Following negotiations with the United States, the Venezuelan government under President Nicolás Maduro has begun releasing individuals considered political prisoners, including Roberto Abdul, president of Súmate, and six union leaders. The releases were unexpected by the activists, who initially thought they were being transferred. The six activists had been detained since July of the previous year and were sentenced to 16 years in prison for 'conspiracy' and 'association to commit crimes.' Civil society organizations have reported irregularities in the detentions, and the International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela has highlighted ongoing human rights violations in the country. The US government has temporarily lifted some sanctions on the Venezuelan oil sector for six months but has warned that non-compliance with agreements could lead to a reversal of these measures.

Over two million Venezuelans voted in the opposition primaries on Sunday, with María Corina Machado garnering 92.35% of the votes, according to the Comisión Nacional de Primaria.

María Corina Machado, a potential presidential candidate in Venezuela, promises to dismantle socialism and move towards a liberal republic if she comes to power. Her political project includes privatizing public companies, establishing economic order, and seeking international financing. She plans to engage with multilateral organizations like the IMF and the Inter-American Development Bank for funding public sector investments in health and education, and to restructure public debt. Machado also aims to privatize the oil industry, specifically PDVSA, in an orderly fashion, and reduce the size of the state to focus on essential services. She envisions Venezuela as the Energy Hub of the Americas through a transparent privatization process.

Cocuy, a traditional Venezuelan agave-based spirit similar to Mexican mezcal, is overcoming its negative reputation in Venezuela. Producers like María Durán and José de Luca from Magno Cocuy are working to elevate the drink's status, which was once associated with poverty and drunkenness. Despite the challenges, cocuy is gaining international recognition, with Magno Cocuy winning awards at the New York International Spirits Competition. Efforts are underway to expand the Denomination of Controlled Origin (DOC) nationwide and to promote semi-industrial and industrial production through new legislation. The industry aims to become a source of national pride and a significant contributor to Venezuela's economy.

In Venezuela, credit is practically non-existent, with the credit portfolio barely reaching 1.5% of the GDP, the lowest in Latin America. Despite a slight economic rebound in 2022, credit did not take off. Economist Alejandro Castro emphasizes the importance of credit for revitalizing the Venezuelan economy. President Nicolás Maduro has encouraged banks to finance small entrepreneurs, but progress is limited. The economy fell 7 points in the first half of 2023, entering a recession, according to the independent Observatorio Venezolano de Finanzas. Mobile applications like Cashea, which started in 2022, are emerging to meet the demand for loans, offering credit from $50 to $200. However, marketing these apps is challenging due to Venezuela's poor internet connectivity, which is among the worst in the world.

The Médanos de Coro, a small desert in Venezuela, accumulates vast amounts of sand, some of which originates from the Sahara Desert in Africa. This phenomenon occurs annually as massive amounts of sand are lifted into the atmosphere by the trade winds and deposited across the Atlantic. Venezuelan geographer Rafael Ruano explains that the accumulation is facilitated by the region's scarce rainfall and contributions from marine currents. Despite the dynamic nature of the Médanos, with dunes constantly moving, Ruano believes they are unlikely to disappear unless there is a catastrophic change in atmospheric wind circulation.

In La Vela, Venezuela, a port city, traders and sailors are attempting to recover from a four-year halt in maritime exports to the Dutch islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, following the closure of maritime borders in 2019. The closure, ordered by the Venezuelan government to block US humanitarian aid, severely impacted the local economy, with a significant dependency on trade with Curaçao. Despite the gradual reopening of borders since May, challenges such as the need for costly permits, equipment, and the competition from other countries like Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, have made it difficult for local shipowners like Ángel Higuera to resume operations. The Chamber of Commerce of La Vela de Coro's vice president, Juan Gotopo, highlighted the economic blow to the community and the recent modest exports of fruits and vegetables to the islands.

For the first time, Venezuelan children and youth will participate in a robotics world championship, with preliminary local tournaments serving as a testing ground for their skills. Stefhanie Lúquez, 16, is among those aiming to represent Venezuela at the World Robotics Olympiad in Panama this November. Despite the public education crisis in Venezuela, with many schools lacking basic resources, the Centro de Innovación Educativa at the Universidad Católica de Venezuela is supporting these students by providing robotics kits and computers. Assaf Yamin, a consultant at CIED, emphasizes the need for more political will to promote such subjects within the educational system. The students are currently focused on constructing a robot that can precisely and quickly move a ship to a designated area, a challenge that mirrors the operations of the Panama Canal they are emulating.

Inspiring Girls, an NGO operating in 30 countries, is working to change the perception of girls and adolescents in vulnerable areas of Venezuela who often see their future limited to caregiving or domestic work. The organization's director in Venezuela, Meily Chang, highlights the structural crisis affecting the country and how it shapes the girls' views of their future. With many young girls taking on responsibilities due to parents migrating, Inspiring Girls aims to boost their professional ambitions through talks and sharing success stories of women engineers. The NGO notes a 30% loss in self-confidence among girls between the ages of 8 and 14, and emphasizes the importance of self-confidence. The article also mentions Venezuela's low rate of female labor participation as reported by the Inter-American Development Bank.

Valeria Torres, a 16-year-old Venezuelan, became an impromptu teacher for her cousins and neighbors in Maracay during the COVID-19 school closures. Without access to internet or televised lessons, Valeria improvised a classroom in her home, assisting students aged 4 to 16 with their education. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced the resumption of in-person classes with safety measures, as the country received 100,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. The distance education system, which relies on online and pre-recorded TV classes, has been criticized for its ineffectiveness, especially given Venezuela's poor internet service and economic crisis. Valeria, who aspires to study law, uses a cellphone with limited internet access to research and complete assignments, sometimes receiving small financial contributions from parents of the children she helps.

Venezuela, once a rich oil-producing country, is now facing severe shortages of gas and gasoline, forcing residents like Kira Pimentel in Maracay to cook with wood. The crisis is attributed to the decline of the energy sector, with the state oil company PDVSA's deterioration and the impact of US sanctions according to President Nicolás Maduro, while the opposition blames corruption and mismanagement. The industrial and agricultural region of Aragua has seen a dramatic reduction in operational businesses, and residents are struggling to make ends meet, with some resorting to selling traditional food or buying gas at exorbitant black market prices. The government has proposed a 'plan leña' to provide wood for cooking to avoid deforestation, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Twenty-seven Venezuelans, including 16 children, were deported from Trinidad and Tobago but had to be returned after their boat failed, leaving them adrift for 48 hours. Upon return, they were detained, and their situation has raised human rights concerns. David Smolansky of the OAS and attorney Nafeesa Mohammed confirmed their detention. Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Keith Rowley accused OAS officials of using the children for political purposes, while National Security Minister Stuart Young defended the deportations. The UN Human Rights Office and the IACHR have expressed concern and called for the protection of the migrants' rights.

The U.S. political climate has created a sense of déjà-vu for Venezuelan-Americans, reminiscent of the political fractures experienced in Venezuela. Families are divided, with some supporting Trump and others Biden. Joaquín Pérez, a naturalized U.S. citizen who opposed Chávez in Venezuela, will vote for Biden, while his son Alberto will vote for Trump. Despite agreeing on similarities between Trump and Chávez, they have different conclusions about the implications. The Venezuelan-American community in Florida is closely watched by both candidates, with Trump's administration taking a hard stance against Maduro's government. Joaquín hopes for a Biden presidency that would engage in dialogue, while Alberto supports Trump's economic message and pressure on Venezuela. The Venezuelan-American vote is seen as pivotal in the upcoming U.S. elections, with both candidates seeking their support.

Amira, a pseudonym to protect her identity due to her immigration status, is a Syrian woman who immigrated to Venezuela at the age of three and later moved to the United States in 2015 with her two teenage children. In Venezuela, she was a successful businesswoman but had to reinvent herself multiple times due to the country's economic crisis. In the U.S., she works as a truck driver and faces the fear of deportation, which could affect her children's future. Despite the challenges, Amira is determined to provide for her family and is open to moving to Canada if necessary.

Thousands of Venezuelans, who had left their country due to the crisis and became unemployed due to the pandemic, are desperate to return home. With Venezuela's airports closed since March and limited access through the Colombia-Venezuela border, an illegal market and corruption have flourished. People pay bribes to cut in line or purchase travel packages that bypass quarantine protocols. David Smolansky of the OEA criticizes the violation of citizens' rights to return to their birth country. The Venezuelan government has set up quarantine shelters, which have been described as unsanitary and extortionate. Despite the challenges, some Venezuelans, like Luis, have managed to return home after enduring long waits and difficult conditions.