SPAIN: Suspected Terrorists in Castellón & more – 4th Dec 2025

Buenos días from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Spain Update from the 4th of December twenty twenty-five. A quick summary of what's going down in Spain.

First up, on Monday, the 1st, Spanish authorities arrested three people in Castellón on the eastern coast, suspected of belonging to Base, a global neo-Nazi organization pushing white-supremacist ideals, which is classified as a terrorist organization across the EU, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The suspects face accusations of terrorist membership, recruitment, indoctrination, training, and illegal weapons possession. Investigators say the trio underwent paramilitary training and used social media to attract followers.

The cell’s leader had direct contact with Rinaldo Nazzaro, the Base’s US founder, who urged actions to destabilize Western democracies.

In other Valencian news, on Tuesday the 2nd, Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca took the oath as the new President of the Valencian Generalitat, succeeding Carlos Mazón.

Miguel Tellado, the Partido Popular secretary general, attended the event, which was a tightly managed, low-key ceremony without any ministers from the central government.

Llorca signaled a shift in direction, preparing to reshape the Presidency and replace several of Mazón’s closest collaborators. He may also adjust ministerial portfolios to strengthen territorial balance, especially toward Alicante.

But the real test will come with Llorca’s first policy steps.

On the same day, authorities confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever (or ASF) near Barcelona. The virus, last seen in Spain in nineteen ninety-four, was detected in two dead wild boar in Bellaterra. Officials quickly set up a six-kilometer (four-mile) exclusion zone and deployed over 100 military personnel, alongside police and wildlife rangers. Investigators believe a boar may have eaten contaminated meat, possibly transported by road hauliers.

The public has been urged not to feed wild boar and to report any dead animals. China has paused imports from Barcelona province, but most of Spain’s 8.8 billion euro pork export market remains unaffected. While ASF cannot infect humans, it poses a lethal threat to pigs and can survive in processed or frozen meat, keeping cross-border risks high.

Now for some banking news. From January twenty twenty-six, Spain will require banks and payment platforms to report all electronic payments received by self-employed workers and businesses, ending the previous 3,000 euros threshold.

Every card, mobile app, or online payment will be sent monthly to tax authorities to improve transparency and curb undeclared income. The reform reflects Spain’s increasingly digital economy and expands reporting to include digital banks and foreign providers.

For self-employed workers, the change means stricter oversight and the need for meticulous bookkeeping, with no exemptions for small payments. Freelancers, small businesses, and those earning side income must ensure invoices, receipts, and accounts fully match reported transactions.

In some Eurovision news, on Thursday the 27th of November, the broadcaster union officially announced it will boycott this year's contest if Israel participates, and they aren't the only country, as Slovenia has said they will too.

Next week in Geneva, Israel’s delegation, led by Golan Yochpaz, Kan’s CEO, and lawyer Ayala Mizrahi, will appeal directly to the EBU, an alliance of public service media organizations and

participating broadcasters, asking them to avoid a formal vote and allow Israel to compete.

Austria, the host country, and Germany have voiced support for Israel, potentially shaping the final decision on its participation in the contest.

On Monday, the 1st, an article by news outlet El País revealed that chocolate is one of the top ten most stolen items across the country.

Shoplifters have increasingly targeted chocolate, with thefts rising across nine regions - surpassing coffee, Iberian ham, and olive oil. To combat this, supermarkets have deployed anti-theft devices on chocolate bars, a measure previously reserved for items like alcohol, perfumes, and olive oil.

As Christmas approaches, experts predict thefts of chocolate and festive sweets will continue to rise.

Another interesting article was published in El País this week. On Tuesday, the 2nd, the newspaper published a thought piece by Spanish journalist Sergio C. Fanjul about the challenges of smartphone detoxing in the digital age.

In the article, Fanjul argues that although smartphones are sold as tools of freedom, they often trap users in endless scrolling and digital distractions. Early experiences with technology, like Yahoo! Messenger, felt miraculous, but today’s smartphones dominate attention—especially for younger generations who have no memory of life offline.

During a digital detox trip to Ávila, central Spain, in twenty nineteen, Fanjul experienced the relief of living without instant access to information, discovering mindfulness and joy in simple pleasures. According to Fanjul, technology detox isn’t just relatable for most; it’s something we could all benefit from reflecting on.

Read the full article in Spanish with the link in the show notes.

More about tech, as Spain has moved closer to introducing air taxis after the country’s airport operator Aena, and Enaire, the national air navigation authority, completed test flights between Malaga and Granada in the south on Wednesday, the 3rd.

Using helicopters to simulate future piloted air taxis and cargo drones, the trials aimed to confirm that these new aircraft can safely share airspace with conventional aviation. Even though there are no authorized air taxis yet, the tests validated routes and procedures essential for future operations.

For the everyday person, the technology promises faster inter-city links, improved airport-to-destination transfers, and mobility options that relieve road congestion. As future air taxis are expected to be electric and low-noise, the project also points toward more sustainable urban and regional transport.

Next up, on Wednesday, the 3rd, the Ministry of Equality released the Macro Survey on Violence Against Women, revealing the pervasive nature of sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

Based on nearly twelve thousand interviews by the National Institute of Statistics and the Government Delegation against Gender Violence, the study found that 36% of women have experienced sexual harassment at some point, and one in six during childhood.

Psychological, controlling, and economic abuse are widespread. Sexual harassment and digital abuse are also significant, particularly among young women, highlighting structural sexism and the urgent need for prevention and support measures.

Meanwhile, Spain has received over 2.3 million citizenship requests from descendants of people who fled during the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship since twenty twenty-two.

According to data from Spain’s Civil Registry, more than one million formal applications have been submitted through the Law of Democratic Memory since its launch in October twenty twenty-two, while another 1.3 million people secured appointments but have not yet been processed due to severe backlogs.

The law allows children and grandchildren of Spanish citizens who lost their nationality due to political, ideological, or religious exile to apply for Spanish citizenship. At current rates, some applicants may wait decades. Argentina accounts for about 40% of all applications, with especially heavy demand in Buenos Aires and other Latin American consulates.

According to global market researcher Omdia, Spain has become Europe’s leading market for Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) services, a model offering free, linear, TV-style channels delivered over the internet and funded entirely by advertising rather than subscriptions.

Omdia’s research says that 35% of Spanish online adults use FAST platforms each month, placing Spain ahead of the UK, Germany, and France. Globally, FAST revenues are expected to rise from 6 billion euros in twenty twenty-five to 11 billion euros by twenty thirty.

The success of FAST platforms are driven by investment from major players including Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Roku Channel, Pluto TV and Fire TV Channels.

Finally, an update on greenhouse technology. A new greenhouse, built throughout twenty twenty-five and finalized at the end of November, is setting a new benchmark in premium Spanish cherry tomato production.

The fifteen-hectare (or thirty-seven-acre) greenhouse complex, based near Alicante in the south east, in the autonomous community of Valencia, features microclimate control, efficient air renewal, thermal screens, and climate control systems.

Early results of this super technology show significant improvements in yield, plant size, and uniform growth. In case you didn’t know, the humble tomato is Spain’s second-most-consumed fruit.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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¡Hasta la próxima!