Madrid

Spanish judge refuses to re-issue EU warrant for Puigdemont

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

A Spanish judge on Monday refused to re-issue a European arrest warrant for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont as requested by prosecutors for his role in the region's independence drive. The ruling from Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena came shortly after the speaker of the Catalan parliament proposed Puigdemont's candidacy to once again head Catalonia's regional government. source: AFPRead more

Real Madrid defy crisis talk

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

Real Madrid moved back into the top four of La Liga by thumping lowly Deportivo La Coruna 7-1 on Sunday, with Cristiano Ronaldo ending a miserable run of league form with a late double. But Barcelona still extended their lead to 11 points -- and 19 ahead of Real -- as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both hit a brace in a 5-0Read more

Spain wants exiled ex-Catalan leader arrested if he travels to Denmark

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

Spain wants ex-Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont arrested if he travels to Denmark for a university debate from his Belgian exile, the Spanish prosecution service said Sunday. The prosecution service said it would "immediately" have a supreme court judge issue an arrest warrant for the secessionist leader, sacked by Madrid after the Catalan parliament declared independence on October 27, and urge DenmarkRead more

Assad regime promotes Syria as a 'tourist' destination

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

It is over a year since Bashar al-Assad's regime, with the help of Russian air strikes and barrel bombs, pounded the rebel-held east of Aleppo into submission. Buildings were flattened, those who survived were left terrorised, hungry and filled with despair, and the stench of dead bodies rose up from the rubble as families searched for their loved ones. Now, havingRead more

Ex-Catalan leader says can govern region from Belgium

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont, who was sacked by Madrid over his attempt to break from Spain, said Friday he can govern the region from Belgium as he eyes a comeback after scoring big in elections. "There are only two options: in prison I would not be able to address people, write, meet people... The only way is to continueRead more

Seven migrants die trying to reach Canary Islands

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

Seven African migrants, some of whom "could be minors," were found dead Monday as they tried to reach Lanzarote in Spain's Canary Islands, authorities said. Authorities found an inflatable boat off a beach with five bodies inside. Two migrants died after they got out while two others are in hospital in a "very serious" state, a spokesman for the GuardiaRead more

Spain expected to replace US as second top tourism destination

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

Spain is expected to replace the United States as the world's second tourism destination, while France has retained the top spot, the UN World Tourism Organization said Monday. "It is expected" that Spain will take the second position with some 82 million visitors last year, UNWTO chief Zurab Pololikashvili told reporters, adding however that definitive figures would be published inRead more

Number of global tourists leapt 7% in 2017

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

The number of global tourists leapt seven percent in 2017, the biggest increase in seven years led by Europe with the lure of the Mediterranean's sea and sun, the UN World Tourism Organization said Monday. The sharp hike was mostly due to the economic recovery around the world, it said. Source: AFPRead more

Madrid to keep control of Catalonia if Puigdemont tries to govern remotely

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warned Monday that Madrid would maintain unpopular direct control on Catalonia if the former regional leader Carles Puigdemont tries to be sworn in remotely from Belgian exile. Speaking to party members in Madrid, Rajoy said that Puigdemont had "to be physically present" in Catalonia to be sworn in, and if that didn't happen, the centralRead more

Spanish tax authorities scrutinise Messi foundation

MADRID - Muslimchronicle

Spanish tax authorities are investigating whether payments from FC Barcelona to Lionel Messi's foundation were used to help the player evade taxes, Spanish daily El Mundo reported on Saturday. The newspaper, which has acquired Football Leaks documents, reported that the club gave the foundation "at least 12.7 million euros ($15.5 million) between 2010 and 2016". The paper said that the payments fromRead more