A final report by the European grid body says a chain of technical problems — not a single fault — triggered the massive power outage that paralysed Spain and Portugal in April 2025.On 28 April, shortly after midday, large parts of the Iberian peninsula lost electricity.The disruption knocked out phone and internet services, halted public transport and closed schools and businesses; some...

Households face a sharp rise in energy costs from July, with consultancy Cornwall Insight projecting an increase of roughly £332 a year for a typical dual-fuel home.The firm estimates the annual bill under Ofgem's price cap for July to September would reach about £1,973, up from the current level of £1,641.Cornwall Insight is updating its outlook weekly because of large swings in wholesale...

King Charles has officially opened a new walking route that runs all the way around England’s shoreline.At 2,689 miles, Natural England says it is the longest managed coastal trail on the planet.Officially named the King Charles III England Coast Path, the route links beaches, salt marshes, cliffs, dunes and historic seaside towns. One highlight is the chalk downland of the Seven Sisters in...

Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to confirm whether he personally discussed Lord Peter Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein before naming him UK ambassador to the United States.During Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed Mr Starmer repeatedly on whether he had phoned or met Lord Mandelson to raise concerns about the convicted sex offender prior to the...

Prosecutors have asked a Norwegian court to hand Marius Borg Høiby a prison term of seven years and seven months, saying he should be convicted on 39 of 40 charges brought against him.Høiby, 29, faces four counts of rape and a charge of serious assault among a wider slate of accusations.He denies the most serious allegations, saying sexual encounters with the four women were consensual. The...

Health officials are investigating an outbreak of meningococcal disease in Kent after two young people died and others remain seriously ill.The issue was raised during Prime Minister's Questions, where Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer expressed sympathy for the families and said public health teams are tracing close contacts, distributing antibiotics and preparing a targeted vaccination...

A Norwegian prosecutor has asked a court in Oslo to sentence Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, to seven years and seven months in prison.Høiby faces 40 counts including the alleged sexual assault of four women, domestic violence and other offences.Investigators say some of the alleged incidents happened while the women were asleep or unconscious. He has denied the four...

The Confederation of African Football has overturned Senegal's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, awarding the championship to Morocco after ruling that Senegal forfeited the final.Senegal won the match on the field in January after a dramatic finish: a stoppage‑time penalty was awarded to Morocco, Senegal's players briefly walked off in protest, returned after about 17 minutes, the penalty...

Belgium is preparing for widespread disruption this week as unions launch a three-day national strike aimed at protest­ing government austerity plans.Key public services and transport links are expected to be hit, with airports among the worst affected.The industrial action responds to a package of reforms from Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s centre-right coalition that aim to cut the budget...

Italy’s parliament has approved a new law that treats the gender-motivated killing of women as a separate offence punishable by life imprisonment.The vote, held on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, passed unanimously with all 237 deputies backing the measure.The bill was proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and received support from both the government...