Cuba-US Sanctions: Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned the U.S. decision to extend the economic embargo through September 2027, calling it “genocidal” and saying it comes amid intensified pressure on Havana. Private Sector Friction: President Díaz-Canel met with Cuba’s private entrepreneurs, acknowledging that “prejudices and obstacles” persist inside state structures and warning the private sector it can’t become a space for illegalities. Domestic Trade Crackdown: In Guáimaro, authorities are running inspections through mid-September, targeting invoice falsification, speculative pricing, tax evasion, and refusals to use required online payment channels. Higher Education Enrollment: Guáimaro’s Municipal University Center outlined the 2026-2027 enrollment process starting September 1, using local councils to summon new students and re-entries. Cuban Science & Health: The CIM says its new melanoma drug candidate “2C12” is ready for patient testing, aiming to expand cancer options amid medicine access limits. Diaspora & Identity: Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara received 27,000 letters of support in Miami, while a young Cuban on TikTok said it’s getting harder to feel proud of being Cuban amid division and “vulgarity.” U.S. Immigration Moves: The U.S. temporarily suspended immigrant visa appointments worldwide for consular training, and ICE arrests hit a July record as tactics shifted toward more discreet detentions. Markets Watch: In Cuba’s informal market, the dollar held steady while the euro rose slightly and MLC edged up.