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US, Venezuela reach deal on prisoner swap
The US and Venezuela have agreed on a prisoner swap that includes the release of 10 detained US citizens in exchange for clemency to a high-profile businessman accused of money laundering, senior US administration officials confirmed. Releasing political prisoners was among US conditions for continuing to pause restrictions on Venezuela's oil industry, along with free and fair presidential elections in 2024, although a senior administration official said that the agreement was not a direct exchange. "In terms of sanctions relief, I want to underscore ... that at no point have we talked about sanctions relief or oil ... (full story)