Carib Scope

标签： Cuba

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  • Gaza: Org calls for aid to removal of tons of explosives

    Gaza: Org calls for aid to removal of tons of explosives

    Gaza’s Civil Defense organization has issued a formal condemnation holding international bodies, Israel, and the United States accountable for civilian casualties resulting from unexploded ordnance in the conflict-ravaged territory. The statement characterizes the failure to protect residents from explosive remnants as a direct violation of the Geneva Convention and its additional protocols.

    The organization specifically criticized the effectiveness of the US Coordination Center in Gaza, asserting that despite multiple high-level discussions, their interventions have yielded no tangible improvements on the ground. This indictment comes amid growing concerns about the lethal legacy of explosive contamination throughout the coastal enclave.

    Julius van der Walt, Chief of the United Nations Mine Action Programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, recently emphasized the severity of the situation. He confirmed that more than two years of intensive Israeli military operations have created widespread contamination with explosive materials throughout Gaza.

    Van der Walt further elaborated that this hazardous environment not only endangers Gaza’s inhabitants but also severely impedes humanitarian aid delivery and reconstruction efforts. The presence of unexploded ordnance transforms basic survival activities and recovery operations into potentially life-threatening endeavors, creating a complex emergency layered upon the existing humanitarian crisis.

  • Sudan: UN denounces massacre in refugee camp

    Sudan: UN denounces massacre in refugee camp

    A newly released United Nations report has documented systematic atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons in Sudan’s Darfur region. The assault occurred during the paramilitary group’s ongoing siege of El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur state, marking a significant escalation in the country’s internal conflict.

    The Zamzam camp, previously recognized as Sudan’s largest sanctuary for internally displaced persons, had provided refuge to approximately 500,000 vulnerable civilians before the April offensive. The UN investigation reveals the camp became a direct target of RSF operations as fighting intensified around the strategic city of El Fasher.

    Sudan has been gripped by violent internal warfare since April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between military leadership factions erupted into open combat. The conflict primarily pits the national army under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the RSF paramilitary forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. What began as a power struggle between rival military leaders has evolved into a full-scale humanitarian crisis, with the Zamzam camp attack representing one of the most severe incidents against civilian populations.

    The international body’s report provides comprehensive evidence of the RSF’s campaign against the displaced persons camp, detailing methods that violate international humanitarian law. The findings underscore the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Darfur, where civilian infrastructure and humanitarian shelters have increasingly become battlegrounds in the conflict between the two military factions.

  • Syria welcomes final lifting of US sanctions

    Syria welcomes final lifting of US sanctions

    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.

  • Haiti: gang attack on public transportation condemned

    Haiti: gang attack on public transportation condemned

    Haiti’s Arcahaie commune faced severe disruption as the Viv Ansanm gang coalition brought normal activities to a complete standstill. According to reports from Haiti Libre, the Haitian National Police intervened decisively, neutralizing six gang members during intense armed confrontations.

    Local media investigations reveal these criminal elements have waged a systematic campaign against critical infrastructure since 2014. Their targets have included the strategic port facility, educational institutions ranging from schools to universities, and multiple police stations and prison complexes. Government buildings have not been spared, with attacks documented against ministries, bank branches, and the historically significant National Printing Office established in 1804.

    The gang’s destructive reach extended to economic assets, including the arson attack on a massive 96,000-square-meter warehouse within the free trade zone. Civilian and religious targets suffered similarly, with assaults on private vehicles, a religious seminary, and Haiti’s inaugural Baptist church—an institution serving the community for over 180 years. More than a dozen pharmacies also fell victim to these attacks.

    In April 2024, the gang demonstrated their escalating boldness by burning down the residence of Frantz Elbé, then serving as commander-in-chief of the Haitian National Police. The group’s notoriety reached alarming new heights when they opened fire on a Spirit Airlines aircraft during its landing procedure. This attack forced the plane to make an emergency landing in the Dominican Republic, resulting in injuries to a flight attendant and highlighting the gang’s capacity to threaten aviation security.

  • Chilean lawmakers slam granting president power to dissolve Congress

    Chilean lawmakers slam granting president power to dissolve Congress

    Chile’s political landscape has been plunged into turmoil following the introduction of controversial legislation that opponents claim threatens the nation’s democratic foundations. The proposed bill, put forward by independent lawmaker Gaspar Rivas—a former member of the conservative People’s Party—would grant the president unprecedented authority to dissolve Parliament under specific circumstances.

    The legislation stipulates that if Parliament either rejects a presidential message or introduces modifications that substantially alter its core intent, the president would obtain the power to dissolve the legislative body. Following such dissolution, the president would be authorized to govern exclusively by decree with the force of law for a period of up to six months, effectively bypassing traditional legislative oversight.

    This proposal has triggered immediate and widespread condemnation across Chile’s political spectrum. Legislator Lorena Fries of the left-leaning Broad Front (Frente Amplio-FA) characterized the initiative as marking ‘the beginning of the erosion of democracy and the Rule of Law,’ warning that it opens ‘a dangerous path’ by undermining essential checks and balances between governmental branches.

    Fries emphasized that the proposal fundamentally disrupts one of the foundational pillars of Chile’s political system—the existence of three independent branches of government with mutual controls. Her concerns were echoed by fellow FA lawmaker Emilia Schneider, who declared the initiative ‘extremely serious’ and cautioned that its approval ‘would imply a great deterioration for democracy’ that Chile neither needs nor deserves.

    The legislation has generated unusual unity in opposition, drawing criticism from political parties representing diverse ideological positions who share concerns about the potential concentration of executive power and the erosion of democratic safeguards.

  • Syria denounces Israeli violations before the UN

    Syria denounces Israeli violations before the UN

    During a dedicated United Nations Security Council session reviewing the Syria-Lebanon mission report, Syrian representative Alabi delivered a sharp condemnation of Israel’s ongoing military activities. The diplomat asserted that while Damascus consistently adheres to international law and Security Council resolutions, Israel systematically violates these established norms, thereby destabilizing regional peace efforts.

    Alabi highlighted the critical need for Syrian security forces to maintain a presence along the Israeli border to reinforce sovereign control. He pointed to significant improvements in Syria’s domestic security situation, noting that over three million refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to their homes since the fall of the previous government structure in December 2014.

    The historical context of water resource control dates to 1967 when Israel occupied the Golan Heights, a strategically vital plateau containing substantial freshwater reserves in southern Syria. From late 2014 onward, Tel Aviv has substantially escalated military operations within Syrian territory under the declared objective of countering Iranian influence and allied militia presence—a campaign formally initiated in 2018.

    The Syrian delegation’s statement contrasts Israel’s assertive military posture with what it characterizes as Damascus’s compliance with international legal frameworks, creating a diplomatic confrontation at the highest level of global security discourse.

  • Cuban ballet company opens historic season of Don Quixote

    Cuban ballet company opens historic season of Don Quixote

    Havana’s cultural scene is set to dazzle ballet enthusiasts as the prestigious Teatro Nacional de Cuba unveils its spectacular holiday programming in the iconic Avellaneda Hall. From December 19 through January 1, 2026, the institution designated as a Cultural Heritage of the Nation will present an extraordinary series of performances blending artistic excellence with social responsibility.

    The season commences with a humanitarian gesture as proceeds from the December 19-20 performances will be directed toward supporting victims of Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba. This philanthropic initiative was confirmed by Viengsay Valdes, General Director of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba (BNC), in statements to Prensa Latina.

    Artistic excellence takes center stage with an impressive roster of talent. The season opens on December 19 featuring acclaimed principal dancers Anette Delgado and Dani Hernández, who will reprise their captivating performances on December 21. Subsequent dates will showcase rising stars and established virtuosos: Laura Kamila and Yankiel Vázquez (December 20 and 29), Nadila Estrada and Alejandro Alderete (December 26), and Gabriela Druyet and Anyelo Montero (December 27 and January 1).

    Notably, several dancers including Kamila, Estrada, and Alderete will make their debut in leading roles from the demanding classic ‘Don Quixote’—a ballet so significant that fragments regularly feature in international competitions worldwide.

    The programming reaches its zenith with two exceptional international collaborations on December 28 and 30. Argentine virtuoso Marianela Núñez, principal dancer with London’s Royal Ballet, will share the stage with Cuban sensation Patricio Reve, currently a guest artist with the British company and principal dancer at Australia’s Queensland Ballet. This cross-continental partnership promises to deliver unforgettable performances that highlight the global reach of Cuban ballet.

  • NGO deplores acute hunger in Gaza

    NGO deplores acute hunger in Gaza

    The Gaza Strip is confronting an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe with three-quarters of its population now experiencing acute hunger classified at IPC Phase 3 or higher, according to recent assessments. The remaining quarter faces chronic food deprivation in what humanitarian organizations describe as one of the most severe hunger crises globally.

    Action Against Hunger’s Spanish chapter reports that extreme weather conditions and critical infrastructure damage have dramatically worsened the situation. Recent torrential rains have devastated displacement camps, flooding shelters and destroying essential belongings while exposing vulnerable populations to dangerously low temperatures and additional emergencies.

    Affected families provided harrowing accounts of the flooding. ‘The water rushed toward us like a raging river, completely inundating our tent. The protective tarpaulins collapsed and were damaged beyond repair,’ one survivor recounted. ‘We desperately attempted to construct sand barriers, hoping to divert the water from our shelter.’

    The NGO further documented that Gazan families confront immense challenges in obtaining adequate nutrition. In Deir Al-Balah, numerous households can afford protein-rich foods or vegetables only once weekly due to catastrophic economic conditions. The systematic destruction of agricultural land, market infrastructure, and livelihood opportunities has left the population unable to meet their most basic food requirements, creating a dependency on humanitarian aid that struggles to meet overwhelming needs.

  • Syria seeks reintegration into the international financial system

    Syria seeks reintegration into the international financial system

    In a significant development for Syria’s economic landscape, the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria (CBS) has outlined a strategic pathway toward obtaining a sovereign credit rating. Through an official communication on his Facebook account, the governor emphasized that this initiative serves dual purposes: alleviating pressures from the ongoing sanctions regime and creating avenues for collaboration with international credit rating agencies.

    The proposed approach involves Syria initially seeking a ‘shadow’ sovereign rating—an advisory evaluation that remains confidential. This preliminary step would lay the groundwork for transitioning to an official public assessment once economic and political conditions become more favorable.

    Central Bank Governor Al-Hasriya provided crucial clarification regarding the nature and purpose of credit ratings. He emphasized that such ratings do not automatically translate into immediate access to international loans or financing. Instead, they function as comprehensive diagnostic tools that offer objective assessments of a nation’s economic and financial health. These evaluations are designed to strengthen fiscal discipline, prioritize necessary reforms, enhance institutional transparency, and facilitate more effective engagement with global investors and international financial organizations.

    The governor further detailed the Central Bank’s pivotal role in this process, highlighting commitments to enhanced monetary transparency, the provision of reliable economic data, and the promotion of financial stability. These elements, he noted, constitute fundamental prerequisites for establishing a credible sovereign rating that would be recognized by the international financial community.

    Acknowledging the challenging road ahead, the governor recognized that Syria would likely receive a low initial rating—a common circumstance for nations emerging from prolonged conflict situations. However, he stressed that the true value of pursuing a credit rating lies not in the numerical score itself, but in the established standards it provides and the clear roadmap it creates for systematic economic improvement and recovery.

  • Russian deputy FM rules out commitments on NATO presence in Ukraine

    Russian deputy FM rules out commitments on NATO presence in Ukraine

    Russia has emphatically reaffirmed its categorical opposition to Ukraine’s potential accession to NATO and the deployment of alliance military assets on Ukrainian territory. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko declared this position “absolutely unacceptable” during recent statements to Sputnik news agency, emphasizing that Moscow’s stance on this security red line remains consistent and well-documented.

    The ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict have brought this fundamental disagreement to the forefront of negotiations. Representatives from Kyiv, Brussels, and Washington are currently engaged in intensive discussions to formulate a peace arrangement that might prove acceptable to Moscow while addressing Ukraine’s security concerns.

    A significant development occurred on December 14 when high-level talks convened in Berlin involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, former senior advisor to the Trump administration. The five-hour deliberation focused on a comprehensive 20-point peace framework, with participants reporting substantive progress toward consensus.

    Following these consultations, European Union leadership advanced a proposal involving the deployment of a multinational security force to Ukraine. The initiative additionally recommends maintaining Ukrainian armed forces at a strength of no fewer than 800,000 personnel. These measures are designed to address regional stability concerns while simultaneously countering perceived security threats associated with NATO’s continued eastern expansion, which Russia identifies as a primary national security challenge.

    The diplomatic impasse continues to center on reconciling Ukraine’s sovereign aspirations with Russia’s security objections, creating a complex negotiation landscape that requires careful balancing of competing geopolitical interests.