British gap year student falls to his death from French ski resort chalet roof | Mail Online

British gap year student falls to his death from French ski resort chalet roof | Mail Online: "A British teenager has fallen to his death after drunkenly trying to jump from one chalet roof to another in an exclusive Alpine ski resort.

Trainee ski instructor Edward De Nunzio, 18, died instantly after dropping 16ft from the icy roof.

French police have confirmed the former public schoolboy – who gained five As at A-level – had been drinking heavily and was returning home with a friend when he decided on the prank at 1am on Saturday.

Firefighters found his friend, who has not been named, on the roof. He was not hurt.

Mr De Nunzio’s parents Tony and Julie, who live in a £1million house in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, flew out yesterday to the resort of Courchevel, in the French Alps, a favourite of Russian oligarchs and celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham."

Spanish airport workers threaten Easter strike - National European travel | Examiner.com

Spanish airport workers threaten Easter strike - National European travel | Examiner.com: "After months of relative labor calm, Spanish unions are threatening strikes at the country's airports during the busy Easter travel period. The latest dispute comes after a breakdown in talks concerning the government's plans to privatize Spain's civil aviation authority—Aeropeurtos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (AENA).

The unions represent some 12,000 AENA airport workers and a widespread strike could cripple air travel in Spain. If a strike is called, it may take place April 22-25."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Gaddafi sends in thugs to murder Libyans after they ignore bribe bid - The Daily Record

Gaddafi sends in thugs to murder Libyans after they ignore bribe bid - The Daily Record: "THE TYRANT tried to buy them off, then shot them down in cold blood.
Thousands of democracy protesters streamed on to the streets of Tripoli after Friday prayers yesterday, to be confronted by Colonel Gaddafi's gun-toting thugs.
And within minutes, the heavies were firing live rounds into the crowds. Local reports claimed as many as seven protesters were killed in the Janzour area of the capital alone.
Reports said snipers on rooftops killed protesters and helicopter gunships strafed people in the streets.
'The sky is raining with bullets,' one witness said. 'There are helicopters. The situation here is horrible.'
An opposition activist, Mohammed Ali Abdallah, claimed artillery shells had been fired at the crowds.
And one terrified protester wrote on Twitter: 'May Allah help us all. They are shooting any protesters. We are unarmed."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

34-year-old Spanish woman and mother of two was found tied, gagged and with her throat slit in a Torrevieja apartment.

 34-year-old Spanish woman and mother of two was found tied, gagged and with her throat slit in a Torrevieja apartment. The horrific act took place in a property on the fourth floor of the Europa IV apartment block in Calle San Policarpo, in the Park of Nations area. The woman, who owns the property, which has been empty for two years, had arranged to meet someone to view the apartment with the intention of renting it out. It is not known whom the woman arranged to meet or whether this person committed the crime. However, the Guardia Civil are interested in questioning this possible suspect."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spain not expecting a wave of migrants from Libya

Spain not expecting a wave of migrants from Libya - Fox News Latino: "Spain's secretary-general for defense policy said here Friday that Madrid does not expect to receive a wave of migrants from Libya as a result of the popular revolt against the Moammar Gadhafi regime.

Though everything that happens in the Mediterranean and southern Europe affects Spain, 'we're not directly getting migrants flooding in from Libya by sea,' Luis Cuesta told Efe during a meeting of European Union defense ministers to discuss the situation in Libya and the evacuation of EU citizens from the Arab country.

Cuesta attended the gathering in lieu of Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon, who called off her trip to Hungary due to the deadly training accident at a military base outside Madrid."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spain evacuates 124 people from Libyan capital

Spain evacuates 124 people from Libyan capital | News by Country | Reuters: "Spanish armed forces plane carrying 124 people evacuated from the Libyan capital Tripoli landed in Madrid early on Friday, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The evacuees included 40 Spaniards as well as Mexican, British, Canadian and Portuguese nationals.

Spain is planning the evacuation of a small number of Spaniards from outside Tripoli, the spokesman said.

Spain had been trying to get an official flight into Tripoli since Tuesday but had not received permission to land. The Spanish oil company Repsol evacuated dozens of its staff and Spanish embassy workers on a charter flight on Wednesday."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spain to lower speed limit as oil prices rise

Spain to lower speed limit as oil prices rise | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Spain will lower motorway speed limits, cut train ticket prices and use more biofuel under an emergency energy-saving initiative because of soaring oil prices brought on by unrest in Libya, an official said Friday.

The Libya crisis has sharply reduced exports from the oil-rich nation, and about 13% of the oil Spain consumes comes from Libya.

Deputy prime minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, said Spain's energy supply is not in danger, despite shutdowns by oil companies operating in Libya, but the national energy bill will rise significantly because of the sharply higher petroleum prices.

He said a €10 per barrel (£8.50 per barrel) increase in oil prices will cost Spain an extra €500m (£425m) per month"

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spaniard arrested in Torrox over sale of wooden house

Spaniard arrested in Torrox over sale of wooden house: "The Civil Guard have arrested a 50 year old man in Torrox for allegedly defrauding two German buyers in the sale of a prefabricated wooden house.

The Spaniard, A.M.N., is accused of fraud.

They bought it for just over 38,500 € in 2007 and told officers that the suspect had informed them that they did not need a building licence to erect the building. They went ahead and installed it on their land, but then received written notification from the local Town Hall the following year that the dwelling could not be put up without a licence and that proceedings had been started against them."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Woman's stabbed body found in Torrevieja

Woman's stabbed body found in Torrevieja: "The body of a woman was found on Wednesday in a flat in Torrevieja. The body showed signs of violence, with stab wounds, and was found by her brother.

The victim is 34 years old and Spanish and was found in a flat in the centre of the town at around 5pm.

The Guardia Civil say that they are keeping all options open in their investigations."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Madrid man wins record jackpot on TV programme, 'Pasapalabra'

Madrid man wins record jackpot on TV programme, 'Pasapalabra': "computer engineer from Madrid has won a record jackpot on the Telecinco word game, ‘Pasapalabra’ – 852,000 €.

It was Carlos Vilalba’s 22nd programme and his prize almost doubles the previous jackpot of 450,000 € won in September 2009. He thanked his celebrity teammates, Araxta del Sol and Miguel Abellán, for helping him to amass a large number of seconds for the final jackpot round.

Carlos is qualified in business studies and says he likes to cook, but he says he will first spend some of the money on a holiday in the Canaries with his daughters."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Frederick Forsyth's year in Dénia was because of a tax problem, the author says

Frederick Forsyth's year in Dénia was because of a tax problem, the author says: "Frederick Forsyth, the British author who launched his career as a thriller writer with the best-selling ‘The Day of the Jackal’, was in Madrid recently to promote his latest book, ‘The Cobra’.

Forsyth once lived in Dénia and, speaking to journalists at the presentation, he admitted that he moved out to the Costa Blanca because of a ‘problem’ with taxes. The author was told that the UK’s Labour government of 1974 would take 85% of the money he had had earned from his first three books, unless he moved abroad for a year.

Forsyth chose Spain for his year away from the UK. As he told a reporter from the newspaper Levante-emv, ‘I’d just married. My wife and I looked for a quiet spot and someone recommended Dénia, which was cheaper than Marbella. We bought an old house, with a hectare of land with oranges, and we spent our time restoring it. After the year had passed we returned to the UK and, after a while, we sold it.’"

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Two seriously hurt in helicopter crash on La Palma

Two seriously hurt in helicopter crash on La Palma: "Two people were seriously hurt on Thursday when their helicopter crashed to land as they were flying over La Caldera de Taburiente National Park on the island of La Palma.

The accident happened shortly after takeoff in the area known as Dos Aguas, while the aircraft was still flying at a low altitude.

The crew were transporting building materials for a company which is carrying out improvements to one of the walking routes within the National Park.

It’s understood that one of the men is critically ill.

There has been no news as yet on why the aircraft crashed."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

the Mediterranean diet lifestyle as a primary way of preventing chronic diseases.

Major scientific organizations all over the world, including the Mayo Clinic and the World Health Organization, endorse the Mediterranean diet lifestyle as a primary way of preventing chronic diseases. It has been proven effective in helping you to lose weight, lowering your risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.

The Mediterranean diet is a traditional lifestyle which has been practiced for thousands of years by people living along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, in particular Spain, Italy and Greece. Residents of this area enjoy one of the the longest average life expectancies on the planet.

To experience the numerous benefits of the Mediterranean lifestyle, try these eight essential Mediterranean diet foods:

Olive Oil
Olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet menu. Research suggests that the abundance of olive oil consumed throughout the Mediterranean may be attributed to the area's low rates of heart disease. Olives and olive oil are a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Extra-virgin olive oil in particular is especially rich in antioxidants.

Nuts
In the Mediterranean lifestyle, nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds can be used in sauces, salads, or just as snacks. They are packed with essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3s, and contain high amounts of protein, fiber, vitamin E and calcium.

Greens
People of the Mediterranean region eat lots of dark, leafy greens. Greens in the cabbage family contain high levels of Vitamin C, calcium, potassium and fiber. These plants contain nutrients which help prevent cancer. Examples of dark, leafy greens include arugula, bok choy, brussels sprouts, collard greens, and broccoli rabe.

Seafood
Mediterranean diet foods include large amounts of fish and shellfish. Dishes often include multiple types of seafood. Fish such as tuna and salmon supply essential Omega-3 fatty acids. Other seafood such as shrimp and sea bass are full of protein, niacin and selenium.

Peppers
The Mediterranean diet includes many different types of peppers, eaten fresh, roasted, or dried in a variety of dishes. Peppers are high in vitamins A and C, fiber, beta carotene, and can protect against macular degeneration.

Unrefined Grains
Unrefined whole grains such as pasta, bread, barley and couscous are the foundation of traditional Mediterranean lifestyle. Abundant amounts of whole grains in your diet helps protect against heart disease and diabetes. Whole grains have a lower glycemic index than their refined counterparts, helping to balance your blood-sugar. They also have much higher levels of fiber, vitamin E, and antioxidants.

Tomatoes
Fresh, canned or dried, tomatoes are one of the most versatile Mediterranean diet foods. Tomatoes are used in soups, salads, sauces and more. Tomatoes contain high levels of vitamin C and lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant which has been shown to help prevent against cancer, particularly prostate cancer.

Beans
Beans are an important part of the Mediterranean diet lifestyle. They are eaten almost every day, along with greens or whole grains. Beans are considered to help prevent colon cancer and heart disease, and to help manage diabetes. Chickpeas and other beans are full of healthy protein, folate, calcium, iron and zinc. They are also great sources of fiber.

Not only do these eight essential Mediterranean diet foods provide numerous health benefits, they also take you on an exciting, delicious new path toward a long, healthy and exciting life, full of energy and peace.:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Man extradited from Spain to face drugs charges in NI

Man extradited from Spain to face drugs charges in NI: "A 41-year-old man has been extradited from Spain to Northern Ireland by the PSNI to face drugs charges.

He is charged with possession of class A drugs, possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, possession of class B drugs and possession of class B drugs with intent to supply.

He is due before Belfast Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The PSNI said the charges relate to incidents in 2001 and 2002."

WANTED IN SPAIN FOR MURDER Darren Kevin O’Flaherty, 36,

WANTED IN SPAIN FOR MURDER Darren Kevin O’Flaherty, 36, who is also wanted for conspiracy to kidnap and rob after a lorry was hijacked in Londonderry Lorry Park, near Bedale, and driven to Merseyside in 2006.

The driver of an Iveco box van was taking his cargo north on the A1 when he parked for the night at the lorry park and went to sleep in his cab. He was woken by masked men who threatened him and drove the lorry off – with him in it.

The driver was later released and the lorry was torched.

As well as the lorry hijack, O’Flaherty is also wanted for murder in Spain."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Antony Fraser, 39, grandson of “Mad” Frankie Fraser, is alleged to have fled to Spain

THE grandson of a notorious gangster is being hunted by police in connection with a huge haul of drugs discovered in Grays.

Antony Fraser, 39, grandson of “Mad” Frankie Fraser, is alleged to have fled to Spain after a police raid uncovered £5million worth of cannabis in a storage unit in Askew Farm Lane on March 17, 2009.

The drugs were hidden in a lorry supposed to be carrying frozen chickens.

A gang of men were in the middle of splitting up the drugs and putting them on to two other lorries, a van and a car when the police surprised them.

Five men were arrested, but two others, believed to be in their thirties, escaped before officers could catch them.

Fraser is wanted by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the importation of two tonnes of cannabis into the UK from the Netherlands."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

expat John Hogbin ‘believed dead’ after avalanche in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains

York expat John Hogbin ‘believed dead’ after avalanche in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains EXPAT is believed to have been killed in an avalanche while out climbing in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain.

Spanish rescue teams, including 130 soldiers and four sniffer dogs, are currently searching for 41-year-old John Hogbin, who has not been seen since the avalanche struck on Sunday, in the Barranco San Juan area.

It is understood that Mr Hogbin is a widower and the the father of a four-year-old child.

He lived in Woodlea Avenue in Acomb as a child before moving from York to Spain as a youngster with his father, Christopher, and Spanish mother, Maria, and had been living in the village of Zafarraya, near Granada.

Two fellow trekkers, both believed to be 43 and from Spain, were able to free themselves from the snow and escape with minor injuries. The avalanche is said to be one of the biggest in the mountain range for many years."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

€100 billion of caja loans could go bad: Bank of Spain

€100 billion of caja loans could go bad: Bank of Spain - Risk.net: "Bank of Spain releases details of savings banks’ exposures to real estate sector, levels of provisions; says reforms have addressed slew of underlying problems
The Bank of Spain on Monday published a detailed account of the health of its savings bank sector which showed that at the end of last year, the sector had taken a 'very prudent' approach to remedying its underlying problems."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Six more arrests in Crown Currency Exchange case

Six more arrests in Crown Currency Exchange case: "Six people have been arrested as part of an investigation into the collapsed Cornish-based foreign exchange company Crown Currency Exchange.

The three men and three women were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and fraud offences earlier.

The arrests took place at addresses in Cornwall and Hertfordshire.

The exchange firm, based in Hayle in Cornwall, collapsed in October owing customers more than £16m.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they had also now linked the collapse of another financial company to their criminal investigation.

Detective Inspector Paul Bean, head of the force's Economic Crime Unit, said: 'This is a lengthy and complicated investigation in which there are many lines of inquiry to pursue."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

BBC News - Six more arrests in Crown Currency Exchange case

BBC News - Six more arrests in Crown Currency Exchange case: "Six people have been arrested as part of an investigation into the collapsed Cornish-based foreign exchange company Crown Currency Exchange.

The three men and three women were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and fraud offences earlier.

The arrests took place at addresses in Cornwall and Hertfordshire.

The exchange firm, based in Hayle in Cornwall, collapsed in October owing customers more than £16m.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they had also now linked the collapse of another financial company to their criminal investigation.

Detective Inspector Paul Bean, head of the force's Economic Crime Unit, said: 'This is a lengthy and complicated investigation in which there are many lines of inquiry to pursue."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

'Mad' Frankie Fraser grandson wanted by police

 'Mad' Frankie Fraser grandson wanted by police: "The grandson of the former East End gangland enforcer 'Mad' Frankie Fraser is wanted over an alleged drug-smuggling plot, police have said.

Anthony Fraser, 39, is believed to be hiding on the Costa del Sol in Spain.

Originally from London, he went on the run after two tonnes of cannabis was found hidden in a lorry in 2009.

He is one of 10 suspected criminals whose details will be released later on Monday by Crimestoppers in the Spanish city of Alicante.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency and Spanish police are also involved in the announcement, codenamed Operation Captura.

They hope to track down the 10, all of whom are thought to be based in southern Spain."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spanish banks display their risky appetite for property

Spanish banks display their risky appetite for property : "They are officially banks but they have become Spain's main real estate agents, according to data from the country's banking sector which reveals the extent of their risky property assets.

The Bank of Spain had asked all 17 of the country's fragile regional savings banks, which account for about half of all lenders, to supply it with details of their exposure to the collapsed real estate market.

Unsurprisingly, the savings banks held far more risky assets than the main banks, based on a calculation of the figures earlier this month by AFP.

The nation's seven main banks held EUR 45 billion (USD 61 billion) in risky assets and the 15 savings banks that have so far published their figures had around double that to EUR 90 billion."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Anthony Fraser, grandson of ex-London gangster 'Mad' Frankie Fraser, is wanted over cannabis smuggling claims.

Operation Captura targets UK crime suspects in Spain: "Tip-offs after past Operation Captura announcements have led to 38 out of 50 fugitives being returned to the UK to face trial or complete jail terms.

Anthony Fraser, grandson of ex-London gangster 'Mad' Frankie Fraser, is wanted over cannabis smuggling claims.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency will also name nine others including alleged murderers, robbers and a paedophile.

The majority of the 38 caught and returned to the UK in the past to face trial or resume jail sentences - a 76% success rate - were tracked down to the Spanish costas, where the launch later is taking place"

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

WANTED IN MARBELLA MAN ARRESTED

Two men were arrested last weekend after Local Police officers spotted them driving erratically and at speed in the Villamartin area.
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. "

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

FACUA consumers' organisation slams airlines in Spain,34% of those with problems with airline companies named Ryanair,

FACUA consumers' organisation slams airlines in Spain: "The consumers’ organisation FACUA say that 24 of the 37 airlines who advertise in Spain show prices which are lower than what they actually charge. The organisation has criticised ‘the lack of a strong response’ from the Government.

34% of those with problems with airline companies named Ryanair, 24% Vueling and 19% Iberia.

In a report released on Saturday FACUA says the grand majority of the airlines which operate in Spain commit irregularities in the sales of their tickets and the evidence is that the problems are increasing.

Among the most common frauds suffered by passengers are the refusal of the companies to pay compensation between 125 € and 600 €, food drink or accommodation as fixed by European norms, when there are long delays or cancellations. In many cases the airlines fail to tell the passengers of their rights, despite the EU rules saying they are obliged to do so."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Cartagena shooters sent to prison

Cartagena shooters sent to prison: "four people arrested in the shoot out in Cartagena in the early hours of Thursday last week have all been sent to prison on remand. It comes after three of the four arrested gave statements to the judge on Saturday for four hours.

The sniper who was injured by a Police shot remains in Intensive Care in the Santa María del Rosell Hospital in Cartagena.

Police consider the shooting was settling of scores between small scale drug smugglers and reporting restrictions have been introduced in the case."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

A KING IN AL-QADHAFI'S COURT: SPAIN'S JUAN CARLOS VISITS LIBYA - Telegraph

A KING IN AL-QADHAFI'S COURT: SPAIN'S JUAN CARLOS VISITS LIBYA - Telegraph: "King Juan Carlos of Spain's visit to Libya served as a platform for the GOL to walk back Muammar al-Qadhafi's announcement that oil production might be nationalized. In the first visit of a Spanish head of state since Libya's independence in 1951, Juan Carlos' delegation managed to secure symbolic compensation for unpaid, decades-old debts to Spanish companies. Al-Qadhafi, however, remained fixated on Gaza (duly instructing the king on his one-state solution) and bilateral visa deals. The two leaders reportedly got on well and, in an unusual move, al-Qadhafi invited 16 Spanish businessmen to join the king in one of their meetings. The king's business-minded entourage was reportedly heartened by al-Qadhafi's promises to protect their investments in Libya and assurances by senior GOL officials that oil nationalization was not immediately in the offing."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Libya fights protesters with snipers, grenades

Libya fights protesters with snipers, grenades - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "There are reports at least 15 people have been killed after Libyan security forces opened fire at a funeral, as the regime struggles to suppress an uprising against veteran ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

It brings the estimated death toll in the country since the unrest began to almost 100.

The brutal crackdown comes as a wave of protests sweep through the Arab world, including Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Alergia, Tunisia and Kuwait.

With foreign journalists banned from entering Libya and internet and mobile phone communications frequently cut, reports on the violence have been sketchy, with some protesters relying on YouTube to publish images of the clashes."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Iran apologizes to Spain for diplomat's arrest

Iran apologizes to Spain for diplomat's arrest - Monsters and Critics: "Iran has apologized to Spain for the arrest of its consular representative in Tehran, warding off a diplomatic crisis, Foreign Ministry sources said Friday in Madrid.
Spain had threatened to recall its ambassador to Iran for consultations unless Tehran apologized for the arrest of Ignacio Perez-Cambra after he took a walk in an area where anti-government protesters were staging a rally on Monday.
The Spaniard was held for over four hours before being released.
Iran had violated the Vienna Convention regulating diplomatic relations, because it did not inform Perez-Cambra of the reasons for his arrest, Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez said.
Jimenez' Iranian counterpart Ali-Akbar Salehi called her on Thursday, and she 'accepted' his apologies, the sources said."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Sands eyeing $20 billion casino project in Spain - BusinessWeek

Sands eyeing $20 billion casino project in Spain - BusinessWeek: "Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chief Executive Sheldon Adelson says he's considering investing up to euros 15 billion ($20.3 billion) in a massive strip-style casino project in Spain.

Adelson told reporters in Singapore that he is in talks with officials from Madrid and Barcelona about the project. Adelson said the it would have 20,000 hotel rooms along with millions of square feet of retail and convention space.

Adelson said he would need government concessions regarding land and guarantees that building plans would be approved quickly.

Las Vegas Sands owns Singapore's Marina Bay Sands, the Sands Macau and the Venetian Macau along with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in Pennsylvania and the Venetian and the Palazzo in Las Vegas."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spain presses for clenbuterol threshold

Spain presses for clenbuterol threshold: "The Spanish cycling community is clamoring for the introduction of a minimum threshold for clenbuterol in the wake of the highly divisive doping case involving star rider Alberto Contador.

One of the tenets of Contador’s defense is that testing technology has moved faster than anti-doping rules and that a minimum threshold should be introduced for clenbuterol to differentiate between levels that enhance performance and what they call false positives triggered by food contamination.

“There needs to be a change in the anti-doping standards,” Contador said at a press conference at the Volta ao Algarve. “Technology has advanced, but the rules haven’t. The rules should be in accordance and I believe that they have to revise some points in the short term.”

Contador’s lawyers say new testing methodology allows minute traces of clenbuterol to be detected – 50 picograms in Contador’s case – levels they argue are well below what would create performance enhancement."

: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 del Torremolinos Sands Eyes Spain

Las Vegas Sands Eyes Spain - TheStreet: "Las Vegas Sands(LVS_) is eying a $20.3 billion project in Spain as its next vehicle for growth.

CEO Sheldon Adelson says that he is aiming to create a mini Las Vegas Strip in Europe, with Madrid and Barcelona as two possible locations. Sands is currently in talks with local officials.

Other potential locations include Valencia and Costa del Sol, both of which have expressed interest, Adelson said."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Lawyer hits out over arrest in Spain

Lawyer hits out over arrest in Spain - Press & Journal: "Lawyer and former Dundee Football Club director Giovanni di Stefano claimed last night that his arrest in Spain on fraud allegations was “politically motivated”.

The 55-year-old was held in a mansion in Palma, the capital of the island of Majorca, on Monday. In a statement, Mr di Stefano said he had been freed by the Spanish Supreme Court and the charges against him were “spurious”. Mr di Stefano is wanted by detectives at City of London Police in connection with a fraud inquiry dating back several years.

A source close to the investigation said a warrant was issued last month after a review of paperwork connected to the case.

He said yesterday that the charges were a result of a recent indictment he had served against former prime minister Tony Blair claiming the Iraq war was illegal.

Mr di Stefano is a colourful businessman and legal advocate who has made his name by picking up some of the most high-profile cases of the last decade. He was one of several non-Arab lawyers who acted as consultants to the team which defended deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and others in his regime. Earlier this month it emerged he had agreed to represent American serial killer Charles Manson, who is challenging his conviction."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spain will not overturn death sentence of poet Miguel Hernandez

Spain will not overturn death sentence of poet Miguel Hernandez - Monsters and Critics: "Spain's Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to revise the death sentence handed to Miguel Hernandez (1910-42), one of the country's greatest 20th-century poets.
Hernandez fought in Spain's 1936-39 civil war on the side of the leftist republicans against General Francisco Franco. After Franco won the war, 'people's poet' Hernandez was sentenced to death on charges including his 'left-wing' poetry."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Libya not immune to winds of change

Libya not immune to winds of change: "The violent clashes reported from Benghazi, on Libya's north-east coast, could well be a foretaste of what is to follow.

Opponents of the regime are calling for major protests this Thursday, spreading the word by internet.

Libya has had protests before, successfully quashed by the powerful security forces. But those were before the leaders of both Libya's neighbours - Tunisia to the west, Egypt to the east - were driven from power.

There has been much speculation among young, educated Arabs, that the days of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime are numbered.

He himself has been in power for 42 years, making him the Arab world's longest-serving ruler, just ahead of Oman's Sultan Qaboos.

Officially, he does not rule Libya, it is government by committee, with the country adopting various titles like The Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

In practice, it is effectively a police state where political parties are banned and dissent is crushed."

"Devil's advocate", he has made his name defending some of the most hated criminals in recent years.

Giovanni di Stefano, who is from Italy, is wanted by London detectives in connection with a lengthy inquiry and was arrested on Majorca on Monday.
Dubbed the

The 55-year-old said in a statement the charges against him – which relate to fraud, theft and money laundering - were "spurious".
He claimed they were revenge for a recent indictment he served against Tony Blair arguing that the Iraq war was illegal.
A source close to the City of London Police inquiry, which dates back several years, said a warrant for his arrest was issued in January after a review of the case.
Detectives are keen to have him brought back to the UK for questioning.
Spanish reports said he fell ill during his arrest and was admitted to hospital for surgery.
Di Stefano was one of several non-Arab lawyers who helped defend deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
He has also represented serial killer Harold Shipman, Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs and killer Jeremy Bamber.:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spanish politicians under fire for backing Contador

Spanish politicians under fire for backing Contador: "The head of cycling's governing body UCI has criticised Spanish politicians for supporting Alberto Contador in his battle against a doping ban.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was one of several politicians to publically back Contador's appeal.
'It's up to sport to police itself and sport should be allowed to do that,' UCI president Pat McQuaid said.
'I don't think [the process] should be interfered with by politicians when they don't know the full facts.'
Three-time Tour de France champion Contador tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol during the race in 2010.
The Spaniard protested his innocence, claiming contaminated meat was responsible for his failed test."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Spanish court releases Saddam Hussein lawyer

Spanish court releases Saddam Hussein lawyer : "Spain's National Court has ordered the release of an Italian lawyer who was part of the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's defence team, judicial sources said Wednesday.
Giovanni Di Stefano, 55, was held on Monday in Palma de Majorca. A British court accuses him of 18 crimes including embezzlement and fraud.
Di Stefano presented himself as a lawyer in Britain, without having been authorized to exercise as such, embezzling clients between 2004 and 2009, the British court said.
Spain's National Court ordered Di Stefano's release for health reasons while he was waiting to be operated at a Palma hospital. He was due to be extradited to Britain later on."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Sir Fred Goodwin wasn’t sharing any of the pain as he lorded it on a five-star shooting trip this week, paid for by the boss of Spanish bank giants Santander.

He is reviled as the world’s worst banker for his ­disastrous role in bringing the British economy to its knees.
But disgraced Sir Fred Goodwin wasn’t sharing any of the pain as he lorded it on a five-star shooting trip this week, paid for by the boss of Spanish bank giants Santander.
And joining Goodwin, 52, on the jaunt to shoot partridge and drink the finest wine at a medieval Spanish estate was none other than his long-standing crony, Sir Jackie Stewart.
Ex-Royal Bank of Scotland boss Goodwin hired former racing driver Sir Jackie, his boyhood hero, to be a ­£4million “global ambassador” for the bank.
When RBS hit the rocks, Sir Jackie caused outrage by initially demanding that Goodwin’s replacements honoured the deal and carried on paying him, even though the bank had to axe 20,000 staff. As a tax exile partly-based in ­Switzerland Sir Jackie, 71, doesn’t pay UK tax when he works overseas for RBS, despite the bank being kept afloat by £20billion of taxpayers’ cash.
But the continuing fall-out from RBS’s collapse appeared the last thing on their minds as Goodwin and Sir Jackie jetted out business class to Madrid on Tuesday, taking with them two 20-bore Beretta shotguns.
At the airport they were met by a limousine sent by Santander chief Emilio Botin, who helped fund ­Goodwin’s disastrous £49billion takeover of Dutch bank ABN Amro in 2007.
The deal, the biggest in banking ­history, was blamed directly for the collapse of RBS a year later.
After a night at Madrid’s five-star Villa Magna Hotel, the two Scots were driven 30 miles by limousine to La Flamenca, a vast country estate near the town of Aranjuez. The 2,500-acre grounds are owned by Manuel Falco Anchorena, the Duke of Fernan Nunez, who is said to have the finest partridge shooting in Spain.
Goodwin, dubbed Fred the Shred for his ruthless cost-cutting while in charge of RBS, and Sir Jackie were driven past the Duke’s palace up a three-mile track to Casa del Monte, an imposing hunting lodge.


Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/02/13/disgraced-banker-sir-fred-goodwin-goes-on-luxury-shooting-trip-to-spain-115875-22918797/#ixzz1DvZx7P9G
Go Camping for 95p! Vouchers collectable in the Daily and Sunday Mirror until 11th August . Click here for more information:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Prostitution racket busted in Spain

Prostitution racket busted in Spain: "prostitution network that exploited girls from various nationalities in four brothels in Madrid has been busted after police kept a watch over it using cameras connected to the internet.

Police arrested 11 gang members of whom two were fee collectors, three were telephone operators and four were in charge of the prostitutes.

They have been charged with crimes related to prostitution, including harming public health, human trafficking and illicit association, police said.

Investigation began when a complaint was filed by a woman who had formerly been a sex worker in the network.

Police also seized over 80 cell phones, computer equipment, documents and a safe."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Movie on post war Spain big winner of Goya cinema awards

Movie on post war Spain big winner of Goya cinema awards (Roundup) - Monsters and Critics: "Director Agusti Villaronga's Pa Negre (Black Bread) emerged as the big winner of Spain's top cinema awards, the Goya prizes, at a gala night early Monday.
The post-civil war childhood drama describing a society where the poor ate black and the rich white bread had hardly been distributed outside the north-eastern region of Catalonia, where it was made.
Pa Negre nevertheless took nine awards, including best movie, best director, best actress for Nora Navas, best supporting actress for Laia Marull and best promising actors for Francesc Colomer and Marina Comas.
The film's director and its producer described Pa Negre as a movie with an emotional rather than customs-and-manners perspective, filmed in a classical style and showing 'the moral devastation that war produces on a civilian population.'"

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.