1
12
2
15
3
12
4
11

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela strongly rejected the decision of a US court that endorses the forced sale of CITGO Petroleum, calling it a "vulgar and barbaric plundering" of a strategic asset of the Venezuelan people.

In a statement read by Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez , it was denounced that this act constitutes a “fraudulent process” and a “new episode in the multifaceted aggression being waged by the United States against Venezuela .” The official asserted that PDVSA and the Venezuelan state “ were intentionally and illegally excluded from the process,” denied the right to a defense under the “crude excuse” of not recognizing the legitimate government.

The official statement indicates that this dispossession was carried out “in complicity” with figures from the radical opposition such as María Corina Machado, Edmundo González Urrutia, Juan Guaidó, Julio Borges, Carlos Vecchio, and José Ignacio Hernández. It identifies these individuals as part of an “organized crime group” that, since the self-proclaimed National Assembly of 2015, attempted to usurp the country's representation, leaving it defenseless against “blatant theft.”

“Venezuela reiterates that it does not and will not recognize the forced sale of CITGO ,” stated Rodríguez, a move carried out in “ flagrant disregard ” for legal and economic guarantees . The government reaffirmed that it will adopt “all measures at its disposal” to bring to justice, including international accountability, all those who promoted and carried out this plunder.

“This case will go down in history as clear and pathetic evidence that foreign investments are neither respected nor guaranteed in the territory of the United States of America,” the statement concluded, assuring that the Venezuelan people will give a “historic lesson” to those who have betrayed the homeland.

The fraudulent authorization of the sale of CITGO

In an act that solidifies one of the largest expropriations of the modern era, a U.S. federal judge has approved the forced sale of CITGO Petroleum , the main international subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). This ruling, issued by Judge Leonard P. Stark in Delaware, represents the culmination of a long and politically charged legal process aimed at stripping the Venezuelan state of a strategic asset valued at billions of dollars.

The transaction, approved for $5.9 billion in favor of Amber Energy, constitutes a true " robbery " according to expert analysis, given that the company's real value is between $11 billion and $13 billion. Professor and analyst Werther Sandoval describes it bluntly: "The collusion, the coven, the legal-political alliance of the US judiciary with the puppet government and the vulture creditors... will steal CITGO from PDVSA with the swindle of collecting a debt that is not PDVSA's, but rather that of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela . "

The mechanism for this dispossession was set in motion after the Trump administration's illegitimate recognition of a parallel government in Venezuela in 2019. Sandoval explains that it was then that "the sham [Guaidó's government] ballooned [the debt] to $23.6 billion to make it unpayable and thereby exacerbate the creditors' financial woes in order to sue and seize Citgo . " This strategy violated the capitalist legal principle of the alter ego or corporate veil, which protects a subsidiary from the debts of its parent company.

As the analysis details, “ prior to Guaidó’s usurpation, CITGO was never over-indebted… Venezuela, even up until 2019, before the self-proclamation, fully complied with its payment obligations . ” The illegal takeover of the board of directors by figures aligned with the opposition, such as Luisa Palacios and Carlos Jordá, paved the way for vulture creditors to file massive lawsuits in US courts.

The dual objective

The ambition surrounding CITGO is not new. Sandoval recalls historical warnings, such as those from former President Carlos Andrés Pérez, that owning a refinery wholly in the U.S. made it "vulnerable and susceptible to protectionist measures ." The dual objective was, on the one hand, to strangle a vital source of foreign currency for the Bolivarian nation and, on the other, to seize a profitable industrial complex that for decades has disproportionately benefited the U.S. economy.

“Citgo was acquired to ship Venezuelan oil at below-market prices, at a discount, which results in the delivery of large sums in taxes to the US treasury, at the expense of lower dividends and almost no tax payments to the Venezuelan state ,” Sandoval points out. Its total control was a key element in the multidimensional economic war against Venezuela.

This ruling, which the Bolivarian Government has vehemently denounced as a daylight robbery , will have serious repercussions. Sandoval warns that "any relationship or agreement between the US and Venezuela will be tainted by the precedent of the CITGO theft, a criminal act that will always be present... generating distrust and raising the costs of any bilateral negotiations . "

The Venezuelan state has made it clear that it will exhaust all legal avenues at the international level to recover what rightfully belongs to it. The sale, which still requires regulatory approvals and is not expected to be finalized until 2026 , stands as a monument to the double standards and lawfare employed by the empire and its local collaborators.

Sources from the US -> https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/amber-energy-plans-hold-citgo-refineries-after-takeover-2025-12-01/

5
21

On December 2, Laos marked a historic milestone with a grand military parade at That Luang Square in Vientiane, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Lao National Day. The event attracted widespread attention not only from Lao citizens but also from international visitors and media, becoming one of the most significant cultural–political celebrations in Laos in 2025.

Held in the heart of the capital, the ceremony highlighted the unity, heritage, and resilience of the Lao people over the past half-century. According to the Vientiane Times, That Luang Square was filled from early morning with high-level leaders from Laos and abroad, foreign ambassadors, representatives of international organizations, and invited guests who gathered to witness this once-in-a-generation celebration.

A Ceremony Led by Lao National Leaders

The commemorative ceremony was presided over by Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao PDR. Members of the Politburo, senior government officials, veterans, and distinguished revolutionaries were also in attendance, reflecting the profound national importance of the event.

In his opening speech, President Thongloun Sisoulith expressed deep gratitude to generations of revolutionary leaders, soldiers, heroes, and people of all ethnic groups whose sacrifices paved the way for Laos’ independence and steady development. He emphasized that over the past 50 years, Laos has remained committed to national protection, political stability, and socio-economic progress under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.

He also extended heartfelt appreciation to friendly nations, development partners, and international organizations that have supported Laos throughout five decades of nation-building. His message underscored Laos’ commitment to peaceful cooperation, regional partnership, and sustainable development—key themes that resonate strongly within ASEAN and the broader international community.

A Spectacular Parade Showcasing Laos’ Strength and Unity

Right after the President’s address, the grand military parade began, drawing applause from thousands of spectators. The parade featured a highly coordinated display by the Lao armed forces, followed by delegations from various ministries, civil institutions, youth organizations, and social groups. Their synchronized formations and ceremonial marches showcased the discipline, unity, and cultural pride that define the Lao nation.

For many travelers visiting Vientiane during this time, the parade offered a rare opportunity to witness Laos’ national spirit in one of its most symbolic locations—That Luang, the country’s most sacred monument and a highlight of cultural tourism in Laos.

Evening Fireworks at That Luang Square

To conclude the celebration, a vibrant fireworks show is scheduled to light up the skies above That Luang Square on the evening of December 2. The event is open to the public, offering both locals and tourists an unforgettable visual spectacle and a festive atmosphere.

For travelers exploring Laos in 2025, the 50th anniversary of Lao National Day celebration provides not only a meaningful cultural experience but also a memorable glimpse into the country’s history, identity, and aspirations for the future. This landmark event reinforces Vientiane’s role as a cultural hub and an increasingly attractive destination for regional and international tourism.

Some photos of the event:

Source -> https://indochinacharmtravel.com/laos-celebrates-50th-national-day/

6
15
submitted 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) by rainpizza@lemmygrad.ml to c/worldnews@lemmygrad.ml

On Sunday, the Shadan gold mine in South Khorasan was added to Iran’s list of major gold deposits after the final certification of discovery confirmed reserves of 61 million tonnes in a single vein.

The listing places Shadan among the country’s largest mineral assets and signals a significant reassessment of its underlying geology.

Gold deposits are spread across East and West Azarbaijan, Razavi Khorasan, Zanjan, Fars and Isfahan, forming a chain of mineral resources that extends along the country’s geological belt.

Surveys estimate Iran’s total gold reserves at around 300 tonnes. Of 32 identified mines, 21 are active, nine remain inactive and two are being prepared for operation.

The most productive currently include Agh Darreh in Takab, Zarshuran, Muteh, Qolqoleh, Anjirek Taftan, Khomein, Sarigunay and Zarmehr, with further deposits documented in Sungun, Nishapur, Qazvin, Semnan and Yazd.

Alongside gold, these mines produce copper, lead, silver and zinc, creating a cluster of extractive industries that feed into both local economies and nationwide supply chains.

The expansion of gold mining has reshaped economic conditions in several regions. Employment generated by extraction and processing has lowered joblessness in mining districts and sustained the growth of secondary industries built around logistics, transportation and local services.

In South Khorasan, Shadan is expected to anchor similar patterns as operations scale up. In other provinces, municipalities have channlled mining-linked revenues into infrastructure, using them to pave local roads, improve utilities and upgrade public spaces.

State-backed programs tied to mining activity have financed projects in rail, port access and urban facilities, drawing a direct connection between mineral production and the development of local networks.

Mining income also supports public services. In areas where extraction is a major employer, portions of revenue are allocated to schools, clinics and municipal projects.

Growing populations in mining zones have intensified demand for these services, making them a recurring component of local planning. This integration of mining revenues into public expenditure has shaped the expansion of healthcare, education and transport capacity in several mineral-rich provinces.

Gold’s economic footprint extends into other sectors. In Iran’s jewelry industry, it remains a primary input for rings, necklaces, earrings and other accessories. Its durability and market value support a large consumer base, including a segment that invests in gold as a means of storing wealth.

Decorative and artistic uses persist in gilded surfaces and ornamental work, while industrial applications range from electronics to pharmaceuticals.

In medical equipment, gold is used for its hypoallergenic properties. In electronics manufacturing, it appears in printed circuit boards and connectors because of its conductivity and resistance to corrosion.

Gold’s stability under extreme conditions makes it a component in satellite and aerospace technologies, linking mineral extraction with high-value manufacturing.

Domestic gold trade has expanded alongside production. Online platforms have increased access for buyers seeking to acquire gold as a financial asset, reflecting a shift toward digital transactions in the retail metals market.

These platforms operate alongside traditional retail channels and have incorporated verification systems and pricing tools to support consumer transactions.

Technological change is becoming more prominent in the mining sector. A new Iranian analytical method known as +AuME has been introduced to test gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and other trace elements at concentrations as low as parts per billion.

The technique enables simultaneous multi-element analysis, reducing dependence on conventional laboratory procedures and accelerating the pace of exploration.

Its design targets geological environments where mineralization is dispersed or hidden, providing data that can clarify subsurface patterns and guide drilling decisions.

Mining institutions have endorsed the method as part of a broader shift toward exploration based on higher-resolution datasets and more accurate mineral diagnostics.

The efficiency gains from +AuME have lowered the time and cost associated with testing ore samples. Geological teams can process larger volumes of data in shorter periods, improving assessments of ore quality and deposit distribution.

This has implications for identifying new reserves and expanding exploration zones around existing mines. Adoption of the method indicates an effort to increase productivity by improving evaluation techniques rather than expanding extraction alone.

Exports remain a central channel through which gold contributes to the national economy. With oil revenues constrained by sanctions, the sale of gold and processed materials provides a source of foreign currency.

According to mining and geological reports, more than 10 tonnes of gold have been extracted nationwide, feeding into export flows and reinforcing Iran’s presence in regional markets. Revenues generated from these exports help finance imports and support domestic financial stability.

As mining activity increases, related sectors develop in parallel. Construction companies secure contracts for access roads and operational facilities. Transport networks expand as haulage routes are upgraded to accommodate heavy machinery and ore shipments.

Utilities such as water and electricity infrastructure are extended to service mining zones, later becoming part of broader regional grids.

These developments tie mining more closely to provincial economic planning, creating a chain of dependencies that influence investment and labor mobility.

In districts where extraction has continued for several years, towns have adapted to the demands of a mining-driven economy.

Workshops, repair facilities and small manufacturers supplying mining equipment have emerged around larger sites. The pattern is replicated across provinces with active gold deposits, linking mineral resources to regional industrial clusters.

Through these channels, gold mining intersects with trade, manufacturing and local development, embedding mineral extraction within the wider economic structure.

7
9

The Venezuelan Civil Aviation Authority reported that it has received a request from the U.S. government to resume repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants.

Consequently, the entry into Venezuelan airspace of the aircraft operated by the company EASTERN AIRLINES LLC, on the route Phoenix, Arizona-Maiquetía, with flight number EAL8280/8281, in the aircraft B777-200, registration N771KW (main), N825KW (alternate) , is authorized to land at the Maiquetía International Airport.

This has been happening on Wednesdays and Fridays of each week, since the agreement signed between both parties.

"This authorization has been issued in accordance with the laws of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and international civil aviation laws," the official statement said.

"The repatriation of our nationals to reunite Venezuelan families through the Plan Vuelta a la Patria (Return to the Homeland Plan) will continue," he adds, while publishing the request from the United States, which in recent days had announced the closure of Venezuelan airspace, according to its president Donald Trump, so this reconsideration has been considered by some people as contradictory .

However, about 33 weekly flights to Venezuela have been suspended by about ten airlines after the United States issued a travel risk alert for the country, amid Trump's fight against drug cartels .

8
17
9
57

Protesters held signs and chanted slogans demanding that Takaichi withdraw her statements, with some even calling for her impeachment.

Video link -> https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1995048097173426176/vid/avc1/576x1024/hD9HDBi06KL8VwHq.mp4

Source -> https://xcancel.com/luo_yuehan/status/1995048546697880001#m

10
34

Incidentally, I've been saying that Russia would annex the productive eastern regions, leaving a rump state in western Ukraine that Europe would be forced to prop up with billions, or face a massive refugee crisis from the very start. The mainstream press has finally caught up. https://lemmygrad.ml/post/480378/348104

11
20
12
18
13
14
China pares down US Treasury holdings (global.chinadaily.com.cn)
14
38
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by rainpizza@lemmygrad.ml to c/worldnews@lemmygrad.ml

According to the leaked information, Italian millionaires paid between 80,000 and 100,000 euros to travel on a flight from Trieste to Belgrade on the Serbian company Aviogenex, to act as snipers against civilians.

By Pascual Serrano | 11/23/2025

The emerging reports about the "human safaris" in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War point to Jovica Stanisic as "the Serbian officer in charge of organizing the trips for the wealthy snipers." In fact, the investigation by the Milanese Justice system identifies Stanisic as the coordinator of these trips under the guise of " hunting excursions . "

The Italian press has revealed that the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office is opening an investigation into the snipers who, between 1992 and 1996, murdered more than 11,000 civilians in the besieged city of Sarajevo. From the hills, the snipers fired on passersby who had no choice but to walk down that street and risk being killed.

According to the leaked information, millionaires from that country paid between 80,000 and 100,000 euros to travel on a flight from Trieste to Belgrade on the Serbian company Aviogenex, to act as snipers against civilians.

Italian writer and journalist Ezio Gavazzeni has filed a new complaint with Italian magistrates. Gavazzeni is working with lawyer Nicola Brigida and former judge Guido Salviniu, and they claim to have gathered several witnesses and concluded that Jovica Stanisic “played a key role in the service . ”

But who exactly is Jovica Stanisic? The media are simply reporting that he is the former head of Serbia's State Security Directorate (SDB), and that he was sentenced in 2023 to 15 years in prison for crimes committed in seven municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But if we investigate further and examine the documents from his trial, we discover that behind the high-ranking official under Milošević, what was actually lurking was a CIA agent.

The documents shown at his trial, as revealed by the Los Angeles Times on March 1, 2009, explained that, “for eight years, Stanisic was the CIA’s main contact in Belgrade. In secret meetings held on boats and in safe houses along the Sava River, he shared details about the inner workings of the Milosevic regime. He provided information on the whereabouts of NATO hostages, assisted CIA agents in searching for mass graves, and helped the agency establish a network of secret bases in Bosnia.”

Stanisic was recruited by CIA agent William Lofgren. The two spies forged a clandestine relationship that remained hidden.

The truth came to light when the Serbian man appeared before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The CIA presented the tribunal with a classified document detailing Stanisic's contributions and attesting to his valuable role. The document remained sealed, but sources from the Los Angeles Times revealed its contents.

As revealed during the 2021 trial, Stanisic joined the CIA in 1991, a year before the siege of Sarajevo and the use of snipers. In fact, according to N1info , CNN's local affiliate in the former Yugoslavia, he guided the CIA to the discovery of mass graves in Bosnia in 1993.

Agent Lofgren, who was retired at the time of the trial, said the agency drafted the document to demonstrate "that this supposedly evil person did a lot of good," referring to his cooperation with U.S. intelligence.

Other CIA agents who served in the region defended Satanisic as one of their own and stated that they never saw him involved in war crimes. On the contrary, they considered him a key ally in a rapidly spiraling situation.

The former British ambassador to Serbia, Sir Ivor Roberts, who served in Belgrade from 1994 to 1997, testified in 2019 at the International Court of Justice in The Hague that the former head of Serbia's State Security Service (SDB), Jovica Stanišić, was a "secret agent of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)." This testimony was broadcast by none other than Radio Slobodna Europa , the radio station established for the region by the US government as part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

In the trial against Stanisic, Ambassador Roberts had to appear as a defense witness, when he suggested that the information that Stanisic was a "secret CIA agent", published in 2016 in his book "Conversations with Milosevic" , was reliable.

When asked by the prosecutor about the origin and veracity of this information, Roberts replied that the British government "did not allow him to talk about these things" and that he had been warned "recently" that he had to respect the Official Secrets Act.

When asked what the British government knew about Stanišić, the witness said he did not want to go into details, as a condition of his testimony was that he not be questioned about intelligence gathering. However, the British ambassador pointed out that London had approved the content of his book, which detailed the Serbian's role as a CIA agent, thus implying UK confirmation of his claim.

Stanisic's complicity with the CIA led him to contribute to the release of 388 NATO soldiers who had been taken hostage, stripped of their uniforms, and tied to trees as human shields against NATO bombing raids. In his own written account, Stanisic claimed to have negotiated the release "with the support of the agency's leadership."

At the time, CIA Director John M. Deutch had a close relationship with the man now under investigation for organizing the human safaris in Sarajevo. He invited him to CIA headquarters in 1996 , and an itinerary of the visit indicates that Stanisic received a warm welcome. This occurred just after the siege of Sarajevo, where the sniper massacres had taken place.

The Serbian spy chief was taken to listen to jazz at the Blues Alley club in Georgetown, Virginia, and driven to Maryland's east coast for a bird hunt. Deutch even gifted Stanisic a 1937 Parker shotgun, a classic weapon admired by collectors.

At the International Criminal Tribunal, the CIA found itself in a difficult position with one of its agents accused of war crimes. For this reason, the agency declined to comment on the document. Because its contents are classified, the letter could only be considered by the tribunal in a private session. Court officials indicated that it was unclear whether the document would be of significant use to Stanisic's defense, or whether it would be used primarily to request a lighter sentence if he were found guilty.

Perhaps his collaboration with the CIA was indeed useful to him, and for that reason, on May 30, 2013, the court acquitted him of his participation in the wars. The problem is that the verdict was overturned on December 15, 2015, after a successful appeal by the prosecution. A new trial began in 2017, and in 2021 he was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in prison, which was later increased to 15. A life sentence had been sought. Last July, he was transferred to Germany to serve his sentence.

In conclusion, much will be written about those tremendous "safaris" of European billionaires who paid vast sums of money to go and murder civilians in Sarajevo. And much will be written about the Serbian army's involvement, but it seems that the detail being overlooked is that those Serbian officers who organized the hunts were acting more at the behest of the CIA than at Milošević's behest.

15
44
16
20
17
34
18
26
19
17
20
31

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday on his social media network Truth Social the pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández (2014-2022), who was sentenced in March 2024 to 45 years in prison on charges of drug trafficking, weapons possession and receiving money from Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

"I will be granting a full and complete pardon to former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who has been treated, according to many people whom I greatly respect, very severely and very unfairly," Trump wrote, backing a decision that comes on the eve of elections in Honduras, scheduled for this Sunday, November 30.

Hernández was extradited to the U.S. in April 2022 after being accused of receiving millions of dollars from drug traffickers, including El Chapo, to finance election campaigns in exchange for facilitating the entry of more than 500 tons of cocaine into the United States . His sentence included an additional five years of supervised release.

Trump explicitly linked the pardon to his support for conservative candidate Nasry Tito Asfura of the National Party, the same party as Hernández, warning that economic support from Washington would depend on his victory. Along the same lines, he urged people to vote for Asfura and congratulated Hernández on the pardon.

"If Tito Asfura wins the presidency of Honduras, given the United States' great confidence in him, his policies, and what he will do for the great people of Honduras, we will provide significant support. If he doesn't win, the United States will not provide substantial financial assistance ," the White House official stated.

Candidate Rixi Moncada, of the Libre Party, denounced the decision made by the United States on her social media account, stating that they intend to "revive criminals" linked to the 2009 coup. "The financial elites who exploit our people and pull their strings in Washington are hypocrites; they don't care about justice, much less democracy ," the candidate declared, calling for victory at the polls on November 30.

Manuel Zelaya declared on the same social media platform that Donald Trump's support backs the " direct heir of the drug cartels ," heir to those who were defeated at the polls in 2021 when Xiomara Castro was elected "without violence and with the indestructible strength of the people in resistance ." He called for support for the current Democratic candidate, Rixi Moncada, stating that "with her proposed economic reforms, she will transform Honduras . "

More than six million Hondurans will go to the polls to elect the successor to leftist President Xiomara Castro, whose term ends on January 27, 2026. Asfura is competing against Rixi Moncada (left, Libre) and Salvador Nasralla (Liberal Party), who, despite his conservative discourse, does not have the explicit backing of the U.S.

Trump's controversial decision reopens debates about Washington's political influence in Central America and its use of legal tools to influence foreign elections.

21
91

Good luck to Maduro and the Venezuelan people

22
24

It’s so fucking asinine that shit like this happens to immigrants yet we’re expected to turn the other cheek fuck off why arent more migrants mad about this?

23
34
24
28
25
33
view more: next ›

World News

3014 readers
115 users here now

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS