The ongoing economic blockade against Cuba has intensified financial constraints, severely limiting the country’s ability to repair its thermoelectric power plants and acquire essential technology and fuel for critical sectors of its economy. This has led to a significant reduction in foreign suppliers willing to engage with Cuba, further exacerbating the nation’s energy crisis. Dayana Beyra Fernández, director of the Petroleum Engineering and Projects Company, highlights the profound impact of these sanctions on everyday life, from frequent blackouts to transportation challenges and the rising cost of living. She recounts specific instances where foreign companies withdrew from contracts due to U.S. pressure, forcing Cuba to invest in costly alternatives to maintain operations. The blockade has also hindered access to spare parts and technology, making it increasingly difficult to keep thermoelectric plants running. Despite these challenges, Cuban professionals continue to seek innovative solutions and international support to mitigate the effects of this ‘inhumane policy.’ The financial toll is staggering, with the Energy and Mining sector alone suffering damages exceeding $496 million in just three months. The blockade’s ripple effects extend beyond energy, affecting Cuba’s ability to trade and access global markets, ultimately stifling the nation’s economic growth and development.
分类： world
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USA : The Mayor of Cap
In a significant step towards fostering international collaboration, Angie Bell, the Mayor of Cap-Haitien, actively participated in the Florida International Trade & Cultural Expo (FITCE 2025) on October 22 and 23, 2025. The event, hosted at the Broward County Convention Center in Florida, was orchestrated by the Broward County Office of Economic & Small Business Development, attracting municipal leaders, investors, diplomats, and economic stakeholders from over fifty nations. Mayor Bell was a featured speaker on a panel discussing investment opportunities in the Caribbean and Latin America. During her address, she underscored Cap-Haitien’s strategic advantages, including its youthful population, proximity to the U.S. market, and potential in sectors like light processing, agribusiness, and cultural tourism. ‘Cap-Haitien is a historic city, globally oriented, and eager to forge lasting partnerships rooted in trust, innovation, and respect for our identity,’ she remarked. Beyond the panel, Mayor Bell engaged in productive dialogues with private sector representatives, Broward County officials, and influential members of the Haitian diaspora dedicated to Haiti’s economic progress. This participation aligns with Cap-Haitien’s broader strategy of decentralized cooperation and municipal diplomacy, aiming to strengthen ties with the diaspora and unlock sustainable growth opportunities for the city.
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Storm Melissa : Partial death toll, already 3 dead and 5 injured (provisional toll)
Haiti is grappling with the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Melissa, which has already claimed three lives and left five injured. The storm, located 340 km south of Les Cayes and 475 km southwest of Port-au-Prince, is moving north-northwest at 3-5 km/h, with forecasts predicting intensification over the weekend. The Civil Protection Department’s latest report highlights severe weather conditions across multiple regions, including landslides, flooding, and infrastructure damage. In Port-au-Prince, a landslide in Fontamara resulted in two fatalities and one injury, adding to the storm’s toll. The Artibonite, Southeast, North, and West departments have experienced heavy rains, coastal flooding, and rough seas, with significant damage to coastal facilities in Jacmel. Rivers such as the Artibonite, Lociane, and Saint-Martin have overflowed, causing further destruction. Infrastructure has been severely affected, with landslides blocking roads and a bridge destroyed in Sainte-Suzanne. The storm has also damaged homes in Port-de-Paix. Forecasts warn of heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides in the Grand Sud and Ouest departments, with hurricane-like conditions possible within 48 hours. Emergency operations are underway, with the Haitian National Police and Civil Protection Directorate mobilizing resources for rescue and evacuation efforts. Authorities urge vigilance, preventive evacuations, and the closure of schools and public gatherings to mitigate risks.
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Brazil recognizes the Dominican Republic as a benchmark in traceability system implementation
The Dominican Republic has emerged as a global leader in combating illicit trade and adulterated alcohol, showcasing its innovative traceability and inspection system to the Brazilian Senate as a benchmark for public-private collaboration and sustainable success. This multifaceted strategy has achieved remarkable outcomes, including zero fatalities from adulterated alcohol, the confiscation of over 135 million illicit products, and a substantial decline in smuggling activities across the nation. Deputy Minister of Internal Trade Ramón Pérez Fermín, representing the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM), presented these achievements to Brazil’s Senate Committee on Social Affairs. He emphasized the coordinated efforts of various Dominican institutions, such as Customs (DGA), Public Health, Pro Consumidor, Ceccom, the National Police, and the private sector through the Association of Industries (AIRD). Central to this success is the Traffico system, a digital traceability and fiscal control platform for alcohol and tobacco, developed by Sicpa and implemented by the General Directorate of Internal Revenue (DGII). Each product is assigned a unique tax stamp with both visible and digital security features, enabling authorities and consumers to monitor its journey from production to sale. The ‘Revísame’ mobile app further empowers citizens to verify product authenticity through code scanning, fostering transparency and consumer safety. The World Bank has lauded this system as a global best practice, commending its integration of technology and institutional cooperation to combat tax evasion and safeguard consumers.
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Honduras President Underscores Unity at Travel Market 2025
The Central America Travel Market 2025, hosted in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has become a focal point for regional tourism collaboration. The event’s second day featured dynamic business-to-business meetings and networking sessions, but the highlight was the unexpected visit of Honduras’ President, Xiomara Castro. Her presence not only highlighted national pride in hosting the event but also reinforced Honduras’ dedication to fostering tourism growth both domestically and across Central America. President Castro toured the exhibition floor, engaging with private sector representatives and regional stakeholders, including Belize’s Pro Tempore of FEDECATUR, Efren Perez. Vice Minister of Tourism Reizel Vilorio emphasized that the President’s participation symbolized unity and collective effort, showcasing Central America’s potential as a premier global travel destination. Vilorio noted that Castro’s visit underscored the government’s support for the private sector and its commitment to developing tourism products that benefit the entire region. The President expressed her admiration for the event’s scale and the collaborative spirit among participants, further solidifying the region’s reputation as a hub for innovative tourism initiatives.
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Tropical Storm Melissa leaves over a million without water in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is grappling with the devastating aftermath of Tropical Storm Melissa, which has wreaked havoc across the nation. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) revealed that the storm has damaged 183 homes, displaced 915 individuals, and forced 61 people into emergency shelters. Additionally, 19 communities have been cut off due to the storm’s impact, while critical infrastructure has suffered significant damage. Over 1.1 million residents are currently without access to clean drinking water, exacerbating the crisis. The National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA) reported that 56 aqueducts were severely affected, with 53 completely non-operational and three partially functioning. This disruption has impacted more than 610,000 users. Furthermore, the CAASD suspended operations at the Isa Mana and Duey systems due to water turbidity, leaving an additional 405,000 residents in Santo Domingo Oeste, Pedro Brand, Los Alcarrizos, and parts of the National District without water. The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) has mobilized emergency teams to clear debris, remove fallen trees, and reopen blocked roads. Landslides have disrupted key routes, including the Cabrera–Loma Alta highway in María Trinidad Sánchez and the El Manaclar road in Peravia. Cleanup efforts are ongoing in Barahona, Pedernales, San Juan, Monte Plata, and Duarte. In Greater Santo Domingo, the overflow of Bonavides Creek caused severe flooding and landslides, damaging numerous homes. Neighborhoods such as Arroyo Hondo, Villas Agrícolas, Capotillo, and Herrera witnessed evacuations and structural damage. Similar conditions were reported in San Cristóbal, Barahona, and San José de Ocoa, where rising rivers have isolated several communities.
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Jamaica declares state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Melissa
The Jamaican government has initiated a nationwide state of emergency in hospitals and ordered the closure of schools as Tropical Storm Melissa approaches the Caribbean region. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that the storm could intensify into a hurricane over the weekend, posing significant risks to Jamaica, Haiti, and eastern Cuba. Health Minister Christopher Tufton announced the suspension of elective surgeries and non-urgent hospital admissions to prioritize resources for potential storm-related emergencies. Families of stable patients have been urged to temporarily relocate them, while 702 healthcare professionals have been mobilized across the country to bolster emergency response efforts. The national emergency center has been fully activated in coordination with regional health authorities. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Education has suspended all in-person classes in public and private institutions to ensure the safety of students and staff. According to the NHC, Melissa is currently located 345 km southeast of Kingston and 440 km southwest of Port-au-Prince, with sustained winds of 85 km/h and moving northwest at 7 km/h. The storm is expected to bring torrential rains, powerful winds, and hazardous coastal surges. In the Dominican Republic, over 647,000 people are without drinking water due to rainfall disrupting supply systems, while Haiti remains on high alert for flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.
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Venezuela’s continued economic hardship outweighs geopolitical tensions
For millions of Venezuelans, the pressing challenges of daily life overshadow the geopolitical tensions ignited by the deployment of US warships to the southern Caribbean in August. While the US government asserts that its mission is aimed at combating drug trafficking, Venezuelan authorities suspect it may be an attempt to destabilize President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. However, for citizens like Samuel Carreño, the immediate concern is the country’s collapsing economy rather than international disputes. Carreño, a 49-year-old informal worker from Petare, has faced a personal crisis that has disrupted his life. Since his 75-year-old mother, Tita Carreño, suffered a fractured femur in August, he has been unable to work, dedicating his time to her care. As an informal laborer living paycheck to paycheck, a medical emergency poses an insurmountable financial burden. ‘The hospital demanded $3,000 for the surgery,’ Carreño explained, a sum his family struggled to gather even after negotiating a reduced fee. Carreño’s daily struggles underscore the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. He must heat water on a gas stove for his bedridden mother because their home, shared by five people, lacks a water heater. Additionally, running water is rationed, available only three days a week, forcing him to store dozens of buckets to meet their needs. This personal hardship is set against a backdrop of severe economic instability. In the two months following the US warship deployment, the Venezuelan bolivar lost 50% of its value against the US dollar, according to the Central Bank. For many Venezuelans, the fear of political persecution and perpetual economic decline outweighs concerns about external conflict. As the aunt of a political detainee, held without charges since September 2023, remarked when asked if she feared a military overthrow: ‘Afraid of what? Wars eventually end, but my fear is being trapped here forever, abandoned by our allies in this struggle.’
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FLASH : Melissa promises to be devastating in Haiti
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a critical update on Tropical Storm Melissa, warning of severe and prolonged weather conditions in Haiti. As of 5:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 24, 2025, the storm’s center was located approximately 445 km southwest of Port-au-Prince, with coordinates at 16.0 degrees north latitude and 75.5 degrees west longitude. Melissa is nearly stationary but is expected to drift northeast and northward later in the day, followed by a westward trajectory from Saturday through Monday. The storm is forecasted to bring heavy rainfall of 20 to 35 cm across southern Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, with potential for life-threatening flash floods and landslides. Southern Haiti is particularly at risk, with significant damage to infrastructure and prolonged isolation of communities anticipated. Maximum sustained winds are currently near 75 km/h, with higher gusts, and the storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend. The Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti (SEMANAH) has suspended all coastal activities in the southern region due to dangerous swells. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Haiti’s southwest peninsula, and multiple departments have been placed on orange alert. Authorities are urging residents to take immediate precautions, including avoiding watercourses, securing important documents, and staying informed through reliable sources.
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First Mosquitoes Ever Found in Iceland
Iceland, once celebrated as one of the world’s last mosquito-free regions, has officially lost this distinction. For the first time, mosquitoes have been discovered in the country, a development attributed to an unusually warm spring. The discovery was made by nature enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason, who spotted the insects while observing moths in a glacial valley southwest of Reykjavik. Hjaltason immediately recognized the unfamiliar creatures and shared his findings on Facebook, prompting further investigation. Scientists later identified the insects as Culiseta annulata, a mosquito species commonly found in Europe and North Africa, known for its ability to endure cold winters. Historically, Iceland’s chilly climate and scarcity of standing water had made it inhospitable to mosquitoes, placing it alongside Antarctica as one of the only mosquito-free zones globally. However, this year’s record-breaking temperatures have disrupted this equilibrium. In May, Iceland experienced ten consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 20°C (68°F), culminating in a new national record high of 26.6°C (79.8°F). Experts warn that such extreme weather events, driven by climate change, are becoming more frequent, posing a significant threat to the fragile Arctic ecosystems. This discovery underscores the far-reaching impacts of global warming, even in regions once considered immune to such changes.