By Daniel Trotta HAVANA, March 20 (Reuters) - Cuba's armed forces presented 79-year-old folk singer Silvio Rodriguez with an AKM war rifle and a ceremonial replica on Friday, grateful for his social media post that he was prepared to take up arms against any U.

An effective U.S. oil blockade has worsened the island’s energy crisis. The U.S. Embassy in Havana, too, is feeling the effects.

Lines to get some fuel or to buy potatoes — for those who can afford it — are scenes of daily life in Havana.

The Cuban government has refused a request by the U.S. Embassy in Havana to allow it to import diesel for its generators while the Trump administration continues to impose a fuel blockade on the island,

The island is dependent on tourism, but a lack of fuel and extensive power outages are forcing many travelers to cancel. Here’s what visitors might face.

Trump has recently increased pressure on the island nation of Cuba, adding March 17 Washington would be doing "something with Cuba" soon.

President Donald Trump this week said he believes he’ll have “the honor of taking Cuba” soon. Without declaring a formal blockade, Trump and his administration have already crippled trade with the island and threatened the future of the Communist Party regime.

On Friday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the country was running on about 40% of the fuel it needs, and that figure is dwindling daily as no fuel is entering the country. The result is that women are giving birth in dark hospitals with no power, and locals say they are used to power lasting just two to five hours daily.

President Donald Trump is spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago in South Florida, where Cuban Americans hope he will advance negotiations with Cuba's leader.