Donald Trump alleged without evidence that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s reelection in Brazil was rigged, echoing challenges from defeated candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, who said he would seek to annul the result. Lula won by nearly four percentage points after drawing voters who had abstained or supported other candidates in the first round. Brazilian electoral institutions and regional leaders appeared prepared to recognize the result, and the country’s electronic voting system has a long record of reliability. The article details the campaign’s social-media strategy and disputes over Meta’s platforms, as well as the difficulties Bolsonaro may face in overturning the result. Lula will nevertheless govern amid polarization, fiscal risks and a right-wing Congress.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential runoff with more than 64 million votes, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly four percentage points. Bolsonaro said he would challenge the result, while electoral authorities and regional leaders recognized Lula's victory. Donald Trump called the election rigged without providing evidence and questioned the vote tabulation. A social media campaign led by lawmaker André Janones reportedly helped mobilize undecided voters for Lula. Lula is expected to take office on 5 January 2027 and face a polarized country and a strong right-wing opposition in Congress.

President Nayib Bukele says El Salvador is considering conditional release for some people detained during its mass anti-gang crackdown, including a review of more than 10,000 cases and possible placement in a community-service program. Families of detainees say this falls short: they want individual case reviews, full exoneration for those wrongly accused, and compensation for the harm caused by imprisonment. Rights groups have reported arbitrary arrests and due-process violations, while families describe prolonged uncertainty, lost contact, deaths in custody, and lasting financial and emotional consequences.

President Nayib Bukele says El Salvador is assessing more than 10,000 cases of alleged gang collaborators for possible conditional release, with some potentially entering a community-service program to reduce their sentences. Families of detainees say this falls far short of exonerating people they believe were wrongfully arrested, recognizing their innocence, and compensating them for the harm caused. Human rights groups have documented arbitrary arrests and due-process violations during the state of exception, while at least 564 people have died in state custody. Bukele defends the crackdown as necessary to improve public safety, and it remains widely supported, though experts question whether reported homicide figures fully reflect the reality.

Antonella Molina and relatives and friends continue searching La Guaira for her 18-year-old nephew, Andrés, who disappeared after two earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24. The family recovered the bodies of Andrés’ mother and brother from their collapsed apartment building but has received repeated, unconfirmed reports that he was seen in the area. Relatives say they have had no government help, while official casualty and missing-person figures are disputed. Despite the lack of answers and the emotional toll, Antonella says she will keep searching until she knows Andrés is safe.

Ten weeks after two devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela on 24 June, the family of 18-year-old Andrés Molina is still searching for him. He disappeared in La Guaira when his 10-storey apartment building collapsed, killing his mother and brother. Local residents and police have reported unconfirmed sightings suggesting he may have survived with a head injury and been collecting scrap metal. His relatives say they are continuing the search without support from Venezuelan authorities. Official figures report 1,500 people missing and 6,500 dead, while independent estimates suggest tens of thousands remain unaccounted for.

Rescue workers and civilians continue searching through collapsed buildings in Venezuela after two major earthquakes killed more than 1,400 people and left tens of thousands missing. Occasional rescues, including children and elderly survivors, have offered brief hope amid widespread devastation in La Guaira and other hard‑hit areas. Families wait desperately for news of missing relatives as debris removal remains slow and limited search teams reach damaged sites. Many cling to optimism despite confirmations of deaths and the mounting toll.

Thousands of Cubans, Venezuelans and other nationals have been deported from the United States to Mexico, where they face cartel violence and limited access to essential services, according to a Human Rights Watch report. Many deportees are older, long‑term US residents, often detained during routine ICE check‑ins without the chance to challenge removal to Mexico. Cuba and Venezuela restrict repatriation, leading the US to send deportees to Mexico under an unpublished bilateral arrangement. HRW urges both countries to disclose the agreement, ensure due process and provide adequate medical care and legal pathways for affected migrants, while calling on the US to halt such deportations until protections are guaranteed.

The United States is increasing engagement with Guyana to access its bauxite and other mineral resources as part of a broader push for Latin American energy and mineral supplies. U.S. Under Secretary Jacob Helberg met with President Irfaan Ali and other officials amid Guyana’s rising profile due to vast oil discoveries and global energy disruptions linked to the Iran war. Concerns over China’s dominant role in Guyana’s resource sector, particularly through Bosai Minerals, are driving U.S. interest in deeper involvement. U.S. officials signaled readiness to invest and support mineral surveying, while Guyanese leaders emphasized their desire for value-added processing and stronger American investment. Experts note the region’s renewed importance as a stable energy source and Guyana’s continued alignment with U.S. strategic interests.

Overcrowding at Florida’s Krome Detention Center has surged alongside intensified federal and state immigration enforcement, leading to a sharp rise in medical emergencies and 911 calls. Lawyers, relatives and detainees describe severe medical neglect, dangerous delays in treatment, and deteriorating conditions exacerbated by prolonged intake bottlenecks. Multiple deaths and injuries occurred as detainee population levels far exceeded facility capacity, with reports of inadequate screenings, unsanitary holding rooms and lack of timely care. Advocacy groups and attorneys argue that many detainees with no criminal record could be released to reduce strain, while officials provide conflicting accounts of conditions inside the center.