News, October 2011

October 28th, recent news round-up

EAPS population survey reveals unemployment in 3rd quarter close to 5 million - EAPS-pdf - only industry bucks the trend to shed jobs - El Pais; 24th: Echoes of the ETA activity cessation announcement continue to top headlines; storms and rain finally bring autumn to Spain; tourist numbers to September over 45 million - up 8%; one in five live below poverty line - El País; El País editorial expresses concern over Catalan Govern proposals to privatise hospitals and start to dismantle 'welfare state'; despite over 20% unemployment, only 12% say they are seriously seeking work, according to survey; AVE service on Madrid - Barcelona route speeds up on introduction of ERTMS-2 signalling; Movistar to open flagship Madrid store at 0.01 on 28th to welcome iPhone 4S.

Other recent news includes: 21st: ETA announces the end of activity - El País, Telegraph, full text BBC, Guardian picture gallery, Zapatero reaction - BBC, The Economist; the government has announced that no 'final talks' will take place before the 20th November general election and that it leaves any 'negotiations' to the incoming government. It is perhaps possible that ETA had hoped some deal with the outgoing socialist government might be easier than with a potential right wing Partido Popular government. One way or another, the Basque separatists will now hope that their representatives get a chance to run in the election campaign. British couple die in Alicante ravine market flash flood - Telegaph, BBC, Guardian tributes; Odd smell forces Madrid-bound flight to make emergency landing - BBC. 17th: International conference on ETA starts in San Sebastian - with Kofi Annan, but without Spanish or Basque governments - BBC, El País.

14th: 2 Spanish aid workers kidnapped by Somali al Quaeda members in Kenya camp El País, Guardian video; S&P follows Fitch in Spanish bond downgrade - BBC, Telegraph; The Guardian tours Spain and gathers 'stories from the breadline'; housing minister visits UK to encourage purchase of Spanish holiday homes - BBC; Government delays sale of Madrid and Barcelona airports due to funding problems for buyers - El País; 11th: most smaller Spanish banks, plus large Bankia would fail new stress tests - El País - so their debt is downgraded BBC 10th: Volcanic erruption on El Hierro (Canaries) likely soon - El País; conservative Basque Nationalist party PNV likely to agree post-ETA policy with a future PP government - after revelations of secret meetings - El País; over 1,000 cities lose funding as they have not sent budget on time to finance ministry; 3 regions and Barcelona see Fitch rate cut; Ferrovial sells 6% of BAA to hold under 50% BBC.

7th: Fitch downgrades Spanish debt to AA- -BBC, Guardian; Statistics Institute forecasts declining population from this year - first repatriation of migrants, later more deaths than births - El País, INE-pdf - this could negatively affect evangelical church membership; 2 lesser banks announce merger - El País; more sad stats: in April to June a record 16,400 homes were retaken by banks after mortgage holders could not repay - but after the flats are auctioned, the debtors will still have to pay off any remaining debt - perhaps 60,000 families will be made homeless this year as a result - El País; 6th: Government 'good guy' Jose Blanco embroiled in corruption scandal; 3 more Caja savings banks nationalised - their boards awarded themselves 'scandalous' golden handshakes - El País, Economist; Rota naval base in Cádiz to host Nato missile shield fleet - El País; 5th: At 85, Duchess of Alba remarries after passing on wealth to heirs - BBC, Telegraph profile; hospital waiting lists in Catalonia jump by 23% due to health service cuts - El País; 4th: Unemployment up 95,000 (+2.3%) - worst rise for 15 years - to over 4.2 million - in part due to end of summer tourist season, part to freezes on public employment, especially in health and education, but shocking at double last year's September figure - El País, Guardian; High School teachers on strike in Madrid over lack of new appointments - classes are larger, no substitutions are being made - to save money.

Earlier news headlines: click here.
Sources: a variety of news services, including El Mundo, Europa Press, TVE, TVC and IB3, plus links
Also look up El País in English
We especially recommend checking out the Spain sections in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. In particular, note the New Europe series in The Guardian, March 2011.