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News, March 2011March 31st, recent news round-upTraffic dept reports taking €1.2 million daily in speeding fines; gas and electricity prices to rise substantially tomorrow; 30th: Prince Charles and Camilla visit Spain - Telegraph, Guardian; gang arrested in Murcia for shipping drugs in Air Con units sent to Britain; inflation (AHCPI) steady at 3.6%; Bank of Spain forecasts 'slow recovery' of 0.8% growth this year - Zapatero fears this will not create new jobs. The Guardian posts a collection of articles on Spain under the theme New Europe. Other recent news includes: 23rd: Libya operation to cost Spain €25 million; German investors rescue Balearics - buying over half of the €300 million issued by the Govern in February, trusting the 50% increase in holiday bookings for this year to pay the interest - bookings for Easter already cover 75% of hotel rooms; Zara profits up 1/3 - Telegraph; 22nd: 100 students make pot-and-pan protest against university chapels in Madrid after 4 students arrested for protest inside chapel on one campus; treasury places 2 billion €uros at lower rate; ETA member arrested on Monday was carrying €48,000 in cash; Citroën in Vigo sends 27 workers home due to lack of supply of Japanese components; Spain to contribute €83 billion, 12% of EU emergency fund; 21st: Spanish F-18s support no-fly zone; presumed ETA member detained in France, a passenger managed to escape the routine traffic control; Picasso works among haul of stolen art found by police - Telegraph. 18th: Zapatero announces support for Exclusion Zone with bases and more - US aircraft land to prepare base at Morón fo refuelling fleet; Santigo del Valle sentenced to 22 years for the abuse and murder of MariLuz Cortés, a pastor's daughter in 2008 (see separate article); 15th: European Court says insulting the king is no crime - so Basque leader to be repaid fine - Guardian; 14th: Foreign minister Jimenez visits Egypt; opposition leader Rajoy gets highest poll rating in 10 years; 2 Spaniards hostage despite rescue of fishing boats from pirates by Indian navy; Spanish bank debt at ECB below 50 billion for first time since 2008; snow closes roads in Canary Islands; Charles and Camilla to make official visit to Spain, plus one extra day in Seville at end of month. 11th: 7th anniversary of Madrid bombings, in which 199 died in Islamic terror attacks - our 2007 comment and report; February inflation (CPI) confirmed at 3.6%, due to fuel; EU leaders in Brussels discuss Spanish debt problem - Guardian editorial; Santander's CEO banned from work for 3 months by court - Telegraph; Panda cubs on show in Madrid zoo - Telegraph video; 10th: Airport unions meet with bosses in attempt to head off Easter strike; 4 presumed ETA members detained in France, including 'top 2' military leaders in the terror organisation - BBC; Moodys downgrade Spanish debt - BBC; Zara's owner Amancio Ortega rises to 7th place in Forbes list of wealthy, a place once occupied by Mallorcan smuggler-cum-banker Joan March - <BBC; 9th: President Zapatero claims this month job market will start recovery; formerly jailed businessman's second 'empire', Nueva Rumasa follows first into receivership, taking several large food brands - some workers owed several months' salary; infrastructure minister Blanco hopeful of agreement with unions to stave off Easter airports strike; 8th: Airport workers announce strike dates - Easter is particularly affected - BBC; The Guardian reports on horrific conditions for migrant workers in Spain's salad fields; Galicia town reintroduces pre-Euro Peseta to get tills ringing - Telegraph. 5th: Heavy snow snarls up Madrid; Partido Popular celebrates national candidate rally in Palma ahead of May's local elections; British holiday/ retirement home owners in Andalusia could get reprieve from demolition threat - Telegraph; renewables produced 50% of power during January and February; 4th: New lower speed limit to last for 4 months - to save fuel, speed on motorways reduced to 110kmh (68 mph), 20 other energy saving measures approved by cabinet - Guardian; airport unions announce national Easter strike; relief supplies flown from Spain to Benghazi; March 1st: 4 presumed ETA terrorists arrested in Basque Country - possibly the most important of those remaining; February 28th: Javier Bardem fails to win Oscar; speed limit lowered to 110 kmh until oil crisis passes - Guardian; arbitration deal announced for air traffic controllers - lower pay and fewer hours - hopes are that they will not strike over Easter; wintry weather returns with snow and/or wind and rain in 22 provinces. Earlier news headlines: click here. |