Large Power Outage Affects Spain, France and Portugal
April 28th, 2025Via: Telegraph:
The mass power outages across Spain, Portugal and parts of France could take up to 10 hours to restore after it emerged the blackouts were probably caused by a technical fault.
The power networks were in a race against time to restore electricity before sunset when solar generation is likely to cut off a third of the country’s power source.
The massive and unprecedented outages grounded flights, halted trains and metros and left whole cities without electricity or the internet. Madrid’s president has asked for the army to be deployed to maintain order in the Spanish capital.
Spain’s energy operator, Red Electrica, said the cuts were caused by a “very strong oscillation in the electrical network” that led Spain’s power system to “disconnect from the European system, and the collapse of the Iberian electricity network at 12:38.”
More: Spain Declares State of Emergency After Nationwide Power Blackout
“Jeffrey Epstein Accuser Virginia Giuffre Dies by Suicide, Her Family Says”
April 25th, 2025Virginia Giuffre, "I am making it publicy known that in no way, shape or form am I sucidal."(sic)
Screenshot and source: https://t.co/1o2fPpNeWO pic.twitter.com/GQt5EPqHX4
— cryptogon (@cryptogon) April 26, 2025
Via: Reuters:
Virginia Giuffre, one of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, has committed suicide, her family said on Friday.
Giuffre, 41, died on Friday in Western Australia state, where she had been living for several years, the family said in an emailed statement.
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“Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors,” the family statement said. “Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.”
Western Australia state police said they received a report late on Friday local time that a 41-year-old woman, whom they did not name, died at a residence in Neergabby, a rural area on Perth’s outskirts. Police said first aid was attempted to no avail and that foul play was not suspected.
John Campbell on Sun Dimming Experiments
April 25th, 2025Via: Dr. John Campbell:
Related: Experiments to Dim the Sun Will Be Approved Within Weeks
Slate Auto Plans for Basic, Made in USA EV Pickup
April 25th, 2025This is a long way from actually happening, but at least someone is trying…
Website: slate.auto
Via: Motortrend:
It’s news to no one that new cars are expensive. Years of rival automakers locked in tit-for-tat battles for higher power, longer range, bigger screens, and just more has led to a steady rise in prices. Even new cars with a low starting MSRP can be hard to find as those that arrive at dealer lots are often stuffed with cost-adding options and accessories.
Slate is here to kick that trend. Its first product will be a small truck that’s shockingly bare-bones. Among the few features within its plastic body are manually adjustable cloth seats, a tiny screen, and—get this—crank windows. Designed and built in the United States with a focus on American-sourced parts, Slate is targeting a starting price of under $20,000 after federal incentives.
More: The $20,000 American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, and no touchscreen
India Suspends Indus Water Treaty Following Terrorist Attack, Threatens Pakistan’s Water Supply
April 25th, 2025Via: Al Jazeera:
In tit-for-tat moves this week, India and Pakistan have entered a strategic standoff following Tuesday’s attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of at least 26 people.
On Wednesday, India downgraded ties with Pakistan, announcing a series of steps, the most important of which is a decision to suspend its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which could seriously restrict Pakistan’s water supplies.
Fox: Trump White House Alerting Wall Street Execs on Trade Negotiations
April 24th, 2025It looks crazy/incompetent, but it’s probably more criminal in nature. I seriously wonder if he has a room full of guys front running futures, stocks, options etc. ahead of these moves.
Via: Fox – Charles Gasparino:
SCOOP: People inside the Trump White House are alerting Wall Street execs they are nearing an agreement in principle on trade with India, according to my sources who are senior Wall Street execs w ties to the White House. No details on timing, and recall that we have been here…
— Charles Gasparino (@CGasparino) April 24, 2025
Cardinal Who Covered Up Child Sex Abuse Will Close Pope’s Coffin
April 24th, 2025Via: Telegraph:
A cardinal who was banned from public and administrative duties for helping to cover up a child sex abuse scandal will take part in the closing of Pope Francis’s coffin.
Cardinal Roger Michael Mahony, 89, from Los Angeles, who ran the archdiocese for 25 years, was criticised for mismanaging a crisis where hundreds of priests were accused of abusing countless victims.
“Remember the Epstein Files?”
April 24th, 2025Remember the Epstein files?
One of the most interesting unresolved questions is whether Epstein worked with or for a foreign intelligence agency.
We're apparently waiting because of all the "national security redactions" being done. What could those be about?
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 23, 2025
Comedy Gold: UK Blocks Video Game Controller Exports to Russia, Seeking to Thwart Drone Pilots
April 24th, 2025Yes, really.
Since nearly all video game controllers are made in China, maybe the Russians won’t think of using Aliexpress, or having China directly fly in cargo planes full of them. *snort*
Via: Reuters:
Britain on Thursday said it was banning the export to Russia of video game controllers which can be used to pilot drones, part of its latest package of trade measures following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We’re … banning outright video game controllers going to Russia, preventing them from being used to pilot drones on the frontline, meaning gaming consoles will no longer be repurposed to kill in Ukraine,” sanctions minister Stephen Doughty said in a statement.
Japan: World’s First Successful Lightning Triggering and Guiding Using a Drone
April 23rd, 2025This might also be useful for defending against attacks from King Ghidorah:
Via: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone:
NTT has become the first in the world to successfully trigger and guide lightning using a drone. This experiment also demonstrated, under natural lightning conditions, the effectiveness of both the drone’s lightning protection technology and the electric field-based lightning triggering method. These results are expected to contribute to further research on the still-mysterious mechanisms of lightning and to help reduce lightning-related damage to cities and people.
…
Traditionally, lightning protection has relied heavily on lightning rods. However, their protective range is limited, and in some cases—such as wind turbines or outdoor event venues—it may not be feasible to install them. At NTT, we are exploring the use of rapidly advancing drone technology to create a new approach: “drone-triggered lightning”. This method involves flying drones into optimal positions beneath thunderclouds to actively trigger lightning strikes, and then guiding the discharge safely away from vulnerable areas.
