Thursday, May 14, 2026
Protests break out in Havana during Cuba's worst blackouts in decades
Protests have broken out in Havana as Cuba deals with it's worst rolling blackouts in decades.
It followed the country's energy minister admitting on state-run TV that "we have absolutely no fuel" amid the Trump administration's blockade of oil to the island.
Vicente de la O Levy added that blackouts in Cuba have increased dramatically over the past week, with many districts of Havana without power for 20 to 22 hours a day.
Overnight, hundreds took to the streets of the capital, blocking roads with burning piles of rubbish, banging pots, and shouting "turn on the lights".
According to Reuters, multiple groups of peaceful protesters were seen across the capital, making Wednesday night the biggest single night of demonstrations since the country's energy crisis began.
The news agency reported that when power returned to an area where a protest was taking place, crowds would cheer and then quickly disperse.
It added that there was a heavy police presence at each site, but noted security forces largely stood by to observe.
Cuba has seen energy shortages, blackouts, and grid failures increase since January, when US President Donald Trump furthered a decades-long blockade by signing an executive order imposing trade tariffs on countries exporting oil to Havana.
He and other Republican politicians have suggested Cuba could be the next country targeted by the US military, and the president has stated he wants to oust the country's communist-run government.
January also saw the US military capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, which led to critical petroleum shipments from South America being halted.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/protests-break-havana-during-cubas-101600316.html
CorMedix ups guidance
CorMedix posts Q1 2026 net revenue $127.4M, net income $38.6M, raises full-year 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance
Biogen moves Alzheimer drug into registrational development after Phase 2 misses primary endpoint
Biogen moves Alzheimer drug diranersen (BIIB080) into registrational development after Phase 2 CELIA misses primary dose‑response endpoint but shows tau reduction
- Topline Phase 2 CELIA data reported cognitive benefit for Alzheimer’s candidate diranersen (BIIB080).
Bessent: AI talks with China possible because of US lead
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Washington's leadership in artificial intelligence makes discussions with China on AI possible.
"The two AI superpowers are gonna start talking. We're gonna set up a protocol in terms of how do we go forward with best practices for AI to make sure non-state actors don't get a hold of these models," Bessent told CNBC. "The reason we are able to have wholesome discussions with the Chinese on AI is because we are in the lead. I do not think we would be having the same discussions if they were this far ahead of us," he added.
The US secretary also commented on a recent Reuters report that claimed the US approved sales of Nvidia's H200 AI chips to Chinese companies, saying that there had been "a lot of back and forth" on that issue.
Chinese ships may have started transiting Hormuz
Iran started allowing Chinese vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz in compliance with the Iranian management protocol for the maritime route, Iran's Fars News Agency reported on Thursday, citing a source briefed on the matter.
According to the report, Chinese ships began crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, other local media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that about 30 vessels passed through the critical waterway since yesterday evening with Tehran's permission.
Previously, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he believes that China will do everything it can to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as it is in Beijing's best interest. "I think they will be working behind the scenes to the extent anyone has any say over the Iranian leadership," he underlined.
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Chinese-ships-may-have-started-transiting-Hormuz/66294728
Israel: Alert in Western Galilee over Hezbollah drone
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that an air alert was set off in Western Galilee over what seemed like a drone launched by Hezbollah.
The IDF said on its social media that the drone was launched from Lebanon and sounded the alarm in the communities of Shlomi and Betzet.
The military insisted that there were no injuries and hinted that the drone was intercepted.
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Israel:-Alert-in-Western-Galilee-over-Hezbollah-drone/66294742
Rubio: We are not asking China for help with Iran
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the US delegation visiting Beijing is not asking China for help with the situation in the Middle East. "We don’t need their help," he told NBC News, while insisting that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on several issues related to Iran. "The Chinese side said they are not in favor of militarizing the Straits of Hormuz, and they’re not in favor of a tolling system, and that’s our position," he explained.
Rubio also repeated that the Trump administration's stance on Taiwan has not changed. He said that US arms sales to Taiwan "did not feature prominently" in discussions during the visit and pointed out that the decision on further sales lies with Trump and Congress. He stated that China would be making a "terrible mistake" if it tried to take Taiwan by force rather than political means.
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Rubio:-We-are-not-asking-China-for-help-with-Iran/66294837
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