Spain has emerged as a significant contributor to Eurozone job growth, with its employment reaching a record high of 22.39 million people in Q3 2025. Despite a slight uptick in the unemployment rate to 10.45% due to an expanding workforce, the country's labor market shows strong dynamism, particularly in the private and service sectors, bolstered by immigration and economic reforms.
Storm Benjamin, officially named by Meteo France, is currently impacting Spain with ferocious wind gusts up to 90 km/h, waves exceeding 7 meters, and heavy rainfall. Spain's national weather agency AEMET has issued Yellow, Orange, and Red warnings across numerous regions, affecting popular tourist destinations and urging caution.
The launch of the SpainSat NG II satellite, a crucial asset for Spanish government and military communications, has been delayed by 24 hours. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is now scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Storm Alice, a powerful DANA weather system, battered eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands between October 7 and 13, 2025. The storm brought torrential rainfall, causing severe flash flooding that trapped motorists, inundated homes, and led to extensive disruptions in air, rail, and road travel across regions including Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Alicante, and Ibiza.
Pavel Prozorov, the controlling shareholder of OctaFX, has been arrested in Spain by local authorities. The arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into an unauthorized forex trading platform accused of defrauding investors of billions and laundering funds across multiple countries.
Spain's Finance Minister María Jesús Montero is set to present a new financing model for Catalonia 'as soon as possible,' fulfilling commitments with Catalan political parties. The proposal aims for Catalonia to collect its own taxes, starting with personal income tax in 2026, marking a significant shift in regional fiscal autonomy.
Spain's meteorological agency, AEMET, issued a warning on October 19, 2025, for intense rainfall in Madrid. A cold front is expected to bring significant precipitation, with Tuesday anticipated to be a crucial day for widespread and heavier rains, potentially impacting traffic in the metropolitan area.
Thousands of forest firefighters from across Spain converged on Madrid on October 18, 2025, to protest precarious working conditions, low salaries, and the lack of effective implementation of recently approved laws. The demonstration highlighted demands for professional recognition, stable employment, and improved safety measures amidst a challenging wildfire season.
The Zaragoza City Council in Spain has faced widespread criticism after bestowing the 'Favorite Daughter of the City' honor upon the 'House of Palestine of Aragon,' an organization founded by Ibrahim Abayat, identified as a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. The Brigades are designated as a terrorist organization by several international bodies, and the decision has drawn strong condemnation.
Juan del Val has been awarded the prestigious Premio Planeta 2025 for his novel 'Vera, una historia de amor', a tale of passion and freedom. Ángela Banzas was named finalist for 'Cuando el viento hable'. The award, held in Barcelona, is the world's most lucrative literary prize.
Spain's Public Prosecutor's Office has formally opposed Judge Juan Carlos Peinado's decision to extend the investigation into Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, until April 2026. The prosecutor argues that cases triable by a popular jury are not subject to such time limits, intensifying the legal and political scrutiny surrounding the high-profile case.
Spain's agrifood sector is expanding in 2025, driven by improved weather, contained production costs, and strong export demand. Production and exports have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, contributing to job creation, despite challenges from extreme weather and international tariffs.
The Spanish government has launched a public tender for a new nationwide free-to-air Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) channel. This move aims to diversify audiovisual offerings and promote technological innovation, with applications open from October 20th to November 20th.
Valencia is under a red weather warning as Storm Alice, a DANA-type low-pressure system, unleashes torrential rains, with localized intensities surpassing 100mm in a single hour. The extreme weather has caused widespread flooding, significant travel disruptions, and emergency measures across eastern Spain, affecting regions including Catalonia, Murcia, and the Balearic Islands.
Spain marks its National Day, Día de la Hispanidad, on October 12 with a prominent military parade in Madrid, presided over by the Royal Family, and a variety of cultural events nationwide, commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to travel to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday to attend the signing ceremony of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The accord, brokered by international mediators, aims to establish a lasting peace, facilitate hostage and prisoner exchanges, and increase humanitarian aid to the region.
Spain's weather agency, AEMET, has issued a red alert for extraordinary danger due to heavy rains from Storm Alice in Alicante and Murcia. Up to 180 litres per square metre are forecast in 12 hours, leading to widespread school closures, travel disruptions, and warnings of severe flooding and flash floods across the Costa Blanca.
US President Donald Trump suggested Spain could be removed from NATO due to its low defense spending, calling the nation a 'laggard.' This follows Spain's refusal to commit to the alliance's new 5% GDP defense spending target, despite recently meeting the previous 2% benchmark.
Spain's Congress of Deputies has approved a new Sustainable Mobility Law, a crucial step towards modernizing transport, promoting decarbonization, and securing 10 billion euros in European recovery funds. The legislation aims to transform mobility with a focus on sustainability, digitalization, and social equity.
DANA 'Alice,' the first named high-impact DANA of the season, is bringing intense and persistent rainfall to eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands. Valencia and Alicante are under orange alerts, with rainfall exceeding 40 litres per square metre in some areas. Class suspensions have been enacted in Ibiza, Formentera, and parts of Murcia.
