|
News, June 2006June 30th, roundup.(Sport news click more) First holiday month begins with heavy traffic on roads while new points system introduced tomorrow for driving licences; 29th: President Zapatero announces opening of ETA talks - most parties support government, but conservative Partido Popular and Victims' Assocoiation AVT cal this a 'sad day'; home burglaries - 'Operation Armagedon'- 83 arrested in Spain and Romania; 28th: Spain out of World Cup; Zapatero may announce start of talks with ETA today; 30 arrested (and most released on bail) in 2nd phase of 'Operation Malaya', corruption scandal involving property speculation in Marbella - 5 remain under arrest; ex president Aznar nemd board member of Murdoch's News Corp; severity of drought causes Madrid to consider Israeli use of silver iodine cristals to turn heavy atmosphere into rain over Guadarrama mountain reservoirs - it could produce up to 20% more rain; Royal Shakespeare Company in Almagro (Ciudad Real) to perform Canterbury Tales; 26th: 2 businessmen on trial for 'supporting' ETA by paying 64,000€ in revolutionary tax since the ceasefire - released without bail after first hearing; José Montilla, industry minister elected presidential candidate for next Catalan regional elections; first 'separation' order for a 'married' gay couple in Madrid; 2% of Spaniards aged between 15 and 64 use cocaine according to UN report; Brazilian gangs posing as churches enslaved immigrants. more >> News from the ChurchesMadrid churches celebrate Arts festival Under the name Bo-art, this will take place in Boadilla del Monte 29th June to 9th July. More in English from this site. more >> Sub-Saharan invasion alarms Canaries19th May. Yesterday a new record was set when 647 paperless illegal immigrants were washed ashore aboard cayuco large open fishing boats, having crossed the ocean several days from Marutiania or even Senegal. Last weekend over 1100 arrived in 4 days. more >> Thousands likely to lose all as stamp firms investigated for fraud12th May and following. Forum Filatelico and Afinsa, two firms engaged in encouraging saving through purchases of stamps are being investigated for a pyramid fraud. Many thousands, particularly evindent in country areas where up to half the population of some villages are affected, may have lost their life savings. more >> ETA announces 'Permanent Ceasefire'22nd March. Today ETA, using language similar to that used by the IRA before their final ceasefire, has announced a permenent ceasefire from Friday, 24th. Political leaders and commentators are cautious, but hopeful. The full statement can be read in English here. Or in Spanish here. Here is the statement in RTF form. more >> New Catalan Statute completes hard Congress passageEarly April. After a stormy passage through the national Cortes, the Catalan Estatut, or regional government bill, has finally been accepted. Many differing opinions can be found concerning whether this is a good or bad thing, but they largely depend on where people live and their consequent concept of 'Spain'. In Catalonia itself, as well as the Basque Country and some other 'regions', the small increase in local autonomy, including the sensitive areas of finance and language - particularly what is a 'nation'- the changes are welcomed. On the other hand the Castilian concept of Spain is seen by many as under threat. Former vice-president Alfonso Guerra has said the current political situation is similar to that in the Soviet Union in 1990: 'Spain' is about to break up. more >> News theme: Basque politics and ETAOn 22nd March ('06), ETA, the Basque separatist terrorist group, announced a permanent ceasefire. One would have expected that after many years of living with terrorism in the Basque Country and across Spain, all Spaniards would have welcomed the announcement. However, a brief glance at newspaper headlines since that date would suggest that the announcement had been the spark for an all-out fight between the major parties. Two very different reactions have come to light and hopes of true 'peace' are as far as ever. more >> More NewsA few more news items and where to find more news about Spain:more >> |