A boat leaves Barcelona and crosses the Atlantic heading for a pediatric hospital in Cuba. Watch the full story to see why.

The Ship Bringing Aid to Power Cuba’s Hospital

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After visiting Cuba, Gustavo Petro had a message for Washington. Watch what he said:

Cuba suffered two major power grid failures this weekend. A partial collapse on Saturday was followed by a nationwide blackout late Sunday, the sixth since the Trump administration imposed an oil blockade on the island in January.

The Trump administration says Cuba hosts Russia’s largest overseas spy base. The NYT says it “bristles with antennas” reaching U.S. Central Command and Mar-a-Lago. We went there. It’s a public university. Read our investigation with @dropsitenews.com www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com/trump-nyt-ru...

Trump and NYT Say There’s a Russian Spy Base in Cuba. Turns Out, It’s a School

Trump and the New York Times claimed Cuba hosts a Russian spy base. Belly of the Beast investigated and found a university instead.

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Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced Sunday he will end diplomatic relations with Cuba. Cuba hosted the negotiations that produced the 2016 peace accord between the Colombian government and the FARC rebel group, ending 52 years of armed conflict.

Since January, the U.S. oil blockade has intensified Cuba’s crisis. With fuel imports restricted, gas stations sit empty as lines of cars stretch for hours. Taxi drivers, already hurt by failing tourism, are left without gas and a way to earn a living.

Inside Cuba’s Fuel Lines: Taxi Drivers Struggle Under U.S. Oil Blockade

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The Trump administration sanctioned nine more Cuban entities and two individuals last week, including Cuba's health minister, the state company running its overseas medical missions, and the agency and director who recruit doctors for them.

Trump, Rubio and major U.S. media outlets claim Russia is operating a spy base in Cuba. So we went to the alleged base to look for the Russian spies. Here's what we found. Watch full story: www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com/this-russian...

The People Inside Cuba’s Alleged Russian Spy Base: There Are No Russian Spies Here

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Mike Hammer, the top U.S. diplomat in Cuba, visited the distribution of U.S.-funded food aid in Bejucal. We tried to ask him about the aid and U.S. sanctions. He declined to answer and drove away. youtube.com/shorts/puEtb...

Top U.S. Diplomat Mike Hammer Visits U.S.-Funded Aid Distribution in Cuba

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On July 21, Reps. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) took to the House floor to condemn the U.S. government’s “inhumane” policy toward Cuba a week after visiting the island — something Secretary of State Marco Rubio has never done. youtu.be/gt6EeL2ME3c

Members of Congress Call for End to “Inhumane” Blockade on Cuba

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Trump, Rubio and major U.S. media claim Russia is operating a spy base in Cuba. So we went to the alleged site ourselves. Here's what we found. youtu.be/B_N2puLsNN8

This Russian Base In Cuba Is Spying On You

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After their fact-finding trip to Cuba, four members of Congress asked to meet with the U.S. Embassy in Havana. The embassy denied their request. We asked three of the lawmakers if this is normal. Listen to what Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) had to say:

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) denounced U.S. sanctions on Cuba as decades-long “human rights violations.” Watch his speech in full: youtu.be/ETWX2DdZln0

Rep. McGovern: Cubans “Screwed Over” by “Arrogant Politicians in Washington”

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Three Spanish hotel chains — Meliá, Iberostar and Barceló — announced today they will cease operations in Cuba after the Trump administration sanctioned Cuba's Tourism Ministry last week. Read more below: www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com/news/us-econ...

U.S. Economic War Drives Hotel Chains Out of Cuba — Belly of the Beast

U.S. sanctions and worsening fuel shortages are driving foreign hotel chains out of Cuba, deepening the crisis facing the island’s tourism industry.

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Rep. Pramila Jaypal challenged a State Department official over whether decades lof U.S. sanctions on Cuba amount to collective punishment prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Watch the exchange. youtu.be/JBVgdhjbyUc

U.S. Representative Confronts State Department Official over Embargo

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The U.S. State Dept just released a 100-page report accusing Cuba of influencing virtually every major progressive movement in the United States over the last 65 years — making the case for red-baiting in the U.S. and regime change in Cuba. More below: www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com/news/marco-r...

Marco Rubio’s State Department Report Targets U.S. Activists and Pushes Regime Change in Cuba — Belly of the Beast

A new 100-page State Department report accuses Cuba of influencing U.S. activist movements, providing the Trump administration with a case for domestic repression and regime change in Cuba.

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Donald Trump says big changes are coming to Cuba in the next two months, but it won’t be the same as Venezuela. So what does he think is about to happen instead? Watch the clip of his interview with Fox News and decide for yourself what he meant

U.S. sanctions have caused a container with 3.5 million syringes and needles bound for Santiago de Cuba’s health system to be stranded in Jamaica, according to Cuban state media outlet Cubadebate.

The Trump administration sanctioned 10 more Cuban entities Monday, including Cuba’s Tourism Ministry as well as state-owned companies involved in foreign trade and those that import fuel for Cuba’s private sector.

Donald Trump says Russia has a spy base in Cuba. The New York Times says it’s “bristling with antennas”. We went there to see for ourselves. Here’s what we found.

The New York Times Says This Is a Spy Base in Cuba

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BREAKING: Cuba has plunged into darkness again after its national electrical grid failed today. Today’s nationwide blackout is the third in the last eight days, and the fifth since the Trump administration imposed its oil blockade in late January.

Another foreign mining company is trying to save its Cuba operation by appeasing the Trump administration Bloomberg reports Antilles Gold, an Australian company developing a gold and copper mine in Cuba, proposed selling a controlling stake in its joint venture to U.S. investors

Three U.S. lawmakers traveled to Cuba to see the impact of U.S. policy firsthand. In this exclusive interview, they challenge the Trump administration's claims and say Congress should demand evidence—not rhetoric. Watch the full interview: youtu.be/jsQbwjoUO8I

U.S. Lawmakers Challenge Trump’s Claims About Cuba After Visiting the Island

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In the face of fuel shortages caused by the U.S.-imposed oil blockade, U.S. non-profit organization MEDICC brought solar panels to Cuban maternal homes. youtu.be/boObfm1LUto

U.S. Policy Causes Cuba’s Blackouts. U.S. Citizens Bring Solar Panels for Pregnant Women

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According to Trump, Rubio and the anonymous sources of The New York Times, there's a Russian base in Cuba. We went to the supposed site of the base. Here’s what we found. This is the first in a series investigating the so-called spy bases in Cuba. Follow along for the next dispatches.

Trump imposed an oil blockade on Cuba because, according to his January 29 executive order, Russia's largest spy base outside Russia is on the island. The New York Times didn’t bother to verify the cl...

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Cuba’s FM Bruno Rodríguez confronted U.S. Amb. Mike Waltz at the UN on Tuesday, after Waltz accused Cuba of human rights abuses, holding photos of people detained and killed by ICE. “This did not happen in Cuba,” said Rodriguez.

As the U.S. oil blockade deepens fuel shortages, elderly Cubans are adapting to a new reality: cooking with charcoal, sitting in the dark and waiting for the lights to return.

In an astounding denial of reality, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz denied the existence of the U.S. blockade on Cuba. Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez replied: "You're a liar, Mr. Waltz."

Last week, Democrat lawmakers joined National Nurses United to demand an end to Trump’s economic war on Cuba. Representatives Delia Ramirez, Pramila Jayapal, Jonathan Jackson and Ro Khanna denounced the weaponization of food, fuel and medicine against the Cuban people.

Rubio calls Cuba a "failed state" and a security threat — using a crisis caused by U.S. sanctions to justify more of them. We fact-checked Trump's case for economic war on Cuba: spy bases, terrorism, Hamas ties and more. Spoiler: It doesn't hold up. www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com/trumps-films...

Fact-Checking the Flimsy Case for Trump's Economic War on Cuba

A fact-check of the shaky claims used to justify Trump’s economic war on Cuba, from sanctions and human rights to alleged threats from Havana.

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