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Portugal to invest $466 million to boost grid management, battery storage after outage

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Portugal to invest $466 million to boost grid management, battery storage after outage

Portugal has only about 13 megawatts of battery storage capacity, and the goal is to reach 750 megawatts

International News via Reuters:

The Portuguese government plans to invest up to 400 million euros ($466 million) to improve grid management and boost battery storage following a massive blackout across Spain and Portugal in April.

Energy Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho said on Monday about 137 million euros of the investment would go towards improving the operational and control capacity of the electricity grid to help it deal with complex intermittent renewable power sources such as wind and solar.

The Spanish government said in a report last month that grid operator Redeia had miscalculated the correct mix of energy in the system on April 28, but also blamed some thermal power plants using coal, gas and nuclear, for failing to help maintain an appropriate voltage level.

A surge in voltage triggered a cascade of power plant disconnections, leading to the outage that spread to Portugal, which was importing electricity at the time.

Portuguese grid operator REN will install a so-called shunt device to accurately measure electrical current and prevent overloads as well as equipment to regulate voltage, improve power system stability and ensure consistent energy delivery, according to the plan.

Carvalho said that unlike in the past, when thermal power plants helped grid management with their stable supply, more renewable sources mean more intermittent and decentralised output which is harder to manage.

“We have to make our grid more secure, digital and modern … to support this new, more complex energy production model,” she told a press conference, adding that the government would prepare a decree to speed up implementation of the investments.

She also said the planned storage increase aimed to prevent a shutdown of the country, providing greater energy autonomy to critical infrastructure such as hospitals, fire departments, security forces, and other key public administration services.

Portugal has only about 13 megawatts of battery storage capacity, and the goal is to reach 750 megawatts, although no timetable has been set yet. According to the latest daily data from REN, electricity consumption in Portugal stood at 115 GWh on June 20.

($1 = 0.8581 euros)

Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Explainer-How do the US trade deals reached by the EU and UK compare?

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Explainer-How do the US trade deals reached by the EU and UK compare?

The details of the two deals paint a more complicated picture than the headline figures suggest

International News via Reuters:

The European Union and the United States announced a tariff deal on Sunday that will see most EU exports face a 15% tariff, nearly three months after Britain locked in a 10% baseline tariff rate.

EU leaders have said their deal offers more certainty given the threat of higher U.S. tariffs from August but some politicians have criticised it as “unbalanced” and worse than Britain’s deal.

The details of the two deals paint a more complicated picture than the headline figures suggest, and not all the small print of the EU deal has been confirmed.

Here is a comparison of what we know about the two deals.

BASELINE TARIFFS

The EU has agreed a 15% baseline tariff for most of its exports to the United States. While this is lower than a rate of up to 30% previously threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, it is higher than the baseline tariff rate of 10% which applies to British exports.

However, under the EU deal, 15% is the maximum tariff, and isn’t added to any existing rate. For Britain, the 10% base rate is in addition to the “most-favoured nation” (MFN) rates that the U.S. applies as a minimum to specific goods imports from all its trade partners, so the effective tariff rate is often higher.

For instance, the UK Fashion and Textile Association has highlighted that certain luxury products face an MFN tariff of around 35% in the U.S., despite a “baseline” rate of only 10%.

PHARMACEUTICALS

The U.S. is to announce the result of its so-called Section 232 trade investigations into certain sectors in a few weeks and decide on tariff rates.

The EU-U.S. deal already determines a 15% tariff for European pharmaceuticals, and the results of the investigations will not change that, U.S. officials said.

In its deal with Britain, the United States said it would negotiate “significantly preferential treatment outcomes on pharmaceuticals”, contingent on the outcome of the 232 investigations.

Asked if Britain would be impacted by tariffs on the pharma sector in August, Trump said that he could deal with Britain on pharma and he didn’t think the sector would be a “block” in talks.

In the meantime Britain faces no tariffs for its pharmaceuticals. Britain also pledged to try to improve the overall environment for pharma firms operating in the country, but it is tussling with multinationals over drug pricing.

STEEL

Tariffs on EU steel and aluminium exports will stay at 50%, but von der Leyen said these would later be cut and replaced by a quota system.

British steel and aluminium exports face a 25% tariff in the United States, which both sides have agreed will go down to zero once talks over quotas and supply chains are concluded.

Those talks have stalled over “melted and poured” rules about where the steel originates and how it is processed.

Britain’s Tata Steel has imported steel from India and the Netherlands after shutting blast furnaces last year, so Britain is seeking an exemption from a U.S. demand that steel needs to be “melted and poured” in Britain to qualify for lower tariffs.

AUTOS

Car exports from the EU to the U.S. face the baseline tariff of 15% in the deal struck on Sunday. While full details have not been published, neither side mentioned a quota for the number of cars covered by the rate.

Britain has negotiated a lower tariff of 10% for its car sector but it also has a 100,000-vehicle quota which leaves little room for export growth. Above that quota, British car exports face a tariff of 25%.

AEROSPACE

The EU will face no U.S. tariffs on aerospace exports, pending the outcome of a Section 232 probe into the sector.

Britain also has no tariffs on its aerospace sector after its deal with Washington reduced them from 10%.

Reporting by Alistair Smout in London, additional reporting by Jan Strupczewski and Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels; editing by Giles Elgood

Intense rains lash China as landslide kills four

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Intense rains lash China as landslide kills four

China’s Central Meteorological Observatory said that heavy rainfall would continue to drench northern China over the next three days

International News via Reuters:

Swollen rivers, waterways and reservoirs across China exacerbated flooding and landslides on Monday that killed at least four people, as President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” search and rescue efforts to minimise casualties.

Forty-one rivers across the country have flooded, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing China’s Ministry of Water Resources. The ministry said it had issued flood warnings for small and midsize rivers and mountain torrents.

Heavy rains intensified around Beijing and surrounding provinces on Monday, including those in central China such as Hunan and northern Inner Mongolia. Four people died in a landslide in northern Hebei and eight people were missing.

The recent floods and disasters have resulted in “significant casualties and property losses” in places such as Beijing and provinces of Hebei, Jilin and Shandong, Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua.

In Beijing’s northern districts, at least 10,464 people were relocated as floodwater discharged from a reservoir in Miyun passed through Huairou, local authorities said in a social media post.

The maximum flood peak flow into the Miyun reservoir had reached a record high of 6,550 cubic metres per second over the weekend, authorities said.

Earlier on Monday, more than 4,400 villagers in Miyun had been resettled after flash floods and landslides, CCTV reported.

At an elderly care centre, some people were trapped as water levels rose close to the roof, the broadcaster said. Emergency rescue services swam into the building and used ropes to rescue 48 people.

Images circulated on China’s WeChat app showed areas of Miyun where cars and trucks were floating on a flooded road where water levels had risen so high that part of a residential building was submerged.

Electricity cuts were also affecting more than 10,000 people, in the area, CCTV said.

Northern China has seen record precipitation in recent years, exposing densely populated cities, including Beijing, to flood risks. Some scientists link the increased rainfall in China’s usually arid north to global warming.

China’s Central Meteorological Observatory said that heavy rainfall would continue to drench northern China over the next three days.

Hebei, hit hard by widespread flooding two years ago, raised its emergency response level to the second-highest on Monday as disaster risks mount.

Beijing issued its highest-level flood alert, and its meteorological observatory said rain would intensify, particularly in the second half of the night. Most areas of the city would have more than 150 mm of rainfall in six hours and some areas could reach more than 300 mm, it added.

The storms are part of the broader pattern of extreme weather across China due to the East Asian monsoon, which has caused disruptions in the world’s second-largest economy.

WIDESPREAD

In Shanxi province, videos from state media showed roads inundated by gushing currents of water and submerged vegetation including crops and trees.

Shaanxi, home to China’s historic city of Xian, also issued flash flood disaster risk warnings on Monday.

Authorities are carrying out search and rescue work across cities including Datong, where a driver in a Ford car lost contact while driving in the floods, the People’s Daily reported.

Two people were killed and two missing in Hebei province, CCTV said on Sunday morning. Overnight rain dumped a record 145 mm (5.7 inches) per hour on Fuping in the industrial city of Baoding, southwest of the capital.

In Hunan’s Liudiequan grand canyon in Chunkou town, water rose so rapidly on Sunday that a tourist was swept away, CCTV said.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission said on Monday that it was urgently arranging 50 million yuan ($7 million) to support Hebei.

The funds would be used to repair damaged roads and bridges, water conservancy embankments, schools and hospitals in the disaster area. The NDRC said it was “promoting the restoration of normal life and production as soon as possible.”

Chinese authorities closely monitor extreme rainfall and severe flooding as they challenge the country’s ageing flood defences, threaten to displace millions and wreak havoc on China’s $2.8 trillion agricultural sector.

Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Michael Perry, Kate Mayberry and Giles Elgood

EU, US to form metals alliance to counterbalance Chinese overcapacity

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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EU, US to form metals alliance to counterbalance Chinese overcapacity

For Europe, finding a way to remove U.S. steel tariffs has become even more urgent as its smelters are losing scrap supplies to U.S. plants

International News via Reuters:

The European Union and United States will develop a metals alliance to mitigate the impact of subsidised Chinese production on global markets as part of their trade deal, European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on Monday. 

Sefcovic said that, in their hours of discussions to reach an agreement, U.S. officials came to realise the U.S. and EU steel sectors faced the same problem. As such, EU steel and aluminium makers will be granted a quota system with minimal or zero tariffs to replace U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50% import tariffs. The system is yet to be finalised.

“The agreement is clear prospect of joint action on steel, aluminium, copper and the derivatives in what I’d like to call a metals alliance, effectively creating a joint ring-fence around our respective economies through tariff rate quotas at historic levels with preferential treatment,” Sefcovic told a press conference. 

“It became very, very clear that if it comes to steel and metals we are not each other’s problem.” he continued.

For Europe, finding a way to remove U.S. steel tariffs has become even more urgent as its smelters are losing scrap supplies to U.S. plants. Scrap is a major input in smelters because it is sold at a discount to primary metal and is less energy-intensive to turn into a finished product. 

The possible alliance and quota system reveal growing momentum to counter Chinese output. At the Group of Seven (G7) nations finance meeting in May, officials agreed to tackle “excessive imbalances” in the global economy without explicitly naming China.

“I have to say that despite the strenuous efforts of my colleagues and myself and several long meetings with my Chinese counterparts, unfortunately, the list of the accumulated issues on the table will not get shorter, but just grew longer,” Sefcovic said, referring to last week’s EU-China Summit.

“Clearly the issue is overcapacity. The issue is linked with what we perceive as illegal subsidies.”

Reporting by Julia Payne; editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Giles Elgood

Cut Match ribbon campaign helps families

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Cut Match ribbon campaign helps families

On Friday, July 25, Premier David Burt welcomed Dr. Sandy De Silva and Ms. Jennifer Wild of the Family Centre to the Cabinet Office for the presentation of this year’s Cup Match ribbons.

The ribbon campaign is an annual initiative tied to the Cup Match holiday, with proceeds supporting the Family Centre’s work with children and families across the island. Clarien Bank supports the effort by distributing the ribbons through its branches and helping to raise awareness.

Premier Burt said, “I encourage members of the public to support this campaign by wearing their team colours and contributing to the Family Centre’s important services.”

Ribbons are available island-wide in team colours, with all funds going toward the Centre’s therapeutic and community programmes.

Bermuda footballers unbeaten in pre-season

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Bermuda footballers unbeaten in pre-season

Bermudian talent Joshua Joseph has signed a contract with Cheadle Heath Nomads, a club based in Manchester, England, competing in the North West Counties League Division One South. Nomads manager Ryan Conroy expressed his excitement, stating Joseph’s dynamic play could be a “springboard to reach the heights of the full-time professional game.”

Meanwhile, a host of other Bermudian footballers have concluded their pre-season campaigns. Striker Nahki Wells and his Luton Town teammates finished their preparations unbeaten, holding Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur to a goalless draw at Kenilworth Road. Wells was active, with a free-kick and a shot wide, as Luton showed a controlled display.

Elsewhere, Keziah Martin and Deniche Hill celebrated a significant 3-2 win for Buxton Football Club against Manchester City’s Academy. Kane Crichlow was on the winning side as Sutton United triumphed 4-2 over Crystal Palace Academy. In an all-Bermudian clash, Justin Donawa’s Brackley Town defeated Milan Butterfield’s Halesowen Town 4-0. Reggie Lambe’s Needham Market drew 2-2, Harry Twite’s Loughborough Students drew 0-0, and Willie Clemons’ Leiston FC lost 3-2.

Everton dominate to win Bermuda Triangle Cup in high-scoring final

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Everton dominate to win Bermuda Triangle Cup in high-scoring final

The Bermuda Triangle Cup concluded at the National Sports Centre with a goal-laden double-header, witnessing 13 goals across two matches.

In the final, Everton FC were crowned champions after a dominant 8-0 victory over the Bermuda Brazilian Football School. Everton led 1-0 at half-time through Shea Pita. The second half saw a scoring spree, with Malik Olayiwola netting a hat-trick, Jonathan Nsangou scoring twice, and Jake Doughty also finding the net, alongside an own goal.

The third-place match saw the Under 15 National Academy team defeat the Under 17 National Academy team 5-0. Z’ani Jennings gave the U15s an early lead, doubled by Kairi Albouy before the break. Albouy scored again in the second half, with Zydon Lightbourne-Furbert and Chaz Edmead completing the comprehensive victory.

Harvey competes in 100m backstroke at World Aquatics Championships

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Harvey competes in 100m backstroke at World Aquatics Championships

Bermudian Olympic swimmer Jack Harvey has begun his campaign at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, competing in the Men’s 100m Backstroke.

Harvey finished seventh in Heat 3, touching the wall in 55.40 seconds. This time was just shy of his own National Record and placed him 37th overall in the competitive field.

Reflecting on his race, Harvey admitted, “I am disappointed in the back half of the race. I will evaluate and see what can be improved for Junior Pan Ams.”

Head coach Ben Smith added, “He looked really good in his preparation. Sometimes you just don’t have the swim you want. Time to focus on the next event.”

Harvey will now prepare for his remaining events at the Championships, aiming to refine his performance.

European carmakers get a reality check from Trump as shares slide

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European carmakers get a reality check from Trump as shares slide

A deal on Sunday to avert an all-out trade war between the European Union and the United States brought some relief

International News via Reuters:

Europe’s carmakers, already battling stiff competition from Asia and a costly transition to electric cars, were dealing with another dose of reality on Monday – tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

A deal on Sunday to avert an all-out trade war between the European Union and the United States brought some relief, but the agreed lower tariff of 15% (versus 27.5%) is still set to cost carmakers billions and leaves much uncertain.

“We think that despite the relief of a better than-worst-case tariff outcome, the (removal of the) upside risk of a deal is leaving the sector vulnerable for a reality check,” Barclays said in a note.

Industry welcomed the planning security brought by the deal, but warned that companies were still lacking detail and called for further measures to reduce trade barriers that threaten their export-focused businesses.

Germany’s VDA association for the sector said the 15% baseline tariff would cost the German automotive industry billions annually.

The United States, the world’s biggest importer of German cars, had slapped a 25% punitive rate on car imports from Europe in April, prompting companies to slash their outlooks and look at ways – from investments to production shifts – to appease President Trump in the trade war.

While the 15% tariff agreed between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday is an improvement, it is six times as much as the 2.5% enjoyed by exporters before Trump’s trade war.

European auto stocks rose briefly on Monday, but the initial optimism quickly faded, with the sector down 1.2% at 1325 GMT, led by Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes and Stellantis.

“We welcome the agreement between the EU and the U.S. in the tariff dispute and the planning security that comes with it for the European automotive industry,” Volkswagen said in a statement to Reuters.

CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE

Europe’s largest carmaker said last week it was hoping for a separate deal of its own on top of a renegotiated U.S.-EU trade framework.

Mercedes-Benz called for “constructive dialogue” between Brussels and Washington as they work to implement the deal, parts of which require further negotiation.

Tariffs cost Volkswagen some $1.5 billion in the first half of 2025, prompting the company to lower its sales and profitability guidance for the full year.

Its luxury brands Porsche and Audi, which also cut its guidance on Monday, are particularly exposed to U.S. tariffs with no local production.

Part of von der Leyen’s deal with Trump also included a promised $600 billion in investment from European companies in the U.S.

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said last week that his company is in talks with the U.S. Department of Commerce and offers a “very attractive investment package”. He raised the possibility of building an Audi factory in the country.

It was not clear whether such possible investments are included in the sum promised by von der Leyen, raising questions over the leverage carmakers have in their separate talks with Washington for sector-specific relief.

For its part, the European Union agreed to cut its import duty on U.S.-made cars to 2.5%, an EU official said on Monday.

Sources said this could go down further to zero.

BMW and Mercedes stand to benefit from this, given they both produce SUVs out of large factories in the United States for the world market.

The two companies have supported a proposed mechanism to offset imports and exports for more favourable trade conditions.

Writing by Rachel More; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and David Holmes

Hotel praised for nurturing talent

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Hotel praised for nurturing talent

Marcus Iris-Simmons

The Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, attended a recognition ceremony at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club last week to celebrate two graduates of the hotel’s Leadership Development Management Programme.

The event at the Intrepid Restaurant honoured Marcus Iris-Simmons and Khaijeh Worrell, two young Bermudians who successfully completed intensive, hands-on management training designed to prepare them for leadership roles in Bermuda’s hospitality sector.

The Leadership Development Management Programme is a structured, rotational initiative that exposes participants to multiple areas of hotel operations.

Marcus, who pursued the Food & Beverage track, has now assumed the role of Outlet Captain, while Khaijeh, from the Rooms Division track, has taken on the role of Housekeeping Supervisor.

(L-R): Tim Morrison, General Manager of the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, Marcus Iris-Simmons and Minister Hayward.

Speaking at the event, Minister Hayward highlighted the critical role of Bermuda’s hospitality industry, which remains the second pillar of the Island’s economy.

“Programmes like this are a shining example of what it means to invest in our people,” Minister Hayward commented.

“Marcus and Khaijeh have demonstrated exceptional commitment and growth, and I commend Hamilton Princess and Beach Club for taking the time to nurture local talent and prepare them for rewarding careers in this vital industry.”

(L-R): Minister Hayward, Khaijeh Worrell, Dr Georgette Prime-Godwin, Director of Learning, Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, Marcus Iris-Simmons and Tim Morrison.

The Minister further noted that the Government continues to prioritise workforce development and applauded the hotel’s leadership for aligning with the national strategy to build a resilient, skilled Bermudian workforce.

“This is exactly the kind of initiative that helps build not just individual careers, but a stronger Bermuda. Hospitality offers meaningful and dynamic career paths, and I encourage more employers to follow Hamilton Princess’s example by investing in our people,” he added.

Floods in Romania kill three, hundreds evacuated

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Floods in Romania kill three, hundreds evacuated

Some 25 villages across nine counties were affected by heavy rain and high winds

International News via Reuters:

Severe overnight floods in eastern Romania killed three elderly people and damaged thousands of homes, with hundreds of people evacuated and four helicopters searching for stranded villagers, officials said on Monday.

Some 25 villages across nine counties were affected by heavy rain and high winds, which tore off roofs and uprooted trees, blocking traffic on some national roads, according to the emergency response agency.

It released footage showing wooden houses and cars swept away by the floodwaters, with rescue workers checking vehicles for potential victims.

The worst hit were Neamt and Suceava counties in eastern Romania, where two rivers burst their banks, killing a 66-year-old man and forcing hundreds of people to evacuate. All access roads to the village of Brosteni in Suceava county were blocked.

The emergency response agency later said that two women, an 85- and an 83-year-old, were also victims of the flood. Firefighters had to use an excavator to retrieve one of the bodies from a riverbed.

The Environment Ministry’s water management agency said some rivers rose to record high water levels. Repair works on collapsed bridges were underway, it said.

Reporting by Luiza Ilie; editing by Giles Elgood, Hugh Lawson and Mark Heinrich

Premier joins 100th birthday celebration

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Premier joins 100th birthday celebration

The Premier, the Hon. David Burt joined family and friends of Ms. Louise “Mama Vese” Parris to celebrate her milestone 100th Birthday.

The festivities took place at the Bella Vista Restaurant Thursday, July 24.

Originally from St. George’s, Mama Louise is widely known throughout the community for her generosity, warmth, and humour. Even at 100, she remains sharp and full of life.

In her younger days, she was active in both golf and cricket, playing as a spin bowler alongside her close friends who called themselves “Charlie’s Angels.” She had a gift for creating handcrafted dolls and flower bouquets made from wool, with her home proudly displaying a collection of her work.

She loved to travel and cruise, but also took great joy in cooking for others. Her home was known for its open-door policy, always welcoming guests and family. She enjoyed a good laugh, a lively gathering, and was known to favour a stiff drink, scotch and milk.

Mama Louise is the mother of 10 children, grandmother to 36, great-grandmother to 72, great-great-grandmother to 36, and great-great-great-grandmother to one.

The Premier expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to celebrate such a meaningful milestone, noting her lasting impact on her family and the wider community.

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