May 14th, 2026 - Cuba Says Oil Reserves Are Exhausted as Blackouts Worsen

Cuba’s government says the country has run out of oil reserves after months of severe energy shortages, raising the likelihood of even longer and more frequent blackouts. Officials said there is no fuel oil or diesel left, with some areas of Havana already experiencing outages lasting more than 20 hours a day.

The crisis has been driven by aging power infrastructure, shrinking fuel supplies from Venezuela, and restrictions on foreign oil shipments. A recent Russian oil delivery offered temporary relief, but officials said those supplies have now been used up. The government says remaining electricity is being directed toward hospitals and other critical services.

As blackouts worsen, many Cubans have turned to charcoal or wood for cooking, while others have protested by banging pots and pans in the streets. Officials warned that the situation could grow more difficult as summer heat increases demand on the fragile power grid.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Imbroglio (noun, im-BROHL-yoh) - Imbroglio is a formal word that refers to a complex dispute or argument.

Example: Much of the sisters’ text thread involves the latest imbroglios on their favorite reality show—who’s mad at who for what, and why.

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