Spain

Weather in Spain
If you want to know about the weather in Spain, read this article.

Spain Becomes the Third European Country to Legalize Gay Marriage
The government of Spain passed a measure Thursday legalizing gay marriages across the country.

Hiring a Car in Spain is an Economic Plan for Traveling
Online Spain car hire offer a good collection of economic car on rent. Car Rental Spain, Car Rental Switzerland, Car Rental Barbados, Car Rental UK are available online.

Spain Moves Against Monarchy
Monarchy and in particular King Juan Carlos saved the country's democracy in its early post Franco days in the 1980's, and Spain blossomed as it became acceptable to take a holiday there. But the royal family aren't as popular as they once were - could Juan Carlos be the last Spanish King in history?

Spain Cancels Election Rallies After Murder
Spain's political parties suspend campaigning in advance of general election after former town councilor was shot dead

Spain's Opposition Party Accused of Xenophobia Ahead of Election
Two days before country goes to the polls leader of Popular Party is accused of encouraging racism

Spain Drops Extradition Attempt Against Guantánamo Torture Pair
Two British residents accused of being members of al-Qaida deemed too weak to stand trial

Spain Exposes Eu Split As Us Leads Recognition
New nation established as European protectorate· UK ambassador presents his credentials in Pristina

Train in Spain Sets Out to Beat the Plane
Madrid-Barcelona link is part of 220mph network taking on the airlines

No Fuss, No Fanfare for Spain's Own Madeleine
Contrasts with media treatment of McCann case highlighted in disappearance of young gypsy girl

Italy Denies Being Spain's Poor Relation
Italy's prime minister claims that European Commission figures saying it is now poorer than Spain are wrong

Village Wins £158m in El Gordo Lottery
Spain's Christmas lottery, El Gordo, paid out €219m (£158m) to the inhabitants of a tiny northern village and their friends at the weekend

Family Reunions for Guantã¡namo Three, But Two Could Be Deported to Spain
Pair accused of being in Madrid cell of al-Qaida· Vanessa Redgrave pays £40,000 bail after arrests

Reasons for Living in Spain
Spain is a magnificent country with a rich and diverse culture. The varied landscapes and exciting gastronomy make it one of the most visited places in Europe. There aren’t many other countries that can claim to offer skiing in the mountains and sunbathing on the beach within the same winter months.

Interpretation Perfected by Presentation – the Berlin Mendelssohn Trio in Palau Altea, Altea, Spain
Critics of "Classical Music" often cite a lack of bravura on behalf of the performers. In Altea, Spain, the Berlin Mendelssohn Trio performed pieces by Beethoven, Haydn, Grieg and Piazzolla, and gave the lie to the preconception.

For Spain and for Sherry: Bulls Mark 50 Years of Roadside Ads
Jet black, 14 meters high and weighing 4,000kg, the iron silhouettes of Spain's most famous animal that loom large over the country's motorways are celebrating their 50th birthday

A piano recital by Young-Joo Lee in Palau Altea, Altea, Spain
The Korean pianist, Young-Joo Lee, recently gave a recital in Palau Altea, spain. Her performace was outstanding and was worthy of the highest praise.

Will Irish Eyes Be Smiling in Spain?
Whether or not Latvia do them a favour by beating Sweden, Northern Ireland will never get a better chance to beat Spain in their own backyard

Video Game of Spain's Civil War Causes Outrage
Release set for anniversary of Franco's death· Families of victims say idea trivializes killings

Spain's Divorce Rate Soars After Rules Relaxed
Conservative groups angry at sharp rise in divorces following new law introduced by Socialist government in 2005

Spain Shown Perils of Climate Change
It's an apocalyptic view of the future, a stark warning to Spain of what the country could look like if action is not taken to reduce the effects of climate change.

Spain Calls a Halt to Building on Islands
Building work frozen on Mallorca and Ibiza· Environmental impact of tourism central to election

Mass Murderers Jailed for 40 Years As Judge Delivers Verdicts on Spain's 9/11
Relatives unhappy after alleged ringleader is acquitted over 2004 attacks that left 191 people dead.

After Four-month Court Case, Spain is Braced for Verdicts in Train Bombings That Killed 191
Eight main suspects face maximum 40-year terms· Terror attacks were worst in Europe since Lockerbie

Spain Forces Treasure Ship Into Port in Battle Over Fortune in Pieces of Eight
Fear that Americans have seized national heritage · Florida court to rule on 'commercial archeology'

Lost for Words Spain's Anthem
The Spanish Olympic committee has agreed a date to present the new lyrics for their national anthem, in agreement with the General Society of Authors and Writers.

Spanish Festival Celebrates Slow, Painful Killing of Bull
Animal killed in front of eager crowd at the Toro de la Vega festival in northern Spain.

Spain's Runaway Economy Hits the Buffers As Building Boom Stalls
· Government warns of uncertain times· Unemployment growth rate highest for 11 years

Wife Claims Terror Suspect Was Tortured at Spain 'guantánamo'
The family and legal team of a British resident jailed in Spain as a terror suspect claim he is the victim of the Spanish equivalent of Guantánamo Bay.

Spain Intercepts 180 African Immigrants in Single Vessel
A record-breaking 180 African immigrants reached the Canary Islands in a single ocean-going canoe today, part of a emerging trend towards the use of new, much larger vessels to make the perilous journey from Africa's Atlantic coast.

50 Migrants Missing After Boat Capsizes
More than 50 would-be African immigrants into Europe were missing, believed drowned, yesterday after their wooden boat overturned in heavy seas off the Canary Islands.

Portugal and Spain Will Be One, Says Nobel Author
Nobel laureate Jose Saramago has sparked controversy among his fellow Portuguese by suggesting that they will, one day, be swallowed up by their larger neighbor, and eternal rival, Spain.

Spain Forces Us Treasure Hunting Boat Into Port
A US-owned treasure hunting boat was stopped by Spanish police yesterday and forced into port so it could be searched for evidence.

Madeleine Mccann Inquiry Takes New Turn As Two Arrested in Spain
Suspect tried to blackmail girl's parents, says paper - Operation could be first big development in weeks

Spain Orders Ship Seizure in $500m Treasure Row
A Spanish judge has ordered police to capture and search two treasure-hunting ships belonging to an American company which has discovered a disputed undersea trove of gold and silver valued at $500m (£250m).

Spain Braced for Wave of Attacks As Eta Calls Off Ceasefire
Separatist group rearmed during hiatus, PM warned - Opposition parties hit out at failed peace process

Q&A: Eta and Basque Separatism in Spain
Eta has announced that it is to end its 14-month old ceasefire. Simon Jeffery examines the background to the militant Basque separatist group.

Wayne Rooney Shirts and a Pint of Bitter - a Big Role for Little Britain in Spain's Elections
Town hall battles draw in ex-pats but could divide communities.

Spain Feels the Heat: Uk Investors Left Vulnerable As Fears of a Crash Spread
Panic sweeps through construction sector and wipes up to 65% off shares in a week.

Chelsea Seek Advice From Spurs to Avoid Pain in Spain
Soccer: With their trip to Valencia looming Chelsea have contacted Spurs for advice on how to avoid potential flashpoints between fans and the Spanish police.

Power Tower Reflects Well on Sunny Spain
Europe has gained a new source of renewable energy with the inauguration of the continent's first-ever "power tower" at the centre of a field of mirrors near the southern Spanish town of Sanlúcar la Mayor.

Teaching English in Spain
Take your TEFL Certificate in Spain and open up a whole new life for yourself living and working abroad as a foreign language teacher.

Finding Work in Spain
Do you want to work in Spain? then this article will help you discover the opportunities that are right for you.

Spain Divided As Hopes Grow for Eta Arms Handover
A claim that the Basque separatist group Eta is to make a symbolic handover of arms has added fuel to an already heated debate in Spain over whether the government should be negotiating a peace deal.

Spain Divided Over Eta Deal As Hopes Grow for Arms Handover
A claim that the Basque separatist group Eta is to make a symbolic handover of arms has added fuel to an already heated debate in Spain over whether the government should be negotiating a peace deal.

Take The Children To Live In Spain: It’s A Winner
Uprooting the family and moving to Spain can be an exciting and stimulating change. However, it might not all be plain sailing.

Spain: Entire Village Questioned Over Mayor's Killing
Police in northern Spain today began questioning the entire population of a tiny mountain village after the mayor was shot dead in an ambush on a country road.

Retiring In Spain
More people are retiring to Spain from all over northern Europe than ever before, it has become the number one destination for pensioners looking to spend their retirement years abroad. Find out how to avoid the pitfalls and make it a worthwhile and positive experience.

Spain Tries to Remove Burger Ads
Spain's government was yesterday trying to stop the global fast-food chain Burger King advertising its biggest burgers on television as the health minister, Elena Salgado, warned of a growing obesity problem.

Health Care in Spain
The health care service in Spain is excellent for both Spanish nationals and ex-pats alike. Find out how you can be sure you can receive treatment if necessary whilst visiting Spain.

Actor Out of Luck in Spain Lottery
For years, Clive Arrindell has been the face, or at least, the shiny bald pate, of Spanish good luck in adverts for the country's huge Christmas lottery. But now he has been dropped after being deemed too popular.

A Short History of Bullfighting
Love it or hate bullfighting is an integral part of Spain's cultural heritage. Learn some of the background to this controversial spectacle.

Colombian Drugs Boss Arrested in Spain
· Sabogal 'played part' in many murders by gang · Cartel accounts for up to half of world's cocaine

Gang Wars Shake Spain's Latin Quarter
Rival brigades of young immigrants are struggling for survival as Madrid police step up efforts to root out criminal factions.

20 Migrants Drown En Route to Spain
Twenty migrants drowned today as they attempted to reach Spain's Canary Islands after the rubber boat they were travelling in broke apart in the sea.

Row Erupts in Spain Over Treatment of Latin Kings
· Catalonia legalises gang seen as criminal by Madrid · Supporters say young members are not all thugs

Spain Buys Up Coast to Halt Concrete Creep
Spain's socialist government has begun protecting vulnerable spots on the country's overdeveloped coastline, by forcing owners to sell threatened land to the state at market prices.

Senegal Refuses to Allow Deportation Flight to Land
Sengalese officials refused yesterday to accept aircraft carrying some of the thousands of west African migrants who reached the Canary Islands and whom Spain was trying to deport.

The D-day Package From Senegal to Spain
West Africans are paying hundreds of pounds for a perilous 1,200-mile trip by open boat.

Spain Tries to Block Senegal Migration Route
Three patrol boats from Spain and Italy were heading towards Senegal yesterday to try to stop vessels bringing migrants into Europe via the Canary Islands.

Study Spanish in Tenerife: Hold 101 Suns in Your Hand
Considered all the usual destinations for studying Spanish in Spain? Here's an option you might not have looked at: Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.

Six Teachers from Spain to Teach in the Ohio Schools
Susan Tave Zelman, superintendent of public instruction for the Ohio schools, welcomed six visiting teachers from Spain, who will be teaching in the Ohio schools this coming school year.

Tourists Rescue Boat Migrants in Tenerife
Tourists sunning themselves in the Canary Islands came to the rescue of 88 immigrants from Africa whose canoe-shaped fishing boat grounded on a beach in Tenerife.

Tenerife Tourists Rescue African Migrants
· Boat grounded on beach after perilous journey · Spain says 11,000 arrived in Canary Islands this year

UK and Spain on Brink of Historic Gibraltar Deal
· All three governments due to sign deal in September · Airport to be opened up and border controls eased

Spain Finally Attempts to Lay Ghosts of the Franco Era
· Draft law draws criticism from left and right · Families of victims will be helped to exhume bodies

Spain Attracts Record Number of Migrants Seeking Jobs and Sun
· Boom times draw 650,000 foreigners in one year · Britons account for large proportion of arrivals

The Annual Jerez Horse Fair
Every May Jerez de la Frontera in Andalucia, Spain, holds its' annual Horse Fair. It is a fantastic and colourful spectacle which delights thousands of visitors each year.

Six Hurt on First Day of Pamplona Bull Run
Six half-tonne bulls charged down the cobbled streets of Pamplona today, chasing thousands of runners prepared to risk life and limb in the first of a week of bull runs in this northern Spanish city.

American Severely Injured As Six Are Hurt on First Day of Bull Runs
Six half-tonne bulls charged down the cobbled streets of Pamplona yesterday, chasing thousands of runners and reportedly leaving an American paralysed in the first of a week of bull runs in this northern Spanish city.

Europe's Brothel - in a Corner of Spain
Madam's is just one of a series of macro-brothels making prostitution a growth industry.

Catalonia Leads the Way for Spain's Regions With Yes Vote for Autonomy
· Referendum helps calm political tensions in region · Zapatero set to begin talks with Eta on Basque future

Spain Heading for Worst Drought Since 1947 As Reservoir Levels Fall
Spain's reservoirs are in a worse state than last year as the country heads for what some experts are predicting will be the worst drought for 60 years.

Eight Held in Spain in Biggest Timeshare Fraud Crackdown
· Four Britons among those arrested over £12m scam · Thousands in UK among gang's alleged victims

Spain Will Urge Africa to Stem Immigrant Tide
Spanish authorities yesterday pledged to use satellite monitoring and a diplomatic offensive to prevent fresh waves of fishing boats full of illegal immigrants setting out from west Africa for the Canary Islands.

Spain: For Johnny, See Potato, in New Phone Book
If you are looking for Johnny 'the Potato' or his wife, 'Chinese' Luciana, the Spanish phone book may not be much help if none of their neighbours can recall their real names.

Spain Becomes the Destination of Choice for Fertility Tourists From Britain
· UK disclosure rule leads to huge fall in donors · Clinics advertise for eggs among eastern Europeans

Catalans' Goal Divides Spain
Soccer: Football pride fuels drive for autonomy.

Spain to Size Up Fashion Industry
A study comparing clothes sizes worn by models against women's real sizes has been launched by the Spanish government in an attempt to tackle the growing rate of eating disorders among young women.

Burning of Sanctuary Stokes Fears of Islamophobia in Spain
An arson attack over the Easter weekend on a Muslim sanctuary in the Spanish city of Ceuta marked another step in what some experts fear is a growing incidence of Islamophobia in the country.

Spain's Press Welcomes Eta Ceasefire
The Spanish press greets with cautious optimism the announcement by the armed Basque nationalist group Eta of a 'permanent ceasefire', and by and large refrains from discussing it in the wider context of moves afoot in the country towards greater regional independence.

Spain Steps Up Patrols As 1,000 Migrants Die During Desperate Quest for Europe
· Rickety boats tackle risky Atlantic trip to Canaries · Traffickers move south after old routes closed

Spain Tries to Stop Sale of Cã³rdoba Beams
Spain has asked Interpol to prevent the sale of five 10th century wooden beams from the historic Great Mosque of Córdoba, which ...

The Reign of Spain
In the 30 years since the death of Franco, it has been transformed into a different country. By Peter Preston

Cutting-edge Spain Seizes Design Crown
Architects flock to land without a Prince Charles.

Spain's Old Guard Defiant As General Sacked
· Army 'hero' had warned of intervention in Catalonia · Row over autonomy hit ruling party's poll rating

British Couple Murdered in Spain
Spanish police yesterday found the bodies of an elderly British couple who had been murdered in their retirement home near Alicante.

Eta Threats Mar Spain's Constitution Day
Bomb threats from Basque separatists and a series of small explosions on a Madrid ringroad today disrupted the Spanish public holiday to mark the signing of the country's post-Franco constitution in 1978. Local news reports said there had been five explosions around the capital following...

Spain's Younger Voters Would Prefer to Get Rid of Monarchy
The future of Spain's monarchy was cast into doubt yesterday by an opinion poll showing the country's younger voters would rather live in a republic.

Spain Orders Arrest of Us Soldiers Over Death
· Judge calls for extradition of men who served in Iraq ·Journalist died in press hotel hit by tank shell

Spain Heightens Fence at African Enclave
Spanish authorities are rushing to double the height of a fence surrounding the north African enclave of Melilla after a dozen more immigrants were injured in a battle with police.

Spain Tops Table of Cocaine Use
Spaniards are the most prolific users of cocaine in the world, according to a report from state prosecutors obtained by El Paí­s newspaper yesterday.

Spain Searches for Nazi Camp Doctor, 91
Spanish police are scouring old people's homes on the east coast of Spain as the hunt closes in on a 91-year-old concentration camp doctor, regarded as one of the most wanted Nazis still alive.

Parched Spain Plans to Ship Water to Coastal Areas
Spanish authorities are drawing up emergency plans to ship water around the country's parched coastal areas in tanker boats amid warnings that the current record-breaking drought may last up to six years.

Spaniards Hail End of a Tv Era
Spain's infamous late night television show, The Martian Chronicles, came to an end last night after eight years of titillating viewers with a bizarre mix of strippers, trouser-dropping, breast-flashing and anti-government protests.

£70m-a-year Scam Smashed in Spain
A worldwide con run from post offices around Málaga in Spain has defrauded thousands of victims, including Britons, of what is thought to be more than £70m a year.

Spain acts to stop domestic violence
The Spanish government took a long-awaited step in combating domestic violence yesterday, opening 17 new courthouses in big cities to deal exclusively with the problem.

Spain Legalises Gay Marriage
The Spanish parliament today voted to legalise gay marriage despite heavy opposition from the Roman Catholic church.

Spain Warns Desert is Spreading
The deserts of north Africa are threatening to leap the Mediterranean and creep through Spain, according to government figures made public as part of a national campaign to halt desertification.

Spain Claims to Have Broken Up Terror Network
Spanish police claimed yesterday they had broken up a terrorist network that was recruiting and aiding suicide bombers for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq.

Spain and Portugal in Water Fight
Portugal has accused Spain of stealing its water as the two Iberian countries battle a drought that has seriously reduced levels in rivers flowing across their border.

The Aim of Spain is Not Just Cheap and Plain
Madrid government seeks to shed the country's bargain-basement image with high-spending marketing campaign.

Spanish Government Accused of Pulling Strings
To children in Spain, they are colourful, furry Muppet-like creatures that have become favoured viewing for the country's three- to seven-year-olds.

Spain Clears Way for Peace Talks With Eta
Spain's parliament last night gave prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero the go-ahead to open negotiations with armed Basque separatist group Eta if it shows it is ready to abandon terrorism.

Federalism in Spain
As the call for regional devolution intensifies, Giles Tremlett finds the possibility of federalism concerning some Spaniards.

Spain Proposes Talks If Eta Ends Violence
Two-thirds of Spaniards polled favour dialogue.

Spain's Concentration Camp Hero is Exposed As a Fraud
For almost 30 years Enric Marco was a living witness to the thousands of exiled leftwing Spaniards who ended up in Nazi concentration camps.

Spain Grants Amnesty to 700,000 Migrants
Spain declared an amnesty yesterday for about 700,000 illegal immigrants - bucking a Europe-wide trend of cracking down on economic migrants.

Gay Marriage Law Alarms Spain's Religious Leaders
Spain has become the third country in Europe to legalise gay marriage, with parliament also giving same-sex couples the right to adopt children.

Blow to Machismo As Spain Forces Men to Do Housework
Spanish men will have to learn to change nappies and don washing-up gloves under the terms of a new law designed to strike a blow at centuries of Latin machismo.

Spain Remembers Victims of Madrid Blasts
Spain was today holding a national day of mourning to mark the first anniversary of the al-Qaida Madrid train bombings in which 191 people died and more than 1,500 were injured.

Spain Delivers Quiet Yes in Eu Poll
The European constitution cleared its first major hurdle last night when Spanish voters overwhelmingly endorsed the historic document in the first of 10 referendums that will be held across Europe over the next 18 months.

Talks bring tunnel linking Spain and Morocco a step nearer
Plan for first fixed link between Europe and Africa comes a step closer after talks between the two countries.

Spain Tries Former Argentinian Officer for Genocide
A former Argentinian naval officer went on trial in Madrid today on charges of genocide and torture related to Argentina's "dirty war" of more than 20 years ago.

Winners and Losers in ... Spain
In our series on how countries fared in 2004, Giles Tremlett reports from Madrid.

World's Richest Lotto Has Spain Hooked
El Gordo - the Fat One - is built on the tradition of sharing wealth rather than creating overnight millionaires.

Spain Gives Gibraltar Veto Power
Gibraltar effectively won a veto in negotiations over its future yesterday as Spain and Britain finally agreed on a formal system of three-way talks over the Rock's future.

Five Explosions Reported in Spain
Five explosions were reported in different Spanish cities today after warnings from the Basque separatist group Eta that it had planted seven devices.

Spain's Catholics to Fight Socialist Reforms
Spain's Roman Catholic church has placed itself in the frontline of political opposition to José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government by calling for protests against plans to introduce gay marriage, make divorce and abortion easier and amend religious education in schools.

France and Spain Object to Plan for Eu Transit Camp
France and Spain called for a rethink yesterday on radical German-Italian plans to set up a European Union transit camp in north Africa for refugees from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Their objections came at the end of a two-day summit in Florence held by interior ministers from the...

Women of Spain Live the Longest
Spanish women are the longest living group of people in Europe, according to figures from the EU's Eurostat department. They live to an average age of 83.7, three years longer than women in the UK, whose average is 80.7 years. Men in Britain live to 76.2 years on average.

Spain Lashes Out As Gibraltar Celebrates Anniversary
Spain yesterday accused the British government of lacking 'sensitivity' as Gibraltar prepared to celebrate today's 300th anniversary of the expulsion of its Spanish population.

Two Britons Held in Spain on Kidnap Charge
Two British men were under arrest in the north-western Spanish city of Vigo yesterday for allegedly taking part in the kidnapping of a Canadian woman who was being ransomed for €500,000 (£330,000). The two men, aged 29 and 27, were arrested alongside a Spanish man when police...

Spain Being 'taken Back to Moorish Times'
Archbishop attacks new government over religion. Spain's leading archbishop, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco, yesterday denounced the new socialist government, saying its policies were taking the country back to medieval times, when Muslim invaders swept across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Heatwave Brings Power Cuts in Spain
Spain has suffered its first power cuts of the summer, with a heatwave stretching what critics say is an already over-strained electricity network to breaking point. Power cuts affected the southern city of Seville, with failed traffic lights bringing chaos to the roads yesterday and...

Developers Panic As Spain Scraps River Project
Cabinet to opt for desalination to meet urgent water needs.

Guinea Accuses Spain of Coup Plot
Equatorial Guinea accused Spain yesterday of trying to overthrow its government in the alleged plot by foreign mercenaries to kill the president. In an interview with the Guardian, President Teodoro Obiang's special adviser, Miguel Mifuno, accused Madrid of sending a warship to the...

Spain Marks a Year Without Eta Killings
Spain yesterday marked its first full year for more than three decades - barring truces - without a killing by the armed Basque separatist group Eta, as one of Europe's oldest and bloodiest terrorist groups was confirmed to be in serious decline. Not since the early 1970s, when the group...

Spain Cheers As Prince Gets His Girl
Lightning flashed and the heavens opened but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of most Spaniards yesterday as they saw a glamorous TV anchorwoman transformed into a princess. Cheering crowds packed the streets of Madrid as Letizia Ortiz, granddaughter of a taxi driver, married Prince...

Spain's New Leader Bonds With Chirac and Schröder
Zapatero's Paris and Berlin trips make his EU priorities clear.

Spain to Pull Troops Out 'as Soon As Possible'
Minister says forces could return within 15 days.

Spain's Ruling Party Slips in Polls
Support for the Spanish People's party government is ebbing away as concern about terrorism and separatism dominates the general election campaign, according to opinion polls published yesterday. Nine days before polling, its lead over the opposition Socialists has fallen to 5-7 points...

Spain Goes to Court Over Gibraltar Vote
Spain is to take Britain to court over a new law which allows Gibraltarians and some members of the Commonwealth to vote in European elections, according to reports yesterday. According to the newspaper El Mundo, José María Aznar's conservative People's party government is so...

Sixth Fleet May Move to Spain
The American navy said last night that it was considering moving its key, troubleshooting Sixth Fleet away from its base in Italy to Spain. The move would deal a huge blow to the local economy in the area between Rome and Naples, but is likely to be greeted by Italians with as much...

Blair Backs Move to Punish Spain and Poland
Britain has joined forces with France and Germany to demand cuts in the EU's budget that will punish Poland and Spain for blocking agreement on the draft constitution.

Spain and Morocco Plan Tunnel Link
Tests to begin for rail route to link Europe and Africa. Plans for a rail tunnel between Africa and Europe have taken a step forward with the agreement by Spain and Morocco on a programme of engineering tests. Machines could be digging under the Strait of Gibraltar in five years.

Pacific Student's Bottled Up Plea Drifts Ashore in Spain
A court clerk struggling with his law studies on the Pacific island of Butaritari stuffed a plea for help in a bottle and threw it into the sea. More than three years and several thousand miles later, the bottle finally turned up.

Spain Torn on Tribute to Victims of Franco
Aznar's ruling People's party to boycott homage by parliament as old dictator's ghost continues to haunt the nation's political stage.

Spain Pulls Out Embassy Staff
Spain is withdrawing most of its diplomatic personnel from Baghdad, leaving a skeleton embassy staff of just four or five people. The foreign minister, Ana Palacio, said yesterday that the diplomats would return soon. Spanish media reported that they were expected to sit out the Ramadan...

Spain Shuts Border to Virus Ship
The arrival of a British cruise ship hit by a contagious stomach infection in Gibraltar today provoked a diplomatic row as Spain closed its border with the territory. Madrid said the closure was a provisional measure aimed at protecting its citizens but the foreign secretary, Jack Straw,...

Virus Ship Row As Spain Closes Gibraltar Border
The arrival of a British cruise ship hit by a contagious stomach infection in Gibraltar today provoked a diplomatic row as Spain closed its border with the territory. Madrid said the closure was a provisional measure aimed at protecting its citizens but the foreign secretary, Jack Straw,...

Spain Shuts Border in Response to Virus Ship
Spain today closed its border with Gibraltar after a British cruise ship hit by a contagious stomach bug docked in the territory. The Aurora left Greek waters on Friday without landing after more than 430 of the passengers fell ill with norovirus, which causes sickness and diarrhoea...

Spain Holds 550 African Immigrants
Spanish police yesterday detained 550 immigrants on beaches in the Canary Islands and the southern provinces of Cadiz and Granada in the biggest influx this year of those who make the dangerous boat trip from Morocco.

Holes open under train line in Spain
Spain's attempts to build a high-speed rail network to match that of neighbouring France have run into problems as a series of massive holes open up in the ground around the new track leading from Madrid to Barcelona.

Briton Held in Spain Murder Hunt
Police hunting a suspected murderer of teenage girls in the Malaga area of southern Spain have arrested a British man they believe is connected with at least one of the killings. Tony Alexander King, 38, was picked up yesterday in Alhaurin El Grande, 15 miles from Malaga. "The...

Prestige Oil Disaster Resurfaces to Spoil Spanish Holidays
The sunken oil tanker Prestige threatens to spoil the beach holidays of hundreds of thousands of tourists. Oil leaking from the vessel which sank in November has meant the removal of blue flag cleanliness awards from all of Spain's northern Atlantic coast beaches. The beaches, stretching...

Eta Bombing Shuts Spanish Airport
Eta struck again yesterday in its summer campaign against tourism targets and the Spanish economy, exploding a car bomb outside the airport at Santander, in northern Spain. The bomb, hidden inside a Renault 19 in the airport car park, caused damage to the airport building and other cars...

Giles Tremlett's Spain Dispatch
Senora Corbacho came back from the bank, her bag clasped in one hand and a stranger tailing her. While she hung about chatting to the doorman in the hall of our building the stranger wandered in, looking as though he was heading for one of the doctors' offices on the first floor.

Alleged torturer sent to Spain
Human rights groups have hailed the weekend extradition of an Argentinian former naval officer from Mexico to Spain as a victory for "universal jurisdiction".

Spain Dismayed By 'delay' on Gibraltar
Spain expressed bewilderment yesterday at Britain's decision to suspend talks aimed at reaching a co-sovereignty deal over Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Talks Have Failed, Uk Tells Spain
The British government yesterday recognised the failure of its attempts to solve the 300-year-old dispute with Spain over Gibraltar and placed co-sovereignty talks on ice indefinitely. Recognition that the talks had failed came in two Spanish newspaper interviews given by the Europe...

Spain Plans Law to Disinherit Uncaring Relatives
Spaniards who fail to care properly for a disabled relative may be denied the inheritance due when the person dies, under legislation proposed by the government. The inheritance would be divided among those relatives judged to have taken proper care of the disabled person. The...

Spain's Greens Split Over Mayor's Support for Historic Bull Run
Animal welfare versus tradition in Castile town. A row over bullfighting threatened to split Spain's coalition of Green and leftwing parties yesterday after a mayor from the coalition refused to buckle under pressure to stop his support for an annual bull-run.

Briton Stable After Losing Arm to Lion in Spain
A British woman who had her arm ripped off by a lioness she tried to stroke at a Spanish animal sanctuary was yesterday recovering at a hospital in the town of Villajoyosa, near Alicante. Anne Richards, 54, from Neath, was attacked by Marta, an adult lion, after she stuck her fingers...

16 terror suspects held in Spain
Spanish counter-terror police swooped on 12 addresses in pre-dawn raids today and arrested 16 suspected members of an al-Qaida cell.

Spain to Let in 1m Latin Americans
From Buenos Aires to Bogota, the daily queues outside Spanish consulates have begun to stretch around the block as up to a million Latin Americans exploit a new law allowing them to become Spaniards. The law, which came into effect 10 days ago, opens the doors of Spain and, by extension,...

Flamenco's stars rise up against Spain's fame academy
Spanish musicians and critics are mounting a quixotic campaign against the televised might of manufactured pop stars in a country where, for months on end, 80 per cent of the Top 10 albums bore the brand of Operacion Triunfo, the inspiration for the BBC's Fame Academy.

US and Spain at sea over Korean missiles
As dawn broke over the Arabian sea off the Island of Socotra on Monday the Korean crew of the cargo ship So San awoke to find themselves staring down the barrels of guns lined up along the deck of the the Spanish frigate Navarra.

Spain Blames Uk for Oil Disaster
A layer of thick black fuel oil from the stricken Prestige tanker coated a 100-mile stretch of Spain's scenic north-west Atlantic coast yesterday, devastating local fishing grounds, coastal ecosystems and birdlife. As the ageing, single-hulled Prestige sprang a new leak and began spilling...

Gibraltar Votes Out Joint Rule With Spain
Scathing attack as residents vote on sharing sovereignty. Gibraltarians have wholeheartedly rejected British plans for their future when nearly 99% voted, via a referendum, against any deal involving shared sovereignty with Spain.

For Rock's Residents, a Clear Choice: Say No to Spain - or Say Nothing
Feelings run high as Gibraltar gets ready to reject joint sovereignty.

Spain Under Franco: 'marxists Are Retards'
Recently unearthed documents reveal that Franco's psychiatrist carried out bizarre experiments on members of the International Brigade in 1930s Spain. His aim: to prove that leftwingers are mad. Giles Tremlett reports.

Franco's Secrets Haunt Spain
Families in search of truth witness the exhumation of three women victims of Falangist tyranny.

Parsley Isle Claims Get Spain's Goat
A herd of goats has become the latest issue of contention in a bitter dispute between Spain and Morocco. Rajma Lachili, a Moroccan peasant, has demanded compensation from Spain's defence ministry, claiming that crack troops who stormed the tiny disputed islet of Parsley in July killed...

Nato blamed for dead whales
The Canary Islands authorities have asked Nato to halt a naval exercise in the area, fearing it may be responsible for the death of 17 whales washed up on the coast of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote this week.

Batasuna and Basque Separatism in Spain
Explained: As the Spanish government and a Spanish judge prepare to curb a separatist Basque political party, we examine the issues behind a long-running campaign.

Spain Starts on the Road to Ban Batasuna
MPs recalled for emergency debate on clampdown that critics claim will drive young Basques into rebels' arms.

Spain Will Seek Graves of Franco's Disappeared
More than 60 years after one of Europe's bloodiest civil wars, campaigners believe Spain will set up a truth commission to find out what happened to the tens of thousands of people who disappeared after being arrested by Franco's rebel forces. The commission was one of the demands made at...

Gibraltar referendum aims to scupper talks with Spain
Gibraltar last night launched a pre-emptive strike against Britain and Spain by inviting its 20,000 voters to kill off plans for joint sovereignty in a snap referendum. Angered by Britain's "betrayal" of the Rock, the colony's chief minister said that a referendum on its future would be held in October.

Spain Faces Mounting Moroccan Anger in Islet War
Spain began trying to quell Moroccan rage yesterday over its reconquest of the tiny islet of Perejil as diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries hit their lowest point for decades. Foreign minister Ana Palacio said Spanish troops, who stormed the islet on Wednesday and...

What Spain Could Teach Us About Island Grabbing
We shouldn't be too quick to dismiss gunboat diplomacy. The drama of Parsley Island may have started off as comedy but has ended by demonstrating that gunboat diplomacy is still very much with us in the 21st century.

Just how many islands does Spain want?
I can't find anybody in media-ville prepared to give much of a monkey's one way or another over the fate of the wretched Gibraltarians.

Spain Recaptures Island From Moroccan Forces
Spanish special forces, naval units and combat aircraft this morning captured Perejil Island from a handful of Moroccan soldiers occupying the football pitch-sized rock. The operation passed without casualties on either side but the Moroccan government in Rabat said it would "not fail to...

Spain Holds Al-qaida Suspects
Police in Spain yesterday arrested three Syrian-born suspected al-Qaida members. The arrests came shortly after police leaked a report suggesting that some of the September 11 plotters held a planning meeting in eastern Spain last July. The interior minister named the three men...

UK and Spain Should Share Gibraltar Sovereignty: Straw
Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar, the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, today told the Commons. Mr Straw's most explicit statement yet on the progress of talks between Britain and Spain drew Tory accusations of betrayal towards the people of Gibraltar. The...

Strikes Threaten Summer Chaos for Spain-bound Britons
Several hundred thousand British tourists face holiday chaos in Spain later this month after trade unions announced that they would call hotel and other workers in the tourism industry out on strike in the Costa del Sol, Majorca and Ibiza in two weeks' time.

Spain reassures tourists after ETA bombings
Two bomb blasts in Spanish cities yesterday following three car bombs on Friday raised fears of a destructive summer campaign by the Basque separatist group ETA.

Strike Hits Spain As Eu Meeting Begins
Double embarrassment for Aznar as demonstrators draw attention away from leaders' agenda.

Gibraltar Deal With Spain May Collapse
Britain's hopes of a deal with Spain over the future of Gibraltar are close to collapse over three serious sticking points, including Spanish claims to "joint command" of Britain's naval base, Whitehall sources warned yesterday. With Tony Blair due to meet his Spanish counterpart and EU...

Is there no future in Spain's dreaming?
Lying back on the soft hotel bed, staring sleepily at the ceiling, my thoughts are with my colleagues in London, writes Giles Tremlett in Madrid.

Giles Tremlett: Spain's Siestas
Capital letters: Lying back on the soft hotel bed, staring sleepily at the ceiling, my thoughts are with my colleagues in London, writes Giles Tremlett in Madrid.

Spain Puts Gibraltar Deal Under Threat
The Spanish prime minister provoked a furious row yesterday after saying that Madrid would not abandon its 300-year old claim to complete sovereignty over Gibraltar.

Spain Moves to Ban Basque Separatist Party
The Spanish government has launched a campaign to ban the radical separatist party Batasuna, the Basque equivalent of Sinn Fein, for supporting the armed group Eta. Batasuna, which represents up to 200,000 voters in the Basque country, is the target of a planned law that would see it...

Report Exposes Spain's Squalid Treatment of Migrants
Spain's government systematically abuses illegal immigrants in crowded detention camps, confining them indoors for weeks or months, without contact with lawyers or family, and forcibly removing children, according to the group Human Rights Watch. In a damning report that provides rare...

Gay Priest First to Come Out in Spain
A Roman Catholic priest has shocked Spain and risked punishment from his superiors by becoming the first member of the country's clergy to come out as a practising homosexual. "I give thanks to God for being gay," Father Jose Mantero, a parish priest in the town of Valverde, southern...

Spain Urges Eu to Share Secrets in Anti-terror War
Spain is pressing the European Union formally to incorporate the war against international terrorism into its security and defence policy.

Spain links suspects to al-Qaida in UK
Investigators in Spain have discovered that two suspected al-Qaida members arrested in Barcelona were in close contact with members in Britain. Meanwhile, French investigators believe Richard Reid, the British "shoe bomber", had local back-up during his five-day stay in Paris in December...

UK and Spain close to Gibraltar solution
Britain and Spain have found a potential solution to their 300-year-old row over who owns Gibraltar, through the simple procedure of sharing it indefinitely, it was reported yesterday. Although neither Britain nor Spain was officially prepared to confirm the news, both said they believed...

Basques renew fight for EU voice as Spain takes over presidency
Spain's takeover of the EU presidency was overshadowed by its own problems in the Basque country yesterday, as police geared up to counter possible threats from the armed separatist group Eta and a row intensified about whether Basques should be given their own voice in Brussels. As the...