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In his radio program “129 Mann Ki Baat,” the last of 2025, the Indian head of government announced that the second edition of the Young Leaders Dialogue will take place on January 12. Representatives of the younger generation will share their ideas on important topics such as innovation, physical well-being, startups, and agriculture.

According to the Prime Minister, the country is developing new opportunities for young people to showcase their talents. He cited platforms like the Smart India Hackathon, whose 2025 edition concluded this month, as an example.

During this Hackathon, students proposed solutions to traffic problems, financial fraud, digital arrests, and challenges in the agricultural sector, among others, he noted.

Modi also cited examples of young people taking a leading role in their communities, schools, and even within the Indian community abroad, through cultural, energy, and women’s empowerment projects, among others, all supported by the government.

Furthermore, the Indian Prime Minister highlighted the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, on its 77th anniversary, as an opportunity to remember the country’s heritage and to pass on the great history of the heroes and heroines who fought for independence.

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The statement also notes that Putin maintains regular contact with Nazarbayev. According to the Kremlin, their previous meeting was held on May 29.

Nazarbayev led independent Kazakhstan from its founding in 1991, assuming the presidency after the first national elections held on December 1 of that year. On March 19, 2019, he announced his resignation, naming Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as his successor.

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The White House officially confirmed the meeting between the two leaders, and according to the official agenda, the meeting will take place this Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM (local time) near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.

According to local media, Zelensky will bring a 20-point peace proposal, one of the key elements of which is the creation of a demilitarized zone.

In statements to the press on Friday, Zelensky said he could not guarantee whether the meeting would result in a final agreement; however, he believes that both sides will try to “finalize as many points as possible.”

The initial 28-point peace plan—promoted by Trump—was criticized by Ukraine’s allies, who believed it favored Russia.

After weeks of talks between Ukrainian and US officials, that draft has been reduced to the current 20-point plan.

Meanwhile, Russia warned that the leaked plan differs radically from what Moscow is developing in talks with Washington. The Eurasian country’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Ryabkov, denounced the fact that “references to a 20-point plan have appeared in the Ukrainian media.”

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The post Trump-Zelensky meeting in Florida; Russia-Ukraine peace still elusive first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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“We plan to raise this with the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority, discuss this possibility with the airlines, and determine how feasible it is to establish direct air service between our countries,” Zorro said in an interview with the Sputnik news agency.

The diplomat specified that a meeting between Colombian representatives and several Russian companies took place last October, and this topic was among others discussed.

Currently, among Latin American countries, Russia has direct air connections with Cuba and Venezuela.

On November 1, a new direct flight route operated by the Venezuelan airline Conviasa between Caracas and the Russian city of St. Petersburg was inaugurated at a ceremony held at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia.

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The head of the Slavic country’s diplomacy stated in an interview with the TASS news agency that, in the event of a possible escalation of the situation in the Taiwan Strait, the order of action in such situations is outlined in the basic agreement between Russia and China on good neighborliness, friendship, and cooperation of July 16, 2001.

One of the basic principles stipulated in this document is mutual support in defending public unity and territorial integrity, the high-ranking diplomat indicated.

Previously, in an article for a Russian newspaper, the Foreign Minister had emphasized that the West is intentionally aggravating the situation in the Taiwan Strait.

Lavrov also emphasized that Russia opposes Taiwanese independence in any form; it is an inalienable part of China.

“Russia’s principled position on the Taiwan question is well-known, unchanging, and has been repeatedly affirmed at the highest level.

The Russian side recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of China and opposes the island’s independence in any form,” he stressed.

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The newspaper highlighted that the latest victim was shot yesterday, when a man, identified as Ali Raed, was shot in front of his eight-year-old daughter in the town of Qalansawe, in the center of the country.

“Levy’s figures are completely false; this is the bloodiest year for our community,” Khaled, the victim’s brother, responded.

“We want the police to confront crime because we have lost our security, while weapons have become a threat to our families and homes,” he emphasized.

The newspaper highlighted that the record low to date was 2023, when 244 murders of members of this minority group, comprising just over two million people, were recorded, although last year was also high with 237.

In February, the mayor of Lod, Yair Revivo, criticized the government for its lack of clear action to combat the violence and criminal gangs plaguing the minority, which represents just over 21% of the total population.

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The post The bloodiest year for Arabs in Israel was 2025 first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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General Luciano Portolano, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces, stated in an interview with the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore that Italy continues to provide support to Ukraine, which now exceeds that amount, “through the supply of military equipment, vehicles, and supplies authorized by 11 interministerial decrees.”

Portolano’s statements come just hours before the Italian Council of Ministers is scheduled to approve the next decree to extend civil and military aid to Kiyv for another year, which is expected to be signed between December 29 and 30.

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ICAP 65th anniversary Cuba solidarity event in Havana celebrates Fidel Castro’s vision of international fraternity with global delegates and a new historical book.

Related: Cuba Calls US Military Spending for 2026 “Extremely Offensive”

Havana, Cuba – In a moving tribute to revolutionary internationalism, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) marked its 65th anniversary with a solemn ceremony honoring the enduring legacy of Fidel Castro Ruz as the architect of Cuba’s global solidarity network. Held at the Fidel Castro Ruz Center in Havana, the event featured a photographic exhibition, the launch of a new book on people-to-people diplomacy, and the participation of 250 international delegates from 32 countries—a powerful testament to the reach of Cuba’s solidarity ethos.

At the heart of the commemoration was a photo exhibition chronicling Fidel’s lifelong commitment to anti-imperialism, South-South cooperation, and grassroots diplomacy. The images captured moments of profound connection: Fidel conversing with African liberation leaders, embracing Vietnamese fighters, listening to Chilean exiles, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with ordinary people from every continent who saw in Cuba a symbol of resistance and hope.

“These photographs reveal the essence of people-to-people diplomacy,” said Noemí Rabasa, First Vice President of ICAP. “Fidel didn’t just meet with heads of state—he engaged with workers, students, poets, and farmers, transforming fraternity into a foundational pillar of the Revolution.”

ICAP 65th Anniversary Cuba Solidarity: Fidel’s Vision as Diplomatic Innovation

Founded in 1960—just a year after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution—ICAP was conceived by Fidel Castro as a counterweight to Cold War bloc politics. At a time when Cuba faced isolation and aggression from the U.S.-led West, ICAP built bridges with social movements, trade unions, intellectuals, and progressive governments across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and even Europe. Its mission was never propaganda, but authentic solidarity: medical brigades to Angola, literacy teachers to Nicaragua, shelter for Chilean refugees after the 1973 coup, and unwavering support for anti-apartheid struggles.

“Fidel turned solidarity into state policy—and into moral practice,” Rabasa emphasized. “He taught us that true internationalism means standing with the oppressed, not just trading with the powerful.”

The anniversary ceremony also featured the presentation of “La solidaridad de los pueblos siempre con Cuba” (The Solidarity of Peoples Always with Cuba), a new book by Cuban journalist Ileana García. According to ICAP President Fernando González, a former member of the Cuban Five, the work “constitutes a faithful testimony to Fidel’s legacy in building a diplomacy rooted in mutual respect and shared struggle.”

Read about ICAP’s historical role in global solidarity via the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs

González, himself a symbol of Cuba’s resilience—having spent 15 years in U.S. prisons for fighting terrorism against Cuba—highlighted that the book documents decades of grassroots support for Cuba, from protests in Rome and Tokyo to humanitarian aid during the Special Period. “Even when governments turned their backs, the peoples never abandoned us,” he said. “That is the power of the network Fidel built.”

The presence of 250 international guests—many from nations that have benefited from Cuban medical and educational missions—underscored that this solidarity remains alive. Delegates from Venezuela, South Africa, Vietnam, Palestine, Bolivia, and Namibia stood alongside European and North American activists, all united by a shared belief in cooperation without domination.

Explore UNESCO’s recognition of Cuba’s international medical cooperation

Geopolitical Context: Solidarity as Resistance in a Fractured World

The ICAP 65th anniversary Cuba solidarity celebration arrives at a pivotal global moment. As great-power rivalries intensify, economic coercion becomes commonplace, and humanitarian crises multiply, Cuba’s model of non-conditional, people-centered diplomacy offers a compelling alternative.

While Western powers often tie aid to political concessions or market access, Cuba’s internationalism—epitomized by the Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade—operates on principle alone. During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the pandemic’s global surge, and natural disasters from Pakistan to Haiti, Cuban doctors arrived without contracts, without armies, and without demands—only with skill and solidarity.

This approach has earned Cuba immense moral capital in the Global South. In 2023, the UN General Assembly voted 187 to 2 in favor of ending the U.S. blockade—a near-unanimous rebuke rooted in decades of Cuban solidarity. As one Namibian delegate noted at the event: “Cuba didn’t wait for us to be free to stand with us. They helped us become free.”

Review the UN General Assembly resolution on the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba (2025)

Regionally, ICAP’s work strengthens Latin American and Caribbean unity through initiatives like the Bolivarian Alliance (ALBA-TCP) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). These frameworks, inspired by Fidel and Chávez, prioritize food sovereignty, energy integration, and cultural exchange over corporate extraction.

Globally, the anniversary sends a clear message: in an age of fragmentation, solidarity is not nostalgia—it is strategy. As climate collapse, war, and inequality threaten humanity, the Fidel-inspired vision of a “Homeland of Humanity” becomes ever more urgent.

As Fernando González concluded: “They tried to bury us with sanctions. But we planted seeds—and today, those seeds have grown into forests of friendship across the world.”

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Nicaragua ALBA-TCP Christmas messages from Ortega and Murillo reaffirm regional unity, peace, and the vision of a just world amid global uncertainty.

Related: Venezuela at Christmas: Yaracuy Hosts World’s Largest Christmas Dinner

On Saturday, December 28, 2025, Nicaraguan co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo sent heartfelt Christmas and New Year’s messages to the heads of state and government of all member nations of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP). The communiqués, steeped in poetic language and revolutionary spirit, emphasized fraternity, hope, and unwavering commitment to a just and complementary world order—one rooted in solidarity rather than domination.

“In the ALBA and beyond, we fight for a world that is more just, true, solidary, and complementary,” Ortega and Murillo wrote, encapsulating the alliance’s founding ethos as both a regional project and a global moral stance.

The messages were addressed to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton, and the prime ministers of Antigua and Barbuda (Gaston Browne), Grenada (Dickon Mitchell), Saint Kitts and Nevis (Terrance Michael Drew), Dominica (Roosevelt Skerrit), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Godwin Friday), and Saint Lucia (Philip J. Pierre). This outreach underscores ALBA-TCP’s unique structure—uniting republics and parliamentary democracies alike under a shared anti-imperialist and humanist vision.

Nicaragua ALBA-TCP Christmas Messages: A Diplomacy of Poetry and Principle

Unlike standard diplomatic greetings, Nicaragua’s messages blended spiritual reflection with political conviction. Ortega and Murillo framed the Christmas season not merely as a religious observance but as a universal call for peace, goodwill, and collective action. “The songs of peace and goodwill inspire us to keep fighting,” they wrote, “so that love, in all its splendor, may take root and allow us to build a Homeland of Humanity.”

This phrase—“Patria de la Humanidad”—echoes the legacy of Latin American liberators like Simón Bolívar and José Martí, who envisioned continental unity as the path to true sovereignty. In the current context, it serves as a counter-narrative to rising nationalism, militarism, and economic coercion emanating from powerful Northern states.

Read the official ALBA-TCP declaration on its 21st anniversary and shared principles

The timing of the messages is significant. They arrive just weeks after the 21st anniversary of ALBA-TCP’s founding in 2004 by Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez—a milestone celebrated across member states as a triumph of South-South cooperation over neoliberal globalization. At a time when global alliances are fracturing along geopolitical fault lines, ALBA-TCP stands as a rare bloc that prioritizes mutual aid, cultural exchange, and policy coordination without conditionalities.

Critically, the messages reaffirm that solidarity is not passive goodwill but active resistance. “We are and will be brothers at dawn,” Ortega and Murillo declared—a poetic yet resolute vow that, even in darkness, the alliance remains vigilant and united.

Explore UNDP Latin America’s report on regional integration and human development

For Nicaragua—a nation long targeted by unilateral sanctions, media vilification, and political destabilization—the act of sending Christmas greetings to allies is itself a diplomatic assertion of dignity. It signals that, despite external pressures, Nicaragua remains embedded in a network of nations that recognize its sovereignty and share its vision.

Geopolitical Context: ALBA-TCP as a Beacon of Multipolarity

The Nicaragua ALBA-TCP Christmas messages reflect a broader realignment in global politics. As the U.S.-led unipolar order falters, regional blocs like ALBA-TCP, CELAC, and the African Union are championing multipolarity—a world where no single power dictates terms to the rest.

ALBA-TCP, though small in economic size, punches above its weight in normative influence. Its members have consistently:

• Rejected foreign intervention in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua,
• Supported Palestine’s statehood at the UN,
• Advocated for debt relief and climate justice for the Global South,
• And promoted alternative trade mechanisms like the SUCRE currency and medical diplomacy through Cuba’s Henry Reeve Brigade.

In this light, Christmas messages are more than seasonal courtesy—they are acts of ideological reaffirmation. While Western powers often tie aid and diplomacy to political conformity, ALBA-TCP offers unconditional solidarity based on shared history and common struggle.

Review CELAC’s “Zone of Peace” declaration and its impact on regional security

Globally, this model resonates far beyond Latin America and the Caribbean. From the Sahel to Southeast Asia, movements seeking economic sovereignty and cultural self-determination look to ALBA-TCP as proof that cooperation without submission is possible.

As Ortega and Murillo wrote, the alliance fights not just for its members, but “for a world more just.” In an era of war, inequality, and ecological crisis, such a vision—delivered not with weapons, but with words of peace—may be the most revolutionary gift of all.

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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced that he remains willing to hold direct talks with US authorities, provided they take place “on the basis of respect.”

“Our message is one of peace, love, and understanding,” he declared during a cabinet meeting held on Friday, December 26, which was broadcast on state media. “And if, in the US, someone ever decides, based on respect, to engage in dialogue and move beyond failed [regime change] projects that have persisted for over 25 years, here there will always be a president who represents his people, ready to extend a hand and look for paths to peace, cooperation, and prosperity. This had to be said, and it has been said.”

The Venezuelan president urged US media outlets not to be influenced by the lobbies trying to impose a colonial model of domination and steal Venezuela’s natural resources, and denounced sectors of the White House for creating extremist opposition figures to further that objective. At the same time, he highlighted his nation’s active and victorious resistance against the multifaceted war waged by the US regime.

He stressed the importance of the US media maintaining its independence. He emphasized not giving in to “so many lobbies,” among which he mentioned “bondholders, oil companies, Miami” and “corrupt Venezuelans who fled to Miami,” pointing out that these groups “pay for articles” in the US press.

Venezuela will not be subjected to a model of colonial and slave-owning domination
In the same vein of reaffirming Venezuela’s sovereignty, the president noted that “it is impossible for sectors of power in the US to fabricate a virtual reality and impose a model of colonial and slave domination on Bolívar’s Venezuela in order to steal its natural resources.”

“It is ‘impossible’ because here there is a people in the territory, in the communities, in the universities, in the factories and in the barracks, a people that has demonstrated sufficient capacity to lead our country on the right path, at a good pace, with good judgment,” he said.

“Maduro has been accused of everything,” he added. “But it is not Maduro, it is the oil they want. It is not Maduro, it is the gold. The rare earth minerals. It is not Maduro, it is the country’s natural wealth. They cannot say that I have weapons of mass destruction, because nobody would believe it, even if they said it a thousand times. They cannot say Maduro has biological or chemical weapons. They cannot say Maduro is building a nuclear bomb. So, they keep repeating four or five lies constantly.”

“It is not about Maduro. It is about a republic with a magnificent history, a republic which has been defended and will continue to be defended by its people, because what we want is peace, progress, improvement, advancement, prosperity,” he continued. “As the Liberator Simón Bolívar said, what we want is the greatest social happiness on firm foundations for our people.”

Adding that this statement does not refer only to the current situation, President Maduro spoke about the unsuccessful attempts that Washington has undertaken during the last 25 years to bring about a “regime change” in Venezuela, first against former President Hugo Chávez, and from 2013 onwards, against himself, which include political, financial and diplomatic support for figures of the far-right opposition.

“The failed models of Leopoldo López, Julio Borges, [Juan] Guaidó, and [María Corina] Machado will never take over this country. Venezuela will continue on its course with its plan, its leadership, and its people, achieving great things in the years to come,” he emphasized.

Threats against Maduro
Some days ago, amid Washington’s unprecedented aggression against Caracas, US President Donald Trump declared that he planned to launch a ground attack not only against Venezuela, but against any place from which “drugs are coming.” “Anywhere drugs are coming from. Anywhere. Not just Venezuela,” he said.

When asked if Maduro should take Trump’s threat of ground attacks seriously, Trump responded that the Venezuelan leader “can do whatever he wants.” “If he wants to do something, if he tries to act tough, it will be the last time he can do it,” he said, directly threatening the life of the Venezuelan president.

US-imposed puppet governmentPresident Maduro then decried that the real objective of the United States is “regime change” to seize Venezuela’s immense oil and gas wealth.

The Venezuelan president said that the White House was attempting to orchestrate a regime change in Venezuela and “impose a puppet government that would not last 47 hours.” “It is a warmongering and colonialist scheme,” he declared. “We have said it many times, and now everyone sees the truth. The truth has been revealed: the US intends to change the government in Venezuela to impose a puppet … a government that would hand over the Constitution, sovereignty, and all the wealth, turning Venezuela into a colony. Simply put, that is not going to happen.”

Venezuela under siege by the US
• Since August, the US has maintained its largest military deployment in decades in the Caribbean, with a sustained presence of naval and air assets. Initially, Washington justified this operation under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, blaming, without presenting evidence, the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for contributing to this crime.
• As the months passed, Washington’s official narrative underwent a predictable shift. Just as the Venezuelan government had denounced, the supposed focus on drug trafficking gave way to a discourse openly centered on the control and illegal appropriation of Venezuelan oil, in a context of increasing economic pressure and threats of use of force.
• In recent weeks, the US has seized at least two oil tankers, in an act denounced by Caracas as theft and piracy.
• The US military operation has had deadly consequences. More than 100 people have died as a result of over 20 bombings of small boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, without the US publicly demonstrating any link between these vessels and illicit activities.
• On Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting, following a request from Venezuela, which denounced the escalation of US aggression.
• Venezuela’s Permanent Representative to the UN Samuel Moncada denounced the US actions as representing “the recolonization of Venezuela, the reconquest of the entire continent. We are facing a massive violation of all international law and a morally reprehensible and indecent proposal that we cannot accept.”
• The Venezuelan position was openly supported by Russia, whose permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, warned that Moscow has “every reason to believe that what the US is currently doing against Venezuela is not an isolated action: it is an intervention that could become a model for future military actions against other countries in Latin America” and other parts of the world.
• In addition, China, Iran, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Cuba have openly expressed their support for Venezuela and regional stability.

Venezuela: UN Report Demonstrates Illegality of US Blockade

Somalia’s integrity
On another international topic, Venezuela issued on Saturday, December 27, a statement declaring its recognition of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia within its internationally accepted borders. The statement categorically rejects any unilateral action aimed at recognizing separatist entities within Somali territory.

The statement comes after the prime minister of “Israel,” Benjamin Netanyahu, recognized Somaliland on Friday—labeled by analysts as a new attempt to destabilize the West Asia – North Africa region—showing his disrespect for international rule of law.

The statement, published by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil on social media, states that Venezuela is acting in accordance with its sovereign foreign policy. Committed to the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Venezuela reiterates that Somalia’s territorial integrity is inviolable and constitutes the foundation for peace in the Horn of Africa.

Furthermore, Caracas adheres to the UN Security Council resolutions and the African Union decisions that support the sovereignty of the Eastern African nation.

On Friday, the African Union expressed its rejection of Israel’s diplomatic recognition of Somaliland.

(Alba Ciudad) with Orinoco Tribune content

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/JRE/SC

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United States ahead of a pivotal meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a potential plan for peace in the region.

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski arrived in the United States on Saturday, setting the stage for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, December 28, focused on a potential path to end the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The bilateral talks, rescheduled to begin at 1:00 PM local time in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida, are expected to center on a U.S. -crafted settlement plan and a new 20-point peace proposal from Kiev.

RELATED: Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Agents Dismantle Criminal Network Inside Parliament

Zelenski’s proposal includes a key demand for a demilitarized zone, which would require a corresponding Russian withdrawal from territory in Donetsk, without formal territorial concessions.

In blunt remarks on Saturday, President Trump emphasized his own pivotal role, stating that Zelenski “doesn’t have anything until I approve it.”

He struck an optimistic tone about engaging with both warring parties, adding, “I think it’s going to go good with him. I think it’s going to go good with Putin.”

🚨 Zelenskyy briefly spoke with journalists after the online negotiations with European leaders.

ZELENSKYY: "On the way to the U.S. to meet with President Trump, we discussed with what we once called the ‘Washington team,’ now the ‘Berlin team’—a broader group of European… pic.twitter.com/yU5daNOQ0v

— Kateryna Lisunova (@KaterynaLis) December 27, 2025

The summit, to be held at estate, occurs amid intense global scrutiny. UN officials and allies have repeatedly warned that any legitimate peace process requires conditions currently absent in Ukraine.

The Kremlin, for its part, has maintained a stance of openness to dialogue. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said to TASS news agency that Russia is committed to continuing to work with the U.S. negotiators to devise lasting agreements for addressing the conflict’s root causes.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

An organized criminal group comprising active deputies of Kiev’s Parliament was dismantled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

The authorities did not reveal the identity or total number of those involved, stating that the investigation is still ongoing.

RELATED: Europe Shows No Intention of Peace for Ukraine: Zakharova

According to an official statement from the bureau, the operation was carried out covertly and led to the identification of legislators who allegedly received illicit benefits in exchange for voting on key decisions at the Supreme Rada.

NABU denounced that employees of the Parliament’s State Protection Directorate obstructed the investigators’ work, describing it as direct interference in the operation.

Internal sources indicate that the judicial proceedings include actions against Deputy Yuri Kisel, a figure close to President Volodimir Zelenski.

🇺🇦 Three MPs from Zelensky's own party arrested over corruption

Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) uncovered a criminal group inside parliament — deputies from "Servant of the People" are accused of taking bribes in exchange for their votes

The arrested:
• Evgeny… pic.twitter.com/rR52Rym1ri

— The Other Side Media (@TheOtherSideRu) December 27, 2025

A plethora of previous cases related to the misappropriation of public funds, irregular agreements with state contractors, and legislative vote-buying had already been the subject of internal investigations and warnings from international bodies.

This situation has led to constant friction between the Executive branch, the Supreme Rada, and the anti-corruption agencies, whose methods of operation have been repeatedly questioned by Government sectors.

Critics argue that the current scale of the case could reconfigure alliances within Parliament, strain the relationship between Kyiv and its international partners, and deepen the crisis of legitimacy of the Ukrainian state.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

More than 7,000 flights were canceled and an additional 1,300 suspended across the United States this weekend as a severe winter storm brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions, disrupting holiday travel for millions, according to reports from the National Weather Service.

A powerful winter storm severely impacted air transportation across the United States this weekend, prompting widespread cancellations and suspensions.

By Saturday afternoon, snow accumulation reached 28 centimeters (11 inches) in parts of the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas, significantly affecting one of the nation’s busiest travel hubs.

RELATED: Earthquake Shakes Lima and Northern Peruvian Cities

Over 7,000 flights nationwide were canceled, and another 1,300 faced suspensions, leaving countless travelers stranded during the critical holiday season. The escalating winter phenomenon progressively intensified throughout the day, exacerbating the operational challenges for airlines and airports.

Disruptive Snowfall Blankets Key Regions

On Saturday morning, New York City recorded approximately 10 centimeters (four inches) of snow, a figure initially below expectations. However, the snowfall intensified considerably by the afternoon. Beyond New York and New Jersey, Long Island also experienced significant accumulation, with reports indicating between 17.7 and 19 centimeters (approximately 7 to 7.5 inches) of snow.

These conditions made ground travel hazardous and directly contributed to the extensive air traffic delays and cancellations. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a stark warning regarding the storm’s continued trajectory.

A powerful winter storm will affect the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast Sunday through Tuesday with heavy snow, blowing snow, and hazardous icing. See our latest Key Messages for more information and find your local forecast at https://t.co/pGx1JRZLBI. pic.twitter.com/gdrSXLtupV

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) December 27, 2025

The NWS stated, “This system is expected to be accompanied by numerous winter hazards starting tomorrow night, including blizzard conditions and snow accumulations of over 30 centimeters (a foot) in areas of the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes.” This forecast indicates a prolonged period of severe weather, threatening further disruptions in other regions.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had previously projected this holiday season to be one of the busiest on record, anticipating more than 44 million passengers traveling through airports; which combined with the extreme weather and the airport cancellations, creates a challenging scenario for authorities and millions of travelers trying to reach their destinations for the festive period.

The current situation reflects a complex interplay between severe meteorological conditions and peak travel demand. Authorities remain on high alert, working to manage the crisis while passengers navigate the uncertainty caused by the unprecedented number of flight disruptions. The winter storm continues to pose significant challenges, highlighting the vulnerability of national infrastructure to extreme weather events.

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The Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah condemned the recent terrorist attack on Alawite worshippers —an ethnoreligious Shia Muslim group associated with the ousted president Bashar al-Assad— at the Imam Ali mosque in Syria’s Homs province.

Preliminary figures provided by the Syrian Ministry of Health indicate at least eight people were killed and eighteen others wounded.

RELATED: Violence Flares in Aleppo Amid Stalled Plan to Merge Kurdish Forces into Syrian Army

Hours later, the extremist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Friday itself.

The events unfolded in a nation bled dry by over a decade of civil war, which in the past year has endured brutal massacres perpetrated by troops of the Government led by Ahmed al Sharaa, the leader of the armed group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) that spearheaded the coup d’etat against al-Assad.

Hezbollah’s statement underscores that the perpetrators “reject religious and intellectual diversity and promote a discourse of hatred, exclusion, and rejection.”

Ansar al Sunnah claims responsibility for the terror attack on the Mosque in Homs which killed 12 people and wounded 30 others.

Ansar al Sunnah is a subgroup of Jolani Hayat Tahrir al Sham – the group split amicable from HTS 10 months ago stating that HTS which by then formed… pic.twitter.com/8r4Q8FpuDD

— ScharoMaroof (@ScharoMaroof) December 26, 2025

It further asserts that the perpetrators, through their actions, are working in service of U.S. and Israeli interests, which aim to fragment the Syrian Arab Republic.

Similarly, they expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, as well as “stability, progress, and prosperity” for the Syrian people.

Iran, member of the Axis of Resistance, also condemned the crime. In a statement from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei, it asserted that foreign interventions have contributed to the expansion of terrorism, in reference to the United States and Israel.

For its part, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs framed the attack as part of extremist remnants of the Islamic State.

Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, a Syria-based analyst and researcher, said Saraya Ansar al-Sunna could be “a pro-IS splinter originating primarily from defectors from HTS and other factions but currently operating independently of IS.”

The top #Alawite cleric warns of collapse and urges a “human flood” to demand federalism and confront identity-based killings in #Syria.https://t.co/6eK8wrlpzd

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 27, 2025

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Israeli forces have imposed a total siege on Qabatiya in the northern occupied West Bank for a second consecutive day, enacting mass interrogations, home demolitions, and forced displacement of Palestinian families following a resistance operation in occupied territories.

The Israeli occupation army has imposed a complete siege on the city of Qabatiya, located south of Jenin, for a second consecutive day, accompanied by a campaign of mass interrogations, forced displacement of Palestinian families, and the systematic demolition of homes.

The actions follow a Palestinian resistance operation on Friday, December 26, in Beisan and Afula, territories illegally occupied since 1948, which resulted in the deaths of two Israelis.

RELATED: European Countries Condemn New Israeli Illegal Settlements in West Bank

Israeli forces have completely restricted the movement of people and vehicles in Qabatiya, enforcing a strict curfew that traps the civilian population in their homes.

Local reports indicate that troops blocked secondary entrances to the town with earth mounds. Meanwhile, military excavators are systematically destroying road infrastructure and electrical services across various Palestinian neighborhoods, creating an emergency humanitarian situation without access to basic supplies and under constant threat.

Intensified Repression and Collective Punishment

The repressive escalation began with an assault on the home of Ahmad Abu al-Rub, whom Israel identifies as the perpetrator of the December 26 attack.

During the incursion, soldiers abducted his father, violently expelled the family, and conducted engineering measurements to prepare for the structure’s demolition. This practice of collective punishment is condemned by international bodies, a tactic consistently employed by Israeli settlers and forces.

Beyond home demolitions, the occupation army has transformed civilian facilities, including a school in Qabatiya, into temporary detention centers, mass interrogation sites, and operational bases. This widespread assault is not isolated to Qabatiya. In occupied Jerusalem, troops raided Anata at dawn, firing live ammunition and tear gas at civilians.

Our latest on the situation in 📍#Gaza and the occupied #WestBank, including East Jerusalem:

🔹1.6 million people still face high levels of acute food insecurity according to the latest analysis by @‌theIPCinfo.

🔹Between 1 and 15 December, UNRWA screened 3,720 children from… pic.twitter.com/iPtB2lGxUS

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 26, 2025

During these operations, soldiers confiscated surveillance cameras from commercial premises and abducted young Palestinians before withdrawing. Widespread Raids Across Occupied Territories Similar situations unfolded south of Hebron, specifically in Dura and Deir Samet, where comprehensive home searches were carried out, targeting citizens for detention.

In the Bethlehem region, military patrols traversed the streets of Beit Fajjar and Tuqu’, while a significant contingent deployed west of Ramallah following a shooting incident near the Hashmonaim checkpoint.

These actions are part of a broader territorial control policy designed to suffocate daily life and Palestinian resistance in the West Bank. They represent a continuation of the Israeli state’s ethnic cleansing operations, which trace back to the Nakba of 1948, and cannot be solely attributed as a repressive response to Palestinian resistance.

The context of these attacks is framed within the ongoing genocide Israel executes in the Gaza Strip and the intensified incursions across the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Since the beginning of this phase of violence, Israeli forces have killed at least 1,103 Palestinians in these territories, while the number of wounded exceeds 11,000.

The count of individuals abducted and detained under Israeli custody has alarmingly escalated to more than 21,000 citizens in daily recurring operations. The international community observes with growing concern the humanitarian crisis unfolding.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

A magnitude 6 earthquake was felt this Saturday at 9:51 PM local time (02:51 GMT on Sunday) in Lima and several cities in northern Peru. According to official sources, the epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean off the Ancash region, and no personal injuries or material damage have been reported so far.

The Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP, Spanish) stated that the epicenter of the seismic event, which reached regular intensity in Lima and cities like Trujillo and Cajamarca, was located 67 kilometers west of the city of Chimbote.

RELATED: Peru Reports Two Cases of Influenza A H3N2 Subclade K

For its part, the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Peruvian Navy reported that the event “does not generate a tsunami on the Peruvian coast.”

The institute indicated that the tremor occurred at a depth of 52 kilometers and had an intensity of V in Chimbote, a port city located about 425 kilometers north of Lima.

A first tremor, of magnitude 4.8, was felt at 7:35 PM on Friday (00:35 GMT on Saturday) in the Peruvian capital, with an epicenter 52 kilometers southwest of the coastal city of Supe Puerto, in the northern part of the Lima region.

Following the seismic event, the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN, in Spanish) reported that it “was perceived as mild to moderate by the population” of Chimbote.

In the case of Lima, this was the fourth seismic event felt in the last 24 hours. At 9:22 AM local time this Saturday (14:22 GMT), a magnitude 3.5 earthquake with an epicenter 24 kilometers west of the port province of Callao was also reported.

The IGP also noted that at 1:17 AM local time (6:17 GMT) this Saturday, another magnitude 3.5 earthquake was recorded, with an epicenter 25 kilometers southwest of the city of Mala, in the province of Cañete, south of the capital.

#Sismo magnitud 6.2 (USGS) con epicentro al poniente de Puerto Santa, Perú🇵🇪

🔸Intensidades fuertes.
🔸Posibles daños en localidades cercanas al epicentro.
🔸Sin peligro de tsunami. pic.twitter.com/ZsmsC3WnN5

— SkyAlert (@SkyAlertMx) December 28, 2025

Text reads: “Earthquake magnitude 6.2 (USGS) with epicenter to the west of Puerto Santa, Peru. Strong intensities. Possible damage in locations near the epicenter. No tsunami hazard.”

Peru’s Sismic Activities

Peru is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area that accounts for more than 80% of the world’s seismic activity, due to the collision of the Pacific tectonic plate with the Nazca plate off the southern coast.

The last devastating earthquake in the country occurred in August 2007 in the southern Ica region, where it reached a magnitude of 7.9, leaving about 500 dead and millions in economic losses.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

The United Nations Security Council has convened an emergency session for Monday, December 29, following Israel’s recognition of the separatist region of Somaliland. The meeting takes place amidst growing criticism of the international body’s ineffectiveness in halting unilateral actions that violate international law and state sovereignty.

Regarding the scheduled meeting, Israel’s representative to the UN Danny Danon said that Tel Aviv “will not be deterred by unnecessary political discussions.”

RELATED:

Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right administration seeks to establish a cooperation agenda in technology, health, and security with Somaliland, as the self-proclaimed government of  Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi expressed willingness to join the Abraham Accords.

מועצת הביטחון של האו״ם תתכנס ביום שני לדיון דחוף בעקבות הכרת ישראל ברפובליקה של סומלילנד.
אנחנו לא נירתע מדיונים פוליטיים מיותרים.
ישראל תמשיך לפעול באחריות ובשיקול דעת, על מנת לחזק שיתופי פעולה התורמים ליציבות אזורית.

— Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) December 27, 2025

The Zionist agenda has drawn wide criticism across the globe. While countries such as Egypt, Türkiye, Djibouti, and Venezuela have expressed their rejection of this violation of Somali sovereignty, the UN arrives at the discussion after the Somaliland-Israel agreements have already been sealed.

Somalian President Mohamed Farmaajo said via his X account that “international law requires Israel to comply and respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia. Recognizing a part of Somalia is a complete breach of this.”

International law requires Israel to comply and respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia. Recognizing a part of Somalia is a complete breach of this. Somaliland is an integral part of Somalia. Our people are firmly united in the defence of their sovereignty.

— Mohamed Farmaajo (@M_Farmaajo) December 26, 2025

Cross-Regional Rejection

Citing “serious repercussions” of the Israeli-Somaliland alliance “on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea,  and its “serious effects on international peace”, a joint communiqué of “unequivocal rejection” was signed by Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Türkiye, Yemen, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Somalia’s legitimate Foreign Ministry.

“The recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security, and violates the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter,” the statement read.

Likewise, local U.S. media reported that Washington will not recognize Somaliland as and independent state for now, although President Donald Trump is said to be studying the matter.

Joint Statement by a Cross-Regional Group of Countries on #Israel’s Illegal Recognition of the “#Somaliland” Region of the Federal Republic of #Somalia on 26 December 2025
🔗➡https://t.co/3T0VzpzNLR#Somali pic.twitter.com/W1XrLLc9uE

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸🇴 (@MOFASomalia) December 27, 2025

The Somali Crisis

The fall of Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime in 1991 marked the dissolution of Somalia as a unitary state, leading to territorial fragmentation. Although the international community recognizes only the Federal Government, its effective control is limited and concentrated mostly in the capital, Mogadishu, and other specific sectors of the country.

The absence of a strong central command fostered the emergence of regional administrations that now operate autonomously. Among them, the Republic of Somaliland in the north stands out, exercising unrecognized de facto sovereignty, and the Puntland region in the east, which has maintained its own self-governance framework since the late 1990s.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Venezuela has condemned Israel’s exclusive recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, warning that the move threatens regional stability and sets a dangerous international precedent.

RELATED: Israel Recognizes Self-Proclaimed Republic of Somaliland as an Independent State

In a statement issued by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, Caracas rejected the unilateral action, asserting that respect for state sovereignty is a non-negotiable foundation for peaceful coexistence between nations.

The communiqué called for disputes to be resolved through dialogue, mutual respect, and multilateral frameworks. FM Gil emphasized that lasting solutions to Somalia’s challenges—and averting a total collapse of the state—require support for its legitimate institutions.

Venezuela stressed that any interference violating the territorial integrity of an African nation runs counter to fundamental principles of the UN Charter. The Foreign Ministry further insisted that international stability depends on strict adherence to norms prohibiting the dismemberment of countries via external agreements.

On that line, the Bolivarian Government criticized what it described as attempts by powerful states to redraw borders according to their strategic interests. It also reiterated its commitment to peace, self-determination, and a fair, multicentric world order grounded in international law.

Zionist Endorsement of Somaliland

The statement was a direct response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announcing formal recognition of Somaliland as an independent state on Friday, December 26. The agreement included a mutual recognition declaration and plans for cooperation in health, technology, and agriculture—a move that has drawn criticism across the globe.

Several nations, including Egypt, Türkiye, and Djibouti, have also rejected Tel Aviv’s position, voicing full support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and labeling the recognition a political provocation.

International law requires Israel to comply and respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia. Recognizing a part of Somalia is a complete breach of this. Somaliland is an integral part of Somalia. Our people are firmly united in the defence of their sovereignty.

— Mohamed Farmaajo (@M_Farmaajo) December 26, 2025

The Somali Crisis

Somalia has faced territorial fragmentation since the collapse of Mohamed Siad Barre’s Government in 1991. While international legitimacy rests solely with the Federal Government in Mogadishu, its authority remains largely confined to the capital and limited parts of the country.

The power vacuum has allowed regional administrations to operate autonomously, notably Somaliland in the north—which has maintained de facto independence—and Puntland in the east, an autonomous region since 1998.

Joint Statement by a Cross-Regional Group of Countries on #Israel’s Illegal Recognition of the “#Somaliland” Region of the Federal Republic of #Somalia on 26 December 2025
🔗➡https://t.co/3T0VzpzNLR#Somali pic.twitter.com/W1XrLLc9uE

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸🇴 (@MOFASomalia) December 27, 2025

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

The general coordinator of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre), Manuel Zelaya, called on the party’s members this Saturday to mobilize next Monday in support of the mayor of Tegucigalpa, Jorge Aldana, who believes he is being defrauded in his re-election bid.

RELATED:

Electoral Coup in Honduras: Unprecedented Fascist Operation Denounced

“If the people do not mobilize because it is Christmas, the members of the Libre party, out of conscience, must mobilize this Monday to INFOP (National Institute of Professional Training) at 4 pm (22:00 GMT) to support Aldana in peaceful, non-violent, and democratic resistance, as they are already applying the Trump Algorithm 2025-Wins Honduras-style elections,” Zelaya stated on the social network X.

Aldana, who considers himself the winner of the capital’s mayoral race after the general elections of last November 30, has been under a tent for 19 days on one side of the outskirts of INFOP, where all the election material is guarded by soldiers and police. The National Electoral Council (CNE) has already declared Nasry Asfura, of the conservative National Party, president-elect.

Las dilatorias del bipartidismo en el CNE son evidentes y continúa la trama del fraude de los 26 audios para desconocer el triunfo irrefutable de Jorge Aldana, quien monta guardia con sus actas en mano, exigiendo voto x voto. Las más de 9000 actas impugnadas a nivel nacional,…

— Manuel Zelaya R. (@manuelzr) December 27, 2025

According to Aldana, who is seeking re-election under the banner of Libre, the records he has in his possession guarantee his victory, but the mayoral candidate of the National Party, Juan Diego Zelaya, would be surpassing him by 600 votes.

The capital’s mayor acknowledges that the difference with Zelaya is very narrow, but demands a complete review of more than 400 records in which he believes his victory would be ratified.

Since November 30, the CNE (National Electoral Council) has, by law, until December 30 to announce all the results of the general elections in Honduras, which have been perhaps the most difficult in the country’s political history.

Hondurans went to the polls to elect a president, three presidential appointees (vice presidents), 298 mayoralties, 128 deputies for the local Parliament, and 20 for the Central American Parliament.

The deputies of the Central American Parliament have already been elected, according to the CNE’s declaration last Wednesday, in which it announced that the president-elect of Honduras is Nasry Asfura, who will assume power on January 27, 2026, replacing Xiomara Castro, wife of Manuel Zelaya.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Human-rights groups, medical associations and regional governments across Latin America and the Caribbean joined a mounting campaign Saturday calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Iyad Abu Safiya, a Palestinian physician and hospital director who has been held in administrative detention by Israeli authorities since early December.

RELATED:

Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

“Saving lives is not a crime,” read banners outside the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, where activists collected signatures for a petition to the International Committee of the Red Cross. “A doctor under fire while wearing a white coat must never become a military target,” protesters chanted.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Abu Safiya was arrested during an Israeli raid on al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, where he had been coordinating emergency surgeries amid severe shortages of fuel, blood and anesthesia.

A small group of protesters have gathered in front of Mt Sinai to bring attention to the bring attention to Palestinians doctor held hostage by israelis in torture camps. One of them being Hussam Abu Safiya who was abducted from gaza 1 year ago pic.twitter.com/ex1vQG9Ydg

— Ali (@MerruX) December 27, 2025

According to the doctor’s lawyer, Ghaid Qassem, and various human rights organizations, Safiya has been transferred multiple times between the Sde Teiman detention centers—known for allegations of systematic torture—and the Ofer prison.

Recent reports from Amnesty International and legal visits have documented a worrying clinical picture that includes significant weight loss and serious skin conditions, weeks of solitary confinement, inadequate food, and lack of access to adequate treatment for complications arising during his captivity.

Despite the fact that his name has appeared on lists for possible prisoner exchanges and ceasefire discussions, Israeli courts extended his detention last October under the category of “illegal combatant,” of which they have shown no proof. This provision allows people to be held in custody without formal charges being brought before a judge.

Social-media campaigns under the hashtag #FreeAbuSafiya trended worldwide Saturday, with medical students in Chile, Colombia and Mexico posting photos in white coats and surgical masks, and Cuban doctors who served in Gaza recalling Abu Safiya’s collaboration during previous Israeli offensives.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

By Isaac Saney  –  Dec 22, 2025

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s declaration that CARICOM is no longer a reliable partner, coupled with her insistence that Trinidad and Tobago must now “choose our path,” marks a potentially historic rupture in the long and fragile project of Caribbean unity. Coming at a moment of intensifying global instability, renewed U.S. imperial assertiveness, and deepening ecological crisis, her statement raises a stark and unsettling question: are we witnessing the death blow to the dream of a unified Caribbean, or a moment that will force a long-overdue renewal and radical reimagining of that vision?

At one level, Persad-Bissessar’s position reflects real and undeniable pressures. Caribbean states today operate under immense economic, political, diplomatic, and military coercion. Debt, trade dependency, energy insecurity, climate vulnerability, and the constant threat of sanctions or diplomatic isolation create a narrow and punishing policy space. No serious analysis can dismiss these realities. Yet it is one thing to acknowledge pressure; it is quite another to capitulate to it, and still another to align oneself enthusiastically with an imperial project that openly seeks domination.

The danger of Trinidad and Tobago going its own way is not merely the weakening of CARICOM as an institution. It is the broader political signal such a move sends: an acceptance that Caribbean sovereignty is no longer a meaningful goal, that regional unity is expendable, and that the future of the region lies in deeper subordination to Washington. In this sense, Persad-Bissessar’s declaration risks functioning as an ideological surrender—an implicit recognition that the Caribbean is, once again, merely a “U.S. Lake.”

This surrender must be read in the context of the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy, which is explicit, unapologetic, and deeply menacing in its intentions. The strategy prioritizes the reestablishment and cementing of U.S. domination over what it calls “America’s core foreign policy interests.” Foremost among these interests are “the homeland and the Western Hemisphere,” articulated through what the administration proudly describes as a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine.

As the strategy unambiguously states:

“After years of neglect, the United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American pre-eminence in the Western Hemisphere, and to protect our homeland and our access to key geographies throughout the region. We will deny non-Hemispheric competitors the ability to position forces or other threatening capabilities, or to own or control strategically vital assets, in our Hemisphere… In other words, we will assert and enforce a ‘Trump Corollary’ to the Monroe Doctrine.”

This is not diplomacy; it is a declaration of imperial entitlement. Any Caribbean government that orients its foreign policy to align seamlessly with this strategy is not merely being pragmatic—it is participating in an imperial crusade. Such alignment abandons even the pretense of sovereignty and self-determination in exchange for short-term financial relief, political favour, or the aggrandizement of entrenched comprador elites whose interests have long diverged from those of the Caribbean masses.

A turn away from CARICOM extends far beyond diplomatic symbolism. It strikes at the heart of several concrete regional lifelines and fault lines, each of which reveals how dangerous the unravelling of Caribbean unity could be.

What, then, becomes of the broader regional projects that CARICOM—despite all its limitations—has helped to sustain? Take reparations. CARICOM’s reparations initiative has always been constrained by a top-down, state-centric model and a cautious political imagination. Nonetheless, it represented an important regional platform: a collective assertion that Indigenous genocide, the European Transatlantic Slave Trade and enslavement system, and centuries of colonialism and neo-colonialism demand repair. It created space—however imperfect—for building a more democratic, popular, and radical vision of reparatory justice. If CARICOM fragments, what happens to that collective claim? Does the struggle for reparations dissolve into isolated national appeals, easily ignored or crushed by the very powers responsible for the crimes of slavery, indentureship and imperial exploitation?

The same question looms over climate change, perhaps the most existential threat facing the Caribbean. The region is among the most vulnerable in the world to the escalating climate catastrophe, a reality graphically underscored by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa. Entire communities face displacement, economies are repeatedly shattered, and the costs of “recovery” entrench cycles of debt and dependency. Yet the United States—the very power Caribbean leaders are being encouraged to subordinate themselves to—continues to deny, downplay, or actively sabotage global climate action, even as it remains one of the principal historical drivers of ecological destruction.

How does a fragmented Caribbean confront climate collapse? How does a region divided into individual client states negotiate adaptation funding, loss-and-damage compensation, or meaningful mitigation commitments? The answer is painfully obvious: it cannot. Disunity in this context is not merely a political weakness; it is a death sentence.

And what of PetroCaribe? PetroCaribe was never simply an energy arrangement. It was a material expression of regional solidarity, providing concessional oil financing that allowed many Caribbean states fiscal breathing room to fund social programs, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation. While U.S. sanctions and relentless pressure on Venezuela have already gravely weakened PetroCaribe, its partial survival has depended on a minimum level of regional political coherence and resistance.

Imperialist Realism, Functional Sovereignty, and the Structural Encirclement of Venezuela

If leading CARICOM states openly align themselves with Washington’s “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, the space for even limited alternatives like PetroCaribe collapses entirely. Energy policy becomes securitized under U.S. strategic control, locking Caribbean states into volatile global markets and deepening energy poverty. The result is not “energy security,” but dependency—where access to fuel becomes contingent on political obedience. In this sense, the abandonment of CARICOM accelerates the burial of one of the last surviving mechanisms of South-South cooperation in the region.

What Happens to Haiti? Nowhere are the dangers of regional disintegration more catastrophic than in Haiti. CARICOM, despite its failures, has remained one of the few forums where Haiti is not treated exclusively as a security problem or a humanitarian spectacle, but—at least nominally—as a sovereign Caribbean nation.

If CARICOM weakens or fractures, Haiti is left even more exposed to direct U.S., Canadian, and international intervention, framed through the language of “stability,” “governance,” and “security.” This has historically meant occupation by another name, the undermining of Haitian self-determination, and the empowerment of corrupt elites and paramilitary forces. A fragmented Caribbean loses whatever limited capacity it has to advocate for a Haitian-led solution, debt cancellation, reparations for the catastrophic costs of imperialism, and an end to the punitive policies that have systematically destroyed the Haitian economy.

In effect, the collapse of Caribbean unity signals to Washington that Haiti is once again fair game—an open laboratory for imperial social engineering.

Also, what of tourism? Tourism is often presented as the Caribbean’s economic lifeline, but it is also one of its greatest vulnerabilities. The industry is deeply tied to U.S. travel policies, global capital flows, and climate stability. A divided Caribbean competing internally rather than coordinating regionally weakens its bargaining power with multinational hotel chains, cruise corporations, and airlines that extract enormous value while leaving behind low wages, ecological damage, and economic precarity.

Moreover, U.S. securitization of the Caribbean under the “Trump Corollary” threatens to recast the region less as a leisure destination and more as a militarized frontier—policed to prevent migration, control labour, and protect supply chains and energy corridors. Instability, climate disasters, and geopolitical tensions all undermine tourism, yet these are precisely the outcomes produced by imperial domination and environmental denial. Without regional coordination, tourism becomes a race to the bottom, with states offering ever-greater concessions to foreign capital at the expense of workers, communities, and ecosystems.

And, of course, what about China’s investments? China’s growing economic presence in the Caribbean—through infrastructure, loans, and trade—has been one of the central targets of U.S. anxiety. The Trump National Security Strategy is explicit in its intention to “deny non-Hemispheric competitors” access to strategic assets in the Western Hemisphere. This means ports, telecommunications, energy infrastructure, and transportation networks.

A fragmented CARICOM dramatically weakens the region’s ability to negotiate collectively with China—or with the United States. Instead of coordinated engagement that could leverage Chinese investment for regional development while avoiding debt traps, individual states are forced into bilateral negotiations under intense U.S. pressure. The likely outcome is not sovereignty but enforced exclusion: Caribbean governments coerced into rejecting or reversing Chinese projects to satisfy Washington’s strategic demands.

This forecloses development options at a moment when the region desperately needs infrastructure resilient to climate change, diversified trade relationships, and alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions. Once again, “going it alone” means losing leverage, not gaining it.

To be clear, this is not an uncritical defense of CARICOM as it currently exists. CARICOM has often been slow, elitist, technocratic, and disconnected from popular struggles. It has frequently failed to translate lofty rhetoric into transformative action. But the solution to these failures is not abandonment—it is democratization, radicalization, and renewal from below.
Thus, Persad-Bissessar’s declaration therefore confronts the Caribbean with a crossroads.

One path leads toward deeper integration into U.S. imperial strategy, acceptance of permanent subordination, and the consolidation of power and privilege for a narrow elite.

The tragedy is that some Caribbean elites appear willing—indeed eager—to assist in this process. They mistake proximity to power for power itself, trading long-term sovereignty and collective survival for short-term advantage. But history is unforgiving. The erosion of CARICOM does not lead to national strength; it leads to deeper dependency, heightened vulnerability, and the loss of any meaningful capacity to confront the converging calamities of imperialism, climate collapse, and global inequality.

The other path—far more difficult, but far more necessary—demands recommitting to Caribbean unity as a living, contested, and emancipatory project; one rooted in popular sovereignty, regional solidarity, reparatory justice, and ecological survival.
Will the Caribbean accept fragmentation as its fate, or will this rupture provoke a renewed Pan-Caribbean struggle for a future beyond empire? The dream of One Caribbean has always been fragile and contested. Will it be buried—or reborn in a form capable of meeting the intersecting crises of our time?!

Professor Isaac Saney is a Black Studies and Cuba specialist at Dalhousie University and coordinator of the Black and African Diaspora Studies program. He is the author of, among others, books including Cuba, Africa and Apartheid’s End: Africa’s Children Return!

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From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.

Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated this Saturday that her country has responded with internal food production and distribution to what she described as the siege and threats from the United States, which has maintained a military deployment in the southern Caribbean Sea since August.

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Venezuela strengthens its public health system in the states of Bolívar and Aragua

During an assessment of the Plan Amor y Prosperidad Alimentaria (Love and Prosperity Food Plan) in Caracas Rodríguez said that, while the United States “planned to besiege, to threaten,” Venezuela responded with a logistical deployment that “has never been seen” in which “all productive sectors were activated to bring food” to the population.

“They pride themselves on saying that they have a deployment of the Navy in the Caribbean, like never before. The Venezuelan people responded with what has truly never been seen: a logistical deployment of this nature,” she declared.

#UltimaHora Vicepdta Delcy Rodríguez destacó que el plan Amor y Prosperidad Alimentaria, liderado por el Presidente Nicolás Maduro, ha beneficiado a 5 millones de familias venezolanas con más de 158 mil toneladas de alimentos.

Un Gobierno que trabaja para su Pueblo #27Dic pic.twitter.com/MjgEYyy7ki

— El Cuarto Rojo (@ElCuartoRoj0) December 27, 2025

The Minister of Hydrocarbons also indicated that, within the framework of this food program, 158,000 metric tons of food have been distributed in five weeks to, she assured, “serve almost five million people.”

Rodríguez also pointed out that the South American country is also making progress in economic growth.

“Venezuela (continues) leading economic growth in our region despite the economic, financial, commercial harassment, despite the blockade against our homeland,” she declared.

In the vice president’s opinion, this growth expresses “the determination to be free” and that “nothing can subdue” the country’s feeling of freedom and independence.

On Friday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denounced that powerful sectors in the United States are fabricating a “virtual reality” to steal resources from his country, amid growing tensions with the government led by US President Donald Trump.

Since August, Washington has maintained an air and naval deployment in the Caribbean, near Venezuelan waters, which, it claims, aims to combat drug trafficking, but which Caracas interprets as “threats” and an attempt to bring about regime change.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

With only three days left before the legally mandated declaration of final results, National Electoral Council (CNE) counselor Marlon Ochoa announced Saturday he will not endorse any proclamation unless all outstanding tally sheets are audited and consolidated.

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Electoral Coup in Honduras: Unprecedented Fascist Operation Denounced

“Approving corrections without a prior audit opens a flank of legal and political controversy,” Ochoa warned during an emergency virtual session of the three-member board.

Ochoa revealed that 7,901 tally sheets for congressional races and 2,413 for municipal councils remain inconsistent or unprocessed, making any declaration under Article 283 of the Electoral Law “illegal” if based on partial data.

Sesión de Pleno 27 de diciembre https://t.co/jPe3cAteFE

— Marlon (@MarlonOchoaHN) December 27, 2025

His stance pits him against CNE President Ana Paola Hall and counselor Cossette López, who overnight authorized manual corrections to 4,084 sheets in eight departments, claiming the move “significantly improves” the count.

The pair admitted the process has been marred by “hostility, threats and operational gaps,” but insist the board will meet the December 30 constitutional deadline.

Ochoa countered that the late-night adjustments—covering 7,697 congressional and 5,581 municipal forms—could alter 3,168 already-validated sheets, tipping narrow margins in key battlegrounds such as Cortés and El Paraíso.

He demanded the TREP follow-up commission specify which boxes will be changed and under what technical criteria before any vote is taken.

With the clock ticking, the council’s internal deadlock raises the specter of post-election litigation, street protests and fresh calls for international observation if a consensus—or a clean audit—is not reached before Tuesday’s scheduled declaration.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

The Supreme Court ordered this Saturday, one day after the thwarted escape attempt of one of those convicted in the coup plot led by former President Jair Bolsonaro, the house arrest of 10 other convicts for coup-related activities.

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Silvinei Vasques, convicted in the coup plot led by Bolsonaro in Brazil, was arrested in Paraguay

The measure, determined by Justice Alexandre de Moraes to prevent new escape attempts, was carried out this Saturday by the Federal Police against ten defendants whose sentences still allow for appeal, in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Paraná, Goiás, Bahia, Tocantins, and in Brasilia.

The convicts, who were enjoying freedom while their situation was being defined and were only complying with some precautionary measures ordered by the Supreme Court, such as the use of an electronic ankle bracelet, will now have to remain confined to their residence, where they must continue to use the tracking device.

Authorities also prohibited them from using social media, contacting other investigated individuals, and receiving visitors. They also requested the surrender of passports and suspended firearm carrying permits.

Fugitive ex-Brazilian police chief arrested. 🇧🇷🇵🇾

Silvinei Vasques, sentenced to 24 years for his role in the 2022 election interference plot, was caught at Asunción airport trying to flee to El Salvador after breaking his ankle monitor. Brazil’s Supreme Court revoked his house… pic.twitter.com/0aA5PHbNZa

— ConsciousInk (@ink_conscious) December 26, 2025

The order comes after the capture of the former director of the Brazilian Federal Highway Police, Silvinei Vasques, in Paraguay, on Friday, when he was attempting to board a flight to El Salvador.

Sentenced to 24 years and 6 months in prison, Vasques remained free in Brazil, as his sentence was not yet final and he could appeal, and he was only complying with precautionary measures such as the use of an electronic ankle bracelet and the restriction of nighttime movements.

On Christmas Day, the convict broke the device and fled to Asunción in a rented vehicle, accompanied by a dog and provisions.

On Friday, he was intercepted at the Asunción airport after illegally entering the country with the identity of a Paraguayan citizen, expelled from the country, and detained by Brazilian authorities in Foz de Iguazú.

Vasques was found guilty by the Supreme Court of having organized an operation to hinder voters’ access to polling stations in the second round of 2022, favoring Bolsonaro, who was ultimately defeated by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The former president is serving a sentence of 27 years and 3 months in prison in a special cell of the Federal Police in Brasilia, although he is currently admitted to a private hospital in the country’s capital where he is recovering from bilateral hernia surgery.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

A new species of frog inhabiting the provinces of Napo and Pastaza, in the Amazon region of Ecuador, has been described by researchers from the Ikiam Amazon Regional University and the National Biodiversity Institute (Inabio).

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Named ‘Pristimantis paganus’ or ‘Amazonian pagan rain frog,’ the new species is characterized, in the case of females, by a striking black coloration on the back and light marbled patterns on the belly.

Its discovery was made through an integrative taxonomy approach, combining genetic, morphological, and geographical analyses to differentiate it from other similar species, Inabio explained in a statement.

The name ‘Pristimantis paganus’ comes from the Latin ‘paganus,’ an adjective derived from ‘pagus,’ which, according to the researchers, refers to the inhabitants of forests or villages that are far from cities, in reference to the remote and unexplored sites where this species lives, which has been recorded in two locations separated by approximately 50 kilometers, in the Cordillera de Guacamayos, in Napo, and in the Cerro de Abitagua, in Pastaza.

🐸#NuevaEspecie | Te invitamos a conocer a Pristimantis paganus, la nueva especie de rana endémica descrita por investigadores de @u_ikiam y el #INABIO en la Reserva Biológica Colonso Chalupas y el Parque Nacional Llanganates. Aquí más detalles: https://t.co/yt1jib4kjy pic.twitter.com/xji6Vgd9j3

— INABIO.EC (@INABIO_EC) December 22, 2025

These areas belong to the Colonso Chalupas Biological Reserve and the Llanganates National Park, where there are cloud forests and high mountain ecosystems between 2,100 and 2,500 meters of altitude.

However, despite being within protected areas, the researchers warn in a study that the species is in a state of “near threatened,” as its limited geographical distribution and external factors such as illegal mining, deforestation, and climate change are putting its long-term survival at risk.

According to information from Inabio, the genus ‘Pristimantis’ has more than 600 species recognized globally, and Ecuador is home to about 43% of them (264 species), making the country one of the main centers of diversity and endemism of amphibians on the planet.

Although the researchers warn that this richness is underestimated, since many species remain hidden under already known names.

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