September Rumors in Cuba: Soldiers in Russia, Splurges for the G-77, Punishment for Small Private Businesses

14ymedio/Yucabyte, Havana, 18 October 2023 — In a context of maximum international tension, the news that there were Cuban soldiers fighting in the service of Russia during the invasion of Ukraine generated countless rumors. Meanwhile, on the Island, the leaders did not give an official explanation, and soon – after the arrival in Havana of … Continue reading “September Rumors in Cuba: Soldiers in Russia, Splurges for the G-77, Punishment for Small Private Businesses”

While Florida Evacuates the Population in the Face of Idalia’s Threat, Cuba Evaluates the Damage

14ymedio, Havana, 30 August 2023 — Florida remains in suspense before the imminent arrival of Idalia, which will reach the coast of Big Bend as a category 4 hurricane, according to the forecasts of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States. Its fleeting passage through Cuba, even as a tropical storm, left hundreds … Continue reading “While Florida Evacuates the Population in the Face of Idalia’s Threat, Cuba Evaluates the Damage”

Rice and Sardines in the Donated Packages That Will ‘Save’ Santiago de Cuba From Hunger

14ymedio, Havana, 3 May 2023 — On Tuesday in Santiago de Cuba a shipment of 30,000 food packages arrived, which the authorities plan to allocate to the most vulnerable families in the province. The local press pointed out that the packages were made with “donations from solidarity countries,” but did not say which ones. The … Continue reading “Rice and Sardines in the Donated Packages That Will ‘Save’ Santiago de Cuba From Hunger”

A School Without a Roof in San Juan and Martinez Where the Cuban Regime Profits From Tobacco

14ymedio, Havana, 1 April 2023 — Between tobacco plantations and in a very beautiful natural setting, the residents of San Juan y Martínez in Pinar del Río continue to suffer the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which last September destroyed much of the municipality’s infrastructure. To the meteoric winds is added the State’s lack of attention … Continue reading “A School Without a Roof in San Juan and Martinez Where the Cuban Regime Profits From Tobacco”

The Official Press Announces a Terrible Tobacco Harvest in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 23 March 2023 — Pinar del Río has not produced even half the tobacco that was planned. The main Cuban export will now have, without a doubt, what the official newspaper Granma describes as “the smallest [harvest] in history” in an area that produces between 60% and 70% of the national production. While … Continue reading “The Official Press Announces a Terrible Tobacco Harvest in Cuba”

A Fire in Matanzas, Cuba Wipes Out 11,300 Tobacco Drying Sheds

14ymedio, Havana, 16 March 2023 — More than 11,300 drying sheds of recently harvested tobacco burned in a fire on Wednesday night in Jovellanos, Matanzas. The official press confirmed the news, advanced by a user on social networks, which shattered the calm of the neighbors of District 5 of the San Carlos People’s Council. According … Continue reading “A Fire in Matanzas, Cuba Wipes Out 11,300 Tobacco Drying Sheds”

Cuba Sells ‘Most Expensive Cigar in the World’, at 400 Dollars Each

14ymedio, Havana, 2 March 2023 — Cohiba Behike cigars, flagship product of the Habanos SA company and self-proclaimed “most expensive cigars in the world”, are priced at 400 dollars a piece. The Island’s authorities are boasting about this fact in a frenetic campaign, launched this week in the official press to attract foreign clients to … Continue reading “Cuba Sells ‘Most Expensive Cigar in the World’, at 400 Dollars Each”

The Cuban State Receives 545 Million Dollars for Cigars While the Producers Are Ruined

14ymedio, Madrid, February 28, 2023 — The Festival  of the Cigar was inaugurated this Monday in the Cuban capital with the presence of Miguel Díaz-Canel, who had the peace of mind of  being present at one of the few sectors that can boast good figures in Cuba. The company, Habanos S.A., took the opportunity to … Continue reading “The Cuban State Receives 545 Million Dollars for Cigars While the Producers Are Ruined”

Alquizar, Cuba, Feels Abandoned Since the End of the Year, With No Coffee, Sugar or Oil at the Ration Store

14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 1 February 2023 — “Before, here people could use lard to cook, but there is almost no one who raises animals and to make matters worse, since last year they have not sold oil through the bodega [ration store],” complains Liubis Torriente, 32, a resident of the municipality of Alquízar, … Continue reading “Alquizar, Cuba, Feels Abandoned Since the End of the Year, With No Coffee, Sugar or Oil at the Ration Store”

Fire in the Railway Workshops in Luyano, in the Cuban Capital

14ymedio, Havana, 16 December 2022 — The fire in the Francisco Vega Sánchez rail maintenance workshops in Luyanó, Havana, on Thursday night was put out by the fire service. Pictures on social media showed huge clouds of smoke and flames coming from the building, as well as electric sparks caused by the fire reaching the … Continue reading “Fire in the Railway Workshops in Luyano, in the Cuban Capital”

The Cuban Electoral Council Describes Local Voting as a ‘Victory’, Despite the Record Abstentions

14ymedio, Juan Carlos Espinosa, Havana, 8 December 2022 — The Cuban provinces most punished by Hurricane Ian — which hit the western end of the Island at the end of September — recorded the highest rates of abstention and blank votes in the municipal elections of November 27, according to official data released this Wednesday. … Continue reading “The Cuban Electoral Council Describes Local Voting as a ‘Victory’, Despite the Record Abstentions”

The Arrival of Cruiseship ‘Marella Discovery 2’ Restarts Cruise Operations in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 19 November 2022 — With the arrival of the British cruise ship Marella Discovery 2 in Havana, the operations of the cruise industry in Cuba have restarted. Her landing has led the Cuban authorities to celebrate a “successful” high season, an incentive after the small numbers of visitors forced the reduction of official … Continue reading “The Arrival of Cruiseship ‘Marella Discovery 2’ Restarts Cruise Operations in Cuba”

U.S. Pro-Castro Groups Bring Food and Medical Supplies to Cuba

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 6 November 2022 — On Saturday, United States solidarity groups brought to Cuba a donation consisting of pasta, powdered milk and medical supplies, state media reported. The shipment includes surgical gloves and medical supplies that will be sent to Pinar del Río (in the west), a province affected a month ago … Continue reading “U.S. Pro-Castro Groups Bring Food and Medical Supplies to Cuba”

The Cuban Publisher That Rescued the Work of Dulce Maria Loynaz Presents its Catalogue in Frankfurt

14ymedio, Havana, 20 October 2022 — Ediciones Loynaz, the publishing house of Pinar del Río that publishes Pedro Juan Gutiérrez and Dulce María Loynaz, presents its titles at the International Book Fair in Frankfurt (Germany), which is held from this Wednesday through Sunday. The invitation was made possible thanks to a program for small publishers, … Continue reading “The Cuban Publisher That Rescued the Work of Dulce Maria Loynaz Presents its Catalogue in Frankfurt”

Cuba: Embargo, Yes? Embargo No? Exposing the Eternal See-Saw

14ymedio, Elías Amor Bravo, Economist, October 21, 2022–It takes just a small step to go from  the sublime to the ridiculous. Bruno Rodríguez, Minister of Foreign Relations of the Cuban communist regime, who just a day before publicly thanked the U.S. State Department for the $2 million in assistance for hurricane damages, the following day, … Continue reading “Cuba: Embargo, Yes? Embargo No? Exposing the Eternal See-Saw”