Judge wants Valencia's ex-leader to stand trial for "absolute negligence" in 2024 floods
A Spanish judge on Tuesday ordered Valencia's former regional president Carlos Mazón to stand trial for negligence over his handling of flash floods in 2024 that killed 230 people.
Mazón resigned in November 2025 after a year of intense scrutiny over his whereabouts on the day of the disaster, whose management is primarily a regional responsibility under Spain's decentralised political system.
Critics noted that on the day of the floods, Mazón spent several hours having lunch with a journalist while his government delayed sending mobile alerts to warn residents.
Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, who is investigating the regional government’s response, said there is evidence that Mazón showed "absolute negligence in the coordination and management" of the floods.
Mazón's decision to "retreat to a private dining room when faced with an extremely serious situation" was "a decisive factor in the deadly human toll", she added in her ruling.
Families of victims of Spain's deadliest natural disaster in a generation expressed outrage at a state funeral a year later, shouting "murderer" and "coward” as Mazón arrived.
Julio Iglesias sues Spain's Labour Minister for 'sexual abuser' claims
The lawyer of Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias ' lawyer on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Spain's Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz for labelling the elderly singer a "sexual abuser".
This came after two women who worked for Iglesias - a domestic worker and a physiotherapist - alleged they had suffered sexual and other forms of abuse while working at Iglesias's properties in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas in 2021.
Spanish prosecutors later shelved the complaint against, saying Spain's courts had no jurisdiction in the case.
The lawsuit against Díaz requests a conciliation hearing as a preliminary step to filing a criminal complaint for "public defamation and slander."
The lawyer points out that the Sumar politician labelled Iglesias a "sexual abuser" during a prime-time television interview and also on the social media platform Blue Sky.
Norway's King hospitalised in Tenerife
Norway's King Harald V, who recently celebrated his 89th birthday, has been taken to hospital for an infection and dehydration while on a private holiday in Tenerife, the royal palace said on Tuesday.
"His condition, given the circumstances, is satisfactory," a statement read.
The king -- the oldest of Europe's sovereigns -- marked his latest birthday on Saturday. He was admitted to the Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur on the island.
His personal doctor was due to travel to Tenerife to support the Spanish health services, with an initial health report due on Wednesday.
He and his wife, Queen Sonja, 88, are currently wintering on Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands off the coast of west Africa.
UK's stricter entry rules for Spaniards and other Europeans come into force
The UK first introduced its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in 2023, gradually rolling it out so that by April 2025 it was compulsory for anyone entering the UK - with the exception of those travelling on a UK or Irish passport.
But although the scheme has been in place for 10 months now, people who have not had the required authorisation have mostly not actually been prevented from entering the country.
This phase is due to end today, on February 25th 2026.
The UK government warns that from today, people who don't have the ETA if required will be denied entry, or denied boarding if travelling by plane.
The UK government says: "From 25 February 2026, visitors will not be able to travel to the UK without advance permission.
"This is a significant step towards digitising the immigration system and paves the way for a contactless UK border in the future.
"Enforcing will mean that everyone who wants to come to the UK must have digital permission through either an ETA or an eVisa. Carriers will be checking people before they travel."
Ahead of the end of the 'tolerance period' for the ETA system on 25th February, British dual nationals have been targeted with official messaging suggesting that they will only be able to enter the UK if they have a valid British passport or alternatively a Certificate of Entitlement, which costs £589.
With additional reporting by Alex Dunham and Emma Pearson.
Comments