THE Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalunya’s police force, launched ‘Operation Cage’ this morning in an attempt to locate and arrest Carles Puigdemont, the separatist leader who has lived in exile for seven years. But who is Carles Puigdemont and why has his brief reappearance in Barcelona prompted a massive manhunt that has seen police officers block off exits from the city and …

Indian football has seen significant growth in recent years, with more players gaining international exposure and experience. While Europe has long been a dream destination for Indian footballers, Spain, with its rich footballing culture and top-tier leagues, has become a particularly attractive destination. This article highlights some of the best Indian football players who have ventured to Spain, exploring their …

RAFAEL Nadal has pulled out of this year’s US Open, admitting that he would not be able to ‘give 100%’ in New York. The announcement comes swiftly after Nadal’s participation in the Paris Olympics – he was trounced by old rival Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles and reached the doubles quarter-finals with 21-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, widely tipped as …

FORMER Catalan premier and fugitive from justice Carles Puigdemont returned to Spain on Thursday, seven years after he fled the country to escape arrest for his role in the 2017 drive for independence in the northeastern region.  On arrival in Barcelona, he gave a speech to an estimated crowd of around 2,500 people outside the parliament building, during which he …

SPAIN has recorded the highest number of monkeypox cases in Europe since the start of the current outbreak in April 2022. A total of 8,101 cases have been reported- almost double that of the second-placed country, France. This year has seen 260 confirmed cases with nearly half in the Madrid area and 90% of those affected were unvaccinated. 16 infections …

UEFA, European football’s governing body, have handed out one match bans to Alvaro Morata and Rodri after the pair led chants of ‘Gibraltar is Spanish’ during Spain’s Euro 2024 trophy parade. The suspension will apply for their next match in international competition, which is against Serbia on September 5. The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) made a formal complaint to UEFA …

CARLES Puigdemont, the former Catalan president, has revealed his intention to return to Spain this week after seven years of self-imposed exile in Belgium. In a video posted on X, Puigdemont confirmed he will make the journey to Catalunya to participate in the investiture debate of Salvador Illa, a Socialist ally of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is set to …

A METEOR shower known as the Tears of San Lorenzo will soon be at its most visible in the skies above Spain.  Also known as the Perseids, the phenomenon will be at its peak between August 11 and 13, although it will remain visible until August 24. During the peak period, up to 110 meteors per hour can be seen …

SPAIN won their second gold medal of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday when Maria Perez and Alvaro Martin were victorious in the first-ever 42kms mixed marathon race walking relay. They had a 51-second buffer over the Ecuadorians Glenda Morejon and Daniel Pintado, with the Australian pairing of Jemima Montag and Rhydian Cowley coming third. It was the second medal of …

SPAIN will clash with France in a mouth-watering men’s football gold medal match at the Olympics on Friday after defeating Morocco 2-1 in the semi-final. La Roja went behind at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille after Soufiane Rahimi scored a first-half penalty, before Barcelona youngster Fermin Lopez equalised just after the hour mark. Spain’s passage to Friday’s showpiece final was …