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The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía
Vol. 7 Issue 168
www.theolivepress.es
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August 21 - September 4, 2013
ROCK OFF!
The increasing war of words between London and Madrid deepens as warships arrive and the queues continue to worsen
Hire win
Policeman wins money back as complaints grow against rental firm EXCLUSIVE By Alex Iszatt A BRITISH holidaymaker has won a rare victory against a controversial car hire company in Spain. David Evans, 50, successfully reclaimed his money from Brian’s Renta-Car after the company was found to have taken his deposit without good reason. The policeman, from Manchester, was awarded €480, plus a further €100, by his bank’s insurance company after it agreed he had a good claim. Evans had been stunned to discover that the hire firm, run by expat David Ballard, had kept the money. Ballard accused Evans of causing damage to the car, a claim which Evans has always denied.
BATTLE READY: HMS Illustrious (above) sails into the Med as Spanish protestors wave flags supporting their fishing fleet By Giles Brown THE most serious diplomatic crisis in decades between the UK and Spain continues to escalate over Gibraltar. Tensions that have been simmering over the past few weeks have come to a head as Madrid ordered more customs checks for vehicles coming into and out of Gibraltar, causing huge delays.
Armada
Tempers became more frayed when the British warship HMS Westminster visited Gibraltar while the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious headed to the Mediterranean.
Liar
MUMMY’S BOY
IT COULD have been a child’s first school play, with a proud mother watching, exhilarated from the crowd. It was, however, Enrique Iglesias, and he was staring in Marbella’s Starlite festival as part of his international tour. And perhaps it was a quick pep talk from his mum, Isabel Preysler, which caused a delay in the start of the singer’s concert. Over an hour late to the stage, he still managed to wow the crowds with classics Tonight, Escape and Dirty Dancer. Dressed down for the performance, Enrique threw aside all formalities as he headed into the crowd, letting the audience touch him, give him gifts and take pictures.
Read more on page 31
Earpiece Don’t let the Don’t let thein banks cash new size banks cash in 39mm www.hifx.co.uk www.hifx.co.uk xsee 50mm page 13
The deployment of several Royal Naval vessels was part of a long planned maritime exercise, but it prompted the Spanish media to proclaim that ‘Britain was deploying her Armada’. Meanwhile an Armada of a different sort set off from La Linea on Sunday, when 40 Spanish fishing vessels sailed to the site of the underwater reef that has proved the latest lowpoint in relationships between London and Madrid. Spain has threatened to
take its claim on Gibraltar to the United Nations while Britain called on the European Commission to send in monitors to check whether Spain’s actions on the border breach EU rules. On Monday the European Commission announced that it would send a fact finding mission to Gibraltar to verify the legitimacy of the border controls enforced by Spain. Madrid has also made other Turn to page 14
“We are extremely pleased to get the money back,” Evans told the Olive Press. “The company shouldn’t be able to take money without supporting documents.” “They told me my car was fine when they checked it at the airport, then I received a text telling me I damaged the car and they were keeping my deposit.” “This has proved what a liar David really is.” When contacted by the Olive Press, Ballard conSee page 5