The U.S., European Union and human rights groups had criticized Cuba's response to the protests as repressive and heavy-handed.

(Source: Reuters)

On Tuesday, the U.S. government said it notified Congress about the intent to lift the designation of Cuba as part of a deal facilitated by the Vatican. Cuban authorities would release some of them before Biden’s administration ends on Jan. 20, officials said.

(Source: AP News)

•     Final Flight: The last Zurich-Havana service will operate on 27 February 2025.

•     Customer Options: Affected passengers will be contacted for rebooking on alternative routes or offered a full refund.

•     Operational Challenges: An on-site evaluation revealed difficulties in ensuring reliable long-haul operations at Havana airport. Declining demand.
  

Edelweiss will continue weekly flights on this route until the suspension and regrets any inconvenience caused to its passengers.

(Source: Aviation 24)

The renowned Cuban comedian Otto Ortiz criticized on his social media what he called an unjust measure by the government to start the year: the refusal of some stores to accept payments in MLC.

On Facebook, the comedian expressed his dissatisfaction: "The first one of 2025: there are stores where you can't pay with MLC, only with Clásica, Visa, Mastercard, or cash in dollars."

The "surprising measure" led the comedian to reflect on his social media: "My question is: aren't the MLC just dollars that we give to the State? So, what do we do with them? Can private businesses also choose to charge only in those currencies?"

Although Ortiz did not specify which currency collection stores are operating this way, in the comments section, Humberto McClarin Barrios recounted: "My parents experienced the same thing yesterday at the new store Súper Mercado de 70 that was inaugurated at the Gran Muthu hotel. What a lack of respect! Now we can't even shop in MLC at those stores, so tell me, where are we supposed to go?"

Omar Milanés also shared a similar story: “My wife carried the products to the checkout. You wouldn’t want to see the look on her face. It turns out that since fuel is sold in USD, everything else got ‘contaminated’.”

A person named Asowuano Kmvv shared their experience: "Well, Otto won't be the first in 2025. Today, it happened to me here on the key. I went to pay at the store, and they hit me with that: dollars, Visa or MasterCard. And I asked myself: 'What about the MLC? What are they, and why did I deposit dollars?' The new year is starting off hot."

However, in reality, the measure is not as "surprising." The Cuban government approved a document that regulates the "partial dollarization of the economy," as announced by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz during the fourth ordinary session of the National Assembly.

This measure, which reflects the growing influence of the US dollar in the country, aims to reorganize key sectors of the economy while attempting to manage the impact of the informal currency market.

The partial dollarization scheme will cover the following sectors: wholesale and retail trade in approved foreign currencies; and payment of tariffs and services related to foreign trade for non-state management forms.

Additionally, cash in dollars will be accepted in strategic sectors such as tourism, Casas del Habano, pharmacies, opticians, international clinics, and airports. Furthermore, there will be payments in foreign currency to agricultural producers who replace imports and to those who manufacture exportable goods.

According to the regime, this regulation will also provide greater flexibility in the use of foreign currency for specific economic activities, such as tourism and foreign trade, which are key sectors for generating income amid the economic crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dollarization and the Use of MLC in Cuba

Why have some stores in Cuba stopped accepting MLC?

Following a recent measure by the Cuban government, some stores have stopped accepting MLC as a form of payment and now only accept cash dollars or international cards like Visa and Mastercard. This decision is part of a partial dollarization process aimed at reorganizing key sectors and controlling the informal foreign exchange market.

What is the partial dollarization of the Cuban economy?

The partial dollarization of the Cuban economy is a system implemented by the government that allows the use of dollars and other currencies in specific sectors such as wholesale and retail trade, as well as in the payment of tariffs and services related to foreign trade. This measure reflects the increasing influence of the dollar in the country and aims to attract more foreign currency.

How does this measure affect Cubans who only have MLC?

The measure significantly impacts Cubans who only have MLC, as many state-run stores have stopped accepting this currency, limiting their purchasing options. This situation could exacerbate economic inequality by excluding those without access to dollars or international cards.

What impact has this strategy had on the informal currency market in Cuba?

The strategy of partial dollarization has maintained a relative stability in foreign exchange prices in the informal Cuban market. Despite this recent stability, the economic crisis and shortages of basic goods continue to impact the purchasing power of Cubans.

HAVANA – Cubans have stopped wondering if this crisis is worse than that of the 1990s. The blackouts, food shortages and lack of fuel for public transport during the Special Period — in the 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union and the loss of its subsidies to Cuba — have now been surpassed in duration, severity and limitations. The breeding of animals at home like chickens and pigs for eggs and meat has also returned.

On Monte Street, one of the most populated and poor arteries in Havana, no one is surprised anymore if they see a couple of chickens on a balcony, guarded by a cat ready to meow an alert against any attempted robbery. Separated from the abyss by the rusty irons of a fence, the birds look down at the traffic, peck some grains of rice and are unconscious of the casserole that awaits them. The smell of the improvised chicken coop spreads through the nearby houses and gives the neighborhood a certain rural touch.

“We’re back in that time when they sold chicks so you could raise them for food,” remembered a seller of matchboxes, instant glue and other paraphernalia. From her strategic position in a doorway on the central street, the woman knows everyone’s business in the area. “In that house they were raising a pig in the bathroom,” she explains and points to a tiny room, with just a small window to the street, on the first floor. “You could hear it and smell it.”

“Even if I’m starving, I won’t do that for anything in the world,” said a potential customer who looked at some shoelaces for sale, asked the price of some plumbing pieces and checked the flavors of the instant soda packages. “My family and I raised a pig 30 years ago and in the end got attached to the animal and couldn’t kill it,” he explains. “It escaped from the bathroom where we had it locked up and went to sleep in our bed. Finally, we had to sell the pig to a cousin because we didn’t have the heart to sacrifice it.”

With their white plumage, blackened by the soot that rises from the street, the two chickens on the balcony continue to peck stubbornly at the floor and in the cracks of the unpainted facade. “In addition, fattening an animal requires food, and if it’s hard now to get food for humans what is left for them? At least in the 90s you could find something to feed them,” said the man, who in the end leaves without buying anything. Comparisons with current times have ended up turning the 1990s Special Period into a longed-for time for Cubans. Better to avoid parallels.