Spanish news - Spain news from 1Casa 20 October

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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.

20 October 2007

Spain Has the Most Immigrants in Europe

Much immigration over recent years has now resulted in Spain being the European country with most immigrants, foreign residents now make up 9.9% of the total population, 4.48 million out of 14.12 million. The ratio is now higher than France, Germany or Britain. New research also indicates that seven out of every ten immigrants who come to Spain decide to stay here.

This immigration has resulted in an increase in economic activity with immigrants estimated to account for 4.5% of the GDP and they have also contributed to a recovery in the birth rate. There were 34,000 mixed marriages Spaniard's and foreigners last year, approximately 16% of the total.

The Etnia publishing group, who presents the annual immigration study, also predicts that, by 2025, thirty percent (approximately 8 million people) will not have been born in Spain or will be the children of immigrants.

Ryanair Celebrates 25 Million Passengers to and from Spain

Ryanair this week celebrated carrying 25 million passengers to and from Spain since it began its Spanish service in 2002. Ryanair launched its first Spanish route from Barcelona to Frankfurt in December 2002. Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said, "A big thank you to the 25 million passengers who have made our Spanish flights such a success. In less than 5 years we have brought Europe’s lowest fares to 18 airports, covering every region of Spain."

Spain's Queen Granted Golden Medal of Athens

Queen Sofia of Spain has been given the Athens Gold Medal for her ‘humanitarian work and her contribution to the support of Greek art and culture’. She was presented with the honour earlier this week from the Mayor of Athens, Nikitas Kaklamanis. Athens is the birthplace of the Queen, King Don Juan Carlos, the Queen’s husband, was also granted the same award some years ago.

Spanish Court Rules Against Church in Legal Battle

The Roman Catholic Church in Spain has lost a year-long legal battle to prevent one of its members from formally deserting. The National Court ruled that the archdiocese of Valencia should note in its baptismal records that Manel Blat Gonzalez, a 41-year old union worker, had left the church. The decision was a symbolic blow to the church, which faces a dwindling congregation and disenchantment among people who see it as increasingly out of step with modern life. Blat, who was baptized 40 years ago, made several applications to the church to have his name removed from baptismal records after he became disillusioned by what he saw as the church's narrow attitudes. Blat, who is gay, said he was particularly angered by the church's stance on same-sex marriage, which is legal in Spain.

Councillor Banned from Carrying out Wedding Dressed as Elvis Presley

A local councillor has been banned from carrying out local weddings dressed as Elvis Presley. Ariel Santamaria from Reus, near Barcelona, was due to carry out a wedding this weekend, but said he would only carry out the civil ceremony if he was dressed as Elvis. The local Mayor, Lluis Miquel Perez, has said he does not want such a wedding celebrated in the town hall. The councillor, who is a local Elvis lookalike, said that he wanted to use Elvis as a symbol as he connects well with the lyrics of his songs, however, he has said he will follow orders and not dress as Elvis for the ceremony, but will still wear some Elvis accessories although he would not say what those might be. Ariel claims that Elvis came to him in a dream and told him to stand as a councillor ‘to save Reus from mediocrity’.

Odyssey Explorer Search Reported to be Completed

The inspection of the treasure salvage boat, Odyssey Explorer, has now been completed in the port of Algeciras. The boat was escorted by gunboat into the port of Algeciras last Tuesday (16th October) after being intercepted in the Strait of Gibraltar. Legal representatives for the vessel say she is preparing to leave the port, but the Capitan, Stirling Vorus, has been ordered to appear before the court every two weeks on charges of resisting authority. The Spanish government thinks the Odyssey Company may be guilty of plundering Spanish heritage, with their discovery of 150 tons of gold and silver coins from an as yet unidentified wreck thought to be in international waters.

Granada Coast Experiences Small Earthquake

A small earthquake off the Granada coast last Thursday morning (18th October) was felt on the western coast of the province and in the east of Malaga. The quake measured 3.2 on the Richter scale and had its epicentre in the Alboran Sea approximately 133 kilometres from Malaga City and 100 kms from the provincial capital in Granada. There were no reports of any damage.

New Cable Car to Sierra Nevada Ski Station Rejected by Ministry

Spain's Ministry for the Environment has rejected a project to build the longest cable car in the world in the Sierra Nevada, according to a report printed in a Spanish newspaper. The plan was to link the city of Granada and the ski station in the Sierra Nevada by means of a 19 km cable car. The plan's promoter, Juan Antonio Lopez, defended the idea by saying that it was non-polluting, especially when compared to the car traffic that currently travels to the mountain during the season. However the Ministry has rejected the idea, considering that it would transform the ecosystem of the National Park irreversibly. ‘The project is incompatible with the objectives of the National Park’, says the report, adding ‘It is a proposal from private interests, not from social demand, and it would not help the environmental tensions in the area’. The project is now waiting for the Junta de Andalucia to publish its environmental impact report before a final decision to block the project is taken.

One of World's Most Famous Sculptures on Display in Malaga

The work of the world-famous French sculptor, Auguste Rodin, is gracing the most famous street in Malaga, Calle Marques de Larios, where the seven bronze sculptures will remain under 24 hour guard until they move to their next exhibition in Granada on 19th December. The original sculptures of the six ‘Burghers of Calais’ and Rodin’s ‘The Thinker,’ were unveiled on their pedestals in the old part of the city centre on Wednesday, as part of an exhibition organised by La Caixa Foundation, the social and cultural branch of one of Spain’s largest building societies.

Guadalhorce Housing Plan

The regional development plan (POT) for Malaga's metropolitan area is to include a housing project, much of it subsidised housing, along the Cercanias train route heading from the capital through the Guadalhorce Valley. Towns such as Alora, Pizarra, Cartama and parts of Malaga's Campanillas and Puerto de la Torre districts, will see large tracts of land close to the tracks set aside for residential development. Fifty to 60% of the housing will be government-subsidised dwellings.

Officials say the increase in housing along the train route is aimed at better balancing population growth throughout the metropolitan area and creating residential zones geared toward the use of public transport for commuting to the city. The housing will be clustered near the stations along the Cercanias line.

Antequera Airport

Last week, the Development Minister, Magdalena Alvarez, publicly gave her personal support and that of her department to the Antequera private airport project. The airport could be a reality in 2010 said the director of the project on the same day. There will be one runway which will deal with low cost airlines and freight planes. Over 4,000 flight arrivals and departures are expected in the first year and the objective is that this figure rises to 15,000 after ten years.

Agreement Reached in Alora Road Protest

After more than 3 weeks occupation of Alora's town hall and Plaza Fuente Arriba, agreement has been reached between the administration and the inhabitants of Alhaja de Prieta to repair the road leading to their community. Although a date has not been specified for the commencement of the Works, it will be before the end of the year. One of the causes of the lack of agreement was a clause specifying that the residents would have to pay 10% of the cost of the work, which now seems to have been overturned.

Alora's Footpath to Convent will be Completed by End of the Year

The Ayuntamiento of Alora has recently awarded the contract for the last phase of the footpath that will unite the town with the Convento de la Virgen de Flores (convent). The mayor, Jose Sanchez Moreno, reported that the work, which was put out to tender in July, will have a time limit of two and a half months and a budget of 115,000 euros. The project is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

Alora Town Hall Website

The Ayuntamiento of Alora has relaunched its website with a new design. It contains information and civic announcements relating to Alora. http://www.alora.es/Inicio/

Archidona Cinema Film Festival

The Archidona Cinema film festival begins on 20th October until 27th October. Twenty 27 Andalucian and Turkish films (some of which have been shown recently in cinemas) will be screened. The opening gala will take place today (Saturday 20th October) and actors including Eva Pedraza and Miguel de Miguel will be present to conduct the ceremony and present the first film. Around 5,000 people are expected to attend the festival.

Elche 2 - 0 Malaga

Malaga's unbeaten run came to an end last weekend when they lost their game against Elche. Despite the loss, the team are still top of the second division. This weekend Malaga play Xerez, kick off at 6.00 pm on Sunday 21st October.

Nadal Out of Madrid Masters

Rafael Nadal has lost to David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-2 in the Madrid Masters quarterfinals. In the Spaniard's heaviest defeat in three years, Nadal surrendered his serve on five occasions, lost nine games in a row and made a host of unforced errors against Nalbandian.

Nadal had been out of action for five weeks due to tendonitis but he refused to blame fatigue for the loss. "I don't want to come up with an excuse," he said. "When you lose, you lose. I think the result reflects enough. It wasn't my day. I never felt good at any point."

Brazilian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton escaped without penalty for Sunday's title-deciding Grand Prix after his McLaren team broke the tyre rules in Friday's free practice. The McLaren team, however, were fined 15,000 euros and ordered to surrender a set of wet tyres they had used. Hamilton, who leads team mate Fernando Alonso by four points with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen a further three behind, said it had been a simple mistake. The race starts tomorrow, Sunday 21st October, at 2.00 pm local time (4.00 pm GMT), and covers 71 laps of the track.

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A selection of threads from our general forum:

Manzanares golf course
Estepona Wifi Hotspots
Polaris World Apartment Shower Cubicles
Property Management in Sucina.
Big Thanks to Sharon W - www.themortgageservicegroup.com
Working from home in Spain
air pet travel
Selling a Property in Spain
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A selection of Spain area guides:

Elche
Almoradi
Sorvilan
La Vall de Laguar
Guevejar
Ogijares
Los Narejos
Las Lomas (Alora)
Villanueva de las Torres
Javea