Marbella Times

Junta de Andalucía refuses calls for investigation into early retirement scandal

2011-02-20T11:17:00+00:00

Junta de Andalucía refuses calls for investigation into early retirement scandal: "The Junta de Andalucía has ruled out any political resignations over the new scandal which is being referred to as EREgate. It’s an alleged fraud, investigations into which have found irregularities in 14 companies of the 39 where people have been paid early retirement payments when in fact they have never worked for the company concerned.

The Andalucia cabinet is blaming the General Director of Employment from 1999 to 2008, Javier Guerrero, for the irregularities, and he has already confessed to the judicial police, admitting that over those years he managed what he called ‘the reptile fund’.

However since that admission, Guerrero has withdrawn his statement. The case has put a question mark over the entire policy of help given to companies in the region since 1999, in which time over 647 million € of public money was spent. The case looks like fast becoming a national scandal, and three ministers have already had to face questions about it in Congress in Madrid."

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Seven arrested in new sports doping scandal in Spain

2011-02-20T11:15:00+00:00

Seven arrested in new sports doping scandal in Spain: "A network accused of supplying sportsmen and women with doping substances has been broken up in Cataluña.

The regional police, Los Mossos d’Esquadra, carried out raids in several locations against Cataluña, and at least seven people have been arrested. They are accused of supplying substances including EPO and Clenbuterol. Reports indicate there are amateur athletes among those detained."

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Peter Andre to perform live in Spain for the first time ever.

2011-02-20T10:52:00+00:00

Heatwave Promotions have pulled off their biggest coupe to date and are delighted to announce two summer dates to see Peter perform live in Spain for the first time ever.
Those all important dates for your diary are Wednesday 20th July 2011 when Peter will be appearing at The Bullring in Benidorm and Friday 21st July when he plays Fuengirola Castle, Malaga, Costa del Sol.
Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 1st March and, for a limited time only, will be available for a discounted rate. Excited concert goers have been signing up to the Heatwave Promotions website in their droves since news of the impending concerts first came out in November last year. Demand is high so don't wait to get your tickets, you may be disappointed. Tickets will be available initially via the Heatwave Promotions hotline 966 792 595 or via the website at www.heatwavepromotions.com and you will be able to pay through Visa, Access and PayPal. There are a range of ticket prices with something to suit every pocket. Prices start at just €35 and rise to €45, €65 and €85 depending on the area of the stadium that you choose. Check out the Heatwave Promotions website at www.heatwavepromotions.com for full details of the venues, tickets and purchase and collection points.
Just in case there is anybody out there who has missed seeing Peter Andre in the media over the last few years, here's a bit more about the man himself.
Peter Andre is an accomplished media star in the UK, Europe and Worldwide known for his successful music and television career. Peter hit a peak in his music career during the 1990s when he became the sixth highest selling artist in the UK. He had numerous No. 1 hit singles, two No.1 albums and toured all over the world and collected a multitude of national and international awards along the way. His chart success led to major tours throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia. It was while touring that Peter achieved one of his life-long dreams to perform at Wembley Arena, which he accomplished at a sell-out concert in the summer of 1997.
At the age of 23, Peter was chosen to be a special guest performer for the Madonna and the Bobby Brown concert tours. He became the first Australian artist to have had a single debut in the UK singles chart at No. 1. Then followed three Top 5 hits including two further No.1 singles and a total of eleven Top 10 hits worldwide. His most successful single was ‘Mysterious Girl’ which sold over 2 million copies. Peter’s next single ‘I Feel You’ also entered the charts at No. 1 and following on from this came his first UK album, ‘Natural,’ which also debuted at No. 1.
Following his appearance on ITV’s ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here’ audiences were reminded of Peter’s charm and fun personality, they kept voting in their thousands to keep him in the jungle so they could see more from him. During this time Peter also met Katie Price the mother of his two children and who he was married to for over three years.
Since then Peter has become a huge star of reality TV, written his autobiography, been voted Dad of the year, recorded and released more albums and more chart busting singles including his latest hit 'Defender'. He has an exciting year coming up for 2011. He has numerous amounts of television work – both reality and presenting - and has signed a fantastic new deal with ITV. In addition, Peter will also be releasing another fragrance and is looking forward to touring internationally with his music. :Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Las Vegas Sands Starts Speaking Spanish (LVS, MGM, MPEL, WYNN)

2011-02-20T10:24:00+00:00

Las Vegas Sands Starts Speaking Spanish (LVS, MGM, MPEL, WYNN): "Adelson is in discussions with Spanish governments to build a Las Vegas Strip style development that would cost somewhere around 10 billion to 15 billion euro ($13.6 billion to $20.4 billion). The development would follow Las Vegas Sands' business model of combining meeting, incentive, convention, and exhibition space (MICE) with a sprawling casino. So far that has worked in Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore, but a move to Europe is the biggest gamble yet.

A move into Spain isn't the no-brainer that Las Vegas Sands' moves into Macau and Singapore were. Asian gamblers, and VIPs in particular, have an affinity for games of chance, and the close vicinity of billions of people didn't hurt the proposition. There was also help from Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq: WYNN), Melco Crown (Nasdaq: MPEL), and MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) building a critical mass in Macau.

Macau and Singapore also hold virtual monopolies on gaming in Asia, but Europe has a slew of competition a train ride away. Germany, Greece, Portugal, and of course Monaco all have casinos that provide competition to Spain.

Then there's the issue of cost versus the possible return on investment. The Spanish development would likely cost more than Las Vegas Sands has spent on the casinos it has opened in Macau and Singapore combined."

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ARRESTED:43 year-old Belgian national who has a holiday home in San Miguel de Salinas and the passenger was also a 43 year-old Belgian national who was living in Orihuela Costa but also had a warrant out for his arrest by a court in Marbella

2011-02-20T10:18:00+00:00

: "The incident happened just after midnight when officers witnessed the black SAAB on the main Villamartin road. When approached by the officers, it drove off at speed, narrowly missing pedestrians and other road users. The car travelled towards the N-332 without lights before eventually losing the pursuing officers. An hour later, officers carried out a road block in the area where the car was last seen and after another chase, they managed to arrest the driver and the passenger after they drove the SAAB down a dead end road.
The driver was a 43 year-old Belgian national who has a holiday home in San Miguel de Salinas and the passenger was also a 43 year-old Belgian national who was living in Orihuela Costa but also had a warrant out for his arrest by a court in Marbella."

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Spaniards arrested on the Rock

2011-02-20T10:14:00+00:00

"The men, who were dressed in black wetsuits, were found to have 40,000 cigarettes wrapped inside black plastic bags tied with ropes. The contraband would have been worth £3,000 in Gibraltar but much more in Spain.

The men were arrested for tobacco-related offences and, after liaison with the Royal Gibraltar Police to ensure that they were not wanted for any other offences, they were taken away to be interviewed."

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New Basque party Sortu backed by marchers

2011-02-20T09:48:00+00:00

"Thousands of people have rallied in the Basque city of Bilbao in northern Spain to demand the legalisation of a new separatist party called Sortu.

Its backers are members of the political wing of the Basque militant group Eta.

Sortu's predecessor Batasuna was banned in 2003 by Spanish courts.

Eta has killed more than 800 people, many of them Spanish police officers, in fighting for an independent Basque state over the past four decades.

Sortu's backers say they now reject the use of violence and are committed to fighting for independence through purely political means."

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Santi Santamaria's last supper: pan tumaca - Telegraph

2011-02-18T10:30:00+00:00

Santi Santamaria's last supper: pan tumaca - Telegraph: "The chef collapsed on Wednesday in the kitchen of Santi in Singapore, while giving Spanish food critics a tour of his newest restaurant.
He had just served up a plate of pan tumaca, the traditional appetizer of bread spread with olive oil, fresh tomato and shavings of Spanish ham.
He took a slice, and then invited the restaurant critic of Spanish news agency Efe to take a tour of the dining room with him.
'Everyone was delighted to be eating 'pan tumaca' with Santi in the kitchen,' said Cristino Alvarez, who had met the chef many times and considered him a friend. 'Santi asked me if I was familiar with the dining room, I told him no and we headed there.
'As we were coming out of the kitchen, he said to me: 'I'm taking a turn for the worse,' and he collapsed,' the food writer said."

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Junta de Andalucía refuses calls for investigation into early retirement scandal

2011-02-18T09:21:00+00:00

Junta de Andalucía refuses calls for investigation into early retirement scandal: "The Junta de Andalucía has ruled out any political resignations over the new scandal which is being referred to as EREgate. It’s an alleged fraud, investigations into which have found irregularities in 14 companies of the 39 where people have been paid early retirement payments when in fact they have never worked for the company concerned.

The Andalucia cabinet is blaming the General Director of Employment from 1999 to 2008, Javier Guerrero, for the irregularities, and he has already confessed to the judicial police, admitting that over those years he managed what he called ‘the reptile fund’.

However since that admission, Guerrero has withdrawn his statement. The case has put a question mark over the entire policy of help given to companies in the region since 1999, in which time over 647 million € of public money was spent. The case looks like fast becoming a national scandal, and three ministers have already had to face questions about it in Congress in Madrid."

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José María Ruiz Mateos facing bankruptcy again

2011-02-18T09:19:00+00:00

José María Ruiz Mateos facing bankruptcy again: "Nueva Rumasa, the business empire of one of Spain’s most charismatic and famous entrepreneurs, José María Ruiz Mateos, is on the edge of collapse, but the man himself has said ‘If I can’t pay the investors, I’ll shoot myself’.

Ten of the companies in his Nueva Rumasa group are reported to be on the point of having to announce a suspension of payments, including the football team Rayo Vallecano, and food companies Dhul, Clesa and Elgorriaga. The debt is reported to have reached 700 million €, most of it owed to the RBS, Santander and Aareal banks."

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Spain upset at Gibraltar 'bunkering'

2011-02-17T16:32:00+00:00

Spain upset at Gibraltar 'bunkering': "The Spanish press is reporting ‘alarm’ in La Linea, following the announcement from Gibraltar that they are authorizing ‘bunkering’ by tankers in the Levante zone next to the Rock.

Bunkering is when a tanker transfers the contents of its tanks to another vessel while at sea. It seems the safety measures announced by Gibraltar have not impressed Spain.

The Partido Andalucista are among those to express their concerns for a situation which they admit ‘is not new’. They say that Gibraltar First Minister, Peter Caruana, has always said that bunkering can take place in the waters he considers to be Gibraltarian."

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Northern Ireland home buyers sue British real estate agents for Estepona fraud

2011-02-17T16:14:00+00:00

Northern Ireland home buyers sue British real estate agents for Estepona fraud: "The case of dozens of British purchasers affected by an alleged real estate fraud in Estepona has now reached the courts, in a suit presented on their behalf by the Marbella law firm, Lawbird.

The suit for fraud and misappropriation was presented at the courts in Madrid this Thursday against the Spanish promoter, Ricardo Miranda Miret, and three British real estate agents who El Mundo newspaper names as David Charles Stewart, Robert John Parkes and Colin Thomas. Lawbird has, in addition, asked the court to freeze funds amounting to 7.8 million €."

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MacAnthony's MRI Property International, Florida closed down

2011-02-17T16:12:00+00:00

MacAnthony's MRI Property International, Florida closed down | Olive Press Newspaper | News: "DARRAGH MacAnthony’s dreams of success in America are in trouble.
The Olive Press can reveal that one of the beleaguered mogul’s company’s, MRI Property International, based in Florida, has closed down.
And at least one property scheme linked to MRI is being probed by the Florida State Attorney.
The development in question, Los Jardines Del Sol, was offered to British buyers as an off-plan investment despite apparently not having planning permission.
Prosecutor Stephen Menge told the Olive Press: “We have had a lot of complaints about Los Jardines Del Sol and our investigation is continuing.”
One buyer Denise Cutler revealed how she had lost her life savings in the development promoted by MRI."

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Restaurant can reopen it if enforces smoking ban | Costa del Sol | News | The Largest English Language Newspapers in Spain

2011-02-17T16:10:00+00:00

Restaurant can reopen it if enforces smoking ban | Costa del Sol | News | The Largest English Language Newspapers in Spain: "Health Delegation in Malaga has announced that the Marbella restaurant which was closed for failing to obey the smoking ban will be allowed to open as soon as the owner bans smoking. He will still have to pay the €145,000 fine. The owner claimed online that he is the victim of a coup d’état, and that the police entered his restaurant without permission and forced customers to leave.

He says his lawyer advised him not to put up a fight, and claims he will fight to “legally destroy” the Health Councillor, Maria Jesus Montero.

Meanwhile, other hoteliers in the area believe say that “the law is the law” whether they like it or not, and in the case of the Asador Guadalmina, they weren’t going to lose custom due to the smoking ban."

Gang shootout in Cartagena leaves two dead in street

2011-02-17T14:59:00+00:00

Gang shootout in Cartagena leaves two dead in street: "shooting which occurred in the town of Cartagena (Murcia) early this morning between rival gangs has resulted, so far, in two dead, one wounded -very seriously shot in the head- and two detainees, Police sources have reported. Specialist police forces were forced to intervene and cordoned off the area.

Apparently, initial investigations suggest that the shooting could be due to the rivalry between two drug gangs, which forced the Special Operations Group of the National Police (GEO) to intervene.

Units of the National Police (GEO) counter-attacked early this morning the criminals who were shooting into the street from the second floor of a building located near the Sebastian Feringa and Alameda streets of San Anton in Cartagena."

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Sands eyeing $20 billion 'Euro-Vegas' in Spain

2011-02-17T14:55:00+00:00

Sands eyeing $20 billion 'Euro-Vegas' in Spain - Bloomberg: "Las Vegas Sands Corp. wants to build 'Euro-Vegas' in Spain, its CEO Sheldon Adelson said Thursday, touting a euros 15 billion ($20.3 billion) plan for a massive strip-style casino resort in Madrid or Barcelona.

Sands is in talks with officials from both cities about the project, which could have 20,000 hotel rooms, millions of square feet of retail and convention space and create 180,000 jobs, Adelson told reporters in Singapore.

'I want to do a mini-Las Vegas in Europe,' Adelson said. 'I hope we can use the name Europe Vegas or Euro-Vegas.'

Adelson said he plans to meet with contractors in two weeks and is assembling a team of architects and builders that would construct several resorts at once."

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Sands eyeing $20 billion 'Euro-Vegas' in Spain - Bloomberg

2011-02-17T14:54:00+00:00

Nintendo blackmail hacker arrested in Spain

2011-02-16T18:30:00+00:00

Nintendo blackmail hacker arrested in Spain: "An unnamed Spaniard has allegedly managed to hack into Nintendo’s user database and extract details, with which he attempted to blackmail the company.

This story was reported on TypicallySpanish.com (spotted by Spong). The hacker managed to get hold of the personal details of around 4,000 Nintendo users, and then threatened to publish them online unless Nintendo stumped up some dosh.

When the gaming giant didn’t reply to his demands, he went ahead and published some of the details he had on the net (the hacker’s equivalent of sending a finger in the post, albeit considerably less grisly).

Furthermore, the man also threatened to report Nintendo to the Spanish data protection agency for its lax security.

Unsurprisingly, this all went pear-shaped, and he has now reportedly been located and arrested by the Spanish police."

Polish tourist drowns as storms lash Canaries

2011-02-16T18:09:00+00:00

Polish tourist drowns as storms lash Canaries < Spanish news | Expatica Spain: "Maritime rescue services in Spain's Canary Islands Wednesday found the body of a Polish tourist who drowned when he was swept away by storms, police said.
The 33-year-old man was caught by massive waves as he was walking along the beach on the island of Tenerife with his cousin, a police spokesman said.
Maritime rescue services found his body on Wednesday morning not far from the beach.
A storm is lashing the Canaries archipelago, in the Atlantic off the coast of north Africa, causing waves several metres high.
Spain's meteorological agency has issued an alert for the whole region until Thursday night."

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Spanish rules are not in line with EU law as they discriminate against pensioners from other EU member state

2011-02-16T18:05:00+00:00

EU tells Spain: give foreign retirees free medicine < Spanish news | Expatica Spain: "European Commission took Spain to court Wednesday for refusing to grant pensioners from other EU countries who live temporarily in the country access to free medication.
European Union legislation gives pensioners who live temporarily in another EU country the same access to health care as retirees from their host country, if they present a European health insurance card.
The EU's executive arm accused Spain of discriminating against foreign pensioners by not granting them equal access to free medication, a right for retirees under Spanish law.
The commission decided to bring its case to the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice, which could force Spain to modify its law.
'The Commission takes the view that Spanish rules are not in line with EU law as they discriminate against pensioners from other EU member states,' the commission said in a statement."

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