Category: News

Demonstrations
Thousands of people marched in several cities in southern Spain last night to protest at the rise of Vox, a far-right party that has burst onto the political scene after an unexpectedly strong performance at the Andalusian regional election on Sunday.
Polls had only predicted five seats for the party, which instead attracted nearly 11% of the vote and earned 12 seats.
Anti-Vox demonstrations took place in provincial capitals across Andalusia, including Granada, Málaga and Seville, where marchers cried out slogans like “We are not afraid.”… Read all the news

Hunger Strike
Two more jailed Catalan separatist leaders awaiting trial for their role in the region’s failed bid to secede from Spain joined a hunger strike started two days ago by two of their companions to protest against their treatment by Spanish courts.
Two of the leaders in custody, Josep Rull and Joaquim Forn, released a statement saying they would join the hunger strike started on Saturday by Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Turull.
“We also voluntarily renounce food intake as of 8:00 p.m.… Read all the news

Regional Election
A far-right party has won seats in a Spanish regional election for the first time since 1975.
The Vox party took 12 parliamentary seats in Andalusia yesterday beating expectations that it would win five.
Tough on immigration and Catalan separatism, Vox could be an important player in a future coalition.
The governing Socialist’s still won more than any other party – 33 seats – but with a greatly reduced majority.
It may try to form a coalition with Podemos, to fend off the center- and far-right in the 109-seat parliament.… Read all the news

Migrant Boat
Eleven migrants who were stranded on a Spanish fishing boat for more than a week after being rescued off Libya were brought to Malta yesterday ending an international stand-off, but Valletta said they would later be taken to Spain.
The vessel was initially refused entry by Italy, Malta and Spain.
The fishing boat, Santa Madre de Loreto, rescued 12 migrants in international waters off the coast of Libya 10 days ago. Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms, which has been assisting the boat and migrants aboard, said it would not have been safe if they were returned to Libya.… Read all the news

Spain Chine Relations
Chinese and Spanish enterprises have signed ten deals worth 17.6 billion dollars during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Spain this week.
The deals cover finance, telecommunication, environment, machine, vehicle and medicine, hitting a new record of China-Spain trade and economic cooperation.
China and Spain also signed intergovernmental cooperation documents to cover the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Fraud and Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Pork Products.
During the visit, the China-Spain Business Advisory Council was formally established and the first meeting was successfully held, becoming another platform for deepening bilateral economic and trade relations.… Read all the news

Catalan Strikes
Thousands of Catalan civil servants joined strikes and ongoing protests by students and health workers yesterday to demand more funding and better working conditions.
Barcelona police say that 8,000 joined a downtown march to the regional parliament. The strike paralyzed many public services leaving some schools and universities empty.
Workers and student unions say that austerity measures implemented at the height of the 2008 financial crisis haven’t been reverted despite five years of continued economic growth.
A similar protest on Wednesday by fire and health workers ended in clashes with anti-riot police.… Read all the news

Electric Scooter Manslaughter
A 90-year-old Spanish woman has died after a collision with an electric scooter.
Two men had been riding the same scooter when they smashed into the woman in Barcelona in August.
She hit her head on the ground and died in hospital a few days later in what is thought to be the first incident of its kind.
The men are now facing manslaughter charges.
The two men, who have not been named, were traveling at more than 18 miles an hour along a street shared by pedestrians and traffic.… Read all the news

Migrant Boat
The government says is holding “intense diplomatic talks” to resolve the stranding of a Spanish fishing vessel for nearly a week after it took 12 migrants on board, including two children, north of the Libyan coast.
The rescue by the crew aboard the Nuestra Senora de Loreto took place on Nov. 22 in waters under Libyan jurisdiction.
According to Spain, Libya has not responded to requests to take in the migrants and bad weather has forced the trawler to sail away closer to Lampedusa island half way between Tunisia and Malta.… Read all the news

Abseiling Death
A British man has died while abseiling at a mountain on the Costa Blanca known as the ‘Sleeping Lion’.
A woman who was with the unnamed 36-year-old man was rescued by helicopter and taken to hospital with a broken left leg.
The dead Brit is understood to have lost his life after falling 80ft while abseiling at the mountain near Polop .. inland from Calpe.
It is one of the most emblematic mountains in the province of Alicante and is a popular spot for walkers as well as rock climbers.… Read all the news

State Visit
China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in Spain yesterday for a business-focused state visit as Beijing seeks to strengthen ties with Europe.
Xi, who landed in Madrid was scheduled to meet King Felipe last night and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez today.
No press conference is scheduled during his three-day visit, which is a stop-off on his trip to a meeting of G20 leaders in Argentina.
It is the first state visit to Spain by a Chinese president in 13 years.… Read all the news