International

Spain will recognize Palestine as a State in a few weeks even if other countries do not follow it

The Spanish Government will decide in the coming weeks the recognition of Palestine as a State regardless of whether or not other countries may or may not join that decision.

This is assured by sources of the Executive after the series of meetings that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, is holding with other European leaders to analyze the situation in the Middle East, explain their position and try to coordinate actions in that direction.

But whether other countries join Spain’s thesis of already recognizing the Palestinian State or if they do not, the Government has already adopted a political decision and will make that recognition, as Sánchez said, before the end of this semester.

What’s more, the cited sources emphasize that the decision, which recalls that it is endorsed by a proposal approved by Congress in 2014 and has a majority endorsement of Spanish society, will be adopted in weeks more than in months.

Sánchez, who participates this Thursday in the final day of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council, has toured several EU countries to promote the recognition of the Palestinian State and has met in Brussels – on the sidelines of the summit of the Twenty-seven – with the prime ministers of Malta, Robert Abela, and Luxembourg, Luc Frieden.

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With Abela there has been harmony for the recognition of Palestine, since they have ratified the commitment signed by Spain, Malta, Slovenia and Ireland on March 22 to make it a reality.

However, it has not been specified whether they will take the step together or the date for it, since they have limited themselves to emphasizing that it will be done at the time that is considered appropriate.

The situation is different in the case of Luxembourg, because there is more internal division in this regard, and in the meeting there has only been an exchange of views.

The Spanish Government insists that its decision is made regardless of what other countries do, although it would like it to be a coordinated issue.

The Executive is aware that in each country there is a different procedure and in some cases it is necessary for the decision to go through Parliament and in others, as in Spain, it is not.

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Moncloa gives great relevance to the debate that will take place this Thursday in the UN Security Council on the presence of Palestine in the United Nations as a full member, a debate in which the United States is expected to veto that possibility and in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, will intervene in favor.

International

Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.

During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.

“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.

“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”

Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.

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On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.

International

Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition

he Vatican’s post offices and select collector shops began selling special edition stamps this week to mark the period between the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor.

Known as “Sede Vacante” stamps, they feature an image used on official Vatican documents during the interregnum between popes — two crossed keys without the papal tiara. These stamps went on sale Monday and will remain valid for postal use only until the new pontiff appears at the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards, and parcels. “Once the new pope is elected, the stamps lose their postal validity, but their collectible value rises,” said Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collectors’ shop across from St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican has issued the stamps in four denominations: €1.25, €1.30, €2.45, and €3.20. Each is inscribed with “Città del Vaticano” and “Sede Vacante MMXXV” — Latin for “Vacant See 2025.”

International

Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may

The conclave, which in the coming weeks must choose the successor to Pope Francis, will strictly follow a precise protocol refined over centuries.

The 135 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, will cast their votes four times a day — except on the first day — until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The result will be announced to the world through the burning of the ballots with a chemical that produces the eagerly awaited white smoke, accompanied by the traditional cry of “Habemus Papam.”

The start date for the conclave could be announced today, as the cardinals are set to hold their fifth meeting since the pope’s passing. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested it could begin on May 5 or 6, following the traditional nine days of mourning. According to German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the conclave could last only “a few days.”

Although the late Argentine pontiff appointed the majority of the cardinal electors, this does not necessarily ensure the selection of a like-minded successor. Francis’ leadership style differed significantly from that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, a German theologian who was less fond of large public gatherings. It also marked a contrast with the popular Polish pope, John Paul II.

The Argentine Jesuit’s reformist papacy drew strong criticism from more conservative sectors of the Church, who are hoping for a doctrinally focused shift. His tenure was marked by efforts to combat clerical sexual abuse, elevate the role of women and laypeople, and advocate for the poor and migrants, among other causes.