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The head of the Russian Aerospace Forces also stated at a press conference that on December 28, 2025, radio-technical troops detected an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), similar to airplanes, operating at extremely low altitudes, from the territories of the Ukrainian regions of Sumi and Chernihiv.

The high-ranking military official stated that the structure of the attack, the number of drones involved, and their trajectories from the south, southwest, and west toward the presidential residence “unequivocally confirm that the terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime was targeted, meticulously planned, and carried out in stages.”

“The enemy attack was launched from several directions toward the Russian president’s residence over the territories of the Bryansk, Smolensk, Tver, and Novgorod regions, using 91 unmanned aerial vehicles,” the major general explained.

According to Romanenkov, after the attack was repelled, “there were no casualties or damage on the territory of the Russian Federation,” and the Russian president’s residence was also unaffected.

jdt/arm/mem/gfa

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According to the ministerial report, 13 fatal workplace accidents were recorded during the first quarter of 2025, a figure that dropped to 11 in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, 12 deaths were recorded, while in the fourth quarter the number fell to five, the lowest figure of the year.

In this regard, the head of the MTSS, Juan Castillo, highlighted the launch in April of the National Commitment for Life, Health, and Safety at Work, an initiative to promote prevention.

The 2025 Workplace Accident Report details that all of the fatalities were men.

Regarding the main causes of fatal accidents, the report indicates that falls from heights continue to be the predominant factor, especially in sectors such as construction and industry.

jdt/arm/mem/ool

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Clashes began yesterday between insurgents from the Congo River Alliance-March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) and local militias known as Wazalendo, in the community near Minjenje, in the Mpety area, on the border between the Masisi and Walikale territories.

Residents of Nzanganano reported heavy and light weapons fire and civilian injuries during the fighting, as well as a mass displacement of the population, with many residents taking refuge in the area’s forests, according to Actualité. CD.

AFC/M23 rebels maintain control of the village, but fighting may continue, given that clashes have been almost constant around Mpety throughout the year.

jdt/arm/mem/kmg

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The Director General of the Ministry of Health in the coastal enclave, Munir Al-Barsh, announced a decrease in the number of newborns of up to 40% annually.

He considered that this indicator reflects the depth of the health and humanitarian crisis the sector is experiencing.

Al-Barsh stated that the number of monthly births there has fallen from approximately 26,000 to 17,000.

The official attributed the decline to “the harsh living conditions faced by pregnant women under siege and war.”

Furthermore, low birth weight has become widespread due to maternal malnutrition and a lack of essential nutritional supplements, which directly affects the health of fetuses and infants, he emphasized.

According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, Israeli troops killed approximately 12,500 Palestinian women from the start of the new phase of the conflict on October 7, 2023, until October 8 of this year.

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During a recent interview with a Spanish YouTuber, the president said that his government has captured approximately 95% of gang members without any civilian deaths.

He noted that “there are still some inactive members; they may be hiding or have fled. We’re looking for them; every day we find one hiding somewhere, but basically, they’re all here; and civilian casualties, zero,” he stated in TheGrefg’s post.

The president stated that without the support of the Armed Forces and control of the prisons, these results in the fight against gangs would not have been achieved.

On the other hand, Carlos Acevedo, economist and former president of the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), addressed the impact of security on the economy, stating that the projected four percent growth for this year is “unprecedented.”

“We’re already beginning to see the effects on the economy at the macro level, contrary to those who said that ‘you can’t eat security’ and all that kind of rhetoric. I think we’re starting to see signs that the security environment is having a significant impact,” he affirmed.

He stresed that the set of policies implemented by the government is generating positive results and expectations. These results, he emphasized, are enabling a series of initiatives that would not have been possible in the past.

jdt/arm/oda/lb

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Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that these countries and organizations are ignoring separatist actions in Taiwan and external interference, while criticizing China’s legitimate measures to protect its territorial integrity.

The spokesperson also affirmed that the island is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and the Taiwan issue is exclusively a matter for China’s domestic affairs, excluding external interference.

Lin underscored that the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is separatist activities and the support they receive from external forces.

He also remembered that the one-China principle is a widely recognized consensus and the political foundation of China’s relations with 183 countries, including Japan, Australia, and European nations.

China urged these countries and organizations to respect the one-China principle and cease all forms of support for Taiwanese separatist forces.

Lin rejected, in the same appearance, statements by a Japanese senator regarding a possible visit to Taiwan, an attitude that contradicts the political commitments made by Tokyo to Beijing.

jdt/iff/oda/idm

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U.S. measures violate international law and seek to escalate pressure on Tehran and Caracas.

On Tuesday, Cuba condemned a new package of sanctions imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on 10 Iranian and Venezuelan companies and individuals.

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“We reject new unilateral coercive measures imposed by the U.S. government against Venezuela and Iran, which run counter to international law and seek to increase pressure and aggression against both countries,” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said.

Earlier, the Trump administration announced sanctions against Iran and Venezuela, accusing Tehran of supplying conventional weapons to Caracas and threatening U.S. interests across the Western Hemisphere.

In separate statements, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of the Treasury said a Venezuelan company targeted by the sanctions had been involved in the sale of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian-designed combat unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.

Other sanctioned entities and individuals were accused of supporting procurement networks linked to Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programs, the statements said.

“The entities and individuals designated today demonstrate Iran is actively proliferating its combat UAVs and continues to procure missile-related items in violation of U.N. restrictions,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, adding that the Trump administration would take action to curb Iran’s ballistic missile program, block its development of other conventional and asymmetric weapons, and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

BREAKING: 🚨 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 🇻🇪 ISRAEL BEHIND VENEZUELA FLASE FLAG WAR

Netanyahu is the “source” of the LIES about Iran and Hezbollah:

“Iran is in cahoots with Venezuela, sending Hezbollah to the United States”

Israel is on record stating they want Venezuela.pic.twitter.com/SYJC4HF0Qn

— ADAM (@AdameMedia) December 31, 2025

“We will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Iran’s military-industrial complex of access to the U.S. financial system,” said Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley.

The Treasury Department also said Iran’s UAV and missile programs threaten U.S. and allied personnel in the Middle East and disrupt commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The sanctions came one day after Trump, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, warned that the United States would support renewed strikes if Iran attempts to rebuild its ballistic missile program.

In response to Trump’s remarks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on X on Tuesday that his country would respond harshly to any act of aggression. “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s response to any cruel aggression would be harsh and regret-inducing,” he said.

Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have escalated following a series of strikes. On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on several locations in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.

Relations between the U.S. and Venezuela have also remained strained, with Caracas repeatedly accusing Washington of pursuing a “regime change” and expanding its military presence in the region under what the United States describes as an anti-narcoterrorism campaign.

During a presidential act, President of #Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, congratulated the Bolivarian National Armed Forces for breaking the record by shooting down nine aircraft used for #drugtrafficking on the border with #Colombia and #Brazil. He also emphasized that the country is… pic.twitter.com/rT3FGBWiYA

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 30, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: CFM – Xinhua

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Cuba’s Ambassador to this nation, concurrently accredited to Baku, Carlos Valdes, stated in one of the messages that Berdimuhamedow conveyed his sincerest congratulations and best wishes to Diaz-Canel on the national holiday and Liberation Day.

The Turkmen head of State congratulated, in the second message, the Cuban people on the arrival of the New Year 2026 and wished the president good health, happiness, and success in his noble work, which contributes to strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding in the international arena.

Valdes stated that, in both congratulatory messages, Berdimuhamedow took the opportunity to wish the Cuban people peace, progress, and prosperity.

Turkmenistan and Cuba established diplomatic relations in March 1992, following this nation’s declaration of independence once the Soviet Union, of which it was one of the 15 constituent republics, was dissolved.

Since then, the two nations’ relations have been characterized by friendship and cooperation, focused on mutual support in international forums and the strengthening of political and economic ties.

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This technology is applied in quantum chemistry, pharmacology, marine science, and climate studies.

In Mexico, supercomputer technology is concentrated in the public academic sector, with between 10 and 12 high-performance computing centers distributed among universities and national research centers.

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Lukas Nellen Filla, a researcher at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), noted that although the information is not publicly available, some private banks also have state-of-the-art systems.

Prominent institutions with supercomputing capabilities include the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav), the Center for Research in Mathematics, the University of Sonora, the University of Guadalajara, and the UNAM.

The Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education, the Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla, the Potosino Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, and the Metropolitan Autonomous University also have supercomputing infrastructure.

The first supercomputer in Mexico and Latin America was the Cray Y-P4/464, named Sirio, installed at the UNAM’s General Directorate of Academic Computing Services (DGSCA) in 1991.

#Mexico: Coatlicue, the Mexican supercomputer will be the most powerful in Latin America, with 14,480 GPUs & a capacity of 314 trillion operations per/sec. It will have a public investment of approximately USD$327 million & will be 7 times the capacity of the Pegaso of Brazil. pic.twitter.com/P6uGFDbuZ5

— Voice of Mexico (@VOMexico) December 2, 2025

In 2007, the UNAM presented KanBalam, a supercomputer from Hewlett-Packard (HP), with a capacity of 7 billion operations per second and 7,000 times more powerful than Sirio.

In 2013, the UNAM acquired Miztli, a cluster 17.5 times larger than KanBalam that expanded its capacity with 8,344 processors and 228 teraflops of theoretical performance.

Mexican supercomputing is applied in theoretical and quantum chemistry, pharmacology, marine science, climate studies, seismology, and astronomy. It emcompasses both basic and applied research in multiple scientific disciplines.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has incorporated new fields in supercomputing, such as linguistics. However, Filla noted the need to stimulate communities in the humanities, arts, and industrial sectors.

There is pressure to expand and modernize research equipment for AI, which is increasingly used in high-performance computing centers. The Coatlicue project aims to consolidate Mexico’s position within the world’s TOP500 and strengthen its leadership in the tech field.

In her daily morning #pressconference, the President of #Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, condemned the criminalization of #migrants, stating that the best way to reduce mass migration is to #invest in the countries of origin. pic.twitter.com/gjFsOy90FM

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 18, 2025

teleSUR: JP

Source: La Jornada

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If they don’t self-deport, ‘we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will not return,’ the DHS Secretary Noem said.

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recalled that the United States has tripled its stipend offer to migrants who choose to “self-deport” from the country by New Year’s Eve to US$3,000.

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The stipend, along with a free flight back to migrants’ home countries, will be provided to those living in the United States illegally who sign up to leave by the end of the year.

“Using the CBP Home app also qualifies recipients for forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the country,” the DHS said.

The app is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mobile application designed “to incentivize the voluntary self-departure of aliens illegally in the United States.”

This isn’t “just border security.” It’s DNA surveillance. Reports show DHS/CBP have collected DNA from migrants, including children, and uploaded profiles into the FBI’s criminal DNA database (CODIS).https://t.co/9iKfKAsWGC

— Austin Kocher, PhD (@ackocher) December 22, 2025

“Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will not return,” the DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said on X.

The DHS in May set the stipend at US$1,000, noting that the amount is far less than the roughly 17,000 dollars required to “arrest, detain and remove” someone without legal status.

U.S. President Donald Trump has made mass deportations a priority in his second term, targeting those he claims entered the country illegally under the previous administration.

According to the DHS, the United States has recorded 605,000 deportations and 1.9 million self-deportations under its enforcement operations since Trump returned to office in January 2025.

In her daily morning #pressconference, the President of #Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, condemned the criminalization of #migrants, stating that the best way to reduce mass migration is to #invest in the countries of origin. pic.twitter.com/gjFsOy90FM

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 18, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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Chinese economic strength and defense capabilities reached new heights, he stated.

On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping championed the need to promote international peace and cooperation in a world marked by instability.

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On New Year’s Eve, the Chinese leader reiterated that reunification with Taiwan is an “unstoppable historical cause.” The following is the full text of the message:

“Greetings to all! Year after year, life opens a fresh chapter. As the new year begins, I extend my best wishes to you from Beijing!

The year 2025 marks the completion of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. Over the past five years, we have pressed ahead with enterprise and fortitude, and overcome many difficulties and challenges.

We met the targets in the Plan and made solid advances on the new journey of Chinese modernization. Our economic output has crossed thresholds one after another, and it is expected to reach RMB 140 trillion yuan this year.

Our economic strength, scientific and technological abilities, defense capabilities, and composite national strength all reached new heights. Clear waters and lush mountains have become a salient feature of our landscape.

Our people enjoy a growing sense of gain, happiness and security. The past five years have been a truly remarkable journey, and our accomplishments have not come easily. Your unwavering hard work has made our nation thrive and prosper. I salute you all for your exceptional diligence and invaluable contributions.

🇨🇳 🚀 Justice Mission 2025: Chinese rocket systems crush simulated enemy

New footage shows long-range multiple launch rocket systems firing at mock naval targets

The drills take place in China’s Fujian province, near Taiwan pic.twitter.com/aLnQYMIXO0

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) December 31, 2025

This year is full of indelible memories. We solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and established the Taiwan Recovery Day.

These grand national events were majestic and powerful, and the glory of victory will shine through the pages of history. They are inspiring all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation to remember history, honor fallen heroes, cherish peace, and create a better future. They are rallying a mighty force for the great rejuvenation of our nation.

We sought to energize high-quality development through innovation. We integrated science and technology deeply with industries, and made a stream of new innovations.

Many large AI models have been competing in a race to the top, and breakthroughs have been achieved in the research and development of our own chips. All this has turned China into one of the economies with the fastest growing innovation capabilities.

The Tianwen-2 probe began its star-chasing journey to explore asteroids and comets. Construction of the hydropower project at the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River started. China’s first aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system was officially commissioned.

Humanoid robots did kung fu kicks, and drones performed spectacular light shows. Inventions and innovations have boosted new quality productive forces and added colorful dimensions to our lives.

We endeavored to nurture our spiritual home with cultural development. There was a surging public interest in cultural relics, museums, and intangible cultural heritage. A new Chinese cultural site was added to the World Heritage List. Cultural IPs such as Wukong and Nezha became global hits.

🚨🇨🇳 BREAKING: Chinese military has released a video depicting automated humanoid robots, microdrones and weaponised robotic dogs attacking the island of Taiwan.

This is technology China has never showcased before. pic.twitter.com/cLEIcae9un

— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) December 30, 2025

The younger generation came to deem classic Chinese culture as the finest form of aesthetic expression. The cultural and tourism sectors thrived. The “super league” football games in our cities and villages attracted numerous fans. Ice and snow sports ignited people’s passion for the winter season. Tradition is now embracing modernity, and the Chinese culture is shining in even greater splendor.

We joined hands to build a better life and enjoyed it together. I attended celebrations in Xizang and Xinjiang. From the snow-covered plateau to both sides of the Tianshan Mountains, people of various ethnic groups are united as one, like seeds of a pomegranate sticking together.

With white khatas and passionate singing and dancing, they expressed their love of the motherland and the happiness they enjoy. No issue of the people is too small; we care for every leaf and tend every branch in the garden of people’s well-being.

Over the past year, the rights and interests of the workforce in new forms of employment have been better protected, facilities have been upgraded to bring more convenience to the elderly, and each family with childcare needs has received a subsidy of RMB 300 yuan per month. When the happy hum of daily life fills every home, the big family of our nation will go from strength to strength.

We continued to embrace the world with open arms. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin and the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women were very successful; and island-wide special customs operations were launched in the Hainan Free Trade Port. To better address climate change, China announced new Nationally Determined Contributions.

After announcing the three global initiatives on development, security, and civilization, I put forward the Global Governance Initiative to promote a more just and equitable global governance system.

The world today is undergoing both changes and turbulence, and some regions are still engulfed in war. China always stands on the right side of history, and is ready to work with all countries to advance world peace and development and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Not long ago, I attended the opening ceremony of the National Games, and I was glad to see Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao coming together in unity and acting in unison.

We should unswervingly implement the policy of One Country, Two Systems, and support Hong Kong and Macao in better integrating into the overall development of our country and maintaining long-term prosperity and stability. We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship. The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable!

China completes its 'Justice Mission 2025' military drills around Taiwan

They were meant as 'stern warning' to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and external interference, says China's spox

'Necessary and just move to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity' https://t.co/2BwvDMEq3w pic.twitter.com/lZNUDLqSwu

— RT (@RT_com) December 31, 2025

Only a strong Communist Party of China can make our country strong. We launched the study and education program on fully implementing the central Party leadership’s eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct.

We exercised strict governance of the Party through credible measures, and promoted the Party’s self-revolution to fight corruption and advance healthy governance. As a result, the conduct of our Party and government steadily improved.

We must stay true to our original aspiration and founding mission, and pursue our goal with perseverance and dedication. We should continue to give a good answer to the question on how to maintain long-term governance put forth in a cave dwelling in Yan’an and prove ourselves worthy of the people’s expectation in the new era.

The year 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. A successful venture should start with a good plan and with clear goals set. We should focus on our goals and tasks, boost confidence, and build momentum to press ahead.

We should take solid steps to promote high-quality development, further deepen reform and opening up across the board, deliver prosperity for all, and write a new chapter in the story of China’s miracle.

The dream lofty, the journey long-bold strides will get us there. Let us charge ahead like horses with courage, vitality, and energy, fight for our dreams and our happiness, and turn our great vision into beautiful realities.

The sun of the new year will soon rise. May our great motherland stand in magnificence! May the fields across the country deliver good harvest! May our nation bathe in the glory of the morning! May you all enjoy life to the fullest, and achieve every success! May all your dreams come true!”

China conducts massive military drills near Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/JX8C7GOaLw

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 30, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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The Kremlin’s position on the Taiwan question is unchanged and has been repeatedly reaffirmed at the highest level.

On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Russia recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of China and opposes any form of “Taiwan independence.”

RELATED:

Chinese Military Drills Are a Deterrent to Taiwanese Separatism

Some countries, while claiming their adherence to the one-China principle, advocate maintaining the status quo, which runs counter to the principle of China’s national reunification, the ministry said in a statement.

The Taiwan question is currently being used by certain countries as an instrument of military and strategic containment against China, the ministry added.

Russia’s principled position on the Taiwan question is well known, unchanged, and has been repeatedly reaffirmed at the highest level, the Russian diplomacy said, adding that the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair and China has every legitimate basis to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

⚡️Russian FM Lavrov:

Russia will support China in protecting state unity and territorial integrity in the event of a possible escalation in the Taiwan Strait.

⚡️Chinese Type 055 destroyer Wuxi conducted a finalization test of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship aeroballistic missile pic.twitter.com/hQGVxCAhFx

— The World War (@TheWorldWar12) December 28, 2025

On Tuesday night, the Chinese Embassy in Britain said that China “deeply deplores” and “firmly opposes” the remarks related to China’s Taiwan made by the British side.

Following the Chinese military exercises around Taiwan, a spokesperson of Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said that they have called for “restraint and the avoidance of any further actions that risk undermining peace and stability,” a remark the Chinese embassy called “erroneous” and “a misrepresentation of the facts and a manipulation of the truth.”

“Taiwan is a province of China, and the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair,” a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy said, adding that the drills conducted by the PLA are a punitive and deterrent action against Taiwan separatist forces, a stern warning against external interference and a necessary move to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“No country is entitled to make irresponsible comments on it,” the spokesperson said, noting that China urges the British government to “earnestly respect the one-China principle and honor its commitment to China, refraining from any action which interferes in China’s internal affairs, emboldens the separatists in Taiwan and undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

China conducts massive military drills near Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/JX8C7GOaLw

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 30, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source Xinhua

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

The tariff shock has compounded the export-driven economy’s structural weaknesses.

Germany’s economy remains mired in stagnation as 2025 draws to a close, following two consecutive years of contraction. Early-year hopes of a modest recovery were dashed by an unexpected escalation of tariffs by the United States.

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Germany’s leading economic institutes are forecasting growth of just 0.1 percent for the year, after repeatedly cutting projections that had stood at 0.8 percent last autumn. The downgrades followed Washington’s decision to raise duties earlier in 2025.

Analysts say the tariff shock has compounded the export-driven economy’s structural weaknesses, with manufacturing already under strain. The combination of weaker external demand, eroded confidence, and limited traction from domestic policy has once again pushed recovery out of reach.

🚨🇮🇳India climbs past Japan to rank as the world’s 4th-largest economy, hitting a GDP of $4.18 trillion.

🌍 Global GDP leaderboard:

🇺🇸 United States: $30.5T
🇨🇳 China: $19.2T
🇩🇪 Germany: $4.7T
🇮🇳 India: $4.18T pic.twitter.com/yO3NIDibBR

— Sumit Kapoor (@moneygurusumit) December 31, 2025

EXPORTS TAKE FIRST HIT

Overseas shipments represent more than 40 percent of Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP), and for decades they have helped cushion the economy during downturns.

In 2025, however, that long-standing buffer has faded. With the United States among Germany’s main export destinations, exporters have been hit hard by the higher U.S. tariffs.

The tariffs have hit sectors that underpin Germany’s export strength, led by the automotive industry. A report published last week by the German Economic Institute (IW) showed that exports of German-made cars and auto parts to the United States, the largest category of shipments to that market, fell 13.9 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025. Shipments of mechanical engineering and chemical products, meanwhile, both declined by around 10 percent.

Germany’s overall exports to the United States dropped 7.8 percent during this period. IW economist Samina Sultan said steep U.S. tariffs on cars, steel and aluminum were a decisive factor, with the fall in shipments to the U.S. market alone shaving 0.81 percentage points off Germany’s global export growth this year.

Business groups see little sign of a near-term rebound. The German Wholesale and Foreign Trade Association (BGA) expects exports to fall by 2.5 percent in 2025, below earlier projections. BGA President Dirk Jandura on Monday highlighted how vulnerable Germany has become amid rising protectionism, since the country’s prosperity is closely tied to open global trade.

“Looking ahead, German exports are still facing rough headwinds,” said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, noting that a swift return of exports as a key driver of growth seems unlikely as the U.S. tariff pressure remains.

Hard to overstate the crisis engulfing the German economy – investment & goods exports in free fall, private consumption stagnant (despite higher population), only the size of government is growing.

Energy prices, US tariffs, China shock 2.0 – Germany needs a new growth model. https://t.co/RQEuPYNxeA pic.twitter.com/rirrwhq3ov

— Daniel Kral (@DanielKral1) November 25, 2025

KNOCK-ON EFFECTS FOR INDUSTRY

Manufacturing, which accounts for roughly one-fifth of Germany’s gross value added, has become an increasing drag on the economy.

Economists have repeatedly warned that the sector faces deep-seated structural problems, from high costs to weak investment. This year, external shocks, including U.S. tariffs, have compounded those strains, prompting firms to postpone investment plans and reassess Germany’s attractiveness as a production base.

A joint report by consultancy Deloitte and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) found that around one in five German manufacturing firms have already shifted production abroad, an increase of 8 percentage points over the past two years. “U.S. tariff policies are accelerating the relocation of German industry,” the report said.

Manufacturing activity has remained in contraction throughout 2025, with the HCOB Germany Manufacturing PMI compiled by S&P Global staying below the 50-point threshold. The index is expected to fall to 47.7 in December, its weakest reading in 10 months.

The downturn is also reflected in industry assessments. In its annual report, BDI said German industrial output is set to shrink by 2 percent this year, marking a fourth straight year of decline. The industrial base is “in free fall,” said BDI President Peter Leibinger.

Looking ahead, an ifo Institute survey showed that over one in four manufacturing firms expect conditions to worsen in 2026, while over half foresee stagnation. “Companies remain very cautious, and there is no spirit of optimism to be seen anywhere,” said Klaus Wohlrabe, ifo’s head of surveys.

DOMESTIC MEASURES SLOW TO GAIN TRACTION

With exports faltering and industry under mounting strain, Germany’s economy ministry has said recovery now needs to be driven by domestic demand rather than exports, citing uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and a stronger euro.

Earlier this year, Berlin unveiled an ambitious fiscal package, including a 500-billion-euro (US$588 billion) infrastructure fund and plans to ease the debt brake for defense spending. The government has also launched a joint investment initiative with large companies, which is worth more than 100 billion euros.

Economists initially described the package as a “shot in the arm” for the sluggish economy, but as the year progressed, policy uncertainty stemming from divisions within the ruling coalition slowed the rollout of the measures. After improving steadily from the start of the year through the summer, from September the ifo business climate index turned cautious again.

In its annual report to the federal government, the German Council of Economic Experts warned that fiscal stimulus and large investment funds had so far failed to revive the economy. The panel argued that deeper structural reforms and innovation would be needed to restore competitiveness and confidence in the economy.

Berlin is now placing greater emphasis on public investment and reforms. Investment is set to reach 126.7 billion euros under the 2026 federal budget. Research institutes now expect the economy to expand by around 0.8 percent in 2026, depending on how effectively domestic policies are implemented, and on the evolution of U.S. trade policy.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Poland: A court rejected Germany's request to extradite a Ukrainian citizen suspected of being involved in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022. pic.twitter.com/aGchjIgmbK

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 21, 2025

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) reported the seizure of more than 52,000 kilograms of illicit drugs in 2025, following nationwide operations targeting drug trafficking networks and irregular armed groups, with a concentration in the country’s western region.

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According to the FANB, a total of 52,885 kilograms of drugs were confiscated over the year in western Venezuela, as outlined in an official operational balance. Military authorities said the actions were part of sustained efforts against narcotrafficking structures operating along key territorial corridors.

Officials from the Western Strategic Defense Region (REDI Occidental) stated that trafficking groups attempted to move drugs illegally into the country through the states of Zulia, Falcón and Lara. As part of these operations, Venezuelan forces destroyed eight aircraft allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Alto Orinoco area, strengthening border surveillance with Brazil.

Golpe contundente: Venezuela incauta más de 52 toneladas de droga en el occidente de su territorio durante 2025

📌La Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana de #Venezuela🇻🇪 asestó un golpe al narcotráfico en el occidente (Zulia, Falcón, Lara) del país durante el año 2025, logrando la… pic.twitter.com/0c5SEnJuRO

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 31, 2025

The FANB said the operations were conducted in defense of sovereignty, the protection of the population and the guarantee of peace in the western region of the country, citing the role of the “popular-military-police fusion.”

In the Andean region, the armed forces reported the detection and destruction of “various logistical structures with relevant results,” leading to the seizure of two tons of drugs. In the Plains region, authorities reported the neutralization of 14 aircraft associated with drug trafficking, the confiscation of more than 1,400 kilograms of drugs, and the seizure of 80 firearms, 40 camps, 26 vessels and 23 laboratories. Four clandestine airstrips were also dismantled in Apure state as part of Operation Vuelvan Caras.

In eastern Venezuela, the Eastern Strategic Defense Region (REDI Oriental) reported the seizure of 2,058 kilograms of drugs, along with firearms, vessels and explosive devices, and the destruction of camps. Authorities said more than 7,000 individuals wanted for various crimes were placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The Strategic Defense Region of Guayana (REDI Guayana) reported the destruction of 25 camp-type structures, 35 illicit drug laboratories and the neutralization of 13 small aircraft. These operations also included the destruction of 125 camps linked to illegal mining, 424 motor pumps and the disabling of 49 mining rafts, as part of efforts against illicit mineral extraction.

The Maritime and Island Strategic Defense Region (REDIMAIN) said it seized and destroyed a significant quantity of illicit drugs and recovered material of judicial interest, as part of FANB actions described as aimed at defending sovereignty and providing comprehensive protection to the population.

The reported operations come amid heightened tensions with the United States, which recently deployed air and naval forces in the Caribbean under the stated objective of combating drug trafficking, a move that Caracas interprets as a threat and an attempt at political intervention.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Israel will revoke the operating licenses of 37 non-governmental organizations working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank starting in January, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), after alleging that employees of those organizations “were involved in terrorist activities,” an official from Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism confirmed.

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The ministry said the affected organizations failed to provide Israeli authorities with “complete and verifiable information about their employees” and accused MSF, without presenting evidence, of having “affiliated individuals” linked to Palestinian Islamist groups “such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas.”

The measure follows new licensing requirements introduced in March 2025 by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Israel’s military offensive in Gaza was ongoing. Under those rules, international NGOs operating in the occupied Palestinian territories are required to disclose the names of all staff members. Licenses may be denied or revoked if organizations deny Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic state, promote campaigns to delegitimize Israel, call for boycotts, or support the prosecution of Israeli security forces in foreign or international courts.

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs stated that the organizations have been notified that their licenses will be revoked as of January 1, 2026, and that they must complete the cessation of their activities by March 1.

Access to life-saving humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the occupied West Bank is facing a major disruption following "Israel’s" decision to revoke the operating licenses of 37 international aid organizations. The Israeli government alleges these groups failed to comply with… pic.twitter.com/emX2McYIYJ

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 31, 2025

MSF said on Tuesday that it had not received any notification regarding the Israeli government’s decision and warned that a withdrawal would have “devastating” consequences for Palestinians. In a statement sent to EFE, the organization said that as of December 30 it had received no official communication. MSF noted that it provides around 20 percent of hospital beds in Gaza and assists in one out of every three births in the territory.

“We are urgently seeking solutions to be able to continue providing services to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,” MSF said.

In a subsequent statement, MSF said it takes “very seriously” accusations that members of its staff are linked to armed groups and reiterated that it would “never” knowingly hire individuals involved in military activities. The organization added that any staff participation in such activities would pose a “danger” to both its personnel and patients, and criticized that “making such accusations public without substantiated evidence” endangers humanitarian workers and undermines life-saving medical work for Palestinians.

The decision prompted reactions from a group of 10 countries, including France and the United Kingdom, which urged Israel to allow international NGOs and UN agencies such as UNRWA to continue operating in Gaza. In a joint statement disseminated by the French government, the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom expressed “grave concern about the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which remains catastrophic.”

They warned that with the onset of winter, civilians in Gaza face “appalling conditions, with heavy rains and falling temperatures,” and stressed that 1.3 million people continue to require “urgent shelter support.” The ministers also said the “total collapse of sanitation infrastructure” has left 740,000 people exposed to toxic flooding and that most of the population is experiencing “high levels of acute food insecurity.”

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says its supplies are ready to enter Gaza amid heavy rain and strong winds that have battered the Palestinian enclave, but Israeli authorities are not allowing it access.

🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ https://t.co/gYofKvrMf9

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 31, 2025

Among the measures urged on Israel, the countries emphasized that “international NGOs must be able to operate in Gaza in a sustained and predictable manner,” warning that under the new restrictive requirements they risk deregistration. “This could result in the forced closure of their operations within 60 days in Gaza and the West Bank, with a severe impact on essential services,” the statement said, adding that “one in three health facilities in Gaza will close if these operations stop.”

The ministers also called on Israel to allow the United Nations and its partners to continue their work, including UNRWA, “which provides essential health and education services to millions of Palestinian refugees.”

According to a list obtained by EFE from an Israeli government source, the 37 affected organizations include Action Against Hunger, CARE, Oxfam affiliates, the Danish and Norwegian Refugee Councils, Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Jerusalem, the International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, War Child Holland, Defense for Children International, Medical Aid for Palestinians (UK), and multiple national sections of Médecins Sans Frontières and Doctors of the World. Several Spanish organizations are also included.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

A widespread power outage affected the city of Buenos Aires and several areas of its metropolitan region on Tuesday, leaving more than 45,000 households and businesses without electricity during a period of extreme heat, according to official data and media reports.

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The blackout occurred as high temperatures drove a surge in electricity demand, fueled by the extensive use of air conditioners and fans. Residents across the capital and surrounding districts reported service interruptions lasting several hours, with social media users sharing images and videos showing darkened homes, streets, and public spaces.

Figures released by Argentina’s National Electricity Regulatory Entity (ENRE) show that outages increased sharply during the afternoon, particularly in zones serviced by the utility company Edesur. Between 15:35 and 15:55 local time, the number of affected users rose by nearly 10,000 in each reporting interval.

⚡️MASSIVE BLACKOUTS HIT ARGENTINA

BUENOS AIRES IN THE DARK AFTER INTENSE HEATWAVE pic.twitter.com/lqflqp8vHO

— RT (@RT_com) December 31, 2025

The peak was registered at 16:30, when 2,390 Edenor customers and 42,957 Edesur customers were without power, totaling 45,347 homes and businesses amid extreme weather conditions. Although partial restoration efforts were later initiated, the number of outages climbed again around 18:50, with 41,722 users still without service. The figure declined to 34,841 by 20:50, while power cuts in southern areas reappeared during the early morning hours.

Edesur attributed the outage to a problem at the Bosques Substation, which had cascading effects on several substations serving both the federal capital and the surrounding urban areas. “Our technical teams are already working in the area,” the company said in a statement posted on X, adding that “the supply will be restored in stages.”

The blackout coincided with an ongoing heat wave affecting Buenos Aires city and the province of Buenos Aires. Argentina’s National Meteorological Service issued an alert for temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, forecasting a maximum of 39°C and a minimum of 27°C in the capital on Wednesday.

The national government has extended the energy emergency and continues to monitor the situation through ENRE, as repeated power cuts highlight persistent vulnerabilities in the electricity system during periods of extreme heat.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Honduras’ Attorney General Johel Zelaya announced on Tuesday that judicial actions will be launched to clarify what occurred during the general elections held on November 30, following the release of the final declaration by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

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In a post on his X account, Zelaya said that “the Public Prosecutor’s Office, acting with constitutional responsibility and absolute respect for the democratic order, did not intervene in or interrupt any stage of the general elections process.” He added that “no act that undermines the popular will and, therefore, sovereignty will remain in impunity,” reaffirming the institution’s commitment to the Honduran people.

The announcement followed the virtual release of election results by CNE councilors Ana Paola Hall and Cossette López, together with alternate councilor Carlos Cardona, six hours before the legal deadline. The results favored National Party candidate Nasry Asfura, who received public support from former US President Donald Trump during the campaign, including promises of increased assistance to Honduras if Asfura won.

El fiscal general de #Honduras🇭🇳, Johel Zelaya, anunció que se van a emprender “acciones judiciales” para esclarecer lo sucedido en las elecciones generales del 30 de noviembre, al darse a conocer la declaración final por parte del CNE.https://t.co/M0hg0Ux35Z

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 31, 2025

Asfura’s victory was made public on December 24 and has been described by various sectors as an institutional fraud, citing an incomplete vote count. Opposition voices rejected the outcome and called for a process they argue should be fair and fully transparent. CNE councilor Marlon Ochoa stated that he would not accept the results without the completion of the vote tally for all polling records.

According to official figures released by the CNE, the National Party secured 49 of the 128 seats in the National Congress, followed by the Liberal Party with 41 seats, Libre with 35, Innovation and Social Democratic Unity with two, and the Christian Democracy party with one. In municipal races, the National Party won 151 mayoralties, the Liberal Party 76, Libre 69, Innovation and Social Democratic Unity one, along with one independent candidate.

Zelaya said the judicial actions would set “a precedent in the country’s history” in an electoral process he said had been marked by fraud and US interference. He stressed their importance “so that shameful practices that harm democracy and the rule of law are not repeated.”

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—On Monday, the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced a new extrajudicial execution as part of its Operation Southern Spear, killing two civilians in a small boat in Eastern Pacific waters. In addition, since Sunday, US President Donald Trump has claimed that the US carried out land strikes on Venezuelan territory; however, the US regime has not provided evidence of these attacks.

The US publicized its latest assassinations in the manner that has now become familiar: US SOUTHCOM announced on social media that a new round of executions of defenseless Latin American civilians had been carried out in the waters of the Eastern Pacific ocean. It is worth noting that Venezuela does not possess any coastline on the Pacific Ocean.

This latest execution represents the 30th strike on a small boat in the region and raises the number of assassinated civilians to 107 since September 2, when the first US strike was reported. To date, 55% of the victims (59) were killed in Eastern Pacific waters, while 45% (48) of the reported killings occurred in Caribbean Sea waters. Out of the 30 strikes, 19 have occurred in the Eastern Pacific, and 11 have occurred in the Caribbean.

A blurry video of the attack was attached to the SOUTHCOM post. The post declared that the action was authorized by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. International and US legal and military experts, and the United Nations, have labeled these actions as extrajudicial killings and war crimes. As usual, victims were not identified nor was any information released regarding the precise location or the contents of the boats that were attacked.

Trump is completely losing it!

Primazol—the private chemical company supposedly hit by a "strike"—is located 5 km away from Lake Maracaibo coast. There are no docks, no boat loading areas, and no maritime access.

The facility is in the San Francisco Industrial Zone of… https://t.co/dgywPWTwYj pic.twitter.com/R2a8L3fPI7

— Orinoco Tribune (@OrinocoTribune) December 30, 2025

In recent months, the US regime has deployed more than 18,000 troops in the Caribbean and the Pacific as part of its newest military campaign. According to the US ruler’s own statements, this campaign has most recently shifted to the goal of “recovering” [i.e., stealing] Venezuela’s oil, which the US claims belongs to it. Analysts and Venezuelan authorities had expressed their belief, since the beginning of this military campaign, that its actually goal is regime change—removing Venezuela’s democratically elected socialist president, Nicolas Maduro—in order to control Venezuela and facilitate the exploitation of its natural resources for US imperial interests.

Alleged land strikes
In what analysts claim is a disinformation operation, Donald Trump announced on a podcast during the weekend that there were US land strikes carried out on docks in Venezuela. While he did not mention Venezuela at that moment, mainstream media and social media influencers began spreading rumors shortly after regarding a fire at Primazol, a private chemical supplier company in Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela. Reported on December 24, the fire was framed as the first target of such alleged strikes.

On Monday, from Mar-a-Lago, the US ruler was more explicit, clearly claiming there were attacks on Venezuelan land that targeted docks and alleged “narco-terrorist” facilities. He cited a “big explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs.”

If Washington’s claims are proven real, they will constitute another alarming violation of the international order by the US and an act of war that Venezuela will be forced to respond appropriately. However, no evidence has been provided of such land strikes, and Venezuelan authorities have not confirmed the US narrative.

A simple open-source information analysis made by Orinoco Tribune on Monday showed that the Primazol fire occurred in the San Francisco Industrial Zone of the San Francisco municipality in Maracaibo on December 24, 2025. The damaged warehouse is located 5 kilometers from the coast of Maracaibo Lake and one block from heavily populated neighborhoods of the second-largest city in Venezuela—Barrio El Gaitero and Barrio Sur América. Thus, there are no docks nearby.

Primazol has released a public statement explaining that the fire was caused by an electrical accident in an area where polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin is stored.

Imperial Disaster: An Assessment of Trump’s Operation in the Caribbean

The review conducted by Orinoco Tribune clearly showed that the alleged US strike against Primazol was another piece of fake news spread for the purposes of psychological warfare. “If a US strike actually happened there, we would see hundreds of videos online by now,” Orinoco Tribune wrote in a social media post. “While real [Venezuelan law enforcement] operations have smashed drug-linked companies like Grupo Lamar recently, these MSM reports and Trump’s delusional statements simply do not add up. No other video or open-source evidence has been released to demonstrate the alleged US land strikes.”

Despite the implausible US claims, mainstream media outlets ran with the news on Monday night, claiming that the alleged land strikes occurred and were part of a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covert operation initiated several weeks ago. However, no proof, in the form of videos or photos, was presented. CNN and the New York Times cited only “sources familiar with the matter” as the origin of their reports.

Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff

OT/JRE/SL

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The mayor of Tegucigalpa, Jorge Aldana, rejected the declaration of results issued by the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Honduras on Tuesday and announced that he will not recognize any election results until all outstanding ballots are counted, which he claims represent more than 56,000 votes. During a press conference, Aldana referred to statements made by council member Cosette López, whom he cited to support his position.

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Aldana recalled that his candidacy was presented with “a positive list with a day-to-day project full of proposals” and asserted that throughout the campaign and on election day, “the polls and exit polls showed us winning.” He stated that the CNE itself, at various points in the count, also gave him the advantage, but that “the ballots still needed to be recounted. And they refused to do it.”

Their rejection is based on the statement made by Councilor López herself, who indicated that the declaration in 66 municipalities—including the Central District—”has no certainty or reversibility, neither mathematically nor legally.” Aldana quoted López verbatim: “Any controversy or dispute at either electoral level can be resolved in the Electoral Court, which, according to the Organic and Procedural Electoral Law, is responsible for hearing and resolving electoral appeals arising from electoral processes.”

“That’s the crux of the matter! Oh, God! Neither mathematically nor legally, is the result for the Central District in the declaration presented by the National Electoral Council (CNE) today, as stated by the councilors themselves. What does that mean? That we do not recognize any result,” Aldana emphasized. Furthermore, she reiterated that her team “spent 30 days” waiting for the completion of the vote count and now demands a full tally before any transfer of power.

The mayor-elect emphasized that “we will not hand over the mayor’s office to anyone from this place” until the pending tally sheets are processed. His stance aligns with the existence of narrow margins in 66 municipalities—according to the National Electoral Council (CNE) itself—where the data available on the dissemination platform “does not allow for guarantees of irreversibility, mathematically, statistically, or legally.”

The Honduran Organic and Procedural Electoral Law establishes that the Electoral Court is the competent body to resolve challenges arising from electoral processes. Aldana did not formally announce a challenge, but made it clear that his acceptance of the result is conditional upon a full recount of the votes.

In the Central District, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE), the number of votes exceeds 56,000, a figure that could alter the official outcome. Meanwhile, electoral authorities are maintaining their declaration, despite acknowledging technical and legal limitations.

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A collision between two trains on the iconic railway leading to the city of Machu Picchu, in the southern Andean region of Cusco, left one person dead and at least thirty injured on Tuesday, according to the Peruvian National Police (PNP).

The accident, which also caused serious damage to the locomotives of both trains, occurred in a difficult-to-access area and has mobilized all emergency services in the region.

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According to information released by the official news agency Andina, based on the police report, the deceased has been identified as Roberto Cárdenas Loay, who, according to local media, was the engineer of one of the trains involved in the accident.

Meanwhile, the injured are being evacuated to nearby clinics and hospitals, and the PNP has already deployed specialized units to begin the corresponding investigations into the causes of the accident.

La Confederación General de Trabajadores del Perú (CGTP) denunció los despidos masivos y las violaciones de derechos laborales en el país. Señaló que las medidas adoptadas por empresas y autoridades afectan la estabilidad de los trabajadores y vulneran garantías reconocidas en la… pic.twitter.com/GrrLElCM87

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 19, 2025

The railway concessionaire, Ferrocarril Transandino (FTSA), reported that the collision occurred around 1:20 p.m. local time (6:20 p.m. GMT) at kilometer 94.4, in the area known as Pampacahua.

This section, with its difficult access where the tracks run parallel to the Vilcanota River, has a single track used by trains in both directions, a factor presumed to be key in the dynamics of the accident, in addition to other responsibilities that are currently being investigated.

The first images from the scene revealed the severity of the impact between trains belonging to the only two companies operating the route: Perú Rail and Inca Rail, both under the FTSA concession. It was confirmed that at least one of the trains was carrying tourists, both Peruvian and foreign, including Brazilian citizens. One was traveling from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, while the other was covering the reverse route.

🔴 El Ministerio de Salud informa lo siguiente: pic.twitter.com/HHXsDTm1SE

— Ministerio de Salud (@Minsa_Peru) December 31, 2025

In response to the emergency, the Peruvian Ministry of Health activated its emergency protocol, dispatching twelve ambulances to the scene to provide specialized support to the injured. Peru Rail reported that, after providing first aid to the train driver, the train conductor, and the passengers, the injured were evacuated in two railcars. “We deeply regret what happened,” the company stated in a press release.

The accident has brought the safety conditions on one of the country’s most important railway lines for tourism under scrutiny.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) reported on Tuesday that Brazil’s unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in the three-month period ending in November, marking the lowest level since the start of the historical series using the current criteria in 2012.

This figure represents a drop of two-tenths of a percentage point compared to the quarter ending in October (5.4%) and a decrease of 0.9 percentage points year-on-year. The positive indicator is reflected in concrete numbers: the total number of unemployed fell to 5.6 million, also the lowest figure in 14 years.

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At the same time, the country reached a record high in employment, with 103.2 million Brazilians employed. Job growth over the past year was primarily driven by the private sector, with notable gains in transportation, warehousing, and postal services (+3.9%), and by the public sector in areas such as defense, education, and social security (+5.6%). In addition, self-employment increased by 2.9%.

The employment rate, that is, the proportion of people aged 14 and over who are working, reached its highest percentage in the historical series of the National Continuous Household Sample Survey, at 59%.

Throughout the historical series, the highest number of unemployed people occurred in the quarter ending March 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when this indicator registered 14.9 million people without formal employment.

Latin America’s largest economy grew by only 0.1% in the third quarter of 2025, and the government projects an expansion of 2.4% for the year, compared to the 3.4% recorded in 2024.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, presented a progress report on the Great Mission Venezuela Mujer and the Great Movement of Movements Josefa Joaquina Sánchez. He highlighted that 2,800,000 women are now active members of their organizational structures. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Nora Castañeda International School of Women’s Leadership, located in Aragua State.

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The President described the event as a “good omen” for the country’s social development in 2026 and announced a goal that, by the end of that year, all 49,000 community councils in the country will have a legally constituted women’s grassroots committee, which would allow a total of 5 million women to exercise direct leadership in their communities. Currently, 17,000 of these councils already have such committees.

The event featured the participation of National Assembly Deputy María León, who linked the fight for gender equality to the roots of Christianity and social justice. “This struggle began with Jesus of Nazareth; he was the one who spoke of justice and brought women into the fold,” León stated, symbolically proposing the inclusion of Jesus of Nazareth as a pivotal figure in the historical narrative of the Bolivarian Revolution, alongside Simón Bolívar, Hugo Chávez, and Nicolás Maduro.

For her part, the Minister of Popular Power for Women and Gender Equality, Yelitza Santaella, expressed her gratitude for the National Executive’s confidence in her to lead the new International Leadership School, and emphasized that its operation is based on the territorial organization of women through Women’s Committees and Communal Councils.

“Venezuelan women have demonstrated unwavering resilience in times of difficulty, assuming the leading role that history has bestowed upon them in the revolutionary process,” she noted.

The School, which will be headed by Santaella, has the mission of professionalizing and empowering women’s leadership through three training pillars defined by President Maduro: training for Social Transformation, for National Security and Defense, and for the Productive Economy.

The first pillar aims to equip women with the tools to make a positive impact within their families and communities. “Educating to transform society starting with the family, building humane and educated families based on values, families that know how to build a new society,” Maduro emphasized.

The second pillar will include a mandatory module inspired by the heroines Josefa Joaquina Sánchez and Ana María Campos, to strengthen the defense of national sovereignty through a popular-military-police alliance.

The third pillar focuses on women’s economic empowerment, with the goal of training “millions of entrepreneurial women who have their own successful productive and economic projects.”

Minister Santaella concluded her speech by stating that the new training center represents a milestone that transcends borders, because “the light of knowledge that is lit in Aragua will serve as a guide not only for Venezuelan women, but for all those women of the world who seek to walk the path of liberation and social justice.”

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.

Political organizations from Latin America and the Caribbean issued a joint statement denouncing the “comprehensive regime of aggression” that the United States government maintains against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which they describe as a modern form of blockade with direct human consequences.

The document, signed by 15 communist parties and movements from the region—including the Communist Party of Colombia, the Communist Party of Brazil, the Communist Party of Venezuela, and the Communist Party of Argentina—lists six central pillars of this unilateral policy: illegal coercive sanctions, economic and financial blockade, appropriation of Venezuelan assets abroad, military threats, political interference, and disinformation campaigns.

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Among the signatories are the Communist Party of Ecuador, the Communist Party of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Communist Party of Honduras, and the Mexican Communist Party, who in the text denounce the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the US, which have been “repeatedly condemned by United Nations bodies and rapporteurs” as constituting “collective punishment” and violating the UN Charter, the principle of non-intervention, and the right to self-determination of peoples.

Furthermore, the text emphasizes that these sanctions are not “targeted,” but rather function as a generalized blockade that affects access to food, medicine, medical supplies, and industrial spare parts, also hindering the international financial transactions of Venezuelan entities.

🚨Durante el encuentro, se emitió la siguiente declaración conjunta:

🔴¡No a la injerencia de Estados Unidos en América Latina y el Caribe!
Repudio a la intervención militar en Venezuela

🔴"América Latina y el Caribe sufren los embates del imperialismo… que pretenden… pic.twitter.com/qpwxzSEUY2

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) December 19, 2025

The statement, which also includes the Communist Party of Peru, the Communist Party of Uruguay, the Morazanist Revolutionary Party (Honduras), the People’s Party of Panama, and the Guatemalan Labor Party, denounces the “seizure and plundering of Venezuelan people’s assets abroad,” including strategic companies such as CITGO and Monómeros, as well as the withholding of gold reserves at the Bank of England. These acts, the signatories maintain, constitute “modern piracy and theft of public assets.”

Regarding regional security, the text warns of the militarization of the Caribbean, highlighting the deployment of US naval forces, the execution of “joint operations,” and the prepositioning of “war reserves,” along with support for “mercenary cells and covert operations.” It also criticizes direct political interference, manifested in the “creation of parallel governments,” the financing of destabilization operations, and the use of lawfare to undermine Venezuelan institutions.

The declaration, which also includes the Popular Vanguard Party of Costa Rica, RASIN Kan Pèp La Haiti, CNCP Martinique, and the Caamañista Movement of the Dominican Republic, highlights the role of media warfare and disinformation campaigns, used, according to the signatories, to “justify aggression and undermine national cohesion” in Venezuela.

Despliegue militar, piratería, terrorismo marítimo y bloqueo naval, escalada de agresiones yanquis contra la Revolución Bolivariana para derrocar al Presidente Nicolás Maduro y apropiarse de los recursos de #Venezuela.
Cuba reafirma su total apoyo a la Patria de Bolívar y Chávez. pic.twitter.com/HxXAoGUOvp

— Manuel Marrero Cruz (@MMarreroCruz) December 30, 2025

Given this situation, the signatories demand the immediate, total, and unconditional lifting of all unilateral coercive measures, the full return of seized assets, the cessation of the militarization of the Caribbean, and unrestricted respect for sovereignty and electoral processes in Venezuela. Furthermore, they reject the extraterritoriality of U.S. legislation, which affects third countries, banks, and companies in the region.

The call extends to the governments of Our America, urging them not to support foreign sanctions, to reestablish trade and financial relations with Venezuela in local currencies, and to promote mechanisms within regional bodies such as CELAC, ALBA, CARICOM, and UNASUR to protect countries from external aggression.

Likewise, unions, parliaments, peasant, feminist, youth, cultural, and academic organizations are invited to build a continental anti-blockade front through training campaigns, public statements, and coordinated actions. Popular media and the cultural community are called upon to “break the information blockade” and highlight the impact of the blockade and the theft of assets.

#COMMUNIQUÉ || ALBA categorically rejects the us statement on the decision to totally and completely block oil tanks to Venezuela and its intention to steal its natural resources. pic.twitter.com/AR03l5udSa

— ALBA (@ALBATCP) December 18, 2025

As concrete proposals, the signatories propose the creation of a Sovereign Humanitarian Cooperation Mechanism between states and public companies in the region to guarantee the supply of essential goods to Venezuela without conditions, as well as the reactivation of energy agreements such as Petrocaribe. They also propose establishing national legal observatories against extraterritoriality and lawfare, and supporting international legal actions undertaken by Venezuela in pursuit of reparations.

“The defense of Venezuela is not a matter for just one nation: it is the defense of the right of all our peoples to decide their own path without blockades or plunder,” they stated.

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Fossil fuel emissions continued to rise in 2025, fueling global temperatures and increasingly destructive extreme weather events worldwide.

The year ending was slightly cooler than the previous year, 2024, globally, but much hotter than almost any other year on record.

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Some of the worst extreme weather events of 2025, studied by the World Weather Attribution academic collaboration, document the severe consequences of a warmer climate.

Across the 22 extreme events analyzed, heat waves, floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires claimed lives, destroyed communities, and ravaged crops, demonstrating significant damage from ongoing anthropogenic climate change.

Even in a year with weak La Niña conditions, which resulted in lower sea surface temperatures, global temperatures remained very high.

World Weather Attribution turns 10 today 🎉

To mark the occasion, we've launched our study tracker – an interactive tool to explore our analyses on extreme weather events around the world. https://t.co/9fDxnl3OMa pic.twitter.com/07fbclETaN

— World Weather Attribution (@WWAttribution) October 31, 2024

Extreme weather events continued to occur this year at alarming levels.

Although natural climate variability patterns, such as El Niño, were in a cooler phase, greenhouse gas emissions from human activity caused exceptionally high global temperatures, intensifying prolonged heat waves and worsening droughts, creating conditions ripe for wildfires.

Rainfall and extreme winds associated with severe storms and floods also increased, causing thousands of deaths and displacing millions of people in several regions.

These events highlight the growing risks of anthropogenic global warming of approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius, and all of this reinforces the urgent need to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuels.

Since 2015, when the Paris Agreement was signed, global warming has increased by 0.3 degrees, a seemingly small rise that has significantly increased the frequency of extreme heat and added an average of 11 extra hot days per year.

If the Paris Agreement is fully implemented, it would help reduce projected warming from 4.0 degrees to 2.6 degrees Celsius—a substantial decrease that would nonetheless create a dangerously hot world.

A review of recent heat waves, such as the extreme heat in the Amazon or in Burkina Faso and Mali, shows that these events are almost 10 times more likely than in 2015.

Tens of thousands of displaced families in #Gaza — many sheltering in tents and overcrowded schools — face rain, flooding, and deteriorating living conditions.

As winter deepens the hardship, UNRWA teams continue working to support people wherever they are.#UNRWAworks pic.twitter.com/KbhQAO4tRg

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 22, 2025

Moreover, this year highlighted, once again, the unfair distribution of the consequences of climate change, and while humanity urgently needs to move away from fossil fuels, it must also invest in adaptation measures. Many deaths and other impacts could be avoided with timely action, but events like Hurricane Melissa underscored the limitations of preparedness and adaptation in preventing extreme loss and damage.

This underscores that adaptation alone is not enough; a rapid reduction in emissions remains essential to avoid the worst impacts of human-caused climate change.

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Russia confirmed the deployment of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system in Belarus, a nuclear-capable weapon.

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The Russian Ministry of Defense released images of the system traversing Belarusian forests during combat exercises, confirming its entry into active service before the end of 2025.

President Alexander Lukashenko indicated that up to 10 units of the system could be stationed in Belarus, in accordance with security commitments signed with Moscow. Vladimir Putin asserted that the Oreshnik’s warheads “cannot be intercepted,” stating that their conventional use would have a devastating impact due to their hypersonic speed. This assertion was met with skepticism by Western specialists, who associate the system with a “repackaged” RS-26 platform.

The deployment of the Oreshnik comes as the United States and Ukraine engage in critical negotiations, a situation that complicates the diplomatic landscape. Washington maintains that the deployment violates the spirit of the now-defunct INF Treaty, abandoned in 2019, while the Kremlin insists that the system is a response to the advance of Western military infrastructure toward Russia’s borders.

Months ago, Russian deputy Alexei Zhuravlyov stated that Moscow “sees no obstacles” to transferring the Oreshnik system or Kalibr missiles to Venezuela, should the Caracas government formally request them. The legislator asserted that Russia already provides Venezuela with “almost the entire range of available weaponry,” including anti-aircraft systems, aircraft, and classified technical assistance.

Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford and its naval strike group are moving through the Caribbean, in the largest US deployment to the region since 2004.

With an estimated range of up to 5,000 km and a speed approaching Mach 10, the system could defend against attacks launched from the Caribbean and even from parts of the US mainland.

The military doctrine updated by Moscow in 2024 places Belarus under the Russian nuclear umbrella, allowing for operational coordination in both defense and strategic retaliation. The possibility of Minsk selecting targets, even under Russian control, is interpreted in the West as a mechanism that decentralizes launch decisions and makes it difficult to predict the chain of command in a critical scenario.

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