Spanish news - Spain news from 1Casa 14 April 2007

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14 April 2007

Spain Proves Easter Weather Wash Out

The Easter getaway to the Spanish sunshine proved a bit of a wash-out this year. Tourists have had to endure the rain and clouds on the Costa del Sol while Britain has basked in sunshine. It has rained almost every day since last Saturday. There have been torrential downpours which has led to flash floods and severe driving conditions on the Costa del Sol for most of the week.

Spanish Scientist in Landmark Cancer Discovery

A Spanish scientist is behind a landmark discovery of four genes responsible for the lethal spread of breast cancer, Prof Joan Massague led the team which found a new insight into how to treat the disease more effectively, a number of genes are already known to contribute to the spread to the lungs, however Prof Joan Massague and colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, now show how four co-operate to promote the formation of new tumour blood vessels, the release of cancer cells into the bloodstream, and the penetration of tumour cells from the bloodstream into the lung, the gene set comprises EREG, MMP1, MMP2 and Cox2 and the abnormal activation of all four enables the breast cancer to invade the lungs.

Although shutting off these genes individually can slow cancer growth and metastasis, the researchers found that turning off all four had a dramatic effect, Prof Massague said: "The remarkable thing was that while silencing these genes individually was effective, silencing the quartet nearly completely eliminated tumour growth and spread." In experiments on human breast tumours implanted in mice, the researchers also found that they could reduce the growth and spread of the disease by simultaneously targeting two of the proteins produced by these genes, using drugs already on the market. "We found that the combination of these two inhibitory drugs was effective, even though the drugs individually were not very effective," said Prof Massague. "This really nailed the case that if we can inactivate these genes in concert, it will affect metastasis."

ICE - In case of Emergency

The campaign for people to store emergency contact details in their mobile phones under 'ICE' is spreading in Spain. The letters ICE 'In Case of Emergency' could save paramedics valuable time and all mobile users are being encouraged to include the letters in their phone's address book alongside the number of the person they wish the emergency services to contact if they suffered an accident and were unable to communicate. The idea originally came from Bob Brotchie, a British paramedic of the East Anglian Ambulance Service, who suggested that if there was a uniform approach to searching a mobile phone for an emergency contact then that would make it easier for everyone. The ICE idea won a Vodafone LifeSavers Award in 2005.

Thousands of Expats Can Vote Next Month

Over 318,000 foreign residents from EU countries and Norway have registered to vote in next month's local elections on 27th May. El Sur newspaper in Malaga reported that British residents make the largest group of foreigners that have registered to vote in Spain with a total of 84,018. The electoral district with the most foreign voters on its census is Alicante with 62,264, followed by Madrid, with 38,022; Malaga, with 31,519; and Barcelona with 28,356.

Supreme Court in Spain Rules that Immigrants do not HAVE to be Deported

The Spanish Supreme Court has ruled that if a foreign individual is found living in Spain illegally, that alone is not a sufficient reason for he or she to be expelled from the country. The Foreigners Law establishes that in such a case only a fine is administered, and that any deportation which is ordered has to be justified with other reasons, the Supreme Court ruling comes after it has inspected several cases dating from 2003 which had been passed to it from the High Court.

Spain Resumes Fishing off Morocco's Coast

The first 7 Spanish trawlers to resume fishing in Moroccan waters following the signing of an agreement between Morocco and the European Union, were seen off by Agriculture and Fisheries minister, Elena Espinosa, and her counterpart in Andalucia’s regional government, Isaias Perez Saldana, who explained that the vessels must pass a technical inspection in Tangiers port carried out by Moroccan officials before being allowed to start work. The ships form part of a fleet of twenty ships based in Barbate that will all begin work over the next few days. The agreement, that was originally ratified on the 26th February by King Mohammed VI, will see the return of European fishing vessels after a hiatus lasting nearly eight years. A total of 119 ships will be allowed into Moroccan waters, 101 of which are Spanish, of which 44 are from Andalucia.

Spain's Older Motorways to be Improved

Magdalena Alavarez, Spain's Minister for Development, has announced a 6 billion Euro facelift for the country's older motorways with the first phase of the work to be put out to tender by the end of April in a programme which will continue until 2011. The first phase will bring improvement to several sections of motorway between Madrid and Alicante, Burgos, Sevilla and Zaragoza. All routes out of Madrid to the regions will be studied and 15% of the motorway network will be improved as a result.

The Traffic Department (DGT) reported that 104 people lost their lives on Spanish roads and 57 had been seriously injured during Easter Holy Week. This year's figures were similar to those for Easter 2006 when 110 people died in 92 accidents.

Road Rage Driver Sentenced to 39 Years In Prison

A Spanish driver who intentionally ran over 34 people in what appears to have been a drunken rage through the centre of Oviedo in 2002 has been sentenced to 39 years in prison and banned from driving for eight years. Nino Jose Rodriguez Novoa was found guilty of 17 counts of assault and one of reckless driving at his trial in Oviedo this week. It happened on a busy pedestrianised street in the city centre early one morning in November 2002. The court ruled it proved that Rodriguez Novoa, who tested positive in an alcohol test, deliberately ran his car at the crowds of people, driving at more than 50 kms an hour.

Olive Spitting Competition

An olive stone spitting competition is to be held in Murcia today, Saturday 14th April. Politicians, sportsmen and journalists are expected to take part in the event which is being held in the Plaza Cardenal Belluga in Murcia.

Building of Biggest Bridge in Spain to Begin Next Week

The construction of what will be the biggest bridge in Spain is to start next week. The new second bridge over the Bay of Cadiz, 'Puente de la Pepa will be 69 metres high making it the tallest bridge in Europe. Its two main towers will reach up to 175 metres in order to support the load-bearing cables. The new traffic bridge will be the second suspension bridge to be built over the Bay of Cadiz. It will have a budget of nearly 300 million Euros and is due for completion in September 2010.

Escaped Crocodile Recaptured

An escaped crocodile that escaped from a local crocodile farm last Sunday, 8th April, was recaptured three hours after is was discovered missing and returned to the farm in Jerez. The 1.5 metre long Nile crocodile was found lying on the bank of a local watercourse by the Civil Guard nature protection branch, Seprona and caught with the help of a farm employee.

Another Two Iberian Lynx Born in Captivity in Donana

Two more Iberian Lynx have been born in captivity in the Donana Nature Park. These two latest births bring the number born in captivity in the centre up to sixteen with twelve surviving so far. The Iberian Lynx is the most endangered species in Spain with only 160 thought to be still living in the wild.

Hundreds of Jobs on Offer at New Ikea Store

IKEA have confirmed that their new store in Malaga will be open before the end of the year, and have started to interview for jobs on offer. Interested people are now invited to send in their curriculum via the company webpage www.ikea.es or by visiting the Malaga City Council employment page at www.malagaempleo.com or by sending a text message to 7606. The company has said they will give priority in the job selection to candidates who live locally. The access road to the store from the Torremolinos to Malaga motorway has now been awarded.

Malaga Airport Bar Prices and Parking Most Expensive in Spain.

A study by Consumer magazine reflects that Malaga airport compares well with the other airports in most aspects, especially in regard to left luggage, baggage trolleys, public telephones, etc. But among them, is the catering, where a cup of coffee costs 1.45. Then there is the parking, at 15.45 a day or 1.45 an hour ,the most expensive in Spain along with Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante. In the other categories it is no better or worse than the others, being in an average, quite acceptable mid table position, without extremes.

Malaga Town and Country Exhibition

The Feria of the Towns and Cities of Malaga will take place between 19th and 22nd April at the Trade Fair and Congress Centre of Malaga (Palacio de Ferias y Congresos). The exhibition is open from 11.00 am until 9.00 pm. The fair is the best shop window to show the qualities of the land, so that it can be enjoyed by all, opening a window and facilitating a network of promotion and commercialization. The fair is an annual event that each year becomes more prominent, as much by the institutions and participating businesses as by the public that visit.

Motorcycling Fair

Tomorrow, Sunday 15th April, the motorcycling teams "Box 77 - Oteros Sport Junior” and team Cordobes, in which there are two local riders Miguel Angel Aranda y Sergio T. Diaz, will take part in an event which will take place in the Plaza Fuente Arriba, Alora from 11.00 am. There will also be a get together of all the bikers clubs from the province of Malaga and beyond along with an exhibition of a workshop truck and the team motorbikes. For followers of Formula 1, a large screen will be installed to follow the Bahrain Grand Prix. There will also be various dance groups performing throughout the morning, music and refreshments.

Drainage for Fuente Arriba

In Alora last Monday more than 30 litres of rain fell in less than half an hour. Enough time for the steep streets of Alora to become torrents of water. It caused several shopkeepers in the Fuente Arriba to fear there establishments would be flooded because of the lack of a drain to collect the water that flowed down the hill of Santa Ana. A drain was installed the day after which was planned but was not possible before Semana Santa. Fuente Arriba still has some work to be finished off and the official inauguration has not yet taken place.

Malaga 4 - Lorca 0

A big win for Malaga who beat fellow strugglers Lorca 4-0 to move out of the relegation zone. The team achieved only their second win in nine games in an incredible game. This Sunday Malaga play Ponferradina in Leon. Kick off is at 5.30 pm. Next week Malaga are at home to Elche.

Spanish Teams Dominate UEFA Cup

Just as the English teams are dominating the final stages of the Champions League, it's Spanish teams Sevilla, Espanyol and Osasuna who are all through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. Osasuna won 1-0 against Bayer Laverkusen, Sevilla drew 2-2 at White Hart Lane against Tottenham and Espanyol drew 0-0 against Benfica.

Bahrain Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen both know they have a race on their hands for the Bahrain Grand Prix, after trading fastest times in the final practice session. Felipe Massa is on pole with Lewis second and Fernando Alonso is in 4th place after final practice.

This news was written and contributed by 1Casa.

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