标签： Cuba

The Venezuelan government has issued a formal diplomatic condemnation accusing United States military personnel of committing an act of maritime robbery in international waters. Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, in an official statement, characterized the incident as a serious violation of multiple international treaties and conventions.

According to the Venezuelan administration, this operation represents a blatant breach of Article 3 of the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, effectively constituting an act of piracy under international law. The statement further alleges that the incident violates fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, specifically Article 2, which governs peaceful relations between sovereign states.

The Venezuelan government contends that additional violations include transgressions against Article 2 of the Geneva Convention on the High Seas and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States. Rodríguez condemned what she described as a colonialist model that the United States government allegedly seeks to impose through such practices, asserting that this approach would be defeated by the resilience of the Venezuelan people.

Despite these allegations, Venezuela reaffirmed its commitment to continued economic growth through its fourteen economic engines and the independent development of its hydrocarbon industry. The Bolivarian Republic has declared that these acts will not remain without consequence, pledging to pursue all appropriate diplomatic and legal channels. This includes formal complaints to the United Nations Security Council, various multilateral organizations, and governments worldwide.

The recently constituted Central Committee of Uruguay’s Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition has finalized its executive leadership appointments during its inaugural session. The newly elected 18-member Executive Committee will operate under the guidance of Andrade, whose leadership was confirmed by the congressional body.

Key organizational roles have been allocated to prominent figures within the coalition. Guillermo Rehermann has been officially ratified as organizational coordinator, while Representative Ana Olivera has been designated to head the Political Unity division, signaling the coalition’s commitment to internal cohesion.

The international relations portfolio will be managed by Juan Castillo, who brings substantial experience from his previous tenure as General Secretary and Minister of Labor and Social Security. This appointment underscores the coalition’s focus on maintaining robust international connections.

In significant labor movement representation, Marcelo Abad, current president of the PIT-CNT trade union confederation, will assume leadership of the Secretariat of Union Affairs. Simultaneously, Viviana Rodriguez has been appointed to direct the Secretariat of Gender Affairs, highlighting the coalition’s dedication to gender equality initiatives.

The confirmation process also solidified Natalia Díaz’s position as head of the Union of Communist Youth (UJC), following her recent election as general secretary of the organization. This appointment reinforces the coalition’s connection with youth political movements and ensures generational continuity within the leadership structure.

At the conclusion of the 2nd Russia-Africa Partnership Forum ministerial conference, held in Cairo on December 19-20, participating nations issued a joint declaration signaling a determined push to expand economic cooperation. The high-level meeting, attended by representatives from over 50 African countries and led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, produced a document that directly addresses the impact of international sanctions.

The declaration explicitly acknowledges a ‘positive trend in trade between Russia and African countries despite unilateral restrictions,’ highlighting a commitment to overcome these external challenges. The document emphasizes the untapped economic and trade potential between the parties and reaffirms their mutual dedication to broadening this strategic interaction.

A key focus of the agreement involves creating optimal operational conditions for businesses from both regions. The declaration stresses the urgency of developing specific mechanisms to support Russian and African companies, framing this assistance within the context of a sustainable partnership. This collaborative framework is designed to stimulate economic growth and job creation across African economies and within Russia, suggesting a long-term vision for mutual economic benefit that transcends current geopolitical pressures.

The conference itself marks a significant step in Russia’s diplomatic and economic outreach to the African continent, serving as a platform to solidify relationships and outline concrete steps for enhanced cooperation in the face of Western opposition.

The Honduran presidential election remains in a state of deadlock as the country’s two dominant right-wing parties contest an increasingly narrow margin. Preliminary results from the National Electoral Council (CNE) place National Party (PN) candidate Nasry Asfura ahead of his rival, Liberal Party (PL) candidate and prominent television personality Salvador Nasralla, by a slim margin of approximately 33,000 votes.

In a strategic move, the Liberal Party has consented to a CNE-initiated special recount of 2,792 ballot boxes flagged for inconsistencies, a process encompassing nearly half a million votes that commenced earlier this week. However, Nasralla has issued a firm ultimatum, declaring that this initial review is insufficient for a conclusive outcome.

The central point of contention lies with an additional 8,845 polling stations formally challenged by the Liberal Party. Nasralla asserts these stations were marred by significant biometric system failures and other critical technical irregularities, potentially affecting around 1.8 million ballots. He has publicly demanded that the CNE proceed without delay or corruption to inspect every one of these challenged boxes following the current limited recount.

“I challenge the authorities to open these ballot boxes,” Nasralla stated. “If, upon review, the National Party holds more votes—even if alterations occurred within the electoral warehouse—I will concede. However, we will categorically reject any proclaimed final result until the votes from all 8,845 challenged polling stations we have duly identified are fully counted and verified.”

Nasralla contends that a thorough and transparent audit of these disputed votes would ultimately swing the election in his favor, projecting a lead of over 149,155 votes against the Nationalists once all inconsistencies are reconciled. He maintains that Honduran electoral law grants the CNE full authority to mandate these special reviews, emphasizing that the party’s objective is not to disrupt the process but to ensure ultimate transparency and a result that genuinely reflects the will of the electorate.

The Venezuelan government has substantially enhanced its national security infrastructure through a major deployment of operational vehicles and equipment to multiple law enforcement agencies. This strategic initiative delivered approximately 300 pickup trucks outfitted with advanced camera systems and a new fleet of motorcycles to bolster crime-fighting capabilities across the nation.

The comprehensive equipment distribution benefited numerous security divisions including the Bolivarian National Police, General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, Extortion and Kidnapping Command, Special Operations units, Presidential Honor Guard Special Forces, and the Anti-Drug Command. Additional recipients included the Commando Action Groups, Tactical Operations Unit, Caracas Police, Directorate of Special Actions, Fire Department, and Civil Protection services.

Interior, Justice, and Peace Minister Diosdado Cabello emphasized that this represents a significant national government investment in ensuring all security agencies achieve optimal operational readiness. The initiative forms part of the Bolivarian Revolution’s ongoing commitment to public safety under the direct guidance of President Nicolás Maduro.

Cabello highlighted the systematic campaign against armed criminal organizations, characterizing it as a ‘dedicated and joint’ endeavor involving all security forces. He particularly underscored the coordinated police-military-civilian unity being deployed throughout Venezuelan territory.

Among the notable achievements cited by officials was a documented reduction of 340 homicides compared to 2014 statistics, which authorities attribute to these coordinated security efforts. Venezuelan officials further asserted that the country now maintains one of the world’s lowest crime rates as a result of these comprehensive security measures.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally welcomed recent United States decisions to ease economic sanctions, characterizing the move as a pivotal development for the nation’s future. In an official statement released Wednesday, the Ministry described the policy shift as a critical measure that will substantially reduce humanitarian pressures on Syrian civilians and establish foundations for economic recovery and long-term stability.

Damascus extended diplomatic gratitude toward the United States government, while simultaneously acknowledging supportive Arab nations and international partners. The statement specifically recognized these countries’ diplomatic efforts in advocating for sanctions relief, noting their contributions to regional security objectives and respect for Syrian sovereignty.

Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry paid tribute to Syrian citizens both domestically and within the diaspora community for their resilience in defending national dignity. Their persistent advocacy in international forums was credited with highlighting humanitarian needs and bringing legitimate grievances to global attention.

The government framed the sanctions easing as an inaugural step toward large-scale reconstruction and economic development. Syrian authorities issued a renewed call for national unity, urging all expatriates and domestic citizens to collaborate in rebuilding efforts.

Concurrently, Damascus invited investment from allied nations and encouraged Syrian business leaders to evaluate emerging opportunities within the reconstruction landscape. The statement positioned current developments as creating favorable conditions for international partnerships and economic revitalization.