5 Things You Need to Know About the Latest Cuba News
- The Biden administration announced a significant rollback of Trump-era sanctions, including the removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, potentially easing travel and remittance restrictions.
- Cuba is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, marked by soaring inflation, widespread shortages of food and medicine, and regular blackouts, sparking rare public protests.
- The government recently launched a new "digital wallet" system to curb the black market, allowing Cubans to make cashless payments via QR codes in state-run stores, but adoption remains slow.
- A surge in migration continues, with reports showing a record number of Cubans crossing the U.S. southern border in 2023, driven by economic hardship and political uncertainty.
- Tourists now face stricter entry rules, as Cuba requires proof of medical insurance covering COVID-19 and other emergencies, while also cracking down on illegal Airbnb rentals to boost state revenues.