Cuba-US Talks Led by Raúl Castro Amid Crisis

0:00It's March 26, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Vancouver News today, your AI-powered local news. Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canal has revealed that former leader Raúl Castro is helping guide early talks between Cuba and the United States. These discussions are just getting started amid rising tensions between the two countries. Diaz Canal shared this during a recent interview, noting that the Cuban government is handling the process as a team. The timing comes as Cuba faces severe nationwide blackouts from a failing power grid and a US oil blockade started under President Donald Trump. Trump has threatened tariffs on nations selling fuel to Cuba and even hinted at taking control of the island. No fuel shipments have reached Cuba in the past three months, worsening the crisis. Millions of Cubans are dealing with constant power cuts that have paralyzed daily life, from businesses to homes. Senate nation's officials warned of a looming humanitarian emergency, estimating it would take $94 million to fix the energy issues and, last year's hurricane damage.

1:06Already surgeries for nearly 100,000 people, including 11,000 kids, are at risk, along with vaccines for 30,000 children, and water access for a million others. Raúl Castro, now 94, and still hugely respected as the revolution's historical figure, stepped in after leading key talks with President Barack Obama back in 2014 that restored diplomatic ties. Trump reversed much of that progress with tighter sanctions. While the talks aimed to build dialogue channels and shared goals, UN experts stressed the urgent need for fuel and even solar power to keep hospitals, schools, and water systems running before reserves run dry and lives are lost.