Spanish news - Spain news from 1Casa 09 February 2008

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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.

09 February 2008

Major Changes to Clothes Sizes Proposed in Spain

After measuring more than 10,000 women in 10 age groups, the Spanish Health Ministry has revealed that 40% have problems finding clothes which fit properly. These results have led to the Ministry proposing a radical change to the way clothes are sized. The Health Minister also plans to take the proposal to the European Union to be adopted as the new system. The new system proposes a more precise sizing which would be defined by three measurements - height, bust, waist and hips – for each different height.

Spanish Version of Facebook Launched

Last Thursday (7th February) Facebook launched a Spanish version of its social-networking website which lets users opt for Spanish instructions, alerts, news feeds and other information. Spanish speakers can change their language preference from their account settings, and the site will automatically load the Spanish version when accessed from a Spanish-speaking country.

Video Game Test Centre in Madrid

Electronic Arts, the world's largest computer games publisher, has opened a European test centre in Madrid. The city was chosen above 27 other locations including London. The company is behind games such as ‘The Sims’, ‘The Simpsons’ and "FIFA".

Picasso Stolen in Switzerland

Police in Switzerland have confirmed that two paintings by Pablo Picasso were stolen from an exhibition in Pfaeffikon last week. The two paintings, 'Verre et pichet' and 'Tete de cheval' are valued at several million euros.

Stolen 15th Century Map Returned to Spain

A stolen 15th century map was returned to Spain last Monday (4th February). The map, from the early days of printing, was stolen from Spain's National Library last August. It was cut out of a 1482 edition of Claudius Ptolemy's Cosmographia. The Cosmographia map, which was stolen along with other documents, was seized by Australian police from an art gallery in Sydney. Some of the other items were recovered in Buenos Aires and New York while others are still missing.

Wolf Attack Reported Near Segovia

A shepherd from Cabanillas del Monte, a small village in the Sierra de Guadarrama about 15km from Segovia, has reported an attack by wolves on his flock of sheep. The daytime attack, which left one sheep dead and two injured, came two weeks after a similar incident was reported in the same area.

Antonio Banderas' Father Dies

The father of Antonio Banderas passed away last Saturday (2nd February) at the age of 87. Jose Dominguez Prieto, a retired police inspector, died at the actor’s Marbella home after a long illness.

New Golf Decree for Andalucia

A last minute agreement in the Junta de Andalucia means that a new golf decree can be approved in the region before the March general election. The deal allows the Regional Tourism Department to build homes in some cases alongside certain golf courses, although the final approval will remain with the Regional Public Works Office.

Demolition Begins on Illegal Estepona Hotel

The eyesore on Estepona beach, a partly built hotel dating from the Gil era is to be demolished. Work began this week and is expected to take around 2 months. Construction work on the hotel was stopped in 2003, due to its excessive height and infringement onto the shoreline. A new 2 storey building with a total floor area of 7,000 square metres is planned for the site.

Rainfall Down By 40% in Malaga Province

The hydrological year has shown figures of 40% less rainfall than the 50 year average in Malaga province. The lack of rainfall in the province since October has confirmed that the region is into the fourth consecutive year of severe drought, leaving reservoirs at 34% capacity.

20% of School Pupils on the Costa del Sol are Foreign

The number of school pupils originally from another country is growing in Malaga province, particularly on the Costa del Sol. Here, 20% of all students are of foreign origin. To help foreign students most schools have Aulas Temporales de Adaptacion Linguistica (ATAL), projects which involve combining normal class attendance with Spanish language learning.

Earthquake in Almeria

An earthquake, measuring 4 on the Richter scale, occurred in Almeria province last Wednesday (6th February). The earthquake's epicentre was to the south east of Nijar. The quake caused no material or personal damage.

Ikea Plan Granada Store

Plans have been approved for an Ikea store in Granada. Officials voted in favour of a commercial centre on land next to the existing Kineapolis complex. The Medianas Commercial Centre will not only include IKEA, but the clothes shop H&M and computer retailer PC City. There will also be provision for more than 100 other outlets and restaurants as well as parking for 2,000 cars.

Granada's Lottery Luck Continues

A ticket holder from La Herradura won more than 1 million euros this week in the Spanish Bonoloto draw. That winning ticket holder remains a mystery, however, as he or she has yet to claim the prize. Furthermore, the 76.6 million euros from the 25th January Euro Millions draw has so far remained unclaimed. The winning ticket was bought in Montefrio.

Casarabonela Road Improvements Completed

After 3 years of work, the project for the improvement of the road from the A-357 to Casarabonela and the Sierra de las Nieves has been completed. The 10 kilometre stretch, which runs between Zalea and Casarabonela, will also improve communications with other localities of the Sierra de las Nieves, such as Alozaina, Yunquera and Tolox.

River Cleaning Service Planned

The environment department of the Junta de Andalucia has put out for tender the creation of a stream and river cleaning service in various towns of the Guadalhorce valley. The project will affect the Las Vacas stream in Casabermeja, Las Canas in Carratraca, La Gavia and the Guadalhorce river in Alora, Barranca del Sol in Almogia and Las Piedras stream in Valle de Abdalajis.

Alora

The replica of Alora’s castle archway has now been installed on the new Fuente de la Mania roundabout at the entrance to the town.

In addition to the raised pedestrian crossings at the new Fuente de la Mania roundabout and in Bellavista and El Puente, there are plans for more of these types of crossings in 3 further locations in the town.

Work is to be carried out on the El Chorro natural water reserve to improve water quality in Alora. The work will be carried out by a public company and involve creating better drainage and channelling of underground water to prevent impurities entering the system during heavy rain.

Alora’s Carnival will take place on Saturday 16th February. The procession will start at 5.30 pm from the Casa de Cultura and finish in the Fuente Arriba via Plaza Baja.

On Sunday 17th February the first stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia cycle race will finish in Alora. The arrival area will be on Calle Juan Calderon (near the Calle Carmona car parks) between 2.00 and 3.00 pm. There will be some traffic restrictions and the car parks will be closed from Saturday night to accommodate the retinue of cars, buses and support vehicles. The stage will be shown on Canalsur.

Pizarra Swimming Pool

The Town Hall in Pizarra has extended the opening hours of the municipal swimming pool. The new opening hours started at the beginning of this month and the pool now opens from 9.00 am until 10.00 pm continuously. The pool used to close in the afternoon between 1.30 pm and 5.00 p.m.

Football News

Spain beat France 1 – 0 in a friendly match played at the Malaga’s Rosaleda stadium last Wednesday (6th February).

Malaga's game this weekend is on Saturday 9th February at 7.30 pm against Cordoba. Their next home game is on 17th February against Castellon.

Threat to Spanish Grand Prix

Following the recent racist abuse of Lewis Hamilton in Spain, the Spanish motor racing authorities will be under intense scrutiny during further visits by Hamilton and could possibly lose the Spanish Grand Prix if such incidents re-occur.

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