News, March 2007

March 28th, general news roundup

8 detained in ETA suspect round-up in Basque Country; Rodrigo Rato of WMF warns of Spain's looming personal debt, mostly tied up in mortgages at a time when house prices are falling; president Zapatero in TV show answered questions from public - showed he is out of touch with prices; Batasuna presents new party in hopes of standing in May local elections - general reactions from political groups are negative as no clear 'denunciation of violence'; defence minister Alonso warns of higher risk for Afghanistan troops; 27th: 30th anniversary of Los Rodeos air disaster, when 2 jumbos crashed in Tenerife killing 583; 82 Bolivians on cruise ship forbidden disemabarkation in Cadiz - ship continues to Valencia; river Ebro banks threatened after heavy rains in north; Spain to face UE Tribunal over illegal conditions imposed on Endesa taekover bid; 26th: Basque president Ibarretxe in court for contacts with illegal party Batasuna; Catalan left party Esquerra threatens to leave government and join up with opposition CiU to promote independence referendum for region; Endesa board recommend increased takeover offer by E.On for Endesa, after year-long saga and counter offer -in the coming autumn- from Acciona and Enel.

Other recent news includes: 23rd: Parcel bomb deactivated in house under construction in Galicia; new attempt by ETA to charge businesses 'revolutionary tax'; boat with 300 migrants aboard found by EU's Fronterex coast guard off Canaries; Endesa takeover saga continues as Acciona hints at new, post-E.On offer; mayor of Andratx, Mallorca, released on bail in building corruption case; house prices show signs of light fall; Holy Week procession 'brotherhood' denies 2 women opporunity to join bearers of a float - 'for decency's sake'; 22nd: Gang which sold false jobs to 3,500 immigrants arrested; snow storm abates in north; E.On attempt pact with major shareholders to reach deal on Endesa; 21st: First day of spring brings snow to north and many roads closed or restricted; trial of Batasuna leader Otegi delayed after claims of being stuck in snow storm on way to Madrid - judge issues arrest order and police find him at home, taken by air to Madrid where prosecutor drops charges and he is sent home free; health ministry launches mental health initiative as 9% of population suffers at great cost to economy; 19th: Prosecutor attempts to postpone again trial of Batasuna leader Otegi - this time to no avail; winter weather warning -at last!- for last official day of winter; report claims 10,000 Spaniards are over 100 and in better health than their children (in their 80s); right wing demonstrated 17th in Pamplona against ETA's call for Navarrre to be annexed to Basque Country.

15th: Prosecutor postpones trial of Batasuna leader Otegi for apology of terrorism; sex equality law passed by Congress; Civil Guard (police) to be reformed, but retain paramilitary status; speeding driver let off 6 months' imprisonment for dangerous driving (radar caught him at 260 kmh -over 150 mph-) as conditions on road at time were excellent and initial sentence used recourse to wrong thinking - law has since been tightened- the offender has in any case been off the road for over a year since the offence; 14th: Marbella corruption case sees wife of main suspect arrested on money laundering charges; Stock exchange falls on news of growing mortgage defaults - 0.4% in Spain; 13th: 3 ETA suspects accused of 20 killings arrested in Hendaye; anti-terror policy continues to dominate bitter inter-party strife; inflation steady at 2.4%; 'aspergillus' affects 11 and kills 4 in Alcala de Henares, Madrid; Spain condones 1485 millions in foreign debt; 12th:AlQuaida video threatens Spain for presence in Afghanistan; Monument to vicitms of 3-11 inaugurated on 3rd anniversary (Sunday 11th)- take a look; perhaps one million marched against government release of ETA convict Chaos on Saturday; mandarins Vera and Hernando on trial for another episode in the Gonzalez government anti-terror Gal squad; Batasuna leader Otegi believes an agreement over Basque country could be just weeks away; storm winds cause numerous forest fires over weekend on Mad. coast; 45 arrested on drug ring charges in Catalonia; 194 Guardia Civil police set up 'construction corruption' department after cases in Marbella, Mallorca and elsewhere; 68 new fixed radars installed to control speeding.

9th: Spain among leaders in alternative energy as EU leaders agree CO2 cuts; first of opposition demos against government ETA policy in Bilbao; child porn ring hit - 29 implicated; patera open boat reaches Canaries with 44 illegals on board, plus 3 dead; Catalan C25 expressway from Girona to Lleida to be doubled up; 8th: Storm cuts off Britain - P&O Pride of Bilbao remains in port and passengers sleeping in sport hall, fast ferries to Balearics stopped and much damage along Med coast; right wing calls demonstration to complain that government has 'given in' to ETA; AlQuaida suspect extradited from London on 3-11 charges; E.On announcement paves way for possible retreat from Endesa offer; 6th: Judge Garzón releases 72 year old ETA detainee Joseba Imanol Elosua on health grounds - he was arrested last year on charges of involvement with the extorsion network; environment minister Narbona warns water prices will rise; stormy weather warning for tomorrow.

3rd: 3 premature babies die and 25 in danger at Madrid hospital; 8th cross-Straits summit - Zapatero and 8 ministers visit Rabat; 2nd: Right wing outraged at Chaos release; February inflation steady at 2.5%, unemployment steady, down 0.3%; doctors 6 lawyers in Andalusia working out how to remove respirator which is maintaining a muscular dystrophy sufferer artificially alive; industry minister wants Spain to offer 100Mb broadband; sex change law eased; Gas Natural HQ closed after 150 workers go down with semi-circular lipoatrophy, illness related to an excess of electronic gadgets, creating static; new mortgage bill agreed by government; water for the South East at last! 38 cubic hectometres will be transferred to the Segura basin from the upper Tajo reservoirs (more Go more news); 1st: ETA hunger striking terrorist convict De Juana Chaos released by Interior minister Rubalcaba to hospital in Basque Country and later house arrest - Chaos immidiately stops hunger strike; first incriminating evidence in 3-11 (Madrid bombings) case: Granados says Trashorras asked him to transport the explosive; Endesa takeover bid saga takes new course as Italian Enel buys 17%; thousands demonstrate in Cadiz against Delphi works closure.