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The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, participated this Tuesday in the Constituent Assembly of the Working Class, a national deliberative forum that brought together delegates from 110 assemblies across the country, representing more than 66,000 delegates.

The event, led by the Minister of Popular Power for the Social Process of Labor, Eduardo Piñate, aimed to present a summary of the proposals gathered to strengthen the labor sector and the Bolivarian Economic Agenda.

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“More than 5,000 proposals were first systematized and then synthesized before arriving here. Proposals for each of the pillars of the Bolivarian Economic Agenda,” explained Piñate, noting that the initiatives have already been incorporated into documents that culminated in this session.

The spokesperson for the working class, María Alejandra Rondón, read the conclusions of the meeting, reporting that 22,110 assemblies were held throughout the country during the workers’ constituent process, with the participation of productive, urban, rural, and fishing sectors.

#Venezuela | More than 1,300 workers gathered in Caracas to take part in the “Great Constituent Congress of the Venezuelan Working Class,” an event whose main objective is the transformation and organization of the country’s labor movement.https://t.co/nWfJRFs8ma

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 16, 2025

These assemblies resulted in the appointment of 66,330 delegates, a figure that, according to Grimán Rondón, represents a historic milestone in the inclusion of women in these spaces: 40% are women and 60% are men, highlighting progress in gender equality within the Venezuelan labor movement.

During her address to the head of state, Grimán Rondón presented a set of proposals that emerged from the collective debate, among which the appointment of a National Workers’ Transition Commission (CENOT) stands out. This commission would have full powers to lead the renewal of the Bolivarian Socialist Workers’ Central at all levels, sectors, and structures.

The National Confederation of Workers (CENOT) must present a transition timeline within 20 days, culminating in the National Workers’ Congress within 18 months, which will formalize the renewed central organization. Furthermore, within six months, it must define new bylaws, design the methodology for general elections in unions, federations, and the central organization itself, and ensure that grassroots leaders are active, employed workers with revocable mandates.

Other key proposals include the relaunch of the Bolivarian Workers’ University “Jesús Rivero,” the creation of the National School of Workers’ Cadres with a curriculum focused on production management, political economy, Venezuelan history, science, technology, and innovation, and the consolidation of the National Plan for the Training and Self-Training of the Working Class, promoted by the Ministry of Popular Power for the Social Process of Labor.

Grimán Rondón also announced that the workers’ sector has developed its own Production Plan, the result of collective work in assemblies, which will be presented in detail at the presidential meeting with representatives of the working class.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Previously, the Irish Data Protection Commission fined TikTok €530 million for security breaches.

On Wednesday, the Austrian organization None of Your Business (Noyb) filed a complaint against TikTok and Grindr to the Austrian Data Protection Authority (DSB) for sharing sensitive user information that includes details of their private lives and sexual orientation.

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Noyb also accused AppsFlyer, an Israeli data analytics company, of facilitating the transfer of information between Grindr and TikTok. It argues that this practice violates the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

A user discovered through an access request that their Grindr activity was being sent to TikTok, likely via AppsFlyer. This allowed the Chinese social network to infer their sexual orientation and personal habits.

The NGO maintains that TikTok concealed this practice and violated Articles 12 and 15 of the GDPR, which require companies to provide clear and comprehensive information about the processing of users’ personal data.

Candace Owens calls out Netanyahu’s quiet campaign to buy American influence — meeting U.S. creators to twist public opinion while Trump’s TikTok deal hands Israel the data keys.

She warns: this isn’t “security,” it’s foreign manipulation disguised as patriotism pic.twitter.com/DrvUKa2fWg

— Irlandarra (@aldamu_jo) December 15, 2025

Noyb pointed out that neither AppsFlyer nor Grindr has a valid legal basis under Article 6 of the GDPR to transfer personal data to TikTok. Noyb lawyer Kleanthi Sardeli stated that TikTok collects data from multiple apps and sources, and creates a comprehensive profile of people’s online activity.

The organization demanded that TikTok hand over the missing data, cease unlawful processing, and receive a fine to prevent future infringements, thus strengthening the protection of digital rights in the European Union.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), which acted on behalf of the EU, opened an investigation against TikTok on July 10 and, in May, fined the company €530 million for security breaches.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Amid ongoing negotiations over the digital platform TikTok, Beijing is aiming to strike a fair deal with the United States for China's companies. pic.twitter.com/7v2VnyALt4

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) September 23, 2025

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE

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The Cuban Central Bank (BCC, in Spanish) announced Wednesday the implementation of a new exchange market structure, introducing a daily floating exchange rate segment for currencies, alongside two existing fixed rates.

The Central Bank’s President, Juana Lilia Delgado Portal stated that the current coexistence of different foreign exchange rates “generates distortions, incentivizes informality, and complicates the banking and fiscal traceability of economic activity”, so authorities have the objective of create the conditions to initiate transformations in the foreign exchange market, under principles of graduality and temporality.

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A new three-segment structure was designed as a transitional scheme to avoid a sharp, disruptive devaluation:

• Segment I: Maintains a fixed rate of 24 Cuban pesos (CUP) to 1 unit.
• Segment II: Maintains a fixed rate of 120 CUP to 1.
• Segment III: A newly created segment featuring a daily floating exchange rate, to be published by the BCC. This rate is intended to reflect “the objective existence of differences between the official exchange rates and the real value that reflects the scarcity of foreign currency”, explained the official. The BCC will daily update  this rate on its official website.

The first two segments will be maintained to prevent sharp devaluations of the exchange rate and, consequently, the value of the national currency, trying to protect the population in basic and sensitive transactions, preserving stability and predictability in the prices of essential goods and services.

The third segment, based on a daily floating rate, will allow exporters and other foreign currency suppliers to sell at a competitive price determined by supply and demand, in a way to incentivize the inflow of foreign currency into the exchange market, which will serve as a source for its operations and reduce the pressures and irregularities of the informal market.

The reform aims to gradually recover the convertibility of the Cuban peso and move toward monetary convergence in an economy plagued by multiple, disjointed exchange rates.

🗣️💵|| Anuncian transformación del mercado cambiario de divisas

🗣️ @BancoCentralCub, en la persona de su ministra presidenta @JlDelgadoPortal anunció, una transformación de su mercado cambiario de divisas, que entrará en vigor a partir de este 18 de diciembre.#ACNreporta pic.twitter.com/1ZedHIA030

— Agencia Cubana de Noticias (@ACN_Cuba) December 18, 2025

Text reads: “Currency exchange market transformation announced @BancoCentralCub, in the person of its Minister-President @JlDelgadoPortal announced a change in its foreign exchange market, which will take effect on 18 December.”

Addressing the MLC

On the other hand, Delgado explicitly denied rumors about the elimination of accounts in the so-called “freely convertible currency” (MLC, in Spanish), asserting the goal is to “strengthen the purchasing power of the MLC and its use value.”

“An immediate unification of the exchange rate, without a transition stage, could cause a sharp devaluation, with greater inflationary effects than current ones and a deepening of the loss of purchasing power of the national currency,” Delgado warned, citing international experience with economies facing accumulated imbalances.

The strategy, aimed at recovering the purchasing power of the national currency, is to concentrate and orient the foreign exchange market by connecting the various economic actors -state and non-state- in the production, export and marketing of goods and services at competitive prices.

The legal provisions enacting these changes will be published in Cuba’s Official Gazette and will enter on force on December 18, 2025.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

The Foreign and Defense Committee of the Knesset (Parliament) yesterday approved by six votes in favour and none against moving forward on an initiative already adopted at first reading, that it would cut off electricity and water to facilities owned or operated by UNRWA in the occupied territories.

That UN agency has provided, for decades, education, healthcare, and aid to millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

The new legislation would also allow the Government to confiscate properties in East Jerusalem leased to UNRWA “without the need to initiate legal or administrative proceedings.”

Last week, the Army raided its headquarters in that city and seized all the material inside, amid Government accusations against the institution for its alleged support of the Islamic Resistance Movement and the October 7, 2023 attack.

abo/iff/oda/rob

The post Israel continues offensive against a UN agency first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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This article by Emir Olivares and Alma E. Muñoz originally appeared in the December 17, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. “No to intervention,” declared Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo in response to the escalating tensions in Venezuela following the threat from US President Donald Trump, who yesterday declared the government of Nicolás Maduro a “foreign terrorist organization.”

The Mexican president criticized the United Nations (UN) for its “absence” in the face of the risk of Washington’s intervention in the South American nation, and called on the international organization to assume its role in preventing conflict and bloodshed.

Beyond the Maduro regime, she said, the position of any Mexican president should be non-intervention, the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the self-determination of peoples.

This morning, in her press conference at the National Palace, the head of the Executive Branch opened with a message regarding the risk: “Because of President Trump’s declaration and the situation in Venezuela, we reiterate Mexico’s position, in accordance with the Constitution, of non-intervention or foreign interference, self-determination of peoples and peaceful resolution of disputes.”

She urged that any international controversy or dispute be resolved through dialogue, peace, and the principle of non-intervention.

“This is our position, based on conviction and the Constitution. It must be the position of any Mexican president, regardless of the opinions of the Venezuelan regime and the Maduro presidency. Beyond that, the position must be no to intervention, no to foreign interference, and for the peaceful resolution of conflicts.”

“And a call for the United Nations to assume its role has not been seen. It must assume its role to prevent any bloodshed and always seek peaceful solutions to conflicts. That is our position.”

• 

  News Briefs

  President Sheinbaum Calls for “Non-intervention” in Face of Trump’s Aggression Against Venezuela

  December 17, 2025December 17, 2025

  The Mexican President criticized the United Nations for its “absence”, calling on the international organization to assume its role in preventing conflict and bloodshed.

• 

  Labor | News Briefs

  Christmas Without a Bonus for 13.7 Million Workers

  December 16, 2025December 16, 2025

  Mexico’s Scrooge-like employers evade their legal obligation because most employees are informal workers.

• 

  Analysis | Labor

  A Bosses’ Trap?

  December 16, 2025December 16, 2025

  Mexico’s much-touted 40 hour workweek reform does not bring about a real reduction in the working day; on the contrary, it will become a more effective tool of exploitation and is an initiative designed for the benefit of employers and against the dignity of workers.

The post President Sheinbaum Calls for “Non-intervention” in Face of Trump’s Aggression Against Venezuela appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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The Dresden plant will become an innovation center as automaker cuts German output and jobs.

On Tuesday, Volkswagen will shut down automobile production at the Gläserne Manufaktur, a factory located in Dresden, in eastern Germany, which produced 165,508 vehicles over its 24 years of operation.

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The last vehicle to roll off the plant’s assembly line will be a red electric ID.3 GTX, signed by all employees. The car will remain in the building and will be on display during guided tours.

Volkswagen is ending vehicle production at the facility as part of a plan to reduce production capacity in Germany by more than 730,000 vehicles per year through 2028, a move that will result in the elimination of 35,000 jobs in Germany by 2030.

The automaker will convert the Gläserne Manufaktur into an innovation center focused on key technological areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, microelectronics and chip design.

🚨⚡️ Industrial Earthquake in the Heart of Europe:

Germany completely shuts down the "Volkswagen" factory in Dresden.. A historic precedent that hasn't occurred in 88 years!

-: Industry is collapsing domestically, while billions are being burned abroad.. 🇮🇱🇺🇦🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/TAgmWcxzZk

— RussiaNews 🇷🇺 (@mog_russEN) December 15, 2025

Volkswagen will become a research partner of the Technical University of Dresden, which will have access to half of the factory’s floor space. The company and the university will invest more than 50 million euros over the next seven years in research, technological development and new endowed academic chairs.

At the beginning of next year, 230 people will work at the facility, but that number will decline in the following years as older employees gradually leave the workforce. The plant currently employs 250 people. At the beginning of 2024, the workforce stood at 300.

Volkswagen will offer some employees whose jobs are being eliminated positions at its plants in Zwickau and Chemnitz, also in Saxony, early retirement options or severance agreements. Employees at the Gläserne Manufaktur will also be able to transfer to the company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Poland: A court rejected Germany's request to extradite a Ukrainian citizen suspected of being involved in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022. pic.twitter.com/aGchjIgmbK

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 21, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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Such a talk would imply a serious and flagrant violation of the State policy that has historically guided Chile’s international actions, regardless of the government in power, a statement noted in this capital.

This policy is based on strict compliance with International Law, the promotion and defense of Human Rights, and the unrestricted respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The text warns that Netanyahu is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, and holding a political conversation with him would represent a break with the diplomatic and legal tradition of the State of Chile.

The Palestinian community called on all political leaders to act responsibly, consistently, and with respect for the principles that have guided the country’s foreign relations, avoiding gestures that could be interpreted as endorsing serious human rights violations.

In a post, Netanyahu congratulated Kast on his election, and several media outlets here reported that the Israeli Foreign Ministry was preparing for a telephone conversation between the two.

jdt/iff/oda/car

The post Palestinian community in Chile rejects Kast-Netanyahu talk first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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The US president orders a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.

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The European Commission opened two antitrust investigations into Google and Meta.

On Thursday, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) threatened to take countermeasures against the European Union (EU) over what it described as the bloc’s controversial regulations on service providers.

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“If the EU and EU Member States insist on continuing to restrict, limit, and deter the competitiveness of U.S. service providers through discriminatory means, the United States will have no choice but to begin using every tool at its disposal to counter these unreasonable measures,” the USTR posted on X.

Potential countermeasures could include assessing fees or imposing restrictions on foreign services. The agency also warned that it could adopt a similar approach toward other countries pursuing what it called an EU-style regulatory strategy in this area.

The USTR alleged that the EU and certain member states have pursued a sustained pattern of discriminatory and harassing lawsuits, taxes, fines, and directives targeting U.S. service providers.

US threatens retaliation on EU firms including Accenture, Siemens, Spotify, DHL, and SAP over digital taxes hitting Google, Meta, and Amazon. USTR calls EU measures “discriminatory” and warns of escalation if enforcement continues. pic.twitter.com/WTwzzXLpBc

— MKTNews (@MKTNews_Global) December 16, 2025

“The United States has raised concerns with the EU for years on these matters without meaningful engagement or basic acknowledgement of U.S. concerns,” the USTR added.

The USTR also said EU service providers have operated freely in the United States for decades, benefiting from access to the U.S. market and consumers, while naming several European technology giants with expansive presence in the country.

The latest remarks reflect growing frustration among U.S. officials over the EU’s tightening technology regulations and lawsuits targeting U.S. tech giants.

The European Commission has recently opened two antitrust investigations into U.S. tech giants Google and Meta, and fined Elon Musk’s platform X 120 million euros (US$140 million) in its first non-compliance decision under the Digital Services Act.

#US President Donald Trump confirms at a press conference his interference in the general elections held in #Chile on December 14 and in #Honduras on November 30. pic.twitter.com/Y2yydXRAma

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 16, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected on Wednesday the European Union’s (EU) decision to extend until January 10, 2027, the sanctions imposed on the government of President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.

Through the social media platform X, the head of Cuban diplomacy described these measures as “contrary to International Law and the Charter of the United Nations (UN).”

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“We reject the extension of sanctions and unilateral coercive measures by the European Union against Venezuela… These actions seek to increase pressure against the government of the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution and serve the aggressive and neocolonialist interests of the United States,” Rodríguez wrote.

According to press reports, the sanctions affect 69 Venezuelan individuals, whose assets remain frozen and who are prohibited from traveling to European territory.

Rechazamos la prórroga de sanciones y medidas coercitivas unilaterales de la Unión Europea contra #Venezuela, que son contrarias al Derecho Internacional y la Carta de @ONU_es.

Estas acciones persiguen aumentar la presión contra el gobierno de la Revolución Bolivariana y… pic.twitter.com/Ds11DJdEwj

— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) December 17, 2025

The Venezuelan government has repeatedly denounced these “coercive measures” as illegitimate, illegal, and a violation of international law.

In a statement, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry criticized the European position, stating that the bloc “chose to accelerate its political decline” by maintaining an “erratic foreign policy, lacking autonomy and subservient to foreign interests.”

It also emphasized that after years of implementation, the sanctions have been “a resounding failure,” damaging diplomatic relations without producing any constructive results.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

This editorial by Alejandro Castellano López originally appeared in the December 15, 2025 edition of Los Reporteros. The views expressed in this article are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Mexico Solidarity Media*, or the* Mexico Solidarity Project*.*

I have carefully read the proposed law to “reduce the workweek to 40 hours.” At the same time, I clearly notice that the opposition to the current government hasn’t uttered a peep about it. I wonder why?

I remember well that once, back in the 70s, when as students part of the Struggle Committee of a Vocational School of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), we fought alongside the settlers of San Agustín, Ciudad Azteca and La Impulsora, in the north of the metropolitan area of ​​Mexico City, a dear comrade from whom I have not heard for a long time, told me that somewhere Che had said, “when the enemy agrees with you, be careful, something is wrong with what you are doing.”

I hope all workers will soon realize this and there will be large and powerful mobilizations towards the Congress of the Union, so that the deputies and senators who are truly left-wing react positively and modify the initiative to avoid the terrible setbacks it represents. They should also compel the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to hire more conscientious people to serve as Labor Inspectors, thus preventing the abuses of employers and the corrupt unions that abound. While they’re at it, they should also remove the traitors Pedro Haces, Ricardo Monreal, Adán Augusto López, and the rest of this toxic element from Congress.

The reform does not seek our well-being but rather to institutionalize dependence on overtime for survival, turning rest time into just another commodity.

One of the most interesting documents I’ve read on this subject is the Statement from the National Front for the 40-Hour Workweek, issued by the San Luis Potosí Coordination, regarding the presidential initiative to reduce the workweek, which was released on December 12th. The Statement I’m referring to says, in reference to the reform, that “the government of Claudia Sheinbaum is presenting us not with the historic reform it promised, but with a trap that legalizes 12-hour and 16-hour overtime shifts, even with precarious wages. The initiative, which amends, adds to, and repeals various provisions of Section A of Article 123 of the Constitution and the Federal Labor Law, is a fraud against the working class and a brutal setback for our rights.”

Recall that current legislation allows up to 3 hours of overtime per day, paid at double time, totaling a maximum of 9 hours per week, which workers are obligated to accept. Any hours worked beyond these 9 must be agreed upon with the employer, who is then obligated to pay them at triple time. However, companies rarely comply with this; they almost always avoid paying overtime through trickery, lies, and threats, which are generally supported by the corrupt unions that are prevalent within the official labor federations.

The government doesn’t even have enough labor inspectors; there are only 600 nationwide, and the state of Yucatán has none.

I quote again the statement from the Front, which is considered the official document of the entire Front, and it says: “This proposal violates the principle of progressivity and non-regression of labor law. Instead of moving forward, it takes a step backward. It doesn’t even guarantee the two mandatory days of rest, maintaining the exploitative six-day workweek and wiping out with a stroke the hard-won weekend and the possibility of a Saturday bonus. It completely ignores all the gender, care, and health perspectives we have demanded.” I would add that in some collective bargaining agreements, this is already a workers’ victory, and now they will pay more for double hours than before, which were triple hours. Where is the progress? It’s a brutal setback! Altagracia’s hand is clearly visible.

Altagracia’s head is also visible.

The statement also denounces the contradiction in the explanatory memorandum and explains and acknowledges, to quote again, “…that reducing the length of the workweek is an imperative not only of social justice but also of public health; on the other hand, it decrees that workers will have more free time, creating an opportunity for them to use it… to work overtime. In other words, it recognizes the harm to health only to then propose that we use our scarce “free” time to continue working. The reform does not seek our well-being but rather to institutionalize dependence on overtime for survival, turning rest time into just another commodity.”

It is clear that the much-touted reform does not bring about a real reduction in the working day; on the contrary, in practice it will become a more effective tool of exploitation than what is currently established, and it is an initiative designed for the benefit of employers and against the dignity of workers.

The statement also condemns the gradual reduction to 40 hours, calling it a “sham,” and questions the current and future actions of labor authorities, who clearly respond to the interests of employers. They don’t even have enough labor inspectors; there are only 600 nationwide, and the state of Yucatán, for example, has none, while most of the inspectors in the other states aren’t even rank-and-file employees. This is an aberration of the self-proclaimed leftist 4T (Fourth Transformation), which today seems to have died at the hands of deputies, cabinet secretaries, senators, and “prominent” members of MORENA (National Regeneration Movement).

The reform is unacceptable and only the Honorable Congress of the Union can prevent this aberration and betrayal against the working class of this country.

• 

  Labor | News Briefs

  Christmas Without a Bonus for 13.7 Million Workers

  December 16, 2025December 16, 2025

  Mexico’s Scrooge-like employers evade their legal obligation because most employees are informal workers.

• 

  Analysis | Labor

  A Bosses’ Trap?

  December 16, 2025December 16, 2025

  Mexico’s much-touted 40 hour workweek reform does not bring about a real reduction in the working day; on the contrary, it will become a more effective tool of exploitation and is an initiative designed for the benefit of employers and against the dignity of workers.

• 

  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera December 16

  December 16, 2025

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on pharmaceuticals supply, social housing lottery, CDMX Congress fiasco, Ultra-right victory in Chile and H3N2 alert.

The post A Bosses’ Trap? appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, inaugurated renovated spaces at the headquarters of the Bolivarian Society of Venezuela this Tuesday, as part of the commemoration of the 195th anniversary of the death of the Liberator Simón Bolívar.

“Today, we are inaugurating these spaces so that young people, community groups, and the people can come and visit the headquarters of the Bolivarian Society, and continue to cultivate the thought, legacy, and actions of our Liberator Simón Bolívar, and so that Bolívar may continue to reign victoriously, above imperial threats, today, tomorrow, and always,” declared the President from the emblematic building located next to the Liberator’s birthplace.

The head of state emphasized that this is one of the few buildings that survived the impact of the petrodollars, which, he noted, destroyed much of Caracas’s colonial and historic architecture.

The Minister of Public Works, Juan José Ramírez, explained that the restored facilities date back to the original founding of the Bolivarian Society, established in 1842 by General-in-Chief Rafael Urdaneta under the name “Great Bolivian Society of Caracas.”

The work carried out included the rehabilitation of the Rafael Urdaneta Hall, the immediate repair of the roof and walls, and the complete restructuring of the electrical, plumbing, and public utility systems.

The event was part of the official activities commemorating the 195th anniversary of the death of Simón Bolívar, which occurred on December 17, 1830, at 1:05 p.m. From the headquarters of the Bolivarian Society, Maduro paid fervent tribute to the Liberator, whom he described as “the most exalted man in history.”

Earlier, through his official Telegram channel, the president published a message in which he recalled that, “almost two centuries ago, the liberated peoples trembled upon hearing the news of his death,” and emphasized that “the Genius of America, who was born into a privileged life, gave everything—his body, his life, and his wealth—for the emancipation of the continent.”

The Venezuelan leader stressed that Bolívar’s “infinite greatness and incomparable magnitude” indelibly shaped the destiny of “our America,” and affirmed that “Bolívar did not perish; his spirit remains vigilant,” quoting the poet.

“Today, his ideal shines an inextinguishable light in its cradle: Bolivarian Venezuela. We, the heirs of the 21st century, the Bolivarian revolutionaries, feel how the Liberator becomes flesh within us as a historical, creative, and redeeming force,” he expressed.

He also emphasized that authentic Bolivarianism, revitalized by Commander Hugo Chávez, constitutes a fundamental axis of anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, and the profound unity among peoples, as a supreme inspiration in the face of any adversity.

The day concluded with the traditional cry of the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution: “Bolívar lives!”

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On Monday, Venezuela’s public oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), reported that it was the target of a cyberattack aimed at disrupting its operations. The attempted act of aggression is said to be part of the US government’s strategy to seize Venezuela’s oil through force and piracy, according to a PDVSA statement.

The document stated, “Thanks to the expertise of PDVSA’s human talent, the operational areas were not affected, with the attack limited to its administrative system.”

It added that “the operational capacity of the oil industry is maintained through the implementation of security protocols, which allow the continuation of its regular activities in supplying products to the domestic market and the faithful fulfillment of all its export commitments.”

Cyberattack hits Venezuela's PDVSA. Caracas calls it a US plot to steal its oil. Escalation or desperation?

Where does hybrid warfare go from here? pic.twitter.com/WakMDIDvqi

— Orinoco Tribune (@OrinocoTribune) December 15, 2025

The full unofficial translation of the statement follows:

Petróleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA) informs the Venezuelan people and the international community that the company was the target of a cyberattack aimed at halting its operations.

Thanks to the expertise of PDVSA’s human talent, the operational areas were not affected, with the attack limited to its administrative system. Therefore, the operational capacity of the oil industry is maintained through the implementation of security protocols, which allow the continuation of its regular activities in supplying products to the domestic market and the faithful fulfillment of all its export commitments.

This attempted attack is part of the US government’s public strategy to seize Venezuelan oil through force and piracy. The working class in the hydrocarbon industry has faced similar attacks in the past. It was precisely their commitment, expertise, and loyalty that enabled them to detect and neutralize this latest attack.

Petróleos de Venezuela, SA categorically condemns this despicable act, orchestrated by foreign interests in collusion with unpatriotic actors seeking to undermine the country’s right to sovereign energy development. It is worth noting that this is not the first time the United States government, allied with extremist sectors, has attempted to destabilize the nation and steal Christmas from the Venezuelan people.

Nothing and no one will stop the victorious march of PDVSA and its working class in service to all Venezuelans.

Caracas, Dec. 15, 2025.

Renewed European sanctionsAlso on Monday, Venezuela categorically repudiated the policy of illegal sanctions and unilateral coercive measures renewed by the European Union (EU). Venezuela labeled these policies as illegitimate, illegal, and against international law, as well as contrary to the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

International Condemnation Against US Theft of Venezuelan Oil Tanker Grows

In a statement published by Foreign Minister Yván Gil, Venezuela emphasized that the leaders of the EU bloc regrettably “have chosen to accelerate their own political decline, insisting on a line of sterile hostility against Venezuela, which demonstrates an erratic foreign policy, lacking autonomy and subject to interests foreign to the peoples they claim to represent.”

Finally, the statement highlighted that “after years of implementation, this sanctions policy has proven to be a resounding failure. It has significantly damaged political and diplomatic relations, and confirmed the growing irrelevance of the European Union as an international actor capable of acting independently, rationally, and with respect for sovereign states.”

(Últimas Noticias) by Olys Guárate with Orinoco Tribune content

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/JRE/SF

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For Marcela Arellano, president of the Ecuadorian Confederation of Free Trade Union Organizations (Ceosl), the increase in minimum income to $482 per month is insufficient given the cost of living.

Arellano noted that the basic family food basket costs $821 and the essential needs basket costs $576, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC).

“We are concerned that a consensus was reached on a downward adjustment. This shows that the Council of Labor and Wages is not representative and that those who sit on it do not understand the reality of those who earn the basic salary,” the union leader stated.

From the government, Labor Minister Harold Burbano has maintained that an Ecuadorian household earns an average of 1.6 times the basic salary and that, therefore, it is incorrect to compare the Unified Basic Salary (SBU) with the cost of a basic food basket.

Arellano questioned this argument and asserted that “there is no clear economic basis” to support it.

The unions also warned of a possible price increase in 2026, due to rising fuel costs and the end of transportation subsidies for the diesel price hike, implemented in September and initially planned for eight months.

jdt/jav/npg/avr

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A new ship carrying solidarity aid from the Government of Venezuela and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) arrived this Wednesday, December 17, at the Guillermón Moncada port in Santiago de Cuba, with the aim of supporting recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa.

The cargo includes several containers with materials and supplies primarily intended for the reconstruction of road infrastructure and other sectors severely affected by the storm. This shipment follows the arrival of the ship “Manuel Gual” on December 8, which delivered machinery and more than 7,110 tons of supplies for the affected population.

RELATED:

Venezuela Sends New Massive Humanitarian Shipment to Cuba Following Hurricane Damage

The arrival of the ship reinforces the solidarity alliance among the ALBA-TCP nations, in a context marked by external pressures seeking to hinder regional cooperation. Despite this, countries like Venezuela, Bolivia, and Mexico have contributed in a coordinated manner to mitigate material damage and accelerate the restoration of land communications in the eastern part of the archipelago.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez returned to Santiago de Cuba on Thursday to review the progress of recovery efforts in the provinces affected by Hurricane Melissa. This was the area most severely affected by the cyclone's winds. pic.twitter.com/q3ShsFACT9

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) November 13, 2025

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez has personally overseen recovery efforts in Santiago de Cuba, beginning his tour of the affected areas just one day after the hurricane passed.

ALBA-TCP: Summit of brotherhood between peoples

At the 25th ALBA-TCP Summit, held on December 14th as part of the centennial celebrations of Fidel Castro Ruz, Díaz-Canel reaffirmed the region’s commitment to “dignified resistance” and unity in the face of external aggression.

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“The unity of the bloc is the strategic response to guarantee sovereignty,” the president declared, invoking the ideals of Simón Bolívar, José Martí, Fidel Castro, and Hugo Chávez. This international support complements Cuba’s sovereign efforts, which operate under the limitations imposed by the United States’ economic blockade.

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‘Yankees out of the Caribbean’ was the chant shouted at the protests in Santo Domingo.

Following the Dominican government’s recent decision to temporarily grant the U.S. access to an air force base and the country’s main international airport under the pretext of “combating drug trafficking,” several U.S. military aircraft have arrived in the Dominican Republic, drawing widespread attention.

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Experts have said the latest U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean is vast in scale and has heightened regional sensitivity. Dominican society, shaped by the historical memory of the 1965 U.S. military intervention, has reacted with unease to the presence of foreign troops.

In recent days, large military aircraft have landed at Dominican airports. Fuel tanker trucks, buses, vans, light vehicles, communications equipment and other military supplies were seen in surrounding areas under tight security measures.

Many sectors argue that although the operations are presented as part of anti-drug cooperation, their impact goes far beyond technical law enforcement.

F-35A stealth jet fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare planes, HH-60W rescue helicopters and HC-130J rescue planes are being staged in Puerto Rico. Tanker aircraft have been moved to the Dominican Republic. https://t.co/xHZKoiDOgD

— Ed (@Wiski1) December 13, 2025

Following the arrival of the first military aircraft, the National Popular Coordination staged a civic protest in the capital, Santo Domingo, where demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Yankees out of the Caribbean.”

The group said the U.S. military presence at airports and strategic infrastructure constitutes an “unacceptable intrusion” that could embroil the country in regional tensions and jeopardize peace in Latin America.

Manolo Pichardo, former president of the Central American Parliament, said public concern is shaped by historical memory, noting that U.S. military interventions have left deep scars, with memories of the violence and loss in 1965 still passed down across generations.

“These painful events remain present … in the collective memory of Dominicans,” he said, addint that the controversy over the U.S. military presence extends beyond drug control, human rights or democracy, and reflects Washington’s broader regional and global geopolitical strategy.

He warned that alleged anti-drug operations, which may involve violations of international law such as extrajudicial killings, could entail future legal consequences for both the United States and the Dominican Republic — an aspect often overlooked in such debates.

Central American Parliament lawmaker Esmeralda Mancebo said the official justification of combating drug trafficking is unconvincing. “Paradoxically, they are fighting drug trafficking abroad when we do not see equivalent actions inside the United States, where the drugs ultimately arrive. Every power in a period of decline ends up in war,” she said.

🚨🇺🇸 This isn’t interdiction anymore; this is pre-strike positioning.

HH-60W Jolly Green II helos, HC-130Js, KC-135 tankers, F-35As and EW aircraft now forward-deployed to Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic for Venezuela operation.
Rapid-reaction forces are now 400 miles from… pic.twitter.com/Z2lAJH8JEo

— Terror Alarm (@Terror_Alarm) December 12, 2025

Eduardo Klinger, a member of the Dominican Academy of Sciences, said the U.S. deployment represents “the largest armed positioning in the Caribbean since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.” Although the operations are not officially described as military actions, he warned that they could escalate into confrontations, including indiscriminate attacks on suspected vessels.

Klinger added that the Dominican Republic has been internationally praised for its anti-drug efforts in recent years, raising questions about the necessity of granting U.S. access to Dominican airports and concerns about being drawn into a controversial regional operation that could worsen tensions with Venezuela.

Mihail Garcia, a senior leader of Fuerza del Pueblo, said the Dominican Republic has a tradition of mediating regional conflicts, recalling its role as the “Capital of Peace,” including hosting the 2008 Rio Group summit, which helped defuse tensions between Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia. “That is the role the Dominican Republic should continue to play,” Garcia said.

Because of this tradition, many sectors fear the country could now be perceived as aligning itself with military escalation, a shift from its historical stance as a peacebroker. As U.S. logistical operations continue at the country’s San Isidro and Las Americas airports, the debate over the Dominican Republic’s role, regional stability and its historical memory intensifies.

Experts agree that amid a complex geopolitical landscape, it is essential for the Dominican Republic to preserve Caribbean stability and avoid becoming entangled in conflicts unrelated to its national interests.

The Prime Minister of #SaintLucia, Philip Joseph Pierre, speaks via videoconference at the 25th #ALBA-TCP Summit of Heads of State and Government, where he reaffirms his country's position in favor of peace in the #Caribbean and against imperialist interference. pic.twitter.com/KzTqpxfl4k

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 15, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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On his social media account, the minister denounced that this latest hostile act against the South American country’s oil corporation was aimed at paralyzing the operations of this important Venezuelan institution.

According to the head of Cuban diplomacy, “these actions are part of the psychological warfare and increased pressure by the United States government to overthrow the Venezuelan government,” headed by President Nicolas Maduro.

The Cuban government categorically rejected “this despicable action, orchestrated by foreign interests in collusion with stateless actors seeking to undermine the country’s right to sovereign energy development,” according to a statement from the institution.

Washington has deployed military forces and resources in the Caribbean Sea, monitoring the coasts of the South American country, whose cargo was seized on the high seas from one of its oil tankers.

The whereabouts of the crew remain unknown.

jdt/jha/lld

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US military forces carried out airstrikes against three vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing at least eight people, according to statements by US Southern Command.

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The command said the operations were conducted on Monday under orders from US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. In a post on X, Southern Command stated that intelligence assessments determined the vessels were traveling along known drug trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and were involved in narcotics-related activities. No evidence was presented to support the claim.

Southern Command confirmed that eight people were killed in the strikes: three aboard the first vessel, two on the second, and three on the third. The command also released video footage of the operation on its official social media account.

JUST IN:

US forces struck 3 vessels in the eastern Pacific that were allegedly linked to drug trafficking, killing 8 people.

US has so far killed dozens of people in such strikes, claiming those killed were narco-terrorists, but it has not provided evidence. pic.twitter.com/sEO83fquWZ

— Current Report (@Currentreport1) December 16, 2025

In a separate statement, Southern Command reported another operation carried out on December 4 against a vessel suspected of drug trafficking, which resulted in the deaths of four people on board.

US authorities said the attacks are part of a broader military campaign known as Operation Southern Spear, aimed at disrupting maritime drug trafficking routes. According to official figures, US forces have attacked more than 20 vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean under this campaign, killing at least 91 people. Other official tallies cited more than 26 vessels destroyed and around 90 fatalities.

The expanded US military presence in the Caribbean and surrounding waters comes amid months of sustained pressure by Washington against Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said that former US President Donald Trump’s decisions regarding the alleged “war on drugs” have exposed the South American country to what he described as the “greatest continental threat in a century.”

Venezuelan authorities argue that the increased US militarization in the Caribbean is intended to undermine the government in Caracas. Trump has repeatedly announced that the United States will soon begin ground military operations against drug cartels on Venezuelan territory. Last week, he also said that Colombian President Gustavo Petro was “next,” referring to the pressure strategy previously directed at Maduro.

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The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, held a telephone conversation this Tuesday with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to warn about the escalating threats against the country and their serious implications for regional peace and stability, the Venezuelan government reported in an official statement.

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During the exchange, the head of state denounced to the highest representative of the multilateral system the recent public statements made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, disseminated through social media, in which he openly stated in a colonial manner that Venezuelan oil, natural resources, and territory “belonged” to Washington. Maduro emphasized that these statements constitute a direct threat to national sovereignty, international law, and peaceful coexistence among nations.

The Venezuelan president also warned that these claims were echoed by high-ranking US officials, including Stephen Miller, who asserted that the Venezuelan oil industry also belonged to the United States, which—according to Caracas—confirms the existence of a doctrine of plunder and neocolonial domination against Venezuela. In this regard, Maduro emphasized that such positions must be categorically rejected by the United Nations system.

In his dialogue with Guterres, the Venezuelan president described the political, diplomatic, and economic siege the country faces, as well as the intensification of a campaign of falsehoods, military threats, and acts of force, which has included acts of modern piracy, such as the attack on a ship transporting legitimately traded Venezuelan oil. The president characterized these actions as part of a “diplomacy of barbarism,” contrary to the principles of international law.

President Maduro reiterated Venezuela’s unwavering commitment to upholding a dignified diplomacy based on dialogue, international law, and peace, while reaffirming the Venezuelan state’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the defense of its sovereignty.

For his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed his commitment to international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, expressed his solidarity with the Venezuelan people, and stressed the need to avoid any escalation or confrontation, warning that an armed conflict in the region would be unjustified and would have serious consequences for the stability of Latin America and the Caribbean.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro: "We are victorious. We have defeated every criminal gang. We are consolidated." pic.twitter.com/1pROctIpIG

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) August 11, 2025

Guterres also reported that he will monitor the situation and that the issue will be addressed in the appropriate forums of the United Nations system, always prioritizing de-escalation, diplomacy, dialogue, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The official statement, dated December 17, 2025, in Caracas, comes amid growing international tension, marked by threats of blockades, maritime interdiction, and economic pressure against Venezuela—actions that the Bolivarian Government considers a flagrant violation of international law and a direct risk to regional peace.

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Green movements reaffirm support for President Maduro and the Bolivarian Revolution.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan environmentalist, ecologist and ecosocialist movements publicly spoke out against new threats by U.S. President Donald Trump against the Bolivarian Revolution.

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Earlier, on Tuesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a total blockade on the entry and exit of oil tankers, a measure that would remain in effect until Venezuelans “returns all the oil, land and other assets they previously stole” from the United States. In response to these unprecedented claims, Venezuelan ecologist activists issued the following statement:

“The ecosocialist, environmentalist, and ecologist movements, together with the Ecosocialism Councils of 5,336 Communal Government Halls, state our complete rejection of the insolent, crude, and arrogant message sent by the U.S. President Donal Trump.

His threatening message lays bare the U.S. empire’s true intentions: to steal our oil and mineral and natural wealth. These natural assets belong to Venezuelan women and men, and to no one else. We do not want to take anything from them, but we are also not willing to allow anything to be taken from us.

Venezuela Defense Minister: "The Armed Forces categorically reject the delusional statements made yesterday by Mr. Trump. He has claimed we have stolen the oil that lies under our land.

The truth has been revealed. It's not about 'narco-terrorism'.

It's all about the oil." pic.twitter.com/9BIloQkDKh

— COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) December 17, 2025

International law, our Constitution and the free will of the Venezuelan people — who decided to be free and sovereign — are on our side. Venezuela’s national assets are meant to meet the needs of our people and to be freely exchanged with the rest of the world, in solidarity and in accordance with international trade rules.

The commander in chief and president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, is the legitimate president of our nation and the father of the Great Mother Earth Venezuela Mission, a beautiful policy aimed at addressing the capitalist-driven climate crisis in a scientific and organized way, with the participation of an entire people.

We stand ready to defend the homeland wherever, however, and whenever necessary. We only await your order, Commander. We will defend our homeland with all the strength used to defend Mother Earth.

Yankee go home!”

#OnThisDay we remember Simon Bolivar, the Liberator of South America, who passed away in 1830.

He was a soldier and statesman who played a central role in the South American independence movement. He is remembered worldwide as a champion of liberation and anti-colonial… pic.twitter.com/2ATJ57j4Qu

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 17, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Ecosocialist Movement

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Their declared goal, the political organization said, is to cut off all oil revenues in order to force the illegal overthrow of an independent government.

“This siege is designed to provoke an economic collapse and a humanitarian crisis as a prelude to a total war by the United States,” he said.

The PSL emphasized that this aggression seeks to control Venezuelan oil and reverse the political independence of that country, following “a pattern of US intervention in Latin America, where governments that resist US control are targeted for regime changes”.

In its statement, the party recalled the attacks in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific by the US naval flotilla in the Caribbean on small vessels branded as drug trafficking and the recent illegal seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker.

Such facts “already show that the Trump administration is violently intensifying this conflict,” said the PSL. Trump has made clear his colonial intentions, it warned, by declaring the US plans to steal territory, oil and minerals from Venezuela.

The PSL, founded in 2004, reiterated that the US people have overwhelmingly opposed military intervention in Venezuela. “This war, like the war in Iraq, is based on false pretexts and imperial ambition”.

“We must organize and mobilize to stop this blockade and avoid a more extensive war. No to the war in Venezuela,” it concluded.

The activist Gloria La Riva, leader of that political force, warned that Trump and his administration continued to dangerously approach a military incursion in Venezuela, a war adventure in which they could enter and would not easily get out.

“It is evident what Trump said in his first term (2017-2021) that he was going to end Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, socialism in Latin America, is trying that,” added the also former presidential candidate for the PSL.

Yesterday the republican president ordered a total and complete blockade of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela after the announcement of the designation of the Venezuelan government “as a terrorist organization”.

abo/rc/dfm

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During the signing ceremony of the agreement, held in Havana, the Japanese diplomat emphasized that this initiative, channeled through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), constitutes the second collaboration between Tokyo and the UN agency for the benefit of Cuba, the first during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We trust that this new project will contribute to the improvement of services and infrastructure related to access to water and maternal and child health in vulnerable communities in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo,” stated the ambassador, while recalling the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa and other extreme weather events that have impacted the region in recent years.

For her part, the Deputy Representative in Cuba, Sunny Guidotti, described the initiative as “an investment in rights”: the right of children and adolescents to grow up healthy, study in safe schools, and receive quality care, even in emergency situations.

“Cuba is increasingly facing the impact of climate change, with annual losses equivalent to 4.6% of GDP.

In the last two years alone, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo have suffered hurricanes, floods, droughts, and earthquakes with a direct impact on essential services for children,” Guidotti noted.

The 24-month project will prioritize schools and health centers exposed to multiple risks, directly benefiting children, adolescents, and pregnant women in communities in eastern Cuba.

jdt/rc/mks

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According to ICAP, this measure represents the concrete application of what they call the “Trump Corollary” to the historic Monroe Doctrine, reaffirmed in official documents of American foreign policy as the National Security Strategy for Our America.

The Cuban institution described as “facade” the arguments put forward by Washington on the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, pointing out that such pretexts conceal illegal intentions that endanger regional and global peace. In its statement, the entity denounced the maneuver as a form of “hybrid war” that escalates tensions towards a military scenario, with the aim of seizing Venezuelan natural resources and exerting coercive pressure against a sovereign state.

The text reiterates “unwavering solidarity” with the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the Venezuelan people, and makes an urgent appeal to social movements, parliaments, governments and international organizations to reject what it called a “rude imperial act”.

In this regard, he calls for a mobilization to defend sovereignty, peace and the principles of the United Nations Charter. “No naval blockade! ! No to imperialist looting! Hands off Venezuela!” concludes the statement.

abo/rc/lld

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In recent hours, the National Electoral Council (CNE) rejected by majority vote a proposal from two of the three main political parties to conduct a recount of all 19,167 presidential ballots.

The CNE is comprised of the three major political forces in this Central American country: the right-wing National Party (PN) and Liberal Party (PL), which embody the century-old two-party system, and the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre, left-wing), of current President Xiomara Castro.

During their most recent plenary session, PL party magistrates Ana Hall and Cossette López challenged the request by Libre party council member Marlon Ochoa for a recount of all ballots in the presidential election, citing numerous irregularities detected in the voting records.

According to preliminary results released by the electoral authority, whose process has been suspended for several days, PN party presidential candidate Nasry Asfura, supported by US President Donald Trump, leads with 40.54 percent of the vote. Salvador Nasralla of the PL party trails closely with 39.19 percent. Like Libre, Nasralla has requested a recount of all ballots nationwide and accused the National Party of attempting to steal the election through fraud. Favored by most polls prior to the November 30 elections, Libre candidate Rixi Moncada is in third place with 19.29 percent of the vote. jdt/rc/edu

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Several Caribbean nations offer citizenship to foreign investors under the CBI program.

On Wednesday, the governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica expressed surprise at the partial travel restrictions imposed by the United States, which “unfairly” affect the citizens in legitimate programs.

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Antigua and Barbuda Demands Peace, Justice and International Cooperation at UN Assembly

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated that his country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program has historically operated without a residency requirement but now requires 30 days of physical residency, which contradicts the U.S. proclamation.

Under the program, several Caribbean nations offer citizenship to foreign investors in exchange for a substantial contribution to the “socio-economic development” of these countries.

Browne denounced that the United States’ claims “do not reflect the current reality” and noted that his country has worked closely with Washington to strengthen CBI safeguards and prevent risks to U.S. national security.

Browne, who has criticized the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, added that the Parliament passed comprehensive legislation that introduces strict residency requirements and reinforces the program’s transparency.

The Donald Trump administration has banned people with Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents from entering the United States.

Other countries added in the travel ban are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania,… pic.twitter.com/SFwtwcZRgf

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 17, 2025

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit stated that he held productive talks with the United States regarding the CBI program, and attributed the decision to a possible lack of communication between the White House and branches of the U.S. government.

Skerrit announced that Dominica will send formal notes requesting clarification and a review of the measure. He confirmed that he is in contact with Browne and asked that the error be acknowledged and the decision revoked.

On Monday, Skerrit offered to mediate between the United States and Venezuela amid growing tensions in the Caribbean, and emphasized that Dominica maintains friendly relations with both countries.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s proclamation expanded the list of countries with total travel bans to 19 and added partial restrictions to another 19. He justified the measure by citing a lack of sufficient information about the risks posed by travelers.

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, declared before parliament that Antigua and Barbuda will not use its military assets for any country, as they support the region being considered a zone of peace.#AntiguaandBarbuda #USA #SoutherCommand #Caribbean #teleSUR pic.twitter.com/iHVduMiS6V

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 17, 2025

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE

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