Spain

MADRID - Like thousands before him, Oufame Mdiay left Senegal in search of work and a better future. Taking his life in his hands, he spent a week in a cramped boat with nearly 130 others who recently made the Atlantic journey from Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands, 100 kilometers off the coast of Morocco. “I want to find work here as there is nothing for me back in Senegal. I came with my four brothers,” he told VOA from his temporary new home on the island of Gran Canaria. The 19-year-old is learning Spanish while he waits to find out if his claim for asylum will be successful – or he will be deported back to Senegal. Cleared of Reports of Turning Back Migrants, Frontex, the European Union’s Border Agency, Faces More Scrutiny Frontex is an increasingly powerful agency that monitors the 27-nation bloc's external borders Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will make the reverse journey, traveling from Madrid to Senegal and Angola starting Wednesday - … [Read more...] about Spain Looks to Africa for Ways to Curb Migrant Influx

MADRID - Two young Senegalese men met on a Europe-bound migrant boat in 2006, a year that saw a record influx of Africans to Spain's Canary Islands. Since then, one died of a heart attack running away from Spanish police and the other is running in a polarized election Tuesday for a seat in Madrid's regional assembly. Serigne Mbaye not only wants to fight what he considers to be “structural racism” against African migrants but also to defy a history of underrepresentation of the Black community and other people of color in Spanish politics. “That’s where all discrimination begins,” the 45-year-old told The Associated Press. In 2018, having failed to secure legal work and a residence permit, the man he met on the boat — Mame Mbaye, no relation — died of a heart attack eluding a police crackdown on street vendors. After that, Serigne Mbaye, who at the time represented a group of mostly Black African hawkers, became one of the most vocal voices against Spain’s Alien Law, saying … [Read more...] about Black Candidate Challenges Political Status Quo in Spain

Pablo Iglesias, a far-left former host on Iranian state television who served recently as Spain’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, often translated to English as “vice president,” announced his retirement from politics late Tuesday after a crushing defeat in Madrid’s regional elections. Iglesias quit his post as the second most powerful person in Spain’s parliament, second to socialist President Pedro Sánchez, in March to announce that he would run as the leading candidate for his socialist party, Podemos (“We Can”), in Madrid’s regional legislative elections, challenging center-right Popular Party (PP) Madrid legislature president Isabel Díaz Ayuso for leadership of the body. Iglesias, who has spoken favorably of mass murderer Mao Zedong and been accused of receiving funding from late Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chávez, came in last place in his personal election. Ayuso, running against him, received more votes than all leftist candidates combined . The PP won a resounding … [Read more...] about Spain: Communist Ex-VP and Former Iranian TV Host Pablo Iglesias Retires from Politics

Spanish authorities have charged three alleged radical Islamic extremists who threatened the lives of French citizens in response to the publishing of the Mohammed cartoons by the magazine Charlie Hebdo . The three alleged extremists are accused of having posted various messages encouraging terrorism and violence against French citizens on social media in response to the republishing of the Mohammed cartoons in October. The young men were arrested in the early morning of Tuesday in the city of Granada, Andalusia, and all are considered “extremely radicalised”, according to a report from the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia . On Thursday, the trio was remanded into custody after a hearing in Spain’s National Court, which deals with major crimes such as terrorism cases. The men are said to have managed various social media accounts with up to 19,000 followers between them, and police believe that the three Muslims were aware of how to tailor their message to reach a … [Read more...] about Spain: Alleged Jihadists Charged over Online Threats to French Citizens

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for May 2 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Two young Senegalese men met on a Europe -bound migrant boat in 2006, a year that saw a record influx of Africans to Spain’s Canary Islands. Since then, one died of a heart attack running away from Spanish police and the other is running in a polarized election Tuesday for a seat in Madrid’s regional assembly. Serigne Mbaye not only wants to fight what he considers to be "structural racism" against African migrants but also to defy a history of underrepresentation of the Black community and other people of color in Spanish politics. "That’s where all discrimination begins," the 45-year-old told The Associated Press. In 2018, having failed to secure legal work and a residence permit, the man he met on the boat — Mame Mbaye, no relation — died of a heart attack eluding a police crackdown on street vendors. … [Read more...] about Black candidate challenges political status quo in Spain