International
‘No to animal abuse’, the clamor of a march of dogs and humans in Bolivia
Hundreds of police and activists raised their voices against animal abuse in a march in the Bolivian city of La Paz in which they were accompanied by dogs of different breeds and sizes, including a troop of canine agents and newly recruited puppies.
The march called by animal organizations and by the Bolivian Police, through the unit of the Forest Police and Environmental Preservation (Pofoma), whose national director, Colonel Raúl Rodríguez, explained to EFE that the objective of the activity was to “eradicate violence, mistreatment, cruelty and biocide” against animals.
“With this march the Bolivian Police is giving this message to our population that not to violence, not to mistreatment, not to cruelty, nor to biocide against our domestic and wild animals because they are living beings and as such, they have rights, they are animals that have no voice, but they do have rights,” Rodríguez said.
The police chief emphasized that animals “are living beings” that only ask for and require “a lot of affection.”
He also reminded those who own wild animals as pets, that this is “completely prohibited” by current regulations.
“The Bolivian Police already has the legal instruments to be able to proceed to the arrest and referral to the hands of Justice so that they cannot traffic in these animals,” he said.
He also mentioned that the country has rules such as Law 700, ‘For the defense of animals against acts of cruelty and mistreatment’, in force since 2015. Which included the criminal figure of the biocide to punish the murder of an animal with penalties of two to five years in prison.
According to Rodríguez, in 2023 Pofoma treated about 1,400 cases of animal abuse and so far this year there are already 600.
The director specified that eleven people have been sentenced to between three and seven years in prison for these crimes. In turn, about 70 cases are under investigation.
The mobilization traveled through the main streets of the historic center of La Paz. It was led by a troop of canine agents, most of them anti-drugs, who were well uniformed with vests.
Some k-9 agents, such as Vito, a black Labrador, stopped to greet affectionately. Also to receive affection from the people who came to see the march.
Among the most applauded were the new recruits, puppies of German and Belgian shepherds who were in the arms of human agents.
Behind them were groups of ‘civilian’ humans and dogs, such as Oslo, a chow chow puppy that carried a red handkerchief around his neck, and Tony, a huge San Bernardo who caught the attention of the public.
The march was nourished by animal groups and dog clubs of the sausage, pequinese and cocker spaniel breeds, among others. In addition to several police units, such as firefighters, who carried “disguised” cars with snouts and ears.
There was no shortage of boots of ‘Paquito’, the dog that is the mascot of the Bolivian Police, and an enthusiastic group of uniformed policemen with caps that had dog ears and makeup of snouts and whiskers on their faces, who were dancing coordinated choreographies.
Central America
Bukele Tops Latin America’s Presidential Approval Ranking in June, Survey Finds
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, and President Laura Fernández of Costa Rica are the three highest-rated leaders in Latin America, according to the latest June 2026 presidential approval survey conducted by CB Global Data. The study places Peru’s interim president, José María Balcázar, at the bottom of the regional ranking.
Bukele leads the list with a 69.1% approval rating and a 27.6% disapproval rate, improving on the 67.5% positive image recorded in May. The Salvadoran president has maintained a state of emergency since March 2022 as the cornerstone of his anti-gang security strategy, a policy that continues to shape public perceptions of his administration.
Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, ranks second with a 65.5% approval rating and 31% disapproval. Although she remains among the region’s most popular leaders, her support declined from the 67.8% approval registered in May.
Completing the top three is Costa Rican President Laura Fernández, who recently assumed office and now records a 56.1% favorable rating against 37.1% negative opinion. Her approval has risen significantly from the 52.7% reported a month earlier.
At the opposite end of the ranking is Peru’s interim president, José María Balcázar, who received only 18.2% positive approval while 71.7% of respondents expressed a negative view of his administration. Despite remaining last in the survey, he showed a slight improvement compared to previous measurements.
Second from the bottom is Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, with a 29.5% approval rating and 64.8% disapproval. Nevertheless, she registered the largest increase in positive perception among all leaders surveyed, gaining more than five percentage points compared with the previous month.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo rounds out the group of lowest-rated leaders, posting a 33.1% approval rating against 63% disapproval. His support level declined from 36.9% in May.
Just outside the top three is President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, who achieved a 54.8% approval rating and 42.2% disapproval, despite a decline from the 60.2% support recorded a month earlier.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña follows with a 48.3% favorable rating and 48.2% disapproval, improving slightly compared with May. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ranks sixth with a 47.6% approval rating and 48.1% disapproval, down from 49.5% the previous month. Lula is expected to seek another term in Brazil’s presidential election scheduled for October 2026.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz fell to seventh place after experiencing the largest decline in the survey. His approval rating dropped to 46.4%, while disapproval climbed to 52.3%, representing a loss of more than nine percentage points compared with May.
The CB Global Data survey, conducted across 18 Latin American countries, reflects shifting public sentiment toward regional leaders and highlights the growing influence of Central American presidents among the continent’s most highly rated governments.
International
NGO Reports Release of 54 Political Prisoner Soldiers in Venezuela
A Venezuelan human rights organization reported on Tuesday that 54 military personnel detained for political reasons have been released, describing the measure as a positive step while stressing that hundreds of service members remain behind bars.
According to the Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy, 51 of the released detainees had been held at Ramo Verde prison in Miranda state, while three women were imprisoned at the National Institute for Female Orientation (INOF), also located in the same region. The organization said the releases should mark the beginning of a broader process aimed at freeing all military personnel imprisoned for political reasons in Venezuela.
Among those released is First Lieutenant Reinaldo Enrique Finol, who was arrested in 2020 in connection with the so-called “American Spy” case. The investigation also involved former U.S. Marine Matthew John Heath, whom Venezuelan authorities accused of conducting espionage activities at oil facilities in the state of Falcón. Heath was released in 2022 following a visit to Caracas by Roger Carstens, then the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
In a message posted on social media, the Coalition called for the release of all political prisoners in the country, with particular attention to women who have been separated from their children and families. The organization described the liberation of the 54 military detainees as an important humanitarian development.
Ana Leonor Acosta, director of the Coalition, said there is still no official confirmation regarding the legal status of the released individuals. She explained that it remains unclear whether they were granted full freedom or released under precautionary measures, although the organization believes each case was reviewed individually before the detainees were freed.
The Coalition estimates that 213 military personnel remain imprisoned for political reasons in Venezuela. At the same time, relatives of political prisoners have continued demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, urging Washington to support efforts aimed at securing the release of those who remain incarcerated.
Family members and human rights advocates argue that hundreds of political prisoners are still being held despite government announcements made earlier this year regarding the release of a significant number of detainees. Concerns have also been raised over the lack of information surrounding recent transfers of prisoners from the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) headquarters, commonly known as El Helicoide.
The developments come amid continued international scrutiny of Venezuela’s human rights record. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his administration would work toward securing the release of all individuals imprisoned for political reasons in the South American nation.
International
ICE to prioritize security over immigration enforcement during 2026 World Cup, says official
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will prioritize event security and the protection of attendees over immigration enforcement during the 2026 World Cup, according to its director, Tom Homan.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and is expected to draw millions of visitors across the three countries.
Speaking in an interview with ABC, Homan said the agency’s main responsibility during the competition will be to prevent any security threats that could disrupt one of the world’s largest sporting events.
“We have a national security responsibility that we are going to carry out,” Homan stated, emphasizing that ICE operations during the tournament will focus on intelligence, prevention, and the protection of critical infrastructure rather than immigration enforcement actions targeting undocumented individuals.
He added that the agency’s priority will be safeguarding players, teams, fans, and stadiums throughout the event.
However, Homan clarified that immigration status could still be taken into account in cases where national security concerns arise. “If we find a national security issue and it involves an illegal alien, of course we will take action,” he said.
The comments came in response to questions about concerns from international visitors regarding possible immigration enforcement activity during the tournament.
Homan reiterated that ICE’s operational focus will remain strictly on security-related matters. Known as the “border czar” within the U.S. administration, he said the agency will concentrate on preventing risks and ensuring the safety of all participants and spectators.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 national teams, significantly increasing travel and logistical demands across the host nations. As a result, authorities are coordinating extensive security preparations involving federal, state, and international agencies.
Officials have described the tournament as one of the most complex security and organizational challenges ever undertaken in North America, with preparations already underway to ensure its safe and orderly execution.
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