Stories from Madrid · Spain

Retired Colonel Diego Pérez de los Cobos appeared before the court responsible for overseeing reserved funds. Pérez de los Cobos testified that he managed the total amount of money provided to the cashier. He stated he did not receive the specific breakdown of the budget items.

Spanish combat pilots are scheduled to begin training with Hürjet aircraft starting in 2029. The first deliveries of the aircraft are expected to commence in 2028. The planes are slated to be actively used during the 2029-2030 training period, with a total of 30 aircraft planned for Spain between 2030 and 2035. Spain plans to integrate 30 Hürjet aircraft into its air force inventory between 2030 and 2035. This follows previous announcements regarding Hürjet pilot training starting in 2029. The initiative is designed to replace the nation's aging F-5 aircraft fleet.

Spain will invite Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to the American Summit scheduled for November in Madrid. Spain has formally requested that Brussels lift the veto against Rodríguez. The move follows political discussions regarding previous statements made by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez about Rodríguez. The invitation has brought the topic back into current political discourse. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced from the Dominican Republic that Spain will invite Delfi Rodríguez to the Ibero-American Summit. Albares stated that Rodríguez will be treated with the same status as the president of any other country. The summit is scheduled to take place in Madrid on November 4 and 5, 2026. He stated that the invitation follows the practice of inviting those with international representation. The announcement was made by Pilar Cisneros.

Spain lost more than 170,000 jobs during the first quarter of the year, according to data from the National Statistics Institute. Consequently, market expectations suggest global central bank policy focus may shift. Haicheng Si Tong reported raw material costs increased by over 30 percent. The central bank is constrained by limited policy space and cannot follow independent economic patterns. Analysts suggest the Bank of Japan is being forced to react to external geopolitical shocks. This situation mirrors challenges faced by the US Federal Reserve, which must balance inflation control with employment and economic stability. Solar power equipment orders have seen a recent surge in Dusseldorf, Germany. This trend comes as more citizens seek energy self-sufficiency to cope with rising electricity and fuel costs.

Nearly 20% of companies in Spain report they do not know if they are using artificial intelligence correctly or in compliance with regulations. The request excludes protected personal data but focuses on the types of work-generated data used for training. Current regulations exist but are reportedly underutilized by both individuals and trade unions. Workers' voices are reportedly being recorded to train bots intended to replace human staff in contact centers. The source noted that these recordings are used to create machines that can mimic human greetings and interactions. A judge, García Castillo, is conducting an investigation that has implicated members of the Ministry of the Interior. The investigation involves allegations of attempted evidence instruction.

Pérez de los Cobos has seen his function as head of reserved funds reduced within the Secretariat of State for the Interior cabinet. His role has shifted to documentary control and cashier-like duties.

A group of doctors at Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid have successfully eliminated tremors in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. A novel treatment called HIFU uses ultrasound to create lesions in brain areas responsible for tremors.

The Madrid City Council has activated its flood action plan due to forecasts of torrential rain and storms. The 112 security and emergency agency has activated the pre-emergency phase of the Special Civil Protection Plan in Madrid. An orange alert for flooding due to rain and storms is in effect for the metropolitan area and surrounding zones from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Increased traffic is reported on the A-1 entering the city and the A-3 exiting. Difficult traffic conditions are noted on the M-40 near TresAguas, Villaverde, and towards the A-4. This action follows weather warnings from the State Meteorological Agency regarding risks of flooding from rain and storms. An orange alert is active for the metropolitan area in the Lenares zone, alongside a yellow alert.

The Madrid Health Department reported an 11 million euro economic loss due to recent medical strikes. This figure includes 9 million euros from hospitals and 1.9 million euros from primary care services.