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News from the Churches

The Agua Viva Gospel Choir (FEREDE)

Antonio Padilla dies. Carlos Martínez to perfom at Mission-net. New church planting cooperation group established. Palace announces first ever royal presence at a protestant event. Anglican Bishop Carlos Lopez represented the FEREDE at the (Catholic) state funeral for the Spanair disaster. Hundreds of believers, plus authorities, attended evangelical funeral for Ruben Hernandez, victim of the tragic Spanair disaster. Zaragoza water Expo is now over. The Evangelical pavilion received over 330,000 visitors by the close. Thousands attempted to attend the Juan Luís Guerra concert, so many that the Expo's doors were closed early for the first time. 30th August was the Agua Viva pavilion's 'special day' and the Expo had a record 121,000 visitors. Pentecostal Europe Convention is coming to Madrid in October. This and more... Read on! more >>

October 3rd, general news roundup.

Spanish Unemployment chart

SEAT (car plant) lays off 750 workers until next June, while 3,900 go on 3 day week for 1 or 2 months; ETA suspect, Esteban Murillo Zuribi, arrested in France, while convict Elena Beloki released from jail for fertility treatment (see next headline!); 58% of young Spaniards have low quality semen - making fertility treatments more necessary - claims survey done by 60 clinics - Basque Country among worst regions, Galicia seems to be the best place to reproduce; new Nokia Xpress Music (iPhone look-alike) to get world launch in Spain, 1st December; 2nd: Congress supports one-off Social Security pay-outs for migrants returning home; 28 products from China, some 77,000 items, held in Toledo on suspicion of melamine contamination - to be examined in labs; 737 flight from Barcelona lands in Kaliningrad, Russia, without undercarriage - none hurt; Catalan Generalitat has almost double budget (157 million Euros) for Catalan language teaching as Instituto Cervantes for Spanish (81M€); richter scale 4.7 quake hits Andalusia; 1st: 121 arrested in largest ever internet child porn operation, including one intelligence officer -BBC report; migrant detention facilities overflow as 1839 migrants arrived in September (up from 835 in August); unemployment reaches 11.3%, or 2,625,368, up 3.7% since August and 608,000 more than in September 2007; house prices fell 0,3% overall in 2nd quarter - new homes up, but 2nd hand down (INE); September car sales down 32%; September 30th: Cayuco reaches Canaries with 230 on board, more >>

Sport roundup, 29th September

Alonso wins Singapore GP from back. Spain beat Armenia 4-0. Rafa Nadal helps Spain to beat US and reach Davis Cup final. Valencia head Primera. La Vuelta cycle race won by Alberto Contador. Tony Elías 2nd in MotoGP at Brno. For more, read on! more >>

World Water Expo closes in Zaragoza

15th September. Last night the 2008 World Water Expo closed in Zaragoza, an Expo with the theme Water and Development. Hopes for up to 8 million visitors were too high and in the end some 5.5 million came. The Evangelical pavilion, Agua Viva nevertheless met its expectations of some 300,000 visitors. more >>

Air Accident at Madrid Airport

10 minutes after the crash (Victor José Isla)

On 20th August, a Spanair MD 82 plane taking off for Las Palmas, in the Canaries crashed at the end of the runway. 154 died, several after being taken to hospital with severe burns and other injuries, with several others fighting for life in hospital. It appears that about 28 got off the plane alive. Of these, one was thrown away from the disaster and suffered broken ribs, etc.. There were 164 passengers and 10 crew (4 off-duty). It is known that one passenger was evangelical. Rubén Santana Mateo was a member of Tres Cantos Baptist church in Madrid, while another was uncle of a church member. The investigation to find out what happened may take many months. more >>

October 12th, Spain's National Day

National Bank holiday weekends are always subject of great excitement, as people plan to go away, hopefully for a 'Puente' or bridge weekend, involving a couple of extra days while they are about it. The October 12th weekend is particularly looked forward to as the half way point between the end of the summer holidays and Christmas. It is an excuse for a get-away to the beach (for the last time), or to the mountains, or even a European city break. So travel agents rub their hands with glee if 12th October is a Thursday or Tuesday. This year 12th October will fall on a Sunday. Add to that the credit crunch and it's a good excuse for staying at home. Holiday hotels at seaside locations are closing early. 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'. 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 >>

More News

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

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