News, July, 2006

July 31st, general news roundup.

(Sport news see new section!)Row in consevative Partido Popular over gay 'wedding' of party member presided over by Madrid's mayor Ruiz Gallardon; Barcelona airport getting back to work after 4 days of chaos - judge begins charges against strikers for 'hijacking' and attempting agains aviation security; meanwhile, Ibiza-Barcelona fast ferry has break-down on high sea, later repaired and arrives 5 hours late; 205 immigrants reach Tenerife on cayuco open boat; Euribor, leding rate, above 3.5% - could hurt many mortgage borrowers; 29th: Thousands of air passengers stranded - Iberia flights at Barcelona still cancelled after wildcat handling strike - today is the busiest day of the year... in theory; 28th: Barcelona airport at standstill due to walk out by handling staff - most of today's 942 flights affected - concession change threatens up to 900 jobs; 'Historic memory' bill agreed in cabinet banning symbols of Franco dictatorship to museums; 4 immigrants die in attempt to reach Canaries; unemployment down almost 100,000 in 2nd quarter according to EPA survey; 8 million car journeys expected over weekend as holidaymakers start or finish their month away; new toll road, AP 36, opens to alleiviate traffic between Madrid and Levant; E.On gets goahead to bid for power supplier Endesa but must sell 30%; 27th: Heat wave gets respite on peninsula, with storms, but Mallorca still in upper 30ºs (celcius); 5 die in north coast holiday flat gas explosion; figures show new points sysstem for driver licences is lowering deaths - 68 less this month; 25th: President Zapatero expects no progress on ETA disarming for a year; Iberia's new low-cost, Barcelona-based airline to be called Clickair; 'understanding' to be signed between Spain, UK and Gibraltar on 18th September, to include airport and other issues; 2005 population figures published: 44 million with 8.7% foreigners.

Other recent news includes: 22nd: 29 'Malta' Eritreans flown to Spain after being allowed to go ashore from Spanish fishing boat 20th: immigrants rescued by a Spanish fishing boat from certain death are to be allowed to land in Malta; BBC reports of new EU immigration rapid reaction squads; ETA terrorist Txapote, imprisoned for murder of Miguel Angel Blanco, today faces trial for death of Fernando Múgica; former mayor of Marbella, Julian Muñoz, questioned today in property corruption trial; heat wave begins to take lives - 3 so far; 18th: 70th anniversary of Franco's rising marking the start of the Civil War - poll shows 30% of Spaniards believe the coup was 'justified'; water reserves fall below 50%, with South East struggling to keep above 10%; 12th: Iberia strike ends after agreement; rail strike announced for 18th and 19th; Zapatero visits immigrant receptioncentres in Canaries; Bob Dylan sang last night in San Sebastian ETA peace concert; 10th: Iberia, Spanish national airline, cancels 240 flights on first day of pilots' strike for guarantees of job security; Pope called for strengthening of insitution of lifelong marriage between a man and a woman at World Family weekend in Valencia; over 11,000 'irregular immigrants' reached the shores of the Canary Islands during the first half of the year, over double the 2005 (whole year) figure; 7th: 1st case of H5N1 Bird flu recorded today in Spain the Great Crested Grebe was found dead in the Salburua wetlands park close to Vitoria, Basque Country capital; Iberia pilots meet employers just 3 days before start of announced strike - PDF list of cancellations; warning of heat wave from this weekend, with temperatures over 40ºC; Pope to visit Valencia tomorrow - plans to add disaster Metro station 'Jesus' to itinerary; 6th: Delegates from Basque Socialist Party (PSE) and Batasuna met for 90 minutes in San Sebastian to open discussions on ETA peace process; 5th: Judge Garzón declares contact with illegal party Batasuna is OK if the aim is to help it to reach anti-violence statement - this is an important step in starting conversations to end ETA terror; 100 'illegals' reach La Gomera (Canaries) on Cayuco open boat; gorilla born in Madrid zoo - first for 14 years; stamp firm Afinsa had 1700 million Euro 'hole' in finances at end year 2005 - authorities intervened in its administration in May; 4th: Cause of yesterday's Metro accident was high speed (50mph), almost twice the limit on a sharp curve - 11 still in hospital, 4 seriously injured - BBC comment; Zapatero returns early from India trip to join royal family at funeral; 3rd: 42 die as Valencia Metro underground train turns over - others seriously injured - this line essential for transport next Saturday for visit of Pope to the city - foul play not suspected; 3 immigrants die in attempt to cross Melilla fence -first attempt since October; 18 (possibly 30) subsaharans drowned as boat capizes off Western Sahara while attempting to reach Canaries; Madrid to announce candidature for 2016 Olympics; Zapatero in India; 30th anniversary of naming of Adolfo Suarez prime minister by king Juan Carlos in first step towards transition to democracy; 1st: Zapatero meets with French PM Sarkozy to discuss ETA peace process; first holiday month begins with heavy traffic on roads while new points system introduced for driving licences; judge Baltasar Garzón returns from academic break in New York to his post at the National Court; trial of ETA members Txapote and Amaia for death of Miguel Angel Blanco ends with 50 years for each.