US pummels Cuban economy with new sanctions on mining, construction

US economic restrictions have strained the island’s already fragile economy, prompting blackouts and medical shortages.The United States has announced another round of economic sanctions against Cuba, this time targeting nine state-owned mining, metal and construction companies.A notice posted on the US Treasury Department’s website on Thursday showed Cuba’s Ministry of Construction of Cuba among the sanctioned entities, as well as government-controlled import companies.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘To play God’: Cuba’s healthcare system collapses under US pressurelist 2 of 3US diplomat Rubio targets Cuban military officials, companies in sanctionslist 3 of 3Seven decades of US regime change efforts: What have they achieved?end of listEnterprises that extract and trade the island’s minerals, like the mining group GEOMINSAL, were also on the list. Cuba holds significant deposits of cobalt and nickel.In addition to the nine entities, three leaders at the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), a state organisation designed to foster international relations, were sanctioned as well.The administration of US President Donald Trump portrayed the targeted i...