Spain

Galicia, in north-west Spain, has declared war on an apparently inoffensive creature that is putting livelihoods under threat. The region’s shellfish farmers say that an unusually large population of starfish has begun devouring their crop of mussels, cockles and clams. They recently obtained permission from the regional government to cull the starfish, and divers have been hauling up hundreds of kilos a day. “They devour everything,” says Marco Antonio Ruibal, of the Raxó fishermen’s association in Pontevedra. “They are everywhere, in all the rías. They like shellfish, the same as the rest of us. Starfish principally feed on clams. They live on the seabed and when we dig up the clams, that’s when they eat them.” The rías are deep, sunken river valleys that have formed inlets around the city of Vigo and Pontevedra and are the heart of Europe’s shellfish industry. Spain produces 200,000 tonnes of mussels a year, nearly half … [Read more...] about ‘They eat everything in their path’: Spain’s shellfish farmers turn on starfish

A Spanish bullfighter is said to be in a serious condition after being gored through the thigh and groin. Gonzalo Caballero, 27, appeared at the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, Spain, in a tournament to mark Hispanic Day. Watching the fight from the VIP seats was his 19-year-old girlfriend, Victoria Federica, who is the King of Spain's niece. A Spanish bullfighter is said to be in a series condition after being gored through the thigh and groin at the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, Spain Gonzalo Caballero, 27, was taking part in a tournament to mark Hispanic Day Gonzalo Caballero and jhis girlfriend Victoria Federica pictured together at the Mutua Madrid Open at Caja Magica in Madrid on May 10 The matador was nearing the end of his fight and had already pierced the bull with a traditional dagger when it got to its feet and charged at him RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Injured bull gores young man and tosses him in the air like... The horrific moment … [Read more...] about Matador boyfriend of the King of Spain’s niece is gored in the thigh and groin as onlookers intervene to save him in bullfight

Italy secured their place in the Euro 2020 finals with a 2-0 win over Greece in Group J. Chelsea’s Jorginho put Italy ahead from the spot in Rome after Andreas Bouchalakis handled and Federico Bernardeschi made it two with 10 minutes left. There was no debating the penalty, with Bouchalakis sticking out his left arm to block Lorenzo Insigne’s shot. Italy’s qualification was secured in when Bernardeschi let fly from 25 yards, with his effort taking a slight deflection and nestling in the bottom corner. Insigne came close to adding a third, Alexandros Paschalakis producing another good save. The battle for second remains wide open. Finland, second, were thrashed 4-1 by fourth-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Miralem Pjanic scoring twice, while eliminated Liechtenstein held third-placed Armenia to a 1-1 draw. In Group F, Josh King scored a dramatic added-time penalty for Norway to delay Spain’s qualification in Oslo. Spain looked to have secured their place with a … [Read more...] about Euro 2020 roundup: Italy qualify, while Spain are delayed by Norway

Spain’s prime minister has called on Catalan separatist leaders to end their “escalation” as several thousand people took to the streets of Barcelona to protest at Madrid’s attempts to stop a banned referendum on independence. “Stop this escalation of radicalism and disobedience once and for all,” Mariano Rajoy said in a televised statement on Wednesday night as protesters remained in the centre of the city after a day-long demonstration. Catalonia’s president earlier accused the Spanish government of suspending the region’s autonomy after police intensified efforts to stop a vote on independence that has sparked one of the worst political crises since Spain’s return to democracy four decades ago. Spanish Guardia Civil officers raided a dozen Catalan regional government offices and arrested 14 senior officials on Wednesday as part of an operation to stop the referendum from taking place on 1 October. Carles Puigdemont, the head of … [Read more...] about Spain crisis: ‘stop this radicalism and disobedience,’ PM tells Catalan leaders

The Spanish government has taken control of Catalonia, dissolved its parliament and announced new elections after secessionist Catalan MPs voted to establish an independent republic, pushing the country’s worst political crisis in 40 years to new and dangerous heights. Speaking on Friday evening, the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, said his cabinet had fired the regional president, Carles Puigdemont, and ordered regional elections to be held on 21 December. Rajoy said the Catalan government had been removed along with the head of the regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra. The Catalan government’s international “embassies” are also to be shut down. “I have decided to call free, clean and legal elections as soon as possible to restore democracy,” he told a press conference, adding that the aim of the measures was to “restore the self-government that has been eliminated by the decisions of the Catalan government. “We … [Read more...] about Spain dissolves Catalan parliament and calls fresh elections