Live News From Spain As It Happens

Almost eight out of ten Spaniards (78%) are against a return to smoking in bars and restaurants and 82% feel it was the "right" decision to ban smoking in enclosed public places.

These are just some of the findings of a survey conducted by the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (Semfyc) on over 4,000 citizens in health centres across Spain, some of them smokers, some non-smokers and others former smokers.

The data contrasts with recent calls for the relaxation of the smoking ban, "especially for revenue purposes," said vice president of Semfyc, Ana Pastor, who has called on governments to "listen to the people".

More at thinkSPAIN.com

Trading in shares in the Spanish lender Bankia has been suspended in Madrid.

The suspension in trading is "due to circumstances that may affect the normal share trading" according to CNMV, the market regulator.

Bankia is expected to ask the Spanish government for a bailout of more than 15bn euros after a board meeting later today.

Read more at ThinkSpain.com

A study by the Thao Foundation, which creates programmes to promotes healthy eating habits amongst schoolchildren across Spain, has revealed that one in four children between the ages of three and five are overweight.

"It is a very premature age, it's alarming and we need to make a massive effort to take action at an even earlier age if we are to prevent childhood obesity", declared the foundation's scientific director, Rafael Casas, in a press conference today.

Read more at ThinkSpain.com

Queen Sofia today cancelled the trip to London she had planned to make on Friday in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, because the Government felt it was "inappropriate" in the light of ongoing conflicts with Gibraltar - first the Andalusian fishing controversy and then the official visit planned by Prince Edward.

Sources in the diplomatic community have confirmed that the final straw came yesterday, when talks between Gibraltar Field fishermen and the Gibraltar government to try to find a solution to the fishing blockade in Algeciras Bay broke down.

This political controversy was further fuelled by the announcement last week that Queen Elizabeth's youngest son and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are planning an official visit to the Rock from June 11th to 13th.

Read more at ThinkSpain.com

Spanish authorities have complained that once again, Gibraltar police officers were harrassing Spanish boats fishing around the Rock last night, ultimately forcing them to return to Algeciras port.

According to the sources within the fishing fleet, six boats from the Algeciras fishing fleet set out from port at around 10pm, despite the recent ban imposed by the Gibraltarian authorities.

The boats fished for about an hour in waters around the Rock, until several boats from the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) approached and demanded that they stop fishing or face charges.

Faced with the threat having to answer legal charges, the Spanish fishermen called the Guardia Civil, who sent various patrols out to where the fishermen were, but in the end the fishermen decided to return to port.

The fishermen caught up in the controversy are supposed to call the Guardia Civil before putting out to sea, so that they can be "protected".

Read more at ThinkSpain.com