News, November '05

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, a new record, but reflecting growth in the economy sector with low spenders; Euribor rise to add 200€ p.a. to Spanish mortages - employers fear stagnation; Zapatero announces 5% fall in company tax rate for 2007 to allow firms to compete internationally - attempt to stop production moves to China, E. Europe, etc.; 20th: 30th anniversary of King Juan Carlos' accession to throne and dawn of Spanish democracy; ETA plants 2 small bombs in Vitoria - no victims; Real Madrid overwhelmed by Barça in Madrid 0-3; 19th: Zapatero in Lisbon: AVE rail link postponed to 2013; population stats for Jan 05 upped to 44 million; report on YAK Afghanistan troop flight crash blames airline.

Other recent news includes: 17th: Zapatero meets leaders of anti education law demo; voting intentions move towards stalemate between PSOE and PP; Brussels raises Spain's growth outlook: 3.4% this year, 3.2% next; BBVA expects house prices to have risen 12% this year, 6% forecast for '06; fog hits air and surface travel; patera with 35 illegals on board intercepted off Fuerteventura (Canaries) 16th: Zapatero in Marocco for 50th anniversary of independence (it was a joint Spanish-French protectorate from 1912); scandal as La Caixa bank shown to have written off debt of ruling Catalan parties PSC and ERC; 15th: Briton Tony King gets 36 years for murder of Sonia Carabantes on Costa del Sol in 2003; Inflation falls (Oct) to 3.5%; high speed rail links Madrid and Toledo (74km) in 35 minutes from today; Judges' authority finds 17 unconstitutional points in new Catalan Estatut; scandal about CIA flights through Palma (Mallorca); 14th: Chinese leader Hu Jintao on official visit; Marriot to buy Madrid palace hotel; 13th: major demonstration in Santiago (Galicia) on 3rd anniversary of sinking of Prestige oil tanker; first major snow storm closes roads across peninsula; 12th: 1.5 million demonstrate against new education bill; P4S was closed 4th to 12th; 3rd: Miners on strike in Asturias; Saturday will be Royal family photo; judge Garzón requests extradition of nationalised Spaniard Mustafa Setmarian Nasar, as Abu dahdah's successor in the Spanish AlQaeda cell, from Pakistan; unemployment up; 2nd Catalan politicians present new Estatut in long Congress debate - it is likely to take several months to get through; PP presents Estatut to Constitutional tribunal, which accepts this 3 to 2 for examination; hospital technicians on strike in 22 provinces; storm wind warning across north; Spanish NATO troops begin work in Pakistan earthquake area; yet another patera arrives on Granada coast with 32; Queen Sofia is 67.

Sport:

Football (soccer): Spain beat Slovakia to gain place in World Cup; League: Osasuna and Barcelona lead after 12th round; Champions' League: Barcelona beat Bremen and leads group, Madrid faces Lyon, Villareal drew in Old Trafford; UEFA: Sevilla and Espanyol doing OK.
Motor: F1 Fernando Alonso won in China to add constructors' trophy to dirver's award; Alonso awarded Prince of Asturias sports prize; Brazil: 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: Turkey: Pedrosa, World Champion 250, 2nd.
Cycling: World championship en Sept. 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 here.
Tennis Nadal wins Madrid Masters despite bad knee.
Sailing Volvo Ocean Race sets off round the world from Vigo; almost immediately Movistar sets into Cadiz for 2 weeks' repairs.