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☆ I lived in Cuba for 20 years. Moving back to the US has me questioning the meaning of 'home.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Conner Gorry | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

After living there for 20 years, she saw herself as an immigrant, rather than an expat. I'm in the toothpaste aisle at Target, dumbfounded by a selection that runs several shelves long and as many high. After more than 20 years in Cuba, where Close-Up and La Perla were the only choices for most of that time, I'm overwhelmed by the number of options. In Cuba, moreover, women have full autonomy over their bodies, which I feel is the only way it should be. Comfort food, like a juicy hamburger, is one of the great things about living back in the US.

Persons: Conner Gorry, —, La Perla, Davidson Jose Salgado, Harley, Davidson, Fidel Castro, I'd, you've, I'm, doctor's, Carolyn Gorry, I've Organizations: Service, La, World Trade, Harley, Diplomats Locations: New York, Havana, Target, Cuba, Detroit, Pakistan, Haiti, —, Dijon

☆ Outspoken Cuban Priest Cries Foul as Country Marks Good Friday
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Nelson Acosta and Marc FrankHAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban Roman Catholics held public processions across the Communist-run country on Friday to mark Good Friday, but there was at least one exception in Havana where 150 of the faithful were relegated to the church parking lot. “It is not possible today to introduce Jesus Christ without introducing to him a people who are having a hard time,” he said. The Cuban government largely blames U.S. sanctions for the crisis and U.S. subversion for the unrest, charges that Washington denies. “What I have heard from the government is that there are 111 authorized processions throughout the country,” he said. Christmas and then Good Friday were recognized as holidays and religious processions are now common.

Persons: Nelson Acosta, Marc Frank HAVANA, Lester Zayas Diaz, Parish, Christ, ”, Jesus Christ, ” Zayas, Washington, Ariel Suarez, Cuba's, Zayas, Pope John Paul, Marc Frank, David Gregorio Organizations: Communist, Reuters, Facebook, U.S, Cuban, Cuba's Bishop's Locations: Cuban, Havana, Vedado, Cuba

☆ Colombia Government, ELN Rebels Are Yet to Agree Ceasefire Extension -ELN
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BOGOTA (Reuters) - The government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas have not yet agreed to extend their bilateral ceasefire for another six months, the rebel group said on Monday. The government of President Gustavo Petro restarted peace talks with the ELN in 2022 as part of a policy of 'total peace', to end Colombia's six-decade conflict, which has left more than 450,000 dead. An initial six-month ceasefire expired last week and was extended for five days, a measure that will end on Monday night. "Measures are being taken to resolve factors of crisis factors and add new elements of commitment to be fulfilled by both parties, with the purpose of agreeing on an extension of another six months of this temporary and national bilateral ceasefire," the ELN delegation said in a statement. The statement was released ahead of the close of a sixth cycle of talks between the rebel group and the government in Cuba's capital, Havana.

Persons: Gustavo Petro, Oliver Griffin, Franklin Paul Organizations: National Liberation Army Locations: BOGOTA, Colombia, Cuba's, Havana

☆ Cuban President Sacks Economy Minister as Controversy Grows Over Price Hikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel sacked economy minister Alejandro Gil on Friday, state media reported, as controversy continued to grow over the delay of recently announced measures to hike the price of fuel and transportation fares in the communist-run country. The Council of State, under Diaz-Canel`s direction, has appointed Central Bank president Joaquín Alonso, 60, to replace Gil. The upheaval comes just two days after the government put off an unpopular five-fold hike in gasoline prices planned for Feb. 1, saying a cyberattack from outside Cuba had thwarted implementation. Former economy minister Gil had advocated for the unpopular plan to raise prices for many government subsidized services, and has long been criticized for his management of the country`s near-bankrupt economy. Gil's planned price hikes, initially announced in December and early January, rocked Cuba, where residents have long depended on a vast program of state subsidized food, fuel and medicine.

Persons: Miguel Díaz, Canel, Alejandro Gil, Diaz, Joaquín Alonso, Gil, Elba Rosa Perez, Eduardo Martinez, Alberto Lopez, Manuel Santiago Sobrino, Nelson Acosta, Dave Sherwood, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: of State, Central Bank, Technology, Food Industry Ministry Locations: HAVANA, Cuban, Cuba, Santa Clara

MIAMI (AP) — A former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia has been charged with serving as a covert agent for Cuba's intelligence services dating back decades, the Justice Department said Monday. Newly unsealed court papers allege that Manuel Rocha engaged in “clandestine activity” on Cuba's behalf since at least 1981, including by meeting with Cuban intelligence operatives and providing false information to U.S. government officials. The complaint, filed in federal court in Miami, charges Rocha with acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. The 73-year-old had a 25-year career as a U.S. diplomat, including top posts in Bolivia, Argentina and the U.S. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Persons: —, Manuel Rocha, Rocha Organizations: MIAMI, Justice Department, Cuban, Associated Press Locations: American, Bolivia, Miami, U.S, Argentina, Havana

☆ An ex-US ambassador charged with being a longtime secret agent for Cuba bragged about it to undercover FBI officer, feds allege
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An ex-US diplomat has been federally charged over allegations he worked as a secret agent for Cuba. Feds allege that Rocha even bragged about his work for Cuba as "more than a grand slam." AdvertisementAttorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that Rocha's arrest "exposes one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent." "Those who have the privilege of serving in the government of the United States are given an enormous amount of trust by the public we serve," said Garland. We did more than they thought," Rocha told the undercover fed, the court documents allege.

Persons: Victor Rocha, Rocha, —, Merrick Garland, Garland, Fidel Castro Organizations: Feds, Service, United, Department of Justice, State Department, National Security Council, Justice Department, Cuban, Directorate, Intelligence, Department of State, US Southern Command Locations: Cuba, United States, Bolivia, Miami , Florida, Colombia, Republic of Cuba

☆ Former U.S. ambassador spied for Cuba for decades, Justice Department says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces that Victor Manuel Rocha, the former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, has been charged with acting illegally as a foreign agent for the government of Cuba, Dec. 4, 2023. Prosecutors say Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, spent more than 40 years spying for Cuba while he rose through the State Department, where he was U.S. ambassador to Bolivia during the Clinton administration. Rocha's case is "one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent," Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday at a press conference. "To further that role, Rocha obtained and maintained employment in the United States government in positions that provided him: (1) access to nonpublic information, including classified information; and (2) the ability to affect United States foreign policy," wrote prosecutors. I have – have created the legend of a right-wing person," Rocha allegedly said, referring to the Cuban intelligence services.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Victor Manuel Rocha, Clinton, Merrick Garland, Rocha, Rocha's Organizations: State Department, United, Southern, Southern District of, Foreign Government, DOJ, Undercover, Cuban Locations: Bolivia, Cuba, American, Miami, U.S, United States, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Republic of Cuba, States, Cuban

☆ EU human rights envoy in Cuba to discuss aftermath of 2021 protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, speaks during a meeting with Cuban authorities in Havana, Cuba, November 24, 2023. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, on a visit to Cuba earlier this year, announced Gilmore`s visit but told reporters the EU would not "impose" demands on the island`s government. Rights groups say around 1,000 Cubans were jailed for their political beliefs following the demonstrations and several subsequent protests. "No one is convicted for their political opinions," Cuba`s foreign ministry said prior to Gilmore`s visit on social media. "We call on the Cuban government to respect the human rights of everyone, including the rights of political prisoners and those unjustly detained."

Persons: Eamon Gilmore, Alexandre Meneghini, Gilmore, Josep Borrell, Fidel Castro's, Luis Barrios Díaz, la Torre, Barrios Diaz `, Dave Sherwood, Alien Fernandez Organizations: Human Rights, Cuban, REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Union, U.S, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, United States, EU, Cuban

☆ Cuban ministers reveal details of food, fuel shortages amid economic crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Minister after minister have delivered the bad news as the import-dependent Communist-run country weathers a fourth year of crisis, scraping by with a minimum of foreign exchange as output plummets. Food production, the supply of phamaceuticals and transportation are down by at least 50% since 2018, the top officials said, and continued to decline this year in large part due to chronic fuel shortages and power outages. "The ministers provided new information revealing just how serious the crisis is and that growth this year is very doubtful," Cuban economist Omar Everleny said. Public transportation, vital in a country where few have vehicles, has also been hobbled by fuel shortages and difficulties in obtaining spare parts. If before the collapse of former benefactor the Soviet Union "there were 2,500 buses operating in Havana ... today there are just 300 compared with 600 four years ago," Transportation Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Davila said.

Persons: weathers, Omar Everleny, Ydael Jesus Perez, Tania Margarita Cruz, Eduardo Rodríguez Davila, Marc Frank, Sandra Maler Organizations: Senior Cuban, Agriculture, Industry, Thomson Locations: Cuba, Caribbean, Cuban, Soviet Union, Havana .

[1/4] Karolina Vasquez Ramirez plays with her dogs Bingo and Dasha in her home before departing to the airport, in Havana, Cuba, October 25, 2023. It has been very cumbersome," said Osorio, who helped Cuban migrant Karolina Vazquez reunite with her dogs Bingo and Sasha in the United States. "Many of the migrants still cannot come (back to Cuba) and so they rely on third parties to send them their pet." The U.S., the top destination for migrants, has placed Cuba on a list of countries with a high risk of dog rabies, adding additional hoops to the process. Cuba does not have a U.S.-approved laboratory, Vidal told Reuters, which means rabies blood tests must be sent abroad for analysis.

Persons: Karolina Vasquez Ramirez, Dasha, Carlos Carrillo, Nathalie Osorio, Osorio, Karolina Vazquez, Sasha, Maria Gloria Vidal, Vidal, Alien Fernandez, Anett Rios, Dave Sherwood, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Cuba's National Center for Animal Sanitation, Thomson Locations: Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, chihuahua, Cuban, United States, U.S

HAVANA (AP) — Until recently, the space was the one-car garage of a private home in Cuba’s capital, Havana. Yet despite their modest setup, their prices are far from affordable, even for a doctor or a teacher, who make about 7,000 Cuban pesos a month (about $28 in the parallel market). Political Cartoons View All 1247 ImagesFor example, one kilo (2.2 pounds) of powdered milk from the Czech Republic costs 2,000 Cuban pesos (about $8). “I retired with 2,200 (Cuban pesos a month or $8.80) last year and I can’t even buy a package of chicken," she said. The novelty is that the small shops like the one in Vedado and bigger bodegas like the “Cuban Costco” are entirely private and accept payments in Cuban pesos.

Persons: ” Ania Espinosa, Espinosa, Ingracia Virgen Cruzata, “, Goya, ”, Pedro Freyre, Akerman, That’s, Freyre Organizations: —, Cuban Costco, Akerman Consulting, Miami Law School Locations: HAVANA, Cuba’s, Havana, El, Cuba, Cuban, Vedado, Czech Republic, U.S, Uruguay, Florida, America, Caribbean

☆ Help Wanted: Cuba's government turns to growing diaspora for investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

This migration wave includes many young people and "is having the greatest impact in history in terms of demographics, because of its composition," said Ernesto Soberon, director of Consular Affairs for the Cuban Foreign Ministry. Cuban expats have already invested in bed-and-breakfasts, eateries and other activities on the island, but Cuba would like to see more capital flow, he said. The conference is expected to attract Cubans living off island but with favorable views of their home country, including businesspeople, economists, and members of foreign resident associations. Around 2.5 million Cubans and their descendents now live off the island, Soberon said. "That will ultimately raise their standard of living so that they want to spend their lives here in Cuba and not abroad," he said.

Persons: Marco Bello, Ernesto Soberon, Soberon, Fidel Castro, Castro, Joe Biden, Dave Sherwood, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Consular Affairs, Cuban Foreign Ministry, U.S, Cuban, Thomson Locations: Cuban, Cuba, Miami , Florida, U.S, Rights HAVANA, Caribbean, Havana

☆ As crisis deepens, Cubans scramble to migrate by any means
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Dave Sherwood | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The crowded terminal, a launch point for Cubans making their way by air to Nicaragua then overland to the United States, is one barometer of the frenzy to migrate from the communist-run island nation. For many, like Echavarria and his wife, it has also become a last resort as Cuba's economic crisis deepens with no end in sight. 'I GOT LUCKY'Artist Ernesto Perez, 51, told Reuters he had waited since 2015 for his turn to enter the United states legally under a family reunification program. Cuba blames the long-running U.S. trade embargo and Trump-era sanctions for fueling the economic crisis and the exodus of more than 400,000 Cubans leaving for the United States in the last two years. For many Cubans, however, Nicaragua remains the only viable option for getting off the island, said Yoany Bilbao, a 28-year old auto mechanic.

Persons: Alexandre Meneghini, Echavarria, Olga, Joe Biden, Alain Ferguson, Ferguson, Ernesto Perez, Perez, Brian Nichols, Yoany, Dave Sherwood, Ted Hesson, Ismael Lopez, Alien Fernandez, Mario Fuentes, Nelson Acosta, Mica Rosenberg, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, U.S, Central America, West, CBP, United, Trump, Senior U.S . Department of State, Thomson Locations: Panama, Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, Havana's, Nicaragua, United States, Central, U.S, Florida, Mexico, Washington, San Jose

☆ Ford claims Pan Am decathlon crown as Chile downs U.S. in soccer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SANTIAGO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Chileans celebrated one of their biggest nights of the Pan American Games on Tuesday with Santiago Adolfo Ford claiming decathlon gold and the women's soccer team winning a 2-1 thriller over the U.S. to reach the final. The judo competition closed with Cuba beating Brazil to win the mixed team title and the great Idalys Ortiz adding another gold to her glittering resume. It was the perfect Pan Am Games goodbye for the 34-year-old four-times Olympic medallist, who has announced she will retire after next year's Paris Summer Games. Fencing was an all-American battle on Tuesday with Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Nick Itkin and Magda Skarbonkiewicz taking gold. The U.S. continues to top the medal table with 76 gold while it closes in on 200 total medals with 178.

Persons: SANTIAGO, Santiago Adolfo Ford, Ford, Jose Fernando Ferreira, Ryan Talbot, Damian Warner, Karen Araya, Yanara Aedo, Dominican Republic's Jose Alnardo Gonzalez, Caridad Garcia, Kasey Knevelbaard, Canada's Charles Philibert, Thiboutot, Colombia's Arnovis, Jesus Dalmero, Idalys Ortiz, Ortiz, Driulis Gonzalez, Nick Itkin, Magda Skarbonkiewicz, romped, Miles Chamley Watson, Maia Chamberlain, Amy Wang, Rachel Sung, Brazil's Giulia, Bruna Takahashi, Jorge Campos, Andy Diez, Brazil's Hugo Calerano, Vitor Ishiy, Steve Keating, Robert Birsel Organizations: Pan American Games, Ford, Canada's Tokyo, Pan Ams, Vina del Mar, Estadio Sausalito, U.S, Cuba, Pan, Tokyo Olympic, Brazil's, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Lima, Vina del, Chile, Mexico, Dominican, U.S, Brazil, Cuba, Canada, Venezuela, Cuban, Santiago

☆ Brazil finds Pan Am gold at the beach and in the ring
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The silver was Canada's first medal in women's beach volleyball at a Pan Am Games. A silver medal came with a bonus prize with every fighter in the finals having secured a quota spot for the Paris Olympics. In the women's 75-kilogram Canada's Tammara Thibeault added Pan Am gold to her world and Commonwealth Games titles with a unanimous 5-0 decision over Panama's Atheyna Bylon. "Out of all the tournaments I've been to, I've been able to capture gold and I was missing Pan Ams," said Thibeault. That contribution helped power Mexico into second place on the medal table with 35 gold and 80 total medals.

Persons: Brazil's Ana Patricia Ramos, Eduarda, Silver, Canada's Melissa Humana, Patricia Ramos, Duda Lisboa, Andre Stein, George Souto, Beatriz Ferreira, Ramos, Melissa Humana, Brandie Wilkerson, Canada's, Andre Loyola, Cuba's Jorge Alayo, Noslen Diaz, Marco, Esteban Grimalt, Logan Webber, Hagen Smith, Ferreira, Angie Paola Valdes Pana, Caroline Barbosa, Jucielen, Barbara Maria Dos Santos, Julio Cesar La Cruz, Arlen Lopez Cardona, Joshua Edwards, Jahmal Harvey, Thibeault, Bylon, Wyatt Sanford, I've, Emiliano Hernandez, Duilio Carrillo, Steve Keating, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Eduarda Santos Lisboa, Pan American, United, Lisboa, Pan Am, Paris, Boxing, Cuba, Olympic, Commonwealth Games, Canada, Pan Ams, Thomson Locations: playa, Santiago, Chile, Brandie, SANTIAGO, United States, Brazil, Chilean, Canadian, Lima, Canada, Mexico

"Giselle," the Romantic ballet whose title role Alonso is best known for and performed through her 70s, will cap a special gala on Oct. 28, the anniversary date, at the National Theater of Cuba. "Ballet was never (for the) elite in Cuba," said Leonardo Vinageras, a Havana resident and ballet aficionado who attended a recent anniversary event. A ballet dancer warms up backstage before performing "Giselle" during the 27th Alicia Alonso International Ballet Festival of Havana, at the National Theatre, in Havana, Cuba, October 30, 2022. Alonso founded her namesake National Ballet Academy in Cuba in 1948 soon after becoming a star in the New York company that would become the American Ballet Theatre. Inspired by Fidel Castro, Alonso identified herself with his 1959 revolution and moved permanently to Cuba, becoming allies in popularizing ballet with strong government support for the renamed National Ballet of Cuba.

Persons: Alicia Alonso, Giselle, Alonso, Leonardo Vinageras, Alexandre Meneghini, King Louis XIV, Viengsay Valdés, Carlos Acosta, José Manuel Carreño, Fidel Castro, Grettel Morejon, Anett Rios, Alien Fernandez, Richard Chang, David Sherwood, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Ballet, Communist, National Theater of Cuba, Company, of, National Theatre, REUTERS, Bolshoi, Mariinsky, National Ballet of, National Ballet Academy, New York, American Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, Havana, of Havana, National Ballet of Cuba

☆ Fact Check: False claims that Colombia expelled the Israeli ambassador on Oct. 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Colombia’s Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva clarified on Oct. 16 that the Israeli ambassador to the South American country, Gali Dagan, had not been expelled. Petro responded that day with a message on X, that partly read, “if we have to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we suspend them. I have not said that the Israeli ambassador is expelled,” he posted in Spanish on X, saying Petro should be spoken to with respect when it comes to diplomatic relations. On Oct. 19, Petro said on platform X that he had met with Dagan and the Palestinian ambassador to Colombia Raouf Almalki. Colombia’s Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva clarified on Oct. 16 that the Israeli ambassador Gali Dagan, had not been expelled from the country.

Persons: Álvaro Leyva, Gali Dagan, Leyva, Dagan, “, ‘, ’, Gustavo Petro, Petro, Petro’s, ”, Israel “, Omar Rafael García Lazo, Colombia Raouf Almalki, Read Organizations: Colombia’s, Hamas, Reuters, Diplomatic Relations, Colombian Foreign Ministry, Colombia’s Foreign, Colombia Raouf, Thomson Locations: American, Gali, Colombia, Gaza, Palestinian, Israel, Warsaw, Vienna, Cuban, Bogota

☆ They were lured from Cuba to fight Russia's war in Ukraine, then went dark. Their parents fear they are dead already.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Two Cuban teenagers were lured into Russia's military after being promised "construction work". Their parents told Insider they were sent back to the front despite fainting on the battlefield. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThe parents of two Cuban teenagers who were lured into fighting in Ukraine say they haven't heard from their sons in weeks. AdvertisementAdvertisement"They have killed them alive," he said, bluntly, suggesting that young Cubans like García and Díaz may never be able to leave Russia or Russian-held territory.

Persons: —, Alex Rolando Vegas Díaz, Andorf Antonio Velázquez García, Alain Lambert, Mario Velázquez, Andorf's, Velázquez, he's, I've, Cary Díaz, Lambert, García, Diana, Díaz, Hugo Achá, Achá, FHRC Organizations: Service, Cuban, Human Rights, Moscow, Russian, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Ukraine, Russia, American, Mexico, Miami, Cuba, Cuban, Ryazan, Moscow, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Special Report: How Cubans were recruited to fight for Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Dave Sherwood | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

In La Federal, for example, all nine recruits identified by Reuters signed up to fight in the war. "We are deeply concerned by reports alleging young Cubans have been deceived and recruited to fight for Russia," the spokesperson said. In La Federal, word of the army work began to spread in June, according to the residents interviewed. The first line of the message states: "This is a contract with the Russian military by which you receive citizenship." He stressed that the people who signed up in La Federal knew they would be going to fight.

Persons: Dannys Castillo, Yamidely Cervantes, Enrique Gonzalez, Cervantes, husband Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Oleg Nikolenko, Vladimir Putin, Dayana, Cristian Hernandez, Viondi, Alina Gonzalez, Danilo, Roberto Sabori, Yasmani, MAMI, Mami, Luis Herlys Osorio, Nilda, Osorio, Havana didn't, Dave Sherwood, Alexandre Meneghini, Mario Fuentes, Carlos Carrillo, Matt Spetalnick, Tom Balmforth, Filipp Lebedev, Felix Light, Pravin Organizations: Reuters, La Federal, Federal, Russia, Kremlin, Cuban, U.S . State Department, Facebook, Dayana, Soviet, Pravin Char, Thomson Locations: Alamar, Havana, Cuba, La, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Russian, Tula, Crimea, Ukrainian, United States, Villa Maria, Cuban, U.S, America, Europe, Gonzalez, Varadero, Ryazan, Soviet, Angola, Africa, Washington

☆ Cuba warns of worsening blackouts as fuel crisis bites
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Marc Frank | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HAVANA, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Power blackouts in Cuba are expected to increase significantly due to a lack of fuel, officials warned in a nationwide TV broadcast, worsening the country's plight as it deals with food and medicine shortages. The Communist-run island has been mired in crisis and plagued by blackouts and shortages of food, medicine and fuel since the pandemic. Cuba says U.S. sanctions are largely to blame for the crisis, depriving the country of foreign exchange to import most of its fuel, food and other supplies. Cuba has also seen regular crude and fuel imports from Russia and Mexico, according to shipping data. "Cuba has bought more crude and fuel this year, compared with last year.

Persons: Vicente de la O Levy, Jorge Pinon, Pinon, Fidel Castro’s, Marc Frank, Nelson Acosta, Marianna Parraga, Rami Ayyub Organizations: Energy, Mining, Communist, Gross, Communist Party, University of Texas, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, Havana, Washington, Venezuela, Russia, Mexico, Austin ., United States

☆ Molotov cocktails thrown at Cuban embassy in Washington, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 25 (Reuters) - An assailant attacked the Cuban embassy in Washington with two Molotov cocktails on Sunday night, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said on messaging platform X, adding that nobody was hurt. The Cuban flag flutters in the wind after being raised at the Cuban Embassy reopening ceremony in Washington July 20, 2015. "We are in contact with Cuban embassy officials and law enforcement authorities to ensure an appropriate and timely investigation as well as to offer our support for future protective efforts," he said in a statement. Earlier this month, U.S. and Cuban officials made progress on a range of issues during high-level talks in Washington. Reporting by Natalia Siniawski and Costas Pitas; Editing by Peter Graff and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Miguel Díaz, Canel, Rodriguez, Gary Cameron, Jake Sullivan, Natalia Siniawski, Costas Pitas, Peter Graff, Jamie Freed Organizations: Cuban Foreign, United Nations, Cuban, Twitter, REUTERS, White House, Service, Biden, Thomson Locations: Cuban, Washington, New York, Cuba, United States

MIAMI (AP) — When Félix Llerena arrived in Miami in 2017, he quickly got involved in the city’s politically active community of Cuban exiles. He's more skeptical of the former Republican president. Both sides will have to respond to a Trump criminal trial next year in South Florida on charges that he mishandled classified information. The GOP has been winning in Florida since 2016, when Trump flipped a state that twice went for Democrat Barack Obama. “What the Democrats have lost are the younger Cuban American voters,” said Dario Moreno, a political science professor at Florida International University.

Persons: Félix Llerena, Donald Trump, He's, Joe Biden's, that's, ”, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Democrat Barack Obama, DeSantis, Dario Moreno, Univision's Jorge Ramos, “, Fidel Castro, Castro, Llerena, Fidel, Television Marti, Barack Obama, Obama, ” Llerena, Biden, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence Organizations: MIAMI, Cuban, Republican, Democratic, Cuban American voters, Republican Party, Miami, Democrats, Trump, Florida Gov, GOP, Democrat, Florida Democratic Party, Dade, Cuban American, Florida International University, Llerena, Television, U.S . Commission, Versailles, U.S, Ukraine, Biden, Republicans Locations: Miami, Cuban, Cuban American, United States, South Florida, Dade County, Florida, Washington, Cuba, U.S, “, Havana, Mexico, Haiti, Nicaragua, Texas

☆ A Cuban teenager was offered a job doing 'construction work' in Russia. Instead he was sent to fight on the front lines in Ukraine.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Cuban teenager accepted a job offer to do construction work for the Russian military. Instead, he was sent to fight on the front lines of the war in Ukraine, TIME reported. Alex Vegas Díaz, 19, and a friend were taken to a military base, outfitted with weapons, and then sent to fight, according to TIME, which reviewed social media footage posted by Vegas Díaz. In one of the videos, dated August 31, which went viral, Vegas Díaz can be seen in a Russian hospital recovering from an unspecified illness. TIME reported that Vegas Díaz became part of a large operation that openly recruited hundreds of Cubans to join the Russian army to fight in Ukraine.

Persons: Alex Vegas Díaz, Vegas Díaz Organizations: TIME, US State Department, Service, Vegas, Ministry of Defence, Cuban Facebook, Cuban, State Department, Russia Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Cuba, Vegas, Russian, Russia, Cuban

☆ US prepares measures to help Cuban small businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is preparing to unveil new regulatory measures to allow more U.S. financial support for small private businesses in Cuba, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday. The new measures could be rolled out while Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel is visiting New York for the United Nations General Assembly beginning on Tuesday. The official insisted that any U.S. steps to aid the Cuban people would be carried out "restricting to the furthest extent possible any benefit to the Cuban military." The Cuban embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The new measures could help facilitate a flow of U.S. loans.

Persons: Biden, Miguel Diaz, Canel, Diaz, Donald Trump, Trump, Barack Obama, Matt Spetalnick, Dave Sherwood, Sandra Maler Organizations: Cuban, United Nations General, State Department, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Cuba, Communist, New York, Cuban, Washington, Havana, U.S

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president on Monday defended the participation of a contingent of Russian soldiers in a military parade over the weekend. The presence of the Russian contingent in the Independence parade Saturday drew criticism because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador noted that a contingent from China also participated, and said that all the countries Mexico has diplomatic relations with were invited. López Obrador acknowledged the issue became “a scandal,” but attributed it to his ongoing spat with the news media, which he believes is against him. “The Chinese were also in the parade, and there wasn't so much outcry,” López Obrador said, noting a Russian contingent had participated in the past, although at times when that country was not actively invading its neighbor.

Persons: —, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, ” López Obrador, ”, Oksana Dramaretska, López Obrador's, López Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Monday, Ukraine's, Sputnik Locations: MEXICO, Ukraine, Mexico, Russia, China, Mexico City, Russian, López Obrador's Morena, United States

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