International
IV Conference on The Nation and Emigration closes in Cuba
November 20 |
The IV Conference The Nation and Emigration was closed this Sunday at the Palace of Conventions in Havana, capital of Cuba, with the presence of the president of that country, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
During the two-day meeting, the perspectives of Cuba’s relations with its nationals living abroad, culture as a distinctive element, as well as the necessary processes in the interaction such as the socioeconomic development of the nation, investments, social communication and technology were discussed.
In his speech, the Cuban president said that the basis of Cuba’s policy in this area was established during the dialogue with its nationals living abroad that took place in 1978, led by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, and since then, progress, strengthening and diversification of ties between the parties have been achieved.
He also thanked the solidarity and support of the residents abroad, offered to the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the U.S. blockade was tightened, and urged Cubans living in different parts of the world to promote culture and history.
Referring to the 1978 meeting, he said that those present “were challenged to face the threats and violence coming from the opponents of dialogue, who had and still have the support of the U.S. government, whose policy against Cuba has changed little or almost nothing in so many years”.
“Today we are in a very different moment, the world in which we live has changed, our own country is deepening its transformation process, the presence of Cubans living outside the country is much more numerous and varied, and is settled in different parts of the world,” said the Cuban President.
He reiterated the willingness of the Cuban government “to continue developing a frank and broad dialogue, based on mutual respect and the defense of the homeland. Today as yesterday, with the commitment of not relenting in the battle to put an end to the genocidal blockade that has caused so many shortages, pain and fracture in the Cuban family, the blockade imposed against our people”.
The meeting was held in the presence of the Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Party, Roberto Morales Ojeda, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and Deputy Prime Ministers Inés María Chapman and Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-lella.
The two-day meeting was attended by 367 Cuban citizens residing in 57 nations and representatives of state, government and social organizations and institutions.
International
Mexico Arrests CJNG Leader “El Jardinero” in Nayarit
Mexican authorities arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero,” on Monday during a naval operation in the western state of Nayarit, delivering another major blow to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Flores was considered one of the top regional leaders within the cartel and had reportedly overseen criminal operations along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Security analysts viewed him as a potential successor to slain drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera.
The arrest was carried out by Mexico’s Navy Special Forces in a planned operation, according to Security Minister Omar García Harfuch.
The United States Department of the Treasury had previously identified Flores as a “significant foreign narcotics trafficker,” while U.S. authorities offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture and extradition.
A U.S. grand jury indicted Flores in 2021 on charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.
His capture comes months after the reported death of “El Mencho,” an operation that Mexican authorities considered a priority due to the cartel leader’s alleged involvement in a 2020 assassination attempt against García Harfuch.
International
Suspect Armed With Shotgun and Knives Detained at White House Correspondents Dinner
U.S. authorities confirmed Saturday that the suspect who stormed into the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner while President Donald Trump was attending acted alone, adding that there is no ongoing threat to the public following the incident, which left one Secret Service agent injured.
Acting Metropolitan Police Department chief Jeff Carroll said during a press conference that the suspect was carrying “a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives” when he attempted to pass through a Secret Service security checkpoint inside the hotel lobby at approximately 8:36 p.m. local time.
“At this point, everything indicates that this was a lone actor, a lone gunman,” Carroll stated, adding that investigators have found no preliminary evidence suggesting the involvement of additional suspects.
During the exchange of gunfire inside the hotel corridors, the suspect was not struck by bullets but was subdued by law enforcement officers and later transported to a hospital for medical evaluation.
A member of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division was shot during the incident, though the bullet was stopped by the officer’s ballistic vest, preventing serious injuries. The agent was taken to a hospital and is reportedly “in good spirits,” according to Carroll.
The shooting prompted the immediate evacuation of President Trump, Melania Trump, and several senior officials attending the event after multiple gunshots were heard outside the hotel’s main ballroom.
International
U.S. allows Venezuela to fund Maduro and Cilia Flores’ legal defense
Until now, the U.S. administration had blocked the Venezuelan government from covering the legal fees of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who is also jailed and facing drug trafficking charges, due to international sanctions imposed on Venezuela.
The couple’s legal team had relied on that argument in an attempt to have the indictment dismissed, claiming that preventing a defendant from accessing counsel of their choice violates rights guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
However, the U.S. Treasury Department will now allow “defense attorneys to receive payments from the Government of Venezuela under certain conditions,” New York prosecutor Jay Clayton wrote in a letter dated Friday to Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who is overseeing the case.
According to the letter, the funds must have become available after March 5, 2026, and cannot come from Venezuelan oil sales regulated in the United States.
Since Maduro’s removal from power in early January, former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has served as Venezuela’s interim leader.
The United States effectively controls Venezuelan crude exports, with revenues deposited into special accounts supervised by Washington.
Court documents filed on Friday show that the defense acknowledged the sanctions exemption and, for now, withdrew its motion seeking dismissal of the charges.
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