The United Nations says it has received troubling reports that detainees in Venezuela continue to face torture and mistreatment even after the removal of former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.

Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said allegations indicate that serious human rights abuses may still be taking place inside the country’s detention system.

Maduro was captured by United States Armed Forces during a January operation and later transferred to US custody to face charges related to narcotics trafficking.

Following his removal, former vice-president Delcy Rodríguez assumed power and has introduced an amnesty law aimed at freeing detainees. Türk welcomed the measure but warned that deeper human rights problems remain.

“Structural and systemic human rights concerns have persisted,” he said.

According to Türk, many Venezuelans remain in arbitrary detention despite the amnesty legislation passed last month. He noted that at least one child is among those reportedly being held.

Authorities in Caracas say thousands of people have been granted freedom under the new law. The Venezuelan parliament — dominated by Maduro loyalists — claims more than 7,700 individuals have been released or had restrictions lifted.

However, the prisoners’ rights organisation Foro Penal says it has been able to verify the release of fewer than 700 detainees so far and estimates that more than 500 people remain imprisoned for political reasons.

Türk highlighted the gap between official figures and independent assessments, urging the Venezuelan authorities to provide more transparency.

His office has requested an official list of detainees released under the amnesty law as well as unrestricted access to several detention facilities, but those requests have so far not been granted.

The UN also says it has received information indicating continued abuse of prisoners at detention centres including Rodeo 1 detention centre and Fuerte Guaicaipuro.

Türk’s remarks come shortly after the Independent International Fact‑Finding Mission on Venezuela updated the Human Rights Council on its latest findings.

The mission reported that Venezuela’s repressive state structures remain largely intact despite Maduro’s removal and that institutions linked to previous abuses are still operating.

In earlier investigations, the mission documented numerous cases in which detainees were subjected to torture, sexual violence and other cruel or degrading treatment inside Venezuelan detention facilities.

Venezuelan officials have repeatedly rejected such accusations, describing previous UN reports as politically motivated and driven by hostile interests.

Explosions have been reported in Tehran as tensions escalate in the growing confrontation involving Iran, with the United States warning that the current phase of attacks could mark the most intense day of military action so far.

Speaking earlier, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would likely be the “most intense” day of strikes targeting Iran since the escalation began.

Meanwhile, one of the most significant Iranian attacks reported on Tuesday involved a drone strike at the Ruwais Industrial Complex in Abu Dhabi, home to the largest oil refinery in the Middle East.

According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, a fire broke out at the facility following the strike, but authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported. Officials have not yet released additional details about the extent of the damage.

Sources cited by both Reuters and Agence France-Presse said the refinery halted operations as a precaution after the incident.

The complex is operated by the state oil company Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and has the capacity to produce about 922,000 barrels of oil per day, making it a critical part of the region’s energy infrastructure.

Elsewhere, the defence ministry reported that eight ballistic missiles and 26 drones were intercepted on Tuesday as air defence systems responded to incoming threats. Officials said that nine drones were able to bypass defences and reach their intended areas.

Authorities have also adjusted the country’s national early warning system. Alerts sent to mobile phones overnight were noticeably quieter than usual, aimed at reducing disruption for residents while still providing notification of potential threats.

Earlier in Dubai, residents received a standard text message notification instead of the loud, repeated alarm tone that had previously accompanied attack alerts.

In Washington, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was questioned about reports that an Iranian school had been struck and how long it might take to determine whether US forces were responsible.

Leavitt said the United States Department of Defense was investigating the incident and that the inquiry remains ongoing.

South Korea has entered a new chapter in its democratic journey after former president Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating an insurrection through an attempted imposition of military rule.

A court in Seoul ruled that Yoon sought to undermine constitutional order by deploying military forces to seal off the National Assembly of South Korea and ordering the detention of political opponents on 3 December 2024. Presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon said the actions caused profound harm to the nation’s democratic foundations and warranted severe punishment. Prosecutors had pushed for the death penalty.

Although the martial law order lasted only a few hours before being overturned by lawmakers, its aftermath has reshaped the political landscape. Large crowds of Yoon’s supporters gathered outside the court ahead of sentencing, holding banners and expressing hope for his return. Across from them stood demonstrators demanding the harshest penalty.

Yoon remained composed as the ruling was delivered. His legal team rejected the judgment, claiming it lacked evidentiary basis and accusing the court of bias. An appeal from either side would move the case to the Supreme Court of Korea, potentially extending legal proceedings for months.

The crisis began when Yoon announced martial law during a televised address, citing the need to defend the state from forces he alleged were sympathetic to North Korea. However, the move unfolded against a backdrop of mounting domestic pressure, including legislative gridlock and corruption allegations involving his wife.

Lawmakers ultimately forced their way into the National Assembly to reverse the decree, triggering a period of political upheaval that led to Yoon’s impeachment and multiple prosecutions of senior officials.

The court has already handed down significant sentences to others implicated in the plot. Former prime minister Han Duck-soo received a 23-year prison term, while former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun was jailed for 30 years after advising the martial law order.

Additional convictions have followed for key figures including ex-interior minister Lee Sang-min, former intelligence commander Roh Sang-won, and ex-police chief Cho Ji-ho—with judges describing the episode as an “insurrection from the top”.