US Sanctions Push on Cuba’s Economy: The Trump administration added five GAESA-linked and mining/steel entities—Banco Financiero Internacional, Almacenes Universales, Rafin, Geominera, and Antillana de Acero—to OFAC’s SDN list, and also sanctioned Annalie Lilliam Rueda Cardero, wife of Gen. Alejandro Castro Espín, as Marco Rubio said the targets profit from Cuba’s mineral and metallic reserves and GAESA’s financial/logistics reach. Energy Crisis, Public Pressure: In Havana, residents in El Vedado/Rampa Vedado protested near-24-hour blackouts, while another viral account described 40+ hours without electricity and warned against “black berets” intimidation—amid official shortfalls and fuel/technical outages. Holguín Solar Rollout: Canada-supported “Former Project” is installing 344 photovoltaic systems in Holguín, aiming for stable 24-hour power in targeted municipalities and adding solar water heaters for health and social care sites. Market Reform Meets Hard Reality: Cuba moved to eliminate price caps on key imported foods like chicken and cooking oil, while debate continues over sweeping free-market reforms framed as emergency survival under siege. Legal Pressure on Cuba’s Assets: The US Supreme Court cleared ExxonMobil’s path to sue Cuba over seized energy infrastructure under the Helms-Burton framework, setting up further litigation. Fuel Workarounds and Supply Strain: Reports show desperate substitution—drivers using vegetable oil as fuel—highlighting how shortages are reshaping everyday production and transport. Mexico Looks for Commercial Fuel Channel: Mexico’s Sheinbaum said mechanisms are being developed to let private firms transport fuel to Cuba, separating commercial trade from humanitarian aid.