Cuba loosens restriction on imports by privately owned businesses

Cuba has eased restrictions on privately owned businesses to allow the import and resale of some foreign goods and medicines, aiming to ease a worsening humanitarian crisis marked by shortages. The measures also loosen parts of rules affecting oil extraction by foreign companies and make additional regulatory changes. Cuba says it removed dozens of prohibitions and relaxed further regulations affecting private industry. Officials say the reforms, approved by parliament last month, took effect Wednesday, though many bans remain.