https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Pope Leo XIV on Friday wrapped up a week-long visit to Spain that highlighted migrant issues, but his return to Rome was held up after his plane experienced a technical problem. https://www.thelocal.es/20260612/pope-urges-migrants-in-spain-to-integrate-during-visit-to-tenerife Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:05:44 +0200 pope-urges-migrants-in-spain-to-integrate-during-visit-to-tenerife Airlines will be banned from charging parents to get seats next to their children under an EU reform of passenger rights agreed on Friday that stopped short of more divisive changes, diplomats said. https://www.thelocal.es/20260613/eu-to-ban-airlines-from-charging-parents-to-sit-with-children Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:06:35 +0200 eu-to-ban-airlines-from-charging-parents-to-sit-with-children Former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is under investigation for alleged tax fraud and smuggling after jewellery was discovered during a search of his office, a court said Friday. https://www.thelocal.es/20260612/jewellery-discovery-adds-to-legal-woes-for-spain-ex-pm Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:18:44 +0200 jewellery-discovery-adds-to-legal-woes-for-spain-ex-pm A total of 154 airlines are banned in the European Union due to safety concerns, after the 2026 update of the ‘EU air safety list’ announced by the European Commission this week. https://www.thelocal.es/20260612/which-airlines-are-banned-in-the-european-union-and-why Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:20:05 +0200 which-airlines-are-banned-in-the-european-union-and-why Popular tourist spots like Benidorm and Magaluf are preparing for an influx of British football fans, with police deploying extra manpower and local business trying to position Spain as a cheaper alternative to watching the World Cup stateside. https://www.thelocal.es/20260612/spain-braces-for-world-cup-mania-among-british-tourists Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:35:18 +0200 spain-braces-for-world-cup-mania-among-british-tourists More than 200,000 lives have been lost to the "silent killer" of extreme heat in Europe since 2022, the World Health Organization said on Thursday, after a heatwave saw some countries record their highest-ever May temperatures. https://www.thelocal.es/20260611/silent-killer-extreme-heat-claims-more-than-200000-lives-in-europe Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:08:53 +0200 silent-killer-extreme-heat-claims-more-than-200000-lives-in-europe Spanish police have arrested a British couple for allegedly leaving their three children aged four and under alone in a hotel in the Málaga town of Benalmádena. The youngest - just six months old - has tested positive for cocaine. https://www.thelocal.es/20260611/british-couple-arrested-in-spain-for-abandoning-their-three-children-to-go-partying Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:05:29 +0200 british-couple-arrested-in-spain-for-abandoning-their-three-children-to-go-partying Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain's Canary Islands on Thursday to meet migrants, many of whom survived a dangerous Atlantic crossing to reach the archipelago. https://www.thelocal.es/20260611/pope-arrives-in-spains-canary-islands-to-meet-migrant-boat-survivors Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:22:12 +0200 pope-arrives-in-spains-canary-islands-to-meet-migrant-boat-survivors The Local Spain's reporter and long-term Barcelona resident Esme Fox reports from the Sagrada Familia as Pope Leo XIV blesses its tallest tower. https://www.thelocal.es/20260611/the-local-spain-attends-popes-historic-mass-at-barcelonas-sagrada-familia Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:52:01 +0200 the-local-spain-attends-popes-historic-mass-at-barcelonas-sagrada-familia Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will play at a record sixth World Cup in 2026, but years from now the tournament may instead be remembered as Lamine Yamal's first. https://www.thelocal.es/20260611/yamals-first-world-cup-the-meteoric-rise-of-spains-teen-sensation Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:52:34 +0200 yamals-first-world-cup-the-meteoric-rise-of-spains-teen-sensation Following the rollout in Spanish airports, the Port of Valencia has now implemented new biometric border checks in line with new Schengen Area rules. https://www.thelocal.es/20260611/spains-valencia-port-introduces-ees-border-system Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:32:28 +0200 spains-valencia-port-introduces-ees-border-system Veteran British author Julian Barnes was on Wednesday named the winner of Spain's top literature prize for decades of work that "offers a lucid, warm and compassionate vision of humanity". https://www.thelocal.es/20260611/uk-writer-julian-barnes-wins-top-spanish-literature-prize Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:42:47 +0200 uk-writer-julian-barnes-wins-top-spanish-literature-prize Spanish airline Air Europa will launch a new direct route between Madrid and Johannesburg this June, the first non-stop flight connection between Spain and southern Africa since Iberia pulled out in 2019. https://www.thelocal.es/20260610/spain-to-regain-direct-flight-route-to-south-africa-after-seven-year-wait Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:30:17 +0200 spain-to-regain-direct-flight-route-to-south-africa-after-seven-year-wait Only three countries have passed into national legislation new EU pay transparency rules by the June 7th deadline, MEPs and trade unions have denounced. https://www.thelocal.es/20260610/only-3-countries-met-deadline-for-new-eu-pay-transparency-rules Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:12:09 +0200 only-3-countries-met-deadline-for-new-eu-pay-transparency-rules Growing numbers of Europeans no longer see the US as an ally, with a significant minority viewing the superpower as an adversary, a new survey has revealed. https://www.thelocal.es/20260610/a-new-low-europeans-no-longer-see-the-us-as-an-ally-and-blame-trump Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:00:30 +0200 a-new-low-europeans-no-longer-see-the-us-as-an-ally-and-blame-trump European ferry ports have sounded the alarm about the impact of the EU's new EES checks this summer at the same time as global tourism chiefs say travellers from around the world are being put off by the prospect of long border delays in Europe. https://www.thelocal.es/20260609/tourism-chiefs-and-european-ferry-ports-sound-alarm-over-summer-border-chaos Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:24:20 +0200 tourism-chiefs-and-european-ferry-ports-sound-alarm-over-summer-border-chaos A trial of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's brother for alleged influence peddling in a public sector appointment concluded on Tuesday, one of several corruption cases threatening the Socialist-led government. https://www.thelocal.es/20260609/brother-of-spains-pm-set-for-verdict-in-graft-trial Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:08:38 +0200 brother-of-spains-pm-set-for-verdict-in-graft-trial Pope Leo on Tuesday arrived in Barcelona where he will celebrate mass in the Sagrada Familia Basilica and bless the new tower that has made it the world's tallest church. https://www.thelocal.es/20260609/pope-flies-to-barcelona-to-bless-sagrada-familia-tower Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:14:04 +0200 pope-flies-to-barcelona-to-bless-sagrada-familia-tower Every week, The Local invites readers to submit their pictures to our photo competition, to bring our audience together from all parts of Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20260609/reader-photo-of-the-week-rescue-kitten-cuddle-puddle Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:36:49 +0200 reader-photo-of-the-week-rescue-kitten-cuddle-puddle The US-born pope on Monday gave an unprecedented speech to the Spanish parliament which was welcomed with a lengthy standing ovation and applause from lawmakers, even though some of his words clashed with policies by Spain's governing left. https://www.thelocal.es/20260608/pope-shares-his-views-on-euthanasia-and-abortion-in-spains-parliament Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:27:16 +0200 pope-shares-his-views-on-euthanasia-and-abortion-in-spains-parliament