On Monday, an extensive blackout left all of Cuba in darkness, reflecting the severe energy challenges increasingly impacting the country’s delicate power infrastructure.

Approximately 10 million residents experienced the outage, though some regions received partial electricity restoration later on.

“The National Electric Power System has completely disconnected,” Cuba’s government-managed Electric Union announced early Monday. “Investigations into the causes are ongoing.”

The frequency of power outages in Cuba has escalated in recent years, largely due to persistent fuel shortages and aging electrical grids. The situation intensified after former President Donald Trump expanded sanctions in January, coupled with threats of imposing tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba.

During Monday’s blackout, public transportation was largely halted, and officials said tens of thousands of surgeries were canceled nationwide, according to The Associated Press (AP).

Authorities later said one generating unit had resumed operations roughly two hours after the collapse. 

“Microsystems are already operational throughout the country, to ensure protection for vital services,” the Electric Union said. 

The energy minister said officials were working to restore power while accusing the U.S. of contributing to Cuba’s energy struggles. 

“Vital services continue to be protected, amidst this complex situation exacerbated by the energy blockade we face,” Vicente de la O Levy said.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel also blamed U.S. policies, describing the energy blockade as a “genocidal” measure imposed by Washington. 

“While the U.S. tries to induce a social explosion through asphyxiation by blocking fuel access to #Cuba, the UNE mobilizes to reverse the SEN outage,” Díaz-Canel said, referring to Cuba’s National Electric Power System. 

“What the electrical workers are doing in the midst of a genocidal energy blockade is heroic.”

Cuba’s energy crisis intensified earlier this year after a U.S. military operation captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and halted Venezuelan oil exports, cutting off a key source of fuel for the island. 

While Cuba produces only about 40% of the fuel it needs, a Russian tanker delivered roughly 730,000 barrels of oil to the country in March, supplies that were depleted by the end of April, according to The AP.

To conserve fuel, the Cuban government has imposed scheduled power outages that have lasted more than 24 consecutive hours in some areas, the outlet said. 

A blackout in early March affected Cuba’s western provinces, while a separate outage in mid-March plunged the entire island into darkness. 

The much-anticipated wedding of pop sensation Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce was intended to be a ‘magical’ representation of their love story and a testament to Taylor’s immense global influence.

Hosted at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden on July 3, the event was grand in its design but reportedly fell short in execution, according to some disgruntled attendees. Critiques emerged post-celebration concerning the ‘tacky’ and ‘chaotic’ atmosphere, highlighted by an early champagne shortage and lengthy lines at the buffet tables.

One guest expressed surprise at the buffet-style dining, exclaiming, ‘I couldn’t believe that there was a buffet at the wedding of the year!’ For them, it seemed an unexpectedly casual choice.

The scene became even more noteworthy with tales of well-known figures like Julia Roberts and Steven Spielberg queuing for food. As one attendee recounted, ‘There were slightly chaotic scenes around the food carts with all these amazing A-listers having to stand in line. It wasn’t quite what I expected.’ This unexpected twist added a layer of unanticipated informality to the otherwise star-studded affair.

Adding to the controversy was a hierarchy system that placed guests from A-list to D-list based on their importance to the bride, dictating their arrival times. This stratified approach drew further mixed reactions, with its potentially uncomfortable implications.

British supermodel Cara Delevingne, for example, was in the first, D list contingent, getting to the Madison Square Garden at 2.30pm, a full three hours before the ceremony.

Actor Bradley Cooper and TV host Graham Norton were not far behind, arriving by 3.30pm. Taylor’s best friend Abigail Anderson, whom she’s known since her high school days in Nashville, Tennessee, only showed up at 4.30pm.

The most important guests arrived as instructed closer to the time of the 5.30pm ceremony.

A source said: ‘It was surprisingly chaotic inside. Arrivals were staggered with people having to wait for hours with nothing to do. The cocktails only started at 4pm. People literally were twiddling their thumbs for hours.

‘If you were in the 2.30pm time slot, you couldn’t even amuse yourself by checking your phone. You were just standing around like a lemon wondering why the hell you were forced to arrive so early.’

Everyone had to give up their phones upon arrival – and faced long queues to collect them at the end of the night.

Before giving up hers, Joann Jordan, wife of personal trainer Rob Jordan, shared a look at the transformation of the infamously unglamorous venue in midtown New York. In one of the photos, Rob and Joann walk up a large staircase covered in a red carpet, which is surrounded by white and dark pink curtains.

‘An unforgettable evening in New York celebrating the beginning of a beautiful new chapter for our dear friends, Travis and Taylor. Love was in the air, the city was magical, and every detail was simply unforgettable!’ she gushed.

Kelce’s friend, DJ Chop UFL, also shared photos on the same two staircases. ‘The secret garden was an unbelievable celebration and experience! So happy for my brother and sister Trav & Tay Tay. Congratulations once again! Yesterday was perfect,’ he said.

A video obtained by the Daily Mail shows guests queuing up to walk through a ‘castle door’ into the inner sanctum of the wedding located inside the vast venue, which can seat 20,000.

News website TMZ reported that the theme was Wizard Of Oz meets Alice In Wonderland.

A source says: ‘I know everyone was saying how it was all decked out fairytale garden-style so you’d never even know it was Madison Square Garden – but apparently this is not true.

‘When you got inside, some of the flowers, vines and garlands were wrapped so badly around the seating that they barely camouflaged the plastic bucket-style stadium seats. It was all quite ghastly and tacky. They had tried to cover up that it was a wedding in a stadium, and that failed.

‘Also, there were loads of huge fake plastic trees all over the place and it just looked bizarre.’

The specifics of the theme appeared to be lost on the guests – some said it was ‘fairground Americana’ while others described it as ‘an enchanted forest’.

Even more bizarrely, dotted around the stadium were traditional pinball and slot machines swagged with pink, peach and coral drapes and lots of gold heraldic renderings of the love-birds’ initials T&T.

Another unusual element to the wedding was a raffle. The celebrity guests were invited to win raffle tickets by playing games like mini golf, pinball and a ring toss during the post-nuptial party.

A number were later notified that they had won prizes which included designer Dior and Chanel bags, a Cartier watch and a classic 1970 Chevy car. Singer Avril Lavigne, who performed karaoke later in the evening, was reportedly one of the lucky millionaires who won a free bag.

In all, the event apparently cost billionaire Taylor and her beau at least $20 million (£15 million). They also made a $26 million (£19.5 million) donation to charities, including children’s hospitals and food banks.

The wedding itself was officiated by actor and comedian Adam Sandler, who is legally ordained and whose daughters are huge Swifties. Kelce became friendly with Sandler on the set of his 2025 Netflix comedy Happy Gilmore 2. Apparently Sandler joked that he accepted the gig ‘in order to get both Travis and Taylor in one of his next movies’ or to negotiate a good price in case he ever produced a movie about their life and love.

The bride was dressed in Christian Dior haute couture, and flanked by her new nieces – the daughters of Kelce’s brother Jason and wife Kylie – who threw petals as she walked towards her groom to an instrumental version of her hit, Love Story.

There were no traditional bridesmaids. Instead Swift’s brother, Austin Swift, served as Taylor’s ‘man of honour’ while the groom’s brother Jason was his best man.

The vows, according to ABC anchor and former Bill Clinton aide George Stephanopoulos, who spoke briefly as he left, were ‘everything you would hope for – real, vulnerable, serious and silly’. News website TMZ reported that the couple exchanged deeply personal vows from ‘little books’ in the stadium.

A guest tells me more prosaically: ‘The ceremony was really long. Taylor’s vows took around 20 minutes to make and it was the same again for Travis.’

What’s not known is that sadly most of the invited guests had to stand throughout. The source added: ‘There were only about 150 official seats which meant that about 800 people had to stand throughout the ceremony.

‘People were trying to reserve seats by throwing their jackets over them, but they got booted out of those seats by staff because those were reserved for the closest people.’

And then came the food and the partying – with dancing, a DJ and live music performances, including former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney singing I Want To Hold Your Hand.

A source said: ‘It was an amazing event but people couldn’t believe that the champagne ran out really early. That felt kind of astonishing.

‘There were also people who were surprised about the food. It was not great and served buffet-style with long lines if you wanted to eat.’

The source adds: ‘The problems were all because the wedding was so big. At a normal wedding, everyone knows the bride and groom, and you don’t have to stagger arrivals or queue for food because there aren’t 1,000 people.

‘Also, at a normal wedding people have a table to sit on and are then catered for. This was far more of a stadium vibe. People kind of felt like they existed to be Taylor’s audience on the day.’

One guest said that there was genuine excitement and surprise over the performance by Sir Paul McCartney, however. He and Taylor are big fans of each other’s work, and she is also close to his daughter, fashion designer Stella.

At one point Taylor’s groom Travis Kelce also got up to sing. ‘I think it was at Rod Stewart standard,’ says the guest. ‘It wasn’t quite at Macca’s level.’

It is reported that Travis and Taylor – never known for underplaying their cultural significance – are making a documentary about the big day, which will detail the wedding planning process from picking the flowers to how the event was organised backstage. This will be sent to every guest as a thank you for coming.

Whether it can erase those less delightful memories of food carts and lengthy queues remains to be seen.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) — The village of Arlington Heights is advancing with an initiative to allow residents and visitors to enjoy drinks while strolling through its downtown area.

On Monday night, trustees gave the green light to a new pilot program that establishes a “social district.”

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This initiative will permit participating bars and restaurants to offer take-out beverages.

Customers can enjoy their drinks so long as they stay within the confines of a designated four-block area, aptly named the “alfresco zone.”

This pedestrian-only zone has become a lively hub for dining and socializing, especially during warmer months.

Larry Rebodos, owner of Big Shot Piano Lounge and Restaurant, said the open-air setup continues to draw crowds.

“All the restaurants are out here. We’ve got seating, I’ve got live music playing outside,” Rebodos said.

Village Trustee Tom Schwingbeck introduced the sip-and-stroll idea. He said he was inspired by a similar setup in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he often vacations.

“I’ve seen how successful this can be for the downtown area there,” Schwingbeck said.

He added that the concept could help ease long waits at popular restaurants, saying, “Some of our restaurants don’t take reservations and it might be a 45-minute wait. You can go in; you can grab a drink and stroll around in our downtown business district.”

The pilot program would begin in August run through October, operating Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Rebodos said he supports the plan.

“I was born in Chicago. We have three months’ worth of good weather. So, every minute counts. I was all on board when they brought this up,” he said.

Not everyone on the board agreed. Trustee Robin LaBedz said she worries about potential litter and underage drinking once alcohol leaves restaurant premises.

“I’m not worried about our restaurants checking IDs, they’re great about that, they know what they’re doing,” LaBedz said. “It’s when the alcohol comes back, away from restaurants and is in the public space. What then.”

The goal is to launch the program on July 30.

Sunny Hostin, a familiar face on “The View,” has voiced her discomfort once more regarding neighborhoods displaying the American flag. This isn’t a new stance for Hostin, who first expressed similar sentiments back in 2021.

During a recent discussion on the show marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States and reflecting on the nation’s current state, Hostin revisited her previous remarks. It was then that she openly disclosed her unease when encountering neighborhoods adorned with numerous American flags.

Reflecting on her decade-long tenure on the show, Hostin recalled, “Many years ago, I mentioned on this show that there are instances when I walk into a community, and American flags are prominently displayed everywhere. In such moments, I can’t help but feel uneasy because a segment of this country has redefined the American flag. They associate it with White supremacy, which is a misuse of its symbolism—it should never represent that, but some have turned it into a symbolical weapon.”

Her comments came on the heels of a panel discussion regarding a viral photograph depicting uniformed White nationalists riding the Metro in Washington, DC, while a Black woman sits nearby with a solemn expression. The image sparked conversations about the flag’s changing perceptions.

The image in question followed a march by the group in Washington, DC, over the recent weekend, drawing national attention and further highlighting the complexities surrounding the American flag’s current significance.

“That, for me, was a defining image of modern America for Black Americans,” Hostin said, condemning the American-flag-style insignias on their caps.

Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin took the opportunity to blast fringe activists on both sides of the political spectrum, but guest host Michelle Buteau, who had celebrated 4th of July by eating a cake that said “America, Do Better B—-” argued this was an indictment of the nation as a whole.

“When you say it’s the best nation. The best nation for who? Because if we are celebrating 250 years, what are we exactly celebrating, is what I want to know,” Buteau said. “So I’m really glad that picture was taken, because that picture is how we feel walking into many rooms, down the street. That picture is how we feel and nobody will believe us. So look at that picture and understand how it feels.”

“The flag belongs to all of us,” Griffin replied.

In 2021, Hostin spoke on “The View” about the phenomenon of Black Americans feeling uncomfortable in neighborhoods with American flags, defending MSNBC analyst Mara Gay for her controversial admission that she felt it “disturbing” to see American flags, Trump flags and condemnations of then-President Joe Biden in Long Island, New York.

“When someone of color, a Black woman, is telling you her feelings, people need to listen and not, you know, repudiate it and not say, ‘Well, that can’t be true,’” Hostin had said at the time, later adding, “When I drive into a neighborhood, and it’s not July 4th, and I’m not in a predominantly military household neighborhood and there are flags, American flags, everywhere, alongside Trump flags, alongside flags with stars in a circle, I feel threatened.”

“Because the message is very clear,” she continued. “It’s a message of White supremacy. It’s a message of racism, and it’s a message of their country, not my country. I don’t understand why that would receive backlash. People need to listen when I am saying this is how I feel. This is my experience in this country.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are facing criticism after their opulent wedding celebration at Madison Square Garden drew attention for its extravagant party favors.

The couple, both aged 36, spared no expense for their grand ceremony, which welcomed a staggering 1,000 guests.

Reports have emerged about guests leaving the event with lavish prizes, such as Cartier watches, Chanel handbags, and even a car, which has sparked outrage on social media. Many users expressed disapproval over what they see as a showy display of wealth.

“A Cartier watch raffle at a wedding is peak excess,” remarked one individual on a Polymarket X thread, suggesting that “guests probably left with better loot than from the registry.”

Another commenter admitted to feeling “embarrassed for all of them.”

Another critic implied that the cops and sanitation workers should have been the ones to receive the valuable gifts. 

‘So not the cops and sanitation workers busting ass in the insane heat on a holiday weekend? Nah, because lib friends wouldn’t like that look,’ the person speculated.

Someone else weighed in, ‘They could’ve fed a lot of homeless around the world instead.’ 

Yet another critic accused Swift of being ‘stuck in high school,’ calling the raffle ‘after-prom-coded.’ 

‘Raffle prizes at your wedding is a new one. Rich people wedding culture is just straight up performance art,’ huffed one fan.

‘That’s fun [as f***] for those involved but all of them are already filthy rich,’ highlighted one X user.

The person also questioned, ‘Why aren’t they just donating or something?’ 

Jackie Tranquill, the wife of Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs teammate Drue Tranquill, was among the lucky winners of the raffle.

Jackie shared a snap of her winning ticket and the lavish gift she won from the pair in an Instagram post on Monday.

The photo showed a black Chanel 25 Handbag made from grained calfskin which retails for $6,700. In the caption she wrote, ‘Congrats to the newly weds.’

Her photo carousel also appeared to show the dress she wore to the wedding.

Despite the vitriol, the bride and groom notably shelled out $26 million in donations to at least 20 charities during their wedding week. 

Among the charities benefiting were nine food banks – including one in Swift’s hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania – three children’s hospitals, and seven educational programs.

An announcement from the pair’s representatives to the Daily Mail read, ‘This week, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift donated $26 million to charities across the United States.

After Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s charity The Store received its donation, the Instagram page shared a thank-you post reading, ‘We’re incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for their transformative gift to The Store.

‘Their kindness will help more families across Middle Tennessee access fresh, healthy food with dignity and choice, and we’re honored to have their support.

‘Congratulations to Taylor and Travis on your upcoming wedding! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness as you begin this next chapter together. Thank you for helping make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.’

Swift and Kelce’s wedding was full of actors, movie moguls, sports stars and supermodels. 

Musicians including Jack Antonoff, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello and the Haim sisters were also in attendance. 

As Kelce kept his now-wife busy in August 2025, a team descended on his home garden to stage the setting for his proposal.

The songstress and athlete later used Instagram to announce their engagement, with a caption reading: ‘Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.’

Swift first publicly spoke about her romance with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end in her 2023 Time Person of the Year interview.

At the time, she described herself and her then-boyfriend as ‘just two people supporting each other doing what we love.’