Latest news with #SPANISH
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Spain holiday airport to FINALLY clear out crime-riddled homeless camp after tourists forced to dodge drugs and bedbugs
Prostitution, violence and public urination have all been linked to the rough sleepers SCARE-PORT CRACKDOWN Spain holiday airport to FINALLY clear out crime-riddled homeless camp after tourists forced to dodge drugs and bedbugs Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SPANISH airport is finally flushing out a crime-riddled homeless camp - but only after tourists were forced to dodge drugs and bedbugs. Barajas Airport in Madrid has been overrun by rough sleepers who gather en masse every night, plaguing the building and travellers with problems. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 A rough sleeper eats sitting on the floor of Terminal 4 at Barajas Airport in Madrid Credit: AP 6 Around 400 people hunker down on the airport floor each night Credit: Solarpix 6 The crowds of homeless are finally to be evicted from the airport Credit: AP An estimated 400 rough sleepers pile into Spain's largest airport each night - but will now all be evicted, the Spanish airport authority Aena said. The gatherings of people, often with drug and alcohol problems, earned Barajas the nickname "zombie city" - amid reports of violence and looting. Drug use, public urination and even prostitution are also said to be common - as reported by local tradespeople and the rough sleepers themselves. Spanish media reported in May that some of the occupants have been found with knives, machetes and other homemade weapons. Officials warned the nuisance residents to move on after a reception centre was set up to accommodate them. As the airport enforces the new rule against overnight stays, Madrid City Council has created 150 emergency places in the Latina district of the city. The Pinar de San José centre is equipped with beds, hygiene services, food and social care. An Aena spokesperson said: "The decision to act on the situation in Barajas responds to a reality that has been visible for months: the stay of dozens of homeless people, mostly migrants or asylum seekers, who had begun to use the airport facilities as a night shelter, especially during waves of extreme cold and heat. "This situation generated both humanitarian concern and operational problems for the proper functioning of the airport." Aena says the airport cannot and should not become an overnight space for vulnerable people, as it does not have the resources or capacity to do so. Major Brit holiday airport fumigated after infestation of BEDBUGS with passengers & airline staff reporting itchy bites The statement continued: "The objective is to avoid situations of risk, lack of protection and chronification, through direct intervention, social monitoring and orientation to stable resources of the social services system". The authority will soon begin to officially warn any stragglers in Barajas that they must leave. They will be directed to the new homeless centre in the city. The eviction process will be conducted in collaboration with social professionals to "ensure empathetic and effective communication, in accordance with the vulnerability of the group", Aena said. Rough sleeps can be found occupying mattresses and cardboard beds onto the hard floor, while others simply curl up next to the walls surrounded by their belongings. Many of the inhabitants can also be seen sprawled across the chairs in the waiting areas of the terminal. 6 The rough sleepers will be directed to a new homeless shelter set up in the city Credit: Solarpix 6 Bed bugs - which leave itchy red marks like this - were reported at Madrid airport and it was fumigated Credit: Getty One shocking video clip even showed that a homeless man had occupied an airport lift and turned it into his bedroom. Barajas had to be fumigated in May after a outbreak of bedbugs, possibly linked to the homeless population. Footage showed various bugs - including cockroaches, ticks and fleas - crawling around the airport, and workers posted evidence of the bites. Aena was forced to call in the pest-control team to blast several zones including hallways, furniture, and even check-in belts. A similar situation affects other Spanish airports - including Malaga and Tenerife south.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Spanish league deepens roots in Malaysia with grassroots, sponsorship
SPANISH football league Laliga is stepping up its presence in Malaysia with a focus on long-term sponsorship and grassroots development. At the Laliga Extratime Malaysia 2025 event, strategy for partnerships with local industry players were outlined. This included plans to nurture young talent through structured academies and youth tournaments. The event brought together stakeholders from the sporting, commercial and media sectors for panel discussions. Topics included sponsorship opportunities and the future of youth football in the country. Two themed panels were held where one was on sponsorships, featuring representatives from Laliga, Astro, Ampersand Sports, Milo Malaysia, Grab and Selangor FC. The second panel was on stakeholders in grassroots football, with speakers from Laliga Academy Malaysia, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), JDT FC Grassroots, Villarreal Academy Malaysia, Sambill Park and RCD Espanyol. The event was attended by FAM representative Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan and Spanish Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Luis Pardo. Laliga head in Malaysia Adrian Prol said the league had seen its commercial turnover rise from €74mil (RM368.5mil) to over €160mil (RM796.8mil) in seven years, crediting this growth to global sponsorships that increased brand recognition. 'In Malaysia, one of our main objectives is to secure new sponsorships that become long-term local partners, not just one-off collaborations,' said Prol. 'We are particularly interested in industries such as energy, watches, airlines, finance and insurance. 'At the same time, we remain flexible in adapting our sponsorship model to meet mutual goals with each partner.' Prol added that partnerships with clubs and broadcasters were key to building sustained engagement. On the grassroots front, Laliga has completed over 840 youth football projects in 57 countries, involving over 800 Laliga coaches, 25,000 local coaches and 240,000 young players. Malaysia is home to one of eight Laliga academies worldwide – the Laliga Academy Malaysia – which trains players aged eight to 18 using the Laliga methodology under technical director Diego Gutierrez. In addition, Malaysia hosts both the Laliga Youth League and the Laliga Youth Tournament that help raise the competitiveness of local talent. At the event, organisers also announced that the fifth edition of the Laliga Youth Tournament will take place July 11-13 at Universiti Putra Malaysia in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. Local project partner Sambill Park confirmed the participation of over 70 teams from nine countries, including China, India and Pakistan. 'Laliga is recognised globally for its commitment to grassroots football,' said Prol. 'Our clubs' youth academies are consistently among the best in the world, as seen with Villarreal CF and RCD Espanyol, who are participating this year. 'We remain strongly committed to developing football around the world, and we are pleased to once again host the Laliga Youth Tournament in Malaysia.'
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Atletico Madrid agree deal for Argentina international Almada
SPANISH football club Atletico Madrid announced Tuesday an agreement with Brazilian outfit Botafogo to sign 2022 World Cup winner Thiago Almada. 'Our club and the Brazilian side have reached an agreement, pending confirmation once the player passes the required medical examination and signs the contract,' the La Liga outfit posted on social media. The 24-year-old Argentinian spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, where he scored two goals and laid on five assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for the French club. Almada has 10 caps for his country, and was part of their World Cup-winning squad in Qatar. He also represented Argentina in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The right-footed attacking midfielder came through the ranks at local side Velez Sarsfield, where he made his professional debut in 2018 at the age of 17. He joined MLS side Atlanta in 2022, being voted best rookie in the league after his first season. Almada's form earned him a move to Botafogo last summer. He made 26 appearances for the Rio de Janeiro-based club, winning the Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores, before heading off on loan to Lyon in January.
The 42
09-07-2025
- The 42
Carlo Ancelotti sentenced to a year in jail for tax fraud - but will not serve any prison time
A SPANISH COURT on Wednesday sentenced former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to a year in jail for tax fraud committed in 2014, a punishment that will not oblige the Brazil coach to serve prison time. 'We condemn Carlo Ancelotti, as the author of an offence against the treasury… to the punishment of one year in prison' and a fine of €386,361 euros, the Madrid court wrote in a ruling. Advertisement – © AFP 2025
The Irish Sun
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Spain hol chaos latest after fuming locals threaten to BLOCK busy airport amid protest mayhem & ‘tourist go home' alert
SPANISH union bosses have issued an update after threatening to launch strikes in hotels across the Balearic Islands this month. The unions 7 Demonstrators take part in a protest against mass tourism in Palma last month Credit: AFP via Getty Images 7 Protests against overtourism have erupted across Spain since April 2024 Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images 7 Spanish union bosses threatened to blockade Palma's busy airport later this month Credit: Getty Images And hotels, restaurants and clubs in the The unions announcement yesterday of chaos-causing demos in airport arrivals and departures led to last-minute talks with employer representatives and a 13.5 pay increase offer union bosses accepted. And, just hours after threatening to blockade the airport on July 10, union bosses confirmed they have called off the Balearic Islands hotel strike that was due to affect Irish holidaymakers. UGT Balears, one of the two main unions behind the planned walkout over five days in July, confirmed overnight: "The strike in the hotel and catering sector has been called off following the pre-agreement between us and hotel bosses for the new collective agreement. READ MORE IN TRAVEL 'Salary increase of 13.5 per cent in three years, the largest increase in the history of the Balearic Islands." The Majorca Hotel Business Federation confirmed around the same time: "An agreement in principle has been reached and the UGT has agreed to desist from the strikes it had announced and cancel them." Second union CCOO is now expected to come on board along with employer representatives in the bar-restaurant and nightclub sectors which would also have been affected by strikes although to a lesser degree. The final agreement sealing the eleventh-hour deal is expected to be signed next week. Most read in News Travel The airport blockade threat is thought to have been key to the decision of unions and hotel employer representatives in Majorca to start negotiating again after the breakdown of talks and strike announcements last Thursday. Emergency alarm raised at Majorca airport after roof collapses The UGT announced around midday yesterday a demonstration at Palma airport would take place on the first day of planned strike action on July 10 'in both the departures and arrivals areas.' It added in a statement: 'The aim is to 'block these accesses' to the Balearic capital's aerodrome.' It also announced demonstrations in other key tourists areas including Walkouts involving an expected 180,000 hotel and catering sector workers in The salary rise over three years will see workers get six per cent extra this year, four per cent next and 3.5 per cent in 2027. 7 Hotel workers in the Balearics earn less than the average hospitality worker in Spain Credit: Getty Images 7 Protesters chant slogans at tourists as National Police officers stand guard in Palma Credit: REUTERS/Francisco Ubilla Last week an eleventh-hour deal was announced to avert the threat of hotel strike action in The lifting of the strike threat in the Balearic Islands is not expected to impact on A massive anti-tourist demonstration took place in Around 100 noisy activists banging drums surrounded upmarket eatery Cappuccino Borne next to a McDonald's in the centre of Palma after their protest finished. of dining tourists and chanted "go home" and "go to hell ". Police moved in to ease tension as the demonstrators held up cardboard posters reading: 'As You Come, I Have To Go.' The protestors also chanted ''The Streets Will Always Be Ours', Go Home' in English and 'No Balconing' in a reference to the young tourists who have traditionally been blamed by islanders for the dangerous practice of jumping from Magaluf hotel balconies into their swimming pools or trying to climb between balconies while under the influence of drink and drugs. The Balearics Islands Government vice-president Antoni Costa said afterwards their behaviour had been 'unacceptable.' 7 The streets of Majorca have seen a number of protests against overtourism since the start of the year Credit: REUTERS/Francisco Ubilla 7 Demonstrators hold 'For sale' signs during a protest against mass tourism in Palma last month Credit: Getty Images
