News, January 2009

News from the Churches

Eva Díaz wins 'Unamuno Friends of Protesstants' prize. MCO present Spain-2009-365-prayer year of prayer. Carlos Martínez to perfom at Mission-net. New regional law against 'publicity' could go against freedom of speech (and preaching) in Madrid. Spanish Evangelists' Conference early December - blessing for those who attended. B. Manley Pippert speaks in Barcelona. This and more... Read on! more >>

January 30th, general news roundup.

Inflation down to 0.8% (AHCPI); drop in Euribor to 2.135% means average monthly mortgage repayment falls 200 Euros; ETA makes new statement in view of forthcoming Basque Country elections; McDonalds hopes to create 2,000 jobs in Spain this year; Catalan business group buys 80% of Spanair from SAS - without accumulated debt; number of Civil Servants rises to 3 million; furniture run in Valladolid as shop has 1€ offers; 24 detained in drug swoop; new storm warnin for Galicia this weekend; 28th: More bad economic news released: Iberia only just in profit, mortgages down 45% in November, car sales likely to fall another 23% this year, BBVA cuts dividend...; Santander to pay back initial deposit to all Madoff investors; arrests across Europe, including Spain, for falsification of Euro notes; 27th: Zapatero announces 1 billion Euro food help -over 5 years- for starving nations; Bad weather warning again across Spain, floods in Basque country; transport minister says sorry for Madrid snow chaos on 9th January, especially at airport; Camorra leaders arrested in Madrid; Zapatero answered public's questions on TVE - 3/4 viewers approve performance - hopes to see the light at the end of the tunnel by the end of the year; builder Nozar forced into suspension of payments by judge due to 4 billion Euro debt; 26th:

A Spanish (Osborne) bull in tatters after the storm - a symbol of the credit crunch, too? -photo EFE

2 bodyguards shot up in Cantabria, close to Basque Country; 72,000 still with no power after weekend storm, as alert revived - injured kids from Barcelona sport hall recovering well, Alicante forest fire under control - BBC storm report, NYT; Repsol announces 3 new gas finds in Algeria; with lower market capitalisation, BA pulls back from Iberia bid; Goya's 'Colossus' is not his, according to report from El Prado gallery - but it's from his assistant Asensio Julià. more >>

Sport roundup, 26th January

Nadal beats compatriot Verdasco to reach final of Austrailan Open. Spain and Portugal agree joint candidature for football World Cup 2018. Barcelona set new record for half way League points: 50. Mireia Belmonte sets world record in women's medley at Euro short-course swimming championships. Aschwin Wildeboer, also of CN Sabadell, sets another swimming World record.Juan de Ramos replaces Schuster at Real Madrid. Barcelona head Primera. Biker Marc Coma wins Dakar, accident forces cars leader Carlos Sainz out. For more, read on! 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: weather and winter travel

Spain 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 much further north. more >>

News Theme: The Economy

For the past few years Spain has been hitting headlines for above average growth and very high house price inflation. It appears 'the end is nigh' for the Spanish economic miracle. World economic woes are certainly affecting Spain. On 18th April the cabinet approved a fiscal stimulus of 10 (US) billion Euros this year and another 8 billion in 2009. We offer our view. more >>

News theme: Basque politics and ETA

Spain'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)

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. more >>