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Venezuela says over 100 political prisoners released; pope meets Machado

Venezuela says over 100 political prisoners released; pope meets Machado

Penitentiary Services Ministry says those freed had been ‘deprived of their liberty’ for acts associated with disrupting the constitutional order. Published On 12 Jan 202612 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share At least 116 prisoners have been released in Venezuela after their arrests during the presidency of Nicolas Maduro, the government has announced, nine days after the United States abducted Maduro. Venezuela’s Ministry of Penitentiary Services reported on Monday that the prisoners had been released “in the past few hours”. It followed a similar release a few days ago. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The ministry added that those freed had been “deprived of their liberty for acts associated with disrupting the constitutional order and undermining the stability of the nation”. Two Italian citizens were also released, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pledged to upgrade Rome’s relations with Caracas in response. Dozens of dual Italian-Venezuelan nationals remain in prison. However, the Foro Penal group, a human rights organisation, contended earlier on Monday that only 41 people had been released, including 24 people freed overnight. The release of political prisoners in Venezuela has been a long-running call of human rights groups, international bodies and opposition figures. Human rights groups estimated there are 800 to 1,200 political prisoners in Venezuela. The releases, which began on Thursday, came after pressure by US President Donald Trump, who stated that Washington was “in charge” of the Latin American country following the military operation on January 3 to abduct Maduro, which sparked global protests and criticism. Maduro now faces drug-trafficking charges and is currently being held in a prison in New York. Advertisement On Saturday, Trump celebrated the release of the prisoners in what he called a “big way”. He added that he hopes those freed “will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done”. A papal audience In the meantime, Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado met with Pope Leo XIV during a private audience on Monday. So far, few details have been released about the meeting. On Friday, the pontiff called for Venezuela’s sovereignty to be protected and issued an appeal “to respect the will of the Venezuelan people and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all.” Machado, who is currently touring Europe, is expected to meet with Trump this week after he said on January 3 that she did not have the support or respect to lead the country. She had dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, who deeply covets the honour himself. The Venezuelan opposition, which has been supported by Republican and Democratic administrations in the US, had pledged to replace Maduro with one of their own. However, after the abduction of Maduro, Trump sidestepped the group, and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez became interim president. Adblock test (Why?)

Israel considers plan to expand settlement in occupied East Jerusalem

Israel considers plan to expand settlement in occupied East Jerusalem

NewsFeed Israeli municipal authorities are discussing plans to advance an illegal settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim reports from Kufr Aqab, near the site where Israel may demolish more Palestinian homes to make space for settlers. Published On 12 Jan 202612 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)

Cuban president says no talks with US amid Trump’s escalating threats

Cuban president says no talks with US amid Trump’s escalating threats

Diaz-Canel rejects Trump’s threats, emphasising Cuba’s independence and commitment to defending its sovereignty. By News Agencies Published On 12 Jan 202612 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has said that there are no current talks between Havana and the United States, as US President Donald Trump ratchets up threats against Cuba following his attack on Venezuela. Diaz-Canel stated in a social media post on Monday that routine coordination on immigration continues between Cuba and the US, but that no larger talks are currently taking place. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “We have always been willing to maintain serious and responsible dialogue with the various US administrations, including the current one, on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect and the principles of international law,” Diaz-Canel said. He added that relations between the US and Cuba should be based on international law rather than “hostility, threats, and economic coercion”. Trump has said that the US could ramp up pressure on Cuba after the US abduction of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in a January 3 attack that killed at least 100 people, including 32 members of the Cuban security forces in the country for security cooperation. The US president stated on Sunday that Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba would be cut off and that the government in Havana should “make a deal” with the US before it’s “too late”. Trump also told reporters that the US was “talking to Cuba” without offering further details. Diaz-Canel responded to Trump’s comments on Sunday by saying that Cuba was a “free, independent, and sovereign” country and would defend itself “to the last drop of blood”. Venezuelan oil was an important economic lifeline to Cuba, isolated and under heavy US sanctions, providing 35,000 barrels of oil per day before the US attack, according to estimates from Jorge Pinon of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Advertisement Pinon, who tracks the shipments, also estimates that Mexico supplies Cuba with approximately 5,500 barrels of oil per day, while Russia supplies 7,500. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has previously said that the US attack on Venezuela has increased the relative importance of Mexican oil to Cuba, but that Mexico has not increased oil sales to Havana. Sheinbaum, who has responded to recent threats from Trump of possible military strikes against criminal groups on Mexican soil with a firm insistence on the country’s sovereignty, said that she spoke with Trump on Monday to discuss cooperation on issues such as commerce, security, and drug trafficking. “We had a very good conversation with US President Donald Trump,” Sheinbaum said in a social media post, adding that the talks included a discussion of security “with respect to our sovereignties”. “Collaboration and cooperation within a framework of mutual respect always yield results,” she said. Adblock test (Why?)