Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced in a televised address on Saturday that his government has reached an agreement with the United States to resume repatriation flights of Venezuelan migrants, with the first flights scheduled to begin on Sunday.
“Tomorrow, thanks to the government's perseverance, we'll resume flights to continue rescuing and freeing migrants from prisons in the United States,” Maduro declared. The move comes amid escalating tensions over recent deportation flights that sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador as part of President Donald Trump’s rapid U.S. deportation program.
In a related development, Venezuela’s Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez released a statement earlier in the day confirming the deal, emphasizing that “migrating isn't a crime, and we won't rest until everyone who wants to return is back and we rescue our kidnapped brothers in El Salvador.” Families and legal representatives, who have been desperate for news regarding their missing relatives, welcomed the decision, hoping it would pave the way for reuniting those stranded abroad.
The decision to resume repatriation flights comes as part of an ongoing diplomatic spat between Venezuela and the United States over the handling of Venezuelan migrants. Maduro specifically criticized El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for the deportations, stating, “To Nayib Bukele, El Salvador's President, we say that you're responsible,” and urging that the affected migrants—allegedly not involved in any criminal activity—be treated with respect for their health and rights.
While the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, U.S. officials have maintained that the deportees were identified as members of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang—a claim that Venezuela's interior minister has denied. The Trump administration now faces a March 25 deadline to provide further details on the deportations, as U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reviews whether officials violated his order that temporarily blocked the expulsions.
The resumption of these flights marks a critical juncture in ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian fallout from the U.S. deportation policies and highlights the delicate balance between enforcing immigration controls and safeguarding the rights of migrants.
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The European Union (EU) has announced an additional €20 million ($22.8 million) in humanitarian assistance for Venezuela after last month's deadly earthquakes, which killed more than 4,700 people.
Türkiye delivered 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Venezuela on Monday, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the country's reconstruction after last month's devastating earthquakes.
Disease outbreaks, poor sanitation and limited access to clean water could pose major health risks to tens of thousands of survivors of Venezuela’s deadly earthquakes, the Americas branch of the World Health Organization said on Thursday.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 10th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday as Türkiye stepped up efforts to revive stalled peace negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia.
Andy Burnham has been elected leader of Britain's governing Labour Party, clearing the way to become the country's next prime minister on Monday. The 56-year-old pledged to spread power beyond Westminster, revive neglected communities and counter the rise of Reform UK.
Japan's parliament has approved changes to the Imperial House Law aimed at addressing the shrinking size of the imperial family while preserving the country's centuries-old male-only succession system.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
At least 20 children and one adult have been killed after a school bus carrying pupils on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda. Dozens of other passengers were injured when the vehicle reportedly lost control and overturned.
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