Humanitarian Fallout of Sanctions: UN High Commissioner Volker Türk says U.S. economic pressure is driving child deaths in Cuba, citing doubled infant mortality and worse childhood cancer survival as medical supplies and medicines run short. Energy Blockade Tightens: The U.S. added Cuba’s state oil firm CUPET to sanctions, and a Florida trader, Vanguard Energy, halted what would have been the largest U.S. fuel shipment to Cuba since 1960, citing new “operational restrictions.” Food and Medicine Logistics Hit: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez says the embargo is blocking rice deliveries and preventing distribution of about half of medicines produced on the island, with UN World Food Programme cargo stuck in ports due to fuel shortages. Economic Liberalization Push: Díaz-Canel announced a 2026 Economic and Social Program to liberalize the economy—more private activity, greater autonomy for state enterprises, foreign-trade changes, and allowing Cubans abroad to invest—alongside plans to cut ministries and decentralize foreign-currency management. Power Crisis on the Ground: Güines residents report repeated, poorly tested transformer repairs after a week-plus blackout, while other reports describe outages lasting 50–80 hours with little explanation. Aid Arrives Despite Pressure: A Colombia-flagged ship delivered 100 tons of food, medicines, hospital supplies, electrical materials and solar panels to Havana.