Latest news with #NationalCybersecurityCentre
Daily Tribune
17 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain to Host Arab International Cybersecurity Conference (AICS 2025) This November
Strategic Partnership with DEF CON to Bring Cutting-Edge Cyber Tech and Innovation to the Region Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Bahrain will host the 3rd edition of the Arab International Cybersecurity Conference and Exhibition (AICS 2025). The event will take place from November 5 to 6 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre. Organised by the National Cybersecurity Centre, the conference will bring together leading international experts, decision-makers, and representatives from government and private sectors across the globe. Historic Partnership with DEF CON Announced In a groundbreaking move for the Arab world and the wider region, the National Cybersecurity Centre announced a strategic partnership with DEF CON — one of the world's most renowned and longest-running cybersecurity events. As part of this partnership, Bahrain will host interactive 'DEF CON Villages' for the first time, offering hands-on experiences in critical areas such as artificial intelligence, industrial control systems (ICS), cloud computing, and space technologies. The event will also feature 'Demo Labs' — spaces where researchers, students, and startups can showcase their innovations to global experts in an engaging environment. A Hub for Knowledge, Innovation, and Global Collaboration This year's conference underscores Bahrain's growing leadership in cybersecurity and provides a powerful platform for knowledge exchange and global partnerships. The two-day event will include specialized training programs, technical workshops, panel discussions, and interactive cybersecurity competitions. A high-profile tech exhibition will also be part of AICS 2025, with participation from leading international cybersecurity companies showcasing the latest solutions and technologies. AICS 2025 promises to be one of the most dynamic and influential cybersecurity events in the region — positioning Bahrain as a regional hub for digital resilience and innovation.
Wales Online
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Spain and Portugal power cut latest on Tuesday as people told 'stay home'
Spain and Portugal power cut latest on Tuesday as people told 'stay home' It is the second serious European power outage in less than six weeks Spain has recovered more than 92% of its power following an unprecedented blackout that brought much of Spain and Portugal to a standstill, officials said. Spanish power distributor Red Electrica said the figure was reached by 5am on Tuesday. The blackout saw thousands of train passengers stranded and left millions of people without phone and internet coverage and access to cash from ATMs across the Iberian Peninsula. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez earlier vowed to have the entire country of 48 million with their lights back on by the end of the day. Red Electrica head of operations Eduardo Prieto said the event was 'exceptional and extraordinary'. It was the second serious European power outage in less than six weeks after a March 20 fire shut down Heathrow Airport in the UK, and it came as authorities across Europe gird against sabotage backed by Russia. The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Centre in a statement said there was no sign the outage was due to a cyber attack. European Commission executive vice president in charge of promoting clean energy Teresa Ribera indicated the same to journalists in Brussels and called the power outage 'one of the most serious episodes recorded in Europe in recent times'. The Spanish prime minister said that a problem in the European grid caused the huge power outage that struck Spain, Portugal and parts of France. LISBON, PORTUGAL - APRIL 28: A woman is seen holding a candle for light as Spain, Portugal and other parts of Europe are hit with widespread power blackouts which lasted 10 hours in Lisbon, Portugal on April 28, 2025. Cellphone networks were cut off and many people were left stranded at airports. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images) Mr Sanchez described the problem in the European grid as a 'strong oscillation' and added that the cause is still being determined. The Spanish leader asked the public to refrain from speculation and said no theory about the cause of the outage had been discarded. Article continues below 'We are analysing all the potential causes without discarding any hypothesis,' the prime minister said. He went on to detail that, at 12.22pm on Monday, Spain's power grid lost 15 gigawatts, the equivalent of 60% of its national demand, in a matter of five seconds. 'We have never had a complete collapse of the system,' he added. Mr Sanchez thanked the governments of France and Morocco where energy was being pulled from to restore power to north and southern Spain. Subway and railway trains have been halted, phone service has been unavailable and traffic lights and cash machines have not been working for many of the 50 million people who live across the peninsula. By mid-afternoon, voltage was progressively being restored in the north, south and west of the peninsula, Red Electrica said. The company declined to speculate on the causes of the huge blackout. The outage hit across Spain and Portugal, including their capitals, Madrid and Lisbon. Offices closed and traffic was gridlocked as traffic lights stopped working. It was not possible to make calls on some mobile phone networks, though some apps were working. In Barcelona, residents walked into stores searching for battery-powered radios and civilians directed traffic at junctions along the Gran Via avenue that cuts through the city. The countries have a combined population of more than 50 million people. It was not immediately clear how many were affected. It is rare to have such a widespread outage across the Iberian peninsula. Mr Sanchez convened an extraordinary meeting of Spain's National Security Council and visited Red Electrica to follow efforts at restoring grid operations. The Portuguese cabinet convened an emergency meeting at the prime minister's residence. Spain's public broadcaster RTVE said a major power outage hit several regions of the country just after midday local time, leaving its newsroom, Spain's parliament in Madrid and subway stations across the country in the dark. A graph on Spain's electricity network website showing demand across the country indicated a steep drop at around 12.15pm from 27,500MW to near 15,000MW. Spanish airports were operating on backup electrical systems and some flights were delayed, according to Aena, the company that runs 56 airports in Spain including Madrid and Barcelona. LISBON, PORTUGAL - APRIL 28: Traffic lights remain switched off as Spain, Portugal and other parts of Europe are hit with widespread power blackouts which lasted 10 hours in Lisbon, Portugal on April 28, 2025. Cellphone networks were cut off and many people were left stranded at airports. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images) In Lisbon, terminals closed and throngs of tourists sat outside in the sun and the shade waiting for news about their flights. 'We haven't seen any plane arriving or departing in the 50 minutes we've been waiting here,' Dutch tourist Marc Brandsma told The Associated Press. Train services in both countries ground to a halt. Video aired on Spanish television showed people evacuating metro stations in Madrid and empty stations with trains stopped in Barcelona. The Spanish Parliament in Madrid closed and play at the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended. Three matches were under way when power went down. Spain's traffic department asked citizens to avoid using their cars as much as possible because of the power outage, which affected traffic lights and electrical road signage. Barcelona's streets filled with throngs of people milling about in front of darkened shops and offices and exchanging information on what had happened. Immediate concerns were which phone companies still had some, at least, spotty coverage, or where internet access might be found. Another concern was how to get home with the subway shut and public buses packed. Some took advantage of the lack of connectivity and transport to enjoy the sunshine on restaurant terraces. BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 28: People outside Barcelona Sant rail station during a massive power cut affecting the entire Iberian peninsula and the south of France, in Barcelona, Spain on April 28, 2025. (Photo by Adria Puig/Anadolu via Getty Images) In Terrassa, an industrial town 30 miles from Barcelona, stores selling generators were out of stock after people lined up to buy them. In Portugal, a country of some 10.6 million people, the outage hit Lisbon and surrounding areas, as well as northern and southern parts. Portuguese police placed more officers on duty to direct traffic and cope with increased requests for help, including from people trapped in lifts. Hospitals and other emergency services in both Spain and Portugal switched to generators. Petrol stations stopped working. Portugal's National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection said backup power systems were operating. Article continues below Several Lisbon subway coaches were evacuated, reports said. Also in Portugal, courts stopped work and cash machines and electronic payment systems were affected.
1News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- 1News
Power outage in Spain and Portugal affects millions of people
A blackout brought much of Spain and Portugal to a standstill overnight, stopping trains, cutting phone service and shutting down traffic lights and ATMs for millions of people across the Iberian Peninsula. Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica declined to speculate on the cause and said restoring power fully could take six to 10 hours. Head of operations Eduardo Prieto told journalists it was unprecedented, calling the event "exceptional and extraordinary". Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said a "strong oscillation" in the European grid was behind the outage but the cause was still being determined. He asked the public to refrain from speculation, and urged people to call emergency services only if really necessary. It was the second serious European power outage in less than six weeks after a March 20 fire shut down Heathrow Airport in the UK, and it came as authorities across Europe gird against sabotage backed by Russia. The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Centre in a statement said there was no sign the outage was due to a cyber attack. Teresa Ribera, European Commission executive vice president in charge of promoting clean energy, indicated the same to journalists in Brussels and called the power outage "one of the most serious episodes recorded in Europe in recent times". The outage began at midday (local time). Offices closed and traffic was snarled in Madrid and Lisbon, while some civilians in Barcelona directed traffic. Train services in both countries stopped. It wouldn't be possible to restart trains later Monday even if the power returned, Spain's Transportation Minister Oscar Puente posted on social media. The subway systems shut down. "I don't know how I am going to get home," said Barcelona resident Ivette Corona as she watched a large group people fail to get on a bus that briefly stopped to squeeze in a couple of passengers. Hospitals and other emergency services switched to generators. Gas stations stopped working. It was not possible to make calls on some mobile phone networks, though some apps were working. People searched for battery-powered radios. It is rare to have such a widespread outage across the Iberian Peninsula, with a combined population of about 60 million people. Spain's Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and the territories of Ceuta and Melilla, located across the Mediterranean in Africa, were not affected. Spain's prime minister convened an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council. The Portuguese Cabinet convened an emergency meeting at the prime minister's residence. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said he had spoken several times to Sánchez and expected power to be restored by the end of the day. Portugal's government said the outage appeared to stem from problems outside the country, an official told national news agency Lusa. Electricity was being pulled from Morocco and France to restore power to southern and northern Spain, Spain's prime minister said, thanking their governments. Spain was also increasing the production from hydroelectric and combined cycle thermal power plants. A graph on Spain's electricity network website showing demand across the country indicated a steep drop around 12.15pm (local time) from 27,500 megawatts to near 15,000 megawatts. Spanish airports were operating on backup electrical systems and some flights were delayed, according to Aena, which runs 56 airports in Spain including Madrid and Barcelona. In Lisbon, terminals closed and tourists sat outside waiting for news about flights. 'We haven't seen any plane arriving or departing in the 50 minutes we've been waiting here," Dutch tourist Marc Brandsma told The Associated Press. The Spanish Parliament in Madrid closed. Play at the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended. Some took advantage of the lack of connectivity to enjoy the sunshine on restaurant terraces, parks and beaches. Barcelona's streets filled with throngs of people milling in front of darkened stores and exchanging information. "We are lucky. Some people got trapped in the metro. And there is a positive side: We are talking more with each other," said Monste Cortés in Barcelona. She said dinner would be sliced bread and cold cuts. As hours passed, so did the concern of those unable to reach loved ones. "I can't even call my boss because nothing works," said Helen Osorio, a Barcelona shop clerk. In Terrassa, an industrial town 50 kilometres from Barcelona, stores selling generators were out of stock. Portugal's National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection said backup power systems were operating. In Portugal, a country of some 10.6 million people, police placed more officers on duty to cope with increased requests for help, including from people trapped in elevators. Several Lisbon subway cars were evacuated, reports said. Courts stopped work and ATMs and electronic payment systems were affected.
Belfast Telegraph
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
European power grid problem caused Iberian outage, says Spanish Prime Minister
Mr Sanchez described the problem in the European grid as a 'strong oscillation' and added that the cause is still being determined. The Spanish leader asked the public to refrain from speculation and said no theory about the cause of the outage had been discarded. Mr Sanchez thanked the governments of France and Morocco where energy was being pulled from to restore power to north and southern Spain. Subway and railway trains have been halted, phone service has been unavailable and traffic lights and cash machines have not been working for many of the 50 million people who live across the peninsula. Spanish power distributor Red Electrica said that restoring power fully to the country and neighbouring Portugal could take six to 10 hours. By mid-afternoon, voltage was progressively being restored in the north, south and west of the peninsula, the company said. The company declined to speculate on the causes of the huge blackout. The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Centre issued a statement saying there was no sign the outage was due to a cyberattack. Eduardo Prieto, head of operations at Red Electrica, told journalists it was unprecedented, calling the event 'exceptional and extraordinary'. The outage hit across Spain and Portugal, including their capitals, Madrid and Lisbon. Offices closed and traffic was gridlocked as traffic lights stopped working. It was not possible to make calls on some mobile phone networks, though some apps were working. In Barcelona, residents walked into stores searching for battery-powered radios and civilians directed traffic at junctions along the Gran Via avenue that cuts through the city. The countries have a combined population of more than 50 million people. It was not immediately clear how many were affected. It is rare to have such a widespread outage across the Iberian peninsula. Mr Sanchez convened an extraordinary meeting of Spain's National Security Council and visited Red Electrica to follow efforts at restoring grid operations. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said he has spoken several times to Mr Sanchez and expected power to be restored by the end of the day The Portuguese cabinet convened an emergency meeting at the prime minister's residence. Spain's public broadcaster RTVE said a major power outage hit several regions of the country just after midday local time, leaving its newsroom, Spain's parliament in Madrid and subway stations across the country in the dark. A graph on Spain's electricity network website showing demand across the country indicated a steep drop at around 12.15pm from 27,500MW to near 15,000MW. Spanish airports were operating on backup electrical systems and some flights were delayed, according to Aena, the company that runs 56 airports in Spain including Madrid and Barcelona. In Lisbon, terminals closed and throngs of tourists sat outside in the sun and the shade waiting for news about their flights. 'We haven't seen any plane arriving or departing in the 50 minutes we've been waiting here,' Dutch tourist Marc Brandsma told The Associated Press. Train services in both countries ground to a halt. Video aired on Spanish television showed people evacuating metro stations in Madrid and empty stations with trains stopped in Barcelona. The Spanish Parliament in Madrid closed and play at the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended. Three matches were under way when power went down. Spain's traffic department asked citizens to avoid using their cars as much as possible because of the power outage, which has affected traffic lights and electrical road signage. Barcelona's streets filled with throngs of people milling about in front of darkened shops and offices and exchanging information on what had happened. Immediate concerns were which phone companies still had some, at least, spotty coverage, or where internet access might be found. Another concern was how to get home with the subway shut and public buses packed. Some took advantage of the lack of connectivity and transport to enjoy the sunshine on restaurant terraces. In Terrassa, an industrial town 30 miles from Barcelona, stores selling generators were out of stock after people lined up to buy them. In Portugal, a country of some 10.6 million people, the outage hit Lisbon and surrounding areas, as well as northern and southern parts. Portuguese police placed more officers on duty to direct traffic and cope with increased requests for help, including from people trapped in lifts. Hospitals and other emergency services in both Spain and Portugal switched to generators. Petrol stations stopped working. Portugal's National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection said backup power systems were operating. Several Lisbon subway coaches were evacuated, reports said. Also in Portugal, courts stopped work and cash machines and electronic payment systems were affected.
Times
28-04-2025
- General
- Times
Spain-Portugal power outage live: blackout causes huge disruption
Portugal's cybersecurity watchdog has said that 'no evidence has been identified to date that points to a cyberattack' as the cause of the blackout that is affecting the Iberian peninsula. In a statement, the National Cybersecurity Centre said: 'After contacting the relevant entities, it was found that this is a failure that affected some European countries. We are in contact with our counterparts in these countries and with the relevant national entities. 'No evidence has been identified to date that points to a cyberattack. We draw attention to the circulation of misinformation that occurs in these situations, so we advise consulting or confirming information with reliable sources.' Rescue workers have been attempting to evacuate passengers who became stuck on trains after the power failed. One high speed train between Seville had been heading towards Barcelona when it was halted in the countryside outside Zaragoza. Passengers reported being stationary for two and half hours with no electricity, wifi or air conditioning. Firefighters who boarded the train said the priority was to open all the doors to ventilate the train, while avoiding a panicked rush by passengers to escape, as they tried to arrange an organised evacuation. 'We opened the doors to help ventilate the train for the young and old,' Ruben Sole, 36, a firefighter, said. 'I've never seen this [the power cut] before on a train like this — it happens in cities but not on the train.' Experts said hospitals and other vital infrastructure should have back-up systems to avoid catastrophe. However the knock-on effects from the power cuts could get worse the longer they continue. Dr Rowena Hill, professor of resilience, emergencies and disaster science at Nottingham Trent University, said: 'If the electricity is out across the board, there are further implications the longer things go on. Not being able to get cash, not being able to process transactions, not being able to get fuel, the electricity might also ink to water or sewerage pumps and so that has a consequence for the younger and older populations quite quickly. 'But immediate thoughts are for those who have care support in the community that is electricity dependent. The acute health points are likely to have backup generators.' Part of France was also affected 'for a few minutes in the Basque Country', French television reported. Homes 'were deprived of power' but 'all power has since been restored' , according to RTE, France's transmission system operator, which is mobilising to 'provide assistance'to its Spanish neighbour. Portugal's minister for national defence, Nuno Melo, has appealed for people to remain calm and said that the causes of the power failure are not yet known. There have been some reports of panic buying at Spanish and Portuguese supermarkets due to the cuts, which appear to have left some homes without running water, if they are usually supplied by electric pumps. Ben Lambert, a British expatriate based near Lisbon, said that there were 'huge queues' at his local supermarket as people rushed to buy pasta, tins of food and long life milk. 'The water had sold out within an hour,' he said. 'Many local supermarkets are shut — but I was able to find one that has a generator.' Vasco Carou, 36, a builder who lives outside Lisbon, had also gone out to pick up supplies. He said: 'I think the panic is starting to set in because people remember the times when they had to stockpile in the pandemic. The fear here is real. Everyone is afraid.' Madrid's mayor has called on all residents to stay at home and avoid travel. 'I ask all residents of Madrid to keep their movements to an absolute minimum and, if at all possible, to remain where they are. We want to keep all roads clear,' Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said. He also urged residents to only call emergency services if it is 'truly urgent' and said they should go to police and fire stations in person if calls go unanswered. In the wake of the power cuts heavy congestion has been reported in major cities, while crowds of people have gathered at airports and train stations, after routes were cancelled. There have been reports of people being stuck inside lifts or stranded on trains after power supplies failed. Landing restrictions introduced at big airports in Spain and Portugal will affect hundreds of flights to and from the UK. FlightRadar24, the tracking website, reported that Lisbon will have no arrivals until 5.30pm local time (4.30pm UK). There will be a reduced landing rate afterwards. There are also reduced landings at Barcelona and Madrid airports. Cirium, the aviation analysts, reported that there are 399 scheduled departures from UK airports to Spain — equating to over 75,000 seats — for Monday. There are 105 departures from UK airports to Portugal, equating to just under 20,000 seats. Aena, which operates dozens of airports in Spain, advised travellers to 'check with your airline, as there may be issues with access and ground transportation'. Spain's government said it was investigating the cause, but urged residents to remain at home to avoid traffic chaos. 'The government is working to identify the origin of this incident and dedicating all possible resources to resolve it as quickly as possible,' the office the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said. Videos on social media showed confusion and congestion on the roads after traffic lights in major cities such as Madrid failed. Thousands of travellers at trains and at airports have been affected. Hospital services are reported to be reduced to 'basic'. Spain's Red Eléctrica said the blackout was 'exceptional and totally extraordinary' and could take six to ten hours to repair. According to Red Eléctrica, from 1pm onwards, voltage began to be restored in the north and south of Spain, which it said would help to progressively restore the electricity supply nationwide. In Portugal, the blackout is also widespread. The government said the incident appeared to stem from problems outside the country.
