Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Cuba against acquiring weapons capable of reaching Guantánamo Bay or the U.S. mainland. Cuba has rejected reports about drone plans and accused Washington of creating pretexts for aggression.
Posts tagged as “Havana Syndrome”
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake off western Cuba was felt across parts of Florida on Monday, including Miami, Tampa and Orlando. Officials said there were no significant injuries, major property damage or tsunami threat.
The United States sanctioned Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife and relatives of Raúl Castro as Washington intensifies pressure on Havana. The measures come as Cuba faces severe blackouts, food and medicine shortages, and rising tensions with the Trump administration.
A classified U.S. intelligence mission has reportedly obtained a previously unknown weapon potentially linked to Havana Syndrome, a mysterious condition causing neurological symptoms in diplomats and government personnel since 2016. Medical research suggests that radiofrequency or microwave energy may explain these injuries, supported by animal testing of the weapon at a military base, despite official government skepticism. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice faces multiple internal controversies and investigations, including disciplinary reviews and probes into election-related matters, reflecting ongoing federal legal and political challenges.
Victor Manuel Rocha, a former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, was arrested on Monday for secretly working for Cuba since 1981 and providing information to the Cuban government. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted. The arrest is part of the U.S. government's efforts to combat foreign interference in the United States.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry has accused unnamed "enemies" of promoting false information to damage the country's image. They have also identified a human trafficking network that has coerced its citizens to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine, and are working to dismantle it. The Ministry of the Interior is leading the effort to neutralize and dismantle the network, and has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
On Sunday, a Southwest Airlines flight from Cuba to Florida was forced to turn back for an emergency landing due to a bird strike to an engine and the aircraft's nose. The FAA is now investigating the incident and is working to develop strategies to reduce the risk of bird strikes, such as increasing public awareness and implementing bird-avoidance technology. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.
The U.S. intelligence community has released the results of a review into the mysterious neurological symptoms known as "Havana Syndrome", concluding that it is "very unlikely" that a foreign adversary is responsible. The State Department is now preparing to compensate victims with payments of between roughly $100,000 and $200,000 each, and is working to ensure those affected receive the compensation they are due.