News, November 2009

November 25th, recent news round-up

Abortion bill amendments face vote tomorrow (26th) - government expects to get 177 votes (176 needed); the new law, if passed, will do away with a clause which made Spain the easiest place in Europe to abort at almost any moment, while making abortion free on demand up to 14 weeks, up to 22 weeks with certain 'risk factors' and after this where life is threatened.

We were away most of the past 5 weeks. Earlier news includes: 5th:115,812 women aborted voluntarily in 2008 - up 3.2% - over 10% minors - only 2% in public hospitals; 4th: number of registered foreign residents grew 10% in 3rd quarter to 4.7 million.

October 28th: 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 in October includes: Political head of ETA arrested in France; ; 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; 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; 12th: Spain's national Day, premier Zapatero booed at military parade; 2 detained Somali pirates handed to 'justice' in Madrid; Bio' farmers survive the recession in Asturias - BBC special report; ETA arms hide discovered in Alicante - could have relation to Mallorca bombs in summer; 10th: Man claiming to be ETA member turns up at French hospital with accidental gunshot wounds; recession depresses olive oil prices, despite consumer demand - BBC; 8th: Defence minister Chacón brings back body of 90th soldier killed in Afghanistan; 7th: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; 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; 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; the 2010 budget went to Congress on Monday; row grows between Zapatero and leading press firm Prisa - The Economist.

Earlier news headlines: click here.