International

The Empress Emeritus of Japan, Michiko, turns 90

The Empress Emeritus of Japan, Michiko, turns 90 this Sunday at a time when she is recovering with rehabilitation sessions from a recent operation after a fractured femur.

The empress emeritus continues to use a wheelchair and recovers by doing an hour of rehabilitation daily after the reconstructive surgery she underwent on October 8 at the University Hospital of Tokyo, the Agency of the Japanese Imperial House reported today.

On October 6, Michiko suffered a fall at his residence in the Akasaka Imperial Complex in Tokyo and fractured the upper part of the femur.

In a statement, the Imperial House Agency explained that Michiko is still deeply distressed by the people affected by the earthquake of January 1 on the Noto peninsula (central Japan), and that her concern has been accentuated by the heavy torrential rains that this region suffered and left significant damage last month.

In turn, the agency assures that the former regent also enjoys seeing her grandchildren grow up, including Princess Aiko, daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, and Prince Hisahito, only son of Crown Prince Fumihito and second in the line of succession after his father.

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Aiko, who will turn 23 in December, graduated this year in Japanese language and literature from Gakushuin University and is working for the Japanese Red Cross, while Hisahito, who came of age in September, plans to finish high school early next spring.

Since Michiko’s husband, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, decided to abdicate in 2019, both lead a quiet life and often reflect on the trips they made through Japan, the Imperial House said.

The abdication of Akihito, who will be 91 at the end of December, was the first of a Japanese emperor in two centuries and meant the accession to the throne of the Chrysanthemum of his son, Naruhito, 64 years old.

International

Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting on Middle East Crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the “military escalation in the Middle East” following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, just hours before an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

“I call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation,” Guterres said in a statement.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday at 21:00 GMT (4:00 p.m. in New York) to address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations announced.

The meeting, during which Guterres will deliver remarks, was convened at the request of France, Bahrain, Colombia, Russia and China, according to a diplomatic source.

International

Trump Floats “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Rising Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration is considering what he described as a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, as Washington continues to increase pressure on the island’s communist government.

“The Cuban government is talking to us and they have very serious problems, as you know. They have no money, they have nothing at this moment, but they are talking to us and maybe we will see a friendly takeover of Cuba,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Texas.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba needed a “radical change,” shortly after Washington eased restrictions on oil exports to the island for what officials described as “humanitarian reasons,” amid a deep economic crisis.

The United States has imposed an energy blockade on Cuba since January, citing what it calls an “extraordinary threat” posed by the communist-run island, located roughly 150 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Florida, to U.S. national security.

International

Argentina’s Senate Reviews Milei-Backed Labor Overhaul

Argentina’s Senate on Friday began reviewing the Labor Modernization Law promoted by the administration of President Javier Milei, a proposal that would significantly reshape labor rules across the country.

The upper chamber opened its final discussion of the contentious initiative, which revises the method used to calculate severance payments — lowering the amounts owed in dismissal cases — and introduces an “hour bank” mechanism that allows overtime to be offset with paid leave rather than extra wages.

The legislation also broadens the classification of essential services, a change that would place new limits on the right to strike in designated sectors.

The bill was initially approved by the Senate on February 11 and then moved to the Chamber of Deputies, where lawmakers passed it with amendments. It has now returned to the Senate for definitive approval.

Outside the Congress building in Buenos Aires, workers, trade unions and left-wing organizations staged demonstrations beginning at midday. The gathering later thinned out amid reports of disturbances and a strong police presence. Security forces had secured the area surrounding the legislature since early morning hours.

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Union leaders contend that the reform weakens labor protections, while many business representatives back the measure but stress that sustainable formal employment will require economic expansion, improved credit conditions, greater investment and a more dynamic domestic market.