Pharma Liberalization Stalls: Cuba’s new rules allowing non-state pharmaceutical services are moving, but a month after the decree took effect there’s still no private pharmacy on the island; 36 medicine projects are under review, with 3 formally setting up and 14 approved to continue. Transport Strain Hits Mobility: Viazul’s dollar-priced interprovincial service is deteriorating fast—breakdowns, long waits, and closed snack bars are turning a once-reliable option into a fragile lifeline for travelers with foreign currency access. Agriculture Rules Updated: The Council of Ministers approved Decree 172 to modernize soil conservation and fertilizer use, amending key articles and reshaping how Cuba’s soil and fertilizer system functions to support agricultural recovery. Energy Theft and Blackouts: In Matanzas, families in Pedro Betancourt report 26 days without electricity after dielectric oil was stolen from transformers, with similar thefts reported in Agramonte. BRICS Outreach Includes Cuba: Cuba remains a BRICS partner country as leaders gather in New Delhi Sept. 12–13, with the summit agenda centered on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. Healthcare Under Pressure: Cuba’s UN-linked messaging highlights how the US blockade and energy constraints are worsening hospital conditions, medication access, and emergency care during blackouts.