Olive Press Costa Blanca South and Murcia Issue 118
Black flags awarded
THE Ecologists in Action group has dished out six flags to the Valencian Community in its annual 'Black Flag' awards.
The unwanted plaudits go to coastal areas suffering pollution caused by wastewater discharges and environmental mismanagement.
Group spokesperson, Cristobal Lopez, said that many ‘serious problems’ are caused by mass tourism and pollution generated by companies.
Two flags each have been given to the Valencia region's three provinces.
In Valencia, there is an award for pollution caused in the coastal area of the Natura 2000 Network.
The group also slams the mismanagement of 'wrong coastal solutions', with the massive filling of sand in the Albufera Natural Park.
Ecologists in Action says that 'the policy of managing the setbacks of the beaches on the Valencia province is totally ineffective and unsustainable.'
“It devours the natural resources of other coastal and marine spaces, wastes public money that comes out of the pockets of citizens and is carried out with a short-term vision that will never solve the problem, but it will perpetuate it over time, since it does not act on the main causes that originate it," it commented.
Sewage
In Alicante province, it refers to pollution by the Barranco and Amerador beach, El Campello areas that have been affected twice by fecal discharges in March and April.
The problem has come from a pumping station that is located in the bed of the ravine to the beach.
A black flag has also been given to the 'poor management' of the Bay of Alicante, which includes four beaches at Cap l'horta, Albufera, Postiguet and Saint Gabriel.
In Castellon province, the flags are awarded to the coastal section of the Grao-Camino Serratella in Borriana, due to pollution.
The environmentalists say it is a coastal section with 'recurrent sewage leaks due to the collapse of the evacuation network when it rains’.
See Black flagged, page 12
AN eccentric expat millionaire is offering a €100,000 reward to anyone who can help him recover a legendary guitar that vanished during an acrimonious divorce.
The 1966 Fender Precision Bass became part of the annals of rock’n’roll fame when the frontman of 70s glam-rock band, T-Rex,
A GIANT white milky-coloured blob first spotted on the Mar Menor lagoon two years ago has been caused by calcium carbonate.
Researchers believe it was formed by excessive pH levels caused by illegal discharges from Campo de Cartagena farmers.
The ‘whiting’ measures around 15 square kilometres and can only be spotted from above, and occupies around 10% of the lagoon’s water mass.
Scientists from the Spanish National Re-
BLOB FROM THE DEEP LAGOON
search Council have been investigating after it first sighted in June 2022 next to the Rambla del Albujon between Los Alcazares and the Carmoli marina.
The size barely changes, but if there's a lot of rain or strong winds, then it slightly changes its contour and is diluted a little, before regaining its shape.
The concept of ‘whiting’ is not unique to the Mar Menor and has been found in lakes around the world, but it normally lasts for just weeks or months.
By Walter Finch
acquired it for their band. Singer Marc Bolan bought it for bassist Steve Currie from the famous Denmark Street guitar shop in London, in 1969. It went on to blast out some of the most iconic riffs of the era, from Ride a White Swan and Children of the Revolution all the way up to I Love to Boogie - one year before Bolan’s untimely death in a car crash in 1977. He was just two weeks shy of his 30th birthday.
Now the iconic slab of rock-star memorabilia, valued at up to €250,000, finds itself at the heart of a whistlestop marriage that ended almost as soon as it began. Its last known location is thought to be a storage warehouse in Spain.
The guitar disappeared from the secret storeroom of music industry impresario Jeremy Hartnell, 61, who made his fortune running scrap yards in the 1980s.
He claims his estranged - and much younger - wife removed the tracking device he had planted
on it and took it from his Estepona villa in 2021.
The only clue to its whereabouts is a bank statement that shows a payment to a storage warehouse in
nearby Marbella on April 27, 2021.
The rare guitar - of which only 25 were made - came into his possession in 2008 when he managed to buy it from the late T-Rex percussionist Mickey Finn.
It was his most treasured possession, he told the Olive Press , aside from his red 1965 Ford Thunderbird that once belonged to rock icon Prince.
“It’s the most incredible instrument with so much history,” explained Jeremy, who also owns a Bentley and an Aston Martin. “I’m desperate to get it back.”
He also claimed it’s not the only item taken by his ex-wife, with a €15,000 Rolex and a diamond ring valued at €3,500 still missing. His efforts to recover the guitar have been hampered by the fact that police and even his own insurance company consider it a ‘domestic issue’.
Meanwhile, his former Canadian bride wrote to him insisting ‘a wife cannot steal from her husband’.
ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY
Expat puts up giant €100,000 reward to find missing guitar once played by T-Rex legend Marc Bolan
- although she’s gonna tell you she met me on a site called ‘Vegan Dating’.”
The couple got married in the Caymans the same year and afterwards jetted across the Atlantic to move into Jeremy’s sprawling villa near Estepona.
But the red flags were fluttering brightly from the get-go, he insisted.
“I paid for this great big wedding, but out of 86 guests she didn’t have a single friend,” he commented. Then I realised - this girl can’t actually maintain a friendship.”
However, she told a divorce court in the Cayman Islands this month that she ‘did not have the guitar’, leaving its current whereabouts a mystery.
Jeremy was 52-years-old when he first laid eyes on the then 31-yearold in England in 2016.
“The first day I met her I went straight to the jeweller and got an engagement ring,” he told the Olive Press
The marriage started to get ‘really weird’ inside just a few months, according to Jeremy, after his bride filled their matrimonial bedroom with ‘wild cottontail bunny rabbits.’
Unable to stand the mess and smell, Jeremy moved into the spare bedroom. They soon spiralled into an acrimonious separation. And then things started to go really south.
“I mean, she was a cool girl. I thought she was very beautiful - especially in comparison to me.
“I met her on a website called Millionaire Match
HEARTBROKEN: Hartnell is desperate to get his guitar back
Prenup
Torturous divorce proceedings were initiated in 2019 - still ongoing - while Brexit concerns prompted Jeremy to return to live in the Cayman Islands. Crucially, for the millionaire founder of Cockney Records, Jeremy was canny enough to insist upon ‘a prenup’ before he tied the knot. It means she has no legal entitlement to any of his possessions prior to their wedding - up to and including Bolan’s guitar.
But it has not helped him recover the guitar thus far, prompting the announcement of the €100,000 reward.
If you can help please email newsdesk@theolivepress.es
FENDER: T. Rex bassist Steve Curry playing the missing guitar back in 1974
Windmill felled
TWO landowners have been arrested for knocking down a ‘protected’ windmill in Torre Pacheco last March and face charges of crimes against historical heritage.
Hot pursuit
A POLICE car was struck during a high speed chase on Mar Menor roads, with two San Javier officers requiring medical attention after the machete-wielding driver was arrested.
Short circuit
A GUARDAMAR home was totally gutted and two other properties severely damaged after a short-circuit in a fridge caused a fire last Friday on Calle San Francisco.
Club holdup
SAN JAVIER'S Macao nightclub was robbed on Sunday morning by a gang of hooded men with sawnoff shotguns grabbing €80k of takings after a fullhouse appearance by popular singer Omar Montes.
MURDER CASE DEATH
A TEENAGER has died in a motorway car crash just a day before his trial over the May 2022 killing of an 80-year-old British woman at her Elche villa. The accident happened on the AP-7 at Campoamor on the Orihuela Costa. The 18-year-old’s Mercedes convertible was discovered overturned off the road in an area of palm trees.
He had been arrested with his mother for the fatal attack on British national over two years ago. Reports from May 2002 said the teen’s mother, 48, who has her own trial set for after the summer, knew the victim. The mother and son gained access to the villa and made a surprise attack on the 80-year-old Brit.
Serial killer
A SERIAL killer who murdered four people including a British and a German man is the chief suspect in the killing of a Spanish woman. The body of 42-year-old Ester Estepa - missing since last August - has been discovered in Gandia, with Jose Jurado Montilla being probed over her murder.
Estepa was hidden under thick reeds in a cave with clothes and documentation
Body could be latest victim of serial killer jailed in 1987 for 4 murders
By Alex Trelinski
found on her remains. It's been revealed that her skull was found on a verge between the N-332 and the Gandia beach road by hikers
Naked error
A DRUNK and nude man was exposed to embarrassment after trying to get into a Pilar de la Horadada house that he thought was his. Neighbours called the police after he tore down some blinds to a patio window after nobody answered the front door. He was detained and has agreed to pay the owners - who were out at the time - for the blinds to be fixed. Why he was naked and where he appeared from has not been disclosed by the Policia Local.
The initial attack was carried out with a knife, and then the victim was shot three times, with initial reports suggesting it was the mother. The motive for the killing has not been disclosed.
in February.
DNA analysis on the skull confirmed that it is the remains of Estepa, with a judge authorising the Policia Nacional to start an extensive search for the rest of her body, which was recently found.
Estepa - from Sevilla - had a photo taken alongside Jurado (above) two days before she vanished.
Jurado Montilla, or Dinamita Montilla, as he calls himself on TikTok, was sentenced to 123 years behind bars after being convicted of four murders in Malaga province between 1985 and 1987. Victims included the British and German tourists who were shot dead while camp-
ing in El Chorro.
Despite his lengthy sentence, 30 years was the maximum time he could spend in prison for murder and he was let out two years early in December 2013.
He is currently in custody after being arrested in May over the killing of a 21-yearold student in the Malaga area, who was shot in the head in August 2022. It's been reported that Montilla, 62, sent text messages pretending to be Estepa using her mobile phone, which has not been found.
The pretense included telling her mother she was going to Barcelona to catch a flight and was going to live in Argentina with some friends.
POLICE have arrested an Alicante man, 74, for allegedly running a criminal network that pocketed around €1 million by producing bogus work contracts in exchange for large sums of money from foreign clients.
The Policia Nacional says that 110 arrests have been made after a two-year investigation, with the detainees coming from Algeria, Morocco, Spain, Colombia, Ecuador, Bangladesh and Poland.
The alleged leader of the group is accused of acting in collusion with the administrators of several companies and sold job contracts for between €2,500 and €3,500, to be used in getting residency documents.
Jobs, but no jobs Headless corpse
A JOGGER in Fontcalent made the gruesome discovery of a headless and limbless body that had been set on fire.
The bizarre find was made in the La Serreta area of the Alicante town.
A suitcase containing clothes was discovered at the scene but no sign of the person’s head or limbs which were eventually discovered five days later. DNA will be used to try to make an identification including whether it was a male or female.
ROYAL DECADE
KING Felipe VI has celebrated the 10th anniversary of becoming Spain’s head of state. He appeared on the balcony of the Plaza de la Armeria alongside Queen Letizia and their daughters Leonor and Sofia to greet a crowd of around 2,000 people.
The monarch then presided over lunch at
the Royal Palace whose guests included 19 citizens representing the country’s regions and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
All of them had been previously awarded the Order of Civil Merit for their contribution to society.
The king took the reins 17 days after his father, Juan Carlos I, abdicated over a wave of scandals.
SEEING RED
Find out why 130,000 litres of wine glug down the drain in Haro’s annual Batalla del vino
IT may be fun but it seems to be such a waste - 130,000 litres of wine will be literally poured away.
A crowd of 5,000 people will douse each other with tinto in Haro, a small town in the Rioja region.
It is a celebrated centre of production of Spanish wine but its biggest celebration, the Haro Wine Festivalwhich is slated for June 29 - dumps as much Rioja as it consumes.
Locals and tourists will continue a centuries old tradi-
By Dilip Kuner
tion to honour Saint Peter and Paul's day, armed with cups, bottles, jugs, boots and water guns. The festival earned the highest honour by the Spanish government and was declared a 'Festival of National and Touristic Interest,' in 2011.
HE’S BACK
The
Reputedly, the annual wine fight began in a 13th century dispute over town lines between Haro
THE current and former kings of clay will unite this summer to represent Spain in the men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics.
Carlos Alcaraz, 21, will team up with 38-yearold veteran Rafael Nadal to compete as a highly-anticipated dream pairing at Roland Garros, a court where the duo have won a combined 15 French Open titles following Alcaraz’s stunning triumph.
Spain’s national team coach, David Ferrer, said: “One pair, which I think everyone knows and was hoping for, is Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal. Rafa and Carlos will be playing together in Paris”.
and the neighbouring village of Miranda del Ebro.
This ultimate fiesta is messy and it is a must-do.
DREAM PAIR
As tradition goes, the wine warriors will trickle in at 7am dressed in red and white.
Beatle will perform on December 9 and December 10 at the WiZink Centre as part of his globe-spanning ‘Got Back Tour 2024’. Anticipation was stoked by both the promoter and the venue teasing fans on social media with a poster that featured Mc-
Cartney phoning Madrid, hinting at the upcoming shows. The pair of shows will mark eight years since McCartney’s last concert in Spain, when he lit up the Estadio Vicente Calderón Stadium in Madrid. The 82-year-old will kick off the tour in Uruguay on October 1, and land in Spain via Argentina, Chile, Peru and France, before returning to his native UK for four more gigs.
The Haro mayor will lead the procession on horseback, wending their way seven kilometres into the cliffs of Bilibio to the Hermitage of San Fe-
horseback, lices.
After a flag ceremony and a short mass at the historic chapel, the fighting commences.
Warriors
When the wine warriors are stained purple and soaked with the last of the drink, they descend into town, where they don’t have to be asked twice to begin dancing and slurring songs.
A bullfight takes place in the afternoon, then more partying.
A children’s version of the Batalla del Vino takes place on June 27, with grape juice.
Just grand
CYCLING’S most prestigious race will start in Spain for the first time.
The 2026 edition of the Tour de France will begin on the streets of Barcelona.
Catalunya will play host to the Tour’s first three stages from July 4 to July 6 as the world’s best cyclists vie to claim the famous yellow jersey.
Barcelona has hosted a Tour stage before, with the most recent one coming in 2009, but it is the first time the city has hosted the opening stage, known as the Grand Depart.
PAUL McCartney is set to return to Spain to play two concerts in Madrid next December.
legendary
vil-
PLONKERS: Better to drink than throw!
Royal approval
CANCER charity fundrais-
er Maria Wilson has been awarded the British Empire Medal in this month’s King’s Birthday Honours list
Maria is president of the Orihuela Costa branch of the Alicante AACC group and in 2010 formed Maria and the Pink Ladies to raise money for the fight against cancer.
Regular Pink Ladies events have included the annual Walk for Life in Playa Flamenca.
She was inspired by her own battle against breast cancer with over €550,000 raised over the past 14 years.
Maria (pictured) said: “The award came as a complete surprise and I’m overwhelmed and honoured to receive it.
“One thing I can assure you all, I will continue the fight against cancer,” she promised, as well as praising all the volunteers for their contribution in a team effort.
NO INVITATION, NO ENTRY!
BRITISH tourists are warning fellow travellers of alarming new checks at the Spanish border.
The Olive Press has learnt of two recent cases where visitors were refused entry for failing to show a so-called 'letter of invitation'.
The document is for holidaymakers staying at a property belonging to family or friends. It must be arranged by the host at a police station via a form and with a fee of up to €80.
Once the document is stamped, the guests must carry it with
A FIRE has destroyed around 10 hectares of pine forest on the Orihuela Costa.
It was feared that some properties between Las Ramblas and Campoamor might have to be evacuated as flames got as close as 150 metres- whipped up by strong winds.
Brits turned back from border for not having a ‘letter of invitation’
By Laurence Dollimore
them to show at the border.
While unlikely the Guardia Civil will actually ask for the letter, it has happened to at least two families over the past month, we can reveal.
Villa owner Peter Griffiths warned that his friends had
been refused entry to Spain from Gibraltar, until he got them an official booking on Airbnb.
“We came into Spain via Gibraltar and they were checking documents for proof of ownership, and return flight,” he said.
“Our friends with us were refused entry initially as they
FOREST BLAZE
The fire started at around 5.30pm close to the Tajo-Segura transfer canal, an area popular with walkers and bicycle riders. Black smoke billowed out and could be seen over a wide area.
The fire was brought under control
seven hours later as 40 forest firefighters along with police and civil protection officers worked through the night. Two helicopters and a seaplane were also deployed in the operation.
didn't have the official letter of invitation. But we got them in by booking a stay on Airbnb in one of our casitas." He added others had also been refused entry and that it was a ‘really painful process’.
Meanwhile, in Mallorca, one British couple claimed they were refused
entry for failing to show the letter to their OWN property.
The pair had been enjoying a cruise that ended in Barcelona.
However, as they own a property in Mallorca, they requested to disembark early to 'enjoy a couple of weeks at our home.'
They explained: “We submitted our passports as requested three days prior to arriving in Palma. But on the day we were due to leave the ship we were told we could not disembark.
“We were told we needed a letter of invitation, a booked return flight and proof of funds.
“We explained we would stay in our home but that was not accepted. We explained we did not have a return date as planned and were still refused.”
She added they had to go to Barcelona, get their passports stamped and get very expensive flights back to Palma.
“In a nutshell we were refused entry to Mallorca.”
Opinion Page 6
End of an era
THE Costa Blanca News is printing its final edition this week after being forced to close by its parent company.
The paid-for English newspaper has been keeping British expats informed since 1971, with copies distributed from Gandia to Mazarron and inland areas. But in a statement seen by the Olive Press, its umbrella company Rotativos del Mediterraneo SL said it was forced to close the paper after 53 years due to ‘Covid, Brexit and rising production costs’.
The Weekly Post, another English paper owned by the group, will also cease printing. The statement also cited the near retirement of head honcho and German businessman Hans Schneegluth.
The firm said it will only be keeping its German publications alive, consisting of two print newspapers - the Costa Blanca Nachrichten and Costa Blanca Zeitung - and the Nachrichten website.
More cops
EXTRA Guardia Civil and Policia Nacional officers will be patrolling Valencian Community tourist areas from Monday through to August 31. With populations of coastal areas swelled by up to four times by visitors, an additional 400 Policia Nacional officers will be deployed, plus 318 more Guardia officers.
A
OPINION
the
What a farce!
THE so-called ‘letter of invitation’ that British tourists ‘must’ show if staying with family and friends in Spain is nothing short of a farce ( No invitation, no entry! page 4).
According to Spanish law, any third national - which since Brexit, includes Brits - must be ready to show proof of accommodation when crossing the Spanish border.
If you are staying with friends or family, the host must provide you with a ‘carta de invitacion’, or letter of invitation - which in typical Spanish form, is a bureaucratic nightmare to arrange.
The host must go to their nearest police station in Spain with documents proving they are the owner of their home and apply for said letter.
This involves filling out god knows how many forms and - of course - paying a fee of around €80.
The rule is a classic case of ‘jobs for the boys’ and smacks of a plot to bring in some extra cash for local town halls.
Let’s be honest, the British own more property in Spain than any other foreigner and have propped up the housing market for decades.
Now, literally tens of thousands of British homeowners have to get permission to let their closest loved ones stay with themwhat a kick in the teeth!
Of course, it is VERY unlikely that you will be asked to show the letter of invitation, but the fact that it IS happening to some people is unlikely to put any visitor at ease.
Now hundreds of thousands of Brits are being lumped with this extra worry when travelling to visit family members.
And what about British homeowners who are letting relatives use their Spanish villa while they are out of the country? They literally cannot visit their local police station to apply for the letter.
The whole process is the kind of pathetic red tape overreach that made many people vote for Brexit in the first place!
PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es
Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es
Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es
Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es
IBIZA is known as the priciest party island in Spain and is a magnet for A-list celebs.
So when I arrived at the resort of San Antonio last weekend, I was rather surprised at what I saw.
I had rather hoped for a few days of elevated dining, sophisticated cocktail bars and the ever-elusive ‘higher quality tourists’ - a phrase used by Spanish industry leaders which can roughly be translated to ‘less British trash.’
But what I actually encountered were mediocre (at best) restaurants, multiple KFCs and Burger Kings and a string of Irish pubs and bars that wouldn’t look out of place in down market Magaluf.
In fact you’re better off heading there instead because you’ll get practically the same experience for half the price.
The landscape of Ibiza itself, of course, is beautiful, with stone-free beaches, white sand and crystal clear waters.
Unfortunately, the resort of San Antonio has been turned into a tourist’s theme park, with boozing and latenight partying the priority.
The streets at night are filled with staggering Brits and mafia-linked hawkers selling laughing gas in balloons.
This is, of course, the site of Wayne Lineker’s infamous O Beach , which brings in A-list punters like Jack Gre-
Ibiza? What a downer…
The party resort of San Antonio is not what it’s cracked up to be, discovers Laurence Dollimore
alish, Ed Sheeran and Jason Derulo. Unfortunately I didn’t see any such big names, having to settle for ex- Eastenders ‘star’ Dean Gaffney instead. Although I did bump into Lineker himself as he made his way from O Beach to one of the two nearby KFCsfl anked by three beautiful young women, of course.
thing ‘kingly’ about this man is that all the locals of San Antonio hate his loud castle!’
Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es
Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es
Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es
Santaella
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After snapping a selfi e I asked his Viking-looking security guard if I could have a quick chat but was, unsurprisingly, refused.
Wayne had just been punched to the ground two nights before while making his way to the nearby Eden nightclub.
The video went viral and made headlines in the UK and Spain - although it didn’t win him much sympathy locally.
In an Ibiza activist Facebook group, locals responded to a post about Wayne which described him as the ‘King of Ibiza’ with fury.
Stefano Bertagnon wrote: ‘The only
Another, Martina Greef, accused Wayne of ‘destroying the island’, while one wrote: ‘What is clear is that if this man and his businesses went elsewhere, the lives of the Ibiza people would be the same or better than under the reign of this buffoon.’ Wayne spends the whole summer season in Ibiza, between April and October, but does not stay in the heart of San Antonio - opting instead for the luxury 7Pines Resort about a 20-minute drive west.
I visited the resort myself and it is stunning. Sitting on a cliff edge, it offers incredible sea and mountain views and the service is world class. It is an example of the quality and class that can be found all over the island if you go to the right places. Either way, when I do go back to Ibiza, I know where I WON’T be visiting.
KING WAYNE: Roaming San Antonio, while (right) impressive 0 Beach
BRITISH FAVOURITE: Lineker’s bar, while (right), laughing gas sellers
CHINESE cars will soon be rolling off the Barcelona production line of Ebro EV-Motors after they struck a deal with manufacturer Chery Automobile. Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, presided over an official signing ceremony at the Zona Franca plant with Chery's Omoda brand being produced there in the next few months.
Chery is China's biggest car exporter with its Omoda 5 model being available in both petrol and electric versions.
The deal makes it the first Chinese volume car manufacturer in Europe and it will set up dealerships across the continent.
1 2 5 3 4 9 10
SEVer popular
AS sales of electric vehicles continue to rise in Spain, there is a wide selection available.
The Zona Franca plant was used by Nissan until their operation closed in 2021 and former employees will be hired as part of the new workforce.
PAIN has pledged to make the entire country carbon neutral by 2050, and for this to happen cars are going to have to get greener.
Its automotive plan focuses on the environmentally friendly electric and hybrid car industry and aims to make the technology cheaper, and easier to use and access across the country.
Special incentives have been rolled out over the coming years to encourage the ownership of environmentally friendly vehicles, both private and commercial.
The Spanish government's €800 million fund for electric car subsidies ended in December 2023, but a new program, Moves III, has been launched.
Tesla still tops the charts but cheaper options from Dacia and Kia are also in the top 10 list. Meanwhile, the Spanish-made Hispano Suiza Carmen supercar (top) is available for a cool €2 million.
By Dilip Kuner
ELECTRIC
check with your local authorities for specific details and application processes. Private buyers can claim up to
€7,000, with companies buying fleets to use as taxis eligible for more. Vans can attract subsidies of up to €9,000.
Introduced in June 2023, a new tax incentive allows a 15% deduction on the purchase price of electric vehicles
and charging equipment, capped at €3,000 for the car and €600 for the charger.
These incentives follow a government pledge to promote battery production in Spain and push the manufacture of electric vehicles in the country.
Volkswagen Group’s SEAT subsidiary plans to team up with power company Iberdrola to build Spain’s first battery factory for EVs
Volkswagen has previously announced its intention to build six EV battery plants across Europe, with three earmarked for the Spain/Portugal/southern France area.
In total, the government is granting €3.75 billion towards making electric and hybrid cars cheaper than petrol and diesel to buy by 2027.
HAPPY: Pedro Sanchez breaking the news
Motorists beware
SPAIN'S Traffic Authority, the DGT, has warned motorists that fake text messages are being sent out to trick them into paying fines. The bogus texts are demanding the payment of made-up penalties for offences that never happened.
The technique, known as ‘phishing’ tries to get unsuspecting victims to pass on their bank details or other private information.
The DGT has published screenshots of the fraudulent SMS texts alerting users that have ‘24 hours to pay their fine’.
They also include a link that the phone holder has to click on to pay the penalty and within it they fill in private details which are then hacked by cybercriminals.
The DGT said via social media: "All false, as they only want to capture the victim's bank details.”
“Remember that the DGT only sends notifications of penalties via the post or electronic addresses."
OBSTACLE COURSE
Jo Chipchase explains how it is more a case of ‘drive to survive’ than ‘driving over lemons’ here in southern Spain
YOU know the look: The tourist as he gets off the plane at Malaga or Alicante airport wearing an expression of fear and loathing when faced with his or her newfound motoring challenge. And yes, driving in Andalucia is not for the faint-hearted.
Newcomers who are accustomed to the relative civility of British, or say Scandinavian, roads suddenly find chaotic roundabouts where nobody gives way, blind bends where other vehicles hurtle towards you at speed, and pedestrians armed with shopping bags diving in front of your car. Meanwhile in the rural inland areas, you find rough dirt tracks that spiral up mountains with sheer drops to the side, donkeys and mountain bikers frequently blocking at least half the road and ‘motos’ hurtle around madly, throwing caution (and maybe even beer bottles) to the wind.
or city, such as Granada or Malaga, brings its own hazards.
‘Lane discipline’ is a pipe dream where busy junctions are concerned. Just like the Sunday roast, you can easily be carved up or mashed, as well as shaken and stirred.
Then there’s the problem of other road users, some of whom clearly don’t have the skills to hold a ‘permiso de conducir’ (driving license).
How some motorists ever manage to reach their destination is an important question. Says Granada-based car reseller, Bernard Drivefast: “First challenge: staying on the road alive.” Quite. So, let’s look at the various motoring challenges in more detail, with some help from various local social media forums.
Boy racers and blind bends
health and safety or, indeed, his own lifespan – he just wants to eliminate as many nanoseconds from his journey as possible. Putting the pedal to the metal, these drivers race round mountain passes, using your side of the road to cut the corner and frequently nearly colliding head-on. Sometimes, they do collide and the ‘grua’ can be seen removing the tangled cars from the road.
Talking of blind bends have you ever met an ALSA bus or articulated lorry swinging out towards your car on one?
In this region, it is a case of every man (or mule) for him- self. Meanwhile, a journey
to a larg- er town
Here in the heart of macho-land, we have the cult of the boy racer. He care about
SUMMER FINE SADNESS
DRIVING with flip-flops, barefoot or without a t-shirt behind the steering wheel could land drivers with fines, warns Spain’s Department of Traffic (DGT).
According to the DGT, during the summer season, safety at the wheel is relaxed and clothing or footwear not suitable for driving are often used, putting drivers at risk of breaking the law and consequently slapped with a hefty fine.
Motoring experts say that driving with flipflops or without a t-shirt is not expressly forbidden, but whether we are fined depends on how the regulations are interpreted.
THESE ARE THE MOST TYPICAL SUMMER FINES:
€ Driving barefoot, or wearing flipflops: €200. According to DGT, driving without appropriate clothing or footwear can hinder the driver’s capacity to control the vehicle.
€ Driving without a shirt: €100. Article 3 of the General Traffic Regulations stipulates that: “one must drive with the necessary diligence and caution to avoid any harm to oneself or others, taking care not to endanger the driver, the other occupants of the vehicle or other road users”. Based on this rule, driving
shirtless is grounds for a fine since, in the event of an accident, the activation of the seat belts could cause serious injuries to the driver.
€ Driving with one hand or arm outside of the vehicle: €100. Although it is forbidden to put your hand out of the window, it is not forbidden to have your arm resting on the window. Article 18 of the General Traffic Law states that the driver and passengers must maintain a sensible position inside the vehicle.
€ Drive with a hat / cap that covers the ears: €100.
€ Eating ice cream while driving: €100€200 and two points off your license.
€ Copilot with feet on the dashboard: €100.
€ Throw a cigarette out the window: €200 and four points off your license.
THE DGT RECENTLY TWEETED A REMINDER:
The question of the summer is back. To drive or not to drive in flip-flops? There are no specific rules about it, but if it is seen to affect safety (e.g. pedal operation) it may be punishable. Advice: Use common sense and wear comfortable and safe footwear.
Too fast, too slow
As well as people going too fast, some are driving too slow. The slow sloths can pose a problem on mountain tracks, where they pootle along in an old car with a trailer attached - often with hunting dogs in it - trapping
Bikers beware
BRITISH bikers arriving in Spain are about to be given a lesson in how to drive on Spanish roads.
A whopping 20,000 motorcyclists are expected to arrive by ferry from the UK in the port of Cantabria this year - up 10% from 2023. And authorities in Santander are taking steps to ensure their safety on the region's scenic but sometimes challenging roads.
The biker clubs will be handed glossy brochures detailing Spanish traffic regulations - including speed limits, drink and drug driving laws, helmet use, and safe riding practices.
you behind and not pulling into any passing places. If you have a plane to catch, it’s high time for a selection of rude gesticulations and your horn. Slow drivers can also be encountered on town roads. After a few breakfast-time ‘sol y sombras’ in their favourite bar, you’ll see them driving with exaggerated care or progressing in a direction that isn’t quite straight. Hire car drivers can, at times, also be seen slowing down and looking confused at road signs, which point towards a certain town or tourist attraction and then die out just before the visitor gets there and most needs help.
Reversing trials and tribulations
Going forwards on steep rural roads is one thing: reversing is quite another. Says long-time Granada expat, Trudie Taloolor: “Some Spanish drivers cannot reverse. It takes them forever to wind first, left, then right from bank to steep edge or hidden ditch, slowly, slowly back. It’s almost worth putting your own car in reverse and backing double the distance in half the time.” We’ve also probably all encountered motorists who flatly refuse to reverse, even if they are driving a smart car and you’re in a large van. Yes, rather than entering the dreaded reverse gear, they will make their ‘adversary’ perform a precarious reverse towards the unknown, such as a sheer drop. Isn’t the reverse manoeuvre an integral part of the driving test? Similarly, these people cannot successfully reverse park and tend to bash into the vehicles in front and behind.
ADVICE: Guardia chatting to bikers
higher number of accidents.
Last year, there were seven motorcyclist fatalities on Cantabria's roads, including one British national.
Over 1,000 brochures are being distributed to arriving twowheeled Brits with the help of Brittany Ferries.
The new awareness campaign comes in response to the growing number of bikers who disembark by ferry in Santander.
Jose Miguel Tolosa, the provincial traffic chief, emphasised the vulnerability of motorcyclists and pointed out how Cantabria’s winding roads often see a
Highway authorities have been concerned by recent statistics from the region, where 1,333 motorcycle accidents occurred between 2018 and 2023. They resulted in 19 fatalities and 187 serious injuries and recent years have seen a significant increase in incidents, with annual figures tripling compared to 2019, 2020, and 2021.
CHILL: Keep your temper and relax if you want an easier time behind the wheel
Lost in the metropolis?
Maybe it’s time to head to the big city? En route, the motorway holds various menances.
Town centre obstacle course
Bad parking is also a big problem in town centres, with some motorists leaving their cars on tight corners, meaning that larger vehicles struggle to get around.
One annoyance is nutty tailgaters who drive close to your rear, looming like the devil, even if you cannot safely let them past. Then there are drivers who have all the time in the world to complete their journey, and believe that everyone else does too.
Driving in Andalucia’s cities brings its own challenges. Lane discipline is an abandoned concept, with motorists neither giving way at busy roundabouts, sticking to their own lane nor bothering to use their indicators. Try driving a re-matriculated righthand-drive vehicle with a blind spot in central Sevilla – what fun you will have.
And joy of joys, then you have the roundabout conundrum. You know the way that Spanish drivers used to be taught to go left from the outside lane, therefore cutting up anyone driving fast in the fast lane. Half the time without an indicator.
Some motorists like to park their car opposite the town ‘fuente’, where they proceed to fill two dozen large bottles with spring water to take home. Meanwhile, everyone else sits waiting for them to finish before they can squeeze past.
Bollards and iron posts are also a problem.
Town halls love to install these to control where cars can park. Usually, these obstacles will be positioned directly in your blind spot, vastly increasing the chance of smashing a tail light or mangling a side panel. Some towns have special cannon-ball type structures to prevent ‘bad’ parking. Drive over one of these, and you will throw your wheel alignment out or make a hole in your suspension. Also, beware of old ladies who step out from behind parked vehicles armed with shopping trolleys. They
Save some cash
As we await the inevitable summer rise in fuel prices, here are some tips on how to squeeze more kilometres out of every litre of petrol
AS temperatures rise there is one inevitability in the holiday resorts of Spain.
The big petrol companies may deny it,
While you don’t need to be Mastermind to work this out, it’s worth putting at Number One because, according to What Car? magazine, people still make their decisions on the kind of car to buy on a surprisingly irrational basis.
Although fuel consumption is increasing in importance to drivers, in a survey of new car buyers acceleration from 0 to 100kmh and the number of extra features included in a package had more importance than the fuel consumption. Many people believe that given the often less-than-perfect state of rural roads, the best bet is to buy a gas guzzling 4×4, all-terrain vehicle. But BMW’s X5, the Land Rover Defender and Mitsubishi Shoguns cost a fortune to keep topped-up.
Do you really need one? How many times a week do you really need to drive off-road?
Get a smaller fuel efficient car and save euros. And if you can, go electric!
but those of us who live on the costas know that the price of fi lling up your car ALWAYS rises when the holiday season is upon us. There is however plenty you can do right now to reduce the cost of your motoring and to improve the fuel-effi ciency of your vehicle…
If you don’t need to use your roof rack regularly, take it off.
Extra drag has a big effect on fuel consumption.
Also, do you really need to be flying that flag from your radio aerial?
Okay, it’s not the worst thing you could do in fuel efficiency terms, but lose it anyway, it’s really very chavvy!
think they have right of way, 100% of the time.
Furthermore, if they encounter any friends, they’ll stand there chatting and block the road while you sit there pulling your hair out.
Life in Andalucia certainly wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for its driving experiences. Maybe that is why Chris Stewart entitled his famous book Driving over Lemons rather than choosing another title. Really, those lemons are just one more possible obstruction in the road.
Car factory job cuts
UP to 1,600 jobs at the Ford car manufacturing plant in Valencia are under threat after the company announced job cuts.
The grim news follows on from a previous round of 1,100 job cuts implemented last year, raising concerns about the long-term future of the facility.
The American automaker currently employs around 4,700 workers in Valencia, but is proposing to permanently eliminate 600 positions. However, a glimmer of hope exists for the remaining 1,000 affected employees.
Negotiations are underway to potentially rehire them by 2027, when production is planned to be ramped up thanks to a new hybrid car.
A Ford spokesperson said: "A temporary solution could be negotiated for the other 1,000 to bridge the gap until production of the new vehicle starts."
This suggests the possibility of temporary layoffs or furloughs for these workers.
The announcement of the new hybrid vehicle offers a potential lifeline for the Valencia plant. Ford aims to begin production in 2027 with a projected annual output of 300,000 units destined for European and international markets. This new model could translate into future job security and economic growth for the region.
The Valencia plant has undergone significant changes in recent years. Ford currently only assembles the Kuga compact SUV there, having phased out other models like the Mondeo.
If you can do without it, do without it. AirCon systems, although more efficient than they used to be, still have a big impact on your car’s consumption.
Talk to friends who often do similar journeys to the ones you do every day and see if you can’t coordinate and take one car instead of two.
Not only are you acting responsibly, you might get to know your neighbours better and enjoy some social interaction and learn a bit of Spanish while carrying out your regular chores.
Don’t carry around gear in your car that you don’t need. Some people’s boots are used as extra home-storage capacity.
If you don’t need that tent/toy box/tool kit every day, keep it at home. Every 50kg of extra weight reduces your car’s fuel efficiency by an incredible 2%!
It is true that driving with the windows down has a negative effect on a vehicle’s aerodynamics but experts agree that below 70km/hr it is more fuel friendly to do this than to have your passenger space cooled like the inside of a Zanussi.
You don’t need to zoom up to and away from junctions as if you have a woman about to give birth on the back seat.
Drive in the highest gear possible, don’t over-rev your engine, drive more smoothly and at a more even speed and your fuel will last longer.
Obviously, one or two of these measures only make a tiny improvement to the fuel effi ciency of your vehicle but taken together your could improve your consumption by 20 to 30%.
DIZZY: Roundabouts are a special problem all on their own
SCRAPE: Spanish drivers can find some unusual places to park
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
The Nazi stormtrooper and bodyguard to Hitler who joined the Israeli secret services and made his home in Spain
AT
first glance the funeral in Madrid seemed like nothing out of the ordinary.
It was a warm June day in 1975 and the few dozen mourners initially lowered their heads to pay their respects as the flower-draped casket rolled gently by.
But then came the shock when, clearly on cue, the majority of attendees suddenly stretched out their right arms in a full Nazi salute.
When they began singing a series of Adolf Hitler songs, the event became intriguing in the extreme… And even more so when it later emerged that some of those in attendance were members of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad.
This was the funeral of Madrid resident Otto Skorzeny, a former Nazi who had happily lived in the Spanish capital for decades.
As strange as it may sound to readers who have just watched the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings to liberate Europe from the Nazis, a group of former SS leaders at a funeral in Spain wasn't all that rare.
What was, is the attendance of members of a group dedicated to Israel’s security. Strange bedfellows? Counterintuitive? Illogical?
You need to consider the life of Otto (1908-1975) who was born in Vienna into a family with a long and distinguished military legacy.
He certainly cut a fine figure. He was tall (nearly 2 meters), athletic (an Olympic fencing champion) with movie star good looks.
Many believed Otto bore a striking similarity to the dashing Hollywood star Errol Flynn. And he had an appropriate dramatic facial scar (c/o fencing) that only added to his swashbuckling persona. We need to go back to 1932 though when he joined the Austrian Nazi Party and swiftly moved up the ranks.
After completing numerous commando raids, Otto became one of Hitler’s favorite soldiers. So good, in fact, that he became the Fuhrer’s bodyguard and chief of all commando operations. His missions were audacious, bold and worthy of
By Jack Gaioni
an Ian Flemming / James Bond script. They included Operation Oak when in 1943 Italian partisans kidnapped Hitler’s closest ally, Benito Mussolini and imprisoned him high in the Apennine Mountains.
Otto and company, using gliders made of canvas, were able to crash land near the prison, free Mussolini and safely escort him back to Berlin.
The Fuhrer was delighted! The mission even impressed Winston Churchill, who called Otto ‘the most dangerous man in Europe’. Then there was Operation Greif: Otto was assigned the task of training English-speaking German troops, dressed as American soldiers, driving captured Allied jeeps and tanks to roam behind enemy lines. Their orders were simple: to cause great disruption by upsetting Allied communications, giving false orders and misdirecting traffic. The Fuhrer and Otto believed the mission could change the course of the critical Battle of the Bulge and for a brief period, they were correct.
Operation Long Jump: Later that same year, Otto personally devised a commando plan to assassinate the Big Three (Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt) at the Tehran Conference in Iran.
Stalin however, somehow uncovered the plot and Otto was able to convince Hitler the plan was unworkable. The mission was aborted.
At the war’s conclusion and during the subsequent Nuremberg trials (Nov. 1945), Otto was imprisoned as a war criminal.
And in true derring do he es-
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Olive Press community of loyal online readers is creating incredible returns for clients
caped and for two years hid out as a fugitive in France, Bavaria, and later rural Ireland.
But by 1950 he was living openly in Madrid where a sympathetic Francoist Spain welcomed Nazi refugees as asylum seekers.
By all appearances, his new life appeared normal. Married and settled and no longer living as a fugitive, he quietly set up a small import/export business.
It was not long before it became apparent that his business was a front to help numerous Nazis escape to South America.
This was especially to Argentina where Otto not only ‘advised’ Juan Peron but became a bodyguard (and some say a lover!) to Eva Peron.
He also became the founder and advisor for the Paladin Group, an organization based near Alicante which specialized in arming and training international guerilla groups.
Unsurprisingly, Otto’s actions in Egypt did not go unnoticed by Israel’s Mossad.
One evening in 1962 two Mossad agents posing as a couple befriended him in a Madrid bar.
He was initially sure they were there to kill him and later explained his enormous surprise when it turned out they wanted to hire him.
For unknown reasons Otto agreed. Sent to Jerusalem to meet with Mossad hierarchy, Otto, with his Egyptian connections, began to compile a list of German scientists and the names of front companies from Europe that were complicit in Egypt’s military projects.
By
1950 he was in Madrid where Francoist Spain welcomed Nazi refugees
During his two decades stay in Spain, he also made many trips to Egypt. There he began a program to train Arab volunteers in commando tactics for possible strikes against British troops stationed on the Suez Canal.
One of those trainees was none other than the Palestinian hero and leader, Yasser Arafat.
As a personal advisor to Egyptian President Gamel Nasser, Otto helped recruit German scientists in a missile program to be used against Israel.
He was soon ‘hands on’ involved in the kidnapping and assassination of Heinz Krug, an infamous German scientist and chief hardware supplier for the Egyptian missile program.
Otto never explained, at least publicly, how he could transition from being a Nazi commando and bodyguard to Hitler to being an agent for Israel’s secret service.
The irony is rich. Was he seeking atonement for his Nazi past? Did he fear for his life if he did otherwise? Or was he just a swashbuckling adventurer seeking his next adrenaline fix?
He supposedly took the answer to his Madrid grave so we may never know.
“YOUR website is incredible… I have never seen so many inquiries!”
That’s the glowing testimonial of Marbella lawyer Diego Echavarria, who took out a sponsored article on our website last week.
His post about winning expats compensation over dodgy mortgage deals has so far been read by more than 15,000 people.
“I am receiving lots of enquiries,” a very satisfied Diego explained. “In fact I have never had so many, it’s amazing.”
And it’s no surprise given the sheer amount of traffic www.theolivepress.es is now receiving.
More than 100,000 people visited us on many recent days, cementing our position as the most popular English website in Spain.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people are registering on our website daily and we now have nearly 40,000 registered users, who receive special deals and promotions each month.
Only by signing up can you take advantage of these offers, including competitions to win tickets for concerts - and ONLY by being a client can you tap into our valuable database.
While our carefully distributed papers continue to bring results (just ask long term clients like La Sala, Specsavers or the Sky Doctor) our online popularity is creating new opportunities.
But not everyone understands how to utilise them.
One company that does is the Metro Group, which regularly uses our website and database to offer a string of excellent deals at its dozen-plus restaurants.
One free meal giveaway at Bono Beach in Marbella saw an incredible 900 entrants last month. Meanwhile, a 50% discount for the opening of their new Nomad restaurant got 96 bookings, while a 25% off brunch deal brought another 50.
“We’ve been very happy with the results” explained marketing boss, Karen Wolfson.
Five-star hotels SO/Sotogrande and the Kempinski have used our database, while an exclusive room discount at DDG Retreat, near Estepona, got ‘even more bookings than the Times’.
On the Costa Blanca, a FIFA-accredited agent trusted us to promote an international football match in Murcia between Northern Ireland and Andorra. The response speaks volumes.
“It went really well and we saw a noticeable uptake soon after it went live,” he said. “We will definitely be using you guys again!”
When it comes to advertising your business in Spain there’s nowhere better than the Olive Press
MISSION: Skorzeny (left) and with Mussolini on rescue mission
F1 protests
HUNDREDS of protestors attempted to disrupt a Formula One roadshow in Barcelona on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the weekend’s F1 Spanish GP.
Tens of thousands of fans lined Passeig de Gracia, one of Barcelona’s most famous boulevards, to catch a glimpse of drivers including Carlos Sainz and Jack Doohan as they drove up and down the street as part of promotional activity for Sunday’s hotly-anticipated Grand Prix.
The bustling thoroughfare was converted into a cauldron of noise as the blistering sound of the V6 Hybrid engines echoed around the city centre.
However, on a nearby street, hundreds of protestors from a range of anti-tourist, environmentalist and left-wing groups gathered to rail against the roadshow.
ECOLOGISTS in Action has handed its unwanted black flags to 48 beaches across the Spanish coast. ‘Black flag’ status shames coastal resorts for pollution, over development, gentrification and poor management of wastewater.
The ‘award’ is given by the environmental group and this year’s list includes popular resorts like Estepona, Tarragona and Ibiza.
According to the NGO, the Canary Islands are one of the worst affected areas.
An annual report, the Black Flags denounced the ‘overtourism and urbanisation of our coastline’ as one of the ‘biggest problems’ Spain faces.
Of the 48 beaches named in the report, some 15 have been overdeveloped next to the sea.
A further 16 had insufficient management of wastewater
THE Iberian lynx is no longer classed as ‘endangered’ on the global red list of threatened species after a two-decade-long conservation effort across the peninsula. According to the latest census figures, the lynx population on the Iberian peninsula has risen to
By Yzabelle Bostyn
meaning the seawater was not clean.
Some six more had chemical or acoustic pollution, three had marine rubbish, three had suffered damage caused by industrial activities and four more had environmental damage.
They also called out two hotels in Fuerteventura, which they claim were built in a protected area.
Speaking to the Olive Press, before the report was officially released, the environmental group defined the issue as a ‘chronic cancer.’
“We only choose 48 to not overwhelm the press and the people but there are hundreds of natural spaces that are
being destroyed,” Cristobal Lopez, Ecologists in Action spokesman and Coordinator of the ‘Black Flags report’. Lopez believes the Spanish coast has ‘several serious problems’ that are mainly caused by mass tourism and pollution generated by companies.
Chronic
“Spain doubles its population during the holiday period and consequently, there is an uncontrolled urban development that leads to the destruction of the coast. This aberration means that what once were
BLACK FLAGGED
48 beaches named and shamed by environmentalists
natural areas become a set of hotels and summer homes”.
He added: “Water sanitation and filtering treatment services collapse because of the overpopulation and sewage flows directly into the sea.”
“And many companies also dump their waste, including chemicals, in the sea, but the fines they face are ridiculously low and there are many times they are not even enforced to pay them.”
Lopez identifies Andalucia, which has received 10 black flags, as one of the most environmentally destroyed regions in Spain, while Valencia has been given seven.
Smoke-free first
TORREVIEJA’S Cabo Cervera beach has become the city’s first smoke-free beach and will fly a special flag saying so.
Solar trees
VALENCIA City Council has spent €370,000 to erect four solar trees to charge electronic devices.
Off the list
The initiative conducted with the Public Health General Directorate will see information boards at beach entrances but for the time being, transgressors will not be penalised.
It is seen more as an awareness campaign to keep beaches as welcoming spaces for all families without having to endure tobacco smoke and cigarette butts in the sand.
2,021 from a low of just 94 in 2002, with almost 86% of those found in Spain.
The change in status, which means the Iberian lynx is now categorised as ‘vulnerable’, was announced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). was
Torrevieja council plans to extend the raising of ‘smokefree’ flags to other beaches soon.
The project uses solar panels in tree-shaped structures to generate power. The PV trees can charge small electric vehicles, bikes, scooters, skateboards, phones, tablets, and other electronic devices. They also provide useful shade, as they are more than six metres high. Each 3.6 kW tree has an energy potential of 1,550 kWh and 5,600 kWh of maximum annual production, except for one tree along the Turia River, which will generate 2,657 kWh per year. The council is also finalising the installation of smart pavements in the Benimaclet, Benimamet and Patraix districts. The new pavements will provide solar charging for personal mobility vehicles.
OP QUICK CROSSWORD
6 Military entertainment (6)
8 Develop over time (6)
9 Grape residue (4)
10 Enthusiastic (8)
11 Son of Nun, who followed Moses (6)
13 Yertle the Turtle author (5)
15 Small flatfish (3)
17 Deadly (5)
18 Deed is done for dust devils (6)
20 The Rock (8)
22 Gibson’s “Bird on a Wire” co-star (4)
23 Sitcom, for instance (2,4)
24 Country (6) Down
1 They could still be out to get you, even if you’ve got this (8)
2 Something to scribble on (7)
3 Stout (5)
4 We sloped off as required near schools (3,5)
5 Tel ----Yafo (4)
7 Careful attention (1,1,1)
12 Annoying problem (8)
14 Nottinghamshire forest (8)
16 Chemist’s solvent (7)
19 Destroy by immersion (5)
21 Tax (4)
22 Traditional Monopoly token (3)
All solutions are on page 14
Use your savings for a greener future through sustainable investing explains Christin Hagemeier
Put your money to work
HAVE you ever considered how your investments can impact the environment and society? Sustainable investing offers a way to align your financial goals with your values.
This article dives into the world of sustainable funds, exploring what they are, how they work, and the different approaches you might encounter.
While we often focus on sustainable practices in our daily lives, there’s another area to consider: our investments.
This isn’t about your everyday spending, but rather the money you’re saving for the future. Many people invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds, and most banks offer a variety of options based on your preferences.
The concept of sustainable investing gained momentum after Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, highlighted its importance several years ago. Since then, the financial market has embraced this approach. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to sustainable funds. Definitions and approaches can vary depending on the fund manager and your personal priorities. Here are some key questions to consider:
FOCUS ON EXISTING VS. DEVELOPING
SUSTAINABILITY: Do you want to invest in companies that are already sustainable, or those transitioning towards sustainability?
GREEN INVESTMENTS:
The latter might need your investment to make the change, but verifying how those funds are used can be challenging.
DEFINING SUSTAINABILITY: What constitutes a sustainable company? The EU’s taxonomy even includes gas and nuclear power in this definition. Often, banks go further and have their own criteria.
EXCLUSION VS. THEMATIC FUNDS: Some funds exclude specific industries considered unsustainable, like fossil fuels. Thematic funds, on the other hand, focus on a particular aspect of sustainability, like environmental solutions, social responsibility, or good governance.
A recent Morgan Stanley study revealed investor priorities in sustainable investing. Climate action topped the list (15%), followed by healthcare (13%). Water solutions, circular economy, nature & biodiversity, and education were also important considerations. The EU’s sustainability reporting standards aim to minimize ‘greenwashing,’ where companies exaggerate their sustainability efforts. This transparency will be beneficial for investors.
It can be difficult to definitively say if your investment directly translates into positive change. However, by choosing sustainable
There are lots of opportunities funds, you contribute to the growing demand for sustainable practices. Companies that don’t prioritize sustainability risk being excluded from the capital market, driving positive change across the board.
Ultimately, sustainable investing offers a way to make your money work towards a more sustainable future, even if the impact may not be directly measurable.
LA CULTURA
Bull run warning
PAMPLONA has produced 10,000 leaflets offering safety tips to tourists planning to visit the world-famous bull runs that start on July 7. Information is in four languages including English and Spanish, and will be distributed in bus and train stations, as well as airports. A digital version will be available on the Pamplona City Council website and copies have been sent to embassies and consulates.
There are warnings about running with the bulls if intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
The leaflet has sections on cutting the risk of being robbed and what to do if you witness or are a victim of sexual aggression.
LOST WORLD
Stunning find in Spain has archeologists excited: 2,400 year old tablet could provide glimpse into the secrets of an ancient lost civilisation
A RECENTLY unearthed tablet from 2,400 years ago could be about to re-write ancient history.
Pre-dating the famous Rosetta Stone by 400 years, the discovery could be evidence of a previously unknown written language used by the lost Tartessian civilization.
The artefact, which was unearthed at the Casas del Turuñuelo dig site in Badajoz, appears to be inscribed with an alphabetic sequence of 21 signs. If confirmed, it would indicate the presence of a sophisticated and literate society in pre-Roman Iberia.
By Walter Finch
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) believes the tablet may be a practice slate used by artisans to hone their skills before engraving on more permanent materials.
The inscription features repeated illustrations of faces, geometric shapes, and warriors in combat.
Researchers are particularly interested in the tablet's alphabetic symbols.
While some signs resemble known southern Paleo-Hispanic dialects, others are en-
tirely new.
University of Barcelona researcher Joan Ferrer i Jane believes the tablet ‘could reach 32 signs if complete.’ It would potentially represent
ROBBIE ON DISPLAY
POP star Robbie Williams visited Barcelona last week for the launch of his very own art exhibition called Pride and self prejudice that’s been inspired by his mental health struggles. The city’s Modern Contemporary Museum (MOCO) is displaying 17
INCREDIBLE: The ‘sketches’ on the tablet
a brand new sister language to the existing southern Paleo-Hispanic family.
The find is crucial for historians and archaeologists as it fills a gap in understanding the transition between ancient Iberian scripts and the later fully developed writing systems of the Roman era.
Wealth
A so-called ‘influencer’ found she had no influence whatsoever when security refused to let her into Sevilla cathedral. The Argentinean named Gigi was told to go-go when she turned up at the holy site wearing a skimpy bikini-style top and covered with tattoos and piercings.
“They told me that I couldn’t go in like that, that I needed to cover up,” she explained in an online video, still wearing the small black top that had not met the approval of the staff. As she pointed out, however, the temperature in Seville was 39ºC, and what’s more, she saw another girl with a similar outfit but with no tattoos allowed to enter.
According to a TikTok commentator called Ruben, they didn’t let the influencer in ‘because she might get stuck on the magnet they have at the door’.
large-format paintings created digitally on an iPad, in the style of David Hockney’s latest works.
MOCO director, Kim Logchies, said: I have seen more than 5,000 of his works and I can assure you that he has a new voice and a completely different prism in the art world.”
The Tartessian culture, known for its wealth and sophistication, flourished from the 9th to 6th centuries BC in what is now Andalucia.
Their mysterious disappearance has long been a source of fascination, with some attributing it to earthquakes or tsunamis.
NORTHERN HERO
By Dilip Kuner
WHEN British architect Sir David Chipperfield fell in love with Galicia he not only built a house there, but helped set up a body to protect the stunning local landscape.
As expats in southern Spain look north for cooler climes at holiday time, the Olive Press celebrates one British architect who has made the Galicia region his home
up,” he recently explained to the Guardian. “They are modernised in the most horrible, brutal manner.”
Lamenting the ‘disastrous’ effects of poor urban planning along the coast, he set up an organisation to protect its important green spaces.
field for help, he jumped at the chance. Set up in 2017, RIA's approach is multifaceted. It fosters interdisciplinary studies, spearheads pilot projects, and advocates for strategic territorial planning.
The non-profit organisation, Fundación RIA, was designed to tackle the challenges of rural development going forwards.
The 2023 Pritzker Prize winning architect realised the region was trying to balance economic growth with preserving its natural and cultural heritage - and failing.
“The nature is spectacular and the towns are amazing in their essence but they mess them
He lamented that former village high streets have been turned into highways, cutting each settlement in two, while industrial estates for the fishing industry have often cut residential areas off from the sea. So when Galicia’s then president Alberto Nuñez Feijoo (now the leader of the PP party) approached Chipper-
The nature is spectacular and the towns are amazing in their essence but they mess them up
ronmental protection and cultural preservation, all while prioritising economic and social well-being. Chipperfield’s personal connection to Galicia fuels his dedication to RIA. He started visiting the region in the 1990s, first discovering the modest fishing town of Corrubedo, where he built a holiday home for his family.
Territorial Agenda for Galicia.
RIA - which was named after the region’s coastal inlets or rias - works closely with local communities, government bodies and industry and academic institutions. Its aim is to come up with planning solutions bringing together locals and international experts to avoid the worst development excesses. The region’s diverse environment presents a microcosm of the challenges and opportunities facing rural areas worldwide. Through careful planning and governance, RIA strives to
demonstrate how development
Over three decades, he has developed such a strong affinity for the region he lives there for much of the time. This passion, coupled with his architectural expertise, makes him a powerful advocate for its sustainable future.
A recent project exemplifies RIA's impact when it was appointed to coordinate the
This ambitious initiative aims to establish a new planning regime, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Pact.
Curiously, RIA does not actually design new buildings, but concentrates on improving the living conditions of locals.
Its most tangible achievement is probably in Palmeira, where waterfront car parks were removed so the town could ‘reconnect’ to the sea.
This involved creating a long stone bench along the sea wall where people could gather and enjoy the views and fresh sea air. To date it remains the biggest construction built by RIA.
It is a far cry from his most famous projects which in Spain include The
Down: 1 Paranoia, 2 Notepad, 3 Beefy, 4 Low speed, 5 Aviv, 7 T L C, 12 Headache, 14 Sherwood, 16 Benzene, 19 Drown, 21 Levy, 22 Hat.
PRETTY: in Palmeira waterfront car parks were removed so the town could ‘reconnect’ to the sea
Ciutat de la Justícia in Barcelona and
HOME.: The house in Corrubedo that Chipperfield built for his family and how it sits in the urban landscape (left) the impressive Veles e Vents Americas Cup venue in Valencia.
IMPRESSIVE: Chipperfield’s Veles e Vents building in Valencia and (above) the Ciutat de la Justicia in Barcelona
can coexist with envi-
SPAIN’S foodie culture thrives on outdoor living. Long, sunny days and warm evenings naturally lend themselves to socialising and dining alfresco.
It is an alluring thought for expats too. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a barbecue?
But these days firing up the barbie just isn’t enough for many people, with more and more people transforming their garden dining options with a stunning outdoor kitchen.
They are no longer a complete luxury and are increasingly seen as an extension of the living space, transforming terraces and patios into vibrant entertain-
By Dilip Kuner
ment hubs.
The beauty of these alfresco kitchens lies in their versatility. Whether you have a spacious patio or a cosy balcony, there's a design to suit your needs and budget.
For example, Modular kitchens offer a flexible and budget-friendly solution. They come in prefabricated units that can be easily arranged and reconfigured.
Built-in kitchens provide a more permanent and luxurious feel, allowing for complete customisation with features like built-in grills, sinks, and storage.
It is of course essential to choose the right materials. The Spanish weather may be glorious, but it does still rain. Opt for stainless steel for its durability and sleek look. Granite and natural stone countertops add a touch of elegance and can withstand the elements. Wood adds
warmth, but choose a weather-treated option for longevity.
Spain's sunshine is a blessing, but you’ll also need protection from the heat. Consider awnings, pergolas, or even retractable roofs to create shade. Outdoor kitchens exposed to the elements might benefit from a permanent roof or enclosure.
Built-in grills are a must-have, allowing you to barbeque with ease. Think beyond the grill and consider adding a sink, refrigerator, or even a pizza oven for an ultimate outdoor cooking experience.
When designing your outdoor kitchen, incorporate elements that reflect the Spanish spirit. Terracotta tiles, colourful mosaics, and locally sourced furniture add a touch of authenticity.
Sustainability is also a key consideration. Opt for energy-efficient appliances and consider incorporating water-saving features.
An outdoor kitchen is an investment that extends your living space and enhances your enjoyment of the outdoors. With careful planning and a touch of Spanish flair, you can create a haven for unforgettable gatherings and culinary adventures in the great outdoors, without leaving your home!
Cooking up a storm
GRAND: Outdoor kitchens fit to feed the stars under the stars
RealEstate | Inmobiliaria
Toothy visitor
A BEACH in the Canary Islands was evacuated and the red flag raised after a two-metre shark swam right up to the shore.
Sun seekers
PEOPLE on Spain’s generous state benefits have been warned not to swan off on holidays longer than 15 days this summer as they ‘have no right to enjoy holidays.’
Fan-atics
MALAGA FC fans went so nuts after their team won promotion they packed the airport at 5am to welcome the players and even forced the town hall to shut down parts of the city centre.
Aged like fine wine
Archaeologists discover
2,000-year-
old vintage in Roman tomb
IF you like a finely aged wine, forget about the famed €5,000 a bottle Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2004, which reached a peak of excellence for the Bordeaux vineyard - it is a mere stripling. Instead, head down to Car-
By Alex Trelinski
mona in Sevilla province where archaeologists have discovered a vintage that is an incredible 2,000 years old. They found what is thought to
June
DOUBLING UP
be the oldest wine still in liquid form in a glass urn while investigating a Roman tomb. But anyone tempted to sample the vino to see how it has aged over two millennia should be aware of a grisly secret. Also in the urn are the cre-
A FEMALE kitten used up one of its nine lives after surviving a 200 kilometre journey trapped in a car engine.
The vehicle was travelling southbound from Barcelona on the AP-7 motorway when it stopped at a service area at Benicarlo in Castellon province. After parking up, the passengers were convinced they heard the meows of a cat coming from somewhere in the car.
A Guardia Civil patrol looked around the car before discovering the little kitten caught in the engine area.
mated remains of a person, submerged in the wine.
Carmona town Council and the University of Cordoba say both the wine and remains have been preserved since
the first century AD.
Organic chemists at the University of Cordoba have identified it as the oldest liquid wine discovered to date, thus replacing the Speyer wine bottle, dated to the fourth century AD, found in 1867 and preserved in Pfalz museum in Germany. Despite the 2,000 years, the condition of the tomb was excellent and well-sealed, making it easier for the wine to maintain its natural state. Chemists studied the pH, the absence of organic matter, mineral salts, and the presence of certain chemical compounds, which were compared to current wines made by Montilla-Moriles, Jerez and Sanlucar.
A MARBELLA clinic has become the first in Spain to offer pet cloning where a genetic copy of a cat or dog can be made for around €55,000.
A breakthrough in animal cloning happened in 1996 with Dolly the sheep being cloned from an adult cell by scientists at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. Since then, animal cloning has become widespread, especially in species of high economic value such as camels and horses, where cloning costs can reach €75,000.
Cloning an animal involves replicating its genetics by extracting a sample of DNA from the animal’s skin tissue. The extracted cells are cultured and their nucleus is inserted into an egg of the same species, previously enucleated. This embryo, which contains 99.9% of the genetic material of the original animal, is then implanted in a female for gestation.
The Grupo OVO clinic, run by embryologist Enrique Criado, has performed five dog clones for Spanish clients and hopes to expand its market to neighbouring countries such as France and Portugal.
Cloning a dog costs around €55,000, while a cat comes in €5,000 cheaper.
