The US has agreed to allow 24.000 migrants from Venezuela to stay legally for up to two years

The proposed program is similar to the one implemented for Ukrainians after the Russian invasion. Under the program, a maximum of 24,000 migrants of Venezuela can enter the U.S. and stay legally for up to two years. It will be necessary for each of them to have a sponsor in the U.S. who will guarantee financial support for the person. After approval of their applications, they would take the air route to the US. However, those who cross the Mexican border without authorization will not be eligible. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said, “Those who follow the lawful process will have the opportunity to travel safely to the United States and become eligible to work here.” The administration believes this to be a way to reduce the rising numbers of migrants crossing the border without authorization. U.S. to allow some Venezuelan migrants to enter. Others will be sent to Mexico. In the last fiscal year ending in September, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 2 million encounters with migrants at the border — a record high.

In recent months, there has been an increase in the number of border crossers from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. Border agents have processed many of the cases and released them to pursue their asylum claims within the U.S. Migrants from Cuba and Venezuela are more difficult to deport and U.S. officials face difficulties to send them back to their home countries in significant numbers. Due to deteriorating economic conditions and an authoritarian government, many Venezuelans have left the country. Officials of the administration are hopeful that creating an orderly process for Venezuelans to enter the U.S. will discourage them from crossing the border illegally. That will reduce the load on overwhelmed Border Patrol agents. The administration had focused on rolling back Trump-era restrictions at the border. In that context, this appears to be a new approach that could pay dividends.

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Hurricane Ian struck the western tip of the island, left millions of Cubans without power and is headed towards Florida

The hurricane knocked out power across all of Cuba. Initially, there was loss of power in the western provinces, but later the entire grid collapsed. That meant nearly 11 million people were left without electricity. Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 3 storm and devastated Pinar del Rio province. That meant destruction of large numbers of the country's most important tobacco farms. The authorities had to arrange evacuation of tens of thousands of people as the disaster left behind damaged houses and floods. The US National Hurricane Center said Cuba suffered "significant wind and storm surge impacts." The hurricane had struck with top sustained winds of 125mph and it could gain strength as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico and nears the southwestern coast of Florida. Already orders are given for millions of people of Florida to leave. Hurricane Ian leaves 11 million in Cuba without electricity as it heads towards Florida. Warning is given to residents as well as holidaymakers to take precautions and not be complacent. This is because the hurricane could become a Category 4 storm, with wind speeds of 140mph across the whole state.

Deanne Criswell, spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), held an emergency briefing at the White House. She summed up the grim situation and said - “The storm surge is going to be significant, and you put 20 inches of rain on top of that…. We are talking about impacts in parts of Florida that haven't seen a major direct impact in nearly 100 years." Incidentally, Hurricane Ian is heading towards the Florida Keys. This is a popular holiday destination consisting several islands, some less than a mile wide. US President Joe Biden cancelled a planned trip and called mayors in three Florida cities to assure them federal support is ready to deploy food, fuel and shelter. FEMA has already set up 29 emergency community shelters. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has declared a state of emergency and urged residents to be prepared. There are predictions of floods for much of the Florida peninsula midweek. This could lead to heavy rainfall for the southeast of the US later this week.

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President Obama lands in Havana with his family

Barack Obama has now become the first US President in 88 years to visit Cuba after Air Force One touched down in the Jose Marti International Airport, Havana. He was greeted by foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez but not president Raul Castro. This visit is the first by a sitting president since Calvin Coolidge arrived on a battleship in 1928. The absence of Raul Castro at the airport has been criticized by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 21 March 2016.

Raul Castro and Barack Obama had announced in December 2014 that they would re-open diplomatic relations and put an end to an estrangement that began when the Cuban revolution had ousted a pro-American government in 1959. Commercial flights have already resumed and respective embassies have reopened, but the economic embargo of Cuba continues to remain following Republicans in the US blocking its rescission.
The US President is accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha, and Michelle, the first lady and her mother. On arrival in Havana, the President has termed his visit an "historic opportunity to engage with the Cuban people". In his itinerary of the three-day-trip are private meetings with dissidents, addressing Cubans live on state TV and attend an exhibition baseball game.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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US and Cuba to restore commercial flights after 50-years

The United States and Cuba have finally concluded a deal to restore commercial flights for the first time in more than five decades. There would be nearly 110 daily flights from the US to different cities across Cuba - 20 of these would be regular daily flights to Havana by next autumn.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 16 February 2016.

At present US airlines operate 10 to 15 charter flights into the Cuban capital per day. Therefore, this deal marks one of the more significant developments between the former Cold War foes. It has happened after presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced a normalizing of relations in December 2014.
The conclusion of the deal represents a critically important milestone in the US effort to engage with Cuba because this travel agreement opens up the door for US airlines to start bidding on the new routes. American Airlines, which has operated charter flights into Cuba since 1991, has indicated that it would bid on commercial routes from Miami and other US hubs.
Other airlines that have shown an interest are United, Southwest, Delta, JetBlue and Spirit - they also are keen to secure daily routes into Cuba.
Incidentally, in spite of the new agreement, tourism to Cuba remains barred by US law. However, the number of legal reasons for US travelers to go to Cuba have been widely extended and, in fact, are loosely enforced.



Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Cuba Embassy reopens in Washington after 54-years

#Cuba #Havana #JohnKerry #barackobama #RaulCastro Cuba and the US have officially re-established their respective embassies in Washington and Havana respectively at 12.01am on Monday – while the Cuban flag was hung in the lobby of the State Department, the American flag will be raised over the US embassy in Havana during a ceremony that will be attended by John Kerry, US Secretary of State in August.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 20 July 2015.

John Kerry has hailed this as a "new beginning" after a ceremony marked the reopening of the Cuban embassy in Washington. In this symbolic event, the Cuban flag was raised in the US capital for the first time in 54 years.
This is seen as the latest milestone as the two former Cold War foes continue to rebuild the broken diplomatic ties. Of course, one issue which remains unresolved is the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – this was highlighted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. In his words, the historic events will make sense with the removal of the economic, commercial and financial blockade because that resulted in deprivation and damage to the people of Cuba. He also mentioned the return of occupied territory in Guantanamo, and respect for the sovereignty of Cuba.
As far as history goes, relations between the US and Cuba had started to deteriorate after the 1959 Cuban Revolution overthrew the Batista government. However, last December US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro made the breakthrough announcement that the two governments would begin working on normalizing relations – that has now taken shape.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Ferry services between Cuba and the United States to resume after 56-years

#Cuba #FerryService #Florida #travel #tradeembargo Ferry services between Cuba and the United States had been stopped in 1959 after Washington imposed a trade embargo on Cuba following its communist revolution. However, it has been reported in news.sky.com dated 7 May 2015 that passenger ferry services could soon be resumed between the two countries.

The US has now lifted the ban and has granted licenses to a number of American ferry companies – this would benefit the hundreds of thousands of people who travel between Florida and Havana every year.
Before the embargo, there used to be a regular ferry service between Florida and Cuba and thousands of American tourists used to avail the service to go to the bars and casinos in Havana and, simultaneously, Cubans would take overnight shopping trips to the US.
On a rough estimate, nearly 600,000 people travel between the US and Cuba every year and have to depend on expensive charter flights.
The US had indicated the restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba in December – due to that, the trade embargo was lifted which opened up the avenue for import of some goods that are produced by Cuba's new private sector.

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Cuba could soon become a favored tourist destination for Americans

#Havana #Cuba #RaulCastro #BarackObama #tourists With the thaw in relationship between the old Cold War foes US and Cuba, progress is visible following a second round of discussions to end a half-century diplomatic freeze as reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 1 March 2015.
President Barack Obama and his counterpart Raul Castro have promised to restore embassies in each other’s capitals. Some hurdles still remain, including the one of Cuba’s place on the US blacklist of state sponsor of terrorism.
Anyway, the rural communities of Cuba could real benefits from an influx of American tourists because, the fresh relations between the two governments could provide a boost to allow the isolated communities to look for new economic opportunities once the US fully lifts its ban on trade and travel. Havana, the capital of Cuba, was seen as a party destination for Americans years ago due to its close proximity to Florida.
It is in the villages where visitors can experience a side of the Caribbean island that few holidaymakers bother to see. In the villages, the number of cars is less, the farm workers harvest tomatoes by hand, and the farmers sell their produce and meat at roadside stands. Goods are transported by horse and buggy or tractor.
Of course, life in 'the real Cuba' and talks between US and Cuban officials continue with an eye to restore full diplomatic relations and, ultimately, move towards opening trade.