Spain

Regional election win boosts Spanish conservatives’ ambitions

Spain's conservative People's Party (PP) said on Wednesday that its resounding win in Madrid in regional elections signalled "the beginning of the end" for Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government.…

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Atletico and Barca draw to hand advantage to Real Madrid

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid knew victory could fire them towards the La Liga title but a 0-0 draw at Camp Nou on Saturday handed Real Madrid the chance to move…

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Spain tourist arrivals slump 76% in March, recovery still far off

Foreign tourism in Spain in March fell 76% from a year ago when a lockdown was imposed in mid-month, data showed on Thursday, meaning a recovery of the crucial sector…

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Spain’s jobless edged down in April as COVID restrictions eased

The number of jobless people in Spain ticked lower for the second month in a row in April, government data showed on Wednesday as a gradual easing of pandemic measures…

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Spanish services expand in April for the first time since July

Activity in Spain's service sector expanded in April for the first time since July as businesses anticipated the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, a survey showed on Wednesday. IHS Markit's Purchasing…

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Founder of Spanish leftist Podemos party Pablo Iglesias retires

Pony-tailed Spanish politician Pablo Iglesias abruptly retired from politics on Tuesday night, a month after stepping down from his post as deputy prime minister of the central government. The 42-year-old…

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Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s wins Madrid election

Madrid's conservative regional leader won a landslide re-election, propelled to victory by her refusal to close down bars and shops during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of flag-waving supporters gathered outside…

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Spanish manufacturing grows in April at fastest rate this century

Spanish factory activity recorded its strongest monthly growth in 21 years in April, a survey showed on Monday, with demand, output and employment all on the rise as economies around…

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Return of fans this season ‘not advisable’ – Spain’s health minister

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's health minister has said it would not be advisable for spectators to attend La Liga games for the remainder of the season due to the continued…

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Messi nets twice in Barca turnaround over Valencia

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) -Lionel Messi scored a 50th freekick goal for Barcelona as he led his side to a quick-fire comeback to win 3-2 at Valencia on Sunday and keep…

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Police bust gang trying to smuggle 7 tonnes of hashish into Spain

MADRID (Reuters) - A gang trying to smuggle seven tonnes of hashish into Spain was intercepted in one of the country's largest drugs busts this year, Spanish police said on…

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Clubbers hit dance floor again as Spain trials digital COVID-19 pass

GIRONA, Spain, May 2 (Reuters) - Mandatory face masks could not conceal their delight as clubbers in the Spanish city of Girona moved to the thumping beats of house music…

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Spain submits recovery plan to Brussels

FT - Spain has sent Brussels its landmark plan to spend €140bn from the EU coronavirus recovery fund as Pedro Sánchez’s government seeks to respond to criticism that it has…

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Spain extends AstraZeneca dose gap to 16 weeks, beyond EU approved limit

MADRID, April 30 (Reuters) - Spain is extending the gap between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to 16 weeks for people aged under 60, the government said on Friday, going beyond the 12-week maximum interval approved byEuropean authorities. Spain is…

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Spain’s GDP contracts slightly in Q1, dragged by COVID measures

Spain's economy shrank slightly in the first quarter from the previous three months, preliminary data showed on Friday, as restrictions to curb a third wave of coronavirus and a massive…

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Portugal, Spain to fully reopen land border on May 1 after COVID restrictions

LISBON, April 29 (Reuters) - The land border between Portugal and Spain will reopen for all travel on Saturday after more than three months of restrictions and border checks to…

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Spain confirms two journalists killed after Burkina Faso ambush

OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) -Two Spanish journalists were killed after an armed ambush on an anti-poaching patrol in Burkina Faso,Spain's prime minister said on Tuesday. An Irish national also died, three senior…

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Messi double powers Barca to big win over Getafe

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona crushed Getafe 5-2 on Thursday to stay in the hunt for the La Liga title. Messi gave Barca an early lead…

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Atletico stay in control of La Liga title race

MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid stayed in control of La Liga's title race by beating struggling Huesca 2-0 at home on Thursday with goals in each half by Angel Correa…

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Bilbao dropped from list of Euro 2020 host venues – officials

The Spanish city of Bilbao has been dropped as a venue for this year's European Championship after it was unable to guarantee organisers it could host fans in the stadium…

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Spain to donate 5%-10% of its share of COVID-19 shots to Latin America

Spain will offer between 5% and 10% of its COVID-19 vaccine shots to Latin American and Caribbean countries this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. "Spain will launch this commitment…

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Europe’s police crack down on cross-border crime groups

More than 200 people were arrested last week in 17 European countries in a coordinated crackdown on cross-border movements of stolen goods, illegal drugs and cash, the European police agency…

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Spanish court tells UEFA, FIFA not to stop Super League in holding order

MADRID, April 20 (Reuters) - The World and European soccer bodies, FIFA and UEFA, must not prevent 12 of the continent's leading clubs from creating a breakaway Super League, a…

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Spain to trial mixing COVID-19 vaccines after restricting AstraZeneca shot

MADRID, April 19 (Reuters) - Spain will study the effects of mixing different coronavirus vaccines, government researchers said on Monday, responding to shifting guidelines on the safety of the AstraZeneca's…

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Reports Spain mulling delaying second dose of Moderna and Pfizer shots

Spain's Health Ministry is considering delaying second doses of COVID-19 vaccines for under 80 year olds to maximise the number of people who have received at least one injection, El…

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Spain opposes soccer Super League involving its star clubs trio

MADRID, April 19 (Reuters) - The Spanish government on Monday came out against the formation of a breakaway Super League by 12 clubs including its own Real Madrid and Barcelona,…

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Messi fires Barca to Cup final win over Athletic Bilbao

SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday to win the trophy for a record-extending 31st…

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Zidane says he is ‘not a disaster’ as coach

MADRID (Reuters) -Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane joked that he was "not a disaster" as a coach and said he was not bothered by the fact that he had not yet…

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Madrid to host charity bullfight for matadors left jobless by COVID-19

MADRID (Reuters) - Crowds will return to Madrid's Las Ventas bullring for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic next month for a charity bullfight to raise money for matadors left jobless by COVID-19, officials said on…

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Barca coach Koeman not worried about future ahead of Copa final

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has reiterated that he is not worried about his future ahead of Saturday's Copa del Rey final meeting with Athletic Bilbao. The Copa…

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Spain’s Iberia asks public to pick summer destination

MADRID, April 16 (Reuters) - Spanish airline Iberia will let social media users choose an additional destination for its summer flights, the company said, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to…

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Madrid may shut down mass vaccination centres unless more shots arrive

MADRID, April 16 (Reuters) - A shortage of coronavirus shots may force the Madrid region to close down mass vaccination centres next week, the regional public health chief said on…

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Spanish FA to offer Seville as Bilbao alternative for Euro games

MADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) will offer Seville's La Cartuja stadium as an alternative venue for Euro 2020 matches should Bilbao be stripped of its games, the…

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Pressure on stuttering Atletico as rivals Real close gap in title race

MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid will bid to get their stuttering title challenge back on track when they host bottom club Eibar on Sunday. Atletico held a 10-point lead at…

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Spain confident on vaccination targets despite J&J suspension

Spain is confident it can maintain its coronavirus vaccination targets despite the United States suspending the Johnson & Johnson shot and delays to its European rollout over clotting concerns, the…

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From electric cars to rural internet, this is Spain’s recovery plan

Spain outlined its Recovery and Resilience plan on Tuesday aiming to revive and modernise its economy after a record 10.8% contraction in 2020, using 72 billion euros ($85.87 billion) in…

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Photo Story: The Estampa art fair in Madrid

A woman looks at one of the artworks exhibited during the opening ceremony of Estampa art fair at Ifema convention and exhibition grounds, in Madrid, Spain. Estampa was the first…

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Zidane hopes Saturday not the end of Messi’s Clasico career

ADRID: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has said he hopes that Saturday's (Apr 10) Clasico meeting between his side and Barcelona will not be the last time Lionel Messi plays…

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Spain to revise down 2021 growth forecast after tough first quarter

Spanish government will lower its forecast for gross domestic product growth in 2021 after the first quarter was worse than expected, Economy Minister Nadia Calvino said on Thursday. "We leave…

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Spain plans to fully vaccinate 53% of population by late July

Spain is accelerating its COVID-19 vaccination rollout and will have fully inoculated 25 million people by late July, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, also confirming the end-August target of giving…

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Spain’s Castile and Leon region suspends AstraZeneca shots

A regional Spanish health authority said on Wednesday it had suspended AstraZeneca COVID-19 shots pending a European Medicines Agency (EMA) safety report, though the national government said it would continue…

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Portugal extends restrictions on Spanish border until April 15

Portugal on Sunday extended restrictions on travel via land and sea to Spain that had been due to end this weekend until April 15 as it works to contain the…

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Valencia told to play on after walk-off over alleged racist insult-Gaya

Valencia were told by organisers to resume playing Sunday's La Liga match at Cadiz or they would have to forfeit the points after they had left the pitch when Mouctar…

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Police arrest 100 gang members who smuggled drugs into Spain on speedboats

Spanish police said on Saturday they had arrested 100 members of a gang which ferried hashish and marijuana from Morocco to Spain in high powered speedboats. The gang filled their…

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Fire bomb attack on Spanish leftist party’s office

A regional office of Spain's leftist Unidas Podemos party was hit by a fire-bomb attack on Friday, police said. The attack took place in Cartagena in southeastern Spain. The blaze…

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Ruling in Spain that face masks must be worn on beaches amid fears of fourth Covid wave

The Spanish tourist industry has reacted with dismay to the government’s decree that face masks must be worn in all outdoor spaces, including beaches and swimming pools, even when it…

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Spain cruise to top spot in qualfiers despite keeper howler

Spain secured a convincing 3-1 home win over Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, although goalkeeper Unai Simon made a huge blunder to cost his side a goal. Dani Olmo gave Spain a…

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Spain says digital vaccine certificates to be ready in June at latest

Spain expects digital vaccine certificates to ease travel within the European Union will be ready in June at the latest, foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said on Wednesday. Faced with…

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Spain removes age limit on AstraZeneca vaccine, to give J&J to over-66s

Spain has decided to remove an upper age limit of 65 years on AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and give Johnson & Johnson's version of the jab to people aged over 66,…

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Commission disburses further €13 billion under SURE to six Member States

The European Commission has disbursed €13 billion to six EU Member States in the sixth instalment of financial support under the SURE instrument. This is the third disbursement in 2021.…

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Spain’s rising COVID-19 rate gathers pace

Spain's coronavirus infection rate rose by more than 10 since Friday, with 15,500 cases added to the tally, Health Ministry data showed on Monday, as a gradual uptick in contagion…

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Spain coach relieved by late winner, braced for more nervy games

Spain coach Luis Enrique praised his side for snatching a 2-1 win away to Georgia on Sunday but predicted more nerve-shredding finishes in their remaining World Cup qualifiers unless they learn how to…

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Almost Surreal – 5,000 pack Barcelona rock concert after COVID tests

Music fans in Barcelona hugged, danced and sang along at a sold-out rock concert on Saturday night after taking rapid COVID-19 tests in a trial that could revive the live music industry…

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Spain’s coronavirus rate continues to rise

Spain’s coronavirus infection rate continued to climb on Friday after increasing steadily for over a week, suggesting a long decline could be in danger of reversing. The rate, which is…

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European Qualifiers Round-Up – Germany, Italy, England off to winning start, Spain held

Former champions Germany, England and Italy got off to winning starts in their World Cup qualifying campaigns on Thursday but Spain were held to a 1-1 home draw by Greece.…

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Spain’s coronavirus incidence inches up after long decline

Spain’s coronavirus infection rate edged up, highlighting concerns that a long decline that last week carried it to its lowest level since August is in danger of reversing. When the…

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Commission approves modification of Spanish schemes to support economy due to covid

The European Commission has found the modification of three existing Spanish schemes to support the economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak to be in in line with the…

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