Spain News

All residents likely to go home as Gran Canaria fire weakens

By AFP

Madrid - All residents in the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria who were evacuated over a raging wildfire should be able to return to their homes on Wednesday, the regional president said.

Residents return home as Canary Islands blaze weakens

By AFP

Artenara - Residents forced from their homes when a devastating wildfire erupted on the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria began returning Tuesday, although firefighters were still battling to contain the blaze, officials said.

Spain sends navy to save migrants as Italian justice intervenes

By AFP

Madrid - Spain on Tuesday deployed a naval patrol boat to pick up migrants on a charity rescue boat that has been stranded off Italy's Lampedusa island for days after numerous people jumped overboard in a desperate bid to swim ashore.

'Good news' as Canary Islands blaze subsides

By AFP

Madrid - A wildfire that has raged across vast areas of the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria since the weekend has abated as winds have dropped, local officials said Tuesday.

Spain rails against Salvini's refusal to accept rescued migrants

By AFP

Madrid - Spain on Monday stepped up criticism of Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's refusal to allow 107 migrants on board a charity vessel to disembark at an Italian port, calling it "a disgrace to humanity".

'Environmental tragedy' as Canary Islands fire out of control

By AFP

Monta - A fire raged out of control on the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria Monday, forcing evacuations as flames rose so high even water-dropping planes could not operate in what was dubbed an "environmental tragedy".

More evacuations as Canary Islands fire out of control

By AFP

Monta - A wildfire raged out of control on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria Monday, forcing more evacuations as flames in some parts rose so high even water-dropping planes were unable to operate, authorities said.

Migrant rescue ship stuck off Italy rejects Spain port offer

By AFP

Madrid - A charity vessel carrying 107 rescued migrants and stuck in limbo off Italy on Sunday rejected an offer to go to Spain as "absolutely unrealistic" because of the "humanitarian emergency" on board.

Evacuations as Gran Canaria hit by new blaze

By AFP

Madrid - Authorities on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria were set to evacuate more residents on Saturday as a forest fire broke out just days after another blaze raged in the same area.

Evacuations as Gran Canaria hit by new blaze

By AFP

Madrid - Authorities in the Spanish island of Gran Canaria were evacuating a luxury hotel and tourist spot on Saturday as a new forest fire broke out just days after another blaze raged in the same area.

Italian court suspends anti migrant rescue ship decree: NGO

By AFP

Madrid - A Spanish charity which operates a migrant rescue boat in the Mediterranean said Wednesday that a court in Italy has suspended a government decree banning its vessel from entering Italian territorial waters.

Firefighters make progress against Gran Canaria blaze

By AFP

Madrid - Firefighters hoped to bring under control on Monday a fire raging on the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria which sparked the evacuation of hundreds of people, local officials said.

Spanish charity rejects Malta offer to take some migrants, not others

By AFP

Valletta - The Maltese government said Saturday it would take in 39 migrants just plucked from the Mediterranean but refused entry to 121 others aboard the same rescue vessel for more than a week.

500 years ago, Europeans set off to explore the world

By AFP

Paris - The expedition that circumnavigated the globe via the oceans for the first time 500 years ago is among the major journeys of discovery by European explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Migrant rescue NGOs defy European states

By AFP

Barcelona - A Spanish charity that saved 121 migrants in the Mediterranean last week vowed Monday to continue sea rescue operations, the latest NGO to defy moves by European nations to shut down a route exploited by trafficking gangs.

Spanish charity wants to disembark rescued migrants in Italy or Malta

By AFP

Barcelona - A Spanish migrant charity demanded Monday that EU nations agree to take in 121 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean so they can initially disembark in either Italy or Malta.

500 years ago, Europeans set off to explore the world

By AFP

Paris - The expedition that circumnavigated the globe via the oceans for the first time 500 years ago is among the major journeys of discovery by European explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Outcry in Spain over tributes to freed ETA prisoners

By AFP

Madrid - Tributes paid to two members of the Basque separatist group ETA when they left jail sparked outrage Tuesday in Spain, prompting the government to called for an investigation.

Spain PM loses confidence vote after coalition talks fail

By AFP

Madrid - Spain's caretaker socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez lost a crunch post-election vote of confidence on Thursday after coalition talks with the far-left failed, pushing the country closer to repeat polls.

Spain socialists and far-left coalition talks stall before vote

By AFP

Madrid - Talks between Spain's socialists and far-left Podemos to agree a coalition government were stalled on Thursday, casting doubt on whether Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will win a a crucial confidence vote later in the day.

Spain socialists, far-left in last-ditch government talks

By AFP

Madrid - Spain's socialists and far-left Podemos party were locked in last-ditch negotiations Wednesday to agree on a coalition government before parliament votes on whether Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez remains in power.

Spain PM loses first parliament vote to remain in power

By AFP

Madrid - Spanish caretaker prime minister Pedro Sanchez lost a first parliamentary confidence vote on Tuesday as he seeks to remain in power after an inconclusive general election.

Court suspends jail sentence for killing a thief

By AFP

Madrid - A nightclub worker who was handed two years jail for killing a thief in a case that made waves in Spain has had his prison sentence suspended, a court said Monday.

Spain's Sanchez moves closer to securing parliament support for second term

By AFP

Madrid - Spain's Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez's chances of winning a confidence vote in parliament next week to stay on as prime minister received a boost Friday after the head of far-left party Podemos agreed not to take a government post.

Spain PM says does not want far-left leader in his government

By AFP

Madrid - Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Thursday that he would not accept far-left Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias being part of his government.

Debate in Spain over sentence of youth who killed thief

By AFP

Madrid - Debate raged in Spain on Thursday over the case of a young nightclub worker sentenced for manslaughter for killing a thief, after a far-right party raised over 100,000 euros ($112,000) for a compensation payment to help him avoid jail.

Spanish PM accuses far-left of ending talks to form government

By AFP

Madrid - Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday that far-left party Podemos had withdrawn from talks on forming a new government, a week before he faces a confidence vote in parliament.

Famed Spanish bull run festival ends with 8 people gored this year

By AFP

Pamplona - Thousands of revellers raised candles and red scarves in the air and swayed back and forth as they sang a mournful song to mark the end on Sunday of Spain's most famous bull running festival in Pamplona which saw eight daredevils gored this year.

Catalonian president to face trial for disobedience

By AFP

Barcelona - The separatist president of Catalonia will be tried for disobedience after he refused to remove symbols of his movement from public buildings, the Spanish region's high court said Friday.

Spain's acting PM struggles to win backing for second term

By AFP

Madrid - With less than two weeks before a parliamentary vote on his investiture, Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is struggling to win support from other parties to form a new government and avoid fresh elections.