|
News, December 2007December 19th, general news roundup.47 linked to ETA jailed for political activity - sentence interrupted as defendants sing illegal anthem BBC report; politicians sign first 'pact against poverty' in Spain's history; EU ministers agree cuts in vineyards, but not yet compulsory; 280,000 falsified articles of clothing and the like found by police in warehouse near Madrid as Christmas shopping rush reaches peak; most of Spain now eagerly awaiting Christmas lottery draw (on 22nd); stormy weather cuts ferry link to North Africa in Straits; fishermen reluctantly accept slight cuts in quota and fishing days; 18th: Gaddafi visits Spain; first cold snap of winter closes 4 passes - most people enjoying the snow; canon on digital supports from mid-January; 9 tonnes of hachish found by police in south en route for Britain; Spanish plane in Chad Arche de Zoe child kidnap case remains held as 'proof' in court case -prosecutor wants it confiscated; 17th: ETA bombs again in Basque Country - magistrates court destroyed NYT report; 7 more doctors arrested in Barcelona abortion clincs case (some 100,000 abortions -half foreigners- take place every year, 97% for 'psychological reasons'); 63 arrested in child porn raids BBC report; finance minister Solbes claims part of inflation down to poor Euro adoption BBC report; 15th: 25th anniversary of opening of Gibraltar fence original BBC report; new ETA threats rejected by all parties; national front created in Morocco for the recovery of Ceuta and Melilla (Spanish enclaves on Moroccan coast); 14th: Inflation confirmed at 4.1%, requiring heavy salary and pension rises for next year; Bank of Spain says while debt is very high, it is just 10% of domestic wealth; ex premier Felipe González to head EU think tank on future. Other recent news includes: 8th: Spanish fishing crew arrested in Mauritania afer hitting unlit cayuco (apparently fishing, not carrying migrants) in dark; Spain and France to up anti-terror activity after ETA killing on French soil; 3 dead 13 wounded in crash of Portuguese coach in Lleida; 3 children infected with hepatitis C in Barcelona hospital; 7th: 3rd presumed ETA terrorist arrested in Basque Country; thousands attend burial of 2nd Civil Guard killed last weekend by ETA; BBC reports again on attempts to clear 'Costas' of unlicenced buildings -and the people who will lose out; 5th: 2nd Civil Guard victim of recent ETA shooting dies in hospital in France; presumed ETA killers arrested in France; 2 cayucos bring migrants to Tenerife, 3 already dead; Zapatero meets Prodi in Naples to discuss migration; 6 million traffic movements expected as Spain heads off for long weekend to celebrate 'the Immaculate Constitution' (6th is Day of Constitution, 8th Immaculate Conception); 4th: thousands join united political front in anti-ETA demonstration in Madrid; 154 arrested on new driving 'crimes' could go to prison; King presided his first ETA victim funeral; 1st: ETA kills again - one Civil Guard dead, another seriously injured on unarmed service in Capbreton France; thousands demonstrate in Barcelona against rail chaos due to building of high speed AVE link - meanwhile, full 2 track service resumes on line south of city, including airport shuttle; Spain joins Galileo project. Earlier news headlines: click here. |