Cuba reconnects Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo to national grid after partial blackout
First published Mon, Oct 26
Cuba reconnected two eastern provinces to the national electricity system after a partial disconnection, with Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo cut off from the grid. The national load dispatch forecast a maximum affectation of 1,760 MW during the day's peak demand.1234
Unión Eléctrica estimated 1,760 MW of affectation for the maximum demand of the day, the same figure the dispatch forecast for peak hours. The shortfall left the island's generation well below demand during the evening peak.564
The power failure disrupted daily life beyond the grid. Diario de Cuba reported 265,000 people affected in the water supply in Matanzas and school schedule changes forced by the energy crisis, alongside blackouts in the east.7
State outlet 5 de Septiembre reported affectations to the electricity service for Monday, the day the two provinces returned to the system.8
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Cuba brings UN resolution against US embargo to General Assembly for 34th time
First published Tue, Oct 27 · Updated Thu, Oct 29
Cuba's draft resolution on ending the US economic, commercial and financial blockade is before the UN General Assembly for the 34th time, examined on Tuesday and Wednesday. The text is titled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba."1
Cuba's ambassador to the Dominican Republic denounced US pressure on other states over their vote on the resolution, and Havana has accused Washington of an offensive to switch votes at the UN. The vote is being held as Cuba faces a severe economic and energy crisis.23
A senior US official urged countries to "support the Cuban people, not the regime" ahead of the vote, while solidarity groups in Nicaragua demanded an end to the blockade.45
UPDATES
· New development
Cuba's foreign minister and the US ambassador to the United Nations argued during the General Assembly session, with diplomats from the two countries exchanging shouts, as the assembly took up the resolution against the US embargo.67
Cuba expects a new majority in support of the resolution against the blockade at the UN, and countries and international organizations at the United Nations rejected the US measure.89
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Mexico backs Cuba at UN as US orders Cuban diplomat expelled after shouting clash
First published Wed, Oct 28
The US ambassador and Cuba's foreign minister were involved in a tense shouting exchange at the UN over the embargo. Washington ordered a Cuban diplomat expelled after the incidents and accusations of aggression at the United Nations.12
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UN General Assembly renews resolution against US embargo on Cuba with fewer votes as Chile abstains
First published Thu, Oct 29
The UN General Assembly renewed its resolution against the US economic embargo on Cuba, with fewer votes in support than in previous years. The resolution calls for an end to the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of the island.1
Chile abstained on the resolution for the first time in 33 years, breaking with its previous votes on the measure. The abstention was reported as a shift in the country's position at the General Assembly.2
Cuba's foreign minister and the US ambassador clashed in a shouting exchange during the General Assembly session over the embargo. Washington ordered a Cuban diplomat expelled from the United States as tensions between the two countries rose.34
Cuba's delegation framed the vote as a vindication of its claim against the blockade, saying the truth remains on the side of its demand for an end to the US measures. The Cuban foreign minister accused Washington of pressuring other states to switch their votes on the resolution.5
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Trump revives plan to send Rubio to Cuba, saying "he'll sort it out"
First published Wed, Oct 28
President Donald Trump has revived the idea of sending Marco Rubio to Cuba to resolve the situation on the island, saying of Rubio that "he'll sort it out." Trump joked about dropping Rubio over Cuba by parachute, adding that "he'll manage."12
Rubio insists that Cuba needs "a very drastic change," the position he restated as the proposal circulated.31
The State Department circulated a message about Trump, Marco Rubio and the CIA in Cuba under the heading of the Monroe Doctrine.4
El Nuevo Herald reported that the CIA is looking for members of the Cuban regime who want to break with communism.5
Local 10 aired updates from its Cuba analyst, Dr. Andy Gómez, on the same day the Rubio proposal resurfaced.6
Also this week
Published earlier this week and since overtaken by bigger stories. Open one to read it in full.
Cuba keeps summer time through winter, skipping this year's clock changeCuba will not change its clocks this year, leaving summer time in place through the winter months. The decision keeps the island on a single schedule instead of the usual seasonal shift.
Cuba keeps summer time through winter, skipping this year's clock change
First published Thu, Oct 29
Cuba will not change its clocks this year, leaving summer time in place through the winter months. The decision keeps the island on a single schedule instead of the usual seasonal shift.12
State outlets framed the measure as a matter of continuity, with Periódico ¡ahora! explaining the need to give the summer schedule continuity. Cubadebate published notes on summer time as it applies in winter, and Adelante ran a piece titled "Cuba, an eternal summer."345
Camagüey prioritizes repair of transformers to restore rural electricity serviceCamagüey province is prioritizing the recovery of transformers to address breakdowns affecting communities, with the work aimed at restoring electricity service. The provincial effort is part of a wider push in which Holguín's electric company has taken on transformer repairs and Santiago de Cuba is recovering units to attend to damage to its power service.
Camagüey prioritizes repair of transformers to restore rural electricity service
First published Tue, Oct 27
Camagüey province is prioritizing the recovery of transformers to address breakdowns affecting communities, with the work aimed at restoring electricity service. The provincial effort is part of a wider push in which Holguín's electric company has taken on transformer repairs and Santiago de Cuba is recovering units to attend to damage to its power service.123
The Camagüey work targets breakdowns in rural communities, where damaged transformers have disrupted service. The repairs are being carried out by the provincial electricity company.41
The transformer recovery is reported as a priority for the province's electric service, with the repaired units intended to restore supply to affected areas.15
Díaz-Canel reviews Los Sitios defense zone in Havana and calls for social work alongside defensePresident Miguel Díaz-Canel reviewed the Los Sitios Defense Zone (CDZ) in Havana, where he called for consolidating defense while attending to social needs, according to the Presidency's account of the visit. The review was carried with audio by the Presidency and reported by state outlets Tribuna de La Habana and Radio Rebelde.
Díaz-Canel reviews Los Sitios defense zone in Havana and calls for social work alongside defense
First published Mon, Oct 26
Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel reviewed the Los Sitios Defense Zone (CDZ) in Havana, where he called for consolidating defense while attending to social needs, according to the Presidency's account of the visit. The review was carried with audio by the Presidency and reported by state outlets Tribuna de La Habana and Radio Rebelde.123
The Presidency's account stated that the combat for Cuba does not cease and is maintained and intensified, framing the Defense Zone checks within that ongoing effort. Earlier reviews covered the Pocito Palmar Defense Zone in Marianao, where its plans were checked, and a Defense Zone in La Lisa.12
Attributed claim: NTN24 described Díaz-Canel as seen in military dress and defiant after warnings from Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and the CIA about a military operation in Cuba. The oppositional outlet placed the defense-zone visit against those US warnings rather than against the social agenda the Presidency stressed.4
Attributed claim: CiberCuba reported that Cubans mocked Díaz-Canel and the days of the defense, with the headline quoting the jibe "Take heart pills." The state outlets' accounts of the same visit carried no such reaction and presented the defense-zone review as the development itself.51
Díaz-Canel has attributed Cuba's aggravated social problems to the US blockade and the energy crisis, and frames the Revolution's approach as a humanist vocation of attending to everyone and defending equity, prioritizing the most vulnerable.12
Cuba says US embargo losses rose 7 percent ahead of UN vote as state media launch blockade-cost websiteCuban authorities say losses caused by the US embargo rose 7 percent compared with their previous report, a figure released before a vote at the United Nations. The claim was carried by opposition outlets Diario de Cuba and its Facebook page, which describe the source as the Cuban regime.
Cuba says US embargo losses rose 7 percent ahead of UN vote as state media launch blockade-cost website
First published Mon, Oct 26 · Updated Tue, Oct 27
Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.
Cuban authorities say losses caused by the US embargo rose 7 percent compared with their previous report, a figure released before a vote at the United Nations. The claim was carried by opposition outlets Diario de Cuba and its Facebook page, which describe the source as the Cuban regime.12
State media are promoting a new digital platform that lets users see the cost of the US blockade, with Radio Rebelde announcing the site and Radio Juvenil reporting that it publishes blockade damage in real time. The Foreign Ministry said Egyptian media have also reported on the damage the US blockade causes Cuba.345
Juventud Rebelde framed the cost in a headline asking what it costs to shut down a country and leave it without visitors, tying the blockade accounting to tourism and the economy.6
Attributed claim: Diario de Cuba says Havana blames the United States for the current disaster after years of relegating the electricity sector behind tourism, a charge the state outlets' blockade-cost campaign does not address. The opposition outlet's account places the blame for the power situation on policy choices rather than solely on the embargo.21
UPDATES
· New development
A Cuban deputy denounced the impact of the US blockade before the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in India and rejected unilateral coercive economic measures, state outlets reported on Monday.78
Cuba's ambassador to India, Juan Carlos Marsán, held a press conference at the India Press Club in New Delhi to denounce what the foreign ministry called an unprecedented tightening of the US blockade.9
Cuba's National Assembly reviews economic and social reforms as Council of State approves two new decree-lawsCuba's National Assembly of People's Power evaluated proposed economic and social transformations, according to state outlets Radio Habana Cuba and the Agencia Cubana de Noticias. The parliamentary review was the focus of coverage from both outlets on Monday.
Cuba's National Assembly reviews economic and social reforms as Council of State approves two new decree-laws
First published Mon, Oct 26
Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power evaluated proposed economic and social transformations, according to state outlets Radio Habana Cuba and the Agencia Cubana de Noticias. The parliamentary review was the focus of coverage from both outlets on Monday.12
By Thursday the proposals were presented before the Cuban Parliament, Vanguardia.cu reported, while Escambray and Adelante said the Parliament would evaluate the transformation proposals. A parliamentary working team analyzed how the economic and social transformations are being implemented in Camagüey province, Radio Cadena Agramonte reported.3456
The Council of State approved two new decree-laws and evaluated the economic and social transformations, Cubadebate reported. The decree-laws were approved in the same session in which the transformations were under review.7
