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.

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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.

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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

President Boric announces curfew following triple police homicide in Chile

Chile offers residency and Chilean nationality to Nicaraguan opponents

Chilean President Gabriel Boric has implemented a nighttime curfew in three municipalities of the Biobío region following the murder of three police officers. The Chilean leader emphasized that “criminals will answer to Chile and its justice system.”

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Boric stated that he made the decision “after discussing with the General Director of the Carabineros, the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, the Head of National Defense, and the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, having also considered various alternatives and taking into account the needs of the ongoing investigation.”

He further detailed that “I have instructed to decree a curfew in the municipalities of Cañete, Contulmo, and Tirúa from midnight to 7:00 AM. Additionally, police and military presence will be intensified to our utmost capacity with joint patrols in the area.”

International

President López Obrador meets with Astros and Rockies ahead of Mexico City Series

Last Friday, before the 2024 Mexico City Series between the Astros and Rockies at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador met with representatives from both teams.

Through his social media, the President shared his interaction with executives from the Houston and Colorado teams, as well as with Astros’ Mexican pitcher, José Urquidy.

“Yesterday (Friday), before starting the tour, I had breakfast with executives and friends from the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies. There’s increasingly more baseball fever in our country,” López Obrador wrote.

The photos also featured former Mexican major leaguers Vinicio “Vinny” Castilla and Jorge de la Rosa, both of whom played for the Colorado team.

On Saturday night, the Houston Astros won the first game in the “capital inferno,” home of the Mexico City Red Devils, with a commanding score of 12 to 4.

This Sunday, the second game of the series will take place at AHH, with both teams arriving in Mexico on a losing streak. Another great Major League celebration is anticipated at the “fire diamond.”

International

Social media star Om Fahad fatally shot in Baghdad

An Iraqi TikToker, previously sentenced to prison last year for posting content deemed “indecent” on social media, was fatally shot in Baghdad on Friday, according to two security officials.

Om Fahad, who had tens of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram, gained fame for her videos featuring her in tight outfits dancing to Iraqi music, in a country that is predominantly conservative and patriarchal.

The young woman was shot by an assailant on a motorcycle while she was in her vehicle outside her home in central Baghdad, two security officials reported anonymously to AFP.

In February 2023, a court initially sentenced Om Fahad to six months in jail for “publishing various videos with indecent intentions that violate modesty and public morals.”