Mexico's navy locates two missing sailboats carrying aid to Cuba, crew safe

Mexico's navy successfully located two missing sailboats that were transporting humanitarian aid from Mexico to Cuba. The vessels, which had set sail from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, were part of an international aid mission aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Cuba. The Mexican Navy confirmed that the crew of the sailboats is safe and escorted them to port in Havana (Reuters, Deutsche Welle). The aid mission comes amid a severe energy crisis in Cuba, which has been exacerbated by a U.S. blockade on oil shipments to the island. The blockade has resulted in chronic fuel shortages, significantly impacting Cuba's power grid and leaving millions of Cubans without electricity. Reports indicate that the national power grid collapsed, leading to a blackout that lasted for 29 hours. Although power was restored, the ongoing energy crisis remains critical, with the Cuban government stating that no fuel has entered the island in three months (Reuters). In response to the deteriorating conditions, the Cuban government has opened talks with the United States and plans to release 51 prisoners as a gesture of goodwill. These discussions are seen as an effort to engage diplomatically with the U.S. during a time of significant hardship for the Cuban population (Reuters). Additionally, protests have erupted in Cuba, particularly in the city of Moron, where citizens expressed their discontent over the worsening economic conditions, including rolling blackouts and shortages of food and fuel (France24).