Power Crisis in Cuba: Cuba’s grid failure plunged Havana and western provinces into darkness again after a “partial collapse” split the National Electric System, leaving Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Havana and Matanzas without service; UNE says restoration is underway and hospitals and key water pumping circuits were prioritized as Unit 3 at the Antonio Maceo Thermal Power Plant came back online. Political Prisoners and Protests: Cuba’s Supreme Court upheld six-year prison sentences for independent journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea Chávez and also confirmed other long terms tied to a 2024 protest against power outages. Health Under Strain: Yoani Sánchez describes a worsening health crisis in Havana—caught between blackouts, mosquitoes, and an empty medicine cabinet with no thermometer or key supplies. U.S.-Cuba Tensions: Secretary of State Marco Rubio renewed claims that Cuba runs espionage and influence operations inside the U.S., while also warning that Cuban-linked networks exploit U.S. political divisions. U.S. Visa Bonds: The U.S. made its visa bond program permanent for 50 countries, with deposits up to $20,000 for B1/B2 applicants, including Cuba. Regional Politics: Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro urged international solidarity to avert what he warned could be a U.S. invasion of Cuba.