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SPAIN ANNOUNCES AUSTERITY BUDGET
Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria has announced one of the toughest budgets in Spain’s post-Franco history. Cuts of 27 billion euros (£22.5 billion) will be achieved by freezing public sector workers' salaries and reducing departmental budgets by an average of 16.9%. The government has already announced that it will aim to raise 12.3 billion euros this year through increased taxation particularly targeting large companies.
Amongst government ministries, the biggest cuts will be felt at the foreign office, whose budget has been halved. Industry, energy and tourism will be cut by 32%, and the public works budget will drop by a third. The unemployed will see their benefits maintained and pensions will continue to rise. And the government has chosen to leave VAT its current level. But electricity charges are set to rise by 7% and gas by 5%.
UNEMPLOYMENT TOPS FIVE MILLION
Figures released recently show that Spain's unemployment had risen to 5.3 million at the end of December 2011 - 22.8% compared with 21.5% in the previous quarter. Jobs in Spain are even more scarce for young people. More than half of those aged 16 - 24 are not working in Spain as youth unemployment rose to 51.4% compared with 45.8% three months earlier. There were demonstrations against the Rajoy government in many parts of Spain.
Unemployment in Spain is now at its highest level for 17 years and Spain has the highest unemployment in the Eurozone - more than twice the Eurozone average of 10.3%.
VOLCANIC ACTIVITY OFF EL HIERRO IN THE CANARY ISLANDS
There continues to be seismic activity on the island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands. The risk level for La Restinga has been reduced to yellow, the same for the rest of the island. However the four mile exclusion area around the eruption remains. The Canary Government asks residents and visitors to be vigilant and to check their website for updates. Read more
THE NEXT MUST SEE FIESTA
Two weeks after Easter, Sevilla is at
it again with one of 
Spain's most impressive fiestas - the April fair of Seville (Feria de Abril) when the capital of Andalucia is transformed into a world of tented
pavilions, costumed equestrian riders and flamboyant flamenco dancing.
Men and women are dressed up in their finery, ideally the traditional traje corto (short jacket, tight trousers and boots) for men and the faralaes or trajes de flamenca (flamenco style dress) for women. The men traditionally wear hats called cordobés.
Each day the fiesta begins with the parade of carriages and riders (Paseo de Caballos) at midday, carrying Seville's leading citizens.
For the duration of the fair, the fairgrounds and a vast surrounding area are totally covered in rows of casetas (individual decorated marquee tents which are temporarily built on the fairground). Some of these belong to the prominent families of Seville, some to groups of friends, clubs, trade associations or political parties. From mid evening until six or seven the following morning, at first in the streets and later only within each caseta, you will find crowds partying and dancing the local flamenco - Sevillanas - drinking Jerez sherry or manzanilla wine, and eating tapas.
In 2012 the fair takes place from the 24th to the 29th of April.