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News, May 2005May 31st, resumé.(Sport news click more) Zapatero rejects EU financing proposals; GRAPO terror suspect arrested at French frontier; 33 Maghrebi teenagers come ashore by patera open boat on south coast, 17 escape capture; in 3/11 trial more evidence shows that police were on the trail of the Madrid bombers; 30th: 2nd anniversary of the last mortal ETA attack; 26th: Otegi released on bail; Arnaldo Otegi, Batasuna leader, imprisoned, charged with membership of ETA; 98% of Spanish beaches are in very good shape at start of season, according to EU water quality inspectors; first major forest fire of the year out of control near Tarragona; 25th: Car bomb explodes in Madrid (calle de Alcalá) as Congress discusses possible negotiation with ETA - 15 injured, one taken to hospital, photos: http://www.elmundo.es/fotografia/2005/05/atentado_eta/index.html; Simone Veil awarded Prince of Asturias International Cooperation prize; 1st quarter growth 3.3%; 24th: 3 detained on 3/11 charges; Bank of Spain warns of dangers of rising mortgage debt; 23rd: New Basque speaker elected in 10th round of voting; 3 presumed ETA terrorists detained in France; anniversary weekend over for Royal Couple; 2 ETA bombs hit Basque firms over weekend - one deactivated in time, none hurt; 29 died in traffic accidents over weekend, 7 in one crash, in which only those rear seat kids wearing seatbelts survived; papal message calls for 'freedom of conscience' during celebration in Zaragoza of the 150th anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (of Mary) http://www.prayforspain.com/comment/index8.html - message refers to homosexual marriage bill. Other recent news includes: 20th: Airline passengers to all destinations must show IDs from next week - up to now only those leaving Schengen area had to do so; Basque issues remain top of news today 19th: 20 arrested in Spain and Marocco on charges of running illegal immigration racket using flights to Brazil via Madrid; Save The Children demands protection for the 6,500 unaccompanied immigrant children (mostly Africans) in Spain; judge Del Olmo and the prosecutor travelled the 3/11 train route this morning to reconstruct the events; 18th: Basque party PNV welcomes government stance on ETA and hopes this might lead to an end to the terror; 216 million euro reduction in EU contribution for Spain after budget surplus in '04; 17th: 3/11 investigation - policeman was the phone dealer who sold and adapted mobiles for the islamic terrorists, now reveals all - shows that superiors did not take seriously the threat that had been revealed; 4 ETA bombs go off in Basque Country factories - none directly affected, but 3 by toxic fumes- much damage to the firms' property; 20 arrested for enslaving immigrant sex workers ; El Rocío fiesta follows annual tradition of storming the chapel gates to process the 'virgin'in annual orgy; 14th: Governing Socialist party motions permission for government to enter talks with ETA to end Basque terror; 12th:After State of the Nation debate it appears the old PP-PSOE anti-terrorist pact is dead; 7 'pateras' located in past two days; 11th:State of the Nation debate in Congress: national divide highlighted; Civil Guard police plan to extend coastal watch for immigrant 'patera' open boats to entire Mediterranean coast; 2 more presumed ETA support members arrested; baby stolen from Barcelona clinic 9th: 4 detained on ETA charges; 'patera' open boat with 58 on board intercepted off south coast; 8th: Palace announces that princess Letizia is expecting her first child for November birth - will be heir to the throne after Felipe; immigrants who have been 'regularised' will pay in 1.5 billion to Social Security; Madrid celebrates 444th anniversary as capital of Spain; 6th: last day for immigrant legalisation process - 575,000 likely to 'get papers', many deeply anxious about future; 2 members of ETA condemned to over 2,000 years for placing bombs at Chamartin station in Madrid; open boat intercepted, with 39 on board, close to south coast, 2 others yesterday in the straits, with 99; assisted reproduction bill approved by government -to end limit on the number of embryos allowed and for therapeutic ends; drought compensation for farmers being considered; over 100 now in line for 3/11 trial - 25 imprisoned, rest on bail; 5th: Basque president Ibarretxe met with Zapatero - promise of more autonomy for the region; 4th: 41 dead on roads over Mayday weekend, which saw major traffic chaos, as up to 400,000 vehicles attempted to leave Madrid; macro Al Quaida trial resumes; 3rd: Basque leader Ibarretxe and Otegi of outlawed party Batasuna met in Vitoria today - calls for all-party peace process; patera with 24 on board and one already dead found landing on Grand Canary; The Economist claims Spain is 3rd in list of working days lost to strikes over the past decade; 1st: Government warns people to use less water as drought reaches critical levels -worst Nov-Mar rainfall since 1947; tax return time begins - Beckham expected to declare 25 million Euros, most get money back. Sport:Football (soccer): Barcelona proclaimed League champion with 2 games to go - Madrid failed to catch up lead, despite valliant last month effort; all thoughts moving to personnel changes and new season. |