Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Aznar to join Georgetown University
According to a press release from the University itself, the acting President of Spain, Jose Maria Aznar, whose term ends on April 16, will join Georgetown University next fall as a Distinguished Scholar in the Practice of Global Leadership where he will lead seminars on contemporary European politics and trans-Atlantic relationships.
“Prime Minister Aznar’s involvement on campus will enhance the work of our students and faculty in invaluable ways,” University President John J. DeGioia said. “Having such a distinguished former head of government join our community builds on Georgetown’s tradition of intellectual engagement on crucial global issues.”
At Georgetown, Aznar will lead at least two seminars each semester through the Mortara Center for International Studies, BMW Center for German and European Studies and Center for Latin American Studies. “I am greatly looking forward to this opportunity with Georgetown University. It will be a privilege for me to join the faculty of this world-class institution in the fields of international relations and political studies,” Aznar said in the university press release.
It will be interesting to see whether or not this means that his wife, Ana Botella, will give up her recent career in local politics to follow him to the US. She has been in charge of social affairs in Madrid's Town Hall since first accepting to run for her husband's party in the local elections last year. More about Aznar here.
“Prime Minister Aznar’s involvement on campus will enhance the work of our students and faculty in invaluable ways,” University President John J. DeGioia said. “Having such a distinguished former head of government join our community builds on Georgetown’s tradition of intellectual engagement on crucial global issues.”
At Georgetown, Aznar will lead at least two seminars each semester through the Mortara Center for International Studies, BMW Center for German and European Studies and Center for Latin American Studies. “I am greatly looking forward to this opportunity with Georgetown University. It will be a privilege for me to join the faculty of this world-class institution in the fields of international relations and political studies,” Aznar said in the university press release.
It will be interesting to see whether or not this means that his wife, Ana Botella, will give up her recent career in local politics to follow him to the US. She has been in charge of social affairs in Madrid's Town Hall since first accepting to run for her husband's party in the local elections last year. More about Aznar here.
Bank robber holds hostages for 12 hours in Alicante
Security forces in Alicante were on red alert yesterday as a young man threatened to blow up a branch of the Banco Popular in a residential area of the city. The bank seige lasted for over 12 hours. The man entered the bank at 9.30 a.m. and held hostage bank employees and clients for twelve hours, while the police evacuated 176 families from flats around the bank and cordened off the area. The man's father travelled down from Madrid and tried to pursuade his son to free the hostages and to surrender to police, but the man continued with his threats to set off a hand grenade if police did not give him a motorbike and a gram of heroin. Finally he was given a motorbike and tried to escape, but a police car crashed into the bike and overpowered him. He was taken to hospital last night and is reported to be in a serious condition. Tele Cinco offer a video of some of the moments of the seige here . If you want to see the moment when a police car crashes into the bank robber when he tries to escape on the motorbike in Alicante, click on the video link at the bottom of the Tele Cinco page.
