Cuba's Entire Power Grid Collapses As Castro's Grandson Seeks Talks With Trump

"Hours after USA Today published an interview between one of its journalists and Cuban President Castro's grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the communist-run island experienced an island-wide power grid collapse.
The electrical workers' union said the entire power grid went offline and that officials were investigating the cause. Cuba's energy ministry confirmed the blackout and said crews were working to restore service.
"A total disconnection of the National Electric Power System is occurring. The causes are being investigated," the electrical workers' union wrote on X.
Time is ticking for the communists in Havana to make a deal with Trump or face further economic collapse, as Havana is a case study in the failure of communism and how that economic system has never succeeded. Yet the Democratic Party is trying to convince people otherwise as it embraces the far left.
"I Can Negotiate": Castro's Grandson Says He's Ready To Discuss Cuba's Future With President Trump:

Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, former Cuban president Castro's grandson and one of the more important shadow figures inside Cuba's communist ruling circle, told USA Today in an exclusive interview that he is prepared to speak directly with President Trump, signaling publicly a potential back-channel opening as the Trump administration intensifies economic pressure on Havana.
"I've never been interested in politics. It's never been a calling of mine," Rodríguez Castro told the outlet over the course of several days in June in Havana. "But if at some point the revolution needs me to step up, I will do it." He said that he would never abandon the principles of Cuba's 1959 revolution or the nation's sovereignty.
Now, the younger Castro is signaling he is ready to negotiate Cuba's future, saying he wants to deal directly with President Trump.
"I can negotiate with anyone designated by the U.S.," Rodríguez Castro said. "If given the opportunity, claro que con Trump." Of course, with Trump." ZeroHedge

6.1 Earthquake - 155 km west of Pinar del Rio, Provincia de Pinar del Rio, Cuba

"A very strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred in the Gulf of Mexico 92 km (57 mi) from

Cuba around noon at 12.00 pm local time (GMT -6). The quake had a very shallow depth of 26 km (16 mi) and was felt over a large region. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

Axios Warns Cuba Stockpiled 300 Attack Drones With Crosshairs On U.S. Homeland

"Havana may be stockpiling Russian-made Geranium one-way attack drones with the

operational range to threaten major U.S. oil and gas refineries in the Gulf of America, key military bases, data centers, power grid infrastructure, and potentially even Washington, D.C.
Nearly three and a half months ago, we laid out the framework for a potential drone threat against the homeland originating from Cuba, using an infographic published by the Russian think tank Rybar.
At the time, Rybar wrote: "But what would the Cubans do in the event of a conflict? Let us hypothetically imagine that Havana decides to resist the Americans and chooses to fight. In that case, the already world-famous Geran strike drones could come to their aid."
Axios, citing newly obtained U.S. intelligence, reports that Cuba has accumulated roughly 300 military drones from Russia and Iran and has discussed potential wartime strike scenarios targeting Guantanamo Bay, U.S. naval vessels, and possibly Key West..
Late last week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with officials in Havana, which appeared to reopen the channel for political dialogue between the two countries.
Ratcliffe and top U.S. officials, some of whose faces were blurred in images released by the CIA on X, held high-level talks with Cuba's Interior Minister, the head of Cuban intelligence, and Raúl Castro's grandson, Raulito Rodríguez Castro." ZH

U.S. delegation presses Cuba to transition to market economy

"U.S. officials have urged Cuba to transition from socialism to a market-based economy and

compensate American citizens and corporations whose assets were seized in the 1960s.
Washington also urged Havana to allow greater political freedoms, eventually leading to “free and fair elections.” The outlet cited a U.S. official as saying that “the island’s ruling elites have a small window to make key U.S.-backed reforms before circumstances irreversibly worsen.” RT

Cuban power grid collapses for second time in a week amid US oil blockade

"Cuba's national electric grid collapsed on Saturday for the second time in a week amid the U.S.-imposed oil blockade, officials announced, as the communist government struggles to keep the lights on for its 10 million people with decrepit infrastructure." msn

5.8 Earthquake - 49 km SSW of Maisí, Cuba

"A strong magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred in the Caribbean Sea near the coast of Cuba in

the early morning at 12.28 am local time (GMT -4). The quake had a very shallow depth of 11.6 km (7 mi) and was felt widely in the area. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

Protesters torch Communist Party HQ in Cuba as video appears to capture gunfire

"Protesters attacked a Communist Party headquarters in Cuba overnight, ransacking the

building and attempting to set it on fire, while video from the scene appeared to capture gunfire and a man on the ground outside, according to footage obtained.
Dramatic footage shows a large crowd gathered outside the building in the city of Morón as a fire burns in the street and protesters throw burning objects at the structure.
Protesters can be heard chanting "Libertad, libertad!" — Spanish for "Freedom, freedom!" — moments before gunfire rings out in the video." FOX

Ecuador Expels Cuban Diplomats, Embassy Staff Caught Burning Documents on Roof

"The government of Ecuador declared Cuban ambassador to Quito Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez García and the embassy’s entire diplomatic mission personas non grata, giving them all 48 hours to leave the South American country.
At press time, the Ecuadorian government has not provided specific details on its decision to

expel the communist regime’s diplomats from the country. In a brief statement, Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry said that the decision was made in accordance with Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows states to declare diplomats of other countries as personas non grata any time and without having to explain its decision. Ambassador Gutiérrez García – and all other Cuban diplomatic, consular, and administrative staff stationed in Ecuador – were given 48 hours to depart from Ecuador.

President Daniel Noboa published a video on social media that, according to local and international outlets, contains footage of Cuban embassy personnel burning documents atop the embassy’s roof. President Noboa described the video as “a paper barbecue.” The Associated Press noted that it witnessed the burning." Breitbart

Russia Calls Speedboat Shooting Incident Off Cuba An 'Aggressive US Provocation'

"The deadly US-registered speedboat shooting incident in Cuba carries the potential to ignite a serious conflict between Cuba and the United States, amid an ongoing investigation into exactly what happened overseen by the White House.

Russia has reacted, on Thursday laying quick blame on the US side for a 'deliberate' act of 'provocation' in order to keep up the pressure on Havana and escalate the situation.
The Cuban version of events is that a speedboat out of Florida entered its sovereign waters and that when a Cuban patrol boat approached, people on board opened fire. The Cuban soldiers then fired back, killing four people and wounding six aboard the US vessel.
Notably, Havana has said the commander of the Cuban border patrol boat was injured. The Cuban government described the incident as a "foiled armed infiltration" of the island-nation.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed to quickly get to the bottom of what happened, also as some US politicians have demanded that Cuba be crushed because of the assault.
"What I’m telling you is we’re going to find out exactly what happened and who was involved," Rubio said. "We’re not going to just take what somebody else tells us. I’m very confident we will be able to know the story independently." 

ZeroHedge

Cuba Ready To Negotiate With Trump, But Urges Dialing Down Of Pressure

"Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has offered to enter negotiations with Washington, but has made clear that this must happen "without pressure" - at a moment the Trump

administration is seeking to economically strangle Cuba - even going so far as to openly tout the desire to see regime change.
"Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States," the Cuban leader announced He made clear this can be a "dialogue on any topic... but without pressure or precondition."
President Trump has been seeking to end oil imports to Cuba, and after the Maduro overthrow, this has become a real possibility, given that the United States can now demand that the interim government in Caracas end its oil exports to Havana. Venezuela has always been Cuba's number one supplier." ZH

Maduro "Effed Around & Found Out"; Trump Says 'We Will Run Venezuela' Until Safe Transition After Operation 'Absolute Resolve'

"Operation 'Absolute Resolve': US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in an early morning raid and sent him to the US to face criminal charges.

No servicemembers or military equipment was lost
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted.
Trump: "We're going to stay [in Venezuela] until such time as the proper transition can take place.”
Caine: "Operation Absolute Resolve, was discreet, precise, and conducted during the darkest hours of January 2nd"
Hegseth: Maduro "effed around and found out"
Trump: "[Colombia's Pedro] is making cocaine and they're sending it into the United States, so he does have to watch his ass,"
Rubio: "if I were in power in Cuba, I'd be very worried right now"
Maduro has arrived on US soil." ZeroHedge

Dangerous storm surge forecast in the Bahamas as Hurricane Melissa moves across the islands toward Bermuda

"At 11:00 EDT (15:00 UTC) the center of Hurricane Melissa was located about 245 km (150

miles) south of the central Bahamas. The system is moving northeast at 22 km/h (14 mph) with maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h (100 mph) and higher gusts. The minimum central pressure is 974 mb.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), a storm surge of 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 feet) above normally dry ground is possible across the southeastern and central Bahamas today. The surge will combine with large waves to produce life-threatening coastal inundation and hazardous surf conditions. Minor coastal flooding is possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands and along the north coast of eastern Cuba and Haiti." W

Russian intelligence ship located in Irish-controlled waters not responding to communication

"A Russian Navy intelligence-gathering ship is being tracked through Irish-controlled waters

and is refusing to respond to communications from the Naval Service.
The Viktor Leonov, a 100m vessel from the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet, was spotted by the Irish Naval Service earlier this week. It is being tracked by LÉ Samuel Beckett as it sails through the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Defence sources said the Beckett has attempted to hail the Leonov and establish its purpose in Irish-controlled waters.
The Russian ship has acknowledged receiving the communication but has refused to communicate further. It is believed the ship’s eventual destination is Cuba." IrishTimes

Cuba Threatens Trump with Military Exercises

"Cuba’s

communist Castro regime on Wednesday launched military exercises to “increase the country’s readiness for defense” following the start of President Donald Trump’s newadministration.
According to the communist regime, the military exercises seek to raise the country’s defense readiness and troop preparation to face the “different actions of the enemy” — namely, the United States.
The military exercises, titled “Bastion 2025,” are being led by nonagenarian communist dictator Raúl Castro and his figurehead president, Miguel Díaz-Canel. The exercises will run through Saturday, January 25, the day the Castro regime celebrates its “National Day of Defense.” Breitbart

Cuba Paralyzed By Massive Power Blackout

"Cuba's Ministry of Mines and Energy announced that the nation's largest power plant has been "completely disconnected," sparking widespread blackouts across the island. Cuba's communist regime is undoubtedly at its weakest point in decades. Constant power blackouts and food shortages are merely signs that centrally planned economies don't function efficiently." ZH

Russia Docks 3 Warships in Havana, Continuing Parade of Naval Ships to Cuba

"Three war vessels from Russia’s Baltic Fleet arrived in Havana, Cuba, this weekend for a

four-day “work visit” to the communist nation..... the three Russian Baltic Fleet warships — identified as the training ship Smólny, the patrol ship Neustrahimiy, and the offshore oil tanker Yelnya — will conduct an “extensive program” during its four-day port call that includes courtesy visits to officials from the Cuban Navy and other authorities of the communist Castro regime." Breitbart

Kim Jong Un's North Korea Dealt Blow As Senior Official Defects to South

"A North Korean diplomat has defected from the Kim Jong Un regime, the highest-ranking

official to do so in eight years.
"My disgust with the North Korean system, my pessimism about the bleak future, and my desire to escape from this society were the starting points that made me think about defecting from North Korea," Ri Il Kyu, who served as a political counselor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba until his November defection told South Korean news outlet the Chosun Ilbo in an exclusive interview published Tuesday." Newsweek

Chinese spy bases in Cuba are growing, including one near a US naval base

"Suspected spy bases linked to China are expanding in Cuba, per a US think tank.The Center for Strategic and International Studies found a new potential site near a US naval base.
Cuba's proximity to the US gives China an intelligence window that is unreachable from its own land." MS

US Navy nuclear ballistic missile submarine surfaces off Norway in unusual flex as 'Doomsday' plane flies overhead

 "A US Navy nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine surfaced in the Norwegian Sea.

It was accompanied by a guided-missile cruiser and two naval aircraft.
The show of force came weeks after Russia sent a submarine and naval fleet to Cuba." BI

Russian navy fleet, including frigate, nuclear-powered sub, arrives in Cuba

"Russia’s Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, accompanied by a tug boat and a fuel ship, have arrived in Cuba for a five-day visit seen as a show of force by Moscow amid rising tension over its invasion of Ukraine.

Curious onlookers, fishermen and police gathered along the Malecon seafront boulevard in Havana to welcome the fleet as it entered the city’s harbor. Cuba, a longtime ally of Russia, saluted the vessels’ arrival with a 21-gun salute, while Russian diplomats waved small Russian flags and took selfies against a backdrop of the harbor’s historic fortresses." AJ