Cuban Government Announces Pension Increase

During his address to the National Assembly on July 17, 2025, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz presented an overview of the measures implemented by the government during the first half of the year.

“There Are No Beggars in Cuba,” says Labor Minister

Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, head of Cuba's Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), claimed that "there are no beggars in Cuba." Her statements are misleading and contradict both official figures and the reality experienced by Cubans.

Infant Mortality Soars in Cuba: Country on Track for Highest Rate in 25 Years

Cuba's infant mortality rate has surged to 8.2 per 1,000 live births—the highest in decades—amid a deepening healthcare crisis, hospital shortages, and declining birth rates.

Does Cuba have a Real Government Program for the Economy?

On July 5, 2025, President Díaz-Canel announced a vague economic reform plan. Experts criticized the lack of details and transparency, citing past failed policies. Core issues like state inefficiency and low productivity remain unaddressed, raising doubts about the government’s ability to deliver real economic change.

“What Comes Out of Your Throat Is Black”: In Moa, Cuba, a Mining Town Suffocates Under Toxic Air

“What comes out of your throat is black. It’s like we’re breathing poison. These people are killing us slowly.” The message captures the anguish of residents in Moa, a mining city in Cuba’s eastern province of Holguín. In recent days, citizen reports have drawn attention to a sharp spike in environmental pollution in this industrial hub—home to Cuba’s main nickel and cobalt processing plants.

Cuban Banks Withhold Euros from Spanish Pensions, Forcing Recipients to Accept Devalued Currency 

Cuban banks are withholding euros from Spanish pensions and aid programs, forcing recipients to accept Cuban pesos or MLC at unfavorable rates—causing financial hardship for thousands of elderly citizens.

Cuban Faces Five Years Jail for Filming a Cooking Gas Line

Filming horror in Cuba is forbidden. For that reason, the Prosecutor’s Office is requesting over five years in prison for Julio Cesar Duque de Estrada Ferrer, for a chain of events that began when he was filming a “crowd” at a cooking gas distribution point.

How Cubans in Mexico Became a Key Source of Remittances to the Island

As more Cubans settle in Mexico, they’re turning from transit migrants into vital remittance providers, reshaping financial flows to the island.

Cuba’s Yipsi Moreno Changed Her Flag, But Not Her Talent

Yipsi Moreno’s story is a gem. The former commissioner, former parliamentarian, former national idol — and, more recently, former exclusive citizen of the island — has returned to world competition in the hammer throw at age 44, with a new flag in hand and as if time only weighs on mortals.

eSIM in Cuba: A Growing Workaround for Internet Access?

Amid rising mobile data costs from state-run Etecsa, eSIMs—virtual SIM cards that enable internet access via smartphones—are gaining attention in Cuba. Though they still rely on Cubacel’s network, some users say the connections are more stable. But the option comes with several limitations.

Cuba With Little Food or Electricity = School Absenteeism

In Cuba, more and more children and teenagers are skipping school due to the lack of breakfast, clothing, or snacks. The economic crisis has turned the simple act of sending kids to school into a daily struggle for many families.

Cuban Doctors in Guyana Report Unpaid Wages Amid Growing International Scrutiny

Cuban doctors in Guyana report months without pay amid growing international pressure and potential policy changes following U.S. intervention. 

Cuban Activist Faces 10-Year Sentence for Anti-Government Facebook Posts

Cuban prosecutors seek a decade-long prison term for Alexander Verdecia over Facebook posts criticizing the regime. His case highlights growing repression of online dissent and political expression.

The Dollarization of Cuba, a Symptom of Structural Collapse

Cuba’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Joaquin Alonso Vasquez, confirmed that the partial dollarization of the economy will not only continue but is the official strategy for the near future. According to press reports, Alonso acknowledged the existence of three exchange rates and how this has led the dollar to become the main “mechanism of interconnection” within the Cuban economy.

Surveillance and Threats Against Students in Cuba

Following protests at several Cuban universities against the sharp rise in Internet prices, students have come forward with reports of institutional repression and intimidation aimed at preventing them from joining an academic strike.