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The event, which brings together historians and researchers, had as its first act the presentation “From Mariana Grajales’ lineage”, by Doctor Damaris Amparo Torres, of the University of Oriente.

The historian from Santiago highlighted how often, the illustrious figure of Grajales has been treated in the bibliography “always in the shadow of her sons Maceo”, stressing the need to rescue her own leading role.

She pointed out that after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, essential works emerged that began to recognize her full legacy, such as the research “Mariana Grajales: 200 years in history and memory”.

With academic precision, Torres cleared up historical inaccuracies, stating that, against some accounts, Mariana Grajales was born in Santiago de Cuba on July 12, 1815, a fact corroborated by her baptism record found at the Churh of Santo Tomas Apostle.

She also refuted theories about Dominican origins, reaffirming her Cuban roots.

The expert narrated the resilience of a mestizo woman who, after widowing young, faced the discrimination of the time and forged a new family with the patriot Marcos Maceo, with whom she had ten children, most devoted to the struggle for independence.

“She is a woman who grows up and faces the whole situation of the time,” she stressed, despite not having been able to receive a formal education.

The formal inauguration of the Day was in charge of Fernando Miguel Manzo Alonso, president of the Union of Historians of Cuba (UNHIC) in Camagüey, a crucial province in the national history for having been the seat of the first Constitution of the Republic in Arms, in 1869.

abo/rc/famf

The post Cuba pays tribute to Mariana Grajales at Day of History first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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The 2025 Peace Prize is being used as ‘a hybrid pressure tool’.

On Wednesday, Russia’s ambassador to Norway, Nikolay Korchunov, sharply criticized the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to award the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan far-right activist Maria Corina Machado.

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Maria Corina Machado: A New Mediatic Show,

He pointed out that the decision functions as a hybrid mechanism of pressure against governments considered “unfavorable” and argued that the prize is increasingly being used as a tool of interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

“Recently, various kinds of ‘fighters for democracy,’ exclusively from non-Western countries, have become the most frequent winners of the Prize. This is the result of a deliberate distortion and substitution of the criteria for awarding the Prize set out in Alfred Nobel’s will.”

“Ms. Machado, as we all understand perfectly well, has made no contribution to strengthening friendship between nations, reducing armies, or holding peace congresses,” Korchunov stressed.

“Moreover, the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee is a clear interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela and may contribute to the escalation of the already tense situation in the Caribbean. This latest biased choice by the Norwegian Nobel Committee will further discredit the Peace Prize, which has finally become an obedient tool for promoting the West’s opportunistic narratives and one-sided criticism of undesirable countries.”

“It is difficult to speak of any independence or impartiality on the part of the Norwegian Nobel Committee that awards it. Suffice it to say that its five members (usually former Norwegian politicians of medium rank, public figures, researchers and publicists of local significance) are appointed by the parliament of Norway, a NATO member state that has largely lost its reputation as a peacemaker in the eyes of the world majority,” Korchunov pointed out.

¡Vergüenza mundial! Oslo repleto de pueblo en rechazo al Nobel de Paz a la terrorista María Corina Machado, lacaya del imperio que pide bombardear a Venezuela.

¡Fuera yanquis de América Latina pic.twitter.com/NBstri6bZK

— Samy (@SamLiz78) December 10, 2025

The text reads, “A global disgrace! Oslo is packed with people protesting the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the terrorist María Corina Machado, a lackey of the empire who calls for the bombing of Venezuela. Yankees out of Latin America!”

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Machado on Oct. 10, supposedly in recognition of her work defending the “democratic rights” of Venezuelans. Despite this justification, the decision triggered strong international backlash.

Over the past week, organizations and public figures have argued that Machado “does not represent democratic values” and pointed to her record of participating in episodes of political confrontation in her country.

That discontent became visible on Tuesday night in Oslo, where protests were held outside the Nobel Institute. Demonstrators said Machado does not meet the original criteria set by Alfred Nobel, who stipulated that the prize should honor outstanding efforts to foster fraternity among nations, promote demilitarization and advance peace processes.

Norwegian protesters recalled that Machado has been linked to destabilization efforts in Venezuela, including public calls to reject the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

She has also played a significant role in organizing and supporting violent urban protests known as “guarimbas,” which far-right Venezuelan groups and paramilitary organizations have staged on multiple occasions, leaving numerous victims in the South American country.

Social Movements in Oslo, #Norway, publicly protest against the Nobel Prize awarded to far-right politician Maria Corina Machado. pic.twitter.com/wZpQGhyJYw

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 10, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Novosti – teleSUR

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This musical genre combines Spanish lyrics with African percussion.

On Wednesday, the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee inscribed Cuban ‘Son’ music on its Representative List and highlighted it as a historical pillar of Cuban dance music. The petition was brought by the Center for Research and Development of Cuban Music and the Cuban Institute of Music.

RELATED:

Songo: Cuba’s Rhythmic Revolution That Redefined Dance Music

The decision, adopted in New Delhi during the Committee’s twentieth session, recognizes the genre as a musical expression that defines the island’s cultural identity. The nomination rewarded the richness of Son, a product of the transculturation between African and European rhythms.

Sonia Virgen Perez, president of Cuba’s Council of Cultural Heritage, stated that “it is a recognition that honors the creativity, collective memory, and vitality of our communities during such difficult times for our country.”

Originating in the 19th century, the Son combines Spanish lyrics with African percussion and spread from eastern Cuba. Its melodies include instruments like the Cuban tres, a three-stringed guitar, and have emblematic songs like “Lagrimas Negras” and “Son de la Loma,” as well as pieces by the Buena Vista Social Club.

🇨🇺 Son is Cuban identity, it is the rhythm that characterizes us.

🌐 Practice of Cuban Son, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.#CubaEsCultura @UNESCO pic.twitter.com/efyAgxNylT

— MisiónCubaUnesco (@CubaUNESCO) December 10, 2025

The genre, which originated in Holguin and Santiago de Cuba provinces, reached Havana in the 20th century. It integrates singing, dance, improvisation with structured patterns, and its lyrics reflect daily life that is transmitted orally.

The dance is guided by instruments such as the bass, and it can be danced freely or with a defined choreography, with the man leading the steps and rhythm. The Son has transcended within families, community gatherings, orchestras, schools, and cultural centers.

With this reward, the Son joins other native expressions part of the UNESCO Representative List, such as Rumba, Punto Cubano, Tumba Francesa, Parrandas del Centro de Cuba, and Bolero. The declaration also reaffirms Cuba’s commitment to the safeguarding of cultural heritage.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Cuba: The 46th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana brought together filmmakers, critics, and film lovers from across the region to celebrate cultural diversity and new proposals in Latin American cinema. pic.twitter.com/bc5GCJmIHJ

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 8, 2025

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE – UNESCO

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Capture of key South Kivu hub deepens crisis despite recent U.S.-brokered peace deal.

On Wednesday, the Rwanda-backed rebel group March 23 Movement (M23) seized the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the border with Burundi.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo declares End of Latest Ebola Outbreak

“We confirm that the city of Uvira has been liberated. We call on our compatriots to resume their activities in complete calm,” said Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance–March 23 Movement (AFC/M23).

“The AFC/M23 is present to ensure their protection. We also invite those who fled to return to their homes, now free from all harassment and violence,” he added.

Josephine Lusumba, a spokesperson for Uvira’s civil society coordination and a resident of the Kimanga neighborhood in Kalundu commune, said that the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Armed Forces (FARDC), supported by the Wazalendo militias, were still visible in neighborhoods during the morning.

“The rebels are here and we remain under fire, hiding in our homes. The few residents still in Uvira are determined to resist the enemy and are making one last effort. I saw our soldiers come back, and also the Wazalendo. They are here fighting,” Lusumba added.

Tu #DRC 🇨🇩 After Uvira fell to M23 rebels backed by Rwanda’s army, Kinshasa is urging Washington to tighten sanctions on Kigali.
FM Thérèse @kayikwambaT Wagner says current measures are not enough as violence and displacement intensify in the East.#Congo #Uvira #M23 #Rwanda pic.twitter.com/7IUpbE82Oo

— Africa universal English (@Africa_Univers1) December 10, 2025

Meanwhile, the FARDC maintained that “the city and its surroundings are under the control of the loyal Army.” However, videos on social media showed columns of M23 members entering the city with apparently no resistance.

Uvira, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, has served as seat of the Kinshasa-appointed government after Bukavu, the provincial capital, fell to M23 in February. The city has also functioned as a military base, and its capture by rebels could allow them to advance into other areas beyond South Kivu.

The rebel offensive in this mineral-rich region follows a Dec. 4 peace agreement signed in Washington by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump. The deal aimed to end years of conflict. Since then, the governments of the DRC and Rwanda have accused each other of violating the peace accord.

The Washington agreement adds to mediation efforts sponsored by Qatar between the Congolese government and M23, which on Nov. 15 in Doha signed a framework agreement intended to move toward ending the conflict.

The crisis in Congo worsened in January, when M23 took control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and weeks later seized Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. Since 1998, eastern DRC has faced conflict fueled by rebel groups and the national Army, despite the deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO).

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Africa: In the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 100 people died after the collapse of an artisanal copper mine in the town of Mulondo. Artisan miners' associations confirmed the death toll of 100 and reported dozens missing. pic.twitter.com/ZD0z8CP3pe

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) November 20, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – TRT

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The statement indicates that although the country has a comprehensive legal framework, including ILO Convention 169, the actual implementation of these rights ‘is not evident’ in the most complex scenarios of relationship between these communities and the State.

The trade union, farmers, indigenous and human rights groups hope that the review carried out by the ILO Commission of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations to the Ecuadorian State will become an opportunity to strengthen rather than weaken collective rights.

The document recalls that Convention 169 aims to transform the historical relationship between States and indigenous peoples, overcoming assimilation policies and establishing links based on substantive equality.

However, the organizations maintain that rights have been systematically violated in Ecuador.

They claim that in recent times the State has arbitrarily restricted the scope of prior consultation, authorized extractive projects, mining, oil, hydropower and agro-industries without adequate consultation processes and has adopted laws that directly affect these peoples.

The statement recalls that this deterioration occurs in a tense political context, with a national strike of one month against economic and security measures of President Daniel Noboa and a state response marked by police and judicial repression against social leaders.

The statement added that on November 16, Ecuadorians rejected in popular consultation Noboa’s proposal to convene a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution.

abo/mem/avr

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“We are realistic. We really want to join NATO; it is fair. But we know for sure that neither the United States nor other countries see Ukraine in the alliance yet. And Russia, of course, will never see us there,” Zelensky told Strana news portal.

The president underscored his willingness to hold elections in Ukraine. He noted that these elections could be prepared within 60 to 90 days. Meanwhile, Oleh Didenko, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Ukraine, previously stated that organizing elections would require more than three months after the cessation of hostilities.

Foreign Ministry Special Envoy Rodion Miroshnik, responding to Zelensky’s remarks about holding elections, stated that it was “a bluff and a manipulation of the rules.”

abo/iff/mem/gfa

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“Cuba ratifies its unwavering commitment to the defense, protection and full exercise of all rights for all people, in accordance with the principles of progressivity, equality and non-discrimination,” he wrote.

The island’s head of Foreign Relations, Bruno Rodríguez, referred to the date in the social network itself, reaffirming Cuba’s commitment to the full dignity of human beings and their promotion, protection and respect.

It also claimed that, in order to do so, Cuba will continue to comply with the provisions of the 44 legal instruments aimed at this end, to which the State is a party.

“The Cuban Revolution will continue to prioritize social justice, with a universal and free right to education, health, culture and sport as fundamental rights,” he added.

Human Rights Day is celebrated globally every December 10 to commemorate one of the most revolutionary global commitments: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This historic document enshrines the inalienable rights that every person has as a human being, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or any other opinion, national or social origin, economic status, birth or any other condition.

The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, the fundamental human rights that must be protected throughout the world. abo/mem/bbb

The post Cuba celebrates Human Rights Day first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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“We denounce the Israeli declaration of the provisional ceasefire line, known as the yellow line, as the new border between the Gaza Strip and Israel,” he wrote in his post.

It also noted that this constitutes a further violation of the recently signed ceasefire agreement and international law, and is another demonstration of the genocidal nature of the occuying Power actions against the Palestinian people.

rc/bbb

The post Cuba FM denounces declaration of new border between Gaza and Israel first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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Beijing’s latest coast guard operation follows joint China-Russia bomber flights.

On Wednesday, a formation of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels carried out a patrol in Chinese territorial waters off the Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls “Senkaku.” This is the second operation of this kind in less than a month.

RELATED:

Only China Can Stop The US Aggression to Venezuela

“This is a patrol operation to defend China’s rights and interests, carried out by the Coast Guard in accordance with the law,” Chinese authorities said through the social media platform WeChat.

Japan considers the Diaoyu Islands part of Okinawa Prefecture, while China claims them as a historic and inherent part of its territory.

This patrol, similar to one Beijing conducted in the same waters on Nov. 16, took place one day after Chinese and Russian bombers flew jointly around Japan between the islands of Okinawa and Miyakojima, an area that includes international waters and airspace.

🇨🇳🇷🇺 China-Russia Joint Air Patrol: Japan’s Outrage Goes Supersonic 🇯🇵

China and Russia just pulled off an 8-hour joint air patrol around Japan, Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers, Chinese H-6s and a pack of J-16 fighters cruising through the Miyako Strait. All in international… pic.twitter.com/hJKiXI3px1

— James Wood 武杰士 (@commiepommie) December 10, 2025

Both episodes come amid heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing following comments last month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who said a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could justify intervention by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

Beijing responded with economic and cultural pressure measures, including travel advisories for Japan, a ban on imports of Japanese seafood, and a halt to licenses for films and concerts from the neighboring country.

Tensions around the Diaoyu Islands are not limited to these types of law enforcement patrols. Earlier this month, the China Coast Guard expelled a Japanese fishing vessel it accused of “illegally” entering waters near the islands.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | In China, the death toll from the devastating fire at a residential complex in Hong Kong has risen to 151, with 79 others injured. pic.twitter.com/v5OZQIWGxc

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 5, 2025

teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE

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This article by Karla Mora originally appeared in the December 9, 2025 edition of El Sol de México.

Editor: The below article references deputies alleging the Black Bloc participated in a hired capacity in the violence of the so-called “Gen-Z march.”Mexico Solidarity Media‘s opinion, based on what our members witnessed, as well as our experience with protest dynamics in Mexico, is that the Black Bloc, which is a left wing political tactic used primarily by left-wing, anarchist groups, was not involved; but instead the violence was primarily carried out by hirelings connected to organized crime, which are frequently used by right wing political groups in the city. Journalist and photographer Alejandro Meléndez uses the term “white bloc” and believes they originate in criminal groups aligned with former head of Mexico City government, Miguel Ángel Mancera. We generally use the term “shock group,” which originates in 20th century Mexican history.

The Mexico City Congress approved, with 43 votes in favor and 11 abstentions, the creation of a Special Commission to Monitor the Investigations into the acts of violence that occurred during the November 15th demonstration, known as the Gen-Z demonstration.

The legislators who did not participate in the vote belong to the National Action Party (PAN). The special commission will be chaired by Representative Xóchitl Bravo Espinosa, coordinator of the Morena representatives ; Representative Manuel Talayero Pariente, coordinator of the Green Party (PVEM), will serve as vice-chair; and Representative Andrés Atayde Rubiolo, coordinator of the PAN, will serve as secretary.

The members include Ernesto Villarreal Cantú, coordinator of the Workers Party (PT); Royfid Torres González , coordinator of MX; Tania Larios Pérez, coordinator of the PRI; Nora Arias Contreras, coordinator of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD); Alejandro Carbajal González of the Progressive Parliamentary Association for Transformation and Diana Sánchez Barrios, of the Women for Feminist and Inclusive Commerce Parliamentary Association.

The commission, previously approved by the Political Coordination Board, will monitor the investigations carried out by the competent authorities regarding the acts of violence and the police operation. The legislators will request clarification on who ordered the violent actions, as well as the containment measures or use of force employed by the local Secretariat of Citizen Security during the march.

It will also be monitoring the investigations where there is information about the identity and organizational structure of the “black bloc,” which authorities point to as responsible for generating the riots.

“The Special Commission must act in strict compliance with the principles of legality, impartiality, objectivity, respect for human rights and presumption of innocence, and will submit reports to the plenary of the Political Coordination Board on the progress of its work ,” states the agreement approved by the deputies.

• 

  News Briefs

  Mexico City Congress Creates Commission to Investigate “Gen-Z” March Violence

  December 10, 2025December 10, 2025

  The overwhelming opinion on Mexico’s left is that shock groups in the November 15th confrontation were paid for, and orchestrated by the right wing opposition.

• 

  Analysis

  The Failed USMCA Project

  December 10, 2025

  Transnational corporations won in both NAFTA & the USMCA, and Mexico is not prepared to face the greater demands the US will impose in its favor for the continuation of the USMCA or in a new trade agreement.

• 

  Soberanía

  The Fourth Transformation Punches Back: Soberanía 88

  December 10, 2025

  600,000 Mexicans rally in support of Sheinbaum on the seventh anniversary of the Fourth Transformation, public health system, minimum wage increase, DEA drug scandal & the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel.

The post Mexico City Congress Creates Commission to Investigate “Gen-Z” March Violence appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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The diplomat reminded this Wednesday the members of the Federation Council (the Upper House of the Russian Parliament) that Trump also accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, of undermining confidence in the dollar and “pushing BRICS countries to seek alternative payment platforms.”

Lavrov pointed out that Biden is not solely responsible for the difficult international situation, and the current situation is a consequence of the current White House’s continued policies.

According to the minister, Russia has repeatedly insisted that the pressure of sanctions only encourages the search for new solutions.

Trump announced in November that Washington was preparing new, tough, and restrictive measures against Russia.

abo/iff/ode/gfa

The post Russian FM denounces increased US sanctions first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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The Office stated that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) committed 738 violations since the ceasefire started on October 10.

The Gaza media office noted that 43 citizens were also arrested in the coastal enclave, devastated by two years of war.

It emphasized that Israeli authorities only allowed 38 percent of the aid agreed upon as part of the ceasefire to enter the territory during this period.

The Office highlighted that during those two months, the IDF conducted 205 direct shootings against civilians, 358 airstrikes on civilians, and 138 on buildings, in addition to 37 ground incursions.

According to official figures, more than 70,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in that territory since the beginning of the new cycle of violence in October 2023, and more than 171,000 have suffered injuries from those attacks.

abo/iff/oda/rob

The post Israel kills 386 Palestinians in Gaza during two-month ceasefire first appeared on Prensa Latina.

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The offensive launched by the Royal Thai Navy seeks to “suppress the enemy,” according to the name “Trat Prap Porapak,” in the border province of Trat.

The military institution informed that the Royal Thai Navy assumed, this Wednesday, an expanded operational authority in its sector due to the escalation of hostilities with Cambodia.

The operation includes the warship HTMS Thepa on high alert and a mobilization of fighter jets ready for action.

The Thai Army reported on Tuesday that four soldiers were killed and 68 were wounded in recent clashes with Cambodian forces.

Both nations accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreed upon in Malaysia on July 28.

abo/iff/oda/msm

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Health conditions have deteriorated due to overcrowding and the lack of medical aid in detention centers.

On Wednesday, the Sudan Doctors Network (SDN) denounced that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group is holding more than 19,000 people in inhumane conditions in South Darfur. Those detained include civilians, doctors, police officers, soldiers, and political activists.

RELATED:

Violence Intensifies in Sudan’s North Darfur

They are being held in prisons such as Dagris and Kober, near Nyala city, and in other detention centers throughout the region. Among those detained are 4,270 police officers, 544 members of the Security Service, 3,795 soldiers, and 5,000 people captured in Al Fasher.

In addition, 5,434 civilians, including politicians, journalists, and 73 healthcare professionals, were detained in Khartoum and Darfur, where the RSF has established a “parallel government” after the seizure of the Al Fasher region on October 26.

Health conditions have deteriorated severely due to overcrowding and the lack of medical isolation. The Sudan Doctors Network confirmed a cholera outbreak, along with shortages of medicine, drinking water, and food, resulting in more than four deaths per week in detention centers.

After consolidating their control in Darfur, the RSF is advancing toward Kordofan, where they are perpetrating mass arrests, massacres, and war crimes denounced by the Sudanese government and the United Nations (UN).

Sudan: 60,000 Killed, 150,000 Missing: Satellite Images Reveal El Fasher ‘Slaughterhouse’

Satellite images show that El Fasher has become a “slaughterhouse”, with the RSF killing tens of thousands after seizing the city.

Large piles of bodies, new mass graves, and cremation… pic.twitter.com/AV8zOJx7Ux

— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 5, 2025

The war in Sudan began on April 15, 2023, and since then, tens of thousands have died, more than 13 million have been displaced, and more than half the population faces acute food insecurity.

Recently, UN officials condemned drone attacks in South Kordofan, which struck a kindergarten and a hospital in Kalogi, and killed 114 people, including 63 children. These attacks have severely disrupted humanitarian operations and medical equipment.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom confirmed that the Kalogi hospital was attacked three times and urged blood donations for the wounded. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also denounced the attacks and called for a halt to the flow of weapons.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Africa: In Sudan, the attack on a hospital exacerbated the health crisis facing the region amid the armed conflict. pic.twitter.com/RvJyiDrLvI

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 4, 2025

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE – UN

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This article by Arturo Huerta González originally appeared in the December 9, 2025 edition of La Jornada de Oriente, the Puebla edition of Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those ofMexico Solidarity Media*, or the Mexico Solidarity Project.*

On December 3, 4, and 5, 2025, hearings sponsored by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative were held regarding the operation of the USMCA , where the U.S. private sector expressed complaints about the judicial reforms and the reform that eliminated autonomous regulatory bodies in 2024, which, according to them, increase uncertainty for U.S. companies and their investments in Mexican territory. This demonstrates that they want to control everything to defend their interests. These reforms do not affect investment decisions or the operating rules of the USMCA. What matters most to decision-makers are the profit prospects they can obtain with the USMCA, and so far, U.S. companies located in Mexico have benefited, as well as those U.S. companies that have flooded the national market with their products. Hence, the representatives of transnational companies in these hearings advocated for “extending and strengthening the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada,” because they have won, and they have won at the cost of displacing [Mexico’s] national producers and leading the national economy to stagnation and dependence on the entry of capital and indebtedness.

They also complained about the 2024 energy reform, which reversed the opening of the sector and grants preferential treatment to Pemex and the CFE [state oil and electricity firms]. They called for addressing the unfair competition from Mexican state-owned companies while simultaneously improving protections for significant, long-standing U.S. investments in Mexico. They want Mexico to stop protecting Pemex and the CFE from U.S. companies and to improve the protection of their investments in Mexico. They are targeting the country’s strategic sectors and demanding better treatment for their companies, which have increased their presence in the country. They want further expansion beyond what they already have and want to see no restrictions placed on it.

Similarly, U.S. agricultural producers urged the U.S. government to extend the USMCA until 2042, as it has allowed them to increase their revenue. This has happened at the expense of displacing domestic producers, with the tacit approval of the Mexican government, which ignores their demands to remove basic grains from the USMCA. If imports of basic grains continue, Mexican producers will continue to be harmed, further diminishing self-sufficiency in these products and increasing our food dependency, as well as our reliance on external financing to purchase them. This will perpetuate high interest rates and currency appreciation that favor financial capital, at the cost of not having an economic policy that promotes growth and employment.

Transnational corporations have won, and they have won at the cost of displacing Mexico’s national producers and leading the national economy to stagnation and dependence on foreign capital & indebtedness.

Donald Trump, for his part, has threatened not to renew the USMCA or to renegotiate another agreement. The US Trade Representative himself stated that “President Trump’s view is that he only wants good deals. The reason we included a review period in the USMCA was in case we needed to review it or withdraw from the agreement.”

The latter is likely to happen, since with the current trade agreement, the US faces a growing trade deficit with Mexico. Therefore, it will end up doing the same thing it has done with other countries, where it has imposed conditions in its favor, such as requiring them to invest in the US, encouraging US companies to return to the US, and demanding that they buy more from Mexico and sell less to it. This calls into question the position of the Mexican government, which is confident that the country will continue to have a “relatively better position compared to other countries.”

The problem is that Mexico is not prepared to face the greater demands and requirements that the US will impose in its favor for the continuation of the USMCA or in a new trade agreement. The country lacks an economic policy framework that favors the industrial and agricultural sectors to cope with the increased market openness demanded by the US to support its exports. As a result, we will face less industry, fewer basic food supplies, fewer jobs, slower growth, a larger trade deficit, and greater financing problems.

It’s important to remember that Mexico’s growth after World War II, up until 1981, was due to protectionist policies that prohibited imports of domestically produced goods. Furthermore, there was a development bank, and the government regulated commercial banks and capital flows to prevent speculative practices, allowing for monetary and fiscal policies that fostered growth. Neoliberalism destroyed all of this.

• 

  Analysis

  The Failed USMCA Project

  December 10, 2025

  Transnational corporations won in both NAFTA & the USMCA, and Mexico is not prepared to face the greater demands the US will impose in its favor for the continuation of the USMCA or in a new trade agreement.

• 

  Soberanía

  The Fourth Transformation Punches Back: Soberanía 88

  December 10, 2025

  600,000 Mexicans rally in support of Sheinbaum on the seventh anniversary of the Fourth Transformation, public health system, minimum wage increase, DEA drug scandal & the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel.

• 

  News Briefs

  Bean Producers Face Ruin: Squeezed by Corporations, Government Support Insufficient

  December 10, 2025December 10, 2025

  Mexico’s government has not met its commitment to enforce its agreed-upon price for farmers, who are forced to sell to an oligopsony of corporations, intermediaries and wholesale operators.

The post The Failed USMCA Project appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.

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US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s “days are numbered.”

In an interview with Politico, Trump issued a new ultimatum against Maduro amid Washington’s aggressive campaign in the Caribbean—and Caracas’s accusation that the White House seeks regime change. “His days are numbered,” he said.

Although he declined to give further details on how far he might go to remove Maduro from power, the US president hinted at his tacit support for that option.

Trump to Politico

‘Maduro’s days are numbered’ pic.twitter.com/i1JThLfJ44

— Global Report (@Globalrepport) December 9, 2025

In the same conversation, Trump did not rule out taking similar actions against countries like Colombia and Mexico after the journalist suggested they are “even more responsible for fentanyl trafficking into the US.”

“Yeah, I would. Sure. I would,” the president responded, consistent with his recent threats to act “on the ground” against other Latin American nations under the pretext of fighting drugs.

Global Outcry as US Escalates Military Threats Against Venezuela

Summary of US aggression in the Caribbean

• Military deployment: Since August, the US has maintained a significant military presence off Venezuela’s coast, officially justified as part of the war on drugs. Washington later announced Operation Southern Spear, claiming it aims to “eliminate narco-terrorists” from the Western Hemisphere and “protect” the US from “the drugs that are killing” its citizens.
• Lethal operations: The campaign has included bombings of suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing more than 80 people—despite no public evidence that the targeted boats were engaged in narcotics trafficking.
• Accusations and bounty: Washington has accused President Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug cartel—without presenting evidence—and doubled the reward for information leading to his arrest.
• Caracas’s position: Maduro maintains the true US objective is “regime change” to seize Venezuela’s vast oil and gas reserves, which include the world’s largest crude oil reserves.
• Lack of support: Both the United Nations and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) acknowledge Venezuela is not a primary drug transit route to the US—over 80% of narcotics follow the Pacific corridor through Colombia and Ecuador.
• International condemnation: Russia, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the governments of Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil have condemned the US strikes. Experts and officials describe the attacks as “summary executions” that violate international law.

(RT)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

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During the installation of the People’s Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty, which is meeting in Caracas, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil delivered a strong message in the face of the growing military threat promoted by the US government and its allies.

Speaking to a thousand international delegates, Gil said that “the peoples of the world have reacted decisively, supporting the path of consolidating peace in Venezuela,” and highlighted that the Venezuelan capital now shows “a peaceful, joyful, dignified and sovereign Caracas,” in contrast to those who have tried to turn the country into “a theater of military operations.”

The foreign minister denounced a systematic strategy of military harassment directed by “the deadliest power humanity has ever known”—a reference to the US, which he recalled was responsible for the invasions of Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Gil stated that this same power has threatened to bomb Venezuela and, faced with the failure of unilateral coercive measures, is now “resorting to psychological and media warfare to try to break the will of the Venezuelan people.”

He emphasized that Venezuela will continue to defend human dignity, workers’ rights and the rights of Indigenous peoples, and recalled recent meetings in Caracas with Indigenous communities. He asserted that the Venezuelan people have built, since independence, all the social rights that the international right wing now seeks to take away.

He warned against efforts to revive the Monroe Doctrine, which he described as a mechanism for total domination over the continent. In response, he championed the “Bolivarian doctrine, the doctrine of the people, the doctrine of sovereignty,” as the cornerstone of resistance and regional unity.

Gil called for the Caracas debates to lead to the permanent establishment of the People’s Assembly—an international structure capable of mobilizing and responding sovereignly to any aggression.

The head of Venezuelan diplomacy stated the US offensive includes violations of the UN Charter, international air law and all norms governing relations between states.

He asserted that, despite the threats, “there is an indomitable people in the world who refuse to be dominated,” and that Venezuela is advancing with firm steps in defense of its sovereignty.

He insisted the country’s response must go beyond resistance and become a “revolutionary offensive,” with organization, coordination and concrete actions against imperialism and “its internal operatives—the same ones who two hundred years ago opposed the independence of our peoples.”

The foreign minister recalled that the US Department of War has mobilized its fleet to the Caribbean, while President Trump recently threatened—in an interview—to bomb territories in Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela, a situation Gil described as “extreme and alarming.”

Global Outcry as US Escalates Military Threats Against Venezuela

He noted the assembly is being held in an atmosphere of unity, joy and determination, coinciding with the commemoration of the Battle of Santa Inés, led by Ezequiel Zamora.

“We have a popular mandate: to triumph and to win,” he affirmed, welcoming international delegates and emphasizing that Caracas will from now on be a permanent space for the defense of peace and the sovereignty of the peoples.

(Telesur)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/JB/SH

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This news “fills us with pride,” the Prime Minister expressed just minutes after the decision was announced by UNESCO during the twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is meeting in New Delhi.

In a message published on the official website of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the head of government emphasized that “for us Italians, cuisine is not just food, it is not just a recipe book, it is much more: it is culture, tradition, work, and wealth.”

In the dossier submitted by Italy to UNESCO in March 2023, entitled “Italian Cuisine: Sustainability and Biocultural Diversity,” it was emphasized that Italian gastronomy represents a sentimental heritage that transcends food.

In approving its inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the international organization argued that Italian culinary art has achieved a legacy that has incorporated influences from other cultures without losing its essence.

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President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, will visit Ashkhabad on December 11 and 12, 2025 to participate in the International Year of Peace and Confidence Forum, the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanente Neutrality, said the statement.

During his stay in the Central Asian nation his agenda will also include a series of bilateral meetings with several heads of state, who will also attend the event.

The International Year of Peace and Confidence was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly trough a resolution adopted on March 21, 2024.

The International Neutrality Day is celebrated every December 12, established by the United Nations (UN) in 2017 at the proposal of Turkmenistan, to promote peace and international cooperation through impartiality.

On June 3, 2015, during the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, the resolution ‘Permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan’ was adopted, endorsed by 193 states.

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Among the objectives included in the agreement signed with the Government are the reduction of poverty and hunger; guaranteeing health and well-being; and ensuring quality education for children, adolescents, and young people; a local news outlet informed.

Additionally, gender equality; access to clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation, and infrastructure; and the reduction of inequality, Prensa Libre newspaper underscored.

Between 2020 and 2025, the international organization allocated a similar amount to promote programs and projects focused on closing development gaps, protecting the rights of inhabitants, and ensuring the implementation of plans in communities.

The cooperation of the United Nations System (UNS) is in tune with the “K’atun Development National Plan: Our Guatemala 2032” and the Guatemalan government’s general policy for the 2024-2028 period.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guatemala, Miguel Barreto, stated that the shared purpose is to move towards a more prosperous, equitable, and resilient nation, in which every person can develop their full potential.

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The disease, also known as whooping cough, has been on the rise since 2023, according to the latest epidemiological update published on this condition.

It is an infectious disease characterized by catarrhal symptoms in the respiratory tract, with bouts of intense, convulsive coughing.

Globally, 977,000 cases of pertussis were reported in 2024, almost six times more than the 167,407 reported in 2023.

The most affected regions were the Western Pacific (591,193 cases) and Europe (296,543 cases). In the Americas, the trend was similar. After reaching the lowest recorded number in 2022 (3,284 cases), cases increased significantly in 2023 (11,202 cases) and 2024 (66,184 cases).

Between January and November 2025, a total of 10 countries—selected for the epidemiological update—reported increases compared to previous years. Complete data for the entire region for 2025 will be available in 2026.

Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease, but its resurgence highlights gaps in immunization and epidemiological surveillance, Dr. Daniel Salas, Executive Manager of the PAHO Special Program for Comprehensive Immunization, noted.

It is urgent that countries ensure high and uniform vaccination coverage, on a sustained basis, especially in children under five years of age, to protect the most vulnerable and prevent outbreaks, he added.

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According to the statement released Wednesday on the Finance Ministry’s website, the revenues in question reached 24.9 trillion rubles (approximately $323.4 billion).

“Non-oil and gas revenues in the federal budget totaled exactly 24.871 billion rubles, representing an 11,3% year-on-year increase,” the statement specified.

It also noted that revenues from sales taxes, including value-added tax (VAT), increased by 5,6% year-on-year from January to November, reflecting the trends of cooling domestic demand and inflation.

Non-oil and gas revenues from January to November of this year were above their baseline level; however, there are risks of a decline due to the weakening price environment, the Ministry of Finance emphasized.

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The figure also includes some 50,000 tons of asbestos, classified as a carcinogen, and some 100,000 tons of unexploded ordnance and explosives, it warned in a statement.

It announced that the Israeli aggression destroyed 80% of the territory’s water and sanitation systems, causing an unprecedented deterioration of the environmental infrastructure.

The Authority explained that, in addition to the debris, the war forced the creation of unregulated landfills and destroyed waste treatment plants.

This situation led to a massive leak of chemicals, fuel, and asbestos into the soil and surface waters, a problem that poses a very serious environmental and health threat to residents, it stressed.

In statements to the Safa news agency, expert Mohammed Musleh denounced the millions of tons of waste scattered throughout the site.

Musleh estimated that the danger lies in the possibility of the waste seeping into the groundwater, which would have disastrous effects on human health and the environment.

He explained that inhaling large quantities of asbestos causes serious illnesses, such as pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and laryngeal cancer.

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During a speech last night at the 30th Graduation Ceremony of Cadets at the “General of Division José Dolores Estrada Vado” Higher Center for Military Studies, the president congratulated the young graduates of that institution.

He stressed that these officers “are not graduating to harm anyone,” but rather as part of an Army whose Commander-in-Chief—he recalled—has been clear about its fundamental mission: to defend peace and protect Nicaraguan families, in coordination with the National Police.

Ortega emphasized that the military also safeguards the borders against drug trafficking and carries out development support work, such as the construction and repair of roads in rural areas where permanent road infrastructure has not yet arrived.

These tasks, he said, facilitate transit and improve the living conditions of communities.

The head of State said that the new officers will contribute directly to the country’s stability, recalling that in recent years “there have been attempts to end the peace,” but the people have demonstrated their conviction to reject coups d’état or acts of terrorism, as they destroy national security and well-being.

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  During the presentation of the third Document on China’s Policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean, the Ambassador of Dominica and head of the region’s Diplomatic Corps in Beijing, Charles Martin, described the text as a practical guide for bilateral cooperation.

He stated that the document boots the five strategic programs agreed upon at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum in May 2025.

Martin noted that these programs encompass more than 40 concrete actions in areas such as solidarity, development, civilizational exchange, peace, and connectivity among peoples.

The diplomat emphasized that the implementation of the agreement will have direct impacts on sectors such as infrastructure, trade, investment, technology, education, culture, agriculture, energy, health, and sustainable development.

He highlighted tangible examples such as the expansion of railway networks in South America, energy projects in Central America, and academic and cultural exchange programs.

Martin reiterated that the partnership is not limited to economic transactions nor does it create dependency, but rather strengthens the countries’ capacity to face current and future challenges. The ambassador stated that China-LAC cooperation contributes to building a more prosperous, just, and sustainable world.

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