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Trump intends to take possession of the oil the vessel was carrying.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for a thorough investigation into the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
RELATED:
Cuba Condemns U.S. Attack on Venezuelan Oil Tanker
The Americans “boarded the deck of the tanker, accusing it of transporting crude whose sale is prohibited,” Lavrov said, but he noted that U.S. oil company Chevron “operates in Venezuela and buys Venezuelan oil.”
“And what quantities of supposedly illegal hydrocarbons were on that tanker? That is something that must be clarified,” the Russian diplomat added.
“I hope that, out of respect for other members of the international community, the United States — even if it believes it has the right to carry out this type of action — explains on the basis of what facts it is taking these measures,” Lavrov said.
The Russian diplomat said his country supports a collective debate on how to combat drug trafficking and how to ensure maritime security. In this way, he said, it will be avoided that “all members of the international community simply observe the accomplished results of unilateral actions.”
So they can seize an oil tanker, but not a drug boat? pic.twitter.com/VFOLFLtdsh
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) December 10, 2025
On Wednesday, amid escalating U.S. aggression against the Bolivarian Revolution, Trump announced that the United States had seized an oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast and that Washington intends to take possession of the oil the vessel was carrying.
“The masks are falling,” Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said, referring to the illegal appropriation of oil, which she called the real objective of the Trump administration behind its alleged “War on Drugs” in the Caribbean.
The Venezuelan government described the seizure of the tanker as a “brazen theft and an act of international piracy,” recalling that this is not the first time Trump has expressed such intentions.
During the 2024 presidential race, the Republican leader openly said that his goal has always been to take Venezuela’s oil without paying any compensation in return.
Executive Vice President of #Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, thanked the delegates on the second day of the People's Assembly for their support of the Venezuelan people in spite of the blockade and U.S. attacks. pic.twitter.com/uTxLoNCo6h
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 10, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: RT – teleSUR
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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There are more than 200 toxic substances in e-cigarettes, including nicotine, and carcinogenic compounds.
On Tuesday, the Mexican Senate approved reforms to the General Health Law that prohibit the production, sale, import, and export of electronic cigarettes, vapes, and similar devices.
RELATED:
Mexican Senate Promotes Self-Care Health
The reform also prohibits advertising or promotion of these products. Manuel Huerta, president of the Legislative Studies Committee, emphasized that evidence shows a rapid increase in adolescent vape use.
The electronic vapes contain nicotine and toxic substances harmful to the lungs and cardiovascular system. Huerta clarified that with this bill, young people are not being criminalized, but rather distributors.
The norm was approved with 76 votes in favor and sent to the Federal Executive. However, the opposition argued that the reform would favor organized crime, creating a black market that would further endanger the health of Mexican youth.
Disposable vapes emit more lead per day than 20 packs of cigarettes — UC Davis study
Behind the sweet clouds? Vapor laced with lead, nickel & heavy metals — a daily dose of cancer risk
Looks sleek, smells like bubblegum, fits in your pocket — but chemists says it’s toxic pic.twitter.com/IhX5sViWHO
— RT (@RT_com) June 26, 2025
In response, Huerta pointed out that the proposal strengthens enforcement against illicit trade, youth prevention campaigns, and evidence-based smoking cessation programs for adult smokers.
Green Party Senator Rocio Corona defended the reform, stating that it seeks to curb a “silent epidemic” disguised with “sweet flavors and colorful devices.” The opposition’s objections were rejected, and the bill sent by the Chamber of Deputies was approved without modifications.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified more than 200 toxic substances in e-cigarettes, including nicotine, heavy metals, carcinogenic compounds, and ultrafine particles that damage lung tissue.
The President of #Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, said that she has used all diplomatic channels to express her disapproval of the mistreatment of Mexican migrants in the #US. She also defends migrants and insists that they are not criminals, but honest people who contribute to the… pic.twitter.com/EyRxzqiSkX
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 10, 2025
teleSUR/ JP
Source: La Jornada
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Workers denounce the right-wing government’s proposal as a major rollback of labor rights.
On Thursday, operations at Lisbon’s international airport were reduced to a minimum because of a 24-hour general strike called by Portugal’s main labor unions.
RELATED:
Right-Wing Politician Marques Mendes Leads New Portugal Presidential Poll
In the largest action of its kind in 12 years, workers are protesting a labor reform proposed by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, which would make dismissals easier, deregulate working hours, and affect rights such as breastfeeding leave.
“It must be taken into account that, in 50 years of democracy, this is only the fifth general strike to take place in Portugal,” said Jorge Alves, president of the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Union (SITEMA).
“That is to say, the protest carries enormous importance. One does not call a general strike because things are mild. The labor reform is a serious attack on workers’ rights. We do not want precariousness. We want secure jobs with proper conditions,” he added.
“Anyone familiar with the airport knows today is a completely atypical day in terms of traffic because the airlines have been careful to cancel flights in advance, as they knew the strike would have massive adherence,” the SITEMA leader said.
Em Braga, esta manhã, foram muitos os trabalhadores unidos na defesa dos direitos laborais, numa expressiva adesão à Greve Geral. pic.twitter.com/eqgDghLeIw
— Os Verdes (@OsVerdes) December 11, 2025
The text reads, “This morning, many workers in Braga united in defense of labor rights, expressing strong support for the general strike.”
Throughout the week, airlines have been canceling flights and offering passengers the chance to reschedule to prevent the airport from plunging into chaos on Thursday.
“The participation in the strike has been enormous — very close to 100%,” said Ricardo Penarroias, president of the Civil Aviation Flight Personnel Union.
In the case of TAP, the state airline, it is operating 7% of its flights, Alves said, a figure that reflects the minimum services agreed upon between unions and the company.
“Regular commercial operations are paralyzed,” the Civil Aviation Pilots Union (SPAC) said, confirming that only 63 out of the 286 flights scheduled for Thursday would be completed.
For the SATA group — the airlines of the Azores archipelago — officials reported “total adherence” to the strike, with flights limited to minimum services. At easyJet, participation is “above 80%.” “So far, in addition to minimum services, only two of today’s scheduled flights have departed,” the union said.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Portugal: Thousands of citizens rallied against labor reforms promoted by the government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. pic.twitter.com/2WelNq0kJC
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) November 13, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Tens of thousands demand elections as anger grows over corruption.
On Thursday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced the resignation of his government after mass protests in which tens of thousands of citizens demanded he step down.
RELATED:
Bulgaria Seizes Hundreds of Inflatable Boats Destined for Migrant Crossings
“We have heard the voice of society,” said the prime minister, whose government took office in January and was composed of the conservative Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and the anti-establishment populist party “There Is Such a People” (ITN).
Thursday night’s protest, called by the pro-European opposition coalition We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB), drew large numbers of young people and demanded the government’s resignation and new elections, which would be the country’s eighth since 2021.
“We want to support the large protest calling for the government’s resignation and the return of the budget, which, although revised, is still not enough. No one has said we should stop making art or anything like that, but for art to reflect how people live, people have to be able to live well,” said Emanuil Tsonev, a film and television directing student.
🇧🇬🪧 A fresh wave of fury in Bulgaria, as tens of thousands protested against the government, blaming it for corruption and its proposed 2026 budget 👇 pic.twitter.com/rovwnp7l1p
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) December 11, 2025
“We are fed up with corruption, with vote-buying during elections, with the capture of institutions, with the lack of justice, with miserable pay in several sectors. We demand that the government, which steals from its citizens to benefit oligarchs and the mafia, leave,” another protester told state broadcaster BNT.
The demonstrations were initially organized to block the approval of the government’s proposed budget, but they quickly turned into anti-government protests.
Much of the protesters’ anger is directed especially at former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, and oligarch Delyan Peevski, who has been sanctioned by the U.S. and the United Kingdom for corruption. With his minority party DPS–New Beginning, Peevski provides key support for the tripartite coalition—of which he is not a member and which lacks a parliamentary majority—to govern.
Although neither Borissov nor Peevski sits in the cabinet, they wield significant influence over the decision-making of Zhelyazkov’s government. Peevski also controls the judiciary, the security services, much of the media, and other important sectors of Bulgaria’s economy.
“Resignation! Peevski and Borissov out of power,” read the slogan of the march that began Wednesday, when several dozen students gathered in front of Sofia University and the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, blocking traffic on one of the capital’s main avenues.
They then marched toward the so-called “triangle of power,” an area housing the headquarters of the government, Parliament, and the presidency, to join the many others who had arrived to take part in the large demonstration.
Bulgaria Ends Schengen Checks Amid Euro Membership Protests#Bulgaria lifts Schengen border checks, sparking nationwide protests over euro adoption, as #EU confirms readiness and economists highlight financial benefits. pic.twitter.com/d69m2WyG4w
— Daily Euro Times (@dailyeurotimes) December 11, 2025
Health-care workers also joined the national protest to demand decent salaries and better working conditions. Their main demand is establishing a minimum monthly salary of 1,550 euros for the sector, which would double the current 750 euros.
Unlike the Dec. 1 protest, during which violent groups provoked clashes that resulted in 71 arrests, Wednesday’s demonstration in Sofia proceeded peacefully.
“I want a better future for myself in Bulgaria and not to be forced to emigrate because of these rulers who have stolen my parents’ lives. We will not allow Peevski and Borissov to steal our future. They must leave immediately,” said a young protester.
“Resignation” and “The mafia out of power” were projected onto the façade of the government headquarters in laser-beam lettering.
“We have 20 meters left to reach the finish line: Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone on Jan. 1. After that date, I will talk about resignations and protests,” Borissov told the press.
According to the latest corruption perception index from Transparency International, Bulgaria ranks second-to-last in the EU, above only Hungary.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | The diplomatic dispute over the Ukrainian conflict entered a new phase after statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who asserted that Europe has removed his country from the negotiations. pic.twitter.com/YxdbLgFJNa
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 4, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Examining the Hardline Machado’s Role in the Violent ‘Guarimbas’ and the Geopolitical Agenda for Regime Change.
The term “guarimba” in Venezuela is not synonymous with peaceful protest. It is a controversial word that defines a specific, confrontational tactic used by radical sectors of the country’s right-wing opposition.
RELATED:
Machado Embodies the Weaponization of the Nobel Peace Prize
Derived from a word meaning a safe space, the political “guarimba” became its deadly opposite: a strategy of urban paralysis and chaos.
They were not spontaneous uprisings but calculated operations, first seen in a major wave in 2004 and later intensified in 2014 under the banner of “La Salida” (The Exit), always aimed at the extra-constitutional ouster of a democratically elected government.
At the center of this strategy stands María Corina Machado, a figure tied to the wealthiest sectors of the Venezuelan elite.
This in-depth analysis explains how the guarimbas became a political weapon, tracing their violent history, the direct role of Machado in inciting military intervention, and civil conflict.
And how her connection to these destabilization efforts, and foreign sanctions led to her political disqualification, intending to distinguish genuine democratic opposition from the aggressive, anti-popular agenda of the hardline right.
Estados Unidos financió y apoyó las "Guarimbas" en Venezuela, intentando crear con mercenarios y vándalos tarifados una "primavera árabe", para derrocar al Chavismo, pero fracasaron.
Maduro los derrotó si echar un tiro, los desalojó de las calles, encerró a los violentos y… pic.twitter.com/aH0ldlDdmn— SonPolemicas (@SonPolemicas) November 19, 2025
The text reads: “The United States financed and supported the “Guarimbas” in Venezuela, attempting to create an “Arab Spring” with mercenaries and paid vandals to overthrow Chavismo, but they failed.
Maduro defeated them without firing a shot, cleared them from the streets, imprisoned the violent protesters, and restored peace to Venezuela. They couldn’t, and they won’t be able to.”
The “guarimba” strategy
The guarimba strategy is a radical, high-conflict tactic employed by opposition sectors, including those led by Machado, to provoke the extra-constitutional ouster of the Venezuelan government.
A guarimba is a form of street protest marked by the blocking of public roads and avenues using improvised barricades.
These barricades are typically built with burning tires, trash, and debris to halt both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and are often operated by masked groups known as ” guarimberos .”
Key characteristics of the guarimba as a political weapon include:
- Human toll: The first wave of guarimbas in 2004 resulted in nearly ten deaths, while the intensified 2014 campaign under the slogan “La Salida” caused at least 43 fatalities and more than 800 injuries; the Public Defender described the barricades as “traps to hunt human beings”.
- Intentional disruption: These blockades represented a systematic denial of citizens’ fundamental rights, preventing access to schools, hospitals, and vital medicines such as insulin.
History of coup plotting, calls for force, and foreign backing
The 2014 protests were explicitly organized as the “La Salida” campaign, co-led by Machado and Leopoldo López, and framed as a “soft coup attempt”. This campaign was held responsible for the deaths of 39 people, including six National Guard members.
Machado played a direct role in inciting these actions. On January 23, 2014, the day the protest wave was launched, she urged followers to “light up the streets of Venezuela, every corner, the markets, the schools, the universities and plazas”, a call that was followed by street violence, confrontations with security forces, and the use of homemade explosive devices.
Her political trajectory has rejected the electoral route in favor of extra-constitutional mechanisms to remove the government. This longstanding support for anti-democratic actions and foreign intervention directly underpins her political disqualification.
Machado’s anti-democratic record dates back to the April 2002 coup d’état against President Hugo Chávez. She signed the Carmona Decree, which dissolved the Constitution, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court, endorsing the de facto regime of Pedro Carmona Estanga.
In 2014 she appealed before the US Congress for military intervention in Venezuela, stating that “the only path left is the use of force”, and in 2017 she addressed soldiers outside a military base, declaring that “the time has come to act, to lay down your arms” and calling for a “quiebre” (break) in the system.
She is described as an “egregious agent of the empire”, heading a hardline faction that has received substantial financial and political backing from foreign entities.
She “tirelessly advocated” for harsh US and European economic sanctions, which the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) describes ruling as a “criminal blockade” that severely damaged public health by preventing the purchase of antiretroviral medicines for HIV/AIDS patients and essential vaccines.
¡DOBLE RASERO!
Durante “La Salida”, la extrema derecha reclutó a jóvenes, entre ellos niños, para promover las guarimbas.
Vea el material ARCHIVO donde un guarimbero confesaba que le ofrecían dinero y drogas. 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/byImFYYvEB
— Michel Caballero Palma (@MichelCaballero) October 6, 2024
The text reads: “Double standards! During “La Salida” (The Exit), the far right recruited young people, including children, to promote the violent protests. See the archive footage where a protester confessed that he was offered money and drugs.”
Disqualification for crimes against the nation
In January 2024, the TSJ ratified the 15-year disqualification of Machado from holding public office:
- Grave corruption: Her complicity in the Guaidó-led scheme to strip the country of foreign-held assets such as CITGO.
- Violation of health rights: Her support for economic sanctions that blocked the import of essential medicines, inflicting documented harm on public health.
- Loss of parliamentary seat: Her violation of the Constitution in 2014 by accepting accreditation as Panama’s Alternate Representative to the OAS, which led to the loss of her investiture as a Deputy.
The Venezuelan government presents this ruling as a constitutional measure to hold opposition leaders accountable for treason and economic damage, while Machado and US-aligned governments denounce it as “politically motivated” and designed to bar her from running for office.
Legitimizing the “regime-change toolkit”
The international recognition and support Machado receives, including a Nobel Peace Prize, is portrayed as a “political tool” meant to legitimize a possible invasion of Venezuela.
By honoring a figure who has openly called for foreign military intervention, signed a coup decree, and backed weakening sanctions, the decision is interpreted by Latin American movements as a way to legitimize a “regime-change toolkit” backed by powerful states of the Global North.
Machado has publicly dedicated the prize to President Donald Trump, praising his “decisive support of our cause”, despite his administration’s aggressive military posture in the Caribbean.
Accusations of assassination and terrorism
Venezuelan authorities have repeatedly accused Machado of involvement in an assassination plan against President Nicolás Maduro.
This alleged plot is described as part of a broader strategy combining street protests and a failed coup attempt to “promote a bloodbath” and justify foreign intervention.
More recent government allegations link Machado to the orchestration of “violent clandestine units” in 2025, including an attempted bombing in Plaza Venezuela in June 2025 with three kilograms of TNT and the discovery of a large arsenal in Maturín in August 2025, where more than 54,000 explosive charges and detonating cords were allegedly destined for attacks on strategic infrastructure.
Her position is further weakened by accusations of “linkage with the drug trafficking transnational”, including an alleged pact to “hand over strategic drug-trafficking routes to the US DEA” using aquaculture exports as a front to finance “coup operations”.
El "Tren de las Guarimbas" se activó y ya está dejando destrucción, muertos y heridos en Venezuela.
La cabecilla, María Corina Machado, es quien financia toda la "logística" de las Guarimbas, es la principal responsable del derramamiento de sangre. pic.twitter.com/6oHHuNXEkm— SonPolemicas (@SonPolemicas) July 30, 2024
The text reads: “The “Guarimba Train” has been activated and is already leaving destruction, death, and injury in its wake in Venezuela. Its leader, María Corina Machado, finances all the logistics of the Guarimba protests and is primarily responsible for the bloodshed.“
Chronology of imperial destabilization
The actions of Machado’s hardline faction are situated within a 22 ‑year chronology of attempts to destabilize the Bolivarian Revolution.
- Early coup and sabotage (2002–2003): The process begins with the military–business coup against Hugo Chávez in April 2002 and the subsequent oil sabotage (December 2002–February 2003), which caused economic losses of around 20 billion US dollars.
- Guarimbas and “La Salida” (2004–2014): The first major guarimba wave hit in 2004, followed by the more violent 2014 “La Salida” campaign co-led by Machado, which left 43 dead and more than 800 injured.
- Military conspiracies and sanctions (2015–2019): This period was marked by multiple coup plots, the 2015 designation of Venezuela as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” by the United States, and the attempted assassination of President Maduro in 2018.
- Recent insurrection (2024): After the July–August 2024 presidential re-election, Machado and opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia again alleged fraud and called for protests that escalated into a “criminal insurrection” with 25 deaths and 131 injuries.
Bolivarian Venezuela Defends Popular Sovereignty
The figure of Machado sits at the center of a long-running and confrontational political conflict in Venezuela.
Her political record is marked by a sustained association with anti-democratic actions, from signing the 2002 coup decree to co-leading the violent 2014 guarimbas that produced dozens of deaths, while her promotion of US and European sanctions is cited by the Supreme Court of Justice as a central reason for her 15 ‑year political disqualification.
The evidence presented depicts a clash between a government supported by the poor majority and a hardline opposition led by a fraction of the country’s wealthiest elite, who seek to restore their power through destabilization, violence, and foreign intervention.
Sources: teleSUR – Venezuelanalysis – Misión Verdad – Eva Gollinger – La vanguardia – Con El Mazo Dando – BBC
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Over 14,000 girls under 14 gave birth between 2018 and 2024.
On Thursday, Plan International’s annual report “The State of the World’s Girls” revealed that 38% of married girls in Guatemala have “no say in their own lives,” therefore facing violence and poverty. Plan International is a humanitarian organisation that helps children and girls in over 80 countries.
RELATED:
Guatemala: Only 3 Out of 10 Primary School Children Can Read
Girls in Guatemala, Uganda, and Cambodia see marriage as “an economic escape,” though it rarely improves their situation. Poverty in these countries leads to early marriages arranged by the parents, which perpetuates dependency and vulnerability.
The Plan International study documents that 45% of girls married men at least five years older, which increases subordination and violence. The regional normalization of this problem has increased social and personal risks.
Seven out of ten girls interviewed are already mothers, which showcases cycles of poverty and limited educational and employment opportunities. Guatemala shares this crisis in children’s rights with the Dominican Republic and Ecuador.
3/8 Aracely, 15, holds her child in 2014, Guatemala.
According to a 2012 UN Population Fund survey, 30 percent of Guatemalan women age 20 to 24 were married by 18, and that number may be even higher in rural areas. Teenage births are so common that there’s even a law requiring… pic.twitter.com/tGZhsP6z3G
— BrightMind History (@Brightmind24_7) December 8, 2025
Despite laws prohibiting early unions, rural communities that face poverty or practice specific religions continue to validate them. Religious and traditional leaders with social influence endorse the marriages, therefore contradicting national legislation.
Official data from Guatemala indicate that 14,696 girls under the age of 14 gave birth between 2018 and 2024. The Law Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and Trafficking classifies these pregnancies as crimes.
However, “Girls Having Children,” a report by the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala, reveals that this law is never applied in predominantly Indigenous departments, such as Huehuetenango and Alta Verapaz.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Guatemala: The ninth edition of the Flower Festival took place in Antigua. The event brought together thousands of visitors to enjoy floral art and other cultural expressions. pic.twitter.com/GQUx0Nmhn9
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) November 18, 2025
teleSUR: JP
Source: Centroamerica 360 -France 24
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Previously, the U.S. president placed Colombia in the crosshairs of Operation Southern Spear.
On Wednesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro responded to threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, who hours earlier had suggested that the Colombian leader would be the next to face the kind of pressure the United States is exerting on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
RELATED:
Colombia Says Over a Third of Major FARC Dissident Faction May Be Minors
“Trump is a very misinformed man when it comes to Colombia. It’s a shame, because he dismisses the country that knows the most about cocaine trafficking. It seems his interlocutors deceive him completely,” Petro said during a cabinet meeting.
Earlier, the U.S. president ruled out the possibility of speaking directly with Petro, arguing that the Colombian leader “has been quite hostile” toward the United States.
“I hope he’s listening to me. He will be next. He’s going to have big problems if he doesn’t realize that his country is producing a lot of drugs. They have cocaine factories where they produce cocaine… and sell it directly to the United States,” Trump said.
Donald Trump threatens Colombia🇨🇴, saying after Nicolas Maduro, Gustavo Petro is NEXT
Unless a united pan-Latin American front is created, a more heinous, barbaric version of the Monroe Doctrine and Operation Condor will be imposed upon the continent. pic.twitter.com/RgFzFTC1nG
— Afshin Rattansi (@afshinrattansi) December 11, 2025
In response, Petro noted that his administration, which began on Aug. 7, 2022, has conducted 1,446 ground operations and 13 airstrikes against criminal networks.
“So far, my government has seized 2,700 tons of cocaine,” Petro said, adding that he expects total seizures to reach nearly 4,000 tons by the time his presidency ends in 2026.
The Colombian president emphasized that his country has never been hostile toward the United States, “which fights for freedom and democracy,” but said he does not accept “impositions, especially those based on disinformation from people who take advice from Colombian politicians allied with mafias or from former military officers involved in serious human rights violations or illicit business.”
In September, the United States kept Colombia on its list of countries cooperating in the fight against drugs. Later, however, Trump sanctioned Petro, accusing him of being a “drug trafficking leader.”
With Wednesday’s remarks, the Republican president placed Colombia in the crosshairs of Operation Southern Spear, which he says aims to combat drug trafficking in Latin America.
Since September, U.S. armed forces have destroyed more than 20 boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and the Pacific, near Venezuela and Colombia, killing more than 80 crew members. “It is not true that firing missiles at boat operators means fighting narcoterrorists,” the Colombian president said.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Colombia: The government issued a strong warning to the international community, rejecting any attempt to use foreign military force on its territory. pic.twitter.com/bCKhrf3BNJ
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 9, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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‘This constitutes an act of piracy,’ President Diaz-Canel stressed.
On Wednesday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel reiterated his support for the complaint filed by the Venezuelan government over an attack on the oil tanker Skipper by U.S. military forces.
RELATED:
Venezuela and Iran Reaffirm Strategic Cooperation Amid U.S. Threats
“Cuba expresses its full support for the Venezuelan government’s denunciation and strongly condemns the assault on an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, carried out by the U.S. Armed Forces. This constitutes an act of piracy, a violation of international law and an escalation of aggression against that sister nation,” he said.
Earlier, the Venezuelan government had described as a “blatant theft” the U.S. confiscation of the oil tanker off the country’s coast, warning that it will take the case to international bodies to denounce a grave international crime.
“This new criminal act adds to the theft of CITGO, an important strategic asset belonging to all Venezuelans, seized through fraudulent judicial mechanisms outside any legal standard,” the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
🚨🇺🇸🇻🇪 BREAKING: Footage of US military capturing Venezuelan oil tanker.pic.twitter.com/SzbOUSG9Rp
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) December 10, 2025
A few hours earlier on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States had intercepted and seized a “large, very large tanker — the largest ever seized, actually.”
According to the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry, the illegal seizure of the tanker reveals the true motives behind a prolonged campaign of aggression against Venezuela. “It’s not migration, it’s not drug trafficking, it’s not democracy, it’s not human rights. It has always been about our natural resources — our oil, our energy, the assets that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people,” it said.
Venezuelan diplomats said the act of piracy aims to distract public attention and cover up “the resounding failure of the political show staged in Oslo,” where the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan far-right activist Maria Corina Machado.
“Venezuela calls on all citizens to stand firm in defense of the homeland and urges the international community to reject this vandalic, illegal and unprecedented aggression that some seek to normalize as a tool of pressure and plunder,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
The Venezuelan government also warned that it will turn to all international institutions to denounce the tanker’s seizure and defend its sovereignty, natural resources and national dignity. “Venezuela will not allow any foreign power to try to take from the Venezuelan people what belongs to them by historical and constitutional right,” it said.
Executive Vice President of #Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, thanked the delegates on the second day of the People's Assembly for their support of the Venezuelan people in spite of the blockade and U.S. attacks. pic.twitter.com/uTxLoNCo6h
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 10, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: VFAM – EFE
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
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Colombia’s government estimates that up to 37 percent of the Central General Staff (EMC), the largest FARC dissident faction led by Iván Mordisco, could be minors forcibly recruited into the group.
RELATED:
Colombia to Revise Maritime Boundaries With Nicaragua
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez Suárez presented the figure during a censure debate in Congress, noting that the proportion varies across territories. “We estimate that Mordisco’s dissidents could have around, in some sectors, almost 37 percent of minors,” he said.
The minister added that the State Major of the Blocks and Fronts (EMBF), commanded by Calarcá, is believed to have “15 percent of minor combatants” in its ranks. By comparison, he said the National Liberation Army (ELN) likely has around 10 percent, while the Clan del Golfo, Colombia’s largest criminal organization, stands at about 5 percent.
Que no recluten tus sueños. Protejamos juntos a nuestros menores, a nuestro futuro.
Cero tolerancia con los criminales que reclutan a nuestros menores para que participen en las hostilidades y pierdan su protección durante las mismas.
El reclutador crea un “riesgo… pic.twitter.com/GzWXpX3Sgz
— Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez S. Orgullosamente Colombiano (@PedroSanchezCol) December 8, 2025
Sánchez Suárez urged lawmakers to confront the underlying conditions enabling forced child recruitment. “What we see is the effect, not the cause. Why does this threat emerge? Is it because of the security forces? There are many causes; one could say corruption, which removes opportunities,” he told Congress.
Recruitment persists in several regions, with Cauca identified as the main epicenter. Nationwide, a minor is recruited or used in the conflict roughly every 20 hours. According to UNICEF, recruitment increased by 300 percent between 2019 and 2024, a rise linked in part to the growing use of social media as a tool for enlistment.
While tracking cases remains difficult, estimates suggest that more than half occur in Cauca, a region historically marked by overlapping conflicts. Data from the Ombudsman’s Office indicates that at least 123 children and adolescents were recruited between January and September of this year.
The issue has gained renewed attention following President Gustavo Petro’s order to conduct several bombings against EMC positions since October. At least twelve minors in the group’s ranks were killed in those operations, prompting a national debate over compliance with International Humanitarian Law, state responsibility, and the practices of armed groups.
In response to the controversy, Sánchez Suárez insisted that the victims were not civilians. “I’m sorry, we are not talking about children. We are talking about minor combatants; we are not attacking any kindergarten,” he said.
The government’s data underscores the scale of child recruitment among armed groups and the complex challenges facing efforts to protect vulnerable communities in conflict-affected regions.
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Australia Begins Enforcing Under-16 Social Media Ban Amid Questions Over Compliance and Global Interest
(www.telesurenglish.net)
Australia’s new nationwide ban on social media access for users under 16 entered its first days of enforcement, drawing strong political backing and broad parental support while exposing early challenges for platforms and regulators.
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Malaysia to Restrict Social Media Access for Under-16s from 2026
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the measure on Thursday, acknowledging an uneven rollout but stressing its long-term goal. “This is the law, this isn’t something that can be flouted,” he told Sky News. He noted that some underage users were posting about remaining online, adding, “That just tells the platforms who they are, and so it will be taken down.”
The law, which took effect on Wednesday, has bipartisan support and is backed by around three-quarters of Australian parents. It requires ten major platforms — including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitch, Reddit and Australian-owned Kick — to block users under 16 or risk fines of up to A$49.5 million. Officials say it will take time for platforms to fully implement the required systems.
Parents, teachers and students are backing in our social media ban for under-16s.
Because they know how important it is to give kids more time to just be kids – without algorithms, endless feeds and online harm.
This is about giving children a safer childhood and parents more… pic.twitter.com/wCEponak30
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 11, 2025
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the eSafety Commissioner would ask all covered platforms to report how many under-16 accounts they had before and after the ban took effect.
The policy has drawn attention from governments considering similar approaches. U.S. Republican senator Josh Hawley publicly endorsed the ban, while France, Denmark, Malaysia and others have signaled plans to emulate the model. U.S. psychologist Jonathan Haidt also weighed in, writing “Bravo Australia” on X.
Platform responses remain mixed. Meta reiterated its opposition, citing concerns from experts, advocates and parent groups that the law could push teenagers toward less regulated corners of the internet. “This will result in inconsistent application of the law and ultimately does not make young people safer,” a spokesperson said. TikTok and Snap declined to comment, and several other platforms were not immediately available.
Australia 1st in world to BAN social media to under 16s — goes into effect 10 December
Govt says it's to protect mental health & parents will NOT be able to give consent pic.twitter.com/NxNokqmnCN
— RT (@RT_com) December 2, 2025
UNICEF warned that age restrictions cannot function on their own, saying, “Laws introducing age restrictions are not an alternative to companies improving platform design and content moderation.”
As the law took effect, platforms not covered by the ban saw a spike in downloads. Lemon8, owned by ByteDance, introduced a minimum age of 16, while photo-sharing app Yope reported “very fast growth” to about 100,000 Australian users, about half of whom were over 16. Yope told regulators it considered itself a private messaging service rather than social media.
VPN use surged sharply ahead of the policy change. Public Google data showed the highest level of VPN-related searches in a decade in the week before the law came into force. Windscribe, a free VPN provider, reported a 400% increase in installations in the 24 hours after the ban began, while hide.me said visits from Australia rose 65% in the preceding days.
Australia implemented a world-first social media ban for under-16s, requiring platforms like TikTok and Instagram to block young users or face hefty fines. The law has drawn global praise and criticism as teens quickly find ways to circumvent it https://t.co/uAOcxJdLyO pic.twitter.com/EQWMB3uJlU
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 11, 2025
Visiting a school in Canberra, Albanese said the measure would also support classroom performance and student interaction, noting that “you get better social interaction when students aren’t subject to looking at their devices constantly.”
Authorities say the list of regulated platforms will remain “dynamic” as the digital market shifts. The coming months will test whether Australia’s model can meaningfully restrict under-16 access — and whether other governments will follow.
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