Raúl Castro’s public return: Cuba’s former president, 95, reappeared at a military ceremony tied to the Personal Security Directorate, ending fresh health rumors as state TV showed him clapping alongside Díaz-Canel and his grandson. MININT power politics: A Cuban jurist says the event also signals a push to elevate Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro (“el Cangrejo”), noting Castro stayed silent while a letter was read aloud. Security and repression in Havana: Residents in Fontanar protested prolonged blackouts by blocking a major road; reports say police used force and detained people. Daily survival under the blackout crisis: Havana continues improvising—an old cargo truck has been converted into a water tanker, and others are turning to solar and battery setups to cope. Crime and fear of weak police response: A security camera captured a break-in at a private restaurant-bar in El Vedado, with owners turning to social media for help. Gender violence update: Alas Tensas documented femicides that bring 2026 to 50 cases, including a woman found in a banana plantation in Camagüey. US pressure and tourism hit: ONEI data says tourist arrivals to Cuba fell sharply in the first seven months of 2026, blaming Washington’s restrictions and sanctions. Family ties to regime repression: New reporting alleges a Hialeah resident linked to Alejandro Castro Espín gave false information to the US State Department during a visa process.