Monday 24 May 2021

Spanish News in English

Dear readers,

The Spanish government of Pedro Sánchez faced its biggest diplomatic crisis to date this week when up to 9,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish exclave city of Ceuta. Moroccan authorities reportedly did nothing to stop the flow to punish Spain for its decision to allow a Sahrawi liberation leader to receive medical treatment in Logroño.

The crisis has since been brought under control – 5,600 people have returned home, either voluntarily or after being deported, and the Moroccan gendarmerie has secured the border. The main challenge now is accommodating the more than 780 unaccompanied minors who reached Ceuta and are now under state care.

In other big news, travelers from the UK will no longer face coronavirus restrictions when entering Spain. The order, which comes into effect on Monday, means Britons will not have to present a negative PCR test.

Meanwhile, Sánchez has announced that the mass vaccination of the 40-49 age group will begin in June. The incidence rate in Spain has now fallen below the 250-threshold considered to indicate a situation of extreme risk, but contagions are still high in regions such as Madrid and the Basque Country.

And finally, after a one-year hiatus the ¿Qué? podcast is back! This week, we talk about the epidemiological situation in Spain and the Ceuta migrant crisis.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition, and that you are staying safe.

Thanks for reading.
MELISSA KITSON

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