Olive Press Costa Blanca issue 151 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

Up in ﬂames

BRITISH expats are demanding answers following the ‘disgraceful’ disappearing act of a major funeral planning company in Spain.

Iberian Funeral Plans vanished overnight on March 3 allegedly following the death of its own founder Stephen Nelson.

The dramatic collapse has likely left hundreds, if not thousands, of clients with their funeral plans null and void.

Expats are now vowing to uncover the truth behind the emerging scandal, amid fears the large sums they coughed up for end-of-life arrangements were instead spent on Nelson’s ‘lavish’ lifestyle.

For over a week now, the ﬁrm has not been responding to any emails, while its telephone lines appear to be dead, causing anger, shock and frustration.

The Olive Press has been inundated with calls and emails, pleading for information.

Citizens Advice Bureau Spain (CAB) branded the development ‘despicable’ and ‘heartless’, with many expats already feeling the impact.

One grieving woman, who asked to remain anonymous, is unable to mourn her husband of 60 years, because the Collyfer Crematorium in Almeria is refusing to hand over his ashes until paid.

The 77-year-old, based in Albox, said her husband died unexpectedly of blood cancer on February 24.

But while she had paid €3,600 to Iberian, it seems she was never covered.

“When you’ve lost your partner of 56 years you’re in a very vulnerable state,” the Essex native told the Olive Press.

“That’s bad enough, but then on top of that they’ve taken our money, yet we can’t get the ashes.

“Iberian don’t care about the grief caused.”

Though she understands the crematorium needs to be paid for their services, she alleges the situation was handled ‘very insensitively’ causing ‘multiple meltdowns’ for the family.

“When my son asked when their father was going to be cremated, the woman just looked at her watch and said, ‘oh, in about 10 minutes’,” claims the former dental assistant.

“We’re devastated and full of grief. It is only the anger keeping me going.”

When contacted by the Olive Press, Collyfer’s owner Antonio Collado claimed the situation was ‘not their fault’ and they ‘won’t give up the ashes until they are paid’ despite wanting to ‘help’.

VALENCIANS have used the traditional festival to voice their outrage after hundreds were killed in tragic ﬂooding last October.

The region’s iconic festival celebrates the arrival of spring by burning satirical models in the streets.

This year’s Ninot Exhibition, which showcases the smaller ﬁgures that compose larger scenes, revealed a swathe of designs criticising the handling of disastrous DANA storms last year.

Held at the Museo de las Ciencias, the scenes often referenced the late warning message sent

By Yzabelle Bostyn

had a nearby registered address in Portimao. Under his full name Stephen Nelson George he held companies under the same name in Britain and Portugal.

Companies who oﬀer funeral services in the UK must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, but Spain has no such safeguarding.

Iberian therefore did not hold money in a trustee backed bank account, in spite of contracts which misleadingly stated funds were held in corporate bank accounts with BBVA, Santander and HSBC.

out to citizens while many were already ﬁghting against the devastating ﬂoods.

One sculpture shows an disembodied arm sticking out from the mud, clutching their mobile phone while regional leader

Carlos Mazon grinning holding a bottle of wine, making reference to the dinner he enjoyed before attending crisis talks.

Another shows Pedro Sanchez’s suggesting the Valencian Community should ‘ask for help’, showing the Prime Minister standing over a muddy Mazon.

Meanwhile others applauded volunteers who ﬂocked to help, many bearing the phrase ‘only the people save the people’.

EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of expats left reeling after funeral planning company vanishes without trace

It comes amid rumours that Nelson used funeral plan payments to fund a lavish lifestyle on the Algarve

“I got the shock of my life when I found out, it’s disgusting and absolutely unacceptable,” Scottish expat Helen Hammond told the Olive Press.

Like many customers, the 76-yearold found out she had lost her almost €4,000 funeral plan through our social media.

“I had to read it twice because I thought I was seeing things. They

Burning issue on page 14

GRAVEROBBERS!

O P LIVE RESS

deﬁnitely took advantage of the expat community. When you come out here you trust everyone, so when I was recommended Iberian I went for it.”

Many expats took out plans to make the funeral preparations as easy as possible for their family back home.

“I took out a plan to save my children from all the heartache, but now it’s gone. I’m livid and furious, I thought I was doing the best thing for my children,” Torrevieja

resident Sue Truman told t he Olive Press.

“There are hundreds in the same boat as me. I’m not going to let them get away with it.”

As everyone wonders what will happen with their money, fellow funeral providers told the Olive Press

they were offering advice and support.

“We recognise the financial and emotional distress customers are facing,” Jason Gardener of Avalon Funeral Plans said.

“To support those impacted, we have established a financial assistance initiative for customers holding Iberian plans so they (can) acquire a fully regulated and FCA-authorised funeral plan.

“This situation reinforces the need for stronger consumer protection in the funeral planning industry, particularly for British expatriates living in Europe.”

He is one of many providers offering free or discounted services for those affected, including Grupo Rocamer, Compare Funerals and Funeral Care Spain.

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau is currently preparing a class action lawsuit against Iberian.

Have you been aﬀected? Contact us at newsdesk@theolivepress.es

The Olive Press has discovered that Nelson, who lived for many years in Alhaurin, moved just over the Portugal border to Castro Marin ﬁve years ago. The company

FUMING: Helen Hammond (left) and Sue Truman have been left without cover after Iberian disappeared

fallas

NEWS IN BRIEF

Coastal battle

THE Valencian government will appeal against new public domain orders in Denia’s Les Deveses area that could see many residents lose ownership of their homes under coastal laws.

In the money

VALENCIA-based supermarket chain Mercadona announced record profits of €1.3billion in 2024 with owner-chairman Juan Roig describing the figure as ‘spectacular’.

Digi boost

BENIDORM will get €3.1 million in EU grants for 20 digital tourism projects that will be totally grant-funded including a ‘smart’ car parking system.

Scooter kids

TWO boys aged 9 and 11 have had their electric scooters confiscated by police after illegally riding them in Rojales. One of the escooters could reach 80 km/h.

FIVE people have been caught making special trips to Alicante-Elche airport to steal from duty free shops. Three men and two women - all Romanians - bought cheap flight tickets to access the stores on the other side of the security check area.

Duty free thefts Heartless conman

They only once took a flight - to Palma - with an array of stolen goods in bags. They were each given one-year

Brits’ death charges

A MAN has been arrested and charged with intentional homicide after two British tourists died on a Murcia road last year. The Moroccan national was towing an inflatable boat used to smuggle drugs and migrants, which came loose and struck the Brits’ car on November 16. The male victims, aged 49 and 57, died instantly on the RM-

By Alex Trelinski

12 in La Manga when the boat came loose after joining the highway from Llano del Beal. The rental car used by three unnamed British friends on a golfing holiday felt the full force of the boat crashing into them. It caused a seven-vehicle pile

Unlucky day

A BENIDORM restaurant owner was arrested after his business was robbed when police noticed that French authorities wanted him extradited for a money laundering conviction. It was a day to forget for the 58-year-old Spaniard - prompted by three burglars plundering his premises.

The Policia Nacional caught them

jail terms by an Elche court which banned them for 40 months from being within 500 metres of the airport.

Tobacco and perfumes were targeted, with the Guardia Civil recovering items worth around €7,600.

Man arrested after two tourists killed in road crash

The single British survivor, 51, was admitted in a serious condition to Murcia’s La Arrixaca hospital, with 10 others suffer-

red-handed outside, clutching several bottles of alcohol and other items.

Officers then checked the restaurateur’s details and saw that France had an arrest warrant out for him over a 2017 crime. The man was stopped by French police who discovered €249,000 in cash hidden in his car. He got the money in Amsterdam which had been earned from drug trafficking. He was tried and jailed for three years but fled back to Spain.

ing various injuries as a result of the pileup. After extensive efforts, investigators identified the make and model

of the vehicle that was towing the boat, in addition to its location and the driver’s identity despite his use of fake licence plates.

The suspect was one of 17 members of a smuggling gang arrested in February during raids in Elche, Rojales, and Molina de Segura.

Besides double homicide, the middle-aged man has been charged with causing injury and material damage, road safety violations, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Two cars were seized in the police raids including the vehicle that was towing the boat.

The 10-metre-long inflatable with two 300 horsepower engines was used by the criminals to ferry migrants and drugs across the Strait of Gibraltar.

A SCAMMER pocketed over €32,000 from Valencia flood victims for non-existent home repairs.

The 41-year-old Spaniard went round a flood-hit estate in Torrent taking deposits, hood-winking at least eight residents. He was arrested in Burriana last month and violently resisted Policia Nacional officers. Victims filed complaints about the man in January, who had previous arrests for similar crimes.

He reeled in people by offering cut-price estimates but asked for half of the cost to be paid up front.

AN illegal laboratory with capacity and materials to make three million doses of anabolic steroids has been busted by the Policia Nacional.

The clandestine lab was located in an unnamed Alicante province town and 11 people have been arrested.

The group hand-delivered steroids to customers to minimise the chances of being caught. The material used to make the sports performance enhancers came from mainly Asian countries.

It arrived in parcels with bogus labels saying they contained flour, pasta or nutritional supplements.

The gang leader, who also made the steroids, pocketed at least €15,000 per month from sales.

PET SHOP DATE

LEGENDARY British pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys, are coming to Spain this summer to wow fans with their decades

Starlite festival on July 16. They will then head east to perform at Benidorm's Low Festival between July 25 and 27. The duo have been regulars to Catalunya in the past, appearing in Barcelona’s Sonar festival in 2002 and returning for Primavera Sound in 2010.

‘Ashamed’ US expats to hold anti-Trump rallies across Spain, including Malaga and Sevilla

US citizens living in Spain are planning to hold nationwide protests against Donald Trump.

Organised by Democrats Abroad, the rallies will take place in major cities across

By Laurence Dollimore

the mainland on March 29, including Malaga, Barcelona, Sevilla, Madrid and Valencia.

The organisation told the Olive Press 'anyone is invited' to join the marches, which aim to make it clear that 'a large percentage' of US expats are 'completely opposed' to the president's policies.

Carey Ramos, head of Democrats Abroad in Malaga, told the Olive Press : "The horrific actions of the past six weeks since Trump's inauguration, both within the US and internationally, have motivated US citizens residing in Spain to speak up and get involved in

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have some of pop music’s most iconic hits in their repertoire, including West End Suburbia Always on Mind. Fans will be able to catch them ﬁrst in Sevilla’s Iconica festival on June 17 (tickets went on sale this week), followed by Marbella at the

The venerable hit monsters most recently appeared in Spain last year at the Cruilla Festival –again in Barce-

NOT OUR PRESIDENT!

whatever way possible.

"We hope that these protests will help demonstrate to Spaniards and citizens of all nationalities that a large percentage of US citizens (approximately half) are completely opposed to what is occurring."

Ramos added: "How to summarize our feelings? Horror, disgust, anger, exasperation, deep sadness, and shame/ embarrassment on behalf of our country.

"We hope that hundreds of concerned citizens of all nationalities will attend the protest."

Picture perfect

RENOWNED photographer

Annie Leibovitz unveiled her portrait photos of the King and Queen of Spain at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

Leibovitz, regarded as the most prestigious – and highest-paid – photographer in the world, displayed the photos in the Gasparini room as part of an exhibition called 'The Tyranny of Cronos' King Felipe and Queen Letizia had a long chat with Leibovitz, 75, after seeing the photos for the ﬁrst time.

Their ﬁrst reaction was to laugh and then discuss the portraits among themselves – apparently dwelling a little longer on the

Queen's image.

The King and Queen along with Leibovitz posed next to the portraits for photographers.

"Did you like them?" they asked, with a smiling Felipe nodding in reply.

The works were commissioned in 2024 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Felipe VI's reign, which coincided with the couple's 20th wedding anniversary. On February 7, the Royal couple posed for almost ﬁve hours, trying out diﬀerent poses, clothes, and gestures.

The ﬁnal versions saw Felipe in a high-collared army uniform and Letizia in a black and fuchsia Balenciaga dress.

statement: “Our objective administration.

The organisation said in a statement: “Our objective is to protest the actions and policies of the Trump administration. We welcome all nationalities to attend.”

Trump announced that he will soon be imposing tariffs on agricultural products imported into the US starting from April 2.

It comes as Spain's agricultural exporters are bracing for a potential €3.5 billion blow when new US tariffs come into effect.

ROSA-LOSER

SPANISH singer Rosalia tasted defeat in her legal battle to stop a Bulgarian jewellery brand from using the name ‘Rozaliya’.

The popstar had tried to argue that the brand name was too similar to her own and might cause confusion.

However the European Union disagreed, ruling last week that Raphael Europe Ltd were using the trademark ‘genuinely’.

The Bulgarian company registered the trademark on September 6, 2016 for the sale of jewellery and leather goods. The court ordered it could be used

for the former but not the latter. The singer appealed the decision to the General Court, where it was upheld.

lona.

iconic It's a Sin, of classics. Girls, and

Mechanic exits

AN alleged ‘cowboy mechanic’ accused of swindling dozens of British expats out of thousands of euros has reportedly moved back to the UK.

PIONEERING FLIGHTS

BENIDORM has become the ﬁrst European city to host a simultaneous demonstration of an air taxi and drones ﬂying in a built-up area.

A dozen drones and a two-passenger taxi went over the resort’s Levante and Poniente beaches.

The trial was part of a European proj-

Some of them contacted the Olive Press to say that Mikey Brierley and his family have relocated to the London area.

Brierley was being taken to court after 40 alleged victims found each other online

One said a ‘for rent’ sign has appeared on his former Almoradi property.

As previously reported, Brierley allegedly faked having to order in parts for repairs while leaving vehicles parked up and untouched for months.

He also allegedly used customers’ cars as ‘replacement vehicles’ when other clients became stranded on the roadside.

School vote

OVER half of Valencia region parents voted to decide whether Spanish or Valenciano should be the main language used in school lessons from September.

Education Minister Jose Antonio Rovira lauded the 58% turnout.

The ﬁnal results for each Valencia region public school saw 65% of parents in Alicante province opting for Spanish as the primary language, while Valenciano led in Valencia province with nearly 58% of the vote.

ect aimed at using both types of craft safely in an urban environment - monitored by new ‘game-changing’ technology. Benidorm was regarded as a perfect test zone with its high number of skyscrapers in a concentrated area. A digital air traﬃc control system

TAXI: Up and away

called U-Space managed the ﬂights to ensure no problems were caused to conventional aviation.

Death case victory

Family

triumph in reopening probe into Nathan Osman Benidorm cliﬀ fall

THE family of a Welsh tourist who died in a Benidorm cliﬀ fall have convinced the city’s court to reopen an investigation into his death.

Father-of-four Nathan Osman, 30, from Pontypridd became separated from his friends after going out on the ﬁrst day of a Benidorm ‘lads’ holiday last September.

He was found at the foot of a 200-metre cliﬀ and the Policia Nacional closed the case - putting it down to either an accidental death or suicide.

Nathan's brother, Lee Evans and his sister Alannah Hughes, along with her husband Ross felt there were important questions to be answered.

Last week, they ﬂew to the area for meetings with courts and the police.

“We have achieved our aim of reopening the case in a bid to ﬁnd new clues and answers,” said Lee.

The siblings came armed with a dossier of evidence, showing

By Alex Trelinski

Nathan as a family man and not a ‘drunk’ British tourist that to some eyes typifies Benidorm holidaymakers. CCTV footage retrieved by them showed Nathan on the Benidorm promenade on the night he died and he was not in an obvious state of intoxication. They strongly believe Nathan was taken by a person or persons unknown before being robbed and killed. Lee, Alannah, and Ross were unhappy about the first police probe - especially over how somebody could walk so far (around 40 minutes) at 5am to the Sierra Helada cliffs.

VINDICATED: Osman’s family have succeeded in getting the case reopened

Lee said: “We believe that he went the wrong way, and when he realised the mistake, he tried to get a taxi because it was so far from his hotel.

They claim the day after he died, attempts were made to use his bank cards in a supermarket - something that authorities did not follow up.

Man declared dead twice

A MAN who vanished without trace in 1984 died 40 years later in October’s Valencia ﬂoods.

Granada resident Miguel Morales, 72, was declared oﬃcially dead by a judge in 2016.

But his body was discovered in a Quart de Poblet orange ﬁeld in November - possibly dragged by ﬂood torrents from another area.

Since his disappearance 41 years ago, Miguel lived totally off the radar and was identified through a fingerprint match with his first identity card.

“He had no ID, no bank account, no med-

ical card, no medical history and never applied for a state pension,” his daughter Sara revealed. "I discovered he was homeless and nobody knew anything about him,” she added. Miguel had mental health problems when he lived in Granada and regularly disappeared for two or three days.

His family arranged a cremation in Valencia with his ashes transferred to Granada.

“His image disappears and we think he got into an alley where he thought he was taking a taxi that turned out not to be,” he added.

“And something has happened for him to be found where he was found,” Lee continued.

The view of Nathan's family is that he was spotted alone, disoriented and well-dressed, allowing somebody to take advantage of him.

“We think they took him to the top of the Sierra Helada to rob and kill, but we can’t say for sure whether he was murdered before he was thrown oﬀ the cliﬀ,” said Lee Evans.

Alannah said: “I want to be able to look at my brother’s kids when they’re older and tell them we tried everything.

“If we don't try, we won't be able to live with it and cannot rest until we ﬁnd answers.”

The family added that they were grateful for the collaboration of the Policia Nacional and the Benidorm court in meeting with them.

Car tax relief

OWNERS of electric and hybrid vehicles in Torrevieja will get a 75% discount on the annual car tax from next year.

The reduction will also apply to classic cars over 25 years old as well as large family vehicles.

Rationale over the family car tax cut is that they cost more to run, due to their size - impacting more on household budgets.

All political groups on the council supported a motion from the Sueña Torrevieja party calling for the reduction.

Torrevieja has 66,689 registered cars and motorcycles, which bring in €5.3 million each year in tax revenue.

INQUIRIES are continuing into the cause of a warehouse explosion at an Alicante ﬁreworks factory, which killed its owner.

The blast at the Hermanos Sirvent company in Fontcalent took the life of Pedro Luis Sirvent - a well-known ﬁgure in running ﬁrework displays in the area.

Four employees were injured including a 68-year-old man, who suﬀered 80% burns to his body.

He was taken by helicopter to Valencia’s La Fe Hospital. Another worker - Pedro Luis Sirvent’s son, Adrian - was treated for shock.

At one stage around 100 firefighters, police, civil protection staff and paramedics were deployed at the site.

A JUDGE has summoned two former Valencia officials to explain why the October 29 flood alert was not sent until 8.11pm.

Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra is investigating any potential criminality over the handling of the flood disaster which could include reckless homicide charges. Tobarra described the alert as ‘late and erroneous’.

Former Emergencies minister, Salome Pradas and ex-Emergencies department chief, Emilio Argueso have now been ordered to testify at the Catarroja court.

President Carlos Mazonwho sacked both of them - said he would not voluntarily testify and insisted his administration acted ‘with the best diligence at all times’.

Judge Tobarra has also received a report which shows over 15,000 people made calls to the 112 emergency number before the 8.11pm warning was issued. Another court document revealed that most of the 225 flood deaths were elderly people who were trapped or who disappeared before the mid-evening alert.

By P OO LVILLAS

DÉNIA

PUBLIC STATEMENT

Voted top expat paper in

Spain

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

OPINION

Going quietly

THE closure of Iberian Funeral Plans without any communication to customers is both a shocking and distressing abuse of the expat community.

When people make the decision to move abroad, they often put their trust in their fellow countrymen once touching down in a foreign land. That’s exactly what the customers of Iberian did when they signed up to funeral plans with Stephen George Nelson’s company.

Eager to make things as easy as possible for family at home should the worst happen, they took out plans to ensure that if they passed away, everything would be sorted for their loved ones.

Little did they know, Nelson reportedly cared more about living a jet set lifestyle than the grief - and hard earned cash - of hundreds of expats.

The Olive Press has spoken to dozens of people who have lost thousands to Iberian Funeral Plans, but that isn’t the worst part.

As if grieving for a lost family member was not hard enough, now people are having to ﬁgure out how to come up with cash for new funeral services and try to get their original investments back.

Unfortunately, Spain has failed to regulate such businesses and therefore only those using trustee backed bank accounts, which are also regulated by the UK’s FCA, should be trusted. In the worst case scenario, some expats have even been left unable to carry out services for their deceased loved ones.

Fighting this disaster in the courts will likely cost a pretty penny, not one many of those affected by this incident have to spare.

Although it is not yet known for certain the context in which Iberian Funeral Plans ended, it is clear no contingency plans were put in place to protect their loyal customers in their hour of need.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

(+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Tom Ewart Smith tom@theolivepress.es

Estefania Marquez (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

841 distribution@ theolivepress.es

By Michael Coy

MARCH 8 has become an international rallying point for women’s rights, equality, and social justice all around the world.

In Spain, millions of women (and men) take to the streets every year, demanding action on issues such as gender-based violence, wage equality, and reproductive rights.

While the country has seen signiﬁcant progress, challenges remain, especially in the areas of domestic violence and workplace discrimination.

NOT JUST WOMEN’S DAY

As Spain celebrated International Women’s Day at the weekend, the Olive Press takes a look at March 8 and the many other signiﬁcant things that happened on that day throughout the country’s history

Millions of women participated in protests and work stoppages

The most notable demonstration occurred in 2018, when a feminist strike brought Spain to a total standstill that March.

Millions of women participated in protests and work stoppages to demand an end to gender-violence, equal pay and greater representation in politics and business. The event was a powerful reminder of the strength of Spain’s feminist movement and the ongoing struggle for gender equality.

As the country celebrated International Women’s Day on Saturday, it was not only a day to remember the progress made but

The bots are taking over

WE live in Bot City. Bots are driving me dotty.

Whatever happened to personalised customer service? We are constantly subjected to endless algorithm-driven adverts, but where is the human element in the sales pitch?

The other day I wanted to book a night out with the girls at a pizza restaurant, Grosso Napoletano, not far from Madrid’s famous Retiro Park.

I tried booking via their website, and while it was meant to be open on a Monday night, it wouldn’t let me book a table for seven.

The manager stopped folding napkins brieﬂy to hear me out. She agreed that there were teething problems with the bots, and after much persuasion, she handed me the restaurant’s direct telephone number, usually reserved for delivery drivers.

This time of course it was already too late. Despite the frustration they can cause, around 1.5 billion people are using chatbots around the globe.

I even tried booking for one person. But again, no tables were available. Simply not believing that the restaurant was booked out by Madrileños on a wintry Monday night I sought out a phone number which turned out to be a WhatsApp-only number… and then commenced the bot chat.

The countries with the largest share are the US, India, Germany, Brazil and the UK.

also a day to renew the nation’s commitment to the continued ﬁght for women’s rights.

The ﬁght for gender equality here has been a long and arduous journey. While today women in Spain outnumber men in university enrollment, it wasn’t always so. It was the opening of a teacher-training college in Madrid on March 8, 1839 that was to eventually change that. Now, it sounds pretty routine, but at the time it caused a sensation.

Up till then the Catholic Church had complete control of Spanish education, and schools were mostly staffed by priests and nuns.

By the 1830s however, it became clear that science was makuntrained

As AI starts ﬂooding into Spain, Madrid-based journalist Susanna Grant insists that it’s still good old fashioned humans that end up ﬁxing most problems

I don’t know if the programmer of this bot was one pepperoni short of a pizza, but it was incapable of understanding that I just wanted to book a table.

In the end, defeated and deﬂated, I gave up and called a nearby competitor with a human answering the phone who seductively purred ‘Ciao Bella’ as I spelt out my name.

When the night came for our soiree, I decided to pop across the road to have a word with the staff at the deserted Grosso Napoletano.

Chatbots are predicted to become the primary customer service channel for a quarter of businesses by 2027. As with all technology, AI-powered assistants and chatbots are becoming increasingly sophisticated. To the extent that, according to Price Waterhouse Cooper, almost 30% of customers don’t know if their last customer service chat was with a human or a chatbot. Chatbots are meant to have two main benefits; firstly, they offer instant support and, secondly, they offer it 24/7. But clearly they don’t always work. Indeed, as I have been writing this I have been conversing on WhatsApp with a Hewlett Packard bot ‘who’ is supposedly fixing my printer.

But finally after an hour and 45 minutes of repeating my personal details and my printer’s woes, I asked if he could just phone me. Clearly not appreciating my slight on his digital aptitude for fixing the issue he hung up. Furious, I decided to change tack and tried what was described as the ‘callback service’, and less than five minutes later, a lovely South American lady asked if she could access my laptop to fix the problem, which she did in less than five minutes. She even took the trouble to talk through the process afterwards while I took notes so that I can do it myself on any other similar devices.

Amazing what humans can do these days. It appears that nurses are not even required to look after patients in hospitals these days. Following a recent operation, I was hooked up to a sleeve in intensive care. It seemed to wait until I was just nodding off before suddenly tightening

STRIKE: Feminists brought Spain to a standstill in 2018

NO BOT: Chat bots cannot yet replicate the competence of a human

By Susannah Grant

SPECIAL DAY: Thousands of women turned out in Madrid, but March 8 is a date that has extra signiﬁcance in Spain

clergy perhaps, were not the best people to teach the country’s children.

The Church, of course, hated the idea and fought against the idea of civilian teachers coming in, seeing this (correctly) as the beginning of the end of the cleric’s power in Spain.

years before Oxford did!

But in Spain, the signiﬁcance of

The opening of the college was to eventually become the gateway for women to enter the profession, while King Alfonso XIII even allowed women to attend university, a full 10 years before Oxford did!

its iron grip, squeezing the life out of my upper arm and taking my blood pressure at regular intervals throughout the night, whilst the rest of the staff cheered Viva España at a football match on their mobile phones.

They may as well have sent me home with a camera to monitor me remotely. They certainly didn’t notice I was happily munching on dark chocolate almonds I’d squirreled into my toiletry bag. Even my surgeon was trying to persuade me to be operated on by a robot - presumably so he didn’t have to miss any of the footie either.

Maybe in years to come, patients will be put to sleep with 3D glasses on so that they can play interactive football with Ronaldo while a robot takes out their appendix.

the date March 8 goes way beyond that of women’s rights. Historically it is a date that has come up over and over again for notable milestones and events.

MARCH 8 MILESTONES

San Juan de Dios

Take San Juan de Dios (left) for example. He obligingly made it easy for the Vatican to pick March 8 as his Saint’s Day, because it is the date on which he both entered the world (1495) and left it (1550).

cued by other Spaniards and in the 1540s he was made governor of ‘New Andalucia’ (today known as Paraguay), but his rule was a disaster.

Christened Juan Duarte Cidade, he was ‘one of the leading religious ﬁgures in the history of the Iberian Peninsula’. Made a saint in 1690, Juan led an eventful life. After a childhood of poverty, he spent decades in the army before wandering like a beggar in Andalucia and Africa.

But then he had a dream and saw a vision of Jesus with the holy man telling him to go to Granada and help people who were poor and ill.

After a major mental breakdown when he was just 42, he was placed in an asylum, which was not a promising way to start on the route to sainthood.

But on his release he founded his own religious order, the Brothers Hospitallers, which devoted itself to the care of the sick and poor.

He died on his 55th birthday, as a result of pneumonia contracted after diving into a river to save a drowning man.

His legacy continues today, and his feast day, March 8, has been commemorated by the Catholic Church since he was canonized in 1690.

Cabeza de Vaca

Another man associated with March 8 was Cabeza de Vaca, a ‘conquistador’ and Spanish soldier who travelled to the Americas to tame the wild continent and make it a colony of the Spanish king.

Participating in an expedition to explore Cuba in 1527, he was shipwrecked, and only he and three others survived.

Washed ashore in a wilderness now called Florida, the four men survived for eight years by acting as faith healers, curing native American tribes of various illnesses.

THE Olive Press website has gone stratospheric over the last 12 months, latest ﬁgures show.

More than 70,000 people have now registered an account at theolivepress.es, more than double that of a year ago.

He was arrested and charged with incompetence, and in 1545 (on March 8) he was shipped back to Spain to face trial.

His ‘crimes’ were inevitably forgiven, and he lived out his ﬁnal years in Spain, famous for being the Spanish Robinson Crusoe.

Eduardo Dato

Spanish Prime Minister Eduardo Dato (left) was assassinated in Madrid on March 8 1921.

The culprits were three Catalans, who wanted to bring about the independence of Catalunya. This act of violence has to be seen in its international context. An American president and a Portuguese king had recently been murdered for political reasons, and (of course) the UK was having major problems in Ireland at the time of Dado’s death.

Federico Garcia Lorca

The poet and playwright Federico García Lorca was born in Granada in 1898, and by the early 1930s he had established an international reputation for his depiction of Andaluz culture.

It was on March 8, 1933 that he enjoyed his greatest-ever triumph, when his drama Bodas de Sangre (‘Blood Wedding’) ﬁrst took to the stage in Madrid. In beautiful poetic language, the play tells a story of jealousy and violence in the Andalucian countryside. Lorca went on to write Yerma, a play about a woman who wants a baby but can’t get pregnant (her husband is impotent, but everyone blames her), and The House of Bernarda Alba.

Eventually he and his companions were res-

Tragically, Lorca (left) was shot dead by a group of Fascists at the start of the Spanish civil war, while he was still in

It is no surprise then that March 8 is a significant day in the Spanish calendar. A day of significant political upheavals and acts of charity. All in all then a day marked by struggle, progress, and triumph. It is a day to reflect on the past, honour the achievements of women, and continue to push for a more just and equal future for all.

Here is a list of events which, over the centuries, have made March 8 a date that resonates here in Spain. The year is given on the left, and the more signiﬁcant incidents are explained below.

1495 - Saint Juan de Dios (‘John of God’) is born.

1545 - Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca is sent from Paraguay back to Spain to stand trial

1550 - Saint Juan de Dios dies

1820 - King Ferdinand VII grants a constitution

1839 - Training college for teachers opens in Madrid

1910 - King Alfonso the XIII allows women to attend university

1921 - Prime Minister Eduardo Dato is assassinated

1933 - The play, “Blood Wedding”, hits the Madrid stage

After signiﬁcant investment and changes to our paywall provider and web server, we are now seeing around 50 people registering with us each DAY.

Registered users enjoy a range of beneﬁts, including the chance to comment on stories and receive weekly newsletters on travel, health and property.

They also get exclusive competitions, special discounts for restaurants and hotels and a comprehensive daily news update keeping them informed of all key news in Spain. Over the past 30 days alone, we have seen over 1,500 people register an account, while thousands are subscribers paying to allow them unlimited and advert-free access to all our articles. The continued success is thanks to our crack team of NCTJ-trained journalists, who are dotted around Spain and report on the latest news from the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Madrid, Balearic Islands and elsewhere.

Our exclusive reporting is also followed up by the world’s biggest news outlets, such as the MailOnline, BBC, Sky and The Telegraph, opening us up to a wider audience.

According to Google Analytics, during the ﬁrst two months of 2025, we DOUBLED our visitors in almost every country compared to the same period in 2024.

Between January and March, readers from the UK increased by 746%, followed by Spain (+428%), the US (+186%), Ireland (+877%) and Canada (+209%).

Viewership also soared from Germany, the Netherlands, France and Sweden.

Visit our website www.theolivepress.es and join our ever-growing army of well informed readers today.

Looking ahead

Earth Hour 2025 is a global call for action to tackle the climate crisis

WWF is turning its attention to the critical year ahead.

With the upcoming 2025 of Earth Hour, the global initiative will continue to be a beacon of hope, urging people and governments to act decisively in the fight against climate change.

As the world faces increasingly severe environmental challenges, Earth Hour’s

message of urgency and collective action remains more relevant than ever.

The 2025 edition of Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, March 22 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm local time.

The focus will be on further amplifying global participation and pushing for stronger climate action, as international cooperation

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

becomes essential to limit global warming to 1.5°C and protect biodiversity by 2030.

Earth Hour will continue to inspire communities, businesses, and governments to dedicate time and resources to protecting our planet.

As a new feature, WWF is inviting people to share a special place where they feel connected to nature and don’t want to see it disappear due to the adverse effects of the climate crisis. They can choose their favorite natural spot and share pictures and video through their social media and on the Earth Hour website.

The initiative in Spain is being supported by Inditex as a partner once again, as well as from collaborating companies including El Corte Inglés, Mapfre, and Ecovidrio. So far, over 85 companies have decided to participate in this edition.

Media groups including Movistar+, RTVE, the EFE Agency, Los 40 (Prisa Group), Onda Cero Radio (Atresmedia), RBA, Canal Odisea (AMC Networks International), Condé Nast, Happy Learning, Corresponsables, and Mujeres a Seguir will be Earth Hour

allies.

Last year’s 18th edition of Earth Hour united more than 180 countries and territories around the world, marking a powerful collective movement to raise awareness about the climate crisis.

Millions of people across the globe participated in the symbolic gesture of turning off their lights, with iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, the Tokyo Tower, the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and the Christ the Redeemer statue joining in the global blackout.

WWF Spain also introduced the innovative ‘hour bank’, which encouraged individuals and organisations to dedicate 60 minutes to actions that benefit the environment.

In Spain, more than 500 local governments, over 120 companies, 120 organisations, and high-profile social media influencers including Climabar, Gipsy Chef, Jesús Calleja, and María Herrejón participated, contributing to the campaign’s success and engaging their audiences in the urgent fight against climate change.

Spain ranked ninth globally in participation, with over 2,800 hours committed to environmental conservation.

The overwhelming public support highlighted the nation’s deep concern about climate-related issues, particularly the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires.

These events, alongside biodiversity loss, have placed Spain at the forefront of the climate crisis.

Juan Carlos del Olmo, Secretary General of WWF Spain, expressed his appreciation for the overwhelming support from the public:

“With Earth Hour, we want to alert people that we no longer have a minute to lose, that we must act quickly and decisively to change our relationship with the planet”.

“We are still on time to halt the effects of this environmental crisis that threatens our favorite natural spots. Therefore, this year, to involve citizens in our campaign, in addition to our traditional blackout, we want to collect photos and videos of these spaces

that could disappear due to the effects of the climate crisis.”

In addition to the symbolic blackout, notable landmarks in Spain, including the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid, and the Cathedral of Burgos, will participate once again, amplifying the campaign’s reach.

The involvement of major companies like Inditex, Coca-Cola, Mahou San Miguel, and Mapfre, as well as media outlets such as RTVE and Movistar+, further emphasizes the collective responsibility needed to address the climate crisis.

WWF’s global message for Earth Hour 2025 emphasises the urgent need for international cooperation to tackle climate change.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated: “In Earth Hour, millions of people around the world turn off their lights to shine a light on the dire situation of our planet. The need is urgent. Our climate is collapsing.”

Kirsten Schuijt, Direc-

tor-General of WWF International, reflected on the power of collective action:

“As Earth Hour comes to a close, we reflect on the incredible impact that millions of people united for the health of our planet can have. Together, we have lit a beacon of hope, illuminating the path to a sustainable future.”

In Spain, WWF also organises volunteer activities in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga, including nature walks, workshops, and waste collection efforts. These activities serve as a reminder that every individual action, no matter how small, contributes to the global fight for the planet’s future. The fight against climate change remains urgent, and Earth Hour will continue to be a powerful platform to bring together individuals, communities, businesses, and governments to secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

LANDMARKS: World famous buildings around the globe will take part in Earth Hour

JOIN IN: WWF says everyone is welcome

the lights for Earth Hour

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

TAX HOLIDAY

BARCELONA is set to double its tourist tax amidst increasing tensions between locals and visitors.

The Catalan government has announced new legislation for the region in a bid to tackle mass tourism.

According to some reports it could rise to as much as €15 per night - although so far it has been announced as between €2 and €7 - in Barcelona’s ﬁve-star hotels.

At least 25% of the proceeds will go towards new housing policies, to alleviate the region’s housing crisis.

Pushed by the Catalan government and local Sumar branch, Comuns, the measure starts from €1.20 in basic accommodation and campsites outside Barcelona city and can rise to €6 per night on more opulent living spaces.

Last year, Catalunya earnt €90 million from the measure, rising from €85 million in 2023. Following this trajectory, they are expected to bring in €200 million each year.

Costa del

Spain’s cheapest and most expensive hotel destinations for 2025

By Yzabelle Bostyn

IF you're dreaming of a luxury getaway in Spain this year, Marbella’s got you covered… if you’re willing to fork out a small fortune!

According to the latest ﬁgures from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE), Marbella is oﬃcially the priciest place to book a hotel in Spain for 2025, with a shocking average price of €303 per night. And hold on tight, because that’s an 8.2% price hike compared to last year –so it’s only getting more expensive to live the high life on the Costa del Sol.

Not far behind Marbella, the Balearic Islands and Barcelona are also breaking the bank

SPAIN and Portugal will be connected by a high-speed train by 2032, according to Portugal’s infrastructure minister.

The high-speed line will link the popular Portuguese destination of Porto and the Galician port city, Vigo. Miguel Pinto Luz, Portuguese Minis-

COSTLY STAY: Marbella is home to Spain’s most expensive hotel rooms

at €194 and €187 per night, respectively. But let’s be honest – Marbella is the undisputed king of the Spanish holiday scene. In comparison, Madrid is slightly more aﬀordable at €170 a night, but still sees the biggest price jump across Spanish cities, with an eye-watering 14% increase. But if you’re not ﬂush with cash and need a cheaper escape, there are still some bargains to be had. Zaragoza is one of the best

Rapid transit

ter for Infrastructure conﬁrmed the plans last week at an event in Vigo. He says both Portuguese and Spanish authorities are aiming to ﬁnish the project within seven years.

MiSolar – Solar Specialists

places to stay in Spain, with a budget-friendly €74 per night for a hotel room. And if you're really looking to save, threestar hotels can be as low as €50 a night – that's half the national average.

Booked up

Granada’s another great choice, with three-star stays averaging €61 per night, while the historic city of Salamanca oﬀers rooms from €58. But back to the expensive side – it seems the rich and famous aren’t the only ones booking up Marbella.

The rise in international tourists is pushing prices up across the country, with hotel prices jumping by 2.5% in January compared to the year before. Foreign visitors surged by 4.2%, while locals weren't booking quite as many rooms, with a slight dip of 0.5%.

Avenida de la Fontana, 18, Local 1, Jávea +34 611 212 289 – info@misolar.website www.misolar.website

Digital delay

BUDGET airline Ryanair has delayed its plans to scrap paper boarding passes from May.

The carrier says the measure will now coincide with the start of the winter schedule on November 3.

From that date, travellers can only use digital boarding passes via the Ryanair app for smartphones.

The company claims that 80% of its passengers already use the digital format.

It suggests a big environmental dividend in saving paper and that it will ‘almost completely eliminate' check-in fees at airports.

Ryanair has not indicated how much money it will save by reducing check-in desk numbers.

"This shift towards 100% paperless boarding passes will allow us to oﬀer a better travel experience.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Hidden gems

Four must-visit little-known Spanish destinations that you must visit this year

DESPITE the common perception that Spain is overwhelmed by tourists, there are many lesser-known destinations that warmly welcome visitors.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Distributing this economic boost to quieter areas could beneﬁt both locals and tourists by reducing strain on popular spots and sharing the wealth. And it brings an added bonus for tourists themselves - the chance to discover new sights and experience the slower pace of old Spain.

SPAIN’S

Tourism is a signiﬁcant part of Spain's economy, accounting for over 12% of its GDP, but it is heavily concentrated in major cities like Madrid, as well as along the costas of Alicante, Malaga and Barcelona, as well as the Balearic islands of Mallorca and Ibiza. THE MOST OVERLOOKED ISLAND

LEAST VISITED PALACE

Only ﬁve miles from Segovia, it's a wonder that many tourists still manage to miss this vast construction.

Found in an expansive deer park, the palace mostly functioned as a hunting lodge and was used to keep Philip V’s widow away from court matters.

Its Italian style echoes the Royal Palace in Madrid and gives a sense of ‘what life must really have been like’ in the 18th and 19th century. However, veggies be warned, the complex has now been repurposed as a hunting museum and requires a ‘healthy appetite’ for taxidermy.

MORE THAN JUST WINE

PALACIO REAL DE RIOFRIO

Although many will recognise the name La Rioja, they most likely asso-

Of course viticulture is the main

draw, but hiding behind the grapevines there’s gorgeous towns, medieval monasteries and jaw dropping architecture waiting to be explored.

With cascading metal sheets reminiscent of Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, the hotel is the perfect place to stay in La Rioja, with double rooms

The Canary Islands are a popular destination for tourists, but most congregate in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Few venture out to the smaller, less popular islands such as El Hierro.

The small volcanic island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve rich with natural

swimming pools, dense forests and stunning sea life.

Popular with divers, you can spot Mediterranean parrotﬁsh, manta rays, tuna, turtles and even whale sharks if you are lucky.

For those worried about the environmental impact of your travels, El Hierro has got you covered, with 100% of its energy generated from wind and water.

LA RIOJA

Laguardia, the regional capital, is home to the Marques de Riscal Hotel, designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry.

starting at €531, including breakfast. Alavesa hills.

Just as impressive is the imposing Ysios winery, whose undulating metal waves stand in sharp contrast to the

HOME TO THE LEAST VISITED WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Just above Andalucia, Extremadura is often overlooked in favour of Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada.

But the region has plenty of cultural heritage waiting to be explored in Caceres, Merida and Guadalupe. The old town of Caceres is an ar-

chitectural marvel, followed by the extensive Roman remains in Merida and the stunning monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe.

Extremadura is also home to Trujillo, often dubbed one of Spain’s ‘hidden gems’.

Peppered with ‘excellent’ local wine and the ‘ﬁnest ham in the land’, the picturesque city is the perfect medieval escape.

AN Alicante hospital has carried out a pioneering procedure that destroys breast cancer cells via freezing. It was successfully performed on a 90-year-old woman at the city’s Doctor Balmis Hospital.

The technique used by the radiology department is known as cryoablation.

The procedure is guided by ultrasound equipment which is usually safer and less invasive than surgery to cut out diseased tissue.

The Ministry of Health said it is an ‘innovative formula that is transforming’ the treatment of the disease while ‘improving the quality of life for patients’.

Medics at the Doctor Balmis Breast Unit said they achieved good results the first time they carried out the procedure to counter breast cancer.

COLD CURE

Breast cancer cells frozen out by Spanish doctors

By Alex Trelinski

The hospital’s radiology department has extensive experience in cryoablation for the treatment of bone and soft tissue tumours, but the Health Ministry said it was the first time that it had been used to treat breast cancer.

Specialist Dr Maria Isabel Moya said: “It is an ultrasound-guided technique that involves inserting a very fine needle through a small incision in the skin, which has a system that reaches extremely cold temperatures, below

-40C, achieving the freezing of the tumour, as well as the destruction of tu-

cells.”

Doctor assaults rise

ASSAULTS on Alicante province doctors rose by 37% in 2024, according to the Alicante College of Physicians (COMA).

Some 58% of the victims were male - mainly under 35 years of age.

There were 26 notiﬁed cases to COMA - mainly for verbal abuse - but there were ﬁve physical assaults compared to two in 2023.

COMA’s Dr Jose Manuel Peris said doctors are increasingly denouncing violent acts that ‘they experience on too many occasions’ but the ﬁgures ‘do not reﬂect the scale of the problem’.

He added that a fear of reprisals is leading to under-reporting of incidents.

“We need stronger penalties,” Peris demanded.

ANTIDEPRESSANT usage has leapt up in the last three years among teenage girls and young women in Spain according to the Ministry of Health.

Experts say the gender diﬀerence is down to bias within the health system as doctors medicate females twice as much as men if they have mental health issues.

They claim there's a link to increased pill-popping due to general discrimination and violence suf-

Pill problems

fered by young women.

Twice as many females aged 15 to 19 years use antidepressants compared to males, as revealed by Ministry of Health ﬁgures.

The gender gap widens further among young women aged between 20 to 24 years.

Sociology professor from the University of the Basque Country, Amaia Bagacilupe, warned that taking antidepressants is being 'normalised'.

The procedure takes less than an hour, during which time a needle is kept in the target area and several successive cycles of freezing and thawing are carried out.

Painless

In addition, it is a simple, safe and painless process performed under local anaesthesia, on an outpatient basis. It cuts the chance of post-surgical problems such as seromas, infections, hematomas or chronic pain leading to a faster recovery time.

mour

BE REGULATED

Are you affected by a non-regulated funeral plan?

Recent reports suggest that Iberian Funeral Plans may have ceased trading, leaving customers uncertain about the security of their pre-paid funeral plans. If you have been affected, we sincerely sympathise and want to help. Information about how to get hold of us can be found at the end of this article. While we are still gathering information, this situation highlights the risks of purchasing plans from unregulated providers.

REGULATED FUNERAL PLANS OFFER PROTECTION

If you have purchased a plan from a regulated provider, there is no cause for concern. In Spain, Portugal and Cyprus there are only two funeral plan providers currently operating that are regulated:

 Avalon Funeral Plans

 Golden Leaves

These companies are fully authorised and regulated in the UK, ensuring that your investment is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This is the same scheme that safeguards all UK bank accounts for up to £85,000. With FSCS protection, in the unlikely event of a provider’s failure, you are guaranteed to receive either an equivalent funeral plan or ﬁnancial compensation at the current market value.

An unregulated funeral plan does NOT have this protection.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU HAVE AN IBERIAN PLAN OR ANOTHER UNREGULATED PLAN?

If you hold a funeral plan with Iberian Funeral Plans or any other unregulated provider, we strongly recommend acting quickly to secure your arrangements.

To support those affected, we have established a ﬁnancial assistance initiative. If you need guidance on your next steps, we encourage you to reach out: Call us on +34 966 799 070 Visit us at www.avalonfuneralplans.com

We understand the importance of ensuring your ﬁnal wishes are carried out with dignity and peace of mind. Don’t leave your plans to chance - contact us today to explore your options and secure a regulated, protected funeral plan.

THE Valencia region, in recent years, has become a magnet for expats, tourists, digital nomads, and retirees, offering a harmonious blend of cultural charm, modern amenities and breathtaking coastlines. Many are drawn to the Costa Blanca for its coastal allure, or Valencia city and its history and energy.

However, for those willing to venture inland and who have a deep appreciation for nature and tranquility, the Requena-Utiel region presents a captivating alternative.

Less than an hour inland from Valencia city, this magical little-visited region is renowned for its high mountain peaks and rolling wine country, and it even has its own Natural park.

Full of vineyards (among Valencia’s best) and wonderful places to eat, it also counts on excellent outdoor activities and festivals that showcase its deep cultural richness.

Here, American expat Layi Ali, who settled here with his wife two years ago, picks out his top ﬁve reasons to visit:

1. Wine Tourism and the Excellence of Las Ocho

The Requena-Utiel region is steeped in viticulture, with a winemaking heritage spanning nearly 3,000 years. The area is particularly celebrated for the Bobal grape, native to the region and responsible for producing distinctive, high-quality wines. Visitors

SPAIN set a new international tourist record for January with 5.1 million foreign visitors – up 6.1% over 12 months.

The UK was the leading market, while the Canary Islands was the busiest destination for non-Spanish based tourists.

A total of 863,286 travellers came from

High January

Britain, up 3.6% on January 2024. France was next with 641,201 tourists (up 12.2%) and Germany, with 537,842 visitors (down 2.4%).

UK tourists spent the most with 15.4% of the total, followed by Germans (11.1%) and those from the Nordic countries (8.7%).

The Canary Islands, as is normal in January, was the most popular region, accounting for 26.9% of arrivals.

Trumping ball

How might Trump's tariﬀs wreck Andalucia’s economy?

THE five Spanish provinces most in the firing line to feel the pain of Donald Trump’s new agricultural tariffs are all in Andalucia.

Spain’s southern region accounted for nearly 40% (€1.35 billion) of all of Spain’s exports to the USA in the sector – more than any other – while American exports account for 8.63% of its total foreign sales. The bad news comes after Donald Trump announced he will be imposing tariﬀs on agricultural products imported into

the USA starting from April 2. “To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural products to be sold INSIDE of the United States,” he wrote on Truth Social, before signing oﬀ with ‘have fun!’

While it is unclear the extent of the tariﬀs, Spanish producers – who sold €3.5 billion to the USA last year – are already worrying.

Sevilla leads the pack with €653 million in exposure to Trump’s tariﬀs, representing 15.12% of

JOBS BOOST

SPAIN'S February unemployment total stood at just under 2.6 million – the lowest ﬁgure for the month since the pre-cash boom times of 2008.

Unemployment fell month-to-month by 5,994 people while 100,340 new jobs were created, mostly in the education sector.

Total unemployment is down 6% compared to February last year.

The leading areas for new jobs were Catalunya (23,373), the Balearic Islands (14,670) and Andalucia (13,784).

GO WEST!

can explore dozens of vineyards each with their unique history and wine-making traditions.

Many offer guided wine-tasting sessions led by owners who have centuries of deep knowledge of winemaking that has been passed down over the generations.

One of the standout wines from the region is Las Ocho from Bodega Chozas Carrascal in Requena.

This exquisite blend, featuring eight different grape varieties, represents the pinnacle of winemaking in the area.

2. Outdoor Adventures

Aged to perfection, Las Ocho offers a complex and elegant proﬁle, making it a must-try for any wine enthusiast. The winery itself provides a top-tier tasting experience, where visitors can learn about the meticulous production process that makes this wine so special. Notable wineries such as MurviedroBodega Histórica and Pago de Tharsys also offer immersive experiences, including tours of historic underground cellars and tastings of their ﬁnest selections.

The region is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The Hoces de Cabriel Natural Park (right), for instance, offers breathtaking landscapes ideal for hiking, cycling, and bird-watching.

The park's diverse terrain includes deep gorges carved by the Cabriel River, dense forests, and expansive meadows, providing a serene backdrop for nature walks and picnics.

The park is also renowned for its place in Spanish history because it’s also home to numerous bunkers that were built during the Spanish civil war.

For those seeking more adrenaline-fueled activities, the area's rivers and reservoirs are perfect for kayaking, rafting, and ﬁshing.

Local adventure tourism companies cater to both novices and seasoned adventurers, ensuring safe and memorable experiences.

One of the unique highlights of exploring the region is the chance to encounter cabras montesas, the mountain goats that are the true kings of these peaks.

all the province's global exports, according to a new report from Gestha, the Spanish Treasury technicians' union.

The Costa del Sol follows, with Malaga's 80 export companies facing potential losses of €247.66 million, accounting for 14.83% of its foreign sales.

Cordoba (€226.75 million), Cadiz (€108.95 million), and Jaen (€52.24 million) complete the list of the ﬁve most vulnerable provinces in Spain, with export dependency on the US market ranging from 10% to over 15% of their total exports.

Olive oil producers face the steepest challenge, as oils and edible fats make up the largest category of agricultural exports to the US at €1.15 billion nationwide.

It represents 33.5% of Spain's agricultural exports to America and aﬀects 13.4% of all Spanish olive oil exports globally.

The region's export portfolio to the US market is dominated by

The Olive Press offers ﬁve good reasons to visit this hidden region of Valencia, under an hour inland

3. Cultural Experiences

The towns of Requena and Utiel are rich in history and culture.

Strolling through their medieval quarters, visitors can admire well-preserved architecture, ancient churches, and charming plazas.

The Cuevas de la Villa, in Requena, is a network of underground caves, offering a glimpse into the town's storied past, having served various purposes from wine storage to refuge during conﬂicts. In particular the town’s Grape

The tariff threat comes at a particularly difficult time for the sector, which has already weathered drought conditions and price fluctuations in recent years.

Treasury experts are urging both national and regional governments to help the 3,547 affected Spanish companies—including 114 in Sevilla and 120 in Cadiz—ﬁnd alternative markets for their products. Although the US market represents just 4.8% of Spain's total agricultural exports—far behind the European market (76.7%) and Asia (9.6%)—the concentrated impact on speciﬁc Andalucian regions and products has raised serious concerns about local economic stability.

Harvest Festival in late August sees locals and visitors come together to celebrate the bounty of the grape harvests with music, dance, and, of course, wine.

4. Culinary Experience

No visit to the Requena-Utiel region would be complete without indulging in its culinary offerings.

The local cuisine features traditional dishes like ajoarriero (a ﬂavorful blend of cod and garlic), casseroled rice, and hearty stews.

Many wineries complement their tastings with local cheeses and cured meats, providing a holistic gastronomic experience.

5. Rest and Relaxation

Whether exploring the nearby natural parks, visiting the region’s wineries, or simply enjoying the slow pace of village life, guests will ﬁnd that every moment at the wonderful expat-run Hotel Raimblanc, which is infused with warmth and authenticity. The attentive team ensure a personalized experience, offering packages for local excursions and hidden gems. As the sun sets over the rolling vineyards, you will love relaxing by the ﬁreplace in the lounge or in its restaurant savouring a glass of local wine and enjoying a delicious dinner, while recounting the day’s adventures.

edible fats and oils at 18.14%. Meat products follow at 13.73%, while prepared food products represent 12.91% of exports.

By Walter Finch

LA CULTURA

Shamrocking

MAINLAND Europe’s biggest St Patrick’s Day parade is set to once again take place in Spain this year.

Having topped 25,000 attendees at last year’s festivities, organisers are hoping to attract even more this year with a special guest star parade Grand Marshall.

All-Ireland Gaelic footballer Charlie Redmond will lead the festivities, along with an ex-Irish army veterans pipe band plus ﬂoats, dance groups, motorcycles, vintage cars and a variety of musicians.

Since this year’s St Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday, the event has been brought forward to Sunday March 16. But where is it? In the Cabo Roig strip on the Orihuela Costa in Alicante province. Other large celebrations can be found in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol and Tortosa in Tarragona.

November 29th - LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

Oooh mummy!

Spanish museum under ﬁre after removing mummy from display over fears it will ‘oﬀend’ visitors

A SPANISH museum has removed a mummy from display because it ‘didn’t comply with new rules on treating human remains with respect and dignity.’

Madrid’s National Archaeology Museum (MAN) took the action to comply with new state museum rules which require ‘conforming with the beliefs and interests of the communities and ethnic groups [the remains] come from.’

While the move received a backlash online from those who called it an ‘extreme case of ofendiditis’, others pointed out that the removal of

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 1 Strap, 4 Camper, 7 Amateurs, 8 Test, 9 E Coli, 10 Web page, 11 Ends, 12 L-d S, 13 Go in, 14 Sundown, 16 Anise, 18 H T T P, 19 Incurred, 20 Graham, 21 Diced.

Down: 1 Semiconductor, 2 Rattles, 3 Pius, 4 Cashews, 5 Met up, 6 East Grinstead, 12 Law ﬁrm, 13 Generic, 15 Depth, 17 Scud.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

the mummy could be a ‘good time’ to return it to its native island of Tenerife.

Known as the ‘Guanche Mummy’, the relic is an example of a person indigenous to the Canary Islands). It was discovered in 1764 in the Barranco de Herques cave alongside 1,000 other mummies and is believed to be from the seventh or eighth century.

According to a study carried out by the museum in 2018 the mummy is a male of high social status between 35 and

40 years old.”

Guanches occupied the island before Spaniards arrived in the 13th century, developing a distinct culture, language and way of life.

Spain colonised the Canary

GOING

Islands throughout the 15th century, leading the Guanche culture to disappear.

Some 16 Spanish museums must comply with the new rules, which apply to all state run museums.

NICE VIEWING

PRESTIGIOUS travel magazine Time Out has named three Madrid cinemas amongst the 50 most beautiful in the world. Claiming fourth spot is Madrid’s The Cineteca, the only venue in Spain dedicated almost exclusively to non-ﬁction ﬁlms.

Found in the old Matadero slaughterhouse and livestock market, the ‘beautiful and unusual’ cinema opened in 2011.

Next on the list was the century old Cine Dore Filmoteca Española, dating back to 1923.

A ‘beloved’ art deco building, the cinema has weathered many storms, including being hit by a shell during the Civil War and a twenty year closure.

Dubbed a ‘cinephile’s paradise’ the venue was revived in 1989 and is now home to the Spanish Film Library.

Taking the magazine’s ﬁnal spot for Spain is Sala Equis in 21st place.

Housed in a grand mansion turned porno cinema, it is now Madrid’s ‘coolest cine-spot’.

New home

MALAGA has been chosen to host the ﬁrst ever Comic-Con, the global pop culture convention, to be held outside of the USA. The event, which is usually held in San Diego, will be held from September 25-28 this year.

Last year’s edition went viral for the announcement that Robert Downey Jr, who appeared live at the event, would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play arch villain Doctor Doom.

Though the epicentre of the action this year will be the Palacio de Congresos, events will be scattered throughout the city.

It is the ﬁrst time in the conference’s 54 year history that it has been held outside the states.

“The most important pop culture event in the world will cross the Atlantic,” organisers announced. It comes after arduous negotiations between Malaga town hall, the Andalucian tourism board and event organisers.

HOME?: The Tenerife mummy has been taken from display

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ISSUE BURNING

LAS FALLAS is one of Spain's most iconic festivals. It is a spectacle of ﬁre, creativity, and joy that transforms the city (and many towns in the region) into a vibrant celebration each March. This year’s festival is on now and ﬁnishes in spectacu-

By Dilip Kuner

The origins and history of the spectacular Las Fallas festival in Valencia

huge efﬁgies are burnt in giant

a global phenomenon.

But what is behind the famous festival, which was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2016?

You have to go deep into the past top ﬁnd the origins of Las Fallas. They date back to the Middle Ages, when Valencian carpenters would use wooden planks called parots to hold candles for lighting during the winter months.

lar ﬂames on March 19 as

The Olive Press delved into the past to ﬁnd that Las Fallas has a rich history that spans centuries, evolving from humble beginnings to

As spring approached and daylight increased, these wooden stands became unnecessary. On March 19, the feast day of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, the parots were burned in bonﬁres to mark the arrival of spring and the end of winter's darkness.

Bonﬁres

Over time, these bonﬁres evolved as people began to adorn the wood with old clothing and rags, creating efﬁgies known as ninots

These early ﬁgures may have been crude, but they were often humorous and satirical, reﬂecting the Valencian sense of humor and irreverence to their so-called ‘superiors’. By the 18th century, Las Fallas had become a recognised event in Valencia, with locals competing to create the most artistic and satirical displays.

The 19th century saw signiﬁcant growth in the festival’s popularity, with the introduction of prizes for the

bonﬁres.

HUGE: The fallas can sometimes be up to 30 metres tall, while (top) a young Valenciana dresses in traditional garb for the festivities, and (left) the efﬁgies go up in ﬂames

LA CULTURA

best ninots, which spurred greater creativity and competition among participants.

But it was in the early 20th century that Las Fallas really became a platform for artistic expression and social commentary. The ninots evolved into grander, more elaborate sculptures that satirised political ﬁgures, celebrities, and social issues. In fact the creators of the efﬁgies (also known as fallas) sometimes went ‘too far’ for the taste of the disapproving authorities.

In fact, during the Spanish Civil War and the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, the festival’s satirical nature was suppressed, but it continued as one of the few public expressions allowed in Valencia.

throughout the year to design and build these intricate sculptures, often reaching heights of over 30 metres.

Las Fallas has become a symbol of Valencian identity and creativity, attracting visitors from around the world to experience its unique blend of tradition, art, and joy.

Today, Las Fallas is back to its satirical best with no target out of bounds for the efﬁgies’ builders.

There are plenty of events lined up daily, and it culminates with the crema (burning) of the ﬁgures in a spectacular show in Valencia’s Plaza de la Ayuntamiento on Wednesday March 19 from 8pm. The festival features over 700 fallas, including both adult and children’s versions. Each neighborhood has its own falla commission, which works

Las Fallas is celebrated not only in Valencia but also in over 160 municipalities across the Valencian Community.

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PEAK PARTY: Fireworks frame the famous 14th century Serranos towers

Honourable welcome

A CORUÑA has honoured two illegal migrants who risked deportation to stop a vicious homophobic assault.

Flight risk

BRITS were left stranded in Bilbao after air traﬃc controllers ‘went home’ instead of dealing with a late-night diversion during a Malaga-Manchester ﬂight.

Couch

suﬀering

AN Estepona landlord has sparked outrage after listing a sofa bed for €450 a month on popular rental platform, Idealista.

LEGAL HIGH

‘More-ish’ sweets recovered in Fuengirola raid land policemen in hospital

THREE Malaga police officers ended up getting high after munching on jelly beans seized in a drugs raid. The cops came across the innocent-looking sweets lying around in the police station and, feeling a bit peckish, they scoffed the lot. The sweet-toothed officers apparently had no idea that the ‘more-ish’ sweets were

By Michael Coy

linked to a recent bust.

When they tucked into the tempting beans it all went a bit pear-shaped and they were rushed to hospital, feeling a tad ‘woozy’.

The oﬀending jelly beans had been conﬁscated from a cannabis club in Fuengirola, but due

A MALAGA town has sparked outrage after dressing a pig up as a woman in ‘honour’ of International Women’s Day. Campillos traditionally burns a pig effigy to mark the end of carnival season, which this year coincided with March 8. As a result, the town hall added makeup, breasts and lingerie to the ‘ guarra ’ which, while meaning pig, can also refer to a sexually promis-

to a ‘a bit of a mixup’, they hadn’t been properly bagged and labelled as evidence.

A RARE grey seal has been spotted far from its comfort zone lounging around in Gibraltar harbour. Usually found in colder climes, the species is not usually known to venture further south than Brittany in France.

Farm faux pas

The force then

cuous woman. The effigy also included ‘8M’ designs, commemorating International Women’s Day. It has been heavily criticised by locals, with left-wing political movement Izquierda Unida branding the stunt a ‘flagrant mockery of women.’

It wasn’t until one officer began to feel a bit too relaxed that things started to get serious. “I felt like I was floating,” said one of the officers, who did not wish to be named.

took no chances and immediately whisked them oﬀ to hospital for a check-up, as the law treats drugs like ‘poisons’.

Spanish law recognises the right of a private club to sell cannabis to its members and for those members to consume it on the premises, but the club must be a ‘smoking association’, and the range of products it can sell is tightly controlled. This is why, say police, the jelly beans were conﬁscated

The three oﬃcers soon got over their high and were back on duty.

But this seal has also been spotted in La Doñana and Conil de la Frontera.

Experts fear the seal is likely lost and disorientated so far south. The public is urged not to approach the creature if spotted, while environmental protected professionals are monitoring its wellbeing.

Bucket list

A WOMAN in Cadiz has become a social media sensation after she was captured on camera throwing buckets of water on revellers she spotted peeing in the street. Neighbours have taken note of her unerring accuracy as the city’s famous Carnival week was blighted by people relieving themselves between parked cars and against doors.

“What I ﬁnd most amazing is her aim, which always hits the target from up on high,” said an X user.