Caracas, July 27 (RHC) -- President Hugo Chavez says that Venezuela is now a free country and will never again be a colony. The president made this remark during a campaign rally held Thursday at the El Valle parish, in Caracas.

Mexico City, July 27 (RHC) -- Thousands of supporters of the “Yosoy132” student movement will hold a 24-hour sit-in outside the building of Mexico’s network Televisa to denounce the information campaign in favor of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) during the July 1st presidential elections.

Damascus, July 27 (RHC)-- Syrian Army forces today continued their offensive against armed groups in Aleppo, where terrorist gangs are trying to consolidate their positions.  Earlier, machine gun fire and artillery explosions were heard on the outskirts of the city.

Madrid, July 27 (RHC)-- Nearly 5.7 million Spaniards, equivalent to almost one in four, are now unemployed according to official figures -- hitting a new record high.  For the first time in 30 years, Spain's unemployment rate rose to 24.6% during the April to June quarter, up from 24.4% during the previous quarter.

Asuncion, July 27 (RHC) -- Parliamentarians from member countries of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) have confirmed abuses and serious violations of human rights during a visit to Paraguay, according to a Paraguayan official who accompanied the visiting delegation on their tour of the country.

Caracas, July 27 (RHC) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with a delegation of Brazilian government officials to discuss mechanisms to speed up the country’s entry into the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) as a full member.

San Salvador, July 27 (RHC) -- The President of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, said Friday that talks involving political parties have progressed substantially in finding a solution to the lengthy conflict between judicial and legislative bodies in the Central American country.

Washington, July 27 (RHC)-- The Washington Post is reporting the online phone platform Skype has increased its cooperation with law enforcement to give U.S. police access to online chats and other user data, including credit card numbers and addresses.

La Paz, July 27 (RHC) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales delivered 600 computers to teachers in five districts of the department of Beni, according to the acting director of the Regional Department of Education, Yerika Heredia.

Ramallah, July 27 (RHC)-- The longest-ever Palestinian hunger striker has ended his fast after 103 days in exchange for Israel’s pledge to release him five months early. 

Damascus, July 27, (RHC), -- At least 13 Syrian rebels were killed Friday in a recent army raid on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Idlib.

Kabul, July 27, (RHC), -- NATO casualties in Afghanistan have risen to 260, after a foreign trooper was killed on Friday in the volatile eastern region of the war-ravaged country.