Americas

Hundreds of Cuban women have gathered in Havana to decry a U.S. energy embargo and other measures imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump that are strangling the Caribbean island. Tuesday's rally was organized by the Federation of Cuban Women. It is a massive organization with close ties to the government and the Communist Party.

Delcy Rodríguez remained Venezuela's acting president on Monday, exceeding the 90-day limit on her temporary role set by the country's high court following the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro in January.

Two U.S. lawmakers are calling for a permanent solution to Cuba's crises after witnessing the effects of a U.S. energy blockade during an official visit to the island.

The newly announced sanctions relief is the latest U.S. recognition of Rodríguez as a legitimate authority in Venezuela ever since the U.S. military captured her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro.

Haiti's government says it is implementing new austerity measures as the war in Iran disrupts critical oil supplies and drives up prices worldwide. Officials in the troubled Caribbean country imposed a ban on the purchase of any new vehicles, will reduce fuel expenditures for public institutions and said foreign travel will be limited to essential missions authorized by the prime minister.

A Russian vessel laden with 730,000 barrels of oil has docked at the Cuban port of Matanzas, the first time in three months that an oil tanker reached the island. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump allowed the shipment to proceed despite its ongoing energy blockade.

The United States has formally reopened its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, after the restoration of full diplomatic relations with the South American country. It follows the Trump administration's ouster of then-President Nicolas Maduro in early January.

Violence erupted in the central Haitian town of Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite early Sunday morning as a powerful gang warred with a vigilante group.

A top Brazilian justice has granted former President Jair Bolsonaro permission to serve his 27-year sentence for a coup attempt at home instead of in prison because of his failing health. Bolsonaro was put in intensive care for a few days because of kidney problems and inflammatory issues.

Cuba's power grid collapsed Saturday leaving the country without electricity for a third time in March as the communist government battles with a decaying infrastructure and a U.S.-imposed oil blockade.

Officials in Cuba report an islandwide blackout in the country of some 11 million people as its energy and economic crises deepen. The Ministry of Energy and Mines notes a "complete disconnection" of the country's electrical system and says it is investigating.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling for "new people in charge" of Cuba as the socialist island experiences its third nationwide blackout in four months. U.S. President Donald Trump has called Cuba a "very weakened nation."