Havana: The death toll after an explosion ripped through a luxury hotel in central Havana, climbed to 25 people including a Spanish tourist, state television reported Saturday, one day after the powerful blast due to a suspected gas leak. Rescuers were still combing through what remained of the prestigious Saratoga Hotel looking for survivors. On […]
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Hundreds rally in Washington against Cuban govt
Hundreds of Cuban Americans, political refugees and activists marched on the US capital Monday to protest against the Cuban government and its crackdown on anti-communist demonstrations earlier this month. Cubans from across the United States waving “freedom” signs and Cuban and American flags gathered outside the White House to demand President Joe Biden take action […]
60 Cubans prosecuted so far over protests: official
About 60 Cubans have been prosecuted so far for participating in unprecedented demonstrations against the government earlier this month, a senior official said Saturday. The cases were over minor charges, and the total number of people detained has not been released amid complaints from relatives seeking information about loved ones. “Until yesterday, 19 judicial processes […]
Russia sends aid to Cuba after anti-government protests
Russia dispatched nearly 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Cuba, the defence ministry said Saturday, following unprecedented street protests over the communist country’s worst economic crisis in decades. The delivery directly ordered by President Vladimir Putin, it said. Two An-124 cargo planes carrying more than 88 tonnes of humanitarian support took off from a military […]
Cubans ‘disappointed’ with lack of Biden action
Thousands of Cubans protesting against their government managed to catch the attention of US President Joe Biden, but they have been left deflated by his response. Most Cubans — even those that had never heard of him — welcomed Biden’s presidency after four years of worsening relations and increasing sanctions under his predecessor Donald Trump. […]
Biden says US looking at how to restore Cuba internet
President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United States was looking at whether it can reinstate internet access cut off in Cuba, which is facing down its biggest protests in memory. “They’ve cut off access to the internet. We’re considering whether we have the technological ability to reinstate that access,” Biden told a joint White […]
Cuba restores internet access after protests, but not social media
Cuban authorities restored internet access on Wednesday following three days of interruptions after unprecedented protests erupted over the weekend, AFP journalists said. But access to social media and messaging apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter remained blocked on 3G and 4G. Social media is the only way Cubans can access independent news outlets, while […]
Iran condemns US ‘interference’ as protests rock Cuba
US foe Iran has accused the United States of “interference” in Cuba’s internal affairs after unprecedented protests hit the communist-ruled island which has been under US sanctions for decades. The protests erupted spontaneously in several cities on Sunday as Cuba endures its worst economic crisis in 30 years, with chronic shortages of electricity, food and […]
Spain asks Cuba to ‘immediately’ free arrested reporter
Spain on Tuesday called on Havana to “immediately” release a journalist for Spanish newspaper ABC who was arrested after unprecedented protests against the Cuban government. “Arresting a journalist for a Spanish media outlet, ABC, seems inappropriate to me. We have asked through the foreign ministry for her immediate release,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said […]
US urges Cuba to end internet restrictions after protests
The United States on Tuesday urged Cuba to end internet restrictions imposed after unprecedented protests and renewed a call for the release of detained demonstrators. “We call on Cuba’s leaders to demonstrate restraint (and) urge respect for the voice of the people by opening all means of communication, both online and offline,” State Department spokesman […]