AGP Executive Report

July 11 Anniversary & Repression: Five years after Cuba’s July 11, 2021 protests, the regime is still tightening control, with independent groups reporting ongoing detentions and surveillance, including police operations around journalists and relatives of political prisoners. Human Rights Watch: CSW says religious freedom violations have surged into a “new normal,” with hundreds of incidents from early 2025 to mid-2026 and cases involving threats, interrogations, and detentions. Electricity Crisis: UNE reports partial reconnection of the national grid from Santa Clara to Holguín after another major collapse, as Cuba faces extreme fuel limits and fragile power restoration. U.S.-Cuba Diplomacy: Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz says Cuba has held sensitive talks with U.S. representatives via dialogue, while Marco Rubio reiterates “all tools” to push reforms and demands political prisoners’ release. World Population Day Spin: Cuba’s foreign ministry claims commitment to well-being, but UN-linked figures point to a deep demographic crisis and record-low births. Miami Culture & Activism: A Liberation Day rally in Little Havana marks the anniversary with music, documentary screenings, and calls for “true, free change.” Arts & Community: Buena Vista Social Club is set for a South Florida run at the Arsht Center, with programming tied to Cuban music and Miami’s cultural identity.

Blackouts & Fuel Crisis: Cuba’s national grid suffered a second nationwide collapse in five days, with the Electric Union reporting a total shutdown at 4:30 p.m. as fuel shortages tied to the U.S. energy blockade keep repairs and maintenance on the brink. U.S.-Cuba Talks: Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz confirmed bilateral conversations with the U.S., warning of “manipulations” meant to sow distrust while negotiations continue. Havana Syndrome Payments: The U.S. began first compensation payments for “Havana Syndrome” affected personnel, disbursing nearly $3 million under the HAVANA Act. Human Rights & Prison Transfers: Maykel Castillo Osorbo was moved to maximum security in Guanajay, following a similar operation involving Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara whose whereabouts remain unclear. Culture Spotlight: Paula Andrea Alí Rivera received Cuba’s National Television Award 2026 for decades of work across TV, theater, and ICAIC film. Arts & Memory: A vandal attack shattered a Neruda plaque in Holguín, hitting a site meant to preserve local cultural memory. Global Lens on Sanctions: India urged the UN to end unilateral embargoes and sanctions, citing impacts on development and rights—explicitly including Cuba. Sports as Culture: Pitbull’s BST Hyde Park show set a Guinness record with 22,000+ fans wearing bald caps, with the Cuban-American star tying the moment to immigrant roots.

Power & Water Crisis: Cuba logged a second island-wide blackout in a week, and Havana’s water crisis is now hitting over 500,000 people as the grid failure ripples through pumping stations and treatment systems. Healthcare Under Strain: A cancer patient’s long wait for a CT scan highlights how Cuba’s once-celebrated care model is buckling under equipment shortages and power limits. Diplomacy & Internal Politics: The Communist Party has publicly backed Raúl Castro’s grandson, “El Cangrejo,” as an intermediary for U.S. talks—amid sharp criticism inside the regime. Political Prisoners: Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo was transferred to maximum security in Guanajay, with activists warning of worsening isolation. Culture & Film: ICAIC is pushing ahead with screenings and restorations despite energy limits, including work tied to the Gibara low-budget film festival. Lifestyle & Heritage: Crystal beer is back in Miami after a decades-long legal fight over the brand. Diaspora Debate: A viral sketch reignites the Spain-vs-Miami divide in the Cuban community abroad.

Power Crisis in Cuba: Cuba’s grid hit a new record deficit, with a shortfall of 2,341 MW during peak demand, leaving huge parts of the island in darkness and deepening daily hardship. Human Rights Under Pressure: Amnesty International says Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is in enforced disappearance after his sentence ended, with authorities refusing to disclose his whereabouts. Family Pleads for Answers: A Cuban mother’s open letter to Díaz-Canel describes 48 hours without electricity and a child forced to sleep by the door to find any air. International Diplomacy: Cuba’s FM Bruno Rodríguez told the UN that the blockade “suffocates and kills,” citing massive damage figures and worsening health impacts. Medical Cooperation in Italy: Calabria’s governor says Cuban doctors will stay, rejecting U.S. pressure to replace the program—arguing hospitals need them to keep services running. Storm Damage: A severe storm in Pilón, Granma destroyed temporary schools and damaged solar panels, disrupting electricity and harming crops. Culture & Community: The Gibara Low-Budget Film Festival opens July 14–18 with films from nearly 20 countries, including new entries from Kyrgyzstan. Lifestyle (Cuban Flavor): World Rum Day and World Mojito Day overlap, spotlighting the mojito’s Cuban roots and modern popularity. Immigration Reality in the U.S.: A lawyer warns Cuban migrants with pending residency cases could face deportation if judges won’t grant continuances.

UN Showdown: Cuba’s Bruno Rodríguez tore into U.S. UN envoy Mike Waltz, flashing photos of Havana blackouts and ICE violence to argue the blockade and repression are the real humanitarian crisis. Demographic Reality Check: Cuba’s births fell to 71,358 in 2024—down nearly 62% from 1990—while deaths outpaced births, deepening the island’s population squeeze. Persecution Watch: A new report flags rising religious nationalism and transnational repression, with Christians facing intimidation, silence, and displacement. Electricity & Daily Life: Cuba’s grid collapse and ongoing shortages keep fueling public anger, including calls for UNE to explain the chaos. Medical Diplomacy Under Pressure: Italy’s Calabria refuses U.S. demands to end the Cuban doctors program, with local leaders saying the region depends on the staff. Culture & Community: The Gibara Low-Budget Film Festival returns July 14–18 with films from nearly 20 countries, spotlighting global diversity. Immigration Hardship: A Cuban woman says ICE canceled her work permit and seized her passport during an appointment, leaving her shaken and jobless. Family in the Spotlight: The family of Geraldo Lunas Campos sues after his ICE custody death was ruled homicide by asphyxia.

Cuban Doctors Under Pressure in Italy: Italy’s Calabria region is refusing U.S. calls to end Cuba’s long-running medical program, keeping more than 200 Cuban professionals working in remote hospitals after local shortages forced some departments to close. Havana’s Daily Survival Crisis: In Regla, residents say days of blackouts and water cuts have pushed them to block streets and confront municipal officials. Food Safety Alarm in the Capital: Havana’s trash and sewage buildup is threatening the food supply, with only 41% of garbage trucks operating and major uncollected waste piling up. UN Blockade Claims: Cuba’s foreign minister told the UN the U.S. is running an “energy siege,” blocking fuel shipments and worsening healthcare. ICE and Cuban Families: A judge ordered the release of Cuban plane hijacker Maikel Guerra Morales after deportation stalled, while another Cuban family is suing over a death in ICE custody. Protest Plan for U.S. Targets: ADN Cuba reports a U.S.-based Cuba solidarity network memo calling for rapid-response protests at ICE and federal sites if tensions escalate. Culture & Community: A new bishop-elect with Cuban roots was profiled in Venice, Florida, highlighting faith, family ties, and missionary work.

Cuba’s Power Crisis: Cuba’s electrical grid suffered a total collapse, with emergency protocols activated as the country grapples with blackouts amid U.S. fuel pressure. Holguín Graduation Boost: More than 1,500 professionals graduated across Holguín, Oriente, and Havana’s computer sciences university system—an education win in a tough economic moment. UN Cuba Blockade Pushback: Cuba’s foreign minister told the UN that the U.S. blockade is escalating humanitarian harm, calling it a de facto act of war and warning of what could come next. Summer Life in Guantánamo: Guantánamo Province opened dozens of swimming and sports spaces under “Summer with My People,” keeping community recreation going despite supply and energy strain. Cuban Culture Abroad: Havana Contemporary is drawing attention with a private salon model aimed at building long-term relationships between collectors and living Cuban artists. Music & Identity: Orquesta Akokán brings a vintage mambo sound to Music on Main, with band members linking the music’s Havana roots to today’s Cuban energy challenges. Human Rights at the UN: Cambodia used the UN Human Rights Council session to highlight rights work across education, gender, migration, and justice—while also addressing border displacement and migrant protections.

Cuban Political Prisoners: Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was removed from Guanajay prison in Artemisa, but his whereabouts and transfer conditions remain unknown, leaving family and human-rights groups on alert. UN Diplomacy: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez told the UN General Assembly to “ask the Cuban people” about the blockade’s impact as tempers flared with the U.S. envoy during debate over the embargo. Power Crisis at Home: Cuba faces another total grid collapse amid reports of fuel pressure and blackouts, with Díaz-Canel again blaming U.S. actions. Everyday Survival: A Cuban family living on about $60 a month describes how blackouts and shortages hit meals, health, and basic routines. Culture & Community: Danceworks in Milwaukee announces Rhythmworks: Ritmo Vivo, celebrating Afro-Brazilian and Latin dance styles. Immigration & Travel (US): The U.S. updates Visa Waiver Programme rules and highlights ESTA clearance, while new data show Cuba among the top sources of U.S. green cards.

Blackout & U.S. Fuel Fight: Cuba’s national grid suffered another total collapse, leaving nearly 10 million without power as the U.N. turned into a showdown over fuel restrictions; U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz blamed Havana’s repression while Cuba’s Bruno Rodríguez called the situation an “act of war.” Human Rights Under Pressure: Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was reportedly moved out of Guanajay prison during a heavy operation, with his transfer location still unclear as July 9 nears. Everyday Survival Costs: A four-generation Cuban family tries to get by on about $60 a month, selling bread rolls after electricity trickles allow a small bakery to operate. Culture & Solidarity: Holguín is expanding reproductive and sexual health consultations through local clinics, while Namibia’s public broadcaster pledged support for a Cuba aid drive for medical supplies and solar panels. Regional Links: Angola and Cuba renewed cooperation talks across health, education, culture, and science. Art & Youth: Children in El Salvador’s Cuban community used drawings to explore Fidel Castro’s legacy through a summer program.

Cuba Power Crisis: Cuba’s national electric grid suffered a total collapse, with officials investigating the cause and activating emergency “microsystems,” but only a tiny share of Havana’s needs was restored as blackouts pile pressure on daily life. US-Cuba Tensions: China condemned the US “blockade and sanctions,” calling them coercion that has driven “profound suffering,” after Cuba warned the situation is “unsustainable” and likened it to genocide. Humanitarian Limits: In Santiago de Cuba, a priest running a solidarity dining room said demand has overwhelmed capacity, urging a reorganization of charity so help can be delivered in an organized way. Cuban Governance & Rights: Cuba’s Prosecutor’s Office outlined a new transparency and access-to-public-information framework, setting rules for proactive disclosure and response deadlines. Family & Community Impact: A Cuban mother reported spoiled meat and cheese in a medical diet for a child with cystic fibrosis, alleging storage and quantity problems. Politics Watch: Raúl Castro’s grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, signaled openness to negotiating with US representatives, including Trump, as Cuba’s transition questions grow louder. Regional Unity: CARICOM’s outgoing chair, Terrance Drew, urged deeper cooperation and stronger unity as leadership shifts to St. Lucia. Missing Person: A Cuban citizen has been missing for a month in Florianópolis, Brazil, with family unable to get answers and asking the Cuban community for help.

Blackout Crisis: Cuba’s national electric grid suffered a total collapse again on July 6, the third nationwide blackout since the start of the year, with the state utility saying the cause is still under investigation as aging Soviet-era infrastructure and fuel shortages bite harder. Human Impact: The wider squeeze is hitting daily life—education, medicine, food and water—while the UN warns of acute humanitarian needs and a huge backlog of surgeries. U.S. Pressure & Talks: The Trump administration is reportedly pushing for a new Cuba-U.S. deal even as talks stall, framing the island’s crisis as a result of the “communist regime.” Public Health & Prevention: In Las Tunas, Cuba opened its first provincial drug observatory, aiming to improve toxicology knowledge and prevention networks. HIV Care Focus: Another Las Tunas report highlights training for managers and peer educators to strengthen adherence to antiretroviral treatment, especially among vulnerable youth. Culture & Identity: A Cuban-American performer’s “Carmelita Tropicana” persona is spotlighted in a Pride Month feature, revisiting how queer Latina art challenges stereotypes.

Tourism & Sanctions: Cuba’s hotels are sitting empty as a US pressure campaign drives tourists away, with arrivals down sharply in early 2026. Human Cost of the Blockade: A Cuban patient says her cancer care is endangered after a broken CT scanner leaves her without answers. Everyday Life: Havana bread prices are rising, sparking fresh criticism over the hit to impoverished families. Power & Protest Culture: A young Cuban rapper was transferred to prison after protests tied to long blackouts in Playa, while pot-banging “brigades” and regime messaging spark satire and debate. Youth & Education: The José Martí Pioneer Organization rolls out a vacation program focused on heritage, energy-saving “click patrols,” and youth-led community projects. Health & Prevention: Cuba is pushing a multisector plan to prevent adolescent pregnancy, bringing health, education, justice, and community groups into one effort. Arts & Design: “The Cuban” by Uslu Design Studio wins Gold at the A’ Furniture Design Award. Sports & Culture: Cuba’s delegation of athletes is set for Santo Domingo 2026.

Healthcare Crisis: A 34-year-old Cuban mother says Havana’s Hermanos Ameijeiras CT scanner is broken, leaving her unable to check whether her cancer has spread. Energy & Daily Life: Blackouts are reshaping life block by block, while bread prices in Havana jump without clear explanation, sparking anger over affordability. Water Shortages: Mantilla residents in Arroyo Naranjo blocked a main road over lack of drinking water, blaming power outages that stop the pumps. Culture & Community: Guantánamo’s UNEAC theatre leader Ury Rodríguez Urgellés is representing the province at the Caribbean Festival workshop, sharing community-based stage work. Diaspora & Identity: A Cuban man in Kyrgyzstan reunited with his mother after 27 years and built a children’s center, blending Cuban roots with Kyrgyz life. Human Rights: Dissident Roberto Veiga says immigration officials pressured him to buy a return ticket to Europe; he refused. Tragedy: The death of 10-year-old Dayán Martínez, trapped under rubble in Venezuela, has been confirmed.

Prison Release & Religious Activism: A 17-year-old son of Cuban church leaders, Jonathan David Muir Burgos, was released after more than three months in detention following protests in Morón, but remains under strict restrictions; watchdog Christian Solidarity Worldwide says he was held in harsh conditions and calls for charges to be dismissed and other prisoners of conscience to be freed. Dissident Pressure & Exile Fears: Dissident Roberto Veiga says immigration officials pressured him to buy a return ticket to Europe and leave Cuba quickly—he refused and insists on staying. Havana’s Everyday Strain: Residents of the Focsa building are publicly denouncing neglect, fire hazards, and stalled repairs by Cimex, despite collecting major rental income. Cash Crunch in Guantánamo: Authorities warn that shortfalls in bank deposits could jeopardize July education salaries and retiree pensions. Work & Wages: Cuba’s new minimum wage (3,210 pesos) takes effect July 1, but workers won’t see the increase until August pay. Community Life: In Artemisa, the Los Caballitos playground reopened under private management, with rides priced at 100–500 pesos. Culture & Debate: UNEAC published an open letter to American artists and academics on July 4, urging public condemnation of U.S. pressure on Cuba.

Independence Day & Cuban dissent: As the U.S. marks 250 years, Cuban artist Selene Perdomo says the regime’s 67 years of “absolute power” have normalized violence and persecution, while opposition voices use July 4 to demand real change. Diplomacy under pressure: A leaked Marco Rubio cable reportedly urges UN pressure to block a Cuba debate, with Havana using the clash to push its “external aggression” narrative. Guantánamo cash crunch: Authorities in Guantánamo say bank deposits must hit daily targets to avoid delays in education salaries and retiree pensions. Minimum wage update: Cuba’s new minimum wage (3,210 pesos) takes effect July 1, but workers won’t see the increase until August. Everyday strain & safety: Residents in Havana’s Focsa Building denounce neglect and fire hazards under Cimex management. Crime reports: Matanzas residents describe EcoFlow thefts using distractions, and a 17-year-old stabbed in La Güinera is identified as not the intended target. Culture & solidarity: UNEAC issues an open letter to American artists condemning the U.S. blockade; Spain’s 18th Solidarity with Cuba meeting opens in Gijón/Xixón; and El Caimán Barbudo marks 60 years shaping Cuban cultural debate.

Cuba–U.S. Humanitarian Aid Clash: The U.S. State Department says the $100 million aid package for Cuba includes food and will start shipping in July, rejecting Díaz-Canel’s claim it doesn’t. Cuba–U.S. Influence Crackdown: Marco Rubio revoked the legal status of Cuban ICAP-linked Carlos Antonio Lloga Dominguez, with federal arrests and deportation steps underway. Cuba–Tourism Connectivity: Italian airline Neos launched a Rome–Holguín route, a rare boost for Cuba’s struggling tourism amid energy and flight losses. Cuban Culture & Poetry: Jorje Luis Mederos published a José Martí-addressed sonnet about surviving in a Cuba “without light, without bread, and without a future.” Diaspora & Politics: Sandro Castro offered to help distribute U.S. humanitarian aid via independent groups, aiming to bridge Washington and Cubans in the U.S. Healthcare Cooperation: More than 50 Cuban nurses are set to return to Jamaica’s public health system as staffing shortages persist. Lifestyle/Community: The UJC reportedly took to Centro Habana streets to reconnect with youth turning away from the organization. Sports & Pride: Cuba’s delegation of 506 athletes is ready for Santo Domingo 2026.