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A change in the birth registration laws is being planned by Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s socialist government. This new law will instruct registrars to put surnames in alphabetical order, unless the parents specify otherwise.

Traditionally, Spanish people have two surnames at birth: firstly, the father’s and the second is the mother’s. Historically, the father’s name has always gone first and in legal battles, this name would also have priority, however under existing laws either can come first. In addition, Spanish women do not change their surnames when they marry.

Under the rule of Dictator, General Franco, first names had to be chosen from an approved list of Saints. Now, the latest legislation will also spare parents from declaring whether their child was born out of wedlock, a rule which has been mandatory since 1957. Read more »

President of the Trade Federation in Malaga (FECOMA), Enrique Gil has announced that many shops and supermarkets will not take on extra staff over Christmas due to the economic crisis.

Before the global financial meltdown, unemployed people in the province looked forward to the Christmas period, as a chance to get some temporary work, with over 7,000 contracts being signed historically.

However, this Christmas, shops will make do with the staff they have, and merely ask their current employees to work extra shifts. Businesses are predicting poor sales this year, because most people in the province can not afford the expense that they once were accustomed to.

Figures from Eurostat, the European Union (EU)’s statistics bureau, showed that Spain’s unemployment rate in October had reached 12.8 percent, 5.7 percent higher than the EU average.

Spain cracks down harder on serious crimes; softer penalties for minor infringements of the law

Spain’s new and improved penal code will come into force on December 22 this year with the main focus being on terrorism, organised crime, corruption and sexual offences against children under 13 years.

New crimes which have been introduced to the code this year are piracy at sea, harassment in the real estate market, trafficking in human organs and illegal immigration networks.

Other, more minor offences are now finding the penalties softened. These include drug possession for self consumption, some driving offences or the selling of counterfeit goods at markets or in the streets. Those who sell illegal material in the streets, i.e.: DVDs/ fake designer bags and sunglasses will no longer be sent to prison when their ill-gotten gains amount to less than 400 €. Read more »

Cómpeta is preparing an exciting dance gala which will last for two nights over the first weekend in December. An fantastic line-up of artists has been confirmed for the event which will include a variety of dances – everything from flamenco, ballet and even tap.

It has been announced that the new gymnasium in the secondary school of the town will be the venue. Director and founder of the organisation, Reach4Dance, Ray Rowden, said that the gymnasium was an ideal location with great views for the audience, on top of which there is a separate space for a bar and tapas service.

Amongst those dancers in the line-up will be Matthew Powell, who is presently dancing in the exceptionally successful production of The Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End and ballerina Julianne Rice-Oxley – who will perform a Strauss waltz, a pas de deux from Coppelia and the fabulous routine from Le Corsaire popularised by Fonteyn and Nureyev. Read more »

This month heralds the return of the Malaga Jazz Festival, which includes a variety of concerts and other activities. The festival kicked off yesterday, 9^th November, and will continue until the 13^th.

The schedule is completely packed, with concerts in the Teatro Cervantes from Chano Dominguez, The Bad Plus and Dayna Kurtz over a period of 3 days (10^th, 12^th and 13^th of November respectively).

Later this week the Teatro Echegaray will play host to the Seamus Blake Quintet on the evening of the 12^th and the Sacri Delfino Trio playing ‘Jairana’ on the 13^th.

The most important public event at the Echegaray will be a Jazz Master class on the 12^th of November, to which admission will be free for a lesson given by the Seamus Blake Quintet. Read more »