Madrid Times

Vivienne Westwood Casts Cicciolina, 74, in Its New Autumn Campaign

The former adult-film performer and Italian parliamentarian fronts Juergen Teller’s latest campaign for a fashion house whose visual language has long joined historical dress with sexual provocation.

Dejavu: Germany’s Military Expansion Reshapes Europe’s Strategic Balance With France

History Repeats: Berlin’s record defense budget, larger armed forces and increasingly autonomous industrial programs are challenging France’s traditional military leadership, even as the two countries deepen cooperation in nuclear deterr...

Proposed U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Pact Could Permit Limited Uranium Enrichment Under International Safeguards

A draft cooperation framework would open Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear market to American technology while potentially allowing sensitive fuel-cycle activities under negotiated restrictions, but no final agreement has been signed or su...

Netherlands Declares Water Shortage Emergency After Drought Pushes Rivers to Historic Lows

The Dutch government has activated emergency water-allocation measures as prolonged drought, exceptionally low river flows and rising demand strain freshwater supplies, while authorities prioritize drinking water, flood defenses and crit...

Spain Wins 2026 FIFA World Cup to Complete Historic Double

Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in New Jersey to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first nation to simultaneously hold both the men's and women's world football titles.

Total Solar Eclipse Sparks Tourism Boom in Castile and León

Tourism operators across Burgos and the wider Castile and León region are preparing for a surge in international visitors ahead of the August 2026 total solar eclipse, creating new opportunities for rural destinations beyond Spain's trad...

Spain Expects Record Summer Tourism With 43 Million International Visitors

Tourism authorities forecast more than 43 million international visitors between June and September 2026, with spending expected to reach nearly €64 billion as Spain continues its shift toward attracting higher-value travellers.

Record Solar Power Output Exposes Strain on Spain's Electricity Grid

Spain set a new daily solar generation record of 277 gigawatt-hours, but insufficient battery storage and transmission capacity forced large volumes of renewable electricity to be curtailed, highlighting the need for major grid upgrades.

Spain Approves €719 Million Artificial Intelligence Gigafactory

The Spanish government has approved a €719 million investment to establish an artificial intelligence gigafactory, aiming to strengthen domestic computing capacity, attract European Union technology funding and advance Spain's digital so...

Spain Reaffirms Support for Ukraine at Coalition of the Willing Summit in Paris

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez joined European leaders in Paris to coordinate continued military and financial assistance for Ukraine, underscoring Spain's commitment to European security and sustained support for Kyiv.

Pedro Sánchez Rejects European Union External Deportation Centres at Brussels Summit

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended Spain's independent migration policy during the European Council Summit, rejecting proposals for external European Union deportation centres while reiterating support for regularising undocumented mi...

Spain's Housing Prices Return to Pre-Crisis Highs as Supply Shortage Deepens

Average resale home prices have climbed to €3,338 per square metre, matching pre-financial crisis levels as a housing shortfall of more than 700,000 homes and sustained foreign demand continue to drive affordability pressures across Madr...

Spanish Government Raises 2026 Economic Growth Forecast to 2.6%

Spain has lifted its 2026 gross domestic product growth forecast to 2.6%, citing strong household spending, a resilient labour market and robust high-value exports, reinforcing the country's position as one of the eurozone's strongest-pe...

Why Kentucky Fried Chicken Became KFC—and Why the False Explanations Persist

The 1991 rebrand was a calculated effort to modernize the chain, broaden its menu identity and soften the increasingly unfashionable association with fried food—not a response to state licensing demands or genetically altered chickens. :...

Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouses Deep Inside Russia

Attacks on logistics centres in the Tambov and Moscow regions killed eight people, while Kyiv said the facilities supplied restricted components for Russian drone production—a claim not independently substantiated.

Artificial Intelligence Capital Fuels Markets While Governments and Regulators Face Mounting Strategic Tests

Global investment is concentrating around artificial intelligence, driving financial markets, reshaping corporate strategy and intensifying competition between governments, even as regulatory and governance challenges emerge across Asia.

China’s Moonshot’s Kimi K3 Narrows the Gap With Anthropic Through Scale, Openness and Lower Cost

The Chinese start-up’s new open-weight model posts competitive coding and agentic results against leading American systems, challenging the assumption that frontier artificial intelligence remains confined to a small group of United Stat...

The Ledger Will Not Trust on Faith

Artificial-intelligence agents can reconcile accounts, pursue anomalies and draft reports, but finance will accept autonomy only when every action remains visible, reversible and humanly accountable.

Trump Administration Pressures Banks to Restrict Financial Access for Undocumented Immigrants

New federal guidance encourages banks to scrutinize immigration-related credit risks and share more customer information, advancing a broader strategy intended to make remaining in the United States without legal status increasingly diff...

Spain Balances European Leadership With Transatlantic Relations

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez continues to navigate European priorities while managing complex relations with the United States on defence policy and broader international security issues.

Tourism Growth Extends Beyond Spain's Traditional Destinations

Government initiatives encouraging visitors to explore inland and secondary destinations are generating stronger tourism growth outside the country's busiest coastal and island regions.

Spain Expands Domestic Artificial Intelligence Capacity

Government investment in advanced computing infrastructure reflects Madrid's effort to strengthen technological capabilities and reduce dependence on overseas digital infrastructure.

Housing Shortages Continue to Shape Spain's Economic and Political Agenda

The persistent gap between housing construction and household formation is intensifying affordability pressures and placing residential policy at the center of Spain's political debate.

Spain Faces Argentina in the FIFA World Cup Final

Spain's men's national football team will meet defending champion Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with the match expected to attract a nationwide television audience as Spain seeks another world title.

Javier Negre Expands Conservative Digital Media Network Ahead of Elections

Media entrepreneur Javier Negre is expanding his digital broadcasting operations as Spain's political landscape becomes increasingly influenced by online news platforms ahead of future national elections.

Salvador Illa Seeks Budget Agreement to Avoid Catalan Election

Catalan regional leader Salvador Illa is negotiating with separatist parties to secure approval for the regional budget and avoid a snap election following renewed debate over the amnesty law.

Transport Minister Challenges Carles Puigdemont to Return to Spain

Transport Minister Óscar Puente urged Junts per Catalunya leader Carles Puigdemont to return to Spain and face the country's judicial process, adding to political tensions following the European court's decision on the amnesty law.

Spain Monitors Heatwave as Reservoir Levels Remain Strong

Civil protection authorities are preparing for extreme summer temperatures while the Ministry for Ecological Transition says national reservoirs are more than 75 percent full, reducing the risk of widespread water restrictions despite is...

Spain Expects Record 64 Billion Euros in Summer Tourism Spending

The Ministry for Industry and Tourism forecasts 43 million international visitors between June and September, with spending expected to rise 10 percent from a year earlier as policies to spread tourism beyond traditional destinations con...

Foreign Investors Increase Their Presence in Spain's Stock Market

International institutional investors, including BlackRock, Vanguard, and Norway's sovereign wealth fund, now hold more than 113 billion euros in Spanish listed companies, highlighting the growing role of global capital in the country's ...

Spain's Housing Shortage Continues to Push Property Prices Higher

Property market data show Spain is building around 90,000 homes each year while roughly 200,000 new households are being formed, widening the supply gap and driving higher prices across Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Málaga.

Spain Approves 719 Million Euro Investment in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure

The Ministry for Digital Transformation approved a 719 million euro project to develop artificial intelligence computing facilities in Madrid and Catalonia, aiming to strengthen Spain's technology capabilities and secure additional Europ...

Spain Raises 2026 Economic Growth Forecast to 2.6 Percent

The Economy Ministry increased its 2026 gross domestic product growth forecast to 2.6 percent, citing resilient consumer spending, continued job creation, and record tourism revenues that are helping Spain outperform much of the eurozone.

Pedro Sánchez and Donald Trump to Hold Talks During FIFA World Cup Final

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will meet United States President Donald Trump at the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey in an effort to improve bilateral relations after recent disagreements over defence spending and Spain's refusal to all...

European Union Court Upholds Spain's Amnesty Law for Catalan Separatists

The European Union's highest court ruled that Spain's controversial amnesty law is compatible with European law, marking a political victory for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez while returning the legal process to Spain's Supreme Court as C...

Ukraine’s Leadership Rift Spills Into the Streets as Protesters Target Army Chief

The dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has exposed a dispute over military modernization, battlefield command and presidential authority, prompting rare public demonstrations against General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Ukrainian Drone Barrage Kills Eight and Strikes Russian Logistics Network

Warehouses operated by Russia's largest online retailer burned in coordinated attacks that Kyiv said targeted supply routes for drone and navigation components.

Spanish National Football Team Prepares for World Cup Final Against Argentina

Spain is preparing to face Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, with organisers reporting exceptional global broadcasting interest ahead of the championship match.

Spanish Universities Expand Research Into Population Ageing

A consortium of leading universities has secured European Union funding for research into the long-term effects of population ageing, with a focus on pensions and future healthcare demand.

Tenerife Named Europe's Leading Island Destination

Tenerife has topped a major international travel ranking, reinforcing the strength of Spain's tourism sector as the Canary Islands continue attracting record international interest.

Catalonia Reports Sharp Decline in Property Crime

The Catalan government said overall crime fell by 7.6 percent and property theft dropped by nearly 13 percent in the first half of the year following expanded police deployments and additional judicial appointments.

Spain Deepens Diplomatic Engagement Across Latin America

The Foreign Ministry has dispatched senior delegations to several South American capitals to strengthen trade ties and protect Spanish business interests amid changing political conditions in the region.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Faces Fresh Political Pressure After Court Ruling on Brother

Spain's political opposition has intensified calls for parliamentary investigations after a court barred the prime minister's brother from holding public office following a misconduct case involving municipal hiring practices.