|
News, February, 2007News from the Churches José Cardona February 27th, general news roundupFor 2006 roundup click here! 3-11 terrorist Zouhier upsets court room with 'show'; ETA convict Chaos again on force feed due to danger of death; 50 arrested in round-up of villa thieves; Ibex market index drops 3% - worst fall since 3-11; 26th: New statements by Batasuna leader Otegi interpreted as positive but insufficient by Zapatero, 'a trap' by opposition; Spanish-Mexican film Laberinto del Fauno gets 3 lesser Oscars; 24th: Terror victims group AVT leads thousands in demonstration to demand full sentence for hunger striking ETA terrorist Chaos, who killed 25 - right wing politicians joined; leading Batasuna member Permach arrested in illegal demonstration in Bilbao; 23rd: new construction corruption scandal at Aguilas, Murcia; rail services back to normal after beam fell on Madrid-Seville line; terror tops 'problems' list in survey for first time since 3-11 Madrid train bombings; Airbus closures could hit Cadiz days after Delphi announced closure of car parts plant there; 21st: Anti-alcohol law withdrawn due to lack of consensus - first government defeat; lawyers took the Chaos photos; crane with beam falls on AVE high speed line south of Madrid -services to south cancelled affecting 17,000 - AVE's worst ever day apart from after the Madrid bombs; Spanish soldier killed in Afghan terrorist attack on convoy - first female soldier to die on foreign placement; spate of pilot whale deaths in Straits cause contamination alarm; 19th: Andalusian Estatuto - home rule law- approved by 90% of the 35% who voted in referendum - lowest ever electoral participation; Madrid bomber Zougam continues in dock -as with others continues to deny link with bombing; Galicia's Costa Da Morte suffers new ship catastrophe,with presumed toxic fume escape, but all eventually reduced to passing shock; BBVA buys Compassbancshares; Financial Times says Spain is a top job search destination for Europeans. more >> Sport roundup, 25th FebruaryChampions: Madrid beat Bayern 3-2, Liverpool beaat Barcelona, Valencia drew at Inter; Spain beat England on 7th; Barça leads league with Seville right behind, Uefa: all 4 clubs doing well; Nadal prepares return to form in Dubai; Barcelona won basketball 'Copa del Rey': read on! more >> 3-11 trial under way25th February. The trial of those accused of the 11th March 2004 bombings in Madrid began on 15th February. The bombs, on four commuter trains running into central Madrid during the rush hour, killed 191, wounded 1900. 29 are accused, 7 of murder. In the first week of declarations, denial and silence marked the answers of the accused to questioning. more >> English dog resuced from Madrid airport12th February. For 11 days 'Snowy', a one year old Jack Russel terrier has had the freedom of Madrid's airport, after escaping his British owners on the 1st at terminal 4 (where the ETA bomb destroyed the carpark in December). Snowy's owners were even prepared to pay up to 10,000 Euros for his rescue! more >> ETA peace process blown apart2nd January '07 and following. For 8 months Spain hoped against hope that the terrorism of ETA would finally have ended. On 2nd March, 2006, ETA announced a 'permanent ceasefire' in the hope that a 'solution' to the Basque problem could be found. Then, on 30th December a mega car bomb exploded in the central car park of Madrid's new Airport terminal. Two immigrants were killed. During the months of 'peace process and in the aftermath of the bombing, politicians have bickered over how to deal with the complex situation. more >> News theme: Basque politics and ETATo be updated in due course On 22nd March ('06), ETA, the Basque separatist terrorist group, announced a permanent ceasefire. One would have expected that after many years of living with terrorism in the Basque Country and across Spain, all Spaniards would have welcomed the announcement. However, a brief glance at newspaper headlines since that date would suggest that the announcement had been the spark for an all-out fight between the major parties. Several very different reactions have come to light and hopes of true 'peace' are as far as ever. Indeed, six months on, ETA has almost gone as far as to cancel the ceasefire, saying it will not hand in arms until its political aims are achieved. more >> News Theme, The immigration crisis Desperation (AFP) News theme: weather and winter travelSpain is not, contrary to its image, permanent summer! The tourist season is limited, even at coastal areas, except in the Canary Islands, to half the year. Winter, especially inland, is far harsher than it is in (mostly) mild Britain, so far further north. more >> More NewsA few more news items and where to find more news about Spain:more >> |