Venezuela, meanwhile, announced it had freed 116 more people jailed under Maduro – many for taking part in protests after his disputed 2024 election. Rights groups questioned the numbers, and family members clamoured for speedier releases promised by Caracas under pressure from Washington. Relatives have been camped out at prisons for days, growing increasingly restless as loved ones have failed to appear. On Sunday, Trump said he was open to a meeting with Rodriguez and that his administration was working “really well” with hers. The opposition and much of the international community consider Urrutia the legitimate victor of Venezuela’s last presidential election.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 13, 2026 05:53 UTC