Malaga beaches are now accessible to blind people thanks to technology

The capital of the Costa del Sol is the second Spanish city to implement an electronic device that enables blind people to enjoy a swim at the beach. The two beaches of Malaga capital where these devices are installed are El Dedo and La Misericordia. These two beaches are as well adapted for the disabled and have amphibious chairs and specialized staff. Devices for the blind consisting of a wristwatch with an audio system that provides the swimmer at all times information about the depth and with an alert button through which rescuers come to help them out of the sea. This service is available to swimmers during the beach season, from June 15 to September 15, from 11 am to 8 pm.

Galliano found guilty of anti-Semitism,

 

Fashion designer John Galliano was Thursday found guilty of anti-Semitism and handed a suspended... Fashion designer John Galliano was Thursday found guilty of anti-Semitism and handed a suspended fine over a series of drunken outbursts against fellow customers in a Paris bar. The 50-year-old British designer, who was sacked from fashion house Dior over the scandal, was handed total suspended fines totalling 6,000 euros (8,400 dollars) over two incidents, in February this year and October 2010. Galliano -- who had faced a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of 22,500 euros on the charge of making anti-Semitic insults -- was not in court to hear the verdict. The Paris criminal court also ordered him to pay a symbolic euro in damages to each of his victims, as well as to five anti-racism groups that were plaintiffs in the case. He was also ordered to cover the legal costs of four anti-racism bodies. One of the most celebrated designers of his generation, Galliano had been at the creative helm of Christian Dior for 15 years, as well as running his own label, until the outburst brought his career crashing to a halt. At his one-day trial in July, he apologised for his conduct. Galliano insists he is not an anti-Semite but admits he can not remember the evenings in question, blaming a "triple addiction" to drink, sleeping pills and painkillers for his behaviour. The designer told the court he had since undergone two months of rehab in Arizona and Switzerland.

Corruption scandal plunges Kuwait into deep crisis

The wealthy Gulf state of Kuwait appeared headed Thursday for a major political crisis over allegations of corruption involving several members of Parliament and former ministers. Media reported that a number of banks planned to refer as many as 15 MPs and possibly former ministers to the public prosecution to investigate "suspicious" huge cash deposits into their accounts. Citing informed sources, Al-Rai daily said local banks are likely to refer between 15-20 MPs in the 50-member parliament to public prosecution to probe money-laundering suspicions. It said a number of former ministers could be involved in the scam. State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Ali al-Rashed denied late Wednesday reports that incumbent ministers were involved in the alleged scandal. The government has instructed the central bank and the finance ministry to "take all necessary legal measures" to deal with the allegations. The scandal, as opposition MPs describe it, was exposed by Al-Qabas newspaper in an unsourced report two weeks ago that cash funds totaling 25 million dinars ($92 million/65.4 million euros) had been deposited into the accounts of two MPs. The report claimed the deposits were linked to domestic political events including grillings, indicating that the deposits were used to buy the support of the lawmakers in crucial voting in parliament. Independent Shiite MP Hassan Jowhar expected the issue to develop into a major political crisis that will lead to dissolving parliament and calling for snap polls, the fourth since May 2006. Youth activists campaigning to oust Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, a senior member of the ruling family, plan to stage a new rally on September 16 and the corruption charges could energize them. Kuwaiti opposition MPs demanded recalling parliament from summer recess for an emergency session on September 22 to review government measures on the allegations and debate and pass a number of anti-corruption laws.

24-Hour Film Challenge in Marbella

MARBELLA Film Festival has announced the launch of its annual 24-hour film challenge, as part of the 2011 festival which will be held from October 15 to 17. The event which is organised by Marbella International Film Festival, in association with New World Trust and with the support of “The Marbella Film Office”, offers a great opportunity for filmmakers to add to their credits and demonstrate their talent to world audiences. This year the Festival is aiming to increase the participation by offering a subsidised package for accommodation and accreditations to the festival, attracting film makers from all over the world, to make movies, and show off their talent. The Filmmaker with cast and crew is challenged to make a three to four minute short film on a given subject matter, the task is to write a script, direct the actors, shoot the film, edit, sound and music, and deliver the film in 24 hours. All films will be screened and judged as part of Marbella International Film Festival, and the best film will receive the prestigious Marbella 24 hour film challenge 2011 Award. The runners up will receive a certificate of recognition and all participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Sotogrande jet set

 

 

•  ENLARGE

Given the awesome backdrop of the towering Rock of Gibraltar and a view across the strikingly blue Straits to the mountains of Morocco peering through the heat haze, my drive to Sotogrande could not have been more spectacular.

As I downed a cooling San MIguel, accompanied by a mouth-watering plate of tapas, I reflected on how my day was representing Spain's Costa del Sol at its best.

 

Ironically, while it's brewed in Spain, that iconic beverage I was savouring is actually a Filipino brand. The far-off Philippine Islands are also where the visionary creators of Sotogrande – the largest custom-built resort and private residential development in all of Andaluçia – originally came from.

 

The delightfully named Joseph Rafael McMicking e Ynchausti and his wife Mercedes Zobel de Ayala y Roxas discovered the then totally rural area in 1962 and went about buying up five farms to provide the terrain on which to build an exquisitely beautiful jet-set resort and the accompanying secure private estates. Like Topsy, it grew and among its many facilities today Sotogrande features five magnificent golf courses, including the world-famous Valderrama and San Roque championship layouts.

 

These days, Sotogrande is regarded as a showcase for the international good life, with a kaleidoscope of magnificent architectural styles on display, from traditional Andaluçian and Moorish inspiration through to cutting-edge 21st Century show homes.

 

In 2008, three of the resort’s signature buildings, including the Zobel’s own property, were declared by the local government as being of cultural importance – protecting them from ever being altered or demolished.

 

It’s new building rather than pulling things down that has been making the headlines in Sotogrande recently.

 

The sparkling NH Hotel Almenara and its surrounding private town houses and villas are set on the 27-hole Almenara golf course, designed by Ryder Cup champion and respected course architect David Thomas.

 

With 148 superbly luxurious guest rooms, a state-of-the-art Elysium spa, two pools and two world-class restaurants, NH Hotel Almenara, which is operated by the well-known and rapidly expanding NH Hotels group, is more than merely a golfer’s getaway.

 

As well as the formal Gala restaurant and the more casual Veinteeocho, which spills out onto the terrace, the NH Hotel Almenara operates the thoroughly laid-back Cucurucho Beach Club, with its bar, bistro and comprehensive range of land, sand and sea sports’ facilities, from tennis to wind-surfing.

 

NH World is today responsible for administering and marketing a large part of the whole Sotogrande estate. It has a wide variety of properties available for sale.

 

You could spend your dream home time there watching the world go by, keeping an eye open for such celebs as Tony Blair, José Maria Aznar and HRH Prince Louis Alphonse de Bourbon – pretender to the throne of France.

 

Or you could do as I did and take to the road, driving through cork forests, vineyards and grain fields to explore one of the most beautiful – and sun-blessed – corners of Spain.

 

Beyond Gibraltar and the frontier town of Algeciras, the road clung to the dizzying cliff edge, skirting a succession of delectably unspoiled bays until reaching Tarifa, the picturesque and historic one-time customs town that guards the entrance to the Mediterannean and from which our word ‘tariff’ is derived.

 

Further along the coast I reached the big City of Cadiz, with its canyons of modern high-rises but also featuring some magnificent buildings from the golden age of 17th and 18th Century Spain.

 

Another hour or so brought me to Jerez, the spaciously elegant capital of the sherry wine industry, where most of the bodegas offer guided tours.

 

Given very poor road signage, it’s a lot easier to find your way into the town than out of it. If anything, that did me a favour, putting me onto a delightful and lightly trafficked back riad that returned me to Sotogrande through gently rolling country, arriving in time for a stylishly presented high tea.

 

 

Pop-Up Shop to Showcase the Designers of the Future

 

London College of Fashion is to open its first ever pop-up boutique stocked with exclusive pieces from its young designers- London College of Fashion has announced it will be opening "College Shop", the college's first ever pop-up shop, in early September. farfetch.com say the shop is the perfect chance for shoppers to check out the future of British fashion. The petite boutique will sell items created by alumni from the past five years and current students, including William Tempest, John Brunswick, Beatrice Boyle and Ada Zanditon, whose fame has skyrocketed as a result of their unique designs. William Tempest's one-off designer dresses have been worn by superstars such as Emma Watson and Victoria Beckham, while Beatrice Boyle's distorted image t-shirts have been sported by Cheryl Cole. Paul Brine, spokesperson for farfetch.com, comments: "farfetch.com believe in supporting up-and-coming designers as they grow their talents to become the next generation of fashion luminaries and we think London College of Fashion has given their rising stars the perfect platform to showcase their talent. The college has been producing amazing talent for many years, with young designers and alumni of the college causing a storm in the British fashion world since graduating. This pop-up shop provides the perfect chance for these fresh faces to showcase their talent."

The Ecclestone Sisters Have Been Cruising Around Monaco In Their Dad's $150 Million Yacht

Image: via James Spotting

Tamara and Petra, bodacious daughters of F1 billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, have been carving out a name for themselves in the annals of conspicuous consumption.

Lately the pair have been cavorting off the coast of Monaco on their dad’s new toy, the 177-ft., $150 million super yacht Sea Force One. The stylish vessel was built by A.M.Y. Yachts, a joint venture between CNL and T.Mariotti of Genoa with interior design by Luca Dini Design.

The yacht was designed to epitomize style, luxury, comfort, elegance and “absolute entertainment”. With accommodation of up to 10 guests in 5 cabins, along with separate quarters for 12 crew members, the spacious craft expands over four decks.

Key features include an automatically folding private owner’s balcony adjoining the spacious master suite; an impressive private cinema and a discotheque; leather floors and other lavish interior treatments; the aft swimming area with beach platform; and the impressive sundeck with Jacuzzi pool.

Generous interior spaces are connected to exterior sun, breeze and entertainment areas via wide floor-to-ceiling doors, balconies and skylights. The latest in sophisticated LED lighting and music systems are integrated throughout the superyacht as well for a truly moving experience.

Puerto Banus Saturday market Marbella shopping

The Puerto Banus street market in Marbella is on every Saturday from 9am to 2-3pm. It’s next to the Plaza de Toros (bullring), 10 minute walk from the port.

The STR6 livery as well as the Toro Rosso drivers' suits will carry Cepsa branding for the rest of the season after the team signed a sponsorship deal with the Spanish oil company.

Toro Rosso sign deal with Cepsa

The Faenza-based squad confirmed on Tuesday that it has strengthened ties with the Abu Dhabi-backed Cepsa. Abu Dhabi government fund International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), which also owns stake in Daimler through state-owned subsidiary Aabar Investments, owns Cepsa. Aabar and IPIC in turn own Swiss-based Falcon Private Bank and Canada's Nova Chemicals who are both Toro Rosso sponsors.

Although no financial details of the deal were released, the team revealed that Cepsa's logo will appear on the drivers' race suits and on the nose, rear wing and rear wing endplates of the cars from this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Toro Rosso are currently owned by Red Bull but the Austrian energy drinks company is ready to offload the team and Spanish paper AS reported last week that Cepsa could become a full title sponsorship from 2012 and beyond.

Death causes concern in the Sierra Nevada

 

The death last Saturday of a 42 year old worker from Cetursa, the company which runs the Sierra Nevada ski resort, has reset alarm bells ringing in Granada. The 42 year old died of a heart attack in his home in Güéjar Sierra and it’s not the first time that an employee at the Sierra Nevada has died so young. Union Commisiones Obreras calculates that some 20 employees have died over the past ten years from heart attacks, while a similar number have had to leave their posts because of permanent incapacity. Workers at the ski station think it is because they work at altitude, and although they get an extra payment for doing so, they are increasingly worried about their health. The first symptom of working at altitude is tiredness as the number of red cells in the b blood increases. Workers are now calling on the Junta, the owner of the Cetursa company, to carrying out an exhaustive study into the risks of working at such a height to see if there are preventative measures which can be taken. President of the workers committee, Miguel Ángel Vargas, has told the press that a study was started three years ago, and now because of the recession there is no money to complete it.