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SPAIN’S BEST 35 WINES
BOTTOMS UP: The Olive Press chooses...
OLIVE PRESS
The
GIBRALTAR
FREE Vol. 8 Issue 210
NOLOTIL WARNING
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November 1st - November 14th 2023
A RIGHT ROYAL KNEES-UP IN STORE AS PRINCESS ROYAL PLANS TO VISIT
EXCLUSIVE By Yzabelle Bostyn
NORTHERN Europeans in Gibraltar are being warned about a lethal painkiller that is STILL being sold at pharmacies five years after it was banned. It comes after an Irish reader contacted us to sound the alarm after he was given the potentially deadly drug while receiving treatment at HCB Hospital in Denia, Alicante. Nolotil, also known as Metamizol, is the most common painkiller in Spain and is often marketed as an alternative to Ibuprofen or Paracetmol. But the drug has been linked to several deaths and serious illnesses among expats and tourists visiting Spain. A GBC investigation in 2018 revealed it was also on sale in Gibraltar, despite being illegal on the Rock. It led to a police and customs crackdown which effectively removed it from the market. Though usually harmless, Nolotil can affect Northern Europeans with fair complexions and is banned in the UK, Ireland and Sweden. In October 2018, the drug was banned for sale without a prescription to British people visiting Spain following a months’ long campaign by this newspaper and tireless medical campaigner Cristina Garcia del Campo. Recommendations were also issued advising medical staff to avoid giving the drug to patients in urgent care and to carry out follow up blood tests if the drug is given for seven days or more. Continues on page 2
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PAST GLORIES: Royal visits to Gib include Prince Edward and Sophie, HM the Queen (above) and a young Charles and Anne (right)
Literary Princess
Royal visit on the cards with a warm welcome assured - but not from Spain PRINCESS Anne is visiting Gibraltar to attend the annual literary festival, it has been announced. The popular British royal, 73, will arrive on the Rock with her husband, the Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. The sister of King Charles will visit on November 17 and 18, as the honorary president of the International Literary Festival. The arrival of the Princess Royal is likely to raise eyebrows in Spain, which is not a fan of such visits from the British monarchy. Diplomats are said to view them as a direct challenge to the country's historical claims of sovereignty of the 'El Peñon' - the Spanish term used to describe Gibraltar. Princess Anne previously visited Gibraltar to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the British takeover of Gibraltar.
By John Culatto
She returned in 2009 to inaugurate a military clinic named after her and spoke of the ‘real sense of community, which is everywhere’ in Gibraltar. Like all Royal visits, she will receive a warm welcome from a Gibraltarian public that yearns for King Charles III to set foot once again on the Rock. The last royal visit was Prince Edward and his wife Princess Sophie in June 2022. The royal couple's visit marked the 70th anniversary of the late Queen Elizabeth II's ascension to the throne. A reigning UK monarch has not visited since Queen Elizabeth II arrived with Prince Philip in 1954. The pair brought their two oldest children at the time, King
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Charles and Anne, then four and three years old. The Duke of York visited Gibraltar in 1993, and two years later in 1995, while the former queen’s husband the Duke of Edinburgh presented his famous awards in 1996. In 2001 it was the turn of Prince Edward to set foot on Gibraltar as part of the 60th anniversary of his mother. Princess Anne visited Gibraltar in 2004 and 2009 when she
spoke of the ‘real sense of community, which is everywhere’ and like all Royal visits will receive a warm welcome. The visit could, however, anger neighbouring Spain, that has made a territorial claim on Gibraltar at the United Nations. When Queen Elizabeth II visited Gibraltar in 1954, it provoked a diplomatic protest from the Rock’s neighbour. Nearly every time a Royal visits Gibraltar Spain has reacted angrily.
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CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF Woman power SUPREME court judge Karen Ramagge Prescott could become the first woman Speaker of Parliament after Melvyn Farrell said he wanted to retire from the post.
Learning glee FORMER teacher turned minister, Pat Orfila, said she was ‘extremely excited’ to take on the challenge of helping Gibraltar University ‘grow and expand’ in a recent visit.
Rock runners RUNNERS took to Gibraltar’s Upper Rock at the start of the Eurafrica Trail endurance race which later continued in parts of Spain and Morocco.
Traffic ideas MINISTER for Transport John Cortes asked the public to ‘share their views and ideas’ with the government as he examines what it will look like in the future.
November 1st - November 14th 2023
Daylight shootout STILL GIVEN From front page
MARBELLA has been rocked yet again - by a dramatic shooting in broad daylight. At least three people were injured after multiple shots were fired in the upmarket resort of Guadalmina Alta at the weekend. Expats and locals had just begun sitting down for lunch on Saturday when they heard guns being fired, forcing dozens to run for cover. According to witnesses, three masked men were seen firing bullets with one man shot in the leg, pelvis and arm, while another was shot in the hand. Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment without life-threatening injuries. Another was able to flee the
Gangland assassination attempt rocks popular Marbella hotspot in broad daylight EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
scene in a Land Rover, but questions remain over what caused the assassination attempt, where ex-Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, football manager Vicente del Bosque and Belgian star Eden Hazard have homes. The Olive Press was quickly on the scene to picture at least one unrelated car sprayed with bullets after being caught in the crossfire. One local shopkeeper claimed
it was related to a dispute between a ‘brothel owner’ and the mafia, but refused to comment further over fears of reprisals. Other sources claimed it was a row between rival Dutch and Belgian drug cartels. “We had just ordered a beer and suddenly heard these really loud bangs and screaming,” one British expat who was dining in the nearby Rincon de la Victoria told the Olive Press. “We were just metres away, it’s lucky no one innocent was killed. “We all know the crime that operates on the coast but to try
Smuggler chase
Cop teen sex arrest
CUSTOMS officers in Gibraltar seized 550 cartons of cigarettes after chasing a 4×4 racing to the coast while out on patrol. The law enforcement branch followed the speeding vehicle and just managed to catch sight of a number of smugglers jumping onto a boat that was waiting for them on the shoreline. A Customs launch also took to the water but was unable to stop them going back into Spanish waters. But the group had left the boot door wide open of the car they were riding in, showing some of the 110,000 cigarettes they left behind. Customs officers also found more tobacco on the rocks that contributed to the haul.
A POLICE officer from the Royal Gibraltar Police has been arrested for having sexual communication with a minor under 16-years-old. Spanish National Police and UK law enforcement took part in the investigation that led to the arrest of the 42-year-old. According to the Crimes Act, the offense of ‘sexual communication with a minor under 16 years of age’ is the intentional communication of an adult with a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. The unnamed police officer is now on bail until February 2024. It followed last August’s unrelated arrest of a Spanish man accused of 10 charges of rape and sexual activity with a minor.
History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.
and carry out a hit in the middle of a Saturday with kids around is just disgraceful, we hope it’s not a sign of things to come.” Smeared blood could be seen on various cars and on the nearby pavements. One waitress told the Olive Press: “It was crazy, like something from a movie. “I saw one guy earlier in the morning walking around the shops looking very nervous and chain smoking, it looked like he was searching for someone.” Three suspected gang members were arrested at a petrol station in nearby Benahavis, having apparently fled in a car. An Olive Press reporter saw one of them with his arm in a makeshift sling talking excitedly into a mobile phone, with a squad of National Police and Guardia Civil watching on. Yet so far, no official details of the crime have been released. “We cannot confirm anything as the investigation is ongoing,” said a spokesman.
The directive note, issued by the Spanish Medicine Agency (AEMPS), recommended staff monitor patients given the drug to check for potentially deadly side effects like low white blood cell count and sepsis. However Cristina, founder of the Affected by Pharmaceuticals Association, says the guidelines are ‘not strong enough’. “It's worrying because this is something that can kill you, it has killed so many people,” she told the Olive Press this week. Now, Cristina is launching a lawsuit against the Ministry of Health after she claims doctors are still not following the guidelines and patients are being given the drug ‘against their will’. A spokesperson for the hospital told the Olive Press: “HCB Hospitals follows the recommendations of the AEMPS, and particularly those for the foreign population, we are very aware of the recommendation not to prescribe Nolotil to foreign patients.” However, she pointed out they are ‘able to prescribe’ the drug for expat outpatients if they are carefully monitored. When asked why the Irish patient in question ‘hadn’t been monitored due to returning to his home country’, she insisted she was unable to due to confidentiality reasons.
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November 1st - November 14th 2023
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ROYAL ASCENT SPAIN’S future queen, Princess Leonor, celebrates her 18th birthday today (Tuesday) and her family has released a portfolio of hitherto unpublished photographs to mark the occasion. The teenager is seen celebrating Spain’s Euros soccer victory in 2012, awaiting the birth of her sister Sofia as well as photos taken before her graduation at Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan this year. Leonor has been making solo appearances and training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to ensure she’s ready for the throne.
HAPPY FAMILY: Snaps from the album She’s also seen giving public speeches like at the recent Princess of Asturias awards, which she has addressed since She was 13-years-old. The Royal Mint has also created a limited edition €40 coin to mark her birthday.
Old age wonder Genes of completely healthy 116-year-old Spanish woman to be studied
Maria’s tips to a long life
al yocredited eating natur Maria has previouslyher longevity, and avoiding ghurt each day for “I have always eaten little, ‘excesses’, adding: I have never followed any rebut everything, and red from any illness or been gime. I have not suffe g room.” through an operatincret to a long life, she tweetse r th famAsked about he , good connection wi ed: “Order, tranquility ct with nature, emotional ay from ily and friends, conta ivity and keeping aw stability, lots of posit ves it is toxic people.” d that she also belie However she admitte ck’. down to genes and ‘lu
SCIENTISTS in Spain have taken samples from the oldest woman in the world in a bid to discover her secrets to a long life - and to develop cures for diseases. Maria Branyas is an incredible 116 years old, but has no health complications other than hearing and mobility issues. The ‘Super Grandmother’, who regularly updates her followers on X (Twitter), beat Covid in 2020 and has survived the Spanish Civil War, a deadly earthquake in the US and a major fire. She previously advised anyone hoping to live a long life to cut out ‘toxic people’ and avoid ‘excess’. Unlike most people her age, she has zero cardiovascular problems nor memory issues, and can recount stories from the age of four as if they happened yesterday. ‘She’s incredible,’ said Manel Esteller, director of the Josep Carreras leukaemia research institute and a professor of genetics at the University of Barcelona. Manel has taken DNA samples (saliva, urine and blood) from Maria, whom he visited at her care home in Olot, Gerona, in northern Spain.
By Laurence Dollimore
Manel, a world leader in genetics, wants to discover how far Maria’s genes go in explaining her longevity, and how much is to do with her lifestyle. Maria, the daughter of a journalist from Pamplona, was born in San Francisco (United States) on March 4, 1907, but returned to Spain as a child.
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Dame good looking! DAME Maggie Smith has sprinkled a little magic on Spanish design house Loewe. The 88-year-old British actress - who famously played Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise - is starring in the luxury brand’s latest advertising campaign. She looks spellbinding in the photos taken by celebrity German fashion photographer Juerguen Teller, and many of her fans are enchanted by the result. There has been a tremendous response on social media, with fellow Downton Abbey star Lily James saying ‘wow wow wow wow’, and Outlander actress Catriona Balfe sharing three love hearts. It might have taken 70 years, but being the face of Loewe’s Spring-Summer collection is the perfect riposte to her mother, who once famously told her ‘you will never be an actress with a face like that’ when Maggie was still a teenager. In her long career Dame Maggie has won two Oscars - as Best Actress in The Prime of Miss Brodie and as Best Supporting Actress in California Suite. She also has a Tony, five Baftas, three Golden Globes, and four Emmys.
Sir name-a-lot
A SPANISH aristocrat has been ordered to shorten the name of his newborn daughter after he tried to register her with a name that comprised 11 different words. Fernando Fitz-James Stuart, the 17th Duke of Huescar and heir apparent to the dukedom of Alba, found his daughter’s name fell foul of the Civil Registry. The 33-year-old and his wife, Sofía Palazuelo, recently christened their second child ‘Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela del Santísimo Sacramento del Perpetuo Socorro de la Santísima Trinidad y de Todos Los Santos’. This name needs to be shortened to either a compound name (hyphenated name) or two separate names to comply with regulations.
NEWS
4 www.theolivepress.es Vox Rock strife THE regional government of Andalucia has taken down a webpage showing a map that marked out Gibraltar’s territorial waters after Vox complained. The far-right political party raged in September that the Andalucian ministry of agricultural, fisheries, waters and rural development showed Gibraltar waters as they are recognised by the UK but not by Spain. The Junta has now taken down the webpage, claiming it was only ‘aligning with the Spanish Government position’ on Gibraltar waters. Spain’s government claims that Gibraltar’s waters are limited to those inside its port as set out in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
MAY DAY
Flying ordeal
Former UK PM to visit Gib’s literature festival alongside Mary Berry and Mary Peters
FORMER UK Prime Minister Theresa May will headline the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival with a speech on November 18. Lady May will open up about her highly anticipated book ‘The Abuse of Power’ which confronts the issues that damaged the reputation of the government and its ministers. As Prime Minister from 2016 to 2019 and Home Secretary for six years, she tells the story of the Grenfell Tragedy, the Daniel Morgan case and parliamentary scandals in her book. May’s book argues for ‘a radical rethink in how we approach our politics and public life,’ the government said in a statement. Chief Minister of Gibraltar
By John Culatto
Fabian Picardo said he was ‘delighted’ to bring May to Gibraltar for the international aspect of the festival that will run from November 17-19. “Lady May is a great friend of Gibraltar who worked very closely with us during her time as both Home Secretary and Prime Minister,” he added. The festival will feature some top names from the British literature scene on the weekend after local authors hold public
Feel the beat BONEY M will play for FREE in Gibraltar exactly one month before Christmas Day with founding band member Maizie Williams. The hit 70s disco band will be part of the Rock’s Christmas Wonderland festival complete with live music and dancing to mark the switching on of the festive lights down Main Street on November 24-25. Maizie Williams, who will sing at Casemates on November 25, was one of the original members of the band put together by German singer-songwriter Frank Farian. Boney M topped the European charts with the hit singles like ‘Rivers of Babylon’,
November 1st - November 14th 2023
‘Rasputin’ and ‘Painter Man’. The West German disco band sold 100 million records worldwide in a star-studded run that started in 1975 and ended a decade later.
and school talks and workshops during the week. The annual event has been running for nearly a decade, attracting some of the UK’s top writers to the Rock and a healthy following of tourists too. This year will be no different especially after the COVID-19 pandemic officially ended earlier this year. Cookbook writer and BBC Bake off judge Mary Berry, Ukrainian child writer Yeva Skalietska, dementia campaigner Wendy Mitchell and former Olympian Mary Peters all recently signed up to give speeches. And now four more writers have been given the nod to take part at the festival set in historical locations around the British territory. The first is Dame Andrea Leadsom, who famously put her name forward to be Prime Minister after David Cameron resigned and is now the government’s advisor for early years will talk
FEATURED: May and Berry about her book ‘Snakes and Ladders’. There will also be Matthew Dennison, who wrote the international bestseller, ‘The Queen’ and regularly appears on TV to talk about the Royals. Another Oxford graduate, current Labour Shadow Minister without a Portfolio Thomas Symonds will speak iabout his book ‘Atlee: A Life in Politics’. It is his third biography of Labour politicians after Aneurin Bevan and Harold Wilson, published in 2014 and 2022 respectively. Finally, Richard Garcia will be talking about the first local man to become Catholic bishop in Gibraltar, Edward Rapallo. The prolific author has written biographies of top local men like John Mackintosh and Kishin Alwani and made TV shows about local history.
BRITISH Airways cancelled a UK-bound flight as passengers climbed the plane’s steps after a seven hour ordeal when they were forced to bus it to Malaga from Gibraltar. The Heathrow-bound flight was due to leave Gibraltar at midday on Monday but heavy rain forced the pilot to divert to Malaga airport on its way from London. BA put on a bus for passengers to get to the busy airport but after they went through security and climbed the plane’s steps they got a nasty shock. The UK flagship airline realised that the pilot had been active for too long, forcing BA to cancel the flight altogether, GBC reported.
Insure yourself GIBRALTAR plans to launch a government-owned insurance company that will provide for liability cover at a more affordable price than ever before. Financial Services Minister Nigel Feetham revealed the initiative at a London event. His speech set the stage for thought-provoking discussions at the Insurance Breakfast in London’s One America Square.
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NEWS
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Making strides GIBRALTAR could be removed from the Tax Haven Grey List in February 2024 after being inspected by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The long-awaited news comes after Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry Nigel Feetham gave a speech to the global body in Paris on what the Rock had done to fight money laundering locally. FATF President Raja Kumar confirmed Gibraltar’s government and enforcement had carried out its action plan and done enough to warrant being whitelisted. It marks a successful end to a week in which Minister Feetham engaged top financiers in London for Gibraltar Day. He said Gibraltar would be ‘delighted by the news’ of this ‘highly positive outcome’. “I wish to thank all of those authorities who have worked tirelessly in this process and continue to support us in our work to address these action points and remove Gibraltar from the grey list at the earliest possible opportunity,” Feetham said.
Teen cracker TEENAGERS from Gibraltar are taking part in a UK-wide team competition to solve coding problems and encourage the next generation of computer scientists. Five local teams made up of 16 students from Bayside, Westside and Prior Park are taking part in the first round of Cyber Centurion X. The event aims to ‘excite, educate and motivate children towards careers in STEM subjects’ – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics – and cybersecurity. It allows students to gain practical learning about cyber skills in the real world and make them take interest in tech-related subjects. The competition puts students on two Linux operating systems. It asks them to configure and secure them as quickly as possible using skills they have learnt during weekly training sessions in Gibraltar. They will take part in the first rounds of the competition online before the grand final in the UK. It is designed for 12 to 18-year-olds in the UK and its overseas territories. The Cyber Centurion challenge hopes to create ‘a diverse talent pool to supply the UK’s workforce needs’, the government said in a statement.
Step closer to being removed from tax haven grey list By John Culatto
The government has passed legislation to clamp down on risks of both money laundering and terror financing. The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority and the police’s own financial crimes unit has stepped up prosecuting criminal activity on the Rock.
“We now look forward to welcoming the inspectors for the onsite visit in the coming months and the subsequent confirmation by FATF of Gibraltar’s removal from the grey list in February 2024,” added Feetham. “We have totally committed to this process, and look forward to continuing to engage with the FATF as we further develop our strategies in our fight against economic crime.”
November 1st - November 14th 2023
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OTTER KILLED A DEAD otter was found close to the Small Boats Marina in Gibraltar is believed to have been killed by a passing vehicle. A vet who conducted a postmortem on the European Otter found that it had a fractured leg and internal bleeding leading to the theory it was hit by a car. Otters are normally found in the nearby rivers of Palmones, Guadarranque and Guadiaro, but in recent years have been spotted in Gibraltar’s Mid-Harbour area. Environmental officers said this otter was less than a year old and could have been making use of the freshwater pools at Commonwealth Park. Minister John Cortes said the otter death was ‘very sad’ and asked drivers to ‘please be vigilant of wildlife’.
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Decolonise us! DEPUTY Chief Minister Joseph Garcia has called for Gibraltar’s ‘decolonisation’ at the United Nations’ Fourth Committee in New York. “Exactly 60 years ago, Gibraltar’s elected representatives first addressed the United Nations and sought the recognition of Gibraltar’s right to self-determination,” he said. “Regrettably, the progress toward decolonisation, as envisioned by the United Nations, has been far from satisfactory.” He relayed how the government he represents felt it ‘important’ to make the trip to New York to ‘highlight the inaction’ of the Fourth Committee to heed Gibraltar’s self-determination. “Gibraltar, in our view, must now be decolonised and I call on the UN to map out a path for the decolonisation of Gibraltar once and for all,” he concluded. “It cannot be from an existing colonial power to a new one,” he added.
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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 Going back or forward CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo said in a recent TV interview he was sad that after all the effort he had put in over the last term the latest election was so close. But that is the nature of democracy. Detractors to a party political grouping’s policy grow over time and make their feelings shown in elections. Picardo has now been in office for 12 years and a lot has happened in the last four years. The pandemic and Brexit fallout have been especially hard for Gibraltarians, stuck between a literal Rock and a hard place. Spain and the EU stand in the way of the free movement Gibraltar has enjoyed since the frontier opened fully in 1985. Those happenings and the lack of an EU treaty bring fear and agitation to a population hardened by the nearly 400 Spanish naval incursions so far this year. Put that together with constant harassment by Spain’s central and regional government at many levels for decades and it is possible to see why the Rock wanted change. The Rock’s leader announced that one of the main gripes of electors – the secrecy of companies – would be resolved in April. All of their accounts would be published at that date, even after party founder Sir Joe Bossano refused to do the same during the campaign. This and the constituencies that will give different inhabitants someone specific to whom they can direct their grievances, could be a game changer for the GSLP/Liberals. Changes could also be rung on the losing side of the October 12 election. Deputy leader of the GSD Opposition Damon Bossino is challenging Keith Azopardi with a more conservative vision for the party. But the man who led his party to within a whisker of government at No. 6 Convent Place said a change of leadership would be going back rather than moving forwards. PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es
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Fighting for the young In the past eight years, Spain has seen a 25% rise in breast cancer with one in 10 cases among the under 40s, writes Yzabelle Bostyn
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AST year, an estimated 35,750 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Spain, a shocking 7,000 more than in 2015. This rise is partly due to the growing numbers of younger women diagnosed with the disease. This year, an estimated 4,132 people under 44 are expected to have been diagnosed with breast cancer here, a 9% increase compared to 2021. It’s an alarming rise, but what is being done about it? “It’s a fact that breast cancer is increasing in younger women,” oncologist Dr Javier Salvador at Sevilla’s Hospital Virgen del Rocio told the Olive Press. “The general occurrence of cancer is rising and it is fundamentally associated with unhealthy habits. Breast cancer is no exception”. In the past 30 years, cancer incidence in the under 50s has risen by an incredible 79% according to a Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, and it's no coincidence that during this time our lifestyles have changed dramatically. Alcohol is believed to have been a major factor in 18% (2,100) of Spain’s breast cancer cases in 2020. And on a European level, 4,600 breast cancer diagnoses were linked to drinking just one glass of wine a day, according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM). “Cancer is fundamentally caused by changes in lifestyle choices,” explained Dr Ana Casa, founder of charity Actitud Frente al Cancer,
FRONTLINE: Dr Javier Salvador is at the forefront of cancer research in Spain who herself has had breast cancer. “Changes to diet, obesity, how we raise children, how much alcohol and tobacco we consume all make a difference,” she added. Leading a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, exercise and limited tobacco and alcohol intake, is therefore key to reducing the risk. Dr Casas also highlights that while unhealthy habits are influencing the disease, rates are also rising due to better detection via increased screening campaigns and improved awareness. In Andalucia, for example, the Junta has widened its ‘Early Detection Screening Programme’, from 50 to 69-years-old to 47 to 71-years-old. The new measures give access to screenings every two years and have already had a significant impact in the region. In just the nine months up to October this year, 387,906 women have been checked, which is a third more (34%) than in the whole of 2018,
when 289,552 people were screened. As a result, 881 women have been diagnosed. In Valencia, the Breast Cancer Prevention Programme screens 800,000 women aged between 45 and 69 every two years. The programme has been judged a success by the health authority - and since the programme started in 1992, almost five million mammograms have been undertaken. Last year, a total of 329,367 women were screened in the region and 1,420 cases of breast cancer were detected, the vast majority in an early stage. This early detection is vital, according to Dr Casas: “If we detect the cancer earlier, there is a much higher chance of survival,” she explained to the Olive Press. But for women who have experienced the aggressive disease first hand, 47 is simply not young enough to start screening. Expat Lisa Burgess was just 55 when doctors discovered she had 15 tumours in her
MAFIA EXPOSED After the Olive Press exposed how a key Russian Oligarch still owns a luxury villa in Marbella, Alex Trelinski and Laurence Dollimore explain how illegal Russian cash was laundered into shady property deals and used to buy influence on the Costa Blanca
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T’S long been rumoured the Russian mafia has been wielding its influence along most of the Spanish costas. Now, a long-awaited trial is set to lift the lid on just a few of its alleged clandestine operations. Some three years after they were arrested, a judge in Benidorm has set a trial date for five members of a suspected Russian money laundering gang - including a well-connected lawyer. They are accused of using dirty Russian cash to buy millions of euros worth of property while pressuring politicians to act on their behalf even including apparently trivial matters such as introducing speed bumps around luxury urbanisations. It comes after 40 people were investigated by the Policia Nacional in December 2020 in what the force branded the ‘biggest operation against eastern European mafia’ for a decade. As the Olive Press reported at the time, Operation Testudo focused on the Marina Baixa area of Alicante province with arrests in the exclusive upmarket areas of Altea and Finestrat, as well as in Alicante City. In a Spanish-wide dragnet, gang members were also detained in Ibiza, Madrid, Andalucia and Valencia in a joint operation with Europol. The investigation started in 2013 and culminated in 18 raids on December 14, 2020. Russian businessmen were among those arrested and included a solicitor - Alexey Shorikov (left) - who runs an Altea estate agency and was de-
scribed by the judge as a ‘lobbyist’ for the conservative Partido Popular. In alarming claims, the judge accused him of creating a network of contacts with councillors and public officials as well as the police. On one occasion, a Policia Nacional inspector was handed an envelope stuffed with cash to speed-along immigration proceedings, while it is alleged the chief of Altea’s Policia Local was ‘persuaded’ to install speed bumps on an urbanisation where one of Shorikov’s clients lived. “The influence of Alexey on Altea town hall was noteworthy,” the judge said. “Intercepted telephone conversations revealed that Alexey, in appreciation for favours done for him, gave gifts and rewards via his businesses and clients.” The well-connected legal eagle is also accused of laundering his own money and that of clients by making bank transfers that were difficult for authorities to trace. According to court documents, Shorikov is also alleged to have funnelled laundered cash into an Ibiza warehouse and restaurant owned by Russian businessmen linked to organised crime. They are known only as Maxim K and Nikolay M, and they have also been charged. But conveniently, most of the suspects, including several politicians, were let off the hook following a series of shocking judicial errors. Charges were dismissed against 18 people after the authorities forgot to ask the courts for a time extension for their trial dates. And after the initial arrests and investigations in December 2020, PP councillors in Altea and Benidorm had charges against them suddenly dropped due to a lack of evidence.
November 1st - November 14th 2023
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WORTH PAYING FOR
W
E at the Olive Press are always keen to talk to our readers to get constructive comments and feedback. After all, without readers – whether for our printed papers or our website and online platforms – there is little point to our job. But one question we continually get online when faced with our paywall introduced in 2020 is ‘What do I get for my money?’ ‘Why should I pay? And ‘What am I paying for?’
Group Coordinator of the Andalucia Society of Medical Oncology, says there is no need to further drop it. He told the Olive Press: “There isn’t any solid data saying that it would be beneficial to do screening on women under 40. “Of course in some circumstances it would be sensible, if say, there is cancer in the family or if the woman has some sort of predetermined factors. But in general, I don’t think it's necessary to start earlier than 47.” In time, research will make this decision with hundreds of studies being carried out around Spain at present. The research gives patients more chances ‘to be attended to by oncology services’, ultimately giving them more opportunities for treatment and a better chance of survival. At Hospital Virgen del Rocio, in Sevilla, current research is focussing on identifying cancer biomarkers for more effective treatment. Biomarkers are genes, proteins or other substances which can provide information about the type of cancer a patient has. MAFIA HIDEOUT: Altea in Alicante Each persons’ biomarkers are unique and allow doctors to identify how effective treatments will be for the patient. The process means that patients can avoid unnecessary toxic, invasive and painful treatments. Alongside cancer screenings, the treatment will make treatment shorter, less traumatic and ultimately more successful for patients. Identifying the most appropriate treatments is also key to preventing the recurrence of the disease. But five are still facing charges, with the court claiming the Money Both Andalucia and Laundering Division of the Policia Nacional detected suspicious monValencia are heavily ey transfers between Russia and Spain via ‘shell’ companies. involved in Natalee, The funds were transferred to real estate and leisure businesses on an international study the Costa Blanca and the Balearic Islands, which the judge said came focussing on combinfrom ‘Russian businessmen linked to ex-Soviet organised crime’. ing treatments to preSuspicious purchases include a €600,000 home in Altea Hills, where vent breast cancer Shorikov acted as an ‘interpreter’ and a €484,000 La Nucia property. recurrence. A lump sum of €440,000 was also transferred from Russia and SwitThe treatment comzerland to buy land in Altea so that it could be turned into a campsite. bines the drug riboA Ukrainian hacker in Alicante’s San Juan beach area known only as ciclib with endocrine Denis K was also arrested in 2018 for being the alleged mastermind therapy to stop the of a gang of cyber thieves that stole over a billion US dollars from cell cycle, preventing banks around the world. cancer growth. Denis K is said to have worked for the two alleged Russian gang Some 190 Andalumembers, Maxim K and Nikolay M, who gained access to a bitcoin cian and 88 Valenwallet worth €55 million which was allegedly laundered by Shorikov cian patients are for their Ibiza purchases. involved in the interBut whle the net is drawing close around mafia activities, the Russian national study, which oligarchs seem to be getting away with massive money laundering in has already reduced Spain. Last edition the Olive Press revealed that Alexey Chepa, an MP the risk of breast in Moscow’s State Duma, is still in possession of a huge €15m estate cancer recurrence by in Marbella through a shell company owned by his son, despite sanc25%. tions. There is still a huge amount of work to be done by the police. Thanks to ongoing research projects like
The answer is simple: What you get is journalism… paying for people who excel at storytelling and uncovering information. Paying for journalists to do the work they love and the job they were trained to do.
breasts. The British-Irish journalist, based in Mijas, underwent four gruelling operations and has since become a pillar of support for other expats suffering from the disease. “I know from experience of the healthcare system that a lot of women are contracting cancer in their 30s,” she explained. “It’s getting really serious and the authorities need to start focusing on prevention, on detecting it earlier and at a younger age. “If it had been detected even in my 30s, it would have been much easier, possibly just radiotherapy. Not a mastectomy.” Research shows that young women diagnosed with breast cancer often have more advanced and aggressive forms of the disease, as a lack of screening allows the tumour to grow undetected. However, not everyone agrees on lowering the screening age. Fernando Henao, Breast Cancer Working
Being behind a paywall frees us from the tyranny of hated ‘clickbait journalism’. With the knowledge that money is coming in, we do not have to chain our reporters to their desks to continually chase page views. Thanks to those people who have signed up for just €1.50 per week (often less), we can afford to free our journalists to do what they do best – get out and about, meet people and report back to you, our readers. It is how we spent a few days in Ibiza tracking down the dodgy fashion boss accused of molesting young models and how we spent months probing the movements of dangerous sex offender Christian Brueckner around Spain and Portugal.
Killing Eve
ON THE MEND: Lisa Burgess was 55 when she discovered she had 15 tumours Natalee, survival rates globally have gone from 70% to 90% in the past 50 years. Just last year, a Mallorcan study succeeded in curing tumours initially resistant to treatment in the most aggressive form of breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer usually affects younger women and is the fastest developing form of the disease. Studies like this help to give women the hope Dr Casas advises for those newly diagnosed. Reflecting on her own experience battling breast cancer, she said: “Firstly, learn as much as you can about the tumour and make informed decisions. “It’s important to have an active attitude. Secondly, be hopeful because treatments are greatly improving. Have hope and trust in the research.” For people suffering with cancer, much of this hope is found in the support of their community. For Lisa Burgess - who wrote a regular Olive Press column on her year of treatment - there was no better support than her fellow expats. “I received a lot of support from the expat community. They were completely wonderful. “Now, I speak to women everyday who have been diagnosed. It’s my small way of giving back. I support them as much as I can.” A strong sense of community, innovative research and forward thinking screening programmes clearly make the fight against breast cancer a more positive one. If you have not received a letter about booking a screening, contact your Primary Care District (Distrito de Atención Primaria), Health Management Area (Área de Gestión Sanitaria) or family doctor, who will give you an appointment.
Then there was the week spent tracking down the former ETA terrorist who had inspired hit BBC drama Killing Eve (above) in Extremadura. And more recently to Granada, to bring unrivalled coverage of the dramatic threeday hunger strike launched by the mother of ousted football boss Luis Rubiales (left). A testament to the quality of our reporting, it was picked up by The Telegraph, the Sun and even a string of Spanish national newspapers. Closer to home, we always strive to be first on the scene to bring you the latest updates. Hence this Saturday two journalists rushed to Marbella after three hitmen opened fire in front of Brits and locals just as they were sitting down for lunch. Once again, our exclusive reporting was used by the UK nationals, this time the Daily Mail and Sun. Couple this with all our exclusive restaurant reviews, travel articles and cultural features and, all in all, it explains why we have had thousands of new registered users and subscribers over the last two months. So thank you to everyone who has recognised that quality journalism is worth paying for!
Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for more info
THE OLIVE PRESS IS RECRUITING The Olive Press newspaper group is looking for an enthusiastic SPANISH SPEAKING salesperson to join our team based in Marbella. Must be fluent in SPANISH and have a knowledge of ENGLISH ENGLISH.. Sales experience is a must, but full training will be provided. Good basic and excellent commission. Driving licence is essential, as travel will be required.
Please email your CV to admin@theolivepress.es
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BUSINESS
BUDGET hotel chain Travelodge which operates nearly 600 outlets in the UK, Ireland, and Spain has opened its sixth Spanish hotel - The Travelodge Madrid Coslada Aeropuerto. Travelodge has two hotels in Barcelona and one in Valencia, in addition to its now three Madrid operations. Some €1 million has been spent on converting the 78-bedroom NH Villa de Coslada hotel to the Travelodge brand.
general director in Spain, Angelo Beleno, said: “Spain is the fourth Hotel expansion Travelodge’s most visited country in the world and its The operator has also worked with consultancy firm Christie & Co on exploring further opportunities in the Spanish hotel market. A top 20 list has been identified for expansion including Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Granada, Malaga, Madrid, Palma, Sevilla, and Valencia.
tourism industry is an important engine of the Spanish economy.” “New opportunities are being created in the Spanish hotel market especially in the budget and mid-scale range which allows Travelodge to bring its brand to new business and leisure locations across Spain,” he added.
GETTING ON TRACK
Routes for high speed rail tunnel from Spain to Morocco proposed By Laurence Dollimore
THE long-anticipated dream of an underwater train connecting Spain with Morocco could be that much closer. New research funded by Spain and Morocco has identified several proposed routes for the project, including Madrid to Casablanca in just five-anda-half hours.
OP QUICK CROSSWORD Across 7 Indian class (5) 9 Simian (3-4) 10 At the apex (7) 11 Affliction is cruel cut (5) 12 Russian sleigh (6) 14 Energetic (5) 17 Tolerate (5) 19 Rarely encountered (6) 22 Get new guns (5) 24 Lunges (7) 25 No good (7) 26 Simultaneous firing of artillery (5) Down 1 Transparent overlay (7) 2 Do over (6) 3 Engrossed (4) 4 Tie up rescue craft (6) 5 Spine separator (4) 6 Earth (5) 8 Champion (7) 13 Facilitate (3) 14 Ballet step (3) 15 Sun protector (7) 16 Income earned in the past (7) 18 Show song (6) 20 Pre-revival zombie (6) 21 Arrogant (5) 23 Blows away (4) 24 Cooking measure (4)
OP SUDOKU
November 1st November 14th 2023
All solutions are on page 12
LINK: Morocco’s Al Boraq line could join Spain’s It comes after both countries relaunched the Gibraltar Strait Tunnel Project in April this year, agreeing to ramp up studies into the technology required for such a feat. According to Moroccan state media outlet SNRTNews, experts are looking at several routes that would pass through Sevilla and the coastal cities of Algeciras and Tarifa. “The high-speed rail line existing in both Morocco and Spain is expected to significantly reduce travel time compared to regular trains,” the news outlet said. Morocco opened its first
high-speed rail line in 2018, connecting its northern hub Tangier with its capital Rabat and tourism Mecca Casablanca. The most likely connection would be between Morocco’s Tangier and Tarifa or Algeciras, just a few kilometres from Gibraltar. Earlier this year, Spain’s transport minister Raquel Sanchez vowed the two countries would give much more support to the project, which has been promised on-and-off since 1979. Sanchez described it as ‘strategic’ not only for Spain and Morocco but also wider Europe and Africa. In a meeting with Moroccan minister Nizar Baraka, she added: “We are beginning a new stage in the revival of the fixed link project across the Strait of Gibraltar, which we launched in 1981, hand ROUTES: Africa to Spain and beyond in hand.”
DIA BOOST SPANISH retailer Dia has reported a 4.5% increase in sales on a like-for-like basis in the first nine months of the year, to €4.64 billion. The turnover achieved excludes the sales registered in the stores transferred to Alcampo. The group said that its performance underlines the ‘strength of Dia’s strategy in a complex environment’. In the third quarter of 2023 alone, gross sales in Spain reached €1.28 billion, which was an increase of 8.3% on a reported basis and 9.7% on a like-for-like basis. “The business is advancing at a good pace, consolidating the new value proposition and growing positively in gross, net and comparable sales,” said Martin Tolcachir, chief executive of Dia Group.
Climate business MINISTER for the environment John Cortes told leading finance and insurance professionals how important it was to back the UK’s climate change goals. Gibraltar’s recently re-elected minister described Gibraltar as ‘a small nation like no other that will simply survive’ at an annual diplomatic reception at London’s Somerset House. “The biggest existential danger to our communities, indeed to our species, continues to be the impact of climate change,” Cortes said. “So it would be remiss of me not to appeal on our collective behalf, that the UK does not renege on its climate objectives and continues to lead in its fight against climate change,” he added. The re-elected environmentalist also toasted his party’s victory with his speech for the Gibraltar Day event in the British capital.
Pall Mall success MORE than 1,000 financial sector gurus attended five London events in distinguished locations like London’s Guildhall and Pall Mall as Gibraltar celebrated its Gibraltar Day outreach programme. The three days of events ended with the event at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club on October 25. New Minister of Justice Trade and Industry Nigel Feetham opened most of the sessions, giving the insurance expert a chance to put across what Gibraltar has to offer to UK private clients and fund managers. He hosted a gathering for over 300 guests at London’s historic Guildhall in the first event, speaking about ‘the need for diversification and innovation’ in financial services. Then he talked about ‘the need for responsible development of the private client sector’.
EVENT: at the Royal Automobile Club
LA CULTURA Puppet donation
A TEAM led by Taiwanese opera director Tseng Tao-hsiung will perform Spanish composer Manuel de Falla's puppet-opera 'Master Peter's Puppet Show' this month. The puppets will then be donated to The Museum of Manuel de Falla in Granada. They were first made for the opera's premiere in Taiwan in 1995. The performances will be at the Enrique de la Cuadra Municipal Theatre in Sevilla on November 4 and the Madrid Higher School of Singing on November 6.
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November 1st - November 14th 2023
Spanish takeover Prizes handed out at the 50th Gibraltar International Art Exhibition
The King and Meryl
By John Culatto
THREE Spaniards won the top prizes at the 50th Gibraltar International Art Exhibition being held at the Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery in Casemates Square. Minister for Culture Christian Santos officially opened the exhibition of 133 works from both local and international artists this week. Royal Academician Stephen Cox carried out the adjudication for the most high profile artistic event in the Gibraltar calendar. Cadiz artist Juan Lucena Orel-
WINNER: Lucena’s work of art lana won the first prize with ‘Nocturno Urbano’, a painting about black large rubbish bins on a background of a cityscape
DRINK TO THAT: Swimming dinos found in Rioja
FOOTPRINTS: found in cave
A TEAM of researchers have found a site of swimming dinosaur prints, of which there is very little evidence in the world. Palaeontologist Pablo Navarro discovered the prints in Laguna de Cameros, Rioja, with help from the municipality’s residents in 2020.
The Rioja University researcher found the ichnites - fossilised footprints - on one of the escarpments of the Leza River. There are only a few other ichnites of swimming dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous period, dated between 145 and 100 million years ago.
at night. Cox awarded the second prize to Iagustín Estudillo Peña for a bust of himself called ‘Autorretrato’. Sergio Galea Rodríguez won the third prize for a full-sized sculpture of a man with his hands tied behind his bank and his head pinning a book to the wall called ‘Latent Dyslexia’. The adjudicator gave the award for the work with the Best Gibraltar Theme to Michael Acris and his ‘Triumph of Desertness’, David Llamas clinched the title of Best Young Artist for ‘An Extended Family Portrait’, a painting about different shoes hanging from shoelaces and in a pile on the floor.
MERYL Streep wowed the Spanish Royal Family with an emotional speech which paid tribute to the country’s rich cultural past. The Hollywood actress, 74, waxed lyrical about Granada poet Federico Garcia Lorca and Malaga painter Pablo Picasso as she accepted the prestigious Princess of Asturias award for her decades of contribution to the arts. The Devil Wears Prada star gave her speech in front of King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and their daughter Leonor, whose title is the Princess of Asturias. When Meryl finished, the King could be seen saying ‘muy bonito’ to his wife. He then g a v e his own speech, in which he branded Meryl ‘majestic’ and ‘incredibly talented’.
952 147 834 * Vo l u n t a r y i n s u r a n c e c o v e r. S u b j e c t t o c o m p a n y u n d e r w r i t i n g c o n d i t i o n s . * D a t a e x t r a c t e d f r o m p r o c e s s c l o s u r e s u r v e y s a f t e r u s i n g o u r R o a d s i d e A s s i s t a n c e a n d b r e a k d o w n s e r v i c e s .
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7/9/23 10:34
CREDIT: All Pictures by Yzabelle Bostyn
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LA CULTURA
November 1st - November 14th 2023
LIERATURE FLOWS: through every aspect of life in the Alpujarras
Hiking by stanzas N INSPIRATION: Even the flower pots follow the literary theme - seemingly on every corner
A Literary escape: From bins bearing Harry Potter covers to plant pots inscribed with poetry, is this the most cultured corner of inland Spain, asks Yzabelle Bostyn
ESTLED in the heart of the Alpujarra mountains of Andalucia lies the most charming village you've never heard of: Mecina Bombaron is a fairytale come to life, not least because it is an official ‘book town’ that has works of literature inscribed on practically every section of its whitewashed streets. Quite simply, books are infused with everyday life in this quiet spot, from plant pots paint-
COMFY SEATING: Benches outside Mecina Bombaron town hall pay homage to children’s classics
ed with poetry to bins bearing Harry Potter covers. You live and breathe everything from the stanzas of Federico Garcia Lorca to the tomes of Ernest Hemingway, the prose of Cervantes to the rhyming couplets of Shakespeare. And that’s not all. Mecina Bombaron is one of four book towns now connected by a series of stunning hiking trails, making the region the perfect escape for walkers and literary lovers alike. Together with Yegen, El Golco and Montenegro they have added a new exciting chapter on the history and cultural importance of the rich and varied Alpujarra region. The idea came about in the height of the Covid pandemic, when the Mayor of Mecina Bombaron, Jose Antonio Gomez, was confronted with a rapidly declining population, which dipped alarmingly below just 1,000 inhabitants in 2020. Together with leaders from neighbouring Yegen, El Golco and Montenegro, they put their heads together to come up with a plan to save the village through the power of literature. Inspired by celebrated British author Gerald Brenan, who lived in Yegen for many years, Granada’s ‘book towns’ were born. A great hook to celebrate the literary history of the area, the South of Granada author
brought London’s famous Bloomsbury Group to Spain in the first half of the last century. The likes of Virginia Woolf, Bertrand Russell and Lytton Strachey beat their way to his door in the rural escape, a hop and a skip from the snowline of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The legendary travel writer Bruce Chatwin even wove his way up to the 1,000-metre high village in the 1970s, later comparing the region to Afghanistan. So important was Brenan's love affair with the Alpujarras, he has been fittingly immortalised with a British-style blue plaque dedicated to him in Yegen (see sidebar on next page). From this humble beginning, the project is now thriving, explains the Mecina Mayor: “Literature is such a wide reaching topic it allows us to develop in many different ways, so it's a very sustainable idea,” he told the Olive Press. “It also complements the beautiful landscapes we are already surrounded by. The population here is seeing it more and more as their project and they choose the books we use. “That means the project has a future and so do we.” Visitors can take a stroll through the villages, spotting their favourite novels on benches, stables and fountains while admiring sweeping vistas of the nearby hills. The mix of classics like Don Quixote and Romeo and Juliet, alongside children’s books such as The Little Prince, make this a great activity for families, couples or solo travellers. Located in old phone boxes you will even find book exchanges, which are a free initiative designed to give locals and visitors the chance to discover a new book. And then comes the best bit with a series of carefully marked
WHERE TO STAY
● Benarum Hotel and Spa, Mecina Bombaron After a long day, relax at this spa-hotel with its steam room, jacuzzi and sauna or discover the Alpujarran way of life at its Casas Blancas rural accommodation. ● La Almunia de la Alpujarra, Yegen These cosy apartments are decorated in a traditional Alpujarran style with wooden beam ceilings and roaring fires. This tranquil oasis is surrounded by trees and the terrace offers panoramic views over the hills.
WHERE TO EAT
● El Rincon de Yegen, Yegen Offering traditional tapas and delicious pizzas, this restaurant is ideally located near the centre of Yegen. There is also an outdoor pool and plenty of beer, making this the perfect place to relax. ● Restaurante El Tinao, Yegen This restaurant prides itself on its great service and beautiful views over the town of Yegen. Serving simple but tasty tapas with a friendly atmosphere and rustic surroundings, this is a truly Alpujarran locale.
YEGEN: Which has long been a literary haven hosting Gerald Brenan and The Bloomsbury Club
LA CULTURA
routes going between all the villages, the best being the walking route inspired by Gerald Brenan around Yegen. But if a serious hike isn’t for you, a stroll around Mecina Bombaron’s acequias (streams) is a tranquil way to spend an afternoon, even in the summer thanks to the abundant shade of thousands of chestnut trees. Start at the ‘Fuente Libro Don Pio’, a delightful book-shaped fountain inspired by Pio Navarro Alcala Zamora’s sociological study of the town. Follow the ‘Acequia Baja’ which leads to a series of ramshackle stone houses and bubbling brooks, with views in abundance. On your return make sure to grab a coffee or cana at either Casa Joaquin or Bar Nevaillo. But beware, the sign outside the latter which warns customers; ‘I open when I come, I close when I go’, encapsulating the town’s
November 1st - November 14th 2023
Story of the south
laidback lifestyle. This relaxed attitude is not one officials want to change with their new influx of tourists: “The world is continually getting faster, more stressful and more artificial,” explains Gomez. “We offer a return to nature and the quiet life.” In the future, council leaders hope to expand the project, with plaques on each street dedicated to novels. They will be accompanied by a QR code so visitors can learn more about the novel, alongside a translation in braille. The towns are also now home to the Andalucian Poetry Prize (Certamen Andaluz de la Poesia Alpujarra) and next year, they hope to launch a new literary prize as well as literature conferences and talks. As poet Gabriel Garcia Lorca, a frequent visitor from nearby Granada city once said about the area: “There is nothing as sad as being blind in Granada.”
Brenan moved to Yegen in 1919 and began writing his most famous book, South from Granada in the early 1920s. Described as ‘an indispensable point of reference for modern ethnography’ it is one of the most in-depth, colourful books ever written about Spain, alongside the best by Laurie Lee, George Borrow and, of course, Chris Stewart, more recently. Recounting Brenan’s remarkable rural life in the village, which had no proper roads, nor running water or electricity, it paints a wonderful picture of this sleepy corner of Spain untouched by modern
SETTING: Yegen was an inspiration to the British author
life and is still a joy to dip into today. He lived in the village until the mid 1930s when he moved to Churriana, near Malaga, where his home has now been turned into a
2023/2024 winter season
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museum, thanks in part to an early campaign to save the cortijo from demolition by the Olive Press.
AT HOME: Visit the Brenan museum in the charming village
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HEALTH
Dear Jennifer:
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We can cover your insurance needs
BREAKTHROUGH
I AM delighted to inform you that we are working with a very successful travel insurance provider. Jennifer Cunningham Insurance can provide you with a no obligation quotation if you are a resident in Spain with Single trip and Annual cover to meet your needs. We offer: ● Single Trip policies for up to 180 Days for clients aged up to 65 years, 32 days maximum for over 65´s ● Cover up to age 79, and discounts for Couples & Families. ● Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance allows individual trips of up to 17 days, however, you can choose 32, 45, 90 Days, (subject to age restrictions). There are three levels of cover to choose from – Silver, Gold and Platinum, with varying levels of sums insured depending upon your travel needs. You have the choice to adapt the insurance to your travel requirements. Our standard travel insurance also includes cancellation, medical and repatriation, Personal Accident, baggage and personal effects, money, cards and documents. There are additional cover options, the most popular of which are: ● Covid-19 – this optional extension is useful if you wish to be covered for Covid-19 before and whilst on a trip ● Winter Sports – if you are participating in winter sports whilst on holiday ● Pre-Existing medical Conditions
SPANISH scientists are working on a new way of treating cancer, which involves ultra-fast blasts of powerful radiation. The Institute of Instrumentation for Molecular Imaging (i3M) is running experiments involving radiation being administered via a laser for less than a second on living cells. The study will investigate the impact of different dose rates. The Polytechnic University of Valencia is one of the institutions involved in the project. A spokesman explained that conventional radiotherapy sees a continuous beam of particles applied to a patient, which can have bad side effects. He added that if a higher radiation dose is given in less than a second, then the negative impact on healthy issues appears to be considerably reduced.
TRAVEL SAFELY
Europesure does not cover all pre-existing medical conditions, however, there are many conditions that are covered. It is not necessary to complete a medical questionnaire. Contact us and we can provide more information. My advice to you is to go nowhere without insurance, and that includes visits to the UK, especially after Brexit. To find out more, and have everything explained to you fully, contact one of the offices.
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November 1st November 14th 2023
PRIVATE HEALTH
A NEW private hospital with 40 consultants and specialists will open in November at Gibraltar’s International Commercial Centre. GibMed International Hospital was founded by local doctors and healthcare leader supported by international experts. It occupies two floors within the ICC shopping centre, offering a ‘minimally invasive day surgery and diagnostics centre’. GibMed aims to ‘provide excellent patient-focuses care across a wide spectrum of conditions’, explained a spokesperman. The new private hospital has links with other medical institutions in the UK and Spain. These connections will help them ‘create a tailor-made clinical care package to suit your every need’. The hospital will include imaging and diagnostics, digestive, women’s health and orthopaedic centres at its premises. GibMed will be situated at the former location of the Primary Care Centre. It opens its doors on November 9 and will invite local dignitaries to attend.
Appy days Phone app for food allergy sufferers could save lives A PHONE app that could help save the lives of food allergy sufferers has been inspired after a Spanish allergy specialist treated a girl whose father is into modern technology. The free app called AllergApp can ‘prevent scares and save lives’ according to its creators. Around 6% of under 15s
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By Alex Trelinski
are susceptible to food allergies. The adult population that has to be careful about what they eat is around 1.5% to 2.0% of the population. Doctor Antonio Letran has been treating a girl called Alba who suffers from a nut allergy. She endured an accidental poisoning and part of the problem was trying to have all the necessary information quickly at hand and an allergy. He built up a friendship with Alba’s parents, including her father Jose Carlos Toajas, who is a
plained Doctor Letran. The app is simple as once diagnosed with an allergy, the patient transfers all their personal data, including height, weight and age, as well as the treat-
project manager at an aeronautical solutions company. “I knew that Jose had developed an app for something else and I suggested one should be developed that would allow a caregiver or allergy sufferer access to all the information in two or three clicks,” ex-
A MOBILE health unit offered free flu jabs at Casemates Square to elderly residents before the start of the winter season. The walk-in mobile vaccination clinic vaccinated people over the age of 50-yearsold and anyone with a long-term health condition or those caring for them. The service added to the vaccines the local health service offers at the Primary Care Centre on Monday to Friday afternoons. Pregnant women, elderly residential home dwellers, health and care workers can also take the jab. The GHA will also give the vaccine to children via a nose spray at their respective schools. New GHA Director General, Kevin McGee, who took over the job at the beginning of October urged elderly and long-term ill patients to take the jab. “I encourage all who are eligible to be administered the flu vaccine to avail them-
ment prescribed to combat any reactions. The app includes a virtual ‘first aid kit’ with a list of the needed drugs and doses depending on the phases of the allergic reaction because, as Letran points out, ‘the sooner it is treated, the sooner it is controlled’.
Winter cover
selves of this service and so prevent flu from spreading and causing serious illness,” McGee said. “As part of both our vaccination and outreach programme, the GHA will when possible be bringing their services to the community,” he added.
OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 7 Caste, 9 Ape-like, 10 Topmost, 11 Ulcer, 12 Troika, 14 Peppy, 17 Stand, 19 Scarce, 22 Rearm, 24 Thrusts, 25 Useless, 26 Salvo. Down: 1 Acetate, 2 Rework, 3 Rapt, 4 Secure, 5 Disc, 6 Terra, 8 Support, 13 Aid, 14 Pas, 15 Parasol, 16 Pension, 18 Number, 20 Corpse, 21 Proud, 23 Awes, 24 Tbsp.
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL A DEAL struck between the socialist PSOE and the Sumar party includes plans to cut domestic flights. The proposed law would target routes where there is a rail alternative of less than two and a half hours. There are only three regular air routes that meet this condition; Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Alicante and Madrid-Valencia, which all take less than two hours and 20 minutes by train. Three other routes, however, are just a few minutes over the 2.5-hour mark, including Madrid-Seville, Madrid-Málaga and Madrid-Murcia. It is not yet known if they will be included. The plans are still in their infant stage with a study still to be carried out if the socialist pact is able to form a government.
SIMPLY THE BEST
Why Spain has been branded among the top holiday destinations for 2024 SPAIN is the most sustainable holiday destination in the world and should be top of your list to visit in 2024. That’s according to the latest rankings by the highly-respected Lonely Planet. The country was named as the most sustainable in the publication’s Best In Travel awards, which were released to celebrate 50 years of the travel guide. A spokesperson said: “One of the globe’s most popular destinations, sun-washed Spain is making enormous strides in boosting off-season travel to spread visitors across the year and to
By Laurence Dollimore
encourage travel to overlooked destinations. “New cycle paths, electric buses and train routes offer flight-free ways to see the country. “Creative small-scale hotels and other initiatives are revitalising the country’s rural areas and new train routes are making flight-free travel a breeze.” Lonely Planet cited the Jardin del Turia in Valencia as a prime example of Spain’s strides towards a sustainable tourism model.
SWANKY: Classic tuna territory
ON THE PALATE - RESTAURANT REVIEW
TUNA-TASTIC With the autumn tuna season upon us, SO/Sotogrande debuts a new tasting menu straight from the nets of Barbate
C
HEF Leandro Caballero is serving up a treat at his Cortijo Santa María 1962 restaurant in Sotogrande, classic tuna territory. With the autumn tuna-fishing season underway, Caballero has introduced a stupendous ‘Tuna Experience’ tasting menu. Located at the five-star SO/Sotogrande hotel, it showcases the best of classic Barbate-caught red (or blue fin) tuna. Over five exquisite courses, all the finest cuts of the tuna fish are put to their best use. Starting with cured tuna loin over toast, sprinkled with olive oil and pine nuts, it completely melts in the mouth while the crunchy toast brings its own counterpoint. A rich white coconut and garlic
PICTURE CREDIT: Walter Finch
Short-haul threat
November 1st - November 14th 2023
SUSTAINABLE: The Jardin del Turia in Valencia
The urban park, one of the largest in Spain, is spread over nine kilometres and features picturesque paths lined with orange and palm trees, becoming a tourist attraction in its own right. And in a bid to reduce pressure in tourism meccas like Barcelona and the Costa del Sol, Spain is encouraging holiday makers to visit lesser-known villages and
towns. It comes after a wave of anti-tourism campaigns cropped up across the country this year, including in Marbella, Sevilla and the Balearics. Vigo, in Galicia, for example, was recently voted as one of the best locations to explore, according to flight comparison app Skyscanner.
FRENCH winemakers launched a stunning ambush on a convoy carrying Spanish wine and delicacies that they claim is undercutting their livelihoods. With howls of anger and frustration, the French farmers boarded the Spanish lorries and proceeded to throw all the boxes, crates and wine into the street. Like highwaymen from days of yore, around 500 indignant French farmers had set up a roadblock near the Le Boulou tollbooth, a mere 15 kilometres from the French-Spanish
13
Gordon’s gong KITCHEN hellraiser Gordon Ramsey has returned from an around-the-world culinary odyssey raving about a dish he tried in Madrid. He concluded that the top three dishes on the planet emanate from Laos, Vietnam and Spain - specifically the Spanish capital. The celebrated chef lauded Madrid’s famous ‘Cocido madrileño’, which is a stew made from chickpeas, vegetables, pork, and beef. Ramsay was captivated by this feast of complex, slowcooked flavours, which he said created an irresistible blend of aromas and textures. In Laos, he identified the traditional ‘Laap,’ a salad made from marinated beef or chicken with lime, fresh herbs, chilies, and toasted rice and in Vietnam, Gordon discovered the legendary ‘Pho,’ a noodle soup with beef or chicken that is a cornerstone of Vietnamese cuisine.
Sacre rouge!
border. Videos from the scene showed the carnage and destruction of Spain’s national produce, as the streets turned red with cheap sparkling wine. The destruction was part of a ‘war against economic criminals who abuse ruined winegrowers,’ according to Frederic Rouanet, the president of a local winemaker syndicate that organised the protest.
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If you break down, stay calm and safe un- To help you stay safe here is a checklist of til rescue support arrives. Remember that some important safety items in the event of soup accompanies a while you wait for help, your priority is to *Fullya comprehensive breakdown. This emergency breakdown kit mound of tuna steak offer valid for new customers only. Guarantee subjec t to cover, repair at garage, be and cour tesy vehicle availabilit y. Subjec t toat conditions. O ffer ends The 30/11/18. safeguard yourself and any fellow passen- approved should kept in your vehicle all times. tartar and even at this gers. Línea Directa policyholders simply kit includes: a torch and spare batteries, warm stage the taste buds are call 919 171 171 and inform the emergen- clothes and blankets, high-visibility jacket, first dancing. TheOlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.inddcy 1 hotline where you are. Línea Directa proaid kit, jump start cables, empty fuel can, food2/8/18 17:01 This delicacy does not even mark the vides emergency roadside assistance any- and drink, two reflective warning signs, a road halfway point of the menu, although it is where in Spain 24/7 and 365 days a year, atlas, and a mobile phone charger. helpfully washed down with a selection of with a national network of operators and local wines. recovery vehicles. OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERTISE A slightly more delicate dish follows, with thinly-sliced ‘ventresca’ red tuna garnished GEOLOCATION SERVICE As Spain’s most experienced provider of insurwith a modest medley of mixed vegetables. ance for British expatriates, Línea Directa has The cheek of the tuna represents the This service is exclusive to Línea Directa and been keeping motorists on the move for over heartiest cut of the fish in the menu, being allows breakdown recovery and roadside as- 20 years. accompanied by orange and saffron rice. sistance services to pinpoint your location and All through the meal, the waiters continualsend help directly to you. This service is avail- We hope the information provided in this ly refresh your glass with a variety of wines able throughout mainland Spain, the Balearic article is of interest. If you would like to in the pleasant and glowing confines of this Islands and the Canary Islands. The technolo- contact Línea Directa please call 952 exclusive restaurant. gy is simple to use and really useful when you 147 834. More information about Línea Fish caught locally and served exquisitely need it most. Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com to the highest standards, it’s a very compelling combination. We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to Reserve your seat at the table for €85 a contact Linea Directa please call 952 147 834. More information about Linea Directa head.
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14
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL SPAIN’S BEST 35 WINES
November 1st - November 14th 2023
S
POP THE CORK!
PAIN is gradually shedding its inferiority complex regarding wines, and it is high time. Alongside the country’s world-beating culinary skills, its winemaking acumen is now up there with the world’s best in France and Italy. According to the UK
wine bible, Decanter, Spain is now very much part of Europe’s ‘Power Trio’. In this year’s ranking of a record 18,250 wines, Spain matched France with eight ‘Best in Show’ medals, followed by Italy with seven. On Spain’s performance in the summer competition, respected Master of Wine, Sarah Jane Evans MW stated: “Spain is the most exciting wine-producing country in Europe.” Apart from the exciting improvements in the traditional winegrowing region of Rioja - which scooped 23 Golds and two Best in Shows - she singled out the Alicante and
Galicia regions. In particular, it was the north west appellations of Ribeira, Bierzo and Rias Baixas that she really liked. Meanwhile a pair of Best in Shows came from Jerez, in Andalucia, both sherries over 30 years in age, from Harveys and Lustau. It was a similar situation with America’s hugely-influential Wine Advocate, based on the scores of doyenne Robert Parker and his team. Not only are Spain’s bodegas rapidly climbing up the charts, but in Marques de Murrieta, Spain now has a winery in the world’s top 10. Thanks to scoring yet another top score of 100 this year for its
Spanish wines are now - definitely - among the best in the world, alongside its chefs, writes Jon Clarke and Elsa Ibanez
Castillo de Ygay white ‘Reserva Especial’, it now ranks alongside the world’s best vineyards, including Cheval Blanc, Petrus and Chateau d’Yquem. In total, 30 Spanish wines have so far scooped the maximum 100 score from Wine Advocate, which is nearly 15% of the total. The reason it is not much higher is largely due to logistics and time, rather than anything else. Until 2007, there were no Spanish wines in the 100club, mostly as Parker rarely had time to try wines from Spain, after he categorised French, Italian and American ones. Indeed, it wasn’t until 2013, that the guide started to take the country seriously, when it hired a professional full time wine expert. And even that was controversial, with Luis Gutierrez, based in Madrid, previously being a senior executive at Tetra Pak. That said, Gutierrez comes highly-rated in the wine world and tastes an average of 3,600 wines a year, according to Expansion newspaper.
SPAIN’S BEST 35 WINES
(Compiling Decanter, Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator’s scores, with vintages if particularly good) ● Castillo de Ygay Blanco Reserva Especial 1986, Rioja ● Castillo de Ygay Tinto Reserva Especial, Rioja ● Vina El Pison, Rioja 2004 ● Contador, Rioja, 2004 and 2005 ● Lalomba Finca Ladero, Rioja, 2018 ● Finca Lagunazuri, Rioja 2018 ● Las Beatas, Rioja, 2015 ● Remírez de Ganuza Gran Reserva, Rioja 2004
● Numanthia Termanthia, Castilla y Leon 2004 ● Pingus, Castilla y León (2004, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2021) ● Vega Sicilia Unico, Castilla y Leon (1962) ● Rumbo al Norte, Comando G, Castilla y León (2016 y 2018)
● Tumba del Rey Moro 2021, Castilla y León ● Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo de Borja (2007 and 2009) ● L’ermita, Priorat (2013 and 2019) ● Clos Erasmus, Priorat (2004, 2005 and 2013, 2020) ● Nit de Nin Mas d’en Caçador 2020, Priorat
● Les Manyes 2016 de Terroir Al Limit, Priorat ● La Faraona, Bierzo, (2014 and 2018) ● Viariz La Muria, Bierzo 2021 ● Las Tres Filas Mencía, Bierzo 2020 ● Sorte O Soro, Valdeorras 2020 ● Casa Castillo Pie franco, Jumilla 2020
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
November 1st - November 14th 2023
15
FACTFILE According to the Sp Federation, Spain anish Wine the world’s vineyarowns 13% of sponsible for 25% ds and is rewine production. of European Spain can also bo the country with thast of being yards worldwide. e most vineIt has 70 DOs (d of origin) , 42 prenominations graphical indicatiootected geosingle-varietal wine ns, and 26 Spain has its ow s. Guide which raten local Peñin s wines under the best value -for-money criterion.
TOP RATED: The Ramon do Casar vineyard and (left) their ‘excellent’ wine
He had a wine column in El Mundo and arrived on the scene having worked as the Spanish correspondent for the respected UK wine website Jancisrobinson.com. Financial Times columnist Jancis herself is a regular visitor to Spain and even made an effort to visit Ronda for a series of tastings a
decade ago. She is now a keen advocate for the fast-improving wines in Ribera del Duero and has seen the country adapt to the high temperatures to make some fabulous wines today. “After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wine, Spain is now a major player,” she says.
“Investment and ambition in vineyard and winery are resulting in more and more rich – often highly alcoholic – spicy reds that are finding increasing favour among international consumers.”
In particular, she also praises the wide variety of local indigenous grape varieties and mixture of styles. Another globally important wine critic, James Suckling, of the Wine Spectator, has recently praised the huge leaps Spain has made over the last deThe Peñín Guide to the cade. Wines of Spain 2024 has In his Annual awarded its maximum score Report 2023 of to three iconic Spanish 3,800 Spanish reds, two from the DO Ribwines, he insistera del Dued the counero and one try is going from the through a ‘dyDO Rioja, namic transforand for the mation led by first time an audacious to a white new generation wine, from of winemakers’. the DO Rías Baixas. Specifically, the 100 points went to the Ribera reds Vega Sicilia Único Reserva Especial (which includes wines from the 2010, 2011, and 2012 vintages) and Pingus 2021 by Peter Sisseck, the Rioja La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 from 2010 and the Pontevedra Albariño Pazo Señorans Selección de Añada 2013.
GUIDE TO THE GREATS
● Mar de Frades, Albariño, Rías Baixas 2018 ● Ramon do Casar Treixadura, Ribeiro, 2022 ● El Corral Cremat Brut, Albet I Noya, Penedes ● Arrels del Priorat Ca Les Viudes Vi de
Mare 100 Anys ● Don PX Toro Albalá Convento Seleccion 1946, Montilla Moriles, Cordoba ● Alvear Pedro Ximenez Vintage 2011, Montilla Moriles, Cordoba ● 1905 Amontillado Solera Fundacional Lot B 2016, Montilla Moriles, Cordoba
● Moscatel Valdespino Los Toneles, Jerez ● Reliquia Barbadillo de Palo Cortado, Jerez ● La Bota de Amontillado 49, Navazos, Jerez ● 30 Years Old, Oloroso, Lustau, Jerez ● 30 Years Old, Amontillado, Harveys, Jerez
“They are shifting the focus of wine appreciation toward a lighter, more delicate style that highlights clarity and drinkability over opulence and richness,” he explained. Apart from putting seven Spanish wines in his All-Time top 100 wines - including Lustau’s aforementioned 30-year-old Amontillado - he selected six for the perfect ‘100’ category this month. For the record they are L’Ermita 2021, from Priorat, Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 and Viña El Pisón 2021, from Rioja, Comando G’s two wines Rumbo Al Norte 2020 and Tumba del Rey Moro 2021, from Madrid’s DO, and finally Ribera del Duero’s Pingus 2021. And, in case you hadn’t guessed, these exquisite fine wines were already expensive, before Mr Suckling and Mr Parker put their global 100 top score rankings on them. As a rule of thumb, most of the 100 score wines cost from €150.
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FINAL WORDS
A BENT Ukrainian priest is among five arrested after police in Spain tracked down 11 historical gold items dating to the 8th century BC worth €60 million that disappeared from a Kiev exhibition.
Dirty devil AN easyJet flight from Tenerife to London was cancelled after a passenger defecated on the toilet floor, but not before passengers were left waiting onboard for 3.5 hours.
Good news FENTANYL, the synthetic opiate that is causing a major health crisis in the United States, is yet to arrive on Spanish shores, officials have said.
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Monkey business
TAKING THE P**S
Baker who urinated in bowls used to prepare food awarded €25k compensation for ‘unfair dismissal’ A BAKERY worker who was sacked after being caught on camera peeing into food preparation bowls has won €25,000 compensation after a tribunal decided her privacy was infringed. The Catalan court ruled that her rights had been violated when the bakery rumbled her with a secret camera. Footage showed her squat-
By Walter Finch
ting down and filling cookery bowls with her pee in the food production area. She would then lightly rinse them in the sink and place them back among the clean items for use in the preparation of bread and pastries. Neucroissant, the owner of
THIS is the moment a no-nonsense police officer was willingly tasered by colleagues as part of a bizarre training session in Sevilla. A video from Guardia Civil training shows an officer being shot in the back with the electrical weapon - sending bolts of electricity charging through his body. He screams in agony before two other officers, who are holding onto each of his arms, place him
the Cafe de la Estacion in Barcelona’s main train station, then fired her by letter for ‘breach of the contractual good faith and abuse of trust in the performance of work’.
Shock tactics down on a blue gym mat. The officer holding the weapon then zaps his calf for good measure, causing him to shriek once more. The room is then heard erupting into applause as he says: “Ouff god, what a trip, my soul left by body!”
She received the dismissal letter while she was on sick leave due to another unspecified workplace incident. Outraged at her treatment, the worker filed a complaint with the Labour and Social Security Inspection. She alleged that she was dismissed during her sick leave and did not receive documentation related to her disability and unemployment benefits. The court ruled that her dismissal was unfair, but not for the arguments she put forward. Instead, they decided the company had violated her privacy by filming her without her knowledge using a hidden camera.
BIZARRE dolls depicting monkeys dressed in baby clothes have sparked a racism debate. A stall at the San Pedro Feria in Marbella was pictured selling the souvenirs next to dolls that mostly depicted black children. This led observers to accuse the seller of making a clear comparison between black people and monkeys, much like the centuries’ old racist trope. However many locals and Brits argued online that there were also a handful of white baby dolls and that people ‘look for any excuse to be offended these days.’ One commenter wrote: “THIS is called racism!”, while another said the monkey dolls were racist because their palms are lighter, while ‘in real life gorillas are 100% black.’ They added: “So we already know what has inspired the creator of these dolls.” However scores of mostly Spanish locals hit back, claiming people were overreacting. One wrote: “There are white babies, black babies and baby monkeys… the only thing racist is your mind.”