Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado Detained in Caracas

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was detained on Thursday during anti-government protests in Caracas, coinciding with President Nicolás Maduro's impending third-term inauguration. Machado, who recently emerged from hiding, was reportedly 'violently intercepted' by security forces as her motorcade was attacked, prompting claims of a kidnapping from her allies. This incident follows President Biden's recognition of Edmundo González Urrutia as the actual election winner, intensifying tensions ahead of Maduro's swearing-in. Demonstrations in various cities, including Caracas, saw both opposition supporters and pro-Maduro factions rallying, while González expressed hope for a return to Caracas under free circumstances. The Venezuelan government dismissed claims of Machado's arrest as a 'media distraction,' while international condemnation, including from Spain, underscored the incident's significance. Overall, Machado's detention signals a troubling escalation in the Venezuelan government's crackdown on dissent amidst a politically charged atmosphere.