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Massive Power Outage in Cuba Leaves Millions Without Electricity

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The national power grid of Cuba suffered a catastrophic collapse on Friday night, plunging millions into darkness and deepening the island’s ongoing energy crisis. 

The outage began at approximately 8:15 p.m. (00:15 GMT) after a failure at the Diezmero substation in Havana triggered a chain reaction that shut down power generation nationwide, according to officials from the state-run Union Electrica (UNE). 

By Saturday morning, UNE reported generating only 225 MW—less than 10% of the country’s total electricity demand. Authorities said backup circuits were supplying power to critical services such as hospitals. 

“Several provinces have parallel circuits and generator units are starting to be synchronized with the national grid,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel posted on X. 

The latest blackout follows three nationwide outages in late 2024, two of which lasted several days. While this is the first major grid failure of 2025, it comes amid one of the worst economic crises Cuba has faced in three decades. 

Cuba, under long-standing U.S. sanctions, has depended heavily on subsidized Venezuelan oil for years. However, as Venezuela’s government struggles with its own economic challenges, fuel deliveries have become increasingly unreliable. 

“Right now, no one knows when the power will come back on,” Havana resident Abel Bonne told Reuters early Saturday while standing along the Malecon waterfront. 

For many Cubans, blackouts are already a part of daily life. In Havana, residents endure frequent four- to five-hour power cuts. Outside the capital, the situation is even worse, with rolling blackouts reaching up to 20 hours per day in recent weeks. 

“My God, this is terrible, we’re in for a dark weekend,” said Karen Gutierrez, a 32-year-old ice cream vendor in Havana, speaking to AFP. 

Andres Lopez, a 67-year-old from the eastern province of Holguín, expressed frustration over yet another grid failure. 

“It really bugs me,” he said. “Let’s see when they get the power back on.” 

Cuban officials attribute much of the country’s economic hardship to the Cold War-era U.S. trade embargo, which restricts financial transactions and limits access to vital imports such as fuel and electrical infrastructure parts. 

U.S. President Donald Trump recently tightened sanctions against Cuba, vowing to implement a “tough” stance toward the island’s communist-led government. 

To address its electricity shortages, Cuba is accelerating plans to install at least 55 solar farms using Chinese technology by the end of the year. Officials say these new facilities could generate approximately 1,200 MW—about 12% of the country’s total electricity supply. 

Voice of America Staff Placed on Leave as Trump-Ordered Cuts Restructure U.S. Government Media

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More than 1,300 employees at Voice of America (VOA) were placed on leave Saturday following an executive order from President Donald Trump that slashed funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and six other federal agencies. The move also cut financial support for two key news services that broadcast to authoritarian regimes. 

Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director, said nearly the entire workforce of journalists, producers, and support staff had been put on administrative leave, effectively halting operations at the government-funded broadcaster, which delivers news in nearly 50 languages. 

“I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” Abramowitz wrote on LinkedIn, emphasizing its role in promoting “freedom and democracy worldwide.” 

Alongside VOA, USAGM terminated grants to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which provides independent news to Eastern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine, and Radio Free Asia (RFA), which broadcasts to China and North Korea. 

Trump’s directive is expected to significantly impact these organizations, which serve as vital news sources in countries with restricted press freedom. 

Founded in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA now reaches an estimated 360 million people weekly. USAGM employs approximately 3,500 workers and operates on an $886 million budget, according to its latest congressional report. 

VOA’s Seoul Bureau Chief William Gallo reported Sunday that he had been locked out of company systems and accounts. 

“All I’ve ever wanted to do is shoot straight and tell the truth, no matter what government I was covering. If that’s a threat to anyone, so be it,” Gallo posted on Bluesky. 

Kari Lake, a former news anchor and Trump ally nominated to lead VOA, defended the cuts, describing USAGM as “a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer” and stating it was “not salvageable.” She said she would reduce the agency’s size to the minimum allowed under law. 

On its website, RFE/RL warns that it has been designated an “undesirable organization” by Russia and cautions that Russian citizens could face legal consequences for engaging with its content. 

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky called RFE/RL a “beacon” for those under oppressive rule. 

“From Belarus to Iran, from Russia to Afghanistan, RFE and Voice of America are among the few free sources for people living without freedom,” Lipavsky posted on X. 

Trump’s executive order instructed USAGM and other agencies to scale back to their legally mandated minimum operations, citing efforts to reduce government spending. 

Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club, criticized the cuts, warning they undermine America’s commitment to independent journalism. 

“For decades, Voice of America has delivered fact-based, independent journalism to audiences worldwide, often in places where press freedom does not exist,” Balsamo said. 

Reporters Without Borders, based in Paris, also denounced the move, calling it “a direct threat to press freedom worldwide” and a rejection of decades of U.S. leadership in promoting the free flow of information. 

Bay Fang, president of Radio Free Asia, argued the funding cuts benefit authoritarian regimes. 

“This is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked,” Fang said. 

Some Republicans have accused VOA and other publicly funded news organizations of left-wing bias and have advocated for their closure. The cuts align with efforts by tech billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the size of the federal government. 

Musk’s agency has already cut over 100,000 jobs across the 2.3 million-member federal workforce, frozen foreign aid, and eliminated thousands of government programs. 

On Saturday, Musk appeared to mock the USAGM cuts on X, writing, “While winding down this global government propaganda agency, it has temporarily been renamed the Department of Propaganda Everywhere (DOPE).” 

Trump’s order also targeted several other agencies for reductions, including the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency. The White House said these reductions would limit the agencies to their “minimum presence and function required by law.” 

In a statement, the administration defended the executive order, saying it “ensures taxpayers are no longer funding radical propaganda,” citing allegations of left-wing bias at VOA. 

Airstrike in Myanmar Kills Nearly 30 People, Including Children, Opposition Group Says

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A military airstrike on a village controlled by resistance forces in central Myanmar has killed at least 27 civilians and injured 30 others, according to an opposition group and local media reports on Saturday. 

The attack occurred Friday at 3 p.m. in Let Pan Hla village, located in Singu Township, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, a spokesperson for the Mandalay People’s Defense Force (MDY-PDF) confirmed. 

Myanmar’s military did not comment on the incident. 

The country has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, sparking widespread opposition. After security forces violently suppressed peaceful protests, many opponents of military rule took up arms, leading to ongoing conflicts across large parts of the country. 

The military government has intensified airstrikes against the pro-democracy People’s Defense Force and ethnic minority guerrilla groups that have been fighting for greater autonomy for decades. These groups occasionally conduct joint operations against the military but lack defenses against air attacks. 

The town of Singu was captured by the Mandalay People’s Defense Force, aligned with Myanmar’s main opposition, in July last year. 

The resistance group’s statement on its Telegram social media channel stated that six children were among those killed when the airstrike targeted a busy market in Let Pan Hla village. 

Osmond, a spokesperson for the group, told The Associated Press that bombs destroyed around 10 houses near the village market. 

“This airstrike was not aimed at a military target, but rather at the market area, where civilians visit daily,” Osmond said. 

Independent verification of the situation remains difficult, as internet and cellphone access in the region have been severely restricted. 

Myanmar Now, an independent news outlet, reported that the death toll from the airstrike, which struck a tea shop near the market, had risen to 30, with seven victims in critical condition. 

A recent report by Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica, a Myanmar-based research and advocacy organization, stated that since the military coup in 2021, 2,224 civilians have been killed and 3,466 wounded in 4,157 airstrikes. 

Man Charged with Intoxication Manslaughter in Texas Crash That Killed Five, Involved 17 Vehicles

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A man faces multiple charges of intoxication manslaughter after a late-night crash on Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, killed five people and left several others injured, authorities said Friday. 

The massive wreck, which occurred just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, involved 17 vehicles. Officials confirmed that the victims included three adults, a child, and an infant. First responders transported 11 injured individuals to area hospitals. 

Austin police identified the suspect as 37-year-old Solomun Weldekeal Araya. He has been charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. Authorities confirmed that Araya was in custody at Travis County Jail, though jail records did not list an attorney for him. 

Investigators have yet to disclose details regarding the circumstances leading to the collision. In a statement Friday, police said the investigation remains in its early stages, and no further information is available at this time. 

The southbound lanes of Interstate 35 were shut down following the crash and remained closed until about 1 p.m. Friday. The wreckage left behind a stretch of highway scattered with mangled vehicles and debris. 

“This was a very large and very complex collision,” Austin Police Officer Austin Zarling said during an early morning news conference. 

Eyewitness Edgar Viera told KXAN that he rushed to the scene from a nearby store after hearing the impact. “We didn’t have the proper tools to open the vehicles, so we just did what we could,” he said. “It was hard to see this.” 

59 Dead, Over 150 Injured in North Macedonia Nightclub Fire

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A devastating fire tore through a nightclub in the eastern town of Kocani, Macedonia, early Sunday, killing 59 people and injuring 155, authorities confirmed. The blaze erupted around 2:30 a.m. during a concert at Club Pulse, with officials suspecting pyrotechnics as the cause of the roof catching fire. 

Videos from inside the club showed chaos as smoke filled the venue, with young attendees rushing to escape. Musicians on stage urged the crowd to evacuate as flames spread rapidly. 

As families gathered outside hospitals for updates, Dragi Stojanov, a resident of Kocani, learned that his 21-year-old son, Tomce, had died in the fire. “He was my only child. I don’t need my life anymore,” he said. “One hundred and fifty families have been devastated.” 

Authorities reported that the injured were transported to hospitals across the country, including the capital, Skopje, with many suffering severe burns. Volunteers and medical teams worked around the clock to assist victims. Health Minister Arben Taravari stated that 118 people remained hospitalized and confirmed that offers of assistance had come from neighboring Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia. 

“All our capabilities have been put to use in an effort to save as many lives as possible,” Taravari said, visibly shaken. 

The fire marks the worst tragedy in North Macedonia’s recent history. The landlocked nation has a population of under two million. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje, where she spoke with grieving parents. 

“It’s terrible … hard to believe how this happened,” she said, her voice breaking. “We must give these young people courage to continue.” 

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski called the incident a “difficult and very sad day for Macedonia,” expressing condolences to the victims’ families. 

The nightclub, housed in a repurposed carpet warehouse, had been operating for several years, according to local media reports. The fire caused a partial collapse of the single-story building’s roof, exposing charred beams and debris. Authorities have launched an investigation into the club’s safety standards and licensing. 

Ljubco Kocevski, a state prosecutor, confirmed that several individuals were being questioned by police, though no further details were provided. Interior ministry officials stated they would investigate potential violations of safety protocols, emphasizing the government’s commitment to holding those responsible accountable. 

Police have made one arrest but have not disclosed the individual’s involvement. 

Condolences have poured in from European leaders, including European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who said the EU “shares the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed sympathy, stating, “Ukraine mourns alongside our Macedonian friends on this sad day.” 

Pyrotechnic-related nightclub fires have led to deadly incidents worldwide, including the 2015 Colectiv club fire in Bucharest, Romania, which killed 64 people.

Trump Invokes 18th-Century Law to Expedite Deportations, Federal Judge Blocks It Hours Later 

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President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on Saturday to fast-track the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, calling their presence an “invasion” and a threat to national security. However, a federal judge blocked the move just hours later, temporarily halting deportations under the law. 

Trump’s proclamation, issued by the White House on Saturday, argues that Tren de Aragua is conducting irregular warfare against the U.S. through organized crime, including kidnapping, extortion, and contract killings.

The Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law rarely used outside of active military conflict, could allow the administration to bypass due process and swiftly deport non-citizens deemed threats. Under Trump’s directive, any Venezuelan citizen aged 14 or older found to be a member of the gang—who is in the U.S. but not a naturalized citizen or lawful permanent resident—would be subject to immediate apprehension and removal. 

The law was most notably used during World War II to justify internment camps for people of Japanese, German, and Italian descent. Civil rights groups have criticized Trump’s attempt to revive it for mass deportations, warning of legal challenges. 

Within hours of Trump’s order, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the government from deporting five Venezuelan migrants after two nonprofit organizations, the ACLU and Democracy Forward, sued. The lawsuit argues that invoking the Alien Enemies Act in this manner is unlawful because the statute has only been applied during wartime and requires evidence of direct hostile actions. 

Chief Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia stated during an emergency hearing that he did not believe he could wait any longer and was required to act.

He noted that the U.S. government was already flying deportees to El Salvador and Honduras for detention, emphasizing that delaying their removal posed no harm to the government since they remained in custody. The court’s ruling temporarily blocks deportations for 14 days, and the ACLU plans to seek broader protections for all individuals targeted under Trump’s order. 

Trump’s move to invoke the Alien Enemies Act is part of his broader effort to step up immigration enforcement since returning to office on January 20. His administration has declared Tren de Aragua and other criminal groups as global terrorist organizations.

He has deployed additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and redirected federal agents to focus on tracking and removing immigration offenders. However, despite Trump’s pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, his initial deportation numbers lag behind those of Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who deported large numbers of recent border crossers. 

The White House has not responded to requests for comment, but court filings show the government has already appealed the judge’s ruling. With immigration enforcement a central issue in Trump’s administration, the legal battle over the Alien Enemies Act could set a major precedent for the president’s ability to bypass standard deportation procedures.

AP/Reuters

Kanye West Drops New Song Featuring Diddy and Daughter North Amid Kim Kardashian’s Legal Battle to Stop It

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Kanye West has released a new track, Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine, which appears to feature Diddy, Diddy’s son Christian “King” Combs, and Ye’s daughter, North West—despite Kim Kardashian’s reported efforts to block its release. 

West debuted the song on his X (formerly Twitter) account, revealing that it also includes contributions from a producer who is currently in prison. 

The track begins with a voice that strongly resembles Diddy’s, thanking Kanye for checking in and helping care for his children. Kanye responds by saying Diddy has always been a role model to him, even before they met. The conversation between the two sets the stage for the song’s reflective tone. 

North West also has a rap verse in the song, delivering the line: “When you see me shining, then you see the light.” Christian Combs also raps, and Chicago artist Jasmine Williams provides additional vocals. 

Sources close to the situation told TMZ that Kim Kardashian attempted to legally prevent the song from dropping. North had recently visited Kanye in the studio—reportedly the first time he had seen any of his children in weeks. During the visit, he recorded her vocals for the track and allegedly promised to release it on Sunday. 

When Kim learned of the plan, she reportedly sent legal cease-and-desist letters and requested an emergency hearing with a mediator and judge. However, sources say Kanye did not attend the hearing and initially agreed not to release the track. 

Kim has strongly opposed North’s involvement, particularly given Kanye’s recent controversies and Diddy’s ongoing federal sex trafficking investigation. She allegedly reached out to multiple people in an effort to keep the song from being made public. 

Shortly before posting the song, Kanye shared a text conversation he claims was with Kim, telling his fans that they were “going to war.” The release of Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine appears to be his response. 

Kanye has been at the center of multiple scandals in recent months, including making antisemitic remarks, declaring himself a Nazi in online tirades, and selling shirts with swastikas. Meanwhile, he is also navigating a split from wife Bianca Censori. 

As of now, Kim Kardashian has not publicly responded to the song’s release. 

TMZ

Tens of Thousands Join Massive Antigovernment Protest in Serbia’s Capital

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Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Belgrade on Saturday in the largest antigovernment demonstration in years, as anger mounts over alleged corruption under President Aleksandar Vucic. The protests, initially sparked by a deadly railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad last November, have gained momentum, with students leading near-daily rallies against the government. 

Serbia’s interior minister reported that at least 107,000 people participated in the demonstration. Riot police in full gear were deployed throughout central Belgrade, particularly around Pionirski Park and the National Assembly, where the protest began before marchers moved toward Slavija Square. 

Although sporadic clashes broke out overnight ahead of the rally, the demonstration itself remained largely peaceful. Protesters were met by thousands of veterans from elite military brigades and biker groups, who joined them in observing 15 minutes of silence at exactly 11:52 a.m. (10:52 GMT) to honor the 15 victims of the Novi Sad tragedy—the moment the roof collapsed. 

The catalyst for the protests was the November 1 collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad, which killed 15 people. Critics blame the disaster on deep-seated corruption within Vucic’s administration, accusing government officials of negligence and profiteering at the expense of public safety. Prosecutors have since charged at least 13 people in connection with the incident. 

Many protesters carried banners reading “He’s Finished,” a direct message to Vucic, while others chanted, “Pump it up,” a phrase that has become a rallying cry for the student-led movement. 

“We came for justice. I hope that after this protest, things will change,” said Milica Stojanovic, a biology student in Belgrade, speaking to AFP. 

As the protests continue to grow, the Serbian government faces mounting pressure to address public grievances over corruption, governance, and accountability. 

U.S. Airstrikes Target Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels in Yemen

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President Donald Trump ordered a series of airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, vowing to deploy “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on commercial shipping in a key maritime corridor. Houthi officials reported that nine civilians were killed in the strikes. 

“Our brave warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media statement. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the waterways of the world.” 

Trump also warned Iran to cease its support for the Houthis, pledging to hold Tehran “fully accountable” for its proxy’s actions. This comes two weeks after the president sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a potential path to renewing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which Trump has vowed to prevent from becoming operational. 

The Houthis reported a series of powerful explosions across their territory. Images circulating online showed plumes of black smoke rising over the Sanaa airport complex, which houses a major military facility. 

At least nine people were killed, and another nine were injured, according to Anees al-Asbahi, spokesperson for the Houthi-controlled health ministry. In response to the strikes, Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, stated that the group would not be deterred and vowed retaliation against the United States. 

“Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support, and we will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” Amer declared on social media. 

The strikes come just days after the Houthis threatened to resume attacks on Israeli vessels in response to Israel’s blockade of Gaza. There have been no reported Houthi attacks since that warning. 

Between late 2023 and early 2024, the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant vessels using missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. Their attacks have heightened regional tensions and raised their international profile while Yemen remains mired in a decade-long conflict. 

The Houthi media office claimed that the U.S. strikes hit “a residential neighborhood” in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Local residents described the blasts as powerful, shaking buildings and terrifying civilians. 

“The explosions were very strong,” said Sanaa resident Abdallah al-Alffi. “It felt like an earthquake.” 

The U.S. airstrikes were carried out solely by American forces, according to a U.S. official. Unlike previous joint operations involving the United States, Israel, and Britain, Saturday’s strikes mark the first U.S. attack on Houthi targets since Trump’s second term began. 

The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the aircraft carrier, three Navy destroyers, and a cruiser, was deployed in the Red Sea to support the mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been active in the region. 

Trump, who announced the strikes while at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, framed the operation as a necessary response to economic and security threats. 

“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and world economy many billions of dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said. 

As tensions escalate, analysts warn of potential further conflict between the U.S. and Iran-backed forces in the region. The international community is now closely watching for possible retaliation from the Houthis and the broader implications for Middle Eastern stability. 

AP

Ugandan Judge Convicted in UK Human Trafficking Case

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A Ugandan High Court judge has been found guilty of human trafficking and conspiracy to intimidate a victim in a landmark case that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic and legal circles.

Lydia Mugambe, who also serves as a United Nations judicial officer, was arrested under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. Police footage captured her expressing disbelief when officers informed her of the charges, as she insisted she had diplomatic immunity and denied any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors successfully argued that Mugambe exploited a young Ugandan woman by misleading her about the purpose of her travel to the UK and subjecting her to unfair working conditions. The court heard that Mugambe allegedly conspired with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to facilitate the woman’s entry into the country, reportedly agreeing to intervene in a legal matter involving Mugerwa in exchange.

The victim, whose identity remains protected, testified that she felt isolated and trapped during her time in the UK. Mugambe, who was pursuing a law PhD at the University of Oxford, maintained throughout the trial that she had always treated the woman with kindness and denied coercing her into unpaid labor.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that the United Nations had waived any diplomatic immunity Mugambe might have held as a UN judge, allowing the prosecution to proceed.

When the verdict was delivered, gasps were heard in the courtroom, and proceedings were briefly halted after Mugambe appeared unwell.

The case has highlighted ongoing concerns regarding labor exploitation and the potential misuse of diplomatic privileges.

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