Spain's ex-king attends regatta on brief visit home / Photo: BRAIS LORENZO - AFP
-
Ukraine scrambles for energy with power generation at 'zero'
-
India mega-zoo in spotlight again over animal acquisitions
-
Messi leads Miami into MLS Cup playoff matchup with Cincinnati
-
Tornado kills six, injures 750 as it wrecks southern Brazil town
-
Minnesota outlasts Seattle to advance in MLS Cup playoffs
-
Marseille go top in Ligue 1 as Lens thrash Monaco
-
Fourteen-man South Africa fight back to beat France
-
Atletico, Villarreal win to keep pressure on Liga giants
-
Chelsea down Wolves to ease criticism of Maresca's rotation policy
-
England's Genge eager to face All Blacks after Fiji win
-
Wasteful Milan draw at Parma but level with Serie A leaders Napoli
-
Fire kills six at Turkish perfume warehouse
-
Djokovic pulls out of ATP Finals with shoulder injury
-
Rybakina outguns world No.1 Sabalenka to win WTA Finals
-
Norris survives a slip to seize Sao Paulo pole
-
Sunderland snap Arsenal's winning run in Premier League title twist
-
England see off Fiji to make it nine wins in a row
-
Australia connection gives Italy stunning win over Wallabies
-
Arsenal winning run ends in Sunderland draw, De Ligt rescues Man Utd
-
Griezmann double earns Atletico battling win over Levante
-
Title-leader Norris grabs Sao Paulo Grand Prix pole
-
Djokovic edges Musetti to win 101st career title in Athens
-
Rybakina downs world No.1 Sabalenka to win WTA Finals
-
McKenzie ends Scotland dream of first win over New Zealand
-
McKenzie stars as New Zealand inflict heartbreak upon Scotland
-
De Ligt rescues Man Utd in Spurs draw, Arsenal aim to extend lead
-
Kane saves Bayern but record streak ends at Union
-
Bolivia's new president takes over, inherits economic mess
-
Edwards set for Wolves job after Middlesbrough allow talks
-
COP30: Indigenous peoples vital to humanity's future, Brazilian minister tells AFP
-
Marquez wins Portuguese MotoGP sprint race
-
Saim, Abrar star in Pakistan's ODI series win over South Africa
-
Norris extends title lead in Sao Paulo GP sprint after Piastri spin
-
Man Utd have room to 'grow', says Amorim after Spurs setback
-
Tornado kills six, wrecks town in Brazil
-
Norris wins Sao Paulo GP sprint, Piastri spins out
-
Ireland scramble to scrappy win over Japan
-
De Ligt rescues draw for Man Utd after Tottenham turnaround
-
Israel identifies latest hostage body, as families await five more
-
England's Rai takes one-shot lead into Abu Dhabi final round
-
Tornado kills five, injures more than 400 in Brazil
-
UPS, FedEx ground MD-11 cargo planes after deadly crash
-
Luis Enrique not rushing to recruit despite key PSG trio's absence
-
Flick demands more Barca 'fight' amid injury crisis
-
Israel names latest hostage body, as families await five more
-
Title-chasing Evans cuts gap on Ogier at Rally Japan
-
Russian attack hits Ukraine energy infrastructure: Kyiv
-
Kagiyama tunes up for Olympics with NHK Trophy win
-
Indonesia probes student after nearly 100 hurt in school blasts
-
UPS grounds its MD-11 cargo planes after deadly crash
NYSE - LSE
Spain's ex-king attends regatta on brief visit home
Spain's former king attended a regatta in the northwestern Galicia region Friday on a controversial first trip home after nearly two years in exile following a string of financial scandals.
Although prosecutors have closed their probes into Juan Carlos I's affairs, revelations about the murky origins of his fortune have done irreparable damage to a figure once revered for his role in Spain's democratic transition after decades of dictatorship.
Pulling up to the sailing club in the resort town of Sanxenxo, the 84-year-old -- who flew in from Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening -- was greeted by dozens of well-wishers, and a crowd of journalists.
As he got out of the car wearing a white top, cream gilet and salmon slacks and began shaking hands with supporters, there were cries of "Long live the king!"
But there were also a few cries of dissent with one man shouting "scoundrel" -- a possible reference to the financial scandals that prompted Juan Carlos to move to Abu Dhabi in self-imposed exile in August 2020.
Hobbling along with his cane and holding onto the arm of an aide, the ex-monarch beamed as he greeted the crew of his yacht, the "Bribon" -- Spanish for "rascal".
The six-metre (20-foot) racing yacht is the same vessel with which he and his crew won the world sailing title in 2017 and 2019.
It was unclear whether he would be joining them aboard for the race. He has not sailed for some three years, Spain's RTVE public television said.
The former monarch will stay with a close friend in Sanxenxo until Monday when he travels to Madrid for a brief visit with his wife Sofia, his son King Felipe VI and other family members.
He will leave for Abu Dhabi later on Monday, the palace said.
News of the disgraced former king's impending arrival sparked a backlash earlier this week.
"There is no longer any legal or judicial reason to stop the king emeritus from travelling to Spain but there are a wealth of ethical grounds that explain the commotion this has caused," an El Pais editorial said on Thursday.
"Anyone returning to Spain with a record like king Juan Carlos I would be arrested and prosecuted as soon as they crossed the border" it tweeted.
P.Mathewson--AMWN
