Cristina Sanchez 1Casa Topical News Digest 31st March - No 219 Spain Eliminates Cluster Bombs Spain has announced that it has already disposed of its stock of cluster bombs, three months earlier than promised last December. The cost of the exercise was predicted to be around four million euros. Bank Merger Off The proposed merger between the banks Caja Castilla-La Mancha (CCM) and Unicaja has been ended following intervention by El Banco de España into CCM due to its lack of liquidity. The bank from Malaga, Unicaja, decided to discontinue the merger process on Friday on discovering the true state of CCM's finances following an audit by the national bank. Property Prices Down 5.4% in 2008 A report by the Spanish statistics institute shows overall property prices fell by 5.4% in 2008.  Prices of used property fell by 10.7%, against this, new property prices continued to rise slightly by 0.8% in the same period. By region, the highest fall was in Cataluña at 10.3%, and the lowest in Galicia at 0.4%, with Andalucia at 2.9%. Student Protests Over EU Plan Students in Barcelona and elsewhere in Spain have continued their protests about the EU plan to harmonise education qualification across Europe. The Bologna Declaration was signed in 1999 detailing changes to post secondary education but students say that they will have to obtain an expensive master's degree to get the same level of educational achievement as previously gained with just one degree. Spanish Scientists to Buy Amazon Land for Conservation A group of Spanish scientists have formed an organisation which intends to buy a large plot of land in the Amazon basin for the purpose of conservation. The land, of around 100,000 hectares situated on the Peruvian and Brazilian border near Amacayacu national park will be managed in conjunction with indigenous tribes. Missionaries Expelled from Morocco Five missionaries, four Spanish and one German, were expelled from Morocco at the weekend. They were apparently participating in an evangelical Christian meeting with Moroccan citizens, using books and videos in Arabic which were promptly confiscated. Salon Internacional del Gourmet This week in Madrid an exhibition featuring gourmet products from Spain is taking place. Among the food products featured is the Aloreña olive, the first to be awarded Denominacion de Origen status. Manual of Good Tourism Practices The Spanish ministry of tourism is preparing a manual of the fifty tourist destinations in the country where the best efforts are made to manage the tourist attractions. Two places in Malaga province are included: the village of Frigiliana, and the Sierra de las Nieves area. There are two others in Andalucia; Donaña national park and Punta Umbria in Huelva. Tour of Andalucia on Horseback The fourth Raid Hipico Kaliber Tierras de Al Andalus (horseback tour) starts on April 4th. The tour, sponsored by the tourism department of the Junta de Andalucia, starts from Jerez de la Frontera and follows the course of the river Guadalquivir to finish in Andujar in Jaen, passing through five provinces in the autonomous region. Inauguration of Metro de Sevilla Line 1 of the new metro is to have its first run on April 2nd at 2.00 pm in Sevilla. New Species Discovered Near Jaen Scientists from the university of Murcia, working in Sierra Magina near Jaen have discovered a new species of beetle. The creature has been named " Harpalis Lopezi" by the experts, who were surprised to discover a new species in an area so apparently well known. Row Over Beach Chiringuitos The row about the relocation of Costa del Sol beach chiringuitos (bar/restaurants) between national and local government continues. The central Environment ministry wants them removed from the beach to the outrage of owners, residents, and local and provincial governments. Apparently, a law passed long ago says that they should not be on the sand of the beaches. The latest news is that the two sides will enter discussions about the matter, which suggests that central government is about to back down. Extra Buses for Semana Santa The Malaga transport authority, EMT, has announced 45,000 extra places on its buses during the week of Semana Santa, which begins next Sunday April 5th. Banderas to Open Cine Festival Antonio Banderas, a native of Carratraca, Malaga, is to open the twelfth Festival de Malaga-Cine Español this year. The ceremony will be in the Teatro Cervantes on April 17th. Further news about Banderas was announced last week. He has bought 50% shares in a wine bodega, Anta of Ribera del Duero, which is now to be called Anta Banderas. Night Watchmen to Return to Velez The local authority of Velez-Malaga has started a course of training for the post of Sereno, the traditional night watchmen (or women) of Spain. Currently, 12 students are taking the course, training in psychology, first aid, lifesaving, law etc. It is hoped that the return of the Sereno on patrol will deter vandalism and other crimes. One wonders what became of the police................ Drought Decree Off The drought decree in force in the Axarquia district is to be lifted on April 1st now that reservoir levels exceed 45 hectometres. Connection From A357 to A92 to be Improved Major improvements are to be made to the A365 road between Campillos and the A92 motorway to Sevilla. The road, which passes through La Roda de Andalucia and Sierra de Yeguas, will improve the link from the A357 main road from Malaga to the A92, thus providing an alternative to the busy A45 via Antequera. Mijas Golf Road to be Closed The A7053 road to Fuengirola via Mijas Golf club is now closed for repair and improvements for its entire 8.8km length. The closure starts at the roundabout at Venta de los Morenos and will be in force for about one year, leaving access for the garden centre and residents only. Volunteers to Become Guides Twenty residents of the village of Archidona are to become tourist guides during weekends. The town council has begun a project to attract tourism, training volunteers to show visitors around the local attractions. More Weddings in Marbella The number of weddings registered in Marbella has gone up five times from 2007 to 2008. The increase is attributed to the influx of foreigners to the area in recent years, particularly those from South America, Morocco, and Eastern Europe, wanting to regularise their status. Additionally, tax advantages in the Spanish system can be acquired by marriage, which may have something to do with it. The current fashion for Northern Europeans to get married abroad may also be having an effect. Semana Santa in Alora Semana Santa (Holy Week) begins in Alora on Palm Sunday April 5th, continuing with a full programme of processions through the streets of the town, weather permitting, culminating on Easter Sunday the 12th. The children of El Hacho school have their own procession earlier, on Friday April 3rd around streets near the school. Tennis The Andalucia Tennis Experience starts in Marbella on April 4th until 12th. Formula 1 The first race of the season in Melbourne was won by Jensen Button in the new Brawn car, with his teammate Barrichello second. Lewis Hamilton came third starting from 18th on the grid, and Fernando Alonso fifth. The next race is in Malaysia on Sunday April 5th at the Penang circuit, 11.00 am Spanish time. Football Spain won its World Cup qualifier against Turkey 1-0, the thirtieth game without defeat and tenth successive win. The reverse fixture takes place tomorrow, Wednesday April 1st in Istanbul. Malaga take on Real Madrid on Saturday April 4th at 10.00 pm at La Rosaleda. The game is live on La Sexta TV. One hopes for a better performance than against Barcelona. 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