News, September 2005

September 30th, resumé.

(Sport news click more) Catalan Statute approved by Parlament; interregional water transfer agreed 'only for human use' - 60,000 jobs in agriculture threatened in Murcia; Marocco halps to protect Melilla and Ceuta border fences after recent 'invasions' led to deaths - Zapatero visited Marocco yesterday; 29th: 5 dead as immigrants storm border fence at Ceuta ; 28th: Another invasion attempt over the Melilla fence made by 500 sub-Saharans - up to 200 got onto Spanish soil; last ditch attempts being made to agree text for new Catalan regional Statute; 27th: ETA anounces continuation of 'the struggle', while recognising new opportunities to gain 'democracy' for the Basque lands; ETA bomb explodes at disused power station near Zaragoza; 500 attempt to cross the Melilla fence from Marocco, using 270 ladders -100 succeed... to be arrested on Spanish soil; 2 pateras land in Granada with 100 illegals on board; court secretary -Roman Catholic- is first 'conscientious objector' to handling papers for a 'homosexual marriage'; water reserves fall below 40% of reservoir capacity- alarm in some cities; 26th: Abu Dahdah sentenced to 27 years today for implication in 9/11 and leadership of Spanish Al Quaida cell, Al Jazira journalist Taysir Alony -only journalist to have interviewed Bin Laden- gets 7, 16 others also imprisoned - the prosecutor had demanded 74.337 years for Dahdah;

Fernando Alonso (AFP)

Fernando Alonso F1 World champion; ETA strikes again, Sunday, in an industrial estate in Avila - none hurt; 32 illegals detained in 'patera' off Tarifa (Straits of Gibraltar); 30 injured as 2 trains crash - they were due to couple together; storm warning for Catalonia,

Other recent news includes: 22nd: Body of evangelical cyclist Francisco Quintana Calvo, disappeared since last Thursday, found Tuesday burnt close to Madrid and now identified - Quintana was a member of the First Baptist church and a family man - more in separate article; left wing parties agree support for 2006 budget proposals; 'Day without cars' begins in Madrid with 79 km of traffic jams; first of a series of repatriation flights agreed by big five EU countries takes 125 Romanians home from Spain, France and Italy; Catalonia to introduce water rationing next week due to drought;

12th: Children in Spain begin the return to school today, with (optional) Islamic religious education starting with 17 teachers in 3 regions; Save the Children launches campaign to illegalise all punishment of children in Spain; El País informs that Spain has the highest percentage of cocaine users, 2.6%, above the US (2.5), UK (2.1), Colombia (1.6) and many other lands with a higher profile drug problem;

Bull runners try to escape in San Sebastian de los Reyes (EFE)

Aug 29th: With 21,000 forest fires across Spain so far this year, the number and surface burnt (129,400 hectares) are both more than in any of the past 10 years; 28th: 63 injured, 2 very seriously, as bull runners get into jam at San Rebastian de los Reyes, Madrid - 7000 took part; one dies of legionnaires disease in Zaragoza, 14 more affected; fire fighting plane crashes in Mallorca - pilot dead; 26th: Batasuna demonstrates in Bilbao, government calls again for a total rejection of violence; domestic violence: 41 women dead so far this year at hands of partners.

Sport:

Fernando Alonso at a Silverstone presentation

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): 2005-6 League gets going, Celta leads after 5th round, Barcelona and Madrid bouncing back after terrible start; Champions' League: Barcelona leads group after beating Udinense, Villareal unlikely to go through, Madrid and Betis play tonight.
Motor: F1 Brazil: Fernando Alonso gains 3rd place in race to become, at 24, F1's youngest ever World Champion - he already held the record for youngest ever race winner; Bikes: Malaysia: with Rossi declared World Champion, GP, Gibernau and Pedrosa both have bad day, while Checa makes GP podium; Dani Pedrosa leads in 250 championship points.
Cycling: World championship this weekend in Madrid - Spain won 3 silver medals; the 2005 Vuelta Ciclista de España Roberto Heras won for 4th time, setting new record for victories, previously shared with Tony Rominger; course news available at: http://www.lavuelta.com/05/ingles/recorrido/mapa.asp?e=1 .
Tennis Nadal and Ferrero save Davis Cup qualifier against Italy.