News, September 2009

September 30th, recent news round-up

Storms continue to affect Mediterranean regions - Burriana in Castellón saw over 300mm in 20 hours, 'Rio Seco' ('River Dry', which it normally is) overflows wide banks; 2 Socialist deputies first A-flu victims in Congress; 29th: government present 'austere' 2010 budget, with higher tax plans - needs support from other parties to pass; inflation: advance CPI -1%; scandal over BBVA boss's 52 million Euro pension; 28th: Day after pill goes on 'over the counter' sale in pharmacies - 'but no accompanying literature yet'- as cabinet approves new abortion bill - BBC; seasonal 'flu inoculation begins early, ahead of A-flu vaccine; Spain joins call to investigate Magna-Opel deal -BBC; heavy rain storms hit south east coast and Balearic islands - P4S again affected.

Other resent news includes: 25th: pharmaceutical firm Zeltia's shares rise 35% on European approval of cancer drug Yondelis; 24th: 46% of Spaniards speak no other language- claims Eurostat (of course, many of our immigrants are also native Spanish speakers) - EU average is 36%; 600 more laid off temporarily at Opel works in Zaragoza; 22nd: Madrid's symbol, the bear in the arbutus, moves to new place in the Puerta del Sol square; local councillor swaps allegiance to give Benidorm to Socialists; tourist arrivals by 'low cost' down 6% to August, despite good August for British visitors and a 51% market share in month; 21st: Storms over Costas greet arrival of autumn - after 3rd hottest summer since 1970; 'most wanted' ETA terrorist leader Txeroki handed over by France to Spanish justice; defence minister Chacón announces new tanks for Afghanistan, despite financial cuts for department; 21 rescued from 3 'toy boat pateras' (recreational inflatable boats, unlike those in the linked pictures) in the Straits - 8 dead, at least 20 missing; Civil Guard find 1.7 tonnes of hashish in broken-down van on A7 motorway close to Gibraltar; former Socialist regional leader Ibarra calls for limits on 'tourist' use of health service by EU and other nationals; anti-abortion-law demonstration to be held 17th October.

18th: Bad weather retreats for weekend; 17th: Congress discusses possible prohibition of prostitution; divorce down 13.5% in 2008; building land price holds in q2 - sales down 25%; EU commissioner Almunia calls government, firms and workers to concentrate on preventing growth in unemployment; bad weather continues - BBC video; 16th: Government 'control session' gives opposition chance to grill Zapatero on crisis - warning on tax rises - Economist; vice-president de la Vega operated for gut pain; Zara to sell online next year as Inditex profit falls 8% in first half -BBC; service sector sales down 13% in July; civil servants offered 0.3% pay rise; OECD warns of 2.7 million unemployed next year; Zaragoza plant of Opel to demonstrate Saturday over 1700 redundancies; 15th: [Image 97???] Patera intercepted off Tarifa, with 6 minors aboard (no adults, 4 under 12) - the boat was a play blow-up boat (not Zodiac quality) and they were rowing across the Straits; Indian ocean fishing fleet to be equipped with long-distance precision rifles; August home sales down 'only' 20%; Repsol announces 14th major oil/gas find of year; president Zapatero visits Russia; anger at Spanish economy ministry over Opel sale, with no word on fate of Spanish plant - BBC; Amnesty International calls on Spain to end 'incommunication' of detainees - BBC; weather centre reports 37,000 lightning flashes over and around Balearics, Ibiza airport reported 95mm rain in the same 24 hours; 14th: Storms cool Spain after extra long and hot summer - power cuts affect P4S; children return to school; Arenys de Munt independence for Catalonia referendum sees almost 100% in favour - 41% voted; Spain could be only big economy still in recession at year end - -3.7% - BBC; August CPI inflation confirmed at -0.8%; Bolivian leader Morales follows Venezuela's Chavez to visit Spain - BBC; jelly fish threat to beaches could be over if chef gets her way to put it on menu - BBC; several judges, including Baltasar Garzón, face trial - The Economist; 9th (and earlier this month): Berlin awarded Prince of Asturias Concorde prize; Catalan town Arenys de Munt has independence referendum banned by court; unemployment above 18%.

Earlier news headlines: click here.