News, March 2010

News from the Churches

Pastor Miguel Rueda with the Lord. 'Spain, we're praying for you' - thousands prayed for Spain. WEA leader visits Spain. New Bible presented. Church presentation on the issue of abortion broken up by women demonstrators. This and more... Read on! more >>

March 31st, recent news round-up

Spain heads on holiday - some regions have bank holidays on Thursday, Friday and Monday, others just two of these; rail strike goes ahead; Spain to give €346 million to Haiti at donors' conference; 30th: Former Balearic president Matas, accused of corruption, must pay €3 million bail or face prison; rail strike tomorrow as Spain goes on holiday, but 70% of long distance services 'must run'; BA strike continues to hit trips to London; government to hire 87% less than last year; March inflation 1.4%; Bank of Spain forecasts -0.4% growth this year, but +0.8% next; government hopes for 1/4 million electric cars by 2014; Madrid and Barcelona turn off analogue TV; 29th: Pneumologists calculate Tobacco health issues cost state 5.4 billion more than the tax income in 2008; indited politician Jaume Matas sacked by Partido Popular; foreign tourists spent 5 billion in first two months; 32 detained on child porn charges; analogue TV to cease broadcasts at Easter; rain and wind affect peninsula, but end of week holidays should be sunny. more >>

Sport headlines

Alonso leads F1. Contador won Paris-Nice. Nadal returns at Indian Wells. Madrid leads league. more >>

New abortion law passes Congress

March. In November (2009) a new abortion law went before the Congress. This has been long months in the planning stage and finally comes to full political debate. With the Roman Catholic influenced Partido Popular on the opposition benches, the law got a narrow victory. Main items are the closing of a clause which has allowed almost any woman to abort at any stage of pregnancy, but it now gives full freedom to abort up to 14 weeks. Assuming it passes the final stages, it is to become law on 5th July. A march on 6th March called for its cancellation. more >>

Inquisition museum opens

Early December saw the opening of the doors to the Castle of Saint George in Seville, former home of the Spanish Inquisition. 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

Unemployment in Spain (The Economist)

During the decade until 2007 Spain was seen as enjoying an economic miracle. Now Spain is among the worst hit nations in Europe, with economist all over the world, not least in Spain itself, hitting hard at the government for its policies. 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 reached over 4 million, or virtually 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 >>