Olive Press Gibraltar - Issue 172 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

See pages 5, 6 and 7

Maddie alibi trashed GERMAN police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have found traces of her in a vehicle driven by the prime suspect Christian Brueckner. A Portuguese investigator has revealed that it is one of many different clues that point the finger directly at the convicted sex offender. Journalist Sandra Felgueiras announced the discovery on prime time Portuguese television. “I am certain Brueckner did it and the Portuguese police know he worked with an accomplice,” she told the Olive Press. Her SABADO investigation on the CMTV channel managed to establish that the main evidence is a ‘trace of the English girl found by German police inside the motorhome he drove in 2007’.

Traces

Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters refused to confirm or deny this week that a DNA link had been discovered in the VW van. However, he may have also been driving a large Winnebago - the first of two - that he acquired around the time. And he was also driving a dark Jaguar. It’s not clear at this stage exactly what traces of Maddie were found in which vehicle. Neither Wolters or Felgueiras would be drawn further on it, today. But, he explained to Felgueiras - who has been investigating the case since May 2007 - that he could not confirm it ‘because the suspect has not yet been informed’. The infamous yellow and white van was part of the original appeal put out in a bombshell German police appeal in June 2020. It was photographed parked alongContinues on Page 5

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Vol. 6 Issue 172

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May 4th - May 17th 2022

Confusion as Brits fall foul of beefed up Spanish border rules crossing MORE testimonials given to the Olive Press suggest border guards in Spain are now imposing increasingly strict rules for entry - without publicly advertising to travelers. On Wednesday, Joanne Franks from Berkshire, flew into Gibraltar from the UK to spend a week at her Casares retreat. When she arrived, she was told she had to provide proof that she owned property in Spain in order to cross. She hastily managed to retrieve an email that proved she owned her Casares property. “I didn’t know that you now have to show proof that you own a property in Spain or show evidence of a hotel or apartment reservation along with a return flight,” Franks told the Olive Press. She said whilst in the queue to cross she saw four middle aged ladies who wanted to spend a day in La Linea, all of whom were carrying only clutch bags. When Joanne asked the guards why they were not letting them through, the guard said that they could be trying to stay in Spain permanently without a visa. “It’s ridiculous,” Franks said, who visited the immigration office to plead with them to issue eight appointment requests for her friends who are due to visit in sumSee page 24 mer. B r i t s crossing the fron-

By George Mathias

tier to stay in Spain must now get a Carta de Invitacion - or invitation letter, for all family and friends who are staying at a private residence. “I went to the National Police today to book an appointment to request various ‘Carta de Invitaciones’, the next available appointment in Estepona is June 14, 2022, I have family members arriving in May and I have no idea what to do.” Aside from appointments, which need to be booked at least two months in advance, the cost of the invitation is not insignificant, costing €75 for each person. staying and what their address was. “That has never happened to us before. They ought to be notifying people,” he said. “Aside from the annoyance of being questioned so rigorously,

Apply

Immigrationspain.es also states: “Any foreigner planning to visit Spain cannot apply for the invitation letter directly. The relative or friend with whom the person is staying with must apply for the letter of invitation.” Elsewhere, Richard, a retired British expat, told the Olive Press that on the way back from By Kimberley Mannion a trip to Gibraltar from Elviria there was a huge queue The UK Europe Minister, James of people trying to Cleverly, has insisted that recent get into Spain. issues with strict Schengen conA border guard aptrols at the Gibraltar border are proached them and not a negotiating ploy by Spain. demanded to know Speaking alongside Julian where they were Braithwaite, Director General for Europe at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Cleverly said the THE SKY current focus of talks between the two sides is on the role SpanDOCTOR ish immigration officers should ALL AREAS hold in implementing Schengen code at Gibraltar if and when a COVERED deal is confirmed. While giving evidence to the 4G UNLIMITED House of Commons European INTERNET Scrutiny Committee, the Minister was not aware of recent difIDEAL FOR ficulties experienced recently by STREAMING TV Brits trying to cross into Spain. Asked whether the recent outALSO rage caused by Spain turning IPTV, Brits back into Gibraltar, having SATELLITE to justify their reason for travTV el and show they had enough money to stay was a tactic by the Spanish to show their strength in the run up to negotiations, Cleverly denied that this was the case. tel: (0034) 952 763 840 While he said he had not heard info@theskydoctor.com the reports of Brits not being alwww.theskydoctor.com

3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

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the guard was very aggressive. It seems things have changed.” Previously the Olive Press reported that Brits, such as Julie Quartermaine, were being asked to prove they had at least €100 per day.

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lowed into Spain, Cleverly stated: “It’s undesirable but it’s a by-product of the administrative processes that you have at borders.” Instead, the Europe Minister was keen to show relations with the Spanish are good. He said: “I’m not detecting anything that would lead me to believe that there is a formal or mandated toughening of their position on this.” While Cleverly may not have heard of any border problems, the Olive Press has. Policia Nacional officers at the border were demanding non-EU nationals, including British passport holders, provide evidence of onward travel and hotel reservations in Spain before allowing them to cross, according to several people on social media. Opinion Page 6

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Daft delinquents THREE young thieves were arrested in Torremolinos after breaking into a house, beating up the owner and stealing his ipad and mobile phone.

Trip from hell PUBLIC prosecutors have charged six people with human trafficking after they brought several Nigerian women to Spain and forced them to work in prostitution to pay off an invented €55,000 debt.

Pawful A FERAL cat has died and five other felines injured after they were shot with a pellet gun by an on-theloose criminal in Malaga.

Covid con NATIONAL police have arrested a Madrid hospital worker for masterminding a Covid certificate fraud operation in which he would edit the national vaccination database for money from anti-vaxxers who could then claim to be fully vaxxed.

A TEENAGER has been jailed for 12 weeks after he broke into a parked taxi while he was subject to a curfew. Ben Brown, 18, of Willis’ Road, was sentenced at the Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to Attempted Theft and Criminal Damage. Brown’s arrest came after police received a call from the vehicle’s owner,

Taxi twit

who stated that someone had broken into his taxi which was parked in Sir William Jackson Grove car park. A window had been smashed and the vehicle had been rummaged through – but nothing was taken. Police iden-

May 4th - May 17th 2022 tified Brown on CCTV and arrested him at a nearby address an hour later. Brown, who had been ordered to stay at his mother’s residence in the Upper Town from 8pm to 8am on April 12 by the Magistrates’ Court in relation to another matter, was then further arrested for a Breach of Court Curfew.

SNOW QUEEN

Woman faces 25 years jail, but says she is just an ordinary person A WOMAN standing trial for the distribution of more than 100 kilograms of cocaine from La Linea de la Concepcion in 2014 and subsequent money laundering has denied her characterisation as ‘the queen of cocaine’. Ana Cameno faces 25 years in prison for crimes against public health, illegal possession of arms, and money laundering. The prosecutor has also requested Cameno payback €400,000 of laundered money. Cameno‘s ex-partner, Jose Ra-

By Kimberley Mannion

mon Mora, is also wanted for a potential 21 year sentence, but failed to show up to the trial. Eleven other defendants also made up the trial at the High Court in Madrid, some accused as part of the drug distribution operation itself and others on the money laundering side. Dubbed the ‘cocaine queen’, Cameno completely rejected the image portrayed of her, instead insisting: “I am a normal,

A MAN has been ordered to pay £500 compensation and sentenced to 180 hours Community Service after assaulting his former partner. Simon Landon, 44, of Devils Tower Road, pleaded guilty to three counts of Actual Bodily Harm at his Supreme Court hearing. The court heard that the assaults were carried out between 2017 and 2021, two of which required hospital treatment for the victim. An investigation by detectives from the RGP’s Domestic Abuse Team was subsequently

ordinary person, who comes from a good family, who has worked all my life”. During the trial, she also lamented the first time she was

Compo award launched, which led to Landon being charged. Detective Inspector Cavallo Soane, from the RGP’s Public Protection Unit, said: “This type of crime has no place in our community. Our officers are dedicated to relentlessly pursuing offenders of domestic abuse and to bring them before the criminal justice system, whilst supporting victims of this abhorrent crime.”

arrested in 2011 and pleaded her innocence from criminality, calling the current trial ‘a machiavellian continuation’ of that first arrest. She also claims not to know the others standing trial, of whom she was allegedly the boss during the cocaine trafficking operation. Cameno also accused a high up member of the police of threatening to ‘destroy her’. She told the court of her anxieties while on release of being put back in prison, due to a belief that the police were out to get her.

BEHIND BARS A MAN has been remanded in custody after allegedly assaulting a woman. Anthony Gilbert, 46, was arrested by Response Team officers on Saturday at 730pm, at a Glacis Estate address. The victim is alleged to have been injured in the incident, then initially prevented from leaving the address. On leaving the residence, she reported the matter to the police. Following his arrest, Gilbert was charged on Sunday with False Imprisonment, two counts of Actual Bodily Harm and Theft. Gilbert has been remanded in prison by the Magistrates Court until June 16, when he will appear before the Supreme Court.

GONE MISSING POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a British man who vanished while on the way to Gibraltar. A RGP spokesman said: “We are appealing for the public’s help to trace a British man who may have travelled to Gibraltar. “Family members say Michael Howard, 83, who is resident in Alicante, Spain, was last spoken to a week ago.

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NEWS

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May 4th - May 17th 2022

OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

FORMER Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley is hot on the heels of Kevin Parle, the UK National Crime Agency’s most wanted criminal, who is thought to be hiding out in Spain. Parle is wanted over the murders in Liverpool of 16-yearold Liam Kelly in 2004 and Lucy Hargreaves, a 22-year-old mum who was shot while she slept in 2005 Bleksley is convinced that 6ft 6in Parle, whose nickname is ‘Hemp’, and his network are also behind the disappearance of father and son Danny and Liam Poole, who vanished on a trip to Estepona in 2019. He also thinks that the notorious Kinahan gang may be involved, the same mob that the Olive Press reported has been sanctioned by the US treasury. “It is three years since I started this investigation and I am not giving up, I am just warming up,” Peter told the Olive Press. Peter’s podcast has been downloaded over 5 million times, and his phone has barely stopped ringing since it was released. “I will be carrying on this hunt until one of three things happen; he is captured, I establish irrefutable evidence that proves Parle is dead, or I cast my last breath. It’s as simple as that,” he said. Parle has now been on the run

On the trail Peter Bleksley, the former copper whose hit podcast Manhunt: Finding Kevin Parle has become a national sensation, talks to George Mathias from the British authorities for 17 years. “Thousands of people have helped and continue to help. This is not about me, it’s not even about Kevin Parle, it’s all about Liam Kelly and Lucy Hargreaves and trying to achieve some justice for them,” said Bleksley. Bleksley has been less than complimentary about the NCA and Merseyside Police regarding their investiation of the murders and it appears that people seem to have more faith in Bleksley to apprehend Parle, than they do in the police. Bleksley was contacted directly by the fugitive team from the Guardia Civil who asked how they could help in the in-

In the clear SPANISH stinger and convicted money launderer Isabel Pantoja has been cleared at her latest trial. A Malaga court has found her not guilty in a case of ‘punishable insolvency’ over the sale of her plush Marbella villa. The prosecutor had asked for her to be jailed for three years. She had previously been sentenced to two years behind bars and ordered to pay a €1.1 million fine for her part in the infamous Malaya corruption case in Marbella. Sevilla-born Pantoja helped her former lover, Marbella’s then mayor Julian Munoz, launder money, illicitly obtained from Marbella Town Hall.

PERSISTENT: Peter Bleksley won’t give up

Faith

vestigation. “That was encouraging for me, but. I would suggest, a little bit embarrassing for NCA and Merseyside police as people are coming to me directly over them. “This makes me ask the question, how much do Merseyside police want to find Kevin Parle? I know that certain senior officers choose to believe he is

Prize guy ACTOR Antonio Banderas has scooped another prize, receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the RNE Sant Jordi Cinema Awards 2022. The 61-year-old made the trip to Barcelona from his home city of Malaga to pick up the trophy. The Sant Jordi Awards, which were first held in 1957, are hosted by the Catalan branch of Spain’s national radio network RNE. Judges decided to give him the award for ‘his successful film career as an actor, producer and film director, developed both in Europe and in the United States’. Other big names to scoop awards included Benedict Cumberbatch who was declared best actor in a foreign film for The Power of the Dog and Javier Bard as best actor in a Spanish film (The Good Boss/El buen Patron).

dead, they need to be truthful with the public.” Not mincing his words, Bleksley said: “They are not being open, honest or transparent, law enforcement needs to stare itself in the mirror. I don’t think they are looking for him at all, I think they are just paying lip service to it almost as an act of tokenism.” “This is about truth over lies, hope over fear, and seeing Parle in a court of law answering to these allegations.” Asked if he fears retribution from Parle or any of his associates, he said: “I have been trolled, abused, and had photographs of my house posted on social media. On one occasion there was an accurate description of the bedroom I sleep in. I have no doubt these were people who were acting on Kevin’s behalf, to intimidate me, but they have all failed and I have never been busier.”

Links

Speaking of the Kinahan mob - Christy and sons Daniel and Christy Junior - he said: “They have endless links to so much of the criminality that goes on here on the Costa del Sol,” explained Bleksley. “The DEA are on to them, and believe you me they do not give up. There’s going to be a lot of people feeling increasingly uncomfortable. There are a lot of consequences heading the way of criminals on the Costas.” The podcast is available on BBC sounds.

KIM CLARK

DOUBLE FAULT FORMER tennis champ Boris Becker has been jailed for two years in the UK for hiding assets to avoid loan repayments. The German, 54, and a six time grand slam champion, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court. Becker, pictured with girlfriend Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, had declared bankruptcy in June 2017, being unable to repay a loan he took out to buy a luxury property in Mallorca. In 2019 his luxury estate, Son Coll, was put on the market, but not before a group of Germans squatters had occupied it. Shortly after their eviction a pornography film was filmed onsite, featuring veteran pornstar ‘Dolly Buster’. Becker’s debts had spiralled to £11 million despite him earning around £120 million from a lucrative sporting career. At the trial Judge Deborah Taylor claimed he had shown ‘no remorse or acceptance of guilt.’ Earlier this month, jurors found Becker guilty of removal of property as well as two counts of deliberately concealing debt.

BOOTED OUT SPAIN has been thrown out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France after fielding an ineligible player in two qualifying matches. Spain secured a World Cup place for the first time since 1999 with a 33-28 victory over Portu-

gal in March to finish second in the Rugby Europe Championship. But a judicial committee imposed a 10-point deduction. It means Romania will take Spain's place next year in France.

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4 www.theolivepress.es Workers’ no show UNION bosses have admitted their disappointment at the low turnout for International Workers’ Day in Gibraltar. Unite the Union said it had hoped for a bigger turnout on Sunday. It would appear that the long weekend and warm weather trumped people’s desire to spread the message of solidarity for workers. At its first Gibraltar May Day rally in two years, Unite campaigned against austerity and pushed the message that workers who pulled society through the pandemic should not now bear the economic burden of it.

Eroded

Unite Chairperson Christian Duo said it is important to celebrate Workers’ Day workers rights, achieved by unions in the past, are gradually being eroded. Unite stressed that in the aftermath of the pandemic, a long term economic plan was needed rather than ‘short-term decisions to balance the books’. The Gibraltar General and Clerical Association (GGCA) also spoke at the rally and reiterated Unite’s concerns. In his International Workers’ Day message, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo acknowledged the importance of the date for trade unions and described the importance with which his own government holds it.

NEWS

May 4th - May 17th 2022

SCHOOL’S OUT FOREVER

€10,000 a year expat school forced to close doors after stinging inspection

PARENTS at a private school in Andalucia are furious, having been left scrambling to find places when it was closed overnight by inspectors. Some claim to be thousands of euros out of pocket, while some teachers are owed pay. One parent at Sotogrande’s Cameron International school is threatening legal action having paid nearly €10,000 upfront in fees for the year. Sara Sanchez said: “I am furious as nobody told me anything.” The supermarket worker, from San Roque, added: “We had to find another school for my six-year-old daughter with no notice, and I am still waiting for my money back.” A teacher, who does not want to be named, is under medication for anxiety and depression due to the stress she suffered. “I had to take phone calls from creditors demanding cash and my workload was getting bigger and bigger. My thanks was to wait for my salary - I have not been paid since January.” This week, the owner of the school confirmed to the Olive Press that it was the end of the line for her 12-year-old school.

Capeless heroes

The RGP’s Community Policing Officers were invited to St Bernard’s First School to talk about ‘Super Heroes in Our Community’. Youngsters were able to ask PC Steve Peach why he became an RGP officer and how police help people in the community. The pupils were then able to try on police uniforms for size.

Art of War

PLEDGE: Janice Pennie has asked for patience. By Dilip Kuner & Jorge Hinojosa

Janice Pennie, 58, said the doors had been shut for a month, and added: “It is now in the hands of my accountants.” The businesswoman insisted the collapse had come due to the pandemic. “It happened so quickly and some of the parents need to be a little more patient,” she said. “It has only been a little over a

month since we closed and the accountants are working out the best way forward. It is my main concern to get the money back to the parents.

Lost everything

“I sympathise because they have had to find another school, but it is me who has lost everything” The school, which opened in 2010 beside San Roque golf club, had plans pupils attended the school, most of them British, although it had students from many different countries. But when the pandemic struck two years ago things rapidly deteriorated. “A lot of our pupils left. Many were from an international background and went to their home countries,” explained Pennie, originally from Glasgow. “I would rather the school had survived, so I put everything I had into it.” But she said it was very hard to continue and when Junta inspectors arrived at the premises in March this year they ordered the school to shut. A Junta spokesman said that

it had acted after a number of ‘different issues’ had been reported to them over the past year. A complaint against the school was put before San Roque Court and the closure was authorised. He added that the school was only licensed for infants under the name Kiddibank Day Care Center. “It was verified that Primary and Secondary Education were being taught on the upper floor of the building in an unauthorised location.” The Junta spokesman added that classrooms were in ‘poor hygienic-sanitary conditions, with a lack of natural ventilation and dirt on the floor and on the furniture.

Panic attacks

Pennie denies this insisting the school was cleaned morning and night. “Typically the inspectors came in the middle of the afternoon when children had brought dirt in – the school was cleaned every morning and evening.” She added: “I don't sleep at night, I have panic attacks and anxiety, I am broken hearted, I have given everything.”

AN exhibition to mark the 40 year anniversary of the Falklands war was held in Gibraltar. Launched by the Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia at the John Mackintosh Hall, it showed photographs, press clippings, and testimonials from veterans detailing the last time Britain participated in a war against a foreign power on its own. The exhibition was made possible through the Gibraltar National Archives and is made up of 200 PVC panels displaying almost 500 images as well as uniforms and military gear from veterans who fought.

Car-park fatality The body of a man was discovered in Western Beach car park at 4:30pm on April 29. The Royal Gibraltar Police announced they were investigating the circumstances of the 58-year-old man’s death. The police said in a statement: “Officers are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 58-year-old UK male, whose body was discovered in the area of Western Beach car park. No foul play is suspected at this time.” A post-mortem is to be carried out ‘in due course’, they said.

Crypto art fair open A WORLD first crypto art fair got underway at the Xapo Bank in Gibraltar on Sunday. The event runs from 11am to 3pm every day, concluding on Saturday and is showcasing the most exciting new crypto and NFT artists in a world first. NFTs (non fungible tokens) have taken the world by storm, changing the game of the art world and are making headlines with million dollar sales. They are digital artworks which can be bought with cryptocurrency and have a kind of digital watermark making them impossible to duplicate. The exhibition in Gibraltar features work from artists around Spain, including several expats. Co-founder Joëlle Dinnage, an international art dealer said: “The NFT art market is booming and interest has never been higher. We are taking this opportunity to focus on true Crypto Art for the discerning NFT art investor and collector in an exclusive Crypto Art Island experience highlighting world-renowned NFT artists. It will be the event of the year.” Co-founder PedroTerol said: “We have put together an impressive line-up of top artists for this first European NFT art fair.”

Among the artists on show is Gala Mirissa who recently created the first NFT cover for ELLE magazine and whose work has been commissioned for a new Hollywood film Fresh Kill. Gala told the Olive Press: “I am really excited to participate in the first European NFT art event because they raise crypto art to the artistic level it deserves, raising the European market to a higher level, and of course, giving me chance to get to show my art.” There were around $11 billion of sales from NFT purchases from June to September last year, according to DappRadar, a market tracker.

15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY MADDIE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

Noose tightens MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner will be charged with the abuse of a 10-year-old girl on the Algarve this month due to his ‘terrible teeth’. The German sex offender, 45, has revealed in a letter from prison that the young German victim insisted he had teeth ‘like a rabbit’. The girl, Joana, had been sexually assaulted by a blondehaired attacker, who spoke German, on a beach near Praia da Luz, just a month before Maddie went missing. The naked man, who had first spoken English to her, had run off from Salema beach when the girl’s sister raised the alarm and her parents ran over to help. They had filed a detailed police report the following day, giving an excellent description of the

SUSPECT: Brueckner with the VW camper

Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner confirms he is being probed over five other sex attacks EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke

attacker, who ran away towards a beach car park, where Brueckner is known to have stayed. The family, from south Germany, whose surname we are not naming for legal reasons, have since confirmed to the German BKA police that he was the assailant. Brueckner has now confirmed he is being prosecuted over the attack and also confirmed he is being probed over ‘at least five open cases’.

MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner is penning a book. The German sex offender, made an arguido, or official suspect in Portugal, last month, is writing it in prison, he has revealed. In a remarkable six-page letter written to an American blogger, he insists it will be ‘a bestseller’ with a plot as good as anything by novelist John Grisham. “I know, all of the things I say are hard to believe. John Grisham couldn’t find a better story for a book,” he wrote in the missive sent from his prison cell in Germany. Brueckner, 45, was pouring his heart out to anti-McCann supporter Isabelle McFadden, who insists he is innocent.

From front

In the letter to blogger Isabelle McFadden he writes: “I know already about at least five open cases against me. All of them including raping and abusing.” In the case of the Salema attack in April 2007, he said he had received ‘the complete file to read’. But he claims the BKA have ‘manipulated’ evidence in ‘an unprofessional way’ in partic-

BOOK HIM! EXCLUSIVE

In the letter also addressed to fellow McCann troll Ben Thompson, he wrote that he had been dreaming of being a writer for 20 years. He insisted it would make a lot of money as he was the most famous German in the world, adding darkly that ‘Hitler was Austrian’. The prisoner also compared himself to infamous gangster John Dillinger, who became America’s Public Enemy Number 1 in the 1930s.

ular, focussing on his teeth and protruding jaw. He continued that the BKA then sourced a 1999 prison dentist check up file and wrote that he had a protruding jaw. But he insisted it is ‘a fake’ and it is ‘definitely not me’ and that he will be able to prove it is not me when the case gets to court. However, in a further letter, written more recently to a German investigator, he admits that the case against him is extremely strong.

Charged

The letter given to the Olive Press by documentary film maker Jutta Rabe reads: “In the case of Joana the investigation file does not leave a single doubt that I was (the attacker).” Olive Press police sources in Germany meanwhile told the paper he will be formally charged with three sex crimes this month.

Dummy run to Spain side Barranco beach, near Praia da Luz, where three-year-old Maddie went missing while on holiday on May 3, exactly 15 years ago. The van, which Brueckner had borrowed from a German mechanic friend, had been taken on ‘a potential dummy run’ along the Costa del Sol to Almeria from Portugal just weeks before Maddie went missing. “It was him. He is guilty,” Felgueiras said. “The key point is that Wolters doesn’t deny it.”

Claims

It comes as a documentary on Spanish crime channel AMC claimed that Brueckner is NOT guilty of snatching the toddler. Ex-policeman Mark Williams Thomas claimed that the German police investigation has got it entirely wrong. He says the facts are ‘inaccurate and misleading’ and he told the Daily Mail that his programme ‘blows their claims to smithereens’. Felgueiras said: “Mark is wrong. He (has an agreement) with Brueckner and his lawyer.” In particular, he claimed that Brueckner had an alibi on the night as he was illegally having sex in his van with a 17-yearold girl many miles away in Carvoiera. Yet, he himself admits in the Daily Mail article that she CANNOT give him an alibi for the actual night in question.

NEWS FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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OPINION Wrong man for the job EXPERTS say that the search for Maddie has so far cost in excess of £13 million. This is an eye-watering sum of money made even more inexplicable by the persistent failings of authorities to uncover hard evidence of what happened to Maddie. But is it any wonder that finding the truth has been so difficult when the former lead investigator continues to believe that the McCann’s were in fact the culprits of the grave crime? Such a claim has been persistently debunked. But, given that in those early days lead investigator Goncalo Amaral was so obviously prejudging what happened,is it any wonder that the case remains unsolved 15 years later?

Out of touch much? James Cleverly’s select committee gaffe is just the latest proof that some in Westminster couldn’t give a monkeys about Britain’s overseas territories. It is derisory that the Minister of State for Europe had no idea of the struggles Brits have had crossing the frontier, but he is far from the first British representative to treat Gibraltar with such disdain. In November of last year, MPs from parties across the political divide were reported to have had a booze up while on a plane to Gib, before rocking up hungover for an event put on to give politicians an insight into military life that coincided with Armistice Day. Worse still was the revelations by former Labour cabinet minister Peter Hain who revealed the then PM Tony Blair signed a secret agreement in April 2002 that would have ended Britain’s sole control of Gibraltar so as to curry favour with EU top brass. For a territory that identifies so strongly with Britain, it should not be too much to ask for mandarins to show a bit more respect towards it. PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

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JUSTICE FOR MADDIE INCHES NEARER

15 years of pain could soon be over as global interest surrounds a German becoming an official suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, writes Jon Clarke, author of My Search for Madeleine

E had just finished a light lunch in solitary confinement at Oldenburg Prison when five men pulled him over and ushered him into a side

room. As shocked as his fellow inmates and with his lawyer opting not to attend, Christian Brueckner, 45, had to think quickly. The convicted paedophile and rapist (pictured below) opted to say nothing, crossing his arms and staring at the five policemen - two Portuguese and three Germans - who were finally grilling a man over one

of the world’s most baffling crimes. Describing himself as the ‘most known bad person in the world’, Brueckner is certainly globally famous going on the dozen-plus interview requests I have fielded from as far as Australia and Chile over the last 10 days. I have always thought Maddie was abducted and my heart missed a beat on hearing the recent announcement that Brueckner was now an official suspect, particularly having recently put him on the cover of a book I published on the case last year. It has been a long time in coming since a German prosecutor announced in June 2020 that ‘Christian B’ was the ‘prime suspect’ in the abduction of Madeleine McCann. While the wheels of justice might seem to be grinding slowly, the German prosecutors have been working hard to get their ducks in a row before charging their dangerous felon with more crimes. For the last six years between 10 and 100 German officers have been tasked with bringing him to justice. In Braunschweig alone - where the Madeleine investigation began in 2016 - they have been probing him on at least six separate crimes, I can reveal. Lead prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters is imminently planning to lay four charges at his door, three involving children and one the vicious rape of a 20-year-old Irish woman.

Como Pedro por su casa ‘Taking a liberty’ ‘Like Pedro in his house’, is a generally derogatory way to describe a person who seems comfortable in an environment not their own. It refers to the Aragon king, Pedro I, and his easy victory against the Muslim caliphate at the battle of Alcoraz in 1096 which, in turn, led to the conquering of Huesca. The original phrase is likely to have been ‘Like Pedro through Huesca’ but the word ‘casa’ appeared over time. These days, it means taking advantage of someone.

A caballo regalado, no le mires el diente ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ Basically the same in English: ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ and is used as a reminder to be grateful for a gift and not find fault in it. It refers to the ancient practice of determining a horse’s age by looking at the state of its teeth.

En boca cerrada no entran moscas ‘Silence is golden’ ‘No flies can enter a closed mouth’ advises one to keep quiet on certain subjects or face the consequences – or basically ‘Think before you speak’. It is believed to have originated in the 16th century, during the reign of Charles I who was famous for his Hapsburg chin, a congenital condition that caused a distinctive protruding jaw and left him frequently open-mouthed. During a visit to Calatayud, a local once told him: ‘Close your mouth, your Majesty, the flies of this kingdom are mischievous’.

He and his co-prosecutor Uta Lindemann have ‘nearly everything they need’ to bring a murder charge over Madeleine, who went missing at the age of three (she would be 18 today) from her holiday home in Praia da Luz, on the Algarve, on May 3, 2007. That the Portuguese also now think he is guilty of the crime is nothing more than a convenient side-show in this infamous missing person case. Naming him as an ‘arguido’ (which translates as ‘person of interest’ or ‘official suspect’) on April 20, means the magnifying glass zooms ever closer on his movements in early 2007. The Portuguese police now have years to continue probing him and don’t have to worry about the statute of limitations running out as they otherwise would have on May 4, which will be 15 years since the crime. Being able to get into prison and talk to the suspect was a major coup for the pair of PJ officers sent by the Portimao Justice department. Their investigation is being led by the DIAP in Faro (Portimao section) with the assistance of the Judiciary Police (PJ), and ‘with the cooperation of the English and German authorities’. They had been negotiating for months to visit Brueckner at the prison and were joined by three detectives from the German

Watch what you say Quintessential Spanish proverbs with ancient origins to impress your friends

NCE you have more than a basic grasp of Spanish you’ll begin to realise that in common parlance conversation is peppered with delightful and sometimes downright puzzling phrases. Every language around the world has typical adages, sayings that are so often used that native speakers

know their meaning, even if their historical origins have been forgotten. But for the outsider who is learning the lingo, these refrains can leave you scratching your head. Here is Elena Goçmen Rueda’s pick of her favourite proverbs with origins that lie far back in Spanish history:

A buenas horas, mangas verdes ‘You’ve missed the boat’ Meaning ‘Good timing, green sleeves’ it is used sarcastically for someone failing to do something in time or arriving too late. It has its origins in the time of the Catholic monarchs when a particular brotherhood, whose members wore green sleeves, was charged with capturing bandits and wrongdoers. They chased them from town to town but, according to legend, this early police force had to be roused by church bells which provided ample time for a getaway and left them with a reputation for arriving too late to make an arrest.

Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda ‘You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’ ‘A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey’, it reminds us to accept what we are and that faults cannot be hidden by mere cosmetic improvements. Tomas de Iriarte, a Spanish neoclassical poet, wrote the fable La Mona inspired by this saying in 1782, but the exact origin is unknown. The equivalent could be ‘You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’ or more colloquially ‘you can’t polish a turd’.

May 4th - May 17th 2022

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AUTHORITATIVE: Clarke was first on the scene as police arrived

SHAMEFUL: Former leader of the investigation still claims McCanns are gullty, while (right) Brueckner’s motorhome BKA police headquarters, in Wiesbaden. While going through accepted Europol procedures, there is ‘no way’ the Germans are going to allow him to be extradited to Portugal. “All the good police work that established him as the prime suspect happened here and he will definitely be charged by the German authorities,” explained a BKA source. “We are currently going through the official extradition paperwork with Italy, where he was last a free man. It will take a couple of months.” The interview at Oldenburg prison - dubbed ‘Germany’s Alcatraz’ for its incredibly high-security - lasted ‘just over an hour’. “The Portuguese turned up with a list of 20 questions, but he refused to answer a single one,” added the source. It came as ‘a massive surprise’ for Brueckner when he walked out of lunch (he eats alone, exercises for one hour alone and meets no other prisoners) and was con-

El perro del hortelano, ni come ni deja comer al amo ‘Temptress’ or ‘prick-teaser’ ‘Being led on’ or ‘blue ball’ ‘The gardener’s dog neither eats, nor lets his master eat’ and is used to describe a person who not only doesn’t enjoy something themself but also prevents others from enjoying it. Often only the first part (‘El perro del hortelano’) is used and the second part is taken for granted. First emerging in the 11th century, the proverb is famously the title of a play from the Golden Age, a comedy written between 1613 and 1615 by playwright Lope De Vega.

La mancha de una mora, con otra mora se quita ‘Plenty more fish in the sea’ ‘A blackberry stain is removed with another blackberry’ may sound like an old laundry tip, but it has an entirely different meaning. This Spanish proverb is used to explain that a broken heart is best mended with a new love affair or, as the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau said, ‘There is no remedy for love but to love more’.

fronted by the group. His lawyer Friedrick Fulcher had been advised of the interview and charges. “But he said he did not have time to go, it was too far away and it would ‘not change anything anyway’,” added the source. He later told Bild newspaper however, that it was merely a ‘procedural issue’ and the media should not ‘overestimate’ the moves. But I believe it would be foolish to underestimate them. Making Brueckner an official suspect will help to stem the cynical whispering campaign by the thousands of trolls, who still believe the parents are guilty of killing their daughter. The former chief of police who led the original investigation, Goncalo Amaral, still implies they are guilty and even wrote a best-selling book on his beliefs. It is little known that the ex-detective was made an arguido - and later convicted for corruption and the covering up of a beating of a false confession - over another missing child case just ONE day before Maddie went missing. This is the man whose force failed to close the border for 48 hours and failed to stop over two dozen people traipsing through the crime scene during the first 12 hours. The facts today point the finger directly at Brueckner. As I laid out in my book, he has not only confessed his links to the crime to a number of former friends, girlfriends and associates, but was also on the phone for half an hour in the vicinity of the abduction less than two hours before Maddie went missing. In addition, he knew well and regularly burgled the Ocean Club holiday complex she was staying at and kept dozens of stolen passports, watches and wallets at his home, just outside Praia da Luz. According to one girlfriend of the time, he went on a long journey north that night in his winnebago, a vehicle in which he claimed he could smuggle children ‘in a secret compartment’. One of his flatmates Micha Tatschl (who later became a cell mate) told me he spent a lot of time on the dark web and regularly ‘talked about snatching children and selling them in Morocco’. And then he was caught telling a friend in a Skype chat that he ‘wanted to trap’ a small child and keep her for days. And let’s not forget that a few years ago police dug up a stash of ‘up to 20,000’ pictures, videos

and other documents, some almost certainly linked to the case, at an isolated box factory, owned by Brueckner in Lower Saxony. Crucially, he himself appeared in some of the videos that involved rape, bestiality and child porn. And his most recent conviction was for the sadistic rape of an American pensioner, 72, in her home in Praia da Luz, which he carried out on film, in 2005. He got seven years after being caught when police matched a hair of his at the villa, which is just 500 metres from the Ocean Club. The list goes on, but Brueckner has been prosecuted at least 17 times twice for child sex abuse - and probably should have been many more times. I’ve been investigating this sadistic narcissist for 22 months now and carefully catalogued his sick and sordid life, but maybe the last word should go to Brueckner himself. A man keener to use the media than proper legal channels to prove his innocence, his so-called ‘alibi’ will be announced in a documentary set to air on Spain’s AMC crime channel on May 3. And in one letter, published by Mail Online last week, he wrote: “I made some silly mistakes when I was younger but who hasn't?” Then referring to the Maddie case he continued: “Perhaps I was a suspect after all they found out about me. Drug dealer, breaking into houses, living in cars and there was something with kids when I was 17.” It is, as if, from the age of 18, when he became an adult he suddenly became a fine upstanding member of society.. Fortunately the German police don’t believe his alibi and as well as having a dozen key witnesses, they also have some sort of document that proves his guilt. It is why Hans Christian Wolters says he is ‘100% certain’ he is guilty and why I’m convinced this evidence will soon damn him to eternity and once and for all solve this abhorrent, pernicious crime that has troubled the world for a decade and a half. Jon Clarke’s book My Search for Madeleine is available on Amazon

LISTEN UP!

IT back and relax. The definitive book on the complicated Madeleine McCann case is now available as an audiobook. My Search for Madeleine by Olive Press editor Jon Clarke is being released this week to tie in with the 15th anniversary of her abduction in Portugal in 2007. Whether you are a frequent traveller or busy housewife/husband, all 11 hours, 14 minutes of the 46-chapter tome can be heard on leading platforms including Amazon’s Audibl and iTunes. Narrated by Clarke himself, it spans the early years after the British toddler was snatched from her holiday home on the Algarve to a deep dive into the life of the prime suspect Christian Brueckner over the last two years. The investigative journalist - who was the first to arrive in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007 - has visited Germany twice and Portugal dozens of times while researching the book. As well as also finding numerous links to Brueckner in Spain, he met and interviewed dozens of friends of the German paedophile, who was made an ‘arguido’, or official suspect, in Portugal on April 20. Listen carefully as he builds a painstakingly detailed case against the 17-times convicted sex offender and exposes the many flaws in the original police investigation. “This is a world class True Crime book and a solid piece of public interest journalism,” said former Sunday Mirror Investigations Editor Graham Johnson. “Tirelessly researched and told me a lot of things I didn’t know about the case,” added Martin Brunt, Sky News Crime Correspondent. “A Herculean effort,” insisted Robbyn Swan and Anthony Summers, authors of Looking for Madeleine. The book was created thanks to the excellent services of www.bookmarketing.pro

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: stops women going for an abortion be1-ingSpain hassled by pro life protestors outside clinic as Brits fall foul of beefed up Spa2- Confusion nish border rules crossing from Gibraltar in Spain 2021 full list of dates 3- Bankforholidays every Autonomous Community probed over vicious beating of 4- Russians Ukrainian man inside Costa Blanca bar in Spain Concerns raised after Spanish police tighten 5-checks on Brit travelers crossing border from Gibraltar

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REEF RELIEF

Project to recover coral in danger off Spanish coast By George Mathias

SCIENTISTS are attempting to restore the coral reefs of La Herradura in Granada. The project is being conducted by the NGOs Coral Soul and Coral Guardian in partnership with the universities of Cadiz, Sevilla and Granada. So far the team have successfully introduced nursery-grown corals some 30 metres deep. The reefs between La Herradura and neighbouring Almuñecar are home to lots of endangered marine life, but have been decimated in recent years thanks to pollution and climate change. The ecosystem is home to a unique coral species called candelabrum which is not found anywhere else in the world. Waste The team has also removed 800 kilograms of waste from the reef, most of which had been caused by fishing. The team said: “We are calling for the need to support the proposal to ban recreational fishing, it is necessary to protect the area. “We are not against fishing, but we are against the consequences of the activity in Punta de la Mona. There are many places to practise the sport on the coast.” The NGOs are also putting on environmental awareness activities and are organising a conference with Almuñecar town hall.

GREEN

May 4th - May 17th 2022

FINCA CORTESIN golf club, which hosts the 2023 Solheim Cup, has scooped an environmental award. The club in Casares (Malaga) announced it has been become the first golf course in Spain to be awarded the Acosol seal of quality, an award which recognises ‘exceptional water management methods’. For 15 years the club has been using a water recycling system which replenishes the irrigation using regenerated water. Managing Director and President of the club,

On the green Vicente Rubio Morch said: “The award is a culmination of many years of hard work from the team at the resort and it aptly reflects the positive moves we are making to guarantee our sustainability position, ahead of hosting next year’s Solheim Cup.” The tournament will see the best female golfers from Europe and the US go head-to-head on September 18-24.

EU trying to force Spain to clean up its act

SPAIN IS FILTHY

T hurts me to say it (I love Spain) but it’s true that Spain is filthy. And I’m not the only one who thinks this. Supermarkets across Europe (notably Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidl and Aldi) are threatening to boycott purchasing fresh produce from Andalucia and Murcia. Why? Because Spanish law is lax and ineffective. The government and regional authorities have failed miserably to clamp down on illegal irrigation practices in the Mar Menor and the Donana wetlands. The supermarket chains are right. No one with a conscience will buy and consume fresh fruit and vegetables from regions where the intensive farming practices are clearly destroying the ecosystem and endangering life. Last week these massive supermarket chains demanded in writing that the government of Andalucia take action against the illegal irrigation in the protected Donana national park. I think it’s good news for the environment and consumers when Tesco publicly states that ‘we do not buy lettuce from Campo de Cartagena because they do not meet environmental requirements’. Thumbs up to Tesco! Spain is a massive producer for Europe. • Last year Murcia exported 2.7 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables (€2,900 million worth). • 70% of strawberries grown in Andalucia go to the international market. • Spain is the biggest producer of blueberries in Europe and the second largest producer of raspberries Wouldn’t it be better to grow this produce in an environmentally aware manner?

POLLUTION: One of the main culprits in Spain is the massive scale pig farming

Green

THE EU TAKES SPAIN TO COURT AGAIN

The EU law is very simple. Even politicians should be able to understand it. If a town has more than 15,000 inhabitants then it HAS TO COMPLY with EU legislation regarding sewage treatment. Spain has already been fined millions of euros. And now it faces far bigger action from the EU. The European Union is taking action against 133 towns across the country. The first case resulted in a €12.3 million fine against the Junta de Andalucia related to four towns - Coin , Nerja , Alhaurin el Grande and Estepona. Estepona responded and has resolved its issues. If Estepona can do it ,why can’t other towns? The ‘guilty list’ is long and makes for painful reading. The length of this list serves to reinforce how incapable Spain is of acting within the European guidelines. A good example of Spain’s inaction is Cartama. Cartama’s sewage is being released into the Guadalhorce river, along with sewage from Alhaurin el Grande. This will carry on until the new Malaga-Norte sewage plant is built. Work hasn’t even started yet! With luck it may come into operation late 2025. Really! FERTILISING US TO DEATH Nitrate water pollution is threatening people and ecosystems in Spain. It’s not just in Spain.......approximately half of Europe’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters contain dangerous substances. One of the main culprits in Spain is the massive scale pig farming. Spain is Europe’s biggest pig meat exporter. Castilla y Leon is one of the most prolific pig farming areas in Europe. If you visit Zamora the farms are easy to see. The problem they cause is nothing new. Pig manure is collected in tanks and then spread across neighbouring fields. When the ground cannot absorb any more, the excrement leaks into the groundwater and contaminates it. In certain areas of Spain’s pig farming regions the groundwater nitrate levels are up to 400% higher than

MAR MENOR: several ‘mass death’ events have left tonnes of dead fish on the shore the legal threshold of 50mg per litre. The problem continues to grow. According to Greenpeace data in 2000 around 60 municipalities were affected by nitrate pollution in the region of Castilla y Leon. That figure is now over 700. Once again Spain’s inability to conform has been referred to the European Court of Justice. If a country like Spain is willingly a member of the EU, how can it blatantly disregard the law? Instead of grasping the nettle and resolving the problem, it chooses to mask the problem. In Mar Menor, the beach of Los Nietos is raked every morning to collect rotting algae on the shoreline. Algae grows uncontrollably, nourished by nitrates from farm fertilisers. Data shows that tonnes of nitrates go into the lagoon every day. Complaints are systematically ignored. Get this.....The President of the Campo de Cartagena Farmers Association, Manuel Martinez Madrid, said: “There’s no reason to believe it contributes to the poor state of the Mar Menor.” How can he sleep at night? Maybe the brown envelopes under his bed help. All the problems caused by lack of sewage treatment and nitrate pollution are man made. I hope the EU takes the Spanish government properly to the cleaners.

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ll about

Vol. 14 Issue 393

Estepona

HIDDEN GEM I WAS sitting in the sunshine, squinting at the Med and wondering if I would be brave enough to take a dip. I had the beach to myself, save from some dogs splashing their owners along the seafront and athletic locals playing beach volleyball in their swim-

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May 2022

Estepona, on the western Costa del Sol, is stepping out of the shadow of glitzier Marbella, writes Kirsty McKenzie wear. It was exactly 19 degrees – in March – and I was wearing a bikini.

In short, I was in heaven. Or Estepona, to be more precise. Once a fishing village, Estepona is a small town in Malaga province

that combines a charming old town with 21km of beaches offering sea views of Gibraltar and, on a clear day, north Africa.

Something of a hidden gem on the Costa del Sol, Estepona thankfully doesn’t make the usual lists of popular weekend destinations, like Mijas, Ronda or Marbella. As a result, it has maintained Continues overleaf

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ll about

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AUTHENTICLY CHARMING its authentic charm and beauty while providing all the essential Spanish beach and tapas bar culture of its more popular siblings along the coast. I’ll admit, I felt slightly smug watching my fellow travellers disembark from the bus and head towards

Puerto Banus. I knew something they didn’t: that just a few kilometres from the garish glitz of party town Marbella, there was a place with an undisturbed coastline, with low, square buildings painted in pristine white, and flowers blooming in the doorways. One of southern Spain’s best kept secrets, Estepona is nothing if not enchanting, particularly out of season. As I rolled my suitcase through the centre in search of my hotel, I felt like Dorothy on her first trip to Oz. There were no clouds in the skies, no swarms of tourists on the beach. It was only just spring but the whole town was in bloom – the jasmine and bougainvillaea tumbling down the white walls were almost fluorescent – and the trees were filled with oranges. I

Estepona

arrived at noon at The Old Town Hotel on Calle Caridad, a pristine adults only boutique hotel on one of Estepona’s prettiest streets in the heart of the old town. It opened in 2021 after husband and wife Simone and Giusy un-

dertook massive renovations on a once crumbling townhouse. It’s certainly paid off. Estepona’s warm climate and mountain-view setting lend itself well to rooftop terraces and the Old Town Hotel has one of the

SERENE: Estepona’s coastline thrives without hoards of people

best. I take in the stunning views before settling down for a sundrenched early siesta. With close to 300 sunny days a year in Estepona, it’s hard to ignore the miles of golden sands. Despite donning my bikini and

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11 May 2022

heading for the beach, I eventual- – with the sort of abandon that ally decided it was not quite swim- ways seizes me on the first night ming weather and settled instead of any trip to Spain. for listening to the crash of the I ended the evening with a stroll waves as I tucked into an alfresco around the old town, walking belunch at El Pescador. yond the bell tower and up to the As I washed down cloudy Gam- hilltop church, stopping only to bas Pil Pil with ice-cold Albariño take in the poetry enshrined on I asked myself why I’d spent all the whitewashed walls. those years dashing off to other Unsurprisingly, the next morning places on the Costa del Sol, when started slowly with a languid wanits best bits were right here all der along the newly refurbished along. seafront promenade. I also found time for a dinner, The pedestrian pathway is quintonce again accompanied by bone- essentially Spanish, drenched in dry, white wine, at Bodeguita del sunshine and flanked by palms. Chato. Run by beToddlers in sun hats loved local wine conwaddled along handnoisseur Pedro and in-hand with their A languid his wife and daughparents, locals chatter, the family serves ted over gins at the wander along up some of the best joggers the refurbished chiringuitos, tapas in town. pounded the promI grabbed the only enade, and couples seafront vacant seat at the strolled along the promenade buzzing bar, balancsands. ing on a stool and I decided to wake watched as my tapas up my weary muswere prepared right in front of cles with a cycle along the coast, me. Pedro’s wife arranged freshly and, setting off after a breakfast cut Manchego cheeses on crispy of fresh orange juice and tostada bread and generously heaped con tomate at the hotel, I cycled tomatoes sauce on top of silky happily along the sunny waterravioli just a metre or two away. front snapping pictures of the Naturally I ordered both, and de- fishermen on the beaches to my voured the Manchego in a single right and marvelling at the height greedy bite. of the mountains to my left. Sitting at the bar it was easy to Cycling back was equally easy, chat to staff and locals alike and the path keeping me away from soon I was barrelling through the traffic that was making its glasses of wine and ordering more way up to the town’s main road. dishes – including a boa bun with Back in the old town, I visited Darjuicy fillet steak and tangy cy’s on Calle San Antonio hoisin sauce and was invited to try the full range of their glorious cheeses.

There was more food to discover next door where I spent a happy hour discussing wine and local produce with the lovely German owner of restaurant-art gallery Huber. My next visit to Estepona will be a longer one. There’s simply too many restaurants and bars to enA lot more than just clothes! – Mucho más que moda! joy in the old town alone. On the bus back to Malaga I was reunited with those Marbella weekenders. They had obviously had one hell of a party, but I couldn’t help feeling they had missed out on something. To them, Estepona was just another spit of land on Spain’s southern coast. To me, it is a contender for my second home. After all, once you find paradise, why We are on Calle Nueva, just one minute from the center of the city and the public would you want parking lots, the beach and the lovely cafes where you can rest after shopping. to leave? We offer you comfortable, natural, 100% linen, exclusive fashion with a lot of colour and style and much more... Come and see us... Be happy! Estamos en la Calle Nueva, tan sólo a un minuto del centro de la cuidad; muy cerca de los parking públicos, de la playa y al lado de preciosas cafeterías donde puedes descansar después de la compros. Te ofrecemos moda cómoda con mucho estil y colorido, natural 100% lino y mucho más... Ven a vernos... Se feliz!

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az agone of them.n R been Te a so ril Veering left after the aplaza, ña lo onto Avenida España, you are confronted by an endless succession of restaurants and ice cream parlours. Try El Rincon Toscano, a delicious and unpretentious Italian restaurant, or Mexa, an excellent Mexican with especially good food for vegetarians (make sure to get the jackfruit tacos). Hipsters out there can get a flat white to go at Manila Café Bar, before entering into the old town and passing the stunning Parroquia Nuestra Señora De Los Remedios, a beautiful church with a distinctly Andalucian flavour. Ready for refreshment? Drop into the Gran Vino, an excellent wine bar specialising in Italian wine. It’s the kind of place that will tempt you into acting like a connoisseur before you are sussed out as an ignoramus by the expert waiters. I can recommend the Valpolicella Verona. Or if cervezas are more your thing, then a few hundred yards further along,

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With friendly locals and a vast Calle Terraza, you’ll pass a array of tapas and drinking glass-domed building with bars along its narrow cobbled whiteCafacade – the Estepona lle Pilar de Farinós streets, Estepona is the ideal Orchid House, where more town for a stroll. Mthan 1300 species of orchids s a de l Begin at the north end, are on show. C a minoin I Avenida Andalucia where Stop for coffee and pastries at many of the residential build- nearby Tahona de Chana. The lle ve R osa ings are adorned by enchantcafe has an ideal central locaro lía ing murals. Continuing onto d tion, butOchjust before the hustle oa and bustle of the bars. sas Me There’s a fish and seafood restaurant with a decent t nia sse hearty GaSpanish menu oppoto e y L a site,rtegbut further down you’ll arO rive at Estepona’s busiest plall e z Ca de én Antonio Guerreza – the Plaza M iz u R ro – where both the Freiduria al ób ist and eLa Cr Taberna de Juan make ll perfect spots for a beer and a Ca bite to eat. ueva N From there, walk a few hunrta ue eH dred Cyards down the road and all to the right, and you’ll find the charming Plaza de Flores. The early afternoon, when it is quiet, is the best times to enjoy the peace and appreciate the full spectrum of colourful flowers around the ornate fountain. Later, the plaza is transformed into a hotspot for sangria-drinking Brits – on occasion, I have lle

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you’ll find El Capote on Calle Viento, a secluded bar that is great value for money. After that, head down to the beach. Despite the number of vehicles on the sand and the considerable maintenance work in preparation for the summer onslaught, the view of the sea remains glorious. Walking along this beach never gets old, especially hailing

as I do from Hampshire where the closest thing we have to the costas is Bournemouth – even if that is in Dorset. Return to Avenida Andalucia, passing the understated but decent Cafeteria Delta, and finish at Parque el Calvario. The park makes a fitting end to a 5 kilometre walk that takes about

an hour and a half and allows you to do more than scratch the surface of this traditional yet vibrant town.

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Mural magic

T’S quite literally the most offthe-wall collection of urban art on the Costa del Sol. Everyone from top international artists to creative prison inmates have contributed to Estepona’s amazing al fresco art gallery of murals glamming up bleak concrete buildings around town. Every other high rise is bursting with colour and imaginative designs – from dancers and divers to optical illusions which deceive the eye from a distance. One of the latest additions to the ‘Artistic Murals Route’ is Atlantis by Jose Fernandez Rios, located on Avenida de los Reales. Another example of Rios’ work is the gardener cutting bougainvillea on the side of Victor de la Serna school. Likewise, the impressive Fishing Day mural occupies 1,000m2 across six separate buildings – and holds the record as the largest vertical mural in Spain. Artistic inmates of Alhaurin prison meanwhile created sixmetre-long metal sculptures for one mural which recreates the sea floor as part of the Moraga Collective initiative. Erin Aman, whose work is featured in San Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, is another of the famous contributors to the offbeat outdoor expo.

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LA CULTURA Looking Rosalia

SPANISH superstar Rosalia has announced a massive world tour that kicks off in Andalucia and takes in 12 dates in Spain. The tour to promote breakthrough album Motomami will include 46 shows in 15 countries beginning on July 6 with a gig in Almeria before moving on to cities including Fuengirola, Sevilla, Granada, Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Barcelona, La Coruña and Palma. From Spain, the singing sensation will go on to South America to performing in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Argentina before moving north for a series of concerts across the US scheduled for Boston, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco among others. Later this year, she will return to Europe with concerts scheduled in Portugal, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium the UK and ending in Paris..

May 4th - May 17th 2022

UNESCO Malaga MALAGA City Council has approved a proposal to put forward the declaration of the Gibralfaro mountain and Calle Alcazabilla as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Urban Cultural Landscape Category. According to Councillor for Culture Noelia Losada, the site includes the Gibralfaro Castle and the Alcazaba, together with the Roman Theatre and the surroundings of the Jewish quarter of Malaga as a historical enclave in which the civilisations that have settled in the city throughout history, from the Phoenician, Roman, Muslim and Christian conquest to the present day.

PISSARRO THE ACTION

Fight over Nazi-looted painting on display in Museo Thyssen A JEWISH family is fighting a Spanish museum for a priceless painting they were forced to surrender to the Nazis. Lilly Cassirer and her husband surrendered Camille Pissarro’s impressionist masterpiece Rue Saint-Honore dans l’apres-midi. Effet de pluie to the Third Reich ahead of the holocaust in 1939, but their heirs - who have been involved in a legal battle for 20 years want it returned. The piece, created in 1897 and worth well in excess of €40 million, has been held at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum in Madrid since 1993. The museum argues it has legal ownership but the family’s lawyer David Boies disagrees.

By Dilip Kuner

FIND: A hidden world in Osuna

Digging up the past LIMESTONE burial vaults dating back 2,500 years have been discovered during building works in the Andalucian town of Osuna. The rare archeological find was uncovered during building work to upgrade water supplies in the town which lies 90km east of Sevilla on the way to Antequera. The hidden burial vaults date back to the fourth or fifth century BC when the Iberian peninsula was occupied by the Phoenicians, long before the Romans settled the town, which they named Urso. Archaeologists have so far uncovered eight burial vaults linked by staircases and atriums which they described as similar to necropolises discovered at the ancient site of Tharros on Corsica and in the Tunisian sites of Kerkouan and Sahel. However, such a find is ‘unprecedented in inland Andalucia’. Similar burial grounds have been discovered along the coast but are rare so far inland and it is suggested Osuna may have been a settlement long before the Romans arrived. Mario Delgado, who is leading the team of archaeologists at the site said the find had been ‘completely unexpected’ and due to the age and state of conservation unlike any other archaeological find in the region. “To find a necropolis from the Phoenician and Carthaginian era with these characteristics – with eight well tombs, atriums and staircase access – you’d have to look to Sardinia or even Carthage itself,” he said.

He said: “This is an issue that is critically important not only in terms of trying to right terrible wrongs that had their origin in the Nazi persecution of the Jews but also to establish principles that are very important to what's happening now in the world.”

Law

A California court’s decision in 2020 that the case should proceed under US Federal law rather than California State law seemed to have ended the matter in the museum’s favour. But now a US Supreme Court ruling has referred it back to the Californian

RONDA is gearing up for the annual International Guitar Festival which will bring a host of international artists playing a diverse range of guitar music. The festival, which takes place from June 6 to 11, prides itself on the diversity of the classical guitar with Flamenco, classical and Jazz just some of

court, opening up the possibility that the Thyssen museum will have to re-

Ronda rhythms the genres that will be on show. The performances will take place at the Congress and Exhibition Centre Santo Domingo right in the heart of Rondas old town marking the sixth International Guitar Festival. Artists from Spain, Greece, Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic will all be descending on the Spanish town. The festival said: “We are delighted to celebrate in the city of Ronda, the treasure and legacy that is the Spanish guitar!” Tickets range from €10 - €15 and can be bought at rondaguitarfestival.com.

turn the masterpiece to the heirs of Cassirer. She had inherited the piece in 1926, but had to hand it over to the Nazis in 1939 in order to get visas for her and her family to leave Germany in 1939. After the war she received the modern equivalent of $200,000 in compensation from the German government, but never gave up her claim to the painting. The artwork resurfaced in the United States in 1951, where its ownership changed hands several times.

Transferred

It was finally bought by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza for $300,000 in 1976 and was eventually transferred to the Thyyssen Museum in 1993. Representatives of the museum remain confident they will retain ownership of the piece, despite the Supreme Court ruling.

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PROPERTY Frozen at last

SPAIN has frozen 12 bank accounts, seized three luxury yachts and 23 properties linked to five Russian oligarchs. The sanctions imposed by EU institutions are coordinated in Spain by a recently created body and are linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A second body has been created and is responsible for coordinating the reception of refugees arriving in Spain, who now tally more than 130,000. The number of Ukrainian children attending school in Spain currently exceeds 15,400 and 72,000 applications for temporary protection have been granted.

May 4th - May 17th 2022

WHAT BREXIT?

More foreigners call Spain home than ever before, latest government stats reveal THERE are more foreign residents living in Spain than ever before, new data suggests Some six million foreigners were officially recorded as having residence in Spain in 2021, the highest number on record. The Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Services and Migration said the rise started prior to the pandemic with immigrants mainly coming from the UK

HOMES to rent in Spain are in increasingly short supply, according to property giant Idealista. They found the supply of rental housing has fallen by 37% during the first quarter of 2022 compared with last year. In Granada, there has been a whopping 64% reduction in p l a c e s

and EU. In addition, the number of third-country nationals obtaining Spanish residency permits rose by 3.6 per cent in 2021. Almost 60% of foreign residents came from the other EU Member States, with over two-million from third countries. Many of them were British ‘Brexit refugees’ who emigrated to Spain under the terms of the withdrawal

available to rent with Girona seeing a 62% fall. Sevilla and Malaga have seen a drop of 50% in the number of houses and apartments to let. The only places to buck this trend w e r e Palencia, w h i c h s a w rental housing availability increase by a quart e r ,

GOING DIGITAL agreement. Indeed, more UK nationals moved in 2021 to Spain than in many previous years with over 16,000 upping-sticks in that year alone, a 5% increase on 2020 figures. It is thought that the surge

Full house Huesca (14%) and Soria (7%). Idealista said: “Most Spanish capitals now have far fewer rental homes than there were a year ago.

may be due to people wanting to ensure permanent residency before the end of the transition period. Now that Britain has left the EU, British citizens can only stay in the county without a visa for 90 days at a time. The figures, which are based on the number of residence applications granted, show that by the end of 2021, there were 313,975 British passport holders with official residence in Spain.

Increase

The largest populations of foreigners who call Spain home are Romanians followed by Moroccans, then Brits. The average age of foreign residents is 40, with slightly more men than women (52%). Spain’s foreign resident population has increased by almost a fifth in the last five years.

Supply

At the provincial level, the situation has been similar in the last year. Granada registered the greatest drop in supply, followed by Barcelona and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

SPAIN has experienced a 25% increase of interest in property from foreign buyers over the first quarter of this year. This is part of a wider trend observed across Europe by property portal Kyera of increased interest in the property market from overseas. This is thanks to the rise of digital nomads looking to base themselves abroad while working online post-Covid, with new visas being put in place to encourage this.

Nomads

Spain is getting ready to launch its own digital nomad visa for non-EU citizens, which will allow holders to settle temporarily in the country while working for companies outside of Spain, without having to apply for the traditional full work visa. Plans for the new visa are part of the Spanish government’s new ‘Startup Act’, first approved in late 2021. Indications suggest it will be a 12-month visa with two chances to renew, thus allowing digital nomads to remain in Spain for up to three years.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1

11 12

18 19

OP SUDOKU

Across 1 Source of fibre (4) 4 Chic male messed about in the laboratory (8) 8 Take too much (8) 9 Little girl’s little girl (4) 10 Iced (5) 11 --- Donan castle (6) 13 Round directional aerial (4) 14 “Bad idea” (3) 15 “They also serve who only stand and ---” (John Milton) (4) 16 Shepherd or measles (6) 18 Sea north of Australia (5) 20 Wound by piercing with a sharp object (4) 21 Fitted out (8) 22 Make-believe (8) 23 Type of ice sheet (4) Down 2 Company with high staff turnover (9,4) 3 “Capital” of East Anglia (7) 4 Wooden-soled shoe (4) 5 Common sense Stevie Wonder lacks (8) 6 Private film-maker, informally (5) 7 Alcock and Brown made the first non-stop flight across it (8,5) 12 Practise (6,2) 15 “... not with a bang, but a ---” (T S Eliot) (7) 17 --- Butler, in “Gone With the Wind” (5) 19 Trick (4)

All solutions are on page 23

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

May 4th - May 17th 2022

Taking the lead

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS GIBRALTAR’S Minister for Culture, John Cortes, has praised chef Nico Fitzgerald in his mission to promote Gibraltarian culture. The chef and minister met last week and Cortes congratulated the entrepreneur on his recent successes. Fitzgerald is in the process of opening his own restaurant serving Gibraltarian food called Llanito in St. Alban’s, England.

Chef

He is not a stranger to the UK chef scene, making it to the quarter finals of BBC’s Masterchef: The Professionals 2021. Minister Cortes said that the plans ‘will be a great advertisement for Gibraltar, and I very much look forward to seeing them come true’.

Portugal stealing a march on Spain as it bids to slash airport queues PORTUGAL is hoping to get a march on Spain by scrapping post-Brexit airport security checks for Brits arriving at its airports. UK visitors to the country will be treated the same as EU nationals and will be able to use fast-track automatic gates. Portugal’s Foreigners and Border Service (SEF) has opened four new-generation e-gates at Lisbon Airport with similar facilities at Faro, THE Spanish minister of Tourism claims that Spain is the fourth most searched tourist destination in the world. Reyes Maroto confirmed that the Spanish tourist sector is at similar levels to pre-pandemic years, with hotel and tourist accommodation occupation matching the figures seen before Covid hit. She told Spanish broadcaster Antena 3 that official data showed ‘17.6

By Dilip Kuner

Porto and Funchal airports. The new regulations mean that UK citizens will not have to go through time-consuming manual passport controls when they arrive at the airport. Since Brexit, UK arrivals into EU nations have had to be treated as third-country nationals, according to EU legislation. But each member

state is free to introduce its own regulations – and Portugal is the first to do so for British citizens. It is being seen as a way of encouraging British tourism this summer - possibly at the expense of Spain. Meanwhile, the Olive Press continues to get reports of British travellers entering

Back on track million overnight stays in Spain in March’. With regards to employment, Reyes Maroto revealed that there are currently 2.4 million workers in the tourism industry. She credited government efforts to mitigate high energy costs as part of the reason for the recovery in tourism.

Spain via Gibraltar being asked for evidence they have €100 a day to spend. Some have also been asked for evidence of hotel or accommodation bookings.

Invitation

Ken Broomfield approached the Olive Press to explain: “My wife and I, both UK nationals, are in Gibraltar and occasionally visit Spain. Today my wife had great trouble in entering Spain to do some shopping as she was asked to provide evidence of her journey. “We asked the immigration official what would happen if we wanted to visit friends in Spain and were told we would need a written invitation. “This treatment is totally unacceptable and indicates to me that British people are not welcome in Spain. The immigration official exceptionally allowed my wife to enter.”

HOTEL AID

SPAIN’S tourism sector has launched a scheme to recruit Ukrainian refugees to work in hotels and holiday accommodation. The Confederación Española de Hoteles y Alojamientos Turísticos (CEHAT), the Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero (ITH) and beWanted has created a version of its job platform in the Ukrainian language to recruit the tens of thousands Ukrainains fleeing the Russian invasion.

Arrived

More than 134,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Spain since Putin sent his troops to invade Ukraine on February 24. CEHAT initially offered accommodation for Ukrainians who had no place to stay under a refugee scheme but they have now gone a step further in helping those who fled war to rebuild their lives in Spain.

How to invest in Spain Del Canto Chambers takes a look at the Golden Visa for investors

PAIN is known as one of the most attractive markets in Southern Europe for various foreign, EU and local investors. However, this scenario has not always been the case since the European financial crisis of 2008 hit our country hard when debt more than doubled (i.e. from 40% to 90% in 2013). Of course, by that time, the Spanish financial system was quite fragile and the government took some drastic measures, as well as some complex labour market reforms, to stabilise the market and the economy of our country. As a result, the Spanish economy revived with higher economic growth rates and a better/(improved?) account balance with the rest of the world. Spain also adjusted its legislation with regard to foreign investment, providing more incentives for the private sector, and generating greater security for investors. Spain is currently the thirteenth largest economy in the world and the fifth largest in Europe in terms of gross domestic product, and is expected to retain both positions for the next few years. Some of the most relevant sectors that can be found within the Spanish economy are real estate, renewable energies, tourism, the Forex market and mining. However, one of the biggest questions asked by some foreign investors is: How to invest in Spain? Golden Visa: Residence for entrepreneurs in Spain

In 2013, in order to stimulate foreign investments, the Spanish Government introduced Law 14/2013, of 27 September, on support for entrepreneurs and their internationalisation, which establishes that people from outside the European Union that invest in the country can obtain an investor residence permit (also called Spanish Golden Visa). There is no doubt that the Golden Visa offers several advantages to its applicants, the first is that, unlike any visa under the General Law on Foreigners, you can apply for this permit directly from Spain. In addition, it grants you the right to live and work in Spain for two years on an initial application (instead of just one year like

other residence authorisations). The Golden Visa will also allow you to renew your residence permit, and this time will be valid for you to apply for Spanish nationality. Obtaining this residence for investors in Spain will also allow you to: ● To circulate freely in the rest of the European countries of the Schengen area. ● Carry out the residency procedure at the Spanish Consulate or directly from Spain. ● Work in Spain as an employer or employee once the permit has been granted. ● That your family group lives in Spain, even if you as an investor do not reside here. ● To include your children over the age of 18 if they are economically dependent on you Additionally, unlike non-lucrative visas and residence permits under the General Law on foreigners, the Golden visa does not require a minimum stay of six months in Spain. As a matter of fact, you can renew it only by having entered the territory once. On top of all these advantages, the Spanish administration is resolving Golden Visa applications within 10-20 working days (usually a visa application under the General Law on foreigners can take up to 3 months). It should be noted that the Golden Visa is granted if you make an investment of a value equal to or greater than two million euros in Spanish public debt securities, or for a value equal to or greater than one million euros in shares or stock in Spanish companies, or bank deposits in Spanish financial institutions. Another equally valid and interesting option for many investors is to acquire the Golden Visa in Spain through the acquisition of real estate with an investment of 500,000 euros or more. Finally, you can also obtain your residence by investment if you

To make a no-obligation enquiry, please either call us now on: +44 2070 430 648 or make an online enquiry at www.delcantochambers.es

present a business project that can be developed in Spain and that is considered and accredited as being of general interest, since it would promote the creation of jobs, and would have a relevant socio-economic impact or a relevant contribution to scientific and/or technological innovation. In conclusion, obtaining a residence visa for investment in Spain is a quicker and simpler way for those interested in making a substantial investment in our country. It is precisely this ease of obtaining and maintaining it that has led to a large number of people having already benefited from it, as has happened in countries such as Portugal or France. You should bear in mind that on our website we offer key and timely information on various procedures or processes. However, in order to assess your possibilities, it is essential to receive a comprehensive analysis and advice based on your personal circumstances. Del Canto Chambers takes a personalised approach to each client, which is carefully tailored to their conditions, providing certainty throughout the process, and making our clients' applications successful.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

May 4th - May 17th 2022

@Lizy27

BELIEVE IN YOURSELFIE 2

Lavender fields, Guadalajara THESE beautiful lavender fields can be viewed from the town of Brihuega, less than an hour and a half from the capital. The fields sprawl across some thousand hectares of land adorned in lavender flowers, with the town establishing itself as one of the world’s major producers of the sought after scent. If you are planning on wowing your cybernaut pals then you should travel to this town during the Lavender Festival held annually in the second half of July.

The 10 most Instagrammable places in Spain

IS it really a holiday if you don’t post about it on Instagram? It’s a question to which many people under 30 would answer a resounding ‘No’. The Olive Press takes a look at some of the best spots that will make your followers jealous. proving that you don’t need to travel abroad to be the envy of all your friends.

THIS place is home to the most beautiful waterfalls Spanish geography can offer where you can fully disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city. The 16-metre waterfall near Ponferradas is manmade and was built to make use of the old El Pelgo hydroelectric power station. It is surrounded by nature and offers several routes for hiking enthusiasts that are sure to bring in the likes.

Cape Vidio, Asturias

4 LOCATED in the heart of the Gothic quarter of Barcelona, this mural is just as impressive from a distance as it is up close. As you approach it, the image is revealed to be rendered from 4,000 tiny kissing photographs. The street has become an obligatory visit for loved-up couples visiting the Catalan capital.

@inmavalentina_travel

The kissing wall, Barcelona

@ainhoapd

IF you want to recreate a true postcard view, any of the photos you take from this spot at Cape Vidio will do the trick. With its perfectly placed bench that allows you to observe the vastness of the Cantabrian Sea, it lends itself perfectly to that hallowed instagram snap. Around here there are several benches offering spectacular viewpoints that offer incredible views, but this is the pick of the bunch.

@comomolabarcelona

Salto del Pelgo, Leon

Mills of Consuegra, Toledo

THE municipality of Consuegra is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain and its iconic mills are a must-see. From the town you can follow the popular route described by Miguel de Cervantes Cervantes in Don Quixote as well as a trail towards the medieval castle and windmills which provide the perfect backdrop for a wistful insta pose.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

May 4th - May 17th 2022

7 Guell Park, Barcelona

8 5

3 6 Bolnuevo’s enchanted city, Murcia

@georgeariff

THIS outstanding and unique landscape is one of the jewels in the crown of Murcia, allowing you to see the origin of the formations of the sandstone rock that has been sculpted by water and wind over thousands of years, earning it its fitting name. During patron saint festivals it is used as a stage for some of the more outlandish religious celebrations.

Balcon de Europa, Malaga

THIS beautiful viewpoint with unrivalled views of the Mediterranean is mandatory viewing if you are in Nerja. The ancient fortress dating back to the ninth century is located on a sheer cliff that separates the beaches of Salon and Calahonda. The viewpoint has a centuries-old history, having been christened by King Alfonso XII when he visited the area in 1885, though the archaeological site on which the Balcon was built goes back to Roman times.

Viewpoint of San Nicolas, Granada

FROM this bustling and picturesque square in the Albaicin quarter you can enjoy unbeatable views of the Alhambra and bask in what many describe as the best sunset in Spain. Such is its beauty that many Spaniards and tourists alike flock to it every year to immortalise its views on the Gram. In fact, in 1997 former US President Bill Clinton described it as one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen.

@Edugesp

Oma Forest, Vizcaya THE colourful trees that make up this glorious forest come from an initiative by artist Agustin Ibarrola, who in 1982 decided to create his own open-air art gallery. Today it spans more than 4 hectares of land and is home to 50 artworks painted on different trees to form a unique cultural network. This little-known mountain route is the perfect getaway to spend a day immersed in nature and fill your instagram feed with colour.

@Aroa_segura

@larissavanlombergen

THIS public park with gardens and distinctive architecture is located in the foothills of the Collserola mountain range. Conceived as a housing estate, the park was designed by Antoni Guadi, a leading exponent of Catalan modernism, and commissioned by the businessman Eusebi Guell. Built in 1914, it was inaugurated as a public park in 1926 and is a famous stop off for visitors with a passion for true Spanish culture.

Dear Jennifer:

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Know what your insurance covers and don’t be under insured

NE area of our lives that we can control in order to protect both ourselves and our loved ones is insurance. Unfortunately, I still hear of people who refuse to insure themselves, their families and everything they own, which of course, is very unwise. I have already said these words – if in doubt, speak to one of my consultants, who will be able to help you ensure your policies are correct with the coverage you need. One example - are you confident that all of the seats in your vehicle are covered? Do not assume that all your seats automatically have cover. Is your house policy adequately insured – is the size and area correct, do you have enough contents cover, remembering that the kitchen is covered under contents? Have you made any changes or improvements to your home and have you updated your policy to include these? I can think of nothing worse than being told by an assessor that someone’s home is under insured and they do not have enough coverage on their policy for the repairs and replacements required. I am often informed that insurance companies are very good until you have to claim. This, of course, can be true but that is not always the fault of the insurer other than when it is sold on price only. Take great care when offered a cheap home insurance – make sure you know exactly what you are paying for and again I offer an extra service to you all – my consultants will be happy to explain your policies and coverage. If in our opinion, you are under insured but you choose to stay that way, that of course is your choice but not necessarily a very wise decision and with my staff there to help and advise you, there is no excuse for not being insured correctly.

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BUSINESS

GIBRALTAR has announced new regulations on cryptocurrency to prevent market manipulation. A new amendment introduced requires companies dealing in digital currencies to respect market integrity and prevent insider trading. The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission says crypto companies must stop the ‘manipulation or improper influencing of prices, liquidity or market information, or any other behaviour which is inimical to market integrity’.

May 4th May 17th 2022

Crypto crackdown Gibraltar has aimed to be a leader in cryptocurrencies, being the first jurisdiction to launch a legal and regulatory framework in 2018. The financial sector makes up around a third of Gibraltar’s economy. The embrace of bitcoin and sibling currencies is a risk, but with good regulation could make it a global cryptocurrency hub.

NEW KINAHAN VICTIM

Marbella-founded MTK Global boxers management company closed down US government sanctions on the Kinahan Irish mafia cartel have claimed their first business casualty. The MTK Global boxing management company has closed its doors after promoters told it they would no longer deal with any of their fighters. The company was set up under its original name of MGM by Irish gangland kingpin Daniel Kinahan in Marbella. Kinahan, who lived in a luxury villa in Estepona before moving to Dubai, is believed to control a €1 billion crime organisation. The UAE has now frozen the assets of the

KNOCKOUT: Daniel Kinahan with Tyson Fury

By Dilip Kuner

Kinahan family following the US sanctions. Kinahan put the money up to open the Macklin Gym Marbella (MGM) in 2012 with former Irish, British and European Middleweight Champion Matthew Macklin. Kinahan is the son of Irish underworld kingpin Christy Kinahan, known as ‘the dapper don.’ MGM quickly started to build a stable of top boxing talent and rapidly expanded its operations internationally

SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS

The U.S. government has offered a reward of $5 million for information that will lead to the ‘financial destruction’ of the Kinahan crime gang or the arrest and conviction of its leaders - Christy and his sons Daniel and Christy Junior

Sanctioning

“As a business we have faced unprecedented levels of unfair scrutiny and criticism since the sanctioning by the US Government of Daniel Joseph Kinahan,” a statement from MTK said.

DEAR GREEN SPACE AMANCIO Ortega, the richest man in Europe, has invested hundreds of millions in office space in Glasgow. The space, costing around £200 million, comprises 30,000 square feet and is as yet unfinished. The office is close to the centre of the city, less than five minutes from Central Station and will apparently have Virgin, BNP Paribas, and Transport Scotland as some of its tenants.

Portfolio

The move follows a string of UK acquisitions by the clothing magnate, with the portfolio of Pontegadea UK, the British subsidiary of Ortega’s property firm valued at around £2.8 billion with ownership of properties on Oxford Street, St. James Square, and Devonshire House, as well as a gigantic building by Piccadilly station. The Spaniard who founded the Inditex fashion group, was recently named the 23rd richest person in the world by Forbes magazine, with a $60 billion net-worth.

WANT TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY ON YOUR CURRENCY TRANSFERS? CALL, EMAIL OR VISIT US IN BRANCH! ESTEPONA Avd. España, nº 10, Local 5, Estepona, Málaga, 29680 estepona@currenciesdirect.com MARBELLA

GBP/EUR exchange rates seesaws on Ukraine concerns and central bank rate speculation, writes FX specialist Peter Loveday

Plaza de las Orquídeas, Calle Orquídea, Local 5, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella, Málaga, 29660 marbella@currenciesdirect.com +34 952 906 581

HE Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate continued to trade in a wide range through the second half of April as developments in Ukraine as well as shifting Bank of England (BoE) and European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate expectations infused the pairing with volatility. This has seen the pairing trade in a range of between €1.18 and €1.20.

Avda. Alcalde Clemente Díaz Ruíz s/n, Urb. Puebla Lucía, Edificio Leo, Local 1, Fuengirola, Málaga, 29640 fuengirola@currenciesdirect.com +34 952 906 581

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? The past couple of weeks have seen central banks back in focus, as market expectations for future interest rate hikes from both the BoE and ECB have shifted. This resulted in the pound stumbling amid a notable fall in BoE rate hike bets after the latest UK retail sales figures reported an alarming plunge in retail sales in March. The worrying fall in sales growth reinforced fears that a fall in consumer spending could leave the UK at risk of a recession in the summer, prompting GBP investors to reprice their expectations for several more rate hikes in 2022. At the same time, a series of hawkish speeches from ECB policymakers, such as Vice President Luis de Guindos who claimed an interest rate hike in July is ‘possible’ has resulted in EUR investors reassessing their expectations for how aggressively the bank could begin to tighten its monetary policy. This speculation was stoked by the latest Eurozone consumer price index, which reported inflation in the bloc soared to a new record high in April. Meanwhile, events in Ukraine have also continued to influence the GBP/EUR exchange rate through the second half of

FUENGIROLA

April. EUR investors were particularly unsettled by Russia’s move to block gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria, amidst fears it could also cut off energy exports to other countries in the EU over their refusal to pay in roubles. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR? A key focus over the next couple of weeks will be the outcome of the Bank of England’s May policy meeting. While the BoE is expected to deliver its fourth consecutive rate hike in May as it seeks to tame domestic inflation, the bank’s forward guidance may act as the main driving force behind the pound. A cautious outlook from the BoE would undoubtedly dent expectations for future interest rate hikes, and in turn push the GBP/EUR exchange rate lower. Meanwhile events surrounding the war in Ukraine will continue to have a major impact on GBP/EUR. This could see the euro face some considerable headwinds if Russia extends its gas export ban to other countries such as Germany. PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY At Currencies Direct we’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers. Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 325,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more.

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HEALTH STOP WINE-ING!

HEPATITIS PUZZLE

THE puzzling outbreak of hepatitis amongst children across Europe has arrived in Andalucia. One case has been confirmed and another reported as highly likely amongst two under 16s in Spain’s southern region, according to the Spanish health ministry’s Centre for Coordination of Health Warnings and Emergencies.

Worrying

The Balearics have also recorded their first case in Mallorca. These two make a total of 13 cases of the severe liver disease confirmed in Spain. The worrying trend is most pointed in the UK, where 108 cases of hepatitis in children have been registered. In eight of the UK cases, the children required a liver transplant. One child has already received a transplant in Spain. One death has also been confirmed in the UK.

Booze ban on Menu del Dia slammed as ‘fake news’

THE Ministry of Health has rubbished claims that bars and restaurants will be forced to exclude alcoholic drinks from their traditional Menu del Dia. The Ministry, along with the country’s 17 regions, however do want catering establishments to promote healthier eating on their menus via the so-called Mediterranean Diet. It’s one of the key planks in a national strategy to improve cardiovascular health with heart disease being the main cause of death in Spain. The Ministry says that the proposals ‘establish recommendations for healthy habits and do not contemplate prohibitions of any kind’. “It is false that drinks such as

wine or beer are going to be eliminated from the Menu del Dia,” added a spokesman. The rumour over an enforced Menu del Dia change surfaced after the news that free tap water will have to be supplied if asked for at restaurants across the country - something that is already done in some regions. Obesity is a major concern in Spain with over one in five adults classified as clinical obese. Child obesity levels are

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the highest in Western Europe, despite the healthy food options that are readily available.

Junk food

The draft proposals being discussed recommend the promotion of physical activity in schools and the removal of processed food and alcohol from vending machines. It also targets a reduction in junk food consumption by regulating advertising and balancing the scales by encouraging financial measures to reduce the price of fresh products that make up the Mediterranean diet.

May 4th - May 17th 2022

Lovely jabbly THE Spanish government will approve the fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine for over 80s. Other countries in Europe like Italy and France have also approved the fourth dose for people in this age group. A fourth dose is already given to immunosuppressed people in Spain. The European Medicines Agency and The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control stated that it is not necessary for the population in general, but it is for people over 80 years old. The latest data from the Minister of Health stated that there is a cumulative incidence in those over 80 years old of 731,31 cases per 100,000 inhabitants recorded in the last two weeks. The Health Ministry says that 40,375,699 people have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in Spain.

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With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling. Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist. PROUD

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THREE Michelin star Marbella chef Dani Garcia has been shortlisted as one of the world’s top 100 chefs by the Best Chef Awards with the winner to be chosen from the shortlist in the next few days.

Play dead NATIONAL police uncovered an illegal dog cemetery in Madrid’s Entrevias park run by a woman and her sister who both had mental disabilities and who owned 12 dogs.

Save the date A PAIR of policemen rescued a bride on her Malaga wedding day whose car had broken down in Churriana, dropping her and her godmother in Alhaurin de la Torre just in time for the service.

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Top of the league Spanish fans are flocking to support Wycombe, writes George Mathias IT may not be the biggest club in English football, but for one set of Spanish fans it is number one. Forget the Manchester, Liverpool and London giants - English League 1 club Wycombe Wanderers has won an unlikely Spanish fanbase, with 100 fans flying over from Spain recently to watch the League One club beat Sheffield Wednesday. After a popular Spanish You-

Tube channel - La Media Inglesa - sent a questionnaire to various English clubs asking why they should support their team, only one responded in Spanish - Wycombe Wanderers. From then on, the channel contributors have become dedicated Wycombe Wanderers fans, regularly flying in for games with some of their subscribers. The channel, which has 330,000 subscribers, said:

VISIT: Spaniards were welcomed at Wycombe “Wycombe Wanderers was the half years ago and from there only one which answered our we started to collaborate.” questionnaire in Spanish. And “Wycombe is a club that mirthen they invited us to their rors our values. It was love at stadium. We visited two and a first sight,” said Ilie Oleart, who runs the channel. Wycombe described itself to the Youtubers as a family-orientated club based near London, which ‘would love to reminutes later returned to look for it. ceive many people from Spain One of the witnesses then offered to help find in our stadium.’ it by asking for the number so he could ring it La Media Inglesa said they and reveal its whereabouts. had been very warmly welThe phone was firstly traced by the suspect to comed by the Wycombe loits resting place under a car as it rang, and latcals and said they are now in er by police to an address in Orihuela after the a ‘constant, permanent relawitness gave the number to cops. tionship with the Chairboys’.

Dummy’s too thick to mention POLICE have nabbed a suspected sex assaulter after he was conned into giving his phone number to a witness. The suspect, aged 36, had forced his victim into a garage doorway and tried to molest her. Two passers-by heard a commotion and went to the woman’s aid, at which point he ran away. In his haste he dropped his phone and a few

THREE teens are in the doghouse after they kidnapped a pet and tried to hold out for a €150 ransom. They were arrested when they turned up at a rendezvous to collect the cash but instead of the distressed pet owner, the two 16 and one 17-year-olds were met by plain clothes detectives in Paterna (Valencia). The pooch had been swiped from a house before the thieves rang a number engraved on the dog's collar and demanded payment for its safe return.

EARLY RIDERS

AN alarming escape story could have ended in tragedy after it emerged two young children escaped their nursery school riding a plastic motorcycle after the door was left open. The two-year-olds were spotted by a woman some 300 metres away from the preschool in Almeria after they had crossed several roads. She scooped them up and called police who returned them to the care of teachers at the nursery. Parents of the children were outraged by the incident.

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