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.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran has strongly condemned the recent U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, calling them a violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Eight men were arrested Friday morning following a violent clash near the Iranian embassy in London, police confirmed.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment