Olive Press Gibraltar Issue 225

Brexit deal delayed by election

SPAIN'S foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares has ruled out closing a post-Brexit deal over Gibraltar until after the UK general election on July 4. The minister made his position clear after being asked about the status of negotiations to achieve an accord between the UK, Spain, and the European Union.

“As soon as the new government is at the helm of the United Kingdom, I will meet with my new colleague to give the final push and get that agreement,” he said at a news conference.

It was the first time that he said it was not feasible to close an agreement before July 4.

He met with the British foreign secretary Lord David Cameron a fortnight ago for an informal chat at a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Prague.

Albares did emphasise last week that ‘technical negotiations’ were continuing.

Nevertheless, it appears highly likely that he'll be dealing with Labour’s David Lammy from July unless the UK opinion polls have misjudged the general election result.

Albares said the ‘political framework’ of a deal had been ‘more or less finalised’ after the last meeting held in Brussels on May 16 with David Cameron, European Commission vice-president, Maros Sefcovic, and Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo.

He repeated that just ‘technical work’ was required, which suggests that a change in UK government should not bring any major delays if that happens - as expected - in early July.

P LIVE RESS O GIBRALTAR

PRIDE ROCK

GIBRALTAR will mark LGBTQIA+ Pride Month by raising the pride flag and holding events.

June 1 marked the start of the celebrations, with flags raised at the border, No.6 Convent Place, St. Bernard’s Hospital, the Care Agency and New Mole House.

On Monday, June 10 The Ministry of Equality held a panel discussion event entitled: ‘Pride: Relevance and Reality.’

The event was hailed a ‘resounding success’, with ‘inspiring’ and ‘moving’ talks from local members of the LGTBQ+ community.

Gibraltar LGBTQ+ Committee will host the Rock’s annual pride celebrations on June 22.

RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Ella Vaday will be headlining the event, due to take place in Casemates Square from 10am to 11pm.

Minister for Equality, the Hon Christian Santos, said: “Every citizen of Gibraltar deserves and is entitled to feel safe, included and accepted.”

House of cards

EXCLUSIVE: Explosive allegations against gaming firm Mansion shake Gibraltar and raise questions about business links with former finance minister

A GIBRALTAR gaming firm whose name was emblazoned on various Premier League shirts has been accused of operating illegal online gambling in over a dozen countries. The accusations have emerged during an ongoing secret legal battle in the Gibraltar Supreme Court, the Olive Press can reveal.

The sensational multi-million pound case is being brought by the remnants of the Mansion Group against their former CEO, Karel Manasco, 43. Manasco has accused the now-defunct gaming giant of engaging in a scandalous practice known as ‘grey area gaming’. This involves illegally trading in various countries and led to the alleged defrauding of various governments including Austria and Germany. Manasco alleges the activity ‘constitutes the true and undisclosed profits’ of the Mansion Group in Europe, something it denies.

The alarming list of alleged unlawful acts includes operating without appropriate licences, circumventing regulations, dodging taxes, and online gambling in countries where it is illegal.

As well as its core market in the UK, the allegations cover activities in many countries including France, South Africa and Spain.

Untraceable covert companies were allegedly set up in Curacao in 2011 - some through the infamous law firm Mossack Fonseca, made notorious by the Panama Papers scandal.

O P LIVE RESS

By Walter Finch

down in 2015 after French regulators blacklisted the company and threatened to investigate it.

In an email to the Olive Press, a spokesperson representing Mansion firmly denied the allegations and labelled them ‘unsubstantiated’. The allegations arose as Gibraltarian Manasco was publicly accused of taking huge bonuses while splashing company money on luxury cars and high value watches.

Mansion eventually won a worldwide freezing order (WFO) against Manasco to the tune of €5 million in 2023. He insisted the claims are ‘total lies’ with Mansion simply trying to ‘destroy’ him after he began to blow the whistle on its business practices.

Connections

The Olive Press can also reveal that during the period of alleged wrongdoing, from 2011 to 2021, Mansion had links to Gibraltar’s then-Finance and Gaming Minister Albert Isola CBE.

His family law firm Isolas represented Mansion in its legal matters in Gibraltar and even rented the gambling giant office space in Isolas’ Europort building.

One company, Casino Midas, ‘was set up’ by Mansion in 2011 to operate in France after the country decided to outlaw offshore online casinos.

The regulatory noose started to tighten further as other countries followed suit, tightening laws.

Casino Midas was hurriedly shut

The controversial building came under scrutiny after an Isola family trust bought it from Rifaat al-Assad, the sanctioned uncle of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, for a knockdown price, in 2018.

A sister company, Fiduciary, helped Mansion with trust management services behind the scenes.

In an email to the Olive Press, Fiduciary executive Joey Imossi insisted he

was unable to speak about the case. “With respect to Mr Manasco and the case in general we refer you to the various published judgments of the Supreme Court.”

He denied any conflict had arisen through Albert Isola’s role as a senior partner at the firm and also as Minister of Finance and Gaming as he was ‘on sabbatical at the time’.

He further clarified: “Fiduciary provides secretarial management services to Mansion at arm’s length in the usual manner as a corporate services provider.”

Lack of action

Manasco’s allegations against Mansion have yet to be officially investigated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commission.

When they were flagged to Commissioner Andrew Lyman in July 2023, he wrote to Manasco’s lawyer stating

that ‘the bare assertions are insufficient to immediately trigger an investigation.’

The lack of action has frustrated some observers, especially in light of proactive measures taken in other jurisdictions, such as the UK and France. The case may raise further questions around the regulation of Gibraltar’s mammoth online gaming sector, which according to the government accounts for 28% of its GDP.

“The Government and the Gambling Commissioner are aware of certain allegations made by Mr Manasco in the context of a case brought by Mansion against Mr Manasco as respondent,” a spokesman told the Olive Press.

“There are ongoing civil proceedings, as such it would be inappropriate to make any comment.”

However, Imossi separately con-

PROUD: Pride month begins in Gibraltar

GAMBLERS: Andrew Lyman (left), Karel Manasco and Albert Isola (right)

French connection

A FRENCH gangster known as Mehdi who was infamous for ripping off rival drug lords has been arrested in Sevilla after surviving an attempted hit in Marbella last summer.

Latest shooting

A MAN was shot in the back four times and killed in Malaga last week. It was the third shooting on the Costa del Sol this month alone as the wave of gun violence continues.

Unlucky dip

A TRAGEDY was averted in Manilva after a child was reported to have nearly drowned. A nearby doctor performed CPR until paramedics arrived to take him to hospital.

Free pass

A PRISON director in Cadiz was the head of a corrupt network that allegedly charged inmates - mostly drug traffickers - between €9,000 and €15,000 for permits to leave the facility.

EMAILS LINK TO MADDIE

EXCLUSIVE: Brueckner had four emails in 2007, one linking him to the ‘murder’

THE Olive Press can reveal Christian Brueckner was using at least four email accounts at the time Madeleine McCann was abducted in Portugal. And one of these, seized by cops, has been dubbed as the ‘murder’ account by a detective in a German court. While its inbox had been deleted from the start of 2007, Titus Stampa confirmed that police had retrieved its outbox with ‘disgusting’ incriminating material.

We can reveal the expat sex offender also used one in his name and another email moneytime7@hotmail.de to send and receive child pornography. Others included ‘magicame@

By Jon Clarke

mail.de’ and ‘5grosser@hotmail.com’, police sources in Germany told the Olive Press Detectives, who secured data from Microsoft and Meta in 2019, believe many emails were deleted soon after an investigation into Brueckner was launched in 2013.

Snatch

German prosecutors believe he snatched and killed British toddler Maddie, then three, from her holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in May 2007. Stampa refused to divulge any

A GIBRALTAR man has been charged with 12 counts of sexual offences against children.

Clayton Busto, 41, was arrested in June 2023 by the Royal Gibraltar Police’s Safeguarding Team following a report made to the police.

Police carried out an investigation into repeated offences involving multiple victims by Busto, who was in a position of authority over children. They charged him on Tuesday with 12

EXPOSED: Monster’s emails specific information from the

‘murder’ emails at Braunschweig Court. He was only able to give out information linked to the current case involving three rapes and two child abuse offences taking place in Portugal, between 2000 and 2017.

Brueckner, who lived for long periods in Portugal and Spain, used various online nicknames on Facebook and Skype at the time, signing up via Hotmail. In particular, he was working closely with a German undertaker, called Frank S, who was helping him buy and sell child porn.

In one conversation from 2013

Child sex charges

counts, including abusing a position of trust and encouraging child pornography. He is due to appear before the Magistrates’ Court today, Wednesday, June 12.

The RGP urges any victims of sexual abuse not to suffer in silence and to contact the RGP Safeguarding Team directly on 200 48042 or on its website at www. police.gi/report-online.

Brueckner - who used the nickname ‘Holger Wahnsinn’ meaning ‘Madness of Holger’ - told the man he planned to snatch a child and abuse her for days.

He added he would make ‘lots of short films’ and ‘document exactly how she is tormented’.

He also told of his rape fantasy involving a mother and a daughter who he kept imprisoned.

Later, expanding it into a 24page document, the ‘mother-daughter story’ involved him kidnapping a child and abusing her in front of her mother.

Brutal

“It was remarkably brutal,” Stampa explained, adding that Brueckner had told pals ‘this is just the beginning’.

The Olive Press can reveal Stampa was one of two detectives who went to America to interview rape victim Diana Menkes, 72, before her trial for which Brueckner is currently in prison serving seven years.

Brueckner denies the charges. The trial continues.

A BRITISH expat considered to have been the money launderer for one of Europe’s biggest mafia gangs has been released from a Spanish prison on bail.

A photograph of a hugely slimmed-down Morrissey smoking a cigar and pouring himself a glass of his own brand of vodka, Nero, has emerged since his release.

Johnny ‘Cash’ Morrissey, 64, was arrested in 2022 on suspicion of laundering as much as €200 million for the Kinahan drugs cartel.

But while Morrissey was once viewed as a ‘loyal servant’ to the Irish organisation, now based in Dubai, he is now understood to have become ‘disposable’ to the group led by Daniel Kinahan.

The former bouncer, from Rochdale, who was being held in Alhaurin prison since his arrest, has put up a €60,000 bond to secure his release. However, he is subject to a series of conditions, including not leaving Spain and surrendering his passport. He will also have to report to Marbella court twice a month, as well as supply an address where notifications can be sent to him.

MICHAEL Barrymore, the con troversial former TV host turned TikTok star, has revealed he is moving to Spain in search of a ‘better quality of life’.

In a TikTok video posted to his 2.9million followers, Bar rymore, 72, said he would be moving to Catalunya this summer.

The comedian told his fol-

STRIKING IT

lowers he was searching for a property near Girona or Lloret del Mar.

The Bermondsey-born entertainer reached his peak of popularity in the mid-1990s as he hosted shows including Strike It Lucky Kids Say the Funniest Things.

LUCKY

However, Barrymore’s career came to a sudden end following the death of Stuart Lubbock, 31, under suspicious circumstances in a swimming pool at the entertainer’s home in Essex.

A TV comeback on ITV’s Dancing on Ice was scuppered when he broke a wrist in rehearsals.

Taylor made

She is the master

of

working a crowd, writes Yzabelle Bostyn

THERE is no mistaking Taylor Swift is a master at working a crowd.

As 67,000 people buzzed in anticipation, a huge clock ticked down with the screams of fans getting louder as each second passed. A chill passed through me as echoes of each of her 11 albums rippled through the Bernabeu

stadium. The feverish ness of the crowd con trasted with the calm music, pastels and swaying petals on stage. Suddenly, Swift was revealed centre stage, launching straight into song.

SPECTACLE: A packed stadium included Yzabelle (inset above)

THE inaugural world championship series of all-electric power boat races brought a sprinkling of stardust to Spain.

The E-1 teams are backed by star names like actor Will Smith and former American football star, Tom Brady. But it was American Latino singer, Marc Anthony and his Team Miami that came out on top in the battle between eight contenders in a series of knock-out heats held over two days in Marbella’s Puerto Banus. Choppy conditions made things tricky, but Erik Stark and Anna Glennon led Team Miami to overall victory ahead of Will Smith's Westbrook Racing.

I was dizzy trying to keep up with my nerve clenching excitement, belting out the lyrics and taking in the spectacle all at once.

Many dismiss Swift as simply a pop star but for many young women, her songs have

accompanied them as they grew up.

Her career now spans 20 years and The Eras Tour covers them all.

Some three hours and 15 minutes long, the show is an astonishing feat with at least 46 songs, 16 costume changes and dozens of dances, props and sets. Sure, the fireworks, smoke and lights helped, but it’s Swift’s cheeky and confident stage presence that makes the show. She is constantly smiling and laughing, twirling her hair and dancing around the stage to engage every Swiftie in the crowd.

From the upbeat 1989 to the

Electric stars

Sensational Sarandon

GRANDE Dame filmstar and producer Susan Sarandon, 77, proved she has still ‘got it’ when she turned up on the red carpet in Madrid.

She was one of the most eye-catching celebrities at the ELLE Style Awards. Sarandon, who won an oscar for Dead Man Walking in 1995, arrived for the gala at the Palacio de Cibeles in impeccable style wearing a black Armani-designed sequined gown with a keyhole cut-out.

Her footwear was a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals.

calm Folklore, she transitioned seamlessly through each ‘era’ or album.

Videos appearing on the giant stage screens set the tone for the next part of the show, all while building the crowd’s overflowing excitement.

In the Reputation era, a snake slid down the stage, transitioning to a pair of knee high boots and then, Taylor herself appeared, perfectly syncing with the video.

The production was flawless, exhilarating and unlike anything I had ever seen.

But it didn’t all happen onstage.

Glitter

Each attendee was given a light up bracelet which changed colour according to the song.

When they formed the LGBT flag for You Need to Calm Down or shined purple for Enchanted, it was heartwarming to feel connected with thousands of other fans. Through fireworks, sequined outfits and flames, Swift never faltered and by the final song, I couldn’t believe it was over.

As I left the stadium, sweaty, exhausted and coated in glitter, I felt incredibly grateful and sure I wouldn’t forget this night for a long time.

She styled her auburn hair into coiffed curls and added a slick of red lipstick to complete her look.

Her next project to hit the big screen is July’s release of the comedy The Fantastic Four in which her co-stars include Bette Midler.

Paris in Barcelona

PARIS Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter has been spotted in Barcelona. She was attending a fashion show put on by Spanish brand, Desigual. It came just hours after the singer, actress and model made a return to the runway in New York.

She modelled for Alexander Wang before hopping on an overnight flight to Catalunya. Paris was in the front row of the Desigual Spring/Summer show, next to Spanish actress Ester Esposito.

is

Golfing for gold

A YOUNG local golfer has been selected for the England squad at the Junior Golf World Cup. Sebastian Desoisa, 17, will compete in the four-day tournament, starting on June 18. He is one of only three 17-yearolds selected for the tournament, to be held in Nagoya, Japan.

GIBRALTAR’s most successful rock band, Melon Diesel, will perform on the Rock on Friday, June 21.

The concert, held at the Europa Sports Indoor Complex, marks the 25th anniversary of their first album, ‘La Cuesta Mister Bond.’

A Platinum album, over 180,000 copies were sold of the record.

Its title references the James Bond film, The Living Daylights, which was filmed on the Rock as well as a historic Gibraltar street, La Cuesta Mr Bourne. References to Gibraltar are recognisable throughout the band’s discography, with

Rock returns

their name alluding to a popular drink at The Admiral Collingwood, where the band frequently performed.

The band split in 2003 following the release of their third album. They went on to form two bands, Area 52 and Taxi, which found commercial success in Spain, releasing five albums. Frontman Dylan Ferro said: “We will finally be able to play in Gibraltar as Melon Diesel and guarantee a homecoming concert like no other.”

Shut

firmed the Gambling Commissioner ‘sanctioned several gaming companies whilst Albert Isola was the Minister’. Albert Isola, who appointed Lyman in 2017, stood down from his ministerial role overseeing the gaming sector in September 2023.

Minister for Sport, -

tian: “It really comes as no surprise tinues toders with the world’s

67 not out

A GIBRALTAR cricketer is on course to beat her own record as the world’s oldest international player.

Listen to us

HEALTH Minister Gemma Arias Vasquez slammed the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation for failing to remove Gibraltar from its list of countries that need to be decolonised.

Fabian Picardo’s heir-apparent, Arias Vasquez became

Sally Barton was 66 years and 334 days old when she kept wicket in a match between Estonia and Gibraltar on April 21, breaking the record. Now 67 years and 26 days old, Barton will extend her record on Friday when Gibraltar play Croatia and the Czech Republic in Prague.

Minister slams UN decolonisation committee in New York

the first Gibraltarian woman to speak at the United Nations in New York when she appeared before the committee, which is also known as C24.

During her 10-minute speech she criticised the body for keeping Gibraltar on the list of ‘non-self-governing territories’ while reiterating that ‘Gibraltar will NEVER become a part of Spain’.

Gibraltar has been on the list since 1963 despite two separate referendums overwhelmingly laying down the territory’s desire to remain connected to the United Kingdom.

“I am here to remind you that I am not Spanish. To remind you that I am not English,”

Comprehensive

Arias Vasquez told representatives from the 29 member states of the committee.

“To remind you that I am Gibraltarian. I represent a separate and distinct people.”

The minister described the push for Spanish sovereignty of Gibraltar as ‘the recolonisation of our country by a different colonial power’ and ‘a travesty of the decolonisation process’.

dez, who spoke after Arias Vasquez, dismissed Gibraltar’s right to self-determination.

Gaming

It was around the same time that Mansion shut down all its online casino brands and ceased trading in Europe with the loss of 200 jobs. Both moves came, alarmingly, as Manasco was preparing to submit detailed documents to court laying out Mansion’s alleged ‘grey area gaming’. Manasco had started working at Mansion as a 29-year-old financial controller in 2010, before he was fast-tracked in 2015 to become CEO at just 36. He now admits that Mansion engaged in a range of illicit activities, when he worked there. This included ‘defrauding’ affiliate partners and ‘cheating’ the German government out of taxes.

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She slammed the committees ‘repeated failure to engage with the people of Gibraltar’ and instead called for a C24 delegation to visit the Rock and ‘learn at first-hand what Gibraltar is all about’.

Spain’s representative to C24, Hector Gomez Hernan-

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“The question of Gibraltar must be resolved by means of negotiation and bilateral negotiations between Spain and the UK,” Gomez said.

Personalized User Experience

“In these negotiations, the interests of the people of the colony must be taken into account, but they do not have a right to self-determination.”

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He claims he was forced to ‘turn a blind eye’ to the illegal actions, and his refusal to sanction a similar tax scam with Israel in 2021 led to his departure from the firm. The civil action by Mansion against Manasco continues.

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Jibes over Gib

WALES football manager Rob Page has been booed by angry fans after the side drew with Gibraltar.

The teams played a goalless friendly in Faro, Portugal. Supporters jeered Page, chanting for him to be sacked after the performance. Gibraltar is currently ranked 203rd globally, while Wales is 29th. It comes after Page faced criticism last year when Wales lost to Armenia and failed to qualify for Euro 2024. However, fans had never reacted with such ‘hostility’ until the Gibraltar game. In response, the Wales manager insists he ‘understands’ the hostility but ‘will not lose focus on the long-term plan.’

‘It was killing me’

Gibraltar man’s nightmare as housing authority fails to fix chronic mould

A MAN claims he has had to move to the UK to find housing having endured years of squalid conditions in a mould-ridden flat provided by the Gib government. Andrew Planet moved into public housing at Tank Ramp in order to escape ‘anti-social’ behaviour at his previous lodgings that left him ‘suicidal’.

The 55-year-old thought he had escaped his nightmareonly to find it was just beginning.

Six months after moving in, black specs began to appear on the walls. Shut inside due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Andrew

Celebrating culture

NOMINATIONS are open for this year’s Gibraltar Cultural Awards. Designed to ‘celebrate the best of Gibraltar’s arts and culture’, members of the public are encouraged to nominate individuals, groups, events, projects and organisations that they believe deserve recognition.

witnessed mould take over his home.

“All of a sudden, everything was turning black with bacteria growing everywhere,” he told the Olive Press.

The awards will consider achievements made between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. They will include The Lifetime Achievement Award, The Extraordinary Achievement Award, The Cultural Ambassador Award, Best Education Project, The Youth Award and The Senior Award.

He attempted to fix the issue with bleach and by painting over the mould, but nothing worked. The damp began to affect his health, leaving him with a persistent cough, no sense of smell and joint issues in his shoulder and

elbow.

He also ‘once almost died’ after condensation gathered in a plug socket and he had to resort to using wooden spoons to switch appliances on and off.

Eventually, in the summer of 2020, he wrote to the Housing Department asking for help.

Despite repeated calls, emails and even direct messages to the Housing Minister at the time, Steven Linares, no one listened to Andrew’s pleas for help, he claims.

Eventually, in January 2022, he decided to offer to buy the house with the money he had saved working as a gardener at the Gibraltar Gallery of Fine Arts. He also proposed to pay for

INSOLVENCY ACT 2011

INSOLVENCY RULES 2014

New Governor

MOULD: Andrew endured damp for years

the repairs himself, but both requests were denied.

A year later, in May 2023, inspectors from the housing department reviewed the house and declared it was not fit for ‘anyone, not even an animal, to live in that sort of environment’, said Andrew.

“I am a positive person and a hard worker. But it was utterly killing me. It was so depressing, going in and everything was damp,” he told the Olive Press. Andrew finally made the ‘difficult’ decision to move to the UK.

He moved to a ‘very nice flat’ in Bournemouth earler this year. Gibraltar Press Office was contacted for comment but received no response.

LIEUTENANT General Sir Ben Bathurst has been sworn in as Gibraltar’s new Governor. He is the first Governor of Gibraltar appointed by King Charles III. At the ceremony, he stated the previous five were said to have arrived at a ‘critical’ time, showing the Rock’s strategic importance. Gibraltar is amid critical Brexit negotiations, with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo trying to ‘find a deal that is safe and secure’ for both parties. Picardo also claimed Gibraltar was ‘not uncomfortable’, with the Governor taking responsibility for External Relations. Bathurst also passed on ‘best wishes’ from King Charles, who had asked Sir Bathurst to thank them for their loyalty.

Our Gibraltar

ENTRIES have opened for the ‘Our Gibraltar’ competition in celebration of Gibraltar National Day, due to take place on September 10. The two categories, art and photography, have a prize of £1,500 for the overall winner. They are open to Gibraltarians and residents over 16. Entries must be handed in between August 19-21 at the Fine Arts Gallery.

LEGAL NOTICE

ADVERTISEMENT OF APPLICATION TO APPOINT A LIQUIDATOR IN THE SUPREME COURT OF GIBRALTAR

Name of Company: Rossocorsa Limited

Company Number: 117337

Registered Office of Company: Suite 4, 2nd Floor, The West Wing, Montarik House, 3 Bedlam Court, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA

Name and Address of Applicant: Cascade Marine Limited, C/O Hassans, Madison Building, Midtown, Gibraltar

An application to appoint a liquidator of the above company was filed with the Supreme Court on the 12th April 2024 by Cascade Marine Limited C/O Hassans, Madison Building, Midtown, Gibraltar, claiming to be a creditor of the company

The application will be heard at the Supreme Court, 277 Main Street, Gibraltar on Thursday 20th June 2024 at 12:30pm or so soon thereafter as the application can be heard

Any person intending to appear on the hearing of the application (whether to support or oppose it) must give notice of intention to do so to the applicant or its solicitor in accordance with Rule 88 by 16.00 hours on Wednesday 19th June 2024

The Applicant’s solicitors are: Hassans International Law Firm of Madison Building, Midtown Queensway Gibraltar

Dated the 16th day of May 2024

Voted

paper in Spain

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

OPINION

No surprise

THE allegations and conspiracy theories surrounding the Mansion versus Manasco case extend far beyond what we can fit into a news story.

They involve continued, deliberate and wilful activity over years to break the rules and make money at all costs.

The notion that some of these gambling companies may perhaps - and totally allegedly - be behaving immorally and even criminally is not really the biggest plot twist of the 2020s. But the deeper story behind the story is the cosy welcome that Gibraltar as a jurisdiction offers to all and sundry.

How tempted have gambling companies been to relocate to Gibraltar knowing that the minister responsible for the sector had apparent links through his law firm with some of the gambling companies chief protagonists?

Arms length

Of course the people in question argue that there were no conflicts, or they were managed correctly, or they did everything at arms length and did not know what was going on. But now it turns out that while French and British regulators were sternly handing out large fines to noncompliant gambling companies - including £615 million to fellow Gibraltar gambling company Entain - the Gibraltar regulator did very little on his watch.

The Rock is a tiny territory dependent in part for its economic livelihood on these companies, who provide hundreds of well-paid jobs. So it is understandable if the government is reluctant to levy large fines against its golden geese - or even look too closely at what they are up to.

But it is also vital - not just for its reputation but also its political health - that Gibraltar isn’t seen to be holding a big sign advertising itself as an attractive jurisdiction simply because companies can get away with more here.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

(+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

Santaella

theolivepress.es

theolivepress.es

Splashing the cash

Looking for a sunbed in Spain this summer? The prices go from €5 up to €3,000 depending on requirements, party size and bragging rights

IT’S become a hot topic among expats and tourists alike as Spring turns to Summer on the costas of Spain. And, no wonder, as the mercury starts to soar into the mid-30s with the main gripe being an apparent sharp rise in prices that can hardly be blamed on inflation.

WHILE the first tourists arrived en masse in Torremolinos in the 1960s, it was two decades ago in 2003 that Nikki Beach took over Marbella’s Don Carlos Hotel pool area. Now well established globally, the group first opened in Miami in 1998, but in Europe is most famous in Marbella and Ibiza. Only the Ocean Club or La Sala by the Sea, in Puerto Banus, come close to providing the same glitz and glamour you get at Nikki Beach, which became famous for its champagne spray parties.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

And then you’ve got the usual sunbed ‘wars’ as the masses descend on the big resorts like Benidorm, Benalmadena and Magaluf.

BIG SPREAD

ready sneaking out at dawn right), piling up sunbeds and queuing up from 7am.

Towels at the ready, the hordes are alby Marbella and forcing regular holidaymakers out.

But the main complaints seem to be coming in from angry readers, with, in particular, Disgruntled of Estepona, writing that prices are nowadays nudging towards near-

Well, if you were wondering how much you could be spending at your favourite chiringuito or hip beach club this sum -

Other well known beach clubs on the Costa del Sol include Max Beach and El Oceano, in Mijas, while Sublim (formerly Laguna Beach), in Estepona, El Ancla and Macaao Beach, in San Pedro, and Finca Cortesin beach club in Casares, provide a certain upmarket cache.

The Trocadero group, meanwhile, do their thing at various spots along the coast, while Chambao, in Sotogrande, is guaranteed to provide the party spirit.

Overall sunbed prices go from €5 up to €1,200 depending on your group size.

Generally speaking in central Marbella you should pay from €7, while in San Pedro this would be €8 to €10.

One upmarket spot, Macaao Beach, charges €25 for the day, but ‘unlike many other places’ doesn’t levy a 10% surcharge for deli-

very of food and drinks to the beds.

“We think that’s a reasonable price given we only fill up for two months, plus the fact the town hall rental fee has gone up by over three times in a decade,” explained a spokesman.

“But to say prices are soaring on the Costa del Sol is unfair as you can find beds in every budget nowadays, you just need to look around,” he added.

This luxury enclave hosts the rich and famous and guarantees ‘the good life’.

Belgian-owned, it covers ‘9,000 square metres of style, luxury and glamorous indulgence’, and it understandably has prices to match.

At the lowest end of the scale a day in paradise on a three-person sunbed goes for €195.

If you prefer the high life, the club’s most expensive option is the ‘Super

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS

Some three million UK citizens previously disenfranchised can vote again on July 4

WITH the UK general election due on July 4, there is still time to register for the vote - but you will have to hurry as the deadline is 11.59pm on June 18.

Legislation that came into force in January has restored the voting rights of over three million Brits who have lived outside the UK for more than 15 years.

The move represents the biggest increase in the British electoral franchise since the introduction of full female suffrage in 1928. British citizens, eligible Irish citizens and citizens of Crown

By Ben Pawlowski

Dependencies can now register to vote as long as they were either previously registered to vote in the UK or were previously resident in the UK. Before beginning the process of registration, prospective voters will require proof of ID and a former UK address.

Acceptable documentation for this includes: a UK driving licence (current or expired); council tax statement; credit card statement; utility or mobile phone bill; letter from an insurance company; correspondence from HMRC or

VIP Square’ package costing €1,150 for 12 people. It includes three 75cl bottles of vodka but beware, if you book on a Saturday, there is a further €1,200 minimum spend.

“It’s a really intense but fun place to work,” explained one former waiter, who did seven seasons at the club. “The buzz gets more and more frenetic as the afternoon goes on and the tips are often off the scale. You can make a great living off them alone.”

the Department for Work and Pensions; P45, P60 form or a payslip; bank / building society passbook or a local authority rent book.

If you are unable to provide satisfactory evidence of your ID and former UK address, there will be the option of providing an attestation - you will need to ask someone (not a relative), who is over 18 and registered to vote in the UK, to attest to the details you provide. British citizens living overseas can register to vote on the gov.

uk website. When applying to the electoral register, expats should use the last address where they were registered as a UK resident. Any eligible voters previously resident in the UK, even as children, but who have never been registered to vote, can apply by using their last UK address.

Once registered to vote, British expats will need to renew their registration every three years, before November 1.

Ocean Club, Puerto Banus

RIVALS: Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak €1,150

It’s kick off for the coast’s hottest new sports venue dubbed the ‘ultimate destination to watch the Euros’

IN THE CLUBHOUSE!

WITH dozens of professional footballers already linked to the Sala Group, it was only a matter of time before they opened a sports venue.

Current and former Premier League stars, including Shay Given, David Bentley and Stephen Carr, have approved the stunning new spot, below La Sala Puerto Banus.

Called The Clubhouse, it counts on over 50 TVs, alongside dartboards and top-of-the-range golf simulators to keep punters entertained for hours.

The premier sports and entertainment venue ‘will offer an unrivalled experience for dining, entertainment, and competitive socialising, just in time for the Euros,’ Sala Group CEO Ian Radford told the Olive Press.

Whoʼs In So Far?

“We’ve been planning it for well over a year and this year’s competition is the perfect time to kick off,” he added.

Launching this week, it’s a remarkable change for the venue that was formerly a nightclub and had been totally stripped out in late 2022.

Far?

Who s In So Far?

in unmatched comfort and style. There will also be a full food menu, utilising the top quality kitchen and chefs from La Sala upstairs.

On a visit a year ago Radford, a former squash professional, had explained he had been considering combining it with bowling.

But in the end, the Clubhouse, which sits over 900 m², has concentrated more on football and golf.

An amazing multi-million investment has brought in state-of-the-art Trackman golf simulators, advanced Dartsee dartboards and Zapping technology televisions. Through an ingenious partnership with Mahou beer a self-serve beer system allows guests to conveniently refill their drinks directly from taps installed at their tables.

And for a more exclusive experience, the Laurent Perrier Players Lounge offers a private members-only area with premium amenities for watching the Euros, or other sports,

UEFA Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany on June 14 and promises to be a thrilling tournament with 24 teams competing.

Strategically positioned on a newly-constructed Paseo, The Clubhouse offers spectacular views up to Aloha, with complimentary valet parking enhancing the experience.

EAT. DRINK. WATCH. PLAY

Find out more by contacting reservations@clubhousemarbella. com or calling +34 951 204 835

Whoʼs In So Far?

EXCITEMENT: All the big sporting events will be shown on 50 TVs including on the outside terrace

EXCLUSIVE: VIPs can pay to chill out in the Laurent Perrier Players Lounge

Just some of the sporting greats lending their support to the clubhouse SIGNED

GROUP A

GROUP B

GROUP C

ANDALUCIA isn't just a haven for sun-seekers – it's a place where the past and present of global football intertwine.

And in Marbella it reaches fever pitch with dozens of famous footballers owning homes, and dozens more coming for their holidays.

This month alone, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Virgil Van Dijk have all enjoyed a stay within the golden resort.

the game to these Spanish shores and, as it happens, just a few miles up the coast.

It was actually Dr. William Alexander Mackay (right), a Scotsman who arrived in Huelva in 1861, who made the first moves.

While his colleagues sipped sangria, or more likely sherry, Mackay, a former Edinburgh University footballer, yearned for something more.

We kicked it off

But the British influence on the beautiful game stretches far further back. Indeed it was over a century ago that the UK intro-

He started organising football matches for Rio Tinto miners, a tradition that blossomed into Spain's first amateur football club in 1889.

Though today's Recreativo de Huelva boasts mostly Spanish stars, the team’s early lineups were a rather different story. In 1890, British names like Alcock and Smith dominated their hard fought away game in nearby Sevilla. Fast forward to today, the Costa del Sol continues to attract British footballing talents, but not as pioneers.

A number of young British professionals are now chasing their dreams up at FC Malaga City.

While Marbella is now the nerve centre for football celebrities, it is in nearby Huelva where British players first introduced the game to Spain

FC Malaga City, founded by British expat George Jermy, is a unique example of this modern connection. Jermy, the son of a Spanish father and English mother, played professionally in Spain before injuries forced a career change. Inspired by the lack of opportunities for young Australians he once coached, Jermy started FC Malaga City in 2017.

The club thrives on Jermy's philosophy of ‘amateur spirit, professional approach’. They've skyrocketed through the ranks, attracting talented players who fit within their budget constraints.

While the Malaga club is little known, for-

eign football stars with a much higher profile are frequent visitors to the Costa del Sol.

We revealed that ex-Spurs and Liverpool player Steven Caulker had taken up a managerial position at FC Malaga City after meeting Jermy whilst holidaying with his family in sunny Nerja.

As soon as he arrived on the Costa del Sol, the club’s fortunes dramatically im-

proved as Caulker leant on his many years of international experience to lead the side to a handful of crucial wins. Sadly, his time in the dugout was shortlived after post-Brexit red tape saw the ex-premiership defender ‘run out of pa-

tience’ after waiting months for an employment visa that never came. Half a decade ago meanwhile, England and Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle started a

arrangement in Jerez. Hoddle, who bought a

in nearby Sotogrande, near ex-Liverpool player

Glen Johnson, lasted a few seasons until the advent of Brexit also killed his dreams.

Last edition the Olive Press revealed that a trio of Brazilian superstars - Ronaldo Nazario Roberto Carlos and Julio Baptista - are set to take over the helm at fourth tier club CD Estepona. And of course the bright lights of Marbella have long attracted football stars from around the world looking for a break from the stresses of the ‘beautiful game’. These range from Manchester United

legend George Best and fellow European Cup winner Nottingham Forest’s Larry Lloyd (who once managed Real Marbella) to modern day players including frequent visitor Manchester City’s Erling Haaland whose dad has a home here. Gareth Bale - who reportedly has two properties on the coast - is

as is Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, who opted to bring his childhood sweetheart Katie Goodland - who has since become his wife and mother to his four childrenhere for a romantic break. Eating, where else, but at La Sala, which is owned by practically an entire team of soccer stars! So, from Mackay's pioneering spirit to Jermy's innovative approach, British influence continues to play a part in Spain's beautiful game, even as modern stars from both nations chase their dreams on sun-drenched pitches.

Casemiro invests in Marbella FC

BRAZIL captain and Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro, has been scooped up by Marbella FC - as a shareholder. The multiple Champions League winner with Real Madrid posed with a Marbella shirt and with the team after recently achieving promotion to the third-tier of Spanish football. It's not been revealed how much money the superstar will be putting into the club.

Casemiro said: “It is an honour for me to join Marbella Football Club because my biggest motivation is the spectacular possibilities for growth of the club.”

“I have been to Marbella with my family on several occasions and both my children, my wife and I are in love with this city, with which we want to be linked for life,” he continued.

“Without a doubt, together we will dream big to take Marbella to the top, but now we have to enjoy our wonderful promotion to the First Division."

BOUND?: Ronaldo, Baptista and Carlos

mer, read on, as the Olive Press has compared a few of the famous luxury venues with the bog-standard average joints.

From upmarket Puerto Banus to up-andcoming Valencia, there are options for ev -

ery budget and taste, with prices soaring from just €5 up to a staggering €3,000 per sunbed. It’s big business, with one inland pool club away from the beach in inland Marbella al -

A bit more purse friendly, Nikki Beach has single sunbeds for €50 in their ‘barefoot luxury’ beach club.

Alongside sunbeds, punters can enjoy an ‘incredible ambiance, unforgettable music and entertainment.’

Heading upscale, the VIP Pool Beds can fit up to six guests, coming at €1,100. However, this includes €950 of drinks and a bed facing the pool and DJ.

Exuding boho vibes from its prime spot on a secluded Elviria hideout, The Beach House is the perfect place to relax. It offers fine-dining set to the tune of live music and calming waves. Despite the luxurious surroundings, sunbeds are reasonably priced, starting at €35 during the high season.

legedly taking €600,000 over one recent weekend.

Here, we do a round up of some of the most popular beach clubs from across the coun try for you to choose from.

Looking for a premium beach bar oozing with luxury? Max Beach in Mijas Costa could be for you.

It offers a ‘relaxed’ atmosphere during the day and transforms to party central at night, complete with the finest cocktails, DJs and dishes. During the high season, prices start at €30 for a beach side sunbed (not including pool access).

For €950, the secluded ‘sanctuary’ space offers a private jacuzzi for up to twelve people.

For luxury Marina Beach offers a true taste of luxury for those who like the high life. Hammocks cost as little as €20, but prices can vary drastically depending on demand.

Premium options rise to up to €80 per person, with both sun and shade options. The club has a resident DJ, two restaurants and holds parties year round.

Unlike Barcelona, nearby Tarragona is a quiet area surrounded by nature. A luxury hideout, Infinitum offers packages for families and individuals starting at €55 per person and including access to six pools, plus hammocks, towels and lockers. Meanwhile, the cabin package is €250 for two people, including a private cabin, cava, snacks and two hammocks in the tranquil adults only zone.

The Beach House, Marbella

Max Beach, Mijas Costa

Nikki Beach, Marbella

Infinitum Beach Club, Tarragona

Marina Beach, Valencia

FUN AND GLAMOUR: La Sala by the Sea in Puerto Banus epitomises the fun beach club vibe

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

AT THE TOP TABLE

ISFRUTAR,

in

kitchen following last year’s triple whammy of top 5 entries..

In fact, in this year’s ‘The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ ceremony held in Las Vegas, Spain did even better than in 2023 - with Disfrutar scooping top spot following last year’s runner up position.

1 Disfrutar Barcelona

Modern techniques and personal talents come together in Disfrutar’s gastronomic experience. Set up by the trio of chefs, Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch, it sits behind a typical tapas joint, unfolding into a cavernous space behind. This is the first of ‘many surprises’ in what the judges describe as some of the ‘world’s most modish dishes’. Punters experience the classic tasting menu, which takes four hours, with its wine pairing options. Playing with shapes, textures, and flavours, Disfrutar’s exper-

Spain has proven it’s the global dining capital as Disfrutar named World’s Best Restaurant

By Ben Pawlowski & Dilip Kuner

Asador Etxebarri, based in the Basque village of Atxondo, meanwhile jumped two places to second while Diverxo, the Madrid-based restaurant owned by reigning Best Chef in the World Dabiz Muñoz, slipped one spot to fourth.

Judges praised Disfrutar for ‘imaginative dishes that are executed with exceptional technical skills and served in the most playful way possible’ which ensure that customers ‘have the dining experience of a lifetime’. They added: “Two parallel menus of 30 courses are on offer: The Classic and The Festival. The former features dishes such as Thai-style cuttlefish with coconut

imental style has earned it thee Michelin stars and its place as the World’s Best Restaurant.

59 Enigma Barcelona

Under the helm of chef Chef Albert Adria - brother of legendary El Bulli chef Ferran Adria - Enigma uses seasonal ingredients in its monthly menus and offers different wine experiences. The finishing touches on the meals are added right

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

‘multi-spherical,’ and squab with kombu spaghetti, almond and grape, while the famously indulgent caviar-filled Panchino doughnut and brilliant frozen gazpacho sandwich can be found in the Classic option”.

Disfrutar’s three founding chefs, Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas - who met when they worked at legendary El Bulliwere visibly emotional as they collected their award.

Xatruch dedicated the award to everyone who ‘has worked and continues to work everyday to make this profession wonderful’, whilst Castro said he was ‘surprised and honoured’ to win the ‘magical’ award, adding that he wanted ‘to thank and congratulate our colleagues who are on the list and who have each contributed to building a great gasElsewhere, Quique Dacosta on the Costa Blanca came 14th, up from 20th, whilst Elkano, another Basque

restaurant celebrating the region’s famous gastronomy, came in at 28th position.

Disfrutar, which received its third Michelin star last year, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in December. However, if you want to sample some of the world’s best food, there is a hitch - the restaurant is booked up years in advance with, at the time of writing, no availability. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a reservation, the Classic or Festival tast ing menu will set you back €290, with the specially crafted wine pairing costing an extra €160 per person.

Alternatively, the trio of acclaimed chefs do own two sister restau rants - both are called Compartir, with one opened in Barcelona in 2022, and one based in the pop ular Costa Brava seaside town of Cadaques, open since 2012.

Asador Etxebarri Atxondo

In the small village of Axpe in the Basque region, the asador is a total contrast to its rivals on the list, favouring simplicity over experimentation. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t magic and it has become a true destination restaurant noteworthy for its grill techniques. Chef Victor Arguinzoniz’s more than 30 years of experience with ‘fire cooking’ contributes to his traditional approach and meticulous style – every dish that exits the kitchen is given his signature touch. The restaurant thrives off local produce and elevating ingredients by highlighting their natural

At this incredibly picturesque spot, Aitor Arregi uses his method of whole-grilling fish over a wood fire as the foundation of his flavour. Playing off Getaria’s gastronomic heritage, this method of cooking has become an inte gral part of the town’s cuisine and a tradition for Arregi, whose father, Pedro, opened the first Elkano back in 1964. There is a distinct emphasis on sustainability and the local connection is reflected within the dishes and maritime decor.

4 DiverXO Madrid

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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The bold, rule-breaking flavours by chef Dabiz Muñoz (below) are part of a greater, more marvellous story. Immersed in a fantasy-world of outlandish decor, staff dressed in punky uniforms serve a range of stunning, creative dishes. For foodies, the DiverXO experience makes dreams feel tame. Passing through the hands of five or six chefs before plating, the gastronomy follows Muñoz’s love for avant-garde art from conception to completion – he describes the expe-

June 12th - June 25th 2024

14 Quique Dacosta Denia

Just two years after he began his career as a chef in 1986, at just 16 years of age, Quique Dacosta began working at a restaurant that would later share his name. His food takes an artistic approach to the geographies and cui sines of the Mediterranean and nearby Montgo Natural Park. Putting Valencian cuisine very much on the map, his respect for nature — the roots of the restaurant — comes forth in every bite.

72 Aponiente Cadiz

Chef Angel Leon is recognised as ‘The Chef of the Sea’ for utilising ingredients from the Mediterranean and Atlantic sea in his evolving menus. The current rendition, based on the infinite sea, commits to sustainability and new techniques. Even in the dessert section, the restaurant blends together traditional sweets with seafood.

81 Mugaritz San Sebastian

At Mugaritz, presentation is anthropomorphic in the most intimate and wondrous ways. Take the dish ‘heart that does not feel’ which is a flat, almost 2D slice of meat with ribbons of fat representing the aorta. Mugaritz has long taken a philosophical approach to food thanks to its intellectual chef Andoni Luis Aduriz. He had been in the 50 Best list for well over a decade before slipping out this year.

LA CULTURA

ESSENCE OF SPAIN

A look back at the magic of Granada’s annual Corpus Christi feria. Words and pics by

Michael Molyneux

ON a sun-baked Friday evening outside the bullring in Granada, the murmur of local Granadinos grows louder as the sun sets.

Friends and families greet one another with familiar warmth, drinking tall glasses of Tinto de Verano and ice-cold Alhambra beer, waiting for the doors to open and the show to begin.

Amidst the city’s bustling streets and Moorish architecture, lies the epicentre of Andalucian tradition and controversy: a circular 20,000-seater red-brick amphitheatre where the Feria de Corpus Christi bullfights take place each year in June.

For generations, the Feria de Cor-

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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pus Christi has been a cornerstone of Granada’s cultural calendar, a celebration that transcends mere entertainment, embodying the very essence of Spanish heritage. Here, beneath the tall cypress trees and gaudy festival banners, locals and tourists gather together to witness a tradition steeped in history, honour and, with temperatures approaching 40°, somewhat heated debate.

La corrida de toros (bullfighting) has long been both revered and reviled, its roots reflecting broader historical and social dynamics of the region, and the fabric of Spanish society in general.

To some, it’s a noble art-form, a graceful dance of life and death between man and beast that epitomises courage and skill, passion and pageantry, elegance and zeal.

Across: 6 Vitro, 7 Fascia, 9 Plug, 10 Suicidal, 11 Calico, 13 Curbs, 15 Ton, 17 Beeps, 18 Edited, 20 Baptized, 22 Nuke, 23 Fits in, 24 Enter.

Down: 1 Evaluate, 2 Stag, 3 Top spot, 4 Affix, 5 Gina, 8 Stimuli, 12 Impetus, 14 Breakers, 16 Needles, 19 Ozone, 21 Akin, 22 Nuts.

ter Easter Sunday.

Many communities showcase artisanal crafts and handmade goods during Corpus Christi celebrations.

Local artisans sell their wares at markets or set up stalls along the procession route, offering traditional items such as pottery, textiles, organic foods, jewellery, and religious artifacts.

Alongside the religious processions, Corpus Christi festivities include street performances by musicians, dancers, and theatrical groups.

These performances range from classical music concerts to folk dance displays to re-enactments of biblical stories and local legends.

Traditional dishes are shared among friends and family

To others, it’s a cruel and outdated spectacle, a symbol of animal exploitation. And there was indeed a small demonstration against the bullfights but this year’s festival still offered a vibrant blend of religious tradition and the high-octane world of Spanish bullfighting.

But while a major part of the festivities, the bullfighting is not the only tradition.

Corpus Christi is a Christian festival celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sun day, 60 days af

Food plays a central role in Corpus Christi celebrations, with traditional dishes shared among friends and family, not to mention the plenitude of local wines, spirits, and beers.

The day usually begins with a special Mass dedicated to the Eucharist, emphasising the importance of the body and blood of Christ.

Following the Mass, there are processions through the streets, where the consecrated host is carried in a monstrance, accompanied by clergy, religious groups, and local dignitaries and community members.

Parishioners dressed in their finest attire follow alongside priests, choirs singing hymns, and children carrying flowers.

Shopkeepers along the route often adorn their storefronts with tapes -

incense and the gentle murmur of prayers, creating a truly unique and spiritual atmosphere. A delightful counterpoint to the solemnity of the procession is the appearance of the ‘Tarasca’, a mythical beast depicted as a large dragon puppet.

Accompanied by lively music and energetic dancers, the Tarasca weaves through the crowds, snapping its jaws and swishing its tail. This playful tradition adds a touch of whimsy to the festivities, particularly for children who are enthralled by the sight of the fantastical creature.

The Tarasca’s origins are believed to be rooted in pre-Christian mythology, representing the triumph of good over evil, which has been cleverly incorporated into the Corpus Christi celebrations.

Whether you’re a fan of bullfighting or simply seeking a taste of Spanish culture, the Corpus Christi festival offers a unique experience. It’s a chance to witness age-old traditions, experience Granada’s vibrant energy, and discover the magic that this captivating city holds.

Michael Molyneux is a freelance

FRIENDS AND FAMILY: Corpus Christi is a time to celbrate with all your loved ones

FUN: In Granada the festival is more than simply solemn religious processions but involves joyous celebrations too

POPULAR: Bullfighting attracts the crowds and brings feelings of brotherhood (right), but not everyone is enjoying Granada’s Corpus Christi festivities at the bullring

On the rise

THE number of Covid cases have grown for six weeks in a row, despite the recent warm weather.

According to the latest figures from Spanish health authorities, the incidence grew from 57.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to 74.8 cases over a seven-day period.

Just three weeks ago, that figure was as low as 33.5.

In hospitals, meanwhile, figures are also on the rise.

The estimated rate of hospitalisation due to Covid-19 has gone up from 2.2 to 3.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Summer health centre crisis

DOCTOR shortages will force health centre closures in Spain this summer, according to regional health ministers. They've accused the country's health minister, Monica Garcia, of not doing enough to solve the problem. Garcia countered by stating the 17 regions should have contingency plans to deal with the issue.

HEAT TRAGEDIES

A BARCELONA study suggests that high spikes in temperature cause mental health problems, and have increased suicide cases by 5% over the last 250 years.

A major crunch of data by the Hospital Clinic Barcelona and the city's IDIBAPS biomedical research centre has reached the conclusion-published in the World Psychiatry magazine. Over 280 studies in which pollution and climate change were associated with mental disorders were analysed. The researchers argue that global warming may have caused a 5% increase in suicides and that will rise to 7% by 2050.

Warning shortage of qualified doctors will hit health care during the holiday season

By Alex Trelinski

The minister said that most of them ‘had done their homework’ and will be able to handle the situation.

The Basque Country and Catalunya are already having to close health centres, with Andalucian minister, Catalina Garcia, saying that ‘we want to keep them open, but we are facing a very difficult situation’.

Her Valencian counterpart, Marciano Gomez, warned that the doctor shortage puts at risk the opening of 54 auxiliary centres and fully covering staff in 70 health centres

Managing negative thoughts

‘I

really think I can’t see the positive

even though I know that I have good things in my life’

THIS was a client that I worked with some six months ago who voiced an issue that many people have.

She was not clinically diagnosed with any condition and she was not on any medication. However, she said that at points she had low moods though they lifted the next day and she ‘got on with life’.

Having asked about her medical and past social history of experiences, it was clear that this was an issue that was not impeding her life, but it was affecting her quality of life.

Many people sadly experience this type of thought process – a form of mental filtering towards the negative. It is nothing to be ashamed about and it is important to be able to voice such concerns with loved ones, or with counsellors and therapists, since shame, guilt and self-blame simply compound the issue and also add to low moods.

Our minds work in a certain way. They work from experiences that have happened to us, perceptions that we form over time,as a way of 'surviving' or 'fitting in'.

The problem is that some of the thoughts and behaviours that we have become used and accustomed to, may not be helpful at later points in our lives.

Allied to this is the fact that the limbic system which manages our long term memory, emotional and stress responses, is a key and integral 'older' part of our brain.

Our brains are always subtly scanning for risk whilst we remain in the conscious world during the day.

Therefore, if someone has been through life experiences which may have been difficult or troubling, their brain may well have become hyper-sensitised to risk.

It was understandable that my client, in thinking and feeling that there were obstacles that could

By Fijaz Mughal

come up, had her mood affected. This form of mental filtering towards the negative, sometimes with catastrophising, is called a cognitive distortion.

There are a number of ways of reducing these cognitive distortions.

Firstly, stress reduction can really help. Anything that adds significant stress, such as smoking, drinking high quantities of coffee or caffeinated colas need to be reduced or ideally, removed from their lifestyle.

Things like meditation and mindfulness can really help, by allowing the individual to have the space to realise that the brain is going through an old pattern that can be changed over time and that the person has ultimate control over this.

Sometimes this basic awareness can help to reduce the strength of the emotions that may be thrown up by the negative thoughts, especially if they are self-deprecating.

Other things that can help include taking up exercise, building a circle of friends and ensuring that there is regular communication with them. Also, listing the pattern of negative thoughts and reasons and facts that challenge the negative thoughts and which resonate well with the individual, are another way of helping.

Positive visualisation can also help and this involves taking 10-20 minutes out of the day to find a quiet space and visualise a safe, warm and comfortable place that they have been to.

Therapy and counselling can really help and depending on commitment, people can see real benefits in a short period of time.

Finally, it is important to remember that we are the drivers of change. This means that we can also change the way that we see the world externally, whilst also changing the way that we experience negative thoughts or feelings. We may not be able to wholly erase the latter, but therapy can certainly reduce the impact of them on daily life.

Fiyaz Mughal is a qualified counsellor and hypnotherapist. He works on stress, anxiety and mood related issues and works in Southern Spain and the United Kingdom. He also holds a degree in Neuroscience. He can be contacted on info@counselling4anxiety.com or through www.counselling4anxiety.com

Dear Jennifer:

In her last column before her sad passing (see page 4), Jennifer asked: Are you prepared to protect your loved ones?

E can assist you with our Bespoke Life and Mortgage Protection policies to protect those that are most important to you, should the worst happen. The first question would be – have you taken out Life Insurance? You may have a Mortgage Protection policy, which means on your death the mortgage will be paid. But of course, this does not provide your family with some financial security when they really need it.

in the coming months. The Valencian region has more than 600 vacant doctors’ positions, and Gomez said he told Monica Garcia ‘months ago’ that the structural problem of a lack of professionals would worsen this summer if she did not allow fourth-year trainee resident doctors to do some tasks.

Hire

Normally, the regions could hire the residents in the summer to work as specialists but delays in their training caused by the Covid-19 pandemic means they have not yet qualified.

The Ministry of Health says the trainees cannot work unsupervised in facilities, with Garcia saying she cannot bend the rules.

Juan Carlos Blazquez, President of the Basque Country College of Physicians, said: “Patients are already complaining and I don’t even want to think about what it will be like in the summer when many doctors go on vacation.”

Mortgage Protection is a good policy to have as it will pay off any mortgage you have on your house, keeping your family secure in their home. This is death-only cover, however there are some additional options you can add on if you require them.

For example, Mortgage Payment protection for €100,000 of cover for a 50-year-old can be as little as €305 per year. On the other hand, life insurance provides a payment to your family.

You can tailor the life policy to your own requirements and create a Bespoke Life insurance – whether to cover the initial costs incurred on your death or give your family a lump sum to provide for their future. For example Life cover of €50,000 for a 50 year old, can be as little as €155 a year.

Our Bespoke Life policies can give you the cover most suited to your needs with standard death only cover and additional covers to include:

● Repatriation

● Permanent Absolute Disability

● Death by Accident

● Death by Traffic Accident

● Permanent Absolute Disability due to an Accident

● Permanent Absolute Disability due to a Traffic Accident

● Serious Illness cover/Serious Female illness cover

● You do need to be resident in Spain for these policies and there will be a simple

health/medical questionnaire that you will need to complete online. These policies are available with monthly direct debit payments, and our policies will be in English.

● Alongside the Life policies, we can provide various accident policies to give your protection throughout your life and provide support should you sadly experience a life changing accident.

For more information or a quotation, please call one of my offices, email info@jennifercunningham.net or visit www.jennifercunningham.net

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.

P LIVE RESS O GIBRALTAR

Bird abuse

TWO men have been arrested in Fuente Alamo, Murcia, for setting up an illegal cockfighting ring shaped like a roulette wheel with birds held in small cages behind the arena.

Milkshake

A SECURITY guard, 67, was arrested at the Spanish Olympic Committee for ejaculating nightly in the water bottles of two female coworkers he claimed were bullying his wife.

Wild heart

DRIVERS on a busy motorway in Elche were stunned to be overtaking an elderly man in a wheelchair. Police scrambled to rescue him on the hard shoulder and return him to his family.

Behave yourself

DRUNKEN stag and hen do parties carrying inflatable penises, vaginas and massive sex dolls have been banned from a popular tourist hotspot.

Punters in Platja d’Aro on the Costa Brava, a prime destination for pre-wedding shenanigans, could be handed fines of up to €1,500 if they fall foul of the new legislation which outlaws ‘clothing rep-

Popular tourist town bans stag and hen dos from carrying inflatable ‘genitalia’ and sex dolls

By Ben Pawlowski

resenting human genitals’.

The bustling seaside town can attract up to 300,000 visitors per weekend, with many heading to the former fishing village to partake in

In the frame

THE mayor of Barcelona was forced to pay a €100 fine on World Bicycle Day after he rode his bike in a no-cycling zone during a promotional video for the celebration. Jaume Collboni, a member of the Catalan branch of Pedro Sanchez’s ruling PSOE socialists, fell foul of his own rules after eagle-eyed onlookers spotted the city mayor cycling past a sign which asked cyclists to dismount and walk. The fine was reduced to €50 by the Guardia Urbana as Collboni himself reported the infringement to police. He was also given an additional discount after agreeing to stump up the cash the following day.

boisterous bachelor and bachelorette parties. But future partygoers may have to diverge from the tradition al stag or hen do attire as the new law explicitly bans vis itors from being ‘on the public thorough fare without cloth ing or only in their underwear or with clothing or accessories representing human genitals or with dolls or other accessories of a sexual nature’.

Platja d’Aro’s mayor Maurici Jimenez, who has previously stated he would ban the celebrations al-

A horny issue

A CLEANER at a Madrid veterinary hospital faces up to three years in prison after he was accused of performing sex acts on a goat. The 43-year-old man has been arrested and charged with animal abuse.

The alleged incident happened at the capital’s Complutense University Veterinary Hospital.

together if he had the power, said: “These attitudes have an impact on the community’s coexistence and we need to fight against them”.

One example of loutish behaviour given by David Puertas, the local police chief, was of a groom who was strapped to a lamppost with tape whilst his friends played loud music and sang into the early hours of the morning, disturbing residents and visitors alike.

The female goat had been admitted to the facility due to a joint ailment.

A student surprised a man in a cleaning worker’s uniform who was in ‘a strange position with the animal’. DNA tests confirmed that sperm found in the goat matched the worker.

Plenty to like

CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s social media comments about Kylian Mbappe’s transfer to Real Madrid has taken the internet by storm.

Ronaldo’s post attracted over 5.1 million likes - apparently the highest number of likes for a response to a post. He beat the previous record held by TikTok content creator and influencer, Dylan Page.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling.

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