News, January 2006

January 30th, roundup.

Water reserves comparison at 25 Jan 06

(Sport news click more) Tobacco sales fell in 2005; 29 dead in weekend snow traffic chaos; Britons arrested on Costa del Sol drug raids 25th: Snow and rain alert in 10 regions; annual unemployment down; Zapatero to visit Catalonia to present Estatut proposals; Senate to become more representative of regions in new change to Constitution; 24th: Floods in Canaries, but ... water reserves again dire in South and East of peninsula, with national reserves still below half - reserves for drinking water just 40% More; Iberia postpones move to T4 at Madrid airport to 5th February; 23rd Important breakthrough agreement between government and Catalan party CiU secures passage of Estatut through national Cortes; Batasuna went ahead with 'Act' and announced possible end to violence soon; 20th: Batasuna (illegal Basque party related to ETA) plans go-ahead with demonstrations despite ban of its congress and closure of offices; as government reaches mid-term its attention moves from unpopular values legislation to tax cuts - 99.5% should get cuts in government's latest proposal for 2007 - meanwhile, tobacco tax rises; 2005 was another record year for foreign tourists, with 55 million visitors; 19th Batasuna congress declared illegal by court, sentence against Batasuna leader Otegi cancelled and new trial called; mother awarded 1.4million €uros for irregular removal in 1995 of her children by social services - the mother had won all legal recourses since '96 - but the money will not be paid at least until after appeal.

Other recent news includes: Major topics 1st to 14th included: Army chief Lt Gen Mena sacked after statement about 'defending the Constitution' against Catalan Estatut -spectre of 23-F 1981 coup attempt revived; 20 arrested for membership of islamic cells, including Omar Nakhcha, suspected leader of 2 cells and accused of helping 11-M terrorists to escape; 2 dead in underground gas explosion in densely populated Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Barcelona - block collapsed; Moroccan patera skipper gets 40 years for taking 37 would-be immigrants to their death; year end inflation 3.7%; Zapatero in row over possible permission for illegal party Batasuna to hold congress; cabinet approves bill to make Sign Language fully legal, guaranteeing interpretation for deaf people in relations with the administration - a more complete disability equality bill is under consideration; '3 Kings' brought welcome gifts on 5th/6th to millions of children and Sales are going well; Infanta Leonor christened.

Dec 31: 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 was closed the 2nd half of December.

Sport:

Football (soccer): World Cup Spain heads a relatively 'easy' group H against Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia; League: Barcelona has good lead after 21st round; Champions' League: Madrid lose to Olimpiakos, Betis to Anderlecht, Barcelona and Villareal win games; UEFA: Sevilla and Espanyol doing OK.
Motor: Dakar Marc Coma winner, bikes; Nani Roma 3rd, cars; Carlos Sainz won debut Portuguese leg, 11th overall; 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 2006 route now 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.