This June 28th marks the 21st anniversary of the return to Cuba of Elián González Brotons, as a result of a colossal battle that mobilized an entire country to take the child from those who kidnapped him in Miami, United States of America.

On November 25th, 1999, when he was just six years old, Elián was found on a tire tube off Fort Lauderdale, after two days adrift, after wrecking the boat in which he was traveling illegally to the United States, carried by his mother, Elizabeth Brotons, who perished in the attempt along with other crew members.

After the tragic incident was made public, the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, promised his father, Juan Miguel González, “As of tomorrow, the entire nation will turn to make a claim for the return of your child".

After an epic campaign that unleashed the realization of gigantic tribunes of the people, demanding the return of the child, and after a long judicial process, Elián was placed in his father's arms on April 22nd, 2000, and returned to Cuba on June 28th of that year.

The following words correspond to Elián: “Fidel is something like a beacon in my life. Since I met him and established a friendship, the vast majority of my efforts have been aimed at making my father and our Commander proud.”

Elián's return was a resounding victory for the Cuban people, and one more example that what Fidel promised to his the people it was always fulfilled. Those of us who had the privilege of participating in the fight for the return of the child Elián will never forget it.

The first part of the Professional Women's Softball League in Italy concluded, with the presence of six Cubans, including left-handed from Holguín Saray Góngora. The Calixteña was alternated throughout this segment as first base and second starting pitcher for the Caserta Esportiva team. Her offensive average was 200 (40-8), with a triple, 3 runs scored, 4 BBs and she struck out 10 times. On defense, she made two errors in 39 sets (971) and participated in a pair of double plays.

As a pitcher, Saray finished with a win-loss record of 2-6 PCL: 4.80, 32 earned in 42.0 inning, 32 SO and 23 BB: The opponents hit 7 doubles, 11 triples and 5 HR, they hit 340 and she has committed 8 wild pich. For an athlete of just 22 years old, in one of the strongest circuits in the world, without a doubt, it is a performance in accordance with her stage of development. The fact that they keep her as first base and second starter on the pitching staff shows the prospects that the coaches predict.

But the two best-performing Cubans are two eastern pitchers, Yamerki Guevara from Santiago and Yilian Tornés from Granma. Yamerki who pitches for OLD Parma is 5-1, ERA: 0.58, with just 3 cleans at 36.0 over the hill, 62 SW and 9 BB. Her rivals hit her for 133. Yilian Tornés defends Caronno and accumulates 3-3, but with an excellent PCL: 0.17; She 1 clean in 41.1 innings, 68 SO and 11 BB. She will hit him for 121.

The other Caribbean pitcher in the Azurri championship is Villa Clara's veteran left-hander Anisley López (1-5) PCL: 5.55, 26 SO, 13 BB, they hit 268. Lastly, Yarianna López, from Granma, receiver and fielder with OLD Parma Parma, has an average of 321 (28-9), 4 runs, 1 triple, 8 CI, 6 BB and 7 K.

Now the Italian Softball League has a recess until August 5th to make way first to the European championship and then to the Olympic tournament of that sport agreed for Tokyo from July 22nd. During that long break, the Cuban softball players will continue training with their respective teams. According to statements via Facebook by Saray Góngora, they will have five weekly preparation sessions.

As of August 5th, the qualifying stage resumes and the candidates for the title are defined. The first team in each group will advance directly to the semifinals, while the second and third teams will fight to advance to the semifinals. The winners of the two semi-finals will advance to the seven-game grand final to name the Italian Champion, in the second week of October 2021.

On the night of June 25th, the revolutionary fighter Orlando Borrego Díaz died at the age of 85, due to COVID-19; he was a writer and economist, who was one of Ernesto Che Guevara's closest colleagues since his enrollment in Column 8 "Ciro Redondo", commanded by the Argentine guerrillero, in which he reached the rank of first lieutenant.

After the triumph of the Revolution, he held the positions of Head of the Military Economic Board of the Cabaña Regiment (1959), Second Head of the Industrialization Department and later, Head of said department (1959-1960).

Likewise, he was Undersecretary of Basic Industries, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industries (1961-1964), Minister of the Sugar Industry (1964-1968) and advisor to the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers (1973-1980).

He received a degree in Economics from the University of Havana (UH) in 1973 and in 1980 he received a doctorate in Economics from the Institute of Mathematical Economics of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union.

At the triumph of the Bolivarian Revolution and at the request of the president, Commander Hugo Chávez Frías, he fulfilled various advisory and cooperation tasks assigned such as the organization of the National Planning School, conferences in the National Assembly of Venezuela on the Economic Models experienced in Cuba, organization Integral of the State of Barinas at the request of the fellow Governor of the State Adán Chávez Frías, with the approval of President Hugo Chávez, advising the Che Guevara Mission for three years, periodically traveling to that country to fulfill these functions, since these were performed simultaneously with his work as an advisor to the Minister of Transportation of our country.

In March 2014, he officially retired from MITRANS and continued advising and collaborating with the José Martí Cultural Society and the Martiano Program along with the National Association of Cuban Economists (ANEC).

In May of that same year (2014) he traveled to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at the request of its president, Nicolás Maduro Moro, to collaborate and advise on some fundamentally academic tasks and as a continuation of what was indicated by Commander Hugo Chávez Frías, work that culminated in mid-April 2015, with a highly positive evaluation.

Among his best-known publications are: “The development of the sugar industry in Cuba” (1965), “The science of management, antecedents and current approaches” (1987), “El Che en el socialismo” (1989), “El Che in the XXI century ”.

Due to his results, he obtained multiple recognitions and decorations such as: Medal as Combatant of the Ciro Redondo Column, in 1960; Commemorative Medal of the XX Anniversary of the Revolution, signed by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz in 1973; The "Combatant of the Clandestine Struggle" and the "Combatant of the War of Liberation" medals. Medals for the 20th, 30th and 50th anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution, the latter in 2006.