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Spain News Archive - May 2009

Spain May 30th. Spanish resort bans sex on the beach. New bylaws introduced in Tossa de Mar near Girona have banned sex on the beach. Those caught face a 400€ to 1,800€ fine from Monday. Many youngsters, and those not so young, are protesting against the new regulations which they consider to be exaggerated, and which also ban alcohol and stag night parties on the sand. Protests are being organised over the internet, and some local buildings now show graffiti which says in English ‘Sex on the beach’.

Spain May 29th. Basques, the least inhibited of Spanish bathers. 7 out of 10 Spanish men say they have no problem taking their clothes off. The majority of Spanish men seem to have no problem in getting their kit off, with a survey reported by Públic newspaper showing that 7 out of 10 would be quite happy to go nude on the beach. And men over 50 are said to be the most frequent visitors to nudist beaches. The least inhibited are the Basques, it appears, but most Valencianos would prefer to keep their swimwear on.

Spain May 28th. 571 Blue Flags for Spanish ports and beaches. The coveted Blue Flags will be flying on almost 500 Spanish beaches this year, keeping Spain in its first position among 34 countries, El Mundo reports. 78 Spanish ports also receive the distinction from the Foundation for Environmental Education. The awards announced by the FEE on Wednesday give Spain 44 more flags than last year, and Galicia leads the field with 124, 19 more than the region had in 2008. Andalucía gains another 24, but Murcia and Cataluña lose 7 and 4 respectively. Cantabria, on the other hand, loses the only two Blue Flags it had in 2008. José R. Sánchez, president of the ADEAC Consumers and Environmental. Meanwhile there is consternation in Benidorm where the famous Levante beach has lost its blue flag, because analysis of the water ‘was not ideal’.

Málaga May 27th. New trains arrive on Málaga's local lines. RENFE has this week started to introduce the new 'Civia' model on the line to Fuengirola. Users of the cercanías local train line between Málaga and Fuengirola are in for a pleasant surprise as RENFE Spanish Railways has this week introduced its new ‘Civia’ model. Two of the units are now in service and a third will arrive in the summer. By the end of the year five Civias will be in service. The new trains have a top speed of 120 kms/hour, and have a larger capacity at 600, of which 227 are seated.

Alicante May 26th. Jellyfish hit the beach in Alicante. Sunday was a painful day for many bathers on El Postiguet Beach in Alicante, where a total of 33 swimmers were treated for jellyfish stings. Alicante City Hall decided to raise the warning flag late on Sunday afternoon, when Red Cross personnel advised them that 10 people had been stung in the preceding hour, after treating an initial 25 people throughout the day. None of the cases were serious, but the Red Cross described such high numbers as out of the ordinary, particularly in the month of May. In Cataluña  there is an agreement with fishing guilds to capture the jellyfish before they reach the region’s beaches. They are paid one euro for every 1.5 kilos of jellyfish caught.

Madrid May 25th. Anti-bullfighting protest at Las Ventas. Anti-bullfighting protestors have stripped off to their black boxer shorts again, this time outside the Madrid bullring at Las Ventas. Covered with artificial blood, they put themselves in the place of the bull, and demanded action from the politicians to reflect that the Spanish people no longer wanted to continue with ‘such a cruel and barbaric culture’. Speaking to Europa Press TV, the spokesperson for Equanimal who organised the protest, Rafael Boro, said they had chosen Las Ventas as thousands of bulls are killed there each year. The protest comes during the San Isidro bullfights, one of the few profitable bullfighting fiestas currently held in the country. Equanimal claim that the other fights only survive thanks to public grants and aid. ‘Open your eyes and put yourself in the animal’s place’, they say.

Spain May 24th. Extreme pollen levels in Andalucia. Pollen levels have reached extreme in parts of Andalucia where the Alergosur agency says that as many as 5,000 grains of pollen per cubic metre of air have been recorded in Jaén, the Spanish province which contains as many as 60 million olive trees. However this coming week levels could even double that, according to the experts in Jaén. Many who suffer hayfever do so with levels as low as 400 grains of pollen per cubic metre. The olive blossom has been more intense this year because of abundant winter rainfall, and already emergency service are reporting a 20% spike in demand compared to other years. 9,000 workers across Jaén province are thought to be off work as a consequence, and at least 30 school children have been moved to the coast at Motril to escape such high levels.

Spain May 23rd. Spain bans phone spam. The Spanish cabinet has approved a new Letter of Rights for telecommunications users. The regulations, approved on Friday in Madrid, prohibit the sending of spam by mobile phone and include automatic compensation for both mobile, fixed line and internet users when any loss of service is for more than six hours between 8am and 10pm. Deputy Prime Minister, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, said the new legislation added 20 new items to those rights already in existence.

Spain May 22nd. 'World's oldest blogger' dies in Spain at 97.The woman named as the world’s oldest blogger, 97 year old, Maria Amelia López, has died in Muxía, A Coruña. She came to fame two years ago when her grandson introduced her to the internet and since then she made frequent comments about life and politics from a pensioner’s point of view. Her blog saw close to 1.5 million visits from five continents, and in 2007 she was awarded the BoB prize, one the best known for bloggers. Even the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, gave her a party badge at their offices in Galicia, in to her efforts.

Spain May 21st. Marbella wants Malaya paintings returned to the town. Marbella Ayuntamiento has asked for the works of art seized in the Operation Malaya corruption case to be returned to the town of Marbella. The Town Hall said in a press release on Wednesday that Félix Romero, spokesman for the governing team, has invited the Junta de Andalucía to study how the Town Hall can assist the regional museums directorate in the conservation of the paintings seized. It comes after the news on Wednesday that there is no room in the museums of Andalucía for the 1,200 paintings. As Félix Romero says in the release, ‘It would be a shame if, simply for lack of space, assets allegedly stolen from the town of Marbella were to go to ruin’.

Spain May 20th. Confusion on the first day of car discount scheme in Spain. The Spanish Government’s new 2,000€ help for those purchasing new cars, provided they handed in their previous model which must be more than ten years old, got off to a confused start on Monday. The objective of the plan is to increase new car sales by 15%, but the first day of operation saw a normal number of clients in the salesrooms and salesmen who did not know the details of the offer. Several Party Popular controlled regions of the country have declined to put up the 500€ per sale requested of them, taking the help on offer down to 1,500€. Consumers group FACUA has advised the public not to make any hasty purchase and notes that car prices can vary by as much as 3,600€ between different dealers already. The Government says it will support the sale of 200,000 vehicles or keep the plan in place for a year, whichever runs out sooner. There is also help for commercial vehicles upto a weight of 3.5 tonnes.

Alicante May 19th. Passenger and air traffic down at El Altet. Passenger traffic is more than 6% down at Alicante’s El Altet Airport, according to figures for April quoted by EFE on Monday. The greatest number of passengers came from the UK, but the more than 350,000 people who travelled to Alicante from Britain were still 6.1% fewer than those who did so in April last year. While representing a much smaller group, almost double the percentage of Germans chose to stay away from Alicante this April. The news agency says the number of flights at the airport have also reduced, down by more than 10% compared with April of 2007. The numbers are said to be a reflection of a generalised decrease in the air traffic sector, and also show El Altet’s air traffic to have dropped by more than 15% for the first quarter of 2009. Ryanair flights however were up by 34% on 2008, compared to other companies which saw a reduction in their number of flights.

Madrid May 18th. Supermarket salesman selling strawberries on his bike. A British ASDA supermarket salesman, Andy Jackson, has started a 1,800 mile, 2,897 kilómeter, bicycle trip to promote strawberries from Huelva. He plans to travel the distance from Almonte to Arbroath in Scotland in 20 days and left Huelva on Saturday. A doctor a physiotherapist will follow him in a caravan behind and he hopes to raise a million pounds as part of the ASDA Pedal Power project which is supporting 270 local cycle clubs in the U.K. Andy says he hopes to be in Scotland in time for the start of the strawberry eating season there – he has some in his saddlebag sponsored by Onubafruit from Huelva, the largest strawberry company in Europe.

Madrid May 17th. Rafa Nadal through to the Madrid semi-finals. Fernando Verdasco was once again beaten by the World Number One. Fernando Verdasco could not take advantage of a 4-0 lead against Rafa Nadal in the second set of their quarter final match in Madrid on Friday, going out of the Masters 1000 tournament, 6-4 7-5. It means that Nadal meets Djokovic in the semi finals. It will be the fourth time the two have met on clay this year.

Madrid & Barcelona May 16th. Drugs in the air in Madrid and Barcelona. Researches have found minute traces of cocaine, heroin and cannabis in the air of the two Spanish cities. The story has obtained wide coverage around the world, after scientists tested the air in Madrid and Barcelona for drugs and found traces of five, with cocaine the highest. The experiment was carried out by researchers from the CSIC, the Superior Council for Scientific Investigation, with the Catalan Institute for Research into Water and CIEMAT, the Centre for Technological, Environmental and Energy Research. Tests across several points of the two cities concluded that the air contains cocaine, heroin and cannabis. Two years ago CSIC researchers announced they had found cocaine and heroin in many rivers across Spain.

Costa Blanca May 15th. Spanish King and Queen celebrate 47 years of marriage. The royal couple were joined in marriage in three separate ceremonies in 1962: Catholic, Orthodox and civil. The Spanish King and Queen are approaching a landmark date, just three years away from their Golden Wedding. The royal couple celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary this Thursday. Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía first met in 1954 on a cruise aboard the ‘Agamemnon’, organised by Queen Frederica of Greece, mother to the 15 year old Princess Sofía. The future king, 16 at the time, was there with other young royals of Europe, but once admitted years later that the young princess did not catch his eye on that occasion.

Costa Blanca May 14th. TUI tour operator notes fall in British tourists on Costa Blanca. The fall in the value of the pound is being blamed for a 50% reduction in the time that British tourists are spending on the Costa Blanca this year. The TUI tour operator says that most Britons are now buying seven or ten day breaks, compared to the previous traditional fortnight, and they say the weakness of the pound is to blame. The reductions are being seen despite an advertising campaign from the Costa Blanca tourist board, which has contracted space on as many as 500 buses across the U.K. The campaign which describes the Costa Blanca as ‘Your Space’ is being run in the cities of Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leister, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield.

Málaga May 13th. Pollen levels in Andalucía set to soar in the next two weeks. Hayfever sufferers in Andalucia are about to face what is expected to be the worst two weeks for them in the last decade. Olive and grass pollen levels are showing very high levels following a winter with plenty of rainfall. Similar weather conditions in 1996 saw a 500 percent increase in pollen levels in Málaga, and experts agree that such levels are expected to be reached over the next two weeks. According to the Spanish Allergy Society, half of Spaniards suffer an allergy in some form. They advise closing the windows of your home, especially before going to bed.

Córdoba May 12th. The famous patios of Córdoba are open to the public. Visitors to Córdoba have a unique opportunity this month, where patios in the historic centre of the city are opened up to the public in the annual Festival de Patios Cordobeses. It’s the one occasion in the year when members of the public get the chance to enter the private courtyards of Córdoba, filled with beautiful hanging plants and flowers in full bloom. The patios are open until 17th May, with homeowners vying for one of the prizes on offer in a competition which dates to the early years of the 20th century.

Madrid May 11th. Morning drinkers finding the bar closed in Madrid. Hundreds of bars in Madrid have decided to stop serving alcohol in the mornings, fed up with revellers who have been up all night bothering their breakfast customers. Reports indicate that most bar owners who have taken the step have seen how the demand for morning alcohol moves elsewhere in a matter of a few weeks.

Madrid May 10th. Record Euromillions lottery ticket sold in Madrid. A Spaniard has won a record win in the Euromillions lottery - 126 million Euros. The draw was held on Friday in France and the ticket sold in Spain was the only one with the winning combination of 4-23-24-29-31- stars 8 and 9. The state lottery organisation says that the ticket, with five lines and costing 10€ was sold in Calle Alcalá 39 in Madrid. It beats the previous record Euromillions win, an Irish woman who picked up 115 million Euros in July 2005. With the 126 million, the lucky Spaniard could purchase two A320 Airbus planes, if he wished.

Barcelona May 9th. 35th Barcelona Motor Show. The 35th Barcelona Motor Show gets underway today, and despite the economic climate the show this year boasts more manufacturers than ever; 55 are in attendance, 11 more than last year. One of the main attractions is the new Audi Q3 prototype which will eventually be made at the plant in Martorell. Fiat launches the Barbie 500 and Opel the Insignia OPC. Seat brings the Ibiza FR and the León Cupra range. The Tata Nano Europa, described as the cheapest car in the world, is on show in Barcelona. With 33 horse power it can reach 150 kms/ hour and has a double airbag, ABS brakes and an electronic stabiliser as series. Made in India by Tata Motors it will cost you less than 4,000€ but will not appear on the Spanish market until 2011. The motor show continues until May 17th. Web site

Spain May 8th. 32 million dollars for five Picasso's. Christie’s auction house in Manhattan on Wednesday sold five works by the Málaga painter, Pablo Picasso, for more than 32 million dollars. The most expensive work in the private collection of film director, Julian Schnabel, was ‘Mousquetaire à la pipe’ which went for more than 14.6 million dollars. The painting, dating from 1968, shows a musketeer as an inoffensive and agreeable man, but was expected to make slightly more than it did.

Barcelona May 7th. Barcelona make the final of the Champions League. Barcelona had a mere single shot on target during the entire second leg match in the Champions League Semi Final at Stamford Bridge last night, but the powerful shot from Andrés Iniesta in injury time found the back of the net and takes Barça into the final against Manchester United in Rome.

Spain May 6th. Spain more affected by climate change than any other EU country. Spain is more affected by climate change than any other country in the European Union, according to information from Greenpeace on Tuesday. The ecological organisation said in their report presented on the occasion of their 25th anniversary in Spain, that evidence of climate change in Spain shows the need for urgent action to prevent any further global warming. Greenpeace said Spain will be affected by average temperature increases of 1.5 degrees, which is more than double the global average. According to their report, sea levels are rising by 3mm every year, the Pyrenees glaciers have lost 88% of their mass in the past 100 years, and the wetlands and lagoons are more and more under threat as they deteriorate even further.

Spain May 5th. First compensation awarded to gay victim of Franco years. Antoni Ruiz from Valencia is to become the first gay victim of the Franco era to receive compensation from the state. He spent 94 days in prison in the mid-1970s after, as a homosexual, he was considered to present a danger to society. His 4,000€ compensation comes via the Committee for Compensation to Ex Social Prisoners, created under the Tax and Economy Ministry this March, and is granted to those who can prove they were incarcerated as a homosexual either under the 1954 delinquency and criminals law or a later law from 1970 which regarded homosexuals as a danger to society. The time served must be longer than one month in order to receive any compensation. The Association for Ex Social Prisoners thanked all those whose support has allowed ‘these people, 30 years after homosexuality was decriminalised in Spain, to at last see returned the dignity they so shamefully lost and to now have their place in history’.

Spain May 4th. Number of confirmed swine flu cases in Spain rises to 44. 24 new confirmed cases of swine flu in Spain have taken the number of people affected here to 44, making it the fourth country for the number of infections in the world where the World Health Organisation says there are now 898 cases. Of the 44 cases in Spain at least 34 have been allowed home from hospital. Of the new cases, one in Aragón had previously tested negative for the A(H1N1) virus. There are now 11 confirmed cases in Andalucía, all in people aged between 21 and 28, and they add to the 14 more in Cataluña, 7 in Valencia, 4 in Madrid, 4 in Castilla-La Mancha, 1 in Galicia, 1 in the Basque Country, 1 in Murcia and another in Aragón. A suspected case in Ceuta, if confirmed, would become the first case of the flu in North Africa.

Spain May 3rd. Love turns to hate between Muñoz and Pantoja. The diva told the ex Mayor of Marbella to move out by fax, but he says he's going nowhere. The Spanish Prensa Rosa gossip press are waiting to see what will happen between diva Isabel Pantoja and the ex Mayor of Marbella, Julián Muñoz, also now considered to be the singer’s ex. According to reports Pantoja sent a fax to Muñoz a month ago, giving him a month to remove his things from her Marbella home ‘Mi Gitana’. The fax also asked him to stop using her four wheel drive vehicle. However Muñoz has shown no intentions of going anywhere and some reports say that he says the Marbella property is his home and he will not leave by the back door. He says that he will only leave if told to by a judge saying that he has lived there with Pantoja since 2003 until he was sent to jail, and she headed to her other home in Madrid. 20minutos reports that Pantoja broke off with the ex Mayor by giving the news first to Hola! Magazine.

Spain May 2nd. Cruz and Nadal make the Time Top 100. Penélope Cruz and Rafael Nadal have been named as the two most influential Spaniards by Time magazine. The two appear in the magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people on the planet, but some of their company may surprise, with both Bernard Madoff and the creators of Twitter included. Meanwhile Nadal, who is honoured by Time for his ‘strength, honour and tenacity, has moved on to the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters where he will meet fellow Spaniard, Fernando Verdasco.

Spain May 1st. Two thirds of the newly unemployed in the Eurozone are in Spain. Spain is ‘producing’ two thirds of the newly unemployed in the Euro zone, according to the latest data. The total number of unemployed in the Eurozone is now 14.15 million, of which 4 million are in Spain where the rate is double the union average. The numbers from Eurostat show that over the past year the number of unemployed in the Eurozone increased by 2.82 million, of which two thirds, 1.8 million correspond to Spain.

April 2009

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