Cuba Flights Grounded by US Blockade, Fuel Crisis

Cuba is facing a fuel shortage that has grounded flights during peak tourist season, according to NPR Politics, while the planet experienced its fifth-hottest January on record despite a cold snap in the Northern Hemisphere, as reported by Phys.org. Meanwhile, Japan's ruling party secured a supermajority in the country's lower house, marking its biggest electoral win in seven decades, NPR Politics also reported.

The fuel shortage in Cuba is a result of the tightening of oil supplies due to pressure from the Trump administration, NPR Politics stated. The impact is being felt during the peak tourist season, as flights are being grounded.

In Japan, the ruling party's victory was largely attributed to the popularity of its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, NPR Politics reported. Her gamble to use her popularity to revive the ruling party paid off, leading to a landslide win.

The EU's climate monitor announced that January was the fifth-hottest on record, despite a severe winter storm that hit the United States and Europe, Phys.org reported. The polar jet stream brought icy air into Europe in the final weeks of January.

In other news, two announcements in the past four months highlight the importance of managing urban groundwater supplies under climate change, according to Nature News. Additionally, statistician Adrian Barnett warned that the publishing system is heading for collapse and explained his decision to publish fewer papers, Nature News reported.