New rules allow the UK's National Energy System Operator to impose rotating 3-hour blackouts with 8 hours' notice to prevent grid collapse, exempting protected sites like hospitals.
Cuba's state energy company announced a nationwide power grid failure on Sunday, plunging the entire country, including Havana, into darkness. The blackout is the latest in a series of collapses, attributed to ageing infrastructure and a US energy embargo.
Cuba experienced another nationwide power grid failure on Sunday, plunging the country into darkness. The state utility, UNE, attributed the "total disconnection" to aging equipment and the US energy embargo, which has halted fuel deliveries for power stations, making normal life difficult for residents.
Ukrainian drones struck three oil refineries in Russia's Bashkortostan and a sanctioned Russian ship in the Black Sea. Concurrently, Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least nine in Kyiv, wounded 33, and damaged infrastructure, including Lithuania's embassy. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant also briefly lost off-site power.
Libya faces severe power cuts (up to 10 hours/day) amid a heatwave, triggering protests, road blockades, and attacks on government facilities, as the country's energy sector collapses due to systemic failures and infrastructure decay.
Cuba's worsening energy crisis, exacerbated by US sanctions and halted Venezuelan oil exports, has led to frequent power cuts, disabling water pumping stations and leaving nearly 3 million Cubans without reliable access to water, forcing reliance on informal water economies.
Cubans across the island protested nationwide power cuts by banging pots on Tuesday evening. Fuel shortages, worsened by US sanctions, have led to extensive rolling blackouts, with some rural areas experiencing up to 70 hours without power. President Díaz-Canel blamed the US, while the US Ambassador pointed to the Cuban government's mismanagement.
Crimea declared an "emergency situation" due to fuel shortages and power cuts from Ukrainian aerial attacks. Russia reported shooting down 660 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine plans domestic AI computing capacity with Kyivstar, and both nations swapped 160 captured soldiers.
Adel Mohsen, a Yemeni football enthusiast, struggles to watch the World Cup due to power cuts, fuel shortages, and economic hardship exacerbated by over a decade of war. He relies on a public screen in Mukalla, unable to afford home electricity backups or internet streaming.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the need for "urgent changes" to address a severe economic crisis, admitting that internal issues like "slowness, bureaucracy" contribute significantly, not just the US blockade. He cited China and Vietnam as potential models for reform.
Yemen faces a devastating heatwave with temperatures over 40°C, exacerbated by long power cuts, worsening the humanitarian crisis in both government and Houthi-controlled areas.
Amber heat health alerts issued across parts of the UK as record-breaking May temperatures up to 33C are forecast for the bank holiday weekend. The Met Office warns of potential risks to life, property damage, and travel delays.
Cuba's energy system is in a critical state due to a US-led blockade limiting oil supply, causing widespread blackouts in Havana, disruptions to hospitals, schools, and government offices, and impacting tourism. The US has offered $100m in humanitarian aid in exchange for communist system reforms, which Cuba denies having been offered previously.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the strongest storm on Earth this year, is heading towards remote US islands in the Pacific, including Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, with forecasters warning of potential lengthy power outages.
