G IN T RA B E L CE
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TWO SPANISH HEROINES: One who escaped Franco to another whose infamous name has been adopted by a train station
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Vol. 1 Issue 9 www.theolivepress.es March 5th - March 18th, 2020
Triple threat By Simon Wade
THE first three coronavirus cases have been reported in the south of the Costa Blanca, taking the total number in Spain to 213, with 22 of those in Valencia. One of the unlucky trio, an entrepreneur from Orihuela, had just returned from the Milan Footwear Fair. Another victim had also returned from Italy, where 107 people have died at the centre of Europe’s Covid-19 outbreak. He was diagnosed at his home in Torremanzanas, 20 miles inland from Villajoyosa, where he remains quarantined. The third victim, a young man, is in isolation in the General Hospital of Alicante. He hasn’t been to Italy, but it is understood that his family have. Meanwhile an 82-year-old man in Biscay became Spain’s second coronavirus fatality last night after suffering from pneumonia. The country’s first death in the outbreak was a 69-year-old man in Valencia, who succumbed to complications after being diagnosed. Currently there are no plans to curtail any public events or cancel inbound flights to Elche or Corvera Airports.
First three coronavirus cases in south of Costa Blanca as tourism fear takes hold It comes as nervous hoteliers and restaurateurs are bracing themselves for the devastating effect coronavirus could have on Spain’s tourism industry. They are joined by tourist chiefs who fear a major hit to critical Semana Santa week, which heralds the start of the holiday season. Data from travel analytics firm ForwardKeys shows international flights booked from the UK and the US were down almost 20% for a five-week period up until February 23. British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair and Lufthansa have all started cancelling flights within Europe and to China. Some have drastically cut prices in order to fill empty seats, with Ryanair reducing flights to Italy by 25%. Israel also announced it will place all travellers arriving from Spain into quarantine upon arrival, with the strict protocol also applied to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France.
Stocks are plummeting too, with IAG, the company that owns British Airways, Vueling and Iberia suffering a drop in value of more than 9%, the highest of any company in the Ibex 35. The International Air Transport Association estimates that the virus outbreak will cost the sector more than €26 billion in 2020. Travel and tourism 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.” With Semana Santa starting on April 5, businesses in Spain are worried about whether one of Spain’s busiest weeks will go ahead as normal. More than one million visitors traditionally descend on Sevilla and Malaga combined during Holy Week. A total of 14% of Spain’s Gross Domestic Product comes from tourism, according to the European Travel Commission. It’s Executive Director Eduardo Santander said: “The impact of the virus on European tourism will be massive — we’re talking about big losses.” Opinion Page 6
PLUS: The opinions of eight leading ladies to celebrate International AWE CAN DO ANYTHING! 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 unpalatable men from their their businesses, in sports, a palpable moment where politicians and stars. women were not only being Bein culture and arts, and ing male, rich and powerful positions, but the views in heard, but their voices they represent, from public were their communities. powerful. They were calling was suddenly no longer a acceptance. 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 still high fiving their right to a disturbing move the Vox 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. Ana, 59, is also a pioneer. women bring skills to business Besides talent, The first that complement woman to run those of men – a major European bank, she’s 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 ming for 30% of its CEOs has also introduced 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
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