Italy
529 newsThe focus is on why developments there matter for Spain, Spanish residents abroad, foreign communities in Spain and readers tracking international news.
León XIV sets a gradual return after lung surgery
León XIV appeared at the Vatican after leaving hospital and said he would resume work gradually. About 35,000 people gathered at plaza de San Pedro; the Santa Sede has not confirmed whether he will attend Wednesday’s audience.
EU budget talks sharpen divide over 2028-2034 plan
Ireland’s revised draft puts the 2028-2034 EU budget at €1.62 trillion, €141 billion below the Commission’s opening offer. Spain and 16 partners want a larger plan as Germany and the Netherlands push for deeper cuts.
Spain and Italy align plans to end Schengen checks
Rome has extended its temporary controls to match Spain’s 22 October deadline. Interior ministers now have a short window to agree on ending them.
Portillo Wins Spain’s 2026 Performing Arts Prize for Young Audiences
José Antonio Portillo Vesga has won Spain’s 2026 National Performing Arts for Children and Young People Prize, worth €30,000. The jury singled out Museo del Tiempo, where visitors bury objects and log their locations on a map using QR codes.
RBE shareholders line up a €2.5 billion takeover plan
Gregorio Jiménez is assembling a majority bloc for Restaurant Brands Europe. The proposed deal could value the group at up to €2.5 billion including debt.
Oil surge and rising debt yields drag Ibex 35 lower
The Ibex 35 drops 1.17% as oil moves above $100 a barrel and government debt yields rise. Spanish banks are watching credit demand closely, but lending volumes remain healthy for now.
Electricity prices crash in Spain as midday power goes free
On October 8, Spanish electricity prices have dropped sharply, with midday hours on the wholesale market costing nothing. Households can save if they shift their usage to these hours, but the relief may not last.
AI powered road sensors target illegal overtaking in Europe
A new generation of AI driven traffic radars is now monitoring overtaking violations on European roads. These advanced sensors, already active in Italy, automatically record illegal maneuvers and promise to reshape enforcement and driver behavior.
Spain's Wind-Powered Sled Heads Into Antarctica's Interior
Ramón Larramendi is due to lead an 85-day crossing of Antarctica from 18 October. The wind-powered vehicle will carry 16 research projects across 3,400 kilometres of largely unstudied ice.
El Prado brings Cristina de Suecia's collection into focus
Room 74 now displays 17 sculptures from Cristina de Suecia's collection, up from nine. The Prado has also made the Room of the Muses a permanent focus for the queen's collecting life in Rome.
Jencore opens its renewable construction business to outside clients
Jencore has signed its first disclosed contract outside Audax, an agreement with Heliades Energy to develop around 5 MW in Italy. Four former OHLA executives will lead the expansion, which targets 150 MW for outside clients by 2027.
France keeps investors focused as Spain heads to early elections
Spain's early election adds political risk. Investors are watching France more closely as debt sustainability worsens and bond spreads widen across Europe.
Meningitis warning reaches only a minority of Spanish families
Only 27% of Spanish parents know meningitis can become fatal within hours. Awareness is even lower among teenagers despite the risk of lasting damage.
Vallecas stadium vandalised as masked men surround the directors' box
Rayo Vallecano says parts of its stadium were damaged before the Trofeo de Vallecas. Masked men later surrounded the directors' box during the match against Cagliari.
Gonzalo Suárez leaves behind a cult classic in Remando al viento
Gonzalo Suárez's Remando al viento became a rare Spanish cult film. Its international cast, six Goya wins and 58-week Madrid run still define its unusual place in Spanish cinema.
Spain faces intermittent shortages of transdermal hormone treatments
Lenzetto shortages are disrupting access to transdermal hormone treatments in Spain. Alternative patches are under pressure as regulators seek more supply and clinical guidance.
Madrid stages Creduto Morto in an Italian comedy revival
Disparate Pomodoro brings Creduto Morto to Madrid for five performances in October and November. The show turns a forced-marriage plot into a physical comedy rooted in Italian theatre.
Charlie tests Mars technology in Almería desert
Operations for the six-wheeled Charlie rover were run from Italy during trials in Spain's Tabernas desert. The campaign tests systems planned for ExoMars Rosalind Franklin, including navigation when Earth cannot respond at once.
Alessandro Lequio steps away from television and finds new freedom
Alessandro Lequio has reemerged in Madrid after a year away from television. He describes his new chapter as fulfilling, focusing on family and personal well-being while moving his commentary to Instagram.
Italy Extends Spain Travel Checks Over Ceuta Migration Surge
Italy is extending airport and port checks on travellers from Spain. Madrid is responding with the same measure against arrivals from Italy until 8 October.
Almería puts Mars landing gear through its final test
A Spanish-built landing system is entering its final qualification stage. ESA will test a Mars rover prototype in Almería before the 2028 mission.
Olise strikes late as France edges Belgium in high-stakes clash
A dramatic solo run from Michael Olise in the 88th minute handed France a 1-0 win over Belgium. Despite a heavily rotated lineup, Zidane's team dominated possession and chances, but only broke through at the very end. The result puts France at the top of their Nations League group ahead of their next match against Italy.
Telma Ortiz steps into the spotlight with pride for Leonor and Sofía
Telma Ortiz, usually reserved, has publicly shown her support for her royal nieces Leonor and Sofía. Her recent appearances in Madrid and Marbella reveal a woman balancing family loyalty, personal transformation, and a renewed commitment to humanitarian work.
Investors demand crisis-era returns on Western government debt
The 10-year US Treasury yield has moved above 5%, while European debt has crossed key thresholds. Fiscal pressure, inflation and geopolitical risks are pushing investors to demand more from governments.
Manon Lescaut reaches Teatro Real without a breath of fresh air
Teatro Real opened its 2026-27 season with Puccini's Manon Lescaut on 23 September 2026. Nicola Luisotti led a strong orchestra, but the cast and predictable staging never fully caught fire.
Olive oil is still the real gold of the Mediterranean
For more than two thousand years, olive oil has been more than just food in the Mediterranean. Its story runs from ancient Roman trade to today's global markets, shaping land, tradition, and even suspicion. Its influence keeps growing.
Guardia Civil tracks millions in Aldama hydrocarbon fraud across Europe and Asia
Spanish investigators have traced millions of euros from a major hydrocarbon fraud through a maze of companies and crypto accounts. The case now stretches from Portugal and Ireland to China, Italy, and Germany.
Milan Fashion Week puts human creativity on trial
Milan Fashion Week opened with robots and AI-designed collections. Vogue World turned the Italian capital into a stage for a dispute over craftsmanship, automation and the future of creative work.
Spain's Davis Cup route to Bolonia is set
Spain will open its Final 8 campaign against Austria in Bolonia on 24 November. David Ferrer's team could bring back its leading singles and doubles players before the November showdown.
Aitana brings Spain to Vogue World 2026 in Milan
Aitana joined Vogue World 2026 in Milan in a white Fendi look. The event brought fashion stars and performers together around Italian craftsmanship, technology and a livestream watched around the world.
Spanish EF-18Ms Escort Russian Surveillance Aircraft Over the Baltic
Two Spanish EF-18M fighters identified and escorted a Russian surveillance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic on 22 September 2026. The aircraft had no flight plan, its transponder was off and it had not contacted civil air traffic control.
Sondra Radvanovsky plans her exit while her voice is still at its peak
Sondra Radvanovsky returns to Madrid for Manon Lescaut and plans to leave staged opera while her voice remains at its peak. She will continue singing in concerts, recitals and concert performances of opera.
Bizum Pay reaches 20 million users as Spanish banks widen access
CaixaBank, Bankinter and Unicaja have opened Bizum Pay to more customers. Nearly 20 million people can now use it in physical shops, with 1.6 million businesses connected to the service.
Travel insurance grows as tourists prepare for a riskier journey
Travel insurance is growing by around 5% a year as war risks, natural disasters and transport failures change what tourists expect. Heymondo forecasts a 40% rise in premiums and says it will insure more than two million travellers this year.
Europe Recognises Anti-Drug Officers as High-Risk Professionals
The European Parliament has recognised police, border and customs officers fighting drug trafficking as high-risk professionals. The measure also covers port workers, fishermen and others exposed to violence from criminal networks.
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