Migrants
At least 17 migrants have died in the past 24 hours while trying to cross the sea from North Africa
and rescuers picked up more than 100 others.
Two rafts were found in the Western Mediterranean between the Iberian peninsula and Morocco
with 80 people aboard and 13 dead. They were taken to Melilla, the coast guard said yesterday
They also found four bodies and rescued 22 men in the Atlantic off Cadiz.
Spain has now become the main destination for undocumented migrants and refugees from Africa
and the Middle East trying to reach Europe.
Death
THE socialist mayor of a small town in the province of Malaga has been found dead on his family’s
farm.
Police are investigating the death of Salvador Fernandez, mayor of El Borge, but say no signs of
violence have been found and the results of an autopsy are pending.
The town, with a population of around 1,000, is in shock.
In a statement, PSOE Andalucia has expressed deep regret for the death.
As a sign of respect the group has suspended all public activities planned for today throughout the
autonomous community.
Franco
Spain’s Council of Ministers yesterday adopted two decisions that affect the exhumation of the
remains of the dictator Francisco Franco .. it rejected the appeal for reversal against the procedure
lodged by the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Cruz.
It also rejected the challenge filed by a relative of the dictator against the procedural investigation
to recognize and extend the rights of those who suffered persecution or violence during the Civil
War and the Dictatorship.
The Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo, said that the “government is proceeding with absolute
normality” in the administrative procedure to exhume the remains of Franco. She also announced
that this week’s Council of Ministers may take the last administrative step in the procedure.
Football
Real Madrid have agreed a world record 10-year sponsorship deal with adidas, according to
reports.
Spanish Media say that Madrid and adidas will partner each other until 2028, with a remarkable
£950 million deal set to be announced.
The contract would be significantly higher than Manchester United’s £750m partnership with
Adidas, which was signed back in 2013.
The mega-money deal could give Madrid real reason to spend big in the coming transfer windows
after a tough start to the season.