News, December 2008

Happy New Year!

May we take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas, in the knowledge that the baby born that first Christmas went on the die to save all those who trust in Him.
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News from the Churches

New regional law against 'publicity' could go against freedom of speech (and preaching) in Madrid. Spanish Evangelists' Conference early December - blessing for those who attended. B. Manley Pippert speaks in Barcelona. Stop the Traffick on TVE. Embargo threat on board of Andalusian Congress. MCO present Spain-2009-365-prayer year of prayer. Good Seed calendar distribution comes to Costa Brava. 20 years of Open Air preaching in Puerta del Sol. Carlos Martínez to perfom at Mission-net. New church planting cooperation group established. This and more... Read on! more >>

December 27th, general news roundup.

Accidents on black ice involving 54 cars close A8 in Basque Country, while A7 access to France closed due to snow in Catalonia - also many roads close to Pyrenees, such as A2 Madrid-Barcelona hit by snowfalls and may need chains; 'El Solitario,' famous solo bank robber, condemned in Portugal to 7 years for attempted robbery - also wanted by Spain for countless robberies; minimum wage to rise 4%, pensions 6%; 22nd: EL GORDO 32,365 - the only item of news which matters to most Spaniards - once again at P4S we lost no money on the world's greatest lottery, unlike over 95% of participants -BBC report. more >>

Sport roundup, 22nd December

Barcelona sets new record for League points up to Christmas, with 42. Mireia Belmonte sets world record in women's medley at Euro short-course swimming championships. Aschwin Wildeboer, also of CN Sabadell, sets another swimming World record. Real Madrid buys Diarra from Portsmouth - BBC report. Juan de Ramos replaces Schuster at Real Madrid. Spain beat Argentina in Davis Cup final. Spain beat Chile 3-0 (football friendly). Real Madrid knocked out of Copa del Rey by 2nd B division Real Unión. Rafa Nadal knee injury prevents presence in Shanghai and Davis Cup final (Argentina). Alonso 2nd in Brazil GP to end brilliantly finished season. Dani Pedrosa 2nd in Valencia and MotoGP championship. Barcelona head Primera. Sergio Garcia world nº2 after winning Shanghai. For more, read on! more >>

News theme: The Mari Luz murder case

MADRID, November 19, 2008 (Europa Press / ACPress.net) "The story of the tragic murder of Mari Luz, a five-year-old girl of Evangelical parents killed by a paedophile earlier this year, is to be turned into a TV mini-series entitled ´Days without Luz´ (as well as being the little girl´s name, the word means ´light´). " This tragic story has filled not only evangelical news bulletins, like Protestante Digital, but also mainline news media. We attempt to bring some understanding. more >>

News theme: weather and winter travel

Spain 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 much further north. more >>

News Theme: The Economy

For the past few years Spain has been hitting headlines for above average growth and very high house price inflation. It appears 'the end is nigh' for the Spanish economic miracle. World economic woes are certainly affecting Spain. On 18th April the cabinet approved a fiscal stimulus of 10 (US) billion Euros this year and another 8 billion in 2009. We offer our view. more >>

News theme: Basque politics and ETA

Spain's peripheral regions, particularly Catalonia and the Basque Country, have never felt fully part of 'Spain'. History and language have parts to play in this situation. The result is that these regions have long desired high levels of autonomy or even independence. In the Basque Country, the existence of ETA, a terrorist organisation with a pseudo left-wing nationalist agenda, has forced all parties to consider the independence issue seriously. ETA started during the Franco dictatorship, but has resolutely refused to die before achieving its objectives, themselves more confused with the passing of time. Ceasefires and bombing campaigns have succeeded each other over the years. Meanwhile, democratic parties have taken their own positions on independence, with the governing centre-right Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), under the presidency of Lehendakari (regional president) Ibarretxe, leading the search for an agreed independence or high level of autonomy. more >>

News Theme, The immigration crisis

Desperation (AFP)

Reports, almost daily, of open boats known variously as pateras (coming from Marrocco or Algeria) or larger cayucos (reaching the Canary islands from further south), combine with stories of illegal 'paperless' immigrants attempting to cross the fences at Ceuta and Melilla. Add to these high profile stories the situation of hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans and Romanians, not to mention Asians and you have the appearance of a significant immigration crisis. Throw in the confusion and disagreement of politicians as to how to deal with the phenomenon and you have a real crisis. more >>

More News

A few more news items and where to find more news about Spain:

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