International

Venezuelan government says it will defeat US “neocolonial claims” in elections

The Government of Venezuela said on Wednesday that it will defeat the “neocolonial claims” of the United States on Sunday, when the South American country will hold presidential elections, in response to a statement by Washington in which they considered that massive participation in these elections will favor the triumph of the opposition.

“The defeat that (US) has painted on his forehead, by the beating that his lackeys will take on July 28, is as great as the precariousness of his government management,” said in X the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yván Gil, before the statements of the head of the Department of State for Latin America, Brian Nichols.

The Venezuelan minister asked the American official to take care of his own affairs, relax and contemplate “how a free, revolutionary and democratic people turns their neocolonial pretensions to cosmic dust through the popular vote.”

“All fascist plans to ignore the popular victory will fail again,” Gil added, just 20 days after the Governments of Venezuela and the United States resumed a process of dialogue that had been paralyzed for several months.

During an audience in the U.S. Congress, Nichols assured that participation will be a key factor for the majority opposition – with Edmundo González Urrutia as a candidate – to win the presidential elections, which according to Washington represent “an opportunity” for the country to return to “democracy.”

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Although Nichols acknowledged that there is “important evidence” that the government of Nicolás Maduro has interfered in the elections with arrests of opponents and disqualification of candidates, such as opposition leader María Corina Machado, the diplomat considered that the elections are “an opportunity for a better future” in the country.

Nichols also explained that the United States is in contact with its partners in the region to address the situation in Venezuela, among which he cited Brazil, whose president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Maduro’s historic ally, has criticized the recent statements of the Venezuelan president in which he predicted a “bloodbath” if he loses the elections.

Chavismo, which has governed since 1999, aspires to keep in power the current president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, who has held the presidential seat since 2013.

International

Spain’s irregular migrant population rises to 840,000, study finds

The number of migrants living in Spain without legal residency status continues to rise and has reached 840,000 people, with 91% originating from the Americas, particularly Colombia, Peru and Honduras, according to a report by the Spanish think tank Funcas (Foundation of the Savings Banks).

An estimated 17.2% of the non-EU foreign population living in Spain is in an irregular administrative situation. The estimate is based on the gap between the number of foreign residents effectively living in Spain, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), and those who hold a residence permit, benefit from international protection, or are in the process of obtaining it.

The data, as of January 1, 2025, point to a notable and sustained increase in irregular migration since 2017, when the estimated figure stood at around 107,000 people, representing 4.2% of the non-EU population residing in Spain.

By origin, migrants from the American continent stand out, totaling around 760,000 people, or 91% of all irregular migrants. Colombians account for nearly 290,000, followed by Peruvians with almost 110,000, and Hondurans with about 90,000. Migrants from Africa (50,000), Asia (15,000) and Europe (14,000) trail far behind.

The figures predate Spain’s latest immigration regulation reform, which came into force in May 2025 and introduces measures to ease access to legal status through residency ties. According to Funcas, the reform would, in principle, tend to reduce the number of migrants in an irregular situation.

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International

Historic snowstorm paralyzes Toronto after 60 centimeters of snow

Toronto, Canada’s largest city and the fourth most populous in North America, was largely paralyzed on Monday after a historic snowstorm dumped up to 60 centimeters of snow and sent temperatures plunging to -15 degrees Celsius, authorities said.

Late Sunday, as the scale of the snowfall became clear, city officials declared a climate emergency, triggering extraordinary measures including parking bans on several major streets to facilitate snow removal operations.

Toronto’s public transit authority reported that while some buses remain immobilized, subway and streetcar services are operating with relative normality, though localized disruptions may occur.

A similar situation is affecting the city’s commuter rail network, which remains operational but is experiencing significant delays on its main routes due to the severe weather conditions.

International

Venezuela frees at least 80 political prisoners, NGO says

At least 80 political prisoners were released on Sunday across Venezuela, human rights group Foro Penal reported, as the broader process of detainee releases continues at a slow pace under the interim government.

Foro Penal’s director, Alfredo Romero, wrote on social media platform X that verified releases took place nationwide and that the figure could rise as more confirmations are completed.

Attorney Gonzalo Himiob, also from Foro Penal, said the excarcelations occurred during the early hours of the day and emphasized that the number is not yet final pending further verification.

The releases are part of a series of steps announced by Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, who took power after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3, 2026. Rodríguez has pledged a significant number of liberations but has been criticized by opposition groups and rights organizations for the slow and nontransparent nature of the process.

So far, the Venezuelan government reports that 626 detainees have been freed since December, though independent counts by human rights groups suggest the number of actual political prisoner releases is lower and that many remain behind bars.

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Families of those still detained have maintained vigils outside prisons, hopeful for further releases even as broader concerns about political imprisonment and due process persist.