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News, February 2008News from the Churches February 29th, general news roundup.3 kilo ETA bomb explodes in Basque Socialist party HQ; El Solitario famous bank robber, on trial for 2 deaths in Tudela, Navarre; 'overbooking' hits AVE train again on Madrid- Malaga route; 28th: Navarre University publishes definitive story of RC theology in the New World after 25 years of work by 29 specialists - 4 volumes published by Iberoamericana-Vervuert (Frankfurt), reflecting the development of all kinds of thought in Latin America during the past 500 years; TV viewers tiring of election debates and interviews; mixed economic results: Telefónica announces 43% profits rise, while developer Acciona drops 29% - Repsol was level; 27th: 4 women die at hands of partners - worst day since records began; 20 Islamists condemned for terror plot; 26th: TV debate between presidential hopefuls got 13 million viewers, president Zapatero was more positive and got a 'win' from pollsters, but opponent Rajoy felt he won; NYT says terror alert raised in run-up to election; accident on Extremadura road out of Madrid involves 90 vehicles, with at least 35 injured, one serious; BAA loss depresses Ferrovial profit (BBC report); 25th: ETA strikes again at outset of election campaign, with bomb at communication tower in Basque Country - none hurt; Javier Bardem first Spanish actor to gain Oscar; CCTV begins in Madrid, in calle Montera, known for night life; colonel Juan Montenegro takes operative command of KFOR. more >> Sport roundup, 25th FebruaryJuan de Ramos' Spurs wins Carling Cup at Wembley. Barcelona beat Celtic. Joventut wins basketball Copa del Rey. Spain beat France in soccer friendly. Melbourne -Ferrer beats Ferrero, Nadal to semi finals; Madrid heads Primera and ACB league; Hamilton plans return to Spain -Jerez- despite recent attacks in Barcelona. For more, read on! more >> Elections 200826th February. Elections will be held on 9th March and the campaign is under way. Last night the two presidential hopefuls, president Zapatero and oposition leader Rajoy, met in a face to face TV debate watched by 13 million. Rajoy was almost totally negative, scarcely giving a hint of future policies and being incapable of defending the more conservative 'family values' of the Partido Popular against the PSOE granting of 'rights' to gays, couples in need of a quick divorce or women facing unwanted pregnancies. Polls tend to give Zapatero the debate victory, but it appears that neither won a significant swing in voter intentions. See the BBC report. more >> Socialists consider revision of Vatican agreements and Religious Freedom law in 2008 election manifesto23rd October. The Socialist party (PSOE) is considering including the revision of the 1979 Concordat agreement between Spain and the Vatican, as well as the 1980 Religious Freedom Law in their 2008 general election manifesto. The Socialists are again moving towards a more 'lay' state, in which any religious expression is effectively sidelined. The PSOE is especially concerned that the Roman Catholic Church has excessive privileges in an increasingly 'plural' nation in terms of religious belief. more >> Racist attack on Lewis Hamilton suggests wider problem in society6th February. The BBC today published an article reflecting on the recent racist abuse hurled verbally at Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton at the Montmeló track in Barcelona. Read the BBC report here! Spain has proclaimed over recent years that it is very open to foreigners and is coping well with integrating them. However, the truth is perhaps a mixed bag going over many centuries. more >> Catalan Infrastructure - Coming out of the Tunnel.February 2008. Barcelona has had an horrendous past six months on the roads, rail ,in hospital and even at home! Power went down for 3 days in the summer, rail links were cut for up to 3 months and congestion has been the order of the day on the roads and in hospitals. Even schools have run out of supply teachers! However, on 5th February as the last of the cut rail lines was resumed, track and catenary testing began on the new AVE high speed line to Madrid in the tunnel into the city which had caused much of the traffic chaos. Plans are also afoot to take on many more medical and teaching staff in the coming few years. more >> Expat life in Spain4th February. The BBC has just published another article in their occasional series on living abroad. Read it here! More and more people are retiring to Spain or moving here for work or other reasons, but as you will see from the article, many never get integrated with the Spaniards, partly because they may live in areas, such as the Costa Blanca, where Spaniards appear increasingly scarce! more >> News theme: Basque politics and ETASpain's peripheral regions, particularly Catalonia and the Basque Country, have never felt fully part of 'Spain'. History and language have parts to play in this situation. The result is that these regions have long desired high levels of autonomy or even independence. In the Basque Country, the existence of ETA, a terrorist organisation with a pseudo left-wing nationalist agenda, has forced all parties to consider the independence issue seriously. ETA started during the Franco dictatorship, but has resolutely refused to die before achieving its objectives, themselves more confused with the passing of time. Ceasefires and bombing campaigns have succeeded each other over the years. Meanwhile, democratic parties have taken their own positions on independence, with the governing centre-right Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), under the presidency of Lehendakari (regional president) Ibarretxe, leading the search for an agreed independence or high level of autonomy. more >> News Theme, The immigration crisis Desperation (AFP) News theme: weather and winter travelSpain is not, contrary to its image, permanent summer! The tourist season is limited, even at coastal areas, except in the Canary Islands, to half the year. Winter, especially inland, is far harsher than it is in (mostly) mild Britain, so far further north. more >> More NewsA few more news items and where to find more news about Spain:more >> |