Month: March 2014

Top coppers implicated in major corruption investigation

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“Operacion Emperador” was an investigation into money laundering that ended up with the arrest of Gao Ping, a Chinese man resident in Madrid, on charges of laundering billions of dollars via Spain. Justice followed its natural course, Mr Gao was allowed out for a walk one day and promptly vanished on the first flight back to Beijing, and no more was said. Can’t annoy the Chinese, you know. Anyway, Anticorruption has suddenly relaunched the case, Continue reading Top coppers implicated in major corruption investigation→

New bullfighting museum of Cordoba opens

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And this time, they’ve remembered to include a bull. It’s taken 10 years and 3,5 million euros to refit the museum, but the Museo Taurino de Córdoba has finally reopened to the public. But, with an eye to the change in public opinion, the gist of the museum has changed slightly – it’s now more about the bulls than the bullfighters.

7 metre whale found in Huelva city centre

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Okay, in the river as it passes through the city centre. After receiving several hysterical phone calls about this massive thing blocking the river, Policía Portuaria, Guardia Civil, Bomberos, Policía Local & Salvamento Marítimo all set out to join in the fun, but the animal died before anything could be done to save it. [Adsense-B] Nobody has any idea why the whale travelled up the river to die, but it caused an almighty traffic jam Continue reading 7 metre whale found in Huelva city centre→

EU opens corruption investigation into Andalucian budgets

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The EU has opened an official investigation to see what’s happened to over €200 million of EU funds that seem to have “vanished” in Andalucia. The corruption investigation looks at how the Junta de Andalucia has been spending the EU funds, which were supposed to go on labour policies and reduction of workplace accidents.

Algarrobico Judges denounced for abuse of power

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The Judges who ruled last week that the land the Algarrobico hotel was built on is urbanisable have had a criminal denuncia for abuse of power filed against them by ecologist groups. The Junta de Andalucia also said Saturday that it had grave reservations about the ruling, which it said showed “a lack of legal leadership”.

25,3 million euro Euromillion prize goes to Almería!

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Some lucky sod has won €25.329.483 from a Euromillion lottery ticket purchased in Almería city. The ticket was sold in shop 5.085 on Avd Federico García Lorca, which was celebrating over the weekend – a lottery shop which sells a winning ticket is always assured of record sales over the forthcoming weeks as people flock to the “lucky” shop. The winner has not yet come forward. Some years ago, a massive €125 million euro lottery Continue reading 25,3 million euro Euromillion prize goes to Almería!→

Roquetas floods in 20 minute storm

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Roquetas de Mar suffered a cloudburst yesterday which flooded the place in about 20 minutes. A heavy hailstorm blocked the storm gutters, which lead to water going everywhere. Roquetas is a horrible place in the rain – the whole bottom half of the city just floods, and the storm gutters, such as they are, go from the big new ones to the old small ones, forcing the excess water up in spouts along the avenues. Continue reading Roquetas floods in 20 minute storm→

Gadór forest fire burns 3,500 ha of forest and scrub – hydroplane video!

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The massive fire above Almería city is out now, and has burnt some 3,500 ha of land. Scrub and pine forest have all gone up in flames. The municipalities of Enix, Alhama de Almería, Santa Fe de Mondújar, Terque & Gádor were all affected. The possible cause was a tree falling onto a power line during the high winds of last week, causing a fire which quickly spread. Here are a couple of videos I Continue reading Gadór forest fire burns 3,500 ha of forest and scrub – hydroplane video!→