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.
Russia considers importing fuel and offering subsidies to mitigate supply disruptions caused by Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, leading to restrictions, price hikes, and shortages across numerous regions.
The UK government will ban imports of diesel and jet fuel made from Russian oil by January 1, 2027, as part of its sanctions package against Moscow. This move aims to increase pressure on Russia while maintaining domestic stability, though critics argue it could still finance Moscow's war effort.
India is expanding its ethanol fuel network, aiming for 5,000 dispensing stations by 2027 to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. The initiative, launched with Maruti Suzuki's flex-fuel car, also promises economic benefits for farmers and forex savings.
The UK has controversially eased sanctions on Russian crude oil imports for diesel and jet fuel to prevent shortages, as the Iran war disrupts global supply. The move, not mirrored by the EU, faces political backlash.
The UK has issued a trade license allowing indefinite imports of refined petroleum products from Russian crude oil, previously banned. This move comes amid rising fuel prices due to the Strait of Hormuz closure and Middle East crisis.
Kenya experienced deadly protests and a public transport strike on Monday, resulting in at least four deaths and over 30 injuries. The unrest was fueled by a significant rise in fuel prices, linked to global events and domestic taxes, causing widespread disruption.
Mongolia's foreign trade volume increased to $10.5 billion, driven by higher imports of Russian diesel fuel ($89 million) and gasoline ($78.3 million), following China's export ban in March 2026.
Belgium's government announces plan to acquire all seven nuclear reactors from France's Engie, reversing earlier phase-out legislation. Only two of the seven reactors are currently operational at Doel and Tihange, with licenses extended to 2035. The other five were shut between 2022-2025. The deal aims to secure energy supply, reduce fossil fuel dependence and develop new nuclear capacity, with target agreement by 1 October.
