Madrid
The European Commission has unveiled a plan to connect all European capitals with high-speed rail lines by 2040. This involves expanding existing lines and creating new ones, allowing trains to reach speeds of over 250 km/h.
Colombian President Petro's plane was delayed in Madrid after an American airline refused to refuel his Boeing 737-700 in Cabo Verde. The incident was a manifestation of the US Treasury Department's sanctions against the Colombian leader over alleged ties to drug trafficking.
The "Junts" party, an ally of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has decided to break ties with the ruling party over unfulfilled promises regarding Catalonia's powers, language policy, and amnesty. "Junts" leader Carles Puigdemont announced a party member vote on the final decision.
Spain's National Police have found and identified Pablo Picasso's 1919 painting "Still Life with Guitar," which had been considered missing since October 3. The artwork, insured for 600,000 euros, was found in Madrid after an investigation launched on October 10.
Spanish police have arrested seven people who stole more than 1,100 chairs from restaurants in Madrid and its suburbs over two months. The stolen chairs, worth 60,000 euros, were resold in Spain, Morocco, and Romania.
A charity match was held in Spain to support the "Black Winter Group" warriors from the HUR's "Timur Special Unit". The national team of Spanish friends of Ukraine and a team of Ukrainian veterans took part.
Spanish police are investigating the disappearance of Pablo Picasso's 1919 painting "Still Life with Guitar. " The work vanished during transportation to an exhibition at the CajaGranada Cultural Center.
Beijing called on Washington to stop the pressure and return to negotiations after US President Donald Trump's decision to increase tariffs on Chinese imports by 100% and tighten export controls. China stated that it would not hesitate to take retaliatory measures.
The final of the National Selection for Junior Eurovision 2025 will take place on October 12, and the winner will represent Ukraine in Tbilisi on December 13. Six finalists will compete for the right to represent the country, and the jury and viewers will determine the winner.
The Permanent People's Tribunal is holding its first International Forum in Madrid, examining human rights violations against women in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Activists and lawyers are presenting evidence, and a verdict is expected in December 2025.
In Madrid, four people died and three were injured due to a partial collapse of the internal structure of a building under construction. Among the dead are a manager and three workers from Mali, Guinea, and Ecuador.
The Madrid City Council, controlled by conservatives, recently approved a measure obliging medical centers to provide women seeking abortions with information about so-called “post-abortion trauma. ” In response, the government of socialist Pedro Sánchez announced its intention to include abortion rights in the constitution.
Thousands of protesters in European cities took to the streets after Israel intercepted a humanitarian flotilla. In Barcelona, shop windows were smashed, and in Italy, universities were blockaded, drawing criticism from the Minister of Defense.
Ukrainian citizens abroad can provide DNA samples for the identification of missing relatives at SE "Document" units in seven countries. The procedure includes submitting an application and collecting biological material for molecular genetic examination.
The US has reached an agreement with Chinese company ByteDance to lease the TikTok algorithm for the American market, which will allow the platform to continue operating without a full sale. ByteDance will create a duplicate of the algorithm, which will be transferred to a new enterprise under the control of American investors.
Technology company Oracle may join a consortium of firms that will allow TikTok to operate in the US. The final decision will be made by US President Trump and China's Xi Jinping this week.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the US would not impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods to stop purchases of Russian oil unless European countries impose high tariffs on China and India. Bessent emphasized the need for Europe to play a more active role in reducing Russian oil revenues and ending the war in Ukraine.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced an agreement with China on TikTok ownership after trade talks in Madrid. Details of the agreement will be finalized during Trump's conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
China accused Nvidia, a key AI chip supplier, of antitrust violations amid trade talks with the US.
The US and China are nearing a deal on TikTok, but its conclusion may depend on trade concessions from China. Negotiations in Madrid concern the sale of TikTok by Bytedance and broader economic issues.
Brent and WTI crude futures rose amid drone attacks on Russian refineries and growing fuel demand in the US. Investors are assessing the consequences of the attacks on oil and fuel exports from Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that modern Russian missiles fly five times faster than sound. They can reach London or Madrid in a matter of minutes, which makes the idea of greater security in Western Europe erroneous.
Ryanair plans to cancel another million seats on summer flights to Spain due to a conflict with operator Aena over increased fees. This will add to the 2 million seats already canceled in the winter schedule.
The UEFA Champions League final of the 2026/2027 season will take place on June 5, 2027, at the home arena of Madrid's Atlético – the Metropolitano. This will be the second Champions League final at this stadium and the sixth for Madrid overall.
Lady Gaga canceled her performance in Miami as part of The Mayhem Ball tour due to an "extremely strained" voice. Her doctor and vocal coach advised the singer not to continue the concert to avoid damaging her vocal cords.
The plane carrying the head of the Spanish government to Paris for the "Coalition of the Willing" meeting broke down. Pedro Sanchez returned to Madrid and promises to join the summit on security guarantees for Ukraine via video link.
British rock band Radiohead has announced a 2025 tour that will cover five European cities, including London and Madrid. These are the band's first live performances since 2018.
The ICMP is collecting DNA samples in Spain to search for missing Ukrainians. Applications will be accepted until September 18, 2025.
Ukrainian rapper Potap reported that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he has entered and exited Ukraine more than 14 times, using legal means. He noted that all funds earned abroad are directed to help the Ukrainian army.
Researchers from the UK have developed an artificial intelligence stethoscope that detects three heart diseases in 15 seconds. The device is significantly more effective than traditional methods, but is only recommended for patients with suspected heart disease.