News, March 05

March 18th, one year on, resumé.

(Sport news click more) 3 ETA suspects arrented in Montpellier, France; 16th: lawyer Fernando del Valle, principal suspect in Costa del Sol fraud investigation now charged; 17 arrested in anti-narcotics operation in north; Other recent news includes: 15th: 3 presumed ETA terrorists arrested in Basque regions; 13th:major police operation against international money laundering on Costa del Sol underway - numerous arrested, 5 in prison; 11th:chimes of 650 church bells fill morning air in Madrid in memory of last year's 191 dead - many other memorial cerimonies; Feb inflation 3.3%; 9th:118,000 irregular immigrants have requested legalisation in first month of special amnesty procedure - two months to go; Pack of Cards murderor, who killed a number of people around Madrid, including an evangelical from Ecuador,condemned to 142 years; 8th:Prince Felipe presides opening of anti-terrorist summit in Madrid, one year after 3/11 train killings in Madrid - Madrid Agenda to be accepted as a declaration of intent for the future; 5 Civil Guard police killed by truck as sleeping Romanian driver rolled through anti-terrorist control - he had no work or transport licence; Jaouad el Bouzrouti, suspected 3/11 terrorist arrested in Fuenlabrada (Madrid); bishop Blazquez of Bilbao elected president of Catholic Episcopal Conference.

Sport:

Olympics International Olympic Committee in Madrid Feb 3rd to 6th to assess 2012 hosting possibilities - optimism for selection reigns after visit!
Football (soccer): Madrid in doldrums again as Barcelona leads League; Champions' League: no Spanish teams remain, Madrid beaten by Juventus, Barça knocked out by Chelsea in last 16; 3 teams still in Europe (UEFA) at this stage; Indoor: Spain wins European Championships.
Handball: Spain wins Tunis world championships, easily defeating holders Croatia.
Motor: F1 Fernando Alonso 3rd in Australia; pole this weekend in Malaysia.
Cycling: the 2005 Vuelta Ciclista de España course is now available at: http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/recorrido/mapa.asp?e=1 , this time it includes Don Quijote's stomping grounds on the 400th anniversary of the first edition of the world's most famous novel.