Energy
In the United States, Energy Secretary Chris Wright disclosed that the rapid draining of the Strategic Petroleum Reserves has resulted in damage to half of the reserve’s facilities. The administration is reportedly using taxpayer funds to repair these facilities, with only two of the four major salt caverns currently operational for refilling. Some argue that the SPR was used appropriately to stabilize energy markets during a time of high volatility, suggesting that the damage might have been an unforeseen consequence rather than a deliberate act.
Meanwhile, a widespread power outage occurred across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France on Monday, April 28, affecting over 50 million people. Initially, the blackout was attributed to a faulty cable in Barcelona, leading to a chain reaction in several substations. However, further investigation by authorities revealed that an “atmospheric anomaly” involving extreme temperature changes caused “anomalous oscillations” in high-voltage lines, which reportedly triggered the power failure. The event disrupted subways, grounded flights, and severed phone lines, with major cities like Madrid and Lisbon experiencing significant disruptions. Restoration efforts are underway, with full grid stabilization expected to take several days. Some experts suggest that underlying issues like aging infrastructure and lack of investment in grid resilience might have contributed to the severity of the outage.
Canadian Politics
Mark Carney, a Liberal candidate, won the Canadian federal election, defeating Conservative Pierre Poilievre and New Democrat Jagmeet Singh. Carney’s campaign included promises to address what he described as “misogyny, antisemitism, hatred, and conspiracy theories” from the U.S. His victory is seen by some as a continuation of policies similar to those of his predecessor, Justin Trudeau. Some supporters of Carney believe his approach is necessary to combat hate speech and misinformation, viewing it as a protective measure for Canadian society.
Health
PepsiCo Inc. has announced the removal of all artificial ingredients from its products. This decision follows a reported crackdown by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on synthetic additives in food, aligning with broader health initiatives. Some skepticism exists regarding the health benefits of PepsiCo’s products despite the change, with critics suggesting it might be more about public relations than actual health concerns.
Geopolitics
A recent investigation reportedly reveals that the Biden administration did not pressure Israel for a ceasefire during its 19-month war on Gaza, despite a death toll exceeding 30,000. Nine senior Biden officials confirmed avoiding significant pressure, while Israeli leaders, including former ambassador Michael Herzog, boasted of prolonging the conflict with U.S. support, exploiting Washington’s permissive stance until a potential change in U.S. leadership. However, a U.S. State Department spokesperson suggested the Biden administration consistently urged Israel to minimize civilian casualties and pursue humanitarian aid access, highlighting efforts to balance support for Israel with calls for restraint
Sources
Massive Power Outage Sweeps Across Spain, Portugal, and Parts of France, Halting Digital Services
Mass Blackouts in Spain, Portugal and in part of France.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
Barcelona Plunged into Darkness: Faulty Cable Causes Massive Power Outage
Officials said they believe the outage, which struck July 23 around 11 a.m. in Spain, was triggered by a faulty cable that fell and caused problems in several substations.
Source | Submitted by jeff2jj
Atmospheric Anomaly Triggers Massive Power Outage Across Spain, Portugal, and France
A rare and powerful atmospheric phenomenon has been blamed for the massive blackout that plunged large parts of Spain, Portugal and even parts of southern France into darkness on Monday (April 28).
Biden’s Rapid Drain of Strategic Petroleum Reserves Damages Facilities, Taxpayers Foot Repair Bill
It was drained so fast it did some damaging to the facilities.
Mark Carney Wins Canadian Election with Promise to Curb Free Speech, Defeating Trump-Critic Poilievre
“There are many serious issues that we’re dealing with. One of them is the sea of misogyny, antisemitism, hatred, and conspiracy theories — this sort of pollution online that washes over our virtual borders from the United States… The more serious thing is when it affects how people behave in our society.”
PepsiCo Removes Artificial Ingredients in Response to HHS Crackdown
PepsiCo Inc. has become the first major food company to announce that it will remove All artificial ingredients from its products
Biden Officials Admit They Never Pressured Israel for Ceasefire, as Israeli Leaders Boast of Playing Washington
“God did the State of Israel a favor that Biden was the president during this period… We fought [in Gaza] for over a year and the administration never came to us and said, ‘ceasefire now.’ It never did. And that’s not to be taken for granted.”
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Al Jazeera, Canadian Political Blog, HealthNut (@HealthNut) on X, The Energy Collective, The Guardian (UK).
by macnamara 
