Gibraltar Navy Spat
Authorities in Madrid and Gibraltar gave differing versions yesterday of an incident in which a Spanish warship told commercial ships to leave anchorages near Gibraltar, the latest example of tension over the strategic port as Brexit approaches.
In toughly worded statements, Gibraltar said a Spanish warship ordered commercial ships to leave anchorages in British waters near Gibraltar, adding it was challenged by the British navy and sailed away, while the commercial ships stayed put.
The Spanish government said the commercial ships were in Spanish waters and they left the area after being contacted by the Spanish warship.
Neither side mentioned the nationality of the commercial ships.
Tensions over territorial waters often erupt between Spanish and British vessels around Gibraltar.
Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said a Spanish navy ship named Tornado was policing the area on Sunday in what he said was a standard procedure.
MEP’s Kicked out of Venezuela.
Venezuelan former president Nicolás Maduro has expelled European Members of Parliament from the country after they travelled to Caracas to meet with new leader Juan Guaidó.
Spain’s Esteban González Pons was one of the European Parliamentary team, and said “They’re kicking us out
Other Spanish MEPs retained and deported were deputy coordinator for the foreign affairs commission, deputy regional chairman for Central America and assistant secretary-general of the PP in Europe.
“The reason we’ve been given [for being deported] is that ‘Maduro does not want us here’,” González Pons told reporters.
Death Squad
TWO suspected members of a gang known as the ‘death patrol’ have been arrested by police in Barcelona after warnings were received that a murder was soon to take place in Malaga province.
The criminal group of Swedish citizens of Somali origin has reportedly been linked to drug trafficking, money laundering and settlement of accounts, and also crimes carried out in Stockholm.
One of the gang’s leaders, who was wanted for multiple crimes, was arrested in the area of Las Ramblas, after the tip off from Swedish police.
The other detainee, considered ‘very dangerous’, was reportedly part of a criminal group of assassins considered responsible for multiple murders related to drug trafficking in Sweden.
The arrested individuals were moving around Spain using fake documents and constantly changing their place of residence to avoid being caught.
The National court have initiated the transfer of the offenders to Swedish Authorities.