Stories from Madrid · Spain

Spanish employment figures exceeded 22 million for the first time, according to experts. Analysts noted that this figure may be inflated due to workers holding multiple affiliations in a single month.

A specialized center opened in Madrid on April 1 to support men who are victims of sexual assault. It operates with an annual budget exceeding 400,000 euros. The facility has already assisted seven men in the context of KEMSEX, a trend that has reportedly increased in recent years. Marisa Menéndez is associated with the center's operations. The center operates with a budget of 410,000 euros. It is designed to provide services to up to 100 men. The initiative was reported by Spanish media outlets including ABC, La Razón, and El País.

Unemployment in Spain decreased by 63,000 people during April. The decline is attributed to the Easter holiday period, particularly within the hospitality sector. Despite the drop, reports indicate a rise in precarious employment through part-time contracts. The exact number of permanent contracts remains unconfirmed.

Spain is expanding its sports betting coverage to include matches from the women's football league. The decision aims to increase visibility and provide more resources for the women's game. Betting grids will now include women's league matches during every championship matchday.

The Spanish government has approved a public employment offer for the current year. The initiative is part of the government's agenda to move forward with employment goals. The recruitment plan includes a specific focus on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity sectors. This announcement follows a period where 223,000 workers joined the Spanish labor market in the last month. The expansion comes amid discussions regarding labor market trends and seasonal shifts. The Spanish government has launched an offer for a total of 37,017 civil service and state labor positions. This initiative includes 6,200 new permanent posts. The move is intended to project a sense of normalcy despite ongoing political discussions regarding public accounts and parliamentary stability. Minister Bolaños defended the current parliamentary situation as complex but reasonable for completing the legislature.

Inmaculada Andrés, the mother of a woman murdered and raped in Spain, is calling for harsher penalties for minors. The request follows the release of a man who committed the crimes when he was 16 years old.

The Community of Madrid leads Spain in artificial intelligence usage among companies with more than 10 employees, according to digitalization counselor Miguel López. The adoption rate stands at 30%, which is 9 percentage points above the national average.

The Madrid City Council's plan to eliminate illegal tourist apartments is seeing limited success. According to data from the urban planning department, only 323 apartments were converted back to residential use last year. This follows 293 conversions the previous year, representing a total recovery of approximately 4% of the 15,000 illegal units operating in the capital. The figures were released ahead of the Agency's Governing Council meeting. This action is part of efforts to regulate the housing market. Opposition leaders have criticized the regional government and Mayor Almeida's team for failing to regulate the proliferation of these units.

The Spanish women's football league is estimated to receive approximately 6 million euros in funding. This allocation comes from the 'quiniela' betting revenue, which has seen a decrease in collections due to the rise in sports betting. The funds will be distributed among all teams in the league. Pedro Sánchez announced the development via a message on X. The total revenue collected by the quiniela is approximately 160 million euros. The Spanish football league could potentially have five teams in the Champions League and up to nine teams participating in European competitions next season. This scenario is contingent on Rayo Vallecano winning their final match against Crystal Palace.

Borja Semper, the national spokesperson for the People's Party (PP), has returned to public life today. Semper had been away for several months due to a cancer diagnosis. Alberto Núñez Feijóo is reportedly contacting Semper following his return.