All posts by Luis Moreno

Moreno Luis - is a business and economics reporter based in Barcelona. Prior to joining the BNE24 he was economics editor of the BBC Spaine and worked as an economics and political reporter for Murcia Tuday.

Another 31 Hispano-Palestinians and their families leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing

Another 31 Hispanic-Palestinians and their families managed to leave the Gaza Strip this Monday through the Rafah border crossing bound for Egypt, as announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares.

In a message on

This group joins the three that left the Strip last week. Of the 143 Hispanic-Palestinians and family members who crossed into Egypt, 139 arrived at the Torrejón air base (Madrid) on Thursday.

In this sense, the minister has stressed that the Government is not going to leave “anyone behind.”

Likewise, and in line with the position maintained by the Government, Albares has once again taken the opportunity to demand a ceasefire. “The horror in Gaza must end, and the protection of all Palestinian civilians must be guaranteed,” he defended.

Trump widens his lead over Biden in election polls

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has obtained 48% support in the latest poll published ahead of the November 2024 presidential elections, seven points ahead of his likely rival, the current US president, Joe Biden.

The Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll study thus attributes two more points to Trump compared to last month's survey and places the percentage of undecided people, ultimately key for the vote, at 11%.

As for the undecided, when asked which candidate they lean towards, 53% mention Trump, while 47% mention Biden.

This survey thus supports the study presented on November 6 that gave Trump an advantage over Biden in five critical states: Nevada (eleven percent difference), Georgia (6%), Arizona (5%), Michigan (5%) and Pennsylvania (4%).

It should be noted that Biden won these six states in the last 2020 elections, which Trump considered “fraudulent” and which led to the assault of the Capitol by a mob of protesters.

The chilling video of the Houthis hijacking the Galaxy Leader ship in the Red Sea

The Houthi rebels in Yemen released this Monday a video of the capture of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in a military operation carried out on Sunday in the Red Sea in which they used a helicopter to land on the ship and take it to the Yemeni coast.

The images, broadcast by Al Masira television, close to the Houthis, showed how a helicopter painted with the flag of Yemen and Palestine landed on the ship, on which a dozen masked fighters armed with assault rifles descended.

When inspecting the ship, the assailants entered the cockpit where there were about four crew members, who raised their arms without resisting when they were threatened at gunpoint.

After taking control of the ship, about five motorboats guarded the vessel to direct it to an unspecified Yemeni port, according to the images, which did not show scenes of shooting or explicit violence.

The Houthis announced on Sunday the capture of the ship, which they claimed belongs to Israel, and stated that these types of operations are only directed against Israeli-flagged or owned ships.

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship, which transported vehicles, is owned by a British company, but is operated by the Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen (NYK Line), which has detailed that its crew was made up of 25 sailors of Bulgarian origin at the time of the seizure. , Ukrainian, Filipino, Mexican and Romanian.

The ship was heading from India towards Turkey, sailing under the flag of the Bahamas and would be partially owned by Israeli magnate Rami Unger, which would have triggered the operation. Following the Houthis' announcement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “strongly” condemned what it considered “an Iranian attack against an international ship,” but Tehran today rejected these accusations.

For its part, the Japanese Government condemned the capture of the freighter operated by a Japanese company and requested the release of the 25 sailors on the crew taken hostage in the incident.

The Houthis assured that they will continue with similar operations “against the Israeli enemy until the aggression against the Gaza Strip ceases and the atrocious crimes that continue to this moment cease” both in the Palestinian enclave and in the West Bank.

For his part, the high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, assured this Monday that the hijacking of the cargo ship represents “a danger to international maritime security.”. The head of European diplomacy made these statements at the end of a meeting in the Jordanian capital, Amman, with the United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg.

Biden jokes at Thanksgiving event: 'I like kids more than people'

The president of the United States Joe Biden has once again starred in an uncomfortable moment during the celebration of an event this Sunday for Thanksgiving Day, which is celebrated on Thursday, November 23. At the event, the American president interacted with several children who were in the audience and after talking with them he stated with a laugh: “I like children more than people.”

However, this comment, which is found in the speech published by the White House, has not been the only thing that has attracted attention during this event held in Norfolk, Virginia.. The US president also approached a girl in the audience who was wearing a headband with pointy ears and started talking to her.

Biden asked the girl what her name was. “Catherine,” answered the youngest. After telling her that he likes her name and telling her that it is the same as her mother's, the president asked the girl her age and before the minor answered, Biden tried to guess it.. “Seventeen?” he asked.. The girl's younger brother rushed over and answered: “No, she is six years old,” according to the Fox network.

This is not the first time Biden has stated that he prefers children over adults. In 2021, after hugging a minor in Connecticut, he repeated exactly the same phrase: “I like children more than people.”. Nor is it the first time that the president has had an uncomfortable moment with children.. In July this year, Biden sniffed and nibbled a girl in Helsinki who looked visibly frightened, prompting widespread criticism.

They dismantle a network that exported hashish by postal mail from Spain to Italy

The Italian Police this Monday dismantled a criminal network that exported hashish from the south of Spain through postal courier using the names of “non-existent” Pakistani citizens, as reported by the armed force.

The operation, in which 40 people have been arrested, has been carried out in several towns in Sardinia and in the regions of Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and Abruzzo.. In addition to these locations, “the nerve center” of shipments was the city of Milan, according to authorities.

The agents have seized at these points a total of 660 kilos of hashish and cocaine valued at 15 million euros. According to the statement issued by the Italian Police, some 300 officers participated in the raid in which heavy packages were seized.. Among them, one of more than 90 kilos of hashish seized at the headquarters of an important courier company in Milan, whose owners were unaware of its contents.

Packages usually showed partially incorrect addresses agreed between the Spanish part of the network and the Italian part, causing courier companies to be forced to contact the recipients.. These used false names of Pakistani citizens, something that served as a warning that the merchandise had arrived.

The ringleaders, three men between 37 and 52 years old, also traveled to Spain to pay in advance for the merchandise, as well as to establish collaboration networks with international drug trafficking organizations in the south of the Peninsula, according to the joint investigation carried out. between the Carabineros and the Civil Guard.

The criminal group also trafficked cocaine that was supplied by “Albanian clans present in Italian towns” and who distributed the merchandise in cars with double bottoms driven by people who “took the risk” of traveling with the merchandise.

Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter dies at 96

The former first lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981), died this Sunday at the age of 96, the Carter Center Foundation reported.

“Our co-founder, former first lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter, died this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the Carter Center reported on X (formerly Twitter).

Last Friday, Rosalynn Carter had begun receiving palliative care at home, where her husband also receives it.

On February 18, it was learned that Jimmy Carter, 99, had begun palliative care at home instead of medical interventions after a series of hospital admissions.

“Rosalynn was my partner in everything I achieved,” the former president said in a statement about his wife, who was diagnosed with dementia last year.

“She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. “As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew someone loved me and supported me,” Carter added.

In an interview in early September, Jason Carter, the Carters' grandson, acknowledged that the couple was “reaching the end” but remained together and in love.

The former first lady is survived by her children Jack, Chip, Jeff and Amy, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.. A grandson died in 2015.

“She died peacefully, with her family at her side,” said the foundation, which described her as “a passionate advocate for mental health, care and women's rights.”

“Carter was married for 77 years to Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002,” the Carter Center recalled.

“In addition to being a loving mother and an extraordinary first lady, my mother was a great humanitarian in her own right,” said Chip Carter.

As first lady, she urged to improve access to care and reduce stigma about problems related to mental health, the Carter family recently noted, recalling that one in 10 older Americans has dementia.

As founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, the former first lady often said that there are four types of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers in the future, and those who will need care.

Hong Kong authorities investigate possible sale of dog meat online

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation of the Hong Kong Government has opened an investigation in collaboration with the Police into the sale of dog meat over the Internet after detecting advertisements for it.

“The Department is investigating these activities and messages linked to an alleged online store to collect evidence and may lead to judicial proceedings if there is sufficient evidence,” the agency explained in a statement reported by public television RTHK.

The Department has stressed that it “will not tolerate” these “illegal activities” and that it will “strictly” apply the legislation.. He has also urged the population not to buy dog or cat meat.

The Dog and Cat Law provides for up to six months in prison and fines of up to 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 588 euros) for anyone proven to have killed dogs or cats to use their meat as food or participate in its sale or use.

Israel announces the discovery of a Hamas fortified tunnel under the Shifa hospital in Gaza

The Israeli Army claimed this Sunday to have found a “fortified tunnel” under the Shifa hospital in Gaza City, where it claims that Hamas has its main command center, and showed photos and videos of the discovery.

“Based on intelligence information from the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet (internal security agency), soldiers exposed a terrorist tunnel 55 meters long and 10 meters deep beneath the Shifa hospital complex,” said a military statement.

Israeli forces continue to work to discover the full route of the tunnel, he added.

In the videos released by the Army, a deep staircase is seen leading to the entrance to the tunnel shaft, which “consists of defense means such as an explosion-proof door and a shooting hole,” the Israeli Army notes.

A deep staircase leads to the entrance to the tunnel shaft found by the Israeli Army under the Shifa hospital. Israel Defense Forces/EFE

“The terrorist organization Hamas uses this type of door to prevent Israeli forces from entering command centers and underground assets belonging to Hamas,” he adds.

The military statement specifies that the tunnel shaft was discovered under a shed, “next to a vehicle that contained numerous weapons, including anti-tank launchers, explosives and Kalashnikov rifles.”

The Army also released aerial photographs of the Shifa hospital showing the “terrorist infrastructure found by Hamas,” including “explosives in the physiotherapy rooms, an interrogation room in the cardiology area, weapons and intelligence in the MRI center and a tunnel shaft that was located near the Qatari hospital building,” he explains.

“The results clearly demonstrate that Hamas uses numerous buildings in the hospital complex as cover for infrastructure and terrorist activities.”. “This is further evidence of the cynical way in which Hamas uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields for its murderous terrorist activities,” a military spokesman stressed.

Shifa Hospital, the most important medical center in the Gaza Strip, has been under siege by Israeli forces for several days, and last week, ground forces raided the facility.

Last Wednesday, the Israeli Army announced the discovery of weapons and combat equipment from Hamas in the Al Shifa hospital, which was evacuated this Saturday after being completely cut off and after several days without electricity, drinking water, medicine, and in amid an imminent outbreak of infection due to housing some 170 corpses that could not be refrigerated.

Among those evacuated were thousands of displaced people and 31 premature babies, who were able to reach a hospital in the south of the Strip this Sunday, from where they will be transferred to Egypt this Monday to receive adequate care.

It is estimated that about 300 people remain inside the Shifa hospital, including critical patients and medical personnel.

Israel confirms the hijacking of a ship by Yemeni rebels and attributes it to "Iranian terrorism"

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed this Sunday the hijacking of a ship by the Yemeni Houthi militias and attributed what happened to “Iranian terrorism.”. It is a Japanese merchant ship flying the Bahamas flag.

Netanyahu's office condemns the “Iranian attack” against this ship and highlights that it is a vessel owned by a British company managed by a Japanese company. At no time does it confirm that it is an Israeli ship or that it has crew members of this nationality.

“It was an Iranian-guided kidnapping carried out by the Yemeni Houthi militia,” Netanyahu's office said in a statement.. The text reveals that there are 25 crew members on the ship, including Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Filipinos and Mexicans.. “There are no Israelis on board,” he stressed.

For Netanyahu, this “is another act of Iranian terrorism that represents a leap forward in Iran's aggression against the citizens of the free world, with international consequences for the security of global maritime trade,” he added.

Previously, the Israeli Armed Forces had confirmed the kidnapping in waters near Yemen, in the southern Red Sea, “a very serious event on a global level”. “It is a ship that left Turkey bound for India with an international civilian crew, without Israelis. “It is not an Israeli ship,” he stressed.

The Emirati television channel Al Arabiya reported the boarding of the ship 'Galaxy Leader' in the waters of the Red Sea, and highlights that it was an Israeli ship. Lebanese television Al Mayadin reports, citing Houthi sources, that there are 52 crew members on board and that the ship is Israeli.

American television NBC has reported, citing three American sources, that the Houthi militants boarded the ship by descending from a helicopter around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.. According to NBC it is a ship flying the Bahamas flag.

The Houthis had announced this Sunday attacks against all ships owned or operated by Israeli companies or flying the Israeli flag in the Red Sea in response to the offensive against the Gaza Strip following the assaults carried out on October 7 by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

The group's military spokesman, Yahya Sari, has indicated that its forces will attack these ships “whether they are heading to occupied Palestine”, in reference to Israel, “or anywhere else”, for which he has asked all countries to “withdraw “to their workers on these ships to prevent them from suffering damage, as reported by the Al Masirah television network, linked to the Houthis.

Thus, he has emphasized in a message on his Telegram account that the threat is directed at “ships that carry the flag of the Zionist entity”, “ships operated by Israeli companies” and “ships owned by Israeli companies”, while at the same time he has assured that they have the capacity to reach these ships in the Red Sea “or any other place that the Zionist enemy does not expect.”

Israel and Hamas negotiate five-day truce in exchange for hostages as Gaza runs out of hospitals

Israel and Hamas would be negotiating an agreement to release dozens of hostages in exchange for a five-day pause in the bombing of Gaza, as published this Saturday by The Washington Post and the US Government has confirmed this Sunday that, although it has not delved into details about a truce, he has indicated that the pact is “close.”

The agreement, mediated by Qatar, could be launched in the coming days, allowing the release of some of the 240 hostages, children and women kidnapped by the Islamist group. In addition, it would facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing, on the border between the Strip and Gaza.

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, stated this Saturday in a column in the same Washington Post that his “heart aches” for the loss of lives of Palestinian civilians, but he once again opposed a ceasefire because he believes that it would be taken advantage of by Hamas to “rebuild its rocket arsenal” and prepare new attacks on Israel.

However, the Deputy National Security Advisor, Jonathan Finer, told the NBC channel this Sunday that Israel and Hamas are “closer” than ever to closing an agreement, and although he has not specified numbers of those released, he has indicated that they would be ” much larger than 12″.

“What I can say at this time is that some of the pending areas of disagreement, in very complicated and very sensitive negotiations, have been reduced,” Finer said on NBC's Meet the Press program, without giving details about the agreement. .

“We are not going to summarize all the details of what is still being discussed. We believe that it is necessary to do it (the agreement); “People are being held in unconscionable conditions inside Gaza, including several Americans, and they need to be allowed to return home,” he said.

Finer has also not given details about the pause in hostilities, but has stressed that it is necessary to be able to execute the agreement because to execute it “would involve moving hostages”, making it a “very dangerous battlefield in Gaza.”

“Without going into the duration, one of the things that the parties themselves have said, even publicly, is that this could, and probably would, include an extended period of a multi-day pause in fighting,” he added. This pause would have the “important benefit of facilitating the distribution of humanitarian assistance, that is a priority under any circumstances, even if there is no hostage agreement.”

The agreement would be reflected in a six-page document and, in principle, provides for aerial surveillance to monitor compliance, according to the American newspaper. If carried out, it would be the first sustained pause in the Israeli offensive in the enclave since the start of the war.

Gaza hospitals out of service

While a temporary truce is being negotiated, all hospitals in the capital of Gaza are out of service and only two small clinics in the city remain operational, the Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, confirmed this Sunday.. This has caused 31 premature babies in Al Shifa hospital to be transferred to Egypt to receive adequate medical care.

The Israeli Army accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure as a shield, including hospitals. In fact, this Sunday he claimed to have found a “fortified tunnel” under the Al Shifa hospital, where he alleges that the Islamist group Hamas has its main command center, and has shown photos and videos of the discovery.

“Based on intelligence information from the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet (internal security agency), soldiers exposed a 55-meter-long and 10-meter-deep terrorist tunnel beneath the Shifa hospital complex,” he said. a military statement.

The 31 premature babies, whose lives were feared due to the incessant Israeli military offensive, were finally evacuated this Sunday to the south of the Strip bound for Egyptian territory, as confirmed by the Palestinian Red Crescent, which carried out the operation in coordination with the WHO and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

A nurse cares for Palestinian babies born prematurely who were transferred from Al Shifa AP Hospital

For its part, the Gaza Ministry of Health has reported that the babies have arrived at the Al Sultan hospital, located in Rafah, a town at the southern end of the Palestinian enclave that borders Egypt. The country is expected to receive the babies this Monday – along with their mothers or closest relatives – to provide them with adequate medical care.

The risk to the lives of babies has been going on for more than a week, when Israeli troops surrounded the Al Shifa hospital, which was already almost non-functional due to the lack of electricity due to fuel shortages.. In total, in just over a week nine babies have died due to lack of oxygen and energy in the incubators, according to Health.

Beyond the transfer of the babies, the WHO is also trying to evacuate the rest of the staff and patients in serious condition who have had to stay in the hospital.. These are expected to be taken to the Nasser Complex and the European Hospital in Gaza, both in the south of the strip, the WHO indicated, clarifying that these two centers are also at the limit of their capacity.

In this sense, countries in the international community are beginning to offer to receive Palestinian minors in their hospitals, as is the case of France. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the country's readiness to receive sick or injured Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip in its hospitals.

Elysée sources cited by the French television network BFMTV have indicated that Macron conveyed this intention to the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattá al Sisi, during a telephone conversation held on Saturday, when he also confirmed the sending of a new plane with ten tons of medical material. .

Likewise, he reiterated his call for “international cooperation to fight terrorism” and opted for “resuming the peace process” to “respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to have a State and live in peace and security alongside the State.” From Israel”.

Macron also stressed “the need for an immediate humanitarian truce that leads to a ceasefire” in order to deliver aid “in the safest way possible” to the Palestinian population living in the Gaza Strip, while announcing the sending a second medical vessel to support humanitarian efforts in the area.