Spain

Spanish police bust gang that recruited Swedish and Danish minors as hitmen

Spanish police have dismantled a gang based in the eastern city of Alicante that allegedly recruited Swedish and Danish teenagers to carry out murders as hitmen. Police said on Wednesday…

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Airbnb urges Barcelona to reconsider crackdown on tourism rentals

Global holiday home rental company Airbnb has urged Barcelona's mayor to rethink a widening crackdown on short-term rentals, arguing that it only benefits the hotel sector while failing to address…

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Protests over Spain flood response interrupt king’s visit to stricken Valencia suburb

Hundreds of residents of a Valencia suburb badly hit by last week's deadly floods protested on Sunday during a visit by Spanish King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro…

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UPDATED: Death toll in Spain’s floods rises to 205, among Europe’s worst storm disasters

Spanish rescuers opened a temporary morgue in a convention centre and battled to reach areas still cut off on Friday as the death toll from catastrophic floods rose to 205…

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What caused deadly floods in Spain? The impact of DANA explained

Catastrophic flash floods that have killed at least 95 people in Spain are caused by a destructive weather system in which cold and warm air meet and produce powerful rain…

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UPDATED: Several bodies found in flood-hit areas of southeast Spain

At least 90 people have been killed in flash floods sweeping the eastern Spanish region of Valencia following torrential rain on Tuesday that left roads and towns under water, local…

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Spain’s Malaga to ban new holiday flat permits in 43 neighbourhoods

Malaga will ban new short-term tourism rentals in 43 neighbourhoods of the city, the latest step taken by Spanish authorities to address residents' concerns that they are being priced out…

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Two Key Figures of Notorious Serbian Clan Arrested in Barcelona

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), in collaboration with Europol and six other European partners, have arrested two senior members of the notorious Serbian " Clan", dismantling a key faction…

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Thousands protest in Spain’s Canary Islands against over tourism

Thousands of people protested in holiday resorts in Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday against over tourism which they say prices local people out of the housing market. Under the slogan…

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New study shows Christopher Columbus probably Spanish and Jewish

Famed explorer Christopher Columbus was likely Spanish and Jewish, according to a new genetic study conducted by Spanish scientists that aimed to shed light on a centuries-old mystery. Scientists believe…

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Unions in Spain to protest in push to reduce working hours

Trade unions will lead protests across Spain on Thursday in an effort to force an agreement between the government and the business sector over a reduction in working hours amid…

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Spain to host meeting of European and Muslim countries on Palestinian statehood

The foreign ministers of several Muslim and European countries will meet in Madrid on Friday to discuss how to implement a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Spanish and…

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Madrid to ban e-scooters for reckless driving and chaotic parking

Madrid will ban e-scooters rented through mobile apps after the city's three licensed operators failed to implement limits on their clients' circulation or control their parking, Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida…

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Court rules Seville council can cut off water supply to illegal tourist flats

A court in Seville in southern Spain has ruled that the city council is within its rights to cut off the water supply to illegal tourist apartments. Over the past…

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More than 47,000 people died in Europe last year due to heat

More than 47,000 people died in Europe due to scorching temperatures in 2023, with countries in the region's south hit the hardest, according to a report by the Barcelona Institute…

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Catalan separatist Puigdemont said to have left Spain

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont was on his way back to Belgium on Friday, having appeared at a rally in central Barcelona despite an outstanding warrant for his arrest in…

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Wanted Catalan separatist reappears in Spain then vanishes again

Former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont defied an arrest warrant to appear at a rally in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Thursday after seven years of self-imposed exile, and…

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Extreme heatwave blankets Southern Europe

Extreme heat is blanketing Spain and parts of southern Europe as sea temperatures soar in parts of the Mediterranean. Spain is set to exceed 40C (104F) in the region near…

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Wildfires rage in Spain as heatwave peaks

Hundreds of firefighters backed up by waterbomber aircraft sought to contain two wildfires that have raged since Tuesday in eastern Spain, and much of the rest of the country is…

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Barcelona cannot absorb infinite tourism growth, needs curbs, mayor says

Barcelona cannot absorb an ongoing, unbridled growth in the number of tourists and has to impose restrictions so as not to become a "theme park" without residents, the mayor of…

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NATO appoints Spanish diplomat as southern envoy despite Italian ire

NATO confirmed on Tuesday the appointment of Spanish diplomat Javier Colomina as the military alliance's new envoy tasked with coordinating actions on its southern flank, a move that has caused…

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Thousands protest in Spain’s Mallorca against mass tourism

Thousands of anti-tourism activists protested in Spain's Palma de Mallorca on Sunday in the latest demonstration against a key industry for the Iberian nation. Carrying makeshift models of planes and…

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Malta participates in operation against international art trafficking leading to 85 arrests

The eighth edition of an operation against international art trafficking, codenamed ‘Pandora’, saw the involvement of customs and law enforcement authorities from 25 countries including Malta. Led by Spain (Guardia…

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Spain proposes tightening rules on media to tackle fake news

Spain announced measures designed to curb the spread of fake news, an initiative blasted by the country's conservative opposition as an attempt to censor critical media. "Without free media of…

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Spain warns workers of heat risks as summer’s first heatwave looms

Spain will suffer its first heatwave of the summer starting on Thursday, the meteorology service AEMET said, as the government kicked off on Wednesday a heat risk awareness campaign for…

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Thousands protest in Barcelona against over-tourism

More than 150 organisations and social movements took to the streets of Barcelona with some symbolically sealing off hotels and restaurant terraces. The demonstrations against tourist overcrowding that have already…

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Spain to crack down on holiday rentals

Spain's government announced a crackdown on Wednesday on short-term and seasonal holiday lettings amid rising anger from locals who feel priced out of the housing market. The government will investigate…

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Barcelona plans to shut all holiday apartments by 2028

Barcelona, a top Spanish holiday destination, announced on Friday that it will bar apartment rentals to tourists by 2028, an unexpectedly drastic move as it seeks to rein in soaring…

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Spain requests to intervene in South Africa’s Gaza genocide case against Israel at ICJ

Spain has requested to intervene in South Africa's genocide case against Israel's actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Thursday.…

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UPDATED: Spain to send Patriot missiles, Leopard tanks to Ukraine in $1.23 billion package

Spain plans to send Patriot missiles and Leopard tanks to Ukraine as part of a 1.13 billion euro ($1.23 billion) weapon package announced last month, El Pais newspaper reported on…

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Ibiza – Latest Spanish hotspot to fight back against overtourism

The detrimental effects of tourism on Ibiza's local community cannot be ignored any longer. This weekend, impassioned activists will take to the streets to vehemently oppose the hardships imposed by…

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Tourism a boon for Spain’s economy but a bane for some locals

Fresh from a tour of Real Madrid's glittering Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the Spanish capital, Guadalupe Rebollo says a holiday in Spain with her 15-year-old daughter is a better deal…

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Spain permanently recalls ambassador from Argentina

Spain has said it is permanently withdrawing its ambassador from Argentina as a result of a growing diplomatic feud with the South American country’s radical rightwing president, Javier Milei. Milei…

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Spain demands apology after PM’s wife called ‘corrupt

Spain has demanded a public apology after Argentina’s president said the Spanish prime minister's wife was “corrupt”. Without directly naming her, Javier Milei made the remarks about Begoña Gómez, wife…

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Alcohol ban in Ibiza and Majorca

Tourists in parts of Majorca and Ibiza will face hefty fines for drinking alcohol on the streets as part of a crackdown in areas of "excessive tourism". The government of…

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Spain will not authorise calling of ships carrying weapons for Israel

Spain will not authorise ships carrying weapons for Israel to call at its ports, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Friday, after the country refused to let a ship…

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Spain tell mariners to stay close to the shore after orca attack

Officials in Spain are warning mariners after a killer whale was responsible for sinking a boat in the Strait of Gibraltar. Small vessels have been warned to stick to the…

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Spain’s Socialists hail ‘new era’ in Catalonia as separatist support dims in elections

Spain's Socialists won the biggest share of the vote in Sunday's Catalan elections, dealing a serious blow to more than a decade of separatist governance and the independence dreams still…

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Catalans vote in crucial election for the separatist movement

More than 5.7 million voters were eligible to vote in a ballot that is expected to be a test both for the strength of the separatist movement in the wealthy…

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Spanish investigation into Shakira’s alleged tax evasion dropped

A Spanish court has shelved an investigation into an alleged tax fraud by the Colombian pop star Shakira, putting an end to her legal woes in the country where she…

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Pedro Sanchez stays on as Spain’s prime minister

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday he had decided to stay in office after days of publicly weighing his future, generating relief amongst leftist allies, exasperation among the…

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Spain’s Sanchez urged to stay by supporters

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was given a vote of confidence by supporters who gathered in their thousands urging him not to step down from office. Earlier this week, Sanchez said…

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Why Spain’s Prime Minister Sanchez is taking a break from public duties

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he will suspend public duties until next week to decide whether he wants to continue leading the government after a court launched a preliminary…

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UPDATED: Spanish prosecutor seeks dismissal of case against PM Sanchez’s wife

Madrid's prosecuting authority on Thursday sought the dismissal of a case against Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife. A judge in Madrid on Wednesday agreed to look into a private…

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Spain to scrap ‘golden visas’ for foreign real estate investors

Spain will scrap the so-called golden visa programme granting residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate in the country, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters on…

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Spain bars Bolivians from disembarking cruise ship amid lack of visas

Spanish authorities have barred around 70 Bolivian nationals from disembarking a cruise ship in Barcelona due to a lack of EU entry visas, preventing the ship with hundreds on board…

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Spain to recognise Palestinian statehood by July, leader says -reports

Spain will recognise Palestinian statehood by July, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told journalists during a Middle East tour, according to several reports published on Tuesday in Spanish media. State news…

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Exiled separatist Puigdemont will run to lead Catalonia, return to Spain if he wins

By Joan Faus Exiled Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont will seek to lead the northeastern region in elections in May, he said, and would return to Spain should he regain the…

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Spanish airports schedule 8% more summer seats

Spanish airport operator Aena said the airlines in its network have scheduled nearly 8% more seats for this summer than last year, as a rebound in tourism continues since pandemic-related…

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Spain’s High Court upholds temporary ban on Worldcoin iris-scanning venture

Spain's High Court on Monday upheld a temporary ban on Worldcoin's iris-scanning venture, in the latest blow to a project that has sparked privacy concerns in several countries. The court…

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Spanish police crack counterfeit 100-euro note operation

MADRID, March 2 (Reuters) - Spanish police said they had made 14 arrests in connection with one million euros ($1.1 million) worth of counterfeit 100 euro bank notes which passed…

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Spain’s ports see goods traffic rise as Red Sea crisis continues

The volume of goods moving through Spain's top ports rose by as much as 25% in January as attacks on shipping in the Red Sea caused companies to divert Europe-bound…

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Four dead, up to 14 missing in Spain apartment building fire

By Antoine Demaison and Marco Trujillo VALENCIA, Spain, Feb 23 (Reuters) - At least four people were killed in a fire that engulfed an apartment building in Valencia in eastern…

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Spanish birth rate hits lowest level since records began in 1941

Spain's birth rate has dropped to its lowest level since records started in 1941, provisional data from its National Statistics Institute (INE) showed , with just 322,075 babies adding to…

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Russian emigres in Spain call for protection after pilot defector shot dead

By David Latona VILLAJOYOSA, Spain, (Reuters) - Russian emigres in Spain critical of the Kremlin called on the Spanish authorities to better protect them, after a Russian pilot who had…

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Spanish conservatives retain majority in Galicia regional vote

MADRID, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Spain's opposition conservative People's Party (PP) is set to retain its absolute majority in its stronghold in the northwest region of Galicia on Sunday in…

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Properties worth EUR 48 million frozen after cocaine sweep in Ecuador and Spain

A Spanish-led investigation involving Ecuador and supported by Europol, resulted in a major hit on a high-risk drug trafficking network supplying cocaine to the EU. To support the field activities…

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