International

Cuba recognizes “very strong” damage to houses and infrastructure due to the passage of Rafael

The Cuban Government recognized in its first damage assessment after the passage through the west of Hurricane Rafael Island with category 3 (of five) on the Saffir-Simpson scale that the effects on housing, infrastructure and agriculture have been “very strong.”

The cyclone made landfall at 16:20 local time (21:20 GMT) off the south coast of the province of Artemisa and left Cuban territory more than two hours later on the north coast of Pinar del Río.

The Meteorological Institute (Insmet) of Cuba measured winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour and recorded intense rains, up to 200 millimeters (or liters per square meter).

“Great effects” by Rafael in Cuba: Díaz-Canel

The country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, wrote on social networks at the end of a meeting of the National Defense Council that “great effects have been recorded in Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana,” three western provinces.

He also advanced that he plans to visit from this Thursday “the territories most impacted by the hurricane.” “A new recovery process is already beginning,” he said.

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For his part, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero added in a special intervention on state television that the damage has been “very strong in housing, infrastructure and agriculture.”

He also explained that the total blackout caused in the country by this cyclone, the second event of “zero national energy coverage” in just two weeks, is still to be evaluated due to inclement weather.

Urgent repairs

To the technical complexity of the restoration of the National Electric Service (SEN) must be added the physical repair of cables and poles damaged by strong winds, explained in this regard on social networks the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Mined), which demanded “time” for recovery.

“Work is underway to create electrical subsystems in central and eastern Cuba. In the West this process will be slower, the necessary lines and electrical installations must be reviewed,” said the Mined.

Marrero concluded his speech by saying: “Rest assured that we will recover and get ahead. Until victory always!”

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Rafael has affected more than four million Cubans and its ravages will begin to be visible from this Thursday.

This is the second hurricane to touch Cuba so far this year. The previous one, Oscar, passed through the northeastern end of the island a little over two weeks ago and left 8 dead, damaged 12,000 homes and 13,000 hectares of damaged crops.

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.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”