Stories from Madrid · Spain

The heir of Mario Vargas Llosa has received a royal letter of succession for the title of Marquess of Vargas Llosa. The title was issued by King Felipe VI of Spain to fulfill the wishes of the Nobel laureate. The announcement was made via a social media message explaining the succession process. The heir of a title previously held by Juan Carlos has received a nobility title from King Felipe VI. The marquessate of Vargas Llosa, originally created in 2011 by King Juan Carlos I to honor Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, is passing to his heir. Álvaro Vargas Llosa stated that the title recognizes the author's contribution to literature and the Spanish language. The transfer follows more than a year since the death of the Peruvian author. The son currently leads the Vargas Llosa Chair and the International Foundation for Liberty.

Queen Letizia held a meeting with women at the Gypsy Secretariat foundation to discuss employment, education, and gender equality. The foundation was previously visited by the then-Princess of Asturias in 2008. The meeting took place in Spain.

Madrid regional president Ayuso announced the start of procedures to construct a new 42-kilometer southeast highway. The bypass will feature two lanes in each direction and will not require tolls. The project is expected to serve more than 120,000 residents.

Spanish Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports Milagros Tolón stated during a press conference that the 2030 World Cup final should be held in Spain. The tournament is being co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Tolón indicated that the Spanish government is actively working toward securing the Santiago Bernabéu stadium as the host venue. She specifically advocated for the Santiago Bernabéu stadium to host the match. While the specific city has not been confirmed, the push is to secure a Spanish host over other potential locations. She did not specify whether the final should be hosted in Madrid or Barcelona. When questioned by European press regarding the possibility of the final being held outside of Madrid, the minister said the necessity of the event taking place within the country.

Coldo García underwent questioning during the trial regarding the 'Mascarillas' case involving sanitary material procurement contracts during the pandemic. He alleged that efforts were made to destroy compromising documentation for the party. Coldo García stated in a Supreme Court declaration this morning that his actions were intended to assist José Luis Ábalos. He described his role as helping to manage daily tasks and alleviate the workload for Ábalos. García framed his cooperation as part of his personal nature to be helpful. The reports link the former goalkeeper to the Secretary General of the party and the Minister of Transport. The discussion involves his personal relationship with an individual named Jessica and her living situation in a shared apartment. García stated he has a coherent explanation for the financial records in question.

An international scientific milestone has been reached with the development of a specific biosecurity protocol to protect the Spanish pig industry from African Swine Fever. The protocol aims to mitigate risks within the livestock sector. The source described the protocol as 'orphan drug behavior' in the context of medical access.

Authorities uncovered a brothel in the Tetuan district that had been operating for 11 years. Women at the establishment were subjected to humiliating treatment and exploitation.

The Provincial Court of Madrid rejected a request to unify all open cases involving deaths in nursing homes during the pandemic into a single investigation. Lawyer Eduardo Ranz, representing affected families, stated that the consolidation aims to investigate shared facts across different residences. The move focuses on the potential political responsibility of three former high-ranking officials from the Ayuso government: Carlos Mur, Javier Martínez Peromingo, and Pablo Busca. Ranz noted that the consolidation might limit the scope of political responsibility regarding the original decision to approve the protocols. Ranz noted that while the cases are geographically scattered, the underlying facts across the different residences are identical.

The Gypsy Secretariat, a human rights organization, published a report regarding the situation of the Roma national minority in Spanish society. The source indicates that discrimination against the Roma by authorities persists despite their long-standing presence in Spain.

Mariano Barbacit allegedly continued to collect research funds for pancreatic cancer studies despite knowing a scientific journal had retracted his study. The Kris Foundation is currently reviewing the status of 3.6 million euros involved in the matter.