Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodríguez has called for an end to punitive sanctions and a U.S. blockade, urging US President Donald Trump to lift economic restrictions on Venezuela. Rodríguez said these measures have harmed Venezuela’s economy and people and emphasized the need for renewed dialogue and cooperation between Caracas and Washington as relations shift following recent political changes.


Venezuelan Leader Calls for End to Punitive Sanctions |Rodriguez Urges Trump to Lift Sanctions

Amid intense pressure from the Trump administration, Pentagon officials have summoned the chief executive of the artificial intelligence company Anthropic to Washington for a meeting on Tuesday to discuss how its technology is used on classified systems.



Pentagon, Anthropic in High Stakes AI Talks; Military Use of Claude at Core of Dispute

Nearly 2,200 people in Venezuela have been released from prison or had legal restrictions lifted under a newly enacted amnesty law, according to a ruling party lawmaker. The legislation, aimed at addressing political detentions and normalising relations with international partners, has seen hundreds freed and thousands lifted from court‑imposed restrictions. Critics, however, argue it still falls short of fully addressing political prisoner concerns.


Venezuela: Nearly 2,200 Granted Release or Legal Relief Across Venezuela

More than 200 political prisoners at the Rodeo I jail east of Caracas have begun a hunger strike after a newly passed amnesty law excluded many of them, including those accused of serious offenses. Relatives and supporters have expressed anguish as the inmates protest their continued detention and call for release under the law’s provisions.


Venezuela Amnesty Bill: Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Venezuela Prisoners Hunger Strike: 200+ Political Detainees Protest Amnesty Exclusion

Cuba is facing frequent power cuts as the United States’ energy blockade continues to strain the island’s electricity supply. The ongoing restrictions have worsened the nation’s energy crisis, affecting households, businesses, and essential services.


US Energy Blockade Cripples Cuban Hospital; Ambulances Are Out Of Fuel

The US military on Friday (Feb 20) launched another strike against an alleged drug boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people. In a post on X, the US Southern Command said that the vessel was operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations”. The strikes come as US President Donald Trump continues his campaign in the Caribbean and Pacific waters as part of a crackdown against alleged drug smuggling boats. The latest strike marks the second one this week.


US Military Hits “Drug Boat” Eastern Pacific, Leaves 3 Dead

Once envisioned in the 1950s as a futuristic drive-through shopping centre, El Helicoide in Caracas was never completed and later became Venezuela’s most notorious detention and torture site for political prisoners under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. Now, under US pressure, acting president Delcy Rodríguez has announced plans to shut the facility and convert it into a sports, cultural and commercial centre, a move critics say risks erasing the dark legacy of repression tied to the site.


Venezuela's El Helicoide Prison to Be Transformed Into Sports, Social & Cultural Centre

As of mid-February 2026, families of political prisoners in Caracas, Venezuela, have escalated protests, including a hunger strike, to demand the immediate release of detainees still held despite an ongoing political transition following the US-led ouster of Nicolas Maduro. 


Family Members of Political Prisoners Stage Protest in Venezuela's Capital Caracas

U.S. military forces have intercepted and boarded the Panamanian‑flagged oil tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean, after tracking it from the Caribbean, the Pentagon said. The vessel, under U.S. sanctions and linked to Venezuelan and Iranian crude shipments, attempted to evade enforcement measures ordered by President Donald Trump in December 2025. Video released by U.S. forces shows the boarding operation, carried out without incident in international waters, as part of broader efforts to disrupt sanctioned oil flows and enforce maritime sanctions.

US Oil Blockade: Pentagon Intercepts Sanctioned Veronica III After Pursuit From Caribbean

Anthropic's artificial-intelligence model Claude was used in the U.S. military's operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Claude's deployment came via Anthropic's partnership with data firm Palantir Technologies (PLTR.O), opens new tab, whose platforms are widely used by the Defense Department and federal law enforcement, the report added.

WSJ: Anthropic's Claude AI Deployed in Maduro Raid

Venezuela’s ruling-party-controlled parliament on Thursday debated a measure that could free hundreds of opposition members, activists and human rights defenders who have been detained for months or years for political reasons.

Venezuela’s Lawmakers Postpone Final Debate on Amnesty Bill to Address Sticking Points

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab has called for an ambitious amnesty law to include former president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in efforts to national reconciliation, hoping the legislation will help pacify the country and move past years of political turmoil. The proposed amnesty bill, now being debated in the National Assembly, also aims to free hundreds of political prisoners and released detainees following recent government shifts. Critics warn the law must be transparent and fair, excluding serious crimes. The move comes amid ongoing uncertainty after Maduro’s capture and evolving political dynamics in Venezuela.

Venezuela’s Amnesty Push: AG Urges Amnesty for Maduro & Cilia Flores

Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado has vowed to return to Venezuela despite the recent detention of a close ally. The opposition leader has criticised new arrests and says she will go back to confront the regime and push for democratic reforms.


Nobel Laureate Machado Vows To Return To Venezuela Despite Ally's Detention

Cuba is experiencing its most severe energy crisis in decades, affecting daily life and infrastructure across the island. Meanwhile, former President Trump has intensified political and economic pressure on Havana. This video explores the crisis, its causes, and the potential impacts on Cuba’s population and international relations.


After Venezuela, Is Cuba's Communist Govt Next US Target?

U.S. military forces boarded and intercepted a Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after pursuing it from the Caribbean, accusing the vessel of defying Washington’s sanctions and oil blockade. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that ships trying to evade U.S. forces won’t succeed, saying they would “run out of fuel” before escaping.


US Intercepts Venezuela-Linked Vessel in Indian Ocean

Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado has vowed to return to Venezuela despite the recent detention of a close ally. The opposition leader has criticised new arrests and says she will go back to confront the regime and push for democratic reforms.

US-Venezuela Tensions: Nobel Laureate Machado Vows Return to Venezuela Amid Ally’s Arrest 

U.S. forces seized the sanctioned Venezuelan oil tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean on February 9, 2026, after a dramatic monthlong pursuit spanning 10,000 miles from the Caribbean.



U.S. Navy Hunts Down Venezuelan Tanker Across Two Oceans 

Cuba has halted airline refueling and is reeling from a US-ordered halt in Venezuelan oil shipments, deepening a crippling energy crisis. The government has imposed emergency measures, including reductions in bus and train services, and transport and power cutbacks as shortages spread across the island.


Cuba Reeling From US-Ordered Halt in Shipments From Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has said national elections could be held within a year as the country undergoes a fragile transition. Signalling possible tensions with the Trump administration, White House officials prioritise rebuilding Venezuela over an immediate polls timeline even as Machado pushes for a faster democratic process.


US-Venezuela Tensions: Have Trump-Machado Ties Deteriorated? 'Rebuilding More Important Than Polls'

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says her country could hold national elections later in 2026, a credible process with manual voting might be possible in about nine to ten months depending on when preparations begin. Machado’s party claims strong popular and military support for democratic change, but logistical and political hurdles remain as Venezuela navigates a complex transition.

Machado Says Venezuelan Elections Could Happen This Year

The US military on Thursday said it killed two alleged drug traffickers in a strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific, bringing the death toll from Washington's campaign to at least 128."Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the US Southern Command said in a post on X, adding "no US military forces were harmed" in the operation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On Feb. 5, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOUTHCOM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOUTHCOM</a> Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking… <a href="https://t.co/B3ctyN1lke">pic.twitter.com/B3ctyN1lke</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2019599912107712962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

President Donald Trump's administration began targeting alleged smuggling boats in early September, insisting it is effectively at war with alleged "narco-terrorists" operating out of Venezuela.But it has provided no definitive evidence that the vessels are involved in drug trafficking, prompting heated debate about the legality of the operations, which have expanded from the Caribbean to the Pacific.Late last month, the US military carried out another strike in the eastern Pacific, killing two alleged drug traffickers.Last week, relatives of two Trinidadian men killed last year in a strike on a boat the military said was carrying drugs filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the US government.It is the first such case to be brought against the Trump administration over its missile strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The US military says it killed two suspected drug traffickers in a boat strike in the eastern Pacific, bringing the death toll from Washington’s anti-smuggling campaign to at least 128. 

The US military on Thursday said it killed two alleged drug traffickers in a strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific, bringing the death toll from Washington's campaign to at least 128. "Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the US Southern Command said in a post on X, adding "no US military forces were harmed" in the operation.

The US military says it killed two suspected drug traffickers in a boat strike in the eastern Pacific, bringing the death toll from Washington’s anti-smuggling campaign to at least 128.&nbsp;

US narco-trafficking boat strike kills 2, campaign death toll reaches 128

Venezuela’s National Assembly has unanimously approved an amnesty bill in its first reading, advancing legislation aimed at national reconciliation and clemency for political offences dating back to 1999. The bill would lift bans on opposition leaders, including María Corina Machado, and could free protesters and political detainees, though serious crimes are excluded from amnesty.


Venezuela Passes Amnesty Bill in First Vote; Opposition Bans Lifted |

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez has appointed key cabinet members and met with U.S. envoy Laura Dogu in Caracas, marking a step toward restoring diplomatic relations with Washington and advancing discussions on transition, stabilization, and cooperation after the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.


Venezuela’s Rodriguez Appoints New Cabinet, Meets US Envoy as Diplomatic Ties Rebuild 

Venezuelan activist Tarazona has been released from a notorious prison along with eight other detainees, human rights groups say this marks a significant moment in the country’s ongoing political struggles, experts highlight the release amid domestic and international pressure, stay tuned for live updates, reactions from political analysts, and insights into the implications for Venezuela’s human rights situation and government accountability.


Venezuela Activist Tarazona Released From Notorious Jail With 8 Others

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said India will buy Venezuelan oil, helping to replace some of the Russian oil that the world's third-biggest oil importer buys.


Trump Says India Will Buy Venezuelan Oil, New Delhi Has Not Responded to Trump's Claims

Trump: India Will Buy Venezuelan Oil, Replace Imports From Iran

India's PM Modi and Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez discussed elevating their strategic partnership on January 30, 2026, with energy cooperation-including potential renewed crude imports-taking center stage post-Maduro's ouster.


India-Venezuela: Strategic Energy Deal After Maduro Fall 

The U.S. eased select oil sanctions on Venezuela following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro, enabling private investment as acting president Delcy Rodríguez signed sweeping reforms overhauling the oil industry.



U.S. Unlocks Venezuela Oil: Sanctions Eased, Private Boom Ahead

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted "decent progress" with Venezuela's interim leader Rodríguez, while opposition figure María Corina Machado branded the prior Maduro regime "criminals" amid stabilization efforts post-abduction.


Venezuela's Army and Police Pledge Loyalty to Interim Leader Delcy Rodriguez

US-Venezuela tensions: Marco Rubio rules out further military action in Venezuela

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