Russia rejects Vatican as venue for Ukraine peace talks
Russia is dismissing the Vatican as a credible venue for peace talks with Ukraine, citing religious and geopolitical concerns, according to senior Russian sources.
Cuba has granted early release to 553 prisoners as part of a deal mediated by the Holy See during the final days of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s presidency.
As part of the agreement with Cuban authorities, U.S. President Joe Biden removed Cuba from the U.S. terrorism blacklist on January 14, in exchange for the Cuban government’s commitment to release 553 prisoners.
The United States, the European Union, the Catholic Church, and rights groups have long urged the island nation to release hundreds of protesters imprisoned after anti-government protests in July 2021, the largest since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution.
In a statement following the deal, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, "In the spirit of the 2025 Jubilee and as part of the close and ongoing relations with the Vatican, I informed Pope Francis of the decision to release the prisoners."
The deal was reversed by the new U.S. administration just six days after Donald Trump was sworn in, but the release of prisoners has continued sporadically.
In February, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, called the gradual release of the Cuban prisoners „a sign of great hope“ at the start of the Holy Year, and he expressed hope for more "gestures of clemency“ from governments in the spirit of the Jubilee.
Speaking late on Monday, the vice president of Cuba‘s top court said on state television that the process was successfully completed.
According to rights groups, opposition activists and a dissident leader are among those released. However, two dissident artists and a musician co-author of the anti-government protests anthem are still in jail. Observers claim that many of those released are not political prisoners.
According to official figures, around 500 demonstrators over the July 2021 protests have been sentenced, in some cases to up to 25 years in prison.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
Taxi drivers across France are protesting government plans to cut payments for driving patients to medical appointments. These cuts are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister François Bayrou to save €40 billion in the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s large deficit.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri won the Spanish Grand Prix, marking his fifth victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The death toll from a quarry collapse in Indonesia’s West Java province rose to 19, with six people still missing, officials said on Sunday.
Ukraine has outlined its formal negotiating framework ahead of planned peace talks with Russia, set to take place on June 2 in Istanbul, according to a full document seen by Reuters.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said on Sunday that he expects President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak soon in an effort to resolve a growing dispute over critical minerals.
As Germany considers providing long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, military experts warn the move could enable Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow — a shift that could escalate tensions and draw NATO closer to direct confrontation.
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