Stuck in Gibraltar

GIBRALTAR
(Gibraltar Chronicle) A lorry got pinned under a bridge on Line Wall Road as it travelled on Corral Road yesterday afternoon, forcing police to close off the road. An extendable pneumatic grab mounted on the truck hooked one of the bridge’s supporting girders, causing the wheels to lift off the ground and crushing the cabin roof. Police and highways officials did a swift job: the vehicle  was freed in little over an hour. An investigation is currently under way.

Power failure cuts out Gibraltar

GIBRALTAR
(Source: The Gibraltar Chronicle/Brian Reyes / Photo: Gibraltar Chronicle) This will hardly come as news to anyone in Gibraltar yesterday. The Rock came to a standstill when a set of cables burnt out just near the Naval Dockyard entrance. The power outage lasted several hours, causing chaos with telecommunications systems and impacting hard on local businesses. A fault in a cable close to the dockyard area caused all three power stations in Gibraltar to trip on overload, resulting in a Rock-wide blackout. Internet systems went down and the mobile phone network provided only intermittent service.>

Jimena National Dog Show coming up, too!

JIMENA
The 8th edition of Jimena's National Dog Competition takes place on Sunday, May 9, as part of the Feria de Mayo 2010 (see item below). Organized by the Canine Society of Western Andalucía, it is validfor the Championship of Andalucía. There are all sorts of sections in the competition, from Puppies to Breeders. As with the Feria programme, The Translation People will be offering our English-speaking readers a translation of the competition rules and events, so keep an eye on the sidebar on JimenaPulse for the poster.

Jimena May Feria coming up!

JIMENA
Jimena's traditional Feria de Mayo gets under way on May 7 to 9 (weekend after next, already!). Cork loaders' competition, dog show, horse parade and events,  flamenco dancing, music, sherry, all sorts of activities in and around the sports pavilion ... it's all there again this year. The Translation People are kindly translating the programme for you, so keep an eye on the sidebar on JimenaPulse for a link. (Prospero note: This is my favourite feria of the year because it is more 'intimate' than the August one, more of Jimena. I have a feeling everyone thinks the same... Hey, is that me taking a photo in the poster? I take my 'job' seriously, I do!).

200 Portuguese Men o' War sighted near Campo Beaches

Experts from the Junta's Department of the Environment reported yesterday that an analysis carried out last week came up with sightings of a total of more than 200 Portuguese Men 'o War (physalia physalis) in waters off all the beaches in the Campo de Gibraltar. The report also says that these are isolated incidents due to storms coming in from the West (i.e. the Atlantic) in February and March. They have been found in differing numbers on beaches from Sotogrande to Tarifa and beyond to Barbate and Caños de Meca, for instance. It is as well to know what to do if stung by one of these attractive-looking species:>

URGENT! Looking for a home

These five munchkins are looking for a home, urgently (or they'll be put down!). Two males, three females, they were born last Sunday; father is a Spanish Water Dog, mother, Labrador mix. Some are tail-less (thanks to the father), they are all black with white markings. If you can take them in, or know someone who can, please call 609 736 026.

 

EU Parliament debates new epidemiological study for Campo

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR

The European Parliament is today debating the need for a new, integrated epidemiological study for the Campo de Gibraltar that would include Gibraltar. The matter is a response to a petition from the environmental group Verdemar-Ecologistas en Acción signed in 2007 by 13,000 residents of the area. The main reason raised by the environmentalists at the time was the residents' health concerns, as several studies show that the Campo has above average cancer and mortality rate, which they say is owed to pollution from local industries. For her part, the Junta's Health Councillor, María Jesús Montero, said earlier today>

'Please let us smuggle more cigarrettes'

LA LÍNEA

The Asociación Sociocultural de Trabajadores Españoles en Gibraltar has complained that the Guardia Civil is being 'excessive' in their operations at the border with Gibraltar. "Thousands of out of work people in La Línea, who get no, or very few, benefits, should be treated the same as those in Irún and Andorra, where they are more permissive with tobacco," says the organization. They complain that PSOE Deputy Salvador de la Encina "is no longer interested in the subject" and nor is La Línea Mayor Alejandro Sánchez, "to whom the plight of workers in Gibraltar was almost his only subject before he became Mayor."

PP demands explanations about Jimena Music Festival debts

JIMENA

At a meeting last week in Tarifa, the PP's provincial secretary, Teresa Ruiz Sillero, demanded to know, from her PSOE counterpart, Francisco González Cabaña, about the 'extra-judicial' recognition by Jimena Council of a debt owed to Gremio, Animación y Servicios Socioculturales SL for the sum of €239,560, which the company is claiming for organizing the village's International Music Festival in 2005 and 2007. The PP says there is no contract between the parties, and no details, but there is an unfavourable report by the municipal auditor. Threatening to take the matter to the Public Prosecutor, Ruiz Sillero added, "... the money cannot be paid out even though the Mayor, Pascual Collado, insists on recognizing and inexistent debt, when he can't even pay the municipal workers' salaries."

Lessons in faulty English

MADRID

A campaign promoting English language lessons at public schools in Madrid has crashed against correct grammar. Titled 'Yes, We want', adverts appear on local TV, buses and posters throughout the city. But language teachers in the nation's capital insist 'there is something missing'. Correctly, the ads should read Yes, we want (something, in this case, to learn English). David Blundell, Director of Communications at the British Council, says that it is not a good idea to mix English and Spanish for communications ormarketing. (Prospero note: Has anyone mentioned this in Gibraltar?)

Straits drug seizures double

CEUTA

Drug seizures in Ceuta doubled in 2009 compared to 2008, according to a report from the government delegation. The Guardia Civil, which attributes the findings to the recession,, went from seizing 10,876 kilos of hashish in 2008, to 19,700 in 2009, while the Policía Nacional also doubled its operations, arresting 58 people involved in organized drug trafficking. Most operations took place at the port, with checks on passengers and vehicles headed to Algeciras, while a lesser percentage at the frontier with Morocco.

Cannons head for scrapyard

TARIFA / Photo: EuropaSur

The cannons at the disused military coastal battery are being dismantled and broken up, and headed for the scrapyard. Except for one that is going to the Naval Museum in San Fernando. Another two, enormous 380mm monsters at Paloma Alta, are being conserved thanks to an agreement between the Mellaria 'heritage defence' organization and the Ministry of Defence in Madrid. At some point these were the largest cannons in the world and the organization wants to create a theme park around them.

Algeciras - Ronda train service reopens

ALGECIRAS

Work on the railway line between Algeciras and Ronda has finished. Trains are now running between Algeciras and the Bobadilla hub and beyond. Although the Ronda-Bobadilla section has yet to be finalised, this will not impact the service. Aside from replacing timber sleepers and electrifying the line (the last one left in Spain to do so), work has also been carried to reinforce prevention of landslides and improve crossings along the line. The first trains to arrive at Algeciras yesterday morning came from Granada, Madrid and Ronda. The alternative bus routes are now cancelled.

Happy Sant Jordi!

Yes, it's Saint George's Day. In Catalonia it is Sant Jordi, where tradition demands that you give, and receive, a book and a flower, preferably a red rose. Sant Jordi, or Saint George, is also celebrated in Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Macedonia. Cities include Moscow, Genova, Ljubljana, Beirut, Qormi and Victoria (Malta) and many others. It is also celebrated in the old kingdoms and counties of the Crown of Aragon in Spain—Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia.

Ikea opens its third store in Andalucía, in Jerez

JEREZ

The Swedish furniture and household goods comapny, Ikea, yesterday openedits third store in Andalucía, following the ones in Sevilla and Málaga. At 33,000 m2, it is the second largest in Spain and will emply some 300 people in the area. Peter Betzel, who heads Ikea Ibérica, said that Andalucía is an important strategic market. The inauguration included 'cutting a log', a company tradition, followed by a Swedish breakfast for the 250 people present. The first client, a 25 year old man who had camped at the door since Sunday, received a €600 cheque to send in the store.

French film crew interviews Jimena concentration camp survivor

JIMENA
A French film crew visited Jimena last week to interview Joaquín López Morales (c.), who was for several years an inmate at the Joffre de Rivesaltes refugee camp, close to the Spanish border with France. The camp, which was originally built as a military base, also served as a concentration camp for Jews and Gypsies during the Vichy regime and later for Algerians, is to be turned into a museum. Rivesaltes held some 15,000 Republican Spaniards who had fled the fall of Catalonia at the end of the Civil War, among whom was López Morales, born and now resident again in Jimena.

Is this the stupidest commercial ever?

'Looking at it from Spain, it certainly is. It's also an insult to Spain as well as to my, and hopefully your, intelligence.' Our curmudgeonly colleague Alexander Bewick obviously has his dander up of late. Last week he lambasted the inequities of the Spanish judicial 'system' (his inverted commas, not ours), tying it in with Fascism, this time he prawnbastes the famous Jamie Oliver. Actually, we agree that Oliver needs a few lessons in geography, not to mention taste.

Spain helps bring back stranded troops

The UK government is deploying three Royal Navy ships to help bring stranded Britons home, including 500 British soldiers from 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, who are being airlifted by chartered civilian jets from Cyprus to Spain, before sailing to the UK aboard HMS Albion. The ship, due to arrive at Santander on Tuesday morning, may also carry civilians on its return. The Ministry of Defence said most of the soldiers were coming home from Afghanistan. About 150,000 Britons are currently stranded abroad, according to travel agents' association, Abta.

Spanish woman climber in bid for historical record

TIBET

Spanish woman mountain climber, Edurne Pasaban, on Saturday reached the top of mythical Annapurna in the Himalayas, in a bid to be the first woman to make the top of the 14 highest mountains in the world., those over 8000m. The 36-year-old Basque reached the top of the 8,091m mountain alongside several other Spanish climbers, a spokesman for her team told AFP news agency. Only Tibet's daunting 8,027m Shisha Pangma stands between her and a place in climbing history. Her main rival for the honour is South Korea's Oh Eun-sun, who is also on the slopes of her 14th mountain.

Ricardo Tejeiro: 394th Anniversary of Cervantes's death, this week

 

It's a long time since we've published a cartoon by the brilliant Ricardo Tejeiro (and never on CampoPulse). This one has Sancho Panza telling a Quixote (in the shape of Judge Baltasar Garzón), "Be careful, Your Excellency, these are real giants!" Sancho is referring to the arrows and yoke symbol on one of the windmills, and to the Gurtel corruption case. (See more about Garzón and the symbol here.)

Hundreds of Gibraltarians stranded abroad

GIBRALTAR
(Photo: NASA) The volcanic ash cloud passing over Northern Europe has stranded passengers all over the world. In Gibraltar, passengers continued to turn up at the airport ahead of departure times, mostly to make alternative arrangements. Based on the average number of Gibraltarians who fly to the UK and elsewhere, there are some 350 who have been hit by the difficulties to get back home. (Read the whole story on The Gibraltar Chronicle.)

'When the boot is on another foot'

PORTUGAL
(Gibraltar Chronicle) "Residents of the Portuguese border town of Valenca do Minho have decorated streets, balconies and squares with hundreds of Spanish flags and are carrying out public demonstrations to change nationality and be able to form part of the Spanish state. It follows an unpopular move by the Portuguese authorities to order closure of the local health centre as part of a cost cutting exercise affecting medical services to rural areas.The decision has led many of the town’s 15,000 inhabitants to take a five minute trip across the border to the Galician municipality of Tui, where they have obtained free medical assistance. Citizens have continued their protests against the closure of the health centre while expressing their gratitude to the support received from the Galician health service by parading with Spanish flags.>

Could you give a child from the Sahara a happy summer?

Among many other things, the recession means that many families are unable to offer a 'Holiday in Peace' to children from the Saharawi refugee camps of Tindouf and other places. Please see a related JP item here to find out more about these children, and send this item to your friends (click on the little envelope below). If you can help, call 617 503 328 or 600 702 252 or e-mail yustos40@hotmail.com. The programme is desperate to offer these lovely children a chance at a better life, even if only for a month or so. Please help.

A-2100 road open again!

We have been sitting here for a couple of days since we got an e-mail from our 'roving reporter', Wendy Tong, saying "Have heard from a couple of people that the Jimena to Sotogrande road (not sure what it is called) is now open, hurrah! Will be trying it later today." We asked her to confirm, and she followed up with: "Hi Prospero, yes, it is open! Us SIS folk are very happy bunnies today. Wendy." It won't only be the SIS people who are happy about that, of course. Thank you, Wendy! (Update 20.09 hrs.: the photo was sent by Castellar press office, so it's official.)

Readers' question: Where can I find detailed information on winter storms?

Several readers have asked us to help them find detailed 'official' information on rainfall during the many winter storms. Apparently, their insurance companies are refusing payment (anything new there?) unless rainfall was over a certain figure. We have done as much research as possible and have been able to find at least some information on rainfall and wind  (in English, too, though, if your insurance company is Spanish, you'll have to click on the word 'Bienvenido' at the top of the page.) You can get information on anywhere else in Spain, and for any month, via the same site. (Prospero note: If they pay up, we want a donation!!)

Alcohol, drugs and 'precocious sex', a dangerous 'cocktail' among minors

ANDALUCÍA

A recent report by the University of Cádiz's Department of Labour Relations says that "the combination of alcohol, drugs and 'precocious sex' in adolescence, a critical period of development, is a vicious circle." Aggressive behaviour, alcohol, drugs and early sexual activity is a 'cocktail' clearly interrelated, correlated. One thing leads to another, one habit leads to another, and it all leads to a pattern among minors that causes a commonality of "risky behaviour," adds the report, which was carried out among 2000 high school students in Andalucía. It begins by analysing violence and its relationship with drug and alcohol abuse, and ends with sex, correlating over 200 variables. The same people who have early sex, it concludes, are the same as those who drink, take drugs,>

La Línea eyes Gibraltar tourism

GIBRALTAR / LA LÍNEA

Cash-strapped La Línea Council is eyeing Gibraltar's tourism industry by offering shore tours to cruise ship passengers, according to The Gibraltar Chronicle. The council wants to tap a slice of the lucrative market by attracting passengers across the border with tours centred on gastronomy, flamenco and golf, a scheme presented at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention held recently in Miami, the industry’s premier trade event. A new marina is nearing completion and the town has ambitious plans for  a new leisure complex in the border area.

ARCGISA closes 2009 with €4 million loss

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR
The 'public participation' company run from Mancomunidad de Municipios, ARCGISA (Aguas y Residuos del Campo de Gibraltar S.A.), closed its 2009 financial year with a loss of €4,000,000, according to the company's statement. Our readers will have seen the name on their water bills, but the company carries out several different activities throughout the Campo, though not all services in all the municipalities. Headquartered at the Mancomunidad offices in Los Barrios, ARCGISA  carries out the following:>

Straits ferry sent to Mallorca to aid in transferring passengers trapped by volcanic ash cloud

ALGECIRAS
The Captaincy General yesterday announced that is has ordered the immediate transfer of the Milenium II ferry that normally crosses  from Algeciras to Ceuta, to aid the transfer of passengers from Mallorca to Barcelona. The objective is to decongest the airport terminal on the island, where airline passengers have been stuck for almost a week due to the volcanic ash cloud having reached Northern Spain.

DominGo third issue delayed

Blame the Iceland volcano ashes, or the rain, or whatever, but we had scheduled the third issue of our colour supplement for today. However, reality got in the way: Prospero had a (real) job interview that needed a lot of preparation, he had to earn a crust, too, plus the frightening fact that a very good friend had a heart attack. These are some of the reasons why our next issue is delayed. But the cover might give you a good idea about what exciting, interesting, fascinating, awesome things are in preparation. If you can't read the small print (always read the small print!): Who Is Eduardo Noriega?, How Well Do You Know Your Neighbours?, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Orson Welles Slept Here, Too, What's a Casino? A bunch of questions with lots of answers. Watch this space!

How has the ash cloud affected you?

EUROPE
(Photo: www.telegraph.co.uk) We are increasingly hearing horror stories about how local people are being affected by the air transport paralysis throughout not just Europe but the whole world: from those with travel to the UK planned and paid for, to relatives or friends stuck as far away as Australia. Please tell us how the situation has affected you or anyone you know, however unimportant it may seem. (We want some communication from our readers so that everyone can commiserate together...)

Wonderful story emerges from Jimena's History & Archaeology Workshops

The History & Archaeology Workshops are in full swing in Jimena despite the rain, but there is a human story that emerged at yesterday's tribute to the municipality's Favourite Daughter Ángeles Vázquez (photo), who died recently. In one of her books, Vázquez tells of an incident that happened when she was fleeing, on foot, the advancing Nationalist forces on the Carretera de la Muerte (Road of Death) between Málaga and Almería. Exhausted and terrified, the young girl threw herself into a ditch by the side of the road ready to die. Hearing a horse and rider approaching she thought this was the end of her. It turned out that the horseman was a Republican, who scooped her up and took her to safety. Ángeles Vázquez spent the rest of her life trying to find the unknown rider to thank him for saving her life. She never did, although she discovered indirectly that he had died many years ago. But here's the good part.>

Home help employees demo in Jimena

JIMENA
The main square in Jimena was the scene yesterday afternoon of a demonstration by the local staff of home help concessionaire CLECE (see JP item here), supported by representatives of the UGT union's Federation of Public Services, several carers from Castellar and from Jimena Counciol, headed by Mayor Pascual Collado. The demo is a prior step to an 'indefinite' walkout scheduled for April 25. Speaking to one of the demonstrators, we understand that they are principally concerned about their patients. "We have a long list of do's and dont's, including things like not to go shopping for them, not even to speak to them," she said. (We are waiting to get hold of the list, so watch this space.) They are also protesting about unnecessary redundacies and being asked to a lot more work for the same wages, which they say they are receiving late.

'Fascism is alive and well and living in Spain'

So says Alexander Bewick in his most recent explosion of opinion on The Alexander Bewick Soap Box. Falange Española, he says, "is the euphemism used before, during and after the Spanish Civil war for the blueshirt Fascist party of Spain. It still exists as a group, organization or political 'party', whichever you choose to call it. Its members are the ones you see giving the Fascist salute at the kind of commemoration very few wish to remember." Its full title is "a difficult translation at best, particularly when imagining that 'Nacional Sindicalista' could easily have been 'Nacional Socialista' that would very easily be translated to National Socialist, or Nazi." Worth a read, this, to catch up on one of Spain's more shameful -and current- episodes.

Marrache creditors claim over €33 million

GIBRALTAR
Creditors of Marrache & Co. are seeking to recover over €33million from the suspended law firm. A meeting took place recently at the Eliott Hotel, according to The Gibraltar Chronicle, and elected a Committee of Inspection that includes attorneys representing some of the larger creditors. The figure is expected to grow as more creditors emerge. The authorised administrator of all the companies involved in this major fraud investigation, Freddie White, is understood to be planning to pursue a claim against the law firm by the trust companies he now administers.

Have a laugh in Castellar

CASTELLAR
Laughter Therapy sessions are due to begin at the Casa de la Juventud in Castellar next Wednesday, April 21. Anyone interested in taking part must register, free, at the Town Hall from 10am to 3pm. Sessions will be from 5.30 to 7pm but another session will be added after that if warranted. The therapy includes a number of activities aimed at 'awakening the child inside us all', according to the announcement, including body expression, eye contact, self-esteem development, rhythm, music awareness and body awareness, among others. The Council's Department invits everyone to take part and to leave their prejudices at the door.

'Los Alcornocales: Nature Park and Future Development'

JIMENA / LOS ALCORNOCALES
The future of Los Alcornocales Nature Park is to be discussed in a workshop at the Leopoldo de Luis Cultural Centre in Jimena (across the street from the Town Hall)  on April 22, starting at 9.30am under the title of 'Los Alcornocales: Nature Park and Local Development'. Aimed at businesses related to the park, such as tourism and agriculture, as well as to teachers and students, it is part of a progremme of environmental education that is being carried out over several months at Alcalá de los Gazules, Los Barrios and Jimena de la Frontera, all closely related to the park in various aspects of it development and conservation.

Jimena's Music Festival committee: 'Festival will not disappear'

JIMENA
The Organizing Committee of Jimena's International Music Festival, made up of representatives of various local music organizations and the Council, met yesterday to evaluate the Council's recent announcement that this year's edition has been cancelled. Participants at the meeting also received budgetary reports on the previous two festivals. The committee agreed  that the 'Festival will not disappear' and to view this year as one of 'transition', which 'should be used as one of reflection about the Festival's evolution from its beginnings and to redefine its future'. It was also agreed that it is necessary to continue seeking sponsors among public agencies and 'above all, among businesses, which have been cutting back their support over the last few years'. July 2011 is maintained as the date for the Festival's 10th edition. (Note: click here to review the 2009 edition - image.)

Jimena's History & Archaeology Workshops get under way tomorrow evening

JIMENA
The 17th edition of Jimena's History and Archaeology Workshops get under way tomorrow, April 15 at 6.30pm, at the Leopoldo de Luis Cultural Centre in Jimena village (across the street from the Town Hall), with the inauguration of the event. There are a large number of lectures and activities, which you can see in a large version of the poster below or, even larger (and clearer) on this PDF document. Many of the events will be taking place at the old Misericordia church, just below the castle and, among others, the activities include a walk through the Historical Quarter to hear stories, anecdotes and traditions from residents in situ. Also, talks on the Spanish Civil War, the Roman ovens on the Guadiaro River, a walk through Finca Las Limas to visit a prehistoric burial ground.>

La Estrella receives €3000 from 'Solidarity Night'

ALGECIRAS
Elite Sound Room Discotheque, the fashionable night spot of Algeciras, held the second edition of its Elite Solidario on Saturday night. Among various awards handed out by the management, including one to former Spain footballer Adolfo Aldana (photo, r.) for 'using his celebrity to raise funds for a number of organizations' (see JP item here), the evening's fund raising took €3000 for Jimena's La Estrella, the handicapped organization. The cheque was picked up by Antonio Mario, representing La Estrella.

Global warming: Iberian Peinsula warming 50% faster than the rest of Northern Hemisphere

SPAIN
The Iberian Peninsula is warming up to 50% faster than the rest of the Northern Hemisphere and almost three times as fast as the rest of the globe, according to the World Climate Research Centre's Spanish chapter issued yesterday. The organization's report, titled Past, Present and Future, analyses the physical aspects of climate changes and their effect on the plane. It also predicts that by the end of the 21st century, the peninsula will have raised its temperature by 6ºC and have only half the rainfall it has at present. (The full report is available in Spanish at CLIVAR's site -click on link above.)

International School contract rescinded

LA LÍNEA

A private, bilingual International School at Alcaidesa was supposed to open in September last year (photo: EuropaSur) but it was announced last week that the contract with the building company is to be rescinded because it had not been able to find finance for the project "due to the crisis." The matter was taken to a plenary session of La Línea Council for approval because the 14,410 m2 of public land on which the school was to be built had been ceded to the company. Such cession is therefore to be taken back. The original plan was for 300 students in all levels of schooling, a number that was later expanded to close to 1000. Plans included the latest in technology, as well as extensive play and sports areas.

P&O's newest cruise ship docks at Algeciras for final fitting out trials

ALGECIRAS

P&O's new cruise ship, the Azura, docked at Algeciras last week prior to her maiden voyage from Southampton scheduled for tomorrow. Built at the Fincantieri de Monfalcone yards in Italy, the Azura spreads 116.000 tonnes and can host 3.092 passengers. On her maiden voyage she will visit Málaga, Katakolon, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Venice, Korcula and Gibraltar on her way back to Southampton.

European development and agricultural funds to shrink significantly

SPAIN / EUROPE  

European development funds available to Spain, and especially to Andalucía, are expected to drop sharply over the next couple of years, according to financial sources such as building societies, real estate developers and particularly agricultural organizations. Experts predict that 2010 will be the worst yet for banks and building societies; 2011, while bad, will be slightly better for the national financial system, which will only be truly on the mend in 2012. The same is expected for the construction/building/development trade, but adding a couple of years. This takes us to 2014, which is when the new EU financial package is released, to cover the next seven years. The agricultural sector, however, fears a downturn in Common Agricultural Policy budgets, with money going to new EU members in the East and significant changes in policies. Funds for internal development (e.g. infrastructure, investment development, innovation, education and agricultural and fishing development)>

Campo housing prices fall by 8%

(Agencies) Second hand homes in the Campo de Gibraltar area have fallen by between 7.5 and 8.1% year on year, according to the recent figures by the real estate website idealista.com, the most important such site in Spain and considered the benchmark. The figures are above the average for the whole of Andalucía (6.3%) and the province of Cádiz (6.1%). Developers, meanwhile, have dropped the prices of new homes by up to 30% compared to last year's first quarter. The  average price per square metre in the area, by municipality, is as follows:>

British man arrested for domestic violence

LA LÍNEA
(Agencies) The National Police yesterday arrested a British man, T.J.G., 38, for alleged violence against his partner, also British. The woman was found naked from the waist down lying in the street on Avenida España (photo) , bleeding profusely. She reporteD that her partner had hit her several times in theior car and had thrown away her clothes on the road from Manilva. The man, who was found in the car a few meters away from her, was arrested and taken to National Police headquarters in La Línea.

Jimena child found locked in car in La Línea

LA LÍNEA

(Agencies) An eight-year-old boy, resident of Jimena, was found by Local Police inside a locked car in the Mirasierra section of La Línea., in an area unsuitable for parking. When the police approached the car, the boy unlocked the doors and told them his mother had 'gone away with a (male) friend' and he had fallen asleep in the vehicle, a VW Passat. The police waited with the child for over an hour but when the mother failed to return, they took the boy to the National Police station (photo). The mother turned up two hours later, and proceedings against her are now in progress.

Ándalus severs Gibraltar - Madrid connection

GIBRALTAR

The latest airline to try its luck with connecting Gibraltar to Madrid and Barcelona, Ándalus, announced yesterday that it was 'suspending flights indefinitely', as well as those between Girona and Mahón. The announcement came as the Spanish air safety agency AESA announced that it was 'monitoring the airline's activities very closely'. Sources say that Ándalus owes the Gibraltar Government over €110,000 and had debts amounting to approximately €7million. The Spanish airline, of Andalusian capital, tried to fill the gap left by Iberia and GB Airwaves, who pulled out in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Have you checked your speed today?

We often run a speed check on our Internet connection, usually through www.bandwithplace.com and especially when it seems to be slow, like today. There's not a lot one can do about it (except perhaps relax and wait for the US to go to bed...) but it's as well to know what the difference is between 'download speed' and 'upload speed'. The simple answer is: Upload is when you put some of your stuff like music files or picture files from your PC to the internet, while dowload is when you take files from the internet and download into your PC. There is a more thorough answer here.

Spain's piracy epidemic has studios considering no longer selling DVDs there

SPAIN
(Los Angeles Times) As if problems in the U.S. home entertainment market weren't bad enough, with declining sales revenue and continued pressure from low-cost rental services Redbox and Netflix, the major movie studios are close to being overwhelmed by piracy in a second major foreign market. The illicit downloading and streaming of movies in Spain has become so severe, executives say, that it may soon no longer make sense to try to sell DVDs in the country. It would be the second nation where piracy has overwhelmed efforts to legitimately sell DVDs, after South Korea.>