International
Cardinal sent by Pope says amnesty for prisoners in Cuba is “on the table”.
February 9th |
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.
“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.
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
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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