Obama stumbles over Spanish holiday greeting

October 6th, 2009 Spain: 2 pirate suspects to be brought to MadridMADRID — A Spanish official says two men captured in connection with the hijacking of a Spanish tuna boat in the Indian Ocean will be brought to Madrid on orders from a judge. The official in the Defense Ministry says the two suspects will be transported to Madrid as soon as possible.

October 2nd, 2009 Spanish boat attacked by pirates in Indian OceanMADRID — Pirates attacked a Spanish tuna trawler Friday in the Indian Ocean and contact with the vessel has been lost, the ship's owner said. Echebastar Fleet, based in Spain's Basque region, said the ship Alakrana was carrying a crew of 36.

September 19th, 2009 Obama extends greetings on Muslim holidayWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is extending greetings to Muslims celebrating Eid al-Fitr (ayd ahl-FIH'-tur), which marks the end of the holy monthlong fasting time known as Ramadan. The president on Saturday issued a statement saying he and his wife, Michelle, congratulate Muslims in the U.S.

September 4th, 2009 MADRID - Spain is considering whether post-electoral security conditions in Afghanistan require an increase in the contingent that Madrid has deployed to the war-ravaged nation, Defence Minister Carme Chacon has said. Spain is waiting to find out if there will be a second round of voting to decide whether to extend the presence of the so-called electoral battalion for another month.

September 3rd, 2009 MADRID - Spanish soldiers Thursday repelled an insurgent attack in Afghanistan, killing 13 militants and injuring at least three, the defence ministry in Madrid said. There were no casualties or injuries among the Spanish troops during the six-hour battle in Sabzak in central Afghanistan.

August 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Amid a string of scandals, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Belusconi kicked off his holiday with a specialist treatment designed to relieve stress and help him rest. According to the newspaper Corriere dell'Alto Adige, three doctors from a private clinic in Brixen, in the northern region of South Tyrol, were flown by helicopter on Saturday to Berlusconi's Milan residence.

August 1st, 2009 MADRID - At least 4,000 people had to abandon their homes on La Palma in the Spanish Canary Isles overnight Saturday as a forest fire swept down from the island's central highland. Authorities said military personnel from neighbouring Teneriffe were called in to deal with the flames, which were fanned by strong winds.

June 5th, 2009 MADRID - US President Barack Obama made a factual mistake on Spanish history in his keynote speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, Spanish commentators pointed out Friday. Obama Thursday described Islam as having a tradition of tolerance, saying: "We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition." The president was referring to Moorish Spain, known as al-Andalus, where Muslims, Christians and Jews lived side by side.

May 5th, 2009 Obama celebrates Cinco de Mayo a day earlyWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is celebrating Cinco de Mayo a little early. On the eve of the Mexican holiday, Obama on Monday had an event in the East Room of the White House with Mexico's Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan (sahr-oo-KHAN').

March 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The fountains on the north and south lawns of the White House turned to a magnificent green colour to mark the Irish national holiday of St.Patrick's Day, during the visit of the Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. "This is an affirmation between one of the strongest bonds between peoples that exists in the world," Obama said as he met Cowen in at Oval office.

February 5th, 2009 ROME - Spain has expressed its willingness to consider accepting detainees of the controversial US military camp in Guantanamo, Cuba, on a case-by-case basis within the context of a European Union (EU) consensus on the issue, the EFE news agency reported Friday. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, who is Rome for meeting organised by Italy on reforming the UN Security Council, said Thursday that his country had a 'good willingness to help and cooperate' with new US President Barack Obama.

January 20th, 2009 MADRID - The inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the US 'opens an opportunity that we will not squander,' Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has said. Zapatero described Obama's inaugural address as 'very positive', EFE news agency reported, citing aides to the Socialist premier.

January 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Set to make history Tuesday as the first black president of the United States of America, Barack Obama invoked the memory of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King and promised to provide a government that works. 'Tomorrow we will come together as one people on the same Mall where Dr.

January 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th President of the US Tuesday - but not before two stumbles on the way. As Chief Justice John Roberts Jr.

December 24th, 2008 WASHINGTON - In a radio address released the day before Christmas, US president-elect Barack Obama has urged Americans to band together as the country battles a year-long economic recession that has caused many to cut down on holiday spending. 'As we count the higher blessings of faith and family, we know that millions of Americans do not have a job.