In the course of peace negotiations with the US, does Russia claim to have captured Pokrovsk, a significant city in eastern Ukraine? Rory Challands of Al Jazeera explains in Kyiv.
Published On 2 Dec 2025
The former Honduran president was freed on Tuesday, one day after receiving a pardon, according to Hernandez’s attorney, Renato Stabile.
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“President Trump has signed a full and unconditional pardon, effective December 1, 2025.” Stabile, a spokesperson for President Hernandez, announced his release early this morning in an email to Al Jazeera.
After serving more than three years in a US prison, Hernandez was released from a detention facility in West Virginia.
Hernandez was given a 45-year sentence last year for participating in a “one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking conspiracies in the world” for his involvement in a scheme to export cocaine to the US.
Trump made the announcement last week that he would pardon the former Honduran president by calling on the country’s citizens to support Nasry “Tito” Asfura, a member of Hernandez’s party.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump stated that “I will be granting a Full and Complete Pardon to Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez who has been treated very harshly and unfairly by many people who I respect.”
“This cannot be allowed to occur, especially now that Tito Asfura has won the election and Honduras is on its way to a great political and financial success,” he said.
Hernandez was found guilty of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from violent drug-trafficking groups over the course of 18 years, which helped him advance politically.
After serving his sentence last year, the US Justice Department claimed that Hernandez “abused his powerful positions and authority in Honduras to facilitate the import of more 400 tons of cocaine into the US.”
“Hernandez’s co-conspirators used machine guns and destructive weapons, including AK-47s, AR-15s, and grenade launchers, to protect their massive cocaine loads as they traveled across Honduras on their way to the United States, protect the money they earned from the eventual sale of this cocaine, and guard their drug-trafficking territory from rivals,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez argued during his trial that he had stepped up his crackdown on the drug trade and cited the US military’s cooperation with his administration. He also disputed Hernandez’ claim that he had taken bribes from drug dealers.
Trump’s pardon of Hernandez comes as his administration is launch deadly airstrikes against vessels it claims are carrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, a campaign that critics claim violates both domestic and international law.
After accusing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drug cartel that the US labeled a “terrorist” group, Trump has also been making threats against him.
Washington has increased its military presence in the Caribbean in what it refers to as an anti-drug trafficking operation, which has sparked rumors about a possible conflict to overthrow Maduro.
The Trump administration’s policy toward Latin America has been criticized more recently for pardoning Hernandez.
Juan Orlando Hernandez, president, aided El Chapo and the Sinaloa Cartel in importing deadly drugs into the country. In a Monday social media post, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto criticized “the drugs that killed Americans.”
Trump, however, allows this criminal to go free instead of standing up for the law enforcement who sent Hernandez to justice.
Elections were held on Sunday in Honduras, but the result is still too close to call, with Asfura and sports journalist Salvador Nasralla only having a few hundred votes each.
Trump is already doubting the outcome of the Honduran election, despite continuing to fabricate the fact that his loss to former US President Joe Biden in the 2020 election was the result of widespread fraud.
In terms of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security, the Trump administration is now deciding what the future holds for Ukraine and, consequently, for Europe. Even if it means breaking long-standing international norms that prohibit the recognition of territory acquired through military occupation, Washington wants to reach a resolution to put an end to the full-fledged conflict Russia launched in February 2022 against Ukraine.
However, there is much more at stake than those principles, which Washington has rarely given priority in its own foreign policy, for Europe in general and the European Union in particular.
The bloc’s security and political concerns are at the center of preventing Putin from engaging in additional aggression and guaranteeing stability for Ukraine both politically and economically. Any resolution to the conflict that doesn’t succeed in either would put the bloc at risk for its long-term security.
All of this must be managed while keeping in mind that the Trump administration does not further undermine European security by once more questioning its commitment to NATO’s security infrastructure. However, Europe has already begun to acknowledge these concerns, albeit reluctantly. 23 NATO members agreed to increase core defence spending to at least 3.5% of GDP by 2035, with another 1.5% going toward building their defense industrial bases and boosting their defense spending goals by the end of last year.
According to the Ukraine Support Tracker, Europe has already surpassed the US for the first time since June 2022 in total military aid, with 72 billion euros ($83.95 billion) being allocated as opposed to Washington’s 65 billion euros ($77.55 billion) by the end of April.
However, the increased European support does not make up for the stagnant US funding, regardless of the outcome of the Trump administration’s efforts to entice Ukraine into a negotiating position that Putin might be willing to accept. The West’s fiscal support is only one component of the equation, and Kyiv is also relying on it to keep its government running. And with Russia’s continued airstrikes and assaults, the cost of reconstruction only increases. The World Bank estimated it to be worth $524 billion (506 billion euros), or 280 percent of Kyiv’s GDP by 2024, according to its World Bank projections in February.
Despite agreeing to his demands on trade and NATO funding and military support for Ukraine and signing agreements that have seen the US’s average tariff rate on imports from the EU and UK rise sharply, Europe runs the risk of being left to Trump’s will.
However, Europe has a clear choice to make to ensure that Kyiv’s financial support is sufficient over the upcoming years and that any conflict resolution results will be decided in a way that both further deters Putin.
The sovereign Russian funds that have been frozen in their jurisdictions since 2022 can now be taken into custody by the European Union and the UK. The most important thing is that they can seize the 185 billion euros ($214.8 billion) frozen at Euroclear, a Belgian clearing house, as well as the Russian government’s ($23.25 billion) frozen funds at Euroclear’s Luxembourg-based rival, Clearstream, which are thought to be worth around 20 billion euros ($23.25 billion).
Europe has been debating this possibility for months, and it is not at all unaware of it. An earlier $50 billion (43 billion euros) loan to Ukraine, which was secured over those assets, was already supported by Euroclear’s assets, which were used to fund it in January 2025.
Following a delay of a final decision at the previous council meeting on October 23 and the announcement to secure a new loan of up to 140 billion euros ($162.6bn) was anticipated, Europe was to proceed with the plan to secure the assets at the European Council meeting on December 18-19. The Belgian government has largely complied with its demands for indemnification while supporting Kremlin claims that such a move would be unheard of.
However, there is a lot of precedent. The United States seized German and Japanese government assets during the Second World War. Prior to Pearl Harbour’s attack, Japan’s assets were even frozen, the majority of which were later preserved under the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951.
The Kremlin’s threats to encircle Belgium in decades-long legal battles are also overblown. They rely on a bilateral investment treaty from the days of Soviet collapse that Putin and his supporters have unsuccessfully invoked to unfreeze their assets or challenge previous sanctions. Additionally, there are dozens of unresolved disputes involving Russia that are worth tens of billions of dollars in European courts, including the roughly 13 billion-euro ($15 billion) arbitration award won by Uniper against Gazprom for disruption of gas supplies in 2022. The largest and most significant case involving the expropriation of Yukos by the Kremlin continues to be the 2014 award to former Yukos shareholders. The Supreme Court of the Netherlands, which is now worth more than $65 billion, including interest, decided that the award was final and enforceable against Russian state assets around the world in October 2025. However, enforcement will still need to find trustworthy Russian assets that the courts will be willing to seize.
As it has done numerous times throughout Putin’s presidency, the Kremlin will undoubtedly engage in legal battles and litigation over these disputes. However, it will lose, and it will be responsible for the loss of its national interests. When crucial access to Western markets or assets was in question, Russia has repeatedly complied with bad decisions. The only conclusive evidence that Russia or the West has returned money owed as a result of litigation involving Russia’s war has been the settlements made by Russian state insurers NSK and Aeroflot over Putin’s 2022 sequestration of aircraft leased from Western businesses.
There is no justification for Europe’s current acting woes. Every month of inaction places a greater financial burden on Europe and makes it more likely that Washington will strike a deal that threatens European interests. How can Ukraine ensure continued funding and the ability to sustain its defense is now a crucial issue? Europe must act urgently before the Trump Administration attempts to negotiate a deal with Russia.
The 28-point “peace plan” developed by Kremlin insiders and approved by Trump’s special envoy and long-time associate Steve Witkoff last month includes slicing up these same frozen funds, requiring even more funding from Europe, as well as diverting frozen Russian assets from Ukraine’s reconstruction while placing an additional financial burden on Europe. If the Kremlin violates its obligations, as it did with the ceasefire agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 following its initial invasion of Ukraine, with such a deal, Europe would be left with an even bigger bill.
In the negotiations over the future of Ukraine, Europe has the power to use it to advance its political, economic, and military interests.
Published On 2 Dec 2025
The Formula One (F1) teams announced on Tuesday that Isack Hadjar will take Yuki Tsunoda’s place as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate for the upcoming season, with Arvid Lindblad joining Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls.
Hadjar, a 21-year-old Frenchman, has made a big impression with his sister team Racing Bulls, including claiming third place at the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.
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Lindblad, who was born in Britain and has Swedish heritage through his mother, joins Lawson as the only rookie on the grid for 2026.
With Tsunoda’s departure, Formula One has lost its Japanese driver. Red Bull stated that he will continue playing for the team as a reserve.
Hadjar is the third Red Bull Racing driver to fill a position previously held by him.
In December, Lawson was chosen to take Sergio Perez’ place. Following the opening two Grand Prix of 2025, Tsunoda took the New Zealander’s place in March.
Verstappen will compete on Sunday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to defend his fifth successive World Drivers’ title.
Getachew Reda and Mehdi Hasan debate the conflict over their relationship and Tigray’s justice system.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front and Ethiopia’s federal government engaged in a brutal civil war in 2022 under the Pretoria Agreement.
The desire for lasting peace and justice has vanished today. Many people are concerned about renewed hostilities as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government’s relations with the TPLF escalate.
And because of this, the countries are teetering on the brink of war and have deteriorated in relations with neighboring Eritrea, which was a country that supported the TPLF.
Getachew Reda served as Tigray’s interim president and its lead political figure during the civil war.
He joined his former adversary, Abiy, and claimed there was deep-seated corruption within the TPLF leadership after a public disagreement.
Ethiopia’s prime minister’s adviser Getachew Reda confronts Mehdi Hasan in a confrontation about his new alliance with Abiy, and he inquires whether Ethiopia and Eritrea are headed for war.
Published On 2 Dec 2025
Who: Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao
What: Spain’s La Liga
Where: The San Mames Stadium, Bilbao, Spain
When: Wednesday at 7pm (18:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 15:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.
After a string of draws, Real Madrid are attempting to reclaim control of the La Liga title with a victory over Athletic Bilbao.
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At lowly Girona on Sunday, Madrid were forced to hold on for a third consecutive La Liga draw before coming back from a goal down.
With goals from Robert Navarro and Nico Williams, Athletic Bilbao, who are eighth in the division, have 20 points from their first 14 games, won 2-0 at Levante on Saturday.
Real coach Xabi Alonso is under increased pressure because of recent rumors that his future may be uncertain in the Madrid dugout as a result of their draw with Girona.
After the game, Alonso told reporters, “We are up there, it’s all very even, it’s a long season and we have to continue.”
“I liked how the players responded. We had to work together, be self-critical enough, and be ready to win away from home, but it was not enough to turn things around.
Due to the club’s participation in the Spanish Super Cup in January, Madrid will travel to Bilbao on Wednesday for its fourth straight home game.
Alonso continued, “The table will be difficult-fought and there will be a lot of movement.”
Before Morocco international Azzedine Ounahi fired a stunning header home from just inside the area on Sunday, Madrid’s superstar striker Kylian Mbappe was forced to play a goal for handball moments before the infamous handball ruled out for the striker.
Before Los Blancos fought back, Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved a stunning save to divert Vladyslav Vanat’s cross goal.
Vinicius Jr was clumsily felled in the box by Hugo Rincon after being denied an offside goal.
Mbappe scored his 14th La Liga goal of the season by smashing the resultant penalty past Paulo Gazzaniga’s diving effort.
The league is still ongoing and will continue for a very long, Mbappe wrote on social media. “Absolutely not the result we wanted. We must alter this dynamic and demonstrate our collective strength.
After a number of depressing defeats in recent weeks, manager Ernesto Valverde acknowledged that Athletic’s victory over Levante gave his team much-needed moral support.
Following the game, Valverde stated, “This match was very important for us in many ways, both morale wise and most importantly, to gain our confidence after some less than positive results.”
However, Valverde cautioned against “taking each game as it comes and fight for the win” and stated that “we have a difficult and very exciting week ahead of us with tough opponents coming to San Mames.”
After being once more linked with a move to Barcelona despite having his contract extension until 2035, the Athletic winger revealed his deep devotion to his boyhood club and Bilbao.
I’ve developed as a person and as a player because of Athletic and Bilbao, Nico Williams said.
“Representing this club and this city has taught me the value of family, humility, and hard work. As the motto states, “Athletic is unique in the world.”
He continued, “I have my family and loved ones with whom I make every decision here in Bilbao.” It’s a dream come true to compete in the Champions League alongside my brother.
Real Madrid won 124 of the 248 games that were played between the two clubs, Athletic Club won 79, and 45 of those games ended in draws.
Alex Berenguer and Gorka Guruzeta scored for Athletic in their most recent home game, 2-1, winning the previous meeting 2-1.
Since Los Blancos have typically been the dominant team in recent matches, Athletic won Athletic’s first La Liga game 1-0 over Real Madrid.
Oihan Sancet is still suspended, but midfielder Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta’s return from suspension will boost the team.
Inaki Williams is still a major doubt after missing Athletic’s last seven games with a groin issue, and Benat Prados, Unai Egiluz, Maroan Sannadi, and Robert Navarro have all been suspended with injuries.
Aymeric Laporte’s illness prevented him from playing for Levante, but he is expected to start against Madrid.
Gomez, Gomez, Gorosabel, Laporte, Vivian, Berchiche, Jauregizar, Berenguer, Sanchez, Nico Williams, Gorosabel,
At the moment, Madrid’s injuries are centered on the defense.
Due to the recovery of his own muscular injury, centre-back Dean Huijsen is a significant doubt after missing his last two games due to a muscular issue, and he is also unlikely to play.
After having a knee problem removed, Dani Carvajal will be sidelined until 2026.
However, center-back Raul Asencio is expected to recover in time for the Bilbao game despite missing the game against Girona due to illness.