Cuba

Karin Strenz, a member of the Bundestag, died on a flight from Cuba to Germany. According to media reports, the crew of the plane decided to make an emergency landing in Ireland's capital Dublin. Last year the German Bundestag lifted the politician's immunity because the public prosecutor's office was investigating her on suspicion of corruption.

The Trump administration added Cuba to a list of state sponsors of terrorism Monday, reversing a signature policy move of the Obama administration and potentially hampering President-elect Joe Biden’s ability to broker a rapprochement to Havana quickly.

A U.S. economic embargo of Cuba already curbs Americans’ ability to do business with or visit the communist island. But the new terrorism label could hinder commercial deals with third countries. Cuba relies on to import essential goods and turn off foreign investors in its all-important tourism industry.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Cuba of "repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism in granting safe harbour to terrorists."

Cuba has seen a surge of Coronavirus cases since early August. Schools reopened on Tuesday in most of Cuba after five months of being closed.

As Havana is struggling to control a second Coronavirus wave, the city imposed a nightly curfew from 7pm to 5am. Residents will also not be allowed to travel interprovincially.

The head of epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health in Cuba, Francisco Duran, has announced that Cuba has not recorded a single locally transmitted Covid-19 case. The last new case has been reported in the capital city of Havanna on Saturday.

Duran has reminded people to keep up social distancing as the capital remains in the first stage of reopening.

Reuters reports that the Trump administration ordered Marriott International to wind down hotel operations in Cuba by the end of August.

Marriott currently operates "The Four Points by Sheraton Havana" hotel in the Cuban capital.

“We have recently received notice that the government-issued license will not be renewed, forcing Marriott to cease operations in Cuba,” a company spokeswoman told Reuters.