Mallorca Olive Press - Issue 136 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 5 Issue 136

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www.theolivepress.es July 29th - August 11th 2022

Mobility wars, see page 5

Scorched Spain

Climate change blamed as country suffers worst summer of fires ever recorded - and it’s only July BLACKENED earth, smouldering trees, the charred corpses of wild animals barbecued to a crisp. Such apocalyptic scenes have been repeated over and over across Spain, from Mijas on the Costa del Sol to the wild forests of Zamora in the northwest of the peninsula, to the hills just outside Madrid. Dozens of wildfires have devoured tens of thousands of hectares and forced thousands to be evacuated from their homes in what promises to make the summer of 2022 the worst wave of fires since records began. An estimated 200,000 hectares of Spanish countryside has already been ravaged according to the latest figures released by the European Forest Fire System, overtaking the carnage of 2012 when some 189,000 hectares were destroyed in what was until now the worst summer on record. Even as temperatures drop as the latest heatwave subsides, much of Spain remains on high alert for wildfires, its countryside converted into a dangerous tinderbox.

By Fiona Govan

Firefighters on the Canary island of Tenerife are currently battling a blaze with a 27km perimeter, flames are encroaching on protected biosphere in Donaña, while in Valencia, smoke stacks are visible from the Costa Blanca as woodland burns in Calles. Two wildfires have scorched the hills above the Costa del Sol in the Mijas area over the last month, with yet another new blaze reported on Tuesday. The tragedy was greatest in Losacio in Zamora where two people died in a blaze that destroyed more than 13,000 hectares of land in just two days. Firefighter Daniel Gullon Vara, 62, died tackling the flames, while Victoriano Anton Raton, a 69-year-old farmer was caught in the blaze as he attempted to get his flocks to safety after it suddenly changed

CATASTROPHE: Fire frequency increasing, while (inset) farmer defies death

direction. While the blame has been laid on unusually high temperatures and the usual array of arsonists, few

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See page 5

AFTERMATH: German arrested after fire in Calvia, See page 2

deny the role of global warming. Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, was emphatic about the consequences of the climate emergency as he surveyed the aftermath of a blaze in Extremadura last week. “I want to make something very clear,” he said. “Climate change kills: it kills people, as we’ve seen; it also kills our ecosystem, our biodiversity, and it also destroys the things we as a society hold dear – our houses, our businesses, our livestock.” Ironically, even those dedicated to fighting climate change played their part in the lastest devastation after it emerged that a Dutch company tasked with planting trees to offset carbon emissions had been responsible for starting a wildfire. Land Life, a reforestation company with plantations in Aragon admit-

ted one of its workers was to blame for starting a blaze that destroyed 14,000 hectares outside Ateca when a spark escaped from a mechanical digger preparing land for seedlings. One of the starkest images of this month’s fires was the miraculous escape of a farmer who was attempting to dig a fire-breaking trench to protect his local town, Tabara in Castilla y Leon, when his tractor became engulfed by flames. Angel Martin Arjona was caught on camera running from the inferno with his clothes alight. He survived with burns on 80% of his body. Astonishingly, authorities believe that 85% of the wildfires come about as a direct result of human actions, either set deliberately by arsonists or because of human error or negligent action. On Sunday in Catalunya, a man was arrested for setting three blazes while in Mallorca on Monday, a German resident is in custody suspected of sparking seven fires in the Calvia area over the weekend.

Heatwaves

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While the veracity of the fires this year may well be stronger than anyone anticipated, it should hardly come as a surprise. “For a long time we have been warning that climate change meant more intense heatwaves and more forest fires in the Mediterranean,” said Nuria Blazquez, a spokesman for Ecologistas en Accion. “But maybe they’ve arrived sooner than we were expecting.” Opinion Page 6

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Health warning THE Balearic Islands has registered 100 monkeypox cases since a health alert was decreed advising residents to take extra precaution.

Time’s up TWO members of a criminal organisation have been arrested for allegedly stealing 23 high-end watches in Mallorca. They were caught just as they were due to flee the island.

Cliff hanger A MAN was seriously injured after falling off a 15 metre cliff in Cala Morell on Thursday, before being rescued by police and firefighters and rushed to hospital.

Fake arrests

SOME 90 people have been arrested in Spain for selling and buying fake passports and IDs to help immigrants stay in the country. Spanish and Turkish police worked together to bust the gang that attracted customers through social media. They charged €1,000 for passports, €750 for residence permits, €500 for Schengen visas and €350 for driving licences, with police saying the gang netted €1,000,000.

German arrested suspected of setting seven fires in 24 hours POLICE have arrested a 55-year-old German man accused of starting seven fires in different spots in Calvia. An investigation was launched alongside local police and environmental protection agents after three fires were reported on estates on Son Pillo road on Saturday. The following day, another two fires ‘spontaneously’ ignited. One was spotted on a farm near Es Capdella, and another

Drugged up other parasols watched by two friends. When police arrived they identified one of the three as having been responsible for the damage. He was released from Palma court on €2,000 bail.

NO MATCH FOR COPS By Jorge Hinojosa

a few hundred yards down the road. A surveillance operation was then launched in the area, with suspicions that arson was to

blame for the sudden ignition of so many fires. Then just a few hours later, two more fires broke out in Santa Ponsa. At around midday, the German man was spotted in a vehicle speeding away from Santa

SNAP-PRAT

Free duty calls MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are alleged to have snubbed an invitation from the Queen to spend a family holiday at Balmoral, instead jetting off to Ibiza on a private plane.

AN 18-year-old Swiss tourist under the influence of alcohol and drugs was arrested by the Guardia Civil in Magaluf after he was seen vandalising beach umbrellas. Around 3am on Monday, a hotel security guard spotted a man pulling a parasol out of the sand and throwing it into the sea. He then smashed two

July 29th - August 11th 2022

HIDDEN CAMS: Not water

A PERVY Palma bar owner who for two years secretly recorded women using the loo has been arrested. Police say the 42-year-old man camouflaged cameras in two bottles of water and videoed at least 38 women without their consent. The bar owner was nabbed after a woman discovered one of the cameras and handed it to police. They found videos of 38 women on the camera’s memory card.

Ponsa. A local police patrol intercepted him at a checkpoint, finding several boxes of matches in his car. He was subsequently arrested by the Guardia Civil on charges of arson. All the fires were put out, but not before they had burnt through some 600 square metres of land. The man appeared in court on Monday and is now on bail. Spain looks set to break its record for largest number of fires in a calendar year this summer, though Mallorca has thankfully not had a devastating blaze since 2013, when more than 700 people were evacuated and 1,600 hectares of the Sierra de Tramuntana forest were destroyed.

BENT COPPER A NATIONAL Police deputy inspector has been arrested for passing on information regarding a major drugs operation in Palma’s Son Banya shanty town. The copper is alleged to have tipped off one of the leaders of a criminal organisation suspected of trafficking cocaine trafficking who was wanted by police. The tip off allowed enough time for the drug kingpin to ditch a large stash of drugs and cash. The policeman was arrested days before the operation took place, before he was questioned and later released. The dealer meanwhile, who was also arrested, told police that he was made aware he was under investigation after meeting the deputy inspector. Allegedly, the inspector used the police database to invent a fictitious operation called ‘Mountain’ to find out if there was a separate investigation into the druglord with whom it is believed he has a ‘a close relationship’.

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July 29th - August 11th 2022

YET ANOTHER OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE

EXCLUSIVE: British couple claim foul play against ‘Urban Turban’ celeb A BRITISH couple have accused a popular Marbella celebrity of attempting to steal their business. Ross and Laura Turner claim Bally Singh - dubbed ‘the Urban Turban’ - fleeced their homemade candle company during the lockdown. They have called in the UK’s Action Fraud over claims the Life on Marbs star failed to hand them tens of thousands of profit from the business set up in September 2020. The couple, based in Bedford, have brought in lawyers claiming Gem Scents Candles is owed ‘at least’ £20,000 (€23,200). Laura, 42, had started making the candles during the first pandemic lockdown in early 2020. It went well and quickly became well known, leading Bally to offer her a big investment in her business. Until he got in touch she had never heard of the Marbella-based entrepreneur, who has nearly half a million followers on Instagram. She read up to discover he claims to wash his watches with £20,000 champagne and counts pop stars Pharell and Sting as his friends. “We were delighted when Bally got in touch about investing,” Ross, a former

A Singh in the tale By George Mathias

mortgage advisor, told the Olive Press. Bally suggested they enter into a business partnership splitting the profits 50/50 with the Marbella mogul investing £15,000 into the company in February 2021. But things didn’t go to plan and just four months in, the Turners claim Bally’s IT team suddenly changed the password to the company domain name, locking them out of the business. Meanwhile, despite previously making over £10,000 a month, they had stopped receiving any takings. In total, they claim they are owed ‘at least £20,000’, with Ross submitting a complaint to the UK’s police fraud office, which is currently pending. The Olive Press has seen legal documents accusing Bally and his wife of trying to register an official trademark for Gem Scents candles without the owners’ permission. It had been registered under Bally’s company Be Immune Ltd, which should have made Ross and Laura equal shareholders with him and his wife Anna. However, documents show the Turners were not registered as shareholders, while inexplicably local Marbella celebrity Maria Bravo, who runs the Global Gift FounCLAIM: Laura and Ross Turner dation and is

KIM CLARK

Trooping the colours FRIENDS?: Singh and wife Ana with Fernando Alonso a friend of Ballys, was made a major shareholder, as evidenced on Companies House. After continual threats of legal action, the Turners have finally managed to wrestle their company back.

Money “It has become a profitable family business again, as it was before Bally got involved,” explained Ross, this week. “But he still owes us all that money.” Bally meanwhile completely

denied he had swindled the couple, insisting it was merely ‘a smear campaign’ against him. “I close multi million deals with big names in business, why would I want to steal from a small candle company? “The Turners are the ones who swindled me, we provided the funding and didn’t get any money back.” He also shared evidence showing payments totalling £4,000 and a settlement agreement between the two parties.

SPAIN’S Queen Letizia and her two daughters looked a picture of glamour as they attended festivities to celebrate the St James in Santiago de Compostela on Monday. The saint’s day was a public holiday in parts of Spain including Madrid and Galicia. It celebrates St James, (or Santiago), the patron saint of Spain and one of Jesus’s apostles, whose remains are said to be held in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. The 49-year-old Queen and her daughters Princess Leonor of Spain, 16, and Princess Sofia of Spain, 15 wore colourful dresses as they walked around the city in northwestern Spain with King Felipe VI.

Matching

Leonor, the heir to the throne who is studying at Atlantic College in Wales, wore a £75 Cayro Vestido yasmin pink and red dress while her younger sister wore a powder blue dress. Letizia was decked out in a Vogana £220 ‘Mer’ dress in orange, with matching soft brown Carolina Herrera Mini Doma Insignia satchel and slingback camel suede pumps.

ROYAL RIPOSTE A LONDON court has given King Juan Carlos permission to appeal harassment charges brought against him by his former lover. The disgraced monarch, who abdicated in 2014 and now lives in self-imposed exile in the United Arab Emirates, is facing a personal injury claim for damages brought by Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, 58. She alleges he sent the Spanish secret service to place her under illegal surveillance and harass her after their break-up while she was living in the UK. In March, a High Court judge rejected the royal’s claim that he was personally immune from the jurisdiction of the English courts under the State Immunity Act 1978 as a result of him being a ‘sovereign’. However, two judges at the Court of Appeal have now allowed him to challenge the ruling over whether he had immunity before his abdication in 2014. Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein alleges that Juan Carlos harassed her after their ‘intimate relationship’ ended in 2012 using threats, surveillance, and break ins. No court date has yet been set.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es ANNIE Lennox is recovering from Covid in her Mallorcan retreat. The singer divides her time between North London and Soller, West Mallorca. Seemingly enjoying the stunning views from her mountain-top estate, she posted on Instagram, saying: “Dear Instagram friends…I’ve been a tad ‘off piste’ recently. The good news was testing Covid negative a few days ago. It

FILMING: of the Crown

Action!

HIT Netflix series The Crown will return to Mallorca for filming in September. It is thought the versatility of the island’s geography convinced the film team to return, after they filmed scenes last season on the island fictitiously set in Italy. Never giving much away to the press, the streaming giant is tight lipped on exact locations but Palma and Andratx have been touted as two possible filming spots. The new season will follow the turmoil following the death of Princess Diana, which happened 25 years ago.

July 29th - August 11th 2022

Horse collapse

Annie, you ok? gave me a kick in my step and my mojo is coming back steadily.” Soller is one of several serene towns scattered along the Mallorcan west coast boasting a slightly more local feel than some of its neighbours, and Lennox is known to frequently rub shoulders with local residents.

Holiday heist

PALMA is Spain’s third most dangerous city for tourists according to a new report. The findings, published by global database Numbeo, looked at crime rates among cities in Spain with populations over 100,000 for crimes associated with tourism, such as petty theft. Basque capital Bilbao was given the unwanted moniker

Tourists targeted by organised criminals, as Palma is named on list of shame of most dangerous city, followed by Barcelona. After Palma, Sevilla, Madrid, Alicante, Valencia, Malaga and San Sebastian rounded off the top 10. The president of the PP in Palma, Jaime Martinez, blamed

A place in the sun F1 legend Michael Schumacher and his family are to move to Mallorca to start a new life. The seven-time world champion was left paralysed and unable to speak after a skiing accident in 2013, resulting in him being put in a medically induced coma for six months. Now, his wife Corinna is thought

to be planning to move the family to a villa in Port Andratx. According to German magazine Die Bunte, the €3 million Mallorcan villa will become the family’s winter home, with plans to build a horse ranch in the accompanying 54,000 sqm plot with Corinna and daughter Gina-Maria both keen horse riders.

Friends.

the figures on ‘the progressive loss of local police officers’ According to the PP figures, there are currently 600 officers working on the beat compared to 1,000 twenty years ago, at a time when the population of the municipality had 100,000 fewer people. Martinez, a former Balearic tourism minister and hotly tipped to be the PP candidate for the next mayoral election, says the PP will increase police numbers SCHUMACHER: Making the move ‘when we come to govern’.

“Residents of Palma have had enough of high crime rates, which he blames on a lack of security on the streets, especially at night,” he said. Silvia Fuentes, chief inspector of the National Police's robberies squad in Palma, denied Palma was an unsafe city.

Challenging

“Palma has never been an excessively challenging city. We are an island and the entrance and exit of thieves is quite controlled. When we come across a wave of unusual thefts, the perpetrators are foreigners. On the island itself, the police know who the thieves are, and they know the police. This helps us solve many cases,” she said.

A DISTRESSING video showing a horse collapsing during the heat of the day in Mallorca has reignited calls for a ban on tourist carriages. The footage shows a stricken horse fallen to the ground suffering heat exhaustion while pulling a carriage with two tourists through Plaza Juan Carlos I in Palma on Saturday afternoon when temperatures reached 40ºC. The carriage driver is shown attempting to pull the animal to its feet but it wouldn’t move, while an eyewitness shouts for it to be given water. “Water, give it water,” the eyewitness can be heard shouting. Eventually the horse appears to get to its feet, while the tourists remain in the carriage.

Alerts

Spanish party, Progreso Verde, claim city regulations forbid carriages to operate during high temperatures alerts, but that these rules are often breached. “We cannot keep looking the other way as if nothing happened. This is still being allowed even though animals are exploited and Spanish institutions are doing nothing to stop it,” said a spokesperson from Progreso Verde. Every year during Sevilla’s Feria de Abril, animal rights party PACMA denounces the deaths of exhausted horses made to work long hours in the sun.

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NEWS

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Striking hell RYANAIR cabin crew unions in Spain have announced a schedule of weekly strikes running into January 2023. The row over higher pay demands and better working conditions took a new turn on Wednesday with the USO and Sitcipa unions announcing a strike escalation from early August. Union members will strike every Monday to Thursday from August 8 until January 7 in protest at Ryanair's refusal to negotiate. A joint union statement said: “Ryanair has publicly stated its refusal to engage in any dialogue with the representatives chosen by its crew.” USO and SITCIPA also called for the ‘immediate reinstatement’ of 11 dismissed cabin staff who supported strike action.

FAUX-BILITY

YOUNG Brits too lazy to walk and too mean to pay for a taxi are inventing fake disabled relatives in order to hire mobility scooters. Now police in Benidorm have launched a crackdown on tourists renting mobility scooters and slapping them with fines of up to €500 if they have bent the truth on application forms. The vehicles have become a popular means to get around the resort and are no longer the reserve of those who find it difficult to walk. In fact, holidaymakers are lying to scooter rental companies in order to bypass rules, an Olive Press investigation has found. “The Brits often lie to our company as they do not meet the requirements to

EXCLUSIVE: How British tourists are bypassing disability rules to rent mobility scooters By Jorge Hinojosa

get a scooter,” admitted a whistleblower from a rental scooter company in Benidorm. She said that young people often claim they are hiring a mobility scooter for a disabled parent, but when the company staff follow it up, they find there is no such person. “Most of them are young Brits that want to use it to go clubbing to save the money of a taxi,” revealed Tania Costa, who works at Amigo 24 Mobility Scooter

Doodle protest MYSTERIOUS graffiti has appeared in the fishing village Binibequer Vell, in Sant Lluis, Minorca. Anti-tourism slogans were spray painted in the early hours of Tuesday morning on the facades of houses and walls of the village, one of the most popular destinations for tourists on the island. The graffiti sprayed reads ‘badly educated tourists not

welcome’. The slogans come after complaints from residents that the village has been turned into a ‘theme park’, with tourists ‘not respecting those of us who live here’. The graffiti has been reported to municipal authorities, though the person or people behind the messages remains unknown.

5 Shut down

July 29th - August 11th 2022

SCOOTING ALONG: Benidorm on alert over scooters Hire in Benidorm. She said ‘80% of the people who rent our scooters are from the UK’ and estimated that around half of them do not meet the requirements for a mobility scooter. According to Benidorm bylaws, only those aged over 55 or with a disability problem are entitled to drive a mobility scooter. “We have a lot of cases of people who cannot prove that they have a disability but they insist that they cannot walk,” claimed Tania. “Others rent the scooter then give it to other members in their group to drive, which is also against the local law,” said David, the

owner of the company. Benidorm council has launched a crackdown following complaints about scooter users driving irresponsibly on the pavements and in bike lines.

Dangerous “The majority of the drivers do not respect the maximum speed and it is really dangerous because it can cause accidents,” a spokesperson from Benidorm council told the Olive Press. Benidorm’s council confirmed that so far this summer two people have been fined for not meeting the requirements to use a mobility scooter.

MALLORCA’s crackdown on booze tourism has seen eight bars served with closure notices. The businesses in Magaluf and Playa de Mallorca have not been complying with new regulations designed to curb excessive drinking. And two of them have also been denounced for degrading women by making female staff wear just their underwear. So far this year local authorities have sanctioned 90 different businesses for not adhering to the decree approved by the Mallorca government before the summer season.

Promotions

They have fallen foul of rules that restrict drinks promotions as well as organising illegal boat parties and not complying with laws on opening hours. Councillor of Tourism Iago Negueruela revealed that eight bars - four in Magaluf and four in Palma - were provisionally closed. He said it was ‘obvious’ that there will continue to be photos taken and shared that ‘none of us would like to see’, but ‘action is being taken’. The decree has only been in place since early August. “It is difficult to stop practices dating back 30 years in just two months,” added Negueruela.

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Mijas Costa

26th 2022

NDS O

13th - July ess.es July

on Fight them the beaches

C O ST

Pic credit: Jose

Maria Caballero

are being drawn Battle lines ct as massive mega-proje football pitches could see 600 hotels ‘swamp’ of homes and virgin Tarifa’s famous beaches

Plans DISFIGURE: how the (below) showLances unspoilt Los ruined beach will be

protection

current are area’s their plans have understand there in status and to Cadiz for an He added: “I behind it, but been sent Impact Resome large banksis in danger. DevelEnvironmental Spain everythingbig business, like cars port (EAE). is far opment here is in Germany.” alarmingly, this are scheme But all. Another project In the most recent the from Valdevaqueto be announced,plans above nearby add to the town hall is backing and a ros beach will on the to build 730 homes (com- constant pressure area. number of hotels which the bedrooms) that the prising 1,360 square me- The scheme, understands The body arguedunsuitable Press in a 623,000 60 luxury villas, was totally opposite Olive is al- area development (back comprises around tre area right of euros each, for homes Los Lances beach. area costing millions board. the for around 360 on the drawing will see thenvarious hotels) as it bordered The mostly wooded sat protected ready scheme at Las Pinas, and del Estrecho and - inside the zone. de Los Another constructed. Parque Natural Paraje Natural has al- 50 luxury villas first reported plans to in the EU’s Red Natura 2000Francisco when a se- This week, Tarifa mayor advanced Lances - currently apart The Olive Press the area in 2012, by the confirm how most no buildings, were organised Codorniz develop Ruiz refused to ries of protests Salvemos Valdeva- plans were for any of the schemes. from the La group hotel and restaurant. how- pressure Developers hope the queros. ever, to overcome

develon the Lances When pressed the Olive Press: “The opment, he told in 2006, but project was approved crisis building due to the economic Continues on

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Page 5

to are digging in GREEN campaigners last remaining save one of Andalucia’s coastal zones. a national camThey are launching a series of projects paign to prevent the fragile ecology of from ‘destroying’ coastline. to the stunning Tarifa expats are expected Hundreds of en Accion to fight the join Ecologistas around 6.2 million pitchplans that mean - or 600 football square metres land are being made es - of protected the drawavailable to developers. have been on town In plans that 2004, Tarifa specific ing board since to develop sixfootprint hall is hoping its urban areas, increasing one by 450%. destruction of Eu“This is the blatant coastline in of bits of the loveliestGil, of Ecologistas, told rope,” Javier the Olive Press. to get involved to specula“Everyone needs invasive and condemn thistourism that will make tive form of like the Costa del Sol.” area Las the Tarifa at Valdevaqueros, The projects La Peña, Los Lances, Piñas, Torre de and Cabo Plata (in of Pedro Valiente total thousands nearby Atlanterra) dozens of hotels. on strain new homes and an obvious Apart from resources, there will be well as scarce water of sewage, as countless issues infrastructure. be developing such a “It’s absurd to area,” said British from the large unspoiled Peter Whaley, businessman group. Hurricane Hoteltrying our best to pro“We should be of the coast, not build tect this jewel all over it.”

The

Jorge Hinojosa By Jon Clarke, Mathias & George

ÍA

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

ANDALUC

LIVE RESS

398 www.theolivepr Vol. 16 Issue

George Mathias george@theolivepress.es

With the Olive Press breaking the news that Tarifa is earmarked for one of the biggest developments in a generation O P on its untouched virgin beaches, the Olive Press takes a look at some of the other beaches under threat… FREE

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Fiona Govan fiona@theolivepress.es

SHORE WARNING

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

GUA Amarga is a pretty fishing village in Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park. With a population of just 400 it is still largely undiscovered by large-scale R COS tourism and remains one of Andalucia's hidden seaside treasures. While its name translates as ‘bitter water’, the beach is largely sheltered with smooth, calm waters perfect for swimming and great for family visits. Fortunately, Agua Amarga was spared from intensive coastal development during the early 2000s which saw vast swathes of neighbouring coastline built on. There were many plans mooted and lots of projects fortunately turned down, much of them thanks to exposure by local protest groups and media. But whether that will continue remains to be seen. Just up the coast at San Jose, also in Cabo de Gata, the Junta authorised the transformation of an old farmhouse into a 30 room hotel in front of the totally virgin beach, Los Genoveses, earlier this year. It came despite a petition signed by 250,000 people and six protest groups. They say the Las Chiqueras project is a trojan horse for much more development. Developers will now have five years to develop the handful of old buildings built for agriculture, as well as add some more, plus swimming pools. Ecologists insist other nearby ruins will be next in line for development causing devastation to the beach and the area’s distinct fauna and flora.

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THE Olive Press has reported on them all. Heatwaves, hot dry winds blowing in from the Sahara, poor forest management, negligent workers and worst of all the arsonists who, for unfathomable reasons, see fit to spark blazes that destroy wildlife and threaten the lives of those brave firefighters sent in to battle the flames. We have witnessed devastating blazes from the window of our office on the Costa del Sol. We have sent out our reporters to speak to residents who have been evacuated from their homes. We have stood alongside firefighter teams reporting on the progress of their efforts to extinguish the infernos. Unfortunately covering the wildfires that blight Spain each summer has become as much a part of our job as writing about shenanigans of holidaymakers, new hotel openings or travel mayhem caused by striking airport workers. For years the Olive Press has highlighted campaigns calling for better conservation of Spain’s countryside and has reported on environmental concerns that are adding to the fire risk, be it the widespread draining of precious wetlands to the failure to offer proper legal protection to some of the nation’s most vulnerable biospheres. It seems like almost every day in recent weeks we have had to report on the outbreak of a new fire, often more dramatic than the last. But we mustn’t become complacent. The threat from climate change is real and it’s about time governments wake up and smell the smouldering embers.

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THE CLIFFS OF MARO, NERJA NERJA town hall approved the construction of 1,000 houses, a golf course and a massive hotel next to the cliffs of Maro, a well known protected area in 2021. It will stretch from the Barranco de Burriana to the Miel river. Thousands of locals were joined by green groups to protest the decision, despite the complications of the pandemic. They insist it will do untold damage to one of the most beautiful and last undeveloped enclaves of the east Costa del Sol. The developer Larios, which owns much of the land, insists it will be making a particular effort to protect the area, which has become unkempt and scruffy over recent decades.

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HE great diversity of ecosystems and wild species native to Spain make it the most biodiverse in Europe, but also put it on the frontline over the pressing issue of nature conservation. Spain has the highest number of endangered plants in Europe, and a quarter of its vertebrates are included in the ‘endangered’, ‘vulnerable’ or ‘rare’ categories, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While Spain has 1,600 protected areas, representing 12% of the country’s land (around 14 million hectares), it only has a few dozen virgin beaches left, very few in the south. Continual pressure to develop rare undeveloped zones, such as the Cabo de Gata in Almería or the Cope area of Murcia, gets ever more acute, with a necessity for more jobs and commerce. With Tarifa’s famous virgin beaches facing SIX new developments, the Olive Press has relaunched its Hands Off Our Costas campaign. Working alongside Spain’s largest environmental group, Ecologistas en Accion, we aim to highlight the politicians and developers, who have historically shown little regard for the rich heritage of Spain’s fragile coastline. “While a lot of effort is being employed to protect what is left of the environment, the development of economic activities is consuming and degrading natural resources at a dizzying rate,” a spokesman told the Olive Press this week. Here, the Olive Press identifies five other coastal zones at risk of mass development.

COPE MARINA, MERCIA

CABOPINO AND ARTOLA DUNES, MÁLAGA GUSTY northwesterly winds and coastal currents brought a continuous flow of sand with them to form a bank of dunes reaching some 20 kilometres in length along this delicate enclave between Mijas and Marbella. The dunes are home to unique vegetation, adapted to withstand the strong sunlight, scarcity of water and continuous buffeting of the wind. Los Ladrones Tower is also an ancient military structure with the cultural property designation dating back to the Roman period and subsequently reconstructed by Moors and Christians.

THIS fragile stretch of coast was worryingly not included in recent proposals to list it as a ‘site of community interest’ despite it bordering land that is. The area encompasses a wide array of animal habitats and unique flora and fauna which is internationally recognised. In particular the strip is home to the Greek tortoise, which is an endangered and protected species with more than half of the population of Europe found in Murcia. It is also one of the last undeveloped areas of Murcia, a rare exception to the overexploited costas nearby, with the Mar Menor already in critical danger of collapse. This stretch of the Med has great ecological and geomorphological value and has been put in danger before. In 1974 there was considerable opposition to a nuclear power plant, and protests took on the Ministry of Industry, achieving their objective a decade later when the project was withdrawn. But locals remain fearful that new development plans could be announced at any time, with rumours being regularly bandied around.

CALA MOSCA, ORIHUELA COSTA THE last virgin beach in Orihuela is under threat from the construction of 1,500 new homes for tourism and second residences. The town hall approved the development in September 2021, which ecologists insist will wipe out protected plant species. Still worse, Estefanía Blanes, councilor of Izquierda Unida, claims that some of the politicians who have opposed the plans have received threatening messages from developers.

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July 29th - August 11th 2022

NEW AGE FOR THE OLDEST PROFESSION? Will the sex industry be forced underground following new legislation? Asks Heather Galloway

ORTY kilometres outside of Madrid, figures of dancing girls adorning the front of the seedy dark brick Olimpo are designed to lure punters off the motorway for a wild night of booze and sex. In 1999, the same establishment was used to lock up 40 girls trafficked from Romania who were being farmed out to clients in Madrid’s Casa de Campo. The Spanish owner was arrested along with his cronies, his activities curtailed. But, 23 years on, the Olimpo is still going strong. One of 1,200 highway brothels in Spain, the Olimpo is registered as a nightclub. Others are registered as hotels. Prostitution is a legal grey area on the Peninsula. Some regions boast more of these clubs than others, such as the so-called Love Route on the N·301 between Cuenca and Cartagena, where a 14-kilometre stretch has eight such establishments. Then there is the Mediterranean Corridor of Prostitution, a term coined by Valencia University sociologist Antonio Ariño, which goes from Cadiz to Girona, where every postcode has a brothel, either in the shape of a highway club or hotel, massage parlour or clandestine apartment. A large number of Spanish men have paid for sex, at least once in their lives. In 2008, Spain’s Centre for Sociological investigation (CIS) put the figure at 32.1% compared to 11% of British men and 14% of Americans. In 2011, the UN hiked Spain’s figure to 39%, earning the country its reputation as the brothel of Europe. Data emerging from Ariño’s 2017-2021 study of the Valencian region found between 4% and 6% of Spanish men had had sexwith a prostitute in the past year compared to 1% of Americans and, in the last five years, 3.6% of Brits. Ariño believes his data probably applies to Spain as a whole. There’s no doubt that brothels do roaring trade in Spain, said to be worth an annual €3.7 billion, but if the government has its way, the Peninsula’s days as a hotbed of commercial sex could be numbered. The abolition draft law, which is forecast to be approved as early as October, will slap fines on clients and close the likes of the Olimpo down, punishing anyone profiting from prostitution, apart from the prostitutes themselves, including landlords knowingly renting premises for prostitution. It sounds desirable. One might even think, ‘about time.’ But the proposal is not without its detractors, not least among the prostitutes themselves. Vera, a sex worker from Eastern Europe, has worked in 12 different countries including

Sweden and Norway, both of which have opted for criminalising brothels. She believes the new law will simply push more women in her profession into the hands of the mafias. “If you want to get rid of abuse in the sector, you have to decriminalise it totally so that the police become our friends and protect us,” she tells The Olive Press. “If they pass the law, we’re more likely to go to the clients’ homes and you never know what could be waiting for you there. There could be five men instead of one. And on the street, there won’t be time to filter out undesirable clients.” Vera adds that she won’t be able to report any violence in her own apartment for fear of being evicted. “That’s what’s happening in Sweden and BUST: Draft laws would see Olimpo closed Norway,” she says. “The crimes aren’t being impossible,” she says. “Here, in Spain, men investigated.” Vera has worked in both clubs and apart- are more likely to admit it.” Gual agrees that there could be a link bements. Some, she admits, force the sex workers to tween this openness and the explosion of perform oral sex without a condom and de- eroticism, known as the destapé, that followed the sexual repression of the Franco mand 12-hour shifts. But now she’s independent and content dictatorship when bus tours shipped Spaniards across the border into France to watch with her situation. “The working conditions are fine in Spain Bertolucci’s 1972 Last Tango in Paris. and the police don’t bother us. Nowhere Destapé translates as both “nudity” and could be worse than my own country,” she “opening up,” and sex was high on the says, refusing to reveal its name, but ex- agenda during the 1980s Movida – to the plaining that as prostitution is illegal there, extent that even the former king, Juan Carthe police tend to ask for free sex or a bribe los I, is alleged to have enjoyed the company of high-class hookers, “indicative perin exchange for turning a blind eye. haps of the kind of society he Fuensanta Gual from CATS, lived in,” observes Gual. an association in Murcia that But Rocio Mora is incensed lobbies for sex worker rights, Around 5% of that prostitution should in argues that, given that the Spanish men any way be equated with libsector operates more or less eral attitudes. above the radar in Spain, the had sex with A spokeswoman from the authorities are at least able to offer a modicum of proteca prostitute in pro-abolitionist association APRAMP that attends to sex tion. the past year workers suffering abuse, she “The police carry out inspecsays, “It’s not liberal or protions in Spain’s clubs from gressive to pay for sex. Some time to time, looking for victims who have been forced into prostitution of the women I tend to are so psychologiand also checking on abuse or abusive cally damaged, they can’t even talk about conditions,” she tells the Olive Press. “If what the industry has done to their bodies the clubs are closed down, the women will and lives.” be even more at the mercy of abusive ele- Moreover, Mora does not believe that Vera’s ments as they won’t have any other option. case is representative of women selling sex Ironically, they won’t have the protection of in Spain. But Vera points out, “There are no the law. They’ll not only be out of reach of current statistics on trafficking in Spain. The the police but also out of reach of the asso- government says it has based the law on a recent study but there is no recent study. It ciations who support them.” Gual is not convinced that Spain is the doesn’t exist.” The proportion of sex workers trafficked or brothel of Europe. She cites a survey in which 400 Germans exploited is far from clear. were asked if they had ever paid for sex. Valencian sociologist Ariño believes that The findings were zero. “That’s statistically when the national police’s organised crime unit claimed there were 45,000 prostitutes in Spain, the figure most likely referred to those trafficked or exploited in some way. He reckons there are between 100,000 and 120,000 sex workers in total, as does Gual. Medicos del Mundo puts the total figure of sex workers much higher at 350,000, and spokeswoman Celia López says around 93% of these are foreign. “Thirty years ago, it was Spanish women with a drug or alcohol problem. Now its immigrants. But what they all have in common is a precarious social and economic situation,” she tells the Olive Press. In López’s view, the proliferation of pornography in Spain is driving the demand for commercial sex and normalizing it. Abolition can only work, she believes, if accompanied by massive awareness campaign, flagging up the fact that those paying for sex are boosting demand and inevitably buying into the exploitation and trafficking. “If we don’t address the situation,” Esther Torrado, sociologist at Tenerife’s La Laguna CANDID: Sex worker Vera says now she’s indepenUniversity and an expert in sexual violence, dent working conditions have improved and the tells the Olive Press, “we’ll end up a nation police don’t interfere with her of waiters and whores.”

HELP US GIVE YOU THE NEWS

LOOK at our top-ranking web stories over the past two weeks is revealing. Page hits statistics are a crude but reasonably accurate way of seeing what our readers are interested in. Then why don’t we simply slavishly follow the online stats when laying out the newspaper? The answer is that we do use them as a guide, but they do not give the complete picture. For an interesting read – and a newspaper that people look forward to picking up as soon as it’s out – there has to be a little of something for everyone. And this is where good old-fashioned journalism comes in. It is a judgment call and our team of experienced reporters and writers is well placed to make that call. We all work hard and strive to put together the complete package. Of course, news comes top of the agenda and we certainly print more than our fair share of hard-nosed news reports. This is where website stats can help - for example, the cancellations and delays caused by RyanAir strikes and the latest on our U-turn campaign over driving licences proved a big hit. But when it comes down to it, it would be an extremely dull paper if that’s all we put in. This is why we always leave plenty of space for interesting in-depth features and articles. These not only allow our reporters and writers to stretch their wings but more importantly, they provide you with a fascinating and informative read. But it comes at a price. While the paper is free, the Olive Press still has to pay for the staff to keep producing a quality newspaper and popular website. While the paper can survive thanks to our advertising clients who recognise a good read when they see one, the website needs to be funded too. This is why we ask readers to pay a modest subscription for full access. For less than a fiver a month they can get access to the best investigative news site in English to be found in Spain. Help us to provide the best news service targeted at expats in Spain and sign up now!

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: Cancellations and delays: How Spain’s Rya1- nair strike is affecting passengers on Tuesday campaign main text for agreement set 2-outU-turn in breakthrough for brits driving in Spain you need to know about the 3- Everything driving license exchange debacle for Brits in Spain UK most wanted criminal collec4- Exclusive: ting cash for criminals in Marbella claims ex-cop in Spain, full list of dates for 5- Bank Holidays every autonomous community

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Three new crab species discovered in Spanish waters

RESEARCHERS from the Spanish National Research Council have discovered two new species of hermit crab and one new species of spider crab in Spanish waters. It follows a study on the crab populations of the Andalucian coast carried out by researcher Enrique Gonzalez who compared samples to a collection of spider crabs found in Wales. Crab species often cannot be identified purely by eyesight and molecular analysis is required to determine a species. In this case, the crabs found in Andalucian waters were thought to be the same as a type of Spider crab native to the UK. However, further investigation in fact revealed that they were an entirely new species.

Gonzalez said: "In both studies, the role of molecular techniques has been fundamental in confirming that these were new species, since morphology alone does not always allow us to reach these conclusions with certainty." The new species has been named Inachus gaditanus. Meanwhile the discovery of two new hermit crabs, Diogenes erythromanus and Diogenes arguinensis was made by Bruno Almon, from the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo, José Antonio Cuesta, from the Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia, and Enrique Garcia-Raso, professor at the University of Malaga. "Everything suggests that they are African species that have their northern distribution limit in the waters of the Iberian Peninsula," Gonzalez-Ortegon said. In the case of the spider crab, many have now been found on the La Caleta beach in Cadiz. Not content with three new

By George Mathias

species, researchers are continuing their search. "There are still several more new species to be described, also from Andalusian waters and from other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.”

PIC CREDIT: BRUNO ALMÓN / CSIC

Shock and claw PINCH: Searches for more species continue

July 29th - August 11th 2022

Big green deal

SPAIN has signed a major agreement with Chinese green energy company Envision Group to set up four new green projects. They include an electric car battery plant, with €3.8 billion in total investment in a venture partly funded by the EU. Jose Dominguez, head of Envision Spain, was quoted saying the projects would be developed jointly with Spain’s renewable power company Acciona Energia, though he stopped short of specifying what its role would be. The battery factory in Navalmoral de la Mata in the central-western region of Extremadura will require €2.5 billion in investment and could create up to 3,000 jobs, the statement said. It would be the second electric car battery project in Spain following an announcement earlier this year t h a t Volkswagen will start building a plant in Sagunto near Valencia in 2023.

Don’t be insane, make changes now

Green

Matters

By Martin Tye

NET ZERO BY 2050 - FACT OR FANTASY? R EAD on. You decide. But first of all let me explain the difference between two terms frequently bandied about - Net Zero and Carbon Capture.

NET ZERO This is the target of completely negating the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity, to be achieved by reducing emissions and implementing methods of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

CARBON CAPTURE Carbon capture and storage of carbon capture is the process of capturing CO2 before it enters the atmosphere, transporting it, and storing it for centuries to come. The cost of this technology is extremely expensive - the cost of the equipment and materials required to separate CO2, build infrastructure to transport it, and store it are prohibitively high. So Net Zero is the most sensible game in town. Politicians around the world bang on about achieving

OSTRICHES: Politicians have their head in the sand

Net Zero by 2050. Easily said and politically correct. Politicians are masters of promising things for the future that they won’t be around to be judged on. The threats of climate change are the direct result of there being too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. FACT. Put simply, it is not enough to slow down emissions, we must reverse carbon emissions wholesale.This concept is central to the world’s current plan to avoid catastrophe. There are many suggestions as to how to do this - from mass tree planting, to high tech direct air capture devices that suck the CO2 from the air. All countries agree that if we deploy these and other socalled ‘CO2 removal techniques’ at the same time as reducing our burning of fossil fuels, we can more rapidly halt global warming. By 2050 we could achieve Net Zero. GREAT IDEA IN PRINCIPLE In reality this theory helps perpetuate a belief in technological salvation and diminishes the sense of urgency surrounding the need to CURB EMISSIONS NOW. The human race is gambling its civilisation on the promise of future solutions. “How did we get this so wrong? What are our children supposed to think about how we have acted?” (James Dyke , Senior Lecturer in Global Systems , Exeter University)

CHECK OUT SOME FACTS ● President Biden has had his financial wings well and truly clipped. Net result - America has no chance of achieving net zero by 2050. ● China, India, Germany, and many more countries

are scaling up fossil fuel power plants thanks to the actions of the lunatic Putin. ● Planting billions of trees only partially helps. (No county is anywhere near achieving its commitments. And deforestation continues to increase in the Amazon). Trees need water to grow - in some places where people are thirsty, how does this work? Plus, increasing forest cover in higher altitudes can have an overall warming effect because the land surface becomes darker. This darker land absorbs more energy from the sun and so temperatures rise. 2050 IS TOO LATE. It’s about time we are honest. Policies that are being employed are motivated by the need to keep business as usual. Forget the climate. Einstein was right when he said… “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Time for action, Net Zero 2050 is FANTASY.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

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LA CULTURA THE Diversity Valencia Festival has gone under leaving thousands of ticket holders out of pocket. The company announced it was being liquidated just before this year’s festival was supposed to take place on July 23 and 24. The event was set to see a host of big international names come to Valencia including Iggy Pop, Maneskin, and Christina Aguilera but due to financial issues, it was forced to close its doors for good. It left thousands of fans denied the chance to see their music idols. The platform in charge of ticket sales, See Tickets, issued a state-

July 29th August 11th 2022

FESTIVAL SHAMBLES

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ment explaining it was not giving any warning about the company’s sudden collapse, nor any money to be able to offer refunds. “We cannot and are not responsible for proceeding with refunds,” a spokesperson for See Tickets said. The only way left to contact the organisers is via email, though it is unclear if any staff are still working.

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Romans revealed

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Big unknown Roman city found in north-east Spain ARCHAEOLOGISTS from the University of Zaragoza have found a previously unknown Roman city. The urban complex, which existed between the first and second centuries, had buildings of immense sizes, as well as public facilities including baths, water supply, streets, and sewers. Researchers thought the 10-acre site, located at Artieda, in the northeastern region of Aragon, was home to several separate archaeological sites, including San Pedro and the Rein Hermitage.

By Alex Trelinski

In 2018, Artieda City Council asked the University of Zaragoza for help in examining some of the remains found around the San Pedro hermitage, known variously as El Forau de la Tuta, Campo de la Virgen, or Campo del Royo. And after three years of research, experts have confirmed that these sites form one large single archaeological complex. El Forau de la Tuta is the name for everything now,

Rosalia rocks FAMOUS faces were among the 15,000 people to attend Spanish superstar Rosalia’s concert in Madrid. The singers ‘Motomami World Tour’ kicked off in Almeria with her album ‘Motomami’ hailed as one of the best albums of the year. The singer was in a buoyant mood, saying: “I have the best fans in the world, you are always supporting me,” and giving front row fans the mic to sing along to her hits. And the crowd was not short of stardust too, with famous film director Pedro Almodovar and Cristiano’s Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez in attendance. Rosalia has already played in Almeria, Sevilla, Granada, Fuengirola and Valencia and is due to perform in A Coruña on July 29 and Palma in August. Tickets for the ‘MoSPARKLE: Rosalia with tomami World Tour’ Almodovar and TVs were sold out in just Belen Esteban four hours.

A PICASSO sketch worth half a million euros has been seized at a Spanish airport. Ibiza customs agents suspect the picture may have been stolen. Police were called in when airport workers discovered the art work in a passenger’s suitcase in early July. The 1966 sketch with the title Trois personnages is valued at around €450,000. Suspicions were aroused because the passenger, who flew in from Zurich, had not declared the piece. The culprit, whose identity has not been disclosed, was immediately taken in for questioning. He told officials the sketch was a copy

UNEARTHED: Lost city discovered

since the team realised they’re all one interconnected city. The team detected two phases of occupation on the surface of the site: one during the Imperial Roman period (the 1st to 5th centuries) and another during the early-medieval Christian era (the 9th to 13th centuries). The researchers discovered two streets, the whispers of pavements, four rudimentary cement sewer outlets, one life-sized marble hand of a presumed

FOUND: a whole city

public monument, and even the reception room of a thermal bath - complete with mosaics preserved by the collapsed sandstone ceiling. They did this by combining remote sensing techniques like georadar and aerial images with conventional methods.

Imperial Their report states that the settlement was 'of urban character' - the city’s name is currently unknown and it developed during the Roman imperial period”. The researchers also learned that the settlement had another life as a rural habitat during the Visigoth and early Andalucian periods. A medieval peasant village sat atop the Roman ruins from the ninth to 13th centuries.

FLY ART

and provided a receipt of 1,500 Swiss francs (€1,513) for the work. However, officials then discovered a second receipt from a Zurich art gallery totaling 450,000 Swiss francs (€457,000), exactly in line with professional valuations of the original artwork. Switzerland is not a member of EU’s non-customs territory, meaning works of art with a value of over €150,000 must be declared. The passenger now stands accused of smuggling.

SUSPICIOUS: Rare Picasso sketch on plane

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

July 29th - August 11th 2022

CLAIM GAME

UK market targeted

ELITE EATING

A PAIR of Spanish restaurants have won coveted places in the top five of the world’s best restaurants in 2022. The awards were announced in London with the top prize awarded to Geranium in Copenhagen, helmed by chef and restaurateur Rasmus Kofoed, while Central in Lima, Peru won second place. Disfrutar in Barcelona rounded out the top three

A FORMER Mexican beauty queen has been arrested for an audacious vintage wine robbery that netted a bottle worth €300,000. Priscilla Guevara, 26 and her accomplice Dutch-Romanian dual national, Constantin Dumitru, 46 were held as they crossed into into Croatia from Montenegro. It is claimed they are behind the raid at the Atrio hotel in Caceres (Extremadura). Their 45-bottle haul included

Spanish chefs riding high with two restaurants in world´s top 5 By Fiona Govan

while Spain’s enfant terrible chef Dabiz Muñoz won the fourth spot with his DiverXo. It was a meteoric rise for Muñoz who saw his Madrid restaurant soar from 20th position in the last edition.

In all, six Spanish restaurants were named in the Top 50 list chosen by Restaurant magazine, with three of them in the Basque Country. Asador Etxebarri from Euskal Herria dropped from third place to sixth, while Elkano, also in the Basque

Corking arrest

the ‘star of the cellar’ 1806 bottle of Chateau d'Yquem, with the total value of the stolen wine put at €1.6 million. The thieves had made several visits to the Atrio hotel and restaurant before striking on October 27 last year. A hotel receptionist was distracted by a request made by Guevara for room service as Dumitru used a stolen master key to access the wine cellar.

CELLAR: Wine was snatched while staff distracted

Country came in at number 16 on the prestigious list and Mugaritz, San Sebastian appeared at 21. The eponymous restaurant of chef Quique Dacosta in Denia was named at number 42 on the list. This year’s Most Sustainable Restaurant Award went to Aponiente in Cadiz.

Sustainable

Chef Angel Leon was recognised for his focus on sustainable fishing, marine conservation, and community outreach to lead the way with innovative food that's responsibly sourced. Formerly in the culinary shadow of its French neighbours, Spain’s gastronomic stock has soared in the past decade owing to its bountiful fresh produce and its effortless simplicity on the plate.

THE Balearic consumer affairs ministry is anticipating ‘an avalanche’ of claims against airlines in the wake of ramped up industrial action. According to head of consumer rights Jesus Cuartero, the department has been inundated with calls seeking advice on how to file a claim. ‘We urge consumers to present claims and complaints,’ he said, describing airlines as operating ‘abusive practices’.

Strikes

Most calls to the department apparently concern Ryanair and EasyJet, though they have also heard from a number of customers from German airline Lufthansa, whose cabin crew also recently announced strikes. Spanish airlines now also face the possibility of strike action in August by Spain's air-traffic controllers union claiming promises of a pay rise by the secretary of state, Isabel Pardo de Vera have not been kept. The unions stressed they are still at the negotiating table but say the strikes will start from the second week of August should an agreement not be struck.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1 6

16 17

Across

OP SUDOKU

GRUPO Marques del Atrio has opened a UK subsidiary in a bid to grow the Spanish winemaker’s sales in its second-biggest export market. The company wants to account for 10% of the UK’s Rioja sales and expand the range of wines it sells in the country to take in denominations such as Navarra and Ribera del Duero. UK subsidiary director, Marie Knight, said: “Spain is a highly-valued market in the United Kingdom and having great wines not only from Rioja but from the main Spanish denominations of origin offers us the potential to reach an increasingly demanding segment of consumers.” The London office is Grupo Marques del Atrio’s third international site. It also has subsidiaries in the US and China and is looking to expand to Canada and Mexico. Marques del Atrio’s largest export market.

6 St. Paul’s first name (4) 7 The majority when one third vote one way and the rest the other (3-2-3) 9 Quivers (8) 10 Leaf of a book (4) 11 Yellow quartz (5) 12 Credos (7) 14 Selling (7) 16 Untamed (5) 18 Disputed Middle East strip (4) 20 A “Family first” policy, perhaps (8) 21 One on her own rips tens to pieces (8) 22 Cups’ edges (4) Down 1 Short negligee (8) 2 Nature lover’s quest (5,3,5) 3 Agitated condition (5) 4 Airy dessert (6) 5 Issued without charge (13) 8 Bother persistently with trivial complaints (3) 12 Very popular (3) 13 Aroused, S. Amer. foe is frightening (8) 15 Polar degrees (6) 17 Recreation (5) 19 Current unit (3)

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BUSINESS

Inflation nation

THE Spanish economy will continue to be battered by a high inflation rate for the rest of summer, according to economy minister, Nadia Calvino. June's inflation rate stood at above 10% - the first time double figures had been reached in almost 40 years. The government has now backtracked on earlier forecasts that the rate would fall in the next few months. Speaking to Radio Nacional, Nadia Calvino said: “Forecasts are that high inflation, very high, will continue. “Our goal is to get inflation down to near the EU average.” She added that the government will take more measures to cushion the negative impact on consumers. Inflation has accelerated in the last few months, driven by rising energy and food prices.

July 29th - August 11th 2022

THE investment arm of Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega, founder and main shareholder of fashion group Inditex, has seen its real estate assets market value rise by over €1 billion in 2021. Pontegadea has a 60% stake in Inditex and manages a portfolio of property investments that include holdings in Madrid, New York, Toronto,

ALRIGHT FOR SOME

and London. Pontegadea recorded a net profit of €1.6 billion in 2021 up from €666 million in 2020, boosted by Inditex’s dividends which soared as the fashion retailer Zara recovered strongly from pandemic restrictions.

Ortega, 86, has mainly focused on real-estate assets though in recent years he has taken stakes in energy, including a 5% share in electricity grid operator Red Electrica and a 49% stake in a wind farm operated by Repsol.

BRITS SPLASH THE CASH Bonanza as Uk investment in Spain soars

BRITAIN has beaten the US to be crowned the top investor in Spain in the first quarter of 2022. UK companies and individuals spent an incredible €3.3 billion, an increase of 17% from the first quarter of 2020. It means the UK is now the largest foriegn investor in Spain.

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The British Chamber of Commerce in Andalucia broke the news at a special event to shine a light on the importance of British investment. At the event, attended by Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre, it was explained that the exceptional performance was boosted by massive investments in the sporting and entertainment sector. These included a record deal with British based CVC Capital funds to broadcast the top tier of Spanish football league LaLiga. In Andalucia, 2021 saw a bumper year of spending from the UK, with some €150 million invested in the area. The bulk of the money (90%) came from the food and hospi-

Banked: New La Liga deal

tality sector driven by tourism with construction (2%), real estate (2%) and science and technology (2%) also significant sources of investment. The news paints a much more healthy picture of UK foreign investment in spite of concerns over additional red tape in the

INTERESTING HIKE T

GBP/EUR exchange rate retreats as ECB shocks with 50bps rate hike

HE past couple of weeks has seen the pound euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate trend broadly lower in response to a surprisingly aggressive interest rate hike from the European Central Bank (ECB). During this period we saw GBP/EUR fall from a high of €1.1875 to strike a low of €1.1657.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? After soaring higher in the first week of July, the pound euro exchange rate initially sought to carry this momentum forward into the middle of the month, which led to the pound striking a new two-month high. This initial upside in the pairing was primarily attributed to EUR weakness, with the euro’s drop to parity with the US dollar reflecting negatively on the single currency’s other pairings. Also dragging on the euro were persistent concerns over European energy security. However, a subsequent pullback in the US dollar allowed the euro to quickly bounce back from its lowest levels. At the same time, barring a brief spike on the back of a stronger-than-expected GDP release, the pound struggled to attract support as the start of the Conservative leadership race stoked UK political uncertainty. The start to the second half of July then saw the euro rally ahead of the ECB’s latest interest rate decision, amid reports the bank might discuss a 50bps rate hike this month. The euro extended these gains as the ECB ultimately opted for a half percent increase. Meanwhile a slew of high-impact UK data releases infused volatility into the pound last week. A hotter-than-expected inflation print coupled with a lacklustre wage growth reading raised fresh concerns over the UK’s cost of living crisis. This offset some of the support Sterling saw as GBP investors began to price in a 50bps rate hike from the Bank of England (BoE) next month.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR? Looking ahead, a key catalyst of movement in the GBP/EUR exchange rate over the next couple of weeks is likely to be the BoE’s latest interest rate decision. If the bankter delivers a 50bps interest rate hike and signals it will continue to raise rates into the Autumn then the pound is likely to strengthen. On the other hand, Sterling’s upside potential is likely to remain capped as the Tory leadership race continues to cause market uncertainty. On the other side of the Channel the focus may be on Europe’s energy security. While gas flows through the Nord Stream pipeline have resumed, the reduced capacity means the threat of shortages remains. In terms of data, the Eurozone’s latest GDP and inflation releases will be in the spotlight. The former could act as a headwind for the euro if it reports Eurozone growth stalled or even contracted in the second quarter. While another acceleration of inflation may be supportive of EUR as it bolsters ECB rate hike expectations. PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY This kind of volatility can cause some nasty surprises if you need to transfer money overseas. On a £200,000 transfer, just a one-cent gap translates to a €2,000 difference. And the larger the sum, the higher the discrepancy. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect against volatility. Specialist currency brokers, such as Currencies Direct, offer different tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the currency market. For instance, you can use a forward contract to secure an exchange rate for up to a year. This way, you won’t lose out if the market moves against you. Services like rate alerts and daily updates make it easy to keep track of what’s going on in the forex world so that you can make informed decisions. And with Currencies Direct you’ll have a dedicated account manager there to provide guidance and support whenever you need them. At Currencies Direct we’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers. Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 325,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more.

post-Brexit era. Indeed, over three quarters of UK firms in Spain surveyed said they would be increasing their investment in the country for the rest of 2022. The mayor said: “The UK is an important country for Spain, Andalucia and Malaga.”

Cough up BANKINTER says plans for a windfall tax on banks in Spain to help fight the cost of living will hurt economic growth and dent investor confidence in the sector. The government expects to net €3 billion from banks over the next two years, along with €4 billion from energy companies thanks to the tax. The windfall tax proposal is causing investors to turn their backs on the sector and the country, Bankinter Chief Executive Maria Dolores Dancausa told reporters. “Uncertainty generates a lot of damage and is a very slow phenomenon to reverse,” she said, adding that this would also hurt economic growth in Spain. Her comments came as Bankinter reported a net profit of €271 million in the first half of 2022, up by 11 % on the same period last year. Economy minister Nadia Calvino said the rationale for taxing banks was to prevent windfall profits on higher interest rates.

CRISIS?: Dancausa

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HEALTH Disgraceful

Baby infected

A SEVEN-month old baby has been infected with monkeypox, health authorities in Madrid have confirmed. The baby, as well as both parents, have tested positive for the virus and are isolating at their home in the Spanish capital. The health authority confirmed the infant had contracted the illness from the parents. The three of them were said to be ‘recovering well’. Since the first case of monkeypox was detected in Spain in mid-May, some 1,577 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the country. It has mostly affected men who have sex with men, with an outbreak traced to a gay sauna in the capital and at Pride festival in the Canary Islands. “The same contagion profile is maintained at a general level as until now, that is, men who have sex with men in high-risk situations,” insisted the regional government in a statement.

Outrage over enforced C-section

OP Puzzle solutions Across: 6 Saul, 7 Two-to-one, 9 Vibrates, 10 Page, 11 Topaz, 12 Beliefs, 14 Vending, 16 Feral, 18 Gaza, 20 Nepotism, 21 Spinster, 22 Rims. Down: 1 Camisole, 2 Flora and fauna, 3 State, 4 Mousse, 5 Complimentary, 8 Nag, 12 Big, 13 Fearsome, 15 Ninety, 17 Sport, 19 Amp.

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Put your health first Dear Jennifer:

Make sure you understand exactly what cover you have

By Alex Trelinski

A United Nations committee says a Basque Country woman should be compensated after being forced to have a caesarean section birth which involved having her arms strapped down. The UN committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women said medical staff were guilty of 'obstetric violence' against the woman. Doctors at San Sebastian hospital induced the woman prematurely and without her consent, the committee said. They then proceeded with a

July 29th - August 11th 2022

SHOCKING: Committee condemns mother’s treatment C-section without her husband present and did not allow her to immediately hold her newborn boy since she was still strapped down, it added. Spain's Health Ministry de-

clined to comment on the case, but said a draft law approved in May would help promote good childbirth practices through a series of national guidelines. The committee said such malpractice in childbirth is widespread and ingrained in healthcare systems, while they also said the woman suffered physical and psychological damage. Despite considerable numbers of reports from women, public investigations into such cases are rare.

Investigated

In 2020, in a similar case, the same UN committee also ruled against Spain in one of the only other examples where childbirth practices were investigated by the committee.

HIPRA HOPE SPAIN'S new Covid vaccine made by Girona-based pharmaceutical company Hipra is producing a good antibody response to the Omicron variants causing cases to rise across Europe. According to Hipra, 14 days after a booster is administered there is an increase in neutralising antibodies on the new variants. The findings are in addition to previous results showing a better response when compared to the Pfizer vaccine. A Hipra spokesperson said: “The vaccine is a more lasting and effective protection against new variants with a high safety profile as no adverse effects have been detected during the study phase.” Trials will continue on Hipra as a booster dose to satisfy the demands of the European Medicines Agency which has to grant permission for the new vaccine to be used. Some 200 volunteers from 10 hospitals in Spain will take part in new clinical trials from the end of summer. Health Minister Carolina Darias said she wanted the Hipra vaccine to be available ‘as soon as possible’.

APPRECIATE everything has changed due to Brexit, but it is now far more important to have health insurance than ever. This is not as easy as it sounds as the choices are limited. Be very careful when deciding. Banks, for example, should usually be avoided as they offer relatively poor cover. You need to make sure there is an English speaker who can help you understand exactly what you are purchasing and how to use it. It is vital you follow the guidelines for using the policy, especially in regards to emergencies and hospitalisation or you could find yourself with a hefty bill to pay if you do not follow the correct procedures. If you decide to use the Spanish National Health, you will be required to provide a SIP card, EHIC or payment before treatment. The Spanish health system is very stretched, and of course this means long waiting lists. ASSSA provides hospitals, clinics, specialists and doctors, many of whom speak several languages to make your health decisions easier and faster. If you are suffering with immnse pain, you do need to discover what is causing it and this can take many months to resolve if you go through the public system. Private health care offers the opportunity to speed up the process. ASSSA also provides emergency cover and their own ambulances, where you will be taken to a hospital related to ASSSA which you find in your ASSSA book. My company has an ASSSA administrator to help answer your questions, process your authorisation requests and liaise with ASSSA on your behalf. Yes, there are many cheaper options available, but be wary of low prices as you will usually find you will not get what you need or expect. All private health insurance in Spain is limited in certain areas, so be sure to understand these limitations before purchasing. Of course, ASSSA health policies are accepted for your residencia and visa applications and they provide all legal certification required. Unlike health insurance in the UK, you will be presently surprised at the prices here in Spain. The difference is the Spanish government does not discourage the use of private health care and therefore the prices and taxes are far lower than you may think.

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PROPERTY

July 29th August 11th 2022

First time buyer boost SPAIN’S youth is notoriously late at leaving their parents’ home and taking their own step onto the property ladder. And in today’s climate of low wages, unstable work contracts, rising inflation and soaring house prices, who can blame them? But Madrid regional authorities are hoping to change that with moves to encourage first time buyers under the age of 35. This week they unveiled the ‘My First Home’ package to grant up to 95% mortgages to young people within the Madrid

Community. Madrid’s Department of Housing has earmarked €18 million budget to ‘guarantee’ loans for those under 35s who have a sufficient salary but can’t raise the usual deposit demanded by banks. “With My First Home, the regional government will encourage the emancipation of those young people from Madrid who, despite having financial solvency, do not have enough savings to obtain a mortgage,” said Madrid’s housing chief Paloma Martin announcing the scheme.

“In collaboration with the banks, we will offer a guarantee to those who do have sufficient financial resources to find the deposit needed for the home they want to buy,” she said.

HOUSING CRASH Fury as British developer to build on radioactive land in Spain’s Almeria

Magnificent land situated in Santa Ponsa In a pleasant neighbourhood | CP000286 | Price: 2.250.000€ plot: 2.574m2

RISKY: Site is near the contaminated zone but developers deny radiation is present

THERE has been outrage in Almeria after a British developer announced it is building on potentially radioactive land. The plot in Palomares is near the site where a nuclear armed US B-52 bomber crashed after colliding with a refuelling aircraft in January 1966.

COSTA LOT

THE most expensive property on website Idealista has been revealed to be in Mallorca. The €35 million villa sits on a plot of 8,263 sqm in exclusive Cala Vinyes. Not only does the seaside property have its own bar, several chill out areas and access to a private yacht dock, it also boasts its own cave, said to be perfect for private events. “From the moment you get in the house you realise it is a unique property, you feel that you are in a unique place,” the owner explained. “The white roofs and the wide curves, in harmony with nature, make this villa special,” he added. The 1,479 sqm home has several terraces including outdoor dining areas, indoor entertainment and relaxation rooms, an infinity pool, barbecue, gym and a separate guest villa.

WORTH IT?: The futuristic villa has everything including a cave

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By George Mathias

The bomber was armed with four 1.5 megatonne atomic bombs, two of which had their conventional explosives set off, spreading nuclear radiation across a wide area. The company, Bahia de Almanzora, is British owned and has outlined huge plans to build some 1,600 homes in the area as well as a hotel and a sports complex. The plot sits just one and a half kilometres from the zone deemed to be still contaminated and dangerous. The area in Palomares has been cordoned off ever since the crash.

Plutonium

Jose Ignacio Dominguez, a lawyer from Ecologists in Action, condemned the decision, telling the Guardian: “The plutonium isn’t just in the fenced-off area because it’s carried on the wind and by animals such as birds and rabbits.” Dominguez said tests conducted by the group found ‘dangerously high levels’ of radiation outside the crash zone. Company director Fraser Prynne meanwhile told the Guardian the contaminated land was ‘nowhere near the development.’ “This stuff about particles flying about is nonsense,” he said.

Jason 679 216 527 www.mallorcaexpress.com Based in Palma

DISASTER: B-52 and tanker collided

SMART YACHTING & BOATSETTER ARRIVE IN MALLORCA

MART Yachting and Boatsetter.com are proud to announce the opening of a new office and meeting point in Mallorca. Having officially opened its doors on Friday, July 15, in the exclusive Puerto Portals harbour, the new premises combine office space for the local Smart Yachting representatives as well as a new MIRA café, which will serve as the meeting point for day charters and a relaxed and welcoming place to socialise. The opening comes after Smart Yachting expanded into Puerto Banus earlier in the year, making it the third physical office of the growing company in Spain. Originally established on Ibiza, the Smart Yacht-

Part of the Balearic Islands renowned Smart Group, and in partnership with U.S. charter booking platform Boatsetter, the yacht brokerage is expanding its presence in Spain with a new office in Mallorca

ing concept combines yacht brokerage and boat maintenance services for private owners - or those who want to become such. The Smart Yachting office in Mallorca focuses primarily on acquiring and selling yachts, as well as helping private boat owners to maintain and charter out their own vessels throughout the year. The service includes full annual maintenance by qualified in-house mechanics, customisation services including upholstery, painting, wrapping, electrical and demotic systems, short- and longterm mooring options, winter storage and expert advice on charter options.

Fleet

Boatsetter, with support from the local Smart Yachting team, will take care of the private day charters operating out of Portals. The company currently has a fleet of five boats located in a number of different locations around the island. Director of Sales, Tim Hope, commented: “We are thrilled to be expanding Smart Yachting in another exciting destination. “Our business model has proven a success in Ibiza, and the glamorous Puerto

Portals on our sister island of Mallorca was the obvious next location. “Apart from helping yachting enthusiasts to find - or sell - a boat, our maintenance service also takes the hassle out of being a private owner and to offset the costs associated.” Smart Yachting is part of the renowned Smart Group, which was founded in Ibiza in 2014 and also includes the Balearic Islands’ largest boat rental company, Smart Charter Ibiza. With over 50 privately owned boats across three locations in the company's fleet, Smart Yachting gives private owners access to an impressive and varied portfolio. Established in 2018, the partnership with U.S. company Boatsetter has helped the fast-growing business expand its charter services beyond Europe and into the American market. The new Smart Yachting location in Mallorca will add to the Smart Group's growing presence in Spain, which already includes the company's official headquarters, the inaugural Smart Yachting office and official charter meeting point, restaurant and harbour hotspot MIRA in Ibiza, as well as Smart Yachting and Smart Charter Marbella in Puerto Banus - equalling six representative venues in total.

For further informatio n www.smartyachting.c visit om, www.boatsetter.com an d www.smartchartermall orca.com

YACHT BROKERAGE, MANAGEMENT & CHARTER SERVICES IN PUERTO PORTALS S M A R T YAC H T I N G . C O M SMARTCHARTERMALLORCA .COM

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Cyber revenge

FINAL WORDS

A SACKED worker has been arrested in San Pedro del Pinatar for launching a cyber attack on his former employers which wiped key parts of the company server.

Paw-pulation SPAIN has more pets than young children, with 15 million furry and feathered companions compared to 6.6 million children under 15 as pet ownership soared under pandemic restrictions.

Buzzed off TWO beekeepers made a fake €96,000 insurance claim by saying an incredible 1,200 hives had been stolen from their Ontinyent farm. A father and son have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Xativa.

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www.theolivepress.es July 29th - August 11th 2022

Terrace tax Gastrobar hits headlines for charging customers every time a waiter served them on terrace A BAR in Spain is getting online flak after it started charging customers 20 cents every time a waiter served them on the terrace. The Imperial Bar at Benavente (Castilla and Leon) is also accused of making diners pay for cutlery, with complaints doing the rounds on social media. Customer Blas Galey Her-

By Alex Trelinski

moso from Bailen was shocked by the surcharges when he went on holiday to north-west Spain and his comments have gone viral. “Every time the waiter came to the terrace table to bring something: beer, the tapa … he charged us 20 cents,” he said.

THE Supreme Court has ordered the Policia Nacional to stop discriminating against ‘shorter’ women wanting to join it. A prospective female candidate filed a complaint to the court after she was rejected in 2017 for being six centimetres too short. The woman’s legal team argued that the rules favoured men because just 3% of Spain's male population do not meet the height requirement, compared to around 25% of Spanish women. Current Policia

STEEP: Unorthodox charging panned “The last straw was the euro The Imperial Bar claimed that he charged us to [bring] the additional charge was for cutlery”, Galey commented. every drink that was served rather than every time the waiter went to the table. It added that it’s ‘common practice’ for venues to charge an extra fee for service on the terrace. Online Nacional rules say women must meet a reviews have been scathing minimum height requirement of 1.60 meof what has been going on at tres, while men must be at least 1.65 metres the business. tall. One customer said: “They Judges ruled that height requirements charged me for cutlery service. must take into account the average height We ordered several beers and for each sex - 1.74 metres for men and 1.63 they charged us 20 cents for metres for women. each trip the waiter made to the terrace.”

Get shorty

AFTER years of campaigning by pet owners, there is finally good news for travellers in Spain who like to take their pooches with them. Renfe has announced it will allow dogs weighing up to 40kg to travel on certain high-speed trains between Madrid and Barcelona. Spain’s train operator announced it will carry out a three-month long pilot trial of the policy, beginning September 13 and running until a week before Christmas. “This pilot is one more step in the company’s commitment to its customers, as we think it is really important for our passengers to be able to travel with their pets,” said a spokesperson from Renfe. Current rules only allow animals weighing up to 10 kg to travel on trains as long as they are carried in pet carriers, with the exception of support dogs. During the trial, one large dog per passenger will be allowed, with a maximum of two large dogs per carriage. Other EU countries like Germany, Italy and the Netherlands allow large dogs to travel with their owners on the train.