The Spanish government is set to introduce a new national public transport pass in January 2026, offering unlimited travel on state-run trains and buses for €60 per month. A reduced rate of €30 will be available for individuals under 26. This initiative aims to reduce commuting costs and promote sustainable mobility across the country.
Police in Badalona, Spain, evicted approximately 400 mostly undocumented migrants from the abandoned B9 school building on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The eviction, ordered due to severe safety concerns and a judicial ruling, leaves many without immediate shelter. The building had been occupied since 2023, primarily by sub-Saharan migrants.
Spain is preparing for a significant winter storm, with meteorologists, including Jorge Rey, forecasting widespread rain, a sharp drop in temperatures, and potential heavy snowfall across various regions. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has also issued warnings, anticipating a decidedly wintery pattern leading up to Christmas.
Spain, Ireland, Belgium, and Luxembourg called on the European Union to leverage its influence with Israel to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Their joint appeal, made ahead of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting, highlighted severe shortages of aid and a fragile ceasefire, pushing for a lasting cessation of hostilities and unimpeded humanitarian access.
Spain's meteorological agency, AEMET, has issued a red weather alert for parts of Valencia and Andalucia as Storm Emilia brings torrential rain and a severe risk of flooding. Forecasts indicate rainfall could exceed 250mm in Valencia and 120mm in Almeria, prompting warnings of 'extreme risk' to life and flash floods.
Spanish universities are facing an urgent crisis in Health Sciences education, marked by an aging teaching staff and a significant lack of new professors. This shortage is exacerbated by precarious working conditions, including low salaries and temporary contracts, impacting the quality of medical training and contributing to a broader deficit of healthcare professionals in Spain.
Spain is experiencing a rapid and early acceleration of flu cases, with the national incidence rate doubling in a single week to 164.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This surge has already surpassed previous winter peaks, placing significant strain on healthcare services and prompting regional authorities to reintroduce mask mandates in some areas. Young children are particularly affected.
Women's World Cup champion Spain has solidified its position as the world's top team, widening its points lead over the second-placed United States in the latest FIFA Women's World Rankings, updated on December 11, 2025. Spain now holds 2094.891 points.
Spain's Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, José Antonio Santano, reiterated the government's strong commitment to developing the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) through the Mediterranean and Atlantic corridors. This initiative aims to enhance cross-border connections, with significant investments planned for rail, port, and road infrastructure to boost connectivity and sustainable mobility across the Iberian Peninsula and with the wider EU.
Plenitude has inaugurated its 150 MW Caparacena solar plant in Chimeneas, Granada, on December 9, 2025. This significant project, featuring over 274,000 bifacial modules, will generate approximately 320 GWh annually, expanding Spain's renewable energy infrastructure and bringing Plenitude's total installed capacity in the country to nearly 1.5 GW.
A 35-year-old man died in Torremolinos, Spain, on Sunday, December 7, after suffering cardio-respiratory arrest while being restrained by the National Police. The incident occurred inside an internet cafe on Calle Hoyos following an alleged violent robbery attempt, with the man reportedly in an 'advanced state of agitation'.
An illegal black market for popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro is thriving between Gibraltar and Spain's Costa del Sol. 'Narco-style couriers' exploit price differences and high demand, leading to the proliferation of potentially dangerous counterfeit medications and prompting investigations by Spanish authorities into public health risks and illegal distribution networks.
Women within Spain's Socialist Party (PSOE) are calling for a profound feminist transformation and an end to the protection of aggressors, intensified by recent sexual harassment allegations against a key party ally. The party's slow response to these claims has sparked outrage and deepened internal divisions, prompting demands for immediate referral of such cases to the prosecutor's office.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck near Fuengirola, Málaga, on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 10:38 AM local time. The tremor, with a deep epicenter of 78-79 km, was widely felt across Andalusia, prompting the activation of a pre-emergency protocol. No significant damage or injuries have been reported.
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I's recently released memoirs, 'Reconciliation,' have ignited significant controversy in Spain. The book includes favorable remarks about the late dictator General Francisco Franco, prompting strong reactions from government officials and reigniting public debate over the former monarch's legacy and the country's historical memory.
Spain has set a new tourism record in 2025, welcoming 85.6 million international visitors by October. This milestone reflects a significant economic boost, with tourist spending reaching €118.6 billion year-to-date and an average expenditure of €1,383 per visitor.
Former advisor Koldo García, embroiled in a corruption scandal, has alleged that Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, played a crucial role in the 2020 Air Europa bailout. García claims he witnessed discussions about compensating Gómez for her intervention, while official investigations into the matter continue in Spain.
Spain's Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party have shown consistent division regarding censure motions against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government. While Vox has initiated two such motions, the PP has either voted against or abstained, highlighting strategic disagreements on challenging the Socialist-led coalition.
A Panama-flagged merchant vessel, the 'Marine I', carrying 17 crewmembers, was successfully towed to the port of Málaga on Thursday night after being adrift for over ten days in the Strait of Gibraltar. The ship was reportedly abandoned by its Dubai-based owner, leaving the crew without fuel, water, or food.
Spain is implementing new or increased hotel taxes in popular regions, including the Balearic Islands and Santiago de Compostela. These measures, largely effective from 2025, aim to manage tourism flows, fund sustainable development, and maintain local infrastructure amidst growing visitor numbers.
