News, September 2011

Pray4Spain news

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News from the Churches

John MacArthur visits León. Hundreds converted at remand centre. New book from Carlos Martínez. TWR signs agreement with Canal de Vida. My Hope TV outreach hot in preparation. more >>

September 30th, recent news round-up

Man kills pregnant woman before committing suicide in Madrid church - baby saved by medic - BBC; 29th: Inflation (AHCPI) up to 3.1% - BBC; finance minister confirms rapid privatisation of Madrid and Barcelona airports - but sale of National Lottery postponed, since investors did not offer enough - BBC; Air Europa and rail operator Renfe face another day of strikes; regional governments announce more redundancies to keep afloat - hundreds of health workers interrupt meeting to decide on next round of cuts, which is likely to see an entire hospital closed - El País, ElPaís editorial; the threat of a volcanic erruption on El Hierro (Canaries) rises - some have been evacuated from their homes - Telegraph; 28th: king Juan Carlos warns of time of sacrifice for many to keep Spain going; electricity prices frozen for a month - so bills won't reach consumers until after November election; 27th: Constitutional change to require balanced budget signed by king; power companies to raise prices by 6%; 26th: Cabinet meets to agree dissolution of Cortes; ETA prisoners request peace and amnesty - politicians reject plea - El País; small 'artefact' explodes at birthplace of Manuel Fraga, former Franco era minister and (later) regional president and founder of Partido Popular - Telegraph; fears of imminent volcanic eruption on El Hierro, Canary islands - El País; Bank reorganisation: Santander and CaixaBank to bid in auction for broke Caja CAM; 4 hour rail strike today; opposition leader Rajoy is rumoured to be learning English ahead of likely election as president - English Warehouse; Los Pasos Dobles wins San Sebastian film festival - BBC; last bull fight takes place in barcelona - BBC, Telegraph, Guardian photos. more >>

Sport headlines

Barcelona and Madrid win Champions League games. Spain win Euro Basketball championship, Davis Cup round. Alonso 4th in Singapore. Nadal loses US open final. Pedrosa and Lorenzo on heels of Stoner in MotoGP. Further update soon! more >>

General Election, November 2011

President Zapatero has called a general election for 20th November, bringing forward the date from the 'latest' mid-March '12. Over the coming 2 months we will attempt to bring you cover and comment on the process. The current favourite to win is the opposition Partido Popular, despite it's leader, Mariano Rajoy having lost the last two campaigns and still not having made clear what his main policies will be. more >>

The 'Indignant' revolution, two months on

[Image 106???]18th July. On 15th May, in the middle of the election campaign for Spain's municipalities and (most of) the regional assemblies, a series of mass demonstrations was called against the major parties fundamentally by those who felt disenfranchised, due to the crisis and unemployment. Somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 gathered in Madrid's Puerta del Sol st the main focus of the demonstration. The protest, calling for 'Real Democracy Now' demanded that the major parties take note of the general feeling that they no longer represent a significant part of the population, those without work. During the remainder of the campaign (i.e until 22nd May) and until the end of June, young unemployed people camped in the centres of all the provincial capitals. Demonstrators then decided to move gradually to other locations around the cities to allow a normal life to resume for those fortunate enough to have one. Two months later, we ask what were the demands and have they achieved anything? Will this have any long-term impact on Spain? more >>

The other 9/11: Catalonia's national day... and other September Fiestas

For Catalonia, September 11th marks not an event in recent American history, so much as an event of equally sad significance in the own history. On that date, in 1714, at the end of the war of the Spanish Succession, Catalonia fell to the advancing Borbon troops of Castille which took over the country and did away with the governing structures of Catalonia and the kingdom of Aragon which had existed since medieval times. more >>

News Theme, Late Summer in Spain and the Weather

During August, the main news concerning the weather tends to be the extreme heat and forest fires, causing loss of life as well as much damage to property. In September the main topic is late summer storms. But the most widely feared phenomenon is known as the 'Gota Fría'. more >>