Briefing on Venezuela
Daily Archives: 23. Dezember 2025
1988 CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST THE SAFETY OF MARITIME NAVIGATION
ARTICLE 3
1. Any person commits an offence if that person unlawfully and intentionally:
(a) seizes or exercises control over a ship by force or threat thereof or any other form of intimidation; or
(b) performs an act of violence against a person on board a ship if that act is likely to endanger the safe navigation of that ship; or
(c) destroys a ship or causes damage to a ship or to its cargo which is likely to endanger the safe navigation of that ship; or
(d) places or causes to be placed on a ship, by any means whatsoever, a device or
substance which is likely to destroy that ship, or cause damage to that ship or its cargo which endangers or is likely to endanger the safe navigation of that ship; or
(e) destroys or seriously damages maritime navigational facilities or seriously interferes with their operation, if any such act is likely to endanger the safe navigation of a ship; or
(f) communicates information which he knows to be false, thereby endangering the safe navigation of a ship; or
(g) injures or kills any person, in connection with the commission or the attempted
commission of any of the offences set forth in subparagraphs (a) to (f).
2. Any person also commits an offence if that person:
(a) attempts to commit any of the offences set forth in paragraph 1; or
(b) abets the commission of any of the offences set forth in paragraph 1 perpetrated by any person or is otherwise an accomplice of a person who commits such an offence; or
(c) threatens, with or without a condition, as is provided for under national law, aimed at compelling a physical or juridical person to do or refrain from doing any act, to commit any of the offences set forth in paragraph I, subparagraphs (b), (c) and (e), if that threat is likely to endanger the safe navigation of the ship in question.
(…)
ARTICLE 7
1. Upon being satisfied that the circumstances so warrant, any State Party in the territory of which the offender or the alleged offender is present shall, in accordance with its law, take him into custody or take other measures to ensure his presence for such time as is necessary to enable any criminal or extradition proceedings to be instituted.
2. Such State shall immediately make a preliminary inquiry into the facts, in accordance with its own legislation.
Message to the Senate Transmitting the International Convention and Protocol on Terrorist Acts at Sea
To the Senate of the United States:
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, and the related Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, signed at Rome on March 10, 1988. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to the Convention and Protocol.
The seizure of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in 1985, and the murder of American passenger Leon Klinghoffer, demonstrated that no country, or form of transportation, is immune from the criminal savagery of those who engage in terrorist acts. This Convention is aimed at ensuring that those who engage in such acts on board or against ships engaged in navigation are brought to justice. The Protocol would do the same with respect to acts on or against fixed platforms on the continental shelf. Modeled on earlier conventions dealing with aircraft hijacking and sabotage (to which the United States is a party), they include provisions requiring States to provide severe punishment for such offenses, and to extradite or prosecute those who commit them.
Work on the Convention and Protocol began in 1986 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization on the basis of an initial draft cosponsored by the Governments of Italy, Austria and Egypt. That work was completed, and the Convention and Protocol adopted by consensus, at an international conference in Rome in March 1988. The United States and 22 other States signed the Convention at that time, and the United States and 20 other States signed the Protocol. It is clear that the Convention already has broad support in the international community, and it is hoped that all States will join in this major step to deter acts against the safety of maritime navigation.
I recommend, therefore, that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to this Convention and Protocol and give its advice and consent to ratification.
RONALD REAGAN
The White House,
January 3, 1989.
10080th meeting – Threats to international peace and security
10080th meeting – Threats to international peace and security
Vereinte Nationen: Venezuela-Eskalation ruft Sicherheitsrat auf den Plan
Der UN-Sicherheitsrat kommt heute zu einer Dringlichkeitssitzung zusammen, um über die Spannungen zwischen Venezuela und den USA zu beraten. Die Regierung in Caracas hatte die Sitzung mit Unterstützung Russlands und Chinas gefordert. Unterdessen wird auch die Rhetorik der US-Regierung gegenüber Venezuela immer deutlicher.
Kremlin’s military goals in Ukraine will be met, Putin says at annual news conference
(December 19, 2025)
Putin, 73, has ruled the country for 25 years and uses the event to cement his power and air his views on domestic and global affairs during a broadcast that mixes criticism of the West with promises of more social payments. Although he is sometimes asked about his personal life, he gives scant details.
This year, the news conference took place against the backdrop of a peace plan in Ukraine put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite the extensive diplomatic push, Washington’s efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv.
Denmark summons US ambassador after Trump names Greenland envoy
“We are summoning the US ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly for two reasons: to clearly state our objection and to request an explanation,” Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told broadcaster TV2.
Løkke said any move that challenges the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark is unacceptable.
„I am deeply angered by the appointment and the statement, which I find totally unacceptable,“ he also said.
Danish Foreign Minister: US must respect Greenland and Denmark
The USA should respect Greenland’s autonomy and its status as part of Denmark, says Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, following the appointment of an American envoy to Greenland. Rasmussen emphasized that all, including the USA, must respect the kingdom’s territorial integrity.
„Wir brauchen Grönland für die nationale Sicherheit“
US-Präsident Donald Trump hat erneut sein Interesse an Grönland klargemacht. Wenn man sich die Insel entlang der Küste anschaue, sehe man überall russische und chinesische Schiffe, sagte er vor Journalisten in Florida. „Wir brauchen Grönland für die nationale Sicherheit. (…) Wir müssen es haben.“
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The $170 Million Question: Part III
(December 13, 2025)
Yesterday, at the White House, Leon Black’s 40-year-old son Ben was sworn in by J. D. Vance as C.E.O. of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. For Black, the billionaire co-founder of private-equity firm Apollo Global Management, the swearing-in was a proud moment. But given that he is currently under investigation by Senator Ron Wyden for the millions that he paid the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein—allegedly for tax- and estate-planning services—and that Congress recently compelled the Department of Justice to release its remaining Epstein files, his son’s appointment to such a powerful post comes at a particularly fraught time.
Jeffrey Epstein sent nasty emails to billionaire Leon Black demanding millions per year before arrest: report
(October 18, 2025)
“I never want to have any more uncomfortable money moments with you , I find it very distasteful,” Epstein wrote in a Nov. 2, 2015 email to the Apollo Global Management founder.
“so to be clear , my terms are as follows . I will only work for the usual 40 million per year. It needs to be paid, 25 million upon signing an agreement . 5 million every 2 months thereafter for 6 months ie march may june . this can begin if i am able in January. I will immediately stop work , if the payment is not received [sic]” he wrote, according to the outlet.
The emails sent to Black by Epstein in 2015 and 2016 illustrates the strong relationship between the two men, who were close friends as well as business associates.
How did Jeffrey Epstein make all of his money?
(December 16, 2025)
In an emailed statement to CBS MoneyWatch in June of 2023, JPMorgan called Epstein‘s behavior „monstrous,“ and said it regretted any association with the disgraced financier.
Epstein also had financial dealings with Deutsche Bank, which in May 2023 agreed to pay $75 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the German bank „knowingly benefited“ from his sex trafficking and profited from doing business with him.
(…)
In October, Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, pointed to $1.5 billion in suspicious financial transactions that had been flagged by the banks and were tied to Epstein‘s alleged sex trafficking crimes. The same month, Bank of America was sued by one of Epstein‘s victims, who alleged the bank facilitated and also benefited from his alleged crimes.
Epstein survivors call on Congress to force Trump administration to hand over financial records
A group of women who survived abuse by Jeffrey Epstein are urging Congress to pass legislation that would force Donald Trump’s administration to hand over banking records that could expose the financial engine behind the late sex offender.
The bill introduced by Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden would compel the Treasury Department to turn over documents to Senate investigators who have been digging into Epstein’s financial network for several years. The Treasury Department is cooperating with a House committee’s similar request.
Justice Department releases additional documents from Epstein files
The Justice Department on Monday released additional documents from its files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Epstein‘s alleged victims accuse DOJ of legal violations over state of files released
(December 22, 2025)
„No financial documents were released,“ the statement said. „Grand jury minutes, though approved by a federal judge for release, were fully blacked out — not the scattered redactions that might be expected to protect victim names, but 119 full pages blacked out. We are told that there are hundreds of thousands of pages of documents still unreleased.“
„These are clear-cut violations of an unambiguous law,“ the statement added.