Latest Spain News

Spain PM's shock election call brings unruly coalition to heel

May. 30, 2023 04:36 AM EDT

MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's snap general election call breaks apart the coalition he built with the far-left United We Can party, marking a line in the sand with a movement born from grassroots activism whose electoral fortunes have nosedived. On Monday,...

Nicaraguan writer Gioconda Belli wins Reina Sofia poetry prize

May. 29, 2023 20:01 PM EDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaraguan poet and novelist Gioconda Belli, known for her feminist and erotic literature, was awarded the Reina Sofia Ibero-American Poetry prize Monday. Considered among Latin America’s best-known writers, Belli’s work has been translated into more than 20...

Spanish prime minister calls early general election after battering in regional vote

May. 29, 2023 10:42 AM EDT

MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called an early general election for July 23 in a surprise move after his Socialist party took a serious battering in local and regional elections. Prior to Sunday's debacle, Sánchez had insisted that he would ride out...

Alonso feels he's far from catching F1 leader Verstappen despite his own remarkable form

May. 29, 2023 02:23 AM EDT

MONACO (AP) — Fernando Alonso has five podiums in six races in a remarkable season for Aston Martin, yet still feels he's no closer to catching Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The two-time Formula One champions now head to a race with special significance for both of them. ...

Drought-struck Barcelona quenches thirst with costly desalination

May. 29, 2023 02:08 AM EDT

EL PRAT DE LLOBREGAT, Spain (AP) — Where once the population of Barcelona drank mostly from its rivers and wells, Spain’s second city now relies upon a labyrinth-like mesh of green, blue and purple pipes inside an industrial plant to keep it from going thirsty amid a prolonged drought. ...

Spain swings right in local and regional elections

May. 28, 2023 18:34 PM EDT

MADRID (AP) — Spain's conservative opposition Popular Party made significant gains in Sunday's local and regional elections, offering a dire assessment of public feeling towards the ruling left-wing coalition ahead of general elections in December. In the local vote, the Popular...

Spain takes action against racism after Vinícius case but punishing fans remains a challenge

May. 26, 2023 11:01 AM EDT

MADRID (AP) — The attention brought by the latest case of abuse against Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has taken Spain to what could be a turning point in the fight against racism in soccer. Never before had local authorities acted so quickly to take action against fans who...

Spanish Socialists under pressure in key regional elections

May. 26, 2023 07:33 AM EDT

MADRID (AP) — Spain goes to the polls on Sunday for local and regional elections seen as a bellwether for a national vote in December, with the conservative Popular Party steadily gaining ground on the ruling Socialists in key regions. Spain's 17 regional governments, plus two...

4 people accused of hanging Vinícius Júnior effigy released from custody

May. 25, 2023 17:36 PM EDT

MADRID (AP) — Four people accused of hanging an effigy of Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior off a highway bridge were released from custody Thursday while still under investigation for perpetrating a hate crime. A Spanish judge in Madrid prohibited the four people from...

FRENCH OPEN 2023: Alcaraz seeded 1st; Djokovic 3rd; no Nadal

May. 25, 2023 11:34 AM EDT

PARIS (AP) — With 14-time champion Rafael Nadal out of the tournament, here are top men to watch at the French Open, which begins at Roland Garros on Sunday: ___ CARLOS ALCARAZ Seeded: 1 Career-Best...