This week’s top stories from EL PAÍS English Edition

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English Edition Dear readers, Andalusia took a step closer to getting a Popular Party government this week, a historic change that will see the end of 36 years of uninterrupted Socialist Party rule. Elsewhere, Spain once again took in a migrant ship, with theOpen Armsdocking in Algeciras on Friday after having been rejected by both Italy and Malta. And there was an update in the ongoing saga of the exhumation of former dictator Francisco Franco, as details of a government report emerged, including the reasons why they will not allow the body of the former dictator to be reburied in the central Madrid La Almudena cathedral. We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from the EL PAÍS English Edition. Thanks for reading, and a very Happy New Year. Simon Hunter Editor El País English Edition Iberia is a key concern in terms of Brexit. / U. M. Spanish government finalizing plans ahead of a possible hard Brexit Madrid will launch a battery of measures in January aimed at softening the effects of the United Kingdom crashing out of the European Union in March without a deal Security reasons cited to prevent reburial of Franco in Madrid cathedral The Socialist Party government is trying to stop the former dictator from being moved to the center of Madrid, in line with his family's wishes Popular Party takes step closer to power in Andalusia with Ciudadanos deal The conservatives today supported the center-right group's bid to take control of the speaker's committee in parliament, paving the way for their candidate to stand as premier Andrea Sicignano after the attack. / Facebook American student attacked and raped in Madrid neighborhood of Aluche "I was sure he was going to kill me," writes Andrea Sicignano in a Facebook post about her attacker, who has been detained by the police and identified by the victim 'Open Arms' rescue ship arrives in Spain with more than 300 migrants on board The vessel, which is carrying 139 minors, had been refused permission to dock by Italy and Malta before getting the go-ahead from the Spanish authorities Civil Guard offers update in Laura Luelmo murder investigation The authorities believe that the Huelva neighbor of the 26-year-old teacher, Bernardo Montoya, kidnapped and killed her on the day that she disappeared A screen grab of the incident. / Es racismo Woman's racist rant to Madrid store clerk goes viral Organization Es Racismo denounces incident, in which a Spanish woman assumes the man is not Spanish due to the color of his skin, and threatens to have his passport taken away This bullfighting hipster was involved in a serious controversy earlier this year. / Getty The English Edition's most-read articles of 2018: Part 1 From controversial advice on how to be Spanish to political corruption and window blinds, these are some of the stories that attracted the most traffic this year The formation in Calabozo, Gran Canaria. / A. M. A. / R. M. The curious Canary Islands rock formation that took just decades to settle A chance discovery on Gran Canaria has captured the attention of scientists, who believe that this "mini Pamukkale" was formed thanks to an old rudimentary irrigation system Cristina Cartes inside the European Parliament. / Delmi Álvarez The Spanish migrants who want to go home (but not at any price) Madrid is working on a plan to bring back people who left during the crisis, but the labor market is still not attractive enough Patrons in a bar in Granada. / Getty Legal loophole sees smoking return to Spanish bars, thanks to the hookah Many youngsters are unaware of the health risks of smoke from these water pipes, which can be carcinogenic and contain other toxic substances, according to the World Health Organization Forest fire in León. / Greenpeace / Pedro Armestre In photos: How climate change is affecting Spain From drought to rising temperatures and severe storms, the effect of global warming is having a major effect on the country's climate and environment The Spanish man who insisted on biking through Siberia, and nearly froze to death Andrés Abián was saved at the last minute by three passing Russians who pulled him out of his tent and rushed him to the hospital The well in Valderrubio. / F. R. House that inspired one of Lorca's most famous works opened to public When he was a child, the poet and playwright would eavesdrop on the home of Frasquita Alba, providing the inspiration for what would become 'The House of Bernarda Alba' CARTOONS El Roto Thanks readers! Sign up for more newsletters from EL PAÍS » You have received this communication because you have registered with EL PAÍS and you have subscribed to the ENGLISH EDITION editorial newsletter. If you believe you have received this message due to an error or you want to stop receiving this bulletin at the email address tworaho.mail18@blogger.com, you can unsubscribe. In addition, you can change your preferences by accessing your profile. At any time you can exercise your rights to access, rectify, cancel or object via post by writing to EDICIONES EL PAÍS, at the following address: Miguel Yuste, 40. 28037; or by writing to PROMOTORA DE INFORMACIONES, S.A. 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