Over 4,000 firefighters, National Guard, and crews from 12+ states battled multiple wildfires across Washington state, US, on Saturday. Governor Bob Ferguson declared an emergency and burn ban as fires, including the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, burned over 250,000 acres, forcing evacuations and power outages.
A bombing near a Moscow restaurant killed at least 3 and injured 21. Ukraine's strikes on Russian-controlled infrastructure caused power outages in Crimea, affecting locals. A Ukrainian drone attack sank a Rosatom vessel in the Black Sea.
A 4.7-magnitude earthquake, the strongest in 40 years, struck near Naples, Italy, injuring at least 26, causing power outages, transport disruption, and building damage. Around 300 people were evacuated from Pozzuoli amid ongoing seismic activity and warnings of further collapses.
Kenyan courts are increasingly seeing cases of illegal ant smuggling, particularly the Giant African Harvester Ant, with thousands of specimens seized. Driven by a growing pet hobby in Europe, this trade, where a queen can fetch over €200, poses significant ecological risks to Kenya's savannah ecosystems and highlights a legal gray area in international wildlife trade.
A major fault in Ghana's national power grid caused widespread outages in Accra, Kumasi, and northern regions, affecting homes, businesses, and essential services, with GRIDCo working to restore power safely.
Waymo's robotaxi service in San Francisco resumed after a temporary pause due to a power outage affecting 7,000 PG&E customers. The company made "temporary adjustments" and coordinated with officials, following past incidents that prompted Mayor Lurie to call for tougher AV regulations.
Gurgaon, India's Millennium City, was submerged by heavy rains, turning glass towers into a swamp. Inadequate drainage, vanished dams, and concretization led to widespread waterlogging, traffic chaos, power outages, and even structural damage, highlighting a severe infrastructure crisis despite significant municipal revenue generation.
Cuba's national power grid collapsed Monday, plunging around 10 million people into darkness. The nationwide blackout exacerbates the island's ongoing energy crisis, marked by frequent outages due to aging infrastructure and fuel shortages, with the government blaming US sanctions.
Cuban zookeepers celebrate the birth of four Bengal tiger cubs, including a rare white tiger, at the national zoo. The births offer a morale boost amidst severe shortages of fuel, medicine, and power impacting the island and zoo operations.
A severe heatwave is suspected of causing at least 19 deaths in New Jersey, primarily in homes without air conditioning. Meanwhile, a heat dome has given way to severe storms across the eastern US, leaving nearly a million homes and businesses without power.
Extreme heat in France caused a transformer malfunction, cutting power to 100,000 people. This incident, alongside IT system failures in England, highlights how climate change-driven heatwaves strain electrical grids and critical infrastructure, reducing efficiency and posing risks.
Ukraine's drone attacks on Crimea's energy and fuel facilities have led to widespread power outages, fuel scarcity, and a significant drop in tourism, impacting daily life and the local economy.
Crude oil prices, including Brent and WTI, fell on Friday as concerns over supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz eased, despite earlier tensions and an unidentified projectile hitting a cargo ship. The decline follows a US-Iran peace conclusion, bringing prices near pre-war levels, while Venezuelan earthquake damage to oil infrastructure was limited.
Spain will require mobile network operators and infrastructure companies to implement backup power systems for their networks, ensuring connectivity for at least four hours during power outages by the end of 2026. The rules apply to large operators and will be phased in over three years.
Gaza residents face immense challenges watching the World Cup due to frequent internet and electricity outages, displacement, and the destruction of sports facilities. The war has diminished the joy and passion associated with the tournament, turning simple pleasures into difficult undertakings.
A ship carrying nearly 100 tonnes of food and essential goods arrived in Cuba from Colombia on Friday. This aid comes as the US continues its energy embargo, with recent sanctions targeting Cuba's state-owned oil company and officials, exacerbating power outages and hindering humanitarian aid distribution.
Tornadoes and severe storms hit communities south of Chicago, causing extensive damage to homes and buildings, ripping off a high school roof, and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. While no deaths were immediately reported from Thursday's storms, a man died in Iowa from a falling tree during earlier storms on Wednesday.
The author reflects on South Africa's 2010 World Cup hosting experience, acknowledging the national pride and unity it fostered but concluding it didn't solve deep-seated structural issues. The event offered a glimpse of a better nation, not a cure.
Typhoon Jangmi hit Japan with strong winds and heavy rain, causing power outages for nearly 60,000 households, evacuation alerts for over 370,000 people, and significant disruptions to businesses and transportation. Major airlines canceled at least 92 international flights.
Typhoon "Jangmi" swept across Japan, causing power outages for nearly 60,000 households, issuing evacuation alerts to over 370,000 people, and disrupting business and transportation. Major airlines canceled at least 92 international flights.
Typhoon Saomai has caused widespread disruption in Okinawa, Japan, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and significant damage including fallen trees and power outages. The Okinawa Prefectural Government has suspended services for employee safety.
Karachi, Pakistan, faced severe disruptions during Eid-ul-Adha due to water shortages, gas outages, and power cuts, leading to protests and struggles for residents to cook, bathe, and preserve food amid intense heat.
Fears over a natural disaster or cyber attack are pushing households into contingency planning, Link survey showsMillions of Britons are “prepping” for a potential “major disruptive event” by keeping a stash of cash at home, stockpiling tinned goods or ensuring they have a battery-powered torch close to hand, new data suggests.With war raging in the Middle East and Ukraine, extreme weather becoming more frequent, and warnings that the UK’s critical infrastructure is at risk from cyber-attacks and power outages, many people feel the world has become a more dangerous and chaotic place. Continue reading...
Bengaluru was battered by severe thunderstorms with hailstorms and 50kmph winds on Wednesday, causing widespread flooding in the Central Business District and multiple fatalities. Seven people, including a 7-year-old girl, died after a wall at Bowring Hospital collapsed. Two others died from electrocution and a roof collapse. The city recorded 78mm of rainfall in central zones, with stormwater drains overflowing and power infrastructure severely damaged. Bescom received 25,000 distress calls as large parts of the city went dark.
