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Three held in Spain over Vinicius Jr racial abuse during match

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Three individuals have been arrested by Spanish police in connection with racist abuse aimed at Real Madrid footballer Vinicius Jr during a recent match. The detained individuals are between the ages of 18 and 21, as reported by the police on Twitter. Vinicius Jr, who is black, has been subjected to racist abuse on multiple occasions throughout the season, and the latest incident during an away match against Valencia has sparked outrage in Spain and Brazil.

During the match, Vinicius reported the abusive behavior of opposition fans to the referee, leading to a temporary pause in the game. Following the match, Vinicius expressed his frustration, stating that “La Liga belongs to racists.” La Liga president Javier Tebas responded on Twitter, mentioning that Vinicius had failed to attend two meetings to discuss how the league could address racism and suggesting that proper information is necessary before criticizing and slandering La Liga. On the other hand, Luis Rubiales, the football federation chief, acknowledged that Spanish football has a serious racism problem that affects not only an individual but also entire teams, fan bases, clubs, and the country as a whole.

Spanish prosecutors will now determine whether to initiate a criminal investigation into the matter. The Brazilian government has expressed its outrage at the incident and has requested urgent meetings with Spanish ministers, prosecutors, and the football federation.

In a separate incident in January, four individuals were detained by Spanish police for hanging an effigy of Vinicius from a bridge in Madrid before a match between Real Madrid and their local rivals, Atletico Madrid. The effigy was suspended by its neck with a banner stating, “Madrid hates Real.”

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Spanish Football has Racism Problem, says Madrid Boss

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Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has spoken out against racism in La Liga after being subjected to racial abuse by opposition fans during a match against Valencia. Vinicius was sent off for violent conduct during the game, but his main concern was the racism he experienced. He took to Instagram to express his frustration, stating that racism is normalized in La Liga and that the championship now belongs to racists. He apologized to the Spaniards who do not agree with his view but stated that in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists due to the incidents that occur regularly in the league.

Valencia has identified two fans who racially abused Vinicius and is expected to impose permanent stadium bans on them. La Liga has promised to investigate the incidents and take appropriate legal action if necessary. The league’s president, Javier Tebas, criticized Vinicius for not attending a meeting to discuss the issue of racism, but the player responded by asking for actions and punishments against the racists rather than targeting him.

During the match, Vinicius attempted to point out the fans who were abusing him, leading to a temporary pause in the game. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his disappointment, stating that the entire stadium chanting racist slurs is unacceptable, and the match should have been stopped. Ancelotti called for an end to racism in football and said that Vinicius’ reaction was understandable given the circumstances.

Real Madrid issued a statement condemning the racist abuse suffered by Vinicius and filed a complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office, considering such attacks as hate crimes. They are seeking an investigation to determine the responsible parties.

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Real Madrid Win First Copa del Rey Since 2014

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Real Madrid claimed the Copa del Rey title after defeating Osasuna in the final in Seville, with Brazilian striker Rodrygo scoring twice to secure victory. Toni Kroos’ deflected shot fell to Rodrygo, who fired in the decisive goal from close range.

Despite a strong performance from Osasuna, who equalized through Lucas Torro, Real Madrid held on for the win. Rodrygo also opened the scoring for Real Madrid after just 106 seconds, marking the fastest goal in a Spanish cup final in 17 years. This victory marks Real Madrid’s first Copa del Rey win since 2014.

Osasuna, backed by nearly 25,000 fans inside the Estadio de La Cartuja, had their chances as they chased a first major trophy in their 103-year history.

They were denied a stoppage-time equaliser when Dani Carvajal produced a last-ditch block to keep out Kike Barja’s side-footed effort.

Los Rojillos, which translates as The Little Reds, had more shots on target (5) than Real (3), but Carlo Ancelotti’s side were ultimately more clinical in front of goal.

Victory for Real delivers a 20th Copa del Rey title as they now turn their attention to Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City.

Ahead of the Copa del Rey final, Osasuna fans flooded Seville with enthusiasm and support, but their team got off to a rocky start on the field. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, who was back in the starting lineup along with four other changes from their previous match, posed a constant threat from the left flank. He set up Rodrygo for the opening goal after just two minutes of play.

Although Osasuna had a chance to equalize soon after, Abde Ezzalzouli missed the target with his chipped effort. Osasuna eventually found the equalizer after the break when Lucas Torro scored against his former club, triggering enthusiastic celebrations among the red half of the stadium. The game was briefly paused due to a pyrotechnic issue involving Osasuna fans.

However, Real Madrid remained dangerous and eventually secured the victory thanks to a deflected shot from Toni Kroos that fell to Rodrygo to score his second goal of the match. With the La Liga title seemingly out of reach, Real Madrid will now focus on their upcoming Champions League match against Manchester City, hoping to welcome back Luka Modric from injury.

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Climate change: Spain breaks record temperature for April

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Spain has experienced its hottest ever temperature for April, with a reading of 38.8C recorded at Cordoba airport. The heatwave, which has lasted for several days, has seen temperatures 10-15C above the expected levels for April, driven by a mass of hot air from Africa and a slow-moving weather system.

Spain’s meteorological office has expressed surprise at the scale of the heat, with temperatures exceeding previous records by as much as 5C in some locations. Climatologist Maximiliano Herrera has described the heat event as “absolutely extreme” and “unprecedented”.

In response to the ongoing heatwave, schools in Spain will be allowed to adjust their schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day. The Madrid underground is also increasing train frequency to prevent passengers from waiting for long periods on platforms, while public swimming pools are set to open a month earlier than usual.

Experts warn that the poor are most at risk from extreme temperatures, as they are more likely to suffer health issues related to heat. The heatwave in Spain is part of a global trend, with climate change exacerbating naturally high temperatures.

Meteorologists attribute the exceptional temperatures to a combination of factors, including hot weather in North Africa, high pressure weather systems, and clear skies over the Iberian peninsula, where the ground is already too dry to evaporate the heat.

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Statue mocking Spain’s ex-king Juan Carlos appears in Madrid

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In Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square, a small sculpture of former King Juan Carlos has appeared, depicting him holding a rifle aimed at a larger statue of a bear, which is an emblem of Madrid. The former king has been criticized for his love of hunting, which the sculpture seems to be mocking. The sculpture was placed by Chilean artist Nicolás Miranda, and was made from polyurethane.

It was only on display for 10 minutes, but photos of it have been widely shared on social media and in Spanish media.

The art installation brought back memories of controversies involving Juan Carlos’s reign, such as accusations that he shot a tame bear while on a hunting trip in northern Russia in 2006, and photos of him posing in front of a dead elephant during a hunting trip to Botswana in 2012, which caused his approval rating to plummet.

The recent art installation in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square mocking former King Juan Carlos comes at a time when he is facing increasing public criticism. He recently made a brief visit to his home country, Spain, which was only his second visit since he moved to Abu Dhabi in 2020 amidst ongoing corruption investigations. During his visit, which lasted less than a week, he participated in a yacht race in Sanxenxo on the north-west coast. Although inquiries into his finances were dropped last year due to insufficient evidence, prosecutors have now stated that they have discovered several irregularities.

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Spanish anger over TV star Ana Obregón’s surrogate baby in US

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Ana Obregón, a Spanish television actress, has drawn criticism for disclosing that at the age of 68, she gave birth to a girl in the US through a surrogate. Obregón is well recognised for his roles as the lead in several Spanish sitcoms.

She had previously discussed her efforts to move on with her life when her son, who was also her sole child, died of cancer in 2020 at the age of 27. All kinds of surrogacy are prohibited in Spain, however parents who return to the country can adopt the child.

Following the passing of her son, Obregón, who also lost both of her parents, was depicted on the cover of the Hola! magazine earlier this week holding a newborn outside a Miami hospital.

In an Instagram post, she later commented on the magazine cover, saying:

“A light full of love came into my darkness.

“I will never be alone again. I AM ALIVE AGAIN.”

Her remarks ignited debate on Spanish social media, and ministers in Spain’s left-wing government were incensed at the move.

The image of Obregón leaving the hospital was dubbed “Dantesque” by education minister Pilar Alegra in reference to the Italian author’s descent into hell.

Equality Minister Irene Montero claimed the measure was “a form of aggression against women” and added there was a “clear poverty prejudice” against women who become surrogate mothers because they needed the money.

This is not surrogacy, this is renting a womb,” Ms. Alegra added. “As we all know, this is an illegal procedure in Spain.” Presidency Minister Felix Bolaos remarked that “women’s bodies should neither be bought nor hired to satisfy anyone’s demands.”

Cuca Gamarra, the second-ranking member of the conservative People’s Party, was more circumspect, stating that the topic required “deep and quiet debates because it touches on many issues.

Spain’s Socialist-led coalition government came to power almost five years ago and has made women’s rights one of its key areas of policy.

Earlier this year, it imposed tighter restrictions on surrogacy, banning advertisement for surrogacy agencies.

It identifies surrogacy as a form of violence against women and categorises any type of forced pregnancy, abortion, sterilisation or contraception in the same way.

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Spain church attacks: Suspect was facing deportation

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Authorities claim that a guy who is accused of killing a church caretaker and injuring a priest in southern Spain was going to be deported.

The event took place on Wednesday when a man in the city of Algeciras invaded two churches while carrying a machete.

A 25-year-old Moroccan male was quickly taken into custody after being disarmed. The suspect, who is believed to have acted alone, was scheduled to be taken to the Spanish capital of Madrid to face terrorism-related accusations before the High Court.

The suspect, who was in the country illegally, was reportedly scheduled for deportation in June, according to the authorities. He was not under surveillance and had no criminal or terrorism-related convictions in Spain or any of its allies.

However, according to the Gibraltar authorities, he was expelled from the island in 2019 for violating immigration laws.

For migrants crossing the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco, Algeciras serves as the main transit centre.

Outside the church where Diego Valencia, the verger, was assassinated, hundreds of people observed a moment of silence. Many people sobbed as mourners lighted candles and left flowers in his honour.

The victim, who made it outside the church, was mortally wounded after being attacked again, according to the interior ministry.

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Spain approves divisive transgender bill

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A transgender rights measure has been passed in Spain, enabling anyone 16 years of age or older to change their ID card’s gender. With 188 votes in favour and 150 votes against, it was adopted. It will now go to the Senate for final approval.

The left-leaning Podemos party, which is a partner in the coalition government with Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist party, has worked to bring about the change. The bill has caused disagreement among feminists in Spain, with some claiming it could weaken women’s rights.

If approved, anyone over the age of 16 will be able to change their gender, but they must affirm it three months later. Applicants must be 12 years of age or older in some circumstances.

Until recently, applicants had to provide documentation of hormonal treatment for two years and a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, which is the sense that one’s biological sex does not match their gender identity. Minors also needed parental consent.

Irene Montero, the minister of equality and a member of the Podemos party, claimed during the discussion that the law “de-pathologizes” trans persons and protects their rights.

“Trans women are women,” said Ms Montero, who has strongly advocated for gender self-identification and criticised opposition to the law as “transphobia”.Members of Mr. Sánchez’s Socialist party have criticised the bill, dividing the nation’s female movement and exposing divisions within the ruling coalition.

Critics claim that because it permits men who self-identify as women to play women’s sports or want to be transferred to women’s prisons, the rule could be abused and pose a threat to women’s rights. Concerns have also been expressed regarding children’ ability to choose their own gender.

Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, and nine other European nations have previously established self-declaration methods for recognising gender legally. The Scottish parliament recently supported a law that would make it simpler for people to change their legal gender, which brings about the Spanish action.

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Operation Desert Light: Europol take down massive cocaine ‘super cartel’

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According to police, a drug “super cartel” that was in charge of almost a third of Europe’s cocaine supply has been broken up. 49 persons were detained as part of Operation Desert Light, which involved six different European nations, according to Europol, the EU’s police agency.

One of them, a British national, is thought to be the operation’s leader. According to Europol, more than 30 tonnes (30,000 kg) of drugs were recovered during the two-year investigation.

Authorities from Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Operation Desert Light collaborated to dismantle the cartel, according to a statement from Europol. Six “high-value targets,” or those most sought after by international law enforcement, were among those detained.

The “drugpins” had established a “prolific criminal network engaged in large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering,” according to Europol. The size of the narcotics operation was described as “vast” in the addition.

It is the most recent in a string of police initiatives to access encrypted phones used by organised crime networks to smuggle drugs and launder cash. The majority of the arrests were made in the Netherlands in 2021, where cocaine imported from South America via the Netherlands was the main subject of the investigation.

According to Europol, the other raids took place earlier this month, from November 8 and 19, during planned operations in the other six nations. Teams of detectives and sniffer dogs were seen investigating homes filled with luxury cars in a video uploaded to the agency’s YouTube page, although it is not apparent if they found anything.

Data from the previous ten years, according to analysts, suggests that Europe’s annual access to cocaine is rising.  With an estimated 3.5 million adults using the substance in the last year, crimes involving cocaine use or possession are also on the rise.

The biggest stash of cannabis ever recovered was found earlier this month during a series of searches by Spanish police. The quantity of packaged marijuana discovered amounted to roughly 1.1 million plants.

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Salto de Castro: Spanish village on sale for €260,000

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Consider purchasing a full village if you want to downsize and move to the country.

The asking price for Salto de Castro, located in northwest Spain, is €260,000 (£227,000; $259,000).

Salto de Castro, which is three hours’ drive from Madrid and situated in the province of Zamora on the Portuguese border, has many of the structures you would anticipate seeing in a small Spanish town.

They include 44 homes, a hotel, a church, a school, a municipal swimming pool and even a barracks building that used to house the civil guard.

However, occupants are something that it lacks. For more than 30 years, Salto de Castro has been vacant.

Beginning in the year 2000, the owner purchased the village with the goal of turning it into a popular tourist destination. The eurozone crisis, however, made it difficult for the strategy to succeed.

According to Ronnie Rodriguez of Royal Invest, the firm that represents the owner, “The owner had the ambition of having a hotel here, but it was all put on hold.” “He still wants the project to succeed.”

The owner, who is in his 80s, writes on the Idealista website where the property is marketed, “I am selling since I am an urban-dweller and cannot sustain the upkeep” of the hamlet.

Since it was listed a week ago at this price, it has received more than 50,000 hits, indicating that there is interest.

According to Mr. Rodriguez, 300 people have showed interest in purchasing, with queries coming from the UK, France, Belgium, and Russia. He said that a deposit has already been made to reserve it by one interested buyer.

Beginning in the early 1950s, the electricity producing company Iberduero constructed Salto de Castro to accommodate the families of the workers who constructed the nearby reservoir.

However, after it was finished, the residents left, and by the late 1980s, the community had been completely abandoned.

Its vicinity is a part of “emptied Spain,” which refers to sparsely inhabited rural areas without many of the amenities available in towns.

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