KERRY Katona is heading for a sex and sunshine break with her hunky new lover.

The blonde babe, who attended Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara ball last week, is flying out to hot spot Marbella in Spain with painter and decorator Adam Waldron.

‘significant increase’ in Latin American criminal gangs in Spain.

Twelve Ecuadorians, aged between 16 and 23 were arrested by National Police in Orihuela on Wednesday. At least six of those detained are believed to be a member of the ‘Latin Kings’ gang.

It follows a large street fight seen in the town which broke out at 1,30pm on Wednesday. Several alarmed locals phoned the police about the fight which was close to the Santo Domingo college in the city.

Several National Police cars went to the scene and cordoned off the area, so that later they could identify and detain those involved.

Those involved in the fight had come from Callosa de Segura in Alicante, from La Murada in Orihuela, and from Orijuela town centre, apparently to attend a party in the home of one of them. However it seems an argument turned into a fight on the street.

Police recovered several brass knuckles and other sharp objects linked to the Latin Kings. They say that at least six of the group has been arrested before and now they are at the disposition of the Minors’ Court or Instruction Court Number One in Orihuela.

It comes after the publication of a report from the National Police has warned this week about a ‘significant increase’ in Latin American criminal gangs in Spain.

General Rate – now 16% to rise to 18% in July 2010

The 4% rate – to be kept at 4% in July 2010
This is applied to items considered to be of basic need. It includes basic bread, frozen dough, eggs, cheese, milk, beans and fruit and vegetables.
Books, magazines and newspapers.
School material with the exception of electronic items.
Medicines for human use.
Vehicles for the disabled, wheel chairs and collective transport for the disabled.
Prosthesis and implants.
Official protection housing.

The 7% rate – to increase to 8% in July 2010
Foodstuffs in general, with the exception of those in the 4% band, soft drinks.
Animals destined for human consumption or breeding.
Items used in agricultural, farming and forestry activities, such as seeds and fertilisers.
Contact lenses and glasses.
Disabled lifts and items for the diagnosis of illnesses.
Health assistance services, social services, and dental work.
Imported artworks and antiques.
Hairdressing.
The handing over of housing, including garages and annexes.
House construction (between promoter and contractor).
Services supplied by artists and technicians.
Sports, cultural and recreational services, exhibitions and fairs.
Funeral services.
Hotel and restaurants, cleaning of streets and public gardens.
Rubbish collection.
Transport of passengers and motorway tolls.

The General Rate – now 16% to rise to 18% in July 2010
All other products, including alcoholic drinks, tobacco, animals used in bullfighting, agricultural machinery.
CD’s.
Devices for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancy.
Television and radio services.

We don't want the English who come over on cheap flights and do nothing apart from drink all day long

tourism chief in Jerez, Andalucía, famed for its sherry route, says the area no longer wants "downmarket" English visitors.
The destination, one hour from the Costa del Sol, is hugely popular with the over- 50s who go to sample local sherries and on wine-tasting trips.
Travel firm SAGA, which caters for older holidaymakers, offers "adventure" tours there.
But Jerez tourism chief Juan Manuel Garcia Bermudez said: "We don't want the English who come over on cheap flights and do nothing apart from drink all day long.
"We only want tourism that will enrich the area."
A British Consulate source in Jerez said there had been a few problems with drunken Brits.

Sacresa company was once the largest real estate company in Spain

The Sanahuja family has announced it will make an application for bankruptcy protection tomorrow, Tuesday, in what is Spain’s third largest insolvency ever, after Martinsa and Habitat.

The family own the Sacresa real estate company which is the largest promoter in Cataluña, and was once the largest real estate company in Spain when it took control of Metrovacesa.

Barcelona newspaper, La Vanguardia, is reporting Monday, that the company has not managed to find bank credits to refinance its debt which has been estimated to have reached 1.8 billion Euro. Reports indicate the pool of banks involved did not consider the company’s viability plan to be credible. The plan wanted to lose 30% of the debt by handing over assets to the banks.

Junta de Andalucía, which is presenting its own prosecution in the Malaya case, against the corruption uncovered in the Marbella Town Hall

Junta de Andalucía, which is presenting its own prosecution in the Malaya case, against the corruption uncovered in the Marbella Town Hall, has presented its written accusation against 95 people, including the man at the centre of the case, the ex Municipal Real Estate Assessor, Juan Antonio Roca.

It calls for a total of 40 years in prison for Roca and fines of more than 78.5 million €. It also wants to see a 67 year ban from holding any public office.

Europa Press reports that the 210 page document accuses Roca of bribery, perversion of the course of justice, misuse of public funds, falsification, altering the prices of tenders, influence peddling, disobedience, offences against Hacienda tax authorities, money laundering with some cases of continued laundering.

The Junta is requesting a 14 year jail sentence for the ex Mayor, Julián Muñoz, with a 600,000 € fine and a 32 year ban from holding public office, for continued charges of bribery, misuse of public funds, perversion of the course of justice.

Ex Mayor, Marisol Yagüe faces 17 and a half years in prison, a 4.8 million € fine and a 39 year ban from office, on charges of bribery, misuse of public funds, perversion of the course of justice and the altering of tender prices.

John Disley built his empire by running security on the doors of nightclubs in Manchester. He spends his time in Marbella on his £2million yacht

John Disley, 43, is a Bolton-born businessman who has been travelling to Spain for 14 years.
Dubbed the "King of Marbella", he knows everyone and understands the area better than anyone.
Worth half a billion Pounds in property and other business interests, Disley built his empire by running security on the doors of nightclubs in Manchester. He spends his time in Marbella on his £2million yacht with girlfriend Lucy Hesketh, 19.
Disley is liked by everyone in the area and invited The Sun to a meeting on his yacht, where he explained: "This place makes perfect sense for British criminals on the run.
"The international language of anything is English, including crime. Lads can come out here with no need to learn Spanish, the full English breakfast is on every corner, the sun's shining and there's money to be made.
"It's a dangerous life they lead and most don't survive. I always say - first you're in a Cortina, then you're in a BMW, then you're in jail.


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3032066/New-gangland-wars-in-Costa-del-Sol-prove-crime-is-booming.html#ixzz0sAxy0MT7

Bancaja and Caja Madrid will assure the provision of early retirement to about 3,400 employees

famous board of seven; yesterday approved a new protocol for their respective unions during a recent turn of events. Bancaja and Caja Madrid will assure the provision of early retirement to about 3,400 employees with its alliance.
The union is being led by Bancaja and Caja Madrid and it is considering a 13% reduction in the total workforce of the potentially large work group — these steps are necessary to keep the financial policies from collapsing.
In addition to cutting down on workforce, Bancaja and Caja Madrid are also getting rid of company branches and an announcement was made that over 500 outlets will be shutdown over the next few weeks.
The new company has recently emerged from the Alliance on Institutional Protection System between the two big societies with the Insular de Canarias, the Laietana and Avila, Segovia and Rioja. Mr. Javier Ariztegui – The Deputy Governor of the Bank of Spain said that the recent mergers that occurred at Bancaja and Caja Madrid have resulted in the approval of plans to cut the number of employees and different branches that have been “exceeding” our financial layouts.
Spain is going through one of the toughest financial times it has ever seen and organizations are looking for means to retain profits and stay on the break even line chart. Even if it takes for those companies to get rid of employees or cut down on branches, all steps are being taken to ensure a long term existence factor for any organization.

Mayor’s new “AM” magazine

PSOE party of Marbella has revealed the cost the government has spent on the printing of the Mayor’s new “AM” magazine, without counting the cost of distribution.
In the following six months, from July to December, 59,900 euros will be spent on printing the new AM magazine, an amount which breaks down to 9983.33 euros per month, according to figures released by PSOE’s secretary general Jose Bernal and secretary of communication of PSOE Andalusia, Francisco Conejo. And all this without even taking into account the cost of distribution.
Bernal further claims that the town’s Mayor, Angeles Muñoz, “is not concerned about the crisis, but merely for her image.” In the magazine “where her picture appears least it was counted 27 times.” All this while the city’s debt towards small and medium sized businesses and suppliers amounted to 23 million euros.
While most companies and institutions are adjusting their cost of advertising, Angeles Muñoz continues her campaign of waste, with the sole purpose of promoting her image. In February this year, Angeles Muñoz together with the Concillor of Tourism, Jose Luis Hernandez visited New York as part of a “promotional” tour to emphasize the economic potential of Marbella. The trip which allegedly cost 21,000 euros is yet to show the fruits it has bared. Opposition leaders question the effectiveness of the campaign as well as the declared costs.

Hague property developer Harry Hilders role in a massive property fraud

Hague property developer Harry Hilders has reached a €40m out of court settlement with the justice ministry and Philips pension fund in connection with his role in a massive property fraud, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Friday.

Hilders, one of the biggest private devleopers int he country, was suspected of bribing one of the directors of Philips pension fund in return for cut-price property transactions, a claim he has always denied.

The paper says Hilders and his company Ceylonstaete have agreed to pay €40m in order to escape prosecution, without admitting guilt. Hilders will also carry out a 120 hour community service sentence.

Some €25m will go to Philips' pension fund and the rest to the justice ministry. The deal is one of the biggest out of court settlements in Dutch legal history, the paper says.

Corruption

Corruption and bribery involving the directors of the Philips pension fund and project developer Bouwfonds are thought to have cost their employers a combined €250m.

The scandal came to light in 2007 when it emerged pension fund bosses had been taking bribes in return for passing on confidential information and had bought and sold property at below the market rates. The fraud had been under way since at least 1995.

A number of people are currently on trial in connection with the case

World Briefing - United Nations - Europe’s Cocaine Market Said to Grow - NYTimes.com

World Briefing - United Nations - Europe’s Cocaine Market Said to Grow - NYTimes.com: "world’s $88 billion cocaine market is shifting toward Europe and destabilizing transit countries in West Africa, even as total production falls, according to a United Nations report released Wednesday. Europe’s cocaine market is worth $34 billion, almost as much as that of North America, the world’s biggest consumer, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in its annual report."

Costa del Sol killer in plea for swap to British prison

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Costa del Sol killer in plea for swap to British prison: "Tony King, 45, received four terms totalling 62 years for the murders of two teenage girls and an attempted rape on the Costa del Sol.

Under Spanish law, he can only serve a maximum of 30 years.

Now his lawyers have asked the Spanish Justice Ministry to allow him to return to Britain to serve out his sentence.

Spanish officials will be consulted before any decision. Britain has to agree to take him. If he is transferred here, he will be treated as if his crimes were on UK soil. King moved to Spain in 1999 and in October of that year he stabbed Rocio Wanninkhof to death in Mijas Costa.

Four years later, he kidnapped and strangled 17-year-old Sonia Carabantes. He was held after his estranged wife Cecilia saw marks on his arms. The former barman was jailed over the killings in 2005."

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Costa del Sol killer in plea for swap to British prison

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Costa del Sol killer in plea for swap to British prison

retired Britons are at risk of seeing their homes demolished even though they bought them in good faith

Almanzora Valley as the association “Abusos Urbanísticos Almanzora - ¡NO!” announces more cases where retired Britons are at risk of seeing their homes demolished even though they bought them in good faith and are considered as victims by the court proceedings.

The latest case involves 9 houses purchased by British people in the area of La Hortichuela in Albox. In an abbreviated procedure in Court Number 2 in Huercal Overa the homeowners were offered the possibility of a private prosecution against the defendants. However, in addition to the penalties levied against the defendants, the prosecutor is also asking for the homes to be demolished. The Prosecutors charges relate to planning crimes, ‘prevaracacion’ (misconduct in a public office) and the failure to prosecute crimes.

AUAN president Maura Hillen asks “When will it end? How many more are there? How many more lives will we see destroyed?” She went on to say that in her view “We have only seen the tip of the iceberg. In reality the system has resoundingly failed and the innocent must pay the price”.

When asked, the lawyer for four of the affected families, Gerardo Manual Vazquez Nuñez said “Again, I have had to explain the situation to clients and again I see tears in their eyes. This is truly regrettable”.

prosecutor in the Malaya case has warned about case documents going missing

prosecutor in the Malaya case has warned about case documents going missing, with the anti-corruption prosecutors’ office calling for increased security for the evidence while it is in court.

Juan Carlos López Caballero says he fears that documents could vanish as has already been seen in the Ballena Blanca money laundering case, also based in Marbella. He fears that years of work could be lost.

In the Ballena Blanca case missing documents were found among the Malaya case documents and then deemed by the judge to be inadmissible after defence appeals.

The prosecutor has said he wants to see nearly all of the 584 page case summary read to the court when the hearing against the 95 people accused gets underway in Málaga on September 27, and he is also demanding that all the assets of the main accused, Juan Antonio Roca, be seized. The prosecutor has requested a 30 year prison sentence for Roca, with a 810.78 million € fine, on charges of money laundering, administrative perversion, misuse of public funds, fraud, passive bribery and other charges.

Roca's assets include 34 motor vehicles including two buses, a small plane, a helicopter, 72 fincas, 144 flats, a hotel, and two properties described as palaces. Roca is alleged to have directed a network which laundered some 245 million €.

MARBELLA LOOKS FOR SOLUTIONS TO LEGALISE PROPERTIES | Costa del Sol | Leader Newspaper - News, Sport, Advertising, Property, Classifieds - Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Calida, Costa de Almeria, Spain

MARBELLA LOOKS FOR SOLUTIONS TO LEGALISE PROPERTIES | Costa del Sol | Leader Newspaper - News, Sport, Advertising, Property, Classifieds - Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Calida, Costa de Almeria, Spain: "Marbella became a hotspot in the nineties and a lot of North-Europeans bought properties on the Costas in good faith, not realising that their houses were illegal and could be levelled to the ground at any time. Luckily, there is now a way out for those affected residents. The Junta de Andalusia and Marbella's town council have now initiated negotiations with real estate developers to agree on turning the houses into legal properties."

WRAPUP 1-Soccer-Crime rears head, Spain send shudder to rivals | Reuters

WRAPUP 1-Soccer-Crime rears head, Spain send shudder to rivals | Reuters: "Crime struck the World Cup on Wednesday when gunmen held up journalists after Spain proved their favourites' status with a 6-0 friendly win.
Two days before kickoff for the first World Cup on African soil, locals are pumping up the atmosphere with 'vuvuzela' trumpets and multi-coloured South African flags everywhere to be seen.
Robbers marred the party mood, however, and sent a reminder of South African crime levels rivalling anywhere outside a war-zone by raiding journalists from Portugal and Spain in a lodge at scenic Magaliesburg town, north of Johannesburg.
They rifled through rooms of sleeping reporters to steal equipment and cash. 'It was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me,' said Portuguese photographer Antonio Simoes, who woke up and was held at gunpoint."

Guardia Civil boat risked being “blown out of the water” | SpanishNews.es

Guardia Civil boat risked being “blown out of the water” | SpanishNews.es: "Spanish Civil Guard patrol boat (Rio Tomes), came close to the heavily armed warship – HMS Somerset and the incredibly fast patrol boat- HMS Sabre, on the evening of June 1st. The two Royal Navy boats carry out anti-terror activities on frequent basis, in an area, where usually there is a code red for possible terrorist attacks. Britain made a complaint at an official level to Spain, following the recent confrontation between the two countries around Gibraltar.
Due to the fading light, the 52ft Rio Tomes failed to spot the patrol vessel’s red, white, blue and yellow markings. Hence, Rio Tomes’ crew refused to identify themselves despite the repeated “requests” from the British Ships.
The Rio Tomes is usually deployed to stop illegal immigrants and drug smugglers from entering Spain, through North Africa. The British officials were furious when they learned about the recklessness of the Spanish ship and said that Rio Tomes was at the risk of being blown out of the water.
A reliable Navy Source told the “Gibraltar Chronicle” that racing towards an armed warship is a sign of madness, and moreover, it shows signs of irresponsibility and an incredible amount of risk. Spain has always refused to recognize the waters outside Gibraltar’s 3 mile port, as part of the British property, and has tried to reclaim them on repetitive basis."

British man abandons mother in Torrevieja hospital

British man abandons mother in Torrevieja hospital: "Torrevieja Municipal Police Force has registered an official complaint against a British man who has allegedly abandoned his 61-year-old mother in the local hospital, after taking her to the emergency department where she was found to be suffering from malnutrition and dehydration, showing no interest in eating.
Late last week, the hospital got in contact with the son to tell him that they were bringing his mother home, but when the ambulance got there, her son refused to take charge of her, and there was no option other than to take her back to the hospital, and the local police were informed.
They turned up at the man's home at the same time as a second visit by the ambulance and again they were met with a refusal from the son to take charge of his mother."

BBC News - Man held in Spain over death of Sarah Thomas in Surrey

BBC News - Man held in Spain over death of Sarah Thomas in Surrey: "man has been arrested in Spain in connection with the murder of a mother-of-three who was found stabbed at her home in Surrey.
The body of Sarah Thomas, 38, was discovered at a property in High Street, Nutfield, shortly after 1800 BST on 10 May.
Spanish police arrested David Baxendale in the tourist resort of Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol at 0300 BST."

36 year ban from public office, and an 810 million € fine for Juan Antonio Roca

Prosecutor is also calling for a 36 year ban from pubic office for the ex Municipal Real Estate Assessor in Marbella

The prosecutor has called for a 24 year prison sentence, a 36 year ban from public office, and an 810 million € fine for Juan Antonio Roca, the ex Municipal Real Estate Assessor in Marbella Town Hall, for his alleged role at the centre of the Malaya corruption case.

He is accused of continual money laundering, fraud, passive bribery and the misuse of public funds among other charges. The Prosecutor considers that Roca laundered some 240 million € over a ten year period, and the written accusation against him says that in real estate purchases alone he spent more than 136 million € between 1997 and 2005.

The prosecutor’s accusations run into 585 sheets, and have been presented to the Provincial Court in Málaga.

95 people are allegedly linked to the corruption and face charges in the hearings which get underway on September 27.

The Malaya case initially broke back on March 29 2006, when some 20 people were arrested in the first stage, including Roca and the then Mayor of Marbella, Marisol Yagüe. It’s become the largest ever corruption case based in a Town Hall in Spain.

PR-USA.net - June 2010 Property Market Report for Costa del Sol

PR-USA.net - June 2010 Property Market Report for Costa del Sol: "Probably the area where most deals are being done right now at property sales under €200,000 because this is where the best value is, The exception to the rule is the self confessed capital La Cala de Mijas where prices have held up that much more which is understandable if you have ever been to the area La Cala easily stands out as the best place to live along this part of the coast but not everyone will share that opinion but the property price tends to reflect that opinion as a whole. You can also buy some very nice villas is this particular area from around €400,000"

Britisher, has died after being shot while on a street terrace, from a passing large cylinder motorbike carrying two riders

26 year old has not been named in reports

A 26 year old man, reported to be British, has died after being shot while on a street terrace, from a passing large cylinder motorbike carrying two riders in Mijas. The victim has not yet been named.

Diario de Sevilla reports that it happened at 10,10pm on Saturday night at the British-run Lounge Bar, Terraza de Miraflores, in the Riviera del Sol Urbanisation, an area popular with drinkers. Reports say that at least six shots were fired in total, and that three of them hit the victim.

Health workers could do nothing to save the life of the victim who died at the scene from gunshot wounds to the head.
The judicial police of the Guardia Civil have opened a full investigation, with the first hypothesis considering the killing was part of a settling of scores.

This latest Costa del Sol killing comes just over a week after the so-called Irish Mafia , led by Christopher Kinahan, was broken up. His organisation was allegedly involved in drug and firearms trafficking and money laundering. Possible links to this new killing are being investigated.

Read more: http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_26314.shtml#ixzz0q4llnf00

SICKENED holidaymakers watched as boozy Spaniards tortured a young bull to death at a carnival.

SICKENED holidaymakers watched as boozy Spaniards tortured a young bull to death at a carnival.
They kicked and punched the helpless animal in Alhaurin el Grande on the Costa del Sol.
Ex-pat Colin Davies, 54, from Glasgow, said: "It was outrageous.
They had been out drinking most of the day then converged on the ring.
"Drunken morons jumped hoardings and began goading one bull, before it descended into chaos and the animal was attacked."
Government officials are investigating and have vowed to prosecute those involved.

Gored Spanish bullfighter remains in intensive care < Spanish news | Expatica Spain

Gored Spanish bullfighter remains in intensive care < Spanish news | Expatica Spain: "Top Spanish matador Julio Aparicio remains in intensive care a week after he was gored through the throat during a bullfight, the hospital which is treating him said Saturday.
The 41-year-old was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition on May 21 after the half-ton bull jabbed one of its horns through Aparicio's chin and back out of his mouth at Madrid's Las Ventas bullring.
Doctors at Madrid's October 12 Hospital performed surgery to reconstruct his jaw, tongue and the roof of his mouth and placed him on a ventilator.
In a statement, the hospital said Aparicio remained in the intensive care unit in serious but stable condition but was off the ventilator.
The matador comes from a well known bullfighting family and he was one of the top draws at the San Isidro bullfighting festival held each May at the 25,000-seat Las Ventas arena.
The injury happened as he was attempting the faena, a series of passes in which he uses his cape and sword before delivering the death blow to the bull."