News, December 2005

December 31st, roundup.

(Sport news click more)Close of a year which saw a major attack on biblical values in the Spanish law books - some 350 gay 'couples' have taken advantage of new 'marriage' law; negotiations on new Catalan regional Estatut remain largely blocked; December 25th: Royal message begs politicians to work together and stop squabbling; P4S is currently closed.

Other recent news includes: 9th: 7 Islamist terrorist suspects arrested in Malaga; Zapatero meets Blair in Downing Street to discuss 'Spanish problem' with the EU budget - new proposals mean less development aid for the country '07 to '13; 5th ETA bomb found by police in Ciudad Real; Spain to meet Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi arabia in World Cup; traffic police regret 71 deaths so far over 'long weekend' and plan 200,000 alcohol tests on drivers before Christmas; Pope to visit Spain in July; 8th 4 ETA bombs found in basket by boy, Ciudad Real; Croat general Gotovina, wanted for war crimes, arrested in Tenerife; Spain celebrates Immaculate Conception; [Image 46???]7th Eta suspect, Jon Koldobica Garmendia Martínez, arrested in France; 7 arrested for illegal 'safari' in which they shot a tiger bought from a zoo; 6th: Eta bomb in Zumarraga, Basque country and 5 bombs aorund Madrid explode -earlier granade launchers were said to be located at Santander airport in the north, but no sign or attack; 2nd:Longest 'weekend' of the year begins with traffic chaos in big cities - 6th is day of the Constitution, 8th is Immaculate Conception; all but 8,000 get light back in Tenerife as power lines replaced after Delta; 1st: Opposition leader Rajoy and Madrid regional president Aguirre in helicopter crash - none hurt; Zapatero in Rome; unemployment up to 2,095,580; France, Italy and Spain working on a 'Sea Schengen' agreement to combine measures against illegal pateras bringing immigrants; ETA bomb explodes in Basque Country - none hurt; Mexican Sergio Pitol awarded Cervantes Prize for literature; Tenerife slowly recovering from Delta, but 70,000 still without power - banana plantations badly hit.

Sport:

Football (soccer): World Cup Spain heads a relatively 'easy' group H against Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia; League: Osasuna and Barcelona lead after 12th round; Champions' League: Madrid lose to Olimpiakos, Betis to Anderlecht, Barcelona and Villareal win games; UEFA: Sevilla and Espanyol doing OK.
Motor: Dakar Carlos Sainz wins debut Portuguese leg; F1 Fernando Alonso won both constructors' trophy and drivers' championship; Alonso awarded Prince of Asturias sports prize; at 24, he is F1's youngest ever World Champion - he already held the record for youngest ever race winner; Bikes: Dani Pedrosa, World Champion 250.
Cycling: Roberto Heras doping scandal; La Vuelta Ciclista de España 2005 news available here, 2006 as available.
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.