The Saratoga Hotel’s Decline Began as Soon as the Military Took It Over

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodriguez / Olea Gallardo, Havana, 11 May 2022 — Though an explosion at the luxurious Saratoga Hotel last Friday led to the deaths of at least forty-three people and the destruction of an iconic Havana landmark, the seeds of its demise were planted within its walls much earlier. Specifically, this was in … Continue reading “The Saratoga Hotel’s Decline Began as Soon as the Military Took It Over”

80 Acts of Repression: This is How Cuba Celebrated May Day

Justicia 11J (via Cubalex), 2 May 2022 — Cubalex and Justicia 11J have observed an increase in repressive events against activists, opponents, journalists and family members of people held in detention for political reasons. Between April 26th at 6 pm and today, May 1st, we have documented a total of 80 events, disaggregated as follows: Summons/interrogation: … Continue reading “80 Acts of Repression: This is How Cuba Celebrated May Day”

According to Amnesty International, Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara has Lost Sight in One Eye while in Cuban Prison

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 29 April 2022 — Cuban opponent and leader of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, has lost sight in one eye in the prison where he has been held since the antigovernment protests last July, denounced NGO Amnesty International (AI) on Thursday. Erika Guevara, Director for the Americas … Continue reading “According to Amnesty International, Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara has Lost Sight in One Eye while in Cuban Prison”

Cuban Regime Prohibits Activists From Stepping on the Street on May Day

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 29 April 2022 –President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s invitation to participate in the May Day parade is not extended to all Cubans. The exception is the numerous activists and independent journalists who this week have received a blunt warning from State Security: do not leave your homes this Sunday. The last of them, the writer … Continue reading “Cuban Regime Prohibits Activists From Stepping on the Street on May Day”

Cuban State Security Believes the Press is Muzzled with Crude Fumbles

14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Generation Y, Havana, 26 April 2022 — The “restless boys” of the Cuban political police no longer know what to ‘invent’ to boycott our journalistic work. Today it occurred to them (they have also done it before) to circulate my husband’s and my mobile phone numbers on several digital classified sites along … Continue reading “Cuban State Security Believes the Press is Muzzled with Crude Fumbles”

Political Prisoners Inspire Cuban Boxer Yordenis Ugas in the Ring

14ymedio, Havana, 16 April 2022 — The fight that has been described as “the most important of his career,” has been dedicated by the Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugás to the political prisoners of the Island, as published on his social networks. “My fight, as always, is representing our island, Cuba, but especially to all those who want … Continue reading “Political Prisoners Inspire Cuban Boxer Yordenis Ugas in the Ring”

Former Cuban Baseball Player and Manager Who Acknowledged Being a ‘Snitch’ Returns to Havana

14ymedio, Havana, 11 April 2022 — For four days, former baseball player Víctor Mesa has been in Havana. The former manager of ther Villa Clara, Matanzas and Industriales teams was seen last Friday in “a festive atmosphere” in his “two-story house and strict security circuit,” located in the municipality of Plaza de la Revolución, according to Swing … Continue reading “Former Cuban Baseball Player and Manager Who Acknowledged Being a ‘Snitch’ Returns to Havana”

Cuban Government Calls 2021 One of the Hardest for Public Health

EFE (via14ymedio), Havana, 10 April 2022 — Cuba’s Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal, acknowledged this Saturday that 2021 was the “hardest” year for the sector “in recent decades” due to the covid-19 pandemic, although he highlighted the work of health personnel in this scenario. The headline noted, quoted by the official media outlet … Continue reading “Cuban Government Calls 2021 One of the Hardest for Public Health”

Cuba: The Majority Dilemma

14ymedio, Yunior García Aguilera, Madrid, 12 April 2022 — The majority demanded Pontius Pilate crucify Christ. The majority of Germans, in the times of Hitler, acclaimed the Führer. The majority of Cubans, at some point, shouted “Firing Squad” and “Get out.”  This civic immaturity creates Peter Pan societies, which refuse to grow up and hold … Continue reading “Cuba: The Majority Dilemma”

‘They Want to Get Rich at the Expense of the Pain of Cubans’

14ymedio, Olea Gallardo, Havana, 8 April 2022 — Juan and Ernestina (fictitious names) arrived in Georgetown, Guyana, on March 15 to process their family reunification visas. They had been ’claimed’ by their daughter, Miriela, based in the United States since 2011, who also prefers to remain anonymous because she insists that her parents are “in … Continue reading “‘They Want to Get Rich at the Expense of the Pain of Cubans’”

The US Sells its Chicken Cheaper and Cuba Takes the Opportunity to Buy More

14ymedio, Havana, 5 April 2022 — Chicken exports from the United States to Cuba marked a milestone again in February. According to the Cuban economist Pedro Monreal with a source in the US Department of Agriculture, the amount that arrived on the island that month, 31,212 tons, is the third largest in the last two decades, behind … Continue reading “The US Sells its Chicken Cheaper and Cuba Takes the Opportunity to Buy More”

WHO Accepts the Documentation of the Cuban Abdala Vaccine

14ymedio, Madrid, 4 April 2022 — The World Health Organization (WHO) has accepted the documentation sent by the Cuban Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology on Abdala, which is another step on the road to approval. The institution updates monthly the status of the vaccines against covid-19 that have requested approval for their emergency use and … Continue reading “WHO Accepts the Documentation of the Cuban Abdala Vaccine”

Diaz-Canel Calls For Extreme Measures in the Face of the Covid Increase in Cuba

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 30 March 2022 — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called for extreme sanitary measures to prevent a new wave of COVID-19 infections despite the progress of the massive immunization campaign, the official press reported on Tuesday. According to the official Granma newspaper, during their weekly meeting with Díaz-Canel, scientists advising the government predicted … Continue reading “Diaz-Canel Calls For Extreme Measures in the Face of the Covid Increase in Cuba”

Cuban Brigadier General Rafael Moracen Dies at 83

14ymedio, Havana, 26 March 2022 — Brigadier General Rafael Moracén Limonta died this Friday in Cuba at the age of 83, according to the official press, which did not give details about the cause of his death. The soldier served as a naval and air attaché in Angola and also participated in the conflicts in … Continue reading “Cuban Brigadier General Rafael Moracen Dies at 83”

Mexico Paid Cuba 1.5 Million Dollars for its Medical Students to Study in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 27 February 2022 — Mexico gave 34,000,000 Mexican pesos (1,501,766 dollars) to Cuba, according to a report released by Latinus. The money was transferred in 2021 through the National Council for Science and Technology (Conacyt) to Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos, SA, “a company of the Government of Havana accused internationally of human trafficking and forced labor.” … Continue reading “Mexico Paid Cuba 1.5 Million Dollars for its Medical Students to Study in Cuba”