All articles tagged with #cuba
At a United Against Nuclear Iran event, Jeb Bush praised Trump for pressuring Iran but warned that Cuba may possess hundreds of Iranian Shahed-136 drones, signaling a growing drone threat while noting U.S. defense capabilities and the changing nature of modern warfare.
Cuba suffered a nationwide blackout as an energy crisis deepened due to sanctions that disrupted fuel shipments; officials say the grid collapse is under investigation while outages strain education, transport, and medicine, and authorities note reforms announced by the government that they say are not in response to external pressure.
USA TODAY profiles Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Raul Castro’s eldest grandson and a powerful, unofficial operator known as 'El Cangrejo.' Raised in the revolutionary inner circle, he wields influence via GAESA, argues he can broker a deal with the United States and has sought back-channel diplomacy with the Trump administration, including private meetings and a thwarted letter. He envisions an economically open Cuba while insisting he remains aligned with Cuba’s revolution, but his real authority and the path to a political transition remain uncertain within Cuba’s collective leadership.
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision written by Justice Kavanaugh, allowed Exxon Mobil to sue Cuban state-owned oil companies in U.S. courts over property seized in 1960 after Fidel Castro’s rise, leveraging a 1996 law that permits claims for expropriated assets; the Trump administration backed Exxon, and the case could involve hundreds of millions of dollars, signaling ongoing political and legal pressure between the U.S. and Cuba.
The United States announced a new round of sanctions targeting five Cuban entities tied to the regime, including GAESA-linked financial institutions and GAESA’s logistics unit, plus the state mining firm GeoMinera and a member of the Castro family, under Executive Order 14404. The measures, expanding on earlier actions, aim to sever the regime’s financial and operational networks and pressure its military-backed apparatus, with warnings that foreign banks and service providers aiding these entities could face sanctions.
Ramiro Valdés, a veteran Cuban revolutionary who helped build the G2 security service and held top posts, died at 94. A close ally of Fidel and Raúl Castro, he participated in the Moncada attack, led Cuba’s interior ministry, and served as vice president, shaping the country’s security apparatus for decades as Cuba pursues new economic reforms. His death was announced by President Díaz-Canel.
Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, a longtime architect of Cuba's security state and a key figure in the 1959 Cuban Revolution, died at 94. A shadowy leader who rarely spoke in public, Valdés remained influential after the uprising, briefly clashed with Castro, and in 1997 led a mission to Bolivia to locate and repatriate Che Guevara's remains.
Cuba is advancing sweeping free-market reforms—the largest economic shift since the revolution—to revive a faltering economy. Analysts say real impact hinges on lifting U.S. sanctions and attracting investor interest, but challenges like mistrust, bureaucracy, and a tight reform window could limit progress even as leaders push for tangible results soon.
Cuba's Communist Party approved an emergency package with unprecedented free-market measures to expand private enterprise, permit private banks, enable private real estate development and private-sector shares in state firms, and attract foreign investment (including from Cubans abroad), signaling a major economic shift amid intensified U.S. pressure and EU sanctions; President Diaz-Canel acknowledged domestic obstacles but said reforms cannot be postponed, with Raul Castro backing the plan despite expected hardline opposition.
Trump-era sanctions have forced a halt to U.S. deliveries of money and food to Cuban relatives, disrupting remittances and humanitarian support for Cuban families.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake offshore Cuba—about 65 miles northwest of Mantua at a depth of 16 miles—was felt in Florida and parts of Mexico, described as the region’s strongest tremor in nearly 150 years; no injuries or major damage were reported, though Florida residents described strong shaking, and Mexican authorities evacuated Cancún and nearby areas (Playa del Carmen and Tulum) as a precaution, while the US Tsunami Warning Center said there is no tsunami danger.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake offshore of Cuba was felt across Florida, including Manatee County, around 2 p.m. Monday; USGS confirmed the quake at about 6 miles deep, with no tsunami threat and officials monitoring Gulf buoys.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake occurred about 65 miles west-northwest of Mantua off Cuba just after 2 p.m. and was felt across South Florida, including Miami and Tampa. Some buildings were evacuated, but there were no reported injuries or major damage, and officials say there is no tsunami threat. Authorities continue to monitor for aftershocks.
Tremors from a magnitude-6.1 earthquake about 65 miles off Cuba were felt across Southwest Florida; no significant damage reported, USGS revised the initial magnitude from 6.4, and there is no tsunami threat per the National Tsunami Warning Center; authorities will continue monitoring.
Cuba endures rolling blackouts four months into a US oil blockade, with fuel shortages, water issues, and soaring temperatures driving protests and daily misery; sanctions on Cuban leaders, businesses, and the tourism industry deepen economic strain, while Washington and Havana remain deadlocked and the risk of broader confrontation grows.