Cuba

COMMENTARY A new Cuba poll should make the U.S. — especially U.S. Cubans — realize that without any democratic past to refer to, Cubans will prioritize economic improvement over political change.

Liexer De La Cruz had spent five years building a life in the United States after crossing almost a dozen countries by car, foot, bus and boat. But in early January, while attending what he thought was a routine hearing on his immigration case, he was forced to choose between deporting himself or staying in the U.S. and risk deportation at any moment. He chose Cuba.

Liexer De La Cruz had spent five years building a life in the United States after crossing almost a dozen countries by car, foot, bus and boat. But in early January, he was forced to choose between deporting himself or staying in the U.S. and risk deportation at any moment. He chose Cuba.

The wife of a man killed when an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway at Miami International Airport is suing for wrongful death.

Cuban state television aired footage Saturday night showing Castro, 95, in his olive-green military uniform. His grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, accompanied him in the role of bodyguard.

The U.S government has hit Cuba with new sanctions in a fresh push to strangle the island’s economy and deepen its multiple crises.

After an unconfirmed media report this week that 95-year-old Cuban leader Raúl Castro is on life support in Havana, Miami is abuzz with rumors reminiscent of the decade of bogus news that preceded his brother Fidel's death in 2016. "For younger Cubans and more recently arrived Cuban exiles in Miami, Raúl is their dictator. Raúl is their Fidel," said one observer.

Cuba has reopened most of its schools despite a shortage of transportation, uniforms and teachers as the island's crises deepen. More than 10,000 schools are expected to open their doors on Tuesday. They will welcome an estimated 1.4 million children and more than 135,000 teachers. The island's education minister acknowledged ongoing challenges and called the reopening of schools a "heroic act."

The Treasury and State departments announced sanctions on Thursday against 10 state-owned mining, metals, and construction companies and the leadership of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, or ICAP.

Fidel Castro would have turned 100 on Thursday and his influence still looms over Cuba. Posters and slogans bearing his image are common and the International Book Fair is dedicated to his memory. Supporters praise his legacy of dignity and policies in culture, education and health. However, Cuba faces a deepening crisis due to U.S. sanctions and economic challenges.

Cuba's power blackouts have been stretching sometimes for days, so Cubans are planning their lives around the lights turning back on. Those small gasps of relief may be for just a few minutes or hours — and at any time of the day or night.

For years, many Cubans hoping to leave the island looked to the United States. Now, with legal pathways largely closed, a growing number are heading to Brazil instead.