spain

“it is not the first time Spain has been here”

Pete Baker on September 6, 2010, 9:29 pm

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The International Representative for west Belfast has been offering his unsolicited advice to the Spanish government on how they should respond to the latest statement by ETA. And an Irish Times report adds According to a Sinn Féin spokesman yesterday, Mr Adams and other senior party figures have been involved in long-running contacts with senior Basque separatist representatives in the past year or more for the purpose of helping end the conflict. He said that significant talks took place at …

The ‘psychic’ octopus was right!

Pete Baker on July 7, 2010, 10:03 pm

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As predicted by Paul, the ‘psychic’ octopus, Spain overcame an impressive German team via a single goal from the head of Puyol. RTÉ match report here. Sunday’s FIFA World Cup Final will now see the Spanish side take on the Netherlands. Here’s RussiaToday’s report of that prediction. On rumours that the eight-tentacled wonder had gone into hiding following reported death threats, The Spoof tells us that residents of Newby, Isle of Wight, have been sworn to secrecy… And I, for one, welcome our new cephalopod overlords… …

ETA suspect refused bail

Pete Baker on June 28, 2010, 7:39 pm

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The BBC reports today’s court appearance of suspected ETA terrorist Fermin Vila Michelena, who was arrested in Belfast on Thursday. According to his barrister, Michelena has been living in Belfast under an assumed name since 2007. From the BBC report The barrister accepted his client, who lived alone at a flat in north Belfast, was using an assumed name. But he claimed this was to avoid detection from the Spanish authorities and persecution for his beliefs. “He has long admired the ongoing …

Suspected ETA terrorist arrested in Belfast

Pete Baker on June 25, 2010, 11:49 am

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RTÉ reports that the Spanish interior ministry has identified a 40-year-old man arrested in Belfast on Thursday, under terrorism legislation in a joint operation between the PSNI and Spanish police, as Fermin Vila Michelena. From the BBC report Michelena is a suspected member of the armed Basque separatist group ETA and wanted in Spain for a number of attacks. The Spanish interior ministry said he was the subject of three arrest warrants. The ministry said he was part of ETA’s Madrid cell …

Euro Crisis : Germany and Spain at war!

Mack on June 19, 2010, 2:53 pm

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Be afraid, very afraid. Zero Hedge on those German leaks to force greater Spanish austerity, and the Spanish retailation to force the publication of Euro banks stress testing. One of the more ominous news of the day came from Reuters, which reported that the previously disclosed rumor that Spain was seeking a €250 billion bail out package, had in fact originated from high-placed German officials. The move, which will could easily set off an intraeuropean cold war, was prompted by …

Euro crisis: “Germany and France have to be of one opinion, otherwise Europe is sick”

Pete Baker on June 15, 2010, 2:56 pm

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are presenting a united front in public, and pointing at a global bank levy. But, as the Irish Times reports, behind the scenes things are not well with the European leaders In an hurried show of unity, the two leaders penned a joint letter to the European Commission, urging it to speed up efforts to regulate EU financial markets. Ahead of yesterday’s meeting, French finance minister Christine Lagarde insisted that a new …

World Cup: Come on England, Spain… Er, anyone but Brazil, Germany, etc…..

Mick Fealty on June 9, 2010, 9:14 am

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Try as hard as I might, I cannot get worked up about this World Cup. But then having foolish chosen to follow Manchester City in my late primary school days (late sixties/early seventies), the experience of watching English soccer has always been more bitter than sweet for me. But Alberto from Tweetminster (who is looking forward to it) pointed me in the direction of this post of Chris’s which quotes research outlining how nations play football almost in a stereotypical …

de Juana Chaos extradition appeal to continue in his absence

Pete Baker on May 14, 2010, 4:08 pm

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Despite having had no contact with their client since he jumped bail in March this year, lawyers acting on behalf of the convicted ETA killer, Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos, are “continuing with instructions” in the appeal against his extradition to Spain. Which is nice… But have they checked his Dublin address yet? Pete Baker

de Juana Chaos jumps bail

Pete Baker on April 29, 2010, 2:45 pm

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The BBC reports that convicted ETA killer, Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos, has jumped bail and may have left Northern Ireland. He had been contesting the Spanish authorities’ attempt to extradite him on a charge of glorifying terrorism. From the BBC report De Juana Chaos, who had been living in west Belfast, was out on bail ahead of an appeal against his extradition. On Thurdsay, High Court judges were told he has not reported to police in Belfast or been …

Roubini: “In A Few Days Time, There Might Not Be A Eurozone For Us To Discuss”

Mack on April 28, 2010, 11:55 am

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Via Business Insider – Reuters blogger – Felix Salmon writes up a Nouriel Roubini panel on “The Eurozone: Still One for All and All for One?” Nouriel, of course, takes that kind of thinking to its logical conclusion, and kicked off the panel by announcing that it was just in time: “in a few days,” he said, “there might not be a eurozone for us to discuss.” There’s no way that Greece can implement the 10% spending cut it needs …