News
New hotel
A new 178-room four-star hotel with two restaurants and a swimming pool is to be built on the site of the old Andalucía cinema in Málaga . The € 14.3 million development by Inversiones y Adquisiciones de Hoteles SL of Madrid is expected to take two years to complete . Permission has been granted subject to the protection of the remains of a Muslim necropolis discovered on the site .
More arrivals
Passengers using high-speed AVE rail services between Málaga and Madrid rose by 2.7 % in the first half of the year . The total of over 1.2 million was 31,800 more than in the same period in 2017 . Data from Renfe show that 70 % of users made the complete journey between the two cities .
Fraudster caught
A Granada man is under investigation for breaking into empty homes in Torrox and Algarrobo , stealing valuables , deeds and keys , and then renting out or selling the properties . Investigators say complaints were received from a number of owners who returned after an absence to find strangers occupying their property . Objects taken in the robberies have been found for sale in shops in Málaga , Almeria and Murcia .
Metro extension
The extension of Málaga ’ s metro to the Hospital Civil seems certain to be routed underground as far as calle Hilera , and then on the surface to its terminus . This has been the subject of extended debate over many months and had been complicated by proposals to build a new hospital close to the Civil and Materno Infantil . Work is expected to start in the area of El Corte Inglés this month .
Pedestrian panic
The driver of a Land Rover caused havoc in Granada early one morning last month when he left a city nightclub and broke the parking area barrier before slamming his vehicle into the building . He then reversed and sped off down a pedestrianised street forcing two women to throw themselves out of his way . An iron fence and items of street furniture were damaged in the incident which is now under National Police investigation .
Sánchez sets out his vision
Spain ’ s new socialist prime minister has been outlining his plans for the immediate future . The address by PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez ( pictured right ) in Congress last month came 45 days after he took office following an historic motion of no confidence in the Partido Popular government of Mariano Rajoy .
Sánchez ’ speech focussed on democratic renewal , social policies and Spain ’ s position in the world . He announced a ban on future tax amnesties but reneged on his promise to publish the names of those who benefitted from the Partido Popular ’ s amnesty in 2012 . Controversially , the PM confirmed that the remains of Francisco Franco would soon be moved from their current site at the Valley of the Fallen outside Madrid .
On the subject of Cataluña ’ s demands for independence , Sr Sanchez talked of “ political alternatives which are worth exploring .” Earlier in July , he met the new Catalan leader , Quin Torra , and described their discussion as , “ frank and direct dialogue with the guarantees of the Catalan Statute and the Constitution .” Dialogue , he added , “ is not the same as yielding .”
Cristiano Ronaldo is reported to breaking almost all his ties with Spain after agreeing a deal with the Spanish tax authorities and signing a contract with the Italian champions Juventus .
He said to be selling his 4,000 square metre home , a € 4.8 million mansion in an exclusive district of Madrid , and moving his fleet of more than 20 cars to his home country of Portugal .
The conclusion of his negotiations with the taxman on four charges of tax fraud sees him paying an € 18.8 million fine and being handed a suspended two-year jail term . First offences for administrative crimes involving terms of two years or less are not custodial in Spanish law .
In a joint venture with Portuguese
He also emphasised the importance of the welfare state and the sustainability of the pensions system . “ Vocational training must play an important role ,” he said , “ and we want to create 20,000 subsidised housing units to be used indefinitely as rental properties .”
Sánchez , who had to do deals with smaller parties to enable him to win a majority in the no confidence vote , has made it clear that does not plan to hold a general election until the present term expires in 2020 . He says he needs time to “ normalise ” the country ’ s political life .
Ronaldo quits Spain
company Pestana , Ronaldo won a building license in Madrid earlier this year to convert one of Gran Via ’ s historic buildings into a 160-room luxury hotel with a roof-top bar . However conflicting media reports now make it unclear whether the project will go ahead or if it has been shelved .
Observers have suggested that Ronaldo became disillusioned with Spain , claiming he was being treated like a criminal despite voluntarily making attempts to put his tax affairs in order in 2014 with an additional payment of € 5 million .
The present tax regime in Italy will benefit him as he will be entitled to pay as little as € 100,000 tax annually on his huge earnings from around the world .
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