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

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

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

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

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

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

jdt/rc/mks

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

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

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

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

abo/rc/lld

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

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

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

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

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

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

RELATED:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 17, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 17, 2025

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE

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Sovereignty, non-intervention, and the UN’s peace principles collide with Washington’s bid to choke Venezuela’s oil shipments through a naval blockade.

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The latest threat from United States President Donald Trump against Venezuela, a country on which he has unilaterally decreed a naval military blockade to impede oil exports, blatantly violates a series of international legal instruments.

Related:

Venezuela and China Discuss Regional Security After Trump Threatens Oil Blockade

Trump’s actions, disregarding the very norms governing international coexistence, portray him as an omnipotent leader capable of ordering extraterritorial operations worldwide.

This aggression against Venezuela, a sovereign nation possessing the largest oil reserves globally, undermines every organism, statute, convention, and resolution within the United Nations system.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how Trump’s imperialist actions against Venezuela contravene international law:

Undermining the UN Charter: A Direct Challenge to Sovereignty

The United Nations Charter stands as the foundational document of international relations, establishing principles for peaceful coexistence and respect among sovereign states.

Article 2, in particular, outlines critical tenets that Trump’s policies directly contravene:

• Article 2.1: Sovereign Equality of All Members The UN Charter is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members. Venezuela, as a member state, is entitled to the same respect for its sovereignty as any other nation.

• The imposition of a naval blockade by the US, a foreign power, disregards this fundamental principle, treating Venezuela not as an equal but as a subordinate entity subject to external dictates. This action fundamentally challenges the notion that all states possess equal legal standing and are free from external interference in their internal affairs.

• Article 2.3: Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes Members of the Organization shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.

• The US’s declaration of a naval blockade, a hostile and coercive measure, is a stark deviation from the peaceful resolution of disputes. It introduces an element of force and intimidation, escalating tensions rather than seeking diplomatic or mediated solutions, thereby endangering international peace and security.

• Article 2.4: Prohibition of the Threat or Use of Force Members of the Organization shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

• A naval military blockade unequivocally constitutes a threat and use of force. Its explicit aim to prevent oil exports directly impacts Venezuela’s economic lifeblood, threatening its political independence and territorial integrity by dictating its trade and maritime access.

• This action is a clear violation of one of the most sacrosanct principles of international law, established to prevent aggression and ensure state autonomy.

• The blockade is not merely an economic sanction but a coercive military action designed to cripple the nation and force a change in its political course, a blatant infringement upon its self-determination.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responds to Tuesday's statements by United States President Donald Trump regarding Venezuela, reiterating Mexico's constitutional position of non-intervention, non-interference in foreign affairs, the self-determination of peoples, and the… pic.twitter.com/UCm1ATlc0z

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 17, 2025

The Right to Self-Determination: A Pillar of Human Rights

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by numerous nations, affirms the inherent right of all peoples to self-determination.

This right is pivotal for a nation’s development and autonomy.

• Article 1.1: Free Determination of Political Status and Development

• All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.

• The US blockade, aimed at disrupting Venezuela’s economic activities and destabilizing its government, directly impedes the Venezuelan people’s ability to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic and social development.

• By targeting the nation’s primary source of income, the blockade seeks to undermine the existing political order and dictate the terms of Venezuela’s future, thereby denying its people their fundamental right to choose their own path without external coercion.

• Article 1.2: Free Disposal of Natural Wealth and Resources For the attainment of their ends, all peoples may freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law.

• In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence. Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves, which are its primary natural wealth.

• The naval blockade, designed to prevent the export of this oil, directly deprives the Venezuelan people of their means of subsistence.

• This act is a severe violation of their economic self-determination, stripping them of the ability to utilize their resources for national development and the welfare of their population. It is an economic warfare tactic that directly threatens the survival and well-being of millions, contravening the core principle that no people should be deprived of their essential resources.

Freedom of the High Seas: A Universal Right

The 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas establishes the principle that the high seas are open to all nations, ensuring freedom of navigation.

Article 2: No State May Subject the High Seas to its Sovereignty

The high seas being open to all nations, no State may validly purport to subject any part of them to its sovereignty.

The freedom of the high seas is exercised under the conditions laid down in these articles and by other rules of international law.

It comprises, inter alia, both for coastal and non-coastal States:

• 1. Freedom of navigation. By imposing a naval blockade, the US attempts to exert sovereign control over international waters to prevent Venezuelan vessels and those trading with Venezuela from navigating freely.

This action is a direct challenge to the principle of the high seas as a global common, accessible to all.

It represents an illicit extension of power beyond national jurisdiction, infringing upon the rights of Venezuela and other nations to engage in legitimate maritime activities without interference.

• Article 4: Right to Flag for All States Every State, whether coastal or not, has the right to sail ships under its flag on the high seas.
• The US blockade directly interferes with Venezuela’s right, and the right of any vessel flying its flag or doing business with it, to navigate the high seas.
• This act disrupts international trade, poses a threat to maritime security, and undermines the established norms of global commerce and navigation.
• It creates a dangerous precedent where a powerful nation can unilaterally dictate access to international waters based on political disagreements, an action that threatens the stability of the entire maritime legal framework.

Permanent Sovereignty Over Natural Resources:

A Development Imperative UN General Assembly Resolution 1803 (XVII) of December 14, 1962, titled “Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources,” reaffirms the inalienable right of nations to control and utilize their natural wealth for national development.

• Resolution 1803 (XVII), Paragraph 1:

Exercise of Sovereignty for National Development and Welfare

The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources must be exercised in the interest of their national development and of the well-being of the people of the State concerned.

The US naval blockade on Venezuela’s oil exports directly obstructs Venezuela’s ability to exercise this fundamental right.

By preventing the sale of its oil, the US effectively undermines Venezuela’s national development efforts and directly impacts the well-being of its population, which relies on oil revenues for essential services and economic stability.

This is not merely an economic sanction but an attempt to control and undermine the sovereign management of a nation’s vital resources.

• Resolution 1803 (XVII), Paragraph 7:

Violation of Sovereign Rights and International Cooperation

The violation of the sovereign rights of peoples and nations over their natural wealth and resources is contrary to the spirit and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and hinders the development of international co-operation and the maintenance of peace.

The blockade represents a clear violation of Venezuela’s sovereign rights over its natural resources.

Such an aggressive act not only contravenes the spirit of the UN Charter but also significantly impedes international cooperation, fostering an environment of mistrust and antagonism.

By disrupting Venezuela’s ability to engage in international trade of its primary resource, the US action directly threatens regional and global peace, creating economic instability and humanitarian concerns.

Broader Context and Implications

The Trump administration’s aggressive stance against Venezuela is part of a broader pattern of applying unilateral coercive measures, often termed “sanctions,” which have been widely criticized for their extraterritorial reach and their devastating impact on civilian populations.

These actions are consistently condemned by many international bodies and human rights organizations as collective punishment.

The declaration of a naval military blockade escalates these measures to an unprecedented level, moving from economic pressure to direct military coercion.

This imperialistic approach, where one nation presumes the right to dictate the economic and political future of another, not only erodes the foundations of international law but also fuels geopolitical tensions.

It sets a dangerous precedent, demonstrating a disregard for multilateralism and the principles of state sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference that underpin the international order.

The international community, especially the nations of the Global South, views these actions with grave concern, recognizing them as an assault on the fundamental rights of all sovereign nations to pursue their development free from external meddling.

In summary, the US naval military blockade against Venezuela is not merely a policy decision but a comprehensive attack on international legal norms.

It undermines the UN Charter’s principles of sovereign equality and non-aggression, violates the fundamental human right to self-determination and access to subsistence, disregards the universally recognized freedom of navigation on the high seas, and infringes upon Venezuela’s permanent sovereignty over its natural resources.

These actions, far from promoting stability, serve only to destabilize the region and threaten the fragile edifice of international law.

The global community must reaffirm its commitment to these foundational principles to prevent a return to an era where might makes right and international law is merely an optional guideline for powerful nations.

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A cross-border rural alliance challenges a neoliberal deal that boosts corporate power, accelerates deindustrialization, and undermines democratic control over food systems.

From Paris to Brussels, a growing “street coalition” of farmers is denouncing what they call a “stab in the back” and a “death sentence” for family farming: the EU – MERCOSUR Partnership Agreement.

RELATED:
EU Advances Trade Agreements With MERCOSUR and Mexico

This is more than a trade dispute; it exposes a failing neoliberal model in which European elites seek to turn Latin America into a “Green Fortress”, a supplier of cheap raw materials and a captive market for high-tech cars, laying down the rural working class on both continents to protect multinational profits.

Behind a green discourse of environmental protection, the agreement advances a classic extractivist agenda that treats Latin American sovereignty and the livelihoods of small European farmers as collateral damage.​

French farmers blocked a highway near Paris with tractors, warning that the EU-Mercosur trade deal will devastate European agriculture.

Follow: https://t.co/7Dg3b41hTx pic.twitter.com/sxGYjv7Aur

— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) December 17, 2025

From Brussels to Montevideo

To understand today’s anger on the streets, it is necessary to look at the long and unequal history of these negotiations. The process has two key milestones that reveal the EU’s persistent drive for dominance.​

The first is the June 2019 “Agreement in Principle”: after 20 years of intermittent, often opaque talks, a political deal was announced in Brussels to coincide with the G20 summit in Osaka, and leaders celebrated what they framed as “the end of the road” despite growing warnings from social movements.

The second is the “Final Conclusion” of December 6, 2024, in Montevideo, when the European Commission president and MERCOSUR leaders declared the technical talks closed and unveiled new sustainability annexes—the so-called “Green Annex”—which had kept the pact frozen since 2019.​

The delay was about making the deal politically acceptable in Europe. Researchers and farmers alike argue that the new sustainability requirements are mostly cosmetic and fail to guarantee that South American producers will be held to the same strict environmental rules imposed on Europeans.

'Hope Macron, Meloni aren't afraid to lose competitiveness with Brazil!' – Lula urges EU states to ratify Mercosur-EU deal worth $22 trillion in global GDP

The free trade zone faces French opposition over 'unfair competition,' with lobbying focused on Italy as the dealbreaker. pic.twitter.com/tHi6ogvuHD

— Viory Video (@vioryvideo) December 17, 2025

Three pillars of asymmetry

The EU – MERCOSUR it is a broad Partnership Agreement meant to reshape intercontinental relations across three pillars:

At its core lies the Commercial Pillar, designed to create one of the largest free trade areas in the world, covering some 780 million people.​

The plan is to eliminate tariffs on 92% of MERCOSUR exports to the EU and 91% of EU exports to MERCOSUR. Europe seeks to flood South American markets with high-value machinery, automobiles, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals freed from today’s high tariffs.

While MERCOSUR countries gain “preferential access” above all for raw materials and agro‑exports such as beef, poultry, sugar, ethanol, and wine.

This arrangement risks locking Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay into a renewed cycle of deindustrialization, where local SMEs cannot compete with the technological and financial power of German or Spanish industrial champions.​

Farmers to block Brussels on Thursday, protesting the EU-Mercosur trade deal they say endangers European agriculture and local markets. Authorities warn of major disruptions.#BrusselsMorning #BrusselsProtest #FarmersUnite #EUMercosur

Read More: https://t.co/OYhFODGPjK pic.twitter.com/evCWByAqWu

— Brussels Morning Newspaper (@BrusselsMorning) December 17, 2025

Green Annex and regulatory power

Within the so‑called Sustainable Development pillar, the controversial “Green Annex” has become a central fault line.

On paper, it obliges both parties to honor the Paris Agreement and adopt commitments against deforestation, especially in the Amazon, which EU officials present as proof of their climate leadership.​

European farmers, however, describe these clauses as purely cosmetic because they do not prevent “unfair competition” from imports produced under looser rules than those enforced within the EU.

On the other side of the Atlantic, MERCOSUR governments denounce what they call “regulatory imperialism”: a framework that allows Europe to impose its standards extraterritorially and use environmental criteria as a disguised trade barrier.

A “democratic coup” in slow motion

As opposition grows in the streets of Paris and inside the French Senate, the European Commission is exploring a legal maneuver that critics describe as a “democratic coup”: the so‑called “splitting” strategy.

Under the original “mixed agreement” model, the treaty requires unanimous approval in the EU Council and ratification by all 27 national parliaments, which gives any member state, such as France, the power to block the deal.​

To neutralize this veto power, Brussels proposes dividing the text into two separate instruments. A political component would still require unanimous backing, but the trade component would be reclassified as falling under the EU’s “exclusive competence” and therefore could pass with a qualified majority in the Council.​

A qualified majority needs at least 15 of 27 countries representing 65% of the EU population, which means that if Germany, Spain, and Italy vote “yes”, France alone cannot bring down the trade deal.

Paris would have to assemble a “blocking minority” representing at least 35% of the population—an uphill battle that would force it to win over partners such as Poland or Italy.

🌫️💥 Enough smoke and mirrors! EU-Mercosur Agreement remains unacceptable!

Two days before the large-scale farmers protest on the streets of Brussels, Copa-Cogeca, supported by @AvecPoultry @SugarBeetEurope @SugarEurope @ePURE_ethanol, SELMA, iEthanol, EUWEP and @CEPM_maize… pic.twitter.com/wu1ZeHQdKj

— COPA-COGECA (@COPACOGECA) December 16, 2025

Mirror clauses or green imperialism?

At the heart of the current deadlock are the so-called mirror clauses (clauses mirrors), which have become the banner of French resistance and the central knot of trade diplomacy between Brussels and MERCOSUR.

In essence, these clauses would require all imported products to be produced under the same environmental, health, and animal‑welfare standards enforced on European farmers.​

International reports highlight three critical elements.​

• Pesticide bans: if a chemical is prohibited in the EU for being carcinogenic or harmful to biodiversity, mirror clauses would require that imported products not only arrive without residues, but also never have been treated with that substance at any stage of production.​
• Animal welfare: South American meat would have to come from cattle never treated with growth hormones or antibiotics used as growth promoters, practices that remain common in parts of MERCOSUR but are banned in the EU.​
• No deforestation: every kilogram of beef or soy would need digital traceability to prove it does not originate from land deforested after a set cut‑off date.​

Rural class war in Europe

This December 2025, the protest map across the EU shows a coalition of farmers determined to force Brussels to abandon the pact.

France remains the epicenter of resistance. Unions such as the FNSEA and the Confédération Paysanne have blocked roads and highways around Paris, Lyon, and Toulouse, denouncing the agreement and forcing President Emmanuel Macron to harden his public stance against the current text.​

Discontent, however, has spread far beyond French borders.​

• In Poland, farmers already hit by Ukrainian grain imports now call the EU–MERCOSUR deal “morally unacceptable” and warn of a flood of cheap agricultural products.​
• In Italy, farmers have marched in Rome to defend dairy and meat producers, with political backing from the Meloni government.​
• In Spain, despite the Sánchez government’s support for the pact, organizations such as COAG and ASAJA have mobilized in Madrid, accusing officials of sacrificing small producers to the interests of multinationals.​
• In Ireland and Belgium, protests focus on beef, with farmers recently surrounding the European Commission in Brussels ahead of key December 2025 summits.​

Their core demands are clear. They want an end to “unfair competition” and refuse to comply with the costly rules of the European Green Deal if they must compete with imports that do not follow the same standards.

They demand laws that prohibit buying their production below cost and automatic safeguards that would immediately halt imports if MERCOSUR goods crash prices in EU markets.

Next week, leaders could seal the #EUMercosur deal — fueling animal cruelty, deforestation & climate destruction.

This would undermine Europe’s sustainable food ambitions.

📢 Member states must block it until EU welfare standards apply to all imported products.#StopEUMercosur pic.twitter.com/qvqOwWmTS6

— Compassion in World Farming EU (@CIWF_EU) December 12, 2025

Economic and environmental fallout

For MERCOSUR, the pact promises a short-term agro‑export boom but also a wave of deindustrialization: industrial unions in Argentina and Brazil warn that competition from cheaper and more advanced European manufactures could bankrupt local SMEs.​

For the EU, the deal is an industrial victory but a structural threat to its peasant and family‑farming model; projected savings of around 4 billion euros a year in tariffs benefit corporations, while rural regions dependent on livestock and sugar face an existential crisis.​

Environmentally, critics warn of “imported deforestation”. Higher export quotas for meat and soy are likely to expand the agricultural frontier into critical biomes such as the Amazon and the Cerrado, despite formal bans on products from recently deforested land.

Towards people-centered integration

In its current form, the EU–MERCOSUR agreement functions as an instrument of extractive neocolonialism and regulatory imperialism that entrenches a neoliberal order favoring transnational corporations.

The voices of the rural working class and small‑scale producers on both sides of the Atlantic are heard only when tractors block highways and capitals.​

Any fair integration project would require a massive transfer of technology and funds so that small farmers can adapt to environmental challenges without going bankrupt, along with strong, enforceable protections for labor and ecosystems.

Sources: Al Jazeera – teleSUR – Página 12 – European Parliament – Celag – TRT World – San Francisco Chronicle – France 24

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Speaking at a meeting with senior NATO officials, the minister noted that NATO’s military budget currently stands at $1.6 trillion and is gradually increasing to five percent of the national gross domestic product.

“All of this points out that NATO is preparing for a military confrontation with Russia. The alliance’s plans require us to be prepared for such action in the 2030s. NATO officials have stated this repeatedly and openly,” Belousov emphasized.

The policies of Europe and Kyiv create the necessary conditions for military actions in Ukraine to continue into 2026, the Russian Defense Minister asserted.

“We clearly see the attempts by European leaders and the Kyiv regime to avoid resolving this problem. They are prolonging the conflict in the hope of weakening our country as much as possible,” Belousov declared.

The Russian Minister also denounced the “speedy deployment of Alliance troops on the eastern flank, for which the so-called military Schengen zone is being planned.”

“NATO continues to reinforce its coalition forces. Active preparations are underway for the deployment of medium-range missiles. The list of nuclear munitions has been updated,” the Russian Minister warned.

jdt/arm/rc/gfa

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According to a statement from the ministry, the sabotage caused the falling of the 220 kV Cambambe-Ndala Cachibo and Gabela-Alto Chingo power transmission lines, producing disruptions to residents, businesses, and public institutions.

In total, five power transmission towers collapsed after being dismantled by unidentified individuals, representing losses exceeding 400 million kwanzas (more than $438,000).

According to the National Electricity Distribution Company (ENDE), the company has suffered losses exceeding $50 million this year due to vandalism against electrical equipment, which has also caused losses for businesses and inconvenienced the public.

ENDE assured that it is working to restore power as soon as possible. jdt/arm/mem/kmg

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), although this new variant is not included in current vaccines in the Northern Hemisphere, initial data indicate that existing vaccines continue to protect against severe illness and reduce the risk of hospitalization.

The organization warns that subclade K is spreading rapidly, with the influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere reaching its peak earlier than usual.

Therefore, the WHO emphasizes that vaccination remains the best protection against the most severe symptoms.

Today, 30 countries have reported cases after the new flu variant was first identified in Australia and New Zealand last August.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United States and Canada are also experiencing a progressive increase in detections of subclade K, but to date, no similar circulation has been observed in South America.

The figures show that the circulation of this flu strain has grown rapidly in Europe and Asian countries, where it represents a significant proportion of the influenza A(H3N2) viruses analyzed, PAHO states.

jdt/arm/rc/dla

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During a meeting with his entire cabinet, Lula revealed that in his most recent telephone conversation with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, he tried to persuade him that negotiation is a more effective and less costly path than military confrontation.

Although Lula did not explicitly mention Venezuela, the topic was present both in that call with Trump and in the call he held in early December with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as confirmed by the Brazilian government itself.

In that conversation, the former labor leader expressed his concern about the increased military and economic pressure from Washington on Caracas and offered to collaborate, discreetly, in the search for a negotiated solution.

Brazil’s position contrasts sharply with the current situation in Venezuela, where the blockade and international sanctions have intensified, directly impacting oil exports, the country’s main source of income.

The United States unilaterally maintains tight control over Venezuelan oil operations, restricts access to international markets, and reinforces measures that, according to Caracas, constitute deliberate economic strangulation.

Maduro government denounces these actions as exacerbating the social and economic crisis and warns that the blockade deepens the scarcity of resources needed to import food, medicine, and essential goods.

jdt/rc/ocs

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Mexico City, Mexico, December 17, 2025 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela accused US President Donald Trump of threatening its sovereignty and violating international law, rejecting Washington’s efforts to seize its natural resources and impose a naval blockade.

“Donald Trump launched a reckless and grave threat against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, violating international law, free trade, and free navigation,” read the statement by the Venezuelan government in response to a social media post by the US president.

Trump threatened a “total and complete blockade of oil tankers” going in and out of Venezuela, claiming that the Caribbean country had “stolen land, oil and other assets” from the US. He did not add any explanation to his claims.

Caracas said in its statement Tuesday that it will denounce the United States at the United Nations (UN) after Trump’s de facto naval blockade and his attempt to claim ownership over Venezuela’s oil and mineral wealth.

The UN Charter expressly prohibits all Member States from using or threatening force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Blockades imposed without a declaration of war or that are not sanctioned by the UN Security Council are not considered legal.

Ryan Goodman, professor at NYU Law, affirmed that Trump’s actions were not only a violation of the UN Charter but actually constituted a “crime of aggression” against Venezuela.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s order for a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers, as well as last week’s seizure of a Cuba-bound tanker, had resulted in the disruption of Venezuela’s oil traffic, with several vessels reportedly idling in port or diverting away from the region.

Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA likewise reported a cyber attack on Monday. Nonetheless, PDVSA said in a statement that crude and refined product exports are continuing normally and that tankers are operating under full security and legal guarantees. Chevron’s activities allegedly have been unaffected, with the WSJ reporting that two vessels carrying US-bound crude for the US oil company departed from Lake Maracaibo.

Venezuela insisted that despite Trump’s “warmongering threats” it would continue to “exercise its freedom, jurisdiction, and sovereignty.”

In its statement, Caracas urged “the people of the United States and the peoples of the world” to reject Trump’s threat, framing the standoff as a global fight over international law, free navigation, and the plunder of sovereign resources rather than a narrow bilateral dispute.

Trump’s attempt to impose a naval blockade came amid the largest US military deployment in the region in decades. US assets include the Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, and US warplanes have repeatedly flown close to Venezuelan territory in recent weeks. The White House has declared that the military buildup aims to combat drug trafficking.

Speaking before a labor congress at Caracas’ Teresa Carreño Theater, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called for an international protest by oil, gas, and merchant marine workers against what he described as US piracy.

Trump’s aggressive actions against Venezuela have prompted a large-scale mobilization of the country’s armed forces. In a statement to mark the 47th anniversary of the Venezuelan Integral Airspace Defense Command (CODAI), Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino reiterated the  commitment of the Armed Forces to defend the Caribbean nation’s airspace amid an escalating US military buildup and provocations.

The rhetoric has extended beyond state institutions, with the Fuerza Patriotica Alexis Vive issuing its own statement that cast Trump’s remarks as an act of “naked expression of an imperialist policy of war, plunder, and punishment.” The statement invoked Venezuela’s revolutionary tradition of popular resistance, and warned that any escalation would trigger consequences the US could not control.

“In the face of this imperialist offensive, the Venezuelan people respond with the war of all the people, not as an abstract slogan but as a concrete practice of defending life, territory, and sovereignty,” read the statement issued from the El Panal Commune in Caracas. “The war of all the people is organized communes, conscious neighborhoods, and territory in resistance. It is civic–military–police unity in the service of the working people.”

Trump’s announcement of a blockade of Venezuela also drew criticism from US lawmakers, with US Representative Joaquin Castro calling the order “unquestionably an act of war” and warning that it represents an unauthorized and dangerous escalation with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Representative Jim McGovern also labeled Trump’s threats as potential “acts of war.” Meanwhile, Representative Nydia Velazquez called on Congress to exercise its constitutional authority to prevent a unilateral military escalation.

“This is not about drugs or making America safer; it’s about regime change,” wrote Velazquez. “Americans do not want war with Venezuela. Congress must act now and stop this.” Recent polls have shown that a majority of the US public rejects military attacks against Venezuela.

The seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker had already drawn bipartisan backlash. Congress is expected to vote Wednesday on two War Powers resolutions, including one to block Trump’s military actions related to the blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.

Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.

The post Venezuela Condemns Trump’s Blockade as Illegal, Popular Organizations Vow Resistance appeared first on Venezuelanalysis.

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On episode 99 of his “Con Maduro+” program, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro repudiated statements by far-right leader María Corina Machado claiming that 60% of the Venezuelan population is linked to drug trafficking.

“She said something very serious—I don’t know if the Public Prosecutor’s Office heard it. She said 60% of the Venezuelan population is involved in drug trafficking—that is, of every 10 Venezuelans, six are in drug trafficking,” Maduro said, referring to her as La Sayona. “The demon, the criminal… I usually don’t pay attention to anything she does because she is demented with hatred, but I can’t stay silent about this.”

President Maduro cited a Dataviva poll showing that 89% of Venezuelans reject Machado. “This criminal who calls the Venezuelan people ‘drug traffickers.’ This criminal who calls for an invasion and the killing of Venezuelans in an imperialist US invasion,” the visibly indignant president accused.

On Dec. 11, during a press conference in Oslo, Norway, after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado was asked by a journalist whether she would support a US military intervention in Venezuela. She responded that Venezuela was “already invaded” by “Russian agents, Iranian agents, terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as guerrilla groups and drug cartels.”

Machado added that “the drug cartels have taken over 60% of our population and are not only involved in drug trafficking but also in human trafficking and prostitution networks.”

According to Machado, Venezuela has become “the criminal hub of the Americas,” implying support for US military action—though she did not state it explicitly.

Her remarks sparked outrage on social media.

Many users described her comments as an attempt to dehumanize the Venezuelan people and justify military intervention—similar to the way Palestinians have been labeled “terrorists” for years by politicians and media to legitimize a massacre claiming more than 70,000 lives over the past two years. Another parallel is the more than 80 boatmen killed by the US government in the Caribbean Sea after being repeatedly branded “drug traffickers”—a narrative used to justify bombing them rather than detaining and inspecting them, as required by international law.

Regarding Machado’s remarks, social media user Alex Briones wrote: “Now it’s even harder for me to believe Machado won an election with the 60% of voters she claims to have, because now she’s asking the United States to bomb them all! Is this how she rewards her supporters?”

Another user, Jaime Mercant Simó, posted: “As the new Nobel Peace Prize laureate, María Corina is offering a supposed ‘authorized narrative’ to the US government so that, in the eyes of public opinion, this hegemon can soon use armed force against Venezuela and seize control of the nation and its precious resources.” Mercant Simó, an opponent of the Venezuelan government, nonetheless rejected Machado’s stance, urging the opposition to continue its struggle—but never, “under any circumstances, sell out their country to the United States and globalist interests.”

International Condemnation Against US Theft of Venezuelan Oil Tanker Grows

President Maduro: 96% of the Venezuelan people repudiate today’s privateersNinety-six percent of Venezuelan citizens—regardless of religion, ideology, political position, or economic or social status—condemn the act of piracy committed by the US government on Dec. 10 against a ship transporting Venezuelan oil, “which flagrantly violates international law and takes us back to the era of pirates and privateers,” said President Maduro, citing a Dataviva survey.

“Ninety-six percent of the Venezuelan people, whose blood runs with the spirit of liberty, repudiate today’s privateers,” he said, describing the seizure as “an act of piracy that violates international law and takes us back to the times of pirates and privateers.”

He recalled that in the 18th and 19th centuries, pirates were lawless bandits who plundered ships and coastal towns, while privateers were state-authorized raiders who carried “letters of marque” from empires like Spain or Britain to legally plunder enemy vessels.

“Today, in the 21st century, Venezuela is defending humanity’s right to prevent the return of a world ruled by pirates and privateers who for centuries plundered the peoples of the world,” he stated.

Maduro added that over the weekend, more than 300 street mobilizations took place across Venezuela in rejection of these “excessive actions.”

(Alba Ciudad)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/JB/SH

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There was little doubt about the outcome of Chile’s second round presidential election on December 14. After receiving overwhelming support from almost the entire Chilean right (which, if you add up their vote shares in the first round, represented the vast majority), José Antonio Kast will become Chile’s next president.

In the first round, Jeanette Jara narrowly took first place with 26.85%, followed closely by Kast, who won 23.93% of the valid votes, thus securing his place in the runoff. In third, fourth, and fifth place were three right-wing candidates: center-right Franco Parisi (19.71%), libertarian Johannes Kaiser (13.94%), and conservative Evelyn Matthei (12.47%). All of them asked their voters to support Kast in the second round and joined his campaign.

Thus, on his third attempt, the far-right candidate, who ran for the Cambio por Chile coalition, won 58.2% of the valid votes, far ahead of Jeanette Jara, from the Unidad por Chile coalition, who won 41.8% after 99% of the ballots were counted. Thus, although the Chilean Communist Party activist managed to garner considerable support, she was unable to reverse a right-wing trend that mobilized the majority of the electorate.

In a message on X, Jara acknowledged her defeat: “Democracy has spoken loud and clear. I have just spoken with President-elect José Antonio Kast to wish him success for the good of Chile. To those who supported us and were called upon by our candidacy, rest assured that we will continue working to advance a better life in our homeland. Together and standing tall, as we have always done.”

For his part, Kast celebrated his victory: “This is a day of joy… Millions of Chileans decided to rise up, to stand up. This is not a personal victory or a victory for one party. Chile has won, and so has the hope of living without fear… We are going to restore the law and respect for the law in all regions without exception, without political, administrative, or judicial privileges… We celebrate the advance of freedom.”

The defeat of the Chilean center left
Jara represented the continuity of Gabriel Boric’s center-left government, which has not enjoyed overwhelming popularity during his term in office. However, it is important to emphasize that the tendency not to re-elect a political project seems to be almost a historical law. Since the return to democracy, no ruling party or coalition has managed to win re-election, so the Chilean electorate seems to be a kind of ideological pendulum that demonstrates, in reality, the inability of its governments to convince people to immediately trust their plan again. Nevertheless, it is also a country where former presidents such as Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010 and 2014-2018) and Sebastián Piñera (2010-2014 and 2018-2022) returned to the La Moneda presidential palace, although never consecutively.

However, it is the first time since the return to democracy that a far-right candidate that has openly identified with Pinochet has won. After the bloody Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990), in which more than 3,000 people were killed, and there were more than 38,000 victims of human rights violations, it was politically inconvenient to be associated with the far right and Pinochet, though that did not stop many from admiring him.

Far Right Poised to Win Chile’s Election: How Fear and “Iron Fist” Politics Conquered the Post-2019 Uprising

The shift to the far right in Chile
One of them is the future president of Chile. 59-year-old Kast ran for president in 2017 and 2022 and had always faced strong resistance from the majority of the Chilean electorate due to his far-right statements in favor of the dictatorship and his proposal to ban abortion in the country. Kast’s German-born father was a member of the German Nazi Party.

Several years ago, he said that if Pinochet were alive, he would vote for him, which did not go down well in a country still trying to heal social trauma. In these elections, Kast decided to take a less controversial stance and pledged to take into account the political programs of the other right-wing candidates.

Kast won over many people with his populist, alarmist campaign and by building his image as a kind of savior who will rescue Chile. Under the slogan “Chile is falling apart,” Kast promised to launch an “emergency government” to tackle what he calls “the worst crisis in Chile’s history.” Chile’s president-elect has decided to blame countless problems on migrants from neighboring countries who seek work in Chile.

Kast said that he will fortify the border with fences and ditches to stop migrants from entering. What is more, during his campaign, he started a countdown to the day when the more than 380,000 undocumented migrants working in Chile will leave the country voluntarily. If they do not, the far-right politician has promised to find them and expel them.

On economic issues, Kast, a self-declared admirer of Argentinian President Javier Milei, promises radical neoliberal reform: cutting fiscal spending by more than $6 billion in just 18 months without allegedly affecting social spending, which has been seen by several Chilean economists as impossible unless he cuts the budget for social programs.

On the diplomatic front, Kast has expressed his strong support for President Donald Trump, which several analysts have interpreted as a realignment of Santiago’s international policy in line with Washington. And while Boric had not been particularly critical of Washington, he did maintain a very critical stance on the Palestinian genocide and was in favor of greater regional integration. Kast will surely abandon those diplomatic positions in order to cozy up to Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote: “Congratulations to Chile’s president-elect José Antonio Kast on his victory. The United States looks forward to working with his administration to strengthen regional security and revitalize our trade relationship.”

Thus, in less than two months, two countries, Bolivia (Rodrigo Paz) and Chile (José Antonio Kast), have shifted to the right and joined several South American countries that are governed by countries close to Washington, such as Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, and Argentina. On the other hand, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela still maintain center-left and left-wing political projects that resist what some analysts have called “the shift to the right in South America.”

(People’s Dispatch)

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The U.S. stance is a clear manifestations of a policy based on the use of force and systematic harassment.

On Wednesday, the government of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a statement reiterating the Persian nation’s solidarity with Venezuela and its President Nicolas Maduro in the face of a new wave of U.S. threats.

RELATED:

Venezuela and China Discuss Regional Security After Trump Threatens Oil Blockade

Earlier, on Tuesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a total blockade on the entry and exit of oil tankers, a measure that would remain in effect until Venezuela “returns all the oil, land and other assets they previously stole” from the United States.

In response to Trump’s unprecedented claims, which violate the most basic principles of international law, Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued the following statement:

“The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the threatening statements and actions of the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, including threats of a maritime blockade and the prevention of this country’s lawful oil exports.

These positions and actions are clear manifestations of a policy based on the use of force and systematic harassment, which constitute a flagrant violation of recognized principles and norms of international law and the United Nations Charter, including freedom of navigation, maritime security, and freedom of international trade.

The action by the United States to attack, seize or obstruct the free transit of commercial vessels to or from Venezuela is a clear example of state piracy and armed robbery at sea.

Venezuela Accuses US of Seizing Oil Tanker, Calls It ‘State-Sponsored Piracy' | Asia One News#Venezuela #USTankerSeizure #Asiaone #Asiaonenews #EnglishNews pic.twitter.com/tbIm4bEmzW

— ASIA ONE NEWS (@AsiaOne_News) December 17, 2025

Invoking U.S. domestic laws and its unilateral and illegal sanctions to justify these actions cannot in any way serve as a basis to legitimize such criminal acts.

The threat, economic blockade and use of force against an independent country that is a UN member constitute an explicit violation of the UN Charter’s fundamental principles, in particular the principle of respect for national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the prohibition of the threat or use of force.

No power has the right to intervene in Venezuela’s internal affairs, and that country, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, enjoys the inherent right to self-defense against any external threat or aggression.

The persistence of the United States’ belligerent unilateralism against independent countries, in the absence of a responsible response from the international community and the United Nations, will lead to a dangerous precedent and the normalization of lawlessness in international relations, with consequences that will disrupt global peace and security as a whole.

Accordingly, the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and all responsible governments and relevant international institutions are expected, recognizing the gravity of the current situation, to condemn the illegal and coercive actions of the United States and hold the U.S. government accountable for its flagrant violation of the principles of international law and the UN Charter.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responds to Tuesday's statements by United States President Donald Trump regarding Venezuela, reiterating Mexico's constitutional position of non-intervention, non-interference in foreign affairs, the self-determination of peoples, and the… pic.twitter.com/UCm1ATlc0z

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 17, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: IFM

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PDVSA emphasized that no aggression has affected its operational capacity.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), affirmed that crude oil and refined product exports continue as normal, despite the “total blockade” ordered by the United States on oil tankers entering or leaving the country.

RELATED:

ALBA-TCP Condemns US Piracy of Venezuelan Oil Tanker

PDVSA asserted that, despite recent sanctions and acts of international piracy, its oil tankers are sailing with technical support and operational guarantees. The company exercises its rights to free navigation and trade recognized by international law.

It denounced as theft the December 10th seizure by the U.S. of an oil tanker that carried Venezuelan crude. PDVSA emphasized that no aggression has affected its operational capacity or the determination of its workforce, which has the support of the Venezuelan people.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Venezuela is surrounded by “the largest armada ever assembled in South America” and that there will be unrest until Venezuelans return allegedly stolen oil, land, and assets.

In his administration’s latest act of war, Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade of Venezuela.

We must organize and mobilize to stop this blockade and prevent a wider war. No war on Venezuela!https://t.co/dR32RA7Vaw

— Party for Socialism and Liberation (@pslnational) December 17, 2025

Trump announced a “total blockade” against oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, as part of the military operation in international waters of the Caribbean Sea, initially intended to combat drug trafficking organizations operating in the region.

The U.S. president accused the Venezuelan government of using oil to “finance” narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping, and linked the work of Venezuelan oil fields to international illicit activities.

Since August, the U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom) has attacked more than 30 boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific. It recently seized the Skipper oil tanker, which carried Venezuelan crude.

During the Constituent Congress of the Working Class, led by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, he emphasized that imperialism wants to colonize the #nation to steal its mineral wealth. He also stressed that peace and stability will always prevail in #Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/gEuWXLAOtO

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 17, 2025

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE

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Iran’s Foreign Ministry has issued a strongly worded statement condemning the United States’ threats to unilaterally impose a maritime blockade on Venezuela.

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Mexico urges U.N. intervention as Russia, Cuba and Germany voice concern over regional security.

Over the past 24 hours, several countries have spoken out in rejection of the escalation of U.S. military threats against Venezuela. Previously, on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “total blockade” of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

RELATED:

Venezuelan Socialists Vow to Defend National Sovereignty

Washington’s decision shows that the true objective of the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean is not the fight against international drug trafficking but the appropriation of Venezuela’s natural resources.

Mexico

On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the United Nations to intervene to prevent an escalation of tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

“Beyond opinions about the government of Venezuela or the presidency of Nicolas Maduro, Mexico’s position must always be NO to intervention,” she said during her morning news conference.

“We call on the United Nations to assume its role to prevent any bloodshed and to always seek the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” Sheinbaum added.

She reiterated that Mexico’s foreign policy doctrine is based on the principles of nonintervention, noninterference in foreign affairs, self-determination of peoples, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

BREAKING: 🚨 🇺🇸 🇻🇪 Trump orders a total blockade of ALL sanctioned OIL (which isn’t how you spell drugs..) tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela.

This is theft, piracy and terrorism. pic.twitter.com/YRF95G4rni

— ADAM (@AdameMedia) December 17, 2025

Russia

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected belligerent statements by the United States regarding Venezuela and accused European leaders of “remaining silent” in the face of the announced U.S. “naval blockade” of the Latin American country.

“We are deeply concerned about the actions of the U.S. Navy. The generally belligerent statements of the Pentagon suggest that, in addition to the illegal actions of sinking civilian vessels without prior trial in the Caribbean, they are also planning a ground operation,” he said.

Washington’s actions in the Caribbean have been rejected “by virtually all countries, except the Europeans,” the Russian diplomat said, suggesting that European silence is linked to an interest in “persuading the Trump administration to follow the European path on the Ukrainian issue.”

Previously, both chambers of the Russian parliament had urged the international community to condemn what they described as U.S. “aggressive actions” toward Venezuela.

STATEMENT: We Reject Trump’s Naval Blockade on Venezuela –– It's An Act of War!

In his administration’s latest act of war, Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade of Venezuela. Its stated goal is to cut off all oil revenue to force the illegal overthrow of an independent… pic.twitter.com/GkxEzBXevT

— Party for Socialism and Liberation (@pslnational) December 17, 2025

Cuba

On Tuesday, President Miguel Diaz-Canel rejected the U.S. naval blockade of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela and said Cuba “firmly” supports Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The Cuban leader also backed a statement from the Venezuelan government describing the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump as a “grotesque threat.”

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Washington’s move constitutes a “very serious violation of international law and an escalation of aggression against the Bolivarian government.”

Germany

On Wednesday, the Reuters news agency reported that Germany “has taken note” of Trump’s order to blockade sanctioned oil tankers and warned against “any steps that would jeopardize peace and security in the region,” according to a German Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

“The German government has an interest in preventing the situation in the region from deteriorating further. We are therefore viewing the overall situation with concern,” the spokesperson said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responds to Tuesday's statements by United States President Donald Trump regarding Venezuela, reiterating Mexico's constitutional position of non-intervention, non-interference in foreign affairs, the self-determination of peoples, and the… pic.twitter.com/UCm1ATlc0z

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 17, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – Reuters

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FM Wang reaffirmed Chinese support for Venezuelan sovereignty.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation whereby they analyzed the geopolitical situation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

RELATED:

Countries Condemn U.S. Military Escalation Against Venezuela

The call came in response to a threat by U.S. President Donald Trump late Tuesday to impose a blockade on oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. The following is the statement issued by the Venezuelan diplomat regarding his conversation with Wang:

“Today I held a telephone call with the foreign minister of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, to whom I conveyed a message from the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, addressed to the president of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping.

During the conversation, we reaffirmed the brotherhood between our peoples and governments, as well as the nature of the All-Weather, All-Conditions Strategic Partnership that unites Venezuela and China, as a foundation for continuing to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

We conducted a joint assessment of the threats and aggressions against Venezuela and the risks looming over Latin America and the Caribbean.

In this context, China expressed its solidarity and firm support for Venezuela in the defense of its sovereignty, independence, and stability, as well as its support for regional unity and respect for international law.

Finally, we reaffirmed our shared willingness to continue deepening the bilateral relationship for the benefit of our peoples.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responds to Tuesday's statements by United States President Donald Trump regarding Venezuela, reiterating Mexico's constitutional position of non-intervention, non-interference in foreign affairs, the self-determination of peoples, and the… pic.twitter.com/UCm1ATlc0z

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 17, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: VFAM

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The military institution announced on its official Telegram channel that after intense fighting with Ukrainian troops, the East battlegroup advanced deep into enemy lines and captured the settlement of Gerasimovka, in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

The Defense Ministry estimated Ukrainian casualties at more than 470 in the last 24 hours in the operation area of the Center battlegroup.

Additionally, the East battlegroup inflicted up to 235 enemy casualties, the West battlegroup suffered up to 230 casualties; the South battlegroup more than 200; and the Dnieper battlegroup, up to 45; while Ukrainian losses totaled 160 men in the Kharkiv area.

Since the beginning of the Russian military operation in February 2022, Ukraine has lost 669 warplanes, 283 helicopters, 103,542 unmanned aerial vehicles, 640 missile launchers, and 26,574 tanks and other armored vehicles, as well as 31,973 artillery pieces and mortars, and 49,280 specialized military vehicles.

abo/iff/mem/gfa

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“All our support to the brotherly Venezuelan people and their president, Nicolás Maduro.

The fascists will not prevail. Long live Bolivar. Long live Chavez,” the Minister wrote on his social media account.

The statement responds to the message published this Tuesday by the US president on the Truth Social network, in which he declared Venezuela a foreign terrorist organization and ordered a total blockade of all oil tankers entering or leaving the South American country.

The measure, adopted a few days after the seizure of an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast, significantly increases Washington’s pressure on the Bolivarian government.

In his letter, Trump accused Caracas of drug trafficking, terrorism, and the illegal appropriation of U.S. assets, and asserted that Venezuela is “completely surrounded by the largest navy ever assembled in the history of South America.”

He also warned that he would intensify the military encirclement and promised “shocks like never before” until, according to his threat, oil, land, and other assets allegedly “stolen” from Venezuela are “returned”—allusions that the Venezuelan government has denounced as unfounded and colonialist.

abo/arm/mem/mml

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Several areas of the province are experiencing clashes between rebels of the Congo River Alliance-March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) and the Congolese Armed Forces and their allies. Humanitarian operations have been suspended for several days due to the insecurity.

“Since December 8, local authorities estimate that some 110,000 people have fled to other areas of South Kivu, while others have crossed into Burundi.

There are also reports of people continuing their journey toward Tanzania,” a report from the agency stated.

The report added that most displaced families are sheltering in public spaces without access to humanitarian assistance, while partners have begun delivering emergency aid in the cities of Uvira and Bukavu, with more aid expected to be sent in the coming days.

“OCHA continues to work with all parties to facilitate the safe movement of humanitarian teams and the resumption of aid operations,” the report emphasized.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 78,000 Congolese have crossed into Burundi since December 5, and to date, some 15,000 people have been transferred to the Bweru and Makombe displacement and transition camps.

abo/arm/mem/kmg

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

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

RELATED:

Socialists Demand Zuckerberg Appear Before the Spanish Congress

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

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

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

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

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

— Irlandarra (@aldamu_jo) December 15, 2025

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

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

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

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

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) September 23, 2025

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE

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Announced at the Varadero resort, at the Plaza America fairgrounds, the catalog was immediately featured in various media outlets, including El Sol de Cuba (Mintur’s own publication), Mas Cuba magazine (Spain), and TTC (Italy), among many others that focus on the country.

Therefore, media outlets emphasize that from December 16, the date of the official presentation, and throughout the month, tour operators and travel agents will be focused on a wide array of events that position Cuba as an excellent MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination.

Specifically, the acronym MICE refers to four concepts in English: Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions, which encompass the activities (or some of them) that comprise this type of business tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism’s catalog, as well as those of events related to the Ministries of Culture, Education, and Science, Technology, and Environment, demonstrate that the island continues to be a well-established destination for the MICE segment, experts say.

This presentation was given by the head of the Ministry of Tourism’s events department, Yanet de Armas, who provided comprehensive information about the characteristics of each event, the venues where they will be held, and contact information for the committees, organizers, and destination management companies.

Cuba is scheduled to host 276 events by 2026, 41 more than those held in 2025, a year in which the island is a member of the Federation of Congress and Related Event Organizers of Latin America (COCAL) and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

abo/arm/mem/rfc

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In a publication on its website, the United Nations (UN) warned that, in addition to attacks on schools, hospitals, and residential centers in Gaza, homes and refugee camps are being destroyed in the other occupied Palestinian territory.

The multilateral organization indicated that new orders from Tel Aviv will take effect this week, threatening the Nur Shams refugee center and some 25 other buildings, which will force hundreds of people into displacement.

According to Roland Friedrich, the representative of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, satellite images show that 48% of all buildings in the camp had already been damaged or destroyed before this latest directive.

“This new demolition order fits a pattern seen all too often this year, with Israeli forces destroying homes to enable their long-term control in the northern West Bank, permanently altering its topography,” he noted. Justified by a supposed “military necessity,” these actions do not make anyone safer, he added.

Friedrich said that the forced displacement of more than 32,000 Palestinian refugees in the northern West Bank must not become permanent and reiterated that people are anxiously waiting to return to their homes.

abo/arm/mem/gas

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Both regions are currently under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), following a paramilitary offensive in the last few weeks.

Yasser al-Atta, assistant commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces and a member of the Sovereign Council, affirmed in a speech broadcast by local television that the troops have been fully trained using advanced weaponry capable of turning the tide of the fighting.

The intensity of the clashes between the two sides in the Kordofan region has increased in the last few days, and several casualties were reported.

Since mid-April 2023, this nation has been embroiled in an internal war, following a power struggle between Army Chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

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The post Sudanese army prepares for counteroffensive in Kordofan and Darfur first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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