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30th November - 13th December 2023
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Terror probe hell ‘Full on and stressful’ ordeal for British family after daughter is dragged into terror probe A BRITISH expat family has been torn apart after their ‘vibrant’ and ‘model-esque’ daughter was accused of helping to carry out a terrorist attack in Spain. On the surface, Sasha Brooks is a typical young woman enjoying life in the sun, regularly posting selfies on nights out in Marbella and Granada with her friends on Instagram. With holidays in Ibiza, Mallorca and Australia, she wears stylish clothes and is the ‘life and soul of the party’ on frequent nights out. But her world came crashing down when she was arrested alongside her Spanish boyfriend, Naraya Gomez, at a home they share in the quaint town of Lanjaron, Granada, just an hour inland from the Costa del Sol. They were sequestered to Madrid before facing a judge, where they were charged with aiding the assassination attempt of far-right politician Alejo Vidal-Quadras. The 78-year-old was shot in the face by a hitman on a motorbike outside his home in the posh neigh-
LOVELY COUPLE: Naraya and Sasha are being investigated
EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
bourhood of Salamanca in Madrid - which boasts football players, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem as residents. Last night Spain issued an international arrest warrant for the suspected shooter, named as 37-yearold Tunisian Mehrez Ayari. Following Sasha and Naraya’s arrests, Lanjaron, a tiny town of just 3,000 people, was turned into a media circus. Before Sasha was dragged before a judge, her mother, Angie Brooks, a financial advisor, told the Olive Press: “Spanish reporters have been hounding us, banging on my door all night and morning. “They have reported so many lies about my daughter.” After her court appearance her mother said Sasha was ‘exhausted’. She added she had been through an ‘ordeal’, branding the episode ‘stressful’ and ‘full on’. “I’ve had to come up to Madrid to help her as much as possible,” said Brooks, who runs a an anti-fraud advice company, Pension Life, where her daughter and boyfriend Naraya had been working. “It’s been pretty full on and it’s now up to the judge to decide whether to charge them or not.” While her mother later insisted she had not been charged, Sasha had her passport taken off her after being released on bail. She must appear before the court every 15 days and is forbidden from leaving Spain as the investigation continues. Various Spanish newspapers reported that both Sasha and Naraya were still being investigated in connection to the attempted murder. Naraya was refused bail and sent
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to prison due to the overwhelming evidence against him. He is said to have recently converted to Islam, specifically following the Shiite sect favoured by the ayatollahs of Iran. Vidal-Quadras is convinced the Middle Eastern nation is the mastermind behind the hit, after its ruling elite listed him as a ‘terrorist’ last October due to his years of harsh criticisms against the country. Naraya, 26, is WORRIED: Mum Angie accused of hir- while (above) Naraya’s ing the contract dad Sirio killer before travelling to a hotel in Madrid with c o m m u n e him on the eve of the attack. just outAccording to police, Gomez fol- side Lanlowed the Frenchman in his car on jaron, inthe day of the shooting. sisted the After the deed was done, the al- c h a r g e s ‘EXHAUSTED’: Sasha Brooks was dragged to leged killer, who is also wanted were com- Madrid following her arrest in Granada for a murder in Paris, dumped his p l e t e l y motorbike and set it on fire, before false. Sirio lives in the so-called commubeing picked up by Gomez in his car He told the Olive Press: “My son nity of Benificio, just a 20-minute to make his getaway. is completely innocent, he is not drive from Lanjaron. According to police, Naraya’s blue a terrorist. hire car was seen on CCTV in Ma- “He is a good boy, a vegetarian, Alternative drid’s Barrio Salamanca in the weeks spiritual and a pacifist.” It’s known by locals as an ‘alterrunning up to the attack, tracking He said he last spoke to Naraya a Vidal-Quadras’s movements. few months ago and that he was native community’, where people The same car was found illegally excited to introduce his girlfriend from across Europe come and go. The theory put forward by police parked in Lanjaron this week, lead- Sasha to him. ing to the couple’s arrest. He added: “He was not related has left expats and locals in LanjaNaraya’s father Sirio Gomez, a to politics, he worked for Sasha’s ron in shock. One local Brit told the Olive Press: yoga master who lives in a new age mother’s business. “He never converted “They were a lovely couple, no one to Islam, that is a lie, can believe it or understand it. he is not a Muslim. He “There is no motivation for them has judeo-Christian to do something like this, Sasha beliefs and an affinity comes from a good family.” The investigation continues. with Israel!”
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NEWS IN BRIEF Dam double TWO medieval dams at Mutxamel and Sant Joan which cross the Montnegre river have been declared as assets of cultural interest by the Valencian government.
Xmas spirit BENIDORM’S Christmas lights including an 11-metre high tree and 20 streets with decorative arches will be switched on this Monday.
Home help A COCENTAINA man, 64, was rescued by a fire crew with the help of a rope after falling down a ‘several metres deep’ well inside his Calle Forn home.
AI bonus THE first Valencia region hotel room to be equipped with ‘artificial intelligence’ will be at Benidorm’s four-star RH Corona de Mar in the Poniente beach area of the city.
POLICE have seized 600 kilos of cocaine worth €130 million hidden in packs stamped with images of cartoon character Bart Simpson. Officers arrested eight Spaniards and Dominican Republic nationals, as well as confiscating over €4,000 in cash and a
A CULT leader accused of feeding his followers mercury and living in a cave with his multiple lovers has been arrested in southern Spain. Jose Manuel C, aka Total Transcendence (Transcendencia Total), is charged with a number of crimes against public health, the environment and workers’ rights following a year-long investigation by police. The 50-year-old Spaniard ran his Mahasandhi Foundation for the last 15 years in El Tolle, Murcia, out of a sprawling 100,000m2 complex. Investigators found cave dwellings, warehouses, temples, bunkers, and clandestine laboratories as well
30th November - 13th December 2023
¡Ay, caramba! gun during the raid on a Quart de Poblet industrial estate. One of the men tried to escape and had to have one of his fingers amputated after
getting it trapped when he fell down the stairs Investigations started after Central American police forces told the Guardia about a shipment of a large amount of narcotics hidden in a container being transported on a merchant ship to Valencia.
TOXIC CULT
Spanish ‘spiritual leader’ who ‘poisoned his own followers’ is arrested after 15-year reign
‘MASTER’: Cult leader Jose Manuel C
By Alex Trelinski
as 180kg of mercury which is believed to have been bought on the 'dark web'. It is alleged that the former chiropractor aimed
ROBBERS JAILED A HOME robbery gang has been charged with committing 101 burglaries across the Valencian Community and Murcia. Nearly 100 items of jewellery and watches have been recovered in a joint operation conducted by the Guardia Civil and the Policia Nacional. Seven people - six of them Moldovan nationals and the other from Romania - would send the stolen loot back to Moldova after confirming that the items were valuable.
to purify the mercury with alchemy to create ‘energising elixirs’ - which he often sold online for cash, before dumping leftover mercury into a septic tank. Many of Manuel’s followers cut ties with their family to serve their ‘master’, but recently began showing symptoms of mercury poisoning, which can include muscle weakness, numbness, poor coordination, forgetfulness and sensory problems. A revolver, €90,000 in cash and 19kg of marijuana were also discovered
during the raid. According to reports, Manuel spent long periods of time locked up in his ‘cave home’ alongside several women, while other followers lived in caves nearby.
Silent
When he was arrested, he took a vow of silence and communicated by writing on a chalkboard. Manuel has been remanded in custody and his foundation's website has been taken down along with its social media channels.
Crazy journey A YOUNG motorist was pulled over after driving for 28 kilometres on the wrong carriageway of the A-7 motorway. A Guardia Civil patrol car chased the kamikaze driver who was travelling at high speed. He was stopped close to the Elche service area after his chaotic journey from Albatera on the Murcia-bound lanes, forcing oncoming drivers to move out of the way. He was over the limit for drink and positive for drugs.
Travelling band A MADRID gang travelled to the Costa Blanca and Murcia areas to rob store safes in large shopping centres after hiding inside premises before closing time. The Policia Nacional have arrested five people after raiding three Madrid addresses and charged the group with eight robberies in Alicante, Elche, Murcia, San Javier, and Torrevieja. Equipment to inhibit alarms, 'bumping' keys, cylinder extractors and fake ID papers were discovered. Money and items totalling over €65,000 were stolen by the crew.
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NEWS
30th November - 13th December 2023
3
VIRTUALLY PERFECT
MEET Aitana, the latest Spanish supermodel, whose looks are turning heads. But the ‘celebrities’ who are said to be sending her private messages looking for a date will be sorely disappointed - she does not actually exist. Aitana is Spain’s first Artificial Intelligence created model and she is raking in up to €10,000 a month for her creators AI agency The Clueless from a series of ad cam-
paigns. And her Instagram site now has 125,000 followers, with many of them having no idea she is nothing more than a series of electrons. Ruben Cruz, who created Aitana, explained: “One day, a well-known Latin American actor texted to ask her out. This actor has about 5 million followers and some of our team watched his TV series when they were kids. He had no idea Aitana didn’t exist.” She has now been picked to be the face of sports supplement company Big.
RHODES RAGE Outraged expat concert pianist James Rhodes offers to pay rent of 78-yearold woman for two years to save her from eviction ‘over an €88 debt’ BRITISH concert pianist James Rhodes has offered to pay an elderly woman’s rent for two years after an €88 debt left her at risk of homelessness. The 78-year-old woman, Blanca, has lived in her Barcelona flat for over 50 years. Now, she is facing homeless-
AT HOME: Blanca was taken to court over €88
derly tenant for €1,200 a month - an offer rejected by Blanca. British musician Rhodes, who lives in MaBy Yzabelle Bostyn drid, has contacted the landness as her landlord is threat- lord’s lawyers ening to kick her out over an offering to pay woman’s unpaid bill for repairs, which the rent ‘at market she was unaware of. But activists believe that the rate’ for the next real reason is that he wanted two years to halt to turn the property into a the eviction. lucrative holiday rental rath- His offer was er than collect the protected rejected by the €280 a month she has been landlord’s legal OFFER: Concert pianist James team, who claim Rhodes wants to halt eviction paying. A court ordered the tenant’s the issue has eviction but it has been put been ongoing for six years. hopes ‘public pressure’ will on hold after a public outRhodes said: “It seems in- help to resolve the case. cry. The parties have just 15 credible to me that some- Much of this pressure comes days to negotiate a new rentthing like this could happen from a local housing associaal contract and the landlord in civilised society.” tion, Resistim al Gotic (Gothhas reportedly asked the elThe pianist added that he ic Quarter Resistance). Speaking about the delayed eviction, they said: “It’s a vicSPANISH tennis star Rafa Nadal tory for the people.” has vowed to return to top-level tenSpokesperson for Resistim nis once he has overcome a serious al Gotic, Daniel Pardo, has injury. called the case ‘especially unThe 37-year-old has been out of acjust’ as the woman was renttion since January after he retired ing under an old contract. from the second round of the AusHe claims the owner only tralian Open. wants to evict the 78-yearHe was struck down with a muscle old in order to earn more injury. money. The 22-time Grand Slam chamHe told 20 Minutos: “He did pion needed surgery that has kept some work on the apartment, him off the courts longer than anwhich was poorly done, and ticipated. he decided to bill Blanca In a recent post on Instagram, Nad€88, but she didn’t know.” al confirmed that he will return folInstead of asking his tenant lowing a period of rehabilitation and for the cash, the landlord training at his academy in Manacor. went directly to the court to It will be his swansong as he has ask for her eviction. previously stated that 2024 will be Currently, the case is being his final season on tour. negotiated by local council mediators.
Nadal returns
STAR STUDDED
PULP, Lana Del Rey and SZA are just some of the star acts heading to Barcelona next year for Primavera Sound. Other names lined up for the show include Vampire Weekend, Mitski, FKA Twigs, Disclosure, Justice, Phoenix, and PJ Harvey. The festival will take place from May 30 - June 1, 2024 at the Parc del Forum in Barcelona. The experiment of running a ‘mirror’ festival in Madrid in the days after this year’s Barcelona event has not been repeated.
Shakira pays up POP STAR Shakira has cut a deal with prosecutors at the start of her tax fraud trial in Barcelona. The singer, 46, told the presiding judge that she accepted an agreement reached between her lawyers and state prosecutors after previously twice turning down such an arrangement. It involves her paying a €7 million fine and a three-yearprison term but the Colombian star is not going to jail as she will pay an extra fine of €432,000. The sentence handed down was 'final' and it means that the trial on tax fraud charges will not go ahead. She faced six counts of failing to pay the Spanish government €14.5 million in taxes between 2012 and 2014 when she said she lived mainly abroad.
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NEWS
Farewell El Tel
Curtain closes
FORMER England and Barcelona coach Terry Venables has died after a long illness at the age of 80. Best known and loved in England for leading a swashbuckling England side to almost-glory at Euro 96, Venables actually forged his reputation in the fires of Barcelona for three seasons in the eighties. He led the team to a La Liga title in his first season in 1984, ending Barcelona's 11-year trophy drought and reached the European Cup final the following year. After he left football management he returned to Spain to run the luxury ‘La Escondida’ hotel in Penaguila, Alicante, in 2014 before retiring in 2019.
LEGENDARY Benidorm performer Sticky Vicky died on Wednesday at the age of 80, her daughter has announced on social media (both pictured). The Tenerife-born entertainer became famous for her vaginal magic shows in the resort and retired in 2015. She had been unwell for some time. Victoria María Araguess Gadea was also known as Vicky Leyton and never married, but had one son Eduardo Romero Aragues - and one daughter, Maria Gadea Aragues.
AROUND 500 people marched through the streets of Benissa to protest against the council's decision to increase the IBI property tax by 45% and 53% for car tax. Organisers branded the hikes as 'outrageous' and claimed that many families will not be able 'to make ends meet'. One demonstrator said that feelings were high in a town that's 'not used to protesting'. On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered for an hour in Benidorm's Plaza del Ayuntamiento over the same issue. The city is putting up IBI by 23% along with a 70% rise in the garbage tax. Protestors chanted 'Enough is enough' and called for mayor, Toni Perez, to explain himself.
Game, set, shut yer trap
María, who saw her mother's show for the first time at the age 13, later decided to follow in her footsteps. Sticky Vicky would pull several objects from her vagina, including ping-pong balls, eggs, handkerchiefs, sausages, razor blades, and even machetes.
NOLOTIL IN THE DOCK
A PATIENT advocate group has filed a lawsuit against the Spanish Ministry of Health for failing to protect people against the potentially life-threatening effects of Nolotil. The Association of Drug Affected Patients (ADAF), led by campaigner Cristina del Campo, is suing the Spanish Ministry of Health and the Spanish Agency for Medicine and
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Campaigners are taking legal action against deadly painkiller following hundreds of near-deaths EXCLUSIVE By Yzabelle Bostyn
Health Products (AEMPS). The case, handled by Francisco Almodovar, claims the directive issued by the Spanish government in 2018 preventing the sale of the drug to Northern Europeans without prescription is not being followed. The ADAF also claims that authorities have not done enough to protect patients against the dangerous effects of Nolotil, which can include sepsis, amputations and organ failure. The campaign group has identified 350 suspected cases of agranulocytosis (low white blood cell count) between 1996 and 2023 as a result of the drug. The cases include 170 Britons living in or visiting Spain. They are also investigating
40 deaths which they believe to be linked to the infamous drug. Del Campo told the Olive Press: “We’re not looking for money or damages. I want to make them stop giving Nolotil to British people. “I want them to revise and modify regulations and investigate cases properly. “They need to act because it keeps being given without a prescription. People’s lives are at stake.” The ADAF is calling on the Spanish Ministry of Health to ban giving the drug to citizens where Nolotil is banned in their home country. They also demand new analysis of the risk of agranulocytosis and a revision of the Nolotil information sheet given to medical professionals. Nolotil, also known as metamizole, is a popular painkiller in Spain. Although unconfirmed by
AIRPORT THREAT THE UGT trade union has called a strike for 60,000 airport handling staff during key December holidays, threatening the travel plans of thousands. The stoppage is planned for all 46 airports in Spain for Tuesday December 5 and Sunday December 10. December 6 is Constitution Day, while December 8 is the Day of the Immaculate Conception. Both are national holidays, and the fact that they fall on a Wednesday and Friday will encourage many people in Spain to take much or all of the week off. UGT announced that it was calling the stoppage to protest against state airports operator Aena’s alleged failure to observe the collective agreement for the sector.
TWO local restaurants have been added to the list of coveted Michelin star holders this year, meaning a total of 17 stars across 13 Alicante province eateries. Denia’s Quique Dacosta Restaurant remains the only three-starred restaurant in the region, with two stars for BonAmb in Javea and L’Escaleta in Concentaina. Orobianco in Calpe, which lost its single Michelin star in
THE MONSTER NEXT DOOR
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NOLOTIL WARNING
AN evil Mexican cartel low-key ‘no frills’ life boss lived a among expats years before being arrested, it has emerged. The paranoid chief was the suspected head of the infamous gang operations in EuropeLos Zetas for seven years. He regularly drove to Murcia, Valencia and, even Badajoz, using up to seven cars along the way to avoid detection. Yet, incredibly, he lived but luxurious life in a an anything normal back street of Fuengirola (M alaga) police have revealed. Having finally arrested other home in Madrid, him at anit emerged he lived in leafy Calle Nuñez Balboa for some years, while renting a small chalet in Mijas, where he took many ‘girlfriends’. The drug lord, whose name as Said.R, 54, was arrested was given a joint operation between following Spanish, Colombian and US authorities. He was picked up in Madrid, he was ‘feared by everyone’, where according to detectives, due to his gang’s violent nature. A LETHAL painkiller is The Los Zetas gang is STILL being described by given to Brits five years the US authorities as ‘the EXCLUSIVE most tech- banned, the Olive Press after it was nologically advanced, By Yzabelle Bostyn can reveal. sophisticated It comes after a and violent’ paramilitary-style reader contacted us gang to sound the alarm after in South America. en the potentially deadly he was giv- among British expats and tourists They are known for their drug while tics in Mexico, including brutal tac- receiving treatment at HCB Hospital visiting Spain. mass kill- in Denia, Though usually harmless, ings, beheadings, kidnappings Alicante. Nolotil and Nolotil, also can affect Northern Europeans torture. known as with Said, who also had homes is the most common Metamizol, fair complexions and is banned painkiller in in Main the UK, Ireland, Sweden. drid, avoided capture Spain and is often marketed as an In October driving all over Spain for years by alternative to Ibuprofen for his busior Paracet- banned for 2018, the drug was mol.
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Picture perfect Andalucia’s city in the mountains is a hot ticket for world leaders and their wives despite Hemingway’s lukewarm words, writes Elisa Menendez
lacklustre review. Most of today’s travellers - including Britain’s last two prime ministers and an American First Lady - would certainly disagree with him. crowned Andalucia’s Ronda has been town and it’s not hardthird most-visited to see why. The so-called ‘City of Dreams’ is a true wanderlust gem and somewhat of a celebrity hang-out. This year alone, Theresa thaway, Ricky Gervais, May, Anne HaGordon Ramsay, KristinJodie Whittaker, and Spain’s ex-premier Scott Thomas Mariano Rajoy have all allegedly mountain town... visited the stunning so say locals in the know.
Obama
Michelle Obama also made headlines when she visited in 2010, touring the old town and discovering dynasty with her daughter the Moorish Sasha.
Picture by Jon Clarke
TAX REVOLT
30th November - 13th December 2023
The
4
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GRAND TOUR-ISTS: Painters tackle the gorge, while (inset) recent visitors Anne Hathaway, Gordon Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker and Ricky Gervais
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groups ‘failing to tackle toxic air’ in are taking legal action Ecologistas the Campo de Gibraltar. against the Junta for ing nothing en Accion has filed a complaint with the Health caused by thehas been done to protect Ministry, claimcitizens According to expansion of ‘toxic’ industries in from a rise in air pollutants the green group, lutants were the Bay more than 10,000 tonnesof Algeciras. This includesreleased into the atmosphere of dangerous potentially last year. other fine particles. lethal cancer-causing polThe writ comes chemical benzene, as Cadiz province air quality in as well as was officially Spain. And alarmingly, declared to have the worst polluted place La Linea, which borders Gibraltar, The shocking in the world in terms stats were of air quality. ranks as the 30th tion report revealed most towns and which lists the world’s in a damning World ‘most contaminated’ Health OrganisaAdding saltcities. to the wound, Cadiz also came bottom Continues in page 11
Left for teen
Tragic end
“IT’S a dirty world that to live in anymore.” I don’t want These were of a British the intended last words on a suicideteen who had embarked old boyfriend pact with her 16-yearin Marbella. The privately-educated added: “I’m expat, 14, Sorry: To anyone has ever loved/known who me, thank or supported miss you.” you, I love you and I will
into the Campo
However, had a cruel,her heartfelt messages bizarre twist, British-Brazilian when her boyfriend Richard Fitzsimons off the top managed to take his life of the Corte partment store, Ingles delously survived. while she miracuIt came as a hero security somehow managed guard to grab the before she death after was able to plunge to girl her her lover. In a tragically shocked the sad incident - that has lines around coast and made header, who we the world - the teenagreasons, is are not naming for legal A LETHAL now requiring painkiller believed serious sponsible for the to be redeaths of dozens banned for tourists pats is finally of ex- In Continues a breakthrough in Spain. Nolotil, whichbeing regulated in Spain. page 2 the Olive Press Medicine Agency move, The Spanish tigated for nearly has TM two years, hasinves- issued a directive (AEMPS) has finally been ies to to all healthcare stop giving the drug to Britishbodand
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THE Olive Press is Spain to calling on ban a lethal that is killing painkiller countless suspecting of unexpats. British dentists are supporting and doctors ter Briton the ban complainedGraham Ward, afof how he to the Olive 75, was prescribedPress deadly Nolotil one month the to knock drug tist last only property down their week. It’s by a densame drug In a court (pictured above). the very for killing that was blamed Olive Press,order seen by his wife in The Marbella-based warned they the Wards the 2006. are will be held was furious nally responsible expat crimiDr Nina King, when he to take “I don’t know if they refuse. was the campaign, of Oasis Dental what to do Spanish the painkiller by told more, I’m Care his she prescribes.telling the ing from dentist, after suffertether” Gill at the end of anyOlive Pressin Marbella, fully “It’s not my supports the drug His wife a difficult abscess. “I’m totally told the Olive Press, is not something she said,a drug I use, I stick exhausted ter beingMary, 59, had died whole ordeal.” from the prescribed afI won’t be “And after seeing to safe and standard drug following The retired the same using in what damage medication,” Marbella-based the future.” pair, who tomy at Costa a double vasecspent thousands it can do, have Almeda also private doctor it’s a drug del Sol “Within of euros now gal costs, 24 hours Hospital. Dra. Victoria the drug,” agrees the drug in intensive house ‘in bought the old on leshe is dangerous. María Chacón tients and she told the Olive care, her was blood cell were givenruins’ in 2004,farmI am aware “I don’t prescribe Press, “I white “There needs count plummeted to zero within of what it have Velez-Malaga permission and to be a lot is capable lots of British days,” explains town hall from Graham, build it. more research paof doing. to retechnician,a former computer doctor But when on its impact.” She never from London. renewal to get a lapsed of the original wall HAPPIER in April, its own accord colTIMES: ness and regained conscioustests showed construction, Graham again. The dad-of-two the Wards’ during with wife, machine was on a life support the drug had tect told for FOUR and Billy “He later died caused before spending a toxic poisoning and that them it would bearchimonths, she said she would Smyth from he would fine septic Metamizole, be alive hadn’t fighting in his bone hall know. three years let the town if in the Nolotil is the impact heard fromtaken it, but I believed shock – Unfortunately drug, which US, banned row and his marhave of the and dozens linked to to be for most of the UK, Ireland led to organ white Irish ure. of Continues Europe, and blood cell fail- it,” added who have been Brits scribed the Nolotil. taking on Page “The chief 8 given widely in but it is pre- dangerously was surgeon Another It is the Graeme. Irishman Spain. low. pital promised Billy, at the hosWilliam a ish expat Britdrug the third victim of Smyth never prescribeme he would ‘Billy’ sportsman, keen Hugh Wilcox ported on Olive Press has the course was given a five-day oped sepsisdevelthat drug was preof the drug scribed the Sometimesin under a year. re- ary. in Febru- necrotising and same known medication But when also as itis as a resultfascifor mild turned to the 66-year-old and a different re- required pain on shoulder Spanish remove ‘radical surgery’ the affected del Sol. the Costa to He developed an attempt For all to save histissue in severe head insuranceyour life.
Irish tourists. Expats in Spain will now be tered Nolotil adminison a short term tion only. Furthermore prescripprescribed after it can only be a detailed the patient’s analysis of CAMPAIGN: medical hisPrevious SALE tory and heritage. issue despite various 59 It will also much more have to be can cause a rapid side effects,Mosquito Screenswhich closely mon- cells, leaving drop in white itored. blood patients unable infections. It comes after to fight an Olive Garcia del Medical translator, Cristina Press investigation Campo, into gether hundreds who has pulled tothe mysterious of case studies of expats from deaths victims for the AEMPS’ from the drug was was ‘very happy’probe, said she launche have finally the authorities d in KILL THE lowing the reacted. Fol2016, results of her along with rigorous investigation DRUG a 1,000-strong has now demanded she petition to have the drug must that it regunot be sold lated a year without tailed patient a prescription and a Nolotil, alsolater. deanalysis. Metamizole, known as “I am very happy that the problem the UK, the is banned in been dealt with,” she told the has of Europe. US and most Press. “I will be making Olive AEMPS recommendations sure that the Despite this, still one of thethe drug is ried out and if necessary are carmake sure it’s ular painkillersmost pop- banned completely.” in Spain, began investigating The Olive Press after a trio of expat families CASHBACK relatives had told us how their ON ily died YOUR HOUSE in excruciating unnecessarpain, after taking the In April, thedrug in Andalucia. first steps paper revealed the towards regulation had been taken, with Marina Salud, a big health network PAYBACK Alicante, issuing in WHEN stop administeringa warning to YOU SELL the drug to British, Irish and Scandinavian patients. Need for
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sale without a prescription to British people visiting Continues on page But the drug has been 2 Spain several deaths and seriouslinked to following a months’ long campaign illnesses by this newspaper and tireless medical campaigner Cristina Garcia del Campo. Recommendations were advising medical staff to also issued the drug to patients in avoid giving and to carry out follow upurgent care WARNING: blood tests Cristina has campaigned if the drug is given for seven days or the Olive Press, (inset) the Olive Pressagainst Nolotil alongside more. campaign See page 12 so many people,” she told The directive note, issued the Olive dations of by the Press. the AEMPS, and particSpanish Medicine Agency ularly those for recommended medical (AEMPS), Now, Cristina is launching a law- tion, we are very the foreign populapatients given the drugstaff monitor suit against the Spanish Ministry aware of the recompotentially deadly side to check for Health after she claims doctors of mendation not to prescribe Nolotil effects like not following are low white blood cell count the guidelines and pa- to foreign patients.” and sep- tients are sis. still being given the drug It insisted that the recommendation is followed and ‘against their will’. However Cristina, founder patients are informed about the best Affected by Pharmaceuticals of the A spokesperson for the hospital available said: treatments. ciation, says the guidelines Asso- “ H C B are ‘not Hospitals strong enough’. follows “It's worrying because VALENCIA - BARCELONA thing that can kill you,this is some- the recit has killed ommen-
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scientific study, the drug seems to lead to dangerous complications, including reduced white blood cell count, in people of Northern European descent. A 2018 report from the European Medicines Agency showed a “potential to induce agranulocytosis may be associated with the genetic characteristics of certain populations”. As a result, the painkiller is banned in some 30 countries including Britain, Australia and the US.
Coma
British expat Patrick Clancy was left ‘traumatised’ by his experience with the drug. After going into hospital for a routine shoulder operation, the then 74-year-old was put into an induced coma and left six weeks later, unable to walk or eat. The retired oil worker for Surrey fought kidney failure and septic shock after taking Nolotil for only a few days. Opinion Page 6
Star debuts 2021, has had it restored under chef Andrea Drago. Former Orobianco chef, Ferdinando Bernardi, has won a star for Casa Bernardi which opened in Benissa nearly two years ago.
TENNIS world number one Novak Djokovic told British fans to ‘shut up’ after Serbia’s Davis Cup match in Malaga. The Serbian star faced constant efforts to rile him up from the British fans, including counting each time he bounced the ball. But despite overwhelming support for the British team from the local expat community, it was Serbia that triumphed over Great Britain at Jose Maria Martin Carpena arena. Unfazed, Djokovic won the first set and responded with a cheeky kiss to the British contingent, eventually clinching the match against Brit Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4. “They were trying to annoy me the entire match, so yeah, we had a little bit of a chat in the end,” he said afterwards. The win secured Serbia a 2-0 triumph over Great Britain and set the stage for a semi-final clash against Italy, which they duly lost. The Italians went on to claim their first Davis Cup since 1976 by defeating Australia in the final on Sunday.
Leave it to the kids THE VALENCIAN parliament has voted to slash inheritance tax to just 1% for most beneficiaries. The cut will apply retrospectively to inheritances and gifts received after 28 May 2023 (the date of this year's regional elections). It is a major reduction on the previous 50% rate, which now puts the area on a par with regions like Andalucia and Murcia. The new law means that succession and gift tax has therefore been virtually eliminated for spouses, children, grandchildren and parents in the Valencian Community. The €100,000 tax-free allowance for beneficiaries also remains in place for most cases. Rules remain unchanged for siblings, cousins, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, in-laws, and stepchildren. The benefit also applies to all EU and non-EU residents in the Valencian Community, which means British nationals living in the region can also take advantage of the tax change.
Debt down DENIA council will cut its debt to €9.3 million after deciding to pay off €3 million of an €8.8 million bank loan. Its deficit hit €20 million in May 2022 due to racking up massive fines for unauthorised urban developments. Penalties totalled up to €17 million in 2017 with the problems dating back to 1997 when land expropriations started at the Finca de la Baronesa to build what became Avenida Ramon Ortega. A special committee concluded that successive administrations had fallen into a series of 'vices' that led to the big fines.
6
NEWS FEATURE
www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.
OPINION Soldier on! WHEN the Leave camp won the 2016 Brexit referendum, hundreds of thousands of Brits were suddenly plunged into a legal quagmire. The man behind the referendum, of course, was David Cameron, who naively thought he could secure a Remain landslide and in turn shore up his political career (and get rid of the UKIP threat led by that pesky Nigel Farage). Understandably, his return as Foreign Secretary is seen by many Remainers as a kick in the teeth. However as the 180 Days in Spain campaign group points out, it just might be to their advantage. Cameron fought passionately for the UK to remain in the EU and given his wealth of experience in politics, he might actually get something done. We support the 180 Days in Spain group’s campaign and hope Cameron will lend an ear to what they have to say, they make (and have been making) very fair points.
Nolotil action IT is high time the Spanish government brings in some meaningful legislation in regards to Nolotil (Nolotil in the Dock, p4). The Olive Press has been sounding the alarm about the Spanish painkiller for years and after a hard fought campaign managed to bring in tough guidelines for the drug. It came after we told countless horror stories of how the medication, which is banned in the UK and many other countries, brought many British expats and other northern Europeans to the brink of death. Working alongside campaigner Cristina Del Campo, we spread the message about the drug’s potentially fatal side effects far and wide. It has been disheartening to hear in recent weeks how the guidelines we battled so hard for are seemingly being ignored, particularly in areas popular with British expats and visitors, such as Denia on the Costa Blanca. We give our full support to Cristina and her team of lawyers and hope the government listens to what they have to say. PUBLISHER / EDITOR
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Sinking feeling
A
T first, Captain Sebastien Destremau believed a sudden incoming swell was just the fierce poniente wind blowing in from the Atlantic one afternoon in May - ‘as it can when you exit the Strait of Gibraltar.’ The garlanded French sailor, with multiple world championships and America’s Cups campaigns to his name, gave the order to drop the sail. But when he turned his weather-beaten face to windward once more, he saw that it was not the famed Atlantic weather bringing in the onrushing waves. Around 20 orcas - half of the total population of Iberian Orcas - were moving in towards his yacht, the 17-metre Lancelot, at tremendous speed. Destremau was all too aware of this particular pod, which has made the Cadiz coast their stomping ground and the bluefin tuna their dish of choice. Eight of the apex predators approached Destremau’s 15-tonne boat and spun it around ‘like a nutshell’ with incredibly powerful nudges to the rudder.
and cretecan experts was put out in August seeking to debunk these ‘inappropriate’ narratives. Despite the ordeal, Destremau did not feel The signatories have called out such ‘anhe had been the target of orca wrath. “It thropomorphistic theories’, which project would be so easy for these beasts to sink us ‘human motivations’ onto wild beasts. if they wanted to.” The thing they fear the most is that such talk While his ship, the Lancelot, eventually could provoke human retaliation. could limp to port, three vessels have in fact Naomi Rose, Marine mammal scientist for been sunk by the Iberian orcas this year. the Animal Welfare Institute, spearheaded And dozens more have had to be rescued by the letter and was the first signatory. maritime authorities. Characterising the interactions as ‘attacks’ These encounters, all taking place in or near - implying aggression and hostility - is misthe Strait of Gibraltar over the last three leading, she told the Olive Press. years, have baffled the scientists, marine “And this whole myth around ‘Black Gladys’, biologists and animal behaviourists of the is just that - a myth.” world. However, like all myths, it originates from a Wild theories abound to explain the unprec- grain of truth. edented behaviour, and there has been a The few orcas that participate in the interproliferation of ‘melodramatic storylines.’ actions with the boats have been given the They range from orca anger at humans en- designation ‘Gladys’ to differentiate them croaching on their yard, to tales of an orca from pod members which don’t. mother known as ‘Black Gladys’ out for re- Rose admits it is a somewhat ‘unfortunate’ venge after her baby was killed by a yacht misnomer, as it comes from the Latin for propeller. ‘sword’, its root in English being ‘gladiator.’ An open letter signed by a number of orca But while it may be a mistake to project human attitudes onto orcas in one respect, in others they display behaviour that every huwww.theolivep ress.es man will recognise. NEWS My pledge Gibraltar Strait orca att The leading theory for the orca behaviour is June 14th - Jun may be led by ack pod e 27th 2023 a ‘re ven gefemale, who that5it did in fact originate with a small group lost her calf seeking’ of juveniles, one of whom is indeed known as ‘Black Gladys’. She was observed with a head laceration in the spring of 2020 and was later spotted Swamwith p a wound behind the dorsal fin in 2021. measuHowever, res according to the experts, ‘Black Gladys’ is not the whale that started the inTrans teractions - nor is it known how she got her wounds. It is simply not known why these young ones started bumping the boats. But orcas, which are members of the dolphin family, are highly intelligent creatures known for their ‘cultural fads’. So it is theorised that once these young trendsetters started off the ‘fad’, more of them decided to join in as a form of social interaction. A previous ‘fad’ was observed in a pod of Pacific orcas off the coast in Washington in INTERACTIONS: Experts say they are not ‘attacks’, while (inset) our previous story By Walter Finch
Hell hath no fury… like ‘White Gladys’
SCRAPPING Ministry, over the Equality ‘trans law’ and turning Spain’s es to the euth making chang- A SPATE of killer whal cation rules. anasia and edu- tacks on yachts entee atring the Strait of By Walter Finc Those are amo h sparked fierc Gibraltar has ng the plan that Popular Party (PP) lead-s what is behi e debate about the er Alberto Nun nd it. origin of all this, gains more stren should he beco ez Feijoo has Researchers claim it migh me t day," Alfre gth for us every ister on July 23. prime min- be orchestrated by a do López Fern singl reven e, ge-se dez, anFeijoo, who eking female a is happy for orca sity of biologist at the Univerface-to-face deba a named Gladys - or ‘Whi Avei te with cur- Gladys’. te But Seba ro said. rent leader stien Destrema Pedro Sanchez, Some claim captain of u, would also likely she lost her The Lancelot, to calf the scrap whic prop Democratic Mem the h was attac ellers of a ship, while others ory Law. ago, dismissed ked two weeks Sanchez chall insist she the enged Feijoo six weekly deba to caught up in fishing nets got “Having witnesseclaims. tes until the underwater rope d it, it's or so easy general elect for these beas . ions, They some cont ts sink thing to that the PP dism inue us issed as un- taught her fello she has since insisted if they want to,” he prey necessary. MALAGA’S most - fellow whales. of the most intelw orcas - some hemoths after 20 of the beendangered reservoir is to turned cial creatures ligent and so- ile ship swarmed his frag- “They could crush the boat undergo emer a heartbeat if in at wheraround again to look gency works to how to target on the planet - “If they . they wanted to,” improve wate e the wind was and attack smal added Destrema were out for reven r and quality. I thought, 'Wai vessels. l I think u. ge, t, The “But that' I woul drast s they wind "The orcas are In reference to swimming hom d have been sive. They were not aggres- orca , that's fish. Those not due to ic measure is vital doin the g are the this new e.” s!'” were ongo on Instead, trans purpose, of cour law, recently and record-low ing drought in very gently, just coming With appr he levels at Vinu government, passed by the know the origin se, we don't may have suspects the orcas nose placi oxim or the mowherever they ng their approaching, ately 20 orcas ela reservoir. been engaging ‘it is easier Feijoo claimed tivation, but defen want play in he or ed The place mad train to €800,000 proje e the decision to lowe in Spain rightto change sex’ haviour based on sive be- hunt, as yaching their young to The it, and pushing hard.” ct involves real danger, trauma, as hopes that the r the sails in the installation of a floati t rudders resem pass your univ now ‘than to he emp ble the fins of stati their primary- sises, is to the killer whalha- would lose their onary boat take system and will takeng inexams or get ersity entrance interest. eight months to insta themselves. es Yet the orca your driving cence’. lis It comes after ll. “I am very conc “They startedpersisted. The PP leade to come close the reservoir record lows saw the near futur erned about and close r also r critic sit at ised Sanchez’s decis e for these r. They start beasts and I ed to capacity - or a meag just 9.7% have a look and think we have snap elections ion to call the re 16 cubic a little hecto huge responsibi a first time Span on July 23, the lity to protect a sniff and then, suddbit of The metres of water. these iards will go to alarm enly, animals," he 'BAN vote in the midd added to he G,' that was a big one," pected to ing levels are exNewsweek. le of the sumdwindle considera explained. mer. more as the summ The solo roun bly “It’s not exac d the world The orcas targeted the er yachtsman ship's ing the reservoir thathits, turnrudder, hold elections tly normal to provides much worried that is particularly impressiv displaying with the med fortnight of thein the hottest e power as their ter intoof Malaga’s drinking waemp ia hasis they year, push almo ing ed st with so many people The main bene a swamp. sailors are nowthe aggression Within against it. ficiar minu getti said. “But weon holiday,” he ies tes, the botto ng armed include Rinc to fire at them are ready for change.” if they come the rudder shattered, creatm of Nerjaon, Velez-Malaga and under attack. . potential risks ing for the boat. Across Malaga That said, he But desp province the See No Hab ‘terrifying’ the confirmed how tion, no ite the scary situa- reservoirs sit lo Ingles, at just 31.9% incident was page 6 the time. of at harmed human has ever been their total capacity. by the pod of The “At Guadalhorce reser orcas, first, I and it STALKERS: voir is at The pod has wind comingthought it was adapt was up to humans to just 31% capacity, been terroris while Conde And so I startin really fast... the otheto the mammals, not del Guadalhor ing boats In Almeria thece sits at 25%. sail a little ed to drop the “It's theirr way round. bit and then levels are at just worl d, it's 15.1% not I he conclude ours,” , while in d. 26% and Gran Cadiz they sit at ada at 32.6%.
REMAINER HOPE
Campaigners against 90 day rule to target new Foreign Secretary for action over Schengen zone restrictions
B
RITISH homeowners in Spain are bolstering their campaign to roll back Brexit’s restrictive 90-day rule following David Cameron’s (pictured) appointment as Foreign Secretary. Campaigners are ‘hopeful’ of bringing back some form of freedom of movement after the europhile was sensationally brought back into government as part of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle this month. The 180 Days In Spain group is planning to apply pressure on the former prime minister
EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore in the hopes of securing new concessions that will allow Brits to spend more than 90 days at a time in the Schengen area. The 7,000-strong group will be bombarding Cameron’s office with emails and telephone calls, calling on him to follow in the footsteps of France, which looks set to relax visa rules for UK homeowners. The group’s leader, Andrew Hesselden, told the Olive Press: “Since Brexit, Brits in this position often come up against the 90-in-180 day problem, which means that if they’ve spent 90 days living in their own home in Spain, they find themselves unable to go to France or Germany or even Switzerland at all until their day-count resets. “For some of our members, this has reduced the amount of time they can now spend in Spain by as much as 40%. And from a tourism perspective, Brits with homes in other Schengen zone countries or who travel extensively throughout the zone, may find themselves unable to visit
Spain even for a seven-day holiday without applying for a visa. But those shortstay visas don’t seem to exist.” He added: “David Cameron seems well respected and trusted by international leaders and so this bodes well for a more constructive and positive relationship with Europe and the EU.” One Brit from the group said: “Cameron’s natural sympathies are undoubtedly on our side. It’s definitely an opportunity, and his voice would have an influence.” Another added: “I too think David Cameron could be an asset to us. People who have homes in Europe but not residents are missing out big time. “It’s against human rights to be unable to visit their properties as before.” Spain’s tourism minister Fernando Valdes, told the “i” Newspaper last year that ‘his country would like to end the rule that means non-EU travellers can only stay for 90 days within a 180 day period’. Valdes has now been replaced as Secretary of State for Tourism by Rosana Morillo. But this month, the Spanish government reported that the Secretary of State ‘held an important meeting at the Foreign Office with the Director for Consular Affairs and Crisis, Jennifer Anderson, in which they discussed issues of interest regarding the stays of British tourists in Spain’. Hesselden said: “Our members will be writing to Lord Cameron in the coming weeks to suggest he explores the possibility of using the special provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement that enable ‘errors, omissions or other deficiencies’ to be fixed. “If on 31 December 2020, British full-year residents had been told to leave France/ Spain, return to the UK and come back only once they had secured a visa, there would have been public outrage. Yet,
Experts are keen to debunk the myths and wild theories that swim among the killer whales terrorising sailboats in the Strait of Gibraltar
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D ENDANGERED: There are only around 40 Iberian orcas left
1987, after they started to wear ‘salmon hats’ on their heads. The bizarre sight was first observed in a single female orca, seen swimming with a dead salmon perched on her nose. But soon, several others in her pod adopted this behaviour, and over the following weeks the trend even spread to other pods within the same community. “It had no obvious biological significance to them,” Mark Simmonds, Director of Science at the non-profit OceanCare told the Olive Press. “So we think that this is probably mainly a form of creative play behaviour and signalling to each other” “The consensus is that they're doing this to show off to each other. “In the same way, these particular orcas have discovered how to manipulate these boats, which is interesting, and in some ways, stimulating to them.” However, just like Tamagotchis, the Harlem Shake and the Ice Bucket Challenge, it was all the rage for five to six weeks and then it suddenly died out. Rose’s greatest fear, if this fad doesn’t similarly die out, is that eventually a human might get hurt or even drown. So far, no sailors have found themselves floating in the water with the world’s apex predator - which have never been known to deliberately attack a human in the wild. But experts do not believe that this is due to an innate altruistic nature of the orca, which unlike dolphins or humpback whales are not known to help other species in danger. essentially, this is exactly what “I would happened to British part-year resnever ever, idents who also have lives and after hunobligations elsewhere.” dreds of Hesselden added that the camhours on paign group ‘also hopes Lord the water Cameron will explore the possibilwatching ity of the UK signing new bilateral and studyagreements with Spain, to mirror ing these the ones Spain has with USA, New guys, swim Zealand, Japan and 15 other nonwith them EU countries. These seem to permit additional time in Spain over and above the 90-in-180 day allowance they have for the rest of the Schengen zone. This would help all Brits, even those without homes in Spain, and wouldn’t really require the UK government to change anything at all since the UK already welcomes Spanish visitors to the UK for six months per visit’. This would appear to be along the same lines as suggestions made by Carlos Mazon and Ximo Puig when they visited Spain’s Ambassador to the UK in London, as reported by the Olive Press, back in 2021. “Restoring mutual freedom of movement between Spain and the UK would of course be nice, especially for younger people who want to work, but that seems to me, to be rather too much for anyone to hope for at the moment”, Hesselden told us. When contacted by the Olive Press, the UK’s Foreign Office refused to directly comment on the campaign. Opinion Page 6
in the wild,” Rose warned. “It’s stupid as hell - they've got big teeth. “They are smart and they sometimes decide to play with not only their food, but with other mammals. “They’ve never harmed a human but there’s not some orca law forbidding it.” What worries Rose is that boat and human interactions are losing their novelty for the wild animals, which tend to shun things they don’t know. With increased human interactions comes decreased fear - and the increased possibility that an orca might decide to ‘play’ with a human. And what measures might authorities take against the Iberian NUDGE NUDGE: Orcas target the rudder orca in return - a critically endangered species - if they view them as dangerous and threatening? In August, footage emerged of crew on a sailboat shooting at the Gladys orcas with an air rifle and even throwing firecrackers overboard. Yachties have been trialling all sorts of methods to protect their boats, from chucking sand over the side when the creatures come near, to blasting out heavy metal under water. “We think they could be vulnerable to acoustics, so people will be looking in that direction,” Simmonds theorised. “But again, if an acoustic approach is used, it's got to be something which is very carefully balanced so that it helps persuade them to go away and do something else with their time but doesn’t harm them.” If such measures fail, and eventually someone is killed, Rose fears authorities will undertake a cull of the Iberian Orca. “I'm very sympathetic to the mariners,” she said. “Who wants their yacht sunk? But God - it's just a yacht. These animals are a unique population. “Do we really want to kill a bunch of endangered animals because our yachts are sinking?”
IRECT exposure to the Olive Press’ 30,000plus registered online database is getting amazing results. Our followers get daily news emails, twice-weekly travel mailouts and a detailed health newsletter every Sunday. As well as announcing financial seminars and special surgical procedures, a number of astute restaurant groups and hotels have caught on. Musaka in San Pedro got 20 bookings from a one off deal including a free bottle of wine. Meanwhile, Malaga’s Metro group has used the Olive Press’ unique marketing tool on three separate occasions this year so far. A 50% discount for the opening fortnight of their exclusive Nomad restaurant got 96 bookings, while a 25% off brunch deal brought over 30. “We’ve been very happy with the results” explained marketing boss, Karen Wolfson. Five-star Kempinski hotel and SO/Sotogrande spa have used our database, while an exclusive room discount at DDG Retreat, near Estepona, got dozens of takers - ‘even more bookings than the Times’. Is it time your business tested our intelligent, loyal and - above all - high spending online users?
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30th November - 13th December 2023
Winters warmer Carbon culprits Spring and Autumn lengthen as winters get shorter
SPANISH winters are getting shorter due to climate change. The winter in mainland Spain used to be defined as from December 1st to February 28th. But a new study inspired by climate scientist César Rodríguez’s work looking at average temperatures over recent decades shows that the Spanish winter is shrinking. Since the 1940s, winters have lost more than a month on average with central and eastern Spain affected the most, with the southern parts of the mainland and Canary Islands not far behind. A new phenomenon has been observed whereby spring is lasting up to three weeks longer - the so called invernavera - and autumn nowadays is ex-
Solar opening TWO solar farms have been commissioned in Extremadura by Alter Enersun, which are rated at around 47GWh of electricity per year combined. This is enough to supply 13,000 households with electricity. One of the facilities is in the town of Barcarrota and required a €10 million investment, while the other, costing €8.5 million, is in Jerez de los Caballeros. This now makes five solar plants which the firm has opened in the past two years, with several more under construction.
By Walter Finch
tended up to 10 days into inverotoño. They also found that summers are lengthening by between four and 15 days depending on the area. It’s worth noting that these trends aren’t consistent or uniform; they show periods of fluctuation. But the trend is undeniable. The noticeable winter shortening became more evident from the 1980s onwards in the Peninsula, while in the Canary
Islands, this trend only emerged in the mid-1990s. These changes are shaking
up ecosystems, agriculture, and everyday life, with unpredictable consequences.
Figures have revealed Spain’s top 50 companies are responsible for 40% of the country’s emissions. The report by Oxfam Intermon also showed that 60% of the companies in question increased their emissions last year. In 2022, Spain’s top businesses released 93 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere as a direct result of their activity. This is equivalent to Belgium’s entire CO2 emissions. According to the report, if the businesses continue at their current rate, they will only achieve decarbonisation by 2090, in 67 years. In the past year, the companies reduced their total gas emissions by just 4%. Only 12% of the businesses investigated made substantial changes to combat climate change, while 53% did nothing. The companies with the highest CO2 emissions in Spain were: IAG (Internacional Airlines Group), Repsol, Naturgy, Endesa, Iberdrola, FCC, Cepsa, Acerinox, Mercadona and Dia. These businesses produced 97% of the emissions recorded by the country’s top 50 companies.
Is the world warming faster than expected ?
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
D
URING recent weeks many conversations have centred around how marvellous the weather has been in November. Is this true? Is this right? I believe this is a simple yes and no. Yes we enjoy the sun on our backs in late November but no, it can’t be good in the long run. The rate of global warming has accelerated in recent decades. It appears we have entered another phase of runaway climate change. Leading climate scientists have stated that the climate may change more quickly than expected in the future because the climate has not yet fully responded to the greenhouse gases already emitted. In other words there is ‘more in the pipeline’. Climate records have tumbled this year. Without doubt, 2023 will be the hottest year on record. This was not forecast at the beginning of the year. We have historically high sea temperatures, Antarctic sea ice at an all time low and all continents experiencing some extreme weather conditions. Most recently Brazil suffered an unbearable heatwave so bad that even Taylor Swift’s sold out concert was affected (if you don’t know who Taylor Swift is, ask someone younger – my eight year old daughter Francesca knows all the lyrics).
AN UNUSUAL EL NIÑO The rapid onset of the natural weather system known as El Niño has contributed to current higher temperatures. During an El Niño the eastern Pacific surface water temperature gets warmer. This puts additional heat into the atmosphere, which in turn leads to a surge in global air temperatures. What is cause for concern is that the new El Niño has not yet peaked and the impact is expected to intensify in the coming months. Linked to this is what is happening in the Antarctic. In September satellite images showed the sea ice that surrounds Antarctica being significantly smaller than in previous pictures. Fewer reflective areas of ice means that the Sun’s energy is absorbed by the darker ocean surface, which accelerates warming. What worries scientists is that the Antarctic is beginning to operate like the Arctic...working like a radiator more than a fridge. MOMENT OF TRUTH COP 28 is about to start (Conference of Parties - the annual climate conference attended by around 200 countries). Will it change much? Regular readers of this column know I remain unconvinced. The oil and gas industries need to choose between contributing to the climate crisis or becoming part of the solution. I think there is more than a clue as to why they will con-
Green
Matters
By Martin Tye
tinue to put profit first. Last year fossil fuel companies were responsible for less than 1% of global investment in renewable energy. The oil and gas companies will continue to skirt around the uncomfortable truth. Successful transition to clean energy production requires much reduced demand for oil and gas. So producing less equates to selling less. Selling less reduces turnover and profits. Mmmmmmm…I wonder how that will work out.
Martin Tye is the owner of Mariposa Energía, a green energy company specialising in solar panel installations. Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es or call +34 638 145 664
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SEVILLA became the first city outside the United States to host the Latin Grammy Awards earlier this month with Karol G’s 'Mañana sera bonito' crowned album of the year and best urban music album. Argentine producer Bizarrap took home the awards for song of the year and best pop song in a collaboration with Shakira which featured her taking a swipe at her former boyfriend Gerard Pique The whole night had a flamenco feel about it with Spain's Rosalia, returning to her roots to sing 'Se nos muerte el amor' by Rocío Jurado. Italian classical singer Andrea Bocelli performed the famous composition 'Granada' while 30 flamenco dancers accompanied singer Alejandro Sanz.
BULLY FOR HIM
Forbidden treats
New culture chief is antibullfighting, calling it ‘unfair, sadistic and despicable’ A POLITICIAN who is an avowed anti-bullfighter has become Spain's Minister of Culture in Pedro Sanchez's new cabinet. Ernest Urtasan, 41, is one of five people from the left-wing Sumar group that have been given ministerial portfolios. His stance on bullfighting is in contrast to the official policy of the PSOE socialists who are the majority partner in the new government coalition. As an MEP, Urtasan was the promoter in 2016 of a decla-
A DRAWING of a naked Donald Trump and a punching bag sculpture shaped like a woman's torso are just two of over 200 works subjected to censorship that have found a home at Barcelona's brand new Museum of Forbidden Art. The collection features creations from Pablo Picasso and American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe that intend to challenge visitors to think about the limits imposed on artists.
By Alex Trelinski
ration rejecting the Constitutional Court's decision to annul the ban on bullfighting in Catalunya. The motion, supported by 37 MEPs, described bullfighting as 'unfair, sadistic and despicable'. Urtasan's position is different to that of the PSOE, which together with the PP and Vox, rejected a proposal by the left-wing Podemos party against government support
OPPOSED: Urtasan tagged bullfighting ‘sadistic’ for bullfighting. The socialist Maribel Garcia said in Congress at the time that bullfighting is more than a festival, considering it a
Ancient discovery
Art
The museum, which opened its doors last month, is the brainchild of art collector Tatxo Benet, who owns all but one of the 42 works currently on display — and the 200 more in storage. Over 14,000 people have checked out the museum's offerings so far.
R YEA S
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A THIRD stone slab known as a stela has been uncovered by a team of British and Spanish researchers at the 3,000-year-old necropolis known as Las Capellanias in Cañaveral de Leon, Huelva. The site is located on a route that linked main river basins in southern Spain, suggesting that the carved stone slabs may have served as territorial markers, in addition to honouring the dead. The newly uncovered stela, found with cremated human bones, is carved with an image of a human figure with a detailed face, hands, feet, a headdress, necklace, two swords, and male genitals. It had been previously thought that a headdress and necklace on a stela would represent a female form, while weaponry would signify a male warrior. The researchers now suggest that the monuments are evidence of more fluid social roles that were not restricted by gender.
'productive sector, an example of sustainability' and a 'cultural manifestation'. Bull rancher Victorino Martin from the Todi de Lidia Foundation said: “His personal views should not interfere in the sector as a cultural asset of Spain.” “His duty now is to govern for all Spaniards and watch over all the cultural expressions of the country,” he added. Urtasan has other issues to look at including the Film Law, the Patronage Law, and the new Cultural Rights Law. His administration will also be focused on maintaining the cultural bonus and strengthening freedom of expression in the cultural sector, following a pre-investiture pact agreed between PSOE and Sumar.
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BENIDORM'S elderly residents, including British expats, can apply for financial aid to help pay for carers and assistance next year if they are classified as being on a low income. Benidorm City Council has put aside €500,000 to help fund the home care service in 2024 for the elderly or for people with specific needs who have limited financial resources. To qualify for financial assistance, applicants must have legal residence in Spain and have been on the Benidorm municipal padron for at least one year. Means testing and social worker visits will take place, and applications can be submitted during the 2024 financial year, with a deadline of September 30.
30th November - 13th December 2023
SPANISH rail network Renfe has slashed the price of a young person’s railcard from €50 to just €6. The sale applies to the ‘Mas Renfe Joven’ card and is available until December 21. It gives users 25% off travel on AVE, Larga Distancia, Avant, Media Distancia y Cercanías/Rodalies services.
By Alex Trelinski
THE European Commission says it expects Spain to be the fastest growing of the four major economies in the eurozone until 2025. Brussels' calculations predict that the Spanish economy will grow at a rate of 2.4% this year, slow down to 1.7% next year and regain some pace in 2025 - a year in which GDP would rebound by 2%. The EU's forecasts place the country above the three
The card also offers 30% off AVE International trips between Spain and France. Available for people aged between 1425, it gives users access to the Renfe loyalty scheme benefits.
HAPPY OUTLOOK
Spain to lead the way in economic growth
great powers of the bloc: Germany, France and Italy in that order. The Commission's analysts point out that none of these
CEPSA’S LOW-COST MOVE SPAIN’S second largest oil company has agreed to buy 220 automated low-cost petrol stations from Ballenoil for an undisclosed amount. It emerged in May that Cepsa was in advanced negotiations to acquire Ballenoil, with speculation that the deal could be worth between €200 million and €300 million. The oil giant will maintain the Ballenoil name, as well as its business model and current structure, which will more than double the Cepsa network to 500 stations by 2027.
Low emission Benny
RAIL SALE
Ballenoil has a presence in 12 regions including Catalunya, the Valencian Community, Andalucia, Madrid, and Murcia. Cepsa, which is controlled by Abu Dhabi state investor Mubadala and US firm Carlyle Group, intends to expand its overall network to more than 2,000 stations across Spain and Portugal. Low-cost stations have boomed over the last decade from 3,886 outlets in 2012 to 5,941 at the end of last year. The Cepsa deal to takeover Ballenoil is subject to regulatory approval.
three countries will manage to grow above 1.5% in the next two years. In fact, in the case of Germany, a small contraction of the economy is expected as early as this year. The Commission believes that household consumption will be the driving force behind the Spanish economy next year. As inflation eases - expected to fall to 3.4% in 2024 - households should regain some of the purchasing power lost during the economic crisis. In addition, it is expected that jobs will continue to be created – albeit at a slower pace than so far – which will also help to boost consump-
tion. The Commission expects the unemployment rate to close at 12.1% this year and fall to 11.1% in two years' time.
TESTS of a phone app to manage Benidorm's new Low Emissions Zone (ZBE) will start in the New Year. The city - in keeping with other municipalities with populations of 50,000 and over - has to introduce a ZBE to counter pollution in central areas. Benidorm's ZBE will cover 74 hectares in the Poniente, Levante and central district. It's not known when formal ZBE rules will start, with Benidorm council saying the 'test' phase will run until at least the summer. The phone app will start tests on January 1 and users will be able to request authorisation to enter the ZBE as well as receiving car parking and general information.
Eyesore removal WORK was scheduled to begin today (Thursday) to demolish an unfinished La Manga hotel dating back to 1974. Taking down the 12-storey Lagomar Hotel eyesore covering 22,000 m2 of prime land could take up to three months and will cost San Javier council €1 million. The council declared the Lagomar as being in a state of ruin in 2009, though technical reports at that time ruled out any risk of collapse. The building surroundings will be cordoned off and rather than using explosives to bring down the structure - due to its proximity to the Mar Menor lagoon - machines and cranes will be used to remove the floors from top to bottom.
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1 Thick slice (4) 4 Layered Italian dish (7) 9 Eyebrow darkeners (7) 10 German sea scourge (1-4) 11 Prepare for publication (4) 12 Saviour (8) 14 Permeable by liquids (6) 15 Capable of wounding (6) 19 Glove material clanks if disturbed (8) 21 Getaway spots (4) 23 Island in the Bay of Naples (5) 24 Burn unsteadily (7) 25 Good spot for a summit meeting? (7) 26 Deep black (4)
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Down 2 Taller and thinner (7) 3 Soft cheese (4) 4 One who pays the rent (6) 5 It’s at home on the range (8) 6 Brush a horse (5) 7 Go into (5) 8 Maintenance (6) 13 Bright light of day (8) 16 Thai capital (7) 17 Dr tees off - could be a very large bunker! (6) 18 Fish out of water (6) 19 Series of changes (5) 20 Pass into disuse (5) 22 Designed by Issigonis (4)
All solutions are on page 14
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Oil rush Muñoz hat-trick LOOKING FOR MORE November 29th TRAVEL STORIES? December 12th 2023 30th Scan November 13th December 2023 to visit our-website
Low-cost boost
STATE rail operator Renfe will launch its low-cost high speed Avlo service between Madrid, Alicante. Elche, Orihuela and Murcia on December 10, with lowest fares coming in at €7. The new Avlo trains will become the first such lowcost service to include Elche, Orihuela and Murcia, with 5,000 seats being offered each week. The Avlo schedule means the number of high-speed trains between Murcia and Madrid is increased to 10 trains per day, five in each direction, instead of the four daily trains that are currently run.
While two Spanish chefs scoop gold and silver MADRID'S Dabiz Muñoz has been crowned the best chef in the world for the third time in a row. Muñoz triumphed at the seventh staging of The Best Chefs Awards for his innovative cuisine and his avant-garde style of cooking. The awards were presented in the city of Merida, Yucatan - one of the richest and most diverse gastronomic regions in Mexico. Completing the winners' podium were the Catalan Albert Adria (second) from
On the moo-ve
#1
By Alex Trelinski
Barcelona's Enigma restaurant followed by Slovenian chef, Ana Ros. Muñoz, 44, is the only three-starred Michelin chef in Madrid with his two establishments DiverXO and StreetXO - with long reservation lists for his restaurant, and long waits in line for his street food outlet. "I'm extremely happy, I never expected to win three times," Muñoz said upon
CADIZ tourism bosses have latched onto a herd of sunbathing cows as they promote Costa de la Luz beaches. Once tourists have gone home from their summer holidays, a different kind of sun-worshipper takes to the sand. Every autumn, Bolonia beach welcomes hundreds of cows, who love chilling on sand during the winter season. Led by the matriarch, ‘Paquita’, the cows are a social media sensation, returning each year to the beach, about an hour and a half from the city of Cadiz. The herd has now become the latest tourist attraction on the Tarifa coastline, with local tourism departments proudly posting about their bovine buddies. The cows arrive at the end of the tourist season as a gate which normally stops them is removed.
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receiving the award. "Thank you to all the chefs who have made the history of world gastronomy. Thanks to them there is a chef like me who has grown up in one of the most incredible countries in the world for gastronomy." The awards featured a special tribute to Ferran Adria - Albert’s brother - a pioneer of innovative cuisine in Spain via his world-famous El Bulli restaurant on the Costa Brava, which closed its doors in 2011. It reopened three years later as a creativity centre to foster culinary innovation. Other Spaniards in the top 10 were Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz in the Basque Country’s Rentería, (fifth), Mateu Casañas, Oriol Cas-
tro and E d u a r d Xatruch #8 from Disfrutar in Barcelona (seventh) and Joan Roca from El Celler de Can Roca in Catalunya (eighth).
Missing
Adria said: "Chefs, you have the mission of helping the new generations to be extraordinary". He highlighted the values that must not be lost in order to aspire to culinary excellence. "Respect for the past, respect for teammates, honesty and gratitude for the people from whom we have learned," said Adria.
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AS the cost of olive oil has surged, supermarkets are resorting to chaining the bottles to the shelves. A succession of poor olive harvests caused by drought has led to sky-rocketing prices for what has been dubbed ‘liquid gold’. One-litre bottles of extra-virgin olive oil are selling for as much as €14.50 in some outlets leading to rising thefts. "We are seeing a major surge in shoplifting," said Ruben Navarro, the CEO of the Tu Super supermarket chain, which operates 30 stores in Andalucia. Since September, Tu Super has been chaining five-litre bottles of olive oil together and padlocking them to shelves to prevent theft. "It is a crazy, extreme measure, but it has worked," Navarro observed. STC, a company supplying anti-theft equipment to retailers, saw a 12-fold increase in orders during the summer from supermarkets wanting devices to protect olive oil.
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30th November - 13th December 2023
A century ago Hemingway described it as one of the best places in the world for romance. Two decades ago Olive Press editor Jon Clarke loved Ronda so much, he moved there
I
Pictures by Jon Clarke
T is easily one of Spain’s most memorable sensations; the moment the adrenaline hits as you look down from a ledge at the top of Ronda’s famous Puente Nuevo bridge. A staggering 400 foot drop into the abyss of the Tajo gorge below, it is only a series of wrought iron railings that ward off the panic. A breathtaking geographical feature, this was the location of a haunting chapter in Ernest Hemingway’s seminal novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, when a line up of soldiers are hurled into the ravine to their deaths - an event related to actual events during the Civil War. And Hem, of course, should know… the American literary legend having spent many months in the town, even tipping it as THE best place in the world for a spot of romance. “It is where you should go if you ever go to Spain on a honeymoon or if you ever bolt with anyone,” he penned in the 1932 tome Death in the Afternoon, adding: “The entire town and as far as you can see in any direction is a roman-
tic background…if a honeymoon or an elopement is not a success in Ronda, it would be as well to start for Paris and commence making your own friends.” He brought various lovers up to the mountain town, just an hour inland from Marbella, including allegedly Hollywood starlet Ava Gardner. But it was something else altogether that drew him back to the town, time and time again… and that was ‘los toros’. Bullfighting became one of the main loves of his life and it was on his first trip to Ronda as a young writer exactly a century ago in 1923, that he got his first real taste of the Spanish national pastime. It came following a ‘boring’ stopover in Sevilla, where he grew tired of constantly hearing flamenco. According to a biographer he kept nagging his travelling companions, a pair of writers, to head up to the town and when he got there he immediately fell for its historic bullring, the world’s first. Known as the cradle of bullfighting (it was here that Pedro Romero famously jumped off a horse to swipe his cape at a fighting bull) Ronda inspired him to write and he went on to meet various bullfighters, including the legendary Cayetano Ordonez, who later became a model for his most famous book, The Sun Also Rises. I was equally inspired by the town when I first visited Ronda during a two-year spell working as an English teacher in Madrid in the early 1990s after university.
Love letter
I was so blown away by its breathtaking scenery and refreshing sierra air that I later booked a two-week stay in its most famous hotel, the Reina Victoria, in an attempt to write a novel, when working as a news reporter at the Daily Mail in London in 1998. It proved to be a bridge too far however, if you’ll excuse the pun, but I truly fell in love with the place and knew I would one day come back to live there. That came to pass when my wife and I decided to move to Spain in 2003 soon after our nuptials in the spirit of adventure and to pursue my love of writing and hers of painting. We ended up buying a run-down farm, planted lots of trees and, before we knew it, we had a couple of children born in the local hospital. A few years later another baby was born, that of the Olive Press newspaper and the rest is history, as they say. What I never did was write a novel, but it inspired me to write two true crime books and, most enjoyably, a restaurant guide to Andalucia, which appropriately picked out a handful of decent eateries in Ronda and its surrounding Serrania. SPLENDOUR: Ronda’s bullring is the world’s oldest circular ring, while (left) Ordonez’ grandson Fran Rivera
It also led me to meet and star in one of buildings, such as the 14th century celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s TV pro- Mondragon Palace (in part Arabic) until grammes in nearby Gaucin, mix it up 7pm, or the nearby Santa Maria la Maywith Jamie Oliver, when he set a TV se- or church (which was once a mosque). ries in the town, and even interviewed It sits on Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli one of the most stunning squares in on the famous Tajo bridge. Spain, particularly with its classical Planning to move there at the time, renaissance-style town hall (below), Novelli described the sensation of first which was once a military barracks seeing the views from the bridge as the and the still-functioning Santa Isabel ‘cono moment’, an actual translation I Convent on the other side. will leave to your imagination. For the perfect stroll, head down into The town also blew away BBC TV pre- the Tajo, reached from either Barrio senter Nick Knowles, former Prime San Francisco or from a flight of steps Minister and now Foreign Secretary Da- down from the Mirador de Maria Auxvid Cameron and US first lady Michelle iliadora. Obama. This is the perfect way to understand Other famous literary figures who the impressive fortifications the town waxed lyrical about Ronda were James once had during numerous sieges, Joyce and German poet Rainer Maria when the town sat at the western edge Rilke, while Bill Gates came on a secret of the Kingdom of Granada. visit a couple of years The Moors had a good ago and Madonna shot understanding of this her music video, Take a and built a series of Ronda is Bow, in Ronda bullring walls and arches on both on a windy, wet Novemsides of the old town, actually ber day in 1994. making it practically imAndalucia’s Today, I can think of pregnable. As you stroll nowhere in the world I down, you’ll also start to third most would rather live. The get an understanding of town’s geography never what a feat of architecvisited place ceases to amaze, its arture the impressive New chitecture is exquisite, Bridge was. while its range of excelIt took 42 years to build lent restaurants and bars is as good as and for half a century, at 98 metres, anywhere else in Andalucia, Sevilla and it was the highest bridge in the world. Marbella included. Completed in 1793, its fortifications The local ingredients include amazingly are incredible and have stood the tests good olive oil, goats cheeses and even of time remarkably well and still has some decent pata negra ham, while normal traffic heading across in both the nearby countryside is dotted with directions. over two dozen vineyards, the majority At the bottom you’ll get the seminal picimproving by the year. ture of the bridge and its gorge with its I never tire of a stroll through the old town, admiring its cobbled streets, church spires and beautifully kept family homes (many of them almost mansions). I’ll always find a new angle to take a photo and there are a number of museums and galleries (actually 30 in the town) and, frequent exhibitions in the beautiful Antigua Claustro Santo Domingo. Is it any wonder Ronda is Andalucia’s third most visited place, with millions of day trippers every year. But what most of them don’t do is stay the night, which is really to their loss. The place is at its most charming as the sun sets and the hordes have headed back down to the coast. It is then that the ‘city of dreams’, as poet Rilke christened it, starts to earn its romantic, fairy tale status so promoted by the likes of Hemingway and later, the actor and director Orson Welles. Under subtle street lighting, the historic quarter gains a timeless edge, while you can still visit its most alluring
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building with some fabulous original Goya etchings of toreadors at work in one room. Spain’s most famous bullfight, the ‘Goyesca’, takes place here in September with the matadors and their te a m s dressing up in 18th century costume paying tribute to the original Goya works. Look out for the various statues outside, including the local Ordoñez dynasty and Pedro Romero (born 1754) who is dubbed the ‘father of the corrida’. He killed over 5,000 bulls and passed his skills down the line to the Ordonez’ family who have, so far, provided Spain with three generations of bullfighters… the youngest Cayetano, becoming a handsome Armani model. Sipping a caña or coffee in the main Plaza del Socorro, or one of the passages off it, it’s not difficult to imagine Hemingway scribbling in the shadows of a backstreet cafe. His legacy looms large all around the town and he (like Orson Welles whose ashes are scattered at a nearby farm owned by the Ordoñez family) has a small street named after him behind the Para-
dor hotel. He celebrated his final birthday in Ronda in 1960 and was fittingly, further immortalised with a statue beside the bullring in 2015. It was from here this Easter, at Semana Santa, that I came across one of the most moving scenes that cemented my own sense of belonging in the City of Dreams. It was well past midnight and, while my wife and a couple of friends stayed warm in a nearby wine bar, I ventured out to take a picture of the bridge at night. I thought the parades had long ended, but atop the bridge I found two lines of drummers made up of soldiers from Ronda’s crack local Spanish Foreign Legion brigade. They stood rigid and to attention, dressed in short sleeves despite the cold northerly breeze, staring straight ahead and tapping their drums quietly, rhythmically in perfect unison. It was hypnotic and insistent and, incredibly, I was one of just a dozen spectators on the bridge. After what was easily 15 minutes, out of a side street suddenly loomed a statue of Mary on a float, carried by two doz-
en other legionnaires. Just behind was another group carrying Jesus, (see top left) but this time on his back, lying prone. He was ferried past, legs first facing upwards to the stars above. I looked up too and, as a trumpet started to play, I felt a sense of belonging. I knew I was in Ronda for to stay.
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vertical cliff faces, from where rooks soar, often alongside vultures. From here there are various ways back up, but the best plan is to continue down and take the one-hour circular walk through the Tajo valley, crossing the Guadalevin river, and coming up the other side by the Mirador de los Pinos. This is the Carretera de los Molinos and nowhere in the world will you get a better appreciation of geography and a sense of place. The various vineyards and ancient farms - some with fortifications going back well over 1,000 years - offer the perfect snapshot of little-changed rural life in southern Spain. Heading back into Ronda you’ll walk past the famous Reina Victoria hotel, built by English engineers, as they installed the railway line up to Ronda from Algeciras. As you finally drop back into the centre you’ll most certainly have to take a stroll into the wonderful Alameda park, with its spectacular views, and then the famous bullring next door. At 243 years old, it is Spain’s oldest and a stunning classical
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14
HEALTH
Nowhere to stay
ALICANTE province has the lowest number of nursing home places in mainland Spain according to the Network Ageing Laboratory from the Higher Centre for Scientific Research(CSIC). The World Health Organisation recommends that residential places cover 5% of the population aged over 65. Spain's national average is 4.2% but based on September 2022 figures, the CSIC says the Alicante province average is just 2.3%. Only Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas, and Ceuta have lower ratios. The CSIC report says that there are 9,118 nursing home places available for the Alicante province population of 1,901,594, of which 20.5% 390,329 people - are over 65 years of age.
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30th November - 13th December 2023
Therapy concern
Scientists may have finally found out why red wine can give you a headache
RESEARCHERS may have finally found the reason why red wine gives so many people headaches. The study, carried out by the University of California, has identified a naturally occurring chemical, which could be the culprit. It's thought quercetin, a flavanol found in red wine could interfere with someone’s ability to break down alcohol, causing headaches. The chemical gives fruit
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By Yzabelle Bostyn
and veg, including grapes, their colour. Alone, quercetin is a powerful antioxidant and is sold in supplements at health food shops. However, the study published in Scientific Reports journal, has revealed that when combined with alcohol, quercetin can cause problems including nausea, headaches and flushes.
According to Andrew Waterhouse, wine chemist: “When quercetin gets in your bloodstream, your body converts it to a different form called quercetin glucuronide.” “In that form, it blocks the metabolism of alcohol”, continued the professor emeritus with the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. If alcohol is not processed, it can lead to a buildup of acetaldehyde, a well known ‘toxin, irritant and inflammatory substance’.
This can provoke headaches and some people are particularly susceptible according to the report. Study co-author Morris Levin added: “We postulate that when susceptible people consume wine with even modest amounts of quercetin, they develop headaches, particularly if they have a pre-existing migraine or another primary headache condition.” Now, the researchers hope to test their theory on human subjects in a small clinical trial.
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Quick Crossword Across: 1 Slab, 4 Lasagne, 9 Pencils, 10 U-boat, 11 Edit, 12 Redeemer, 14 Porous, 15 Barbed, 19 Calfskin, 21 Inns, 23 Capri, 24 Flicker, 25 Everest, 26 Inky. Down: 2 Lankier, 3 Brie, 4 Lessee, 5 Saucepan, 6 Groom, 7 Enter, 8 Upkeep, 13 Sunshine, 16 Bangkok, 17 Desert, 18 Misfit, 19 Cycle, 20 Lapse, 22 Mini.
A LIDL ice cream has been taken off the shelves after being found to contain metal fragments. The Spanish Food Safety Agency (AESAN) issued an alert after German authorities identified metal shards in the frozen dairy product. The ice cream in question is ‘Bon Gelati Bourbon Vanilla Flavour’, produced by Lidl in Germany. Customers who bought the 2500ml tubs from lots L3 275 A01 (expiry date: 21.09.2025) and L3 276 A01 (expiry date: 22.09.2025) should not consume the product. Lidl has confirmed the ice cream has been removed from all locations and is offering a full refund to anyone affected.
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A PATIENTS group has demanded a meeting with health bosses after it alleged that speech therapy services had been withdrawn in parts of Alicante province. The AERBECO association (Association for Rare Diseases in the Benidorm area) claims that a company overseeing the treatments had not been paid by the Valencian Health Ministry 'for months' and ended its services on November 17. In a statement, AERBECO said the withdrawal 'affects the Marina Baixa, the Marina Alta and other coastal areas' and means that 'patients are going without needed treatment'.
Talks
The association has asked for urgent talks with the Health Ministry and the head of the Marina Baixa Health Department, adding that outside companies should not be offering such a service. It explained that 'most rare diseases need speech therapists to improve speech, improve facial paralysis, dysphonia, etc'. “It's a rehabilitation for our quality of life and patients are without this treatment." the group said. There has been no comment so far from the Valencian Health Ministry.
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A BIZARRE viral video captured in Valencia shows a woman walking a man like a dog as he humps a lamppost and lifts his leg as if to urinate on it.
Cashing in A GROUP of Spaniards holidaying in Venice, Italy, were left stunned after being served with a €70 bill for three beers, a coke and some snacks in the emblematic Saint Mark’s Square.
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30th November - 13th December 2023 A LAMB that fell into a 15 metre deep well and was trapped for two days has been doubly lucky. First of all firefighters from Inca (Mallorca) swung into action to haul the creature out. And now the lamb’s owner has decided that it will not be slaughtered for a traditional Spanish Christmas dinner. The farmer says the wooly cutie will live to a ripe old age romping in fields as ‘it has proven to be an incredible fighter’.
Wheel of misfortune Police officer splurged €9,000 of seized cash on roulette table A POLICEMAN who gambled away thousands of euros of seized narco cash has avoided being kicked off the force. The Guardia Civil officer took €9,000 from a drugs raid before going on a marathon session at an Alicante casino. However the agent had an
By Alex Trelinski
unlucky day and lost all the money on the roulette table. The cash had been seized during an anti-drug operation in Murcia. During a search in the ear-
Bone clue RESEARCHERS in Badajoz have uncovered evidence of mass animal sacrifice rituals from around 2,500 years ago, recovering 6,700 bones from dogs, horses, cattle and pigs.
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ly hours, the officer found 12 bags of marijuana and €9,000 in small bills. The evidence remained in his custody and he was due to deliver it to a judge later that day. Instead he headed to a gambling hall with the money-
A LONG-LOST moggy is to make a 6,000 kilometre journey to Spain after she was found 10 years after going missing. American couple Richard and Maria Price had given up on ever being reunited with their beloved Mimi years ago after she went missing in New York. They had since moved to Valencia when they received a long-distance call from their home city. An animal sanctuary had picked up Mimi, and as she was microchipped they were able to trace the Prices.
where he spent more than eight hours attempting to ‘enrich’ himself on the roulette table but lost it all. Immediately after the session, he handed over the confiscated drugs to his colleagues but was arrested on suspicion of embezzling public funds. Prosecutors were seeking one year and 11 months in jail but both parties agreed to a deal of five months behind bars and a 10-month ban from the force. It means he can re-join the police once his suspension is over. The courts took into consideration that he had returned the money before sentencing and that he had suffered ‘a loss of control due to his gambling addiction’.
Cash grab YOU could nip along to your local hypermarket and pick up a towel for €20. Or you could splash out €700 for a towel skirt. Balenciaga has just revealed its latest creation: a dark grey terry towel worn as a unisex skirt. What apparently sets this garment apart from any other grey bath towel is the Balenciaga logo embroidered on the front of the skirt and the fact that it can only be dry cleaned.