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News, April and May, 2006May 29th, roundup.(Sport news click more) More immigrants arrive in Canaries - today's figure 256; EU makes first steps towards common border policy with agreement on patrolling African Atlantic coastline to stem flow of illegals aboard 'cayuco' open boats; government hopes to begin talks with ETA on dissolution and future of its members soon; singer Rocío Jurado seriously ill; Almodóvar's Volver fails to win Golden Palm, but his girls win prize and he get best story line at Cannes; 90% off Mallorca's immigrants last year from outside EU - major swing from when most were British and Germans; 24th: Top cyclist team boss Manolo Saiz under arrest in doping scandal - along with 3 others; burglary wave in Catalonian villages causes alarm - more police to be sent; illegal party Batasuna names ETA peace negotiating team; 1st quarter growth steady at 3.5%, trade deficit grows on high oil prices, but exports also up 17%; 15 month old baby girl gets six new organs at La Paz hospital, Madrid; new regional statute for Andalusia passes first reading in Congress; 19th: 647 illegals land on Canaries from 'cayuco' open boats - record for a single day; heat wave: 8 cities break temperature record for month of May, with Córdoba almost up to 40ºC; 18th: Barcelona beats Arsenal to win Champions' Cup; 241 more 'illegals' reach Canaries; 6 presumed ETA members extradited from Mexico; 17th: Film director Pedro Almodovar wins Prince of Asturias prize for the arts; 16th: 1100 illegals reach Canary coast in cayuco open boats from Mauritania - Canary government overwhelmed, patrol boat sent to help Mauritania police; Bolivia demands BBVA held shares in Repsol pension fund in on-going saga over nationalised gas reserves; new round of questioning in 3-11 trial; Roca, leader of Marbella corruption scandal questioned; ETA calls for France and spain to take advantage of the 'opportunity' for end to Basque terrorism; 12th: Major fraud scandal as two stamp collecting firms investigated - thousands likely to have lost savings; Catalan President Maragall expels republican party ERC from government over Estatut vote position - ERC calls for No vote in 18th June referendum, 'opposition' party CiU to support government through referendum towards autumn elections; 3rd internal government report confirms that ETA has definitively abandoned arms; inflation steady at uneasy 3.9%; introduction of ERTMS brings rail speed on Madrid-Lleida line to 250kmh, linking the cities in 2hours and 20 minutes -300kmh speeds should be reached before the line is extended 150km further to Barcelona next year - in about the same time as the current journey to Lleida takes. Other recent news includes: April 18th: 108 dead in Holy Week traffic accidents, half with no seat belts; 14th: 75th anniversary of the 2nd republic; 12th: Judge Del Olmo has concluded the investigation stage of the March 11th bombing trial and the trial itself can now be called - 29 accused; much of Spain packs up today for Easter holiday - processions in many cities recalling the events of the Passion also highlight so-called 'devotion' to the many different images of the virgin; April 7th: Marbella city council disolved by government after corruption scandal; government reshuffled after defence minister Bono resigned - placing Alfredo Rubalcaba at Interior generally welcomed as good for Basque peace process; half Spain heads off for Holy Week holiday; 6th education law passed in 30 years of democracy - religious education (Catholic, Evangelical or Muslim) becomes optional; Catalan Estatut passed Congress, but regional parties in disarray. Sport:Football (soccer): World Cup Spain heads a relatively 'easy' group H against Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, but a draw in friendly against Russia does not bode well; Champions' League Barcelona beat Arsenal in final; UEFA Sevilla won first ever European trophy in centenary year; League: Barcelona won; Copa del Rey Español won. |