Wednesday 22nd February

Fuerteventura Request Extended Opening Hours

The Canary Islands government,the Fuerteventura Council and the Chamber of Commerce claim to have been requesting for over a year now that AENA extend the opening times of the Fuerteventura airport by an extra two hours. AENA however, claim that they have not received a formal request for this.The Chamber of Commerce of Fuerteventura, the Association of Hotels and Tourism have accused AENA of slowing down the development of tourism on the island and prevented them from reaching more than 100,000 tourists every year. The minister of tourism, Ernie Acosta, said that the airport needs to be open at the same times in which they operate other international airports. AENAs response is that they “are willing to consider any request and to arrange a meeting as soon as possible with institutions and business associations.

More Tremors On El Hierro

The National Geographic Institute has reported that El Hierro experienced 23 earth tremors on Monday. Scientists said the tremors were centred to the west of the island in the area of El Golfo and El Julan and ranged between 0.6 and 2.3 on the Richter scale. Two of the tremors were large enough to be felt by the local population, one measuring 2.0 and a second measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale. Despite this, scientists report that the latest survey of the underwater volcanic fissures shows activity has decreased since last week when the opening of a second vent saw activity increase.

Yacht Crew Rescued Off Fuerteventura

Two people were rescued yesterday after their yacht the ‘Itaparica’, sank around 10km off the coast of Fuerteventura. A Marine Rescue craft and helicopter were dispatched to the scene by the Maritime Rescue centre in Las Palmas. However, they were beaten by a local fishing boat, the Mary Gema I, which was in the vicinity at the time and rescued the two sailors, caring for them until they could be transferred to the Marine Rescue craft.

Iron Butterfly Chooses Gran Canaria

Legendary 1960s American rock band Iron Butterfly will play in Gran Canaria on February 24th as one of only two Spanish concerts in their 2012 European tour. The gig, officially confirmed on their website, follows on from their appearance in Barcelona on February 17th. The band will perform in the Teatro Felo Monzón de Tafira Baja in Las Palmas and tickets are on sale through www.entradas.com.

PP government Says “It is Not For Turning”

Despite a massive turnout across Spain on Sunday at protest marches against the government’s radical labor reforms, as well as widespread cross-party opposition to the measures, the ruling Popular Party dug its heels in and said it would only contemplate minor changes to the legislation it approved in the form of a decree. “The PP has received a reformist mandate from an immense majority of Spaniards, and the government is determined to carry out an authentic overhaul of the labour model in this country, even though it is not popular,” she added.

Monday 20th February

Marches Against Labour Reforms

Thousands of people took part in marches in the Canary Islands capitals yesterday, protesting the latest labour reforms proposed by the government headed by Mariano Rajoy. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife around 8,000 people took part in the March, according to union leaders, although police estimated the numbers at around 2,500. Secretary General of the UGT Union in the Canary Islands, Gustavo Santana, said this Sunday’s march is only the first of a series of protests against government reform of labour laws which, objectors say, will make it easier and less costly for employers to hire and fire workers. Santana described the new labour reforms as ‘an unprecedented social decline’ urging the government to rethink the proposals.

UK Fines Banco Santander 1.8 Million Euros

The UK's financial services industry regulator, the Financial Services Authority has fined Spanish bank Santander 1.8 million euros for failing to clarify a compensation procedure on some of its products. The FSA said that the Santander fine related to "failing to confirm under which circumstances its structured products would be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme ."The FSA said Santander had sold around 3.20 billion euros worth of structured products - which are often complex savings products - between 2008 and the start of 2010 but had not adequately informed customers over the extent to which they could be compensated on them.

Concern Over Heroin Spread

La Palma is still fighting to stop the spread of cocaine use across the island and, more recently, the increasing use of heroin. Statistics revealed by the Civil Guard, National Police and courts show drug trafficking continues to be rife, both by sea and air. They also believe that a large number of immigrants from South America, coupled with a social group of people without jobs and nothing to do, is fostering drug use. Police are very aware of the routes taken by traffickers to La Palma as the most westerly island of the Canaries and warn they will be ever-vigilant in the war against drug. Recent prosecutions have included five people sent to prison for running a hashish and cocaine network, with the drugs having been purchased in Santa Cruz and transported to La Palma. Eighteen arrests were also made amongst a gang who smuggled cocaine into La Palma from Madrid and Bilbao.

Sunday 19th February

Colour and Rhythm in Arrecife

The carnival festivities filled the streets of Arrecife on Saturday morning. The parade began near the beach by the Grand Hotel, continuing along the seafront in the capital and ending at el Puente de Las Bolas. The spectacles were enjoyed by a large audience, including many families with young children and tourists. Among those attending the parade included the mayor of Arrecife, Candido Reguer.

Government To Limit Public Company Salaries

Spain's deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, announced Friday that salaries paid to executives at public companies supported by taxpayers money were to be limited. It is the third in a series of measures designed to curb public anger over tax-funded executive pay. Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría confirmed today that basic annual salaries at state-owned firms would be limited to €105,000 though the new ruling left room for government-approved productivity bonuses. Mariano Rajoy's right-wing government has calculated that this would cut the average senior executive salary by up to 35% at about 4,000 state-owned and partly state-owned firms.

Government Goes On Attack

The conservative Popular Party on Friday sought to discredit Spain’s labour unions ahead of one of series of protest meetings against far-reaching reforms to the labour market. The liberalization of the legislation governing the job market makes it cheaper and easier to fire workers without the need in certain cases to negotiate layoffs with labour representatives.“The government respects the right to protest. But labour leaders need to explain better why they are protesting,” Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said after the regular Friday Cabinet meeting. “I ask those who protest to also take on board that they should represent all of those who do not have a job.” Spain’s jobless rate climbed to 22.85 % at the end of last year as the economy shrank again, with some 5.3 million people out of work.

El Hierro Feels Quake

El Hierro is still registering a succession of minor earthquakes. The tremors are not as strong as before but on one day alone, 18 were recorded, one of which was felt by the local population. The National Geographic Institute has confirmed that on February 3rd there were 18 quakes in total, located in the north-south at El Golfo and El Julán. They were at a depth of eight to 23 kilometres and with a magnitude ranging from 0.8 to 3.2 degrees on the Richter Scale.

Flu Numbers Soar

The current flu bug doing the rounds of the Canaries has seen a further 4000 cases recorded by health centres and hospitals across the region in the last week. The health authorities say they do not expect the bout to recede for at least another three weeks. Over 13,000 cases have been reported since the beginning of the year here, although officials say the numbers are not alarming and are no worse than those seen in the rest of the country.

Spain To Extend Oldest Nuclear Plant

Spain will extend operations at its oldest nuclear power plant by five years, Industry Minister Jose Manuel Soria said on Saturday as the country seeks to make the most of its energy sources.The decision was immediately slammed as "irresponsible" by environmentalists. "The nuclear safety council has given approval for a five-year extension" of the Garona plant near Burgos, northern Spain, Soria told a meeting of his conservative Popular Party in Seville, southern Spain. One of Spain's main environmentalist groups, Ecologistas en accion, said that "maintaining an old plant that was built before conclusions were drawn from the worst nuclear accidents and which suffers from unresolved problems, is irresponsible.

Wednesday 15th February

Oil Drilling Row Escalates

The row over permission granted to oil multi-nationals to drill off the coast of the Canaries has escalated further today with allegations that one of the authorised sectors lies just 13 km off Fuerteventura. According to the Canarias Ahora paper, the Spanish government has given assurances that no drilling will take place less than 50 km from the coast but plans seen by the paper appear to show otherwise. The island and neighbouring Lanzarote are furious at the prospect of oil platforms and potential spillages on their doorstep. Spain says that even if it does not authorise the test drillings, Morocco has already reached agreements with oil firms to enable them to carry out exploratory work in its territorial waters, a short distance off the eastern Canary Islands.

Tenerife Sting Concert Talks 'Going Well'

Tenerife is seeking to host a concert by Sting on his current tour. Event organisers Maldito Rodríguez, who brought the British singer to Gran Canaria last summer, are reportedly in talks for a return visit, this time to Santa Cruz. Media reports say the negotiations are progressing well and an agreement in principle has been reached for Sting to play at the football stadium, although no date has been set. The Tenerife date would be added to the singer's current Back to Bass Tour of Europe and South Africa, which ends in July.

Volcanic Activity Increases Again

Scientists say the latest survey of the underwater volcanic activity off the coast of El Hierro has revealed a second fissure and a marked increase in the amount of magma being released. Experts said the new data shows the original 120m fissure and also a second 75m cone, both of which are showing increased activity. Despite the reported increase in volcanic activity, a spokesman for the island’s Cabildo and emergency services said the state of readiness remained the same, with the immediate area on red alert and contingency plans in place to protect the population.

Tuesday 14th February

Chill Continues in Canaries

Monday saw some of the lowest temperatures for a long time in the Canaries as the islands continued under the influence of the fringe of a very cold front that has brought chaos to other parts of Spain. The Izaña weather station at the foot of Mt Teide in Tenerife recorded a temperature of -7.2ºC early in the morning and the freezing conditions forced the island's Cabildo to shut the access road to Teide via La Esperanza once again to allow ice to be removed. Incoming passengers at Tenerife South Airport received a shock to the system when, instead of the customary low-20s, they were met with a temperature of just 10ºc at lunchtime. Over in Gran Canaria, locals flocked to the aptly named Pico de Las Nieves to play in the snow which fell overnight and stayed throughout the day.

House Prices Continue To Fall

House prices across Spain continue to decline falling by 6.6 % year-on-year in January. However, according to the latest data from the Spanish Real Estate Market Index, the rate of decline is showing signs of slowing. The latest figures bring the cumulative decline in prices, since their peak in December 2007, to 25 %. The biggest falls in value in January were seen in the major cities, which saw year-on-year prices fall by up to 8.7 %, while property on the Mediterranean coast were down 8.1% over the same period. However, bucking the trend once again, the Canary Islands saw the lowest rate of decline across the country with prices falling by just 3.1 %.

Spain's Credit Ratings Cut Again by Moody's

Spain is amongst a number of eurozone countries downgraded again by ratings agency Moody's. The agency also downgraded Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta. Moody's put France, Britain and Austria on "negative outlook", which implies there is a 30% chance of a downgrade in the next 18 months. Spain received the sharpest downgrade, having its credit rating lowered two notches to 'A3'. Italy was cut by one notch to 'A3' and Portugal was lowered by a smaller margin to Ba3'. In its report, Moody's attributed its moves to "the uncertainty over the euro area's prospects for institutional reform of its fiscal and economic framework and said weak growth could hamper Europe's efforts to deliver economic reform and austerity measures.

Cruise Ships Increase

The port of Arrecife in Lanzarote has started the year with a large increase in the number of cruise passengers that have arrived on the island during January 2012 with an increase of 99% compared to same period last year. The Arrecife port facilities achieved the highest percentage increase of all three under the control of the Port Authority of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Puerto de La Luz and Las Palmas saw a rise of almost 43%, while Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura, declined by 24%.

Labour Reform Shows Spain’s Seriousness

Germany praised the Spanish government’s far-reaching labor reform on Monday, making it easier and cheaper to fire workers, a development that has understandably raised the hackles of the unions. The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted the overhaul of the job market as an example of the measures Europe needs to seize upon to overcome the economic crisis. The unions have threatened a series of protests against the measure leading up to, if need be, a general strike.

Monday 13th February

The Canaries Remembers Whitney

Canarian fans of Whitney Houston have joined the rest of the world in shock at the news of the death of he singer at the age of 48. Houston was due to sing in Adeje in April 2010 during the Nothing but Love tour, her first in ten years, but the tour was badly reviewed and Youtube recordings of some of the worst moments from her Australian concert dogged the singer. Many concerts, including the Tenerife one, were cancelled due to reported ill health. Whitney was found dead yesterday in the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Califronia. Police are still investigating the cause of her death.

Government's Labour Reforms

Sweeping labour reforms approved by the Cabinet last Friday have been welcomed by employers, but rejected by trade unions as "unfair, inefficient and degrading" The latest reform, described by employment minister Fátima Báñez as “historic” makes it cheaper and easier for companies to sack workers. Workers on permanent contracts currently entitled to 45 days’ wages for every year in service up to a maximum of 42 months in cases of unfair dismissal will now see their compensation reduced to 33 days per year up to a maximum of two years’ salary. Employers will also be able cite causes such as falling sales to justify laying off workers with a severance payment of 20 days per year of service up to a maximum of 12 months. The new measures also offer employers incentives for hiring people. Companies that hire people under the age of 30 will receive a tax reduction of 3,000 euros per worker.

Iberia Cancels Flights

Spain's Iberia said it cancelled 121 of the 323 scheduled flights on Monday as pilots and other ground and air staff struck over the creation of low-cost offshoot Iberia Express. Some 10,000 passengers were either placed on other flights or reimbursed, said an Iberia spokeswoman. It was the eighth in a series of one-day Iberia pilots' strikes, which began in December,leaving four more stoppages planned for this month: February 17, 20, 24 and 29th Pilots and minority unions for some ground and air staff say they fear lower salaries for new recruits on the budget airline offshoot. Management says conditions of existing staff are not affected.

Record Sales For ‘Boss’ Concert

A third of the tickets available for the Bruce Springsteen concert were sold in the first day, proof of the enduring popularity of the veteran rocker. Tickets for the May 15 concert in Gran Canaria went on sale finally at 9 am yesterday and by 5 pm 15,257 of the 46,000 available seats had been snapped up. The delighted promoter Leopoldo Mansito Director of LM productions said the scale of first day sales was a record for a concert in the Canary Islands.

Sunday 12th February

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy - Unemployment to Rise

There are currently 23% unemployed in Spain – and in Andalucia an alarming 30 per cent of the potential working population is jobless. “The situation could not be worse,” the 56-year-old Prime Minister said. “Unfortunately, these figures will not get better in the short term. In fact, in 2012 they will get worse.” Rajoy said more time would be needed to meet the deficit objectives and for the creation of employment, and that the labour market need to be reformed to make it more flexible, to make it easier to switch between jobs and to adapt to the economic circumstances. He said the Spanish government would announce a new ‘wide-reaching and deep’ labour reform after a cabinet meeting on Friday.

Local Warming in Wind Farms

They have made Spain the fourth biggest producer of wind energy in the world – but now it seems wind turbines could actually be changing the country’s weather in the immediate areas of their operation. According to a new study, the turbines can make temperatures cooler by up to four degrees during the day and the opposite at night. The effect is caused by the blades scooping warm air away from the ground and pushing cooler air downwards, claims professor Somnath Roy, who based his research on a wind farm in California. Spain leads the way in turbine innovation, with 20 per cent of its energy produced by wind producing electricity for 10 million households and employing over 30,000 people.

Garzón Found Guilty

Judge Garzón has just been barred for 11 years from the bench for ordering illegal bugging of conversations between lawywers and their jailed clients in the recent Gürtel case. The internationally known judge was convicted of the crime of perversion of the course of justice. In another case currently before the courts he is charged with knowingly overstepping his jurisdiction and authority by revisiting Spain’s Civil War of 1936-39 to investigate atrocities allegedly committed by the fascist victors. Despite widespread condemnation and warnings from various sources that his conduct was in violation of the 1977 Amnesty for Civil War crimes, Garzón was adamant that he was entitled to investigate tens of thousands of killings and forced disappearances of people at the hands of the Franco regime.

Planes Diverted After Cape Verde Calima

Five aircraft, on route to the Cape Verde islands, have been diverted to the Canary Islands. The aircraft, flying from Luxembourg, Brussels, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Amsterdam, were forced to change their flight plans when the Cape Verde Islands were hit by a severe Calima and winds of up to 70 kmph, blanketing the islands’ airports and reducing visibility to almost zero. All 525 passengers landed in Tenerife have been accommodated temporarily at hotels in the south of the island.

More Spaniards Smoking Now

The new anti-smoking legislation which banned smoking in closed public spaces a year ago, has not had the expected effect on the number of smokers.A report, the first since the new regulations were introduced in December 2010 shows that currently 17.65% of the Spanish population smokes, 0.5% more than their last report in 2007. The numbers are based on a survey of 3,300 people, and notes an increase in the number of smokers aged 13-16. The positive part of the legislation is that it has ensured that there is less contaminated air in public places with the number to complain about smoke down from 38% to 21%.

Wednesday 8th February

Canarian MP Slams 'Arrogant' Ryanair Boss

Yesterday's ugly scenes at Bilbao airport, where Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary had to be given a police escort after his provocation of former Spanair employees, prompted a furious reaction against the head of the airline by Canarian MP Ana Oramas. Minutes after the headline-making incident, when O'Leary made Victory signs with his fingers to the workers as he announced Ryanair was to open new routes to fill the gap left by Spanair's collapse, Oramas posted messages on Twitter describing him as 'arrogant and uneducated'. 'He showed a total lack of sensitivity for people who have just lost their jobs' she added. In addition to new routes, Ryanair says it will add flights to its current routes to the Canaries as of April.

Springsteen Snags Resolved

The snags preventing the release of tickets for the concert by rock legend Bruce Springsteen in Gran Canaria have now been resolved and the gig has been confirmed 100%, say the organisers. Tickets were due to go on sale on 1 February but the date had to be put back due to a number of outstanding issues concerning the logistics for the massive event, which is scheduled for the football stadium in Las Palmas on 15 May. The biggest snag was the bill for the massive plane needed to fly the singer's equipment and stage gear to and from the Canaries from mainland Spain. In a press release yesterday afternoon, the organisers say everything has now been finalised and the tickets, costing 60-70 euros, will be available as of tomorrow (9 February) at 9am. Purchases can be made from the following websites: doctormusic.com, ticketmaster.es and entradas.com.

Ryanair To The Rescue

Irish budget airline Ryanair has announced six new routes to and from Barcelona’s El Prat Airport. The new routes, which will begin operation in April, will connect to Alicante, Bilbao, Stockholm, Hamburg, Munich and Menorca. The move is seen as helping to fill the void left by the recent collapse of Spanair, which left thousands stranded when it went into liquidation. More importantly for the Canary Islands, Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary, also announced an increase in the number of flights from Barcelona to Tenerife and Gran Canaria, no doubt to the relief of many in the tourist sector, concerned about a fall in the number of visitors from the mainland with the collapse of Spanair.

Madonna in Spain This Summer

Madonna, who has just released a new single "Gimme All Your Luvin" and who will be releasing a new album "MDNA" in March, has announced a concert for June 20th at The Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, the only live date she has planned for Spain during this summer's world tour that begins on May 29th in Tel Aviv. According to the promoter, Live Nation, tickets for the "Madonna World Tour 2012", will go on sale on February 16th.

Rowers Face Proceedings

Two Britons who had to be rescued again after getting into trouble on their bid to cross the Atlantic in a pedal boat could face a hefty fine for the latest mobilisation of air and sea rescue resources. The boat hit trouble in heavy weather around 120 miles south of El Hierro on Sunday evening and the pair set off their emergency position beacon to request assistance. A plane and helicopter were dispatched to the scene and the rowers were airlifted to El Hierro. Media reports say today the pair left Gran Canaria without permission on 1 February, a few days after being rescued for a second time at sea.

Tuesday 7th February

Coast Takes Battering At Week-End

Several parts of the coast of Tenerife took a severe battering at the week-end due to the strong winds, which sent waves crashing onto the shore. Among the worst hit parts was, yet again, San Andrés, despite the work carried out to bolster sea defences after the serious flooding several months ago. The seafront road through the village had to be closed for several hours yesterday and the clean-up to remove debris started Monday morning. Meanwhile, in La Palma, passengers on an inter-island ferry had a scare when they were prevented from disembarking the ship for two hours due to the 90 kmh winds, which prevented port staff from placing the required bridge.

Think Twice About Which Oil For Fry-Up

According to a Spanish study, the traditional fry-up may not be that bad for you provided you use olive oil or sunflower oil. Researchers in Madrid looked at the link between heart disease and oils used for frying in the Mediterranean using data from almost 41,000 adults aged 29 to 69. Those taking part were quizzed about food consumed in a typical week over the past 12 months. The 11-year study analysis showed there was no difference in the risk of heart disease or dying between those who used olive oil and those using sunflower oil. However, the researchers warned that frying with other types of fat may still be harmful.

Vitamin D Helps Fight Depression in Children

New research has shown that catching a little sun can actually stop our children from feeling low. A University of Bristol study found that youngsters with higher levels of vitamin D, created by the body when the sun shines on our skin, have a 10% lower risk of suffering from depression. What’s more, they have a lower chance of developing depressive symptoms in their teens. Although vitamin D can be found in oily fish such as tuna, and is often added to milk and cereals, the main way of getting it is through the sun. We need around 20 minutes’ exposure on bare faces, arms, back or legs without sunscreen twice a week.

War Of Words Between Canaries and Madrid

Relations between the Canarian government and the new Spanish government sank further yesterday when the region's tourism minister was apparently snubbed by his national counterpart. Ricardo Fernández flew to Madrid to meet with top ministry officials to discuss ways of helping the tourism industry but the meetings were called off at the last minute, with both sides blaming each other for the cancellations. Fernández slamemd his counterpart, José Manuel Soria, for allegedly ordering the officials not to meet with him. However, Madrid issued a statement last night saying it was the Canarian delegation that refused to proceed with the planned meetings due to their unhappiness with the level of seniority of their colleagues in Madrid. The spat was aired publicly via separate media comments from both sides, which revealed just how strained relations have become since Soria was appointed.

Unsold Housing Cause For Concern

Despite new housing starts hitting rock bottom, the stock of unsold properties in the Canary Islands continues to grow. According to the latest survey, the number of unsold new properties in the islands rose by 2.3 % in the first nine months of 2011 to stand at more than 34,200. The story is much the same throughout Spain where an additional 19,000 properties were added to the unsold housing stock, which now stands at an eye-watering 818,127 properties. If things look bad in the Canaries, the Valencia region is holding more than 25% of the country’s unsold housing stock.

Sunday 5th February

Canaries Escape Spain's Big Freeze

Although temperatures in some parts of the Canaries are noticeably lower, the islands are virtually the only part of the country to escape Spain's current cold snap. The usually mild Barcelona and Majorca have already been hit by snow, including at sea level , while Seville recorded 0ºC for the first time in recent memory. Further north, provinces such as Teruel are expected to remain below -10ºC at night. While the relatively warm weather will remain in the Canaries, the fringe of the Arctic weather front is expected to bring strong winds of up to 70 kmh in higher parts.

Brussels To Investigate Bankrupt Spanair's Use of Public Funds

The European Commissioner for Competition, Joaquín Almunia, warned that despite Spanair's financial collapse, Brussels was going to go ahead with its investigation into public funding received by the airline. In December, Brussels received two complaints about funding being given to Spanair and opened an investigation. "The fact that the company under investigation has gone into receivership does not mean that the investigation will come to an halt, because if there are public funds to be recovered, we need to try to recover them through the creditors' meeting, Spanair has 125 million euros in assets but owes 474 million.

10 Billion Government Credit So Regions Can Pay

Government spokesperson, Soraya Saenz de Santamaría told a press conference after Friday's meeting of the Council of Ministers, that central government has agreed to open up a 10 billion euro line of credit for the autonomous communities, provided they fulfil the necessary fiscal requirements. The credit has two main purposes: to pay suppliers for works and services provided before January 1st 2012 and invoices that will be due in the middle of this year, and to meet financial obligations prior to January 1st 2012. The Government intends to limit top salaries in companies that have received public aid to 600,000€, and to 300,000€ in those that have had to be taken over the state. 'Cajas' or savings banks will see their organisational structure streamlined and limited to just a general assembly and board of directors, and they will have to donate 90% of their dividends to social work.

Reforms Will Lead To "Lower House Prices"

Economy Minister Luis de Guindos on Thursday announced details of financial reforms that seek to encourage bank tie-ups and "put homes on the market at reduced prices." The move follows up on campaign promises by the Popular Party to shore up Spain's banking sector by going further with reforms initiated by the Socialists, which included mergers for savings banks. The conservative government has pledged to allay market fears over Spanish banks' exposure to the real estate bubble, which burst in 2008.

Love Apples Fight Cancer

Tomatoes can help combat cancer, scientists have found. The French called them ‘love apples’ for their aphrodisiac qualities, and the Spanish use them in pretty much every dish. So it is great news that scientists have found cooked tomatoes to contain a powerful cancer-fighting nutrient. A University of Portsmouth study found that lycopene, found in highest quantities in processed tomatoes with oil added – basically the Spanish staple tomate frito – can intercept cancer’s ability to grow.

British Airlines Threaten To Reduce Flights

British airlines Jet2 and Monarch have both said that they will be reducing the number of their flights to Tenerife if the State finally decides not to continue the discount in the airport taxes who fly to the Canaries. Also German airline Condor has put plans for a new route from Germany to the Tenerife North Airport on hold for the same reason. Carlos Alonso, the tourism councillor for the Canaries, noted that this showed that there was a direct relationship between discounts and air connections. He’s made a call to the Minister for Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, ‘to not play with our bread and butter’.The grants concerned total about 26 million euros.

Thursday 2nd February

Medics Warn Of Flu Epidemic

The Canary Islands Health Ministry is reporting that the number of flu cases reported last week was double that of the week before. A spokesman warned that with 198 cases per 100,000 head of population, the outbreak has reached epidemic proportions. The flu strain has been identified as H3, considered, for the most part, not to be life-threatening. Doctors stress that vaccination is the most effective way to ward off the virus, particularly for those most at risk, the elderly, pregnant women and others with illnesses, which put them at risk.

Get Married At The Notary & Divorced Too!

The idea from the new Minister for Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, that Spaniards can marry and divorce in front of the notary, is proving controversial. Comments range from ‘good idea’ to ‘a blunder’. The professionals and notaries talk of ‘qualification and speed’, while some citizens’ collectives have said ‘A wedding is much more than a contract’ One of the most controversial parts of the idea is the payment of a tax for the process, and for divorce both sides have to be in agreement. The Justice Minister considers that it will ease the overwork in the courts, and bring more work to the notaries who have seen less demand for their services since the real estate bubble burst.

Banks To Receive State Funding to Recapitalize

The Spanish government has begun to explain to the country's banks what the planned reforms of the sector will consist of, banking sources said on Wednesday. The Economy Ministry will require banks not only to increase provisions for potential losses from real estate assets on their books, but also to do likewise for part of the loans they have granted to the property sector. The latter will consist of generic provisions of 7% of the value of those loans. As part of its desire to see further consolidation in the sector, the government will provide an incentive for banks to tie up in the shape of a two-year instead of a one-year deadline. Banks will be able to tap the Orderly Bank Restructuring Fund to facilitate tie-ups. Such funding will take the form of a loan, but banks are to be allowed to count this as capital.

Spain Braces For a Freeze!

The cold snap that has swept across Europe this week, leaving many fatalities in Poland and Ukraine in its wake, is expected to exert its grip on Spain until Sunday.The spell of polar weather which is about to hit Spain is a phenomenon which happens every seven or eight years, but forecasters think this time could be the worst in 60 years. There was a similar situation in December 2001 and in January 2005, but this spell is expected to be colder than the two last occasions. Winds of up to 70 or 80 km/hour in the NE of the mainland and on the Baleares will increase the sensation of cold with the wind chill.

Wednesday 1st February

Ferrari Leave Lanzarote After Training Camp

Formula One racing team Ferrari leave Lanzarote Wednesday after a headline-making week of fitness training for its drivers ahead of the new season. The presence of the Italian team, particularly twice world champion Fernando Alonso, has given the island a massive publicity boost, with pictures of Alonso and his colleagues running, cycling and canoeing making the news here and abroad. Ferrari says on its website that the drivers and their physios have made best use of their time in Lanzarote's warm conditions. 'It's very different here, at 20ºC, to conditions back in Italy said a statement.

Other Airlines Look At Spanair Spoils

The collapse of Spanair has brought turbulance to Spanish airspace. Other airlines operating in Spain have been fighting for the spoils of Spanair passengers, and the company to benefit most so far has been Vueling, which saw a 25% rally on the stock market. Both Vueling and Ryanair have expressed regret at the failure of Spanair, but have announced an increased number of services from each operator as a result. Iberia has also announced and increased in flights and capacity on the routes affected by the Spanair failure. Both Vueling and Ryanair expressed a commitment to the El Prat airport in Barcelona, where Spanair had 4.3 million passenger a year.

Vueling and Ryanair Make Offers to Spanair Staff

They have already contacted the Spanair workers to offer them a job, ahead of plans to expand their routes following the bankruptcy of the Catalan carrier. Workers for Newco, which is a company dependent on Spanair, say that many of them are rejecting the offers because of the ‘miserable’ conditions, which they describe as ‘low-cost’ and say they cannot compare to the conditions in Spanair, Iberia or Air Europa. In some cases the basic salary offered by the two companies is of some 600 € net for the lowest grade of ground staff. ‘Some colleagues could accept because of the situation they find themselves in, but we can certainly not consider this a triumph’, said one worker.

Spain Subsidy Cuts Seen Threatening Thousands of Jobs

Spain's decision to cut subsidies for clean energy production puts at risk the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs in a sector in which it is a global leader, industry leaders warned Tuesday. The sector shed 20,000 jobs between 2008 and 2010 due to cuts to the subsidies made by the previous government and the end of new subsidies announced Friday will likely lead to the loss of a similar number of jobs this year, said the head of lobby group Fundacion Renovables, Javier Breva. Spain's new right-leaning government passed a decree on Friday that will "temporarily suspend" subsidies for all new wind, solar, co-generation or waste incineration plants as part of its bid to curb the public deficit. Spain was an early mover in developing clean energy, especially wind power, and generous government subsidies helped Spanish firms to become global leaders in the sector.

Tuesday 31st January

No IGIC Rise Promise

The Canarian government says that the rumoured increase in VAT in the rest of Spain will not necessarily trigger a similar rise in the region's equivalent IGIC tax. Economy minister Javier González moved quickly to dispel speculation that the tax, currently 5%, will automatically rise if VAT goes up, should Spain follow the line taken by France and several other EU countries, which have already introduced or plan to introduce VAT hikes. Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy is beieved to be contemplating a VAT increase towards the end of March, as part of the 2012 Budget.

Government Offers Help To Stranded Passengers

Updated figures from the Canaries’ Department for Trade and Consumer Affairs reveals that more than 4,000 passengers in the islands have been affected as a result of the sudden collapse of Spanish airline, Spanair, last Friday. A spokesman said the government department has offered to mediate in stranded passengers claims against the company. The offer came from the Director General of Trade and Consumer Affairs in the islands, Gustavo Matos, who emphasised the importance of submitting claims correctly in such a complex situation. Not least affected by the collapse, and perhaps most worrying for the islands’ tourist sector, are people from the mainland who booked to come to the islands for Carnival and over the Easter period.

Mariano Rajoy - Maybe A General Stike Over His Labour Reforms?

The Spanish Prime Minister was filmed informally discussing the economic situation with his EU counterparts ahead of the summit in Brussels on Monday. Mariano Rajoy was heard in conversation with the Finnish Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen, to say that ‘The labour reform is going to cost me a General Strike’. The comment got a swift response from the CCOO union in Spain who said that Rajoy’s words were ‘inappropriate, reckless and foolhardy’.

Malware Sends Out Fake Police Fines in Spain

The National Police have warned of a new ‘ransomware’ attack in Spain, where emails claiming to be sent by the National Police inform the user that they must pay a fine for accessing file sharing sites or others containing child pornography. This form of malware is a form of extortion which holds a user’s computer hostage for a ransom. The message infects the user’s computer with malware and blocks it, purportedly to prevent any further abuse. Payment of 100 € is demanded to unlock the computer. The police noted in a press release on Monday that they do not, in any circumstances, ask for payment of fines online. Anyone who has already made the payment should make an official complaint to their nearest National Police station.

Oasis Closes For Six Months

The Oasis Hotel Costa Teguise closed on Wednesday for a renovation and improvement of its facilities in the next six months. The investment, according to the hotel, around eight million euros and will be used to improve both the exterior, the rooms and public areas. The hotel is a four-star and offers all-inclusive stays. The owners are changing the hotel into one of the best in the area with the aim to attract a more upmarket customer with a family.

Sunday 29th January

Canary Unemployment Continues To Climb

The latest figures reveal that unemployment in the Canary Islands continued to climb in 2011 rising by 8.75 %, compared to the previous year. According to the National Statistics Institute 27,500 people were added to the islands unemployment register last year, bringing the total to 341,900, which is more than 30 % of the total workforce. The figure places the islands second only to Andalusia in terms of the percentage of people out of work and well above the national average of 22.85%.

Spending Cuts Provoke Backlash in Barcelona

Thousands braved the downpour and took over Barcelona Saturday evening to protest over spending cuts in the latest in a series of mass demonstrations across Spain. Education, healthcare and the emergency services are among the sectors that have seen massive reductions in funding after Spain announced new austerity measures in a bid to slash its state deficit. Pupils attend class wearing coats and wrapped in blankets as schools are unable to pay heating bills and some centres have even run out of toilet roll and paper for photocopying. Reductions will hit prescriptions and outpatient referrals as the healthcare budget is set to be sliced. The radical drop in public funding will also lead to Spain's State healthcare service, currently rated as second-best in Europe – and its education system falling way below standard.

Thousands Stranded As Spanair Goes Bust

Thousands of passengers were left stranded at Spanish airports after Spanair went bust, cancelling all of its flights at short notice. "Faced with the lack of financial visibility for the coming months, the company has decided to cease its operations as a measure of caution and safety," Spanair said in a statement on Friday evening. The airline's last scheduled flight landed last Friday night, leaving rivals such as Iberia, Vueling and Easyjet to share out the passengers left stranded.

Consumer Group Cheers New Tobacco Laws

The consumer rights group FACUA believes the tougher anti-smoking laws introduced across Spain in January 2011 have proved a great success. Their figures show that during last year, they lodged just 61 official complaints concerning non-compliance across all seven Canary Islands. The group believes that this second round of legislation, which toughened up the previous anti-tobacco laws, will have significant decreases on the numbers of people who smoke.

Thursday 26th January

Government Demands Airport Charge Assurances

The Canarian government has called on Madrid to clarify if it intends to maintain the current reduced airport charges for airlines flying to the islands. Regional president Paulino Rivero said yesterday that the subsidy which is being paid to dozens of companies at present, should continue to be paid for by the state because of the overall effect on the economy and the good business the extra flights represent for the national Airport Authority. The call came after speculation emerged earlier in the week that the Spanish government was to ask individual islands to foot the bill for the incentives.

Mortgage Lending Continues Slide

Latest figures show a sharp decline in mortgage lending in the Canary Islands during November last year, with lending down by 40.9 % compared to 2010. Similar falls in mortgage lending were seen across Spain with average lending falling by 35.8 %, placing the islands well above the national average. According to the data from the National Statistics Institute, just 694 mortgages were granted in the Canaries in November compared to 1,694 the previous year. Las Palmas Gran Canaria fared rather better with mortgages down by 33 %, compared to Santa Cruz de Tenerife where they fell by just short of 50%.

Merkel Blames High Youth Unemployment in Spain On Laws

German chancellor Angela Merkel has said that one of the reasons for the high level of unemployment 48.9%, amongst young people in Spain is the country's legislation, but added that she hoped the comment would not be taken as a criticism, because she has "great respect for the efforts being made by Spain to introduce reforms". In an interview with 'The Guardian' and five other leading European newspapers, the chancellor pointed out that Germany and other European countries had introduced "tough" measures with regard to the labour market and that EU member countries should learn from one another. In Merkel's opinion, Europe has now found a healthy balance between cooperation and shared liability, and individual responsibility on a country by country basis, and is convinvced that lessons are being learned that will help Europe emerge from the recession much stronger than before.

Spain Calls For Eurozone Rescue Fund Boost

Spain's foreign minister has backed calls for Europe’s rescue fund to be boosted to one trillion euros. Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo also called for sweeping changes to the structure of the eurozone, and urged the ECB to increase bond purchases. It follows demands by Italy’s prime minister Mario Monti for the new European Stability Mechanism to be doubled in an effort to restore investor confidence in southern European debt. “The European Central Bank can do much more than it has done, it has bought European debt equal to just two per cent of GDP while the Bank of England has done 20 per cent,” Garcia-Margallo said. Spain is currently falling into a double-dip recession, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting that Spain’s economy will contract by 1.7% this year.

Wednesday 25th January

Ferrari Visit To The Canary Islands

Motor racing team Ferrari is to send its drivers, including Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, to the Canaries for a few days for fitness training. Speculation is mounting as to where the Formula 1 team are headed, with the La Santa Sports complex in Lanzarote, which is internationally known amongst the sporting community being top of the rumour list. However, the island's authorities have been unable to confirm the media reports. Ferrari says the visit is to take place 'in the next few days'. Top English football side Newcastle United are currently training in Tenerife.

Bird Brained Passenger Caught

A 53-year-old man from Santa Cruz has been arrested in Tenerife, charged with attempting to smuggle wild, native birds to the mainland. The arrest was made as the man attempted to board a plane to Madrid, with 30 wild birds hidden in a small cage in his hand luggage. The birds, members of the species, ‘Serinus Canarias’ , a native canary, were captured in the Arafo area and were taken with the intention of selling the birds in Madrid. The Spanish authorities are treating this as a very serious crime.

New Pet Laws

Defra recently made important changes to their pet travel laws which mean its now easier and cheaper. The changes affect people entering or returning to the UK with their pet dogs, cats or ferrets. If entering or returning to the UK from an EU or listed country they must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. Twenty-one days after vaccination, your pet will be allowed to enter the UK. Previously, pets had to undergo a blood test and then wait six months before entering the UK – these rules no longer apply. Pet dogs, cats or ferrets entering from a non-listed country (for example Brazil or India) no longer have to undergo a six-month quarantine process.

Spanish PM Vows To Meet 2012 Deficit Target

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed Tuesday to meet a public deficit target of 4.4 percent of output as Madrid scrambles to retain investor confidence amid the eurozone debt crisis. The Spanish premier made the comments after EU economic affairs commissioner Olli Rehn told Spain it must meet its 2012 deficit target even though the figure for 2011 was likely to be higher than expected.

Tuesday 24th January

New Royal Yacht For Queen Has Backing of Cameron

There are plans for a new royal yacht to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the proposal has the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron. The old Royal Yacht Britannia was scrapped in 1997. The new £80-million yacht would be funded by private donations from businessmen and individuals and at 650-feet long it would be one of the biggest yachts in the world. The four-mast vessel would have an exhibition hall and would be used for trade and business events and by young people for educational purposes. Britain’s crusading Daily Mail newspaper has been campaigning for some time for the new yacht and a charitable trust has been working on the project for a number of years.

Work Begins On El Hierro Energy Project

Work has begun on the installation of the first of five wind turbines on El Hierro. The work is the first stage of an ambitious project aimed at making the island energy self-sufficient, using a combination of wind and hydro-electric power. A spokesman for the company installing the turbines said the plan is to erect them at the rate of one per week, depending on weather conditions. As well as providing the electricity needs of the island during the day, and at night when demand is much lower, the electricity generated by the wind farm will be used to pump water up to a new reservoir, which will be used to produce even more power through a hydro-electric plant. The project is being closely watched around the world, particularly by other remote island communities, as a solution to the energy needs for small population communities.

Cutbacks Lead To Red Cross Layoffs

The Red Cross in Fuerteventura has laid off 21 workers. The organisation blames government cutbacks and a reduction in funding from local authorities feeling the pinch following yet more austerity measures being implemented by the new government. A spokesman said the cuts in funding were “strangling” the charitable organisation, which will now have to rely more heavily on its group of volunteers and within the constraints of a much reduced budget.

Bank of Spain Predicts Deep Recession

The Bank of Spain on Monday predicted the domestic economy faced a deep recession, as the IMF warned of the risk of a "solvency crisis" for Spain and Italy if Europe fails to beef up its rescue fund. The central bank estimated the economy declined by 0.3% in the last quarter of 2011 on a quarterly basis, foreshadowing a contraction of 1.5 percent of GDP this year, with the new Popular Party government bent on fulfilling its deficit-reduction targets at all cost. The severe setback this year will give way to a "moderate" recovery the following year when GDP is expected to grow by 0.2%.

Spain To Ditch Airport Sale Plan

Spain will ditch a plan to privatise airports and come up with a new management model, the new Transport Minister Ana Pastor said Monday. "Current market conditions are clearly unfavourable," she said during a press conference in Madrid. Given gloomy economic conditions, especially in Europe, there was little chance of attracting a large number of bids for the airports, the transport minister acknowledged. The previous Spanish government sought last year to sell 90.05 percent of the shares in airports in Madrid and Barcelona, aiming to raise 5.3 billion euros.

Monday 23rd January

El Hierro Underwater Volcano Rises

An underwater volcano which has been bubbling away off the coast of El Hierro since the summer is rising closer and closer to the surface, according to geologists. Experts have been keeping a close eye on seismic movements in and around La Restinga, the nearest coastal town to the crater, following literally thousands of minor earthquakes and sub-aquatic eruptions were recorded almost daily in the past few months. They have now revealed that the mouth of the volcano is just 130 metres from the surface of the water, and that the lava belching out of it and causing steaming pillars coming up off the sea originates from around 2,000 metres further down. An estimated 145 million cubic metres of lava has been emitted since the volcano started to erupt, and at 17.00hrs on Friday evening a huge explosion of boiling lava rose to the surface of the sea.

Spanish Expats No 1 in International Survey

Spain has the happiest British expats in the world, according to a new study. An international survey quizzed a thousand British residents living abroad about their quality of life. Over 75% of those living in Spain said that they were happier now than when they resided in the UK, with 80 % saying their cost of living was very low, despite the current economic crisis. Analysts pointed at outdoor lifestyle, traditional family values and a “living in the moment” attitude in Spain as possible reasons for the results.

Spain Rejects Breathalysers For Cars

Spain has rejected breathalysers for cars on the basis that “the only safe way to drive is with zero alcohol in your system”. Traffic bosses have said the decision whether to drive should not be about how much alcohol you have drunk but more about whether you have drunk at all. Despite the fact that motorists are legally authorised to take the wheel in Spain as long as they don’t have over 0.05 %alcohol in their blood (0.03 % for new drivers).

Beer-Guzzling Brits Drink Spain Dry

British and German holidaymakers have been drinking Spain dry. The 60 million annual visitors – dominated by these two nationalities – drink at least 30% of the beer produced in Spain. The Ministry for Environment revealed that the average person drank 50.2 litres of beer in 2009 – a 14 per cent drop on 2008 figures. The study also found that 67 % of all beer is drunk in bars, compared to 33 per cent at home. Furthermore, Spain is the fourth biggest producer of beer in the EU and the tenth largest in the world.

Spain Would Veto an Independent Scotland

The Independent, reported on Sunday that Spain could veto an independent Scotland because independence for the Scots would be seen here to encourage separatists in Cataluña and the Basque Country. The paper reports that Whitehall sources have confirmed that Spanish officials have registered their concerns with their UK counterparts over the Scottish government’s independence plans. Spain has indicated it could block an independent Scotland’s accession to the European Union. It would be in line with Spain’s refusal to recognise Kosovo as an independent state.

Spaniards Emigrate To Seek Jobs

Unemployed Spaniards emigrating to escape the recession have rocketed in number in the past four years. Most tend to head for Switzerland and Germany, which have seen an increase in the number of Spaniards among their populations of 6.8 and 5.9 % respectively in the past four years. Switzerland currently has an official Spanish headcount of 75,354, whilst statistics show 88,248 Spaniards living and working in Germany.

Sunday 22nd January

Anger at Curbelo Selection

A Canarian politician who was forced to resign as a senator in Parliament after a drunken fracas in a lapdancing club back in the summer has been controversially designated as his island's delegate to the crucial PSOE congress which will elect the party's new leader. Casimiro Curbelo, who has repeatedly refused to step down as the president of the Cabildo in La Gomera, was involved in an angry 'you don't know who you are dealing with' exchange with police after the incident, which made the national headlines for almost a week. Despite pressure from senior party figures to ease him out of politics, his suporters have unanimously chosen him to represent the island at the PSOE conference. He and his adult son appeared before a judge yesterday to be quizzed again on the Madrid incident.

Springsteen Tickets On Sale - 1st February

As rumoured, the organisers of the Bruce Springtseen concert scheduled for Gran Canaria in May used the big Tourism Fair in Madrid to announce full details of the event. LM Productions and the island authorities held a press conference yesterday to formally give the good news concerning what is being billed already as the biggest concert ever to be staged in the Canaries. More than 45,000 tickets for the gig on 15 May at the football stadium in Las Palmas will go on sale on 1 February, with prices between 60-70 euros. Madrid, San Sebastián, Barcelona and Seville will also host concerts by the Boss on his forthcoming tour. The organisers say they expect tickets to sell out 'within half an hour' of going on sale.

Iberia Ground Staff Not Striking

The trade unions representing the majority of Iberia's ground handling staff - the UGT and the CC OO - have reached an agreement with the airline management and will not now be joining the pilots' strike as they threatened to do earlier in the week. Iberia will operate 66% of its flights during the next three strike days.

Solar Panels May Payout Soon

Solar panel owners could soon be selling the electricity they create to energy companies. Those connected to Endesa’s electricity supply whose panels absorb more energy than they use will be able to inject the surplus back into the grid and later have its value deducted from their bill. “We are currently developing a way of netting energy, to enable people to sell to the grid the difference between the energy they consume and that which they produce,” said Isabel de Haro from the Andalucian Energy Agency. This is due to come into effect in 2013.

Mussels Warning

Police have warned that illegal shellfishing in the closed season and harvesting of endangered species will lead to tough fines. The warning follows the arrest of a man who was collecting mussels whilst pretending to fish in Fuerteventura. Collecting the protected Patella candei, for example, would be considered a very serious offence under Heritage Law and punishable with a fine of between 200,000 and two million euro.

Friday 20th January

Rajoy Promises A New Era in Relations With Morocco

The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy promised to embark upon "a new era" in relations with Morocco, convinced that the country's safety, stability and prosperity is also good news for Spain. "There is much more uniting us than there is dividing us", said Rajoy on Wednesday in Rabat, where he met with the Moroccan prime minister, Abdelilah Benkirán, with whom he has agreed to hold a high-level summit between the two countries this year, the first since December 2008. Spanish government sources said after the meeting that the status of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla had not been discussed, but the conflict in Western Sahara had.

Thursday 19th January

The Bruce Springsteen Gig!

Details of a concert by Bruce Springtsteen in the Canaries are due to be announced in Madrid today. Organisers LM Productions are believed to have reached an agreement with the rock legend for a concert in the football stadium in Las Palmas on 15 May. Rumours of the deal emerged late yesterday but the organisers prefer to take advantage of the publicity platform offered by the FITUR tourism fair in the capital to make the formal announcement. Springsteen and his E Street Band will give a total of five concerts in Spain in May-June as part of their 2012 European tour. The plans is to offer tickets at ‘affordable prices’ ranging from €60 to €70, plus passes to special areas which will be more expensive.

Good News On Opening Day Of Madrid Tourism Fair

Officials at Madrid’s annual tourist trade fair, say they expect the recent upturn in visitor numbers to the Canary Islands to continue into this summer and beyond. Last year saw a record-breaking 12 million plus visitors to the islands, 10.5 million of them foreigners. Speaking at the event’s inauguration yesterday, president of the Canary Islands’ government, Paulino Rivero, said the islands will see a rise in German and British visitors this summer, with numbers up by 10% and 6 % respectively and described the news as “encouraging.”

"Grapes Born from Volcanoes And The Sea"

The New York Times has praised the wines of Lanzarote and calls them "powerful, mysterious, exotic and almost alien" BY Ruth Gabilondo on January 19, 2012. The prestigious American newspaper featured the wines from Lanzarote in an article published on January 16 by Eric Asimov. The reporter notes that the vineyards of the island are "the most unusual and surprising in the world."The vines grow in Lanzarote black volcanic ash based soil." The combination of little-known grapes, vineyards and unique volcanic soils of Lanzarote have produced "most distinctive and delicious wines," as reported by the Regulatory Board. Hence the U.S. market has become the third largest importer of wines from Lanzarote designation of origin, after Germany and the UK.

Wednesday 18th January

Rivero Upsets Madrid With 'Not Spain' Remarks

Canarian president Paulino Rivero is in the headlines at the opening of the big FITUR Tourism Fair in Madrid after insisting that the Canaries should not be identified with Spain in holiday marketing. Speaking at the Exceltur tourism forum on Tuesday, Rivero said that the islands had 'no association whatsoever with the "Spain Brand" and had to go their own way in terms of marketing themselves as a year-round holiday destination. The remarks have already led some to call for the Canaries to forego the state funding received for tourism, particularly the subsidised airport charges available to airlines that fly tourists to the region.

Mediterranean Diet Adds Years To Lifespan

The Mediterranean diet, long renowned for its health benefits, could actually add three years to your life. According to researchers the diet – high in fruits, vegetables, fish and wholegrain cereals – provides a rich source of anti-oxidants that prevent cancer, heart disease and can even slow ageing. Scientists from Sweden studied the eating habits of 1,200 over-70s and found participants who followed a Mediterranean style diet were 20% more likely to be alive eight years later and lived far longer on average.

Tuesday 17th January

More Troubles For Iberia

Spain's biggest airline Iberia is set for further problems next month after its ground staff voted to strike every Monday and Friday during the month. The action by 16,000 employees is likely to seriously disrupt flights, including the airline's many routes to the Canaries from mainland Spain. Like Iberia's pilots, who went on strike again last week, the ground staff are insisting that their jobs are guaranteed despite the creation of a new low-cost subsidiary by the airline to take over most of its short and medium-haul routes.

Bank Charges Up 44% In The Last Year

The average customer now pays about 276€ per year for basic banking services, 21% more than in early 2011. The fee for having a debit card went from 17.30 to 20.25€ per year, 17% more expensive. The rising cost of a bank transfer is particularly controversial which has risen 398% in the past seven years. Customers requesting a mortgage quotataion are paying around 132€ this year on average; in early 2011, that same service cost 107€. The rising commissions mean that the average bank customer now pays in the region of 21% more for maintaining a current account, without taking into account any mortgages or additional loans they may have with the bank.

Monday 16th January

Weather Change In Store

The prolonged warm and dry weather spell over the last few weeks is expected to change as of Tuesday in many parts of the Canaries. The regional Met Office says Tenerife and the other western islands will come under the influence of a cold and wet front which is on its way in from the Atlantic and should bring some rain, although nothing on the scale of what is anticipated for the Spanish mainland, where snow is already falling.

Jellyfish Swarms Close Beaches

Swarms of jellyfish have forced the closure of several beaches in the Canary Islands, with Las Cucharas in Costa Teguise and Playa Chica in Puerto del Rosario bearing the brunt. Tenerife’s El Médano in the south of the island was badly affected on Friday and beaches in the area were closed and remained so over the weekend. The first signs of the creatures came on Thursday of last week and the weekend saw hundreds invade the shoreline. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura have been the worst affected with beaches across both islands being closed to bathing. Marine experts say the problem is a result of unusually high sea temperatures for this time of year.

Ostrich Type Birds Once Lived On Lanzarote

Excavations in the area surrounding Orzola, in the north of Lanzarote, have found several fossilized eggs of a bird related to the Ostrich, which lived on the island between 5 and 6 million years ago during the "Miocene" period. The discovery has led scientists from the Catalan Institute of Paleontology to speculate on the plausibility that Lanzarote was once part of the African continent. By the Miocene period the birds had already lost their ability to fly, suggesting that the island then separated from the African land mass.

Rajoy's Answer To Standard & Poor's: "We Don't Need Lessons"

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says he knows exactly what Spain needs to improve its reputation with international credit rating agencies as well as to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Speaking a day after Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's sovereign rating along with that of eight other European nations, Rajoy said on Saturday that he plans to go before the European Commission on January 30th "to tell them what I believe needs to be done as a clear response to defend the euro, control deficits and introduce economic reforms." Standard & Poor's, which downgraded Spain's rating to A from AA- last Friday, has threatened to downgrade it further if Rajoy doesn't move quickly to implement his labour reform plans.

Friday 13th January

Red Hot Chilis in Santa Cruz?

Leopoldo Mansito, director of LM Producciones, won't confirm artist line-ups but word on the street is that the mix of artists ready for the first Rock Coast Festival, in Santa Cruz in Tenerife on May 24th, 25th and 26th is stellar! The gigs will take place at the capital’s trade fair centre, and names doing the rounds include Iggy Pop, Lenny Kravitz, Linkin Park and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. More details as they are known will be posted on the festival website and here at Buzz.

Islands Connecting

The Canary Islands and the Balearics have formed a united front to defend the interests of both sets of islands. The first official meeting of bodies representing the two archipelagos was held last Thursday and outlined shared problem areas, particular those issues relating to tourism – between them the two groups of islands handle 50 % of tourism to Spain - “Which is why co-operation is essential to help the recovery of the Spanish economy”, said Canarian regional president Paulino Rivero. Top of the agenda was the need to impress upon the new national government the importance of continuing with airport subsidies, as part of the ongoing drive to improve access to these tourist destinations.

Rajoy To Meet Angela Merkel in Berlin

Mariano Rajoy is travelling to Berlin to meet with Angela Merkel on January 26. The date is three days ahead of the European Council summit, when the EU leaders will try and advance on the fiscal consolidation plans and establish economic growth. Before the meeting with Merkel, Rajoy will also meet with Nicolas Sarkozy and Van Rompuy. The Spanish Government has already described the forthcoming European Summit as ‘key and determinant for Spanish finances’. Rajoy’s first overseas trip is to Morocco which takes place on Wednesday.

Thursday 12th January

Rajoy is Clamping Down on Overspending

Prime Minister Rajoy will push through a law in March making it mandatory for regional budgets to get central government approval. “There will be strict controls,” said new Economics Minister Luis de Guindos.“Before approving their budgets, the regions will need the green light from central government.” Overspending by some regions has been partly to blame for Spain’s inability to meet its 2011 budget target of six per cent of GDP. The regions have said they will go along with the measures, despite facing a cut of 1,200 million euros in their budgets for 2012. However, the move has met with strong opposition from the Catalan government and authorities in the Canary Islands.

Record Year For Airports

Airports in the Canaries had their best ever year in 2011, with a record 35 million passengers. The figure is 12% higher than for 2010 but the increase in numbers is even bigger in some cases, particularly Fuerteventura (+18.6%) and Tenerife South (+17.6%). Gran Canaria topped the individual rankings with 10.5 million passengers, ahead of Tenerife South (8.6m) and Lanzarote (5.5m). Canarian government sources this week partly atributed the bumper numbers to the effect of the current airport charge discounts offered to airlines that open extra routes to the islands.

Wednesday 11th January

14 years For Father Who Abused Daughter

A Lanzarote man has been jailed for 14 years for sexually abusing his teenage daughter. The man was convicted by the Criminal Court in Las Palmas, which found that the evidence of the girl was entirely credible and consistent. He took advantage of his wife's absences to force the girl to have sex with him. In addition to the jail term, he has been banned from going near or contacting his daughter for 20 years and ordered to pay her 18,000 euros compensation.

Cigarette Prices Increase

The price of cigarettes and other tobacco products in the Canaries goes up today as several companies pass on the excise duty hike ordered by the regional government. The rise means that popular brands such as Marlboro will increase in price by up to 25 cents per packet. However, some of the companies, including JTI, which makes Winston, Camel and Coronas, have said they will hold back for the moment before deciding on the amount of the rise. The government announced at the end of the year that it wanted to raise the price of cigarettes, particularly lower-end brands, to put them beyond the reach of younger smokers. Market research shows that a 10% price increase can cut the number of young smokers by 7%.

2012: A Year of Austerity For Spain

Spain’s new Government has confirmed the first round of its new spending cuts and tax rises in an unprecedented bundle of austerity measures that should total 16.2 billion euros this year. The Cabinet says that the plan will meet the eurozone pact and will secure the country from further attacks by the financial markets. Spain’s higher than expected year-end deficit, which jumped from the forecast six per cent to eight per cent, was the catalyst for these previously unforeseen steps, according to the Spanish Deputy Prime Minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría. This two per cent ‘gap’ represents a shortfall of approximately 20 billion euros.

British Holidaymakers Cash In On Falling Euro

Holidaymakers are being urged to cash in on bargain holidays in Europe as the value of the Euro falls to a 15-month low.The pound is now worth €1.21, its best rate since September 2010, which means that holidays to Eurozone destinations will cost British tourists less. Travellers are also expected to buy their spending money now before the Eurozone crisis is resolved and the rate falls again. This could have an effect on domestic tourism for February half term and Easter as holidaying in the UK is likely to cost more.

OAP Home Closed After Fly On Wall Documentary

A Lanzarote home for elderly people has been shut by the authorities following a controversial reality tv programme on Spanish TV Monday night. The programme, filmed with the help of a whistleblower employee, showed residents being verbally abused by staff and left in deplorable personal hygiene conditions. The screening of the footage on one of the country's most-watched shows has led to to an immediate investigation by the police and the closure decision by the social servcies in Tías. The 26 residents of the home, which is believed to be unlicensed, are being transferred elsewhere.

Ryanair Claims Spanair Receives Illegal Funding

Ryanair sought to justify the funding it has received from the Catalan government to fly out of the airports of and Girona, but slammed subsidies alloted to its Barcelona-based rival Spanair as "illegal." At a news conference to announce 19 new flights out of Girona this summer, Deputy Chief Executive Michael Cawley said the Catalan government had habitually broken European rules on state aid in its funding of Spanair, which he described as "inefficient, high-cost, polluting and should be in receivership." Ryanair last year negotiated eight million euros in funding from Catalonia in order to continue flying out of Reus and Girona. Cawley said Ryanair "does not look for subsidies, but for low costs," and "does not care" how it goes about securing them.