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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Several international airlines cancel their flights in Venezuela after US warning

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Three international airlines canceled their flights departing from Venezuela on Saturday, the day after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned major airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over the country.

Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca and TAP Air Portugal canceled their flights departing from Caracas on Saturday, according to Flightradar24 and the official website of Simon Bolivar Maiquetia International Airport.

Aeronautica Civil de Colombia said in a statement there were “potential risks” of flying in the Maiquetia area “due to the deterioration of security conditions and increased military activity in the region.”

TAP Air Portugal confirmed it canceled its flights scheduled for Saturday and next Tuesday. “This decision follows information issued by the United States aviation authorities, which indicates that safety conditions in Venezuelan airspace are not guaranteed,” the company told Reuters.

Spain’s Iberia also said it was canceling their flights to Caracas from Monday until further notice. The Spanish company’s flight scheduled on Saturday to Madrid from Venezuela’s capital departed.

“The company will assess the situation to decide when to resume flights to that country,” an Iberia spokesperson told Reuters.

Copa Airlines and Wingo kept their flights departing from Maiquetia on Saturday.

The U.S. FAA notice cited the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela” and said threats could pose risks for aircraft at all altitudes.

There has been a massive American military buildup in the region in recent months, including the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, at least eight other warships, and F-35 aircraft.

Latam Airlines (LTM.SN), opens new tab flight to Bogota scheduled for Sunday has also been canceled, Flightradar24 says.

SOURCE: REUTERS AND AGENCIES



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