January 2008

Granada unites for DO fight

By on January 29, 2008

Bodegas join forces to better ‘vino de la tierra’ category with prized Denominacion de Origen

“Granada is a great example of the Alliance of Civilisations”

By on January 29, 2008

Both Turkey’s Prime Minister and CARLOS PRANGER believe Granada symbolises harmonious co-existence between different cultures. However, the latter is not as confident as the former that the Alliance of Civilisations will be a success

Sick safari hunters jailed for shooting tigers and lions

By on January 27, 2008

Defence claimed tiger was not an endangered species in Spain

UK couple have home demolished in Almeria

By on January 27, 2008

Len and Helen Prior stand on the site of their former dream home putting a brave face on the wreckage that regional politics and municipal corruption have made of their retirement.

Alhaurín says pass to 35million bypass

By on January 27, 2008

A NEW four-lane bypass around Alhaurín would spell environmental disaster for the town. Pressure groups have united with the town hall and the three main political parties to fight a proposal by the Junta that would see around 200 homes seized by compulsory purchase orders. Slicing the town in two, the variante norte would obliterate […]

New group opposes Ronda Marbella motorway

By on January 27, 2008

THE IU party has joined environmental groups in slamming proposals to link Ronda to Marbella with a toll motorway. The group insists that the 350 million euro motorway is unnecessary and is only being proposed to create opportunities for development and speculation alongside it.

Search continues for missing Mari Luz

By on January 27, 2008

McCanns offer support as abduction fears rise KATE MCCANN has offered her support to the parents of a five-year-old girl who has vanished in Huelva. The 39-year-old contacted Juan José Cortes and Irene Suarez, whose daughter Mari Luz went missing from Huelva on January 13 after going out to buy a packet of crisps, to […]

British buyers take housing developer to court

By on January 27, 2008

Grupo Mirador and agency Palmera Properties both charged with fraud A MÁLAGA court has charged one of the biggest construction companies in Andalucía with fraud. The move comes after a group of 20 British nationals complained that the homes they had made down payments upon have gone unfinished.

Spanish study confirms Climate Change predictions

By on January 27, 2008

Levels and temperature of Mediterranean have risen over 60 years

Water pact lets ex-Junta chief off the hook

By on January 27, 2008

Lanjarón water extraction dropped – as are charges against Sánchez A WATER extraction plan that critics claimed would “threaten” the ecosystem of the Sierra Nevada has been dropped.

U-turn over anthem lyrics

By on January 27, 2008

SPAIN’S Olympic Committee has backed down over proposed lyrics for the country’s wordless national anthem. In a volte face, Olympic officials discarded the winning lyrics after deciding them the most apt from a contest that drew 7,000 entries.

CIA reveals Franco nuclear plans

By on January 27, 2008

DICTATOR Francisco Franco wanted to develop a nuclear arms programme to consolidate Spain’s international standing, according to a declassified report by the CIA.

14 held in terror raids

By on January 27, 2008

SPAIN is on red alert after police arrested 14 people who were allegedly plotting a terrorist attack on Barcelona. Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba said the detainees, 12 of whom were of Pakistani origin and two from India, has suspected links with an Islamist terror network.

Maddie hunt moves to Sevilla

By on January 17, 2008

Private detectives are trying to trace a British DJ who fled from Praia da Luz after being accused of grooming an under-age girl for sex.

New year resolution? Going, going, gone

By on January 17, 2008

The first demolitions begin… “the first of many”, says prosecutor

No viva!

By on January 17, 2008

EXCLUSIVE ANOTHER of Spain’s biggest estate agents is fighting for its life. Viva Estates has shut 95 per cent of its offices in a bid to fight the current recession. The agency – that claims to be the Costa del Sol’s largest – has laid off 120 of its 160 staff. It’s owner Chris […]

Judge paid by Roca

By on January 10, 2008

A JUDGE in Marbella took money in connection to urban development, it has been claimed. The Andalucian high court has said there is “absolutely no doubt” that judge Francisco Javier de Urquia took money from former Marbella planning svengali Juan Antonio Roca.

Grounded!

By on January 10, 2008

Endangered birds stop record cable car as UNESCO backs Junta snub THE proposed cable car between Granada and the Sierra Nevada mountain range has been indefinitely shelved.

¡Toma ya!

By on January 10, 2008

CARLOS PRANGER argues more religious and political tolerance is needed if Granada is to successfully commemorate the thousand year anniversary of the first Nasrid Kingdom

Language lessons

By on January 10, 2008

WE at the Olive Press have a predilection for new words. Every time new lingo enters the lexicon we hurriedly make a note for future use. An interesting programme on the BBC World Service recently highlighted some of the words that entered the English language in 2007. Among them were gems such as to Facebook […]

¡Enhorabuena Olive Press West!

By Jon Clarke (Publisher) on January 10, 2008

Hip hip hurray! Olive Press West is one today. Has it really been 365 days since our sister newspaper was launched? For 12 months, the good people of Málaga, Cádiz, Sevilla and Córdoba have enjoyed the tireless work of Jon, Jackie and Pauline. Ps Now you know where the majority of our more colourful stories […]

A Gallic put down for Spain’s chefs

By on January 10, 2008

SPAIN has been given a grilling in the latest Michelin guide. The French food bible reckons the country has hardly improved at all over the last year.

The idylls of Nerja

By on January 10, 2008

MARY ROULSTON takes a stroll around Nerja – the place mass tourism forgot. In this pleasant coastal town, she discovers a surge in the buy to let market

Runaway ham baron arrested in Caribbean hideaway

By on January 10, 2008

El Jamonero begs judges not to grant him bail as mob waits outside court A FORMER bank manager who allegedly conned millions of euros from the residents of a mountain town has been arrested at his Caribbean hideaway. Antonio Herrero, who owned a ham company in Trevelez near Granada, was detained by Interpol officers in […]