Argentines March Against Mining Projects in MendozaOn Tuesday, hundreds of Argentines marched through the streets of Mendoza to reject the approval of mining projects they say put the province’s water resources and ecosystems at risk. … “Water is not negotiable” was the main slogan of the march, which stretched for more than seven city blocks and included assembly members from about 15 regions of Mendoza, social leaders and environmental activists.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/argentines-march-against-mining-projects-in-mendoza/Argentine gov't halts ATC workers' strikeATEPSA argues that its members have suffered a significant loss of purchasing power due to high inflation and rejected the latest salary offer from the government. The union also claims that wage and labor agreements signed over three months ago have been ignored, coupled with “unfair dismissals” and a general lack of dialogue.
https://en.mercopress.com/2025/12/23/argentine-gov-t-halts-atc-workers-strikeUS confirms ties between Colombia’s ex-president and Jeffrey EpsteinIn a partial release of the so-called Epstein Files, the DOJ released an image and a witness statement provided by Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, that said Pastrana invited the sex offenders to Colombia. In the witness statement, Maxwell said that she and Pastrana “just became friends” through their love for flying.
https://colombiareports.com/us-confirms-ties-between-colombias-ex-president-and-jeffrey-epstein/In Peru, record 34 candidates are presidential hopefuls amid political distrustThe list of registered candidates includes the former right-wing mayor of Lima, Rafael López Aliaga, known as "Porky" for his resemblance to a famous cartoon character. Conservative Fujimori will try again after attempts in 2011, 2016 and 2021, when she was defeated by leftist Pedro Castillo, who was impeached and arrested in late 2022. Other candidates include Vladimir Cerrón, a fugitive from justice and leader of the Marxist party Peru Libre that brought Castillo to the presidency, Carlos Álvarez, a popular comedian and impersonator of former presidents, George Forsyth, a former soccer goalkeeper, and Mario Vizcarra, brother of jailed former president Martín Vizcarra.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/peru-record-34-candidates-are-presidential-hopefuls-amid-political-distrust-2025-12-24/Canada bill targeting refugees feared to signal new era of US-style border policyOne of those changes is that asylum claims made more than one year after the claimant arrived in Canada would not be referred to the immigration and refugee board of Canada, but instead sent to an immigration officer for a pre-removal risk assessment.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/23/canada-bill-refugeesNew freedom flotilla to sail for Gaza in the springTHE Global Sumud (steadfastness) Flotilla will launch its largest fleet yet in a bid to get aid into Gaza next spring, it has announced. The group, which organised the 40-plus-vessel flotilla which earlier this year became the first to get within 70 nautical miles of Gaza since Israel began blockading the Palestinian territory in 2009, said it plans a new mission with over 100 ships and 1,000 participants.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-freedom-flotilla-sail-gaza-springNavigating choppy seas and Israeli gunboats, Gaza's fishermen are trying to get back to workBefore Israel's genocidal war more than two years ago, 6,000 fishermen supported 50,000 people. Now, most boats are destroyed or submerged, huts in ruins, and the sea a zone of danger, according to official Palestinian data. The coastline, once vital, became a battlefield. Yet, despite devastation, Palestinian fishermen are returning.
https://www.newarab.com/news/navigating-harsh-seas-and-israeli-navy-gazas-fishermen-returnLibya’s army chief dies in plane crash in TurkeyThe Turkish interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, said on X that the plane had taken off from Ankara’s Esenboğa airport at 17.10 GMT en route to Tripoli, and that radio contact was lost at 17.52 GMT. He said authorities found the plane’s wreckage near the Kesikkavak village in Ankara’s Haymana district.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/23/libyas-army-chief-dies-in-plane-crash-in-turkeyAllianz and Aviva drop Elbit Systems insurance after pro-Palestine protestsPro-Palestine activists said on Tuesday that the two insurers no longer provide policies to Elbit Systems following months of direct action and protests. The campaign was initially organised by the group Palestine Action in October 2024, before it was proscribed as a terrorist group in July.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/allianz-and-aviva-drop-elbit-systems-insurance-after-palestine-protestsFrench lawmakers pass emergency budget bill to avert government shutdown The French parliament has passed an emergency bill to keep the government running into 2026 until it can agree on a budget. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's minority government has little room for manoeuvre, with budget battles already toppling three governments since President Emmanuel Macron lost his majority in a 2024 snap election.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251223-french-national-assembly-passes-emergency-budget-bill-to-avert-government-shutdownhttps://archive.ph/Mdct9More Russians Seized for Forced Labor in Myanmar Scam CompoundsThree more Russian nationals have been abducted for forced labor at online scam centers in Myanmar, Russia’s state-owned TASS media agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Russian Embassy in Yangon. The Russian ambassador, Iskander Azizov, said several dozen Russians may have been trafficked from Thailand into servitude at scam hubs along the Myanmar border.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/myanmars-crisis-the-world/more-russians-seized-for-forced-labor-in-myanmar-scam-compounds.htmlHundreds protest in New Delhi over killing of Hindu man in BangladeshFactory worker Dipu Chandra Das, 27, was beaten and set on fire in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district last week by a crowd that accused him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet. At least 10 people have been arrested in connection with his death.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hundreds-protest-new-delhi-over-killing-hindu-man-bangladesh-2025-12-23/