The German Tax Minister Theo Waigel expressed his concern to Hermut Khol at the drain the EU was making on the German economy while Spain received the largest amount of European Community Aid. He said their aim must be to put a stop to the growth in Community spending and a re-examination of how it is distributed. Currently Spain receives 7.500 million ECUS which equates to 39.1 per cent of the total aid. Greece receives 18.8%, Portugal 13.0%, Belgium 12.5%, Ireland 10.4%, Luxembourg 4.2% and Denmark 2.1%. Meanwhile contributing to the fund are Germany with the largest slice at 59.6%, the U.K. 19.7%, Holland 8.3%, Sweden 4.1 %, Austria 3.8%, France 3.1%, Italy 1.0% and Finland 0.5%.

Jorge Pujol, President of the Generalitat of Calatuña wants to revise 20 State laws in order to attain maximum autonomy. Pujol is seeking independent control, for the region, of Public Administration , Chambers of Commerce, Judicial powers, the Security Forces, Radio, Television and Communications, Education, University/ies, Industry, The Oil Industry, Savings Banks, Private Insurance Schemes, Land, Coasts and Waterways, Pension Plans and Pension Funds and the Stockmarket. He is to meet with the President of the Government, Jose Maria Aznar to discuss these proposals.

The President of the Government, Jose Maria Aznar accused his predecessor on Wednesday of causing tensions between the autonomous states. This was in reaction to Felipe Gonzalez' criticism of the agreement between the government and the Basque National Party (PNV) and his offer to negotiate a pact among all the autonomies. Aznar said that he could not understand how some could now reject the PNV agreement which was approved in Parliament last April in the run up to his Investiture. However Aznar also stated that the government was open to dialogue on any question affecting the governing of the permanent interests of Spain.

Prosecutors involved in the GAL case requested that the former president of the government, Felipe Gonzalez, not be called upon to testify regarding his alleged involvement in the "dirty war" against ETA. The Attorney General , Juan Cesáreo Ortiz Úrculo has not yet taken a final decision. Izquierda Unida urged Gonzalez to appear voluntarily while the Government and the PSOE stressed that they would respect the decision of the magistrates.

Traffic authorities in Andalucia expect around three million vehicles on the roads this long weekend "puente" and mounted a special operation to handle the volume from three o'clock on Thursday 31 October. They have also alerted the public to at least thirty points where, due to roadworks or danger spots, accidents and delays could occur.

The historian Juan Marichal, born in Santa Cruz, Tenerife in 1922, has been awarded the National Literature Prize in History for his work "El Secreto de España" (Taurus). The work comprises 20 essays of political history in which the author analizes Spanish liberalism from 1812 until 1978. Honorary Professor of the University of Harvard, USA, Marchichal lived in exile from 1938. in Morocco, France, Mexico and latterly in the United States of America where he studied at Princeton University with Américo Castro. In Harvard he was Head Professor of the department of Hispanic Studies (language and literature). In the USA he was also elected a member of the Academy of North American o Arts and Science. Juan Marichal is considered to be one of the greatest scholars of Spanish culture of this century.

From March 1997 Telefónica will offer more than 15 TV channels via digital TV for between 2,500 and 3,000 pesetas a month. This will include the hire of a decoder and satellite dish. The company will begin trials before December and it has begun negotiations with all the Spanish channels re their participation in the project. According to Telefónica's president Juan Villagonga, the company hopes to have 120.000 subscribers in 1997 and to reach a total of 2.8 million by the year 2006.

Jose Maria Aznar, President of the Government met with the Palestine leader Yasser Arafat during his visit to Madrid on Thursday. Arafat reiterated his request for support of the Palestinian cause saying that they needed, more than ever, Spain's support in order to confront the obstacles currently impeding the peace process. Aznar responded positively saying that Spain will continue to back the full recognition of the Palestinian people and to fully support the peace process.

60% of the 5 million Spanish rural female population is illiterate, according to Lola Merino, national president of the Asociación de Mujeres y Familias del Ambito Rural (AMFAR). Almost two million of them work both in the home and in the fields and, on average, work a 72-hour week. However, very few own the land they work while it is calculated that they earn approximately 1.5 billion pesetas of the gross national product. AMFAR is proposing measures to better the situation of these women and to put an end to the discrimination they suffer due to their work and home situation.

The Government unanimously approved compensation payments of 2 million pesetas for each deceased or permanently incapacitated victim of the flood in the Biescas campsite in Huelva.

El Partido Democrático de la Nueva Izquierda (PDNI) held its first congress in Madrid on Friday with the support of the Socialist party PSOE and the UGT and CCOO Unions. Joaquín Almunia, representing the PSOE received a loud ovation when he invited the PDNI's immediate collaboration with his party. Julio Anguita,leader of Izquirda Unida, did not attend.

The majority of Spain's political parties criticised Pujol for his attitude of "persistent revenge" during his meeting with Jose Maria Aznar on Thursday. The three-hour meeting did not resolve their differences and while it was claimed that Pujol found it moderately satisfactory, he also found the President unwilling to concede and he left the presidential residence empty-handed.

Juan Villalonga, the new president of Telefónica, has announced his decision to break the alliance made with Canal Plus (Prisa Group) to provide cable TV in Spain. This decision was taken for fear of European Community fines of up to 600 million pesetas for abuse of its dominant position in the market, creating unfair competition. At the same time Villalonga has launched a digital TV project offering subscribers no less than 15 channels plus decoder and satellite dish for 3000 pesetas per month, posing an immediate threat to Canal Plus who currently have more than 1 million subscribers in Spain. For the moment, Canal Plus does not intend participating in theTelefónica project, having just announced the launch of its own digital TV service from January which will include 20 special interest channels.

This year's Rioja wine harvest has exceeded expectations by 200 million litres while the quality is varied.

The magazine "Arquitectura viva" (Living architecture) has just published a paper on Spanish houses. It comprises 12 projects by 12 top architects and shows the magnificence of Spanish architecture in a recessionary era, i.e. the 1970s.