English in Madrid

Image created by Chat GPT Spanish Vuelta finale cancelled as police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters in Madrid The Grand Tour event has this year turned into a diplomatic battleground, with multiple days of racing cut short or interrupted as pro-Palestinian protests have taken place. The finale of Spain's version of the Tour de France has been cancelled midway through after clashes between police and pro-Palestinian protesters in Madrid. The Spanish Vuelta's 104km-long last leg was first paused at around 6.20pm local time (5.20pm in the UK) as police attempted to disperse the demonstrators. Some protesters carrying anti-Israel banners had thrown barriers to block where the cyclists were supposed to pass on a finishing circuit for the mostly ceremonial ride into the Spanish capital. The race did briefly resume a short while later, but organisers were ultimately forced to call   the finale off . Organisers said: "For security reasons, stage 21 of La Vuelta ha...

Image created by Chat GPT Spanish government moves to ban smok ing on bar terraces Tobacco law would also prohibit minors from us ing vapes and stop sale of single-use electronic cigarettes The Spanish government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking and vaping on bar and restaurant terraces, prohibit minors from using vapes and related products, and end the sale of single-use electronic cigarettes. The legislation, which was signed off by the cabinet on Tuesday morning, is intended to “reinforce protections on people’s health and to adapt the law to consumption patterns and to the tobacco-product market”, according to the health ministry. Under the proposed law, electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches , herbal products, shisha pipes and devices used to heat tobacco and other substances would be treated the same as conventional cigarettes. Their use would be banned in enclosed public spaces and in outdoor areas such as bar terraces, stadiums, sports centres,...

Image Source: Wikipiedia (Andy Scott) Carlo Acutis: From a baptism in London to the first millennial saint A London-born boy has become the first millennial saint, in a ceremony steeped in an ancient ritual presided over by Pope Leo on Sunday. In his short life, Carlo Acutis created websites documenting "miracles" as a means of spreading Catholic teaching, leading some to nickname him God's influencer. His canonisation had been due in late April, but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis. More than a million people are estimated to have made a pilgrimage to the Italian hilltop town of Assisi where Carlo's body lies , preserved in wax . But there is another pilgrimage site associated with Carlo Acutis that has seen an increase in visitors since it was announced that he was to be made a saint - Our Lady of Dolours Church in London. The font at the back of the Roman Catholic church in the Chelsea area was where Carlo was baptised as a baby in 1991. T...

Image generated by Chat GPT Murphy’s Law: Why Things Go Wrong at the Worst Time Have you ever studied all night for a test… only to find out it’s been postponed? Or printed your assignment just before class, and the printer jammed ? If so, you’ve already experienced something called Murphy’s Law . Murphy’s Law is a popular saying that goes: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” It’s not exactly a scientific rule, but it feels true in everyday life — especially when bad timing makes things worse! The Origins of Murphy’s Law The term comes from Captain Edward A. Murphy Jr. , an American aerospace engineer working on high-speed safety tests in 1949 . He and his team were testing how much sudden deceleration a person could handle (important for pilots and astronauts). But during one experiment, the sensors were wired incorrectly , ruining the results. Frustrated, Murphy supposedly said: “If there’s any way to do it wrong, someone will.” The project leader, Dr. John Pa...

Image generated with Chat GPT Spanish PM sorry for corruption scandal as opposition demands resignation Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has apologised to the Spanish people after an escalating corruption scandal brought down a senior Socialist party colleague. Sánchez, who has led Spain since 2018, said there was no such thing as "zero corruption" and he sought to put to distance himself from the affair, ruling out early elections. Opposition conservative leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said it was time for Sánchez to resign: "Survival is no longer an option." A downbeat Sánchez admitted he had been wrong to trust Santos Cerdán, the secretary of his Socialist party, and spoke of his deep disappointment . Cerdán has been asked to testify in court after a judge suggested he may have acted with former party officials in improperly awarding public contracts in exchange for kickbacks . He said on Thursday he was stepping down to defend himself in the Supreme Cour...

Image created by Chat GPT US tariff turmoil makes Spain's flagship foods seek other markets It's lunchtime in a bar in the southern Spanish city of Seville. The kitchen is humming with activity, and behind the bar a member of staff pours cold beer from a tap into a glass. Nearby, another uses a carving knife to cut slices from a large leg of jamón ibérico, or Iberian ham, placing each one on a plate, to be served as an appetiser. There are few more Spanish scenes. And there are few more Spanish products than jamón ibérico, whose unique salty flavour is * renowned across the world, and part of a national cured ham industry worth nearly €750m ($850m; £630m) each year in exports. As he watches the jamón being carved, Jaime Fernández, international commercial director for the Grupo Osborne, which produces wine, sherry and the renowned Cinco Jotas brand of ham, describes it as a " flagship " national foodstuff. "It's one of the most iconic gastronomic prod...

Image generated by Chat GPT Greta Thunberg deported, Israel says, after Gaza aid boat intercepted Israel says it has deported Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, a day after the Gaza- bound aid boat she and 11 other people were on was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean. Thunberg departed Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning on a flight to France after she agreed to be deported, the Israeli foreign ministry said. Upon arriv ing at an airport in Paris, Thunberg accused Israel of illegally kidnapping her and other activists on the boat while they were in international waters. France said five of the six French citizens detained alongside her had refused to sign their deportation orders and would now be subject to judicial proceedings . The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the activist group operating the yacht The Madleen, has demanded the immediate release of everyone detained. The vessel was intercepted early on Monday while the activists tried to deliver a "symbolic...