Madrid Times

Three Spain Players Named in FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament

Marc Cucurella, Pedro Porro and Golden Ball winner Rodri were selected in the official FIFA 2026 World Cup Team of the Tournament following Spain's championship-winning campaign.

Fossil Discovery in La Rioja Points to Previously Unknown Dinosaur Species

Palaeontologists excavating near Igea in Spain's La Rioja region uncovered fossils believed to belong to a previously unknown herbivorous dinosaur dating back around 120 million years, adding to the area's scientific significance.

Spanish Court Upholds Dismissal of Worker Found Working While on Medical Leave

A labour court ruled that an employer lawfully dismissed a worker who was filmed by a private investigator working for a competitor while receiving medical leave benefits for anxiety, establishing an important employment law precedent.

Labour Rules Clarify Employees Must Continue Working Despite Late Salary Payments

A widely discussed interpretation of Spain's labour legislation confirms that employees are generally required to continue reporting to work even when employers fail to pay wages on time.

Wildfires Force Evacuations and Confinements Across Central and Northeastern Spain

Fast-moving wildfires driven by extreme heat and drought prompted evacuations in Guadalajara province and the confinement of hundreds of residents near Barcelona as emergency services worked to contain multiple blazes.

Extreme Heatwave Pushes Temperatures Above Forty-Four Degrees Across Parts of Spain

Spain's national weather agency issued its highest heat warnings for several inland and southern regions as temperatures climbed above 44 degrees Celsius, increasing risks to public health, agriculture and electricity demand.

Spain Emerges as a European Leader in Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Readiness

A new international index ranks Spain alongside Italy as Europe's most advanced market for enterprise artificial intelligence readiness, although businesses continue to face challenges integrating AI into everyday operations.

Indra's Defence Business Doubles Revenue on Higher Military Spending

Spanish technology and defence company Indra reported a 103 percent increase in defence revenue to 973 million euros and reaffirmed its 2026 targets after strong demand linked to military modernisation programmes.

Government Faces Tight Deadline to Pass Anti-Crisis Economic Package

Spain's government has less than five days to secure parliamentary backing for its economic support decree, with negotiations continuing to win support from regional and left-wing parties before the summer recess.

Spanish Coalition Agrees to Extend Residential Rent Protections Until 2028

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's coalition government has agreed to extend mandatory residential rental contract protections through July 2028 as part of a broader emergency housing package aimed at easing pressure on tenants.

Spanish Housing Prices Continue Rapid Climb as Supply Remains Tight

National home prices rose 14.3 percent year on year in the first quarter, with Madrid and Valencia recording gains of around 19 percent as limited housing supply continued to fuel affordability pressures.

Commercial Property Investment in Spain Jumps Fifty-Six Percent

Commercial real estate investment reached 12.2 billion euros in the first half of 2026, rising 56 percent from a year earlier as international investors increased allocations to Spanish office, logistics and other defensive property assets.

Spain Moves Closer to One Hundred Million Annual International Tourists

Tourism authorities expect Spain to approach 100 million international visitors this year, while foreign travellers are projected to spend around 64 billion euros during the summer season, reinforcing tourism as a key driver of economic ...

Repsol Triples Quarterly Profit and Expands Share Buyback Programme

Repsol reported adjusted second-quarter net profit of 1.84 billion euros, supported by stronger refining margins and higher oil prices, while announcing an additional 500 million euro share buyback to increase shareholder returns.

Iberdrola Delivers Record First-Half Earnings on Renewable Energy Expansion

Iberdrola increased first-half net profit by 21.7 percent to 4.336 billion euros as continued investment in renewable energy projects and electricity grids strengthened the utility's global business.

Banco Santander Reports First-Half Profit of More Than Seven Billion Euros

Banco Santander posted net profit of 7.328 billion euros in the first six months of 2026, with higher interest margins and strong international banking operations driving earnings growth of 15 percent.

Spanish Government Raises 2026 Growth Forecast as Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers

Spain's Ministry of Economy has lifted its 2026 gross domestic product growth forecast to 2.6 percent from 2.2 percent, reflecting resilient domestic consumption and strong services exports that continue to support one of the fastest-gro...

Carlos Alcaraz Remains the Focus of Spanish Sporting Attention

Carlos Alcaraz continues to dominate Spain's sporting headlines and commercial endorsements as he prepares for the upcoming hardcourt tennis season.

Prado Museum Sets Record Attendance During Goya Exhibition

Madrid's Prado Museum recorded its highest quarterly visitor numbers after a major exhibition dedicated to Francisco Goya attracted large numbers of international cultural tourists.

Spanish Film Industry Attracts Record International Investment

Spain's film and television sector has reported record levels of foreign investment as global streaming platforms expand production across the country, boosting demand for local studios, locations and creative talent.

Ministry of Education Expands Artificial Intelligence Across Public Universities

The government has introduced a national framework to integrate generative artificial intelligence training into public university programmes from the next academic year, aiming to strengthen digital skills across the workforce.

Spain Approves Faster Work Visas for Skilled Latin American Professionals

Parliament has passed immigration reforms designed to accelerate work permits for skilled professionals from Latin America to help address labour shortages in sectors including healthcare and engineering.

Spain Increases Mediterranean Maritime Patrols Amid Seasonal Migration Rise

Spanish authorities have deployed additional naval and border assets around the Canary Islands and the Alboran Sea to respond to increased irregular migration during the summer.

Spain and Morocco Expand Strategic Energy Partnership

Spain and Morocco have signed a new agreement to strengthen electricity interconnections and cooperation on green energy exports, deepening economic and strategic ties across the Strait of Gibraltar.

European Commission Approves Final NextGenerationEU Funding for Spain

The European Commission has authorised the final tranche of Spain's recovery funding after determining the government had met agreed pension and labour reform commitments.

Spain and United Kingdom Implement Gibraltar Border Agreement

Spanish and British officials have begun implementing the post-Brexit Gibraltar agreement, removing physical border infrastructure and passport checks to ease daily cross-border travel.

Extreme Heatwave Halts Outdoor Work Across Southern Spain

The national weather agency issued red alerts for temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius in parts of Andalusia and Extremadura, prompting restrictions on outdoor construction and agricultural work during the hottest hours of the day.

High-Speed Rail Extension Connects Almería to Mediterranean Corridor

Spain has opened a new section of its AVE high-speed rail network linking Almería to the Mediterranean Corridor, reducing transport times for passengers and agricultural exports.

Iberdrola and Repsol Launch €3 Billion Green Hydrogen Project

The two energy companies have agreed to build a major green hydrogen facility in Bilbao powered by offshore wind, supporting the decarbonisation of heavy industry in the Basque Country.

Spain Expands Desalination Operations to Protect Urban Water Supplies

National and regional authorities have activated major desalination plants in Catalonia and Murcia to secure drinking water supplies as prolonged drought intensifies across the Mediterranean coast.

Severe Drought Forces Water Restrictions Across Andalusia

The Andalusian regional government has imposed strict water limits on agriculture as reservoir levels fall below twenty percent, threatening olive oil production and other key agricultural exports.

Telefónica Forms European Alliance to Advance 6G Development

Telefónica has joined other European telecommunications companies in a partnership to develop and standardise next-generation 6G mobile networks, aiming to strengthen Europe's long-term digital competitiveness.

Seat and Volkswagen Begin Production of Affordable Electric Vehicles

Seat and parent company Volkswagen have launched mass production of a new generation of compact electric vehicles at the Martorell plant, marking a significant step in Spain's transition to zero-emission mobility.

Spain Launches €1.5 Billion Fund to Support Artificial Intelligence Startups

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has activated a €1.5 billion sovereign investment fund to finance Spanish artificial intelligence and semiconductor companies and strengthen domestic technology capabilities.

Microsoft and Amazon Web Services Begin Construction of Major Data Centre Campus in Aragon

Microsoft and Amazon Web Services have started building a €5 billion cloud computing and artificial intelligence campus in Aragon, strengthening Spain's ambition to become a leading digital infrastructure hub in southern Europe.

Foreign Investment in Spanish Luxury Property Reaches New Highs

Demand from affluent buyers in the United States and Canada has driven a surge in luxury property purchases along the Costa del Sol, Alicante and the Balearic Islands.

Madrid and Barcelona Ban New Short-Term Rental Licences

The two largest Spanish cities have halted the issuance of new tourist apartment licences in an effort to return more properties to the long-term rental market and ease housing shortages.

Banco de España Warns Housing Affordability Remains Under Pressure

Spain's central bank said limited housing supply and persistently high property prices continue to make home ownership increasingly difficult for younger households in cities including Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.

Spain's Unemployment Falls Below Eleven Percent for First Time Since 2008

The unemployment rate declined to 10.8 percent, its lowest level in eighteen years, as seasonal hiring in tourism, hospitality and agriculture offset continued weakness in manufacturing.

Aena Reports Record Passenger Traffic at Spain's Largest Airports

Airport operator Aena recorded its highest-ever second-quarter passenger volumes, with Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat benefiting from strong transatlantic travel and sustained tourism demand.

Spanish Inflation Slows to 2.1 Percent as Energy Costs Ease

The National Statistics Institute reported annual inflation of 2.1 percent in July, with lower energy prices helping to ease pressure on household budgets as European Central Bank policy begins to support broader economic stability.

Balearic Islands and Barcelona Tighten Tourist Policies After Overtourism Protests

Authorities in the Balearic Islands and Catalonia have raised overnight tourist taxes and restricted mega-cruise ship arrivals during peak season in response to sustained public protests over housing affordability and overcrowding.

Spain Moves Closer to Nationwide Thirty-Five-Hour Working Week

Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz and major trade unions reported progress in negotiations on a legally mandated thirty-five-hour working week, despite continued opposition from business groups concerned about productivity and labour costs.

Spain Meets NATO's Two Percent Defence Spending Target

The Ministry of Defence confirmed military spending has reached two percent of gross domestic product, fulfilling a longstanding NATO commitment while approving new purchases of frigates and air defence systems.

Partido Popular Challenges Catalan Financing Deal in Constitutional Court

Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said the Partido Popular has filed a constitutional challenge against the Catalan fiscal agreement, arguing it undermines national solidarity and disadvantages Spain's poorer regions.