Capital, port, and economic heart of Cuba
Cuba has run out of fuel oil and diesel, triggering severe blackouts that persist in Havana and across the island. Government says the blockade and sanctions are worsening shortages, while protests erupt in parts of the capital. Power remains unstable as the country relies on aging plants and limited domestic production.
Cuban officials report ongoing blackouts across eastern provinces after a fuel squeeze has left the grid strained. Moscow and Havana point to U.S. sanctions and sanctions-led fuel restrictions as the cause, with protests flaring in Havana amid extended outages.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has met Cuban officials in Havana to discuss intelligence, economic stability and security. U.S. prosecutors have been expected to unseal an indictment against 94-year-old Raúl Castro in Miami on May 20 over the 1996 shootdown of exile planes, according to U.S. and Cuban sources.
Cuban president Miguel Díaz‑Canel has said Cuba "poses no threat" after US reports — citing classified intelligence — that Havana has obtained more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran and discussed strikes on US assets including Guantánamo Bay. Cuba has denied the claims and warned a US attack would "trigger a bloodbath."
The United States has indicted Raul Castro for murder and conspiring to kill U.S. nationals over the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue planes, as part of a broader push by the Trump administration to hold Cuban leaders to account. Cuban President Diaz-Canel dismisses the move as a political maneuver, while prosecutors say the case rests on decades of evidence and witness testimony.
Foreign tourism in Cuba has plunged as U.S. sanctions tighten and fuel shortages persist. Major hotel operators have withdrawn or reduced operations, leaving the island’s tourism sector in a deep downturn. Local workers fear job losses as chains reconfigure or exit management roles, intensifying economic strain amid power outages and limited supplies.
Havana residents have been living with piling garbage as fuel shortages and a crippled energy blockade hinder waste collection. The city has seen streets filled with trash, burning waste in some areas, and health officials warning of rising disease risk. Grassroots groups like El Batazo are organizing to sort and recycle waste, offering a glimmer of community resilience.
The USGS records a magnitude-6.1 quake off western Cuba at a shallow depth, with an epicenter west-northwest of Mantua. Shaking is felt as far as Florida and parts of Mexico; Cuba reports widespread blackouts and limited damage. No tsunami warnings have been issued.
The Cuba energy crisis has intensified amid rounds of U.S. sanctions targeting Cupet and the government. Shipments from Colombia and other allies have sought to ease shortages, but power outages and food shortages persist as Havana faces a growing economic squeeze.
Robb Report names Lilo in Carlsbad the best new restaurant of 2026, with California restaurants dominating the top 10. Other awards highlight hospitality and beverage programs across major cities, underscoring California’s strong showing in the national dining scene.
Cuba’s Communist Party has approved an emergency package of free‑market measures aimed at expanding private enterprise, attracting foreign investment, and reducing state control. The plan, presented as urgent to avert a deeper crisis, follows months of U.S. pressure and a worsening energy embargo. Details remain sparse as the National Assembly prepares to debate timing, implementation, and who benefits.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Helms-Burton does not shield Cuban state agencies from certain lawsuits, allowing Americans to sue entities profiting from confiscated Cuban assets. ExxonMobil is seeking compensation for properties confiscated after the Cuban revolution. The decision could impact U.S.-Cuba relations as the Trump administration applies pressure on Havana.
Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez has stated the newly unveiled reforms are a matter of sovereignty and were not discussed in prior talks with the United States. He condemns a new package of unilateral U.S. measures and highlights Cuba’s ongoing economic changes, including expanded private enterprise and foreign investment, while urging international attention to the energy embargo.
Citizens across the United States express resilience, unity, and pride ahead of a 250th Independence celebration. AP interviews capture personal takes on freedom, patriotism, and the role of national symbols, set against a backdrop of political division and public gatherings.
Cuba has endured repeated nationwide blackouts since January after the U.S. imposed an oil embargo. The island is rationing power, halting transport and cancelling surgeries while citizens and small businesses are installing solar panels, batteries and electric tricycles to keep services running despite deepening shortages and rising public anger.
BBC, Independent, Guardian views converge on a remake that trims padding and sharpens exploration, with improved combat, visuals and pacing. Some criticisms linger over tailing missions and Abstergo content.
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has arrived in Miami after a five-year prison sentence in Cuba. The exile follows a U.S. parole grant and mounting diplomatic pressure. He is the cofounder of the San Isidro Movement, whose members have faced persistent repression in Cuba.
Cheetah cubs born at Whipsnade Zoo are now roaming a public paddock, testing their speed and playfully interacting with littermates. Conservationists say the cubs are vital for the endangered northern cheetah population, with only about 6,500 remaining. Cubs will be named by the Zoological Society of London as conservation work continues in Zambia.
Meliá has announced it is withdrawing from Cuba, effective Friday, citing significant operational, legal, economic and financial difficulties amid new US sanctions. The move follows sanctions targeting Cuba’s tourism ministry and GAESA, intensifying a pre-existing crisis in the island’s tourism sector.
Former CIA director Woolsey has died at his Washington home after a stroke, with his wife citing Havana syndrome as a factor in his declining health. He led the CIA from 1993 to 1995 amid post‑Cold War changes and the Aldrich Ames spy case.
The United States has begun distributing food and hygiene kits to vulnerable Cuban families via Catholic aid networks, as a $60 million shipment marks the first tranche of a planned $100 million program. The distribution faces distrust from Havana and Washington, amid long-standing political frictions and Cuba’s energy challenges.