US-Cuba Sanctions Escalate: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new U.S. sanctions on five Cuban entities and eight officials tied to Cuba’s military procurement and foreign weapons relationships, warning that anyone supporting the targeted actors could face penalties. Humanitarian Warning: UN experts say the sanctions are worsening Cuba’s crisis and could push the country toward a “silent Gaza,” as energy shortages hit health, food, and basic services. Power Crisis on the Ground: Cuba’s grid failures continue to disrupt daily life, with reports of long outages and ongoing skepticism about restoration efforts. Energy for Care: Holguín received 10 electric vehicles to transport kidney patients to hemodialysis, aiming to keep treatment on schedule despite the energy squeeze. Central Cuba Collapse: Two people died and another was injured after part of an abandoned school structure collapsed in Remedios, triggering a large rescue response. Water Shortage Testimony: A Guantánamo mother says her family has gone weeks without water, worsening her daughter’s chronic skin condition. Culture & Memory: A Fidel Castro centenary story recalls a personal phone call to a journalist’s daughter during cancer surgery, showing the leader’s “human side.” Cuban Sports: Cuba won gold in men’s 1000m canoeing at Santo Domingo 2026, adding to its medal haul.