Saudi Arabia
The defense committee of Spain’s lower house of parliament yesterday rejected a bill that would suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia following an international outcry over the disappearance and suspected murder of a journalist at the Middle Eastern kingdom’s consulate in the Turkish capital Istambul.
The proposal was submitted by Podemos and backed by Catalonia’s two nationalist parties – the Republican Left the (ERC) and the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDCat) – while the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) and the right-wing Popular Party voted the measure down.
The vote came on the same day that Turkey’s President Erdogan said The killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi was planned days in advance,.
He said Turkey had strong evidence Khashoggi was killed in a premeditated and “savage” murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.
He demanded Saudi Arabia provide answers about where Khashoggi’s body was, and who had ordered the operation.
Cocaine
The National Police have seized a tugboat found to be transporting 1,400 kilos of cocaine while sailing in waters near the Canary Islands.
The vesse was named ‘The Breath’ and reportedly departed from Turkey and carried a Moldovan flag.
The boat arrived at the Naval Base of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria yesterday morning escorted by a Spanish Police vessel.
A Police unit reportedly made 10 arrests after boarding the tug boat.
Seven Turks, one Georgian, one Ukrainian and one Bulgarian were arrested according to Spanish media.
The National Police have successfully raided seven cocaine transport vessels this year.
Road Name
Cyclist Alejandro Valverde will be honoured in the wake of his World Championship victory by having a street in his hometown named after him.
Valverde claimed the rainbow jersey in Austria last month after years of trying.
City bosses in his birthplace Murcia announced on Monday that the 38-year-old would be given a the honour.
Avenue de Alicante will be renamed Alejandro Valverde Avenue.
Valverde was born in the Las Lumberas area of Murcia, just 10 minutes from the road that will be named after him.
