News, October 2009

October 28th, recent news round-up

Corruption in Partido Popular continues to dominate local politics; EU tells Spain to end tax break on take-overs - BBC; Santander struggling at home, but benefits from UK branches - BBC; 26th: 7 dead in Mallorcan block of flats - 1 Spanish teenagers, 3 Colombians and 2 German pensioners - BBC video; Spanish Opel workers accept Magna plan - BBC; Iberia strikes today - 210 flights cancelled; Sabino Fernandez Campos, head of Royal household through 23-F coup (1981), dies.

earlier news this month includes: Political head of ETA arrested in France; up to 2 million marched in Madrid on 17th against new abortion law; 15th: Zapatero continues ME tour - in Israel; September air travel down 5% - 9% in the case of Palma, Mallorca; 14th: Ricardo Costa, secretary of Partido Popular in Valencia sacked after refusing to resign; government claims no price has been asked for release of hostage fishing boat - but pirates say they are asking $4 million; Zapatero visits Syria; CPI confirmed at -1% - now 7 months in negative; Spanish banks owed European Central Bank 80 billion at end September; 13th: Judge Baltasar Garzón arrests five Basque separatist leaders - BBC; Zapatero visits Washington; Partido Popular corruption crisis grows as Ricardo Costa refuses to 'resign'; defence minister denies request for return of Somali pirates before negotiating release of hijacked ship - 2 pirates now in hands of judge Garzón -BBC; Spanish banks need to set aside more for ad debts, claims Moodys; 12th: Spain's national Day, premier Zapatero booed at military parade; 2 detained Somali pirates handed to 'justice' in Madrid; King Juan Carlos to visit Obama before Christmas; 'Bio' farmers survive the recession in Asturias - BBC special report; ETA arms hide discovered in Alicante - could have relation to Mallorca bombs in summer.

Other recent news includes: 10th: Man claiming to be ETA member turns up at French hospital with accidental gunshot wounds; Partido Popular sacks first victim of 'Gürtel' corruption case, Ricardo Costa, gen sec of the Valencia party; recession depresses olive oil prices, despite consumer demand - BBC; Trafalgar 'Union Jack' to be auctioned - BBC; 8th: Defence minister Chacón brings back body of 90th soldier killed in Afghanistan; Partido Popular begins to take 'Gürtel' corruption case seriously; people travelled less by air (1.4%) and rail (4.2%) in August - 9.9% less Jan to Aug by air; bad debts continue to grow at troubled savings bank CCM - to 17%; heavy rain spreads to Madrid; 7th: Spanish soldier dies in Afghan attack; heavy rain forecast for west; Iberia considers charge for suitcases; rail operator Renfe plans to borrow as government cancels subsidy for 2010; Banco Santander completes float of Brazilian branch - BBC; 6th: Details published by investigating judges of 'Gürtel', a major corruption case involving finances of opposition Partido Popular - 17 politicians and numerous businessmen implicated; bull escapes ring in Marbella and wounds woman before being shot; lioness spotted roaming in hills between Teruel and Tarragona, consequently believed to be a wild dog; Q2 savings rate hits record 24%; Renault invests to guarantee 10 more years at Valladolid works - to include an electric car; 5th: Magna offers to fire less in Spanish Opel plant; 18 pateras with over 200 migrants held on south east coast; polls place opposition Partido Popular 4% ahead of Socialists; future Spanish EU presidency to call Somalia summit - in wake of fishing boat hijack last week; Thomas Cook expects offers of 'all-included' holidays to triple in Mallorca next year - Tour operators are alarmed at prospects of rise in VAT, particularly problematic for those paying in Sterling- already 15% more than this year; rumour has it that Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem are to marry - NY Daily News.

2nd Alakrana Spanish fishing boat held by Somali pirates in Indian Ocean - 400 miles from coast - BBC; 6 year old Spanish girl victim of Samoa tsunami; Unemployment up to 3.7 million; Spanish troops take over Kabul airport protection; 18 months jail and 1.2 million Euro fine for burning love letters and causing forest fire - 1900 hectares burnt; 1st: 74 arrested on child porn charges - BBC; September car sales up 18% - first rise for 16 months; storms subside, but Mallorca still suffers heavy downpours; former finance minister Solbes says he would have prepared a different budget - the 2010 budget went to Congress on Monday; row grows between Zapatero and leading press firm Prisa - The Economist; from today people lost on mountains of Catalonia must pay for rescue.

September 30th: 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.

Earlier news headlines: click here.