Olive Press Gibraltar issue 243

From vineyards to fishermen, mountain hikes to seaside fun, Manilva has it all. See page 7

TRAIN TO GIB

The long-demanded costa train may finally be becoming a reality – and with it a stop just across the border in La Linea

SPAIN’S fabled costa train from Nerja to Algeciras is starting to become a more concrete reality – and it may come to Gibraltar.

Long considered another wishful infrastructure pipe dream, La Linea Mayor Juan Franco has been campaigning to get a stop included in his own town as the project finally takes shape.

Madrid has stated that La Linea will only qualify for a stop on the line if there’s ‘enough demand’, with Franco quick to point out that ‘between the two towns we have a population of over 100,000 residents’.

While still at a preliminary stage, the railway is envisioned to have six stops: Nerja (22,000 residents), Malaga (580,000), Fuengirola (85,000), Marbella (160,000), Estepona (70,000) and Algeciras (120,000).

As such, a stop in La Linea would serve more people than half of those – if the Spanish authorities are willing to include the population of Gibraltar in their

But how might a train line just across the border impact Gibraltar?

“While clearly a Span -

By Walter Finch

ish undertaking, such a train line would be a fantastic opportunity for the Rock,” Eran Shay of the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (bottom left) told the Olive Press.

“There are a number of ways it would benefit our economy, not just in speeding up supply chains and wait times but boosting exports.

“On top of that, the increased mobility on the Spanish side of the border would expand the range employers in Gibraltar would have to hire workers, making it more attractive for both.”

Jobs

Shay, who is also Managing Director of Benefit Business Solutions, suggests the authorities could put on a shuttle bus from the station to the border, further easing the way for commuters, shoppers and tourists to come to Gibraltar.

The leg between Estepona and Algeciras is forecast to see up to 4.9 million passengers yearly, with potentially 1.5 million stopping in La Linea – or 4,110 a day.

At an estimated cost of €10 million to €20 million per kilometre to build, the final outlay to cover the 50km train line could come to between €500 million to €1 billion.

Some estimates have predicted Gibraltar could see €50 to €100 million in indirect economic gains plus a further 500 to 1,000 new jobs, but at this juncture these are little more than guesses.

“It's difficult to quantify the eco-

nomic impact of the train without knowing more about train numbers and times, the proportion of passenger to freight, et cetera,” Shay continued.

“But I really cannot see any negatives impacts for Gibraltar.”

With around four out of every five of the 1.2 million tourists who visit the Rock annually entering from Spain, the boost to tourism from a train to La Linea – or even Algeciras – is obvious.

“If you've got a mass transit system that can bring people down down from the coast cheaper and faster than the current options, that could be very advantageous to Gibraltar, and La Linea,” Edward Macquistan of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce noted to this newspaper. But might the station be positioned inconveniently far from the Gibraltar border?

“For them to claim it’s a La Linea stop I think it would have to be

somewhere in the centre of the town and there’s plenty of space, depending on the route they take,” Macquistan argued.

“If you look at the history, wherever a railway is built you have more people who can get to and from their place of work without having to use either personal transport, that's got to be beneficial for jobs.”

Even the environmental lobby would be in favour, seeing as the train would cut the number of cars on the already-over-clogged coastal roads in Malaga and Cadiz.

Charades

GIBRALTAR Squadron exercises around the Rock last week reignited the eternal diplomatic charade with Spain over sovereignty of the waters.

Six vessels, including HMS Dagger, took part in ‘interoperability’ operations that started in the Inner Harbour and moved around to the eastern side.

At all times the unit remained within the three nautical miles claimed as British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW).

While the drills were hailed a success by commanding officer Lt Cdr Davies, it was viewed differently in Spain.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry lodged a diplomatic protest with the UK for ‘violating Spanish sovereignty’ and urged the parties to avoid ‘future incursions in the area’.

Which will be unlikely as such exercises are set to be a monthly event.

The formal complaint was just one of half a dozen issued by both Spain and the UK in the last year alone.

“I think most people would support it,” Macquistan concluded.

“The only problem I can see is that there will be a very long fuse on the project.”

Funding

He warned not to expect it within the next 10 years. The project is still in the feasibility stage with funding yet to be secured, and the leg to Algeciras will likely be the last phase to start construction.

Despite these funding issues, there is clear demand for the overall project, which is likely to see 60 million annual trips and unlock huge economic benefits.

Coupled with an eventual treaty with Spain and the EU, a train line to La Linea could be transformational for Gibraltar in the long term.

ESTEPONA

MARBELLA

FUENGIROLA

MALAGA

ALGECIRAS

CHOO-CHOO:A train to La Linea could deliver jobs and growth to Gibraltar

Medical emergency

A FLIGHT from Heathrow to Gibraltar was forced to make a dramatic diversion to Bilbao after sending out an emergency alert due to a passenger needing immediate medical attention.

Is it yours?

THE RGP are still looking for the owner of a Rockrider bike that was stolen from Watergardens last month. If you can prove it is yours, call 200 72500.

Double loss

A COW that was in labour was tragically swept out to sea during the recent storms. Town hall staff found it washed up on Poniente Beach in La Linea.

Go team!

TEAM Gibraltar is currently taking part in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, competing in events such as Slalom Skiing and Snow Shoeing.

AN Upper Town man has been ordered to complete hundreds of hours of community service after being convicted of sexual assault.

Frederick Peire, 48, received a sentence of 270 hours of community service at the Magistrates' Court

Hard labour

for attacking a woman in October 2022. While convicted on one count of sexual assault, Peire was acquitted

of four additional sexual assault charges, as well as separate charges of making threats to kill and harassing conduct. On an eight-hour per week basis, it will take Peire eight to nine months to complete the sentence.

DOUBLE TIME

OFFENDERS who assault police or emergency workers will have their maximum punishments doubled under new legislation being rolled out in Gibraltar this week.

The new bill aims to ramp up prison sentences for those who attack police from 12 months to 24 months, while expanding these protections to include firefighters, paramedics, and healthcare staff.

The Crimes (Assaults on Emergency Workers) Bill 2025 would also require courts to treat assaults on emergency workers as an ag-

Maximum jail time to double for offenders who attacks Gibraltar’s police after spate of incidents

gravating factor in serious offences such as actual bodily harm, wounding, and sexual assault.

"This bill aims to deter assaults and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions," said Justice Minister Nigel Feetham, who published the legislation following consultation with the Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Police Federation. The new offence does not re-

place existing laws regarding assaults on particular officers, but provides prosecutors with additional charging options when dealing with attacks on those serving the public.

Under the bill, protected workers include police officers, prison officers, BCA officers, Customs officers, fire services personnel, search and rescue workers, and GHA healthcare staff whose jobs involve face-to-face interac-

BUMBLING BURGLAR

A GIBRALTAR man went to court after police caught him red-handed during a night-time burglary on Main Street.

Nabil Medhurst El Habali, 28, was arrested at approximately 2am on Tuesday morning when RGP officers responded to reports of a break-in in progress.

Officers arrived at the scene to discover signs of forced entry to the business and

the suspect still inside the establishment. The local man, a resident of Road to the Lines, was promptly detained and taken to New Mole House Police Station where he was charged with burglary. Medhurst has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear before Gibraltar’s Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Narco discount

BARGAIN hunters can pick high-end cars at an unbelievably low price just across the border in Spain. But what’s the catch? These flash mobiles were seized from drug traffickers in the Campo de Gibraltar.

The Spanish government has put 186 criminally-linked vehicles up for sale in an online auction running from February 20th to May 22nd.

tion with the public.

The legislation comes in response to growing concerns about violence against frontline workers, highlighted by an incident in January when three RGP officers were assaulted in Laguna Estate.

Officers were left with facial injuries requiring medical treatment after they were confronted by a man wielding a bottle while responding to a disturbance.

The situation escalated when several other individuals allegedly joined in the attack, resulting in four arrests, including charges of assault on police, violent disorder, and criminal damage to a police body-worn camera.

Following that incident, an RGP spokesman condemned the violence, stating: "It is appalling that three of our officers were assaulted whilst doing their job. Assaults on police must not be tolerated as simply being part of the job."

It features an array of vehicles at bargain prices, with some luxury cars starting at just one euro. The sale includes models such as a 2010 BMW X5 xDrive 40D priced at €4,300 and a 2007 Audi A5 3.0 TDI starting at €3,100.

Potential buyers can participate through the Escrapalia online platform, which requires a simple registration process and a participation deposit.

But beware: the low starting prices reflect both the circumstances the car was seized in and its potential state.

CHEAP: Don’t mind the bullet holes

PET SHOP DATE

LEGENDARY British pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys, are coming to Spain this summer to wow fans with their decades

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have some of pop music’s most iconic hits in their reperWest End Suburbia Always on Mind. Fans will be able to catch them first in Sevilla’s Iconica festival on June 17 (tickets went on sale this week), followed by Marbella at the

Starlite festival on July 16. They will then head east to perform at Benidorm's Low Festival between July 25 and 27. The duo have been regulars to Catalunya in the past, appearing in Barcelona’s Sonar festival in 2002 and returning for Primavera Sound in 2010.

The venerable hit monsters most recently appeared in Spain last year at the Cruilla Festival –

NOT OUR PRESIDENT!

‘Ashamed’ US expats to hold anti-Trump rallies across Spain, including Malaga and Sevilla

US citizens living in Spain are planning to hold nationwide protests against Donald Trump.

Organised by Democrats Abroad, the rallies will take place in major cities across

the mainland on March 29, including Malaga, Barcelona, Sevilla, Madrid and Valencia.

The organisation told the Olive Press 'anyone is invited' to join the marches, which aim to make it clear that 'a large percentage' of US expats are 'completely opposed' to the president's policies.

Carey Ramos, head of Democrats Abroad in Malaga, told the Olive Press : "The horrific actions of the past six weeks since Trump's inauguration, both within the US and internationally, have motivated US citizens residing in Spain to speak up and get involved in

whatever way possible.

"We hope that these protests will help demonstrate to Spaniards and citizens of all nationalities that a large percentage of US citizens (approximately half) are completely opposed to what is occurring."

Ramos added: "How to summarize our feelings? Horror, disgust, anger, exasperation, deep sadness, and shame/ embarrassment on behalf of our country.

"We hope that hundreds of concerned citizens of all nationalities will attend the protest."

The organisation said in a statement: “Our objective is to protest the actions and policies of the Trump administration. We wel come all nationalities to attend.”

It comes as Spain's ag ricultural exporters are bracing for a potential €3.5 billion blow when new US tariffs come into effect.

Trump announced that he will soon be imposing tariffs on agricultural products imported into the US starting from April 2.

RENOWNED photographer

Annie Leibovitz unveiled her portrait photos of the King and Queen of Spain at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

Leibovitz, regarded as the most prestigious – and highest-paid – photographer in the world, displayed the photos in the Gasparini room as part of an exhibition called 'The Tyranny of Cronos' King Felipe and Queen Letizia had a long chat with Leibovitz, 75, after seeing the photos for the first time.

Their first reaction was to laugh and then discuss the portraits among themselves – apparently dwelling a little longer on the

ROSA-LOSER Picture perfect

Queen's image.

The King and Queen along with Leibovitz posed next to the portraits for photographers.

"Did you like them?" they asked, with a smiling Felipe nodding in reply.

The works were commissioned in 2024 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Felipe VI's reign, which coincided with the couple's 20th wedding anniversary. On February 7, the Royal couple posed for almost five hours, trying out different poses, clothes, and gestures.

The final versions saw Felipe in a high-collared army uniform and Letizia in a black and fuchsia Balenciaga dress.

SPANISH singer Rosalia tasted defeat in her legal battle to stop a Bulgarian jewellery brand from using the name ‘Rozaliya’.

The popstar had tried to argue that the brand name was too similar to her own and might cause

However the European Union disagreed, ruling last week that Raphael Europe Ltd were using the trademark ‘genuinely’.

The Bulgarian company registered the trademark on September 6, 2016 for the sale of jewellery and leather goods. The court ordered it could be used

for the former but not the latter. The singer appealed the decision to the General Court, where it was upheld.

By Laurence Dollimore

What the lord giveth

IT has been announced that only pupils currently attending government-funded Bayside, Westside or the Gibraltar College will automatically qualify for generous university grants.

The decision excludes pupils at private school Prior Park from Gibraltar’s flagship scholarship program, which covers the tuition fees for Gibraltarians students to study in the UK.

Instead, in order to apply for funding, these pupils will be means-tested in order to qualify for a Discretionary Scholarship.

The decision comes after Fabian Picardo spoke during his New Year’s Speech of restricting eligibility for Gibraltar’s generous social welfare subsidies.

However, an outcry has forced the government to backtrack, with the latest indications being that the decision isn’t final.

Suspicious death

A WOMAN’S death in Martos, near Jaen, initially ruled as natural, is now being investigated as a possible murder linked to domestic violence.

The case was reopened on International Women's Day after a forensic autopsy revealed injuries consistent with gender violence.

A man is in custody, and a judge is overseeing the investigation. Authorities had initially found no prior incidents of domestic violence recorded in the VioGen database.

SPEAK EASY

THE Speaker of the House of Commons has been making regular ‘extravagant’ trips to Gibraltar on the British taxpayer’s expense. Freedom of Information requests revealed that Sir Lindays Hoyle, 67, billed nearly £16,000 in expenses since 2021 for four trips with his wife, where he stayed several nights at the Rock Hotel each time.

Hoyle is the Chancellor of the University of Gibraltar, where he makes an appearance at the graduation ceremony each year – nothing to do with his parliamentary role.

The university covered his flights and accommodation only once, in 2022, while the taxpayer was left to foot the bill for Hoyle’s other expenses, including an entou-

rage of ‘two or three people’. Precisely, he has billed £6,616.54 for business-class flights, £7,396.50 on accommodation and £1,694.23 on food.

Hoyle’s office has said that the Speaker and his wife

paid ‘all her travel costs and expenses’ themselves.

All in all, Hoyle has splurged more than £250,000 of taxpayer’s money on 19 foreign trips since pandemic restrictions were eased in October 2022.

FRIENDLY RIVALRY

The failure of negotiators to find a level tax playing field could see La Linea turn from friendly neighbour to fiscal foe

LA Linea’s symbiotic relationship with Gibraltar could shift to a competitive rivalry if treaty negotiations fail.

Regional president Juanma Moreno re cently met with Mayor Juan Franco (right) to discuss options to alleviate the town’s dependence on its British neighbour, where one in every three workers earns their living on

By Walter Finch

the Rock.

The Junta is finally giving serious consideration to long-demanded proposals intended to offset the impact of a hard border and the impact it will have on the Spanish side. One such financial ‘alternative’ could be to pump

Bittersweet weather

RESERVOIRS in Malaga have been forced to release water just months after the region faced critical drought levels.

The Conde de Guadalhorce and La Concepcion reservoirs both had to open emergency valves as they became around 90% full at the weekend.

Nearly two weeks of rain has left a healthy 250 million-litres of stored water in the province, with 70 million litres arriving in a week. Lake Vinuela which was just 7.8% at this time last year is now 22% full, while Casasola reservoir, near Malaga, has almost doubled from 27% to 50% in a year. It comes as Andalucia endured its wettest March for years.

It has now rained for two weeks straight and there is no immediate end in sight, according to forecasters, who predict the wet weather will last until at least the

pletely destroyed including one in Marbella’s old town which collapsed leaving rubble in the street.

Meanwhile, the deluge has caused repeated flooding in Estepona, Marbella, Malaga city, Torremolinos and Velez-Malaga.

greater funds into the struggling town through increased regional tax revenue sharing.

La Linea received only €3.2 million in direct investment from the Junta in 2024, something which could be bumped up significantly if the funds can be freed up. But a more radical proposal could see La Linea enjoy a special tax regime akin to Ceuta or the Canary Islands in order to gain a competitive advantage against Gibraltar. This measure would be intended to compete directly with its neighbour, where the 15% corporate tax rate and the absence of capital gains, wealth, inheritance, or sales taxes contrasts sharply with Spain.

Low tax

The GTT would be a single stage tax applied at the point of import, wholesale, or manufacture, and applicable to goods but not services.

Negotiators on both sides have been haggling over what this rate would be, with the Spanish and EU sides demanding 15% while their British and Gibraltrian counterparts prefer 10%. This is believed to be one of the remaining sticking points in the ongoing negotiations, with Picardo having said that most differences are ‘merely technical’.

Spanish putsch

SPAIN’S right-wing in the European Parliament conspired to block Gibraltar’s removal from the EU list of high-risk money-laundering and terrorist financing jurisdictions. The removal, which was was recommended by the European Commission, met opposition from conservative groups in Brussels which include the PP and Vox.

The Commission had originally intended to remove Gibraltar, Panama and the UAE from the black list in January. But the PP spokeswoman Dolors Montserrat (top) claimed Gibraltar costs Spain around €7 billion annually from ‘unfair competition.’

“Whilst the Campo De Gibraltar continues to fight against the mafias and traffickers, the Rock lives off gaming and evades its fiscal responsibility,” Montserrat said.

Political commentator Robert Vasquez of Llanito’s World called her comments ‘sad, and a huge blackmark against the EU.’

“Irrelevant political bias, based on nationalistic ambitions, [should not] win in a democratic EU Parliament over objective analysis undertaken by the EU Commission itself.”

He added: “It is frightening that the same right-wing parliamentary politics could veto any Gibexit treaty [...] or even interfere in defence and military matters in the new world order.”

At the same time, Gibraltar was represented at a London gathering of Overseas Territories to fight against international sanctions evasion.

Minister Nigel Feetham said that Gibraltar ‘remains committed to playing its part in safeguarding the international financial system from abuse.’

Mummy mystery

A BODY washed up on a Costa del Sol beach is not that of a missing US banker.

The family of Grant Barr confirmed to the Olive Press the authorities had told them it is not him.

The corpse was found on Fuengirola beach in a wet suit and had undergone 'saponification', a type of mummification when bodies are submerged in water.

Andalucia minister Pedro Fernandez said it was ‘too early to know’ if the person suffered a violent death or if it was an accident.

The heavy rain from Storm Jana has brought major ing the collapse of the key Ronda to San Meanwhile homes were

Among the hardest hit has been Torremolinos, where roads, homes and stairways were seen completely inundated with flood water.

In Cadiz, the famous Jerez racing circuit was pictured almost completely submerged, while hailstones fell so fast they created mounds of ice on the ground.

The highest rainfall was recorded in Ojen (76mm) and at Marbella’s sewage treatment plant (75mm).

A yellow alert remains active for the coming days, with accumulated precipitation of up to 40mm expected over 12-hour periods.

The Canary Islands offers a very low corporate tax rate of 4% – to benefit from it companies must meet certain requirements, such as creating jobs and making investments in the islands. Meanwhile Ceuta is outside the EU VAT area and, like Gibraltar, does not charge a sales tax. Instead it levies its own indirect tax of between 0.5–10% on goods sold. On the other hand, should a deal actually materialise, Gibraltar may be obliged to introduce a potential new indirect tax known as the Gibraltar Transaction Tax (GTT), similar to – but not quite – VAT.

“It is a corpse in a very advanced state of decomposition and appears decapitated... and some lower limbs also appear severed,” he said.

Grant Barr, 36, disappeared from Estepona on January 28, during a trip to see relatives and friends.

The financier has worked for some of the world's biggest institutions, including Citi bank.

Photos of Grant, shared with the Olive Press by his brother James, reveal he is a keen sailor, with several shots showing him behind the helm of a sailing boat.

The family previously told us that Grant's passport, trousers and other belongings were later found near a beach in the resort.

Looking ahead

Earth Hour 2025 is a global call for action to tackle the climate crisis

WWF is turning its attention to the critical year ahead.

With the upcoming 2025 of Earth Hour, the global initiative will continue to be a beacon of hope, urging people and governments to act decisively in the fight against climate change.

As the world faces increasingly severe environmental challenges, Earth Hour’s message of urgency and collective action remains more relevant than ever.

The 2025 edition of Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, March 22 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm local time.

The focus will be on further amplifying global participation and pushing for stronger climate action, as international cooperation becomes essential to limit global warming to 1.5°C and protect biodiversity by 2030.

Earth Hour will continue to inspire communities, businesses, and governments to dedicate time and resources to protecting our planet.

As a new feature, WWF is inviting people to share a special place where they feel connected to nature and don’t want to see it disappear due to the adverse effects of the climate crisis.

They can choose their favorite natural spot and share pictures and video through their social media and on the Earth Hour website.

The initiative in Spain is being supported by Inditex as a partner once again, as well as from collaborating companies including El Corte Inglés, Mapfre, and Ecovidrio. So far, over 85 companies have decided to participate in this edition.

Media groups including Movistar+, RTVE, the EFE Agency, Los 40 (Prisa

Group), Onda Cero Radio (Atresmedia), RBA, Canal Odisea (AMC Networks International), Condé Nast, Happy Learning, Corresponsables, and Mujeres a Seguir will be Earth Hour allies.

Last year’s 18th edition of Earth Hour united more than 180 countries and territories around the world, marking a powerful collective movement to raise awareness about the climate crisis.

Millions of people across the globe participated in the symbolic gesture of turning off their lights, with iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, the Tokyo Tower, the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and the Christ the Redeemer statue joining in the global blackout.

WWF Spain also introduced the innovative ‘hour bank’, which encouraged individuals and organisations to dedicate 60 minutes to actions that benefit the environment.

In Spain, more than 500 local governments, over 120 companies, 120 organisations, and high-profile social media influencers including Climabar, Gipsy Chef, Jesús Calleja, and María Herrejón participated, contributing to the campaign’s success and engaging their audiences in the urgent fight against climate change.

Spain ranked ninth globally

in participation, with over 2,800 hours committed to environmental conservation.

The overwhelming public support highlighted the nation’s deep concern about climate-related issues, particularly the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires.

These events, alongside biodiversity loss, have placed Spain at the forefront of the climate crisis.

Juan Carlos del Olmo, Secretary General of WWF Spain, expressed his appreciation for the overwhelming support from the public: “With Earth Hour, we want to alert people that we no longer have a minute to lose, that we must act quickly and decisively to change our relationship with the planet”.

“We are still on time to halt the effects of this environmental crisis that threatens our favorite natural spots. Therefore, this year, to involve citizens in our campaign, in addition to our traditional blackout, we want to collect photos and videos of these spaces that could disappear due to the effects of the climate crisis.”

In addition to the symbolic blackout, notable landmarks in Spain, including the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid, and the Cathedral of Burgos, will participate once again, amplifying the campaign’s reach.

The involvement of major companies like Inditex, Coca-Cola, Mahou San Miguel, and Mapfre, as well as media outlets such as RTVE and Movistar+, further emphasizes the collective responsibility needed to address the climate crisis.

WWF’s global message for Earth Hour 2025 emphasises the urgent need for international cooperation to tackle climate change.

UN Secre-

tary-General António Guterres stated: “In Earth Hour, millions of people around the world turn off their lights to shine a light on the dire situation of our planet. The need is urgent. Our climate is collapsing.”

Kirsten Schuijt, Director-General of WWF International, reflected on the power of collective action: “As Earth Hour comes to a close, we reflect on the incredible impact that millions of people united for the health of our planet can have. Together, we have lit a beacon of hope, illuminating the path to a sustainable future.”

In Spain, WWF also organises volunteer activities in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga, including nature walks, workshops, and waste collection efforts.

These activities serve as a reminder that every individual action, no matter how small, contributes to the global fight for the planet’s future.

LANDMARKS: World famous buildings around the globe will

The fight against climate change remains urgent, and Earth Hour will continue to

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

Voted

paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the

OPINION

Let’s get over-excited

IT would be easy to get a little giddy over the prospect of a train running from Malaga up to Gibraltar’s doorstep.

The list of benefits goes on and on, from the individual to the macro-economic to the environmental.

Imagine the joy for the cross-border workers without cars who are more or less trapped in La Linea and Gibraltar most of the time. Imagine the Gibraltar residents who can get away from the Rock without having to start up their car. Or not spending 20 minutes looking for a place to park.

It’s easy to get carried away.

However it’s more of a boon for our children, or perhaps our at least our nieces and nephews. The timeframe for this piece of infrastructure arriving is almost beyond the horizon.

Many question marks remain. Will Spain find the funding? Will they be willing to pay with their hard-earned treasure to build a train line up to Gibraltar’s door?

Look at how the UK has abjectly failed to construct its long-mooted HS2.

Plans to connect London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester with high-speed trains have been scaled back significantly. Sorry northerners (as ever).

Estimates in 2010 suggested it would cost (a staggering) £33 billion – and that figure is from before it ballooned.

The latest official estimate (2019 prices) was £71 billion for the full network, though this included the now-canceled £26 billion Birmingham–Manchester leg.

However, Spain has shown themselves capable of building big projects when they want to. And if ever there was an infrastructure no-brainer, it is a costa train. So there’s hope.

But don’t throw away your car just yet.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Humenyuk

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

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Tom Ewart Smith tom@theolivepress.es

Estefania Marquez (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

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NOT JUST WOMEN’S DAY

By Michael Coy

MARCH 8 has become an international rallying point for women’s rights, equality, and social justice all around the world.

In Spain, millions of women (and men) take to the streets every year, demanding action on issues such as gender-based violence, wage equality, and reproductive rights.

While the country has seen significant progress, challenges remain, especially in the areas of domestic violence and workplace discrimination.

As Spain celebrated International Women’s Day at the weekend, the Olive Press takes a look at March 8 and the many other significant things that happened on that day throughout the country’s history

Millions of women participated in protests and work stoppages

The most notable demonstration occurred in 2018, when a feminist strike brought Spain to a total standstill that March.

Millions of women participated in protests and work stoppages to demand an end to gender-violence, equal pay and greater representation in politics and business.

The event was a powerful reminder of the strength of Spain’s feminist movement and the ongoing struggle for gender equality.

As the country celebrated International Women’s Day on Saturday, it was not only a day to remember the progress made but

The bots are taking over

WE live in Bot City. Bots are driving me dotty. Whatever happened to personalised customer service? We are constantly subjected to endless algorithm-driven adverts, but where is the human element in the sales pitch?

The other day I wanted to book a night out with the girls at a pizza restaurant, Grosso Napoletano, not far from Madrid’s famous Retiro Park.

I tried booking via their website, and while it was meant to be open on a Monday night, it wouldn’t let me book a table for seven.

I even tried booking for one person. But again, no tables were available. Simply not believing that the restaurant was booked out by Madrileños on a wintry Monday night I sought out a phone num ber which turned out to be a WhatsApp-only number… and then commenced the bot chat.

I don’t know if the programmer of this bot was one pepperoni short of a pizza, but it was inca pable of understanding that I just wanted to book a table.

In the end, defeated and deflated, I gave up and called a nearby competitor with a human answering the phone who seductively purred ‘Ciao Bella’ as I spelt out my name.

When the night came for our soiree, I decided to pop across the road to have a word with the staff at the deserted Grosso Napoletano.

also a day to renew the nation’s commitment to the continued fight for women’s rights. The fight for gender equality here has been a long and arduous journey. While today women in Spain outnumber men in university enrollment, it wasn’t always so. It was the opening of a teacher-training college in Madrid on March 8, 1839 that was to eventually change that. Now, it sounds pretty routine, but at the time it caused a sensation.

Up till then the Catholic Church had complete control of Spanish education, and schools were mostly staffed by priests and nuns.

By the 1830s however, it became clear that

The manager stopped folding napkins briefly to hear me out. She agreed that there were teething problems with the bots, and after much persuasion, she handed me the restaurant’s direct telephone number, usually reserved for delivery drivers. This time of course it was already too late. Despite the frustration they can cause, around 1.5 billion people are using chatbots around the globe.

The countries with the largest share are the US, India, Germany, Brazil and the UK.

Chatbots are predicted to become the primary customer service channel for a quarter of businesses by 2027. As with all technology, AI-powered assistants and chatbots are becoming increasingly sophisticated. To the extent that, according to Price Waterhouse Cooper, almost 30% of customers don’t know if their last customer service chat was with a human or a chatbot.

Chatbots are meant to have two main benefits; firstly, they offer instant support and, secondly, they offer it 24/7. But clearly they don’t always work. Indeed, as I have been writing this I have been conversing on WhatsApp with a Hewlett Packard bot ‘who’ is supposedly fixing my printer.

As AI starts flooding into Spain, Madrid-based journalist Susanna Grant insists that it’s still good old fashioned humans that end up fixing most problems

But finally after an hour and 45 minutes of repeating my personal details and my printer’s woes, I asked if he could just phone me. Clearly not appreciating my slight on his digital aptitude for fixing the issue he hung up. Furious, I decided to change tack and tried what was described as the ‘callback service’, and less than five minutes later, a lovely South American lady asked if she could access my laptop to fix the problem, which she did in less than five minutes. She even took the trouble to talk through the process afterwards while I took notes so that I can do it myself on any other similar devices.

Amazing what humans can do these days. It appears that nurses are not even required to look after patients in hospitals these days. Following a recent operation, I was hooked up to a sleeve in intensive care. It seemed to wait until I was just nodding off before suddenly tightening

STRIKE: Feminists brought Spain to a standstill in 2018

NO BOT: Chat bots cannot yet replicate the competence of a human

By Susannah Grant

A REAL CHARMER

AWHIRLWIND tour of Manilva will take you far and wide in just a few square kilometres. You might start by gazing out at luxury yachts bobbing by the glitzy port, or the glistening sea along a peaceful beach trail.

And then minutes later you could find yourself among rolling green hills populated by luxury villas, or burgeoning vineyards around a whitewashed village. And on your journey you will meet a kaleidoscope of people from all walks of life, each with a story to tell.

Manilva officially has the highest percentage of Brits on the padron in Spain, with between a third and a quarter of the 18,000-strong municipality hailing from Blighty.

But it’s not just Brits - foreign, settled residents, many from northern European countries, make up 42% of Manilva’s

population. In spite of these high numbers, Manilva is not simply an expat colony - not at all.

The district has a strong and thriving Spanish culture and community that lives extremely harmoniously and very cordially with their foreign guests.

The locals and the foreigners mix and mingle in the same bars and restaurants and the pitter patter of conversation dances between English and Spanish - and very often

FIESTA FEVER: Spanish locals show off their Sevillanas dance skills

halting Spanglish

“We come here for the sangria,” Londoner Richie tells the Olive Press in the shade of

CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

a Spanish bar near El Castillo, a tiny fishing settlement buzzing with Spaniards and foreigners.

“We go around to all the towns along the Costa del Sol,” his friend Siobhan adds. “We even go as far as Algeciras. I give the sangrias in each place a score out of ten.”

from the castle that guards its sea walls. Built in 1767 by engineer Miguel del Castillo and builder Jose Vargas, it was financed by Sevilla businessman Francisco Paulino.

The fortification was planned with war against the English in mind, with Gibraltar having fallen to the new

ing 70 people. Today it is a tourist attraction in an ideal location, but beware - it doesn’t open on weekends!

Just a short stroll along the beachfront from El Castillo, you will find a port unlike any other port on the Costa del Sol.

Puerto de la Duquesa is the only one to face out to sea. From each of the three edges you can gaze out into the Mediterranean.

Duquesa is, without a doubt, the thriving coastal jewel in the Manilva crown, benefiting from tourism and For most of its history Manilva has pendent on and agriculture, ly its vineyards celebrated

But over the last couple of decades, as this little township has wel comed an influx of tourists and de velopment, it has still maintained a peaceful air.

Though the Brits and the 180-odd other nationalities come from all walks of life and occupations ( some even set up a newspaper here they all have something in common. Like Manilva’s first health tourist, Julius Caesar, who visited the nearby Roman baths around 60BC, it seems that people come here for a temperate life be neath the jaw-dropping mountains, fed by the Bob and Jen from Essex told the Olover Belgian fries that they manage to come to Manilva once a month for as long as 10 days a pop. But they are content with splitting their time in this way, and are not tempted to fully retire to the sun just yet.

Bob, who works in the solar energy business, still has a few more panels to lay in this booming industry before he’s ready to hang up his work

But it is partly due to content second-home expats such as Bob and Jen that the unpretentious Duquesa has undergone such a growth spurt in the last decade - and the expansion doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon.

New cafes, bars and restaurants with cuisine from all over the world are springing up as a result of its growing tourism. Aside from the fantastic prices of homes in the area, the environment is distinctly low rise, largely green and everything is close to the sea.

But when you do venture inland, you will head into wine-making territory. Manilva town, a sleepy, glittering village nestled on a hilltop, is famous for its sweet wine. It, and the process of making it, is something indelibly imprinted on the locals. Even our taxi driver proselytised over the wonders of this wine - although he did advise us not to get through more than one bottle at a time.

When you arrive in the village, you will see that the central Plaza de la Vendimia (Wine harvest square) is adorned with a spectacular mural depicting workers in

SAMPLE: Journalist Walter tastes the local Manilva wine

vineyards.

And in the nearby interpretation Centre, opened in 2010, you can do vocational courses in wine-making, aimed at inspiring the younger generations and training future professionals.

The locals like to boast that the moscatel de Alejandria is the best table grape in the whole of Spain and that it is specific to Manilva, whose slopes have been continuously planted with vineyards since 1501.

The basic wine made from this grape - the Manilva wine - is known as ‘vino mosto’ , and in the olden days, almost the entire town earned a living from it.

The trucks would come from as far as Bilbao to take the grapes and whatever was left would be turned into wine.

Almost all of the locals that the Olive Press spoke to could remember back to those days. Most of them had been living in Manilva village all their lives, they all knew each other, and they had done so since childhood.

“This place is one big family,” lifelong resident Eligio told us.

Eligio, who’s sun-beaten blue eyes twinkled as he regaled us with tales of Manilva over two cañitas that he generously bought for us, said he spent most of his free time in the village church.

Nearby, a sign displayed the village motto: Very noble, very loyal.

Then another man who had been listening in walked over to our table, put his hands on Eligio’s shoulders, and told us with all sincerity that our new friend embodied this motto.

It turned out that they had known each other since they were kneehigh, and Eligio had even worked for the man’s father.

Further along, and buried in Manilva’s historical heart a short walk from the centre, is St Anne’s church and adjoining cemetery, where Eligio liked to spend his time.

Who he was remembering he did not tell us.

Turn a corner and there the 250-year-old church is; striking yet simplistic, bold yet unassuming.

Sauntering through the maze of white houses with their terracotta roofs, every ‘ Hola ’ from passers-by strengthens the feeling that Manilva is very much Spanish still.

Up on the mountain it is removed from the wave of tourism lapping at the coast. And then there are the postcard views from every direction, white houses spill down into vast vineyards with mountains out behind and the Costa del Sol to the front.

The Pedreta viewpoint delivers a view stretching from the white cluster that is the mountain-clinging Casares village to the coastal hubs of Estepona and Marbella below. A rich network of tracks is visible in between, inviting you out to hike, cycle or horse-ride.

Another short walk and a hop and you are down in San Luis de Sabinillas, or just ‘Sabby’ as it is affectionately known to the expats.

Like everywhere else on the coast, it too has flourished under tourism in the last decade.

But there remains a tangible working atmosphere (it still has a small fishing fleet) and this is still a town where Spanish people enjoy their Spanish lives. A coastal stroll

from Puerto Duquesa, Sabinillas has also become a popular destination for expats.

It is certainly a distinct community with a healthy mix of Spanish, expat English, German, as well as Moroccans and South Americans.

It is also a veritable hive of commerce. While it wins no beauty awards, there is a great range of supermarkets and shops in Sabinillas.

‘Wall Street’ is where traditionally all the banks and insurance companies centred and down on the beach there is a great range of bars and restaurants which stretch into the distance on either side.

Back on the blue flag beach, that stretches all the way from Rio Manilva to Puerto Duquesa, fishermen still launch their boats and are often met by waiting restaurateurs upon their return, eagerly awaiting the days catch.

Sabinillas effectively bridges the gap between the multi-cultural, tourism-driven hub of Puerto Duquesa and the withdrawn, tranquil, traditional village of Manilva.

With the right blend of coastal expansion and Spanish tradition, it is easy to see why Manilva is making a name for more than just its wine.

The blue flag beach stretches from Rio Manilva to Duquesa

WILD WEST: Sabinillas and Duquesa (top) are flanked inland by green hills full of trails, while Castillo fort dates back to 1767

IF you are lucky enough to dine at the swish Basque Restaurante Martin Berasategui – which has three Michelin stars – order a bottle of Nilva from Manilva. Produced from moscatel grapes grown on a tiny vineyard overlooking the sea, the dry fruity white made a big impression on the 12-Michelin-starred chef, Berasategui, who personally selected it for his wine list.

Also, the classic wine Nilva has been officially ‘the best white wine’ of the province, thanks to having won the annual Sabor a Malaga competition.

This success would be remarkable by any standards but the fact that Nilva is the realisation of one Albacete man’s dream makes it all the more astonishing.

When I ask Argimiro Martinez Moreno how many people he employs to make the wine, his answer is simple: “One, including himself!”

Not long ago the local wine came in a plastic bottle with no label.

Humble origins

Wine from Manilva vineyard makes it onto the wine list of one of the world’s best restaurants, writes Elena Goçmen Rueda

Now Argimiro is leading a battle to revive and promote local winemaking which, after all, has been going on since Roman times.

Several restaurants and bars along the coast have stocked the delicious wine, but there should be far more.

“And it’s important that local establishments serve up local produce, especially since Brits and Scandinavians love dry, fruity wine and have given great feedback.”

The Manilva vineyards are at the heart of a massive project to boost local tourism.

Argimiro also runs the wine museum and ‘wine interpretation centre’ at the entrance to Manilva, a treasure trove of exhibits,

with audiovisual rooms showing educational films, a chance to see wine being made, and local art exhibitions which change monthly.

Guided tours of some two hours must always be booked in advance and cost around €25 per person.

The visit begins by reviewing the wine history of Manilva, viewing a video and touring the three different rooms: Viticulture, local winemaking and Vendimia

(grape harvest and festivities)

Tours take place in Spanish, English or French, but Argimiro says he happily caters for groups of other nationalities.

The impressive museum building, which boasts an underground bodega and lab, huge auditorium, bar and terrace, was built by the town hall in 2008 and used for two years as a wine school (Argimiro was originally a teacher) for 24 lucky students until the Junta ran out of funds.

Now he is convinced that the town can cash in on the estimated six million people coming to Spain for wine tourism each year.

“I believe we can attract a new cultured crowd to Manilva, aside from the traditional beach tourism,” he says.

More than just a tourist attraction, the museum’s purpose is to inform locals as well as visitors about the area’s long-standing winemaking tradition. And also the need to protect it.

Maps and guides prove that some 500 years ago Manilva was covered in vines, but since then nearly three quarters have vanished, most of them in the last two decades due to development.

“Ultimately owners made a lot

more money selling their land to developers than from making wine,” he explains. “Perhaps 30 to 40 times that amount.”

Some of the most productive vineyards, such as around Dona Julia golf course in Casares, have long gone due to the construction boom.

One of Spain’s most infamous developers Rafael Gomez Sanchez, aka Sandokan, allegedly bought up around half of the land surrounding Manilva village and it was only the property crash that stopped him digging up the lot.

“I am passionate about protecting the vines,” says Argimiro, who is now lobbying the authorities to protect the vineyards and help give them new life.

An agricultural engineer by trade, he moved his family to Estepona in 2009 and rented the vineyard ‘del Penoncillo’ from the town hall

WINE MAN: Argimiro is a one man show for €15,000 a year, including the use of the bodega and museum.

“It certainly hasn’t been easy,” admits Argimiro, who currently bottles between 2,500 and 5,000 bottles a year depending on the harvest.

It’s hard not to admire this man for uprooting his life in Albacete to bring his wife, Inma, and kids Argimiro and Carlos with him on his wine crusade.

He was raised by a father who made wine as a hobby, so the passion for winemaking is almost genetic.

And his agricultural engineering degree, which he got in Cordoba, led to designing vineyards and

other projects. Now his key goal is to get more international chefs, like Martin Berasategui, to visit the winery and stock his wines. He had first met Berasategui in San Sebastian in 2015 after sending him some samples to try.

“He has since completely backed our vision, sponsored some vines and is planning to visit in the future to continue supporting our vision.”

If you don’t have the budget to sample Nilva along with a threecourse dinner at Restaurante Martin Berasategui, you can buy a bottle from the museum in Manilva.

An organic variety of the wine is also sold in the shop, which sells for €15. If you prefer to buy it online, the Nilva Eco sells for €19.50, leaving the classic Nilva at €16.50.

You never know, the local restaurants nearby might let you open it with lunch.

HONOURED: Martin Berasategui has approved Argimiro’s wine

SPECIAL DAY: Thousands of women turned out in Madrid, but March 8 is a date that has extra significance in Spain

clergy perhaps, were not the best people to teach the country’s children.

The Church, of course, hated the idea and fought against the idea of civilian teachers coming in, seeing this (correctly) as the beginning of the end of the cleric’s power in Spain.

The opening of the college was to eventually become the gateway for women to enter the profession, while King Alfonso XIII even allowed women to attend university, a full 10 years before Oxford did!

But in Spain, the significance of

the date March 8 goes way beyond that of women’s rights. Historically it is a date that has come up over and over again for notable milestones and events.

MARCH 8 MILESTONES

San Juan de Dios

Take San Juan de Dios (left) for example. He obligingly made it easy for the Vatican to pick March 8 as his Saint’s Day, because it is the date on which he both entered the world (1495) and left it (1550).

cued by other Spaniards and in the 1540s he was made governor of ‘New Andalucia’ (today known as Paraguay), but his rule was a disaster.

Christened Juan Duarte Cidade, he was ‘one of the leading religious figures in the history of the Iberian Peninsula’. Made a saint in 1690, Juan led an eventful life. After a childhood of poverty, he spent decades in the army before wandering like a beggar in Andalucia and Africa.

But then he had a dream and saw a vision of Jesus with the holy man telling him to go to Granada and help people who were poor and ill.

After a major mental breakdown when he was just 42, he was placed in an asylum, which was not a promising way to start on the route to sainthood.

its iron grip, squeezing the life out of my upper arm and taking my blood pressure at regular intervals throughout the night, whilst the rest of the staff cheered Viva España at a football match on their mobile phones.

They may as well have sent me home with a camera to monitor me remotely. They certainly didn’t notice I was happily munching on dark chocolate almonds I’d squirreled into my toiletry bag.

Even my surgeon was trying to persuade me to be operated on by a robot - presumably so he didn’t have to miss any of the footie either.

Maybe in years to come, patients will be put to sleep with 3D glasses on so that they can play interactive football with Ronaldo while a robot takes out their appendix.

THE Olive Press website has gone stratospheric over the last 12 months, latest figures show.

More than 70,000 people have now registered an account at theolivepress.es, more than double that of a year ago.

But on his release he founded his own religious order, the Brothers Hospitallers, which devoted itself to the care of the sick and poor. He died on his 55th birthday, as a result of pneumonia contracted after diving into a river to save a drowning man.

His legacy continues today, and his feast day, March 8, has been commemorated by the Catholic Church since he was canonized in 1690.

Cabeza de Vaca

Another man associated with March 8 was Cabeza de Vaca, a ‘conquistador’ and Spanish soldier who travelled to the Americas to tame the wild con tinent and make it a colony of the Spanish king.

Participating in an expedition to explore Cuba in 1527, he was shipwrecked, and only he and three others survived.

Washed ashore in a wilderness now called Florida, the four men survived for eight years by acting as faith healers, curing native American tribes of various illnesses.

He was arrested and charged with incompetence, and in 1545 (on March 8) he was shipped back to Spain to face trial.

His ‘crimes’ were inevitably forgiven, and he lived out his final years in Spain, famous for being the Spanish Robinson Crusoe.

Eduardo Dato

Spanish Prime Minister Eduardo Dato (left) was assassinated in Madrid on March 8 1921.

The culprits were three Catalans, who wanted to bring about the independence of Catalunya. This act of violence has to be seen in its international context. An American president and a Portuguese king had recently been murdered for political reasons, and (of course) the UK was having major problems in Ireland at the time of Dado’s death.

Federico Garcia Lorca

The poet and playwright Federico García Lorca was born in Granada in 1898, and by the early 1930s he had established an international reputation for his depiction of Andaluz culture.

Eventually he and his companions were res-

It was on March 8, 1933 that he enjoyed his greatest-ever triumph, when his drama Bodas de Sangre (‘Blood Wedding’) first took to the stage in Madrid. In beautiful poetic language, the play tells a story of jealousy and violence in the Andalucian countryside. Lorca went on to write Yerma, a play about a woman who wants a baby but can’t get pregnant (her husband is impotent, but everyone blames her), and The House of Bernarda Alba.

Tragically, Lorca (left) was shot dead by a group of Fascists at the start of the Spanish civil war, while he was still in It is no surprise then that March 8 is a significant day in the Spanish calendar. A day of significant political upheavals and acts of charity. All in all then a day marked by struggle, progress, and triumph. It is a day to reflect on the past, honour the achievements of women, and continue to push for a more just and equal future for all.

Here is a list of events which, over the centuries, have made March 8 a date that resonates here in Spain. The year is given on the left, and the more significant incidents are explained below.

1495 - Saint Juan de Dios (‘John of God’) is born.

1545 - Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca is sent from Paraguay back to Spain to stand trial

1550 - Saint Juan de Dios dies

1820 - King Ferdinand VII grants a constitution

1839 - Training college for teachers opens in Madrid

1910 - King Alfonso the XIII allows women to attend university

1921 - Prime Minister Eduardo Dato is assassinated

1933 - The play, “Blood Wedding”, hits the Madrid stage

After significant investment and changes to our paywall provider and web server, we are now seeing around 50 people registering with us each DAY.

Registered users enjoy a range of benefits, including the chance to comment on stories and receive weekly newsletters on travel, health and property. They also get exclusive competitions, special discounts for restaurants and hotels and a comprehensive daily news update keeping them informed of all key news in Spain. Over the past 30 days alone, we have seen over 1,500 people register an account, while thousands are subscribers paying to allow them unlimited and advert-free access to all our articles. The continued success is thanks to our crack team of NCTJ-trained journalists, who are dotted around Spain and report on the latest news from the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Madrid, Balearic Islands and elsewhere.

Our exclusive reporting is also followed up by the world’s biggest news outlets, such as the MailOnline, BBC, Sky and The Telegraph, opening us up to a wider audience.

According to Google Analytics, during the first two months of 2025, we DOUBLED our visitors in almost every country compared to the same period in 2024.

Between January and March, readers from the UK increased by 746%, followed by Spain (+428%), the US (+186%), Ireland (+877%) and Canada (+209%).

Viewership also soared from Germany, the Netherlands, France and Sweden.

Visit our website www.theolivepress.es and join our ever-growing army of well informed readers today.

HEALTH

Hyper helpful

THE GHA has launched a new pathway for children and young people diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, usually known as ADHD. It is defined as a common neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

The authority hopes that, with the condition becoming more prevalent, the new pathway will help people to cope with and even harness the condition.

Children will receive targeted support from trained medical professionals to optimise their access to learning, intervention and community presence, as well as overall well-being and quality of life.

Concerned parents can approach the GHA, Care Agency or their child’s school who in turn can refer him or her for an assessment.

Mag tips

A WELL-KNOWN Spanish doctor has warned the public about the potential dangers of taking magnesium supplements.

Aurelio Rojas has advised his 400,000 social media followers to avoid taking it too late at night with plenty of water – if not, ‘it can cause stomach problems or diarrhea’.

According to the cardiologist, taking it an hour before going to bed is the key.

COLD CURE

AN Alicante hospital has carried out a pioneering procedure that destroys breast cancer cells via freezing. It was successfully performed on a 90-year-old woman at the city’s Doctor Balmis Hospital.

The technique used by the radiology department is known as cryoablation.

The procedure is guided by ultrasound equipment which is usually safer and less invasive than surgery to cut out diseased tissue.

The Ministry of Health said it is an ‘innovative formula that is transforming’ the treatment of this disease while ‘improving the quality of life for patients’.

Breast cancer cells frozen out by Spanish doctors

By Alex Trelinski

Medics at the Doctor Balmis Breast Unit said they achieved good results the first time they carried out the procedure to counter breast cancer.

The hospital’s radiology department has extensive experience in cryoablation for the treatment of bone and soft tissue tumours, but the Health Ministry said it was the first time that it had been used to treat breast cancer.

Specialist Dr Maria Isabel Moya said: “It is an ultra-

ANTIDEPRESSANT usage has leapt up in the last three years among teenage girls and young women in Spain according to the Ministry of Health.

Experts say the gender difference is down to bias within the health system as doctors medicate females twice as much as men if they have mental health issues.

They claim there's a link to increased pill-popping due to general discrimination and violence suf-

LA CULTURA

Shamrocking

MAINLAND Europe’s biggest St Patrick’s Day parade is set to once again take place in Spain this year.

Having topped 25,000 attendees at last year’s festivities, organisers are hoping to attract even more this year with a special guest star parade Grand Marshall.

All-Ireland Gaelic footballer Charlie Redmond will lead the festivities, along with an ex-Irish army veterans pipe band plus floats, dance groups, motorcycles, vintage cars and a variety of musicians.

Since this year’s St Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday, the event has been brought forward to Sunday March 16. But where is it? In the Cabo Roig strip on the Orihuela Costa in Alicante province. Other large celebrations can be found in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol and Tortosa in Tarragona.

Insult to injury

A BRITISH tourist who fell ill in Spain has issued a warning after being slapped with a €30,000 medical bill.

sound-guided technique that involves inserting a very fine needle through a small inci-

Pill problems

fered by young women.

Twice as many females aged 15 to 19 years use antidepressants compared to males, as revealed by Ministry of Health figures.

The gender gap widens further among young women aged between 20 to 24 years.

Sociology professor from the University of the Basque Country, Amaia Bagacilupe, warned that taking antidepressants is being 'normalised'.

sion in the skin, which has a system that reaches extremely cold temperatures, below -40C, achieving the freezing of the tumour, as well as the destruction of tumour cells.”

The procedure takes less than an hour, during which time a needle is kept in the target area and several successive cycles of freezing and thawing are carried out.

In addition, it is a simple, safe and painless process performed under local anaesthesia, on an outpatient basis.

It cuts the chance of post-surgical problems such as seromas, infections, hematomas or chronic pain leading to a faster recovery time.

Oooh mummy!

Spanish museum under fire after removing mummy from display over fears it will ‘offend’ visitors

A SPANISH museum has removed a mummy from display because it ‘didn’t comply with new rules on treating human remains with respect and dignity.’ Madrid’s National Archaeology Museum (MAN) took the action to comply with new state museum rules which require ‘conforming with the beliefs and interests of the communities and ethnic groups [the remains] come from.’

While the move received a backlash online from those who called it an ‘extreme case of ofendiditis’, others pointed out that the removal of

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 1 Strap, 4 Camper, 7 Amateurs, 8 Test, 9 E Coli, 10 Web page, 11 Ends, 12 L-d S, 13 Go in, 14 Sundown, 16 Anise, 18 H T T P, 19 Incurred, 20 Graham, 21 Diced.

Down: 1 Semiconductor, 2 Rattles, 3 Pius, 4 Cashews, 5 Met up, 6 East Grinstead, 12 Law firm, 13 Generic, 15 Depth, 17 Scud.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

the mummy could be a ‘good time’ to return it to its native island of Tenerife.

Known as the ‘Guanche Mummy’, the relic is an example of a person indigenous to the Canary Islands). It was discovered in 1764 in the Barranco de Herques cave alongside 1,000 other mummies and is believed to be from the seventh or eighth century.

According to a study carried out by the museum in 2018 the mummy is a male of high social status between 35 and

40 years old.”

Guanches occupied the island before Spaniards arrived in the 13th century, developing a distinct culture, language and way of life.

Spain colonised the Canary

Islands throughout the 15th century, leading the Guanche culture to disappear.

Some 16 Spanish museums must comply with the new rules, which apply to all state run museums.

NICE VIEWING

PRESTIGIOUS travel magazine Time Out has named three Madrid cinemas amongst the 50 most beautiful in the world. Claiming fourth spot is Madrid’s The Cineteca, the only venue in Spain dedicated almost exclusively to non-fiction films. Found in the old Matadero slaughterhouse and livestock market, the ‘beautiful and unusual’ cinema opened in 2011. Next on the list was the century old Cine Dore Filmoteca Española, dating back to 1923.

A ‘beloved’ art deco building, the cinema has weathered many storms, including being hit by a shell during the Civil War and a twenty year closure.

Dubbed a ‘cinephile’s paradise’ the venue was revived in 1989 and is now home to the Spanish Film Library. Taking the magazine’s final spot for Spain is Sala Equis in 21st place.

Housed in a grand mansion turned porno cinema, it is now Madrid’s ‘coolest cine-spot’.

Elle Dennis, from Staffordshire, suffered a seizure while on holiday in Mallorca last year and was put into an induced coma, resulting in a long hospital stay. Now, her insurers have refused to pay out on her €34,000 medical bill because she failed to declare her menopause medication –even though it was unrelated to her condition.

Medication

Dennis was prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy and forgot to declare it when she renewed her policy, having only taken the medication for a few weeks.

After carrying out tests it was revealed she was suffering from a grade-three brain tumour.

"I feel really depressed and angry and worried. I don't know how I'm going to ever pay the bill," she told ITV news.

"I actually asked that question [if it was connected to HRT] and they said it's nothing to do with it at all."

Her husband, Neal, added: “The doctors were saying don't worry because you will be covered under your insurance, there's no way that you won't be covered.”

New home

MALAGA has been chosen to host the first ever Comic-Con, the global pop culture convention, to be held outside of the USA.

The event, which is usually held in San Diego, will be held from September 25-28 this year.

Last year’s edition went viral for the announcement that Robert Downey Jr, who appeared live at the event, would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play arch villain Doctor Doom. Though the epicentre of the action this year will be the Palacio de Congresos, events will be scattered throughout the city.

It is the first time in the conference’s 54 year history that it has been held outside the states.

“The most im portant pop culture event in the world will cross the Atlantic,” organisers announced. It comes after arduous negotiations between Malaga town hall, the Andalucian tourism board and event organisers.

GOING HOME?: The Tenerife mummy has been taken from display

On track

SPAIN and Portugal will be connected by a high-speed train by 2032, according to Portugal’s infrastructure minister.

The high-speed line will link the popular Portuguese destination of Porto and the Galician port city, Vigo.

Miguel Pinto Luz, Portuguese Minister for Infrastructure confirmed the plans last week at an event in Vigo.

He says both Portuguese and Spanish authorities are aiming to finish the project within seven years.

HIGH JANUARY

SPAIN set a new international tourist record for January with 5.1 million foreign visitors – up 6.1% over 12 months.

The UK was the leading market, while the Canary Islands was the busiest destination for non-Spanish based tourists.

A total of 863,286 travellers came from Britain, up 3.6% on January 2024.

France was next with 641,201 tourists (up 12.2%) and Germany, with 537,842 visitors (down 2.4%).

UK tourists spent the most with 15.4% of the total, followed by Germans (11.1%) and those from the Nordic countries (8.7%).

The Canary Islands, as is normal in January, was the most popular region, accounting for 26.9% of arrivals.

Trumping ball

How might Trump's tariffs wreck Andalucia’s economy?

THE five Spanish provinces most in the firing line to feel the pain of Donald Trump’s new agricultural tariffs are all in Andalucia.

Spain’s southern region accounted for nearly 40% (€1.35 billion) of all of Spain’s exports to the USA in the sector – more than any other – while American exports account for 8.63% of its total foreign sales.

The bad news comes after Donald Trump announced he will be imposing tariffs on agricultural products imported into the USA starting from April 2.

“To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricul-

By Walter Finch

tural products to be sold INSIDE of the United States,” he wrote on Truth Social, before signing off with ‘have fun!’

While it is unclear the extent of the tariffs, Spanish producers – who sold €3.5 billion to the USA last year –are already worrying.

Exposure

Sevilla leads the pack with €653 million in exposure to Trump’s tariffs, representing 15.12% of all the province's global exports, according to a new report from Gestha,

Jobs boost

SPAIN'S February jobless total stood at just under 2.6 million – the lowest figure for the month since the pre-cash boom times of 2008.

Unemployment fell month-to-month by 5,994 people while 100,340 new jobs were created, mostly in the education sector.

Total unemployment is down 6% compared to February last year.

The leading areas for new jobs were Catalunya (23,373), the Balearic Islands (14,670) and Andalucia (13,784).

the Spanish Treasury technicians' union.

The Costa del Sol follows, with Malaga's 80 export companies facing potential losses of €247.66 million, accounting for 14.83% of its foreign sales.

Cordoba (€226.75 million), Cadiz (€108.95 million), and Jaen (€52.24 million) complete the list of the five most vulnerable provinces in Spain, with export dependency on the US market ranging from 10% to over 15% of their total exports.

Olive oil producers face the steepest challenge, as oils and edible fats make up the largest category of agricultural exports to the US at €1.15 billion nationwide. It represents 33.5% of Spain's agricultural exports to America and affects 13.4% of all Spanish olive oil exports globally.

The region's export portfolio to the US market is dominated by edible fats and oils at 18.14%. Meat products follow at 13.73%, while prepared food products represent 12.91% of exports.

The tariff threat comes at a particularly difficult time for the sector, which has already weathered drought condi-

tions and price fluctuations in recent years.

Treasury experts are urging both national and regional governments to help the 3,547 affected Spanish companies—including 114 in Sevilla and 120 in Cadiz—find alternative markets for their products.

Although the US market represents just 4.8% of Spain's total agricultural exports— far behind the European market (76.7%) and Asia (9.6%)—the concentrated impact on specific Andalucian regions and products has raised serious concerns about local economic stability.

President Trump announced the tariff plans on Monday as part of his administration's broader trade strategy, which has already seen Canada, Mexico, and China announce retaliatory measures against US imports.

Digital delay

BUDGET airline Ryanair has delayed its plans to scrap paper boarding passes from May.

The carrier says the measure will now coincide with the start of the winter schedule on November 3.

From that date, travellers can only use digital boarding passes via the Ryanair app for smartphones.

The company claims that 80% of its passengers already use the digital format. It suggests a big environmental dividend in saving paper and that it will ‘almost completely eliminate’ check-in fees at airports.

Ryanair has not indicated how much money it will save by reducing check-in desk numbers at airports.

“This shift towards 100% paperless boarding passes will allow us to offer a better travel experience for customers,” said Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Dara Brady (pictured below).

THURSDAY, FRIDAY,

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Hidden gems

Five must-visit little-known Spanish destinations that you must visit this year

DESPITE the common perception that Spain is overwhelmed by tourists, there are many lesser-known destinations that warmly welcome visitors.

Tourism is a significant part of Spain's economy, accounting for over 12% of its GDP, but it is heavily concentrated in major cities like Madrid, as well as along the costas of Alicante, Malaga and Barcelona, as well as the Balearic islands of Mallorca and Ibiza.

CANTABRIA

THE MOST OVERLOOKED COASTAL REGION

Most Brits flock south in search of Spain’s famous sun, sea and sand.

But few know the coastal gems hidden in the country’s northern regions, such as Cantabria.

Although it has a rainy climate and temperatures which barely sneak over 25C, the area is well worth a visit for its stunning scenery, thriving gastronomy scene and quirky towns.

In summer, Spaniards migrate up north to escape the extreme heat of the south, enjoying the clean, cooler beaches Cantabria has to offer.

The capital city, Santander, is a must-visit for seafood lovers, where you can enjoy world class dishes while looking out onto pris-

tine beaches and rolling green hills.

Santander, the region’s capital, is a modern city celebrated for its Botin Arts Centre designed by celebrated architect Renzo Piano.

Nearby, in the town of Comillas, design enthusiasts can check out 11 modernist buildings without having to fight the crowds seen in Spain’s design capital, Barcelona.

A must visit is El Capricho, a bold summerhouse dreamt up by the famous Catalan Antoni Gaudi.

If nature is more your thing, head to the medieval town of Potes, a great base to explore the breathtaking Picos de Europa mountain range.

CANTABRIA

THE UNKNOWN HIKING REGION

A popular day trip from Malaga, many Brits have visited Ronda, but few have ventured out into the nearby Sierra de las Nieves hiking area. Known for its abundance of wildlife including wild boars and eagles, there are plenty of exciting trails to explore. That being said, the area is also very family friendly, with hiking trails dotted with rivers and waterfalls.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Distributing this economic boost to quieter areas could benefit both locals and tourists by reducing strain on popular spots and sharing the wealth. And it brings an added bonus for tourists themselves - the chance to discover new sights and experience the slower pace of old Spain.

MURCIA, THE LEAST VISITED BIG CITY

Hidden between the popular areas of Andalucia and Alicante is Murcia, one of Spain’s most populous and yet most overlooked cities.

One for history buffs, Murcia has an impressive arsenal of 18th century buildings, mostly concentrated around the Plaza del Cardenal Belluga. There, the baroque Catedral de Santa Maria and the Palacio Episcopal de la Diocesis de Cartagena contrast against the glaringly modern city hall.

Just steps away is the 19th century Real Casino, where Moorish and rococo influences merge, providing an extravagant interior. For dinner and drinks, check out the Plaza de las Flores, where tapas bars filled with affordable seafood spill out into the neighbouring streets.

SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES

THE LEAST VISITED STRETCH OF SCENIC COASTLINE

Cantabria is often overlooked and this little known part of Galicia is Spain’s least visited coast.

Lined by the Camino Natural de la Ruta del Cantabrico, the coast is dotted with quiet beaches and traditional fishing villages. While the area doesn’t get much international fanfare, those that do come prioritise the Praia As Catedrais (Cathedral Beach), named after its imposing rock formations.

A must for nature lovers, the area is a ‘birding paradise’ as well as being home to the Eo wetlands.

THE MOST OVERLOOKED PILGRIMAGE

If you don’t fancy the busy routes of the beloved Camino de and crosses into Murcia, where it finishes at Caravaca de la Cruz.

Despite having just 26,000 inhabitants, the town has many churches and convents. It is also the

ning alongside the River Segura, the route follows disused railway lines, making it easy to navigate through vineyards, orchards and fields. It can be undertaken in five days and is also

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

HOME TO THE LEAST VISITED WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Just above Andalucia, Extremadura is often overlooked in favour of Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada.

But the region has plenty of cultural heritage waiting to be explored in Caceres, Merida and Guadalupe.

The old town of Caceres is an architectural marvel, followed by the extensive Roman remains in Merida and the stunning monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe. Extremadura is also home to Trujillo, often dubbed one of Spain’s ‘hidden gems’.

Peppered with ‘excellent’ local wine and the ‘finest ham in the land’, the pictur esque city is the perfect medieval es cape.

THE MOST OVERLOOKED ISLAND

The Canary Islands are a popular destination for tourists, but most congregate in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Few venture out to the smaller, less popular islands such as El Hierro.

The small volcanic island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve rich with natural swimming pools, dense forests and stunning sea life.

Popular with divers, you can spot Mediterranean parrotfish, manta rays, tuna, turtles and even whale sharks if you are lucky.

For those worried about the environmental impact of your travels, El Hierro has got you covered, with 100% of its energy generated from wind and water.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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SPAIN’S LEAST VISITED PALACE

Only five miles from Segovia, it's a wonder that many tourists still manage to miss this vast construction.

Found in an expansive deer park, the palace mostly functioned as a hunting lodge and was used to keep Philip V’s widow away from court matters.

Its Italian style echoes the Royal Palace in Madrid and gives a sense of ‘what life must really have been like’ in the 18th and 19th century. However, veggies be warned, the complex has now been repurposed as a hunting museum and requires a ‘healthy appetite’ for taxidermy.

MORE THAN JUST WINE

Although many will recognise the name La Rioja, they most likely asso

draw, but hiding behind the grapevines there’s gorgeous towns, medieval monasteries and jaw dropping architecture waiting to be explored.

With cascading metal sheets reminiscent of Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, the hotel is the perfect place to stay in La Rioja, with double rooms

Why Choose AnyTech365?

Comprehensive Cybersecurity Their services include cybersecurity, device maintenance and performance optimization, and malware removal, enhanced by AI for faster and accurate solutions.

Olive Press is excited to announce a partnership with AnyTech365, the leading IT

Personalized User Experience

Just as impressive is the imposing Ysios winery, whose undulating metal waves stand in sharp contrast to the

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

The terrifying rise of the AI voice cloning fraud

AH, scams. A time-honoured British tradition, right up there with queuing, moaning about the weather, and insisting that ‘this tea just isn’t the same as back home’.

Olive Press is excited to announce a partnership with AnyTech365, the leading IT security and support company on the Costa del Sol. This collaboration offers Olive Press readers enhanced tech support and cybersecurity solutions. Subscribers will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 services, ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use of any Internet-connected device, personal, or within the household or their small business.

But forget the classic ‘Your internet is about to be cut off’ call from a bloke who definitely isn’t from Movistar - today’s fraudsters have gone high-tech.

They no longer need to impersonate a dodgy bank manager; they can now impersonate you.

“Darling, you just rang me saying you’d been arrested in Marbella!

I sent the money like you askedare you OK?”

and support company on the Costa del Sol. This collaboration offers Olive Press readers enhanced tech support and cybersecurity solutions. Subscribers will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 services, ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use of any Internet-connected device, personal, or within the household or their small business.

Comprehensive Cybersecurity

Their services include cybersecurity, device maintenance and performance optimization, and malware removal, enhanced by AI for faster and accurate solutions.

Personalized User Experience

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

Blimey, I’ve been scammed by… MYSELF?

Introducing an exclusive partnership between Olive Press and AnyTech365 AI-Powered IT Security

Founded in 2014 by Janus R. Nielsen, a seasoned IT entrepreneur, AnyTech365 leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to offer unparalleled service quality and efficiency in tech support and cybersecurity, keeping your digital life secure and hassle-free.

Yes, thanks to AI-powered voice cloning, all it takes is four seconds of your voice - less time than it takes to order a cafe con leche in your best Spanish - and criminals can replicate it with terrifying accuracy.

They can then call your family, your boss, or even your favourite local bar and convince them you desperately need money.

Trouble is, you’ve actually hardly left your home, and the wildest thing you’ve done lately is argue with the local butcher about the difference between chorizo and salchichon.

Olive Press is excited to announce a partnership with AnyTech365, the leading IT security and support company on the Costa del Sol. This collaboration offers Olive Press readers enhanced tech support and cybersecurity solutions. Subscribers will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 services, ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use of any Internet-connected device, personal, or within the household or their small business.

The company and their solutions have been widely recognized and won multiple awards on local, national, and international level such as “The Fastest growing technology company in Spain and the 27th fastest growing company in Europe across all sectors” (Source: Financial Times FT1000), the Andalucía Excellence Award in New Technologies, and others. Making a meaningful local impact, AnyTech365 has been a proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis tournament, including the ATP 250 tournament in 2021, the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews on Trustpilot (4.8/5) and Google Reviews (4.9/5).

And knowing how most Brits would rather send cash than endure an awkward conversation, it’s a recipe for disaster.

Picture this: you’re enjoying a sunny afternoon on your terrace when your mum calls, frantic.

Congratulations! You’ve just been digitally kidnapped, and your mum has unknowingly paid the ransom. It’s happening more and more, and let’s be honest, most people are still worried about whether their Amazon account has been hacked. Meanwhile, cybercriminals are out there using AI for something far more sinister than generating fake celebrity diet pill ads. So, what can you do to stop your own voice from betraying you like

Founded in 2014 by Janus R. Nielsen, a seasoned IT entrepreneur, AnyTech365 leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to offer unparalleled service quality and efficiency in tech support and cybersecurity, keeping your digital life secure and hassle-free.

a dodgy satnav sending you into the sea?

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AnyTech365 AI powered unique software can pinpoint the root cause of a problem providing real-time protection and immediate response to suspicious activity. This proactive

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reputation scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews on Trustpilot (4.8/5) and Google Reviews (4.9/5).

The company is currently in the process of becoming publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with the transaction expected to complete in Q3 of 2024. Why Choose AnyTech365?

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First, stop oversharing online. Maybe don’t post 37 WhatsApp voice notes a day narrating your adventures in Spanish paperwork. The fewer voice samples floating around, the better. Second, use a secret code word with friends and family. Make it something a scammer wouldn’t guess - ‘siesta emergency’ or ‘lost in Mercadona’ should do the trick.

Founded in 2014 by Janus R. Nielsen, a seasoned IT entrepreneur, AnyTech365 leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to offer unparalleled service quality and efficiency in tech support and cybersecurity, keeping your digital life secure and hassle-free.

has been a proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis tournament, including the ATP 250 tournament in 2021, the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews on Trustpilot (4.8/5) and Google Reviews (4.9/5).

The company is currently in the process of becoming publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with the transaction expected to complete in Q3 of 2024.

The company is currently in the process of becoming publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with the transaction expected to complete in Q3 of 2024.

The company and their solutions have been widely recognized and won multiple awards on local, national, and international level such as “The Fastest growing technology company in Spain and the 27th fastest growing company in Europe across all sectors” (Source: Financial Times FT1000), the Andalucía Excellence Award in New Technologies, and others. Making a meaningful local impact, AnyTech365 has been a proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis tournament, including the ATP 250 tournament in 2021, the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews on Trustpilot (4.8/5) and

And with scams evolving daily, it’s good to have professionals on your side. AnyTech365 is out there keeping fraudsters at bay. Think of them as the Interpol of the internet, monitoring threats, sniffing out scams, and ensuring you don’t wake up to find your bank account has mysteriously vanished overnight. So next time your ‘mum’ calls saying she needs urgent cash, take a deep breath and think: Is this actually her, or have I just been outwitted by a robot? And if that doesn’t keep you up at night, well, nothing will. 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!

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Honourable welcome

A CORUÑA has honoured two illegal migrants who risked deportation to stop a vicious homophobic assault.

Flight risk

BRITS were left stranded in Bilbao after air traffic controllers ‘went home’ instead of dealing with a late-night diversion during a Malaga-Manchester flight.

Couch suffering

AN Estepona landlord has sparked outrage after listing a sofa bed for €450 a month on popular rental platform, Idealista.

LEGAL HIGH

‘More-ish’ sweets recovered in Fuengirola raid land policemen in hospital

THREE Malaga police officers ended up getting high after munching on jelly beans seized in a drugs raid. The cops came across the innocent-looking sweets lying around in the police station and, feeling a bit peckish, they scoffed the lot. The sweet-toothed officers apparently had no idea that the ‘more-ish’ sweets were

By Michael Coy

linked to a recent bust.

When they tucked into the tempting beans it all went a bit pear-shaped and they were rushed to hospital, feeling a tad ‘woozy’.

The offending jelly beans had been confiscated from a cannabis club in Fuengirola, but due

A MALAGA town has sparked outrage after dressing a pig up as a woman in ‘honour’ of International Women’s Day. Campillos traditionally burns a pig effigy to mark the end of carnival season, which this year coincided with March 8. As a result, the town hall added makeup, breasts and lingerie to the ‘ guarra ’ which, while meaning pig, can also refer to a sexually promis-

to a ‘a bit of a mixup’, they hadn’t been properly bagged and labelled as evidence.

It wasn’t until one offi cer began to feel a bit too relaxed that things started to get serious. “I felt like I was floating,” said one of the officers, who did not wish to be named.

The force then

Farm faux pas

cuous woman. The effigy also included ‘8M’ designs, commemorating International Women’s Day. It has been heavily criticised by locals, with left-wing political movement Izquierda Unida branding the stunt a ‘flagrant mockery of women.’

took no chances and immediately whisked them off to hospital for a check-up, as the law treats drugs like ‘poisons’. Spanish law recognises the right of a private club to sell cannabis to its members and for those members to consume it on the premises, but the club must be a ‘smoking association’, and the range of products it can sell is tightly controlled. This is why, say police, the jelly beans were confiscated The three officers soon got over their high and were back on duty.

A RARE grey seal has been spotted far from its comfort zone lounging around in Gibraltar harbour. Usually found in colder climes, the species is not usually known to venture further south than Brittany in France. But this seal has also been spotted in La Doñana and Conil de la Frontera. Experts fear the seal is likely lost and disorientated so far south. The public is urged not to approach the creature if spotted, while environmental protected professionals are monitoring its wellbeing.

A WOMAN in Cadiz has become a social media sensation after she was captured on camera throwing buckets of water on revellers she spotted peeing in the street. Neighbours have taken note of her unerring accuracy as the city’s famous Carnival week was blighted by people relieving themselves between parked cars and against doors.

“What I find most amazing is her aim, which always hits the target from up on high,” said an X user.