Madrid, Spain: 76 injured as protesters clash with police

It started with coal miners demonstrating in Madrid, then supporters joined them. Then Rajoy introduced more austerity measures. Then the cops stepped in with rubber bullets.

Digital Journal reported today on the coal miners' long walk to Madrid to protest against the austerity measures and cuts in the mining sector.

The coal miners are protesting a 63% cut in subsidies to their industry, which is a major contributor to the Spanish energy market. Unions say that around 38,000 people could lose their jobs through these cuts... read more and watch videos.

Rajoy announces latest austerity measures in Spain

As coal miners and other protesters converge on Madrid, Spain's Prime Minister announces the latest austerity measures, including a VAT increase.

Digital Journal reported earlier today that coal miners and supporting protesters are thronging the streets in Madrid. In latest news on this protest, Spanish police have fired rubber bullets at protesters in central Madrid today.

Now, to make the protesters even more upset, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announces the latest in a round of austerity measures and budget cuts, which will worsen economic conditions for Spaniards.... read more.

Tenants in Fred Wigg Tower lose bid to stop missiles on roof

Tenants of a London residential complex tried to get the High Court to prevent surface-to-air missiles being placed on the roof of their building during the London Olympics.

Digital Journal reported on July 9 that the residents of Fred Wigg Tower were taking the issue to court. The East London residents say that they fear for their safety, after authorities have ruled in favor of making their peaceful, residential apartment building into a missile site.

The New York Times reports that the U.K. government feels that these missiles are an essential defense against an attempt to fly a hijacked passenger jet or a bomb-laden microlight aircraft into the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium in London... read more.

Spanish coal miners march to Madrid in anti-austerity rally

A group of Spanish coal miners, angered by the huge austerity cuts in government subsidies to the mining industry, walked for 3 weeks to meet in Madrid.

Digital Journal reported on June 20 about a group of protesting miners, who used home-made bazookas against the Spanish police.

There have been ongoing protests in several mining towns and villages in Spain, over the Spanish Government's plans to slash subsidies to the coal sector by over 60%. This would reduce subsidies from 301 million euro last year, to only 111 million this year. According to union officials, these austerity measures could jeopardize the jobs of about 8,000 coal miners and up to 30,000 other people indirectly employed in the mining sector... read more and watch video.

New bill could make biotech companies immune to federal courts

An amendment to the Agricultural Appropriations Bill would not just allow, but would require the Secretary of Agriculture to grant permits for planting of GM crops, even if a federal court has given an injunction against it.

In a move that would allow Monsanto and other biotech companies to do whatever they want, if this amendment is passed issues like damage to farmers or consumers, court orders, crop contamination or U.S. Department of Agriculture studies will all fall by the wayside... read more and sign petitions.