News, June 2008

June 27th, general news roundup.

CPI (inflation) hits 5.1%; 7,000 have lost driving licences, but latest drink-drive law has halved offences; 26th: Heat wave (40ºC+) warning in south and centre; Andalusia presents regional law to permit 'dignified death' (euthanasia); first quarter housing starts down 36% - April completions down 7%; semi-legal (pro-ETA) PCTV gives the one required vote to allow Basque Parliament to approve an 'illegal' referendum on Basque independence (illegal unless approved by the Madrid Cortes, which is unlikely); police in Valencia hold half a million falsified objects valued at 20 million Euros, in 15 containers -made in China- and arrest 4 Indians; 25th: Deputy Police Inspector and 37 others arrested in drug and migrant trafficking ring at Barajas airport, Madrid and Valencia; 41 arrested in child porn operation - BBC report; Partido Popular as negative as ever in its 'new, middle-ground, conciliatory' phase; mortgage defaults to double to 2% by end of year, according to Mortgage Association - some have to pay 20% more now than when they bought their homes in 2004 or 2005; industrial prices up 8%; 4% more Spaniards had net worth over 1 million dollars at end '07 (helped by 10% decline in dollar!); Booker winner, Canadian Margaret Atwood gets Prince of Asturias literature prize; 23rd: 3 of Don Quixote's windmills restored 400 years later - the 500 year old wheat grinding mills at Campo de Criptana, which made Don Quijote the world's best selling novel have been restored, although these days they are much outnumbered by modern generating mills; president Zapatero announces economic measures to counter recession; Partido Popular congress reelects Mariano Rajoy as leader and presidential candidate - new national committee chosen; 20 migrants missing after crossing the fence into Melilla from Marrocco; summer heat is upon us, but may be dissipated (momentarily) this afternoon by storms; spring rains mean good harvest is forecast;

Other recent news includes: 20th: January population figures out: 46 million total, of whom 5.2 million foreigners - also 1/2 million born in Latin America are now Spaniards, but nationalisation still lower than death rate; 19th: 392 migrants reach Canaries on cayucos - numbers each day growing due to good weather; 2 Spanish soldiers die in Bosnia helicopter accident; farmers protest oil prices today; Zapatero warns of 'austere' budget for 2009; Partido Popular congress this weekend - to elect new (or same) leader and new general secretary; SAS stops sale of Spanair due to lack of good offers and fuel crisis; Imperial Tobacco cuts 830 jobs at Spanish Altadis plants; Santander announces plans to buy Dresdner Bank; 18th: Foreign minister Moratinos visits Venezuela to re-establish 'intense' relations - royal 'Why don't you just shut up?' finally put behind Spain and Chávez; 2 cayucos reach Grand Canary with 139 migrants; 17th: Transport strike 'temporarily suspended' - roads finally back to normal; prince Felipe makes surprise visit to Afghanistan troops; electricity to rise up to 8.3% for many homes; mayor of Estepona (Costa del Sol) arrested for building permit corruption; state broadcaster TVE to have 9 minute per hour ad limit from 2010; 13 jailed pending full charges in Russian Mafia operation; Mallorcan developer Grupo Drac suspends payments (similar to chapter 11) - the boss, Vicente Grande also put Real Mallorca FC up for sale; cayuco with 59 on board reaches Tenerife.

13th: Expo opens today in Zaragoza; transport strike ends, but still supply problems and on-going obstruction in some areas - BBC report - BBC on effects at British Mini plant; big Russian Mafia round-up on Costas and islands involving 400 police in 6 provinces; scientists in the noisiest nation find 'acoustic cloak' technology -BBC report - does this mean Spaniards can be even noisier? 11th: Google gets Principe de Asturias communication prize; inflation (CPI) hits 4.6%; incidents in truckers' strike see one dead and one seriously wounded - fuel and food getting scarce in some places, despite initial agreement; 2 business women arrested for payments to ETA; 9th: Transport drivers strike against high fuel prices and collapse Madrid and Barcelona, plus frontiers - BBC report- we advise checking with motoring associations before driving to or renting in Spain this week - fuel scarce in Madrid and Catalonia - ferry services to Balearics affected by lack of trucks and fuel; government announces help line for men involved in domestic violence; April travel figures show first fall in air use in 6 years, while long-distance and high-speed rail was up 15%; ETA bombs daily El Correo Vasco: Euribor rise to hit mortgages again.
Earlier this month: Record rain in May places reservoirs in Catalonia at same levels as last year before drought; Zapatero promises top aid package in troubled UN food summit; government to 'update' ageing euthanasia and abortion laws.

Earlier news headlines: click here.