Caribbean
Cuba: nationwide blackout for 29 hours, pressures of US embargo
After a nationwide blackout which left the entire population without electricity for 29 hours, Cuba has managed to restore power. The outage, one of several in recent months, reflects a deepening energy crisis…
Haiti: record number of political parties register for election
There has been a surge of political activity ahead of Haiti’s first general election in a decade, with a record 280 parties registering by the deadline. New groups expressed hope that fresh leadership…
Haiti: government drone strikes kill many, including civilians
Haiti continues to face severe insecurity as armed gangs control large areas of the capital, Port-au-Prince. In efforts to confront the violence, Haitian security forces, supported by private contractors, have used quadcopter drones…
Cuba: Russia, Canada, Mexico promise aid for beleaguered island
Russia’s deputy prime minister Alexander Novak has said Moscow is discussing the possibility of supplying fuel to Cuba as the USA tightens restrictions on oil shipments to the island. The move follows new…
‘War against drugs’: USA confirms double strike on a suspect vessel
US military strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats are facing intense criticism after reports that a ‘double tap’ attack on 2 September killed survivors clinging to a burning vessel. The White House confirmed…
Caribbean: hurricane causes huge devastation, many deaths
One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of devastation across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, killing at least 33 and displacing hundreds of thousands. Striking Jamaica as…
Haiti: UN votes to create a ‘gang suppression force’
The UN Security Council has voted to expand its international mission in Haiti, transforming it into a ‘gang suppression force’ tasked with restoring order in the country. The resolution raises the force’s personnel…
Haiti: kidnapped missionary is freed
Irish lay missionary Gena Heraty, who has served in Haiti for three decades, has been freed after nearly a month of captivity. She and several others, including a three-year-old child with a disability,…
Cuba: minister resigns after saying there are no beggars in the country
Labour and social security minister Marta Feito Cabrera has resigned following widespread backlash over her comments denying the existence of poverty and homelessness in Cuba. Speaking in the National Assembly, Feito claimed that…
Dominican Republic: tighter controls on illegal immigration from Haiti
President Luis Abinader has introduced measures to address illegal immigration from neighbouring Haiti, where the continuing violence is forcing many to flee. The new policies, described as ‘painful but necessary’, include charging migrants…
