Spanish news - Spain news from 1Casa 16 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.

16 February 2008

Betting Shops in Spain

Punters in Spain will soon have the opportunity to go into a betting shop and place bets. Licences are to be issued in the next few weeks for 10 companies to open shops in Madrid and the Basque Country. The betting will be limited to 30 sports including the Basque ball game Pelota, but the main bulk of the wagers is likely to be on football.

Credit Card Ring Detained in Spain

Spanish police have arrested nearly 100 suspected members of an international credit card falsification gang which defrauded more than 6 million euros from its victims. A further twenty-six people were also arrested in other European countries. The gang, many of them Romanians, installed copying equipment in cash machines and shops where information could be copied from the credit cards when they were used. The cards were then forged along with their holders' identity documents. The gang operated across Spain, as well as in several other European Union countries and in Turkey.

EU Gives Mobile Phone Companies Charges Deadline

The EU has given mobile phone companies until July to cut their roaming charges for text messages and Internet use or face regulation. The EU communications commissioner told company chiefs at the industry's annual trade show that mobile phone companies would not be allowed to "rip off" EU citizens who travel in member states. After regulating the roaming cost of phone calls the commissioner, Viviane Reding, will focus on the price of text messages and data transfer, which includes Internet use as well as email and other downloads.

Ryanair Announces New Base in Spain

Ryanair has announced a fifth Spanish base in Reus, Barcelona. From October, Ryanair will invest in 2 new aircraft and 12 routes that will create 1,000 jobs and over a million passengers a year. The new base in Reus will join the existing bases in Madrid, Alicante, Girona and Valencia.

Google's Android Demonstrated in Barcelona

The first mobile phones fitted with Google's Android software made their debut at an industry trade show on this week. The demonstrations last Monday (11th February) showed Android working in prototype form.

Madrid Art Fair Opens in Madrid

Spain's 27th Contemporary Art Fair (ARCO) was inaugurated on Thursday 14th February. The fair focuses on photography and political and social themes rather than more traditional types of modern art. The event, one of the world's top art fairs, runs until Sunday 17th February.

Javier Bardem Wins a Bafta

The Spanish actor, Javier Bardem, has won another award for his role as the serial killer, Anton Chigurh, in the Cohn brothers’ film, ‘No Country for Old Men’. This time Bardem won a Bafta, which is the UK equivalent an Oscar, in the category of Best Supporting Actor at the award ceremony held last Sunday (10th February). Bardem has already won a Golden Globe and a New York Film Critics Award for the role.

Spanish Version of the Last Harry Potter on Release

The Spanish version of the last Harry Potter book “Harry Potter y las Reliquias de la Muerte” (….the Deathly Hallows) will be released on the 21st February at 6.30 pm with a print run of 1.5 million copies. It will also be released in America at the same time. Versions will also be available in Catalan and Gallego.

Andalucia to Introduce New Law on Dangerous Pets

The Junta de Andalucia is to put into operation, within the next two weeks, new legislation that aims to place greater controls on the ownership of pets considered to be dangerous, such as crocodiles or large reptiles, monkeys, spiders or poisonous insects. Owners of such animals will have six months to inform the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) and to deliver the animals to an authorised establishment, either public or private. There are weight restrictions on which animals or reptiles owners will be able to keep. Among the new laws there are extensive chapters dedicated to the regulation of dangerous dogs, such as Pit Bulls, Staffs, Rotweillers, Dobermans etc.

Poor Winter for Tourist Numbers on the Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol has suffered its worst winter for tourism since 2003, according to AECHOS the area’s Association of Hoteliers. The president said that ‘for years we have not seen such worrying numbers’. The worst months were November and December, with the former seeing a 7% drop on hotel occupancy compared to 2006 and December seeing a 6% fall. Over the whole of 2007, occupancy was 2.5% lower than in 2006 on the coast.

Work of Malaga Cathedral's New Roof Going Well

Work to solve the long-term problem of the leaking roof of Malaga Cathedral is going well. The building is to have a new glass roof placed over the existing one, and the project is half way through with an expected completion date expected in Spring next year. Under the new glass the shape of the 22 domes in the roof area will be maintained.

Malaga to Barcelona AVE Timetable Announced

From 20th February a daily, direct high speed train from Malaga to Barcelona comes into service. The trip will take 6.5 hours, which is less than half the current journey time. The train will leave Malaga at 5.00 pm and arrives in Barcelona at 11.33 pm. In the opposite direction, the train will leave Barcelona at 9.00 am and arrive in Malaga 3.30 pm. The trains will stop at Antequera, Puente Genil, Cordoba, Madrid, Zaragoza and Tarragona. Various ticket prices will be available starting from 49.70 euros up to 224.00 euros.

Malaga Inventor Updates Amphibious Motorbike

A motorbike version of the famous “DUKW” amphibious vehicles used during the Second World War has already been invented, but a Malaga inventor has come up with a new version which allows a conventional motorcycle to travel on water as it does on dry land. Jose Antonio Aguilera, from Villanueva de Tapia, had the idea when he got stuck on his endurance motorbike when he was trying to cross a stream. The design which uses a three-way valve fitted to the exhaust pipe to inflate neoprene floats at each side of the bike, keeping it low enough in the water to give traction to the rear wheel and to allow the front wheel to act as a rudder.

Authorities Use Helicopter to Seek Out Illegal Buildings

Last Wednesday (13th February) an agent from the Environment Department joined Guardia Civil personnel in a helicopter searching for illegal houses or construction projects. This is to be the first of a series of aerial patrols over Malaga province. They will be making videos of the flights and comparing them with existing documents such as the ‘Catastro’ to check whether buildings are in permitted zones.

Huelva Given Green Light for International Airport

Huelva is finally to receive its own International Airport; the Spanish Ministry of Development has approved Agricola el Pintado SL, to build a 350 hectare facility valued at 150 million euros. The province was previously only accessed by air via Faro in Portugal or Seville; the existing 700 metre runway will be replaced by a 2,400 metre runway for inter-continental flights which should see an estimated 1.5 million passengers pass through within the first ten years of operation.

A Third of Properties Bought in Granada are by Foreigners

According to a report by the Granada Real Estate Association (Aingra), a third of all properties sold in the province of Granada are bought by foreigners. The purchases are mainly in areas such as Las Alpujarras, the Lecrin Valley, the Baza area and along the coast.

In Malaga province, 14.8% of all properties sold in 2007 were bought by foreigners, which equates to one in seven. Three years ago foreign buyers accounted for only 5% of the total.

Mains Gas Supply to be Extended

Natural Gas company, 'Gas Natural' has announced that supply of mains gas will extend to Marbella, Estepona and Cartama this year. The company's expansion programme will continue with future towns to be connected to the network including Torrox, Manilva, Casares and Coin along with a connection as far as Nerja authorised by the Government.

Karting Circuit Approved in Coin

Coin’s Town Hall approved a project this week to build a kart circuit in the municipality. The circuit will include a 2.2 kilometre track, a children’s circuit of 112 metres, a cafeteria and an area reserved for road education. The promoters have to present all the documentation necessary for the town hall to issue the work permit and it is then expected to take 6 months to construct. Sources say that the first works could commence in a month’s time.

Bird Watching Observatory for the Guadalhorce River

The Grupo de Desarollo Rural (rural development group) of the Guadalhorce area to start the creation of a bird watching observatory in the zone of La Charquilla near Pizarra. The GDR technicians have begun to form a group of volunteers who will receive training in ornithology during March and who will collaborate in the construction of an observatory and the placing of information panels. Many species of birds are to be found along the banks of the Guadalhorce, such as the Royal Heron, the stork, fish eagle, peregrine falcon and others.

Spring Walking Program Starts

The Spring 2008 Walking Programme of the Youth and Sports dept of the Diputacion de Malaga starts on 24th February. The activities are arranged in collaboration with provincial town halls and the Federacion Andaluz de Montanismo. Those interested in the organised walks can find out more by telephoning 952069178 or by e-mailing senderos@malaga.es.

Alora TV Changes Frequency

From the beginning of March Alora TV is to change frequency from 49UHF to 29UHF. The purpose of this change is to improve coverage and clarity of picture.

Cordoba 2 – 1 Malaga

Malaga lost 2-1 to Cordoba last weekend, making it their first defeat in ten games and causing them to lose the top position in the league. This Sunday (17th February) Malaga play Castellon at home. Kick off at 12.00 noon.

F1 Launch to Launch Anti-racism Campaign at Spanish GP

Formula 1 bosses are to launch an anti-racism campaign "Racing against Racism" at this year's Spanish Grand Prix which will be held on 27th April. The campaign comes after Lewis Hamilton was abused by racists during a testing session in Barcelona earlier this month. Hamilton was in Jerez on 14th February for his latest testing session.

Valencia F1 Circuit Being Built Without Licence

It has been revealed that the new Valencia race circuit is being created without any type of legal licence or permission. A declaration by the PP controlled Consell Regional Government declaring the race to be 'of general interest' means that it can be processed quickly and without any licence for activity, excessive noise, or environmental damage. One of the most urgent areas of action has been the expropriation of land needed, and according to a newspaper report, a works certificate issued just five days before each race is enough to make the whole procedure legal. The race is planned for August, and the legal process has also left the door open for other related acts to be established, such as concerts or exhibitions.

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