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Latin American Publications!
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The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) released approximately 3,900 documents on Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, marking the first disclosure under a new law signed by former President Donald Trump. The legislation requires the DOJ to make Epstein-related records public.
RELATED:
U.S. Democrats Disclose New Epstein Pictures Featuring Donald Trump and Bill Clinton
Most of the files are photographs and are available through the DOJ’s official website in the “Epstein Library.” Categories include Judicial Records; DOJ Disclosures under the Epstein Records Transparency Act (H.R. 4405); Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests; and releases from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
While some images depict prominent figures and trips associated with Epstein, many files are heavily redacted. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the DOJ for the extensive censorship.
Missing from the #Epstein files: a 60-count indictment and an 82-page evidence memo.#US https://t.co/7RIDfF1EFt
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 20, 2025
“Simply releasing a mountain of pages with blacked-out sections violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law. For example, 119 pages of a single document were entirely redacted. We need answers as to why,” Schumer said. He added that lawmakers are reviewing the materials “to determine what steps must be taken to hold the Trump administration accountable” and warned, “We will pursue all options to ensure the truth is known.”
The December 19 deadline for the DOJ to release the files followed Epstein’s death by apparent suicide in 2019, while he awaited trial for sex trafficking minors in Manhattan. His death has fueled multiple conspiracy theories, given his extensive connections in political, business, and entertainment circles.
⚖️ Several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein express distress over the piecemeal release of Epstein-related documents by House Oversight Committee Democrats, saying the selective disclosures are upsetting
⏳ Justice Department is due to release all Epstein files with redactions, as… pic.twitter.com/EEjo9fymcb
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 19, 2025
Trump initially resisted disclosing the records but later supported congressional approval of the bill, which he signed into law last month. Trump and Epstein were reportedly close from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. In recent statements, Trump denied any involvement with Epstein, saying he expelled him from Mar-a-Lago, his Florida club, and asserting, “We have nothing to hide,” noting that “all his friends were Democrats.”
Previously published emails include Epstein claiming that Trump “knew about the girls” and that he was “the only one who could end it.”
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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The United States is considering restrictive measures against Spanish-flagged vessels following Spain’s decision to block the transit of US military cargo bound for Israel through its territory, prompting a formal investigation by US maritime authorities.
Related:
U.S. Launches Large-Scale IS Strikes in Syria
In late September this year, the Spanish government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez prohibited the transit of US aircraft and ships carrying weapons, ammunition, or military equipment destined for Israel through the military bases of Rota, in Cádiz, and Morón de la Frontera, in Seville. The measure was adopted in protest against Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.
The Joint Spanish–US Committee confirmed the decision, clarifying that the ban applies both to aircraft and vessels heading directly to Israel and to those bound for the country after intermediate stopovers.
Restrictive Port Practices of the Government of Spain: Update – https://t.co/j1mpoQEk8t
— FMC (@FMC_gov) December 19, 2025
Washington responded on Friday through the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), which said it is considering closing US ports to Spanish ships while it investigates Spain’s refusal to allow US cargo vessels carrying arms to Israel to dock at the port of Algeciras, in southern Spain.
In a statement, the FMC said it is examining options that include cargo limitations, denial of entry to vessels operating under the Spanish flag, or fines of up to $2.3 million per voyage for Spanish-flagged ships.
Spain has prohibited the transfer of US weapons to Israel through the military bases of Rota and Morón, facilities located on Spanish territory but used by the United States under bilateral defense agreements.
#PedroSanchez reaffirmed #Spain's long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian people, saying, "Spain and #Palestine will always walk hand in hand."https://t.co/AUtJUobewG
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 10, 2025
US authorities view Spain’s stance as a challenge. The FMC said it is gathering information on “the current policy of Spain of denying or rejecting port access to certain vessels carrying cargo to or from Israel,” which, according to the commission, may be creating “unfavorable general or special conditions for maritime transport in US foreign trade.” The FMC, which is independent of the US government, stressed the urgency of completing its investigation to determine what “corrective measures may be appropriate to address such conditions.”
According to sources from Spain’s Ministry of Defense cited by Europa Press in September, the Defense Cooperation Agreement governing military collaboration between the two countries will not be amended. As a result, US-operated military bases in Spain remain excluded from arms embargoes.
Under Article 32 of the agreement, the United States must obtain authorization from the Permanent Committee, which operates under Spain’s Ministry of Defense, for operations involving the loading or unloading of munitions and explosives, as well as their transport by land, sea, or air within Spanish territory. However, the United States is not required to disclose the final destination of such cargo when stopovers are involved.
🗣️ 'It is deeply concerning that Spain, a NATO member, has chosen to potentially limit U.S. operations and to turn its back on Israel'
US expresses concern about Spain’s port restrictions on Israel https://t.co/dukha60hxR pic.twitter.com/jtqmAPuHxs
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) September 10, 2025
Spain reaffirmed in September its decision to halt arms sales to Israel, a move that has been questioned by some reports. The country has also taken broader diplomatic steps critical of Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In late May 2024, Madrid formally recognized the State of Palestine and later joined South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of committing genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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The death toll from the fire that devastated the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong has increased to 161, following new forensic identifications that clarified the number of victims recovered from the site, authorities confirmed.
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Police Commissioner Joe Chow said the revision came after genetic tests established that remains previously counted as a single victim in fact belonged to a married couple. He stressed that forensic work is still ongoing and that the final number of fatalities may change as examinations continue. According to Chow, the identification process remains particularly challenging due to the condition of some of the recovered remains.
Chow also reported that the removal of protective netting and bamboo scaffolding from building facades began on Friday. For safety reasons, these operations are currently limited to four of the seven buildings affected by the fire. The collection of material evidence is still underway, and officials have not set a deadline for completing the process.
Hong Kongers offered flowers and bowed outside a funeral parlor to pay tribute to a firefighter who was among the 160 people killed by the city's deadliest fire in decades. https://t.co/YvVG2MlI9D
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 19, 2025
The fire erupted on November 26, when netting covering bamboo scaffolding between the ground floor and first floor of Wang Cheong House caught fire. The blaze spread with unusual speed across the complex, eventually reaching six additional towers.
In response to the scale of the tragedy, the Hong Kong government established an Independent Commission of Inquiry, chaired by a magistrate, to determine the causes of both the ignition and the rapid spread of the fire. The commission’s mandate includes reviewing procedures used in building renovation contracts, assessing the adequacy of existing regulations, examining potential criminal responsibility, and issuing recommendations to the government. The final report is expected within nine months.
In parallel, the Independent Commission Against Corruption arrested the current chairman of the owners’ corporation and his predecessor on Wednesday as part of a broader investigation linked to the disaster.
Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 under a public affordable housing program and consists of eight 31-story towers with nearly 2,000 apartments. According to the 2021 census, the complex was home to 4,643 residents.
In a moving funeral service on Friday, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region bid a final farewell to Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who lost his life while combating last month's #TaiPo fire, which has so far claimed the lives of 160 residents of #HongKong. #大埔 #大埔火災… pic.twitter.com/bRXyHLt11f
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) December 20, 2025
At the time of the fire, the buildings were undergoing renovation works valued at 330 million Hong Kong dollars and were fully covered with bamboo scaffolding and safety netting. Subsequent investigations found that some of the netting used did not meet required fire-resistance standards and that highly flammable expanded polystyrene panels had been installed. These findings contributed to the rapid spread of the fire and raised suspicions of improper cost-cutting and failures in procurement processes.
In September, the leadership of the owners’ corporation was renewed, and the Labour Department carried out inspections that resulted in sanctions. The most recent official inspection took place one week before the fire.
More than twenty people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and offenses related to public administration, including individuals connected to contracting companies.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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The United States has launched what it described as a “large-scale attack” against Islamic State (IS) targets in central Syria, following an ambush last week that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American interpreter near the city of Palmyra.
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New U.S. Defense Bill Lifts Sanctions on Syria
In a brief statement released on Friday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that American forces had initiated “a large-scale attack against IS infrastructure and weapons storage facilities in Syria.” The command stated that the operation was carried out in response to the attack against U.S. forces and their allies on December 13.
Shortly after the announcement, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation on social media, saying it had been named Operation Hawk Eye Attack. “This is not the beginning of a war, it is a statement of vengeance,” Hegseth wrote.
Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength. pic.twitter.com/XWWvfqBBFT
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2025
He added: “As we said immediately after the brutal attack (of December 13), if you attack Americans anywhere in the world, you will spend the rest of your short and anguished life knowing that the United States will pursue you, find you, and eliminate you mercilessly.”
According to an anonymous U.S. official cited by The New York Times, dozens of suspected IS positions across several areas of central Syria were targeted using fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery barrages. The official said the bombardment was expected to last several hours.
Night strikes in Syria⚔️🚨
U.S. and Jordanian forces carried out strikes on over 70 ISIS targets, using more than 100 precision-guided munitions. pic.twitter.com/5tyvH256yK
— China pulse | 中国脉搏 🇨🇳 (@Eng_china5) December 20, 2025
The December 13 ambush, carried out by a lone gunman, took place near Palmyra and resulted in the deaths of two U.S. service members and an interpreter. They were the first Americans to die in Syria since the fall of the government of Bashar al-Assad last year.
In a separate statement posted on the social media platform X, CENTCOM described the operation as the most extensive U.S. military action in Syria since the collapse of the Syrian government. The statement confirmed that the overnight strikes were directly linked to the deaths of three Americans, including two military personnel, in the Palmyra attack.
The attacks come a week after three Americans, including two US soldiers, were killed in Syria’s Palmyra. https://t.co/BdDzaLeHla
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 20, 2025
Sources cited in regional reporting said that U.S. troops stationed at the Al-Shaddadi base, located south of the northeastern city of Al-Hasaka, also participated in the operation. The attacks reportedly included airstrikes and missile launches and were supported by fighter aircraft from the Jordanian Armed Forces.
U.S. authorities have repeatedly justified their military presence in Syria on security grounds, arguing that it has prevented Islamic State from regaining strength in the country.
The latest strikes highlight the continuation of U.S. military operations in Syria following last year’s political shift, as Washington maintains actions it says are aimed at targeting Islamic State infrastructure and responding to attacks on its personnel.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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UN Experts Warn of “Dangerous Setback” in Peru Over Law Limiting Trials for Crimes Against Humanity
(www.telesurenglish.net)
United Nations human rights experts expressed their “deep concern” on Friday over the ruling by Peru’s Constitutional Court upholding Law 32107, which limits the prosecution of crimes against humanity committed before 2002. They described the measure as a “dangerous setback” in compliance with international obligations.
RELATED:
Peruvian Congress Is the Most Corrupt Institution: PROETICA
The law establishes a statute of limitations for these crimes if they occurred before Peru ratified the Rome Statute and other international human rights instruments. This would prevent the prosecution of crimes committed during the internal armed conflict (1980–2000), which left more than 69,000 dead.
In a joint statement, the experts recalled that “as a peremptory norm binding on all States, the prohibition of a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity is not contingent upon the ratification of treaties.” They emphasized that Peru is bound by general international law and that “domestic interpretations cannot prevail over norms designed to protect humanity from the worst crimes.”
The statement was signed by the Special Rapporteur on justice and reparation (Bernard Duhaime), the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (Morris Tidball-Binz), the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and courts (Margaret Satterthwaite), and the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
#Peru | The National Consortium for Public Ethics (PROETICA) published the 13th National Survey on Perceptions of Corruption, which reveals that 85% of Peruvians consider Congress the most corrupt institution.https://t.co/QRKDM8csVS
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 12, 2025
Two weeks ago, the Peruvian Constitutional Court ratified the law, rejecting the constitutional challenges filed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Lima Bar Association. Prior to its approval, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights had urged Peru not to enact it, considering that it violates its international obligations.
The law was promoted by parliamentary groups aligned with former President Alberto Fujimori and a bloc comprised of former high-ranking members of the Armed Forces.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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The Bolivarian Government of Venezuela launched an ambitious Ecosocialist Training Plan aimed at increasing the capacity of the country’s nursery workers, with the goal of establishing 2,000 community nurseries and producing 10 million trees by 2026, announced the Minister of Popular Power for Ecosocialism, Ricardo Molina, this Friday during an event at Vinicio Adames Park, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Chuquisaca Decree.
RELATED:
400 nursery workers have already committed to participating in this plan, which seeks to strengthen community involvement in environmental protection and consolidate a national network of environmental defenders.
“The intention is to have environmental defenders who can contribute to the establishment of 2,000 community nurseries,” stated Molina, while presenting the progress report of the Great Mother Earth Mission to President Nicolás Maduro.
Among the key achievements, the minister reported that a scientific update of the status of the 44 national parks was completed, which will allow for the design of a structured, comprehensive, and systemic plan for their conservation and maintenance. Additionally, the Watershed Operations Committee was formed, tasked with identifying priority areas for reforestation and environmental intervention.
Regarding disaster prevention, Molina noted that 428 community risk maps were created, developed directly by the communities themselves.
“Every community needs to have its own risk map to know how to respond, what the vulnerabilities are in their territory, and what affects downstream areas,” he explained, with the goal of reaching 5,336 maps nationwide.
Another significant milestone is the design of community weather stations, in partnership with the “Humberto Fernández Morán” Science and Technology Mission. “We already have the design, and we will manufacture them in 2026, using local science and technology,” the Minister of Ecosocialism affirmed.
Furthermore, he highlighted the progress made in combating the illegal wildlife trade, with 66 cases reported and resolved, actions aimed at protecting the nation’s biodiversity.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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UN Warns of Food Crisis in Gaza: Acute Food Insecurity Under Israeli Restrictions
(www.telesurenglish.net)
The United Nations (UN) has issued a warning about the severe malnutrition crisis in the Gaza Strip, where nearly 80% of the population faces acute food insecurity, and 101,000 children could suffer from acute malnutrition by October 2026. The situation, exacerbated by restrictions imposed by Israel, limits the sustained entry of humanitarian aid and essential food supplies.
RELATED:
UN denounces Israel’s delays amid winter crisis in Gaza
“To end this catastrophe, large-scale supply deliveries must be allowed, and humanitarian workers must be permitted to do their work,” stated Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The agency emphasized that, despite the ceasefire in effect since October 2025, humanitarian needs exceed current response capacity.
According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “needs are growing faster than aid is arriving,” highlighting the inadequacy of current flows. Although there has been a slight improvement in distribution since the ceasefire, with 67% of households receiving food and bread in November, only “basic survival needs” are being met.
"#Gaza remains in a man-made hunger crisis.
The latest report from @theIPCinfo underscores how fragile the gains have been since the ceasefire began in October. While #Gaza Governorate is no longer classified as being in famine, 1.6 million people still face high levels of… pic.twitter.com/q59BGjV7aO
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 19, 2025
The Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) revealed in August that half a million people—a quarter of Gaza’s population—were living in famine-stricken areas. The organization attributes the crisis to humanitarian restrictions, the forced displacement of more than 730,000 people, and the destruction of 96% of agricultural land, which is now inaccessible.
Furthermore, Israel has obstructed humanitarian aid access, violating the ceasefire agreement that stipulated the daily entry of 600 trucks. Arbitrary bureaucratic processes and restrictions on the passage of commercial and aid trucks have perpetuated the shortages. The UN and NGOs warn that their operations could collapse if these obstacles are not removed.
Data from the IPC indicates that among the 101,000 children aged 6 months to 5 years at risk of acute malnutrition by October 2026, more than 31,000 will present with severe cases. Additionally, 37,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women will require treatment for acute malnutrition. In all Gaza governorates, no child between 6 and 23 months meets the minimum dietary diversity requirements.
Winter is closing in on #Gaza.
Tents are collapsing under rain, children are freezing and exhausted families have nowhere left to go.
Humanitarians are delivering against all odds.
Restrictions must be lifted so we can reach more people before this winter claims more lives. pic.twitter.com/ti2OJFnu4P
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) December 13, 2025
The crisis has been exacerbated by recent winter storms, which flooded 55,000 homes and caused three child deaths from hypothermia in December, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Guterres reiterated his call for a lasting ceasefire, the immediate lifting of Israeli restrictions, and the removal of bureaucratic obstacles to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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The humanitarian aid seeks to alleviate the energy crisis caused by the U.S. blockade.
Two Liberian-flagged ships from Mexico, the Ocean Mariner and the Eugenia Gas, will transport 80,000 barrels of fuel to Cuba in the coming days to alleviate the blackout crisis caused by aging power plants and a lack of foreign currency.
RELATED:
Cuba Condemns U.S. Attack on Venezuelan Oil Tanker
While the Eugenia Gas loaded at the Pajaritos complex of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and sailed toward the Cuban port of Moa, the Ocean Mariner is still loading at the same facility. Cuba needs nearly 110,000 barrels of fuel per day to cover its basic needs, of which 40,000 come from domestic production.
Half of Cuba’s fuel comes from Venezuela, Mexico, and, to a lesser extent, Russia. The reduction in Mexican shipments, from nearly 25,000 barrels per day to around 5,000, along with the U.S. naval deployment off the coast of Venezuela, has worsened Cuba’s energy situation.
The island has faced an energy crisis since mid-2024 due to breakdowns at aging power plants and a lack of resources to fix them, due to the U.S. blockade. In one year, the energy system suffered five total blackouts and several partial ones.
Previously, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum framed these shipments as humanitarian aid and noted that relations with Cuba have always been a source of contention with the United States since the 1959 Cuban Revolution.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade against sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, which also threatens to intensify the crisis in Cuba. The measure aims to curb the supply of Venezuelan hydrocarbons.
#VivaLaUniónDeLosPueblos #CHCh
El pueblo venezolano movilizado en la calle en rechazo al robo del buque petrolero iraní skipper el cual ejecutó el gobierno de los Estados Unidos delante de los ojos del mundo la ONU en silencio total la OEA en silencio total pic.twitter.com/v98DtF1p0Y— Brichar2017 (@brichar2017) December 15, 2025
The text reads, “The Venezuelan people mobilize to reject the theft of the Iranian oil tanker Skipper, which was carried out by the United States government before the eyes of the world. The UN and the OAS remained completely silent.”
The Cuban Foreign Ministry described the naval blockade as an act of piracy and maritime terrorism, and denounced that the United States seeks to prevent Venezuela from freely trading its natural resources, including supplies to Cuba.
President Trump declared that the objective of the naval blockade is to “recover our oil.” He added that Venezuela “took away” all of U.S. energy rights and reiterated his intention to recover land and operations that U.S. companies previously held in that country.
However, U.S. oil companies are showing no interest in returning to Venezuela: the Trump administration consulted with companies about resuming operations if President Nicolas Maduro were overthrown, and the response was a resounding “No.”
Trump asserted that the naval blockade would continue until Washington gains control of Venezuelan oil, while he maintains a bellicose rhetoric that is escalating diplomatic and military tensions in the region.
This stance prompted members of the U.S. House of Representatives to push for an emergency vote to halt the use of U.S. armed forces inside or against Venezuela without the Congress’s authorization, but the initiative failed.
The United States government's threats against Venezuela and the military deployment in the #CaribbeanSea were condemned by Ernesto Soberon, the representative of #Cuba to the United Nations. pic.twitter.com/xIwQ4xYopD
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 18, 2025
teleSUR: JP
Source: EFE – La Jornada
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US Reinforces Military Presence in Paraguay Through SOFA Agreement, Analyst Says
(www.telesurenglish.net)
The United States has turned Paraguay into a “military base” through the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) on Monday, December 15, 2025, according to political analyst Ana Prestes.
The pact, signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Lezcano, is part of the new US National Security Strategy, which, according to Prestes, revives elements of the Monroe Doctrine by considering Latin America as its “backyard.”
President Maduro: Venezuela will never be the backyard of any supremacist empire
The analyst pointed out that this agreement is part of a broader Washington strategy to militarize South America and consolidate its influence in the region, especially in a context where it faces resistance in countries like Colombia. Rubio, who has maintained close ties with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña since his time as a senator, has already visited Asunción several times in 2024 and hosted Peña at the White House in August to sign an agreement on asylum and immigration.
#Opinion Por: Gabriel Vera Lopes | Paraguay y EE. UU. firman un inédito acuerdo militar que permite el despliegue de tropas estadounidenses → https://t.co/Cdjty2kEbN pic.twitter.com/4SgHkb0qUS
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 19, 2025
Prestes also recalled that Rubio proposed handing over the administration of the Itaipu binational hydroelectric dam (Brazil-Paraguay) to US artificial intelligence companies, which, in her words, would mean “using our water and energy from South America.”
Furthermore, she highlighted that the recent police operation in Rio de Janeiro, which left 121 dead on October 28, was followed by a declaration from Paraguay of “zero tolerance for narco-terrorists on its borders,” a stance she described as aligned with US interests.
According to the analyst, the US is intensifying its presence in Argentina, Panama, Guyana, Ecuador, and El Salvador to reactivate military bases and joint exercises, in a dynamic that seeks to “encircle the region through the new national security and militarization strategy.”
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Solidarity with Venezuela in the Belly of the Beast: A Conversation with Elizabeth Blaney
(venezuelanalysis.com)
As Washington intensifies its political, economic, and military attacks against Venezuela, opposition to imperialism is also growing inside the United States—particularly among working-class and immigrant communities who experience the costs of imperialism directly. From cuts to social programs and housing insecurity to mass deportations and ICE raids, many are drawing connections between repression at home and US intervention abroad.
Elizabeth Blaney is a key figure in the Los Angeles tenant movement, a co-founder and co-director of Unión de Vecinos and part of the broader Los Angeles Tenants Union (LATU). With decades of experience organizing in Boyle Heights against displacement and gentrification, Blaney has also been deeply involved in international solidarity with Venezuela.
This conversation took place in the context of her participation in the recent People’s Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty held in Caracas. In it, she reflects on grassroots opposition to war and how the Bolivarian Revolution has helped radicalize housing struggles in the Los Angeles tenant movement.
How are organized working-class communities reacting to the latest imperialist military escalation against Venezuela?
Among the working-class base we organize with, there is absolutely no support for the war against Venezuela. In East Los Angeles, where I’m from—and in Los Angeles more broadly—the population is majority Latino, African American, and Asian. Most people in our communities are immigrants. Many come from countries that have experienced violence as a direct result of US intervention. Because of that, they understand the situation and recognize the real motivations behind what the US government is doing here in Venezuela. There is strong opposition to war and a clear demand for the United States to get out of the Caribbean.
People also understand that war funding comes directly at their expense. We’ve lost school programs, social services, and benefits. Starting in January, many people will lose Medicaid support. There is a widespread understanding that public resources are being redirected to fund wars. So, beyond solidarity or morality, there is also a concrete economic reason that people oppose war…. They know that they are already paying the price.
This has translated into organization. People want to learn more and get involved in the growing anti-war movement, and our leadership has participated in solidarity protests across Los Angeles. The ongoing ICE raids have also deepened understanding of what is happening to Venezuela: witnessing family members, friends, and neighbors abducted by ICE has generated fear, but also a growing disposition to resist.
Many people now understand that retreating into fear only strengthens the state. They also recognize that the same violence the US government deploys against them is being used against the people of Venezuela and Palestine. This has led to a broad rejection of imperialist aggression—people overwhelmingly oppose the imperialist military buildup in the Caribbean and the Israeli genocide, which is funded and enabled by the United States.
You participated in the recent “People’s Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty” [December 9-11] in Caracas. Getting to it was not easy, since most airlines stopped flying to Venezuela after Trump closed the airspace. Despite these obstacles, the Assembly took place and was a huge success. What can you tell us about it?
Hundreds of people were stranded in airports or had their flights canceled at the last minute because of Trump’s illegal attempt to control Venezuelan airspace. As a result, many delegates who were scheduled to attend didn’t make it.
Despite this, the conference went forward, with between 600 and 800 delegates from around the world present. In that sense, it was a success. Some people traveled through five or six countries just to get here. That level of commitment shows how deeply people oppose US aggression and support the call for peace!
Politically, what stood out most was how clearly delegates connected US aggression against Venezuela to its global impact. People discussed how sanctions and seizures—such as the illegal confiscation of oil tankers bound for Cuba and other countries—directly affect energy access and economic stability elsewhere. This makes it clear that what’s happening in Venezuela is an international issue.
There were also discussions about how war funding drains resources from working people in the United States and promotes speculation in financial and housing markets globally. One session focused specifically on housing, examining how imperialist war drives up rents and housing prices, worsening conditions for tenants worldwide.
Beyond peace, the Assembly’s debates emphasized people’s sovereignty and who has the right to control resources. The conclusion was clear—those resources belong to the Venezuelan people. If they are stolen from Venezuela, nothing prevents similar theft elsewhere.
The Peace Assembly helped develop a shared understanding of how to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty while preparing for what comes next globally. Now the analysis has to go back to our communities.
Members of the Unión del Barrio in an LA concentration against the US military deployment in the caribbean. (Unión del Barrio)
You’ve said on other occasions that the Bolivarian Process, despite being demonized by the media establishment, has helped radicalize housing struggles in Los Angeles. How has that experience shaped your organization?
I’m part of the Unión de Vecinos, the East Side chapter of the Los Angeles Tenants Union. We’ve been engaged in internationalist solidarity work for many years. We first came to Venezuela in 2019 and have returned several times since, not only to oppose sanctions but to strengthen the tenant movement in Los Angeles and to be fellow travelers in the march toward socialism.
In July 2023, we organized a brigade of about 25 tenant organizers from across California. For many participants, it was a transformative experience. What people in the United States often don’t grasp is that in Venezuela, there is a real socialist project. Of course, it is not perfect and has contradictions, but it is a true emancipatory project with tangible advances. Housing rights, free university education, and free healthcare already exist here in ways they do not in the US.
Seeing this reality firsthand shifted how our organizers think. It made it clear that socialism is not just an abstract demand but something that can be built in practice. Over the past two years and across our 15 chapters, this experience has fueled profound debates about what it means to build a socialist project in Los Angeles.
We don’t see ourselves as just a housing movement. It is about tenants’ ability to survive, remain in their neighborhoods, and collectively shape their communities. This broader vision was strongly influenced by what we learned in Venezuela. Following a process of internal debates, the LA Tenants Union collectively declared itself a socialist organization in August. That decision would not have been possible without the internationalist exchange with Venezuela.
Another crucial lesson has been learning about participatory democracy. In the United States, democracy is reduced to voting every few years or speaking at meetings with no real power. In Venezuela, democracy is practiced as an ongoing process through communal assemblies and popular consultations. For our organizers, seeing Venezuela’s communal assemblies, which are the communes’ highest decision-making body—with “voceros” [spokespeople] accountable to them—has been especially influential. We are strengthening that model across our chapters.
This work goes beyond visits. We’ve built ongoing relationships with Venezuelan movements like the Movimiento de Pobladores, the Movimiento de Inquilinos, and the Simón Bolívar Institute through regular exchanges and political education initiatives. Reciprocal solidarity is central to our political formation and our ability to challenge dominant narratives in the United States.
At a recent event in El Panal Commune, the Simón Bolívar Institute launched the “Solidarity Committee with the Peoples of the US.” What does this initiative represent for grassroots movements in your context?
Solidarity requires sustained commitment and concrete action. This initiative creates a space where analysis and action converge in a spirit of reciprocal solidarity. At the launch, around ten or eleven organizations from the United States were present, all rooted in working-class communities, in addition to El Panal communards and spokespeople from the Instituto Simón Bolívar. That matters, because this isn’t just about organizations—it’s about the people they represent and organize.
The initiative strengthens our responsibility as organizers and working-class people in the US to fight fascism at home, while opposing imperialism abroad. It also demonstrates that we are not fighting alone. Through this work, we will also be deepening ties with movements in Mexico, Honduras, and Argentina, where people are facing similar crises, particularly around housing. Bringing these struggles together strengthens all of us.
Finally, how have the current ICE raids reshaped the political landscape inside the United States, and how do people connect this repression to US imperialist aggression abroad?
The raids and kidnappings being carried out by the US government against immigrants are a turning point. In practice, the Supreme Court has legalized racism, allowing federal agents to detain people based on skin color, language, or where they gather for work, without due process.
This has sparked resistance well beyond traditional activist circles. While working-class communities have always resisted, many people who were never politically active before are now organizing. Neighborhoods are forming patrols, blocking streets, warning residents, and physically slowing ICE operations.
This has opened space for deeper political conversations. People are increasingly connecting what is happening in their neighborhoods to US aggression abroad. They are asking: if the government can do this here—deporting people, including Venezuelans, or sending migrants to third countries—what stops it from escalating further against countries like Venezuela?
As a result, international solidarity no longer feels distant or abstract. More people are recognizing the shared enemy and taking action in solidarity with Venezuela. That political awakening is one of the most significant developments of the present moment.
The post Solidarity with Venezuela in the Belly of the Beast: A Conversation with Elizabeth Blaney appeared first on Venezuelanalysis.
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They cite at least 95 deaths in Caribbean and Pacific operations authorized by the Trump administration.
On Dec. 17, Sen. Dick Durbin and nine other Democratic senators asked the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on 25 military strikes on boats authorized by the administration of President Donald Trump in the waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific.
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Initially justified under the pretext of combating international drug trafficking, those actions have left at least 95 confirmed deaths in what could constitute extrajudicial killings, murder, and war crimes.
The letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Cory Booker, Alex Padilla, Peter Welch and Adam Schiff.
🚨BREAKING: Under Pete Hegseth’s orders, the U.S Military just bombed and sank a boat – this time in the Eastern Pacific,
– killing its four occupants.They claim the boat contained narcotics and have offered zero proof.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) December 5, 2025
The following is the letter addressed to Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee:
“Since September, the Trump Administration has summarily executed at least 95 people in 25 known strikes on alleged drug smugglers in vessels at sea. This is not a time to mince words. These strikes are extrajudicial killings and shocking violations of fundamental principles of due process and the right to life under U.S. and international law.
The Administration’s claims that the people it is killing are guilty of crimes, affiliated with a criminal or terrorist organization, or ‘combatants’ in a nonexistent armed conflict, do not render these extrajudicial killings any less unlawful.
This Committee must address the serious concerns that these strikes may violate U.S. criminal laws, and that Department of Justice attorneys who gave President Trump and Secretary Hegseth legal cover to summarily execute suspected criminals have violated their ethical obligations.
We respectfully request that you immediately convene a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to ensure that those who authorized these extrajudicial killings are held to account. There is not, nor can there be, any justification for state-sanctioned extrajudicial killings.
Summary executions have no place in a constitutional democracy operating under the rule of law, no matter how heinous the accusations a government makes against someone. Nor can governments fabricate an armed conflict or falsely label people ‘combatants’ to kill them.
This is why U.S. officials and Members of Congress from both parties have long condemned extrajudicial killings, including of alleged drug traffickers, when committed by other nations.
For instance, Secretary of State and then-Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bipartisan resolution in the Senate in 2020 condemning the state-sanctioned extrajudicial killings of alleged criminals as part of the Duterte government’s ‘war on drugs’ in the Philippines. Just last year, then-Senator Rubio introduced a resolution condemning the Maduro regime in Venezuela for the use of extrajudicial killings.
Former President Duterte is now facing crimes against humanity charges for his spree of extrajudicial killings of alleged drug traffickers. For decades, under both Republican and Democratic Presidents, the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights have condemned extrajudicial killings by foreign governments as significant abuses of internationally recognized human rights.
Drug trafficking is a terrible crime. And it must be addressed with robust, effective, and lawful measures, including interdicting vessels transporting such drugs, prosecuting violators to the full extent of the law, and supporting the needs of impacted families and communities. Instead of intensifying such efforts, President Trump has weakened them.
Just recently, President Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former President of Honduras who was convicted of helping to smuggle 400 tons of cocaine into the United States as part of what U.S. authorities have characterized as ‘one of the largest and most violent-drug trafficking conspiracies in the world.’ This follows the President’s pardon of another drug kingpin, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who created the largest online black market for illegal drugs in our nation’s history.
At the same time, this Administration has diverted thousands of Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal law-enforcement agents from their critical drug enforcement missions to carry out the President’s radical anti-immigrant agenda.
This Administration has also shuttered the critical Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, unilaterally terminated hundreds of grants that provide critical funding to state and local law enforcement, and is slashing the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program by more than a third, from about US$298 million to US$196 million.
Not surprisingly, federal drug prosecutions under this Administration have dropped to the lowest level in decades. The American people want real solutions to crime and the drug epidemic—not extrajudicial killings committed in their name. In accordance with the Committee’s oversight responsibilities, we urge you to schedule an immediate hearing on this outrage.”
What norms is the United States violating in the Caribbean? pic.twitter.com/3Zk9LQ3KsY
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 18, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Source: Durbin Senate
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Rubio Presents Empty Report and Reiterates Unfounded Accusations Against Venezuela
(www.telesurenglish.net)
The Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Yván Gil, posted on his Telegram account a press conference in which the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, presented a summary of his tenure. Rubio, who served 14 years as a legislator and has been in his current position for a year, failed to highlight a single concrete achievement in foreign policy.
Instead, he reiterated unsubstantiated accusations against the Venezuelan government, which he described as “an illegitimate regime” and “a grave threat to regional security” and to the security of the United States.
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Rubio stated that “the Maduro regime actively cooperates with FARC and ELN dissidents to traffic cocaine into U.S. territory,” and added that “there are drug trafficking organizations that operate openly in Venezuela with the cooperation of the Maduro regime.” He also labeled these organizations “criminal terrorist groups” and stated that they constitute “the most significant threat in the region,” linking them to Iran and Hezbollah.
Analysts point out that Rubio’s discourse lacks factual basis and aligns with a foreign policy marked by interventions, the promotion of regime change, and support for the Latin American far right. His stance has been rejected by broad sectors of the American people, who oppose new military or sanctions-based adventures in Latin America and the Caribbean.
From Venezuela, official and social voices have responded to these statements, emphasizing that the accusations seek to justify the appropriation of natural resources, especially oil, minerals, and land. Messages that make clear their intentions to seize natural resources legitimately belonging to the Venezuelan people.
Latin America and the Caribbean reaffirm their commitment to peace and sovereignty and reject any attempt at interference or war for resources. The region insists that the solution to global challenges lies not in confrontation, but in dialogue and mutual respect.
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Mexico’s Elected Supreme Court Must Resolve 69 Tax Disputes Within Two Months
(mexicosolidarity.com)
This article by Ivan Evair Saldaña originally appeared in the December 19, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.
Mexico City. The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) must resolve at least 69 tax disputes involving billions of pesos in the first quarter of next year, as it is legally required to issue rulings no later than March 1st.
In total, the country’s highest court will close 2025 with 108 pending tax matters, ranging from injunctions to appeals, requests for the power of attraction and requests for reassumption of competence, among others, which must be resolved within six months according to article 17 of the constitution, derived from the judicial reform of 2024.
According to data from the SCJN, these 69 cases were inherited by the new plenary from its previous members; therefore, the deadline to resolve them began to run on September 1st, when the current nine ministers took office.
Among the most significant issues are lawsuits filed by companies against tax credits related to the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX), designed to avoid double taxation on the temporary import of inputs destined for export.
The Tax Administration Service (SAT) reported that between 2019 and 2023, operations were carried out through this program that reached a taxable base of approximately 279 billion pesos, for which the tax authorities failed to collect around 44 billion pesos in value-added tax (VAT).
The Court must clearly define whether there was tax evasion or whether the operations were legal, in order to avoid uncertainty for both companies and the tax authority.
The discussion of this matter has been postponed at least twice during the year: the first time, on February 27, by the previous plenary session, and the second time, on October 1, by the new members, based on a project prepared by Minister Yasmín Esquivel Mossa regarding the contradiction of criteria 8/2025.
Another pending matter is the direct appeal for review 2526/2025, filed by Totalplay, a company owned by Ricardo Salinas Pliego, related to a tax credit of 621.9 million pesos. This is the last tax case involving Grupo Salinas awaiting resolution before the Supreme Court, as last October the full court resolved eight tax disputes totaling over 48 billion pesos, with rulings in favor of the Tax Administration Service (SAT).
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People’s Mañanera December 19
December 19, 2025December 19, 2025
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on poverty reduction, USMCA, Asia trade dialogue, social rights, Grupo Salinas tax debt, and Acapulco revival.
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Culture | Labor | News Briefs
Clara Brugada: Zarco Not Dismissed at Railway Workers Museum
December 19, 2025December 19, 2025
Mexico City’s head of government announced the locomotive mechanic, trade unionist, communist and founder the Railroad Workers Museum will receive a tribute in May.
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Mexico’s Elected Supreme Court Must Resolve 69 Tax Disputes Within Two Months
December 19, 2025December 19, 2025
One pending matter is the last tax case involving ultra-right winger Ricardo Salinas Pliego’s Grupo Salinas, involving 621.9 million pesos.
The post Mexico’s Elected Supreme Court Must Resolve 69 Tax Disputes Within Two Months appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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Russia Urges US Not to Commit ‘a Fatal Mistake’ by Invading Venezuela (+UN Security Council)
(orinocotribune.com)
24
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Bolivia: Bolivian Workers’ Central Union Declares National Strike Against Rodrigo Paz’s “Gasolinazo”
(www.telesurenglish.net)
The Bolivian Workers’ Central Union (COB) declared a national strike and widespread mobilization in rejection of Supreme Decree 5503, popularly known as the “gasolinazo,” which eliminates fuel subsidies and facilitates the transfer of strategic resources to private entities without legislative oversight.
The measure, promoted by the government of Rodrigo Paz, has sparked massive protests in several cities across the country. The COB instructed its more than 65 unions not to negotiate with the Executive Branch until the neoliberal decree is repealed.
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“The intention to dialogue is over. If the government wanted to see us in the streets and on the highways, that’s where they’ll find us,” stated Mario Argollo, a miner from Huanuni and the COB’s executive secretary, speaking from Oruro.
Argollo announced the indefinite strike and warned that there would be no dialogue with the government until Supreme Decree 5503 was repealed. After specifying that the strike would be a mobilized and phased action, he affirmed that the people were already in the streets and “we cannot remain indifferent.”
This Friday, drivers in La Paz and El Alto began a 24-hour strike with blockades at strategic points, significantly impacting urban mobility. With land transportation paralyzed, the cable car became the main alternative, generating long lines at its stations. Similar protests were reported in Potosí, in the southwest of the Andean country.
ABROGACIÓN: Central Obrera instruyó paro nacional y movilización de sus más de 65 sindicatos para exigir la abrogación del decreto de nuevo política económica neoliberal. Marchas y un paro del transporte en varias ciudades: Mario Argollo. Strio. Ejecut. COB: @teleSURtv pic.twitter.com/b5XUStsGMD
— Freddy Morales (@FreddyteleSUR) December 19, 2025
Supreme Decree 5503 represents an 86% increase in gasoline prices and a 162% increase in diesel prices compared to subsidized prices, a policy that had been in effect for more than two decades. Transport workers reported that, as a result of the unpopular measure, fares have risen to between 4.50 and 5.50 bolivianos, generating widespread rejection from both authorities and the public.
Santos Escalante, a transport union leader in La Paz, confirmed that the strike will last 24 hours and indicated that they may call for road blockades starting next week. Meanwhile, Lucio Gómez, a national leader in the sector, announced that a national meeting will be held this Saturday in Cochabamba to assess the possibility of general mobilizations with road closures.
Central Obrera Boliviana declara huelga nacional y prohíbe a sus sindicatos negociar con el gobierno en tanto no se abrogue el decreto de nueva política económica que anula subsidios y abre la entrega de recursos estratégicos a privados. @teleSURtv
— Freddy Morales (@FreddyteleSUR) December 19, 2025
The Vice Minister of Transportation, Hugo Criales, said that drivers will be invited to a dialogue with representatives from federated, independent, cooperative, and transport associations. He asserted that the elimination of subsidies was “inevitable” and that the population is facing the changes “with resignation.” However, Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza maintained that there is no justification for increasing public transportation fares, despite the removal of subsidies.
In addition to the impact on fuel prices, with the resulting increases in transportation fares, the decree establishes the expedited transfer of strategic natural resources without legislative oversight, a provision that has been rejected by social and labor organizations that consider it a surrender of national sovereignty.
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