Murder Victim
THE victim of the Estepona kidnapping has been identified as a young Spaniard.
The 29-year-old, whose name has not been released, had a history of drugs and tobacco smuggling.
His body was found in Algeciras just hours after the kidnapping and gunshots on Tuesday Evening.
Police confirmed the corpse, which had been stabbed before being dumped, is that of the man who was bundled into a BMW Car in Estepona.
The victim’s appearance and tattoos matched witness statements from the kidnapping leaving police convinced it is the same person.
VAT/IVA
Spain’s minister of finance has announced that the VATor IVA on feminine hygiene products will be slashed from 10 to 4 percent.
The measure, which will be included in the next budget, has been introduced to reflect the fact that the items should be considered “essentials”.
The tax cut followed a pledge made by María Jesús Montero when she became a minister in the female-dominated cabinet appointed by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The tax reduction has long been campaigned for by women’s collectives.
Fake Goods
BENIDORM’S Independent Trade Association is blaming the proliferation of shops that allegedly sell fake goods as one reason for a fall in income during this summer.
Their feelings were passed over to Benidorm’s Mayor, Toni Perez at a recent meeting to discuss the problem that is concentrated in the Rincon de Loix tourist centre.
The association are asking the council to take the next step and revoke the opening licenses of those businesses that receive complaints about the alleged selling of fake items. Some have been reported up to 13 times and yet are still going unpunished.
New Migrant Rescue Boat
An Italian-flagged rescue ship has set sail for the migrant smuggling route in the central Mediterranean in the face of political moves by Italy’s populist government to shut down such operations.
The Mare Jonio, a former tug boat, has departed from the Sicilian port of Augusta.
The Mediterranea humanitarian group bought and equipped the 37-meter-long ship.
Italian Lawmaker Nicola Fratoianni, whose party backs the project, said the humanitarian operation wasn’t merely a provocation against Interior Minister Matteo Salvini’s refusal to allow rescue ships to dock in Italy.