Caribbean

The Cuban government released a statement saying that a U.S. delegation led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe had met his counterpart in Cuba's Interior Ministry on Thursday. Tensions are rising over a U.S. blockade of fuel, which has deprived the island of power and fuel. Since returning to office in the United States, Donald Trump has put pressure on Cuba. He said a few days ago that both long-time enemies were "going to talk." Cuban representatives at the meeting stressed that Cuba did not pose a danger to the national security of the United States, according to the Cuban government....

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State on Friday, said that the United States could have a productive relationship with the Catholic Church despite tensions over President Donald Trump's repeated criticisms of Pope Leo. Rubio visited the Vatican Thursday and told reporters that the meeting had been "very positive" before departing Rome. Rubio, when asked about Trump's criticism of Leo for his comments about the Iran War and other issues, said that Trump acts to the benefit of the U.S. Rubio said that Trump acts in the best interest?of the U.S. and "will always speak clearly about how he feels about the?U.S....

The United States imposed financial sanctions on Thursday on a conglomerate of businesses run by the?Cuban military and a joint venture between Cubans and Canadians in the mining industry. This comes as the Trump Administration intensifies its pressure on Cuba's communist leadership by targeting foreign investment sources. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has commented on the January military raid that was conducted to capture the leader of Venezuela's longtime ally Cuba. Cuba is next" and blocked most oil deliveries to the country. This worsened power outages in the island. Trump signed an executive directive last week that broadened U.S. Sanctions...

According to a statement posted on the website of the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday, "the United States extended a license protecting Venezuelan-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum against 'creditors until June '19." The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued the general license to boost investment in Venezuela and increase oil production. The U.S. also strengthens its protection of Houston's?Citgo, and its overseas parent companies which are the crowning jewels of Venezuela's foreign assets. Citgo is America's eighth largest refiner. The previous OFAC licence, issued in March, was set to expire on May 5. Citgo will be acquired by Amber Energy, a...

Cuban activists rode electric tricycles and bikes along Havana’s Malecon boulevard on Thursday, accompanied by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. The demonstration was a defiance against U.S. attempts to starve Cuba of fuel. Participants in a government-organized car caravan rode by the U.S. embassy in Cuba's capital with their pedal and electric-powered vehicles, displaying banners and flags criticizing the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. The rally was held a day after Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington invited the U.S. to help rebuild Cuba’s crippled economic system as part of ongoing negotiations that are yet to produce results. Participants at the...

Cuba?received on Tuesday a shipment?of humanitarian aid from Nuestra America Convoy, a global effort organized by activists who are seeking to circumvent the?U.S. Cuba is under sanctions that severely restrict shipments of fuel, food and other goods to the island. A small ship, which left last week for the port of Progreso, Mexico, arrived early Tuesday morning in Havana Harbor, carrying 14 tons of food and medicine, as well as solar panels and bikes, to Cuban authorities. The ship was part of a flotilla that left Progresso with two other ships arriving later. The ship topped up the 6 tons...

The majority of 'Gulf' stock markets were up in the early trade on Sunday. The Saudi index was up for a fifth consecutive session after the?Iranian?temporary governing council agreed to stop attacks on neighboring nations, unless they originated on their own territory. Saudi Arabia told Tehran it supports a diplomatic solution to Iran's conflict with the U.S. but that continued attacks against the kingdom and its energy sector may push Riyadh into a similar response, according to sources. Saudi Arabia's benchmark.TASI index rose 2%. All of its constituents posted?gains led by energy and material stocks. Brent oil prices surged on...

According to The Gleaner, the local media outlet, 'Jamaica’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it will terminate a medical 'cooperation program' with Cuba. In a statement, cited by The Gleaner, the foreign ministry stated that the two governments could not agree on terms of a new agreement. The Gleaner reported that the medical professionals would be allowed to continue working until their tenure is complete. Jamaica's Minister of Health and Wellness Christopher Tufton said previously that?about 300 Cuban medical professionals and doctors were working in the island despite the previous agreement expiring in 2023. Jamaica has become the latest...

President Donald 'Trump said on Friday that the United States' relationship with Venezuela is "very good". He also stated his intention to visit Venezuela. Trump's praise of Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodrguez follows the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, in January. The Trump administration also wants to increase oil deals with Venezuela. Trump said to reporters at the White House that he would be visiting Venezuela, but he didn't give any further details. Trump noted that the United States "work very closely" with Rodriguez to ensure?access? to oil. Trump said, "I would rate the relationship we currently have...

Izvestia, a Russian newspaper, reported on Thursday that Russia was preparing to ship crude oil and fuel to Cuba within the next few months. Cuba has been hit by fuel shortages since the U.S. cut off its oil supply. The communist-run Island has informed international airlines that there will be no jet fuel available. This is the latest sign of rapidly worsening conditions. Venezuela has been a major supplier of jet fuel to the United States for many years. However, since Washington's 'blocking of Venezuelan exports in mid-December, it hasn’t received any crude or refined products. A Russian diplomat said...

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced on Thursday that his government will implement a plan to address fuel shortages in the 'next week' as the U.S. attempts to cut off oil supplies to the Caribbean Island nation. Last week, tensions escalated after the U.S. announced it would impose tariffs on products from countries that supply oil to Cuba. This led to a spike in prices for transportation and food, and a severe shortage of fuel. Last month, U.S. president Donald Trump announced that Cuba would cease to receive oil from Venezuela, its largest supplier. Diaz-Canel stated in a two-hour long televised...

On Sunday, the United States accused Cuba of interfering in the work of their top diplomat at Havana after small groups of Cubans laughed at him outside the capital during meetings with residents and church representatives. On social media, the State Department accused Cuba of using "failed intimidation techniques" and demanded that Havana cease "sending individuals who interfere with diplomatic work of the United States." Charge d'Affaires Mike Hammer. The tension between the two long-time enemies has increased after U.S. president Donald Trump declared Cuba an "unusual and extraordinary threat" against the national security of the United States and announced...

The United Nations said in a report released on Tuesday that the growing global sand demand, due to rapid urbanisation, construction and other factors, exceeds sustainable supply. This puts ecosystems and livelihoods at risk. A report from the U.N. showed that about 50 billion tons of construction sand are used each year. The demand for this material is also expected to double in 2060 if current trends continue. This is faster than stock levels can be replenished. Environment Programme showed. The Environment Programme showed that sand is the second most-exploited natural resource after water. However, its use is not regulated...

After thousands of protesters raised environmental concerns, President Luis Abinader ordered the suspension of all activities related to GoldQuest Mining’s gold and copper project. GoldQuest Canada is developing the Romero Project in San Juan Province. The company had earlier announced that it was aware of the demonstrations, and committed to transparent development. The company did not respond immediately to a request for a comment about Abinader’s order to stop work. On Sunday, thousands of people took to the streets in protest. They walked about 20 km through San Juan, to reach the Sabaneta Dam. This is a vital water source...

According to civil protection and?local media?on Wednesday, days of torrential rain over northwest?Haiti have killed 16 people. Local newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported that at least 12 people died in floods in northern Haiti, including in Port-de-Paix and Saint-Louis du Nord, as well as Anse-a-Foleur. Listin Diario, a local newspaper in the Dominican Republic (which shares the Caribbean island Hispaniola, with Haiti), reported on Monday that four people were killed, including some who had been swept away by swollen riverbeds, and an infant girl who was killed when a wall fell onto her at home. The Dominican authorities reported on Monday...

Over the past few days, 30,000 people in the Dominican Republic have been forced to evacuate their homes due to torrential rainfall from weather systems which have been hovering over the Caribbean nation for over a month. Three people were reported dead by local media, including a girl aged seven who was trying to cross a stream, a man aged 19 who attempted to cross the river on horseback and an infant girl, who died in the capital when the wall of her house collapsed because of the rain. The office of President Luis Abinader said that the government's priority...

Grenada's Climate Ambassador said that a?group of Caribbean nations plan to raise $200m for a bid to?"boost biodiversity" in an effort to gain a?more influential position on international financed environmental projects?to maximize their impact. The 30X30 initiative of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and its 12 member states is part of a broader international drive to achieve targets agreed in 2022. These include protecting 30% of land and ocean by 2030. Safiya sawney stated that she hoped such cross-border projects, which are under government oversight from the beginning, would be more successful as they leveraged the power of multilateral...

Legal & General is the largest asset manager in Britain. It has pledged up to $1 billion in five years as a cornerstone investment in a new wave of "debt for nature" swaps. Debt-for nature swaps are designed to reduce interest costs?so that governments can spend more money on conservation. But the market is in a drought after President Donald Trump returned to power and key U.S. support dried up. L&G is using its institutional power to support a wider push for the revival and growth of the market. It has backed Ecuador’s record-breaking swap for its Galapagos Islands 2023...

Havana's garbage piles up on the streets, attracting hordes flies, and smelling of rotten foods. This is one of the visible effects of the U.S. effort to prevent oil reaching the Caribbean's largest island. Cubadebate, a state-run news outlet, reported that only 44 out of 106 Havana's rubbish trucks could continue to operate due to fuel shortages. This slowed down garbage collection. Residents sorted through the piles of cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, rags and used bags to find scraps that they could reuse, but motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists were forced to avoid the massive heaps. Jose Ramon Cruz, a local...

Enosis capital, a credit fund, has signed an agreement with AXA XL to have the insurance company provide vital cover for a $3 billion wave of debt for nature' deals. The first deal is expected to be in the next 6 to 9 months. Debt-for nature swaps are designed to help countries with lower incomes spend more money on ecosystems that are under threat, such as coral reefs or rainforests. They do this by substituting expensive government bonds for cheaper alternatives. Belize, Barbados, and Ecuador's Galapagos Islands are examples of places that have seen their popularity grow. But there has...

Head of Nature of the world's largest climate philanthropy, gave $24.5 million for coastal ecosystem protection as part of a plan that aims to create a cross-border marine Biosphere Reserve. The Bezos Earth Fund has awarded four grants to local communities in Costa Rica and Panama. Colombia and Ecuador will also receive a grant. The grants are part of a $1 billion plan to protect 30% of the land and oceans of the planet by 2030. The group of donors aims to contribute $5 billion in the same time period as part of the "Protecting Our Planet Challenge" with 10...

Jamaica has received up to $6.7 billion from international agencies for reconstruction in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Melissa, one the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the Caribbean, caused catastrophic flooding and landslides in Jamaica with 30 inches of rain (76 cm). The damage was estimated at $10 billion. In a statement released on Monday, the agencies stated that they will receive support from the Development Bank of Latin America & the Caribbean CAF (the Development Bank), the IMF, World Bank, Caribbean Development Bank CDB and Inter-American Development Bank. They said that up to $3.6 billion could be available as...

Jamaica has spent many years building up a fund to deal with climate-driven disasters. The money was only enough to cover 5% of a storm's cost. Matthew Samuda, Jamaican cabinet Minister, said that Hurricane Melissa left the island with bills of $10 billion. Of this amount only $500 million could be covered by climate-preparation reserve funds. Jamaica has asked wealthy nations to offer urgent grants, investments and concessional financing at the COP30 Climate Summit in Belem. It does not want commercial rate loans, which would burden the country with additional debt, as it faces an uncertain future that is expected...

The COP30 Climate talks begin in Brazil this Week Small island states are pushing for a new push to 1.5C. The discussion will also include how to pay climate damages Clar NiChonghaile UnaMay Gordon is a former director for climate change at the Jamaican Government and advisor to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center that coordinates climate action. We lost our cultural heritage. 300-year old churches are gone. It also took a part of our own identity with it. Gordon told reporters that "people are hurting". According to Jamaica's Prime Minister, the strongest storm ever to hit the island left...