Crude futures settle higher

Oil prices rose on Wednesday.

The West Texas Intermediate for March delivery climbed 1.93 U.S. dollars, or 3.05 percent, to settle at 65.14 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for April delivery gained 2.13 U.S. dollars, or 3.16 percent, to settle at 69.46 U.S. dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

A youth march themed "Here with Fidel" was held in Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday to call for an end to the U.S. blockade.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, and other party and state leaders participated in the event.

At 08:00, members of Cuba's Union of Young Communists and the Jose Marti Pioneers Organization, along with people from various sectors gathered at the iconic Malecón waterfront promenade in the capital. The participants first delivered speeches and staged artistic performances to express their determination to inherit history, oppose the blockade, and defend the revolutionary cause. Following this, the parade, featuring cyclists and motorcyclists, set off from the José Martí Sports Stadium.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro's birth and April 4 is the anniversary of the founding of the Union of Young Communists in 1962.

One participant said that Cuba does not deserve the unjust treatment it has endured for decades.

"Cuba is a country of peace, a country of love, and it does not deserve this unjust blockade that we are currently facing. The youth at the centenary of Fidel Castro are stepping up to defend and support the revolution. We will not stop because Cuba is a country that resists and lives,” said a participant.

Another participant spoke of the difficult times facing the nation and the essential role of young people.

"We are living through very complex times in our country. Amid all this, young people must play a fundamental role. Here we are; we arrived by bicycle, and some have come on foot. Hopefully, this message reaches the world. I hope that young people from different nations can connect with each other, coming together more and more to strive for a better planet," he said.