News, July '04

July 25th, resumé.

(Church and Sport news click more) 4 presumed ETA terrorists arrested, possibly frustrating an attempt to reconstitute a terrorist 'commando'; Banco Santander understood to be offering up to 8.8 billion GBP for UK's 6th largest bank, Abbey - first serious incursion of a European bank into British retailing and showing the economic power of Spanish business; heat wave causes first death as temperatures again rise, -40ºC plus (105ºF)- government reactivates emergency heat-wave health services plan; as parliamentary investigation about 3/11 moved into its 3rd week, more mystery than light is appearing: police mafias, petty crime, links between the Aviles explosives theft and ETA, etc.. El Mundo claims Suarez Trashorras was also working for ETA, both stealing explosive and vehicles and that the same day in February that the ETA 'caravan of death' was discovered heading for Madrid http://www.prayforspain.com/archive/index8.html, the Moroccans also received their explosive; finance minister Solbes finds hidden debts left by previous government, leading to budget deficit this year; ; cabin crew of Air Europa threaten strike action coinciding with key August dates; 105 illegals detained landing on coast of Granada, Andualucia, in 3 boats in 48 hours last week; another 27 Moroccans arrested landing on Cadiz coast with 25 kg of hashish; King attends annual hommage to Spain's patron saint, James, in Santiago, Galicia, while the royal family is now settling in Mallorca for the summer holidays and the regatta season; danger of earthquakes grows in Balearics, Canaries and Galicia, according to national seismic office; tourism up 4.4% despite 3/11 effect.

Sport:

Olympics Madrid chosen as finalist for 2012 location choice. Decision to be announced next year. Paris is favourite. Other finalists: New York, London and Moscow
Football (soccer): Luís Aragonés appointed new national trainer after Euro debacle; Euro Cup: Spain knocked out in third game after losing to Portugal; evangelical Juan Carlos Valerón gave Spain its only goal in the competition to win in first game against Russia, but did not play against Portugal; they drew against Greece; Valerón was the only squad player not to make a pilgrimage prior to the championship to Santiago de Compostela to ask the apostle's help!
Motor: Bikes: GB, Donnington: - Gibernau 3rd in GP, Pedrosa won in 250, 2 Spaniards on podium in 125, several in leading overall championship positions, especially Pedrosa; Rally: Carlos Sainz wins 26th Rally victory in Argentina to become record holder of rally victories; F1 Hockenheim (D) GP: Fernando Alonso finished in 3rd place, while M Schumacher won again - currently Alonso is in 5th championship position
Tennis: Ferrer, Nadal and Costa through to 1/4 finals in Stuttgart - first two will meet, guaranteeing a Spaniard in semi-finals
Cycling: Spaniards in the Tour: Juan Miguel Mercado won 18th stage, Spaniard Aitor Speedy González won 14th stage and now is winner of stages in all 3 major 3-week races, Tour, Giro and Vuelta, 3 more were in stage top 10; finally Mancebo held 6th position overall, with two other Spaniards in top 10 Illes Balears team was 4th; the course of the 2004 Vuelta Ciclista de España is available at: http://www.lavuelta.com/04/ingles/recorrido/index.asp
Basketball Spanish juniors win European Cup auguring bright future for the sport in Spain

Churches

Summer outreaches are getting under way. Full details: http://www.prayforspain.com/projects/index3.html

Mega-Concert A major evangelistic concert event has got permission to go ahead in one of Spain's principal squares and tourist attractions: La Plaza del Obradoiro, in Santiago de Compostela This will take place, moreover, on the night of 14th August, eve of a major date in Santiago's Holy Year. More: http://www.prayforspain.com/projects/index3.html

Protestants, Jews and Muslims, through their official representative bodies, claim the same advantageous financial rights as Roman Catholics. The 3 recognised minority religions have for years demanded an end to the unconstitutional financing by the 'lay' Spanish State of the Catholic Church. Now they are changing their tune and demanding that they, too, should be financed by the State. The argument is primarily economic, but the events of 3/11 and the change of government have caused some significant rethinking all round. Evidently, there is concern about state intervention in church life which has prevented the protestants from adopting this position before, but the current state of things causes much discrimination. Evangelicals will surely be divided on this new position!

Both Roman Catholic and Evangelical churches are campaigning against the government plans to extend 'marriage' to same sex couples.

Sources El Mundo, TVE, EP