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There was a great spot on us on Spanish TV in the Extremadura region called "Cuestión de fe", dated 17/04/18 (17th April 2018). It formed part of a program analysing the different religions in the region. One elder, Josué de Andrés is the spokesman for the congregation in Badajoz and for those beard lovers amongst us, you will be pleased to know he was sporting his beard on national TV, all approved by Bethel obviously. It is in Spanish so sorry if you don't understand it. Maybe Carlos has time to translate! It's a great witness anyway. Enjoy! The part about JWs starts at around 50:25. http://www.canalextremadura.es/alacarta/tv/videos/168-horas-cuestion-de-fe-170418 Direct Video link: http://tvprogressive.canalextremadura.es/tv/PROG00173944_1.mp4

I wrote an article for my company’s blog today about a great free library service that the Andalucía Borough Council offer to all residents. It is a service offered in other parts of Spain too. Although the library website itself can be displayed in English, the actual books and magazines are in Spanish obviously. If you live outside of Spain, maybe your country offers a similar service where you can borrow books and magazines online to read on your electronic devices. Just thought I’d share it with you in case there are any Spanish book worms amongst us! English article: https://idealpropertyspain.com/en/the-andalucian-library Spanish article: https://idealpropertyspain.com/es/la-biblioteca-de-andalucia It was great to be inside a library again after so many years. I’d thoroughly recommend it.

My translation follows first for those of you that don't speak Spanish. A nice positive article from Spain's Newspaper "La Vanguardia". Jehovah's Witnesses Invite Spaniards to participate in their assemblies with the motto 'Do not give up!' 20/06/2017 5:57pm MADRID, 20 (EUROPA PRESS) The Jehovah's Witnesses have begun their annual regional assemblies, to which all Spaniards are invited and that this time are centred around the theme 'Do not give up!' Throughout Spain, a total of 43 assemblies will be held and next Friday, 23rd June the one for the Community of Madrid will begin, with a program that will continue until 20th August, during nine consecutive weekends. One of the local spokesmen for Jehovah's Witnesses, Javier Otero, explained that these assemblies will convey a positive and optimistic message for "many people who feel sad and disappointed by what they see around them." "The Bible shows us how we can be happy now and guarantees us a much better future," he stated. The assemblies will be held in the auditoriums of the Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses located in the town of Ajalvir. At this branch, the program will be presented in seven languages, including sign language, and a total attendance of 30,000 people is expected. Moreover, as in previous years, Jehovah's Witnesses are participating in a worldwide campaign to personally invite the general public. The entrance is free and open to all, and according to the organisers, last year almost 13 million people attended these assemblies, whilst this year even more are expected to attend. The program will be presented in various formats, including brief speeches, interviews and videos; Each afternoon a segment of a three-part film directed at families will be shown; and on Sunday morning the public conference, entitled ‘Never Lose Hope’ will be given. Those interested in attending can consult the entire program and timetable on the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses 'www.jw.org'. SOURCE: http://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20170620/423532749871/testigos-de-jehova-invitan-a-los-espanoles-a- participar-en-sus-asambleas-bajo-el-lema-no- Se-rinda.html ORIGINAL SPANISH TEXT: Testigos de Jehová invitan a los españoles a participar en sus asambleas bajo el lema '¡No se rinda!' 20/06/2017 17:57 MADRID, 20 (EUROPA PRESS) Los Testigos de Jehová han iniciado sus asambleas regionales anuales que en esta ocasión se celebran en torno al lema '¡No se rinda!' y a las que invitan a todos los españoles. En toda España se celebrarán un total de 43 asambleas y el próximo viernes 23 de junio comenzará la de la Comunidad de Madrid, con un programa que se prolongará hasta el 20 de agosto, durante nueve fines de semana consecutivos. Uno de los portavoces locales de los Testigos de Jehová, Javier Otero, ha explicado que en estas asambleas se transmitirá un mensaje positivo y optimista para "muchas personas que se sienten tristes y decepcionadas por lo que ven a su alrededor". "La Biblia nos muestra cómo podemos ser felices ahora y nos garantiza un futuro mucho mejor", ha afirmado. Los congresos se celebrarán en los auditorios del Salón de Asambleas de los Testigos de Jehová situado en la localidad de Ajalvir. En esta sede, el programa se presentará en siete idiomas, incluyendo la lengua de signos, y se espera una asistencia total de 30.000 personas. Además, como en años anteriores, los Testigos de Jehová están participando en una campaña mundial para invitar personalmente al público en general. La entrada es libre y gratuita y, según informan los organizadores, el año pasado asistieron a estas asambleas casi 13 millones de personas y este año esperan una asistencia mayor. El programa se presentará en diversos formatos, incluyendo discursos breves, entrevistas y vídeos; cada tarde se proyectará un segmento de una película de tres partes dirigida a las familias; y el domingo por la mañana tendrá lugar la conferencia pública, titulada 'Nunca pierda la esperanza'. Los interesados en asistir pueden consultar toda la programación y los horarios en el sitio web oficial de los Testigos de Jehová 'www.jw.org'.

I don’t know how much news coverage this got outside of Spain but it’s still a well-remembered incident here. Exactly 50 years ago today there was a Broken Arrow incident in Palomares, a small village in the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain. On January 17 1966, a USAF B-52G bomber collided with the tanker that was refuelling it on air (there’s a nearby American base). Both planes were destroyed and the four hydrogen bombs carried by the bomber fell down. One of them was quickly found intact. Another one fell in the sea and was recovered three months later, after extensive underwater search. The parachutes failed in the two other bombs, so their conventional explosives detonated on impact, spreading several kilograms of plutonium in a rural area of 1 square mile. A cleanup work followed, during which tons of contaminated soil were removed and sent to the US in barrels. But despite the efforts, a considerable amount of radioactive material could not be recovered. Since the economy of the area depended heavily on tourism, Franco’s government tried to minimize the incident, to the point that the American ambassador and the Spanish minister for information and tourism swam in the affected beach before the press to try and persuade tourists that there was no danger. Fifty years later radioactive levels in the area are still higher than normal, and a few months ago an agreement was reached with the U.S. Secretary of State to finish the cleanup of the affected area.