Olive Press Gibraltar issue 240

Ceuta for Morocco?

SPAIN is in for a rocky ride with the Trump administration that could potentially see the new US president target Spanish exclaves in Africa.

Despite hosting the US Sixth Fleet at the Rota navy base in Cadiz, Spain is in Trump’s firing line for its low defence spending, hostility to Israel and his poor personal relations with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Fresh from designating Spain an unfriendly ‘BRICS nation’ on his first day in office, a former Biden advisor has told the Olive Press that Trump could even ‘recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla.’

“There are a number of different grievances in US-Spain relations, and there are a number of ways the Trump administration could retaliate over those grievances,” said Michael Walsh, a US foreign policy expert in Africa and the Middle East. Walsh admitted it would be a ‘surprising move’, but added that Trump had form for such actions, having already recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Spain’s ex-colony Western Sahara during his first term.

“If there was to be such a move, one would expect a conflict with

Discover the secrets of Spain’s first underwater winery

Emergency services carry out ‘low sophistication’ terror attack drill at Europa Point - See page 4

Water hostage

THE government has warned that Gibraltar’s water supplies could be ‘under threat’ from strike action by AquaGib employees.

The Chief Minister called an emergency meeting of the Civil Contingency Committee to ‘protect Gibraltar’s water supply’ after workers stopped producing drinking water for the territory last Friday.

A long-running pay dispute saw Unite the Union back the strike action, which resulted in ‘water production in Gibraltar being halted from 8am until 2.45pm.’

The workers returned to their stations in the afternoon, but Stuart Davies, Unite lead negotiator, told the Olive Press that ‘further strike action cannot be ruled out’.

“There is sufficient water supply in Gibraltar, the taps won’t run dry as soon as AguaGib employees go on strike,” Davies said.

“The Ministry of Defence also has an alternative supply, so there are existing stocks of water. Strike action by our members is not going to threaten that.”

Unite slams goverment ‘scare tactics’ as chief minister accuses striking AquaGib employees of ‘threatening Gibraltar water supplies’

By Walter Finch

the potential impact on water supply, the stocks available and the contingencies that the employer have’ when doing so.

Davies’ comments come after a dramatic day in which the government stormed it would ‘NEVER tolerate any industrial action which threatens serious damage to human welfare by disrupting the production and supply of water.’

abused in a manner that deprives our people of water.”

He continued: “Instead of calling a meeting of the Civil Contingencies Committee, they should’ve picked up the phone to me as a best first step, rather than flexing their muscles and rattling sabres.”

He added that the union would ‘not be deterred from taking industrial action’ but they would ‘fully consider

Fabian Picardo added: “Securing our water supply to our people is essential.

“The Government will not accept action that leaves our citizens at risk of losing access to reliable supplies of water, whatever the reasons behind that.

“This is a key issue and it engages the government’s powers under the Civil Contingencies Act.

“We defend the right to strike, to protest and to withhold labour but we will not tolerate that right being

AquaGib management claimed that Unite the Union is demanding an ‘unreasonable’ 27% pay rise for its employees at the Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant located at Governor's Cottage, as well as a second one in Waterport.

“AquaGib employees, including those in the RO department, already enjoy exceptionally competitive salaries and benefits packages, and increasing it by 27% is neither necessary nor affordable,” it said in a statement.

Davies told the Olive Press that the 27% demand was ‘accurate’, but the figure was a ‘negotiating strategy’ as part of their members’ ‘lawful industrial action.’

“We held a meeting with the government and AquaGib in March, the claim was then rejected in full in October 2024 and they were warned it was going to strike action back in December,” Davies added.

Threat

“The government knew all of this, but chose to sit on its hands and then act surprised when we did what we said we were going to do.”

Instead, Davies called the decision to convene the Civil Contingencies Council ‘a real threat to the right to strike.’ Negotiations are ongoing.

ACTION: Picardo called an emergency meeting after AquaGib workers went on strike (left) Stuart Davies

The DPP speaks Predator jailed

CONVICTED paedophile

Graham Southwell has been sentenced to 39 years in prison for a series of child sex offences spanning nearly three decades.

The landmark ruling, which brought tears to the public gallery in the Supreme Court, follows Southwell’s conviction last October on 19 separate child sex offences, including the rape of a child under 13 and sexual activity with a child.

The crimes, committed against five victims, took place between 1990 and 2016. He will now likely see out his years in HMP Windmill Hill.

“He stole my chance to experience a normal childhood,” one victim said in an impact statement read before the court.

During the emotionally charged hearing, prosecutors painted a damning picture of Southwell, 63, as a ‘predator’ and ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ who committed ‘unspeakable things’ against his young victims.

Commissioner Richard Ullger of the Royal Gibraltar Police praised the verdict: “This sentence sends a clear message that our officers will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually assault children, whenever that abuse took place.”

The investigation, described as ‘extremely complex, protracted and sensitive,’ drew particular commendation for the victims’ courage in coming forward.

THE George Don House in the Glacis Estate had to be evacuated early on Monday morning after a suspected arson attack. Multiple residents reported the blaze to authorities just before 7.30am, prompting an immediate response from both

Arson attack

the RGP and the Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service. The fire was successfully extinguished by

8am with no injuries reported and residents were able to return to their homes by 8.20am. Police are appealing for witnesses in what is being treated as a suspected deliberate fire.

It’s just not fair!

THE leader of one of Spain’s most notorious drug trafficking groups has claimed that a Netflix documentary about his activities violated his rights in an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Convicted narco Francisco Tejón claimed that a documentary series, 2020’s La Línea: Shadow of the Narco, deprived him of the presumption of innocence by portraying him as guilty before a court had reached its verdict.

Parts of the hugely popular series explicitly mentions Francisco Tejón’s trafficking gang Los Castañas and focus-

Notorious narco leader claims Netflix documentary violated his right to a fair trial

By Walter Finch

es on the police efforts to apprehend him and his brother Antonio Tejón.

As part of his appeal against his November 2022 sentence for drug trafficking crimes, Francisco claimed the documentary was biased in favour of the police and prosecution and hurt his

A GIBRALTAR couple were arrested for child cruelty after cops caught them smoking weed while driving with two children in the back.

A ‘strong smell of cannabis’ prompted a passing police car to carry out a stop and search on a vehicle driving down Queensway on January 18.

The man, 35, was arrested for possession and driving under the influence of drugs, while both he and the woman, also 35, were further arrested for cruelty to young persons as the two children had been inhaling the drugs.

right to a fair trial. The series was remarkable for featuring high-ranking Policia Nacional officers and criminal prosecutors discussing the case against Los Castañas on the record. Francisco’s appeal described the series as a ‘eulogy’ to the police in La Linea and the prosecution in the Campo de Gibraltar area, adding it was part of a ‘bizarre and badly

Child cruelty

They were later arrested for failing to give a blood sample, an outstanding warrant of arrest for failing to pay a fine and not having a valid MOT. Then a search of their home revealed both cocaine and ‘a large amount of Class B Drugs (cannabis) from within, which were easily accessible to children in the residence.’

handled criminal policy’.

However, Spain’s Supreme Court dismissed this and other claims, stating that the conviction was based on ‘the large quantity of drugs’ found in Francisco’s home. He will now serve his original sentence of three years and one month. He led Los Castañas along with Antonio, managing to control over 70% of hashish trafficking through La Línea at the gang’s peak. Antonio, who was sentenced last year to six years in jail, was estimated to have amassed a personal fortune of €60 million.

GIBRALTAR’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Christian Rocca, admitted that police officers being charged with offenses has ‘undermined the criminal justice system.’

Yet he also described it as an ‘encouraging sign that the system works’ in an interview with GBC Radio, adding ‘the RGP have weeded out and have prosecuted their own.’

Instead, he blamed ‘40 or 50 toxic people on social media who don’t know the facts’ for seeking to ‘undermine the RGP and prosecutions as much as possible’.

“When the Crown offers no evidence in a trial, it isn’t because it doesn’t feel like it,” Rocca said.

“Now, the social media toxic persons will seize on no evidence as some kind of conspiracy or failure of the criminal justice system.” Instead, Rocca argued that changed circumstances usually meant that the case no longer passes the test of either there being a reasonable chance of conviction, or whether it still met the public interest.

“It could be because new evidence has arisen, new witnesses have come to light, or the victim has left Gibraltar or no longer wishes to testify, or they have a mental health issue,” Rocca said.

A VERSACE exhibition in Spain will display clothes from icons of popular culture from Princess Di to Elton John.

‘Gianni Versace. Retrospective’ will open to the public on Febru ary 7 at the Centro Cultural Fun

dacion Unicaja in Malaga. It will be a ‘journey through the fashion designer's life’, showing over 500 original pieces including dresses, accessories, designs and unedited photos.

The exhibition will explore all aspects of the Milan designers’ evolution from baroque influences to the wardrobes designed for icons like Madonna, Liz Hurley, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Lady Diana and Elton John.

Nothing to hide ICON’S RETURN

Never ill, never seeing a doctor, Spain’s oldest woman has lemon and sugar for breakfast and a Magnum ice cream for tea

SPAIN'S oldest person has revealed there’s no big secret about her living a long life. She admitted though to enjoying a simple breakfast of a glass of water mixed with lemon juice and sugar.

Angelina Torres Vallbona, 111, lives in a flat in Barcelona and claims she has never fallen ill.

Born on March 18, 1913, in Bellvís, a small village in Catalunya’s Pla d'Urgell region, Angelina has witnessed over a century of Spanish history. She became Spain's oldest resident following the death of Piedad Loriente from Ara-

By Alex Trelinski

gon, who passed away at 113 late last year.

Despite facing significant challenges throughout her life - such as losing her father at the tender age of three and becoming a widow at 61 - she has maintained an optimistic outlook. She attributes her remarkable longevity not to any grand secret but to her daily habits and warm personality. “I never go to the doctor. Thank God, for me, doctors have always been on vacation,” she quips, proudly stat-

Now that’s cool

GRAMMY winner Olivia Rodrigo (left) and rock veterans Kings of Leon (right) will top the bill at Madrid’s Mad Cool Festival 2025. They will line up alongside '90s icon Alanis Morissette, folk sensation Noah Kahan, and alternative rockers Weezer during the threeday musical extravaganza, set for July 10-12 at the Iberdrola Music Venue in Villaverde. Last year, up to 58,000 people turned up at the festival daily and organisers will hope to top that figure this year.

Punk legend Iggy Pop (inset right) and electronic duo Justice will join rising star Gracie Abrams and indie stalwarts Bloc Party, showcasing Mad Cool's blend of established acts and emerging talent across rock, in die, pop, and electronic genres.

ing that she has never been seriously ill. Her good health is complemented by her belief in the importance of social connections and physical activity. Angelina enjoys taking long

Runway to success

SOME of the most exciting talents in Spanish fashion are getting ready for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Madrid.

The bi-annual event will be celebrating its 81st edition from February 19 to 23 transforming Madrid into the ‘capital of international design’. Established fashion stars showcasing their new collections include Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Jorge Vázquez and Pablo Erroz. The fashion week will also provide a platform for emerging talent looking to launch into the big time through the Allianz EGO catwalk.

walks and cherishes her friendships, claiming that being ‘friends with everyone’ might have contributed to her long life.

Angelina has two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, whom she describes as ‘handsome’. The bonds she shares with them are evident; she fondly recalls the laughter and good times they had together during Christmas celebrations.

Despite being affectionately referred to as an ‘angel’ by others, Angelina disagrees. “I am no angel; I like to get on with everyone,” she asserts, highlighting her approachable nature.

As she approaches her 112th birthday on March 18, Angelina continues to find happiness in life's simple pleasures. She enjoys watching television, listening to the radio, and indulging in a daily dark chocolate Magnum ice cream.

On weekends, she delights in outings for a glass of vermouth with her great-grandson, whom she affectionately calls ‘more handsome than the sun’.

Highlights include the L’Oreal Paris Awards recognising the best collection and model, and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talent Award supporting new Spanish design talent. With over 41 designers expected to participate, MBFW Madrid promises to be a comprehensive celebration of Spanish fashion creativity and innovation.

BIT OF A CARD

SEVILLA defender Kike Salas has been arrested over an alleged bet ting scam.

The 22-year old was investigat ed after a series of yellow cards during his matches during the last La Liga season.

He is suspected of deliberately picking up the bookings so that his friends could place bets on him getting yellow-carded.

Two of his ‘close circle’ are also being investigated.

The issue surrounds the final quarter of last season when he got seven yellow cards in just nine games. He became the most booked player in La Liga during that period.

SOCIABLE: Angelina takes long walks and enjoys a glas of vermouth

Immigrant issues

SPAIN had to grant entry to passengers on a Gibraltar flight diverted to Malaga even though they did not have the correct visas to enter the EU.

Around 130 passengers – including several nationals from Asian countries who did not possess Schengen visas – arrived at passport control last Sunday aboard a British Airways plane from Heathrow.

Spanish border police made the controversial decision to permit them entry so they could travel to Gibraltar by bus during a day in which Malaga airport heaved with heavy air traffic.

Normally, Policia Nacional can grant the visas at the airport, but due to the heavy congestion and disruption brought about by Storm Herminia, it was decided to forego this procedure.

However the incident has raised security concerns as there were no guarantees that all the passengers had actually gone to Gibraltar, potentially allowing some to illegally remain within the EU's Schengen zone.

GIBRALTAR’s transport and infrastructure network is set to undergo a major overhaul as part of a push towards sustainable mobility.

The plans include a transformation of Europa Point, which will see its bus stop relocated alongside new plantings and improved pedestrian access.

Cyclists will benefit from new shared spaces linking Mid-Harbours to King's Wharf, and an ad -

Sustainable drive

ditional connection at the historic Saluting Battery.

The territory's roads are also getting a facelift, with a major resurfacing programme targeting seven key areas including Governor's Parade, Scud Hill, and sections of Devil's Tower Road.

Behind the scenes, crucial infrastructure work is being undertaken to future-proof the Rock’s sewerage system with the next phase focusing on Line Wall Road behind John Macintosh Hall. Approximately 110 metres of main sewer will be relined.

COULD IT HAPPEN HERE?

THE sight of bloodied victims and crazed terrorists may be less likely in Gibraltar than other locales, but it is one that emergency authorities are training for nonetheless.

A spectacular live drill rehearsing a ‘low sophistication terror attack at Europa Point stadium while people are buying tickets’ was carried out by the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Program (JESIP) last week.

In the simulated scenario, ‘two terrorists have alighted the vehicle and started stabbing some of the civilians in the area,’ Ernest Delino,

DIGITAL EASE

A NEW website is being launched for the Ministry of Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism as part of Gibraltar’s ongoing drive to digitise government services.

It is hoped the new platform will allow easy access to all departmental forms and documents with a simple click.

Some of these services include training and support for job seekers and employers, as well as organising cultural events and promoting local arts and culture.

Social services such as support for the elderly, vocational training opportunities and disability support also fall under the ministry’s remit.

Key improvements include enhanced navigation systems, adaptable accessibility options, and a streamlined approach to accessing government services.

By Walter Finch

deputy civil contingencies coordinator, told the Olive Press

While one of them was tackled by members of the public, the other one ‘made good his escape’.

The drill was designed to test both the reaction times of the emergency services –ambulance, fire and police –and how they dealt with the unfolding situation, helped along by a team of game volunteers.

The simulation involved not just actors portraying stabbing victims and civilians run down by a car – complete with fake blood – but also the two terrorists themselves.

Inspired by recent events in New Orleans, west London and Christmas markets in Germany, it was considered one of the more plausible

Door ajar

Live terror drills mirroring New Orleans car attack carried out

terror events that could occur on the Rock.

“It's the trend now for low sophisticated attacks by terrorists using vehicles and other easily obtainable weapons,” Delino said.

“Anybody can get a kitchen knife, it can happen anywhere. But when there's firearms and explosives in-

THE EU has opened the door to the UK joining a pan-European trade agreement that could ease commercial restrictions between the two.

EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the bloc could ‘consider’ UK membership in the tariff Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) convention.

The convention allows goods to flow tariff-free across borders, including members like the EU, Switzerland, Norway, and several North African nations.

This could offer a helping hand to British businesses that have found trading with the EU more costly and complicated since Brexit was enacted in 2021.

It would also offer a fig leaf to Gibraltar, currently negotiating to join the EU’s Schengen zone, which would likely see it forced to impose EU tariffs on its number one trade

volved, they are harder to obtain.

“These more sophisticated attacks are easier for us to detect and preempt.”

The drills were designed to test the ‘interoperability’ of the joint emergency services: “We assess their communication, their coordination, their positioning, what plans have been made to start reacting and saving lives.”

While there has been no specific intelligence of a direct threat to Gibraltar, the threat level was retained at ‘medium’ in a meeting of the Gibraltar Contingency Council (GCC) last September.

Meanwhile, the RGP has been visible in their implementation of Project Servator, a UK initiative aimed against serious criminal activity and terrorism.

So how did they do? Delino said the drills had ‘gone well but it's a steep learning curve for the emergency services’.

GOODBYE BRITISH PRODUCTS?

THE likelihood that Gibraltar will need to align with EU regulations as part of a post-Brexit deal is sparking concerns that it could spell the end of classic British brands in the shops.

Main Street is home to familiar UK names such as M&S, Next and Mothercare, while the shelves are stocked with PG Tips, Chocolate Digestives and Bovril – classic food items difficult to find in Spain.

But the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses has pointed out that the EU currently slaps prohibitive tariffs on British dairy and meat products.

“Aligning with EU regulations—including tariffs on UK imports—could jeopardise this pillar of our economy, making British goods prohibitively expensive and under-

mining one of Gibraltar’s unique selling points,” argues David Revagliatte of the GFSB.

Revagliatte writes that tariffs on British clothing is up to 12%, furniture 5.6%, and for dairy and meat it's an eye watering 35% and 45% respectively.

“If these tariffs were applied to British goods sold in Gibraltar, they could pose a major existential challenge to those local businesses that rely on the sale of them as tariffs would likely go on top of any potential sales or transactional taxes.”

Revagliatte warns that such a shift could deal significant damage to Gibraltar’s already-struggling highstreet and even ‘transform the fabric of our economy.’

Unless the UK joins the PEM.

Pedro Sanchez or one of his cabinet-level officials to be behind it,” Walsh continued by phone from Washington. The same diplomatic tensions could also lead Trump to pull the US Navy out of Rota, according to Walsh. Recent decisions by Sanchez to deny Spanish ports to cargo ships transporting weapons to Israel ‘incidents imply a heightened risk to reliable access at Rota.’ “It is hard to imagine that there have not already been changes made at the base,” Walsh added.

Boring plan

A GERMAN company that specialises in boring underground tunnels has been selected to conduct a feasibility study into a train between Spain and Morocco.

Herrenknecht have been awarded the €300,000 contract through their Spanish subsidiary, according to reports in Morocco. They will be tasked with investigating whether the proposed €7 billion tunnel, which could run 300 metres underground between Tarifa and Tangier, is genuinely a feasible engineering feat.

The plans, which would surpass the length of both the Channel Tunnel and Japan's Seikan Tunnel, have already seen investments of €104 million from Spain and Morocco since initial studies began. Herrenknecht boasts of using the largest drilling machines in the world to build Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, the world's longest and deepest railway tunnel at 57 km.

The German specialists also constructed the new Thames Tideway Tunnel, known as London’s ‘super sewer’, and Qatar’s metro system in Doha built ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

The GHA has defended their ambulance dispatch procedures after a backlash over its response to attending to a one-week-old baby.

Health Minister Gemma Arias-Vasquez personally contacted the affected family, promising a thorough investigation.

“Although this matter has not been raised as a formal complaint, the GHA has initiated a review of the circumstances surrounding this event,” it said in a statement.

Independent UK-based advisors have already verified the dispatch system’s standards and all dispatch staff have achieved Emergency Medical Dispatch certification, according to the GHA.

ASSESSED: Ernest Delino (right) was satisfied with the drills

ARRIVAL: Malaga airport

SPANISH construction

heavyweight Ferrovial has emerged as a frontrunner in the race to build Britain's groundbreaking €20 billion nuclear fusion plant in Nottingham.

The infrastructure giant's UK subsidiary has secured a place among three final consortiums bidding for what is being hailed as one of Europe's most ambitious energy projects of the decade.

The revolutionary fusion facility, scheduled to have a prototype completed by 2030, aims to address Britain's growing energy demands amid increasing pressure from decarbonisation targets and surging data centre power requirements.

POWER HUNGRY

Spain’s push for AI data centres could overwhelm the power grid

By Walter Finch

THE explosive growth of Artificial Intelligence could devour electricity equivalent to an entire country's annual consumption, according to a new US Department of Energy report. It outlines how AI-powered data centres in the US alone will require at least 325 terawatt hours of electricity by 2028. The figure is significantly more than consumed an

nually by Spain 246 (TWh), the United Kingdom (287 TWh), or Italy (298 TWh).

Spain has been jockeying for position in the global race to host AI data centres for the tech giants’ quest to achieve Artificial General In-

telligence – the holy grail of AI research.

SPAIN has registered the biggest growth in solar energy in Europe for the second year running according to the European Electricity Review 2025. Solar now accounts for 21% of electricity production, producing 60TWh in total, 11 TWh (terawatt-hours) more compared to 2023. Despite Spain’s increase, it still takes second place for European solar energy production, as Germany takes the top spot with 71 TWh.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

an election (6)

21 Block (6)

23 Israel’s prime minister between 1969 and 1974 (4)

LAST year was the hottest ever recorded globally, with Spain registering an ‘extremely hot’ year for the third time running. In 2024, the country’s average temperature was 15C, some 1.1C over normal levels. Record highs were registered in January, August and November last year, leading to Spain’s warmest ever winter. But it still wasn’t the country’s hottest year, which was the average 15.4C registered in 2022, and behind 2023’s 15.2C.

tion suggests that by 2050, data centres and AI could represent a staggering 44% of commercial electrical equipment demand - a potential breaking point for Spain's electricity grid.

Green pioneer Spanish help Third time unlucky

US giants Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are rapidly developing infrastructure across Spain thanks in part to its relatively low energy prices compared to its European competitors.

But the huge demands these projects will place on Spain’s power grid already has local energy experts warning of a potential crisis.

Consultancy DNV predicts data centres in Spain will increase their electrical load capacity by 50% within six years, jumping from 900 megawatts in 2024 to 1,350 megawatts by 2030.

The most alarming projec-

Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are exploring small nuclear reactors and fusion technologies to ensure uninterrupted power supply, potentially transforming the energy landscape.

Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial is already bidding to build Britain’s first nuclear fusion plant (see Spanish help, left), technological knowhow that could be translated back to Spain.

While hot, 2024 was also an uncharacteristically wet year, something which has not been seen since 2018. This ended the severe drought in many areas, though it still persists in Almeria, Alicante, Murcia and the Canary Islands.

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

Old school union battles get turbocharged

YOU don’t need to be a trade unionist to have some sympathy for the AquaGib strikers.

While a 27% pay hike may seem like an optimistic ask, the government pulling out the big guns with the Civil Contingencies Council and crying murder over Gibraltar’s water supplies is going overboard.

The depiction that the workers are somehow holding the Rock hostage with their demands and that it is the ordinary people who will suffer is hardly accurate.

It is all part of a government strategy to demonise Unite and limit their room for strike action –and therefore manoeuvre – as the negotiations proceed.

Another typically aggressive move was for AquaGib – a government body – to publish details of Unite’s demands on behalf of its members.

As others have observed to the Olive Press, the next step will be to publish salary details of the key players in an effort to drum up more outrage.

Yet it’s true that a 27% salary increase is a huge jump and some may well agree it’s ‘unreasonable’. Meanwhile, no one has claimed that the workers are sufficiently underpaid to merit it.

Stuart Davies, the Unite negotiator, described the figure as a ‘negotiating strategy’ – or, in other words, you start by demanding far more than you expect to receive in the hopes of meeting halfway. That being the case, it seems strange that negotiations are still evidently only at the starting phase if they have not moved on from the opening figure, especially since they started 10 months ago.

It would imply that both sides have jumped to taking extreme stances without exploring all the options.

Talks remain ongoing.

Let’s hope that the little unseemly dance seen over the last few days provides a wake up call to both sides.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

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‘FEEDING FRENZY’

ONCE upon a time, Mansion was a well-known gaming company whose name was emblazoned across the chests of Premier League football players.

It rode the wave of Gibraltar’s gaming boom in the late 2000s to set up shop on the Rock and offer online casino gambling to dozens of countries around the world.

Today, the Asian gaming house has all-but vanished amid a string of bad publicity and run-ins with regulators.

Save for one exception: an ongoing litigation claim in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar between Mansion and its ex-CEO.

The now-defunct betting company is seeking £5 million from Karel Manasco, 44, for allegedly authorising fraudulent payments to himself with company money.

Yet when Manasco tried to launch his defence, the judge cast a pri vacy order over proceedings and then dismissed his counterclaim.

This was to protect the claimants from what the court feared would result in a ‘seriously damaging media feeding frenzy’.

Which is not surprising, consider ing its ex-CEO described Mansion as ‘essentially a criminal organ-

The rise and fall of gaming company Mansion during the wild-west golden era of online gambling in Gibraltar

By Walter Finch

isation that made profits by trading in and defrauding countries where online gambling was illegal’.

Now, for the first time, the Olive Press can reveal the details of those allegations which the court feared would create a ‘media feeding frenzy’, based on court documents seen by this newspaper.

But first we must cast our minds back to the heady days of the late 2000s, when gaming companies were flocking to the Rock and Brexit was only just a twinkle in Nigel Farage’s eye.

A favourable tax and regulatory environment attracted big names such as 888 Holdings, William Hill, PartyGaming (later part of Entain), and, of course, Mansion.

The online gaming industry soon became one of Gibraltar’s largest economic contributors, rising to around 28% of its GDP, per government

AS a real estate expert in Marbella with over five decades of experience, I feel compelled to respond to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’ plans for tackling the housing crisis.

Among the 12 measures outlined this month, the proposal to increase the fiscal cost of property purchases by non-EU residents to ‘up to 100% of the value of the property’ is particularly concerning.

For starters the wording is both alarming and ambiguous. And, specifically, the reference to ‘100% of the value’ leaves significant room for interpretation.

If this refers to property transfer taxes, as I believe, it conflicts with existing regulations, with these taxes falling under the jurisdiction of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions, not Madrid.

The lack of clarity in this statement therefore risks creating unnecessary confusion in the market.

The Prime Minister’s assertion that nonEU residents are buying properties in Spain ‘not to live in, but to speculate and make money’ is an oversimpli fication that fails to reflect the re alities of the market.

While speculative activity may oc cur in a few city centres causing over-tourism issues, the vast major ity of non-EU buyers are purchasing homes for personal use, of ten as second or third res idences. Furthermore, most of these buyers contrib ute significantly to the Spanish economy through tourism, construction, and proper-

figures, which it maintains to this day. Gaming accounts for around 3,700 jobs – over 10% of all registered employment, according to the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce – as well as contributing indirectly through related services such as IT, finance, and hospitality.

But the golden age of gaming wasn’t to last. In what became known in gaming circles as ‘Black Friday’, the US government cracked down on online offshore gaming in 2011 amid claims some companies were operating a Ponzi scheme by misusing players’ funds.

Untraceable

Just the year before, France had also outlawed unregulated online offshore gaming, dealing a blow to the bottom line of many companies.

For Mansion bosses, the writing was on the wall.

France represented 15% of its overall revenue, according to Manasco, and it looked like just the first domino to fall among the company’s most important markets

Over a series of hurried meetings attended by Mansion’s ultimate beneficial owner, Indonesian businessman Putera Sampoerna, and his most trusted executives (whom the Olive Press is declining to name) in Singapore between 2011 and 2012, a plan was hatched to bypass this slow death-by-regulation.

It was here that Project Next was born. Despite being buried in mounds of complex documents and corporate structures, the plan was quite simMansion allegedly set up a new gaming platform that would continue to operate in countries where Mansion was forbidden to act, but untraceable to Mansion and staffed by Mansion employees.

Ambiguous and alarming

Marbella’s best known property expert Chris Clover insists the government’s proposed new controversial housing measures could create disruption and won’t solve the crisis

ty maintenance.

In places like Marbella, this ‘residential tourism’ sustains numerous sectors, creating jobs and fostering economic growth.

To label these buyers as ‘evil speculators’ is not only misleading but risks alienating a segment of the market that brings substantial financial benefits to Spain.

Limited impact on the crisis

The justification for the proposed measure - that it will alleviate the housing shortage for lower and middle-income Spaniards - is simply not supported by evidence.

Even the government’s estimate of 27,000 affected buyers represents less than 4% of the market. Such restrictions are therefore unlikely to meaningfully address the housing crisis, which requires system -

ic solutions such as increased housing supply, affordable rental programs, and targeted subsidies. While the proposal may only be a ‘floating an idea’, and considered highly unlikely to succeed, its announcement alone with a mere ‘threat’ of restrictions could disrupt the market.

IT COULD ACTUALLY LEAD TO:

Increased Demand: Non-EU buyers may rush to purchase properties before any restrictive measures are enacted, leading to a temporary surge in demand and inflated prices

Market Uncertainty: On the flip side, the proposal’s ambiguity and potential restrictions could deter individual and institutional investors, creating hesitation in the market.

Short-Term Rental Measures

The proposed VAT on short-term rental contracts adds to an already complex

WHISTLEBLOWER: Karel Manasco (above) claims Mansion set up illegal companies to drive profits to owner Putera Sampoerna (right)

MULTIPLE CHOICE

FOR expat parents newly arrived on the Costa del Sol, choosing the right school can be a bit of a puzzle.

There are plenty of options available, from state schools to international institutions, so making an informed decision requires careful consideration of various factors.

The first crucial choice is between public and private education.

About 80% of expats opt for local state schools, known as ‘ colegios ’ for primary and ‘ institutos ’ for secondary education.

The main advantages are cost-effectiveness (free from age three) and rapid Spanish language acquisition, particularly beneficial for younger children who often

There is no shortage of schooling options in Spain, writes Dilip Kuner

become fluent within a year. However, state schools may present challenges for older children or those less extroverted, especially when tackling complex subjects in Spanish. To ease this transition, many parents invest in extra language tuition, costing around €20 per hour.

English

For those preferring education in English or seeking potentially higher academic standards, private international schools are

an alternative. These in stitutions often follow the British curriculum, offering GCSEs and A-levels as well as the International Baccalaure ate, with some stu dents progressing to top UK universities, including Oxbridge.

The Costa del Sol boasts over two dozen internation al schools, with Marbella hosting the largest concentration

Cambridge CELTA course in Malaga - June, August and November in Seville - all year

outside Madrid and Barcelona. Options range from British to Swedish, German, Norwegian,

and American schools, reflecting the area’s diverse expat community. International schools typically

Amazon deal

TECH giant Amazon is teaming up with the Spanish education system to train up the next generation of tech wizards.

The Spanish Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports has signed an agreement with Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide digital and technological skills training to 500,000 young people aged 11 to 25 by 2027.

The plan is to address the growing digital skills gap in Spain and boost the country’s technological workforce.

The programme will encompass a comprehensive range of training initiatives, including the Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) program, which will focus on fostering technological vocations among primary, secondary, and high school students.

The initiative will offer computer science education, specialised courses, and scholarships, collaborating with organizations like Code.org and YMCA.

Students will also benefit from virtual tours of Amazon’s logistics centres, providing insights into real-life technological applications in the workplace.

Additionally, the programme includes dedicated teacher training, covering the fundamentals of computer science and programming to ensure educators are equipped to support students' digital learning journeys.

Recent studies suggest that digital transformation could contribute an additional €282 billion to Spain’s economy by 2030.

A HUGE DIVERSITY

From front page

offer smaller class sizes, a multicultural environment, and often a bilingual study programme. Many are now incorporating the International Baccalaureate (IB) alongside the Spanish Bachillerato, providing a globally recognized qualification.

The primary drawback of international schools is cost, with annual fees ranging from €3,000 for primary to €6,000-€17,000 for secondary education, excluding additional expenses like books and uniforms. Another potential issue is the risk of creating a ‘Spanish vacuum’, potentially hindering integration with the local community.

international schools depends on individual circumstances, including budget, desired level of integration, and educational priorities. Whichever system par-

ents choose, learning Spanish themselves is crucial for effective communication with teachers and supporting their children’s academic journey.

Get to know the Spanish state school system

There are four phases to the school system in Spain, below is an explanation of how it is structured:

● Educacion Infantil (Pre-school) - 3 to 5 years of age (inclusive, i.e. three years). This is optional.

● Educacion Primaria (Primary Education) - 6 to 11 years of age (six years). Compulsory.

● Educacion Secundaria Obligitoria or ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) - 12 to 15 years of age (four years).

● Bachillerato (Post-Compulsory Schooling) - 16 and 17 years of age (two years).

The Pre-school stage (infantil or popularly known as pre-escolar) is free for all children but not compulsory. However, it is regarded as an integral part of the education system with infants’ classes at almost every primary school. There are some separate nursery schools, colegios infantiles, also. The next two phases, primary (colegio) and secondary school (instituto) education are compulsory and free of charge.

At the end of the ESO successful pupils are awarded a Secondary Education Certificate, which is necessary to enter the post-compulsory stage of schooling for their university or vocational studies.

Alternatively they may leave school and get a job.

Once pupils have their Bachillerato they can take a university entrance exam.

Exciting opportunities await

Enrol Now for 2025/26 in the NEW International curriculum at Svenska Skolan Marbella!

SVENSKA Skolan Marbella is delighted to announce that enrolment is now open for the 2025/26 academic year for Years 7, 8, and 9.

We are proud to offer a unique and enriching educational experience through the full implementation of the International curriculum, making us a beacon of globally recognised education in a nurturing, multicultural environment.

Our journey into the international curriculum began with a remarkable milestone this past September when we launched Year 8, welcoming over 20 new students who have already made incredible progress.

Guided by our dedicated international teaching staff, these students are thriving in a personalised learning environment that supports their smooth transition from the Swedish

school system while embracing the challenges and opportunities of global education.

Though we are nestled within a Swedish School, Svenska Skolan Marbella is a fully recognised Cambridge International School where all lessons are taught in english. This means our students benefit from a curriculum that opens doors to future opportunities worldwide.

Our small school setting fosters a close-knit, supportive community where every student is valued, nurtured, and empowered to succeed, ensuring that each student receives the attention they deserve.

The diversity of our staff and student body adds a culturally enriching dimension to daily life, creating an atmosphere where young minds grow academically and socially, learning to appreciate different cultures, perspectives and backgrounds.

At Svenska Skolan Marbella, students are prepared not only for academic success but also for life as globally minded citizens.

Don't miss this chance to be part of a school that combines academic growth, personalised care, and a vibrant multicultural environment.

Secure your child's place for the 2025/26 academic year today and join our growing community of learners.

Erasmus winners

IT seems that the lure of sun, beer and Picasso is too much to resist for young people, as Spain is by far the most popular destination for Erasmus students.

The land of tapas attracted 180,000 students from across the European Union to its educational institutions in 2022.

This figure puts it far out ahead of second place Italy, whose charms only managed to attract 140,000.

The Mediterranean powers are followed by Germany, France and Portugal in the top five for the European Commission’s student exchange program, according to official statistics.

Spain also lays claim to the title of sending the leading number of Erasmus students abroad.

Although in this case the numbers are neckand-neck with Italy, at 125,000 each.

NOT JUST ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

LISTEN to your children is the message of a new campaign launched by a Spanish NGO. Educo has launched El Mejor Trato, which focuses on addressing ‘negative’ interactions between adults and children in everyday situations, where children may face ‘mistreatment’ from authority figures.

A key area of focus for the campaign is the treatment of students at school and college.

The organisation emphasises that adults must learn to treat children with respect, noting that nine out of 10 children believe adults make decisions affecting them without listening to their opinions.

Educo promotes an attitude of treating boys and girls with the respect they deserve, calling it a form of activism on their website. The NGO has even coined a term for those who wish to advocate for such activism: Buentratista To become a Buentratista, there are several criteria to meet. These include creating safe environments where children feel comfortable expressing their concerns, valuing what they say, and considering their opinions - even when one disagrees with them. Educo also encourages teachers to engage in its Buen Trato culture and spread an attitude of daily empathy - by which they mean putting themselves in the children’s shoes.

These perspectives are outlined in a 32-page guide aimed specifically at teachers.

Called Guía del Mejor Trato, the document is available on their website via a sign-up form. It begins with an overview of the programme and several pages dedicated to raising awareness about the issues children face. Throughout the guide, there are links to other Educo initiatives, such as Protegemos, as well as useful resources for young activists seeking to amplify their voices.

The guide concludes with a comprehensive six-step process for teachers to follow in order to create a positive environment for their students, with additional resources provided throughout.

‘WHITE WEEK’ IS COMING!

If you have children who are attending a school in the province of Málaga (or if you’re a school student yourself), Semana Blanca is almost upon us.

Málaga’s schools close in the last week of February - it sometimes runs into March.

If you’re at university you don’t get the week off.

So what is it, and why does it apply to Málaga only? It stems from the dates of religious festivals.

Many towns have, since time immemorial, arranged for their local feria to coincide with a religious day (Granada has its celebration during Corpus Christi, for example).

Málaga bases its feria around the Feast of the Assumption - 15 August. What this means, in effect, is that children in Málaga ‘lose’ a week of their summer holiday. The kids in Córdoba and Granada are off school in late May for their local celebra-

tions, while Málaga’s feria falls squarely in the middle of the summer break. ‘White Week’ (Semana blanca) compensates for this.

It was established in late February so that it would coincide with Andalucía Day (28). Every summer, the county council (‘Junta de Andalucía’) publishes its calendario escolar - calendar for the school year.

The next school break comes in April. Monday 14 to Friday 18 (Easter Week) are days off for the children, but only Thursday 17 and Friday 18 are bank holidays for the grown-ups.

After that, Thursday 1 May is a no-school day, and the summer holidays begin in the last week of June.

Primary schools close on Monday 23 and secondary schools on the following day. School re-starts on Wednesday, 10 September.

British and Spanish

Curriculum • Academic Excellence • Multidisciplinary

Education • Experiences beyond the classroom

• Small groups

Your International School in Marbella

Starting September 2024!

Svenska Skolan Marbella

international education

Discover the Future of Education

We are thrilled to unveil our brand-new International Curriculum, launched in September 2024! Perfect for secondary students and those eager to continue their studies in English within our vibrant Swedish environment, this programmme offers:

Globally Recognised Education: Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to excel in our interconnected world.

Native English-Speaking Team: Benefit from the expertise and support of our dedicated, native-speaking educators.

Small Class Sizes: Enjoy personalised attention and a unique learning experience tailored to your needs.

Swedish Community: Immerse yourself in a supportive and culturally enriching Swedish setting. Optional additional Swedish lessons ensure a smooth transition back into the Swedish system with additional Swedish language support.

Unique International Environment: Experience a diverse, multicultural atmosphere that provides students with a globally recognised education that will equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Unlock endless possibilities and embark on an exciting educational journey with us.

Where every student reaches their full potential!

All education is in English, but we continue to emphasize Swedish language and culture while promoting global awareness. By offering grades in Swedish language, we ensure the possibility for students to continue their studies in Sweden.

Located in Marbella, our school offers a unique international environment with great opportunities for cultural and social exchange.

BETCHA: Gaming is Gibraltar’s biggest sector and (right) the Mansion internal documents that laid out the scheme to create ‘ownership seperation’ with Casino Midas

Profits from this new ‘grey area’ platform would ultimately be channelled to the Sampoerna family.

The project was to be tested out on the French market – where offshore online gaming was now illegal – in what board meeting notes called the ‘proactive approach’.

From the outside, a new Curacao-registered gaming company called Casino Midas entered the French market in 2012 and began to operate without a licence.

Casino Midas traded profitably in France for a couple of years, despite garnering the attention of the French gambling regulator, who began firing off warning letters.

Midas was incorporated in the Caribbean, Mansion employees in Gibraltar were obliged to resign from their roles and take up positions at newly-created ‘consultancy’ companies, according to court documents.

In 2015, he threatened to expose the company’s true ownership

Eventually the heat got too much for the ‘cut-out’ frontman hired to act as the owner of the company, and in 2015 he threatened to expose the company’s true ownership if French authorities pursued him.

Meanwhile, around the same time as Casino

A key company was Violet Star Group Ltd, formed by the notorious Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, which earned its infamy from being the central player in the Panama Papers scandal. It was set up along with two other companies, Apollo Online Consultancy Ltd and Hermes Online Consultancy Ltd in Israel, that, on the surface, had nothing to do with Mansion.

But these companies were run by ‘ex’ Mansion employees that provided ‘consultancy services’ to Casino Midas, which was part of an illegal structure that by then had expanded to the UK and Spain.

web of restrictions targeting this sector.

While the intent to address the shortage of long-term rental properties is valid, the cumulative impact of national, regional, and local regulations is discouraging investment in rental properties altogether.

Buyers considering properties for shortterm rental purposes should proceed with caution, as the regulatory environment continues to tighten.

In conclusion, the proposed measures, particularly the one targeting non-EU property buyers, is a classic populist response to the housing shortage and an appeal to the extreme left-wing of the coalition government rather than a well-reasoned policy.

While addressing the housing crisis is an

urgent priority, these proposals risk doing more harm than good.

The negative implications for the real estate market, economic growth, and Spain’s reputation as an attractive destination for foreign investment cannot be ignored.

To genuinely address the crisis, the government should focus on increasing the housing supply, incentivizing long-term rentals, and ensuring affordability for local residents.

Alienating non-EU buyers, who contribute significantly to Spain’s economy, is not the solution.

Christopher Clover is the Managing Director of Panorama Properties, Marbella’s Longest Established Real Estate Agency, in the city since 1970

It would further expand to Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, and other jurisdictions around the world.

Casino Midas in turn kicked its ill-gotten profits back through a series of middlemen, which were then paid out to Sampoerna in the form of dividends.

None of it ever returned to Mansion, thus completing the deniability.

When Mansion feared discovery of its illegal Casino Midas operation, the entire structure was shut down and the employees returned to their posts.

It was, however, far from the end of the illegal behaviour, according to Manasco’s defence documents.

The company went on to under-report profits in Germany and Austria for tax evasion purposes, and employed similar schemes to welch on tax debts owed to the Israeli government.

Evidence

While these allegations were shielded from being proven in a court of law, the Olive Press has seen the underlying evidence.

And none of it would come as a surprise to anyone who has been following the Mansion case over the years.

The company has been the subject of various stories in the British press, including the Telegraph writing about its opaque ownership in 2019 (hint: it’s Putera Sampoerna).

The UK gambling regulator reportedly opened an investigation into Mansion in 2020 while discretely advising Bournemouth Football Club, whose shirt bore the brand logo, to ditch their sponsorship contract.

Mansion finally shut down and closed its doors in 2023 for ‘ordinary commercial reasons’, according to Gibraltar’s gaming regulator.

The tale of Mansion is merely one example of the aggressive, wild-west culture that permeated the offshore online gaming sector in the period.

Entain, Gibraltar’s largest employer, was forced to pay up a staggering £600 million by the UK gambling regulator in 2023 for similar historical misdeeds.

Today, the gaming sector claims to run a tighter ship, and the dodgy companies have been regulated out of existence.

BOOOOOOOM!

Olive Press website numbers surged by almost 1,000% in 2024 as site goes truly global

THE Olive Press website had seven million readers around the world last year. Figures from Google Analytics show the number of visitors in 2024 grew by a staggering 924% compared to 2023.

While the UK and Spain, naturally, account for the largest number of readers, many other countries are joining the club.

The number of readers from the US, for exam ple, shot up by a giant 639% year-on-year, mak ing Americans our third biggest consumers. This was followed by visitors from Ireland (a massive 2665% jump), Canadians (+893%), Germans (+579%), and the Dutch (+536%) and French (+612%).

The impressive results have been buoyed by our growing authority on Spain-related news.

Our exclusive coverage is constantly followed up by the biggest news websites, including MailOnline, the Sun Online, the Telegraph and more.

Our reporters have also appeared on multiple UK news broadcasts over the past 12 months, including on Sky News , ITV news and BBC News Our success is thanks to our crack team of NCTJ-trained journalists, who work tirelessly to find exclusive stories among the expat communities in Spain. On that note, we have recently launched our new ‘Barcelona’ and ‘Madrid’ categories on our website, after being inundated with emails asking us to cover these areas more.

If you have any stories relating to these areasor anywhere in Spain for that matter - that you think are of interest, do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

And don’t forget you have just two days to make the most of our January sale, offering you a year’s worth of full, advert-free access for just €30.

To take advantage of this limited offer, simply scan the barcode below.

LA CULTURA

TROUBLED TALE

British artist pens graphic novel inspired by grandparents’ role in the Spanish Civil War

THROUGHOUT the 1930s, facism appeared to be taking over Europe and the Second World War loomed on the horizon.

So when a far right coup threatened Spain’s democracy, many Brits went to fight.

“They fought in Spain so facism didn’t reach England,” artist and author Crispin Green explained to the Olive Press

“If they did nothing, they thought Hitler would be marching his paratroopers over Hampstead Heath in no time.”

The Londoner has recently published a graphic novel, Meeting Trouble Half Way, inspired by his grandparents' experience in the Spanish Civil War.

“Growing up, I didn’t know much about the war, but when I retired I started reflecting on my life and my father’s. Before he died, we spoke a lot about Spain and I realised how much the war impacted him, he effectively became an orphan,” Crispin said.

George Green, Crispin’s grandfather, decided to join the International Brigade, travelling to Spain in 1936 while walking

By Yzabelle Bostyn

down London’s Fetter Lane.

Soon, 32-year-old George left behind his wife and children to join the Republicans.

He set off from Oxford Street with an ambulance full of medical supplies, accompanied by poet Steven Spender and the House of Lord’s only communist peer, Wogan Phillips. Spender later described George, a cellist by trade, as an ‘idealist’ whose ‘eyes shone with passion.’

Eventually, Phillips was wounded and returned to England, where he asked Crispin’s grandmother and George’s wife to help at a field hospital in Tar-

Nan, also 32, travelled to Santa Llucia Cave Hospital, near La Bisbal de Falset, under the motto:

“It’s time for us to knock history about, rather than being knocked about by his-

She left behind Crispin’s father, Martin and his sister, Frances, who attended a boarding school paid for by Philips.

Crispin is happy to share his grandparents’ story

ful, she wanted to leave a better world behind for her children,” Crispin said.

“She did administrative tasks, monitoring the wounded to see what provisions they needed, she also helped to run the 80 bed hospital and gave blood.”

It was at the hospital that Nan ran into George by chance in 1938 when he had been wounded in the Battle of the Ebro.

“Nan didn’t see it as neglect -

However, when George heard the International Brigades were being withdrawn the next day, he sprung into action.

“He thought it was their last chance and maybe they could turn things around in the final push. But he was killed

in the final assault,” said Crispin.

Despite her husband’s death, Nan kept on fighting, helping Span-

ish refugees find new homes before becoming a translator in China. It was only when she retired and

came back to England that Crispin really got to know his grandmother.

“She was wonderful, I always felt uplifted when I left her house thanks to her positive outlook,” he shared.

In 2004, Nan wrote her memoirs entitled A Chronicle of Small Beer and just a year later, Crispin and his father travelled to Spain to see a memorial to the Battle of the Ebro.

There, they met an English historian who identified the trench where George was likely shot, finding shells and bullets still littered on the ground decades later.

It also references key figures of the Spanish Civil War such as journalist Arturo Barea and Ernest Hemingway.

The story reflects the diversity of those who fought against Franco through its three main characters: an unemployed Welsh miner, a Jewish trade merchant and a young university graduate. They drive ambulances, end up in hospital and fight battles, just like Crispin’s grandparents.

“It’s a beautiful landscape, like heaven, but 80 years ago it was hell,”

“It’s a beautiful landscape, like heaven on earth, but 80 years ago it was hell,” Crispin explained.

Though his graphic novel does not follow his grandparents, it was heavily inspired by their story, as well as a play Crispin’s father wrote entitled The Tolerance of the Crows

Part of the International Brigade Memorial Trust, Crispin hopes the novel will raise awareness of those who fought in Spain.

“Right now, I think people feel powerless to what’s going on, but I want them to know you can have resilience, courage and hope. You can stand up and make your voice heard,” he said.

Meeting Trouble Halfway is available online from Amazon, Waterstones and Foyles

GRANDPARENTS: Nan (left) and George (right) Green

PROUD:

COMRADES: Unknownmedical officer (left) and George

INSPIRED: Crispin’s grandfather George on the cello (right) and grandmother Nan on the accordian in Spain during the civil war

IMMACULATE:

The world’s biggest legends will descend on Aloha on February 14, including Miguel Angel Jimenez (left), who designed hole 1 (right)

CCHIPPING IN

OULD you see yourself testing your swing against Spanish golfing legends Jose Maria Olazabel or Miguel Angel Jimenez?

Maybe you’d like to re-enact Colin Montgomerie’s famous 18th hole Ryder Cup putting victory just up the road in nearby Sotogrande?

Well now is your chance with an exciting host of golfing greats descending on Marbella in February.

Among the big names set to roll back the years are legends Ian Woosnam, Michael Campbell and Peter Baker. Woosnam, the 1991 Masters Champion and a Ryder Cup-winning captain, will be a major draw for fans at the Staysure Marbella Legends tournament at Aloha Golf Club.

The Welshman is one of the so-called ‘Big Five’ - Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyde and the late Seve Ballesteros - who were all born within a year of each other. Joining him is Olazabal, a two-time Masters Champion and the cap tain who led Eu rope to one of its most memorable

Ryder Cup victories.

Local favourite Jimenez, from Churriana, near Malaga, is a two-time Senior Major Champion known for his charismatic presence on the course, will also compete.

The famous cigar-smoking maverick of the game designed the first hole of Aloha, often considered to be Marbella’s top course.

Completing the stellar lineup is Scotsman Montgomerie, a Golf Hall of Famer and five-time Ryder Cup victor, well known and understandably popular in Andalucia.

His amazing iron nerve saw him halve the final 1997 match at Valderrama, in Sotogrande, with Scott Hoch, sinking a 15-foot par putt on the final hole to seal the outright victory for the Europeans. The big names all but guarantee a high level of competition and enter-

Fancy joining the golfing royalty as they get set to descend on Aloha Golf for new legends tournament, writes Walter Finch

tainment for spectators at Aloha, where admission to the tournament will be free.

The event, taking place from February 14 to 16, marks the opening of the 2025 Legends Tour season, which then heads to Ireland, Scotland, Barbados and Mauritius. Alongside the professional tournament, the Legends Tour offers unique opportunities for amateur golfers to experience tournament conditions and even play alongside the legends themselves.

The organizers of the tournament claim this is the only experience in the world that offers amateurs to play with professionals. At Aloha keen punters will get to play two rounds of golf in tournament conditions playing with professional

golfers with a cut line after two rounds to qualify for the third and final round.

For just €8,000 you will rub shoulders with the legends of the game, pick up tips, and get treated as a professional with access to all the training facilities and exclusive functions.

Play the game of your life and you might make the cut and, who knows, you could make the podium at the prize-giving ceremony at the end of the tournament. And for anyone looking for inspiration, rock up on any of the three days to have a stroll around one of the most well kept, beautiful golf courses in Spain. Entrance is free.

For more information visit www.legendstour.com

LINE-UP: includes (left to right) Colin Montgomerie, Michael Campbell, Jose Maria Olazabel and Ian Woosnam

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

January 29th - February 11th

AGE OF AQUARIUS

The Olive Press visits Spain’s extraordinary first underwater winery and shellfish farm

It is the first bodega is the first in Spain to legally sell wine aged underwater by teaming up with a local shellfish farm.

Escaramujo Wines have become the first underwater winery licensed by the Spanish Food Health Agency (Aesan).

The winery in Estepona was

By Yzabelle Bostyn

born in 2021 when Dutch aquaculture engineer Khwame Paloeloe Helder, also known as Palu, met Spanish wine expert Victor Gomez.

Gomez had discovered underwater wineries in Galicia but it wasn’t until a chance meeting with Helder that his idea to create Spain’s first licensed underwater bodega began.

The Dutchman was already experimenting with submerging wine bottles in his 25 hectare farm in the Med to deter barnacles from attaching to his scallops and oysters.

He discovered the pesky crustaceans loved the smooth surface of wine bottles and left his shellfish alone.

Later, meeting Gomez was the perfect opportunity to combine business interests and create an innovative new venture.

feel in the mouth with a slightly higher alcohol content and less sugar.

Underwater wine ageing first gained traction in 2010, when a 19th century French shipwreck was discovered in the Baltic Sea. Among the wreckage were an extraordinary 186 intact bottles of champagne, believed to be a gift from King Louis XVI to Tsar Peter the Great.

Not only had the bottles survived OVER 170 YEARS underwater, but the wine’s quality had not been affected.

According to the scientific journal, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) the sea’s darkness and constant temperature helped to preserve it, sparking a new barometre wine ageing.

Off the coast of Estepona, the Mar Alboran provides optimum conditions thanks to its low temperatures and luminosity.

Escaramujo gained its health license in 2022 after jumping over much red tape and selecting wines from top Spanish vineyards to submerge for further aging.

The current rocks the bottles and promotes fermentation, leading to a creamy

And as if that wasn’t enough, Gomez claims the wine gives you less of a hangover with no headaches.

“People think this is just a trend but it’s a very different way of creating wine,” Gomez said.

“It’s a very natural technique which rewards you with a more refined outcome.”

While a bottle of wine costs a little more than some might want to spend at €100, just 1,000 bottles are fermented per year.

After the 11 month aging process is finished, Helder and Gomez personally dive some 20 metres below the surface to collect the bottles by hand.

bottles are submerged in fresh water until the barnacles die, at which point they are put back into the sea and eaten by snails, crabs and octopuses.

The excellent water quality is also the perfect environment to breed Helder’s specialities: flat oysters, zamburiñas and vieiras (two types of scallops).

Though as a vegan I could not sample the delicacies myself, my brother, who declared he didn’t like shellfish before the trip, was happily gobbling down the ‘delicious’ morsels.

“It’s

not just wine and seafood, it’s an experience and we’re creating memories”

After being extracted, the wine is beautifully adorned with corals, barnacles and shells, a process which is not just aesthetically pleasing, but excellent for marine life.

Gomez explains that the barnacles are natural water filters, making it much cleaner where the wine is fermented.

This attracts a myriad of species, including the endangered pinna nobilis mussel, which is collected and sent to conservation organisations.

To humanely dispose of the barnacle meat, the

Spain by train

A BRITISH train expert has revealed his top interrailing picks around Europe, with Spain earning a coveted top three spot. According to Andrew Eames the continent's three best journeys are a trip to the Alps from the Med, a journey around central Europe taking in Prague. His third favourite is a leisurely two-

Such was his delight that it even tempted a fellow veggie to try a zamburiña scallop, albeit garnished with garlic and grapes.

“It’s not just wine and seafood, it’s an experience and we’re creating memories,” said Gomez.

Despite my absolute lack of knowledge about shellfish, I came out of the two hour boat cruise feeling like an expert. Helder, a marine biologist, is deeply passionate about his work and has hundreds of interesting facts to share.

Gomez meanwhile is clearly enamoured by wine and explains the aging process in a clear and engaging way.

For more information visit: www.escaramujowines.com and www.frutosdelmar.es

week route to and around Spain costing just €380.

He recommends getting to Spain by taking a Eurostar to Paris followed by a TGV fast train to Avignon, then the picturesque local line to Carcassonne.

From there you can connect to Spain’s high-speed AVE network, travelling to Madrid in just under seven hours. Next on the itinerary is a three hour jaunt to Malaga, ending with a six hour train to Barcelona.

Eames then recommends travelling back to Paris before the Eurostar to London.

EXPERT: Victor Gomez has a passion for wine

SEA LION: Palu dives for his oysters

BUSINESS

MONEY MOVES

SABADELL Bank will move its headquarters back to Barcelona, seven years after setting up shop in Alicante due to Catalunya’s illegal independence referendum.

The bank will ‘return home’ in the mid of a battle to avoid a hostile takeover by BBVA, with some analysts suggesting it will give it more political clout to fend off its rival.

Sabadell was one of thousands of companies that moved their HQ from Catalunya in 2017 when the referendum organised by Carles Puigdemont’s government was ruled illegal by the Constitutional Court.

At the time, it was argued that the decision was taken to stop the flight of deposits from people who feared that the independence process could lead to the loss of their savings.

Moneybags Real

Madrid football giants rake in €1 billion in just a year

REAL Madrid has become the world’s first football club to earn over €1 billion of revenue in a single year.

After winning La Liga and the Champions League last season, Deloitte said it had taken top position in its Football Money League.

The La Liga club also saw match day revenues increase in 2023/24, doubling to €248 million after renovations to the Bernabeu Stadium.

The club also reported a 19% increase in commercial revenue from a new sleeve sponsorship from HP and increased merchandise sales - bringing in another €482

OP Puzzle solutions

By Alex Trelinski

million.

“A billion euros in revenues is a landmark in club football,” said Theo Ajadi, from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

“The redevelopment of Madrid’s stadium has been the catalyst for the club’s growth.

“They’ve licenced some seating, which has provided a significant uplift in revenue, and also increased merchandising and brought in new sleeve sponsorship. That, along with strong on-pitch performance, has led to Madrid’s strong fi-

nancial performance,” Ajadi added.

The top three earning clubs remain the same as last year, with Manchester City in second ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.

fourth place from FC Barcelona, with Bayern Munich fifth.

Beer economy

DUTCH beer giant Heineken claims to have pumped nearly €5 billion into the Spanish economy last year – equivalent to 0.3% of Spain’s entire GDP. The numbers behind the booze behemoth, which includes brands such as Cruzcampo, Amstel and El Aguila, are staggering – although admittedly they come from a report commissioned by the company itself.

The top 20 recorded a cumulative revenue of €11.2 billion - up 6% per cent on last year. Manchester United take over

Quick Crossword

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Comprehensive Cybersecurity

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Across: 7 Cold-shoulders, 9 Oozed, 10 Seymour, 11 Sgt, 12 Karl, 14 Exactly, 17 Glacial, 19 Guys, 22 A-B M, 24 On a diet, 25 Essay, 26 Giorgio Armani.

Personalized User Experience

AnyTech365 adapt its product and technical support solutions to individual needs, offering a safe online experience to any user.

Down: 1 O’clock, 2 Blazer, 3 Constellation, 4 Allyear, 5 Get out, 6 Osprey, 8 Suds, 13 Ail, 15 Lay, 16 Firings, 17 Groggy, 18 A major, 20 Unseat, 21 Stymie, 23 Meir.

Barcelona had a turnover of €760 million compared to the €800 million reached in the 2022/2023 season, which meant a 5% reduction in revenue - mainly down to match day income falling.

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its prediction over how far Spain’s economy will grow in 2025 by 0.2% to 2.3%.

The eurozone in contrast has a growth projection of just 1%.

The IMF says Spain is the only country among the advanced European economies where the

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The company’s Spanish operations now account for 85,000 jobs – or 0.4% of all employment in Spain – with seven out of 10 jobs linked to the food and hospitality sectors. Spain is Heineken’s second-largest market in Europe, where the company has maintained a presence for more than 120 years straight, and sixth biggest globally. The economic contribution means that for every euro generated by Heineken’s business, it contributes €11 to the wider Spanish economy, according to the PwC report.

Growth boost

growth forecast has improved. Spain’s economy will slow down this year compared to 2024, which pending a final set of figures, finished last year at least 3.1%.

As for 2026, the IMF keeps the country’s growth forecast at 1.8%.

REBOOTING FOR 2025

The countdown to 2025 is well over, and while everyone else has resolved to eat healthier or finally join that yoga class, IT professionals have made a very different list: upgrade plans, patch schedules, and ways to survive the inevitable flood of “forgot my password” emails. Welcome to the IT version of New Year’s resolutions. January 1st always starts with the same question: “Why isn’t the system working?” It’s amazing how many people think their computers also took the day off. Thankfully, AnyTech365 is here to handle the chaos, from rebooting your frozen devices to ensuring your system didn’t mys-

IT’s

guide to starting the New Year right

teriously forget how to connect to Wi-Fi during the fireworks. Cybercriminals don’t rest during New Year’s celebrations. While you were sipping champagne, they were crafting phishing scams that prey on your leftover holiday cheer. That email offering “free gift cards for 2025” isn’t from your favourite retailer—it’s a one-way ticket to a malware nightmare. Luckily, AnyTech365 has your back with real-time threat protection and expert advice to keep your systems safe. Nothing says “Happy New Year” like new devices. Smartwatches, laptops, and that mysterious gadget your nephew insisted you needed are flooding homes. But setting them up? That’s a different story. Cue the frantic calls for help.

“Why doesn’t it connect?” or “What do you mean I need an app for that?” Don’t panic— AnyTech365 specializes in setting up tech quickly and stress-free, so you can enjoy your shiny new toys without the headaches. Let’s not forget the

office chaos. By January 2nd, employees returning to work were rediscovering issues they ignored all December. Printers that were suddenly allergic to paper, software updates demand immediate attention, and someone’s “New Year, New Me” initiative is already derailed by forgotten passwords. With AnyTech365 on standby,

these hiccups turn into smooth sailing, leaving you more time to focus on 2025 goals. Finally, there’s the dreaded task of cleaning up digital clutter. Is your desktop still hosting files from 2017? Are your emails overflowing with unread messages? Make this the year you let AnyTech365 help streamline your digital life. Their experts optimize your

devices and clear out the

webs, so you can start the year fresh and productive. As 2025 progresses, remem

ber that technology is your ally - when it’s working. For everything else, AnyTech365 is your trusted partner, ready to handle the unexpected and keep your digital world running smoothly. And the best part? Take advantage of the exclusive offer just for Olive Press readers, so you can enjoy a worry-free online experience today!

Hardened criminal

Malaga machos

SPANISH actor Antonio Banderas has featured in a Bosch superbowl advert, opening a jar of pickles for US wrestling legend ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage

Local wanted

ALCALA de Henares’

Semana Santa poster has caused outrage after using a picture of a Malaga nazarene, forcing the council to retract the work.

Snakes alive

PEOPLE across Spain will be celebrating Chinese New Year this week, which falls today (Wednesday). 2025 is the year of the snake.

ALL’S WELL

A SPANISH bungee jump instructor has been criticised after a video showed him pushing a frightened woman off a bridge.

Cristina Amaro Priego became fearful in the final moments leading up to her plunge in Aznalcollar, near Sevilla.

The unnamed instructor is seen holding onto Cristina as she screws up her face in terror, then re -

A SECURITY guard fired for watching pornography on a company mobile phone has got off scott free after a court ruled he was unfairly sacked.

The man from A Coruña has now been reinstated and awarded €7,500 in compensation.

A Basque Country court said the security firm Trisquel Proteccion violated his privacy by tracking his work phone history without permission. The ruling added there was no policy

Terrified bungee jumper pushed off bridge but terror turns to joy

By Alex Trelinski

peatedly she tells him 'no' and makes it clear that she has changed her mind and does not want to go ahead with the jump.

The man continually tries to reassure her, placing a selfie stick in her hand so

PORN FREE

over warning workers about the risk of dismissal if they are found watching porn while at work.

The court heard that bosses checked the security guard’s phone after other employees who used it complained that it was running more slowly than usual. They found the pornographic pages, linked them to the employee and fired him.

that she can catch the moment on video.

He then pushes her forward and lets her go over the railing to start her jump.

Many social media users criticised the instructor’s decision to push Cristina. One person fumed: “She said no, why did he push her?”

“If she regrets it and doesn’t want to… why force her,” another contributor asked.

But after all her fears and screaming in panic, Cristina was clearly caught on camera with a big smile on her face.

When posting the video, she showed a sense of humour with the caption: “I was told I won the year’s screaming award”.

A SECURITY check at Alicante-Elche airport turned up 20,000 Viagra pills crammed into a suitcase.

A 63-year old woman has been arrested by the Guardia Civil and charged with smuggling and public health offences.

The smuggler flew in from Madrid after arriving in Spain from the Dominican Republic. As is routine, transit arrival baggage from other countries is scanned in an X-ray machine. In this instance, a suitcase was found to contain ‘above normal’ dense material, and was totally filled with the blue viagra pills.

Honest shopper

A HONEST person gave police €1,850 in banknotes that had been dropped at an Alboraya supermarket. Days later a social media appeal by the Alboraya Policia Local led to a woman coming forward to claim her misplaced money.

The plea made it clear that the shop location and the amount of money lost had to be supplied.

Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist.