Protests erupt in Havana as Cuba struggles to restore electricity

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By Dave Sherwood and Ayose Naranjo Reuters Scattered protests broke out across Havana on Tuesday evening, with residents banging pots, honking horns and shouting “turn on the lights” as millions ‌of Cubans remained without power amid a six-month-long U.S. fuel blockade. Cuba experienced a nationwide outage on ‌Monday — its third this year — but while authorities said most of the country had been reconnected to the island’s grid by late ​Tuesday, many remained in the dark and without electricity as the island doesn’t have enough fuel. The country’s grid operator UNE said it had reconnected the grid from Pinar del Rio, in far western Cuba, to Holguin in the east. Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second-largest city, remained disconnected and without power, authorities said. The U.S. in January ‌cut off Cuba’s fuel supply, then ⁠imposed fresh sanctions that have prompted an exodus of foreign businesses and a near-complete collapse o...
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Peru declares emergency as crime wave grips capital, singer shot dead

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Peru’s government declared on Monday a state of emergency in the capital Lima while it also deployed soldiers to the streets to help quell a recent surge of violence that claimed the life of a popular singer.

The death of prominent cumbia musician Paul Flores early Sunday provoked popular outrage, after the bus he was traveling in came under fire from unknown armed assailants. Flores died after he was shot, according to police.

The crime wave, including a jump in extortion rackets, prompted President Dina Boluarte to declare that she would like to see murderers face the death penalty, even though Peru only allows execution for convicted traitors.

The 30-day emergency decree applies to Lima as well as in neighboring Callao province and grants authorities additional powers to deploy the military to combat lawlessness.

In recent years, officials in Peru have repeatedly declared emergencies when criminal activity or social unrest spikes.

The government moves on Monday follow weeks of escalating violence blamed on criminal groups that often target businesses, including transport companies, even as authorities have touted recent gang arrests.

SOURCE: REUTERS AND AGENCIES



from The Times Of Earth https://ift.tt/vJj71VA

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