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

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints.
Ephesians 5:3

Isaiah 45:2

“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, This verse…

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Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. This verse emphasizes that people who carefully watch what they say will protect themselves from serious…

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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

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6

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 there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

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

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1

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

This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6

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

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Matthew 17:5

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

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8

Two people injured in recent bear attacks in Colorado high country

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says two people were recently injured in separate bear attacks in the high country. On Tuesday, a bear reportedly entered a home in Steamboat Springs near Fish Creek Falls Road. The woman told wildlife officers the bear entered her home through the sliding glass door around 1 a.m., and she attempted…

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Colorado firefighters say bear broke into home and started fire

Firefighters in Crested Butte said that a house fire was started by a bear after the animal got inside the private residence. The Crested Butte Fire Protection District posted on its Facebook page that crews responded to a residential structure fire overnight on Aug. 19 in the Mt. Crested Butte neighborhood.  According to fire officials,…

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At least 10 railcars derail in Mansfield; no injuries reported, officials say

Police are directing traffic and the Grand Prairie hazmat unit is on the scene after at least 10 railcars derailed in Mansfield on Thursday evening, officials said. The derailment happened near Seeton Road and South Holland Road around 2:30 p.m. The Mansfield Fire Department also responded. No injuries or leaks have been reported, authorities said.…

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North Texas heat wave sparks power outages across Dallas neighborhoods

The extreme heat in North Texas is straining electrical equipment and causing scattered power outages across several Dallas neighborhoods. More than a dozen residents in the Kessler Park neighborhood told CBS News Texas they experienced two outages on Monday during the extreme temperatures. One lasted about an hour, and the second about 30 minutes.  Will…

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Lawmakers expected to pass law ending child marriage in California

California lawmakers are expected to pass a new law ending child marriage within the state.  Currently, California is one of three states that allow children of any age to get married if a parent or guardian signs off. The bill passing through the legislature would end underage marriage with no exceptions.  “So many survivors of…

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Big Bear wildlife activists name eagle spotted with Shadow

Wildlife activists on Thursday named the new eagle that has been spotted following Shadow through Big Bear’s treetops and skies. “Generally, Friends of Big Bear Valley does not give names to nest visitors unless they have been around long-term…until now,” the Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote in a Facebook post. FOBBV chose the name…

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Midday storm threat in Chicago area on Friday

Thunderstorms return to the Chicago area on Friday.  Most of the morning remains dry, but by lunchtime, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to move into the Chicago area.  Storms could be severe, with a level 2 out of 5; a slight risk is in place. Damaging winds up to 60-65 miles per hour and…

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Alaska Air Guard Rescues Injured Hiker From Hatcher Pass

At the request of the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker from steep terrain in the Hatcher Pass area, approximately 40 miles north of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Aug. 18. When the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received the request for assistance, an HH-60W Jolly Green II aircrew…

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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

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Psalm 105:4

Authorities seize 29 cats, 1 dog from condemned Brooklyn Park home

Dozens of animals are beginning new lives after being rescued from a Twin Cities home last month. Twenty-nine cats and a dog were seized from the home of a 68-year-old Brooklyn Park woman. Investigators got a search warrant after years of complaints, some dating as far back as 2001. According to a criminal complaint, the…

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Severe storms in weather forecast for Maryland Thursday, drier Friday

The WJZ First Alert Weather Team has declared Thursday as a First Alert Weather Day for the potential of a line of powerful storms across Maryland that could bring down trees and cause localized flooding and power outages this afternoon and evening.  Scattered showers are possible Thursday morning, but the main batch of strong to…

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Firefighters rescue 5 kittens from house fire in Spokane

Five kittens were rescued from a house fire after crews responded within minutes on Monday to a single family home on East 5th Avenue, according to the Spokane Fire Department (SFD). Crews were first dispatched around 4:46 p.m. to the 2100 block of East 5th Avenue following a report from a neighbor who observed smoke coming…

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CT rescue fosters dogs from Middle East to help troops who saved them

For South Windsor resident Jessica Waterhouse, caring for animals is her life passion. Five years ago, she opened an animal sanctuary and recently three “very special” puppies were delivered to her doorstep from thousands of miles away. Waterhouse, whose son serves in the U.S. Army and is currently deployed to the Middle East, said a…

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2 manatees rescued after beaching near New Smyrna Dunes Dog Beach

Two manatees beached near New Smyrna Dunes Dog Beach have been returned to the Indian River in New Smyrna Beach. A viewer told News 6 the manatees first beached themselves around 2 p.m. Witnesses say they began reaching out to wildlife authorities and marine rescue organizations at that time. “We sent a crew down to…

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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

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16

Lifeguard rescues dog at Hilton Head beach

A Hilton Head Island lifeguard saved a beach-goer’s dog Thursday morning. Lifeguard Otávio Cunha from Hilton Head’s Shore Beach Service swam 60 yards to rescue the K-9, according to a Facebook post from the organization. The unfortunate dog swam after a flock of birds near the Alder Lane beach access, according to the post. Shore…

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Two powerful earthquakes hit Indonesia in one day, killing at least 38

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday killed at least 38 people, a disaster management official said, revising an earlier toll. A second, 6.4-magnitude quake struck the country’s western Sumatra island laterm according to the U.S. Geological Survey. “Thirty-eight people have been confirmed dead, two were seriously injured, 11 sustained minor injuries, and…

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Lee County waives pet adoption fees Saturday for Clear the Shelters

Lee County residents looking to add a four-legged member to the family can adopt one for free Saturday as part of the 2026 Clear the Shelters campaign. Lee County Domestic Animal Services is waiving all adoption fees Saturday, Aug. 15, during its Clear the Shelters adoption event. The shelter has dogs and cats of different…

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Roman shipwreck discovered off the coast of Sicily, Italy laden with ancient jars believed to be more than 2,000 years old

Italian divers have discovered the 2,100-year-old wreck of a Roman ship off Sicily, piled high with hundreds of well-preserved ancient clay jars, known as amphorae, which were likely used to transport wine. The wreck, dubbed by Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli as “one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years”, was found…

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