Castro warns Cubans to brace for shortages

HAVANA – Communist Party leader Raul Castro is warning Cubans to brace for shortages and other economic problems due to Trump administration policies, but says the island won't repeat the extreme deprivation of the post-Soviet period.

In his first speech to the nation in more than three months, Castro said Wednesday that U.S. pressure on Venezuela and Cuba could lead to already notable shortages increasing sharply in coming months.

It has become hard to find basic goods such as chicken, cooking oil, eggs and flour in recent months and state-run newspapers cut their page count last week due to shortages of newsprint.

Castro said, "We need to be aware of growing problems, and the situation could grow worse in the next few months."