Nationwide Blackouts Grind European Countries To A Standstill [Read It And Eat 30-04-2025]

Major Headlines 

• Trump Rallies in Michigan, Highlights Economy Amid Growing Public Skepticism

• At a rally in Michigan marking 100 days into his campaign, former President Donald Trump promoted what he described as key economic wins and reignited attacks on Democrats. Speaking to a crowd in Warren, just outside Detroit, Trump focused heavily on trade, manufacturing, and tax cuts—though recent polls suggest Americans are increasingly skeptical about his economic approach.

  “We had the greatest economy in the history of our country,” Trump said, referencing his first term. “We did great, and we’re doing even better now.” He credited tariffs and tough trade policies with reviving U.S. manufacturing, though concerns remain over inflation and long-term economic stability.

  Trump also renewed his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and pushed for sweeping tax cuts, including eliminating taxes on tips, Social Security, and overtime. Analysts, however, warn that such plans could significantly increase the national debt, which currently stands at $36.6 trillion.

  The event had the hallmarks of a typical Trump rally—sharp jabs at political opponents, crowd interaction, and a flashy video reel promoting his immigration policies. While supporters applauded his message, recent polling shows a portion of the electorate remains wary of his leadership, especially on the economy and key policy issues. CNN

• American Airlines Ends JetBlue Talks, Files Lawsuit Over Dissolved Alliance

• American Airlines has officially walked away from partnership discussions with JetBlue Airways and is now seeking damages tied to the collapse of their former Northeast Alliance (NEA). In a message to employees on Monday, Vice Chair Steve Johnson said the two carriers couldn’t land on terms that worked financially or operationally.

  The move follows a 2023 court ruling that struck down the NEA, finding it violated federal antitrust laws—a decision upheld on appeal. The alliance, formed in 2020, allowed both airlines to coordinate routes and share revenue in the competitive New York market. It was initially approved just before the end of President Trump's first term.

  “Ultimately, we couldn’t agree on a structure that preserved the value of what we built together,” Johnson wrote. Meanwhile, JetBlue has indicated it's still in talks with other potential partners and is open to investing more to secure a deal.

  American Airlines also filed a lawsuit in Texas court, seeking over $1 million from JetBlue in connection to the NEA wind-down. JetBlue responded, stating it had worked in good faith to unwind the partnership and would review the legal complaint, though it declined to comment further due to the ongoing litigation. Bloomberg 

  
  

• Canada’s Liberals Win Key Election on Trump Backlash

• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party pulled off a political comeback in Monday’s election, winning enough seats to form a strong minority government. The result was fueled in part by voter backlash against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and controversial remarks about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

  With nearly all votes counted, the Liberals captured 169 seats—just three short of a majority in the 338-seat House of Commons. The Conservatives came in second with 144, while the New Democrats suffered major losses. Two districts will require judicial recounts, but Carney is expected to form a stable government with no immediate threat from opposition parties.

  The campaign marked a turning point for Carney, who took over leadership after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped down. At the start of the year, the Liberals were trailing badly in polls. But concerns over Trump’s rhetoric and economic pressure helped consolidate left-leaning voters, many of whom returned to the Liberal fold.

  Carney has emphasized the need to reset Canada’s relationship with the U.S., especially in light of rising trade tensions. His office confirmed he spoke with Trump following the election, with both leaders agreeing to meet soon to discuss cooperation “as independent, sovereign nations.”

  In his victory speech, Carney said Canada must prepare for a future beyond the U.S.-anchored global trade system, which he described as being over. “These are tragedies,” he said, “but it’s also our new reality.” A new cabinet and budget announcement are expected within weeks. Reuters

  
  

• Nationwide Blackout strikes France, Spain, Portugal and other European Countries

• What began as a typical Monday quickly turned into something far more disruptive as large parts of Europe were hit by a sudden and widespread power outage. What started as scattered reports of blackouts soon escalated into a full-blown crisis, with Spain and Portugal among the hardest-hit countries.

  Spain was at the center of the chaos. Major cities like Madrid and Barcelona lost power, bringing daily life to a standstill. Traffic lights failed, subways stopped running, and crowds spilled onto the streets, unsure of what was happening. Even high-profile events, like the Madrid Open, were impacted. In neighboring Portugal, the situation was just as serious. From Lisbon to the Algarve, much of the country went dark. Airports had to rely on emergency power, and travel disruptions quickly piled up.

  While Spain and Portugal bore the worst of it, the blackout didn’t stop there. Parts of southern France — especially near the Spanish border — experienced brief outages. France moved quickly to help stabilize the grid, highlighting how interconnected Europe’s energy networks have become. Germany, Italy, and even the small country of Andorra reported minor disruptions, although power was restored more quickly in those areas.

  So far, there’s no definitive explanation for what triggered the outage. Early theories suggest an unusual atmospheric event may have interfered with Spain’s high-voltage transmission lines, but investigations are still ongoing. Officials in Spain and Portugal have ruled out cyberattacks for now, but are keeping all options on the table as they work to uncover the root cause.

  The blackout knocked out an estimated 100,000 megawatts of power across Europe — a stark reminder of how vulnerable even advanced infrastructure can be. For millions across the continent, the day served as a wake-up call: no matter how modern the grid, the lights can still go out without warning. Euro News Daily

Minor Headlines 

• U.S. Aims to Soften Blow of Auto Tariffs. Reuters

• Norway Wealth Fund Chief Flags Global Fragmentation as Top Market Risk. Bloomberg 

• Big Oil Faces Toughest Year Since COVID as Record Profits Recede. Financial Times 

• JPMorgan Traders Briefly Turn Bullish on U.S. Stocks. Wall Street Journal 

• Harvard Under Federal Investigation Over Alleged Race-Based Discrimination. CNBC

• Alibaba Unveils New AI Model in Challenge to DeepSeek. CNBC

• IBM plans to invest $150 billion over 5 years in the United States of America. BBC

• Texas Factory Activity Slumps to Post-COVID Low Amid Tariff Pressures. Wall Street Journal 

Gen Z Word of the Day 

Glow Up

This means a makeover or transformation from bad to good.