World
EU rejects 'democratic legitimacy' of Venezuela's Maduro
The EU’s 27 foreign ministers said Maduro would remain Venezuela’s de facto president but that they denied his democratic legitimacy.
The European Union’s foreign ministers on Thursday jointly rejected Nicolás Maduro’s claim to re-election in Venezuela, but stopped short of joining the US in recognising opponent Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate President-elect.
“We cannot accept the legitimacy of Maduro as the elected president,” the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said after an informal ministerial meeting in Brussels.
“He will remain president de facto, but we deny democratic legitimacy based on results that cannot be verified,” he added.
There was broad consensus among ministers to reject Maduro’s democratic legitimacy, but no such consensus to recognise the electoral victory of González Urrutia, who addressed the ministers by video earlier on Thursday, a diplomatic source confirmed.
The declaration comes a month after the highly contested July 28 presidential ballot in which Maduro was declared the winner, despite international concerns that the vote lacked transparency and claims from the opposition it has evidence the incumbent was defeated.
Protests continued in Venezuelan cities on Wednesday amid fears Maduro was tightening his grip on power and spurning international pressure to provide verified evidence of his claim to re-election.
Last week, Venezuela’s Supreme Court – known to be packed with Maduro’s loyalists – upheld the incumbent’s victory, prompting condemnation from several foreign governments in the West and Latin America.
The US has declared González the legitimate winner of the election, citing “overwhelming evidence.”
EU stops short of recognising González as election winner
The political opposition says it has voting tallies that testify that González won the vote by a landslide, prompting international calls for the Venezuelan authorities to publish a comprehensive breakdown of the national vote.
A United Nations panel of experts analysed a sample of the tallies published online by the opposition and found that they exhibited “all the security features of the original result protocols”. The Venezuelan government has rejected the tallies as forged.
Venezuelans vote using electronic machines that print a paper receipt. Those receipts are then deposited in a ballot box and are used to generate voting tallies, or “actas” that the Venezuelan authorities have so far refused to disclose.
Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares voiced concern that those voting tallies may never be made public.
“A significant amount of time has already passed and so we as 27 countries must face the likely situation that we will not be able to see these voting tallies, and neither will the opposition be able to analyse them,” Albares said.
Borrell echoed the Spanish minister’s concerns, accepting that Maduro would become Venezuela’s de facto leader.
Maduro has lashed out at foreign governments that have contested his victory. Speaking in Caracas on Tuesday, he launched a flurry of insults at Borrell, accusing him of “complicity” in the war in Gaza and of instigating an “open war against Russia from Ukraine.”
Opposition asks EU to step up
Relations between the EU and Venezuela have frayed since the EU denounced Maduro’s 2018 re-election as unfree and unfair, prompting the bloc to introduce sanctions as part of international efforts to weaken Maduro’s grip on power.
The bloc recently said calls for new sanctions were “premature” as long as the political crisis persisted.
Nelson Dordelly Rosales, Special Advisor on EU Affairs for opposition group Plataforma Unitaria Democrática, told Euronews that while sanctions could be increased to up pressure on Maduro’s regime, the bloc also needs more creative solutions if it is to support the democratic movement in Venezuela.
“The European Union used to think out of the box and tried to use other tools in the diplomatic toolbox,” Dordelly said, adding that “financial” incentives could help propel a democratic transition in the country.
“More than 70% of the population wants democratic change. So it’s important for the EU to listen to that and to do more than just simply adding a few names on the sanctions list.”
World
Neon Closing in on Luca Guadagnino’s Sam Altman Open AI Movie ‘Artificial’ After Amazon Drops Controversial Film
“Artificial,” Luca Guadagnino‘s movie about Sam Altman and OpenAI, is about to get a new home.
Neon is closing in on a deal to acquire the nearly-completed $40 million film — set during the tumultuous time when Altman (played by Andrew Garfield) was fired and then rehired by the AI giant — after Amazon MGM Studios announced that it believed it would “be better served if it were released by a different studio.”
Variety reported that, of those who had seen the movie in screenings put on by CAA Media Finance — which is handling sales — Netflix, A24 and Focus chose not to pursue it. Mubi was also in the mix for the distribution rights.
Amazon’s decision came just months after the company signed a major partnership with OpenAI, including a $50 billion investment, and less than a year Altman’s relationship with Jeff Bezos was underlined by his appearance at the Amazon boss’s wedding. Variety heard that test screenings had been positive, but the studio still chose to exit, raising eyebrows about its motivations.
According to various people who have seen the film and read the script, “Artificial” portrays Altman as deeply untrustworthy and Elon Musk (played by Ike Barinholtz) as highly dislikable.
Alongside Garfield and Barinholtz, “Artificial” has a starry cast including Monica Barbaro as former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati and Yura Borisov as former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever. Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Cooper Koch, Billie Lourd, Zosia Mamet, Angus Imrie, Chris O’Dowd and Mark Rylance also feature. The film was written by “SNL” alum Simon Rich.
Currently in the final stages of post-production, “Artificial” had been eyeing a festival launch at SXSW before Amazon’s departure. Given the latest acquisition, the movie could now potentially be in play for a slot at the Venice Film Festival, where Guadagnino’s previous films debuted.
Spokespeople for Amazon and CAA declined to comment, and a spokesperson from Neon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Puck first reported Neon’s pole position in the dealmaking.
Angelique Jackson contributed to this report.
World
Trump admin backs Bolivia state of emergency as leftist ex-leader’s loyalists fracture nation
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The conservative, pro-U.S. government of President Rogrigo Paz is being challenged in the streets by radical elements led by a former socialist president recently forcing the new Bolivian government to introduce a state of emergency.
The landlocked mineral-rich nation is facing one of its deepest political crises in decades as economic turmoil, nationwide protests and a battle over the country’s future threaten to reshape the balance of power in South America.
The unrest comes after years of political divisions following the tenure of socialist President Evo Morales, whose Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) dominated Bolivian politics for nearly two decades. Internal fractures, economic decline and public frustration have weakened the movement and opened a new chapter of uncertainty.
US, SHIELD OF THE AMERICAS CONDEMN ‘ONGOING EFFORTS’ TO OVERTHROW BOLIVIA’S ELECTED PRESIDENT AMID UNREST
Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz delivers a speech in La Paz on June 3, 2026, after naming Ernesto Justiniano as defense minister following the resignation of Marcelo Salinas amid protests. (Claudia Morales/Reuters)
The Trump administration recently signaled strong backing for the Paz government while condemning efforts to destabilize the country.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “Will not allow criminals and drug traffickers to overthrow democratically elected leaders in our hemisphere” and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Bolivia’s “stability, security, and a better future for all Bolivians.”
Speaking on background, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that, “The United States strongly supports President Rodrigo Paz’s decision on June 20 to declare a State of Exception to restore order and ensure the free flow of food, medicine, and essential supplies to the Bolivian people. We are glad that the blockades in Bolivia have ended and the government has restored order.”
Bolivia’s crisis has been driven by Morales and his supporters furious at the Paz reforms. Protests and road blockades have disrupted transportation, caused shortages and increased pressure on the Paz government.
José Luis Lupo, chief of staff and minister of the presidency of Bolivia told Fox News Digital: “After more than 50 days of blockades that severely disrupted the supply of food, fuel, and medicines, paralyzing much of the country’s economic activity and straining its democratic stability, I am convinced that Bolivia now faces a unique opportunity to transform a deep crisis into the starting point for a new phase of national reconstruction.”
26 June 2024, Bolivia, La Paz: Military police stand amid tear gas fired in front of the presidential palace on Plaza Murillo. (Photo by Radoslaw Czajkowski/picture alliance via Getty Images)
He noted that “for weeks, we sought agreements with various sectors because we believe that, in a democracy, every avenue for mutual understanding must be exhausted before resorting to extraordinary measures.”
He said the state of emergency [state of exception] “was the constitutional last resort to restore freedom of movement, protect critical infrastructure and ensure that Bolivians could once again access essential goods. It was not a measure intended to restrict rights, but rather to protect lives, preserve democracy and restore freedom of movement to millions of citizens.”
PETE HEGSETH WARNS NARCO-TERRORISTS AS US BACKS BOLIVIA’S GOVERNMENT AMID COUP WARNINGS
The turmoil has also had consequences beyond Bolivia’s borders. The country holds some of the world’s largest lithium resources, a key mineral for electric vehicles, batteries and advanced technology supply chains. Competition for influence in resource-rich Latin America has become increasingly important for Washington as China and other global powers expand their presence in the region.
Bolivia’s political crisis reflects a broader trend across Latin America, where voters in the last few election cycles have elected conservatives who challenged the left’s business-as-usual politics and in doing so have taken the continent in a rightward direction.
The socialist Morales remains an influential figure and continues to command support among rural and indigenous groups, keeping Bolivia’s political divisions alive even as the country searches for a path out of the crisis.
Mauricio Ríos García, manager of Crusoe Research and editor of FRACTAL Index in Bolivia, told Fox News Digital, “The 50-day blockades have caused estimated losses of $2.5 billion and the closure of around 13,000 companies. Once the blockades end, a rebound in demand combined with excess liquidity is expected to drive inflation higher.”
A police convoy clears one of the main highways after Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency following 50 days of blockades, in El Alto, Bolivia, on June 20, 2026. (Jorge Mateo Romay Salinas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ríos said, “The government is nearing an IMF agreement that would likely include a new devaluation (exchange rate unification) and other adjustments in exchange for financing of around $3.3–5 billion. This marks growing dependence on the IMF and the United States, while the gradualist approach has left the economy with very little room for maneuver and risks further instability.
“Expectations for Bolivia’s economy in the second half of the year have been revised downward. Blockades and deeper structural problems rooted in the government’s gradualist fiscal and monetary policies have worsened the difficult inheritance from the previous administration,” he concluded.
COLOMBIA’S ‘EL TIGRE’ SECURES PRESIDENCY AS LEFTIST RIVAL FINALLY CONCEDES DEFEAT
For Washington, Bolivia’s future represents more than a domestic political dispute. The outcome could influence America’s strategic position in the Western Hemisphere, the future of critical minerals, and whether Latin America’s recent political shift continues moving away from the left-wing movements that dominated parts of the region during the last two decades.
“I am convinced that stability will only endure if it is accompanied by inclusion. There can be no peace where neglect and inequality persist. That is why we are driving a development agenda for historically marginalized regions, particularly the provinces of La Paz, focused on infrastructure, basic services, productive development and the participation of the communities themselves,” Lupo said.
And as the barricades have lessened, Lupo, chief of staff and minister of the presidency of Bolivia, says, “A different phase is now beginning. I believe the country needs a broad political and social agreement involving the government, parliamentary forces, the regions, the productive sector, and civil society. Bolivia needs to pass reforms that provide legal certainty, promote investment, and modernize strategic sectors such as hydrocarbons, mining, lithium, renewable energy and the justice system. Such consensus is essential to restoring confidence, stabilizing the economy and generating sustainable growth.
“I hope to see Bolivia definitively replace confrontation with dialogue, strengthen its institutions, and build a more robust economy characterized by clear rules, democratic stability and greater opportunities for all,” Lupo concluded.
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The Trump administration had increased emergency humanitarian assistance to help address food and medical shortages caused by weeks of unrest, underscoring U.S. concerns that prolonged instability could have broader implications for regional security and democracy.
World
‘No MiGs for Ukraine’: Polish defence minister claims Kyiv backed out of deal with Warsaw
As relations between Ukraine and Poland remain at their worst state in years, the Polish defence minister claimed that Kyiv backed out of the two countries’ “MiGs in exchange for drones” deal and threatened to veto Ukraine’s EU accession.
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