Tag: Cuba

Cuba hit with nationwide blackout as US pressure continues

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Cuba suffered a nationwide blackout on Monday as it faces an ongoing energy crisis, worsened by an effective US blockade on fuel shipments. Cuba’s energy ministry said the national electrical grid had suffered a total collapse. The country’s grid operator said it is investigating the cause. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said officials were working to restore energy and that they’ve already activated emergency “microsystems” that power vital services. Cuba has experienced several nationwide blackouts over the past few years, as the country’s aging electricity infrastructure struggles to meet demand. The country’s power crisis worsened this year after the US forced Cuba’s main suppliers to stop oil shipments. In March, it had at least two total blackouts within a week. On Monday, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel criticized the US for blocking fuel imports on X, claiming Washington is trying to induce “a social explosion through asphyxiation.”

The island’s energy crunch has strained essential services, including education, transportation and medicine. Fresh sanctions by the US have also further deteriorated the Cuban economy and prevented many tourists from visiting the island. The US says the economic stranglehold is meant to force the Cuban government to pry open the island’s hermetic political system and allow direct foreign investment. Last month, Cuba’s National Assembly approved a broad set of reforms aimed at opening its economy. The foreign trade minister told CNN that the measures were not passed in response to external pressure. A spokesperson for the US State Department described the reforms as “modest, long overdue and ultimately superficial smoke signals” from the government. US and Cuban officials have held multiple talks over the past few weeks. In May, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Cuba’s spy chiefs in Havana, and the commander of US Southern Command met with senior Cuban military officials on the perimeter of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

The US has accused Cuban officials of hosting Russian and Chinese listening posts on the island and thwarting US interests in the region. Cuba denies the claims and has pushed back against the US. When CNN asked Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga about the island’s humanitarian crisis, he accused the US of collective punishment, saying: “What is happening today against our people is a genocide.”

Source: Cuba hit with nationwide blackout as US pressure continues | CNN

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Revelation 22:20

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China Is About To Lose Its Cuban Military Bases

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Friends of Havana blame the U.S., but the Trump administration had to act before China turned the island into a military bastion. Declassified intelligence showed that Chinese signals-intelligence collection facilities had been operating in Cuba since at least 2019. “China and Cuba are negotiating to establish a new joint military training facility on the island, sparking alarm in Washington that it could lead to the stationing of Chinese troops and other security and intelligence operations just 100 miles off Florida’s coast.” —The Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2023. President Donald Trump acted before the Chinese could base missiles in Cuba.

Source: China Is About To Lose Its Cuban Military Bases | CDN

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Plague in Russia?

Russian authorities have sought to allay global worries over the death of a young woman who worked at a Siberian anti-plague laboratory. But moves to isolate her contacts and…

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Cuba signals possible compensation for seized U.S. properties, but Cuban Americans remain skeptical

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Havana may pay billions in claims tied to properties seized after the 1959 revolution — but questions remain over who qualifies and whether payments would ever materialize.

Source: Cuba signals possible compensation for seized U.S. properties, but Cuban Americans remain skeptical – CBS Miami

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10

Why Many Cuban Exiles Support Trump and the Extreme Right?

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In the heart of Miami’s Little Havana, the echoes of a painful past still shape the political beliefs of a fanatically loyal voting bloc.

Having lived through the trauma of a socialist revolution that stripped some of them of property, freedom, and homeland, many see any hint of leftist ideology as anathema. While Democrats promote social programs and progressive policies… 

Source: Why Many Cuban Exiles Support Trump and the Extreme Right? – Havana Times

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Philippians 2:3

In Cuba, all-night lines for 5 gallons of gas as residents grapple with shortages

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Lines to get some fuel or to buy potatoes — for those who can afford it — are scenes of daily life in Havana.

Source: In Cuba, all-night lines for 5 gallons of gas as residents grapple with shortages

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
1 John 5:21

Cuba holds pastor’s 16-year-old son captive amid crackdown

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A 16-year-old boy whose father leads an independent Christian church in Cuba remains in state custody after security authorities detained him during a wave of unrest and arrests

Source: Cuba holds pastor’s 16-year-old son captive amid crackdown | World

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5

Pastor arrested in Cuba after uploading Bible teaching to YouTube

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Police arrested an Evangelical pastor in the Matanzas region of Cuba after recording and uploading a Bible teaching video to his YouTube channel He said the arrest was part of a pattern of

Source: Pastor arrested in Cuba after uploading Bible teaching to YouTube | World

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 16:25

Where to see red kokanee salmon in Utah this fall

Salt Lake City — Autumn brings a lot of beautiful colors to Utah’s landscape, and driving to see the leaves change color is a popular activity for many locals. However, trees aren’t the only things that turn a brilliant shade of red in the fall in Utah — kokanee salmon do as well. In September and…

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Invasive spotted lanternfly threatens trees, plants in Massachusetts

An invasive species has begun to cover trees in the MetroWest area of Massachusetts. It’s called the spotted lanternfly, and its presence could spell doom for some vegetation while creating a sticky mess in the woods near people’s homes. The insect arrived in the United States around 2014. It first showed up in Philadelphia by…

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Ford recalls nearly 149,000 Mustang vehicles over potential power issue

Ford Motor Company is recalling 148,663 Mustang vehicles due to an issue that could cause the cars to lose power or disrupt other functions, such as the headlights, increasing the risk of a crash. Federal safety regulators said in a recall notice that an issue with the electrical wiring system in certain Mustang vehicles could…

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Woman, young girl fall off chairlift ride at the Jersey Shore

A woman and a young girl fell from a chairlift ride in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, Monday night. According to the Seaside Heights Fire Department, the incident happened around 8 p.m. on Sampson Avenue on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk. Police said the woman boarded the Sky Ride at the south end platform with her young…

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Marijuana seizure: 1,800 pounds intercepted by Butts County sheriff

Nearly 900 pounds of marijuana headed to Orlando was intercepted in Georgia as part of a larger interstate shipment, according to the Butts County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Gary Long said authorities seized approximately 1,800 pounds of marijuana in Butts County on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The shipment originated in Sacramento, California. Long said approximately half was…

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Nebraska Postal Worker Arrested in $46,000 Sports Card Theft

Home / Business/Industry News / Sports Memorabilia Business News / Nebraska Postal Worker Arrested in $46,000 Sports Card Theft Nebraska Postal Worker Arrested in $46,000 Sports Card Theft August 31, 2026 By Rich Mueller A 30-year-old U.S. Postal Service employee has been arrested after police in Lincoln, NE say he stole a package containing nearly…

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Recent News on Christian Persecution (March 11 – March 18, 2026)

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Advocacy groups including International Christian Concern (ICC), Open Doors, and Persecution Relief released multiple reports this week documenting fresh incidents of violence, arrests, and systemic discrimination. The global picture remains unchanged: roughly 388 million Christians (about 1 in 7 worldwide) continue to face high or extreme levels of persecution according to the 2026 World Watch List.

1. India – Mob Assault on 28 Christian Families in Chhattisgarh

  • On March 10 (reported March 16), a mob in Millampalli village, Sukma district, attacked 28 Christian families with wooden rods and sticks. The families had been denied government food rations since November 2025 solely because of their faith; when they complained, a local food inspector allegedly incited the violence and issued threats. Police complaints were filed, but witnesses claim authorities showed bias or inaction.

2. Nigeria – Fulani Militia Attacks Continue in Plateau State

  • A March 17 ICC report highlighted ongoing raids by Fulani militants and bandits on Christian farming communities in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos areas. Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo of the Church of Christ in Nations publicly stated that repeated appeals for protection, including direct outreach to the U.S. administration, have gone unanswered, leaving Middle Belt Christians exposed despite broader U.S. military operations elsewhere in the country. Churches and homes remain primary targets.

3. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – Weekly ADF/ISIS-Linked Violence

  • ICC’s March 13 briefing detailed near-weekly attacks by the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces in eastern provinces. Christians are being murdered, abducted, and displaced, with churches deliberately destroyed as militants seek to impose stricter Islamic rule. The situation has worsened in recent months, with hundreds killed or kidnapped in targeted Christian villages.

4. Cuba – Pastor Arrested for Posting Bible Teaching Online

  • On March 15, Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora was arrested after uploading a simple Bible teaching video to YouTube. The arrest drew international attention March 16–18, underscoring growing restrictions on online Christian expression in Cuba. Local believers and advocacy groups are calling for his immediate release.

5. Iran & China – Heightened Pressure Amid Conflict and Surveillance

  • Open Doors issued updated “Dispatches from Iran” (March 17) noting that at least 48 Christians remain imprisoned amid regional chaos, communication blackouts, and economic hardship affecting underground churches. In China, ICC’s new feature “Persecution Has No Borders” detailed intensified domestic surveillance plus overseas harassment of Chinese Christians abroad through “police stations” and digital monitoring.

6. China – “Persecution Has No Borders”

  • ICC’s March 17 feature emphasized the Chinese Communist Party’s expanding reach: intensified surveillance, church demolitions, and “Sinicization” campaigns inside China, alongside overseas “police stations” harassing Chinese Christians abroad. Long-term prisoners and families of detainees continue to suffer, with authorities tightening controls on online Bible studies and house churches.

7. Iran – Christians Endure War Chaos and Imprisonment

  • Open Doors issued a March 17 dispatch on the situation inside Iran amid regional conflict. At least 48 Christians remain imprisoned, many in the overcrowded and chaotic Evin Prison, while others are missing. Communication blackouts, economic collapse, and forced conscription have hit underground churches particularly hard. Believers have been actively supporting displaced families, demonstrating remarkable resilience despite the risks of arrest for “apostasy” or “propaganda against the regime.”

8. Broader Regional Warnings

  • Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reiterated that escalating violence in the Middle East threatens the very survival of ancient Christian communities. The Vatican and UN statements this week again described anti-Christian persecution as the most widespread form of religious oppression globally.
  • The Vatican and several UN statements this week reiterated warnings about the scale of anti-Christian violence, especially in conflict zones. European commentators also discussed “polite persecution” , subtle legal and cultural pressures in Western societies, alongside the more violent incidents in the Global South. No major new policy shifts were announced, but advocacy groups continue pressing Western governments for stronger diplomatic action.

These reports emphasize both sudden violence and long-term systemic pressures. Relief organizations are actively providing emergency aid, legal assistance, and documentation. For ongoing monitoring, the primary sources remain ICC (persecution.org), Open Doors, and ACN.

Source: Grok on X

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3

Choosing life amid a prenatal diagnosis

After losing their first baby to miscarriage, Alex and Sarah Kennedy were thrilled late last year to find out they were pregnant again. “We went in for our first ultrasound around eight weeks,” Sarah said. “As soon as she put the thing on my belly I saw a fluttering heartbeat. That just gave us so…

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Pro-life org again calls on DOJ to end mail-order abotion pills

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called again on the Department of Justice to end mail-order abortion by settling Louisiana v. FDA in light of a new U.S. Senate report on the “dangerous practices” of abortion drug manufacturers. President of SBA Pro-Life America Marjorie Dannenfelser told The Center Square that “Sen. [Bill] Cassidy’s research shows there…

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West Nile Virus Activity Confirmed in Montana

DPHHS URGES MONTANANS TO TAKE INCREASED CAUTION AGAINST MOSQUITO BITES THIS SUMMER State and local health officials confirmed the first detections of West Nile virus (WNV) in Montana for summer 2026. WNV activity will likely spread across the state, and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is urging all Montanans to take…

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Minor earthquake reported in southeast Ohio

A minor earthquake was logged in southeast Ohio on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  The USGS said that around 4:06 a.m., a 2.2-magnitude quake struck around seven kilometers north of New Marshfield in Athens County, which is around 10 miles from Ohio University.  There is little information about the quake, but the…

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Bear encounters are on the rise. Here’s what to do if you meet one

A drought in the western U.S. has devastated wildlands, dried up food sources and sent bears wandering along city sidewalks and into homes and shops in search of food. What should you do if you meet a bear? Reuters ​turned to BearWise, opens new tab, which bear biologists started in the southeastern United States in…

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Rabid baby goats prompt North Carolina mobile petting zoo scare

At least three baby goats belonging to a North Carolina petting zoo have tested positive for rabies, prompting state health officials to issue an urgent warning to those who visited the operation’s mobile menagerie since late July. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said Sunday that tests Friday confirmed that the…

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12-foot Mississippi River gator caught — now, who wants to go swimming?

Alligator hunting season is off to a massive start in Mississippi — and this catch is enough to make you think twice before jumping into the Mississippi River. According to the Vicksburg Daily News, Jonathan Wimberley and his friends had an impressive first night of hunting, catching a 12-foot, 4-inch alligator in the Mississippi River.…

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Cuba faces crisis as activist Rosa María Payá urges US pressure

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As Cuba faces rolling blackouts, food shortages and renewed protests, Cuban human rights activist Rosa María Payá is warning in an interview to Fox News Digital that the island’s deepening crisis cannot be solved with economic reforms alone and is urging the United States to maintain pressure on the communist government in Havana.

Source: Cuba faces crisis as activist Rosa María Payá urges US pressure | Fox News

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18

Mudslide blocks road along Colorado River in Eagle County

Crews are working to clear a large mudslide that brought boulders and debris down on a road in Eagle County, Colorado. On Saturday afternoon, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office said the area near Sweetwater Road and Colorado River Road is closed due to the slide. Photos shared by the sheriff’s office show a significant amount…

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Dozens of people evacuated from parts of the Grand Canyon after flash floods

Dozens of people were evacuated Saturday from Grand Canyon National Park after parts of the canyon were struck by flash flooding. Bright Angel Canyon was hit by flash floods Saturday afternoon, according to the National Parks Service (NPS), but no injuries were reported. The NPS said it was conducting an aerial evacuation of “approximately 50…

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‘We are trying to survive.’ | More than 50,000 San Antonio residents still without power amid Texas heat

More than 50,000 residents remained without electricity Saturday Night as crews worked around the clock to restore power following extensive damage from strong winds and falling trees. For residents who have been without power since Friday night, the outage has made enduring the Texas heat especially difficult. “We’re suffering. We’re trying to survive. It’s horrible,”…

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Mother bear, 3 cubs freed after getting trapped in La Verne water tank

A mother bear and her three cubs were rescued after becoming trapped inside a large water storage tank in La Verne Saturday, prompting a large response from firefighters and wildlife officials. Officials said the bears were in distress for hours before one of the cubs managed to escape on its own. First responders dubbed the…

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