German parents of Spanish ‘house of horrors’ released, Spanish PM to visit Algeria in bid to mend ties, cow destroys butcher’s shop in Spanish village and more news on Tuesday July 14th.
German parents of Spanish ‘house of horrors’ released
A German couple who kept their three children isolated for almost three and a half years in a house on the outskirts of the northern city of Oviedo, dubbed by Spanish media as ‘the house of horrors’, will be released immediately.
This comes after the High Court of Justice of Asturias (TSJA) reviewed their sentence and acquitted them of the crimes of psychological abuse and annulled the precautionary measures adopted.
Last May, the Provincial Court sentenced the parents to two years and four months in prison for a crime of habitual psychological abuse in the family setting, and another six months in prison for a crime of family abandonment, while acquitting them of the charge of illegal detention.
The parents, a 53-year-old German man and a 48-year-old woman with dual German and American nationality, had also been disqualified for three years and four months from exercising parental authority or guardianship, during which time they could not communicate with their children either.
The High Court of Justice of Asturias (TSJA), however, has partially upheld the appeal filed by the parents’ defence, maintaining only their six-month prison sentence for the crime of family abandonment of family.
Therefore, the parents will be able to leave the Asturias Penitentiary Centre soon, according to judicial sources.
Spanish PM to visit Algeria in bid to mend ties
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to Algeria next week for an official visit aimed at ending years of tensions between the two countries over the Western Sahara dispute, his office said on Monday.
The visit on July 20th will be Sánchez’s first trip to Algeria since relations deteriorated in 2022 after Madrid shifted its longstanding position of neutrality on Western Sahara and backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed territory.
Spain’s move was part of a diplomatic rapprochement with Morocco, ending its decades of ambiguity on the issue but angering Algeria, which supports the pro-independence Polisario Front, which opposes Rabat’s claim over the former Spanish colony.
Western Sahara, a mineral-rich desert territory with significant phosphate reserves and fishing resources, was controlled by Spain until 1975.
Morocco now controls most of the territory but the United Nations considers it a non-self-governing territory pending a final settlement.
In response to the policy shift in Madrid, Algeria suspended a 2002 friendship treaty with Spain and restricted trade ties between the two countries.
Relations have gradually improved since 2025, with commercial exchanges beginning to recover.
Cow destroys butcher’s shop in Spanish village
The village of Lardero in the northern La Rioja region saw a bizarre incident take place over the weekend in which a cow crashed through the window of a local butcher’s shop and destroyed everything in its path.
It may seem like a case of bovine revenge, but the animal formed part of a bull run being held during local festivities, a common tradition in many Spanish villages and towns, not just at Pamplona’s famous San Fermín bull runs.
Owner Yolanda Cueva said she was grateful that cleaning staff had taken their coffee break at the time the cow smashed through the shop window.
Footage of the incident showed participants tie a rope around the animal’s horn and pull it to encourage it to jump out of the window it had come through.
Even though bull runs don’t involve killing the animals as in the case of bullfighting, many do meet their demise in the bull ring after. Animal rights groups strongly condemn bull runs and associated events, viewing them as cruel and exploitative.
Spain among European countries joining Ukraine in anti-ballistic missile coalition
Nine European countries and Ukraine on Monday announced the formation of a coalition to develop “purely defensive” anti-ballistic capabilities in Europe, citing the growing threat of ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Paris on Monday for a meeting of Kyiv’s allies to reaffirm support for the country and step up pressure on Russia to end the war, now well into its fifth year.
“We believe that the protection of Europe, requires a global solution of integrated missile defence architecture to deter and defeat future missile threats,” said the joint declaration by Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
“By bringing together our defence industrial base, our research, and our operational experience, we aim to build a shared anti-ballistic missile capacity for Europe,” it said.
With additional reporting by AFP.
