Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Today's Cuba News
- A massive power outage has plunged Havana into darkness, with the island's main power grid collapsing again after months of rolling blackouts. This marks the worst energy crisis in over a decade, hitting hospitals and water supply systems hard.
- Tourism is set to take a major hit as the US Department of Homeland Security announced new visa restrictions for Cubans seeking temporary entry, causing a spike in anxiety among travel agencies and hotel operators in Varadero.
- Nearly 500 small business owners in Cuba are now facing heavy fines for failing to report income earned through unofficial remittances, as the government cracks down on the rapidly growing private sector to shore up state coffers.
- A rare diplomatic twist today: Russia confirmed it will send two oil tankers to Cuban ports under a new trade agreement, bypassing US sanctions and providing a lifeline for fuel-starved industries. This move has drawn sharp reactions from Washington.
- Social media is buzzing with videos of spontaneous blackout protests in Santa Clara, where residents are demanding reliable electricity and access to basic goods, highlighting a boiling frustration that could reshape local politics ahead of municipal elections.