Power outage brings chaos to Spain and Portugal

13 Sept 10:48 Key points summarised by AI

A massive power outage plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos, stranding millions, disrupting transport, communications, and daily life across the Iberian peninsula.
The blackout led to widespread disruptions, including passengers trapped in trains and elevators, loss of phone and internet services, severe traffic congestion, and economic losses.
While the exact cause remains under investigation, Spanish authorities are analyzing all potential factors and cautioned against speculation, with the outage briefly impacting parts of France and Morocco.
Over 60% of Spain's power was restored by Monday's end, with Portugal expecting full restoration within hours, and international support, including an offer from Ukraine, was extended.

Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests

Today 12:56 Key points summarised by AI

President Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests, blaming far-left activists and criminals for the "unrestrained violence" and vowing accountability for those who "sought to bring down the Republic."
Over 2,400 arrests were made as protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions escalated, causing extensive damage to public buildings and businesses in cities like Paris, Limoges (where City Hall burned), Marseille, and Lyon.
The unrest, which organizers hoped would revive the "yellow vest" movement, saw political leaders trade blame, with Macron instructing prefects to protect public buildings and potentially ban future protests to prevent further disorder.