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Latest News from Spain
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21 May 2007
Superjumbo Airbus A380 Touches Down in Spain
The world's biggest plane, the Superjumbo A380, landed in Spain last week for its first official visit. The Airbus landed at the base of the European consortium in Getafe, Madrid after arriving from its base in Toulouse, France. The Airbus, which has been developed by Spain, Britain, France and Germany, has suffered a series of delays. It was due to come into service in the second quarter of 2006 but may not come into commercial service for another 20 months. Singapore Airlines is expected to conduct the first maiden commercial flight next year. It was the first time hundreds of workers at the Getafe plant, which has been one of the bases working on the plane, have got to see it for themselves. Each plane costs 184 million Euros on the commercial market.
Spain to Get Tough on Speeding
The Spanish Government is proposing to toughen up on fines and punishments for speeding drivers in Spain. It wants punishments to be handed out far faster than at present and says it is making the move following the failure of the introduction of the points driving licence to reduce the number of deaths on Spanish roads. As well as swifter punishments, the new highway code being drawn up could see punishments such as six months imprisonment for those caught driving at more than 100 km per hour in urban areas.
Additional Border Controls for Spain
British visitors to Spain could face airport delays next month due to plans by Spanish airport authorities to introduce new US-style entry procedures. Under the new regulations, all British visitors entering Spain from 13th June will have to submit Advance Passenger Information (API). The details required are the full given names, surname, nationality, date of birth and passport number of travellers to the country. Airlines have been told that the information will have to be supplied to Spanish customs authorities before anyone boards an aircraft.
Spanish Railways to Discontinue Paper Tickets in 2008
Renfe Spanish railways have announced that they will stop using paper tickets next year. By then all tickets will be electronic, provided the company gets the support of travel agents. A new computer system has been developed which will allow travellers to purchase electronic tickets for trains via a company web page.
With the expansion of high-speed routes across the country, and the new Madrid to Barcelona high-speed service, travel agencies are expected to sell as many as 80% of the new tickets as passenger numbers are forecast to double.
Spain's Internet Access is Among Most Expensive in Europe
Broadband Internet access in Spain is one of the most expensive in Europe according to a recent study. The Spanish consumer organization OCU examined the cost of broadband access in eight European countries, Britain, France the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Italy and Spain. In all these countries, according to the report, it is possible to get Internet packages cheaper and with higher speeds than in Spain.
White Wolves Born in Madrid Zoo
Three white Mackenzie Valley wolves have been born in Madrid Zoo. The pups, born on 7th May, each weighed about 600g and have been gaining weight rapidly since then. The wolves arrived at Madrid Zoo last December and such a rapid birth means the animals have adapted particularly well to their new environment.
Lemurs Born at Fuengirola Zoo
Three ring-tailed lemurs have been born in Fuengirola Zoo. It's the third consecutive year the zoo has successfully bred the species in captivity. The lemur catta is only found on the island of Madagascar, where its habitat is under threat of destruction. The new baby lemurs can be seen on guided visits around the zoo’s own recreated island of Madagascar.
Bar Owner Jailed for 4 Years for Noise Pollution
The Supreme Court has condemned a bar owner in Barcelona to four years in jail for noise pollution. The court also said the man should have also been condemned for the offence of injuring his neighbours, the owner had appealed against an earlier decision but this was rejected, he was convicted for an offence against ‘natural resources and the environment’. He must pay four neighbours compensation of between -6,000 and 10,000 Euros for damaging their mental health and personal intimacy. The court said the restaurant owner was aware of the damage the noise was doing to the lives of the neighbours and their health, a lower court in Barcelona said he did nothing to stop the noise pollution.
New Owner Finds Mummified Body of Previous Owner in House
It came as a shock to Gordi Giro, the man making his first visit to a home he bought in an auction in Spain, to discover the former owner’s mummified body sitting on the living room couch, Giro was horrified to find the body of Maria Luisa Zamora, who died of "natural" causes in 2001. Evidently Zamora's body mummified instead of rotting because of the seaside salt air found in Roses in northeast Catalonia region and also because of the lack of oxygen in the room. Zamora, who is estimated to be in her 50s and separated from her husband and children in Madrid, and no one had reported her missing. The new owner acquired the home last week.
Andalucian Scientists Create Spain's Largest Seismic and GPS Station Network
Andalucian scientists are taking part in a research project called Geociencias en Iberia: integrated studies on topography and 4D assessment. Topo-Iberia’s aim is to create Spain’s largest seismic and GPS station network, this initiative, which will involve over 103 research doctors from ten different Spanish teams, it will allow them to get better models of the lithosphere structure from natural seismicity, by creating an unprecedented large reliable database and quantifying the current seismic movements in the Iberian Peninsula. In order to carry out this research project, last year the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science subsidized it with a 4.5 million Euros grant. The Andalucian groups involved in the project belong to the universities of Jaen, Cadiz and Pablo Olavide, and will be coordinated by the head of the Geodynamics Department of the University of Granada, Dr. Francisco Gonzalez Lodeiro.
This project implies the display of a temporary broad band seismic network without precedent in Spain; it will consist of a minimum of 80 seismic stations about 50-60 km away from each other, which will give simultaneous homogeneous coverage to different regions. In addition to this, Topo-Iberia will create Spain’s largest GPS network ever, the real novelty of this project is that it provides an integrated analysis of the influence of superficial and deep processes, like other international top projects as TopoEurope/EuroArray in Europe and the Earthscope programme in the USA.
Grand Commercial Centre for San Roque
San Roque is to have a major commercial centre by 2010. The centre, to be located between the town and Taraguilla-Miraflores, covering an area of 150,000 square metres, will be developed by a German company 'San Roque Shopping Centre’. The centre will combine leisure as well as commercial enterprises, having some 200 retail outlets along with a cinema complex, bars and restaurants, and parking for 3,800 cars. The Mayor of San Roque, Jose Antonio Ledesma, commented that projects like this aren’t presented everyday, and that this centre is particularly important as it will complement the area's tourist industry and provide an alternative source of income for its population. The developer's representative, Jurn-Hinnerk Fauteck, said "We are not going to build a standard commercial centre, but plan to make it the best for hundreds of kilometres".
Alhambra Needs More Support in Bid to be New Wonder of World
The Alhambra Palace in Granada needs more support over the next two months to push it up into the top seven from its current position of twelfth of twenty-one. The Alhambra has already received votes from the King and Queen of Spain, the Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and the Minister of Culture, Carmen Calvo, among others.
The pyramids of Giza in Egypt are the only survivors of the original seven ancient wonders of the world. The results will be announced at a ceremony in Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz on 7th July. So far around 40 million votes have been cast by telephone, text or internet with the New Seven Wonders Foundation which is receiving an average of 100,000 votes a day.
Malaga's Festival of Tapas
The tenth edition of the Festival de la Tapa will take place at the Plaza de la Marina in Malaga between 20th - 24th June. The festival is a celebration of the tapas of Andalucia which promises to surprise the visitor with new delights.
Feriacon 2007
The third edition of the Feria Andaluza de la Construccion (Andalucian Construction Fair) takes place at La Trocha, Coin this weekend, 17th to 20th May. It will feature construction businesses, promoters, estate agents, restoration businesses etc. Up to 100 exhibitors are expected to attend.
Alora's New Replica Castle Arch Arrives
The replica of the castle arch for Alora's new roundabout has arrived from China. The arch will be installed at on the new Fuente de la Mania roundabout when the work is finished. The 24,500 kilograms of yellow rock granite, which arrived in prefabricated pieces, travelled from the port of Shanghai to Valencia in 24 days and from there to Alora in two trailer trucks.
Pizarra - Zalea Road Re-opened
Pizarra and Zalea are connected once again now works to the main road between the two villages has completed. The road was cut off for three months to enable work on the expansion of a bridge.
Malaga 3 - 2 Vecindario
Malaga moved four points clear of the bottom four after coming from two goals down at half time to beat Vecindario 3-2. Malaga's next game is away to Tenerife on Sunday 20th May, kick off at 5.30 pm.
Joy for Andalusia at UEFA Cup Final
Tens of thousands of Sevilla fans celebrated through the night after their team beat Espanyol in a penalty shootout for its second consecutive UEFA Cup title, fans chanted ''It's Andres' cup'' in Seville's Puerta de Jerez square after goalkeeper Andres Palop stopped three penalty kicks at the final Wednesday night in Glasgow, Scotland. ''We're living the club's best moment in history,'' Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido said. The teams were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 following 30 minutes of extra time before Palop saved penalties from Luis Garcia, Jonatas and Marc Torrejon at Hampden Park. Sevilla is still in contention for the treble, which would be unprecedented in Spanish soccer.
This news was written and contributed by 1Casa.
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