Spanish news - Spain news from 1Casa 18 June 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.

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18 June 2007

30 Years of Democracy in Spain

Yesterday, Friday 15th June, Spain celebrated the 30 year anniversary of the first democratic elections to be held in the country after the Franco dictatorship. The Spanish Royal Family attended a special event to commemorate the date in Congress. Speaking at the ceremony, King Juan Carlos called for unity and understanding in the face of terrorism. He said that unity must be found through sincere dialogue. The King said that 30 years of democracy should be enough to make it clear to the terrorists, yet again, that terrorist violence will never achieve its objectives. He called on the Spanish people to support the institutions and the security services.

The Spanish media have been broadcasting special programmes to mark the anniversary, and to highlight some of the more dramatic changes seen in the country over the past 30 years; the currency change from the peseta to the Euro, television has gone from just two channels to digital terrestrial broadcasting, an enormous increase in population from 36.5 million to 45 million, and a huge increase in immigration from 162,000 to 4.5 million.

Spain Approves International Adoption Law

Spain's Council of Ministers has approved the International Adoption Law, seeking more facilities for parents and more guarantees for children. The law includes the existing legislation and guarantees that the adoption of foreign minors is valid in Spain and in the child’s homeland.

The new law intends to prevent the trafficking of minors and discrimination for nationality, gender, race or any other reason. Spaniards adopt over 5,000 foreign minors annually from more than 30 countries.

Spain to Toughen Up on Bad Drivers

Spain’s Congress has brought forward plans to introduce jail sentences for repeat offenders of traffic offences, such as speeding or drink driving. The new legislation will be law before the end of the year and these offences will be added to the Penal Code.

Offending drivers will face prison sentences of between two and five years. Those who drive at more than 200 km/hour on the motorway or more than 110 km/hour in town could be sent to prison for three to six months along with the same punishment for those who have more than 1.2 grams of alcohol in a litre of blood.

The measures received cross-party support and come a year after the points driving licence. The President of the Road Safety Commission in Congress said that the measures were not an improvised reform, but were ‘necessary and useful’.

Equality for Euro Coins

Congress in Spain this week debated a Socialist proposal that the Government work towards equality on the Euro coins with an equal number of men and women featured on the currency.

The Socialists have already put forward the first women they would like to see featured, Clara Campoamor, who worked for women’s right to vote in Spain 75 years ago.

Sunken Spanish Galleon Gives up its Treasures

Gold chains, bars and rings worth millions of Euros have been salvaged from the wreckage of a Spanish galleon that sank almost 400 years ago off the Florida Keys along with nearly a thousand historical artefacts. The treasure hunters reported that the pieces they salvaged were part of a treasure from the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita which sank in a hurricane in September 1622 as it returned to Spain.

Mothers Can Now Compete in Miss Spain Beauty Contest

The Miss Spain beauty contest has changed its rules to allow mothers to compete after it caused a national outrage for disqualifying a 22-year-old beauty queen when it emerged she had a 3 year old child. Angela Bustillo won the title of Miss Cantabria last January but organisers disqualified her citing rules that contestants cannot have children. The decision sparked widespread outrage in the Spanish press and expressions of support from feminist organizations to the head of the Cantabrian local government.

"I knew what it said in the contest conditions, but it seemed so absurd. I thought it must be something left over from the 1970s that they had forgotten to bring up to date," Bustillo, a former supermarket worker, said at the time.

Last Thursday, 14th June, Miss Espana organizers said they were changing the rules to allow for mothers and transsexuals with the aim of avoiding any discrimination among candidates.

European Music Day

Spain is to celebrate European Music Day on 21st June with five free, simultaneous concerts. The concerts will be held in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and Marbella and will feature a total of 18 different groups in many musical styles. The event is organised by the FNAC chain of stores who want VAT on record sales reduced to 4%, considering music part of culture. The concerts will also be broadcast by Radio Nacional 3.

Cinemas in Spain to strike Over Film Quotas

Many Spanish cinemas will be closed on Monday 18th June in protest at a proposed law forcing them to keep a long-standing obligation to show at least one European film for every three Hollywood blockbusters. The cinemas say the quota cuts box office takings and supports films few want to see. Dubbed American movies made up more than two thirds of films shown in Spanish cinemas last year. According to a poll earlier this week, Spaniards said films made in Spain are boring and often made for minority audiences.

Spain's biggest grossing Spanish-speaking movie last year Alatriste, a swashbuckling extravaganza, came in fourth in box office takings after three American films; Pirates of the Caribbean, The Da Vinci Code and Ice Age II

Alhambra Palace Needs More Votes

Granada’s Alhambra Palace is falling behind in its bid to be named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Organisers of the contest said last Thursday that Spain’s only remaining entry had dropped out of the top ten. Voting continues at www.new7wonders.com or by text, with the final seven due to be announced in Lisbon on 7th July.

CD Pirating Network in Granada Supplied Costa del Sol

Police in Granada have arrested 23 people who are believed to have supplied up to 4,000 pirated CDs and DVDs every day to the Costa del Sol and Mallorca. Police seized 60,000 discs, 20,000 Euros in cash and 55 recorders from the network’s base. All the detainees face charges relating to copyright infringement.

Bob Dylan Awarded Top Spanish Arts Prize

Iconic American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has been awarded the Spain’s Prince of Asturias arts award, one of the country's most prestigious honours. 'He's a living legend of popular music,'' said Jose Llado Fernandez-Urrutia, president of the prize's panel of judges. Dylan, 66, has been one of the most influential popular music artists in recent decades. He is regarded by many as a poet and is frequently mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel literature prize.

His most famous hits include the 1960s anti-war and civil rights protest ballads ''Blowin' in the Wind'' and ''The Times They Are a-Changin','' and rock songs ''Like a Rolling Stone'' and ''All Along the Watchtower.'' ''He is considered one of the most important figures of song, a form in which he combines, in a majestic way, the beauty of his poetry and ethical commitment,'' said the prize foundation in a statement. ''For this reason, his music and message have had an outstanding influence on several generations of young people".

Abbreviated Information Document

The Regional Government of Andalucia has recently approved a Decree concerning regulations governing information to be provided to consumers in connection with the purchase and sale and rental of properties in Andalucia. The aim is to achieve greater transparency within the property market in Andalucia by offering more complete information to prospective buyers. The new regulations include the necessity by those who offer properties for sale or rental to have at their disposal an 'Abbreviated Information Document', the contents of which will vary according to the nature of the property in question, be it off plan, under construction or already built.

Trains Disrupted Due to AVE Work

Six trains out of Malaga railway station were affected by subsidence at the site of work on the new high speed AVE line. Although the problem did not directly affect the existing tracks, passengers were taken by coach around the problem area when use of the line was suspended for safety reasons last Thursday night, 14th June. Three local, one regional and one long distance service were affected.

Turtles to be Used Against Jellyfish in Malaga

Turtles are being bred and released in an effort to control jellyfish numbers on the Costa del Sol. In Malaga, in response to increase in jellyfish numbers due to higher water temperatures in the Mediterranean, the Aula del Mar, which depends on the Environment department of the Junta de Andalucia, is trying the release of a traditional jellyfish predator, the Carretta Caretta, known as the Tortuga Boba. A plan to breed the turtles in captivity has begun, and a search is underway for sites where they can breed naturally.

A scheme has also been set up to warn bathers of the presence of jellyfish by using a network of volunteer boats.

Carlos Haya Hospital Offers Telephone Translation Service

Carlos Haya hospital in Malaga now offers a telephone translation service in five different languages; English, French, Arabic, German and Romanian. The new service consists of a phone service where patients and doctors can both speak in real time with the translator.

Tourism

Malaga province’s inland towns are an increasing draw for tourists, attracting 2.6 million visitors in 2006, or 8.5% of the total for the province, however, less than a third (approximately 800,000) spent one night or more in inland accommodation. Britons represented 23.7% of inland visitors, second only to the Spanish with 42%.

New Riding Centre Opens

The Los Arcos riding centre has opened recently and offers riding lessons with professional instructors, new stables and paddocks, two arenas for jumping and a new veterinary facility. The centre is located on Crta. Cartama - Coin (A355) Km 5.9 behind the Los Arcos restaurant.

New Bus Stop in Alora

There will be a new bus stop in Alora next to the municipal swimming pool. The work is planned to follow the completion of the new roundabout at la Fuente de la Mania.

Malaga 1 - Cadiz 1

Malaga managed to avoid relegation by securing a draw against local rivals Cadiz. Their last game of the season is played tonight, Saturday 16th June, against Castellon, kick off 5.30 pm.

Beckham to Play Final Game for Real Madrid this Sunday

David Beckham is expected to start in the title-deciding match against Mallorca in his final game for Real Madrid before joining Los Angeles Galaxy. Madrid is tied with FC Barcelona at the top of the league with 73 points. Sevilla has 71 going into Sunday's final round of games. Madrid will secure its record 30th league title with a win, even if Barcelona beats last-place Gimnastic Tarragona.

US Grand Prix

McLaren were confident in Indianapolis with Fernando Alonso dominating practice with the fastest laps in both of Friday's practice sessions ahead of Sunday's United States Grand Prix. Alonso is eight points behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the title race. Lewis Hamilton finished second fastest. Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen drove the third and fourth fastest laps. Sebastian Vettel, who will make his Formula One race debut on Sunday in place of injured Robert Kubica, was fourth quickest in the BMW Sauber in the morning but 11th in the afternoon.

Rafael Nadal Out of Queens in the Quarter Finals

Rafael Nadal has been eliminated from the Queens tournament at the quarter final stage. He was beaten by the un-seeded French player, Nicolas Mahut, 7-5, 7-6.

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