WHO scales back operations and staff amid funding cuts
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced major reductions in its management team and operations, following a significant funding cut after the U.S. confirmed its exit from the agency.
Puerto Rico experienced its second full power outage in just four months on Wednesday, following a system failure that left most of the island without electricity.
The blackout, which occurred around 12:40 p.m. local time (1640 GMT), impacted approximately 1.4 million customers, or 76% of the island's power users, according to local power providers Genera and LUMA.
LUMA, the island's energy provider, said that efforts to restore power were already underway and expected to take up to 72 hours for full service restoration. The company stated that the outage was triggered by a failure in the protection system, followed by vegetation on a transmission line between Cambalache and Manati. This series of events led to the island-wide disruption.
"Preliminary analysis points to a failure in the protection system as the first trigger for the event, followed by the presence of vegetation on a transmission line between Cambalache and Manati," LUMA explained.
Residents have expressed frustration over the island's aging power infrastructure, which has long been a source of dissatisfaction, with frequent blackouts and some of the highest electricity rates in the U.S. This marks the second major outage this year, the first being a blackout on New Year's Eve caused by a failed underground power line.
The power providers have assured the public that their teams will continue to work throughout the night to restore power as quickly as possible.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his Gulf tour with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, securing a major strategic economic agreement and pledging deep investment ties between the two nations.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted for killing their parents in 1989, have been declared eligible for parole after 35 years in prison following a re-sentencing under California’s youthful offender law.
Pope Leo XIV has pledged to prioritise global peace, rejecting war as inevitable and offering the Vatican’s role in mediating international conflicts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced major reductions in its management team and operations, following a significant funding cut after the U.S. confirmed its exit from the agency.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met in Antalya on Wednesday to discuss efforts toward a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and Türkiye’s role in facilitating peace talks.
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