MARK ALEXANDER: Naturally, I am very distressed by ALL the wildfires in Europe at this time. But in the last couple of days, I have been particularly concerned about, and distressed by, the wildfires in southern Spain, in Andalucía, in and around Granada and Almería. I get several very loyal visitors from this area of Spain, and I have done for a very long time, so I am particularly concerned about their welfare at this extremely dangerous time.
I don’t know these people—I wish I did—, but to care about them and their welfare, I don’t have to.
I keep looking on the map to see if they have visited me, and when I see that they have at this extremely dangerous time for them, I am greatly relieved. Then, I know that at least they are still alive!
Mark Alexander
Showing posts with label Spain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spain. Show all posts
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Tourists among Several Killed in 'Terrifying' Wildfire in Southern Spain | ABC NEWS
July 11, 2026 | At least 12 people have been killed in Spain's south-east with several more missing after a fast-spreading wildfire near Los Gallardos.
Authorities believe most of the victims were tourists and that many died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions.
Hundreds of firefighters worked to bring the flames fanned by strong winds under control.
Authorities believe most of the victims were tourists and that many died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions.
Hundreds of firefighters worked to bring the flames fanned by strong winds under control.
Spain Battles to Contain One of Its Deadliest Wildfires as At Least 12 Killed | BBC News
July 11, 2026 | Hundreds of firefighters in Spain are still battling to contain pockets of flames in the south east after one of the country's worst-ever wildfires.
Emergency services have been deployed around the village of Bédar where 12 people have been killed - among them four Britons, according to Spanish authorities. Another 23 people are still missing.
Local officials in the Los Gallardos area of Almería have warned the number of dead could rise, with fears that more Britons are among those killed.
A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across Southern Europe this summer, particularly in France, Portugal and Spain.
Emergency services have been deployed around the village of Bédar where 12 people have been killed - among them four Britons, according to Spanish authorities. Another 23 people are still missing.
Local officials in the Los Gallardos area of Almería have warned the number of dead could rise, with fears that more Britons are among those killed.
A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across Southern Europe this summer, particularly in France, Portugal and Spain.
‘I Had an Incredible Escape’: British Woman Tells of Close Encounter with Spanish Wildfire
THE GUARDIAN: Jeanne Henny, 74, put her friend, a wheelchair and two dogs into the car and drove away, only to meet fire surging on to the road
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Jeanne Henny: ‘You thought the fire was miles away and then suddenly it was in front of you on the road.’ Photograph: Handout
The speed, scale and ferocity of the wildfire in and around the Bédar municipality of Almería took everyone by surprise.
Jeanne Henny, an English woman who has had a house in the tiny hamlet of Los Pinos for 33 years, initially took Thursday afternoon’s yellow skies as proof that a calima wind from the Sahara was showering desert dust on the area. Then she noticed the smoke and saw from a fire-alert app that a blaze had broken out.
“There was a lot of smoke, but it was far away,” said Henny, 74. “We get fires and there’s some kind of scare most years. The police will come to each house and tell us to get out and there will be sirens going. But this time it didn’t happen like that.”
The gravity of the situation became apparent when a neighbour knocked on her door at 5.30pm and told her it was time that she and her friend, who uses a wheelchair, abandoned their house.
It took Henny almost half an hour to get her friend and two dogs into the car. She had to leave her five cats behind. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Friday, July 10, 2026
The speed, scale and ferocity of the wildfire in and around the Bédar municipality of Almería took everyone by surprise.
Jeanne Henny, an English woman who has had a house in the tiny hamlet of Los Pinos for 33 years, initially took Thursday afternoon’s yellow skies as proof that a calima wind from the Sahara was showering desert dust on the area. Then she noticed the smoke and saw from a fire-alert app that a blaze had broken out.
“There was a lot of smoke, but it was far away,” said Henny, 74. “We get fires and there’s some kind of scare most years. The police will come to each house and tell us to get out and there will be sirens going. But this time it didn’t happen like that.”
The gravity of the situation became apparent when a neighbour knocked on her door at 5.30pm and told her it was time that she and her friend, who uses a wheelchair, abandoned their house.
It took Henny almost half an hour to get her friend and two dogs into the car. She had to leave her five cats behind. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Friday, July 10, 2026
Friday, July 10, 2026
Hundreds of Residents Evacuated after Deadly Wildfires in Spain | BBC News
July 10, 2026 | At least 12 people have died in a wildfire in southern Spain, with early indications suggesting four of the victims are British, according to a local official.
Hundreds of emergency responders are working to contain the blaze around Los Gallardos, Almería, which appears to have been caused by a downed power line.
The bodies of the victims were found near the small village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos, while 23 others are still missing and hundreds of residents have been evacuated.
Regional president Juanma Moreno calls the impact of the fire "devastating" and warns the death toll could rise significantly.
Hundreds of emergency responders are working to contain the blaze around Los Gallardos, Almería, which appears to have been caused by a downed power line.
The bodies of the victims were found near the small village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos, while 23 others are still missing and hundreds of residents have been evacuated.
Regional president Juanma Moreno calls the impact of the fire "devastating" and warns the death toll could rise significantly.
Wildfires in Southern Spain Kill 12 amid Soaring Temperatures
THE GUARDIAN: Wildfire comes as Spain suffers a heatwave, with scorching temperatures triggering orange weather warnings
Twelve people were reported killed in a wildfire in Almeria in southern Spain, as about 150 firefighters battled the blaze which broke out amid soaring temperatures.
“The number of people who died in the fire in Los Gallardos has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six more deaths,” the regional government of Andalusia said in a statement.
The deaths took place in the hamlet of Bedar, the regional government said in a statement, adding that the fire injured at least six people, including a woman who suffered burns and another person with smoke inhalation who was taken to hospital.
Four others were treated at the scene for minor burns and respiratory problems caused by heavy smoke. » | Agence France-Presse | Friday, July 10, 2026
ALSO READ:
12 People Die in Southern Spain Wildfire: The blaze broke out in Almería province in Andalusia and prompted a major operation to contain it. Heat waves across Europe this summer have raised the risk of wildfires, forecasters say. »
This news is troubling indeed. Daily, I get quite a number of regular visitors from this affected area. I hope, trust, and pray that they are safe. I shall be following developments with great concern. — Mark
Twelve people were reported killed in a wildfire in Almeria in southern Spain, as about 150 firefighters battled the blaze which broke out amid soaring temperatures.
“The number of people who died in the fire in Los Gallardos has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six more deaths,” the regional government of Andalusia said in a statement.
The deaths took place in the hamlet of Bedar, the regional government said in a statement, adding that the fire injured at least six people, including a woman who suffered burns and another person with smoke inhalation who was taken to hospital.
Four others were treated at the scene for minor burns and respiratory problems caused by heavy smoke. » | Agence France-Presse | Friday, July 10, 2026
ALSO READ:
12 People Die in Southern Spain Wildfire: The blaze broke out in Almería province in Andalusia and prompted a major operation to contain it. Heat waves across Europe this summer have raised the risk of wildfires, forecasters say. »
This news is troubling indeed. Daily, I get quite a number of regular visitors from this affected area. I hope, trust, and pray that they are safe. I shall be following developments with great concern. — Mark
Wednesday, July 08, 2026
Why Is Donald Trump So Furious with Spain and Pedro Sánchez? | DW News
Trump Orders US to Cut All Trade with Spain
THE TELEGRAPH: Donald Trump has ordered the US to cut off all trade with Spain, calling it a “terrible partner” in Nato.
The US president said he had told Scott Bessent, his treasury secretary, to cease trade with the country, accusing it of failing to contribute enough to the alliance.
Speaking alongside Mark Rutte, Nato’s general secretary, at a press conference in Turkey, Mr Trump said on Wednesday: “Spain is a terrible partner in Nato. They don’t participate. They don’t pay. I don’t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits.
“Don’t even talk to them. They’re hopeless, bad people.” » | Chris Price | Markets Editor | Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Nanny: Give the child its rattle and dummy — be quick! © Mark Alexander
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Islam in Spain: The Unfinished History Still Dividing Spain | Beyond Borders
Jun 25, 2026 | Islam in Spain and the unfinished history still dividing the country is the subject of our latest Beyond Borders documentary. Who owns the legacy of Al-Andalus, and what does it mean for Spain's identity today and tomorrow?
From the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces of Granada to the ancient mosques of Algeciras, as the far-right VOX party bans Arabic in schools, Spanish converts rebuild Muslim communities, and engineers restore thousand-year-old Moorish water channels to fight the climate crisis. Spain isn't just remembering its Islamic past. It turns out it might need it more than ever.
From the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces of Granada to the ancient mosques of Algeciras, as the far-right VOX party bans Arabic in schools, Spanish converts rebuild Muslim communities, and engineers restore thousand-year-old Moorish water channels to fight the climate crisis. Spain isn't just remembering its Islamic past. It turns out it might need it more than ever.
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Corruption Scandals Engulf Sánchez as Ex-top Aide Is Jailed
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez came to power 8 years ago, promising to clean up politics. But now his inner circle has been engulfed by corruption scandals.
His former transport minister and right-hand man Jose Luis Abalos has been jailed for 24 years for corruption. Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, is facing corruption charges and has been banned from leaving the country. While his brother David has gone on trial accused of influence peddling.
With growing calls for his resignation, can Sánchez survive this corruption chaos?
Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:
Javier Carbonell
Policy Analyst at the European Politics and Institutions Programme
Alberto Oliver
Former Mas Madrid Party Spokesperson
Souwie Buis
Journalist
Maithreyi Seetharaman
Journalist
His former transport minister and right-hand man Jose Luis Abalos has been jailed for 24 years for corruption. Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, is facing corruption charges and has been banned from leaving the country. While his brother David has gone on trial accused of influence peddling.
With growing calls for his resignation, can Sánchez survive this corruption chaos?
Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:
Javier Carbonell
Policy Analyst at the European Politics and Institutions Programme
Alberto Oliver
Former Mas Madrid Party Spokesperson
Souwie Buis
Journalist
Maithreyi Seetharaman
Journalist
Friday, June 12, 2026
Pope Leo Rails against Migrant Deaths on Visit to Spain’s ‘Dock of Shame'
THE GUARDIAN: Pontiff calls on leaders to treat migrants more humanely as he concludes week-long Spanish tour in Gran Canaria
Thus screenshot is from this Guardian article. | The event was held at the dock of Arguineguín in Gran Canaria. Photograph: Borja Suárez/Reuters
The constant flow of people embarking in small, rickety boats to migrate abroad should force a reckoning as to why we have built a world where so many “must risk death to seek life”, Pope Leo has said as he warned: “We cannot grow accustomed to counting the dead.”
Thursday’s speech in the Canary Islands, on the final leg of the pontiff’s week-long tour of Spain, contained Leo’s most pointed comments to date on migration.
Standing near a memorial to the many who had braved the fierce swells of the Atlantic in the hope of carving out a better life in Europe, the pope railed against the world’s “indifference” and called on leaders to treat migrants more humanely.
“Even today, monsters lurk in these seas: mafias that traffic in despair, traffickers who enslave women and children, and those whose indifference allows the poor to be swallowed up by exploitation or oblivion,” he said.
Last year, an estimated 1,906 people died attempting to cross into Europe along the perilous Atlantic route. » | Ashifa Kassam | European community affairs correspondent | Thursday, June 11, 2026
The constant flow of people embarking in small, rickety boats to migrate abroad should force a reckoning as to why we have built a world where so many “must risk death to seek life”, Pope Leo has said as he warned: “We cannot grow accustomed to counting the dead.”
Thursday’s speech in the Canary Islands, on the final leg of the pontiff’s week-long tour of Spain, contained Leo’s most pointed comments to date on migration.
Standing near a memorial to the many who had braved the fierce swells of the Atlantic in the hope of carving out a better life in Europe, the pope railed against the world’s “indifference” and called on leaders to treat migrants more humanely.
“Even today, monsters lurk in these seas: mafias that traffic in despair, traffickers who enslave women and children, and those whose indifference allows the poor to be swallowed up by exploitation or oblivion,” he said.
Last year, an estimated 1,906 people died attempting to cross into Europe along the perilous Atlantic route. » | Ashifa Kassam | European community affairs correspondent | Thursday, June 11, 2026
Tuesday, June 09, 2026
Full Royal Welcome: Spain’s Royal Family & PM Welcomes Pope at Madrid Royal Palace in Grand Ceremony
June 6, 20226 | Pope Leo XIV was received at Madrid’s Royal Palace on June 6 in a formal state ceremony hosted by Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, marking a major diplomatic and religious event during the pontiff’s first official visit to Spain.
The reception highlighted longstanding Vatican–Spain relations. Discussions were expected to focus on migration, European unity, and social cohesion. The visit is part of a broader apostolic journey across Spain, including engagements in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.
The royal welcome underscores the intersection of faith and state diplomacy at a time of heightened global political and social tensions.
The reception highlighted longstanding Vatican–Spain relations. Discussions were expected to focus on migration, European unity, and social cohesion. The visit is part of a broader apostolic journey across Spain, including engagements in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.
The royal welcome underscores the intersection of faith and state diplomacy at a time of heightened global political and social tensions.
One Is the Pope, the Other an Atheist. They Both Oppose Trump.
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Pope Leo XIV and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain, who met on Monday, have recently clashed with President Trump. Their motivations, however, may be different.
This screenshot is from this NYT article. | Pope Leo XIV welcoming Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain at the Vatican last month, in a photo made available by Vatican media. | Vatican Media, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
When Pope Leo met in Madrid with Spain’s left-wing prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, on Monday morning, they represented, at least to many liberals, a powerful duo joining forces to lead the opposition to President Trump.
“They have the same voice,” when it comes to speaking out against Mr. Trump, Cardinal José Cobo of Madrid said.
Pope Leo has drawn the president’s fury for criticizing the war in Iran and later saying he had “no fear” of the Trump administration. Mr. Sánchez has battled Mr. Trump on everything from NATO spending to the migration policy to his opposition to the wars in Gaza and Iran.
Their motivations, though, are seemingly different.
If the pope was dragged into the fight by Mr. Trump, Mr. Sánchez happily jumped in. Mr. Sánchez is perhaps Europe’s most accomplished political escape artist, after wriggling free from countless crises during his eight years in power. His most recent high-wire act has been to seize on international quarrels with Mr. Trump to raise his global profile and distract from troubles at home, especially the corruption scandals and accusations now swirling around his former allies and family.
Appearing with the pope “will help Sánchez with his external public image,” said Joseba Louzao, a professor at Cardinal Cisneros University and author of “A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Spain.”
Meeting the pope at the Vatican’s embassy in Madrid on Monday, Mr. Sánchez sought to underline their connection by giving the pontiff a Spanish olive bonsai tree that was, the Spanish government said in a statement to reporters, “a universal symbol of peace, dialogue and understanding, values shared by Spain and the Vatican.” » | Jason Horowitz | Reporting from Madrid | Monday, June 8, 2026
Leer en español.
Related material here.
When Pope Leo met in Madrid with Spain’s left-wing prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, on Monday morning, they represented, at least to many liberals, a powerful duo joining forces to lead the opposition to President Trump.
“They have the same voice,” when it comes to speaking out against Mr. Trump, Cardinal José Cobo of Madrid said.
Pope Leo has drawn the president’s fury for criticizing the war in Iran and later saying he had “no fear” of the Trump administration. Mr. Sánchez has battled Mr. Trump on everything from NATO spending to the migration policy to his opposition to the wars in Gaza and Iran.
Their motivations, though, are seemingly different.
If the pope was dragged into the fight by Mr. Trump, Mr. Sánchez happily jumped in. Mr. Sánchez is perhaps Europe’s most accomplished political escape artist, after wriggling free from countless crises during his eight years in power. His most recent high-wire act has been to seize on international quarrels with Mr. Trump to raise his global profile and distract from troubles at home, especially the corruption scandals and accusations now swirling around his former allies and family.
Appearing with the pope “will help Sánchez with his external public image,” said Joseba Louzao, a professor at Cardinal Cisneros University and author of “A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Spain.”
Meeting the pope at the Vatican’s embassy in Madrid on Monday, Mr. Sánchez sought to underline their connection by giving the pontiff a Spanish olive bonsai tree that was, the Spanish government said in a statement to reporters, “a universal symbol of peace, dialogue and understanding, values shared by Spain and the Vatican.” » | Jason Horowitz | Reporting from Madrid | Monday, June 8, 2026
Leer en español.
Related material here.
Saturday, May 30, 2026
When the Moors Ruled in Europe: A Documentary by Bettany Hughes | الأندلس
Sep 27, 2023 | …Join British historian Bettany Hughes as she examines a long-buried chapter of European history--the rise and fall of Islamic culture in what is now Spain and Portugal.
Although generations of Spanish rulers have tried to expunge this era from the historical record, recent archeology and scholarship now shed fresh light on the Moors who flourished in Al-Andalus for more than 700 years.
This fascinating documentary explodes old stereotypes and offers shocking new insights. You’ll discover the ingenious mathematics behind Granada’s dazzling Alhambra Palace, trace El Cid’s lineage to his Moorish roots, and learn how the Iberian population willingly converted to Islam in droves.
Through interviews with noted scholars, you’ll see how Moorish advances in mathematics, astronomy, art, and agriculture helped propel the West out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance.
What emerges is a richly detailed portrait of a sensuous, inquisitive, and remarkably progressive Islamic culture in Christian Europe.
Bettany Mary Hughes OBE FSA (born May 1967) is an English historian, author and broadcaster, specialising in classical history. Her published books cover classical antiquity and myth, and the history of Istanbul. She is active in efforts to encourage the teaching of the classics in UK state schools. Hughes was appointed OBE in 2019.
Although generations of Spanish rulers have tried to expunge this era from the historical record, recent archeology and scholarship now shed fresh light on the Moors who flourished in Al-Andalus for more than 700 years.
This fascinating documentary explodes old stereotypes and offers shocking new insights. You’ll discover the ingenious mathematics behind Granada’s dazzling Alhambra Palace, trace El Cid’s lineage to his Moorish roots, and learn how the Iberian population willingly converted to Islam in droves.
Through interviews with noted scholars, you’ll see how Moorish advances in mathematics, astronomy, art, and agriculture helped propel the West out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance.
What emerges is a richly detailed portrait of a sensuous, inquisitive, and remarkably progressive Islamic culture in Christian Europe.
Bettany Mary Hughes OBE FSA (born May 1967) is an English historian, author and broadcaster, specialising in classical history. Her published books cover classical antiquity and myth, and the history of Istanbul. She is active in efforts to encourage the teaching of the classics in UK state schools. Hughes was appointed OBE in 2019.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Franco’s Spain in the 1950s: How the Dictatorship Gained Legitimacy | Full Documentary
May 22, 2026 | In the 1950s, Spain under Francisco Franco entered a new phase known as the “Leaden Age.” After years of international isolation following World War II in 1945, the regime began to regain legitimacy. Key agreements, such as the 1953 Pact of Madrid with the United States and the 1955 admission of Spain to the United Nations, marked a turning point in Franco’s foreign policy and international standing.
These developments brought economic opportunities and a sense of stability to the country. While Spain appeared to move forward, political opposition weakened and resistance largely disappeared. Behind this controlled progress, Franco’s dictatorship remained firmly in place. This period reveals how international recognition and economic change helped secure the long-term survival of one of Europe’s most enduring authoritarian regimes.
These developments brought economic opportunities and a sense of stability to the country. While Spain appeared to move forward, political opposition weakened and resistance largely disappeared. Behind this controlled progress, Franco’s dictatorship remained firmly in place. This period reveals how international recognition and economic change helped secure the long-term survival of one of Europe’s most enduring authoritarian regimes.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Andalucíans Vote in Election Seen as Gauge of Spain’s Wider Political Change
THE GUARDIAN: Conservatives expected to keep majority as socialists face drubbing and ballot tests trajectory of far-right Vox party
Voters in the southern Spanish region of Andalucía are casting their ballots in an election that is likely to deliver an absolute majority to the conservative People’s party (PP) and inflict another debilitating defeat on Pedro Sánchez’s embattled socialists in what was previously one of their proudest strongholds.
Sunday’s election in Spain’s most populous region – the last big poll before next year’s general election – will serve as a barometer of wider electoral opinion and could also reveal whether the popularity of the far-right Vox party is beginning to peak.
The PP, which has governed the former socialist bastion for the past seven years, is seeking to frame the election as a referendum on Sánchez, the country’s prime minister, whose inner circle, party and administration are facing an array of corruption allegations.
According to the polls, the incumbent PP regional president, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, is on course to almost replicate his result at the last election in 2022, when the conservatives won 58 of the seats in the 109-seat regional parliament. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Sunday, May 17, 2026
Google AI informs me that the Vox Party wants Spain to strip homosexuals of their hard-fought-for, hard-won rights. They want Spain’s laws on homosexuality to mirror those in darkest Africa! As we all know, most of Africa’s laws on homosexuality are dark and benighted!
I know little about the Vox Party, but I know that the Party’s take on LGBTQ+ rights are troubling indeed. Fie on the lot of them! — © Mark Alexander
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Why Spain Is Opposing Israel and the US over Gaza and Iran | Explained
Apr 15, 2026 | Spain has recognised Palestine, restricted ties with Israel and blocked US flights linked to Iran, setting it apart from its Western allies. Why is Spain taking this position?
The answer lies in its history: from the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship to the 2004 Madrid train bombings that reshaped its foreign policy and public opinion on war.
The answer lies in its history: from the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship to the 2004 Madrid train bombings that reshaped its foreign policy and public opinion on war.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Spanish Prime Minister’s Wife Charged with Corruption
THE GUARDIAN: Pedro Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, and two others charged after investigation triggered by group with far-right links
Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has been charged with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds at the end of a two-year investigation by a judge in Madrid.
Gómez, 55, has been accused of using her influence as the wife of the socialist prime minister to secure and manage a post at Madrid’s Complutense University, and of using public resources and personal connections to further her private interests.
The judge, Juan Carlos Peinado, has also charged Gómez’s personal assistant, Cristina Álvarez, and a businessman, Juan Carlos Barrabés, in connection with the case.
All the accused have denied wrongdoing. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has been charged with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds at the end of a two-year investigation by a judge in Madrid.
Gómez, 55, has been accused of using her influence as the wife of the socialist prime minister to secure and manage a post at Madrid’s Complutense University, and of using public resources and personal connections to further her private interests.
The judge, Juan Carlos Peinado, has also charged Gómez’s personal assistant, Cristina Álvarez, and a businessman, Juan Carlos Barrabés, in connection with the case.
All the accused have denied wrongdoing. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Spain's Pedro Sánchez Attacks Israel: "Suspend the Agreement with the EU."
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