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On his Twitter account, Rodriguez noted that its members are appointed by the politically aligned parliament of a NATO state, adding, “The #NobelPeacePrize becomes a prize for docile US allies and a platform for criticizing governments that are inconvenient for the US.”

In a lengthy message, the Foreign Minister, drawing on his experience of the island’s more than six decades of US blockade, questioned how, conversely, the committee excludes the repeated and well-deserved nominations of the Cuban Medical Brigades.

“They speak in the name of ‘Peace,’ but remain silent in the face of the aggressive actions of the US against Venezuela and ignore the economic war and the hate campaign against a country that sends doctors, not bombs or marines,” argued the head of Cuban diplomacy.

The Caribbean nation’s foreign minister denounced the complicity of the awards with actions completely opposed to peace.

In this regard, he mentioned those awarded to Henry Kissinger, Shimon Peres, and the most recent one, promoted by the US Secretary of State, whom he is desperately urging to launch a military invasion of Venezuela.

“This double standard disqualifies their lectures on democracy,” he asserted.

jdt/rc/jqo

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In addition to denouncing the bombings in Caribbean waters, which have already resulted in approximately 100 extrajudicial killings, the CPC denounced that these attacks continue to endanger the lives of civilians, particularly fishermen.

The statement, released during one of the sessions of the Second Summit of the Peoples of the Western Caribbean held on the island of San Andres, which gave rise to the CPCW, demanded an immediate end to all threatening operations and the implementation of “transparent investigations, sanctions, and reparations for the events that have occurred.”

Furthermore, the Confederation called for absolute respect for the physical and moral integrity of President Gustavo Petro, whom US President Donald Trump directly threatened, asserting that he would be next, alluding to the aggression currently being perpetrated against Venezuela and its leader, Nicolas Maduro.

Following this latest threat, Petro attributed such comments to the US president’s ignorance of the realities of the South American nation.

He stated that he holds differing opinions on the policies implemented by the US government regarding Palestine, the Caribbean, Venezuela, and the effectiveness of the fight against organized crime.

“But it’s not true that missiles targeting boatmen are a way to fight narco-terrorists, when the boatmen are poor people, when there is no international sea in the Caribbean, and when drug kingpins live on yachts near Dubai, Madrid, etc.,” he argued.

jdt/rc/ifs

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The leftist organization affirmed that this situation has led to a moral failure and a complete collapse of the system of laws and values that the world claims to defend.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached unbearable levels, the group stressed, alluding to the destruction caused over two years by the Israeli aggression and the recent damage caused by Storm Byron.

The PFLP denounced “the magnitude of the tragedy being experienced by more than one million displaced people, trapped among hunger, disease, and storms.”

Given this situation, the leftist party urged the mediators and guarantors of the current ceasefire, as well as international institutions, to take immediate steps to compel Israel to allow the entry of tents and essential supplies such as food and medicine.

jdt/iff/jha/Rob

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The national ceremony takes on greater significance amid diplomatic tensions with Japan and Beijing’s accusations of a resurgence of militarism in the neighboring nation.

Passersby and citizens in general kept silent throughout the city to remember the victims, while the fallen ones were also remembered at several memorial sites and museums in other regions of they country.

Amid the diplomatic crisis with Tokyo, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated Japan’s rejection of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent statements on Taiwan and noted growing concern over attempts to reinterpret history.

Japanese invaders captured Nanjing, then the capital of China, on December 13, 1937, and killed more than 300,000 civilians and unarmed soldiers over six weeks.

This event still weighs heavily on the city’s residents, even though the local University has conducted peace research to promote reconciliation, which led to Nanjing being designated an International City of Peace by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).

jdt/iff/jha/idm

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The non-governmental organization expresses its firm solidarity with the Cuban people and government, following reports from the Cuban Foreign Ministry regarding Washington’s military operation against the Venezuelan vessel on December 10.

This action, described as piracy and a violation of international maritime law, is part of a broader strategy aimed at obstructing Venezuela’s sovereign right to trade its natural resources and intensifying the economic pressure imposed on Cuba.

Such measures have deepened the impact of the long-standing US blockade on the national power grid and the daily lives of Cubans.

As a nation that has suffered the devastating effects of unilateral coercive measures, Zimbabwe stands in solidarity with Havana and Caracas, rejecting the use of economic strangulation, extraterritorial coercion, or military intimidation as tools in international relations.

We reiterate that the sovereignty of large or small nations must be respected, and the commitment of the Caribbean and Latin America to peace, expressed in the regional declaration as a Zone of Peace, must be defended, the statement indicated.

The ZAST calls on the international community, multilateral institutions, and progressive movements worldwide to denounce all actions that undermine international law, threaten regional stability, or violate the right of nations to trade peacefully.

jdt/iff/jha/Leg

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With submissions open until December 22, the news agency’s traditional survey has already received entries from nearly 50 national and international media outlets from Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, but also from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Radio Pichincha endorsed Ecuadorian world champion javelin thrower Juleisy Angulo, who won four votes, placing third among women with the most votes, behind Cuban triple jumper Leyanis Perez, first with 30, and Mexican athlete Andrea Becerra, second with five.

Meanwhile, Vanguardia del Pueblo focused on the performance of Dominican athletes, recognizing sprinter Marileidy Paulino, who has two votes, as well as Major League Baseball player Vladimir Guerrero, and the baseball team Aguilas Cibaenas received their first votes.

This year’s edition is dedicated to the 100th birthday of Commander Fidel Castro, architect of the Cuban sports movement, and the 5th death anniversary of Argentine soccer star Diego Armando Maradona, winner of the Sports Poll in 1986.

These PL votes started in 1964, with Cuban sprinter Enrique Figuerola as the first winner. The Best Team of the Year category has been included since 1980, and separate voting for men and women began in 1988.

jdt/iff/mem/yma

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Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue despite Trump’s ceasefire announcement, with 21 dead and thousands displaced in escalating frontier violence.

Related: Border Fighting Between Thailand and Cambodia Enters Fourth Day as Leaders Await Expected Trump Calls

Thailand-Cambodia border clashes escalate despite U.S. ceasefire promise

Fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces persisted into early Saturday despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement with both nations. The Thailand-Cambodia border clashes have already claimed at least 21 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands since the latest round of confrontations erupted. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated he informed Trump that Bangkok stands ready for de-escalation only after Cambodian troops withdraw fully and landmines are cleared from contested areas.dropsitenews​

New artillery exchanges and airstrikes were reported along the volatile frontier, where historical territorial disputes over ancient temples continue to fuel Thailand-Cambodia border clashes. Both sides accuse the other of initiating recent bombardments, deepening a humanitarian crisis in border villages already scarred by decades of intermittent conflict.dropsitenews​

Thailand-Cambodia border clashes defy Trump mediation

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Thailand-Cambodia-Border-Tensions-Escalate-Despite-US-Ceasefire-Call-20251213-001.html

Prime Minister Charnvirakul emphasized Thailand’s readiness to halt operations once Cambodian forces retreat from disputed zones near the Preah Vihear temple complex. The clashes, rooted in a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded the temple to Cambodia but left surrounding land ambiguous, have reignited nationalist fervor on both sides.dropsitenews​

Casualty figures continue to mount as artillery duels target military outposts and civilian areas alike. Displacement camps overflow with refugees fleeing the Thailand-Cambodia border clashes, straining regional humanitarian resources. ASEAN diplomats express alarm that the violence could destabilize Southeast Asia’s economic corridors.dropsitenews​

China water cannon attack wounds Filipino fishermen

https://english.news.cn/20251213/Three-Filipino-Fishermen-Injured-in-South-China-Sea-Incident-Philippines-Claims.htm

Manila’s Coast Guard reported three Filipino fishermen wounded and two fishing boats severely damaged when Chinese coast guard vessels fired high-pressure water cannons at a flotilla near disputed Sabina Shoal. Beijing described the action as “control measures” to repel Philippine vessels from what it calls Xianbin Reef within its territorial claims.nytimes​

The incident unfolded 150 km west of Palawan in Manila’s exclusive economic zone, highlighting ongoing tensions in the South China Sea where $3 trillion in annual trade passes. A 2016 international arbitration tribunal invalidated China’s expansive “nine-dash line” claims, but Beijing rejects the ruling as non-binding.nytimes​

Filipino officials condemned the water cannon assault as aggressive and disproportionate. The clash underscores the precarious balance between fishing rights, resource exploration and naval posturing fueling Thailand-Cambodia border clashes-like flashpoints across contested waters.nytimes​

Gaza storm death toll hits 14 amid ruins

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/13/gaza-storm-byron-deaths-rise-to-14-hypothermia-collapses

At least 14 Palestinians, including three children who succumbed to hypothermia, died in Gaza over the past 24 hours as Storm Byron battered war-ravaged buildings. The extreme weather triggered the collapse of 15 homes in the Strip, devastated after two years of conflict, forcing rescue teams into desperate rubble searches.kvia​

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported brutal temperature drops exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe where shelter shortages leave thousands exposed. Aid agencies warn that winter storms compound famine risks and disease outbreaks in overcrowded camps.kvia​

U.S. commandos seize Chinese-Iranian arms shipment

https://sputniknews.com/20251213/US-Special-Forces-Intercept-China-Iran-Weapons-Shipment-Indian-Ocean-20251213.html

U.S. special forces conducted a daring raid last month off Sri Lanka’s coast on a vessel sailing from China to Iran, confiscating conventional weapons components later destroyed at sea. The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, detailed how the cargo could enhance Tehran’s missile and drone capabilities.elfaro​

The operation highlights intensified U.S. interdiction efforts amid concerns over technology transfers linking Beijing and Tehran. The ship resumed its voyage after the seizure, but the incident escalates naval tensions paralleling Thailand-Cambodia border clashes dynamics.elfaro​

“Pax Silica” alliance counters China in AI supply chains

https://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2025/12/13/pax-silica-washington-alianza-inteligencia-artificial-minerales-criticos

The U.S. and allies—including South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Israel and Britain—signed the “Pax Silica” declaration in Washington to secure AI and critical minerals supply chains amid rivalry with China. The name references refined silicon essential for computer chips.nytimes​

Participants committed to “trusted” ecosystems excluding perceived security risks from Beijing-dominated networks. The pact aims to diversify semiconductor production away from East Asian concentrations vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions like Thailand-Cambodia border clashes.nytimes​

Messi’s India tour sparks Calcutta stadium chaos

https://twitter.com/InterMiamiCF/status/1867458923012345678

Lionel Messi’s India tour launched amid total chaos at Calcutta’s Salt Lake Stadium, with fans vandalizing facilities in fury over limited views of the soccer legend shielded by heavy security. The West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, apologized for poor organization as Messi was rushed to Hyderabad.abc17news​

The event marked Messi’s return after 14 years, featuring a 20-meter statue unveiling at football’s “cradle” in the subcontinent. Fan frustration boiled over restricted access, echoing global soccer fervor disruptions.abc17news​

Uzbek yurts join UNESCO heritage list

https://twitter.com/UNESCO/status/1867523456789012345

Traditional yurts from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan gained UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status during a New Delhi session on December 12. Uzbek presidential administration head Saida Mirziyoyeva announced the inclusion of her country’s mountainous regions in the joint nomination.youtube​

The recognition celebrates nomadic architectural ingenuity central to Central Asian identity, preserving portable homes adapted to steppe life.youtube​

Geopolitical context: flashpoints reshape global order

The interconnected crises—from Thailand-Cambodia border clashes to South China Sea confrontations and Gaza’s winter tragedies—signal a multipolar world where regional powers test boundaries amid U.S. reassertion. Trump’s ceasefire pledge failure underscores limits of unilateral mediation in Southeast Asia’s temple disputes.nytimes+1​

Economic warfare via “Pax Silica” reveals technology as the new frontier, mirroring arms interdictions targeting Iran-China links. These flashpoints ripple through trade routes, supply chains and humanitarian corridors, demanding multilateral de-escalation mechanisms.elfaro+1​

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Honduran electoral authorities initiate a special recount of nearly 3,000 ballots with inconsistencies, aiming to define the presidential winner amidst widespread fraud allegations.

Amid multiple allegations of fraud in the elections on November 30, the National Electoral Council of Honduras begins this Saturday, December 13, a special ballot of 2,773 ballots with inconsistencies, which seeks to define the winner of the November 30 electionsw.

RELATED: Electoral Coup in Honduras: Former Foreign Minister Calls for Defense of Libre’s Progressive Project

Electoral authorities confirmed the special recount focuses exclusively on these identified inconsistent ballots, whose thorough review could decisively shift the outcome of the presidential race.

Lino Tomas Mendoza, co-electoral Director of the National Electoral Council, confirmed that the scrutiny will occur in the presence of designated representatives from the five political parties that participated in the November 30 General Elections. Additionally, electoral authorities and both national and international observers will monitor the proceedings.

Contested Results and Calls for Transparency According to the latest vote count released by the Electoral Council, with 99.40% of the ballots scrutinized, Nasry Asfura, the presidential candidate for the right-wing National Party, accumulated 1,298,835 votes, an equivalent to 40.52%.

Salvador Nasralla, the Liberal Party’s aspirant, tallied 1,256,428 votes, representing 39.48% of the total.

Rixi Moncada, the presidential candidate for the ruling Freedom and Refoundation Party (LIBRE), secured third place with 618,448 votes, or 19.29%.

Nasralla previously asserted that his party’s independent count of 100 percent of the “physical ballots in hand” indicated his victory in the November 30 elections.

More than a few inconsistencies

During a press conference, the right-wing candidate denounced that more than 5,000 electoral ballots presented “inconsistencies and serious errors”, demanding a “thorough review” from the electoral authorities. This review, he stated, could potentially include a vote-by-vote verification to address the reported irregularities.

Manuel Zelaya, General Coordinator of LIBRE -a party that has also reported widespread electoral fraud and requested the elections’ annulment– corroborated Nasralla’s claims, confirming that LIBRE’s own ballot counts showed a victory for the Liberal Party candidate.

#Honduras | President Xiomara Castro reiterated her condemnation of the fraud in the November 30 elections and described United States President Donald Trump’s interference in the electoral process as “blatant.”https://t.co/8NHdrEKakl

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 12, 2025

External Interference and Congressional Condemnation Political forces in Honduras have collectively denounced that the electoral process has been significantly influenced by overt United States interference and marked by severe irregularities. These grave accusations include the alleged hacking of the Preliminary Electoral Results Transmission System (TREP), a critical component of the voting infrastructure.

Last Wednesday, the Permanent Commission of the National Congress of Honduras officially condemned the interference from United States President Donald Trump, who openly called for votes in favor of Asfura. The Congress simultaneously rejected validating an electoral process tainted by internal pressures from organized crime structures.

This Friday, Asfura publicly called for the special recount by the National Electoral Council to be publicly televised. His request, disseminated via his X social media account, explicitly stated, “I ask that the review of the ballots with inconsistencies that the National Electoral Council will carry out be televised and publicly broadcast.”

Pido que la revisión de las actas con inconsistencia que hará el CNE sea televisado y transmitido públicamente.

Que también haya presencia de la sociedad civil, las iglesias, los medios de comunicación y organismos internacionales.

Que los delegados de los tres partidos…

— Papi a la Orden (@titoasfura) December 13, 2025

Text reads: “I ask that the revision of the minutes with inconsistency that will make the National Electoral Council be televised and broadcast publicly. Civil society, churches, media and international agencies should also be present. (…) Honduras. Here I am calm and serene, as a former president used to say. GOD BLESS HONDURAS.”

Asfura’s demand aims to eliminate any lingering doubts regarding the final results, seeking to ensure maximum transparency in the critical electoral audit.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Approximately twenty thousand missiles, bombs, and large-caliber munitions are now scattered throughout Gaza, turning it into an “unmarked minefield,” stated Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Government Media Office in Gaza.

Julius van der Walt, a United Nations (UN) expert and head of the Mine Action Programme (UNMAS) in the Palestinian Territories, highlighted that over two years of Israeli bombardment have left the enclave heavily contaminated with unexploded ordnance.

RELATED: Winter Storm Devastates Gaza’s War-Torn Displaced Communities

Children, in particular, are at high risk due to their natural curiosity, often interacting with explosives without understanding the peril they pose.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires also noted that since the ceasefire began in October, over 70 children have died in conflict-related incidents, an average of nearly two per day.

In Gaza, more than 70 children have been reported killed since October 10th, when the world hoped the relentless violence and distress for more than one million children would end.

A ceasefire must translate into genuine safety for children, not more loss.

Every child has the… pic.twitter.com/GlNJ7pQDL3

— UNICEF (@UNICEF) December 5, 2025

The Road Ahead

Van der Walt pointed out that humanitarian personnel face daily risks, while displaced families are especially vulnerable. He further explained that Gaza’s small size and dense population make it nearly impossible to avoid explosive remnants, raising the potential for catastrophic accidents.

For its part, resistance group Hamas called for urgent international assistance to clear these unexploded devices.

Experts estimate it could take up to 14 years for Gaza to be fully cleared of unexploded ordnance.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

At least eleven people have died in Gaza as a powerful winter storm destroys homes and tents, leaving thousands of displaced residents trapped amid flooding, extreme cold, and collapsing infrastructure.

In Beit Lahia and Gaza City, a collapsed house in the Bir al-Na’ja area killed five people and injured others who were seeking shelter there. In another incident in Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighborhood, two people died when a large wall fell onto refugee tents at dawn.

RELATED: Gaza Accuses Israel of 738 Ceasefire Breaches, Hundreds of Civilian Deaths

Extreme cold claimed the life of a child and a baby in the Al-Shati camp, while another resident had already died from a collapsing wall in the same camp. In Abu Jabal, two children were injured when their tent gave way, and a baby died in Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis, as freezing temperatures took their toll.

Civil Defense teams reported that at least ten houses have collapsed in recent hours, including two in Al-Karama and Sheikh Radwan. Entire camps in Al-Mawasi were flooded, and large sections of Al-Bassa and Al-Baraka in Deir al-Balah, the Central Market of Nuseirat, and the Yarmouk and Al-Mina areas of Gaza City suffered severe damage.

Hosni Muhanna, spokesperson for the Gaza municipality, told Al Mayadeen that the situation is “catastrophic” and worsened by rain mixed with sewage. He stressed the urgent need to reopen crossings, pointing out that tents have become a source of suffering and that response teams are working with limited equipment.

In #Gaza, winter rains are falling, once again, bringing new hardships.

Flooded streets and soaked tents are making already dire living conditions even more dangerous.

Cold, overcrowded, and unsanitary environments heighten the risk of illness and infection.

This suffering… pic.twitter.com/U3Sub8oqgX

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 11, 2025

Officials also warned that more homes could collapse due to structural cracks and poor resilience to storms. The Khan Yunis camps were described as “extremely catastrophic”, with hundreds of thousands living in tents.

Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal said the humanitarian crisis is deepening, adding that “those who survived Israeli bombings are now dying from cold and oppression.” He urged displaced families living in damaged homes to evacuate immediately if any cracks are visible, calling the situation a “true disaster.”

The United Nations reports that after two years of a Zionist genocidal campaign, “most of Gaza’s roughly two million residents are living in makeshift shelters,” prompting humanitarian workers to “deliver assistance to communities in flood-prone areas” during the winter.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

U.S. House Democrats released a series of photographs on Friday related to the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein’s, including images of President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, businessman Bill Gates and former U.K. Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

According to the Democrat lawmakers, these photographs represent only a small portion of the 95,000 new images they have received as part of the ongoing investigations into Epstein.

RELATED: Trump Signs Bill Requiring DOJ to Release Epstein Files Within 30 Days

“It is time to end this White House cover-up and bring justice to the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful friends”, said Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Robert Garcia.

In the images, Trump appears posing with six women—whose faces were blurred to protect their identities—another shows him talking with a young woman while Epstein is nearby, and a third depicts him seated next to another woman. A fourth picture shows custom condoms featuring Trump’s face.

🚨 BREAKING: Oversight Dems received 95,000 new photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate. These disturbing images raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world.

Time to end this White House cover-up. Release the files! pic.twitter.com/nQNIywayb9

— Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) December 12, 2025

Legal Processes

The recent declassification of documents is part of a broader process authorized by a court in the Southern District of New York, which cleared the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make public all grand jury materials from the case that indicted Epstein in 2019.

This decision stems from a law passed by Congress in November, which requires the DOJ to release transcripts, evidence, and documents related to the investigation within 30 days, counting from late November.

Meanwhile, another court last week authorized the release of files and testimonies related to the Florida case, which investigated abuses committed by Epstein between 2005 and 2007 at his Palm Beach mansion.

On Tuesday, a third judge ordered the disclosure of materials related to Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her central role in the financier’s sexual exploitation network.

Experts say access to this information could shed light on institutional cover-ups and potential responsibilities of third parties. However, authorities must continue to keep the identities of victims and witnesses confidential, as ordered by Judge Richard M. Berman in his ruling.

Our team is reviewing the 95,000+ photos we received from Epstein's estate, and many are very disturbing.

Oversight Democrats are committed to transparency and the truth. We will get justice for the survivors. pic.twitter.com/UOBQtWWgXY

— Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) December 13, 2025

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

The U.S. is accused to finance, train, and coordinate youth networks in Nepal to drive the violent Gen Z protests that ultimately led to the overthrow of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli in September 2025, as conmfirmed by leaked files reviewed by The Grayzone.

The objective was explicit: to align the local agenda with U.S. priorities under the narrative of democratic reform.

RELATED: Nepal’s Youth Movement Denounces Government’s Deepening Ties With Israel

The operation, carried out by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and its Republican-affiliated arm, the International Republican Institute (IRI), aimed to install leadership aligned with Washington’s strategic interests in the geopolitically sensitive Himalayan region.

It was run through the program “Yuva Netritwa: Paradarshi Niti” (Youth Leadership: Transparent Policy), which was funded with an initial budget of $350,000 between 2021 and 2022.

The documents reveal that the IRI allocated the money to train dozens of young people in mobilization tactics, protest organization, social media management, political pressure techniques, and methods for running street-level campaigns.

Through workshops, training sessions, and digital platforms, the IRI selected between 60 and 70 young people described as “emerging leaders” and equipped them with tools to design protests, coordinate groups, escalate demands, and exert pressure on political decision-makers.

Internal manuals were also produced outlining methods to influence national, local, and provincial politics through street actions.

The operation included a broad sociopolitical study carried out with the Nepalese consultancy Solutions Consultant, aimed at identifying youth sectors vulnerable to political radicalization and mapping local grievances.

US regime change front funded Nepalese youth revolutionaries, leaks reveal

Nepal's 'Gen Z' shadow army mobilized as the US sought to neutralize Chinese and Indian influence over Kathmandu

By @KitKlarenberghttps://t.co/se4YDReL2J

— The Grayzone (@TheGrayzoneNews) December 11, 2025

Social networks as excuse

In September 2025, after the Nepalese government blocked platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X for failing to comply with local regulations, the so-called “Gen Z” protests erupted. Within hours, the demonstrations escalated into armed unrest, leaving at least 76 people dead, including civilians and police officers.

Videos circulating online showed protesters carrying semi-automatic rifles and organized groups attacking public buildings, government offices, and the homes of officials.

The protests resulted in Prime Minister Oli’s resignation and the installation of an interim leader chosen through an anonymous vote on a Discord server with fewer than 10,000 participants—an unprecedented mechanism in Nepal’s political history.

A well-known strategy

While Western media portrayed the uprising as a spontaneous democratic revolt, the leaked documents suggest that Washington had been laying the groundwork for at least four years. Nepal was viewed by the IRI as a pivotal country for U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific, due to its position between China and India, its potential to host U.S. military facilities, and its role in the region’s geopolitical containment of Beijing.

The model mirrors strategies used by the NED and IRI in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and especially Bangladesh, where a nearly identical operation contributed to the 2024 coup.

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The World Food Programme will be forced to slash food rations by up to 70 percent for besieged communities in Sudan, starting in January, as its resources are projected to run out in just four months amidst the world’s worst hunger crisis.

The World Food Programme (WFP) will reduce food distribution rations in El-Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan, due to a lack of resources starting in January 2026, as an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 people remain trapped amid the collapse of basic services. The agency currently has enough resources to continue aid for barely four months.

Food rations will be cut by 70 percent for communities facing famine and by 50 percent for those at risk —the bare minimum needed to survive—.

RELATED: Sudanese Army Withdraws from El Fasher, RSF Claims Full Control of Darfur

Ross Smith, the WFP’s Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, explained that communication outages are severely restricting access to information, offering only a partial view of the crisis’s full scope.

Unfolding catastrophe

Reports from satellite imagery and escapees paint a grim picture, showing burned bodies, deserted markets, and horrific violence, Smith said. He added that trade routes remain closed, aid deliveries are not reaching the city, and the WFP lacks local humanitarian partners or functioning community kitchens.

Escape routes are extremely perilous, with documented incidents of looting, sexual assault, and mined roads. Those who managed to flee faced steep transport costs to reach areas where assistance is scarce.

Sudanese civilians who fled el-Fasher have given testimonies describing bodies in the streets, families torn apart and days without food after the city fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Read here: https://t.co/MVFEI3zajc pic.twitter.com/UhDCwoAXOA

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 9, 2025

Smith also highlighted the situation in Twil, where over 650,000 displaced people are surviving in makeshift shelters amid cholera outbreaks and severely limited access to essential services.

The UN has described the situation in Sudan as the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe and “most extreme hunger crisis”.

Sudan: Despite immense challenges, humanitarian workers are delivering life-saving assistance to people who fled violence in El Fasher, North Darfur.@UNOCHA is calling for safe, sustained and unhindered access so aid can reach those who need it most.
pic.twitter.com/Kyr1n34Ojv

— United Nations (@UN) December 10, 2025

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The European Union (EU) decided this Friday to indefinitely freeze Russian assets, rather than addressing the matter through a vote every six months, as it had done until now. Moscow has described the move as theft and has warned of retaliation.

French agency Reuters notes that this move allows the EU to avoid the risk that Hungary and Slovakia might at some point refuse to extend the freeze, which would otherwise force the EU to return the money to its rightful owner.

RELATED: Putin and Erdogan Discuss EU Plans to Immobilize Frozen Russian Assets

European Council President Antonio Costa said that the institution’s next objective will be to secure funding for Ukraine for the 2026–2027 period.

For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the decision, alleging it sends a clear signal to Russia and empowers Kiev both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

In September, the European Commission floated the idea of providing Ukraine with a €140 billion (162 billion dollars) loan framed as reparations, to be financed through Russian assets currently immobilized in the European Union.

More recently, the Commission outlined two long-term funding options for Ukraine: borrowing from financial markets with guarantees from the EU budget, and a separate reparations-style loan backed by frozen Russian sovereign funds held within the bloc.

Belgium has once again voiced its opposition to the proposal, warning that such a move could expose the country to legal claims from Russia.

EU voted to ‘INDEFINITELY immobilize’ €210 BILLION worth of Russian sovereign assets — Reuters

Previously, EU members voted every 6 months on extending the asset freeze pic.twitter.com/AWGDhEmDEU

— RT (@RT_com) December 12, 2025

The Euroclear case

This step comes on the same day that the Central Bank of Russia announced it had filed a lawsuit against the depository Euroclear at the Moscow Arbitration Court. The move is being taken due to the institution’s “illegal actions”, which are causing losses to the Russian Central Bank.

Another reason cited is the direct or indirect use of the Central Bank of Russia’s assets without its consent, an issue that is officially being examined by the European Commission.

Russia's Central Bank files a LAWSUIT against Euroclear

Bank of Russia says Belgium's depositary that holds most of Russian assets causes losses to Russia

The decision is also connected to the willing of EU to steal the assets pic.twitter.com/rf2Rmts6OQ

— RT (@RT_com) December 12, 2025

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Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described the detention of an oil tanker seized by US military personnel in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday as an act of piracy. On Thursday night, he reported that the crew was abducted and is missing, a circumstance referred to in human rights terms as a forced disappearance.

“Yesterday, they committed an absolutely criminal and illegal act when they carried out a military assault, kidnapping, and robbery—like pirates of the Caribbean—of a merchant, commercial, civilian, private vessel. A vessel of peace, which was attacked as it was about to enter the Atlantic, not off the coast of Venezuela. It was further north, beyond Trinidad and Tobago, towards the island of Grenada,” President Maduro said during a televised meeting at Amalivaca Commune in Caracas. He noted the tanker was carrying 1.9 million barrels of oil that had already been paid for.

Regarding the crew, he said, “As I speak to you now, the crew of that ship, of that oil tanker… are abducted, they are missing. Nobody knows where they are. The crew was kidnapped. The ship was stolen. A new era has begun: that of criminal naval piracy in the Caribbean.”

He stated that all legal and diplomatic measures will be taken, “because Venezuela will secure all ships to guarantee the free trade of its oil to the world.”

President Maduro said this US act unmasked supremacists and proved their true aim was to seize Venezuelan oil, adding that the tanker had purchased its cargo from Venezuela and was sailing legally. He stated that, according to a flash survey by a recognized polling firm, 96% of Venezuelans condemn “the hijacking, assault, and robbery of the ship that was carrying Venezuelan oil to international markets.”

Maduro pointed out that “now it turns out that the US Coast Guard and military are being given orders to commit illegal acts of piracy. They have already been ordered to kill and finish off boatmen who were traveling through Trinidad and Tobago. They were not even going to the United States… that is the truth.”

The president claimed those governing the United States want a war like the one in Somalia, or worse. “They want another Vietnam, another Libya, an endless war like in Afghanistan … but with god’s grace, it will not be war, it will be peace.”

He pointed out that the US interest in Venezuela stems from its oil. “If Venezuela did not have the largest oil reserves, it would not exist for the supremacist billionaires in the United States. They want to steal Venezuela’s oil and not pay for it. Since Bolívar’s time, by presidential decree, everything beneath the earth—gold, minerals, oil, and gas—belongs to the sovereign people of Venezuela.”

Minister Padrino speaks out
Later on Friday, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino described the controversial US action as a flagrant violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, free trade, and free navigation. He demanded respect for the lives of the crew members and that their whereabouts be revealed, asserting that recent US actions are an attempt to seize Venezuela’s resources.

“It is a crude, rude act of cowardly thievery to appropriate resources that do not belong to you,” he condemned during the celebration of the anniversary of the Integrated Aerospace Defense Command. He added that imperialism, as part of its new defense doctrine, seeks to undermine democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The aim is to close the Caribbean for US interests. The aim is to steal the natural resources of the hemisphere, especially those of South America. The National Bolivarian Armed Force (FANB) is taking this into account because we will defend the concept of sovereignty. The US should know that we will not surrender,” the minister added.

Minister Padrino warned the people of the United States that their rulers want to use their young people in a war and then return them in sacks. He added that “we love the heroic people of the United States,” but the current ruling class is supremacist and has done nothing but lie.

“The people of the United States must understand that their government is an instrument of war. It wants and intends, here in this Western Hemisphere, to wage war in Latin America and the Caribbean. It intends, dear brothers and sisters of the United States, to once again return taxpayers, young people of US society, to their homes in black bags and sacks,” he warned. He emphasized that Venezuelans continue to cry out for peace, that the FANB is a reflection of Venezuelan society, and that President Maduro insists on advocating for peace in each of his speeches.

US-promoted “wild west” seasThis controversial action coincides with a report from Iranian news outlets on Friday that the country’s military forces seized an unidentified oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel was allegedly carrying six million liters of smuggled diesel with an 18-member crew from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

It is not clear if this operation was related to the seizure of the Skipper oil tanker, which mainstream media reports claim has links to Iran. Iranian forces regularly announce interceptions of ships allegedly transporting smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf. Retail fuel prices in Iran are among the lowest in the world, making smuggling to other countries particularly profitable.

Also on Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported on another instance of increasingly aggressive US maritime tactics. According to the report, US military forces raided a cargo ship traveling from China to Iran in November.

Venezuela Condemns US Theft of Oil Tanker as Act of Piracy (+International Reactions)

Unnamed officials told the newspaper that US military special forces boarded the ship several hundred miles from Sri Lanka. This marked the first time in several years that US forces had intercepted cargo traveling from China to Iran. The ship was later released.

This November operation occurred weeks before US forces seized the oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela—another action Washington had not taken in years.

US Indo-Pacific Command did not immediately confirm the report. An official told The Wall Street Journal that they seized material “potentially useful for Iran’s conventional weapons,” but noted the items were dual-use, meaning they could have both military and civilian applications.

Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff

OT/JRE/SF

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Brazil closed out its rotating presidential term of BRICS on Friday, December 12, with a meeting in Brasilia chaired by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. Speaking at the event, Vieira underscored that collaboration within the 11-member group has outgrown its original scope, now reaching well beyond its earlier focus on political coordination and financial cooperation.

Addressing the road ahead, the minister stressed that the group must prioritize delivering visible, real-world outcomes for ordinary citizens. He noted that BRICS should strive to be recognized not merely as a space for dialogue among states, but as an actor capable of producing meaningful change.

RELATED: Brazil’s Supreme Court Deliberates on Temporary Framework for Indigenous Lands

He reiterated that the bloc “should not be understood solely as an intergovernmental discussion forum, but as a mechanism that delivers concrete gains for our societies”, signaling a shift toward policies more closely tied to daily life and social progress within member nations.

The fourth BRICS Sherpas meeting, the final meeting under the Brazilian presidency of the 11-nation grouping, kicks off in Brasilia.

On Friday, Brazil will hand over the BRICS presidency to India, which is being represented by Secretary (ER) Sudhakar Dalela, India’s BRICS Sherpa pic.twitter.com/T9VCufzl5V

— Dhairya Maheshwari (@dhairyam14) December 11, 2025

Last Round of Meetings

Meanwhile, Thursday, December 11, saw the beginning of the final round of meetings led by Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio, Brazil’s sherpa in the BRICS. He described Brazil’s tenure positively, emphasizing the country’s strong defense of multilateral cooperation amid an increasingly fragmented and uncertain global environment. He further pointed out that widespread international mistrust has complicated collective efforts within the group.

Lyrio also highlighted the importance of the leaders’ declaration adopted at the July summit in Rio de Janeiro. The document denounced armed conflicts, called for fairer and more inclusive global governance structures, and reaffirmed the urgency of reforming the United Nations Security Council.

Over the course of Brazil’s presidency, BRICS convened extensively, holding 220 videoconferences, 62 technical-level meetings, 21 ministerial sessions, four sherpa meetings, an in-person leaders’ summit in Rio, and an additional virtual summit.

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As part of Operation Vuelvan Caras 2025, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) of Venezuela destroyed two aircraft linked to drug trafficking this Friday. The aircraft were found on an unauthorized airstrip that was part of a logistical camp used for drug transit in the Venezuelan state of Apure.

“Venezuela is a zone of peace, law, and justice where the scourge of drug trafficking is fought daily. We will not be a platform for transnational crime,” declared Venezuelan defense officials.

Security personnel detailed that defense missions and a unified command of the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FANB-OSC) were deployed against drug trafficking. “The aircraft were destroyed at the scene along with the structures present in the area,” they added.

“With these actions, the total number of aircraft destroyed since 2012 has reached 421, and 30 during 2025,” officials emphasized.

Recently, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello reported that 65,530 kilograms of drugs have been seized this year. “Our aviation colleagues have neutralized 418 aircraft in accordance with the Law for the Comprehensive Defense of Airspace,” he stated.

Furthermore, as part of Operation Catatumbo Lightning, the Venezuelan Territorial Defense System, in intelligence operations, destroyed three logistical centers used for drug trafficking and arrested four individuals linked to drug trafficking on December 9.

These actions reaffirm the commitment of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) to the defense of national sovereignty, the fight against drug trafficking, and the protection of the Venezuelan people against external threats, they stressed.

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Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla emphasized on Friday that the publication of China’s new policy on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) represents a significant step forward in building a community with a shared future between the two regions.

Via social media, the diplomat noted that the initiative leads to “a path of cooperation, solidarity, sustainable development, and mutual trust between our countries.”

RELATED:

U.S. Sanctions on Oil Tankers Violate International Law: China

In Beijing, the Chinese government released this week the Third Policy Paper on China’s Policy on Latin America and the Caribbean, with the aim of systematizing accumulated experience, projecting relations into the future, and expanding cooperation in various sectors, taking bilateral and regional relations to a new level.

📌 Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla applauded China's new policy for the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean in a post on X. He noted that this program “marks a milestone” in global southern relations.

🔴 The head of Cuban diplomacy said that this plan… pic.twitter.com/pQRmGOO5es

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 13, 2025

During the presentation, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cai Wei highlighted China’s orientation toward an independent and peaceful foreign policy, based on universal values ​​and initiatives promoted by President Xi Jinping, such as the Global Security and Development Initiative and the Global Governance and Civilization Initiative.

Cai Wei emphasized that Havana and Beijing are jointly building a community with a shared future, while the relationship with Brazil has evolved toward the creation of a joint project for a more just and sustainable world.

He also mentioned that 24 countries in the region have joined the Belt and Road Initiative, which consolidates China’s position as the second-largest trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean and the leading trading partner of countries like Brazil and Peru, as well as a significant source of investment for the region.

The document also highlights that, in 2024, trade volume between China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) surpassed $500 billion for the first time, reaching $450 billion during the first ten months of the year, a 3.5% increase, despite economic and geopolitical challenges.

Among the key areas of cooperation for the next stage, the Third Document addresses more than 40 areas, including trade, investment, finance, technological innovation, climate change, and sustainable development.

Cai Wei emphasized that China will continue to support the countries of the region in defending their independence and that its relations with LAC are mutually beneficial, without geopolitical calculations or objectives against third parties.

RELATED:

China Confirms Comprehensive Cooperation Strategy with Latin America and the Caribbean

The official also reiterated China’s commitment to the 66 billion yuan (approximately US$9.1 billion) credit line announced at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, intended to finance projects in infrastructure, clean energy, agriculture, digitalization, and artificial intelligence.

He also stated that China will continue to promote direct air routes, scholarships, cultural and academic exchanges, and the translation of audiovisual works, strengthening ties of friendship with the region.

The document further reaffirms support for the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, endorses the prohibition of nuclear weapons in the region, promotes the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and rejects any external interference in the internal affairs of Latin American and Caribbean countries.

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The Venezuelan president denounces the United States for using allegations of drug trafficking as a pretext to seize his country’s natural resources, particularly oil.

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Former Bolivian President Luis Arce pleaded not guilty this Friday before a court, rejecting accusations of alleged embezzlement of a state fund intended for indigenous communities. A judge ordered Arce’s preventive detention for five months in a La Paz prison, a measure that is part of an investigation into alleged mismanagement of the fund while the former president served as a minister in the government of Evo Morales.

Arce’s legal team defended his innocence, invoking the principle of presumption of innocence and the provisions of Article 6 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The defense also pledged to ensure the former president’s presence at all prosecutorial and judicial investigation proceedings determined by the authorities.

RELATED:

Former Bolivian President Luis Arce Arrested

“I am absolutely innocent of the accusations that are being so readily made for clearly political reasons,” he stated. “Given the current political situation, the government is looking for scapegoats and trying to cover up what’s happening with these kinds of actions,” Arce declared during a virtual preliminary hearing in La Paz.

To avoid pretrial detention, the former president claimed to have a known address and stable employment in Bolivia. However, the prosecution argued for the necessity of his imprisonment, citing the risk of flight and the potential for obstruction of the investigation.

This decision stood despite the fact that the former president’s lawyers emphasized his advanced age and delicate health, which requires constant medical attention. They supported this claim by presenting a medical report confirming Arce’s cancer diagnosis.

📹 | El expresidente boliviano Luis Arce permanece detenido en La Paz, acusado de un presunto desfalco al Fondo Indígena. La fiscalía solicitó tres meses de prisión preventiva para el exmandatario.

🎙@FreddyteleSUR pic.twitter.com/MGgCtqmV9z

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 12, 2025

The defense attorney argued that Article 68 of Law 369 and constitutional regulations guarantee priority medical care for those over 60 years of age, and that the Law for the Elderly requires the State to provide comprehensive healthcare.

Meanwhile, Luis Arce spent his second night detained in the cells of the Special Force for the Fight Against Crime (FELCC), after being arrested on Wednesday, December 10, on charges of alleged economic misconduct and dereliction of duty.

“We regret that in less than 24 hours all of this was fabricated to persecute and arrest me in an absolutely illegal manner,” Arce stated.

Arce’s hearing regarding precautionary measures began this Friday around 11:00 a.m. in the city of La Paz, held virtually. The former president spoke to give his version of events only at 4:30 p.m.

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During the celebration of the first anniversary of the National University of Sciences Dr. Humberto Fernández Morán, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro urged young people to maintain “their commitment to good” and “their commitment to the homeland.”

“We are witnessing the emergence of a multipolar world, free from colonialism, where there is an intense struggle between models: the pursuit of independence, freedom, global harmony, and cooperation, and those who seek to be the owners, rulers, and emperors of the world,” the president stated.

RELATED:

Venezuela: A historic and unrepeatable turning point in the defense of its sovereignty

He added that “we, Venezuela, following the immense historical tradition begun by the indigenous resistance of Guaicaipuro and completed by Bolívar, are among those who want to be independent and free, and we oppose all forms of colonialism and slavery. Free forever! Free!”

In that same forum, the president acknowledged the allied nations that have collaborated on Venezuela’s scientific projects, including Russia, China, and Cuba. “The history of the Venezuelan people is an admirable one. We should feel proud to be Venezuelan,” he said, emphasizing that it is a magnificent history in every respect.

The Venezuelan president highlighted Humberto Fernández Morán as a leading figure in this scientific movement developing in the country, which connects young people between the ages of 15 and 25 who “are studying the most advanced fields of science in the world” with experienced scientists.

For President Nicolás Maduro, these two groups “represent two powerful blocs.” On the one hand, there is “the Venezuelan scientific community, with 67,000 scientists organized in this Great Humberto Fernández Morán Mission working in all areas of applied science production for life,” and on the other hand, there is “the scientific training program” that “has reached 850,000 children and young people in schools and colleges across the country.”

The Venezuelan Minister of Science and Technology, Gabriela Jiménez, specified that the university has 1,805 students, 477 of whom represent the country’s 25 states. She thanked the president for the initiative and emphasized that the programs recognize “scientific practice as a dialogue, a collective and collaborative construction” that also considers territorial development.

“Science also contributes to our nation’s security and to guaranteeing peace as a strategy for well-being and national sovereignty,” the minister stated, adding that “six international cooperation agreements have been signed with leading universities ranked among the top 100 in the world.”

In his address, Maduro acknowledged the capabilities of the assembled young people and what they could contribute to Venezuela’s development through their creations, but emphasized that “ethics is vital.” He recognized the work of Humberto Fernández Morán and his commitment to the nation and his ethical values, contrasting them with “those who sell out the country for a Nobel Prize or for a thousand other things.”

In closing, the president urged the students to engage with the dynamics of their institutions where they can put their newly acquired knowledge into practice. “We are building the beautiful society our people deserve,” Maduro emphasized, calling for unwavering commitment to creating in Venezuela.

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By Ana Vračar – Dec 10, 2025

Right-wing Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado was inaugurated as a Nobel Peace laureate amid protests and condemnation.

On December 10, 2025, right-wing Venezuelan political figure María Corina Machado was inaugurated as a Nobel Peace laureate. As her daughter delivered the acceptance speech in her place before European royalty and diplomats, the ceremony invoked themes of solidarity, cooperation, and peace. Outside the venue, however, peace and solidarity organizations continued to denounce the nomination, arguing that Machado’s record – including her endorsement of US military threats against President Nicolás Maduro’s government and her support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza – makes the nomination indefensible.

“When the prize is given to a politician who supports military interference and actions contrary to international law, it breaks with the very purpose of the Nobel Peace Prize,” statedGro Standnes of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom ahead of the ceremony.

Demonstrations began on December 9, the eve of the International Day of Solidarity with Venezuela marked by networks across the world. Tuesday’s mobilization brought a large section of the Norwegian peace movement to Oslo, according to Lina Álvarez Reyes, Information Advisor at the Norwegian Solidarity Committee for Latin America. “This is the first time in many years that so many Norwegian organizations have united in a direct protest against a decision by the Nobel Committee,” she told Peoples Dispatch.

“When we protested, it was to support international law and to oppose any military intervention. We argue that this year’s prize contradicts the purpose of Nobel’s will and is being used to legitimize US military intervention in violation of international law in Latin America,” she added.

Threats by the Trump administration to Latin America and the Caribbean have caused alarm among progressive groups worldwide. Yet these concerns appear to have little impact on Western political elites, who continue to support the path taken by the US. This disconnect was clearly reflected in the speech delivered by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which portrayed Venezuela as an authoritarian state supported by a bloc of similarly “authoritarian” governments and groups – Cuba, China, Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah – while failing to grasp the devastating consequences these and other countries endure because of illegal US sanctions and threats.

On the other hand, human rights activists and cultural figures rejected such claims. The Network of Intellectuals, Artists, and Social Movements in Defense of Humanity (REDH) published a letter on December 9 criticizing the Nobel Committee’s decision, writing that the award is “already stained with blood.”

“As these lines are being written, more than 80 Latin Americans have been killed in summary executions under the pretext of the fight against drug trafficking, carried out on the orders of Donald Trump and promoted and applauded by your award winner,” the signatories stated. They further emphasized Machado’s close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and her support for the genocide against Palestinians. “What peace will they talk about at your ceremony?,” they asked.

Norway: Protest Against Awarding Nobel Prize to Venezuela’s Far-Right María Corina Machado

Álvarez emphasizes that Machado has confirmed her support for the US line both before and after her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. “Machado has actively reinforced Trump’s false accusations that Venezuela is run by a drug cartel and poses a threat to the United States, while Trump threatens the country with military intervention,” she says. “Her support for military escalation, together with her statements, goes against the struggles for peace and the mandate of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.Four UN bodies have characterized Trump’s military actions in the Caribbean and threats as extrajudicial executions and violations of international law.”

“It is important for social movements to take a stand against any actions of war or any military escalation in Latin America, and demand that their European governments defend international law, whether it be in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan or Venezuela,” she continues. “Latin America has been free of interstate war for more than 30 years. US interventions have never brought peace or democracy, but humanitarian and democratic crises. We have seen it in the Latin American region, but also in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya.”

Source: Matias Smith

Solidarity organizations argue that Machado’s activities thus not only undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty, but also pave the way for similar destabilization campaigns across the region. In response, the groups are calling for increased mobilization in defense of Latin American sovereignty and against US imperialism, with some of them holding more protests in Norway.

“The current situation represents more than bilateral disputes between the US and individual nations,”  the International Peoples’ Assembly (IPA) noted. “Simultaneous pressures on multiple countries – from military threats against Venezuela to soft coup attempts in Mexico, from the militarization of Ecuador to the intensification of the blockade against Cuba – indicates a comprehensive strategy to reshape hemispheric relations through coercion and impose US dominance over the region’s resources.”

(Peoples Dispatch)

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The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on Friday rejected the Trump Administration’s illegal actions against Venezuela and warned that “the growing presence and activities of extra-regional military forces, including deployments involving assets with advanced capabilities, increase risks to regional peace, security, and stability, undermining the very Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.”

In a statement issued in New York, the NAM expressed its “deep concern about recent events in the Caribbean region, including the interdiction and misappropriation, by force, on December 10, 2025, of an oil tanker off the coast of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”

RELATED:

Venezuela: A historic and unrepeatable turning point in the defense of its sovereignty

Likewise, the forum for dialogue, which brings together 120 countries, expressed “deep concern” about the “unilateral declaration issued by a foreign power” on November 29, 2025, which aims to “completely close Venezuela’s sovereign airspace.”

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) emphasizes that the seizure of a merchant vessel “carrying out peaceful and legal activities,” as well as the de facto declaration of an air blockade, “carried out without any authorization from the United Nations Security Council,” contravene international law and multiple fundamental principles thereof.

It underscores that “such unilateral measures, regardless of the pretexts invoked, risk undermining the stability, predictability, and spirit of cooperation that should govern relations between States, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.”

Expressing its rejection of the current escalation against Venezuela, the Coordinating Bureau reiterates its consistent position that military solutions, coercive actions, threats, or intimidation are not viable means of addressing any issue of concern among members of the international community.

In this context, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) urges all stakeholders, particularly extra-regional actors, to exercise maximum restraint, avoid provocative statements and aggressive actions, and refrain from unilateral measures that could further endanger the peace, security, and stability of Latin America and the Caribbean.

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“What Venezuela is doing is a historic shift,” Vice President Delsy Rodríguez affirmed this Friday regarding the recent “brazen theft” of a Venezuelan oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, jeopardizing the region’s maritime and commercial security.

RELATED:

General-in-Chief Padrino López: Venezuela Will Not Surrender to US Threats

“We are not managing the bourgeois state we inherited from the Fourth Republic. We are making a historic shift. And that historic shift, as the president has said, is the transition to a communal state. We are at that moment.”

Furthermore, Rodríguez emphasized that the objective of the United States’ illegal action is to “harm maritime oil trade” in the country.

In this situation, Venezuela officially requested the IMO to activate all channels and procedures provided for in international agreements to protect freedom of navigation and free maritime trade.

#Venezuela's Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez pointed out that a historic change is taking place in the communal state, which is why they are attacking and deploying warships to supposedly combat drug #trafficking in the country. pic.twitter.com/Q56W2RurfD

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 12, 2025

“Venezuela is doing what must be done, which is to appeal to the law, to appeal to international legality, and to defend our natural resources,” the vice president emphasized.

¿What haven’t they sent to the Caribbean Sea?

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan leader referred to the military deployment in the Caribbean with the largest and most modern weaponry. “The military deployment in this area includes destroyers, nuclear submarines, and the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, and it is ‘disproportionate, exorbitant, exaggerated.’

“Because they said they had sent nuclear submarines, destroyers—the largest in the world, the Gerald Ford—missile ships, fighter jets.”

“Something like this had never happened before in history. And they said it was to combat drug trafficking from Venezuela.”

Adjust your GPS.

Rodríguez further argued that the fallacies are unfounded, since “drugs are not produced or processed in Venezuela, and only about 5% of the drugs try to pass through here, not only through Venezuela but also through northern South America. Barely 5%.” That’s why we told them, adjust the GPS.”

He called on U.S. authorities, asking if their intentions to combat drug trafficking are truly genuine, to look not in the Caribbean Sea, but in the United States, on its own territory.

“Because all the logistical, financial, and drug distribution structures are in the United States. And the major drug traffickers are in Florida. And they finance campaigns. That’s the truth,” he stated.

General-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino

Through a forceful message delivered during the commemoration of the 47th anniversary of the Integrated Aerospace Defense Command, General-in-Chief Padrino López declared that the Trump Administration wants to subjugate the Bolivarian nation with lies and that surrender is a historical impossibility.

He recalled that using slander is part of the historical tactics of imperialism. He outlined how they began with the story of the nonexistent Tren de Aragua gang and even that the mentally ill and members of criminal gangs were sent en masse to the U.S.

“We are prepared to defend our country. Make no mistake, do not underestimate us. Your military deployment and your psychological operations will not break our spirit,” stated Padrino, who also affirmed that they are not afraid of the overflights of their fighter jets.

He addressed the people of the U.S. He distinguished between their heroic citizens, whom we love, he said, and the supremacist and lying administration, which does not care if its young people return as corpses.

He asserted that this government is an instrument of war and urged his people to listen to Venezuela’s cry for peace, its willingness to resolve conflicts through dialogue and politics, and not through force. He rejected the hijacking of a Venezuelan oil tanker and the imperialist ambition to steal natural resources that do not belong to them.

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During his address at the International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged the international community to provide strong support for the regularization process in the Gaza Strip.

Erdoğan described the events in Gaza as “one of the most brutal massacres of the last century.” Among the top priorities, the Turkish leader highlighted achieving a lasting ceasefire and delivering humanitarian aid to the victims, while also noting that the current truce remains fragile.

RELATED:

Gaza Accuses Israel of 738 Ceasefire Breaches, Hundreds of Civilian Deaths

The Turkish president also advocated for the full participation of the Palestinians in all stages of the peace process. He also reaffirmed that the ultimate goal must be a two-state solution and urged the international community to fulfill its obligations to the Palestinian people to guarantee their self-determination, underscoring the need for the world to assume the responsibility of establishing international dialogue, cooperation, and trust in the face of increasing uncertainty and global conflicts.

Bugün Türkmenistan’da gerçekleştirdiğimiz Uluslararası Barış ve Güven Forumu’nu, Türkiye’nin de ortak sunucu olduğu Birleşmiş Milletler 2025 Uluslararası Barış ve Güven Yılı bağlamında çok anlamlı buluyoruz.

Bağımsızlığından bu yana büyük bir iktisadi ve beşerî kalkınmayı… pic.twitter.com/fDjVSPr4vk

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) December 12, 2025

Erdoğan stated that Turkey is working to ensure that peace and dialogue prevail, seeking to create a zone of peace and security around it through good relations with its neighbors. He also expressed his hope that United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 will be an opportunity for lasting peace and the reconstruction of Gaza.

This Friday, December 12, a forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, International Neutrality Day, and the 30th anniversary of the Asian country’s permanent neutrality is being held in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.

The forum’s host, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedow, who chairs the People’s Council of Turkmenistan, opened the meeting with a message of unity: “Forces for peace need to unite to face the dangers that weaken the global security structure.”

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