News, September 2006

September 29th, general news roundup

IBEx market index at historic high briefly tops 13,000; several million dead bocarte fish beached in Asturias - cause appears to be escape from predators (i.e. tuna); 28th: Inflation down to 3%; Volver chosen as Spanish candidate for Oscars; judge Garzón questions police experts over supposed false 3-11 reports; 143 illegals reach Almería aboard pateras (open boats); 27th: Politicains argue over Basque peace crisis; electricity sector nervous at takeover activity leading IBEX market to record highs; new accusations of 3-11 report falsifications; rain brings rise in reservoir levels for first time in 4 1/2 months levels still at crisis proportions (39%) and no immediate relief for farmers in sight; 'DIY Cathedral' in Mejorada del Campo, Madrid may get repreive -P4S lived in its shade for some time; 70th anniversary of releif of siege of Toledo's Alcazar fortress by Franco's troops during Civil War - Irish and British fascist recruits were involved; 25th: Royal family announces new pregnancy for Princess Letizia; ETA announces determination to resume 'struggle with arms in hand' to achieve indepentent Basque state - BBC reads this as refusal to hand in weopons before political objectives reached, Spanish PM Zapatero says they must play by the rules; Endesa takeover saga gets new turn on eve of Brussels announcement as state owned firm Acciona buys 10% in after hours trading; tax donations to NGOs to equal percentage for Church; 22nd: State agrees new way to support financing Catholic church - El Mundo says it could have implications for evangelical churches; 21st: Hurricane Gordon hits Galicia with wind up to 165 kmh at Finisterre - falling trees cause power cuts to 100,000 homes, one injured by falling tree; EU immigration summit in Finland today - 3 Spanish ministers attend; scandal over Interior Ministry report which falsified part of report on 11 March bombings; van driver arrested on discovery of 2.5 tonnes of cocaine. more >>

Sport roundup, 25th September

Spaniards help Europe to Ryder Cup victory, Spain beat italy in Davis cup, Barcelona leads League after 4 games on goals, 3 Spanish podium places at Japan Moto GP, while Vuelta runner up Valverde gets bronze in cycling World Cup, Spain won Basketball World Cup: read on! more >>

News from the Churches

Evangelical TV program Buenas Noticias TV is growing and is looking for an assistant editor. Tax changes for Catholics could also benefit evangelicals. Summer outreach reports are starting to come in. Galicia fires caused one summer camp for children to close. New agreements with the government are bringing joy and grief to the churches. Read on! more >>

Sub-Saharan invasion alarms Canaries

11th September. Reports daily in the press bring news of yet more illegal 'paperless' immigrants washed up on the shores of the Canary Islands and, this year to a much smaller extent the Spanish mainland. August was the worst month yet, bringing the year's total to 20,000 by 5th September. Meanwhile, at least 700 have died, this being the number of known cases. The European dream of a better life is causing desperate africans to risk all... and the governmet is less and less sure of how to cope. more >>

11 September, a day to remember

While the Catalan people have been celebrating 11th September for years, the rest of Spain now joins in taking this day to remember its almost 200 dead at the hands of international islamic terrorism on 11th March 2004. It also remembers from a greater distance, the dead in the many other related attacks around the globe since even before 11 September 2001, most recently the London bombings. 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 >>

30 years of democracy

July 3rd. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the appointment by king Juan Carlos of Adolfo Suarez to the position of President of the government (Prime Minister). Suarez was the man who led the country from the remains of the Franco dictatorship to a Constitutional Democracy. more >>

ETA peace process stalled

29th September. Over the past 2 weeks it has become increasingly clear that the ETA peace process has stalled. On Saturday, 24th, 3 hooded men spoke in the name of ETA at a rally, saying that ETA will not lay down its arms until its political aims have been achieved. In addition, street violence, know as Kalle Boroka has broken out again in the Basque cities. On the other side, politicians are no closer t consensus on how to deal with ETA, with triangular loggerheads between the central government, regional government and main opposition party Partido Popular, all having different and apparently irreconcilable views on how to proceed. This is a long way from the hopes held before the summer despite differences of opinion. more >>

New Catalan Statute takes effect

9 August. The Catalan Estatut, the region's local 'constitution' takes effect today after a year of hard negotiations and political haggling at regional and national level, including a number of recourses to the Constitutional Court due to apparent conflicts with the Spanish Constitution, notably about what constitutes a 'Nation'. The process is now complete, but in its wake a number of other regions, such as Andalusia and the island archipelagos, have also begun the process of renegotiating their Statutes. more >>

News theme: Basque politics and ETA

On 22nd March ('06), ETA, the Basque separatist terrorist group, announced a permanent ceasefire. One would have expected that after many years of living with terrorism in the Basque Country and across Spain, all Spaniards would have welcomed the announcement. However, a brief glance at newspaper headlines since that date would suggest that the announcement had been the spark for an all-out fight between the major parties. Several very different reactions have come to light and hopes of true 'peace' are as far as ever. Indeed, six months on, ETA has almost gone as far as to cancel the ceasefire, saying it will not hand in arms until its political aims are achieved. more >>

News Theme, Late Summer in Spain and the Weather

During August, the main news concerning the weather was 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 >>

More News

A few more news items and where to find more news about Spain: