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More defence spending needed to face Russia threat: Spain

AFP

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called for increased military spending in light of the security threat posed by Russia as Spain marked 40 years since joining NATO. 

“The war in Ukraine has opened the eyes of European society, including in Spain,” said Sanchez at a commemorative event at Madrid’s Teatro Real attended by King Felipe VI and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

“Many have understood that our security is no longer guaranteed,” he added. 

“Today, our security is under threat from the regime of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Sanchez said, making it “essential” that “we reinforce our deterrence capabilities”. 

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That would “require military capabilities that were modern, viable, and deployable, which can only be acquired through increased investment in defence,” he said.

“The cost of doing nothing would be far higher,” he added.

Spain invested 1.03 percent of its gross domestic product on defence spending in 2021, one of the lowest figures among members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Only Luxembourg invested less, according to data from the military alliance. 

Sanchez pledged to increase Spain’s investment to the 2.0 percent required by the alliance, but he is likely to face opposition from his hard-left junior coalition partner Podemos, which refused to join Monday’s event. 

On June 29 and 30, Madrid will host the NATO summit, which comes at a crucial time following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting bid by Sweden and Finland to join the alliance, ending decades of military non-alignment. 

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Their request to join NATO is one of the most significant changes in Europe’s security architecture in decades, not least because Finland shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia.

Stoltenberg said it would be “a historic summit”. 

“At the Madrid summit, we will chart the way ahead for the next decade,” he said, referring to plans to revise and update NATO’s strategy, which was last reset in 2010.

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International

Trump Authorizes Military to Take Control of Federal Land Along U.S.-Mexico Border

In a presidential memorandum issued Friday afternoon, Trump directed the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, and Agriculture to facilitate the transfer of designated public lands to allow for “military activities” under the jurisdiction of the Pentagon.

According to the document, the land transfer must begin within the next 45 days. The only area specifically named in the order is the so-called “Roosevelt Reservation”, a narrow strip of federally owned land—approximately 20 meters wide—that runs parallel to the U.S.-Mexico border for about 1,000 kilometers, stretching from New Mexico to California.

The memo does not clarify what specific military operations will take place on these lands or what their exact purpose will be.

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International

Two fans killed in gate collapse outside Chile’s Estadio Monumental

Two people lost their lives near the Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Chile, following a chaotic incident that occurred before the Copa Libertadores match between Colo Colo and Brazil’s Fortaleza on April 10. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the victims were crushed after a fence on the stadium perimeter collapsed, though authorities are investigating whether a police armored vehicle may have played a role.

It was a black Thursday at Chile’s Estadio Monumental. Two local fans died outside the stadium after a yet-unclarified incident caused a metal gate to fall on them, leading to fatal asphyxiation.

Local media reports indicate that a group of fans attempted to force their way into the stadium before kickoff. In response, local police allegedly deployed armored vehicles to block the breach.

Preliminary reports cited by local newspapers and news agencies like EFE identify the victims as two young individuals—one 18 years old and the other just 13.

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International

Dominican Republic mourns over 200 dead in Jet Set nightclub collapse

On Thursday, April 10, 2025, the Dominican Republic began mourning the more than 200 victims of the collapse of Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, although many families are still desperately waiting for the remains of their loved ones.

The roof of the Jet Set club collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, during a live performance by iconic merengue singer Rubby Pérez.

Rescue workers were completing the recovery of human remains from beneath the rubble of corrugated metal and steel beams, as search efforts ended with no further hope of finding survivors.

Around the morgue, the atmosphere was one of grief, anguish, and despair. A list of the deceased was posted on a canvas covering a nearby tent, where crowds gathered in distress. Health Minister Víctor Atallah stated that forensic teams are working at full capacity and urged patience. “No one will go unidentified, and no one will be left without answers,” he promised. “We will turn over every last stone if we have to.”

The tragic collapse also claimed the lives of several foreigners, including a significant number of Venezuelan nationals who were present at the club, according to local newspaper Listín Diario. The outlet reported the official death toll at 221, which included one Haitian, two French nationals, one Italian, and one Kenyan.

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Meanwhile, relatives, friends, and fans of Rubby Pérez released white balloons outside the National Theater shortly before the hearse departed with the remains of the beloved singer, known for hits like “Enamorado de ella” and “Buscando tus besos.” Draped over his coffin were both the Dominican and Venezuelan flags, the latter symbolizing the country where his fame took off.

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