Rodrigo Rato found guilty of multiple offences including corruption and money laundering. A Madrid court has sentenced former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Rodrigo Rato to more than four years in prison for tax crimes, money laundering and corruption. Judges found Rato guilty of “three offences against the Treasury, one offence of money laundering and … Read more
Firefighters battle blaze in one room for two hours as local mayor cites smoke inhalation as likely cause of deaths. A blaze in a care home in Spain’s northeastern Aragon region has killed at least 10 people and left two in critical condition. Local authorities reported that the fire broke out about 5am (04:00 GMT) … Read more
Spain’s devastating floods have raised concerns about EU preparedness for climate change. It is Spain’s worst natural disaster in recent history and some scientists are linking it to global warming. Devastating floods across the eastern region of Valencia have destroyed roads, railways, other infrastructure and businesses. Recovery efforts are still under way, but the total … Read more
CNN — At least 51 people have died in flash floods in southeastern Spain, the regional government of Valencia said on Wednesday. Some locations in southern and eastern Spain received up to 12 inches of rain in just a few hours on Tuesday. Footage from the city of Valencia showed muddy water flooding through the … Read more
Edmundo Gonzalez is seeking asylum in Spain after he challenged the re-election of Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela has said that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez has left the country after a day of rising diplomatic tensions and is seeking asylum in Spain. “After taking refuge voluntarily at the Spanish embassy in Caracas a few days ago, [Gonzalez] … Read more
CNN — Two beluga whales have been rescued from the besieged city of Kharkiv in Ukraine and taken to an aquarium in Valencia, Spain, in a complex operation. A multinational team involving marine mammal care experts from Oceanogràfic de Valencia, the largest oceanarium in Europe; Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta; and SeaWorld were involved in the high-risk … Read more
Spain and Norway, along with Ireland, became the most recent countries to recognize Palestinian statehood on Tuesday, drawing anger from Israel. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that the day would “remain etched in Spanish history” after the Cabinet approved the move. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also hailed the “milestone” moment as … Read more