To get fresh news like this delivered by email to your inbox every day, go to http://www.valencialife.net/ and subscribe.
It has become apparent that the vast majority of schoolbooks on sale for the current courses in the Basque Country have removed the word Spain and the Spanish flag from their editions, instead replacing them with: “ The conglomeration of territories in which we Basques live is called Euskal Herria.” The name of Spain disappears and instead is replaced by ‘the Spanish State’. Santiago Abascal, the educational Secretary of the Partido Popular in the Basque Country has asked that the Basque Government alter these books.
---
Returning to Madrid from Iran, former Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez has appeared on CNN+ in an interview with Iñaki Gabilondo in which he defended Iranian interests, and added that Iran ‘had a perfect right to undertake and develop a nuclear programme. Sources inside the Socialist government, far from condemning g Mr. Gonzalez’ visit, have in fact praised the former Prime Minister for his ‘relevant and valuable information’ following his trip.
---
It would appear that the stream of immigrants arriving in the Canary Islands on primitive craft is never-ending, with 332 more arriving in one single day yesterday. This brings to 5,461 the total of immigrants that have landed in the Islands over the recent weeks, and outstrips the capabilities of the local reception centre that only has a capacity for 5,446. Equally, 700 other ‘illegals’ are being temporarily housed in a police station as the Government determines their fate.
---
Fire last night ravaged the Space Tower in Madrid, affecting the 42nd and 43rd floors of the building that is still under construction. Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon immediately was at the scene of the fire and stated that it did nit represent a risk ‘either to people or to other buildings’. Meanwhile security experts stated that there was no risk of the Tower collapsing as it was built with solid cement. The fire took place just 800 meters from the Plaza de Castilla, where the Spanish basketball team was celebrating their world championship victory over Japan.
---
It was revealed this morning that Loyola de Palacio, who was Agriculture Minister in the first Government of Jose Maria Aznar between 1966 and 2001, has been admitted to a medical centre in Houston as the result of a form of cancer that was detected whilst she was on vacation on her family estate in Vizcaya. She was flown to Texas in a specially equipped medical aircraft after she appears to have contracted cancer in the thoracic area. Her sister, Ana, who was foreign minister, has also undergone similar cancer treatment at the same Houston medical facility.
---
The Partido Popular has revealed that Cayetana Alvarez de Toledo has been appointed as the new Head of Cabinet for organizational Secretary Angel Acebes.. At 32, Miss Alvarez de Toledo had previously been head of the opinion section of a major Spanish daily newspaper, and had her own section of the leading daily morning radio show in Spain on the Cadena COPE. A former graduate of Oxford University, where she achieved a doctorate in History, she is expected to considerably ‘spruce up’ the activities of Mr. Acebes.
Bulgaria, Greece and Russia yesterday finally decided to sign an agreement over a pipeline that had started twelve years ago. In discussions in Athens, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Georgi Parvanov, the Bulgarian Head of State and Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamlis agreed to finalize the project. The final deal – a 280-Km-long pipeline connecting the Aegean with the Black Sea - would be signed by the three countries by the end of this year. Expected to begin operations in 2009, the new pipeline would ease delays for tankers traveling the Turkey’s highly congested Bosphorus that are estimated to cost oil companies millions of dollars every year.
---
Flooding in eastern India has left about two million people homeless after the inhabitants of the Kendrapara area were forced to take refuge on the roofs of their homes. Other sources stated that about 4,000 villages in about eight different districts have been destroyed. As the rains continue to fall in the area, the situation has not been made any easier the threat from the Jhelum and Chenab Rivers in the northern state of Kashmir that have risen by two and three meters respectively above alert status.
The death has been announced of ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin – pictured above with his American-Born wife Terri at Mr. Allen’s Queensland zoo. According to the Queensland Police, Mr. Irwin collapsed whilst filming a documentary for the Discovery Channel after being hit in the chest by a stingray barb. This apparently left a puncture would on the left side of his chest, and he was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, despite both a doctor and paramedic being called to the area. Ross Coleman, the acting director of the university of Sydney Institute of Marine Science, stated that it was ‘quite rare’ for someone to die from contact with a stingray. Mr. Irwin won worldwide fame due to his daredevil antics, but also triggered outrage in 2004, when he held his one-month-old baby in one arm whilst feeding a snapping crocodile with the other. Australian foreign Minister Alexander Downer used a picture of Mr. Irwin and his family as his Christmas card last year, and hailed the late diver as a pioneer in promoting Australia worldwide. Steve Irwin, who leaves a wife and two young children, was 44.
It would appear that peace has broken out between Paul McCartney and his former wife Heather Mills. This apparently is the result of a meeting between the two at Mr. McCartney’s home in East Hampton last week. The meeting was requested by the former Beatle, who intends to put an end to the constant waves of allegations about the former Miss Mills and her demands for money that have recently filled the tabloid press. Sources close to Sir Paul stated that the meeting had taken place ‘in the best future interests of their child Bea’. As a result of the meeting, neither side will reveal any of the details of their divorce, with Sir Paul hiring Fiona Shackleton as his lawyer, and Miss Mills hiring Anthony Julius. Miss Shackleton represented Prince Charles in his divorce with Princess Diana, whilst Mr. Julius represented the Princess. Meanwhile, in a documentary that will air tonight on the British ITV channel Mark Stephens, who is also a divorce lawyer of some repute, will state that the divorce could cost Sir Paul as much as 150 million Euros.
© 2006 Valencia Life SL. All rights reserved.
This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.
