Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, a report on the growing scale and importance of remittances to the developing world, which hit a record $647 billion, aiding the poor but helping keep strongmen from Nicaragua to Tajikistan in power: More people than ever are migrating worldwide, with millions of people sending home record amounts of cash […]
Read more »Via BBC, an article on Cuba’s acute fuel shortages which – on top of years of food insecurity, inflation and electricity blackouts – is pushing Cuba closer to Russia: Cuban taxi driver Jorge Lloro is reminded of his nation’s historic ties to Russia every time he gets behind the wheel of his navy blue, Soviet-era […]
Read more »Via East Asia Forum, an article on China expanded economic reach into Central and South America: In early March 2023, General Laura Richardson, head of the United States Southern Command, told a US congressional hearing that Chinese actions in South America posed a threat to US safety. According to General Richardson, China is on a […]
Read more »Via France24, a report on Cuba’s surprise lifting of its ban on US dollar deposits in banks, reversing a policy which had been in place since June 2021: Cuba’s government on Monday announced a surprise lifting of its ban on US dollar deposits in banks, reversing a policy which had been in place across the […]
Read more »Via World Politics Review, a look at Cuba’s current economic crisis: Cuba is suffering. That was the inescapable conclusion from a recent trip to the island. The aged electrical grid is collapsing for lack of maintenance and spare parts, causing sporadic blackouts across the island. Factories bereft of raw materials and electricity are only operating […]
Read more »Via Eurasia Review, commentary on Cuba’s black markets and economic condition: Black Markets have always been regarded as networks where buyers and sellers transact goods and services notorious for being morally wrong. Things like hard drugs, illegal prostitution, or guns that are not registered are among the many elements people cite when someone introduces the […]
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