Stories from Madrid · Spain

Spain is set to become the first country to apply a treatment based on the partial reprogramming of human cells to treat knee osteoarthritis. The treatment is described as having biomedical and translational interest.

The Spanish government could take control of housing competencies currently held by autonomous communities. This potential move involves applying Article 155 to the Community of Madrid. The government considers current community actions to be detrimental to citizens. The discussion involves whether the central government should intervene to enforce housing measures. The Madrid City Council inspection department successfully converted 323 tourist-use properties back to residential use in 2025. Inspections increased nearly threefold compared to 2024 levels. Sanctions related to these activities also rose by 27%. These figures are scheduled to be presented this Thursday during the Madrid City Council Activity Agency's Board of Governors meeting.

A criminal organization has defrauded 14 victims of 1.26 million euros using a phone scam. Scammers pose as police officers or relatives, claiming a family member has been involved in a fatal accident, such as hitting a mother and baby.

The trial for the Ávalos case has lasted longer than initially anticipated. Testimony from witnesses such as Sábaros has complicated efforts by the PSOE to minimize the impact of the proceedings. The trial has involved statements from Caldo García regarding unrecognized payments and allegations from Víctor Laldama concerning alleged illegal financing. The government has issued multiple denials following these allegations.

Car exports in Spain have declined by an average of 5 percent. Industrial production in the sector has fallen by 3 percent, leading to an accumulation of vehicle inventories.

The Productivity Council released a report stating that Spanish productivity growth has doubled in the last five years. The report notes that productivity began recovering in 2014 during the administration of Mariano Rajoy. Previously, the growth rate averaged 0.5% until 2019.

The non-renewal of Almudena L'Astra at the Superior Prosecutor's Office of Madrid has been interpreted by some as a political vendetta or purge. L'Astra previously provided relevant testimony in the trial of former Attorney General Álvaro García Hortiz.

A new force has been established to suppress gangs and will consist of 5,000 men. The group is authorized to detain and pursue killers, according to the report. The source did not specify the exact location of the force's operations within Spain.

The Spanish government will conduct a regularization process for immigrants involving approximately 750,000 applications. Experts estimate that roughly 30% of these applications will be denied.

The Spanish embassy in Madrid stated that members of the flotilla intercepted while heading to Gaza have proven connections to terrorism. The embassy reported that the individuals were disembarked in Crete, Greece, today.