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News, December 0327 December, resumé.(Church and Sport news: click on more) ETA attempt to bomb Madrid confounded by police action - three bombs (2 in situ)discovered and defused, one bomb exploded with no dead or wounded, two arrested also had list of potential targets which might have been the objectives of other bombs/ attacks; king Juan Carlos, in his Christmas broadcast, encouraged all Spaniards to work, under the Constitution, towards a 'great, common, plural and divers house', considering the needy and sharing with them the benefits of the economic growth we are seeing, considering those committed to defend the interests of Spain and also taking the environment into acount - a complete message with the 25 year old Constitution at its centre ; as Christmas arrives the national parties, PSOE and PP are as much at loggerheads as ever, accusing each other of being precursors to the division of Spain more >> El Gordo National Christmas Lottery spread wide22 December. This year's national Christmas lottery, known as EL GORDO, the largest National Lottery prize in Spain and one of the largest in the world was drawn this morning. All day, hundreds of people celebrated a winning share of one of the lucky tickets - of which there were thousands. more >> Key leader Juan Gili with the Lord16 December We are sad to announce the death today of Juan Gili. Juan was founder of Evangelismo en Acción (in 1967, within months of the religious toleration law being decreed) and thereby prime mover in ministries like the new radio series mentioned elsewhere in this section, which he led for many years. In addition he was the first director of the TVE programme Tiempo de Creer (Time to Believe) He also had a key role in many major Spanish interchurch activities/ groups like the Evangelical Churches' Federation and Evangelists' Conference. more >> Top ETA leaders arrested9 December. Early this morning Gorka Palacios, considered ETA's nº 1 and three others were arrested in Pau, southern France, just days after another top leader, Ibón Fernández, alias 'Susper' was arrested with two others in Mont de Marsan. more >> Radio Good News!8th December. Transworld Radio and Evangelism in Action have signed an agreement with 50 secular radio stations to transmit right across Spain a series of programmes about the Bible over the next five years. Vernon McGee's “Thru the Bible” is being adapted and made more evangelistic to suit the Spanish situation. The work to put these programmes together is largely done and now 1300 half hour programmes are ready for broadcasting! more >> News Theme: Spanish Constitution is 25 years oldOn 6th December, 1978, the Spanish Constitution was formally signed by the king, Juan Carlos and political leaders. Spain ceased to be a dictatorship and began a so far successful period of peace (mostly) and prosperity under democratic rule. As the 25th anniversary has approached, the consensus which held the constitution in high respect over these years has begun to break. more >> Seven Spanish Spies Shot in Iraq1 December. On Saturday afternoon, 29th November,seven Spanish intelligence officers died in an ambush south of Bagdad. more >> Catalan regional elections call for photo finish, with no clear winner16 November, 22.25. After a fast count, at 97% of the vote the governing Convergencia i Unió coalition drew ahead of the Socialist party, previously leading the polls and count. But neither party have an overall majority more >> News theme: Basque politics and ETADuring July and August (2003) many of us were concerned by the numerous attacks by ETA terrorists, for foreigners and Spaniards at large,most notably the hotel bombings in Alicante and Benidorm. In early December, four of the band's top military leaders were arrested in France, thwarting an imediate pre-Christmas campaign of murders and possibly limiting ETA for the future. However, while concern will remain about the threat of ETA attacks, political interest is now mostly directed at the regional president's proposals for extending autonomy to become a 'free associated state', rather like Puerto Rico. more >> News theme: weather and winter travelSpain is not, contrary to its image, permanent summer! The tourist season is limited, even at coastal areas, except in the Canary Islands, to half the year. Winter, especially inland, is far harsher than it is in mild Britain, so far further north. more >> News theme: Spain and IraqSpain is particularly in the news due to its position on Iraq, closely linking itself with Washington. Recently the International Donor Conference took place in Madrid, underlining Spain's commitment to ongoing support for a new Iraq. more >> More NewsA few more news items and where to find more news about Spain: more >> |