News

Spain shifts strategy on African migration

Published

3 years ago

June 28, 2022

Reuters

Spain is shifting its foreign policy towards Africa while lobbying the EU and NATO for support to address migration from the continent, aggravated by the Ukraine invasion, two senior government officials and two diplomatic sources told Reuters.

They were trying to reach Europe, and some paid with their lives.

The deaths of at least 23 people as they tried to cross into Spain’s North African enclave Melilla on Friday (June 24) is a grim reminder of the perils of migration, that also include dangerous sea crossings.

However Spain is hoping a new strategy will help keep migrants from danger, says foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares.

“We cannot allow the Mediterranean, through Libya, Morocco and other countries, the Atlantic, the route between Africa and the Canary Islands, to become enormous tombs where every year thousands of human beings die when all they aspire to is a better life.”

Parts of Africa are facing a hunger crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, which has disrupted grain exports.

Moscow denies responsibility for the food crisis, blaming Western sanctions.

Two diplomatic sources said Spain, its southern neighbors, and EU officials are increasingly worried the situation will trigger chaotic migration from the Sahel and sub-Saharan regions.

They say numbers are already on the rise.

Even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a “special military operation”, Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had revived a policy mothballed by previous governments, according to two officials close to him.

It centers on working with African partners to contain migration and to tackle root causes such as instability and climate change.

“We are looking for good relations with all the neighbours around us and jointly managing phenomena that no one, not even the most powerful state on the planet, can deal with on its own.”

The two diplomatic sources said Spain will use a NATO summit in Madrid this week to press its case and is likely to ask for increased intelligence sharing, including on issues related to migration.

It also wants to secure a commitment for better policies on “hybrid threats” including the possibility that irregular migration is used as a political pressure tactic by hostile actors.

The government has also sent a bill to parliament that would mark a significant expansion of existing funding for migration control to eight African countries.

However, human rights groups and migration advocates say Spain’s quest to outsource enforcement has put vulnerable people in the hands of security forces in countries with a history of abuses and heavy-handed policing.

The deaths on Friday, which were protested in Madrid at the weekend, came after clashes with Moroccan security forces when around 2,000 people tried to cross into Melilla.

A Moroccan official said security personnel had not used undue force.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights and Spanish migration charity Walking Borders said on Saturday (June 25) the incident was a “tragic symbol of European policies of externalizing borders of the EU”.

Sanchez’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

News

Trump lands in Saudi Arabia for major deals

Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia, launching a four-day Middle East tour focused on economic deals, welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Published

16 hours ago

May 14, 2025

ticker NEWS

Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia, launching a four-day Middle East tour focused on economic deals, welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

President Trump has officially landed in Saudi Arabia, kicking off a high-stakes four-day tour across the Middle East aimed at major economic wins.

Welcomed personally by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump’s arrival signals the start of key discussions with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

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News

S&P 500 rebounds as Nvidia boosts tech shares

S&P 500 rebounds as Nvidia boosts tech shares amid easing U.S.-China trade tensions and softer inflation data.

Published

20 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Ahron Young

S&P 500 rebounds as Nvidia boosts tech shares amid easing U.S.-China trade tensions and softer inflation data.

In Short:
The S&P 500 rose 1% on Tuesday, buoyed by improving U.S.-China trade relations and strong performances from companies like Nvidia. Despite some concerns about high valuations, analysts showed cautious optimism for continued market growth due to positive economic data and government investments.

The S&P 500 rose on Tuesday, returning to positive territory for the year as easing U.S.-China trade tensions boosted investor confidence.

The index gained 1%, with the Nasdaq Composite increasing 1.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 166 points, or 0.3%, due to an 18% drop in UnitedHealth shares.

Nvidia’s stock led the market, advancing 6% after announcing the shipment of 18,000 artificial intelligence chips to Saudi Arabia. This news positively impacted peer companies such as Broadcom and AMD, which increased by around 4%.

Following this rally, the S&P 500 is now up 0.2% for 2025, after previously being down over 17% due to trade uncertainties. The market responded positively to news of a 90-day tariff pause between the U.S. and China, which contributed to a significant surge in stock prices.

Market analysts noted that improved sentiment stems from several factors, including the chip deal, easing inflation pressures, and anticipated tax cuts. The White House also announced a $600 billion investment in the U.S. economy.

In addition to the trade news, softer-than-expected inflation data in April, which reported a 2.3% increase in the consumer price index, further energised the market. Economists had predicted a 2.4% rate.

Investment experts express cautious optimism, acknowledging ongoing concerns surrounding high valuations and market concentration, but suggest that current data may lead to continued market growth in the short term.

News

Trump may accept Qatari jet as the new Air Force One

Trump administration considers Qatari royal jet as potential temporary Air Force One, raising diplomatic and ethical concerns.

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2025

ticker NEWS

Trump administration considers Qatari royal jet as potential temporary Air Force One, raising diplomatic and ethical concerns.

The Trump administration is reportedly in talks with Qatar to use a royal aircraft as a potential temporary Air Force One.

The jet — owned by the Qatari royal family — would be retrofitted for presidential use and could be offered as a gift during Trump’s term, with the possibility of it being used again as part of his future presidential library.

While no final decision has been made, the deal raises logistical, diplomatic, and ethical questions around foreign gifts, presidential travel, and how Trump may symbolically separate himself from traditional norms.

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