Latest Spanish News In English
Spirit of trail running celebrated in Javea
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 06:45:03The Granadella Trail 2025, which celebrated the spirit of trail running, took place in Javea at the beginning of February.\n\nThis iconic mountain running event spanned two exhilarating days, featuring a range of challenges that catered to various skill levels and showcased the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.\n\nThe Granadella Trail 2025 included two distances of 14km and 21km\n\nOn the first day, the Sprint Trail, covering a distance of 14 kilometers, saw fierce competition among the participants. VÃctor Valldecabres, representing Corremon Trail, emerged victorious in the menâs category, displaying remarkable speed and endurance. In the womenâs category, Natalia Bernudez de Castro showcased her exceptional training and strategy, securing her first-place finish.\n\nThe excitement continued on the second day, with the Half Marathon, spanning 21 kilometers. This event attracted seasoned runners and was marked by adrenaline-fuelled performances.\n\nAdil Moussaoui claimed the top spot in the menâs classification, demonstrating impressive stamina and skill. Meanwhile, Mar Pastor outpaced her competitors in the womenâs race, achieving a well-deserved victory that highlighted her dedication and preparation.\n\nThe organisers extended their heartfelt gratitude to all the runners, volunteers, and sponsors whose collective efforts made this edition of the Granadella Trail a resounding success.\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your local weekly news fix.
Auditions for JB Priestleyâs An Inspector Calls with The International Theatre Studio
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 18:19:50The International Theatre Studio, the longest-established English-speaking theatre group on the Costa Del Sol, is to hold auditions for its next grand production, JB Priestleyâs An Inspector Calls.\n\nThose who fancy having a go and pitching their acting talent for one of the various roles can go along to the Age Concern Centre at 12 noon on March 8, to meet with the director, Peter Brooks.\n\nThe cast members the ITS are auditioning for are Arthur Birling, in his 70s (actor late 50s to mid-60s), a hard-hearted businessman with old-fashioned ideas about women and a Yorkshire accent; Sybil Birling in her 50s, a cold-hearted and snobbish woman reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher; Sheila Birling, between 25 and 35, a giddy, naive, and somewhat childish personality who has a change of character during the run of the play; Eric Birling, between 23 and 33 years old, whoâs a bit of a âJack the Ladâ with a drink problem; Gerald Croft, between 25 and 40, an honest man with a dark secret; Edna the family maid, somewhere between 40 and 70 years old; and Inspector Goole. The suggested ages are playing ages.\n\nAn Inspector Calls is a compelling and haunting thriller. The story begins when the mysterious Inspector Goole calls unexpectedly on the prosperous Birling home. Their peaceful family dinner party is shattered by the investigations into the death of a young woman. The inspectorâs startling revelations shake the very foundation of their lives and challenge us to examine our consciences. More relevant now than ever, this is a must-see production for a whole new generation.\n\nFor further information and audition pieces, contact Peter on 617 520 923 or email peterbrooks1938@yahoo.com.\n\nProduction dates are May 9, 10, and 11 of May at El ParaÃso Hotel.
Cala de Mijas Lions Memory Tree fundraiser
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 17:55:10The first La Cala de Mijas Lions Memory Tree event was held in the Butibamba park in La Cala de Mijas on a delightfully pleasant Sunday, February 16.\n\nThe event was organised by the Lions Alzheimerâs and Dementia support group to celebrate the lives of loved ones, past and present. Purple cards were filled in with a message to loved ones and then hung on the Memory Tree. Valentineâs weekend was chosen for this event, as it is not always a happy time for some who have lost their soulmate.\n\nThe event was opened by friend to the expat community, Mijas Ayuntamiento Councillor for the Foreignerâs Department, Mario Bravo, who welcomed everyone. A minuteâs silence followed to enable those present to think of their loved ones who are no longer with us.\n\nJohn Sharples, as compare, kept the music playing throughout the event. Other entertainment included the pipes and dancers of the SUR Pipe Band marching by the stalls and performing a few Scottish reels on stage.\n\nThe drums of Drang gave a tremendous display of drumming skills, which had the crowds tapping their feet and clapping along to their beat, and Welsh singer Laura Elen sang a variety of songs, which were much appreciated by the audience sitting in the warm, springlike sunshine.\n\nThe event was packed with scores of artesian stalls selling interesting items, many of which are not available in the shops. La Cala de Mijas Lions stalls included a fantastic cake stall, a bacon butty and coffee stall, an array of clothing from their charity shop, a Valentineâs cava stall, and a grand raffle.\n\nSandie Tavendale (coordinator) thanks everyone involved who helped raise â¬2875, which will help the La Cala de Mijas Lionsâ Alzheimerâs and Dementia support group to continue assisting sufferers and carers to cope with the demands of this debilitating disease.
âToo many seeking asylum who donât qualifyâ: Justice Minister vows crackdown
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 18:27:25Justice Minister Jim OâCallaghan has fired a warning shot over Irelandâs asylum system, declaring âtoo many people are coming here who are not entitled to international protectionâ. The minister, who took over the Justice, Home Affairs and Migration brief last month, insists a faster and stricter process is on the cards â' promising to weed out unqualified claimants and ease pressure on legitimate refugees.\n\nBold words from the new boss\n\nâToo many people are coming to Ireland seeking international protection, who are not entitled to it,â OâCallaghan thundered during an interview with RTÃâs This Week. âThe system will change.â\n\nHe wants a swifter approach to reject unmerited applications, citing figures that show last year a whopping 18,500 asylum seekers arrived. The Department of Justice forecasts another 15,000 this year. OâCallaghan revealed that, out of 14,000 applications in 2024, over 65 per cent were knocked back first time â' while this year, that rejection rate has already soared above 80 per cent. \n\nHard lines and heartbreak\n\nâThe people who are really suffering,â OâCallaghan warned, âare those who are legitimately entitled to claim it, who may not be provided accommodation because of the numbers coming in. That is an area I am not going to shy away from.â\n\nA new home truth?\n\nBut the minister was crystal clear that he wonât be throwing open the doors to ever-expanding accommodation. âIâm not going to create as many accommodation spaces as possible for asylum seekers,â he said, pointing to the âever-increasingâ arrivals as the key driver of housing demand.\n\nHe gave City West as a shining example of how larger centres can work well. âRather than building places, the preference should be to buy places,â he explained, confirming plans to âbuy a series of centres around the countryâ.\n\nHe refused to reveal how many or how much. Still, he insisted itâs cheaper in the long run for the State to own such properties outright.\n\nUkrainian puzzle piece\n\nOâCallaghan also addressed the fate of Ukrainian refugees. Asked about the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme â' where the Government pays â¬800 per property for hosting, due to end this month â' he stressed itâs still technically under the remit of former Integration Minister Roderic OâGormanâs department.\n\nIn a final flourish, OâCallaghan promised that a decision on the ARP scheme for Ukrainians will be hammered out before the end of February.\n\nThe final word\n\nThe Ministerâs message? Ireland is tightening its asylum belt, cracking down on those who donât qualify and focusing on cutting costs and chaos. With thousands still on the move, OâCallaghanâs stance looks set to ruffle feathers far and wide â' and itâs clear heâs not about to back down.\n\nWatch this space: Irelandâs new Justice Minister means business, and his next move could send ripples across Europeâs migrant landscape.\n\nGet more Irish news. \n\nRead more original news in English from around Europe.
The Agapornis rocking Funk at Louie Louie
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 17:43:31Funk, Soul and Rock outfit The Agapornis from Cádiz have a long career funking up all of Europe and have gained a huge following and fame for filling the dance floor.\n\nItâs inevitable that Louie Louie will fill this night as this funky project, characterised by powerful and vibrant live performances, takes off at the iconic Estepona venue full of strength and emotion, with an overwhelming repertoire that gives no respite to the audience.\n\nThe Agapornis have a style marked mainly by their powerful horn section, their forceful rhythmic base, and a wild vocalist that puts the icing on this cake of Soul.\n\nâItâs a more raw Funk that characterises us the mostâ, says Desi Tey, lead singer. âItâs the fact that we work with intensities that are sometimes very close to rock. Many of the groupâs musicians come from Rock, and even if we produce a funky sound. Itâs hard to explain without listening to it.â\n\nThe Agapornis (lovebirds, in case you were wondering) are playing Louie Louie at Estepona harbour on Saturday, February 22, at 10.30pm. Tickets will set you back â¬12 in advance from entradium.com, or â¬15 on the door. Careful though, as this will sell out.
Balearics holiday bookings fall
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 09:23:48Holiday bookings to the Balearics fell by 4.3% over the past week compared to the previous week, but have increased by 19.8% compared to the same period last year, according to data published on Monday by the booking platform TravelgateX. The Balearics was the fourth most popular destination in Spain over the past week, with 11.9% of total bookings, behind Andalusia (19.7%), Catalonia (16.8%) and the Canary Islands (14.9%).\nThe majority of bookings were made 90 days in advance, accounting for 33.6% of the total, and 10.5% were so-called âlast-minuteâ bookings because they were made on the same day or the day before travelling. Some 12.5% booked between 31 and 60 days in advance of their trip and 11.7% between two and three months in advance.\nOf the bookings registered over the last seven days in Spain, 50.9% were made by couples, with 22.9% of bookings for solo travel, and 48.5% of travellers booking for between 2 and 5 nights, according to TravelgateX. Among the main nationalities to have made reservations over the last 7 days through TravelgateX, Spaniards stand out with a 51.3% share of the market, followed by the British (20.6%), Germans (4%) and North Americans (3.8%).\nThe introduction of biometric data collection, the new tourist taxes, and the ongoing concerns regarding overtourism are reshaping how tourists experience destinations like the Balearics. These changes will likely drive demand for more sustainable travel options and promote less crowded, off-the-beaten-path destinations.\nTourists will need to prepare for more paperwork and higher costs associated with visiting major European destinations. Travelers may find themselves reconsidering where they go based on rising fees and new entry requirements, potentially shifting demand to less-visited regions or countries that do not impose such measures.
Carnivalâs - a - coming to Mallorca
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 13:07:00Itâs been rather quiet on the home front! And for Mancor de la Vall, a week without a lively fiesta is a rare thing indeed! Locals joke that the village celebrates everything from an airplane flying over to the opening of a garage door. Yet like most of Mallorca, our village is known for its enthusiasm surrounding traditions, along with its genuine love for a rousing celebration. Therefore, the anticipation at this time of the year is noticeably palpable across the entire island. Children are already getting over excited as shop windows are slowly becoming ablaze with frivolous carnival displays, showcasing exotic and colourful masks, sparkling tights, superhero costumes, feathered apparel, glittering cloaks, fairy wings and colourful wigs (thatâs just the menâs range).\nThe frothy festivities of âCarnivalâ are typically scheduled to take place between February 23 to March 2, although some townships have already been celebrating with unfettered gusto. Traditionally commencing with âDijous Llarderâ or âFat Thursdayâ (27 Feb) the celebrations throw a nod to theâMardi Grasâ or âFat Tuesdayâ, famously recognised throughout mainland Spain, Latin America and other parts of the world.\nThe origins of joyous Carnival can be traced back to their roots as far as mediaeval times, blending pagan rituals seamlessly with Christian traditions as colourful celebrations erupted prior to the more solemn period of Lent, replacing doom and gloom with dizzy dancing! Most towns and villages across Mallorca organise their own carnival celebrations, with the largest floats and parades spectacularly headlining in Palma.\nâSa Ruaâ is a huge, Rio de Janeiro style parade, celebrated on March 2, filling the city streets with music, laughter and amazingly crafted floats as the carnival vibe comes to its colourful climax. âSa Ruetaâ, massively dedicated to children and their families, is celebrated on the morning of Sunday February 23, so start blinging those costumes all you mums!\nOur own carnival here in Mancor de la Vall will duly be celebrated with fun-filled childrenâs activities along with a masked ball for the grown-up children aka the âadultsâ, which is when all the Disney Princesses, Superheroes and ABBA outfits hit the streets. It seriously doesnât take much to get those party-going Mallorcan men into platform boots and a sparkling jump suit! Just one of those macho Spanish things I suppose!!!\nTraditionally, here in Mancor de la Vall, the carnival cacophony closes with a rather sombre finale â' a traditional tongue-in-cheek âfuneralâmarch, followed by a burial service for a trusty sardine! In Mallorca, as also documented throughout mainland Spain, there is an age-old ceremony showcasing âthe burial of the sardineâ, culminating with an effigy of the said sardine being thrown onto a flaming funeral pyre. This slightly bizarre ceremony will lead the way into a final night of celebration including a street BBQ, along with some traditional drinking, dancing, singing, swirling and twirling! Yet, regardless of being a fish fan or not, a portion of salty sardine, along with a glass of wine, will be offered to all who attend this most freaky of festive frivolities.\nThe first time I tried a traditional sun dried/salted sardine, I wasnât best impressed, mainly because I just grilled the offering then ate it. It was like eating 6 very salty bags of crisps all at once. Then a friendly local showed me the correct way to proceed, and how to eat this traditional fishy treat properly, like a true Mallorcan!\nFirst, you toast the fish nicely over an open flame. Then you wrap the little darling between a few sheets of newspaper, making a tasty little parcel. (if itâs the Bulletin, make sure youâve read it first!) Then, you either stomp on it with a well-turned heel, or place it between a handy door jamb and press the fishy parcel flat as a pancake. Remarkably, when you peel back the newspaper, the salty skin of the sardine has stuck to the paper, revealing the tender flesh inside which then just flakes away. And thatâs how you eat it, with your fingers from the newspaper. Add a few chips along with some mushy peas and it would be just like home!\nThis satirical sardine ceremony is based on the age-old belief of symbolically burying the past, whilst highlighting hopes for a more fruitful future, while also marking the beginning of Lent. So, letâs hope the year, moving forward, sprinkles a lot more hope and happiness to everyone across the glittering globe. Until next year. Molts DâAnys!
Weddings, blossoms, and buzz in Soller
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 12:53:00Little things mean a lot to the wedding couples of Soller. The situation of the Judgeâs Office being one of them. A Civil Wedding Ceremony, in front of the local judge, has recently been taking place in an upstairs office down the Lluna. When the couples emerge with their flowers and smiles, they walk the shopping street to the Placa to have their pictures taken. This happens very regularly and everyone in Soller loves a wedding.\nIn the past the judgeâs office was in the upstairs office at the Railway Station. This was altogether more stylish and picturesque. Great opportunities in the building and outside for Wedding snaps. This week the location has changed back to the Picasso influences of the station, to the delight of many. So, if you want the judge in Soller, be aware of the new location.\nSome restaurants have decided to open to coincide with the Valentines weekend. Special menus for the âlove is in the airâ season. Also, a Tapas Party night in the Market Square of Soller on Saturday 15th February from 6.30pm. A great night to be out and about seeing friends before their own working season kicks in. The hobbies and travels of the winter are just about to be put away again for a few months.\nEaster being so late this year creates a no-manâs land from Carnival to Easter. The major part of the season in Mallorca is always said to kick off at Easter. We wait to see what the next six weeks will bring in terms of visitors.\nThe Blossom Train is reaching its peak. The Valley, before the Soller Tunnel has great blossom displays on both sides of the road at present. The Soller Train as it travels this route before climbing the mountain is a great vantage point for blossom viewing. The peak blossom days are almost upon us and then we wait for cherry blossom further down the track. Have a visit soon to see this special season in our part of the island. This is always such a sensory treat.\nThe seascape for our local trippers is always interesting at this time of year. The sea can go from crashing waves to a benign pond in 24 hours. Hardy visitors from colder climes love their time on the beach even in a howling gale. The rest of us love to walk by the sea but most likely with âbig coatâ and scarf.\nThe chatter around Soller these days is very interesting. So much anger and misquoted rhetoric last year about tourism. Repetition of the same old stuff is frankly boring, and all intelligent people hope that progress has been made. We wait for the plans to control overcrowding this year. We wait for all the government initiatives to provide reasonable rentals for incoming seasonal workers. So much said in the past, so much learned and now time for actions to help the situation.\nCarnival plans are underway with some having their parades around February 23rd. In Soller we are saving the main Carnival Parade and Party on Balearic Day on Saturday March 1st. This consists of a great parade along the seafront in the Port of Soller ending with music and party time on the patio near the Repic Beach. This is always such a joyous occasion for young and old joining in the costumes and mayhem. All starts at 4pm and we hope for a sunny day!\nâA Place in the Sunâ on television on Monday, February 17th at 6pm, is all about us in the Soller Valley. Filming took place months ago, but the delights of our world are set to hit the screens and tell the story.\nProperty sales ebb and flow has homeowners plans change. One day there seems to be little available here and then 10 new instructions come in and the property world starts turning again. The story of last week was of a particularly desirable property in the centre of town, having 3 likely purchasers. At one point it was being suggested that the sale would go to sealed bids! The property world just keeps on turning.
Mallorca enjoys winter Indian summer
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 08:32:44The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has said that Mallorca is experiencing highly unusual weather for this time of year and that it is expected to continue over the next few days. Temperatures are much higher than usual for this time of year - more typical of April than mid-February.\nOver the weekend, maximum temperatures hit 20º in different parts of the island when 15º is normal for the middle of February. Aemet has forecast that no drop in temperatures is expected, not at least until the 9th of March for the moment. On Tuesday 18th February, cloudy skies are expected, tending towards predominantly cloudy skies with intervals of high clouds during the morning. It should be noted that there is a likelihood of fog patches until the early hours of the morning.\nMinimum temperatures will rise, while maximum temperatures will experience little change, remaining above average. The wind will be light from the east and southeast, increasing to moderate in the afternoon with some strong gusts downwind of the Tramuntana mountains. Although it is still early days, Aemet forecasts that temperatures will rise again on Wednesday in Mallorca. In some areas, such as Palma, the maximum temperature could exceed 20º.\nOn Thursday, 20th February, predominantly few clouds are expected with some low clouds in the morning and at night. There is a possibility of fog banks. Temperatures will be similar to those of the previous day, while the wind will be light and variable or calm.\nAn Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Several sources describe a true Indian summer as not occurring until after the first frost, or more specifically the first âkilling frostâ.
Tuesday temperatures to hit around 20ºC in Mallorca
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 15:18:00The weather forecast for Tuesday is that the maximum temperatures will increase slightly to 19°C or even a little higher, while the minimum will remain at 10°C. The wind will change direction to the northeast, increasing its speed to 10 km/h with gusts of up to 15 km/h. The cloud cover will be denser, at 68%, but the probability of rain will remain at 30%, with no accumulation forecast.\nOn 19th February 2025, a significant increase in the maximum temperature is forecast, reaching 21°C, with a minimum of 12°C. The probability of precipitation will drop to 20%, and the northeast wind will remain constant at 11 km/h, with gusts of up to 16 km/h. Cloud cover will decrease slightly to 65%, and relative humidity will drop to 79%.\nThe next few days in Mallorca will be characterised by a progressive increase in temperatures, with highs reaching 21°C. Although the north-easterly wind will intensify, conditions will be mostly dry and pleasant. Keep an eye out for wind gusts, especially if you are planning outdoor activities.\nâMallorca is experiencing spring-like days in the middle of winter,â said MarÃa José Guerrero, spokesperson for the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) in the Balearics. She forecast that this weekâs maximum temperatures will be between 2º and 6º above what is usual for this time of year.
Bellevue Alcudia squat bricked up as the squatting moves towards an end
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:08:00The company brought in to negotiate the eviction of squatters from the Neptuno II block at Alcudia's Club Bellevue estimates that there were some 150 people in the building. The great majority of them have left since Guardians Control arrived on Monday morning, an ultimatum having been issued for all the squatters to vacate the building by next Monday (February 24).\nTomeu Carbonell, the company's spokesperson, says surveillance will continue until the 24th. By Tuesday there were some 20 people still in Neptuno II, the main entrance having been bricked up, leaving an emergency exit for access. Round-the-clock surveillance is being maintained by shifts of twelve Guardians Control personnel.\nLeaving the building on Tuesday. Photo: Miquel Ã. Cañellas.\nThe squatters who have left the building have all signed a document agreeing to terms by which they won't face claims for damage or charges for usurpation. There will be legal action against anyone still in Neptuno II on the 24th.\nThe Guardia Civil are a regular presence for the time being as are Alcudia Police, who had to intervene on Monday night when there was an incident involving residents and squatters. There is no residential accommodation in the part of the Bellevue complex where Neptuno II is located, but a bridge connects the complex to a side street off the main 'strip', Avda. Pedro Mas y Reus.\nAlcudia social services, who have been criticised by some of the squatters for their lack of attention, say that they are providing this attention to those who are registered with them, especially families with children. The Council of Mallorca's social affairs institute is said to be liaising with the town hall.
Roll into action! Skating classes in Torremolinos for all levels
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:04:19Feel the wind in your face as you gracefully roll along the promenade like itâs no oneâs business. Whether youâre a total beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, weekly skating classes in Torremolinos are the perfect way to get rolling!\n\nJoin the fun and friendly sessions every Monday and Wednesday at Playamar, where youâll learn to skate safely and confidently â' whether youâre on inline skates or quads.\n\nWhen & Where?\n\nMondays & Wednesdays \n\nNext class: February 24, at\n\nPaseo MarÃtimo, Torremolinos (Playamar) â' Find the location here\n\nWhat to expect?\n\nExpert coaching for all levels.\n\nA fun and relaxed atmosphere.\n\nLearn to move with confidence on skates.\n\nGreat exercise & a chance to meet new people.\n\nHow to join?\n\nMessage via WhatsApp: 606 662 270 to reserve your spot!\n\nOnly â¬5 per class.\n\nFancy gliding along the seafront in your rollerblades like an extra from a 90s movie?\n\nDonât miss out â' lace up, roll out, and have a wheely good time⦠\n\nRead more news in English from around the Costa del Sol. \n\nRead more news in English from around Spain.
Canine search and rescue demonstrated
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 07:40:32On February 7, the fifth-grade students from Muixara School visited the Rescue Dog Training Camp.\n\nThere, they participated in an engaging canine search and detection drill known as the âArcon Method,â organised by the GERCCMA Association, which is made up of professional firefighters.\n\nDedicated firefighters explained how specially trained dogs were used in rescues\n\nUpon arrival, the students were greeted by a team of four dedicated firefighters, who took the time to explain the critical situations that can arise during events involving collapsed structures. They provided an overview of how specially trained dogs are used in rescue operations to locate individuals trapped under rubble.\n\nAfter the informative session, the students had the opportunity to engage directly in a drill, working alongside three canine units that are currently undergoing training in La Nucia.\n\nChildren participated in a mock rescue to show the dogs in action\n\nDuring the hands-on portion of the drill, three canine teams from the NGO worked closely with volunteer students. Each student entered designated buried areas, where the dogs demonstrated their remarkable abilities in search and detection, showcasing their keen sense of smell and their training. The canine units successfully navigated the simulated environments, locating each hidden student and thereby highlighting the dogsâ incredible skills in this area.\n\nThe visit concluded with a question-and-answer session with the GERCCMA members, enabling the students to learn even more about the specialised methods used in canine search and rescue operations.\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your weekly local news fix.
Palma's famous Social Club has a new home
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:52:00The British-owned Social Club, one of Palma's best-known nightspots, has a new home. It will be beneath the terrace at the Victoria Gran Meliá Hotel, where the premises are currently undergoing renovation work, and so only a short distance from the site the club occupied on the Paseo MarÃtimo before it was demolished last year.\nThe Victoria Discotheque operated until 2015. Ten years on, the Social Club will revive another very well-known nightspot. There isn't as yet an opening date; Meliá are also carrying out work on the terrace itself and the pool.\nThe Social Club had to close because its demolition was planned as part of the redevelopment of the Paseo MarÃtimo. The company had a concession from the Balearic Ports Authority until 2027. Negotiations for compensation proved fruitless. In the end, the Spanish ministry of transport, ultimately responsible for the Paseo, forced the expropriation. \nThe re-emergence of the Social Club and the revitalisation of the old disco at the hotel are indicative of the Paseo MarÃtimo's enduring status as a nightlife centre. A further example of this has been the transformation of the one-time Tito's nightclub into LÃo, which opened in August 2023.\nThe former site of the Social Club was connected by a walkway bridge to the old Mediterráneo Hotel. This bridge is scheduled to be demolished this coming weekend.
âHe get through!â
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:30:00âHe get through!â shouted former PNM councillor Ena Addley.\n\nIt was the signal to the crowd that Finance Minister Colm Imbert had been re-selected as the PNM candidate for Diego Martin North/East by the PNM Screening Committee at Balisier House last night.\n\nCelebratory chants of âColm Imbert, Colm Imbert, Colm Imbertâ filled the air as Imbert emerged smiling broadly, surrounded by his supporters who embraced him amidst the loud cheers and the blowing of horns. The speculation that surrounded the Diego Martin North East candidacy over the past two weeks had ended with his return to the constituency he had represented for the last 34 years.\n\nAsked how he felt about being re-selected, Imbert said: âI feel very good about it. And I will make sure that this last term of mine is my best termâ. Asked what he had to say to those people who did not want him to be re-selected, Imbert said: âThatâs okay. I wasnât too concerned. I feel good. And this is PNM. This is what PNM is all about.â He then waved goodbye, as he went back upstairs Balisier House to attend the screening for Diego Martin West.\n\nImbert, a Deputy PNM Political Leader, sits on the PNM Screening Committee.\n\nDe Nobriga reselected \n\nAlso re-selected last night was another incumbentâDiego Martin Central MP Symon De Nobriga, who will contest this seat. Speaking to the media, De Nobriga, who like Imbert was the only nominee, said he was not surprised by his re-selection. He said he planned to continue with the work he has been doing in the constituency. He said the constituency was doing well, particularly in the area of public utilities, and he now wanted to âram upâ some of the infrastructural work. He said the repairs done by WASA had slowed down some of the paving work that the Government had hoped to do. He said beyond this, he planned to work with the constituency executive, the party groups and the young people in particular, to ensure that the youth find the opportunities, programmes and mentorshipâall aimed at having a stronger Diego Martin Central and Trinidad and Tobago.\n\nAsked what he believed would be his biggest challenge in the campaign, De Nobriga said it would be ensuring that the party mobilises the ground supporters. âOnce our party is mobilised and unified, we are unbeatable,â he said.\n\nAsked about his expectations entering an election campaign with a new prime minister, De Nobriga said he expects that the transition from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to Stuart Young would be smooth and seamless. âWe expect that as the work we have done in the last five years bears fruit, we have given 2027 as the horizon for key initiatives, we expect that we will reap the benefits, and the people of Trinidad and Tobago will reap the benefits also,â De Nobriga said.\n\nAhead of yesterdayâs screening for the three Diego Martin constituencies and the Opposition-held constituencies of Cumuto, Manzanilla and Tabaquite, Tranquillity Street took on the appearance of a Carnival scene.\n\nThere were flags, moko jumbies, Paramin blue and red devils, tassa drums and two music trucks.\n\nHans Des Vignes, nominee for Diego Martin West, brought out his section of supporters, as did one of the nominees from Diego Martin West, Yokiyamma Bethelmy. Des Vignes got the nod of the selection committee.\n\nBut the main attraction was provided by supporters of Imbert, who had gathered by the corner of Victoria Avenue and Tragarete Road. Imbert approached the procession and greeted some of the participants. He and his son, Adrian, embraced each other as the Carnival-like possession made its way up the road, with a banner boldly proclaiming: âWe Choice: Imbert for DMNE (Diego Martin North/East). Percussionists and blue and red devils from Paramin accompanied the crowd sporting their Imbert jerseys, creating quite a spectacle and an impression of strong support.\n\nFrom the Balisier House balcony, some members of the Screening CommitteeâCamille Robinson-Regis; Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Faris Al-Rawiâwatched the spectacle.\n\nHans De Vignes, the frontrunner for Diego Martin Westâcurrently held by PNM Political Leader Dr Keith Rowley, which he intends to vacate at the end of the termâbrought out a crowd of young people. Rival nominee Yokiymma Bethelmy also brought her supporters, who were entertained by moko jumbies, tassa drummers, and a large music truck and were escorted along Victoria Avenue by two motorcyclists.\n\nBalisier House eventually had to instruct the two music trucks to turn off their music so that the screening could proceed.\n\nAttorney for Cumuto/Manzanilla \n\nAttorney Sanjiv Boodhu, who had originally screened for DâAbadie/OâMeara (now renamed Malabar/Mausica), was selected to contest the Cumuto/Manzanilla seat for the PNM. He said he was humbled at the opportunity to screen and represent the seat. âIt is an area in which I have deep family ties and deep business ties, so I look forward to serving the people of Cumuto/Manzanilla. We have a lot of work to do and with the capable teamâthe chairman, the executive and the members of the Cumuto/Manzanilla and the coordinatorâwe are ready to hit the ground running. We start as early as tomorrow. So, good things to come in Cumuto Manzanilla,â he said. Asked what his priorities were, he said consultation was a major goal. âThe first thing we need to do is to go out and meet the people and ask them what they need from us and what their concerns are. The PNM has not had a representative in that constituency since 1986,â he said.\n\nHe said the accessibility to representatives has been a challenge in this constituency. âWe are meeting on Wednesday with the Minister of Public Utilities, so we are going to be bringing relief to the constituents of Cumuto/Manzanilla recognising the water supply is one of the main issues. The other issue is the road network, and we have a large agricultural sector there, so that would be priority number three,â he said.\n\nAsked what he thinks are his chances of winning, Boodhu said the PNMâs chances of winning were excellent. âWe have a candidate that is ready to serve and we intend to show Cumuto/Manzanilla what representation looks like,â he said.\n\nHe thanked the Screening Committee, which he said had to consider the personâs qualifications and suitability for the particular constituency and the specific needs of the constituency.\n\nâwith reporting by Sherlan Ramsubhag
GRANDMA KILLED AT BIRTHDAY LIME
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:15:00QUINTIN Marcano, 65, of Cameron Hill, Maraval, was struck in the neck by a bullet on Sunday as she sat on a chair in the yard of the Penal home of Lucy Mitchell who was celebrating her birthday.\n\nShe died from her injuries.\n\nPolice are investigating whether the shooting was due to gunplay by a resident with an illegal firearm, or an exchange of gunfire on the street between a resident and the occupants of a vehicle that fled the scene.\n\nMarcano, a grandmother of seven, is the second woman to have died under such circumstances following the January 18 death of 36-year-old Sharida Ali of Kelly Village, Caroni. Ali was struck in the head by a bullet while liming in the kitchen of a friendâs home on 19th Street, Beetham Gardens.\n\nIn that incident, police were reportedly chasing bandits along the Beetham Highway, during which there was an exchange of gunfire.\n\nWith respect to Sundayâs incident, Marcano was attending a prayer service and celebration to mark the 80th birthday of Mitchell, the matriarch of the Penal household.\n\nA police report on Marcanoâs killing stated that around 5.30 p.m., gunfire rang out at a property across the street as the victim and her friends were sitting in a shed at Mitchellâs house near the road. Moments later, Marcano was seen with a wound to the right side of her neck.\n\nMembers of the Mitchell family tried to save Marcano by placing her in a car and taking her to the Siparia District Health Facility, but medical personnel pronounced her dead upon arrival around 5.53 p.m.\n\nA suspect was detained by police later that day.\n\nMarcanoâs killing also occurred two houses away from where Nicholas Kevin Morgan was gunned down last month. Morgan, 29, was ambushed and shot multiple times in an outdoor bathroom in the backyard of his home. That killing remains unsolved.\n\nHelpful and caring person\n\nWhen the Express visited Mitchellâs home yesterday, several family members wept and described Marcano as a helpful and caring person who visited them often.\n\nThe family members urged the authorities to tackle the issue of illegal firearms and begged youths to turn from a life of crime and violence.\n\nOne family member, who did not wish to be named, said Marcano was sitting on a chair near the road with five members of the Mitchell family discussing the death of a relative who had passed away from a heart attack. Also standing nearby was a woman holding her newborn baby in her arms, with her four small children around her, she said.\n\nâWe were talking about going to the wake, when we heard gunshots ring out. My cousin said, âThey shooting a gun! Run!â Everybody ran from the road. When we turn around, we realise she didnât come off the chair. We called out to her. I thought she fainted. But then we saw blood coming down her clothes. We started to bawl. When her neck turned, we saw there was a bullet hole in her neck,â she said.\n\nShe recalled they called for the police and the ambulance services, but Marcano was bleeding heavily, so a relative placed her in a vehicle and took her to the Siparia hospitalâbut it was too late.\n\nThe family member called for justice for Marcanoâs killing.\n\nâThis gun thing is too much. People are getting shot for other peopleâs stupidness. The authorities have to do something. I want them to get justice for this lady. She was a helpful and loving person, no matter where she went. She did not deserve this. She came to relax and spend a little time with us, not for this to happen. I want her family to get justice and closure for this crime. I am fed up of hearing about guns and killings,â she said.\n\nTurn to God\n\nJoel John, 21, one of Mitchellâs grandsons, also pleaded with authorities for justice for Marcano and urged youths to stay away from gangs and firearms.\n\nâThese kinds of things breed monsters. Plenty of youths have the wrong concept of life. If you donât know anything about a gangâno six, no nine, nothingâstay out of that, because at the end of the day, you will be making yourself a target. See about building yourself and your family. Badness does not pay. It does lead to one thingâdeath. No jail,â John said.\n\nMatriarch Mitchell, a mother of eight, wept as she spoke of the killing of Marcano, who had been there on Friday, the day Mitchell turned 80-years old. She said Marcano helped cook and clean for the birthday celebration and prepared party bags for the children of the household.\n\nâI tired hear gunshots. They always shooting. I said, âGunshot again?â Then I heard the bawling, and my friend died. I wanted to see her (when she got shot), but they told me: âMammyâdonât goâ,â she wept.\n\nâI want to tell young people to put down the gun and turn to God who make them and put them in this world. They throw away God from their hearts. Go and do something and have yourself looking good. Get some friends and plant potato, orange and cherry, and sell. I want them to put down the gun and care about their family. Instead, you going to look to kill people? People donât care about life again. I want them to care about themselves and their families,â she said.\n\nLife of the party\n\nThe elderly woman also cried as she recalled that one of her sonsâColin Mitchellâhad been beaten to death with a shovel and a pitchfork in May 2016 at Platanite Trace in Barrackpore.\n\nWhen the Express visited Marcanoâs relatives at Cameron Hill, Maraval yesterday, they described her as the âlife of the party,â with a love of dancing, loud music, family, strong coffee and a good lime.\n\nâShe was the life of the party and a dancer and a very, very nice woman,â said an elderly man seated in yesterdayâs hastily convened wake.\n\nHe also spoke of her 65th birthday celebration in October last year, adding that they had quite a few videos and photos of her dancing.\n\nâThat is just for the family, though,â he said, as he laughed while recalling the memory.\n\nHer daughter, Effie Callender, said, âShe was a very happy and jovial person and on Sunday she was just visiting some of her friends in Southâbut no one saw this happening.â\n\nAs the Express walked through the community yesterday, almost everyone knew Marcano and the kind of person sheâd been.\n\nâOh ho. The life of the party,â said another woman awaiting a taxi to head into Port of Spain.\n\nâReal people will miss that woman,â she added.\n\nDetectives of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations of Region Three are investigating.\n\nâwith reporting by Gyasi Gonzales
After years of criminal attacks, Brasso police station to reopen
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:00:00Following a series of robberies and the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Matthew Chancellor in Tabaquite at the weekend, residents of the community have renewed calls for the reopening of the Brasso Police Station.\n\nThis call appears to have been heard, and yesterday, acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin stated that the Brasso Police station would be reopened next week.\n\nâYes. By next week, we will be opening the Brasso Police Station and I am also pleased to say that within a short space of time, we would be opening the San Raphael Police Station so that we can give more service to the citizens of T&T,â Benjamin said.\n\nHe made this announcement following a news conference at the police administration building, Edward Street in Port of Spain.\n\nSpeaking with reporters after a fire alarm triggered the evacuation of the building, Benjamin said that he was unable to say exactly why the Brasso police station had been closed.\n\nâI can tell you that some of the situations clearly showed that because of the number of offences, it was minimal and because of the strength, that could be one of the reasons...Nevertheless, we recognise at this point in time, given the optics in violent crime there, we need to ensure that we have a greater presence and therefore, as the Commissioner of Police, I have taken it upon myself to open it,â Benjamin said.\n\nHe said that he hoped the reopening of the police station would lead to increased police visibility in the area, and faster responses by officers, and as such would have a positive impact on crime in the area.\n\nHe emphasised that this was not a sole direction from his office, but rather a âcontinuance of executionâ as plans were put in place to reopen the Brasso police station by suspended Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher.\n\nThe Express also spoke to Head of Central Division Police acting Snr Supt Ian Carty yesterday who said the Brasso Police Station will be reopened in two weeks and once reopened, would be fully resourced.\n\nâI have a date, but I donât want to divulge that date yet, but I spoke with the (acting) Commissioner of Police and I believe that in about two weeksâ time the station should be opened,â he said.\n\nHe added that the station would be manned by police officers.\n\nâIt is going to be adequately resourced. The station is going to have the requisite manpower and the resources that are needed in order for the station to function effectively. It is going to be adequately staffed,â he continued.\n\nCriminals sucking residents dry \n\nChancellor was fatally shot near the Tabaquite Recreational Grounds on Saturday morning.\n\nThis followed a series of crime incidents and robberies which began on Friday night, which saw several residents of the area being robbed at gunpoint.\n\nNo one has been held for the murder.\n\nYesterday morning Chancellorâs father Maxwelo Chancellor spoke with reporters at the Forensic Science Centre in Federation Park where he reiterated calls for the Brasso police station to be reopened.\n\nâWe need to get back our police station in Tabaquite. We have too many innocent people in the area, and these criminals are taking advantage. They are coming into the community to intimidate, interrogate, rob, loot and kill people. And all this is happening in part because the police station not there so police have a longer way to reach and to respond. And it have a lot of roads from Brasso to Gran Couva. A lot of escape routes. So we need back our station...Right now these criminals are living, bleeding and sucking the residents dry. The place gone in Tabaquite because we lacking police, and the bandits are rampant,â Chancellor said.\n\nHe said that the community has been âunder siegeâ over the last few months with several robberies being reported.\n\nAnd now, sadly, with his sonâs death, criminal elements had added murder to their list.\n\nHe described his son as a loving and caring individual, who was always smiling and had âbright eyesâ.\n\nHe said his sonâs personality drew persons towards him.
Delayed probe begins today
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:00:00THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Regiment (TTR) Board of Enquiry investigating how 25,753 rounds of reserve 5.56 ammunition went missing from the Cumuto Barracks, which was supposed to start yesterday, will now begin today at 9 a.m. at the barracks.\n\nA senior army officer told the Express yesterday that the Enquiry was stood down and will instead start today. He was not certain what caused the delay.\n\nAccording to insiders, the Enquiry can continue for several days or weeks, and as in the past, can sometimes be adjourned before being reconvened at a later date.\n\nMinister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and Chief of Defence Staff Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel are yet to comment on the issue of the missing ammunition and a major breach in national security, despite the Expressâ requests for an explanation since last Wednesday.\n\nThe TTR appointed a three-man team headed by Lt Col Dwyane Edwards; it includes Maj B George and Warrant Officer M Brooks. The team will probe the disappearance of the ammunition that was issued in a special orders document, obtained by the Express at the weekend.\n\nâEngaging the attention of the policeâ\n\nActing Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin at a news conference yesterday confirmed that the missing ammunition was âengaging the attention of the policeâ and âthey were looking into the matterâ.\n\nThe Sunday Express reported exclusively on the ammunition that was discovered missing from the 1st Engineer Battalion Bunker earlier this month during a physical examination at the Cumuto Barracks. Colonel JP Roachford, who took charge of the Cumuto Barracks in October last year, ordered the check of the reserve rounds.\n\nThe ammunition had been removed from the Cumuto Barracks bunker and relocated to a nearby building within the barracks compound sometime in 2022.\n\nA senior army official familiar with the investigation says they are uncertain as to when exactly the ammunition went missing, asking, âWas it before the rounds were removed from the bunker in 2022? Was it during the transfer of the ammunition to the building or did the ammo go missing after it was transferred?â\n\nAnother senior army officer also raised questions about the preferred choice on how to investigate this serious matter.âWhy did the Chief of Defence Staff direct the Commanding Officer of the Regiment to conduct a Board of Inquiry as opposed to a formal investigation into the allegations of the missing ammunition?â he asked.\n\nHe added that the Inquiry would no doubt be able to âaddress systemic issues affecting the organisation, and find out what happened and why it happened and to implement measures to prevent and/or mitigate against the re-occurrence of such a situation. But at the same time the Board of Inquiry is not punitive in nature. Therefore, the question remains why a Board of Inquiry was elected as the best medium of investigation since it may very well reveal either : (a) gross negligence or (b) criminal conduct including larceny of the rounds. This will certainly result in serious disciplinary actions to be taken against a person or persons who may be culpable via trial by court-martial.â
Burglar left behind, ends up in hospital after owner arrives
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 10:01:00A BUSINESSMAN subdued a knife-wielding bandit following a break-in at The Food Hut in Montrose.\n\nThe shop owner secured the business located in Lendore Village, at 5 p.m. on Friday and left.\n\nAt about 1.36 a.m. on Saturday, people in the community called him and said that loud noises were coming from the establishment.\n\nThe 38-year-old man made his way to the store and observed two men exiting the building. He called out to them to stop, but the men ran and escaped along Tobago Road.\n\nThe owner then entered the store and saw that a third suspect was hiding inside. The suspect pulled out a knife and attacked the businessman, police said.\n\nThere was a struggle, and the businessman was able to subdue the suspect without injuring himself.\n\nThe police were notified and a team of officers from the Chaguanas Police station led by Sgt Smith responded.\n\nChecks were made and a quantity of cash was said to be missing.\n\nThe suspect, a 45-year-old from Thompson Road in Palmiste, was detained.\n\nHe was found to be nursing multiple injuries and was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex for treatment.\n\nChecks were made for the other two suspects, but they were not located that morning.\n\nWPC Nestor is continuing the enquiry.
Small bail for dad charged with child cruelty
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:50:00CHARGED with cruelty to a child, Kervon Noel will only be allowed contact with the eight-year-old alleged victim through permission and supervision by the Children's Authority.\n\nNoel, 43, of Marac Village, Moruga appeared before master Kimitria Gray in the San Fernando Court yesterday. He was placed on the $20,000 bail with a cash alternative of $10,000, with the conditions that he reports to the Moruga Police Station three times a week and have no direct or indirect contact with the child unless it is permitted and supervised by the Children's Authority.\n\nDuring the court appearance, Noel was not called upon to plead to the charge laid by constable Crawford from the Special Victims Department. The matter, prosecuted by constable Basdeo, was transferred to the Princes Town District Court for March 17.\n\nIt was last week that a video circulated of an incident on Monday around 8.45 p.m. in the roadway at Marac Village showing a screaming child trying to escape from a man who grabbed his clothes, shoved him to the ground and threatened him with a knife.\n\nThe man was arrested the following day following enquiries by officers from the Special Victims Department, the Southern Division Task Force and Moruga Police Station. Officials from the Children's Authority were also involved.
Bellevue Alcudia squat bricked up as the squatting moves towards an end
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:08:00The company brought in to negotiate the eviction of squatters from the Neptuno II block at Alcudia's Club Bellevue estimates that there were some 150 people in the building. The great majority of them have left since Guardians Control arrived on Monday morning, an ultimatum having been issued for all the squatters to vacate the building by next Monday (February 24).\nTomeu Carbonell, the company's spokesperson, says surveillance will continue until the 24th. By Tuesday there were some 20 people still in Neptuno II, the main entrance having been bricked up, leaving an emergency exit for access. Round-the-clock surveillance is being maintained by shifts of twelve Guardians Control personnel.\nLeaving the building on Tuesday. Photo: Miquel Ã. Cañellas.\nThe squatters who have left the building have all signed a document agreeing to terms by which they won't face claims for damage or charges for usurpation. There will be legal action against anyone still in Neptuno II on the 24th.\nThe Guardia Civil are a regular presence for the time being as are Alcudia Police, who had to intervene on Monday night when there was an incident involving residents and squatters. There is no residential accommodation in the part of the Bellevue complex where Neptuno II is located, but a bridge connects the complex to a side street off the main 'strip', Avda. Pedro Mas y Reus.\nAlcudia social services, who have been criticised by some of the squatters for their lack of attention, say that they are providing this attention to those who are registered with them, especially families with children. The Council of Mallorca's social affairs institute is said to be liaising with the town hall.
Belgian rider triumphs in Torrox-Nerja stage
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 16:26:48Belgian cyclist Maxim Van Gils, from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team, stormed to victory in the opening stage of the 2025 Vuelta a AndalucÃa Ruta del Sol. The stage, covering 162 kilometers from Torrox Costa to Cueva de Nerja, featured five mountain passes and an intense sprint finish.\n\nOn Wednesday, February 19, Van Gils outpaced UAE Team Emirates XRG duo Tim Wellens and Pavel Sivakov in the final meters, crossing the line in 4 hours, 13 minutes, and 39 seconds. His victory also secured him the leaderâs jersey, giving him an early advantage in the general table.\n\nThe 25-year-old, originally from Brasschaat, has been a professional since 2021 and is regarded as a strong climber and classics specialist. He made his breakthrough at the 2022 Saudi Tour, where he won both stage four and the overall classification. His impressive results include podium finishes at major one-day races, such as third at the 2024 Strade Bianche and La Flèche Wallonne. Van Gils also won the 5-kilometer time trial at last yearâs Vuelta a AndalucÃa and secured his first UCI WorldTour victory in May 2024 at Eschborn-Frankfurt.\n\nDespite a recent crash at Etoile de Bessèges, Van Gils displayed excellent form and tactical awareness in Nerja, managing to stay ahead of UAEâs strong squad, which also saw Marc Soler finish fourth. âIt was a tough stage with high temperatures, and no team could fully control the race,â he said post-race, quoted by Cycling Pro. âI knew UAE had multiple leaders, so I had to anticipate their moves. I was confident in my sprint against Wellens, so I focused on keeping the group together.â\n\nVan Gilsâ career hasnât been without controversy. At the 2023 Japan Cup, he was fined and docked 10 UCI points for striking fellow rider Georgios Bouglas after the finish line. He later apologized for the incident and avoided disqualification from the results.\n\nNow, the Belgian faces the challenge of defending his lead against UAEâs good lineup in the coming days. However, with his team behind him, he remains optimistic about his chances in what promises to be a highly competitive edition of the race.
Aviation pioneer has big plans for the future of air travel
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 17:25:19The aviation pioneers at Climate Impulse have released information about the craftâs design and building progress ahead of their planned round the world trip.\n\nThe trip is a little way off and planned for 2028, but with the planes first test flights set to take off in 2026, Swiss aviation innovator and environmentalist Bertand Piccard and his partners are strengthening their plans for a flight that could change the face of travel as we know it.\n\nGreen hydrogen could lead to sustainable travel\n\nIt is Piccardâs plan to use green hydrogen to fuel the planeâs globetrotting journey, so that it makes a complete circuit of the earth without ever stopping to refuel, even in mid-air. The highly-anticipated trip will be roughly 25,000 miles long and follow the equator around the earth for nine days. Green hydrogen is made when hydrogen is split from water molecules by electrolysis.\n\nThe plane is made from composite materials that are lightweight and has also been reported as utilising entirely new technologies in its design, the craft has drawn investors like Airbus to handover millions of euros towards the craft and its 2028 mission.\n\nWill Climate Impulse be viable for Commercial Travel?\n\nIn the short term, no. The craft will not be a commercial travel option immediately and it would not be the first time that a sustainable energy solution had been found for flights but could not be scaled up for global use.\n\nA plane that ran off energy produced by solar panels has previously been created and successfully flown for a distance in 2015 but had to make multiple stops during its world trip and according to Climate Impulse engineer Raphael Dinelli the design wasnât commercially scalable.\n\nThe hope is that Climate Impulse will be able to be made for commercial purposes although it may take quite a few years after their first flight to bring that vision to fruition. However, Piccard says âItâs my job to be a pioneer,â and that Climate Impulse has âto show itâs possible, then itâs a big incentive for the others to continueâ.
Rwanda suspends aid pact with Belgium over support for Congo rebels
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 16:34:12Belgium has a particularly unsavoury history of colonialising certain African countries and this continues to be a bone of contention which regularly causes problems.\n\nRwanda came under the Belgian sphere of influence between 1922 and 1962 as the colony of Ruanda-Urundi and many of he problems of the massacre of Hutu (predominantly Rwandans) and Tutsi (mainly from Burundi) can be traced back to first German and then Belgian colonialism.\n\nThere is an ongoing rebel war in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, another former Belgian colony) which sees Rwanda supporting the rebels who say that they are protecting the local Tutsi population but there may be more to this support than immediately meets the eye.\n\nThe area under dispute is rich in mineral wealth and a number of local commentators in both the DRC and Belgium suggest that Rwanda is more interested in getting hold of mineral rights rather than saving an ethnic group.\n\nRwanda suspends aid pact with Belgium over support for Congo rebels as tensions flare\n\nBelgium accuses Rwanda of undermining the DRCâs territorial integrity by supporting the M23 rebels, who have seized two major cities in the east of the country in recent weeks.\n\nSo annoyed is Rwanda with Belgium, which it insists is not neutral in the conflict and is actually waging an aggressive campaign to hinder its access to development aid, that it has decided to suspend its 2024-2029 bilateral aid programme with Belgium.\n\nThe Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has responded in a somewhat âtit-for-tatâ manner saying the government accepted the decision but had been considering doing the same itself although it is anxious to ensure that the benefits gained by the people of Rwanda are not lost due to political disagreement.\n\nRwanda is often in the news and has just suspended an aid pact with Belgium over support for Congo rebels\n\nWith Rwanda seldom out of the news, making itself available as a âtemporary homeâ for migrants awaiting decisions on permanency should any European Country be able to send economic migrants there and also its promotion as a holiday destination backed up by its sponsorship of Arsenal Football Club.
Speed camera shake-up: DGTâs sneaky new âtrailer trapsâ already nabbing drivers
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 17:21:08The Spanish traffic authority, the DGT, is rolling out a fresh breed of mobile speed cameras â' and theyâre already catching out drivers across the country.\n\nTrailer trap speed cameras hit the roads in Spain\n\nFor years, fixed speed cameras have been the bane of lead-footed drivers around Spain, but the DGT is stepping up its game with the new âradares remolqueâ â' trailer-mounted speed cameras that can be deployed anywhere, anytime. A total of 122 new radars are hitting Spainâs roads in 2025, with many of them set to be these stealthy mobile units.\n\nThese high-tech spies on wheels are battery-powered, laser-equipped, and completely wireless, meaning they donât need a permanent power supply and can stay active for days without a human operator. Unlike fixed cameras, which drivers can learn to avoid, these portable enforcers move around constantly, keeping motorists on their toes.\n\nHigh-tech crackdown on speeders\n\nLast year, Spainâs roads saw 1,154 fatalities, and officials say speeding is one of the biggest killers. The DGT isnât messing about â' these new trailer cameras can scan multiple lanes, track cars from long distances, and even snap multiple offenders at once. \n\nThe first batch has already been spotted in Catalonia, catching out drivers on major routes like the AP-7, C-31, and B-23. And because theyâre connected to the internet, fines are processed in real-time â' no more waiting weeks to find out if youâve been caught.\n\nWhy these cameras are a game-changer\n\nUnlike the static speed cameras drivers have grown used to, trailer radars can be set up in minutes and then moved elsewhere, making it nearly impossible for motorists to predict where theyâll be lurking next. Their laser technology also means they can catch speeders from incredible distances, with pinpoint accuracy.\n\nThis move is part of the governmentâs broader strategy to modernise Spainâs traffic enforcement. Since speed cameras were first introduced, road deaths have plummeted by 75%, but the DGT says thereâs still more to be done.\n\nThe crackdown continues\n\nTransport Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska insists these new cameras are a much-needed step to bring Spainâs road deaths even lower. But drivers arenât happy, with many feeling these âstealth trapsâ are nothing more than a sneaky cash grab.\n\nSpainâs roads just got a whole lot riskier for speeders. \n\nRead more original news in English from around Europe. \n\nRead more Spanish news in English for people living in Spain.
Owners of Mallorca hotel that had squatters demanding termination of management company's contract
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 10:54:00The owners of the Sol i Mar Aparthotel in Cala Bona, Apartamentos Sol y Mar S.A., have gone to court in seeking the immediate termination of the agreement with the management company, Marbel Can Pastilla S.L.\nThe Sol y Mar is the establishment which had squatters a few weeks ago. The management company's Miguel Deyá was a highly prominent figure during that episode. The owners have now filed a lawsuit against both the company and him personally.\nThey maintain that 219,000 euros are owed for the 2024 rent and rubbish tax. In addition, they claim that works itemised in the operating contract, which involved a significant renovation, have not been carried out. The deadline for these works is about to expire. The owners say the cost is going to increase and that there were two years for the works to have been addressed.\nIn the submission to the court, they are claiming their right to operate the business and that Deyá and his company do not benefit from the coming tourism season. In addition to the termination of the contract, the owners are calling for Deyá to be evicted from the premises.\nAt the time of the squatting episode, the owners drew attention to apparent debts owed to them and implied that Deyá had in a some way been complicit with the squatting. He denied this allegation, describing it as absurd, and subsequently filed his own lawsuit for defamation.
Supreme Court rejects young climate activists class action lawsuit
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 23:29:01300 young activists brought a class action lawsuit against Sweden for its climate inaction but on Wednesday, February 19 the Swedish Supreme Court threw it out. \n\n22-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg was amongst those who brought the lawsuit. The action brought against Sweden by hundreds of individuals asked that the country minimise gas emissions contributing to global warming to a point that was âtechnically and economically feasible.â The case was originally developed by young environmental activists insisting that Sweden had violated the European Convention on Human Rights by not lowering dangerous gas emissions.\n\nThe Supreme Court came to the decision that the âcase cannot be taken up for reviewâ as they cannot force the Swedish parliament or government to take action. It said âThe political bodies decide independently which specific climate measures Sweden should take.â\n\nLight at the end of the tunnel for environmental activists\n\nFor activists, there is some light at the end of the tunnel, the court said if there was a climate case brought to them that was designed differently, for example if the suit had been filed by a group as opposed to individuals, they could review the case again.\n\nâThe European Court of Human Rights has recently ruled in a judgment that an association that meets certain requirements may have the right to bring a climate lawsuit.â Although a group called Aurora was handling the lawsuit for the activists, it had been filed under the name of one individual, with others joining their name to that personâs suit. Had the case been filed in a way âwhich meets certain requirements regarding, among other things, representativeness and suitability, these high requirements are not appliedâ and as such the case might have had more success.\n\nDo people in power not understand immediate action is required?\n\nIn an interview when the case was first being formed against the Swedish state Ida Edling, an Aurora spokesperson had said âPeople in power donât seem to realize that large-scale and immediate action is required to prevent it from worsening further. The global movement of climate litigation has shown that lack of sufficient climate action is irresponsible and unimaginably dangerous and illegal.â She continued by saying she was hoping to be part of a group that held the government to account for their inaction on greenhouse gas emissions.\n\nAurora will âcontinue fightingâ Ida Edling said after the courtâs ruling. She said they will work to âprevent planetary collapses and to hold the Swedish state accountable for their illegal fuelling of the climate crisis.â Although, she also said the group werenât sure of the exact legal route they would now take.
Roll into action! Skating classes in Torremolinos for all levels
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:04:19Feel the wind in your face as you gracefully roll along the promenade like itâs no oneâs business. Whether youâre a total beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, weekly skating classes in Torremolinos are the perfect way to get rolling!\n\nJoin the fun and friendly sessions every Monday and Wednesday at Playamar, where youâll learn to skate safely and confidently â' whether youâre on inline skates or quads.\n\nWhen & Where?\n\nMondays & Wednesdays \n\nNext class: February 24, at\n\nPaseo MarÃtimo, Torremolinos (Playamar) â' Find the location here\n\nWhat to expect?\n\nExpert coaching for all levels.\n\nA fun and relaxed atmosphere.\n\nLearn to move with confidence on skates.\n\nGreat exercise & a chance to meet new people.\n\nHow to join?\n\nMessage via WhatsApp: 606 662 270 to reserve your spot!\n\nOnly â¬5 per class.\n\nFancy gliding along the seafront in your rollerblades like an extra from a 90s movie?\n\nDonât miss out â' lace up, roll out, and have a wheely good time⦠\n\nRead more news in English from around the Costa del Sol. \n\nRead more news in English from around Spain.
Canine search and rescue demonstrated
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 07:40:32On February 7, the fifth-grade students from Muixara School visited the Rescue Dog Training Camp.\n\nThere, they participated in an engaging canine search and detection drill known as the âArcon Method,â organised by the GERCCMA Association, which is made up of professional firefighters.\n\nDedicated firefighters explained how specially trained dogs were used in rescues\n\nUpon arrival, the students were greeted by a team of four dedicated firefighters, who took the time to explain the critical situations that can arise during events involving collapsed structures. They provided an overview of how specially trained dogs are used in rescue operations to locate individuals trapped under rubble.\n\nAfter the informative session, the students had the opportunity to engage directly in a drill, working alongside three canine units that are currently undergoing training in La Nucia.\n\nChildren participated in a mock rescue to show the dogs in action\n\nDuring the hands-on portion of the drill, three canine teams from the NGO worked closely with volunteer students. Each student entered designated buried areas, where the dogs demonstrated their remarkable abilities in search and detection, showcasing their keen sense of smell and their training. The canine units successfully navigated the simulated environments, locating each hidden student and thereby highlighting the dogsâ incredible skills in this area.\n\nThe visit concluded with a question-and-answer session with the GERCCMA members, enabling the students to learn even more about the specialised methods used in canine search and rescue operations.\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your weekly local news fix.
Antonio Banderas begins spectacular new villa
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 10:15:53After having demolished his house overlooking the beach in Marbella, Antonio Banderas has already got the builders in, making a start on the new one. \n\nBy all accounts, it is going to be a beauty, a spectacular mansionesque villa with a 500 square metre footprint. The old house had to have work done as it didnât meet regulations with regards to its proximity to the beach. Banderas, being fully invested in the Marbella community, was happy to oblige and make adjustments.\n\nBut then, after careful consideration, he decided to have the whole thing torn down and start again. The previous house had been constructed at the time of the notorious Jesús Gil, an ex-mayor of Marbella, at a time when a lot of questionable construction licences were granted. Banderas bought the house with his now ex-wife, Melanie Griffiths. It seems the idea was a lot about brushing off the old cobwebs of his life and celebrating his new life with his current love, Nicole Kimpel.\n\nThe new build looks to be a three-floor villa with enormous windows facing the Mediterranean and a luxurious swimming pool out front. For the interior, Banderas has entrusted world-famous designer Pedro Peña. It is expected that the couple will be able to move in by summer 2026.\n\nCurrently, Banderas is in Madrid after taking his hit musical Gypsy from Malaga to the capital, where it is enjoying sell-out status night after night.
U.S. companies in Madrid ask Trump to treat Spain differently
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 08:44:39A group of U.S. companies present in Spain asked the administration of President Donald Trump to take into account the country's trade deficit with the United States when setting new tariffs on its goods.\nThe American Chamber of Commerce in Spain (AmChamSpain) said it had sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, stressing that Spain imports more from the U.S. than it exports there, unlike the European Union as a whole.\nTrump said he was considering setting reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose import duties on U.S. products. The European Commision responded that it charges some of the world's lowest tariffs and sees no justification for an increase of tariffs on its exports.\nLast year, Spain exported 18.1 billion euros ($19 billion) in products such as petrochemicals or food products such as olive oil, wine and oranges to the United States, and imported 28.1 billion euros worth of products from it, official data show.\n\"AmChamSpain urges the U.S. administration to consider this different reality when establishing new tariffs,\" it said in a statement. \"We thus ask that, if country-specific measures were applied, the European Union take this situation into account when defining its own trade response. We call for dialogue and the search for consensual solutions that avoid trade retaliation and reduce uncertainty for companies and workers on both sides of the Atlantic.\"
Street epidemic: looky looky reach crisis point
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 08:47:07Clement weather is beginning to return to the coasts of Spain, and with it, the inevitable lining of streets with sheets covered in counterfeit products from the infamous âLooky Lookyâ street vendors.\n\nIn some countries, such as France, the penalties are high for selling, buying or even wearing falsified items of branded goods. Although in Spain, the government takes a more live-and-let-live approach, preferring to levy the biggest punishments against the suppliers of dodgy Dolce&Gabbana handbags.\n\nFrom a political standpoint, they generally look the other way with the largely Sub-Saharan African lads just trying to make ends meet. Local police might come along to shoo them away now and again, but there does not appear to be a clear government strategy to deal with a potentially public safety issue.\n\nBarcelona has reached overload with the once furtive, now brazen street sellers. In recent years, the issue has grown so big that there is little space on the streets for any more, with sellers setting up their makeshift markets on metro platforms and even, on occasion, in front of the same official stores their pirated goods imitate.\n\nIn shopping streets of cities small and large around Spain, local shop owners complain bitterly that their trade is being taken away from them â' up to 25 or 35 percent in some cases â' as potential customers opt for the cheaper, lower-quality items on sale from a blanket on the floor right in front of their shop windows.\n\nCrisis point of looky looky sellers hard to stop\n\nThen, when the police are called in, pirated handbags and sports shoes fly through the air as the street vendors whip up their blankets of illegal merchandise and high-tail it just far enough away to be out of the reach of those police handcuffs. The slowest is detained and his wares confiscated, but no one else. One patrol car with two officers can only detain one looky looky guy at a time. 10 minutes pass, and they are back again, minus just one of their comrades.\n\nShopping streets, beaches, promenades, tourist sites, and now underground train stations are increasingly reaching crisis point. Legitimate traders cite a âlack of political willâ to tackle the issue, which is rapidly turning into a public safety issue with the street traders blocking the flow of foot traffic.\n\nAfter being left too long with little government strategy other than to leave it to the local police to deal with, the situation has become grave, and there is still no clear solution in sight.\n\nAre unlicensed street venders a menace, or should we just live and let live? Let us know in the comments.
Azabache Hotel and Rural Restaurant
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 09:00:13At the top of the hill of Avenida Andalucia in Arboleas, Azabache Hotel and Rural Restaurant has been a cornerstone of the local culinary scene for over two decades. \n\nDuring my interview with Angel Lopez, the proud owner and visionary behind this establishment, I gained a deeper appreciation for the passion and dedication that have shaped Azabache into the beloved restaurant it is today.\n\nWhen I asked Angel how long he had been here, he beamed with pride and responded, âSince 1994.â He then recounted how he first opened Disco Pub Green in 1994, bringing DJs to the province of AlmerÃa for the first time. By the year 2000, he decided to transition from nightlife to hospitality, transforming the disco into what is now Azabache Hotel and Rural Restaurant. Today, Angel takes great pride in having fed the people of Arboleas and its visitors for 25 years, as well as being a dedicated member of the Jornada Gastronómica Al Arubi (Gastronomic Conference of Al Arubi) for the past 21 years.\n\nAzabache. A culinary landmark in Arboleas for over 25 years.\n\nAzabache boasts an extensive menu, with every dish prepared fresh daily using locally sourced ingredients. When I inquired about the restaurantâs star dish, Angel was quick to highlight the Bacalao Frito or la Plancha (fried or grilled cod) and the Bacalao Gratinado (gratinated cod) as customer favourites.\n\nFor first-time diners, Angel had a clear recommendation: âThe dish of the day.\n\nThe dish of the day is always constructed with layers of flavoursome local ingredients and is always a dish of this land.â Having dined at Azabache myself, I can confirm this sentiment. On my last visit, I enjoyed the daily lentil dish, while my mother had the Crema de Calabacin (courgette cream soup). We ate in near silence, wholly immersed in the rich flavours and comforting warmth of our meals.\n\nThe daily menu offers incredible value at just â¬12, including a starter, main course, dessert, and coffee. Special weekend offerings include Migas (a traditional dish made with breadcrumbs, chorizo, and other savoury ingredients) on Saturdays and Paella on Sundaysâboth of which tend to sell out quickly, making advance reservations highly recommended.\n\nThe kitchen operates from 12 PM to 4 PM and 7 PM to 10 PM, ensuring that guests can enjoy exquisite meals at their convenience. Whether youâre a local or a traveller passing through, Azabache Hotel and Rural Restaurant promises a true taste of the region, served with passion and tradition.\n\nMake your reservation on 690 25 88 13\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Find all our online weekly newspapers here.
Rock the night with The Rob Sas Band at OâCallaghans
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 09:01:20Rock the night away with The Rob Sas Band at OâCallaghans in Manilva, Costa del Sol!\n\nGet ready for a night of classic rock anthems as The Rob Sas Band takes the stage at OâCallaghans Bar in Sabinillas. Known for their powerful performances and top-tier musicianship, the band will be delivering a set packed with legendary rock covers.\n\nThe event takes place on Saturday, February 22, at 8 PM at Calle Duquesa De Arcos, Manilva. Alongside the electrifying music, the night will also mark a special birthday celebration, making it an event not to miss.\n\nArrive early to secure a spot. Expect a high-energy atmosphere, great music, and a proper rock ânâ roll night at OâCallaghans.\n\nRead more news in English from around the Costa del Sol. \n\nRead more news in English from around Spain.
The enigmatic leader: Alice Weidelâs contradictory life and politics
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 08:19:57In many ways Alice Weidel is an enigma in her own party, a woman whose personal life and choices, to an onlooker, seem at odds with the party she is serving. \n\nThe AfD party is a right-wing, anti-immigration, Eurosceptic group who believe in the classical family model and are currently polling second in the run up to the federal election on Sunday, February 23. They are polling ahead of the SPD headed by Olaf Schulz the current Chancellor and behind the Christian Democratic Union of Germany led by Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz. There is a very real possibility that Alice Weidel could be the next Chancellor of Germany.\n\nThe AfDâs stance on illegal immigration and a hard stance against allowing asylum seekers entry to Germany, is largely what has fuelled their popularity. That popularity has been buoyed by the quantity of deadly attacks in a nine-month period made by foreigners who applied for asylum status in Germany.\n\nSo, why might Alice Weidel be seen as a contradictory figure?\n\nThe strict nationalist, traditional and right-wing beliefs and policies that the AfD vocalise and want to instate seem at odds with its leaderâs lifestyle. At the same time that the AfD party elected Weidel to lead them in the coming election they also voted to add âThe family, consisting of father, mother, and children, is the nucleus of societyâ to their campaign rhetoric. Which given the make-up of their candidateâs family, two women with two adopted children seems contradictory.\n\nThe party has become one of the leading voices against the LGTBQ+ communityâs rights in Germany and even filed a motion to repeal same sex marriage and adoptions by same sex couples in 2017. That means Weidelâs own family dynamic wouldnât be considered acceptable to the political party she is championing.\n\nAlice Weidelâs residency between Switzerland and Germany has caused a stir\n\nAlice Weidelâs partner Sarah Bossard is not a German Native, but a Swiss national, born in Sri Lanka. The pair, according to reports, raise their children mainly in Switzerland but Weidel has repeatedly insisted that her main home of residence is in Germany at Ãberlingen. She has consistently refused to explain how much of her and familyâs time is spent in each place. Her comment has been that she hits the legal requirements to run for Germanyâs Chancellor.\n\nWeidel and the AfD have regularly talked about securing German borders and moving away from the EU bureaucracy that makes that difficult, saying in their current campaign âFrom now on, we will again determine who comes to us and who doesnât.â\n\nThis follows on from a draft programme released ahead of the election campaign, in 2024, which spoke about Germany leaving the EU in a Brexit-style plan. It said âWe consider it necessary for Germany to leave the European Union.â\n\nIf Germany were to leave the EU, as the AfD wanted, it is unknown whether they would still benefit from Switzerlandâs inclusion in the EUâs free movement agreement. Certainly, post-Brexit British travellers have not. It might make Weidelâs life a little more difficult as someone who capitalises on that system to move between the countries where she splits her residency.
New Ryanair rules you need to know
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 09:03:20Ryanair, one of the main low-cost flight operators in Spain, has announced a series of changes to its regulations that will affect travellers from May onwards. These new measures, aimed at optimising boarding processes and reinforcing compliance with baggage allowance policies, represent a tightening of current rules. Passengers should take them into account to avoid inconvenience and additional charges when travelling.\nAccording to the airline, the changes are in response to the need to streamline procedures, promote flight punctuality and reduce operating costs. Michael OâLeary, CEO of Ryanair, has stated that the ultimate goal is to âeliminate check-in desks at airportsâ, following the trend that began with the removal of baggage desks. The company is confident that these measures will help improve efficiency and the user experience.\nOne of the main changes affects the check-in process. From May, Ryanair will require the use of digital format boarding passes, which passengers must download to their mobile device via the companyâs app. Although it will still be possible to present printed cards from home, they will no longer be provided at airport desks. According to OâLeary, 60% of travellers currently use mobile cards, so the aim is to promote this option.\nRyanair will also apply restrictions to its hand luggage policy. Passengers will be able to take a small bag free of charge on board, as long as its dimensions do not exceed 40 cm x 20 cm x 25 cm and it is placed under the seat in front of them. If the luggage exceeds these measurements, a penalty of up to 70 euros will be applied at the boarding gate. To transport a second larger suitcase (maximum 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm), it will be necessary to purchase the priority boarding option. Larger suitcases must be checked in the hold.\nFurthermore, the airline will impose fines of 120 euros on passengers who arrive late for boarding, as a measure to reinforce punctuality. Ryanair recommends arriving at least 40 minutes before flight departure to avoid these penalties. Penalties will be imposed on both those who check in late and those who arrive more than an hour after the scheduled take-off time.\nIn view of these changes, travellers flying with Ryanair should pay close attention to baggage regulations and boarding times. Proper travel planning and the use of the companyâs digital tools will be key to complying with the new rules and enjoying a hassle-free experience without unexpected costs. A few simple precautions will save disappointment when taking a low cost flight.
Dine in natural history: visit a cave restaurant
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-20 13:30:06Visit a 500-year-old authentic cave restaurant in the Costa Blanca South and be blown away by the food, service and interior. \n\nThere is nowhere else quite like Las Cuevas Restaurant. Nestled in and amongst the few remaining cave houses of San Miguel de Salinas is a restaurant whose history makes it as incredible a place to visit as its outstanding food. When you enter the restaurant there are eating nooks transformed from natural formations in the cave rock faces so that you can dine in gorgeous surroundings carved by history and nature.\n\nFrench-Spanish fusion food\n\nTheir menu is a fusion of French and Spanish cuisine, cooked by chef Robert Johansen who learnt his trade in Michelin restaurants. When you sample the menus at the restaurant his background and expertise become obvious. Their winter tasting menus range from â¬38.00 for three courses to â¬57.00 for 3 courses and they also have a longer menu with highlights like a starter of seared scallops with crunchy bacon and pumpkin puree, Argentinian marbled rib eye steak served with seasonal vegetables, fondant potatoes and a béarnaise sauce.\n\nAnd for those with a sweet tooth their dessert menu is perfectly formed with traditional favourites like Apple Crumble right alongside more modern dishes like a white chocolate sphere filled with caramel snickers. Starters are priced from â¬11, desserts range in price from about â¬8 and mains start at â¬17. There are multiple options for pescatarian, Vegetarian and Vegan diners as well.\n\nBook your reservation online: www.lascuevas.es\n\nOr phone: 965 03 34 44
Ronan Keating heartbreak: Star condemns âbroken systemâ as brotherâs crash driver walks free
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-20 13:38:40Pop star Ronan Keating has expressed his outrage over the heartbreaking court verdict that saw the driver who caused his brotherâs death walk free without serving a single night behind bars.\n\nAs previously reported by the Euro Weekly News, Ciaran Keating, 57, was travelling with his wife Annmarie to watch their son, RuairÃ, play football when his Ford Focus was struck head-on by a 22-year-old motoristâs Audi A3 on the N5 near Swinford, Co Mayo, in July 2023. Ciaran died at the scene, and Annmarie was so severely injured that she was unable to attend her husbandâs funeral.\n\nThe controversial verdict\n\nThis week, Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court handed driver Dean Harte a 17-month suspended sentence and a two-year driving ban for careless driving causing death and serious injury â' sparking outrage among the Keating family. The court heard that Harte had veered onto the wrong side of the road shortly after sending a WhatsApp message and had traces of cannabis in his blood, though he claimed it was from a party days before.\n\nJudge Eoin Garavan pointed to âno evidence of intoxication, no speed issuesâ and âno egregious example of earlier dangerous drivingâ as factors that kept Harte out of prison. He had also offered a letter of remorse, which the Keating family refused.\n\nRonanâs statement\n\nMoments after the verdict, the Boyzone star took to Instagram, posting:\n\nâTodayâs sentencing was a devastating example of just how broken our justice system is. You can kill a man⦠and you can walk free. Not even a single night in prison. Just a slap on the wrist and a ticket to carry on with your life, like nothing ever happened.\n\nâAnd then we wonder why we keep seeing this kind of behaviour on our roads, why people keep dying in road accidents across Ireland every week? Itâs a joke and itâs morally corrupt that rather than trying to fix our broken system, they all turn a blind eye.\n\nâShame on Dean Harte but more-so shame on everyone involved in this process that contributed to the heartbreaking outcome for my family today.â\n\nHe added; âWe will continue to fight for Ciaranâs justice.\n\nAt this time we think of all the other families who have found themselves in our position, and we pray that other families never do.â\n\nThe fight goes on\n\nWith heartbreak at the wheel and justice seemingly at a standstill, Ronan Keating vows his family will press on in their quest for what they see as true justice. For them, the verdict delivered no closure â' just questions about a system they feel has veered off course. As the Keatings grieve, theyâre urging Ireland and its courts to steer the country back onto a safer, fairer road. \n\nRead more original news in English from around Europe. \n\nRead more Irish news.
Swing into Sunday with a Jazz Fundraiser in Mijas Costa
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-20 14:01:19Sign up for personalised news\n\nSubscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!\n\n By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Benalmadenaâs Tivoli to reopen.
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-20 13:24:03The Tivoli World amusement park, the only one of its kind in the Costa del Sol, will have a second life. After years left abandoned, except for the dedication of its ex-employees taking care of the site, the fun fair will reopen completely renovated and somewhat transformed.\n\nThis change is the result of months of negotiations between the council of Benalmadena and the owner, Tremon Group, who are to sign an agreement to revitalise the area of the Costa del Sol.\n\nThe 60,000 square metres it occupies in Arroyo de la Miel are a highly coveted asset in the area, which the owners were eyeing at using for a shopping centre project. Benalmadena council managed to negotiate a deal with the group for a renewed theme park with a shopping centre and a hotel. It is not yet clear if the dedicated ex-employees who have been taking care of the park for years and campaigning for its reopening will be taken back on.\n\nTivoli was the number one major concert stage and the amusement park par excellence on the Costa del Sol, known for its attractions, peacocks, and buildings representing the cultural diversity of the town.\n\nIssues began in 2004, when the original owners, the Olsen family, sold the park to businessman Rafael Gómez Sánchez, alias Sandokán, who then, three years later, sold it on to Grupo Tremon. Then, years of legal squabbles began over the payment from Tremen to Sandokán, which added to costs for Tremen, who wanted to recoup some cash from the site. The park closed in 2020 declaring itself bankrupt. Ever since, the workers of Tivoli have been campaigning to get the park up and running once more.
PIOC to local government: âFix dangerous school roadâ
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 20:19:18PIOC or the Partida Independencia Orihuela Costa say that the local government has ignored their pleas to fix a âdangerousâ road where they âhave proof that several accidents have occurred some of them potentially fatal.â\n\nThe road leads to a high school and although PIOC say that have complained about the road for years, the road is yet to be fixed.\n\nThe pot holes have already caused accidents\n\nDeep pot holes litter the road, PIOC says these have caused multiple accidents. They said that in response to their requests to fix the road âThe town hall has said many times that they cannot do anything as it is privately owned. If this is true, the town hall can expropriate the land as it is doing right nowâ¦close to Orihuela Centre.â\n\nHowever, PIOC suggests having looked at the land registry for the road, this information is not accurate. âWe can see that the land where the road is has no owner or the owner has not registered the piece of land.â\n\nPIOC says they will reach out to ombudsman and the town hall again to fix the issue, if nothing comes of the discussion they have said âIf in the 2027 elections PIOC get enough councillors to push for change, we will sort out the road and that area as it is really dangerous [and] very ugly.â
Stag and Hen organiser comments on proposed Albufeira decency rules
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 11:24:03Following the recent story in Euro Weekly News concerning proposed decency rules in Albufeira, Portugal we have heard from the UKâs leading stag and hen organiser.\n\nAccording to Matt Mavir, who runs Last Night of Freedom, Albufeiraâs reputation as one of the UKâs favourite destinations would be under threat if new rules are seen to be too strict.\n\nStag and Hen organiser comments on proposed Albufeira decency rules but hopes they wonât be too strict\n\nâParts of the new code of conduct ban things like urinating on the street or having sex in a public places and I fully endorse the toughest of rules for antisocial behaviour like that,â said Matt, whose Tyneside-based company has organised more than 50,000 parties over 25 years.\n\nâBut to crack down on people wearing a bikini or men taking off their shirt in the heat, I think we can all agree that these rules feel petty and are likely to be unworkable.\n\nâWeâve seen other European destinations bring in tough rules to try and deter party tourism from Britain and theyâve never worked so far. But I think it will lead some Brits to just feel fed-up at being targeted for the bad behaviour of a vanishingly small minority.\n\nâOur customers are normal people and those booking stag and hen parties through professional companies arenât the ones causing trouble.\n\nâMost of our clients are looking for a fun, memorable time, not causing a scene or upsetting locals.\n\nStag and Hen organiser suggests Albuferia will lose out financially if stags and hens have to completely cover up\n\nâIf people feel like theyâre being unfairly targeted, they could simply just go somewhere else.â\n\nAlbufeiraâs Mayor, Jose Carlos Rolo, has defended the new rules, which aim to preserve the townâs family-friendly reputation by clamping down on anti-social behaviour.\n\nA consultation has now been launched and if approved, the new laws could be introduced for the summer.\n\nThe city attracts thousands of Brits celebrating stag and hen events every year.\n\nWhilst awaiting developments, he has advised groups planning to visit to stay informed: âWeâve been doing this for decades and work with local businesses to always make sure our clients follow the rules and respect the local community â' I hope for Albufeiraâs sake, that the local authorities donât push people away by being too over-zealous.â
Beyonce fans flock to London
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 11:27:57The announcement of Beyonceâs new tour dates has caused searches for flights to London to surge by 49%.\n\nTravel company eDreams Odigeo, who released the figure, said that global superstars are âinspiring travel to concert destinations across the world.â Beyonce will be performing in the UK capital on her Cowboy Carter tour at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 5, 7, 10 and 12.\n\nSearch figures show that the singerâs fans, known as the Beyhive, are most interested in the first three dates amongst these performances, on June 5 these are up by 49%, June 7 by 48% and June 10 by 26%.\n\nThe figures compare searches made between February 3, the day the tour was announced, and February 12 with the same dates last year. The largest proportion of the flight searches, 25%, came from people in the US.\n\nSoaring travel searches to attend Beyonceâs performances parallels demand for Taylor Swiftâs Eras Tour last year\n\nAnnouncements by other giant musical acts such as Taylor Swift have caused similar rushes. Searches for Edinburgh and Liverpool between June 7 and 15 when her concerts took place more than doubled year-on-year, according to eDreams Odigeo. Oasisâs reunion performances taking place this summer also saw a boost in demand for hotels at their concert locations.\n\nPablo Caspers, chief travel officer at eDreams Odigeo, said: âItâs been fascinating to track the impact of music tourism on global economies, with global artists inspiring travel to concert destinations across the world.\n\nâLoyal Beyhive fans have confirmed this trend, with searches to London up to 49% higher spurred on by Beyonceâs latest tour. Increasingly, todayâs global travellers seek choice, flexibility and cost savings for a premium experience when following their favourite artists around the world.â
Water price hike in Axarquia
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 12:13:48The Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Axarquia and its public water company, Axaragua, have approved a significant increase in water rates for 14 towns in the region. The decision will raise water supply costs by 35,29% and wastewater treatment fees by 27,12%.\n\nThe affected municipalities include Almachar, Benamargosa, Benamocarra, El Borge, Comares, Cutar, Iznate, Macharaviaya, Moclinejo, Rincon de la Victoria, Velez-Malaga, Totalan, Algarrobo, and Torrox, home to around 180.000 residents, rising to 230.000 in summer.\n\nMancomunidad president Jorge MartÃn defended the hike, saying water supply rates had not changed since 2008, and wastewater treatment prices had remained the same since 2018. Without the increase, he warned, Axaragua could face closure due to a â¬9.1 million debt.\n\nThe new tariffs, rising from â¬0.3274 to â¬0.4429 per cubic metre for supply and from â¬0.4702 to â¬0.5977 for treatment, take effect immediately. However, local councils will decide whether to pass the increase on to residents. For an average household using ten cubic metres per month, the rise would mean â¬1.44 extra per month.\n\nMartÃn cited rising costs for electricity, salaries, and materials as the main reasons behind the hike. He also pointed to the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic as factors that had worsened Axaraguaâs financial situation.\n\nLast year, an emergency tariff increase was introduced to cover the cost of transporting water from Malaga Capital due to low reserves in La Viñuela reservoir, costing the 14 municipalities â¬3 million.\n\nWhile the price hike aims to stabilize Axaraguaâs finances, the decision has sparked debate. Some residents fear the extra cost, while others acknowledge the necessity of ensuring a sustainable water supply in the drought-hit region.
Alteaâs Beethoven Fest 2025
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 12:13:43Beethoven Fest is back for its fifth instalment. It is three days from February to March where Ludwig Beethovenâs famous music is played by musicians in Altea.\n\nYou can begin or continue your journey with Beethovenâs music for free, with musicians who travel the world playing classical music in beautiful local venues.\n\nThe Festival have put on professional groups for free at their performances\n\nThe events start on February 21 with Una Sonata Para Tres, a group that includes a double-bass, piano and violin. Altea Cultural say that âThe Ludwig Trio presents a program that celebrates the genius of the German composer, exploring his legacy through one of his most ingenious and intimate works.â They will focus on Beethovenâs Trio Sonata in E-flat major, Op.38. In addition, they will play music from Clara Schumann who was heavily influenced by Beethoven. They will play for audiences in the Casa Cultura Altea from 8pm.\n\nNext is La Sonata by Jesus Gomez- Rodrigez on Piano, February 23 at midday at the Casa Cultura Altea, he will play three famous sonatas from Haydn, Mozart and Van Beethoven. finally on March 1 at the Palau Altea, the Leo Kestenberg Chamber Orchestra will play from 7pm Iskandar Widjaja will play violin, the performances director is Alexander Ramm.\n\nThe shows are free to attend and to find out more about their planned programme visit Altea Cultural.
Artistry and community in Mojacar
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 11:00:18Cahoots, with fabulous views of Mojacar beach and the glistening Mediterranean is a true creative hub where artistry and community come together. \n\nWhat began as a jewellery stall has grown into a thriving space offering an inspiring range of craft workshops, catering to beginners and seasoned makers alike.\n\nDiscover Creativity by the Sea at Cahoots in Mojacar\n\nOne of the most popular additions is the Childrenâs Craft Workshop, running every Monday from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Led by a qualified tutor, itâs a fantastic way for young minds to explore their creativity. For adults, an exciting lineup of hands-on workshops is available, including resin art, painting, pottery, mosaics, jewellery design, and fused glass techniques. Whether youâre looking to try something new or refine your skills, thereâs a workshop to spark inspiration.\n\nCahoots prides itself on being an inclusive, welcoming space, supporting local artisans and encouraging those with a craft to share their skills. The workshops are designed to be affordable, ensuring everyone has the chance to create, learn, and connect.\n\nIf youâre eager to explore a new hobby, meet like-minded creatives, or simply enjoy a relaxing, hands-on experience by the sea, Cahoots has something for you. Visit their Facebook page or stop by the shop to find out more about upcoming workshops.\n\nPaseo Mediterraneo 8, Mojacar. Call Sharon on 711 00 60 27\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Find all our online weekly newspapers here.
Innocent man appeared on Belgian Police Facebook, wanted for fraud
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 12:18:37An innocent Belgian man had the shock of his life when a friend pointed out that his picture appeared on a Belgian police Facebook wanted page accused of fraud.\n\nGeert Despiegelaereâs photograph appeared in the notice that was part of an ongoing investigation into bank card fraud which involved the theft of a bank card stolen from an 83-year-old man in Denderleeuw.\n\nThe thief was quick off the mark, taking money from a cash machine (known as an ATM in Belgium) before buying various goods from different shops around the Brussels area and then Anderlecht.\n\nInnocent man had similar build to card thief and was mistakenly accused by Belgian Local Police\n\nThe reason for the misunderstanding was that Mr Despiegelaere had visited the same ATM as the thief and his overall description as seen from the blurry CCTV shot appeared to match that of the suspected thief.\n\nAnxious to ensure that he would not be associated with this crime, he contacted the Denderleeuw/Haaltert Local Police Service to ask for an explanation as to why he was being portrayed as a wanted man.\n\nInnocent man appeared on Belgian Police Facebook, wanted for fraud but false claim has been corrected\n\nFollowing a speedy investigation, the Local Police made a statement on their Facebook page that Geert Despiegelaere was in no way associated with this investigation and apologised to him for the misunderstanding.\n\nHe was quite laid back about the event and told VRT News âI saw photographs of the real suspect. His face is not recognisable, but we have the same buildâ adding âI didnât suffer as result. It was only a very good friends that recognised me and I understand very well how the confusion arose. The police officers were only doing their job.â\n\nThe problem of course is that once something appears on the internet, it is likely to stay for a long time and at some time in the future, the original âaccusationâ rather than the correction could pop up and cause embarrassment to this innocent man.
Santa Pola shines year-round: What tourists love beyond summer
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 10:58:17Santa Polaâs 2024 De-seasonalised Tourism Report, based on 303 surveys, highlights tourist trends outside the summer months.\n\nSanta Pola received a 9.1 rating as a destination, with its tourist offices scoring 8.5, thanks to initiatives like the âMatch with Santa Polaâ campaign.\n\nThe report shows 55.9 per cent of visitors were Spanish, mostly under 45. Foreign tourists stayed longer and spent more. Many stayed in rentals (35.4 per cent) or owned homes (23.4 per cent), with 46 per cent online booking.\n\nMost travelled by car (56.2 per cent) or rented cars (29.7 per cent), staying 1-4 days. About 30.8 per cent were first-time visitors, attracted by the townâs mild climate. Recommendations from family and friends influenced 51.1 per cent of tourists, with spring and autumn being the busiest off-season months.\n\nWindsurfing and kitesurfing were the top activities, with the fishing port and Mirador del Faro being popular attractions. Tourists rated Santa Pola highly at 9.1, while those who visited the tourist offices gave them an 8.5. Awareness of local events was moderate, and fewer than 30 per cent used local tourism tech, although the virtual viewing platform scored 9.3.\n\nThe Tourism Department plans 12 recommendations for future marketing, emphasising international tourists, particularly from high-spending countries like the UK, France, and northern Europe.\n\nFor French tourists, Santa Polaâs proximity to Tabarca Island is a key attraction, with 24.4 per cent visiting for this reason.
The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 21-23 February 2025
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 00:54:30GranCanariaWeather \uD83C\uDF24ï¸\n\n\uD83C\uDF24ï¸ #WeekendTips February 21â'23, and the week ahead\n\n(Source: AEMET â' Agencia Estatal de MeteorologÃa, Spainâs official weather agency)\n\nThe last weekend of February is shaping up to be ideal for outdoor plans, especially in the southern and western parts of Gran Canaria, where warm, dry, and sunny conditions will dominate. The north and northeast may see some cloud cover, particularly in the mornings and evenings, with a small chance of light rain on Saturday and early Sunday.\n\nHeading into next week, temperatures will gradually rise, keeping conditions spring-like, with trade winds strengthening slightly in exposed areas.\n\n\uD83C\uDF1E #WeekendOutlook (Feb 21â'23, 2025)\n\nâï¸ Friday, February 21 â' A Classic Sunny Day\n\nâ Sky: Mostly clear across the island, except for some early cloud in the northeast.\uD83C\uDF21 Air Temperature: Max 24°C in the south, 22°C in Las Palmas.\uD83C\uDF0A Water Temperature: 20°C â' good for swimming.\uD83D\uDCA8 Wind: Light to moderate northeast winds, with calmer conditions inland.\uD83C\uDF0A Sea Conditions: Moderate swell â' mostly calm but occasional waves on east and west coasts.\uD83C\uDFD6 UV Index: 6 â' sunscreen highly recommended!â Best time for events: All day â' a fantastic start to the weekend!\n\n\uD83D\uDCA1 Did You Know?The Canary Islands have some of the most consistent temperatures on Earth, with daytime highs rarely dropping below 20°C, even in winter.\n\n\uD83C\uDF24 Saturday, February 22 â' Slightly Cloudier, but Still Warm\n\nâ Sky: Mostly sunny, but with more cloud in the northeast. A 10-15% chance of light evening rain in some areas.\uD83C\uDF21 Air Temperature: Max 24°C (south), 22°C in Las Palmas.\uD83C\uDF0A Water Temperature: 21°C â' warmest of the weekend.\uD83D\uDCA8 Wind: Moderate northeast winds, stronger in the west and southeast (up to 15 km/h).\uD83C\uDF0A Sea Conditions: Calm waters in the south, but slightly rougher seas along the north and west coasts.\uD83C\uDFD6 UV Index: 6 â' stay protected if youâre at the beach!â Best time for events: Morning and early afternoon â' warmest and sunniest period of the day.\n\n\uD83D\uDCA1 Climate Fact:Gran Canariaâs microclimates mean that while it might be cloudy in Las Palmas, just 30 minutes south, places like Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria or Maspalomas can be completely sunny.\n\nâï¸ Sunday, February 23 â' Some Clouds in the North, But Sunny Elsewhere\n\nâ Sky: Cloudy in the north early morning, sunny in the south and west all day.\uD83C\uDF21 Air Temperature: Max 23°C, min 18°C.\uD83C\uDF0A Water Temperature: 21°C.\uD83D\uDCA8 Wind: Moderate trade winds (northeast) with stronger gusts on northwest and southeast slopes.\uD83C\uDF0A Sea Conditions: Calm in the south, slight swell in the north.\uD83C\uDFD6 UV Index: 6 â' perfect beach weather!â Best time for events: Mid-morning onward â' by then, any morning cloud should clear.\n\n\uD83D\uDCA1 Beach Fact:The south of Gran Canaria sees less than 150mm of rainfall per year, making it one of the driest coastal areas in Europe.\n\n\uD83C\uDF0A Beach & Sea Conditions â' Taurito, Maspalomas & Southern Coast\n\nâ Best swimming conditions: Friday and Sunday mornings â' lowest winds & calmest waters.â Best snorkeling conditions: Saturday morning â' warmest water and good visibility.â High tide: Fri 19:43 | Sat 21:24 | Sun 22:34 â' more space for sunbathing before midday.â Best beach weather: Sunday â' full sunshine and warm temperatures.\n\n\uD83D\uDCC5 Week Ahead: February 24â'26, 2025\n\n\uD83D\uDCDD Summary: Key Takeaways for Visitors\n\nâ Best beach days: Friday & Sunday â' perfectly sunny and warm.â Saturday has some clouds in the north, but south stays mostly clear.â Tuesday will be the hottest day of the week, reaching 26°C in the south.â Little to no rain expected â' the south will stay dry as usual.â UV levels remain high (6-7), so sun protection is essential.\n\n\uD83C\uDF34 For those staying in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, or Puerto Rico, expect some of the best weather on the island, with sunshine, light breezes, and warm temperatures all weekend long. A perfect time to enjoy Gran Canariaâs stunning beaches! \uD83C\uDF1E\n\n\uD83D\uDD14 Final Thoughts: Why Southern Gran Canaria?\n\nGran Canariaâs unique climate zones mean that the southern coast enjoys warm, stable weather year-round, while the north sees more cloud and occasional drizzle.\n\n\uD83C\uDF0A Planning a beach day? Head to Maspalomas before noon for the warmest sun and lowest winds!\n\nWould you like a mid-week update on Tuesday? Let us know! âï¸\uD83C\uDF34\n\nIt is worth remembering that all temperatures are measured in the shade, weather night time lows or day time highs, with direct sunlight increasing expected temperatures by at least 5º-10º or more, depending on which side of the island you find yourself.
Learning English through theatre
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 14:30:14Immerse children in the magic of storytelling, with Kids and Stories, family theatre at Teatro Principal Alicante, where English stories will be told every week from mid-February.\n\nOne of the storytellers in the series will be Meghan Lowey, an English language and theatre teacher who acts out everything from classic fairy tales to much-loved stories from modern books to children.\n\nThe theatre program contains stories children will recognise\n\nHer first show Push the Buttonâ will be on Saturday, February 22. The following Saturday, March 1, she will be telling the story of The Little Mermaid, the classic fairy tale from Hans Christian Anderson. Then on Saturday, March 8 sheâll be thrilling young audience members with Dream On.\n\nSaturday, March 15 Joey Costa will be bringing an energetic and interactive version of the fairy tale The Pied Piper of Hamlin to the Principal Hall. The last instalment of the childrenâs theatre series comes from Eva Mataix, March 29 with the kids classic The Three Little Pigs.\n\nThe Theatre has said that âTraditional stories have always been a fantastic tool for teaching values ââand it recovers the magic of the stories of always and offers an irresistible plan for the little ones to enjoy them through stories in English and in a space exclusively transformed for them.â\n\nThe tickets can be bought for â¬5 from the theatre website, the shows are on average 40 minutes long and suitable for 3â'10-year-olds.
Spirit of trail running celebrated in Javea
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 06:45:03The Granadella Trail 2025, which celebrated the spirit of trail running, took place in Javea at the beginning of February.\n\nThis iconic mountain running event spanned two exhilarating days, featuring a range of challenges that catered to various skill levels and showcased the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.\n\nThe Granadella Trail 2025 included two distances of 14km and 21km\n\nOn the first day, the Sprint Trail, covering a distance of 14 kilometers, saw fierce competition among the participants. VÃctor Valldecabres, representing Corremon Trail, emerged victorious in the menâs category, displaying remarkable speed and endurance. In the womenâs category, Natalia Bernudez de Castro showcased her exceptional training and strategy, securing her first-place finish.\n\nThe excitement continued on the second day, with the Half Marathon, spanning 21 kilometers. This event attracted seasoned runners and was marked by adrenaline-fuelled performances.\n\nAdil Moussaoui claimed the top spot in the menâs classification, demonstrating impressive stamina and skill. Meanwhile, Mar Pastor outpaced her competitors in the womenâs race, achieving a well-deserved victory that highlighted her dedication and preparation.\n\nThe organisers extended their heartfelt gratitude to all the runners, volunteers, and sponsors whose collective efforts made this edition of the Granadella Trail a resounding success.\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your local weekly news fix.
Auditions for JB Priestleyâs An Inspector Calls with The International Theatre Studio
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 18:19:50The International Theatre Studio, the longest-established English-speaking theatre group on the Costa Del Sol, is to hold auditions for its next grand production, JB Priestleyâs An Inspector Calls.\n\nThose who fancy having a go and pitching their acting talent for one of the various roles can go along to the Age Concern Centre at 12 noon on March 8, to meet with the director, Peter Brooks.\n\nThe cast members the ITS are auditioning for are Arthur Birling, in his 70s (actor late 50s to mid-60s), a hard-hearted businessman with old-fashioned ideas about women and a Yorkshire accent; Sybil Birling in her 50s, a cold-hearted and snobbish woman reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher; Sheila Birling, between 25 and 35, a giddy, naive, and somewhat childish personality who has a change of character during the run of the play; Eric Birling, between 23 and 33 years old, whoâs a bit of a âJack the Ladâ with a drink problem; Gerald Croft, between 25 and 40, an honest man with a dark secret; Edna the family maid, somewhere between 40 and 70 years old; and Inspector Goole. The suggested ages are playing ages.\n\nAn Inspector Calls is a compelling and haunting thriller. The story begins when the mysterious Inspector Goole calls unexpectedly on the prosperous Birling home. Their peaceful family dinner party is shattered by the investigations into the death of a young woman. The inspectorâs startling revelations shake the very foundation of their lives and challenge us to examine our consciences. More relevant now than ever, this is a must-see production for a whole new generation.\n\nFor further information and audition pieces, contact Peter on 617 520 923 or email peterbrooks1938@yahoo.com.\n\nProduction dates are May 9, 10, and 11 of May at El ParaÃso Hotel.
Cala de Mijas Lions Memory Tree fundraiser
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 17:55:10The first La Cala de Mijas Lions Memory Tree event was held in the Butibamba park in La Cala de Mijas on a delightfully pleasant Sunday, February 16.\n\nThe event was organised by the Lions Alzheimerâs and Dementia support group to celebrate the lives of loved ones, past and present. Purple cards were filled in with a message to loved ones and then hung on the Memory Tree. Valentineâs weekend was chosen for this event, as it is not always a happy time for some who have lost their soulmate.\n\nThe event was opened by friend to the expat community, Mijas Ayuntamiento Councillor for the Foreignerâs Department, Mario Bravo, who welcomed everyone. A minuteâs silence followed to enable those present to think of their loved ones who are no longer with us.\n\nJohn Sharples, as compare, kept the music playing throughout the event. Other entertainment included the pipes and dancers of the SUR Pipe Band marching by the stalls and performing a few Scottish reels on stage.\n\nThe drums of Drang gave a tremendous display of drumming skills, which had the crowds tapping their feet and clapping along to their beat, and Welsh singer Laura Elen sang a variety of songs, which were much appreciated by the audience sitting in the warm, springlike sunshine.\n\nThe event was packed with scores of artesian stalls selling interesting items, many of which are not available in the shops. La Cala de Mijas Lions stalls included a fantastic cake stall, a bacon butty and coffee stall, an array of clothing from their charity shop, a Valentineâs cava stall, and a grand raffle.\n\nSandie Tavendale (coordinator) thanks everyone involved who helped raise â¬2875, which will help the La Cala de Mijas Lionsâ Alzheimerâs and Dementia support group to continue assisting sufferers and carers to cope with the demands of this debilitating disease.
âToo many seeking asylum who donât qualifyâ: Justice Minister vows crackdown
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 18:27:25Justice Minister Jim OâCallaghan has fired a warning shot over Irelandâs asylum system, declaring âtoo many people are coming here who are not entitled to international protectionâ. The minister, who took over the Justice, Home Affairs and Migration brief last month, insists a faster and stricter process is on the cards â' promising to weed out unqualified claimants and ease pressure on legitimate refugees.\n\nBold words from the new boss\n\nâToo many people are coming to Ireland seeking international protection, who are not entitled to it,â OâCallaghan thundered during an interview with RTÃâs This Week. âThe system will change.â\n\nHe wants a swifter approach to reject unmerited applications, citing figures that show last year a whopping 18,500 asylum seekers arrived. The Department of Justice forecasts another 15,000 this year. OâCallaghan revealed that, out of 14,000 applications in 2024, over 65 per cent were knocked back first time â' while this year, that rejection rate has already soared above 80 per cent. \n\nHard lines and heartbreak\n\nâThe people who are really suffering,â OâCallaghan warned, âare those who are legitimately entitled to claim it, who may not be provided accommodation because of the numbers coming in. That is an area I am not going to shy away from.â\n\nA new home truth?\n\nBut the minister was crystal clear that he wonât be throwing open the doors to ever-expanding accommodation. âIâm not going to create as many accommodation spaces as possible for asylum seekers,â he said, pointing to the âever-increasingâ arrivals as the key driver of housing demand.\n\nHe gave City West as a shining example of how larger centres can work well. âRather than building places, the preference should be to buy places,â he explained, confirming plans to âbuy a series of centres around the countryâ.\n\nHe refused to reveal how many or how much. Still, he insisted itâs cheaper in the long run for the State to own such properties outright.\n\nUkrainian puzzle piece\n\nOâCallaghan also addressed the fate of Ukrainian refugees. Asked about the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme â' where the Government pays â¬800 per property for hosting, due to end this month â' he stressed itâs still technically under the remit of former Integration Minister Roderic OâGormanâs department.\n\nIn a final flourish, OâCallaghan promised that a decision on the ARP scheme for Ukrainians will be hammered out before the end of February.\n\nThe final word\n\nThe Ministerâs message? Ireland is tightening its asylum belt, cracking down on those who donât qualify and focusing on cutting costs and chaos. With thousands still on the move, OâCallaghanâs stance looks set to ruffle feathers far and wide â' and itâs clear heâs not about to back down.\n\nWatch this space: Irelandâs new Justice Minister means business, and his next move could send ripples across Europeâs migrant landscape.\n\nGet more Irish news. \n\nRead more original news in English from around Europe.
The Agapornis rocking Funk at Louie Louie
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 17:43:31Funk, Soul and Rock outfit The Agapornis from Cádiz have a long career funking up all of Europe and have gained a huge following and fame for filling the dance floor.\n\nItâs inevitable that Louie Louie will fill this night as this funky project, characterised by powerful and vibrant live performances, takes off at the iconic Estepona venue full of strength and emotion, with an overwhelming repertoire that gives no respite to the audience.\n\nThe Agapornis have a style marked mainly by their powerful horn section, their forceful rhythmic base, and a wild vocalist that puts the icing on this cake of Soul.\n\nâItâs a more raw Funk that characterises us the mostâ, says Desi Tey, lead singer. âItâs the fact that we work with intensities that are sometimes very close to rock. Many of the groupâs musicians come from Rock, and even if we produce a funky sound. Itâs hard to explain without listening to it.â\n\nThe Agapornis (lovebirds, in case you were wondering) are playing Louie Louie at Estepona harbour on Saturday, February 22, at 10.30pm. Tickets will set you back â¬12 in advance from entradium.com, or â¬15 on the door. Careful though, as this will sell out.
Balearics holiday bookings fall
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 09:23:48Holiday bookings to the Balearics fell by 4.3% over the past week compared to the previous week, but have increased by 19.8% compared to the same period last year, according to data published on Monday by the booking platform TravelgateX. The Balearics was the fourth most popular destination in Spain over the past week, with 11.9% of total bookings, behind Andalusia (19.7%), Catalonia (16.8%) and the Canary Islands (14.9%).\nThe majority of bookings were made 90 days in advance, accounting for 33.6% of the total, and 10.5% were so-called âlast-minuteâ bookings because they were made on the same day or the day before travelling. Some 12.5% booked between 31 and 60 days in advance of their trip and 11.7% between two and three months in advance.\nOf the bookings registered over the last seven days in Spain, 50.9% were made by couples, with 22.9% of bookings for solo travel, and 48.5% of travellers booking for between 2 and 5 nights, according to TravelgateX. Among the main nationalities to have made reservations over the last 7 days through TravelgateX, Spaniards stand out with a 51.3% share of the market, followed by the British (20.6%), Germans (4%) and North Americans (3.8%).\nThe introduction of biometric data collection, the new tourist taxes, and the ongoing concerns regarding overtourism are reshaping how tourists experience destinations like the Balearics. These changes will likely drive demand for more sustainable travel options and promote less crowded, off-the-beaten-path destinations.\nTourists will need to prepare for more paperwork and higher costs associated with visiting major European destinations. Travelers may find themselves reconsidering where they go based on rising fees and new entry requirements, potentially shifting demand to less-visited regions or countries that do not impose such measures.
Carnivalâs - a - coming to Mallorca
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 13:07:00Itâs been rather quiet on the home front! And for Mancor de la Vall, a week without a lively fiesta is a rare thing indeed! Locals joke that the village celebrates everything from an airplane flying over to the opening of a garage door. Yet like most of Mallorca, our village is known for its enthusiasm surrounding traditions, along with its genuine love for a rousing celebration. Therefore, the anticipation at this time of the year is noticeably palpable across the entire island. Children are already getting over excited as shop windows are slowly becoming ablaze with frivolous carnival displays, showcasing exotic and colourful masks, sparkling tights, superhero costumes, feathered apparel, glittering cloaks, fairy wings and colourful wigs (thatâs just the menâs range).\nThe frothy festivities of âCarnivalâ are typically scheduled to take place between February 23 to March 2, although some townships have already been celebrating with unfettered gusto. Traditionally commencing with âDijous Llarderâ or âFat Thursdayâ (27 Feb) the celebrations throw a nod to theâMardi Grasâ or âFat Tuesdayâ, famously recognised throughout mainland Spain, Latin America and other parts of the world.\nThe origins of joyous Carnival can be traced back to their roots as far as mediaeval times, blending pagan rituals seamlessly with Christian traditions as colourful celebrations erupted prior to the more solemn period of Lent, replacing doom and gloom with dizzy dancing! Most towns and villages across Mallorca organise their own carnival celebrations, with the largest floats and parades spectacularly headlining in Palma.\nâSa Ruaâ is a huge, Rio de Janeiro style parade, celebrated on March 2, filling the city streets with music, laughter and amazingly crafted floats as the carnival vibe comes to its colourful climax. âSa Ruetaâ, massively dedicated to children and their families, is celebrated on the morning of Sunday February 23, so start blinging those costumes all you mums!\nOur own carnival here in Mancor de la Vall will duly be celebrated with fun-filled childrenâs activities along with a masked ball for the grown-up children aka the âadultsâ, which is when all the Disney Princesses, Superheroes and ABBA outfits hit the streets. It seriously doesnât take much to get those party-going Mallorcan men into platform boots and a sparkling jump suit! Just one of those macho Spanish things I suppose!!!\nTraditionally, here in Mancor de la Vall, the carnival cacophony closes with a rather sombre finale â' a traditional tongue-in-cheek âfuneralâmarch, followed by a burial service for a trusty sardine! In Mallorca, as also documented throughout mainland Spain, there is an age-old ceremony showcasing âthe burial of the sardineâ, culminating with an effigy of the said sardine being thrown onto a flaming funeral pyre. This slightly bizarre ceremony will lead the way into a final night of celebration including a street BBQ, along with some traditional drinking, dancing, singing, swirling and twirling! Yet, regardless of being a fish fan or not, a portion of salty sardine, along with a glass of wine, will be offered to all who attend this most freaky of festive frivolities.\nThe first time I tried a traditional sun dried/salted sardine, I wasnât best impressed, mainly because I just grilled the offering then ate it. It was like eating 6 very salty bags of crisps all at once. Then a friendly local showed me the correct way to proceed, and how to eat this traditional fishy treat properly, like a true Mallorcan!\nFirst, you toast the fish nicely over an open flame. Then you wrap the little darling between a few sheets of newspaper, making a tasty little parcel. (if itâs the Bulletin, make sure youâve read it first!) Then, you either stomp on it with a well-turned heel, or place it between a handy door jamb and press the fishy parcel flat as a pancake. Remarkably, when you peel back the newspaper, the salty skin of the sardine has stuck to the paper, revealing the tender flesh inside which then just flakes away. And thatâs how you eat it, with your fingers from the newspaper. Add a few chips along with some mushy peas and it would be just like home!\nThis satirical sardine ceremony is based on the age-old belief of symbolically burying the past, whilst highlighting hopes for a more fruitful future, while also marking the beginning of Lent. So, letâs hope the year, moving forward, sprinkles a lot more hope and happiness to everyone across the glittering globe. Until next year. Molts DâAnys!
Weddings, blossoms, and buzz in Soller
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 12:53:00Little things mean a lot to the wedding couples of Soller. The situation of the Judgeâs Office being one of them. A Civil Wedding Ceremony, in front of the local judge, has recently been taking place in an upstairs office down the Lluna. When the couples emerge with their flowers and smiles, they walk the shopping street to the Placa to have their pictures taken. This happens very regularly and everyone in Soller loves a wedding.\nIn the past the judgeâs office was in the upstairs office at the Railway Station. This was altogether more stylish and picturesque. Great opportunities in the building and outside for Wedding snaps. This week the location has changed back to the Picasso influences of the station, to the delight of many. So, if you want the judge in Soller, be aware of the new location.\nSome restaurants have decided to open to coincide with the Valentines weekend. Special menus for the âlove is in the airâ season. Also, a Tapas Party night in the Market Square of Soller on Saturday 15th February from 6.30pm. A great night to be out and about seeing friends before their own working season kicks in. The hobbies and travels of the winter are just about to be put away again for a few months.\nEaster being so late this year creates a no-manâs land from Carnival to Easter. The major part of the season in Mallorca is always said to kick off at Easter. We wait to see what the next six weeks will bring in terms of visitors.\nThe Blossom Train is reaching its peak. The Valley, before the Soller Tunnel has great blossom displays on both sides of the road at present. The Soller Train as it travels this route before climbing the mountain is a great vantage point for blossom viewing. The peak blossom days are almost upon us and then we wait for cherry blossom further down the track. Have a visit soon to see this special season in our part of the island. This is always such a sensory treat.\nThe seascape for our local trippers is always interesting at this time of year. The sea can go from crashing waves to a benign pond in 24 hours. Hardy visitors from colder climes love their time on the beach even in a howling gale. The rest of us love to walk by the sea but most likely with âbig coatâ and scarf.\nThe chatter around Soller these days is very interesting. So much anger and misquoted rhetoric last year about tourism. Repetition of the same old stuff is frankly boring, and all intelligent people hope that progress has been made. We wait for the plans to control overcrowding this year. We wait for all the government initiatives to provide reasonable rentals for incoming seasonal workers. So much said in the past, so much learned and now time for actions to help the situation.\nCarnival plans are underway with some having their parades around February 23rd. In Soller we are saving the main Carnival Parade and Party on Balearic Day on Saturday March 1st. This consists of a great parade along the seafront in the Port of Soller ending with music and party time on the patio near the Repic Beach. This is always such a joyous occasion for young and old joining in the costumes and mayhem. All starts at 4pm and we hope for a sunny day!\nâA Place in the Sunâ on television on Monday, February 17th at 6pm, is all about us in the Soller Valley. Filming took place months ago, but the delights of our world are set to hit the screens and tell the story.\nProperty sales ebb and flow has homeowners plans change. One day there seems to be little available here and then 10 new instructions come in and the property world starts turning again. The story of last week was of a particularly desirable property in the centre of town, having 3 likely purchasers. At one point it was being suggested that the sale would go to sealed bids! The property world just keeps on turning.
Mallorca enjoys winter Indian summer
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 08:32:44The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has said that Mallorca is experiencing highly unusual weather for this time of year and that it is expected to continue over the next few days. Temperatures are much higher than usual for this time of year - more typical of April than mid-February.\nOver the weekend, maximum temperatures hit 20º in different parts of the island when 15º is normal for the middle of February. Aemet has forecast that no drop in temperatures is expected, not at least until the 9th of March for the moment. On Tuesday 18th February, cloudy skies are expected, tending towards predominantly cloudy skies with intervals of high clouds during the morning. It should be noted that there is a likelihood of fog patches until the early hours of the morning.\nMinimum temperatures will rise, while maximum temperatures will experience little change, remaining above average. The wind will be light from the east and southeast, increasing to moderate in the afternoon with some strong gusts downwind of the Tramuntana mountains. Although it is still early days, Aemet forecasts that temperatures will rise again on Wednesday in Mallorca. In some areas, such as Palma, the maximum temperature could exceed 20º.\nOn Thursday, 20th February, predominantly few clouds are expected with some low clouds in the morning and at night. There is a possibility of fog banks. Temperatures will be similar to those of the previous day, while the wind will be light and variable or calm.\nAn Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Several sources describe a true Indian summer as not occurring until after the first frost, or more specifically the first âkilling frostâ.
Tuesday temperatures to hit around 20ºC in Mallorca
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-17 15:18:00The weather forecast for Tuesday is that the maximum temperatures will increase slightly to 19°C or even a little higher, while the minimum will remain at 10°C. The wind will change direction to the northeast, increasing its speed to 10 km/h with gusts of up to 15 km/h. The cloud cover will be denser, at 68%, but the probability of rain will remain at 30%, with no accumulation forecast.\nOn 19th February 2025, a significant increase in the maximum temperature is forecast, reaching 21°C, with a minimum of 12°C. The probability of precipitation will drop to 20%, and the northeast wind will remain constant at 11 km/h, with gusts of up to 16 km/h. Cloud cover will decrease slightly to 65%, and relative humidity will drop to 79%.\nThe next few days in Mallorca will be characterised by a progressive increase in temperatures, with highs reaching 21°C. Although the north-easterly wind will intensify, conditions will be mostly dry and pleasant. Keep an eye out for wind gusts, especially if you are planning outdoor activities.\nâMallorca is experiencing spring-like days in the middle of winter,â said MarÃa José Guerrero, spokesperson for the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) in the Balearics. She forecast that this weekâs maximum temperatures will be between 2º and 6º above what is usual for this time of year.
Bellevue Alcudia squat bricked up as the squatting moves towards an end
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:08:00The company brought in to negotiate the eviction of squatters from the Neptuno II block at Alcudia's Club Bellevue estimates that there were some 150 people in the building. The great majority of them have left since Guardians Control arrived on Monday morning, an ultimatum having been issued for all the squatters to vacate the building by next Monday (February 24).\nTomeu Carbonell, the company's spokesperson, says surveillance will continue until the 24th. By Tuesday there were some 20 people still in Neptuno II, the main entrance having been bricked up, leaving an emergency exit for access. Round-the-clock surveillance is being maintained by shifts of twelve Guardians Control personnel.\nLeaving the building on Tuesday. Photo: Miquel Ã. Cañellas.\nThe squatters who have left the building have all signed a document agreeing to terms by which they won't face claims for damage or charges for usurpation. There will be legal action against anyone still in Neptuno II on the 24th.\nThe Guardia Civil are a regular presence for the time being as are Alcudia Police, who had to intervene on Monday night when there was an incident involving residents and squatters. There is no residential accommodation in the part of the Bellevue complex where Neptuno II is located, but a bridge connects the complex to a side street off the main 'strip', Avda. Pedro Mas y Reus.\nAlcudia social services, who have been criticised by some of the squatters for their lack of attention, say that they are providing this attention to those who are registered with them, especially families with children. The Council of Mallorca's social affairs institute is said to be liaising with the town hall.
Roll into action! Skating classes in Torremolinos for all levels
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:04:19Feel the wind in your face as you gracefully roll along the promenade like itâs no oneâs business. Whether youâre a total beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, weekly skating classes in Torremolinos are the perfect way to get rolling!\n\nJoin the fun and friendly sessions every Monday and Wednesday at Playamar, where youâll learn to skate safely and confidently â' whether youâre on inline skates or quads.\n\nWhen & Where?\n\nMondays & Wednesdays \n\nNext class: February 24, at\n\nPaseo MarÃtimo, Torremolinos (Playamar) â' Find the location here\n\nWhat to expect?\n\nExpert coaching for all levels.\n\nA fun and relaxed atmosphere.\n\nLearn to move with confidence on skates.\n\nGreat exercise & a chance to meet new people.\n\nHow to join?\n\nMessage via WhatsApp: 606 662 270 to reserve your spot!\n\nOnly â¬5 per class.\n\nFancy gliding along the seafront in your rollerblades like an extra from a 90s movie?\n\nDonât miss out â' lace up, roll out, and have a wheely good time⦠\n\nRead more news in English from around the Costa del Sol. \n\nRead more news in English from around Spain.
Canine search and rescue demonstrated
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 07:40:32On February 7, the fifth-grade students from Muixara School visited the Rescue Dog Training Camp.\n\nThere, they participated in an engaging canine search and detection drill known as the âArcon Method,â organised by the GERCCMA Association, which is made up of professional firefighters.\n\nDedicated firefighters explained how specially trained dogs were used in rescues\n\nUpon arrival, the students were greeted by a team of four dedicated firefighters, who took the time to explain the critical situations that can arise during events involving collapsed structures. They provided an overview of how specially trained dogs are used in rescue operations to locate individuals trapped under rubble.\n\nAfter the informative session, the students had the opportunity to engage directly in a drill, working alongside three canine units that are currently undergoing training in La Nucia.\n\nChildren participated in a mock rescue to show the dogs in action\n\nDuring the hands-on portion of the drill, three canine teams from the NGO worked closely with volunteer students. Each student entered designated buried areas, where the dogs demonstrated their remarkable abilities in search and detection, showcasing their keen sense of smell and their training. The canine units successfully navigated the simulated environments, locating each hidden student and thereby highlighting the dogsâ incredible skills in this area.\n\nThe visit concluded with a question-and-answer session with the GERCCMA members, enabling the students to learn even more about the specialised methods used in canine search and rescue operations.\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your weekly local news fix.
Palma's famous Social Club has a new home
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:52:00The British-owned Social Club, one of Palma's best-known nightspots, has a new home. It will be beneath the terrace at the Victoria Gran Meliá Hotel, where the premises are currently undergoing renovation work, and so only a short distance from the site the club occupied on the Paseo MarÃtimo before it was demolished last year.\nThe Victoria Discotheque operated until 2015. Ten years on, the Social Club will revive another very well-known nightspot. There isn't as yet an opening date; Meliá are also carrying out work on the terrace itself and the pool.\nThe Social Club had to close because its demolition was planned as part of the redevelopment of the Paseo MarÃtimo. The company had a concession from the Balearic Ports Authority until 2027. Negotiations for compensation proved fruitless. In the end, the Spanish ministry of transport, ultimately responsible for the Paseo, forced the expropriation. \nThe re-emergence of the Social Club and the revitalisation of the old disco at the hotel are indicative of the Paseo MarÃtimo's enduring status as a nightlife centre. A further example of this has been the transformation of the one-time Tito's nightclub into LÃo, which opened in August 2023.\nThe former site of the Social Club was connected by a walkway bridge to the old Mediterráneo Hotel. This bridge is scheduled to be demolished this coming weekend.
âHe get through!â
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:30:00âHe get through!â shouted former PNM councillor Ena Addley.\n\nIt was the signal to the crowd that Finance Minister Colm Imbert had been re-selected as the PNM candidate for Diego Martin North/East by the PNM Screening Committee at Balisier House last night.\n\nCelebratory chants of âColm Imbert, Colm Imbert, Colm Imbertâ filled the air as Imbert emerged smiling broadly, surrounded by his supporters who embraced him amidst the loud cheers and the blowing of horns. The speculation that surrounded the Diego Martin North East candidacy over the past two weeks had ended with his return to the constituency he had represented for the last 34 years.\n\nAsked how he felt about being re-selected, Imbert said: âI feel very good about it. And I will make sure that this last term of mine is my best termâ. Asked what he had to say to those people who did not want him to be re-selected, Imbert said: âThatâs okay. I wasnât too concerned. I feel good. And this is PNM. This is what PNM is all about.â He then waved goodbye, as he went back upstairs Balisier House to attend the screening for Diego Martin West.\n\nImbert, a Deputy PNM Political Leader, sits on the PNM Screening Committee.\n\nDe Nobriga reselected \n\nAlso re-selected last night was another incumbentâDiego Martin Central MP Symon De Nobriga, who will contest this seat. Speaking to the media, De Nobriga, who like Imbert was the only nominee, said he was not surprised by his re-selection. He said he planned to continue with the work he has been doing in the constituency. He said the constituency was doing well, particularly in the area of public utilities, and he now wanted to âram upâ some of the infrastructural work. He said the repairs done by WASA had slowed down some of the paving work that the Government had hoped to do. He said beyond this, he planned to work with the constituency executive, the party groups and the young people in particular, to ensure that the youth find the opportunities, programmes and mentorshipâall aimed at having a stronger Diego Martin Central and Trinidad and Tobago.\n\nAsked what he believed would be his biggest challenge in the campaign, De Nobriga said it would be ensuring that the party mobilises the ground supporters. âOnce our party is mobilised and unified, we are unbeatable,â he said.\n\nAsked about his expectations entering an election campaign with a new prime minister, De Nobriga said he expects that the transition from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to Stuart Young would be smooth and seamless. âWe expect that as the work we have done in the last five years bears fruit, we have given 2027 as the horizon for key initiatives, we expect that we will reap the benefits, and the people of Trinidad and Tobago will reap the benefits also,â De Nobriga said.\n\nAhead of yesterdayâs screening for the three Diego Martin constituencies and the Opposition-held constituencies of Cumuto, Manzanilla and Tabaquite, Tranquillity Street took on the appearance of a Carnival scene.\n\nThere were flags, moko jumbies, Paramin blue and red devils, tassa drums and two music trucks.\n\nHans Des Vignes, nominee for Diego Martin West, brought out his section of supporters, as did one of the nominees from Diego Martin West, Yokiyamma Bethelmy. Des Vignes got the nod of the selection committee.\n\nBut the main attraction was provided by supporters of Imbert, who had gathered by the corner of Victoria Avenue and Tragarete Road. Imbert approached the procession and greeted some of the participants. He and his son, Adrian, embraced each other as the Carnival-like possession made its way up the road, with a banner boldly proclaiming: âWe Choice: Imbert for DMNE (Diego Martin North/East). Percussionists and blue and red devils from Paramin accompanied the crowd sporting their Imbert jerseys, creating quite a spectacle and an impression of strong support.\n\nFrom the Balisier House balcony, some members of the Screening CommitteeâCamille Robinson-Regis; Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Faris Al-Rawiâwatched the spectacle.\n\nHans De Vignes, the frontrunner for Diego Martin Westâcurrently held by PNM Political Leader Dr Keith Rowley, which he intends to vacate at the end of the termâbrought out a crowd of young people. Rival nominee Yokiymma Bethelmy also brought her supporters, who were entertained by moko jumbies, tassa drummers, and a large music truck and were escorted along Victoria Avenue by two motorcyclists.\n\nBalisier House eventually had to instruct the two music trucks to turn off their music so that the screening could proceed.\n\nAttorney for Cumuto/Manzanilla \n\nAttorney Sanjiv Boodhu, who had originally screened for DâAbadie/OâMeara (now renamed Malabar/Mausica), was selected to contest the Cumuto/Manzanilla seat for the PNM. He said he was humbled at the opportunity to screen and represent the seat. âIt is an area in which I have deep family ties and deep business ties, so I look forward to serving the people of Cumuto/Manzanilla. We have a lot of work to do and with the capable teamâthe chairman, the executive and the members of the Cumuto/Manzanilla and the coordinatorâwe are ready to hit the ground running. We start as early as tomorrow. So, good things to come in Cumuto Manzanilla,â he said. Asked what his priorities were, he said consultation was a major goal. âThe first thing we need to do is to go out and meet the people and ask them what they need from us and what their concerns are. The PNM has not had a representative in that constituency since 1986,â he said.\n\nHe said the accessibility to representatives has been a challenge in this constituency. âWe are meeting on Wednesday with the Minister of Public Utilities, so we are going to be bringing relief to the constituents of Cumuto/Manzanilla recognising the water supply is one of the main issues. The other issue is the road network, and we have a large agricultural sector there, so that would be priority number three,â he said.\n\nAsked what he thinks are his chances of winning, Boodhu said the PNMâs chances of winning were excellent. âWe have a candidate that is ready to serve and we intend to show Cumuto/Manzanilla what representation looks like,â he said.\n\nHe thanked the Screening Committee, which he said had to consider the personâs qualifications and suitability for the particular constituency and the specific needs of the constituency.\n\nâwith reporting by Sherlan Ramsubhag
GRANDMA KILLED AT BIRTHDAY LIME
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:15:00QUINTIN Marcano, 65, of Cameron Hill, Maraval, was struck in the neck by a bullet on Sunday as she sat on a chair in the yard of the Penal home of Lucy Mitchell who was celebrating her birthday.\n\nShe died from her injuries.\n\nPolice are investigating whether the shooting was due to gunplay by a resident with an illegal firearm, or an exchange of gunfire on the street between a resident and the occupants of a vehicle that fled the scene.\n\nMarcano, a grandmother of seven, is the second woman to have died under such circumstances following the January 18 death of 36-year-old Sharida Ali of Kelly Village, Caroni. Ali was struck in the head by a bullet while liming in the kitchen of a friendâs home on 19th Street, Beetham Gardens.\n\nIn that incident, police were reportedly chasing bandits along the Beetham Highway, during which there was an exchange of gunfire.\n\nWith respect to Sundayâs incident, Marcano was attending a prayer service and celebration to mark the 80th birthday of Mitchell, the matriarch of the Penal household.\n\nA police report on Marcanoâs killing stated that around 5.30 p.m., gunfire rang out at a property across the street as the victim and her friends were sitting in a shed at Mitchellâs house near the road. Moments later, Marcano was seen with a wound to the right side of her neck.\n\nMembers of the Mitchell family tried to save Marcano by placing her in a car and taking her to the Siparia District Health Facility, but medical personnel pronounced her dead upon arrival around 5.53 p.m.\n\nA suspect was detained by police later that day.\n\nMarcanoâs killing also occurred two houses away from where Nicholas Kevin Morgan was gunned down last month. Morgan, 29, was ambushed and shot multiple times in an outdoor bathroom in the backyard of his home. That killing remains unsolved.\n\nHelpful and caring person\n\nWhen the Express visited Mitchellâs home yesterday, several family members wept and described Marcano as a helpful and caring person who visited them often.\n\nThe family members urged the authorities to tackle the issue of illegal firearms and begged youths to turn from a life of crime and violence.\n\nOne family member, who did not wish to be named, said Marcano was sitting on a chair near the road with five members of the Mitchell family discussing the death of a relative who had passed away from a heart attack. Also standing nearby was a woman holding her newborn baby in her arms, with her four small children around her, she said.\n\nâWe were talking about going to the wake, when we heard gunshots ring out. My cousin said, âThey shooting a gun! Run!â Everybody ran from the road. When we turn around, we realise she didnât come off the chair. We called out to her. I thought she fainted. But then we saw blood coming down her clothes. We started to bawl. When her neck turned, we saw there was a bullet hole in her neck,â she said.\n\nShe recalled they called for the police and the ambulance services, but Marcano was bleeding heavily, so a relative placed her in a vehicle and took her to the Siparia hospitalâbut it was too late.\n\nThe family member called for justice for Marcanoâs killing.\n\nâThis gun thing is too much. People are getting shot for other peopleâs stupidness. The authorities have to do something. I want them to get justice for this lady. She was a helpful and loving person, no matter where she went. She did not deserve this. She came to relax and spend a little time with us, not for this to happen. I want her family to get justice and closure for this crime. I am fed up of hearing about guns and killings,â she said.\n\nTurn to God\n\nJoel John, 21, one of Mitchellâs grandsons, also pleaded with authorities for justice for Marcano and urged youths to stay away from gangs and firearms.\n\nâThese kinds of things breed monsters. Plenty of youths have the wrong concept of life. If you donât know anything about a gangâno six, no nine, nothingâstay out of that, because at the end of the day, you will be making yourself a target. See about building yourself and your family. Badness does not pay. It does lead to one thingâdeath. No jail,â John said.\n\nMatriarch Mitchell, a mother of eight, wept as she spoke of the killing of Marcano, who had been there on Friday, the day Mitchell turned 80-years old. She said Marcano helped cook and clean for the birthday celebration and prepared party bags for the children of the household.\n\nâI tired hear gunshots. They always shooting. I said, âGunshot again?â Then I heard the bawling, and my friend died. I wanted to see her (when she got shot), but they told me: âMammyâdonât goâ,â she wept.\n\nâI want to tell young people to put down the gun and turn to God who make them and put them in this world. They throw away God from their hearts. Go and do something and have yourself looking good. Get some friends and plant potato, orange and cherry, and sell. I want them to put down the gun and care about their family. Instead, you going to look to kill people? People donât care about life again. I want them to care about themselves and their families,â she said.\n\nLife of the party\n\nThe elderly woman also cried as she recalled that one of her sonsâColin Mitchellâhad been beaten to death with a shovel and a pitchfork in May 2016 at Platanite Trace in Barrackpore.\n\nWhen the Express visited Marcanoâs relatives at Cameron Hill, Maraval yesterday, they described her as the âlife of the party,â with a love of dancing, loud music, family, strong coffee and a good lime.\n\nâShe was the life of the party and a dancer and a very, very nice woman,â said an elderly man seated in yesterdayâs hastily convened wake.\n\nHe also spoke of her 65th birthday celebration in October last year, adding that they had quite a few videos and photos of her dancing.\n\nâThat is just for the family, though,â he said, as he laughed while recalling the memory.\n\nHer daughter, Effie Callender, said, âShe was a very happy and jovial person and on Sunday she was just visiting some of her friends in Southâbut no one saw this happening.â\n\nAs the Express walked through the community yesterday, almost everyone knew Marcano and the kind of person sheâd been.\n\nâOh ho. The life of the party,â said another woman awaiting a taxi to head into Port of Spain.\n\nâReal people will miss that woman,â she added.\n\nDetectives of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations of Region Three are investigating.\n\nâwith reporting by Gyasi Gonzales
After years of criminal attacks, Brasso police station to reopen
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:00:00Following a series of robberies and the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Matthew Chancellor in Tabaquite at the weekend, residents of the community have renewed calls for the reopening of the Brasso Police Station.\n\nThis call appears to have been heard, and yesterday, acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin stated that the Brasso Police station would be reopened next week.\n\nâYes. By next week, we will be opening the Brasso Police Station and I am also pleased to say that within a short space of time, we would be opening the San Raphael Police Station so that we can give more service to the citizens of T&T,â Benjamin said.\n\nHe made this announcement following a news conference at the police administration building, Edward Street in Port of Spain.\n\nSpeaking with reporters after a fire alarm triggered the evacuation of the building, Benjamin said that he was unable to say exactly why the Brasso police station had been closed.\n\nâI can tell you that some of the situations clearly showed that because of the number of offences, it was minimal and because of the strength, that could be one of the reasons...Nevertheless, we recognise at this point in time, given the optics in violent crime there, we need to ensure that we have a greater presence and therefore, as the Commissioner of Police, I have taken it upon myself to open it,â Benjamin said.\n\nHe said that he hoped the reopening of the police station would lead to increased police visibility in the area, and faster responses by officers, and as such would have a positive impact on crime in the area.\n\nHe emphasised that this was not a sole direction from his office, but rather a âcontinuance of executionâ as plans were put in place to reopen the Brasso police station by suspended Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher.\n\nThe Express also spoke to Head of Central Division Police acting Snr Supt Ian Carty yesterday who said the Brasso Police Station will be reopened in two weeks and once reopened, would be fully resourced.\n\nâI have a date, but I donât want to divulge that date yet, but I spoke with the (acting) Commissioner of Police and I believe that in about two weeksâ time the station should be opened,â he said.\n\nHe added that the station would be manned by police officers.\n\nâIt is going to be adequately resourced. The station is going to have the requisite manpower and the resources that are needed in order for the station to function effectively. It is going to be adequately staffed,â he continued.\n\nCriminals sucking residents dry \n\nChancellor was fatally shot near the Tabaquite Recreational Grounds on Saturday morning.\n\nThis followed a series of crime incidents and robberies which began on Friday night, which saw several residents of the area being robbed at gunpoint.\n\nNo one has been held for the murder.\n\nYesterday morning Chancellorâs father Maxwelo Chancellor spoke with reporters at the Forensic Science Centre in Federation Park where he reiterated calls for the Brasso police station to be reopened.\n\nâWe need to get back our police station in Tabaquite. We have too many innocent people in the area, and these criminals are taking advantage. They are coming into the community to intimidate, interrogate, rob, loot and kill people. And all this is happening in part because the police station not there so police have a longer way to reach and to respond. And it have a lot of roads from Brasso to Gran Couva. A lot of escape routes. So we need back our station...Right now these criminals are living, bleeding and sucking the residents dry. The place gone in Tabaquite because we lacking police, and the bandits are rampant,â Chancellor said.\n\nHe said that the community has been âunder siegeâ over the last few months with several robberies being reported.\n\nAnd now, sadly, with his sonâs death, criminal elements had added murder to their list.\n\nHe described his son as a loving and caring individual, who was always smiling and had âbright eyesâ.\n\nHe said his sonâs personality drew persons towards him.
Delayed probe begins today
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:00:00THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Regiment (TTR) Board of Enquiry investigating how 25,753 rounds of reserve 5.56 ammunition went missing from the Cumuto Barracks, which was supposed to start yesterday, will now begin today at 9 a.m. at the barracks.\n\nA senior army officer told the Express yesterday that the Enquiry was stood down and will instead start today. He was not certain what caused the delay.\n\nAccording to insiders, the Enquiry can continue for several days or weeks, and as in the past, can sometimes be adjourned before being reconvened at a later date.\n\nMinister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds and Chief of Defence Staff Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel are yet to comment on the issue of the missing ammunition and a major breach in national security, despite the Expressâ requests for an explanation since last Wednesday.\n\nThe TTR appointed a three-man team headed by Lt Col Dwyane Edwards; it includes Maj B George and Warrant Officer M Brooks. The team will probe the disappearance of the ammunition that was issued in a special orders document, obtained by the Express at the weekend.\n\nâEngaging the attention of the policeâ\n\nActing Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin at a news conference yesterday confirmed that the missing ammunition was âengaging the attention of the policeâ and âthey were looking into the matterâ.\n\nThe Sunday Express reported exclusively on the ammunition that was discovered missing from the 1st Engineer Battalion Bunker earlier this month during a physical examination at the Cumuto Barracks. Colonel JP Roachford, who took charge of the Cumuto Barracks in October last year, ordered the check of the reserve rounds.\n\nThe ammunition had been removed from the Cumuto Barracks bunker and relocated to a nearby building within the barracks compound sometime in 2022.\n\nA senior army official familiar with the investigation says they are uncertain as to when exactly the ammunition went missing, asking, âWas it before the rounds were removed from the bunker in 2022? Was it during the transfer of the ammunition to the building or did the ammo go missing after it was transferred?â\n\nAnother senior army officer also raised questions about the preferred choice on how to investigate this serious matter.âWhy did the Chief of Defence Staff direct the Commanding Officer of the Regiment to conduct a Board of Inquiry as opposed to a formal investigation into the allegations of the missing ammunition?â he asked.\n\nHe added that the Inquiry would no doubt be able to âaddress systemic issues affecting the organisation, and find out what happened and why it happened and to implement measures to prevent and/or mitigate against the re-occurrence of such a situation. But at the same time the Board of Inquiry is not punitive in nature. Therefore, the question remains why a Board of Inquiry was elected as the best medium of investigation since it may very well reveal either : (a) gross negligence or (b) criminal conduct including larceny of the rounds. This will certainly result in serious disciplinary actions to be taken against a person or persons who may be culpable via trial by court-martial.â
Burglar left behind, ends up in hospital after owner arrives
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 10:01:00A BUSINESSMAN subdued a knife-wielding bandit following a break-in at The Food Hut in Montrose.\n\nThe shop owner secured the business located in Lendore Village, at 5 p.m. on Friday and left.\n\nAt about 1.36 a.m. on Saturday, people in the community called him and said that loud noises were coming from the establishment.\n\nThe 38-year-old man made his way to the store and observed two men exiting the building. He called out to them to stop, but the men ran and escaped along Tobago Road.\n\nThe owner then entered the store and saw that a third suspect was hiding inside. The suspect pulled out a knife and attacked the businessman, police said.\n\nThere was a struggle, and the businessman was able to subdue the suspect without injuring himself.\n\nThe police were notified and a team of officers from the Chaguanas Police station led by Sgt Smith responded.\n\nChecks were made and a quantity of cash was said to be missing.\n\nThe suspect, a 45-year-old from Thompson Road in Palmiste, was detained.\n\nHe was found to be nursing multiple injuries and was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex for treatment.\n\nChecks were made for the other two suspects, but they were not located that morning.\n\nWPC Nestor is continuing the enquiry.
Small bail for dad charged with child cruelty
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-18 09:50:00CHARGED with cruelty to a child, Kervon Noel will only be allowed contact with the eight-year-old alleged victim through permission and supervision by the Children's Authority.\n\nNoel, 43, of Marac Village, Moruga appeared before master Kimitria Gray in the San Fernando Court yesterday. He was placed on the $20,000 bail with a cash alternative of $10,000, with the conditions that he reports to the Moruga Police Station three times a week and have no direct or indirect contact with the child unless it is permitted and supervised by the Children's Authority.\n\nDuring the court appearance, Noel was not called upon to plead to the charge laid by constable Crawford from the Special Victims Department. The matter, prosecuted by constable Basdeo, was transferred to the Princes Town District Court for March 17.\n\nIt was last week that a video circulated of an incident on Monday around 8.45 p.m. in the roadway at Marac Village showing a screaming child trying to escape from a man who grabbed his clothes, shoved him to the ground and threatened him with a knife.\n\nThe man was arrested the following day following enquiries by officers from the Special Victims Department, the Southern Division Task Force and Moruga Police Station. Officials from the Children's Authority were also involved.
Bellevue Alcudia squat bricked up as the squatting moves towards an end
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:08:00The company brought in to negotiate the eviction of squatters from the Neptuno II block at Alcudia's Club Bellevue estimates that there were some 150 people in the building. The great majority of them have left since Guardians Control arrived on Monday morning, an ultimatum having been issued for all the squatters to vacate the building by next Monday (February 24).\nTomeu Carbonell, the company's spokesperson, says surveillance will continue until the 24th. By Tuesday there were some 20 people still in Neptuno II, the main entrance having been bricked up, leaving an emergency exit for access. Round-the-clock surveillance is being maintained by shifts of twelve Guardians Control personnel.\nLeaving the building on Tuesday. Photo: Miquel Ã. Cañellas.\nThe squatters who have left the building have all signed a document agreeing to terms by which they won't face claims for damage or charges for usurpation. There will be legal action against anyone still in Neptuno II on the 24th.\nThe Guardia Civil are a regular presence for the time being as are Alcudia Police, who had to intervene on Monday night when there was an incident involving residents and squatters. There is no residential accommodation in the part of the Bellevue complex where Neptuno II is located, but a bridge connects the complex to a side street off the main 'strip', Avda. Pedro Mas y Reus.\nAlcudia social services, who have been criticised by some of the squatters for their lack of attention, say that they are providing this attention to those who are registered with them, especially families with children. The Council of Mallorca's social affairs institute is said to be liaising with the town hall.
Belgian rider triumphs in Torrox-Nerja stage
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 16:26:48Belgian cyclist Maxim Van Gils, from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team, stormed to victory in the opening stage of the 2025 Vuelta a AndalucÃa Ruta del Sol. The stage, covering 162 kilometers from Torrox Costa to Cueva de Nerja, featured five mountain passes and an intense sprint finish.\n\nOn Wednesday, February 19, Van Gils outpaced UAE Team Emirates XRG duo Tim Wellens and Pavel Sivakov in the final meters, crossing the line in 4 hours, 13 minutes, and 39 seconds. His victory also secured him the leaderâs jersey, giving him an early advantage in the general table.\n\nThe 25-year-old, originally from Brasschaat, has been a professional since 2021 and is regarded as a strong climber and classics specialist. He made his breakthrough at the 2022 Saudi Tour, where he won both stage four and the overall classification. His impressive results include podium finishes at major one-day races, such as third at the 2024 Strade Bianche and La Flèche Wallonne. Van Gils also won the 5-kilometer time trial at last yearâs Vuelta a AndalucÃa and secured his first UCI WorldTour victory in May 2024 at Eschborn-Frankfurt.\n\nDespite a recent crash at Etoile de Bessèges, Van Gils displayed excellent form and tactical awareness in Nerja, managing to stay ahead of UAEâs strong squad, which also saw Marc Soler finish fourth. âIt was a tough stage with high temperatures, and no team could fully control the race,â he said post-race, quoted by Cycling Pro. âI knew UAE had multiple leaders, so I had to anticipate their moves. I was confident in my sprint against Wellens, so I focused on keeping the group together.â\n\nVan Gilsâ career hasnât been without controversy. At the 2023 Japan Cup, he was fined and docked 10 UCI points for striking fellow rider Georgios Bouglas after the finish line. He later apologized for the incident and avoided disqualification from the results.\n\nNow, the Belgian faces the challenge of defending his lead against UAEâs good lineup in the coming days. However, with his team behind him, he remains optimistic about his chances in what promises to be a highly competitive edition of the race.
Aviation pioneer has big plans for the future of air travel
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 17:25:19The aviation pioneers at Climate Impulse have released information about the craftâs design and building progress ahead of their planned round the world trip.\n\nThe trip is a little way off and planned for 2028, but with the planes first test flights set to take off in 2026, Swiss aviation innovator and environmentalist Bertand Piccard and his partners are strengthening their plans for a flight that could change the face of travel as we know it.\n\nGreen hydrogen could lead to sustainable travel\n\nIt is Piccardâs plan to use green hydrogen to fuel the planeâs globetrotting journey, so that it makes a complete circuit of the earth without ever stopping to refuel, even in mid-air. The highly-anticipated trip will be roughly 25,000 miles long and follow the equator around the earth for nine days. Green hydrogen is made when hydrogen is split from water molecules by electrolysis.\n\nThe plane is made from composite materials that are lightweight and has also been reported as utilising entirely new technologies in its design, the craft has drawn investors like Airbus to handover millions of euros towards the craft and its 2028 mission.\n\nWill Climate Impulse be viable for Commercial Travel?\n\nIn the short term, no. The craft will not be a commercial travel option immediately and it would not be the first time that a sustainable energy solution had been found for flights but could not be scaled up for global use.\n\nA plane that ran off energy produced by solar panels has previously been created and successfully flown for a distance in 2015 but had to make multiple stops during its world trip and according to Climate Impulse engineer Raphael Dinelli the design wasnât commercially scalable.\n\nThe hope is that Climate Impulse will be able to be made for commercial purposes although it may take quite a few years after their first flight to bring that vision to fruition. However, Piccard says âItâs my job to be a pioneer,â and that Climate Impulse has âto show itâs possible, then itâs a big incentive for the others to continueâ.
Rwanda suspends aid pact with Belgium over support for Congo rebels
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 16:34:12Belgium has a particularly unsavoury history of colonialising certain African countries and this continues to be a bone of contention which regularly causes problems.\n\nRwanda came under the Belgian sphere of influence between 1922 and 1962 as the colony of Ruanda-Urundi and many of he problems of the massacre of Hutu (predominantly Rwandans) and Tutsi (mainly from Burundi) can be traced back to first German and then Belgian colonialism.\n\nThere is an ongoing rebel war in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, another former Belgian colony) which sees Rwanda supporting the rebels who say that they are protecting the local Tutsi population but there may be more to this support than immediately meets the eye.\n\nThe area under dispute is rich in mineral wealth and a number of local commentators in both the DRC and Belgium suggest that Rwanda is more interested in getting hold of mineral rights rather than saving an ethnic group.\n\nRwanda suspends aid pact with Belgium over support for Congo rebels as tensions flare\n\nBelgium accuses Rwanda of undermining the DRCâs territorial integrity by supporting the M23 rebels, who have seized two major cities in the east of the country in recent weeks.\n\nSo annoyed is Rwanda with Belgium, which it insists is not neutral in the conflict and is actually waging an aggressive campaign to hinder its access to development aid, that it has decided to suspend its 2024-2029 bilateral aid programme with Belgium.\n\nThe Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has responded in a somewhat âtit-for-tatâ manner saying the government accepted the decision but had been considering doing the same itself although it is anxious to ensure that the benefits gained by the people of Rwanda are not lost due to political disagreement.\n\nRwanda is often in the news and has just suspended an aid pact with Belgium over support for Congo rebels\n\nWith Rwanda seldom out of the news, making itself available as a âtemporary homeâ for migrants awaiting decisions on permanency should any European Country be able to send economic migrants there and also its promotion as a holiday destination backed up by its sponsorship of Arsenal Football Club.
Speed camera shake-up: DGTâs sneaky new âtrailer trapsâ already nabbing drivers
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 17:21:08The Spanish traffic authority, the DGT, is rolling out a fresh breed of mobile speed cameras â' and theyâre already catching out drivers across the country.\n\nTrailer trap speed cameras hit the roads in Spain\n\nFor years, fixed speed cameras have been the bane of lead-footed drivers around Spain, but the DGT is stepping up its game with the new âradares remolqueâ â' trailer-mounted speed cameras that can be deployed anywhere, anytime. A total of 122 new radars are hitting Spainâs roads in 2025, with many of them set to be these stealthy mobile units.\n\nThese high-tech spies on wheels are battery-powered, laser-equipped, and completely wireless, meaning they donât need a permanent power supply and can stay active for days without a human operator. Unlike fixed cameras, which drivers can learn to avoid, these portable enforcers move around constantly, keeping motorists on their toes.\n\nHigh-tech crackdown on speeders\n\nLast year, Spainâs roads saw 1,154 fatalities, and officials say speeding is one of the biggest killers. The DGT isnât messing about â' these new trailer cameras can scan multiple lanes, track cars from long distances, and even snap multiple offenders at once. \n\nThe first batch has already been spotted in Catalonia, catching out drivers on major routes like the AP-7, C-31, and B-23. And because theyâre connected to the internet, fines are processed in real-time â' no more waiting weeks to find out if youâve been caught.\n\nWhy these cameras are a game-changer\n\nUnlike the static speed cameras drivers have grown used to, trailer radars can be set up in minutes and then moved elsewhere, making it nearly impossible for motorists to predict where theyâll be lurking next. Their laser technology also means they can catch speeders from incredible distances, with pinpoint accuracy.\n\nThis move is part of the governmentâs broader strategy to modernise Spainâs traffic enforcement. Since speed cameras were first introduced, road deaths have plummeted by 75%, but the DGT says thereâs still more to be done.\n\nThe crackdown continues\n\nTransport Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska insists these new cameras are a much-needed step to bring Spainâs road deaths even lower. But drivers arenât happy, with many feeling these âstealth trapsâ are nothing more than a sneaky cash grab.\n\nSpainâs roads just got a whole lot riskier for speeders. \n\nRead more original news in English from around Europe. \n\nRead more Spanish news in English for people living in Spain.
Owners of Mallorca hotel that had squatters demanding termination of management company's contract
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 10:54:00The owners of the Sol i Mar Aparthotel in Cala Bona, Apartamentos Sol y Mar S.A., have gone to court in seeking the immediate termination of the agreement with the management company, Marbel Can Pastilla S.L.\nThe Sol y Mar is the establishment which had squatters a few weeks ago. The management company's Miguel Deyá was a highly prominent figure during that episode. The owners have now filed a lawsuit against both the company and him personally.\nThey maintain that 219,000 euros are owed for the 2024 rent and rubbish tax. In addition, they claim that works itemised in the operating contract, which involved a significant renovation, have not been carried out. The deadline for these works is about to expire. The owners say the cost is going to increase and that there were two years for the works to have been addressed.\nIn the submission to the court, they are claiming their right to operate the business and that Deyá and his company do not benefit from the coming tourism season. In addition to the termination of the contract, the owners are calling for Deyá to be evicted from the premises.\nAt the time of the squatting episode, the owners drew attention to apparent debts owed to them and implied that Deyá had in a some way been complicit with the squatting. He denied this allegation, describing it as absurd, and subsequently filed his own lawsuit for defamation.
Supreme Court rejects young climate activists class action lawsuit
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 23:29:01300 young activists brought a class action lawsuit against Sweden for its climate inaction but on Wednesday, February 19 the Swedish Supreme Court threw it out. \n\n22-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg was amongst those who brought the lawsuit. The action brought against Sweden by hundreds of individuals asked that the country minimise gas emissions contributing to global warming to a point that was âtechnically and economically feasible.â The case was originally developed by young environmental activists insisting that Sweden had violated the European Convention on Human Rights by not lowering dangerous gas emissions.\n\nThe Supreme Court came to the decision that the âcase cannot be taken up for reviewâ as they cannot force the Swedish parliament or government to take action. It said âThe political bodies decide independently which specific climate measures Sweden should take.â\n\nLight at the end of the tunnel for environmental activists\n\nFor activists, there is some light at the end of the tunnel, the court said if there was a climate case brought to them that was designed differently, for example if the suit had been filed by a group as opposed to individuals, they could review the case again.\n\nâThe European Court of Human Rights has recently ruled in a judgment that an association that meets certain requirements may have the right to bring a climate lawsuit.â Although a group called Aurora was handling the lawsuit for the activists, it had been filed under the name of one individual, with others joining their name to that personâs suit. Had the case been filed in a way âwhich meets certain requirements regarding, among other things, representativeness and suitability, these high requirements are not appliedâ and as such the case might have had more success.\n\nDo people in power not understand immediate action is required?\n\nIn an interview when the case was first being formed against the Swedish state Ida Edling, an Aurora spokesperson had said âPeople in power donât seem to realize that large-scale and immediate action is required to prevent it from worsening further. The global movement of climate litigation has shown that lack of sufficient climate action is irresponsible and unimaginably dangerous and illegal.â She continued by saying she was hoping to be part of a group that held the government to account for their inaction on greenhouse gas emissions.\n\nAurora will âcontinue fightingâ Ida Edling said after the courtâs ruling. She said they will work to âprevent planetary collapses and to hold the Swedish state accountable for their illegal fuelling of the climate crisis.â Although, she also said the group werenât sure of the exact legal route they would now take.
Roll into action! Skating classes in Torremolinos for all levels
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 08:04:19Feel the wind in your face as you gracefully roll along the promenade like itâs no oneâs business. Whether youâre a total beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, weekly skating classes in Torremolinos are the perfect way to get rolling!\n\nJoin the fun and friendly sessions every Monday and Wednesday at Playamar, where youâll learn to skate safely and confidently â' whether youâre on inline skates or quads.\n\nWhen & Where?\n\nMondays & Wednesdays \n\nNext class: February 24, at\n\nPaseo MarÃtimo, Torremolinos (Playamar) â' Find the location here\n\nWhat to expect?\n\nExpert coaching for all levels.\n\nA fun and relaxed atmosphere.\n\nLearn to move with confidence on skates.\n\nGreat exercise & a chance to meet new people.\n\nHow to join?\n\nMessage via WhatsApp: 606 662 270 to reserve your spot!\n\nOnly â¬5 per class.\n\nFancy gliding along the seafront in your rollerblades like an extra from a 90s movie?\n\nDonât miss out â' lace up, roll out, and have a wheely good time⦠\n\nRead more news in English from around the Costa del Sol. \n\nRead more news in English from around Spain.
Canine search and rescue demonstrated
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 07:40:32On February 7, the fifth-grade students from Muixara School visited the Rescue Dog Training Camp.\n\nThere, they participated in an engaging canine search and detection drill known as the âArcon Method,â organised by the GERCCMA Association, which is made up of professional firefighters.\n\nDedicated firefighters explained how specially trained dogs were used in rescues\n\nUpon arrival, the students were greeted by a team of four dedicated firefighters, who took the time to explain the critical situations that can arise during events involving collapsed structures. They provided an overview of how specially trained dogs are used in rescue operations to locate individuals trapped under rubble.\n\nAfter the informative session, the students had the opportunity to engage directly in a drill, working alongside three canine units that are currently undergoing training in La Nucia.\n\nChildren participated in a mock rescue to show the dogs in action\n\nDuring the hands-on portion of the drill, three canine teams from the NGO worked closely with volunteer students. Each student entered designated buried areas, where the dogs demonstrated their remarkable abilities in search and detection, showcasing their keen sense of smell and their training. The canine units successfully navigated the simulated environments, locating each hidden student and thereby highlighting the dogsâ incredible skills in this area.\n\nThe visit concluded with a question-and-answer session with the GERCCMA members, enabling the students to learn even more about the specialised methods used in canine search and rescue operations.\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Check out our online newspapers for your weekly local news fix.
Antonio Banderas begins spectacular new villa
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-19 10:15:53After having demolished his house overlooking the beach in Marbella, Antonio Banderas has already got the builders in, making a start on the new one. \n\nBy all accounts, it is going to be a beauty, a spectacular mansionesque villa with a 500 square metre footprint. The old house had to have work done as it didnât meet regulations with regards to its proximity to the beach. Banderas, being fully invested in the Marbella community, was happy to oblige and make adjustments.\n\nBut then, after careful consideration, he decided to have the whole thing torn down and start again. The previous house had been constructed at the time of the notorious Jesús Gil, an ex-mayor of Marbella, at a time when a lot of questionable construction licences were granted. Banderas bought the house with his now ex-wife, Melanie Griffiths. It seems the idea was a lot about brushing off the old cobwebs of his life and celebrating his new life with his current love, Nicole Kimpel.\n\nThe new build looks to be a three-floor villa with enormous windows facing the Mediterranean and a luxurious swimming pool out front. For the interior, Banderas has entrusted world-famous designer Pedro Peña. It is expected that the couple will be able to move in by summer 2026.\n\nCurrently, Banderas is in Madrid after taking his hit musical Gypsy from Malaga to the capital, where it is enjoying sell-out status night after night.
U.S. companies in Madrid ask Trump to treat Spain differently
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 08:44:39A group of U.S. companies present in Spain asked the administration of President Donald Trump to take into account the country's trade deficit with the United States when setting new tariffs on its goods.\nThe American Chamber of Commerce in Spain (AmChamSpain) said it had sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, stressing that Spain imports more from the U.S. than it exports there, unlike the European Union as a whole.\nTrump said he was considering setting reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose import duties on U.S. products. The European Commision responded that it charges some of the world's lowest tariffs and sees no justification for an increase of tariffs on its exports.\nLast year, Spain exported 18.1 billion euros ($19 billion) in products such as petrochemicals or food products such as olive oil, wine and oranges to the United States, and imported 28.1 billion euros worth of products from it, official data show.\n\"AmChamSpain urges the U.S. administration to consider this different reality when establishing new tariffs,\" it said in a statement. \"We thus ask that, if country-specific measures were applied, the European Union take this situation into account when defining its own trade response. We call for dialogue and the search for consensual solutions that avoid trade retaliation and reduce uncertainty for companies and workers on both sides of the Atlantic.\"
Street epidemic: looky looky reach crisis point
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 08:47:07Clement weather is beginning to return to the coasts of Spain, and with it, the inevitable lining of streets with sheets covered in counterfeit products from the infamous âLooky Lookyâ street vendors.\n\nIn some countries, such as France, the penalties are high for selling, buying or even wearing falsified items of branded goods. Although in Spain, the government takes a more live-and-let-live approach, preferring to levy the biggest punishments against the suppliers of dodgy Dolce&Gabbana handbags.\n\nFrom a political standpoint, they generally look the other way with the largely Sub-Saharan African lads just trying to make ends meet. Local police might come along to shoo them away now and again, but there does not appear to be a clear government strategy to deal with a potentially public safety issue.\n\nBarcelona has reached overload with the once furtive, now brazen street sellers. In recent years, the issue has grown so big that there is little space on the streets for any more, with sellers setting up their makeshift markets on metro platforms and even, on occasion, in front of the same official stores their pirated goods imitate.\n\nIn shopping streets of cities small and large around Spain, local shop owners complain bitterly that their trade is being taken away from them â' up to 25 or 35 percent in some cases â' as potential customers opt for the cheaper, lower-quality items on sale from a blanket on the floor right in front of their shop windows.\n\nCrisis point of looky looky sellers hard to stop\n\nThen, when the police are called in, pirated handbags and sports shoes fly through the air as the street vendors whip up their blankets of illegal merchandise and high-tail it just far enough away to be out of the reach of those police handcuffs. The slowest is detained and his wares confiscated, but no one else. One patrol car with two officers can only detain one looky looky guy at a time. 10 minutes pass, and they are back again, minus just one of their comrades.\n\nShopping streets, beaches, promenades, tourist sites, and now underground train stations are increasingly reaching crisis point. Legitimate traders cite a âlack of political willâ to tackle the issue, which is rapidly turning into a public safety issue with the street traders blocking the flow of foot traffic.\n\nAfter being left too long with little government strategy other than to leave it to the local police to deal with, the situation has become grave, and there is still no clear solution in sight.\n\nAre unlicensed street venders a menace, or should we just live and let live? Let us know in the comments.
Azabache Hotel and Rural Restaurant
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 09:00:13At the top of the hill of Avenida Andalucia in Arboleas, Azabache Hotel and Rural Restaurant has been a cornerstone of the local culinary scene for over two decades. \n\nDuring my interview with Angel Lopez, the proud owner and visionary behind this establishment, I gained a deeper appreciation for the passion and dedication that have shaped Azabache into the beloved restaurant it is today.\n\nWhen I asked Angel how long he had been here, he beamed with pride and responded, âSince 1994.â He then recounted how he first opened Disco Pub Green in 1994, bringing DJs to the province of AlmerÃa for the first time. By the year 2000, he decided to transition from nightlife to hospitality, transforming the disco into what is now Azabache Hotel and Rural Restaurant. Today, Angel takes great pride in having fed the people of Arboleas and its visitors for 25 years, as well as being a dedicated member of the Jornada Gastronómica Al Arubi (Gastronomic Conference of Al Arubi) for the past 21 years.\n\nAzabache. A culinary landmark in Arboleas for over 25 years.\n\nAzabache boasts an extensive menu, with every dish prepared fresh daily using locally sourced ingredients. When I inquired about the restaurantâs star dish, Angel was quick to highlight the Bacalao Frito or la Plancha (fried or grilled cod) and the Bacalao Gratinado (gratinated cod) as customer favourites.\n\nFor first-time diners, Angel had a clear recommendation: âThe dish of the day.\n\nThe dish of the day is always constructed with layers of flavoursome local ingredients and is always a dish of this land.â Having dined at Azabache myself, I can confirm this sentiment. On my last visit, I enjoyed the daily lentil dish, while my mother had the Crema de Calabacin (courgette cream soup). We ate in near silence, wholly immersed in the rich flavours and comforting warmth of our meals.\n\nThe daily menu offers incredible value at just â¬12, including a starter, main course, dessert, and coffee. Special weekend offerings include Migas (a traditional dish made with breadcrumbs, chorizo, and other savoury ingredients) on Saturdays and Paella on Sundaysâboth of which tend to sell out quickly, making advance reservations highly recommended.\n\nThe kitchen operates from 12 PM to 4 PM and 7 PM to 10 PM, ensuring that guests can enjoy exquisite meals at their convenience. Whether youâre a local or a traveller passing through, Azabache Hotel and Rural Restaurant promises a true taste of the region, served with passion and tradition.\n\nMake your reservation on 690 25 88 13\n\nPrefer to read your local news all in one place? Find all our online weekly newspapers here.
Rock the night with The Rob Sas Band at OâCallaghans
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 09:01:20Rock the night away with The Rob Sas Band at OâCallaghans in Manilva, Costa del Sol!\n\nGet ready for a night of classic rock anthems as The Rob Sas Band takes the stage at OâCallaghans Bar in Sabinillas. Known for their powerful performances and top-tier musicianship, the band will be delivering a set packed with legendary rock covers.\n\nThe event takes place on Saturday, February 22, at 8 PM at Calle Duquesa De Arcos, Manilva. Alongside the electrifying music, the night will also mark a special birthday celebration, making it an event not to miss.\n\nArrive early to secure a spot. Expect a high-energy atmosphere, great music, and a proper rock ânâ roll night at OâCallaghans.\n\nRead more news in English from around the Costa del Sol. \n\nRead more news in English from around Spain.
The enigmatic leader: Alice Weidelâs contradictory life and politics
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 08:19:57In many ways Alice Weidel is an enigma in her own party, a woman whose personal life and choices, to an onlooker, seem at odds with the party she is serving. \n\nThe AfD party is a right-wing, anti-immigration, Eurosceptic group who believe in the classical family model and are currently polling second in the run up to the federal election on Sunday, February 23. They are polling ahead of the SPD headed by Olaf Schulz the current Chancellor and behind the Christian Democratic Union of Germany led by Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz. There is a very real possibility that Alice Weidel could be the next Chancellor of Germany.\n\nThe AfDâs stance on illegal immigration and a hard stance against allowing asylum seekers entry to Germany, is largely what has fuelled their popularity. That popularity has been buoyed by the quantity of deadly attacks in a nine-month period made by foreigners who applied for asylum status in Germany.\n\nSo, why might Alice Weidel be seen as a contradictory figure?\n\nThe strict nationalist, traditional and right-wing beliefs and policies that the AfD vocalise and want to instate seem at odds with its leaderâs lifestyle. At the same time that the AfD party elected Weidel to lead them in the coming election they also voted to add âThe family, consisting of father, mother, and children, is the nucleus of societyâ to their campaign rhetoric. Which given the make-up of their candidateâs family, two women with two adopted children seems contradictory.\n\nThe party has become one of the leading voices against the LGTBQ+ communityâs rights in Germany and even filed a motion to repeal same sex marriage and adoptions by same sex couples in 2017. That means Weidelâs own family dynamic wouldnât be considered acceptable to the political party she is championing.\n\nAlice Weidelâs residency between Switzerland and Germany has caused a stir\n\nAlice Weidelâs partner Sarah Bossard is not a German Native, but a Swiss national, born in Sri Lanka. The pair, according to reports, raise their children mainly in Switzerland but Weidel has repeatedly insisted that her main home of residence is in Germany at Ãberlingen. She has consistently refused to explain how much of her and familyâs time is spent in each place. Her comment has been that she hits the legal requirements to run for Germanyâs Chancellor.\n\nWeidel and the AfD have regularly talked about securing German borders and moving away from the EU bureaucracy that makes that difficult, saying in their current campaign âFrom now on, we will again determine who comes to us and who doesnât.â\n\nThis follows on from a draft programme released ahead of the election campaign, in 2024, which spoke about Germany leaving the EU in a Brexit-style plan. It said âWe consider it necessary for Germany to leave the European Union.â\n\nIf Germany were to leave the EU, as the AfD wanted, it is unknown whether they would still benefit from Switzerlandâs inclusion in the EUâs free movement agreement. Certainly, post-Brexit British travellers have not. It might make Weidelâs life a little more difficult as someone who capitalises on that system to move between the countries where she splits her residency.
New Ryanair rules you need to know
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-21 09:03:20Ryanair, one of the main low-cost flight operators in Spain, has announced a series of changes to its regulations that will affect travellers from May onwards. These new measures, aimed at optimising boarding processes and reinforcing compliance with baggage allowance policies, represent a tightening of current rules. Passengers should take them into account to avoid inconvenience and additional charges when travelling.\nAccording to the airline, the changes are in response to the need to streamline procedures, promote flight punctuality and reduce operating costs. Michael OâLeary, CEO of Ryanair, has stated that the ultimate goal is to âeliminate check-in desks at airportsâ, following the trend that began with the removal of baggage desks. The company is confident that these measures will help improve efficiency and the user experience.\nOne of the main changes affects the check-in process. From May, Ryanair will require the use of digital format boarding passes, which passengers must download to their mobile device via the companyâs app. Although it will still be possible to present printed cards from home, they will no longer be provided at airport desks. According to OâLeary, 60% of travellers currently use mobile cards, so the aim is to promote this option.\nRyanair will also apply restrictions to its hand luggage policy. Passengers will be able to take a small bag free of charge on board, as long as its dimensions do not exceed 40 cm x 20 cm x 25 cm and it is placed under the seat in front of them. If the luggage exceeds these measurements, a penalty of up to 70 euros will be applied at the boarding gate. To transport a second larger suitcase (maximum 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm), it will be necessary to purchase the priority boarding option. Larger suitcases must be checked in the hold.\nFurthermore, the airline will impose fines of 120 euros on passengers who arrive late for boarding, as a measure to reinforce punctuality. Ryanair recommends arriving at least 40 minutes before flight departure to avoid these penalties. Penalties will be imposed on both those who check in late and those who arrive more than an hour after the scheduled take-off time.\nIn view of these changes, travellers flying with Ryanair should pay close attention to baggage regulations and boarding times. Proper travel planning and the use of the companyâs digital tools will be key to complying with the new rules and enjoying a hassle-free experience without unexpected costs. A few simple precautions will save disappointment when taking a low cost flight.
Dine in natural history: visit a cave restaurant
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-20 13:30:06Visit a 500-year-old authentic cave restaurant in the Costa Blanca South and be blown away by the food, service and interior. \n\nThere is nowhere else quite like Las Cuevas Restaurant. Nestled in and amongst the few remaining cave houses of San Miguel de Salinas is a restaurant whose history makes it as incredible a place to visit as its outstanding food. When you enter the restaurant there are eating nooks transformed from natural formations in the cave rock faces so that you can dine in gorgeous surroundings carved by history and nature.\n\nFrench-Spanish fusion food\n\nTheir menu is a fusion of French and Spanish cuisine, cooked by chef Robert Johansen who learnt his trade in Michelin restaurants. When you sample the menus at the restaurant his background and expertise become obvious. Their winter tasting menus range from â¬38.00 for three courses to â¬57.00 for 3 courses and they also have a longer menu with highlights like a starter of seared scallops with crunchy bacon and pumpkin puree, Argentinian marbled rib eye steak served with seasonal vegetables, fondant potatoes and a béarnaise sauce.\n\nAnd for those with a sweet tooth their dessert menu is perfectly formed with traditional favourites like Apple Crumble right alongside more modern dishes like a white chocolate sphere filled with caramel snickers. Starters are priced from â¬11, desserts range in price from about â¬8 and mains start at â¬17. There are multiple options for pescatarian, Vegetarian and Vegan diners as well.\n\nBook your reservation online: www.lascuevas.es\n\nOr phone: 965 03 34 44
Ronan Keating heartbreak: Star condemns âbroken systemâ as brotherâs crash driver walks free
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-20 13:38:40Pop star Ronan Keating has expressed his outrage over the heartbreaking court verdict that saw the driver who caused his brotherâs death walk free without serving a single night behind bars.\n\nAs previously reported by the Euro Weekly News, Ciaran Keating, 57, was travelling with his wife Annmarie to watch their son, RuairÃ, play football when his Ford Focus was struck head-on by a 22-year-old motoristâs Audi A3 on the N5 near Swinford, Co Mayo, in July 2023. Ciaran died at the scene, and Annmarie was so severely injured that she was unable to attend her husbandâs funeral.\n\nThe controversial verdict\n\nThis week, Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court handed driver Dean Harte a 17-month suspended sentence and a two-year driving ban for careless driving causing death and serious injury â' sparking outrage among the Keating family. The court heard that Harte had veered onto the wrong side of the road shortly after sending a WhatsApp message and had traces of cannabis in his blood, though he claimed it was from a party days before.\n\nJudge Eoin Garavan pointed to âno evidence of intoxication, no speed issuesâ and âno egregious example of earlier dangerous drivingâ as factors that kept Harte out of prison. He had also offered a letter of remorse, which the Keating family refused.\n\nRonanâs statement\n\nMoments after the verdict, the Boyzone star took to Instagram, posting:\n\nâTodayâs sentencing was a devastating example of just how broken our justice system is. You can kill a man⦠and you can walk free. Not even a single night in prison. Just a slap on the wrist and a ticket to carry on with your life, like nothing ever happened.\n\nâAnd then we wonder why we keep seeing this kind of behaviour on our roads, why people keep dying in road accidents across Ireland every week? Itâs a joke and itâs morally corrupt that rather than trying to fix our broken system, they all turn a blind eye.\n\nâShame on Dean Harte but more-so shame on everyone involved in this process that contributed to the heartbreaking outcome for my family today.â\n\nHe added; âWe will continue to fight for Ciaranâs justice.\n\nAt this time we think of all the other families who have found themselves in our position, and we pray that other families never do.â\n\nThe fight goes on\n\nWith heartbreak at the wheel and justice seemingly at a standstill, Ronan Keating vows his family will press on in their quest for what they see as true justice. For them, the verdict delivered no closure â' just questions about a system they feel has veered off course. As the Keatings grieve, theyâre urging Ireland and its courts to steer the country back onto a safer, fairer road. \n\nRead more original news in English from around Europe. \n\nRead more Irish news.
Swing into Sunday with a Jazz Fundraiser in Mijas Costa
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-20 14:01:19Sign up for personalised news\n\nSubscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!\n\n By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Benalmadenaâs Tivoli to reopen.
PUBLISHED: 2025-02-20 13:24:03The Tivoli World amusement park, the only one of its kind in the Costa del Sol, will have a second life. After years left abandoned, except for the dedication of its ex-employees taking care of the site, the fun fair will reopen completely renovated and somewhat transformed.\n\nThis change is the result of months of negotiations between the council of Benalmadena and the owner, Tremon Group, who are to sign an agreement to revitalise the area of the Costa del Sol.\n\nThe 60,000 square metres it occupies in Arroyo de la Miel are a highly coveted asset in the area, which the owners were eyeing at using for a shopping centre project. Benalmadena council managed to negotiate a deal with the group for a renewed theme park with a shopping centre and a hotel. It is not yet clear if the dedicated ex-employees who have been taking care of the park for years and campaigning for its reopening will be taken back on.\n\nTivoli was the number one major concert stage and the amusement park par excellence on the Costa del Sol, known for its attractions, peacocks, and buildings representing the cultural diversity of the town.\n\nIssues began in 2004, when the original owners, the Olsen family, sold the park to businessman Rafael Gómez Sánchez, alias Sandokán, who then, three years later, sold it on to Grupo Tremon. Then, years of legal squabbles began over the payment from Tremen to Sandokán, which added to costs for Tremen, who wanted to recoup some cash from the site. The park closed in 2020 declaring itself bankrupt. Ever since, the workers of Tivoli have been campaigning to get the park up and running once more.
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