U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked or restricted visas on Wednesday, for certain officials from Africa, the Caribbean, and Brazil tied to Cuba’s overseas medical worker programme, citing concerns over forced labour and financial exploitation.
Brazilian Health Ministry official Mozart Julio Tabosa Sales and former Pan American Health Organisation official Alberto Kleiman were among those affected.
Rubio did not name other officials who were affected but said they were from Africa, Cuba and Grenada.
The U.S. claims that the programme rents Cuban medical professionals to other countries at high prices, with most of the revenue going to Cuban authorities, depriving Cuban citizens of healthcare. Rubio said Washington aims to end such practices and urged governments to pay doctors directly.
Cuba has condemned the move, calling it a pretext to attack its foreign currency income.
"Cuba's medical cooperation will continue," Johana Tablada, Cuba's deputy director of U.S. affairs, said on X.
Meanwhile, Brazilian officials defended their 'Mais Medicos' programme, created in 2013, saying they will not yield to what they call "unreasonable attacks."
The measures continue the Trump administration’s hard-line approach toward Cuba, reversing previous Biden-era policies.
Russia launched a large-scale overnight air attack on Ukraine on September 3, injuring at least four railway workers and damaging key infrastructure, ...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shook hands with Woo Won-shik, the speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly, before the start of a military parade...
Afghanistan airdropped commandos on Wednesday to pull survivors from the rubble of homes in mountainous eastern areas ravaged by earthquakes this week...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 3rd of September, covering the latest developments you need to...
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have started extensive talks in Beijing, focusing on military cooperation, diplom...
Russia launched a large-scale overnight air attack on Ukraine on September 3, injuring at least four railway workers and damaging key infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities say.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shook hands with Woo Won-shik, the speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly, before the start of a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, a rare interaction amids strained inter-Korean relations.
Afghanistan airdropped commandos on Wednesday to pull survivors from the rubble of homes in mountainous eastern areas ravaged by earthquakes this week that have killed more than 1,400, as it ramped up efforts to deliver food, shelter and medical supplies.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 3rd of September, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Russia launched a large-scale overnight air attack on Ukraine on September 3, injuring at least four railway workers and damaging key infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities say.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shook hands with Woo Won-shik, the speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly, before the start of a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, a rare interaction amids strained inter-Korean relations.
Afghanistan airdropped commandos on Wednesday to pull survivors from the rubble of homes in mountainous eastern areas ravaged by earthquakes this week that have killed more than 1,400, as it ramped up efforts to deliver food, shelter and medical supplies.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 3rd of September, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have started extensive talks in Beijing, focusing on military cooperation, diplomatic ties, and North Korea’s support for Russian forces in Ukraine.
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