Venezuela

Venezuela's economy is attempting a high-risk restructuring of over $150 billion in debt while courting foreign oil investors, including Exxon and crypto billionaires, amid de facto US control of oil revenues. The government flooded markets with dollars to ease inflation, but a gas facility explosion and ongoing US military presence underscore persistent instability.

• 4Crypto Billionaire Joins Investors Making Risky Venezuela Bet for Outsized Returns
• 4Venezuela begins restructuring over $150 billion in debt
• 3Explosion at Venezuela gas facility, 6 workers injured
• 3Sheinbaum appoints Rodríguez as head of Pemex
• 3Venezuela Floods Market With Dollars to Ease Inflation Pressure

The political landscape is defined by the US capture of Maduro and Trump's proposal to make Venezuela a US state, which Rodriguez rejected. Opposition leader Machado signaled readiness to negotiate elections, while the US Secretary of State mocked Maduro and his son admitted regime excesses.

• 6Rubio flies to Beijing dressed as kidnapped Maduro
• 6Rodriguez rejects idea of Venezuela becoming a US state - news.cgtn.com
• 5Trump says he is seriously considering making Venezuela the 51st US state
• 4Venezuelan opposition leader Machado ready to negotiate elections
• 3Venezuelan prison director sacked as inmates allege mistreatment

Security is dominated by the US deportation of Maduro ally Alex Saab and a US military drill over Caracas, signaling direct US enforcement. Domestically, prisoners took control of a prison over alleged torture, and the Tren de Aragua gang was arrested in Madrid, highlighting state and gang violence.

• 22Venezuela deports Maduro ally Alex Saab to the US
• 5US military drill over Caracas after Maduro's capture
• 3‘No more torture’: Venezuelan inmates take control of prison over alleged abuse, set it on fire
• 1Six members of violent Tren de Aragua gang arrested in Madrid
• 1Venezuelan prisoners face violence from gangs and state

Societal tension centers on prison abuse and political repression: inmates set fire to a prison to protest torture, and a mother died after her son died in state custody. A new malaria-carrying mosquito species adds a public health threat, while Venezuelans protest disappearance of political prisoners.

• 3Venezuela reacts to latest revelations about Zapatero
• 2Venezuela inmates occupy prison roof and set fire to mattresses to highlight alleged abuse
• 2Venezuelan mother dies 10 days after state confirms missing son died in custody
• 1New mosquito species found in Venezuela can spread malaria
• 1Venezuelans protest disappearance of political prisoners