Olive Press Costa Blanca North and Valencia issue 142

‘Thank you Olive Press for trying to find Orville!’

AN expat’s cat ‘saved her life’ after the clever moggy ‘warned’ her of carbon monoxide poisoning inside their Marbella flat.

Debbie Lush was forced to act after her kitty, named Coco (above), refused to stop meowing at the boiler inside her rented apartment.

Suspecting something was amiss, following weeks of headaches, the estate agent, from Dublin, bought a carbon monoxide detector, which began immediately beeping.

A plumber who came the next day, insisted he had fixed the problem after hoovering away some dust.

Lethal

But, that night, Coco continued to ‘howl’ at the boiler, so Debbie sensibly sought a second opinion.

Fortunately another plumbing firm discovered a hole in her cavity wall leaking the lethal gas.

It also emerged that her boiler was 27 years old and had rotting rubber parts that had never been replaced. She was told it needed immediate replacement.

“Coco knew something was wrong and she would not let up until I got the boiler examined.

“Now it’s fixed, I haven’t heard anything more than purring, it’s incredible!” She continued: “If it wasn’t for her I could be dead.”

Now Debbie ) is calling for a so-called ‘Coco’s Law’, which would require all homes in Spain be fitted with a carbon monoxide detector, particularly tourist apartments.

a British

but that’s all he knows

A BRITISH pensioner has made a heartfelt appeal after getting ‘trapped’ in hospital in Spain having forgotten his surname.

The elderly man, believed to be aged around 70, woke up from a coma in a Costa Blanca hospital suffering from amnesia.

He told doctors in Torrevieja that he has literally no idea where he was going, where he lives or what he used to do.

All that is known is he was travelling by bike in Alicante province on September 24 when he suffered a stroke.

He had been cycling along the road between San Fulgencio and La Marina, according to local police, who are now helping him.

He told them he only remembers

his first name as ‘Stephen’, and cannot recall any family members or relatives.

He also insisted he has no idea why he is in Spain, if he lives here or is on holiday.

Meanwhile, alarmingly, no one has reported him missing, complicating the police investigation.

After an Olive Press online appeal over the weekend, we hoped we had a breakthrough when an old friend of an ‘avid cyclist’ from Cambridgeshire insisted he was ‘Steve Presland’.

A decade-old photo of Presland

“Steve has

WHO AM I?

showed an uncanny resemblance, with others also recognising him as Presland. They both had the same colour-patterned beard and bushy eyebrows, plus an identical nose, as well as shared a passion for cycling. However, the theory was seemingly put to rest on Monday after a member of the Ely Running Club said they had ‘tracked down’ Presland in the UK. Stephen Howard told the Olive Press:

just called me back and said it is not him in your article, sorry!” We asked to be put in touch with Presland but we have yet to hear back.

Adding to the mystery, social media posts appealing for information on Stephen have strangely disappeared - but police are very much still trying to identify him.

Worried

The pensioner, who remains in hospital, asked that his photo and story be published by us in the hope that someone will recognise him.

The Policia Local in San Fulgencio told the Olive Press last night that Stephen is starting to get really worried.

A detective has been assigned to the case and is liaising with this paper in a bid to solve the mystery.

If you think you recognise Stephen or know who he is, do not hesitate to contact us at

By Alex Trelinski

Pet penalties

ALICANTE dog owners could be fined up to €300 for not carrying poop bags or water to dilute pet urine under proposals to toughen up local waste laws.

Gang bust

POLICE have arrested 71 members of a Murcia-based drug trafficking gang that operated in the Valencia region from Castellon and Aspe with €2 million of assets seized.

On a roll

BENIDORM has installed new roll-up walkways made of 100% recycled plastic from urban waste to make sea access easier at designated areas of Levante and Poniente beaches.

No escape

A FIRE service basket-crane was used to break a Valencia apartment window to help police get in to arrest a burglar who was found hiding under a blanket.

Maddie suspect will ‘move to Africa’

MADELEINE McCann sus-

pect Christian Brueckner will flee to Africa if he gets out of prison next year, the Olive Press can reveal.

The 47-year-old paedophile and rapist could be free as early as next September, after being sensationally cleared of a string of rape and child abuse allegations in Portugal. A source close to his legal team told the Olive Press moving to Africa would be the ‘safest place’ to live.

“He won’t be recognised there and he won’t be going after any of the witnesses or victims who named him as a rapist and abuser,” said the source.

“He doesn’t want to get caught again and go back to prison.”

Appeal launched as fears grow German paedophile will flee Europe if released next year

en year sentence for raping a pensioner - could also consider Cambodia, where he has an old friend, an IT specialist.

German Christian Post, who was ordered to give evidence at the trial, currently lives in Kampot, a magnet for child sex abusers.

Brueckner - who is currently serving a sev-

EXCLUSIVE

By Jon Clarke

“I’m utterly devastated by the ruling,” she said from her home, near Dublin, this week.

“They’ve got it completely wrong and I’m still certain Brueckner was my rapist.

“I’ll never forget his eyes. They are bored into my head and soul. I still see them at night.”

The news comes after the paedophile was shockingly found not guilty of five separate sex offences in a German court last week.

The crimes, which all took place in Portugal, included playing with himself while sitting under a slide in a children’s playground in Messines in June 2017.

However, despite four children seeing him with his trousers down by his

ankles and their parents finding no sign of urine, Judge Ute Engermann believed he was having a pee. She ruled him not guilty of four other offences, including three rapes and another child sex assault on a beach near Praia da Luz, a month before Maddie went missing nearby.

German prosecutors have now formally appealed the sentences on the basis of bias, among other claims.

Bias

Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said: “We will make an appeal to the Supreme court. They have the power to order a retrial with new judges.

“We think there is a case to show bias among the judges and we believe we can show that.”

Victim Hazel Behan, told the Olive Press, she will ‘definitely’ support the appeal and prays for a reversal.

Another witness, Helge Busching, who was described by the judge as ‘a liar’ has also hit out at the ruling. He told the Olive Press the ruling was a ‘total scandal’, adding he was not going to let the judge’s claims ‘go unanswered’.

The German had first pointed the finger at the accused in 2008 and told the court he had watched two videos of Brueckner raping a teenage girl and another pensioner.

His claims were backed up by a fellow friend Manfred Seyferth, but because a third former pal, Mario ‘Cheyanne’ Schonburg, denied he had seen them, the judge appeared to side with him instead.

She also brushed aside the testimony of leading prison

but

psychiatrist, Christian Riedemann, who labelled Brueckner a very real danger to the public, telling the court he was in the ‘top league of dangerousness’. The same prosecutors are also now working to build a water tight case against Bruckner over the abduction of Maddie. They are expected to launch official proceedings against him over the next few months. They have already confirmed they have proof that the British toddler is dead and their prime suspect is Brueckner, who was outside her holiday home in Praia da Luz the night she vanished.

Opinion Page 6

NOT GUILTY: of five sex crimes

official charges over Maddie (far left) loom for Brueckner

INIESTA OUT

SPANISH football legend Andres Iniesta, who scored the decisive goal in the 2010 World Cup final, has today announced his retirement from soccer at age 40.

In a 22-year professional career, Iniesta's illustrious journey also included two European Championship titles and four Champions League trophies with Barcelona.

At an emotional ceremony in Barcelona, Iniesta reflected on his career: “All the tears are of pride, not sadness. I achieved

the dream of becoming a soccer player through hard work and sacrifice.”

Iniesta made 674 appearances for Barcelona, where he was instrumental in the tiki-taka style that defined an era, playing alongside greats like Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Lionel Messi. He won nine La Liga titles and six Copa del Reys during his time with the club.

Jailhouse rock

The incredible tale of the Scottish drug smuggler who found stardom in the 80s with a prison band –and then lost it all

THEY say everyone deserves a second chance.

And for one former jailbird narco-trafficker turned rocker, it comes 30 years after he nearly hit the big time with a band he formed while in a Spanish prison.

Former Costa del Sol resident Allan McCarthy, 61, once found minor fame as the front man for Berlin 90 (named after the wall which had just fallen), even playing live on national television from jail.

While performing shows for Spanish television and radio, the gregarious Scotsman penned the song Runaway from his cell.

Now, McCarthy, who is back living in Spain on the Mar Menor, is re-releasing the song with a slick new music video..

the chance to rekindle the whole music thing, you know? A second bite at the cherry.”

Runaway became a sleeper hit in Spain in the late 80s, making the charts and even propelling Mc-

Carthy’s four-piece band out of prison to perform live shows in public – something that the Scotsman claims was against all the rules.

The musical talent landed himself in Sangonera prison in his mid-20s after a car he was riding in was busted with a consignment of hashish near Murcia in 1988.

“But what they never found was the half a kilo of coke underneath the seat!” McCarthy chortled.

appeared to be over.

Originally built in the 1930s for the political enemies of the Franco regime, 50 years later the prospect of being sent to Carabanchel made even Spain’s most hardened criminals quail. “Carabanchel was like the bogeyman for these guys,” McCarthy told this newspaper. “It was like Spain’s Alcatraz.”

When he was suddenly released four years into his six-anda-half sentence – something

unheard of at the time – and promptly deported from Spain, it seemed to dash his musical ambitions.

But all that might be set to change.

As well as rekindling the flames of his musical career, McCarthy is also set to write a book on his journey as a reformed con. He also plans to return to Sangonera, in Murcia, to perform one last time in the jail where he made his name.

TOWER POWER

MORE than 20,000 spectators gathered to watch the biennial human tower competition in Tarragona.

Some 32 teams compete in the Concurs de Castells in Catalunya, home of the sport since the 18th century.

Teams carefully build their towers by placing their strongest and heaviest members at the base, arms interlocked, while the lightest and littlest climb to the top.

A group from Vilafranca del Penedes won the contest for the eighth year in a row. UNESCO declared the towers as a valued example of intangible cultural heritage in 2010.

AMBER Heard - the Aquaman star and former flame of Johnny Depp - has been spotted dining in style at Cordoba’s La Taberna de Almodóvar.

Heard, 38, known for her high-profile legal battle with Depp, stunned the restaurant staff when she walked in for a casual yet lavish lunch, tucking into seasonal veggies, grilled sole, and melt-in-your-mouth premium

aged beef.

“My dream got taken away from me and my story ended abruptly when I was moved to Carabanchel [prison] and then deported,” the ageing rocker reflected to the Olive Press

Unbelievably, a chequered stint behind bars started to miraculously transform itself into a platform to launch a musical

“I’m hoping that now, an old man might

But when McCarthy (left) found himself languishing in Madrid’s infamous Carabanchel Prison towards the end of his stretch in the early 1990s, the dream

PHONE CHARGE

The Portuguese midfielder, 26, was held at a police station for questioning following an incident at the La Riviera club.

Nunes was taking advantage of a season break to enjoy a night out in the Spanish capital.

MANCHESTER City's Matheus Nunes was arrested last month after allegedly stealing a mobile phone while at a Madrid nightclub.

A fan tried to take a photo of the player without his permission in the toilets of the nightclub.

Nunes allegedly snatched the high-end phone from the man’s hands and refused to return it to him. He now potentially faces a trial on theft charges.

But the real sizzle of the day?

Amber, dressed in a laidback yet chic outfit, reportedly spoke flawless Spanish and posed for a snap with Angel Sanchez, the manager of the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand eatery.

The restaurant wasted no time sharing the news on social media, gushing: “It was an absolute pleasure to host the incredible actress and model Amber Heard! A day we won't forget!”

direktoptik.es

By Walter Finch musical get

CELLMATES: Allan (second from left) with his group Berlin 90

Beautiful victory

SERRA has won an online vote as the most beautiful town in the Valencian Community. It saw off competition from 29 rivals to top the standings in the vote hosted by the España Turismo app.

Located on the southern slope of the Sierra de Calderona, Serra - population 3,600 - has

a network of steep and winding streets.

Though its economy is mainly based on agriculture, tourism has blossomed in recent years, attracting visitors during the summer from Valencia City and other parts of the region.

Over 18,000 people cast votes in the contest with Ayora, Cervera del Maestre and Ademuz, coming behind Serra.

All four towns will now go forward to the national stage of the España Turismo competition.

Cleaned out!

New

THE EU's long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) has been delayed once again due to a number of countries still not being prepared.

ATLETICO Madrid have been slapped with a €30,000 fine after a section of their fans performed Nazi salutes during a Champions League match against Benfica.

The club has also been hit with a ban on selling away tickets for a future European match.

In 2022, the club was fined and saw its stadium part-closed for a game after ultras unfurled a Nazi flag during a Champions League game against Manchester City.

Ultras

Meanwhile, a recent match between Atletico and rivals Real Madrid had to be temporarily stopped and the players brought off the pitch after ultras threw objects at goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Both Atletico manager Diego Simeone and captain Koke had to plead with them to stop.

JAB TIME

THE annual Valencian Community flu and Covid-19 vaccination campaign started on Monday. Vaccine availability will be staggered with priority given to people with a greater risk of infection.

BAD SALUTE BAD EXAMPLE

Target

Valencian Health Minister, Marciano Gomez, said the plan aims to ‘immunise the target population and the most vulnerable people as quickly as possible’.

Four priority groups have been designated and text messages will be sent advising that vaccinations are available.

Couple ‘lose €64,000 worth of items’ after alleged burglary on their luxury Airbnb

A SWISS couple have called in police after allegedly suffering ‘the robbery of the century’ while staying at a tourist flat on the Costa del Sol.

Davide Z and his wife claim to have lost an eye-watering €64,000 worth of items when their luxury Airbnb was raided as they enjoyed a night out in Marbella.

In an official denuncia seen by the Olive Press, the missing belongings include an €8,000 Birkin bag, a Chopard watch, worth €18,000, and a Rolex, worth ‘over €5,000’.

Incredibly, their insurance company has refused to cover any of the items because their policy states the Airbnb owner must be declared responsible to make a payout.

Davide told the Olive Press: “We have experienced the worst nightmare of our lives, during what should have been a wonderful holiday.

“On that night our whole lives were stolen, my wife has been

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

made sick by the ordeal and is crying every day, she is just devastated.”

The couple had booked the €150-a-night accommodation in the Fuentelegrales urbanisation in Mijas, from September 14 to 21.

The couple, who visit Marbella every year, were staying there with Davide’s mother-in-law and brother-in-law.

Davide claims there had been immediate red flags, which they should have noticed in retrospect.

This included the apartment having a different address than the one on the listing, and a ‘surprise’ female co-host named ‘Manal’, who manages a local cleaning company.

On the night of September 20, the day before they were due to leave, they headed to Marbella at around 9pm for dinner.

WALK WITH A VIEW

A DEATH-DEFYING elevated wooden walkway clinging to the side of a gorge at Relleu will be extended by 25 metres over the next few months.

The popular and spectacular tourist path, built in 2022, allows visitors a close glimpse of the gorge area, linking up to a route that starts in Relleu.

The walkway currently ends at the disused Amadorio reservoir dam with a spectacular glass-bottom viewpoint to look down at the riverbed.

The extension will allow a better glimpse at the dam gorge.

A footbridge will be constructed along with railings and a second glass-bottomed viewpoint is planned.

The project will be jointly funded by Relleu council and Turisme Comunitat Valenciana.

A FISHING trip netted an unusual catch in the form of a torpedo - and then towed it to shore.

The group of leisure anglers spotted the American-made Mark 46 torpedo in the sea off Tabarca island.

The torpedo type is one that has been used for years by the Spanish navy. Believing it would be too dangerous to leave where it was, the anglers put a rope on the end of the torpedo and dragged it behind their boat to dry land.

Explosive catch

Posting on social media, the group said: “We removed it immediately because a high-speed boat or a jet ski could have collided with it.”

One of the fishermen, Pedro Pertegal, said the Guardia did not believe them at first until they sent them a photo of the unexploded weapon. Officers then arrived to take it away.

According to their police report, when they returned at around midnight, they found all the items stolen.

Davide recalled: “We went straight to the police station that night to lodge a complaint but nothing was really investigated, they didn’t want to move until noon the next day! “We also wanted the owner to make a declaration with his own insurance company so that we could make our own claim, but he has never replied to us.”

Davide claims Manal arrived at around 2pm on their scheduled checkout day.

It was at this point he decided to confront her claiming she was responsible and demanded his stolen items back. He also warned her the police were already involved.

CCTV

Davide added that CCTV footage from a neighbour showed the only car to arrive on the street on the night of the robbery was a white 4x4, which was shown to police.

“I would like to return to Marbella but we will never use Airbnb again,” he concluded. Manal told the Olive Press that it is normal for her to have keys as she runs a cleaning company that manages the property.

She said: “The accusations are false. Evidence for this are the very inconsistent accusations made by the leaving guests.

“I have an alibi from six people, and a camera surveyed parking, showing that I was far from the apartment during the time of the alleged theft.

“I have had cleaning companies in Sweden and Spain for 17 years and have never received such accusations.”

Airbnb has denied any liability and advised guests to get extra insurance for peace of mind.

HAUL OF THE CENTURY

● Chopard watch€18,000

● Hermes Birkin bag€8,000

● Diamond rings - €6,500

● Oyster Rolex - €5,000

● Engagement ring€4,250

● Diamond necklace€3,600

● X4 gold rings - €2,900

● Ebel watch - €2,000

● Frederique Constant watch - €1,900

● Chanel watch - €1,250

The automated computer system will apply to British and other 'third-country' nationals travelling to any of the 29 Schengen Area countries, including Spain.

It will scan their passports instead of stamping them and automatically track the number of days they have spent in the EU.

The move is to avoid people from non-EU countries overstaying their typical 90 in 180 day limit.

Suspended

However, despite being due to roll out on November 10, it has been ‘suspended indefinitely’, with no new start date announced.

The further delay occurred with countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands, simply not being ready to implement the system.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, announced: “I hope we can start as soon as possible but there's no new timeline so far.”

Opinion Page 6

COASTAL CLEAN

OVER 300 kilos of waste was collected from Denia’s coast during a recent clear up day. Some 317 volunteers took part, including 48 divers and nine boats.

Land-based cleaners covered an area between Les Marines and Les Rotes beaches. Out of the 311 kilos collected, 95 kilos were organic waste, followed by 81 kilos of ironbased material. Local companies supported the day by providing space and facilities.

POLICE ticketed two of their own cars for no insurance after finding out cover had expired in September.

Now Alicante’s mayor, Mayor Luis Barcala, has demanded answers over why the Policia Local vehicles had no insurance. The matter came to a head when a police officer ticketed two patrol vehicles for breaching the law.

One of the unions representing police officers, SITAP, said that several police cars in Alicante had been driving around with expired insurance since September 16 and so officers decided to force the issue.

Traumatic experience

EMERGENCY services rescued a 70-year-old man who suffered a fall at his Javea apartment and lay on the ground for at least a day.

Concerned neighbours had not seen the Dutch national for several days and he did not answer his front door.

A resident on a balcony saw him lying on the dining room floor and called the police on Saturday.

Firefighters broke down the door and the man was taken to Denia Hospital. He was discharged the next day but neighbours are having to help him as he has severe mobility problems.

DEVASTATED: The couple say they will never use Airbnb again after their ordeal

Pool suction death probe

Five years after the tragic deaths of a British family, a nine-year-old girl has also drowned here in Spain

A COURT has ordered an investigation into the death of a British girl who allegedly got sucked to the bottom of a faulty swimming pool.

Sofia Draper, nine, got trapped on the floor of her grandfather’s pool in Girona on March 31 last year, yet a police probe was dropped after just four days.

Her grandad was filming her glide along the bottom of the pool when her chest suddenly became trapped by the suction of the filter.

It comes nearly five years since a British family drowned in a mysterious incident at a swimming pool in Mijas.

Christmas

Prosecutors launched an investigation after the Christmas Eve incident in 2019 in which tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died.

Incredibly, an investigation found there was nothing wrong with the pool at Club la Costa, despite eyewitnesses describing powerful suction leading to the deaths.

Now Sofia’s parents, Julian and Olga Draper, hope they will have more luck at Girona Court, which finally agreed to reopen the investigation.

The probe aims to clarify if a

BRIT’S DEATH PLUNGE

A FATHER of four who was on a ‘lads holiday’ in Benidorm died from head and abdominal injuries after a 200 metre cliff fall, according to a coroner’s investigation.

Nathan Osman, from Pontypridd, South Wales, suffered a traumatic brain injury as he was returning to his hotel on September 28. Nathan, 30, became separated from his friends after they had gone out drinking.

Adjourned

A Pontypridd inquest heard on Monday that he had ‘FaceTimed’ to say he was going back to the hotel.

A police officer found his body at the foot of the cliff the following morning.

Coroner Graeme Hughes said further inquiries would be needed due to the ‘violent’ nature of his death and adjourned the hearing.

builder or maintenance technician flaunted regulations when fitting the suction plate.

When Sofia’s body was fished out,

By Laurence Dollimore

police found she had a clear, circular bruise on her chest measuring 30cm in diameter.

According to her family’s lawyers, the suction system was operating at three times its intended level

TRAGIC:

Sofia was ‘dragged down’ to the bottom

and the opening was too large.

“It was a very dangerous set up that we had at home and nobody warned us,” mother Olga explained.

“What we are trying to do is to ensure that another family does not find themselves in the same situation as us.”

NEW CABS ON THE RANK

SOME 24 new taxi licences, which include Alicante-Elche airport in their catchment area, have been issued, following last summer’s outcry over shortages. Elche now has 228 permits - one per 1,000 residents - but that ratio ignores the huge numbers using the airport.

Voted

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

Quelle surprise!

SO the seemingly cursed Entry/Exit System (EES) is delayed until further notice - yet again.

The long-awaited scheme by the EU wants to scan passports of travellers from ‘third’ countries - like Britain - to ensure they’re not breaking the 90 in 180 day limit. But let’s be honest, the programme is obviously designed to teach us Brits a lesson over Brexit, and to ward off other member states from following in our footsteps.

While we were no supporters of the Leave camp, it is rather laughable that some of the EU’s biggest players, including France and Germany, simply cannot get themselves organised in time.

Ironically, they are probably being held back by the red tape and bureaucracy that inspired many people to vote for Brexit in the first place.

Instead of thinking up ways to keep Brits out of Spain and the Schengen Zone, how about introducing laws for those who are non-resident but bought homes before the disastrous Brexit vote?

They pay millions in taxes each year and can now only use their hard-earned properties for three months at a time. It’s high time they are granted extra visa or travel rights, as is currently - and yet again - being discussed in France.

Makes you sick

THE total acquittal of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner over five sex crimes is a bitter pill to swallow.

Now to add salt to the wound, we reveal in this week’s edition how he could be planning to move to Africa if he is freed next year.

His current sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Portugal is due to expire in September 2025, although his lawyer is now aiming to get that conviction squashed. It’s safe to say that if he made it to Africa he could escape justice for the rest of his life.

And god knows how many more potential victims there would be there.

During his latest sex crimes trial in Germany, one expert psychologist predicted Brueckner was very likely to strike again within two years of being released.

We sincerely hope German prosecutors have a plan and some solid evidence that will allow them to charge him for the disappearance of Madeleine and keep him locked up until trial.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

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

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Cole Sinanian cole@theolivepress.es

Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

BLOOD MONEY

ALEGION of Spanish banks have financed Israel’s arms suppliers to the tune of €3.8bn, it has emerged.

At least a dozen banks made a staggering 4,000 investments or loans between 2011 and 2024, with the majority taking place in the last five years.

Spanish banks - including BBVA and Santanderhave financed €3.8bn worth of weapons used by Israel in Gaza, writes Yzabelle Bostyn

A total of seven arms manufacturers who sell weapons to Israel (five based in the US, one in Italy and two in Germany), benefitted from the deals.

The data was released by the Delas Study Centre for Peace to commemorate the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

The terrorist outrage that killed 1200 people sparked a devastating and still ongoing response from Israel which has seen more than 42,000 Palestinians killed.

According to the study, Santander and BBVA are the two biggest investors in armaments for Israel, collectively providing 95% (€3.6bn) of the money.

The third largest financier is the Caixa Group, which has handed over €99 million, followed by Bestinver (€59.5 million) and EDM Group (€7.95 million).

In fourth place was Ibercaja, which provided €2.26 million, followed by Banco Caminos, Dux Inversores, Abaco

42,000

Capital, Renta 4 Banco, GVC Gaesco and Banca March.

According to the study, 11 of the 12 banks have bought stocks in businesses that sup-

841 distribution@ theolivepress.es

ply arms to Israel. The main one is British multinational RollsRoyce, which also part-owns German manufacturer MTU Friedrichshafen. BBVA, Banco Santander and Caixabank have also lent more than €3.1bn in revolving credits and corporate loans to these businesses, while the former two have also invested €660 million in bond underwriting.

Dubbed the ‘Bank Armada’, the report states that Spanish funds are being used by Israel to ‘commit crimes against humanity, including genocide’. The report also revealed how Israel

Dark side of the green boom

New film lifts the lid on the social - and environmental - impact of renewable energy

ANEW documentary has exposed the unsettling truth behind Spain’s ‘green energy’ transition.

Unrenewable Lives (Vidas Irrenovables) investigates 50 communities throughout Spain affected by the move to renewable energy.

Last year, over 50% of Spain’s energy came from renewable sources, much more than its European neighbours.

By 2030, it is expected to rise to 81%, almost triple the amount produced in 2020.

However, the government’s plans are ironically causing the destruction of many natural habitats, the film by Metafora Visual claims.

“This rollout is causing many problems for ecosystems, the lives of local people and the environment,” explained director Francisco Vaquero, 39 (below).

By Yzabelle Bostyn

town’s natural water source, and its residents now rely on a neighbouring town for supply.

“If it continues this way, I’m not sure what will be left of the country,” explains Vaquero, in the fascinating film, which has been previewed this month, before release in January.

“Spain is being devoured and southern Europe has become a ‘sacrificial zone’ for renewable energy,” he adds.

Alarmingly the average life cycle of turbines is between 20 and 25 years and currently the blades cannot be recycled. There is also currently no plan to recycle solar panel parts.

worried about the risk of cancerous chemicals in solar panels leaking into the town’s water system.

She said: “It’s terrifying, but we will keep fighting for young people.”

The project is an amalgamation of seven estates in the La Jara area, which borders the Sierra de las Nieves National Park.

“It’s not been planned in a way which has considered all the effects on people that live in rural areas. It’s destroying forests, agricultural land and ways of life. We’re trying to give these people a voice.”

By 2050, there will be around 80 million tonnes of renewable materials, much of which ‘will be buried underground’, further disrupting ecosystems.

Providing 560 megawatts of energy, this megaproject is one of 214 licensed projects passed in Spain between 2022 and 2023.

There are a staggering 800 more in the pipeline for Andalucia alone.

Around half of the projects are being funded from foreign investment, the film claims.

Solar panels are limiting space for wild animals to live, hunt and nest, while wind turbines are known to kill birds, bats and other species.

Incredibly, areas of woodland are even being cleared to allow for the installations.

In Amil, Galicia, the construction of a wind farm actually destroyed the

“They think they are taking care of the planet, but really they just want to own it,” said Marisa Casal, who appears in the documentary.

A long-term campaigner, she got involved four years ago when a megaproject of 10 million square metres threatened her local area of Coin, in Malaga.

Her local group, the Valle Natural Rio Grande association, is particularly

The project in Coin, for example, is being part-run by a giant investment fund, Q-Energy, based in Berlin, with support from local firms Natera Solar, Orla Solar and Admiralty Management SL.

In total, 15,000 of the 31,500 megawatts so far licenced in Spain are managed by foreign companies.

The biggest player, Endesa, is surprisingly now 70% Italian-owned.

DEMANDS: A global outcry is demanding an end to the invasion that has killed

and flattened Gaza (right)

BACKLASH: The report (left) has led to sharp criticism and protests against the banks that support Israel’s leader Netanyahu (centre)

King: Palestine must exist

is using the weapons financed by Spanish banks.

According to the study, guided bombs and missiles produced by American companies Boeing and General Systems, have been used in many attacks across Gaza and Lebanon.

Although the Spanish government has insisted it ceased selling arms to Israel after the October 7 attack, the Centre Delas found at least one company, Nammo Palencia SL, had sold arms to the country. It emerged sales were not registered in Spain as they were carried out from their Norway branches.

“They have caused the deaths of hundreds of people, falling on residential areas, schools and hospitals,” claimed the report.

Caixabank (€198 million), BBVA (€1.4bn)

and Santander (€1.2bn) have financed Boeing, while BBVA has sent money to General Dynamics.

The report also highlighted the exportation of combat planes and helicopters such as the Boeing Apache used in attacks on Gaza, including last June’s assault on Rafah.

during a visit to Jordan.

King Felipe has called for a ceasefire in Gaza

The monarch criticised those who chose war over peace, saying ‘changing the lives of millions of innocent civilians, ending lives while redrawing borders and displacing popu- lations: it is unacceptable’.

Felipe met with the Jordanian King, Abdullah II, on October 6, accompanied by Spain's Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares.

Spain and Jordan, Felipe insisted, are united by a shared desire that 'the only possible way out of this endless cycle of violence is through two states, Israel and Palestine, liv- ing side by side in peace and stability'.

It also reported the use of F-35 aircrafts, produced by Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Leonardo, which have been used in many missile attacks in Gaza. Leonardo, the report recognises, has received €1.8bn from BBVA and Banco Santander.

The research also referenced the ‘indiscriminate’ use of Rh-120 tanks, produced by Rheinmetall, which has factories in Spain.

The German firm has been slammed for allowing its tanks to attack civilians, journalists and aid convoys.

GIVING BACK

Only by registering on our website can you take part in our competitions and giveaways

THE Olive Press has yet more happy customers after giving away two free tickets to Annie The Musical in Fuengirola last week.

The competition was just one of the many prizes we have arranged in conjunction with our partners and advertisers this year.

Last week, expats Pamela and her husband were the lucky pair chosen to attend the Annie show at the Salon Varietes theatre.

Pamela wrote to us afterwards: “We have just returned to Almuñecar after seeing tonight’s production, which was amazing! It was well worth the journey down.

“Thank you so much for the tickets, we had a great evening.”

In the last 30 days, more than 3,500 people have registered an account at theolivepress.es.

It means we now have more than 53,300 registered users on our website.

Registering an account allows you to access another free article and lets you comment on stories and engage with other readers.

Registered users are then sent weekly newsletters on travel, health and property, keeping them informed of the latest news in Spain.

And increasingly, they have the privilege to take part in exclusive competitions and be sent offers from a growing list of big-name partners.

We have given away concert tickets to DJ Pete Tong, top-quality mattresses and free days and meals out at popular beach clubs and restaurants.

And advertisers should also be taking note, as our large database means we can generate fantastic sales opportunities through competitions, deals, and other offers that are beneficial to both reader and advertiser.

If you want to advertise with the OP, please contact sales@theolivepress.es or call our office on 0034 951154841 for more information.

It is also possible that its tanks may have killed Spanish aid workers, including volunteers from Spanish chef Jose Andres’ NGO, World Central Kitchen.

“These banks are the main drivers of the military economy that allows armed conflict and human rights violations to continue around the world,” said the report.

Instead, they propose ‘ethical finances’ that reject any investment in arms products and promote a finance model based on reducing inequality and social injustice.

The Centre Delas mainly used data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the majority of cases occurring after October 7.

are ‘driving people off the land and back to the cities’ and killing wildlife, such as eagles

Renewable energy is big business and the large oil companies are already heavily invested in the industry, as it allows them to lower their overall carbon footprint and, therefore, taxes.

“It’s all about money,” explained Marisa to the Olive Press this week. “If they really wanted clean energy, they would be helping people to become self-sufficient with localised, shared renewable energy sources.

“But, of course, if they do that people won’t need to pay them any more.”

“On some occasions they are even seizing agricultural land by decrees, which takes job opportunities away from our young people and worsens depopulation,” explained Marisa.

As Francisco explains in the film: “There’s something very dark behind this.

Locals and expats need to ‘wake up and fight’ Spain’s energy problem

Perhaps the most alarming effect of the green revolution however is the amount of agricultural land which is being appropriated or sold for ‘pennies’, as Marisa describes it.

As EU laws have made foreign food imports cheaper than domestic produce, farmers are ending up making much more money by selling - or leasing the land - to renewable firms.

“The plan isn’t to create green energy but to make people dependent on big energy companies, force them out of the countryside and into cities, so they control the land.

“I’m sure it’s the big foreign investment funds like Blackstone and Vanguard that are buying up the country. It’s colonialism.”

He continues that locals and expats need to ‘wake up and fight’ against Spain’s growing renewable energy problem.

The activists insist they are not against renewable energy, but the huge scale of Spain’s current macro projects and their impact on the environment.

Since then, Israeli forces have fired over 70,000 tonnes of explosives in Gaza, accounting for 35 kilos per inhabitant. Today, some 90% of the population has been displaced on at least one occasion and over 42,000 have died.

Massacre

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has since recognised Palestine as a state and urged for an end to the conflict. He was recently joined by the King (see inset above).

“The international community cannot remain silent for one more minute in the face of a massacre turned routine,” said Sanchez last month.

“We cannot normalise the deaths of innocent civilians nor stand by while International Human Rights are put into question. It’s time to say enough is enough.”

His statement was followed by protests all over Spain on October 6, where thousands of demonstrators urged world leaders to ‘free Palestine’.

Over 200 Spanish trade unions and NGOs have spoken out against the conflict, calling for a nationwide strike.

The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, branded the demonstrations ‘unacceptable’, saying: “Spain has become a breeding ground for hate and destruction…it is not right to allow the glorification of terrorism.”

SPAIN’S

DESTRUCTION: The largely foreign owned companies

(left)

How the circular economy works in the world of business and everyday life, explains Christin Hagemeier

Repair and recycle!

HAVE you heard of the circular economy? Even if you haven’t, you’re likely familiar with examples from the past and present where it’s been naturally practiced.

In this article, I’ll explain what the circular economy is, how it differs from the linear economy, why it’s so important, and what each of us can do in daily life to support it.

As the name suggests, the circular economy is based on using raw materials in a cycle. This means materials should be used for as long as possible and, even after they’ve fulfilled their original purpose, repurposed. This process distinguishes between recycling, upcycling, and downcycling.

‘Upcycling’ refers to the process of enhancing materials, creating something more valuable from old resources. ‘Downcycling’ produces something of lower value, such as generating thermal energy through the burning of raw materials. ‘Recycling’, on the other hand, involves reusing raw materials to create the same product, like melting old glass bottles to produce new ones.

The difference from the ‘linear economy’ is clear: in the linear economy, raw materials are discarded after use. But where do we dispose of waste on a finite planet? A shocking example is the massive plastic vortex in the Pacific Ocean, which consists of improperly discarded plastic waste. This vortex has grown to three times the size of Spain!

The linear economy has serious drawbacks. Another major issue is the availability of resources, especially rare earth elements. These are essential for our electronic devices and batteries, but exist in limited quantities.

The EU has also recognised the importance of the circular economy. With the "Action Plan for the Circular Economy," it has introduced regulations to promote the careful use and reuse of resources. This plan now includes three comprehensive packages aimed at encouraging more sustainable practices.

What can we do in our daily lives? The key is to repair and reuse - and move away from disposable products. For nearly all disposable items, there are sustainable alternatives: reusable containers instead of takeaway packaging, cloth bags instead of plastic, second-hand clothing, and beeswax wraps as a substitute for cling film.

Another crucial step is repairing. Whether it’s a car, bike, or clothing— many things can be fixed instead of thrown away. Electronics, especially smartphones, are often designed to be irreparable. However, a new EU regulation aims to introduce the ‘right to repair,’ a vital step toward a sustainable future with our resources.

Please send your questions or comments on how to be greener to christin@theolivepress.es

Fighting back flames

WWF Spain and local expats are teaming up to fight wildfires in Valencia’s Cortes de Pallas

By Yzabelle Bostyn

THE WWF has teamed up with expat residents in Valencia to fight against forest fires.

In 2012, a blaze broke out in Cortes de Pallas and stretched over 30,000 hectares and 13 municipalities.

The third fire in 60 years, afterwards the land was quickly colonised by invasive plants, making it

even more vulnerable to forest fires.

After lying scorched for nine years, a WWF project began in 2021 to bring the area back to life and prevent blazes.

“This work is extremely important,” said project manager David

IN DECLINE

AROUND 40% of the vertebrate animal population in the Iberian Peninsula is in decline according to study done by researchers from Alicante and Barcelona universities.

Of the more than 400 species analysed, the groups with the highest rates of decline are amphibians like frogs and toads, along with freshwater fish.

Roberto Rodriguez-Caro from the University of Alicante's ecology department said: “Extinction rates are very high and are expected to continue to increase if conservation measures are not applied to mitigate their threats.”

The main warning signs of possible extinction is a fall in population.

“Assessing whether populations are stable, increasing or declining is key to being able to identify problems and look for solutions," said Rodriguez-Caro.

The study - funded by the Iberian Society of Ecology - has created the largest database of population trends in Spain and Portugal. Some 21 scientists from different research centres have been working since 2021 to collate figures.

Researchers say the new database has tripled the amount of information, which has shown unfavourable results. Amphibians and inland fish have had the highest rates of decline, so improvements in habitats and mitigating threats are essential for their preservation, according to the results published in the Biological Conservation journal.

Not everything is negative, with fauna, mammals and birds showing optimistic results due to conservation work being focused on them.+

INCLUDE WWF SPAIN IN YOUR WILL

Please cut out and send this filled out form to WWF Spain at Gran Vía

We will contact you as soon as possible to resolve your queries without.

Name:

Fuentes.

“If left on its own, it would take between 80 to 100 years to restore itself naturally, but we are getting wildfires every 20-30. Something needed to be done.”

In partnership with the local council’s Natural Development Project and the Generalitat’s Environmental Department, the WWF began identifying the areas most in need of help.

They identified Yatova and Dos Aguas as their first mission, aiming to finish the first phase of work, totalling 125 hectares of land by 2025.

Financed by donations from local businesses, the WWF removed flammable plants, replacing them with the species that populated the area before the first wildfires. In order to attract wildlife and repopulate the land, the charity has also introduced fruit trees for birds, hives for bees and a herd of goats to ‘cut’ the grass.

The WWF have also rejuvenated old farmland constructed in a stair formation to prevent fires, sowing wheat and legumes.

The cooperation of land owners, almost half of them expats, is also essential to the project.

Fuentes told the Olive Press: “There are many foreigners here who are happy to help, they let us bring the goats on their land and are keen to farm vegetables to keep fires at bay.”

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Address: Town:

RURAL IDYLS

THE Spanish government has been slammed as housing prices continue to skyrocket across the country, with the national average rising by 8.7% over the past year.

A report by property portal Idealista reveals the average price now stands at €2,182 per square metre, though the increases have been particularly steep in certain regions and cities.

The rapid rise in house prices has sparked concern that government policies are failing to address the critical issue of affordable housing.

Francisco Iñareta, spokesperson for

The diverse architecture in Spain’s countryside

Discover a selection of the shortlisted designs for the prestigious Dezeen Architecture awards

PRICES SOARING

By Walter Finch

Idealista, attributed the surge to a combination of factors, including inadequate land development, bureaucratic obstacles, labour shortages, and unchecked population growth in high-demand areas.

“Used housing is unable to meet growing demand, and in the face of a shortage of supply, prices are rising sharply,” Iñareta said, calling for immediate government intervention to accelerate new housing construction.

The crisis has been most pronounced in Spain’s provincial capitals, with Madrid and Barcelona experiencing price jumps of 17.8% and 16.7% respectively. In San Sebastian, the country’s most expensive city, housing prices have soared to €5,570 per square metre, underscoring the widening gap between Spain’s major urban centres and more affordable areas like Zamora, where prices remain at €1,175 per square metre. Malaga has emerged as the priciest provincial capital in Andalucia, with an average of €3,095 per square metre, marking a 17.9% increase over the past

year. Andalucia’s Jaen province remains one of the most affordable regions, with prices as low as €838 per square metre. Elsewhere, Valencia saw a 17.6% rise followed by Santander (16.7%). Next in line are Alicante (15.9%), Granada (15%) and Soria (13.5%).

Prices have also risen in Palma (10.2%), Barcelona (9.8%), Sevilla (7.8%), Bilbao (6.1%) and San Sebastian (4%).

The rising cost of housing is putting significant pressure on buyers across the country, with many now spending over 30% of their income on mortgage payments. The lack of affordable new-

Lackof newhousing developmentsblamed fordrivinguphouse pricesinSpainby 8.7%inayear

build properties has created a ‘perfect storm’, according to Idealista, leading to a national housing crunch that is showing no signs of easing.

Idealista’s report calls for urgent policy reforms, including measures to streamline the construction process and incentivize large-scale developments in high-demand areas. Without swift action, housing prices in Spain’s most dynamic cities and regions are expected to continue climbing, further exacerbating the housing affordability crisis.

Whilst economic migrants and ‘climate refugees’ head for the English coast in small boats and dinghies, a growing number of Non-doms and wealthy Brits will be weighing anchor in the UK and heading for Spain in rather more luxurious vessels. The Costa del Sol and Marbella will be a top destination, which will push up demand and house prices that are already floating away.

Back in July, shortly after Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party won the General Election, I predicted that the British (and French) election results would boost demand for property in Spain. “When higher taxes in the UK start to bite, an increasing number of wealthy people will vote with their feet,” I wrote back then, arguing that many will head for Spain seeing as France was almost in the grip of a Jacobin regime (that outcome has been

avoided thanks to Brexit’s old friend Mr. Barnier, for now).

In the run up to UK budget day the British press has been full of stories about an exodus of millionaires heading for more friendly climes. A Migration Report by Henley Private Wealth Management says that the UK will lose 9,500 millionaires this year, twice the level of last year, and according to an analysis by the Adam Smith Institute, cited in the Telegraph, the share of the UK population who are millionaires is set to fall by 20 per cent over the course of the current Parliament, even as the share in Italy, France and Germany rises. The Guardian has celebrated this exodus of wealth in an article titled ‘Britain’s millionaires are fleeing. Good night and good luck, I say’.

Millionaires’ haven

Tax refugees from the UK will boost Spain’s housing market

Some billionaires will head for Switzerland and Monaco, whilst others, along with many of the ‘only’ millionaires, might head for Spain, which offers an appealing lifestyle and tax regimes like the ‘Beckham Rule’ that allows expatriates to be taxed as non-residents for their first six years in Spain, whilst exempting foreign income from Spanish taxation (Hello Non-doms!). Spain could be the perfect place to sit out the Labour government.

London-boy Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, is one example of a multi-millionaire who has already fled to Marbella from the UK because of Labour, telling the Sunday Times “I am taking all of my money and investments out of the UK. The government is driving people with money away from the country. Why would people stay in the UK?”

He won’t be the only HNWI fleeing the UK to avoid higher taxes like income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and maybe even a wealth tax. Some on the Labour side are already arguing for an ‘Exit’ tax to smack them on the back of the head as they leave.

The Costa del Sol, and the Marbella area in particular, will get the lion’s share of attention from British tax refugees heading for Spain. If they look for a place to buy they will find a hot market where home sales in the first half of the year (H1) were the second-highest in a decade, below

Short-term pain

THERE are a third fewer apartments available for long-term rent in Spain since 2019.

LONDON’S NOT CALLING: Millionaire Charlie Mullins and fiancee Raquel are leaving the UK due to higher taxation plans

only the boom year of 2022 (which was turbo-charged by pent-up demand from lockdowns). And what about house prices? To take Marbella, asking prices are up 12% this year (Source: Idealista), and 66% in five years.. A wave of British millionaires heading for the Costa del Sol could set the high-end of the market on the fire.

Holiday lets veto

SPAIN’S Supreme Court has ruled a community of homeowners can ban tourist rentals. They just need 60% of the owners to back such a measure.

The new ruling comes after studying numerous cases around the country, including one in Marbella dating back to 2019.

Hard-pressed tenants instead are being faced with short-term and ‘seasonal’ accommodation, which have tripled in the same period, now accounting for 14% of the rental market across the country.

Malaga is one of the few ‘distressed’ cities where the housing market is facing serious problems to actually buck the trend, according to a study by Idealista. Here, long-term rentals are actually up by nearly a quarter (23%) in a year, along with fellow long-suffering Canarian duo of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (22%) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (13%).

Despite seeing these rises, Malaga has not escaped the trend in short-term accommodation, with the number of these apartments almost quintupling (466%).

And the numbers are similar across the board for almost every Spanish city of note – Alicante (309%), Seville (279%), Valencia (276%), Barcelona (244%), Bilbao (217%), and Palma (208%). And in Madrid (159%) and San Sebastián (136%), the numbers more than doubled.

The community president had demanded a change in the law as 'noise, destruction, theft, stains and smells of marijuana and urine' were affecting residents. A case had been launched by two companies that owned six tourist apartments in the block.

The Supreme Court backed the other residents however, ruling that communities of owners have the right to prohibit the presence of tourist flats by law.

THE European Union has appointed Danish politician Dan Jorgensen as ‘housing tsar’ tasked with tackling the continent’s property crisis.

Part of his task will be to attract investment in new housing and slashing the costs of construction.

Jorgensen will be working to develop a comprehensive European Affordable Housing Plan, which could provide much-needed support for Spain and other member states.

Shortage

He will also be expected to address the shortage of housing close to workplaces, and optimise the use of existing housing stock.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the gravity of the situation.

“Millions of young people and families are struggling to find affordable housing across Europe,” she told Jorgensen in a mission statement.

“We must address this crisis by helping member states tackle structural issues and unlock both public and private investment.”

November

A QUIET revolution is underway as the Spanish turn their gaze inland towards the countryside.

Some 63% of Spaniards are actively considering a new life in rural areas, according to a report by Fotocasa Research. The trend is being driven by skyrocketing prices in cities and coastal resorts.

The study, Análisis de la España Vaciada, reveals a growing trend, particularly among 18 to 44-year-olds, towards a life away from Spain’s congested urban areas.

Technological advances, remote working, and a shift in lifestyle priorities are

COUNTRY-BOUND

all contributing to what many are calling a renaissance of Spain’s rural heartlands. Yet, despite this newfound enthusiasm, the country remains well behind the European curve in terms of rural population.

Just 13% of Spain’s population resides in rural areas, placing it near the bottom in Europe, which has an average of 26%..

Only Malta, with 3%, and the Netherlands, at 11%, come lower.

Spain’s rural areas are increasingly becoming a beacon of hope for those seek-

ing not just affordability, but a different pace of life.

“For many citizens, rural areas offer not only cheaper housing, but also a chance to reconnect with nature and enjoy a quieter, more meaningful way of life,” concluded the report.

A significant 51% expressed a ‘strong desire’ to make the shift to the country, an increase from 47% last year.

GIVE OUR MONEY BACK!

By Walter Finch

TENS of thousands of homebuyers in Spain are taking advantage of new EU lender rules.

The Spanish banking regulator has received over 40,000 requests in the first half of 2024 alone following the ruling. It could see millions of mortgage holders recoup millions in unfair fees.

Notary fees

The expenses - which include notary fees, agency fees, appraisal costs, taxes, and land registry fees - are often as much as 3% of the total mortgage costs.

Now, the European High Court has ruled the costs should be shared, with homeowners expected to recoup an average of €1,500 each from

Luxury living

SLS Hotels & Residences is expanding its luxury offerings in Spain with two major projects.

It is due to open a high-end hotel in Barcelona in December, followed by a branded residences project in Madrid in 2025.

The Barcelona hotel is located in Port Forum, Sant Adrià de Besòs, a site initially planned for a Hard Rock hotel.

Some €200 million is being spent on

their bank. Regulator, the Bank of Spain, announced that many banks are voluntarily returning these fees to customers without the need for legal action. However, an alarming 61% of claims are being rejected due to incomplete information, customer service rejections and fraud.

Hugenumberof claimants demand a refund of mortgagefeesasclaims floodtheBankof Spain

It’s a steal!

A COSTA Blanca resort, best known for its gangster expat John Gilligan, is the cheapest place to buy on the Spanish costas. Torrevieja is excellent value with homes going for around €1,700/ m2.

Anyone who took out a mortgage before June 2019 and paid all the associated expenses is entitled to make a claim.

Around 15 million mortgages were taken out in Spain between 2003 and 2018.

Homeown-

the development, which will feature 471 rooms, including 70 suites with ocean views.

The hotel will also offer a range of luxury amenities such as bars, restaurants, three pools, meeting rooms, a spa, and a fitness centre.

In Madrid, SLS will introduce the SLS Madrid Infantas Residences, its first branded residences in Spain.

An historic 1920s building (below) will be transformed into 33 exclusive homes, offering one to three bedrooms, penthouses with terraces, and hotel-style services.

ers can still claim even if they’ve paid off their mortgage in full.

To claim, you’ll need your mortgage deed and related invoices.

If you don’t have them, you can request copies from your bank or agency.

Key Points:

● Claims are valid for mortgages signed before June 2019

● The EU ruling extends the deadline for filing claims

● Expect to recover between €1,500 and €3,000, depending on your mortgage

● You can still claim even if you’ve paid off or sold the property.

MINI-MOGULS

SOME 91% of real estate crowdfunding investors are men. Walliance, a crowdfunding platform operating in Spain, Italy, and France, examined over 170 projects, following the company’s acquisition of the French platform Lymo Finance.

The report reveals that the average investor is 44 years old, with participants from 74 countries, primarily Italy and France.

Walliance noted that new construction projects have seen the highest demand on the platform.

Most investors are small savers with limited real estate knowledge but eager to grow their assets. They club together with other small investors via a website to buy a stake in the real estate project.

The platform’s average investment in 2024 was €3,902, with 57.87% of funds directed toward new developments.

‘Thank you Olive Press for trying to find Orville!’

PROPERTY queen Jasmine Harman has personally thanked the Olive Press after we launched an appeal to track down her daughter’s lost teddy Orville.

The A Place In The Sun star, 48, said: “I wanted to thank you so much for sharing our search for ‘Orville’, my daughter’s soft toy. We haven’t found him yet, but we are still hopeful… thank you!”

The toy was misplaced while Jasmine and her family were shopping around the Parque Comercial Miramar in Las Lagunas, Mijas area on October 5. Her daughter Joy has had the stuffed green teddy since she was a baby and it is of great sentimental value.

HaveyouseenJoy’steddyOrville?Contacttips@theolivepress.es

It means you can snare a two-bedroom apartment near the beach for just €65,000. There are even homes for as little as €34,600, although they require extensive work.

A two bedroom home on the Costa del Sol would be difficult to find for less than €200,000 in comparison, while in Marbella you would need at least €275,000.

Coastline

Bustling Torrevieja is just south of Alicante city, which costs an average of €2,298/m2, while Benidorm comes in at €2,868/m2. Fancy the north Costa Blanca you will need to shell out €2,864/m2 in Denia while Moraira, an expat hotspot, remains one of the most expensive at €3,956/m2. Torrevieja, though, has everything, including 14 kms of coastline and a warm climate with an annual average temperature of 18C.

It has around 89,920 inhabitants and is packed with British expats, alongside 121 other nationalities. Irish gangster Gilligan received a suspended sentence for drug dealing at Torrevieja Criminal Court last year.

He was accused of smuggling cannabis and sleeping pills into Ireland as well as owning a gun found in his back garden. While he faced eight years in prison, he instead got handed a 22-month suspended sentence and a €14,000 fine.

When asked by the judge if he accepted the deal, Gilligan replied: “Yes, I am guilty.”

THE SUN: The Harman family Orville

REGULATOR: The Bank of Spain estimates €1,500 per purchase returned

See Rural Idylls, page 18

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LOOKING FOR MORE PROPERTY STORIES?

IN THE FRAME

THE architecture shortlist for this year’s prestigious Dezeen Awards has been revealed.

A total of 82 projects are competing for awards across 15 architecture categories, submitted by studios from 32 countries, including Spain, Germany, Bangladesh, Rwanda, Turkey, Taiwan, Niger, and Mexico.

The most represented countries are the United Kingdom with 10 shortlisted projects, followed by the USA with nine, and China and Australia with seven entries each.

Notable projects include a solar farm hub in Turkey clad with mirrored steel panels, and a sprawling, plant-filled airport terminal in India spanning 255,000 square metres.

By Dilip Kuner

Also on the shortlist are a renovated bookstore in China, a Tokyo development with undulating green roofs, and a treetop walkway in Norway made from pinewood.

A housing prototype for displaced communities, developed by Holcim in collaboration with the Norman Foster Foundation and showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale, has also been nominated.

Chris Cooke, a Dezeen Awards judge and head of design collaborations at Bentley, commented: “Our partnership with Dezeen Awards continues to spotli-

Beijing, CHINA

Trace Architecture Office (TAO) transformed the historic Weishan Chongzheng Academy in Beijing into a multifunctional bookstore. Collaborating with the local government and Librairie Avant-Garde, TAO’s design preserved the building’s original atmosphere while adding modern functionality, including exhibition spaces, a small theatre, and a coffee shop. The design approach focused on minimal intervention to protect the existing structures, including the preservation of courtyard trees, reflecting a deep respect for the site’s historical and natural heritage.

HOUSE (RURAL) CATEGORY

Ruin

to a concept where a new structure delicately floats above the existing site. The house weaves through the ruins, creating a powerful contrast between the old and the new, preserving the site’s heritage while introducing modern design.

Scan to visit our website

The Dezeen Awards architecture shortlist has been announced and we bring you six of the best

ght ambitious and innovative projects. This year’s shortlist is filled with sophisticated, thoughtful designs, many of which reflect a strong commitment to environmental responsibility.”

The shortlisted projects were evaluated by a distinguished architecture jury, including architects Keiji Ashizawa, Francine Houben, Dong Danshen, and Sumaya Dabbagh.

Winners for each category will be announced live during the Dezeen Awards ceremony on November 26.

The 15 category winners will then compete for the coveted architecture project of the year award.

Here, the Olive Press has chosen half-adozen standout projects from the shortlist…

INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT PROJECT

Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2

Bangalore, INDIA

says Snøhetta, the architecture firm behind the project. The library’s design is inspired by Beijing’s natural landscape, inviting the outdoors in through sculpted interior forms. It features a variety of informal zones, reading spaces, and conference rooms, making it a hub for learning, culture, and community in the digital age.

Terminal 2 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, India, reimagines the airport experience by incorporating natural elements. Designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill as a ‘terminal in a garden’, the 255,000-square-metre space connects passengers to nature, inspired by Bangalore’s reputation as the Garden City. The terminal boosts the airport’s capacity by 25 million passengers annually and serves as a gateway that integrates lush landscapes into the typically bustling airport environment, setting a new standard for international terminals.

In Madrid, the Beyond-the-family Kin project redefines living spaces for older residents, fostering intergenerational care and social connections. The design, by Ignacio G. Galan and OF Architects, creates diverse living arrangements that challenge the isolation often faced by the elderly, promoting independence while offering communal care options. The architectural layout supports flexible living arrangements, with financial strategies designed to enhance the quality of life for its occupants.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROJECT

Atmosphere

Leogang, AUSTRIA

Designed for the Hotel Krallerhof in Leogang, Austria, the new Atmosphere facility integrates seamlessly into the surrounding mountain landscape. The curved split-roof structure extends over 100 metres, lowering toward a spring-fed lake and enclosing a 50-metre-long infinity pool. The design by Krallerhof and Hadi Teherani Architects incorporates sustainable materials and regional partners, emphasizing a harmonious connection with nature. A retractable glass facade allows the interior to blend with the

surrounding environment, creating a peaceful alpine oasis for relaxation.

Photo by Zhu Yumeng

The Beijing City Library claims to be a modern landmark. “It boasts the world’s largest climatised reading space and China’s largest load-bearing glass system,”

Patrick Bradley Architect’s Barneys Ruin project in Maghera, UK, took an innovative approach to preserving historical ruins. “The clients were determined to keep the ruins untouched,” said Bradley, which led

Photo by Joe Laverty Photography

Photo by Ar.

Ekansh

Goel/Studio Recall

Photo by Imagen Subliminal/Miguel de Guzman/Rocio Romero

Photo by HG Esch Photography

Photo by Arch-Exist Photography

BALLOONING: GROWTH: Rural

Rural idyls

Cosmoveros

Just outside Madrid, Cosmoveros offers a futuristic take on rural lodging with its bubble hotel design. Located in Muñoveros, guests can stargaze under the clear Segovian sky while staying in these transparent, spherical structures. The modern design blends cutting-edge architecture with the rich cultural heritage of Spain’s interior.

Hotel Rural Can Lluc

In the heart of Ibiza, Hotel Rural Can Lluc captures the essence of Balearic architecture, known for its pragmatic simplicity and seamless integration with the environment. The hotel is surrounded by olive, lemon, and pine trees, creating a serene atmosphere that reflects the island’s traditional rural style. The traditional building has modern annexes which make use of natural materials, warm tones, and abundant natural light.

Explore the architecture of some of Spain’s

countryside destinations

RBy Dilip Kuner

URAL tourism in Spain is experiencing an unprecedented boom, driven not only by the desire to reconnect with nature but also by a deep appreciation for the country’s rich architectural heritage.

Recent data from 2023 highlights this surge, with 45% of Spaniards engaging in rural tourism, and 92% of them planning to return to rural destinations. With over 18,000 rural properties listed and 15 million travellers seeking authentic experiences, the appeal of Spain’s diverse rural architecture is more prominent than ever. The architectural landscape of Spain’s rural properties offers a remarkable variety, from modern, eco-friendly designs to traditional homes that blend seamlessly with their natural surroundings.

Here are seven rural properties that embody the diversity of Spain's rural architectural heritage:

The Teepee

Nestled in the pine forests of Mombeltran, Avila, the Teepee offers a rustic yet innovative take on traditional American teepees. These symmetrical wooden structures, set against a dramatic mountainous backdrop, provide a harmonious connection to the natural landscape while offering a unique, peaceful retreat by the Ramacastañas River.

Casa Aurora

Situated on the Verdeaurora ecological farm in the Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve, Casa Aurora is a testament to Canarian architecture.

This rural home, surrounded by the island’s stark landscapes, is designed to adapt to the agricultural and livestock-based way of life. Its simple, functional design integrates with the protected natural space of Malpaís Grande, embodying Fuerteventura’s rural traditions.

NATURAL ESCAPE: In wild woods near Avila

hotel Cosmoveros shows wide open

Segovian skies at their best

La Casa del Desierto

In the heart of the Gorafe desert, La Casa del Desierto is a striking example of modern architecture harmonising with extreme natural conditions. Built within the Granada geopark, a region of international geological significance, this glass-walled home is designed to withstand dramatic temperature shifts, with solar panels and rainwater collection systems ensuring self-sufficiency in one of Spain’s most

by

Masia Can Pou

As an iconic example of Catalan rural architecture, Masia Can Pou embodies the timeless appeal of the masia, a traditional farmhouse.

Located near Girona, this stone-built farmhouse offers panoramic views of the Llemena valley and is a symbol of the region’s historical connection to self-sufficient rural living. Despite their origins in the 9th and 10th centuries, masias have been rejuvenated and remain integral to modern rural life in Catalonia.

Cabañitas del Bosque

Located in Ousesende, the Cabanas do Barranco estate exemplifies Galician mountain architecture, combining traditional forms with modern design. Hidden among pines, oaks, and chestnut trees, this estate functions as a biodiversity refuge. The estate features the Cabanas Sen Barreiras, cabins perched in the treetops, and Finca Apriscos, small cabins overlooking a tranquil lake, each blending into the surrounding forest and wetlands.

Photos

Gonzalo Botet

MAGIC CONVERSION

How to convert a charming ruin into a stunning, wonderful space and get a €20,000 subsidy?

Ask MAB Architects to help

THIS is how a ruin is converted into a wonderful place to live - while also getting nearly €20,000 in a subsidy from the state.

Transforming an old home properly will leave you with a unique and interesting space, but also add considerable value.

Arquitectos MAB have been renovating and upgrading such buildings for decades along the Costa Levante.

Working out of two studios in Orihuela city and La Zenia, the company’s clients range from large real estate developers to individual buyers with small renovation projects.

Here, the firm presents Casa 1927, the renovation of a typical house in an inland town of the Vega Baja.

Archway

The property was built by the grandparents of the owner, who was actually born on the second floor.

Now, after 40 years of being uninhabited, she made the sentimental decision to give it a new lease of life for her family.

She also wanted to conserve many of the features that she remembered fondly from her youth.

So an original archway and its beautiful hydraulic tile floors needed to become the key ele-

SUN-DECK: Enough space was created at the back of the home for a pool, bbq and wall of plants

ments of this comprehensive rehabilitation project. Using them as a guide to establish a new spatial layout, all the new materials and colours were influenced by these original features.

“A large curtain provides theatricality, intimacy, flexibility, dynamism and colour,” explains lead architect Antonio Campos Villanueva. “And we respected as much as we could of what already existed.” While reusing as much as possible and keeping the footprint of the original home, there is a much stronger relationship with light, in particular through the patio and between the rooms.

“For a space to make you happy, it must meet seven attributes: Be beautiful, exciting, useful, practical, profitable, accessible and sustainable” adds Campos, whose firm MAB stands for ‘More Architecture & Building’. Whether it is a personal project or a real estate investment, a house with history or a small beach apartment to rent, carrying out an architectural project provides so much value.

traditional passive strategies with current ones.

Connecting and opening up the living spaces, not only opened up space but also led to better cross ventilation between the street to the north and the patio to the south.

By adding key energy efficent features, such as solar panels the owners landed a €20,000 subsidy

Part of the updating of the old construction involved better energy rehabilitation and the energy performance of the house combines

If you are interested and want more information about it, you can go to www.arquitectosmab.es or write to onaru@arquitectosmab.es.

The pergola, up which grows an old vine, provides solar protection in summer, but also allows the sun’s rays to pass through in winter after it has shed its leaves.

The vine is also a great addition to the space between the dining room-kitchen and the patio, providing climatic balance at all times of the year.

carpentry and glass, solar control elements, high-efficiency climate installations and solar thermal installation for ACS.

In addition to the new passive energy efficiency strategies, the house has been awarded a B-A energy rating. Extra insulation, high-efficiency

By adding these key energy efficient features meant obtaining €19,000 in subsidies from the PREE energy rehabilitation programme, all arranged via MAB.

OPEN-PLAN: MAB architects made sure to conserve the ancient wooden arch as well as the stunning hydraulic floor tiles

Créditos fotográfi cos David Frutos

SPICE OF LIFE

A TOP neurologist has revealed that adding five common spices to your coffee could supercharge your brain and memory.

Dr Brandon Crawford, a US-based neurologist, claims that cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, and black pepper can transform your morning mug of coffee into a brain-boosting elixir.

These spices are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that protect your brain from damage and lower the

risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s, he claims. Cinnamon is a standout, fighting oxidative stress and regulating blood sugar, crucial for cognitive function. Ginger helps balance neurotransmitters, sharpening your focus, while turmeric boosts brain health by promoting neuron growth - especially when combined with black pepper. Nutmeg, meanwhile, protects neurons and boosts your mood.

Nolotil warning

A STUDY has found the main ingredient in ‘lethal’ painkiller Nolotil could be twice as dangerous for women than men. Just weeks after the European Medicines Agency revealed it would not be banning Nolotil, a study has surfaced claiming the drug’s ‘deadly’ side effects may affect women twice as much as men.

The research, titled ‘Agranulocytosis from metamizol, is it time to restrict prescriptions?’

‘Lethal’ painkiller may be twice as dangerous for women, study finds

By Yzabelle Bostyn

found that women are almost twice as likely to suffer agranulocytosis after taking drugs containing metamizol, Nolotil’s main active ingredient. Agranulocytosis is the depletion of white blood cells leading

NILE DEATH

AN 80-YEAR-OLD woman has become the latest person to die from the West Nile virus in Andalucia.

The local died after falling ill in her hometown of Coria del Rio, in Sevilla, widely considered the epicentre of the current outbreak.

It means 10 people are known to have died from the mosquito-borne illness in the southernmost region so far this year. The woman, who suffered from other health conditions, had been battling the disease since being diagnosed in August. There have been 87 confirmed cases in Andalucia this summer, of whom 10 have died.

to sepsis, loss of limbs and even death.

to suspect these three populations could share some genetic variants of HLA.”

Getting old fast

SEVERE Covid-19 cases may accelerate aging, according to Spanish researchers.

Patients who experienced acute Covid had shorter telomeres, which protect DNA from damage.

The study, published in Critical Care, analysed 49 patients from Madrid hospitals who were treated between August 2020 and April 2021.

These patients, mostly men around 60, had extended ICU stays or required mechanical ventilation. Researchers measured telomere length during hospitalisation and a year later.

Those with longer ICU stays or ventilation showed greater telomere shortening, which can lead to cellular senescence, a process that contributes to tissue damage, inflammation, and respiratory problems.

According to The Sunday Times, of 115 adverse reactions to Nolotil between 2001-2018, 79 were agranulocytosis and almost two thirds of these cases (46) affected women.

Published by medical journal Pharmaceutical Care España, the study also suggested there could be a genetic cause of agranulocytosis, making British, Irish and Scandanvians more vulnerable.

It said: “Other potential risk factors include genetics, such as the presence of HLA and HLA-DQwl alleles.

“These characteristics appear to create a greater susceptibility in individuals from Great Britain, Ireland and Scandavia, since there are historic reasons

KILL THE DRUG

The HLA gene is responsible for the regulation of the immune system and mutations have previously been linked with auto-immune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Similarly, agranulocytosis weakens the immune system by depleting white blood cells, frequently used to fight infection. Other risk factors were advanced age and having suffered from viral infections such as COVID-19 and hepatitis.

Data from EudraVigilance shows that between 1985 and 2017, there have been 1148 reported cases of suspected agranulocytosis associated with metamizol in Europe.

The majority of the cases have occurred in Germany, Nolotil’s country of origin, Spain and Switzerland.

Tailor-made insurance policies ensure you have the right cover

BE SECURE A

RE you prepared to protect your family? Life insurance is essential for parents and anyone with fi nancial dependents.

A life insurance policy is something almost everyone needs, but too few actually have.

It’s easy to delay getting a policy when you’re young and healthy, but the longer you wait, the higher the risk of something happening before you’re covered. Losing a loved one creates a fi nancial burden on any family. With the right protection in place, if the worst were to happen, your loved ones could be fi nancially secure through a lump-sum payment. Dependents aren’t limited to children - your partner or other family members may also rely on your income. If you were to become critically ill and unable to work, would your dependents be able to manage, or would they struggle without your income?

We can tailor your policy to include critical illness coverage, providing a payout if the unexpected happens. Additional benefi ts can be included, such as Permanent Absolute Disability, Death by Traffi c Accident, and Permanent Absolute Disability due to a Traffi c Accident.

For example, €100,000 in death-only coverage for a 50-year-old male starts at just €27 per month.

We also offer mortgage repayment protection, which will pay off any remaining mortgage debt if death occurs during the policy term, ensuring your family can stay secure in their home.

To be eligible, you must be a resident of Spain and complete a simple online health/medical questionnaire. These policies are available with monthly direct debit payments, and all documentation will be provided in English.

For a quote or more information, please contact one of our offices, email info@ jennifercunningham.net, or visit our website

Spanish company wants to fly people to the moon by 2030

ELCHE company PLD Space hopes to fly people to the moon from 2030 in what will be Europe's first private human spaceflight programme. The announcement was made at the launch of its new rocket factory at the Elche Business Park, which was attended by Science Minister Diana Morant. The flight rockets will be called Miura Next and will use the Lynx capsule, which is the first for space travellers to be made in Europe.

PLD Space co-founder Raul Torres, said the Lynx Project objective was to provide ‘transport for cargo and humans by launching them

By Alex Trelinski

into orbit and bringing them back safe and sound’.

The company is already developing a recoverable and reusable launcher that, by combining several units, will be able to reach the power necessary for such missions.

Team game

IUnder lock and key

Introducing an exclusive partnership between Olive Press and AnyTech365 AI-Powered IT Security

The ultimate guide to creating uncrackable passwords (because ‘password123’

just won’t cut it!)

N today’s digital jungle, hackers are the sneaky predators… and your password? Well, it’s your first line of defence.

threats from files, programs and neutralization of viruses, malware, and phishing attempts.

AnyTech365 TotalCare

But let’s be honest - ’password123’ is about as protective as a wet paper bag. If you’re tired of passwords so weak they practically invite hackers to your doorstep, you’re in the right place. Get ready for the ultimate guide to creating passwords that are not only uncrackable but also unforgettable.

Olive Press is excited to announce a partnership with AnyTech365, the leading IT security and support company on the Costa del Sol. This collaboration offers Olive Press readers enhanced tech support and cybersecurity solutions. Subscribers will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 services, ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use of any Internet-connected device, personal, or within the household or their small business.

dash of chaos. We’re talking uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols - basically, a password jambalaya. And no, ‘123456’ isn’t spicy enough for this dish.

Founded in 2014 by Janus R. Nielsen, a seasoned IT entrepreneur, AnyTech365 leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to offer unparalleled

Think of your password like a secret recipeequal parts clever, complex, and just the right

comprehensive security suite, combining all AnyTech365 premium products together with quick issue resolution by certified technicians without onsite visits anytime, day or night, with AnyTech365’s

support services, offered in more than 15 native languages.

You need something so unpredictable that even hackers will get a headache just looking at it. Aim for at least 12 characters - long enough to make any cybercriminal throw in the towel. Using real words in your password? That’s like leaving your house keys under the mat - just begging to be found.

Get creative! Mix in some gibberish, throw in a random number, and don’t be afraid to make it weird. Something like ‘PizzaLlama!42’ is both deliciously random and hacker-proof. Passphrases are like the Swiss Army knives of passwords - versatile, secure, and easy to remember. Picture something like ‘FlyingPenguins!Dance@Midnight’. It’s weird enough that no one would ever guess it, but still easy enough to recall when you’re logging into Netflix at 3 am.

the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews on Trustpilot (4.8/5) and Google Reviews (4.9/5).

The company is currently in the process of becoming publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE),

Fastest growing technology company in Spain and the 27th fastest growing company in Europe across all sectors, according to Financial Times.

Reusing the same password for everything? That’s like wearing your pyjamas to a job interview. You wouldn’t do that, right? Give each account its own unique password - think of it as a wardrobe for your digital life. Stylish and secure. Oh, and if you’re thinking of using your birthday, pet’s name, or favourite flavour of ice cream as a password… don’t. Hackers love to easy-toguess personal details. Keep your passwords a mystery - like a riddle wrapped in an enigma inside a digital vault. Speaking of vaults, enter the password manager: your personal password butler. It remembers all your passwords, generates new ones,

ONE SMALL STEP…

Miura 5, its first rocket capable of carrying commercial cargo, is expected to make its test flight late next year or in early 2026.

The development will continue on recoverable launches with an objective to carry 50 tons into space, as opposed to 500 kilos via Miura 5.

For the manned missions, the aim is to have a Lynx capsule recovery test next year, when it is launched from a helicopter. In 2028 there will be a real launch test but without a crew and then once everything is secure in regard to technology and safety, the first manned mission is slated for 2030.

Torres said he wants PLD Space to be Europe’s aerospace industry leaders, a mantle they were encouraged to take up on a recent visit to the site by the director general of the European Space Agency, Josef Aschbacher.

BUDGET airline Ryanair is being investigated by the European Union over its use of facial recognition in the company’s customer verification process.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission(DPC) has launched a cross-border probe covering the EU.

The aim will be to find out Ryanair has complied with its various obligations as set out in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), especially with regard to legality and transparency in data handling. Ryanair requires additional identity verification from people who book tickets through third-party platforms or travel agencies.

Ryanair face-off Olive boost

SPAIN'S olive harvest is expected to rise by a hefty 48% this month compared to the previous October.

After two poor harvests caused by the ongoing drought, 1.26 million tons is expected to be collected in the main regions of Andalucia and Castilla-La Mancha. Agriculture Minister, Luis Planas, described the figures as ‘positive’ and the recovery of production ‘will allow the markets to return to normality’. The rains of last spring have allowed a good flowering and fruit setting of olive trees.

and locks them away in an encrypted vault so you don’t have to. And if you ever need a little help getting started with password managers or securing your devices, AnyTech365 is always ready to assist.

Now, let’s talk about two-factor authentication (2FA) - aka, the superhero sidekick of your passwords. With 2FA, even if someone tries to sneak in with your password, they’ll hit a second wall of security, like a text message code or a fingerprint scan. Think of it as the VIP pass to your own account, and you’re the only one on the guest list. Feeling fresh? Good, because your passwords should be, too. Change them regularly, like you would your socks. Every six months or so, hit that refresh button and swap out the old for the new. Fresh passwords are like a digital facelift for your security. And let’s not forget about phishing - those shady emails or links trying to trick you into spilling your secrets. They’re like those scam calls

it’s the

2FA, you’ll become a cyber-fortress. So, wave goodbye to ‘password123’ and say hello to a more

digital life. And remember, if you need help along the

to

IF you ever fancied working for football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, then his Madrid

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Cheers for the beer

A NEW study has revealed that four Sevilla, Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga are among Europe’s top 10 beer-consuming cities.

Each of the Spanish cities averages 104 litres of beer swigged down per person annually.

Capitals

Despite Spain’s impressive beer consumption, the country still trails behind Europe’s leading beer capitals. Prague tops the list with a remarkable 144 litres per person, followed by Warsaw, Krakow, and German cities Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin.

Records continue tumbling at AlicanteElche airport

PASSENGERS are continuing to pour into Alicante-Elche airport with a September record of over 1.8 million travellersboosted by UK arrivals.

The Costa Blanca's air gateway will definitely set a new annual high to surpass last year's total of 15.7 million.

Just over 14 million passengers used Alicante during the first nine months of 2024 and the new yearly record could be set once October's figures come out.

September's data follows an alltime individual monthly high in July and then a record-breaking August.

Boosted

Last month's total is up by 15.3% compared to a year earlier, whilst the cumulative nine-month total is 17% higherboosted by a 15% rise in flights. By nationality, the United Kingdom continues to be the main market with 620,468 travellers- roughly accounting for a third of travellers.

That's followed well behind by Germany, with 111,535 and the Netherlands, with 103,957. Meanwhile, Valencia airport beat the one million mark for the first time in September- up 11.5% on a year ago.

Italian travellers dominated with 159,592, followed by Germany on 92,873, and the UK with 84,326.

UNDER THE SEA Medieval treat

ELCHE’S annual Medieval Festival starts this Saturday- running until November 1.

The celebration is one of the city’s biggest cultural events combined with a medieval market on the Paseo de la Estacion and Candalix car park between October 24 and 27.

There will also be performances of the Misteri d’Elx which is a chanted play dating back to medieval times which traces the life of the Virgin Mary.

The play is regarded as a crucial part of Elche’s identity and will be staged at the Basilica de Santa Maria on October 25, 26 and 27 and November 1.

Some 30 music, training, theatre, and dance events will be held with many street performances.

By Laurence Dollimore

AN amazing underwater theme park is one step closer to becoming a reality in Spain.

Dubbed the Underwater Gardens, the project is planned for Tenerife and vows to be an ‘eco-friendly and innovative’ experience.

After being given the green light on September 27, it will now undergo various environmental assessments before being granted final approval.

The ambitious park promises to be a game-changer in the world of tourism due to its positive impact on the environment.

This includes its own regenerative sea gardens, that are placed on the local seabed.

The theme park will be split into two areas, the above-shore ‘Garden Gate’

and the underwater

‘Sea Garden’.

The former will offer ‘leisure and educational activities that invite visitors to discover and learn about the ocean through games and fun’.

The latter promises ‘authentic diving experiences in an underwater landscape, which has been tailor-made for the surroundings: a unique environment inspired by nature’.

The project will install underwater ‘architecture’ on the sea bed that is specially designed to regenerate marine life.

These will be available to view during special diving tours, during which participants can ‘actively take part in regeneration tasks’.

An indoor diving centre

EXTRA TAXIS FOR AIRPORT

SOME 24 new taxi licences, which include Alicante-Elche airport in their catchment area, have been issued, following last summer’s outcry over shortages.

Elche now has 228 permits - one per 1,000 residents - but that ratio ignores the huge numbers using the airport.

The city’s Public Services councillor, Claudio Guilabert, said: “We will notify the new drivers so that they can buy vehicles to start work as soon as possible.”

The city also plans to ask for an additional seven licences from the Ministry of Transport.

The number of airport cabs has not kept pace with record passenger numbers at certain times during the summer.

Queues of up to two hours formed in June - especially in the late evening.

However, the new licences cover the whole Elche area, meaning it will be down to individual cabbies to work out where they want to be and when they choose to work.

Taxi shortages have boosted pirate operators dealing with mainly British clients looking for cut-price trips to and from the airport in an uninsured vehicle.

The Benidorm Policia Local recently pulled over a white van used for illegal transport which had a dangerous and defective tyre.

Parts of the interior were sub-standard and dangerous to passengers, leading officers to name it in honour of a fairground ride known as El Tren de La Bruja (The Witch Train).

and ‘aquademy’ are also among the plans. There will also be a bio lab,

where visitors can learn all about local sea life, plus an underwater aquarium and indoor diving centre.

The French are coming

THE Brits have been knocked off their perch as Spain’s best customer – by the French. New figures show that the UK’s long-running spell at the top of the visitor charts has come to an end, as 2.14 million Frenchmen came to Spain in August compared to 2.12 million Brits. It’s the first time the Brits have been dethroned since the Covid pandemic, when German tourists outnumbered their British counterparts in 2020.

Advantage

However, it is likely to be only temporary, as August-holidaying French folk took advantage of the land border with Spain to pop over for a visit. Brits are still on top overall, with 12.6 million visitors in 2024, way ahead of second-placed France with 9.2 million.

Traditional competitors Germany could muster only 1.2 million tourists in August, and 8 million for the entire year.

Established in 2012, the firm was created to provide legal advice and procedural defense services to individuals as well as companies. After several years of hard work and expansion, we currently offer a wide range of services both in the field of the traditional practice of law (legal advice and trial defense), as well as comprehensive advisory and management services in fiscal, accounting and tax matters.

ECO: The theme park is in harmony

whose finest specimens sell for crazy prices - sometimes over €2,000 a

By Dilip Kuner

Diamonds in the rough

Brillat-Savarin, the 19th century epicure noted that truffles were ‘so expensive, they appeared only at the dinner tables of great nobles and kept women’. More recently, celebrated wine critic Robert Parker described them as ‘mysterious, rare, expensive, unobtainable and somehow mythical, like dragons’. There’s certainly

nothing trifling about the winter black truffles of Soria province whose quality

is causing quite a kerfuffle in culinary circles.

With a rich and smoky flavour reminiscent of oak and hazelnut, they thrive in the sun-baked soil of Spain’s so-called ‘forgotten interior’, half-way between Madrid and Bilbao.

Spain is the sixth largest truffle producer in the world with 197,010 tons of the delicacy produced

Spain is the sixth largest truffle producer in the world with 197,010 tons of the delicacy produced in the country each year and Soria, along with Huesca and Teruel provinces, is one of the country’s three major black truffle producers. The season varies with location but starts in November and can last until March.

Yet, when shoppers seek out the prized in-

TRADITION: Pigs are still sometimes used to sniff out truffles but dogs are preferred as they don’t eat the treat themselves

BLACK MAGIC: They may look unappetising but a few shavings of truffle can transform a dish

kilo.

gredient for their fettuccine or scrambled eggs they head instead to Europe’s top producer: Italy. But experts from

FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

Dogs are truly a man’s best friend in the forests of Soria, Huesca and Teruel, where they sniff out and collect the valuable fungi

Soria’s truffle tourism company Encitruf claim this is a grave mistake. True connoisseurs know that shipping the luxury ingredient could, in fact, damage the quality of the truffle, say Encitruf.

Once these gastronomic gems are dug up from the ground using sniffer dogs or pigs, they should ideally be consumed within 10 days to get the full tastebud-tingling effect. And this is not the only reason to keep truffle buying close to home. In fact, when it

LA CULTURA

comes to the most desirable variety of culinary truffles - the white Tuber melanosporum and black Tuber magnatum - Spain produces more of these delicacies than anywhere else in the world.

However don’t imagine it's easy to snuffle a truffle in your own back garden!

On average it takes oak trees a painstaking seven years to pro-

ONE OF A KIND: This could be the only surviving Republican

FROM SCREEN TO CANVAS

duce these lucrative crops and a trained truffle hunting hound can set you back €3,000 and €4,000. Even if you know a farmer who can loan you a pig, forget it. Unlike dogs which prefer a biscuit reward, it’s difficult to restrain a fully-grown porker from gobbling up the prize.

And, as Robert Parker found to his cost, the truffle hunting experience is not as romantic as it sounds. ‘Let me tell you, when you get down to it, there's nothing glamorous about it,’ he says. ‘In fact it's rather boring as well as cold and perhaps wet!’

In comparison then, coughing up around €800 a kilo for a taste of luxury with no added effort doesn’t seem too steep. For five guests, Encitruf recommends you need 20 grams of the stuff.

Just make sure to invite only your best friends to dinner!

November 29th - LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

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WAR MURAL UNCOVERED

A MURAL dating back to the Spanish Civil War featuring a soldier hammering the heads of dictators Franco, Hitler, and Mussolini on a dragon has been found hidden under whitewash in a factory.

The Centre for Contestano Studies (CEC) stumbled on the rarity when they went to recover some industrial

archaeology from the premises in Cocentaina (Alicante province).

CEC president, Pere Ferrer, said: “We are speechless as a mural of this grandeur is not normal.

“Practically no similar example has been preserved anywhere in Spain and this might be the only such mural,” he added.

Measuring six by three metres, it features slogans from the Republican anti-Franco movement during the war between 1936 and 1939.

The work was done by soldiers billeted during the war at Cocentaina who were members of Alicante's 6th Rearguard Battalion of Alicante.

Nobody knew of the mural's existence as it had been covered by whitewash either by the Republicans or Francoist authorities.

DEEPLY DEPP:

The exhibition is an intense look at the actor

AN art exhibition by actor Johnny Depp could come to Spain after Spanish investors backed it. His inaugural show, A Bunch of Stuff has started in New York but will soon undertake a world tour.

One of these stops could be one of Johnny’s favourite countries, Spain.

Not only is the actor a frequent visitor to the country, where he often attends the San Sebastian Film Festival, but the project is financed by a Spanish investment group.

Stoneweg Places & Experiences is the property and culture finance group behind the exhibition, run by Spaniards Jaume Sabater and Juan Manuel Sevillano.

The exhibition is an ‘immersive’ look into Depp’s creative process and artwork, including personal belongings and narration from the actor.

Bacteria the saviour

Female Spanish duo fuse art and science with new glue-eating bacteria to save historic church frescos around Europe

A SPANISH mother and daughter have teamed up to pioneer a new art restoration technique using specially trained glue-eating bacteria. The project involves 75-yearold Pilar Roig, an art restorer, and her 42-year-old microbiologist daughter, Pilar Bosch. Together, they have combined their unique skill sets to save historic artworks in Valencia’s Santos Juanes Church, one of Spain’s oldest churches, as part of a €4 million project. The duo's innovation involves

BLESSED BACTERIA: The scientific breakthrough will save many frescoes

By Walter Finch

training bacteria to eat away at the stubborn glue that had been a persistent problem for conservators for decades.

For many years, Roig had been struggling to restore and preserve 18th-century paintings by Antonio Palomino. Previous restorers in the 1960s had used a glue that was difficult to remove with traditional methods involving hot water and sponges, which

were not only painstakingly slow but risked damaging the artwork.

The solution to Roig’s problem took root in 2008 when Bosch was researching her doctoral thesis and stumbled upon an article about bacteria being used to clean frescoes in Italy.

Bosch’s research led her to a breakthrough – by ‘training’ bacteria to feed on the glue made from animal collagen, they found they could naturally produce enzymes to

break it down. The bacteria were then mixed with a natural algae-based gel and applied to the frescoes. Within just three hours, the glue dissolved, leaving the artwork pristine. This pioneering mother-daughter collaboration is now funded by local foundations, and their bacterial techniques have been applied to other high-profile restoration sites, including Pisa and Montecassino in Italy, and Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

GOOD BOY!:

mural in Spain

Spellbound Spain

A tiny witch village in northern Spain has been cursed with a spell so strong that only the Pope can lift it

Tthanks to a bizarre history of witchcraft, superstition, fear and power.

The tale begins in the ruin of Trasmoz castle, where during the 13th century the inhabitants forged fake coins.

To cover their tracks, they claimed there were witches forging cauldrons and chains to leave the locals spellbound.

Miraculously, it worked and Trasmoz is associated with witchcraft to this day.

community mostly made up of Arabs, Jews and Christians.

Despite various disputes, Trasmoz citizens refused to repent, even when the monastery cut off their water.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

In the 13th century, Trasmoz was a powerful, thriving community, with many iron and silver mines as well as wood and water reserves.

Despite its riches, it did not have to pay taxes to the nearby monastery of ela as it was a lay territory.

The church was not happy about this, so when rumours began to swirl of their possible dark dealings, the archbishop of Tarazona, the largest town nearby, requested the excommunication of the entire village.

The tenth Lord of Trasmoz, Pedro Manuel Ximenez de Urrea, decided to take up arms against the men of the cloth but just before the first blows, King Ferdinand II decided the town’s response was justified.

The Church never forgot this betrayal and sought the permission of Pope Julius II to curse the village in 1511.

They claimed Pedro Manuel and the citizens of Trasmoz were enchanted by witchcraft and the Pope gave them the green light.

Sealing the village’s fate, they chanted psalm 108 of the Book of Psalms, known as the Church’s most powerful tool to pronounce a curse.

As the curse was sanctioned by the Pope, it can only be lifted by a Pope and so far, none have done so.

Now, no one could go to confession or take holy sacraments at

Adding fuel to the fire, Trasmoz castle burnt to a crisp in 1520 and is still in ruins.

Luckily, the residents weren’t really that fussed as they were a wealthy

When the Jews were expelled from Spain in the 15th century, Trasmoz began its gradual decline and 10,000 inhabitants turned into 62, just 31 of which live there permanently.

Rumours then began to swirl of their possible dark dealings

Today, the village has little signs of life, with just one bar and many houses in disrepair.

The empty streets have no schools or shops, but the castle’s tower is now home to a small witchcraft museum with a collection of black magic items, including cauldrons, brooms and black crucifixes.

Across the courtyard, there is a

OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword

Across: 6 Stands to, 7 P D As, 8 Deteriorates, 10 Biases, 13 Patron, 14 Say, 15 De Niro, 16 Rimmed, 18 Board members, 22 Blow, 23 Sadistic.

Down: 1 P-T S D, 2 Gnat, 3 Espresso, 4 Gozo, 5 Take-home, 7 Phantom, 9 E T A, 11 Ice lolly, 12 Skid row, 13 Pyramids, 17 Mar, 19 Mast, 20 Elsa, 21 Slid.

RASMOZ, a hamlet of just 62

Tarazona,

HOLY ORDER: The Veruela Monastery is the origin of Trasmoz’s curse

BEWITCHING: Trasmoz will put a spell on you

LA CULTURA

wrought iron sculpture of La Tia Casca, the ‘last witch’ killed in Trasmoz. She was murdered in 1860 after an unexplainable deadly epidemic broke out and locals turned on the ‘strange’ and ‘secretive’ woman.

They reportedly grabbed her and threw her into a deep well, but the witchcraft tradition did not die with her.

The first Saturday of June every year, the residents celebrate the Feria de Brujeria y Plantas Medicinales (Witchcraft and Medicinal Plants Fair).

Local witches harvest plants from the nearby Moncayo mountains to make their lotions and potions.

Meanwhile, actors recreate historic witch trials and one lucky woman is named the ‘Witch of the Year.’

To qualify, you need a knowledge of herbal medicine, passion for local history and tourism.

In the modern age, to be a witch is a ‘badge of honour’, could you be next?

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October 17th - October 30th 2024

PUMPKIN PATCH: The spirit of Halloween is alive and well in Trasmoz

CRUMBLING CASTLE: The site where it all began

Supermarket weep

A SPANISH TikToker tested an 18-year-old Lidl advert promising a full trolley for €30, he found that now, the average trolley totals €188.

Running man

BRIT Mike Humphrys is undertaking 30 marathons in 30 countries in 30 days, starting in Barcelona. He is running in aid of Motor Neurone Disease research.

Pet betrayal

A COLOMBIAN woman has died in Castellon after being bitten by her children’s pet hamster. An autopsy will now confirm the cause of death.

TRANS FC Death defying

A FOOTBALL team consisting totally of transgender men is playing its first season in a lower regional league in Catalunya.

It’s the first all-trans squad to be awarded federated status in Europe and, though they lost their first match 19-0 last month, the symbolism is more important than the result.

The team, named Fenix FC after the mythical bird symbolising rebirth, competes in a fifth-tier league after being incorporated into the Sant Feliu de Llobregat club near Barcelona.

Hugo Martinez, 24, said he faced abuse when he began transitioning with gender-affirming hormone therapy and was forced to leave the women’s football that he had played for.

“I was a boy playing in the girls’ team, but without a changed ID, so I wasn’t yet allowed to play with boys,” he said.

By Alex Trelinski

Martinez added that other players, coaches and parents often insulted and threatened him. He decided to go online and appeal for other trans men seeking to play soccer in a safe environment, which resulted in the setting up of Fenix FC.

Worried Skipper Luke Ibanez, 19 (above right), said he was worried about playing for a side with non-trans men due to fears of violence or not fitting in.

Fenix rises for first transgender male soccer team in league action

“Fenix is a team of trans boys created entirely by trans boys, but I think it's more than that - a family, a safe space where you can be free and express yourself however you want and how you really feel,” he said.

THE world’s highest ‘death dive’ has been recorded in Jaen, measuring a terrifying 44 metres.

Frenchman Come Girardot took on the challenge - equivalent to 15 floors - at the Cimbarra waterfall in Aldeaquemada. “The jump felt way higher than I thought,” said the 22-year-old.

“I planned all my movements but once I reached the end of my routine I was still 25 metres over the water. It felt way bigger than I thought. My body just took over.”

A medical and safety team were waiting at the bottom for him with a sign announcing his success.

A sniff of success

A DOG that can sniff out a human body from over 100 metres away has been awarded a medal of honour by the Policia Nacional. Scottex the labrador celebrates his sixth birthday on November 1 and has been a member of the Policia Nacional’s Canine Guide Unit for four years. He has been involved in leading cases across Spain involving body

detection. He received his medal in Sevilla on Police Day, accompanied by his handler, Manuel Cortes. In June, Scottex located a Madrid man that had been missing for two years after his body was dumped into a two-metre deep septic tank that was then buried under cement and bricks in a kitchen. a