The oil blockade imposed by President Donald Trump in January has brought the island's already moribund economy to the brink of collapse, marked by power cuts sometimes lasting over 30 hours. View on

By Dave Sherwood HAVANA, June 18 (Reuters) - Cuban lawmakers are set to vote on Thursday on sweeping measures proposed by top Communist Party officials and backed by former leader Raul Castro that aim to rescue an economy under siege by the administration of U.

Cuba’s leadership signed off on a sweeping list of 176 market-liberalization measures covering 23 core areas, as the Caribbean nation tries to rescue a moribund economy that’s being squeezed by US sanctions.

Cuba on Thursday unveiled nearly 200 historic free-market reforms aimed at rescuing the communist island from a severe crisis aggravated by a US oil blockade. These huge changes come as the United States exerts strong pressure on Cuba aside from the oil blockade,

President Miguel Díaz-Canel didn’t provide details or a timetable but said it’s “time to change” and said the country “simply cannot continue on its current course.”

The number of foreign visitors is down by 58% compared to last year, Cuban officials say, amid sanctions and an effective oil blockade.

Will President Trump order a U.S. military strike on Cuba to force democratic and capitalist reforms? Could it deliver bread instead of bombs? The only thing that's clear: his Cuba objective so far isn't.

EnviosCuba, a major online store used by Cuban exiles to send goods to relatives on the island, halted operations June 5.

The need for food, medicine and other basic essentials across Cuba is the most dire it has ever been -- and it’s one reason why a crucial meeting took place Wednesday on the island between Cuban religious organizations and U.

Cuba’s powerful Communist Party, or PCC, called an unscheduled session Wednesday, a rare occurrence that comes days after President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced an economic reform package aimed at opening up the struggling island’s economy.

US exports to Cuba have surged dramatically this year as businesses use a trade loophole to get fuel, appliances, furniture, food and vehicles past President Donald Trump’s wall of sanctions.