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

Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal

Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.

The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.

The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).

“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.

Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”

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International

Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders

President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.

Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.

A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”

According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.

International

Milei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join

Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed his country’s claim over the Falkland Islands (known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina) and praised the role of the nation’s armed forces during a ceremony marking the “Veterans and Fallen Soldiers of the Malvinas War Day,” commemorating 43 years since the 1982 conflict with the United Kingdom.

Argentina continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, arguing that Britain unlawfully seized them in 1833.

“If sovereignty over the Malvinas is the issue, we have always made it clear that the most important vote is the one cast with one’s feet. We hope that one day, the Malvinas residents will choose to vote with their feet and join us,” Milei stated.

“That is why we aim to become a global power—so much so that they would prefer to be Argentine, making deterrence or persuasion unnecessary. This is why we have embarked on a path of liberation, working to make Argentina the freest country in the world and once again the nation with the highest GDP per capita on the planet,” he added.