News, August 2005

August 26th, resumé.

(Sport news click more) Batasuna demonstrates in Bilbao, government calls again for a total rejection of violence; legionnaires disease outbreak in Zaragoza, 14 affected; domestic violence: 41 women dead so far this year at hands of partners; politicians getting back to work after holiday month - first cabinet meeting; Catalonia and Madrid resume skirmishing over new regional statute; first homosexual 'marriage' in Barcelona comes 2 whole months after approval of law; Catalonia announces restrictions once water levels sink below 20% of reserves, expected end September; 250 sub-saharans attempt mass crossing of the Melilla wall from Marocco - repelled by police; study shows that placebos are as powerful as homeothapy... or should that be the other way round? 23rd 829 forest fires so far in Spain this year and counting... but not as bad as many feared; 22nd: New turn in Mardid bombings: evidence points to Syrian-born national policeman, Maussili Kalaji, as the person who prepared the bombs for 3-11 - Kalaji was a critical source of information about the terrorist cell; 24 soldiers fly to afghanistan to replace those dead in accident; recent news: 18th and earlier 17 Spanish soldiers dead as helicopter crashes in Afghanistan; ETA sympathisers held illegal demonstration in San Sebastian - several arrested; forest fires cause devastation in many areas, worst involved 13,000 hectares and 11 firemen dead; occasional showers making no dent in severe drought situation; 48 dead on roads on 1st weekend in August.

P4S was closed between 3rd and 17th Aug. Other recent news includes: 2nd:Patera open boat intercepted in Straits with 10 babies on board; Galicia's regional president Touriño takes over today from Spain's longest serving politician Manuel Fraga; Zapatero on holiday in Lanzarote; Basque violence growing after ETA bombs on routes out of Madrid and street trouble in Bilbao; 400 affected by salmonella after chicken processing plant was contaminted; 40 dead on roads as Spain's most important holiday weekend affected by rain.

Sport:

Swimming Marathon swimmer and world champion David Meca to swim English Channel, aiming for the 7h15min record; last year his attempt took 7h40.

Football (soccer): Betis won Copa del Rey; Barcelona won League; Spain joint top of Group 7 in World Cup qualifying round.
Motor: F1 Turkey: Fernando Alonso 2nd; Alonso has won 6 out of 13 races so far this season and remains on top in championship, but still threatened by Raikonnen; Bikes: Brno: Pedrosa in pole; Sachsenring: Pedrosa won in 250, Gibernau gave up lead through bad turn on last lap in GP, but remains 3rd in championship, Dani Pedrosa leads in 250 championship points.
Cycling: the 2005 Vuelta Ciclista de España course is now available at: http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/recorrido/mapa.asp?e=1 , this time it includes Don Quijote's stomping grounds on the 400th anniversary of the first edition of the world's most famous novel; Spaniards largely not excelling in Tour, but gain at least a couple of stages, Mancebo currently 5th in general.
Tennis 19 year old Rafa Nadal from Mallorca wins men's singles at Roland Garros, but failing badly on grass, out in 2nd round at Wimbledon, where Feliciano Lopez was last surviving Spaniard in men's singles.
Gymnastics Rafael Martinez wins World Championships