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FIRE: devastated the sierra
Protect it! HUNDREDS of protesters have demanded urgent protection for one of southern Spain’s most endangered areas. They were joined by nearly 50 protest groups and charities to insist the Sierra Bermeja mountain range is given ‘national park’ status, following a horrific fire this summer. The six-day fire, which was started deliberately on September 8, claimed the life of a firefighter and ravaged close to 10,000 hectares of forest. The worst ecological damage saw the death of over 3,000 rare Pinsapo pine trees which grow in only three areas of Spain and one in Morocco.
Protection
Campaigners want the area to be given the maximum environmental protection and resources for forest management, in the hope that this would reduce the risk of wildfires. Joaquin Araujo of Ecologistas en Accion explained that the mountains and nearby Genal Valley had been exploited for their water for decades. “They have been drained to supply insatiable golf courses which are entirely unsuitable in our climate, for swimming pools and lush private gardens in super luxury estates designed for the discreet enjoyment of billionaires,” he said. But he said it was time to recognise the unique character of the range which is home to 37 species endemic to the area. A petition to demand action has already got more than 75,000 signatures. The nearby Sierra de las Nieves was awarded National Park status earlier this year.
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Why is the Spanish church ignoring child abuse victims? See page 6
Secret valley A converted cinema restaurant , 500 years of history and the best leafy hike... it's time you visited this Serrania village
SNARED See page 14
Man detained over death of Michael Montegriffo in 2018 after fresh appeal POLICE have arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with the murder of Michael Montegriffo in 2018. The 58-year-old was found lying on the ground outside his home at Gavino’s Dwellings on Prince Edward’s Road at 11am on Saturday July 7, 2018 and despite the best efforts by paramedics he died a few hours later at St Bernard’s Hospital. Two post-mortems found that the injuries Montegriffo suffered were not consistent with having fallen from a height or being struck by a passing vehicle and a murder probe was launched. Detectives believed that Montegriffo, a musician, who had lived in France and England for many years, was hit over the head four times by someone he probably knew well.
Snow business 952 147 834
The arrest of a local man in Gibraltar comes a month after police launched a fresh public appeal for information in the hope of solving the three-year-old case. Detectives released previously unseen CCTV footage in October capturing passers-by in the wider vicinity and asked anyone who identified themselves to come forward as a potential witness. “In the past, police officers have concentrated on speaking to people who were in the immediate vicinity of Gavino’s Dwellings. It has now been decided to throw the net more widely and to interview anyone who might have been within several hunContinues on Page 4
THE wintry slopes of the Sierra Nevada are finally open again. It comes after a healthy amount of snowfall over the last few weeks with most pistes open. A total of 77 new snow cannons have been installed bringing the total number across the resort to 210 and guaranteeing decent snow until April. The resort boasts the most southerly skiing in Europe occupying the northern slopes of Veleta, the third highest peak in Spain.
VICTIM: Montegriffo was killed in 2018
Tel: 952 147 834
See page 16
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NEWS IN BRIEF Muddled up A ‘kamikaze’ driver faces up to two years in prison after she was caught driving in the wrong direction on the A-7 road in Algeciras.
Bad flyers TWO RAF personnel have been fined for behaving in a disorderly manner when drunk in Main Street. Anthony Sharkey, 40, and Michael Jenkins, 37, were both argumentative and quarrelsome when police arrived.
Be warned GIB drivers heading into Spain are being warned that between December 6 and 12, roadside checks for alcohol and drugs will be stepped up as part of a traffic campaign in La Linea.
Jailed driver LOCAL Paul Byrne, 48, has been sentenced to eight weeks in prison after being caught driving whilst disqualified on Roger’s Road. He had been banned for three years for drink driving.
A BRITISH expat has been caged for 20 years after being convicted of having sex with his wife before killing her in a frenzied knife attack at their €450,000 mansion. Wealthy businessman Geoffrey Elton, 57, claimed he suffered a mental disorder when he attempted to smother Gloria Tornay (pictured with Elton) and then tried to strangle her before she broke free after the bedroom romp.
Jury
But a Spanish jury ruled Elton was sane when he chased Gloria, 58, through their Estepona villa with a 5.7 inch long kitchen knife, stabbing her 11 times. Father-of-two Elton then shut off the power and told his 15-year-old son to leave and threw away mobile phones to slow the emergency response.
CRIME
KILLED AFTER SEX 20 years jail for expat murderer
By Kirsty McKenzie
Elton was found drenched in blood beside his wife of 30 years after trying to take his own life but was saved by medics and later charged
with murder. But the computer programmer claimed he had no recollection of the attack on his 58-year-old Spanish-born wife. The judge has now jailed the expat from Worksop, Notts, for 20 years and one day for murder. He was also ordered to pay a total of €276,000 compensation - €84,000 to each of his two sons and the rest to Gloria’s five siblings.
Humiliated
The 57-year-old told a court in Malaga he lashed out after being humiliated in front of neighbours by his headteacher wife of 33 years. The episode took place following a 'mutual' decision to divorce and a day of packing cases, the court heard. Elton moved to Estepona seven years ago after retiring from his successful satellite dish installation company.
December 1st - December 14th 2021
Given a Rolexing A SHOPKEEPER has been fined £8,000 for selling Rolex watches without the proper paperwork. A Money Laundering Investigation Unit investigation uncovered and seized several of the luxury watches in a search of various properties. Further enquiries revealed that some of them had been bought from a retailer in Main Street. Just one of these watches had been bought for €29,000 in cash. The owner, Albert Desoisa, aged 54, has now been convicted of failing to conduct proper due diligence in relation to this purchase and was fined. The offence relates to requirements set out in the Proceeds of Crime Act to prevent money laundering. “Businesses cannot just accept cash in the belief that it is not their problem where the money is coming from,” said RGP Chief Inspector Tunbridge.
High-life fraudster A SCAMMER, who lived a life of luxury on the Costa del Sol while allegedly fleecing his victims of at least €500,000, has been arrested in Latvia. He and his cronies rented villas at €1,000 a night, wore designer clothing, drove high-end cars and dined in some of Marbella’s most exclusive restaurants, all the time using money that wasn’t theirs. They found their targets via aggressive social media campaigns, going to the length of hiring an actor to shoot promotional videos purporting him to be the ‘inventor’ of a new cryptocurrency to rival Bitcoin. The real ‘inventor’ of the ‘Hodlife’ token was in fact, according to police, simply setting investors up for a fall. His targets were persuaded to send cryptocurrencies to a digital wallet for ‘investment’ in the new token. But once enough online currency was collected, it was transferred to other digital wallets and disappeared from the accounts of the victims.
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es SPAIN’S richest man Amancio Ortega is selling his biggest yacht for a cool €76million. The Spanish fashion mogul, 85 purchased the 67 metre superyacht, Drizzle, in 2012 for €95million but now wants to upgrade his fleet and purchase a new boat worth a whopping €172million. The Inditex found-
Right royal mess A RAPPER who fled Spain in 2018 after insulting the monarchy has another extradition hearing to fight off. In May 2018, performer Valtonyc, real name Josep Miquel Arenas, fled to Belgium after being given three-and-a-half years in jail. The Supreme Court upheld the 2017 verdict and sentence over a year later, prompting Valtonyc to flee Spain. Mallorca police set up a surveillance team to ensure he did not leave the island, yet he still managed to escape. Belgian courts have rejected previous extradition requests but a new hearing has now been set for December 28 in the Ghent Court of Appeal. The Sa Pobla artist was convicted of glorifying terrorism, threatening rightwing politician Jorge Campos and making defamatory comments against the Spanish royal family.
PUSH THE BOAT OUT
er, who has a net worth of €70 billion, wants to upsize his boat to make his Mediterranean coastline cruises even more luxurious. Lavish yacht Drizzle is now for sale on the website of the Mallor-
can company, Hamilton Marine in Puigpunyent, which specialises in luxury yachts. The interior of the boat offers accommodation for up to 12 people, boasting seven double cabins for its occupants to sleep in.
SEX PEST GRANNY
A BESOTTED 72-year-old woman has been fined a mere €60 for sending sexually explicit and threatening letters to hunky Il Divo singer Carlos Marin. Besides the small fine, a Madrid judge gave the Barcelona woman, named as Rosa, a sixmonth 500 metre distancing order barring her from approaching Marin and banned her from getting in touch with him.
Obscene
The problems started in February when Rosa started phoning Il Divo’s producer, telling him that she had developed ‘a platonic love’ for Madrid-based Marin. The judge said the calls became ‘annoying, obscene and offensive’. She then started sending obscene letters directly to 53-year-old Marin, which generated a ‘certain un-
THEY are one of the most influential bands in the electronic music genre, and now Spanish fans will be able to see Kraftwerk life. The German group has been around for decades, although it now has a much changed lineup, although the band is as innovative as ever. Formed in Dusseldorf in 1969 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider, they have influenced a diverse range of artists and many genres of modern music, including synth-pop, hip hop, postpunk, techno, ambient and club music. Now they are one of the main acts
Il Divo singer subjected to campaign of sexually explicit letters By Alex Trelinski
easiness and fear’ in him. The letters initially made explicit sexual offers and how she would ‘satisfy’ him. The lack of a reply saw the tone of the messages abruptly change as Rosa’s written advances came to nothing. Further dispatches referred to Marin as an ‘imbecile, fool, idiot, and a child prodigy’. The messages were also sent to his family and his Il Divo colleagues, as the language ramped up further to accuse the singer of being a ‘liar’ and being ‘married to
a prostitute’. The last straw was Rosa resorting to sending death threats. Marin’s lawyer, Alberto Martin, said the singer had to stop meeting fans after concerts as he feared the woman might appear and attack him. Announcing an at the new International Festival La Cala de Mijas, appeal against near Malaga. the sentence and Headliners are British group the the €60 fine, Arctic Monkeys who will be playMartin commenting their first Spanish date for ed that the judge four years at the event, which will ‘felt more sorry run from September 1 to 3, 2022. for the aggressor Also playing will be Australian than for the vicChet Faker, British bands Blostim’. soms and Hot Chip plus a lineup Il Divo is an interof Spanish artists. national hit clasTickets are on sale at calamijas. sical crossover com. singing group created in 2003.
Good Werkers
December 1st - December 14th 2021
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Top score BARCELONA captain Alexia Putellas has become the first Spain international to win the Ballon d'Or since 1960 . She was crowned the best female footballer in the world as she received the Ballon d'Or Feminin. Putellas, who was born in Mollet del Valles, is the first Spanish winner since Luis Suarez in 1960. The 27-year-old was also named Uefa's Women's Player of the Year and Midfielder of the Year and ended the 2020-21 season as the highest-scoring midfielder in Europe with 26 goals to her name. Paris San Germain superstar Lionel Messi picked up a record seventh Ballon d’Or award at the event. Putellas was one of five Barca players nominated for the award, with team-mate Jennifer Hermoso coming in second. "Honestly, it is a bit emotional. Very special. It is great to be here with all my teammates. We've lived and experienced so much together, especially last season," she said. !I would like to thank all my teammates, all my teammates throughout my career and the ones I have right now. This is an individual prize but football is a team sport.”
The eagles have landed NINE White-tailed Eagles have been donated by Norway in an effort to re-introduce the species to Spain. They are being kept in a special enclosure in Asturias as they acclimatize to their new home. As one of eight bird species on the official List of Extinct Species, they qualify for the reintroduction project, which is being managed by conservation group GREFA. Young wild birds were taken from their nests in Norway earlier this year and sent to Spain. They have been fitted with GPS trackers to monitor their movements once they are finally set free. This first phase of the scheme is set to last two years, with it being used as a test to try different reintroduction techniques. If this test phase is successful, it is planned to release 20 eagles a year for five years in a bid to build a breeding population. Norway has previously provided birds for reintroduction schemes in Scotland, as well as current projects in Ireland and the Isle of Wight.
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NEWS
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Get a boost
GIBRALTAR’S Government is urging citizens to get a booster jab this Christmas. It says that the booster vaccines are more important than ever due to the existence of the Omicron variant, which has now been found in the UK and Spain. The jab is currently being offered to people between 40 and 49 years-old, and those between 12 and 15 who weren’t able to receive them earlier. “Don't let Covid spoil your Christmas,” said Health Minister Samantha Sacramento. She added that ‘although they still protect against the worst effects, the immunity provided by the first doses wears off’. That’s why she has urged people to accept a dose when offered: “It is important to get a booster to maintain immunity. “It is the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones this holiday season,” she added. Gibraltar currently boasts the highest per capita rate of booster doses administered in the world, with older age groups having already received the vaccination. AN RPG officer has become the first officer from the Rock to be awarded the title of Gold Commander of Public Order. Superintendent John Field completed the five-day College of Policing course along with 10 other officers at Ryton-on-Dunsmore.
WE’RE NO GRINCHES! By Fiona Govan
UK press reports that Christmas has been cancelled on the Rock were wide of the mark. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo was forced to deny the ‘news’ after sensationalist headlines claimed the government had done so in a panic over rising COVID-19 cases.
Meme
He turned to twitter with a meme of the Grinch who stole Christmas and wrote: “Surprised I even have to say this BUT #Gibraltar has NOT cancelled Christmas.” The news made headlines
STRUCK GOLD The qualification will help the force better prepare for large public events - military parades, demonstrations, protests and sporting events.
Sensationalist headlines claimed the Rock was closed for Xmas
in The Daily Express, The Evening Standard and Newsweek following a government press release that official Christmas events would be muted. A government spokesman said: “In response to the exponential increase in the number of cases, the government intends, among other measures, to cancel a number “It has been the most demanding course I have ever done, but it will help us to keep the public and Gibraltar safer at large-scale events,” Field said. The Gold Commander has overall control of the resources of a police force in an incident involving the public.
History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.
December 1st - December 14th 2021
Arrested over Michael death From Front Page
dred metres of the scene,” a RGP spokesperson said. “The RGP have released images of several people who were in the wider area at the time. Each of these individuals in an image is asked to make contact with the RGP.” An RGP spokesperson would not confirm whether the arrest came about as a direct result of the appeal. “An arrest was made,” the spokesperson told the Olive Press. “Investigations are ongoing and we would continue to urge anyone with information about the case to get in touch.” At the time of his death friends and family of Montegriffo told the Olive Press of their ‘shock and sadness’ after his killing. They described the father-of-four as an ‘eloquent and friendly’ man, who ‘was a spiritual man, a real child of the Sixties’.
Harmless
of its own events, such as official Christmas parties, official receptions and other similar gatherings. “It is essential that the public behave in a cautious and sensible manner as the pandemic continues to claim lives every day.” Officials said citizens should ‘exercise their own judgement’ on whether to hold Christmas events and it ‘strongly advises against’ doing so in the next four weeks while the COVID booster scheme continues. Several private companies have already cancelled parties as a precaution.
Friends were quick to tell the paper about the ‘harmless’ man, who had two daughters and two sons and had been privately educated at the Christian Brothers Prep School, before becoming a well-renowned artist and musician. “He was a great guy - a man of style and quality and a real free thinker”, said a former classmate. Another friend added: “We are all devastated, he had such a friendly, welcoming approach to people.” Montegriffo - who lived in England and predominantly France for a long time - had learnt to play the guitar at a young age and music played a big part in his life. As well as composing music, he was occasionally seen busking on Gibraltar’s Main Street. “He did a lot of things to make a living, but he was a really kind, free spirited man and he would always take in someone who was homeless,” said a friend. Another source said he had returned from France a decade ago, having worked in a series of jobs, including as a shepherd and as a grape picker.
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Skull found at alternative community near Granada is ‘not’ missing Dutch expat, but man in his 40s IT was during a short walk with her dog before taking the kids to school that an expat got the most incredible shock of her life. Wrapped up warmly against the winter morning in the Alpujarras, near Granada, she had no idea why Dragon started scratching madly at the earth. Walking over she was horrified to discover that the German Shepherd cross had dug up a skull that she immediately knew was human. Initially thinking it was a victim of the Spanish Civil War, she later realised on returning to retrieve it that it was much more recently deceased.
Horrified
“It was definitely fresher and smelled quite a lot,” the Romanian expat, who asked not to be named, told the Olive Press. “My initial thoughts were that it probably belonged to a victim from the Civil War, as there were many people executed in this region and buried in unmarked graves. “But when I picked it up later and put it into a plastic bag to stop Dragon from chewing it, I knew it was much more recent.” The mother-of-two, who has
NEWS
Gruesome discovery EXCLUSIVE By Elena Goçmen Rueda
lived in Spain for 11 years, had soon got the father of her children to contact the Guardia Civil, in nearby Orgiva. A patrol car was quickly on the scene, by the new age settlement of Beneficio, near Canar, where the expats live. After taking the bag for safe storage, they went with her to visit the macabre site, which sits just below the main car park of the alternative community. They looked around and, oddly, found no further bones or remains. There was no sign of clothes or any other personal items, nor any signs of a struggle. Expats told the Olive Press they had initially believed the head was that of a Dutch woman named Linda, who had an abusive partner and a teenage son. “She had very distinctive teeth and we immediately suspected it was Linda,” said one. “She left in strange circumstances and we were worried about her.” A spokesman for the Guardia
DRAGON: Found the skull by the tree (below) Civil confirmed the discovery to the Olive Press and announced an investigation had been launched. However, he denied that it belonged to the ‘missing’ Dutch woman and was ‘most likely’ a man in his 40s. “The Judicial Police have taken over the investigation and it has now been taken to a laboratory in Sevilla for its study,” he said. “DNA will be extracted and released to the Missing Persons database within the next two months.”
He added: “We can assure you that it is not Linda, who is safe and sound and living in a commune elsewhere in Europe.”
December 1st - December 14th 2021
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GET LEGAL THE fabulously funny and award-winning musical based on the film Legally Blonde will be held in John Mackintosh Hall Theatre from today until December 3 at 6pm. Tickets for the Gibraltar Academy of Music and Performing Arts event cost £15 per person. The music and lyrics of the musical were created by Laurence O'Keefy and Neil Benjamin, and it is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film. The performance features students, staff and alumniperforming fantastic song and dance numbers with special guests from JF Dance and Mediterranean Dance School. TWO police officers have qualified as Post Incident Managers after completing a course in the UK. Inspector Stephen Riley from the RGP and Inspector Mahesh Chellaram from the Defence Police, travelled to Peterborough for the five-day course. The title enables them to deal
PASSED: Riley and Chellaram
Top cops with ‘incidents involving death or serious injury where there has been an interaction with police officers or staff, in line with UK police forces’, explained a RGP spokesman. “The course centred on the welfare of the officers involved, which I liked, and we as an organisation need to get this right from the start,” Inspector Riley said. “It was a very informative and intensive course, which provided me with the knowledge to initiate immediate action to manage a subsequent incident,” said Inspector Chellaram. “With what I have learnt from this course, I believe the force is in a better position to manage and assist officers. “The implementation of the procedures and associated logistics is something we will begin to look into," he concluded.
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O LIVE P RESS
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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 PROTEST POWER LOOKING across the border to Spain, and it seems wherever you go, you would have come across a protest. Whether it’s one that makes national headlines like the striking metalworkers in Cadiz which provoked angry clashes with police, or the streets turning purple to call for an end to domestic violence. Whatever your feelings are towards each particular demonstration, they form an essential part of any healthy democracy, drawing attention to issues important to our communities. And often they bring about immediate change. This issue we report on campaigners who took to the streets demanding national park status for the Sierra Bermeja in the wake of this summer’s devastating fire. Such actions may not always bring about immediate change, but they send an important signal to the powers that be, that change is needed. And the same is true in Gibraltar. Recently we reported on how Chief Minister Fabian Picardo reacted to demonstrators, who were by no means flattering to his government. Did he hide away from their gaze? No, he came face to face to receive their complaints in person. This is by no means a guarantee that action will be taken to the protestors’ satisfaction. But it does at least show politicians of all hues on Gibraltar are willing to listen and consider the viewpoints of citizens. It’s easy to sign an online petition from the comfort of an armchair and support a cause you believe in, but it’s far more satisfying and powerful to get yourself out there, pick up a banner and shout yourself hoarse. Join the crowd and make yourself heard! The Olive Press salutes you. PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es
Fiona Govan fiona@theolivepress.es
Kirsty McKenzie kirsty@theolivepress.es
Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es
Simon Wade simon@theolivepress.es
Cristina Hodgson cristina@theolivepress.es
Elena Goçmen Rueda elena@theolivepress.es
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NEWS FEATURE
Cross to bear
S
PAIN’S Catholic Church has refused to launch an independent inquiry into the shocking sexual abuse carried out within its ranks over the past 70 years. Unbelievably it maintains ‘there’s only a few cases,’ amounting to ‘0.8%’ of the priesthood. At the end of a week-long gathering of bishops in Madrid, it stated: “We are not prepared to undertake sociological or statistical investigations. Why is all the focus on the Catholic Church? There are cases in sports federations. Has FIFA or the Spanish Olympic Committee been asked for a general investigation?”
Claim
The Church also made the surprising claim that it was frontrunners on tackling the issue. “We are the first Episcopal Conference in the world to approve a collection of norms with which to deal with cases of sexual abuse against minors,” Church spokesman, Luis Argüello, declared after the convention, although he admitted that none of the victims had been given the space to air their grievances during the gathering. Spain is the only country in Europe, apart from Italy, to be downplaying the abuse. Portugal has just given the
C
ARLOS Ruiz Zafon needs no introduction. Arguably the most recognised contemporary writer in Spain, he has an equally successful international reputation. Translated into over 50 languages, literary critics have often compared Zafon to none other than Miguel de Cervantes in style, popularity and literary impact. Carlos’s trilogy The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, combined with his most recent book The Labyrinth of the Spirits (El Laberinte de los Esperitos), are perennial best-sellers around the world. Zafon’s series arrived on the publishing scene with contemporaries Dan Brown and J.K. Rowling. Their popular genre shared countless tomes: tormented characters, often seeking knowledge centered around secrets to be found in books and archives. ‘Tales
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While the Catholic Church in France and Spain seek to investigate wrongdoings, Spain’s clergy hides and wriggles over child sex abuse claims, writes Heather Galloway
REFUSED: Carlos Zafon
Spain’s once-leading Author Carlos Ruiz Zafon, who died last year, refused to have his books turned into films, Jack Gaioni explains why within tales’, giving way to ‘books within books’, with multiple subplots became a flourishing subgenre with the reading public. Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Rowling’s Harry Potter would go on to become record-breaking hits at the cinema box-office. Curiously, Zafon rejected the many lucrative offers to turn his books into movies and he had some very strong opinions as to why.
Pondered Carlos had been consistent with his personal mission to encourage people to recover the pleasure of reading. In our flashy, crazed world of the internet, smart phones, video games and digital streaming, Zafon believed the joy of reading was being forgotten. “Reading”, said Zafon, “is a primal force in which we, the readers, collaborate with the authors to create adventures, empathy and memories not unlike those of our real lives.” He believed ‘books are mirrors to the soul’ and by reading we develop stronger analytical skills by taking note of detail. It is perhaps ironic
that before Carlos Ruiz Zafon became an international best seller, he began his career as a screenplay writer in the movie capital of the world - Los Angeles, California. He was an avid fan of the film noir genre and had notable success as a Hollywood screenwriter. He would be the first to admit this genre, marked by moods of pessimism, fatalism and menace was a major influence on his later written work. But Carlos saw a disconnect between storytelling as novel verses adapting that same story to a movie. Movies, he believed, are experienced by the audience in one 90 to 120 minute block of time but books may be picked up and put down, pondered and digested, multiple times before completion. Carlos believed that, by reading, content could be taken in at intervals dictated by the reader’s ‘rhythm of consumption’. He once famously said that unlike movies, ‘books have no beginnings or endings - only points of entry’. Since something is lost from the transition from books to movies, Carlos was emphatic in not wanting to spend the time remaking his stories into another media. He claimed that developing characters and interlocking plots so precariously, he feared his stories would ‘explode’ if he tinkered with them by adapting
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FIGHT: Juan Cautrecosas (right) has been battling church abuse for years the plunge include Belgium, Ireland and Germany, with the US blazing the trail in 2002. But after the Episcopal Confer-
them to the big screen. Zsofon believed that by reading, one can better picture his books ‘shot by shot’, the way he designed them because that is central to the reading experience. Tragically, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, that prolific Spanish novelist who has been compared to Cervantes, succumbed to cancer last year and died in his prime at age 55. He will forever be remembered as an outlier in the world of storytelling. It is rumored that Zafon took the time to declare in his last will and testament that his books ‘never, never, never’ (his words) be made into movies. Rest in Peace Carlos….
ence’s jamboree, hopes were dashed for more transparency from Spain’s clergy, which hitched its wagon to the dictatorship during the Franco years and appears to still be clinging to a sense of impunity. “The ecclesiastical hierarchy of Spain should stop committing g o n e the sin of arrogance and asone step further, producing a sume the institution’s responreport admitting to the abuse sibilities. of 81 minors by 65 Jesuit “It should treat the victims and priests between 1927 and survivors of paedophilia with 2020. respect and empathy, providBut the Spanish Church’s ading compensation and reparamissions have only served to tion for the sake of truth and infuriate the victims and the justice. associations representing “These are values that they them. intend to con“It is shameful tinue to shun,” and intolerable the director of The church that they conthe Foundation tinue to deny should stop of Stolen Childthe truth,” says hood (ANIR) Juan committing Cautrecosas, Cautrecosas told whose own son the Olive Press the sin of suffered sexushortly after Ararrogance al abuse in an güello delivered Opus Dei school the verdict. in Bilbao in The facts and 2010 at the age of 12. figures within Spain remain The priest finally got sentenced conveniently vague, though to 11 years in 2018, which was Cautrecosas is convinced that incredibly reduced to two years in reality they mirror those of by the Supreme Court, while France. “They are the same if the family paid dearly for seeknot higher,” he says. “The figure ing justice, with threats that of 0.8% is absolutely false.” drove them out of their home. So far, the Church in Spain has But calls for more accountabilrevealed that 220 cases have ity have fallen on deaf ears, come under internal investigawith the Church insisting that tion between 2001 and April victims should approach its 2021 while the Jesuit Orown Offices for the Protection der has of Minors that were set up in March 2020 on the orders of Pope Francis. According to Argüello, the Church will attend to anyone who comes to these offices, which can be found in each of Spain’s 70 dioceses. But, as ANIR’s CautrecoNO PROBLEM: sas has been quick to claims point out: “It is vital to look Luis Argüello for neutral organisations to investigate rather than those in which the damage was done,” adding that, to date, the Church’s Offices for
the Protection of Minors have ‘had very little effect and lack rigour.’ Tellingly, Argüello insists that the offices have received few complaints since they opened a year and a half ago. In fact, according to the ANIR president, victims have found the press to be a more effective vehicle for getting their stories heard, with El País compiling a database of 945 victims and 363 cases to date. “Without the media, many victims wouldn’t have been able to come forward,” says Cautrecosas. “My son was 12 when he was abused. He still suffers from the after-effects of the abuse. It’s not like flu that you can take a paracetamol for. “When we spoke out, our lives were made impossible, as has been the case for many of the victims in our association.” Perhaps it’s not surprising the Spanish Church is dragging its feet on an independent investigation, given the damning indictment delivered to representatives of France’s Catholic hierarchy in Lourdes during the presentation of the Suavé report at the start of October. “You are an embarrassment to our humanity,” François Devaux, director of the victim’s association La Parol Libérée told them. What is clear is that the Spanish Church’s victims feel abused, first physically by a member of the priesthood, then emotionally by the apparent indifference of an institution that looks loathed to come out from behind its veil of silence.
UBLISHERS the world over, from the New York Times, to The Telegraph decided the way forward was to charge for their content a few years back. Here in Spain it is also seen as the way forward, with all the big media groups adopting paywalls, from giants like El Mundo and El Pais to local publications such as Diario Sur and Ideal. The Olive Press joined them a year ago. And now with more than 30,000 subscribers we are definitely on the right track. With hundreds more signing up each month, it is gratifying to know that readers share our obsession with quality. After all, for less than 14 cents a day - or €1.50 a week - readers can join our online revolution. And with our current HALF PRICE SPECIAL OFFER UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR readers can help us keep real journalism alive and flourishing in a world of fake news.
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Water solution
New technique tested to replenish underground water supplies A NEW method of replenishing underground water supplies is to be trialed in Spain. Researchers hope that the plan will increase underground reserves by 15% with a 99% saving in power needed and carbon emissions. The Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) system will use recycled water from Marbella’s La Vibora sewage works. Some 50,000 cubic metres of the cleaned water will be added to the underground supplies using ‘surface infiltration’ rather than existing pumping technologies. The pilot project is being run by the EU funded Life Matrix environmental organisation alongside the Acosol water company. If successful it could be rolled out to other parts of Spain such as Valencia, Alicante and Almeria, which suffer from drought and water shortages. Marbella was chosen for the pilot as it is in an area that suffers from high ‘water stress’, especially with the influx of summer tourists. Researchers see it as an area which needs better management of its water
Exceptional drought THE water resources of the Axarquia region are slowing to a trickle with La Viñuela reservoir, the biggest in Malaga province, at just 18.79% of its capacity - its lowest since 2008. The decrease in water levels in the last year has led the Junta to decree the reservoir in a state of ‘exceptional drought.’ The concern about the state of La Viñuela reservoir is shared by farmers in La Axarquia, who fear there will not be enough water to irrigate their products. Not only is the shortage jeopardising crop irrigation but the water could become unfit for human consumption due to a concentration of heavy metals.
resources and the perfect test bed for ‘non-conventional’ techniques and technologies. The managed aquifer recharge system proposed by Life Matrix will bring together different solutions to make sure the quality of the MARBELLA: Site of the pilot project water is high and soil structure is not destroyed. search Centre Foundation, with the Life Matrix, co-financed by the Eu- participation of Cetaqua Barcelona, ropean Commission’s LIFE pro- Water Technology Centre; the Hygramme, coordinated by Cetaqua drogeology Centre of the University Andalucia, Andalucian Water Re- of Malaga (Cehiuma) and Acosol.
December 1st - December 14th 2021
Grim and dry future SOUTH-EAST Spain faces a 40% fall in water resources by 2050 if remedial action is not taken, according to Ecological Transition Minister, Teresa Ribera. Speaking at an Alicante water conference, the Minister said that areas like Alicante Province, Murcia, and Malaga Province would suffer more than an average water loss of 24% for the rest of Spain. Teresa Ribera said: “There has been a review of all of our infrastructure to produce the right response to what lies ahead. “If no measures are taken, droughts will
affect 70% of Spain in 30 years time,” she added. Ribera’s grim scenario also suggested up to 75% of the Iberian Peninsula could be at risk of desertification if nothing was done. She called for better connectivity between water confederation companies in the south-east as well as increasing desalination capacity and upping recycling rates. “Intelligent management is needed, together with digitalisation; adaptive crops; flood prevention and improved efficiency,” said Ribera.
Martin Tye explains why not enough being done to save us from climate change
TWISTED LOGIC
Green Matters
By Martin Tye
A
S the dust settles after the COP26 conference held recently in Glasgow, what outcome can we expect ? Some strong commitments were made. Are they sufficient to save our planet ? I think not. India highlighted the main reason we will fail – GREED. Just as COP26 closed, authorities in the Indian capital, Delhi, shut all schools and colleges indefinitely because of the level of air pollution. India and China insisted on modifying the final agreement on fossil fuels. Instead of ‘phasing out’ the use of coal, they jointly insisted on the words ‘phasing down’ being used.
How mad is this?!?
Delhi is submerged in a pungent toxic haze. Citizens are subjected to levels of PM2 far higher than the World Health Organisation’s safety guidelines. A figure below 50 is acceptable. Delhi recorded a level of more than 400, causing long term damage to people’s health. As hospitals start to fill up with patients complaining of wheezing and breathing difficulties, the Indian government continues to
SMOG: Lethal haze is covering Delhi
push on with its use of coal. This form of twisted logic will be the reason the world will fail with its mission to control climate change. Powerful nations will continue to put financial and economic gain above the planet’s needs. Bad air kills more than one million people in India. SO WHAT WAS AGREED IN GLASGOW ?
Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. Call +34 638145664 or Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es
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LA CULTURA Potters find
A STORM that hit the coast of Malaga has uncovered two ovens dating from the Roman era on the beach of San Pedro in Marbella—a mere five metres from the shore. The archaeological remains are believed to be part of a big Roman industrial zone that once produced a fish paste called garum and even bricks for export around the Med. It is all connected to another settlement of Cilniania, of which a AN Iberian sword considered to be of great historical value was discovered among looted archaeological treasures offered for sale online. The sword, which has a bird’s head hilt, is thought to date from between the third and second century BC and was likely plundered from an ancient grave where it
number of remains are currently protected and open to the public. The remains are currently fenced off and being monitored around the clock to prevent looting. Thieves in the past stole a valuable Roman mosaic from a villa at nearby Puerto Banus. The image of Medusa is believed to have been stolen to order and has been replaced by a replica.
December 1st - December 14th 2021
POISON ART
THEY may be stunning examples of art from our ancestors, but Spain’s famous cave paintings could have poisoned early artists. Analysis of 5,000 year-old bones found in 23 sites across Spain and Portugal has found evidence of mercury poisoning. Scientists from the University of North Carolina Wilmington analysed the remains of 370 people who lived during the Late Neolithic and Copper Age. It was found that the highest levels of mercury were found among those living at the beginning of the Copper Age – between 2900 and 2600 BC.
Toxic
Researchers said the unusually excessive amount of mercury is attributable to cinnabar, a toxic mercury sulfide mineral with a shiny purple colour. It was traditionally used as a paint pigment, with ancient
LOOT FOR SALE was buried with the warrior who owned it more than two thousand years ago. Spain’s Policia Nacional tracked down the seller who had a stash of more than 200 artifacts pilfered from archaeological sites in Spain.
They arrested the seller, a man from a town in Andalucia's, Jaen, who is now facing charges for theft and offences against national heritage. Described as an ‘Iberian falcata’, police said it had ‘possible remains of silver
Ancient people found to have high levels of mercury
ART: But it could have been deadly to our ancestors By Kirsty McKenzie
tombs in Andalucia found covered in cinnabar powder. Ancient people used it to paint chambers, decorate figurines and even daub on the dead. on the blade, and is in a very good state of preservation’ “The fact that the piece has not been used since the owner’s death - the weapon is buried with the warrior when he dies so that no one can use it - increases its value due to the rarity of finding pieces in this state,” police said in a statement.
Since the end of the Copper Age and early Bronze Age, the use of cinnabar has gradually declined. Researchers hypothesise that people from Portugal and Andalucia could have accidentally inhaled or consumed large amounts of mercury from cinnabar during various rituals and painting sessions. Levels of up to 400 parts per million (ppm) were recorded in the bones of some of these individuals. “Taking into account that the WHO currently considers that the normal level of mercury in hair should not be higher than 1 or 2 ppm, the data obtained reveal a high level of intoxication that must have severely affected the health of many of those people,” researchers said.
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Malaga to sparkle MORE than 500 streets in Malaga have been decorated with twinkling lights and Christmas decorations transforming the city. The city has been flooded with light this 2021 festive season, with more than half a million LED light points set up, with a power of 137.5 kilowatts. Around 80 of these streets and roundabouts correspond to the emblematic areas of Malaga and include lighting in 85 natural trees, 37 ground figures, one garland area, 30 grouped motifs, 85 streetlight motifs, 3 pines with three-dimensional structures, 22 porticos, 218 arches and six signs. Despite the increase in illumination, the actual cost of the Christmas lighting has been reduced considerably in the last decade. This year’s festive sparkle is expected to cost €11,500, compared to the €53,760 spent in 2009, according to the city council.
A BIG THANKS!
C
What we have learned from the year just passed
AN you believe that we are nearly at the end of 2021?! Whether it’s been a good, or not so good year for you, there’s no denying that it has absolutely flown by! So we thought that we would take the time to look back on the last year, and the changes that came along with penalties for late filing of tax, in line with the new Mait! king Tax Digital for Income Tax system - with the aim The beginning of the year was very much still oversha- to be more supportive of those with genuine reasons dowed by the COVID-19 pandemic - whebehind mistakes or late filing, whilst still ther you were in the UK or sunny Spain, penalising those who are consistently late. unfortunately there was no escaping the But it wasn't just the treasury changing The much disruption and sadness brought on by cothings in the first half of the year! The beanticipated ronavirus, and the impact that it had on ginning of June saw the much anticipated the world’s economy. release of the brand new and improved release of And in line with the changes brought to the 2.0! APARI 2.0 has been built by APARI 2.0 was APARI economy, the March Budget was announlandlords & self-employed taxpayers, with in June ced, offering support packages for those the aim to simplify tax and empower its affected. Furlough and the Self Employed users with their own tax data - we, pretty Income Support Scheme were extensimply, want to Make Tax Doable for YOU! ded, offering financial support to those in By allowing users to seamlessly upload and allocate need. The Stamp Duty holiday their banking transactions, and choose their submiswas extended, offering sion route of either SA100 or MTD, we are giving UK a welcome reduc- taxpayers the ability to be in control of their own tax t i o n journey! t o And that’s not the end of the APARI story - we have also t h o s e released two other brand new products - so keep your t r y i n g eyes peeled for our Ten Minute Tax, and Simplified Tax to get products! Both offer quick, easy, and reasonably prionto the ced options for taxpayers with different tax needs, a UK proper- jargon-free way to submit their tax return directly to ty ladder, or HMRC! p u r c h a s i n g Unfortunately the latter part of the year brought some another buy- slightly disappointing news - that Making Tax Digital to-let property, for Income Tax would be pushed back for a year, from and the personal 2023, to 2024. APARI, as the frontrunner for MTD for allowance was in- income tax, has been raring to go for quite some time, creased to £12,570 but HMRC (with some pressure from various external (but fixed until 2026). stakeholders) felt that more time was needed to bring HMRC also used this such a big change into play. The good thing is that the time to announce new pilot scheme will be extended, giving taxpayers more
of an opportunity to get to grips with MTD before it becomes a legal requirement! Looking back on the year, the APARI team would like to thank Olive Press readers for their support and interaction with APARI over the last year! We hope you’ve learned lots about tax, and that it has been of some benefit to you! Have a happy and healthy festive season, and here's to a great 2022!
For all the latest information and advise, visit www.apari-digital.com
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LA CULTURA
December 1st - December 14th 2021
NAZIS ON THE RUN
NEW book once again throws the spotlight on the history of the Costa del Sol as a refuge for wanted Nazis after World War II. While many of Germany’s most wanted men fled to South America in a bid to escape justice, many more did not have to travel across the Atlantic to dip under the Allies’ radar. They found a home in Andalucia instead, as Jose Manul Portero’s new book, Nazis on the Costa del Sol, reveals. It deals with how the region provided shelter and tolerance to Nazi criminals, the privileges they enjoyed and how this process has affected the country. “Before, during and after the Second World War, Hitler’s Germany found in Franco’s Spain the ideal place for its finance and espionage activities first, and as a safe haven later”, Portero explains. The Costa del Sol was not the only Nazi sanctuary in Spain but it was a particularly significant one, due to the quantity and ‘quality’ of those who fled here. So-called ‘Doctor Death’, Aribert Heim, ‘Adolf Hitler’s adopted son’, Leon Degrelle, and ‘Scarface’, Otto Skorzeny were just a few of the infamous Nazis who hid out in Malaga’s then remote coast and countryside. With Germany’s defeat in World War II, thousands of Nazi leaders were tried, convicted or executed and others subjected to the ‘denazification’ processes. But others, pursued by Israel or Nazi hunters like Simon Wiesenthal, fled to Spain, thanks to the good relationship between Hitler and Franco.
How notorious high ranking fascists made a home in Franco’s Spain
logues of Austrian Nazism and a fugitive from justice in his country. “Malaga had some unbeatable Portero, the former headmascharacteristics: excellent climatic ter of a secondary school in conditions, gastronomy, ideal ter- Benalmadena, came across rain for hiding and its proximity to Violeta Friedmann’s story, an the coast of Africa, which made Auschwitz survivor who fought it easy to flee if there were prob- a court case against Hitler’s right hand man, Leon Delems,” explained Portero. grelle. Also, the friendHe settled in ly presence in Fuengirola of Jose Dozens of Nazis Spain for years and did severAntonio Giron de al interviews Velasco, Minister spent their with Spanish of Labour who helped several retirement safe m a g a z i n e s , where he tried Nazis during the and secure in to dismiss the time, gave them peace of mind. the Spanish sun reality of the Holocaust So much so that while giving dozens of Nazis free rein to spent their retirehis anti-Semitic views. He ment enjoying Malaga’s sun. Some of them lived for decades also gave an in-depth explaundisturbed, without their neigh- nation of the amount of aid bours even knowing about their the Spanish government pro- UNREPENTANT: Otto Remer's funeral programme and Aribert Heim vided during his stay. shameful past. allegedly once whispered to him: ly commissioned by Hitler Portero, who has lived in Benal- “If I am alive now and grandfa“If I had a son, I would like him to to carry out Operation Oak, ther of six Spanish children, it’s madena for decades, tells how be like you.” which ended with the rescue because the Spanish people, in he even shared a table with Gerd Spain repeatedly refused his of Benito Mussolini on the Honsik, whom he knew as ‘Don the great moment of cowardice, extradition, protected him by Gran Sasso. have behaved like great, couGerardo’. staging a false escape and even Some of these Nazis even He described him as ‘a gentle- rageous and noble people”, he granted him Spanish nationality became respected figures. man who conversed pleasantly said in an ABC interview in 1945. and name: Jose Leon Ramirez Hans Hoffmann, affectionin Spanish’ without giving a hint Degrelle never missed an opporReina. ately known as Juanito, was tunity to tell people what Hitler that he was one of the ideoMarbella has also been home to honorary consul of Germany some of the most important Na- in Malaga, without anyone zis who fled to Spain. apparently giving importance to Otto Remer, who was in charge the role he played as translator of putting down Operation Valky- for Hitler in meetings of the highrie, the assasination plot against est level. 4 5 6 Across Hitler, was one. He lived peace- Even the publication of the list fully in Marbella until his death of 104 Nazi criminals sheltered in Spain in 1977 by El Pais did 7 Be overcomplimentary in 1997. ‘Doctor Death’ Aribert Heim, who nothing to prevent the propo(4) killed and tortured countless gation of anti-semitic views in 8 Scion (8) patients through grisly ‘experi- Spain by un-reconstructed Nazis. 10 9 Like suits and boots (8) ments’ such as direct injections Gerd Honsik boasted of having of toxic compounds like gasoline printed 80,000 copies of his 10 Transmit (4) into the hearts of his victims was book, which supported the Na11 On a lower storey (5) another to seek a home in Mar- zis, in Barcelona. 13 12 The Stanley ---, an un- bella. Degrelle gave lectures and had Also in the city was Otto Skorzeny, no problem publishing his memusual very early car (7) ‘Scarface’, who was personal- oirs. 15 Straddling (7) By Elena Goçmen Rueda
OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1 7
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16 Military training centres (5) 18 Party enforcer (4) 20 Court statement (8) 21 Least dry (8) 22 Cole Porter's "Anything ---" (4)
OP SUDOKU
Down 1 Incivility (8) 2 Dance director (13) 3 Dunce (5) 4 Puts on (7) 5 Nowadays (4,3,3,3) 6 Showing signs of use (4) 13 Business deductions (8) 14 Taken for one's own (7) 17 Most isolated city in the world? (5) 19 Political hardliner (4)
All solutions are on page 12
LAID BACK: Leon Degrelle enjoying life at his finca La Carlina en Sevilla
Even Erik Norling, a friend of Degrelle’s, estimated that some 15,000 Nazi sympathisers were able to visit him or listen to his rallies during these years.
Rallies
Portero states that ‘to consider that nazism disappeared with the death of Hitler and the defeat of Germany is a simplicity that few can believe at this point in time’. The ‘tenacious’ fight of Friedmann against Degrelle made him write this book, and he decided to finish it by telling another survivor’s story: Nobel Prize winner and Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel. “In his work The Night, Wiesel says that to forget the victims is to kill them a second time,” he concludes.
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BUSINESS
December 1st December 14th 2021
Peace deal
BOSSES of Barcelona’s transport system are looking at ways of running the city’s buses on sewage. They want to turn sewage sludge left over from waste water treatment into biomethane in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EU funding through the Nimbus Project is being used to try and create greener public transport. According to TMB public transport operator, 70% of its fleet ran on diesel fuel in 2010. By 2020 75% of its buses were hybrid or running on less polluting energy. But the 1,100 strong fleet is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels with their associated CO2 emissions, and air pollution problems. The process will work by gathering sewage sludge at water treatment plants and tunning it into fuel. The biogas created is made up of methane and CO2 which is at present stored in large silos to be burned to power the plant. Instead, from March the CO2 will be removed leaving biomethane which can be stored under high pressure to be used as fuel for buses. At the moment just one bus is being tested, but the plan is to have 46 of the methane-fuelled buses in the fleet by 2024. These will complement the rapidly expanding use of electric buses, which should make up half of Barcelona’s fleet by 2030.
METALWORKERS unions have called off a strike that had led to angry protests and violent clashes with police in Cadiz after reaching a pay deal with company bosses. The strike involving some 20,000 workers lasted nine days before a preliminary deal was struck.
Agreement
“I am pleased that companies and metalworkers have reached an agreement,” confirmed Andalucia’s regional leader Juanma Moreno. Strikers had cut off access to industrial zones during nine days of largely peaceful protests which occasionally flared up into violent clashes. At one stage riot police dispersed picket lines formed by burning containers using tear gas and rubber bullets. Unions called the strike amid demands for wage increases to be linked to the consumer-price index as inflation soars with rising power costs.
THE Spanish government has raked in more than €1.5 billion in fines on companies who failed to properly record their employees’ working hours. Since a new law was enacted in 2019, employment inspectors have detected 1,274 infringements. This means each guilty company has been fined an average €1.2 million. So far this year, 401 businesses have been penalised for not noting the correct hours their employees work.
Contracts
They want the rising inflation, recorded at 5% in October, to be reflected in their salaries, while industry leaders were instead offering 2% salary hikes over the next three years. Both sides accused the other of inflexibility during five rounds of abortive talks before finally striking a deal in Sevilla.
However, the terms of the deal have not yet been made public. Cadiz, a coastal city with a population of 116,000, is one of Spain’s poorest, where the main industry is shipbuilding and unemployment is over 23% far above the national average of 15%.
VROOM WITH A VIEW SPAIN will continue to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix race until at least 2026 following a contract renewal with the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit. A condition of the extension is that the picturesque circuit at Montmelo makes improvements to its track and facilities ahead of next year's race on May 22. Barcelona circuit president, Roger Torrent, said: “The renewal will make the circuit a world benchmark for sustainability in a green transformation that meets the demands of the climate emergency.” MotoGP has also renewed its agreement with the circuit until 2026. The sport’s governing body said that a new contract guarantees the Catalan GP race a place on the 2022 calendar and ‘confirms a minimum of two more events to be held between 2023 and 2026’.
Verdict
Quick Crossword
Down: 1 Rudeness, 2 Choreographer, 3 Booby, 4 Affects, 5 This day and age, 6 Worn, 13 Expenses, 14 Adopted, 17 Perth, 19 Hawk.
Telefonica windfall
The Ministry of Finance is studying the National Court verdict before deciding whether it should appeal to the Supreme Court. Though having its roots in Spain, Telefonica is present in 11 other countries including the UK where it operates the O2 brand and provides services to other mobile operators. The company reported a record global profit of €9.3 billion in the first nine months of 2021.
OP Puzzle solutions
Across: 7 Gush, 8 Offshoot, 9 Wearable, 10 Send, 11 Below, 12 Steamer, 15 Astride, 16 Camps, 18 Whip, 20 Pleading, 21 Sweetest, 22 Goes.
The Labour Inspectorate has also ordered 300,000 temporary contracts to be made permanent this year. The government is warning businesses to get their houses in order, saying inspections have increased by 355% over the past two years in a crackdown for employees’ rights. And companies that abused the pandemic ERTE scheme have also been targeted. Some 44,393 cases have been initiated, with 35,190 finalised, resulting in 5,832 penalties.
SPANISH telecoms giant Telefonica could be in line for a €1 billion tax refund thanks to a National Court ruling. Judges have ordered the Ministry of Finance to pay back the sum due to overcharging over a decade ago. The period covers 2009 and 2010 with the court stating that Telefonica paid too much Corporation Tax. The money would be returned in the form of tax credits for the telecoms company.
SUDOKU
POO POWER
Metalworkers call off strike in Cadiz after union reaches pay deal with bosses
Hourly rate
FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL INCREASED numbers of police officers will be patrolling shopping areas across Spain in the run up to Christmas. The Policia Nacional have ramped up their presence in places that attract a large number of people. Besides commercial and leisure areas, officers will be at seasonal markets as well
Bounced out LOW cost carriers Ryanair, Vueling and EasyJet are among the world’s lowest-rated airlines according to figures compiled by luggage storage firm, Bounce. The study however makes no reference to fare prices or what the priorities are for passengers. The Bounce 2021 Airline Index survey combines passenger experience reports for the first six months of this year along with punctuality assessments and luggage allowance limits to produce the rating. Bounce also used reviews for services like in-flight entertainment, seat comfort and meal quality to produce its index with a top score of 10. Ryanair is the fourth-worst, with Spanish carrier Vueling sixth, and EasyJet seventh. VivaAir Columbia was rated the world’s worst.
Santa patrol
as pounding the beat on busy streets in towns and cities. The aim is to cut crime in shops as well as thefts from people doing their shopping. Under the auspices of the ‘Safe Commerce
BRITS visiting Spain now have to be fully vaccinated before they are let in. Spain has changed its entry requirements for UK citizens due to a surge in COVID cases. Up until this week, people with a negative test or who could prove they had already had COVID could also enter.
Border
But this is no longer acceptable, and from now British citizens will have to show their certificate of vaccination. The new regulations were issued in the Official State Gazette (BOE) under measures taken on travellers from non EU and associated Schengen countries.
December 1st December 14th 2021
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Plan’ created in 2013, each province will have a dedicated strategy to cutting crime at a busy time of the year. The boosted visible police presence is once again expected to act as a deterrent for potential offenders. Leaflets will be distributed to traders warning them about some of the tricks .
OVER 250,000 PROPERTIES FROM 2,000+ AGENTS
No vac no entry Brits entering Spain must have vaccination certificate
These regulations will remain in force until Midnight on New Year’s Eve. The news comes after Portugal decided to set up mobile random COVID patrols on its border with Spain. The controls will make sure
Winter wonderland TORREMOLINOS will be getting in the Yuletide spirit with the construction of a Christmas Park, especially for children, in el parque de La Batería. The park will include an ecological ice skating rink, bouncy castles, children’s workshops, theatre plays and a hospitality area. It is expected that the large Christmas Park, with all kinds of children’s attractions, will be installed and functioning as of December 17. Additionally, the Torremolinos Christmas lights will be switched on in the town centre at 8pm on Friday.
people crossing the land border are either vaccinated or have a negative COVID test, with the aim of bringing land crossings into line with airports and ports. But they stop short of full border checks, relying on traffic police and border agencies to ensure regulations are met. Meanwhile, Spain has said it will introduce restrictions on flights from South Africa and Botswana in the wake of a new COVID strain discovered in those countries. The announcement came shortly after the European Commision recommended an EU-wide travel ban to and from southern Africa due to the rapid rise of the B.1.1.529 variant.
www.thinkSPAIN.com
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
December 1st - December 14th 2021
Into the valley A winter’s trip to Arriate guarantees great walks, landscape and food, writes Jon Clarke IT feels like the Land that Time Forgot as you drop deeper and deeper into the hidden gorge above the village of Arriate. Among a rich and diverse canopy of trees and undergrowth lies a secret world of ruined olive mills, cave houses and ancient burial sites. Easily one of Andalucia’s most interesting walks, Arroyo de la Ventilla is reasonably well signposted with plenty of information panels pointing out the rich flora and fauna, as well as the dozens of rare birds that inhabit its wild expanses. Best of all though, unlike its nearby neighbour, the famous Tajo gorge of Ronda, you are unlikely to meet anyone circumnavigating its leafy circular path. Few people know of the Arriate cousin that may
be narrower, but more than makes up for in foliage. Starting at the village cemetery, you have a choice of walking the path either clockwise or anti-clockwise and the entire route takes little more than an hour. This gives you plenty of time to explore the typical white village below, that is the very definition of the Andalucian vernacular, formed at the confluence of two rivers in a wide open plain. Dubbed some years back as the ‘People’s Republic of Arriate’ for its left-wing political leanings, which has seen the IU communist party or PSOE socialists in power since Franco’s death in 1975, it is without a doubt one of the friendliest villages in Andalucia. It is no surprise to learn then, that in the run up to the civil war in 1936, the town’s defence committee was run by anarchists, who with the CNT had the strongest trade union in the area. Arriate is also something of an island being entirely surrounded by the district of Ronda, despite being independent for nearly four centuries. Just eight-and-a-half square kilometers in size, it declared its independence in 1630 when the locals stumped up a sizable 352,739 Maravedies to differentiate themselves from Ronda. Its name came from the Arabic term Arriadh, which means ‘the gardens’... and from HISTORIC: The charming older part of where the former Moorish rulArrate ers of Ronda had mostly got their fruit and vegetables. ous ham factories that This is easy to understand if you follow the Arroyo de are in some cases la Ventilla river down below the village into the socenturies old. called ‘huerta de abajo’ (lower allotments), where it One of these in the merges with the Guadalcobacin River. charming pedestrianised Calle Callejuela has been open as a shop since 1900, Here were once dozens of Roman villas and an area a fact proven by the of irrigated farms and fincas, many that still funcnumber carved into its pretty wrought iron doorway. tion to this day. Another must visit is the ancient Ideal Cinema that has been conThis is part of the GR 249.5 footpath - also known verted into one of the hippest restaurants to open this year. as the Gran Senda de Malaga - which takes hikers The brainchild of brothers Roberto and Monolo Rivera, they have on a wonderful two hour walk up to Ronda, off the undertaken a wonderful conversion of the 1940s film house. beaten track. The colourful open-plan restaurant is a real gem with all its cine Some 9kms in length, it winds through the Arriate memorabilia scattered around the place and on the walls. valley before criss-crossing the wonderful wideThe restaurant is still in its fledgling stages with chef Ivan Tiraopen Llano de la Cruz valley below Ronda. do, who trained at nearby two Michelin-star restaurant Bardal, in But before heading off make sure to stop and visit Ronda. the local church and, in particular, one of the variAnd there are more good places to eat in Arriate, including the new
Roman
GOURMET TOUR: Enjoying Michelin-quality cuisine at Caireles
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
December 1st - December 14th 2021
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ON TWO WHEELS Discovering Arriate and the Serrania de Ronda by bike has never been easier
ROLLING: The hills around Ronda make for perfect cycling terrain
O
UR free time has become even We will help you discover the hidden gems more precious as we seek to take of this inland region that are so frequently time out, escape the crowds, soak overlooked. up the sun and see the sights. Many of our clients ask us ‘How can a cyBut the highlight for many is getting off the cling destination that we have never heard of be so good?’ beaten track and getting to know the locals. The best way to discover Ronda and the su- Well, it really is and that is thanks to the unirrounding Pueblos Blancos (White Villages), que landscapes, great food and wines, cullike Arriate and Zahara de la Sierra, is by ture, history, and flamenco. bike, going slowly, enjoying the landscape There is so much on offer around Ronda, unfold and stopping frequently to take meals which has an all year-round warm climate perfect for cycling, some of and liquids onboard. Europe’s very best surfaced Andalucia has a reputation for roads, which are also almost having more than 300 days of A Spain largely traffic free, plus a variety of sunshine per year and is a popular holiday destination with unchanged and cycling options for all abilities. thousands upon thousands of In addition, there are good unscarred from airport links and, of course, tourists flocking to the Spanish Costas for their annual holiday excellent local wines and tathe coastal pas. So, if you are fed up of or indeed as a place to live, mass tourism riding in heavy traffic, tired of work or retire. riding on busy overcrowded But if you travel just a few kilometres inland, you go metaroads, then the Serrania de phorically a million miles from the crowded Ronda may well be your answer. Spanish Costas and discover a Spain largely Whether you are already here as an expat, unchanged and unscarred from the mass are on holiday and want to join one of our tourism you find along the coast. guided rides, or just want to hire a bike get Exploring and experiencing traditional in touch. Spain need not be difficult with our exten- We can offer a full holiday package inclusive knowledge of the Serrania de Ronda, ding accommodation, bike hire and guided Grazalema Natural Park and Sierra de la rides that we believe offer the most memorable cycling experiences the region has to Nieves. offer. No matter what level of cyclist you are, we will tailor your cycling to your requirements. Silky smooth, quiet, asphalt roads, along with stunning scenery, friendly guides, great bikes, well planned routes, white villages and year-round sunshine… This is the perfect recipe for a truly unforgettable cycling experience.
Malacana, which sits just below the church. This is an old converted storeroom and has a heavy focus on tapas. Just on the outside of the village look out for the well established El Muelle, run by Dutchman Frank, who has a great eye for detail and changes his menu regularly. A great place to stay is the wonderful farm Casa Maia, just outside the village. Alternatively, stay at the wonderful Hotel Arriadh, which has some of the best views in Christendom. It’s Dutch owners, Wilbert and John have a great idea for detail and know the valley and village inside out.
Ronda is also our home, our love, our passion. Let us show you why.
Visit www.andaluciancyclingexperience.com Telephone 0034 677 028 469 Email ashley@andaluciancyclingexperience.com
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FINAL WORDS
KFC has taken the internet by storm after casting Messi double Brazilian Alexandro Pereira to be the face of a campaign for new product ‘La Chingona’, with many believing it is the real Barcelona star.
New leaf REFORMED Spanish thieves have used the Reddit social media platform to give tips on how not to get robbed this Christmas: number one being keeping the spare house keys near the front door.
Waffly naughty Oh nativity rats!
GIBRALTAR
Vol. 6 Issue 162
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December 1st - December 14th 2021
DOG’S BEST FRIEND
Local hero catches pooch that fell from fourth floor balcony A DOG that plunged from a fourth-floor balcony was saved by a passerby who caught the terrified pooch. Now the 26-year-old Alicante man has been branded a hero and promised a gong by the city council. The drama unfolded when police were called after hearing a dog was precariously perched on a balcony. The animal had half of its body
Pricy cafe JOURNALIST Paz Alvarez shared on Twitter her bill for a coffee, a pincho de tortilla and a caña for €14.10 at Madrid bar La Primera. Despite not asking for bread, they charged her on the grounds that ‘bread is compulsory’.
By Alex Trelinski
under the terrace railing and was in serious danger of falling to the ground. As police rushed to the scene, the dog fell into the street, but straight into the arms of the passerby. Onlookers burst into a spontaneous round of applause and congratulated the hero.
SPAIN’S Black Rat population is booming - and the coronavirus lockdown is being blamed. So far this year in Madrid alone 35 outbreaks have been dealt with, almost three times the number that were recorded in 2019. Serious outbreaks have also been detected in Valladolid, Valencia and Barcelona. The lockdown is seen as a likely explanation of the relatively shy rat - which can harbour disease - moving further into urban centres seeking out food while the streets emptied
AN erotic waffle store in Sevilla called ‘La Vergeria’ has been denounced after setting up a nativity scene with male and female reproductive organs as characters. This innovative christmas crib uses waffles in the shape of male sexual organs to represent Joseph and Jesus, and a waffle in the shape of a female sexual organ to represent Mary. The far-right Vox party, the complainant, says that ‘not everything goes in the field of advertising and marketing’.
Complaint
The Dalmatian-Staffordshire Terrier mix suffered just a small scratch on one leg and
OH RATS!
during the early weeks of the pandemic. Unlike the Brown Rat, which moves across the city through the sewer system, black rats move overground and tend to live in parks or abandoned plots. The rodents often live in trees in nests like birds.
was taken into care by the fire department’s canine unit. The unnamed rescuer was less fortunate and was taken to hospital with a fractured wrist and two broken fingers. Alicante’s Security Councillor, Jose Ramon Gonzalez, said: “We plan to recognise the rescuer who proved to be a great citizen not by just rescuing the dog, but doing something that put his life at risk resulting in injuries.”
Its spokesperson in Sevilla, Cristina Pelaez, filed the complaint as a crime against religious feelings. “We have reached a point where many entrepreneurs with less scruples than imagination seek notoriety for their products, by offending, the Catholic religion. “We are facing a turn of the screw against Catholicism that we are not prepared to tolerate. “We are not going to allow a company to offend the majority of Sevilla’s citizens by displaying in its shop windows an obscene montage of the birth of the Son of God”, she said. See Cross to bear, P6
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