标签： Cuba

A scheduled commercial flight from St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport to Caracas operated by Venezuelan carrier Conviasa remains listed without cancellation notices, despite escalating military tensions in the region. This development occurs alongside significant US military movements near Venezuelan territory.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump formally announced the closure of airspace over Venezuela, citing counter-narcotics operations as justification. Simultaneously, the US Navy has deployed a substantial strike group to the Caribbean Sea, including the advanced aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, nuclear submarine capabilities, and approximately 16,000 military personnel.

Recent months have seen intensified military actions in the region, with US Armed Forces reporting the sinking of at least 20 speedboats in Caribbean and Pacific waters since September, resulting in over 80 casualties. Multiple US media outlets have circulated reports suggesting potential imminent attacks against Venezuelan territory.

The situation escalated significantly on November 27 when President Trump declared Washington’s intention to initiate armed operations within Venezuelan territory, maintaining the official pretext of combating drug trafficking. Many international observers interpret these actions as a transparent justification for attempting to overthrow the current Bolivarian government led by Nicolás Maduro.

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which commenced on June 1st, has concluded with unprecedented meteorological records and catastrophic impacts across the Caribbean region. This exceptionally active season produced thirteen named tropical storms, five of which intensified into hurricanes, with four reaching major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher).

Notably, three of these powerful systems achieved Category 5 classification on the Saffir-Simpson scale—the most intense hurricane category—marking only the second occurrence of such ferocity since the landmark 2005 season which saw four Category 5 hurricanes.

The season’s most devastating storm, Hurricane Melissa, has been recorded as the third most powerful Atlantic hurricane in historical records, surpassed only by 1988’s Gilbert and 2005’s Wilma. Meteorologists documented Melissa’s extraordinary wind gusts reaching 405 km/h (252 mph) during its passage through the Caribbean—the strongest wind speed ever recorded in the Atlantic basin and the second highest globally.

The tropical trio of Erin, Humberto, and Melissa all achieved Category 5 status, with Melissa leaving particularly widespread destruction across Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The season commenced with Tropical Storm Andrea forming on June 23rd, with meteorological services additionally tracking thirteen tropical depressions throughout the six-month season.

Israel’s defense establishment is confronting its most severe personnel crisis in history, with alarming rates of military personnel seeking discharge and young citizens refusing to enlist for permanent service, according to multiple Israeli media investigations.

The crisis has reached catastrophic proportions, with Maariv newspaper reporting that the situation has deteriorated to the point where ‘there is no one in charge of weapons or the army’s reconstruction.’ The publication emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is experiencing its most serious personnel shortage since the nation’s founding.

Military analysts report a drastic decline in personnel quality alongside severe shortages of both officers and enlisted soldiers. The crisis extends to the highest ranks, with numerous senior commanders demonstrating reluctance to remain on active duty. This institutional breakdown has raised concerns about the IDF’s operational capabilities, with warnings that continued deterioration will soon impair the military’s capacity to function at full strength.

The personnel crisis has been attributed to controversial decisions by high-ranking officials, including drastic personnel reductions and cuts to military service requirements. Additionally, Israeli media outlets have connected the military’s struggles to the prolonged conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in unprecedented desertion rates and significant damage to military infrastructure.

Maariv further criticized the military leadership for demonstrating ‘strategic blindness and a complete disconnect from the reserve force.’ This assessment echoes earlier reports from Haaretz in September, which documented exhausted forces with declining morale and officers struggling to maintain discipline within their units.

Kazakhstan has issued a formal diplomatic protest against Ukraine following a naval drone strike on a critical oil export terminal, condemning the action as a direct assault on bilateral relations and global energy stability.

The incident occurred Saturday when Ukrainian unmanned naval vessels targeted the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal on Russia’s Black Sea coast. The attack forced the diversion of oil tankers awaiting shipments of Kazakh crude to alternative locations, disrupting a vital energy supply route.

In an official statement published Sunday, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry characterized the assault as “an act that harms bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Ukraine” and expressed strong opposition to what it described as the third aggression against civilian infrastructure.

Emphasizing Kazakhstan’s role as a responsible global energy supplier, the ministry highlighted the CPC’s crucial function in maintaining market stability and supply continuity. The multinational pipeline represents the largest export corridor for Kazakh oil, with annual capacity reaching 83 million tons of crude.

The CPC infrastructure comprises a 1,500-kilometer pipeline connecting Kazakhstan’s massive Tengiz oil field to Russia’s Novorossiysk terminal on the Black Sea. The consortium features international partnership between Russian Transneft (24%), Kazakh state-owned KazMunayGas (19%), American energy giants Chevron (15%) and Mobil (7.5%), Russian Lukoil (12.5%), Russian-Dutch venture Rosneft-Shell (7.5%), and Italian Eni (2%), among other stakeholders.

The attack underscores the expanding geographical reach of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and its increasing impact on global energy infrastructure beyond immediate battle zones.

The France Cuba Cooperation Association (CubaCoop) has announced a significant humanitarian delivery to Cuba, marking three decades of sustained economic partnership. A 10-ton shipment of powdered milk is en route to the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital in Havana, addressing critical nutritional needs for vulnerable children.

CubaCoop President Manuel Pascual articulated the mission’s urgency, stating the initiative directly confronts the severe challenges within Cuba’s food sector. He emphasized that these difficulties have been substantially exacerbated by the longstanding U.S. economic, commercial, and financial embargo, a policy his organization openly condemns.

This specific consignment was made possible through a collaborative effort, with Pascual extending particular gratitude to the municipal government of Paris for its crucial contribution. He confirmed that the association’s broader donation appeal remains actively ongoing, receiving support from both institutional and individual donors across France.

Looking beyond the immediate aid, CubaCoop is preparing a subsequent, multifaceted shipment. This next dispatch is reported to include two Renault Kangoo utility vehicles, a cache of essential medical supplies, and vital goods designated for disaster recovery. These resources are specifically targeted for communities in eastern Cuba, a region grappling with the extensive devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in late October. Pascual credited the municipality of Villejuif and the French Popular Relief organization as key partners in orchestrating this complex logistical operation.

Syrian officials have issued strong condemnations against Israel following a violent military confrontation near the capital Damascus. Minister al-Mustafa, in an exclusive interview with Ikhbariya TV, articulated Syria’s official position regarding recent Israeli military activities along the border regions.

The Minister characterized Israel’s actions as calculated provocations designed to incite a direct military response from Syria. “Arrogance and a sense of impunity are blinding Israel,” al-Mustafa stated, emphasizing Damascus’s strategic decision to avoid falling into what he described as “Tel Aviv’s pretensions” of escalating tensions into full-scale confrontation.

The diplomatic statements followed a significant military incident in the village of Beit Jinn, located west of Damascus. According to Syrian reports, an Israeli ground patrol entered the village, triggering armed resistance from local residents. The exchange resulted in six Israeli soldiers sustaining injuries, including three officers.

In retaliation, Israeli forces conducted aerial strikes on the village minutes after the ground clash. The Syrian Ministry of Health reported tragic civilian casualties, with 15 killed—including women and children—and approximately 25 others wounded.

During his visit to the affected area, Minister al-Mustafa called for comprehensive media coverage of the aggression, urging journalists to document both the destruction and “the resilience of the residents.” He reiterated the government’s unwavering support for the population and commitment to stand with them “in all circumstances,” while simultaneously expressing solidarity with the Syrian state’s official position regarding the incident.