News, November '05

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November 29th, roundup.

(Sport news click more) P4S was closed 24th to 29th. Highlights from the news over this period: suspect Islamist/Al quaida cell round up un southern cities; snow across north cuased travel trouble, while tropical storm Delta hit Canaries with power and water cuts for days; Zapatero -with Blair- launched alliance of Civilisations in big Barcelona summit; Digital Terreistrail TV went live with 18 channels; national water reserves rose again, but SE cities still at danger levels; 23rd: Growth 3.5% in 3rd quarter; pressure grows on industry minister and Catalan Socialists' secretary Jose Montilla to resign after revelations of irregular finincing of the party and involvement in major energy takeover bid; 22nd: 2 fishing boats arrested in Norway; ETA trial continues, accused refuse to answer questions; fathers to get one week paternity leave; unearned income to be taxed at 15% from 2007; 33 illegals rescued from drifting patera in straits -first spotted 2 days ago; 21st: 'Macro trial' of 56 ETA suspects begins; 30 subsaharan illegals detained landing in Grand Canary from patera (open boat) -up to 20 more may have escaped detention; 49.3 million 'legal' visitors (tourists) arrived during the first 10 months of the year, more >>

News from the Churches

Madrid celebrates First Regional Protestant Congress The event is taking place from 25th to 27th November, aiming to unite all the region's protestants, most of whom would consider themselves evangelical. At the inauguration it is hoped that a god number of local, regional and national political figures will be present, in addition to members of most of the churches. more >>

New Catalan Statute faces hard Congress passage

2nd November. An already much debated proposal goes before the Congress today. It is the new Catalan regional Estatut, outlining a greater degree of autonomous rule for the region in Spain's North East, which considers itself rather different to the rest of Spain, not the least due to having its own language and partly a different history. The government wants to change some parts of the proposal, while the opposition Partido Popular wants it completely thrown out as being unconstitutional, even in adapted form. more >>

Successor to throne born, heralding change to Constitution

31 October. Early this morning Princess Letizia gave birth to a daughter, Leonor. She is the first child of Letizia and Prince Felipe and thus his immediate successor to the Spanish throne. However, as things stand, the line of succession folows Salic Law, such that, should a boy be born to the royal couple, he would take over the succession, just as Prince Felipe is heir to the throne despite being the third child of King Juan Carlos. Everyone is agreed that a change is needed to ensure the equality of women's rights with this new generation. more >>

25th Prince of Asturias prizes, October 21st

Fernando Alonso at a Silverstone presentation

The 25th edition of Spain's most prestigious Prince of Asturias prizes took place again in the Campoamor theatre in Oviedo, the principality's capital. The best known of the prize-winners is Asturian racing driver Fernando Alonso, but the prizes are far from a regional event. Last year's Concord prize went to J.K.Rowling, while this year's International Cooperation prize goes to Simone Veil. Only one other Spaniard is among the winners: Tamara Rojo, lead dancer with the Royal Ballet. more >>

15th Iberoamerican summit strengthens organisation

18th October. The summit held this weekend in Salamanca brought together leaders from Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Latin America and strengthened this equivalent of the British Commonwealth by appointing a Secretary General for the first time. more >>

After 14 dead at African border crossing attempts and Maroccan bussing of illegals into the desert, EU announces new 'Marshall Plan'

[Image 14???]12 October. Over the past weeks thousands of would-be immigrants have made several attempts to cross the fences protecting the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. On the 5th 6 died and on Sept. 28th, 5 died. Today, in response to all that has happened over this time, the EU has announced a new 'Marshall Plan' to significantly increase and coordinate aid to the continent. more >>

Hurricane Vince may be just in time to save cuts in domestic water supplies

What happened to the swimming pool? /EFE

18th October The hydrological year, ending 30th September, saw the lowest rainfall since records began but hurricane Vince has changed the scenario. Average rainfall this past week was 44.1 Litres per sqm (18 inches), which is 3 times th average for this time of year. But highest rainfall came on the coast itself, where the water rushes straight off into the sea. So, will it's effects last? This week saw a rise of 0.3% in water reserves. (c.f. More News for data from the 25th.) more >>

Evangelical's cyclist husband found murdered

[Image 12???]21 September. The body of cyclist Francisco Quintana Calvo, disappeared since Thursday, 15th Sept., was found Tuesday 20th burnt close to Madrid and has now been identified. It is mooted that he was involved in an accident with a motorist, who decided to burn the evidence, or related to a gang which has robbed cyclists of their bikes in the area recently. more >>

Macro Al Qaeda cell trial ends in Madrid

27 September. A major trial concluded yesterday investigating the Spanish cell of Al Qaeda which existed around the time of the 9/11 attacks in the USA. Among the 24 accused was IMAD EDDIN BARAKAT, 'Abu Dahdah', taken to have been the leader of the cell and contact person with Bin Laden. The prosecutor demanded 73.000 years, but the judge gave him 27. 8 were released and 17 others found guilty of various crimes under Spanish law such as membership of or collaboration with a terrorist organisation and apology for terrorism. more >>

News theme: Basque politics and ETA

Until 2003, terrorism in Spain meant ETA. Bombs, or bomb threats, assassinations and extortion were a regular part of life, affecting few directly, but leaving no one completely sure that it could not hit him or her. Evidently, the events of 11th March, 2004 changed the whole way Spaniards look at terrorism, as ETA lost its monopoly with the arrival of islamic terror. At the same time, over the past 18 months many accused of key ETA roles have been arrested. Yet, while terrorism is now regarded in a different way, the Basque 'problem' continues to be a major theme in the news and the political agenda. more >>

News Theme: Big events in 2005, 400th anniversary of El Quijote

IN a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind... on just such a day as this 400 years ago... 2005 is the 400th anniversary of (part 1 of) the mother of all novels, Cervantes' Don Quijote, a book written under the eyes of the Spanish Inquisition but which expresses many ideas and quotes scripture at large. Evangelicals have not missed this fact and are hard at work to point out the references! more >>

News Theme, Autumn in Spain and the Weather

During September the main topic was late summer storms, the most widely feared phenomenon being known as the 'Gota Fría'. As Autumn arrives, so do (normally) calmer rains, finally bringing water back to rivers, reservoirs and on to end users. Snow makes its appearance on peaks in October and gradually becomes a more concerning issue on roads in November. Hurrican Vince this October was (so far) a unique phenomenon. But finally, in its wake, some normal rain has reached most areas of the country. more >>

More News

A few more news items and where to find more news about Spain:

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