News
Flying visit
Spain ’ s King Emeritus , Juan Carlos I , flew into the country on May 19 for the first time in almost two years . The father of King Felipe has been living in self-exile in the Persian Gulf following allegations of financial irregularities . He attended a regatta in Pontevedra and met family members in Madrid before flying out again four days later .
Sex offender
A lawyer and part-time soccer coach has been handed prison sentences totalling almost 700 years by a court in Madrid . He became known as the “ Instagram paedophile ” after being found guilty of sexually abusing minors , distributing under-age pornography , and bullying at least 100 victims . The 31-year-old posed on-line as a young girl and recorded many sexual encounters and exchanges on his phone .
Disco death
A 23-year-old Málaga man died early on May 15 when he was hit by a car which apparently drove into him deliberately . The incident outside a disco in the city at 6.30am also injured three other people . Police studying security footage have identified a white Volkswagen with a sunroof which then drove off at high speed .
Student falls
A 17-year-old French student studying in Málaga was rushed to hospital early on May 15 after falling from a third floor window . He was reported to be in a critical condition . National Police who were called to the scene by the victim ’ s friend have been trying to establish what happened after the pair returned to their apartment after a night out partying .
Street stabbing
A 20-year-old woman accused of stabbing a 63-year-old in the street has been identified as a patient at a mental health hospital in Benajarafe . The female victim was rushed to hospital in Vélez- Málaga but was reported not have been seriously wounded . Following the incident in early May on Benajarafe ’ s paseo maritimo , the aggressor was taken to hospital in Málaga .
See Smalltalk on page 20
Blue Flags fly over Spain
This summer ’ s Blue Flags were awarded last month to beaches across Spain , including those in our local area . The accolades are awarded annually by the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education ( ADEAC ) which carries out annual audits and inspections in those municipalities which request it . Environmental education , water quality , environmental management , safety and service criteria are amongst the criteria assessed before any beach is awarded a Blue Flag .
In Nerja , the beach at Maro is one of the beaches which is flying the flag for the first time this summer . Together with Burriana ( pictured above ) and Torrecilla beaches , it has created a situation which mayor José Alberto Armijo described as , “ a recognition ” of the municipality as a reference tourist destination on the Costa del Sol .
Beaches councillor María del Carmen López added that being recognised by the ADEAC , “ encourages us to continue working with the aim of adding new distinctions which verify the quality of our beaches .”
Along the nine kilometres of the Torrox coastline , Ferrara and El Morche beaches are again flying the Blue Flag this summer . Mayor Óscar Medina acknowledged the maintenance work carried out by the local Beaches Department , especially the recovery and renovation action which were necessary following the storm just before Easter .
In the municipality of Vélez-Málaga , the beaches at Torre del Mar , Benajarafe , and the Caleta de Vélez marina have all had the Blue Flag renewed this season . The Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Beaches , Jesús Pérez Atencia , said that the distinction , “ maintains our municipality as a national benchmark in terms of beaches .”
Andalucía has increased its total number of Blue Flag beaches from 115 last year to 121 this summer , while Spain has retained its position as the nation which boasts the highest number in the world . They are flying at a total of 621 beaches and 103 marinas , plus five tourist boats in 250 Spanish municipalities .
Hacking scandal
Paz Esteban , the head of Spain ’ s National Intelligence Centre ( CNI ), has been sacked after admitting her agency had legally hacked several Catalan separatists ’ phones . Continuing under investigation are allegations that the CNI also used Pegasus software to spy on the phones of senior government figures including the Defence and Interior Ministers . Esteban became the first woman to head the CNI in July 2019 .
12