Mallorca Olive Press - Issue 75

G IN T RA B E L CE

The

OLIVE PRESS Crippling MALLORCA

TWO SPANISH HEROINES: One who escaped Franco to another whose infamous name has been adopted by a train station

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voice in Spain

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PAY UP FOR TOM! UK PRIME Minister Boris Johnson is set to grill Spain over the tragic, ‘preventable’ death of a teenager in Mallorca.

He will demand answers over how Tom Channon, 18, was able to fall to his death in Magaluf.

The Welsh lad, who had just completed his A-levels, fell seven floors at the Eden Roc complex in July 2018.

Disgracefully the only barrier keeping people safe was a knee-high wall, and another British holidaymaker had fallen to his death in the same spot just weeks before.

At an inquest last year, UK coroner ruled the teenager’s death could have been easily prevented by putting up a fence. But, despite now finally putting a fence up, the authorities in Spain have been slow to come forward with damages for Channon’s family.

His parents are also demanding prosecution for gross negligence manslaughter and are taking civil proceedings.

By Isha Sesay

THE tourism sector has been crippled by the spread of the coronavirus in Mallorca with ministers fearing the worst for the economy.

A series of hotel chains have decided to delay opening at Easter, as the sixth confirmed case of COVID-19 emerged on the island.

It comes after a significant drop in bookings and a number of flight cancellations.

Mallorca-based Barcelo and Be Live Hotels confirmed they’re feeling the effects of the epidemic and room reservations for the Holy Week and in the summer had fallen badly.

Alarmingly, a number of tourists who had booked villas for the summer have already cancelled, the Olive Press can reveal.

Expat-run Look Mallorca confirmed it had seen FIVE bookings cancelled in June alone over fears the health crisis will worsen.

“All five were for luxury villas and all five have been cancelled by families scared about catching the virus while on holiday” revealed a spokesman.

“We are deeply worried that there will be more which will really affect our core business this year,” she added.

Preventable

After the family’s Welsh MP Alun Cairns stepped in to demand action in Parliament this week, Johnson waded in to help. “I’m sure the house will join with me in expressing our deepest sympathies with Tom’s family and friends,” he said during Prime Minister’s Questions. He added he would help to ‘seek justice for Tom’ and would call in the foreign office in the first instance.

MP Cairns added: “Tom died in an accident that was totally preventable and avoidable.”

It was exactly five weeks after Tom Hughes from Wrexham fell to his death at the same site in similar circumstances.

Yet nothing had been done to make the area safe.

Impact

Bandits, Moors and goats... the perfect holiday escape?

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Find out on page 18

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ERASED: Controversial

No more mural

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art

A MURAL protesting tourism has been painted over with controversy in Soller.

In 2016, artist Soma painted the mural titled 'tourism engulfing Mallorca' – a large snake resenting tourism, eating replorca and pooing out the Maltrash that's left behind.

The mural has stood for the last three years, but just four after the Popular Party days took over the Soller government was painted over with white. it The local PP, now headed Carlos Simarro, has said by 'there is no special motive'that for erasing the mural.

The town plans to paint a map of Soller on the wall instead.

voice in Spain

Vol. 3 Issue 57 www.theolivepress.es June 21st - July 4th 2019

British teen’s death after from Magaluf apartmentplunging preventable’ coroner sayswall ‘was

Opinion Page 6

Proud to be expats

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The President of the Palma Hotel Association, Javier Vich, believes the impact on the economy is unquestionable and is set to worsen. “This situation directly affects businesses in the whole of Mallorca,” he said.

The Mallorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM) added that there would be a knock-on effect on employment with the majority of temporary contracts now postponed to start from April to the summer.

“We depend on tourism to exist and are being harmed by this epidemic which will have a direct impact on hiring workers,” said Maria Jose Aguilo.

A number of events and conferences have already been cancelled, including the XV Congress of the Spanish Society of Glaucoma, which was scheduled to take place at the Palacio de Congresos this week.

More than 400 ophthalmologists from across the world were scheduled to attend and its suspension is said to have taken organisers completely by surprise.

It was ordered by the Ministry of Health, with officials claiming they wanted to avoid having a large number of medical personnel in one place at one time.

SIMPLE STEPS

THE death of a British teen plunged from a Mallorca who apartment wall ‘could have been vented’, a coroner has said. preHolidaymaker Thomas Channon, 18, died from ‘catastrophic injuries’, the third fatality Magaluf resort in the sameat the celebrated finishing their AThe teen, from Rhoose, year. levels.

Vale of Glamorgan, fell in the The tragedy, in July 2018, saw knee-high wall during a over a the new graduate fall 15 metres, to Mallorca with pals, holiday before being found dead in the as they courtyard at the Eden Roc com-

AN overwhelming majority of our readers are not offended by the term That’s the initial result of our ‘expat’. poll which asked ‘Do you find online of the word 'expat' to describethe use and foreign nationals living in British Spain offensive?’

The vote came after a barrage to the newsdesk complained of emails of the Olive Press’ use of the word, requesting that it be switched out for ‘resident’ or ‘immigrant’.

However a snapshot of our readers’ opinions revealed that two thirds were not bothered by the term.

On our Facebook poll, there have so far been 881 votes.

Out of those, 656 said ‘no’, while 223 said ‘yes’.

The results were repeated on Twitter, 16/06/2017 where15:36 68% of 80 votes said they did not find the term offensive.

TYPICAL EXPATS: Brits and

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Vol. 3 Issue 75 www.theolivepress.es March 6th - March 19th, 2020

Channon’s death came around a month after Tom Hughes, 20, from Wrexham, also fell to his death at the apartment block.

An inquest in Pontypridd that Channon may have found ‘intoxicated and fatigued’ been he returned from a nightafter out and fell seven floors.

Coroner Graeme Hughes however add: “I do not find did was ridiculously drunk or Tom out of control.”

A post-mortem revealed young lad was twice the the legal drink-drive limit, after he had been watching Croatia beat England in the World Cup. The student of St David’s College in Cardiff was found to have died from blunt force injuries to the trunk,including pelvic frac- RIP: Channon tures. died on holiday Hughes added: “It is absolutely fallen some distance. He tragic that simple steps of has ing the temporary fence erect- sustained catastrophic injuwere ries.” not instigated following Thomas Channon’s mum Ceri said Hughes’ death in June 2018. inquest she was glad that at the “These simple steps would there have, had been ‘recognition’ in all probability, prevented that her Thomas Channon from meeting son’s death could have been prevented. his death on July 12 2018.

The inquest heard that “For reasons unknown, ‘steel he has bollards’ are now travelled beyond the wall in place at the and complex.

Mallorca’s tourist season at risk from spread of coronavirus as major events cancel and tourists scrap summer holidays

DESERTED: Mallorca restaurants under threat It is hoped that no further events are cancelled at the centre.

Globally, the virus is set to have a huge impact on tourism, with the International Air Transport association estimating losses of €26 billion in 2020.

Travel analyst Ralph Hollister from GlobalData, said: “If the virus is still having the same impact by the end of April, cancellations could start to increase at a rapid rate as consumers deem the risk to their health to be greater than their need for a holiday.”

Director of the European Travel Commission Eduardo Santander added: “The impact on European tourism will be massive - we’re talking about big losses.”

Opinion Page 6

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TRAVEL INSURANCE for Spanish residents www.globelink.co.uk 96 626 5000 +44 (0) 1353 699082

PLUS: The opinions of eight leading ladies in Spain to celebrate WE CAN DO ANYTHING! A International Women’s Day 23

A special four-page pullout

March 2020

www.theolivepress.es

N equal world is 1911, so now in a new cenan enabled world. tury and a new decade are Over a century after This is the theme of we making International Women’s Day a difference?

International Women's Day 2020. On March At first glance, it’s easy to first started, Karen Livermore 8 the spotlight turns to wo- say yes. There’s something asks, are things really any men throughout the world in the air that feels like real who are striving for gender change. The #metoo and better in 2020? #timesup movements were parity in the workplace, media giants, companies, in a palpable moment unpalatable men from where their businesses, in sports, women were not only being politicians and stars. Be- positions, but the their in culture and arts, and views ing male, rich and powerful in heard, but their voices they represent, from public were was suddenly no their communities. longer a acceptance. powerful. They were calling The movement started in out previously untouchable shield. Out of it has come a Things that matter to and real effort to shift, not only affect women, are finally

getting heard, and action women is still alarming. Last is being taken. But there is still so far to go. We may be year was a dark 12 months celebrating the downfall of in Spain with 55 women kiHarvey Weinstein, and the lled either by partners or ex shaming of Placido Domin- partners. The highest figure go over his admission of se- since 2015. It's not the only xually harassed women, but country where these figuin Saudi Arabia women are res are rising. However, in a disturbing move the Vox still high fiving their right to own a passport without the party is lobbying for cuts in funding to combat genconsent of a male guardian.

Gender violence against Continues overleaf

We needed to change the work culture

Women on the frontline in Spain

Let’s raise a glass to celebrate national Women’s Day 2020 Interor, as we say in Spain, Día Internacional de la Mujer. Ten women in all walks of life share theirSpain from views and inspirational stories

that we needed to change the work culture and in doing so society if we wanted to see advances in the field of equality.

“Since then these ideas have been reflected in the equal opportunity policies that we first pushed for in Banesto, then in Santander in the UK and more recently in the Santander continued. “In that speechgroup as a whole,” she I emphasised the benefits of diversity in the company.

And with data in 2015, she was also awarded from different studies, I explained that having the first Award for Responsible more women in managerial positions, apart from taking the helm the year before. Capitalism after being fair, was good for business.

Besides talent, Ana, 59, is also a pioneer.

The first woman to run women bring skills to business that complement a major European bank, she’s those of men – better interpersonal communicaon the Forbes’ list of World’s been ranked eigth tion, cooperation, horizontal men. Within her corporation, Most Powerful Wo- city to really listen as well thinking and a capaas more empathy and has made a point of boosting this financial whizz the ability to prioritise.” female direction, ai- Botín has also introduced ming for 30% of its CEOs a life-work balance (they currently account forto be women by 2025 scheme because, ‘one of the aim is technical equality, 20%). Beyond 2025, tunities lies in domestic the keys to equal opporwork.’

40% ratio, irrespective of which means a 60%- She said: “For men to increase In an article she publishedgender. responsibility, we need public their share of this policies that allow in response to a debate overon her LinkedIn page for greater flexibility in the workplace.” tials, she wrote, “I have spenther feminist creden- Ana is adamant there will be no discrepancy in years as an executive; years in which I have seen enough to know salaries between male and female staff members that in general women don’t taking on equal responsibility in a banking instituspeech delivered to a room get a fair deal… In a tion that is ranked 16th in the world. in 2008, I talked about the full of men in Bilbao Forbes magazine also notes importance of women that Botín has a poacting with more confidence licy of ‘backing small companies in ourselves and owned and companies by women’.

Ana Botín, President of the Santander banking group

ot only was Ana Botín N dame by Queen Elizabeth made an honorary II for services to the Financial sector

See series of special Womens Day features inside

2

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Sick attack POLICE have arrested a minor for allegedly sexually abusing a child in the middle of Palma’s Ses Estacions Park before the young girl was followed home and attacked again outside of her family home.

Under-age A POLICE probe has been launched after a porn video featuring minors was shared on WhatsApp among 12 to 13-year-old schoolchildren in Palma.

Deadly fall THE woman who fell to her death in Palma last week was being monitored by the Policia Nacional after making repeated complaints of abuse by her ex-partner who had previously threatened to ‘throw her out of the window.’

Dirty two dozen

A ROLLCALL of public officials and police officers are finally facing justice in the biggest corruption trial in Mallorca’s history.

The group of 24 all face years in prison for their involvement in the so-called Caso

By Gillian Keller

Cursach.

In damning claims they are said to have taken numerous bribes, including cash, drugs and sex, in return for

Trial set to begin against the nightclub king and 23 dirty cops favours to nightclub mogul Bartolome Cursach.

A total of 160 witnesses are

No perfect match!

A FINANCIAL advisor ‘seeking work’ on the Costa Blanca has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

UK police are probing whether Charlie McEntee better known as ‘Ascot Char-

By Joshua Parfitt

lie’ for a racy dress worn at the famous racecourse stole designer watches from an ex-lover’s house.

Essex Police arrested the

On your bike A MAN and his teenage son have been arrested by police for a string of bike thefts in Mallorca where the father was caught red-handed attempting to break an antitheft padlock.

March 6th - March 19th 2020

INFAMOUS: ‘Ascot Charlie’ on the Sun´s front page and (above) today

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49-year-old as she landed at Stansted Airport from Alicante on Valentine’s Day last month.

They are investigating the alleged burglary of a home she had been sharing with property developer John Carey in Essex.

It comes after Carey also claims she stole a €140,000 house deposit for a home they were buying on the Costa Blanca.

The pair, who were renting a €300,000 villa in Murla, in the Jalon valley, split up after he heard a series of allegations about her.

He was particularly upset that she had been married six times before and that she had apparently taken a deposit he had given her to buy a villa in Spain.

“She assured me that a house purchase was on track and to leave financial matters to her,” he told the Sun. “But everything changed in November last year when a letter revealed she had been married six times since 1992.

Aggressive

“It contained some serious allegations. She instantly turned aggressive and I asked for my €140,000 deposit back.”

After failing to track her down, Carey - who met McEntee on dating site Match.com - went to both UK and Spanish police to seek justice for the respective losses.

She is also allegedly facing further probes over a theft at a care home and is locked in a legal battle with another ex-husband.

The problems could damage her plans to work as a financial advisor on the Costa Blanca.

One local source, who works in finance, revealed that she had been looking to ‘semi retire and work part-time’ here.

He said she wasn’t the sort of woman you’d want handling your money.

McEntree is a director of her own financial firm, Lecrin Wealth Management Ltd, based out of Essex, having previously worked for Doyne Ditmas Limited.

It is unknown if Lecrin Wealth has any connection to the Lecrin region of Granada, where various other financial advisors are based.

McEntee’s Spanish lawyer Ignacio Pellicer insisted the claims are all ‘lies’ and the ‘deranged rantings’ of ‘psychotic ex-partners’ and a ‘jealous brother’.

set to give evidence against the so-called ‘King of the Night’ Cursach, as the case moves to trial.

Judge Enrique Morell issued orders for the trial to start against Cursach for bribery, corruption and coercion, as well as belonging to a mafia gang.

He faces eight years in prison, along with a 15-year ban from working in the hospitality industry, as well as a €60,000 fine.

Accusations of extortion, threats and other more serious offences will be tried later.

For now, the courts will tackle Cursach and his business partners, including Bartolomé Sbert and Director of Tito’s nightclub Jaime Lladó.

The ex-chief of Palma Local Police Juan Miguel Mut is accused of accepting bribes, including drugs and prostitutes at Cursach’s nightclubs.

Another 13 police officers are also accused of similar crimes, with many said to have made more money from Cursach than they did their police paychecks.

Meanwhile former Balearics tourist boss Pilar Carbonell is accused of accepting bribes, alongside other government employees around the islands.

Judge Morell aims to prove that Cursach bribed government officials and police to benefit his businesses from 2000 until 2016.

In some of the worst abuses of power, police and officials allegedly moved against rival nightclubs and businesses.

Vox politician resigns over gender violence A VOX politician has resigned after being investigated for a domestic assault on his partner.

Far right senator Juan Ros is accused of attacking his partner, who was hospitalised in the incident.

The Ceuta leader, 63, denies the accusations and maintains that his wife merely fell down the stairs.

Police found the victim at the home they shared in Alhaurin, near Malaga.

She showed signs of violence and traces of blood.

Train

While she refused to file a complaint, Malaga’s Domestic Violence Court is now probing the case, with Ros ordered to stay more than 500m away from her.

The former doctor insisted he could prove he was not in Alhaurin at the time, and got home after taking a train from Madrid to find her lying on the floor having taken a blow to the head.

He has no prior records for gender violence.

Ros was only elected senator for Ceuta last November with 34.55% of the votes.

He has a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Granada.

Arsonists on the loose again BIN arsonists appear to have returned to Mallorca’s streets after two blazes in less than 24 hours.

A police probe has been launched following rubbish containers being set alight in Palma, as well as a car two days later.

Investigators believe that the same individual is behind the offences and are now appealing for information from the public to bring the responsible person to justice.

SICKO!

A MAN has been arrested after allegedly raping a 79-year-old disabled woman with Alzheimer’s Disease.

The 68-year-old defendant, who also lives at the care home, was caught by a nursing assistant at Palma’s Bonanova Nursing Home.

The victim was unaware of what was happening to her and not able to defend herself due to her condition.

Drinking bus drivers AN alarming one in five Mallorca bus drivers have been caught breaking the law behind the wheel.

At least two drivers were caught over the limit, when a nationwide campaign inspected the drivers of 262 vehicles last month.

In total, 45 buses faced infractions including a lack of insurance, and a few without ITV tests.

Cop nicked for murder A LOCAL policeman has been accused of the violent murder of an 83-year-old for her €1.5 million inheritance. The woman died after allegedly falling down the stairs of her home in Madrid while she was in the sole care of the policeman. The officer was tasked with the 24-hour care of the lady and despite not being a direct relative, was due to inherit her €1.5 million fortune once she passed away.

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Rapprochement?

REPUBLICAN vice president Pablo Iglesias has been snapped for the first time alongside Spain’s favorite thrifty royal, Queen Letizia.

Iglesias’ Podemos party is known to be anti-monarchy but that didn’t stop the pair sharing a flight to attend the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards. The queen, who reigns alongside Felipe VI, donned a chic green pant suit for the occasion.

NEWS

OUT OF CONTROL COURT proceedings have begun this week after the former King of Spain, Juan Carlos’ ex lover Princess Corinna zu SaynWittgenstein claimed nearly a decade of harassment and intimidation from the Spanish government.

Last song SPAIN has cancelled opera star Placido Domingo’s concerts over sexual misconduct allegations.

The disgraced 79-year-old singer has had his next performance cancelled by Spain’s Ministry of Culture, as he battles allegations by fellow performers and assistants. The Government made its position clear by banning the singer from the performance of operetta Luisa Fernanda at the Zarzuela Theatre in Madrid on May 14 and 15, pledging its support for the women who have been affected by the allegations.

Former king’s ex-lover takes government to court for ‘mental torture’ after break in at UK home

Events came to a head back in June 2017 when the German philanthropist’s luxury home was subject to a mysterious break in.

A housekeeper at the €6 million Chyknell Hall in Shropshire awoke to notice a perfectly circular hole cut in an upstairs window allowing intruders inside, but nothing damaged or taken.

Police were dumbfounded, but for Corinna it was just the tip of the iceberg of what has been nearly a decade of mental torture.

Corinna claims that Spanish secret agents, acting with immunity on British soil, are seeking to ‘injure’ her life by using intimidation, death threats, home intrusion and high finance.

The 55-year-old claims that the Spanish Secret Service (CNI) believes that she holds important state secrets.

Among her claims, she believes that Spain has been behind numerous attempts to spread ‘fake’ news about her, attempts to brainwash her children into thinking she is corrupt and bugging and disabling of personal electronic equipment including a panic button in her bedroom.

One of the most high profile examples was the leaking of her five-year affair in 2012 with the former King of Spain Juan Car-

March 6th - March 19th 2020

3

los after a controversial hunting trip to Africa.

After this she allegedly began experiencing her harassment campaign.

She was trailed by Spanish speaking men while on a business trip to Brazil and also saw her Monaco apartment occupied by French and Polish mercenaries which she believes were there to steal documents.

The Spanish government claimed that these men were there to protect her but she feared the worst.

“I was in constant danger,” she explained. “At first, I thought these men were going to throw me over the balcony.”

She also claims that she was personally threatened and blackmailed by members of the CNI and that a book on the death of Diana Princess of Wales was placed on a coffee table of her apartment followed by a mysterious phone call stating in Spanish.

“There are many tunnels between Monaco and Nice.”

Corinna believes that the events stem from political infighting within the Spanish government, and that they believe she knows more than she should from her time spent with the now 82-year-old former King.

The case in the UK will be led

by James Lewis QC, who is currently prosecuting Julian Assange and Corinna will be represented by lawyers Kobre & Kim who have written personally to Home Secretary Priti Patel and Dominic Raab to warn them of a possible diplomatic row over events.

Bond ambition

Worlds collide

BEFORE making her name in Tinseltown, ambitious Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas packed her bags and moved to Madrid to pursue her acting career where she landed appearances in the tv series El Internado (The Boarding School).

Ana now joins the high-profile cast for the latest Bond saga No Time to Die, although she admitted that before taking on the role in the 007 franchise she found the female characters ‘unrelatable’.

However, the 31-year-old was reassured by the script, co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, describing her character as a ‘real woman’.

It’s not the first time Ana has worked with Daniel Craig, recently starring in Knives Out alongside the Hollywood heartthrob.

A GOTH god, a pair of 80’s icons and some lads from Yorkshire have been announced for Mallorca’s biggest festival of the year. Marilyn Manson is set to headline Mallorca Live Festival alongside London pop-duo the Pet Shop Boys and Leeds indie band the Kaiser Chiefs. This will be one of Manson’s only appearances outside of specifically punk rock or metal events. Fans can expect to hear the American rocker’s hits like The Beautiful People and The Dope Show, as well as tracks from his imminent new album. Kane, Kate Tempest, The Indian Summer, Kase O and Michael Kiwanuka are among the other highlights on the bill. Tickets are on sale now for the May 14-16 festival that will see 50,000 revellers descend on Calvia for the fifth edition of Mallorca Live.

Solicitors and Accountants who speak your language and understand your particular needs • Property Law • Inheritance • Business Accounting • Resident and Non Resident Tax Returns • Employment Law • Court Solicitors C/Miguel de los Santos Oliver, 10, local 3 07181 Palma Nova, Calvia Tel: 971 591 118 / 660 383 060 www.maricunningham.com Registered with the Law Society of the Islas Baleares and with the Law Society of Scotland

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Keys Isl nd Along came corona T

NEWS

By Amanda Butler

to the

RY as one might, to not focus on it, it’s impossible to ignore the coronavirus.

There is always a great deal of mis-information floating around on the internet and the media when outbreaks occur, and although a mad panic is not required (or desired) the figures are concerning when compared to the flu, which many reports are saying the Covid-19 virus is comparable to.

So far the Balearics are low risk, with only six people diagnosed with the virus, but no deaths, thank heavens!

But according to the World Health Organization (WHO) the Covid-19 virus is far more serious than the flu. Whereas only 0.1% of people who get the flu die, the coronavirus death rate is now at 3.4% based on current cases.

Of course, the ill and the elderly are much more at risk. On a positive note, the WHO does state the COVID-19 does not transmit as easily as flu, so it does mean containment is possible.

One of the biggest messages to take from this is to wash your hands, and stop greeting everyone with a kiss or a handshake – perhaps the Asian hands clasped ‘Namaste’ is the best greeting to take up!

Best to avoid crowded places. If you start coughing and sneezing, turn away from anyone near you and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve if nothing else. Call your doctor and ask for advice.

Or call 112 and ask for advice. They will direct you as to how to proceed.

Nevertheless my personal opinion is that in Mallorca with a much less dense population and outdoor healthy lifestyles, I am hoping we won’t be impacted as much as other densely populated locations.

But the fact that travel is down substantially in the Balearics will not come as a surprise.

While tourism in Spain as a whole is only down 1.4% there was a far bigger drop in the Balear-

ics showing a 26.7% drop in January compared to 2019.

With ITB also cancelled the Mallorquin travel industry is starting to panic. But then so are the rest of the world.

Real estate market

With the start of March there is normally a renewed energy in the air in the real estate market, with Spring about to commence.

Historically this is when the market really starts picking up. Where the British market is concerned we had thought last year was bad, being left in limbo with the BREXIT uncertainty. 2020 started with renewed hope after the election and a firm direction for the Brits, sending exchange rates soaring. So for all of the estate agents and owners trying to sell, it is seriously disappointing for another issue to come along, just as we were picking ourselves back up.

But this is Mallorca, and we always seem to remain relatively stable despite what goes on ‘outside’.

The real estate market still carries on. Viewings are still happening but at a much slower pace than normal. We will all survive, but how this will evolve is anyone’s guess.

There will inevitably be victims along the way with Flybe just being announced as the first.

So we now just have to keep as optimistic as possible. My personal advice is don’t jump into the drama, but be cautious.

Keep your hands washed, stay away from crowds. Yes there will be casualties, yes tourism and sales will be down, but this will abate, and life will continue. We just don’t know quite when that will be.

Best wishes from Amanda J Butler – with an holistic approach to real estate in Mallorca.

MJC Associates - +34 690075169, ajb@mjcassociates.net

March 6th - March 19th 2020

Fighting back

Palma comes to a halt after business bosses ‘shut’ the city down protesting lack of support by the council BUSINESS bosses attempted to ‘shut down’ the capital in a protest against Palma City

Council’s ‘lack of support, aid and planning for the future’.

The owners claim they’re

Tiger warning THE authorities have sent out a warning over the parasitic tiger mosquito.

The insect spreads the poten-

Taxi tax TAXI prices have risen in Palma as of the beginning of March.

The price on journeys to and from the ports and airport are significantly higher, with the base surcharge jumping from €2.90 to €4.40. The minimum fee for a taxi to and from the airport has risen as well and is now €16, up from €13 – at night that jumps to €18.

Jan slump TOURIST numbers dropped by 27% this January compared to 2019.

Only around 104,000 tourists came to the island, over half coming from Germany.

Overall Spain received around 4.1 million tourists, only 1.4% fewer than last year

tially fatal heartworm disease and can pose a serious threat to animals, particularly dogs and cats.

Their bite spreads a worm called Dirofilaria immitis which can grow up to a foot long and lodge itself in the pulmonary arteries.

If not controlled, it can lead to severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body.

Residents in Alcudia, Pollenca, Can Picafort, Sa Pobla, and Palma are now on high alert after the Moixica Veterinary Clinic issued a warning that tiger mosquitos have spread across the island.

Specialists are now urging all pet owners, especially those who live in the wetlands, to apply preventative treatments such as injections or pills as soon as possible.

“The biggest problem is that an animal might not show symptoms for a long time, but could still be a carrier of the infection,” said vet Marcos Makowski from the Moixica Clinic.

scrambling to make ends meet due to new measures, such as pedestrianisation, soaring rental prices and a ban on terrace awnings.

They also complain about the shutting of bus stops at strategic points in the city.

Organised by the Afedeco and PIMECO trade unions, the protest served to draw attention to the values ​​and struggles of local enterprises.

Under the slogan ‘Se traspasa’ or ‘Transfer of Ownership’, countless shops, restaurants and cafes closed their doors for an hour.

Pedestrianisation

While not completely against pedestrianisation owners point out that a clear plan for its improvement and sufficient parking is desperately needed, as well as a fast, punctual and economic public transport system.

The Mallorcan Restaurant Association is also angry about recent regulations which order businesses to allow more space for pavements.

Since 2018, more than 800 small and medium sized businesses have closed in the Balearic Islands, with consumers now opting to purchase goods online or at large retailers.

OP QUICK Crossword Across

Arranging a funeral abroad can be

7 Ceded (7) 9 Wear away (5) 10 Creatures (7) 11 Scowl (5)

complicated

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NEWS

March 6th - March 19th 2020

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Voted top expat paper in Spain

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features

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.

OPINION Don’t panic just yet CORONAVIRUS is the word on everyone’s lips at the moment, no matter where you are.

The outbreak started in December but it was not until last week when it hit Italy, that everyone started freaking out.

The Mallorcan tourism industry is one of those that has started to panic, as tourists have already started cancelling their holiday plans for the summer.

It’s understandable that people are worried, but June is still three months away, the ‘hype’ around the virus may be over by then.

We all know how quickly the news move on, so once a bigger story comes along to push it out of the way, people’s fears should quiet down.

Obviously you should put your health above everything else, but why cancel your summer holidays already?

Wait and see how things develop and don’t give hoteliers a heart attack by cancelling months in advance.

Hear Hear THE news that the British PM is stepping in to demand action in the tragic ‘preventable’ death of a teenager in Mallorca may finally bring some ‘recognition’ to the tragedy that the family have long fought for.

Although an inquiry previously found that the young lads death could have been easily prevented and a fence has since been erected, the family have received no real justice or damages.

They now fight for prosecution backed by Johnson, as Tom Channon’s death was the third fatality in similar circumstances at the same Magaluf resort in the space of 12 months.

Yes, Tom Channon had been out drinking and yes some young lads may pull some risky stunts in the act of ‘balconing’, but Brits dying from balcony falls is a pattern, and we need to act and to ensure there can be no more untimely deaths.

And so we say Hear Hear Boris!

we can do it!

A

N equal world is an enabled world. That’s the theme of International Women’s Day 2020. On March 8th the spotlight turns to women who are striving for gender parity in the workplace, in business, on the sports, in culture, and in their communities. IWD started in 1911, so now in a new century and a new decade are we making a difference?

At first glance, it’s easy to say yes.

There’s something in the air that feels like real change. The #metoo and #time-

Over a century after International Women’s Day first started, Karen Livermore asks, are things really any better in 2020? sup movements were a palpable moment where women were not only being heard, but their voices were powerful.

They were calling out previously untouchable media giants, companies, politicians and stars. Being male, rich and powerful was suddenly no longer a

Women on the frontline in Spain

Let’s raise a glass to celebrate International Women’s Day 2020 or, as we say in Spain, Día Internacional de la Mujer. Ten women in Spain from all walks of life share their views and inspirational stories

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Ana Botín, President of the Santander banking group

We needed to change the work culture The first woman to run a major European bank, Ana has been ranked 8th on the Forbes’ list of World’s Most Powerful Women and was also made an honorary dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 for services to the financial industry. Ana is adamant there will be no discrepancy in salaries between male and female staff members taking on equal responsibility in a banking institution that is ranked 16th in the world and has recently introduced a work/life policy “I have spent years as an executive; years in which I have seen enough to know that in general women don’t get a fair deal. In a speech delivered to a room full of men in Bilbao in 2008, I talked about the importance of women acting with more confidence in ourselves and that we needed to change the work culture and in doing so society if we wanted to see advances in the field of equality.

“Since then these ideas have been reflected in the equal opportunity policies that we first pushed for in Banesto, then in Santander in the UK and more recently in the Santander group as a whole,”. In that speech I emphasised the benefits of diversity in the company.

And with data from different studies, I explained that having more women in managerial positions, apart from being fair, was good for business. Besides talent, women bring skills to business that complement those of men – better interpersonal communication, cooperation, horizontal thinking and a capacity to really listen as well as more empathy and the ability to prioritise.”

“Still today, one of the keys to equal opportunities lies in domestic work. For men to increase their share of this responsibility, we need public policies that allow for greater flexibility in the workplace.”

shield. Out of it has come a real effort to shift, not only unpalatable men from their positions, but the views they represent, from public acceptance. We may be celebrating the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, and the shaming of Placido Domingo after he admitted he sexually harassed women, but in Saudi Arabia women are still high fiving their right to own a passport without the consent of a male guardian.

Gender violence against women is still alarming. Last year was a dark year in Spain with 55 women killed either by partners or ex partners -the highest since 2015. In a disturbing move the Vox party is lobbying for cuts in funding to combat gender violence and a repeal of laws that protect women. Thankfully the government is ignoring these calls from the far right party.

So what does IWD mean to me? As I see it, it’s not just about highly priced conference’s lauding business women and telling them how to make more money.

That’s not the spirit of IWD. Work is only a part of who we are.

Surely we should be joined in a common goal, not asking for special treatment, but equal treatment in every area of life.

Supporting each other and celebrating achievements - large and small. No one should feel if they aren’t superwoman, they aren’t worthy.

IWD is inclusive. It’s about me, you, your mother, daughter, friend, niece, aunt.

It’s not just for high flyers. It’s about the women who encourage other women in all areas of their lives. In the 1980s I worked in a high pressured, hard nosed news room of a national tabloid newspaper in London. The editor was a woman.

She was tougher than the men - she had to be. It had been a hard climb to the top for her. She was firm but fair with her team and encouraged female reporters to thrive. She always had time to act as a mentor for all members of her team. Although she was clever, talented and deserved her role, behind her back, the men on the paper sneeringly called her ‘Gladys’ and plotted her downfall on a daily basis. In the end they won. But this feisty woman was not going to let the bastards grind her down, and she went on to create Women In Journalism, a group that provides mentoring, guidance and sponsorship for female journalists. She is still its Honorary President.

So this International Women’s Day, wear purple- the colour of the movement with pride. Let’s celebrate us and what we have achieved and what we can continue to achieve. There’s still a lot to do.

So who’s with me? Contact us at: newsdesk@theolivepress.es

www.theolivepress.es

Jennifer Cunningham, Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL

The Spanish regarded me as rather strange!

“I went into a man’s world of insurance as one of the first women to do so – and it was not easy to be part of a male dominated industry. I was viewed with suspicion which became worse in Spain. They regarded me as rather strange, they found direct eye contact difficult and then none of the banks took me seriously, which made life hard. I decided long ago to try and ignore the difficulties and just go forward.

After 28 years, I am comfortable in my shoes and my business goes from strength to strength.

Our predecessors fought for us and opened doors for us. I think as women we don’t always praise ourselves enough.

There’s that saying ‘behind every great man is a strong woman’. Well, we don’t want to be strong women standing behind men. We don’t want to be strong women standing in front of men. We want to be strong women standing shoulder to shoulder with men.”

Femke Eliza Utrecht, Head of Marketing, BinckBank part of Saxo Bank

Women don’t want to stand behind men inance is a male dominated industry, but times have “F changed and it’s a much more level playing field now. I have never felt any prejudice. BinckBank is very

inclusive. Women have the same opportunities as men here. My advice to young women wanting to get into finance is be confident and trust your abilities – women are great at investments.

“Our predecessors fought for us and opened doors for us. I think as women we don’t always praise ourselves enough. There’s that saying behind every great man is a strong woman. Well, we don’t want to be strong women standing behind men. We don’t want to be strong women standing in front of men. We want to be strong women standing shoulder to shoulder with men.”

Gillian Keller, Olive Press reporter

Still work to do Being a woman can be a beautiful thing, but it sure isn’t without its troubles. Growing up in an American suburb was safe and comfortable, but the expectation that little girls wear bows and dresses made my skin crawl from a young age. Decades and numerous examples later I find myself in a changing world. Watching women stand up to harassment and superiors who cross a line has been incredible to watch these last few years. It took decades to even get there – until recently women could not afford to leave an abusive relationship – with what money? If women were lucky enough to have a job, they couldn’t lose the little pay they received, no matter what their boss or co-worker did. We couldn’t even get our own credit card in America until 1974. I still see it. Still feel it. I have clients who won’t work with me, only a male co-worker or superior. I get asked far too regularly when I’m having children like it’s expected. And it’s a very real and regular feeling to be intimidated or feel unsafe – having to be so much more aware and cautious when alone in the world. But it does feel good to be living in this world rather than those of our grandmothers, even though I’m also slightly jealous of the world our granddaughters will live in.

It’s bound to be better. We will fight to make sure of that.

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March 6th - March 19th 2020

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Olive Press online Belinda Beckett, freelance writer and Olive Press columnist

‘Spain’s best English news website’

Show me a woman who doesn’t have balls!

“I grew up in 1960s Britain when ‘women’s libbers’ were mocked as bra’burning lesbians who cultivated underarm hair and slept with a copy of Germaine Greer’s The Female Eunuch under their pillow.

“Fortunately, journalism offered equal opportunities – female and male reporters alike were sent off to cover football, darts and dustmen’s strikes, although only the women were forced to brave barrages of blue ‘humour’ to get their story. We were expected to be ‘adult’ about wandering hands and ‘show us your tits’ quips but not considered grownup enough to open a bank account without our father’s or husband’s signature!

“Thanks to the Sisterhood, we’ve moved on. Harvey Weinstein’s recent conviction is another giant step for womankind on the rocky road to equality and perfect timing for International Women’s Day. As for female eunuchs, there’s no such thing. Show me a woman who doesn’t have balls!”

Maura Hillen, illegal homes campaigner

Strong role models “I think it’s a good idea to celebrate anybody who’s working on behalf of their community, but I understand the need for International Women’s Day,” says the President of AUAN (Abusos Urbanisticos Andalucia No).

“I see myself as a leader, but it’s up to other people to decide if I’m inspirational.

“There are a lot of women killed in Spain as a result of domestic violence, there’s a certain amount of machismo in the culture.

“I think it’s decreasing, but it’s still an issue, and I have seen studies to suggest that young men view themselves as superior to women.

“I grew up in a traditional society in Ireland and had strong female role models.

“I wouldn’t necessarily classify myself as a femenist, but I am independent and I know my self worth, and would encourage every man, woman and child to do the same.”

Gabriella Chidgey, self-employed businesswoman and hotelier

My advice? Never give up “ I first started developing Romantic Ronda, five luxury holiday apartments and country houses, around 15 years ago. There have been frustrations. The bureaucracy has been a pain, but finding the right people to work with has been a steep learning curve. Would I have faced some of them as a man? I’m not sure.“It is still a macho environment. I experienced a number of architects, lawyers,and builders until finally, I have found people I can trust to get the job done and who work well with women.These were not men that cemented a deal with a drink. They were immediately direct and professional, respected my viewpoint and what I wanted. Several years ago the constructor I worked with ignored me, threw my carefully drawn plans onto the floor of his car, and gave me design ultimatums that suited him.“He was the most successful builder in the region. I knew four women running renovation projects with him, and none chose to use him again. He did not survive the recession.

“I don’t want special treatment as a woman, just to have my business acumen acknowledged and my viewpoint respected. It’s got so much better - at least contractors will deal with me now rather than asking when my husband will be there!”

Users

795.3K 1.6 M 2.2 M

ON TOP: Olive Press website traffic for last four weeks

TOP 500 T

HE Olive Press website continues its march across Spain.

Our online portal www.theolivepress.es is entering uncharted territory as it soars up to 460th position in Alexa’s official ranking for the country’s top sites.

The most trusted English website in Spain, we are also making huge in-roads in both the UK and Ireland, where we also sit comfortably inside the Top 500 sites for each country.

We put this down to proper relevant content.

Carefully researched and compiled, we stick to our remit of covering the key stories that matter around the peninsula and its islands.

We are not interested in Eamonn Holmes’ tax bill, a shooting in a Manila shopping mall and, particularly, the death of the Monkees singer some 12 months late! And nor are the 1.5 million visitors who came to our site in the short month of February.

According to Google analytics, they were treated to 2.1 million ‘hits’ (or pages read) on everything from the sustainability of patio heaters in bars to tax increases for British homeowners in Spain, and from the march of the coronavirus to a man who lost his view to a giant pile of rubble.

The site has become the only resource expats interested in Spain need to use, not to mention tourists arriving here in their millions each month.

Visit www.theolivepress.es and see how much content we have... # and if you’ve got a business just how much exposure we can give you. #

11,861

Here are the top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: BREAKING: Family isolated for possible coro1- navirus on Spain’s Costa del Sol after returning from Italy trip (70,843 visitors) Four new coronavirus cases confir 2- BREAKING: med on Spain’s Costa del Sol (66,316) REVEALED: A Place in the Sun is filming across locations on Spain’s Costa del Sol and inland 3-these Malaga THIS WEEK (35,995) warning for Spain’s Malaga and Costa Sol as Storm Karine to bring strong winds and 4-delWeather rough seas (26,830) Hundreds of workers sent home on Spain’s del Sol due to possible coronavirus exposure 5-Costa (26,124)

Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for a special quote

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March 6th - March 19th 2020

PROPERTY PROPERTY British boom 8

March 6th - March 19th 2020

Constructively eco-friendly

THE number of British buyers in Spain has more than doubled in a year - at least according to one big homebuilder.

Taylor Wimpey España has reported a staggering 125% increase in UK nationals buying homes in Spain, as uncertainty around Brexit has finally forced people into action.

Brits were the top buyers over the months of December and January, accelerating strongly following the mid-December general election.

Andalucia meanwhile, was the most popular region registering 19.55% of total sales, according to the official Colegio de Registradores.

The second most popular region was Catalunya coming second at 16.41%,

With the uncertainty of Brexit over, British buyers are forced into action to beat the transition period deadline while sales are also up for British buyers in Alicante and Mallorca.

The Costa del Sol is the most popular area, with almost all British buyers during that period choosing the coast as their favourite place to buy.

“The British love of the Costa del Sol dates back decades,” explained Taylor Wimpey España Sales Director, Marc Pritchard.

“While the drawn-out Brexit process caused many buyers to pause, they are now pushing ahead with their plans and buying Spanish second

homes at an impressive pace.

“With a range of styles and price points available, the Costa del Sol is perfectly positioned to meet varying needs as sales pick up speed, during 2020.

“It’s that time of year when many British families are planning and looking forward to their summer holidays.

“For those buying a holiday home, it’s an incredibly exciting time, with some superb locations offering sun, sand and sporting facilities to suit every taste and budget.”

Green living PLANS for an ultra-modern complex of 96 flats just metres from the sea, have been unveiled in Palma.

The new complex, named ‘Mediterrania II’ in Nou Llevant will sit just two streets behind the Melia conference centre.

Property developer Gestilar is behind the build, which offers two, three and four-bedroom apartments starting at €274,000.

Each of the four blocks will sport large balconies, while there is also a shared rooftop pool and lounge areas.

Apartments range from 103m2 to 160m2, all with an A Energy Rating, and also feature several green areas.

SPAIN has shot into the worldwide top ten of countries with the most sustainable buildings.

This is the result of a change in mindset over the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability in the real estate industry.

As 28% of CO2 emissions are produced by buildings, action to reduce this is essential to comply with environmental requirements.

Obligation

“Europe is leading the battle for sustainability,” says Javier Torralba, director of Breeam, a sustainable certification platform in Spain which has just elevated Spain to sixth in the world rankings.

This method of evaluation and certification did not land in Spain until 2010.

Breeam certification initially focused on housing and didn’t really kick off until 2014 but since then, the increase in certification has grown exponentially across different types of real estate.

Torralba added that, ‘sustainability is no longer an option, but an obligation.’

These sustainable developments are not only better for the environment, but are also good for both tenants and the property as the energy saving in a Breeam-certified property is between 30% and 70% and the reduction of water expenditure is approximately 40%. The evolution towards this greener industry can be seen through the growth of the certification platforms that rate the impact of buildings on the ecosystem, such as Leed and Well.

LA CULTURA

9

March 6th - March 19th 2020

Los Flintstones P

Women’s weekend

A STUNNING collection of prehistoric carvings have been discovered in Catalunya.

Archaeologists came across the 15,000 year old depictions of horses, deer and bulls, as well as a mul-

Rare collection of cave etchings shed new light on Stone Age Spain

titude of abstract symbols evidencing the artistry of ancient humans.

MANACOR is hosting the first annual ‘Women’s Fair’ on March 7 at the cloister of Sant Vicens on the eve of International Women’s Day. The day will be divided into three sections, as events begin at 9:30am with booths and stalls filling the cloister hall.

One section will be dedicated to female artists, showcasing arts and crafts created by women as well as theatre and dance performances.

Another section will feature gastronomy, with cooking workshops and a special vermouth tasting at noon.

A third section will be dedicated to social organisations working for equality.

The event will conclude with a concert by Jo Jet and Maria Ribot, a pop band from Barcelona.

There are over 100 etchings carved into the soft rock walls of the cave,

what’s on

which dates back to the Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age era.

A team of archaeologists led by Josep Maria Verges uncovered the art within the Cave of Font Major complex, 90 kilometres from the Catalan capital.

Incredibly, the subterranean system was first discovered in 1853 but it was not until last October that experts were sent in to analyse the etchings.

Parts of the three-kilometre complex are open to the public, although no access has been given to the stretch of the cave containing the carvings.

Fragile

FRAGILE: Carvings thought to be 15,000 years old A BREATHTAKING running race through the Tramuntana mountains is set to return on March 15.

The Galatzo Trail 2020 marathon takes place through the public Galatzo estate and finishes in the town of Es Capdella.

The rustic country estate is found in the north of Calvia at the foot of the Galatzo mountain, the highest mountain in the province.

The mountain is also home to Mallorca's longest river torrent running 14 miles to the Bay of Santa Ponsa.

Running wild The marathon runs through the rich habitat of the estate, including oak trees, olive orchards, pine forests and almond trees.

Runners might also see goats, weasels, hedgehogs or a multitude of reptiles which live on the vast 1400-hectare estate.

Runners can either race the 43-kilometre marathon or the 23-kilometre half-marathon.

SUDOKU

Quick Crossword

Down: 1 Bypass, 2 Sediment, 3 Idea, 4 Performs, 5 Polo, 6 Teensy, 8 Dusty, 13 Panorama, 15 Lemonade, 16 Encamp, 17 Taboo, 19 Saucer, 21 Eddy, 23 Apex.

THE biggest and most important pottery fair returns to Marratxi from March 7 to 15 – around 100,000 visit the Fira del Fang to see pottery techniques new and old.

T

own fair

BINISSALEM again hosts its annual spring fair with folklore and traditional activities on March 14 and 15, with events featuring local food, drinks and crafts.

S

aint Patrick’s

HEAD to Santa Ponsa on March 22 for the island’s biggest and greenest Irish holiday – grab a Guinness and don some shamrocks for a whole day and night of Saint Patrick’s Day events.

C

hicago show

FOR a spot of cabaret head to Trui Theatre on March 7 for a 9pm showing of Chicago Life - enjoy the musical story in all its forms of violence, corruption and love.

100 Spanish Icons In the first of a new series we look at the famous names you may have heard of, but probably don’t know the fascinating history behind. And as it’s International Women’s Day, we start with one of Spain’s leading ladies

1. Maria Zambrano

OP Puzzle solutions

Across: 7 Yielded, 9 Erode, 10 Animals, 11 Frown, 12 Sweep, 14 Yardley, 16 Extinct, 18 Samos, 20 Cheer, 22 Blaenau, 24 Madam, 25 Overdue.

Maria Verges, from the Catalan Institute of Human Palaeoecology has described the find as ‘exceptional’ and compared the cave to a shrine.

The carvings are now being studied and recorded using 3-D scanning technology. They are said to be extremely fragile and can be damaged just by being touched, with experts trying to find ways of preserving them.

The world-famous cave paintings of Altamira in northern Spain are thought to be up to 20,000 years older.

ottery fair

You may have travelled from the Maria Zambrano train station in Malaga without thinking about the woman this bustling station was named after. Here’s what you need to know.

Where does she come from?

María Zambrano was born April 22 1904 in Velez Malaga and as a teenager discovered a love of philosophy and politics that was to shape her life.

What did she do? Unusually for a woman then, she went to Madrid University and after graduating taught philosophy there. She published her first book Horizon of Liberalism in 1931. At the same time she became heavily involved in volatile Spanish politics.

What was the political scene then? The country was in turmoil.

Maria campaigned for the establishment of the Second Republic - the democatic government that existed in Spain from 1931-39. She turned down an offer to become an MP for the PSOE party.

But she sided with the republic when the Civil War broke out in 1936. When Franco established his military dictatorship, she

fled. Good move as she had been openly critical of his regime and of the dictator which was a dangerous move!

What next? She wrote many acclaimed books on philosophy and poetry, but led a somewhat sad existence for the next 32 years. Living in Havana, Italy, France and Switzerland, she never settled as nowhere compared to her beloved Spain. But she swore she could not return until Franco died.

Did she ever come back?

Maria stepped on Spanish soil again in 1983, 42 years after her exile. She was 77 years old. Still a prolific writer, she was named the Favourite Daughter of Andalucia and given an Honorary Doctorate by Malaga University. She also set up the Maria Zambrano Foundation in VelezMalaga.

In 1988 she was the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Cervantes prize for literature. She died in Madrid in 1991, but is buried in Velez-Malaga in the shade of a lemon tree. In 2006 it was decided to name the train station after her.

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March 6th - March 19th 2020

I would not let a dictator dictate my life Ahead of International Women’s Day, Cristina Hodgson sits down with a feisty Franco survivor honoured for her heroics in a fascist, male-dominated world

RESILIENT: Isabel Marquez Fexias Sula O tell a woman everything she cannot do, is to tell her what she can’ is a Spanish proverb that perfectly fits Isabel Marquez Fexias Sula. She grew up in Cordoba during the Franco regime when women were treated as second

‘T

class citizens. It was unthink- ternational Women’s Day on able for them to have careers March 8, ‘An equal world is an - although prostitution was al- enabled world’ - but only collowed. lectively, with each individual But this determined young taking action, is that world poswoman refused to play by Fran- sible. co’s rules and would not let a The global awareness day first dictator dictate celebrated in her life. Now in 1911 to honher sixties, she Argentina alone, our women’s has just received achievements two awards. One horse trekking in is supported by from the Muover one million Guatemala and people today, no nicipal Council of Montilla in so in Spain, scuba diving in less Cordoba and one a country that from Mancomu- the Bay Islands recognises the nidad Campina independence Sur Cordobesa, of women. Howboth given for her role as a pio- ever, it wasn’t always this way. neer in the struggle for gender Isabel railed against the reequality. strictions on women during the Her story perfectly illustrates Franco regime which led her to the theme for this year’s In- emigrate to the UK in the 60s

- an unthinkable act for a teenage girl in those dark days, just 18 with not a word of spoken English and just a few pesetas to her name.

Now back in her home town of Montilla on the outskirts of Cordoba, I meet up with Isabel at her country hacienda. A spectacular view embraces our surroundings, rolling hills stretch as far as the eye can see, green and earthen hues blend into one as olive groves and vineyards fuse, intermingling with the azure sky. Isabel is watching me intently, a friendly smile on her face.

“Welcome,” she says, gesturing for me to sit. Her tone reflects confidence, assurance and peace and I immediately feel at home. I’m intrigued to hear her story for, there’s no doubt, this is a woman who has overcome many hardships, building inner strength with every challenge she faced. First and foremost, she tells me, she considers herself a ‘person’ first, then a ‘woman’. She has LEADER: Isabel inspired other young women to follow her never allowed herself to be victimised or put off from doing something because of her They were denied many op- stood her distress, but it wasn’t gender. This philosophy, and portunities, especially in the going to stop me from going. her adventurous spirit, enabled workplace where professional I felt so suffocated by the reher to overcome the obstacles careers for women were un- pressed society it was a relief thinkable. Ironically, prostitu- to leave. I did cry for the first placed in her way.

During over 40 years of self- tion was permitted. Education month as I missed my family exile in Britain she became a followed very strict rules and but there was no regret in leavsuccessful business woman, we were taught by nuns whose ing. I just remember fitting in running her own Montessori knowledge was rather limited. from the get-go. I didn’t speak school which permitted her to In fact, I ended up explaining a word of English so I took travel all over the world giving basic arithmetic to the nuns language classes and started conferences - something that and my classmates. University working as a cleaner to pay my could never have happened was out of the question for me way. I never felt a foreigner in and women in general.” all my years in Britain. In fact had she remained in Spain.

I am almost hypnotised as she “Women were only honoured in I felt I didn’t fit in or belong in their role as wife Spain at that time. ” whisks me back and mother. Had in time with tales stayed in Spain I Montilla is a relatively of her exploits; Worked as an Iwould have been small, inland town. Did you white water rafting in Costa interpreter for expected to mar- perceive any stigma - that ry and then, only people turned their backs Rica, crossing Argentina alone, the BBC covering if my husband let on you or saw you as a me, would I have bad influence for their own horse trekking the Spanish been allowed to daughters? in Guatemala travel, pursue a “No stigma at all. Spain was and scuba divelections career, own prop- ready for change. Women were ing in the Bay erty. Like I’ve starting to mark their place Islands … the said, this was not in society and my decision to stories spill out in an endless stream. Clearly not a woman to the future I wanted and my only leave caused a wave of other young women in town to follow be restrained by society, I’m in- solution was to leave.” my steps. Most of my friends trigued to find out more about the young Isabel, the one who How did your parents react followed suit and flew out to when you told them you the UK shortly after me. I was broke every rule in the book. were leaving? the only one to remain permaHow did you see your future “There were some men who nently in England, however, saw the potential that women but it was encouraging to see in Spain when you left?

“I saw no future as a young had, and I was lucky that my a lot of young women breakgirl,” she says bluntly. “The so- father was one of those special ing the norm and seeking their ciety during Franco’s era was a men. He agreed when I told independence as well. I would man’s world so that’s why I left. him my thoughts about leav- not let anything stop me, I was Unfortunately, despite many ing, in fact he encouraged me determined. I worked in the advances it is still a man’s soci- and was happy for me to go. My fashion industry, worked as an mother, on the other hand, was interpreter for the BBC coverety,” she adds.

“My home town was too small very unhappy and didn’t take ing the Spanish elections and for me. I would have been mis- my departure well. She locked set up a successful Montessori erable had I stayed. Let me herself away for a week when school in Wimbledon. explain. During the Franco era I left, refusing to eat, and cried “The only issue I had was when (1939-1975) women in Spain all day. Thankfully, she got over I married, as my then Britwere second-class citizens. it. And if I’m honest, I under- ish fiance was protestant and

What’s the history of IWD? 11 International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900’s - a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

1908

PIONEERING: New York suffragettes

Great unrest and critical debate was occurring among women. Women’s oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1910 A second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Clara Zetkin (Leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day every year on the same day in every country.

1911 ADVENTURE: Isabel scuba diving, white water rafting (top left), being awarded for her battle for gender equality (top right) and solo trekking across Argentina (right)

LEADER: Clara Zetkin

International Women’s Day was honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.

1913

1914

International Women’s Day was transferred to March 8 and this day has remained the global date ever since.

In 1914 women across Europe held rallies to campaign against war and to express women’s solidarity. In London there was a march in support of women’s suffrage on March 8. Sylvia Pankhurst was arrested in front of Charing Cross station on her way to speak in Trafalgar Square.

1975 CUFFED: Pankhurst

International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations. Then in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

1996 The UN adopted an annual theme in 1996 - which was ‘Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future’.

This theme was followed in 1997 with ‘Women at the Peace table’, and in 1999 with ‘World Free of Violence Against Women.’

FAMILY: Isabel (left), younger sister Ana (right) and younger BONDING: Isabel and daughter Cristina make the International brother Paco marriage in those days had violence taking place. But we to be canonical, that is, per- need to keep focused and conformed under Roman Catho- tinue working hard.” lic law. None of the priests in Where would town wanted to you like to see The process is perform the cerwomen’s posiemony.” very slow, but tion in society in five or ten what is clear is years?

Your advice for young women “I would like to that we must today? see women po“Aim high and sitioned equally never give up achieve higher, in society NOW, that is the only not in five or ten way we will make our way, be years. Unfortunately, we all recognised and understood. know that it’s still not possible.

And it’s especially important Society is taking a long time for society to understand how to realise the value of women hard it is for women, specifi- … how they care for their chilcally now with so much gender dren and how, in most cases,

their careers are put to one side to look after them. However, if women didn’t have children, we would not have this world. Given that simple fact, I don’t know how women are not valued as they should be. Sadly, complete equality cannot be guaranteed in five or even ten years as the process is very slow, but what is clear is that we must never give up.” Today, although ‘retired’, Isabel’s adventures continue in Spain. She has discovered a new ‘career’ through her love for photography and ceramics, specialising in Raku, and her exceptional work is often on display at exhibitions in Cordoba.

This is clearly a woman who will never give up.

POWER: UN backs IWD

2000 By the new millennium, International Women’s Day activity around the world had stalled in many countries. The world had moved on and feminism wasn’t a popular topic. International Women’s Day needed reignition. There was urgent work to do - battles had not been won and gender parity had still not been achieved.

2001 The global internationalwomensday.com digital hub was launched to re-energize the day as an important platform to celebrate the successful achievements of women and to continue calls for accelerating gender parity.

WEBSITE: For IWD

2011

Saw the 100 year centenary of International Women’s Day. Barack Obama proclaimed March 2011 to be ‘Women’s History Month’, calling Americans to mark IWD by reflecting on ‘the extraordinary accomplishments of women’. Hillary Clinton launched the ‘100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges’. In the UK celebrity activist Annie Lennox led a march across one of London’s iconic bridges raising awareness in support for global charity Women for Women International.

MARCHING: Annie Lennox in London

HELP: From Hillary

2020 The world has witnessed a significant change in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality. Many from a younger generation may feel all the battles have been won, while many feminists from the 1970’s know only too well the ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, women can work and have a family, women have real choices.

HEALTH

12

March 6th - March 19th 2020

Big problem ALMOST 25% of people in Spain are overweight, according to a new study.

The figures obtained from a study undertaken by the European Association for the Study of Obesity also suggest that by 2030, half of Spain’s population will be overweight.

The Spanish government is trying to curb this trend, considering increasing IVA on high calorie products, such as fast food, pastries and soft-drinks, with the aim of reducing their consumption.

According to a report by UNICEF’s Spanish Committee, up to 40% of young people between the ages of eight and 16 are overweight in the Iberian country.

Life sentence

Death rate for those with depression in Spain revealed as 50% higher than those without

PEOPLE suffering with depression in Spain are 50% more likely to die early, a new study has revealed.

Research has shown that depression is associated with a higher rate of mortality. According to results, the

risk for 18 to 64-year-old men is six times higher.

Various international studies have shown that suffering from depression is associated with premature death, not only due to specific causes

Butt out

SPAIN’S ban on smoking in public spaces and workplaces has made a huge dent in tobacco sales in Cordoba.

Spain joined its European neighbours in banning smoking in public in 2006, in line with EU regulations.

The move was a clear statement of intent to improve the nation’s ever increasing problem with lung and heart disease.

Before the ban, 72 million packs of cigarettes were purchased throughout the province, but since then, figures have steadily dropped to bring the 2019 figure down to 31.5 million packs.

The numbers were released in a recent report by the Tobacco Market Commission of the Ministry of Finance.

In 2007, the figures steadily declined to 66 million, before plummeting to 30.9 million in 2018, the lowest figure on record, with a slight rise to 31.5 million then recorded in 2019.

of death such as suicide but also to higher overall mortality.

But this is the first study of the Spanish adult population.

The most vulnerable group was found to be men between the ages of 18 and 64 years old.

Researchers from the CIBERSAM department at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) carried out the study.

Stigma

“The study allowed us to calculate that people suffering from depression in Spain have a 50% higher risk of dying in the next six years,” said research leader Jose Luis Ayuso.

He added: “It comes as a surprise since depression is more frequent in women and the elderly.”

According to the work, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, young men and adults could be the most affected in terms of mortality due to less healthy lifestyle habits in men with depression and the stigma around seeking professional help.

Too far

NEARLY 90% of pregnant women who want to have an abortion have been harassed by anti-abortion groups, according a report.

Asociacion de Clinicas Acreditadas para la Interrupcion del Embarazo (ACAI) is an organisation that runs abortion clinics and has released a report stating that 89% of women who have tried to terminate their pregnancies have been pressured by antiabortion groups.

Sonia Lamas, a spokesperson for the organisation described some of the examples of abuse the clinics face: “We reported months ago the harassment we suffered, but the authorities don’t even come to clean the graffiti.”

Of that 89%, 67% felt threatened during the medical procedure because of the harassment they had faced previously.

Anti-abortion groups such as Hazte Oír, Derecho a Vivir, Más Futuro and Asociación Sifra dedicate a good part of their time and resources to put obstacles up in place for women trying to get an abortion.

Examples of that include going to clinics in the mornings and planting themselves there, waiting for women in order to persuade them to change their minds, sometimes by giving them brochures and sometimes even through harassment, by grabbing their arms or calling them ‘murderers’.

Friends.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

13

March 6th - March 19th 2020

CHERRY blossom in Valencia has been named as the most beautiful in Spain.

Flowering cherry trees in the Vall de Gallinera, between Denia and Alcoi, were ranked as number one by global magazine Conde Nast Traveler.

The valley on Spain's Costa Blanca beat Alfarnate, in Malaga, and the celebrated Valle del Jerte in Cáceres, as well as El Hornillo, in Avila, and Valle de las Caderechas, in Burgos.

The trees are now all in bloom across the island too.

Bloomin’ brilliant

Rock bottom Sanchez reaches out to angry farmers as agricultural crisis reaches boiling point

By James Warren

SPAIN’S Government has responded to the agricultural crisis, but insists it is facing an uphill struggle.

Thousands of angry farmers across Spain have pushed the issue to the forefront in recent weeks.

Those in the agricultural sector have taken to the streets in passionate protests against the continued struggle they face to stay afloat.

Their fury over rock bottom olive and orange prices has proved a headache to government leaders who in turn face pressure from the European board.

In an attempt to prove that the farmers’ voices are being heard, Agriculture Minister Luis Planas issued a statement to update the

country on what steps are being taken to ensure that the issue does not continue.

The coalition government’s first step is to reform the current Food Chain Law by raising prices ‘at the gate’ and helping manufacturers cover costs of production and staff wages.

“The reform will allow agricultural and livestock producers to have a stronger negotiating position, and create greater balance in the food chain,” said Planas. However, the gov-

B

day bash

BRITISH-run Bar El Ancla is celebrating its 21st birthday bash in Can Pastilla on March 7 – enjoy Cava upon arrival, special bar snacks and surprises throughout the evening.

M

enu mania

CALVIA’S twice-a-year culinary event returns in April with special three-course set menus in towns throughout the area every Friday for lunch and dinner for Monstra Cuines Calvia.

A SPANISH startup has developed a beverage that’s distilled with cannabis.

The newly created startup 420 Neo Drinks launched a blue drink based on cane rum infused and flavoured with cannabis.

Founders of the company Juan Manuel Caro, Pablo Saura and Raúl Calvo, claim that the idea arose when they saw the great increase that is taking place in the world of cannabis-related products.

Saura said: “We wanted a drink to get away from the negative concept that this substance has had until now.

The tipple is 37.5% ABV. A 700ml bottle is available for €25 on Amazon.

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FOR three months Sa Pobla hosts a ‘Tapas Train’ every Friday with stops at different bars with drink specials and mini-concerts – the tapas tour starts at the train station every week through May.

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the announced minimumwage hike. Government officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, have been heavily negotiating in Brussels this week to fight against the proposed reduction in funding from the CAP. As part of the government’s 2021 to 2027 budget, the CAP will see cuts of up to 14%, putting farmers’ subsidies at risk.

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A PLAGUE of green-eyed monsters are wreaking havoc across Mallorca’s countryside, leaving farmers terrified.

Hornworms have done serious damage to tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and potatoes in recent weeks, with the caterpillar-like insects arriving earlier than expected.

This is mainly due to their resistance to insecticides and climate change, with a lack of rain and an increase in island temperatures providing the perfect conditions for their growth.

Farmers have warned that many of their greenhouse tomato plantations are completely destroyed and that the situation may get worse as summer approaches – a time when hornworms cause the greatest damage.

Tomato production is one of the most important horticultural crops in the Balearic Islands, amounting to a total area of 366 ​​ hectares and garnering a production of more than 8,700 tonnes, according to Government figures.

T

apas train

Step aside sangria

HELPING HAND: Sanchez (inset) to help farmers

ernment cannot regulate prices by law, therefore it must only strongly suggest measures and hope that companies take them onboard.

Spanish farmers have been holding nationwide protests in the past few weeks in response to low prices, the threat of fewer subsidies from the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and

Worm wars

What’s on for foodies!

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BUSINESS Health first 14

March 6th - March 19th 2020

THE Spanish Catholic Church earned a record €284 million from taxpayers last year, figures show.

Some 7.1m people opted to make a contribution on their tax returns, 26,885 more than 2018.

The amount earned was a 6.2% increase on the year before and the highest since the tax system was introduced in 2007.

The system allows Catholic taxpayers to tick a box which donates 0.7% of their personal income tax (IRPF) to the religious body, at no extra cost.

The percentage was previously set at 0.5%.

THE Government has repealed a law allowing businesses to dismiss workers who accumulate too much medical leave.

Adhering to a manifesto promise the PSOE government scrapped the law, put in place by the PP in 2012.

Unfair

“We are repairing an anomaly in which this unfair dismissal does not exist, and that provides legal certainty,” said Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz.

“It is not fair to sack people who can medically justify their absence.”

The law was introduced despite the European Court of Justice warning Spain that firing employees on the basis of illness was discriminatory.

It aimed to allow greater flexibility in the labour market, facilitating lower wages and lowering the dismissal of workers.

Its supporters argue it helped make Spain a more competitive market, but its oppo-

Holy heist Trains for sale

KENYA has bought 11 diesel trains from the Balearic government for nearly €10 million.

It comes as Mallorca’s train service, SFM, has been slowly updating its fleet for greener electric trains across the island.

Kenya Railways has agreed to purchase 11 of Mallorca’s older diesel trains for €9.6 million, with the cash to be pumped into Mallorca’s existing train network.

Over the last few years, other out-of-date trains have been sold to a company in Provence, France for a return of over €4 million.

Air bust Animal aid ‘Unfair’ sick leave law repealed by government in boost for workers’ rights nents believe it eroded workers’ rights, while promoting job insecurity and lower wages.

It could be argued that the law has helped to reduce unemployment, as it fell from 27% in 2013, to 13.8%

in the final quarter of 2019.

The current government believes that the rate of unemployment will stabilise at 13.6% in 2020 and fall gradually to 12.3% in 2023.

AGONY ANT

Property

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Not a personal piggy bank!

Lawbird’s Antonio Flores reveals the ‘must-knows’ for Spanish S.L. company owners SETTING up a Spanish Limited Company is a relatively straightforward process.

In fact, many investors who are looking to start a business will immediately think of what is colloquially known as ‘SL company’, formed via a notarial deed of company incorporation.

And for many too, that’s about as knowledgeable as they get with these types of business structures.

Below is a list of ‘must knows’ for any SL owner or director: SLs are not devised for one-man bands: The Spanish Hacienda, whilst accepting that an SL is a legitimate form of conducting business, will not accept those that lack an infrastructure to carry out the commercial or professional activity - whether human or material resources (staff, office etc.) - e.g. people who work from home.

Responsible

These companies are described as ‘dummy’ or ‘shell’ companies and operating through them could be challenged by the Tax Office. This is the case too with services where the company could not exist without the founder: think of medical doctors, dentists, singers, elite sportsmen and women etc.

SLs cannot be ‘closed down’: I typically hear people talk about closing a company down when debts become insurmountable. A company can only be closed if there are no debts.

If there are, the director is obliged to file for bankruptcy within two months after it becomes insolvent, at the courts.

High vs low share capital: Unless you are looking to show financial credibility with your potential clients or lenders, shareholders and directors should go for a lower share capital; the lower this figure is the less they will be personally responsible for.

But this has downsides too: if a company has a net worth below 50% of the share capital, it is technically insolvent, being a legal ground for forcible wind up.

An SL is not a personal piggy bank: Company money and personal money are separate, no matter how much we try to try to stretch it; logic and common sense must prevail here.

Here are some tips of what is deductible and what not: shopping list (if consumed by the business), clothes (only if they have a logo or anagram of the SL), vehicles and petrol linked to the SL, business meals (up to 1% of the net income of the SL). Not deductible are holidays, new home kitchen, kids schools, etc.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

AIRBUS employees have rejected the company’s plans to cut more than 600 jobs in Spain.

A series of walkouts are being planned, while bosses of the aerospace giant have called for unions to attend talks set for this week.

Proposals include axing 630 jobs across Madrid, Andalucia and Castille, while Airbus has planned 2,362 job losses across Europe by 2021.

No further specifications have been given but it is thought that the plan will affect 332 direct jobs, workshop operators mostly, and 298 indirect jobs.

The European manufacturer has not broken down the number of job losses in Spain by department.

It has urged unions to enter

negotiations, a proposal that the unions have ‘unanimously’ rejected, according to the UGT union.

Unions will not negotiate this adjustment until the end of July, when the legal period of the consultation ends.

However, they have said that they do not accept the proposed dismissals because they have not been justified by the company.

Airbus employs about 12,600 staff in Spain, of which 7,560 work in the area of Defence and Space.

According to the plan, 829 jobs will be lost in Germany, 357 in the UK, 404 in France and 142 in other countries. A number of demonstrations are set to be called in the week before Easter.

PALMA slaughterhouse will receive a government cash boost of nearly half a million euros to prevent its closure. Around €420,000 will be spent to cover losses in 2019 and continue funding until at least 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture has said. Consumers and the livestock industry will be buoyed by the announcement for what the government calls a ‘service of general economic importance’. Funding will continue for at least four more years until the current contract with cattleman Joan Pocovi ends.

The Palma slaughterhouse company does more than half of the work of all the slaughterhouses in the Balearics.

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MORE PEACE OF MIND There is nothing worse than being stranded with no indication of when help will arrive. With GPS Geolocation you can be assured that a recovery vehicle will reach you in record time, even if you don’t know your exact location. GPS Geolocation is included in all our car and motorbike insurance policies. It is simple and safe to use and there is no extra cost for using this service.

NEED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE? If you need a tow, you’ve ran out of fuel, or you’ve had a flat tyre, then call our Emergency Roadside Assistance number on We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 147 834. More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

SPORT

15

March 6th - March 19th 2020

For the love of the game EXCLUSIVE

By Dimitris Kouimtsidis

FOR many football fans, the team they support means the world to them, but one superfan takes it a step further.

British expat, Jan Formella, 44, is a die-hard Tottenham fan, who’s had a season ticket for more than 15 years.

When he upped sticks to Alicante five years ago, the Londoner refused to leave his beloved Spurs behind.

The father-of-three makes the 1,400km trip from his home in Javea to London’s newly-built Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as often as he can.

He claims he’s never sat down and calculated

As Tottenham struggle for form this season, one superfan from Spain is earning his spurs, commuting to London to watch as many matches as he can

the costs of attending a match, but, believes it is somewhere in the region of €500 and €600.

“I probably catch around ten home games a season, along with the odd European one away,” he told the Olive Press.

To make this possible, he tries to schedule UK busi-

Fair play

ness trips to coincide with midweek fixtures.

Formella runs his Surreybased IT and recruitment

Vroom boom MURCIA is hosting the Spanish motocross championship at the Las Salinas circuit on the weekend of March 21 and 22.

This huge event in the Alhama de Murcia municipality attracts visitors from all over Spain and Europe and is part of the Spanish National Championships circuit.

Competitions will include MXS18, MX65 and MX35.

On Saturday, there will be a qualifying practice session with the main racing falling on Sunday from 10am onwards.

The superfinal will take place at 12pm that day.

JAN: With pals at Champions League Final in Madrid and (left) former Spurs manager Terry Venables - ‘El Ted’ who lives in Alicante

company, Cornucopia IT Resourcing Limited, remotely from Spain.

“I fly either the day before or on the morning of the match, either from Valencia or Alicante.

“I then get the train to Surrey and go into the office, have my meetings and then head off to meet my mates at the pub for some pre-match beers.”

Despite the increasing popularity of resell websites such as Stubhub and Viagogo, Formella refuses to use them to sell his seat

when he’s absent, as he ‘doesn’t want to make a profit out of other fans’.

If he can’t attend, he either gives his ticket to a mate, or sells it through the club exchange programme.

When asked if he ever saw himself stopping, Formella said: “I say every season is my last one, but it’s an addiction, I can’t stop.

“Football is a community thing, that’s why I go back, to meet up with friends and experience it together.”

AHEAD of International Women’s Day, female football players in Spain’s top division have secured a minimum wage deal.

The footballers have signed their first collective agreement on pay and conditions, breaking an impasse with sporting authorities, which led to a strike last November.

The Association of Women’s Football Clubs (ACFF) and various players’ unions had been locked in talks over the league’s first ever collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for nearly 18 months.

This agreement guarantees Primera Division players a minimum salary of €16,000 per year, along with paid holiday and maternity leave.

Sports Minister, Irene Lozano said: “This is a historic day because this collective agreement is very important for players who were worried about their futures.”

Ruben Alcaine, president of the ACFF, added: “This is a moment to celebrate and now all actors in women’s football need to work together.”

A GUARDIA Civil investigation has been launched into a man who allegedly raced a Spanish train at 220 kph in Zaragoza after police spotted a video of his antics, which he posted on social media.

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FINAL WORDS

BRITISH woman Becca Keeley, 21, has become the UK’s youngest ever stepnan, after getting engaged in Tenerife to a 56-yearold grandad.

Duck’s sake A HUNTER has been fined €720 for shooting a western swamphen – a protected species – after confusing it with a duck in a lagoon four years ago.

Bank and file

OLIVE PRESS

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Vol. 3 Issue 75 www.theolivepress.es March 6th - March 19th, 2020

Town hall boob COUNCIL officials have been left red-faced after including an erotic show in carnival celebrations.

A scantily dressed woman descended to perform a risqué routine on stage in Pollensa.

Red-faced officials have been forced to apologise after numerous complaints from parents with children.

Three opposition parties,

Officials left red faced by erotic carnival celebrations in Mallorca, slammed as ‘degrading to women’

By Isha Sesay

Junts Avançam, Alternativa and Unides Podem, condemned the council’s ‘insulting’ actions, which they said

BANKIA has launched a float of 12 ‘office-buses’ that serve remote hamlets across Spain without a bank in their municipality.

The buses have cashpoints, a waiting room, and claim to aid 250,000 people in 373 municipalities.

were financed with public funds and cannot be tolerated by a town hall committed to equality.

“What should have been a fun celebration for adults and children turned into an erotic

show where a woman was degraded and shown as a sexual object that reinforces sexist stereotypes,” said a spokesperson.

Citing International Women’s Day, which is celebrated globally on March 8, they called on Mayor Tomeu Cifre to guarantee the rights and protection of women.

They also demanded the ‘urgent appearance’ of the councillor responible Andres Nevado, asking that he provide an answer to the ‘denigrating treatment of women.’

Daring

Surf or turf?

SPAIN holds the world’s only aquarium with a pair of ‘pig sharks’ – as the breed is known in Spanish.

The sharks are so rare that staff don’t know what to

Border battle

MALLORCA

DEGRADING: Apologies made after complaints

Nevado has since issued a public apology in which he explained that the council had recruited a DJ and an entertainment package for their annual carnival celebrations without realising that it included a daring erotic show.

“We didn’t expect this to be included in the show and wish to apologise for the error, it was a mistake.” said Nevado.

ALGERIA has launched a bizarre encroachment on the Balearic Islands by sneakily changing its borders.

Without informing Spain, the North African country has redrawn its maps to include the Cabrera National Park south of Mallorca, as part of Algeria.

“We do not agree and we have informed Algeria,” said Spanish Foreign Minister, Arancha Gonzalez Laya.

“What the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea says is that now negotiations should come, which has not happened yet.”

According to the Spanish Government, the move is a bid by Algeria to begin hydrocarbon projects near the national park, which was expanded last year from 10,000 to 90,000 hectares of protected land and waters. Laya is set to travel to Algeria to raise the issue with the Algerian authorities.