HAVANA — Cubans accustomed to shopping with wads of bills stuffed into bags because of skyrocketing inflation will get some relief Wednesday when two new high-denomination banknotes go into circulation.
Cuba’s Central Bank was set to release 2,000 and 5,000 Cuban peso notes, equal to roughly $4 and $10, after they were previewed Tuesday on the government website Cubadebate.
It will be the first time the island’s paper currency features women. The 2,000 Cuban peso note in violet and pink tones will feature a portrait of Mariana Grajales, a patriot of Cuban independence and mother of several of its heroes. The 5,000 peso note in blue will depict Celia Sánchez, a guerrilla fighter who became a close collaborator of former President Fidel Castro.
The new notes will “facilitate cash transactions, respond to the real needs of an economy that demands large amounts of cash… reduce the costs of cash logistics, and improve operational efficiency during the current period of inflation,” Cubadebate said.
The highest denomination until now has been the 1,000 peso note, but rising inflation since 2001 has meant that many people are forced to carry around bills that don’t fit in their wallets.
Authorities have promoted bank deposits and transfers, but many residents still prefer cash.
Annual inflation closed last year at 14%, according to official figures. The price increases of the last five years — peaking at 77% in 2021 — combined with severe declines in gross domestic product have had a significant impact on daily life.
Cuba is experiencing a severe economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 financial reform – when inflation skyrocketed – and an increase in U.S. sanctions aimed at prompting Cuba to liberalize its politics and economy.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe over claims that the medical facility violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The EEOC lawsuit claims the hospital failed to accommodate an employee with a disability and fired her because of […]
If you need to get yourself a little roughed up by riffs today, you’re in luck! We’re streaming “Valley of The Wolf” by Üga Büga, from their record of the same name due out on June 5. Just try not to break your neck while you’re listening to this.
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Üga Büga blends influences like Mastodon, Soundgarden, High on Fire, and The Mars Volta into a heavy, genre-crossing sound paired with fantasy-themed lyrics about post-apocalyptic warriors and surreal worlds.
After their 2024 debut album Year of the Hog gained attention on the Doom Charts, the band is preparing their next release, Valley of the Wolf. They’ve built momentum through intense live shows across the eastern U.S., opening for acts like Nothing More, Darkest Hour, and King Buffalo, as well as appearances at underground festivals.
Formed in 2021 and solidified in 2022, the current lineup of Calloway Jones, Niko Cvetanovich, and Jimmy Czywczynski now writes collaboratively, shaping a heavier, more unified sound that defines their evolving identity.
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Every soccer fan dreams of seeing their nation in a World Cup, but for many of FIFA’s 211 member associations, that ambition remains just that: a dream.
However, the expansion of soccer’s showpiece event to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament, which is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, has left the door ajar to nations who previously would have fallen short, while other countries have hit their stride at just the right time with golden generations driving them to qualification for their maiden finals.
While as many as nine potential newcomers were in the mix for 2026 heading into the March playoffs, only four of those teams will be on the ground when the competition kicks off on June 11.
Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan have punched their tickets, but what do we know about these nations, both on and off the pitch? For most fans around the world who’ll be watching this summer, it’s not a whole lot.
We spoke to an expert from each debutant country to get better acquainted with 2026’s World Cup underdogs.
A volcanic archipelago of 10 islands off Africa’s West Coast, Cape Verde secured their spot by winning Group D in Africa, beating Cameroon to top spot.
With a population of just 525,000, Cape Verde is the third-smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup, after Iceland in 2018 and fellow 2026 debutants Curaçao. The decisive win came on Oct.13 when Cape Verde overcame Eswatini 3-0 on home soil, sparking wild celebrations in the capital Praia.
“On the day of the Eswatini game I was trying to conserve energy, but my stomach was dancing with nerves,” Cape Verde defender Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes told ESPN.
“I was supposed to have a pre-game nap but then one of the other players got out the speakers and started playing music. We all started dancing. And then it’s like we knew that everything was going to be okay, it had to be our day.”
Music, and food, have been a big part of bonding the Cape Verde team who come together from all over the world for their international fixtures.
“Music is a huge part of the dressing-room atmosphere,” Lopes said. “We play traditional songs, funaná music, a mix of old and modern. We eat Cachupa (a bean and corn stew) in the evening and for breakfast. It’s the national dish and we eat it together.”
The Blue Sharks were Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinalists 2013 and 2023, so they are no strangers to major competition, but the enormity of qualifying for a World Cup was evident.
“We had been building for years and when the draw was done there was this determination. We thought ‘if not now, when?'” Lopes said.
“The government gave everyone the day off work to watch the Eswatini game and to qualify means everything. We’re a very proud football nation, but these 10 tiny islands off the coast of Africa up there with the biggest names, how can you not feel proud?”
“The little boy in me wants to play Brazil,” Lopes said. “They are the symbol of the World Cup. But we’d have some work to do to get to play them! We’re happy with the group we have.”
Jordan is an Arab nation on the east bank of the Jordan River, bordering five countries: Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine‘s West Bank. It has become a hugely popular tourist destination, with visitors flocking to see its UNESCO heritage sites and to swim in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.
“The most famous tourist site is the ancient city and archaeological site of Petra,” Jordan fan Zaid Al Atiyat told ESPN. “It’s nicknamed the ‘Rose City’ due to its pinkish sandstone and is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World [after a campaign in 2000 to choose Wonders of the World from 200 existing monuments].
“Or, if you want to go to Mars but don’t want to travel quite as far, Wadi Rum is a good second choice. Hollywood films such as Dune, Star Wars, The Martian and Lawrence of Arabia were set there.”
Jordan’s national dish, mansaf, made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur, is a source of great pride to the country’s 11.5 million inhabitants, but it was also at the center of an on-the-pitch controversy.
“At the 2023 AFC Asian Cup round-of-16 game between Jordan and Iraq, Jordan forward, Yazan Al-Naimat celebrated his goal by gathering his teammates into a Bedouin-style circle and everyone gesturing with their hands as if eating mansaf,” Al Atiyat said. “Once Iraq took the lead in the second half, the goal scorer Aymen Hussein celebrated by sitting cross-legged in a mansaf gesture of his own, before controversially getting a second yellow card by [referee] Alireza Faghani.”
Jordan got the last laugh against Iraq, winning 3-2, and they went all the way to the final where they lost to hosts Qatar.
The Chivalrous Ones qualified for the World Cup back in June 2025 with a 3-0 away victory over Oman that confirmed they would finish second in Asia’s Group B behind South Korea.
“Growing up, I never imagined I’d see Jordan on the global stage,” Al Atiyat said. “But the 2023 Asian Cup truly allowed us to dream big in ways we had never before.”
Jordan were drawn in Group J at the World Cup and will come up against Austria, Algeria and Argentina. While that looks like a tough test for the debutants, they have some talented players ready to step up.
“Mousa Al-Tamari and his lightning pace and dribbling should be the name in everyone’s heads when they think of Jordan,” Al Atiyat said. “He is the first Jordanian to play and score in a top five league, and he has established himself as a key player for Stade Rennais.
“Yazan Al-Arab is our pillar at center back, he’s the first Jordanian to play in K League 1 [or FC Seoul], and he was in the K League’s 2025 Team of the Year.”
An autonomous Caribbean island within the Kingdom of the Netherlands known for its stunning beaches and diving, Curaçao can also now claim a piece of soccer history. With a population of just 156,000, Curaçao became the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, taking advantage of the absence in qualification of three of CONCACAF’s traditional giants.
Curaçao’s two main sports are baseball and soccer. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Andrew Jones hails from Curaçao, but on the soccer field, successes until now have been harder to come by.
“As soon as we knew the tournament would be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada, we knew we could make it,” Brenton Balentien, also known as Captain Blue Face, a former Curaçao youth international and head of the nation’s supporters’ group, told ESPN.
But the qualification process wasn’t without its stresses. Curaçao had to travel to Jamaica on the final day needing a draw to book their place.
“When we beat Jamaica at home, I knew it was our year but then I thought I was going to die during the away fixture,” Balentien said. “My heart stopped for a couple of seconds when they were awarded a penalty at the end, but VAR disallowed it. That feeling stays with you though!”
The majority of Curaçao’s players were born in the Netherlands and they were led in qualification by legendary Dutch coach Dick Advocaat. Advocaat, who is 78 years old, would have become the oldest coach ever to manage at a World Cup, but he had to step down from the role last month for family reasons. However, in addition to strong links to the Netherlands, there are many other influences on Curaçaoan culture.
“Curacao is a very diverse island, a lot of different cultures became one,” Balentien said. “We speak five or six languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, Papiamento, Portuguese, French.
“Normally during the World Cup, a lot of people support the Netherlands but for those born and raised on the island it is obligatory to support Brazil. They have been by far the most backed team since the days of Pelé.”
Curaçao will have their work cut out in Group E when they face Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast, but whatever happens it will be a special time to be on the island.
“There always energy, always a party, energy overflows particularly when it comes to sport,” Balentien said. “We know how to eat and drink well.
“Our specialty is Kuminda di Tera, or earth food. We eat goat and iguana, okra soup, those are favorites. To drink we have blue Curaçao (a vibrant orange flavored liquor) — the original and best in the world, which is produced in a local distillery Landhuis Chobolobo.
“It will be a party whether we win, lose or draw. We’ll just be celebrating the fact we can play on such a big stage.”
The first Central Asian nation to qualify for a World Cup, Uzbekistan finally exorcised the ghosts of past near-misses to make it to soccer’s biggest event.
Geographically, the former Soviet republic of around 38 million inhabitants has an unusual claim to fame that it shares with the tiny European principality of Liechtenstein. “Uzbekistan is one of the two doubly landlocked countries in the world [meaning there are two other countries between it and a coastline in any direction],” Uzbekistan supporter Jaloliddin Makhmudov told ESPN.
“Our country once used to be the center for the Great Silk Road [a vast network of sea and land trading routes linking China to the Roman Empire, India and Africa].”
When it comes to cuisine, Uzbekistan also has some impressive feats to boast about.
“Our traditional food is known as plov [a hearty one-pot rice dish] and it’s served on every occasion, whether it’s a wedding party or a funeral,” Makhmudov said. “We even set a Guinness World Record when 7,360kg [16,226 lb] of Plov was prepared in Tashkent, the capital city.”
Uzbekistan were unbeaten throughout the second qualifying round and secured qualification with a game to spare after a goalless draw with the UAE. As well as euphoria, there was a sense of relief after Uzbekistan’s history of heroic failures.
The White Wolves lost 9-8 on penalties to Jordan in a 2014 World Cup qualification playoff and were controversially knocked out of the 2006 edition on away goals by Bahrain when the first leg was replayed due to a refereeing error.
“The whole of Uzbekistan has been waiting for the World Cup for 34 years,” Makhmudov said. “We would always fail in the last round, and that would really hurt the entire nation.
“Football is undoubtedly the most loved sport in Uzbekistan even though we are one of the best at boxing. So, the World Cup is a very big occasion. We always felt capable of getting there and our players have started shining in top five leagues while our national league has improved greatly.”
Uzbekistan will have Fabio Cannavaro, Italy‘s World Cup-winning captain and a Ballon d’Or winner in 2006, at the helm. Manchester City‘s Abdukodir Khusanov will be their most famous face on the pitch, but there are other exciting players ready to shine.
“Oston Urunov could steal the headlines with his outstanding dribbling and shooting skills,” Makhmudov said. “And Abbos Fayzullaev is another rising star who was named the 2023 AFC Youth Player of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards in 2024. Prepare to be surprised!”
President Donald Trump again attempted to exert control over American elections, signing an executive order Tuesday that aims to create federal lists of citizens and ask the United States Postal Service to only transmit mail ballots to people on those lists.
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The executive order, his second related to elections since retaking office last year, is sure to be immediately challenged in court. The U.S. Constitution gives states the power to set voting rules and administer their own elections, though Congress has the ability to set some regulations, too.
“That’s a big deal,” Trump said as he signed the order in the Oval Office, adding that he didn’t believe it could be overturned by the courts. “I think this will help a lot with elections. We’d like to have voter ID. We’d like to have proof of citizenship, and that’ll be another subject for another time. We’re working on that, you would think it’d be easy.”
The order asks the Department of Homeland Security to create “state citizenship lists” from federal citizenship and naturalization records, Social Security records, and other federal databases.
Those lists would then be sent to the states to verify their voter rolls, and USPS, who would be asked only to transmit ballots addressed to people on state citizenship lists. It’s unclear how the USPS, a chronically underfunded agency, would absorb the mandate to police election mail as required by the order.
Two key players in failed efforts to overturn the 2020 election that Trump lost — Kurt Olsen and Heather Honey — were involved in discussions around the executive order, according to a person familiar with the preparations. Olsen now works as director of election security and integrity at the White House, while Honey works in a senior role at the Department of Homeland Security.
Election experts said they expected the order would be deemed unconstitutional in the courts.
“This will be blocked by the federals courts before the ink is dry,” said David Becker, founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, which works to support election administrators.
“The Constitution clearly gives the power to regulate these issues related to mail ballots to the states,” Becker continued. “The president has been excluded by the framers from dictating election policy to the states.”
Trump has long had his sights set on altering the voting process in the U.S. as he’s continued to falsely claim he won the 2020 election.
“I won three times. I went three times convincingly,” he said Tuesday after signing the order.
“The Republicans should say: ‘We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least — many, 15 places,’” Trump said in an interview on a conservative podcast in February. “The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.”
He signed an executive order in March of last year that attempted to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements to register to vote and cut funding on states that provide a grace period for mail ballots to arrive. The courts blocked many provisions of that order.
Trump has also put pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would impose new proof of citizenship and voter ID requirements.
The legislation passed the House, but has stalled in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to advance under current chamber rules.
One month in, the U.S. war in Iran has impacted the global economy and millions of lives, with no clear end in sight. Now, one central question remains: why is the U.S. at war with Iran?A long list of history and events can help answer that question, and many may recall critical moments like the Iranian hostage crisis, Iran-Contra, and the nuclear deal reached under former President Barack Obama. But, University of South Florida professor Arman Mahmoudian, born in Tehran, says the current war stems from Iran’s struggle for regional power, tracing back most recently to the country’s role in the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas militants, a terrorist group backed and funded by Iran, launched their surprise attack, becoming a major inflection point for stability in the Middle East.”The attack inflicted the second largest Jewish casualty next to the Holocaust,” Mahmoudian said. “This changed the whole paradigm for the Israelis.”Since then, Israel has returned fire, fighting not just Hamas, but a network of militant groups backed by Iran across the region. Mahmoudian says Iran has often used proxy groups, like Hamas or Hezbollah, to maintain power. “Basically, you have others fight your fight in other countries with other people,” Mahmoudian said. “So, Iran moved towards funding militias everywhere that can fight its enemies.”It’s not just proxy groups. Iran’s continued pursuit of nuclear power has also raised alarms among Western countries, including the U.S.President Donald Trump has listed that as one of many reasons for the U.S.’ recent escalation with Iran. But, the President has also named other reasons, including regime change, peace, and U.S. national security among several others, for launching strikes on Iran beginning February 28th.Experts also suggest another motive: Iran’s vast oil reserves. Impacted supply could cut off adversaries like China that rely on the oil. It could also help the U.S. secure its dominance on the world stage.”Regime change in Iran would be considered pro-U.S.,” Mahmoudian said. “That would narrow down the flow of energy to China.”With years of mounting tensions now spilling into war, Mahmoudian says the fate of the Middle East and the fight over global power may rest on the war’s outcome. “It depends on how it ends,” Mahmoudian said.Timing may also explain why the war started. With protests happening inside Iran and instability surrounding the country in the Middle East, President Trump has said the US’ strikes on Iran were the “last best chance” to take out its missile and nuclear programs.Watch the latest coverage on the war in Iran:
WASHINGTON —
One month in, the U.S. war in Iran has impacted the global economy and millions of lives, with no clear end in sight. Now, one central question remains: why is the U.S. at war with Iran?
A long list of history and events can help answer that question, and many may recall critical moments like the Iranian hostage crisis, Iran-Contra, and the nuclear deal reached under former President Barack Obama.
But, University of South Florida professor Arman Mahmoudian, born in Tehran, says the current war stems from Iran’s struggle for regional power, tracing back most recently to the country’s role in the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas militants, a terrorist group backed and funded by Iran, launched their surprise attack, becoming a major inflection point for stability in the Middle East.
“The attack inflicted the second largest Jewish casualty next to the Holocaust,” Mahmoudian said. “This changed the whole paradigm for the Israelis.”
Since then, Israel has returned fire, fighting not just Hamas, but a network of militant groups backed by Iran across the region.
Mahmoudian says Iran has often used proxy groups, like Hamas or Hezbollah, to maintain power.
“Basically, you have others fight your fight in other countries with other people,” Mahmoudian said. “So, Iran moved towards funding militias everywhere that can fight its enemies.”
It’s not just proxy groups. Iran’s continued pursuit of nuclear power has also raised alarms among Western countries, including the U.S.
President Donald Trump has listed that as one of many reasons for the U.S.’ recent escalation with Iran.
But, the President has also named other reasons, including regime change, peace, and U.S. national security among several others, for launching strikes on Iran beginning February 28th.
Experts also suggest another motive: Iran’s vast oil reserves. Impacted supply could cut off adversaries like China that rely on the oil. It could also help the U.S. secure its dominance on the world stage.
“Regime change in Iran would be considered pro-U.S.,” Mahmoudian said. “That would narrow down the flow of energy to China.”
With years of mounting tensions now spilling into war, Mahmoudian says the fate of the Middle East and the fight over global power may rest on the war’s outcome.
“It depends on how it ends,” Mahmoudian said.
Timing may also explain why the war started. With protests happening inside Iran and instability surrounding the country in the Middle East, President Trump has said the US’ strikes on Iran were the “last best chance” to take out its missile and nuclear programs.
The pair shared a stage for the first time in nearly four years earlier in March, during a celebration of Aldean’s career and catalog of hits.
Aldean and FGL go way back: The duo co-wrote Aldean’s 2018 hit “You Make it Easy” with then-fledgling artist Morgan Wallen, plus songwriter Jordan Schmidt.
Aldean talked about the moment during a new episode of the Try That in a Small Town podcast. He made it sound like if FGL don’t put out another record someday, he’ll be surprised.
What Did Jason Aldean Say About a Potential Florida Georgia Line Reunion?
When asked if he thinks an FGL reunion is in the pipeline, Aldean didn’t flinch.
“Oh yeah, definitely. It’s coming,” the singer said. “I would assume there’s probably going to be a record at some point. I feel like they’re getting there.”
He acknowledged that Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley have had to work out differences over what’s been a “weird few years.”
But he also thinks they’ll work their way back to performing again as a duo soon.
“I think they’re too good to not do that,” Aldean adds.
He also said reuniting would be a “smart move” for both parties, since even though they’ve found considerable success in their respective solo pursuits, they’re never going to hit the same level of stardom that they would together.
“You’re never going to be as big apart as you would together. They were too big an act as a duo to ever accomplish that same thing on their own,” he continued. “…And I think they truly enjoy being together and making music together and all those things.”
Why Did Florida Georgia Line Break Up?
The duo split in 2022 after Kelley began to pursue solo projects more aggressively than Hubbard was comfortable with.
According to an interview he gave The Human School podcast, Hubbard once told Kelley, “I don’t think I deserve 50 percent of you if I’m willing to give a hundred.”
Their longtime friendship suffered, and many fans surmised from their social media activity that they disagreed on political views.
Hubbard has also said that the stress of fatherhood and the pandemic weighed on him.
What Have Florida Georgia Line Said About a Reunion?
No official reunion has been announced, but there certainly seems to be momentum.
An early 2026 hike seemed like a promising step toward repairing their friendship, and maybe the band.
Since then, both band mates have left the door open for a potential reunion, but they’ve also said it’s their friendship they’re worried about fixing first.
25 Moments That Rocked Country Music in the Last 25 Years
Country music sure has been busy since the year 2000! Here are all the highs, lows and most unforgettable moments from the genre in the past 25 years.
Kayla Harrison sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Two months after neck surgery interrupted her big fight with Amanda Nunes, Harrison has a path to resume training.
Harrison was preparing to defend the UFC women’s bantamweight title against Nunes at UFC 324, the promotion’s debut on Paramount+. Unfortunately, Harrison was forced off the card two weeks out with herniated disks in her neck. Now, out of surgery and on the mend, Harrison is working toward a comeback.
“I look like a real assassin now,” Harrison told Jorge Masvidal and Chris Duncan, the latter of whom headlines this Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, on the “Death Row MMA” podcast. “I look like someone tried to get me, but they failed.”
The Olympic judoka will resume training in the next few weeks, pending the results of a CT scan. A healthy reading is the only obstacle between Harrison and sparring.
“I think I’m gonna have a CT scan like next week, and if all looks good, then I’m allowed to start drilling,” Harrison said. “I think a couple of weeks after that, I’ll be back to sparring.”
Harrison and Nunes are expected to rebook their planned title match from earlier this year. Nunes, widely considered the greatest women’s fighter in mixed martial arts, had planned to come back from a near three-year-long retirement to challenge Harrison.
