News, October 2009

PrayforSpain on the move

P4S is on the move for 6 weeks from 19th October, with infrequent updates. Meanwhile, our new look, courtesy of 'X-Cathedra' is nearly here! more >>

News from the Churches

Sell-out for first Evangelical Communicators' Encounter. George Borrow Society meeting in Salamanca, 15th to 19th Sept. Amazing Grace finally available to Spain. This and more... Read on! more >>

October 28th, recent news round-up

Corruption in Partido Popular continues to dominate local politics; EU tells Spain to end tax break on take-overs - BBC; Santander struggling at home, but benefits from UK branches - BBC; 26th: 7 dead in Mallorcan block of flats - 1 Spanish teenagers, 3 Colombians and 2 German pensioners - BBC video; Spanish Opel workers accept Magna plan - BBC; Iberia strikes today - 210 flights cancelled; Sabino Fernandez Campos, head of Royal household through 23-F coup (1981), dies. more >>

Sport headlines

Lorenzo wins Estoril MotoGP. Madrid loses 2016 Olympic bid at last post. Alonso signs for Ferrari. Alonso podium in Singapore. Spain win EuroBasket. Spain to Davis Cup final. Barcelona leads Liga after 6th round. Valverde wins Vuelta ciclista. Alonso signs for Ferrari. Nadal got to semis on Beijing return. more >>

ETA kills on 50th anniversary of terror... and continues Mallorca bombings.

31st July, 09. To 'commemorate' the 50th anniversary of ETA's reign of terror, two major bombings have taken place in the last two days. On 29th a van full of explosive ruined a big Civil Guard barracks in Burgos, causing some injuries and major structural damage to a building. Worse in terms of life was the killing of two Civil Guards with a magnet bomb under their car in Palmanova, Mallorca, on the 30th. Hours later, a second magnet bomb was defused under a car at another nearby Civil Guard post. BBC resumé - more links below. The terror group resumed activity in Mallorca with 3 small devices on Sunday, 9th August. more >>

€420 for some long term unemployed - but most get nothing

On 18th August unemployment offices opened to long lines of claimants, who hoped against hope to be included in the new offer of €420 for all whose unemployment pay had finished on 1st August. This is the first time that such a payment has been forthcoming from the social security, which only pays for specific time after people lose their jobs. After that people have had to find new work or rely on families or charity to survive. In the current downturn a lot more are in this situation and over a million lost their pay before the 1st August date... and will remain without a cent. 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'. This year the south east and the Balearics were hit hard. more >>

News theme: The Mari Luz murder case

The story of the tragic murder of Mari Luz, a five-year-old girl of Evangelical parents killed by a paedophile in January, 2008, has been turned into a TV mini-series entitled ´Days without Luz´ (as well as being the little girl´s name, the word means ´light´). This tragic story has filled not only evangelical news bulletins, like Protestante Digital, but also mainline news media, provoking a major review of the judicial system. We attempt to bring some understanding. more >>

News Theme: The Economy

Unemployment in Spain (The Economist)

For the past few years Spain has been hitting headlines for above average growth and very high house price inflation. The end has now definitely arrived for the Spanish economic miracle, with Spain among the worst hit nations in Europe. World economic woes are certainly affecting Spain, but it is suffering more due to local matters. Several billion Euros have now been thrown by the government at the problem, but unemployment is heading for 20% by the end of 2009. Experts believe the government is not adopting the best policies to get Spain back to work. We offer our view. more >>

News theme: Basque politics and ETA - 50 years on

31st July 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of ETA's terror campaign. To mark it, ETA planted a bomb outside a Civil Guard barracks in Burgos on 29th and under a patrol car in Mallorca on 30th, the latter causing two deaths. ETA is still alive and killing, but has achieved nothing useful for the Basques they claim to represent. On 19th June '09 ETA killed again. Here we offer some background thoughts to the problem. more >>

News Theme, The immigration crisis

Desperation (AFP)

Reports, almost daily, of open boats known variously as pateras (coming from Marrocco or Algeria) or larger cayucos (reaching the Canary islands from further south), combine with stories of illegal 'paperless' immigrants attempting to cross the fences at Ceuta and Melilla. Add to these high profile stories the situation of hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans and Romanians, not to mention Asians and you have the appearance of a significant immigration crisis. Throw in the confusion and disagreement of politicians as to how to deal with the phenomenon and you have a real crisis, now doubly significant as the jobs they are hoping for have dried up. more >>