Today in Spain: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

Trump's government accuses Spain of 'emboldening terrorists'

The United States government is concerned about the package of measures adopted by Pedro Sánchez's ruling Socialists in a bid to curb the genocide in Gaza, believing that some of them could "limit US operations" and ultimately "embolden terrorists."

"It is deeply troubling that Spain, a Nato member, has chosen to potentially limit US operations," a State Department spokesperson said, referring to the fact that ships carrying fuel for the Israeli military will be banned from stopping in Spain and state aircraft transporting military equipment to Israel will be denied entry.

President Donald Trump's administration also expressed concern that Pedro Sánchez's government "is turning its back on Israel on the same day that six people were murdered in Jerusalem", even though the Spanish premier did express "strong condemnation" for the deadly terrorist attack and warned that "violence isn't the way".

Spain likely to remain world's third biggest wine producer in 2025

Italy is expected to enjoy a good 2025 harvest and clinch the world's leading producer label once again, according to estimates presented Wednesday by Italy's agriculture ministry and its wine union.

Spain on the other hand is forecast to come in third place, with 36.8 million hectolitres of vino, ahead of countries such as the US, Chile and Australia. It's an improvement of more than 6 million hectolitres for Spain compared to 2024.

However, a drop in wine consumption in Spain and Trump's tariffs are affecting the industry negatively this year.

Overall, Italy is regaining a lead over France, the world's second largest producer, and expected to produce 37.4 million hectolitres. France's production was particularly affected by the hot weather in August.

Spain PM's wife denies embezzlement in fresh court hearing

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife Begoña Gómez on Wednesday denied in court misusing public funds by hiring a personal assistant in an embezzlement probe that has rattled the leftist government, legal sources said.

The long-running investigation is one of several into Sánchez's family and former close allies that have embarrassed the Socialist leader and heaped pressure on his minority coalition.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado set off the saga in April 2024 by opening an investigation to determine whether Gómez exploited her position as Sánchez's wife for private benefit.

The latest development centres on whether an official employed in the premier's office, Cristina Álvarez, worked for Gómez during her past academic job at Madrid's Complutense University.

If that were true, it could "represent a diversion of public resources in favour of private interests", Peinado wrote in his ruling that summoned both women.

Gómez only replied to her lawyer on Wednesday during a fourth closed-door hearing before Peinado in Madrid, according to legal sources.

She said spouses of previous prime ministers hired staff to coordinate their agenda and security, the sources added.

Gómez said Alvarez never helped her in her private professional activities, though she occasionally sent messages that did not affect her primary work, according to the sources.

Sánchez has dismissed the allegations against his wife as an attempt to undermine his government by the right, which has demanded his resignation.

Spain to deploy 'extraordinary' security for Vuelta finale

An "extraordinary" security boost will accompany the final two stages of the Vuelta in the Madrid region, Spanish authorities said on Wednesday, as pro-Palestinian protests rock one of cycling's grand tours.

The demonstrations, which have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team over the devastating war in Gaza, have impacted several stages of the 21-day race and cast doubt on organisers' ability to see it through to its completion.

The central government's representation in Madrid said in a statement that more than 400 extra Civil Guards will protect the penultimate stage on Saturday and 1,100 police officers will deploy for Sunday's finale.

The "extraordinary deployment" would be the police's largest security effort since Madrid hosted the 2022 NATO summit, the statement added.

Protesters have burst onto the course and caused crashes, while last week's stage 11 was neutralised before the finish in Bilbao with no winner declared due to demonstrators disrupting the run-in.

On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters blocked a road close to the finish and faced off with police, forcing stage 16 in the northwestern region of Galicia to be shortened.

With additional reporting by AFP.