39 h. ago Germany boosts Nato’s eastern flank with new Baltic brigade amid threat from Russia – Europe live

Friedrich Merz visits Lithuania to mark the official formation of Germany’s first permanent overseas military unit since the second world warPortugal wants European energy regulators’ agency ACER to lead an independent investigation into the causes of the huge power outage that brought most of Spain and Portugal to a standstill last month, its acting energy minister told Reuters.Maria da Graça Carvalho said prime minister Luís Montenegro wants an independent investigation led by the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators to complement the technical report being prepared by the European network of transmission system operators ENTSO-E. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Readers reply: If you were prepping, what would your top five items be?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts. This week’s followed the Spain/Portugal outagesIf you were prepping, what should be your top five things to hoard in light of the recent power outages in Spain and Portugal? Alina Ahmad, JohannesburgSend new questions to nq@theguardian.com. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago 'Cash rule' warning for UK tourists in Spain, France and Portugal amid power outage threats

Holidaymakers have been urged to ensure they are carrying physical cash

Events

3 w. ago British tourist hotpot hit by mass blackout days after Spain and Portugal outage

The blackout comes just days after Spain and Portugal were brought to a standstill

Events

3 w. ago ‘Blackouts can happen anywhere’: how power systems worldwide can collapse

After Europe’s biggest blackout in over 20 years, experts warn that while such incidents are rare, no grid is infallibleEurope’s biggest blackout in over 20 years on the Iberian peninsula unleashed hours of chaos for people in Spain, Portugal and parts of France earlier this week. But in the aftermath it has raised a common question for governments across the continent: could the same happen here?Europe’s political leaders and energy system operators have given assurances that such blackouts are extraordinarily rare, and that European power grids are some of the most stable in the world. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘No one knew what to do’: power cuts bring chaos, connection and revaluation of digital dependency

People share their experiences of Monday’s massive power outage across Spain, Portugal and parts of France that upended modern life“It felt like chaos,” said Iñigo, a doctor at a hospital in northern Spain.With no electricity from noon on Monday, the building’s emergency generators were kept for the critical areas, leaving staff without access to patient data, broken communications due to no telephone signal or email, and colleagues unable to carry out some of their duties, he said. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Solar storm warning over risk of nuclear disaster 'worse than Chernobyl'

The monster power outage in Spain and Portugal this week saw nuclear plants automatically stopped.

Events

3 w. ago Could the UK be vulnerable to a nationwide power outage like Spain and Portugal?

‘Be careful what we wish for’ in pivot towards net zero, warns director of Aberdeen University’s Centre for Energy Transition

Politics

3 w. ago Tennis stars unable to shower and nowhere to sleep: Blackouts cause havoc at Madrid Open

The Madrid Open was plunged into chaos on Monday afternoon as a widespread power outage across Spain and Portugal left players without access to basic human necessities

Politics

3 w. ago Spain admits solar power could be to blame for nationwide blackouts: Mystery over cause of outage grows as top court opens 'sabotage' probe

REE said on Tuesday its preliminary assessment had ruled out cyberattack as the cause of the nationwide power outage that hit most of Spain and Portugal on Monday.

Events

3 w. ago Spain’s criminal court to investigate whether 'computer sabotage' caused blackout

Top judge says ‘cyberterrorism’ is among possible explanations for blackout

Events

3 w. ago Foreign Office warning for holidaymakers to Spain and Portugal after power outage

The extensive blackouts in Spain and Portugal impacted more than 50 million people on Monday, April 28.

Events

3 w. ago Mystery as Britain hit by unexplained power outages hours before Spain and Portugal blackout

Control room staff at the National Energy System Operator (Neso) in Britain noticed unusual activity on two occasions on Sunday, in the early morning and the evening.

Events

3 w. ago Power outages across Spain and Portugal affected millions. How to prepare for a major blackout

A widespread blackout across Spain and Portugal upended the lives of millions of people across the Iberian Peninsula

Politics

3 w. ago Spain over the worst, investigating the causes and determined to prevent repeat of massive power blackout, PM says – Europe live

Spain and Portugal electricity services returning to normal after being hit by biggest power cut in recent European history Portuguese power network operator REN denied on Tuesday it was behind a message circulated on social media attributing the massive blackout across the Iberian peninsula to a rare atmospheric event, AFP reported.“REN confirms we did not put out this statement,” spokesperson Bruno Silva told AFP, without giving further details. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Could blackouts hit UK? Reviews of infrastructure resilience as power outages hit Spain and Portugal

Parts of Spain and Portugal were brought to a standstill on Monday when power cuts switched off traffic lights, left people unable to access cash machines and caused chaos at airports

Events

3 w. ago Madrid Open tennis resumes after chaos caused by massive power outage

Caja Mágica power restored at 8am on Tuesday morningWidespread outage emerged in Spain and PortugalThe Madrid Open resumed on Tuesday afternoon after a massive power outage left Spain and Portugal without electricity on Monday and forced the tournament to suspend all matches after 90 minutes of play. After about 10 hours without electricity and mobile internet for most people in Madrid, power to homes and phones returned late on Monday night, prompting widespread cheers in the streets. However, the Caja Mágica, which is situated in the southern neighbourhood of San Fermín, remained without power overnight.At 7am, the Madrid Open announced that the opening of the gates had been delayed. An hour later, power was finally restored. Although play normally begins at 11am, it started at noon on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Spain admits solar power could be to blame for nationwide blackouts

REE said on Tuesday its preliminary assessment had ruled out cyberattack as the cause of the nationwide power outage that hit most of Spain and Portugal on Monday.

Politics

3 w. ago Tens of thousands stranded by flight cancellations after huge Spain

Exclusive: An estimated 80,000 passengers had their flights cancelled, including 4,000 to or from the UK

Politics

3 w. ago What's going on in Spain and Portugal and has it affected flights?

The Spanish king chairs a security meeting as a state of emergency continues after the mass blackouts

Politics