News, January 2010

January 29th, recent news round-up

Retirement to be delayed until 67; bad weather continues to affect much of Spain; 13 held in Internet child porn raids across country; 3 ETA weapons hides found in Basque Country; Arnaldo Otegi, ETA related political leader of Batasuna on trial; EPA employment survey shows 2009 ended with 18.8% unemployment (c.f BBC article, BBC video) - social security surplus fell over 40%, public debt grows to 11.4% of GDP, January inflation is 1.1%, IBEX market index ends month 9% below start; 26th: IMF forecasts continued recession this year, with 0.6% decline in GDP - only major industrialised economy to remain in the doldrums; Ertzaina (Basque police) detain five on ETA suspicion; cold and snow return to peninsula.

Other recent news includes: 22nd: Tourist arrivals fell almost 9% in 2009, hotel stays were down 7.5%; ; 21st: Body of 4th Spanish victim of Haiti quake found; president Zapatero proposes to EU parliament great social coalition to beat recession - BBC; 20th: Hospital ship Castilla to leave for Haiti - 40 doctors will accompany 200 marines and 190 crew; minister proposes salary cut to 200,000€ for air traffic controllers - 2 1/2 times his salary; hairdressers could strike over proposed tax on music in shops - BBC; vice president says new Religious Liberty bill to be presented before the summer; 18th: 3 Spaniards found among earthquake victims; African migration halved in 2009 - BBC; left wing leader shocked at Bin Laden photofit job - BBC; 'dirty war' pilot to be extradited to Argentina - BBC; P&O to suspend Bilbao - Porstmouth service after summer - BBC.

14th: Obama invites Zapatero to National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, during official visit, Feb 4; 13th: Spanish diplomat missing in Haiti; 11th: Snow again hits Spain - first for 50 years in Seville, Madrid airport suffers, temperatures over weekend down to -18ºC; ETA suspects arrested in France and Portugal - suspicion that they planned to build a base in Portugal, after they abandoned a van with explosives in Zamora - BBC; evangelical pastor Juan José Cortés says he will not attend the jury trial of the killer of his daughter MariLuz - 'to avoid the circus atmosphere'; study shows RC church attendance has fallen to 18.7% (2007) from 33.8% (1980) in Catalonia; Banco Santander rebrands its Abbey and other UK branches after the international name; Picasso museum in Malaga borrows 300 million Euros to buy 72 new works and borrow 43.

8th: Spain's EU presidency officially inaugurated today - BBC, 2020 competitiveness strategy proposed - FT; Wintry weather affects most regions, France cut off as AP7 motorway cut at La Jonquera (Mediterranean end of Pyrenees); read The Economist on the importance of Catalonia; 7th: Snow affects 11 regions; more flight cancellations between UK and Spain; Sales begin; 5th: All ready for arrival of the 3 kings with presents tonight; EasyJet leaves hundreds stranded 'due to bad weather or timed-out crew' over 3 Kings holiday (6th); cold snap to hit Spain after holiday, with -5ºC expected; Derecho a Vivir, the pro-life group, delivers cart load of coal to president Zapatero - the 3 kings do it too, not just Santa!; survey shows 75% reject option for 16 year olds to abort without parental permission - part of new abortion law; hacker puts Mr Bean on Spanish EU presidency homepage - BBC; almost 800,000 lost jobs during 2009 - to over 3.9 million; 2009 ended with HCPI (inflation) at 0.9%; the judicial secretary whose lack of oversight led to the tragic series of events leading to the death of MariLuz Cortés, returns to work after suspension - now at a mercantile court - jury trial expected this year; 2nd: Spain takes over presidency of EU - BBC, Gavin Hewitt's BBC blog; price rises hit may services; air traffic controllers on work to rule - they are Europe's best paid and government wants pay showdown.

Earlier news headlines: click here.