Olive Press Gibraltar - Issue 189

Kicking off

of the

Three Kings return

ALL CHANGE

LIFE will be ‘very uncomfortable’ if there is no post-Brexit EU treaty, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo admitted in his New Year’s speech. As Spanish politicians, academics and unions urged Madrid not to give up on negotiation, he insisted however, he would never do anything to harm British sovereignty. But the GSLP leader - who will run for a fourth term this year - warned that even if all sides could reach a deal this would also involve change.

“An agreement might initially be uncomfortable in some areas,” Picardo explained in his missive released yesterday.

“Just like signing up to membership of the EU might initially have felt uncomfortable in 1972.

Uncomfortable year ahead, warns Chief Minister, who runs for re-election in 2023

By John Culatto

“But ‘No Deal’ will also be very uncomfortable.”

Picardo also admitted that despite working ‘night and day’ to get a deal, it is still not going to be easy and could take much longer than expected.

“What we are negotiating is massively complex…From product labelling to the taxation of goods, a final treaty will likely run to hundreds of pages.

“We have to get every aspect right

to ensure that there are no negative consequences for our economy or our autonomy.”

Although Spain also wants an agreement, political resolve from Madrid has seemed to wane in recent weeks.

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said negotiations ‘cannot go on eternally’ and on New Year’s Day ominously suggested Spain ‘was ready for any scenario’.

Given nearby towns attribute a large chunk of their economy from the Rock, either through employment or from its spending power, a no deal could be disastrous for the region.

Regional leaders have urged caution to left-wing politicians in Madrid about how ‘Gibrexit’, as they call it, will impact the area.

Union Comisiones Obreras insisted the impact would be ‘very bad’ for workers, with thousands of Campo livelihoods.

“The Campo and La Linea are not in a position to suffer another affront which risks a collapse in their difficult socioeconomic circumstances,” said spokesman Manuel Triano.

Jesus Verdu, a lecturer at Cadiz university was also unhappy claiming Spain and Andalucia’s governments have not planned ahead for this scenario which would ‘make everything worse’.

“Spain is not prepared for a no-deal scenario,” he wrote in Europa Sur. They will not be able to ‘alleviate the serious consequences of dependence on the Gibraltarian economy by an enormously vulnerable area’, he added.

Utopia

San Roque mayor Juan Ruiz Boix said he wanted to see ‘the utopia’ of the end of the frontier come true. “If we are sharing the same territo-

were ‘done in an optimistic and positive spirit’ and ‘significant progress has been made’. He added he was ‘committed to an agreement as soon as possible’ and expected a positive outcome. This came despite Albares saying the offer he had proposed included the joint use of the airport, which Picardo has rejected in the past.

ry, we have to share a zone of shared prosperity, which is the challenge that Pedro Sanchez had in December 2020,” he said.

“Act with courage and make the agreement almost 300,000 inhabitants want,” he added.

Mayor of La Linea, Juan Franco, added: “A third of our active population works in Gibraltar and a third of the turnover of many companies depends on clients from Gibraltar”.

It is estimated that around 18.5% of the GDP of the Gibraltar Campo comes from interactions with the Rock.

ARTIST impressions

proposed new national stadium have been filed alongside detailed plans with the town planner. The £100 million scheme for a new stadium which includes residential, commercial and hotel units is to be financed by the Gibraltar Savings Bank. The development will provide space for 8,000 seats, up from the 4,700 envisioned in an initial proposal.

PICARDO: Uncomfortable

THE latest talks held in Brussels on Gibraltar’s EU treaty between the UK and Spain have failed to reach an agreement.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Albares were joined by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo via video link from No.6 Convent Place. Cleverly said the negotiations

Mayor callout

MAYOR of Gibraltar Christian Santos is asking the public to put forward candidates who have made their name serving Gibraltar for the Mayor’s Awards in March.

Giant Lego

TRUCKS will move 200 Chine modules needed to construct an elderly people’s home at the old Rooke site through the night, forcing Queensway to be closed from 11pm to 6am.

China caution

BORDER guards have stepped up testing requirements for people who arrive from China, Macau and Hong Kong after a recent surge of COVID-19 in the region.

Papal death

FABIAN Picardo, Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, wrote to the local bishop and Pope Francis to give his condolences for the death of former Pope Benedict.

Follow the Mone

ment was made fraudulently to UK firm Axis Ventura in 2008 to avoid paying around £436,000 in tax, and have demanded that the accused pay back the money to the Spanish Treasury.

Barrowman

Horror dinner

A GROUP of Sunday afternoon diners made a macabre discovery after the headless and handless corpse of a woman washed up along the beach where they were eating.

The horrifying incident took place at 5pm in front of customers at Club 200 restaurant in Marbella.

As well as missing the main identifying parts of the body, the victim had also suffered a large slash along the abdomen.

Police have opened a murder investigation, although the de-

Headless and handless corpse washes up on Marbella beach in front of horrified diners

By Walter Finch

liberate removal of identifying features on the body complicates procedures.

The witnesses spotted the body floating in the surf, and at first intended to dive into the water to rescue the individual, who they believed to be drowning or in distress. However, they were advised

A TEEN serving a jail sentence will have to stay in jail once it is finished.

He has been sentenced to a further 22 weeks in prison after DNA evidence found he broke into a rowing club and CCTV caught him stealing cash from a bar register.

Michael Martin, 19, of Flat Bastion Road, got 22 weeks on top of the sentence he was already serving for another theft and burglary.

Martin broke into the Mediterranean Rowing

against it due to a storm in the area, and in the end the body washed up along the shore by itself, revealing its mutilated state to those present.

Videos of the corpse on social media prompted one individual to contact police saying it could be his sister, who has been missing since Sunday morning after leaving her work as ‘a domestic servant’. The woman had been suffering

Thieving ways

Club in the early hours of November 1 last year.

He stole £2,166 in cash and caused £1,600 in damage to the club.

Forensic labs discovered Martin’s DNA on gloves left at the scene.

In the other case, Martin was caught on camera stealing £70 from the till at the All’s Well bar.

from harassment and threats from an abusive ex-boyfriend, for whom she had a restraining order out.

The man has now been arrested by police, but only for violating the restraining order. For now, the Guardia Civil do not consider him to be a suspect in the murder but that could change if the corpse is positively identified as the missing sister.

Delay

Other theories police are considering is that it could be a gang-related ‘settling of accounts’, with the head and hands removed to delay identification of the body.

It is not yet clear how long the body had been in the water before it was discovered but it is not thought to be a long time.

A BANK in Gibraltar has agreed to refund worried customers who lost up to £2,000 each during a Christmas Day fraud attack.

Locals were horrified to wake up on the festive occasion and find that money had inexplicably drained out of their Natwest accounts.

At least 12 account holders reported losing a total of nearly £18,000.

But Natwest said it would only return the cash as long as the fraud victims had not revealed their card details.

The bank is now investigating the source of the attack.

It suspects that fraudsters got hold of people’s plastic card details to make the illegal transfers or purchases.

Natwest told account holders who had lost money to immediately freeze their cards.

Grinches strike Firework frenzy

POLICE arrested two teenagers after juveniles started throwing fireworks at people and dogs in Glacis Estate.

A large crowd gathered and pointed out a suspect to police. Officers then arrested a local man, 18, who was found to be carrying fireworks.

A 17-year-old then started shouting at the public and was also detained.

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.

call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950

THE husband of Scottish Tory peer Michelle Mone is facing five years in prison if he is found guilty of fraud charges in Spain.

Doug Barrowman has been charged with crimes including corporate tax evasion, and is one of seven British businessmen that Spanish authorities want to put behind bars for their involvement in a business deal in 2008.

Spanish prosecutors allege that a pay-

has denied the charges and his lawyers have said that he will ‘vigorously’ contest them in court.

It comes after Michelle Mone stepped down from the House of Lords to ‘clear her name’ after she was alleged to have secretly profited from a government PPE contract.

Dogs (and cats) of war

A UKRAINIAN animal charity that has been rescuing cats and dogs from the warzone is asking kind-hearted residents of Spain to find homes for the destitute pets.

By Cristina Hodgson

Thousands of animals have been evacuated, whilst others remain in danger within Ukraine.

During the last 10 months Zoopatrul has rescued over 1,000 cats and dogs from war terror and human cruelty.

In order to house the influx of animals that they are caring for, Zoopatrul, is building the first modern European-type animal shelter in Ukraine. But they need help.

“We are desperately looking for financial help with the purchase of construction material for the completion of our shelter in Irpin” spokesperson Elena Sorokina told the Olive Press.

“In addition to rescuing dogs and cats, we are open for adoption applications and can help with transportation of saved and neutered pets to any country, including Spain.”

Zoopatrul have opened a donation platform via PayPal (zoopatrulshelter@gmail.com) and can be contacted on zoopatrul@m-p.ua or via Facebook or Twitter (search ZooPatrul).

Dean slides in

Expat snake catcher calls for help after car gives up the ghost

DEAN Gallagher is something of a guardian angel in Ibiza.

Not content with lending a hand to tourists who have broken down, or bringing bottled water to elderly neighbours, he also volunteers providing pest control: if you find a snake in your property, Dean will come and deal with it.

“The island has always been free of snakes, that’s what it was famous for,’ the teacher and property manager tells the Olive Press. “But in the last 10 years, they started appearing in rural areas.”

The reason for this reptile invasion is the importation by property owners of ol-

EXCLUSIVE

By Simon Hunter

ive trees, which have been brought in from not just mainland Spain but also other parts of the world. And nestled inside these trees were non-venomous horseshoe whip snakes and ladder snakes – and their eggs.

“They reproduce in exponential numbers, like rabbits,” he says. “They’ve very quickly established a very solid, firm population around the north of the islands especially.”

The snakes are putting Ibiza’s lizards in jeopardy. ‘The main problem is the wall lizard,’ explains Dean. “It’s too trusting. They’ve never seen

Bad ratings

KING Felipe VI’s traditional Christmas Eve speech attracted a million fewer television viewers than the year before, and had the third-worst audience since he came to power in 2014.

In total, 6,711,000 people watched the speech on television. The speech actually had a bigger audience share than in 2021, with 64.5% of the total – up 1.3 percentage points. But it attracted 1,145,000 fewer viewers.

DANGER: Dean has been bitten 18 times and found 188 snakes

a snake before, and by the time they’ve worked it out the snake has gobbled them up.”

He added: “I am simply trying to protect the species that have existed here since the beginning of time and are now nearing extinction.”

His volunteer work started with the Ibizan branch of Friends of the Earth (Amics de la Terra), and has seen him drive an estimated 23,000 kilometres this summer alone.

But all of those journeys, often on rocky terrain, have taken their toll on Dean’s Land Rover Freelander, which now needs a new clutch and repairs to the bodywork.

So that he can continue his altruistic tasks, Dean has launched a Go Fund Me Page – ideally to pay for the repair to the Land Rover, but also, if possible, so he can invest in a 4x4 that’s better suited to the Ibizan roads and tracks.

Bitten

“This year I’ve dealt with 188 snakes, rescued two stranded tourists, assisted in three road accidents and I’ve been bitten around 18 times. “I’m happy, because it’s positive results and there aren’t any venomous snakes (yet).” So far Dean has raised just over €700 of his €20,000 goal.

US actress Eva Longoria spent a few days in Spain over the festive period, alongside her husband, Mexican businessman Jose Antonio Baston and her son Santi. The popular performer, who rose to fame playing sassy Gabrielle Solis in the TV series Desperate Housewives, celebrated the New Year at Nota Blu, a restaurant owned by former Qatari soccer player Zazou Belounis though the Casanis Group, Longoria - a self-confessed lover of Marbella - was accompanied by her son’s godparents, local businesswoman Maria Bravo and Puerto Rican actor Amaury Nolasco, as well as by Spanish boxer of Georgian origin Ilia Topuria (inset with Longoria and Bravo) and some close friends. The 47-year-old American has been in Figueras (Girona) to film a six-episode series Land of Women for Apple TV+ It is based on Sandra Barneda's novel La tierra de las mujeres

HAPPY EVA AFTER Prickly times

SEVERAL hedgehogs affected by the forest fires this summer in the Doñana Natural Park have been returned to the wild. Following a spell at the Wendy Clements Animal Sanctuary in Chucenam, the release is of enormous environmental importance.’ A single hedgehog can eat over 100 invertebrates in a night, their presence therefore indicates a good diversity of habitat and a healthy and thriving ecosystem.

Lawbird is a firm of English speaking lawyers who specialise in property law, corporate law, litigation and immigration law.

Whether you plan to buy a house, start a company or relocate to Spain, we offer a no-nonsense service to assist you.

Lawbird Legal Services Slp C.Ricardo Soriano, 19 29601 Marbella (Spain) TEL: +34 952 861 890 FAX: +34 952 861 695 gary.newsham@lawbird.com www.lawbird.com

PIC CREDITS: Instagram Maria Bravo & Eva Longoria

RAINING DOWN

TORRENTIAL rain that hit Gibraltar in mid-December was one of the wettest weeks in recent years, meteorologists revealed.

The remnants of Storm Efrain, as it was known in Spain, brought gale force winds and torrential rain to smash into the Rock.

Week-long downpours meant 162% of December’s average rainfall came down in just half a month, Gibraltar’s meteorological service tweeted.

Weather analysts GibMeteo said nearly 250 mm of rain had fallen at the airport during the month.

It made it the wettest month since January 2021 and the rainiest December since 2016.

It caused flooding in different areas, rockfalls and vehicle accidents. One truck driver even got his HGV stuck in Dudley Ward Tunnel in the poor visibility.

Local amateur photographer Laura Reed took a picture of the rainbow that appeared after the rain stopped.

Teen talent

A TEENAGE footballer from Gibraltar is being tipped to hit the big time with Manchester United by a popular online club fanzine.

James Scanlon, 16, made his debut for United’s under-18 side in December when he came on for the last 30 minutes against Middlesbrough.

United in Focus rates Scanlon as ‘one of the club’s exciting future stars’.

The attacking midfielder who signed from Derby County in 2021 took part in the move that led to United’s third goal against Middlesbrough.

Picked four times for Gibraltar at under-17 level, he scored three goals including two goals on his debut.

Picking up the pieces

Salvage experts arrive to break up beached OS 35

THE first tug and barge that will help remove the OS 35 shipwreck from Gibraltar’s coast has arrived from Suriname.

Koole 42 with Barge H-283 crossed the Atlantic from South America and will

By

immediately

A

Koole 31 and Barge H10030, are stuck in Brest, France, sheltering from stormy weather.

They hope to sail for Gibraltar by early next week.

The four vessels, owned by wreck-remover Koole, have all they need onboard to take apart the ship by the required date of May 30. Throughout December, workers continued to strip down the beached bulk carrier.

Port authorities have worked hard to stop oil leaks from spreading after the OS 35 collided with another ship and sustained a 10-metre gash in its hull in late August. It then beached 700 metres from Catalan Bay at the direction of the port.

The Captain of Gibraltar’s Port John Ghio said that he expected work to start immediately.

“Works will shortly be underway to remove the OS35’s cargo entirely, which is expected to take a number of weeks,” Ghio said.

“With the exception of the unfortunate short delay to the arrival of the Koole 31, all aspects of the wreck removal operation are moving forward as planned.”

Stricken

At the stricken ship, workers stripped decks A, B and C of furnishings and wall insulation down to the bare metal structure.

At the same time, divers removed thousands of litres of oil pockets from inside the hull of the ship.

Authorities believe these actions will help to reduce any further oil spills as the ship is broken into bits.

Magnificent seven

SEVEN Gibraltarians have received OBE and MBE recognition for their services to the community in the New Year’s Honours List.

King Charles III named Maria del Lourdes Bocarisa, Stephen John Cumming, Ahmed Ben Tahayekt, Edgar Antonio Triay, Daniel D’Amato (top right) and Rose Suissa (top left) on this year’s list.

Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo gave the hardworking recipients of the award his felicitations.

“I congratulate all recipients of the Gibraltar award,” Picardo said.

“They have given excellent service to this community across different fields and we are stronger as a nation for their respective contributions.

“Each of these is an essential part of nation building and I thank each of them for the work they do and the contribution they have made to Gibraltar.”

The Chief Minister highlighted D’Amato who took over at Gibraltar House in Brussels from Sir Graham Watson just as the Rock started to negotiate a historic EU treaty.

The King awarded him with an MBE for his services.

“I am so proud of the work that Daniel has done and is doing in Brussels,” Picardo added.

HOLIDAY REPRESENTATIVE, COSTA DE LA LUZ

Vintage Travel, a leading UK holiday company for villas with private pools, is seeking a dedicated Holiday Representative to be based in the Vejer de la Frontera area.

Responsibilities will include visiting clients at their holiday homes in the Vejer area, providing telephone support to those staying in some other areas of Andalucia, supplying detailed information about the area, answering queries, and liaising with property owners and suppliers to ensure that houses are well prepared and ready for the arrival of clients.

The role will involve approximately 20 hours per week, March – October, and will require occasional travel to other areas of Andalucia.

Applicants must own a car, live within 30 minutes of Vejer, speak fluent Spanish and English, have a passion for customer service and an abundance of local knowledge.

Please apply in writing only with your CV and a covering letter introducing yourself to Caroline Ashworth: caroline@vintagetravel.co.uk, www.vintagetravel.co.uk

Bale out

FORMER Real

has announced

The

and

Bale was fresh off the back of leading Wales to their first World Cup since 1958, having run down his contract with Real Madrid in the summer.

The Cardiff native rose to prominence in the Premier League as a wing wizard for Tottenham Hotspur, terrorising full-backs and scoring screamers - most prominently ending the career of Brazilian stalwart Maicon in a 4-3 Champion’s League defeat against Inter Milan in 2011.

Cash bid

THE EU is being asked for a whopping €2 billion to extend the Costa del Sol’s coastal railway as far as Algeciras in Cadiz.

For decades - despite several feasibility studies and schemes being drawn up - similar plans have been kicked down the line as no one was willing to stump up the cash.

Now, the Spanish Government has asked the autonomous communities for a series of proposals that fit in with the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the EU, and so qualify for Next Generation funds.

The Junta has replied with 241 different initiatives that could be carried out in Andalucia with the costa railway extension standing out.

Madrid star

Wales legend Gareth Bale

his retirement from club football at the age of 33.

five-times Champions League winner, who Real Madrid made the most expensive player in the world in 2013, has ended his 12-month contract with Los Angeles FC after six months.

start getting ready to remove the bulk carrier from its current location off Catalan Bay.

second tug and barge,

ON THE SCENE: The breaker’s ship and barge

John Culatto

No fly zone OH ZIP!

THE government decided to ‘withhold payment’ to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in December after its Air Traffic Control Tower shut down for 48 hours.

The MoD said the problem was caused by a communications fault with Sevilla airport that created a safety issue.

It forced two days of flights to be diverted to Malaga, with passengers bussed down to Gibraltar from the international airport.

Two days later, the MoD said technicians had fixed the problem and flights could continue flying to the Rock as normal.

The government said it was ‘disappointed’ about the diverted flights and the inconvenience it had caused travellers.

The government is keen to strengthen the image of its airport as it seeks to bring in new airlines to the Rock from the UK and elsewhere.

THIS photo shows the spectacular rescue of a hiker who had got stuck on a zipline in Gaucin.

Firefighters from Manilva and Algatocin were called in to winch the unfortunate thrill-seeker to safety at the Castillo de Aguila.

One firefighter climbed along the line to reach her, then accompanied the hiker back as she was hauled to safety.

She was unhurt in the incident. The zipline, which is up to 40 metres above ground level, is part of a ‘via ferrata’ adventure route around the castle.

Organisers who run the route promise ‘fun adventure and adrenaline’ to participants.

Pension pinchers

A NUMBER of British expats, and even a Spanish national, have come forward with worrying stories about their struggles to claim their pensions in Spain.

It comes after the Olive Press reported on a pair of expats, who were locked in battles with the country’s social security office.

Multiple people contacted the newspaper, while dozens more have joined arms with the Olive Press on a mission to get answers.

One of the new cases involves Spanish national Teodoro

GIBRALTAR has been given the all-clear for bird flu after dead seabirds that arrived on its shores tested negative for the disease.

Director of Public Health Helen Carter said that no animal or human being had tested positive for avian flu.

But she praised the quick reactions of her department that she said showed Gibraltar was ready for any sort of bird flu outbreak.

Government department heads discussed a possible cull of pigeons and chickens after

Expats and even Spanish nationals are fighting Spain’s social security to get their pensions

By Anthony Piovesan

“The answer is always the same; that they will not pay me in accordance with a law which they have invented,” he told the Olive Press.

Arranz said authorities told him his application was de-

Bird flu relief

the public reported the dead birds.

“If you have human seasonal flu circulating and flu in birds, and you then get a mixing of the viruses, that can then create a new strain,” Carter said.

“If we do get avian flu here, we’re very clear about who’s doing what and the human health consequences and what we need to do.”

nied as he did not work for two years prior to his 65th birthday, when he would have been entitled to a pension payment.

But he said he is not asking for the full pension to be paid to him, only for the years he paid into the system, which he claimed was five years, two months and four days.

Arranz was born in Spain but moved to the United Kingdom for 24 years.

He even wrote to the European Union, the European Court of Human Rights and The Defensor del Pueblo (Ombudsman), plus others, but said he did not receive any helpful reply.

In another case, British expatriate Jeremy Johnson said he has been waiting 20 years for his pension.

He said it comes after the authorities first told him to apply for his UK pension, ex-

plaining that they would then contact the other social security offices in the countries Johnson had listed as having worked in.

“We waited a long time for any response from the UK and when we eventually phoned, we were informed that the relevant departments in Spain had not responded to them,” he told the Olive Press.

Support

Brexpats in Spain has pledged to help as best it could.

Its founder Anne Hernandez said: “Brits who live and work here and contribute to the system deserve to get what they’re owed - At Brexpats we have experts here to help you.”

The Olive Press will continue to probe for answers.

MOROCCO could replace Spain as a stronger trading partner for Gibraltar if the EU talks fail to give any results, a local businessman believes.

The Gibraltar Morocco Business Association is working with the British Chamber of Commerce for Morocco to help increase trade with the Rock’s southern neighbour.

Under the 2019 Post Brexit Association Agreement of Morocco, the third richest country in Africa, signed a business treaty with the UK.

Gibraltar could benefit from the deal, local businessman Joshua Llhote believes.

He took part in a webinar with the British ambassador to Morocco on the subject.

“It is not totally clear how Gibraltar companies can take advantage of the deal,” Llhote told GBC.

“But what he did say is that he he will be happy to assist.”

Morocco calling Mint tribute

AS a tribute to the Rock’s relationship with Morocco, the Gibraltar Mint is introducing a coin that celebrates that connection.

The coin depicts a ship crossing across the Straits to resupply the Rock after Spanish dictator Franco closed the frontier in 1969.

Sanz Arranz who claims to have battled the Ministry of Social Security for more than eight years.

Abandoning the super-ego

WHEN Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced on New Year’s Eve of 2020 that a framework agreement for an EU treaty was now in place, Rock residents breathed a sigh of relief.

If leaving the EU was bad enough, leaving without a deal meant having a hard frontier on local people’s front porch, severely curtailing a freedom they had come to accept for nearly half a century.

But talks on an EU treaty that were supposed to last just six months are now well into their second year.

Admittedly, a few factors came into play to delay them. Most of all, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process, while the ever-changing Spanish ministers to look after foreign affairs did not help either.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares was the last person to be handed the hot potato.

A Gibraltar deal makes sense economically for an impoverished southern region but is complicated by the political issue of Spain’s age-old sovereignty claim over the Rock. Albares’ last mutterings have not been very encouraging either.

Perhaps he feels that he has all the cards in his hands and can pull all the punches and woo Britain into a deal.

But considering Brexit was built on nationalistic fervour and the right-wing press push the UK at every stage, the Tories know they can be no pushovers.

If nothing else, Gibraltar is a symbol of the otherwise non-existent British empire.

And with elections coming up for both Spain and Gibraltar this year, the stakes could never have been higher.

It is also not surprising to find Spain is pushing its own agenda at the last minute, much like Britain did for the EU withdrawal deal.

But Campo leaders are concerned and have not hid their fears. Gibraltar is the motor of the whole area, especially for towns like Algeciras, San Roque and La Linea, where unemployment is already at record levels.

Perhaps it is time for both Albares and Picardo to take a deep breath and realise that even if they are not at the table come the end of the coming four year period, this EU treaty could inevitably be their legacy.

They must concede where they can - for the sake of their people - as opposed to following their egos. Only in this way will a treaty be signed that at least gives a taster of a better future ahead.

PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD

AFFECTING seven out of 10 cities – 149 throughout Spain, and 75% of vehicles, the scheme was approved by the government two years ago but has received minimal publicity – possibly because it is a proverbial hot potato.

Now surprised residents are suddenly learning, from friends in the bar, that their older cars won’t be welcome in their neighbouring town or city from the end of 2023. They’ll have to find an alternative –such as the tram or bus.

WHAT’S GOING ON?

‘Low Emission Zones’ (LEZ), also known as ‘Zonas Bajas Emisiones’ (ZBE) and ‘Zero Emission Zones’ (ZEZ) are being created in cities with over 50,000 inhabitants, and, in some with as few as 20,000 inhabitants. Town halls have until the end of 2023 to delimit and enforce these zones or be fined.

The idea is to categorise all Spanish-plated vehicles with stickers, according to their pollution level. The sticker will determine whether your car is allowed into the LEZs and ZEZs.

WHAT ARE THE CLASSES OF STICKER?

The stickers currently come in four valid categories: Zero, ECO, C and B. Category A means no sticker: you’re not entering the zone.

Those with a B sticker can enter, but not park there.

Some drivers have complained that the DGT website says they are eligible for B, but receive C in the post.

You can see what sticker your car will get on the DGT website – if any: diesel vehicles registered before 2006, for example, aren’t eligible.

SOME LIMITED EMISSION ZONES ALREADY EXIST IN SPAIN

Sevilla, Valencia, and Valladolid already have LEZs, as does Barcelona.

Since 2021, drivers entering Barcelona’s massive 95km2 LEZ between the peak hours of 7am and 8pm have been obliged to display a distintivo ambiental (environmental sticker) on their windscreen. Madrid introduced a ZEZ in late 2018, much smaller but with stricter and more

Spain’s drivers brace for chaos as older cars are banned from cities

complicated restrictions.

Vehicles without the distintivo ambiental sticker cannot enter.

Those displaying 0 and ECO stickers can park for free, while drivers of C and B vehicles have special rules. Residents with C and B must register to park in the zone.

They can receive visitors and suppliers up to 20 times a month – provided these drivers also have C or B stickers. Motorcycles with C and B can’t enter between 10pm and 7am.

If you’re driving through Spain, be aware that the M-30 motorway is included in a Madrid ZEZ. The fine for non-compliance

BLANK DATE

Do not circle the date! Do not mark your calendar! In fact, do nothing much at all – because January 16 is International Nothing Day

ERIOUSLY, January 16 has been designated as a day for just sitting around and not engaging in activities (though good luck explaining that to your boss as it’s a Monday).

The idea is for people to appreciate the peace of mind that comes from disengaging from routines.

The concept is amusing and irreverent, to be sure, but there is a degree of wisdom behind it.

It is no accident that the chosen date comes after what is for many, a hectic holiday season involving too many calories, too much familial schmoozing,

much credit card damage, an excess of wine, and too much travel. Maybe, just maybe, a day of inactivity could be a net positive. Sitting on the sofa all day, or adopting a ‘back to-thesack’ approach might be just what the doctor ordered.

It is the exact opposite of the axiom ‘don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today’. For one day only, the message being preached is ‘put off today what you can do tomorrow’.

The Nothing Day was initiated by American humorist Harold Coffin in 1973. Fed up with the daily hijacking of the calendar by both political lobbying groups special designated days, with examples ranging from World Toilet Day (November 19) to America’s National Whiskey Sour Day (July 25) and Bring your Brownies to Brunch Day (August 19).

and frivolous interest groups, Coffin, with tongue firmly in cheek, made the effort to launch the day officially.

The irony was not lost on him: “In combating the proliferation of special days,” he observed wryly, “I am forced to create yet another special day”.

There was no shortage of ridiculous

But Coffin acknowledged there were also many more serious commemorative days that helped bring issues of concern to the attention of the general public.

These, such as World Clean Water Day (March 22), World Social Justice Day (February 20) and Human Achievement Day (October 21) were dedicated to mobilising action and celebrating worthwhile social endeavours.

Although International Nothing Day is an officially recognised commemorative day, the general idea of nothingness is

is €200.

THE FINES

Motorists who drive into restricted zones without the correct sticker will receive a €200 fine (reduced to €100 if paid within 20 days).

According to some reports, it will be the driver’s responsibility to check for fines on the DGT app or website, rather than receive the notifications as registered mail in the traditional way.

There are exemptions for vehicles registered to people with mobility problems and health issues preventing them from using public transport, or used for emergency and essential services.

Foreign vehicles don’t need a sticker. Does this create temptation to drive around in UK-plated cars?

COST

However green people want to be, a cost-of-living crisis, with electricity and food at inflated prices, is hardly the best moment to ask people to buy new cars. Most can’t afford a hybrid or electric vehicle, or to lease a new car for €300 or more per month.

To add insult to injury, older vehicles in category A (no sticker), will be devalued and difficult to sell.

Meanwhile, certain organisations will benefit from the latest ‘green’ initiative – namely, car manufacturers, leasing companies, finance companies and the DGT, with endless penalty fines to collect.

STUCK IN THE CAMPO

Take the example of rural regions where many motorists have older vehicles because of the harsh driving conditions –mountain tracks don’t bode well for anything too new and shiny. A bus is impossible with heavy loads or dogs to transport.

With the new emission zones and stickers in place they are likely not to bother visiting Alicante, Granada, Sevilla or Malaga.

While the city of Granada has a tram system and bus routes, they are insufficient for a park and ride scheme capable of matching the coming demand. Where is the infrastructure and investment ahead of creating the delimited zones?

NO SENSE

In my own case, in the hilly Alpujarra outback the new rules prove particularly ironic. My 2002 Citroen Berlingo, bought in March 2022 for its fuel economy, has a diesel engine. It can’t get a sticker – even though it passes its ITV emissions test with flying colours. Now, it needs to be changed for a newer one.

In contrast, my 2006 Mitsubishi L200 pickup scrapes through the DGT system with category B –but is a fuel-guzzling monster and a tank, awkward to manoeuvre in built up areas.

THE STICKER CLASSIFICATIONS

NO STICKER - GASOLINE vehicles registered before 2001 or which don’t comply with the Euro III standard. All diesel before 2006 or that don’t comply with Euro IV.

B - GASOLINE registered as of January 1, 2001, or complying with Euro III. All diesels registered from January 1, 2006, or that comply with Euro IV and V.

C - GASOLINE registered after January 1, 2006, or complying with Euro IV, Euro V or Euro VI. All diesels registered after September 1, 2015, or that comply with Euro VI.

ECO - HYBRID or plug-in hybrid vehicles with an electric range of less than 40 ki-

A home has been found for the beloved dogs of a British expatriate living in Granada after he was rushed into hospital and forced to quickly find a home for his furry friendsjust days after we reported the case.

The man’s friend Trudy McCaffery had told us the Velez de Benaudalla resident was likely to be in hospital for ‘a while’.

The Olive Press then published an article online detailing the dramatic attempt to find the dogs a home by the end of January or the two elderly Springer Spaniels faced an uncertain future. Soon after, a Good Samaritan online reader in the UK had come forward to help out.

“I’ve managed to rehome them back to the UK by car – I don’t think they’d survive a flight and all the associated things that happen with that,” she said.

“So all being well they will be going home by the end of the month, and then we’ll try and sort everything else from there.”

So a big Olive Press THANK YOU to our reader - both for giving the dogs a home and giving us all a little good cheer to start the year with!

not new.

Many religious practices view quiet time (prayer, meditation, introspection) as a practice which can bring everything into perspective.

Scientific research has shown that by focusing attention inward and being still, a wide range of physical and cognitive benefits begin to take root.

We become more empathetic, stress is stabilised, and blood pressure settles. Being still enhances the capacity to stay focused, pay attention and ignore distractions.

Whether serious or not, January 16 is a day that I plan to use for a reset, reboot, recharge and replenish ahead of the next winter stretch taking us to spring. Who is with me?

lometres. All vehicles powered by natural gas, compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and that additionally meet the requirements of C.

ZERO ‘0’ - ELECTRIFIED vehicles with an electric range of more than 40 kilometres, including pure electric, plug-in hybrids or extended range electric vehicles. All vehicles powered by hydrogen or fuel cell.

More information can be found online at the N332 advice site.

UNHAPPY: This driver in Madrid is protesting that his vehicle contaminates no more than a modern car

HAPPY: Not everyone is against the regulations, with cyclists (far left) calling for an end to car pollution and backing low emission zones

Spain at worst risk of climaterelated home damage

PEOPLE in Spain have the highest risk of suffering climate-related home damage in Europe, according to a new study.

Much of the UK and Europe suffered droughts, flash floods, forest fires, and torrential rain in 2022, leading to many insurance claims.

Now an insurance price comparison website has put together a guide of which locations in England and Europe are most at risk of climate-related home damage - and Spain comes out worst.

“With a vast 4,185 acres of land burned by forest wildfires per year and an air quality and pollution level of 47, Spain topped the list as the European country most at risk of home damage caused by climate-related issues,” the study from Compare the Market found.

Next on the list was Bosnia and Herzegovina, ‘which sees less damage by wildfires (1,995 acres burned per year) but more floods caused by heavy rain (one per year).’

The UK, which came third, experiences far fewer wildfires than either Spain or Bosnia and Herzegovina (381 acres burned per year) but has a much worse

By Alex Trelinski

air quality and pollution level (60), according to the study.

The site used a range of factors to draw up its list, including changes to average temperatures, the number of floods caused by heavy rain, how many acres of land are

burned by wildfires and pollution levels.

Portugal was found to be the most at-risk country in terms

of wildfires, with an average of 6,039 acres burnt every year. It was followed by Spain (4,158 acres) and Italy (3,373 acres).

Hydrogen test

TESTS on a new hydrogen refuelling centre are to be made in the Ports of Valencia this month.

The facility has been installed as part of the EU’s Clean Hydrogen JU program, with the project in Spain called H2Ports.

This initial refuelling station is not designed for fuelling-up ‘green’ ships - hydrogen powered shipping operations remain some years off - but will be used to make port operations more environmentally friendly.

The mobile station will be used initially to fuel the prototype Reach Stacker Vehicle (or container stacker) and a conventional 4X4 tractor unit for loading and unloading operations.

The latter is due to be converted to a hydrogen cell system later this year.

Expect more hollow promises in the coming year

2023…. FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE?

IT’S that time of year when we reflect on last year and look forward to the New Year.

As far as the environment is concerned and the fight to mitigate and eradicate the harm caused by climate change, will this year be better than last?

My 11-year-old son Rafa said something to me recently when we were driving in the car. He asked me: “Dad, why do we continue to destroy the planet? There will be nothing left for future generations.”

Pretty profound for an 11-year-old. These simply put questions set me on a much deeper reflection. In many ways, world events are allied to climate change.

When you consider what’s going on in the world;

● Putin’s inhumane and disastrous invasion of Ukraine is nearing its first anniversary and is highly unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.

● The number of people facing starvation on the African continent continues to rise.

● Kim ‘Wrong-Un’ is hell-bent on increasing his nuclear threat.

● The Arab/Israeli conflict will undoubtedly escalate with the election of the far-right Benjamin Netanyahu.

● The Taliban will continue to take women’s rights back to pre-historic levels in Afghanistan.

● China will ramp up its claims over Taiwan this year, giving America the opportunity to fight another war abroad.

And I don’t have enough column space to go into Myanmar, Columbia, Haiti, Sudan, Lebanon, Nigeria, The Sahel, Yemen or Ethiopia. I think you’ve got the message…. the world is a messed-up place.

Reflecting on some of the major environmental issues of last year tells a similar story;

● Hurricane Ian caused havoc in Cuba and the US.

MALAGA was the destination for the first commercial flight out of Brussels using sustainable fuel.

The Brussels Airlines flight used a mix of 38% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to 62% kerosene to power the ‘symbolic’ flight. The New Year’s Day trip was viewed as an important test of infrastructure that can be used to pipe in SAF using the NATO pipeline.

The underground Central European Pipeline Service, supplies the military air fleet as well as civil flights.

● Extreme drought in Europe saw river levels drop to the lowest levels on record. Spain’s reservoirs fell to the lowest levels for more than 30 years. End result - billions of euros of losses to the agriculture, livestock and energy generation sectors.

● Unprecedented floods in China.

● Despite the floods in China huge areas suffered drought conditions.

● Floods in Australia.

● Super intense monsoon season in Pakistan inundated a significant part of the country killing over a million livestock and destroying 10 million acres of crops. Some 7 million people

were forced to evacuate their homes and nearly 2,000 people died.

● Storm Eunice hit northern and Central Europe in February. Billions of euros of damage was caused in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Poland, the UK and the Netherlands.

● Continued deforestation in Brazil caused reduced rainfall and ensuing drought.

● Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Canada. It was the most intense tropical storm ever.

● Biggest floods in South Africa ever recorded.

NOT A GOOD YEAR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

Will this year be any better?

Sadly, I very much doubt it. Expect to hear even more hollow promises and commitments from the same people who could actually make a difference.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy.

( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

Green Matters By Martin Tye

KINGS RETURN

TEN floats took part in the Three Kings Cavalcade that returned to Gibraltar after a two year break because of the pandemic.

The popular procession saw large crowds line the streets to greet the different themed floats created by different social groupings and family networks.

Gibraltar Cultural Services staff handed out sweets to eager children on the sidelines of the cavalcade, making for another enjoyable family occasion.

Apart from the last two years, the cavalcade tradition has taken place every January 5 since 1957.

National building company GJBS won the senior prize this year with their Avator’ float.

The Eastern Beach Family combined with the Roberts Family to get the top junior prize for their adaptation of the Disney film Encanto

The big time

International TV companies to cash in on tax breaks worth up to €10 million per episode

SPAIN has brought in bigger tax breaks to woo more international TV and movie producers to the country.

As of January 1, tax rebates on international TV shows shooting in Spain now reach €10 million per episode.

Films and TV series will also be able to take advantage of total tax relief doubling to €20 million per production.

A deductions ceiling enjoyed by a project's top creative team that was set at €100,000 has been scrapped.

The changes come just six

months after the country’s biggest movie and TV studio complex - Alicante's Ciudad de La Luz- reopened after being closed for a decade after falling foul of EU competition rules.

Alicante Province this year reported over 50 shoots from foreign TV shows, films, commercials, or corporate videos.

Spain already has seen major productions like Game of Thrones and its prequel House of the Dragon,

Rock writers’ reward

film a significant number of scenes along with shows like The Witcher and Vampire Academy.

Spain Film Commission president, Carlos Rosado, said: “Spain is now positioned as the most competitive and attractive destination in Europe for audiovisual production.”

“The new tax measures offer total legal security and guarantee our institutions’ commitment to the indus-

try as a strategic sector,” he added.

“Spain is now the best bet for international productions and the incentives join a complete package of locations, top-rate professionals, global connectivity and a network of 38 film commissions and offices across the country to satisfy the demands of any production,” added Rosado.

Stardust for Starlite

ROD Stewart is heading to Spain this summer.

The British artist will perform his greatest hits at the Starlite Festival in Marbella on Friday July 21.

The legendary British rock and pop singer, with his distinctive raspy singing voice, will warble tunes like Forever Young, Can’t Stop Me Now, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Maggie May and Rhythm of My Heart among many others.

Throughout his more than 50 year career, Rod Stewart, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, has received many awards, including being knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace in 2016 for his services to music and charity.

HY do we feel so much nostalgia for the 80s? It was such a stressfree decade with bold fashion statements and new hair trends. Remember mixing music on cassette tapes, recording your message on home answering machines, and not to forget how neon colours rocked with scrunched-up legwarmers over spandex tights. So satisfying. Well 9 out of 10 Línea Directa customers get the same satisfaction and recommend the best priced car, bike and home insurance to friends and family.

EXPAT2EXPAT REWARDS

When an existing Línea Directa customer recommends a new customer, they both receive 30€. Línea Directa’s Expat2Expat programme is free and open to all existing customers. You can recommend up to 10 people and earn up to 300€ in cash per year. Simply ask your friend to call 952-14-78-34 and quote your full name. Then once their application for car, bike or home insurance has been approved, Línea Directa will pay the reward straight into the bank account following payment of next or first premium. For more information, see terms and conditions at lineadirecta.com

CHECK-OUT OUR POLICIES

All customer service and documentation is in English, their claims service is fast and efficient, you can get quick no obligation quotes over the phone, and their easy payment options help spread the cost of premiums.

DEDICATED TO EXPATS

Línea Directa has been providing comprehen-

sive car, motorbike and home insurance to British expatriates and residents in Spain for over 25 years. With over 3 million customers nationwide, Línea Directa makes sure you get the best possible price for the kind of insurance you really need.

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS IN ENGLISH

Their Roadside Assistance team speaks English and will quickly help you with your onward journey. If you urgently need a duplicate set of keys for your motorcycle, then their English-speaking customer service will sort it out. And should you require Home Assistance to set up your new Wi-Fi connection, then English speaking technical staff will set up a visit.

DID YOU KNOW?

All Línea Directa insurance policies offer some exciting features specifically designed for British expatriates living in Spain. Their home insurance includes Pet Assistance, IT Assistance, and Home Maintenance. All motorbike policies come with Replacement Motorbike, Technical Equipment cover and even Young Person’s Night-time Assistance. And their car insurance includes helpful services such as Legal Assistance that can provide help when applying or renewing your driving license in Spain.

Relive those stress-free days with the all-in English services of Linea Directa

By Alex Trelinski

FILMED: Scenes from House of the Dragon were shot in Trujillo

ROCKING IN: Rod will play Marbella

WRITERS in Gibraltar who can put together a short story in less than 1,000 words could take home a £1,000 cheque for their efforts this spring. The government’s Spring Short Story competition will offer prizes to adults for writing in English and Spanish. Children stand to win a trophy, pen and voucher if their even shorter stories are judged to be the best of four junior age groups. The closing date for entries is March 3.

NORTH GORGE DEVELOPMENT

LAST 8 REMAINING VILLAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION – RESERVE YOURS NOW!

BLEAK END

Within the enclave of the natural backdrop of the historic North Gorge of Gibraltar, this development of 48 detached and terraced houses is underway as scheduled following the successful off plan sale of Phase I. The North Gorge development has been shortlisted for a Gibraltar Sustainability Award. Few remaining properties for sale in phase II with prices ranging between £1.450 to £1.895 million.

PETROL PAIN

FILLING up your car has become an average €13 more expensive following the end of the Spanish government's subsidy of 20 cents per litre at petrol stations.

According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the average price of 95 petrol is now €1.63 per litre, up by four cents on December 27. Meanwhile, the average price of diesel is up three cents to €1.69 per litre compared to a week ago.

AFTER 34 years of legal wrangling, what’s left of a spinster’s multi-million inheritance has been given to good causes.

In a case reminiscent of Jarndyce v Jarndyce in Dickens’s Bleak House, Josefa Martell died at the age of 100 in 1988, leaving behind no will and sparking a battle between the Valencia region and the city of Castellon.

Martell had never married and her parents and four siblings died before she did. As she lost her relatives, she accumulated assets, with

A RECORD 20 cruise liners visited Gibraltar for the first time during 2022, topping the 19 inaugural cruise calls of 2016.

By Simon Hunter

her family’s inheritances all passing to her.

When the resident of Castellon died, she was worth a hefty €4.7 million thanks to 32 holdings: 27 in the countryside, and five in the city of Castellon de la Plana.

In 1991, the Valencian regional government declared itself to be the only beneficiary of Martell.

Castellon council appealed on the basis that the pertinent law was not Valencia’s probate legislation but

rather the Civil Code, which specified that ‘two-thirds of the value’ should go to social causes. That would have been around €3.5 million. The Supreme Court ruled in the early 2000s that the inheritance had to be shared,

CRUISING SPEED

calls during 2023 as a result of the marketing campaign.

with two-thirds of the total going to Castellon.

Rather than complying, the Valencia regional government swapped the most-valuable plots in exchange for others in Valencia between the years 2003 and 2008 as it could not sell them.

Audit

Big data

TECH giant Microsoft is to build a massive data centre near Madrid.

The company has contracted Ferrovial to construct the facility. The cost has not been revealed, but it is thought to be worth several hundred million Euros.

It is part of an investment plan worth over €12.75 billion that Microsoft is rolling out across 17 European regions.

The new centre is planned for Sebastian de los Reyes, about 20 kilometres from Madrid. Microsoft is also planning another two projects in the Madrid area to develop Cloud services.

Jobless down

SPAIN closed 2022 with its lowest level of unemployment since 2007.

Minister for Tourism Vijay Daryanani announced the figure was a result of the government’s ‘unprecedented cruise marketing drive’ during the last year.

He promised even more cruise

PROPERTY DETAILS

“The cruising industry has suffered immensely but the Government has worked at full throttle to make sure that Gibraltar has not been forgotten and the statistics are proof of this,” Daryanani said.

Semi-detached 4 storey villa with integral garage, garden, balconies, car port and solarium terrace with jacuzzi. Passenger lift serving all levels including roof.

Total area: 319m² Garden/Outdoor Terrace: 26m²

URING the last two years the world has faced drastic changes in the economy and demand for housing, which was widely inte

It is now facing further interruptions from the looming worldwide crisis on energy

The sharp increases in the rising costs of inflation is affecting lifestyles and housing needs as one also considers energy efficiency in their homes.

In Gibraltar, we have seen an increasing demand from homeowners seeking larger living areas, open plan and bright layouts, and in particular outdoor spaces, where one can enjoy freedom within the seclusion of their homes.

The homes themselves are becoming a habitat to cater for all living requirements all year round and technology now embraces the function, ability and comfort of the ideal home as we move into a modern age of technology and building sustainability.

“We have recovered quickly in 2022 after the pandemic and now we have a record amount of inaugural calls,” he said.

“It is not easy in this very competitive industry but we will work hard to deliver on all fronts,” he added.

Now an audit has established that just €1 million was left over to be handed to Castellon.

Two-thirds of that, more than €600,000, has since been paid out by the city to 11 charities, including Caritas and the Down Syndrome Association. As in Jarndce v Jarndce, the fortune had largely disappeared.

The Labour Ministry revealed that the jobless total now stands at 2.83 million, down 268,252 on December of 2021.

The number of people in work rose by 471,360 compared with 2021, bringing the total number of employed people to 20.29 million.

Terrace: 69m² | Garden/Outdoor Terrace: 31m²

Terraced Villas also with integral garage, rear garden, balconies, car port and solarium roof terrace. Passenger lift serving all levels including roof.

The North Gorge development, consisting of 48 townhouses with only eight left for sale off plan, is such an example of modern construction, blending within a beautiful natural environment and provi ding luxury living with smart design and services and resource efficient designs. Each house enjoys solarium terraces with the option to install a Jacuzzi, and is serviced with an integral lift serving all

PROPERTY DETAILS

Total area: 254m² Garden/Outdoor Terrace: 40m²

All bedrooms enjoy lush ensuite ba throoms, and vestibules, nicely arranged living areas incorporating open plan kit chens with bespoke kitchen cabinetry and high end electro-domestic appliances.

The development provides a range of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses all with priva te carports integral garages, terrace and

The developer’s statement being: “Sus tainability is the principal driver of the

development. The aim is to deliver beautiful, energy efficient homes to ultimately protect Gibraltar’s precious electric and water supplies by reducing energy use, saving water, and minimizing waste

Terraced Villa also with integral garage, balconies, car port and solarium roof terrace.

PROPERTY DETAILS

Interior size: 204m² | Total area: 301m² Balcony/Roof Terrace: 78m² | Garden/Outdoor Terrace: 18m²

Continuous economic growth over the last decade has also initiated significant public-sector investment into new schools, sporting complexes, roads, public transport, services, and clean energy infrastructure, all within a vibrant economy with a strong growth in Gross Domestic Product against a low unemployment rate.

NORTH GORGE DEVELOPMENT

Designed with airtight building construction and photo-voltaic technology for the efficient use of sun power for lighting and heating, the properties are designed for luxury living within a beautifully natural enclave, sensitive to the environment, waste, water and energy efficiency.

Gibraltar continues to re-urbanize brownfield sites as well as reclaim new land to provide for the development of the peninsula, which is experiencing a growing demand for both local housing needs and other inward property investment within the private sector. The fiscal framework on the Rock provides a secure platform for investment and optimum returns on capital.

Within the enclave of the natural backdrop of the historic North Gorge of Gibraltar, this development of 48 detached and terraced houses is underway as scheduled following the successful off plan sale of Phase I. The North Gorge development has been shortlisted for a Gibraltar Sustainability Award. Few remaining properties for sale in phase II with prices ranging between £1.450 to £1.895 million.

Just €1m of €4.7m left to be handed to good causes after 34-year legal fight over spinster’s estate

STARS: Diana Rigg and Robin Bailey in Bleak House

LET’S GET DIRTY

Els Enfarinats, Ibi

FIRST on our list, although rounding off the year, is the just finished flour fight on the Costa Blanca.

As food fights go, Els Enfarinats in Ibi, Alicante, egg-cells itself, as participants engage in hand-to-hand combat with flour and eggs. The annual festival has been taking place for two centuries, imitating a mock coup d’etat.

The Els Enfarinats Army advances on the town every December 28, collect ing taxes which are then donated to a designated charity.

La Tomatina, Buñol

La Merengada (Meringue War), Vilanova i La Geltru, Catalonia

OTHER food fisticuffs pale into insignificance beside this blood-red, tomato-stained outdoor food fight.

Today some 150,000 tomatoes and 125 tonnes of tomato puree are thrown be-

tween 45,000 in Buñol.

The colour and smell lasts for days afterwards, although the fight itself lasts just half an hour and takes place on the last Wednesday of August.

La Raima Grape Throwing Festival, Pobla del Duc

HEAD to Pobla del Duc on the last Friday in August and be prepared to be doused in grape juice!

The arrival of four trucks bearing some 50-90 tonnes of garnacha tintorera grapes is the signal for the fun to start.

Every citizen grabs handfuls of grape grenades and starts throwing them around until everyone’s the colour purple.

PART of Carnival Week in this Catalonian town, La Merengada showcases a free-for-all of flying meringues. It’s usually the messy soft sort, but boiled sweets are also thrown into the crowds which is why it’s also known as the Batalla de Caramelos and, ouch, they can hurt!

This sweet celebration begins on Mardi Gras (the Thursday before Lent).

Batalla del Vino, Haro, La Rioja

THE Batalla del Vino, or Wine-Throwing Fight, got underway 800 years ago. Stare too open-mouthed and you’ll get very drunk very quickly. Starting as a land dispute, it seems the only way to resolve it was by the locals chucking copious amounts of wine at each other. Nowadays, thousands take part in this tipple-tossing event at the end of June.

PRESENT arms, take aim, fire! When it comes to food, Spain is a warring nation so watch out for that grapeshot - it really does come from the vine! From wine warfare to a ‘Battle of the

Flour’, nowhere does it quite like Spain, so if being on the frontline of a frenzied food fight sounds like good fun, you’ve come to the right place. Here are five of the nation’s biggest and best foodie affrays.

The Spanish like nothing better than a good old foodie fisticuffs and everything from meringue missiles to grape grenades are weapons of choice for these culinary conquistadors, writes Dilip Kuner

Border control

MORE than 50 million people who travelled to Spain during the Covid-19 pandemic used the government’s health app to try to control the spread of the disease.

Ministry of Health data revealed that 52,709,223 travellers - or 94.12% of people who arrived in Spain during the pandemic - used the Spain Travel Health (SpTH) application.

The system was launched in April 2020, in a bid to control how many people with coronavirus were coming through the borders, and try to relieve demand in Spanish hospitals.

Return of the bug

THERE has been a significant increase in respiratory infections caused by viruses.

Cases of colds and flu shot up in December and urgent care centres received up to 400 patients daily.

This increase in patients in urgent care was also due to the fact that normal healthcare centres were closed for three consecutive days over the Christmas holidays.

The increase in respiratory infections has been put down to several factors, including the fact that the population has stopped wearing masks.

PUT physical health at the top of your New Year’s resolution list.

This is the message from health chiefs.

The Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) said everyone who wants to

Health first

make a change should set defined goals, draw up an action plan and find support in completing them over the next year. It follows a recent UK YouGov poll that said the top five annual promises revolve around a healthy lifestyle.

More exercise, better diet, less alcohol and quitting smoking often come before getting wealthier, the poll

said.

“Physical inactivity, tobacco use and poor nutrition, are increasingly becoming part of today’s lifestyle leading to the rapid rise of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, depression and anxiety,” the GHA said.

“According to the WHO, 60 to 85% of people in the world lead a sedentary routine so we should all be ready to move for health and to adopt healthy and active lifestyles.” The GHA recommended the NHS Better Health website for more information.

Masks return

Action taken at health centres and elderly homes to fight winter viruses

MASKS are back in force at Gibraltar’s health facilities and elderly people’s homes to stop the spread of seasonal flu, COVID-19 and other diseases.

The Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) will enforce the mask rule for all areas of the hospital, primary care centre (PCC) and Elderly Residential Services (ERS) homes.

CHINESE IMPORTS

TWO of Spain’s leading immunology and epidemiology experts want coordinated European Union action to reduce the chances of a new Covid-19 strain being imported from China.

The main concern is that since China has a high level of Covid cases, the virus can mutate leading to a new strain that current vaccines cannot deal with.

Spain has already introduced mandatory proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test for visitors flying in directly from China, which means checks at Barcelona and Madrid airports.

Italy is the only other EU country to have introduced Covid checks for flight arrivals from China.

Spanish Society of Immunology (SEI) President Marcos Lopez Hoyos and Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE)

President Oscar Zurriaga told the EFE news agency that border controls in Spain of passengers from China are ‘relatively effective’ but want a coordinated approach across the European Union.

Their argument is that a person with Covid may have travelled from China to another continent and then on to Spain

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

By John Culatto

The GHA said the reason for the move was an increase of winter viruses like ‘Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), seasonal influenza, COVID-19 and Group A Streptococcus (GAS)’.

Masks would ‘protect staff, patients and visitors’, a spokesperson said.

ARRIVALS: Visitors to Spain from China will need to be Covid registered to enter the country

or another EU country.

The outbreak of a new Covid strain that is immune to current vaccines ‘cannot be predicted’, and it is ‘totally random’, they warned.

A vaccination certificate doesn’t stop people getting infected and ‘you have to do a PCR or antigen test’, warned Marcos Lopez Hoyos.

Omicron

Zurriaga added that when the Omicron Covid strain surfaced in South Africa, restricting flights between that country and the EU ‘did not prevent it from being spread across the globe’.

The GHA asked the public not to visit family and friends at hospital wards and elderly homes if they had flu or cold symptoms. People who want flu protection can walk in and get the vaccine at the PCC or arrange an appointment beforehand.

GHA Director General Patrick Geoghegan said the mask requirement was ‘a temporary measure’ that ‘will be kept under review’. Last September, GHA bosses made masks optional in non-clinical areas.

“When presentations of winter infections reduce, the requirements will be rolled back again,” Geoghegan added.

Contact

Both the RSV virus and GAS bacteria are spreading rapidly among children in the UK, with which Gibraltar has ample contact.

Kraken awakens

KRAKEN, the latest strain of Covid, has been detected in Spain after becoming the latest import from the USA.

Known technically as XBB.1.5, Kraken is making its way through the US infecting all and sundry.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been tracking the XBB variant, a fusion of two Omicron strains, since early December.

Dominant

It is quickly becoming the dominant strain globally, particularly in the US, where it accounts for nearly half of all cases.

The WHO has detected the variant in 25 countries, including Spain, where only a few sporadic cases have been identified.

Since vaccines have been widely distributed, none of the SARS-CoV-2 variants have proven to be more severe than previous ones.

So far Kraken does not appear to be an exception, with vaccines effective against it.

Across: 1 Perfume, 5 Staff, 9 Hainan, 10 Spear, 11 Recall, 12 Expose, 13 Air, 14 Safer, 16 Sober, 18 Sky, 20 Disarm, 22 Intent, 24 Apart, 25 Phobia, 26 Bales, 27 Settled.

Down: 2 Erase, 3 Fanfare, 4 Manila, 6 Tie up, 7 Foresee, 8 Aster, 15 Ali Baba, 17 Outmost, 18 Smith, 19 Yippee, 21 Awake, 23 Noise

Home decision

AN employee has won an appeal to have a fall he suffered in his kitchen while teleworking at home deemed as a workplace accident.

Social Security and the Madrid Social Court concluded the incident was ‘non-work related’.

But The Superior Court of Justice (TSJ) of Madrid has now overturned the decision.

The employee of Canal de Isabel II was teleworking when he slipped while walking to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.

He injured his left hand, which required surgery.

Judge Jose Luis Asenjo Pinilla said the workplace while people were working from home was more than just the table and chair where they physically worked.

RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN

1. Start supplementing

Regardless of your age or lifestyle, these really are a must to maintain good health. These are the basics you need to feel good at any age.

VITAMIN C - It’s a vital support to our immune system and a protective antioxidant. A good daily dose is 500mg. Taking more than 1,000mg a day may cause stomach pain, diarrhoea or flatulence. And of course living in Spain, take advantage of the juiciest citrus fruits and add more to your diet.

B COMPLEX - Essential for energy production in your body and to support your hormones. A good average dose is 25-50mg of each of the main Bs (1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and smaller amounts of B9 and B12) in one B-complex tablet. These nutrients are not stored in the body, so you need to top up the supply every day.

OMEGA-6 EVENING PRIMROSE OIL (or starflower oil) slows signs of ageing, balances hormones and helps with PMS and menopause symptoms. Take 1,000mg daily, increasing to three times a day for hormonal imbalances, such as PMS.

OMEGA-3 FISH OIL or LINSEED OIL - can help reduce inflammation and maximise brain function. Take 1,000mg daily or twice a day if you suffer from dry skin or sore joints. Your body’s cells are dependent on Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), such as Omega-3 and -6; without them, your body will deteriorate more rapidly. If you’re getting enough, your skin will be beautifully strong and supple.

VITAMIN D - You need this to absorb calcium and phosphorus to keep bones and teeth healthy, most of our body’s vitamin D comes from exposure to sunlight. Thank goodness for the Spanish sun!

3. Add some spice to your life

Turmeric should really be known as trendy spice given everyone was talking about it last year. And not without rea son.

And British researchers found that one in six devices were contaminated with E. coli!). Use cleaning wipes that don’t contain bleach as that’s safer for your phones and tablets and do it every week.

It’s an incredible anti-inflam matory and can help ease rheumatoid pain. Ginger like turmeric is also anti inflammatory and is a powerful remedy for upset stomachs and nausea

4. Get a better night’s sleep

One in three of us don’t get a good night’s sleep. Overthinking, the glare of TV, phone and computer screens are all sleep wreckers. Lack of sleep impacts your mental and physical wellbeing. If this is you, try the 4-7-8 breathing method which can help calm before sleep. Breathe in for a steady count of 4 – hold for 7 – breathe out for 8.

5. Hop it!

Hopping for five minutes a day may protect women from breaking their hips, according to a recent study.

It could strengthen bones in the legs, making them more dense and less likely to break.

Brittle bones, caused by a condition called osteoporosis which makes holes inside the bones, is a common issue for women who have been through the menopause.

Scientists at Loughborough University, followed 35 women aged 55-70 over the course of six months and told them to do up to 50 onelegged hops each day. At the end they found the density of their leg bones had increased in the hopping leg while it had decreased in the non-hopping leg.

The team also did MRI scans of the women’s knees to check the exercise had not done any damage to the joints, which it hadn’t.

STICK TO! !

6. Look after your mouth

Regular dental check ups and brushing twice a day is a must, but add in flossing once a day and tongue cleaning once a day and you’re on the way to the gold standard in oral health.

If you don’t clean your tongue, bacteria can build up on it quickly, leading to discolouration and risking bacteria spreading to your teeth and gums.

Tongue cleaning also helps prevent bad breath.

7. Eat superherbs for a brain boost

Add sage to your food or simply inhale its scent and you’ll get a brain boost. It’s been known to increase memory recall and retention so may be a superfood for the mind.

Sage is high in Vitamin K - just two grammes provides 43% of your daily recommended intake.

It can also help with cholesterol levels, treat symptoms of the menopause and improve blood sugar levels.

Fresh rosemary is another herb that can help as a cognitive booster, helping with focus and mental clarity. Its rich in vitamins A, B6, C, folate and thiamine. Phew!

8. Get your eyes tested

Our eyes are often called ‘windows to the soul’ but they are also a very effective window to our overall health. Many people first learn they have diabetes, high cholesterol and even cancer from a routine eye exam. So as well as evaluating whether you need glasses or a new prescription or have glaucoma, an annual eye check could be one of the best things you can do for your health.

Researchers are even working on an eye test that can identify your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

9. Don’t fear fats

Raw nuts, avocados and olive oil are all rich in good fats you should eat them regularly.

Avocados are also a good source of Vitamins E and C, which are important for skin health. Vitamin C helps make collagen, the protein that keeps skin plump and elastic, while Vitamin E is an antioxidant which helps protect skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays.

Royal flush

EMBARRASSED officials scrambled to remove copies of Prince Harry’s tellall memoir, Spare, after it accidentally went on sale across Spain five days before its official release date on January 10.

Bad parking

THE Mayor of Malaga had his new car towed for parking in an officials-only spot during an event as he hadn’t got round to registering it with the city hall as an official vehicle.

Calls fine

VODAFONE will have to pay out €6,000 to a man for harassing him at all hours with sales calls. A judge refused to believe their excuse that another company had been making the calls fraudulently in their name.

Pooch that disappeared rescued after bomb squad called in

A HUNTING dog that had been trapped in a cave for five days has been rescued unharmed after a massive Guardia Civil operation.

Bomb squad officers were called in to help blast a way through a narrow fissure to the frightened pooch with a series of 20 ‘micro explosions’.

Once the opening was widened enough, a mountain rescue officer crawled in and brought Kira the podenco to safety after an hours-long operation.

It involved the Explosives

Dog-gone

By Dilip Kuner

Service of Madrid, experts in micro-blasting, the Explosives Group of Zaragoza, the Mountain Service of Jaca, Boltaña and Mora de Rubielos (Teruel), with the support of Citizen Security personnel from Alcañiz (Teruel).

Kira had last been seen chasing a boar in Samper de Calanda (Teruel) when she disappeared.

When she failed to return home, her owner spent four days scouring the countryside before eventually track-

A COUPLE returned to their home in Mallorca’s Manacor to find a naked stranger sitting in their kitchen eating their food and guzzling beer. A trail of water led from the bathroom to the Argentinian man, who had helped himself to a shower after breaking in. The male householder grabbed the 42-year-old by his arm and led him

ing her down to a narrow cave entrance using a GPS tracking device attached to Kira’s collar. There he heard Kira’s fright-

Rude awakening

to the front door where the intruder grabbed a towel to cover his modesty before leaving.

Police quickly arrested the man as he walked down the street. He was easy to spot as he was wearing only a towel.

ened yelping but he had no way to enter the fissure, and Kira was unable to get out, so he called in Mountain Rescue.

Explosive

When they too were unable to help, they notified explosives experts, and after a day-long operation involving careful micro explosions with rubble being painstakingly removed by hand, they managed to rescue Kira unharmed.

A HOMEOWNER had the shock of his life when he spotted a massive 20 kilo big cat lurking in the garden of his home. The alarmed man called police to report what he thought was a lynx.

Guardia Civil were unable to track it down but called in Marbellas’s animal rescue unit when they got a second report of a ‘lynx’ in the garden of another home the

next day.

The team identified it as a caracat, which is a hybrid between a desert lynx and an Abyssinian cat and is classified as a ‘potentially dangerous domestic animal’.

Named Jakar, it had escaped from its home in Nueva Andalucia and roamed almost 20 kilometres in a few hours to the Costabella neighbourhood.

The caracat was then taken to a rescue centre, where it was found to be in good health.

It is currently awaiting its owner to present the necessary document before it can return home.

Wild cat chase

AN unidentified ‘large feline’ feared to be an albino jaguar or a Siberian white tiger is on the loose in Los Barrios (Cadiz). Since its sighting at the start of the month, images of the big cat have gone viral and local residents are panicking about a possible jungle beast in the area.

It is thought it may be an escaped pet.