Spanish news - Spain news from 1Casa 24 November 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.

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.

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24 November 2007

Santander Books 860 Million Euros in Capital Gains from its Spain Office Disposals

Banco Santander said the capital gains came from the sale of its 1,152 offices in Spain for 2,040 billion euros, the offices were acquired by Drago Real Estate Partners, Sun Capital Partners and UK insurer Pearl Group, in a statement, Santander said it will lease-back the properties for 45-47 years, retaining purchase option rights.

Second Double Hand Transplant in Spain

A Spanish surgeon has carried out his second hand/forearm transplant in a Valencia hospital. Surgeon, Pedro Cavadas, who carried out the first transplant at the end of last year, which was the first worldwide on a woman, said the patient was progressing well and could be discharged from hospital next week to start rehabilitation. The arms of the donor were joined on the patient's left arm up to the elbow and on his right up to the middle third of his forearm. The operation was performed on a 29-year-old man who lost both his hands and part of both forearms in a grenade explosion. The patient has not been named in order to avoid media attention.

'Shut Up' Chavez Ringtone a Hit across Spain

The king of Spain's recent outburst at Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, has become a ringtone hit in Spain. At least 500,000 people have downloaded the insult featuring the words "Why don't you shut up?" King Juan Carlos told Chavez to shut up after he kept interrupting a speech given by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, at a summit in Chile last week.

Heavy Rain in Andalucia

This week has seen some heavy rain in Andalucia with the provinces of Sevilla and Cadiz particularly affected, in Sevilla the rain caused the flooding of homes in some areas and large traffic jams of up to 40 kms around the city. Rain is still affecting parts of the province this weekend.

Spain Distant in Kyoto Objectives

Spain is currently the European country farthest behind in the Kyoto objectives on the control of greenhouse gases. Between 1990 and 2005, Spain has increased the emission of such gases by over 53%, a symptom of the massive economic growth. Sweden is the country which is best meeting the Kyoto guidelines, and after that only the UK, France and Finland and have shown any significant progress. The figures come from United Nations data which was presented this week in Bonn.

Malaga-Madrid High Speed Train Service First Day Tickets on Sale

Tickets are now on sale on the Renfe website for the first day of the new AVE high speed link between Malaga and Madrid on the 24th December. There will be nine trains in service on the first day, with the basic one-way online price of 75 euros 50 cents. Two of the six daily services in operation until the end of the year are direct and will reach Madrid in two and a half hours.

Last week, an AVE test train reached 330 km/hour for the first time on the new section of line between Malaga and Antequera where the Railway Infrastructure Administrator ADIF, has said that the line is now 99% complete.

New Motorway Between Ronda and the Coast

By 2012 there will be a new motorway between Ronda and San Pedro Alcantara. The new 33km road will reduce travelling time from 50 to 22 minutes. It will have 26 viaducts and a tunnel that will cost 350 million euros, this is shared between various administrations.

Benalmadena Butterfly Park

Benalmadena will have a new attraction next year, the largest butter collection in Europe. The project began last June in the Retamar area next to the Buddhist retreat and will occupy more than 1,500 square metres. It will house some 150 species of exotic butterflies from all the tropical areas of the world totalling 2,000 examples. The area housing the butterflies will attempt to reproduce a tropical forest which will be maintained through sophisticated systems according to the promoters, the butterflies will be free-flying around the visitors.

Prison Sentences to be Imposed on Bad Drivers

It has been reported this week that the Penal Code in Spain has been altered to allow those driving at more than 60kms/hour over the urban speed limit, or 80 kms/hour over the motorway speed limit, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or without a licence, will now for the first time, face a prison sentence.

Furthermore, the Road Safety Prosecutor in Spain said that there are more drivers on drugs than those under the influence of alcohol. He based his statement on trial period of random testing of drivers which has been taking place in Cataluna, but he says he is confident that the data would be equivalent across the country.

Initial Plan for Road Link Between Andalucia and the Rest of Spain Approved

The Ministry of Public Works has approved initial plans for improved connections between southern Spain and the rest of the country via the pass of Despenaperros. The new 9.4 kilometre stretch of road, with three lanes in each direction, will run between Venta de Cardenas (Ciudad Real) and Santa Elena (Jaen).

No New Michelin 3 Star Restaurants for Spain

Spain's gastronomy has fared poorly in the new 2008 edition of the Michelin Guide with no restaurants with a three star status being awarded. Ten restaurants already had two stars and there was one new 2 star given, 15 establishments have one star. There are fifteen new additions to the one star eateries although ten lost their single star. It comes as a disappointment for Spanish cuisine where three new three star restaurants had been forecast this year. Earlier this year El Bulli was voted best restaurant in the world for the second consecutive year.

New Marina Proposed in Malaga

The governing team at Malaga City Hall is expected to approve a viability report on the building a new marina in El Morlaco, between Banos del Carmen and La Caleta. The project is included in the town's General Urban Plan but would still need authorisation from the Andalucia Public Ports Authority. The marina would include 544 mooring points and a sailing school, with a 35,000 square metre park also forming part of the project, together with a centre for marine investigation and commercial premises.

Spain's National Anthem Lyrics

A newspaper report this week said that the Spanish National Anthem's new lyrics, chosen by the Spanish Olympic Committee, will be performed for the first time on 21st January 2008 by Placido Domingo.

Spain Hopes to Celebrate Success with the 2016 Olympic Games

Winning the right to hold the 2016 Olympic Games would be the perfect way to celebrate the sporting achievements of a new generation of Spanish sportsmen says sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky, "Spain is enjoying great success in collective sports like basketball, volleyball, hockey and water polo," Lissavetzky told Reuters in an interview. "We have a series of emerging figures in motorsport like Fernando Alonso, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo.

"In tennis we've got Nadal, the world number two who has made a huge impact in the media, and we've got three players in the top 10, we are successful at European level in athletics and we've had the last two winners of the Tour de France in Oscar Pereiro and Alberto Contador. "In football the national team seems to be improving too, the clubs are amongst the best in Europe and of course football is still the king of sports in Spain.

"We just need that icing on the cake of Spain winning or getting to the final of a big tournament." Spain has won 72 percent of all its Olympic medals at the last four summer Games and the country's Olympic Committee (COE) believes they could exceed the record haul of 22 they achieved at Barcelona in 1992 when they compete in Beijing next year. "Our whole strategy is designed to ensure that the Beijing Olympics are the best in the history of Spanish sport," he said.

Coin Train Proposal

Coin is attempting to bring back the train which ran between Malaga and the town until 1965. The route passed through Alhaurin de la Torre cut was taken out of service due to the availability of cars, buses and improved roads. Land has been reserved for the project in the General Plan of Urban Development (PGOU). The final decision lies with the Junta de Andalucia but it is hoped this project will restore connections with Malaga for both passengers and merchandise.

Vias Verdes Sustainable Tourism

Old railway lines throughout Spain are being converted to green ways for the enjoyment of cyclists and walkers. Nature tourism has grown over recent years, with many tourists opting for the peace and tranquillity of the countryside rather than the attractions of the beaches and cities. More information regarding these green ways can be found on the website www.viasverdes.com which includes English translations.

Malaga Football

Malaga stay on top of the second division after a 4 - 2 win at home against Ferrol. Their next game is this Sunday (25th November) away to Real Sociedad; kick off at 7.00 pm. Malaga's next home game is on 2nd December when they play Celta Vigo.

Ronaldo and Zidane Match Against Poverty in Malaga

It was a 2 - 2 draw in Malaga last weekend as 30,000 spectators turned out at the La Rosaleda stadium to support the ‘Partido contra la Pobreza’ – the game against poverty. The two teams were each led by Ronaldo and Zidane. Among the players were the Bulgarian player Stoichkov, golfer Sergio Garcia as well as ex-motor racing champion, Michael Schumacher. Pierluigi Collina of Italy came out of retirement to referee the match. The money raised will go to several projects against poverty organised by the United Nations Development Agency.

Next America's Cup Delayed until 2011 Due to Legal Fight

The organizers of the 33rd America's Cup, which was due to be held in Valencia in 2009, have decided to delay the competition until 2011, the decision comes in the light of legal action by the US team BMW Oracle against current cup holder Alinghi, of Switzerland, on the basis that it has chosen an illegitimate yacht club as lead challenger for the next event. The action is based on a claim that the Valencia yacht club does not meet the terms of the competition as a legitimate venue.

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