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El Toque is a multimedia platform focused on telling Cuba in its diversity, complex, creative and also sometimes painful or hidden. Our very existence is a commitment to the diversity of voices, styles and functions in the media ecosystem that they publish for Cubans. Here you can learn a little more about the Island.
A Cuban Dancer on Escaping Ukraine and How to Survive War
When they left Sumy, Ukraine, the city had already been rocked by war for seven months. Bombs fell so frequently that the devastated landscape began to look normal. From her window, Lisandra had seen the sky light up; she had heard the noise; had sensed the tanks in the streets and had been so terrified that she stopped eating. Her hands trembled, she barely slept, and she cried a lot.
What Sustains Us in Cuba Through the Dark?
I was five when the socialist bloc collapsed, bringing Cuba into the darkest years of the Revolution. In my innocence, blackouts meant street games and whispered stories, not hunger and fear. Now, at 39, in a crisis worse than my childhood, I finally understand the worries of those nights.
Cubans Without a Dignified Life: The Face They Try to Hide
Many elderly Cubans struggle to survive with inadequate food and support, as the government turns a blind eye to their suffering. Behind the official narrative, poverty and neglect define the daily reality of countless citizens.
Internet Without Etecsa in Cuba: Possible but Expensive
If you visit Starlink’s website—the satellite Internet service owned by Elon Musk—and search for Cuba, you will see that the service is unavailable. However, the situation on the ground seems to tell a different story. Some Cubans residing in the country have been using Starlink for months.
Cuban Banks “Hijack” Family Remittances
Cuban retirees struggle to access remittances in cash, facing banking restrictions and frustration. Where is their money?
Cuba: How Hospitals Operate During a Total Blackout
The night of March 14, 2025, Cuba has been experiencing its fourth nationwide blackout in the past five months. On social media, citizens have reported the impact of the power outage on several hospitals across the country.
Will Cubans Benefit from a Cap on the Price of Rice?
The fact that there is often not even rice on the Cuban table is yet another sign of the worsening economic—and productive—crisis on the island. During other periods of scarcity, this grain had been the only dish for many families.
Cuba Suffers Another Nationwide Power Failure
The island is in darkness again. Around 8:15 p.m. on March 14, 2025, a failure at the Diezmero substation caused a significant generation loss in the western part of the country, leading to the collapse of the National Power Grid, said the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
Internet in Cuba Is One of the Worst in the World
On February 26, 2025, Cuba’s telecommunications monopoly advised its customers, as a temporary measure, to set their phones to 2G frequency. “This way, the connection will be more stable, and you will be able to receive calls and SMS, and also use Transfermóvil,” a payment gateway.
Cuban Hurricane Victim “They Want Me to Live in a Tent”
“This is what’s left of my house after the hurricane,” Yisneidis Ramirez writes on her Facebook page. Five photos show the palm boards scattered around on the ground and some roof tiles from what should have been her home.
Cuban Mothers Who Protest and the Power that Represses Them
On March 8, 2025, local state-run media published the news of the release of Mayelin Carrasco Alvarez, a mother from Granma who had led a solitary protest three days earlier in a town square in Río Cauto, Granma.
What We Know of the Cuban Government’s 55 Solar Park Plans
On February 21, 2025, the first solar photovoltaic park was inaugurated, with a capacity of 21.8 MW. The project, located in Cotorro—on the outskirts of Havana—is part of the island’s government’s bet on solar energy to address the country’s dire electricity situation.
The Story of a Cuban Who Conquers Palates in Japan
From boxing to cooking: this was the journey of Valodia Carrero in Japan. The Cuban former athlete, better known as “Valo,” found success in an unexpected corner of the world. This time, not with gloves on, but with an apron and a spatula, greeting customers who visit his street food business, a food truck called “El Sandwichazo.”
More than Half of Cuba Without Power
Many Cubans complain on social media and in statements to independent media about being without electricity for up to a day or more.
Cuban Influencers Worried of Uncertain Tik Tok Future in US
Launched in 2016 by Chinese company Bytedance Technology Co., TikTok is a social network based on short looping videos. The platform allows users to create, edit, and share audiovisual content of up to 3 minutes – although longer options exist.
MERCADO INFORMAL DE
DIVISAS EN CUBA (TIEMPO REAL)
Lo menos gustado
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English
El Toque is a multimedia platform focused on telling Cuba in its diversity, complex, creative and also sometimes painful or hidden. Our very existence is a commitment to the diversity of voices, styles and functions in the media ecosystem that they publish for Cubans. Here you can learn a little more about the Island.
When they left Sumy, Ukraine, the city had already been rocked by war for seven months. Bombs fell so frequently that the devastated landscape began to look normal. From her window, Lisandra had seen the sky light up; she had heard the noise; had sensed the tanks in the streets and had been so terrified that she stopped eating. Her hands trembled, she barely slept, and she cried a lot.
I was five when the socialist bloc collapsed, bringing Cuba into the darkest years of the Revolution. In my innocence, blackouts meant street games and whispered stories, not hunger and fear. Now, at 39, in a crisis worse than my childhood, I finally understand the worries of those nights.
Many elderly Cubans struggle to survive with inadequate food and support, as the government turns a blind eye to their suffering. Behind the official narrative, poverty and neglect define the daily reality of countless citizens.
If you visit Starlink’s website—the satellite Internet service owned by Elon Musk—and search for Cuba, you will see that the service is unavailable. However, the situation on the ground seems to tell a different story. Some Cubans residing in the country have been using Starlink for months.
Cuban retirees struggle to access remittances in cash, facing banking restrictions and frustration. Where is their money?
The fact that there is often not even rice on the Cuban table is yet another sign of the worsening economic—and productive—crisis on the island. During other periods of scarcity, this grain had been the only dish for many families.
On February 26, 2025, Cuba’s telecommunications monopoly advised its customers, as a temporary measure, to set their phones to 2G frequency. “This way, the connection will be more stable, and you will be able to receive calls and SMS, and also use Transfermóvil,” a payment gateway.
On March 8, 2025, local state-run media published the news of the release of Mayelin Carrasco Alvarez, a mother from Granma who had led a solitary protest three days earlier in a town square in Río Cauto, Granma.
From boxing to cooking: this was the journey of Valodia Carrero in Japan. The Cuban former athlete, better known as “Valo,” found success in an unexpected corner of the world. This time, not with gloves on, but with an apron and a spatula, greeting customers who visit his street food business, a food truck called “El Sandwichazo.”
Launched in 2016 by Chinese company Bytedance Technology Co., TikTok is a social network based on short looping videos. The platform allows users to create, edit, and share audiovisual content of up to 3 minutes – although longer options exist.
The night of March 14, 2025, Cuba has been experiencing its fourth nationwide blackout in the past five months. On social media, citizens have reported the impact of the power outage on several hospitals across the country.
The island is in darkness again. Around 8:15 p.m. on March 14, 2025, a failure at the Diezmero substation caused a significant generation loss in the western part of the country, leading to the collapse of the National Power Grid, said the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
“This is what’s left of my house after the hurricane,” Yisneidis Ramirez writes on her Facebook page. Five photos show the palm boards scattered around on the ground and some roof tiles from what should have been her home.
On February 21, 2025, the first solar photovoltaic park was inaugurated, with a capacity of 21.8 MW. The project, located in Cotorro—on the outskirts of Havana—is part of the island’s government’s bet on solar energy to address the country’s dire electricity situation.
Many Cubans complain on social media and in statements to independent media about being without electricity for up to a day or more.
MERCADO INFORMAL DE
DIVISAS EN CUBA (TIEMPO REAL)
