A solidarity donation of 750 metric tons of vegetable oil delivered by Russia was allocated to the emergency response reserves of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Cuba.

The shipment was financed by the Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of the Consequences of Natural Disasters of the Russian Federation, through a biennial contribution of four million U.S. dollars corresponding to 2025-2026.

The reception ceremony was presided over by the ambassador of the Eurasian nation in Havana, Viktor V. Koronelli, and the WFP representative in Cuba, Etienne Labande. On the Cuban side, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade Oscar Pérez-Oliva and Minister of Domestic Trade Betsy Díaz attended.

Koronelli highlighted in exclusive statements to Prensa Latina the importance of this gesture by the Russian government and people in helping the largest of the Antilles.

"This delivery has a quite significant impact taking into account the situation Cuba is experiencing as a result of the consequences of the criminal blockade imposed by the United States," he stressed.

Moscow's humanitarian collaboration with the Caribbean nation has been channeled through donations of medicines, vehicles and food, often through cities such as St. Petersburg and the capital of the Slavic nation.

These shipments, which also include contributions to the WFP, reaffirm the historic ties of friendship and Russia's continued support for the Caribbean island.

In this context, this United Nations program has acted as the central multilateral channel through which these donations reach the country, coordinating with the Cuban government the distribution of this aid to the most vulnerable groups.

A solidarity aid shipment of 425 tons of rice donated by Japan, destined for consumption by the population of eastern Cuba, was delivered today in this capital in the context of World Food Day.

The shipment is part of the one-million-U.S.-dollar contribution provided by the Asian nation's government through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support the humanitarian response after Hurricane Melissa passed through eastern Cuba in October 2025.

The reception ceremony was presided over by Japan's ambassador in Havana, Nakamura Kazuhito, and the WFP representative in Cuba, Etienne Labande. On the Cuban side, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade Oscar Pérez-Oliva and Minister of Domestic Trade Betsy Díaz attended.

In statements to Prensa Latina, Kazuhito highlighted Tokyo's current policy toward Havana in developing the food security program in the island nation.

"My country's position currently consists of supporting the Cuban people through the different programs of the United Nations Organization," he stated.

Japanese cooperation with Cuba began in 1961 and has focused on sectors such as agriculture, health, and the environment.

After the passage of hurricanes such as Matthew, Irma, or Ian, the Japanese nation has delivered emergency aid through the WFP, including one million dollars after Hurricane Melissa in 2025.

In response to that last natural phenomenon, the WFP was the central executor and coordinator of humanitarian aid in Cuba, converting donor funds into emergency rations for some 190,000 people, and assuming logistics and supply amid fuel shortages.

The World Food Forum (WFF) occupied international press headlines this week with its debates on the need to transform science, innovation, investment, and knowledge into food accessible to all.

Convened by the FAO at its headquarters in Rome, the event—which celebrated World Food Day this Friday—met under the theme "Innovate today to nourish tomorrow," with the participation of government representatives, researchers, producers, investors, youth, and indigenous communities from all regions.

The program of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization linked the transformation of agrifood systems with food security and rural development.

The backdrop is alarming: some 673 million people in the world suffer from hunger and around 2.6 billion cannot afford a healthy diet, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu reiterated on more than one occasion at the WFF.

To that reality are added extreme climate phenomena, pressure on biodiversity, climate change, wars, and inequalities that hinder access to food. Among the main results of the event was the presentation of agrifood investment opportunities worth a record 20.16 billion dollars, proposed by 38 countries and five regional initiatives at the Investment Forum of the Hand-in-Hand initiative.

The projects cover staple crops, livestock, fishing, and higher-value commercial products, and aspire to improve productivity, rural incomes, and the resilience capacity of vulnerable communities.

The Latin America and Caribbean region presented opportunities worth 2.292 billion dollars, through proposals from nine countries and two subregional initiatives.

Cuba presented projects linked to the coffee and honey production chains, aimed at modernizing processes, improving traceability, and expanding access to international markets.

Science and innovation occupied another central space during the meeting. Debates examined tools such as artificial intelligence, remote sensing, robotics, and biotechnology, together with local and traditional knowledge.

The challenge, participants insisted, consists of ensuring that these advances also reach small producers and communities with fewer resources, instead of widening existing technological gaps.

Water availability and its equitable distribution figured among the main concerns of the meeting. At the Rome Water Dialogue, the FAO director-general defended its more efficient use and measures to prevent the effects of droughts and floods.

The organization also presented a digital platform aimed at guiding irrigation investments according to agricultural needs and the sustainability of water resources.

In this context, the FAO recognized 100 women farmers for their contributions to agrifood systems on the International Day of Rural Women.

Among them was Cuban Magalys Pedrero Basulto, linked for decades to urban agriculture in Camagüey, an example of the role of women producers in community supply.

At the close, the Forum left a decisive question posed: how to transform investment proposals, scientific innovations, and international commitments into verifiable improvements for those who produce and consume food.

The magnitude of the announced resources contrasts with the persistence of hunger and reinforces the need for financing to reach the ground, benefit the most vulnerable populations, and contribute to sustainable and resilient food systems.

More than 800 aftershocks, thousands of victims, and uncertainty in the provinces affected by the 7.5-magnitude earthquake of October 9 stand out today in Panama's news week.

According to the most recent official report, 15,139 people and 4,485 families were affected by the seismic event, while the Government maintains actions to assist the victims.

Minister of Canal Affairs and Secretary of Goals José Ramón Icaza reported that 3,696 people remain in 46 shelters, of whom 2,569 are in Veraguas province.

So far, one fatality is reported: a 68-year-old woman from Macaracas, in Los Santos province.

Authorities are also assisting 1,185 families whose homes suffered damage, while the Ministry of Social Development provided psychological assistance to more than 2,000 victims.

Coclé, Los Santos, Veraguas, and Herrera are among the provinces most affected by the earthquake, whose epicenter was near Pitaloza Arriba, in Herrera.

In the housing sphere, the Government is evaluating damage to more than 2,300 homes and has begun enabling the first 300 solutions through home construction, repairs, and delivery of materials.

For its part, the Ministry of Education inspected 519 schools with partial or total damage and will determine the resumption of classes based on the safety conditions of the facilities.

The emergency also prompted expressions of concern about inequalities in attention to affected communities. The Pueblo Unido por la Vida alliance denounced differences in state assistance and warned that lower-income sectors face greater difficulties in recovering their homes, livelihoods, and access to basic services.

The organization questioned the minimizing of the catastrophe's impact due to the low number of fatalities, emphasizing the material losses and the uncertainty facing thousands of people.

Among the geographic effects reported is Isla Cañas, in Los Santos, where, according to a television report, the terrain was divided by a channel about four meters deep after the phenomenon.

Amid recovery tasks, President José Raúl Mulino confirmed the cancellation of the traditional dawn reveille at the Presidency of the Republic, scheduled for the early hours of November 3, as part of national holiday celebrations.

The president indicated that the holding of parades will be evaluated at the next Cabinet Council before announcing a definitive decision.

Mulino justified the suspension of the reveille due to the situation the country is going through and the need to address the consequences of the disaster, which struck thousands of families.

Panama also received international cooperation to face the emergency. Among the contributions stands out a shipment of 40 tons of humanitarian aid from Venezuela, accompanied by 51 specialists destined to support technical evaluation and the recovery of damaged infrastructure.

The United States, Costa Rica, and Korea are also among the countries that have provided support, along with the United Nations World Food Programme and other agencies of the multilateral organization.

The earthquake occurred at 12:56 p.m. local time on October 9. The U.S. Geological Survey raised the magnitude from 7.6 to 7.7, while the Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama placed it at 7.5, after an initial estimate of 7.2.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel today denounced U.S. international pressures ahead of the vote against the blockade at the UN.

"The cruelty of the collective punishment that the U.S. applies to the Cuban people is so unjustifiable that, on the eve of a new UN vote on the resolution against the blockade, it desperately pressures sovereign nations to endorse its genocidal actions," the head of state denounced on the social network X.

Díaz-Canel described the deployment against leaders and officials as frantic, and noted that these events are "the best evidence of how alone and isolated they are before the world in their policy against Cuba, of the lack of authentic support, and of how the cause is on our side."

In a few days, the Caribbean nation will present before the United Nations General Assembly its annual report "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," a text that for more than three decades has been supported by an overwhelming majority of countries.

With an artistic presentation on the reality of Cuba at the Cuban embassy in France, Italian photographer Giovanni di Stefano seeks today to materialize a simple motivation: I want to help Cuba, where wonderful people live.

"I want to raise money to help the people in Cuba" was the central idea of his brief exchange with Prensa Latina, minutes before presenting at the diplomatic mission a window into the reality of the Caribbean nation, with the purpose of raising funds to help it.

If everything goes well and I manage to sell my photographs, because printing them is expensive, I will return to Cuba to continue helping people, commented the Italian artist residing in this nation.

For Stefano, the genocidal blockade of more than six decades exercised by the United States is a process he still needs to understand better, as he confesses.

What the Italian artist does not understand now is why U.S. President Donald Trump is doing this, referring to the strengthened economic siege on the island.

"But the people I know there (in Cuba) are wonderful and they are good friends, they are people who love music. That is why I do not understand why Cuba is treated so badly. It is madness," commented Stefano, who last traveled to the Caribbean nation in 2025.

By that time, Trump maintained a strengthened blockade, but had not yet imposed the energy siege, which began on January 29 of this year, along with the measures to prevent foreign companies from trading with Cuba, put into practice last May 1.

Stefano told Prensa Latina that he went to Cuba in 2002. Although he had been there before for work reasons, he said that at that time he could not get to know the country much because he was dedicated to another activity, not photography.

In 2002, after having worked as a photographer for some years, I rented a car and decided to take my family on vacation to Cuba. I fell in love with the country immediately: for its cars, its lifestyle, for everything that Cuba is, confessed the artist.

I met wonderful people. My family returned home, but I stayed because I wanted to take more photographs, he stated. I returned six times in four years to continue my photographic project. I met many people who are now my friends and who face enormous difficulties to get ahead and have no money, they lack almost everything. That is why I try to help them from here, he argued.

Then I thought: I am going to organize an exhibition for humanitarian purposes, said the photographer. The last time I went to Cuba was in December 2025, just before Trump changed everything. The situation worsened a lot and that gave me even more reasons to act, said the Italian artist.

A friend suggested I exhibit some of my photographs in his medical office, not far from here, and I exhibited nine photographs and sold one. I sent part of the money to Cuba, to the people I know, he confessed.

But I thought we had to do more and that is why I got in touch with the Cuban Embassy, they liked the project very much and suggested I organize a larger exhibition at their headquarters. And that is what we are doing now, he explained.

More than 20 enlarged photographs of Cuba opened a new window on the reality of that nation by a person who took it as obvious to contribute a sense of justice in the face of what is imposed on the island from the United States.

The Alazanes de Granma defeated the Avispas de Santiago de Cuba 6-2 today and closed the gap in the Eastern Zone of the 65th National Baseball Series.

At the Guillermón Moncada, the Granma squad found the formula to contain the leaders of the division and deliver a blow that tightened the battle for the top spots, with a victory built on 11 hits and four errors by the local defense.

Ernesto Pérez put his signature on the visiting offense with a home run, while José Rodríguez and Juan Danilo Pérez shared responsibility from the mound to pave the way to success, with Yosmel Garcés as the losing pitcher.

The day also brought a turnaround in the streak of the Vegueros de Pinar del Río, who after eight straight victories fell 7-8 to the Cazadores de Artemisa in a back-and-forth clash with abundant offensive power.

Andy Cosme, Dainel López, and Dayan García went deep for Artemisa, while Jorge Yoan Rojas and Lester Benítez responded for the Pinar del Río squad, the latter with a grand slam, his sixth home run of the campaign.

In another standout episode, veteran closer José Ángel García raised his historic record of saves in national championships to 336, a figure that extends his mark on Cuban baseball.

Las Tunas also celebrated by defeating Camagüey 13-6, with home runs from Héctor Quintero, while the Piratas de La Isla beat Industriales 5-3, supported by the pitching performance of Ángel Herrera, a decisive double by Misael Cañete with the bases loaded, and a home run by Alexander Almarales.

Mayabeque needed to squeeze its offense to overcome Cienfuegos 11-10, a result that gave pitcher Jonatan Gasulla his third win without losses and rookie Osbiel Fernández his fourth save, reaching the top of that department.

For its part, Sancti Spíritus defeated Ciego de Ávila 6-4 in a game whose outstanding note was Frederich Cepeda's 399th home run in national tournaments, increasingly close to a round number in his long career.

Rain prevented the matchup between Holguín and Guantánamo, in addition to forcing the sealing of the game between Matanzas and Villa Clara when the Villa Clara squad led 10-1 in the third inning.

With these outcomes, Pinar del Río retains the western lead with a record of eight wins and two losses, followed by Matanzas (6-3), while Cienfuegos, Industriales, Artemisa, and Mayabeque share the next step with 5-5; Villa Clara stands at 3-6 and La Isla closes at 2-8. In the East, Santiago de Cuba remains at the top with 7-3, although Granma, Ciego de Ávila, and Sancti Spíritus lurk with 6-4; Holguín shows 5-4, Las Tunas displays 5-5, Camagüey accumulates 3-7, and Guantánamo occupies the last place with 1-8.

During a hearing today before federal judge Alvin Hellerstein in New York, the constitutional president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to new charges filed in the United States.

In defending his innocence, Maduro stated that the U.S. prosecution's allegations of conspiracy to commit torture are based on false accusations and testimony.

"It is a sum of allegations already presented previously of false accusations," the leader emphasized, noting that he read the accusatory document and rejects it entirely.

For her part, Flores told Judge Hellerstein that she is completely innocent. "I am not guilty," emphasized the Venezuelan lawmaker, up until the moment on January 3, during a U.S. military attack on her country, when she and her husband were kidnapped and transferred to a detention center in New York.

At the hearing, the magistrate accepted a request submitted by the prosecution and the defense of the accused to postpone the start of the trial by two weeks, in order to have more time for the presentation of prior motions, for which the originally scheduled date of June 1, 2027, was rescheduled for the 14th of the same month.

The next hearing for Maduro and Flores will take place on December 17, at which time they must decide the defense's position on immunity.

According to local media reports, Maduro raised his hand upon leaving the courtroom and bid farewell to the judge with a gesture.

Last week, Judge Hellerstein himself denied Flores, who turns 70 on this October 15, house arrest while awaiting trial, despite the defense's argument of the deterioration of her health, especially heart problems, which have worsened since she has been in custody.

Maduro and Flores were formally indicted by a federal grand jury in January in relation to charges associated with drug trafficking, of which both also pleaded not guilty.

The U.S. Government now seeks to link both of them to what it described as the unlawful detention of more than a dozen U.S. citizens in Venezuelan prisons. The prosecution also maintains that the current Venezuelan administration, headed by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, has never demanded through diplomatic channels the release of Nicolás Maduro or Cilia Flores. Nor have they demanded their immunity so that they would not be tried in the United States.

More than one hundred people died in the U.S. military operation, including 32 Cubans.

Cuba today made public a regulation that governs access, construction, use, conservation, and transfer of real estate, as well as public policies to guarantee the right to adequate housing.

The provision, published in the Official Gazette as Law 187 on Housing and approved by the National Assembly of People's Power on July 30, reaffirms the State's responsibility in developing construction programs aimed at reducing the housing deficit, with the participation of the population and other economic actors.

Among its main innovations, it recognizes the right of natural persons to own up to two homes, without prejudice to a rest or summer home declared as such in the property title.

It also incorporates real estate agencies and housing cooperatives among the forms of management participating in the National Housing Development Program, alongside the state sector, the population's own efforts, microbrigades, private enterprises, among others.

The new Law establishes the possibility for owners to cede the use of their homes free of charge through a duly formalized contract registered with the pertinent institutions. It also contemplates mediation as an alternative means of resolving disputes between titleholders, in accordance with the corresponding legislation.

Likewise, the regulation establishes that the State will make effective the right to adequate housing through construction, rehabilitation, and conservation programs, and promotes the diversification of housing access and financing modalities.

Law 187 will enter into force seven days after its publication in the Official Gazette. Along with it, ordinary edition number 86 publishes Decree 176, General Regulations of the Housing Law; Decree 177, Regulations on Horizontal Property; and Decree 178, Regulations on Housing Cooperatives.

The rejection of the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba was heard today in the march that members of progressive movements in Colombia staged in Bogotá.

The island's flags waved in the hands of those who recognize how the U.S. siege causes serious harm to the population, during the walk held along Carrera Séptima to the central Plaza de Bolívar.

Sonia López, of the Congress of Peoples Movement, took part in the march with the symbol of the largest of the Antilles attached to her backpack.

She told Prensa Latina that she "energetically rejects the criminal blockade of imperialism against Cuba," while expressing her support for the Cuban people's project, their self-determination and their right to defend their autonomy.

"We have been brother peoples. As the Colombian people we have much to thank Cuba for because it has historically been a bastion of solidarity, dignity and resistance against imperialism," she revealed.

Francisco Contreras, another of those attending the mobilization, commented that the aim of the march was also to show solidarity with other nations and that Cuba is a people that has been attacked.

He stressed that an "illegitimate, illegal and inhumane blockade" weighs on the island.

He also deplored that the Caribbean nation is not allowed to trade freely with other countries and that companies with which it negotiates are threatened with sanctions. Down with the blockade! he expressed by way of conclusion.

Colombia experienced today a day of mobilizations in several cities across the country, attended by hundreds of thousands of people in cities such as Bucaramanga, Cali, Neiva, Pereira, Pasto, Santa Marta and Tunja, among others.

The Pinar del Río squad found in Luis Pablo Acosta the man who opened the path to success, with a grand slam in the first inning that paved the way for the 5-2 victory over the Cazadores de Artemisa at the 26 de Julio stadium.

From the mound, Frank Denis Blanco held the lead for five and two-thirds innings, in which he allowed two runs, to earn the win and keep the westerners at the top of their zone with a record of eight wins and one loss.

At the other end of the country, the Avispas de Santiago de Cuba had to dig deep to overcome the Alazanes de Granma 9-8 at the Guillermón Moncada, where Yoelquis Guibert slugged two home runs and reached seven in the championship.

Yoel Yanqui and Jeison Martínez also went deep for the hosts, while Alfredo Despaigne celebrated his debut with the Granma uniform with a home run that was not enough to avoid the defeat.

The Cachorros de Holguín defeated the Indios de Guantánamo 5-2 at the Nguyen Van Troi, with Lázaro Cedeño as the offensive figure thanks to a double, a home run, and two RBIs.

The day also left a resounding knockout by Villa Clara, which shut out the Cocodrilos de Matanzas 10-0 at the Augusto César Sandino, supported by seven innings from José Carlos Quesada.

Ciego de Ávila also celebrated from the mound and at the plate by beating Sancti Spíritus 4-0, with the fourth victory of Yunier Batista and a triple by Fernando de la Paz that cleared the bases during the decisive four-run rally in the ninth inning.

At the Nelson Fernández, Mayabeque halted the march of the Elefantes de Cienfuegos with a 9-6 win that ended the southerners' four-game winning streak, while Camagüey came out on top 7-6 against Las Tunas in a duel resolved by Luis Antonio Pérez's double, which left the visitors on the field.

The Toros also counted on home runs from Hubert Sánchez and Alexander Ayala, while Jean Lucas Baldoquín contributed one for the Leñadores, unable to complete the comeback.

Industriales closed the program with a 12-1 knockout over the Piratas de La Isla at the Cristóbal Labra, where Remberto Barrero dominated from the mound and Bryan González, Ariel Hechavarría, and Yoangel La O each contributed home runs to the capital's offense.

For the defeated side, Frank David González hit his seventh home run of the championship and remained at the forefront of that category.

With these results, Pinar del Río leads the Western Zone with 8-1, followed by Matanzas (6-3), Cienfuegos and Industriales (5-4), Artemisa and Mayabeque (4-5), Villa Clara (3-6), and La Isla (1-8).

Santiago de Cuba leads the Eastern Zone with a record of 7-2, escorted by Ciego de Ávila (6-3), Sancti Spíritus, Granma, and Holguín (5-4), Las Tunas (4-5), Camagüey (3-6), and Guantánamo (1-8).

Real Madrid turned today to the mystique of the great clubs to achieve a historic 4-3 comeback against Roma on the second matchday of the Champions League league phase.

Marten de Roon opened the scoring for the Italians in the 20th minute at the Olympic Stadium, but Frenchman Kylian Mbappe quickly equalized (25th minute).

After the halftime break, a double by another Dutchman, Donyell Malen (51st and 58th), put the visitors against the ropes, but they drew on their pedigree and turned the scoreboard around.

Goals from Carlos Espí in the 82nd minute, Brazilian Endrick (85th) and German Antonio Rüdiger (90th) completed the comeback for the Merengues.

Paris Saint-Germain preserved its unbeaten record and took the lead in the standings with a 4-2 victory over Manchester City.

Goals from Desire Doue in the 13th minute, Ousmane Dembele (15th), Brazilian Vitinha (32nd) and Maghnes Akliouche (63rd) gave the French side the win, though they allowed a double by Norwegian Erling Haaland (53rd and 75th).

In addition, Bodo/Glimt surprised Borussia Dortmund 1-0 with a goal from Fredrik Sjovold (52nd).

The evaluation of 36 community pharmacy projects and the work of solidarity medicine distribution networks show the alternatives Cuba is promoting to confront pharmaceutical shortages, aggravated by U.S. economic and financial restrictions.

The strategy combines the strengthening of the national health system, community participation, and new management modalities, under sanitary controls designed to protect the population.

The announcement, released by the Cuban News Agency (ACN) on September 9, 2026, confirms that the country seeks to expand access routes to medicines and health supplies without renouncing state regulation of an activity directly linked to human life.

According to Cristina Lara Bastanzuri, national director of Medicines and Medical Technologies of the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap), three of the proposals are in the process of being constituted and another 14 have the endorsement to continue the procedures. None had begun providing services to the public as of the report date.

The measure is inscribed in a complex reality: guaranteeing treatments for millions of Cubans when the lack of foreign currency, difficulties in importing raw materials, and transportation limitations compromise the production and distribution of medicines. Faced with that scenario, community pharmacies and the effort of health institutions constitute complementary expressions of the same national need: preserving access to health.

A Response Born in the Neighborhoods

In different Cuban communities, solidarity has become a concrete support for patients who need medicines and cannot find them in the usual establishments. Neighbors, volunteers, family members, and humanitarian organizations organize donations, identify needs, and coordinate deliveries, with special attention to the elderly, the chronically ill, and those who have difficulty moving around.

One of the experiences described by the international press is the project "La medicina no se vende" (Medicine Is Not for Sale), promoted by Laura Mendoza in Vedado, Havana. According to a report by The Associated Press, the initiative distributes free of charge medicines received through donations, travelers, and contributions from the population. The organization also maintains links with solidarity groups abroad and with Caritas.

The work of these networks transcends the delivery of a product. The identification of patients, communication through digital groups, and the transfer of medicines to homes or hospitals help connect individual needs with resources available in the community.

Where a treatment does not appear on the shelves, cooperation can help locate it and prevent a person from being left completely helpless.

These experiences do not replace the responsibilities of the health system nor do they by themselves resolve the national deficit. Their importance lies in the fact that they mobilize resources, promote mutual aid, and sustain social protection bonds in a particularly difficult period. They also highlight the value of popular participation, a practice rooted in Cuban society and coherent with the conception of health as a social right.

The Blockade and Its Effects on the Pharmaceutical Chain

The shortage of medicines cannot be analyzed apart from the economic conditions under which Cuba must produce, purchase, and distribute its health resources. The national pharmaceutical industry possesses productive and scientific capacities, but depends on external supplies to obtain raw materials, certain components, packaging materials, and indispensable technologies.

U.S. financial and commercial restrictions add obstacles to those operations. Difficulties in accessing certain banking services, processing international payments, and contracting transporters willing to assume the risks derived from sanctions can make Cuban purchases more expensive or delayed. The impact extends to third-country suppliers and to operations requiring financial or logistical intermediaries.

The report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the need to end the blockade, published in 2025, gathers information from governments and UN system agencies on its economic and social consequences.

The existence of legal exceptions for certain humanitarian sales or medical products does not eliminate all those obstacles. Financing conditions, payment procedures, transportation, and uncertainty about regulatory compliance can hinder operations that, under other circumstances, would be simpler.

Producing in Cuba, Even When Inputs Are Lacking

The Cuban biopharmaceutical industry is a strategic component of health sovereignty. Its development has made it possible to produce medicines and vaccines, sustain research, and create scientific capacities that distinguish the country within the region. However, the technical capacity of laboratories is not enough when the necessary components for completing manufacturing are lacking.

Dependence on imported raw materials turns financing and supply difficulties into a problem that runs through the entire productive chain. It is not only about having facilities or prepared professionals: pharmaceutical ingredients, reagents, packaging materials, and other inputs that must be acquired on the international market are also needed.

For that reason, the recovery of supply requires articulated action among the industry, importing entities, pharmaceutical services, and distribution structures. Each interruption has repercussions on final availability and can compromise treatments that need continuity, such as those for chronic, oncological, and other highly complex conditions.

The priority must be to protect essential medicines, ensure their distribution according to health needs, and prevent supply difficulties from translating into greater inequalities among territories and social groups. In that task, the experience accumulated by Cuban industry constitutes a strength, although its use also depends on resolving the material problems that limit its functioning.

New Forms of Management, with Sanitary Control

The incorporation of non-state modalities into pharmaceutical services constitutes another of the paths the country is examining to expand supply options. According to information published by ACN, the proposals under evaluation contemplate the administration of community pharmacies, the provision of pharmaceutical services, and the commercialization of medicines and health supplies.

The procedure establishes that applications must be channeled through Medicuba and Farmacuba, entities authorized for these operations. In turn, Emcomed will provide support to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in commercialization, storage, and transportation activities.

The opening, however, is not equivalent to liberalization without rules. Establishments must comply with established technical and sanitary requirements, while the commercialization of medicines will remain subject to current provisions. The purpose is to expand management and supply possibilities without losing sight of quality, safety, and the rational use of pharmaceutical products.

The regulatory framework must also be read together with Law 165 on Public Health and its regulations, published in the Official Gazette in January 2026, which ratify state responsibility in the organization of the health system and the population's access to health services.

The figure of 36 projects under evaluation reflects a process still in development, not an already operating private network. The three proposals in constitution and the 14 with endorsement to continue procedures represent different administrative stages; none of them should be confused with an open pharmacy dispensing medicines.

The challenge will be to ensure that the new modalities effectively contribute to supply, respect the required controls, and respond to patients' needs. The incorporation of other economic actors can provide resources and management capacity, but its impact will depend on the real availability of medicines, logistical organization, and access conditions for the population.

Access Must Remain the Priority

The availability of a medicine does not by itself guarantee that the patient can acquire it. When supply shifts toward informal circuits, prices can become an additional barrier for people who depend on limited salaries or pensions. Therefore, any expansion of commercialization routes must assess not only how many products reach the country but also who can access them and under what conditions.

Community networks that deliver donations free of charge offer a solidarity response to immediate needs. State pharmacies, for their part, continue to be an essential part of the health infrastructure. New forms of management must be integrated into that panorama with effective controls and a verifiable contribution to supply.

Pharmaceutical policy also needs to strengthen national production, diversify suppliers, improve acquisition mechanisms, and perfect territorial distribution. These are tasks that require resources and economic decisions, but also coordination among institutions, health workers, and communities.

Defending Health Requires Concrete Solutions

The effort of community pharmacies demonstrates that, even under adverse material conditions, collective organization can alleviate urgent needs. Each classified donation, each located treatment, and each delivery to a person who cannot travel represent tangible help for families.

The U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade constitutes an obstacle that Cuba has denounced for decades and whose effects reach sensitive sectors such as health. Its elimination would expand possibilities for exchange, financing, and acquisition of essential resources. While those restrictions persist, the country needs to defend its productive capacities, seek cooperation alternatives, and perfect distribution mechanisms.

The defense of the Revolution in the health sphere is expressed, above all, in the protection of life and in the will to sustain health as a right. For that principle to translate into daily results, community solidarity, institutional efficiency, and the recovery of supply must advance together, with the patient as the center of every decision. And of course, the illegal blockade imposed on the island must disappear forever.

The film Children of the Resistance (Les Enfants de la Résistance), an adaptation of a famous French graphic novel, will open the 27th French Film Festival in Cuba, running from October 22 to November 4, organizers announced today.

Set during the German occupation of World War II, the film follows three brave children—François, Eusèbe, and Lisa—who embark on a secret mission: resisting the Nazis from the heart of France. Through sabotage, coded messages, and perilous escapes, they carry out clandestine operations right under the enemy's nose, relying solely on audacity and friendship in their fight against injustice.

During a press conference, the Ambassador of France to Cuba, Raphaël Trannoy, highlighted the annual festival's enduring presence, emphasizing its importance in 2026 despite the current challenging context on the Caribbean island.

The ambassador underscored that the film festival represents a unique moment, stating that every story offers an open window to the world and that cinema allows audiences to discover new realities, share emotions, and connect beyond borders and daily life. He described the festival as a cornerstone of bilateral relations, evolving over the years into an essential cultural fixture and a vital space for dialogue between the two nations.

For this edition, the festival will venture beyond Havana's theaters for the first time to reach major cities across the country. The opening film, directed by Christophe Barratier, was highlighted by Ambassador Trannoy alongside festival co-founder Nuri Ruiz and Cultural Attaché Laurianne Agard-Kopp.   

A total of 17 films reflecting the diversity of French cinema will be showcased, featuring intimate family dramas, contemporary social commentaries, comedies, cross-generational narratives, and four animated feature films designed to introduce younger audiences to world cinema.Sponsored by the Embassy of France in Cuba, the Cinemateca de Cuba, and the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), the festival stands as the largest showcase of French cinema outside of France.

The gathering is convening at the Haydee Santamaría Gallery at Casa de las Américas, located in the capital's El Vedado district, with free admission, and was inaugurated on Indigenous Resistance Day.

This edition, dedicated to the theme “Original Worldviews: Urgent Dialogues to Postpone the End of the World,” will run through the 15th of this month.

The morning schedule features lectures and panels presented by community representatives, specialists, and scholars of Indigenous cultures of the Americas, as well as documentary screenings, while afternoon sessions are dedicated to video presentations accessible via the institution's YouTube channel.

Scheduled for Tuesday morning was the lecture “Linguistic and Identity Revitalization: A Challenge Within the Tosepan Cooperative Union,” delivered by Rosalinda Heredia (Mexico).

This was accompanied by the panel “Dancing to Postpone the End of the World,” featuring presentations by Roberta Maria Zambon (“The Dance of Living Well: Celebrating and Imagining Other Worlds”), Marcilio Vieira (“Dancing to Postpone the End of the World: The Toré as Body-Territory”), Renata Celina de Morais (“The Ciranda Circle: The Design of a World That Never Ends”), and Daniela María Amoroso (“Sustainable Evolutions: Cultural Knowledge and Practices as Epistemology”).

In the afternoon, the book O toré e a memória dos povos indígenas potiguar was presented by Marcilio Vieira.

Available on YouTube were video presentations titled “Indigenous Rituals as Practices of Resistance Against Capitalism” and “Care and Veneration of Nature from Indigenous Worldviews: An Educational Ethic to Postpone the End of the World.”

During the opening of the Colloquium, Jaime Gómez Triana, director of the Program for Studies on Indigenous Cultures of the Americas and vice president of Casa de las Américas, noted that the event was created to bring visibility to “the many worlds that exist in this hemisphere.”

Likewise, the gathering seeks to attribute value to all worldviews and propose new encounters and potential dialogues.

The first day included the lecture “Contributions of Indigenous Peoples in the Search for Humanity's Environmental and Social Balance,” given by Jacob Omar Jerónimo; “Experiences of a Teacher in Indigenous Communities of Guatemala,” by Roberto Carlos Morales; and “Cartography of Isla del Rey,” by Silvana Lamilla.

Video presentations featured “Social Semiotics, Territory, and Collective Cinema: Struggles, Resistance, and Disputes over Meaning in Abya Yala”; “Zapatista Cinema and Obedient Aesthetics: Insurgent Poetics from the Community”; and “When Words Lose Their Territory: Economic Transformation, Community Knowledge, and Dislocation of Didza Xidza.”

Additionally, the audiovisual work The Timely Action: The Resurgence of Abya Yala was presented.

The Mexican executive branch is set to publish a decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation (Diario Oficial de la Federación) compelling digital platforms to remove content inciting violence and guarantee safe online environments for children and adolescents.

During her regular media briefing, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced yesterday that Legal Adviser to the Presidency Luisa María Alcalde will attend Wednesday's morning press conference.

The head of state noted that administration representatives met with major tech companies operating digital platforms, remarking that they were “in complete agreement” with launching the initiative.

“They added a few points, but the platforms agree with what we are requesting. As a result, the decree is issued in agreement with the platforms,” Sheinbaum added.

In recent days, Alcalde outlined details of the project, which will prohibit digital platforms from allowing minors to access, be exposed to, or be recommended content, images, and videos promoting hate speech and violent extremism.

Additionally, the decree bans content associated with abuse, sexual violence, exploitation, suicide, deliberate self-harm, eating disorders, school-related violence, bullying, cyberbullying, illegal conduct, and explicit sexual material.

“Digital platforms are required to guarantee safety and protection for children and adolescents by design, starting by immediately identifying and removing accounts or content that generate any form of violence,” the official stated.

She mentioned that tech companies will be required to classify content by age rating and provide monitoring tools for parents and legal guardians.

Furthermore, platforms must feature built-in reporting mechanisms for violent accounts or content, with privacy and security settings enabled by default so young users receive maximum protection from the outset.

Alcalde indicated that platforms must maintain a 24/7 point of contact to respond to law enforcement requests, preserve and hand over digital evidence to investigative authorities, and issue immediate alerts upon detecting content that poses a threat to human life.

The executive action fulfills a commitment made by President Sheinbaum on October 2 following a violent incident at a high school in Coahuila, where two 18-year-old brothers—former students at the school—entered the campus, killing one person and injuring four others.

Speaking today at the World Food Forum organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the severe impact of U.S. economic sanctions on the island's food production and distribution systems.

In a video message delivered during the event's opening session, the head of state declared that Cuba's food security challenges stem not only from environmental factors or market dynamics, but from more than six decades of an economic, commercial, and financial blockade.

Furthermore, he warned that “armed conflicts, the climate crisis, and economic turbulence disproportionately affect developing nations, where over 640 million people suffer from extreme hunger.”

Díaz-Canel noted that external restrictions severely limit the island's access to international markets, financing, agricultural inputs, technology, and fuel. He specifically criticized the tightening of sanctions measures enacted by the Trump administration since early 2026, asserting that they harm every stage of the agrifood supply chain, from planting and processing to transport and distribution.

In response to these adversities, the Cuban government has moved to reduce reliance on external supplies and enhance the resilient capacity of its agricultural network. Recent initiatives center on territorial decentralization, scientific innovation, renewable energy integration, and boosting domestic production.

The president expressed gratitude for FAO's ongoing cooperation, which has mobilized nearly $100 million in technical assistance, resources, and specialized training for Cuba's productive sectors. Additionally, he announced the island's “joining of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, implementing two targeted programs to safeguard vulnerable populations.”

As part of its participation, the Caribbean nation presented two major agricultural projects aimed at strengthening the coffee and honey production chains, prioritizing rural employment, environmental sustainability, and export growth.

“We issue an urgent call to reinforce international cooperation and defend food as a fundamental human right,” he added.

Cuba continues to face an energy blockade that triggers widespread blackouts and a severe fuel deficit, impacting the transport of food, supplies, raw materials, and medicine, stated Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O during an interview broadcast on the Cuban Foreign Ministry's X profile.

De la O further noted that fuel demands within Cuba's state sector have received no relief, while prolonged power outages and deficits in electricity generation and fuel availability persist. “This hinders the transport of medicines, supplies, and raw materials for production, irrigation, and other essential activities,” he expressed.

“The energy blockade imposed on Cuba amounts to a total blockade on life itself; what is happening to the Cuban people is an act of genocide,” he concluded.

The meeting, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. local time, seeks to address the conduct of the candidacies of the Brazilian president and the senator in the final phase of the presidential contest, whose runoff is scheduled for October 25.

The summons comes after a succession of decisions and appeals before the Electoral Court regarding publications and digital tools used by the two presidential candidates, in a campaign marked by cross-accusations of disinformation.

One of the most recent episodes was the suspension of the WhatsApp channel Exército do Lula, coordinated by deputy André Janones, which at the time of writing this note had more than 4.1 million followers.

On Sunday, Nunes Marques ordered the channel's operation to be interrupted following a request from the Flávio Bolsonaro campaign of the Liberal Party, which accused it of spreading false news against its candidate.

Hours later, electoral general-corregidor Ricardo Villas Bôas Cueva reversed the measure and restored access, with a prohibition on republishing content previously vetoed by the court.

Cueva argued that the matter was already under analysis by the corregidoria and that the evidence presented did not then justify the complete suspension of the channel. He also referred the case to the TSE plenary, which still has no scheduled date to examine it.

On Monday, at Nunes Marques's request, the court's technical team presented a report on the tool and said it had not found content previously declared false by the court.

The removal of previous publications, the analysis noted, made it difficult to reconstruct the entire history.

This controversy adds to other judicial confrontations between the candidacies, which have turned to the court to request the removal of publications, question advertising, and denounce alleged irregularities in the use of digital platforms.

Tuesday's meeting will thus unfold in a scenario of institutional tension over the limits of electoral advertising, the circulation of information on social networks, and the attributions of the different members of Brazil's highest electoral authority. It will also take place in a context in which, according to what Folha de S.Paulo reported yesterday, TSE ministers question Nunes Marques's decisions that they consider favorable to Flávio Bolsonaro and harmful to Lula.

Among them are the June suspension of the dissemination of a poll showing a drop in the senator's voting intentions, as well as interruptions of virtual trials in which a majority favorable to the president had already formed.