| 1 EUR | 425.00 CUP | |
| 1 USD | 382.00 CUP | |
| 1 MLC | 255.00 CUP | |
| 1 CAD | 265.00 CUP | |
| 1 ZELLE | 378.00 CUP |
eSIM in Cuba: A Growing Workaround for Internet Access?
Amid rising mobile data costs from state-run Etecsa, eSIMs—virtual SIM cards that enable internet access via smartphones—are gaining attention in Cuba. Though they still rely on Cubacel’s network, some users say the connections are more stable. But the option comes with several limitations.
Cuba With Little Food or Electricity = School Absenteeism
In Cuba, more and more children and teenagers are skipping school due to the lack of breakfast, clothing, or snacks. The economic crisis has turned the simple act of sending kids to school into a daily struggle for many families.
Surveillance and Threats Against Students in Cuba
Following protests at several Cuban universities against the sharp rise in Internet prices, students have come forward with reports of institutional repression and intimidation aimed at preventing them from joining an academic strike.
Tension Grows in Cuban Universities: Disobedience Spreads
Student protests continue in Cuba. On June 5, the strike at the University of Havana’s Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science remained active. A statement shared by the FEU of the Faculty of Chemistry, also endorsed by the UJC, confirmed the students’ decision to stop attending classes “until they receive answers.”
China & Cuba in the Global Arena: Two Parties One Strategy
Claiming that the People’s Republic of China and Cuba are not so different may seem, at first glance, like a misleading assertion. In fact, it almost sounds contradictory when one considers the levels of development and economic growth both countries have reached over the past century.
The Hidden Millions of Cuba’s ETECSA Telecommunications Co.
Documents obtained by the Miami Herald reveal that RAFIN S.A., a company controlled by the military and a shareholder in Etecsa, held more than $407 million in cash as of August 2024. RAFIN has had a key stake in Etecsa since 2011, when it purchased 27% of the company’s shares from Telecom Italia for $706 million.
Cuban Government Made Billions from Telecom Exports—Where Did All That Money Go?
In a recent interview on Cuban state television, ETECSA president Tania Velázquez was asked a question on the minds of many Cubans: What happened to the money collected by the country’s telecommunications monopoly? Rather than answering directly, Velázquez deflected, focusing instead on the company’s dwindling access to hard currency. Over the past two decades, Cuba earned billions from exporting telecom services. And yet, with one of the slowest internet connections on the planet.
Cuban Economist: Even Doubling Production, Cuba Would Remain Among Latin America’s Poorest Nations
Cuban economist Miguel Alejandro Hayes dismantles official economic figures and exposes the true scale of Cuba’s collapse. His analysis offers a critical approximation of the island’s economic reality using alternative methods amid a lack of government transparency.
Cuban Doctors in Spain: Lifeline for Public Healthcare, Victims of Bureaucratic Delays
Cuban doctors are vital to Spain’s public healthcare system, yet thousands face years-long delays in getting their credentials recognized. Amid staff shortages, they remain trapped in bureaucratic limbo.
Two Cuban Men with Criminal Records Deported to South Sudan, DHS Confirms
Two Cuban nationals convicted of violent crimes were deported to South Sudan after the U.S. failed to find another country willing to accept them, defying a federal judge’s order and raising concerns over deportations to conflict zones.
Mexico Awarded Millions in No-Bid Contracts to Cuban Pharma Firm Despite Faulty Medicines
An investigation reveals the López Obrador administration granted over $6 million in direct contracts to a Cuban-linked pharmaceutical firm, despite poor-quality, expired, and undelivered medications.
Cuba Grants Canadian-Owned Novabank License to Operate as Corporate Bank
Novabank S.A., a newly licensed corporate bank in Cuba, is owned by Canadian investors from the Lussier family, longtime business partners with decades of experience on the island.
Cuba Moves Toward Dollarization Amid Peso Collapse and Rising Inequality
Cuba accelerates partial dollarization amid the peso's collapse and rising inflation. A new report reveals shrinking wages, increased inequality, and government-backed policies fueling a dual-currency economy.
Ukrainian Government Releases Names of 39 Cubans Killed in the War
A Ukrainian government channel has revealed the names of 39 Cuban citizens killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, raising fresh questions about foreign recruitment and the Cuban government’s silence.
Cuban Gov. Opens Mega Wholesale Store Selling in US Dollars
On May 6, the Cuban military-owned Tiendas Caribe opened a new dollar-only wholesale store in the Mariel Special Development Zone — but private business owners are sounding the alarm. While the state sells in USD, entrepreneurs still can’t charge in foreign currency, forcing them to buy dollars on the black market at triple the official rate. Is this really support for private enterprise or just another layer of control?
INFORMAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE
MARKET IN CUBA (REAL TIME)
Sociedad
Aquí contamos las historias de ciudadanía que protagonizan los cubanos. Conoce con nosotros de activismo, participación política, tendencias y debates sobre la sociedad cubana.
Amid rising mobile data costs from state-run Etecsa, eSIMs—virtual SIM cards that enable internet access via smartphones—are gaining attention in Cuba. Though they still rely on Cubacel’s network, some users say the connections are more stable. But the option comes with several limitations.
In Cuba, more and more children and teenagers are skipping school due to the lack of breakfast, clothing, or snacks. The economic crisis has turned the simple act of sending kids to school into a daily struggle for many families.
Following protests at several Cuban universities against the sharp rise in Internet prices, students have come forward with reports of institutional repression and intimidation aimed at preventing them from joining an academic strike.
Student protests continue in Cuba. On June 5, the strike at the University of Havana’s Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science remained active. A statement shared by the FEU of the Faculty of Chemistry, also endorsed by the UJC, confirmed the students’ decision to stop attending classes “until they receive answers.”
Claiming that the People’s Republic of China and Cuba are not so different may seem, at first glance, like a misleading assertion. In fact, it almost sounds contradictory when one considers the levels of development and economic growth both countries have reached over the past century.
In a recent interview on Cuban state television, ETECSA president Tania Velázquez was asked a question on the minds of many Cubans: What happened to the money collected by the country’s telecommunications monopoly? Rather than answering directly, Velázquez deflected, focusing instead on the company’s dwindling access to hard currency. Over the past two decades, Cuba earned billions from exporting telecom services. And yet, with one of the slowest internet connections on the planet.
Cuban doctors are vital to Spain’s public healthcare system, yet thousands face years-long delays in getting their credentials recognized. Amid staff shortages, they remain trapped in bureaucratic limbo.
An investigation reveals the López Obrador administration granted over $6 million in direct contracts to a Cuban-linked pharmaceutical firm, despite poor-quality, expired, and undelivered medications.
Cuba accelerates partial dollarization amid the peso's collapse and rising inflation. A new report reveals shrinking wages, increased inequality, and government-backed policies fueling a dual-currency economy.
On May 6, the Cuban military-owned Tiendas Caribe opened a new dollar-only wholesale store in the Mariel Special Development Zone — but private business owners are sounding the alarm. While the state sells in USD, entrepreneurs still can’t charge in foreign currency, forcing them to buy dollars on the black market at triple the official rate. Is this really support for private enterprise or just another layer of control?
Documents obtained by the Miami Herald reveal that RAFIN S.A., a company controlled by the military and a shareholder in Etecsa, held more than $407 million in cash as of August 2024. RAFIN has had a key stake in Etecsa since 2011, when it purchased 27% of the company’s shares from Telecom Italia for $706 million.
Cuban economist Miguel Alejandro Hayes dismantles official economic figures and exposes the true scale of Cuba’s collapse. His analysis offers a critical approximation of the island’s economic reality using alternative methods amid a lack of government transparency.
Two Cuban nationals convicted of violent crimes were deported to South Sudan after the U.S. failed to find another country willing to accept them, defying a federal judge’s order and raising concerns over deportations to conflict zones.
Novabank S.A., a newly licensed corporate bank in Cuba, is owned by Canadian investors from the Lussier family, longtime business partners with decades of experience on the island.
A Ukrainian government channel has revealed the names of 39 Cuban citizens killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, raising fresh questions about foreign recruitment and the Cuban government’s silence.
INFORMAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE
MARKET IN CUBA (REAL TIME)