News, November 2007

November 29th, general news roundup.

Mayor of Totana (Murcia) and town clerk arrested in yet another building permit bribes case; inflation tops 4%; 28th: 4 inmates hold 3 warders hostage in Valencia jail - now to be moved to other prisons; 20% of university students 'never read a book'; 3 die in work accidents in 24 hours; as EU drop import tax on cereals, hopes for stabilisation of prices; Spain heading to surpass Kioto limits by 14% in 2010 -if we don't have a major recession or draconian laws; 26th: 6 arrested for illegal abortions in Barcelona; another ETA member arrested in France; Venezuela's Chavez threatens to 'freeze relations' with Spain of King's fury; 2 cayucos reach Tenerife with 200 migrants, while 3 try to cross Straits on surf board - picked up by ferry; http://www.renfe.es|Renfe> announces special competitive AVE (high speed rail) fares to compete with air shuttle on all routes, with discounts or guaranteed turn up and ride seats; Polaris World announces 17,000 more holiday homes despite bottomless market; BA turns down opportunity to buy up to 30% of Iberia and TPG announces end of offer.

Other recent news includes: 23rd: 2 ETA members arrested in France in 24 hours; 22nd: Driving law harder from December - dangerous driving, high speed and 1,2 g alcohol get prison sentence; 305 migrants detained on Andalusia coast by EU Forex squad; 23 detained in Madrid's illegal housing 'Cañada Real' for robberies; 40 arrested for MMS child porn swapping; poll shows PP narrowing voting gap on PSOE; 21st: Actor and academician Fernando Fernán Gómez (El Espiritu de la Colmena and La Colmena) dies - aged 86; British father and son (5) killed by big wave on Costa Brava as they took photos of sea; Spanish productivity lagging behind Euro 15; Spain has doubled defence exports in last year; flooding affects homes in Utrera, Andalusia; 20th: Anniversary of death of Franco in 1975; 5 arrested in Navarre for ETA street violence; 104 migrants reach Tenerife aboard cayuco; first autumn rain finally reaches most of peninsula -some heavy; January meat price shock warning from farmers; flights affected by French strike; cargo plane loses wheels on Madrid runway; survey shows 'same' school text books change according to regional tastes; EasyJet which has just opened hub in Madrid, reports big profit rise; King's 'Shut up' rebuke to Chavez becomes top selling ring tone; 19th: Police say Basque socialists met ETA in October - PSE deny this; one track rail service resumes on line south of Barcelona after 3 week cut due to work on AVE route - airport service remains suspended; Bill Clinton visits Madrid and praises Spanish 'Green' growth; opposition offer tax cuts in election manifesto;

15th: Bomb explodes in Cangas, Galicia - no explanation yet; AVE trials under way on Madrid-Valladolid line, including 'very dusty' 30 mile tunnel under Guadarrama range - minister on board; 5 minute 'lights out' planned for 8 p.m. coinciding with climate conference in Valencia (preparation for Bali); possible bid for Iberia announced; 14th: 2 departments in Madrid's city hall investigated for building corruption; cayuco reaches Grand Canary with 24 children on board; 13th: King walks out of Ibero-American Congress as Venezuela's Chavez attacks ex-president Aznar, Spain hopes to ease tensions; Basque police specialist loses 3 fingers as detonator of bomb goes off in hand -but many lives saved; humorists fined 3000 Euros for cartoons of Prince and princess; palace announces 'temporary separation' of Infanta Elena and husband; over 200 migrants reached Grand Canary on Saturday abord cayucos; 16 year old anti-racism campaigner killed by fascist in Madrid; Spanish Antarctic base reopened on Livingston Island; growth slows to 3.8% in 3rd quarter; former foreign minister Piqué to preside troubled low cost airline Vueling.

9th: Remaining Spanish aircrew released from jail in Chad child 'kidnap' case - now returning home: Spain to set up permanent 'emergency aid' base in Panama for supporting disasters in Central America; 20 injured in Metro crash at Sol, Madrid; IBEX market index tops 16,000; police DNA database law takes effect today - could help resolve 5,000 pending cases; 8th: Minister hopes to restore rail service in Barcelona before end of month; 4 arrested for street violence; plans of AVE rail construction project among ETA documents seized; lame man denied custody because of disability; Spain finally admits sale of Thalidomide around 1960; 70 migrants reach Melilla on a patera boat; 6th: 45 migrants die of hunger and cold on attempted cayuco crossing to Canaries; protesting Moroccan senator arrested during royal visit to Melilla; 5th: King and Queen visit Ceuta (Spanish North African posession) to local acclaim, but against Moroccan criticism; Barcelona rail disruption, including airport service, to last until end of month; Marbella illegal construction trial begins - 8 former councillors in dock; 4 stewardesses return home from Chad, while pilots and steward questioned in French 'kidnap' case; Madrid's mayor moves office from the medieval 'Casa de la villa' to the former post office, once known as 'Our Lady of Communications' due to its likeness to a church; Ñ (together with other non-standard characters) is now available to .es domain names; 2nd: 10 of the 3-11 convicts go on hunger strkie; Iñaki Bilbao, convicted ETA terrorist hospitalised due to hunger strike; royal visit to Ceuta and Melilla brings institutional crisis with Morocco; 80 migrants reach Canaries on board Cayuco; family members of 191 Madrid bomb dead to get €900,000 - sentence had left this out; road death toll rose again in October.

Earlier news headlines: click here.