News in brief

ROAD CLOSURES A number of roads will be closed and diversions in place around Villaricos this 7th, 8th and 9th of August whilst a large music festival takes place there. Dreambeach 2015 will cause the closure of the following roads. The diversions will be in place from 3pm Friday until 9am Saturday, and again from 3pm that Saturday until 9am on Sunday. The AL7107 Garrucha bound road will have a diversion setup at the Los Continue reading News in brief

Black season for local beaches Four people have drowned this year and dozens more rescued from dangerous currents

A 35 year old Frenchman drowned on Monday off la Cala del Plomo beach in Cabo de Gata natural park, becoming the fourth tourist to drown in our seas this season after a week in which dozens of people had to be rescued from dangerous currents along the levante shores of Almeria and Murcia. Alexis Pineda, Nijar councillor for beaches, said the incident was a tragedy caused by strong currents and that two other people Continue reading Black season for local beaches Four people have drowned this year and dozens more rescued from dangerous currents

Mojacar health cutback chaos argument

Townhall and health ministry at loggerheads over complaints. Just hours after Mojacar townhall denounced a situation of “chaos” at the beachside medical centre, the health ministry hit back saying the claims “are nonsense”. “The Mojacar health clinic is in a situation of chaos, as there are insufficient staff to cover the needs of both A&E and normal primary care. The number of complaints at the front desk increase daily” said a vitriolic statement from councillor Continue reading Mojacar health cutback chaos argument

Thomas Cook, Monarch increase capacity to Almeria

Tour operator Thomas Cook has been forced to upgrade the aircraft it uses for the popular Manchester to Almeria route due to increased demand from passengers. An Airbus A330-200, which seats over 300 passengers and has a double aisle, was used on the 23rd of July as the standard 200 seater plane had insufficient capacity. Sources from Almeria airport said that it was probably the largest passenger plane that has ever landed there. Thomas Cook Continue reading Thomas Cook, Monarch increase capacity to Almeria

Getting naked on the beach great for you

Going onto the beach in your birthday suit is amazingly positive for your physical, psychological, social and sexual health according to Ismael Rodrigo, head of the Spanish Naturist Federation (FEN). His organisation is launching a new awareness campaign in Spain called “the 205 reasons”, based on a series of studies published by the Naturist Society and the American Association for Nude Recreation. “The media tends to show us certain types of bodies which are considered Continue reading Getting naked on the beach great for you

Politicians kick back on their hols in Almería

Famous politicians from across Spain will be joining us here in the province this August as they come to the beaches to kick back and relax for a few weeks. Firebrand Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau is visiting her father in Isleta del Moro, in the Cabo de Gata natural park, where Colau senior resides and she is bringing her four year old son along with her. According to local sources, Ada knows the area Continue reading Politicians kick back on their hols in Almería

130 arrested in benefit fraud crackdown

The Guardia Civil’s financial crimes division have arrested 130 people after discovering a businessman offering fake work contracts to help people obtain benefits they were not entitled to. [Adsense-B] The scam involved two companies based out of Torre Pacheco in Murcia. The main company was a real fruit and vegetable supply company that operated normally, but whose owner had diversified into benefit fraud. He had setup a second company which had no clients, assets or Continue reading 130 arrested in benefit fraud crackdown

500 scammed workers pass night in train station

They had been promised that a French company was looking for farm hands and were offered four months work at 84€ a day salary. The work involved building greenhouses and collecting mushrooms. But of course there was a catch, namely the need to pay fifty five euros each for the “paperwork”. Five hundred people fell for the scam, and turned up at Almeria’s intermodal train station on Sunday waiting for the company representative to appear Continue reading 500 scammed workers pass night in train station

1 in 5 of Europe’s watermelon grown in province

Watermelon is one of the most popular local crops, as multiple harvests of the fruit can be grown both inside winter greenhouses and outside during the spring months. And the vast farms of the province have been busy growing this luscious crop. Out of the 950.000 tons of the crop which will be consumed within the EU this year, 222.000 tons will come from Almeria province. That’s also 43 per cent of the total harvest Continue reading 1 in 5 of Europe’s watermelon grown in province

Iraq troops return home safely

One hundred and three Spanish soldiers from the military base in Almería have returned from a five month tour of duty in Iraq. Operation ´help Iraq´ aims to train units of the Iraqi army in modern soldering. General Juan Jesús Martín Cabrero, head of the Legion brigade in Almería, personally welcomed each of his soldiers back on base by shaking their hands and receiving their salutes. This is the third and last Iraq tour of Continue reading Iraq troops return home safely