Politics

A major prisoner release agreement between the United States and Cuba has resulted in the freedom of prominent dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer, who spent over three years in prison following Cuba's 2021 anti-government protests. The agreement, mediated by the Catholic Church, involves outgoing President Joe Biden removing Cuba from the US state sponsors of terrorism list during his final days in office, while Cuba commits to releasing 553 individuals, many of whom were detained during the protests. The initial phase of releases began Wednesday, with approximately 20 people freed according to local NGO reports. Among them was Ferrer, the 54-year-old leader of the opposition group Cuba's Patriotic Union (Unpacu), who was imprisoned on public disorder charges after the 2021 demonstrations. Speaking to Reuters by phone, Ferrer stated, "I am at home, in fair health, but with the courage to continue […]

A new cooperation pact has been signed between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin, strengthening ties between two nations heavily impacted by international sanctions. The "comprehensive strategic partnership treaty" encompasses multiple domains including trade, military cooperation, science, culture, and education, according to officials from both countries. During a joint press conference in Moscow on Friday, Putin characterized the agreement as a "real breakthrough" that would foster stable development for Russia, Iran, and the broader region. The Kremlin indicated the treaty would enhance "military-political and trade-economic" relations, though specific details remain private. Both leaders emphasized expanded cooperation across various sectors including politics, security, trade, transport, and energy. Pezeshkian highlighted this as a new chapter in bilateral relations, particularly regarding trade. The two nations have increased their economic engagement in response to Western sanctions. Iran has supplied Russia with […]

Reports claiming Chinese officials are considering allowing Elon Musk to purchase TikTok to prevent its ban in the United States have been dismissed as "pure fiction" by the platform. Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Chinese officials have discussed permitting the sale to Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as an alternative to the impending US ban. The ban is set to take effect Sunday unless ByteDance, TikTok's China-based owner, divests its US operations. According to Bloomberg, while Beijing would "strongly prefer" ByteDance to maintain control of TikTok, senior Chinese officials have begun exploring "contingency plans." The Wall Street Journal noted that these plans have not been communicated to ByteDance, citing unnamed sources familiar with the discussions. One scenario under consideration, Bloomberg reported, involves integrating TikTok into X, Musk's social media platform. The report, citing […]

A Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement, initially proposed in May, is gaining renewed attention in Doha talks between Israel and Hamas. Several key developments have altered the landscape for negotiations. Donald Trump's election as the next U.S. president has emerged as a significant factor. His warning about serious consequences if hostages aren't freed before his January 20 inauguration may influence Hamas's calculations, considering the possibility of reduced restraints on Israeli actions. Israel also faces pressure from Trump to resolve the conflict, as it could affect his broader regional objectives and desired legacy as a peacemaker. Netanyahu's position is complex, balanced between Trump's influence and his far-right coalition partners' war stance. While Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has publicly opposed the deal as "a catastrophe," some analysts suggest that both he and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir may remain in government […]