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Monday, September 8, 2025

Tag: spain
September 12, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics
War
World

This NATO ‘Ally’ Just Called China’s Dictator a ‘Defender of Peace.’

During an official state visit to China, a NATO member state leader praised Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, calling him a “defender of peace” in a statement on social media.

Spanish socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his admiration for the Chinese communist dictator on Monday, August 9, saying, “China and Spain are two friendly nations, defenders of peace and committed to the multilateral order.”

He added that his country and China were committed to tackling climate change, despite China’s extensive use of coal-fired power plants and the fact it is building more coal plants than the rest of the world.

Sanchez’s comments regarding China being a “defender of peace” come amid accusations that the Chinese are abetting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Beijing refusing to attend a peace conference in Switerzland in June as Russia was not invited.

The CCP has also been saber-rattling regarding Taiwan. Xi Jinping has explicitly told U.S. President Joe Biden that China and Taiwan would be unified, whether through diplomacy or force.

Earlier this year, Admiral John Aquilino, head of the Indo-Pacific Command, predicted that China could invade Taiwan as early as 2027, claiming the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is actively preparing for an invasion of the island.

“The PLA’s actions indicate their ability to meet Xi’s preferred timeline to unify Taiwan with mainland China by force if directed,” he told the U.S. House Armed Services Committee in March.

China has also demanded that the United States cease ties with the Taiwanese government following elections in January that saw anti-CCP and pro-independence candidates elected to office.

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During an official state visit to China, a NATO member state leader praised Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, calling him a "defender of peace" in a statement on social media. show more
September 8, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
World

New Amnesty Plan for 500K Illegals.

As Europe continues to see illegal migrant arrivals in the thousands per month, the deputy leader of a country at the forefront of the migration crisis has called for half a million illegals to be granted amnesty and residency.

Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz has demanded that 500,000 illegal immigrants be granted the ability to stay in her country, saying that there is a need to regularize illegal migrant workers, arguing that they currently do not have proper labor rights.

Diaz, who also serves as Minister of Labor under leftist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has called for immediate action.

The comments are largely in support of a citizens’ legislative initiative that calls on the government to grant amnesty to illegals who lived in Spain prior to November 1, 2021. The initiative garnered 700,000 signatures and the support of 900 NGOs.

Amnesty for illegal workers has broad support within the Spanish parliament, with only the populist party VOX stating opposition to it, as the party argues that it will only attract more people to Spain illegally.

Earlier this year, the party argued that Spain must not become like the UK, France, or Belgium, which is described as a failure of multiculturalism.

The amnesty would also come as Spain is seeing a massive surge in illegal migrant arrivals this year, up 143 percent in the Spanish African enclave Ceuta and 126 percent in the Spanish Canary Islands that lie off the West African coast.

The Canary Islands recorded 22,304 irregular arrivals from January to mid-August, as migrants are increasingly favoring the route to Spain over the central Mediterranean route to Italy this year.

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As Europe continues to see illegal migrant arrivals in the thousands per month, the deputy leader of a country at the forefront of the migration crisis has called for half a million illegals to be granted amnesty and residency. show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
It’s important to take heed of these stories and what happens in the English-speaking world because, as we know, the left is totally interconnected globally
for exclusive members-only insights
It’s important to take heed of these stories and what happens in the English-speaking world because, as we know, the left is totally interconnected globally show more
for exclusive members-only insights
August 20, 2024
Immigration
World

Illegal Immigration Is Up Over 100 Percent In These Western European Territories.

Illegal migrant arrivals from Africa surged to unprecedented levels in Spain during the first half of August. Data from the Spanish Interior Ministry shows a sharp increase of 126 percent in the Canary Islands, off the African coast, and a 143 percent rise in Ceuta, a Spanish exclave on the coast of North Africa.

In July, Fernando Clavijo—the Canary Islands’ regional leader from a coalition of center-right parties—appealed to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the European Union (EU) for urgent intervention regarding migration. From January to mid-August, the Canary Islands recorded 22,304 irregular arrivals, up 126.1 percent from the same period the previous year.

While the numbers are small compared to the millions of migrants penetrating the U.S. southern border, they are transformative for the islands’ relatively small population, which includes thousands of British and German retirees. The majority of the illegals originate from Mauritania and the Sahel region, spanning the southern Sahara from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Violence in the region, where American influence is waning under the Biden-Harris government, is spurring large movements of migrants.

From January to August, 31,155 illegal migrants arrived in Spain, representing a 66.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Most of these migrants, approximately 29,512 individuals, arrived by sea on small boats. Spain remains a critical entry point to the European Union (EU) for migrants, particularly those from West African countries navigating the dangerous Atlantic route to the Canary Islands and those seeking to break into the exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla through Morocco.

The growing migrant numbers have prompted calls for action from the leader of the opposition People’s Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who requested the government declare a “migratory emergency.” The populist VOX party also frequently criticizes Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s far-left government on border security.

Image via A. Rodriguez.

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Illegal migrant arrivals from Africa surged to unprecedented levels in Spain during the first half of August. Data from the Spanish Interior Ministry shows a sharp increase of 126 percent in the Canary Islands, off the African coast, and a 143 percent rise in Ceuta, a Spanish exclave on the coast of North Africa. show more
May 23, 2024
News
World

NO GO CONTINENT! U.S. State Dept. Declares Most of Western Europe Unsafe.

An analysis of the U.S. State Department‘s comprehensive list of global travel advisories reveals that the U.S. government believes a significant portion of the world, including much of Europe, is unsafe for Americans. The advisories categorize over 200 countries into four risk levels, which range from Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”) to Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”). Americans are to “exercise increased caution” in previously safe countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Level 4 advisories caution against travel to countries deemed extremely hazardous for Americans due to terrorism, civil unrest, and crime. As of May 2024, the U.S. government advises against travel to the following countries:

Afghanistan: With severe threats of terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul ceased operations in August 2021. The nation is now under Taliban control.
Belarus: The conflict in neighboring Ukraine and the presence of Russian military forces pose significant risks.
Burkina Faso: Areas in the East and Sahel regions face persistent terrorism and violent crime.
Central African Republic: Limited government control and widespread violent crime make travel particularly unsafe.
Haiti: Kidnappings and violent crime have led to the evacuation of non-emergency U.S. personnel from the Port-au-Prince embassy in July 2023. The main airport only recently resumed operations.
Israel and the West Bank: The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and terrorist activities pose high risks.
Myanmar: The 2021 military coup has led to ongoing armed conflict and civil unrest.
Russia: The invasion of Ukraine, along with reports of arbitrary detentions and harassment of U.S. citizens, makes travel highly dangerous.

Countries under Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisories are considered high-risk, where non-essential travel should be reconsidered. Key countries in this category include:

Mexico: States such as Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas are particularly dangerous.
Lebanon: Conflicts and the presence of militant groups render certain regions unsafe.
Colombia: Violent crime and terrorist activities are common in some regions.
Sudan: Military conflicts have resulted in severe civil unrest and humanitarian crises.

Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) advisories indicate various risks where travelers should be particularly vigilant. Notable examples include France, Spain, Germany, the U.K., and the Netherlands, all of which are on the list because of terrorism concerns.

Western European nations like Germany and the U.K. have seen a significant influx of Muslim migrants in the last decade. Many of these migrants and their children hold extremist views and are sympathetic towards terrorism.

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An analysis of the U.S. State Department's comprehensive list of global travel advisories reveals that the U.S. government believes a significant portion of the world, including much of Europe, is unsafe for Americans. The advisories categorize over 200 countries into four risk levels, which range from Level 1 ("Exercise Normal Precautions") to Level 4 ("Do Not Travel"). Americans are to "exercise increased caution" in previously safe countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain. show more
May 22, 2024
World

Ireland, Norway, Spain Recognize ‘Palestinian State.’

Ireland, Norway, and Spain have formally recognized the nonexistent state of Palestine. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris made the decision public in a statement on Wednesday. “Today, Ireland, Norway, and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine,” Harris said. “Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision.”

The move reflects a surge in diplomatic efforts within the United States and Europe to address the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The recognition of Palestinian statehood aligns with growing international sentiment favoring the Palestinians’ bid for sovereignty.

Palestinian statehood has already been recognized by over 130 out of 193 member states of the United Nations, according to information from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The recent announcements from Ireland, Norway, and Spain add to this significant international support.

The decision arrives amidst heightened tensions in the Gaza Strip, where conflict has recently intensified. The international community remains divided over the pathway to securing lasting peace in the region. Recognizing Palestinian statehood is viewed by some as a move that could potentially rebalance negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

Critics argue that recognizing Palestine outside of a mutually agreed-upon framework could undermine peace talks. However, proponents contend that it affirms Palestinians’ right to self-determination and could help facilitate substantive dialogue.

The U.S. has been rocked by widespread protests on college campuses in support of Palestinians in Gaza. The pro-Palestinian sentiment is a problem for the generally pro-Israel Biden government, which is trying to shore up the support of young people, Muslims, and Arab Americans ahead of the 2024 election. However, a recently released undercover video of a Biden White House staffer suggests that a second Biden term would be explicitly anti-Israel.

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Ireland, Norway, and Spain have formally recognized the nonexistent state of Palestine. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris made the decision public in a statement on Wednesday. "Today, Ireland, Norway, and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine," Harris said. "Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision." show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
For those who don’t know, before I made the transition (no, not that kind) into politics proper, I worked in foreign affairs, counter-terrorism, and counter-extremism
for exclusive members-only insights
For those who don’t know, before I made the transition (no, not that kind) into politics proper, I worked in foreign affairs, counter-terrorism, and counter-extremism show more
for exclusive members-only insights
March 23, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Immigration
News
World

Illegal Immigration to Europe Surges 541% via West African Route.

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, reports illegal immigration into Europe via the so-called West African route has surged by 541 percent over the last two months. This surge represents the highest count for the period since Frontex began collecting data in 2011.

Human trafficking outfits in Mauritania — infamous for not having criminalized slavery until 2007 and for allowing it to persist at scale outside the law — have been reportedly pushing sub-Saharan migrants through the country to the Canary Islands.

The Canaries, off the coast of West Africa, belong to Spain and therefore qualify as European Union (EU) soil. Migrants are reaching the islands in makeshift boats, known locally as “cayuco” boats, with many drowning due to their unseaworthiness.

The Eastern Mediterranean illegal immigration route from Turkey to Greece, meanwhile, saw a 117 percent increase in arrivals, while the Western Mediterranean route from North Africa to mainland Spain saw a 48 percent increase.

The Central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy has bucked the trend with a 70 percent drop, although this follows earlier record increases under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

However, Frontex does not appear particularly interested in helping EU governments protect their borders, with agency head Hans Leijtens urging governments to abandon the “narrative” of “stopping people” in January.

“Nothing can stop people from crossing a border, no wall, no fence, no sea, no river,” he claimed.

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The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, reports illegal immigration into Europe via the so-called West African route has surged by 541 percent over the last two months. This surge represents the highest count for the period since Frontex began collecting data in 2011. show more
March 9, 2024
Culture
News
World

‘On the Inside, I Am a Lesbian’ – Soldiers Change Gender to Get Better Pay.

Male soldiers in Spain have reportedly begun changing their gender, aiming to earn benefits exclusive to females. These benefits include higher pay and better sleeping quarters, with males seeking to exploit a 2023 law on “self-identification” to obtain them.

Forty-one males in Spain’s Ceuta, an autonomous exclave on the coast of North Africa, have reclassified as female. However, few of these individuals have even altered their names, and most have retained their male physical traits. Army Corporal Roberto Perdigones explained: “On the outside, I feel like a heterosexual man, but on the inside, I am a lesbian, and it is the latter that counts.” He added that after changing his gender, his pension and salary have increased “to compensate for inequality,” and he has a private room in the barracks.

The Spanish legislation, adopted on December 22, 2022, under the far-left Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, permits individuals aged 14 and over to change their gender without psychological or medical assessments. Those between 14 and 16 require parental or guardian consent, and those aged 12 to 13 also require judicial approval.

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Male soldiers in Spain have reportedly begun changing their gender, aiming to earn benefits exclusive to females. These benefits include higher pay and better sleeping quarters, with males seeking to exploit a 2023 law on “self-identification” to obtain them. show more
March 7, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Culture
News

Doritos Drops Trans Ambassador With Pedo Posts Following Backlash.

Doritos has dropped ‘Samantha Hudson,’ born Iván González Ranedo, as a brand ambassador after public outcry over the transgender influencer’s history of pedophilic online posts resulted in the hashtag #BoycottDoritos being shared widely on X.

Doritos, produced by PepsiCo subsidiary Frito-Lay, faced fierce criticism for partnering with Hudson in Spain. He was not only a far-left activist, having said he seeks “the destruction and annihilation of the traditional family,” but had a disturbing history of lewd posts about pre-teen children.

Writing in Spanish, Hudson declared he wanted to “thuggish” or “depraved” things to a 12-year-old in one of the posts. In another, he wrote about “screaming that I’m a nymphomaniac in front of a super beautiful 8-year-old girl” in the middle of the street “in panties.”

“We recently created a content series with Samantha Hudson, a local influencer. After the campaign started, we were made aware of Samantha’s deleted Tweets from around 2015,” Doritos Spain said in a statement on the terminated partnership.

“We have ended the relationship and stopped all related campaign activity due to the comments. We strongly condemn words or actions that promote violence or sexism of any kind,” they added.

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Doritos has dropped ‘Samantha Hudson,’ born Iván González Ranedo, as a brand ambassador after public outcry over the transgender influencer’s history of pedophilic online posts resulted in the hashtag #BoycottDoritos being shared widely on X. show more
populist
December 14, 2023
World

Spanish Populist Leader Referred to Prosecutors for Saying Socialist Prime Minister May Be ‘Strung Up’.

Spain’s governing Socialist Party has instructed prosecutors to investigate Santiago Abascal, leader of the populist Vox party. Abascal had said a time might come when Spaniards would want to see Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez “strung up by his feet.”

The Socialists say Abascal’s comments were “an incitement to hatred and even violence” and “a serious breach of coexistence and the constitutional order.” They accused Abascal of alluding to the fate of Benito Mussolini. The Fascist leader was murdered by Italian communists and hung upside down in a public square in 1945.

Sanchez is accused by Vox and establishment conservatives of retaining power via a “coup d’état”. He placed second in the Spanish elections this year, but cut deals with smaller leftist parties and Catalan separatists. This meant offering pardons to Carles Puigdemont, Catalonia’s former regional president, and other separatist leaders. They were previously wanted for staging an insurrection in 2017, and lived in exile.

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Spain's governing Socialist Party has instructed prosecutors to investigate Santiago Abascal, leader of the populist Vox party. Abascal had said a time might come when Spaniards would want to see Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez "strung up by his feet." show more
November 29, 2023
UK

Saudi Arabia Buys 10% of UK’s Heathrow Airport.

Saudi Arabia‘s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to acquire a ten percent stake in Britain’s Heathrow Airport from Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial and an additional 15 percent in the airport’s parent company, FGP Topco, from French-based private equity fund Ardian.

The £2.37 billion ($3 billion) transaction announced by Ferrovial is still subject to regulatory approval. If successful, this would conclude Ferrovial’s investment in the UK airports’ operator, which initially held a 56 percent stake in 2006, reduced to 25 percent by 2013.

The airport has been incurring financial losses this year due to high borrowing costs on its debt. The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to reduce passenger charges — contributing to terminals, runways, baggage systems, and security expenditures — is a significant factor.

The reduction brings the average charge per passenger at Heathrow in 2023 from £31.57 to £25.43 in 2024, staying constant till 2026. Heathrow executives had hoped to raise charges to over £40, while airlines suggested a cap of around £18.50.

The PIF, one of the world’s most active sovereign wealth funds, with assets exceeding $700 billion, reflects Saudi Arabia’s continuing global investments across various sectors despite international concern over the kingdom‘s human rights record.

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Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to acquire a ten percent stake in Britain's Heathrow Airport from Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial and an additional 15 percent in the airport's parent company, FGP Topco, from French-based private equity fund Ardian. show more