Olive Press Gibraltar Issue 218

String to his bow

ONE of the most sought after cellists in the world will be featured at The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society’s Cello & Piano Recital.

Narek Hakhnazaryan (right), and partner, pianist Georgy Tchaidze, will perform at The Convent Ballroom, at 8 pm on March 13.

“Hakhnazaryan is a compelling artist, a true virtuoso with an innate musicality and an exceptional talent for connecting with his audience. He has been described as ‘dazzlingly brilliant’ (The Strad) and ‘nothing short of magnificent’ (San Francisco Chronicle), said a society spokesman.

Tickets are available via www.buytickets.gi and at The John Mackintosh Hall Reception.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: We explore the thriving Andalucian town with around 70% expat population

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Off the naughty step

GIBRALTAR has finally been removed from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) ‘grey list’ after nearly two years of heightened scrutiny.

The announcement was made after a Paris summit by the FATF, the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog supported by around 40 countries and international organisations.

The Rock was placed on the grey list in June 2022 over what was perceived to be inadequate regulatory controls in the legal and gambling sectors - the former making up a whopping 28% of the economy.

However, last week’s plenary session hailed the achievements of Gibraltar, alongside Barbados, Uganda, and the United Arab Emirates who also escaped onto the white list.

They were acknowledged for their ‘substantial progress’ in working on strategic shortcomings the watchdog had identified in previous evaluations.

“These jurisdictions had committed to implement an Action Plan to swiftly resolve the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes,” said a FATF spokesman.

In response to this international recognition, the UK promptly followed suit, removing Gibraltar from its own grey list.

Gibraltar's removal from the grey list is expected to boost its reputation as a jurisdiction of good standing, which could attract new investment and economic opportunities for the territory.

Spanish authorities ‘must bring justice’ for British expat mum who died while giving birth at Marbella hospital

A BRITISH expat died while giving birth at a private Costa del Sol hospital after being refused a C-section, it has emerged.

Kelsey Brown, 34, had been rushed to Ceram Hospital, in Marbella, on July 20, 2021, where a scan revealed her baby had died.

By Laurence Dollimore

Yet, despite the tragedy, the hairdresser from Liverpool was told she could not have a C-section or an epidural and would have to give birth naturally.

While bleeding heavily and in ‘horrendous pain’, there was simply not enough blood on site for the procedure, a UK coroner’s court was told.

Incredibly, blood supplies did not arrive until more than five-and-ahalf hours later.

A lack of blood likely led to her death.

Andre Rebello, senior coroner for Liverpool, said: "Kelsey was advised she could not have a caesarean and she could not have an epidural, and would have to give birth naturally."

She began delivering the baby at 1.30pm with doctors using forceps to deliver the boy, named Daniel, who was found with his umbilical cord wrapped around his chest,

stopping him from feeding. A delivery of blood did not arrive until 6.45pm, but just half an hour later, at 7.15pm, Kelsey was pronounced dead.

Her mother, Maria Brown, told the BBC that she was a ‘loving mum’ to her surviving child, who was aged five when the tragedy occurred.

The family are now demanding answers from the Spanish authorities, who did not provide crucial medical documents to the Liverpool coroner.

Mr Rebello told the court this impeded his ability to properly investigate the death, forcing him to declare an open conclusion due to lack of evidence.

“Hopefully the Spanish authorities will make efforts to bring justice to what occurred,” he said.

“They should be looking to see if there were opportunities to do something meaningful for a different outcome."

Mr Rebello previously told the court that the results of a post-mortem in Spain had been

‘withheld’, as had medical notes from Ceram Hospital. According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, there could be a long wait for the Spanish investigation to bear fruit.

Healthy

Kelsey’s mother insisted she was ‘very healthy’ and didn't drink or smoke.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo expressed his elation at the news, praising the collaborative efforts of local agencies, authorities, and the private sector in combating economic crime.

“Gibraltar’s FATF white listing not only enhances our reputation but also strengthens our position as a trusted and compliant international financial centre,” Picardo stated.

The Council of Europe's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing body, MONEYVAL, also welcomed Gibraltar’s delisting.

Opinion Page 6

Balban in the dock

A FORMER Nat West Senior Manager at the centre of a £2.7 million fraud case has taken the stand at the Supreme Court.

Gillian Balban is accused of fraud and false accounting between 2011 to 2017.

The 51-year-old is alleged to have run up €600,000 worth of IOU’s and covered up a £2 million black hole in the bank’s Corral Road cash reserves.

Under cross examination Balban admitted that she requested thousands of pounds in cash from the bank, to cover the wages of employees at her former restaurant Casa Brachetto.

“Kelsey really looked after herself. She was a great daughter, a great sister and a great mum,” she said. Kelsey had moved with her husband to the Costa del Sol in 2019, with their toddler, who was five when she died.

The family are not commenting further until the Spanish authorities have completed their investigation.

She said this would have been recorded in the restaurant’s accounts - but she confirmed that this did not seem to have happened.

Balban claims that the £2 million hole in the bank’s cash reserves is due to a software migration, saying that such issues were common.

The trial continues.

PAINFUL DEATH: For Kelsey and her baby

Women of the Rock

GIBRALTAR will celebrate International Women’s Day with an interactive performance inspired by Gibralatarian women at the GEMA Gallery on Thursday and Friday night.

First Llanis

A KIDS’ book about evolution has been published byClive and Stewart Finlayson of the Gibraltar National Museum, heavily influenced by evidence from the Rock.

Fallen Tories

SUPPORT for the Conservative party has fallen to its lowest ever level in Gibraltar with just 20% of the population stating they would vote Tory in a general election.

Winning big

GIBRALTAR’S hockey team, Europa, has won the European Women’s Hockey league after beating Bavaria Hawks.

Nazi dunces

A BRAZEN display of Nazi salutes at an event celebrating the 90th anniversary of the fascist Falange party has stunned Spain…and not just for getting the date wrong!

The Madrid bash witnessed a packed auditorium waving flags and singing Nazi anthems. But the event comes a year late, with the Falange actually being founded in October 1933.

A shocking video filmed at Goya Theatre shows hundreds of supporters raising their arms as they sing the infamous farright anthem Cara al Sol (Face to the Sun).

It was later posted on Falange’s own Twitter page triggering outrage and leading to a police investigation into whether the display violates Spain’s Law of Democratic Memory.

“Nine decades later, the Falangists continue to raise the flag of dignity, national unity and social justice,” insisted current Falange leader Manuel Andrino Lobo. They were able to do it, he argued, despite the ‘rubbish’ Democratic Memory law that ‘changes history’.

The law deals with the legacy of the fascist Franco regime, which is sometimes blamed for millions of deaths in Spain.

It outlaws glorifying the military coup and its leaders and the humiliation of its victims. If found guilty, the organisers could face fines ranging from €10,000 to €150,000 for serious offences.

In his speech to the assembled neo-fascists, some who travelled from Portugal, France and Italy, Andrino railed against the Spanish government, calling them ‘Taliban’ and ‘b******s’ for ordering the removal of ‘crosses, plaques and monuments’. He also slammed the ‘sad task of removing bodies’ from the fascist tomb of the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen), just outside Madrid.

DOCTOR WHO?

A FAKE doctor who defrauded patients on the Costa del Sol for over 30 years charged up to €4,000 for treatment, according to the Guardia Civil. The 56-year old man was arrested last week for allegedly raking in over €300,000

TWO French men have accepted two-year jail sentences, suspended for three years, for sexually abusing a British woman who was on

By Ben Pawlowski

from just two patients.

Both of them alerted police after the treatment failed to have the promised impact on their recoveries.

Spared jail

holiday in Ibiza. Lawyers for the defence and the prosecution reached a deal before the case was tried at the Balearics Provincial Court.

The public prosecutor had been calling for 20-year sentences but accepted a shorter term due to ‘undue delays’, given that the assault in question took place in June 2016.

As part of the deal, the accused admitted to the facts of the case, which took place in an apartment in Playa d’en Bossa where the men were staying.

Fake medic had ‘10 appointments per day’ and ‘charged up to €4,000 for treatment’

The unnamed swindler had no medical training, relying on a fake medical stamp and registration number to dupe unsuspecting patients.

The man, who posed for over three decades as a rehabilitative doctor, worked three days a week at his ‘home clinic’ in Rincon de la Victoria.

He saw an average of 12 patients a day, with prices for treatment ‘ranging between €20 and €4,000’.

Investigators searched the man’s home following his arrest and found various medical reports including blood tests, ultrasounds and MRIs. They also discovered lists de-

tailing charges and appointments, with investigators estimating daily earnings of up to €600.

The detained individual told patients he worked at the Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital - but officials have confirmed he never did.

A Guardia Civil spokesman said: “This arrest shows that we will not tolerate people who put the public’s health at risk by pretending to be qualified professionals when they are not”.

The president of the College of Physicians of Malaga said: “Fortunately there are very few cases of this type.”

Home fraud

THREE people have been arrested in Malaga for scamming around 1,200 clients who paid up to €55,000 for homes that will never be built. The people detained by the Guardia Civil are behind Grupo 21 and have been charged with fraud.

The trio are accused of taking reservation fees for new-build homes by falsifying documents and not owning the properties where developments were taking place. Projects were being marketed in Almeria, Almunecar and Malaga as well as further afield in Murcia. Some of the victims made a first payment of €12,000 to reserve houses, but many of them still continued to pay for off-plan purchases reaching sums of up to €55,000.

The promoter Grupo 21 marketed between 800 and 1,000 pre-sold apartments on land they never owned.

PANDA PENSIONERS

A PAIR of pandas from Madrid Zoo are retiring to China after 17 years in Spain.

Hua Zui Ba and Bing Xing originally arrived in the country in 2007 as a gift from China to Spain. The pair had six cubs during their time in Madrid and will travel back to their homeland as a family with the majority of their children.

Two of their cubs, You You and Jiu

Jiu are now star attractions at the zoo and China has promised to send another young couple.

The scheme is part of the China Wildlife Conservation Association’s mission to boost numbers of giant pandas.

It has had great success, with the species going from ‘endangered’ to merely ‘vulnerable’ in the past 40 years.

WHAT A CAULKER

WIPING the sweat off his brow after a gruelling two-hour training session, player-manager, Steven Caulker reflects on his new life on the Costa del Sol. “I love it, I honestly love it. You can’t complain about the weather or the location”, he says with a wide, genuine smile.

It’s a stunning Friday morning in Nerja, home of fifth tier side FC Malaga City and home for the latest installment of Caulker’s unique footballing career.

Sat on a bench shielded away from the warm, winter sun, the 32-year old is engaging and articulate about his remarkable journey. He started off with Tottenham Hotspur at 18, moving between different loan spells before time at Cardiff City, QPR, and a stint as an emergency striker under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Internationally, he made one appearance for England, scoring in a friendly defeat to Sweden. But off the pitch, his personal life and mental health began to spiral.

England international who played for Klopp talks to the Olive Press about life at lowly Spanish football club

EXCLUSIVE by Ben Pawlowski

“I’m an addict - I’m addicted to escapism. When I put one thing down, I pick up another. Football was my first addiction, but when I am not playing it can be alcohol, gambling, women, food”. Depression struck and it began to impact Caulker’s work on the pitch. “I was at rock bottom. I fell out of love with football and the game”, he admits. Following a couple of years in Turkey, a surprise selection for the Sierra Leone nation-

VENOM VISIT

Hardy, 46, is a Jiu-Jitsu champion - even winning an event two years ago.

He went to the Gracie Barra gymnasium at Playa de San Juan and posed for photos with Jiu-Jitsu coaches and pupils. Hardy has got to know Spain well in the last year, with Venom 3 shooting in the Cartagena area of Murcia last summer. The Los Mateos district doubled up as a Mexican town and Hardy took time out to sign autographs for children and take selfies with them.

al team and a brief foray back into English foo tball with Wigan Athletic, the Londoner finds himself on the Costa del Sol, with a fresh start.

Yet he admits he is a work in progress: “I take it day-by-day,

Caulker’s results

January 7: LOSS

Almeria B 6-0 Malaga City

January 13: LOSS

Malaga City 0-1 Juventud Torremolinos

January 21: DRAW

Malaga City 0-0 El Ejido

January 28: DRAW

Maracena 1-1 Malaga City

February 4: WIN

Malaga City 1-0 Rincon

February 11: LOSS

Arenas Armilla 1-0 Malaga City

February 17: WIN

Malaga City 3-0 Huetor Tajar

February 24: LOSS

Huetor Vega 2-0 Malaga City

doing a lot of recovery. I live in Marbella so I drive in, I do an hour of Alcoholics or Gambling Anonymous, I make a gratitude list, I pray, I speak to people, I balance my family life. I will never be cured of depression but I can manage it much better”.

Caulker’s new life on the Andalucian coast also brings a new role as a player-manager, his first step into coaching.

through my academy Behind the White Lines, which helps footballers released by clubs, and we began a conversation”.

“We lost 6-0 and I felt completely powerless, a real baptism

“I was on holiday in Nerja in the summer with my girlfriend and son, staying in a hotel just down the road. I knew these guys

After many WhatsApps and calls, Caulker finally succumbed to pressure from the club’s owner, fellow Englishman George Jermy. His tenure started with a whimper with Caulker’s role constrained by the tribulations of post-Brexit visas: “We lost 6-0 and I felt completely powerless. It was hard to take, a real baptism of fire”.

“When I first came I had the idea in my head of a high press, like Klopp’s, but I soon learnt that you need to adapt to what you have”.

“I’ve been really pleased with this last week, it has been the biggest progression, a massive step”since our interview, Malaga City have climbed to 13th in the table. Does he feel pressure to achieve results?

“The biggest pressure I’ve ever experienced in life has been what I have put myself under. Today I am wiser and more mature, I know it’s about the bigger picture, not just one game or one day”.

ROLLING VISIT

ROLLING Stones legend Ronnie Wood has been in Spain enjoying a La Liga match at the invitation of FC Barcelona. Wood, 76, made it a family affair by taking his wife Sally, 46, and their seven-yearold twins Gracie and Alice to watch Barca play Getafe. The invite came after the Rolling Stones sponsored last October's El Clasico clash against Real Madrid.

The trip to the Nou Camp was the first soccer match for the couple's daughters and they were rewarded by an easy four-nil win for Barcelona. Wood knows the city well, having bought an apartment close to the Paseo de Galicia in 2013. Sightings of his family are not uncommon as they split their time between the UK and Spain.

Family reunion

THE Spanish royals met up with their counterparts from around the world at St George's Chapel, Windsor, for a Thanksgiving Service in memory of Greece’s last monarch, King Constantine. Spain’s contingent was led by King Felipe and Queen Leitiza, along with Felipe’s mother and King Constatine’s sister, Queen Sofia. Also in attendance was the Emeritus King, Juan Carlos. Constantine II took to the Greek throne in 1964, but was deposed in 1973 after the military junta abolished the monarchy. His funeral took place in Athens in January 2023 after he died aged 82. The service saw Queen Camilla as the leading UK royal in attendance. King Charles was continuing his cancer treatment, and the Prince of Wales was called away at the last minute on a personal matter.

HOLLYWOOD actor Tom Hardy has shown off his martial arts skills during a break from shooting Venom 3 at Alicante’s City of Light film studios.

ROYAL MEMORIES: Kings Felipe and Juan Carlos attended the service presided over by Queen Camilla

FAMILY AFFAIR: Ronnie Wood, wife Sally and kids Gracie and Alice at the Nou Camp

IN CHARGE: Steven Caulker is boss at Malaga City

It’s your cash

PEOPLE are being asked what the unspent COVID fund should be spent on.

During the pandemic many people and businesses donated cash to help the GHA in its fight against Covid.

This money was put into a special fund and has not been used. Now Minister for Health, Care and Business, Gemma Arias-Vasquez has launched a public consultation on the use of the fund.

Plans to redevelop the entrance to St Bernard’s hospital were scrapped in December after a petition against the scheme was handed in.

Arias-Vasquez said:

“Throughout our darkest days the community came together to support the GHA. The COVID fund is the people’s money and I think it is only fair that we undertake a public consultation to see how best we can use this money.”

Ideas on how to spend the cash should be emailed to covidfund@gibraltar.gov.

gi. The consultation period ends on Friday, April 26.

Changing of the guard

LIEUTENANT General Sir Ben Bathurst has been named as the next Governor of Gibraltar.

He will take over from Vice Admiral Sir David Steel in June.

Sir David will depart Gibraltar towards the end of May 2024 having served four years in the post.

Sir Ben's has held key positions both in the UK and internationally, having served in Brussels as the UK Military Representative to NATO and the EU from 2020 to 2023.

From 2016 to 2019 he was Major General Commanding the Household Division and Gen eral Officer Command ing London District. He has also held operation al roles in Kabul and Baghdad.

NESTING:

Some of Gib’s feathered residents

Bird broods

FROM Barbary Partridges to Zitting Cisticola by way of Scops Owls and Crested Larks, Gibraltar’s bird nesting season is officially underway. Spanning March to June, the Department of Environment has advised that this is a crucial time for the peninsula’s birds.

It has urged members of the public to take extra precaution to protect birds and their vulnerable offspring, particularly by avoiding tree or hedge cutting

during this period.

In unavoidable situations, such as those related to public health and safety, the Department requires a pre-works survey conducted by a qualified professional before proceeding with any vegetation work.

Gibraltar, due to its unique location, boasts a diverse bird population with both resident and migratory species.

Galliano regrets

Gibraltar designer, 63, apologises for vile anti-Semitic comments after mounting comeback this year

A NEW documentary will showcase the rapid rise and fall of controversial Gibraltar-born fashion designer John Galliano.

From a high of rubbing shoulders with some of the most beautiful and glamorous celebrities in the world, he hit rock bottom overnight after hurling anti-semitic insults.

High and Low: John Galliano, directed by Academy Award-winning Scot Kevin Macdonald, coincides with the enigmatic and flawed Galliano’s attempts to revive his career following a catwalk comeback in Paris this year, which was received by a five-minute standing ovation and rapturous praise from critics.

In 2010, Galliano was fired from his prestigious role as creative director at Dior following a drunken racist and anti-semitic rant towards a group of Jewish women in the French capital. A video quickly surfaced of the outburst, in which Galliano

HMS Diamond is loaded up and ready for action after being resupplied at Gibraltar.

The Type 45 destroyer is returning to the front line in the Red Sea. On her previous deployment to the area she shot down a Houthi attack drone that was targeting merchant shipping.

The ship was in Gibraltar from February 10 to March 2 for maintenance, including restocking and refuelling, after two months’ active deployment.

The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo and Governor, Sir David Steel, sent a joint signal to the Commanding Officer following her departure from Gibraltar.

They expressed their heartfelt thanks for ‘all that HMS Diamond does so well’ and wished them safe passage and return to Gibraltar on their way home.

By Ben Pawlowski

screamed “I love Hitler” and told the shocked women: “People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers would all be f***ing gassed”.

The 116-minute feature film, available in UK cinemas from March 8, features a candid interview with 63-year old Galliano reflecting on his struggles with alcohol and substance abuse.

In 2007, Galliano lost his close friend and colleague Steven Robinson after he was found dead in a Paris apartment with over seven grams of cocaine in his system, breaking the heart of the already-struggling fashion genius.

Addictions to alcohol, valium and sleeping pills culminated in the high-profile racist attack from which he was subsequently cancelled and temporarily exiled from the catwalk.

Sidney Toledano, the boss of Dior, speculates on-screen that Galliano’s anti-semitism may have roots in his Spanish Catholic upbringing.

Galliano was born to a Gibraltarian father and a Spanish mother in the British Overseas Territory before moving to the UK aged six, settling in south London.

While his strict Catholic parents were repulsed by his homosexuality, Galliano seemed destined for success following an education at Central Saint Martins, the London-based breeding ground for new fash-

A real Diamond

HEY DAY: Galliano rubbed shoulders with celebs

ion talent.

He created his own eponymous label in Paris, before heading up creative design for fashion juggernauts Givenchy and Dior where he established himself as de-facto leader of the 1990s fashion vanguard movement.

Galliano was named British designer of the year four times, whilst a 2004 poll commissioned by the BBC named him as the fifth most influential person in British culture.

Catwalk

The documentary includes interviews with some of fashion’s leading names, including Naomi Campbell, Penelope Cruz, Anna Wintour and Kate Moss, the latter of whom fondly recalls Galliano teaching her how to stride on the catwalk with style and elegance.

Macdonald, who won an Academy Award for directing a documentary about the 1972 murder of 11 Israeli athletes by the Palestinian militant organisation Black September, said there were two reasons

Covered again

A MEDICAL insurance scheme for senior citizen residents travelling to Spain has been unveiled by the Gibraltarian government.

Older people going across the border will be able to register for emergency medical insurance cover but this will only apply to the Andalucia region.

The announcement has been made by Gibraltar's Minister for Justice, Trade, and Industry - Nigel Feetham.

The Government has negotiated a bespoke arrangement with Whiterock Insurance.

A policy will only cover medical treatment in the event of an emergency where somebody insured cannot be transported back to Gibraltar.

Reciprocal healthcare between Spain and Gibraltar ended in June 2021 - six months following the end of Brexit transition period.

Shocking finds

HUNDREDS of mistreated animals, including dogs and horses, have been rescued from horrifying conditions around Malaga province.

why he wanted to create the documentary. “John is regarded as one of the great designers of the last 100 years. What does that actually mean in the world of fashion? What does it mean to be one of the greats?”

The director, 56, who has Jewish ancestry, also said: “We’re living in a time in which - and John is really the origin of this for me - well-known people, celebrities, are getting caught by some socially unacceptable behaviour and cancelled in one way or another. I was interested in the question of what happens to you afterwards.”

In one case inspectors were shocked to find a dog with its ears and tail hacked off, while in another a horse had been abandoned without food or water in a heatwave.

Although the Guardia Civil managed to rescue 111 animals, in some cases they were simply too late, with others having been beaten to death. Under Operation Colaphus 500 offences were logged relating to animal welfare. The Guardia Civil has started proceedings against 34 individuals and placed the rescued animals into the care of various associations and shelters.

NEW ATTRACTIONS

THE World War II Tunnel Experience is getting a facelift.

The popular tourist destination, which shares captivating stories about its strategic significance to the British, will get a new spy academy experience, new interpretation areas, and a themed bar and retail space.

The project is being managed by Gibraltar’s Wright Tech Media. It has appointed design agency Katapult for the redesign.

The attraction is expected to reopen to visitors in phases from the summer.

Phil Higgins, chief creative officer at Katapult said: “This project has been story-driven from the very beginning, ensuring the tales of the most awe-inspiring characters from history continue to be told. We want guests to walk away from the Tunnels experience feeling like they’ve walked side-by-side with the key protagonists from World War II.”

FRONT LINE: HMS Diamond and (inset) a missile launch

FACELIFT: The Wold War 2 tunnels

Still going strong

“GOOD morning, world. Today I turn 117 years old. I’ve come this far”.

This was the wonderful tweet sent out by Spaniard Maria Branyas, who turned 117 years old this week.

The world’s oldest living person was born on March 4, 1907. She has survived two world wars, the Spanish Civil War, two global pandemics, a deadly earthquake and a major fire. She even beat off Covid-19 in 2020, becoming known as the ‘Super Grandmother’ to her adoring followers on social media. The mother-of-three, who lives in Catalunya, has been studied by scientists keen to discover the reasons behind her remarkable longevity. She became the world’s oldest living person after the death of 118-year old Frenchwoman Lucile Randon in January last year. She celebrated her record-breaking birthday with family and friends in Olot. Born in San Francisco, she moved to Spain with her family at the age of eight.

A

who has been crowned the winner of a prestigious art competition on UK television has praised her homeland for being ‘such a special place.’

Monica Popham, 26, won the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2024 competition and the £10,000-commission prize in a televised finale which aired last week.

But the actual event was filmed in London in July at the height of summer, meaning that Popham had to keep her victory underwraps for over six months.

Gibraltar landscape artist beats

to win Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year 2024

By Walter Finch

And she credited the Gibraltar Cultural Services for their steadfast support and ‘pushing her towards her goal.’

“It can be really easy to let your artistic dreams fall by the wayside when you’re working fulltime,” the landscape artist said. “But with the cultural services, there were always competitions and opportunities, so they made sure that it never died. They even took us to London for an exhibition in 2022.

“So the support I’ve had has been unbelievable, they really do get behind you here.”

Popham, who was working a 9-5 at the time, brushed aside competition from full-time artists Kristina Chan and Denise

Migrants land

TOURISTS were left shocked after boats carrying over 40 migrants made landfall on a popular Andalucian beach. Videos show dozens of migrants jumping onshore at Roquetas de Mar, in Almeria. Some of the arrivals needed treatment after displaying symptoms of hypothermia.

The majority of migrants arrive in Spain via the Canary Islands from poverty-stricken Mauritania, widely regarded as the world’s deadliest migration route.

PIC CREDIT: Sortyvault Productions

UNVEILED:

Fisk with her winning painting of an urban landscape.

The finale saw the artists venture atop the Royal Opera House overlooking Covent Garden for their final paintings.

The three contenders started at 4pm and had just four hours to realise their vision - all sitting within easy sight of each other’s canvases.

Popham faced the challenge of capturing the complex tapestry of architectural styles amidst overcast skies and dwindling sunlight.

Her journey to the final was no easy feat. She had to pass through - and win - an earlier heat and a semi-final by paint-

ing a variety of landscapes.

From her depiction of a window from her hometown in Gibraltar in the opening round to her rich colour palette inspired by Mediterranean roots that took her to the final, Monica's artistic evolution resonated with judges throughout the competition. As the winner of Landscape Artist of the Year 2024, Monica's prize includes a prestigious £10,000 commission from the Science Museum in London. Her artwork, inspired by Orkney's pioneering sustainable energy initiatives, has already been unveiled on the museum’s Level 2.

Nolotil campaign grows

OVER 500 people have signed an Olive Press petition to keep tourists and expats safe from the deadly painkiller Nolotil.

KILL THE DRUG

Our Kill the Drug campaign urges Spanish health professionals to agree to follow the 2018 directive banning the German-made drug for British, Scandinavian and Irish patients.

Since launching on February 12, some 505 people have backed the campaign, with many adding supportive comments. While Nolotil is now banned in 40 countries, it is still being regularly prescribed around Spain.

Campaigner Christina del Campo of the Association for Drug Affected People (ADAF) claims her group has over 100 cases of British people dying from the drug.

We now plan to contact local health facilities to urge them to comply with the official warning from Madrid that urges hospitals and clinics not to hand out the drug to foreigners.

Please sign the petition by searching ‘Stop Nolotil deaths’ on Change.org.

Popham with her painting for the Science Museum and (left) on the rooftop at Covent Garden

TOWERS OF TERROR

Fire tragedy building in Valencia was ‘clad with material discontinued after Grenfell horror’

Hospital shame

WHAT happened to pregnant expat Kelsey Brown is nothing short of a disgrace.

The 34-year-old was rushed to hospital where a scan revealed her baby had died - however they refused her a C-section and made her have an agonising birth without epidural.

What’s worse is she bled out for more than five-and-ahalf hours before the necessary blood supplies arrived. How could a private hospital designed to deliver children have been running so low on blood? And when doctors realised they did not have enough, why was Kelsey not sent to the main, nearby Hospital Costa del Sol?

These are just some of the questions the Spanish authorities MUST answer.

To date, they have done nothing but delay handing over crucial documents, including medical notes from Kelsey’s time at Marbella’s Ceram hospital, and much-needed records from her autopsy.

We call on the Ministry of Health to get to the bottom of what went wrong with Kelsey as soon as possiblealthough sadly, we doubt we will hear any admission of wrongdoing anytime soon.

Good news

IN an important step for the Rock’s international image, Gibraltar is no longer under the watchful eye of the Financial Action Task Force.

After two years of hard work, it has finally been removed from the watchdog’s ‘grey list’.

It is well deserved, as officials have made substantial strides to improve shortcomings in legal and gambling sectors.

These are both important to Gibraltar’s economy so it is always positive to see them improved, particularly if they increase public trust.

It is also a mark of pride that the Rock implemented an Action Plan ‘swiftly’ to resolve the issue.

The quick and decisive action has made Gibraltar a trustworthy ally for well-needed economic investment.

It is clear the FATF’s decision has weight as the UK soon followed suit, removing the Rock from its own grey list. Hopefully, this will attract new global investment in the region, which we all know has lots to offer.

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Simon

Walter

Yzabelle

Ben

EXCLUSIVE by

Ben Pawlowski

THE deadly fire that killed 10 residents of a Valencia apartment complex may have been spread by the use of a highly flammable cladding banned in the UK, the Olive Press can reveal.

Ten people perished in the inferno on Avenida del General Alives on February 22, including a newly-married couple and their two-week old baby.

The tragic blaze has been dubbed ‘Spain’s Grenfell’ in reference to the similar 2017 tower block fire that killed 79 people in London.

The building, which housed approximately 450 residents, was built by Catalan company FBEX, which dissolved in 2010 at the height of the Spanish property crisis after racking up debts worth over €600 million.

Prior to its liquidation, the company operated in Catalunya, Valencia and the Balearic Islands.

Media reports initially blamed Alucobond, a brand of rear-ventilated facades, after an FBEX promotional video claimed that the apartments were wrapped in an ‘Alucobond-type cladding’.

However, images taken from Google Maps of the building’s construction in the Nou Campanar neighbourhood of Valencia show clad-

ding emblazoned with a logo reading ‘Larson’. ‘Larson’ is the brand name for aluminium composite materials (ACMs) produced by Alucoil, a Spanish multinational company based in Burgos.

Alucoil currently produces two types of ACM used to clad buildings - ‘Larson FR’ and ‘Larson A2’, although the latter has only been introduced within the last decade.

According to Valencia’s Official College of Technical Architecture, construction works for the building began in February 2006 and finished in 2008.

An investigation carried out by the Olive Press suggests that the cladding used may have been of a type known as ‘Larson PE’, a common version of ACM discontinued by the company in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Marketing materials indicate that Larson PE was still on sale in late 2018.

According to official documentation, Larson PE is a ‘composite panel produced by two sheets of Aluminium with a low density polyethylene inside core’.

Paul Hyett, an expert witness to the Grenfell

BYE BYE PRINCESS

IRA von Fürstenberg, the iconic socialite princess, carved her path through the Jet Set age with elegance and allure. Born into royalty, her early life exuded glamour and sophistication. Ira’s lineage as a member of the House of Fürstenberg shaped her into a symbol of aristocratic grace and style. She was just 15 when she married 31-year old Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who once jealousy refused the great Salvador Dali’s request to paint

A look at the life of Ira von Fürstenberg, who helped build the Jet Set reputation of the Mediterranean gem of Marbella---

By Ben Pawlowski

Ira in the nude. The scandalous marriage didn’t seem to harm either party as the publicity helped cement Prince Hohenlohe’s position within European high society. It was during this period that the rakish prince and glamorous model and actress brought world-wide publicity to Marbella as the paparazzi of the day and gossip columns lapped up the never-ending string of personalities visiting the Mediterranean town Known as the ‘Princess of Marbella’, Ira lived a life of glamour, luxury and controversy right to the very end.

Rome

Ira died last month in Rome, aged 83. She was born in Rome in 1940

SOCIALITE: Ira enjoying the Marbella lifestyle with Prince Alfonso

zu Fürstenberg, daughter of the German prince Tassilo von Fürstenberg and his wife, Clara Agnelli, the granddaughter of the founder of automotive giant Fiat.

When she married Prince Alfonso her socialite status was set. She not only appeared on the silver screen in a string of movies, but attracted the attentions of the great Salvador Dali , who several times requested she pose for him - a request always turned down.

Together with her husband, she cemented her status within the

‘Jet Set’ elite, owning homes in Ronda, Marbella, Austria, London, Madrid and Rome. Popularly denoted as one of the first ‘It girls’, she had two children with Alfonso. Christoph, known as Kiko, who died in suspicious circumstances in a Bangkok prison in 2006, and Hubertus, a former Olympic skier and fellow member of the clique that Ira called the ‘happy few’.

In 1954, Ira and Alfonso estab-

lished the iconic Marbella Club, the luxurious hotel that put the city, and the Costa del Sol, on the ‘Jet Set’ map.

Ira became friends with fellow wealthy elites, such as the German millionaire Gunter Sachs, the French activist-actress Brigitte Bardot, and every corner of the Spanish aristocracy.

“Marbella back

as Virginia Carolina Theresa Pancrazia Galdina

HAPPY: Ira with her Prince and new born child and (right) on screen with Klaus Kinski

FATAL BLAZE: The fire (right and above) was reminicent of the Grenfell disaster (far right)

All about

TOWERING SUCCESS

A honeypot for the rich and famous, Benahavis offers an example of a true Spanish success story

T just seems to keep on growing. The statistics for this tiny enclave, a short drive from the snazzy nightlife of Puerto Banus and Marbella, are quite remarkable.

Long the highest-earning place in Andalucia (with an average earnings of €38,000), its population (of which 68% is foreign) by last year had soared from 7,300 residents to a healthy 9,244 since 2022. It could hit the magic number of 10,000 this Spring, predict experts.

It’s a massive amount of growth and is mostly down to digital nomads and teleworkers looking to live somewhere warm surrounded by nature and open spaces.

The free tennis, football and golf lessons for kids, plus language, yoga and pilates for adults does not do any harm either.

Benahavis really does offer something for everyone, particularly as its nearby hills have recently been officially designated the Sierra de las Nieves

National Park. Spain’s sixteenth national park, the soaring peaks often covered with snow in winter (hence the name), are some of the most amazing for hiking and bird-watching, with eagles and vultures soaring above with increasing frequency.

Best reached from the Benahavis urbanisation of La Quinta, a threehour circular walk takes you up to the famous castano santo - holy chestnut tree - that at 1000 years old is said to be the oldest in Malaga province.

Gorge

But there are many other walks right from the village, in particular down into its famous river gorge, where many people combine hiking with swimming, or up towards the stunning country retreat of the wealthy Goldsmith family, where the UK’s former Prime Minister Boris Johnson stayed three years ago. First revealed by the Olive Press, Johnson had turned up to enjoy

what Benahavis offers best: a week of hiking followed by a dabble with a paintbrush out in the open air. By coincidence his visit came at the same time as Netflix descended on the village to film a couple of scenes from the hit series The Crown. Renting out a villa in the exclusive Benahavis enclave of Zagaleta they portrayed the mid1990s holiday that Lady Diana took with her friend Jemima Goldsmith at her nearby family estate, Tramores.

The cast and crew were regularly seen around the village, both filming various scenes, as well as enjoying their time off.

“It is the best possible promotion we could have had,” explains Councillor Scott Marshall, who’s artist father David moved to Benahavis in the 1970s.

Both visits were thanks to the village’s connection to the Goldsmith family, who are heavily focussed on

Continues on next page

VERDANT: Leafy Benahavis offers a more relaxed lifestyle than the bustling coast

From previous page

Still forging ahead

protecting the local environment, in particular planting trees.

Lady Annabel Goldsmith wrote about the moment when she and her famous and talkative husband, Sir James, fell in love with the enclave. She said: “That day, as we stood on the terrace, looking at the mountains, at the amazing view, with no other sign of human habitation, and at nature at its simplest and most dramatic, Jimmy fell silent.”

In total, just 2,500 more homes

The Benahavis Effect

IT’s a great place to retire, explains local expat Barry Segal, a former radio DJ. “I call it the Benahavis effect and once you’ve lived here for a year you won’t want to leave.

“The people are so friendly, the climate is perfect and the place is so nice and quiet,” he continues. “Plus it is great all the free Spanish and exercise classes and even trips around Andalucia, one we recently took to Antequera.”

will be allowed inside its borders, while there are plans agreed with the Junta - to have its own 1,500-pupil school - more on that soon.

Visitors will be more impressed by the village itself, which is so nicely secluded from the buzzing Costa del Sol.

about around town.

Lungfulls of pure mountain air are on the house as you huff and puff up the cobbled streets to the top of this beautifully-kept pueblo hung with painted flower pots, and ornamented with stylish street lanterns, fountains and viewpoints, 10 to the pound. Keep an eye out for a glimpse of President Putin’s multi-towered castle at the top of one nearby hill (not that he is likely to be using it again anytime soon), while I was impressed with the electric car charger points, not to mention innovative bike repair stations

A village hike is a free history tour taking you back to Moorish times, when this former Arabic stronghold was crowned by the 11th Century Montemayor castle, overlooking vast swathes of the Costa del Sol.

The village takes its name from Havis, a Moorish prince who ruled from the castle, before his family were finally ousted, the village reconquered by the Catholic monarchs in the late 15th century.

raged on for 350 years until the village gained its independence. Near the village are a few things of note.

Village hike is a free history tour taking you back to Moorish times

It was then that war broke out between Benahavis and Marbella and

Water babies, will love the Rio Guadalmina gorge, which is one of the coolest natural attractions on the Costa del Sol.

Take a river ramble along its banks, go wild swimming in one of the deep rock pools or try canyoning along the Canon de Las Angosturas. Not for the faint-hearted, the 50-metre descent starts at Charca de las Mozas - a popular picnic spot south of the water tow -

er roundabout that’s become the unofficial swimming baths. Dive in - there’s no charge! Parts of the river were channelled by the Arabs in order to supply nearby farms and orchards. These routes have since been adapted for hiking with the addition of a suspension

bridge over the Angosturas canyon, opening up the Sendero Acequia del Guadalmina (see pic below), an easy family walking route of around four kilometres beside a watercourse dug for the farmers.

Finally, there is the Benahavis for foodies. With over a dozen restaurants and its own cookery school, it is no surprise it has been called the ‘gourmet capital’ of the Costa del Sol. There is certainly healthy competition between the many restaurants in the

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

MOST of the population growth in Benahavis over the last half decade has been wealthy professionals, and the majority come from abroad.

Indeed, an incredible 68% of the population is now foreign, with hundreds of digital nomads relocating here from northern Europe and the States over recent years.

But there were an incredible 101 nationalities registered on the local padron last year, with the British still the largest, counting for around 50% of the foreigners in the town and approaching 2,000 in number.

As well as the location and natural surroundings, foreigners are also drawn to the town’s high-speed fibre optics as well as its excellent sporting facilities, which are mostly free to residents.

The town is modernising and upgrading all the facilities all the time and has recently installed a full size running track.

TRANQUIL WALK: The Sendero Acequia del Guadalmina is a pleasant walk, while (right) a rare wild cabra montes

SITE: of the town’s popular Romeria

NATURAL SPLENDOUR:

The arrival road is a wonderful setting for Benahavis (right)

heart of the village and each of them vie for your custom with enticing terraces facing out to the nearby hills. While they may not be free for local residents, they are anything but expensive and far better value than their nearby rivals in Marbella or Estepona.

La Taberna Fantastica was born with the idea to create a restaurant that had a unique personality Set in a century old Andalusian Cortijo in the old town of Benahavís. This space was created for you to share those fantastic moments in life with your loved ones in a charming atmosphere.

tel: 608 38 29 43 info@latabernafantastica.es Plaza de España, 8, Benahavís www.latabernafantastica.es

A unique dining experience in a inspiring location boasting stunning views of the Andalusian landscape all the way down to the Mediterranean Sea

RESERVATIONS:

+34 951 74 47 77 / +34 627 12 14 43

clive@cotorestaurante.com

www.cotorestaurante.com

Monday to Saturday: 1pm-12am

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Flamenco Show every Friday

enquiry and a former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, told the Olive Press that polyethylene is ‘highly inflammable’, with a combustibility akin to ‘diesel fuel’.

Larson PE received a classification of ‘E’ on the EU’s EN-13501 fire safety test, the same score received by Reynobond PE, the type of cladding widely blamed for spreading the flames on Grenfell Tower.

The ratings on the test extend from A to F, with A the lowest inflammability and F the highest. UK regulations currently state that cladding used on buildings with a height exceeding 18

metres must have a rating of either A or A2, indicating incombustibility.

Five tower blocks in Norwich were forced to have their Larson PE aluminium composite cladding removed in 2018 after the facade failed fire safety tests.

Jonathan Sakula (pictured inset below), the official cladding consultant to the Grenfell enquiry, told the Olive Press: “Polyethylene is a combustible filler, like the one used on Grenfell. It is not a good material to use, especially on high-rise buildings, as it is too combustible”.

Larson FR is a more fire-retardant version of

then was a wild party when you came and went with different people. One night it could be the Franco’s or the Bismarck’s, the next Cayetana de Alba”, she told Vanity Fair.

After just six years of marriage, she controversially eloped, starting a passionate romance with the notorious Italian-Brazilian playboy Francisco ‘Baby’ Pignatari, a businessman Ira referred to as ‘the love of her life’.

Larson PE - however, with a score of B on the EU’s fire safety standard, it would still remain unsuitable for high-rise buildings under new UK legislation.

Larson FR was first mentioned on Alucoil’s website in 2008, the year that construction of the Valencia apartment complex was completed.

It was described as ‘the first step of a new composite panel generation with which Alucoil hopes to answer modern architectural needs’.

A revised technical building code (CTE) was introduced in Spain in March 2006, one month after construction in Valencia began, explicitly mandating ‘the limitation of the risk of fire spread via the exterior of the building’.

Buildings known to be clad with Larson PE include: residential blocks in A Coruña and Madrid, a Carrefour supermarket in Mijas, the University General Hospital of Cartagena, the Oceanografic Centre in Valencia and buildings at the Jerez Circuit. The buildings were clad between 2002 and 2014.

Experts from the Official College of Property Administrators (CAF), in conjunction with the College of Architects of Malaga, are reviewing buildings on the Costa del Sol with similar characteristics to the Valencia apartment block that burnt down last month.

Chimney

Manuel Jimenez, president of the Malaga branch of CAF, urged for calm, stressing that ‘the characteristics of this building are not common in Andalucia’.

It is unknown how many residential buildings across Spain contain Larson PE cladding, or similarly inflammable equivalents.

Sakula stressed to the Olive Press that ‘there is no way of truly telling what happened until one does a proper investigation’.

Hyett likewise suggested that other factors, such as the use of cavity barriers to inhibit the passage of smoke and fire through the gap between the cladding and insulation, must be thoroughly analysed.

Susana Gomez de Lara, head of the College of Architects of Malaga, told Malaga Hoy that the cavity space was ‘not compartmentalised’, and that high winds may have created a ‘chimney effect’, helping to spread the flames.

The Olive Press approached Alucoil for comment but received no response.

BRAVE: Firefighters tackled the blaze in Valencia

As Olive Press becomes THE reference point for news in Spain… take advantage of our special

EAGLE-eyed readers may have noticed how our website was once again followed up by news outlets around the world this past fortnight.

Our exclusive of how two brothers were arrested for kicking out squatters from their flat in Barcelona was picked up by the Daily Mail (right) - and even the leading paper in their home country of Belarus.

It was just one of many original stories that caught the eye of the world’s biggest publishers.

They include the Sun who followed up our story about a Brit missing while holidaying in Mallorca. Fortunately John Webster (below) has since been found alive and well - having been hospitalised with breathing issues without access to his mobile phone.

Meanwhile, our live coverage of the ‘historic’ Christian Brueckner trial in Germany was followed by the Sun, MailOnline, Mirror and Telegraph Editor Jon Clarke was also working for ITV and Germany’s RTL for the start of the trial in Braunschweig, involving a string of vile sex crimes in Portugal. It once again proves that for those interested in news in the Iberian region, there is no better source than theolivepress.es.

And the numbers don’t lie, with over 2,000 readers registering an account on our website so far this year, including from as far away as the USA and Australia.

Only by being a subscriber can you enjoy full, ad-re-

duced access to our content, which is around 20 stories, features and reviews a day.

To persuade you to make the move, we are today launching our special Spring sale, which will last throughout March and offer an incredible 50% off all our subscription packages. It means you can sign up for just €2.99 per month, or the equivalent of 75 cents per weekhalf the price of a caña!

Scan the QR code below to be taken to the subscription page with the discount already applied.

HAPPY READING!

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

1-

Terrifying moment expat brothers are arrested inside their own flat in Spain after the SQUATTERS they kicked out called in police

2- Missing: British tourist, 61, who vanished from Spain's Mallorca two days ago - as partner back home says she's 'worried sick'

3- My Top 10 places in Ronda

4- This tiny village in Spain with 40 volcanoes and a secret waterfall is a must visit for 2024according to the Sun

5-

Huge 'crystal lagoon' is coming to this major city in Spain's Andalucia - featuring artificial beaches and water sports

SOCIETY: Ira was a regular visitor to Marbella’s Starlite Festival. She is pictured (left) with singer Eros Ramazzotti and (right) with actor Massimo Gargia

LA CULTURA

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

THE Treasure of Villena has hit world headlines after researchers claimed it is partly made with iron from outer space. This is the second biggest hoard of gold from the European Bronze Age after the Royal Tombs of Mycenae. It consists of 59 gold, silver and iron objects with a total weight of nearly 10kgs and was discovered in the Valencian city of Villena in 1963.

Two iron artefacts - the oldest found in Spain - one of them

BREAKDOWN KIT

a small hemisphere covered with a sheet of gold, which possibly served as the pommel of a sword hilt, the other a bracelet or ring, are the subject of the experts’ new report. But the hoard is not the only one to have been found in Spain. Join us as we rediscover some of the most famous treasures from the country.

And don’t miss the Buried Treasure section of items known to exist but still unrecovered. You could be lucky and hit the jackpot for yourself!

emergency hotline where you are.

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This emergency breakdown kit should be kept in your vehicle at all times. The kit includes: a torch and spare batteries, warm clothes and blankets, high-visibility jacket, first aid kit, jump start cables, empty fuel can, food and drink, two reflective warning signs, a road atlas, and a mobile phone charger.

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We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Línea Directa please call 952 147 834. More information about Línea Directa online at www. lineadirecta.com

varre yielded up its long-kept secret. Hidden inside it were 52 coins made of gold, silver and iron. They represented various monarchs - Juana I, Felipe II and Carlos V - indicating they date from different periods of the 16th century. How they got there remains a tantalising mystery.

Treasure of El Carambolo

A haul containing 21 pieces of crafted gold jewellery and plaques was discovered by Spanish construction workers in the town of Camas, near Sevilla, in 1958.

Whether of Tartessian or Phoenician origin, the booty - including pendants, bracelets and necklaces hidden in a ceramic vessel - has been dated from between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, making it one of the oldest treasure finds in Spain. Some experts even link it to the legend of the Lost City of Atlantis.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

Across

1 Source (6)

5 An absolute riot (6)

8 Whisky cask material (3)

9 Dexterous (6)

10 Like some jobs and information (6)

11 Perfectly vertical (5)

13 Did cats frolic? They can’t stop (7)

14 Breathe with difficulty (6)

17 Be a benefactor (2,4)

20 Less sorrowful (7)

22 Infernal writer? (5)

25 Militaristic city-state (6)

26 Wood finish, in marquetry (6)

27 Stage (3)

28 Let out (6)

29 Canadian pole-vault star --- Newman (6)

Down

2 Annual flyer with a famous nose (7)

3 Cake figurine (5)

4 Marginal inscription (4)

5 Lost traction (7)

6 Ruined rug isn’t going to ruin (7)

7 Examine the books (5)

12 “Well, that’s show --- !” (3)

15 British and Roman, for example (7)

16 May birthstone (7)

18 Eccentric (3)

19 It’ll never get off the ground in Africa (7)

21 More than enough (5)

23 Soothe (5)

24 Latvian capital (4)

All solutions are on page 15

The Missorium of Theodosius I

Discovered in Almendrale

jo, Badajoz in 1847, this elaborate ceremonial silver dish resides today in Madrid’s Royal Academy of History. Dated between 388 and 393 AD, it was probably made in Constantinople for the 10th anniversary of Emperor Theodosius I’s coronation, the last Emperor to rule both Eastern and Western Empires.

along with brace lets and ceramic and bone buttons on display at the Museu de Menorca in Mahón.

re

BURIED TREASURE

Get out your diving gear and metal detectors - these treasures have yet to be claimed

II Republic’s Gold

During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713)

19 Spanish ships guarded by 23 French ships sailed into the Vigo estuary in Galicia carrying 108 million silver and gold coins destined to fund Felipe V’s side of the argument. But Anglo-Dutch pirates attacked them and, after a gruelling battle, made off with 40 million. The rest of the booty still lies in its watery grave waiting to be recovered.

The Rande Galleons

More recently, during the 2nd Spanish Republic (1931 – 1936), Governor Juan Negrin arranged for truckloads of gold and art treasures to be moved from the Spanish Central Bank to Girona, to protect it from fascists, also sending seven trucks to France. Only six arrived at their destination. The missing truck could contain 10 tons of gold but it has never been found.

The law of Treasure Trove

Is it finders keepers in Spain? There’s no simple answer. It depends what it is and where it was found.

● According to Articles 351 and 614 of the Civil Code, treasure trove belongs to the owner of the land where it was found. If someone else discovers it, they have a right to half its value even if the landowner is the State. But if the treasure is ‘of interest to science and the arts’ the State can acquire it for ‘its fair price’ which opens a whole new can of worms.

● For the kind of treasures we’re talking about, the State would al most certainly step in and buy it to retain complete control.

Rich pickings

Competing claims by Colombia, Spain and Bolivia over sunken galleon’s €20 billion booty mar plans for robotic expedition

A SPANISH treasure galleon sunk off the Colombian coast has sparked a three-way tugof-war over the estimated €20 billion booty at the bottom of the sea.

Historical records suggest the San Jose galleon, sunk in 1708 by a British naval squadron, was carrying a vast fortune of emeralds, gold and silver coins accumulated from Spanish colonies in South America.

The Colombian government of Gustavo Petro has announced plans to launch an expedition to investigate the wreck, nicknamed the ‘holy grail of ship wrecks’.

Colombia has now said that it is investing over €4 million in 2024 alone to explore the galleon and its hidden riches. New technology will be used to explore the 600-metre-deep waters surrounding the wreck. Initial efforts will involve submerged robots attempting to

By Walter Finch

recover some surface-level treasures in April and May. However, Petro faces competing claims from both Spain, which argues the treasure belongs to them as the ship was flying the Spanish flag when it sank, and also Bolivia.

The Bolivian government claims treasures were mined by the indigenous people of the Qhara Qhara nation under Spanish colonial rule, making them the rightful owners.

The San Jose was destroyed and its 500-strong crew killed after its gunpowder magazines detonated during a fierce battle with the British near Baru Island off the coast of Cartagena, according to historians.

But its precise location is being kept a secret, ostensibly to deter amateur treasure hunters. So far, oceanographers have used sea depth analysis and soil studies of the ocean bed to understand the best ways to extract the galleon’s contents. The findings will help assess the condition of other treasures located deeper within the wreckage and guide future recovery efforts.

BATTLE: The San Jose is sunk and now lies on the seabed

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

SLIDE AWAY

Bish, bash, bosh. JON CLARKE is skiing down a Sierra Nevada red run just two hours after leaving Marbella, thanks to the amazing services of exclusive El Lodge hotel

WE arrive outside El Lodge in just over two hours and before we can blink, the car is ushered away and our bags are in the room.

Some five minutes later we’re in the hotel skiing shop being fitted for boots, topof-the-range Salomons with brand new Swiss-made Stockli skis at the ready!

In the corridor is a ticket machine recently installed by the Sierra Nevada resort, where Apple Pay secures us twoday passes with a decent discount for my son.

Bish, bash, bosh! By 11.30am we’re on the slopes, sliding down the red run Aguila, which goes right past the hotel terrace.

There couldn’t be a simpler, quicker, more fluid introduction to Europe’s most remarkable skiing resort.

A station that often stays open well into May, by the end of February this year, the place was finally blanketed

with snow, creating a wonderful white world of fun for winter sports lovers. A regular visitor to the Sierra Nevada, some 30 minutes outside Granada city, I normally get a two night deal at one of the many good value hotels in the resort. This time, we were here to do it in style. And by that, I mean, as the Royals might do (which is fitting with the Spanish king having once allegedly stayed in the Lodge).

TOAST OF THE SLOPES: Jon Clarke salutes El Lodge

El Lodge, as they prefer to call it, is a front row seat to the cream of the Sierra Nevada. And not just the creamy, white powdery stuff that’s just arrived in a deluge. This is where the beautiful people head to and on a bright sunny day in March or April (and statistically the weather is far better than any other

resort in Europe) the terrace is fun with a capital F. The scenic spot is impossible to beat; the Aguila run sloping in from stage left while the legendary Rio run faces you with the white-tipped peaks above it. Music is provided by a DJ, jazzy and soulful through lunch, then picking up to some heavier house and R&B classics with the occasional banger as the sun starts to set.

A real smorgasbord of languages, at least half the guests are here to simply chill out and enjoy the food, with skiing very much off the agenda.

The cool retro menu with its black

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Scan to visit our website

and white pics of days

gone by has a great mix of light bites, healthy options and classics, such as burgers and steaks and, of course, the obligatory Swiss fondue or raclette. There are lots of sharing plates, such as assorted tacos and a bruschetta Caprese with organic cherry tomatoes. I went a bit off-piste with the Rock Fish soup - a kind of bouillabaisse - which was a real winner, coming with plenty of surprises below the surface - chunks of sea bass, clams and prawns, perfectly braised and adding flavour to the rich broth.

Both have heated outdoor pools, plus hot tubs, steam rooms and jacuzzis. And there’s a team of masseurs on hand to soothe away your aches and pains. My son Alfie and his pals loved jumping in and out of the hot tub and ice bath, posing like vikings, between spells in the steam room and sauna. In the evening, we ate in the intimate dining room inside, a cosy space with seductive lighting, gas fireplaces, low ceilings and beams, the antler lamps particularly eye-catching.

His amuse bouche, an ox croquette, was a melt-in-themouth creation

I also tried the truffled burrata mozzarella salad with original pistachio pesto, a real joy. Next up was the delicious Wagyu ‘Pepito’ sandwich that came out looking like a hot cross bun - perfect for Easter - but included a glorious slice of tender steak with cheese and spicy Chipotle sauce oozing out the side. Given the exercise levels I was more than happy to get stuck into a joyous semi-cold peanut cake pudding with mixed berries and even edible flowers. It was time for some more skiing and after three more hours of pushing myself up black runs and across into the amazing Laguna valley, where they recently filmed award-winning film, Society of the Snow, I needed some pampering. And that’s what makes El Lodge and its new sister hotel, Maribel next door, so great… they both count on impressive spas to rejuvenate yourself.

The menu is a sophisticated mix of modern European but particularly focusing on good quality meats, with a dozen to choose from, including slow-cooked Wagyu ribs, suckling lamb shoulder as well as dry aged 35day beef entrecote. We went for the recently introduced Rossini tournedo, an extremely tender cut of French steak, a fillet mignon, served with warm foie on top. A true winner. All put together by executive chef Juan Martín, who’s been in the group for 30 years and has been heading up to the slopes to cook for 15 years now.

The Antequera-born chef knows the ‘best dishes to suit the mountains’

he tells us and explains how he often spends the summer cooking in the Balearics for the group. The proof was in the pudding, of course, and his amuse bouche, an ox croquette, was the most stunning melt-in-themouth creation. Next up was his beef tar-

tare, which, despite being oddly served in a shin of beef, had a wonderful spicy kick and a lot of black truffle to boot. A kale salad accompaniment with goats cheese and peanut sauce screamed out with goodness, while a side order of grilled leeks were delicious.

I went off piste again with my main, trying out the Lobster thermidor, which comes with Boletus mushrooms and a Hollandaise sauce. It is the first time I have had lobster cooked this way and was surprisingly tender and delicious. Not something I’d expected to find in the mountains.

Finally, on the subject of food it would be remiss not to mention the amazing food truck outside, perfect for lunch, care of the Cheat burger bar in Marbella. This was one which got my son and his pals salivating over and was near enough to the snow to not feel they were getting held up for lunch.

For me, if for any reason I was never able to ski again, I would happily spend my days sitting here or on the terrace

WHITE WORLD: The views from even the bathrooms are amazing, while (below) the heated pool

SALIVATING: The Cheat food truck is always popular, while (above) the dining room

PRECISION: Ski shop pro sets the fittings

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Sleep easy Deadly prank

SWITCHING to a vegetarian diet can ‘prevent or treat’ sleep apnoea, the medical condition that causes heavy snoring, a new study has found.

Researchers used dietary data from over 14,000 people who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

People who ate more vegetables, fruits and whole grains were 19% less likely to have sleep apnoea compared to the group who ate the least.

Meanwhile, people who ate more processed meat and junk foods high in sugar and fat were found to be 22% more likely to snore heavily during the night.

Destructive sleep apnoea affects one in 10 adults, particularly men who are elderly and overweight.

Sleep apnoea is a respiratory condition that causes breathing to stop and start during sleep, potentially straining the heart.

SPAIN’S annual birth rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1941 when current reporting systems were introduced, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

There were 322,075 new babies last year - 2% fewer than in 2022 and births have fallen by 24.1% over the last decade.

Just two regions - Madrid and Ex-

BABY LOW

tremadura - registered increased birth rates last year.

The figures show that the age of motherhood in Spain is rising and there are more births to those aged 40 or over (10.7% of the total) compared to women

under 25 years of age (9.4%).

As for deaths, last year’s number was 435,331 - 5.8% fewer than in 2022 but 4.6% more than in 2019, before the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

Waiting shame

A UTERINE cancer patient has filed a criminal complaint against the Hospital Costa del Sol for having to wait more than 120 days for urgent surgery.

Known only as Daniela A, the 46-year-old woman has revealed she has been waiting for the operation since October last year - despite being classed as a ‘priority’. She has now filed an official denuncia at the Malaga Pros-

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 1 Origin, 5 Scream, 8 Oak, 9 Adroit, 10

Inside, 11 Plumb, 13 Addicts, 14 Wheeze, 17 Do good, 20 Happier, 22 Dante, 25 Sparta, 26 Inlaid, 27 Leg, 28 Leased, 29 Alysha.

Down: 2 Rudolph, 3 Groom, 4 Note, 5 Skidded, 6 Rusting, 7 Audit, 12 Biz, 15 Empires, 16 Emerald, 18 Odd, 19 Ostrich, 21 Ample, 23 Allay, 24 Riga.

Cancer patient calls in police after waiting four months for critical surgery

By Laurence Dollimore

ecutor’s Office.

Daniela said: “It is a terrible anguish... I am suffering incredible pain, which means there are times when I cannot

TAKE A STEP BACK

The narrative we tell ourselves impacts on our daily mood, writes Fijaz

SOMETHING so simple as the stories, the beliefs and the narratives that we tell ourselves, have a crucial part to play in affecting our moods on a long term basis.

So, if I was to ask you how many times you say self-critical things to yourself, would you say that it is a regular occurrence in your life?

Through the counselling work that I do, it is clear that for many, the ‘inner voice’ that speaks within them, is one that is largely self-critical, harsh and ‘rules based’. It includes statements like, ‘I am not good at that’, or, ‘I can’t do this and I feel deficient’, or worse still, ‘I am useless and just wasting my time’.

For many people, other ‘rules based’ thoughts are the root cause of their never ending anxiety and low moods; as though they are running against a treadmill in life that never stops putting negative thoughts in their way.

Having stringent internalised rules in the way that we speak to ourselves creates mental inflexibility and this can lead to mental health problems. It is therefore important to remember that the more mentally flexible we are, the greater our sense of well-being and our ability to deal with stress.

For example, how many of us take a ‘rules based’ approach to ourselves on a daily basis and say statements like this: “I must do this otherwise I will feel like a failure.”

Alternatively, how about: “I should have done this earlier, what is wrong with me.”

These two statements demonstrate the harshness that many of us speak to ourselves with and, with each statement, we convey a sense to ourselves that we are deficient, incapable or lacking in some way. We would never say some of the things to others that we say to ourselves. It is as if, just because we speak to ourselves, we can be brutally harsh to our-

Mughal

selves. Instead, one of the things I always say to clients is to be more self-compassionate with themselves.

So for example, take the following statement: “I should have done this earlier and I am wasting time.” This could be re-addressed internally by saying: “I would have liked to have done this earlier, but I understand that other things came in the way. I will try and get this done later.”

You can see the stark difference between the two statements and the way that one plays into a harsh sense of self-criticism. The more we do this to ourselves on a daily basis, the more we undermine our sense of self and our belief in ourselves, both of which lead to lower moods and higher anxiety states over time.

So, next time you catch yourself saying something critical about yourself, try stepping back in your mind and just giving yourself the space to be able to rephrase any critical self-talk. Give yourself the space by adapting your language which can create a sense of mental flexibility, forgiveness and self-compassion. Remember, be kind to yourself in the way that you speak to yourself. It is truly the least that we can do for ourselves.

Fiyaz Mughal OBE MBACP is a qualified and accredited counsellor with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and is also a qualified and accredited hypnotherapist with a focus on CBT (Cognitive Behavioural) techniques.

even get up due to fatigue and discomfort. I am also suffering from incontinence.”

She has allegedly become so stressed over the ordeal that she has been forced to go to the ER on at least two occasions.

Daniela is the mother of two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, and says she is ‘scared’ after losing her own father to cancer.

She added: “If I am supposedly a priority, I don’t know what we are waiting for, when the doctors told me the problem is getting worse with each passing day and that we must intervene as soon as possible.”

It comes after a doctor’s union in January denounced what it described as a ‘profound crisis’ at the hospitall, due to underfunding and huge waiting lists.

The Malaga Medical Union (SMM) claimed that at the end of 2023, there were ‘75,368 patients waiting for surgery, a diagnostic test or a consultation’.

Have you been affected by long waiting times in Spain? Contact tips@ theolivepress.es

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has died after drinking a can of Red Bull spiked with over two grams of ‘tusi’, a luxury drug also known as ‘pink cocaine’. The narcotic is comprised of a mix of cheaper drugs, such as ketamine, ecstasy, and caffeine, which form the basis of the pink powder.

The youngster drank a can of the energy drink given to him by a group he had met on Instagram

The unknown group then fled via the subway, boasting on social media about their ‘feat’ in a video that has since been deleted. Minutes later, the teenager collapsed and died of cardiac arrest.

The effects of recreational use of the drug remain poorly understood, although it is reported to have similarly powerful effects to ecstasy.

OFF THE MENU

ONLY a quarter of younger adults in Spain say they maintain a balanced diet including fruit and vegetables. According to a study by consulting firm Gfk, just 25.3% of adults under the age of 30 consider it necessary to embrace balanced eating habits.

That's in contrast with 48.4% of those aged over 45 who do consider a healthy diet to be important to take care of themselves.

Although 38.7% of households with children consider that eating in a balanced way is important to take care of themselves, only 32.9% of them admit to actually doing it. The study says that 47.7% of families with children point to price as the main reason why they have not consumed more fresh fruit and vegetables in 2023, compared to 17.6% the previous year.

Are you depressed? Suffering from anxiety? Worried about the year ahead?

Are your kids having social issues? PERHAPS YOU NEED SOMEONE PROFESSIONAL TO TALK TO I HOPE I CAN HELP.

Call me, Fijaz Mughal, in confidence. I’m fully-accredited and professionally-trained in London and recently moved to Spain.

I understand the issues many expats feel in Spain. Change through relocation abroad can really add to mental health pressures and these life changes are never easy. Counselling and therapy has changed the lives of many. Getting in touch is the first step.

Recognising that there is an issue is the first step on the road to recovery.

Are you depressed? Suffering from anxiety? Worried about the year ahead?

Help is available through my confidential counselling

CONTACT:

Fijaz Mughal OBE FCMI MBACP on info@counselling4anxiety.com www.counselling4anxiety.com

Yolanda Diaz.

Top lovers

SPAIN is the most sexually satisfied country in Europe, study finds, partly thanks to the ‘positive change in sexual attitudes’ among young people.

Paradise

ALICANTE is the ‘most affordable paradise’ for British expats looking to retire abroad, according to experts at Internationalliving.com.

Holy Res-erection

Popular priest arrested for illicitly supplying Viagra and aphrodisiacs

A PRIEST and his gay partner have been arrested for selling Viagra and other ‘powerful aphrodisiac substances’.

The cleric is one of six parish priests working in Don Benito in Badajoz province serving 37,000 people. He has been described as ‘popular’ and is said to have a modern approach to his clerical duties.

The unnamed priest testified

By Alex Trelinski

before a judge for four hours before being bailed, but will have to report to court twice a month while his partner has been remanded in custody.

A lawyer acting for the priest said that his client had done nothing wrong and had ‘no knowledge of anything incriminating’. The arrests were made by the Guardia Civil, which seized a large amount of ready-to-sell material.

NUNS have been swindled after fraudsters used AI to make their voices sound like the local bishop.

Around 15 convents in Jaen province were targeted with phone calls coming from bishop impersonators asking for cash.

A man claiming to be the Bishop of Jaen - Sebastian Chico - called several nuns asking for €5,000 so that he could have some surgery.

A Torredonjimeno convent fell

Unsisterly act

for the ruse and transferred €3,000. One nun told a fraudster who introduced himself as the Bishop of Jaen: “You’re not Don Sebastian, your voice is very hoarse.” His quick-witted reply was that he needed an operation to cure his sore throat.

Both men have been charged with public health offences after investigations lasting several months with customers coming to the priest’s home.

The diocese of Plasencia said that it regrets the arrest of the priest ‘because of the pain, suffering and scandal that these events entail’.

Earlier this year a priest in Poland was arrested after he allegedly organised a gay orgy during which a man was hospitalised after overdosing on viagra pills.

REAL Mallorca have reached the final of the prestigious Copa del Rey for just the fourth time in their history after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Real Sociedad.

The Balearic minnows will now face Copa del Rey royalty Athletic Club Bilbao - winners 23 times - in the final, due to take place in Sevilla on April 6.

Mallorca drew 1-1 with Sociedad before Slovakian keeper Greif saved a penalty in the shootout before Sergi Darder converted the winning spot-kick.

Mallorca have reached the final of Spain’s premier cup competition just three times before - the side were runners-up in 1991 and 1998 before clinching the silverware in 2003 after a 3-0 victory over Recreativo de Huelva.

AC Bilbao beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 on aggregate to reach the final for the 50th time. Reaching the final also means that the Palma-based outfit will compete in the lucrative Supercopa de España, a fourteam tournament that takes place annually in Saudi Arabia. The competition includes the winners and runners-up of La Liga and the Copa del Rey