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On January 6, a new wave of popular mobilization took place to defend the revolution and demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro. Thousands of representatives from self-governing communes from across Venezuela gathered in the streets of the capital.

The fundamental strategy of the Bolivarian Revolution is the transfer of political and economic power to the communes—the only way to build a true direct democracy. This movement, initiated by Hugo Chávez and then Maduro, will continue in 2026. For her first visit with the people since assuming the interim presidency, Delcy Rodriguez met with residents of the José Félix Rivas Commune in Caracas.

On January 7, 2026, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez met with residents of the José Félix Rivas Commune in Caracas.

This “revolution within the revolution” already encompasses 4,950 communes. These are people’s self-governments that are found in both urban and rural areas. They can range in size from 1,000 to over 50,000 inhabitants, depending on the case.

In 2024, President Nicolas Maduro appointed Angel Prado—leader of the peasant commune “El Maizal”—to head Venezuela’s Ministry of Communes, Social Movements, and Urban Agriculture.

In 2025, two-thirds of residents reported that a commune existed in their area, and 83% of them knew the members of their communal council. One of the missions entrusted to the new minister was to reach out to and strengthen 6,000 communes by the end of 2026. In 2025, the president issued directives to the ministers: “70% of each of your budgets must be transferred to the communal councils and communes.”

January 7, 2026, in Caracas: fifth straight day of massive demonstrations in support of President Maduro and the ongoing Bolivarian Revolution. The mobilization of January 7 was led by the country’s 5,000 communes. Photo: Thierry Derrone.

In parallel, every three months, in a nationwide vote, residents of the communes choose one of seven projects (socio-productive, infrastructural, cultural, educational, public services, etc.) previously defined by their assemblies. The implementation of these project are co-financed by the government. These “consultas populares” (popular consultations) are a training ground for meaningful participation by everyone, regardless of their political affiliation, as well as an effective tool against corruption, since communal committees receive, monitor, and report to the residents on the proper use of the funds provided by the government.

For the November 23, 2025, election, 8,508 polling stations were set up, including 2,518 new ones, to ensure greater accessibility to voting. This represents a 70% increase in the number of polling stations compared to previous elections.

This bottom-up communal model has also enabled the implementation of a new justice system. On December 15, 2024, in 4,817 polling stations spread across communes throughout the country, Venezuelans elected 28,486 communal justices of the peace. These justices of the peace are responsible for arbitrating local disputes between citizens living in the communes, thus preventing them from having to resort to traditional courts.

The mobilization of January 7 was led by Venezuela’s 5,000 communes. Photo: Thierry Derrone.

Another large-scale creation that complements the political, economic, productive, and legal aspects is the University of Communes, a comprehensive training center in law, political economy, agroecology, etc. This university, the main headquarters of which opened on May 24, 2025, in the state of Carabobo, develops course content and organizes training throughout the country based on needs assessments conducted by the inhabitants of the communes.

Furthermore, in 2026, a sweeping constitutional reform will make the commune a foundation of the Venezuelan state. Thousands of assemblies will be held throughout the country to generate proposals aimed at ” building a modern democracy based on the direct participation of citizens, the power of social movements, and the community,” in the words of Nicolás Maduro. “We are moving towards a major process of broad democratization of Venezuelan society, of political, institutional, economic, social, cultural, and educational life.”

Caracas, January 7, 2026: Demonstrators demand that their president, Nicolás Maduro, be liberated by the US. President Maduro was abducted in the morning of January 3, 2026. Photo: Thierry Derrone.

(Venezuela Infos) by Thierry Derone

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

SL

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

This statement was originally published by the Partido Popular Socialista de México on January 8, 2026.

After the United States used its enormous military power to brutally attack the peaceful Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, bombing it and kidnapping its constitutional president, Nicolás Maduro Moros, to move it to Yankee territory in open violation of international law, what followed? Three parallel processes: first, the aggressor country has deployed a campaign of disinformation to try to break the unity of the Bolivarian government, spreading lies about the loyalty of the President in charge, Delcy Rodriguez; second, has expanded its aggressive attitude by publicly pointing out Colombia and Mexico as possible next targets; and third, has shown an open contempt for the UN Charter, making it clear that this power, in its neo-fascist stage, no longer even retains the appearance of a “democratic” country, respectful or guardian of the international order, as it has claimed to be for decades.

In fact, the criminal Donald Trump has said that they have an “understanding with Delcy Rodriguez”, and that now Trump himself has the threads of power over Venezuela and its policies in his hands; a lie that clashes with reality. He also said that Colombia is “ruled by a sick man who likes to produce cocaine and sell it to the United States,” and that “he’s not going to continue doing so for very long”; and that drugs were “entering in torrents” into the United States via Mexico and that “we will have to do something, shortly, about it.”

In synchrony with the White House, its ambassador in Mexico, Ronald Johnson, celebrated the “detention” of the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro; clashing with the Mexican government that, emphatically and repeatedly, by the voice of President Claudia Sheinbaum, and through its ambassadors in the Security Council of the UN, and in the OEA, strongly condemned this act of violation of international law.

In the face of these facts, the Popular Socialist Party of Mexico:

• Denounces to the people of Mexico and the peoples of the world the fact that Donald Trump has become a violator of international law and justice, and denounces the complicit attitude of his ambassador in Mexico.
• Reiterates its demand to the Yankee government for the immediate release of prisoner of war Nicolás Maduro Moros, who remains the legitimate president of Venezuela and remains illegally abducted by the Yankee government.
• Calls on the people of Mexico to close ranks, with the greatest firmness and without doubts or bargaining, in their solidarity with the people and government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; with the people and Government of Colombia, and with the Government of Mexico, which supports unrestrictedly the defense of national and Latin American sovereignty.

***For national liberation & socialism!***Mexico City, January 8, 2026

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  News Briefs

  Nahua People of Alpuyeca Seek Indigenous Recognition via Mexico’s Supreme Court

  January 9, 2026

  The Nahua demanded the consultation by carried out by the Alpuyeca, Morelos municipal government to secure Indigenous rights five years ago to no avail.

• 

  News Briefs

  Detentions of Americans by Mexican Army & National Guard are on the Rise

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  Most arrests are related to firearms and explosives, and so carried out by the Army and National Guard.

The post Brutal Yankee Aggression Against Patria Grande Expands, says Popular Socialist Party of Mexico appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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This article originally appeared in the January 8, 2026 edition of Desinformémonos.

Mexico City. Since 2019, the Nahua people of Alpuyeca have been requesting that their municipality in Morelos be declared Indigenous territory in order to exercise autonomy and their right to self-determination, including decisions regarding internal forms of social, political, and community organization. The lack of response from the local Congress has led the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation to review the omission and delay in this process.

With a divided vote of five to four, the Plenary of the highest court exercised its power of attraction on the amparo [injunction] in review 384/2024, at the request of the ministers Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, President of Mexico’s Supreme Court, and Irving Espinosa Betanzo, due to the lack of action of the Legislative Power of Morelos.

The Court will analyze whether the delay in the procedures for the creation of the Indigenous municipality violates human rights protected by the Constitution, considering that the inhabitants of Alpuyeca initiated the procedure more than five years ago for the corresponding consultation to be carried out, without the responsible authorities having carried it out until now.

The request for judicial review was supported after hearing from representatives of the Union of Indigenous and Afro-Morelos Municipalities and Communities, who denounced that the Morelos Congress had exceeded the legal deadlines established in the local Constitution and its own regulations for issuing the ruling on the creation of the indigenous municipality of Alpuyeca. The matter will be assigned to a justice for the drafting of the proposal to be submitted to a vote by the full court.

• 

  News Briefs

  Nahua People of Alpuyeca Seek Indigenous Recognition via Mexico’s Supreme Court

  January 9, 2026

  The Nahua demanded the consultation by carried out by the Alpuyeca, Morelos municipal government to secure Indigenous rights five years ago to no avail.

• 

  News Briefs

  Detentions of Americans by Mexican Army & National Guard are on the Rise

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  Most arrests are related to firearms and explosives, and so carried out by the Army and National Guard.

• 

  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera January 9

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on reduction of violence in Guerrero, phone-call with Brazilian President Lula, Trump’s comments about attacking Mexico, minimum wage increases, maritime monitoring, and García Luna arrests.

The post Nahua People of Alpuyeca Seek Indigenous Recognition via Mexico’s Supreme Court appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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Caracas, January 9, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – US President Donald Trump hosted executives from major Western energy corporations at the White House on Friday after touting a US $100 billion investment plan in Venezuela’s oil industry.

The Trump administration has moved to claim control over the Caribbean nation’s most important economic sector in the wake of the January 3 bombings and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro.

“We’re going to discuss how these great American companies can help rapidly rebuild Venezuela’s dilapidated oil industry and bring millions of barrels of oil production to benefit the United States, the people of Venezuela and the entire world,” the US president told reporters.

The meeting featured representatives from Chevron (USA), Shell (UK), Eni (Italy), Repsol (Spain) and 13 other energy and trading firms. Chevron has been the only major US company to maintain operations in Venezuela amidst US sanctions.

Trump added that the corporations would be “dealing” with the US directly and not with Venezuelan authorities. Multiple US officials in recent days have claimed that proceeds from crude sales will be deposited in accounts run by administration before being rerouted to Venezuela. Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA has confirmed “negotiations” to resume oil shipments to the US but has not commented on the rumored terms.

In his press conference, Trump said the White House would “devise a formula” to ensure that Caracas receives funds and corporations recover their investments while the US government would get any “leftover funds.” He added that Washington would offer the corporations “security guarantees” to operate in Venezuela.

Despite the Trump administration’s incentives, oil conglomerates have expressed reservations on committing to major investments in Venezuela.

Friday’s meeting at the White House also included executives from ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, two companies that refused to accept the new conditions from the former Chávez government’s oil reforms in the 2000s.

Both companies pursued international arbitration. ExxonMobil was compensated to the tune of $1.6 billion, significantly below its demands, while ConocoPhillips is looking to enforce awards totaling $12 billion. The Houston-headquartered enterprise will collect part of the debt via the forced auction of Venezuela’s US-based refiner CITGO.

ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods stated that the company would need “significant changes” to Venezuela’s legal infrastructure before considering a return to the country.

In parallel to the White House gathering, India’s Reliance Industries, the country’s largest conglomerate, is reportedly seeking a US greenlight to resume purchases of Venezuelan crude. Reliance was a significant PDVSA customer before being driven away by US sanctions threats.

Venezuela’s oil sector, the country’s most important revenue source, remains heavily targeted by US unilateral coercive measures, including financial sanctions, an export embargo, and secondary sanctions.

Washington has maintained pressure on Caracas to impose oil conditions by enforcing a naval blockade and seizing tankers attempting to sail away with Venezuelan crude. On Friday, the US Navy seized the fifth tanker since early December, the Timor Leste-flagged Olina which had sailed from Venezuelan shores days ago as part of a flotilla attempting to break the US blockade.

Trump claimed that Venezuelan authorities assisted in the capture of the Olina tanker. According to the New York Times, US naval forces are chasing multiple tankers into the Atlantic, while others that left are reportedly heading back toward Venezuela.

Washington’s interest in controlling the Venezuelan oil industry has already seen the US Treasury Department issue sanctions waivers to global traders Vitol and Trafigura. The two companies were represented in the January 9 White House meeting.

Asked about Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Trump said that the Venezuelan leader “seems to be an ally.” A US State Department delegation landed in Caracas on Friday to evaluate conditions for the reopening of the US embassy in the Venezuelan capital.

Amidst US official statements and diplomatic pressure, Venezuelan authorities have likewise sought meetings with some of its main allies, including Russia and China.

Rodríguez met with Chinese Ambassador Lan Hu Thursday, thanking Beijing for its condemnation of the US attacks and Maduro abduction. While US officials have pledged to reduce Chinese economic ties with Venezuela, Rodríguez stated in a recent broadcast that Caracas would maintain “diversity” in its economic and geopolitical relations.

Also on Thursday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil hosted Russian Ambassador Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov. Gil acknowledged Moscow’s support in the wake of the US January 3 attacks and expressed the two nations’ joint commitment to dialogue and sovereignty.

The post Trump Administration Hosts Oil Executives, Insists on Sweeping Venezuelan Oil Concessions appeared first on Venezuelanalysis.

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By Devin B. Martinez – Jan 07, 2026

The killing occurred one day after 2,000 ICE agents were deployed into the city. Trump administration officials accuse the victim of having committed domestic terrorism.

On January 7, a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot a woman in the head in a residential neighborhood in South Minneapolis, firing into her vehicle at point-blank range. The woman was later identified by authorities as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.

A neighbor who saw what happened told local MPR News: “She was trying to turn around, and the ICE agent was in front of her car, and he pulled out a gun … and shot her in the face like three, four times.”

Witnesses said she died immediately.

Within hours, federal officials presented a starkly different account from what eyewitnesses reported.

In a tweet on his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump accused Good of “violently, willfully, and viciously” running over an ICE agent with her vehicle. The agent then “shot her in self-defense,” he claimed. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the 37-year-old woman was killed after carrying out an alleged “act of domestic terrorism”.

“A woman attacked [ICE], and those surrounding them, and attempted to run them over,” she said on Fox News, adding that the “officer acted defensively” when he shot the woman in her vehicle.

The fatal shooting comes a day after the Trump administration launched what it calls “the largest federal immigration enforcement operation ever in Minneapolis-St.Paul.” About 2,000 DHS, ICE, and related personnel flooded the city on Jan 6.

Videos and eyewitnesses debunk Trump administration narrative
Reports from witnesses and local elected officials sharply dispute the Trump administration’s account of the incident. Witnesses on the scene say the woman’s car was blocking ICE, and ICE told them to move, and they shot her in her vehicle as she was driving away, as reported by BreakThrough News.

CBS News reported that witnesses saw a Honda Pilot blocked by multiple ICE agents. “An agent tried to open the driver’s side door. The motorist then put her vehicle into reverse, then into drive. Witnesses said they then heard three shots fired.” The car then crashed into a parked vehicle before stopping.

Videos circulating on social media seem to verify eyewitness reports of the killing.

The Minneapolis Police Chief’s statement underscored that Good was not the subject of any ICE operation, contrasting with federal claims that framed the killing as a response to a targeted threat.

Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the ICE operation and rejected the self-defense narrative of the federal government after watching video footage. During a news conference, Frey had choice words for the agency: “Get the fuck out of Minneapolis,” the mayor said. “We do not want you here.”

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez, and Representative Ilhan Omar, have all identified the victim as a legal observer who was watching the ICE operation from her car.

Why Bahar and Hausmann Tell Us Nothing About Venezuelan Migration Flows to the United States

“Terror” label turned back on Trump and ICE
As the administration framed the killing as a response to “domestic terrorism”, lawmakers, activists, and journalists have inverted that language, condemning ICE itself as a terror organization.

Rep Omar denounced the agency in a Facebook post after the incident: “ICE must stop terrorizing our communities and leave our city.

“They are the terrorists,” tweeted Lebanese-American journalist Rania Khalek, responding to the Trump administration’s claims. “Theyinvade and bomb countries unprovoked, kidnap heads of states, murder their own people and then cry victim.”

The Party for Socialism and Liberation called the incident “cold-blooded murder” in a social media post on January 7, demanding justice for Renee and “an end to ICE’s reign of terror across the country”.

Disputed fraud allegations target Somali community
Officials have cited an alleged fraud scheme as the justification for the militarized operation that flooded Minneapolis with ICE agents in the first place.

The accusations involve daycare centers and other social services run by members of the Somali community.

While a 2025 case involving the Feeding our Future program did result in several convictions, many prominent voices in the community have argued that the broader, more recent narrative has been distorted for political ends.

Much of the recent controversy seems to center around a widely-debunked viral video by far-right YouTube influencer Nick Shirley, in which he claimed to expose a USD 100 million fraud at Somali-run daycare centers in the area. JD Vance applauded the video, tweeting that Shirley deserved a Pulitzer prize. Local news outlets and state regulators on the other hand, refuted his claims and most of the featured daycare centers were found to be operating legally with active licenses.

Protests loom as anger spreads across Minneapolis and other cities
Although Governor Walz challenged the federal narrative, he has also alerted the Minnesota National Guard, putting about 13,000 members on notice to potentially deploy to the streets and confront mass protests, which are being called in the city and other areas in the country as anger mounts in response to the ICE killing.

Minneapolis has a recent history of mass protest against state violence, being the city that sparked a global movement after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, which took place less than a mile from where Renee Good was shot. The ICE killing on January 7 adds a federal dimension to the city’s historic struggles. The incident may prove to be a catalyst for renewed mobilizations against militarized immigration operations, state violence, and federal overreach.

(Peoples Dispatch)

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

This article by Arturo Rojas was originally published in the January 8, 2026 edition of El Economista.

The number of U.S. citizens detained by Mexican Army and National Guard personnel has steadily increased in recent years. Official records, spanning more than 13 years (from 2012 to February 2025), show that 3,526 Americans have been apprehended; more than 80% of these cases have occurred since 2018.

Figures released by the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) through the transparency platform indicate that cases have occurred in 24 states; border states lead the numbers.

In Baja California, 946 US citizens have been detained since 2012; followed by Tamaulipas (645) and Sonora (621); these three entities account for 63% of the total.

The other entities where cases were reported were Quintana Roo (461); Baja California Sur (424); Chihuahua (220); Coahuila (110); Nuevo León (25); Jalisco (13); Michoacán (11); Sinaloa (12); Guanajuato (5); Morelos (5); Chiapas (5); Mexico City (4); Colima (4); Guerrero (4); Zacatecas (4); Aguascalientes (2); Durango (1); Oaxaca (1); San Luis Potosí (1); Veracruz (1) and Yucatán (1).

The year 2024—the year of Donald Trump’s election victory and Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration—had the highest number of cases with 969 arrests, an average of at least two arrests per day. Compared to the previous year (402), this represents a 141 percent increase.

The arrests carried out by the Mexican Army and the National Guard, as reported, are conducted under the principle that military personnel act in cases of flagrant crime, mainly in application of the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives, as well as in operations aimed at reducing the rates of violence in the country.

As explained, the detainees and the seized items are immediately turned over to the appropriate ministerial authority, in accordance with Article 16 of the Constitution and Article 230 of the National Code of Criminal Procedure. It is this ministerial authority that, based on its investigations and powers, determines the type of crime or crimes committed by the individuals placed at its disposal.

While there is no official data detailing what happened to each detainee, it can be observed that, as of June 2025, the number of Americans being processed in the Mexican prison system was lower than the number of those apprehended.

Data from the Decentralized Administrative Body for Prevention and Social Reintegration, as of June 30 of last year —the most up-to-date publicly available—, indicate that there are a total of 1,132 US citizens in prisons in Mexico.

The records also show the cases by Federal Social Rehabilitation Centers (Ceferesos); here, Cefereso No. 18 CPS Coahuila stands out, with 35 people, and Cefereso No. 11 CPS Sonora, with 26, as well as Cefereso No. 17 CPS Michoacán, with 17 inmates.

Black Market Weapons

The increase in the detention of U.S. citizens in Mexico, particularly for federal firearms-related crimes, reflects broader dynamics of transnational organized crime and illegal arms trafficking, experts said.

Victor Hernandez, director of the Latin American Institute for Strategic Studies, pointed out that U.S. citizens are a priority target for cartels because of the ease with which they can acquire weapons in their country without raising suspicion.

“With a driver’s license, they can buy weapons at any store and cross the border without raising any red flags,” he explained, while dismissing the narrative that people with dual nationality represent a greater risk, as there is no statistical support for it.

Regarding the role they may play within Mexican drug trafficking, the expert indicated that, while it is not impossible for them to occupy leadership positions, they generally perform specialized roles, such as financial operators, logistics links or hitmen with specific skills.

Jorelvy Calixto, a security specialist and external consultant for Global Thought, pointed out that one of the worrying elements is not only the incorporation of foreigners into illicit activities, but also the transfer of technical and tactical knowledge to Mexican criminal organizations.

“They not only work on illegal matters, they also contribute know-how on new forms of attack, explosives manufacturing and the use of technology,” he explained.

This exchange of knowledge, he said, has contributed to the cartels increasing the lethality and sophistication of their attacks, with direct effects on the civilian population.

The consulting firm identified dual nationality, which facilitates border crossings, as well as the ease of acquiring weapons in the United States and the constant flow of information about their use and clandestine manufacture, as key factors for the recruitment of US citizens.

“What we used to see in terrorist groups we are now seeing more and more in cartels,” he warned.

Both specialists agreed that, in terms of intelligence, it would be essential to have lists of criminal records and risk profiles of US citizens entering Mexico, in order to prevent crimes and guarantee due process in accordance with national and international jurisdiction.

Legislation

According to current legislation in Mexico, carrying and possessing firearms without a license is a severely punished crime for any person within Mexican territory, including foreigners.

The Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives punishes the illegal importation of firearms into the country with prison sentences of three to ten years. The law allows foreigners to carry firearms only under very limited circumstances, such as in the case of permanent residents or those who obtain temporary licenses for sporting purposes.

• 

  News Briefs

  Detentions of Americans by Mexican Army & National Guard are on the Rise

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  Most arrests are related to firearms and explosives, and so carried out by the Army and National Guard.

• 

  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera January 9

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on reduction of violence in Guerrero, phone-call with Brazilian President Lula, Trump’s comments about attacking Mexico, minimum wage increases, maritime monitoring, and García Luna arrests.

• 

  Analysis

  These are not times for complacency

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  US governments have spent two centuries acting according to their own interests, not those of the global community. Someone has to stop the empire and its representatives.

The post Detentions of Americans by Mexican Army & National Guard are on the Rise appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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Every day, President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a morning presidential press conference and Mexico Solidarity Media posts English language summaries, translated by Mexico Solidarity’s Pedro Gellert Frank. Previous press conference summaries are available here.

Guerrero: Violence down and security advancing

The state of Guerrero is experiencing a sustained decline in violence. Intentional homicides fell 24% between 2024 and 2025 —with the lowest numbers since 2009— and the cumulative decrease reaches 65%. High-impact crimes dropped 18%. These results are due to a coordinated security strategy, with unified command, patrols, and joint operations. Between October 2024 and December 2025, some 1,788 suspects were arrested, 815 weapons were secured, more than 34 tons of drugs were seized, and six drug labs were dismantled.

Dialogue with Brazil: Sovereignty, integration, and women’s rights

President Claudia Sheinbaum held a call with her Brazilian counterpart Lula, in which they discussed the defense of Latin American sovereignty and advances in bilateral relations. Lula invited the President to Brazil in May —an invitation she will consider— and both exchanged experiences on women’s rights policies.

Relationship with the United States: Cooperation yes, subordination no

Sheinbaum reported that she instructed Minister of Foreign Relations Juan Ramón de la Fuente to contact U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and, if necessary, request a direct conversation with President Trump, following his statements concerning a possible ground military intervention against Mexican cartels. The President emphasized that the bilateral relationship will be maintained within the framework of dialogue, security cooperation, information exchange, and respect for Mexico’s sovereignty.

Minimum wage: From neoliberal abandonment to regional leadership

The President highlighted that during the neoliberal period, Mexico had the lowest minimum wage in the hemisphere, even below that of Haiti. Today, thanks to the labor policy of the Fourth Transformation, Mexico ranks third in minimum wage in Latin America, behind only Uruguay and Chile, showing a historic recovery in workers’ income.

Maritime monitoring with sovereignty and international coordination

Sheinbaum reported that there is an agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard and Northern Command for the Ministry of the Navy to have absolute control in national territorial waters. Coordination is activated only in case of an approach by suspicious vessels. Thanks to permanent monitoring, 1.6 tons of cocaine have been seized at high sea. The President was clear: the only desirable scenario is cooperation with respect for sovereignties.

García Luna case: Orders now being executed

Regarding the recent arrests linked to former Minister of Public Security Genaro García Luna during the Calderon administration, the President explained that they correspond to previously issued arrest warrants that had not been executed. She noted that, with Ernestina Godoy’s arrival at the Federal Attorney General’s Office, case files are being reviewed and pending judicial orders are being effectively applied.

Immediate response to the earthquake: Support and resources guaranteed

The Government indicated that it has sufficient resources available to address the damages caused by the 6.5 magnitude earthquake registered last Friday. The earthquake had its epicenter in Guerrero and was felt in at least eight states, including Mexico City. The President emphasized that the priority is attention to the population and ensuring the State’s timely response.

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  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera January 9

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on reduction of violence in Guerrero, phone-call with Brazilian President Lula, Trump’s comments about attacking Mexico, minimum wage increases, maritime monitoring, and García Luna arrests.

• 

  Analysis

  These are not times for complacency

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  US governments have spent two centuries acting according to their own interests, not those of the global community. Someone has to stop the empire and its representatives.

• 

  News Briefs

  President Sheinbaum Instructs Foreign Ministry to Contact Rubio After Trump’s Comments on Attacking Mexico

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  A September meeting between Rubio & the Foreign Minister was followed by airstrikes off the coast of Acapulco.

The post People’s Mañanera January 9 appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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This editorial by Daniel Carlos García Gómez originally appeared in the January 9, 2026 issue of La Jornada de Oriente, the Puebla edition of Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those ofMexico Solidarity Media*, or theMexico Solidarity Project.*

The treacherous aggression by the Washington government against Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president, Nicolás Maduro, in violation of international law and the sovereignty of a country like Venezuela, cannot go unpunished. Something more than mere condemnation must be done to stop Donald Trump ‘s interventionism and the adoption, two centuries later, of the Monroe Doctrine.

Under the pretext of combating drug trafficking and terrorism, the United States resorts to this tactic to attack Venezuela and seize its resources, primarily oil. Hence, the reaction of the UN Security Council is late and ineffective, which encourages Trump’s impunity.

Those who cynically dare to fabricate causes, as the United States already did in Iraq; those who shamelessly violate international law, the self-determination of peoples, and respect for human rights and dignity— why should we conclude that they will act correctly in the rest of the world? Democratic and Republican governments have spent two centuries acting according to their own interests, not those of the global community.

This moment requires a more effective awakening of Mexican progressivism and the left, an intensification of the political and ideological struggle, so that the fascism represented by Donald Trump does not prevail.

Although the Mexican government has signed a joint statement with progressive counterparts from Latin America and Spain , so far it has not had enough of an impact to contain the interventionist policies of the United States, much less the threats looming over other peoples and governments that do not submit to the designs and interests of Washington.

From the very day of the US armed attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, countless protests have taken place around the world, yet governments have failed to react in a manner commensurate with the scale and magnitude of the aggression. These are not times for lukewarm or outright inaction. Someone has to stop the empire and its representatives.

That’s why I’m outraged that those who criticize Maduro and his government accept and justify the intervention, and that, in the case of our country, they have no qualms about accepting foreign interference, which foreshadows the stance they would adopt in similar scenarios. But on the other hand, I’m also concerned by the disdain of those who think that what’s happening in Venezuela couldn’t happen in Mexico.

January 3rd attack on Caracas, Venezuela

Much of this distorted view of reality is due to the mass media (with some exceptions), which continue to be an expression of financial oligarchies and conservatism, now radicalized to the point of fascism. These are the sectors that are currently echoing Trumpism, which, unfortunately, has recently gained ground on the continent.

In Venezuela, a people’s resistance has emerged, which we hope will contain the US aggression and the “fifth columnists,” like Corina Machado . But international solidarity , firm denunciation, mobilization, and even a boycott of US companies are also needed. Peaceful civil resistance may be a viable strategy today.

But it also requires a more effective awakening of Mexican progressivism and the left, an intensification of the political and ideological struggle, so that the fascism represented by Donald Trump does not prevail.

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  Mañanera

  People’s Mañanera January 9

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on reduction of violence in Guerrero, phone-call with Brazilian President Lula, Trump’s comments about attacking Mexico, minimum wage increases, maritime monitoring, and García Luna arrests.

• 

  Analysis

  These are not times for complacency

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  US governments have spent two centuries acting according to their own interests, not those of the global community. Someone has to stop the empire and its representatives.

• 

  News Briefs

  President Sheinbaum Instructs Foreign Ministry to Contact Rubio After Trump’s Comments on Attacking Mexico

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  A September meeting between Rubio & the Foreign Minister was followed by airstrikes off the coast of Acapulco.

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Through his account on the social network X, the Prime Minister highlighted these elements for confronting problems and finding solutions, while also calling for “people’s participation and oversight” to achieve these objectives.

  The head of government expressed optimism, stating, “We will emerge from this adverse context by fighting, as #Fidel and #Raul taught us.”

  He also sent congratulations on their 15th anniversary to the two youngest Cuban provinces, Artemisa and Mayabeque.

  Marrero also noted the Extraordinary Provincial Councils of Pinar del Rio and Artemisa, where their potential to contribute more to the country’s economy and the well-being of the people was recognized.

  Alongside these extraordinary provincial councils, extraordinary plenary sessions of the Communist Party’s provincial committees are taking place throughout the Cuban archipelago to analyze the new historical moment the country is experiencing.

  These party meetings are led by the First Secretary of the Central Committee and President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and are aimed at shaping the work for 2026 amidst a complex national and international scenario, as well as addressing defense tasks and the economic and social situation of the Caribbean nation.

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In his account of X, the Cuban Foreign Minister referred to the US plan to impose its will on the rights of sovereign states and has been applying force and aggression against Cuba for 67 years.

In the post, Rodriguez said about Washington that on his side is the enormous military power and the size of its economy, plus a vast experience of aggression and crimes. In contrast, he stressed that on the side of the Caribbean nation is the reason, international law and the patriotic spirit of a people.

The head of Cuban diplomacy literally highlighted the island’s position, “We Cubans are not willing to sell our country or give in to threats and blackmail, nor to give up the inalienable prerogative with which we build our own destiny, at peace with the rest of the world.”, it meant.

The highest representative of the diplomacy of the greater Antilles clearly concluded his message: “We will defend Cuba. Those who know us know that it is a firm, categorical and proven commitment”.

The foreign minister of the island expressed his government’s position that in multiple forums he has denounced the aggressions and hostile policies against the island and about the reactivation of the Monroe Doctrine, which serves the United States to justify military interventions in the region.

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  Through his account on the social network X, the Prime Minister highlighted these elements for confronting problems and finding solutions, while also calling for “people’s participation and oversight” to achieve these objectives.

  The head of government expressed optimism, stating, “We will emerge from this adverse context by fighting, as #Fidel and #Raul taught us.”

  He also sent congratulations on their 15th anniversary to the two youngest Cuban provinces, Artemisa and Mayabeque.

  Marrero also noted the Extraordinary Provincial Councils of Pinar del Rio and Artemisa, where their potential to contribute more to the country’s economy and the well-being of the people was recognized.

  Alongside these extraordinary provincial councils, extraordinary plenary sessions of the Communist Party’s provincial committees are taking place throughout the Cuban archipelago to analyze the new historical moment the country is experiencing.

  These party meetings are led by the First Secretary of the Central Committee and President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and are aimed at shaping the work for 2026 amidst a complex national and international scenario, as well as addressing defense tasks and the economic and social situation of the Caribbean nation.

jdt/ro/jqo

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By Yves Engler – Jan 6, 2026

As part of justifying Donald Trump’s crass imperial aggression in Venezuela Canadian officials have taken up the mantra of “democracy”.

In one post on the weekend Mark Carney opined about “the democratic will of the Venezuelan people” while in a follow-up statement the prime minister boasted that “Canada has not recognised the illegitimate regime of Maduro since it stole the 2018 election.” But Canadian hostility to the independent, socialist minded government dates to a time when no credible observer questioned the government’s electoral legitimacy.

Ottawa has been hostile to the Venezuelan government for over two decades. The Jean Chretien government wasn’t overly concerned about democracy in April 2002 when the military took President Hugo Chavez prisoner and imposed an unelected government. Ottawa passively supported a coup, which lasted only 48 hours before popular demonstrations, a split within the army and international condemnation returned Chavez. While most Latin American leaders condemned the coup, Canadian diplomats were silent. “In the Venezuelan coup in 2002, Canada maintained a low profile, probably because it was sensitive to the United States ambivalence towards Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez,” writes Flavie Major in Promoting Democracy in the Americas.

Taking up his post three months after the coup, Canada’s ambassador to Venezuela, Allan Culham was hostile to Chávez. According to a WikiLeaks publication of US diplomatic messages, “Canadian Ambassador Culham expressed surprise at the tone of Chavez’s statements during his weekly television and radio show ‘Hello President’ on February 15 [2004]. Culham observed that Chavez’s rhetoric was as tough as he had ever heard him. ‘He sounded like a bully,’ said Culham, more intransigent and more aggressive.”

The US cable quoted Culham criticizing the national electoral council and speaking positively about the group overseeing a presidential recall referendum targeting Chavez. “Culham added that Súmate is impressive, transparent, and run entirely by volunteers,” it noted. The name of then head of Súmate, Maria Corina Machado, was on a list of people who endorsed the coup against Chavez, for which she faced charges of treason. Machado signed the now-infamous Carmona Decree that dissolved the National Assembly and Supreme Court and suspended the elected government, the attorney general, comptroller general, and governors as well as mayors elected during Chavez’s administration. It also annulled land reforms and reversed increases in royalties paid by oil companies.

In January 2005, Global Affairs invited Machado to Ottawa. Machado oversaw Súmate, an organization at the forefront of efforts to remove Chavez as president. Just prior to this invitation, Súmate led an unsuccessful campaign to recall Chavez through a referendum in August 2004.

Canada also financed Súmate. According to disclosures made in response to a question by NDP foreign affairs critic Alexa McDonough, Canada gave Súmate $22,000 in 2005. Minister of International Cooperation José Verner explained that “Canada considered Súmate to be an experienced NGO with the capability to promote respect for democracy, particularly a free and fair electoral process in Venezuela.”

In fact, alongside large sums from Washington, Canada has provided millions of dollars to groups opposed to the Venezuelan government over the past two decades. According to a 2010 report from Spanish NGO Fride, “Canada is the third most important provider of democracy assistance” to Venezuela after the U.S. and Spain. In a 2011International Journal article Neil A. Burron describes an interview with a Canadian “official [who] repeatedly expressed concerns about the quality of democracy in Venezuela, noting that the [federal government’s] Glyn Berry program provided funds to a ‘get out the vote’ campaign in the last round of elections in that country.” You can bet it wasn’t designed to get Chavez supporters to the polls.

The Stephen Harper government didn’t hide its hostility to Chavez. When Chavez was re-elected president with 63 per cent of the vote in December 2006, 32 members of the Organization of American States — which monitored the election — supported a resolution to congratulate him. Canada was the only member to join the U.S. in opposing the message.

Just after Chavez’s re-election, Harper toured South America to help stunt the region’s rejection of neoliberalism and U.S. dependence or as a Global Affairs official told Le Devoir “to show [the region] that Canada functions and that it can be a better model than Venezuela.” During the trip, Harper and his entourage made several comments critical of the Chavez government. Afterwards the prime minister continued to demonize a government that had massively expanded the population’s access to health and education services. In April 2009 Harper responded to a question regarding Venezuela by saying, “I don’t take any of these rogue states lightly.” A month earlier, the prime minister referred to the far-right Colombian government as a valuable “ally” in a hemisphere full of “serious enemies and opponents.”

Is Canada Aiding the US in Those Boat Attacks?

After meeting opposition figures in January 2010, Minister for the Americas Peter Kent told the media, “Democratic space within Venezuela has been shrinking and in this election year, Canada is very concerned about the rights of all Venezuelans to participate in the democratic process.”

The head of Canada’s military joined the onslaught of condemnation. After a tour of South America in early 2010, Walter Natynczyk wrote: “Regrettably, some countries, such as Venezuela, are experiencing the politicization of their armed forces.” (A Canadian general criticizing another country’s military is, of course, not political.)

After Chavez died in 2013 Harper declared that Venezuelans “can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.” But when Maduro won the presidential election later that year Ottawa called for a recount, refusing at first to recognize the results.

In response to Venezuela’s economic troubles, the rightward shift in the region and Donald Trump’s hawkishness, Canada ramped up its bid to oust Venezuela’s elected president in 2017. Under Chrystia Freeland’s direction Canada helped create the Lima Group, imposed sanctions, broke off diplomatic relations, took Venezuela to the International Criminal Court and recognized a marginal opposition figure as president in January 2019.

None of this had anything to do with an equal voice for every Venezuelan. Rather it was about trying to keep a country trying to go its own way in line with the US empire.

Canadian support for the kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro has nothing to do with “democracy”.

(Yves Engler)

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

The Venezuelan government, in collaboration with other state institutions, has decided to release a significant number of Venezuelan and foreign nationals from prison, in order to contribute to national unity and peaceful coexistence. This was announced by the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, on Thursday, January 8.

“These release processes are underway right now. Consider this gesture by the Bolivarian government, with its broad intention to seek peace, as part of the contribution that each and every one of us must make to ensure that our Republic continues its peaceful existence and pursuit of prosperity,” Rodríguez said in statements to the press.

He also expressed his gratitude to those who have always stood by the people of Venezuela to defend their right to life, self-determination, independence, and peace. He made special mention of former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who for the past 10 years has been working with the Venezuelan government for national coexistence.

Jorge Rodríguez, who is also the national secretary of the National Council for Sovereignty and Peace, thanked the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the government of the Kingdom of Qatar, and the Venezuelan state institutions that “promptly responded to the call of the Bolivarian government under President in-charge Delcy Eloína Rodríguez.”

On the other hand, he clarified that the Venezuelan government does not hold talks “with any extremist sector, since they are the negation of politics,” but instead maintains an open dialog with political institutions, political parties, and other political organizations that abide by and adhere to what is established in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. In this regard, he reiterated that the release from prison “is a unilateral gesture by the Venezuelan government” in its pursuit of peace.

On January 1, the Ministry for the Penitentiary Service announced the release of 88 individuals who had been detained “for crimes committed in the context of violent actions by extremist sectors following the July 28, 2024, electoral process.” A week earlier, the same office had announced the release of another 99 detainees “as a concrete expression of the Venezuelan State’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and justice.”

Venezuela’s Judiciary Releases 88 People Imprisoned for July 2024 Post-Electoral Violence

Some names of prisoners released
On Thursday afternoon, Venezuelan newspaper Últimas Noticias published the names of Venezuelans and foreigners released.

Following the announcement by the national authorities, five Spanish prisoners were released: four with exclusively Spanish nationality and the fifth with dual Spanish-Venezuelan nationality. The released prisoners are the Spaniards Andrés Martínez Adasme, José María Basoa, Miguel Moreno, and Ernesto Gorbe, and Spanish-Venezuelan Rocío San Miguel.

Similarly, Venezuelan citizens Javier Tarazona, former presidential candidate and former CNE vice president Enrique Márquez, and lawyer Perkins Rocha were also released.

(Diario VEA)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/SC/DZ

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  In a joint statement, the Aguan Land Platform, the Antifascist International (Honduras chapter), the Honduras-Venezuela Friendship Association, and the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) denounced the military aggression.

   The movements stated that the violation of the sovereignty of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the state terrorism, and the abduction of Maduro and his wife set a negative precedent for Latin America, violating international law and the self-determination of peoples.

  The attack on Caracas and other cities, along with the use of force, is “an escalation of imperial violence that seeks to impose, through terror and war, a project of political, economic, and geopolitical domination over the peoples who resist,” they warned.

   They stated that the kidnapping of legitimate authorities is a practice of state terrorism, historically used against popular movements and governments that do not submit to transnational elites.

The aforementioned groups raised their voices against what they described as US interference in the region, repeating colonial practices that harm social projects and fundamental freedoms.

They called on the peoples of the world, social movements, and international organizations to break the silence, to permanently denounce these crimes, and to mobilize against a new imperial aggression that threatens regional and global peace, the statement emphasized.

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The US Senate approved moving forward on a resolution that would prevent US President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization.

The motion to bring the resolution to the Senate floor received 52 votes in favor and 47 against, as at least five Republican senators joined the Democrats in the vote, as reported by NBC.

In addition to 47 Democrats, Republican Senators Rand Paul (Kentucky), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), Todd Young (Indiana), and Josh Hawley (Missouri) voted in favor of moving forward with the resolution.

The measure, introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia to restore war powers to the US Congress, comes amid failed pleas from Republican leaders to halt it and preserve Trump’s authority over such decisions, claiming that the president’s use of the military in Venezuela was justified.

If successful, the resolution would order the withdrawal of US Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by the US Congress.

Next steps
Now, the Senate will debate the measure and vote to approve it next week, Politico explained.

However, the resolution would then have to pass the House of Representatives, where it would face a more complicated process, as Republicans have simple majority there.

Furthermore, if approved by both chambers of Congress, it would have to survive a likely presidential veto.

The only way Congress can override a presidential veto is through a veto override mechanism, which requires a two-thirds vote of the members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in favor of the resolution, allowing it to become law without the president’s signature.

Although there are Republicans supporting the measure, reaching the two-thirds threshold is unlikely.

In any case, its approval would establish an important symbolic position in the US political debate, and it shows that a significant number of members of Congress, including some Republicans, are not in favor of Trump’s bellicose actions against Venezuela.

Last year, Republicans blocked two other previous attempts to advance similar resolutions in the Senate, Reuters reported. This happened while the Trump administration was intensifying military pressure on Venezuela, with attacks on vessels in the southern Caribbean.

Behind the DOJ’s Politicized Indictment of Maduro: A CIA-Created ‘Network’ and Coerced Star Witness

Trump’s reaction
The US president stated that the Senate resolution aimed at preventing him from undertaking new military actions against Venezuela undermines his authority as commander-in-chief of the US Armed Forces. Additionally, he criticized Republican lawmakers who voted in favor of the proposal, stressing that they should not be reelected.

More US attacks on Venezuela?
On January 3, after the first military aggression on Caracas and other Venezuelan states, which resulted in the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by US special forces, Trump threatened a second wave of attacks.

“We are prepared to launch a second, much larger attack, if necessary,” he declared at the time.

However, he later changed his stance and said that the US would not station troops in Venezuela if the vice president of the country, Delcy Rodríguez, now acting president, did what Washington wanted.

(Alba Ciudad)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/SC/DZ

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The meeting concluded with the signing of a document that the government considered a consensus on the main points raised by the teachers, but Sinprof’s secretary general, Admar Jinguma, stated that the final decision will depend on the provincial assemblies, Correio da Kianda reported.

The meetings will evaluate the commitments made by the government, such as updating teacher categories, regularizing professional career paths, and paying the thirteenth monthly salary in a single installment, in order to decide on the strike.

The government actions will unfold in stages, beginning with the opening of an internal public competition in February, which will allow for the regularization of the job classification of more than 41,000 employees of the Ministry of Education, using available salary funds.

Meanwhile, the integration into the new job classifications and career paths will take place in two phases: the first throughout 2026 and the second in 2027.

The issue of decentralizing the management of the school budget was also addressed; this budget must be administered directly by educational institutions and is expected to be implemented this year.

This measure aims to improve teachers’ working conditions, as not all schools have the same needs.

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Selassie made this remark on the eve of the launch of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union headquarters, in the presence of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

The initiative aims to foster stronger ties between the peoples of both sides by boosting collaboration in education, innovation, culture, and social engagement.

The Ethiopian president described this partnership as a relationship based on centuries of history, equality, and mutual respect. “This historical bond has established a solid foundation for a relationship defined by dignity and mutual respect,” he said, emphasizing that it should catalyze shared growth and prosperity.

Upon highlighting its development, the head of State noted that what began in the 1980s as primarily a government-to-government commitment has matured into diversified cooperation encompassing investment, technology, and capacity building.

Selassie also acknowledged China’s achievements in poverty eradication and technological innovation as a source of inspiration for Africa’s pursuit of self-sufficiency and technological autonomy.

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A security source quoted by the official SANA news agency reported that the operation was successfully carried out following coordinated and precise work by specialized units of both agencies, within the framework of sustained efforts to combat terrorism and preserve national security.

Interior Minister Anas Khattab specified that the detainee held the position of military commander of the so-called Sham (Levant) province within the Daesh structure.

Khattab emphasized that recent joint operations also led to the arrest of two other Daesh leaders and the neutralization of a third, as part of a sustained escalation of security actions.

The minister assured that the relevant forces will continue to intensify their operations to reinforce security and stability throughout the country.

At the end of December, Syrian security forces announced the capture of several leaders of the terrorist group, including the head of a Daesh-affiliated cell east of Damascus, as well as the neutralization of Muhammad Shahada, known as Abu Omar Shaddad, who served as the so-called “governor of the Hauran region” within that organization.

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This article by Alonso Urrutia originally appeared in the January 9, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Acapulco, Guerrero. In response to President Donald Trump’s new stance on combating the cartels, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum stated that while there are bilateral agreements regulating security cooperation, she has instructed Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Although President Sheinbaum said that there are ways to communicate with the White House Chief, she said that if necessary she could speak by phone with Trump to strengthen the mechanisms of collaboration on security matters between Mexico and the United States.

A September press conference between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexico’s Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente involved an arrogant Rubio contradicting the Foreign Minister, and was followed shortly after by illegal airstrikes off the coast of Mexico.

Regarding the potential presence of U.S. military vessels, as occurred in Venezuela prior to the intervention, he stated that there is an understanding between the Coast Guard and Northern Command with the Mexican Navy to collaborate in the seizure of these vessels in Mexican territorial waters. According to this agreed-upon mechanism, if any suspicious vessels are detected, the Coast Guard would notify the Mexican Navy so that it could deploy operations to seize them.

In a conference held at this port, she said: “We do not want to think about another scenario, but rather about closer coordination within the framework of defending sovereignty.”

On the other hand, she mentioned that in her conversation with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, he invited her to visit Brazil in May, a proposal she will consider. They discussed strengthening economic ties following the visit of Brazilian businesspeople to Mexico and talked about violence against women in both countries.

• 

  News Briefs

  President Sheinbaum Instructs Foreign Ministry to Contact Rubio After Trump’s Comments on Attacking Mexico

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  A September meeting between Rubio & the Foreign Minister was followed by airstrikes off the coast of Acapulco.

• 

  Analysis | Historical

  Julio Antonio Mella & Anti-imperialism

  January 9, 2026

  Fidel Castro said that Mella, one of the founders of the Communist Party of Cuba who worked in Mexico, was the one who did the most in the least amount of time.

• 

  News Briefs

  Mexico’s National Front in Defense of Sovereignty Responds to Trump’s Attack Threats

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  The Front denounced the possibility the US could enter Mexico militarily or coercively and identified weapons and financing sustaining the narcotics trade as originating from the US.

The post President Sheinbaum Instructs Foreign Ministry to Contact Rubio After Trump’s Comments on Attacking Mexico appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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A police report reads that during the operation, conducted jointly with the Italian Customs Agency, the presence of the drugs, valued at approximately 1.5 billion euros, was detected in a container arriving from the Colombian port of Cartagena.

The report states that some 2,109 blocks, hidden in 87 jute sacks wrapped in nylon netting, were seized. These blocks contained, without packaging, an estimated 2,380 kilograms of ultrapure cocaine.

The release underscores, “The seizure is part of a constant and targeted effort to combat international drug trafficking.”

Analysts said investigations continue to determine details of this illegal activity, with the likely involvement of the powerful Ndrangheta mafia organization.

jdt/iff/mem/ort

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This article by Ángel Chávez Mancilla originally appeared in the December 9, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

The US military aggression against the people of Venezuela on January 3, which involved the bombing of Caracas and other cities, as well as the arrest and transfer of Nicolás Maduro to the United States, has liquidated the remnants of international law and has shown that imperialist aggressions will be the order of the day in the Americas.

In light of this scenario, it is pertinent to recall the history of the anti-imperialist struggle of the workers of Mexico and Latin America, which has among its most significant episodes the activity of the Cuban Julio Antonio Mella, who was assassinated on January 10, 1929 in Mexico, at only 25 years old, which is why Fidel Castro said that Mella was the one who did the most in the least amount of time.

Mella was born in Cuba on March 25, 1903, and from a young age was politically active. In 1923, he presided over the first National Congress of Students of Cuba and founded the José Martí People’s University; in 1924, he created the Anti-Clerical League. In 1925, demonstrating his political maturity, he and Carlos Baliño were among the founders of the Communist Party of Cuba in August. That same year, he was expelled from the university and imprisoned, to which he responded with a hunger strike. In 1926, the world opened up even more for him when he went into exile in Mexico, where he became a professional revolutionary and developed much of his political work and intellectual output.

In Mexico, Mella was a member of the Communist Party of Mexico, where he served as interim general secretary. He was also an editor for the newspaper El Machete, where he wrote under the pseudonyms Cuauhtémoc Zapata and Kim. Furthermore, he participated in the Anti-Imperialist League of the Americas (LADLA), an organization promoted by the Communist International, which had its predecessors in the Latin American Bureau (1919-1920) and the Pan-American Bureau (1920-1921), and where he became general secretary of its Continental Coordinating Committee.

The relationship between Mella and the LADLA began in 1925, when the young Cuban founded the Cuban section of this organization. That same year, the LADLA took action in support of the Cuban revolutionary while he was imprisoned by the Machado government. Mella participated in the organization’s anti-imperialist activities; for example, in the protests against the occupation of Panama by U.S. troops in 1925.

Julio Antonio Mella bust, Havana, Cuba Photo: Jay Watts

In 1927, LADLA also organized a campaign for the release of the two anarchists, Sacco and Vanzetti, who had been sentenced to death in the United States. It also launched a campaign in support of Haiti, then under U.S. occupation, and another in support of the Soviet Union. Records show Mella’s participation in the rallies for Sacco and Vanzetti, as well as his contributions to El Libertador, LADLA’s official publication. One of LADLA’s most significant campaigns was its solidarity with Augusto César Sandino in his struggle against U.S. intervention in Nicaragua, which led to the creation of the “Hands Off Nicaragua!” Committee (MAFUENIC), promoted by Mella.

Funeral of Julio Antonio Mella

As a leader of the LADLA, Mella attended the Congress Against Colonial Oppression in Brussels, Belgium, held in February 1927. It was there that the quarrel between Mella and Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre became clear. While Mella raised the banner of anti-imperialism as formulated by the Comintern, arguing that the broad masses of workers should be included, but that the political independence of the working class from the bourgeoisie of their own country should be maintained, Haya de la Torre, leader of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), held a nationalist position that subordinated the workers to the bourgeoisie.

The importance Mella placed on political clarity in anti-imperialist action led him to write the pamphlet “What is APRA?” , in which he accused the organization of wanting to appear as the successor of Marx and Lenin, but in reality being an expression of reformism and opportunism. In questioning APRA’s program, Mella pointed out its shortcomings; for example, that when speaking of the “Unity of America,” it failed to specify that this unity should be of the workers and not a unity led by the bourgeoisie, and that opposing only Yankee imperialism, and not other imperialist centers, distorted Lenin’s conception of imperialism. Thus he stated: “Imperialism is an international phenomenon, and its fundamental characteristics are the same in America and in Asia”; in this way, he opposed the idea that Leninist concepts were not applicable to America.

The anti-imperialist policy promoted by Mella and the LADLA implied opposition to US interference in the continent, such that, as Mella wrote in his pamphlet “Cuba: A People That Has Never Been Free,” the only way out could be summarized in the following phrase: “We must make the revolution of the citizens, of the people, against the dollar.” To leave no room for error, Mella clarifies in the same pamphlet that this revolution “against the dollar” should follow the example of the Russian Revolution and the construction of the Soviet Union.

In the face of the recent aggression against Venezuela, the threats from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio against Cuba, and Trump’s statements against the governments of Colombia and Mexico, the path indicated by the figure of the young Cuban and Mexican revolutionary is clear: “We must, in short, carry out the social revolution in the countries of America.”

• 

  News Briefs

  President Sheinbaum Instructs Foreign Ministry to Contact Rubio After Trump’s Comments on Attacking Mexico

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  A September meeting between Rubio & the Foreign Minister was followed by airstrikes off the coast of Acapulco.

• 

  Analysis | Historical

  Julio Antonio Mella & Anti-imperialism

  January 9, 2026

  Fidel Castro said that Mella, one of the founders of the Communist Party of Cuba who worked in Mexico, was the one who did the most in the least amount of time.

• 

  News Briefs

  Mexico’s National Front in Defense of Sovereignty Responds to Trump’s Attack Threats

  January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

  The Front denounced the possibility the US could enter Mexico militarily or coercively and identified weapons and financing sustaining the narcotics trade as originating from the US.

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In a statement, the agency explained that the decision was based on the persistent high concentration of ozone recorded at most of the stations in the city’s air quality monitoring system.

According to the statement, a concentration of 160 ppb was recorded at the Cuajimalpa station at 4:00 p.m. local time on Thursday; the following hour, it rose to 157 ppb at the Atizapan station, and by 6:00 p.m., five stations were above the standard level (90 ppb).

When activating the contingency plan, authorities reported the previous day that a high-pressure system was affecting the central part of the country, generating atmospheric stability with low humidity and ventilation.

This was compounded by a maximum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, atypical for this time of year. This created unfavorable conditions for the dispersion of ozone and its precursors.

As part of the contingency measures, the agency asked the public to stay informed about air quality and heed recommendations to avoid exposure to pollution peaks between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time, especially the most vulnerable individuals.

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The military institution stated that “it was a reprisal action for the Ukrainian terrorist attack on the residence of President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in Novgorod region, which occurred early December 29, 2025.”

The release adds that the airstrike, which employed the Oreshnik hypersonic missile for the second time, successfully struck “facilities where the unmanned aerial vehicles used in the terrorist attack were produced, as well as energy infrastructure targets that support Ukraine’s military-industrial complex.”

The Ministry also warned that “any terrorist action by the criminal Ukrainian regime will continue to be met with a response.”

It is worth remembering that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine on December 29 of launching an airstrike on the presidential residence in the Novgorod region using 91 drones.

The head of Russian diplomacy stated that all drones involved in the strike were intercepted by air defenses.

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Wu Shicun, president of the Academic Committee of China’s Institute of South China Sea Studies, stated in an interview with The Paper that, in the new global scenario, showing on how to protect this nation’s sovereignty and legitimate interests is essential.

Academicians analyzed during an expert forum how, in less than a week, the United States militarily struck Venezuela, issued threats against Colombia, Cuba, Iran, and Mexico, and proclaimed that its dominance in the Western Hemisphere would not be questioned.

The White House also announced on January 7 the United States’ withdrawal from 66 international organizations that, according to Washington, no longer align with its interests.

China’s special envoy for climate change, Liu Zhenmin, in turn, stressed in the debate that interference by external powers that undermines peace in the South China Sea must be firmly prevented.

Several voices from the Chinese academia and government have warned and denounced in recent days the impact of the United States’ military airstrike on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

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Members of this social organization delivered a letter addressed to the Cuban ambassador to Panama, Orestes Perez, and to the head of the Venezuelan consular representation, Julio Chavez, condemning the vile attacks against the South American nation, in which citizens of both countries lost their lives.

“On this fateful day for humanity, 32 Cuban citizens, internationalist military personnel, became martyrs for the Greater Homeland, fulfilling their duties with honor and dignity in defense of the sovereignty of nations, while providing solidarity and support to the Venezuelan people,” the letter emphasizes.

Along with them, the message adds, Venezuelan military personnel and civilians also gave their lives as a direct consequence of this imperialist aggression, demonstrating once again that the Bolivarian Revolution is not alone and that its people are prepared to resist and prevail.

For Frenadeso, these crimes are not isolated incidents. They are part of a systematic policy of war, destabilization, blockade, threats, and blackmail promoted by US imperialism, now once again led by Donald Trump and his entourage of hawks, millionaires, and war criminals, who have intensified their threats against Venezuela, Cuba, and other sovereign governments and peoples of the region.

In this regard, Frenadeso denounced that the escalation of hostilities constitutes a grave violation of international law, the self-determination of peoples, and the principles enshrined in the 2014 Havana Proclamation, which declared Latin America and the Caribbean a Zone of Peace.

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