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Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Disinformation catalyzes anti-migrant unrest in Spain
MADRID: The rare anti-migrant violence that recently rocked a Spanish town demonstrated how online disinformation feeds xenophobic hate speech, which leapt from screens to real life with the support of politicians, experts said. Last weekend's unrest in the southeastern town of Torre Pacheco pitted far-right groups against immigrant residents, mainly of Moroccan origin, but a heavy police presence prevented serious confrontations. The altercations were sparked after a 68-year-old pensioner said three men of North African origin attacked him without provocation on July 9. Two days later, the conservative-led city council organized a protest against insecurity, which quickly escalated when far-right groups joined with hostile slogans against immigrants. That day, and for several nights, riots broke out in the streets of the southeastern city of 40,000. Authorities have arrested 14 people, including three suspected of involvement in the attack on the retiree. Also among those detained is the leader of the far-right 'Deport Them Now' group, who allegedly called for a 'hunt' of migrants on social media. The sudden outbreak of violence took Spain by surprise but anti-migrant discourse had already been brewing, partly due to disinformation circulating on social media. AFP's digital verification team in Spain has debunked many false claims linked to immigrants, mostly concerning public benefits they supposedly receive and alleged attacks by foreigners on Spanish customs. For Alexandre Lopez Borrull, a professor in communication and information science at the Open University of Catalonia, disinformation in such cases is 'the fuel and the spark at the same time.' The narrative 'is fueled over a long period of time' and when a specific event occurs, it can act as a spark in scenarios like the one that played out in Torre Pacheco, he said. A video purporting to show the assault on the pensioner, along with a list of alleged attackers, quickly circulated online — both debunked by AFP. Elisa Brey, a sociology professor at Madrid's Complutense University, likened the phenomenon to criminals setting off wildfires. 'It's hot, there's a temperature alert, and an arsonist passes by and throws a match. That is what happens with disinformation,' she said. Experts also emphasized the role of politicians, particularly the far-right Vox party, in fanning the flames of anti-migrant rhetoric. Vox has long connected immigration to crime and recently proposed, echoing other EU political parties and far-right activists, that some migrants be deported as part of a broad 'remigration' plan. Foreigners make up 14 percent of Spain's population, up from only 1.6 percent in 1998. In events like the violent protests in Torre Pacheco, malicious discourse seeps through different layers of social media before erupting into the public sphere, Brey explained. First, it simmers at an 'underlying' level on less visible platforms like Telegram, before jumping to more popular networks such as X and TikTok. Politicians then amplify the message through public statements, she said. Vox's leader in the southeastern Murcia region, which includes Torre Pacheco, blamed the unrest on 'illegal immigration,' claiming that migrants had assaulted the elderly and committed sexual violence against women. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into his comments to determine if they constitute a hate crime. Social media was used in a way that, 'in the end, it led to these events,' added Marcelino Madrigal, an expert in online platforms and cybersecurity. Madrigal also detected that parties were shifting their position on immigration with an eye on political gain at a time of speculation about early elections in Spain. 'With disinformation about immigration, the aim is to destabilize a government or a country as well as present yourself as an alternative to save us from a problem that does not exist,' he said.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham undergoes shoulder injury and set to miss early part of season
MADRID — Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham underwent shoulder surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss the start of the La Liga season. The club said in a brief statement that the England international needed surgery 'to address recurrent dislocation of his left shoulder.' The procedure was 'successful,' it added. 'Bellingham will now undergo a period of rehabilitation, prior to returning to training and starting his recovery,' the club's statement said. Madrid did not say for how long Bellingham will be sidelined, but Spanish media reported he could be out two to three months. Madrid opens its La Liga campaign on Aug. 19 against Osasuna. ___ AP soccer:
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Puig posts 8% rise in Q2 sales
MADRID, July 16 (Reuters) - Spanish beauty company Puig, known for its perfume brands Rabanne, Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gaultier, said on Wednesday its second-quarter sales at constant currency rose 8% from a year ago, in line with the slowdown in growth the company expects for the year. Puig reported 1.09 billion euros ($1.27 billion) in sales during the second quarter, in keeping with the 1.1 billion euros forecast by analysts in an LSEG poll. ($1 = 0.8549 euros)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Atletico Madrid signs American midfielder Johnny Cardoso to continue boosting its squad
FILE - United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso shakes hands with Haiti defender Garven-michee Metusala (6) after a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match, June 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias, File) MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid continues to boost its squad for next season, signing young American midfielder Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis. The 23-year-old Cardoso arrived on a five-year contract, Atletico said Wednesday. Advertisement Cardoso was born in the United States but is of Brazilian descent and has an Italian passport, meaning he doesn't occupy a non-European Union slot in Diego Simeone's squad. The holding midfielder played in Brazil until moving to Betis in the 2023-24 season, where he became an important player for Manuel Pellegrini's team. Cardoso made his senior debut for the United States in a match against Wales in 2020. He has 22 caps, winning the CONCACAF Nations League in 2023 and 2024. Cardoso had to withdraw from Mauricio Pochettino's CONCACAF Nations League squad in March due to a muscle injury. Advertisement Atletico on Tuesday reached an agreement to sign 24-year-old Argentina international Thiago Almada from Brazilian club Botafogo. It previously had boosted its squad by signing midfielder Álex Baena from Villarreal and 22-year-old Italian left back Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta. Simeone's team finished third in the Spanish league last season, behind Real Madrid and champion Barcelona. It was eliminated in the group stage of the Club World Cup. ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Atletico Madrid signs American midfielder Johnny Cardoso to continue boosting its squad
MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid continues to boost its squad for next season, signing young American midfielder Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis. The 23-year-old Cardoso arrived on a five-year contract, Atletico said Wednesday. Cardoso was born in the United States but is of Brazilian descent and has an Italian passport, meaning he doesn't occupy a non-European Union slot in Diego Simeone's squad. The holding midfielder played in Brazil until moving to Betis in the 2023-24 season, where he became an important player for Manuel Pellegrini's team. Cardoso made his senior debut for the United States in a match against Wales in 2020. He has 22 caps, winning the CONCACAF Nations League in 2023 and 2024. Cardoso had to withdraw from Mauricio Pochettino's CONCACAF Nations League squad in March due to a muscle injury. Atletico on Tuesday reached an agreement to sign 24-year-old Argentina international Thiago Almada from Brazilian club Botafogo. It previously had boosted its squad by signing midfielder Álex Baena from Villarreal and 22-year-old Italian left back Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta. Simeone's team finished third in the Spanish league last season, behind Real Madrid and champion Barcelona. It was eliminated in the group stage of the Club World Cup. ___ AP soccer:
