News, October, 2006

October 31st, general news roundup

Happy 1st Birthday Princess Leonor! Catalonia reflects before regional vote tomorrow; water reserves up 4.7% to 45%, but Med reserves still at danger levels; top Colombian mafia boss, Orlando Sabogal, arrested - responsible for 30 - 50% of cocaine smuggles in world; 30th: Spanish NGO worker kidnapped in Gaza released 8 hours later; Catalan election campaign ends in uncertainty about who will finally rule Catalonia; due to on-going drought in Mediterranean regions, Environment minister Narbona proposes 60 litre per day guarantee and limit for water usage per person in law update; Inflation down to 2.6%; Repsol renews Bolivia contract 10 minutes before closure limit; rains allow transfer of water reserves to parched Segura basin (Murcia) but only for home use - orchards still dry; 25th anniversary of Almería solar project - first in Spain; 27: Spanish TV celebrates 50th anniversary - TVE started broadcasts on 28th October, 1956; Rabei Osman, 'The Egyptian' on trial in Milan for 3/11 terror bombing leadership and membership of AlQuaida; IBEX market closes at record 13,725, up over 27% on year.

Other recent news includes: 26th: 3 arrested on suspicion of setting off incendiary device in Basque region; new peace contingent leaves for Lebanon; 25th: Severe rainy weather continues across western Spain, while east coast remains drought ridden; EU parliament narrowly supports ETA peace process; 24th: ETA gang rob arms firm in SE France of 350 pistols and ammunition - opposition see this as a political declaration; Spanish photographer kidnapped in Gaza - freed hours later; 23rd: School bus overturns near Zaragoza, 9 injured; Batasuna 'people's taverns' in Basque Country to be inspected by high court officials -suspicion of relation to ETA activity; 3-11 related explosives robbery case opens; defence minister Alonso visits USA; rail problems hit Barcelona airport link - replaced by buses; Catalan election hopes - opposition CiU gains in voting intentions; Ryanair ground staff strike hits passengers at Girona and Reus; Iberia reduces fuel surcharges.

20th: Principe de Asturias Prizes given today; 75,000 illegal immigrants have so far been repatriated this year; new environment bill will require firms which damage environment to cover full cost of restoration to original condition; Zapatero seeks EU support for changes on handling minor immigrants - currently they cannot be repatriated; Spanish stock exchange celebrates 175th anniversay with new record high over 13,500; 18th: Rain across Spain, especially the plain; 12 years after the evangelicals, the muslims have launched a 'text book' for schools -in Spanish, not Arabic- to teach their religious education - but this time they got state finance for its publication; Batasuna restates position on non-condemnation of ETA violence; police 'super-spy' computer at El Escorial investigated after 5 police die of cancer in 14 months and another 7 have it diagnosed - 250 agents work there; El Mundo, Spain's top internet paper (and nº2 printed) opens archives since 1994 for free consultation; Brussels to sanction Spain over block on E-On - Endesa takeover bid; power firm Iberdrola reports record profits; new euthanasia request made revives Sampedro Case memories; 17th: Nationalist parties withdraw total ammendments to 2007 budget after improvements for Catalonia and Basque Country; new revelations in Marbella construction corruption case; Bulgarian sex slave gang arrested in Canaries - they had smuggled 500 women to Spanish brothels; lesbian married partners claim right to 'motherhood'; Madrid-Lleida (Barcelona) rail line reaches 280 kmh as ERTMS signalling is introduced and frequency increased.

16th: Catalan election campaign begins; 54 dead on roads over long weekend - 18 less than last year; Zapatero meets Prodi today - to discuss immigration and abertis merger; several more 'gender' attacks reported, including an old man killing wife in old people's home; prize for Madrid's new air terminal; 11th: Cervantes Institute, Spain's 'cultural embassy' (c.f. The British Council), gets head office for first time in 15 year history - it takes over an old bank hq in the central district of Madrid - vault will serve to preserve manuscripts; all parties except Partido Popular agree to work on a common immigration policy; first layoffs in Spain due to Airbus A380 delays; EU housing ministers' meeting in Barcelona postponed due to activity of okupa movement and proximity of election campaign; man arrested on suspicion of being author of severe forest fire in Galicia this summer.

9th: Partido Popular believe the government has given in to ETA in Basque peace process and says it will never recognise this kind of agreement which disregards the victims; ETA convict De Juana Chaos abandons (according to pro-ETA paper Gara) hunger strike after 63 days - his sentence for the death of 25 people was ending when articles in Gara caused him to be held again for trial - originally his sentence was 3000 years, reduced to 20; judicial investigations continue after 3-11 police report lies scandal; princess Letizia has first solo public engagement, opening a primary school; restaurant to go to court for refusing to host Gay wedding reception, 'as company policy'; 5th: 20 migrants die in attempt to reach Canaries on Zodiac - 11 survive; EU ministers agree that any changes in immigration controls or 'regularasiations' of illegals must get EU permission; Congreso approves 'law of dependance' aiming to guarantee support for the elderly and infirm; interest rates rise to affect mortgage costs and house prices; report claims 188,000 children are affected by violence between couples; 4th: Blair visits Zapatero and gives encoragement to patience in Basque peace process - businessmen complain to them about restrictions in energy business; Natioanl Court tells judge garzón he is not to investigate 3-11 reports; Prince Felipe in Washington for events related to Hispanic Heritage month -he visits the White House on Friday; storms caused tree falls in Cantabria and flooding in Galicia, where ash from summer fires was washed into Cee with great force and damage; 2nd: First patera reaches Balearic islands with 4 Algerians - 3 arrested on attempt to board ship for Barcelona; 120 illegals reach southern Spain, including 33 children; 40 attempt to cross Melilla fence; ETA arms hide discovered in Basque France, probably old; victims of terrorism group AVT marched against ETA peace process in Seville; Brussels warns again of growing debt mountain, especailly mortgages, as 3rd quarter house price rise is virtually nil; September car sales down; Gas Natural may give up Endesa bid and go for Portuguese EDP; 1st was 75th anniversary of vote to give women the vote -left wingers were most reticent fearing women's natural conservatism.