News Headlines In Spain: We have tried to gather here the major news stories from Spain so that visitors can better understand the country they are visiting.
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18th/19th May 2012
Santander rating cut but reassures customers - withdrawals may become a problem
Spanish problems hit stock markets and Euro hard
Oil well off cuba a failure says Repsol
Spanish Trade deficit down 29%
17th May 2012
Spanish Debt Auction today held against uncertain background on Greece
Are Britons really going to take it as a snub that Queen Sofia is not going to attend the Queen's Jubliee? Can't they understand that the sight of a load of Royals celebrating when so many are suffering real hardship is inappropriate.
Suit filed in New York over Repsol Nationalisation
Spanish Government turns down Basque request for direct talks
Spanish Government Eur30bn loan for regions.
16th May 2012
Repsol to sue Argentinian Government over nationalisation
Italian and Spanish Bonds Slump as Greek crisis deepens. Europe bracing for Greek leaving Euro.
Spanish Bank audits could be completed in 2 months - don't hold your breath.
Reuters reports that Spanish Savings banks have started merger talks. Santander UK forced to make a statement stressing its independence from Spain.
15th May 2012
Makets skeptical over latest Bank bailout plans in Spain - Way much too little almost way too late. Bond yields at highest rate
14th May 2012
Pastor Maldonado in a Williams wins Spanish Grand Prix marked by fire and spectacular spin-off involving Schumacher. Hamilton eight after starting last.
Spanish banks to make new provisions of Eur10billion each
Real Madrid win Spanish League Title
Bond rates hit record on Friday
13th May 2012
Hamilton loses Pole in Spanish Grand Prix for breaking rules on fuel
Luke Donald said to be fan of La Manga Club
Leaders in Sport hold annual meeting at La Manga Club
'Indignants' Protest in Madrid
12th May 2012
Spanish Grand Prix qualifying today
Valuers to go into Spanish Banks - Hive off of property assets to start soon - Jenso Button best in time trials - Bonds fall again.
11th May 2012
Spanish Banks could need up to Eur100bn in aid according to the Telegraph. This drip feed way to disaster is very debilitating for the markets.
Light at the end of the tunnel? No those are Grand Prix cars coming and you are on the circuit. Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
Goldman Sachs shorts Spanish Government Bonds - Why would this become public I wonder
10th May 2012
Spain's Euro2012 hopes fade with Puyol problems
Spain takes 45% stake in Bankia - Bond yields spike over 6%
Ferrari upgrade before Spanish Grand Prix vital for Alonso hopes.
Student strike today on crisis cuts to education
9th May 2012
Plan to rescue ailing Spanish Banks expected soon
7th May 2012
Government prepares to rescue Bankia
Spanish Industrial output down 7.5% in March
Molinari wins Spanish Open Golf Championship
5th May 2012:
Rain stops play at the Spanish Open
Spanish open is led by Frenchman Gregory Bourdy
Argentine completes Nationalisation of Spanish Oil Company
Spanish Grand Prix comes at a critical point in the season
Boliva seizes Spanish Electric Company
Flamenco Dance goes down a storm at New Orleans Jazz Festival
4th May 2012: The Spanish Bond sale reached its expectations calming the markets in Spain and around the world. This is a sign that the draconian measures by the government are starting to work
3rd May 2012: Shaun Micheel leads Spanish Open Golf Championship
3rd May 2012: Spanish Banks to get Bad Bank for toxic assets
3rd May 2012: Real Madrid win Spanish League Title
2nd May 2012: Bolivia to seize Spanish owned Electricity Utility
2nd May 2012: Spain's Index of Manufacturing output fell again in April by 1 whole point to 43.4. This is the 9th month of contraction.
1 May 2012: Anti cuts rallies are being held all over Spain today. There are also rallies planned in Barcelona on Thursday when the ECB meets there. Upwards of 8 million Spaniards are expected to join the protests.
1 May 2012: 11 Spanish Banks including Santander have had their ratings downgraded by S&P according to press reports
31st April 2012: With Spanish economy contracting the cost of insuring Spanish Debt fell slightly in trading today
31st April 2012: Rafal Nadal wins seventh Barcelona open title
29th April 2012: Nadal and Ferrer in Barcelona Open Final
28th April 2012: Athletico Bilbao and Athletico Madrid will have an all Spanish Final for the Europa League.
28th April 2012: Andy Murray reaches the last eight in the Barcelona Open Championship
28 April 2012: Spain's unemployment reached 24.4% compared with only 22.7% in the 4th Qusrter of 2011. There are 5.6 million people out of work in Spain. The EU is simply not working for Spain. There are 1.7 million home in which noone works and over half under 25's are out of work.
27th April 2012: S&B downgraded Spain by two notches to BBB from A according to Reuters. They also put the country on their watch list and recommended action to help the Government at EU level. This makes a package for Spain with a trip to the IMF more likely
26th April 2012: Spanish Bank results have not been very good. Santander net profit fell as a result of new Spanish Property provisions. Banco Sabadell profits fell 5% on consolidation of the CAM savings bank it bought from the Government. The IMF warned that Spanish Banks must go further.
26th April 2012: Spanish 10 year bond yields eased higher again today on Eurozone worries.
25th April 2012: Barcelona shoch defeat by Chelsea in Champions league - Spanish Press finding it hard to believe.
25th April 2012: Spanish researches are claiming a breakthrough by identifying the molecule that enables the spread of HIV.
24th April 2012: Lower House of Parliament passes austerity budget aimed at stabilising the country's economy
23rd April 2012: British tourist killed in fall from Spanish Hotel
21st April 2012 Spain's budget deficit in 2011 was 8.5% pointing to more cuts ahead. Voters in many European countries have protested in recent weeks about Government spending cuts. Incumbent Governments are being ousted and extreme parties have been gaining ground. The pressure for cuts has been coming from the EU led by Germany which is the main country funding the bailout of the Euro problem economies
21st April 2012 England, Spain and Brazil are top seeded in the Olympic football tournament thereby avoiding each other in the early stages of the games. A great boost for England and they will need it if the team is to be chosen from has been A listers. I hope they remember its a tough game not a photo opportunity
20th April 2012. Bank of Spain says that Economy shrank by 0.4% in the first quarter of 2012. With the decline in the 4Q of 2011 Spain is now in recession - the second since 2008. Further budget cuts will if successful cut economic output even more. With 50% youth unemployment already the dangers of further unrest are only too obvious
19th April 2012 The Spanish Bond sale went very well with Eur2.9bn raised and with demand for twice as much. 10 year bond rates were 5.7% which was up from 5.4% when these were last issued but this is not as bad as the 6% they have traded at recently. The woes of Spain are not over but this is a step in the right direction.
18th April 2012. Argentina is now threatening to nationalise Spanish owned gas assets. The row started with the proposed takeover of Repsol's Argentian company by the state without compensation. Spain has threatened EU penalties and it seems backing for the move might come from the UK
16th April 2012 Adoption row in Spain centres on Nun - Illegal adoptions may have been going on for decades. As in Ireland various clerics in Spain seem to have taken upon themselves the finding of homes for unplanned babies. Never mind the law it seems so easy for these clerics to believe they had the right to do this - another case of the end justifies the means perhaps
General Strike(29th March 2012) A general strike was held in Spain in protest at the Austerity measures part of the wave of protests sweeping Europe as it tries to get spending under control after years of public largesse
Bullfighting ends in Catalonia: (25th September 2011) The fighting of Bulls in Catalonia came to and end on 25th September (Source Telegraph)
Balanced Budget for Spain: Spain looks set to adopt a law creating a cap on budget deficit. Votes in both houes of Parliament have backed the measure. The reform will also place a long term requirement on the Government to balance the budget.
Drug Smugglers caught when they call out coast guard because boat breaks down.
Eighty migrants rescued in fog off Spanish Coast
Spanish Inflation falls to 2.9%
Spainish Bull fights given protected special cultural status
Spain drawn with France in Group 1 for World Cup Qualification in 2014
Spain calls an election early: Zapatero Spain's PM called an Spanish General election for November - 4 months early. He did so that a new Government could address the strong measures necessary to tackle the financial pressures facing the country. Of course implementing such measures will be unpopular and so the government is ducking the moves now.
Spain's cost of borrowing increases: The yield on Spains 10 year Bonds have risen to over 6% after bond sales last week pushed up the cost of short term debt
British Fugitives may have fled to Spain: A search in the Costa has started for Kirk Bradley and Tony Downes who are thought to have fled to Spain after escaping from a Prison Van in Manchester
Spanish Pension Reform: The Spanish Congress has passed a law that will reform the Spanish Pension system including extension of retirement to 67 from the present 65
21% increase in Traffic fatalities: Since Speeding restrictions have been eased in Spain there has been a sharp increase in traffic fatalities
Barcelona to Hold Mobile World Congress for next 7 years: Barcelona was selected after a 2 year search for a new site. Barcelona has been the venue for the Congress since it started
A plague of jellyfish: It has been reported that La Manga Beaches have been hit by a plague of Jelly Fish as a result of a ship accidentally tearing the safety net that the autonomous community puts up each year. Take care in using beaches.
Double leg transplant: Spanish Surgeons carried out a transplant of two legs for a man who lost both legs in an accident
Five Spanish Banks fail stress test by European Banking Authority:. It is reported by Kyero.com that five small Spanish Banks failed the Tests.
English woman dies in Ibiza Nightclub: A English woman died after she collapsed in a nightclub in Ibiza
Spain's Nation al Lottery is to be Privatised: Plans are well advanced to float off Spains National Lottery in a move that would create Europe's largest Gaming Company.
Streaker gored in Pamplona: A naked Australian was gored by a bull during the annual festival.
Road Deaths in Spain: On the first weekend of the Summer holiday season 26 people died on Spanish Roads - a new record. The news cannot be a surprise to anyone travelling on Spanish roads where super speeds and impatience are the main traits. Its wise to buy travel insurance if you intend to drive in Spain
Alonso wins British Grand Prix: Ferrari claimed victory at the British Grand prix in Silverstone when Fernando Alonso beat the Red Bull drivers. Alonso now trails Vettel by 92 points with his team mate Massa a further 60 points behind in sixth place.
Nada loses Wimbledon final: in four sets to Djokovic 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. Djokovic now takes over the No. 1 ranking from the Spaniard - This was his fifth straight head-to-head victory over Nadal.
Socialists hammered in Regional and local elections: Taking the blame for the state of the economy, the Spanish Socialist Party have suffered a heavy defeat in the Local and Regional elections. The head of the Socialist Party - The Prime inister Zapatero said he would continue until the end of his term in march 2012. The Government's survival is not guaranteed if there was a vote of no confidence.
Eight die in Lorca earhquake: Eight people died when a 5.2 earthquake hit Lorca in Southern Spain.
Catholic Church Sex Scandals in Spain: For a time it seemed that Spain had missed out on the worst of the Catholic Church sex scandal. Then in 2010 the Times and the BBC reported on serious sex abuse here also. It has also been reported in recent years that The Catholic Church was active during the Franco period in the disappearence of thousands of babies for adoption. As in Ireland and the US these sex scandals in Spain have rocked the foundations of the Catholic Church. Many people have voted with their feet abandoning organised worship with a clergy system that has been shown to be deeply flawed. These scandals and the apparent cover-ups have broken the unspoken trust between laity and clergy. There may indeed be many fine Catholic priests today in La Manga and elsewhere in Spain but how are the normal people of the Church ever to find it possible to trust them again with their Children. The present Pope has now to continuously apologise for the scandals. He was heavily involved in running the church in the years before he became Pope. and so is in a good position to be able to see what was going on.
Spain Pulls its troops out of Iraq: Fulfilling its election promise the new Socialist Government has pulled Spain's troups out of Iraq.
Train Bombings in Madrid: A total of 10 explosions rocked trains entering Madrid at the peak of the rush hour. Terrorists linked to Iraq are suspected
