Blood flows down the face of an injured protester who was injured during clashes between supporters of Spanish coal miners and riot police as they ended a "Marcha Negra" (Black March) near the Industry Ministry in Madrid

Blood flows down the face of an injured protester who was injured during clashes between supporters of Spanish coal miners and riot police as they ended a "Marcha Negra" (Black March) near the Industry Ministry in Madrid July 11, 2012 (Reuters/Paul Hanna)At least 76 people have been injured in Madrid as clashes flared up between protesters and police, the latter using rubber...

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Qatar Has Designs On Valentino

Members of the Qatari royal family are in advanced talks to buy Valentino, the Italian dressmaker to some of the world's biggest celebrities, I can exclusively reveal. The Emir of Qatar is close to finalising a deal to buy the Valentino fashion label from Permira, a London-based private equity firm, for about £550m, people close to the deal tell me. They say it could be announced as soon as this week although they cautioned that the discussions...

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The richest woman in the world, according to a respected business magazine, is not Oprah Winfrey, Queen Elizabeth II or L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

It's a relatively unknown Australian mining magnate. So who exactly is Gina Rinehart?Asked once to sum up her concept of beauty, Gina Rinehart did not point to the pearls that so often adorn her neck.Nor did she rhapsodise about the ochre landscape of her beloved Pilbara, a beautiful, if unforgiving, expanse of land in the northwest corner of Australia.Instead, she spoke of...

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Bankers face the prospect of jail as Serious Fraud Office launches criminal probe into interest-rate fixing at Barclays

Hearing: Former chief executive Bob Diamond left Barclays over the matter, before appearing before MPs this weekA criminal investigation has been launched into alleged rigging of the Libor rate within the banking industry, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) confirmed today.SFO director David Green QC formally accepted the Libor issue for investigation after Barclays was fined...

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Diabetes drug makes brain cells grow

The widely used diabetes drug metformin comes with a rather unexpected and alluring side effect: it encourages the growth of new neurons in the brain. The study reported in the July 6th issue of Cell Stem Cell, a Cell Press publication, also finds that those neural effects of the drug also make mice smarter. See Also: Health & Medicine Brain Tumor Stem Cells Nervous System Mind & Brain Brain Injury Intelligence Neuroscience Strange Science...

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Spanish Tourism Industry Prepares for Difficult Summer

Spain's tourism industry is bracing itself for a painful slowdown in bookings this summer, driven by a steep decline in local tourism, according to the country's leading hotel association. Reservations by Spanish vacationers for the month of July are 30% lower than last year, amid persistently high unemployment and a protracted economic recession, said Juan Molas, president of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations. An influx...

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Holidaymakers in Spain this summer are facing a surprise new airport tax imposed by the Spanish government

Holidaymakers in Spain this summer are facing a surprise new airport tax imposed by the Spanish government as it tries to balance its books. Some airlines are passing the new departure tax on to passengers, even if they booked their flights months ago. Some passengers have received emails telling them either to pay an extra charge of up to seven euros (£6) per person - or to cancel their flights. Other airlines are deciding whether to absorb the...

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I’m a bona fide Heath Ceramics addict. I’m slowly building a tableware collection that’s almost exclusively Heath-made, and I’ve never felt better about an investment.

I’m a bona fide Heath Ceramics addict. I’m slowly building a tableware collection that’s almost exclusively Heath-made, and I’ve never felt better about an investment. Their dinnerware is so well made, solid and timeless that it’s impossible not to make even the humblest of meals (like my morning fruit and yogurt) seem more beautiful. I’ve always taken the ferry...

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James Bond's style celebrated in Barbican exhibition

Designing 007 at the Barbican: A James Bond suit displayed on a Sean Connery waxwork next to an Aston Martin DB5. Photograph: Matthew Lloyd/Getty ImagesThe Chesterfield coat and hat Sean Connery wears in Dr No for his first meeting with M; Roger Moore's yellow ski suit and red backpack seen on the slopes in The Spy Who Loved Me; George Lazenby's kilt donned in On Her Majesty's...

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Odisha-based Sudarsan Patnaik selected for Solo International Sand art competition

International Sand art competition Spain 2012 will be held at Marbella city in Spain from 9th July to 15th July. International Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik from Odisha has been selected to represent India at this competition. Ten sculptors around the World will represent their country in this competition like Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Holland including India. Director of this competition Mr. Pavel Mylnikov, has...

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Saudi princes, Hollywood stars or European royalty you are looking for, there is no shortage of celebrities living in Andalucia.

From the early days when Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant could be spotted chatting over breakfast in Marbella, to the current batch of publicity-hungry reality TV stars routinely spotted falling out of clubs, the trend has shown no sign of abating.An attractive combination of fantastic weather, luxurious properties and discreet locations all add to the appeal, but that is not all.“It gives them the Hollywood lifestyle just two hours from London,” reasons...

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Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias has long owned a property in Ojen.

OJENSpanish crooner Julio Iglesias has long owned a property in Ojen.Straddling three town boundaries, the palace has spectacular views.The 68-year-old singer settled down there along with his wife, Dutch model Miranda Rijnsburg...

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Situated in the hills above San Pedro, La Zagaleta is said to be the most expensive housing estate in the world.

LA ZAGALETASituated in the hills above San Pedro, La Zagaleta is said to be the most expensive housing estate in the world.Famous home-owners include Hugh Grant and the mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov, with controversial Russian president Vladimir Putin reportedly keen to use it as a bolt-hole.Rod Stewart is said to have a palatial pad at La Zagaleta, a far cry from his early...

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Believed to have some of Spain’s most expensive real estate, it is no surprise that Sotogrande is a popular haunt for the great and the good.

SOTOGRANDEBelieved to have some of Spain’s most expensive real estate, it is no surprise that Sotogrande is a popular haunt for the great and the good.Princes William and Harry are known to enjoy playing polo tournaments in the exclusive enclave, while the likes of Mariah Carey, Antonio Banderas and the Duchess of York are regular visitors.Other notables often spotted in the...

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Freeze Fresh Herbs in Oil to Preserve Them

Have a few fresh herbs sitting around that you won't get to using before they turn? Sure, you can freeze them in water or dry them out, but if you know you'll use them relatively quickly, you can add a few weeks to their life without damaging their potency by freezing them in oil instead. We've shown you how to make simply syrups with them, and how to use sea salt to dry them, but if you have some lovely herbs you want to use, but won't get to before...

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mclaren 12C spider convertible

'MP4-12C spider' by mclarenmclaren automotive has produced its second 'MP4-12C' model, the '12C spider'. bred through the essence of a race car, the '12C spider' incorporates a convertible roof explicitly designed to let users experience the sounds of the vehicle's V8 twin turbo engine. unlike many other convertible models, the hard top roof can be operated...

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International Jazz Festival, Gibraltar

GIBRALTAR’S International Jazz Festival – the first of its kind ever on the Rock – was a massive success. And the good news is that saxophonist Dan Moretti and vibraphonist  Arturo  Serra have already told the Olive Press they would like to return next year. As a jazz novice, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this the three-day music bonanza held at the centrally located Casemates Square on June 28, 29 and 30. But I soon found myself instantly...

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Villa Padierna Palace Hotel, Marbella

 Villa Padierna Palace Hotel, Marbella, one of the most exclusive five-star hotels in Spain’s Costa del Sol, has named Mainly Spain as the property’s General Sales Agent in North America. As its GSA, Mainly Spain will represent the property to the U.S. travel trade market including establishing new revenue channels among travel agents, consortia, tour operators,...

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the Marbella Club Spring Games

We’re doing six sports today: skiing, golf, shooting go-kart racing, water skiing, and paddle tennis. My opponents are zillionaire counts, aristocrats and captains of industry who learned to shoot when their nannies were rocking their bassinettes. The Games are hosted by the Marbella Club, a luxury resort boasting lovely, low-slung Andalusian-style bungalows and five-bedroom villas for ¤3,900 a night. Imagine a private pool, lush gardens and tiled...

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Antonio Banderas to host gala

 Spanish actor Antonio Banderas will host for the third straight year the Starlite Gala, an international platform benefiting a series of charitable foundations. The event to be held Aug 4 in the southern Spanish resort city of Marbella is based on appearances by well-known spokespersons that help garner media coverage for different causes, the organization said in a communiqué. This year`s Starlite Gala will feature performances by stars like...

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