Cuban Mother Defies Military Draft to Defend Son’s Right to Object

After her teenage son refused compulsory military service, Ismari Saavedra faced years of government harassment, school expulsion, and threats—exposing Cuba’s crackdown on conscientious objection.

Amnesty International Warns of Human Rights Crisis in Cuba

Amnesty International’s latest report paints a bleak picture of Cuba in 2024: growing repression, deepening poverty, and a mass exodus that has shrunk the population by 18 %. Amid blackouts, censorship, and arbitrary arrests, the Cuban regime continues to deny the crisis.

Airbnb Pauses Services in Cuba, Impacting Hosts and Tourism

Airbnb has paused payments and experiences in Cuba, leaving many hosts without income. The move highlights growing challenges for the island’s private tourism sector.

Why Cooking Oil Costs Over 1,000 Pesos in Cuba

Would you like a few more ultra-compact options in case you need them for different platforms like social media or newsletters?

Bitterness Along the Miel River: The Story of a Collapse

At first glance, it looks like nothing more than splintered wood—a broken bridge, a skeleton of what once was. But for the residents of Boca de Miel, that fragile footbridge over the river is far more than debris. It's a raw wound left open six months after Hurricane Oscar hit, a symbol of a community still waiting for help that never came. It’s proof that Cuba’s reconstruction efforts aren’t reaching everyone equally.

What Happened to Cuba’s Promised Internet-Boosting Cable?

Two years after the Arimao cable’s debut, Cubans are still waiting for meaningful improvements in their digital lives. While the infrastructure may be in place, real change won’t come without serious investment and transparency.

Pope Francis Dies: The Pontiff Who Chose the Path of Dialogue

The Argentine pontiff died in Rome at 88. During his papacy, he played an active role in the thaw between Cuba and the United States and supported mediation efforts with the Cuban government aimed at securing the release of political prisoners.

Cuba Has Become a Country of Empty Houses

The house is still there, but no one has lived in it for a long time.

From Cuban Engineer to Bus Driver in Spain

Mayulis, a Cuban electrical engineer, reinvented herself as a school bus driver in Murcia, Spain, after migration barriers prevented her from validating her degree. With determination and support from a local training program by Cáritas and FROET, she earned her commercial driving license and now works transporting children. Her story reflects the broader experience of over 62,000 Cubans who arrived in Spain between 2023 and 2024—many of whom must rebuild their lives from scratch.

Growing Dollarization in Cuba Raises Concerns About the MLC's Future

Since late 2024, Cubans have grown worried as MLC loses value and dollar-only stores expand. Despite official claims, both the MLC and peso are devaluing, making dollarized goods harder to afford. 

Cuba Expands USD Stores While Wages Are Paid in Pesos

Despite official claims, more state-run shops are switching to USD only. Same products, new price tags in dollars, while wages stay in pesos.

Cuba Loses Appeal in the UK Supreme Court

The legal battle is over. CRF I Ltd, a Cayman Islands investment fund, can now enforce its $75M claim over defaulted Cuban debt. The ruling sets a precedent by recognizing CRF as a legitimate creditor and may open the door to further lawsuits involving the Cuban State.

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.

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?