Spain

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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,…

Read More Here

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.…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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.…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Barcelona, Spain

A general view of Barcelona city with the Sagrada Familia church (L), in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: EPA-EFE/Quique Garcia

Read More Here

Spain hopes number of foreign tourists will rebound to half pre-pandemic level this year

Spain hopes the number of foreign tourists visiting its sun-kissed islands and picturesque villages can rebound this year to half pre-pandemic levels, Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto said on Monday. "Maybe…

Read More Here

Sevilla keeper Bono grabs last-gasp equaliser at Valladolid

Goalkeeper Bono was Sevilla's unlikely hero as they snatched a 1-1 draw at struggling Real Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday thanks to his strike deep in stoppage time. Chilean…

Read More Here

Kroos-Benzema connection helps Real beat Celta

VIGO, Spain: Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema twice combined with team mate Toni Kroos to continue his insatiable scoring run as his side earned a 3-1 win away to Celta…

Read More Here

Europe’s south calls for more solidarity in new EU migration pact

Mediterranean countries on the frontline of Europe's migration crisis called for more solidarity from EU governments on Saturday and said a proposed overhaul of migration rules did not go far…

Read More Here

Spain approves bill legalising euthanasia

Spanish lawmakers on Thursday legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide for people with serious and incurable or debilitating diseases who want to end their life, making Spain the fourth country in…

Read More Here

Spain warns downward COVID-19 trend may be changing as infection rate edges up

Spain’s health minister warned that a seven-week decline in the national COVID-19 infection rate could have bottomed out after cases ticked higher in a handful of regions. “We could be…

Read More Here

Fans to return for Spain’s Copa del Rey finals – report

MADRID (Reuters) - Supporters will be able to attend the two Spanish Copa del Rey finals next month, radio station Cadena Ser reported on Wednesday. Seville's La Cartuja stadium, which…

Read More Here

Spanish hotel chain Melia sues government for lockdown damages

MADRID, March 17 (Reuters) - Spain's largest hotel chain Melia Hotels has filed a complaint against the government with an administrative court seeking 116 million euros ($138 million) in damages…

Read More Here

Spain’s deputy PM Iglesias to resign

Spain's far-left Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias said on Monday he would resign from the coalition government to challenge Madrid's right-wing leadership in a regional election. Fellow Unidas Podemos party…

Read More Here

Atletico title bid dented with Getafe draw

MADRID (Reuters) - La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 away to struggling Getafe on Saturday, despite playing the latter stages of the game with an extra man, offering renewed…

Read More Here

Up to 60 detained in operation against international drug organisation in Spain

Handout photos made available by the Civil Guard shows Civil Guard agents detaining a suspect during the anti-drugs operation held in Huelva, Spain, against an international organization dedicated to the…

Read More Here

Some Spanish regions hold back AstraZeneca vaccine

Four Spanish regions have stopped administering doses from a batch of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine following reports of the formation of blood clots in some people who had been vaccinated, although…

Read More Here

Spain ups direct aid to SMEs to 7 bln euros in relief plan, source says

MADRID, March 11 (Reuters) - The Spanish government's direct aid to small and medium-sized companies, to be approved by the cabinet on Friday, will likely total 7 billion euros ($8.4…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Spain to keep using AstraZeneca vaccine, no blood clot cases reported

Spain has not registered any cases of blood clots related to AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine so far and will continue administering the shots, Health Minister Carolina Darias said on Thursday. She…

Read More Here

Kosovo threaten to withdraw from Spain game unless flag, anthem respected

(Reuters) - Kosovo's national football federation has threatened to withdraw from its upcoming World Cup qualifier away to Spain later this month if it is not allowed to display its…

Read More Here

Spain says vaccine passport could start in May

Spain's Tourism minister Reyes Maroto said on Wednesday that the country could start using the vaccine passport in May, when the international tourism fair FITUR is due to take place…

Read More Here

Thousands of women protest in Spain demanding equal rights

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Holding signs such as "Respect my existence or expect my resistance," thousands of women on Monday protested across Spain against gender violence and in support of equal…

Read More Here

La Liga – Talking Points

Atletico leave real alive and pay the price Atletico Madrid have a tendency to underperform against Real Madrid so their 1-1 draw in Sunday's derby was all the more frustrating after they…

Read More Here

Spain’s gig economy poses labour rights conundrum as regulation eyed

Thousands of kilometres (miles) away from his native Venezuela, 48-year-old Nestor Perez died last month on the streets of Madrid when he was hit by a garbage truck while delivering…

Read More Here

EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Oviedo, Spain

A view of Christ statue on the top of Mount Naranco amid a blanket of fog in Oviedo, northern Spain. Photo: EPA-EFE/Alberto Morante

Read More Here

European Court of Justice forces football clubs Barcelona, Real Madrid repay illegal state aid

Barcelona, along with fellow Spanish LaLiga football teams Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna, has been dealt a blow after the Court of Justice of the European Union upheld an…

Read More Here

Barcelona reach Copa del Rey final with epic display

Barcelona (dpa) - Barcelona reached the Spanish Cup final on Wednesday at the Camp Nou by winning an extraordinary semi-final second leg against Sevilla 3-0 to go through 3-2 on aggregate. Ousmane Dembele…

Read More Here

Spain’s jobless hit four million for first time in five years

The number of jobless people in Spain rose above 4 million for the first time in five years in February, official data showed, as COVID-19 restrictions ravage the ailing economy.…

Read More Here

Spain lowers coronavirus tally after recount, infection rate falls

Spain revised downwards its tally of coronavirus cases after eliminating those registered twice in the region of Catalonia and its health ministry said the rate of infection had also fallen.…

Read More Here

Barca sink Sevilla to keep title chase alive

SEVILLE, SPAIN (REUTERS) - Barcelona forwards Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi fired the Catalans to a confidence-boosting 2-0 win at in-form Sevilla on Saturday (Feb 27) to keep the pressure…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Valencia prepares a virtual Fallas festival

A craftsman works on a falla, a papier-mache sculpture, in his workshop despite that the Fallas festival was suspended for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus…

Read More Here

Spain’s former king pays 4.4 million euros in back taxes amid scandals

Spain's former King Juan Carlos, who left the country in August amid a cloud of scandals, has settled a back tax bill worth more than 4 million euros ($4.9 million),…

Read More Here

Just 2% in Spain refuse coronavirus vaccine

Just over 2% of Spaniards offered a coronavirus vaccine have rejected it, including people who avoided the shot for medical reasons, the Health Ministry said, as the nation’s overall infection…

Read More Here

Spanish government commits to controlling rental prices

Spain will regulate rental prices in areas where the demand for homes outstrips those on offer, Treasury Ministry Maria Jesus Montero said, the latest twist in a drawn-out internal spat…

Read More Here

Spain announces 11-billion-euro package to help companies face the covid crisis

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Wednesday an additional 11-billion-euro ($13.4 billion) package for small and mid-sized companies and the self-employed to help them cope with the economic crisis…

Read More Here

La Liga talking points

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Talking points from the weekend in Spanish football. ARE THE WHEELS COMING OFF ATLETICO'S TITLE TRAIN? After a few warning signs that La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid…

Read More Here

Atletico beaten by Levante as title race wobble continues

Atletico Madrid’s La Liga dip continued on Saturday as they went down 2-0 at home to Levante. Real Madrid took full advantage in the later game beating Valladolid 1-0 to…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Another night of protests in Spain

Riot police officers clash with protesters during a march on Saturday evening against the imprisonment of Spanish rapper Pablo Hasel in Barcelona, Spain. Riots continued in several Spanish cities after…

Read More Here

Spain to dedicate 1 billion euros in EU funds to social housing

Spain will dedicate 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) of the European Union’s coronavirus recovery funds to social housing, the government announced, largely using real estate assets held by Sareb, Spain’s…

Read More Here

Spain to make quarantine obligatory for travellers from South Africa, Brazil

Spain will make travellers from South Africa and Brazil go into quarantine for at least seven days following their arrival, Health Minister Carolina Darias said, part of efforts to quell…

Read More Here

Barricades burn in Spanish streets amid protests over jailed rapper

Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound bombs at two protests in Madrid and Barcelona on Wednesday night, each attended by thousands, the day after a rapper was arrested…

Read More Here

Spain betting on vaccine passports to revive summer tourism

Spain hopes the introduction of vaccination passports combined with pre-travel COVID-19 testing will allow British tourists to return to Spanish destinations this summer, a tourism ministry source told Reuters on…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Violent protests in Barcelona

A fire burns during a protest march on Tuesday evening to condemn the imprisonment of Spanish rapper Pau Rivadulla Duro A.K.A 'Pablo Hasel' in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Hasel was sentenced…

Read More Here

Separatists headed for Catalan election majority, preliminary results show

BARCELONA: Separatist parties were on track on Sunday (Feb 14) to jointly win enough seats to strengthen their majority in Catalonia's regional parliament, according to preliminary results with over 80 per…

Read More Here

Catalonia holds regional election, gauging separatists’ strength

Catalan voters head to the polls on Sunday for an election that will test the strength of the Spanish region’s pro-independence movement in an era now dominated by the coronavirus…

Read More Here

Pandemic puts Catalan independence on backseat in Sunday’s election

For close to a decade, campaigning for parliamentary elections in Catalonia has been dominated by its push for independence. But for Sunday's regional ballot, healthcare and the economy have taken…

Read More Here