Madrid - Major Spanish banking group BBVA reported Wednesday that it remained in the black after nine months this year despite the turbulence on international financial markets.

BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria) said it achieved net income of 4.5 billion euros (5.6 billion dollar), down 5.4 per cent from earnings in the corresponding period of 2007.

Spain's second-biggest bank noted that last year's earnings were bloated by extraordinary income. Adjusting for that factor, then this year's nine-month earnings would have been 9.1 per cent higher.

Pamplona, Spain - Police in northern Spain have smashed a cell of the underground Basque separatist group ETA and have arrested four suspected terrorists.

Sources close to the investigation said three men and a woman had recently established the cell in the Navarra region and had planned to carry out an attack from the neighbouring Basque region.

Three suspected ETA members were arrested in Navarra's capital Pamplona. The fourth suspected ETA member was detained in the southern port city of Valencia.

One of the suspects was previously arrested in connection with ETA activities. The others have no known links to terrorist activity.

Madrid - Bomb and arson attacks believed to be the work of the Basque separatist ETA organisation damaged two train stations in Spain's northern Basque Country early Saturday, but injured no one, security officials said.

A bomb exploded shortly after midnight at Berriz train station near Bilbao, causing considerable damage. Officials said that there had been no warning, and no one claimed immediate responsibility.

Two hours later, masked attackers fire-bombed Amorebieta station some 20 kilometres away. Both stations were deserted.

ETA usually warns in a phonecall shortly before any bomb attack. The rail line serving the two stations, run by Eusko Tren, links Berriz with the cities San Sebastian and Bilbao.

Madrid - A bomb exploding at a train st

Valencia, Spain  - The low-cost airline Ryanair on Friday announced the closure of its base in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia, citing the refusal of the regional authorities to discuss a proposal for a joint promotion project.

The Valencia authorities had refused to "engage in constructive discussions in relation to the promotion of the airport and its routes across Ryanair's network in Europe," the airline said in a statement.