Hyderabad woman paying ₹66,000 rent for 3BHK shares late-night mosquito ordeal: 'This is not normal bro'A Hyderabad woman shows a bed full of dead mosquitoes, claiming the issue persists despite living in a gated society and paying high rent. Updated on: Mar 20
The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday that it has formed an expert committee with two former Supreme Court judges and a former Attorney General to review the class 8 NCERT book chapter about corruption in the judiciary. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices
The Gujarat government has approved a revised power supply pact with Tata Power, clearing the way for the company to resume long-term supply from its 4-gigawatt Mundra plant, according to a government document seen by Reuters. Also Read | Tata Power to develop 100 MW solar project at
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar 2 was finally released in theatres on March 19 with paid previews available from March 18. However, soon after the film was officially released, its pirated version was available in Pakistan, as mentioned by some accounts on X
Delhi HC grants bail to two in NIA terror conspiracy case, cites limited roleDelhi HC grants bail to two accused in NIA terror case, citing limited role, no proof of content creation and prolonged custody of over four years. Published on: Mar 20, 2026 6:10 PM IST By Shruti Kakkar
Cuba defiant as it braces for post-Maduro era
Cuba defiant as it braces for post-Maduro era
After Venezuela, there is no nation in the Americas more affected by the events in Caracas than Cuba.
The two nations have shared a political vision of state-led socialism since a fresh-faced Venezuelan presidential candidate, Hugo Chávez, met the aged leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, on the tarmac at Havana airport in 1999.
For years, their mutual ties only deepened, as Venezuelan crude oil flowed to the communist-run island in exchange for Cuban doctors and medics travelling in the other direction.
After the deaths of the two men, it was Nicolás Maduro - trained and instructed in Cuba - who became Chávez's handpicked successor, chosen partly because he was acceptable to the Castro brothers. He represented continuity for the Cuban revolution as much as the Venezuelan one.
Now he, too, is gone from the seat of power in Caracas, forcibly removed by the US's elite Delta Force team. The prospects for Cuba in his absence are bleak.
For now, the Cuban government has robustly denounced the attack as illegal and declared two days of national mourning for 32 Cuban nationals killed in the US military operation.
Their deaths revealed a key fact long-known about Cuban influence over the Venezuelan presidency and military: Maduro's security detail was almost entirely made up of Cuban bodyguards. Cuban nationals are in place in numerous positions in Venezuela's intelligence services and military too.
Cuba had long denied having active soldiers or security agents inside Venezuela, but freed political prisoners have often claimed they were interrogated by men with Cuban accents while in custody.
Furthermore, despite endless public proclamations of solidarity between the two nations, in truth the Cuban influence behind the scenes of the Venezuelan state is believed to have driven a wedge between ministers most-closely aligned with Havana and those who feel that the relationship first established by Chávez and Castro has become fundamentally unbalanced.
In essence, that faction considers that these days Venezuela gets little in return for its oil.
Venezuela is believed to send around 35,000 barrels of oil a day to Cuba - none of the island's other main energy partners, Russia and Mexico, even come close.
The Trump administration's tactic of confiscating sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers has already begun to worsen the fuel and electricity crisis in Cuba and has the potential to become very acute, very quickly.
At best, the future looks increasingly complex for the beleaguered Caribbean island without Maduro at the helm in Caracas. Cuba was already in the grip of its worst economic crisis since the Cold War.
There have been rolling blackouts from end to end of the island for months. And the impact on ordinary Cubans has been taxing in the extreme: weeks without reliable electricity, food rotting in fridges, fans and air-conditioning not running, mosquitoes swarming in the heat and the fester of uncollected rubbish.
The island has experienced a widespread outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases in recent weeks with huge numbers of people affected by dengue fever and chikungunya. Cuba's healthcare system, once the jewel in the revolution's crown, has struggled to cope.
It is not a pretty picture. Yet it is the daily reality for most Cubans.
The idea that the flow of Venezuelan oil to Cuba could be turned off by Delcy Rodríguez fills Cubans with dread, especially if she looks to placate the Trump administration following the US raid against her predecessor and stave off the spectre of more violence.
President Trump insists Washington is calling the shots in Venezuela now.
While those comments were walked back - to an extent - by his Secretary of State Marco Rubio, there is no doubt that the Trump administration now expects nothing less than total compliance from Rodríguez as acting president.
There would be further, potentially worse consequences, Trump threatened, if she "doesn't behave", as he put it.
Such language - not to mention the US operation in Venezuela itself - has shocked and angered Washington's critics, who say the White House is guilty of the worst form of US imperialism and interventionism seen in Latin America since the Cold War.
The removal of Maduro from power amounted to kidnapping, those critics argue, and the case against him must be thrown out at his eventual trial in New York.
Unsurprisingly, Trump appears unfazed by such arguments, warning he might even carry it out again against the president of Colombia if need be.
He has dubbed the worrying new circumstances in Latin America the "Donroe Doctrine", in a nod to the Monroe Doctrine - a 19th Century colonialist foreign policy principle which warned European powers against meddling in the US sphere of influence in the Western hemisphere.
In order words, Latin America is the US's "backyard", and Washington has the unalienable right to determine what happens there. Rubio used that very term - backyard - about the region as he justified the actions against Venezuela on US Sunday talk shows.
He also remains key to what comes next for Cuba. The US economic embargo has been in place for more than six decades and failed to remove the Castro brothers or their political project from power.
Rubio - a Cuban American former Florida senator and son of Cuban exiles - would like nothing more than to be the man, or the man behind the man, who brought an end to 60 years of communist rule in his parents' homeland.
He sees the strategy of removing Maduro and laying down stark conditions to a more-compliant Rodríguez government in Caracas as the key to achieving that self-professed goal in Havana.
Cuba has faced tough times in the past, and the government remains defiant in the face of this latest act of US military intervention in the region.
The 32 "brave Cuban combatants" who died in Venezuela would be honoured, said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, for "taking on the terrorists in imperial uniforms".
"Cuba is ready to fall," retorted Trump on Air Force One.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Trump now has his own petroleum empire in the Americas Kerala High Court stays loan recovery proceedings against persons affected by 2024 Wayanad landslide Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale visits villages affected by floods Why fighting between US and Iran hasn't affected oil prices NGT directs Rajasthan government to rehabilitate villagers affected by mining India stands firmly with affected family in Manipur Man arrested in UK over alleged cyberattack that affected London Heathrow Cloudflare outage which affected Spotify 5 Signs Your Child May Be Affected By Extreme Heat Several Indian Flights Affected By Ethiopian Volcano Eruption
A cyclone in Australia which authorities said could be among "the worst in living memory" appears to have been less damaging than feared - but concerns remain about severe flooding. Tropical Cyclone Narelle crossed the east coast of Cape York in Far North Queensland with powerful wind gusts of 220
1 days ago
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra at 50% cost? Samsung’s new plan explainedSamsung launches ‘Galaxy Forever’, letting users own a Galaxy S26 Ultra by paying 50% upfront with flexible upgrade, return, or retain options. Updated on: Mar 20, 2026 5:50 PM IST Share via Copy link You may be interested in
1 days ago
A key moment of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's official visit to the US was President Donald Trump's comment on a piece of shared history - Pearl Harbor. Asked by a Japanese journalist why the US had not warned its allies it was going to strike Iran on 28 February
1 days ago
New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) IT major Wipro on Friday announced the launch of its AI-Data Centre solution to accelerate enterprise-scale AI adoption, while modernising core data centre environments and customer experience operations. Wipro’s AI-Data Centre (AI-DC) solution integrates NVIDIA’s AI
1 days ago
Ustaad Bhagat Singh recorded a Rs 34.75 crore opening on Day 1, falling short of expectations amid a major box office clash with Dhurandhar 2. Ustaad Bhagat Singh Box office collection: While Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge dominated theatres on March 19, Ugadi also saw the release of a major Telugu film
1 days ago
Global foldable smartphone shipments are projected to grow 20 per cent year‑on‑year in 2026, driven by Apple’s expected entry into the segment and continued premiumisation of the smartphone market, a report said on Tuesday. New Delhi: Global foldable smartphone shipments are projected to grow
1 days ago
Samantha Ruth Prabhu coos ‘babu’ as she shows off Ugadi pachadi to sceptical Raj Nidimoru: ‘Nuvvu chesava?’As part of the promotions of her upcoming film Maa Inti Bangaram, Samantha Ruth Prabhu tried her hand at making Ugadi pachadi with Suma and Nandini Reddy. Mar 20, 2026
1 days ago
Chaitra Navratri 2026 day 3 wishes: Share these heartfelt wishes, messages, images, and quotes with your loved ones on the second day of Chaitra Navratri. Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah! Happy Chaitra Navratri 2026 Day 3 wishes: The third day of Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta
1 days ago
The cabinet of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was expanded on Friday with five ministers taking oath, filling all vacant positions ahead of Assembly elections scheduled early next year. Those inducted include former state BJP president Madan Kaushik (Haridwar)
1 days ago
Indian Oil, HPCL, BPCL shares surge after premium petrol price hikeThe prices of premium petrol—BPCL’s Speed, HPCL’s Power, and IOCL’s XP95—has been increased by ₹2.09– ₹2.35/litre, but there's no change in regular petrol. Updated on: Mar 20
1 days ago
Nashik's high-profile astrologer Ashok Kharat, aka "Captain," has been arrested following a brave complaint by a 27-year-old woman. From a ₹100 crore empire to secret VVIP "Vashikaran" rituals for politicians, discover the shocking details of the SIT probe
1 days ago
Bengaluru second airport: Tender floated for feasibility, strategy report, says Minister PatilBengaluru second airport: Tender floated for feasibility, strategy report, says Minister Patil Published on: Mar 20, 2026 5:53 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Bengaluru
1 days ago
The Middle East inflows to India declined to just 89,000 mt in the week to March 19, representing only 34 per cent of total imports — the lowest share since January. New Delhi: Liquefied petroleum gas loadings from the US destined for India have risen and surpassed volumes from traditional Gulf
1 days ago
Josh Hazlewood, who played a crucial role in RCB's triumphant campaign in the IPL 2025, has not played a match since injuring his hamstring in the Sheffield Shield on November 12 last year. Former South African player Faf du Plessis has stressed the importance of Josh Hazlewood in Royal Challengers
1 days ago
Pakistan cricket is facing renewed scrutiny after a disappointing Super Eight exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 and a 1-2 ODI series loss to Bangladesh. Pakistan cricket is facing renewed scrutiny after a disappointing Super Eight exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 and a 1-2 ODI series loss to
1 days ago
New Lexus ES 500e: Lexus has introduced the new ES 500e in India, marking the brand’s first all-electric offering in the country. It is priced at Rs 89.99 lakh (ex-showroom). New Lexus ES 500e: Lexus has introduced the new ES 500e in India, marking the brand’s first all-electric offering in the
1 days ago
An Indian citizen died in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday amid the conflict in West Asia, the Indian embassy in Riyadh said on Friday. In a social media post, the embassy expressed its condolences about the person’s death in the capital Riyadh. It added that it was in touch with the person’s family
1 days ago
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticized Kerala's LDF government. He stated the state's reliance on remittances, lotteries, and liquor is unsustainable. Tharoor proposed 'Kerala 2.0' with new ideas for the upcoming polls. He highlighted the UDF's positive agenda beyond anti-incumbency
1 days ago
The Union government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it has set up a committee that includes former Supreme Court judges to review a chapter about “corruption in the judiciary” in a textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, Live Law reported
1 days ago
Ronit Thakur, founder of Be Rolling Media, recently sparked an online discussion on work culture and accountability. He shared a real incident from his office involving a new employee who stopped coming to the workplace just two days after joining due to a “personal issue."Ronit Thakur
1 days ago
From Myth to reality: Oral health solutions every Indian needsAmazon's Oral Care Fest runs until March 22, offering up to 40% off on various oral health products. The event aims to debunk common myths surrounding oral care Updated on: Mar 20
1 days ago
‘No guarantee’: Cristiano Ronaldo injury crisis worsens as Portugal boss makes worrying FIFA World Cup claim Published on: Mar 20, 2026 5:25 PM IST Written by Neelav Chakravarti Share via Copy link Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is currently out of action due to injury
1 days ago
What began as a controversial call by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the AFCON final has now snowballed into a wider debate: one that stretches all the way back to 1976. After stripping Senegal of their title and awarding Morocco the 2026 AFCON crown following a walkout
1 days ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claims the Centre plans to revoke citizenship through NRC and Census after state elections. She alleges an unofficial President's Rule is in effect. Banerjee also accuses the Election Commission of facilitating the BJP's victory by transferring officials
1 days ago
Sam Curran, England's charismatic all-rounder, is set to miss the upcoming Indian Premier League season for Rajasthan Royals due to a suspected groin injury, with the franchise exploring replacement options, according to a report. Curran, who was part of England's T20 World Cup side that recently
1 days ago
Empowered and Traditional: Mumbai women take the lead in Gudi Padwa celebrationsFrom women donning Nauvari sarees to participating in bike rallies and traditional performances, take a look at how Mumbai women took lead this Gudi Padwa Published on: Mar 20
1 days ago
China on Friday (March 20, 2026) welcomed the appointment of veteran diplomat Vikram Doraiswami as the new Indian Ambassador, expressing hope that he will make a positive contribution to the sustained improvement of Sino-India ties. Mr. Doraiswami, a 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer
1 days ago
