August 2007

Across the line: Cocaine takes hold of Granada’s youth

By on August 31, 2007

As figures reveal that the number of children using cocaine has quadrupled in a decade, local government begins to fortify the classroom battle against drugs

Land Grab Scuppered

By on August 31, 2007

Despite hard-hitting Junta report rejecting “unsustainable” Parchite Golf, Ronda mayor Antonio Marin Lara insists the scheme is legal and still goes ahead THE Junta has thrown out a plan for another golf course scheme in Ronda.

Brothels for the disabled!

By on August 30, 2007

Spain is probably the most permissive and sex obsessed country in Europe, discovers Tremlett WHEN it comes to sex surveys, I am used to Cosmopolitan or its glossy equivalents. Spain, however, has the state-run National Statistics Institute. The instituto has discovered the following: more than one in four Spanish men under 49 have had sex […]

The Ghosts of Spain

By on August 30, 2007

Here, in our first exclusive extract from Guardian correspondent Giles Tremlett’s incisive, ground-breaking book Ghosts of Spain, we relive the tragic “secret” events that led to the murder of three innocent, educated women near Avila SITTING in the late autumn sun, in what had once been the Generalísimo’s plaza, it was not difficult to imagine […]

My collision with Spain’s troubled history

By on August 30, 2007

One of the longest serving foreign correspondents in Spain, Giles Tremlett delivers an almost daily slice of Iberian news to the pages of The Guardian. LISA TILLEY spoke to him about his best-selling, insightful new book Ghosts of Spain HE has spent most of the last two decades covering events around Spain for the anglosajón […]

From raisins to rebels

By on August 30, 2007

Theresa O’Shea takes a tour of Malaga’s bandit country – the Axarquia range of mountains. Instead of highway robbery, she falls prey to the charms of the region’s white villages

“We don’t want a Millennium Dome”

By on August 9, 2007

Judiciary investigates golf project designed by Sir Richard Rogers Olive Press Exclusive A GOLF course complex designed by the architect behind the controversial Millennium Dome in the UK is being investigated by police. The public prosecutor in Granada has ordered the probe following allegations multiple illegalities surround Milenarium Coto de la Macairana, the proposed leisure […]

Algarrobico: the never ending story

By on August 9, 2007

As Greenpeace claims work on the Algarrobico Hotel continues, the Olive Press charts the controversial history of the edifice that has become a symbol of rampant coastal destruction

It stinks!

By on August 7, 2007

The stench of corruption takes a break as Almuñecar binmen go on strike and methane gas escapes from Granada landfill site

Eta extortion letters demand 400,000 euros

By on August 7, 2007

SEPARATIST group Eta has sent out extortion letters to Basque businesspeople demanding “economic help.” The letters, written in both Spanish and Basque, were sent to regional companies in late July asking for 400,000 euros in 20, 50 and 100-euro notes.

Britons largest minority in Andalucia

By on August 7, 2007

BRITISH nationals have overtaken Moroccans as the largest foreign population in Andalucia. Figures released by Junta de Andalucia show 88,188 Britons now live in the region – compared to only 26,665 in 2000.

Junta stops 1,500 Alhaurin homes

By on August 7, 2007

THE regional government has vetoed plans to build a 1,500-home development on EU-protected land. The town hall of Alhaurin el Grande wanted to build the Barranco Blanco estate five kilometres from the Malaga town.

Could semi-arid region be set for golf course project?

By on August 6, 2007

Councillor claims to have seen golf course and residential project for Ugijar as developers advertise new homes on internet A GOLF course along with 2,000 homes is set to be built on semi-arid land in La Alpujarra, according to a local councillor.

Granada constructor paid for Marbella building licenses

By on August 6, 2007

A GRANADA housing developer arrested during the Malaya investigation paid Juan Antonio Roca vast sums for three building licenses.

Did Junta ignore Marbella corruption?

By on August 6, 2007

Roca insists regional government “knew” of his activities

Court declares Lanzarote hotel “illegal”

By on August 6, 2007

Canary ‘Algarrobico’ built on virgin shores A 747-bed hotel built on virgin sands on Lanzarote is illegal, according to the Supreme Court of the Canary Islands.

Has freedom of speech gone to the dogs?

By on August 6, 2007

Carlos Pranger analyses the sinister implications after the judiciary started legal proceedings against a newspaper and a magazine for their satirical swipes at Spain’s Royal Family OUR hot, peaceful Spanish summer has recently been shaken by two judicial proceedings that can only be described as extraordinary. Firstly the seizure, instigated by the Director of Public […]

Blas Infante: Father of Andalucia

By on August 6, 2007

As the anniversary of Blas Infante’s assassination is commemorated, Lisa Tilley finds out about the man who is officially recognised as el Padre de Andalucia.

Málaga dreaming

By on August 3, 2007

Bob Maddox stops off in the capital of the Costa del Sol and strolls arounds the city’s peculiar – yet spectacular – cathedral

Olympic escape for Russian athlete trafficked into Spanish sex trade

By on August 3, 2007

THE growing problem of sex-trafficking to Spain is in the spotlight after police broke up a gang that trafficked an Olympic star and 300 others to sex clubs in Almería and the Canary Islands.

Developers call new land regulations “illegal” as court dismisses appeal

By on August 2, 2007

THE Supreme Court of Andalucia has dismissed an appeal to suspend radical new land laws. Officals from Fadeco, a collective of regional housing developers and constructors, believe the Plan de Ordenación del Territorio de Andalucia (POTA) – which seeks to cap rampant urban growth – is “illegal,” claim it outlaws existing construction agreements between local […]

Developer more important than public interest, says judge

By on August 2, 2007

Judge throws Junta’s suspension appeal at Los Merinos Golf out of court as public warned not to buy at golf complex A MALAGA court has thrown out a request from the regional government to suspend work at the controversial Los Merinos golf development near Ronda. Judge Asuncion Vallecillo said the interests of the constructor of […]

Housing developers “funded Marbella election campaign”

By on August 2, 2007

Roca received one million euros for 2003 GIL election campaign SIX housing developers implicated in the Marbella council corruption scandal bankrolled a municipal election campaign, according to claims. The developers – who have all been charged with bribery in the Malaya investigation which has seen a total of 86 people charged with corruption – gave […]

“Bonnie and Clyde” of Baza face jail terms

By on August 2, 2007

Prosecution seeks ten-year jail term for film star’s step-daughter THE step-daughter of a Spanish film actress faces up to ten years behind bars for her part in a string of armed robberies in the Granada province. Diana Patricia Martín Romhild, 38, was arrested in October last year after four raids on banks in the Baza […]