These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Monday April 10, 2023

A British man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Spain after his wife fell from a balcony in the popular tourist destination of Benidorm. The 36-year-old woman is said to be in critical condition after plunging six storeys from their hotel late on Saturday night. Emergency services were called and the man, aged 40, was taken into custody while police investigate the circumstances of the fall. The couple were staying at the Rio Park hotel and the man will appear before a judge in a private preliminary hearing to determine if he will be held in custody or released pending further investigations.

Spain's Jon Rahm has won the 87th Masters at Augusta National, paying tribute to the late Seve Ballesteros in the process. On what would have been Ballesteros' 66th birthday, Rahm became the fourth Spanish winner at Augusta National after Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia. Rahm's father took up golf after watching Ballesteros captain Europe to victory in the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, and Rahm believes that without that experience, he may not be where he is today. Rahm finished 12 under par, four shots clear of Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka. Rahm's final par was very much a Seve par, unintentionally testifying to the late golfer's influence on his game.

New research suggests that people were getting high on hallucinogenic drugs in Spain as far back as 3,000 years ago. Scientists found that hair from a burial site in Menorca contained substances derived from plants and bushes, and that these substances would have induced delirium and hallucinations. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, provide Europe's oldest direct evidence of people taking hallucinogenic drugs. The substances were found at the Es Càrritx cave, a ritual and funerary site for about 600 years, until 800 BCE. Researchers believe that the substances may have been used as part of rituals held at the cave, potentially involving shamans who could control the side-effects of the drugs.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Saturday April 8, 2023

A disturbing case has emerged in the Madrid town of Colmenar Viejo, where a well-known and respected doctor and his wife have been arrested for physically punishing and malnourishing their eight children, and confining them to a filthy room. The father, who works at a Madrid hospital, is alleged to have abused his wife as well. The children were being cared for by the state and the mother has been served with a restraining order. The arrests followed a teacher’s report that the children had missed a lot of school, and that the father mistreated the mother, who also allegedly neglected the children. The state of the entire house was described as “shocking” with the only clean room being the father’s office.

Heineken, the Dutch beer company, has announced that it will be launching Spain's top-selling draught beer, Cruzcampo, in pubs across the UK. The beer, which is brewed in Britain, will only be available on tap and will be exclusively sold in pubs. Cruzcampo has gained popularity in Spain due to its attractive low price, and Heineken claims that it has all the advantages of Spanish premium beers at an affordable price, making it a great quality experience for consumers. The launch of Cruzcampo will continue Heineken's commitment to supporting the on-trade, which is important in these times of financial uncertainty. To celebrate its launch in the UK, Cruzcampo is running a promotion in bars across the country until May 14, offering the chance for one lucky winner to host a massive Spanish fiesta in their pub, complete with authentic food, entertainment, and of course, lager.

The City of Málaga has set its sights on becoming Africa's sustainable tourism mentor. The city's bid to host Expo 2027 is based on sharing sustainable tourism practices with several African countries, which would benefit from Malaga's 30-year transformation from one of the "ugliest, dirtiest, and worst cities in the world" to a cultural and heritage tourism hub. Málaga's head of tourism, Jonathan Gomez Punzon, said the city had demonstrated advanced sustainable tech initiatives, which he outlined as part of its proposed Expo 2027 bid project. This could lead to a successful bid and, ultimately, the first Expo hosted in Africa.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Thursday April 6, 2023

Spanish authorities have arrested a Ukrainian and a Russian on suspicion of smuggling military aeronautical equipment to Russia, defying an EU embargo linked to the Ukraine war. The suspects were arrested in the northern Basque Country in an operation by police and customs investigators to stop an "imminent" shipment to Russia. The suspects were running a Spanish company that was evading existing export controls, thereby committing a smuggling offence. Investigators discovered a network to supply military equipment to Moscow's aeronautical sector with a "profound knowledge of transportation logistics." The network had designed a sophisticated system of international customs documentation that allowed it to ship goods "to countries not facing an embargo when in reality the destination was Russia." The raid resulted in the seizure of documentation, computer equipment, and two high-end vehicles.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has stressed the importance of his side putting in a complete performance in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barcelona. The Spanish giants trail 1-0 from last month's first leg, but Ancelotti has said that his team must remain calm and play a complete game with and without the ball. While Real have lost their last three games against Barca, Ancelotti believes his team can win without changing their system, saying small details are where they can surprise their opponents. Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has warned his team to be cautious of a "hurt" Madrid side seeking revenge.

Spanish TV star Ana Obregón has revealed that her surrogate baby was fathered by her late son, who died of cancer at the age of 27. In an interview with ¡Hola! magazine, Obregón explained that her son's final wish was to have a child of his own, and before his death, he had stored a sample of his sperm in New York. The birth mother who carried the baby is reportedly a woman of Cuban origin living in Florida. Obregón's revelation that she had a baby by surrogacy in the US had caused controversy in Spain, where surrogacy is illegal. However, adopting a child born abroad is lawful. Obregón sees herself as the baby's mother, even if she is biologically her granddaughter, and plans to register the baby at the Spanish consulate before flying to Madrid.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Wednesday April 5, 2023

Spain's prime minister, Petro Sanchez, has called for Europe to "re-industrialize" in order to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on third countries for energy and raw materials. This comes as Europe seeks to be more "strategically autonomous" following Russia's war in Ukraine. However, Sanchez emphasized that this push doesn't mean reverting to economic protectionism. He also highlighted the need for the EU to reach out to key regions, such as the Caribbean, Latin America, and nations on its southern periphery. Additionally, the reduction of coal use in energy generation and balancing out the cost of energy between producers and consumers are also a priority. Sanchez's comments came after talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who agreed that the EU should seek out alternative energy routes and pivot towards green energy. Both leaders also called for an overall agreement on dealing with migration, which is a key issue for front-line states such as Spain and Cyprus.

Good news for Spain's job market as unemployment fell to its lowest level in March since 2008. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits decreased by 1.6%, or 48,755 people, to 2,862,260. This marks the largest percentage fall for March since 2002. Even with international financial market instability, unemployment fell by 7.93% compared to March 2022, or 246,503 people. The services sector saw the largest decrease in unemployment with 42,789 people (-2.05%) dropping out of the job market, followed by construction, industry, and agriculture. For the first time in nine years, unemployment among young people under 25 also decreased, standing at 215,099. The number of job seekers decreased in all of Spain's Autonomous Communities, except Madrid. In addition, the number of permanent contracts increased by 46.82%, and the average Social Security enrollment gained 206,410 new members, its highest rise in March ever, with the hotel and catering industry seeing the largest influx of new members due to Easter Week hiring.

Spain has officially launched its own national space agency, the Agencia Espacial Española (AEE), with an initial budget of more than €700m. The agency will be based in Seville and will focus on guaranteeing Spain's strategic action in the field of space. This includes technological development and the use of space for areas such as security, Earth observation, geolocation, and telecommunications. Minister for Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, has also made €45m available to fund the development of a domestic microlauncher, which is seen as the commercial future of the space sector. The launch of the Spanish Space Agency is a major boost to the country's spacetech industry and startups such as PLD Space, Zero 2 Infinity, ienai GO, and SATLANTIS.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Tuesday April 4, 2023

In a bid to encourage travel, Spain's main rail operator Renfe has announced that passengers can now apply for a free travel pass that will allow them to travel for free on Cercanías, Rodalies, and Media Distancia services between May 1 and August 31. Users of Renfe's Avant trains can also enjoy a 50% discount on new routes. To obtain the free pass, passengers can use the Rene Cercanías application, Renfe's website, or get it from train stations and vending machines after registering. Passengers will need to pay a deposit of 10 or 20 euros, which is refundable at the end of the four-month period, provided they have taken at least 16 trips. Renfe has implemented certain control measures to prevent abuse of the system, such as allowing only four trips per day on the same route and suspending the pass of passengers who don't cancel unused seats.

Spanish police have arrested 29 people and are investigating another 13 for allegedly scamming tourists out of thousands of euros by renting out non-existent holiday apartments. The operation, dubbed "Rent Scam," was launched after officers noticed a surge in complaints related to fake rentals. The fraudsters reportedly advertised properties they had photographed but did not own on well-known online forums at prices much lower than market rates. The suspects then demanded upfront payments, which were transferred by victims to bank accounts operated by the criminal organisation. The investigation revealed a complex organisation that involved several cells responsible for various steps of the scam. Officers have seized computers, electronic devices and documentation, and blocked more than 75 fraudulent bank accounts.

More than 1,000 staff at the UK passport offices are on strike between April 3 and May 5, which could affect the processing of travel documents for passengers travelling to Spain. The industrial action comes at a crucial time with Easter and two Bank Holiday weekends just around the corner, and the summer season on the horizon. The Public and Commercial union representing passport office workers across the UK has warned that the strike will have a "significant impact" on the processing of travel documents. While the British government has assured that processing should not be unduly delayed, travel experts advise passengers to check their passport expiry dates now and plan ahead to avoid potential bottlenecks. The eight passport offices participating in the strike are in Glasgow, Durham, Liverpool, Southport, Peterborough, London, Newport and Belfast.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Friday March 31, 2023

Spanish police and the Garda’s National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau carried out a joint operation targeting a Sligo gang led by crime boss Barry Young in Alicante, Spain. The searches targeted an international drugs gang with ties to Young, who recently pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organization and is currently awaiting sentencing. The raids were carried out with the support of the Criminal Assets Bureau. Young is regarded as one of the biggest players on the drug scene outside Ireland with ties to major gangs including the ‘Mr Big’ network in Dublin.

The birth of a baby by a 68-year-old actress via an American surrogate has sparked outrage and political debate. Although surrogate pregnancies are banned in Spain, children from such pregnancies born abroad can be registered. The ruling Socialist party has said it will look into toughening legislation covering surrogate pregnancies after it was revealed that soap star Ana Obregon used a surrogate mother in Florida to carry the child. The leftist United We Can coalition partner called surrogate pregnancies a "form of violence against women", while the Socialist Treasury Minister described the practice as "exploitation of a woman's body." The main opposition conservative Popular Party announced that it was open to debating legalizing surrogacy, provided payment was not involved. The fact that it concerned Obregon seemed to generate as much controversy as the issue of surrogacy itself.

The drop in energy prices has led to a rapid fall in inflation rates in Germany and Spain. German consumer prices rose 7.8% YoY on a harmonised basis in March, down from the previous month's rate of 9.3%. However, the figures were still higher than the 7.5% forecast by economists polled by Reuters. Spain's annual inflation rate almost halved to 3.1% for March from 6% the previous month. Despite this, investors are betting that the ECB will have to raise interest rates in May due to the fact that core consumer price inflation, which excludes energy and food prices, has risen in Germany and only slightly fallen in Spain.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Thursday March 30, 2023

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss economic and trade ties between the two countries, as they celebrate half a century of diplomatic relations. However, analysts predict that the real topic of conversation will be the fate of Ukraine, with Spain about to join international efforts to end the Russian invasion. As Europe's first major land war since World War II continues, Spain has been thrust into the spotlight as a possible diplomatic interlocutor in the conflict. Sánchez is expected to push for a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine that respects its territorial integrity. The world, he says, should listen to China’s plan for peace, as the country is a global actor.

Renewable energy investors are taking the Spanish government to court in London over lost subsidies, with the outcome of the $125 million lawsuit having implications for clean energy financing across the EU. The case, involving investors from the Netherlands and Luxembourg, centers around a solar plant in southern Spain, which was promised subsidies to encourage growth in renewable energy production. However, the Spanish government controversially slashed the payments without notice after the 2008 financial crisis. Spain has been sued more than 50 times over the retroactive changes, but has not paid out despite losing more than 20 cases. The dispute risks shaking confidence in the EU's investment climate for clean energy, which is already being affected by a new U.S. law offering incentives for homegrown green technology.

Spain's new coach, Luis de la Fuente, is feeling the heat after a lackluster win and a disappointing loss in his first two games in charge. Spain managed to scrape a 3-0 win against Norway in their opening qualifying match for the 2024 European Championship, but their performance was far from convincing. They followed that up with a 2-0 loss to Scotland, which has put De la Fuente under pressure to show significant improvement in their next game. Despite having nearly 70% possession, Spain managed only three shots on target against Scotland, which is a worrying sign for a team that has traditionally focused on possession-based football. De la Fuente replaced Luis Enrique after the team's elimination in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar, and he has pledged to make scoring a priority for the national team. However, his early results suggest that he has a lot of work to do to get Spain back to its best. The next few games will be crucial for De la Fuente, and he will be under heightened scrutiny when Spain faces Italy in the Nations League on June 15.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Wednesday March 29, 2023

Spain's competition watchdog, the CNMC, has launched a disciplinary case against Google for allegedly engaging in anti-competitive practices that affect Spanish news agencies and publishers. The investigation will look into whether Google abused its dominant position in the Spanish market and imposed unfair conditions on press publishers. The proceedings involve Google LLC, Google Ireland Ltd, Google Spain, S.L., and their parent company Alphabet Inc. The case was initiated after a complaint was filed by the Spanish Reproduction Rights Centre (CEDRO). The investigation is expected to last for 18 months, during which both sides will have the opportunity to present their arguments. A spokesperson for Google Spain said that the company is willing to address any questions the CNMC may have and works constructively with publishers.

Spain is gearing up for a record-breaking tourist season this year, but the country's hospitality sector is struggling to find enough workers to meet the demand. While prices are projected to rise by up to 20% this summer, a lack of trust and enthusiasm among workers for the hospitality industry, fueled by the pandemic, is creating a labor shortage. The Spanish Hotel Alliance reports that bookings for Easter Week are up 20 points from last year, and the sector is expected to exceed 90% occupancy this summer. But the country will need at least 60,000 additional workers in the tourism and hospitality industry, according to human resources company Randstad. Leading companies such as Meliá are scouring social networks for young talent, while hospitality schools in Madrid report that graduates are guaranteed a job if they want one.

In some good news for conservation efforts, a Spanish zoo has successfully bred five Komodo dragon hatchlings, the first of their kind in the country in ten years. The hatchlings were born after their mother, Ora, laid 12 eggs in August last year. The eggs were artificially incubated over a seven-month period, and five were selected to hatch. The tiny hatchlings are currently lighter than a lemon and shorter than a shoebox, but will one day grow to be nearly 3 meters long and weigh up to 70 kilos. Komodo dragons are an endangered species, with only around 1,500 specimens remaining in habitats threatened by climate change. In captivity, the hatchlings will be monitored by vets until they are mature enough to be presented to the public.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Tuesday March 28, 2023

Spanish firefighters have made progress in containing the country’s first major fire of the year, which has ravaged 3,800 hectares of mainly forest since Thursday. Over 500 firefighters backed by 20 water-dropping aircraft battled the blaze on Monday near Villanueva de Viver, local officials said. The fire broke out near the eastern village, where unseasonably warm temperatures neared 30 degrees Celsius. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the blaze proved “the climate emergency exists”. Spain is experiencing long-term drought after three years of below-average rainfall. Climate change amplifies droughts that create ideal conditions for wildfires to spread out-of-control and inflict unprecedented material and environmental damage.

Spain is quickly emerging as a leader in foodtech innovation, with over 400 foodtech startups operating in the country and attracting increasing support from incubators and corporates. While the country has long been known as a major contributor to the global food economy, it has only recently become recognized for its potential in technology-based agrifood transformation. Spain's ideal testing ground for initiatives around soil improvement, water management, controlled environment agriculture, and robotics, along with its strong co-packing industry, has attracted international investors and corporates, leading to a 9.3% increase in foodtech investment in 2022. Collaboration among key players in the agrifoodtech ecosystem has been a crucial factor in accelerating the growth and development of disruptive technologies. With public and private entities creating new and innovative solutions to address various challenges in the sector and increasing government support, the Spanish foodtech ecosystem is poised for incredible growth and is on the brink of a revolution.

The Spanish government has implemented stricter regulations on ship-to-ship oil transfers off its shores after an increase in activity in the area. Oil tankers will now need authorization from the closest Spanish port captaincy to carry out these operations, even outside territorial waters. Additionally, boats servicing these tankers loaded with crude oil or other chemicals will also need specific authorization. This move comes after the Group of Seven nations imposed a price cap on Russian oil and the European Union banned the import of Russian crude and oil products, leading to more ship-to-ship operations. However, these transfers have become a safety concern, with Spanish authorities intercepting several oil tankers suspected of spilling oil into the Mediterranean near Barcelona and the Canary Islands.

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These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Monday March 27, 2023

Spanish officials have warned against so-called "fire tourism" as a wildfire rages in the eastern part of the country. More than 500 firefighters and 20 planes and helicopters have been battling the blaze for four days since it broke out near Villanueva de Viver in the Valencia region. However, police have spotted 14 cyclists near the scene trying to get a closer look, posing risks to themselves and disrupting firefighting efforts. The fire has destroyed over 4,000 hectares of forest and forced 1,700 villagers to evacuate their homes. One firefighter sustained a minor injury while fighting the blaze.

Residents who were forced to evacuate due to Spain's first major wildfire of the year have recounted leaving their homes and animals behind. The blaze scorched more than 4,000 hectares of forest and forced 1,700 villagers to leave their homes in the Valencia and Aragon regions. More than 500 firefighters supported by 20 planes and helicopters are working to bring the blaze under control near Villanueva de Viver. The unusually dry winter across parts of southern Europe has raised concerns that there could be a repeat of last year's devastating wildfires. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which police believe may have been started by a spark from a machine used to gather brushwood.

The Spanish government is facing criticism over allegations that police officers infiltrated far-left and green groups, and used sexual relationships to gain information. The scandal was first reported in January by Catalan media La Directa, which revealed that a police officer going by the name of Daniel Hernández had sexual relations with members of a Barcelona squat and far-left movements since 2020. Six women have filed a complaint against the officer, accusing him of sexual abuse. The scandal deepened when climate activist group Extinction Rebellion said it had been infiltrated by a female police officer who had sexual relations with at least one member. This case echoes the UK's Kate Wilson, who was deceived into a sexual relationship with an undercover officer for nearly two years. Last year, a tribunal ruled that the police had violated her human rights.

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