Rosario Murillo in the news as Nicaragua faces international scrutiny over governance; longtime first lady, now VP, wife of Daniel Ortega. Born 1951.
As of April 28, 2026, Cuba is facing severe economic and energy crises worsened by a US oil blockade following the removal of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has reiterated Cuba's sovereignty and readiness to defend against any US military aggression, rejecting demands for regime change. Meanwhile, secret negotiations between Washington and Havana are addressing longstanding property claims by Cuban exiles whose assets were seized after the 1959 revolution.
Venezuelan opposition leader Machado has visited Spain, meeting with opposition figures and avoiding talks with the government. She has received a warm welcome from conservative leaders, highlighting divisions within Venezuelan politics and contrasting her approach with that of the Spanish government, which emphasizes democratic sovereignty.
Nicaragua’s government has attributed Rivera’s death to a bacterial infection in a patient who had been in state custody since Sept. 2023. Critics say the illness narrative masks detention conditions and political motivations. The U.S. calls for unconditional release of Rivera and other political prisoners.