Olive Press Gibraltar Issue 212 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 8 Issue 212 www.theolivepress.es November 29th - December 12th 2023

Why you must visit Ronda

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November 2023

SOUL MATES: Hemingway and Ordonez became close friends

Love letter

of the best places y described it as one editor A century ago HemingwaTwo decades ago Olive Press in the world for romance.so much, he moved there Jon Clarke loved Ronda

GOYA-STYLE: Ordonez’ grandson Fran Rivera today

up of soldiers Tolls, when a line below, it is Bell hurled into the ravine to their of the Tajo gorge are actual Spain’s most abyssa series of wrought iron railings deaths - an event related to T is easily one of Civil War. the mo- only events during the ward off the panic. memorable sensations; hits as you thatbreathtaking geographical fea- And Hem, of course, should know… a A ment the adrenaline the location of ledge at the top page Continues on next look down from a Puente Nuevo ture, this was in Ernest Heminghaunting chapter of Ronda’s famous For Whom the way’s seminal novel, bridge. foot drop into the A staggering 400

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‘Full on and stressful’ ordeal for British family after daughter is dragged into terror probe A BRITISH expat family has been torn apart after their ‘vibrant’ and ‘model-esque’ daughter was accused of helping to carry out a terrorist attack in Spain. On the surface, Sasha Brooks is a typical young woman enjoying life in the sun, regularly posting selfies on nights out in Marbella and Granada with her friends on Instagram. With holidays in Ibiza, Mallorca and Australia, she wears stylish clothes and is the ‘life and soul of the party’ on frequent nights out. But her world came crashing down when she was arrested alongside her Spanish boyfriend, Naraya Gomez, at a home they share in the quaint town of Lanjaron, Granada, just an hour inland from the Costa del Sol. They were sequestered to Madrid

LOVELY COUPLE: Naraya and Sasha are being investigated

her passport taken off her after being released on bail. before facing a judge, where they She must apwere charged with aiding the assas- pear before the sination attempt of far-right politi- court every 15 days and is forcian Alejo Vidal-Quadras. from The 78-year-old was shot in the bidden face by a hitman on a motorbike leaving Spain outside his home in the posh neigh- as the investigabourhood of Salamanca in Madrid tion continues. - which boasts football players, Pe- Various Spannelope Cruz and Javier Bardem as ish newspapers reported that residents. Last night Spain issued an interna- both Sasha and tional arrest warrant for the sus- Naraya were still pected shooter, named as 37-year- being investigated in connection old Tunisian Mehrez Ayari. Following Sasha and Naraya’s ar- to the attempted rests, Lanjaron, a tiny town of just murder. 3,000 people, was turned into a Naraya was refused bail and media circus. Before Sasha was dragged before a sent to prison judge, her mother, Angie Brooks, due to the overa financial advisor, told the Olive whelming eviPress: “Spanish reporters have dence against WORRIED: Mum Angie been hounding us, banging on my him. while (above) Naraya’s He is said to dad Sirio door all night and morning. recently “They have reported so many lies have about my daughter.” converted to Islam, specifically fol- killer, who After her court appearance her lowing the Shiite sect favoured by is also mother said Sasha was ‘exhausted’. the ayatollahs of Iran. wanted for She added she had been through Vidal-Quadras is convinced the a murder an ‘ordeal’, branding the episode Middle Eastern nation is the mas- in Paris, ‘stressful’ and ‘full on’. termind behind the hit, after its rul- d u m p e d ‘EXHAUSTED’: Sasha Brooks was dragged to “I’ve had to come up to Madrid to ing elite listed him as a ‘terrorist’ last his motor- Madrid following her arrest in Granada help her as much as possible,” said October due to his years of harsh bike and Brooks, who runs a an anti-fraud criticisms against the country. set it on fire, before being picked parked in Lanjaron this week, leadadvice company, Pension Life, Naraya, 26, is accused of hiring the up by Gomez in his car to make his ing to the couple’s arrest. where her daughter and boyfriend contract killer before travelling to a getaway. Naraya’s father Sirio Gomez, a Naraya had been working. hotel in Madrid with him on the eve According to police, Naraya’s blue yoga master who lives in a new “It’s been pretty full on and it’s now of the attack. hire car was seen on CCTV in Ma- age commune just outside Lanup to the judge to decide whether to According to police, Gomez fol- drid’s Barrio Salamanca in the weeks jaron, insisted the charges were charge them or not.” lowed the Frenchman in his car on running up to the attack, tracking completely false. While her mother later insisted she the day of the shooting. Vidal-Quadras’s movements. He told the Olive Press: “My son had not been charged, Sasha had After the deed was done, the alleged The same car was found illegally is completely innocent, he is not a terrorist. “He is a good boy, a vegetarian, spiritual and a pacifist.” SPAIN’S foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares has He said he last spoke to Naraya a agreed with his UK counterpart David Cameron to refew months ago and that he was start EU Treaty talks ‘as soon as possible’. excited to introduce his girlfriend Albares had a telephone call with Lord Cameron on on ice since Spanish Prime Minister Pedro SanSasha to him. November 27 before meeting the former UK PM chez called a general election. He added: “He was not related on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels. The issue will be back on the agenda after the to politics, he worked for Sasha’s It came just weeks after Cameron, who ironSocialist leader was finally able to form a govmother’s business. ically initiated the Brexit referendum, was ernment in November. “He never converted to Islam, that sensationally brought back into government as He faces a turbulent term, however, after being is a lie, he is not a Muslim. He has Rishi Sunak’s new Foreign Secretary. forced to secure an amnesty deal with Catalan judeo-Christian beliefs and an af“Many months ago Spain put on the table a balseparatists that sparked weeks of protests finity with Israel!” anced and generous agreement and that is where in Madrid and across the country. we are going to go,” Albares said. Sanchez will likely be placed under Alternative He once again said that ‘what Spain wants the microscope when he reopens is for this agreement to be the Brexit treaty negotiations Sirio lives in the so-called commusigned tomorrow’. particularly from the conservanity of Benificio, just a 20-minute The negotiations have been tive Partido Popular and far-right drive from Lanjaron. party Vox. It’s known by locals as an ‘alterIt comes after Gibraltar and the native community’, where people UK have stalled on the finer defrom across Europe come and go. tails of the Spanish proposal folThe theory put forward by police lowing 13 rounds of talks. has left expats and locals in LanjaIronically, Cameron, who lost ron in shock. the 2016 referendum after visOne local Brit told the Olive Press: iting the Rock, will now have “They were a lovely couple, no one See page 13 to sort out its consequences for can believe it or understand it. Gibraltar. “There is no motivation for them TM to do something like this, Sasha Opinion Page 6 comes from a good family.” The investigation continues. EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

EU treaty hope

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November 29th - December 12th 2023

Back behind bars

NEWS IN BRIEF Island connections

HE has mostly gone under the radar as far as expats and regular visitors to the Costa del Sol are concerned. But one of the coast’s most seasoned fraudsters is back behind bars after years of scamming that, it is understood, left dozens of people robbed of millions. The Olive Press can reveal that Brit Christopher O’Hare was finally sent back to prison after being double-crossed by a pal in September. He was being sought by police for failing to serve his fouryear sentence over a multi-million euro property fraud in the Marbella area against the Dubai-based mutual fund Lighthouse. According to his ex-girlfriend, Sarah, cops raided his luxury rented Estepona beachfront bolthole and sent him straight

UK overseas territory St Helena’s minister for health Martin Henry visited Gibraltar in a courtesy call following London meetings recently.

Talking books UK authors Ann Bryant and Ann Cleaves teamed up with Ukrainian war survivor Yeva Skalietska to speak to Gibraltar school students after the literary festival.

Spill ready MILITARY units practised for an oil spill emergency recently using a new 250m floating boom to contain and simulate oil extraction in Admiralty waters.

Insuring talks MINISTER for Trade Nigel Feetham met with leading global insurance group Somerset Bridge to create new opportunities for local talent.

MASTERMIND: O´Hare with Brouwer and friend

Shady British conman thought to have ripped off ‘dozens’ of unsuspecting victims in Spain EXCLUSIVE By Walter Finch

back to prison. The 47-year-old Manchester native has had a long and chequered career running property and renewable energy scams, according to Marbella lawyer Israel Romero. “He is incredibly prolific,” said Romero, who prosecuted him over the €4 million theft from the Lighthouse Mutual Fund in 2018. “He was in jail in Sweden around 2012 over a solar panel scam and has been scamming in Poland and the UK. Then he came to Spain.” One expat victim, Hayley Saker, 41, was conned out of €50,000 after her business partner met O’Hare in a sports bar in Marbella in 2020. O’Hare convinced them that he had access to funds for a ‘development project’ and through ‘skillful manipulation’ convinced them to put up more and more of their own cash. “He formed friendships with people that seemed so genuine that it was actually quite scary,” Saker, herself a developer, told the Olive Press. “He was extremely manipu-

% 50

lative and a l w a y s had some fantastic believable reasons for all the suspicious things he did,” she added. The project however, came crashing down and all the funds went up in smoke when O’Hare was hauled back to jail in 2021 after absconding prison over the Lighthouse case. “The police actually knocked on the door at 7am, barged through and arrested him,” said Hayley, who is based in Sotogrande. O’Hare then absconded a second time and has now been put in a higher security prison, according to lawyer Romero. Another victim, Jaron Brouwer, 39, fell for a similar scam for €30,000 around the same time. UK-based Brouwer was approached by O’Hare on Instagram looking for development projects. “He reached out asking if I

SCARY: Hayley Saker (left) said O´Hare seemed to form genuine friendships needed funding and said he had plenty of finance in place,” he told the Olive Press. “There were many of us involved in this one particular project in Cambridge and Chris was somehow playing all of us at the same time,” he added. “He was like some sort of criminal mastermind.” Brouwer added: “He seems to take between €10,000 and €15,000 off people, and that's what he lives off, splurging it in Puerto Banus.” Despite his career as a professional conman, O’Hare’s only known conviction in Spain was for the Lighthouse fund - much to the surprise of his numerous victims. Have you been a victim of Chris O’Hare? Get in touch at newsdesk@olivepress.es

Dog killer A JUVENILE who killed a dog while riding a motorbike along a footpath at speed in Gibraltar has lost his driving licence. He pleaded guilty to Dangerous Driving and the court ordered he be disqualified for 18 months, do 192 hours of unpaid work and pay £95 in compensation. The offence occurred on May 10 2022 when a man and woman were walking their two dogs along the pedestrian footpath in MidHarbour Estate. Suddenly, a motorcyclist came up from behind them riding at speed. As the teen biker passed them one of the dog leads got caught up in his back wheel, dragging the pooch along with it, while its owners were screaming at him to stop. After the dog became untangled the motorcyclist rode off without any front lights. Vets later declared the dog dead from the head injuries sustained by being dragged across the path. Once police found and checked the bike they saw it did not have any front lights at all. Police had cautioned and reported the rider while accompanied by an appropriate adult in August 2022. “By his reckless actions, this young man has caused the death of a dog and caused great distress to its owners and to witnesses who were in the area,” a Royal Gibraltar Police spokesman said. As he was a juvenile at the time of the offence, he cannot be named.

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NEWS

November 29th - December 12th 2023

VIRTUALLY PERFECT

MEET Aitana, the latest Spanish supermodel, whose looks are turning heads. But the ‘celebrities’ who are said to be sending her private messages looking for a date will be sorely disappointed - she does not actually exist. Aitana is Spain’s first Artificial Intelligence created model and she is raking in up to €10,000 a month for her creators AI agency The Clueless from a series of ad cam-

paigns. And her Instagram site now has 125,000 followers, with many of them having no idea she is nothing more than a series of electrons. Ruben Cruz, who created Aitana, explained: “One day, a well-known Latin American actor texted to ask her out. This actor has about 5 million followers and some of our team watched his TV series when they were kids. He had no idea Aitana didn’t exist.” She has now been picked to be the face of sports supplement company Big.

RHODES RAGE Outraged expat concert pianist James Rhodes offers to pay rent of 78-yearold woman for two years to save her from eviction ‘over an €88 debt’ BRITISH concert pianist James Rhodes has offered to pay an elderly woman’s rent for two years after an €88 debt left her at risk of homelessness. The 78-year-old woman, Blanca, has lived in her Barcelona flat for over 50 years. Now, she is facing homeless-

AT HOME: Blanca was taken to court over €88

month - an offer rejected by Blanca. British musician Rhodes, who lives in Madrid, has By Yzabelle Bostyn contacted the landlord’s ofness as her landlord is threat- lawyers ening to kick her out over an fering to pay the woman’s unpaid bill for repairs, which rent ‘at marshe was unaware of. ket rate’ for But activists believe that the real reason is that he wanted the next two years to halt to turn the property into a lucrative holiday rental rath- the eviction. His offer was er than collect the protected rejected by €280 a month she has been the landlord’s OFFER: Concert pianist James paying. legal team, Rhodes wants to halt eviction A court ordered the tenant’s who claim the eviction but it has been put on hold after a public out- issue has been ongoing for The pianist added that he cry. The parties have just 15 six years. hopes ‘public pressure’ will days to negotiate a new rent- Rhodes said: “It seems in- help to resolve the case. al contract and the landlord credible to me that some- Much of this pressure comes has reportedly asked the thing like this could happen from a local housing associaelderly tenant for €1,200 a in civilised society.” tion, Resistim al Gotic (Gothic Quarter Resistance). Speaking about the delayed eviction, they said: “It’s a vicSPANISH tennis star Rafa tory for the people.” Nadal has vowed to return to Spokesperson for Resistim top-level tennis once he has al Gotic, Daniel Pardo, has overcome a serious injury. called the case ‘especially unThe 37-year-old has been out of just’ as the woman was rentaction since January after he ing under an old contract. retired from the second round He claims the owner only of the Australian Open. wants to evict the 78-yearHe was struck down with a old in order to earn more muscle injury money. The 22-time Grand Slam He told 20 Minutos: “He did champion needed surgery that some work on the apartment, has kept him off the courts lonwhich was poorly done, and ger than anticipated. he decided to bill Blanca In a recent post on Instagram, €88, but she didn’t know.” Nadal confirmed that he will Instead of asking his tenant return following a period of refor the cash, the landlord habilitation and training at his went directly to the court to academy in Manacor. ask for her eviction. It will be his swansong as he has Currently, the case is being previously stated that 2024 will negotiated by local council be his final season on tour. mediators.

Nadal returns

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PULP, Lana Del Rey and SZA are just some of the star acts heading to Barcelona next year for Primavera Sound. Other names lined up for the show include Vampire Weekend, Mitski, FKA Twigs, Disclosure, Justice, Phoenix, and PJ Harvey. The festival will take place from May 30 - June 1, 2024 at the Parc del Forum in Barcelona. The experiment of running a ‘mirror’ festival in Madrid in the days after this year’s Barcelona event has not been repeated.

Shakira pays up POP STAR Shakira has cut a deal with prosecutors at the start of her tax fraud trial in Barcelona. The singer, 46, told the presiding judge that she accepted an agreement reached between her lawyers and state prosecutors after previously twice turning down such an arrangement. It involves her paying a €7 million fine and a three-yearprison term but the Colombian star is not going to jail as she will pay an extra fine of €432,000. The sentence handed down was 'final' and it means that the trial on tax fraud charges will not go ahead. She faced six counts of failing to pay the Spanish government €14.5 million in taxes between 2012 and 2014 when she said she lived mainly abroad.

NEWS

4 www.theolivepress.es King of the Rock KING Charles III ‘remains deeply interested in Gibraltar’, Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia said after he met the British monarch in London. Garcia took part in a reception and dinner hosted by the king at Buckingham Palace with leaders from other British Overseas Territories. The royal event followed a Joint Ministerial Council between the UK and British territories in the UK capital that allowed them to discuss their relationship with Britain. “It was a welcome part of that process and a genuine honour to have had the opportunity for a conversation with His Majesty the King,” Garcia said.

Reform hopes SEVEN select committees newly formed between the government and opposition in parliament could help transform Gibraltar’s future. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo started the process to form the select committees that will guide Gibraltar through constitutional and parliamentary reform. They will also look at the Brexit talks, local environment, members’ interests, people with disabilities, and public bills. Three government ministers and two opposition MPs will sit in each committee, the statement read. It follows Picardo’s promise during last month’s election to amend the constitution that has tied Gibraltar down in various areas after Brexit.

November 29th - December 12th 2023

MEN’S DAY CHAT

REACHING OUT: At the fireside chat

MEN and boys who have mental health challenges need to reach out for help to overcome their mental health issues, according to Gibraltar’s Minister for Equality Christian Santos. His message came after a successful fireside chat to mark International Men’s Day that invited panellists to share their life experience to a packed audience at the Mayor’s Parlour. Santos designed the event in order to break the stigma around men and boys getting help that if left untreated can lead to depression, violence or suicide. Sean Keating, Senior Well-Being Officer for the government and who runs ‘Walking Together’, a support group for those affected by suicide, skilfully led the panel discussion. He said: “I believe we need to break the stigma of men talking openly about mental health, but we can only do that by opening up ourselves however vulnerable that might make us.”

Whistleblower row Scores of police officers accuse the RGP of ‘revenge raids’ after levelling allegations of ‘systemic misconduct’ By John Culatto

ALMOST two dozen whistleblowers have accused the Royal Gibraltar Police of raiding their homes in retaliation for their string of serious allegations against the force. Some 22 former and currently serving officers made the claims in an astonishing open

Disability fair A DISABILITY fair in December will show the public ‘the services available locally from the Government of Gibraltar and non-governmental organisations’. The Supported Needs and Disability Office (SNDO) will put on the fair on behalf of the Ministry of Equality on December 1 at the Bayside Sports Complex from midday to 6pm. People with disabilities and their families will be able to see how they can ‘increase their support networks and to share experiences’, the government said in a statement. The Disability Fair will have three main aspects, the government said. Government departments, charities and support group stalls will provide advice and information for the disabilities they each support and what exactly they can do to help. The SNDO will set up a stage where they will host talks on different subjects related to disabilities and how best to attend to those who have them.

GIBRALTAR’S religious and political leaders held a one minute silence for peace at No.6 Convent Place after the Pope’s message to preserve the local interfaith harmony. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia hosted the religious leaders at the local government building. The governor, Sir David Steel, and mayor Carmen Gomez were at the event that attracted Christian, Jewish, Muslim and secular humanist leaders. “It was an honour to host Gibraltar’s religious leaders, representative of all faiths on the Rock, in a one minute silent reflection this morning,” Picardo said.

PLAYERS: Clockwise from top left, Nick Pyle, Sir David Steel and Ian McGrail letter to the Governor and Police Authority. The group are demanding an independent inquiry and say they have made their letter public ‘to protect themselves from further persecution and harassment’. The letter claims eight of the whistleblowers have been arrested while five others have been questioned, but none charged. The missive accuses police of making the arrests to silence, intimidate and punish the officers, adding that they “have had their homes and persons searched" and had property and mobile phones “seized illegally” and examined for “reasons unrelated to their arrests.” The letter added: “The disclosures made by these brave individuals disclose systemic issues within our law enforcement agency, and they have done so at a great personal risk to themselves and their families. “As concerned citizens, we

Religious peace

“It is, indeed, remarkable that our small corner of the world lives in peace and harmony.”

strongly believe that it is crucial to address these allegations promptly and ensure a fair and transparent investigation. “Therefore, we respectfully request that you initiate an independent inquiry by an external Home Office Force, into these whistleblower disclosures.” Specific details of the alleged crimes were not included in the letter. The whistleblowers had initially come forward as part of the inquiry into the early retirement of Ian McGrail. McGrail demanded an independent probe after claiming

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo had a part to play in the decision of the former interim governor Nick Pyle to sack him. Since new governor Sir David Steel launched the investigation, scores of officers have come forward to allege misconduct in the force during McGrail’s time as commissioner. However the inquiry has said it will not be looking into allegations of misconduct during McGrail’s tenure, leaving the accusations made by the whistleblowers without an answer. The Royal Gibraltar Police refused to comment when contacted by the Olive Press.

HOOP HOPE GIBRALTAR is getting ready to host the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup for players aged under 21. Minister for Sport Leslie Bruzon showed CEO of World Netball Clare Briegal and Technical Delegate for the NWYC 2025 Megan Fey around the facilities on offer. The minister called hosting the event ‘a real honour’ for Gibraltar and the local netball association and said ‘exciting times’ were ahead, “The meeting provided me with a fantastic insight into the NWYC 2025 and to help me grasp just how important and prestigious it is,” he added.

Sweet sixteen

THE government has said it is looking to lower the minimum age for voting to 16 to ‘align Gibraltar with numerous progressive democracies around the world’. Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia of the Liberal party has now published a consultation paper ‘to seek the public’s opinion’ on the matter. The GSLP/Liberal Alliance committed to lowering the voting age, currently at 18, in the manifesto for the October 12 election. It follows the abortion referendum on June 24, 2021, which called for the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds for the first time. The consultation paper puts across the arguments for and against the argument to give more teenagers the vote than ever before.

Maturity

“Lowering the voting age recognises the maturity and political engagement of our youth,” it reads. “It empowers them to actively participate in shaping the future of our nation, ensuring that their voices are heard, and their concerns addressed.” The paper pointed out that ‘many young people are politically active’ in topics such as ‘climate change’ and democracy needs them to ‘have a say’ in the future of the nation. But it also raised the arguments of critics that they ‘do not have the political knowledge, maturity and independence of thought required to vote’. Other arguments against lowering the voting age include the possibility that they can ‘be influenced by advertising or social media’. “The arguments both for and against are complex, persuasive and varied,” Garcia said.

Gibtalks returns THE annual eagerly awaited Gibtalks, based on the TED talks will take place on February 3 at the John Mackintosh Hall with 15 minute talks on different subjects. Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS) said it is working alongside teacher and playwright Julian Felice on delivering stories that focus on the ‘anecdotal, the personal and the light-hearted as opposed to heavy-going academics and agendas’. “The speakers will represent a cross-section of the community and will help to make up a rich and varied programme,” it added. There will also be four Vox Pop talks of ten minutes duration in which speakers will be able to speak about any topics they wish. Organisers hope the event will develop debate and discussion among the local community. GCS is now working on putting together a list of speakers for the popular mid-winter show.

NEWS FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION What do EU want THE irony of David Cameron taking over as Foreign Secretary to secure an EU deal for Gibraltar in his first Cabinet involvement since he lost the Brexit referendum cannot be overlooked. With the Tories still looking at a landslide defeat to Labour at next year’s election after Cameron’s decision to have a referendum in 2016, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has once again shuffled his pack. Cameron’s appointment has already caused division in the Tory ranks. He called for closer ties with the EU in a BBC news interview where he said the bloc was ‘a friend, a neighbour and partner’. Now the Europhile who campaigned for ‘Remain’ will have to find out what it is like sitting outside the EU fence he so vehemently opposed. He was due to meet with Albares in Brussels NATO talks on November 28. Analysing his position in relation to Spain will be a tough assignment. Will he take the deal Albares at the proposed or will he take Gibraltar’s side that it crosses red lines that could lead to loss of sovereignty? Lord Cameron historically defended Gibraltar in 2013 during frontier tensions. He also visited the Rock in 2016 just before the election, making him the first Prime Minister to do so since 1967. But in this small detail for the whole of the UK’s relationship with the EU, would he risk burning the olive branch to deal harder for Gibraltar’s concerns? These will be some of the questions Gibraltar will be considering after Cameron took over from promoted James Cleverly on November 13. From Spain’s side, it is abundantly clear that Jose Manuel Albares has set his hopes on his ‘balanced and generous agreement’. But with rumours of pension payments and airport joint use in the air, it could be that newly elected Chief Minister Fabian Picardo will have more disagreement than the UK for these inroads into Gibraltar’s affairs. Time will tell, but it is clear that with police getting tough at the frontier, local people will see their life change dramatically whatever happens. PUBLISHER / EDITOR

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

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

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Sinking feeling

T first, Captain Sebastien Destremau believed a sudden incoming swell was just the fierce poniente wind blowing in from the Atlantic one afternoon in May - ‘as it can when you exit the Strait of Gibraltar.’ The garlanded French sailor, with multiple world championships and America’s Cups campaigns to his name, gave the order to drop the sail. But when he turned his weather-beaten face to windward once more, he saw that it was not the famed Atlantic weather bringing in the onrushing waves. Around 20 orcas - half of the total population of Iberian Orcas - were moving in towards his yacht, the 17-metre Lancelot, at tremendous speed. Destremau was all too aware of this particular pod, which has made the Cadiz coast their stomping ground and the bluefin tuna their dish of choice. Eight of the apex predators approached Destremau’s 15-tonne boat and spun it around ‘like a nutshell’ with incredibly powerful nudges to the rudder.

and cretecan experts was put out in August seeking to debunk these ‘inappropriate’ narratives. Despite the ordeal, Destremau did not feel The signatories have called out such ‘anhe had been the target of orca wrath. “It thropomorphistic theories’, which project would be so easy for these beasts to sink us ‘human motivations’ onto wild beasts. if they wanted to.” The thing they fear the most is that such talk While his ship, the Lancelot, eventually could provoke human retaliation. could limp to port, three vessels have in fact Naomi Rose, Marine mammal scientist for been sunk by the Iberian orcas this year. the Animal Welfare Institute, spearheaded And dozens more have had to be rescued by the letter and was the first signatory. maritime authorities. Characterising the interactions as ‘attacks’ These encounters, all taking place in or near - implying aggression and hostility - is misthe Strait of Gibraltar over the last three leading, she told the Olive Press. years, have baffled the scientists, marine “And this whole myth around ‘Black Gladys’, biologists and animal behaviourists of the is just that - a myth.” world. However, like all myths, it originates from a Wild theories abound to explain the unprec- grain of truth. edented behaviour, and there has been a The few orcas that participate in the interproliferation of ‘melodramatic storylines.’ actions with the boats have been given the They range from orca anger at humans en- designation ‘Gladys’ to differentiate them croaching on their yard, to tales of an orca from pod members which don’t. mother known as ‘Black Gladys’ out for re- Rose admits it is a somewhat ‘unfortunate’ venge after her baby was killed by a yacht misnomer, as it comes from the Latin for propeller. ‘sword’, its root in English being ‘gladiator.’ An open letter signed by a number of orca But while it may be a mistake to project human attitudes onto orcas in one respect, in others they display behaviour that every huwww.theolivep ress.es man will recognise. NEWS My pledge Gibraltar Strait orca att The leading theory for the orca behaviour is June 14th - Jun may be led by ack pod e 27th 2023 a ‘re ven gefemale, who that5it did in fact originate with a small group lost her calf seeking’ of juveniles, one of whom is indeed known as ‘Black Gladys’. She was observed with a head laceration in the spring of 2020 and was later spotted Swamwith p a wound behind the dorsal fin in 2021. measuHowever, res according to the experts, ‘Black Gladys’ is not the whale that started the inTrans teractions - nor is it known how she got her wounds. It is simply not known why these young ones started bumping the boats. But orcas, which are members of the dolphin family, are highly intelligent creatures known for their ‘cultural fads’. So it is theorised that once these young trendsetters started off the ‘fad’, more of them decided to join in as a form of social interaction. A previous ‘fad’ was observed in a pod of INTERACTIONS: Experts say they are not ‘attacks’, while (inset) our previous story Pacific orcas off the coast in Washington in By Walter Finch

Hell hath no fury… like ‘White Gladys’

SCRAPPING Ministry, over the Equality ‘trans law’ and turning Spain’s es to the euth making chang- A SPATE of killer whal cation rules. anasia and edu- tacks on yachts entee atring the Strait of By Walter Finc Those are amo h sparked fierc Gibraltar has ng the plan that Popular Party (PP) lead-s what is behi e debate about the er Alberto Nun nd it. origin of all this, gains more stren should he beco ez Feijoo has Researchers claim it migh me t day," Alfre gth for us every ister on July 23. prime min- be orchestrated by a do López Fern singl reven e, ge-se dez, anFeijoo, who eking female a is happy for orca sity of biologist at the Univerface-to-face deba a named Gladys - or ‘Whi Avei te with cur- Gladys’. te But Seba ro said. rent leader stien Destrema Pedro Sanchez, Some claim captain of u, would also likely she lost her The Lancelot, to calf the scrap whic prop Democratic Mem the h was attac ellers of a ship, while others ory Law. ago, dismissed ked two weeks Sanchez chall insist she the enged Feijoo six weekly deba to caught up in fishing nets got “Having witnesseclaims. tes until the underwater rope d it, it's or so easy general elect for these beas . ions, They some cont ts sink thing to that the PP dism inue us issed as un- taught her fello she has since insisted if they want to,” he prey necessary. MALAGA’S most - fellow whales. of the most intelw orcas - some hemoths after 20 of the beendangered reservoir is to turned cial creatures ligent and so- ile ship swarmed his frag- “They could crush the boat undergo emer a heartbeat if in at wheraround again to look gency works to how to target on the planet - “If they . they wanted to,” improve wate e the wind was and attack smal added Destrema were out for reven r and quality. I thought, 'Wai vessels. l I think u. ge, t, The “But that' I woul drast s they wind "The orcas are In reference to swimming hom d have been sive. They were not aggres- orca , that's fish. Those not due to ic measure is vital doin the g are the this new e.” s!'” were ongo on Instead, trans purpose, of cour law, recently and record-low ing drought in very gently, just coming With appr he levels at Vinu government, passed by the know the origin se, we don't may have suspects the orcas nose placi oxim or the mowherever they ng their approaching, ately 20 orcas ela reservoir. been engaging ‘it is easier Feijoo claimed tivation, but defen want play in he or ed The place mad train to €800,000 proje e the decision to lowe in Spain rightto change sex’ haviour based on sive be- hunt, as yaching their young to The it, and pushing hard.” ct involves real danger, trauma, as hopes that the r the sails in the installation of a floati t rudders resem pass your univ now ‘than to he emp ble the fins of stati their primary- sises, is to the killer whalha- would lose their onary boat take system and will takeng inexams or get ersity entrance interest. eight months to insta themselves. es Yet the orca your driving cence’. lis It comes after ll. “I am very conc “They startedpersisted. The PP leade to come close the reservoir record lows saw the near futur erned about and close r also r critic sit at ised Sanchez’s decis e for these r. They start beasts and I ed to capacity - or a meag just 9.7% have a look and think we have snap elections ion to call the re 16 cubic a little hecto huge responsibi a first time Span on July 23, the lity to protect a sniff and then, suddbit of The metres of water. these iards will go to alarm enly, animals," he 'BAN vote in the midd added to he G,' that was a big one," pected to ing levels are exNewsweek. le of the sumdwindle considera explained. mer. more as the summ The solo roun bly “It’s not exac d the world The orcas targeted the er yachtsman ship's ing the reservoir thathits, turnrudder, hold elections tly normal to provides much worried that is particularly impressiv displaying with the med fortnight of thein the hottest e power as their ter intoof Malaga’s drinking waemp ia hasis they year, push almo ing ed st with so many people The main bene a swamp. sailors are nowthe aggression Within against it. ficiar minu getti said. “But weon holiday,” he ies tes, the botto ng armed include Rinc to fire at them are ready for change.” if they come the rudder shattered, creatm of Nerjaon, Velez-Malaga and under attack. . potential risks ing for the boat. Across Malaga That said, he But desp province the See No Hab ‘terrifying’ the confirmed how tion, no ite the scary situa- reservoirs sit lo Ingles, at just 31.9% incident was page 6 the time. of at harmed human has ever been their total capacity. by the pod of The “At Guadalhorce reser orcas, first, I and it STALKERS: voir is at The pod has wind comingthought it was adapt was up to humans to just 31% capacity, been terroris while Conde And so I startin really fast... the otheto the mammals, not del Guadalhor ing boats In Almeria thece sits at 25%. sail a little ed to drop the “It's theirr way round. bit and then levels are at just worl d, it's 15.1% not I he conclude ours,” , while in d. 26% and Gran Cadiz they sit at ada at 32.6%.

REMAINER HOPE

Campaigners against 90 day rule to target new Foreign Secretary for action over Schengen zone restrictions

RITISH homeowners in Spain are bolstering their campaign to roll back Brexit’s restrictive 90-day rule following David Cameron’s (pictured) appointment as Foreign Secretary. Campaigners are ‘hopeful’ of bringing back some form of freedom of movement after the europhile was sensationally brought back into government as part of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle this month. The 180 Days In Spain group is planning to apply pressure on the

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore former prime minister in the hopes of securing new concessions that will allow Brits to spend more than 90 days at a time in the Schengen area. The 7,000-strong group will be bombarding Cameron’s office with emails and telephone calls, calling on him to follow in the footsteps of France, which looks set to relax visa rules for UK homeowners. The group’s leader, Andrew Hesselden, told the Olive Press: “Since Brexit, Brits in this position often come up against the 90-in-180 day problem, which means that if they’ve spent 90 days living in their own home in Spain, they find themselves unable to go to France or Germany or even Switzerland at all until their day-count resets. “For some of our members, this has reduced the amount of time they can now spend in Spain by as much as 40%. And from a tourism perspective, Brits with homes in other Schengen zone countries

or who travel extensively throughout the zone, may find themselves unable to visit Spain even for a seven-day holiday without applying for a visa. But those shortstay visas don’t seem to exist.” He added: “David Cameron seems well respected and trusted by international leaders and so this bodes well for a more constructive and positive relationship with Europe and the EU.” One Brit from the group said: “Cameron’s natural sympathies are undoubtedly on our side. It’s definitely an opportunity, and his voice would have an influence.” Another added: “I too think David Cameron could be an asset to us. People who have homes in Europe but not residents are missing out big time. “It’s against human rights to be unable to visit their properties as before.” Spain’s tourism minister Fernando Valdes, told the “i” Newspaper last year that ‘his country would like to end the rule that means non-EU travellers can only stay for 90 days within a 180 day period’. Valdes has now been replaced as Secretary of State for Tourism by Rosana Morillo. But this month, the Spanish government reported that the Secretary of State ‘held an important meeting at the Foreign Office with the Director for Consular Affairs and Crisis, Jennifer Anderson, in which they discussed issues of interest regarding the stays of British tourists in Spain’. Hesselden said: “Our members will be writing to Lord Cameron in the coming weeks to suggest he explores the possibility of using the special provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement that enable ‘errors, omissions or other deficiencies’ to be fixed. “If on 31 December 2020, British fullyear residents had been told to leave France/Spain, return to the UK and come

Serrania de Ronda

The

All about www.theolivepress.es

November 2023

SOUL MATES: Hemingway and Ordonez became close friends

Love letter

A century ago Hemingway described it as one of the best places in the world for romance. Two decades ago Olive Press editor Jon Clarke loved Ronda so much, he moved there

T is easily one of Spain’s most memorable sensations; the moment the adrenaline hits as you look down from a ledge at the top of Ronda’s famous Puente Nuevo bridge. A staggering 400 foot drop into the

abyss of the Tajo gorge below, it is only a series of wrought iron railings that ward off the panic. A breathtaking geographical feature, this was the location of a haunting chapter in Ernest Hemingway’s seminal novel, For Whom the

Bell Tolls, when a line up of soldiers are hurled into the ravine to their deaths - an event related to actual events during the Civil War. And Hem, of course, should know…

GOYA-STYLE: Ordonez’ grandson Fran Rivera today

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Alive in the City of Dreams the American literary legend having spent many months in the town, even tipping it as THE best place in the world for a spot of romance. “It is where you should go if you ever go to Spain on a honeymoon or if you ever bolt with anyone,” he penned in the 1932 tome Death in the Afternoon, adding: “The entire town and as far as you can see in any direction is a romantic background… if a honeymoon or an elopement is not a success in Ronda, it would be as well to start for Paris and commence making your own friends.” He brought various lovers up to the mountain town, just an hour inland from Marbella, including allegedly Hollywood starlet Ava Gardner. But it was something else altogether that drew him back to the town, time and time again… and that was ‘los toros’. Bullfighting became one of the main loves of his life and it was on his first trip to Ronda as a young writer exactly a century ago in 1923, that he got his first real taste of the Spanish national pastime. It came following a ‘boring’ stopover in Sevilla, where he grew tired of constantly hearing flamenco. According to a biographer he kept nagging his travelling companions, a pair of writers, to head up to the town and when he got there he immediately fell for its historic bullring, the world’s first. Known as the cradle of bullfighting (it was here that Pedro Romero famously jumped off a horse to swipe his cape at a fighting bull) Ronda inspired him to write and he went on to meet various bullfighters, including the legendary Cayetano Ordonez, who later became a model for his most famous book, The Sun Also Rises. I was equally inspired by the town when I first visited Ronda during a two-year spell working as an English teacher in Madrid in the early 1990s after university.

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MOVING: Legionaires carrying Jesus at Semana Santa across the Puente Nuevo

I was so blown away by its breathtaking scenery and refreshing sierra air that I later booked a two-week stay in its most famous hotel, the Reina Victoria, in an attempt to write a novel, when working as a news reporter at the Daily Mail in London in 1998. It proved to be a bridge too far however, if you’ll excuse the pun, but I truly fell in love with the place and knew I would one day come back to live there. That came to pass when my wife and I decided to move to Spain in 2003 soon after our nuptials in the spirit of adventure and to pursue my love of writing and hers of painting. We ended up buying a run-down farm, planted lots of trees and, before we knew it, we had a couple of children born in the local hospital. A few years later another baby was born, that of the Olive Press newspaper and the rest is history, as they say. What I never did was write a novel,

but it inspired me to write two true bullring on a windy, wet November crime books and, most enjoyably, day in 1994. a restaurant guide to Andalucia, Today, I can think of nowhere in the which appropriately picked out a world I would rather live. The town’s handful of decent eateries in Ronda geography never ceases to amaze, and its surrounding Serrania. its architecture is exquisite, while its It also led me to meet and star in range of excellent restaurants and one of celebrity chef Gordon Ram- bars is as good as anywhere else say’s TV programmes in nearby in Andalucia, Sevilla and Marbella Gaucin, mix it up with Jamie Oliver, included. when he set a TV series in the town, The local ingredients include amazand even interviewed celebrity chef ingly good olive oil, goats cheeses Jean Christophe Noand even some decent velli on the famous pata negra ham, while Tajo bridge. the nearby countryRonda is Planning to move side is dotted with over there at the time, Notwo dozen vineyards, actually velli described the the majority improving Andalucia’s sensation of first seeby the year. ing the views from the I never tire of a stroll third most bridge as the ‘cono through the old town, visited place moment’, an actual admiring its cobbled translation I will leave streets, church spires to your imagination. and beautifully kept The town also blew away BBC TV family homes (many of them almost presenter Nick Knowles, former mansions). I’ll always find a new anPrime Minister and now Foreign gle to take a photo and there are a Secretary David Cameron and US number of museums and galleries first lady Michelle Obama. (actually 30 in the town) and, freOther famous literary figures who quent exhibitions in the beautiful waxed lyrical about Ronda were Antigua Claustro Santo Domingo. James Joyce and German poet Is it any wonder Ronda is AndaluRainer Maria Rilke, while Bill Gates cia’s third most visited place, with came on a secret visit a couple of millions of day trippers every year. years ago and Madonna shot her But what most of them don’t do music video, Take a Bow, in Ronda is stay the night, which is really to

their loss. The place is at its most charming as the sun sets and the hordes have headed back down to the coast. It is then that the ‘city of dreams’, as poet Rilke christened it, starts to earn its romantic, fairy tale status so promoted by the likes of Hemingway and later, the actor and director Orson Welles. Under subtle street lighting, the historic quarter gains a timeless edge, while you can still visit its most alluring buildings, such as the 14th century Mondragon Palace (in part Arabic) until 7pm, or the nearby Santa Maria la Mayor church (which was once a mosque). It sits on Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, one of the most stunning squares in Spain, particularly with its classical renaissance-style town hall (below), which was once a military barracks and the still-functioning Santa Isabel Convent on the other side. For the perfect stroll, head down into the Tajo, reached from either Barrio San Francisco or from a flight

Pictures by Jon Clarke

CLASSICAL: Ronda town hall and (left) an original unusual outdoor statue

November 2023 SPLENDOUR: Ronda’s bullring is the world’s oldest circular ring

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Look out for the various statues outside, including the local Ordoñez dynasty and Pedro Romero (born 1754) who is dubbed the ‘father of the corrida’. He killed over 5,000 bulls and passed his skills down the line to the Ordonez’ family who have, so far, provided Spain with three generations of bullfighters… the youngest Cayetano, becoming a handsome Armani model. Sipping a caña or coffee in the main Plaza del Socorro, or one of the passages off it, it’s not difficult to imagine Hemingway scribbling in the shadows of a backstreet cafe. His legacy looms large all around the town and he (like Orson Welles whose ashes are scattered at a nearby farm owned by the Ordoñez family) has a small street named after him behind the Parador hotel. He celebrated his final birthday in Ronda in 1960 and was fittingly, further immortalised with a statue beside the bullring in 2015. It was from here this Easter, at Semana Santa, that I came across one of the most moving scenes that cemented my own sense of belonging in the City of Dreams. It was well past midnight and, while my wife and a couple of friends stayed warm in a nearby wine bar, I ventured out to take a picture of the bridge at night. I thought the parades had long ended, but atop the bridge I found two lines of drummers made up of soldiers from Ronda’s crack local Spanish Foreign Legion brigade. They stood rigid and to attention, dressed in short sleeves despite the cold northerly breeze, staring straight ahead and tapping their drums quietly, rhythmically in perfect unison. It was hypnotic and insistent and, incredibly, I was one of just a dozen spectators on the bridge. After what was easily 15 minutes, out of a side street suddenly loomed a statue of Mary on a float, carried by two dozen other legionnaires. Just behind was another group carrying Jesus, (see top left) but this time on his back, lying prone. He was ferried past, legs first facing upwards to the stars above. I looked up too and, as a trumpet started to play, I felt a sense of belonging. I knew I was in Ronda for to stay.

R PA

of steps down from the Mirador de Maria Auxiliadora. This is the perfect way to understand the impressive fortifications the town once had during numerous sieges, when the town sat at the western edge of the Kingdom of Granada. The Moors had a good understanding of this and built a series of walls and arches on both sides of the old town, making it practically impregnable. As you stroll down, you’ll also start to get an understanding of what a feat of architecture the impressive New Bridge was. It took 42 years to build and for half a century, at 98 metres, it was the highest bridge in the world. Completed in 1793, its fortifications are incredible and have stood the tests of time remarkably well and still has normal traffic heading across in both directions. At the bottom you’ll get the seminal picture of the bridge and its gorge with its vertical cliff faces, from where rooks soar, often alongside vultures. From here there are various ways back up, but the best plan is to continue down and take the one-hour circular walk through the Tajo valley, crossing the Guadalevin river, and coming up the other side by the Mirador de los Pinos. This is the Carretera de los Molinos and nowhere in the world will you get a better appreciation of geography and a sense of place. The various vineyards and ancient farms some with fortifications going back well over 1,000 years - offer the perfect snapshot of little-changed rural life in southern Spain. Heading back into Ronda you’ll walk past the famous Reina Victoria hotel, built by English engineers, as they installed the railway line up to Ronda from Algeciras. As you finally drop back into the centre you’ll most certainly have to take a stroll into the wonderful Alameda park, with its spectacular views, and then the famous bullring next door. At 243 years old, it is Spain’s oldest and a stunning classical building with some fabulous original Goya etchings of toreadors at work in one room. Spain’s most famous bullfight, the ‘Goyesca’, takes place here in September with the matadors and their teams dressing up in 18th century costume paying tribute to the original Goya works.

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November 2023

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Ronda ‘n’ about

From bandit hideouts to Roman wine cellars, there is so much to see and do close to Ronda, writes Jon Clarke

ONDA is surrounded, the Sierra de las Nieves and the Sierra de Grazalema, not to mention its very own breathtaking Serrania. These surrounding hills are creaking with wonderful walks and pretty towns and villages to visit, all easy to reach in the car and most with their own excellent places to stay and eat. Here are a few top picks for a trip out of Ronda.

ROMAN RONDA

15-minute drive from Ronda takes you to the ancient city of Acinipo, where the Romans built another ancient settlement The highest hill for miles around, it still has much evidence of their skills with a large part of its amphitheatre intact and a lot more to look at, not to mention the views. The visitor centre is only open for the morning, but one can always climb up to the amphitheatre out of hours.

PREHISTORY KEPT ALIVE

CAVEMEN COLONY

HE historic Roman town of Setenil de las Bodegas is a real eye opener and amazing for photography. Nestled in the rolling landscape, 20 minutes out of Ronda, it was built around a series of caves, which served to keep the wines of the Romans cool in summer, hence its name. It is best to leave your car outside the town, wander up to the old fortress before heading down to the famous overhanging cave for a fine tapas lunch.

WOOLY WONDERS

OR anyone wanting an idea of what life was like in Ronda 5,000 years ago, head to Algaba, a short drive out of Ronda. This wonderful estate has recreated a prehistoric village showing clearly how the area’s forefathers lived, how they ground their bread, decorated their homes and what they did with their dead. There are also lots of rare breeds of cows and goats and you can even stay in the nearby finca if you fancy it. Visit www.algabaronda.com

AHARA and Grazalema (below) are two of the most evocative towns around Ronda. Both set in spectacular scenery and with some lovely sites, Zahara has a towering castle above it and a great restaurant Al Lago, while Grazalema (a beautifully conserved gem) was once the centre of the wool industry and you can still buy delightful rugs and bedspreads.

TA B E R N A

BANDIT TERRITORY

T tel: +34 657 03 16 87 Calle Las Tiendas, Número 28 Plaza Carmen Abela, 29400 Ronda

HE Serrania was once a major stronghold for bandoleros (bandits) and the tiny towns of Benaojan and Montejaque were famously where many holed up. But there is much more, such as the Cueva de la Pileta, near Montejaque (left), which has the oldest cave paintings in Spain, while Benaojan is the centre of the ham and sausage industry. There is also a fabulous walk from Benaojan Estacion down the river to Jimera de Libar, from where you can get the train back. At each end is a great lunch spot, with hotel Molino del Santo, when open in season, the obvious pick.

PREACHING THE BLUES

HILE it’s about as stunning as any of the pretty villages around Ronda, there is one big difference with Juzcar… it’s blue. This is thanks to the Smurf movie that in 2011 decided to use the tiny village as the mythical base of the tiny creatures. It has been used a handful of times since and voted to stay blue some years back. But apart from the many attractions for kids, based around the movie, it is also the perfect place for a walk and to see Griffon vultures and crag martins.

Experts are keen to debunk the myths and wild theories that swim among the killer whales terrorising sailboats in the Strait of Gibraltar

November 29th - December 12th 2023

ONLINE ADVERTISING WORKS!

D ENDANGERED: There are only around 40 Iberian orcas left

1987, after they started to wear ‘salmon hats’ on their heads. The bizarre sight was first observed in a single female orca, seen swimming with a dead salmon perched on her nose. But soon, several others in her pod adopted this behaviour, and over the following weeks the trend even spread to other pods within the same community. “It had no obvious biological significance to them,” Mark Simmonds, Director of Science at the non-profit OceanCare told the Olive Press. “So we think that this is probably mainly a form of creative play behaviour and signalling to each other” “The consensus is that they're doing this to show off to each other. “In the same way, these particular orcas have discovered how to manipulate these boats, which is interesting, and in some ways, stimulating to them.” However, just like Tamagotchis, the Harlem Shake and the Ice Bucket Challenge, it was all the rage for five to six weeks and then it suddenly died out. Rose’s greatest fear, if this fad doesn’t similarly die out, is that eventually a human might get hurt or even drown. So far, no sailors have found themselves floating in the water with the world’s apex predator - which have never been known to deliberately attack a human in the wild. But experts do not believe that this is due to an innate altruistic nature of the orca, which unlike dolphins or humpback whales are not known to help other species in danger. back only once they had secured “I would a visa, there would have been never ever, public outrage. Yet, essentially, after hunthis is exactly what happened to dreds of British part-year residents who hours on also have lives and obligations the water elsewhere.” watching Hesselden added that the camand studypaign group ‘also hopes Lord ing these Cameron will explore the possiguys, swim bility of the UK signing new bilatwith them eral agreements with Spain, to mirror the ones Spain has with USA, New Zealand, Japan and 15 other non-EU countries.These seem to permit additional time in Spain over and above the 90-in180 day allowance they have for the rest of the Schengen zone. This would help all Brits, even those without homes in Spain, and wouldn’t really require the UK government to change anything at all since the UK already welcomes Spanish visitors to the UK for six months per visit’. This would appear to be along the same lines as suggestions made by Carlos Mazon and Ximo Puig when they visited Spain’s Ambassador to the UK in London, as reported by the Olive Press, back in 2021. “Restoring mutual freedom of movement between Spain and the UK would of course be nice, especially for younger people who want to work, but that seems to me, to be rather too much for anyone to hope for at the moment”, Hesselden told us. When contacted by the Olive Press, the UK’s Foreign Office refused to directly comment on the campaign.

in the wild,” Rose warned. “It’s stupid as hell - they've got big teeth. “They are smart and they sometimes decide to play with not only their food, but with other mammals. “They’ve never harmed a human but there’s not some orca law forbidding it.” What worries Rose is that boat and human interactions are losing their novelty for the wild animals, which tend to shun things they don’t know. With increased human interactions comes decreased fear - and the increased possibility that an orca might decide to ‘play’ with a human. And what measures might authorities take against the Iberian NUDGE NUDGE: Orcas target the rudder orca in return - a critically endangered species - if they view them as dangerous and threatening? In August, footage emerged of crew on a sailboat shooting at the Gladys orcas with an air rifle and even throwing firecrackers overboard. Yachties have been trialling all sorts of methods to protect their boats, from chucking sand over the side when the creatures come near, to blasting out heavy metal under water. “We think they could be vulnerable to acoustics, so people will be looking in that direction,” Simmonds theorised. “But again, if an acoustic approach is used, it's got to be something which is very carefully balanced so that it helps persuade them to go away and do something else with their time but doesn’t harm them.” If such measures fail, and eventually someone is killed, Rose fears authorities will undertake a cull of the Iberian Orca. “I'm very sympathetic to the mariners,” she said. “Who wants their yacht sunk? But God - it's just a yacht. These animals are a unique population. “Do we really want to kill a bunch of endangered animals because our yachts are sinking?” EXPERTS: Naomi Rose and Mark Simmonds signed open letters

IRECT exposure to the Olive Press’ 30,000plus registered online database is getting amazing results. Our followers get daily news emails, twice-weekly travel mailouts and a detailed health newsletter every Sunday. As well as announcing financial seminars and special surgical procedures, a number of astute restaurant groups and hotels have caught on. Musaka in San Pedro got 20 bookings from a one off deal including a free bottle of wine. Meanwhile, Malaga’s Metro group has used the Olive Press’ unique marketing tool on three separate occasions this year so far. A 50% discount for the opening fortnight of their exclusive Nomad restaurant got 96 bookings, while a 25% off brunch deal brought over 30. “We’ve been very happy with the results” explained marketing boss, Karen Wolfson. Five-star Kempinski hotel and SO/Sotogrande spa have used our database, while an exclusive room discount at DDG Retreat, near Estepona, got dozens of takers - ‘even more bookings than the Times’. Is it time your business tested our intelligent, loyal and - above all - high spending online users?

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12 Main moves

PLANS to make Main Street ‘more attractive’ to shoppers are already underway between local businesses and a new government minister. Minister for Business Gemma Arias Vasquez met the newly established Main Street Retail Board recently to listen to their concerns, a government spokesman said. They vowed to work together to improve what Gibraltar has to offer on a quarterly basis after the successive crises of Brexit and COVID-19. “It was a pleasure to meet with the Main Street Retail Board for the first time to listen to and understand their concerns and explore ideas and opportunities moving forward,” the minister said.

November 29th - December 12th 2023

SPANISH rail network Renfe has slashed the price of a young person’s railcard from €50 to just €6. The sale applies to the ‘Mas Renfe Joven’ card and is available until December 21. It gives users 25% off travel on AVE, Larga Distancia, Avant, Media Distancia y Cercanías/Rodalies services.

By Alex Trelinski

THE European Commission says it expects Spain to be the fastest growing of the four major economies in the eurozone until 2025. Brussels' calculations predict that the Spanish economy will grow at a rate of 2.4% this year, slow down to 1.7% next year and regain some pace in 2025 - a year in which GDP would rebound by 2%. The EU's forecasts place

The card also offers 30% off AVE International trips between Spain and France. Available for people aged between 1425, it gives users access to the Renfe loyalty scheme benefits.

HAPPY OUTLOOK

Spain to lead the way in economic growth

the country above the three great powers of the bloc: Germany, France and Italy in that order. The Commission's ana-

CEPSA’S LOW-COST MOVE SPAIN’S second largest oil company has agreed to buy 220 automated low-cost petrol stations from Ballenoil for an undisclosed amount. It emerged in May that Cepsa was in advanced negotiations to acquire Ballenoil, with speculation that the deal could be worth between €200 million and €300 million. The oil giant will maintain the Ballenoil name, as well as its business model and current structure, which will more than double the Cepsa network to 500 stations by 2027.

Ballenoil has a presence in 12 regions including Catalunya, the Valencian Community, Andalucia, Madrid, and Murcia. Cepsa, which is controlled by Abu Dhabi state investor Mubadala and US firm Carlyle Group, intends to expand its overall network to more than 2,000 stations across Spain and Portugal. Low-cost stations have boomed over the last decade from 3,886 outlets in 2012 to 5,941 at the end of last year. The Cepsa deal to takeover Ballenoil is subject to regulatory approval.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1

Across

1 Thick slice (4) 4 Layered Italian dish (7) 9 Eyebrow darkeners (7) 10 German sea scourge (1-4) 11 Prepare for publication (4) 12 Saviour (8) 14 Permeable by liquids (6) 15 Capable of wounding (6) 19 Glove material clanks if disturbed (8) 21 Getaway spots (4) 23 Island in the Bay of Naples (5) 24 Burn unsteadily (7) 25 Good spot for a summit meeting? (7) 26 Deep black (4)

8 9

12 13

18 19

21 22

OP SUDOKU

Young minds

RAIL SALE

Down 2 Taller and thinner (7) 3 Soft cheese (4) 4 One who pays the rent (6) 5 It’s at home on the range (8) 6 Brush a horse (5) 7 Go into (5) 8 Maintenance (6) 13 Bright light of day (8) 16 Thai capital (7) 17 Dr tees off - could be a very large bunker! (6) 18 Fish out of water (6) 19 Series of changes (5) 20 Pass into disuse (5) 22 Designed by Issigonis (4)

All solutions are on page 15

lysts point out that none of these three countries will manage to grow above 1.5% in the next two years. In fact, in the case of Germany, a small contraction of the economy is expected as early as this year. The Commission believes that household consumption will be the driving force behind the Spanish economy next year. As inflation eases - expected to fall to 3.4% in

2024 - households should regain some of the purchasing power lost during the economic crisis. In addition, it is expected that jobs will continue to be created – albeit at a slower pace than so far – which will also help to boost consumption. The Commission expects the unemployment rate to close at 12.1% this year and fall to 11.1% in two years' time.

Talent search A YOUNG entrepreneur from Gibraltar is looking for ‘creative people aged from 18 to 26’ to help make the most of their talent with the support of the government. James Barton, who recently digitally mapped the offices of the Minister for Trade and Industry in three dimensions, now has big plans to give more young people the chance to use their skills. “I would love people who are skilled, technologically inclined and really motivated to reach out to us and see if we can work together,” Barton told the Olive Press. He has rented small offices in Ragged Staff Wharf and started Barton Solutions with hard-working digital mapper Jarod Vassallo. Minister Nigel Feetham met the pair and took them under his wing, and Barton is grateful for the support. He said Feetham has been constantly messaging and encouraging him in his business model and giving him ‘the personal connection’ he did not expect from a minister. “I know some people who are incredibly talented and are working just quite standard corporate jobs and Gibraltar,” Barton told The Olive Press. “I’ve spoken to them and they’ve said that they’d love to be in an environment where they’re doing more entrepreneurial stuff where they can really use their skills.”

A GIBRALTAR expert was a guest speaker at a conference in Spain on making coastal tourism more sustainable. Professor Clive Finlayson, Director of the Gibraltar National Museum and the Gorham’s Cave Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site, attended the Sun&Blue congress in Almeria. He spoke at a round table discussion on ‘Coastal heritage as an engine of tourism’ after his success in preserving the Gor-

THREE young people from Gibraltar have met with fellow youths from remote British islands in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean to discuss the issues shared by their homelands. Anna Grech, Karim Acolina and Jesse took part in the first ever Overseas Territories Youth Summit in London held at the Speaker’s House at Westminster Palace. Delegates from Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Turks and Caicos Island, Montserrat and St. Helena sent young people to the event. Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle welcomed the group and gave them his support to their work. Economic challenges, environment and climate change, education and civic engagement were the main areas they discussed, before coming up with potential solutions.

Cash squeeze RESIDENTS in Malaga are feeling the squeeze as they shell out an extra €426 each month on essential expenses. A recent survey conducted by the Consumer Union in Malaga revealed that four in five Malaga city residents have had to trim their shopping lists due to soaring inflation. It adds up to €5,117 annually for an average family - despite a recent inflation report seeing it slow down to just 3.5%. The top culprits are rising costs in food (up by €136.43 per month), mortgage or rent (€123.10 more per month), and petrol (€83.57 more per month).

Rock repute ham’s Cave and surrounding caverns with UN protection. The event has been dubbed ‘the most important Blue Tourism congress in Europe’, by the government. Experts tried to put the tourist in the centre and have discussion on how governments and companies could best satisfy them.

PROTECTED: Gorham’s Cave Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site, while (right) Professor Clive Finlayson

LA CULTURA

BULLY FOR HIM

Successful Grammys

SEVILLA became the first city outside the United States to host the Latin Grammy Awards earlier this month with Karol G’s 'Mañana sera bonito' crowned album of the year and best urban music album. Argentine producer Bizarrap took home the awards for song of the year and best pop song in a collaboration with Shakira which featured her taking a swipe at her former boyfriend Gerard Pique The whole night had a flamenco feel about it with Spain's Rosalia, returning to her roots to sing 'Se nos muerte el amor' by Rocío Jurado. Italian classical singer Andrea Bocelli performed the famous composition 'Granada' while 30 flamenco dancers accompanied singer Alejandro Sanz.

November 29th - December 12th 2023

New culture chief is antibullfighting, calling it ‘unfair, sadistic and despicable’ A POLITICIAN who is an avowed anti-bullfighter has become Spain's Minister of Culture in Pedro Sanchez's new cabinet. Ernest Urtasan, 41, is one of five people from the left-wing Sumar group that have been given ministerial portfolios. His stance on bullfighting is in contrast to the official policy of the PSOE socialists who are the majority partner in the new government coalition. As an MEP, Urtasan was the promoter in 2016 of a decla-

By Alex Trelinski

ration rejecting the Constitutional Court's decision to annul the ban on bullfighting in Catalunya. The motion, supported by 37 MEPs, described bullfighting as 'unfair, sadistic and despicable'. Urtasan's position is different to that of the PSOE, which together with the PP and Vox, rejected a proposal by the left-wing Podemos party against government support

OPPOSED: Urtasan tagged bullfighting ‘sadistic’ for bullfighting. The socialist Maribel Garcia said in Congress at the time that bullfighting is more than a festival, considering it a

Ancient discovery A THIRD stone slab known as a stela has been uncovered by a team of British and Spanish researchers at the 3,000-year-old necropolis known as Las Capellanias in Cañaveral de Leon, Huelva. The site is located on a route that linked main river basins in southern Spain, suggesting that the carved stone slabs may have served as territorial markers, in addition to honouring the dead. The newly uncovered stela, found with cremated human bones, is carved with an image of a human figure with a detailed face, hands, feet, a headdress, necklace, two swords, and male genitals. It had been previously thought that a headdress and necklace on a stela would represent a female form, while weaponry would signify a male warrior. The researchers now suggest that the monuments are evidence of more fluid social roles that were not restricted by gender.

'productive sector, an example of sustainability' and a 'cultural manifestation'. Bull rancher Victorino Martin from the Todi de Lidia Foundation said: “His personal views should not interfere in the sector as a cultural asset of Spain.” “His duty now is to govern for all Spaniards and watch over all the cultural expressions of the country,” he added. Urtasan has other issues to look at including the Film Law, the Patronage Law, and the new Cultural Rights Law. His administration will also be focused on maintaining the cultural bonus and strengthening freedom of expression in the cultural sector, following a pre-investiture pact agreed between PSOE and Sumar.

CHEEKY BRITS

GIBRALTAR forged new links with Spain’s Andalucia after its museum director gave a speech on the 1811 Battle of Barrosa where British troops tried to break Napoleon’s siege of Cadiz. Gibraltar museum’s Clive Finlayson delivered the lecture to a packed audience at the Centro de Interpretacion del Vino y Sal in Chiclana, a town near the provincial capital. Professor Finlayson talked about the role played by English troops, some of whom arrived at the scene from Gibraltar to defeat two French divisions and capture a regimental eagle.

Napoleonic

But the Barrosa Battle ultimately failed to break the siege after General Manuel de la Pena refused to support the attack with Spanish troops. He used the events to show how ‘historical contingency’ contributed to the battle and the Napoleonic Wars as a whole. The Asociación Pro Fundación Batalla de La Barrosa organised the event which Mayor of Chiclana José María Román Guerrero attended in person.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL On the Muñoz hat-trick double! November 29th - December 12th 2023

Boom times are back

MALAGA Airport has welcomed 20 million passengers in a year for the first time in its 104-year history. This achievement beats the previous high of 19.858 million passengers from 2019, and signals that tourism in the region has well and truly bounced back from the Covid nightmare. Since early 2023, Malaga Airport has been breaking traffic records, with July seeing the highest number of passengers and operations in its history. Notably, July 30 witnessed a record 86,396 travellers pass through in a single day. Airport management company Aena confirmed the 20 million mark had been reached by October.

While two Spanish chefs scoop gold and silver MADRID'S Dabiz Muñoz has been crowned the best chef in the world for the third time in a row. Muñoz triumphed at the seventh staging of The Best Chefs Awards for his innovative cuisine and his avant-garde style of cooking. The awards were presented in the city of Merida, Yucatan - one of the richest and most diverse gastronomic regions in Mexico. Completing the winners' podium were the Catalan Albert Adria (second) from

On the moo-ve

By Alex Trelinski

Barcelona's Enigma restaurant followed by Slovenian chef, Ana Ros. Muñoz, 44, is the only three-starred Michelin chef in Madrid with his two establishments DiverXO and StreetXO - with long reservation lists for his restaurant, and long waits in line for his street food outlet. "I'm extremely happy, I never expected to win three times," Muñoz said upon

CADIZ tourism bosses have latched onto a herd of sunbathing cows as they promote Costa de la Luz beaches. Once tourists have gone home from their summer holidays, a different kind of sun-worshipper takes to the sand. Every autumn, Bolonia beach welcomes hundreds of cows, who love chilling on sand during the winter season. Led by the matriarch, ‘Paquita’, the cows are a social media sensation, returning each year to the beach, about an hour and a half from the city of Cadiz. The herd has now become the latest tourist attraction on the Tarifa coastline, with local tourism departments proudly posting about their bovine buddies. The cows arrive at the end of the tourist season as a gate which normally stops them is removed.

History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.

receiving the award. "Thank you to all the chefs who have made the history of world gastronomy. Thanks to them there is a chef like me who has grown up in one of the most incredible countries in the world for gastronomy." The awards featured a special tribute to Ferran Adria - Albert’s brother - a pioneer of innovative cuisine in Spain via his world-famous El Bulli restaurant on the Costa Brava, which closed its doors in 2011. It reopened three years later as a creativity centre to foster culinary innovation. Other Spaniards in the top 10 were Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz in the Basque Country’s Rentería, (fifth), Mateu Casañas, Oriol Cas-

tro and E d u a r d #8 Xatruch from Disfrutar in Barcelona (seventh) and Joan Roca from El Celler de Can Roca in Catalunya (eighth).

TWO chefs from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment have received bronze medals at a competition to discover the best cooks in the UK Armed Forces. Corporal Gareth Walton and Private Dominic Salmon placed third in their respective categories after fighting it out with hundreds of chefs from the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The cook-off took place at the Stoneleigh National Agricultural Exhibition Centre in the Midlands. The pair excelled in the Restaurant Dessert category, making salivating treats for hard-working servicemen and women. “Meeting lots of people from different units and working in a different environment was really enjoyable,” Salmon said. Salmon has now been selected to represent the British Army Culinary Arts Team (BACAT) in 2024.

Missing

Adria said: "Chefs, you have the mission of helping the new generations to be extraordinary". He highlighted the values that must not be lost in order to aspire to culinary excellence. "Respect for the past, respect for teammates, honesty and gratitude for the people from whom we have learned," said Adria.

Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.

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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For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi

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HEALTH

Flu hits early

A WARD at Gibraltar’s main hospital is in the grips of an ‘unexpected’ early flu outbreak, forcing health chiefs to review ‘infection control measures’. The Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) confirmed the seasonal influenza outbreak at St Bernard’s Hospital in Europort on November 22, a little earlier than previous years. Health chiefs have warned the public not to visit sick friends and relatives at either hospital wards or the Elderly Residential Services (ERS) homes. They pointed out that anyone with cold or flu symptoms diarrhoea or vomiting should avoid the hospital or primary care centre altogether. “The GHA has rapidly identified an influenza outbreak on one of the wards in the Hospital,” Director of Public Health Helen Carter said. “This is not unexpected at this time of year because we are starting to see an increase in winter viruses including seasonal flu.” She reminded families and friends they could take the flu jab if they wanted to decrease their chances of catching the flu.

November 29th - December 12th 2023

A LIDL ice cream has been taken off the shelves after being found to contain metal fragments. The Spanish Food Safety Agency (AESAN) issued an alert after German authorities identified metal shards in the frozen dairy product. The ice cream in question is ‘Bon Gelati Bourbon Vanilla Flavour’, produced by Lidl in Germany. Customers who bought the 2500ml tubs from lots L3 275 A01 (expiry date: 21.09.2025) and L3 276 A01 (ex-

ICE CREAM ALERT piry date: 22.09.2025) should not consume the product. Lidl has confirmed the ice cream has been removed from all locations and is offering a full refund to anyone affected. No other Bon Gelati products were affected.

HANGOVER CLUE

Scientists may have finally found out why red wine can give you a headache RESEARCHERS may have finally found the reason why red wine gives so many people headaches. The study, carried out by the University of California, has identified a naturally occurring

Vape warning A NEW study has shown the effects of vaping could be just as harmful as traditional cigarettes. According to an investigation by the University of Lodz, in Poland, vaping could cause similar harm to traditional cigarettes, even if they contain no nicotine. It comes as Spanish scientists including Marcos Garcia Rueda, director of Andalucia’s Integrated Plan Against Tobacco (PITA), warned that users of vapes are not inhaling ‘vapour’ but an ‘aerosol’. The high quantities of heated chemicals alongside metal nanoparticles are inhaled and reach the lungs, lymph nodes and other organs with negative effects. Scientists in Poland found that vaping affects cells which protect the respiratory system from bacterial infections like bronchitis. When these cells are damaged, the body loses its first line of defense against many respiratory illnesses. The study also found that blood vessel cells are also affected by vaping, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

chemical, which could be the culprit. It's thought quercetin, a flavanol found in red wine could interfere with someone’s ability to break down alcohol, causing headaches. The chemical gives fruit and veg, including grapes, their colour. Alone, quercetin is a powerful antioxidant and is sold in supplements at health food shops. However, the study published in Scientific Reports journal, has revealed that when combined with alcohol, quercetin can cause problems including nausea, headaches and flushes. According to Andrew Waterhouse, wine chemist: “When quercetin gets in your bloodstream, your body converts it to a different form called quercetin glucuronide.” “In that form, it blocks the metabolism of alcohol”, continued the professor emeritus with the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology.

Irritant

If alcohol is not processed, it can lead to a buildup of acetaldehyde, a well known ‘toxin, irritant and inflammatory substance’. This can provoke headaches and some people are particularly susceptible according to the report. Study co-author Morris Levin added: “We postulate that when susceptible people consume wine with even modest

OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 1 Slab, 4 Lasagne, 9 Pencils, 10 U-boat, 11 Edit, 12 Redeemer, 14 Porous, 15 Barbed, 19 Calfskin, 21 Inns, 23 Capri, 24 Flicker, 25 Everest, 26 Inky. Down: 2 Lankier, 3 Brie, 4 Lessee, 5 Saucepan, 6 Groom, 7 Enter, 8 Upkeep, 13 Sunshine, 16 Bangkok, 17 Desert, 18 Misfit, 19 Cycle, 20 Lapse, 22 Mini.

amounts of quercetin, they develop headaches, particularly if they have a pre-existing migraine or another primary

headache condition.” Now, the researchers hope to test their theory on human subjects in a small clinical trial.

YOUNG BLOOD ANDALUCIA is facing a potential crisis in its blood reserves as more than half of its current donors are set to reach retirement age within the next 25 years. The Junta is seeking young blood donors aged 18 to 30 to ensure a stable supply in the future. It has launched a campaign titled ‘Open your heart, donate blood,’ focusing on recruiting young donors. It also wants youngsters to spread the donation message on social media. The campaign is targeting a return to pre-pandemic donation levels, with encouraging signs already emerging in October's figures. In the first half of 2023, Andalusians made 145,437 blood donations, with the majority being whole blood donations. However, there was a 3.7% decrease compared to the same period last year. While the need for blood is constant, not everyone can donate. Potential donors must meet certain health and age criteria.

Are you suffering from anxiety? Are you depressed? Are your children having social issues? PERHAPS YOU NEED SOMEONE PROFESSIONAL TO TALK TO I HOPE WE CAN HELP. CALL US IN CONFIDENCE.

Change through relocation abroad can also add to mental health pressures and these life changes are never easy. Counselling and therapy has changed the lives of many. Getting in touch is the first step. Recognising that there is an issue is the first step on the road to recovery. Help is available through our confidential counselling service.

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FINAL WORDS

A BIZARRE viral video captured in Valencia shows a woman walking a man like a dog as he humps a lamppost and lifts his leg as if to urinate on it.

Cashing in A GROUP of Spaniards holidaying in Venice, Italy, were left stunned after being served with a €70 bill for three beers, a coke and some snacks in the emblematic Saint Mark’s Square.

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Vol. 8 Issue 212 www.theolivepress.es November 29th - December 12th 2023 A LAMB that fell into a 15 metre deep well and was trapped for two days has been doubly lucky. First of all firefighters from Inca (Mallorca) swung into action to haul the creature out. And now the lamb’s owner has decided that it will not be slaughtered for a traditional Spanish Christmas dinner. The farmer says the wooly cutie will live to a ripe old age romping in fields as ‘it has proven to be an incredible fighter’.

Wheel of misfortune Police officer splurged €9,000 of seized cash on roulette table A POLICEMAN who gambled away thousands of euros of seized narco cash has avoided being kicked off the force. The Guardia Civil officer took €9,000 from a drugs raid before going on a marathon session at an Alicante casino. However the agent had an

By Alex Trelinski

unlucky day and lost all the money on the roulette table. The cash had been seized during an anti-drug operation in Murcia. During a search in the ear-

Bone clue RESEARCHERS in Badajoz have uncovered evidence of mass animal sacrifice rituals from around 2,500 years ago, recovering 6,700 bones from dogs, horses, cattle and pigs.

Ends well

GIBRALTAR

Purrfect tale

ly hours, the officer found 12 bags of marijuana and €9,000 in small bills. The evidence remained in his custody and he was due to deliver it to a judge later that day. Instead he headed to a gambling hall with the money-

A LONG-LOST moggy is to make a 6,000 kilometre journey to Spain after she was found 10 years after going missing. American couple Richard and Maria Price had given up on ever being reunited with their beloved Mimi years ago after she went missing in New York. They had since moved to Valencia when they received a long-distance call from their home city. An animal sanctuary had picked up Mimi, and as she was microchipped they were able to trace the Prices.

where he spent more than eight hours attempting to ‘enrich’ himself on the roulette table but lost it all. Immediately after the session, he handed over the confiscated drugs to his colleagues but was arrested on suspicion of embezzling public funds. Prosecutors were seeking one year and 11 months in jail but both parties agreed to a deal of five months behind bars and a 10-month ban from the force. It means he can re-join the police once his suspension is over. The courts took into consideration that he had returned the money before sentencing and that he had suffered ‘a loss of control due to his gambling addiction’.

Cash grab YOU could nip along to your local hypermarket and pick up a towel for €20. Or you could splash out €700 for a towel skirt. Balenciaga has just revealed its latest creation: a dark grey terry towel worn as a unisex skirt. What apparently sets this garment apart from any other grey bath towel is the Balenciaga logo embroidered on the front of the skirt and the fact that it can only be dry cleaned.