Pompeyo González Pascual, 76, sent explosive packages to Spain’s prime minister and US and Ukrainian embassies
A Spanish court has sentenced a man to 18 years in prison over letter bombs sent to Spain’s prime minister and the US and Ukrainian embassies in 2022.
Pompeyo González Pascual, 76, who opposed western support for Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, was found guilty of terrorism and manufacturing explosives by Spain’s top criminal court, the audiencia nacional.
Continue reading...Move targeting those in city for less than 12 hours is latest measure from mayor to tackle effects of mass tourism
Barcelona’s mayor plans to raise the tourist tax for cruise passengers who visit the city for less than 12 hours as part of his continuing efforts to “tackle the consequences of mass tourism” in the Catalan capital.
Jaume Collboni, a member of the Catalan Socialist party, has announced a series of measures designed to reduce overtourism and improve the city’s housing situation since taking office last year.
Continue reading...Tourists and residents swelter in heat as temperatures rise to 44C in Spain, with forest fires in Greece and Croatia
A fierce heatwave is continuing to roll across southern and central Europe, bringing temperatures of up to 44C (111.2F) to parts of Spain, sparking forest fires in Greece and Croatia, and prompting governments to urge people to take special care as the mercury rises.
In Spain, the state meteorological agency, Aemet, said temperatures on Friday could hit 40C across large parts of the country – and even 44C in areas of Andalucía – as the first heatwave of the summer hit. Aemet said the high temperatures, caused by a mass of “very hot, dry and dusty air” from North Africa, were expected to last until Saturday.
Continue reading...The Gibraltar government has criticised the “rancid remarks” members of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning side made at a victory rally in central Madrid on Monday night. The territory’s football association is to make a formal complaint to Uefa over the matter.
The controversy, which follows Spain’s 2-1 victory against England in the final on Sunday, erupted after the Spain captain, Álvaro Morata, and the midfielder Rodri chanted “Gibraltar es español” [“Gibraltar is Spanish”] while on stage in front of a massive crowd in the Spanish capital’s Plaza de Cibeles.
Continue reading...Lancashire teenager disappeared after attending music festival on the island four weeks ago
An autopsy has confirmed that a body found by Spanish rescuers in Tenerife on Monday is that of the missing British teenager Jay Slater.
A court spokesperson has reportedly confirmed that fingerprints taken from the body matched those of the missing 19-year-old from Lancashire. He disappeared after attending a music festival four weeks ago and was last seen walking alone in a remote area in the north of the island, near the village of Masca.
Continue reading...For some it was harmless banter but others say Mary Lou McDonald’s post on X was an example of obnoxious trolling
It’s a venerable football equation: English defeat = Irish glee.
Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin leader, reflected this tradition when she posted “Olé, Olé, Olé” and celebrated Spain’s victory over England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday. “Felicidades! Comhghairdeas to the champions of Europe,” she added, using the Irish word for congratulations.
Continue reading...Supporters enjoy a ‘buzzing’ atmosphere and predict ‘carnage’ whatever the result in match against Spain
Anticipation had been building on Benidorm’s Calle Gerona, affectionately known as the strip, from early in the afternoon.
Some holidaymakers had travelled especially to the town in the hope of finding the ultimate party atmosphere in which to celebrate: Spain’s most British town.
Continue reading...More than 50,000 England fans expected in German capital as men’s side hope to make history against Spain
Tens of thousands of England fans are arriving in Berlin as Gareth Southgate’s men’s team attempt to make history and beat Spain to win a first major tournament since 1966.
More than 50,000 England fans are expected to be in German capital for the final of the European championship, many of whom will be without tickets.
Continue reading...Spanish PM hails a great day for Spain after party pulls out of coalitions with conservative People’s party
Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has hailed a great day for the country after the far-right Vox party relinquished its grip on power by abandoning its coalition governments with the conservative People’s party (PP) in five key regions after disagreements over migration policy.
Vox’s leader, Santiago Abascal, announced the withdrawal on Thursday night, after days of arguments with the PP over its decision to support the central government’s plans to bring about 400 unaccompanied minors from the Canary Islands and redistribute them around the mainland.
Continue reading...Teenagers each given a year’s probation after creating and spreading faked images of female classmates in south-west Spain
A court in south-west Spain has sentenced 15 schoolchildren to a year’s probation for creating and spreading AI-generated images of their female peers in a case that prompted a debate on the harmful and abusive uses of deepfake technology.
Police began investigating the matter last year after parents in the Extremaduran town of Almendralejo reported that faked naked pictures of their daughters were being circulated on WhatsApp groups.
Continue reading...Officials say 43-year-old man left his vehicle to take pictures of a breeding herd at Pilanesberg national park
A Spanish tourist has been trampled to death by elephants in a South African national park after apparently trying to take pictures of a breeding herd that included three calves.
The 43-year-old man was killed on Sunday morning at Pilanesberg national park about 130 miles (210km) north-west of Johannesburg.
Continue reading...The Spanish archipelago has welcomed more than 19,000 migrants since the start of 2024
Hundreds protested on Saturday in the Canary Islands against an influx of migrants to the Spanish archipelago, which has welcomed more than 19,000 migrants since the beginning of 2024.
Located off the coast of north-west Africa, the Canary Islands have become an increasingly popular destination for people braving the perilous Atlantic crossing in the hope of finding a better life in Europe.
Continue reading...Angélica Liddell, who describes herself as an ‘irresponsible artist’, read out a bad review by Stéphane Capron and called him a ‘bastard’
A Spanish theatre-maker is being sued for defamation by a French theatre critic after she read out one of his reviews on stage, flashed her bare bottom at the audience and called him a “bastard”.
In a stunt that has sparked a debate about the limits of artistic freedom in politically divisive times, Angélica Liddell, a director and performer, read out a list of negative reviews of her past work from French critics, many of whom were in attendance at her opening show of the Avignon performing arts festival on Saturday.
Continue reading...About 40 passengers taken to hospitals after flight from Madrid to Montevideo forced to make emergency landing
An Air Europa flight from Madrid to Montevideo has been forced to make an emergency landing at a Brazilian airport due to “severe turbulence”, the airline said.
About 40 passengers, mostly with minor injuries, were taken to hospitals in Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte state after the plane was diverted early on Monday.
Continue reading...Case remains open following unsuccessful coordinated attempt to locate missing British teenager
Police in Tenerife have said the unsuccessful two-week search in the mountains for a missing British teenager is now over, although the case remains open.
Jay Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing on Monday 17 June after attending a weekend rave with friends.
Continue reading...Volunteers with experience in rough terrain will go over areas previously covered by police in search for 19-year-old
Volunteers with experience navigating tough terrain are in Tenerife to help the Spanish police in the search for a missing British teenager.
Jay Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, was last heard from on 17 June when he called a friend to say he had no water and only 1% battery left on his phone.
Continue reading...Spanish Guardia Civil says 70-year-old man discovered by rescue team near Aspe peak in western Pyrenees
A 70-year-old British hiker has been found dead in the Pyrenees mountains four days after disappearing.
The man, who was from London, went missing on Monday. He was discovered in the mountain range by a rescue team on Thursday at around 1pm, the Spanish Guardia Civil said.
Continue reading...Demonstrators from popular destinations such as Granada and Seville to join protest amid anger at lack of housing
Thousands of people from across southern Spain are expected to take to the streets of Málaga on Saturday in the latest in a series of protests against mass tourism.
Demonstrators from the popular Andalusian destinations of Granada, Seville and Cádiz will join others in the Mediterranean city following recent protests in the Canary and Balearic islands, with another scheduled for a week later in Barcelona.
Continue reading...Police had called for volunteers to help in search of rocky wildness close to where teenager went missing
A “mass search” for the missing teenager Jay Slater is due to begin in Tenerife on Saturday after police called for more volunteers to take part.
Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, was last heard from on the morning of Monday 17 June when he texted a friend to say he had no water and only 1% battery left on his phone.
Continue reading...Skull anatomy shows the boy or girl would have been severely disabled, yet survived until the age of six
A Neanderthal child with Down’s syndrome survived until at least the age of six, according to a new study whose findings hint at compassionate caregiving among the extinct, archaic human species.
Recent examination of a human fossil unearthed at the Cova Negra archaeological site in the Spanish province of Valencia found traits in the inner-ear anatomy which indicated Down syndrome, in the earliest-known evidence of the genetic condition.
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