Cuba Power Crisis Deepens as Millions Remain in Darkness
Millions of citizens in Cuba continued to endure widespread electricity outages on Thursday, following a massive blackout that crippled the island's western region. The crisis stems from a broken boiler at a major thermoelectric plant, compounded by severe fuel shortages that have plagued the nation. Officials estimate it could take up to four days to fully restore power across affected areas.
While critical services such as hospitals in a third of Havana have regained electricity, many residents are grappling with spoiled food and oppressive, sweltering conditions without air conditioning or refrigeration. The situation has been exacerbated by halted oil shipments from Venezuela and new tariff threats from the United States, which have strained Cuba's already fragile economy.
Authorities attribute the collapse to an aging electrical grid and maintenance delays linked to international sanctions. This marks the second major energy failure to strike Cuba in just three months, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in the country's infrastructure.
Massive Fire Erupts in Ghaziabad's Industrial Area
A significant fire broke out late Thursday night in a paint factory located within Ghaziabad's Mainapur Industrial Area. Chief Fire Officer Rahul Kumar reported that twenty emergency vehicles were dispatched after an alert was received around 20:56 IST.
Firefighters successfully brought the blaze under control in an adjacent scrap factory, but operations at the paint facility required extended efforts due to the highly flammable materials involved. Emergency crews worked tirelessly through the night to prevent the fire from spreading further into the industrial cluster.
No immediate casualties have been reported, though fire teams remain on-site to fully extinguish any remaining hotspots and ensure safety.
Czech Lawmakers Shield Prime Minister and Speaker from Prosecution
In a controversial move, the Czech parliament voted 104-81 to block the lifting of parliamentary immunity for Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Speaker Tomio Okamura. This decision prevents Babiš from facing trial for alleged EU subsidy fraud related to his Stork’s Nest farm and protects Okamura from charges of inciting hatred over xenophobic election posters.
Babiš has dismissed the allegations as "politically motivated" attempts to undermine election results. The protective vote has sparked significant public outrage, with the Million Moments for Democracy movement scheduling a massive protest for March 21 to condemn what they perceive as a subversion of justice.
Karnataka Cabinet Deadlock Over Internal Reservation for 56,000 Jobs
The Karnataka Cabinet has deferred its decision on implementing internal reservations for Scheduled Castes regarding 56,432 government vacancies, following inconclusive talks. Law Minister HK Patil affirmed the government's commitment to the issue but noted a significant rift between the SC(Left) and SC(Right) factions within the Congress party.
While the SC(Left) community opposes recruitment without internal quotas, the SC(Right) group favors proceeding immediately. Amidst these tensions, the Cabinet approved Rs 62 crores for 144 new buses and Rs 227.58 crores for police IT modernization. Additionally, the Health Minister was directed to negotiate with staff threatening to strike over various demands.
Donald Trump Fires Kristi Noem; Nominates Senator Markwayne Mullin for DHS
US President Donald Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, replacing her with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. Noem, the first Cabinet departure of Trump’s second term, faced intense bipartisan criticism following the fatal shooting of two protesters by immigration officers in Minneapolis and the slow distribution of FEMA disaster funds.
Trump has reassigned Noem as "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas," a new Western Hemisphere security initiative. Mullin will serve as acting secretary pending Senate confirmation. This leadership shakeup follows a tumultuous period defined by legal challenges and protests against the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
