International tourism in Cuba continues to decline, putting the communist island on track for its worst performance since the pandemic. In the first nine months of the year, 1.4 million foreign tourists visited the island, which is 20% less than in the same period of 2024.
After Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica and Haiti suffered catastrophic destruction, with at least 50 people killed. Total damages and economic losses are estimated at 48-52 billion US dollars.
A study by Imperial College London showed that climate change made Hurricane Melissa four times more likely. The Category 5 hurricane, which hit Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, caused $22 billion in damage and left dozens dead.
Hurricane Melissa is moving towards Bermuda, having claimed the lives of over 30 people in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The storm hit Cuba as an extremely dangerous Category 3 hurricane.
Ukraine is closing its embassy in Havana and downgrading diplomatic ties with Cuba. This decision is a response to Cuba's support for Russian aggression.
25 people have died in southern Haiti after a river, overflowing due to Hurricane Melissa, flooded homes. Dozens of houses have collapsed, and people remain trapped under the rubble.
Ukraine voted against the resolution to end the American blockade of Cuba at the UN. This decision is a response to Cuba's support for Russian aggression, including wishing success to Putin and the participation of Cuban citizens in the war.
Hurricane Melissa reached Cuba less than a day after becoming the strongest storm ever to hit Jamaica, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and forcing hospital evacuations. In Cuba, 735,000 people were evacuated, with rainfall up to 63 cm and storm surges up to 3.7 meters expected.
Hurricane Melissa maintains Category 4 strength and may intensify, threatening catastrophic floods in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica. It is expected to pass near or over Jamaica on Tuesday morning, then cross Cuba and reach the southeastern Bahamas by Wednesday.
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously supported a bill to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism due to the abduction of Ukrainian children. This is Senator Graham's third attempt to pass such a decision, which would have devastating consequences for the Russian economy.
Electronic Arts has restricted access to its games for users in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia regions and Crimea. The reason given is sanctions and embargoes, although the cities of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are controlled by Ukraine.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied accusations of the country's participation in the "military conflict in Ukraine," calling them "slanderous. " The Cuban government states that it has no information about citizens participating in the war and adheres to a zero-tolerance policy towards mercenary activities.
Russia is actively recruiting foreign military personnel due to record losses, enlisting Cubans, North Koreans, and migrants. Up to 25,000 Cubans could fight on Russia's side, making them the largest foreign contingent.
The US states that over 5,000 Cubans are participating in the war against Ukraine on the Russian side. Cuba and its president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, actively support Russian aggression, according to the State Department.
International sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine have significantly weakened Moscow's position in Latin America. Military-technical cooperation has sharply declined, while Iran and China have intensified their influence in the region.
The Ukrainian national football team defeated the Republic of Korea with a score of 2:1 at the Youth World Cup. Ukraine will play its next match against Panama on September 30 at 23:00.
Kenyan police rescued 22 people from a group that fraudulently recruited them to work in Russia, but actually planned to send them to fight in Ukraine. One suspect has been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.
On September 27, the 24th FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off in Chile, where Ukraine will play its first match against South Korea. The tournament will last until October 19, 2025.
The US is trying to prevent Russian airlines from obtaining sanctioned spare parts.
A bipartisan group of American senators proposes recognizing Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism. This will happen if the countries do not return more than 19,000 Ukrainian children taken during the war.
August 27 marks Ukrainian Salo Day, established in 2015, and National Banana Lovers Day. Also on this day, World Rock Paper Scissors Day and International Boxing Day are celebrated, the latter having been moved to August 27 in 2019.
The United States will send singer Brandon Howard, known as B. Howard, to the Russian "Intervision" contest in September. The contest, revived by Putin, is positioned as a Soviet alternative to "Eurovision."
The Russian Federation uses cultural cooperation to spread its influence in Latin America. A Russian film festival, organized with the assistance of Russian state structures, has started in Havana, showcasing propaganda films.
The United States announced unprecedented sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on July 11, four years after anti-government protests. The sanctions include visa restrictions for Díaz-Canel and other high-ranking officials for human rights violations.
BRICS countries reacted to Donald Trump's threats to impose 10% tariffs on countries that join "anti-American policies. " South Africa and China deny anti-American sentiments, and Malaysia joins BRICS, emphasizing an independent foreign policy.
From July 1, Ukrainians abroad can submit documents for notarial acts online through the "e-Consul" system. This innovation simplifies the process, allowing citizens to upload necessary data and certificates without a physical visit to diplomatic missions until the last step.
The Trump administration is considering expanding the list of countries whose citizens will be banned from entering the United States. The reasons are problems with document security and migration cooperation.
The Ukrainian national volleyball team defeated Cuba with a score of 3:2 in its debut season in the League of Nations. This is the second victory of the Ukrainian team in the prestigious tournament.
The Trump administration has stopped raids on businesses due to damage to farmers and businesses. Priority is given to detaining the "most dangerous" migrants with a criminal past.
The men's volleyball team of Ukraine is performing in the League of Nations for the first time and immediately defeated the bronze medalists of the 2024 Olympics - the US team with a score of 3:0. There are three more matches ahead in the first week of the tournament.
