News
Not hatred
Two protestors sentenced to prison and fined € 2,700 for burning photographs of King Carlos in Girona have had their sentences overturned by the European Court of Human Rights . The finding on the 2007 ruling says that their action was “ freedom of expression ” and not “ incitement to hatred .” Strasbourg has ordered Spain to refund their fines with interest and to pay € 9,000 in legal costs .
Tax cuts
Three million residents in the Madrid region are set to save € 125 million thanks to regional tax cuts . The proportion of their income tax which goes to the region will drop from 9.5 % to 9 % while succession taxes will be subject to discounts . The changes announced by regional president Cristina Cifuentes mean that Greater Madrid will have the lowest tax rates in Spain .
Blank cheque
Real Madrid ’ s Cristiano Ronaldo has offered the Spanish tax authority a blank cheque . Last year , he was accused of defrauding the authority of € 14.7 million . The Portuguese player does not admit to having committed a crime , but says will accept whatever amount the Hacienda says he owes , if the threat to imprison him is lifted .
Beached whale
A dead whale 15 metres long was washed up on a Barcelona beach last month . The coast at Montgat was sealed off “ for security reasons ” as preparations began to remove the 12 ton creature . It is reported to be a fin whale , an endangered species , which makes seasonal journeys to feed and reproduce .
Jellyfish alert
A warning has been issued about the presence of dangerous Portugese Man O ’ War jellyfish . They have been spotted washed up on Málaga ’ s La Malagueta beach and anyone finding them is advised not to touch the creatures , even if they are dead , as they can still deliver a severe sting . A number of beaches in Huelva and Cádiz have been closed because of their presence .
Cleaner caught
A cleaner at Málaga ’ s airport has been detained on suspicion of stealing two gold bracelets worth € 2,400 from a passenger . The jewellery had apparently dropped out of a bag as it passed through an X-ray security check and was later found by the suspect who failed to report it . The owner did not discover the bracelets were missing until her flight had taken off .
Trams back on track “ by summer ”
The trams running between Vélez- Málaga and Torre del Mar could be back on their tracks by the summer . The tranvía system has been suspended since June 2012 but the present administration at Vélez Town Hall has made its return a priority .
Mayor Antonio Moreno is reported to have commissioned a report analysing passenger demand , while municipal lawyers are preparing a document aiming to show that restoring the service will not require any substantial changes to the contract with the concession operator , Alsa . The company has previously demanded amendments to the existing agreement prior to any reopening .
The regional government said in January that it hoped an agreement with Alsa could be reached “ in the coming months ,” adding that it “ remains committed ” to underwriting 40 per cent of the operating deficit . However , what remains undecided is who will fund the € 1.5 million needed
The first fruit of last year ’ s twinning of a small Granada town with a similar municipality in Japan has come about with an agreement to swap olive oil and yuzu juice . Last October , Montefrío formed an alliance with Yasuda , a town of 2,600 inhabitants which lies in the south of the country and which has been visited by Granada ’ s deputy mayor , Agustin Garcia .
His journey to Japan reciprocated a visit from Yasuda ’ s mayor , and has resulted in the agreement to swap local produce . The move is also involving children from both municipalities corresponding with one another in English .
The yuzu ( pictured ) is similar in appearance to a grapefruit and can be yellow or green depending on its ripeness . The fruit , which is aromatic ,
for system repairs which are necessary after five years of disuse .
The last contact with the Junta de Andalucía was a visit from Felipe Lopez , Public Works Minister , in January and Vélez is reported to be waiting to have the necessary reports to hand before requesting another meeting . However , the prospects are bright with transport councillor Marcelino Méndez-Trelles confirming last month that it is the mayor ’ s intention that the trams can be running again by the summer .
Yuzu from Yasuda to Granada is native to China and Tibet , and was introduced to Japan during the Tang Dynasty .
In Japan , the yuzu zest is used to garnish while its juice is a common seasoning and is also used in sauces and vinegars . Yuzu has also been used extensively in the flavouring of many snack products including Doritos .
The twinning agreement has already seen olive oil from Granada sent to Japan , while the yuzu is expected to be seen soon in Montefrío ’ s restaurants and shops .
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