July 2008

Sent to their death

By on July 30, 2008

As 29 immigrants die, Mafias “knew” ill-equipped boats would never reach Spain

The new El Dorado

By on July 30, 2008

Five hundred years after Spanish conquistadors scoured the Andes in search of El Dorado, that fabled city of gold, MARK EVELEIGH reports on the Ecuadorians who have crossed the Atlantic in search of wealth

Madrid seeks Nazi extraditions

By on July 30, 2008

Supreme Court wants to include the Butcher of Mauthausen in lawsuit THE Supreme Court is to investigate four alleged former Nazis over the deaths of Spaniards in concentration camps during World War II.

Last Granada survivor of Nazi camps dies

By on July 30, 2008

THE last Granada-born survivor of Nazi concentration camps has died. José María Villegas, 91, passed away during his sleep at his Baza home. A committed trade unionist and socialist, Villegas fought against General Franco’s military uprising during Spain’s Civil War.

More flights enter Granada departure lounge

By on July 30, 2008

Spanair, Vueling and Clickair cancel Granada flights as Ryanair stays – at a price GRANADA is feeling the strain of Spain’s economic crisis and rising global fuel costs after three low-cost airlines announced plans to cancel flights from the city.

A tale of two gulls

By on July 30, 2008

Almería protects rare bird while Cádiz launches gull cull following invasion

Agave a day…

By on July 30, 2008

… helps us work, rest and play claims prickly BOB MADDOX, who takes a peek at one of Andalucía’s most iconic plants

Over my dead body

By on July 22, 2008

Despite being paralysed down one side and losing an arm in a tractor accident, Jose Moreno, 68, is hell bent on keeping open an ancient mule path that has been blocked by ‘greedy’ developers FOR half a century Jose Garcia Moreno has walked the same footpath. Despite two strokes, a heart attack and a tractor […]

Blocked

By on July 22, 2008

‘A shameless neglect of duty,’ says local walking group as an incredible 30 public footpaths are cut off around Ronda alone

Save our paths

By on July 22, 2008

Andalucia has some of the best – and most scenic – walks in Spain. But hikers and families out for a countryside stroll are increasingly finding themselves penned in by gates and fences illegally erected on supposedly open land. Now the Olive Press launches a new campaign…to Save our Paths!

Shameless

By on July 22, 2008

THE warped logic of many councils around Andalucia is stunning. While tourists are the main source of income to the region their interests are often sadly ignored. Take Ronda, a region known for its wildlife and nature. It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of tourists who stay in the emblematic town go […]

Rail link gets go-ahead

By on July 17, 2008

A RAIL connection between the Costa de la Luz and Jerez airport has finally been given the green light.

It’s All Right, says Dylan

By on July 17, 2008

Bob Dylan ignores Green lobby to play concert where Sting refused to play for environmental reasons BOB Dylan has faced the ire of ecologists, unions and local residents during his current tour of Spain. The singer/songwriter came under fire after performing live in a park in the heart of virgin woodland in Castille y Leon.

Spain’s coastal woes head north

By on July 16, 2008

NOW it is the turn of Green Spain to feel the full weight of cement. According to Greenpeace’s annual coastal report the Basque Country, Asturias and Galicia have “begun to imitate the development model of the Mediterranean”.

Take a peek at Celtic Spain

By on July 15, 2008

Mike Souter has been writing travel features for over 25 years. He has reported from places as far apart as New Zealand and Cuba. But, when pressed, he’ll admit that a relatively little-known corner of Spain is one of his favourite places of all

Mark Thatcher’s Ronda hideout, a kidnap threat and an African overthrow plot

By on July 14, 2008

Sir Mark is hiding out in fear of being seized to face trial in the Equitorial Guinea plot, now linked to Spain’s ex-PM Jose Maria Aznar MARK THATCHER is hiding out in a gated community on the Ronda-San Pedro road in fear of being kidnapped. He fears an international snatch squad has been ordered to […]

It makes you sick

By on July 8, 2008

Private healthcare company Sanitas sends patient to the ‘wrong’ hospital to die, and then refuses to pay the bill OLIVE PRESS INVESTIGATES

Free healthcare clampdown

By on July 7, 2008

British pensioners could be about to lose free healthcare under new Spanish rules THOUSANDS of British expatriates will be forced to foot the bill for medical treatment after authorities announced plans to remove their right to free healthcare.

Wash out at Expo

By on July 7, 2008

Water water everywhere… just when the Expo water festival was preaching on saving dwindling resources IT was the last thing organisers were expecting at the launch of Expo2008, an international festival devoted to water and sustainable living.

When ‘Take Off’ could mean ‘Taken off’

By on July 7, 2008

Minister for Public Works sues pressure group as courts investigate whether Antequera airport plan should be taken off national priority list A HUGE legal row has broken out after a pressure group questioned a minister’s motivations for promoting the Antequera airport plan.

The battle of Lake Zahara

By on July 7, 2008

After their stunning home appeared in the Olive Press, the owners of Finca Pantano found a trio of buyers in a bidding war. Who said the property market was dead?

Zen and the art of fuel efficiency

By on July 5, 2008

After the fuel crisis of a fortnight ago many people will be looking for more economical ways to remain on the road. Here are our Top Ten tips:

More arrests in chiclana building scandal

By on July 5, 2008

Over 100 Britons affected in fraud, which involved false certificates to obtain mortgages and hundreds of illegal constructions By Jenny Kean in Chiclana CHICLANA has confirmed its name among the worst black spots for illegal building in Andalucia.

People power saves tortoise lake

By on July 5, 2008

A CAMPAIGN to save a local beauty spot near Marbella has proved successful… and all because of People Power. As the Olive Press reported in March, hundreds of protesters took part in a demonstration against plans to allow development at Lago de las Tortugas.