It took longer than expected, but at noon on Monday, ETA, the organization that has killed more than 800 people in its 40-year struggle for a Basque homeland independent from Spain, announced that it was declaring a "permanent and general cease-fire." Although the group, which is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union, has made similar statements before, this is the first time it has committed itself to a process that would lead to the end of violence.[time.com]