Barcelona

Children stand in front of the building of the Peruvian Congress as part of a call to demand accountability for cancer patients in Peru, September 2023.

Desperate cancer patients in Peru look for options across the Atlantic

In Peru, cancer patients are facing enormous challenges to be able to survive. The situation is especially dire for children with leukemia. Many die because they couldn’t get access to treatment in time. More and more parents are seeking help in Spain.

Desperate cancer patients in Peru look for options across the Atlantic
The main rule of "walking soccer" is no running.

‘Walking soccer’ trend in Spain keeps people of all ages in the game

‘Walking soccer’ trend in Spain keeps people of all ages in the game
Montserrat Abbey’s mixed Escoliana choir has young women and men. They’ll sing the liturgy one weekend a month, so that the regular all-boys choir can have some time off with family.

Spain all-boys choir finds a new tune and admits girls

Spain all-boys choir finds a new tune and admits girls
People affected by an earthquake camp outside their homes, in Moulay Brahim village, near Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. 

'Organizing chaos': Moroccans in Spain send aid convoys home after devastating earthquake

'Organizing chaos': Moroccans in Spain send aid convoys home after devastating earthquake
shack

Formerly homeless American in Barcelona helps others get off the streets

Formerly homeless American in Barcelona helps others get off the streets
portrait photo of a woman

'She is the evolution of reggaeton': The rise of trans Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano

Puerto Rican rapper Villano Antillano is a leading voice in a new generation of LGBTQ artists subverting traditional gender norms in reggaeton and reclaiming the political roots of the genre.

'She is the evolution of reggaeton': The rise of trans Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano
Screenshot from "Cape Flats Kung Fu" by Eavesdrop.

'Planet Hip Hop': The music will always be the voice of the people, Samy Alim says

As we wrap up “Planet Hip Hop,” our summer series celebrating 50 years of hip-hop music around the world, H. Samy Alim returns to talk with host Marco Werman about the next 50 years. Alim is an anthropology professor and the director of the Hip Hop Initiative at UCLA. 

'Planet Hip Hop': The music will always be the voice of the people, Samy Alim says
Woman takes a picture of a sunset at a park.

Barcelona gets bombarded by selfie-taking tourists

Spain’s on the rebound with tourism after huge losses during the pandemic. Those in the tourism business are relieved. But visitors are back with a vengeance and they’re not always well-behaved, irking locals who miss the quieter days.

Barcelona gets bombarded by selfie-taking tourists
man on sidewalk

Catalan separatists want university classes taught in the local language. Spanish academics resist the change. 

​​​​​​​Language has always been at the heart of the Catalan people’s campaign for independence. And the regional government is once again demanding that university professors teach their courses in Catalan. But does the Catalan-language law further the nationalist cause, or leave the region more isolated? Professors are already rebelling. 

Catalan separatists want university classes taught in the local language. Spanish academics resist the change. 
Woman performing on stage

Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival grows even larger

Music festivals are ever-expanding enterprises, adding new locations and dates, even if they're repeating the same line-up.

Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival grows even larger
stadium

New Kings and Queens soccer leagues enlist internet stars to revamp sport

The game is loosely based on soccer, but immersed in video game culture and reality TV antics. In Barcelona, Spain, the second season of the Kings League kicks off the first weekend of May alongside the first season of the Queens League. This summer, the Prince Cup will launch for kids ages 9 to 11.

New Kings and Queens soccer leagues enlist internet stars to revamp sport
storefront

Some of the world’s biggest clothing makers want to sell you their clothes — twice 

​​​​​​​Big, fast-fashion brands have traditionally ignored the second-hand market, but it’s grown too large not to get into the game. H&M and Spanish clothing giant Zara are leading a new trend, opening portals where customers can sell and buy their used, brand-specific shirts and skirts. The companies say they’re joining the circular economy but critics call it greenwashing. 

Some of the world’s biggest clothing makers want to sell you their clothes — twice 
The Sagrada Familia, with its incomplete Glory facade, faces an apartment complex that could get demolished if construction plans go through.

Barcelona residents in limbo over Sagrada Familía construction plans

The Sagrada Familía church, designed 140 years ago by architect Antoni Gaudí, is still under construction. Now, plans to finally construct its front entrance have sparked controversy due to its potential impact on nearby residential neighborhoods.

Barcelona residents in limbo over Sagrada Familía construction plans
people at barbershop

A spike in ringworm cases in Spain leads to a surprising culprit: the barbershop

​​​​​​​A ringworm outbreak among Spanish teens has been traced back to barbershops and a fashionable haircut: the fade. Spanish dermatologists blame dirty electric razors.

A spike in ringworm cases in Spain leads to a surprising culprit: the barbershop
Antonio Trujillo holds a cigarette while resting on a bench, in Pamplona, northern Spain

Big tobacco is forced to pay for cigarette butt pollution in Spain, but smokers may soon be on the hook

They’re tiny, they’re toxic, they’re everywhere. Cigarette butts are a huge source of pollution in Spain and lawmakers have said, enough. They're ordering cigarette makers to pay for the cleanup, but smokers worry they’ll end up footing the bill.

Big tobacco is forced to pay for cigarette butt pollution in Spain, but smokers may soon be on the hook