GREENPEACE has threatened to take legal action and stage major protests if the Spanish government pushes through plans to relax coastal planning regulations.

The environmental group is angry following comments by Spain’s Environment Minister Miguel Arias Canete promising to make the Coastal Law ‘more compatible with economic growth’.

The proposals would make it easier for waterfront developments to be approved, leaving the coastline exposed to potential environmental damage.

The Coastal Law defines an area within 100 metres of the beach as public land, meaning that thousands of foreigners with property within the zone no longer have ownership, despite buying in good faith before the law was introduced in 1988.

This has led Britain and other European countries to put pressure on the new PP government to modify the law.

Many expats were granted a 30-year concession, but with many of those set to expire in 2018, the government is being forced to take action.

via Green Guide Spain.

Foreign residents who drive their cars on the roads of Malaga province enjoy an impunity which comes from the registration plate of their vehicle. The authorities have often failed to take action because of the difficulties in verifying their address in order to notify them of such penalties.

However, the Guardia Civil and the State Tax Agency (AEAT) have decided to put an end to this situation and have begun a campaign to tighten the net on foreigners who live permanently or part-time in Spain but who have not registered their vehicles here or paid the relevant taxes on them.

This initiative is the result of an EU directive which establishes that people are obliged to comply with the tax obligations of the country in which their vehicle is being used. It is based on two aspects: the fact that the vehicle is making use of the country’s infrastructure and the environmental contamination it produces.

Identifying offenders

Malaga, which has 283,498 official foreign residents, is one of the areas which suffers most from this problem. In this province, the Traffic Department began its campaign in November. The choice of date was not casual. The first requirement is that drivers of cars with foreign plates have been living in this country for at least 30 days. Because of the difficulties of proving their address – they usually say they are on holiday – the Guardia Civil began checking schools. “If their children are registered at a school and they were attending classes in November, their parents cannot argue that they are only here temporarily when we surprise them at the school gates”, explains an officer.

Since then, the Guardia Civil has identified about two hundred drivers whose cars bear foreign plates and who officers have been able to prove are living on the Costa del Sol. Most of them are living in Malaga city, Marbella and La Axarquía. More than half are British, followed by Germans, French and, although to a lesser extent, Romanian, Portuguese and Bulgarian.

These two hundred foreigners have been ordered by the Guardia Civil to put the situation of their vehicles in order within five days. At the same time, Spanish Customs, which is part of the Hacienda tax authority, has begun proceedings against them. If they comply and make their vehicles legal within the given period, the case is filed and no further action is taken. If they don’t, the police are authorised to intercept the car, immobilise it and place it at the disposition of the AEAT tax agency. It is reported that this has already begun to happen in the province of Malaga. But that is not all. The owners of the vehicles are also reported for driving without having obtained the relevant authorisation and this can result in a fine of 450 euros.

To avoid ending up without a vehicle, foreign drivers should comply with two obligations. First of all, they must pay the Impuesto Especial sobre Determinados Medios de Transporte, (Special Tax on Determined Means of Transport) which comes under Law 38/1992. If a vehicle is registered during the first month of the owner’s stay in Spain, it is exempt from this tax.

Read the full story, here.

An estimated 22,000 passengers who had booked seats on more than 220 cancelled flights have been left looking for alternative arrangements and instructions on how to seek reimbursements.

Spanair, owned by a consortium based in the northeastern region of Catalonia, shut down its operations late Friday because of a lack of funding.

The legal proceedings begun by Spain’s government could lead to Spanair being fined 9 million euros ($A11.14 million) for two ‘serious infringements’ of aviation security legislation, Development Minister Ana Pastor said. The alleged infractions related to obligations linked to continued service and passenger protection.

Chairman Ferran Soriano said the airline had failed to attract inward investment and consequently the regional government of northeastern Catalonia took the decision to stop providing funds. Spanair, whose hub was Barcelona airport, employed around 2,000 people and used the services of about 1,200 ground staff.

Spanair’s financial woes were exacerbated by a 2008 crash that killed 154 people. Eighteen people survived what was Spain’s worst aviation disaster in 25 years. The airline, which also ran a commuter service between Madrid and Barcelona, was in trouble financially before Spanair Flight JK5022 – an MD-82 jet – crashed on takeoff on August 20, 2008 as it tried to leave Madrid bound for the Canary Islands.

In 2010 Spanair, which was Spain’s No. 4 airline, reported an operating loss of 115 million euros and had survived thanks to finance provided by the Catalan government and some private investors.

The Catalan government cited the ‘current economic climate’ and ‘European legislation concerning competition’ as the major factors influencing its decision.

In Brussels, the European Low Fares Airline Association said those of its members flying overlapping routes with Spanair would offer specially discounted fares to enable stranded passengers to return home. Offers are subject to seat availability, said the organisation of budget airlines – which includes Ryanair and EasyJet.

The association’s secretary-general, John Hanlon, said in a statement the aim was to assist Spanair passengers who were experiencing difficulties with travel plans. National carrier Iberia Spanish Airlines SA said it had also offered to help.

via Sky News.

The councillor in charge, Miguel Angel Castellón, reassured residents that the contractor has “several tens of thousands of kilos of salt” for use on the roads, so there is no fear of a shortage. The councillor had already made a personal inspection of the contractor’s site on Monday of this week, ensuring that all emergency signs were ready and that the stock was able to cope with the situation, so he was able to quote first hand that the network would indeed be able to cope.

On Tuesday of this week, the worst day of the winter so far, the process of clearing roads was immediately implemented with a priority to roads in Alto Almanzora, Los Vélez, Filabres, Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada.

Meanwhile, the body of an 84 year old man was found in snow in Paraje de la Ventaja in the municipality of Suflí on Tuesday, showing signs of having suffered from hypothermia, after his family had reported the pensioner missing from his home on Monday evening.

The search for Emilio SG was launched on Monday evening with all emergency services collaborating. He was found just after 10:00 on Tuesday morning, in a location that indicated he may have fallen down an embankment.

In a separate incident, seven people suffered injuries when an Almería to Madrid bus suffered an incident during adverse weather as is travelled through the town of Guadix. There were 36 passengers on board the bus when the driver lost control at a roundabout, skidding and landing on an embankment leaning on the vehicles right hand side. The injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital, whereas others had to wait around in freezing temperatures for a replacement vehicle to take them to their destination.

In a report predicting key trends for the coming year based on surveys and customer data, the company revealed that 30 per cent of sun seekers are planning to visit the Iberian peninsula for their main holiday.

Alicante, Ibiza, Majorca and Malaga will continue to welcome high numbers of British visitors, according to the research, while Dalaman in Turkey and the Greek island of Crete are also attracting interest.

Jet2′s study indicated that persistent doom and gloom about the economy and the eurozone crisis have not dampened demand for holidays, with more than a quarter (28 per cent) of survey respondents saying a break is “vital” to their health and wellbeing.

All-inclusive trips are set to prove popular among consumers trying to stick to a budget, with Jet2holidays reporting that 60 per cent of all family bookings for the coming year are for packages of this kind.

Some 70 per cent of couples visiting beach destinations and taking city breaks in 2012 want to experience local culture and customs, according to the research, while nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of people would rather escape on a beach getaway than enjoy a summer of sport with the Olympics and Euro 2012 football tournament.

Steve Heapy, managing director of Jet2holidays and chief commercial officer of Jet2.com, said: “The travel landscape is changing, with socio-economic factors meaning travellers want something different from their holidays.”

via Travelbite.co.uk.

Then, about 8:00 pm, and after the fireworks, the royal party will continue its journey through Sant Llorenç, Pais Valencia, María Cristina Bridge, the Paseo de Cervantes, Alçamora and Sant Roc Bridge where acts will end at 10:00 pm. Declared of National Tourist Interest, the newspaper El Heraldo de Alcoy narrated the celebration for the first time in 1866, although it was not until 1885 when the act took on the characteristics that define it today.

The Magi will also make an appearance in other towns and cities of Valencia. From Castellón to Alicante the royal party will carry out many stops. Among them, Benissa, Castellón de la Plana, Riba-Roja del Turia, Pego or Pinós. Furthermore, in Tibi will start the celebration of the Dance of the Kings with a full program of events that begins on 6th January.

via Official Tourism Site of the Region of Valencia.

Among the most immediate openings are:

Parador de Cádiz (Andalusia) – an extension of the Hotel Atlántico, this property offers panoramic views of the Bay of Cadiz and the Atlantic as well as private pools, beaches, and palm-lined streets. In 2012, the location will add between 70 and 100 rooms as well as a thalassotherapy center for rejuvenating spa experiences.

Parador de Corias (Asturias) – founded in 1028, the ancient monastery of San Juan Bautista, located on the banks of the Narcea River and known as “El Escorial de Asturias,” became an important spiritual center. The property will occupy the four floors of the building and have 86 rooms, six of them suites. The location will also feature a spa, meeting rooms as well as underground and outdoor parking.

Parador de Ibiza (Balearic Islands) – The first parador to be built in the Balearic Islands will be located in the 18th century Almudaina Castle, in the heart of the historical center of the city of Ibiza. The district, known as Dalt Vila, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The hotel will have 72 double rooms and several suites, as well as venues for meetings and conventions. It will also have a gym, spa, and two swimming pools.

For a complete listing of planned and existing properties, visit www.parador.es/en/portal.do. For more information on travel to Spain, visit www.spain.info.

via Travel Agent Central.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Valencia, in Spain, found that poor handling of the oranges and insufficient cleaning of the juicer equipment stimulated bacterial contamination.

The team collected 190 batches of squeezed orange juice from different catering locations and analysed their microbiological content on the same day.

The results reveal that 43 percent of the samples exceeded the enterobacteriaceae levels deemed acceptable by food regulations in Spain and Europe. Enterobacteriaceae infects the human gut.

The researchers recommend that oranges are handled correctly, that juicers are washed properly and that the orange juice is served immediately rather than being stored in metal jugs.

Orange juice is known for its high content of vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and other antioxidant substances.

The presence of Staphylococcus aureus (responsible for several difficult to treat infections) and the Salmonella species was found in one percent and 0.5 percent of samples, respectively. Salmonella infects cattle and poultry, causes food poisoning and typhoid.

Isabel Sospedra, study co-author warns that “generally, a percentage of orange juice is consumed immediately after squeezing but in many cases, it is kept unprotected in stainless steel jugs”.

via `Orange juice served in Spanish bars contaminated`.

Pablo Soto and his companies were sued for 13 million euros by the four major music groups and trade group Promusicae for providing file-sharing applications that profit from the exchange of copyrighted material. According to a report at El Mundo, the judges in the case ruled Soto and his companies offer a neutral technical function and found the plaintiffs are not actually in competition with the defendant.

Outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Fails To Enact Anti-Piracy Legislation

“We are extremely grateful to the court for finding not only in our favor, but in favor of justice, innovation and in equal access to digital distribution,” MP2P Technologies founder/CEO Pablo Soto said in a statement.

The court’s decision is sure to add to Spain’s reputation regarding piracy. Over the years the country’s approach to copyright has differed from many other Western countries. One Spanish judge likened P2P to lending books. Sites that offer file-sharing links to illegal content have been found to be legal in the country.

Spain’s recorded music revenue dropped precipitously as copyright owners’ legal defeats have mounted. According to the IFPI, music sales in Spain fell 21 percent in 2010 after losses of 14.3 percent in 2009, 7.4 percent in 2008, 19.9 percent in 2007 and 10 percent in 2006. Spain’s legal digital market is far weaker than its peers. In 2010, the per-capita value of the country’s digital recorded music market was just 78.2 cents. That lags far behind the per-capita digital revenue of the U.K. ($5.58), Sweden ($4.12), France ($2.25) and Germany ($2.17), according to figures available in the IFPI’s Recording Industry in Numbers 2011 report.

And there are worries that Spain’s faltering record business is harming local musicians. The IFPI notes that no new Spanish artist had a top 50 album in 2010, while 10 artists landed in the top 50 in 2003.

via Billboard.biz.

The Barcelona striker, who was injured at the Club World Cup on Thursday, could miss Spain’s Euro 2012 campaign.

Dr Ramon Cugat said Villa’s chances were “slim but it cannot be ruled out”.

Villa, 30, Spain’s all-time leading scorer, had been optimistic of a speedy return, saying: “I’m sure that I’m going to recover as soon as possible.”

Dr Ricard Pruna, who also participated in the surgery on Monday, said the injury was the result of a stress fracture in his left shin bone.

“The surgery went fantastically well,” he said. “He has been sending messages to his colleagues and laughing with his wife. I have never seen someone in such good spirits after an operation.”

Dr Cugat added: “Some players can finish their professional careers with a stress fracture.

“Players prefer not to have the operation so as not to lose four or five months. Normally no one wants to have preventative surgery.

“Everyone hopes he will be able to play Euro 2012. It’s a little tight for the Champions League final in Munich. If I gave a date for his return I would probably be wrong. It will be his leg that decides.”

Villa was hurt when challenging for the ball during Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Qatari side Al Sadd in the Club World Cup semi-final in Japan.

The European champions went on to win the competition with a 4-0 win over Brazilian side Santos in the final on Sunday.

via BBC Sport.