Symbolic imageVenezuela frees 131 political prisoners after first talks round
Venezuela's interim government granted 131 political detainees 'alternative measures' to jail on Friday. Washington called it a crucial step for national reconciliation.
Releases began at El Rodeo I prison outside Caracas, where independent tallies fell below the official figure: Foro Penal confirmed 40 to 64, the opposition group Vente Venezuela 43. Among the first freed was Emirlendris Benitez, accused over a drone attack on former president Nicolás Maduro and, rights groups say, tortured in custody. Foro Penal counted 391 political prisoners still held on 10 August; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said 1,046 Venezuelans have been freed since the US military captured Maduro on 3 January.
Talks passed over the detainees
The first round of US-brokered talks, led by Dinorah Figuera for the opposition and National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, closed on Wednesday, 12 August with agreements on judicial reform and on frozen funds abroad, but nothing on prisoners.
Castro tribute draws Rubio rebuke
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez marked Fidel Castro's centenary this week, praising him as a figure who 'transcends time'. Rubio called him 'a complete failure at everything except destroying Cuba'.
Gas fields open to foreign firms
BP and Abu Dhabi's XRG have taken Venezuelan offshore gas licences.
Other opinions
The South China Morning Post casts the Castro row as a test of Caracas's balance between Washington and Beijing, whose commercial stakes Le Monde and Al Jazeera leave unmentioned.