Spanish news - Spain news from 1Casa 3 November 2007

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Spanish News

Latest News from Spain

This news is brought to you in association with 1Casa. Cristina Sanchez is head of their Customer Liaison Department, they specialiize in Affordable Property in the inland regions of Andalucia starting at under 30,000 Euros.

1Casa utilise their years of experience to offer a wide range of affordable properties and aim to provide a smooth, hassle free purchase and relocation.

For more information please contact 1 Casa on FREEPHONE 0800 081 1939 (24/7) or visit www.1casa.com/1.

03 November 2007

Tourist Bookings Up for Winter Holidays in Spain

The wettest UK summer on record has had a positive effect on tourism in Spain. One of the UK's most popular online travel agencies has reported that winter bookings to the sun have already reached unprecedented levels with two months still to go to Christmas. TravelRepublic reports a massive increase in bookings for Christmas holidays. Along with the Canary Islands, holidaymakers have chosen the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol, with a 213% increase in Benidorm, and 329% in Malaga province.

Spanish Art Series for BBC Four

BBC Four is to broadcast three hour-long programmes about Spanish art. Art historian and critic Andrew Graham-Dixon will present the programme called 'The Art of Spain' in early 2008. He said, "Spain is the place where the art and religions of east and west collided and where the nature of European culture and civilisation was decided."

Spain to Appeal to the EU over Fine to Telefonica

The government of Spain said Tuesday it had appealed a fine of 151.8 million euros (219 million dollars) slapped by European Union antitrust regulars on Telefonica for uncompetitive practices, the purpose of the appeal is to defend Spain's antitrust authorities and their regulation of the telecom industry, not to defend the telecommunications operator, the industry and commerce ministry said in a statement. "The supposed activities against competition by the part of Telefonica had been validated by the Spanish telecom watchdog, which approved them because they were not against competition," it said in a statement, the European Commission imposed the fine on July 4, saying Telefonica had abused its dominant position by setting wholesale prices to rival broadband providers that squeezed their margins between September 2001 and December 2006.

The fine is the largest ever put on a telecoms operator in Europe and the second largest the Commission has imposed for abusing market strength after a hitting Microsoft with a penalty of nearly half a billion euros in 2004, Telefonica, a former state monopoly, has also appealed the fine, arguing it was "unjustified and disproportionate, both legally and economically".

Over 650 Coastal Properties Demolished in Spain this Year

The Spanish Government is going ahead with plans to clear the Spanish costas of illegal buildings, which under the Ley de Costas have to be 106 metres from the waterline. Following on from earlier reports that the Government is planning to demolish homes and hotels built too close to the shoreline in Spain, comes the news that the process has already started. The Ministry for the Environment has already demolished 665 such properties this year.

Spanish Government Confirms Financial Aid for Youngsters Renting Accommodation

The cabinet office of Spain has approved new measures designed to help youngsters to rent accommodation. From 1st January 2008, those entitled will be able to claim a payment of 210 euros a month if they are aged between 22 and 30 and have an annual income of less than 22,000 euros. The financial help will remain available for at least four years. 1Casa Exclusive Apartments also offer an equal amount which saves applicants a total of 420 euros a month for 4 years.

Envoy Recalled Over Royal Visit

Morocco recalled its Ambassador to Spain after it was announced that King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia would visit Spain's two North African enclaves, which Morocco is claiming are theirs. Spain said that the King and Queen Sofia would visit the small, densely populated enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast on Monday and Tuesday (5th and 6th November) in response to popular demand. Top level Spanish trips to the cities are rare and usually provoke criticism from Morocco.

EasyJet agrees to buy GB Airways

EasyJet have agreed the purchase of GB Airways for £103.5m, GB Airways currently operates under a franchise agreement with British Airways, and operates flights to Europe and North Africa under their name. They operate a total of 39 flights from London (Gatwick), London (Heathrow) and Manchester, and EasyJet will be able to take over their landing slots at London (Gatwick).

Blog Test for Foreigners Living in Spain

The wordpress blog, Davicus, has compiled a list of things that, while perfectly normal for the Spanish, take the foreigner a while to get used to. Here are just some of the items listed.

You think it's perfectly acceptable to add lemonade or coca cola to wine.

You think that not kissing someone you have just met twice is a sign of bad manners.

You are surprised that people start wearing shorts as soon as it's sunny, instead of waiting until the end of June.

You think you can add olive oil to any dish.

You know how to eat boquerones.

You eat lunch after 2.00pm, and never eat dinner before 9.00pm.

You don’t think that there is anything wrong in drinking a couple of beers in the morning.

You know that ensaladilla rusa has nothing to do with Russia.

When the items on the list no longer surprise you, you are Au Fait with customs in Spain.

Sevilla Open its Own Tramline

Sevilla became the latest Spanish city to open its own tramline last Sunday (28th October). The new tram, known as metrocentro, runs for one and half kilometres. The city now joins other Spanish cities which have, or are constructing their own trams such as Murcia and Alicante.

Red Panda Cubs Born in Estepona Adventure Park

The Selwo Adventure Park in Estepona has announced the birth of two red panda cubs, a male and female named Laura and Amador, who have survived their period of quarantine and are now on view to the public. This threatened animal is a specialised bamboo feeder, and is a little larger than a domestic cat. The species is in danger of extinction with the destruction of its natural habitat in southern China, Burma and Nepal.

Thousands Visit Malaga's new Ikea Store on Opening Day

The first person to set foot in the new IKEA store, which opened in the city last Tuesday (30th October) had waited outside since 9.00 pm on Monday night (29th October). He was awarded a 300 euro voucher for his efforts and said he was going to spend it on a “new bedroom”. Traffic plans worked well to keep traffic moving as more than 18,000 people made their way to the store, some of them taking advantage of extra bus services laid on. 1Casa Exclusive Apartments also offer a Voucher for 1,000 euros to be spent at IKEA in Malaga, offer ends at Easter 2008.

Andalucia Regional Election

Manuel Chaves, the President of the Junta de Andalucia, has confirmed that he has chosen 9th March 2008 as the date for the Andalucia regional election. Chaves was asked if the regional poll would coincide with the general election, which is also due to take place next March. He said he has no part in the matter and the decision was up to the Prime Minister. However, the Andalucia poll has coincided with the general election on the past three occasions: 1996, 2000 and 2004.

Malaga's High Speed Train Opening Will Not be Delayed by Tunnel Problems

The Spanish development minister, Magdalena Alvarez, has played down the recent problems in the Abdalajis tunnel and insisted that the AVE high speed train will start services in Malaga on 23rd December. She said that problems in one of the tunnels under construction were not important. The claim was made despite reports that more cracks had appeared in the 7km long double tunnel under the sierra, the construction of which is reported to have affected the local water table.

Malaga Film Festival

This year Malaga's Film Festival will also show films in the festival in Tangiers, complete with Arabic subtitles. The first Tangier Malaga Spanish Film Festival will run from 2nd to 10th November. The festival, which will also present two new films, and several on the topic of immigration, is based in the Cervantes Theatre in Malaga and the Cinemateca in Tangiers.

Picasso Statue in Malaga

Malaga proposes to erect a statue to honour Picasso in the port area of the city. Funds have been included for the million-euro proposal in the 942 million-euro town hall budget for 2008 announced last week.

HMS Bounty in Malaga

A replica of HMS Bounty, built by MGM studios for the film "Mutiny On The Bounty", will be in Malaga Port from 30th October until 7th November. The 47-year old, three-mast sailing ship is to replicate her namesake’s journey and intends to arrive at Tahiti in time for the 220th anniversary of Bounty’s first arrival in October 1788. The ship is open weekdays from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm (subject to change without notice) and tickets cost from 3 to 12 euros. 1Casa have 20 tickets to be given away, just reply to your newsletter, first come first served.

Malaga Motor Show

The 4th Malaga Motor Show takes place at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Malaga (Trade Fairs and Congress Centre of Malaga) from 10th to 18th November. The event is open from 10.00 am until 9.00 pm Saturdays and Sundays and weekdays from 4.00 pm until 9.00 pm. Following the Motor Show, the Motor Ocasion Malaga (used and second hand car show) takes place from 22nd to 25th November.

Beatified Martyr from Alora

Last Sunday (28th October), in a ceremony at the Vatican, 498 religious Spaniards murdered during the Spanish civil War were beatified by the Pope in the largest ceremony of its kind to ever have occurred in the Catholic church. Twenty one of the religious martyrs were from the province of Malaga, one of them from Alora, Juan Duarte Martin, who died at the age of 24. Alora's mayor, Jose Sanchez Moreno, attended the ceremony in St Peter's Square along with thousands of others.

Albacete 2 - 1 Malaga

Malaga lost 2-1 at Albacete last weekend, their second defeat of the season, although they still remain at the top of the table. Malaga's next game is against Numancia on Sunday 4th November, kick off at 12 noon.

Charity Football Match in Malaga

There will be a charity football match on Monday 19th November at Malaga's Rosaleda stadium. "Match Against Poverty" will be raising funds for United Nations Development Programme projects in Asia, Africa and South America. Ronaldo and Zidane will captain the two teams and the referee will be Pier Luigi Collina. David Beckham is also rumoured to be playing in the match, his first game in Spain since leaving Real Madrid. Tickets are 10 euros and 25 euros from www.palaciodeportesmalaga.com or La Rosaleda ticket office from 12th November.

Nadal Through to Paris Masters Semi Final

Spain's Rafael Nadal beat Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-4, 6-2 to reach a Paris Masters semi final against Marcos Baghdatis who beat Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-4. David Nalbandian beat David Ferrer of Spain and will play 10th-seeded Richard Gasquet of France, who beat Britain's Andy Murray 6-3, 0-6, 6-4.

Alonso and McLaren Agree to Split Up

The race to sign up Fernando Alonso swept into overdrive on Friday (2nd November) after McLaren formally ended their troubled relationship with the double world champion. Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad told the Spanish media that he was "free to sign for any team next season" and there will be no shortage of offers for the 26-year-old Spaniard. His former employers Renault, led by flamboyant Italian Flavio Briatore, have already made it very clear that they want him back, however, the French team may not be Alonso's first choice, even if they are prepared to pay the many millions he will surely demand as the hottest property on the market. Renault, who took him to World titles in 2005 and 2006 and have yet to confirm their driver line up for 2008, were miles off the pace this year and there are no guarantees their new car will be any better.

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