Olive Press Gibraltar Issue 221

POWER AND INFLUENCE

GIBRALTAR’s Chief Minister has announced he will step down after his current term.

Fabian Picardo told a popular podcast things had gotten ‘a little stickier’ and ‘I’ve had my fill of this job’. His words in The Rest is Politics come as an inquiry gathers steam over the early retirement of Gib’s former police boss, with Picardo’s involvement in its sights.

The McGrail Inquiry has been taking the Rock by storm since it got underway last week.

The hearings have been investigating the circumstances surrounding former Police Commissioner Ian McGrail’s early retirement in June 2020. Over the course of two weeks, the submissions have tried to get to the bottom of what occurred between Picardo, McGrail, Attorney General Michael Llamas, and its Direction of Public Prosecutions, Christian Rocca, in May that year.

But surprisingly, it is ‘the most powerful’ lawyer in Gibraltar, James Levy,

KISSING DISTANCE

The

McGrail

inquiry grips Gibraltar and shines a light on the shadowy figures who make the Rock tick as Chief Minister announces he’s ‘had his fill of this job’

By Walter Finch at the McGrail Inquiry

and his unsettling nickname ‘the grey man’, that has come into focus. It was a search warrant on the Hassans’ boss that McGrail’s officers attempted to execute one fateful Tuesday that set the chain of events in motion that would lead to his forced retirement.

The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) had been investigating an alleged criminal conspiracy to hack and defraud the NSCIS (National Security Centralised Intelligence System), that monitored the border.

Known as Operation Delhi, it found a series of high-ranking individuals

A BREXIT deal is within ‘kissing distance’ according to Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

It comes following a high-level meeting with the UK and Spain’s foreign ministers, David Cameron and Jose Manuel Albares, in Brussels.

An agreement has been reached on the ‘general political lines’ with ‘significant progress’ made over the airport, goods and mobility. “Negotiations will continue over the coming weeks to conclude the EU-UK Agreement,” a Gibraltar government spokesman said.

No final date has been set on a definitive deal between Gibraltar and the EU, but it is thought that the hardest hurdles have been overcome.

Picardo sat at the table with Albares, Cameron and the Vice

were implicated in the alleged offence. These included a senior civil servant, the CEO of Gibraltar’s Borders and Coast Guard, and Levy himself. But the inquiry also heard how the Chief Minister may have also had links to the scheme.

“I would not classify [Picardo] as a suspect,” McGrail told the hearing. “But he had questions to answer.”

The ex-cop added there had been a conspiracy ‘to stop Operation Delhi’ and its investigations into a company called 36 North Ltd. Picardo reportedly had ‘full knowledge’ and even gave his ‘considerable support’ to setting the company up, which was created specifically to receive the €840,000 contract to manage the NSCIS.

MEETING: Picardo, Cameron, Sefcovic and Albares

President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic.

Lord Cameron made no comment after the meeting, but Picardo and Albares agreed the sides were close to a deal. Picardo said that on a scale of one to 100 they were at ‘90 or 95’, leaving him ‘very optimistic’.

He added: “We are very, very, very close. In English we say within spitting distance but actually it is nice to say we are within kissing distance.”

Some of the issues still to overcome involve control of the airport, which the UK is unwilling to cede since it is home to an RAF airbase.

Levy, 69, (pictured below) had injected £476,000 into the company for a 33% stake, while the Chief Minister owned 3% by virtue of being a part ner in Hassans. The influence of Levy - who police referred to as ‘the grey man’ - was all too ap parent in the minutes and hours after their officers attempted to execute the warrant on him.

Levy cordially thanked the

officers for their ‘discretion’ during an interaction in which he voluntarily handed over his phone and tablet. But the moment they left, he immediately started making furious calls. The inquiry heard how a ‘very aggrieved’ Levy called the Attorney General within minutes the detectives had left his offices.

Whatsapp records show Levy told him he felt ‘hung out to dry’. The Attorney General responded: “Don’t worry.”

McGrail described the exchange as ‘unreal’ this week, insisting: “It’s absolutely unheard of, I’ve never come across it in all my career - totally and utterly inappropriate.”

But he added that it ‘made sense’ as Llamas was ‘batting Mr Levy’s corner.”

In a subsequent meeting between McGrail, Llamas and Paul Richardson, the officer leading Operation Delhi, Llamas said they were heading for a ‘major collision’ over the investigation.

“It’s clear that this is going to get very nasty, very quickly,” he said in a secret recording made by McGrail.

The government’s lawyers, representing Picardo, Llamas and Rocca, have alleged that McGrail lied over whether he sought legal advice from Rocca prior to

sending his officers to search Levy. They allege that this - plus a number of other poorly-handled incidents in McGrail’s tenure as Commissionercaused them to lose confidence in him. The inquiry will hear testimony from Llamas, Rocca, Levy, and even Picardo himself, before it concludes in June. Picardo’s announcement that he would not stand for Chief Minister again, came after he insisted on getting a ‘rebuttal’ on The Rest is Politics podcast.

In it, he told former Tory MP Rory Stewart and ex-Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell that McGrail’s lawyers claimed it was an inquiry ‘into corruption in Gibraltar’. He insisted: “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Rock politics is hit with scandal, posturing and potential, as details emerge at McGrail inquiry and Brexit deal edges closer

See Rumbles on the Rock, p6

Research for good

THE University of Gibraltar will hold a two day conference showcasing ‘Research that Benefits Gibraltar’, featuring presentations, talks and ‘three minute thesis’ sessions today, April 17.

Schools review

THE Gibraltar Department of Education has established a working group to review secondary education, which will assess whether changes should be made in teaching and assessment.

Young trouble

FOUR boys aged between 11 and 15 were arrested on Saturday for Criminal Damage and Throwing Missiles after several cars were stoned at Eaton Park Car Park.

Long service

SOME 15 Royal Gibraltar Police officers have been awarded Overseas Territories Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.

NOLOTIL IN THE DOCK

SPAIN’S High Court will finally investigate Nolotil following dozens of deaths officially linked to the country’s most popular painkiller.

It comes after a judge rejected an appeal by a lawyer representing the Spanish Medicine Agency (AEMPs).

German drug firm Boehringer Ingelheim has also been summoned with the judge aiming to ‘find those responsible’.

Both parties will have to present evidence to evaluate

Killer drug will finally be investigated at the High

By Yzabelle Bostyn

if Nolotil poses ‘a risk of adverse effects for health’.

It comes after an Olive Press campaign was launched following numerous deaths of northern Europeans given the drug in Spain.

Advocacy group, the Asso-

Belgian gun runner

A BELGIAN man has been arrested after boarding a bus in Marbella with multiple guns and ammunition in his luggage. Police detained the man in Madrid before he continued on to his destination in Nantes, in France.

The 25-year-old man, believed to be part of the so-called ‘Mocro Maffia’, was carrying a G-3 assault rifle, a pistol and three bullet proof vests. Divided into 'clans', the gang is made up of Belgian and Dutch citizens, usually with Moroccan or Tunisian heritage. Belgium had an extradition order for the man for robbery, homicide and kidnapping. It comes after a spate of shootings in Marbella, with six so far this year.

Court

ciation of Drug Affected Patients (ADAF), filed a lawsuit against the Spanish Ministry of Health and AEMPS for ‘failing to properly regu-

late Nolotil’, last year. They believe the painkiller has led to over 40 deaths of British and Irish people alone in Spain. They also filed a criminal complaint with the Spanish public prosecution office. Spain’s Patient’s Defence Association also flagged up the issue to the High Court in February. Its report slammed the negative side effects of Nolotil, which has been banned in around 40 countries.

lotil is the most sold medicine in the country so it’s a big step in the right direction.”

In 2018, AEMPs issued an informative note stating the medicine should not be given to patients without a thorough background check and the possibility of follow ups.

KILL THE DRUG

Initial proceedings will investigate if the drug ‘provokes harm’ and to ‘find those responsible’. ADAF campaigner Cristina del Campo told the Olive

This effectively means foreigners and tourists should not be given the drug.

Last issue we reported how dozens of hospitals and clinics along the Costas had stopped using the drug. Over 750 people have so far signed our petition on Change.org.

New Marbella shooting

MARBELLA has had yet another shooting incident. The fifth incident in under two months saw an Albanian expat shot five times.

The 33-year-old was shot near the Soho Market, in Guadalmina, on Saturday evening. The victim was transferred to hospital by emergency services on the scene.

At least six shots were heard, according to police.

The area of shops and restaurants has seen two shootings in just six months with three hooded men opening fire on two men on October 28.

HELP PLEA

POLICE in Marbella are demanding help from the central Spanish government in the wake of a spate of shootings which have rocked the city. In a desperate appeal to the Interior Ministry, police unions said they needed ‘more resources’ in order to combat organised crime in the region. Marilo Valencia, spokesperson for the Unified Police Union (SUP), said: “What we have seen recently is not something isolated, rather that violence is shamefully becoming more normalised”.

Shootings in the Marbella area have occurred in February, March and April as vicious gang rivalries spill out on to the streets.

PEAS TO MEET YOU

SIX-TIME Grammy winners, the Black Eyed Peas, will perform in Spain three times this year.

The hip-hop group featuring will.i.am are famous for songs like I Gotta Feeling and The Time, and have recorded a dozen albums.

The prolific Peas have sold 120 million singles and 35 million albums in the 25 years that they have been together.

They will be performing at the Malaga Forum as part of the Selvatic Malaga Fest summer programme on July 21.

Before that they will feature at the Gran Canaria stadium on July 5, and then the Benicassim Festival in Castellon on July 18.

The Peas have been regular visitors to Spain down the years and performed at Marbella’s Starlite festival Brilla Torrevieja festival.

Taking ownership

THE reasons behind Tom Hopcroft’s move to Spain would not appear out of place in the pages of a romantic novel.

“Many years ago, I moved for love. I moved for a Spanish girl”, he tells the Olive Press. “My plan was to come to Spain, make her fall in love with me and then take her away forever, but it actually worked the opposite way around. I came here, I fell in love with Spain, and then when she was eventually ready to move on and head somewhere else, I actually wanted to stay. I’ve been here ever since and it’s changed my life”.

Swapping the melancholy of Birmingham for the bustling busyness of Madrid was, the former Leeds University student says, ‘the best decision’ of his life.

Almost a decade on, we speak as Tom is walking along the

Camino de Santiago, leading a group of 20 members of his own carefully nurtured community along one of the world’s great pilgrimage routes in one of three expeditions planned this year.

Tom, now 31, is the founder of Guiris de Mierda a success ful lifestyle brand based in Spain that organises real-life ex-

Meet the young British expat behind Guiris de - a lifestyle brand which reclaims the ‘offensive’ term for foreigners

By Ben Pawlowski

Just love it!

FRONT

periences and events for peo-

Just a fortnight ago, the word guiri - used by Spaniards colloquially to describe foreigners, particularly of Northern

AMANCIO Ortega, the founder of fashion chain Zara and Spain’s richest person, has made his latest eye-watering purchase - a €182 million luxury yacht. The 88-year old Galician businessman’s new

European descent - was used in anti-tourist graffiti plastered on walls in Malaga as tensions between local residents and visitors came to the boil. Some deem the word, which more often than not is a term of endearment, to be a derogatory slur.

Tom, who has proudly embraced the phrase, labelling himself a

‘professional guiri’, hopes ple, with the aim of uniting the widening divide between locals and foreigners.

that the work he does with his brand can help to heal divisions and show that mass integration is something valuable and precious.

“I think most of the time there is a good relationship between

vessel, called Project 2024, was built by Feadship, the industry-leader for constructing superyachts for the super-rich.

The 564-square-metre boat includes all manner of luxurious amenities, including a jacuzzi, super-fast wifi coverage, a helicopter pad, a swimming pool, a children’s playground and a stunning master bedroom.

Last edition the Olive Press reported how Ortega had sold his previous yacht Drizzle for €76 million - a loss of €19 million over the purchase price. Not that he will be bothered too much - Ortega has an estimated net worth of over €67 billion.

tourists and locals in Spain, or at least there can be. But obviously with waves of mass tourism, and even immigration from people outside of Spain, there are always going to be some people who are rubbed up the wrong way by it”, he explains. “We try to set a good example that not all guiris are the type that get smashed, get battered, and drink for five days straight. Some guiris want to give back to Spain, and so we are working with charities now, organising charity events and promoting the integration side of things”.

Message

He adds: “We organise events around the idea that everybody has been a guiri at some point in their lives. Especially in the modern world, people live in other countries and we feel that is something worth celebrating, so we try and bring people together”.

Recently, the company has made a successful venture into clothing, selling t-shirts and other accessories with the mot to: ‘Embrace your inner guiri and stop taking yourself so se riously’.

“2024 has been a great year for us so far - we have launched the clothing brand and we are having so much demand for the events so we want to do more of them and create these real-life experiences and connections between Spanish people and foreigners, and keep spreading our message”, he says.

called me to do a movie. Pedro loves women’. Whether or not the recent Brit award winner’s celluloid dreams will come true is yet to be seen.

But she did at least get to enjoy the company of the Oscar winner when they dined together in one of Madrid’s most exclusive eateries: BiBo, one of the restaurants that renowned Marbella chef Dani Garcia has in the Spanish capital. Making up a foursome in BiBo were Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, both of whom are

cur rently working on Almodovar’s first full-length English-language feature.

Titled The Room Next Door, the movie is described by Almodovar’s production company as ‘the story of a very imperfect mother (Tilda Swinton) and a spiteful daughter separated by a huge misunderstanding. In between the two is another woman, Ingrid (Julianne Moore), the mother's friend, who is the repository of their pain and bitterness’.

RACIST SLURS

THE attitudes of Spanish football are once again in the spotlight after the decision to ban a black player who confronted racist fans in a third division game.

Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Sarr jumped into the crowd to confront the spectators who had been abusing him during a match between his team Rayo Majadahonda and Sestao River Club in the Basque Country.

The referee showed the keeper a straight red card with the score poised at 2-1 in the 84th minute. Sarr’s teammates refused to finish the game and walked off the pitch with him.

Among the insults hurled at him were ‘eres un puto mono’ (you're a f***ing monkey) and ‘corre, puto negro de mierda’ (run, you f***ing black s***). The authorities banned Sarr for two matches and awarded his club a 3-0 defeat. Meanwhile, their opponents were fined €6,001.

But the decision was met with outrage by social media users, who labelled it ‘disgraceful, disgusting’ and ‘embarrassing’.

TOP TABLE: Dua with Tilda, Julianne and Almodovar

PAGE: Guiri demand

BANNED: Cheikh Sarr

Rock revamp

GIBRALTAR Tourism Board has launched a rebrand of its marketing arm, Visit Gibraltar. The rebrand includes a brand new logo, website and walking tour app, alongside the relaunch of its online travel agent training programme and a familiarisation trip for the media.

A nod to Gibraltar’s heritage, the new logo features a Barbary macaque, Gibraltar Candytuft, the Rock, the Trinity Lighthouse and Admiral Lord Nelson.

Under the strapline, ‘Where the Med begins’, it aims to promote the Rock as a crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

GOOD RUN

LOCALS raised over £5,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital at the London Landmarks Half Marathon. Team Reilly were inspired by Reilly Roper, a ‘superhero’ diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of three.

After receiving the diagnosis just days into the March 2020 Covid lockdown, Reilly has been treated by Great Ormond Street, alongside the Gibraltar Health Authority. Since then, Reilly has beaten the disease and is back doing what he loves, playing football.

They also ran the London Parks Half Marathon, raising £30,000.

American mystery

Was expat teacher killed by her husband intentionally or during sex game gone wrong?

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

CLOSE friends of a teacher whose husband claims she died during a drug-fuelled sex game have poured cold water over the claims. They told the Olive Press they never saw expat Bianca Pitman, 43, ever take drugs. The teacher and mother-of-two, from Texas, was found dead inside a holiday apartment in Malaga on April 6. Her common law husband, Jose Betancourt, 50, ran into a square at 5.30am calling for help, saying his wife was unconscious.

He is now being investigat ed over the death which he claims came after they en gaged in ‘rape roleplay’ and after she took an unspeci fied ‘substance’. Yet, Valerie Dullnig, a close friend, told the Olive Press that drugs were ‘never’ a part of her life.

ARRESTED: No bail for Jose over sex game

The Texan revealed: “She was an art teacher and a photographer. She was my best friend, she was happy and smart and encouraging, everybody loved her, everyone who met her felt better for being part of her life.

“Her students loved her and kept in touch with her after they graduated, she was such a popular figure.

“She was very close with her children. Her daughter is best friends with my daughter. She had a great relationship with them… everybody is shocked by this.”

She revealed how Bianca had been teaching English at a school in Xativa, in Valencia, and ‘seemed happy’ with her new life.

During various conversations on Snapchat, she sent videos of her new neighbourhood and friends. She added she didn’t under-

stand how and why Bianca, from San Antonio, had come south to Malaga to meet her ex-partner. Valerie insisted she had ‘fled’ the States to start ‘a fresh new life’ in Spain - and more importantly, did ‘not want Jose to know where she was’.

When emergency services arrived at the flat in Plaza de Camas, they desperately tried to revive Bianca, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police sources said Jose told investigators he and Bianca had enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city before having dinner, ‘lots of tequila’ and sex until dawn.

When police quizzed Jose, he also

claimed that Bianca had ‘consumed a substance’, the details of which remain unknown.

Jose was first arrested for reckless homicide before an autopsy revealed signs of asphyxiation due to strangulation.

He is now being probed for domestic violence and will remain in prison without bail while the investigation continues.

Authorities now must determine whether the strangulation took place during a sexual ‘rape roleplay’, or whether it was intentional and planned.

Opinion Page 6

FLED: Bianca (centre) with her two children had come for ‘new life in Spain’

The rumbles on

WTruth is coming out

THE McGrail inquiry is throwing a light on one of the most opaque incidents in Gibraltar’s history.

It has taken a long four years to begin and involves some of the Rock’s most high profile figures.

It is to be welcomed that a public inquiry is being held, with the doors open to the press.

Indeed, compared with Spain - where transparency is not the first thing that comes to mind when delving into political dealings - it is a breath of fresh air.

We do not know what further evidence will be heard and what conclusions will be drawn by the inquiry. But what we have heard so far is pretty alarming.

Whether Ian McGrail deserved to lose his job due to incompetence is one thing. What he was investigating under Operation Delhi is another thing altogether.

It is perhaps understandable that the Chief Minister has announced he will not stand for a further term in office. For the whiff of corruption blowing around the Rock this month is as strong as the wind from Tarifa.

We hope the truth will out.

Justice for Bianca

WHAT happened to Bianca Pitman is nothing short of a tragedy (American mystery, p1).

Like most expats, the 43-year-old moved to Spain with hopes of embarking on a brand new life under the sun.

But just months after arriving, the American mum-of-two was found dead in a holiday apartment after, according to her husband, a sex game that ‘simulated rape’ went wrong, after she ingested a yet-unspecified drug.

It has sparked a genuine mystery and from what her close friends have told us, this kind of behaviour is totally out of character for the much-loved art teacher.

The facts are she left her partner for a new life in Spain and did not want him to know where she was. Then months later, he flew to Spain and by all appearances convinced her to meet with him, and now she is dead. There is clearly a lot to unpack in this case, and we hope the Spanish authorities leave no stone unturned in their investigation.

We want justice for Bianca and the truth to come out about what really happened on that fateful night on April 6. We send our condolences to her family and friends, most importantly her two devastated children, who now have to cope with losing their mother, while their father is locked up in jail as the prime suspect in her killing.

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

ITH a population of just 32,649, Gibraltar is much smaller than near neighbours Estepona, with 77,000 people and even La Linea, with 64,000 souls. So small in fact that the usual ‘six degrees of separation’ is often reduced to just one. And if you don’t know someone, you will know their father or work with their nephew.

Yet the tiny British Overseas Territory has a thriving service economy, aided by an extraordinary complement of 32 law firms (one for every thousand Gibraltarians). The Rock, as it’s often known, has one of the highest GDP figures in the world and all the trappings of a modern liberal democracy; its own parliament, police force - and a UK-appointed Governor.

Yet, somehow, on one fateful Tuesday four years ago, these varying pillars of the Rock all managed to collide, triggering allegations of fraud, corruption, and an inquiry that began last week.

Suddenly the world is watching, with the Times, the FT and Guardian covering the case, while the celebrated podcast, The Rest is Politics, dedicated a section to the alleged corruption that revolves around the early retirement of its former police chief Ian McGrail.

It certainly makes for awkward lis tening (and reading) for Gibraltar’s dozen or so key power brokers as their activities come under a very public microscope. After all, this tiny little strip of land has long been accustomed to largely flying under the radar.

A very revealing public inquiry is shining a light on

the shock retirement of Gibraltar’s police chief, and an alleged conspiracy involving some of the enclave’s most powerful figures

HOW CHIEF

By Walter Finch at the McGrail inquiry

INVOLVED “‘CM, (Chief Minister) before you hear it from anyone else I want to inform you that detectives are executing a search warrant at Hassans for JL in relation to the case against [John Perez, Thomas Cornelio, and Caine Sanchez] ... Regards.” This, how ex-Commissioner of Police Ian McGrail broke the news to Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in a Whatsapp on May 12, 2020.

He was referring to a search of the office of his friend, James Levy, the most se nior partner at the most important law firm in Gibraltar, Hassans, with detec tives seizing his mo bile phone and tablet. Picardo’s ‘friend, colleague and mentor’, the pair both worked together for years at Hassans.

Both senior trial lawyers, or KCs (King’s Counsels), it was never going to end well for McGrail, who less than a month later on June 9 had handed in his notice half way through his four-year term.

THE MAIN PLAYERS

IAN MCGRAIL:

A RGP policeman for 35 years, he joined as a Constable in 1984 and rose through the ranks until he was appointed Commissioner in 2018 on a four-year term. He had an unblemished record and was garlanded many times with honours and awards for his service. They include the Overseas Territories Po lice medal handed him during the late Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours List. He was also awarded the Gold and Diamond Jubilee medal.

Spain’s Na tional Police awarded Mc Grail for his service in combating organised crime and fostering cross-border law enforcement cooperation.

FABIAN PICARDO:

The four-time Chief Minister, who heads the Socialist Labour Party (GSLP), was first elected in 2011 and has vanquished all comers ever since. The Oxford educated barrister reached the heady heights of King’s Counsel in a 20-year legal career, mostly at Hassans, before moving into politics. During his tenure the Rock’s economy has thrived, moving away from a ‘tax haven’ model and towards becoming a hub for offshore finance and gaming. He has struck a very progressive agenda, legalising gay marriage ending legal discrimination against same-sex couples.

At the age of 54, it was a career-ending retirement and he claims Picardo

But as the inquiry heard last week, Picardo denies this insisting he had to step down due to incompetence, a claim backed up by then-interim Governor, Nick Pyle, as well as the Attorney General, Michael Llamas.

All three have accused McGrail of lying about the search, adding he had lost their confidence.

THE €840,000-A-YEAR SECURITY CONTRACT

The backstory began some 18 months earlier in 2018 when the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) initiated Operation Delhi to investigate the alleged hacking and attempts to take control of the National Se

JAMES LEVY:

Nicknamed ‘the grey man’, Levy is the boss of Hassans, the largest law firm on the Rock.

He became a Queen’s Counsel (now a KC) in 2002 and was awarded a CBE for his services to the community of Gibraltar and for his work in helping to grow and develop its economy. He is credited with advising the Gibraltar government on its transformation into a finance centre and helping to set up much of the rules and legislation governing it. He is considered a first-class expert consistently ranked as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500, a publication that assesses global law firms and lawyers.

MINISTER FABIAN PICARDO GOT

FORCED OUT: Ian McGrail arriving at the inquiry

UNDER FIRE: Fabian Picardo (above), while (left) Ian McGrail and (right) James Levy

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: The Times’ coverage of the McGrail inquiry

P propertySpain’sbest

roperty

A MASTER EYE ON

Taking a look at the lesser known Gaudi creations

See page 8

CLUCKS TO CREATIVITY

transformedThechickencoopthathasbeen intoanarchitect’sstudio

WHERE once chickens literally ruled the roost, a firm of architects is now drawing inspiration from the nature of the Paratges de La Moixina. Nestled within the scenic natural park near Orlot (Girona), a remarkable transformation has taken place. What was once a dilapidated chicken coop is now a centre of creativity and innovation, thanks to the work of the Arnau Estudi d'Arquitectura studio. Led by Arnau Verges, (below) the firm decided to restore the forgotten structure to its former glory.

With a keen eye for design Ar nau and his team renovated the old coop, breathing new life into its weathered walls.

The transformation of the chic ken coop into an archi tect’s studio has been nothing short of ex traordinary. It exudes a sense of rustic charm, blending seamlessly with the natural beauty of its surroundings..

It was a labour of love for Arnau who

grew up on the farm where the coop stands. He remembers seeing roe deer and other wildlife on And now he has clear views from his comfortable studio as the wildlife timidly approach the old coop.

He said: “We watch the seasons and life go by through the window while we know that this little paradise is just a lucky fragment of the broken mirror of life.”

PERFECT BALANCE

SIESTAS, lots of holidays and long warm evenings… is it any wonder Spain offers the second-best work-life balance in the world.

According to new research, Spaniards have much more time to relax outside of work compared to most European countries.. In comparison to the UK, where most people work nine to five jobs with a short lunch

Spainisthesecond-bestcountryintheworldforwork-lifebalance

break, most Spanish workers get at least an hour to eat.

According to global HR company Remote, Spain scored a healthy 76 out of 100 for workers.

In the company’s study of the 60 countries with the highest GDP globally, only New Zealand came above with a score

By Yzabelle Bostyn

of 79.

The poll took into account public holidays, sick leave, healthcare, annual leave, maternity leave and overall happiness.

Spain did extremely well for

statutory annual leave of 36 days, while 16 weeks of paid maternity leave (at €100 a week) and getting 60% of your wage if sick were pluses.

While the minimum hourly wage is low at €7.41, it is compensated by an average happiness level of 6.48 out of 10.

An ordinary work week is 25.9

hours, including part-time work.

Despite coming first, Kiwis get less annual leave than Spaniards, with 32 days.

However, their sick leave percentage is higher at 80% as well as maternity leave allowance, at around €98 for 26 weeks.

France came third, followed by Australia, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. The United Kingdom was in eighth position, with an average happiness score of 6.94 out of 10.

Brits get 28 days of annual leave, £96 a week for sick leave and 39 weeks of maternity leave at £24 (€27).

In ninth and tenth place were Canada and Brazil, respectively.

WINGING IT: Arnau grew up on the farm

Getting to know Gaudi: the Catalan architect’s masterpieces you’ve likely never heard of

LOOKING FOR MORE

November 29th -

PALAU GUELL

December 12th 2023

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A MASTER EYE ON

By Yzabelle Bostyn

EVERY year, thousands of tourists flock to Barcelona to marvel at Antoni Guadi’s buildings.

His emblematic Sagrada Familia cathedral which started to go up in 1882 could be finished in two years to make a century since his death.

It is Barcelona’s most popular tourist attraction, but there are so many other works by the artist in the city worth visiting.

CASA VICENS

In particular, it’s incredible that so many miss Palau Guell (left), which is just steps from

the city’s famous La Rambla street. Gaudi designed the mansion for industrial tycoon Eusebi Guell, who is also the namesake of the well-known Park Guell in the nearby hills.

Built between 1886-1886, it is an early example of Gaudi’s signature style, using mosaic, wrought iron features and stained glass.

Inside, the ar

and soft lighting earn Palau Guell its palatial title.

Outside, the extraordinary roof offers lovely views over the city where you may be able to spot the even more amazing Casa Vicens.

Found in Barcelona’s hipster Gracia neighbourhood, at first glance you might not realise this unusual red, white and green house was one of the architect’s works.

He took on the project, in fact, as a newly qualified architect with just five years of experience after being hired by tile baron Manuel Vicens Montaner to design a summer house. Gaudi clearly considered his benefactor’s profession when designing the house, implementing brightly coloured motifs at

SKY HIGH: The remarkable roof of Palau Guell and the internal brickwork and staircases

TILE TYCOON’S DREAM: Gaudi used Vicen’s designs as much as possible with extraordinary originality

every opportunity.

Clearly influenced by Andalucia, the Arabian smoking room is delightfully reminiscent of Granada’s won derful Moorish masterpiece the Alhambra.

After careful restoration, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005 and has been open to the public for se ven years.

With access limited to 500 people a day, it is best to book a ticket in advance to avoid di sappointment.

For the purists, you should also visit one of Gaudi’s first works Casa Calvet (left).

Built in 1899, the building is considered the architect’s most ‘conservative’ work but it nonetheless earned him the city’s ‘best building of the year award’ in 1900.

The house, built for textile manufacturer Pere Martir Calvet is still distinctively modernist, with curved balconies lining the facade.

It also pays tribute to baroque style and Calvet himself, with decorative ‘C’s in every corner.

Today, the building houses a restaurant where diners can enjoy the incredible ceilings, granite columns and vine-inspired arches.

It is also well worth visiting Torre Bellesguard, also known as Casa Figueres.

The modernist manor house was constructed on the site of a mediaeval castle and the influence is clear.

Built as a country retreat for the then King of Aragon, it fell into decay over the centuries until Juame Figueres commissioned Gaudi to redesign it. Gaudi’s Catalan heritage is evident on the te -

rrace which cleverly integrates a ‘dragon’ in a nod to the region’s patron saint, Saint George.

Although these details are what makes the house so special today, the architect’s obsessive behaviour added significant costs and time to the project and the Figueres family were never able to live in the property.

Finally, Gaudi’s best kept secret is Colonia Guell, a short 20-minute train ride from the city.

Originally built as an industrial village for one of Eusebi Guell’s textile mills, the project was intended to improve workers’ quality of life, including houses, a theatre, school, shops, gardens and a church.

Gaudi was commissioned to design the church, now known as the crypt. The undulating arches, stained glass and broken mosaic ‘ trencadis ’ make the building unlike any other church and its influence is clearly seen later in his master-work, the Sagrada Familia. After marvelling at the church, make sure to wander around the village.

FIT FOR A KING: And Torre Bellesguard fittingly ‘cost a packet’ to build

CONSERVATIVE: By Gaudi’s standards but Casa Calvet is still distictly ‘modernist’

ge’s church and theatre were later adopted in his Sagrada Cathedral design

MODEL VILLAGE: Just a 20-minute train ride out of Barcelona

Typical of Catalan modernism, the design is inspired by nature every step of the way, with twisting vi nes for gates and tiled sun flowers decorating the exterior.

BARCELONA’S iconic Sagrada Familia cathedral has finally been given a completion date - 100 years since its architect died.

Antoni Gaudi’s spectacular gothic basilica, which looms high over the city, will be completed by 2026 according to builders. He will have died exactly 100 years ago on June 10, 1926.

Work on the structure first began in 1882, with the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s construction dogged by wars, fire, a lack of funds and, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. But now, Esteve Camps, the president

Heaven can’t wait!

of the company behind the works, claims to have sufficient funds and material to complete the project, including the 172.5 metre central tower.

However, work on various intricate details could continue until 2034, as well as a stairway leading up to the main entrance.

But this has sparked controversy after it emerged that over 1,000 families and businesses would need to be dislodged.

“We are trying to follow Gaudi’s plan to

the letter,” insisted Camps.

“We are his heirs and the plan presented to the local authorities in 1915, signed by Gaudi, includes the stairway”.

The building is Barcelona’s most popular tourist attraction, with close to five million annual visitors cumulatively spending over €125m.

Yet it has not always been popular with everyone - George Orwell once described it as ‘one of the most hideous buildings in the world’. He lamented that a fire sparked by anarchists in 1936 had failed to completely destroy the monument.

Landlords’ market CASH BUYERS

RISING rental property shortages have been blamed on Spain’s new Housing Law 2023, which has seen landlords choose to take long-term lets off the market.

The Canary Islands sees some of the highest number of inquiries per advertised property, according to property portal Idealista.

A flat rental advert in Santa Cruz de Tenerife sees an average of 44 applicants, a 62% increase on the same period in 2023, while in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria it is 41 - a 118% increase.

The new rules cap the rates at which landlords can increase rents and can potentially lock them into longterm contracts with tenants. This has allegedly led them to turn to the short-term rental market instead.

Malaga sees a more moderate 28 applicants per advert - a 31% increase on last year - and Valencia 29.

There is slightly less demand in Bilbao (26 applicants per ad), Sevilla (25), and Alicante (22).

GUIRIS WELCOME

By Alex Trelinski

FOREIGN house buyers are continuing to target the Spanish real estate market as domestic purchases fall.

Figures from the country’s notaries for 2023 show that 14.98% of property purchasers came from international buyers - a record percentage figure.

For the second successive year, foreign home purchases grew as a percentage to beat the previous best of 13.75% in 2022.

Oscar Martinez, president of the Professional Association of Real Estate Experts, said:

“More and more international tourists are coming to Spain and they find areas they like with a good climate which makes them think of buying a second home or even coming out to retire.”

A total of 583,000 properties were sold in

Overseasbuyersboost propertymarketas domestic sales fall

Spain last year, down 9.8% on 2022’s total, which was boosted by a post-Covid pandemic rush.

However, domestic purchase

SOFA SURFERS

AFTER a Marbella landlord sparked outrage for renting out a sofa in a shared flat for €400 per month, the Olive Press has found further examples of the practice.

The advert on Facebook Marketplace showed a blue three person sofa with the caption: “Renting a sofa in a shared flat, Puerto Banus area.”

However ridiculous, the practice is not uncommon in Spain due to high demand for rentals.

On Milanuncios, one of Spain’s most popular rental websites, the Olive Press searched for sofas and identified four for rent on the first page of results. These ranged between €150-300 per month. One, listed as a ‘living room in central Madrid’

cost €200 per month with all bills included, while another in Barcelona would set you back €250. Property experts have

slowdowns are not being mirrored by a fall in international buyers who accounted for three out of every 20 homes sold in 2023.

questioned how a contract would be drawn up for this kind of ‘property’ and if renting a sofa is even legal.

The Olive Press could not find any legal basis to justify such a rental agreement.

Pampered pooches

MARBELLA is known for its luxury and now, it is home to one of most swanky dog hotels in the world, offering beach walks, relaxing baths, a spa and reiki treatments for your furry friend.

The Tiny Dog Hotel is the brainchild of Dutch-Peruvian couple Jose Antonio Canales and his wife, Antoinette.

The couple moved to Spain to set up their business, installing air conditioning for the dogs and installing

“Foreign customers are financially astute and are very clear about what they can afford,” said Eva Lopez from the National Federation of Real Estate Associations (FAI). According to the notaries, only 7.5% of mortgages last year involved foreign buyers. “If they need

security cameras. Now, for €24.50 a night, the dog hotel offers a range of services and even spa treatments.

Every morning, Antoinette carries out a ‘reiki’ ceremony, a form of Japanese alternative medicine thought to calm nervous dogs.

financing, some of them have it already ready from their own country because of different terms and conditions for a domestic buyer,” added Lopez.

The largest foreign group were the British with 8,173 purchases, followed by Germans (6,244) and the French (5,712). The favourite areas for British buyers are the Valencian Community followed by Andalucia.

The Balearic Islands had the greatest foreign purchase totals as a percentage last year, coming in at 31.5% followed by the Valencian Community (29.2%) and the Canary Islands (28.5%). There was also a significant presence in the Murcia region(23.8%) and Catalun-

INTEREST rate hikes since 2022 have caused a 5% rise in people buying a home in Spain without a mortgage.

Buyers who didn't need any bank financing accounted for 32% of sales in 2023.

A Fotocasa Research study based on 8,200 interviews has predicted the figure will climb to 35% this year.

A third of mortgage-free purchasers saved up enough money followed by people who got help from their family and those who made a profit on selling their previous property.

Determination

Fotocasa's director of studies, Maria Matos, said: “The survey indicates that people are looking for other ways to buy properties without using banks and it shows their determination to acquire a home.”

“It is important to highlight that potential buyers are waiting for an interest rate cut which will then produce a big demand which the real estate market must respond to,” she added.

Hitting historic highs

PROPERTY prices in Malaga province reached an all-time historic high this February.

Each pooch has its own ‘suite’, complete with a bed, toys and water bowl.

The cost of housing in the region increased by 0.5% since January, and 10.1% up from February 2023.

The average property price for the area now sits at €3,113 per square metre.

Wealthy hotspots Marbella and Benahavis top the charts, with prices coming in at €4,526/m2 and €4,402/m2 respectively.

Increase

The greatest percentage increase over the past 12 months was in Algarrobo Costa, according to website Idealista, with prices going up by 18.1% to an average €2,793/m2.

the Rock

curity Centralised Intelligence System (NSCIS) and transfer it to a company called 36 North Limited.

The NSCIS was a computer platform ‘designed to monitor

and control Gibraltar’s border with Spain.’ Critical to the territory’s national security, understandably it warranted a lucrative contract to run, worth some €840,000 a year.

Police soon uncovered an alarming roll call of key figures behind the hacking, including the secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister, the CEO of Gibraltar’s Borders and Coast Guard, and, finally, Levy himself. It was on this discovery that on May 7, 2020, McGrail decided to issue a search warrant of Levy’s home as a suspect of ‘conspiracy to defraud’.

Levy - who the inquiry has discovered knew

of the ‘plan to remove the NSCIS platform’ - owned 11% of 36 North Ltd - while his pal Picardo held a 3% share.

However, with his rapid resignation it was decided Operation Delhi should be shelved and all charges were dropped in January 2022 on the grounds it would ‘not be in the public interest.’

Levy was never charged and his mobile phone and tablet were returned to him without, allegedly, being opened.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

In Gibraltar, the same few names crop up time and again.

It may have only 32,000 or so residents, but a vastly smaller number of people ac tually run the jurisdiction.

McGrail’s lawyers are trying to prove that Picardo himself interfered in a live police investigation to protect his old boss and business partner.

While Picardo denies it, so far they have done a good job of showing how a tiny ca bal of elites control the Rock and avoiding conflicts of interest is almost impossible, even with the best of intentions.

It has even been suggested that Inquiry chairman Sir Peter Openshaw may con clude that Gibraltar is too small to govern itself, and recommend a return to ‘Direct Rule’ from the UK.

It is a possibility that has also been floated by the leader of the opposition, Keith Azo pardi, who himself is also a senior lawyer and KC.

Dawn of a new era

Olive Press website soars to new heights after major relaunch

THE Olive Press website has seen visitor numbers more than DOUBLE since launching a brand new look.

After months of arduous planning, www.theolivepress.es entered a new era at the weekend.

In just four days, our ambitious relaunch has had hundreds of new registrations, while subscribers are flooding in from around the world - including the US and Australia. More engaging and geared towards a younger audience, the new design was sorely needed after almost a decade without major changes.

We are sure the hundreds of thousands of new readers we are now bringing to the site each month are enjoying it.

“It was really important for us to have a website that reflects the high quality and exclusive content we produce on a daily basis - and we finally have it,” explains editor Jon Clarke.

“I’m very proud of the changes and I am confident this will usher in a new era for theolivepress.es.”

As well as overhauling our paywall, we have

By Laurence Dollimore Digital Editor

spectable competitor has followed suit. Unfortunately for them, they pale in compari son to the content we produce, thanks to our dozen-plus journalists and writers. Only exclusives every week, sending NCTJ-trained journalists out to investigate stories across the country.

This month that has includ ed two reports on anti-tour ism movements in Tenerife, the killing of an American expat in Malaga and live court coverage of the ex plosive McGrail inquiry in Gibraltar.

Worse than that, it is something more than likely to prick up the ears of the Spanish, who have long-demanded sovereignty over the territory.

Spain refers to Gibraltar as a British colo ny; something that can be refuted so long as it governs itself.

If the position of Governor, appointed by London, is transformed from a ceremo nial one to an executive one, suddenly Gibraltar becomes a British colony again. An anachronism, or relic of the past that should be decolonised and, as the Span ish will argue, returned to them.

Now all eyes are on Gibraltar and the inquiry, which has another three weeks to run.

Visit our website www.theolivepress.es for the regular daily reports as the inquiry unravels.

But you will now notice that every other re-

We have also been in Madrid, Benidorm, Sevil la and Murcia covering stories, as well as reg ular trips to Germany, covering the sensa tional trial of Made leine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner, given the many links to Spain and Portugal. As well as incisive up-to-date news on health and the property market, we produce dozens of our own travel stories, features and reviews each month, taking us to the known and, more importantly, lesser-known destinations around Spain.

Is it any wonder that over the past week alone we have been followed up by almost every national newspaper in the UK, including The Times, Daily Mail, Sun, Express, Metro and Mirror

We also got an in-depth feature on ITV, as well as frequent articles on GB News.

It means the Olive Press website is, without a doubt, the number one source of news in English in Spain.

While some sites will claim to have more stories - and all of them free - the Olive Press is about curating the news and breaking the news.

So when you’re deciding which online paper to subscribe to, there really is no better option!

KEY FIGURES: Keith Azorpadi (left) and Sir Peter Openshaw

Cadiz

Overtourism is the word on everyone’s lips this Spring. As visitors start to roll into Spain’s most popular destinations in droves, anti-tourism movements are growing across the country and politicians are taking notice.

Tourist tax has increased in Palma de Mallorca while you will soon be charged to enter Sevilla’s Plaza de España. So, why not help alleviate the strain on the likes of Malaga, Barcelona and Tenerife by checking out some lesser known locations? Leading tour comparison site, TourScanner, has conducted a study to discover the best alternative options.

QUIETER TWINS

It found similar - or twin - locations to popular tourist spots and ranked them based on the amount of annual visitors.

Barcelona = Cadiz

The Catalan capital was one of the first cities in Spain to begin an anti-tourist movement. Millions of visitors flock to the city each year to see the mix of the jostling old town, impressive art and the bustling city centre. That has not only made Barcelona overcrowded but expensive and in some areas, dangerous.

Cadiz in Andalucia has been suggested as a great alternative, with far fewer tourists each year.

Just like Barcelona, Cadiz perfectly mixes beach days and city culture, with lots of museums and historic monuments.

While the cathedral is no Sagrada Familia, its grand facade and the views from its tower make it worth a visit.

The Parque Genoves bears many similarities to Barcelona’s Parc de la Ciutadella, with sandy pathways and overhanging palm trees providing shade from the summer heat.

Above all, it is the lively street life - including Spain’s most famous carnival - that sets it apart.

Much like the Costa Dorada, Cadiz is surrounded by beach side hamlets and fishing villages, all with clear water and golden sand.

Madrid = Salamanca

One of the most visited cities in Spain, Madrid is well worth a visit.

Salamanca

But if you can’t handle the crowds, Salamanca receives far fewer tourists a year compared to Madrid’s 60.2 million.

Found in Castilla y Leon, the city is just a 2.5 hour train ride away from the Spanish capital.

It is home to the oldest university in the Hispanic world and still maintains a vibrant student community, with plenty of bars, cheap food and nightlife.

Similar to Madrid is the Plaza Mayor, complete with Baroque style architecture to rival its neighbouring city.

Unlike Madrid’s Catedral de Almudena, Salamanca boasts two cathedrals.

The Old Cathedral is a ‘truly magnificent’ Roman monument, while the New Cathedral is built in an inspiring gothic style.

The city also has a river flowing through it and you can walk along it over the roman bridge.

It also has many museums, including the impressive Museo de Art Nouveau.

Mallorca = Menorca

Tourism is a key political issue in Mallorca at the moment, with pro -

BREATHTAKING: The beauty of Salamanca is not spoilt by overtourism

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Scrap Barcelona for…

Swap Madrid for…

Love Spain but hate overcrowding?

Here are three of the best alternatives to the biggest tourist traps

testors even putting fake posters at popular beaches warning of ‘dangerous jellyfish’ and ‘falling rocks’ to scare off tourists. Visitors outnumber locals 70 to one, threatening the beauty, peace and culture of the island. Nonetheless, holidaymakers are still searching for holidays in the area, with 201,000 monthly searches. But, if you prefer not to increase tensions, why not try Menorca? The island welcomes just 4 million tourists a year,

27 million fewer tourists than Mallorca’s 31 million.

Menorca has equally picturesque coves, clear waters and dramatic rocks lining their beaches.

Although it isn’t hilly like Mallorca, Menorca is still great for cycling and hiking amongst its vast nature.

The towns of Mahon and Ciutadella are small in comparison to La Palma de Mallorca but nonetheless historic, with a relaxed vibe as you wander through the charming streets.

TIMELESS: The charm of Cadiz has endured down the ages

Menorca

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

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,

SMALLER BROTHER: But the coves and old world vibe of Menorca hold their own against Mallorca

Swap busy Mallorca for…

LA CULTURA

WORDS OF ART

MADRID’s national art museum, el Prado, has created 266 new Spanish sign language (LSE) terms for art related vocabulary.

The project ‘Sign with el Prado’ is a joint effort with the State Confederation for Deaf People (CNSE).

New signs have been created for important Spanish artists such as el Greco, Murillo, el Bosco and Velazquez. They have also created signs for technical terms to describe artistic styles, skills, iconography, themes and characters commonly seen in art. The vocabulary is intended to make art workshops, gallery visits and conferences more accessible and facilitate translation.

Word of mouth

Malaga named the best city to learn Spanish and the fifth in the world to learn a new language

MALAGA has been named the top city to learn Spanish and the fifth in the world for language learning. Despite its infamy for strong accents and regional dialect, Malaga has been chosen as the best location to learn Spanish, according to holiday booking platform, Holidu The company analysed important factors like the number of language schools, opportunities to learn and teach languages, interaction with locals and ability to practice language

THE Marlborough Gallery is to close in early June, shutting its locations in Barcelona and Madrid as well as London and New York.

The galleries showcase modern and contemporary artworks as well as staging exhibitions.

The decision to close after 78 years was taken by the gallery board of trustees.

Marlborough's collections will be sold in the coming months and years.

Part of the money made from the sales will be donated to non-profit

GREEN

Nuclear graveyard

SPAIN'S government has approved a long-term project to build a €4.1 billion facility to store all of the country’s nuclear waste.

All nuclear power plants will be closed down progressively between 2027 and 2035 with each of the seven facilities having temporary dumps for radioactive waste to be kept at the sites for 50 years. Waste

The intention is to transfer everything to a central nuclear graveyard (AGP) - in effect a large hole in the ground - where the waste will be kept permanently.

The design and location of such a site has yet to be decided but it could be ready as soon as 2073, according to the National Radioactive Waste Company (Enresa).

By Yzabelle Bostyn

skills.

They also looked at the average cost of living, digital nomad culture, the friendliness of locals and safety.

Considering each of these factors, Malaga was named the fifth best city in the world to pick up a new language.

It was just behind Taipei (Taiwan), Varsovia (Poland), Zagreb (Croatia) and Wroclaw (Poland).

Despite this, Malaga had a

FRIENDLY: Malaga takes top marks

near perfect score, with 9.5 out of 10.

Malaga was also named the best city in the country to learn Spanish, beating

MARLBOROUGH CLOSURES

cultural institutions whose purpose is to support contemporary artists.

In 1992, Marlborough opened its current gallery in Madrid, and later expanded to Barcelona in 2014.

Those two galleries became prominent representatives of Spanish and Latin American artists.

No reason has been given for the closure, although it is known that the galleries lost $18.2 million (€17 million) between 2013 and 2019.

17 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

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Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Granada, Sevilla, Barcelona and Bilbao to take the top spot.

“Malaga stands out as a great destination for language learning. It has 190 language schools and an affordable cost of living, making it an ideal location,” said the travel company.

“Also it has a solid safety index of 71.14 and the option to work from home, making it an outstanding choice.”

The Costa del Sol city secured its place as the top city in the world to learn Spanish as it was the only place with a five out of five rating for friendliness towards foreigners.

Ear-splitting row

Environmentalists blast plans to parade F1 cars through the streets of Barcelona ahead of GP

ENVIRONMENT groups have blasted plans to host a Formula One roadshow in Barcelona city centre ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in June.

F1 cars will drive along the Passeig de Gracia boulevard after plans for the exhibition were revealed last week.

The bustling thoroughfare will become home to VIP boxes, hospitality, food and drink stalls - an F1 Fan Village will also be installed in Placa Catalunya as authorities look to whip up enthusiasm for the annual Spanish Grand Prix, hosted at Circuit

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By Ben Pawlowski

de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 23.

However, the plans have provoked the ire of local environmentalist groups who claim the exhibition is ‘absurd’ and will worsen air quality.

In a statement on X, Eixample Respira, which campaigns for the improvement of air quality in the Eixample neighbourhood of Barcelona, said: “We are suffering from a public health crisis caused by poor air quality and noise.

“It is absurd to consider a Formula 1 exhibition in the centre where thousands of people live, many of them particularly vulnerable to the effects of pollution.”

The future of Formula One racing in Catalunya was thrown into doubt after Stefano Domenicalli, the sport’s CEO, announced a new Madrid Grand Prix which will

KEEP IT HERE: and not on the

Back to the museum

THE Spanish government has funded multiple programmes designed to bring the museum experience to children in hospitals across Andalucia.

Part of a €289,000 investment, the projects are just some of a five programme effort by the Junta.

The Museo de Almeria, Museo de Cadiz and the Museo Arqueologico de Sevilla are all taking part.

In Almeria, kids can enjoy ‘The museum travels to hospital classrooms’, where they take part in ‘experimental archaeological workshops’, such as recreating toys used in the Roman era.

Puzzles

Meanwhile in Cadiz and Sevilla, ‘Museums in Pyjamas’ brings games, puzzles, reconstructions of ancient villages and archaeological ‘digs’ to hospitals in the regions. They aim to encourage cognitive, artistic, creative and cultural development in youngsters.

The projects have developed alongside three others designed to fight social exclusion in children with special needs, on the autistic spectrum or who find themselves in hospital.

MUCK TO FUEL

take place from 2026.

The new circuit will incorporate both street and nonstreet sections around the IFEMA Exhibition Centre, just five minutes from Madrid Airport. The contract for the current Spanish Grand Prix, hosted in Catalunya, is set to expire in 2026 - the same year that the Madrid Grand Prix’s contract starts.

MARCH was the 10th consecutive month for record global temperatures according to Copernicus - the EU’s Earth observation programme. It beat the previous March high recorded in 2016.

The Copernicus group says temperatures in the last 12 months ‘are the highest since records began’, and are already 1.58ºC above the pre-industrial average of 1850 to 1900. In Europe, March was the second warmest

in 2026, it will produce 60,000 tonnes a year, enough for 12,000 flights between Madrid and Mallorca.

Built in an industrial park in Garray - in the Castilla y Leon region - it will be powered by a 370MW solar farm and a 50MW wind farm, supplemented by a 100MWh-capacity battery.

Solarig chief executive Miguel Angel Calleja said the plant would help Spain lead the sustainable fuels sector.

Aviation accounts for up to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

on record, but it was only 0.02ºC cooler than the hottest in modern times, back in 2014.

Copernicus Deputy

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STUB IT OUT

War on smoking moves forward with plain packs and vape flavours ban mooted

SPAIN has started the process to introduce its new anti-smoking plan by announcing a public consultation over instigating plain cigarette packets and banning vape flavourings.

The 2024-2027 plan was agreed by the Health Ministry and the country's 17 regions on April 5. The Ministry has now put out for consultation the launch of 'neutral' tobacco packets - already implemented in countries like the UK - and ending the sale of flavoured vapes. Flavoured vapes are viewed by health experts as being a hook for teenagers and younger people to try traditional tobacco products. The proposed changes are in line with the Smoking Control plan to 'prevent the initiation of consumption of to-

By Alex Trelinski

bacco and related products'. Health Minister, Monica Garcia, said that tobacco tax levels will be discussed with the Finance Ministry to 'bring us closer to countries around us'.

The plan also envisages outdoor 'smoke-free' spaces but details of that have still to be ironed out including whether or not that means a total ban for hospitality terraces. Garcia said: “The sector is in good health and the ominous forecasts that spoke of widespread ruin because people were going to stop going to bars because they could not smoke indoors never happened".

“There is no economic impact because there was no impact

UNDER THREAT: Vape flavours in sights of Health Minister Garcia

with previous measures either," she added.

"I don't think people will stop going to terraces or beaches because there is a measure that protects against second-hand smoke but we will help the regions to implement it with all of the guarantees," said Garcia. She promised there will be a public consultation ahead of any stage of legislation, like in the case of packaging and vape flavours, where people

Eat yourself well

Taking olive oil daily could help prevent these five serious health issues - according to scientists

SCIENTISTS in Spain have revealed eating olive oil daily could help to prevent five serious health issues.

A study by the Universidad de Sevilla has revealed which illnesses and health issues this Spanish staple can help combat. It is thought olive oil has medicinal properties thanks to its 70-80% quantity of oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid. Commonly found in olives, canola oil and sunflower oil, oleic acid fights a variety of common illnesses.

OBESITY

Olive oil contains oleylethanolamide, a chemical which helps to regulate appetite and body weight. Studies have also found that people who consume extra virgin olive oil regularly have a lower risk of being overweight. This is probably because it is a monounsaturated fat, thought to promote weight loss.

CHOLESTEROL

According to the study: “oleic acid reduces the expression of proteins related to the movement of cholesterol, it also lowers the absorption of cholesterol and reduces oxidation of lipid proteins, preventing atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

ALZHEIMERS

The study showed olive oil could be beneficial in preventing alzheimers as oleic acid is a key component of cell membranes, including neurons.

CANCER

The anti-inflammatory properties of oleic acid act as an anticarcinogen, ‘inhibiting the expression of oncogenes, genetic mutations thought to cause cancer’.

HYPERTENSION

One of the biggest factors influencing cardiovascular risk, the antioxidant power of oleic acid can help to lower pressure on the arteries thanks to its nitrous oxide content.

Fishy alternatives

SWAPPING red meat for small fish such as sardines or boquerones (anchovies) could save up to 750,000 lives a year by 2050.

It would help reduce worldwide levels of diet-related diseases according to a study published last week by the journal, BMJ Global Health.

A team of Japanese researchers says forage fish like sardines are perfect in a food regime to reduce red meats - cutting coronary heart disease and are also full of Omega-3.

from all sides of the argument will be able to contribute.

Though all of the regions backed the plan, it’s expected that some will take a more 'looser' view on some of the proposals - especially over terraces.

In December, Madrid's mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida branded a terrace smoking ban as 'crazy' while a Mallorca restaurant owner has said that a ban would spark 'fights' between customers and waiting staff.

“In Spain we have the advantage that cultur ally these small fish, such as anchovies and sardines, are consumed a lot,” said nutri tionist Aitor Sanchez.

“The survey confirms what we know but vegetables and legumes should also be eat en more,” he added.

Gloomy outlook

PARKINSON’S disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world with around 160,000 sufferers in Spain, according to the Spanish Society of Neurology. Among those aged over 65 years of age, some 2% of the group have it, doubling up to people aged over 80. The risks of contracting the disease are linked to age, but 5% of cases occur in people under the age of 50, which is named early-onset Parkinson's disease.

Dr Alvaro Sanchez Ferro from the Neurology Society says that in Spain the number of people affected will grow at a higher rate than in other countries and may triple by 2050. Some factors that seem to predispose to developing Parkinson's are being exposed to pesticides, industrial solvents and air pollution, which is frequently bad in southern Spain.

P LIVE RESS The O

Triple eclipse

SPAIN will see three solar eclipses in three years, 2026, 2027 and 2028. Two will be total eclipses while the other will last an astonishing seven minutes.

Bird barmy

ANDALUCIA will hold its annual Bird Festival this weekend, April 19-21. It will be held in Montejaque, one of the top birding destinations in the region.

Fair cop

TWO women in Gandia were arrested when they tried to burgle a policeman’s home only for him to return and catch them tearing out a wall safe.

HAPPY DAYS!

Britain is a much happier country than Spain according to new ranking

THE United Kingdom is a much happier country than Spain, according to the 2024 World Happiness Re port.

The research, which is published annually, ranks the happiness of 143 countries based on respondent ratings and quality of life fac

tors. Spain has fallen in the rankings for the fourth consecutive year to 36th place, whilst the notoriously melancholic UK is 20th. The study indicates and El Salvador, the latter of which has the highest murder rate in the world.

GREAT BALL OF FIRE!

A HUGE fireball flew over Spain on Sunday.

It could be seen in Huelva, Sevilla, the Sierra Nevada and La Sagrada, Granada. The object, determined to be a rock separated from an asteroid, was spotted from the Calar Alto observatory in Almeria. It entered our atmosphere at 65,000 km/ph and lit up around the border of Malaga and Granada, some 90 km in the air. Then it moved above Granada, before fading away at 25 km high over Jaen.

enth consecutive time, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden.

The result was even worse for Spain’s youth, who ranked in 55th position for happiness behind countries such as Guatemala, Bosnia, Panama, Paraguay, Nicaragua and Thailand. The United States, meanwhile, have fallen out of the overall top 20 for the first time in over a decade.

In a ranking dominated by Nordic nations, Finland comes out on top for the sev-

At the other end of the scale, war-torn Afghanistan is last with an average score of just 1.7/10.

The top 10 were: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia.

The bottom 10 were: Zambia, Eswatini, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon and Afghanistan.

VELEZ-Malaga will soon have dog lifeguards specially trained in water rescue.

The project is a collaboration between the local council and the Asociación de Rescate Acuático Canino (Association for Canine Water Rescue).

Dogs are trained to save swimmers in peril and transport flotation devices.

They provide vital support for human lifeguards, using their sense of smell to locate people in areas where human vision is limited or where victims have been dragged under water. The furry friends will wear special life jackets so they can be easily identified.

Bus-ted

BARCELONA city council has removed a busy bus route from Google Maps to prevent tourists dominating the service. It comes after years of complaints from locals. The 116 bus covers the Antoni Guadi designed Park Guell area, a major tourist hotspot. Once a quiet area for locals, tourists visiting the park have left the 20 seat service unusable for people going about their daily lives.

By Ben Pawlowski that Spain is less happy than countries including war-threatened Taiwan, Mexico, Kuwait, Kosovo