US, 17 other countries urge Hamas to release hostages, end Gaza crisis
Washington DC, US Reuters The United States and 17 other countries on Thursday issued an appeal for Hamas to release all of its hostages as a pathway to end the crisis in Gaza, but Hamas vowed not to relent to international pressure. “We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in […]
Spanish PM Sanchez shocks country again putting his continuity on the line
Madrid, Spain Reuters Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is no stranger to high octane political battles and has successfully fought for his career in public life several times. On Wednesday evening, Sanchez said he would suspend public duties until next week to decide whether he wants to continue leading the government. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro […]
Spain sets up fund for victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy
Madrid, Spain Reuters Spain is to set up a fund, to be financed largely by the Catholic Church, to compensate an estimated 440,000 victims of decades of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, staff or teachers, the justice minister announced on Tuesday. A report in October by Spain’s human rights ombudsman produced the estimate from a […]
Thousands protest in Spain’s Canary Islands over mass tourism
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Reuters Thousands of people protested in Tenerife on Saturday, calling for the Spanish island to temporarily limit tourist arrivals to stem a boom in short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction that is driving up housing costs for locals. Holding placards reading “People live here” and “We don’t want to see […]
Spain’s parliament to draft amnesty bill for undocumented migrants
Madrid, Spain Reuters Spain’s lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to start working on a bill that would legalise hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, based on a proposal by civil society groups that had collected more than 600,000 signatures backing it. Political parties now have up to two months to amend the proposal […]
Postcards: The blessing of rain dampens Holy Week in drought-stricken Spain
BERNAT ARMANGUE, of Associated Press, reports from Spain on the impact much-needed rain had on Easter celebrations…
In Jerusalem, Palestinian Christians observe scaled-down Good Friday rituals
Jerusalem AP Hundreds of Christians participated in a customary Good Friday procession through the limestone walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, commemorating one of the faith’s most sacred days with noticeably thinner crowds amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The procession, which normally draws thousands of foreign visitors, was unusually local — mostly Palestinian Christians, joined by some […]
Wow!: Rescued greyhounds teach kids empathy in Spain
NACHO DOCE, of Reuters, reports on the work of the SOS Galgos (Greyhounds) shelter…
In Spain, nuns quench pilgrims’ thirst for beer and the word of God
Vitoria, Spain Reuters A congregation of Catholic nuns has reopened a bar in an ancient sanctuary in northern Spain, pulling pints of beer in the hopes of spreading the word of God to thirsty guests visiting the 11th-century Romanesque site. “I think plenty of people would think it’s unusual, because they’ve never seen it. But you know, […]
Ahead of Easter rush, officials say drought must not put off Barcelona tourists
Barcelona, Spain Reuters Tourists arriving at Barcelona’s airport or gazing at its iconic Sagrada Familia basilica will this Easter holiday be met with large signs in English that read: “Drought alert. During your stay, save water”. As the impact of climate change intensifies across southern Europe, Spain’s Mediterranean region of Catalonia, which includes Barcelona, is […]