Power Outage Strikes: Spain and Portugal Grapple with Blackouts

by News Editor

April 28, 2025

On a quiet Monday, an unexpected power outage plunged vast regions of Spain and Portugal into darkness, causing significant disruptions. Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica is collaborating with energy firms to bring power back gradually.

The outage, described as a “wider European problem”, also saw E-Redes stepping up efforts for phased reconnection. In the bustling heart of Madrid, parts of the underground had to be evacuated, creating traffic chaos as signals failed, reported Cader Ser Radio station.

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Meanwhile, in Portugal, the situation mirrored across Lisbon and Porto, with their metros closing operations, and train services grinding to a halt. As cities deal with this setback, European energy sectors are undoubtedly under scrutiny to address such vulnerabilities.

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Cyprus Unemployment Trends: 7.6% Annual Increase Reflects Sectoral Shifts

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 4, 2026

Overview Of The Labor Market

According to the latest figures released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat), registered unemployment in Cyprus increased by 7.6% year-on-year in May 2026. While the overall number of registered unemployed declined compared with April, the annual comparison showed an increase from May 2025.

By The Numbers

The total number of registered unemployed persons at district labour offices stood at 7,936 on May 31, down from 8,962 in April. Compared with May 2025, however, the number increased by 558, rising from 7,378 to 7,936. Seasonally adjusted unemployment fell slightly to 10,476 in May from 10,516 in April. Previous monthly figures stood at 10,257 in March, 10,085 in February and 10,089 in January.

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Sectoral Influences And Analysis

Accommodation and food service activities recorded one of the largest annual increases in registered unemployment. The number rose to 1,177 in May 2026 from 934 in May 2025, although it declined from 1,986 in April. Administrative and support service activities also recorded an annual increase, rising to 431 from 337 during the same period. Every month, the figure fell from 519 in April.

Transportation and storage recorded 323 registered unemployed persons, compared with 264 a year earlier and 453 in April. Professional, scientific and technical activities reported 812 registered unemployed persons, up from 754 in May 2025 and broadly unchanged from 816 in April.

Divergent Trends In Other Sectors

Several sectors recorded lower unemployment levels compared with a year earlier. Construction declined from 426 registered unemployed persons in May 2025 to 366 in May 2026. Wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, recorded a slight decrease from 1,400 to 1,380. Agriculture, forestry and fishing, together with water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, also reported lower figures. Manufacturing, financial and insurance activities, and real estate activities remained broadly stable.

Future Outlook

The latest data show differing trends across sectors, with accommodation and food services accounting for a significant share of the annual increase in registered unemployment. At the same time, construction, retail trade and several other sectors recorded lower unemployment levels compared with the previous year. Detailed labour market data are available through the Cyprus Statistical Service.

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