Venezuela’s government on Sunday released from prison several prominent opposition members, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, after lengthy politically motivated detentions.

Their releases come as the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez faces mounting pressure to free hundreds of people whose detentions months or years ago have been linked to their political beliefs. They also follow a visit to Venezuela of representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Today, we are being released,” Juan Pablo Guanipa, a Machado ally and former governor, said in a video posted on X. “Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront.”

Guanipa, who spent more than eight months in custody, was released from a detention facility in the capital, Caracas. An armored vehicle and officers appeared behind him in the video he released.

Venezuelan-based prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal confirmed the release of at least 30 people on Sunday.

In addition to Guanipa, Machado’s political organization said several of its members were among the released, including Maria Oropeza, who livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officers as they broke into her home with a crowbar. Machado’s attorney, Perkins Rocha, was also freed.

“Let’s go for the freedom of Venezuela!” Machado posted on X.

Guanipa was detained in late May and accused by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello of participating in an alleged “terrorist group” plotting to boycott that month’s legislative election. Guanipa’s brother Tomás rejected the accusation, and said that the arrest was meant to crack down on dissent.

“Thinking differently cannot be criminalized in Venezuela, and today, Juan Pablo Guanipa is a prisoner of conscience of this regime,” Tomás Guanipa said after the arrest. “He has the right to think as he thinks, the right to defend his ideas, and the right to be treated under a constitution that is not being enforced today.”

Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president after the capture in Caracas of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. military last month.

Her government announced on Jan. 8 it would free a significant number of prisoners — a central demand of the country’s opposition and human rights organizations with backing from the United States — but families and rights watchdogs have criticized authorities for the slow pace of the releases.

The ruling party-controlled National Assembly this week began debating an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners. The opposition and nongovernmental organizations have reacted with cautious optimism as well as with suggestions and demands for more information on the contents of the proposal.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez on Friday posted a video on Instagram showing him outside a detention center in Caracas and saying that “everyone” would be released no later than next week, once the amnesty bill is approved.

Delcy Rodríguez and Volker Türk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, spoke by phone in late January. His spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, in a statement said he “offered our support to help Venezuela work on a roadmap for dialogue and reconciliation in which human rights should be at the centre” and then “deployed a team” to the South American country.

—Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

MILAN – Canada’s men’s hockey team stepped on the ice for its first practice at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday evening.

And went right to work.

Head coach Jon Cooper put the team through a spirited skate at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, hours after the most of the roster arrived off a flight from North America. Among the intriguing line combinations on display were Connor McDavid skating between 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini and bruising winger Tom Wilson.

Sidney Crosby, who was named captain earlier in the day, centred Mark Stone and Mitch Marner, while Nathan MacKinnon was with Nick Suzuki and Brad Marchand. The fourth trio consisted of Bo Horvat, Brandon Hagel and Sam Reinhart. Sam Bennett and Seth Jarvis, late injury replacements, served as the extra forwards.

The defence pairs included the following combinations: Cale Makar and Devon Toews, Josh Morrissey and Colton Parayko, Shea Theodore and Travis Sanheim, and Drew Doughty and Thomas Harley.

The NHL is back at the Olympics for the first time in 12 years, with McDavid calling his first twirl at the Games a “surreal” experience.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Officials are urging anyone who attended Ag Days or visited hotels and shops in Brandon, Man., last month to monitor for measles symptoms.

The agency says there was a suspected exposure during the event.

According to Manitoba Health, those who visited the event at Keystone Centre between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Jan. 20, 21 and 22 are asked to monitor themselves. Those who visited Jan. 20 are asked to monitor until Wednesday, while visitors on Jan. 21 monitor until Thursday and those at the event on Jan. 22 monitor until Friday.

Those who visited Ag Days’ Agriculture in the Classroom event at the Provincial Exhibition of the Manitoba Dome Building between Jan. 20 and 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., are asked to monitor themselves until later this week.

Exposure notices have also been issued for those who visited the town of Winkler, Man.

Those notices involve anyone who visited the Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House on Feb. 1 from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., as well as the Boundary Trails Health Centre public health office on Feb. 2 from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Anyone who visited the Boundary Trails Health Centre emergency department on Feb. 3 from 7 p.m. until 1:10 a.m. the next morning is also asked to monitor.

Manitoba Health says those who believe they may have been exposed should ensure they’re up to date on their measles vaccinations.

People who were born in 1970 or later and never received a measles vaccination and never had an infection are also asked to reduce exposure with others, especially anyone who has a weakened immune system, from the fifth day of exposure to the 21st day after their latest exposure.

Initial symptoms of measles can include a fever, runny nose, cough, drowsiness, irritability, and red eyes. Small white spots may also develop on the inside of the mouth or throat.

“Several days after the initial symptoms, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and progresses down the body,” Manitoba Health says in a release.

The symptoms typically present themselves within seven to 21 days after being exposed to the virus.

If symptoms develop, people who may have been exposed are asked to isolate at home and contact their health-care provider and advise them of the potential exposure.

The disease spreads through droplets in the air formed when coughing or sneezing, Manitoba Health adds.

—with a file from The Canadian Press

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Future of Work 2026: Calgary editorial series, brought to you by            Bow Valley College, is an in-depth collection of interviews and stories that aims to assist Global News viewers and QR Calgary listeners as they navigate new opportunities within the ever-evolving job market.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Don Monahan has officially entered the race for leader of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservatives.

The MLA for Arcadia-Butternut Valley-Maple Hills launched his leadership bid Saturday in Fredericton.

The first-term MLA is now the second confirmed candidate in the race for Tory leader.

Daniel Allain announced his candidacy in October.

Allain had served as MLA for Moncton East from 2020 to 2024, and was part of former premier Blaine Higgs’s cabinet in 2023 as minister of local government.

Higgs stepped down as party leader after the 2024 election, and was replaced by Glen Savoie as interim leader.

PC members will vote on their new leader at the party’s convention in October.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

MILAN – Canada finished fifth in the Olympic figure skating team event Sunday after starting the day in fourth.

Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud delivered a stellar pairs free skate, shattering their personal-best score but still placing fifth in the segment.

Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., followed with a fifth-place finish in the women’s free program before Toronto’s Stephen Gogolev landed fourth in the men’s.

Canada totalled 54 points across the three-day, eight-segment competition. A powerhouse United States team — including self-proclaimed “Quad God” Ilia Malinin — captured gold with 69 to edge Japan by one point.

The two countries were tied with 59 points apiece heading into the men’s free program, where Malinin prevailed over Shun Sato despite landing awkwardly on multiple jumps at Milano Ice Skating Arena.

Host Italy claimed bronze to a raucous applause after Matteo Rizzo’s electric free skate. Georgia finished fourth with 56 points.

Points were awarded based on team placements in each event. The first-place country receives 10 points, the second-place team receives nine, and so forth. Only five countries in the 10-team event advanced to the following short programs.

Pereira, of Milton, Ont., and Michaud, of Trenton, Ont., scored 134.42 points to music from the film “Gladiator,” a revived routine from the 2023-24 season, pumping their fists in joy at Milano Ice Skating Arena after nailing every element except their throw triple loop.

Schizas, meanwhile, scored 125.00 after falling on a triple lutz to open her “Butterfly Lovers” program. Kaori Sakamoto then brought the house down with 148.62 points as Japan pulled even with the U.S.

Skating to “Piano Concerto No. 2” by Sergei Rachmaninov, Gogolev — who sent Canada into the final with an outstanding short program performance Saturday — posted 171.93 points.

Canada has a history of success in the team event.

Ice dance greats Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir led Canada to a gold medal at the 2018 Games and a silver in 2014, the inaugural team event.

The country finished fourth at the 2022 Beijing Games behind the United States, Japan and Russia, which fell from first to third after teenage skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

CBC’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Streaming and TV Schedule for Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.

12 a.m.

Olympic Winter Games Pacific Prime and Overnight – Day 8

2:55 a.m.

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Italy vs China

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Great Britain vs Canada

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Switzerland vs Japan

3:50 a.m.

Alpine Skiing – Men’s Giant Slalom – Run 1

4:20 a.m.

Freestyle Skiing – Women’s Dual Moguls Final

5:50 a.m.

Cross-Country Skiing – Women’s 4×7.5km Relay Final

6 a.m.

Petro-Canada Olympic Winter Games Morning – Day 8

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Sweden vs Slovakia

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Germany vs Latvia

7:20 a.m.

Alpine Skiing – Men’s Giant Slalom – Run 2

7:55 a.m.

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Czechia vs Great Britain

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Sweden vs China

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Switzerland vs Canada

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Germany vs USA

8:35 a.m.

Biathlon – Women’s 7.5km Sprint Final

9:50 a.m.

Speed Skating – Men’s 500m Final

10:30 a.m.

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Finland vs Italy

Women’s Hockey – Quarterfinal – TBD vs TBD

Women’s Hockey – Quarterfinal (Inuktitut Commentary) – TBD vs TBD

11:50 a.m.

Skeleton – Women’s – Heats 3 & 4

12 p.m.

Bell Olympic Winter Games Daytime – Day 8

12:55 p.m.

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Canada vs Switzerland

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Japan vs USA

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – South Korea vs Denmark

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Italy vs Sweden

1:20 p.m.

Freestyle Skiing – Women’s Big Air Qualification

2:05 p.m.

Short Track Speed Skating – Men’s 1500m Final

3 p.m.

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – USA vs Denmark

Women’s Hockey – Quarterfinal – TBD vs TBD

Women’s Hockey – Quarterfinal (Inuktitut Commentary) – TBD vs TBD

6:30 p.m.

RBC Olympic Winter Games Primetime – Day 8

8 p.m.

Air Canada Olympic Winter Games Today – Day 8

© 2026 The Canadian Press

CBC’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Streaming and TV Schedule for Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

12 a.m.

Olympic Winter Games Pacific Prime and Overnight – Day 7

2:55 a.m.

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Canada vs USA

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Great Britain vs Italy

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – China vs Norway

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Switzerland vs Czechia

3:50 a.m.

Snowboard – Women’s Snowboard Cross Qualification

5:35 a.m.

Cross-Country Skiing – Men’s 10km Interval Start Free Final

6 a.m.

Petro-Canada Olympic Winter Games Morning – Day 7

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Italy vs Slovakia

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Finland vs Sweden

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary (Inuktitut Commentary) – Finland vs Sweden

7:20 a.m.

Snowboard – Women’s Snowboard Cross Final

7:50 a.m.

Biathlon – Men’s 10km Sprint Final

7:55 a.m.

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Denmark vs Sweden

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – China vs Switzerland

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – USA vs Canada

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Great Britain vs South Korea

9:50 a.m.

Speed Skating – Men’s 10,000m Final

Skeleton – Women’s – Heats 1 & 2

10:30 a.m.

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – France vs Czechia

Women’s Hockey – Quarterfinal – TBD vs TBD

12 p.m.

Bell Olympic Winter Games Daytime – Day 7

12:50 p.m.

Figure Skating – Men’s Free Program

12:55 p.m.

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Switzerland vs China

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Czechia vs Norway

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Germany vs Italy

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Canada vs Sweden

1:15 p.m.

Skeleton – Men’s – Heats 3 & 4

1:20 p.m.

Snowboard – Men’s Halfpipe Final

3 p.m.

Women’s Hockey – Quarterfinal – TBD vs TBD

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Canada vs Switzerland

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary (Inuktitut Commentary) – Canada vs Switzerland

7 p.m.

RBC Olympic Winter Games Primetime – Day 7

8 p.m.

Air Canada Olympic Winter Games Today – Day 7

© 2026 The Canadian Press

CBC’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Streaming and TV Schedule for Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

12 a.m.

Olympic Winter Games Pacific Prime and Overnight – Day 6

2:55 a.m.

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – South Korea vs USA

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Japan vs Sweden

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Italy vs Switzerland

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Canada vs Denmark

3:20 a.m.

Skeleton – Men’s – Heats 1 & 2

3:50 a.m.

Freestyle Skiing – Men’s Moguls Qualification 2

Snowboard – Men’s Snowboard Cross Qualification

5:20 a.m.

Alpine Skiing – Women’s Super-G Final

6 a.m.

Petro-Canada Olympic Winter Games Morning – Day 6

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Switzerland vs France

6:05 a.m.

Freestyle Skiing – Men’s Moguls Final

6:50 a.m.

Cross-Country Skiing – Women’s 10km Interval Start Free Final

7:35 a.m.

Snowboard – Men’s Snowboard Cross Final

7:55 a.m.

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Norway vs Germany

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – USA vs Switzerland

Curling – Men’s Round Robin – Great Britain vs Sweden

8:10 a.m.

Women’s Hockey – Preliminary – Finland vs Canada

Women’s Hockey – Preliminary (Inuktitut Commentary) – Finland vs Canada

10:20 a.m.

Speed Skating – Women’s 5000m Final

10:30 a.m.

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Canada vs Czechia

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary (Inuktitut Commentary) – Canada vs Czechia

12 p.m.

Bell Olympic Winter Games Daytime – Day 6

12:20 p.m.

Luge – Team Relay Final

12:55 p.m.

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – China vs Great Britain

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Italy vs South Korea

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Denmark vs Japan

Curling – Women’s Round Robin – Sweden vs USA

1:20 p.m.

Snowboard – Women’s Halfpipe Final

2:05 p.m.

Short Track Speed Skating – Women’s 500m Final

Short Track Speed Skating – Men’s 1000m Final

3 p.m.

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Latvia vs USA

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary (Inuktitut Commentary) – Latvia vs USA

Men’s Hockey – Preliminary – Germany vs Denmark

7 p.m.

RBC Olympic Winter Games Primetime – Day 6

8 p.m.

Air Canada Olympic Winter Games Today – Day 6

© 2026 The Canadian Press

MILAN – Ted-Jan Bloemen wants his children to remember he fought the good fight at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

The 39-year-old speedskater, who turned back the clock and laid down one of the fastest 5,000 metres of his life in November, couldn’t replicate that speed again Sunday at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.

With wife Marlinde, six-year-old daughter Fiene and three-year-old Thias in the stands, Bloemen battled in the 5k eight years after taking Olympic silver in it, as well as gold in the 10,000 metres in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

“This is maybe my last 5k and this is what I had,” Bloemen said. “I kind of felt this coming but still I kept believing in it and I wanted to put myself into a position where if for some magical reason I had the legs today, I was going to use them and I was going to win.

“At least I gave myself the opportunity. I’m really proud of that and I am really proud that I have showed my kids to do that in life, to just put yourself in the position, that you can find the glory if it’s there.”

Bloemen will race the 10k on Friday.

Since he stepped off a plane from the Netherlands at Calgary International Airport on June 3, 2014, Bloemen has set world records in the men’s 10k and 5k and won multiple world championship and World Cup medals wearing the Maple Leaf.

His father’s birthplace of Bathurst, N.B., may have given Bloemen the avenue to compete for Canada, but Bloemen obtained his Canadian citizenship. He married his Dutch wife Marlinde Kraaijeveld in Calgary and his daughter and son were born in Alberta.

Skating in the last of 10 pairings alongside Timony Loubineaud of France, Bloemen hovered about half a second off the lead in Sunday’s early laps before fading in the back half.

Norway’s Sander Eitrem claimed gold in an Olympic record six minutes, 3.95 seconds ahead of silver medallist Metodej Jilek of Czechia in 6:06.48.

Riccardo Lorello of Italy was the bronze medallist in 6:09.22. Bloemen was 13th in 6:17.97.

Bloemen skated a 6:02.26 to place third at a Calgary World Cup in November for his fastest time since a 6:01.86 in 2017, which was a world record for four years.

But overtraining and travel to Inzell, Germany, for the last World Cup before the Olympic Games may have taken its toll on Bloemen, said his longtime coach Bart Schouten.

“We did a little too much hard training in January, and then when we came to Inzell with the jet lag, we did a couple of workouts that were, I think, a little bit too intense,” Schouten said.

“He’s 39 now. It takes a lot longer for an athlete to come back. We did three workouts in a row that I think were harder than we actually put on the program, so that just took a little too much out of him. I think his recovery was really taking longer because of that.”

Bloemen says he doesn’t have fond memories of Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olympics. He found training for, and competing in, a pandemic Winter Games draining.

“He really wanted to have his kid’s memories of him racing,” Schouten said. “I don’t think he was ever sure he was going to race until these Olympics, but I think as he went along I think, he sensed he could still be good, which I think he proved in November in Calgary when he skated faster than ever.”

Bloemen has the opportunity Friday to create more Olympic memories for his children before his career is over.

“I’m just going to regroup and rest up a little bit and go full send again on the 10k,” he stated.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press