Edmundo González, recognized by the U.S. as Venezuela’s president-elect, is on a mission to bolster global support before autocrat Nicolás Maduro is sworn in this week.

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, recognized as president-elect by several countries, arrived in Panama on Tuesday, one of his last stops on the tour he undertook before trying to return to Venezuela to take office,

Venezuelan opposition parties and NGOs decried the arrests of a prominent press freedom activist and a well-known opposition figure, among others, ahead of planned protests against Friday's inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro for his third term.

Machado, a former lawmaker who has spearheaded the opposition to President Nicolas Maduro in recent years, was detained by security agents who shot at motorcycles she was using to leave a protest in Caracas, the capital, according to posts on social media from her party. She was freed about an hour later, according to the party.

Venezuela’s government has doubled down on its intention to arrest the opposition leader who claims to have defeated President Nicolás Maduro in last year’s election

His subdued tone and poker face, forged as a diplomat, go against the usual image in Venezuela of boisterous politicians. Maduro and his allies have taken his demeanor as a sign of weakness and chastised him on national TV.

Countries across the region celebrated the Epiphany with performance and gift giveaways. Also known as Three Kings Day, it is one of the oldest festivals of the Catholic Church — commemorating the Biblical journey of the three Magi to visit baby Jesus that faithful view as evidence that Jesus was the son of God.

Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro began a third term as president on Friday, cementing his increasingly authoritarian rule.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been freed after a brief detention following a public appearance and protest, her movement says.

The German government is in "permanent" discussions over whether to delete its presence on the X platform due to concerns over its algorithms, a spokesperson said on Friday.

Machado’s appearance at the rally was her first public appearance in months, since a government crackdown on Venezeulan opposition figures and their supporters last year.