Spain

International crackdown dismantles sprawling drug network spanning Europe, Asia and Australia

An international law-enforcement operation has dismantled key parts of a sprawling drug trafficking and money-laundering network operating across Europe, Asia and Australia, after investigators unlocked crucial data from two mobile…

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Spanish PM insists he won’t bow to U.S. commercial pressure

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats would not cow Madrid into supporting the American-Israeli war in Iran. “We are not going to take a position…

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Gibraltar must follow EU rules

Gibraltar will remain British but must follow EU rules under its new Brexit deal, the full legal text of the agreement has revealed. Madrid deems the British Overseas Territory as…

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Storm Fronts Lash Italy, Spain and Portugal With Snow, Floods and High Winds

Severe weather conditions are continuing to affect several parts of southern Europe, triggering transport disruption, infrastructure damage and safety warnings as authorities brace for further deterioration in conditions. In Italy,…

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Europol Operation Blocks €1.2 Billion in Fake Banknotes, With China-Linked Shipments Under Scrutiny

Law enforcement authorities from 18 countries have stopped an estimated EUR 1.2 billion in counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation during Operation DECOY III, a Europol-coordinated action led by…

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Spain’s youth minister floats countrywide ban on X

Spain’s youth minister has intensified Madrid's clash with Big Tech after suggesting the country may need to curb — or even ban — access to Elon Musk’s social media platform…

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Metsola Pushes for Renewed EU–UK Ties

The EU and U.K. must overcome historic gripes and "reset" their relationship to be able to work together in an increasingly uncertain world, the bloc's top parliamentarian said. European Parliament…

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Spain to ban social media access for children under 16

Spain will ban access to social media for minors under 16 and platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday as he…

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Spain to grant around half a million undocumented migrants legal status

Spain's Socialist-led government presented a draft decree to expedite legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, in its latest move to integrate migrant workers even as other European…

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UPDATED: Fatal high-speed train crash in Spain

A high-speed train derailed and smashed into another oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday, pushing the second train off the tracks and down an embankment in a collision that…

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Ibiza holiday rentals plunge as Spain cracks down on overtourism

The number of short-term tourist lets on Ibiza almost halved in 2025 from a year earlier as Spain's crackdown on holiday homes and overtourism started ‌to bite. The supply of…

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Spain to tighten rental rules with room rent caps, seasonal lease curbs

Spain's leftist government will further tighten rental rules and restrict medium-term leases to contain soaring rents and prevent price abuse under a decree to be approved in the coming weeks,…

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Pope to visit Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and Canary Islands

Pope Leo XIV is planning to travel to Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands to fulfil Pope Francis’ wish of visiting a key migration…

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34 arrests in Spain during action against the ‘Black Axe’ criminal organisation

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), in close cooperation with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (Bayerisches Landeskriminalamt) and with the support of Europol, has conducted an operation against the…

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More than 3,000 migrants died trying to reach Spain in 2025

More than 3,000 people died trying to reach Spain by sea over the past year, a sharp fall from the previous 12 months. However, activists cautioned that the drop reflected…

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Europol aided France, Spain, Italy, and Romania disrupt human trafficking organized crime networks

In two joint operations conducted this month, Europol supported France and Spain as well as Italy and Romania in disrupting large-scale organised crime groups involved in human trafficking and sexual…

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Migrant arrivals in Spain’s Balearics surge as smugglers switch routes

Nineteen boats carrying around 360 people reached Spain's Balearic Islands in the past two days, the latest surge in arrivals defying attempts by authorities to curb the fastest-growing migratory route…

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Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca Visitors Could Face Steep Tourist Tax Increase Under New Union Proposal

One of Spain’s largest trade unions is calling for a sharp increase in the taxes paid by visitors to the Balearic Islands, arguing that current measures have failed to ease…

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Barcelona’s Sagrada Família becomes world’s tallest church

The Sagrada Família has become the tallest church in the world, after workers placed the first part of a cross at the top of its central tower. Now measuring 162.91…

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Spain’s Sánchez Faces Setback as Catalan Allies Abandon Coalition

Catalan separatists voted to sever ties with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists, further weakening his minority government. Citing a “lack of will” from the Socialists, separatist Junts’ party leader…

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Antonio Tejero, Leader of Spain’s 1981 Coup Attempt, Dies at 93

Retired Civil Guard Lt. Col. Antonio Tejero, rose to notoriety for his role in Spain’s failed 1981 coup and immortalized in a historic photograph taken during the attempted uprising, has…

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Spain Revives Campaign to Scrap Daylight Saving Across Europe

Spain will attempt Monday to reenergize the EU's stalled proposal to end seasonal clock changes and demand Brussels fulfill its promise to end daylight saving time. "As you know, the…

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Trump threatens tariffs on Spain over refusal to boost NATO defense spending

President Donald Trump threatened trade penalties, including tariffs, against Spain, saying he is unhappy with its refusal to raise defense spending to 5% and calling the move disrespectful to NATO.…

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Trump floats dropping Spain from NATO alliance

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the NATO alliance should weigh throwing Spain out of its membership ranks over a dispute about the Western European nation's lagging military spending. Members of…

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New routes and concealment methods identified in cocaine crackdowns in Spain

Europol supported Portuguese and Spanish authorities in two major investigations against cocaine trafficking involving law enforcement on both sides of the Atlantic. These operations exemplified a shifting landscape of global…

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2025 Summer Heat in Spain Breaks All Previous Temperature Records

Spain recorded its hottest summer in 2025, according to data released the national meteorological agency AEMET on Tuesday. The average temperature was 24.2 Celsius (75.56 Fahrenheit), going beyond the previous record of…

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Ryanair axes one million seats to and from Spain

Ryanair has axed one million seats to and from Spain this winter. The budget airline has blamed the move on Spanish airport operator AENA and its decision to increase the…

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Spain’s parliament kills shorter work week bill

Spain's lower house has shelved a bill that would have shortened the work week by 2-1/2 hours, dealing yet another blow to the fragile Socialist-led minority government which is struggling…

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Spain plans smoking ban at bar terraces, beaches, stadiums

Spain's minority leftist government introduced a bill on Tuesday to ban smoking at outdoor venues including beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops and stadiums. The ban would also apply…

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In Madrid’s Poorest Areas, Residents Ask for Trees to Survive Heatwaves

As Madrid sweltered at the peak of one of Spain's longest-ever heatwaves, the temperature on a street in one of its poorest neighbourhoods - Puente de Vallecas - measured 41.4…

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Southern Europe swelters under deadly heatwave as temperatures pass 40C

Deadly heat of up to 42C is searing southern Europe, as scientists warn of a “molotov cocktail” of climatic conditions that is fuelling vast wildfires across the Mediterranean. Météo-France placed…

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Europe’s busiest cruise port Barcelona to scale back amid overtourism concerns

The port of Barcelona, Europe's busiest for cruise ships, will scale back its passenger terminal capacity by 2030 as the city tries to put the brakes on surging arrivals and…

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Heatwaves in Spain caused 1,180 deaths in past two months

High temperatures caused 1,180 deaths in Spain in the past two months, a sharp increase from the same period last year, the Environment Ministry said. The vast majority of people…

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‘Double standards’: Spain slams EU inaction on Israel deal

In the wake of a damning EU review of Israel's human rights record in Gaza, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez slammed his colleagues for not moving to suspend a trade…

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Spain eases visa rules to draw foreign students barred from US by Trump

Spain on Tuesday said it had approved expedited access to its universities for foreign students barred from entering the U.S. to study by President Donald Trump's administration. Students who can't…

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EasyJet cabin crews in Spain to go on strike next week

EasyJet cabin crews in Spain will go on strike over their pay for three days next week. The USO union in Spain said the industrial action would take place from…

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Spanish operation against migrant smuggling and drug trafficking across the Mediterranean

Europol has supported Spanish authorities (Policía Nacional) in a transnational operation against a highly-organised network involved in both migrant smuggling and drug trafficking between Spain and Morocco. Authorities believe the…

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Drug route from Costa Rica to Europe dismantled

n international operation coordinated on the European side by Europol has dismantled a transnational criminal organisation trafficking large quantities of cocaine from Costa Rica to Europe via Spain and Portugal.…

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UK and Spain strike ‘historic’ deal over Gibraltar’s future and borders

Britain and the EU have agreed a fresh Brexit deal that will see Gibraltar open its borders with Spain, abolish passport controls with the EU, and join the EU customs…

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Portugal beats Spain to win The Nations league

Portugal defeated Spain in penalty kicks 5- 3 to win the UEFA Nations League final late on Sunday after both sides failed to score in extra time following a showdown…

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Europe and Canada Gripped by Unseasonal Heatwave

Southern and central Europe are facing record-breaking heat this week, with temperatures in parts of Portugal and Spain nearing 40 degrees Celsius, raising concerns about crop damage and water shortages…

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Spain blocks more than 65,000 Airbnb holiday rental listings

Spain has ordered Airbnb to withdraw more than 65,000 listings for holiday rentals that violated existing rules from its platform as part of a general crackdown on a business blamed…

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No sign of cyberattack on grid operator during Spain’s blackout

Spain has found no indication of a cyberattack on its grid operator REE during the massive power outage that hit the country and Portugal on April 28, Energy Minister Sara…

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Lidl To Open 50 New Stores In Spain In 2025

German discount supermarket chain Lidl is rapidly expanding in Spain, with the aim of opening 50 new stores in 2025, reports daily El País. This growth is fuelled by its aggressive discount and…

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What could be behind the Iberian power outage?

The hunt has begun for the cause of a massive blackout across Spain, Portugal and parts of France that halted trains, bank machines and traffic lights, in one of Europe's…

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UPDATED: Spain, Portugal hunt for cause of power outage as electricity returns

Electricity had been restored to most of Spain and Portugal early on Tuesday after huge nationwide blackouts, although authorities were still trying to find out what caused the sudden outage.…

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Ryanair may cut more flights from small Spanish airports

Ryanair is considering cutting more flights from medium and small Spanish airports next winter and in 2026 if operator Aena does not lower its fees, newspaper El Economista reported citing…

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Madrid plans to limit computer and tablet use in primary schools to two hours a week

The regional government of Madrid has unveiled plans to limit the use of computers and tablets in primary schools to a maximum of two hours a week in an effort…

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Former Spanish football chief found guilty of sexually assaulting footballer Jenni Hermoso

Spain’s high court has found former Spanish football head Luis Rubiales guilty of sexually assaulting the footballer Jenni Hermoso by kissing her on the lips without consent after the team’s…

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14 arrested in hit against money laundering gang in Portugal and Spain

Europol has supported a cross-border operation led by Spanish authorities and involving law enforcement from Portugal against the members of a criminal network, mainly Russian nationals, who provided money-laundering services…

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6 tonnes of cocaine and EUR 6 million seized in large drug sting involving Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama

The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), supported by Europol, has dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking network in an investigation involving Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama. The suspects were allegedly…

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Spain’s PM Sanchez floats ban on non-EU citizens buying properties

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he would propose to ban purchasers from outside the European Union from buying properties, as the government seeks to curb rising housing prices, which…

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What Measures Are Being Taken for Non-EU Citizens in Spain’s Housing Crisis?

Spain is planning a raft of measures to address its brewing housing crisis, including an up to 100% tax on properties that non-European Union residents buy. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro…

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Spain probes holiday home platform in crackdown on tourism rentals

Spain has opened an investigation into an unidentified holiday apartment renting platform for failing to delete thousands of rental offers in another attempt to curb a business blamed by many…

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Spanish police bust gang that recruited Swedish and Danish minors as hitmen

Spanish police have dismantled a gang based in the eastern city of Alicante that allegedly recruited Swedish and Danish teenagers to carry out murders as hitmen. Police said on Wednesday…

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UPDATED: Death toll in Spain’s floods rises to 205, among Europe’s worst storm disasters

Spanish rescuers opened a temporary morgue in a convention centre and battled to reach areas still cut off on Friday as the death toll from catastrophic floods rose to 205…

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What caused deadly floods in Spain? The impact of DANA explained

Catastrophic flash floods that have killed at least 95 people in Spain are caused by a destructive weather system in which cold and warm air meet and produce powerful rain…

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