More than half of Argentina was left without power on Wednesday (March 01, 2023) after a fire broke out at the national electricity grid. Buenos Aires and other major cities of the South American country are wholly or partly affected, reports BBC. Read More: Reopening embassy will boost trade between Argentina, Bangladesh: Visiting minister hopes According to reports, the fire began in open fields and spread to coastal areas, where it damaged vital power lines and shut down a nuclear power plant. Argentina is experiencing both a heat wave and a drought. An estimated 150,000 people are still without power in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, the BBC report said. Read More: Woman burned to death in Chattogram fire

Pakistan’s prime minister on Tuesday apologized to the nation for a major, daylong power outage that disrupted normal life across the country and drew criticism from millions who were left without electricity amid the harsh winter weather. Monday's blackout engulfed schools, factories and shops, and many among Pakistan's 220 million people were without drinking water as pumps powered by electricity also failed to work. In key businesses and institutions, including main hospitals, military and government facilities, backup generators kicked in. Power was mostly restored, though some parts of the country still experienced blackouts on Tuesday. “On behalf of my government, I would like to express my sincere regrets for the inconvenience our citizens suffered due to power outage yesterday," tweeted Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. “On my orders an inquiry is underway to determine reasons of the power failure," he said adding that the probe will uncover who was responsible. Read more: Lights out in Pakistan as energy-saving move backfires At a press conference earlier Tuesday, Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir defended the government’s handling of the collapse of the grid and lauded engineers and technicians for their efforts to boot up the system. He made no reference to the fact that an energy-saving measure by the government had backfired. Authorities had turned off electricity during low-usage hours on Sunday night to conserve fuel, according to an energy-saving plan. Efforts to turn power back on early on Monday morning led to the system-wide meltdown. “Today, at 5:15 in the morning, power was fully restored,” Dastgir said Tuesday. He blamed the outage on a technical glitch but also floated a “remote chance" that it was caused by hackers targeting the country's grid systems. The minister also expressed faith in Sharif's three-member committee, which is expected to complete a preliminary investigation within days. “We will fully cooperate" with it, he said. Read more: Pakistan orders malls to close early amid economic crisis He cautioned that some regions may still face “routine power outages" this week as Pakistan's two nuclear power plants and coal plants have yet to come fully online. The outage was reminiscent of a massive blackout in January 2021, attributed at the time to a technical fault in Pakistan’s power generation and distribution system. Pakistan gets at least 60% of its electricity from fossil fuels, while nearly 27% of the electricity is generated by hydropower. The contribution of nuclear and solar power to the nation’s grid is about 10%. Fawad Chaudhry, a senior leader at the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party on Monday criticized the government for mismanaging the country's economy and said the outage was a reflection of the government's incompetence. Grappling with one of its worst economic crisis in recent years amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan is currently in talks with the International Monetary Fund to soften some conditions on a $6 billion bailout. Sharif's government say the harsh conditions will trigger further inflation hikes. The IMF released the last crucial tranche of $1.1 billion to Islamabad in August but since then, discussions between the two parties have oscillated due to Pakistan’s reluctance to impose new tax measures.

Like every year, the joy of Durga Puja had spread throughout Narayanganj with the participation of people of all religions from the sixth to the eighth day of the festival this year too.   But whereas every year it is Bijaya Dashami (the 10th day, on Wednesday this year) that is associated with a solemn air for the departure of Goddess Durga, this year it was Nabami (the 9th day, that fell on Tuesday) that got covered in a pall of gloom due to the countrywide blackout.   On Tuesday afternoon, the entire district lost electricity, alongside most of the nation. After 8 pm, electricity returned in some areas of Narayanganj city but most areas still remained without power till 10 pm.   For the three previous days of the puja, the district town was full of light, but today the mood of the puja was ruined due to the blackout. Many mandaps around the city could be seen ready for the celebrations on the surface. Every year, Nabami is the day when there is a lot of noise around the mandaps, but this year Nabami seems to be completely silent. Even though there are elaborate lighting systems set up, there is no light on the roads due to lack of electricity.   Nabami is usually the most joyous day of the festival. In Amlapara, we ran into Amit Das, who felt robbed of the climatic atmosphere one associates with Nabami.    “Usually there are so many people in the temples, there is no space to walk,” said Amit. “People are just happier. But compared to that, there are no people in the mandaps this year. No happy faces. No electricity, darkness all around, nobody likes it. Everyone went home.”   In Tanbazar area, one Mitu Chakraborty said, "Everyone likes to roam around on the night of Nabami during the puja. But this year all joy has faded in darkness. I went to two temples. There was no music playing. I don't feel good, I'll leave after a while. The electricity went and ruined the joy of worship."

National power transmission grid failed at 2:05 pm – causing blackout across Bangladesh, except some parts of the north. According to officials at Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the transmission line tripped somewhere in the eastern part of the country, especially districts on the east of Jamuna river. Only a few districts in the Rangpur division were out of the power failure, said a top official of PGCB. Read:RMG factories bearing power outages of 4 to 10 hours a day: BGMEA President Following the grid failure, all power plants tripped one after another and electricity supply went off in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Barishal and Mymensingh divisions. BPDB director (Public Relation) Shameem Hasan informed that engineers of both BPDB and PGCB were trying their best to restore electricity transmission. Until 2:45 pm, power supply were restored at a good number of areas in those division. Read: Bulk power tariff hike could be announced within Oct 14 PGCB officials, however, said they could not identify the exact reason and location of the fault that triggered the grid failure. The last incident of national power grid failure in Bangladesh happened in 32 districts on May 2, 2017.

Exactly at 9pm on Friday, Bangladesh will plunge into darkness to mark Genocide Day. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has decided to observe a nationwide one-minute symbolic ‘blackout’ on Friday night marking Genocide Day. On the black night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta resorted to mass killings in Dhaka to implement its blueprint to thwart the Awami League's assumption of office following the election mandate of 1970. In the attack dubbed 'Operation Searchlight', the Pakistani security forces mercilessly killed nearly three million people -- Bengali members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and people. The Pakistani forces also set thousands of properties on fire and looted business establishments. Also read: Genocide Day to be observed on Friday The day is being observed as Genocide Day officially for the sixth time in the country since the Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have already issued separate messages on this occasion. "The observance of Genocide Day is a recognition of the great sacrifices made by three million Bengalis in the liberation struggle of Bangladesh," the President said. "It is also a symbol of protest against the genocide committed by the then Pakistani aggressors." According to the President, the horrific genocide of 1971 is a black chapter not only in Bangladesh but also in the history of world humanity. "The pledge that such genocide does not happen anywhere else will be reflected worldwide through the observance of the Genocide Day." In her message, the PM said that genocide, oppression, and other humanitarian disasters are still happening in some parts of the world. “I believe that by following the ideals of peace enunciated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and avoiding all forms of discrimination, communalism, and colonialism we can build a peaceful world order." The PM called upon the people to unite for building Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla in the spirit of the War of Liberation and following his ideals. Political parties and cultural organisations have lined up programmes to mark the day. Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes while national dailies published supplements marking the day. Meanwhile different religious organisations will hold special prayers and doa mehfil praying for peace. Also read: Genocide Day observed in Jordan Similar programmes have been arranged at district and upazila levels and by Bangladesh embassies in different countries to highlight the significance of the day.

A one-minute blackout will be observed in Bangladesh on Thursday night to mark 'Genocide Day', amid fears of a second wave of the Covid pandemic. On the black night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta resorted to mass killings in Dhaka to implement its blueprint to thwart the Awami League's assumption of office following the election mandate of 1970. Also read: Trial of Pakistan's 1971 Genocide: It's for Bangladesh to decide In the attack dubbed 'Operation Searchlight', the Pakistani security forces mercilessly killed nearly three million people -- Bangali members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and common people. The Pakistani forces also set thousands of properties on fire and looted business establishments. This is the third time that Bangladesh is observing Genocide Day since Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017. This year, however, there will be no outdoor programme due to the prevailing Covid situation. Only a one-minute blackout is slated to be observed from 9pm to 9.01pm across the country. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have already issued separate messages on the occasion. Also read: One minute ‘blackout’ at 9 pm on March 25 night In her message, the Prime Minister said,  “On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Day of Genocide, we pledge to uphold the freedom that we have earned in exchange for the three million martyrs and the respect of two hundred thousand tortured mothers and sisters, if necessary, in exchange for our supreme sacrifices.” “Resisting all immediate conspiracies and be inspired by the spirit of the Great Liberation War, we shall play a concerted role in the realisation of the dream of the Father of the Nation for building a non-communal, hunger-free and prosperous Bangladesh, Insha Allah," she said. “I wish all-out success to the programmes taken on the occasion of 'Genocide Day'," the PM said. President Hamid said, “On the eve of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of Independence, I call upon all, irrespective of party affiliation, to contribute from their respective positions in the implementation of these programmes.” Also read: Genocide Day' observed  “We can pay our eternal respect to every soul who gave his life in 1971 genocide, by turning the country into the ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Bangabandhu,” he said.

Power supply to all regions of Sylhet was restored on Thursday evening after disruption of more than two days.

Power resumed in some areas of Sylhet city on Wednesday evening after 31 hours of blackout. However, most areas of Sylhet district remain out of electricity.

For the fourth successive year, the government has decided to observe a minute’s 'blackout' programme on the night of March 25, marking the 'Genocide Day'.

San Francisco, Oct 23 (AP/UNB) — Hundreds of thousands of Northern California residents braced for another possible power outage as the state's largest utility warned that a return of dangerous fire weather could prompt shut-offs across 16 counties.