MADRID (AP) — A Spanish judge jailed Catalonia’s top lawmaker Thursday in a rebellion probe stemming from an independence declaration, but set Carme Forcadell’s bail at 150,000 euros ($175,000) and ordered her passport to be confiscated as the investigation continues. Forcadell is speaker of the regional parliament where separatist lawmakers passed a declaration to proclaim … Continue reading
MADRID (AP) — The Latest on the Spain-Catalonia political crisis (all times local): 3 p.m. A Spanish official says that the government respects and obeys decisions taken by judges, after he was asked about the jailing of former Catalan officials in an investigation related to their push for secession. Government spokesman Inigo Mendez de … Continue reading
MADRID (AP) — A Cuban singer and music producer has filed a plagiarism lawsuit against pop stars Shakira and Carlos Vives for allegedly copying his work in the Colombian duo’s award-winning music hit “La Bicicleta .” Livan Rafael Castellanos, also known as Livam, said he wants a court to decide whether parts of his 1997 … Continue reading
MADRID (AP) — Nudists have lost a seven-year legal battle for access to a popular tourist resort beach on Spain’s southwestern tip. The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Spanish Federation of Naturism against local government legislation prohibiting nudists to use beaches within the historic port city of Cadiz. The federation had argued that … Continue reading
MADRID (AP) — Mexican author Fernando del Paso has won the 2015 Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world’s highest literary honor, Spanish officials announced Thursday. Education Minister Inigo Mendez de Vigo highlighted del Paso’s mix of tradition with modernity and his recreation of episodes that are fundamental to Mexico’s history in his novels. Del Paso’s works … Continue reading
MADRID (AP) — Spanish and Moroccan police have arrested 10 people on suspicion of recruiting jihadi fighters for the Islamic State group, Spain’s officials said Sunday. All 10 allegedly formed part of a “very important recruitment platform” also dedicated to the indoctrination, radicalization and transport of individuals to jihadi combat zones, Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez … Continue reading
MADRID (AP) — Spanish police have cracked down on a string of garages that allegedly provided customers with mechanical and software services that enabled their cars to cheat emission checks in a scam similar to that which has engulfed Volkswagen, a statement said Saturday. Police said a tip-off led them to discover that eight garages … Continue reading
MADRID (AP) — A huge explosion Monday at a fireworks factory in northeastern Spain killed five people and seriously injured three others, police said. The blast occurred around 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) at the Pirotecnia Zaragozana factory in the small town of Pinseque, a police spokeswoman said. The blast sent a dense plume of white … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 