Spanish house prices fell for the twelfth straight quarter in the final three months of 2010,

Spanish house prices fell for the twelfth straight quarter in the final three months of 2010, but came close to break-even as the property market struggles to emerge from an extended slump.

In the October to December period prices fell 0.1 percent quarter on quarter, national statistics institute INE said on Tuesday.

That was the smallest drop since quarterly prices began to descend in the fourth quarter of 2007 and much less than the 2.2 percent decline registered in July-September 2010.

However, official data underestimates the weakness of the market and final sale prices, rather than valuation prices used by INE, may have fallen much more sharply, economist at Global Insight Raj Badiani said.

"Despite recent indicators suggesting that the rate of decline in housing activity has been stabilising, the fundamentals point to weak activity across the sector," Badiani said.

"This is a concern for the household economy, given that housing equity constitutes around 90 percent of total household wealth."

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Posted in: Spanish house prices fell for the twelfth straight quarter in the final three months of 2010

The dream of living in Spain is one held by many Britons of all ages and from all walks of life

The dream of living in Spain is one held by many Britons of all ages and from all walks of life.  For some, the thought that you can live in perpetual sunshine and not have to learn the local lingo is a draw, for others it’s the other side of Spain away from the tourist beaches that appeals to them most.

Spain is also quite close to the UK geographically speaking, it does enjoy excellent weather on the Mediterranean coastline for example, and because may Brits already live there, integration can be relatively smooth.  However, parts of Spain such as Mallorca practically die in the winter because tourists drift away and everything gets boarded up – and it does get cold!  Other parts of Spain such as Marbella are currently a crime hotspot.

The nation has been extremely badly impacted by the economic downturn, entire developments remain unfinished and some people are truly stuck living in Spain when they’d rather flee back to the UK.

To live in Spain you need to love the nation – ideally you’ll have a comfortable pension or income to live on, you’ll speak Spanish and your move will be a permanent one if you buy a house in the country.  Otherwise, try renting instead of buying so that you’re not tied to one location if it becomes less desirable.

Just like France, Spain can represent the fulfilment of the dream on every level – but do your homework and research to ensure you get your move right.

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David Valadez, the Socialist Mayor of Estepona, is to appear in court next month,

David Valadez, the Socialist Mayor of Estepona, is to appear in court next month, where he’s to be questioned as a suspect for allegedly using funds from land sales to pay the wages of the municipal workforce.

El Mundo newspaper gives his date in court as April 1. It’s understood that the municipal secretary, Francisco de Paula, the Town Hall treasurer, Javier María Marín, will be in court with him on the first of next month.

The complaint presented by the Partido Popular in September claims that most of the funds used to pay Town Hall wages are income resulting from planning agreements and should only be spent on planning matters.

El Mundo notes that Andalucía’s LOUA land law prohibits using funds from planning agreements to cover general expenditure.

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Posted in: David Valadez,is to appear in court next month,the Socialist Mayor of Estepona

'Bargain Properties' Available In Spain

'Bargain Properties' Available In Spain: "Substantial price falls in the Spanish property market have meant that there are plenty of opportunities for buyers to pick up a bargain at present.

Official government figures released by the Department for Housing show that the average price for a house in Spain have fallen by 3.5 per cent over the course of the past 12 months.

However, real estate professionals have suggested that the declines have been underestimated.

'The problem with the government's data is it tends to understate price falls, which have been more like 30 per cent or more [peak-to-present] in coastal regions like the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol,' said Mark Stucklin of Spanish Property Insight."

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Selva Pascuala cave murals 'show man may have used magic mushrooms 6,000 years ago' | Mail Online

Selva Pascuala cave murals 'show man may have used magic mushrooms 6,000 years ago' | Mail Online: "For all those who thought hallucinogenic drugs took off in the 1960s, think again: scientists believe they have found evidence of magic mushroom use 6,000 years ago.

Cave murals found in Spain appear to depict them in religious rituals - which would be the oldest evidence of their use in Europe.

The Selva Pascuala cave mural near the town of Villar del Humo has a bull in the centre, but researchers from America and Mexico are focussing on a row of 13 small mushroom-like objects."

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

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Posted in: Selva Pascuala cave murals 'show man may have used magic mushrooms

Swiss receive Egypt request on Mubarak assets

|Swiss receive Egypt request on Mubarak assets: "Switzerland has received a formal request from Cairo concerning the assets of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and “representatives of the former regime,” the justice ministry said.

“A rogatory commission has been transmitted to us,” said Folco Galli, spokesman of the Swiss Justice Ministry.

“It concerns the representatives of the former regime,” he added, without giving their names. Switzerland had taken pre-emptive action to freeze the assets of Mubarak and his entourage on February 11, barely two hours after the former president stepped down."

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Saddam Hussein, Gary Glitter and Ian Brady's lawyer arrested over fraud | Mail Online

Saddam Hussein, Gary Glitter and Ian Brady's lawyer arrested over fraud | Mail Online: "A celebrity lawyer whose clients have included Saddam Hussein, Gary Glitter and Ian Brady - and he once said he would 'defend Adolf Hitler or Satan' - has been arrested at his Spanish villa.

Giovanni Di Stefano, 55, was held at his luxury home on Majorca last night over fraud allegations in the UK.

He was under a police guard at a hospital on the island today after telling detectives he was suffering from a serious illness."

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

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Posted in: 55,Giovanni Di Stefano,was held at his luxury home on Majorca last night over fraud allegations in the UK.

Showbiz - News - Duncan James sued over Spanish home

Showbiz - News - Duncan James sued over Spanish home - Digital Spy: "Blue star Duncan James has been sued over allegedly unpaid fees on his former Spanish home.

The 'Guilty' singer has been hit with a lawsuit demanding £23,500 in maintenance charges on the luxury Costa del Sol apartment he purchased back in 2006.

Contactmusic states that owners of the Majestic Hills development believe that James is still responsible for the outstanding sums, even though he sold the property over a year ago.

A spokesperson for James clarified: 'That matter is in the hands of his lawyers, who are working out the exact amount owed which, when agreed, he will duly pay.'"

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

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Posted in: Majestic Hills development

Volcano alert on Iceland

Volcano alert on Iceland - World - IOL | Breaking News | South Africa News | World News | Sport | Business | Entertainment | IOL.co.za: "Another volcano could be about to erupt on Iceland, threatening to spew out a blanket of dust that would dwarf last year’s eruption and ground hundreds more passenger flights.

Geologists say there is a high risk of the island’s second-largest volcano Bárdarbunga erupting after an increase in the number of earthquakes around it.

Pall Einarsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland, says the increased activity provides “good reason to worry”. The sustained tremors to the north-east of the remote volcano range are the strongest recorded in recent times and there was “no doubt’ the lava was rising.

But he added that a low number of detection devices in the area make it difficult to predict exactly what will happen, and when."

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

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Living Well Marbella with Dr Hilary Jones, Louise van der Velde and Willie Thorne

Living Well Marbella with Dr Hilary Jones, Louise van der Velde and Willie Thorne: "The first Living Well Marbella proved to be a huge success. Held at the Hotel Puente Romano the two day exhibition featured the Coast's leading doctors, clinics and complimentary health practitioners with over 25 workshops and over 65 stands.

Attendees were able to have a go at Yoga, Spinning, Pilates, aerobic and boxer-size classes. Discover what makes you tick with NLP, or meditation, or have a reading from psychics. There were also health checks from doctors, dentists and back specialists, as well as juices and health food and massages and relaxing healing treatments.


Living Well Marbella also featured talks from several of the exhibitors as well as Dr. Hilary Jones, Willie Thorne and Louise Van der Velde .

Dr Jones spoke exclusively to i-marbella and commented on the healthy lifestyle that people living on the coast can enjoy 'I think that it's a lot easier for people to look after themselves here than in the UK. The food is fresher and better and the climate is better, making it easier to enjoy exercise in the outdoors. It'a better place to look after yourself, and that's why I think that people live longer once they happily retire down here."

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Posted in: Living Well Marbella with Dr Hilary Jones,Louise van der Velde and Willie Thorne

Winners of King of Spain Journalism Prizes announced - Fox News Latino

Winners of King of Spain Journalism Prizes announced - Fox News Latino: "Professionals from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Spain and Portugal are the winners of the 28th edition of the King of Spain International Journalism Prizes, organizers announced Thursday.

The process is in the hands of Agencia Efe, Spain's international news agency; and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

The Ibero-American prize was awarded to Argentine journalist Diana Fernandez Irusta for an article titled 'Aun testigos' (Still Witnesses) that was published on Nov. 15, 2009, in Buenos Aires newspaper La Nacion's Sunday magazine.

The story gathers the testimony of five 'children of war' who were forced to leave Spain during that country's 1936-1939 Civil War and after various trials and tribulations ended up in Argentina.

Colombia's Jose Enrique Guarnizo was awarded the Press prize for a report on illegal African and Asian immigrants who traveled to Colombia's Uraba region in their quest to reach the United States.

In the Television category, Colombians Waldir Ochoa Guzman and Victor Hugo Deossa took top honors for a segment titled 'La verdad' (The Truth), which documents cases of people who have gone missing during the Andean nation's decades-old armed conflict."

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Posted in: Winners of King of Spain Journalism Prizes announced

CLOSED DOWN.....Marbella restaurateur, Jose Arias-Camison

Marbella restaurateur, Jose Arias-Camison, has hit the headlines by refusing to enforce the anti-smoking law, and has placed a huge sign outside stating that, ‘as a private business we believe it is our right not to apply this law’.

He says: “If people can’t smoke in my restaurant I will close it and leave Spain altogether!” While some clients are disgusted that Jose feels he has the right to continue forcing them to inhale smoke, others applaud the stance."

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Posted in: CLOSED DOWN.....Marbella restaurateur,Jose Arias-Camison

Hundreds of shoppers took up the ‘trade boosting challenge’ at the La Cañada shopping centre near Marbella,

"Hundreds of shoppers took up the ‘trade boosting challenge’ at the La Cañada shopping centre near Marbella, and turned up in their underwear.

As advertised, the first 200 shoppers (partly dressed) were given free gifts and first crack at the bargains on offer."

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Posted in: Hundreds of shoppers took up the ‘trade boosting challenge’ at the La Cañada shopping centre near Marbella

Police have been stopping charity organisations in some areas from playing bingo which they say ‘is an illegal money-making racket’.

Police have been stopping charity organisations in some areas from playing bingo which they say ‘is an illegal money-making racket’.

It was claimed by one elderly group that after one heavy handed raid there were just five euros in the kitty!"

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Posted in: Police have been stopping charity organisations in some areas from playing bingo which they say ‘is an illegal money-making racket’.

Estepona Guardia Civil recently had to withdraw its entire fleet of vehicles as none of them had valid MOT certificates"

"Estepona Guardia Civil recently had to withdraw its entire fleet of vehicles as none of them had valid MOT certificates"

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Posted in: Estepona Guardia Civil recently had to withdraw its entire fleet of vehicles as none of them had valid MOT certificates"

The Saudi royal family is planning a multimillion euro investment in Estepona next year.

The Saudi royal family is planning a multimillion euro investment in Estepona next year. King Fahad’s descendants still occasionally visit the vast mansion near Marbella and are set to create a luxury urbanisation of 1,500 houses, a hotel and golf courses etc."

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Posted in: The Saudi royal family is planning a multimillion euro investment in Estepona next year.

Gary Moore tribute: Thin Lizzy boys are back in town

Gary Moore tribute: Thin Lizzy boys are back in town - Northern Ireland, Local & National - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk: "Reformed rock band Thin Lizzy are to pay an emotional tribute to their former colleague Gary Moore in Belfast next week when they play in the late guitarist’s home town.

Ironically the concert will be staged in a venue that Moore hated — the Waterfront on the banks of the River Lagan.

Moore (58), who was raised only a few miles from the Waterfront, died on Sunday after suffering a massive heart attack at the start of a holiday on the Costa del Sol.

Moore was a member of Thin Lizzy for three spells after teaming up with Dubliner Phil Lynott, who died 25 years ago.

Gary organised a memorial concert for Lynott in Dublin in 2005 but decided against joining ex-members of Thin Lizzy when they revived the group for a tour of the UK, which arrives in Belfast next Wednesday night"

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Posted in: Gary Moore tribute: Thin Lizzy boys are back in town