Latest news with #Madrid
44 minutes ago
- Sport
Barrios scores twice, Atlético Madrid beats Seattle Sounders 3-1 in Club World Cup
SEATTLE -- Pablo Barrios scored twice and Atlético Madrid beat the Seattle Sounders 3-1 on Thursday in the Club World Cup. Giuliano Simeone found Barrios at the top of the penalty box in transition to open the scoring in the 11th minute. Madrid pushed the lead to 2-0 in the opening minutes of the second half as substitute Axel Witsel scored off an assist by Robin Le Normand in the 47th. Albert Rusnak got Seattle on the scoreboard in the 50th, but Barrios got his second of the game in the 55th to restore Madrid's two-goal lead. The attendance was 51,636 at Lumen Field, which has a capacity of 68,740. Atlético Madrid was initially awarded a penalty kick around the 35th minute, but it was overturned after video review determined that the foul occurred outside the box. The Sounders need Paris Saint-Germain to lose against Botafogo later Thursday to have a chance to advance out of Group B. 'The players showed courage today. I mean, they were down, and they were able to come back and still fight and play brave. You know Atlético's strength is in their transition, their counterattacks, but we weren't afraid to attack. And that opened us up a few times, but at the end of the day, the players played to win, and that was courage.' — Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer 'The most difficult thing in football is creating chances. We created many opportunities today, but weren't fortunate enough to score more goals. But that's in the past now, and we're already focusing on Botafogo. We will need to do as well or better than today. We want to qualify for the knockout stage, so we need to keep winning.' — Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Spain risks derailing NATO summit by resisting 5% defense spending goal
Spain has asked to opt out of NATO's plan to increase members' defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, a move that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the target. In a letter sent to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday and seen by Reuters, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. He said it was not Spain's intention to obstruct the outcome of next week's NATO summit. But any agreement to raise defense spending — a response to a request by U.S. President Donald Trump — would require unanimous approval by the 32 member states. "Committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defense ecosystem," Sanchez wrote in the letter. "It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to," he added. At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defense in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of 2%. Rutte has proposed that member states agree to boost defense spending to 3.5% of GDP and commit a further 1.5% to broader security-related spending. Leaders across NATO say its current spending goal is no longer sufficient, with Russia posing a greater threat since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Asked for comment on Spain's request, a NATO official said: "Discussions among Allies on a new defense investment plan are ongoing." The U.S., which has been Kyiv's primary military backer since Russia's invasion, spent an estimated 3.38% of GDP on defense in 2024, the third-most among NATO nations, according to the alliance. Trump has said NATO members are not spending their fair share on defense and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short. Sanchez, however, said that rushing to a 5% target would harm European Union efforts to become self-reliant in defense production, pushing governments to procure equipment outside the bloc and that it was "incompatible with our welfare state and our world vision." Junior coalition partners, the far-left Sumar platform, oppose any increase, as does the Podemos party, which is not part of the coalition but has supported the government in key votes. Now, a corruption scandal engulfing the prime minister's Socialist party has generated fury among coalition partners and allies, even raising the specter of an early election. "If the government needs parliamentary support to approve spending, it will have a very difficult time in the current situation," Jose Miguel Calvillo, a professor of international relations at the Complutense University of Madrid. Some other NATO members have also questioned the timeline, saying it is too rapid, but are generally willing to sign up, diplomatic sources say. Italy, for example, wants the deadline moved to 2035 from 2032 and the removal of a requirement to increase spending by 0.2% per year, a source with knowledge of the matter said. "It doesn't look good, indeed, but we are not over yet," said one senior European official in relation to Sanchez's letter. "We will have in-depth discussions tomorrow, and perhaps we find a way out. Spain has demonstrated to be a steadfast ally so far."
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Barrios scores twice, Atlético Madrid beats Seattle Sounders 3-1 in Club World Cup
SEATTLE — Pablo Barrios scored twice and Atlético Madrid beat the Seattle Sounders 3-1 on Thursday in the Club World Cup. Giuliano Simeone found Barrios at the top of the penalty box in transition to open the scoring in the 11th minute. Madrid pushed the lead to 2-0 in the opening minutes of the second half as substitute Axel Witsel scored off an assist by Robin Le Normand in the 47th. Albert Rusnak got Seattle on the scoreboard in the 50th, but Barrios got his second of the game in the 55th to restore Madrid's two-goal lead. The attendance was 51,636 at Lumen Field, which has a capacity of 68,740. Atlético Madrid was initially awarded a penalty kick around the 35th minute, but it was overturned after video review determined that the foul occurred outside the box. The Sounders need Paris Saint-Germain to lose against Botafogo later Thursday to have a chance to advance out of Group B. 'The players showed courage today. I mean, they were down, and they were able to come back and still fight and play brave. You know Atlético's strength is in their transition, their counterattacks, but we weren't afraid to attack. And that opened us up a few times, but at the end of the day, the players played to win, and that was courage.' — Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer 'The most difficult thing in football is creating chances. We created many opportunities today, but weren't fortunate enough to score more goals. But that's in the past now, and we're already focusing on Botafogo. We will need to do as well or better than today. We want to qualify for the knockout stage, so we need to keep winning.' — Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke soccer: /hub/soccer
Auto Blog
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Fiat 500e EV Could Get a New Battery as Quickly as a Gas Fill-Up
Battery swapping returns — but this time, it's modular Spain's car-sharing scene is about to get a jolt. Stellantis, the global automaker behind brands like Jeep, Dodge, and Fiat, has teamed up with San Francisco startup Ample to deploy 100 Fiat 500e EVs equipped with swappable batteries. The cars will be part of Free2move, Stellantis' car-sharing and mobility service in Madrid. Instead of plugging in and waiting around to recharge, these Fiats can drive into a station and receive a freshly charged battery in just five minutes — about the same time it takes to fill up a gas tank. It's a modern take on a concept that's been attempted before, with one major twist: Ample's system uses modular battery packs rather than one-size-fits-all units. A suitcase-sized solution to EV charging delays What sets Ample apart is the flexibility of its battery system. Each swappable module is roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, and multiple modules can be combined to suit different needs. That means a Fiat 500e doesn't have to carry more battery than necessary — just one module for quick trips, or a full set of four for longer drives. Unlike systems that require bespoke vehicle designs or bulky underbody access points, Ample's batteries are designed to slot into existing EV platforms. This approach makes it easier to retrofit a wide variety of electric vehicles with the swappable tech. It also helps future-proof the system, meaning that as EV technology evolves, Ample can upgrade the modules themselves, not the cars. For car-sharing fleets, time really is money Battery swapping might not make sense for individual EV owners who charge overnight at home. But in the world of car-sharing and ride-hailing, downtime is the enemy. Fiat 500e Ample Battery Swap — Source: Stellantis 'For car-sharing fleets, every minute spent off the road is lost revenue,' said Khaled Hassounah, CEO of Ample. 'We're deeply committed to making Free2move's transition to electric seamless — not just in theory, but in daily operations. Our five-minute battery swaps eliminate charging downtime entirely, helping Free2move keep vehicles available, customers moving, and operations running at full speed.' Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. That kind of efficiency is critical for Free2move, which began testing 40 Ample-equipped 500e models in Madrid last year. With the fleet performing well and earning full regulatory approval, Stellantis plans to grow it to 100 vehicles by mid-2025. Second-gen stations improve speed and user experience Ample's first battery swap stations appeared in California in 2021 and could complete a full changeover in about 10 minutes. However, the company has already rolled out a second-generation station that cuts that time in half and enhances the user experience. 2024 FIAT (500e) RED — Source: Fiat Now, drivers can remain inside the vehicle during the swap — a small but meaningful upgrade for comfort and convenience, especially in colder or hotter climates. The stations themselves are designed to be modular and quickly deployable, meaning they can be installed in urban environments without massive infrastructure changes. That's a major advantage for cities with limited space or power grid constraints. Final thoughts Battery swapping isn't likely to replace fast charging across the board. Most private EV owners won't need it, and the cost of deploying swap stations at scale is still high. But in dense cities, where fleets need to keep moving and space is at a premium, modular swap stations could fill an important niche. If the Madrid program proves successful, it could serve as a model for other cities and automakers looking to make electric fleets faster, more reliable, and more flexible. For now, it's an ambitious experiment, but if it works, five-minute EV 'refueling' could become a lot more common. About the Author Elijah Nicholson-Messmer View Profile
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Barrios scores twice, Atlético Madrid beats Seattle Sounders 3-1 in Club World Cup
SEATTLE (AP) — Pablo Barrios scored twice and Atlético Madrid beat the Seattle Sounders 3-1 on Thursday in the Club World Cup. Giuliano Simeone found Barrios at the top of the penalty box in transition to open the scoring in the 11th minute. Madrid pushed to lead to 2-0 in the opening minutes of the second half as substitute Axel Witsel scored off an assist by Robin Le Normand in the 47th. Albert Rusnak got Seattle on the scoreboard in the 50th, but Barrios got hi second of the game in the 55th to restore Madrid's two-goal lead. Key Moment Atlético Madrid was initially awarded a penalty kick around the 35th minute, but it was overturned after video review determined that the foul occurred outside the box. Takeaways The Sounders need Paris Saint-Germain to lose against Botafogo later Thursday to have a chance to advance out of Group B. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP soccer:
