Stories from Spain

Spanish National Police and Bavarian Police conducted a joint operation targeting a phone scam involving elderly victims. Scammers posed as relatives or police officers, claiming a family member was involved in a serious traffic accident.

Banco Sabadell completed the sale of 100% of the British entity TSB to Banco Santander for 2.9 billion pounds, approximately 3.3 billion euros. The transaction follows 10 months of processing.

Sandro Veronesi, the owner of Calzedonia, survived a plane crash in the Pyrenees. The individual was found lying on a meadow following the incident. The source described the survival as a miracle.

Medical professionals in Spain have been engaged in strikes and work stoppages since June of last year. The group stated they have reached a breaking point with the existing regulations. A potential strike is being discussed for the period of May 18 to May 22. The Ministry of Health has been criticized for not adequately communicating the gravity of the situation. The doctors stated they will not stop their work for the population despite the planned action. The strike is estimated to cause losses of approximately 200 million euros. Further strikes are expected to continue through May. A fifth week of strikes is planned for June 15 to 19 if no agreement is reached. The labor dispute has resulted in the cancellation of thousands of medical appointments and surgeries. Commentators noted a lack of will from both sides to reach a deal regarding current proposals.

A CIS survey indicates 55% of Spanish citizens believe artificial intelligence will cause an increase in unemployment. The report noted an increase in state requests following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mesa del Parlament will launch an investigation into Vox deputy Alberto Tarradas. The probe follows comments made during a plenary session regarding ERC deputy Najat Driouech. A Vox deputy, Alberto Tarradas, issued a warning to an Esquerra Republicana deputy during a session in the Catalan Parliament. Tarradas stated that the party would not deport the deputy for her actions, adding 'at least for now.' The deputy later described the comment as irony and apologized if anyone was offended. The incident occurred during a parliamentary session involving chants related to Muslim presence.

A businesswoman has alleged illegal funding involving a political party in Spain. A witness testified that Coldo received 7,000 euros in cash from the Socialist Party. The testimony regarding the source of the funds remains unverified.

Former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Pedro Sánchez are scheduled to attend the central May Day event in Malaga on May 1. Jesús Montero will also be present at the event. The gathering occurs alongside campaign preparations for the May 17 elections. Leaders of the UGTPP union organized a demonstration in Malaga to coincide with the start of the Andalusian electoral campaign. The protest focuses on issues including wages, public healthcare, housing, and democracy. Union leaders stated that tax cuts for billionaires result in wage reductions for workers. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in Istanbul during labor demonstrations.

Spain lost 170,000 jobs during the most recent quarter, according to macroeconomic data. A commentator noted that while AI is being used for translation, human workers spend time correcting AI errors for lower pay. The report was shared on May 1, Labor Day.

Major unions including UGT and CCOO organized demonstrations in Madrid on May 1. Protesters marched from Gran Vía to Plaza de España starting at 12:00 PM. The unions are demanding rights regarding wages, housing, and democracy.