International

Cuba approves the Immigration Law that allows residents abroad to maintain their properties

The Parliament of Cuba unanimously approved the Migration Law this Friday, in the midst of an unprecedented migratory wave, and that contemplates, among other things, that islanders abroad can maintain their properties on the island, despite spending more than two years abroad.

The new rule puts an end to the concept of “emigrated”, which was granted to Cubans who migrated and spent more than 24 consecutive months abroad without returning, even briefly, to the country so as not to lose their residence.

According to the approved text, this restriction will disappear to give rise to the concept of “effective residence,” to those who spend “most of their time in the national territory.”

On the other hand, the Government will recognize Cubans “residents abroad” with the same rights as those found within the island, including the “enjoyment and free disposal of the assets of their property.”

They may also apply for the status of “investors and business”.

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In that sense, the law will allow foreigners to access permanent residence if they have “an important patrimony abroad” that “allows them to start business or make investments.”

Different dissidents and NGOs have warned about some aspects of the rule for the possible interpretations that the authorities may give and that could affect dissidents abroad.

For example, according to the approved text, the Cuban Government may prohibit its nationals from entering or leaving the island for “reasons of Defense and National Security” or “order and public interest.”

The Ministry of the Interior can also prohibit the entry of foreigners who are dedicated to “organizing, stimulating, carrying out, participating and financing hostile actions against the political, economic and social foundations of the Cuban State.”

The Migration law is the first that was approved this Friday within a package of rules that includes that of Citizenship and Aliens.

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The Cuban diaspora has an important political and economic weight on the island, whether because of its influence on American politics, the remittances it sends to the country or its ability to support the incipient private sector commercially and financially.

International

Hiroshima survivor who embraced Obama dies at 88

The emotional embrace between Barack Obama and Hiroshima survivor Mori—who was eight years old when the United States dropped the atomic bomb in 1945—resonated around the world.

According to Asahi Shimbun and other local media, Mori died on Saturday at a hospital in Hiroshima.

Mori, known for his research on the fate of American prisoners of war in Hiroshima, was thrown into a river by the force of the explosion on August 6, 1945, during the atomic bombing of the city.

In a past interview with AFP, ahead of his meeting with Obama at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in 2016, Mori recalled the chaos and desperation that followed the blast.

He described how, after emerging from the water, he encountered injured civilians seeking help amid the devastation, an experience that stayed with him throughout his life.

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In 2016, Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, where he paid tribute to the victims of the first atomic bomb used in warfare. During the visit, Mori was visibly moved as he met the president, sharing a brief but powerful moment that symbolized remembrance and reconciliation.

The bombing of Hiroshima resulted in the deaths of approximately 140,000 people, including those who succumbed to radiation exposure in the aftermath.

Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 people and contributing to the end of World War II.

International

Colombia seeks ‘total suffocation’ of armed groups with regional support

Colombia is advancing a strategy aimed at the “total suffocation” of illegal armed groups, seeking to corner them in border regions with the support of Ecuador and Venezuela, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said in an interview with AFP.

According to the minister, coordinated pressure from neighboring countries—backed by United States—aims to dismantle criminal networks that use cross-border routes to traffic Colombian cocaine toward North America and Europe.

For decades, armed groups involved in Colombia’s internal conflict have relied on border territories as strategic rear bases to evade military operations and maintain logistical support.

However, Sánchez said that dynamic is beginning to change.

“We expect a total suffocation between both nations so they have no spaces where they can live or feel safe […] to close off any room they might have,” he stated during the interview in Bogotá, less than five months before the end of President Gustavo Petro’s term.

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Regional developments have reinforced this strategy. Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation, Washington has increased its influence in Caracas, where interim leader Delcy Rodríguez has implemented a renewed anti-narcotics policy.

Meanwhile, in Ecuador, President Daniel Noboa—a key U.S. ally in the region—has launched a two-week security plan under strict curfews to combat criminal gangs, with U.S. support.

Sánchez argued that these combined efforts leave illegal organizations with fewer escape routes and operational spaces, effectively placing them in a “dead end.”

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.