Margaret Thatcher gets her own square in Madrid

Spain has always (quite rightly) had an admiration for the Iron Lady, and now she has been honoured with a new square named after her, right in the centre of Madrid. Plaza Margaret Thatcher is just off the Paseo de la Castellana, behind Plaza de Colón, a newly built square on some reclaimed land by the townhall. Ana Botella (Mayor of Madrid) and Esperanza Aguirre (Madrid PP party president, and the closest thing Spain has Continue reading Margaret Thatcher gets her own square in Madrid

Spanish football clubs owe 564 million euros in unpaid tax

And Hacienda is going after them. La Liga, the organisation that represents football clubs, earlier this week released a statement saying that its members had paid 165 million euros this year towards unpaid back tax, but Hacienda has now released a counter statement saying they’ve only paid 99 million euros so far, and they still owe 564 million. That’s excluding the football clubs in Pais Vasco and Navarro, as those regions control their own tax Continue reading Spanish football clubs owe 564 million euros in unpaid tax

Russian embargo sinks fruit prices, but supermarkets take the profits

The Russian embargo on local fruit and veg has caused a massive surplus to enter the Spanish market, forcing prices down, but prices in the supermarkets aren’t shifting. Meaning the supermarkets are coining it in whilst the farmers are going to wall, according to farmers union COAG. They have released some prices to show the difference, from last week: It’s the shops what profit! A kilo of potatoes was being sold at source at an Continue reading Russian embargo sinks fruit prices, but supermarkets take the profits

Major NATO op off Almería next month

Get ready to see some spectacular warships sailing around the Albaran sea, as NATO comes to town next month in operation Noble Mariner 2014. A dozen NATO countries are sending warships, marines and troops for the largest NATO sea drill of the year. It takes place off Cádiz and Almería. As host country, the operation is under control of Spanish frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón. The operation is training for the NATO rapid response force, Continue reading Major NATO op off Almería next month