IT is one of the most controversial developments in Andalucian history and for many has become synonymous with corruption and greed. By Wendy Williams and Jon Clarke Carved out of virgin woodland in stunning mountain scenery close to Ronda, developers behind the Los Merinos golf scheme became infamous around the world. Ignoring protection orders to [...]

THE EU is wading in to ban the barbaric practice of shark finning. By Amie Keeley The European Parliament is supporting a declaration to stop the process, that sees millions of sharks killed every year just for their fins. It comes after 50 per cent of MEPs signed a declaration for a ‘fins-attached’ policy, which [...]

BRITISH economist Nicholas Stern has been awarded a top environment accolade by Spanish Bank BBVA. The academic, behind the influential Stern Review, was handed the Frontiers of Knowledge Award on Climate Change. At the ceremony in London he revealed he underestimated the economic impact of global warming, perhaps by up to four times. “We estimated [...]

RESIDENTS and environmentalists have united to fight a plan to expand a dolomite quarry into virgin woodland near Coin. By Wendy Williams It comes after the Town Hall controversially gave its final approval to the project earlier this month. The developers, Prodomasa, want to extend the El Puntal quarry by 70 hectares. They claim it [...]

A HOTEL made entirely out of rubbish has opened in Madrid. Over 12 tonnes of debris recovered from Europe’s beaches was transformed into a five-bedroom hotel in the Plaze de Callao. It was designed and created by German artist HA Schult to highlight the environmental damage being caused to beaches all over the continent. Schult [...]

RESIDENTS have just one week left to voice their opposition to plans for a controversial motorway linking Ronda with the Costa del Sol. It comes as the IU party put in an official objection to the scheme that would see large parts of the Sierra Bermeja and Genal Valley carved up to make way for [...]

POLITICAL parties of all colours have united to oppose a ‘crackpot’ project that would see the world’s biggest train testing track open near Antequera. By Jon Clarke and Anatoly Kurmanaev Pressure group Antequera Habitable has joined forces with the three main parties in Mollina demanding that the scheme be scrapped. They are compiling a petition [...]

NEW research claims nuts make you put on weight. Healthy dieters who snack on nuts, seeds and dried fruit may be piling on the pounds without even realising. Nuts and seeds can contain lots of saturated fat and dried fruit is full of sugar. The SupermarketOwnBrandGuide website, who conducted the research, found that 100g of [...]

A SPANISH leg of ham has gone on sale for 3,600 euros in London’s Harvey Nichols. Ham producer Maldonado from Extremadura, launched a super premium line dubbed by the Financial Times as one of the world’s most expensive delicacies with another Jamón selling for 1,800 euros in Harrods. Maldonado says the unhurried method of production [...]

  CREEPING along the narrow exposed pathway hugging the El Chorro gorge I accidentally looked down through one of the glaring gaps in the concrete. EXCLUSIVE: By Anatoly Kurmanaev A river rumbled over 100 meters below me while a vulture, perhaps knowingly, circled overhead. It was absolutely terrifying and for a couple of seconds I [...]

MARBELLA Town Hall has rejected the government backed plan to search for oil and gas off the Costa del Sol. Mayor Angeles Muñoz considers the measure ‘diametrically opposed to tourism’, and has set her Conservative PP party against the measure. The mayor, who was voted in last year, insists it puts the environment of the [...]

THE plans for the proposed motorway linking Ronda with the Costa del Sol have now gone on display. Throughout January exhibitions will be held in Town Halls throughout the affected municipalities giving the public a chance to study the information and oppose the plans. The project, which aims to cut the travel time from Ronda [...]