Cuban cigar festival called off as US blockade worsens energy crisis

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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on BBC News or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Cuba has postponed its annual Festival del Habano in Havana due to a worsening fuel shortage linked to tightened US oil restrictions
• The five-day event, which typically draws more than 1,300 attendees from around 70 countries, was called off amid rolling blackouts and aviation fuel shortages
• Organisers cited the island’s “complex economic situation,” worsened by US seizures of Venezuelan oil shipments

🔭 The context: The US trade embargo on Cuba has been in place since 1960, with restrictions tightened under President Donald Trump
• Venezuela had supplied roughly 35,000 barrels of oil per day before recent disruptions
• Power cuts of up to 18 hours a day are now affecting hospitals, water systems and transport, while some airlines have suspended routes due to fuel shortages

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Energy blockades and fossil-fuel supply disruptions highlight the environmental fragility of oil-dependent systems
• Cuba’s crisis emphasizes how reliance on imported crude leaves countries exposed to geopolitical shocks, reinforcing the urgency of resilient, diversified and lower-carbon energy systems

💬 One quote: “The postponement of this celebration is a measure aimed at protecting this experience.” – Festival organising committee

📈 One stat: Power outages in Cuba are lasting up to 18 hours per day in some areas

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