Europe Spain A tide of tiny plastic balls washed ashore on Spain's north coasts; over 1000 bags of plastic granules had fallen into the sea from a cargo ship on 8 December and though volunteers are cleaning up, fears of a potential major environmental disaster remain
Europe Spain Masks will become compulsory in Spanish hospitals and health centres due to the increase in respiratory diseases; most of Spain's 17 autonomous regions objected, arguing that the measures should be recommended but not compulsory
Europe Spain The country ends its presidency of the European Union today to cede this role to Belgium
Europe Spain Tens of thousands of people gathered in Plaza de Cibeles square in Madrid to protest the highly controversial amnesty deal for Catalonia’s separatists that Pedro Sánchez agreed to in return for vital support to get elected PM again
Europe Spain Ongoing shortage of professional drivers is increasing problems for transport companies; as a need of approximately 15.000 truck drivers is estimated, ministries are working together to streamline regulations for foreign drivers
Europe Spain An investment of €1,4 billion in the areas around the Doñana National Park will encourage farmers to stop cultivating crops that are heavily dependent on water from underground aquifers, overexploited in recent years
Europe Spain The third quarter of this year closed with a new employment record of 21,3 million people, despite the general rise in unemployment, while youth figures remained well above an 'acceptable ceiling' by EU standards
Europe Spain Princess Leonor de Bourbon swore an oath on the Spanish Constitution on her 18th birthday; with that, she acquires the power to legitimately assume the functions of Queen should her father no longer be able to reign
Europe Spain Cepsa, Compañía Española de Petróleos, began developing projects for the construction and operation of biomethane production plants from agricultural and livestock waste to decarbonise its industrial activity replacing natural gas with this renewable gas
Europe Spain The city of Seville is introducing new laws to counter the unruly behaviour of people celebrating bachelor and bachelorette parties, allowing local police forces to prevent visitors from performing certain acts or wearing certain clothes
Europe Spain Nearly 50 European leaders took advantage of a summit held Thursday in Granada to underline their support for Ukraine
Europe Spain Colombian pop idol Shakira, who will stand trial in Barcelona in November for tax fraud, is facing a new investigation by prosecutors who allege she defrauded the Spanish tax office of €6,6 million
Europe Spain Cooperator Emma Igual, 32, died after a Russian attack hit the convoy she was traveling on in Ukraine; she is the first Spanish casualty in the ongoing war