At least 80 political prisoners released in Venezuela, rights group leader says

At least 80 people considered political prisoners by ‌a leading Venezuelan rights group ‍had been released on Sunday as part of a continuing release process, according to the leader ⁠of the group.The people were released from prisons across the country and more releases were likely to take place, Alfredo Romero, ‍the director of Venezuelan human rights group ‍Foro Penal, said on social media.Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez said ‌on Friday that 626 people have been released ‍from prison but she did not specify the timeline of the reported releases.Foro Penal, however, before Sunday ‌had confirmed ⁠the release of just 156 political prisoners in Venezuela since January 8.Rodriguez said she is expecting to have a ‌call on Monday with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‌Volker Turk, to ‌ask the UN to verify the lists of those released so far in the Andean nation.Rubio says US to control Venezuelan oil sales indefinitelyRubio says US to control Venezuelan oil sales indefinitelyMeanwhile, a crude tanker chartered ‌by Trafigura departed on Sunday from Venezuela’s Jose port ‍to Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), LSEG data and documents showed, the first cargo going directly to the US as part of a 50-million-barrel supply deal agreed this ⁠month between Caracas and Washington.