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According to the website wwe.giron.cu, the Matanzas-based theater group intends to recreate a concert featuring lesser-known works by the artist that deserve to be remembered.

The performance, entitled “Old Songs Always New,” will feature lesser-known works by the artist that do not deserve to be forgotten.

The director of Estaciones, Ruben Dario Salazar, noted that December is a month full of important dates for Cuban culture due to the birth of cultural icons such as Dora Alonso, Alicia Alonso, and Teresita Fernandez herself.

Old Songs Always New is part of Teresita Fernandez’s music, which is often overlooked, not popular, and didn’t achieve the fame of songs like “Vinagrito,” “Tintin la lluvia,” “Amiguitos vamos todos a cantar,” or “Dame la mano y danzaremos,” he explained.

The National Theater Award winner affirmed that the concert features a soloist like Olga Blanco, who has a beautiful voice and whose interpretive skill is among the best in the country.

She will be joined by actors from the play “Estaciones,” children from Gaby Sofi’s company, and professional dancers in a multidisciplinary performance, he pointed out.

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In his message, the president stated that he received the news with surprise and dismay, and highlighted the figure of “Nando,” as he was known, who distinguished himself as a fighter for independence and for his contributions to national politics.

“He always defended the best interests of the Angolan people with zeal and competence,” Lourenco remarked, and detailed the important positions he held in service to the Angolan state, such as Minister of the Interior, Prime Minister, Vice President of the Republic, and President of the National Assembly.

“His charisma, sense of justice, and good manners earned him the respect of both his peers and his adversaries, with whom he always maintained a cordial and respectful relationship despite their differing viewpoints,” the head of state emphasized.

He expressed his deepest condolences to his family, subordinates, and colleagues, as well as his many friends, wishing them strength and courage to overcome this difficult time.

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Luanda, 20 dic (Prensa Latina) El presidente de Angola, João Lourenço, expresó hoy condolencias a la familia del nacionalista Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, cuyo fallecimiento aconteció el pasado jueves en Luanda.

Cuerpo : El mandatario señaló en el mensaje que recibió la noticia con sorpresa y consternación, y resaltó la figura de “Nandó”, como era conocido, quien destacó como luchador por la independencia y por su desempeño en la vida política nacional.

“Siempre defendió los intereses superiores del pueblo angoleño con celo y competencia”, remarcó Lourenço y detalló los importantes cargos que ocupó al servicio del Estado angoleño, como los de ministro del Interior, primer ministro, vicepresidente de la República y presidente de la Asamblea Nacional.

“Su carisma, sentido de la justicia y buenas maneras le valieron la consideración tanto de sus pares como de sus adversarios, con quienes siempre mantuvo una relación cordial y respetuosa a pesar de sus diferentes puntos de vista”, enfatizó el jefe de Estado.

Significó que su pérdida deja un vacío en la vida pública angoleña que será difícil de llenar y dirigió a su familia, subordinados y compañeros; así como a sus numerosos amigos, su más sentido pésame y el deseo de que superen este difícil momento con valentía.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Geopolitical Context: A Multipolar World in the Making

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

📍 El Cairo, 19 de diciembre

Visita continúa 🔜

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The president—who is attending the 67th Summit of Heads of State of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil—sent a message to the nation from his X account, in which he also expressed his solidarity with the victims and their families of that unjustified attack.

“Today Panama mourns. We remember the victims of December 20 and stand with their families, whose absence continues to mark our collective memory,” he remarked.

The head of State emphasized that, more than three decades after the events, the country must keep alive the memory of what happened as an act of respect and historical responsibility.

In his statement, he called for not repeating the mistakes of the past and for strengthening democratic institutions as a guarantee of peace and freedom.

Mulino concluded his message with a reflection on the value of memory as a tool for nation-building: “To remember is to honor, and to honor is to protect our freedoms.”

The misnamed Just Cause, whose stated objectives were to end the supposed dictatorship and capture former General Manuel Antonio Noriega, restore democracy, and bring well-being to the Panamanian people, actually brought death, especially in poor neighborhoods like El Chorrillo in the capital.

In addition to the loss of life, this aggression caused the destruction of much of the isthmus’s infrastructure, leaving thousands of people homeless.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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At a massive rally in front of Venezuela’s national oil company PDVSA headquarters in La Campiña, Caracas, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the ongoing US aggressions against the country.

In her speech on Friday, December 19, Rodríguez, who is also the minister of hydrocarbons, emphasized that Venezuela has a firm stance of dignity and resistance. She underscored that the country has no outstanding debts with the Trump administration. Rather, Washington owes the Venezuelan people compensation for stealing Venezuelan state assets.

In this regard, she referred to the looting of the CITGO Refineries. Coupled with the unlawful seizure of CITGO’s dividends accumulated since 2019, the theft represents a loss of assets exceeding $35 billion. These resources were seized through mechanisms of “economic piracy” that undermine the economic stability of Venezuelan citizens.

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Rodríguez emphasized that Venezuela’s energy resources will not be subject to negotiation under external threats or foreign extortion schemes. She explained that any international buyer interested in acquiring a molecule of gas or a barrel of oil must do so in accordance with legal protocols and pay the corresponding prices. On this premise, she ruled out any possibility of giving in to Washington’s pressure, calling its encirclement strategy an “absolute historic mistake.”

In a call for international justice, the vice president demanded a public apology from the United States and appropriate reparations for the effects of the economic blockade. She also emphasized that Venezuela not only defends its oil but also its right to self-determination and regional peace. According to Rodríguez, the petrochemical and energy industry constitutes a sacred heritage supported by a conscious and mobilized working class throughout the country.

Interior Minister Cabello: Venezuela Will Remain a Territory Of Peace; US Extrajudicial Killings Surpass 100

Thus, Rodríguez highlighted the strength of the Venezuelan people in overcoming the US unilateral coercive measures that have tried so hard to suffocate the national economy. She stated that national unity is the primary shield against attempts to seize the energy resources that have historically belonged to the nation.

In her words, it is this fighting spirit that helps the country to combat the US attempts to seize Venezuela’s resources.

The vice president reaffirmed the unconditional commitment of oil and gas sector workers to President Nicolás Maduro’s administration. At the conclusion of her remarks, she stated that the country will continue on the path of economic recovery and will not surrender to imperialist blackmail.

She concluded by stating that Venezuela will remain free from tutelage, where sovereignty over its natural resources should be respected by any foreign government wishing to establish trade relations.

(Telesur)

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/SC/SF

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