Spaniards gathered in a rally at the Salvador Dali Square in the capital city of Madrid on Tuesday to protest against the ongoing Middle East conflict, calling on the international community to push for a ceasefire.
Holding placards and chanting slogans, the protesters voiced their outrage over civilian casualties. Signs reading "Children in Gaza Are Not a Threat" and "This Is Not a War, It Is a Massacre" were seen among the crowd.
"We are against all wars. These acts of war violate international law. There is no justification for the United States and Israel to invade, bomb, and occupy another country," said a protester.
"This is an intolerable act of terror. People across the world should become more awakened and stand up to say 'no' to war. In all wars, it is always ordinary people who suffer—civilians, women, children, and the elderly," said another protester.
"We believe that NATO, as an organization, has greatly contributed to the spread of war. Therefore, we call for the dissolution of NATO. Even if it cannot be dissolved, Spain should at least cease its cooperation with the organization," a demonstrator said.
The U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict entered its 25th day on Tuesday, as Washington and Tehran offered conflicting accounts over whether peace talks are underway.
Regional tensions continued to rise, with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and flashpoints drawing attention in Lebanon and Iraq.
Madrid protesters rally against Middle East conflict, demanding ceasefire
Business activity in the UK has slowed to a six-month low in March with cost pressures surging sharply, as escalating tensions in the Middle East have weighed on demand and disrupted supply chains, a closely watched survey showed on Tuesday.
The S and P Global Flash UK Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 51.0 in March from 53.7 in February, signaling only marginal expansion in private sector output.
The slowdown was broad-based. The services activity index dropped to 51.2 from 53.9, while manufacturing output edged down to 50.1 from 52.5, close to stagnation. A reading above 50 indicates growth, while a reading below that reflects contraction. The headline manufacturing PMI came in at 51.4, a three-month low.
Survey data showed that new business declined for the first time in four months, reflecting weaker confidence among firms and consumers. Companies widely linked the deterioration in demand to the Middle East conflict, citing heightened uncertainty, rising prices and more cautious spending.
At the same time, cost pressures intensified markedly. Input price inflation rose to its highest level in more than three years, driven by higher fuel, transportation and raw material costs. Manufacturing firms reported the sharpest increase in input costs since October 2022, with the pace of acceleration the strongest in decades.
Rising costs were increasingly passed on to customers, leading to the fastest increase in output prices since April 2025. The combination of slowing growth and rising prices points to mounting inflationary pressure across the economy.
External demand also weakened. Export orders declined, particularly in the services sector, amid reduced international travel and delays to projects linked to the Middle East. Meanwhile, supply disruptions, including longer shipping routes and production stoppages in energy-related industries, led to extended delivery time and lower inventories.
Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S and P Global Market Intelligence, said the Middle East conflict has "stalled growth while driving inflation sharply higher," as firms face weaker demand alongside rising energy and supply chain costs.
He added that the Bank of England now faces a difficult trade-off between containing inflation and avoiding further damage to growth, warning that "downside risks to growth and upside risks to inflation have already materialized."
The flash PMI survey, conducted between March 12 and 20, provides an early snapshot of economic conditions and is closely watched by markets and policymakers.
UK business growth hits six-month low as Middle East tensions drive up costs
