NewsCuban blackout, Russian "Syrian Express" at the Mediterranean: This is what happened in the news overnight
Cuban blackout, Russian "Syrian Express" at the Mediterranean: This is what happened in the news overnight
It happened while you were sleeping. Here is what global agencies reported overnight from Sunday to Monday.
- On Sunday, almost two-thirds of Cubans remained without power, two days after the onset of the fourth mass blackout in the past six months across many districts of the country, which is experiencing a prolonged and severe economic crisis. Over the weekend, due to the power outage, the internet was down for several hours, and phone connectivity was not functioning even in the capital. The suburbs of Havana were also plunged into darkness. The blackout has become one of the primary reasons for worsening shortages in shops for basic goods.
- Peruvian fisherman Maximo Napa Castro, who went missing after setting sail from the port in December last year, was found alive after 95 days at sea. He was highly dehydrated but managed to survive and has already returned to his family, media reported on Sunday. "I'm thankful to God for giving me a second chance (…) I did not want to die. I ate roaches, birds, the last thing I ate was turtles," said the 61-year-old.
- Russia continues to remove military equipment from Syrian bases in Latakia and Tartus. A Russian Ilyushin Il-76MD aircraft took off from Latakia heading towards Russia, according to satellite images taken by space technology company Maxar. Last week, a Russian convoy called the "Syrian Express" departed the Mediterranean. It comprised two transport ships, Sparta IV and the sanctioned ship Polar Star, accompanied by the Russian Navy vessel Alexander Shabalin since leaving the port of Tartus in Syria. The fleet is en route to Russia, transporting military vehicles and equipment collected during the Kremlin's withdrawal from Syria.
- In search of allies, Russia resorts to surprising proposals. It promised Ethiopia, which lacks access to the sea, that it would help create a navy. Russia made similar promises to Ethiopia in 2022, but its aggression against Ukraine delayed their realisation. Now, as assured by Ethiopian Navy Deputy Commander for Operations Commander Jamal Tufisa, the Kremlin has pledged to assist the African country in training personnel and "building capacity."
