Cuba denounces fresh U.S. sanctions on officials, enterprises
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Thursday denounced Washington's increased sanctions against Cuban officials and entities, accusing the United States of deliberately seeking to strangle the island's economy and undermining the government's ability to provide basic services.
In a post on X, Rodriguez criticized U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his "failed obsession against Cuba" after the United States sanctioned senior officials of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), including ICAP President Fernando Gonzalez Llort, First Vice President Noemi Ramona Rabaza Fernandez and North America Director Leima Martinez Freire.
Rodriguez stressed that ICAP promotes "friendship, international solidarity, justice and peace," the very opposite of what Rubio has long promoted through his policies.
Trump to temporarily ease tariff on ground beef imports
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports without impacting tariff quotas.
"For the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported with no out of quota tariff," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices."
"This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again," he said.
Türkiye requests Interpol Red Notice for Netanyahu
Türkiye has requested the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following an arrest warrant issued against him last month on a charge of "genocide," Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said Friday.
In a post on X, Gurlek said the judicial process regarding the attack carried out against activists of a global flotilla, which set sail to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, "continues with determination."
The global flotilla set sail from Türkiye in May in an attempt to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver aid to Palestinians, but was later intercepted by Israel, with those on board subsequently deported.
Belarus to close embassy in Finland
Belarus will close its embassy in Finland from Sept. 1, 2026, the National Legal Internet Portal of Belarus announced on Friday.
The decision was made by the Council of Ministers on Thursday.
Belarus and Finland established diplomatic relations in 1992, and the Belarusian embassy in Helsinki began operations in December 2011.
Iran's FM says Washington's anti-Tehran economic operation doomed to fail
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Friday the U.S. anti-Iran economic operation is doomed to fail like its other coercive measures against the country.
"14 years ago: 'Most crippling sanctions in history.' Failed. 8 years ago: 'Maximum pressure.' Failed. 5 months ago: 'Unconditional surrender.' Failed. Today: 'Most crushing economic operation ever.' Bound to fail," Araghchi posted on social media platform X.
The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday "the most crushing economic operation ever taken" against any country providing a lifeline to Iran.■
