Bishop laments Spain’s refugee response as church begins World Day of Migrants & Refugees campaign
• Countries with far less per capita income doing more to help refugees • The Catholic prelate in charge of the Commission…
Spain
Nearly two-thirds of Spain’s 24,000 healthcare job losses since 2012 occurred in Valencia, Andalusia
• Valencia, Andalusia, Madrid and Castile-La Mancha hardest hit regions • Layoffs and a hiring freeze to replace retiring healthcare workers under…
Eight-year-old nationwide domestic abuse hotline received record 82,000 calls from women in 2015
• Nearly 20% yearly hike in calls to “016” hotline from women seeking help • Spain’s Ministry of Health, Social Services and…
Number of Syrians seeking refuge in Europe via Spain’s Melilla centre expected to increase in 2016
• Spain’s N. African enclave entry point for desperate Syrian asylum seekers • The number of Syrian refugees willing to brave Moroccan…
Podemos request for four-way split of 69 Congress seats would quadruple stipend, presence in debates
• Unprecedented request widely opposed, could stall new Congress formation • Anti-austerity party Podemos has announced it wants its 69 Congressional seats…
Patients’ rights groups seek healthcare commitment as political parties negotiate coalition government
• Patients’ organisation says healthcare forgotten since general elections • A national patient’s rights group, the Plataforma de Organizaciones de Pacientes has…
Socialists’ Pedro Sánchez meets with Portuguese PM for advice on constructing broad-left coalition
• PSOE leader wants Portugal-style coalition to oust Spain’s Partido Popular • The leader of Spain’s Socialist party (PSOE), Pedro Sánchez, traveled…
Spanish judge orders arrest of 17 Salvadoran ex-military over 1989 murder of Jesuit priests
• Five Spanish Jesuits among victims of military raid and summary executions • A Spanish federal judge has issued an international arrest…
CCOO leader says unemployment numbers positive, but new jobs creation far from 2007 pre-crisis levels
• Fernández Toxo says it will take until 2021 to return to pre-crisis job levels • Says anemic recovery built on ‘highly…
Archbishop of Toledo stirs outrage with sermon implying women are the cause of domestic violence
• Catholic leader says women’s refusal to submit to men at root of violence • Outraged women across Spain hit back at…
Ciudad Real to discuss renaming city street in honor of last Republican general to surrender in Civil War
• Proposal to rename street in honor of Republican general causes controversy • City to begin name changes in keeping with Spain’s…
CUP refuses to vote for Artur Mas presidency, sets stage for new Catalan regional elections in March
• Anti-capitalist party leadership votes 36-30 against Mas bid for presidency • Independence momentum stalls, parliamentary elections rerun almost certain Catalonia’s small…
LGBT federation says Spanish laws not sufficient to protect against transgender bullying, discrimination
• Vigil marks suicide death of Barcelona transgender teen bullied at school • Rights group says nearly half of all LGBT youth…
Valencian Socialist leader Ximo Puig sees March
re-run of general elections as most likely scenario
• Valencian president says PSOE does not have votes for coalition government • Puig says Podemos demands on Catalonia nixed chance for…
Insurance group foundation donates 23,000 euros
to help refugees & alleviate child poverty in Spain
• Funds raised by Mutua Madrileña foundation’s annual Christmas concerts • Donations to UN refugees comission and Spanish anti-poverty organization The philanthropic…
Film shows German Stuka bomber raids willfully killed Spanish civilians to test planes for WWII use
• Documentary to show German Stukas killed Spanish civilians in ‘practice’ raid • May 1938 Castellón aerial bombing solely to test Stukas…
PSOE internal divisions surface amid Sánchez bid to piece together ruling coalition or face new elections
• Under pressure, party leader says ‘No’ to Podemos over Catalonia vote • Regional leaders push for annual party conference, possible primary…
Greenpeace gives PP gov’t poor marks for 2015, citing legal setbacks on environment & free speech
• Environmental NGO’s annual report card knocks new obstacles to renewables • Halt to drilling off Canaries, Valencia and Malaga among high…
Syrian refugees, undocumented migrants reach Spain in record numbers during 2015, report says
• More than 15,000 undocumented migrants & refugees double 2014 arrivals • 7,000 Syrians applied for asylum in Spanish enclave of Melilla…
Gov’t study shows animal abandonment in Spain slowing, but still 15% greater than at 2006 levels
• Census figures on number of pets overall in Spain vary widely • Study cites sharp increase in animal abuse cases since…
Spain to protect marine mammals by restricting exploratory drilling within Mediterranean corridor
• Ibiza-based Alianza Mar Blava says gov’t to set aside coastal areas • Move will halt planned drilling activities by three international…
Oxfam Intermón calls on Spain’s next government to make poverty alleviation, overseas aid top priorities
• NGO says overseas aid alleviates root causes of refugees, economic migration • Fight against poverty, inequality at home should be government’s…
Voters elect record number of women deputies to national Congress in historic general election vote
• Women win 140 seats in 350-member Congress, but fall short of ‘parity’ • Nearly half of Podemos’ 69 seats & PSOE’s…
Fledgling animal-rights party gets more votes than other parties, but no seats in Congress of Deputies
• PACMA nets more votes for Congress than either BILDU or Canary Coalition • Animal-rights campaigners gather more than 1 million votes…
PP loses majority, PSOE falls short, Podemos finish strong in realignment of Spain’s political landscape
• PP & PSOE both fall far short of 176-seat needed for absolute majority • Podemos surge nets 69 seats, Ciudadanos falters…
Number of undocumented boat people making risky sea voyage to Canaries nearly triples during 2015
• Nearly 700 migrants have crossed Atlantic from Morocco so far this year • Traffickers charge 800-900 euros per person to make…
Guides to the parties, the candidates & what’s at stake in Spain’s 2015 general elections on Sunday
• PP, PSOE, Ciudadanos & Podemos lineup for the final countdown • General elections to decide who governs Spain in 2016 and…
#VIDEO: Richard Gere steps into Spanish election campaign, calls on next PM to remember homeless
• Actor releases YouTube video message on behalf of Spain’s RAIS foundation • Asks whoever elected Dec. 20th not to forget Spain’s…
Sánchez debate gambit on women’s issues could swing 62% undecided women voters for Socialists
• Voter rolls show 1.1 million more women eligible to vote than men • Last survey before election says 62% of all…
WWF Spain office raps government for sharp jump in CO2 emissions, lagging renewable energy production
• Spain’s continued fossil fuels investment, subsidies cited by NGO • WWF calls for Spanish commitment to renewables to combat climate change…
Podemos candidate set to be elected first-ever African-born immigrant to serve in Spain’s Congress
• Rita Bosaho to become Spain’s first-ever Black Congresswoman • Immigrants comprise 15% of population, just 1% of congressional seats Regardless of…