Cuba's Cigar Fair Postponed Amid Fuel Shortages

Cuba's iconic annual cigar fair, originally scheduled for the last week of February, has been postponed, organizers announced. The island is grappling with extensive fuel shortages and blackouts, attributed to a stringent US oil embargo.

Habanos S.A., the organizer of the festival and holder of the global monopoly on Cuban cigar sales, cited the need to maintain the event's high standards as the reason for the delay. No new date has been set for the 26th edition of this prestigious event, which is a significant highlight for cigar aficionados worldwide.

These disruptions in events come amidst a broader economic strain on the island, exacerbated by reduced oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, and increased US sanctions. The shortages have led to a reduction in tourism activities and have forced the cancellation of various cultural events.