分类： world

HAVANA, Cuba — In a significant display of international solidarity, two Mexican naval vessels arrived in Havana harbor on Saturday carrying nearly 1,200 tons of humanitarian supplies for the Cuban population. This marks the second such delivery within a month as the island nation faces mounting economic pressure from the United States.

The Papaloapan and Huasteco ships, dispatched by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration earlier this week, delivered 1,193 tons of essential aid including 23 tons of food donations contributed by Mexican citizens through a national relief drive. This follows a previous shipment on February 12 that delivered 814 tons of critical supplies including dairy products, meat, grains, and hygiene items.

The aid arrives amid heightened tensions between Cuba and the United States, where the Trump administration has explicitly pursued policies aimed at restricting Cuba’s access to energy resources. Following the US military intervention that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro—formerly Cuba’s primary oil supplier—President Trump vowed to ‘starve Cuba of oil.’

While the US administration recently modified its energy blockade to permit some oil shipments to private Cuban companies, restrictions remain firmly in place against government and military entities. This has created severe shortages across the island, with power plants struggling to maintain electricity and critical shortages affecting medicine, fuel, and food supplies.

The situation represents an escalation of the long-standing US trade embargo against Cuba, in effect since 1962. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose Cuban heritage informs his policy stance, along with President Trump have openly expressed their objective of precipitating regime change in Havana, with Trump declaring the communist nation ‘ready to fall.’

With Venezuela’s oil shipments curtailed and Mexican energy exports threatened by US tariff policies, Cuba’s 9.6 million residents face their most severe economic crisis in decades, potentially pushing the nation toward complete energy collapse.

BRUSSELS — The European Union has issued a forceful appeal for de-escalation and initiated the withdrawal of non-essential personnel following a dangerous escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran. The urgent call for ‘maximum restraint’ came after a series of reciprocal airstrikes between the nations raised alarm across international capitals.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen characterized the rapidly evolving situation as ‘greatly concerning,’ emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining nuclear safety and upholding the global non-proliferation framework. In a joint statement with European Council President Antonio Costa, von der Leyen stressed that ‘all parties must exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and fully respect international law.’

The crisis intensified when Israel and the United States launched targeted strikes against Iranian positions on Saturday, with reports indicating that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among the intended targets. Iran responded with missile barrages directed toward Gulf states hosting US military installations and toward Israeli territory.

The reverberations of the conflict were felt across the region, with explosions reported in the capital cities of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Residents in Jerusalem also reported hearing blasts overhead as the conflict expanded geographically.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed the bloc’s consular network is actively facilitating the departure of EU citizens from the region while non-essential personnel are being withdrawn. Kallas noted she has maintained communication with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and other regional counterparts to coordinate response efforts.

‘The latest developments across the Middle East are perilous,’ Kallas stated via social media. ‘Iran’s regime has killed thousands. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, along with support for terror groups, pose a serious threat to global security.’

The EU’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea remains on high alert, prepared to assist in keeping critical maritime corridors open amid the growing instability. EU member state representatives are scheduled to convene for emergency talks in Brussels on Sunday, with Cyprus—holding the rotating EU presidency—confirming the urgent meeting. An additional commission discussion is planned for Monday to address the continuing crisis.

UNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a forceful condemnation of military escalation in the Middle East following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, prompting an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Saturday.

In an official statement, Guterres emphasized that recent attacks—including Iran’s retaliatory measures—severely jeopardize international peace and security. ‘I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation,’ he declared ahead of his scheduled address to the Council at 4:00 pm EST (2100 GMT).

The extraordinary meeting was convened following formal requests from five nations: France, China, Russia, Bahrain, and Colombia, according to diplomatic sources. The Russian mission to the UN characterized the US-Israeli operations as an ‘unprovoked act of armed aggression’ against Iran and stated it would demand that both countries ‘immediately cease their illegal and escalatory actions.’

In parallel communications, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi submitted a letter urging the Security Council to take immediate measures against what he termed ‘illegal aggression’ by the US and Israel. Araghchi warned that both nations ‘shall bear full and direct responsibility for all ensuing consequences,’ including potential escalation resulting from their actions.

The military confrontation escalated sharply when US and Israeli forces conducted strikes citing perceived threats from Iran, which responded with missile volleys directed toward Gulf states hosting US military installations and toward Israeli territory.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – In a landmark address marking the nation’s 182nd Independence anniversary, President Luis Abinader unveiled a transformative infrastructure initiative: a network of dry ports along the volatile border with Haiti. Declaring it the most ambitious logistics project in regional history, Abinader framed the development as a dual-purpose strategy to bolster national sovereignty and stimulate economic growth.

The project, fueled by an estimated US$300 million in private investment, will operate under a free trade zone framework. President Abinader characterized this as a strategic state decision designed to enhance development and competitiveness. He positioned the dry ports as an ‘economic wall’—a complementary structure to the recently constructed border wall. This economic barrier aims to revitalize impoverished border provinces, streamline formal trade channels with Haiti, and decisively dismantle pervasive smuggling networks.

Citing successful precedents in Mexico and the United States, Abinader emphasized that the dry port model has proven effective for centralizing customs operations, normalizing cross-border commerce, and converting peripheral regions into dynamic hubs of development. He further elaborated that true border stability cannot exist amidst widespread informality, asserting that security is achieved not merely through surveillance but via job creation, organized trade, and the generation of tangible economic opportunities.

Functioning as inland logistics platforms connected to maritime ports via rail or road, dry ports provide comprehensive services including customs clearance, storage, and container transshipment. This system is engineered to alleviate congestion in coastal port areas and efficiently channel goods to inland consumption and production centers.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has issued an urgent travel advisory strongly discouraging all citizens from traveling to Middle Eastern territories following significant military escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran this past Saturday.

The governmental body confirmed it is actively monitoring developing military hostilities throughout the region. Officials have specifically instructed Jamaican nationals currently residing in or visiting Middle Eastern countries to exercise extreme vigilance and prepare to shelter in place as security conditions deteriorate.

The advisory comes in direct response to coordinated US-Israeli aerial strikes targeting Iranian military assets, which both nations justified as necessary defensive measures against perceived Iranian threats. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory missile volleys targeting both Gulf states housing US military installations and Israeli territories.

In a previously recorded video statement, former US President Donald Trump explicitly characterized the military operation’s objectives as the comprehensive dismantling of Iran’s military infrastructure and the removal of the political leadership established after the 1979 revolution.

Jamaican citizens requiring consular assistance or facing emergencies abroad are directed to contact the Ministry’s dedicated crisis response channels at consular@mfaft.gov.jm or the emergency hotline: +1 876 391 8105.