Venezuela Faces Nationwide Blackout Amid Political Tensions

Venezuela experienced a widespread power outage early on Friday, affecting all 24 states, with the government attributing the blackout to alleged 'electrical sabotage' by the opposition. Communications Minister Freddy Nanez claimed that the outage, described as a 'desperate' act, is part of a larger political dispute following the contentious July 28 presidential election, in which both the government and opposition claim victory. Despite these accusations, no evidence of sabotage was provided, and the situation reflects ongoing political tensions in the country. Residents reported disruptions in daily life, with public transport services halted and many businesses unable to operate normally. This incident underscores a pattern of blame directed at the opposition during power outages, which have plagued Venezuela amid deteriorating infrastructure. The government is currently working to restore electricity across the affected regions.