Royal Wedding headlines in Spain

EL PAIS Windsors recover their crown's shine / ABC Real (i.e. Royal) love / EL MUNDO Buckingham Palace superproduction / LA RAZON Catherine reigns / LA VANGUARDIA Global fairy tale / PUBLICO Kate joins Williams's 'firm' / EL CORREO (Basque Country) William and Kate: a royal/real story / HERALDO (Aragon) Tradition and glamour at much awaited wedding / DIARIO DE SEVILLA & DIARIO DE CADIZ & EUROPA SUR (Grupo Joly) Fairy tale in the Court of Queen Elizabeth / NOTE: Almost every newspaper in Spain (and the world, if you check our International Press widget) uses The Kiss as an illustration. Exceptions include El Pais, which has the Aston Martin driving away, ABC, which uses the couple waving from the landau, and Publico, which shows a giant screen in NYC Times Square. (Check our daily headlines feature Monday to Friday)

A new journey along the Silk Trail at Henrietta's

Saturday, April 30, is the last of Casa Henrietta's Thai Nights but not the last of an excellent idea. Henrietta's restaurant will be open on Friday and Saturday nights for a journey you will not want to miss. Let's join Melissa and her team in exploring the cuisine of the countries along the Silk Trail. The journey starts on Friday May 6th in Italy, and continues to Greece in June. Monthly destinations will be Lebanon, Persia, Thailand before finally arriving in China. Watch this space for details.

A day for putting one's feet up...

It's a Bank Holiday in the UK and Gib, not in Spain. Monday is, in all three. But today is a special day, so we've given the working monkeys time off and have no intention of even looking at the computer screen until later this afternoon. We will all, as they say, put our feet up. We're told that the Oba's Royal Wedding Party is sold out, which pleases us even if we won't be attending. Have fun, everyone! And let us know how you spent your day - if you can remember... (P.S. Those are Prospero's feet up there, for which apologies.)

First of Campo ferias starts the season off at Castellar

The first of a string of ferias in the Campo de Gibraltar gets under way this evening at Castellar. Top of the list of events is the crowning of the Queen of the Fair, infant and older, which is interesting (to foreign residents) because both of them are of British origin. Anna Daphne Brophy (with her cortege: Mireya Rubio, Natalia Sierra, Cristina Espinosa and Aroa Márquez) is the Queen of the older ones, and Mara Emberley of the younger ones, with her cortege: Patricia Ledesma, Davina Gómez, Cristina Hernández and Alicia Gavilán. The feria comes together with a romeria, which will bring in some of the best horses and riders of the area. There is More (See complete programme below), but it is good to know that the fairground rides are at a special reduced price today and tomorrow.>

84 year old recovers money from bus

EL PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA (Agencies) An 84 year old woman is breathing more easily since she recovered some money she had left on a bus. Apparently she turned up at a transport information centre, at around 5.30pm, looking very nervous and asking if anyone had found a bag of fruit on a bus, but she didn't know what line, which no one had. After a while and increasingly nervous, when staff wondered why she was so upset about a bag of fruit, she admitted there was money in the bag but didn't say how much. At around 6.30 a driver called in requesting an inspector because he had found a bag full of money (and presumably fruit) on his bus at the end of his run. There was no less than €6,000 there. The woman went home happy and relieved but there is no information about whether she rewarded the honest driver.

Garzón fails in bid to overturn second court suspension

MADRID (El Pais) The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the petition of Baltasar Garzón to throw out the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ)'s April 19 order to suspend him from his duties over the High Court judge's use of wiretaps on inmates and their lawyers linked to the ongoing investigation into the Gürtel corruption network. The Supreme Court rejected all of Garzón's arguments against a second suspension. The judge has been under disciplinary leave since May, 2010 after the same court ruled that he had exceeded his brief in launching an investigation into crimes against humanity committed during the Spanish Civil War and subsequent dictatorship of Francisco Franco.Garzón had argued that it was futile to suspend a judge already under suspension. The CGPJ is expected to ratify his suspension today.

III Encounter to Exchange Experiences in Gender Equality and Participation

Under one of those endlessly complicated bureaucratic titles that are almost impossible to translate 'cleanly', about which we only received a forwarded press release this morning, it turns out that Jimena is this coming weekend hosting the third edition of an Encounter to Exchange Experiences in Gender Equality and Participation, which brings together numerous 'collectives' from Ecija, Cordoba, Morocco and the Campo de Gibraltar to discuss ... well ... what it says in its name and on the poster (click to enlarge). There is a very complete programme of events that runs from Friday to Monday, so chances are we will encounter several of the participants wandering about in their free time. They will undoubtedly feel welcome...

How rusty can we expect to get?

We'd been hearing about it for several days now: the weather is going rotten this weekend. Well, according to our fairly accurate forcast facility on the sidebar, the rumours are more than right. Prompted by the item about the Sports Day (below) we checked, having been too busy otherwise, and what we saw is enough to start rubbing anti-rust stuff all over ourselves... Mind you, this happens every year: a week or ten days of storms and then the heat sets in, suddenly and with a vengeance. This, naturally, is why we live here, isn't it? Then again, this is the time to do all those things you haven't done in the winter and left for the summer, but which won't get done in the summer because the weather's too nice or too hot or too something. (What's it look like for Thursday, May 5th?)

Jimena Sports Day moved to the 14th because of bad weather forecast

The fifth edition of the Jornadas Deportivas that we announced for this coming Saturday (April 30), has been moved to Saturday May 14 because the forecast for this weekend is pretty awful. See the original notice here.

Today's headlines

EL MUNDO Salgado gives way and allows bigger Catalonia deficit ... in  2012 - Ref breaks Madrid and a genial Messi closes - Historical agreement between Hamas and Al Fatah / LA RAZON ETA  wants to get 822 councillors to manage €300millions / Messi and ref break Madrid - Salgado closes tap on six communities / EL PAIS Catalonia defies government with weak deficit cut back plan - (Re Guntanamo) One of every six prisoners exposed companions - Matute: "If you don't create, you don't live" / MARCA & AS (Re football) Why? / 20 MINUTOS (Malaga) 570,000 Spaniards working 'in black' / Messi kills in the dirtiest classic - Laguage School: no room for 6,400 students in Malaga / EUROPA SUR IU will ask for Mayorship if votes increase and PSOE loses - Algeciras Port ups traffic by 5.7% in Q1 of the year - Cepsa has €2,500million for strategic investment

How did that snail get in your plate?

(Triggered by TioJimeno, who recommends them, and first published on JimenaPulse in May 2007) We have to admit that caracoles  (snails in general, not necessarily escargots) are creatures we’d prefer not to find in the garden – let alone on our plate. However, we must also admit that even among some foreign residents they are a Mediterranean delicacy, with whole websites devoted to their preparation and recipes galore (Google alone has 112,000 pages!). In the interests of improving international relations, and given that their season is upon us, we have some tips on their preparation that include ‘tricking’ them, cleaning them and even cooking them. But when is their best season? A Spanish saying goes : los caracoles de abril, para mí; los de mayo para mi amo, y los de junio para ninguno (April snails are for me, the ones in May for my boss and those in June for no-one - you guess).>

Is this what happens to your Spanish?

Is this what's happening to your complaint letters in Spanish? Is this what they're doing to your tax papers because they don't understand the Spanish? Is it? Let TranslationHELP make it right. We can help you with anything related to your need for better Spanish, from hospital or lawyer visits, to dealing with the Town Hall or your neighbours, from writing a CV in the Spanish way, to making a crucial phone call, to dealing with your complaints (or praises, which would make a nice change). Call Alberto on 685 298 820 or 956 648 169, or pop in to see us at the office (Calle Romo 41), just round the corner from the Post Office in Jimena. Over 20 years' experience in Jimena are our guarantee. (Thanks to TioJimeno for the great illustration!)

The Royal Loo, by Ricardo Tejeiro

 

At the Royal W.C., by Ricardo Tejeiro: 'Oh Dear, I've run out of toilet paper ...' - 'Would someone please bring me the protest note from the Spanish Government about Gibraltar.'

Endangered ferns

There are a number of species of ferns that are under threat of extinction, many in Andalucia and several in Los Alcornocales Nature Park. That is why the Junta's Department of the Environment has sert up a series of talks on them. This one is specially prepared for the Jimena area. Scheduled for this coming Friday, April 29, it is divided into two parts, the morning (11 to 12.30) is on technical matters, and the afternoon (5 to 6.30) is an informative session. An exhibition of live plants and illustrations is part of the event. Could be a way to improve your knowledge iof our environment.

Royal Wedding Party: tickets only!

Simon called us last night to ask that we put up this notice: The Royal Wedding Party at Oba is by prior ticket purchase only. The place is filling up very quickly for Friday's event, and they want to make sure that the first come-first serve system will work to avoid disappointment. Click on the image to read details.

Today's headlines

EL PAIS Government and Public Prosecutor decide top ban all Bildu [electoral] lists - Court agrees to try Camps with Corres - USA jailed minors without links to terrorism / ABC [Re R.Madrid-Barcelona match tonight] Crash before Final battle - Otegi refers to Bildu as 'ours' on Guardia Civil taping - Ex Junta member involved in ERE cases criticizes boycott on judge / LA RAZON Troitino is hiding in flat in Spain or France to contact ETA - (Under photo of Congress) A 'pitiful' spectacle (Re debate on ERE scandal) - Deficit falls by 20% but Spain remains in fourth place on worst accounts list / CINCO DIAS (Business/Finance) Treasury discards tax increases even if public debt overflows - Draghi ahead to succeed Trichet at ECB - Sony challenges Apple with two screen pad / SUR (Malaga) One in four minors in Malaga live below poverty line - Hotel industry revitalizes town centre establishments YOU CAN SPONSOR THIS DAILY ITEM FOR AS LITTLE AS €3

What we might be expecting but are unlikely to get...

This has been doing the rounds, so you may have seen it already. Never mind, enjoy it again. (Thanks, Wendy!) Then again, if you're going to the Royal Wedding party at Oba, you'll see the real thing...

Two accidents cut off La Línea for an hour

Photo: Europa Sur

LA LÍNEA (Agencies) Two accidents that happened at about the same time, around 4pm, had the town's main accesses closed off for an hour yesterday, though only the El Higuerón (A-383) was opened then. The principal accident was that of a very large truck that came off the road on the El Toril road (CA-34), probably because of the rain; the other one happened on the A-383 with several vehicles involved, including a Gibraltar registered car. The latter was cleared off quickly, but the other involved two large cranes whose job finished around ten o'clock at night. Fortunately, nobody was hurt at either incident.

Today's headlines

EL PAIS USA locked up 30 mentally ill (in Guantanamo) - Mortgages up in April by record amounts since 2007 - Euro arrest order for Troitino did not mention murders / EL MUNDO Aguirre embarrases Rajoy about Camps lists -  Asad brings out the tanks and searches for opposers house by house - Troitino on way to Venezuela according to secret service / LA VANGUARDIA Two month amnesty for submerged employment to emerge - Tourism industry secures recovery - Asad uses tanks to repress opposition / PUBLICO Rubalcaba and Chacon better Rajoy - Asad uses tanks for the first time to crush protesters - Companies will be responsible for subcontractors' unlawful employment / DIARIO DE SEVILLA Alarming schooling failure at seven of every ten 'institutos' of Sevilla - Rain ruined (tourism) business YOU CAN SPONSOR THIS DAILY FEATURE FOR AS LITTLE AS €3

Divorced couples must split mortgage equally

SPAIN (Agencies) In a groundbreaking ruling, the Supreme Court has decided that in the event of divorce, a home mortgage must be repaid in equal shares by both spouses. The decision favors Javier M.D., a divorcé who was told by the Provincial Court of Valencia that he had to put up 80 percent of the repayment due to his economic situation. That court considered the mortgage part of his alimony payment. The Supreme Court recognized that there was contradictory jurisprudence on the subject at the provincial level, and decided to set a legal precedent by establishing that payments on a loan entered into by both spouses fall under the joint responsibilities of the community property regime, which makes both parties equally bound regardless of income.

Outbreak of stupidity in Straits - yet again

GIBRALTAR/SPAIN Yet another outbreak of stupidity emerges from the waters of the Bay of Algeciras. A 'grave' incident (say two Spanish papers) took place yesterday, Easter Sunday, when a Guardia Civil boat intercepted a drug smuggler speeding in from the Moroccan coast carrying (according to one Spanish paper) 100 kilos of hashish. One Gibraltar paper says that a police vessel sustained minor damage, and a Spanish one says a GC did same. The same Gibraltar paper says no one is believed to have been hurt in the incident, and a Spanish paper says one GC was injured. A Spanish website says that a single Guardia Civil boat was suddenly 'accosted' by seven vessels from the Rock, belonging to Customs, the Royal Navy and the RGP. And so it goes on, and on and on. Call it diplomatic ping-pong, or speedboat diplomacy, or anything else. What it is, is plain stupid ... or is everyone happy to intercept each other's anti-drug efforts and see their children brain dead from all that hash?

The Royal Wedding has moved to Jimena

No, hang on, let's re-phrase that: The Royal Wedding has moved Jimena. Better yet: The Brits in Jimena are moved by the Royal Wedding. Okay. The Brits in Jimena (and any other interested nationality) can watch the whole proceedings from 11am at the Bar Oba. They can also get a €5 buffet lunch (buy in advance) from 2pm. And, you're asked to wear something 'weddingy'. Click on the poster to see the details.

Jimena Sports Day next weekend ...

Not everything depends on Kate Middleton's dress, you know. Following The Wedding, here in Jimena there is the fifth edition of our very own Olympics. Never mind, London, we're in first. Nah, what we have here is a whole lot of fun for almost no money: it's called Jornadas Deportivas and is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th from 10am to 9pm. A day full of sports, including padel, petanque, volleyball, 'adapted athletics' and a whole lot more you can see for yourself if you click on the poster. Oh, then there's also an exhibition by Strongman Juan Carlos Heredia 'El Porruo'. Sounds like the fun day it has become a tradition to be.

This a scam - be warned and do NOT respond!

This came in this morning, read (click it to read) and be aware! "I received the following email reportedly from Microsoft  demanding verification of account details or be shut down....THIS IS A SCAM for those hackers to steal personal info...it is not new and I think MSN are aware of it, although  I could not find any means to report it to them." Thank you, Phil, for the item!

Today's headlines

EL PAIS Guantanamo abuses uncovered - Gaddafi bombs Misrata without pity - Spain fails on corruption because of party financing / ABC Pope asks Europe to take in refugees - Basagoiti: "If Troitino can't be watched, what's the CNI (National Intelligence Centre) for?" - Mortgage to be paid half-and-half if divorced / EL MUNDO Guardia Civil and CSD (Superior Sports Council) circumvent judge to sink (top athlete) Marta (Dominguez) - Agent injured when seven Gibraltar patrol boats intercept one Spanish - PP advances everywhere but in Valencia / PUBLICO PSOE advances 11 points - Supreme (Court) establishes that divorcees must go halves on mortgages - Caritas takes in 150 gypsies thrown out of basilica by Vatican Guard / EL ECONOMISTA (Business/Finance) Unions take 10% of cost of dismissals - Villar Mir to invest €850 millions in Huelva gas plant - BT chooses Spain as headquarters for its global excelence centre / EUROPA SUR Most La Linea residents don't want congestion charge or boulevard / Several Gibraltar boats accost Guardia Civil in anti-drug operation - Thousand see 'toro embolao' in Los Barrios without incident YOU CAN SPONSOR THIS DAILY FEATURE FOR AS LITTLE AS €3

What are you doing for lunch on Easter Sunday!

Okay, think of this: all that chocolate you're not supposed to be eating but can't resist, getting soaked searching for painted eggs among the debris in the garden ... all that aside from having had a skinful on Saturday night 'coz there wasn't anything much on the telly anyway ... do you still feel like cooking a special roast? The answer is: not. So instead of peeling spuds and carrots, finding the right roast at the butcher, swearing every time the knife slips ... why not book a superb alternative at OBA? Choose between turkey or lamb, with all the trimmings. Two courses, only €12.50; three, €15,00. But book now (665 353 717), because its getting crowded in there! Bar Oba, Calle Sevilla 18, Jimena de la Frontera. Click on pic for more info.

Palma promises hotel next to La Cañada Golf Club

La Cañada Golf Club

SAN ROQUE (Agencies) PP candidate for Mayor at the local elections on May 22, Fernando Palma, has included in his list of priority actions if he is lected, that a hotel will be built in the vicinity of the municipal golf club at La Cañada. He believes that a hotel at that location would be an attractive addition to the local facilities and bring people in to the course. "A golf course without a hotel is incomplete, so we are committed to have a hotel close to the course built, to increase tourism in the area," he said yesterday.

Today's headlines

ABC (Over colourful smiling photo of Queen Elizabeth II) A buirthday, prelude to a great wedding - Troitino will have ETA command - (About R.Madrid's Cup Final victory) "It is an authoritative move" / EL PAIS "ETA ordered Batasuna to create alliances for independence" - (Under photo of Lybian rebel) Chris Hondros's last photograph - Markets back Greek debt restructuring - Thousands of embryos stored : don't know what to do with them / EXPANSION (Business/Finance) How to choose the best funds - Banks pay out €7,500 million to stockholders - Santander among the most powerful in the world / SUR (Malaga) Tourism forecasts good Easter despite weather / EUROPA SUR (Campo de Gibraltar) North and South accesses to Algeciras port will cost €48 million / (Ultraright party) Alinza Nacional presents three candidates in Algeciras YOU CAN SPONSOR THIS DAILY ITEM FOR AS LITTLE AS €3

"No Andorra solution for Gibraltar," says Picardo, new leader of GSLP

GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle) A GSLP Chief Minister will never recommend an Andorra style solution for the future, Fabian Picardo declared yesterday at a party AGM in which long-standing leader Joe Bossano stepped down in his favour. Mr Picardo declared that unlike Peter Caruana, who "last year let his mask slip," he would not be willing to recommend an Andorra style solution to the people in a referendum. "No GSLP government will ever be found wanting in defending our sovereignty and in advancing our case to freely determine our political future," he declared.>

Extreme Right presents candidates for local elections

Immigrant voting

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) Alianza Nacional (AN), a national ultra-right party, is presenting a list if three candidates to the local elections in Algeciras on May 22. Algeciras is the only place in all of the province of Cadiz where the party is presenting candidates. Clearly xenophobic and racist, the party has organized several anti-immigration rallies in various cities over the years. Among other items on their manifesto is the proposal of Ius Sanguinis (Blood Law), which would allow only those with Spanish blood into the country and the generalized right to carry guns at any time.Aside from the big parties and AN (a minute one), the Big Four (PP, PSOE, IU and PA) have presented their lists to the Electoral authorities. Local parties presenting are UPyD, CDL and PDMA, plus Jóvenes Algecireños Unidos (JAU).

Today's headlines

EL PAIS (Below photo of R.Madrid team) Mourinho and Ronaldo's Madrid is crowned afte collosal duel - Bildu avoids listing candidates linked to Batasuna - 65% feel free from tobacco smoke / ABC (Over photo of Iker Casillas) Madrid winns like this / EL MUNDO Troitiño slips away and [Ministry of the] Interior says it was 'illegal' to watch him - (Below photo of team) Epic Real Madrid - Government extends deduction for home renovation / LA VANGUARDIA Teachers warn about youth spelling mistakes - (Below photo of Messi) Check mate (on Barcelona) - IMF also warns USA about its deficit / CINCO DIAS (Business/Finance) [Ministry of] Development encourages construction mergers because of building drought - Gold breaks $1,500 historic barrier - Solid demand of Spanish debt alleviates fears / EUROPA SUR 14 containers with €42 million worth of false merchandise confiscated - Fabian Picardo takes over GSLP from Joe Bossano - Troitiño disappears to avoid sentence YOU CAN SPONSOR THIS DAILY ITEM FROM €3

Do you know these owners?

BOP, April 8

JIMENA (Official Bulletin) A regular reader kindly keeps an eye out for foreign-looking names as they appear in the various official bulletins. This one comes from the Boletín Oficial de la Provincia (BOP) dated April 8. It turns out that the Council cannot find John Richard MacLashan or Mike Hobbs, to notify them of the need to legalize building work on the Cañada Real de Manilva. If you know either or both, please tell them that they, or a representative, need to visit the Town Hall in Jimena to sort matters out that could lead to a €60,000 fine. (We do try to keep an eye on these sort of notices in innumerable national and regional bulletins or on Town Hall notice boards, but it is notoriously difficult to do so unless you have nothing at all else to do, like breathe or eat. Or unless it's your work and you're getting paid for it.)

Rumours about radioactive cargo from Japan denied

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) The rumour was about since the weekend: a cargo from Japan was due to arrive at the port; would it be contaminated? However, the customs people have denied that any such thing was imminent. In any case, they said, there facilities at Megaports to detect radioactivity over the legal limits. It was also reported that the first cargo to arrive in Spain from Japan after the nuclear crisis at Fukushima went to Valencia, and the first ship in Europe was the Karsten Marsk to Rotterdam with 380 containers aboard.

Man arrested after robbery at Sotogrande golf club

SOTOGRANDE (Agencies) A man was arrested in Marbella after CCTV cameras caught him extracting items from a bag in the changing room of a Sotogrande golf club. A member reported that he had left €1,000 in his bag in the changing room when he went out for a round, and came back to find the money gone. The police reviewed the camera recordings and identified a man who was filmed entering the changing room, checking clothing and other things there, finding and taking the money, then driving off. His car was registered in Marbella, where the police found him some time later. It was discovered that he had a long record of similar robberies and he is now 'at the disposal of the courts'.

Kate Middleton's dragonfly dress is straight from Tarifa

Libélula's velvet coat

UK/SPAIN (Agencies) Next week's Royal Wedding will have a touch of the Spanish if rumours are finally confirmed about Kate Middelton's dress. The latest whisper comes from Yvonne Yorke, royal correspondent for the Huffington Post, who claims she has known the identity of Middleton's wedding dress designer for four months, but kept it a secret in accordance with palace wishes. Until now. Reports all over the British media are saying that Sophie Cranston is the chosen designer, although Sophie will not confirm it. Who is Sophie Cranston? Although she lives in London, Cranston still keeps a studio in Tarifa. Her brand name is Libélula, which means dragonfly in Spanish. Indeed, she lived in Spain for a number of years and was reluctant to return to England, but is surely not regretting the move now.

No improvement in La Linea sewage problem, despite Junta's requests

Protest last month

GIBRALTAR/LA LINEA (GibChronicle) The Junta de Andalucia is keeping a close eye on the Western Beach sewage problem and putting pressure on La Linea's Popular Party town council to fix its drainage system. The Junta's position was set out in a letter sent to Spanish environmental campaigners AGADEN and made public by Gibraltar's Environmental Safety Group. In its response, the Junta explains how it ordered La Linea to take all necessary steps to urgently eliminate further waste from being discharged into the sea and find an immediate solution to this problem. The ESG claimed that current water sampling indicated this had not yet happened.
"The ESG hopes that this additional pressure from La Junta will produce results from the Ayuntamiento, which recently said it would resolve the sewage problem by mid June," the ESG said. "However,>

Hunger strike man admitted to hospital

Venta La Jarandilla (now closed)

CASTELLAR (Agencies) José Fuentes, the former manager of La Jarandilla, on the way up to the castle and now closed down, was admitted to hospital in Algeciras yesterday, as a result of the hunger strike he began 35 days ago in protest at having had his business closed down and evicted by the administrators of the La Almoraima estate. He has been protesting at various spots in the area and complaining that the Mayor of Castellar, Francisco Vaca, is indifferent to his cause. The business included a venta/restaurant, a flea market an camping, outdoor accommodation, all of which were closed down by La Almoraima.

Three arrested for burglaries committed in Jimena and San Enrique

JIMENA/SAN ENRIQUE (Agencies) The Guardia Civil of Guadiaro detained three people suspected of burglary after a call came in, on Friday last, alerting them of the robbery of 400 litres of diesel fuel from a parked lorry, as well as an electric generator and several tools. Initial investigation led to a patrol being set, and when the GC arrived in San Enrique they found a car parked at the side of the road with three people inside. At first inspection, they detected a strong smell of fuel, stains of the same nature and the tools to extract it. Close by, in the grounds of a house, was a fuel container and an air compressor. While a court order was being obtained to enter the house, the Local Police set up a watch, during which they saw the occupants throwing items out of a window. These were later identified as the proceeds from burglaries reported in Jimena and San Enrique de Guadiaro, which included TV sets, music centres, amplifiers, numerous tools, pictures and a large variety of other such things, all of which leading to a total of five burglaries. R. A. B., J. J. F. C. and J. M. F. are now 'at the disposal of the courts'.

Gibraltar to allow cruise ships to extend casino hours

GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle) Cruise ships will be allowed to open their on-board casinos and shops to their passengers after 6pm, providing an incentive to remain alongside until the early hours of the following morning, Deputy Chief Minister Joe Holliday announced yesterday. This policy decision will encourage cruise ships to extend their calls in port by staying later in the evenings bringing additional business opportunities for local traders. Mr Holliday said: "Up until now, ships have usually sailed at around 5 or 6pm in order to reach international waters and be able to open their revenue-earning onboard outlets for their passengers, even if their next port of call was close by. This initiative will give both passengers and off-duty crew the opportunity of going ashore in the evenings. This means additional business opportunities and ships will save fuel by remaining tied up for a longer period of time. It will, equally importantly, enable local tour operators to offer a wider range of shore excursions for passengers who will have more time to see what Gibraltar has to offer, both on tour and independently.">

Filling car for long weekend costs 24% more

SPAIN (Agencies) If you're planning to spend the weekend other than at home, you will find that filling your tank with diesel fuel will cost an average €1.308 per litre, or 24% more than last year, though 95 octane petrol is only 15.8% more expensive at €1.354/litre. But the base price of oil has gone up by a lot more, at 49.5%, so how is the difference explained? Brent oil is not in dact passed on immediately nor in its entirety to the forecourt pumps, though it may seem that way to the ordinary motorist. This is because 48% of the pump price is for taxes, another 10% is for storage - neither of which is impacted by the Brent price. Therefore, the market price will affect only the remaining 40% of the price it takes to fill the car for the weekend. Bon voyage!

Today's headlines

EL PAIS National Court revokes Troitiño's freedom and order his capture - Castros entrust changes to old guard - Constitutional Court backs Religion teacher married to divorcee / ABC (Over poto of King's Cup) Awaiting Cup's destiny - "If Zapatero ignores IMF Spain will take longer to recover" - National Court revokes ETA  member Troitiño's freedom / EL MUNDO Court that freed Troitiño revises decision - Big business and banks ask CEOE not to sign 'weak' union agreements - Main doping charge against [athlete] Marta Dominguez dropped / PUBLICO Constitutionla Court stops Church - Congress adds two more months to Spain's participation in Libya - (Cuban) Communist Party promotes change but hardly changes its direction / INFORMACION (Sevilla) Commerce reticent about holiday opening hours - (Over photo of disappointed Holy Week procession) Tears spread from heaven to earth YOU CAN SPONSOR THIS DAILY ITEM FOR AS LITTLE AS €3

Does Andalucia 'feel' Semana Santa more than in other parts of Spain?

ANDALUCIA (Don Quijote Newsletter) While Semana Santa is a national tradition throughout Spain, the Andalucians arguably "feel" the week more than other regions of Spain. Throughout seven days, Andalucia is surrounded by a spiritual halo. Semana Santa is a tradition which is repeated year after year; a time when the devout and curious join together to participate in the procession and converge on the streets and squares which take on the ambience and mystique of an open air temple.>

'Gaddafi's Spanish empire remains intact'

In an excellent piece of good journalism (we say somewhat in awe though not surprise) our friend Sancho has written an article under the title above on his blog Tilting at Windmills, in which he uncovers the fact that the Gaddafi family's fortunes have hardly been touched by the present crisis in Lybia. "The financial interests of Gaddafi and his family remain untouched in Spain," he says. "Clearly, for whatever reason, Spain has no wish to do this (block all his assets) and a game of buck passing is in progress with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisting it is a matter for Hacienda, the Interior Ministry and the Bank of Spain." It is well worth a read...

Fire breaks out in Barcelona's Sagrada Familia

BARCELONA (Agencies) A fire broke out earlier this morning in the crypt of the central nave of Gaudí's famous unfinished church in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia, promoted to a Basilica by Pope Benedict on his last visit. Latest reports say that a 'mentally disturbed' man is the alleged author of the incident, which had a large number of people evacuated from the spot - a major tourist attraction. Firefighters were still working to put the fire out at  noon today, but, according to the head of the Patronato (management committee) 'it is easily controlled.' UPDATE (12:51): The fire is completely under control and the suspect is under arrest.

Wet weather over Easter

click to enlarge

As you can see on our WeatherWidget on the sidebar (not illustrated left), the forecast for this Easter Week in the area is not sunny - rain and storms are forecast by the AEMET website for today, with an increase in rain for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the weekend. Precious little to be done about it, so there's not a lot of point in moaning...

"Education system flooded by the mediocre"

CÁDIZ PROVINCE (Agencies) Economist Rafael Carbó says, "If a company is looking for engineers but the labour market offers only brick layers, we have a problem." His words come to illustrate the dangerously low level of the province's educational results. Cádiz has the lowest per capita income of the country, undoubtedly a consequence of its 'pathetic' education system. A survey of 170 students at 2nd Level Teacher's Training (Magisterio) revealed that 93% admitted to not having a vocation. They were studying to become a civl servant, as good as a 'job for life'. The system that creates teachers does so by measuring only their capacity for memorization. In the North of Europe, where teachers get the respect they deserve as the 'guardians of the future', public administrations give them an indefinite employment contract that allows them to be evaluated over a period of time. If they are not suited, alternatives can and will be found within the system. "Anything else," concludes Carbó, "and the system gets flooded by the mediocre."

Record 4,822,291 unemployed in March

SPAIN (Agencies) The number of unemployed reached record levels last month, showing an increase of 0.8% over February and a 4.01% year-on-year. Official figures give the total as 4,333,669 but that doesn't show job seekers attending relocation courses ( 263,204) nor those with 'limited disposability' or 'specific job placement' (225,418), both which categories are counted as 'in work' though it is evident they are not employed. IF YOU FIND THIS ARTICLE INTERESTING, USEFUL OR ENTERTAINING, PLEASE CONSIDER THE WORK, EFFORT AND COST IT TAKES TO BRING IT TO YOU. WE WOULD APPRECIATE A DONATION TO CONTINUE A FREE SERVICE AND AVOID THE QUEUE ABOVE.

Spain pays up as contagion fears return

SPAIN (Financial Times) Spain’s short-term cost of borrowing rose sharply during a €4.6bn debt auction on Monday, casting fresh doubt on the recent claims that Europe’s fifth-largest economy had broken away from the concerns affecting the region’s troubled periphery. Amid mounting speculation about the possibility of Greek sovereign debt restructuring, and with investors nervously eyeing the electoral success of a eurosceptic party in the Finnish elections, Spain was forced to borrow at substantially higher levels in a sale of 12 and 18-month treasury bills.>

Gürtel judge is ready to launch massive corruption trial

Photo: Publico.es

SPAIN (Agencies) The Madrid judge who is in charge of the Gürtel investigation 'the biggest corruption case in Spain since the Transition' says the first trial in the inquiry will take place this year after the May 22 elections. Madrid High Court Judge Antonio Pedreira told reporters that the investigative stage "has already finished" and the accusatory stage will "be finished" about the same time as the regional parliament breaks for summer recess. Some two dozen current and former PP officials in Madrid are targets in the case.

Gibraltar driver arrested for dangerous and drunk driving

LA LÍNEA (Agencies) An 18 year old driver from Gibraltar was arrested after a chase in the Zabal industrial estate (photo, illustration only) this weekend. The Gib-registered vehicle had been followed by another car, with which it is alleged it had had an accident but had run from the scene. The young man drove onto a dirt track to hide from the police but was traced, whereupon it was evident that the driver was intoxicated. He and his vehicle were placed under arrest and temporary confiscation, respectively.

Arrested for setting fire to present partner's ex-partner's home

LA LÍNEA (Agencies) R.G.F., 29, was arrested under the suspicion that she set fire to the home of her present partner's ex-partner. THe victim reported that she had been accosted in her car at a traffic light by the woman now under arrest. R.G.F. had allegedly tried to pull her out of the vehicle while insulting and threatening her. The victim was taken to the hospital with an attack of acute anxiety, during which the other woman supposedly set fire to her house. The suspect admitted to setting fire to some curtains that were blowing outside her rival's windows.