Venezuela's Maduro prepares for third term amid crackdown on dissent and detentions of U.S. citizens

Nicolás Maduro is set to be sworn in for a third term as Venezuela's president on Friday, despite widespread condemnation for alleged election fraud. His new term could extend his party's rule into its third decade. Maduro's government is intensifying its crackdown on dissent, with increased police and military presence in Caracas. Many journalists and activists remain imprisoned, while opposition leader María Corina Machado has been in hiding. Machado recently emerged to join protests against Maduro, where thousands of supporters rallied for change. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle for democracy in Venezuela amid severe economic and social challenges.