Pope Leo used his Canary Islands visit to defend migrants, condemn traffickers and press Europe to protect people risking deadly Atlantic crossings. The islands received a record 46,843 migrants in 2024, while thousands died trying to reach Spain.
Posts tagged as “Cuba”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Cuba against acquiring weapons capable of reaching Guantánamo Bay or the U.S. mainland. Cuba has rejected reports about drone plans and accused Washington of creating pretexts for aggression.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake off western Cuba was felt across parts of Florida on Monday, including Miami, Tampa and Orlando. Officials said there were no significant injuries, major property damage or tsunami threat.
The United States sanctioned Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife and relatives of Raúl Castro as Washington intensifies pressure on Havana. The measures come as Cuba faces severe blackouts, food and medicine shortages, and rising tensions with the Trump administration.
The U.S. indicts former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and five others for the 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes that killed four Cuban Americans. The charges include conspiracy, murder, and destruction of aircraft amid ongoing U.S.-Cuba tensions.
A federal judge in Massachusetts has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the temporary parole status of hundreds of thousands of migrants who entered the U.S. lawfully through the Biden-era CBP One app, ruling that the administration’s termination of their status violated federal procedures and exceeded DHS authority. The Trump administration had revoked parole en masse in 2025 without personalized notice, citing border security concerns, but the judge found this action unlawful and sided with immigration advocacy groups representing affected migrants. While the Department of Homeland Security opposes the ruling and plans to appeal, the decision restores legal protections for many migrants, though the full impact remains uncertain.
Cuba experienced its second nationwide power outage in less than a week, attributed to the shutdown of a key power plant unit, marking the fourth major blackout in four months amid worsening living conditions and public protests. The Cuban government blames U.S. sanctions and an energy blockade for the crisis, which has disrupted vital oil supplies, particularly from Venezuela, and has prompted humanitarian aid deliveries. Amid escalating tensions and rhetoric of possible U.S. military intervention, Cuban officials emphasize vigilance, sovereignty, and rejection of regime change while hoping for a resumption of fuel supplies.
The U.S. Treasury Department has temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil shipments already at sea to help lower soaring global energy prices, allowing purchases of oil loaded before a specified deadline until April 19. This narrowly tailored move aims to increase supply without significantly benefiting Iran financially, marking a shift from previous maximum pressure policies amid ongoing tensions and geopolitical conflicts affecting oil markets. However, experts remain skeptical about the relief’s effectiveness, while high fuel costs continue to impact industries like aviation, prompting operational adjustments and discussions of increased security measures in critical shipping routes.