Cuba News Roundup: February 25th, 2022
We agree with sanctioning the shit out of Russia for their invasion of Ukraine. From Napoleon to WWI and Cuba they’ve been used as a tool. How effective are they though? 
Remember COVID? It was that thing going around nine days ago. Then Russia invaded Ukraine and the bombs and sanctions started flying. Will sanctions do anything? Cuba’s been sanctioned for 60 years now and nothing’s happened except for pain imposed on the Cuban people. Same thing’s gonna happen here, right? Putin will sit in his big fat lair, pushing buttons and polishing his toenails while his people suffer. Don’t get us wrong; we’re for sanctions on Russia. Putin’s an asshole; we just wish that none of this had to happen in the first place. And that leads us to this week’s headlines…
The Miami Herald reports on neither Cuba or Nicaragua supporting Russia’s invasion in a U.N. vote, the Guardian reports on sanctions as a war tool, and Cuba rejects the “double standard” of human rights and what they refer to as selective treatment. Closer to home, another 36 migrants were sent back to Cuba and COVID. Yeah, it still exists and Cuba says that most of it’s children ages 2 and up are now vaccinated. With that, we bid you a good weekend.
By the way, none of the opinions in any of the stories shared on this page represent ours; we’re just sharing them with you. If you are a journalist or you have seen a story that you’d like us to consider for future weekly news roundups, please send us a note and a link to the story here.
The U.S. Embassy in Havana. Photo: Amanda Perobelli / Reuters
The United States announced it will increase its staff at its embassy in Havana and begin a limited amount of some immigrant visa services after years of operating with few personnel. Read more at nbcnews.com.
An Air Station Clearwater C-130 air crew alerted Sector Key West watch standers that there was a suspected migrant vessel about 75 miles off Dry Tortugas, Feb. 28, 2021. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard
In a matter of four days, five suspected migrant vessels were stopped in the waters off Key West, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. In total, 36 people from those five stops were repatriated to Cuba on Thursday. Read more at miamiherald.com.
Havana’s modern “international” architecture has Cuba’s urban planners worried.
A child receives a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a school in Havana, on Sept. 16, 2021. Photo: Joaquin Hernandez / Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images file
At around 4 p.m. most weekdays, children in red and white uniforms are walking home from school alongside their families. Almost all of them — along with their siblings over age 2 — are vaccinated against Covid-19. Read more at nbcnews.com.
Geneva, Mar 4, Ambassador to UN Geneva Juan Antonio Quintanilla reiterated today Cuba’s condemnation of double standards and selectivity in the treatment of the issue of human rights, evidenced once again during the conflict in Ukraine. Photo: Prensa Latina
The manipulation of the issue for political purposes is something we know well, because our country is a direct victim of these unacceptable practices, he warned at the Human Rights Council, where a resolution with a marked imbalance on the situation in Ukraine was approved. Read more at prensalatina.com.
Cuba has suffered crippling US sanctions since the 1950s, with a calculated £97bn hit to its economy in that time. The regime has not changed. Photo: Yander Zamora/EPA
Waging war by economic means is nothing new. Napoleon imposed an ineffective embargo on British exports in the early 19th century and during the first world war there were attempts by both sides to starve each other into submission. Read more at theguardian.com.
December 1, 2023
Top bartenders and mixologists from around the world pitched up in Cuba’s top beach resort last year to compete in the IBA World Cocktail Championship shining a spotlight on global drinks and craft cocktails.
United Nations members stand up and applaud after a vote on a resolution concerning the invasion of Ukraine during an emergency meeting of the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Photo: Seth Wenig AP
Two of Russia’s staunchest allies in Latin America declined to vote against a United Nations resolution on Wednesday condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, dealing a diplomatic blow to Russia’s increasingly isolated leader, Vladimir Putin. Read more at miamiherald.com.
Journalist Inna Afinogenova condemns Europe’s blockade to RT, Russia. Photo: Twitter/ @cabohorquez
On Thursday, Cuba’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez rejected the European Union (EU) blockade of outlets Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik amid the Ukraine-Russian armed conflict. Read more at telesurenglish.net.