International

Cardinal sent by Pope says amnesty for prisoners in Cuba is “on the table”.

Photo: Catholic Press Photo

February 9^th |

Cardinal Beniamino Stella, special envoy of Pope Francis, said Wednesday in Havana that a potential amnesty for Cuban prisoners jailed after an anti-government protest in July 2021 is “on the table”, although the answer was not up to the Catholic Church.

Stella told reporters that the Vatican had commented to the island’s authorities on the issue of a possible amnesty and “undoubtedly the Church that is, seeks, (and) has manifested on several occasions this purpose.”

“Obviously it has been a topic of our conversations. The issue is there on the table, but the answer does not depend on Cardinal Stella,” the Vatican diplomat said after a speech delivered at the University of Havana.

Stella’s comments come as Cuba faces strong criticism from U.S. and European Union human rights groups following the jailing of hundreds of protesters after riots erupted on the island on July 11, 2021, the largest street protest since the 1959 revolution led by former President Fidel Castro.

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“I ask a lot (…) that there be a positive response, whatever it is called, amnesty, clemency, whatever it is called. Words can also be secondary, but it is important that the young people who at one time have expressed their thoughts and have done so in the way we know can return to their homes,” he said.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who was present in the university auditorium during Stella’s lecture, has previously defended the role of domestic courts in upholding the country’s law at times when the unrest occurred in 2021.

Authorities in Cuba claim that those arrested are guilty of various crimes including public disorder, resisting arrest, theft and vandalism, among others.

Havana did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statements by Stella, who arrived on the island to mark the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s pastoral trip to Cuba.

The Vatican played a key role in brokering the historic resumption of diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States. In 2016 under former President Barack Obama a series of events occurred as part of the bilateral thaw.

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In September 2015, just prior to the announcement of renewed ties, Cuba pardoned 3,522 common prisoners in what it called a humanitarian gesture ahead of an earlier visit by Pope Francis, repeating similar actions it took before two previous Popes’ trips to the Caribbean island.

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.”