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.
South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare has revised emergency welfare guidelines to include households at risk of power disconnection due to unpaid bills, not just those already disconnected. This aims to provide preemptive support and broaden the scope for suicide prevention services.
A deliberate act of sabotage targeting high-voltage cables over the Teltow canal caused a major power outage in Berlin, affecting 35,000 homes and businesses for five days. The "Volcano Group," an environmentalist extremist organization, claimed responsibility, linking the attack to their anti-fossil fuel and anti-capitalist agenda.
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 considers US $100m aid offer as power cuts spark rare protests; aid must bypass government, via independent humanitarian organizations, with Cuba preferring an end to the US blockade.
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.
Eight-year-old Tamizh Amudhan from Tamil Nadu defeated World No. 7 grandmaster Vincent Keymer (Elo 2759) in the first round of an online Freestyle Friday blitz tournament. Playing in darkness during a power cut in Thiruthangal near Sivakasi, the young prodigy used candlelight and his father's mobile hotspot to compete, eventually winning three of five rounds before his laptop battery died. Tamizh, currently World No. 1 in the Under-9 category, trains at Hatsun Chess Academy after his family relocated 350 km from Kallakurichi.
A groom in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, led his wedding procession to the District Magistrate's office to protest a power cut caused by a negative smart meter balance, demanding a bill waiver before proceeding with his wedding.
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.
