U.S. sanctions Cuban officials over protest crackdown
Video Credit: Reuters - Politics - Duration: 01:56s - Published
U.S. sanctions Cuban officials over protest crackdown
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Cuban security minister and an interior ministry special forces unit for alleged human rights abuses in a crackdown on anti-government protests earlier this month.
After voicing support for Cuban anti-government protesters, the U.S. government on Thursday imposed sanctions on senior Cuban officials the White House blames for human rights abuses.
The move marked the first concrete steps by President Joe Biden to pressure Cuba's Communist government.
Thousands of Cubans staged protests a week ago to demonstrate against an economic crisis that has brought shortages of basic goods and power outages.
Hundreds of activists were detained.
Among them were actor and playwright Yunior Garcia, who spoke to Reuters this week while under house arrest.
"My current situation is that I have four officers in front of my door who prevent me from going outside.
They told me I cannot even go to work.
When I leave to buy cigarettes or food, one of them goes with me to keep me under vigilance.
We know there are more, because we counted eight this morning." Juan Papier monitors Cuba for the non-profit Human Rights Watch.
"We have conducted dozens of interviews to document the Cuban repression against protesters in Cuba.
We have concluded that the repression has been brutal.
Over 500 people including protesters, artists, journalists and others have been detained.
The vast majority of them are being held incommunicated.
The whereabouts of many of them are unknown.
Many have been beaten, some have been tortured.
And many of them are being subject to arbitrary criminal prosecutions based on Cuban legislation that guarantees no due process rights and no rights to defence." The U.S. Treasury Department said that the sanctions had been placed on the minister of the Revolutionary armed forces and on an interior ministry security unit Washington blames for the crackdown.
The Cuban government has blamed the protests mostly on what it calls U.S.-financed "counter-revolutionaries" exploiting economic hardship.
U.S. officials have acknowledged that the targeted sanctions may not have much impact.
Cubans rarely have U.S. financial dealings and seldom travel to the United States, limiting the practical impact of such measures.
The Cuban government has called upon the US ambassador, Benjamin Ziff, to attend a meeting at its foreign ministry, alleging that Washington played a role in fueling a protest that unfolded in the streets of Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second-largest city.
#CubaProtests #RareProtests #FoodShortages #ElectricityShortages #CubaCrisis #PublicDissent #SocialUnrest #HumanRights #GovernmentResponse #EconomicCrisis #PoliticalTensions #CivilUnrest #ProtestMovement #SocialJustice #CitizenRights #FreedomOfExpression #CubanGovernment #InternationalAttention #GlobalConcerns #SocialMediaCoverage
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Vladimir Putin Secures 5th Term , as Russia’s President.
On March 18, Russia's Central
Election Commission confirmed that
Putin won reelection by a landslide.
He reportedly received over 87% of the vote.
Countries that congratulated him include
Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, North Korea,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.
However, critics say that Putin
didn't have any credible opposition,
and free speech against him was stifled.
For example, Alexei Navalny, a fierce opponent of Putin's, died last month in an Arctic prison, and his other critics have either been jailed or exiled, 'USA Today' reports. .
For example, Alexei Navalny, a fierce opponent of Putin's, died last month in an Arctic prison, and his other critics have either been jailed or exiled, 'USA Today' reports. .
Independent media outlets
have also been shuttered. .
The elections took place in an
ever-shrinking political space, which
has resulted in an alarming increase
of violations of civil and political rights.., Josep Borrell, the European Union's
top foreign policy official, via statement.
... and precluded many candidates
from running, including all those opposed to
Russia’s illegal war of aggression, deprived
Russian voters of a real choice and heavily
limited their access to accurate information, Josep Borrell, the European Union's
top foreign policy official, via statement.
The United States referred to the
vote as "neither free nor fair," while
Germany called it a "pseudo-election.".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Putin is "sick with power and is doing everything in his power to rule forever.".
Putin is currently Russia's "longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin," 'USA Today' reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
In an uncommon display of dissent, hundreds of people in Santiago, Cuba's second-largest city, took to the streets in a rare public protest on Sunday. Social media and official reports highlighted the event, prompting Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to appeal for dialogue amidst what he termed as an "atmosphere of tranquillity and peace."
#CubaProtests #RareProtests #FoodShortages #ElectricityShortages #CubaCrisis #PublicDissent #SocialUnrest #HumanRights #GovernmentResponse #EconomicCrisis #PoliticalTensions #CivilUnrest #ProtestMovement #SocialJustice #CitizenRights #FreedomOfExpression #CubanGovernment #InternationalAttention #GlobalConcerns #SocialMediaCoverage
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Crisis in Haiti , Could Drive Another Wave of , Illegal Immigration in the US.
'Newsweek' reports that the United States
could be facing another wave of illegal
immigration driven by refugees fleeing Haiti.
On March 11, President Ariel Henry said
he would resign amid widespread gang
violence and a breakdown of law and order.
An estimated 80% of Port-au-Prince,
the Haitian capital, are under
the control of armed gangs.
An estimated 80% of Port-au-Prince,
the Haitian capital, are under
the control of armed gangs.
We are alert to that possibility.
The driving conditions in Haiti
could very well press
more people [to migrate], Rebecca Zimmerman, Department of Defense official,
via 'Newsweek'.
Thomas Gift, the head of the Centre on U.S. Politics
at University College London, warned that
a deepening immigration crisis would pose
a serious challenge for the Biden administration.
Fair or unfair, anything that
highlights the immigration
crisis is a net negative
for Biden at the moment, Thomas Gift, the head of the Centre on U.S. Politics
at University College London, via 'Newsweek'.
To the extent that the tragedy
in Haiti puts a new refugee story
in the headlines, it will only make
the immigration issue more
salient for American voters. , Thomas Gift, the head of the Centre on U.S. Politics
at University College London, via 'Newsweek'.
At the same time, Biden's
hands will no doubt be tied
by progressive groups who
will insist that the White House
not repatriate refugees back to
Haiti given the huge political
instability in the country, Thomas Gift, the head of the Centre on U.S. Politics
at University College London, via 'Newsweek'.
According to a Monmouth University survey,
84% of voters in the U.S. consider illegal
immigration a "serious" or "very serious" issue.
In 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared
a state of emergency after hundreds of
migrants from Haiti and Cuba arrived by boat.
An estimated 146,000 Haitian migrants
were encountered at the U.S. border
between October 2020 and May 2023
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Kim Kardashian went back to the White House to advocate for criminal justice reform -- only here, it was with Biden's camp ... proving she's loyal to the cause,.. TMZ.com
Biden Is Giving $6 Billion , to Micron Technology , for Semiconductor Production.
On April 25, President Biden will travel to Syracuse, NY, to announce over $6 billion in federal grants that his administration is awarding to Micron Technology, NPR reports. .
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was heavily involved in enacting the CHIPS and Science Act, issued a statement about the investment. .
This is the federal government taking back the reins, putting money where its mouth is when we say we want the future of tech to be stamped: 'Made in America.', Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement.
Micron will invest $100 billion of the funds to construct a manufacturing facility in Syracuse.
Schumer referred to the plan as "quite a
great return" on the government's investment.
A factory will also be built in
Boise, Idaho, NPR reports. .
That facility is expected to be ready for production by 2026, while two New York factories will likely be ready by 2028 and 2029.
The White House estimates that
the projects could create 20,000 jobs
in construction and manufacturing.
in addition to "tens of thousands of
indirect jobs in the regions," NPR reports. .
The CHIPS and Science Act has also provided funding for Intel, TSMC and Samsung
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
President Biden signs historic legislation securing billions in US aid for Ukraine and Israel, reaffirming America's commitment to global security. Despite criticisms over human rights abuses in Gaza, Biden emphasizes the 'ironclad' nature of US support for Israel's defense. Stay informed with the latest developments on international affairs.
#JoeBiden #Israel #Gaza #IsraelHamasWar #IsraelPalestine #IsraelPalestineWar #USPresident #USNews #USAidBill #RussiaUkraineWar #Oneindia
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President Biden had yet another teleprompter gaffe while speaking at a conference Wednesday ... and it's not the first time the prez fumbled a speech, far from.. TMZ.com
FTC to Decide , Whether Noncompete Agreements , Should Be Banned.
After receiving over 26,000 public comments about the issue, the Federal Trade Commission is set to deliver its verdict on April 30, NPR reports. .
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
Approximately one in five Americans, spanning minimum wage workers to CEOs, are subject to noncompete agreements, the FTC estimates. .
The Biden administration says that these types of agreements hurt workers by decreasing wages.
The White House also argues that these
agreements harm the U.S. economy because entrepreneurship isn't allowed to freely flourish. .
FTC Chair Lina M. Khan issued a statement when
the proposed ban was initially introduced.
The freedom to change jobs is
core to economic liberty and to
a competitive, thriving economy, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Noncompetes block workers from
freely switching jobs, depriving
them of higher wages and better
working conditions, and depriving
businesses of a talent pool that
they need to build and expand, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Businesses argue that noncompete agreements are essential for safeguarding investments and proprietary information.
Those businesses also question whether
the agency has the power "to regulate
such agreements," NPR reports. .
If the FTC votes to issue a final rule, enforcement wouldn't occur for 180 days,
and legal challenges would likely ensue.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Fears of Potential Iranian Attack , Drive US Stocks Down , Nearly 500 Points.
CNN reports that United States stocks dropped on
April 12 amid rising tensions in the Middle East pushing
traders to seek safe havens like gold and bonds.
CNN reports that United States stocks dropped on
April 12 amid rising tensions in the Middle East pushing
traders to seek safe havens like gold and bonds.
By mid-afternoon, the Dow had fallen
1.4%, the S&P 500 went down 1.6%,
and the Nasdaq dropped 1.8%.
The dip came after the White House announced
that both the U.S. and Israel are on alert for
a potential attack by Iran or its allies.
The dip came after the White House announced
that both the U.S. and Israel are on alert for
a potential attack by Iran or its allies.
The warning comes after Iran
accused Israel of a deadly airstrike
on a consulate in Damascus, Syria. .
The news also sent oil prices up amid
fears of regional tensions escalating
as a result of the ongoing war in Gaza. .
The news also sent oil prices up amid
fears of regional tensions escalating
as a result of the ongoing war in Gaza. .
Brent crude futures jumped up to $90.42
a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate crude
futures increased to $86.65 a barrel.
Those geopolitical concerns and subsequent
rising oil prices sent investors to safe havens like
gold futures, which rose to $2,379 a troy ounce.
Those geopolitical concerns and subsequent
rising oil prices sent investors to safe havens like
gold futures, which rose to $2,379 a troy ounce.
CNN reports that Americans' opinions of
the economy have dipped in the past few
months amid persistently high inflation.
The geopolitical fears come as investors are already
contending with concerns that the Federal Reserve could
wait to bring interest rates down from a 23-year high.
Officials at the Fed have signaled that further rate
hikes could still be on the way if the central
bank's efforts to fight inflation stall.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Biden Cancels Over $7 Billion in Student Debt , for More Than 277,000 Borrowers.
On April 12, President Joe Biden said that over 277,000 borrowers in more than
40 states will have $7.4 billion in student
loan debt wiped out, 'The Hill' reports. .
To date, the Biden administration has canceled $153 billion in student loan debt. .
From day one of my administration,
I promised to fight to ensure higher
education is a ticket to the middle class,
not a barrier to opportunity. , President Joe Biden, via statement.
I will never stop working to cancel
student debt – no matter how
many times Republican elected
officials try to stop us, President Joe Biden, via statement.
'The Hill' reports that Biden's loan forgiveness has largely been aimed at helping
"public service workers, those on IDR plans," .
people who've been defrauded by educational institutions and those with disabilities. .
Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education Committee, issued a statement in response to Biden's actions. .
The administration is tone deaf.
There’s no other way to put it, Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education Committee, via statement.
We know that instead of doing its
job the administration focused
time, energy, and resources on
its illegal student loan scheme. , Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education Committee, via statement.
And that has been frustrating, especially
since it has jeopardized the academic
journey of millions of students, Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education Committee, via statement.
But what is absolutely maddening is
that the administration is STILL not
doing its job and instead focusing on
its student loan shenanigans. , Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education Committee, via statement.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, , “We know what Republicans are going to do; we can’t
stop them from that. But it’s also not going to stop the president from acting and taking action, like he is today.”
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
China-Based Hackers , Hit With Sanctions and Indictments , Over Cyber Attacks.
ABC reports that the United States has
sanctioned hackers based in China over
alleged attacks on critical U.S. infrastructure.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department,
a state-sponsored front company has provided
cover for multiple cyber attacks on U.S. infrastructure. .
Sanctions by the U.S. and the United Kingdom have
targeted representatives of Wuhan Xiaoruizhi
Science and Technology Company Ltd. (Wuhan XRZ).
The U.S. Treasury Department alleges
that Wuhan XRZ acts as a China-based
Ministry of State Security (MSS) front company. .
ABC reports that the allegations include malicious cyber operations that include the 2020 spear phishing operation against the U.S. Naval Academy. .
ABC reports that the allegations include malicious cyber operations that include the 2020 spear phishing operation against the U.S. Naval Academy. .
On March 25, the U.S. Justice Department indicted seven individuals on charges stemming from their alleged involvement with these malicious operations.
On March 25, the U.S. Justice Department indicted seven individuals on charges stemming from their alleged involvement with these malicious operations.
The Justice Department will not
tolerate efforts by the Chinese
government to intimidate Americans
who serve the public, silence the
dissidents who are protected
by American laws, or steal
from American businesses, Merrick Garland, Attorney General statement, via ABC.
This case serves as a reminder
of the ends to which the Chinese
government is willing to go to
target and intimidate its critics,
including launching malicious cyber
operations aimed at threatening
the national security of the
United States and our allies, Merrick Garland, Attorney General statement, via ABC.
ABC reports that court documents show
that the hackers targeted politicians and
other prominent officials with "tracking links.".
The Conspirators used this method
to enable more direct and sophisticated
targeting of recipients' home routers
and other electronic devices,
including those of high-ranking U.S.
government officials and politicians
and election campaign staff from
both major U.S. political parties, Court documents, via ABC.
The Conspirators used this method
to enable more direct and sophisticated
targeting of recipients' home routers
and other electronic devices,
including those of high-ranking U.S.
government officials and politicians
and election campaign staff from
both major U.S. political parties, Court documents, via ABC
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
President Joe Biden is imposing new sanctions on the Cuban regime after the violent crackdown on anti-government protesters earlier this month. The move comes as some people in Florida launched a..
Cuban Officials Hit With US Sanctions , After Protest Crackdown.
Cuban Officials Hit With US Sanctions , After Protest Crackdown.
The U.S. government has accused Cuban officials
of committing human..
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:29Published
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