to say about their working conditions. Next, last week’s Ceuta crisis — when a surge of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave — has revived a basic question: Why does Spain still hold territory in North Africa? With Madrid increasingly isolated from both U. S. and European allies, doubts are also growing over who would support Spain if Morocco moved against Ceuta or its other North African city, Melilla. Plus: Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharma company of Ozempic fame, is launching a pill version of its weight-loss drug Wegovy in Europe … and transatlantic tensions are already brewing. Questions? Comments? Get in touch! You can message us or send a voice message to our WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

The USCIS announces a policy shift enabling immediate denials of incomplete immigration applications.

The Ministry of Health of Nicaragua (Minsa) acknowledged 49 new Covid-19 infections between July 28 and August 4, evidencing the resurgence of the virus in the country and contradicting the regime's narrative that maintained a controlled situation. According to information retrieved by Nicaragua Investiga, until April 7, the Minsa stated that Nicaragua was not reporting cases of the disease and that only two people remained under surveillance. At that time, the total number of people attended to was 16,827 since March 2020. The current report updates the figure to 16,956 people attended, of whom the dictatorship recognizes the recovery of 16,662 patients. The acknowledgment of the resurgence occurs in a context of widespread epidemiological deterioration. According to the cited media, the Minsa also reported a significant increase in respiratory and tropical diseases. During the last week of July, 1,537 cases of pneumonia were recorded, an increase of 79 compared to the previous report. This situation raises concerns among the medical sector and independent organizations, as in the past the regime has been accused of covering up Covid-19 diagnoses under the term "pneumonias." Increases in chikungunya and dengue cases The upward trend is not limited to respiratory illnesses. The same official report revealed 402 new cases of chikungunya, a figure that doubles the record from the previous week, and 122 confirmed dengue infections.

MR. DIRECTOR: On July 18, we commemorate Reintegration Day, a date that invites us to face an uncomfortable figure: less than 40% of those serving a sentence manage to find employment upon leaving prison. It is not just a statistic: it is recidivism and insecurity for everyone. Reintegration is not a gesture of goodwill, but a public safety policy. When an employer gives a job to a person deprived of liberty, and they can maintain that employment for more than two months, the probability of reoffending drops by 68.5%. Still, there is much ignorance about how to support, and the number of people working inside prisons remains very low. The challenge is to multiply that capacity, with support from the private sector within penitentiary facilities and by hiring those who are released. Many learn trades in prison, but they lack training in what society needs. Prejudices are overcome by knowing their stories: those who committed crimes must be held accountable, but they need society to rehabilitate them, teach them a trade, and give them a second chance. We are a society frightened by crime, and giving an opportunity to those deprived of liberty is an effective way to reduce it. The State, Gendarmerie, and Ministry of Justice cannot do it alone. As the private sector, we have much to contribute. From now until 2030, more than 30,000 people will leave prisons and will need a…

Burmese pythons are an invasive species in the Everglades, and the challenge is part of an initiative to remove them The winner of this year’s annual Florida Python Challenge hunted down and eliminated 96 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades national park, as part of an initiative to remove hundreds of the snakes from the area every year. The challenge invites hunters to participate in 10 days of capturing and humanely euthanizing as many of the invasive snakes as possible across eight designated hunting locations, with the winner taking home a cash prize of $10,000. The event is hosted by Florida fish, wildlife and conservation (FWC), the south Florida water management district, the National Park Service and others. Continue reading...

The Minister of Health, May Chomali, along with the Undersecretaries of Public Health, Alejandra Pizarro, and of Care Networks, Julio Montt, led this day the seminar "Tobacco Use in Youth: New Forms of Consumption," an activity where they presented the results of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The study, which for the first time also measured the prevalence of electronic cigarette (vaper) use, included fieldwork in schools and high schools across 16 regions of the country, covering a sample of 7,204 students who, at the time of the questionnaire application – second semester of 2024 – were between 13 and 15 years old. Regarding the results, the survey revealed that one in three Chilean adolescents between 13 and 15 years old has used an electronic cigarette at least once in their life, while 14.8% acknowledge being vaper users with nicotine in the last month. In the case of cigarettes, 23.3% of adolescents from seventh grade to second year of high school reported having ever consumed tobacco, with a slightly higher prevalence observed in females (26%) compared to males (20.2%). Meanwhile, 9.3% acknowledged being current smokers, with no significant differences between genders. Comparing these figures with previous studies, experts indicated that traditional cigarette consumption remains…

Reference image Most of the members of the Delegated Commission of the National Assembly elected in 2015, headed by its president, Dinorah Figuera, are already in Venezuelan territory. The return aims to finalize logistical and political details before the first face-to-face meeting with the government representatives, led by the President of Parliament in 2020, Jorge Rodríguez. Unofficial sources confirmed that Figuera, along with Marco Aurelio Quiñones, Juan Miguel Matheus, Ramón López, and Jorge Millán, arrived at José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport in Barcelona, coming from Spain. The rest of the opposition delegation is expected to arrive in the country in the coming hours. The return of the opposition delegation occurs amid a climate of marked internal divisions within the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), which threaten to weaken the position of the democratic alternative against the government. PUD maintains support for Machado despite differences over negotiations Between negotiation and internal fracture The travel commission was mainly composed of leaders from Primero Justicia (PJ) and Voluntad Popular (VP), who have led efforts to maintain a direct communication channel to unblock the political and institutional agenda. Despite efforts to present a unified front, key parties in the opposition ecosystem such as Acción Democrática…

This August 5 marks eight years since the arbitrary detention of Emirlendris Benítez, a Venezuelan merchant and victim of one of the most serious violations of human rights and physical integrity recorded in the country, according to the NGO Mundo sin Mordaza, which emphasizes that it has been "eight years of administrative silence, deserted judicial corridors, and a sentence that today is measured in irreversible consequences." In August 2018, this merchant's life took a definitive turn. Detained on false charges of being linked to the alleged attack against Nicolás Maduro (the drone incident on Bolívar Avenue), Benítez entered detention pregnant. What followed in custody left marks that nearly a decade has not been able to erase. A calvary of irreversible consequences While pregnant at the time of her arrest, Benítez was systematically subjected to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment by security forces. "These tortures caused her to lose her baby — a spontaneous abortion caused by the violence exercised against her — and permanent physical sequelae that today seriously compromise her health and her reduced mobility," highlights the NGO. "The regime is directly responsible for the irreparable damages inflicted on her life, her integrity, and her health behind bars," say spokespeople from Un Mundo Sin Mordaza, a platform that keeps the issue alive...

The Citizen Revolution cleared up one of the main uncertainties in the Ecuadorian political scene by confirming that it will participate in the upcoming local elections on November 29, although not under its own name. The organization announced an alliance with the Ecuadorian Socialist Party (PSE) and Popular Unity (UP), which will allow candidates associated with correísmo to register in different constituencies across the country, despite the suspension that prevents it from presenting its own lists. The decision represents the mechanism through which the movement founded by former President Rafael Correa seeks to maintain its presence in the race for prefectures, mayorships, councilor positions, and parish councils, after electoral resolutions left Citizen Revolution without the possibility of competing as a political organization. Gabriela Rivadeneira, the president of Citizen Revolution, explained that the agreement will not consist of a single candidacy nationwide, but rather a flexible structure that will vary according to the political conditions of each province and canton. In some territories, candidates will be registered under the Socialist Party box; in others, through Popular Unity or via alliances with local movements that join the strategy. With this scheme, correísmo aims to maintain representation in most of the country without the need for its own electoral registration.

PUD parties have taken separate positions After some political analysts described it as a "prudent silence," opposition leader María Corina Machado and former diplomat Edmundo González spoke out about the start of negotiations between the Parliaments of 2025 and 2015. In a statement (July 27), they made it clear that they will not be an obstacle to the table, but will remain vigilant to demand concrete results in favor of the return of democracy. The Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), formed by the leadership of eight parties (Democratic Action (AD), Popular Will (VP), First Justice (PJ), Copei, Convergence, Cause R, Citizen Encounter, and Venezuela Project) that support the leadership of Machado and González Urrutia, has not taken a position on this as a coalition. Only some political organizations or leaders, separately, have expressed themselves. Some in favor of the dialogue mechanism that began on August 1 and others with criticisms. National leaders of AD and Cause R, Williams Dávila and Alfredo Ramos, respectively, consulted by Efecto Cocuyo, admitted that differences persist within the PUD regarding the new round of negotiations, starting with the fact that only two parties of the Platform, PJ and VP, are part of the opposition delegation that will negotiate with the Chavismo, led by the president of the Delegated Commission, Dinorah Figuera of PJ. Without emba…

Rodríguez tried to make it business-friendly, but the 2026 law preserves broad government discretion and leaves PDVSA unreformed

The Spanish Civil Guard continues to monitor the area by sea and land

Europe witnessed one of the most extraordinary images in its recent migration history 35 years ago. On 8 August 1991, the Vlora, an ageing Albanian cargo ship, entered the Italian port of Bari with thousands of people crammed onto virtually every available surface. They had crossed the Adriatic from a country emerging from almost half a century of one of Europe’s most isolated communist dictatorships. For many Albanians, Italy — visible through television screens long before it became physically reachable — represented freedom, prosperity and, above all, possibility. Italy was unprepared for an arrival of such magnitude. Europe had no Frontex, no Migration Pact and nothing resembling today’s common asylum architecture. Yet amid the chaos, Bari’s Christian democratic mayor, Enrico Dalfino, reportedly uttered words that would survive the emergency itself: “They are people, desperate people. They cannot be sent back; we are their only hope.” Thirty-five years later, those words sound almost foreign to Europe’s migration debate. Not necessarily because Europe has become less humane. Nor because the EU should abandon the control of its external borders. A political community unable to decide who can enter its territory will eventually lose both public confidence and the capacity to offer meaningful protection to those who genuinely need it. Something else, however, has changed. Read more The EU’s asylum pact is live – but its workings remain in the dark Europe …

Rate of UK chemical company closures doubled between 2020 and 2025, study finds

The Cabinet Council approved an extraordinary allocation of funds for the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA), amounting to $22.1 million. According to the government, the goal is to strengthen social programs aimed at ensuring vulnerable families' access to essential foods through the purchase of 550,000 quintals of rice and other basic basket products. The resources will be incorporated into the state's investment budget and will be used to acquire oil, sugar, pasta, spaghetti, coffee, salt, tuna, pigeon peas, beans, and sardines, among other items. This purchase will enable the supply of fairs, stores, and agro-distributors nationwide, according to the official resolution. The request for additional credit has the support of the National Economic Council (CENA) and the Comptroller General of the Republic, which have issued favorable reports on the financial viability and appropriateness of the measure. The Ministry of Economy and Finance was authorized to submit the resolution to the Budget Committee of the National Assembly, a necessary step for its implementation. Specifically, the operation involves the IMA being able to acquire a significant quantity of basic food products, with the purpose of supporting social programs aimed at reducing food insecurity in vulnerable communities. The measure is justified by the need to ensure the availability of…

The surge of migrants into the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla last week has thrown Madrid onto the defensive over the status of its two autonomous cities in northern Africa — and Morocco’s long-standing claim to them. The ease with which tens of thousands of migrants penetrated the border has ramped up a sense of vulnerability to hybrid attack. And that alarm has only been amplified by a fear that traditional NATO allies in the U. S. and the EU are no longer fully dependable because of their political feuds with Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Buoyed by an increasingly warm relationship with U. S. President Donald Trump, Rabat is seizing the moment and doubling down on its claims to Ceuta and Melilla, which it sees as occupied territory, in Morocco’s state-aligned press. But, more alarmingly for Madrid, that argument is no longer coming exclusively from Rabat. Questions over Spain’s centuries-old control of the fortress cities have also been raised in a U. S. Congress report, and by Israel’s ambassador to the U. N. It is a sign of the level of concern in Madrid that the government is now having to make public declarations on a point of international law that — only a week ago — it would have thought was self evident. “Ceuta and Melilla are not to be touched,” Defense Minister Margarita Robles said during a press conference on Monday. “Everyone must be very clear that Spanish territorial integrity and sovereignty are not up for debate.” The government’s rejection of Morocco’s claims has done little to reduce concerns in Spain over what would happen if Rabat dials up the pressure. This week, national newspapers have been filled with columns expressing fears of a “Green March 2.0” — pointing out the parallels with Morocco use of a mass popular mobilization to take over the province of Spanish Sahara in 1975. José Manuel García-Margallo, who served as Spain’s foreign minister between 2011 and 2014 and is a member of the center-right People’s Party, said it was vital for Spain to show its control over the cities is not negotiable. “Do you think the British would have allowed 60,000 Spaniards to enter Gibraltar?” he asked. “I’d encourage this government to be a little bit more British.” “We should aim to be friends with Morocco,” he added. “But it’s important to ensure that even your friends understand that there are red lines that simply cannot be crossed.” Imperial legacies Ceuta and Melilla are among the few remaining vestiges of the vast Spanish Empire. They have been under Madrid’s rule since 1668 and 1497, respectively, and are fully-integrated parts of Spain — and the European Union. But since gaining independence from France in 1956, Morocco has consistently claimed sovereignty over both settlements, which it characterizes as “colonies” that are “occupied” by Spain. And those territorial aspirations have been underscored in the country’s largely state-aligned press following last week’s events. Migrants receive water on the beach next to the CETI (Centros de Estancia Temporal de Inmigrantes) in Ceuta on Aug. 2, 2026. | Adri Salido/Getty Images “The central question is no longer whether these cities will be reintegrated into their natural environment, Morocco, but how long it will take and how many human tragedies will have to be endured in the meantime,” wrote Le360, a publication considered close to the Moroccan royal household. Morocco’s claims on Ceuta and Melilla have lately been boosted by Rabat’s international allies — among them, a prominent Republican politician in the U. S. In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Español in April, U. S. Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, who serves on the powerful Committee on Appropriations, stated “Ceuta and Melilla are in Moroccan territory” and questioned whether the autonomous cities “are part of Spain or should be part of Morocco.” He also noted that while Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez was “jeopardizing” the alliance between the U. S. and Spain by opposing the war in Iran, Rabat had been Washington’s steadfast ally. Weeks later, as U. S. lawmakers prepared an appropriations bill that included a proposal to allocate $40 million to Morocco for defense and security expenditures, Díaz-Balart submitted a congressional report noting “the Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla are located in Moroccan territory and remain the subject of Morocco’s longstanding claim.” The document additionally expressed support for “diplomatic engagement” on “the future status” of the autonomous cities. Speaking to POLITICO, Díaz-Balart denied the congressional report had been intended to signal a major shift on Ceuta and Melilla. “It’s been an issue of dispute for some time. Morocco has been a strong ally of the United States — it was the first country to recognize the United States. And we’ve had good ties with Spain over the years. All we were asking is for Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio to keep an eye on this and be sure that both sides are talking about this issue,” he said. But the congressman’s willingness to give a platform to Rabat’s claims on Ceuta and Melilla reflects how close Morocco and the United States have become since 2020. That year, Trump took the landmark step of recognizing Rabat’s claim to the disputed territory of Western Sahara in exchange for the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. Last week, Trump reaffirmed that recognition in a statement issued by the U. S. Embassy in Rabat at the same moment as the migrants surged into Ceuta. Rabat showed its pleasure with this decision by announcing that it had renamed a major highway after the president. Adding to Spain’s concerns about its territories in North Africa, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon reacted to the images of last week’s migrant influx by hitting back against Madrid’s criticism of the war in Gaza and challenging Spain’s presence in Ceuta and Melilla. A February 2024 image showing the fences and wall marking the border between Morocco and Spain’s North African Melilla exclave. | Oscar Del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images “Maybe before it continues lecturing us, it’s time it explained to the world why it still maintains colonial enclaves in Africa,” he wrote on X. Israel’s head of mission in Madrid, Dana Erlich, later clarified that Danon’s comments did not represent an official position. García-Margallo said the problems with Díaz-Balart and Danon were a consequence of Sánchez’s foreign policy. “I’m also not surprised that those claims are being amplified in other parts of the globe … The current government’s relations with the Trump administration and with the government of Israel have deteriorated tremendously in recent times,” he said. “When you make a point of showing you’re against specific countries, consequences are to be expected.” The specter of the ‘Green March’ For Spaniards, the idea that Morocco could engineer a situation to annex territory is far from theoretical speculation. Many still remember Morocco’s 1975 “Green March,” an operation that forced the handover of Spanish Sahara. “Rabat deployed tens of thousands of civilians to overwhelm border posts in Spanish Sahara in 1975 as dictator Francisco Franco lay dying,” said José Luis Rodríguez Jiménez, history professor at Madrid’s Rey Juan Carlos University and author of a book on the fall of Spanish Sahara. “At the time, it wasn’t clear who was running — or would run — Spain, and Morocco took advantage of the weakness of the Spanish state to take over the province,” he said. Half a century later, he said, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI had detected similar weakness in Sánchez, whose minority government is unable to pass major legislation and whose inner circle is caught in web of embarrassing corruption scandals. As former Foreign Minister García-Margallo put it: “I don’t have the slightest doubt that the current government’s weakness has contributed to this crisis.” Historian Rodríguez Jiménez said Rabat had sporadically tested Madrid’s willingness to defend its territories in northern Africa. In 2002, a squad of Moroccan marines launched an “invasion” of Perejil Island, an uninhabited Spanish islet off the coast of Ceuta, sparking a week-long crisis that only concluded when Spanish special forces were deployed to evict them. And in a strikingly similar incident to last week’s massive influx of migrants into Ceuta, in 2021 some 8,000 people surged into the autonomous city after Morocco abruptly withdrew its gendarmes from the border. Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska at a press conference called in response to the recent influx of migrants into Ceuta on Aug. 1, 2026. | Adri Salido/Getty Images Rodríguez Jiménez argued Sánchez had blundered by responding to that incident by reversing Spain’s historic support of Western Sahara’s self-determination and accepting Morocco’s bid to control the disputed territory. “The government opted to placate Rabat, failing to understand that this was seen as a sign of weakness in Morocco, a country which is not our friend, and which has every interest in exploiting our vulnerabilities,” he said. “What happened last week was a dress rehearsal for an eventual invasion,” he added. “And Rabat has noted Madrid’s complete inability to repulse that attack.” Spanishness ‘beyond all doubt’ Spanish officials reject the accusation that the Ceuta crisis has made Madrid look weak, with Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska on Tuesday insisting the crisis showed the country to be a “strong” and respected regional player. That ability to project strength to Rabat is increasingly important as NATO’s commitment to defending Ceuta and Melilla appears less certain than it once did. Back in 2022, then-Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg specifically listed the North African cities as falling under the alliance’s aegis. But things have changed since then. Trump has cast doubt on NATO’s commitment to common defense and his relationship with Spain, which he has repeatedly lambasted for its lackluster defense spending and failure to support the Iran war, is particularly rocky. When asked about NATO’s position now, an official said: “We don’t speculate on hypothetical scenarios,” while adding the alliance was “ready and well-postured to protect and defend all allies.” García-Margallo said that NATO’s common defense commitment is only as strong as “our allies’ willingness to support us … the interpretation of the terms of any treaty is ultimately a political decision.” POLITICO asked the Spanish foreign ministry what measures the government had taken to address concerns about the international conversation over Ceuta and Melilla, especially in relation to Díaz-Balart’s congressional report. The ministry did not answer the questions directly, but hit back at any assertion that the cities’ sovereignty could be negotiable. “The Spanishness of Ceuta and Melilla is beyond all doubt and is recognized as such by international law and the entire world,” a spokesperson said. Eric Bazail-Eimil contributed reporting from Washington. Victor Jack contributed reporting from Brussels.

The two Spanish enclaves in North Africa remain at the centre of a diplomatic standoff between Spain and Morocco.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced a resolution in the Senate on Tuesday, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Venezuela and the holding of free, fair, and transparent elections. The initiative was presented by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), along with Rick Scott (R-Florida), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Adam Schiff (D-California), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada). According to the text and statements released, the resolution considers that "Delcy Rodríguez has no electoral mandate... and is considered incapable of winning a free and fair election" and reaffirms the United States' policy of supporting a peaceful democratic transition in the country. The document establishes as fundamental conditions the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, as well as guarantees for all political leaders, including María Corina Machado, to return to the country safely and participate freely in political activity. They also warn that any serious harm against Machado or another candidate for public office would delegitimize the electoral process. Senator Cruz stated that holding elections quickly is vital for the national security interests of the United States and that a legitimately elected government would allow for the building of a long-term strategic relationship between...

The Association for Memory and Justice for Nicaragua (AMJ) denounced this Tuesday in Costa Rica that at least 58 opponents and critics of the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo remain imprisoned in Nicaragua. Of these, 22 are in forced disappearance, according to a list prepared with the authorization of their families. The socio-political crisis that the country has been experiencing since April 2018 has resulted in 1,491 arrests for political reasons in the last eight years, according to data collected by AMJ and the organizations it comprises, including the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners, the Blue and White Monitoring, and the Legal Defense Unit. The figures are endorsed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), confirmed EFE. The latest report from these groups reported the release of former Miskito indigenous deputy Brooklyn Rivera Brayan, 73 years old, who died in state custody on May 30, and re-included the historic Sandinista commander Bayardo Arce, 77 years old, on the list of political prisoners. Political persecution in Nicaragua runs parallel to an escalation of religious repression. A recent report, titled Faces of the Persecuted and published by the international organization International Christian Concern (ICC), places Daniel Ortega on a list of four global politicians whose policies have intensified the persecution against co…

With more than three decades of experience, La Oreja de Van Gogh is one of the most important and recognized bands in Spanish pop. Since its beginnings, the group has built a career marked by songs that have become part of the essential repertoire of several generations, establishing a permanent connection with audiences in Spain and Latin America. This new visit to Chile also takes on a special meaning with the return of Amaia Montero, who reunites with the band after 18 years. The reunion takes place within the framework of the Tantas Cosas que Contar Tour, La Oreja de Van Gogh's eleventh tour, which began last May 9 in Bilbao and is currently touring Spain. Montero's return to the original lineup has generated great anticipation among her followers and has made this tour one of the most awaited events for fans of Spanish pop. In Chile, this expectation quickly translated into the total sell-out of tickets for the first show, confirming the band's strong connection with the national audience. Thus, the Spaniards sold out all tickets for their first concert, scheduled for Friday, March 26, at the Movistar Arena, and due to high demand, they announced a second date for Saturday, March 27, 2027, at the same venue. The exclusive pre-sale with a 20% discount when paying with debit cards or CMR Mastercard from Banco Falabella, until…

Just hours before the key vote in the Senate on municipal compensation, the opposition hardened its tone against the government and reinforced the idea that it is a formula that only benefits the wealthiest municipalities in the country. The opposition parties still resent the rejection they received from the government during the meeting this Monday at La Moneda with the biminister of the Interior and Segegob, Claudio Alvarado, and the Minister Secretary General of the Presidency, José García Ruminot. Representatives of the progressive forces arrived at the meeting with the proposal from the sector's mayors, which not only aimed to establish compensation for the exemption from paying contributions approved in the mega-project but also focused on the distribution of the funds, which was not accepted by the Executive. The situation was analyzed today in a new meeting of the secretaries general of the opposition parties, which included Arturo Barrios (PS), Bárbara Figueroa (PC), and Andrés Coublé (FA). After the meeting, Figueroa warned that "beyond the fact that today the government has the circumstantial majorities in Congress, that does not mean that we are facing proposals that will benefit the vast majority of the population." "We are very clear that the effect of the cuts that have been made, across all ministries, the impact that the measures of the mega..."

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released Venezuelan footballer Claudia Carolina Rodríguez Caglianone on bail after more than two weeks of detention in Florida, despite having an asylum request, following the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The 28-year-old, arrested at Fort Lauderdale airport while about to take a domestic flight, reported this Tuesday that she “felt like an animal in a zoo” in the ICE detention centers in Florida where she was held because they slept on the floor and ate expired food. “It’s unfair because there are people who are going through worse there. And, as I say, I am very grateful, I have lived in this country for 11 years and this is my country, I love it as my country,” Rodríguez Caglianone declared at a press conference with Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is following her case. ICE detains Venezuelan footballer at airport after TPS ends Rodríguez Caglianone, who was captain of the St. Thomas University soccer team in Miami, was released on bail this Monday by order of an immigration judge from the ICE detention center in Pompano Beach, where she was transferred after her initial arrest in Miramar, in southern Florida. The athlete, who arrived legally from Venezuela in 2017 with a tourist visa, later applied for asylum and received TPS in 2023. She will now fight to be “the voice” of women…

Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta several days ago. DW interviewed two experts to understand what may have caused the incident.

In the Senate Finance Committee, the discussion began on the bill that equalizes the right to parental leave for workers, employees, and freelancers, and creates a solidarity parental leave fund, where the Executive outlined which articles they seek to reintegrate into the draft. The session started with a presentation from the government on the initiative, where it was indicated as a tool to increase female labor participation and reduce gender gaps. Led by the Minister of Labor, Tomás Rau, the presentation began by explaining the origin of the current parental leave regulation. Within this, he presented the bill itself, the problems it aims to address, the financing method, and even mentioned the two articles that the Executive seeks to reincorporate into the initiative because they were rejected in the Education Committee. The first is Article 3, related to the amount of the parental leave contribution, which can be determined regionally and adjusted according to the variation of the UTM. It also establishes that if there is a difference between the fund's contribution and the cost of the parental leave, this may be borne by the worker, unless there is an agreement with the employer. Additionally, the article states that the fund can only finance establishments that have operational authorization or official recognition from the State. The second is the sixth transitional article, which contemplates compensations to the Fund Administrator...

Paraguay's inflation in July reached -0.1%, higher than -0.3% in June, driven by declines in food prices, imported goods, and fuels, according to the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP). According to the report, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July was below 0.4% recorded in the same month of 2025. Between January and July, the accumulated inflation reached 1.8% and the year-on-year inflation was 1.6%. Within the food group, the largest decreases were observed in eggs (-3.6%), cereals (-2.9%), vegetables and tubers (-2%), pasta and rice (-1.4%), coffee (-1.4%), pork meat (-1.3%), flours (-1.3%), and beef (-0.9%). Fuels became cheaper by up to -2.5%, a phenomenon attributed to lower oil prices since the second half of June and the first half of July. The BCP warned that volatility persists in international oil prices due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Additionally, decreases were detected in imported goods such as vehicles and appliances, an effect of the appreciation of the guarani against the US dollar. In contrast, in July, service prices increased (0.4%), including dining and drinks outside the home, domestic service, hairdressing, and national and international tour packages. On July 15, the BCP lowered its inflation projection for this year from 3.5% to 3.3%. In 2025, the cost of …

One of the main figures of Latin American pop, Alex Anwandter, will arrive at the Teatro del Lago in Frutillar, one of the country's most important cultural venues. The concert will take place on October 10, during which the artist will perform with his band in an eagerly awaited reunion with the southern Chilean audience. Composer, musician, singer, and producer, as well as a Grammy Latin winner and nominee, he will perform a set of songs that includes some of the most prominent moments of his career. The show will feature songs from albums such as Rebeldes, Amiga, Latinoamericana, El Diablo en el Cuerpo, and Dime Precioso, works that have been widely praised by both national and international critics. With a proposal that combines pop, electronic music, and danceable tunes with socially and emotionally charged lyrics, Alex Anwandter has become a reference in contemporary Latin American music. This performance in Frutillar will mark a new milestone in his career, bringing his show to the stage of Teatro del Lago for the first time, in a night that will explore different stages of his career and include both his classics and some of his most recent compositions. Tickets are already available through Ticketplus.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) this week directed state authorities to block data centers from hooking up to the grid if they do not provide the state with adequate information.  Abbott told the state’s public utility commission (PUC) and its grid operator, which is known as ERCOT, to audit all data centers’ electricity and water use before…

About 70,000 of the 72,000 people who came to Ceuta illegally last week have been returned to Morocco, Spain says.

The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, surprised on Tuesday morning by publicly thanking Lionel Messi for a donation of 80,000 euros made by the Argentine footballer to help with the reconstruction after the severe fires that affected certain areas of Spain. "Leo Messi donated €80,000 for the reconstruction of the Sierra Oeste of Madrid. I want to thank him and tell him that the people of Madrid look forward to welcoming him soon to give him the applause he deserves," the official wrote on her X account. In Spain, the area burned by the fire approached the highest levels of the last two decades. In just two weeks, the shocking flames destroyed a record area between Spain and France, forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, and pushed emergency teams to their limits, facing hotspots that the authorities themselves described as "beyond extinguishing capacity." The fires led to mass evacuations and threatened areas near major cities like Madrid and Valencia. One of the main hotspots was in the province of Ávila, where the largest fire recorded in the country's recent history occurred. There, the flames consumed around 50,000 hectares and destroyed homes, campgrounds, recreational facilities, and extensive forested areas. The fire then moved towards Toledo, while another front of consid…

After tens of thousands rushed on the Spanish border at Ceuta, authorities say that 70,000 have since returned to Morocco. According to Spain, 75 bodies of migrants who tried to swim across to Spain have also been found. As people are returning to Morocco, it's also hope and anxiety for Moroccan families who are desperately looking for their loved ones.

RABAT.– A senior Moroccan official told the press on Monday night in Rabat that Morocco had warned Spain, before the Ceuta crisis, about the migration risks posed by a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that prevented the immediate repatriation of those arriving by sea to the Spanish enclave in North Africa. “We explained to them that this ruling would create a problem for us,” said the official, who specified that conversations with the Spanish side began around the 22nd and 23rd of July, when news of the decision spread on social media. The verdict, he noted, “sent a clear message to migrants: ‘Come. If you arrive, you will be protected.’ That outcome should have been anticipated by the authorities of Ceuta.” The source reiterated that there was no negligence on the part of Moroccan security forces. “It is simplistic to say that Morocco should have simply resorted to force to stop them. This demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of this phenomenon,” he stated, arguing that law enforcement could not handle such a large number of people. “Managing this phenomenon is not solely Morocco’s responsibility,” he insisted, noting that the cost of migration management for the kingdom amounts to approximately 500 million euros annually. Nevertheless, the Moroccan official emphasized that Rabat and Madrid have acted as reliable partners and continues…

“Vamos a Spania” (Let’s go to Spain) became a viral slogan on social media last week. There were 1.3 million views of a video explaining in darija —Moroccan Arabic dialect— the recent Spanish Supreme Court decision limiting the government’s ability to push migrants back at the border. Messaging groups circulated the following statement: “Anyone who wants to migrate to Ceuta, send a direct message.” Seguir leyendo

According to the statement, large majority of people who have crossed illegally have been returned

Spain earlier estimated the number of illegal migrants at 50,000

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz reshuffled his cabinet this Monday with the departure of two ministers and a reduction in the number of State portfolios, a decision that the leader presented as part of a plan to reduce public spending and make his government administration more efficient. With these changes, the number of ministerial replacements reaches seven, and the State portfolios are reduced to 12: the Ministries of Tourism and Planning were eliminated; the former will become a state agency and the functions of the latter will be absorbed by other entities. Meanwhile, the Minister of the Presidency, José Luis Lupo, will assume functions as ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) and will be replaced in the position by Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo, whose position will be occupied by Héctor Huanca. Lupo's departure from the cabinet did not catch anyone by surprise: although it is one of the most significant adjustments since the start of the administration, his resignation had been considered imminent for weeks in political circles. A long-standing economist in international organizations and with ministerial experience in previous governments, Lupo was a vice-presidential candidate alongside Samuel Doria Medina in the 2025 elections. The political agreement sealed between Doria Medina and Paz for the second electoral round led him to hold one of the most influential positions in the Executive. He took office on November 9 and at the beginning of the administration…

The National Electric Power System (SEN) of Cuba experienced a new blackout nationwide this Monday, the second in less than 24 hours and the seventh affecting the island so far in 2026, just as the recovery process had begun. The Electric Union (UNE), a state company, announced on social media that the new incident occurred during the restoration process due to "weather events" that caused damage to the electrical network and directly affected "generating units that were online," which went out of operation. In its message, the company, which depends on the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem), assured: "We are working intensively to reverse this situation and achieve the system's restoration as soon as possible." The previous night, at 10:43 p.m. local time on Sunday (2:43 a.m. GMT on Monday), there was a total disconnection of the SEN, according to UNE itself, which indicated that recovery efforts had already begun. At noon, UNE reported that electricity had been restored in 29 distribution circuits in Havana, benefiting 87,480 customers, equivalent to 14.27% of the city, as well as 19 hospitals and other essential services such as water supply. Félix Estrada, director of the national load dispatch of UNE, explained on state television that, at the time of the last outage, vari…

The Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC) documented 1,415 protests, complaints, and critical expressions in July, the highest figure since the organization began recording. The confluence of extreme heat, three total power outages, blackouts of up to 80 hours, and an unprecedented multisystem crisis turned the seventh month of the year into the most tumultuous in the recent history of the island. The streets of Cuba once again became a scene of direct confrontation with the regime. The OCC recorded 72 in-person protests — 64 in Havana and 8 in other provinces — a figure that represents six times the previous monthly average recorded by the organization, set at up to 12 street demonstrations per month. Although below the 107 protests in June, the 72 in July took place with pot banging, shouts of “liberty” and “down with the dictatorship,” choruses of the National Anthem, trash burning, and street blockades. These demonstrations were part of the 520 challenges to the police state during the period, a category that the Cuban Conflict Observatory groups under the label of acts of dissent against the regime’s legal framework, which penalizes practically any form of dissent. Along with this number, hundreds of comments on social networks were signed with names and surnames, as well as a growing number of women opting for live video broadcasts to express their rejection of the government. Public services…