Olive Press Costa Blanca North and Valencia Issue 130

See page 12

A fair start

Feria season has kicked off and we delve into the very best of them

THE family of a British expat who died ‘during the prime of her life’ after taking Nolotil have revealed how they sued Spanish caregivers and won. Yvonne Flowers, 67, had been living in Spain for 23 years when she fell over, suffering two slipped discs and pinched nerves.

She only spent a week in hospital but during that time, Hospital Clinica Benidorm ramped up 20 counts of negligence, including the prescription of Nolotil.

In 2021, the private hospital paid out over €400,000 after two court cases in both the UK and Spain.

“They’ve taken a mother’s life, a grandmother’s life. Money can’t bring her back but it is justice for her,” Jenna

GRANDMOTHER: Yvonne with stepdaughter Jenna and grandchild

How

AUTHORITIES have revealed details behind the arrest of British ‘Narco King’ Brian Charrington, who has been accused of running a cocaine smuggling gang. . Information had been withheld due to a secrecy order imposed by the investigating court in March.

It’s alleged that 67-year-old Charrington's gang was the biggest criminal group in the Valencia region and the Policia Nacional probe was assisted by the UK National Crime Agency and US drug enforcement officers.

A boat carrying 1.1 tons of cocaine between Suriname and Valencia was seized in the Canary Islands and another simi-

Flowers, Yvonne’s step-daughter, told the Olive Press.

Though officially they admitted no liability, the family allege HCB ‘hid quite a bit about Nolotil’.

Yvonne went into hospital on February 2, 2020 after she fell over and suffered two slipped discs as well as trapped nerves.

She was told she would have to wait a week for an operation despite being in ‘intense’ pain.

Yvonne was put on a painkiller drip, which was moved after a few days.

According to the family, the wound was not cleaned nor bandaged and she caught an infection, eventually developing sepsis.

Yvonne’s pain intensified, leading doctors to prescribe three doses of Nolotil, a drug known to have potentially deadly side effects for Northern Europeans.

KILL THE DRUG

“From that point on, she started to deteriorate quite rapidly,” said Yvonne’s husband, Peter Flowers.

“The next day she suffered all day. She was in a lot of pain from the sepsis and on top of that, she had been given Nolotil so her immune system was taken away.”

Narco king

lar-sized shipment thwarted during the police operation.

Some 23 searches of addresses at Altea, Benidorm, Villajoyosa, La Nucia, Javea, and Calpe yielded the seizure of assets worth €10 million.

Police impounded three boats valued at €4.2 million, 44 vehicles, 40 highend watches, 60 works of art, 54 mobile phones, a virtual cryptocurrency wallet, and three weapons.

44 properties have also been seized and

74 bank accounts blocked.

The police operation also allegedly helped to prevent the kidnapping and attempted murder of a rival gang member over a settling of scores.

As previously reported by the Olive Press, Charrington and 30 others were detained and bailed following a major police sweep in March.

Another of those arrested was a former Benidorm Policia Nacional officer. They face charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, the illegal possession of weapons, kidnapping, the dissemination of secrets, and belonging to a criminal gang.

NOLOTIL PAYOUT

the family of a British woman ‘killed by the lethal Spanish painkiller’ sued and won

EXCLUSIVE

By Yzabelle Bostyn

A popular painkiller in Spain, Nolotil is known to reduce the white blood cell count of some Northern Europeans to dangerous levels, significantly weakening the immune system.

Although Yvonne was becoming more and more ill, the family claim her condition was ‘ignored’ by hospital staff. By Saturday, she was on oxygen and had ‘blisters’ all over her face, signs of an allergic reaction to Nolotil.

Nerves

“Nobody said anything or did anything about it. They were all in denial,” Petrer said.

“They just upped the painkillers. If they had done their job maybe she would have stood a chance of surviving.”

Although Yvonne became ‘unable to speak or get out of bed’, she was still taken to surgery on Monday.

When she arrived the surgeon reportedly asked: ‘What is this woman doing on my operating table? She is seriously ill.’

Yvonne was immediately taken to A&E but her organs had ‘already started to shut down’.

The beloved mum and grandmother died the

following morning on Tuesday, February 12, little over a week after going into hospital for back issues.

Immediately following their mother’s death, Yvonne’s children based in the UK flew to Spain to understand how their healthy mother could have died in the ‘prime of her life’.

According to Peter, hospital officials told the family to ‘get on with their lives’ claiming Yvonne died of sepsis. Despite repeated attempts to uncover the truth, the family was met with silence.

But Peter wanted justice for his wife.

He told the Olive Press: “People said I was wasting my time. But, I had to get some justice.”

Peter filed a claim in London, backed by his two children and three grandchildren.

The court found 20 counts of negli-

gence including ‘failure to treat infection’, ‘prescription of Nolotil without monitoring’, ‘failure to notice, heed or treat development of potential agranulocytosis and sepsis, known risks of Nolotil’.

In particular, the case found HCB ‘prescribed Nolotil to the deceased when it was contraindicated’ due to Yvonne’s British heritage.

Court

HCB’s insurance company, Berkley Seguros España settled out of court, admitting no liability and paying out some £200,000.

Months later, the case was brought to Benidorm’s Palau de Justicia. They extended the British judgement and the insurance company was ordered to pay out over €200,000.

Despite some justice for Yvonne’s family, Jenna says it is not enough.

“How many more people need to die for them to do something about it? Mum died because of Nolotil.”

The Olive Press has contacted Hospital Clinica Benidorm for comment but received no response.

However, the private hospital group responded to the Olive Press campaign urging hospitals to follow AEMPS advice.

They said: “At HCB Hospitals, we are very aware of the recommendation not to prescribe Nolotil to foreign patients, even though it is not an absolute contraindication.”

HAPPY FAMILY: Before the horrific tragedy

Normal service

BENIDORM council’s drought monitoring committee says there will be no problems with drinking water supplies in the city this summer, helped by recent rainfalls.

Gets around

A UKRAINIAN man wanted by Hungarian authorities for using a stolen Polish car with bogus German identification, has been arrested in Altea.

Big hoax

OVER 100 members of a scamming gang have been arrested across Spain for tricking 238 people in Alicante Province out of €850,000 by using phone apps to masquerade as distressed family members needing cash.

New route

JAVEA launches a new tapas trail on Saturday running to May 26, with 'Tasta Javea' offering the chance to buy a snack and drink for €4 from 23 participating restaurants.

FIVE people have been arrested after two school girls said they were scared to return to their home because they were being mistreated.

One of the teenagers added that she was being sent to Bulgaria for an arranged marriage which she

BAD HOME

did not want. They told a counsellor at their Hoyal de Buñol region school that they planned to run away from home be-

cause of what was happening. He then contacted the Guardia Civil who arrested three women and two men aged between 20 and 44. They have been charged with domestic abuse and setting up a forced marriage.

Blood money

ONE of Europe’s most wanted crime bosses has gone on the run after a Spanish court released him on bail, sparking fury in the Netherlands.

The feared Karim Bouyakhrichan, leader of Holland’s 'Mocro Mafia', was captured to great fanfare in January after a fiveyear operation to unravel his criminal empire. Dutch authorities immediately requested his extradi-

Netherlands are fuming after dangerous mafia boss escaped Spanish custody upon paying €50,000 bail

tion over death threats he had made towards the Netherland’s Crown Princess, Amalia of Orange, when she was just 18. Ironically, Amalia had been

FUGITIVE BRIT

AN alleged British drug trafficker has been arrested in Benidorm after a four-year search to bring him to justice. Paul Brown, 50, from Manchester was checking into a hotel when police collared him. He’s been accused over the supply of Class A and B drugs and will be extradited.

Brown disappeared in 2020 and a European Arrest Warrant was issued in his name two years ago.

Detective Inspector Rick Castley from the Greater Manchester Police said that despite Brown being on the run for four years, he ‘had not been forgotten’.

By Walter Finch

living in Madrid until just a few months ago, where she had ‘taken refuge’ a couple of years prior after kidnap plots emerged in her home country. She has since returned to Amsterdam.

Despite his rap sheet, Bouyakhrichan’s extradition was blocked by a Malaga court on the grounds that he had serious charges to face in Andalucia, according to sources consulted by Cadena Sur.

Instead, the brother of notorious crime lord Samir ‘Scarface’ Bouyakhrichan - who

was stabbed to death in Benahavis in 2015 - was granted his freedom in exchange for posting €50,000 bail and a promise that he would show up to court every 15 days.

The decision enraged not just the Policia Nacional but also the Dutch security services.

The Dutch-Moroccan was released on provisional bail on March 19, eight weeks after his arrest on January 25, with orders to regularly sign on at a Marbella court.

Unsurprisingly, the mafia boss made just one trip to the court, on April 1. On his next expected appearance on April 15 he failed to show, leading to a search and arrest order to be issued against him.

Police sources have told the Olive Press Bouyakhrichan is being sought in the Moroccan town of Nador, which they likened to a ‘Moroccan Tijuana.

Sex scam

A VALENCIA gang extorted money from over 100 people across Spain who responded to bogus ads promoting meetings with sex workers. They made at least €250,000 from the scam, with 34 people arrested in Valencia province by the Guardia Civil, and 27 more being investigated. Most of the victims did not report what happened due to fear of retribution.

The criminal crew registered over 500 phone numbers for their plot by using fake identities.

They ran fictitious ads via online dating platforms with clients making calls to an alleged brothel to arrange a meet, only to be reeled in with demands for high amounts of money.

Armed showdown

A MAN armed with an axe and machete threatened to kill his wife at their home in the Benimamet district of Valencia. The husband, 33, rang the Policia Nacional and told them he would shoot her, if officers did not arrest him.

A patrol arrived to be greeted by the axe and machete-wielding man, who refused to lay down his weapons.

Officers drew their guns when he disobeyed their instructions and they managed to restrain him.

The woman was unharmed.

BRITISH embassy offi-

cials have visited a new Benidorm charity formed to assist homeless people.

GANDIA’S SPORTS BOOST

GANDIA council is spending €4.3 million on improving its municipal sports facilities. The investment includes building new sports areas, with council leaders saying that problems at the Grau sports centre including its swimming pools have already been sorted. The roof has been fixed and fitness

machines replaced or repaired. A €1.8 million contract has been advertised for a multi-purpose hall at the Grau centre and soccer pitches across the city will get new surfaces.

Gandia’s sports councillor, Jesus Naveiro, said: “Gandia is a sports city that is in high demand which can be used to create new opportunities.”

Helping the homeless SEARCH GOES ON

The City Streets Community Project was founded this year to provide help in the city and surrounding area with food, clothing, counselling, friendship and shelter.

Deputy Head of Mission, Sarah Cowley, vice-consul, Sara Munsterhjelm and consular officer, Laura de la Fuente, were given a tour of the offices to hear about their plans. The group works closely with other local organisations including, HELP Benidorm, Caritas, Giving for Giving, the Royal British Legion and the Cruz Roja. They're looking for a central location to set up a drop-in centre where the homeless can have a shower, do their laundry, and get advice.

A BRITISH expat has died after being run off the road by a driver in Spain and suffering catastrophic injuries.

Robert Paterson, a fatherof-three and keen scuba diver, had been in hospital for months since the crash in Alicante in November last year. He suffered extensive injuries, including multiple bleeds on the brain, hip and

By Laurence Dollimore

spinal fractures.

Fellow Brits had started a GoFundMe page to help Robert's family, who have lived in Spain for 20 years, cover the costs of his rehabilitation.

However a friend told the Olive Press that Robert, affectionately known as Bert, trag-

ANSWERS WANTED Justice for Robert

PEOPLE displaced by February’s Valencia apartment block fire have demanded that inquiries be restarted into what caused the blaze and if anybody is criminally responsible.

Ten people died in the Campanar district building on February 22, with the blaze destroying the 14-storey residential complex consisting of 138 apartments.

Four of the victims were a husband, wife, and their two children.

The husband’s grandfather has launched an appeal against a Valencia investigating court decision to provisionally shelve its probe into the cause of the fire.

Reports in early March suggested that Policia Nacional experts discovered that the blaze was accidentally started by a faulty kitchen appliance.

The Campanar building’s Community of Owners has now joined in the man’s case which seeks to find out what legal basis was used to form a conclusion of non-criminality.

British expat is killed after being run off the

road

by a Spanish driver

ically passed away last week.

He said: “Bert was a former colleague at Scottish Tele-

vision in Glasgow... He was one of this world’s real good guys and will be much missed.”

Robert Paterson was a keen scuba diver

He added that the person behind the accident is now being investigated for manslaughter.

Another friend, Kevin Beaumont, told the Olive Press: “Bert will be sadly missed, he was taken from us far too soon. It's such a tragic loss.”

Friend David Jeffries previously described the horror accident, which occurred on November 22 last year.

He wrote: “Another driver

was tailgating him and as Bert indicated to pull over, the other driver accelerated to undertake the car and in the process hit the back of the car sending it out of control and leaving it wrapped around a very large lamp post ,bringing it down.

“The other driver did not stop immediately but did eventually pull over further down the road. Two witnesses corroborated that this is what happened. The Guardia Civil took over the investigation as a suspected ‘Road Rage Incident’.”

The other driver is being investigated for manslaughter

THE family of a British man who went missing in Valencia province five years ago have made a fresh appeal for information about his whereabouts.

Mark Palmer, 32 and originally from Dunstable, moved to Ontinyent towards the end of 2018.

He was last spotted in the town on April 27, 2019. He was described as feeling distressed and expressing suicidal thoughts.

Mark's sister, Claire Elek, said: “Marky, if you're reading this, we miss you immensely.

“There isn't a day that goes by when we don't think about you. Please come home. We love you!”

At the time of his disappearance, Mark was described as 5’11” (178cm) with a slim build.

He had short red/ginger hair with a red/ginger beard and hazel eyes.

Anyone with any information about Mark can contact the Missing People charity on +44 208 392 4521 or email 116000@missingpeople.org. uk or contact the Spanish police on 112.

In a buzz

VALENCIA region beekeepers will get a €1.8 million boost to help increase the bee population and to fight off varroosis disease.

Varroa mites pose a major threat to bees throughout the world and can wipe out whole colonies. Over 200 regional beekeepers are expected to qualify for aid from the Agriculture Ministry which has gone up by 16.5% on last year's budget.

By P OO LVILLAS

DÉNIA

MISSED:

TRAGIC:

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

OPINION

RIP Robert

OUR sincerest condolences go out to the family of Robert Paterson, who last week died from his injuries after being run off the road in Spain.

The Scotsman and keen scuba diver was clearly very well liked among his expat community in Alicante, where he had been living for more than 20 years with his wife Lynn.

He had been valiantly fi ghting his catastrophic injuries in hospital, after being admitted following the horror incident on November 22 last year.

Maniac

According to friends, Robert was run off the road by a maniac driver, who practically rammed into the back of the expat and caused him to veer off the road and into a lamppost.

The scene is not hard to imagine, just ask any expat who drives in Spain how safe the roads are - and they’ll likely laugh in your face.

And it does not matter how safe of a driver you are, it’s the lunatics who tend to cause the crashes.

Hardly anyone indicates in Spain while the roads are often awash with drunken tourists, at least in the high season.

So if you are getting behind the wheel in this country, ALWAYS be on guard for dangerous drivers.

We are glad the man who allegedly caused Robert’s fatal crash is now facing charges of manslaughter.

It’s the least he deserves after taking the life of Robert, who leaves behind a devastated wife and children.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

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

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

Santaella

accounts@ theolivepress.es

We’ll drink to that!

Former deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias has fallen foul of anarchists who object to his new bar serving a Durruti cocktail, named after the legendary revolutionary. Cole Sinanian digs deeper…

TO understand the anarchist daubings scrawled on the new bar of ex-Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias, in Madrid, last month, we need to go back to July 1936. It’s the so-called ‘Summer of Anarchy’ in Barcelona, and the air is thick with the smell of revolution.

The rich had fled, forcing its luxury restaurants to convert to communal dining halls, patronised by working class comrades in boots and overalls. Revolutionary songs blared from speakers in Las Ramblas, red-and-black anarchist flags hung from balconies.

theolivepress.es

DTrade unions controlled nearly every aspect of industry, with around 70% of companies effectively collectivised by the workers.

But the revolutionary dream was in danger.

the fascists in Barcelona and Madrid, the two main cities which resolutely refused to cede to Franco.

Just a few hundred kilometres west in Zaragoza, an army of fascists loyal to Nazi-friendly General Franco were hell-bent on laying siege to the Catalan capital.

Born in 1896 in Leon, Durruti was a railway mechanic, who quickly became involved in local labour movements.

Formal ways of speaking had fallen out of use; everyone was ‘comrade’ now.

Since the Nationalists rebelled against Spain’s Government, rogue army generals had begun their assault on dozens of towns and cities.

But many iconic Spanish figures stood firm against the terrifying Nationalist advance.

One of these was Jose Buenaventura Durruti, who remains a symbol of anarchism today.

And, appropriately, with his legendary Durutti Column of irregular troops helping to fight

He played a part in a series of violent and disruptive strikes starting in 1910, organised by the increasingly powerful unions, the socialist Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), and the anarchist Confederacion Nacional de Trabajo (CNT).

After participating in the famous General Strike of 1917 - which saw the arrest of anarchist leaders en masse - Durruti was forced to flee to France. Upon his return in 1920, he encountered a violent society plagued by espionage and

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION

The little-known reasons you can get a fine while driving in Spain: Avoid doing these five things to swerve a ‘multa’ of up to €3,000

RIVING on some of Spain’s roads can be a stressful experience at the best of times. Having made it home safely in one piece, the last thing you want is to have your day ruined by a letter from the DGT, Spain’s traffic enforcement agency.

If running out of fuel hadn’t already ruined your day, being fined under Spain’s rarely-used ‘Improper Parking’ legislation would really tip you over the edge. Make sure to get your fuel from legitimate sources too, as improperly transporting fuel results in a fine of up to €3,000. Ouch!

A new introduction to Spanish law, it is now illegal to drive in some Low Emission Zones (LEZs) without a relevant permit. With LEZs (known as ZBEs in Spanish) becoming more common throughout the country, drivers will have to keep up to date - while each LEZ is run by its own municipal authority, a baseline fi ne of €200 has been set by the DGT.

If you decorate your car with unauthorised items, it’s not just your mates who will be laughing at your expense - the DGT will too, having pocketed 500 of your hard-earned euros. These decorations include anything that changes the measurements of your car without having notified the DGT beforehand. Decoration could also lead to problems with passing your MOT. Additionally, placing items like ‘dream catchers’ on your rear view mirror, can land you a fine of up to €200 as they can partially block your view.

While fines for common transgressions, such as speeding, are known, the Spanish highway code has a long list of other offences that could leave authorities. Here are six lesser-known things to avoid in order to ensure you don’t receive an unwelcome fine.

The different categories are:

● Zero Label: corresponds to electric cars, plug-in hybrids with a battery range of at least 40 km and fuel cell vehicles.

● Eco Label: plug-in hybrid vehicles that cannot travel more than 40 km in electric mode, non-plug-in hybrids and natural gas vehicles.

● Label C: Petrol cars and light vans registered from 2006 onwards, and diesel cars and vans registered from September 2015.

● Label B: Petrol cars and vans registered between January 2001 to 2005 and diesel vans and cars registered between from 2006 to August 2015.

You can get a windscreen label at the Correos post offi ce by taking in your registration documents and ID. In Andalucia LEZs are in place in parts of Almeria, La Linea de la Concepcion,

Cordoba, Estepona, Sevilla and Torremolinos . In Valencia it is only the city itself that is affected, with no other towns covered so far. Over in Murcia just Cartagena has an LEZ, while there are none in the Balearics. But an LEZ is sure to come to town near you soon - all municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants are legally obliged to introduce them. Where each category can drive in individual LEZs will depend on local authorities - so keep an eye open for the signs if you want to avoid a fine. Those with no category will find their way barred in many town centres at pain of a fine.

By Ben Pawlowski

LOW EMISSION ZONES

you in hot water with the

TOAST: To Durruti (left) and his brave column of male and female soldiers

political assassinations, an era of Spanish history that would come to be known as pistolerismo

Bombs exploded in Barcelona cafes, union leaders were shot dead in the street, and government-sympathetic businessmen hired anti-union thugs to murder CNT and UGT associates.

Durruti and fellow prominent anarchists Francisco Acaso and Joan Garcia Oliver formed the anarchist militia Los Solidarios to defend the unions.

The group became a formidable force, robbing

banks to fund the anarchist cause and carrying out high-profile assassinations, including that of Cardinal Juan Soldevila y Romero.

By the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Durruti was immensely popular among Catalan anarchists and well suited to recruit a local army to defend Barcelona from the Fascists.

On July 18, Durruti and his troops rode through the city brandishing machine guns.

As his former colleague Garcia Oliver wrote in his autobiography, he led ‘trucks full of militants, rifles raised, red-and-

become known as the Durutti Column, with the unit including a mix of men and women, as well as foreign fighters such as French philosopher Simone Weil.

The Durutti Column successfully defended the city from the first wave of fascist attackers, but in Zaragoza, Francoist General Emilio Mola was amassing his forces.

On July 24, the unit left Barcelona with 2,000 anarchists to take back Zaragoza.

Traversing the rugged Aragonese countryside, Durruti and his comrades recruited hundreds of local peasants working the land, gathering strength in each town with the fire of revolution.

PASSENGER PROBLEMS 4

It’s not just the person in the driver’s seat who should keep a keen eye on traffic lawspassengers should, too. Infractions, whether kissing the driver or not doing up your seatbelt, are a significant cause of accidents and also a way to lose a chunk of cash. Kissing or arguing heavily while driving can bring fines of €80 if police believe they caused a significant enough distraction behind the wheel.

By the time the column reached Zaragoza’s outskirts, the militia’s numbers had reached 6,000 - among the largest anarchist military units fighting in the war.

But before the seemingly inevitable confrontation, Franco had changed plans and gathered a vast army of troops for an assault on Madrid. The capital had been left defenceless after the government had moved itself and the Republican army bosses to Valencia.

Ritz

With the leftist troops in Madrid in desperate need of reinforcement, Durruti turned 1,800 of his strongest fighters around and told them to march to the capital.

Some 1,000 of them were to die in the mission.

Durruti himself was killed at the age of 40 in Madrid in November 1936, shot in the chest while leading a counterattack in the Casa de Campo area, west of the city.

He died on a makeshift operating table set up in the Ritz Hotel, during the course of the war.

He maintains a legendary status today, having come to symbolise the anarchist struggle towards an egalitarian, classless society.

Even the most benign, everyday actions could lead to a telling off from the cops. Eating whilst driving is not considered to be conducive to safe driving and could result in a hefty fine, so make sure your hunger is satisfied before starting your journey.

In fact if a driver is caught eating or drinking they could be fined €80, which jumps to €200 if traffic police believe other passengers or road

Penalties for the most common driving infringements - failure to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone - have recently been strengthened. These offences will now see four points docked off your licence, on top of a fine, so make sure to take care on the roads.

Over a half million people filled the streets during his funeral cortege to Barcelona’s Montjuic Cemetery and popular academic Hugh Thomas wrote that his death ‘marked the end of the classic age of Spanish anarchism’

His ‘nobility’, he wrote, would lead to ‘a legion of Durrutis’ to spring up behind him.

There are still some of them in that legion today, nearly a century on as former professor Pablo Iglesias has just discovered at his new bar in Madrid’s working class district of Lavapies.

Don’t cash in on a legend, they insisted in their graffitti. Now that’s truly revolutionary.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Thousands of readers are signing up to the OP website since its relaunch last month

THE Olive Press website has soared to new heights following its relaunch last month.

It is now receiving up to 65,000 visitors a day from all around the world, including the UK, US, Spain, Australia and Canada.

In case you didn’t know, registering an account is extremely easy and allows you to access an extra free article.

It also lets you comment on stories so you can join the conversation on everything happening in Spain.

We are also seeing more and more people registering, with almost 2,000 new members in the last week alone.

So what are you waiting for? Scan the QR code on this page to join the conversation and stay informed on everything happening in Spain.

Plus, you’ll receive weekly newsletters directly to your inbox. For those who want unlimited access, we are currently offering a fantastic deal of three months for the price of one. For just €4.99, you will be able to read all our content for 12 weeks, while receiving weekly newsletters on travel, health and property - plus a personalised missive from the digital editor each Saturday. Subscribers also have exclusive access to the digital editions of our five fortnightly print newspapers, covering Gibraltar, Andalucia, Costa Blanca south, Costa Blanca north and Mallorca.

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

1- Tourist drops dead at Malaga Airport: 64-year-old suffers heart attack in arrivals

2- Missing expat teens latest: Residents in Benidorm are told 'do not approach' two boys

3- Warning: Town on Spain’s Costa del Sol will cut off water and issue fines of up to €600,000 to people who disobey drought measures

4- A Place In The Sun visits Almeria: Jasmine Harman, 48, celebrates after closing deal in an idyllic expat hotspot

5- Urgent appeal for two missing expat teens who disappeared in Spain 10 days ago: Latest sighting places them in Benidorm

HUNGER WOES

black flags flying in the wind’. It had soon

ANGER: Anarchists scrawled on Iglesia’s new bar for disrespecting Durruti (in poster, above)

DEATHBED: Durruti and family

WATER PLEDGE

THE Generalitat de Catalunya will install a floating desalination plant in the port of Barcelona to help the fight against the region’s drought.

David Mascort, the regional government’s climate action minister, revealed that the plan would come into action if a Level 2 drought emergency is announced - Catalunya is currently under a Level 1 drought emergency.

Desalination

The plant will provide 14hm3 of water per year, equivalent to 6% of the consumption of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

In addition, the government will install 12 small mobile desalination plants on the northern Costa Brava.

These facilities, which will cost €10million, will provide 35% of the water needed for over a dozen municipalities, including tourist towns such as Roses, Cadaques and Llanca.

Wheely green

SEVILLANOS can now hop on hundreds of electric mopeds dotted throughout the city as Cabify launches its new service.

The 200 electric mopeds give locals an emission free mode of transport.

POLLUTION BATTLE BOOST

THE Spanish government will pump in an extra €190 million to fight pollution in the Mar Menor lagoon. It’s a 40% increase in the budget and takes the total to €675 million.

Visiting San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia) , the Ecological Transition Minister, Tere-

Doñana recovers

Satellite images taken a year apart show dramatic tree and plant growth thanks to rainfall

THE Doñana wetlands have regained their splendour after heavy rainfall with satellite images showing a dramatic change.

The photos, released by the EU Earth Observation Programme, Copernicus, show

It is part of a partnership with Cooltra, a motorcycle hire company, which exploded in Spain last year. The bikes are available to hire by the minute, saving locals both time and money. According to Cabify, people prefer motorbikes as they are faster than travelling by car and easier to park.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

By Yzabelle Bostyn

lakes filled alongside blooming plants and trees.

This is in stark contrast to the images taken a year earlier in April 2023.

According to Corpernicus: “If we compare 2023 and 2024 we see how recent rain has softened the damaging effects of drought.

“The situation has improved and vegetation has started to flourish again.”

In the past few years, the park has suffered intense drought, leaving large swathes with no water.

However, thanks to downpours starting in November

sa Ribera, appealed to everybody to continue the current levels of collaboration to recover the Mar Menor because ‘our credibility as a society is at stake’.

2023, the situation has improved, leading many species to return to their natural habitat.

The biggest lakes in the park, like Santa Olalla, el Sopeton and la Dulce, are almost completely full.

“The rain has been coming late for winter, but it is still useful for aquatic birds to breed,” explained experts from the

Teresa Ribera said: “There is a real commitment to recover a precious ecosystem that mirrors on a small scale what is happening in the Mediterranean.”

“We have a floor, not a ceiling: and we cannot go back. You can’t take your foot off the gas,” she added.

A lot of the pollution was caused by farmers and agricultural companies installing illegal drainage systems at the Campo de Cartagena which discharged nitrates into Europe’s largest lagoon that poisoned its flora and fauna.

Biological Station. The park is known for its birds, including coots, terns, grebes, storks and herons.

According to data from the Doñana Biological Station, March alone saw 145 l/m2. Since September, some 404.4 l/m2 has fallen in the area.

“This figure is the highest seen in four years, but it is still not the seasonal average, 500l/m2.”

Heat relief

EXPERTS have given their verdict on how hot Spain could be this summer after last year’s record breaking heat across the country.

Despite higher than normal temperatures in January, February and March, this summer is set to be cooler than in 2023. “It’s very probable that June, July and August won’t be hotter than the average European temperatures,” confirmed Copernicus, the EU’s Earth Observation arm.

According to experts, temperatures won’t be as hot this summer thanks to the absence of the weather phenomenon, El Niño which was present in 2023.

It will be replaced by La Niña, known for cold spells.

“We know that large parts of the world are no longer under the effects of El Niño, which reached its peak in December or January. Now El Niño is retiring and forecasts suggest we reach a neutral state or return to what it was like before,” said Copernicus.

However, the EU entity highlighted more data is needed before a thorough prediction can be made.

HOP ON A BUS!

contributor to CO2 pollution, particularly in Spain where it ranks as the most polluting sector.

To mitigate these emissions, utilising public transportation whenever possible is highly recommended.

Public transit is more environmentally friendly than private cars, as it can transport a larger number of individuals while emitting fewer greenhouse gases. A single bus can carry 50 people or more - potentially taking 49 cars off the road.

By encouraging the shift from cars to public transit, we can make a significant impact on reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, public transportation helps decrease other pollutants such as gas, emis-

sions, and microplastics from car wheels, leading to cleaner cities and reduced noise pollution.

The EU’s initiative to transition to electric cars by 2035 aims to address emission concerns. Although electric cars come with their own set of challenges, such as battery production issues, they offer a cleaner alternative when powered by renewable energy sources.

Some people complain that their range is not big enough. But people’s average travel distance per day is 27 kilometres compared to the fact that a full charge gives most electric cars a range of 300 km or more. So, if you have your own house, you could easily charge your car every night. And imagine: you will never have to stop at dirty petrol stations. And if you have your own rooftop solar panel it is almost free to refuel (charge) your car! So, aren’t you convinced? I am!

Doñana

SPLENDOUR: Satellite images taken a year apart

LA CULTURA

Gone viral

A BRITISH dark comedy is topping the Spanish Netflix charts as Baby Reindeer, a show about a female stalker, goes viral. The series tells showrunner and actor Richard Gadd’s first-hand experience as the victim of a female stalker. A dark comedy, the show explores Gadd’s ‘warped’ relationship with his stalker, Martha as she forces him to confront deep seated trauma. It was released on streaming platform, Netflix, on April 11 and has shot to the top of the global charts holding a firm first place on the streaming platform.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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MICHAEL Caine has been awarded Best Actor at the Barcelona Film Festival at 91-years-old for his film, The Great Escaper.

Based on a true story, the film follows a World War Two veteran, Bernard Jordan, as he escapes his retirement home.

The 89-year-old wanted to go to France to celebrate the

Michael

STILL GOT IT!

Caine scoops

top award at Barcelona film festival

By Yzabelle Bostyn

70th anniversary of the Normandy landing and reunite with his brothers in arms. He was joined by the late

Women only

AFTER the success of its first edition, a women-only ‘queer’ LGTBIQA music festival is returning to Fuengirola. It is the first of its kind in Europe and will feature international names like Amaral, Belen Aguilera, Ladilla Rusa and Samurai. On May 25, the Marenostrum outdoor concert venue will be filled by music, colour and good vibes as the festival kicks off. Tickets start at €32 and are available here.

Glenda Jackson, who played his wife Irene.

The ‘legendary’ pair have been praised for their performances, which give ‘a huge amount to enjoy,’ according to a Guardian review.

Another foreign picture was also praised as the Finnish title, Maya’s Destiny, won best film.

The historical drama follows 17-year-old Maya as she is forced to marry a fisherman, dealing with long absences and the burden of childcare alone.

Based on a five-book series by Anni Bloqvist, the film was a ‘surprising’ success. For the Spaniards, Birth was awarded Best Directing. About a young girl who unex-

VETERAN: Michael Caine gives yet another legendary performance

pectedly becomes pregnant in 1980s Spain, the female cast were jointly given the Best Actress award.

US rapper Macklemore is coming to Spain as the 40-year-old performs on the Costa del Sol. The Can’t Hold Us and Thrift Shop singer will take to the stage in Fuengirola on June 21. He will perform at the outdoor concert venue, Marenostrum.

Promote

Another winner was Phantom Youth, which tells the story of the lost innocence of young people during the independence of Kosovo.

The concert is the artist’s only stop in Spain during the tour to promote his new album, BEN Known for hits like Glorious, the singer became popular for its socially conscious lyrics. His latest release is his third studio album and was inspired by his relapse into alcohol addiction during the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 20,000 people attended this year’s festival, watching 69 films.

Almost 50 of the pictures shown were premieres, including 15 from around the world.

20,000 direc-

Alongside the showings there were 63 talks, events and activities, among them a talk with Oscar nominee and Society of Snow tor, J.A. Bayona.

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November 29thDecember 12th 2023

A fair start

SBy Dilip Kuner

staying near the feria grounds, you can also expect no sleep, at least, not at night.

TARTING as cattle markets (or occasionally, religious ceremonies), ferias have evolved into the cultural highlights of the year. They tend to be week-long events in the larger cities, and run from midweek to Sunday in the smaller towns.

Expect food, drink, loud music and flamenco dancing until dawn, along with fairground rides, horse parades and, often, a bit of wrangling or a display of horsemanship. If you happen to be living or

The build-up starts weeks in advance, the events are spectacular, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Afterwards, everything goes quiet for a bit.

STUNNING: Model

Feria week is the perfect chance to experience Andalucian culture at its most exuberant and colourful best, so here are six of the top events to put in the diary.

The feria season has started, with the traditional curtain raiser of Sevilla’s Feria de Abril just ended. These fairs are among the greatest of Andalucian traditions. Celebrated in every town between April and October, make an effort to attend at least one . . . just allow for a couple of days of recovery time afterwards

JEREZ horse fair is among the most traditional of the ferias. The city is in the cradle of flamenco, and there is flamenco singing, dancing and guitar-playing year-round. The feria is the chance to notch things up. Fewer people wear traditional dress when attending these events in touristy Malaga and the Costa del Sol, but almost everyone sports a spectacular costume (traje) in Jerez. Aside from having fun and looking fabulous, the focus is on the horses (caballos). The finest of them from far and

Feria de Abril Sevilla

THE season kicked off with the biggest, most famous and, many would argue, the best: Sevilla’s feria always begins two weeks after Easter Sunday. The pressure to create an event that’s at least as iconic as the last is huge, but there’s enough razzle-dazzle to wow even the most jaded visitor.

wide (some with riders, some pulling carriages) make mesmerising circuits of the fairground every day.

THOUGH less famous than the last two, Granada’s version has everything an Andalucian feria needs. Its unique highlights include a recreation of one of the city’s famous monuments done in lights at the entrance to the fairground. And, unlike in Sevilla, where you need friends in high places to invite you in to enjoy the action in majority of the casetas (or large tents with drinks and entertainment), the casetas here are open to the public, free of charge.

Conchi Santiago Duran gives a preview of the fashion on show at Malaga

EQUINE: Horses take centre stage in Jerez

LA CULTURA

MALAGA’S feria runs for a marathon 10 days and nights, with events taking place in the historic city centre during the day, and at the fairground (located in the Cortijo de Torres district) at night. The usually international and touristy

capital of the Costa del Sol reverts to full-on Spanish culture for the duration, with horses and carriages trotting around, and the sound of flamenco rhythms in the air.

JAEN’S Feria de San Lucas is a chance to see deeper Spain. This is another of the more traditional fairs, with both male and female attendees dressed in fine flamenco wear, and it takes place against a stunning backdrop of hills and olives. As in Malaga, the action takes place in the town during the day, and moves out of the centre to the fairground at night, where flamenco eventually gives way to the roar of fairground and reggaeton, for a real mix of the modern and traditional.

PARTY: Malaga’s fair runs over 10 days and nights

TRADITION: Ronda’s feria embraces bullfighting

PERHAPS a little controversial for many foreign and Spanish tourists, Ronda’s feria is named for the bullfighter Pedro Romero. The local population continues to embrace the theme and continue the Spanish tradi-

tion, with a series of bullfights known as the Corrida Goyesca. Away from the bullring, the streets of the historic town come alive during feria week with singing and dancing and all-round family-friendly entertainment.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

PAY TO ENTER

BRITS and other non-EU visitors will have to pay a €7 fee to enter Spain from next year.

Under the new European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS), non-EU citizens between the ages of 18 and 70 will have to pay €7 to enter or travel through any EU country.

The system will come into force in 2025.

When launched, visitors will be required to obtain an official ETIAS visa waiver to visit the EU.

It is valid for 90 days for both tourists and business travellers and should be obtained at least 96 hours before departure.

Once obtained, the waiver lasts for three years and should be renewed when you get a new passport or after it runs out.

Hosts with the most

A COUPLE who rake in €1million per year by operating 400 Airbnbs between Madrid and Malaga have sparked a backlash online.

Fran and Marta manage 336 tourist flats in the capital city alone, however only 25 of them

Going flat

THE Freixenet Group, which is one of Spain’s biggest wine producers, is going to temporarily lay off more than 600 workers due to the effects of the ongoing drought in Catalunya.

Locals are fuming over businesses raking in millions by renting out hundreds of tourist flats

By Laurence Dollimore

appear to have a licence number visible, reports El Confidencial. And data from Inside Airbnb shows they are not alone, with

HIDDEN GEM

VILLAJOYOSA in Alicante province has been graced with the title of 'Best Hidden Gem in Europe 2024' by the European Best Destinations website.

Another Valencian region location - Ares del Maestrat in Castillon province - came second in the survey. Villajoyosa is famous for its colourful buildings blending in with the golden sands of its beaches. The different house colours came about because fishermen wanted to find their homes quickly after a long stretch at sea.

HEALTH

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other 'super landlords' having hundreds of homes between them, including 'Rodrigo' with 141, 'Raul' with 116 and 'Diego' with 89.

In Sevilla, a certain 'Nacho' manages 161 apartments, while 'Esther' has 92 and 'Juan' 60.

The story is repeated in Malaga, where a 'Remy' has 110 while 'Javier' has 88.

Fran and Marta's profile on Airbnb shows them smiling together while holding their baby, making the user believe they are the owners of the 300-plus homes they manage.

In fact, they merely run a business that prepares the properties, taking a 20% cut of the profits in the process.

In total, their company is in charge of 400 flats across Madrid, Malaga and Murcia, turn-

PROTEST: and a map of Airbnb homes in Madrid

ing over more than €1million per year.

News of their domination has sparked fury online, with one X user writing: "And if we kill Fran and Marta?"

Another wrote: "You have to pay €400 for a shared flat on the outskirts, but don't worry, Fran and Marta have 247 flats so a German can come and drink sangria."

The outrage comes as Madrid City Council is set to bring in tough new rules on holiday lets, although precise details on the changes have yet to emerge.

Meanwhile, Sevilla has put a pause on new holiday rental licences.

The lack of rain is having a serious effect on the grape harvest, which in turn is causing problems for the production of Freixenet’s star product, cava –Spain’s version of champagne. The company is going to make use of a temporary layoff scheme known in Spain as an Erte, which would see workers sent home on furlough but enjoying state benefits.

‘Daily rule’ backlash

A NUMBER of British tourists have threatened to ‘boycott’ Spain after learning they may be asked to prove they have enough money to last them the duration of their stay.

Under new rules post-Brexit, each holidaymaker must be able to show they have €113.40 per day of their trip – meaning a family of four visiting for a week must have at least €3,175.20. Advice from the UK Foreign Office confirms: “When travelling to Spain you could be asked to show you have enough money for your stay.”

However the number of tourists being quizzed about their funds is thought to be extremely low.

A SPANISH gymnast has died aged just 17 within 24 hours of contracting meningitis.

Maria Herranz Gomez, was part of the national trampolining team, which competed in the Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Birmingham last November.

Maria was a student at the Escuela de Arte ‘Elena de la Cruz’ in Guadalajara.

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

It is most common in babies, children, teens and young adults.

It can cause life-threatening sepsis and may result in permanent brain and nerve damage.

Tragic death NEW HOPE

AN Alicante hospital is making use of a new method to treat cancerous tumours.

Vinalopo University Hospital, uses special needles to freeze the cancerous cells to a temperature of -40ºC and destroy them.

Medical teams use ultrasound scans to locate the tumours, and the process can be carried out without general anaesthetic and avoids the need for the patient to stay overnight in the hospital. The procedure has been successfully used on a breast cancer patient.

Avoiding the sun and sunblock leading to vitamin D deficiencies

GETTING EXPOSED

FOUR out of 10 adults and three out of 10 children in a sunshine Spanish region suffer from Vitamin D deficiency. Despite some of Spain's highest levels of sunshine hours, a widespread use of high factor blocks to stop skin cancer (but reduce Vitamin D absorption) and a

By Alex Trelinski

sedentary lifestyle are behind the problem identified in Alicante. A lack of vitamin D can lead to heart attacks and cancer, according to studies.

president of the Valencian Society of Family and Community Medicine, said:

“Having very low values of this nutrient is related to cardiovascular disease and with oncological pathology.

ommended as low Vitamin D levels can cause colon, breast, or prostate cancer,” she added.

Long waits

OPERATION waiting lists in Spain’s public hospital system reached a record high of 849,535 as of December 31, 2023.

Twice-yearly figures are released by the Ministry of Health, and show a 30,000 increase compared to last summer.

It's the fifth successive report to show rising operation waiting times, and the only worst modern figure was in June 2020 when nearly all routine procedures were postponed due to the Covid pandemic. Average delays from when a doctor or consultant believes an operation is needed has risen from 112 to 128 days between last July and December.

Dr. Mari Angeles Medina,

“Adequate sun exposure and a daily intake of healthy foods is rec-

Dr. Medina says that 'we have to make the population aware of the situation without alarm because it is a disorder of modern life'.

Hair raising stat

As for recommended levels of sun exposure, Dr. Medina make this recommendation:

“In adults, being in the sun for 10 or 15 minutes between 10am and 5pm is enough.

Those who have had to wait more than six months has reached one in four patients, compared to the first half of 2023 which stood at 17.4%. By specialisms, traumatology has the most patients on the waiting list (206,000), followed by ophthalmology (178,000) and general surgery and the digestive system (156,000).

A STUDY of 43 countries put 44.5% of males in Spain as bald, edging out Italy (44.3%) and France (44.2%). Baldness causes are genetic and hormonal, as well as being caused by a diet lacking essential nutrients, thyroid problems, iron deficiency, infections, stress, and anaemia. The research by Medihair, indicates that Caucasian men are more genetically predisposed to experience male pattern hair loss.

“Older people should be exposed for at least 30 or 40 minutes, but almost no one does that, because despite the fact that we have a lot of sun, we actually spend many hours inside homes, offices, and factories.

“We have to try to live outside, let the sun shine on us, without overdoing it,” she added.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

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sonably priced and wide-ranging’. But where are these pioneering producers hiding?

From the central plain of ‘forgotten Spain’ to the southern reaches of Tenerife, these are the up and coming wine regions to look out for.

RIBEIRA SACRA ARRIBES

In the heart of Galicia lies the Ribeira Sacra wine region. Marked roughly by the flows of the Mino and Sil rivers, the name roughly translates to ‘Sacred Shore’. Here winemaking is an art dating back to the Roman era and was continued by monks in the area’s various monasteries. With gradients of 85% in some vineyards, in Ribeira Sacra wine making is considered ‘heroic’.

MENTRIDA

Found near historic Toledo (Castilla La Mancha) is Mentrida.

This wine region mostly uses the Garnacha grape, providing robust, rannic and ageworthy red wines.

Though known for its reds, the region also produces fresh and fruity rose wines.

Here, winemaking dates back to the 12th century but the area only achieved DO status in 1976.

The area was given DO status in 1996 for its speciality dry reds using the Mencia grape.

This variety thrives in the long ripening season and temperature variability.

Other important varieties include the red Brancellao and Merenzao, alongside the white Godello and Treixadura.

The Ribeira Sacra is divided into five sub-regions including Amandi, Chantada, Quiroga-Bibei, Ribeiras do Mino and Ribeiras do Sil.

According to critics, the best Ribeira wine is the Dominio do Bibei Tinto, a cherry red wine, which is full-bodied with a great length.

Arribes in Castilla y Leon only gained its DO title in 2007. Along the banks of the Duero River, the region is known for its fruity reds using Rufete, Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mencia grapes. However, they also produce great whites and roses using Malvasia, Verdejo and Albillo varieties.

Many young people have returned to Arribes to start wineries alongside expats, enamoured by the dramatic landscapes. Arribes best wine is El Hato y el Garabato’s ‘Sin Blanca’, produced using Juan Garcia grapes.

A powerful red, it has a powerful palate with hints of ripe fruit, spice and round tannins.

One of the smallest and most isolated wine regions in Spain, there are just 20 bodegas in the area and count-

At just €20, this wine is accessible to even those on a strict budget.

Cebrero (also Castilla y Leon) is found in the Sierra de Gredos region, a pioneer in the ‘new wave’ of Spanish wine. Awarded DO status just five years ago, it is particularly known for its old-vine Garacha reds.

With vineyards lying on mountain slopes, the granite-based soils and well established vines give Cebrero wine a marked mineral content.

Though known for its reds, Albillo Real is the main white grape variety, with a dense, well-structured wine that matures perfectly in the barrel.

Although little-known today, praise for Cebrero wines has been found in written sources as early as the 14th century, beginning their modern renaissance in the 1970s.

Around 18 wineries produce under the Cebreros DO banner but the best is Telmo Rodriguez’s ‘Pegaso Arrebatacapas’, at €50 a bottle.

The ‘unique’ wine is aged in the barrel for 18 months in French oak, giving it a strong and smooth flavour.

Although many only know Tenerife for its winter sun, the island is home to many delicious wines, including the Valle de la Orotava variety.

Despite being one of the oldest grape regions on the island, dating back to the 15th century, the valley only received its DO status in 1995.

Overlooking the vineyards is the Pico del Teide volcano and the volcanic soils give the wine its vibrant acidity, mineral flavour and distinct smoky touch.

cussed on quality.

Although small, the industry in Mentrida is slowly gaining momentum, with producers focussed on quality.

Fusing modern and traditional

Fusing modern and traditional techniques, the region produces barrel-aged reds alongside fresher, younger wines fermented in stainless steel.

One of the best wineries in the area is Dominio de Valdepusa, the first property to gain single-vineyard Vino de Pago status.

de

This award is given only to vineyards deemed equal to those in top-level DOCa regions.

The ‘best’ Mentrida wine is a €28 red, using Grenache grapes.

‘La Vina Escondida’ from Bodegas Canopy is a characterful wine with balsamic flavours and fruity hints.

Though red wines are produced, the area is predominantly known for its sweet white wines such as Malmsey, which uses the Malvasia grape.

The Valle de la Orotava is also known for its unique vine training technique, el cordon trenzado wherein vines are plaited so that they can be easily moved to grow essential crops.

Only 30% of wines from the region are bottled and are mainly consumed within Tenerife, however, this will change as the region continues to grow.

According to winesearcher. com, the best Valle de la Orotava wine is the Suertes del Marques 'Los Pasitos' Baboso Negro.

Just €29 a bottle, this 2015 vintage is described as ‘spicy and herby with fine bitter notes’.

the Ribeira Sacra wine

Teide volcano and the volcanic soils give the wine its vibrant acidity, , wherein vines are plaited so within the region continues to grow. According to winesearcher.

Vino

Pago

VALLE DE LA OROTAVA

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

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SHOW COOKING

ASQUADRON of Spain’s top chefs including one from Calpe have led their whisks into the annual battle to teach youngsters how to cook healthily.

The 35 culinary geniuses came from all over Spain to support the Chefs for Children event in Benahavis.

The majority of them with Michelin stars, they generously imparted their knowledge to the group of 150 children, many of them autistic.

By Jon Clarke

Sandoval, of Coque, told the Olive Press: “Any one of these kids could be inspired to become the next top chef.

“It’s great to bring Spain’s leading chefs together in this way for such a good cause.”

Little stars outshine their three dozen Michelinstarred teachers at annual Chefs for Children bash

The event also included Nacho Manzano, with three stars, from Asturias and Fina Puigdevall and her two daughters Martina and Carlota Puigvert, whose famous Les Cols joint in Olot, has two stars.

Setting up on a shady terrace at the five star Anantara Villa Padierna hotel, they taught the youngsters how to use knives, grind up a guacamole and make delicious mini fruit tarts, among other dishes.

pecially important to teach youngsters both how to cook well and healthily,” he explained.

Málaga cook José Carlos Garcia added:

“It’s a brilliant way to promote the best of Malaga, a city which is completely on fire these days!”

Now in its sixth year, the chefs included Madrid’s trio of Michelin legends, Mario Sandoval, Ramon Freixa and Paco Roncero, all with two stars.

“It’s great to be down here again, particularly with my two daughters,” she said. “There is so much going on down in Andalucia these days. It’s a genuinely exciting place and the gastronomic scene is developing so fast.”

Leading the charge locally were Malaga’s finest, including Diego Gallegos, lo, David Olivas, Back, and Dani Carnero, from Kaleja.

One visitor, very impressed with his visit was Rafa Soler, whose restaurant Audrey’s has a star in Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.

“It is really important for us chefs to put something back and it doesn’t get more positive than a day like this.

EYES PEELED: If you can get a hat that fits (top) and kids’ participation is key 1 2 3

The 44-year-old continued: “Valencia, like Malaga, is now developing so fast. Both regions are heavily influenced by the flavours of the Mediterranean and both are seeing huge growth from gourmet tourists.

The province’s top chef, Benito Gomez, from Ronda’s two Michelin star Bardal, told the Olive Press he was ‘really proud’ to be representing the region again.

“In fact I would say that around 70% of my clients are now coming from abroad to enjoy Spain’s amazing food. Events like this accentuate what we do well.” This year, 55 of the country’s top chefs have been involved in the Chefs for Children events.

Under the banner ‘Eating healthy is fun’, this year it is supporting the charity Autismo Espana and raising awareness of the condition.

The event was jointly-funded by Malaga Diputacion’s Sabor a Malaga and Benahavis town hall, with its Tourism chief, Scott Marshall, telling the Olive Press: “We are extremely proud to be involved.”

“It’s always an amazing event and es-

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

A menu degustation was prepared by the group of local Malaga chefs at a later gala.

Sponsored by Porsche in Marbella, wine was provided by Bodegas Emilio Moro, while the ham came from Joselito.

Across: 6 Monmouth, 8 A ton, 9 Again and again, 10 Dyes, 11 Turkeys, 14 Version, 16 Cede, 19 Psychiatrists, 21 Cots, 22 Irrigate.

Down: 1 Jogged, 2 Sumac, 3 Rhodium, 4 Hang, 5 Notify, 7 Maidens, 12 Keeping, 13 Solicit, 15 Easton, 17 Entity, 18 Story, 20 Cusp.

READY: Chopping boards and pinafores at the ready

STEADY: An army of chefs arrives

GO: One of the chefs gets stuck in

BUSINESS

Power up!

Biggest battery recycling plant will slash costs by 80%

ALICANTE is set to have Europe’s largest electric car battery recycling plant in operation by the end of the year.

GDV Mobility has received backing from the Valencian government and the factory will be located in the Llano de los Espartales industrial estate, covering an area of over 3,000 m2.

The company’s current premises are able to recover electric batteries to 90% of their initial capacity and 80% of battery life, using a proprietary patented process. The firm restored around

200,000 lithium batteries in 2023. The process allows it to prevent between 0.6 and 1.2 tons

Economic boost

SPAIN’S economic growth this year will be better than its European neighbours according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IMF has raised its 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for Spain by 0.4% to 1.9%.

The Eurozone as a whole comes in at 0.8% while 0.7% is projected for France and Italy, and just 0.2% for the traditional economic powerhouse of Germany.

The IMF highlights that Spanish growth will remain strong thanks to the boost in domestic demand and the recovery of the purchasing power of wages.

of lithium being crushed per day and its plan will see the battery recycling process take a maximum of 72 hours. It also will reduce battery costs by up to 80% in what is normally one of the most expensive repairs and replacements faced by electric car owners.

GDV Mobility says that production capacity will be increased five-fold with an approximate capacity of 4,000 tons due to improvements in the battery treatment process.

Besides becoming the largest electric car battery repair plant in Europe, it will become the only hazardous waste management plant in the Valencian Community.

GOLD OR GOLD BONDS?

GOLD is no different to any other commodity, in that its price fl uctuates on a minute by minute basis.

Its price can be determined by many outside events, but even so, like stock markets, it goes down as well as up.

The graph right shows this from 2010 until today (fi gures correct as of 22.04.24).

So how do Gold Bonds overcome the risk of their gold value going down as well?

The award winning firm, THG Capital Savings, can answer this for you: its Gold Bond uses the process of ‘gold-streaming’.

Gold streaming is buying Gold Dore (unrefined gold) and refining the gold into 24 Karat Bullion. THG’s traders source Gold Dore direct from mines globally and have

a team that travels to these locations to assess the gold content, weight and then agree a fixed purchase price.

Once a purchase price has been agreed, they will then negotiate the sale price directly to the refi nery.

Once the purchase price and the sale price is agreed, they will calculate the cost of insurance, shipping and all other associated costs to see if the total deal is profi table.

As long as the trade is profi table, the purchase and sale contracts will be written and the trade will take place providing a fi xed return on their clients capital.

The risk is therefore mitigated for all parties and a ‘known profi t’ for the trade is locked in.

With this happening continually, the Bond is able to offer a yearly fixed rate to its savers.

Currently THG’s Fixed Rate Gold Bond is offering 9% p.a. and has delivered the quoted returns faultlessly.

To add in further peace of mind for customers, THG has employed the services of a UK FCA Registered Trustee, City Partnership Ltd, to oversee the dealings.

This firm also holds 100% of the Bond’s assets; this is either the gold and/or cash. Apart from offering 9% p.a. interest

rates, THG states its Bond is 100% asset-backed by the two most historical currencies known to man, gold and cash.

So back to the question, Gold or Gold Bonds?

Well if you want double the bank interest rates on your savings, in a secure and proven UK-based gold product with the risk mitigated, it’s surely Gold Bonds all the way!

Incredible bulk

BRAWLING 127kg England rugby star Billy Vunipola was filmed laughing as nine police officers had to taser him twice in order to eject him from a Mallorca nightclub.

Stag cops

A THIEF thought he had gotten away with robbing a Barcelona restaurant, until a group of off-duty British police officers on a stag do took chase and tackled him 50 metres up the road.

Bad parking

A MAN has been fined €5,000 in Palma de Mallorca for using his relative’s disabled parking badge. He had been using it since the relative died in 2011.

A SPANISH nun has become a social media star after racking up 35,800 followers on TikTok alone.

The self-described ‘ YouTuber and nun’, Sor Marta has gained over 270,000 likes on the platform, where she

RACKING UP NUN-BERS!

Nun becomes social media influencer discussing sex, tattoos and piercings

shares her experience and answers questions.

Unafraid of taboos, she broaches topics often unheard of in the Catholic religion, such as the gender pay gap in the church.

In the short video, Marta ex-

Big ham con

POLICE have busted a giant swindle involving ham sales which netted a company over €17 million in five years.

Six people have been arrested by the Policia Nacional in the Madrid region towns of Leganes and Sesena.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

plains that while priests are given a salary, sometimes of thousands of euros, decided by the bishop, nuns receive no money at all.

They all held positions in a meat-cutting firm where they stole the identity of a genuine company by using their seals and labelling on their products. The firm that owned the legal seal was totally unaware of the long-standing fraud, as the bogus-labelled ham - that had not passed stringent health checks - was sold to customers at home and abroad.

Any ‘salary’ they earn comes from working as teachers, managing religious museums and churches or selling cosmetics or sweets. They also have to manage their tax declarations as ‘freelance’ workers. According to

latest figures, some 11,000 people part of religious orders declared tax in 2019.

“We have to do it so we have a retirement fund,” she said.

When not mounting small businesses or doing their tax returns, the nuns focus on prayer, contemplation and community work.

This has pushed religious orders into the 21st century, resorting to the digital realm to earn some cash whether through online shops, AirBnB or, in Sor Marta’s case, social media.

In other videos, Marta explores topics such as sex, tattoos, using phones in the nunnery, piercings, doing exercise as a nun and blasphemy.

MODEL:

‘Dragons are real!’

A VIDEO has gone viral on Nigerian Facebook claiming to show a ‘real life’ dragon. Filmed in Anambra, Eastern Nigeria, the video shows a ‘dragon’ laying on the ground while a man narrates his ‘find’ in Igbo, the local language. The caption reads: “Real Life Dragon in Anambra State. I have never seen a dragon before. I used to think that dragons stories were just fairy tales. I never knew they existed in real life.”

No fairy tale

But it turns out that dragons really are just fairy tales. Africa Check, an independent fact-checking organisation, has confirmed the ‘dragon’ is actually a model made for a Spanish TV programme. It was made by Juan Villa Herrero who makes props for popular TV and film projects. He produced the dragon for the TV programme, Cuatro Milenio before online pranksters hijacked a clip.

Was made for Spanish television