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A message published on the Ministry’s CubaMinrex website states that the date “reminds us of the importance of global cooperation in overcoming challenges.

For #Cuba, this has been a lifelong mission for more than 60 years. Solidarity will continue to be the best investment in our shared future.”

Every December 20, the international community commemorates International Human Solidarity Day, an event established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 through resolution 60/209, adopted on December 22 of that year. The date seeks to underscore the transformative power of cooperation and mutual support as fundamental pillars for building a more just, equitable, and humane world.

Beyond a simple symbolic recognition, the day constitutes an urgent call to collective action.

Faced with global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and humanitarian crises, solidarity stands not only as a universal value but also as an essential tool for ensuring the well-being of all peoples, according to the UN.

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The Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo 2025 deepens ties in trade, security, and energy—challenging Western dominance and reshaping global South cooperation.

Related: Russia Open to Peace Talks if Security Conditions Are Met

The Russia-Africa Partnership Forum reached a new milestone in Cairo this week as foreign ministers, heads of state, and regional integration leaders from over 50 African nations gathered with Russian officials to advance a multifaceted strategic alliance spanning economics, security, and sustainable development. Concluding on December 20, 2025, the second ministerial conference of the forum marked a decisive step in institutionalizing Russia’s growing influence across the African continent.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov opened the proceedings with a clear message: this partnership is neither symbolic nor temporary. “Our leaders have high expectations for today’s meeting,” he stated. “They expect us to deliver constructive solutions and coordinated proposals to expand multifaceted cooperation between Russia and Africa.”

The forum—launched in 2019 in Sochi, elevated at the 2023 St. Petersburg summit, and now deepened through ministerial dialogue—reflects a long-term recalibration of Africa’s international relations. No longer content with post-colonial dependencies or conditional Western aid, many African nations are turning to partners like Russia for sovereign, non-interference-based collaboration.

Russia-Africa Partnership Forum: Building a New Architecture of South-South Cooperation

At the heart of the Cairo gathering were three strategic pillars: economic and investment cooperation, peace and security support, and sustainable development. Unlike traditional donor-recipient models, the forum emphasized mutual benefit and technological sovereignty—highlighting joint ventures in energy, agriculture, digital infrastructure, and defense.

Lavrov underscored that cooperation is advancing “steadily across all domains,” noting concrete progress since the first ministerial meeting in November 2024. Russia has pledged to double trade with African nations by 2030, a target already gaining traction through expanded grain exports, nuclear energy partnerships, and localized pharmaceutical production.

One of the most significant bilateral outcomes came from Lavrov’s meeting with Simeón Oyono Esono Angüe, Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea. The two reaffirmed commitments made during presidential talks between Vladimir Putin and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Moscow (November 2023) and September 2024. They agreed to deepen political trust, align positions in the UN, and accelerate cooperation in hydrocarbons, power generation, healthcare, and human capital development.

Read the African Union’s official statement on strategic partnerships with global powers

Esono Angüe later posted on X (formerly Twitter): “We will work in areas that contribute to mutual development, based on respect, trust, and mutual understanding.” Both nations also confirmed that the next session of their Joint Cooperation Commission will take place in Moscow in 2026—a key mechanism for coordinating political, economic, scientific, and technical collaboration.

This bilateral momentum mirrors a broader continental trend. From Mali and Burkina Faso to Sudan and the Central African Republic, African governments are increasingly partnering with Russia on security training, infrastructure, and natural resource management—often in response to perceived Western abandonment or neocolonial conditionality.

Explore UNCTAD data on Africa’s trade diversification and emerging partnerships

Geopolitical Context: A Multipolar World in the Making

The Russia-Africa Partnership Forum cannot be viewed in isolation. It is a direct response to—and driver of—the global shift toward multipolarity. As the U.S. and EU double down on sanctions, military alliances, and ideological framing of global conflicts, the Global South is forging alternative networks of cooperation rooted in sovereignty and development.

Africa, home to 1.4 billion people and vast untapped resources, is central to this realignment. Western powers have long treated the continent as a zone of influence, but rising frustration with empty promises, unilateral interventions, and exploitative trade terms has opened space for new actors. Russia—alongside China, Turkey, and Gulf states—offers non-conditional engagement, often with faster implementation and fewer governance strings attached.

Critically, this shift is not merely about economics. It is political and civilizational. The forum in Cairo emphasized anti-colonial solidarity, mutual respect, and the right of nations to choose their own development paths—principles that resonate deeply across post-independence Africa.

Moreover, Russia’s role in stabilizing fragile states—through military-technical assistance, anti-terrorism cooperation, and logistical support—has earned it credibility where Western interventions have failed or withdrawn. While Western media often frames Russian involvement as “neocolonial,” many African leaders see it as pragmatic sovereignty—a chance to build state capacity without ideological dictates.

Review the Valdai Discussion Club’s analysis on Russia’s Africa strategy

The forum also challenges the monopoly of Western-led institutions like the IMF and World Bank. By promoting local currency trade, bilateral credit lines, and South-South technology transfer, Russia and its African partners are constructing parallel financial and knowledge ecosystems—a quiet but powerful decoupling from the Washington Consensus.

For the West, this represents a strategic loss. For Africa, it is an opportunity: greater agency in global affairs, diversified partnerships, and the chance to leverage competition among powers for national development.

As the final Cairo communiqué noted, the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum is not against anyone—it is for Africa’s future. And in a world increasingly defined by blocs and binaries, that future is being shaped not in Brussels or Washington, but in joint commissions from Moscow to Malabo, and in ministerial halls from Cairo to Addis Ababa.

✈️🌍 En el marco del primer día de la 2ª Conferencia Ministerial del Foro de Asociación #RusiaÁfrica, el Canciller Serguéi #Lavrov mantuvo una serie de reuniones con los socios africanos 🇹🇿🇳🇦🇬🇶🇨🇬🇧🇮🇧🇼🇬🇲

📍 El Cairo, 19 de diciembre

Visita continúa 🔜

👉 https://t.co/NvJAJeAeJQ pic.twitter.com/rbyKwChMlD

— Cancillería de Rusia 🇷🇺 (@mae_rusia) December 19, 2025

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The Pope Leo XIV consistory on January 7–8, 2026, marks a pivotal moment for Church communion, prayer, and global Catholic leadership after the Jubilee of Hope.

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El papa León XIV, hoy desde la Plaza de San Pedro del Vaticano. EFE/EPA/Vatican Media

The Pope Leo XIV consistory, set for January 7 and 8, 2026, in Vatican City, will be the first extraordinary gathering of cardinals under the new pontiff’s leadership—a moment charged with spiritual significance and institutional weight. Announced by the Holy See on Saturday, the two-day assembly aims to deepen communion between the Pope and the College of Cardinals while fostering collective discernment on the Church’s mission in a rapidly changing world.

This historic consistory follows immediately after the closing of the Jubilee of Hope, a year-long holy celebration that concludes on January 6 with the symbolic shutting of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. The timing is deliberate: as one sacred chapter ends, another begins—not with spectacle, but with fraternal dialogue, shared reflection, and prayer.

According to the Vatican press office, the consistory will be “characterized by moments of communion and fraternity, as well as times dedicated to reflection, sharing, and prayer.” These elements, the statement adds, are intended to “favor common discernment and offer support and counsel” to Pope Leo XIV as he exercises his role as shepherd of the universal Church.

Pope Leo XIV Consistory: A Return to Synodal Fraternity

Unlike ordinary consistories—typically convened to approve canonizations or create new cardinals—this extraordinary consistory serves a more pastoral and strategic purpose. It echoes Pope Francis’s 2022 extraordinary meeting, which focused on reforming the Roman Curia and strengthening collegial governance. Yet under Leo XIV, the emphasis appears to shift toward spiritual cohesion and unity amid global challenges.

“The consistory is situated within the life and mission of the Church,” the Vatican clarified, “and its purpose is to reinforce communion between the Bishop of Rome and the cardinals, who are called to collaborate in care for the good of the universal Church.”

This framing reflects a broader trend in recent papal leadership: moving away from centralized authority toward synodal discernment—a process where bishops, clergy, and even laity contribute to Church direction through listening and dialogue. Pope Leo XIV, who assumed the papacy in late 2025 following the death of his predecessor, has signaled continuity with this vision while placing renewed emphasis on doctrinal clarity and global solidarity.

Notably, this will be Leo XIV’s second consistory overall, after presiding over an ordinary session on June 13, 2025, focused on canonization causes. But the upcoming extraordinary gathering carries greater symbolic weight, as it gathers the Church’s highest-ranking advisors not to decide procedural matters, but to pray, reflect, and walk together in service of a world grappling with war, inequality, ecological crisis, and spiritual disorientation.

Read the Vatican’s official statement on the consistory (Holy See Press Office)

The event also underscores the evolving role of cardinals in the modern Church. Once primarily princes of the Church with political influence, today’s cardinals are increasingly expected to be pastoral leaders, bridge-builders, and voices for the marginalized—from Africa and Asia to Latin America and conflict zones in Eastern Europe. Their counsel during this consistory could shape Leo XIV’s priorities for the next phase of his pontificate, including potential reforms to Church governance, missionary strategy, and engagement with secular societies.

Geopolitical Context: The Catholic Church as a Global Moral Actor

The Pope Leo XIV consistory arrives at a time when religious institutions are being called upon to mediate escalating global tensions. With wars raging in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, democratic backsliding in multiple regions, and rising xenophobia, the Catholic Church remains one of the few global entities with moral authority, transnational infrastructure, and diplomatic reach.

The Vatican’s network of nuncios (ambassadors) in over 180 countries allows it to function as a discreet but influential peacemaker—recently facilitating prisoner exchanges and humanitarian corridors. A unified College of Cardinals, aligned with the Pope’s vision, strengthens this capacity.

Moreover, as secularism advances in the West and religious nationalism surges elsewhere, the Church faces internal pressures. In Europe and North America, debates over liturgy, gender, and doctrine have deepened divides. In the Global South, meanwhile, Catholicism is growing rapidly—yet often with demands for greater autonomy and cultural relevance.

The consistory offers Leo XIV a chance to balance these dynamics—affirming universal teachings while empowering local Churches to respond to their unique contexts. It also signals to the world that the Vatican remains committed to dialogue over division, even as other global institutions fracture.

Explore the role of the Holy See in international diplomacy via the United Nations

Critically, the meeting occurs just months before the 2026 Synod on Synodality’s final assembly, a landmark process launched under Pope Francis to reimagine Church governance. The January consistory may serve as a strategic preview, allowing cardinals to align on key themes—such as lay participation, ecological justice, and digital evangelization—before broader consultations conclude.

For observers beyond Catholicism, the event is a reminder that spiritual leadership still shapes geopolitics. When the Pope and his cardinals speak with one voice on issues like climate action, migration, or nuclear disarmament, their words carry weight far beyond the pews.

In this light, the Pope Leo XIV consistory is not merely an internal Church affair. It is a global moral gathering—one that could influence the ethical direction of international discourse in the years ahead.

Review historical context of papal consistories from the Vatican Secret Archives

A Pontificate Defined by Communion

Pope Leo XIV, whose chosen name evokes both the reforming spirit of Leo XIII and the ecumenical legacy of John XXIII, has made “communion” a cornerstone of his early papacy. In his first Christmas Urbi et Orbi message, he spoke of the Church as “a house of open doors, not closed borders,” and called for “a revolution of tenderness” in response to global indifference.

The January consistory embodies this vision. By inviting cardinals not just to advise, but to pray and discern together, Leo XIV reaffirms that leadership in the Church flows not from power, but from shared spiritual journeying.

As the bells of St. Peter’s echo on January 7, the world will be watching—not for declarations or decrees, but for a quieter, more profound signal: that even in an age of fragmentation, unity remains possible when rooted in faith, humility, and mutual care.

Si terrà nei giorni 7 e 8 gennaio 2026. A riferirlo @HolySeePress. Si tratterà di due giornate all’insegna della preghiera, della riflessione e della condivisione per offrire sostegno e consiglio al Pontefice#VaticanNewsIT

Leggi qui ⬇️https://t.co/M0uoXryqvM

— Vatican News (@vaticannews_it) December 20, 2025

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According to reports from Syria TV, two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle opened fire on passersby and several businesses in the area, killing two civilians and wounding four others, including a 15-year-old.

The source pointed out that security forces were deployed to the area to pursue those responsible for the attack, although no official statement has yet been issued detailing the circumstances of the incident or confirming any arrests.

This attack comes a day after two brothers were murdered inside a jewelry store in the city of Aleppo, where a robbery was also reported.

In recent weeks, several Syrian provinces have been the scene of violent incidents, including killings and armed attacks, in a context marked by the proliferation of weapons in the hands of civilians and unidentified groups.

Local sources state that many of these incidents are linked to robberies, personal disputes, or acts of revenge, while investigations to determine responsibility continue.

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Authorities stated in a bulletin that they are maintaining active epidemiological surveillance systems and continuous monitoring of respiratory viruses nationwide.

“The case was identified promptly, and the patient is under medical supervision, following the established protocols for this type of respiratory infection,” the Ministry affirmed.

Given the presence of this and other viruses, they reiterated to the public the importance of maintaining preventive measures, such as frequent handwashing, wearing a mask if experiencing respiratory symptoms, and seeking timely medical attention at health centers if any warning signs appear.

Currently, the Ministry is promoting a free influenza vaccination campaign at health centers, especially for priority groups.

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The attack is being carried out in response to the deaths of two US soldiers in a recent attack near the city of Palmyra in central Syria.

A US official stated that fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery participated in the bombing of multiple Daesh targets in various areas of central Syria, including weapons depots and facilities used to support the extremist group’s operations.

The official pointed out that the air and artillery strikes lasted for several hours and described them as a large-scale operation.

For his part, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hagseth clarified that the action does not mark the beginning of a war, but rather a reprisal, and assured that Washington will not hesitate to defend its personnel.

In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that more than 100 precision-guided munitions were used to attack more than 70 ISIS sites in central Syria, using artillery, aircraft, and helicopters.

The statement specified that the Jordanian Air Force provided support for the operation.

Syrian state media reported, citing local sources, that the international coalition airstrikes targeted positions of the extremist group in the Maadan Desert, in Raqqa province, the Hamad Desert, in Deir Ezzor, and in the Jabal al-Amour area.

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Speaking at the opening of the plenary session of the 67th Mercosur Summit of Heads of State in this southern city, Lula affirmed that the union is an example of how to take care of both the economy and the population.

“At this time of great global turbulence, Mercosur sets an example of how we can continue to practice multilateralism, safeguarding the growth of our economies and improving the lives of the people we represent,” he stated.

The meeting marks the end of Brazil’s rotating presidency of the mechanism, which will pass to Paraguay. “I hope we have six months of a good harvest, good fruits, and good international agreements. I can assure you that the world is eager to reach agreements with Mercosur,” he affirmed.

And without a doubt, he emphasized, “we will be able to achieve, during this period, the agreements that were not achieved during my presidency.”

The agreement has been under discussion for 26 years and seeks to create a broad free trade zone between the countries of both blocs.

The negotiations concluded in December 2024, but the formalization of the treaty is facing resistance from some European nations, and specially farmers that occupied the streets of Brussels to protest the agreement.

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“On December 21, 2025, in St. Petersburg, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, will participate in the meeting of the Eurasian Supreme Economic Council,” the Kremlin statement released to the press.

During the summit, key issues on the agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and further deepening of integration processes are scheduled to be discussed, as well as the adoption of several documents, including the possible signing of a free trade agreement between the EAEU and Indonesia.

The following day, December 22, at the initiative of the Russian president, St. Petersburg will host an informal meeting of the heads of state of the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the press service indicated.

Furthermore, during his stay in the city, Putin will hold a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of several countries, the Kremlin statement noted.

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Albin is the leader of the family clan known as Los Albin, accused of crimes including organizing drug trafficking activities, smuggling, and money laundering.

Albin will be held in pretrial detention for 120 days while the Prosecutor’s Office continues its investigation.

The drug trafficking charge stems from the seizure of 2,000 kilograms of cocaine, which were confiscated in August on the outskirts of the capital.

The shipment is linked to fugitive Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastian Marset, wanted by the justice systems of several countries.

Authorities believe that Los Albin traffic drugs sent by the criminal group headed by Marset.

Fernandez Albin is also linked to the attacks on the headquarters of the National Rehabilitation Institute and the home of Attorney General Monica Ferrero.

He is also connected to acts of violence between gangs vying for control of the drug trade in the area.

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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.

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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.”

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Cuba is participating in CITM 2025 with a delegation headed by the First Deputy Minister of Tourism, Jorge Alberto Garcia. More than a thousand tour operators and representatives from 101 countries and regions have gathered in Hainan province for Asia’s largest and most influential tourism trade show.

This is the first time the event has been held on Hainan Island since its inception in 2001, having previously taken place alternately in the cities of Shanghai and Kunming, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The organizers specified that this year’s edition has the theme “Hello China” and the exhibition covers an area of ​​65,000 square meters and features five thematic areas.

The event includes national and international pavilions, the Hainan Sun area, the inbound tourism consumption zone, and the culture-tourism integration area.

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The presentation will take place at 11:00 a.m. local time on Calle de Madera, on one side of Plaza de Armas, across from the City Museum in Old Havana.

This work is a collection of “short stories in which poetry, absurdity, and strangeness combine with a surprising economy of means to showcase the craft of a storyteller,” according to the ICL.

The author began writing this book in the 1980s—it took him about thirteen years to complete—and “in a way, he sets it up as a small tribute to Franz Kafka and Julio Cortazar, his two cult writers,” the press release states.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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While the Syrian government and the international community are working to consolidate stability in the Middle East, Israel persists in undermining it, Alabi stated during a Security Council session dedicated to examining the report of the mission that visited Syria and Lebanon.

According to the Syria TV website, the Syrian diplomat denounced Israel for violating international law and Security Council resolutions while Damascus respects them.

Alabi emphasized the need for Syrian security forces to be present on the border with Israel to reinforce state control over that area.

In that context, he noted that the security situation in Syria has improved significantly and that more than three million refugees and displaced persons returned to their homes after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government on December 8, 2014.

Since 1967, Israel has maintained control of the main water resources in southern Syria following the occupation of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau rich in freshwater.

From the end of 2014 to the present, Tel Aviv’s military actions against Syrian territory have intensified as part of a campaign launched in 2018 under the pretext of combating the presence of Iran and allied militias.

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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“This is the beginning of the erosion of democracy and the Rule of Law. Without checks and balances among powers, a dangerous path is opened. I hope the right wing is not tempted,” legislator Lorena Fries, of the Frente Amplio (Broad Front-FA), wrote on her X profile.

Fries added that the proposal breaks with one of the pillars of the system, which is precisely the existence of the three branches of the State and the controls between them.

The bill was introduced by independent lawmaker Gapar Rivas, a former member of the conservative Partido de la Gente (People’s Party), and proposes that if Parliament rejects a presidential message or introduces modifications that alter its essence, the president would be empowered to dissolve it.

In that case, the president could continue governing by decree with the force of law for the next six months.

“The initiative is extremely serious and, if approved, would imply a great deterioration for democracy. Chile does not need it,” FA lawmaker Emilia Schneider stated on social media.

The proposal generated rejection from members of parties of several political tendencies.

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In a statement, the organization held international organizations operating in the Gaza Strip, Israel, and the United States responsible for the lives of the residents who died due to a bomb explosion.

It stated that leaving the inhabitants of the territory to die amid unexploded ordnance raises questions about the role of these groups and is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention and its annexes.

Civil Defenders criticized the work of the so-called US Coordination Center in Gaza.

The organization underscored that despite several conversations we have held with them, we have seen no impact or results to date.

Julius van der Walt, Chief of the United Nations Mine Action Programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, stressed last week that “more than two years of intense Israeli attacks” have resulted in widespread contamination with explosive materials in the coastal enclave.

Van Der Walt noted that this situation not only affects its inhabitants but also the delivery of humanitarian aid and makes reconstruction efforts extremely dangerous.

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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.

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“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.

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The Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation issued a statement urging the US government not to proceed with its escalation of aggression against Venezuela and to avoid committing “a fatal mistake” that would jeopardize regional peace.

In a statement released on Thursday, December 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry added that it remains attentive to the “continuous and deliberate escalation of tension against our friend, Venezuela.”

“We hope that the Donald Trump administration will adopt a rational and pragmatic approach and will not make a fatal mistake and will refrain from continuing to slide toward a situation that threatens unpredictable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere,” the official document stated.

Russia stated that it has “special concern” about the decisions taken by the US president regarding the total blockade of vessels entering and leaving Venezuela in order to prevent the country from trading its oil, a measure that poses “a threat to international navigation.”

In the context of the imperialist aggression faced by the Venezuelan people, Russia recalled the words of Liberator Simón Bolívar: “every people has the right to choose their own rulers, and other nations must respect that choice.”

Russia advocates for US-Venezuela dialogue
In light of the events of recent days, Russia reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of Venezuela and the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

💬 #Zakharova:

We note Washington’s deliberate escalation of tensions around Venezuela.

❗️ Russia consistently advocates the normalization of dialogue between Washington & Caracas.

🇷🇺🇻🇪 We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people & the Government of @NicolasMaduro. pic.twitter.com/rEKeDOR6eV

— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) December 18, 2025

It also emphasized the need to take “appropriate” steps to find solutions to existing problems and discrepancies, respecting the norms of international law.

In this regard, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia calls on “all parties to exercise restraint in order to avoid an unpredictable evolution of the situation.”

President Maduro Says Trump’s Actions Reveal True Intentions for Venezuela, Calls for Great Colombia Unity Amid More Killings at Sea (+Petro)

Emergency UNSC meeting scheduled
The spokesperson for the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations, Laura Miklic, announced that the emergency meeting requested by Venezuela at the UN Security Council has been scheduled for coming Tuesday, December 23.

“I confirm that the Security Council presidency has scheduled a meeting on Venezuela on Tuesday, December 23,” she said on Thursday, December 18.

The permanent representative of Venezuela to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, had urgently requested this meeting from the presidency of the Security Council, which is held by Slovenia, following the latest declaration of a total naval blockade against Venezuela and threats of military attacks made by the US government.

(Últimas Noticias) with Orinoco Tribune content

OT/SC/DZ

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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.

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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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By Pablo Meriguet – Dec 17, 2025

Two weeks after elections in Honduras, no winner has yet been declared yet. As the irregularities grow, both the Liberal Party and LIBRE have denounced electoral fraud is being committed in favor of the far-right candidate.

After a five-day hiatus and more than two weeks since the elections, the Honduran National Electoral Council (CNE) has resumed counting votes in an electoral process that has been widely questioned by various political forces on the left and right in Honduras. According to the CNE, several technical problems are hindering the count.

According to official data, the candidate of the National Party of Honduras (PNH), right-wing Nasry Asfura (backed, among others, by US President Donald Trump) maintains a slight but sustained lead (40.53%) over television presenter Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party of Honduras (PLH) (39.21%).

Thus, Asfura would have 1,302,264 votes in his favor, while Nasralla would have 1,258,580. For her part, the ruling party’s candidate, leftist Rixi Moncada of the Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE), obtained 19.3%.

Moncada and LIBRE denounced that the electoral process was marred by foreign interference (pressure from Trump) and irregularities in the process. But it is not only the ruling party that has severely questioned the elections.

Nasralla denounces “fraud”
Candidate Nasralla said in an interview with CNN that “fraud in the vote count” had been committed: “Today they are stealing from the place where the ballot boxes with the votes are located. Representatives of the National Party turned off the cameras and prevented representatives of the Liberal Party from entering.”

He also directly accused the PNH, which governed Honduras between 2010 and 2022, of being behind a possible fraud plot: “[The CNE] must review vote by vote the ballot boxes that we have claimed from the Liberal Party of Honduras, which are more than 14,000 (2,773 in a special count that begins today at 7 a.m.) of the 19,167 in which they cheated. If they do not, voters in Honduras and around the world will know that the Honduran elections are not decided by the people with their votes, but by the organized crime that ruled from 2010 to 2022.”

Likewise,a congressional commission has severely questioned the way in which the vote count has been conducted and announced that if the irregularities are proven, they will not validate the November 30 election: “We denounce the existence of an ongoing electoral coup… We absolutely condemn the interference of US President Donald Trump.”

Defense of the results
For its part, the observer mission of the Organization of American States called for the recount to resume immediately. “The mission urgently calls on the electoral authorities to immediately begin the special recount and to seek all possible means to obtain the official results in the shortest time possible… The current delay in processing and publishing the results is unjustifiable,”said Eladio Loizaga, head of the mission, during a special session of the OAS Permanent Council.

The President of the CNE, Ana Hall, defends the actions of the institution she presides over andaffirms that the highest electoral body is being intimidated: “Today, I have ratified that I reject the intimidation tactics that are being used and that I will stand in the way of those who seek to prevent the declaration of the General Elections.”

Trump’s Interference Invalidates the Presidential Election in Honduras

The specter of fraud
Candidate Asfura, who currently holds a slight lead, has requested that the review of the records be made public and televised: “Let there be no doubt about the results, [so that the new government] can work in peace and tranquility.”

Asfura knows that the delay in officially announcing the results, in addition to allegations of fraud by his two main opponents, undermines the legitimacy of his possible victory. It is one thing for one of Honduras’ three major political parties to reject the results. It is quite another for two parties, which together account for almost 60% of the votes cast, to do so.

It has not been many years since a large part of the political spectrum denounced alleged electoral fraud in 2017 that gave victory to Juan Orlando Hernández (2014-2022) of the PNH, the same party that today supports Asfura. After the elections, there were major demonstrations that left dozens injured and several dead. Despite this, Hernández took office as president and completed his term after a series of questions about the persecution of left-wing leaders.

After his term,Hernández was investigated, charged, and sentenced to more than 40 years in prison in the United States for being part of a drug trafficking network that allegedly trafficked several tons of drugs into the country. Despite this, Trump pardoned Hernández, who is currently out of prison in the United States.

President Castro denounces attempted coup
According to Honduran President Xiomara Castro, Juan Orlando Hernández’s release could have more serious implications. As she stated in X, Hernández’s upcoming entry into the Central American country is intended to launch a “coup d’état”: “I report with historical responsibility that, based on verified intelligence information, Juan Orlando Hernández, pardoned in the US, is planning his entry into the country to proclaim the winner of the elections while an attack is underway aimed at breaking the constitutional and democratic order through a coup against my government.”

She also called on the Honduran people to defend the Republic and the constitutional order: “In light of this grave situation, I urgently request the conscious and peaceful support of the Honduran people. I call on the people, social movements, collectives, grassroots organizations, activists, and citizens to gather urgently and peacefully in Tegucigalpa to defend the popular mandate, reject any coup attempt, and make it clear to the world that a new coup is brewing here.”

Several demonstrations by LIBRE activists and other social movements have taken place. In response, the police have deployed heavy-handed repression, which was condemned by Castro, who has requested an investigation and the dismissal of the law enforcement officers who participated in the repression.

(Peoples Dispatch)

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“Ukraine’s membership in the Atlantic Alliance, as well as the d eployment of NATO military contingents and offensive weapons on its territory, is absolutely unacceptable to us. We have repeatedly stated and explained our stance on this matter; it is well known,” Grushko told Sputnik on Friday.

Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic prospects are one of the most controversial issues that negotiators from Kyiv, Brussels, and Washington are trying to resolve these days to finalize a peace plan acceptable to Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and entrepreneur Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, held talks in Berlin on December 14 to reach an agreement on the conflict in Ukraine.

A 20-point plan was discussed for five hours, and Witkoff later informed that some progress had been made.

At the conclusion of these consultations, European Union leaders proposed sending a multinational force to Ukraine and ensuring that its armed forces maintain a minimum of 800,000 troops.

It also aims to counter national security risks posed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s eastward expansion.

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