A mysterious electrical problem in New York City blamed for subway delays, flight cancellations and power failures on the hottest days of the year persisted for a fifth day on Friday, leaving 2 500 customers without power. The blackouts started on Monday evening in a handful of neighbourhoods in Queens.

New Yorkers faced another bone-chilling commute on Wednesday without their cherished subways and buses as a transit strike entered its second day, leaving both patience and shoe leather wearing thin. With talks still stalled, a judge imposed a huge fine on Tuesday against the Transport Workers’ Union.