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Australian police on Wednesday filed 59 criminal charges against a 24-year-old man accused of carrying out a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, including 15 counts of murder and one charge related to terrorism, as authorities advanced their investigation into the attack.
RELATED:
The suspect, identified as Naveed Akram, faces charges that include 15 counts of murder, attempted murder, committing a terrorist act, publicly displaying a prohibited terrorist symbol, and placing an explosive in or near a building, according to an official police statement. The shooting took place on Sunday and lasted approximately nine minutes.
Police said Akram, who had been in a coma since the incident, regained consciousness on Tuesday. No further details were provided regarding his medical condition.
Police charged alleged Bondi killer Naveed Akram with terrorism, 15 counts of murder and a litany of other crimes on Wednesday after Australia's worst mass shooting in decades.https://t.co/eqAP7xE9aW
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) December 17, 2025
Health authorities reported that 21 people remained hospitalized on Wednesday at medical facilities across Sydney. Five of those injured were listed as critical but in stable condition.
The attack resulted in 15 deaths, with victims ranging in age from 10 to 87 years old. Twelve of the victims have been officially identified so far, police said.
During the incident, Sajid Akram, 50, the father of the accused and identified by authorities as a second armed individual, was shot dead by police at the scene. He was described as being of Indian origin.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said there is currently no evidence indicating the involvement of additional suspects, while cautioning that the investigation remains ongoing and findings could change as inquiries continue.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the father and son acted independently but were influenced by ideology linked to the Islamic State group. Authorities said both traveled in November to southern Philippines, a region where Islamist cells operate.
In response to the attack, the Waverley municipal council in eastern Sydney announced the cancellation of all New Year’s Eve events scheduled to take place at the popular Bondi Beach.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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The French president backs age-verification system similar to controls on porn sites.
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he hopes to have a law in place by early 2026 to ban access to social media for children under 16.
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Mexican Agency Presents Cybersecurity Plan
He cited Australia’s model, which has banned social media for those under 16 for about a week, and said France’s plan is to implement a verification system similar to the one in force since 2024 to prevent minors from accessing pornographic websites.
Macron said the drastic measure is justified because “the major platforms are not interested in cooperating” in controlling certain content that can incite or trigger mental health problems among young people.
“Before age 16, emotional life is not structured, the brain is not mature, and minors can be destabilized if they are exposed to social media content,” the French leader said, citing the risks of depression, cyberbullying, sedentary lifestyles and sleep problems.
Australia has banned social media for kids and teens under 16. They cannot set up new social media accounts and existing profiles are being deactivated including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads.
Good move ! Save the kids.
— Dr. Gatimu, Ph.D. (@Gatimu) December 10, 2025
Macron welcomed the EU’s decision to make it the responsibility of each member state to “establish” the age of majority for accessing social media.
In that context, Macron said he supports applying to social media the same controls France has used to regulate access to pornographic websites, which were being accessed by about 2 million minors each month, with an average age of 12.
France’s 2024 law regulating the internet established an age-verification system based on the issuance of a certificate of legal age under a “double anonymity” practice designed to protect users’ privacy. The system includes submitting a user’s national identity card or a photograph later analyzed by artificial intelligence to verify age.
#France | Emmanuel Macron’s deadline expires with no solution to the country's political crisis. pic.twitter.com/epcXv03DEy
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 8, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Venezuela on December 16 issued two official communiqués rejecting what it described as a serious threat by U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of violating international law by claiming ownership over the country’s oil, land, and mineral wealth and proposing coercive measures against its trade and navigation.
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Intellectuals and Artists Reject New US Aggression Against Venezuela
According to the statements released by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Trump used social media to assert that Venezuela’s natural resources belonged to the United States and demanded their immediate transfer. The Venezuelan government said the U.S. president sought to impose an “irrational naval blockade” to seize resources that it considers part of its sovereign patrimony.
The communiqués state that such actions violate international law, free trade, and the right to free navigation. Venezuela reaffirmed its sovereignty over all natural resources and its rights to free navigation and trade in the Caribbean Sea and global maritime routes. It said the country would continue to act “in strict adherence to international law, the UN Charter” to exercise its freedom, jurisdiction, and sovereignty despite what it described as “warmongering threats.”
🇻🇪❌🇺🇸 Venezuela rejects Trump’s ‘grotesque threat,’ vows to go to the UN
In an official communiqué, Venezuela accused Trump of treating its “oil, land, and mineral wealth” as US property.
The statement added Venezuela will “never again be a colony of any empire or foreign… https://t.co/LPzc10D6eE pic.twitter.com/p5nxhB4kmh
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) December 17, 2025
Venezuela also announced that its ambassador to the United Nations would immediately denounce what it called a grave violation of international law. The government called on the people of the United States and the international community to reject the threat, arguing that it reflected an intention to appropriate Venezuelan resources through external pressure.
The communiqués quoted Trump directly as stating: “Until all the oil, land, and other assets that were stolen from us are returned to the United States.” Venezuelan authorities said this statement revealed an effort to appropriate the country’s oil, land, and minerals through what they described as “gigantic campaigns of lies and manipulation.”
#Venezuela slams #Trump's oil blockade as “irrational” and a blatant attempt to seize the nation’s wealth. #Caracas warns the move threatens to devastate the economy. https://t.co/ntbjCfh6yR
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 17, 2025
The government reiterated that Venezuela “will never again be a colony of any empire or foreign power” and said it would continue, together with its people, on a path of building prosperity while defending independence and sovereignty. It added that the Venezuelan people, united in popular, military, and police forces, would defend what it described as their historic rights while remaining committed to peace.
The statements concluded by affirming that the Venezuelan people remain firm in protecting their territory, wealth, and freedom, invoking Simón Bolívar’s words: “Fortunately, a handful of free men has been seen defeating powerful empires.”
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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This article by Jim Cason and David Brooks originally appeared in the December 16, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.
Washington and New York. US President Donald Trump yesterday designated fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” and revived a military decoration – originally created to recognize US service members who fought against Pancho Villa’s forces – to award it now to troops “defending” the border with Mexico from drug traffickers and immigrants.
In a ceremony and press conference at the White House, criticized as a strategy designed to distract public attention from the president’s plummeting approval ratings and his failure to deliver on his promise to lower consumer prices and make the cost of living more affordable, the commander-in-chief signed an executive order declaring the opioid fentanyl a “weapon of mass destruction.”
He stated that “no bomb causes the damage this is doing: between 200,000 and 300,000 people die each year, as far as we know.” However, official figures on overdose deaths from the aforementioned drug, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are between 70,000 and 80,000 annually.
The executive order signed by Trump states that “the potential for fentanyl to be weaponized for large-scale, concentrated terror attacks by organized adversaries is a serious threat to the United States.” Although Mexico is not mentioned by name in the document, it does identify “two cartels that are predominantly responsible for the distribution of the substance in the United States.”
During the ceremony for the signing of the order, which was attended by the Chief of Staff, the Secretary of War, the Attorney General, the head of Northern Command, the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the border czar, the president declared that “our entire southwest border on the Mexican side is under the physical control of the cartels, which are among the most violent entities.”
After claiming that his administration has succeeded in ending shipments of illicit drugs to the United States by sea, Trump repeated his threat to begin attacking drug traffickers “on land” in other countries (although in this context he did not mention Mexico by name).
“These are a direct military threat to the United States. They are trying to drug our country,” the president stated. “There is no doubt that our adversaries are trafficking fentanyl into our territory in part because they want to kill Americans.”
Anti-Mexico medal
Reviving Memories of the Centaur of the North
Next came the presentation of what is called the Mexican Border Defense Medal. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth explained: “We are reviving an old medal. Our men and women will be wearing the same medal that Americans wore 100 years ago, who were called upon to defend our country’s sovereignty.”
The Mexican Border Defense Medal is an exact replica of the original that was designated by Congress in 1918 for U.S. military troops who fought against Pancho Villa’s “paramilitary forces” during the Mexican Revolution in 1916 and 1917, the War Department proudly reported (with some details resulting from an investigation by La Jornada).
Hegseth and other military officials proceeded to award the Mexican Border Defense Medal to 13 members of the armed forces selected as the first recipients of the honor. “They all represent some 2,000 people who have served in the border region so far. So, some 25,000 Americans qualify for this medal that we are announcing today,” he concluded.
But these decorated military personnel were more of a photographic backdrop for the commander-in-chief; after receiving their medals, Trump asked the service members to stand around the presidential desk for a photograph.
Cascade of Praise
As is customary, each of the speakers, from the Secretary of War on down, began their remarks by thanking their boss and praising his accomplishments. “It is always an honor for me to be in the Oval Office with the greatest president I have ever lived to be with,” declared Border Czar Tom Homan.
He also acknowledged the White House deputy chief of staff and principal architect of Washington’s anti-immigrant strategy. “Steve Miller is one of the most brilliant people I have met in my career.”
The President made the purpose of this ceremony clear. “People are forgetting now that the border has been secure for seven months. They don’t mention it anymore. Nobody talks about the border area,” he said in comments that were somewhere between self-praise and complaint.
“They talk about affordability,” and in response to this and against the available official evidence, he insisted that his government is succeeding in reducing prices and that, in any case, inflation and the costs that continue to rise are consequences of the previous president, Joe Biden, and his Democrats.
In a statement about the event, the White House said that on the border with Mexico the Trump administration “has restored order, deterred illegal entry, and protected American communities from the threats posed by uncontrolled immigration, transnational crime and fentanyl trafficking.”
But apparently they have not yet managed to capture Villa.
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Trump Classifies Fentanyl as Weapon of Mass Destruction
December 16, 2025
The US President also revived a military medal originally created to recognize US soldiers who fought against Pancho Villa’s forces, to be awarded to troops “defending” the border with Mexico.
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People’s Mañanera December 15
December 15, 2025December 15, 2025
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on FDI, water law, childcare, public security, electoral reform, and federal attorney general.
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Mexico City Congress Codifies Crime of Violence Between Partners, Including Dating Relationships
December 15, 2025December 15, 2025
The reform establishes that these crimes will be prosecuted ex officio and that aggressors must attend re-education workshops.
The post Trump Classifies Fentanyl as Weapon of Mass Destruction appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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President Maduro Rejects Corina Machado’s Accusations Against the Venezuelan People
(www.telesurenglish.net)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, during the 99th broadcast of his program “Con Maduro Más,” condemned the statements made by far-right opposition leader María Corina Machado, who claimed that “60 percent of the Venezuelan population is involved in drug trafficking.”
Maduro strongly repudiated these accusations, calling them part of a fascist campaign seeking to justify the armed and bloody intervention of the United States in the country, which Machado has called for, demonstrating her hatred for the Bolivarian people.
RELATED:
Machado Incites Destabilization Against the Venezuelan State
The president emphasized that 89% of Venezuelans reject the fascist opposition leader Machado, according to data revealed by a national survey conducted by DataViva, and underscored that this rejection is also expressed in the more than 300 nighttime marches taking place throughout the country to reaffirm the nation’s sovereignty.
Regarding Corina Machado’s hate campaign against Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro added: “They say she has a broken vertebra; what’s broken is her brain and soul (…). She hates Venezuela. She manipulates the four followers she has left. I, in general, don’t pay any attention to what she does, because she’s crazy, demented with hatred.”
US piracy doesn’t only affect Venezuela
The president also denounced the recent US intervention on a private vessel carrying a significant cargo of Venezuelan crude oil, which he described as an “act of piracy” that violates international law, and on which the international organizations questioned about these violations have not commented.
Maduro emphasized the seriousness of the accusation, warning that these actions not only threaten Venezuela, but also free trade and global international law, if powerful nations are allowed to commit acts of piracy without legal intervention.
The complaint extends to the need to know the whereabouts of the ship’s crew, which remain unknown, and on which the U.S. has not commented: “Five days have passed since the crew was kidnapped aboard the oil tanker, and their whereabouts are still unknown.”
“Where is the International Criminal Court? Where is Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, hiding? What are they doing about this act of piracy, where an armed group attacked a private ship carrying Venezuelan oil, and yet, five days later, the crew is still missing? Those who publicly claimed responsibility for this illegal act, what are they doing with the crew members?” the president emphasized.
Along the same lines, Maduro affirmed: “No one has a license to plunder, and Venezuela will be respected,” while thanking the people for their resounding response against “U.S. interference.” He also expressed his gratitude for the support shown by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fight for freedom and dignity in Venezuela.
In this denunciation, the Venezuelan people have the support of a large part of the international community. “Friends of the UN Charter have publicly condemned the theft of our oil in the Caribbean Sea. We have the support of the world, including American public opinion, against this act of piracy,” the president affirmed.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Venezuela Moves Towards Strengthening the Productive Economy and National Sovereignty
(www.telesurenglish.net)
This Monday, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, hosted his regular program, “With Maduro + No. 99,” where he emphasized that there are no media outlets or networks that reflect the sheer volume of government projects.
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Venezuelan Workers Convene Constituent Congress in Caracas
He also stated that if “anyone knows us Venezuelans, they should know us as tireless workers with unwavering faith in the victory of the Homeland.”
In this vein, the Venezuelan leader noted that he had a productive work agenda last week, achieving the following progress in strengthening the country’s economy and safeguarding its sovereignty:
Self-sufficiency
President Maduro reiterated that food sales at affordable prices continue throughout Venezuela, reaching 34,000 tons each time.
The President highlighted that, through the Sovereign Field Fairs, the Fish Fairs, the opening of markets with the new PDVAL voucher system, and other sales channels, the Venezuelan people are enjoying the purchase of fresh, domestically produced food at prices that are between 40 and 70% cheaper than in traditional markets.
He also emphasized that these special events, which will continue until the end of December 2025, allow consumers to find food in their own communities, as well as access high-quality products.
From Venezuela to the World
President Maduro insisted that it is necessary to “increase exports to higher levels, facilitating export mechanisms for more than 90 products that we are already exporting worldwide, because the world’s major markets—China, India, Russia, Iran, Turkey—are increasingly receiving our products, recognizing their high quality.” For the Venezuelan head of state, it is of great importance “to do everything with our own capabilities in Venezuela and never depend on anyone for anything.”
In his view, putting this methodology into practice results in: “total independence, happiness, tranquility, stability, and also great capacity. Living off our own efforts, our own capabilities.
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And in the economy, I have proposed that: 100% substitution of all imports,” he stated as a premise of the economic strategies employed by his government.
In this regard, the Head of State has emphasized that “we are the original Bolivarian revolutionaries who were born to conquer and not to be conquered, and we are conquering”; highlighting that the coat of arms and the National Flag are the symbols that represent who we are, our commitment and loyalty to the people of Venezuela.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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President Maduro Invokes Allende’s Memory in the Face of the Return of Nazism and Fascism in Chile
(www.telesurenglish.net)
President Nicolás Maduro addressed José Antonio Kast’s electoral victory in Chile, invoking the memory of Salvador Allende and the resilience of the Chilean people.
During the 99th episode of his program, “Con Maduro +,” the president asserted that the South American country “will resist and sooner rather than later will be reborn.”
RELATED:
Chile: Pinochetism returns to power
In this regard, he offered a reflective analysis of the recent elections in Chile, recalling Salvador Allende’s iconic phrase: “The true hope, betrayed, will return to the great avenues, defeating the Nazism and fascism that seeks to impose itself once again.”
Finally, the Venezuelan head of state recalled that “the day will come when our continent speaks with the voice of a united people,” quoting the Venezuelan artist Alí Primera.
Earlier, during a press conference of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello stated: “So they want to persecute our people? It strengthens our people. We will receive them here with open arms, as we have received more than 1,100,000 Venezuelans who have returned.”
His words are framed within the promotion of the Great Mission Return to the Homeland Program, a state policy aimed at facilitating the voluntary return of Venezuelans from abroad.
The statement is a response to José Antonio Kast’s anti-immigrant campaign. The president-elect warned that “when we tell an undocumented immigrant that they are breaking the law, that they have to leave our country, in case they want to re-enter at any point, we are serious.”
In this regard, Cabello considered that this stance is a directive from the United States. He also recalled that Venezuela has historically welcomed Chilean migrants, especially after the 1973 coup against President Salvador Allende. “Many who left Chile came to Venezuela, and we welcomed them warmly, as Venezuelans do. They made their lives here in Venezuela, integrated into the community, and worked. It was a different time, 1973,” he said.
Cabello blamed the current Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, for Kast’s victory, arguing that his government has been ineffective in failing to represent the popular base. “For all of this, we must thank the current president. He is responsible, then. When you try to govern half-heartedly, when you refuse to understand who elected you, when you don’t want to govern for the elites, these things happen,” he stated.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Mexico and the U.S. Sign New Agreement to Address Tijuana River Wastewater
(www.telesurenglish.net)
It includes plans to ensure the operation and maintenance of critical sites.
On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Mexico and the United States signed a new agreement to address the Tijuana River wastewater crisis through joint actions carried out by the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC).
RELATED:
Trump Threatens 5% Tariff on Mexico Over Delayed Water Deliveries
The agreement was negotiated and signed in record time, surpassing the December 31 deadline, as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Mexican Environment Secretary Alicia Barcena.
U.S. and Mexican sections of the IBWC carried out the signing and sought urgent and permanent solutions. Zeldin highlighted that the agreement is necessary to address the population growth of Tijuana and its surrounding areas.
The EPA explained that for decades, wastewater from Mexico “has affected Southern California,” which caused beach closures, foul odors, environmental degradation, economic losses, and illnesses in border communities.
Trump demands Mexico ‘take care of its water and sewage problem IMMEDIATELY,’ labeling it a ‘true threat’
In a somewhat ominous post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump accused Mexico of posing a cross-border sewage contamination issue hazardous to the United States, branding… pic.twitter.com/h7ggyXgZ8y— MaggieWise ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@maggiewise111) December 11, 2025
The plan includes infrastructure projects in Mexico, research programs, and planning to ensure the operation and maintenance of critical sites, aligned with international best practices in wastewater management.
Act 333 does not commit new U.S. taxpayer funds, but rather prioritizes the effective execution of projects previously agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July by both nations.
The plan initiatives will be developed between 2026 and 2027, with an additional project in 2028, which seeks to reopen beaches, eliminate odors, and reverse the environmental degradation of the Tijuana River Valley.
At her morning press conference, Mexican President #ClaudiaSheinbaum calls for reflection on the unity of popular movements in #LatinAmerica and cites #Mexico as an example, since its movement is committed to the people, delivers results, and thus gains popular support. pic.twitter.com/gy25fAqtkU
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 15, 2025
teleSUR: JP
Source: La Jornada – EFE
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Argentina’s Government managed in the early hours of this Thursday to give half sanction of Deputies to the Budget 2026, which would be the first Budget of the Milei Government, since during the last two years it resorted to extensions of the plan of expenses and revenues of 2023.
President Javier Milei’s administration secured parliamentary approval for its first 2026 national budget on Wednesday, a contentious adjustment package passed after years of governing by discretionary decree.
The budget, which critics argue deepens cuts to social programs and relies on economically dubious forecasts, passed the Chamber of Deputies with 132 votes in favor, 97 against, and 19 abstentions, but needs the approval of the National Senate.
RELATED: Milei Signs and Sends His Regressive Labor Reform to Congress
Este es un presupuesto de ajuste que deja afuera a la mayoria de la población y beneficia solo a unos pocos empresarios y al Fondo Montenario Internacional.
Se desprograman obras de infraestructura estratégicas como la del Canal Magdalena, que facilita nuestro transporte,… pic.twitter.com/VNXuFZQFHx
— Jorge Taiana (@JorgeTaiana) December 18, 2025
Text reads: “This is an adjustment budget that leaves out the majority of the population and benefits only a few entrepreneurs and the International Monetary Fund…”
The 2026 Budget
The budget incorporates significant structural modifications. These include:
- The elimination of the automatic indexation for family allowances and the Universal Child Allowance, effectively freezing these benefits despite ongoing inflation.
- The removal, via Article 30, of key national development pillars:
- Abandoning the legal target of spending 6% of GDP on education. Scrapping the progressive investment goal to reach 1% of GDP for science and technology.Defunding the National Fund for Technical Schools.
- Dismantling FONDEF, which guaranteed a minimum investment of 0.8% of current revenues for defense.
“You don’t have to camouflage yourselves anymore to harm people with disabilities, the university community, and technical schools,” deputy German Martinez commented.
A Victory Forged by Political Bargain
The government’s victory was engineered by a relentless lobbying effort from Interior Minister Guillermo Menem and Deputy Diego Santilli, who negotiated with governors until the final hours. The far-right administration distributed over 66.5 billion argentinean pesos (approximately $66.5 million) in National Treasury Contributions (ATNs).
The government also pledged to the city of Buenos Aires that it will transfer the co-participation funds established in the agreement before the Supreme Court.
Likewise, a reform of the Glacier Protection Law was submitted to Congress. This initiative enables provinces to advance mining projects on strategic water reserves. If approved, Catamarca, Mendoza, and San Juan would be among the primary beneficiaries for conducting business with U.S. multinational corporations.
The Center for Argentine Political Economy (CEPA, in Spanish) stated its macroeconomic projections are “severely out of sync” with reality, citing projected 5% growth and 10.1% annual inflation as unrealistic.
Furthermore, it does not allocate funds to restore retirees’ decimated purchasing power, reactivate paralyzed public works, or stimulate economic activity. “The libertarian budget that achieved half-sanction… consolidates an austerity framework,” the CEPA’s analysis concluded.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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China Advances Its Economic Presence in Argentina Despite Milei’s Alignment With Washington
(www.telesurenglish.net)
Despite Argentina’s political realignment toward the United States under President Javier Milei, China continues to consolidate its economic presence in the country, expanding investments in strategic sectors and maintaining its position as a long-term partner.
RELATED:
Argentina: Union Headquarters Attacked Days Before National Mobilization
According to U.S.-based outlet Bloomberg Línea, Chinese companies have continued to strengthen their footprint in Argentina even as Buenos Aires signals closer ties with Washington and former U.S. President Donald Trump. The developments highlight the persistence of bilateral economic relations despite shifting geopolitical rhetoric.
Chinese investment remains active in sectors considered central to Argentina’s development, including energy, infrastructure and mining. Chinese firms are involved in major projects such as hydroelectric dams, solar power plants, lithium mining and telecommunications, reinforcing Beijing’s role in Argentina’s productive and technological landscape.
Patricio Giusto @patriciogiusto, executive director of the Sino-Argentine Observatory, said Xi's remarks reaffirm China's role as "a staunch defender of an open economy and multilateralism to address global problems and resolve disputes, opposing unilateral impositions and…
— Xi's Moments (@XisMoments) November 3, 2025
From Beijing’s perspective, relations with Argentina are framed within a comprehensive strategic partnership aimed at mutual benefit and sustainable development. China has emphasized the use of yuan-denominated financing and technological cooperation as mechanisms to support Argentina’s economic sovereignty, offering alternatives to reliance on the U.S. dollar and to external financial pressures. Chinese authorities underline that their foreign policy is based on respect for national self-determination and cooperation oriented toward shared growth.
Within Argentina’s domestic political sphere, the Justicialist Party has rejected U.S. interference in Latin America and the Caribbean and has called for the defense of regional sovereignty, adding an internal political dimension to the broader international context.
While Washington seeks to reaffirm its influence across the region, Beijing maintains that its engagement in Argentina is guided by pragmatic and peaceful cooperation, without political conditions. Chinese officials argue that joint projects demonstrate that bilateral relations can advance beyond ideological differences, grounded instead in concrete economic interests and the need to diversify sources of investment.
The expansion of Chinese companies in Argentina reflects Beijing’s ability to sustain its broader economic strategy in Latin America, positioning itself as a reliable partner amid intensifying global geopolitical tensions.
Argentina continues to maintain close relations with the United States, but China has been a strategic partner in trade and investment since 1972. As global competition between major powers deepens, Buenos Aires navigates a delicate economic and diplomatic balance between both actors.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has publicly defended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, portraying him as a resilient political leader and dismissing speculation about any plans for Maduro to leave Venezuela under pressure from the United States.
RELATED:
President Maduro Thanks the People of Venezuela for Their Response to Aggression
In an interview with the US outlet Newsmax, published on Monday, Lukashenko said Maduro has never been an adversary of Belarus and rejected rumors suggesting the Venezuelan president could relocate to Belarus. “Maduro never has been our enemy or adversary. Never,” Lukashenko said. “If he wanted to come to Belarus, our doors would always be open to him. But honestly, we have never talked about that.”
Lukashenko stressed that Maduro would not abandon his responsibilities, describing him as a determined leader comparable to the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. “Maduro is not the kind of man who would leave everything and run away,” he said. “He is a strong person, like Hugo Chávez. He is a strong, decent and sensible man, someone you can talk to and reach agreements with.”
Belarus' Lukashenko says Venezuelan President Maduro is welcome to move to Belarus https://t.co/7QSYahkYJF https://t.co/7QSYahkYJF
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 16, 2025
Addressing reports about a possible resignation or relocation, the Belarusian president said such scenarios had never been discussed directly with Maduro. “We have never discussed this topic with Maduro,” Lukashenko stated. “To be honest, we have talked more about Venezuela with the Americans than with Maduro about his resignation or any actions related to it. He is a heroic man.”
Lukashenko also argued that tensions involving the United States could be resolved through peaceful means and said he expects to discuss the issue with US President Donald Trump in the future. “I would tell him many interesting things. A war would lead to nothing,” he said. He warned that a military confrontation with Venezuela would amount to “a second Vietnam” and questioned whether such a conflict would be in Washington’s interest. According to Lukashenko, any attack would only strengthen domestic support for Maduro.
In the same interview, Lukashenko rejected US claims of a sharp increase in drug trafficking originating from Venezuela and criticized Washington’s refusal to recognize Venezuelan elections. He said the elections “were held for Venezuelans, not for Americans,” while also questioning the legitimacy of the US electoral process, referring to allegations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
His comments come amid an expanded US military presence in the Caribbean in recent weeks, described as the largest deployment in the region in decades and officially justified as part of anti-narcotics operations. Since September, US forces have destroyed more than twenty vessels allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and the Pacific, killing more than 87 crew members in what Venezuelan authorities have described as extrajudicial actions.
Caracas has characterized US military movements near its coastline as an armed aggression aimed at imposing regime change and seizing the country’s strategic resources.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Venezuelan Armed Forces Vow to Defend Airspace as US Increases Warplane Deployment
(venezuelanalysis.com)
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Electoral Coup in Honduras: Prosecutor’s Office Presents Audios Revealing Conspiracy for Fraud
(www.telesurenglish.net)
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) confirmed on Tuesday the investigation of new audio recordings that suggest a conspiracy to sabotage the recent electoral process and possibly facilitate a coup against President Xiomara Castro.
RELATED:
The revelation, contained in an official statement released by the Attorney General’s Office, comes just hours after the president alerted the country about a “coup plot” orchestrated by her predecessor, Juan Orlando Hernández (JOH), who was pardoned by US President Donald Trump from his 45-year prison sentence for drug trafficking. According to Castro, JOH plans to return to Honduras to illegally proclaim a new president, without waiting for the official vote-by-vote recount of the electoral records.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, through its Specialized Unit Against Electoral Crimes (UECDE), reported that it received several audio recordings linked to a criminal complaint related to the electoral process. Although it did not explicitly identify the former president in its transcripts, the contents suggest instructions to prevent a transparent vote count, which could invalidate the official results and open the door to a constitutional dispute.
One of the recordings, according to the published transcript, contains phrases such as: “In Honduras, this is already understood, no matter what anyone says, this is a done deal. […] Accept the count minus the vote-by-vote recount, because mathematically that has never been allowed.” Another recording mentions the need to “completely restructure the National Party” and refers to an alleged alliance between key political figures, including David Matamoros Batson, former secretary general of the Liberal Party.
Comunicado: pic.twitter.com/SK5BSn8uHV
— Ministerio Público (@MP_Honduras) December 16, 2025
Previously, the Attorney General’s Office also referenced a conversation in which Nasry Asfura, the National Party candidate and presumed winner of the November 30 elections, is mentioned as a central figure in a possible scenario of political “unification” that would require a “qualified majority” in Congress. This comes in a context where the National Electoral Council (CNE) has not yet completed the scrutiny of the ballots challenged by various parties.
Attorney General Johel Zelaya reiterated his commitment to transparency: “The truth doesn’t need embellishment; it stands on its own, and lies have short legs. The Public Prosecutor’s Office will never lend itself to planting fabricated audio recordings.” His statement seeks to legitimize the investigation in the face of growing polarization and public distrust.
In #Honduras, the #LIBRE party takes to the streets in protest, rejecting the electoral #coup perpetrated in the presidential elections on November 30. pic.twitter.com/DRudWS8hoz
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 15, 2025
Meanwhile, President Castro has called for peaceful demonstrations in Tegucigalpa, requesting the people’s support to defend the constitutional order. In a direct message to the public, he asserted that “an attack aimed at breaking the constitutional and democratic order through a coup is underway,” and openly accused the United States of interference, citing the pardon of JOH as part of an international political plan.
The situation has intensified with the declaration by the Chief of the Joint Staff, Roosvelt Hernández, who affirmed that the Armed Forces remain loyal to the Constitution and to President Castro. “There will be no coup here… Come rain, shine, or storm, the Armed Forces will guarantee the stability of the country,” he stated, promising to punish any member of the military involved in destabilizing activities.
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Mexico City Congress Codifies Crime of Violence Between Partners, Including Dating Relationships
(mexicosolidarity.com)
This article by Gloria López originally appeared in the December 13, 2025 edition of El Sol de México.
The Mexico City Congress approved the creation of the crime of violence between partners, including dating relationships, differentiating it from family violence, with the aim of protecting and guaranteeing a life free of violence for women.
With this modification, both types of violence will be investigated ex officio, explained Deputy Cecilia Vadillo Obregón, during the presentation of the ruling that also seeks to reform the crimes of abuse and sexual harassment and digital harassment against women in Mexico City.
This Saturday in an extraordinary session, legislators approved the package of reforms sent by the head of government, Clara Brugada Molina, which reforms articles 176, 177 and 178 of the Penal Code regarding sexual abuse, as well as reforms to the Civic Culture Law of Mexico City, regarding gender and access to a life free of violence for women.
Vadillo Obregón, president of the Gender Equality Commission, explained that one of the central changes is the creation of the crime of domestic violence between partners, differentiating it from violence exercised between other family ties such as brothers, uncles or relatives.
This separation will allow for the generation of more accurate statistics on gender violence and the design of more effective public policies to combat it.
The reform also includes dating relationships and any sexual or emotional bond within this form of violence, closing a legal loophole that left many young women unprotected. This aims to guarantee justice for victims who were previously not recognized by law because there was no formal relationship.
She clarified that this modification does not leave mothers who are victims of violence unprotected, but rather obliges judges to review cohabitation, custody and guardianship agreements, and even to decree the loss of parental rights when necessary, prioritizing the best interests of children and preventing vicarious violence.
Furthermore, the ruling also establishes that the aggressors must attend re-education workshops, with the aim of transforming learned behaviors and rethinking gender stereotypes and masculinities that normalize violence.
Regarding sexual abuse and harassment, the legislator said that the reform establishes that these crimes will be prosecuted ex officio, which means that the Public Prosecutor’s Office must investigate from the moment it becomes aware of the facts, without the burden falling on the victims.
She highlighted the work of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who, after experiencing sexual harassment in the street, promoted a national plan against violence and sexual abuse, as well as that of the Head of Government, Clara Brugada, who presented this initiative to accompany the presidential reform and propose additional modifications that recognize the realities of violence that women face.
She emphasized that one of the most significant precedents is the incorporation of consent as a central element of the sexual act. The law recognizes that consent can be withdrawn at any time and makes it clear that silence does not equate to consent.
“It is specified here that consent can be withdrawn. That is, if you were flirting with someone and decided you didn’t anymore and made that clear, and this person continued to make advances, that is harassment,” she pointed out.
She emphasized that in this way, the idea that the responsibility falls on women for not saying “no” is eliminated, and it is established that certain behaviors should not be carried out under any circumstances.
Furthermore, it legally defines what constitutes a sexual act, closing loopholes that allowed for discretionary interpretations and impunity for perpetrators.
On the other hand, for the first time, a new type of digital sexual violence is being created, recognizing that assaults also occur in the virtual realm. Sending unsolicited sexual images, intimidating messages, or harassment on social media will be considered a crime, even when there is no physical contact.
With this modification, authorities will no longer be able to dismiss complaints under the argument that “nothing happened” because they are digital events.
She stressed that fear, intimidation, and transgression are real, and that all physical or digital spaces must be safe for women.
The reform acknowledges that women’s lives have changed, but that violence persists and evolves. Therefore, the ruling seeks to bring to light historically silenced forms of violence and adapt the Penal Code to current realities.
“A vote in favor of this reform is a vote for our friends, sisters, mothers, daughters and granddaughters,” she said during the session, reiterating the message that in Mexico City, if one is touched, everyone responds.
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Mexico City Congress Codifies Crime of Violence Between Partners, Including Dating Relationships
December 15, 2025December 15, 2025
The reform establishes that these crimes will be prosecuted ex officio and that aggressors must attend re-education workshops.
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Call for “Gen Z” March Fails Again
December 15, 2025December 15, 2025
The march was comprised, once more, primarily of adults aged 40 to 60 years old, a thin mixture of the superannuated & conspiracy-minded.
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The Right That Doesn’t Exist
December 15, 2025December 15, 2025
The map of the Mexican right wing that some on the left claim doesn’t exist is vast.
The post Mexico City Congress Codifies Crime of Violence Between Partners, Including Dating Relationships appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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This article originally appeared in the December 16, 2025 edition of El Universal.
Editor’s note: I’m not normally in the habit of re-publishing something from El Universal*, a corporate, right wing newspaper which approaches this issue by suggesting tax credits for corporations, already operating in extremely favourable conditions with very low wages, as a solution to this issue; but the figures are important.*
This Christmas, almost 14 million Mexicans will be without their Christmas bonus, even though it is a right established since 1970 in the Federal Labor Law (LFT).
By surveying more than 150,000 homes distributed throughout the country, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) counted 40.8 million subordinate and paid workers between July and September of last year.
Of this amount, 33.6% or 13.7 million lacked a Christmas bonus, paid vacation, or profit sharing.
It is the highest figure in a year and, to put it in perspective, it is equivalent to the combined population of Mexico City, Querétaro and Morelos. The 13.7 million without a Christmas bonus represent 22.3% of the Economically Active Population (EAP).
Humberto Calzada , chief economist for Rankia Latin America, explained that most workers without benefits operate in the informal sector, and that is why employers evade this obligation.
From their point of view, working conditions and the scarcity of formal job creation force Mexicans to seek informal options in order to have a source of income .
“Faced with precarious employment, workers are willing to sacrifice social benefits in order to have a better salary,” he said in an interview with El Universal.
Households with lower labor income lack the capacity to save resources and are the first to spend their Christmas bonus; they are even forced to acquire loans, explained the professor of Economics at UNAM .
“It is very difficult for informal employment to end in Mexico, because many times an informal worker has a higher income than a professional who operates in the formal sector,” he noted.
In his opinion, reducing informality requires more productive public and private investment. “Tax incentives are urgently needed to encourage companies to invest and foster economic growth,” he commented.
State of Mexico Leads
The largest number of employees who will not receive a Christmas bonus work in the State of Mexico , with 2.2 million. Puebla and Veracruz follow, with one million each, according to the results of the National Survey of Occupation and Employment (ENOE) by the institute headed by Graciela Márquez.
Mexico City and Michoacán continue to be affected, both with 0.8 million employees without access to this benefit, whose payment deadline is December 20 and which is prohibited from being paid in kind.
Of the 13.7 million workers without access to a Christmas bonus, 5.3 million are between 15 and 29 years old, that is, they belong to the so-called Generation Z or Centennial, while 5.2 million are in the 30 to 49 age range, and the rest are over 50 years old.
Clemente Ruiz Durán, a researcher at the Postgraduate Program in Economics at UNAM, pointed out that most young people are employed on a temporary basis, so employers do not carry out the formalization process.
The Federal Labor Defense Attorney’s Office explains that workers have the right to receive a Christmas bonus equivalent to at least 15 days of salary.
Workers who have not completed one year of service, regardless of whether they are working or not on the date of settlement of the Christmas bonus, must receive the proportional part of it, according to the time worked, whatever it may be.
The Christmas bonus payment is due to workers, whether they are base-level, trust-based, permanent, unionized, for a specific project or time, seasonal, for an indefinite period subject to probation or subject to initial training, among others who are governed by the LFT.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In a series of interviews published Tuesday by Vanity Fair magazine, Susie Wiles, Donald Trump’s current chief of staff, offers a critical, though not confrontational, portrait of the former president and key figures in his political circle.
RELATED: Donald Trump Taps Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff
The statements are part of a piece compiled from ten interviews with journalist Chris Whipple, in which Wiles breaks her usual low profile to address sensitive issues concerning the Trump administration and his inner circle.
The chief of staff describes Trump as having “the personality of an alcoholic,” despite not drinking alcohol herself. “Some clinical psychologist who knows a million times more than I do will probably disagree with what I’m about to say. But functional alcoholics, or alcoholics in general, have personalities that are exacerbated when they drink.
And in that sense, I’m somewhat of an expert on strong personalities (…) Trump has the personality of an alcoholic (…) and acts with the conviction that there is nothing he can’t do. Nothing, absolutely nothing,” she stated.
Although she doesn’t position herself as a counterweight to the former president, Wiles acknowledges errors in his administration’s management, such as the deportations of immigrants without adequate due process.
Wiles, now Trump’s chief of staff, breaks her silence with candid views on the former president, his allies, and the controversies shaping their legacy. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images).
She also reveals that she advocated against pardoning the most violent assailants of the Capitol on January 6, but her position was ignored.
Her role, she explains, has been to facilitate Trump’s will, even when she unsuccessfully tried to get him to stop using his office to “settle scores” with his enemies.
“We reached an informal agreement for him to move on from his obsessions after three months in the White House, but it didn’t work,” she recounts. “It’s not that Trump is constantly thinking about revenge, but when the opportunity arises, he takes it.”
Susie Wiles, “The Ice Maiden”
That’s how Donald Trump introduced her during his election night speech in Palm Beach, Florida, referring to her as “The Ice Maiden” and noting that “she likes to stay a little bit in the background.”
In a statement, he highlighted Wiles’s crucial role in his 2024 election victory, calling her “tough, smart, innovative, and universally admired and respected.” He also expressed that it will be “a well-deserved honor to have Susie as the first female Chief of Staff in American history.”
Descriptive Adjectives Broaden Her Scope
The advisor, highly respected in Republican circles, especially in Florida, also speaks harshly of Vice President J.D. Vance, whom he calls a political opportunist.
Wiles recalls that Vance was a fierce critic of Trump before becoming his defender by running for Senate. He also describes him as “a conspiracy theorist for a decade,” in a negative context linked to the Epstein case.
In that context, he criticizes Trump for having insisted on linking Bill Clinton to visits to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island without evidence, calling the claim erroneous or false.
🚨🚨 BREAKING: Susie Wiles TRASHES President Trump, top individuals within his administration and MAGA in a new interview with radical left Vanity Fair. She compared Trump to an alcoholic, said that she urged him NOT to pardon the January 6th political prisoners, called JD Vance… pic.twitter.com/JKLifNAkWa
— Joshua Hall (@JoshHall2024) December 16, 2025
The target of his harshest criticism is Elon Musk, whom he calls “a completely lone actor” and compares to “a kind of hyperactive Nosferatu.” Wiles points out that Musk, at the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), dismantled agencies and fired thousands of employees without any criteria or coordination with the White House.
“The challenge with Elon is keeping up with him. He is an avowed ketamine user. And he sleeps in a sleeping bag in the Executive Office Building during the day,” he says.
Furthermore, she suggests that at certain times Musk may have been consuming microdoses of psychoactive substances, which would explain some of his most controversial tweets.
Regarding the handling of the Epstein case, Wiles directly blames Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump’s former personal lawyer.
“I think she completely failed to appreciate that this was precisely the group that cared about this issue,” she comments, referring to the MAGA movement’s base.
“First, she handed them folders full of irrelevant information. And then she said that the witness list, or the client list, was on her desk. There is no such client list, and it certainly wasn’t on her desk,” she criticizes.
This content was created with AI support.
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