William Hill Online to move to Gibraltar

GIBRALTAR
(Press release) William Hill PLC   announces that William Hill Online is to establish a new Telephone betting operation based in Gibraltar. At the same time, the Group’s Telephone betting subsidiary, William Hill Credit Limited (WHCL), will close its operation in the UK. William Hill Online, together with an outsourced service provider, Vertex, a leading global BPO and Customer Management Outsourcer, will continue to service all William Hill Telephone customers. It is proposed that Vertex will take over the Sheffield-based call centre currently run by WHCL and that William Hill Online will also manage customers from Gibraltar.>

Busy week for Royal Gibraltar Police

GIBRALTAR
A Gibraltar woman is in hospital after she was stabbed in Laguna estate yesterday evening. The 31-year-old sustained serious injuries but is in a stable condition. A local man was arrested by police shortly after the incident and continues in police cells pending possible charges. Neighbours say the woman was stabbed in the abdomen and there were clear signs of bleeding at the scene. Scenes of Crime officers were deployed. Police investigating the death of another woman, aged in her 50s, on Cumberland Road have arrested a man on suspicion of murder. The man, a UK national also in his 50s, had not been charged as this edition went to press. A police spokesman confirmed the arrest but no further details were released. Other major incidents include the arrest of a Spanish national for holding up a Main Street jewelry shop at gunpoint.

La Línea Mayor 'marches' to Algeciras

LA LÍNEA

(Agencies/Photo: EuropaSur)  The Mayor of La Línea, Alejandro Sánchez (PP), and members of his Council, took off on foot this morning from the Gibraltar frontier to the State General Administration offices in Algeciras. (In fact, he and his team were to be picked up by bus at Campamento...) The aim is to protest about what he says is neglect for his municipality, with over 10,000 unemployed, from the Zapatero central government. The manifesto he is to read at the doors of the state offices will undoubtedly mention that La Línea 'is owed some €25million since 2004'. However, Sánchez is unlikely to mention that the municipality has received €110million since that year, 'more than any comparable municipality of its size', according to PSOE Deputy Salvador de la Encina at a press conference yesterday.

Body found by divers

TARIFA
A group of divers found a body under water this afternoon, in the Isla de Tarifa area. Authorities have confirmed that it belongs to the 42 year old fisherman from Málaga who disappeared on Sunday and had been sought by the special Guardia Civil diving unit since then. It was this unit that was called out when the sports divers reported having found the body at about 2pm today. The body was taken to the morgue for autopsy and final identification.

One charger fits all, from 2011

EUROPE
From the begining of 2011 all mobile phones sold in the European Union must have a universal charger, according to an European Commission press release dated today. "Technical details guaranteeing compatibility and security for new chargers are advancing rapidly," it said. The multiplicity of chargers among the large number of manufacturers is not only confusing to the customer but also creates unnecessary electronic residue. The main manufacturers, including Nokia, Sony-Ericsson and Samsung, had signed an agreement whereby standardization would take place some time this year, but the dates have been set back. The new chargers will use a common micro-USB connection, at present available on the new generation of smartphones. Older models will still need individual chargers or an adaptor.

40% unemployment among under-25s

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR
The Secretary for Youth Programmes of Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO., one of Spain's largest unions), Silvia Gómez (photo), announced recently in Algeciras that the Campo de Gibraltar would suffer enormously from the anti-crisis measures being taken by the central government. Unemployment in Andalucía in this year's first quarter is 20.16%, while the provinceof Cádiz, it is 35.87%. More alarming, said Gómez, is the fact that unemployment among under-25s has risen to 40.7%. On a list of youth unemployed, Spain is the worst, save for Latvia. She criticized the Zapatero government for 'allowing ever more precarious employment contracts, and making it cheaper to make employees redundant.'

Ship arrives in Algeciras with 16 crew: no fuel, no pay, no electricity

ALGECIRAS
(Photo: UGT) The Sierra Leone-registered cargo ship 'Eastern Planet' arrived in Algeciras last Thursday, brought in by tugs because she had no fuel with which to steer. It took her two months to get here, on her way  from Turkey to the Congolese port of Matabi. However, lack of fuel means that there is no electrivcity on board, so food cannot be kept. Local unions, the Red Cross and Cáritas, the Catholic charity, have been supplying the crew of 16 (12 Ukranians, 2 Russians and 1 Georgian) with the bare necessities. The ship is anchored outside the Isla Verde complex. Some crew members have not been paid for 6 months. The ship's agent, MH Bland, of Gibraltar, says that the owner has asked for 48 hours to come up with funds. In the meantime, the crew has asked for candles as they are in total darkness.

Feria de Casares begins tomorrow

Our neighbouring town, Casares, begins its annual fair tomorrow. This feria is one of the largest of the smaller villages in the area. It includes all the usual fare of a fair (ooops, sorry!) and more. Starting with a parade of gigantes y cabezudos (google it) tomorrow, Thursday 29th, at 8pm, it ends on Sunday with fireworks from the castle. See the whole programme below.>

Heat wave alert for 20 provinces throughout Spain

The state weather agency, AEMET, this morning issued an alert for some 20 provinces throughout the country, warning of temperatures reaching above 40ºC in some places, and over 36º in others, including Cádiz. The latter  province is also on alert for heavy wind and water on the coastline. The national capital Madrid is on an orange alert for heat, while in Cáceres, Badajoz, Toledo, Córdoba, Huelva, Jaén and Sevilla, temperatures over 40º areexpected over the next few days.

Catalonia Parlament votes to ban bullfighting

(BBC / Photo: JimenaPulse file, of 2007 Feria in Jimena) The parliament of Catalonia has voted to ban bullfighting - the first region of mainland Spain to do so. The vote took place as the result of a petition brought to parliament, signed by 180,000 people who say the practice is barbaric and outdated. Bullfight supporters insist that the corrida, as it is known, is an important tradition to preserve. They also fear the vote could be the first of many in the country. The ban takes effect in January 2012. In today's vote, 68 backed a ban, 55 voted against and nine abstained.>

Items under preparation for various OneLinePULSE publications

OneLinePULSE Publications, our online publishing arm, is preparing a series of articles and items for inclusion in several of its publications, including JimenaPulse, CampoPulse, DominGo and Holidays in Jimena. Subjects include Disappearing Trades of the Campo de Gibraltar, The Large Variety of Spanish Cheeses, Olive Oil and Popeye the Sailorman, Synning Your Way to Healthy Eating - and more. At the same time, OneLinePULSE is about to launch SPECIAL ADVERTISING PACKAGES at incredibly reduced prices, as a way to help our advertisers through the recession. (Advertisers, contact us!)

944 Britons arrested on drugs charges

An article in The Gibraltar Chronicle last week reported on a UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office report that said there 944 Brritons arrested on drugs charges from April 2009 to Mach 2010. 'Drugs contributed to more than a third of total arrests of Britons in France and more than a quarter in Ireland, Italy and Thailand,' the article continued, adding: 'Including natural causes, accidents and unlawful killings, there were 5,930 reported deaths of UK citizens abroad in 2009/10. Of these, 1,786 occurred in Spain, which also saw the highest number of arrests and detentions of UK nationals as well as the highest number of cases where Britons needed hospital treatment.' Read the whole article in The Gibraltar Chronicle.

San Martín del Tesorillo begins official 'divorce proceedings' from Jimena

Belén Jarillo (photo), who heads the ELA (Local Autonomous Entity in its Spanish acronym) of  San Martín del Tesorillo (hereinafter called 'Tesorillo', as used by everyone except those who mistakenly insist on calling the village 'San Martín'), has officially presented the documents needed for that village to separate from its 'mother municipality', Jimena de la Frontera. She and her 'parallel' Council (Tesorillo is still officially governed by Jimena) expect to have an answer from the Governing Council of the Junta de Andalucía. There are several requirements involved in such a move, which has been on the agenda for a good number of years. Among these is a set number of inhabitants, square kilometres, and such. Opinions vary as to whether many these requirements can be met.

La Línea mayor 'making a fool of himself'

An article in El Faro Información's online edition of July 20th carried the (loosely translated) title 'Sánchez making a fool of himself by proposing a toll at Gibraltar frontier'. Needless to say, the matter was taken up by just about everyone with any connection to the Rock, on either side of the verja ('gates', or frontier). It was immediately declared illegal, but nevertheless caused alarm in those who cross the frontier regularly but did not follow the story. As El Faro says, 'Mayor Sánchez is incapable of managing his Council or to pay its wages, so he creates an absurd diversion. The Mayor acted irresponsibly the other week by creating queues at the border.'

Two babies born at Algeciras hospital without eyes

The Punta de Europa Hospital in Algeciras (photo: file) has reported that two babies were born in recent weeks with what is known as ocular agenesis, a genetic disorder that prevents development in full or in part of the eyes and /or sockets in a faetus. The babies were born to different parents at different times. The defect is very rare, affecting 1 in 20,000 births world wide, and therefore offering little if any research. It is also very difficult to detect during normal prenatal checks. The father of one of the babies asked for a full investigation on the subject when he found out that two cases of the rare disorder had occured at the hospital within a short time. By coincidence, the families live within a kilometre of each other. This is the first time any such case has happened at Punta de Europa in the 32 years of its existence.

Disappearing trades in the area

OneLinePULSE Publications is preparing articles and maybe even another site dealing with disappearing trades and/or crafts in the Campo de Gibraltar area. This is a photo of Prospero's friend Pedro, who is a talabartero, a  generic term for 'saddler' that can sometimes even include upholstery. Pedro, who lives and works in Jimena, makes those wonderfully colourful things worn by mules and donkeys during ferias and other special occasions - more photos, sent in by Gonzalo Pozo, below.>

Omigod, where did last week go????

That is the sentiment proclaimed and exclaimed by Prospero as he arrived (woke up) for work this morning. But he must have had his head on properly for a change, 'cos he picked out this photo (kindly sent in by Phil Heinzl, again - CLICK TO GET THE FROG'S EXPRESSION) to illustrate what he told the rest of us monkeys he wanted to put up. He seems ready to do battle with computer downtime and his jagged nerves (he's still not smoking, a month later...!)

'Working for Peace' in San Pablo

click here for complete programme in English
ON TONIGHT:  
THURSDAY, JULY 22 Calle Real (Main Street)

8.30pm - Music bands in the street. Selection of Spanish music.

11.00pm - Concert by "Trovamundos" band

00.30am - Concert by "Makale" band

'Working for Peace' in San Pablo

Preparations for the eighth annual Talleres por la Paz in San Pablo de Buceite are very nearly finished. Yesterday, Sunday, was the day to receive the children participating this year. Volunteers from the organization headed for Jerez airport and the port at Tarifa (photo) yesterday to receive guests from Cuba and Morocc. Most of the activities, including workshops in percussion and instrumental, graphitti, foam molding, digital still & movie photography. get under way today. The theatre workshops, attended mainly by local children, have been going for a week now, with a view to presenting their work at the ceremony to end the Talleres.>

¡ESPAÑA!

2010 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Bewick is back - and writes about vuvuzelas...

After an absence of three months, our colleague Alexander Bewick has 'thrown up' at his computer (his words, not ours) again. In an article titled 'Tradition, right or wrong - but why?', he rails against tradition for the sake of it. Bewick's blog, The Alexander Bewick Soap Box is part of OneLinePULSE Publications, which publishes this and other, partner sites, as well as our 'colour supplement' DominGo, the latest edition of which is delayed for purely humanitarian reasons that we will not discuss here.

Residencia permit made easier in Algeciras

ALGECIRAS
Obtaining a residencia permit at the National Police station in Algeciras (photo) will be easier from Monday. Until now, one had to turn up the day before to get a number to stand in line the following day, a prehistoric procedure at best. From Monday, you will be able to get an appointment for the following day by calling 956 588 467 from 11am to 1pm, Monday to Friday. The Extranjería ('foreign') section is open daily, Mon to Fri from 9am to 2pm.

723 kilos of 'coke' found in container at Algeciras port

ALGECIRAS/BARCELONA
(Photo: EuropaSur) The drug was found amongst a legal cargo of flowers coming from Colombia. Another operation by the National Police and the Customs Agency also discovered a further cargo of over 250 kilos of pure cocaine at the port in Barcelona that came from the same source as that in Algeciras. The head of the cargo terminal in Barcelona was arrested as the alleged head of the importation part of the gang involved. In a third operation, cooperation between the National Police and the Federal Police of Argentina, confiscated 113 kilos of the drug found hidden in the false bottom of a very heavy safe that had been sent inside a container.

'Operation Jungle' catches gang of burglars; Sotogrande, Guadiaro among victims

ALGECIRAS
In a crime-busting operation called Operación Jungla, the Guardia Civil of the Algeciras headquarters (photo: EuropaSur) has managed to catch a gang of burglars, mainly of Algerian origin, who operated principally in the Sotogrande and Guadiaro area, though they have also been accused of burglaries in Los Barrios, Algeciras and other places in the Campo de Gibraltar. Eight people have been arrested so far, thoughy more are expected. Among items found at various addresses inspected as part of Operación Jungla are false number plates, jewelry, guns and knives as well as electronic equipment that sources say will lead to the arrest of more gang members.

Gibraltar dolphinarium company defends project

GIBRALTAR
(Gibraltar Chronicle) Following our item Dolphinarium, yes or no?, Europa Point Marine Village Limited is defending its proposals for a dolphinarium at Rosia Bay despite severe criticism from local animal welfare and environmental groups such as GONHS.
The application has yet to go before the Government for planning permission but the business team behind the project insist that their critics are wrong. Government recently told parliament that it will not allow dolphins caught in the wild to be kept in captivity in Gibraltar, a statement the PDP described as ‘wishy-washy’ whilst also saying that neither of the elected parties had made their position clear on the project.>

Wot's going on with CampoPulse?

That's the gist of several questions, verbal and virtual, that have arisen from our lack of blogging lately. The image is of Prospero, who today celebrates (so to speak) thirteen days without smoking. Apparently he is attacked by extreme withdrawal symptoms when sitting at the computer (did you know that these symptoms are called el mono -'the monkey'- in Spanish?) so he has asked us to apologise and beg for your understanding. He says he'll beback in a couple of days. (Prosp memo to monkeys: "Where did you get the pic? Are those scratch marks behind me? Leave me alone!!)