News
Shakira threat
Cádiz village “ chats ” to UNESCO
The Colombian singer Shakira ( pictured above ) could stand trial for tax evasion , according to a court in Cataluña . In its ruling , the court said there is “ sufficient evidence ” to suggest tax evasion of € 14.5 million between 2012 and 2014 . It claimed that Shakira and a named financial adviser used a series of companies in off-shore tax havens to attempt to conceal the sources of her income during this period .
Italian detained
An Italian national detained in Fuengirola last month has been classified as a far-right extremist promoting a supremacist ideology . A European warrant for his arrest was issued following an explosion in the northwestern Italian town of Brescia when he was allegedly building an explosive device , after which he fled to Spain . Three police officers were slightly injured as he attempted to avoid arrest on August 17 .
Steak out !
A Barcelona company has started produced vegetarian steaks using a 3D printer . The 100 % plant-based ingredients are said to recreate the muscle fibres of animal meat . Novameat plans to sell directly to customers as well as the catering industry , and hopes to reach the mass market next year .
Granada tremors
Granada experienced its most intense earthquakes since 1984 late on August 12 . The first movements were felt at 11.25pm with a 4.5 intensity tremor at ground level centred on Cijuela , immediately west of the city of Granada , followed moments later by a 3.1 degree movement about three metres below neighbouring Santa Fe . A further five of lesser intensity were experienced during the night , while Nerja , Torrox , Vélez- Málaga and elsewhere felt the tremors at intensity 3 .
The village of Algár near Cádiz is asking the United Nations to declare the practice of chatting outdoors at night as a cultural treasure . Mayor José Carlos Sánchez says the centuries-old custom of dragging chairs into the street to catch up on the news of the day is the opposite of social media . “ It ’ s about face-to-face conversations ,” he added .
The summer evening ritual of “ charlas al fresco ” ( chats in the open air ) takes place in towns and villages across the country and Sr Sánchez wants to safeguard the tradition . He says the benefits include the savings made by switching off the air-conditioning for a few hours , as well as the forging of a sense of community . The mayor adds that it also helps keep loneliness at bay as neighbours share their stories and problems .
It may take a while to achieve , but the Mayor says he has had no criticism of his plan from Algár ’ s 1,400 residents . He hopes it will align the custom alongside the whistled language of La Gomera in the Canary Islands , the human towers of Cataluña , and the Fiesta of the Patios in Córdoba , all of which already enjoy UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status .
Burning body found in Maro
A Nerja resident alerted police after coming across a charred body in a burning bonfire in Maro . The disturbing discovery was made in the evening of August 2 , and within minutes , a 53-year-old man was arrested in 40 kilometres away on suspicion of murder .
The body , found in a remote ravine between the Aguila aqueduct and the A7 motorway , was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Málaga for a post mortem examination to be carried out . However , it was already thought to be that of a 37-year-old Russian woman who lived with the suspect in the Nuevo Rincón district of Rincón de la Victoria .
It is believed that the woman died during a row with her partner who then drove her body to Maro and set it alight in an effort to cover up the crime . A next door neighbour in Rincón said he had helped the suspect to carry her body to a car at about
6.00pm that day after being told that she had fallen and hit her head . However , after discovering a trail of blood , he suspected foul play and called the police .
Having made a preliminary identification of the body , Guardia Civil officers made their way to the couple ’ s first floor apartment and were waiting for the suspect when he returned home . Evidence of materials used to start a fire were found inside his grey Ford car .
Virus victim
The Nile virus has claimed its first victim of the year in Sevilla . The 73- old-woman was reported to have died last month as it was confirmed there are a number of others affected in the province . Mayors of municipalities in the area have accused the regional government of insufficient action to address the plague of mosquitoes which transmit the disease .
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