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☆ Explainer-What's Next After Portugal's Inconclusive Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The centre-left Socialist Party (PS) won 77 seats, down sharply from its absolute majority of 120 in the previous legislature, after the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa amid a corruption investigation. Failure to approve a budget usually means the government's collapse and a new election. Portugal's constitution sets out that a new general election cannot happen earlier than six months after a new legislature first convenes, nor in the six months before a presidential election, which is due in January 2026. AD'S POLICY PROPOSALSThe newly-formed AD is led by the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) - the Socialists' main traditional rival. Investors do not expect much divergence from established fiscal prudence and economic growth from an AD government.

Persons: Andrei Khalip LISBON, Antonio Costa, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Luis Montenegro, Andre Ventura, Rebelo de Sousa, Chega, Ventura, Sergio Goncalves, Aislinn Laing, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Democratic Alliance, Liberal Initiative, Socialist Party, Socialist, Conservative, Social Democratic Party, PSD, Socialists, Investors Locations: Montenegro, Portugal, Brussels

☆ Spain ready to sign a deal with Britain on Gibraltar as early as Wednesday - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jon Nazca/files Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Spain is ready to sign a deal on the post-Brexit status of Gibraltar as early as Wednesday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said, before setting off to meet newly appointed British Foreign Minister David Cameron in Brussels. Albares said he spoken with Cameron on Monday on the telephone and both men agreed to meet in Brussels to further discuss the status of Gibraltar there. He said he was due to fly to Brussels later on Tuesday, adding: "Spain wants this agreement to be signed tomorrow." The European Commission and Spain sent Britain a proposal, including keeping Gibraltar's land border to Spain, open in late 2022 and ensuring the free flow of people. Spain ceded the rocky outpost at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea to Britain in 1713 but has long called for its return.

Persons: Jon Nazca, Jose Manuel Albares, David Cameron, Albares, Cameron, Inti Landauro, Aislinn Laing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, British, Spanish TV, European Union, EU, Schengen, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Gibraltar, Spain, Rights MADRID, Brussels, British, Britain

Borrell said all EU members attending the meeting of Mediterranean nations in Barcelona and almost all attendees overall had agreed on the need for a two-state solution. In response to that attack, Israel bombarded the enclave and mounted a ground offensive in the north. A two-state solution envisages a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke as a representative of a group of ministers from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Jordan's Safadi added, however: "Some among us are still refusing to call for a ceasefire... We demand it be implemented immediately."

Persons: Josep Borrell, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Nasser Nasser, Borrell, Ayman Safadi, Riyad al, Maliki, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Jordan's Safadi, Joan Faus, David Latona, Aislinn Laing, Ed Osmond, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie Organizations: Palestinian, West Bank, Rights, European Union, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Reuters, Union of, Saudi Foreign, Arab League, of Islamic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Ramallah, Rights BARCELONA, Spain, Palestinian, Gaza, Barcelona, Israel, Jordanian, Qatar, Egypt, United States

☆ Spanish PM floats peace conference idea in meeting with Israel's Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo pose during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, November 23, 2023. "Today, more than ever, we need to bring back a serious and credible prospect for peace," Sanchez said after talks with Netanyahu. Sanchez said he and unspecified colleagues had proposed holding an international peace conference with the parties as soon as possible. "It is in Israel's interest to work for peace, and today, peace means the establishment of a viable Palestinian state that includes the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, according to the U.N. resolutions," he said. U.S. officials have said the time is not right to try to resume peace talks given the protracted intransigence of both sides.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Alexander de Croo, Benjamin Netanyahu, Borja Puig de la, Sanchez, Isaac Herzog, Mahmoud Abbas, Netanyahu, Alexander De Croo, De Croo, David Latona, Marine Strauss, Aislinn Laing, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Spanish, Belgian, Israeli, Reuters Acquire, Rights, Hamas, West Bank, European Union, Arab League, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, West, of, Union, Palestinian Authority, Jerusalem, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Moncloa, Handout, Rights MADRID, U.S, Israel, Palestinian, Ramallah, Egypt, West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Barcelona, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Madrid, Oslo, Brussels

☆ YouTuber sues Google Spain for alleged wrongful dismissal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A Spanish YouTuber is suing Google Spain, a unit of Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), for wrongful dismissal in a case that could set a precedent for content creators' labour rights, Spanish union UGT said on Thursday. Google Spain blocked Jota's YouTube channel "Último Bastión" (Last Stronghold) from earning advertising revenue in August. He said they had called on the court to classify Jota and YouTube's a labour relationship and his effective dismissal as "wrongful". Garcia and the union would not comment on the reasons for advertising revenue to his channel being cut. Google says that content creators are not employees and that in this particular case Jota's channel did not comply with YouTube monetisation policies.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, UGT, Bernardo Garcia, Garcia, Eduardo Magaldi, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Google, Alphabet Inc, YouTube, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights MADRID, Google Spain, Jota, Madrid, Spain, Europe

Police guard the courthouse of United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., November 5, 2018. Lukas lodged a lawsuit in federal court in New York on Monday against the Portuguese actor, now 45, who starred in the Netflix mystery thriller series White Lines. Lukas, who directed romantic comedy Hollidaysburg, filed her claim under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which expires on Thursday. Lukas had a forensic examination for sexual assault done the day after the incident at a hospital and "reported the rape to the police," the court filing says. Lukas' case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, A.M, Lukas, Nuno Lopes, drugging, Lopes, Wigdor, Catarina Demony, Aislinn Laing, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Police, States, Court, Eastern, of, REUTERS, LISBON, Netflix, Reuters, Tribeca, Thomson Locations: of New York, Brooklyn , New York, U.S, Portuguese, New York

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez takes the oath of office during a ceremony at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain November 17, 2023. Calvino, who is the frontrunner for the top job at the European Investment Bank scheduled to be announced at the end of the year, will also keep her position as first deputy prime minister, Sanchez said in a televised statement. Given the anticipated difficulty of passing laws with a minority government, Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero will be promoted to be one of four deputy prime ministers. His four deputy prime ministers are all female. Junior coalition partner Sumar got five portfolios, keeping its share of power within the cabinet.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Andres Ballesteros, Nadia Calvino, Calvino, Sanchez, Teresa Ribera, Maria Jesus Montero, Jose Manuel Albares, Yolanda Diaz, Sumar, Felix Bolanos, Ana Redondo, Irene Montero, Ione Belarra, Belen Carreno, Inti, Aislinn Laing, Toby Chopra, Charlie Devereux, Ed Osmond, William Maclean Organizations: Spain's, Rights, Socialist, European Investment Bank, European, Energy, Labour, Socialists, Junior, Thomson Locations: Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Maria Jesus Montero ,, Sumar

☆ Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's new cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez takes the oath of office during a ceremony at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain November 17, 2023. Andres Ballesteros/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsNov 20 (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday announced his new cabinet, keeping the same number of 22 ministers, 12 women and 10 men, despite reshuffling some of their portfolios. SOCIALIST MINISTERS:NADIA CALVINO - ECONOMYCalvino remains as Sanchez's first deputy prime minister and top economic expert. FELIX BOLANOS - JUSTICEBolanos saw his profile boosted by heightened media exposure while acting as Sanchez's de facto cabinet chief. SIRA REGO - CHILDREN AND YOUTHThe second-in-command and main spokesperson for the United Left, she became an MEP in 2019.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Andres Ballesteros, NADIA CALVINO, Calvino, Sanchez's, TERESA RIBERA, Ribera, MARIA JESUS MONTERO, Sanchez, Montero, FELIX BOLANOS, JUSTICE Bolanos, JOSE MANUEL ALBARES, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, MARGARITA ROBLES, Robles, FERNANDO GRANDE, Miquel Iceta, PILAR ALEGRIA, Alegria, Isabel Rodriguez, ISABEL RODRIGUEZ, Rodriguez, JOSE LUIS ESCRIVA, DIANA MORANT, LUIS PLANAS, Puente, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, JORDI HEREU, Hereu, Hector Gomez, ANGEL VICTOR TORRES, Torres, ELMA SAIZ, Escriva, Redondo, Podemos party's Irene Montero, SUMAR, YOLANDA DIAZ, LABOUR Diaz, Sumar, MONICA GARCIA, Garcia, Isabel Diez Ayuso, ERNEST URTASUN, PABLO BUSTINDUY, Bustinduy, Alberto Garzon, Ione Belarra, SIRA REGO, David Latona, Aislinn Laing, Grant McCool Organizations: Spain's, REUTERS Acquire, Spanish, Monday, European Investment Bank, JUSTICE, High, Culture, Social Security, Universities, Democratic, Socialist, ANA REDONDO, LABOUR, Mas Madrid, Greens, European Free Alliance, Consumer Affairs, United Left, Thomson Locations: Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain, Dubai, France, Morocco, Ukraine, Melilla, Gandia, Valladolid, Barcelona, Canary, Bolanos, Pamplona, Navarre, Mas, Podemos, Gaza, SIRA, Israel

☆ Shakira stands trial in Spain for alleged tax fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shakira poses on the red carpet during the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards show in Seville, Spain, November 16, 2023. The 'Hips Don't Lie' Colombian megastar, who also has a second tax fraud investigation pending with Spanish authorities, has vowed to fight what she called false accusations. She rejected a settlement offer from the prosecutor's office to close the case and is expected to testify on Monday in the first of 12 hearings scheduled until Dec. 14. The prosecutor's office is seeking an up to eight-year prison term and to claim back the taxes it says she owes. Shakira, 46, lived with former Barcelona and Spain soccer star Gerard Pique for 11 years and the couple have two children.

Persons: Shakira, Marcelo del Pozo, Gerard Pique, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, Judge Jose Manuel del Amo Sanchez, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina's Lionel Messi, Diego Costa, Bayer, Xabi Alonso, Alonso, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, Bayer Leverkusen, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, Rights BARCELONA, Barcelona, Miami, Spanish

☆ Madrid streets barricaded ahead of tense Spanish investiture debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The amnesty deal with Catalan separatists has prompted a wave of protests across Spain. Authorities said 80,000 people gathered in Madrid on Sunday, while tens of thousands also attended demonstrations in Granada and Seville. Thousands have congregated each night for nearly a fortnight outside the Socialist Party (POSE) headquarters in Madrid. "We are Spaniards worried about Spain," said one young protester draped in a Spanish flag. The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an injunction by the far-right party Vox to suspend the investiture vote.

Persons: Sanchez, Pedro Sanchez's, Junts, Vox, Adolf Hitler, Esteban Gonzalez Pons, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Belen Carreno, Miguel Gutierrez, Charlie Devereux, Aislinn Laing, Emelia Organizations: Spain's, Amnesty, Spain MADRID, Police, ERC, Sanchez’s Socialists, People's Party, Authorities, Sunday, Socialist Party, Eastern, European, Sanchez's Socialist Party, PSOE, Junts, Thomson Locations: Spain, Spain's, Madrid, Catalan, Granada, Seville, Spanish, Hungary, Romania

☆ Spain to provide bodyguards for fugitive Catalan Puigdemont amid amnesty row
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont sits inside a car, on the day a deal was signed with Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) for Spanish government support, which is expected to include an amnesty law for Catalan separatist activists, in Brussels, Belgium November 9, 2023. Tensions are running high in Spain over a controversial amnesty law agreed with Puigdemont's party Junts that will exculpate hundreds of politicians and activists involved in an attempt to separate Catalonia from Spain that peaked in 2017. Puigdemont, who is the subject of an extradition order for leading the failed attempt, is likely to be the most high profile beneficiary of the amnesty law, a draft of which was registered in parliament on Monday. Opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo, of the centre-right People's Party that is leading protests against the amnesty, said the security agreement was "surprising". The prospect of amnesty has brought thousands of opponents to the streets for 12 days in a row.

Persons: Carles Puigdemont, Yves Herman, Pedro Sanchez's, Puigdemont, Felix Bolanos, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, He's, Junts, Sanchez, Charlie Devereux, Joan Faus, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing Organizations: Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, PSOE, Catalan, REUTERS, Rights, Socialist, Reuters, People's, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights MADRID, Spain, Catalonia, Catalan, Waterloo, Copenhagen

☆ Portuguese Judge Orders Release of Those Detained in Corruption Probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON (Reuters) - A Lisbon judge ordered on Monday that all five people detained last week for alleged corruption and influence-peddling, including the outgoing Portuguese prime minister's former chief of staff, be released from custody, the court said. They remain suspects in the investigation into alleged illegalities in the government's handling of lithium and hydrogen projects, as well as a large-scale data centre. The probe has led to the resignation of Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who is the target of a related investigation, and a snap election being called for March 10. Lacerda Machado was released on a 150,000-euro ($160,305) bail, while no bail was demanded for Escaria, who will be barred from travelling abroad, the court said. Others were named formal suspects in the investigation but were not detained, including Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba, and head the environment agency APA, Nuno Lacasta.

Persons: Antonio Costa, Prosecutors, Vitor Escaria, Diogo Lacerda Machado, Costa's, Lacerda Machado, Joao Galamba, Nuno Lacasta, Costa, Catarina Demony, Andrei Khalip, Aislinn Laing Organizations: Escaria, Infrastructure Locations: LISBON, Lisbon

Just holding the deal together through a full four-year parliamentary term will be a tough challenge, many predict. "The next legislative term will be very tough for the PSOE, it is likely it won't finish the whole term," said Catalan political analyst Joan Esculies. Spaniards have also been called to show their ire in town square demonstrations across the country on Sunday. For Andoni Ortuzar, the Basque Nationalist Party leader who also struck a deal with the Socialists on Friday, whether the government could hold would be a test of Spain's plurality. "We are different - we consider ourselves a different nation - and the question is whether we can live together comfortably," he said.

Persons: Sanchez, Pedro Sanchez, Francisco Franco, Junts, Carles Puigdemont, Joan Esculies, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Andoni Ortuzar, Susana Vera, Emiliano Garcia, Puigdemont, Lluis Orriols, Ortuzar, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Alex Richardson Organizations: Deal, Spain's Socialists, Socialist, PSOE, People's Party, Socialists, Basque Nationalist Party, REUTERS, Catalan Socialist, Carlos III University, Thomson Locations: MADRID, BARCELONA, Catalan, Belgium, Catalonia, Spain, Madrid, Castilla, La Mancha, Spanish, Catalunya

☆ Spain's Sanchez wins support for PM bid amid anger over Catalan amnesty vow
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We have managed to secure a majority that will make possible the investiture of Pedro Sanchez," acting minister for parliamentary relations Felix Bolanos said in an interview with SER radio station. Opinion polls have painted a picture of a country divided over the question of amnesty, even within the ranks of the Socialist Party. With Junts and PNV and the national and regional left-wing parties, Sanchez would win an absolute majority of 178 out of 350 lawmakers. Later on Friday, the Socialist Party added one vote more to its wide coalition after Canary Islands' regionalist party Coalicion Canaria also agreed to back Sanchez. Bolanos said the Catalan amnesty law would help ease tension in Catalonia as it would free school directors, firefighters and other civil servants who helped organise an illegal referendum on the region's independence in 2017 from legal proceedings.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Jon Nazca, Junts, Sanchez, Felix Bolanos, Bolanos, Canaria, Carles Puigdemont, Belen Carreno, Emma Pinedo, Inti Landauro, David Latona, Jessica Jones, Aislinn Laing, Toby Chopra, Nick Macfie, Hugh Lawson, Andrea Ricci Organizations: European, REUTERS, Rights, Catalan separatists, National Basque Party, Canaries ' Coalition, SER, Socialist Party, Socialist, La, Sigma, Sanchez's Socialist Party, Interior Ministry, El Mundo, Socialists, Police, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights MADRID, Catalonia, Galician, Basque, Canary Islands, Junts, Madrid

☆ Spanish Socialists and Catalan Junts reach deal for government support, amnesty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A law granting amnesty to those prosecuted over Catalonia's attempt to secede from Spain was included in the deal, political leaders said and the deal text showed. The agreement included Junts lending its votes in parliament to support legislation for a full four-year term, he said. But Junts, which seeks another independence referendum, said supporting each law would depend on progress in talks involving Catalonia's political conflict. As a deal between Junts and the Socialists edged nearer in the past week, the mood in the country has become increasingly febrile, with protesters clashing with police outside the Socialists' headquarters in Madrid. An amnesty could exculpate as many as 1,400 activists and politicians involved in the attempt to separate Catalonia from Spain.

Persons: Junts, Feijoo, Puigdemont, Pedro Sanchez, Santos Cerdan, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Sanchez, Carles Puigdemont, Jaume Clotet, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Graham Keeley, Aislinn Laing, Charlie Devereux, Alison Williams, Toby Chopra, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton, Alex Richardson Organizations: Companies Spain's Socialists, Conservative, Socialist Party, PSOE, Socialist, Socialists, Police, People's Party, Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, Basque Nationalist Party, Thomson Locations: Catalan, Madrid, MADRID, Spain, Brussels, Junts, Catalonia, Belgium, Waterloo

Timing is everything," said political scientist Antonio Costa Pinto. By law, an election needs to be held within 60 days of the publishing of the presidential decree dissolving parliament. The PSD is still reeling from defeat in a January 2022 election that caused a leadership change. The 74-year-old former law lecturer and political commentator has used his constitutional power to disband parliament once before, in November 2021. Unlike now, Costa's government then had no parliamentary majority and had just had its budget rejected.

Persons: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Antonio Costa, illegalities, Costa, Antonio Costa Pinto, Ines de Sousa Real, Rebelo de Sousa, Antonio Barroso, Luis Montenegro, Pedro Nuno Santos, Andre Ventura, Patricia Rua, Aislinn Laing, Nick Macfie Organizations: Socialist, Socialist Party, Nature, Social Democratic Party, TAP, Thomson Locations: LISBON, Portuguese, Montenegro

REUTERS/Catarina Demony/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Portuguese anti-mining groups have urged the government to suspend and review all lithium projects while authorities investigate alleged corruption in the handling of "green" energy deals that have led to the resignation of the prime minister. Antonio Costa resigned on Tuesday, hours after prosecutors detained five people, including his chief of staff, and named two formal suspects close to him in an investigation into lithium mining and hydrogen projects. With more than 60,000 metric tons of known lithium reserves, Portugal is Europe's biggest lithium producer, but its miners sell almost exclusively to the ceramics industry. "Lithium mining projects in Portugal must be immediately cancelled to not allow territories and populations to be affected based on corrupt and unclear processes," the groups said. In 2019, Portugal's government came under fire from lawmakers for signing a contract giving exploration rights for lithium mining to Lusorecursos when the company was only three days old.

Persons: Catarina Demony, Antonio Costa, Lusorecursos, Savannah, Nuno Lacasta, Joao Galamba, UDCB, Aislinn Laing, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justice, Environment, APA, Savannah Resources, Infrastructure, Thomson Locations: Covas do Barroso, Portugal, Rights LISBON, Portuguese, Europe, China, London, Savannah, Barroso

☆ Spain's Socialists, hard-left Sumar strike government coalition deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The agreement came after acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with Sumar leader and acting Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz on Monday. Sanchez requires the support from Sumar's 33 lower-house lawmakers - as well as from other parties, including some advocating for Catalan and Basque independence - in his bid to renew his term as premier. While Sumar's support is crucial, it is not enough to secure Sanchez's investiture in the lower house. He still needs the backing of Catalan separatists, who are demanding an amnesty law to mass pardon people involved in the region's failed independence bid of 2017. Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Ed Osmond and Aislinn LaingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Spain's, Yolanda Diaz, Pedro Sanchez, Sanchez, David Latona, Ed Osmond, Aislinn Laing Organizations: Socialist Party, PSOE, Spain's Socialist Party, Labour, Catalan, Socialists, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Basque, Catalan

[1/5] Bass-Baritone Gerald Finley and soprano Julia Bullock perform during an opera rehearsal "Antony and Cleopatra" at Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/ Albert Gea Acquire Licensing RightsBARCELONA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Barcelona's opera house has hired an "intimacy director" to ensure performers are comfortable taking part in passionate scenes, in a first for Spain and a rarity for continental Europe. The role's creation comes after the #MeToo movement rocked the movie industry but also the opera world with sexual harassment accusations. Intimacy director Ita O'Brien will oversee William Shakespeare's adapted play, 'Antony and Cleopatra', which opens at Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house on Oct. 28. Lesca said there should be an intimacy director in every opera.

Persons: Gerald Finley, Julia Bullock, Antony, Cleopatra, Albert Gea, Ita O'Brien, William Shakespeare's, O'Brien, Adriana Bignagni Lesca, Charmian, Lesca, Luis Rubiales, Placido Domingo, Joan Faus, Aislinn Laing, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Gran Teatre del Liceu, REUTERS, Rights, Gran Teatre del, HBO, Netflix, Thomson Locations: Gran, Barcelona, Spain, Rights BARCELONA, Europe, Gran Teatre del Liceu, United States, Britain, Spanish

☆ Spain's PLD Space launches private reusable rocket in milestone for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Aislinn Laing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MADRID, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Spanish company PLD Space launched its reusable Miura-1 rocket early on Saturday from a site in southwestern Spain, carrying out Europe's first fully private rocket launch and offering hope for the continent's stalled space ambitions. The Miura-1 rocket, named after a breed of fighting bulls, is as tall as a three-storey building and has a 100-kg (220-pound) cargo capacity. A first attempt to launch the Miura-1 rocket in May was abandoned due to strong high-altitude winds. Competitors lining up to join the race to launch small payloads include companies in Scotland, Sweden and Germany. In July, the last launch of Europe's largest rocket, the premier Ariane 5 space launcher, took place at the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Persons: Miura, Italy's Vega, Vega, Aislinn Laing, David Alire Garcia, Valentine Hilaire, Will Dunham Organizations: Space, Virgin Orbit, Boeing, Competitors, Ariane, European Space Agency, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spanish, Spain, Huelva, Britain, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, Kourou, French Guiana, Europe, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Spain's PLD Space counts down to test rocket launch from Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PLD Space/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Spanish startup PLD Space will attempt a test launch of its reusable Miura-1 rocket early on Saturday, spearheading a new generation of 'microlaunchers' after an aborted attempt in June. The rocket is due to lift off on its suborbital test mission at 2 a.m Spanish time on Saturday (0000 GMT) from Huelva in southwest Spain, marking what its designers say will be Europe's first fully private rocket launch. "The day has arrived," Raul Torres, PLD Space chief executive and co-founder of PLD Space, wrote on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. Europe's efforts to develop capabilities to send small satellites into space are in focus after a failed orbital rocket launch by Virgin Orbit from Britain in January. In July, the last launch of Europe's largest rocket, the premier Ariane 5 space launcher, took place at the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Persons: Raul Torres, Space's Miura, Italy's Vega, Vega, Emma Pinedo, Tim Hepher, Tim Hepther, Aislinn Laing, Edmund Blair Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, Space, Twitter, Virgin Orbit, Boeing, Ariane, European Space Agency, Thomson Locations: El, Huelva, Spain, Rights MADRID, Britain, Europe, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, Kourou, French Guiana

☆ Spain's PLD Space Counts Down to Test Rocket Launch From Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish startup PLD Space will attempt a test launch of its reusable Miura-1 rocket early on Saturday, spearheading a new generation of 'microlaunchers' after an aborted attempt in June. "The day has arrived," Raul Torres, PLD Space chief executive and co-founder of PLD Space, wrote on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. Europe's efforts to develop capabilities to send small satellites into space are in focus after a failed orbital rocket launch by Virgin Orbit from Britain in January. PLD Space's Miura-1 rocket, named after a breed of fighting bulls, is as tall as a three-storey building and has a 100-kg (220-pound) cargo capacity. Competitors lining up to join the race to launch small payloads include companies in Scotland, Sweden and Germany.

Persons: Raul Torres, Space's Miura, Italy's Vega, Vega, Emma Pinedo, Tim Hepher, Tim Hepther, Aislinn Laing, Edmund Blair Organizations: Spanish, Space, Twitter, Virgin Orbit, Boeing, Ariane, European Space Agency Locations: MADRID, Huelva, Spain, Britain, Europe, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, Kourou, French Guiana

If the complaint is upheld, it could result in orders from national courts for governments to cut carbon dioxide emissions blamed for climate change faster than currently planned. 'UNPRECEDENTED IN SCALE'The applicants argue climate change threatens their rights including to life, physical and mental wellbeing. Current policies would fail to meet either goal, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Last month, a judge in Montana, in the United States, handed a historic win to young plaintiffs in a climate change case. In addition to Wednesday's youth case, there are two other climate cases pending before the ECHR's Grand Chamber.

Persons: Andre, Sofia Oliveira, Pedro Nunes, heatwaves, Gerry Liston, Andre Oliveira, Martim Agostinho, Agostinho, Liston, Catarina Demony, Aislinn Laing, Alex Richardson, Christina Fincher Organizations: European, of Human Rights, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Almada , Portugal, Portugal, Britain, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Turkey, Strasbourg, Paris, Portuguese, Leiria, Europe, Montana, United States, Lisbon

☆ Spain's conservative leader Feijoo fails in first bid to become prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Spain's opposition People's Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo looks on in parliament on the day of the investiture debate in Madrid, Spain, September 27, 2023. REUTERS/Susana Vera Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Spanish conservative leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo failed on Wednesday to secure enough votes in the lower house to become prime minister. Feijoo, whose People's Party had won the most seats in an inconclusive election in July, failed to convince enough legislators from other parties to back him to win an absolute majority. Spanish law allows Feijoo a second attempt on Friday, when a simple majority would be enough for him to be elected prime minister. Sanchez would have two months to negotiate an agreement before fresh elections are called if he also fails.

Persons: Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Susana Vera, Feijoo, Pedro Sanchez, Sanchez, Inti Landauro, Belen Carreno, Emma Pinedo, Charlie Devereux, Aislinn Laing, William Maclean Organizations: People's, REUTERS, Rights, Catalan, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Spanish

☆ Youth Vs Europe: 'Unprecedented' Climate Trial to Kick off at Rights Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Applicants will argue climate change threatens their rights including to life, physical and mental wellbeing. Current policies would fail to meet either goal, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "Without urgent action to cut emissions, (the place) where I live will soon become an unbearable furnace," another applicant, 20-year-old Martim Agostinho, said in a statement. Last month, a judge in Montana, in the United States, handed a historic win to young plaintiffs in a climate change case. In addition to Wednesday's youth case, there are two other climate cases pending before the ECHR's Grand Chamber.

Persons: Catarina Demony, Gerry Liston, Andre Oliveira, Martim Agostinho, Agostinho, Liston, Aislinn Laing, Alex Richardson Organizations: European, of Human Rights, United Nations Locations: Portugal, Britain, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Turkey, Strasbourg, Paris, Portuguese, Leiria, Europe, Montana, United States, Lisbon

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