Madrid mayor announces Air Quality Plan to curb non-resident traffic by 2017, ban all diesels by 2020
• New plan will extend non-local traffic limits to additional downtown areas • An initiative by Madrid activist mayor Manuela Carmena’s Ahora…
#VIDEO: Bull breaks loose during Valencian town’s ‘Bou embolat’ festival
► UPDATE: Xàbia Mayor José Chulvi cancels ‘bou embolat’ events … ► Click to read more in Spanish at Xàbia al Día…
LGBT activists in Madrid protest spate of seven homophobic attacks in first three weeks of 2016
• Wave of homophobic violence sparks concern in Madrid’s LGBT community • Hundreds of protesters gathered in Madrid Saturday to protest the…
PSOE tells Rajoy to step up to form gov’t or step down, parties head for 2nd round of talks with King
• PSOE pressured by PP on right, Podemos on left in crucial week of talks • Following Friday’s surprise announcement by conservative…
Majority of Socialist, Podemos voters support coalition pact, according to latest Metroscopia poll
• Rank-and-file support coalition, King begins Round 2 of talks with parties • A majority of voters who supported the Socialists (PSOE)…
Barcelona-based NGO launches mobile application to help locate, assist homeless sleeping on streets
• Arrels foundation helped more than 600 homeless find shelter during 2015 • Barcelona-based Fundación Arrels has launched a mobile app for…
Ipsos-Mori poll says support for bullfighting among Spaniards falls from 30% to 19% in last three years
• 84% of youth are not proud to live in a country associated with bullfighting • Support for bullfighting has dropped sharply…
#VIDEO: Rajoy surprise move, declines King’s request to form new government [in Spanish]
• Acting Prime Minister says he does not have sufficient number of votes • First time in 40 years since Franco that…
#VIDEO: Pedro Sanchez press conference, response to Podemos coalition offer [in Spanish]
• PSOE leader raps Podemos for first seeking ministerial posts • Says ready to talk with Pablo Iglesias about forming progressive coalition…
#VIDEO: Podemos press conference outlining coalition proposal with PSOE [in Spanish]
• Pablo Iglesias told King he wants to be Vice-President in PSOE-led gov’t • Podemos demands six ministerial cabinets in progressive-left coalition…
Rajoy expected to make first try at forming gov’t, Sánchez waits in wings with progressive coalition
• Rajoy to be offered first attempt, despite admission PP lacks enough votes • If protocol is followed by Spain’s head of…
‘City of Refuge’ awaits Syrians, but 2,000 Valencia volunteers wondering when EU will send refugees
• More than 2,000 Valencians volunteered to help refugees yet to arrive • A Valencia city councillor in charge of Development Aid…
Greenpeace calls on political parties, Congress to halt approval of La Garoña nuclear plant re-opening
• Facility closed since 2013, regulator considering approval of re-opening • Greenpeace Spain has called on the Mesa Directiva of Spain’s new…
Podemos regional leader, allies step back from Catalan referendum, give nod to PSOE-led coalition
• Andalusia’s Teresa Rodríguez, Compromís leaders focus on social issues • Regional leaders and electoral alliance partners of new-left, anti-austerity party Podemos…
Excavation team begins Spain’s first court-ordered exhumation of Franco-era mass grave in Guadalajara
• Timoteo Mendieta believed buried at a 1939 mass gravesite in Guadalajara • It took an Argentine court order and the cooperation…
#VIDEO: Alberto Garzón says IU would support Left-coalition government [in Spanish]
• Izquierda Unida leader meets with King in talks to form new government • Garzón tells press he advised King IU will…
Socialists, Podemos lurch past first contention, Compromís exits Podemos’ parliamentary group
• PSOE, Podemos traverse first dispute, focus shifts to possible Left-coalition • Spain’s Socialist party (PSOE) and its new-left anti-austerity challenger Podemos…
Renewables associations criticize Spain’s ‘zero-cost’ auction of wind and biomass projects as untenable
• Producers’ cite unprofitability, doubt winners will actually develop projects • Two of Spain’s largest groups of renewable energy producers have sharply…
CCOO to campaign to raise 655 euro monthly minimum wage, guarantee affordable rental housing
• Focus on rise in 655 euros/month min wage, defense of pensions levels • Spain’s largest labour union, the Comisiones Obreras (Workers’…
Podemos’ new Deputy from Tenerife wants to get past ‘spectacle’ and onto serious political business
• Dreadlocked legislator ‘surprised by the lack of respect’ over appearance • As perhaps the most highly visible sign that the demographic…
#VIDEO: PACMA denounces horses forced to jump through flames in annual ‘Luminarias’ festival
• Partido Animalista documents “festival” in San Bartolomé de Pinares, Ávila • Held each year on eve of Feast of Saint Anthony,…
Podemos struggles to avoid rift with three regional coalition partners over Congressional caucus groups
• Podemos faces deadline Tuesday to sort situation with coalition partners • New-left, anti-austerity party Podemos is struggling against a deadline today…
Facebook now considers bullfights objectionable content, along with hunting, pornography & bullying
• Global social network’s move hailed by Spanish animal-rights advocates • Facebook has decided to run the risk of alienating bullfighting aficionados…
Flow of migrants and asylum seekers rescued at sea while trying to reach Spain increased 25% in 2015
• Nearly 7,000 attempted sea journey, rescued by Spanish, Moroccan crews • Nearly 7,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers braving a dangerous…
#VIDEO: Jesuit Migration Services (SJM) launches ‘Hospitalidad’ pro-refugees campaign [in Spanish]
• Spain’s Jesuits launch campaign to help counter anti-refugee prejudice • Website www.Hospitalidad.es promotes solidarity with asylum seekers ► ► CLICK ABOVE…
PSOE ‘Plan B’: Align with Ciudadanos, force Podemos to either abstain or join with PP to block government
• Option puts Podemos in difficult position, neutralising opposition to PSOE • Now faced with a virtually nil chance of negotiating a…
Oxfam Intermón says Spain income gap greatest within OECD, second-fastest growing in all Europe
• ‘Economy for the 1%’ says 13.4 mn Spaniards risk of social exclusion • A new report by Oxfam released in Spain…
Telefonica’s ‘Think Big’ program picks 310 finalists for funding of projects with positive social impact
• Annual program funds, mentors young social entrepreneurs across Spain • Spain’s Telefonica Foundation has announced the selection of 310 finalists in…
Europe’s ‘Plan B’ anti-austerity campaign is headed for Madrid, gains support from Spanish Left leaders
• Leaders of Spanish Left sign onto pan-European anti-austerity campaign • Barcelona mayor and leader of the Barcelona en Comú activist platform…
#VIDEO: Amnesty International Spain thanks public for support during 2015 [in Spanish]
• Amnesty thanks Spanish supporters who worked on 2015 rights campaigns • Highlights success cases in Mexico, Salvador, Egypt, Nigeria & other…
Hopes for broad-left coalition government dim amid confrontations in Congress between PSOE, Podemos
• Podemos & PSOE at loggerheads, could threaten left coalition to oust PP • Political confrontations on several issues in the first…