IT’S being billed as the battle of the Summit Queen versus the Polish Twins.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s one-day visit to Spain today is meant to smooth over a three-year downturn in relations between Washington and Madrid.

Ruling Socialists and opposition conservatives in Spain fought to a virtual tie in local elections, highlighting deep divisions in a country torn over its Basque conflict, terrorism and other issues.

The Council of Europe today launched a campaign to eliminate violence against women, calling for such human rights abuses to be criminalised, victims protected and perpetrators punished.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will visit emergency service crews fighting 110 forest fires in north-west Spain today, officials said.

European Union leaders today welcomed the announcement of a cease-fire by the Basque separatist group Eta, but did not immediately indicate if the group might be removed from the EU’s terrorist blacklist.

The French were today wrapping up a tumultuous and divisive campaign about the future of Europe and France’s place in it.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced today that Spain would send 650 troops, a hospital ship, five planes, two helicopters and a water treatment plant to help international relief efforts in parts of Indonesia hit by last week’s tsunami.

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday sought to play down the significance of a letter from 52 former top diplomats that delivered a damning indictment of his stand on Iraq and the Middle East.

Spain has completed the withdrawal of its peacekeeping troops from Iraq, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said today.

Poland may follow Spain’s example and pull its troops out of Iraq.

President George Bush gave a chilly reception to Spain’s new leader, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, when the pair spoke on the telephone yesterday.

EU monetary affairs commissioner Pedro Solbes yesterday said that he has accepted the post of Finance Minister in Spain's incoming Socialist government, following a meeting with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.