U.S.-Cuba Tensions: Secretary of State Marco Rubio doubled down on hardline rhetoric, calling Cuba a “failed state” and warning the Trump administration will not let the island become a base against U.S. security, even as Trump says a deal could be reached without military action. Diplomatic Lines Kept Open: Cuba’s deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío told a Bloomberg podcast that Havana and Washington still communicate and meet discreetly, but insists there’s no progress while new U.S. sanctions keep coming. Humanitarian Reality on the Ground: A new report paints a grim daily picture as blackouts leave two-thirds of Cuba without power at night, with water shortages and scarce staples—yet students still arrive each morning for training at the National Ballet School. Culture Under Strain: Cuba’s ballet tradition is highlighted as a point of pride amid shortages, with aspiring dancers pushing through long commutes and instability. UN Engagement: Cuba’s delegation took part in UN talks on a future treaty to tackle plastic pollution, while also denouncing the U.S. blockade and an “energy blockade” as worsening conditions. Regional Diplomacy: Costa Rica used the UN General Assembly to back Rebeca Grynspan for secretary-general and raised concerns about Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela.