TWO men were arrested for posting a false bomb threat at the Marriott Hotel in Elviria, Marbella

TWO men were arrested for posting a false bomb threat at the Marriott Hotel in Elviria, Marbella on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) website last week. The message warned that the terrorist organization Al Qaeda would attack, prompting the CIA to contact the US embassy in Spain and call the National Police.

A huge police presence came to the hotel.

One of the men arrested works in the kitchen of the hotel; although both men deny the charges and have since been released.

Court to sell off Roca's private plane and helicopter

Provincial Court in Málaga hearing the Malaya corruption case and presided over by Judge José Godino, has asked for the police to value the private plane and helicopter owned by the man at the centre of the case, Juan Antonio Roca, the ex municipal real estate assessor in Marbella Town Hall.

The court wants to sell off the plane and ‘copter at auction. The plane is a luxury Cessna Citation II 550, purchased in September 2004 for1.24 million €. It’s in the name of Marbella Airways of which Roca has 25% along with three others. The police have been paying a German company to maintain and store the craft.

The helicopter is a Europter EC 130B4, priced in its day at 1.09 million €, although now it is thought to be worth about 700,000 €.

Roca is reported to be in agreement with the sale in principle, and has announced his intention to sell off his assets to face the taxes and mortgage charges against him.

The anti-corruption prosecutor has valued Roca’s assets at 200 million €. He’s reported to be in favour of liquidating the assets to award larger sums to Marbella Town Hall and others affected by the corruption should there be a guilty verdict.

Latest reports indicate that the sentences in the Malaya and the Ballena Blanca cases are still several years away.

National Police in the Sevilla town of Écija have broken up a network which helped people to obtain their driving licence fraudulently

National Police in the Sevilla town of Écija have broken up a network which helped people to obtain their driving licence fraudulently. 12 arrests have been made in the operation which started at the end of last year when it was noted that one driving school was attracting pupils from right across Andalucía.

Some of those to pass their written exams were in fact unable to read or write, but they were told over a radio link to be given the answers to the examination question. A vibrating device gave one buzz for ‘A’ and two buzzes for ‘B’. The scam had a man in the exam room to control the system, and although he had all the answers he would fail the exam to be placed in the room again on a future occasion. Police say they arrested one man who had been ‘trying to pass’ since March 2010.

12 people were arrested, ten of them trying to pass the test, and each one was found with the vibrating transmitter device when they left the exam room.

Spain tops the list in numbers of expat deaths (1,786) and arrests (2,012).

Spain tops the list in numbers of expat deaths (1,786) and arrests (2,012). A brief recent stroll through Benidorm found English fans watching football, drinking Tetley's and eating haddock and chips. But not everyone conforms to the stereotype.

In May, there will be Britons running for office in local elections and it is estimated that expats could hold the balance of power in as many as 19 towns in the Valencia region, which includes the Alicante province.

George Thomas, a much-travelled Glaswegian, is a member of the PSOE, the Spanish socialist party, in Xabia on the Costa Blanca, which will have a number of expats on its candidates' list, although he is not under any illusions about the difficulties of integration. "There are some fully integrated Brits who speak Spanish but many live in an almost sealed community," he said. Earlier this year he gave a talk at the local Casa de Cultura on the subject and pointed out that more than half of the residents of the town were foreigners but only 12% had registered to vote.

Journalist Benny Davis, who writes for the expat paper, EuroWeekly News, said: "Brits tends to live in a bubble. With more and more information available in English, there's less reason to learn Spanish and, as a consequence, less opportunity to understand the local culture. Many residents speak no more than 10 Spanish words in an average week – usually restaurant Spanish – and they pride themselves on 'getting by'.

"By moving to Spain, most have opted out of the rat race, substituting social responsibility for social activity within the numerous Brit clubs, amateur theatre and charity groups that have mushroomed over the entire Costa Blanca." Davis said expats on candidate lists were usually just "hooks to catch expats votes".

Expats are excluded from voting in the Spanish general elections but some continue to vote in the UK. Conservatives have traditionally seen the expat vote as theirs. David Cameron made a pitch for it last year when he was granted a gentle interview on Talk Radio Europe and Eric Pickles flew to Mallorca to bang the Tory drum.

But some long-term British expats in Spain find themselves effectively disenfranchised, unable to vote in either place. James Preston, a real estate investment manager originally from Leicestershire and now resident in Madrid, has taken the British government to court because he is not able to vote either in the UK or in Spain.

"I have never voted in my life but I became angered by Tony Blair taking us into the Iraq war so I started to investigate," he said. He discovered that anyone who has been living for more than 15 years outside the country but not in public service loses the right to vote.

"I'm a British citizen and only a British citizen, married to a British wife and both of us work for British firms," he said. "This law penalises me for taking advantage of the opportunities that the British government promised to all citizens when Britain joined the EU." His case is being heard in the high court this year.

Ray Mitchell, 67, a Lancastrian who lives at La Cala on the Costa del Sol and is a member of Conservatives Abroad, does not think that having an MP is a priority. He said: "I think it's unworkable because we are so widespread. It's not high on my personal agenda but I know it is for a lot of people who are still paying tax in the UK."

He said it was a "fair criticism" that the British were not, in general, well integrated: "It's difficult. I try to practise my Spanish but people come back to me in English."

The locals might agree. "British people do not seem to integrate terribly well," said a woman reporter on a Spanish daily. "They are very good at societies, book clubs, social organisations of different kinds but, in general, they seem to associate with themselves more often with other expats.

"In my personal experience, many Britons seem to have many things to complain about – the madness of the property market and rental prices, the even madder madness of red tape and paperwork when they need to deal with government offices and funcionarios. This is partly due to the culture shock and the contrast between the Anglo-Saxon and Latin mentalities but it does make some things difficult when it comes to integration."

But, she said: "There are the Britons who moved to cities like Barcelona with the idea of establishing themselves there, most of them professionals and many of them with some previous living-abroad experience. They have been working in fields like journalism, English teaching, literary translations, opening different types of shops, tech companies. They do make an effort to integrate and care more about local issues as they do make a living, pay taxes, bring up their children there."

An increasing number of British children are growing up in Spain and there are now about 60 British schools, according to Donat Morgan, of the National Association of British Schools in Spain, with another 30-40 in the works. "The student population varies from region to region, but most have large percentages of Spanish students," said Morgan. "My own school [Oakley College, Las Palmas] has 85% Spanish students." By Spanish law, all "foreign" schools must teach Spanish and Spanish history and geography from the age of 12.

Some expats are returning to Britain now, hurt by the decline of the pound. Perhaps some who remain will be encouraged to integrate further by the lead story last month in the English language Costa News: "Expats who speak Spanish 'ward off dementia for longer'." Orwell's advice about carrying that small dictionary in the pocket to whip out at a moment's notice still holds true.

Costa del Sol is a shooting gallery for rival gangsters

Costa del Sol is a shooting gallery for rival gangsters. British criminals there are a plenty plus various Italian mafias, Russians, Eastern Europeans:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spanish airport workers have called off 22 days of rolling strikes during peak holiday periods after winning guarantees of job and wage security.

Spanish airport workers have called off 22 days of rolling strikes during peak holiday periods after winning guarantees of job and wage security.
They were concerned about their conditions because their state-owned employer was due to be partly privatised.
Union representative Manuel Tapia said 70% of the 13,000 employees at the company AENA voted to cancel the stoppages.
The strike threat came from runway signallers, firefighters and ground crew workers at Spain's airports.
The deal lifts the threat of travel chaos over Easter and at busy times during the summer.
The government plans to sell off up to 49% of debt-heavy AENA as part of a deficit-cutting drive.

Figures from the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) show the main complaint was personal theft, which accounted for 48% of all tourist crimes reported.

total of 361 visitors to Ireland reported being the victim of crime last year.

Figures from the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) show the main complaint was personal theft, which accounted for 48% of all tourist crimes reported.

There were nine reports of violent crimes committed against tourists in 2010, ranging from aggravated theft to violent robbery.

Some 77% of the crimes reported were at garda stations in Dublin. Wicklow, Louth, Kerry and Galway were also hotspots for crimes against tourists.

Crimes tended to occur when tourists were sightseeing, shopping and generally relaxing in restaurants and cafés. Referrals to ITAS indicate that tourists are more likely to be victims of crime between 2-6pm, be female and aged between 17-25 years.

French nationals made up the largest proportion of the 40 nationalities referred to the service (110 people, or 18%). This is followed by Italians, 81 people (13%); Germans, 71 people (12%) Americans, 68 people (11%), British, 63 people (10%) and Spanish, 58 people (9%).

Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr. Edie Wynne said: "Being a victim of crime in a foreign country can be a frightening experience – you have the additional trauma of being in a strange country and perhaps not being familiar with the language, cultural and legal environment.

"Tourists are extremely vulnerable in these situations. The valuable assistance ITAS provides to victims and their families in stressful situations is to be commended,"

32-year-old singer from Blue – who had three number ones with the band – is being sued for 25,000 euros in maintenance charges by Majestic Hills property developers.

32-year-old singer from Blue – who had three number ones with the band – is being sued for 25,000 euros in maintenance charges by Majestic Hills property developers.
The builders claim he has failed to pay anything towards community charges after buying his four-bedroom flat in 2006. Former president of Majestic Hills development, Michael Lewis, said: “He hasn’t paid a penny towards any service charges for five vears.
“It has left the other residents footing the bill.”
James, who formed Blue in 2000 with fellow bandmate Antony Costa, is getting back with the band to perform the UK’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in Germany in May.


“Maybe he’s reforming Blue so he can pay some of his bills,” said Lewis. “I know he’s been doing the National Lottery Show on TV as well, but the odds of the community getting its money back are about as slim as me winning the jackpot,” Lewis added.
A spokesman for James insisted: “The matter is in the hands of his lawyers who are working out the exact amount owed which, when agreed, he will duly pay.”

one gunman fired two shots, hitting the man, described as middle-aged and British, in the leg.

lone gunman fired two shots, hitting the man, described as middle-aged and British, in the leg.

But before paramedics arrived, a man picked up the victim in a 4X4 and sped off.

Local police said: “We’ve checked all the hospitals but have found no trace of the injured man. The incident bore all the hallmarks of a settling of scores between criminals.”

The judge at Instruction Court No. 3 in Valencia who has been investigating alleged tax fraud in connection with Terra Mítica has concluded that company directors of the Benidorm theme park were not involved.

The judge at Instruction Court No. 3 in Valencia who has been investigating alleged tax fraud in connection with Terra Mítica has concluded that company directors of the Benidorm theme park were not involved.

The case is investigating an alleged fraud of 4.4 million € through a false invoices scam over 2000 and 2001. Terra Mítica and contractors to the theme park have been under investigation, but the judge ruled on Tuesday to provisionally lift the proceedings against the five Terra Mítica directors who were listed as suspects.

The Levante-emv newspaper reports that the judge considers that Terra Mítica did not benefit financially from the scam, or if it did, it can not be proven.

It’s understood that the case continues against the companies allegedly involved in the invoices issued during the park’s construction.

Spanish economic model of the last 30 years, with high rates of growth and job creation, is based on exploitation of the youngest workers, researchers say.

The Spanish economic model of the last 30 years, with high rates of growth and job creation, is based on exploitation of the youngest workers, researchers say.

Study author Pablo Lopez Calle of the University of Madrid and colleagues analyzed the impact of the labor reforms of the past 30 years and the living conditions of younger generations. In addition to analyzing the data, the researchers conducted 30 case studies of young people from Madrid with "sociologically significant" profiles.

The first major labor reform, in 1984, introduced "external flexibility" into the labor market -- or temporary contracts and relaxing rules on firing employees -- the study says.

The second reform, in 1994, focused on the "internal flexibilization" of human resources, with individuals negotiating salaries and working conditions, as well as the commissions-based part of the salary.

The rate of accidents at work -- one of the social indicators most commonly used to measure the evolution of work intensity -- has not only risen during the past 15 years, but has also been concentrated in companies with fewer than 50 employees -- and has particularly affected young workers who have been in their job for less than a year and are on temporary contracts, Lopez Calle says.

Today, a worker age 25 and under is four times more likely than an older worker to suffer an accident, the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work said.

Freund and his cohorts believe what remains of the sunken city might be located in muddy marshlands just south of Cadiz, Spain.

global team of scientists from the University of Hartford led by professor Richard Freund have allegedly located Atlantis, an island metropolis once thought only to be the stuff of legends.

Reuters and MSNBC reported Freund and his cohorts believe what remains of the sunken city might be located in muddy marshlands just south of Cadiz, Spain.

Freund and his team used satellite images to determine the location of the mythical sea-based city.

Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, wrote of the submerged city almost 2,600 years ago. He described the continent as alternating rings of land and sea, with a palace built in the center.

In his writings, Plato stated the city had been immersed under the Atlantic Ocean nearly 10,000 years prior after the gods punished the inhabitants by shaking the earth and sending giant waves to push the land underwater, the website Lost Civilizations reported.

MSNBC reported Freund's findings basically corroborate Plato's tale. Satellite imagery Freund and his team analyzed show the multi-ringed realm and the professor suspects a tsunami caused the land's destruction.

"This is the power of tsunamis," Freund told Reuters.

"Finding Atlantis," a documentary about the work of Freund and his team, aired as a National Geographic Channel special on Sunday night. It is slated to air again on Tuesday.

Though Freund's find is significant, he's not the first researcher to claim discovery of the mythical land. Other theories have indicated the island was located elsewhere, including the Greek island of Santorini and the Italian islands of Cyprus and Sardinia.

Professor Arysio Santos linked destruction of Atlantis with the end of the Ice Age in his 2005 book, " Atlantis, The Lost Continent Finally Found ." Santos claimed the lost continent of Atlantis is located under China's South Sea.

Hot ITV show to be shot in Marbella

The hit ITV2 show The Only Way is Essex will return to our screens next week and the show’s producers have confirmed that the new series will include scenes shot in the glamorous Costa del Sol.

Filming for a pilot in the wealthy holiday hotspot of Marbella has already started, with scenes including burlesque classes, action on the beach and in several of the local bars and nightclubs.

The show takes a fly on the wall look at the lives of affluent young characters from the Essex social scene including glamour model Lauren Pope. The unique approach to filming means that each new episode is filmed just a few days before appearing on our TV screens.
The new series will be screened for the first time next Sunday on the 20th of March and although a date for the Marbella show is still to be confirmed it is likely to feature towards the end of the series.

Amongst the many emerging stars of the show the likes of Amy Childs, Sam Faiers and Mark Wright will be heading to Marbella.

Ah, to endure the dilemmas of the rich and pivileged.

Ah, to endure the dilemmas of the rich and pivileged. Like which sports car to drive?

Or which luxurious condo to spend vacation time? Or where to fly on a private jet?

Those are just the kind of problems and difficult decisions being offered by the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation in its first BC Vacation Home Lottery.

While the Foundation has been involved with lotteries before, in partnership with other hospitals, this is its first solo venture.

"This is a great opportunity to tell the story of Royal Columbian Hospital," says Adrienne Bakker, the President and CEO of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.

That story is Royal Columbian Hospital is one of the busiest in the province. It serves one-third of British Columbia's population and receives about 61,000 emergency visits and 30,000 admissions every year. Proceeds from the lottery will be used to support emergency and trauma services at the hospital.

"Advancing excellence and quality in health care is our first priority," says Bakker. "This lottery represents a chance to make a difference in the lives of our patients."

It could also change the lives of the winners. The three grand prizes are fully-furnished vacation homes, including one in Kelowna which also comes with a speed boat, a 2011 Land Rover R2, a couple's membership at the Kelowna Springs Golf Club, clubs to play with and $100,000. The other homes are in Parksville and Whistler and also come with cash prizes.

In total there are more, 1,700 prizes worth a total of $3.2 million to be won including sports cars, vacations in Fiji, Greece, Africa, Tuscany and Paris, where the winner will have a front-row seat on the Champs Elysée to the finale of the Tour de France.

While there's no shortage of big-prize lotteries to tempt people's fantasies and support a cause along the way, Bakker says it's the early bird prize of 50 hours of flying time on a Cessna Citation private jet for the winner and six companions that sets the Vacation Home Lottery apart.

"It's very unique," says Bakker. "No one else has this amazing prize. It really gives people who buy a ticket a chance to dream about where they want to go."

Getting there will be half the fun, aboard the spacious, well-appointed jet with roomy leather seats, a lavatory, and plenty of storage space for luggage, garment bags, golf clubs or other sporting equipment.

And when the winner and six guests reach their chosen destination, their luxurious getaway can continue with $15,000 spending money.

The deadline to get tickets eligible for the early bird draw is midnight, March 17. That draw will be held April 6.

The deadline for all tickets is midnight, April 7. Draws for the rest of the prizes will be conducted April 26-28.

Banco Santander SA (SAN) Chief Executive Officer Alfredo Saenz suspended from banking for three months.

Spain’s Supreme Court upheld a conviction against Banco Santander SA (SAN) Chief Executive Officer Alfredo Saenz and suspended him from banking for three months.

Santander will appeal the sentence handed down to Saenz for making a false accusation, an official for the bank said in a telephone interview, while the lender said in a filing to regulators its board backed Saenz to continue as CEO. As well as suspending him from his banking duties, the Madrid-based court imposed a three-month jail term on Saenz, although he’s unlikely to serve it, a court official said in a phone interview.

Saenz, 68, has been CEO of Spain’s biggest bank since 2002, helping Chairman Emilio Botin lead acquisitions in the U.K. and Brazil that have enabled the lender to become the second biggest in Europe by market value and diversify its earnings beyond Spain. Botin described Saenz, who has helped Santander more than triple its profit since 2002, as the “best chief executive in banking” in a speech in February.

“With maximum respect for the judicial decisions, the board confirms its confidence in Mr. Alfredo Saenz so that he may continue to carry out his responsibilities as the bank’s chief executive officer,” Santander said in a statement.

The case relates to efforts made by Banesto, a consumer- banking unit of Santander, to recover loans in 1994. During the proceedings, the company sued for fraud, prompting counter- allegations of false accusation, Banesto said in 2009, when news of Saenz’s conviction by a court in Barcelona first broke.

Saenz Appeal

The proceedings initiated by Banesto were begun with the blessing of Saenz, who was chairman of the bank at the time, according to the original ruling by the Barcelona court. That court handed Saenz and two others a six-month jail term and a fine on a single count of making a false accusation, according to the ruling.

The Bank of Spain, the banking regulator, declined to comment on the ruling. According to a 1995 Royal decree, “professional virtue” is a prerequisite for those working in the industry and can be lost by anyone with a criminal record.

Santander is awaiting approval by the U.K. Financial Services Authority for Saenz’s appointment as non-executive director of its British unit, which is led by Botin’s eldest daughter, Ana Patricia Botin. When banks put forward candidates for roles that carry significant influence, the FSA takes into account different factors to see if he or she is fit and proper, said a spokeswoman for the U.K.’s financial regulator.

U.K. Role

If someone has a criminal conviction, it doesn’t necessarily follow that the person is unfit, although the FSA will examine the facts of the case because integrity is one of the factors it weighs when approving banking appointments, the spokeswoman said. The FSA only comments on its general policy and not on individual cases, she said.

Saenz will appeal the Supreme Court sentence at the constitutional court and will ask the government to commute it, said a spokesman for the bank, who asked not to be named in line with company policy. He will also ask the Barcelona court to suspend imposing the sentence while the appeal goes through, the bank said.

Saenz, accused with two others, was also fined 400 euros ($553), the Supreme Court ruling said. The ruling carried a dissenting vote from one of the five judges, the court said. Saenz, who has accrued pension rights of 85.7 million euros at the bank, is obliged to observe Santander’s group general code, which regulates compliance with laws and ethical behavior.

“It’s negative because Santander really wants to be an industry leader from a reputational point of view,” said Bernhard Bauhofer, founder of Sparring Partners GmbH, which advises financial companies on managing their reputations.

Assuming the Barcelona court agrees to suspend the carrying out of the sentence for now, the appeal presented by Saenz may take two to four years to proceed, Santander said.

politicians now use crude language in Spain, where insulting others has become 'an institution' and an increasingly common part of everyday life, as the daily El Pais put it.

'The other day, I let fly at a collaborator, telling him he was a son of a bitch,' Spanish 'teletrash' celebrity Belen Esteban said in a recent interview.
Such language could be attributed to Esteban's lack of education and provocative attitude, but she is far from being the only Spanish public personality to talk that way.
Even some politicians now use crude language in Spain, where insulting others has become 'an institution' and an increasingly common part of everyday life, as the daily El Pais put it.
'Stupidity and vulgarity' are becoming socially acceptable in a phenomenon which will end up undermining Spain as a society, philosopher Emilio Lledo said.
Analysts speak of deep sociological changes, the full meaning of which is not yet clear.
Many people attribute the phenomenon to the quality of Spanish television channels, some of which are widely regarded as being among the trashiest in Europe.
A large part of their programming consists of gossipy programmes or talk shows on which the likes of Esteban - former girlfriend of a bullfighter - hold millions of viewers in thrall by lambasting others and by revealing details about their private lives.
The more mud participants sling at each other or at people not present at the programme, the more audiences soar.
'If there is no controversy, there is no spectacle,' writer Juan Marse said.
The outrageous language used by television celebrities is believed to influence that of ordinary people, and has even spread among politicians, who say things that would have been almost unthinkable a decade ago.
One Socialist mayor, for instance, called voters of the opposition conservatives 'dumbfucks.'
Another mayor sparked a scandal by making ambiguous remarks about Health Minister Leire Pajin's 'thick lips.'
Spaniards' frequent use of insults and swear words upsets many immigrants from Spanish-speaking Latin America, where such language is not used in public.
'The Spanish language is becoming impoverished' in the mother country, which once implanted its tongue across the Atlantic, a Colombian journalist complained.
'It is as if speaking well were pretentious,' actress Nuria Espert told El Pais.
The acceptance of offensive attitudes is also reflected in the growing number of gossipy magazines which focus on the defects of celebrities whom paparazzi catch off guard.
'Demi (Moore) the ugly one,' the latest issue of In Touch screamed in a headline. Such publications do not shy away from dwelling on any details, ranging from cloth stains to hairy armpits.
Disrespectful as such gossip may seem, analysts also see it as representing a partly healthy rebellion against the traditional hypocrisy of glossy reports on the perfect lives and looks of the rich and famous.
'We all have defects - even celebrities,' writes Cuore, another publication relishing unfavourable gossip.
Today, 'people are more ironic, sceptical and better informed,' and want to see 'crude reality' rather than 'lies,' writer Vicente Verdu said.

Aston Martin wants you to take a trip to the Ascari circuit in Spain to get a better idea of what the updated V8 Vantage is all about

located the lost city of Atlantis, the legendary metropolis believed swamped by a tsunami thousands of years ago in mud flats in southern Spain.

U.S.-led research team may have finally located the lost city of Atlantis, the legendary metropolis believed swamped by a tsunami thousands of years ago in mud flats in southern Spain.

"This is the power of tsunamis," head researcher Richard Freund told Reuters.

"It is just so hard to understand that it can wipe out 60 miles inland, and that's pretty much what we're talking about," said Freund, a University of Hartford, Connecticut, professor who lead an international team searching for the true site of Atlantis.

To solve the age-old mystery, the team used a satellite photo of a suspected submerged city to find the site just north of Cadiz, Spain. There, buried in the vast marshlands of the Dona Ana Park, they believe that they pinpointed the ancient, multi-ringed dominion known as Atlantis.

The team of archeologists and geologists in 2009 and 2010 used a combination of deep-ground radar, digital mapping, and underwater technology to survey the site.

Freund's discovery in central Spain of a strange series of "memorial cities," built in Atlantis' image by its refugees after the city's likely destruction by a tsunami, gave researchers added proof and confidence, he said.

Atlantis residents who did not perish in the tsunami fled inland and built new cities there, he added.

The team's findings will be unveiled on Sunday in "Finding Atlantis," a new National Geographic Channel special.

While it is hard to know with certainty that the site in Spain in Atlantis, Freund said the "twist" of finding the memorial cities makes him confident Atlantis was buried in the mud flats on Spain's southern coast.

"We found something that no one else has ever seen before, which gives it a layer of credibility, especially for archeology, that makes a lot more sense," Freund said.

Greek philosopher Plato wrote about Atlantis some 2,600 years ago, describing it as "an island situated in front of the straits which are by you called the Pillars of Hercules," as the Straits of Gibraltar were known in antiquity. Using Plato's detailed account of Atlantis as a map, searches have focused on the Mediterranean and Atlantic as the best possible sites for the city.

Tsunamis in the region have been documented for centuries, Freund says. One of the largest was a reported 10-story tidal wave that slammed Lisbon in November, 1755.

Debate about whether Atlantis truly existed has lasted for thousands of years. Plato's "dialogues" from around 360 B.C. are the only known historical sources of information about the iconic city. Plato said the island he called Atlantis "in a single day and night... disappeared into the depths of the sea."

Experts plan further excavations are planned at the site where they believe Atlantis is located and at the mysterious "cities" in central Spain 150 miles away to more closely study geological formations and to date artifacts.

A British five year-old boy has died after being buried in snow at a Spanish ski resort in the Pyrenees.

The child died in hospital on Tuesday, 11 days after being pulled from the snow when the driver of a snow plough failed to spot him playing near a ski-lift in the resort of Baqueira Beret.
The boy was airlifted to hospital after spending at least a minute under the huge pile of snow before his father and other skiers could reach him.
A magistrate is now investigating the death and the driver of the snowplough could face charges of manslaughter, Spanish media reported.
The driver has told investigators he was clearing a path to the chairlift and had not seen theyoungster playing nearby.
The boy, who has not been named, had stopped breathing when he was pulled from the snow.:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Barclays to close 100 branches in Spain: report

 Barclays to close 100 branches in Spain: report: "British bank Barclays will close more than 100 branches and lay off 700 staff in Spain to cut costs and stem losses, the financial daily Expansion said Tuesday.
The cuts, amounting to 17 percent of the staff and almost 20 percent of the branch network, would be announced this week as part of a global plan to reduce costs and open up new markets, it said.
Barclays officials in London and Madrid declined to comment.
The decision coincided with the arrival one month ago of a new head of Barclays' retail banking business in Spain, Jaime Echegoyen, who was formerly the chief executive of Bankinter, it said.
Barclays wanted to re-focus its business in Spain on medium- and high-earning customers.
The 2008 collapse of the Spanish property bubble hit Barclays bank hard, leaving it exposed to bad loans. It was forced to make provisions of 900 million pounds (1.062 billion euros) last year, it said.
Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond had described the group's losses in Spain in 2010 as being unacceptable, the paper said."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

How Spain is fighting the recession

How Spain is fighting the recession : "With the cost of oil threatening to further slow down an economy that is already in the doldrums, Spain is not lying down and taking it. In the space of a week, the country and its people have decided to fight back with a little ingenuity.

First, the socialist government cut the speed limit on Spanish motorways, from 120km/h to 110km/h, as part of an energy-saving drive. Then came news of Mugardos, a small town in Galicia that has decided to operate once more in pesetas. The town's 60 shopkeepers have started accepting them again in the hope of mopping up some of the £1.5bn worth that were never exchanged when the euro was introduced in 2002. Sure enough, shoppers have been flocking to the town.

Third, they have turned to celebrity endorsement. Real Madrid has signed a deal to promote Spain and Madrid as tourist destinations. The club's star players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, will act as 'brand ambassadors'. Tourism authorities say they could reach an audience of more than 300 million people, which should bring in a few more tourists and their pennies.

What, some are asking, will be next? And, more to the point, what are we doing to compare? Answers on a postcard to . . ."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

British woman killed by her Spanish ex

British woman killed by her Spanish ex in Madrid: "52 year old British woman named by EFE as Marilyn Wilson was found stabbed to death outside her home in Fuente el Saz del Jarama, Madrid, on Monday morning in a new case of domestic violence.

She was seriously injured but still alive when she was found lying on the road outside her home on the outskirts of the town, with stab wounds to her chest and abdomen at around 8am on Monday. She was stabilised at the scene, but died shortly after she was admitted to the Infanta Sofía Hospital in San Sebastián de Reyes.

Her killer was arrested six hours later hiding out in a local cemetery. He has been named by EFE as a 57 year old Spaniard, Vicente S.M., who is the victim’s ex partner. It’s understood that a distancing order was in place after he was reported by the victim for abuse in June last year.

The Civil Guard and the Town Hall in Fuente el Saz had been monitoring the British woman’s situation after her ex broke the distancing order last November when he contacted her by telephone.

Públic reports that the couple had an appointment in court this Wednesday, March 9, for their divorce proceedings."

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10 arrests after weekend pro-democracy Morocco protests

10 arrests after weekend pro-democracy Morocco protests "Fresh demonstrations took place over the weekend in Morocco, with police dispersing protesters in several cities where they had gathered to demand a more democratic constitution, the pro- democracy 'February 20 Movement' said Monday.
Rallies mobilized hundreds of people in Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakesh on Sunday.
Police dispersed the protesters mostly without violence, media reported. About 10 people were arrested in Tangier.
The authorities had warned organizers that unauthorized rallies would not be tolerated.
'The people does not need permission to demonstrate,' the 'February 20 Movement' said in a communique."

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Spain property owners accept lower offers

Spain property owners accept lower offers: "The vast majority of people realistically seeking to sell their home in Spain are accepting offers of up to 20 per cent below the asking price, according to Spain property firm Idealista.

Spain property owners are required to accept offers significantly below the asking price, despite major reductions in Spain property asking prices, due to a glut of homes across most parts of the country, particularly in popular tourist areas along the coast.

Reports suggest that there are over a million unsold properties in Spain at the moment, equating to around 20 per cent of Spain’s housing stock, which is extremely high compared to other European countries.

Spain property prices have fallen by up to 50 per cent across much of the country since the market peak of early 2007. This has already prompted Beatriz Corredor, the Spanish housing minister, to issue a recent plea to Britons to start buying more homes in Spain, again – a move which appears to be working.

Demand for homes in Spain is reportedly growing rapidly, largely because there are such cheap properties in Spain now available."

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British expat stabbed to death on doorstep

British expat stabbed to death on doorstep - Telegraph: "Marylin Wilson, 55, was found bleeding to death outside her house in the village of Fuente el Saz del Jarama on the outskirts of the capital early on Monday morning.
She had several stab wounds to her chest and abdomen and despite attention from paramedics at the scene she died shortly after arriving in hospital.
Police arrested a 55-year old Spanish man believed to be her ex-boyfriend several hours later in the town of Valdetorres north of Madrid.
Police said the attacker was lying in wait for his victim and approached her when she left her home at around 8am to walk to her daughter's house nearby.
A restraining order had been issued against her ex-boyfriend last July after she reported him under Spain's gender violence law."

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The owners of more than 11,000 homes under threat of demolition will now be able to keep properties in the Axarquia region of Andalucia

The owners of more than 11,000 homes under threat of demolition will now be able to keep properties in the Axarquia region of Andalucia, on the Costa del Sol.
But regional government bosses say they cannot guarantee the future of more than 850 houses built on protected land and a further 970 homes built illegally in the last four years.
The amnesty was announced this week after a study of the area, part of Malaga province, by council chiefs.
Around 20 per cent of those affected are thought to be British people who had been sold houses which had been approved by corrupt local politicians but were later ruled illegal by regional planning chiefs.
Many live without running water or power because their properties do not officially exist.
Gary Miles, of residents’ group Save Our Homes Axarquia, said: “Almost all of our members bought in good faith. Our impression is the Andalucian government has lost heart over demolition orders.”


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‘Benidorm’ Brits drink most abroad

‘Benidorm’ Brits drink most abroad : "IT’S the behaviour that led to the “Brits abroad” reputation stereotyped in popular sitcom Benidorm.

Now research claims Britons are Europe’s heaviest holiday drinkers, with 65% drinking more while on a trip abroad than they do at home.

Whether it’s a bottle of wine with lunch al fresco or cocktails by the pool – like Benidorm’s fictional hotel guests, we enjoy relaxing with alcohol far more than our European cousins."

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Morocco frees jailed senior air force officer: lawyer

Morocco frees jailed senior air force officer: lawyer  "Morocco's King Mohammed has pardoned a retired senior air force officer who was sentenced by a martial court to a 12-year jail term for complaining to the monarch about the poor treatment of former air force pilots.

'Kaddour Terhzaz walked free out of his prison this afternoon upon a royal pardon and after an iniquitous trial that ended up wasting two years of his life in jail for nothing,' his lawyer Abderrahim Jamai told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Moroccan military could not be immediately reached for comment."

Spain`s jobless total at 15-year high

Spain`s jobless total at 15-year high: "Spain has nearly 4.3 million people without jobs, the highest total since the current statistical series began in 1996, the labour ministry has said.

In February, an additional 68,620 people registered as unemployed, a figure the ministry described as 'bad', though 'a little better' than the corresponding numbers in February 2009 and 2010.

Unemployment rose 1.6 percent in February compared to January and by four percent compared to February 2010."

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SDSU exchange student missing in Spain

SDSU exchange student missing in Spain "Authorities in Madrid are searching for a San Diego State University foreign-exchange student who was studying in Spain and who has not been seen for nearly a week.

Austin Taylor Bice is a senior who is studying international business, said Gina Jacobs, a spokeswoman for the university. He was studying at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Jacobs said Wednesday night. He has been missing since Friday night."

Spain, France, Britain,launch emergency airlifts on Libyan border

Spain, France launch emergency airlifts on Libyan border: "More than 140,000 refugees already have fled into Tunisia and Egypt from Libya and thousands more are arriving by the day. U.N. officials are warning that fast action is needed to protect and feed them to prevent a humanitarian crisis.

Many of the foreigners are from countries that cannot afford evacuations. Human Rights Watch warns that workers from sub-Saharan Africa are in danger because they are being mistaken for mercenaries hired by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Britain, Spain and France are among those organizing airlifts. Prime Minister David Cameron says British planes are helping to evacuate nearly 9,000 Egyptian migrants from the Tunisian border to Cairo.

Also among the stranded are Bangladeshi, Vietnamese, Filipino and Ghanaian nationals."

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Pain in Spain on the cards for British holidaymakers

Pain in Spain on the cards for British holidaymakers -02 March, 2011: "Spanish airport workers, including baggage handlers and fire fighters, are threatening a strike that could disrupt the travel plans of thousands of British holidaymakers over the Easter break.

Three unions have called for industrial action to prevent the government's part privatization of the civil aviation agency AENA, according to the Daily Mail.

The strike could bring Spanish airports to a standstill. Although no confirmed dates for industrial action have been set, Easter weekend from April 22 to 25 is a possibility, said the Mail.

There is a danger strikes could also continue until May, which means those planning a break to coincide with the Royal Wedding at the end of April could also be hit, although AENA said it was hoping to reach an agreement with the unions to prevent any industrial action taking place."