Hurricane Rafael struck western Cuba on Thursday, causing widespread damage in Artemisa province, known as Havana's breadbasket. The storm toppled power lines, damaged homes, and uprooted trees. It also knocked out power for 10 million people.
Hurricane Rafael tore through western Cuba, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake on Thursday.
Artemisa province, a farm province known as Havana's bread basket, took the brunt of the hurricane's impact. Violent winds flattened several high-tension power lines along the region's principal highway, and fallen trees littered roadways in the provincial capital.
The storm, with fierce winds and torrential rain, damaged countless homes and a local stadium and uprooted trees across the region.
Cuban authorities said they had begun restoring power to the eastern half of the island on Thursday, a day after Hurricane Rafael knocked out the country's electrical grid, leaving 10 million people in the dark.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the hurricane had spun off westward into the Gulf of Mexico, where it no longer posed an immediate threat to land.
Rafael was the latest blow to the Communist-run country's already precarious electrical grid, which just two weeks ago collapsed multiple times, leaving many in the country without power for days and sparking scattered protests across the island.
The Energy and Mines Ministry said on Thursday afternoon it was making progress restoring power to pockets of central and eastern Cuba, but warned the process would be slower in western parts of the island, which were hardest hit by the storm.
Havana, the capital city of two million, was still without power late in the day on Thursday, and authorities had not said when it would be restored.
Widespread blackouts lasting more than 20 hours a day are crippling Cuba, as fuel shortages and outdated infrastructure disrupt the country’s energy supply.
The U.S. will remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of a prisoner release deal. Havana welcomed the move but criticised ongoing U.S. sanctions.
Cuba calls Trump’s proposed mass deportation of immigrants "unrealistic and unfair," urging adherence to U.S.-Cuba migration accords. Trump aims to deport record numbers, focusing on criminals, but faces criticism for potential community and family impacts.
Russia says it will provide Cuba with around 80,000 tonnes of diesel fuel after the island's electric grid collapsed when Hurricane Rafel damaged homes.
Cuba's electrical grid collapsed Wednesday as Hurricane Rafael struck, leaving millions without power and causing widespread damage across the island.
Canada’s Liberal Party is set to elect a new leader on March 9, moving beyond Justin Trudeau’s decade in power. The race comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada fuel a wave of patriotism ahead of an expected election.
French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed Russia’s criticism on Thursday, after the Kremlin warned him over nuclear rhetoric. Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, he accused Moscow of imperialism and said Russia’s strong reaction showed his claims were true.
Torrential rains triggered severe flooding in eastern Spain on Thursday, sweeping away cars and forcing school evacuations. Authorities closed roads in Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia, with officials urging residents to stay indoors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will visit Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aiming to advance peace efforts. His team will remain in the country for talks with U.S. partners, he said in a Telegram post.
North Korea criticised upcoming U.S.-South Korea military drills on Friday, warning they would worsen tensions on the Korean Peninsula, state media KCNA reported. The annual Freedom Shield exercises are set to begin on Monday and last until March 20.
Norway’s government has affirmed that it will continue to supply fuel for U.S. Navy vessels, dismissing recent calls from a private marine fuel supplier to halt deliveries amid tensions linked to U.S.-Ukrainian relations.
President Donald Trump is preparing a new travel ban that could block entry for people from Afghanistan and Pakistan as early as next week. The move is part of an intensified immigration crackdown.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, will chair the 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting hosted this year by Turkmenistan, in Ashgabat, on 4 March.
Watch AnewZ Live Coverage of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting at the Oval Office at https://anewz.tv/tv-live
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed his respect for the United States and its people in an interview with Fox News, following a tense meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
Canada’s Liberal Party is set to elect a new leader on March 9, moving beyond Justin Trudeau’s decade in power. The race comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada fuel a wave of patriotism ahead of an expected election.
French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed Russia’s criticism on Thursday, after the Kremlin warned him over nuclear rhetoric. Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, he accused Moscow of imperialism and said Russia’s strong reaction showed his claims were true.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will visit Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aiming to advance peace efforts. His team will remain in the country for talks with U.S. partners, he said in a Telegram post.
North Korea criticised upcoming U.S.-South Korea military drills on Friday, warning they would worsen tensions on the Korean Peninsula, state media KCNA reported. The annual Freedom Shield exercises are set to begin on Monday and last until March 20.
President Donald Trump has postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some from Canada for one month, easing concerns over a broader trade war.
Canada’s Liberal Party is set to elect a new leader on March 9, moving beyond Justin Trudeau’s decade in power. The race comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada fuel a wave of patriotism ahead of an expected election.
French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed Russia’s criticism on Thursday, after the Kremlin warned him over nuclear rhetoric. Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, he accused Moscow of imperialism and said Russia’s strong reaction showed his claims were true.
Torrential rains triggered severe flooding in eastern Spain on Thursday, sweeping away cars and forcing school evacuations. Authorities closed roads in Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia, with officials urging residents to stay indoors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will visit Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aiming to advance peace efforts. His team will remain in the country for talks with U.S. partners, he said in a Telegram post.
North Korea criticised upcoming U.S.-South Korea military drills on Friday, warning they would worsen tensions on the Korean Peninsula, state media KCNA reported. The annual Freedom Shield exercises are set to begin on Monday and last until March 20.
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