The Hidden World beneath the Ancient Alhambra Fortress - BBC REEL

Feb 20, 2020 | The ancient fortress of the Alhambra has a fascinating history, passing from Moorish sultans to Catholic kings. Today it is one of Spain's most visited tourist attractions and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

However, very few know of the secret world of the Alhambra that lies unseen below the surface - a hidden network of tunnels and dungeons, off limits to tourists, that are still being uncovered and understood by archaeologists today.

Video by Izabela Cardoso and Fernando Teixeira

Christians vs. Muslims – A Bloody History of Spanish Traditions over the Centuries | Documentary

Nov 30, 2024 | Alpuxarras narrates the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and the subsequent Christian conquest, until the end of the expulsion of the Moriscos in the XVII century. Focusing on the presence of the Muslims in Galicia and the forced colonization of the Alpuxarras by the Galicians, the similarities between common traditions, today almost forgotten, are exposed.

A look to Alpuxarras allows us to know a past that is necessary to understand the present reality.

Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain Look Powerfully Regal in New Official Portraits by Annie Leibovitz

TATLER: The diptych captured by the world-renowned photographer is a telling sign that the pair are still strong, despite a year of turbulence according to rumours

QUEEN LETIZIA AND KING FELIPE OF SPAIN HAVE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANNIE LEIBOVITZ, WITH THEIR PORTRAITS CURRENTLY ON SHOW AT THE NATIONAL BANK IN MADRID | Shutterstock
They say a picture is worth a thousand words – and by all accounts, new photographs taken of Queen Letizia and King Felipe by world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz are an example of masterful storytelling.

The two portraits, taken inside the opulent Gasparini Hall of the Royal Palace in Madrid, are designed to act as a dipytch: when put side by side, they seamlessly link together to form one, continuous scene. In her own image, looking straight down the lens with a regal gaze, Queen Letizia is every inch the glamorous monarch. Her outfit is not so much a subtle nod towards patriotism and grandeur as it is a unmistakeable sartorial semaphore: a sweeping, black ruched strapless gown by Spanish designer Cristóbel Balenciaga – part of an exclusive archival collection – calls to mind the A-line skirts and drama of flamenco dancers, while an oversized, satin stole draped around the shoulders is cast in the blood red of the Spanish flag. » | Tatler | Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Why Spanish Iberian Ham Is the World's Most Expensive Cured Meat | Regional Eats

Nov 27, 2019 | Iberian ham, or Jamón Ibérico, is one of the most expensive meats in the world. A leg of it can cost as much as $4,500. It is made from the rear leg of the black Iberian pig, a rare breed that can be found in the southern and western regions of the Iberian Peninsula, which comprises Spain and Portugal.

Brandon Li: The Passion of Andalucía

Oct 9, 2019 | The passion of flamenco echoes through Andalucía.

'Angry and Abandoned’ Valencians Attack Royals after Devastating Flash Floods

Nov 4, 2024 | “The pure amount of destruction and chaos that we saw around was just absolutely shocking.”

Valencians feel “angry and abandoned” by the response to devastating flash floods, say Shauna and Jamie, volunteers helping with the clear up. Spanish politician Txeme Guijarro agrees people need the state to act.


THE NEW YORK TIMES en Español:

Tras las inundaciones en España, una multitud de voluntarios y de rabia: El domingo por la mañana, durante la visita del rey Felipe VI y el presidente Pedro Sánchez a Paiporta, epicentro de la tragedia, manifestantes enfurecidos gritaron y arrojaron lodo. »

Angry Flood Survivors Confront Spain’s King and Queen in Flood-stricken Town in Valencia | DW News

Nov 3, 2024 | King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, as well as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, have cut short a visit to the flood-wracked province of Valencia. Anger over the slow state response to last week's disaster hit a climax today. Enraged by late warnings and delayed assistance in Spain's worst flash flooding in decades, furious crowds hurled mud and insults at the royals. The death toll from the natural disaster is at least 214.

A message from King Charles III to King Felipe VI of Spain regarding the ongoing floods in Valencia. »

Related material here.

THE NEW YORK TIMES en Español:

Una sombría búsqueda de cadáveres en Valencia, ciudad devastada por las inundaciones: Las inundaciones en España han dejado al menos a 205 personas muertas, casi todas en la provincia de Valencia. Más de 60 de las víctimas murieron en Paiporta, un pueblo de clase trabajadora en las afueras del sur de la ciudad. »

LE FIGARO :

Inondations : nouvelle «alerte rouge» en Espagne, les habitants de Valence appelés à rentrer chez eux : De nouvelles précipitations sont attendues dans la soirée, après les tragiques inondations qui ont déjà fait 217 morts selon le dernier bilan. L'Agence nationale de Météorologie a déclenché son «alerte rouge» et appelle les habitants à rentrer chez eux. »

Angry Crowds Confront Spanish King in Flood-hit Valencia | BBC News

Nov 3, 2024 | King Felipe VI of Spain has faced angry protesters while visiting the Valencia region, which has been hit by unprecedented floods.

Footage shows an angry crowd shouting "murderer" and "shame" at the king, who was also asked why nothing had been done to avoid the tragedy.

Spain's worst floods in decades have left whole neighbourhoods covered in mud and strewn with mangled cars and debris. More than 200 people were killed in the floods, with many more missing.

Emergency workers are continuing to comb through underground car parks and tunnels in the hope of finding survivors and recovering bodies.


LE FIGARO :

«Assassins !» : face à la colère de la foule, la visite du roi et de la reine sur le lieu des inondations suspendue : Des habitants de cette commune proche de Valence ont jeté de la boue aux visages des deux souverains. Selon le dernier bilan, 213 personnes ont péri à cause des inondations provoquées par des pluies torrentielles. Les autorités s'attendent à ce que le bilan s'alourdisse. »

Spain Floods Death Toll Soars to At Least 158 | BBC News

Oct 31, 2024 | At least 158 people are now known to have died after flash floods hit parts of Spain, particularly devastating communities in Valencia.

Almost all the deaths - 155 - have been recorded in the region, with two more in Castilla-La Mancha and another, a British man, in Andalusia.

Emergency teams are continuing to search for those missing and hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to Valencia to assist with the operation.



NYT:

A Catastrophic Deluge Leaves Parts of Spain in Ruins: In photos and video »

En español:

Un diluvio catastrófico deja partes de España en ruinas: En fotos y video »

Related material here.

British Man among At Least 95 Dead in ‘Apocalyptic’ Spanish Flash Flooding

THE TELEGRAPH: At least 95 people are dead and dozens more missing after the deadliest flash floods for decades wreaked havoc across eastern and southern Spain.

Rescuers, some using dinghies, fought on Wednesday to save people trapped by the floods, which engulfed cars, closed roads, cancelled trains and killed dozens, including a 71-year-old British man.

The eastern region of Valencia was hardest hit in Spain’s worst “cold drop” – the torrential rain triggered when autumnal cold air from the north moves over the Mediterranean’s warm waters – for a century.

“All of Spain weeps with all of you... We won’t abandon you,” said Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, while urging people to remain vigilant because the danger persisted.

A “devastated” King Felipe VI thanked emergency services for their “titanic” response and offered the victims’ families his “heartfelt condolences”. » | James Crisp, Europe Editor. James Badcock in Spain. Lilia Sebouai. Tim Sigsworth | Wednesday, October 30, 2024

NYT:

Raging Waters, Abandoned Cars, Layers of Mud: A Grim Scene After Spanish Floods: At least 95 people have died, and others are still missing, though how many remains unclear. Rescuers feared finding more bodies, the defense minister said. »

NYT (Español):

Lo que sabemos sobre las devastadoras inundaciones de España: Al menos 95 personas han muerto tras el aguacero, luego de que en algunas zonas cayera el equivalente a más de un mes de lluvias en menos de 24 horas. »

Related DW video here.

Flash Flooding in Spain Kills Dozens, Rescue Operations Underway | DW News

Oct 30, 2024 | Spanish emergency services say at least 62 people have been killed, after torrential rains sparked flash flooding in the country's south and east. Severe weather warnings are in place for ten of Spain's 17 regions.

The worst affected area is Valencia. Emergency sevices are working to reach areas where the flooding has hit hardest. The regional governor says many people are stranded in inaccessible locations.

Mexico’s Snub to King Felipe Rekindles Colonialism Row with Spain

THE GUARDIAN: President-elect refuses to invite Spanish king to her inauguration after lack of apology for crimes of conquest

A festering diplomatic row between Mexico and Spain has been reopened after the Latin American country’s leftwing president-elect refused to invite King Felipe to her inauguration because of his failure to apologise for crimes committed against Mexico’s Indigenous people during the conquest 500 years ago.

In 2019, Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador wrote to King Felipe and Pope Francis, calling for them to apologise for the “abuses” of the conquest and the colonial period.

“I have sent a letter to the king of Spain and another to the pope calling for a full account of the abuses and urging them to apologise to the Indigenous peoples [of Mexico] for the violations of what we now call their human rights,” López Obrador said in a video, which he posted to his social media accounts. » | Sam Jones, Madrid correspondent | Thursday, September 26, 2024

Spain's Islamic Legacy Source of Controversy | Focus on Europe

Mar 24, 2019 | Andalusia has a rich Islamic past. Its Mosque of Cordoba is world-famous. But now that some Arab countries have donated money to restore such architectural treasures, Spain's right-wing populists are stoking fears.

How to Make Spanish Gazpacho | A Typical Dish from Spain | DW Food

May 13, 2023 | When you hear the word "soup", you probably think of a hot, or at least warm, dish. Well, in southern Spain and Portugal, people like to eat a cold soup called "gazpacho" in the summer. There are many different recipes and some debates about how to make gazpacho. In this video we will show you how to prepare a traditional version of gazpacho and give it a modern twist.

CREDITS
Report: Diana Piñeros
Camera: Janusz Szczerek
Edit: Manuela Reuss

Letizia - The Queen of Spain | Full Documentary

Feb 23, 2024 | Letizia - The Queen of Spain - The first ever journalist on the throne.

Letizia - The Queen of Spain (2019)
Director: Julia Melchior
Stars: Katie Jordan
Genre: Documentary
Language: English

Synopsis:

The Spanish knew Letizia as presenter of the main news program. The wedding with Felipe of Spain marked the beginning of a completely different life for her. Merely just representation is not enough for the former top journalist. Letizia wants to be a queen of the 21st century, with professional demands and her own standing. Health, nutrition, education, and women's rights are matters she is deeply involved in, while clearly showing her position. Meetings, trips, speeches – everything is precisely prepared at her own desk. The first documentary about Spain's new queen.

Anti-tourism Protesters Soak Diners with Water Pistols in Barcelona

Jul 7, 2024 | Tourists dining in Barcelona were drenched with water guns by angry crowds of anti-tourism protesters marching down the main boulevards.

Carrying banners with slogans including “Tourism kills the city” and “Tourists go home”, several thousand demonstrators rallied through hotspots including the famous La Rambla.

Some of the demonstrators called out insults at tourists who took photographs of the march, while others taped off hotels and restaurants in a symbolic protest at overtourism in the Catalan capital. The use of water guns by some protestors againt onlooking tourists prompted some heated verbal exchanges, but order was maintained by police escorting the march.

Fire in High-Rise Apartment Complex Kills at Least 4 in Valencia, Spain

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The leader of the regional government declared a three-day mourning period.

A day after a fire roared through a high-rise residential complex in the Spanish city of Valencia, killing at least four people and leaving at least 14 missing, there were fears on Friday that those numbers could rise, because high temperatures inside the charred structure have prevented emergency workers from searching inside. » | Rachel Chaundler, Reporting from Zaragoza, Spain | Friday, February 23, 2024

Spanish TV Show Reports False Claims about Princess of Wales' Health

Feb 2, 2024 | "The palace spokesperson that I spoke to was rather cross". A journalist on a TV programme in Spain has made "extraordinary claims" about the health of the Princess of Wales which Kensington Palace was "keen to refute" says reporter in Madrid for The Times, Simon Hunter.

Spanish and Belgian Prime Ministers Call for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza at Rafah Crossing

Nov 24, 2023 | Spain and Belgium's prime ministers called for a 'permanent ceasefire' on Friday at the Rafah border crossing, welcoming a four-day truce that paused fighting between Israel and Hamas. 'It is absolutely necessary to establish a lasting humanitarian ceasefire to reverse the catastrophic situation that the people of the [Gaza] Strip are going through,' said Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. Alexander De Croo, Belgium's prime minister, echoed Sánchez, saying: 'The destruction of Gaza is unacceptable. We cannot accept that a society is being destroyed the way it is being destroyed'

Number of Palestinians Killed Is ‘Truly Unbearable’, Says Spanish PM

THE GUARDIAN: Pedro Sánchez says all civilians must be protected in Israel-Hamas war and reiterates call for two-state solution

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has urged Israel to rethink its offensive in Gaza, telling its president and prime minister the number of dead Palestinians is “truly unbearable”, and that the response to Hamas’s terrorist attacks last month cannot include “the deaths of innocent civilians, including thousands of children”.

Sánchez’s blunt pleas came during a visit to the Middle East with the Belgian prime minister, Alexander de Croo, during which he called for a peace conference and reiterated that the creation of a Palestinian state remained the best way to bring peace and security to the region.

Israel says 1,200 people were killed and 239 taken hostage when Hamas fighters crossed the border from Gaza on 7 October. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 14,100 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory strikes. (With video) » | Sam Jones | Thursday, November 23, 2023