Olive Press Gibraltar issue 245

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GO AHEAD: The Rock is set to expand with new homes, office space and leisure facilities

Gibraltar grows

THE long-awaited Eastside project has finally been given the green light, paving the way for one of the most significant developments on the Rock in recent years.

Full planning permission was formally granted by Gibraltar’s Development and Planning Commission (DPC) after members were invited to view the final positioning of a major coastal breakwater, part of the infrastructure’s sea defence plans.

The approval is subject to a redesign of the revetment at the end of the sea wall to reduce its visual impact.

The majority of DPC members confirmed they were satisfied with the southernmost extent of the breakwater.

Led by TNG Real Estate (Eastside) Ltd, the first phase of the project includes the construction of a marina and coastal protection works.

It follows the granting of outline planning permission for the wider masterplan in August 2022.

The Eastside development is expected to deliver hundreds

Can he swim with the sharks?

THE triumphant announcement of a new Commissioner of Police for Gibraltar after an exhaustive selection process has been darkened by the return of the McGrail inquiry this week (see below).

Owain Ceri Richards will take the hot seat from the retiring Richard Ullger in July with a daunting in-tray of challenges to overcome.

The decision to hire an outsider seems to have been met with approval from all sides – the Chief Minister has expressed a preference for hiring an external commissioner.

The first non-Gibraltarian to run the post since 1997, he will arrive with 30 years of policing experience under his belt – including working with small communities in his native Wales and tackling street crime with the Metropolitan Police in London.

But the Welshman will be following

New Commissioner of Police has a big job on his hands

a prickly path that saw both previous CoP Ian McGrail forced to retire early in 2020 and incumbent Ullger face allegations of impropriety – of which he was cleared.

The ghost of McGrail and the end his career met at the hands of the notorious Operation Delhi will be hanging over Richards from the moment he takes the reins on July 1.

Naive

With the inquiry chair Sir Peter Openshaw donning his wig once more and a host of heavy-hitting barristers and KCs reassembling on the Rock to duke it out in the Garrison Library this week, it underlines how policing in Gibraltar is not always a matter of patrolling the streets.

“Does his experience make him of the calibre required for policing a place

THE so-called McGrail inquiry is reconvening this week for three days to examine allegations of ‘a number of possible dele tions’ of Whatsapp messages between core participants. The inquiry will consider whether messages were deleted between RGP officers, specifically former Commissioner Ian McGrail and ex Superintendent Paul Richards’ personal phones. Among the missing is the

By Walter Finch

like Gibraltar?” one senior figure on the Rock asked.

“Is he going to look at what happened in the past? You need to look at the past because otherwise the same problems can happen again.

“So the question is, is he going to grasp the nettle and look at what happened to the police in the last five years?

“Maybe he's going to be naive and try to avoid trouble, which is fair enough.

“But I think he should grasp the nettle.”

One individual with knowledge of the recruitment process assured the Olive Press that Richards is well-equipped to ‘swim with Gibraltar’s sharks’ and has plenty of experience beyond street-level crime.

Of five or six candidates who were under consideration, Richards was

Murky waters

fateful message supposedly informing McGrail that Richards had arrived at Hassans offices on the morning of 12 May 2020 with the search warrant. Sir Peter Openshaw also decided to admit late evidence from Hassans on behalf of senior partner James Levy and lawyer Lewis Baglietto.

‘clearly the standout front runner from the start’.

“He managed to navigate the Metropolitan police successfully, which has not been without its own problems,” the person said.

“This is a highly successful officer who has experience of not just financial crime, but also cutting edge policing in cyber crime and economic fraud.

“Richards will rely on his team who certainly have knowledge of the local landscape to navigate Gibraltar.

“He has the skills and the temperament. He’s more than equipped to do the job.”

The new police chief’s immediate challenges will extend far beyond eyeballing the pitfalls of his predecessors.

The RGP workforce of roughly 250 officers has been decimated by almost 25% attrition since 2020, according to testimony from the McGrail inquiry last year.

Scandal

A combination of retirements – some early – and officers taking up positions in government – some through the McGrail-related ‘witness inducement’ scandal – have taken their toll.

It was heard that 18 out of 22 officers who left took up government employment.

This has led to the closure of the Drug Squad and the Community Policing Team, the resources being redirected to combating economic and cyber-enabled financial crime, as well as the Safeguarding team.

Opinion Page 6

GIBRALTAR’S mercurial new government media director would quite like to be playing the guitar or indulging his passion for cinema and documentaries. But instead, Anton Calderon, 43, will be leading the drive to bring the government press office out of the ‘analog world’ and into the brave new one unfolding before us. Already a garlanded documentary-filmmaker with his own production company, Calderon has been tasked with ‘crafting a voice for the gov ernment of Gibraltar to tell the stories we want to tell.’

“Some of the issues which we would consider to have quite a solid consensus about liberal democracy and the way

Continues on page 4

Power whoopsie

THERE’S been another power outage, this time in the area of the North Mole Power Station. The finger of blame has squarely been pointed at a contractor ‘going through a major cable(s).’

Shuttle service

LA LINEA is demanding a shuttle bus from the bus station to the under-used nearby train station in San Roque timed to coincide with the movements of the trains.

False flag

SPAIN flew the wrong UK flag for the third time running… most recently at the high-profile G5+ summit in Madrid where the British and Spanish foreign ministers discussed Gibraltar.

Bay smog

THE Cepsa refinery has been venting black smoke again, which ‘does not protect the health of citizens living outside the industrial belt’, according to Ecologistas en Accion

GIBRALTAR Customs officers arrested a suspected fuel smuggler following a dramatic high-speed chase near Catalan Bay. The suspect was found hiding in the Catalan Bay reclamation area shortly before midnight on March 28, wearing waterproof clothing and smelling strongly of petrol.

The man, who carried no identification, was apprehended by HM Customs Officers from the Outfield Station while try-

FUEL-ISH

ing to lay low.

The pursuit began at approximately 11.50pm when Windmill Hill Signal Station alerted patrol vessel HMC Searcher to a suspicious rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) spotted near the Catalan Bay reclamation area.

The customs vessel immediately re-

sponded, racing to the scene while alerting the Outfield Station to deploy additional officers to the area.

By 11.58pm, HMC Searcher had tracked down the suspect vessel and initiated a high-speed pursuit with blue lights activated.

The RHIB, which was reportedly transporting a large shipment of petrol, managed to escape from the clutches of the recently-upgraded customs vessel. Thou shalt not smuggle

Road wrong-un

A LOCAL man has been arrested for making death threats and brandishing an illegal firearm after a road rage incident last week.

Mark Macias, of Laguna Estate, has been charged with a long roll-call of crimes including strangulation and common assault after a punch-up that took place during school-run rush hour.

Images from social media

Road rage punch up and ‘firearm incident’ outside a school leads to armed police arrest

By Walter Finch

showed heavily-armed officers entering a building in Mid Harbour Estate to arrest the 34-year-old man following reports of a firearm incident.

Just an hour earlier, two men

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a teenage cyclist was struck by a car outside the Piccadilly Garden Bar on Friday evening, April 4.

The incident occurred between 7.10pm and 8pm at the busy roundabout near the popular venue.

The driver is alleged to have shouted at the local teen before fleeing the scene at speed.

The boy suffered minor head injuries and his bicycle was damaged in the collision.

A number of people came to his aid imme-

had got involved in a fist fight in broad daylight near Waterport Road outside Bayside and Westside Comprehensive schools as other drivers and pedestrians looked on in amazement.

The two men were seen to throw a couple of punches be-

Cyclist distress

diately afterwards, and the RGP are urging them — or anyone else with information — to come forward.

“If anyone can help our officers with their enquiries, please contact our Control Room on 200 72500 or online at www. police.gi/report-online,” said a police spokesperson.

fore one of them rushes to his boot and draws out an iron pipe.

He then runs over and smashes the rear window of the other driver as he speeds away while workers and numerous other witnesses are left standing there bemused.

The operation was commended for its speed after police received information about the road rage incident, with RGP Armed Response officers supported by Gibraltar Defence Police colleagues during the raid.

The charges also include Threats to Kill, Possession of Firearms without a Certificate, Destroying or Damaging Property, Possession of a Prohibited Import and Prohibition on Persons Convicted of Crime Purchasing or Possessing Firearms.

SPAIN has finally passed legislation to make supplying fuel to drug boats a criminal offence punishable by up to eight years in prison.

Until now, those caught providing the vital petrol needed to keep high-speed narco boats running often faced only a slap on the wrist.

Supplying petrol has become a critical logistical component for drug smugglers operating across the Strait, especially as increased police pressure has forced the narcos further offshore or to operate in more remote areas, significantly increasing their fuel demands.

Narco

This demand has led to a boom in the dangerous practice of storing and transporting large quantities of petrol in jerrycans. The practice has been so widespread as to almost outweigh the narco boats themselves.

So the decision, by the court in Algeciras, could mark a turning point in the fight against drug trafficking in the Strait of Gibraltar.

JUNGLE HORROR

IN a wildlife sting, Spanish police have busted a smuggling ring selling exotic animals - including a live leopard.

The Guardia Civil swooped on a gang peddling endangered creatures online, recovering not just the majestic big cat, but also monkeys, a flamingo, and even grim trophies like zebra skins and turtle shells.

A total of 26 suspects are now facing charges in a crackdown codenamed ‘Faunus’, with police uncovering illegal firearms and high-tech poaching equipment.

The rescued leopard, along with other traumatised creatures, has been placed in specialist care.

Jail for Carlo?

Real Madrid boss facing five years for tax fraud

REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is facing nearly five years in prison and a fine of €3.2 million in a fraud probe. He has testified in court over the claims he illegally pocketed €1 million over a decade ago. The tax row involves image rights revenues with the accusation that he created a ‘confusing and complex’ system of shell companies to hide the earnings.

Prosecutors - who are asking for a four year, nine month sentence - claim he 'simulated' the transfer of his image rights to firms based outside of Spain as a tax dodge.

The Italian, 64, said he believed he had already settled his €1.2 million tax debt. However, it emerged he could

By Alex Trelinski

be classified as a Spanish tax resident in 2015 - the year he was sacked by Real Madrid during his first spell at the club.

He claims he was fired on May 25 and left the country four days later, which according to him means he did not live in Spain for the 183 required days to pay taxes.

While his legal team insisted he only spent 155 days in the country, prosecutors think he was here for longer as he had a rental contract active for his Madrid apartment.

He replied that he

MULLINS IT OVER NOT EVEN A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT WOULD LURE ME HOME

In his first, exclusive column for the Olive Press, Charlie Mullins reveals that life as an expat in Spain trumps the high-tax grind back in London

AS my many friends know, as well as a load of haters in the UK, I’m now living permanently at my villa in Puerto Banus.

I love it here and after nine-months as a resident I can’t think of a good reason why I didn’t make the move a decade ago.

There’s a lot of misinformation kicking about in the UK about how I’m a tax-exile, but as anyone with half a brain knows the Spanish are very skilled at coming up with ways to squeeze a few more Euros out of their own citizens and particularly us expats.

I’ve paid a load in tax over the years, and with Labour running the show back home I decided enough was enough, and they won’t be getting any more of my cash to waste on hotels for illegal immigrants and crazy schemes for minorities, while taxing working people and businesses to death.

That was the final straw, and now I’m here the world is a much better place.

I’ve had a villa in Spain for 20 years, and I can’t understand why it took so long to wise-up and trade the traffic and noise of London for a sandy beach and the sound of waves. It occurred to me soon after upping sticks and leaving Blighty that I had more friends here than I did in the place I’d called ‘home’ for 70 odd years… and a bit more thinking about this fact with a drink beside my pool, and it became obvious why.

It’s that life isn’t just about surviving here, fighting for every scrap of anything you want and then fighting some more to somehow hang on to it.

It’s the attitude of people; in London if you try to start a conversation with a stranger in the street or on a train, they think you’re a nutter or about to rob them.

Just the other day I was walking up a steep hill near my villa where there was an elderly lady struggling her way up in front of me.

I didn’t want to startle her when I caught up with her, so I mumbled something about the bastard hill

as I approached. Ten minutes later we were still chatting. That’s a very simple example, but for me it makes it crystal clear how the pace and quality of life on the costas is a better place for humans to live and enjoy life.

It’s like the environment turns people into better versions of themselves, or maybe it’s just that all the decent, nicer people relocated here in the first place.

Just having the time to go off for a beer or a coffee with people you bump into makes living a real pleasure. I love it! And it’s not like I miss my family in the UK since I can get back in a few hours, and they keep turning up on my doorstep and taking over the place. I said when I left that I wouldn’t return to the UK until these Labour imbeciles get thrown out of office, but as I approach my one-year anniversary I’m starting to think even a sensible party in charge might not lure me back.

FRONT PAGES: The world’s richest plumber landed in hot water last month in the UK, with a threat to take his OBE award away

was tied into a year-long con tract and had to give three months' notice which meant he had to carry on paying until October.

IMAGE RIGHTS:

Ancelotti didn’t declare them correctly and ‘overstayed’ in Spain

GOING GAGA

POP superstar Lady Gaga is bringing her Mayhem Ball tour to Spain this autumn. It’s the first time she has been on tour since 2022 and follows the release of her sixth studio album, Mayhem.

She plays Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi on October 28, 29 and 31.

“There’s something electric about a stadium, and I love every moment of those shows,” she said.

AT HOME: With his Bentley in Puerto Banus

Smoke-free generation

GIBRALTAR is set to introduce legislation that would make it the first territory in the region to create ‘smokefree generations’ through progressive tobacco restrictions.

Health Minister Gemma Arias-Vasquez has published a Command Paper outlining draft legislation that would prevent anyone born after January 1, 2009, from legally purchasing tobacco products once they turn 18 in 2027. The public health initiative aims to eventually phase out smoking and nicotine addiction entirely and create smoke-free generations, permanently banning tobacco sales to anyone born in 2009 or later, effectively ensuring younger generations never legally smoke.

Deal or no deal

DEPUTY Chief Minister Joseph Garcia and UK Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty co-chaired a session of the No-Negotiated Outcome (NNO) Board this week.

Both spoke of their commitment to securing a treaty that safeguards Gibraltar’s interests while mitigating for all eventualities.

It follows on from meetings last week in Madrid on the sidelines of a G5+ summit, in which British foreign minister David Lammy spoke with his Spanish counterpart. Afterwards Lammy insisted a deal must ‘protect the Rock’s sovereignty and the autonomy of the United Kingdom’s military base there.’

Recent reporting has indicated that the Spanish side has ‘taken sovereignty off the table’ and that an agreement has been reached on the military base, fuelling speculation from both sides that a deal is ‘very close’.

Croc on the Rock

A DWARF crocodile native to the Amazon Basin was rescued from a Gibraltar property after authorities were tipped off that it was being illegally kept as a pet.

Inside they found the baby crocodilian female — a Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman — housed in a man-made enclosure. Although small, these caimans have powerful jaws and sharp teeth, and are not considered suitable pets — especially in built-up areas like Gibraltar.

Had it escaped, it could have posed a serious risk to pets and small children, particularly if cornered or frightened.

The reptile, which is under a metre long but can grow to 1.2 metres, was immediately taken to the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park, where it is now being cared for in a secure enclosure.

Llanito’ hear it

SPANIARDS have once again been entranced by the Llanito dialect after a clip of two locals speaking it on television went viral.

A segment from GBC's ‘City Pulse’ featured a panel of Gibraltarians discussing children's education.

It quickly amassed nearly 100,000 views in just six hours, with Spanish viewers particularly fascinated by one participant's mixed-language comment, ‘I don't want my children to be el coñazo.’

In this context, el coñazo generally refers to something or someone that is extremely boring, tedious, or a pain to deal with. It is a colloquial Spanish term that doesn't have a di-

Gibraltar’s unique dialect is making waves again as a new generation of Spanish – and British –discover its wonderful peculiarities

By Walter Finch

rect translation in English, illustrating how Llanito speakers pick and choose from the two languages to best express themselves at any given moment.

Effortlessly

Speakers can effortlessly switch from English to Andalucian Spanish mid-sentence – a phenomenon unknown in other bilingual regions of the world such as

School changes?

THE government is considering scrapping traditional ‘summer hours’ in schools in favour of fewer but fulllength days during the summer term.

The proposal, which would take effect from the next academic year in September, follows improvements in air conditioning across most schools.

The move would lead to slightly shorter school terms with no half-days, a system that has been under review for some time, according to the Department of Education.

Previous suggestions to end the practice have come from both individuals and interest groups.

To give your view, send an email to halfdays@ gibraltar.gov.gi by 25 April 2025.

our society should function are coming under fire a little bit and being questioned,” Calderon told the Olive Press

“So one of the first things we have to do is reaffirm the role of government, of public services, and the civil servants; the value and the importance of these being robust and strong and trusted by the public.”

Calderon is planning a new form of communication that will extend beyond the old realm of the hallowed government press release.

It means utilising social media channels, crafting videos – even TikToks –that showcase Gibraltar’s institutions at work to ‘inform people of what we are doing.’

“Gibraltar’s institutions are extremely valuable things that we have created, and they provide super high levels of quality of life and care and support to citizens.

“We want to help people to engage with the public services and help them understand their value.”

Social media will play a key role.

NEW COMMS

“Social media has been used for quite some time as the provider of feedback to government of the way people feel about policies and changes – but I don’t think it does that job anymore.

“It often becomes a bit of a boxing match where the most forceful and extreme views fight it out.”

One fresh idea is to rely further on polling – both quantitative opinion polls and qualitative focus groups, which take inspiration from previous award-winning work he has done.

“The Needle, the documentary I did for GBC, was basically a poll.

“We asked people about how they felt about a series of issues, and then we had debates about the data and interviews.

“You have a lot of perceptions and a lot of subjects in that program. The poll ran only for like a week, but it had more than 3,000 or 4000 entries.”

Ultimately, the citizens and residents

Puerto Rico.

The dialect includes lexical units combining both languages, adaptations of English or Spanish words, and even terms from Italian and Arabic.

“There are academics who feel that it is a language in its own right,” Minister John Cortes told the Olive Press. “They believe it has developed characteristics of its own which are neither Spanish nor English, nor what's called Spanglish.”

However, Cortes noted that ‘it's very difficult to write in Llanito as you have to change the phonetics.’

He added: “If I were to write Llanito, I would probably use words in English and Spanish, but you'd have to

are going to see more streamlined government communications, incorporating not just the various government departments, but the unsung heroes of public infrastructure and the civil service.

“Soon, we’ll move on from the government press office to the government communications department.”

Ignored

Residents of neighbouring Catalan Bay claim they were ‘not consulted’ amid a host of unfulfilled promises. "Now we face that, without consultation, this went through. There were no notices put up,” a spokesperson told GBC.

“We weren’t consulted before, and we have a scenario now that they are considering an arm which comes this way — so it goes out and then comes along and blocks the whole view of Catalan Bay.

“The beaches are going to be systematically destroyed year in, year out. They’re going to be eroded every year. “Trucks to fill the beaches up. The people of Gibraltar need to know this is going to affect the Gibraltarian way of life.”

Environmental groups have also voiced concerns about the potential impact on marine biodiversity and the long-term health of nearby beaches.

Dynamics

read it in Llanito in order to pronounce it correctly.”

Whether it’s a dialect or a language in its own right, Llanito is in danger of dying out – it’s less spoken among the younger generations of Gibraltarians, for whom even Spanish is becoming less fluent.

They warn that the proposed breakwater could alter wave dynamics, leading to sand erosion and increased pollution on the shoreline. Officials, however, have emphasised that the development will move forward ‘in a manner that respects and protects its surrounding natural environment’, in line with Gibraltar’s commitments to biodiversity and marine conservation. Spain has also protested the project as an ‘invasion of sovereign Spanish waters.’ Construction on the first phase is expected to begin later this year.

Bus stop makeover

Four new and improved bus stops have been announced in Gibraltar. They include a completely new bus stop at Europa Point, which replaces two previous stops and provides better access to the University and residential areas, offering much-needed shelter during bad weather.

Residents of Moorish Castle Estate and the Upper Town will benefit from a newly created bus stop at Lower Castle Road, which was established following public requests.

At Hassan Centenary Terraces, home to many young families with more expected to move in soon, a shelter has been added to the existing bus stop to protect passengers from inclement

weather.

The Schomberg bus stop in the densely populated South District has been enhanced with a widened pavement to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and bus users.

Comedian coming

THE build-up to Gibraltar’s famous literary festival starts this month with the imminent arrival to the Rock of comedian David Walliams.

The sometimes-controversial Little Britain star will appear in the ‘An Evening with’ format, which will include a mixture of stand-up and Q&A with the audience in Europa Sports Arena on April 24. The event has been billed as a ‘prelude’ to November’s Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival and a new government strategy to focus on cultural events on the Rock.

From front page

From front page

TRILINGUAL: TV show went viral for its use of Llanito

DIGITAL: Calderon will be a new broom

GREEN MOVE

MOEVE, formerly Cepsa, has received €303 million from the Spanish government to aid in the first phase of the Andalucian Green Hydrogen Valley in Huelva.

The Onuba Project as it’s called, includes the construction of a green hydrogen production plant. This will lead to an indirect creation of 10,000 jobs. The infrastructure will supply green hydrogen to the company’s own facilities and to third parties.

The move comes in light of the EU Hydrogen Strategy, which aims to accelerate the production of green hydrogen.

Time to cash in

Spain reinstates electric vehicle subsidies for up to €7,000 for private individuals

THE Spanish government has reactivated its EV-subsidy scheme ‘MOVES III’. It has done so retroactively, meaning that the programme restarted at the beginning of 2025. It will run until December 31 of the current year. Battery-electric and hydrogen cars and plug-in hybrids with an electric range of more than 90 kilometres are subsidised up to €7,000.

PHEVs with an electric range of 30 to 90 kilometres are still eligible for up to €5,000.

By Dylan Wagemans

Commercial vehicles are eligible for grants of up to €9,000.

What’s important to note is that the grants are for cars not priced above €45,000.

The tax break for electric vehicles that was instituted in 2023 will also be extended. This only applies to private individuals and includes a deduction of 15% of income tax on the purchase of electric vehicles.

The maximum deduction that can be claimed is for an amount of €20,000.

As mentioned earlier, the programme is retroactive. This means that people who have bought an electric car so far this year, will also be able to apply for a subsidy.

SEA YA LATER!

THE Junta has released two sea turtles back into the wild after they were rescued by fishermen. ‘Miguelita’ and ‘Macho,’ were reunited with their natural habitat on La Jara beach in Sanlucar de Barrameda.

The two loveable creatures were initially rescued by fishermen as part of the ‘SOS Caretta: Fishermen for Biodiversity’ project, and rehabilitated at the Andalusian Marine Environment Management Center.

The SOS Caretta initiative has rescued 63 turtles since it began off the coasts of Cadiz and Huelva.

The government will allocate €400 million to maintain support for the purchase of electric vehicles and the maintenance and construction of charging infrastructure.

MOVES III initially launched in 2021 to strive for a further electrification of the Spanish car network.

Restarted

The programme came to an end in late 2024, and due to initial successes, the government has restarted it. They did so while actively working to get rid of ‘systematic weaknesses’ in the programme.

With the €400 million increase in budget, the total funds allocated to MOVES III come to €1.7 billion.

Back to nature

MARBELLA council has announced an ambitious project to widen and renaturalise the Guadaiza River, aiming to address flood risks, restore ecological balance, and enhance community engagement with nature.

The €2 million initiative comes in response to recent flooding at Cortijo Blanco caused by heavy rains and dam overflows, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable infrastructure improvements.

The renaturalisation project will span 3.5 kilometres of the river, focusing on improving its flow and ecological health. Key measures include removing invasive plant species and replacing them with native flora to restore biodiversity.

The river’s banks will also be enhanced with pathways totaling 1,625 metres, creating accessible spaces for pedestrians while promoting environmental awareness. Bird nesting boxes and observation points will be installed.

EXPERTS WHO

Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION

He’s gonna need a bigger boat

THE Olive Press did a story a few months ago suggesting that the McGrail inquiry would ‘have a chilling effect on law enforcement’ in Gibraltar. It is of course debatable whether that will turn out to be so, but at least now we know on whom the chilling effect might occur.

There has, it seems, been all-round agreement –vanishingly rare on the Rock – that an outsider was necessary.

That to police this community of roughly 30,000 Gibraltarians, 10,000 so-called expats, plus 15,000 cross-border workers requires someone who is not one of any-one.

And surely it does, at this juncture we’re at. Owain Ceri Richards has been chosen as the man to do it, starting on July 1.

Although we don’t know whether Richards will be able to pull the RGP together after a period of turmoil, we do know that’s what he was hired to do and we know he will try his bloody best. That’s what we know.

But, lest we not forget, one of the unavoidable conclusions of the McGrail hearings last year, more or less made explicitly clear by the Chief Minister himself, is that there are some individuals the law should treat differently.

Gibraltar is home to certain people whose importance to the economic vitality of the territory commands a different reckoning, it is claimed. Will Richards play by these rules?

If a future investigation leads him to the door of one the Rock’s legal titans, will he knock on it with a search warrant? This is what we don’t know. Ultimately it’s too early to know the answer to these questions.

But we must hope the report by Sir Peter Openshaw, pushed back once again as it has been, will eventually provide them.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Samantha Mythen samantha@theolivepress.es

Tom Ewart Smith tom@theolivepress.es

ADMIN Victoria Humenyuk Makarova (+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es

SUCKING UP THE WATER

IT was one of the most extraordinary and revealing discoveries of last year.

In a clever, left-field investigation, the Washington Post discovered using AI software Chat GPT to generate a 100-word email used a stagerribg 519 ml of water, or roughly half a bottle.

The reason? Many centres use water-based cooling systems to remove the excess heat the hundreds of servers they hold generate. Air conditioning is simply not enough so cooling towers and ‘evaporation’ tech niques are used instead - at a high cost in water.

Shocking in the extreme, it left many people, particularly in drought-threatened countries like Spain, to beg the question: is investing in AI a good idea?

While many companies and most of our downmarket rivals now use it wholesale to create reports and stories, plus funny photos, it also helps undertake the most boring tasks.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

The reason: Spain has the second best high speed internet coverage in Europe, while also having relatively low cost energy and well connected electricity networks. It is estimated by Google’s Implement programme, no less, that Generative Artificial Intelligence could make up 8% of Spain’s GDP by 2034.

It is predicted to wipe out millions of jobs globally and, yet, if you believe many governments and the tech giants it is a force for good.

Spain is at the forefront of the AI revolution in Europe and the country is currently home to around 135 data centres with the number rising rapidly.

In Aragon alone, over €33 billion is set to be invested in building data centres, with many others planned for areas like Madrid and Barcelona.

But as water becomes scarcer and scarcer, activists are already starting to be heard, although the authorities don’t seem to be taking note.

“It’s shameful that in areas like Aragon, where farmers are struggling and unable to use their land because of a lack of water, the government is allowing these huge corporations in,” Ecologistas en Acción activist, Luis Garcia told the Olive Press.

Meanwhile, AI expert Katrina Ingram (left) added: “We live on a planet with finite resources and now we’re in competition with

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Joshua Parfitt josh@theolivepress.es

Dylan Wagemans dylan@theolivepress.es

OFFICE MANAGER

How

AI is not just threatening millions of jobs and dumbing us down on its front line in Spain. It is also worsening drought conditions here

technology for them.

Speaking to the Olive Press from Canada, she continued: “There have been situations in Latin America where data centres have been built and suddenly local people couldn’t get those resources.

“We need to ensure technology doesn’t penalise the vulnerable.”

One of the biggest setbacks so far for the AI giants came when Google was forced to rethink plans for a $200 million data centre in Chile last year after it was revealed it would use seven billion litres of water a year, equivalent to the usage by 80,000 people. It sparked outrage for locals already struggling with severe drought and after huge protests, the tech giant was forced to switch to fan-based cooling.

“There’s a narrative that everyone should be

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The

people’s pueblo

FUENTE Ovejuna means a lot to Spanish people. It’s a bit like Hamlet for the Brits, Faust for the Germans, or Huckleberry Finn for Americans…something you read in school, which has become part of the nation’s collective consciousness.

The village of Fuente Ovejuna (sometimes Fuenteobejuna) is to the west of Spain on the frontier of Extremadura, the land of the Conquistadors, La Mancha, the domain of Don Quijote, and Andalucia, the home of flamenco and bullfighting.

By Michael Coy

Everyone in Spain has heard of Fuente Ovejuna. Michael Coy explains why

province of Cordoba, it is very much a border town.

And appropriately in the year 1476, the people of Fuente Ovejuna rebelled against their overlord, and killed him.

The playwright

Introducing Lope de Vega, who is often referred to as the Spanish Shakespeare.

Born two years before Shakespeare, he outlived him by two decades and Lope’s achievements are, in many ways, more impressive.

penned an incredible 500, with 3,000 sonnets to boot. Somehow he found time for all of this while keeping FIVE mistresses happy –and he was also a priest!

His greatest play, it is universally agreed, was Fuente Ovejuna, which was written in 1612, the year Shakepeare penned The Tempest.

The drama

The village of Fuente Ovejuna has been ‘occupied’ by a group of knights from La Mancha. The leader of the knights regards the citizens as his vassals, and the women as his playthings. He rapes one of the village girls and the people, without thinking about the consequences, attack him, and kill him.

Just check the statistics. While Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, some probably with co-writers, Lope

In those days the King travelled around the country, ‘holding court’ – literally judging the big criminal cases in each community.

King Ferdinand arrives and demands to know

who killed Rodrigo, the head of the

AI PERIL: As large parts of Spain suffer from drought, questions are being asked about the massive amounts of water being used by data centres

THE PLAY: Is performed world-wide to this very day

GARDEN OF EDEN

Estepona has been transformed over the past decade from sleepy seaside town to the Garden of the Costa del Sol, writes Walter Finch

ONCE a bit of a backwater, Estepona has morphed into a thriving metropolis that rivals Marbella, all while retaining its authentic Andalusian charm.

The town has seen more than €100 million invested in public works since 2011. From new car parks and an athletics stadium to an art gallery and even a skyscraper, the town’s development has been nothing short of ambitious. Now, plans for a retail park and a mega-park promise to take Estepona’s evolution even further.

A modest municipal population of 48,000 in 2003 has exploded to, officially, 75,000 in 2022, a population increase of 56%, and it is likely to be far higher in reality - and it’s definitely still growing. Marbella, in comparison, has grown by just 29% in the same period.

Over a quarter of Estepona’s population (19,000) is foreign, Brits Germans and Scandinavians to the fore.

Estepona is one of the fastest-growing towns in Andalucia for population. Its GDP per capita has spiralled and, it’s clear, the quality of its restaurants and hotels has kept up.

There is a distinct change about the place, in particular, with its emphasis on pedestrians and the demographic of its residents shows a real shift towards the Scandinavian countries. Like the Vikings, Estepona has rarely stood still. Indeed, since the days of the seafaring Phoenicians - who sailed in and established a colony nearly 3,000 years ago - it has seen numerous influxes of migrants.

This latest incarnation is driven by wealthy international visitors flocking in all-year round.

The formerly car-clogged roads have been replaced by idyllic outdoor spaces and the colourful flower-filled streets have allowed the resort to retain its image as one of the last ‘authentically’ Spanish resorts left on the costas.

Yet the beauty belies the massive population spurt it has seen, driven by constant the construction of new homes and expansion of the town’s limits.

A modest municipal population of 48,000 in 2003 has exploded to, officially, 75,000 in 2022, a population increase of 56%, and it is likely to be far higher in reality - and it’s definitely still growing. Marbella, in comparison, has grown by just 29% in the same period.

Continues on next page

UNSPOILT: The Estepona coastline as seen from the Torre de Casasola, while (inset) two town centre snapshots

In

Photo credit: Jon Clarke

Be it the Romans, the Vandals or the Moors - or the Catholic reconquest or pirate raids from Africa in the 18th century - the town has frequently been in a state of flux.

From front page

Estepona

TRANSFORMATION TOWN

The arrival of the foreigners has gone hand in hand with the PP ayuntamiento’s ambitions to transform the town - often to the grumbles of the locals.

The greatest recent transformation has been the total redesign of the old N340 highway which went along the beach promenade.

It is now completely cut off with traffic redirected in a, frequently, 15-minute detour around the centre.

It has made for an almost car-free centre, with the final paving stones and flower beds between Avenida de Andalucía and Calle Terraza laid just last month.

The cutting of the ribbon on the new paseo maritimo (or beachfront prom enade) makes it one of the longest in Spain at one and a half ki lometres.

The next phase of the transforma tion is equally ambitious, with the brand new Park Cen tral Boulevard with hundreds of new trees and thousands more plants.

The popular San Lorenzo car park will go, exac erbating the chronic parking problem in the town. However, the town hall in sists this will be remedied by the construction of a new network of underground car parks

across the town costing just one euro a day.

The PP town hall has overseen the transformation, and while it is often viewed as controversial it has certainly made the town into a green paradise as part of the ongoing ‘Estepona, Garden of the Costa del Sol’ project.

Anyone who hasn’t visited for a decade will be forgiven for rubbing their eyes at the sheer number of plants and trees that line the streets.

There are tens of thousands, in fact, probably hundreds of thousands, of flowers bedecking almost every available surface, including the central reservations.

Meanwhile, thousands of potted plants have gone in on every street in the old

The profusion is hard to ignore and very impressive. There have been two new additions to the city’s skyline with a modern and sustainable town hall, and a new 45 metre-high mirador near the port, with an art gallery below.

While the Mirador claims to boast a restaurant and museum, neither is currently in operation, leaving just the view from the top to show for its construction.

Somewhat suspiciously, the building was built by a company called Bonifacio

Solis, whose director of operations is none other than the mayor’s son, Pablo Garcia.

But the allegations of nepotism have never really stuck on his dad Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, who has serenely glided through all the slings and arrows and was comfortably reelected mayor in the most recent elections.

Eyebrows however, do continue to be raised on the mayor’s selection of racy statues (left) that have gone up all around the resort… the most suspicious being an expensive golden one of a couple having sex on a roundabout.

A sculpture park on the outskirts meanwhile, includes a naked woman in the throes of passion.

That said, the once traffic-heavy Avenida España along the beachfront has been subsumed into the newly sedate promenade, dotted with new restaurants, cafes and shops.

Next to it, is easily one of the nicest city beaches in Spain, Playa de la Rada stretching for over 2 kilometres.

Known for its clean, soft sand, crystal-clear waters and excellent facilitiesit has good views towards Gibraltar and Africa on clear days… not to mention numerous beach chiringuitos.

Looking for nightlife, the bright young things flock to the bars and clubs in the port on weekends, where bartenders free-pour drinks according to the ye old Spanish ‘say when’ system.

Louie Louie’s is the perfect spot for a live music set and an enthusiastic crowd getting down.

Or, if you prefer to watch, the Peña Flamenca in the old town puts on fortnightly flamenco shows with renowned performers who come from all over Andalucia. No trip to Estepona would be complete without a visit to the aptly-named, Plaza de las Flores (Flowers Square).

kinds of excursions, including a murals tour (more of which later) and a host of reasonably-priced restaurants and cafes.

Also nestled among the flowers, and spilling out onto Calle Terraza, are a handful of stylish clothes shops, mixing independent and quirky with more famous brands such as Mango.

In this charming hive of activity you will find the tourism office, with maps for all

UPGRADE: The promenade has been much spruced up while the church and

thought to be among the largest in Europe - painted with incredible skill and daring will take you aback.

It’s one of a kind – the only asymmetrical bullring in the world

Strolling around, you won’t help but notice that a number of buildings are decorated with incredible street art, bringing the façade - and the surrounding streets - to life.

Murals as high as the buildings - some

The largest one, by artist Jose Fernández Ríos, depicts a fish on a line covering six separate building façades and measuring almost 100,000 metres squared. Further into the town, past its historic centre head for the exotic glassdomed orchidarium - the largest in Europe.

The futuristic greenhouse is home to more than 8,000 species of orchids, three waterfalls, streams and a butterfly house.

Staff care lovingly for these delicate and beautiful plants, watching them bloom and flower and then fade away every three months, to start the cycle anew.

Another spot worth seeking out, near the port, is the Plaza de Toros, which isn’t the oldest, biggest or best in Spain but it’s one of a kind – the only asymmetrical bullring in the world. Its clever shape was designed to offer spectators more seating in

PORT: The marina area gets lively at night

orchidarium are must visits

the shade than under the hot Spanish sun, and it has hosted numerous sport and cultural events since it opened in 1972.

Just a short hop from the bullring you will find the 20-metre tall Punta Doncella lighthouse, which has been blinking away its light to ships and boats up and down the coast in its present incarnation since 1922.

Oh, and if you are looking for nature

and green spaces, there are plenty of other beaches up along the coast, not to mention excellent tennis clubs, like Forest Hills, plus great golf courses, including El Paraiso, now 50 years old. Back to history, Estepona was officially founded during the golden age of the Caliphate of Cordoba in the 10th century. Destroyed by the conquering Christians in the 15th century and rebuilt by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand

almost a century later, King Philip V granted the town a charter for 600 families in 1728. Compare that to the ever-growing number of residents today, plus the visitors that see the population triple in summer months. And rentals do fill up quickly at this time of year, so book early if you want to discover why Estepona should be number one on your Costa del Sol bucket list.

EXTRAVAGANZA

Strolling along the cobble-stoned streets of Estepona is like visiting a fairytale seaside village. The whitewashed walls of the old town are adorned with colourful pots blooming with spring flowers.

Cosy plazas feature perfect places to sit and people watch in the sunshine, the air filled with the zesty scent of the citrus trees, which line the squares.

This lively pueblo has many cultur al and social events running throughout the year. Here are some events to mark in your calendar:

There is so much going on in Estepona around the year

TRADITIONAL SPANISH FESTIVALS

Semana Santa Holy Week, is celebrated over Easter. Expect to see a pro cession of two different floats over the five days,

accompanied by live mu-

On the first weekend of May is Las Cruces de Mayo where tall crosses are decorated throughout the pueblo. Expect lots of food, drink, dancing, music and more merriment. The City Council has organised a competition for the best decoration of the May Cross. Register before April 12.

You can get an official timetable for the event from the Tourist Office in the Plaza de las

For several days leading up to May 15, images of San Isidro, Estepona´s male Patron Saint, and of Nuestra Senora

del Carmen, Queen of the Sea will be paraded down the streets and up to the Fairground.

Admire altars to the ploughman saint set up in Old Town with locals competing for

‘Best Decorated Altar’ prizes. Bonfires will light up the beach on June 23 as the longest day of the year, San Juan is celebrated with summer begin ning.

The local fish ermen of the vil lage will celebrate their patron saint Virgen del Carmen on July 16. The ceremony centres around the Saint´s main church, while down by the fishing port, the community gathers for games.

Boombastic Costa Del Sol is a three day music festi val being held at Parque Ferial de Estepona from July 24-26. The line up features artists Melendi, Steve Aoki, Maria Becerra and

HAM OFF THE BONE

restaurant. Andy flows at the Statue Park and Zinzi Yoga hosts lessons at Paseo Maritimo or Playa del Cristo.

LEARN ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY

See young people scrambling along a greasy fishing pole above the sea, attempting to grab hold of the Anda lucian flag at the end.

SUMMER FAIR

The annual Estepona summer fair takes place in the first week of July featuring day and night activities at Parque Ferial de Estepo na. You will see some locals dolled up in traditional garb.

Estepona is home to the prestigious world ham contest where more than 100 ham carvers from around the world descend on the village in early August.

It’s a great time to plan a picnic lunch paired with a ham and cheese sandwich.

IN THE SUN

Enjoy moving meditation by the seaside with many instructors holding morning classes in the village. Didem from Arching Cat Yoga hosts classes by Tikitano

From April 11 until May 11, learn how the nervous, muscular, skeletal, circulatory, digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems work at this global exhibition which has made its way to Estepona. See real bodies preserved with cutting-edge technology.

FIESTA IN THE FISHING VILLAGE

YOGA

investing in AI, every government is seeing it as an opportunity to grow their economy, but that scales up the problem,” continued Ingram, who is the founder and CEO of Ethically Aligned AI, a company focused on helping organizations to use and understand the new technology.

“We also have to be aware, from an environmental standpoint, of which companies have a monopoly in this sector.”

According to Business Insider, 65% of the world’s data centre capacity is owned by just three companies: Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.

This means they own over half of the essential technological infrastructure on which everyone else must use.

Ingram, like many experts, fears this could give the giant corporations immense political and social power.

“Large financial and governmental interests alongside the technology make this a perfect storm,” she explained.

“We have also seen a lot of governments and companies stepping away from their environmental commitments lately and that is concerning.”

Another issue is that instead of creating less energy intensive AI models built to carry out specific tasks, industry leaders like OpenAI are pushing for huge, generalised models able to do everything.

“It’s like building a bazooka and bringing it to a knife fight, it’s going to do a lot of damage, use a lot of energy and a lot of money without being particularly good at any one thing,” insisted Ingram.

“It also means there’s no competition which leads to a monopoly.”

In Spain, the big three, alongside social media en terprise Meta are heavily investing in data centres as the country shapes up to be come ‘Europe’s digital leader.’

It helped that leader Pedro San chez stood next to Amazon’s CEO

The AWS data centre (above) and the Microsoft centre in Madrid use huge amounts of water

drupled their AI investment in the country, a couple of months ago.

Dubbed the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, no country wants to be left behind, clearly including Spain.

“The government is definitely pushing towards AI and data centres,” Catalunya Polytechnic University professor Cecilio Angulo (left) explained.

“We need to be careful with where we put them because they produce heat and have to be cooled. If you’re in an area that doesn’t have much water, data centres could take it away from others.”

Andy Jassy as he announced the giant in vestment of €15.7 billion into three new data centres in Aragon last July.

He similarly praised Microsoft after they qua-

knights.

He puts each villager in the witness box, and asks the same question –“Who is responsible for this man’s death?” Every villager gives the same answer: “El pueblo.”

The idea

In Spanish, ‘el pueblo’ carries two meanings. It signifies ‘the people’, and it also means ‘the village’.

The king is impressed that these decent citizens acted together when their honour was outraged, and he rules that there was no individual murderer – “the pueblo did it.”

The play is dear to Spanish audiences because it’s about having two virtues: civic pride and a reliable moral compass.

Today

Every summer, the people of Fuente put on a production of ‘their’ play in the village’s main square.

They don’t need a theatre because this hot region gets no rain between March and October, and the actors can perform, and the audience can watch, comfortably in the open air. The only restriction is, the actors must be citizens of Fuente Ovejuna!

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Tom will serenade fans with timeless tracks like It’s Not Unusual , Delilah and What’s New Pussycat

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Part of the solution, he claims, is to put the centres near bodies of water so that any steam leaving them returns to nature.

It is also possible to use closed water systems or alternative cooling methods to avoid water

The tech giants are so concerned about a backlash they recently made a pledge to only use non-drinkable, recycled water so that they replenish more than they consume by 2030.

While this is good in theory, it may not directly impact the communities affected by data centres, with water only replenished in areas where it is easy to do so.

The platform Tu Nube Seca Mi Rio (Your Cloud Dries My River) has now warned data centres could spell ‘devastation’ for Aragon’s agriculture and environment.

“Droughts are frequent and are likely to become more common due to climate change. If authorities do not consider stopping data centres in such situations, they clearly care more about Amazon than the region and its future,” a spokesman told the Olive Press.

In some areas of Spain, locals have already begun to turn against the new technologies, with Lleida, for example, in Catalunya, banning data centres as they ‘do not contribute to the economy’ and ‘consume too much energy and water.’ Spain’s AI boom may promise economic growth, but as data centres guzzle precious water, the question remains - at what cost to the country’s future?

What can I do?

Greater emphasis is needed on how we use not only AI but all digital technologies.

AI accounts for 5% of all use of digital technologies.

Yet ironically we use a lot more energy sending photos on Whatsapp than we do using AI because we do it more often.

A Google search also uses energy, but many more people use it compared to AI.

Try and use the giant tech giants as little as possible and use the simplest technology you can find, if available. Above all try and read books and newspapers to educate yourself more. You’ll take in information in a much deeper way. We promise that.

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Being an Olive Press member also means getting discounts on some of the top restaurants on the costas, as well as chances to win competitions for festivals, concerts and even sports events. In addition we offer chances to win free meals, as well as furniture giveaways. Registered users can comment on stories and are also sent weekly newsletters on travel, health and property plus a news round-up each Saturday.

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Meanwhile, if you want a DAILY newsletter informing you of what is happening in Spain… and you don’t like getting ads, you should become a subscriber.

For just a few centimos a day you can have an unlimited ad-free browning service at www.theolivepress.es

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THIRSTY:

LINK: Lope de Vega (left) chose Fuente Ovejuna as a setting for his play, which the townfolk perform every year (below)

GREEN BOOST

SPAIN is set to allocate nearly €300 million in grants to boost 34 green and renewable energy projects across the country.

The funding, coming from the Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO), will primarily support a €200 million initiative in Asturias, where Sunwafe will produce silicon ingots and wafers for semiconductor manufacturing – a key material for electronics.

The remaining funds will support a range of green tech projects, including the production of electrolysers for green hydrogen and wind power components.

Seven solar panel manufacturers, four energy storage firms, and a heat pump manufacturer are also in line for support.

This funding is part of Spain’s wider plan to green its economy (PERTE), in line with the EU's REPowerEU and Net-Zero Industry Act. Projects will be spread across 12 autonomous communities.

WINE, OLIVES AND AEROSPACE

How Trump’s tariffs could hurt Andalucia’s €3.1 billion trade with the US while helping Morocco

THE imminent Trump tariffs have rocked the world and set the scene for an impending trade war that experts fear will inflict widespread eco nomic damage - and Andalu cia won’t be spared. From today (April 9), all EU exports to the US will be slammed with a hefty 20% tariff, and the southern Span ish region could see losses as high as €2.4 billion. The hardest-hit?

Olive oil and ta

SPAIN’S largest mobile operator, MasOrange, is gearing up for a potential stock market debut that could impact phone and internet bills nationwide.

Born from the 2024 merger of Orange España and MasMovil, the company is valued at €20 billion.

Its portfolio includes Yoigo, Jazztel, Lebara, and Simyo.

By Walter Finch

ble olives, which are set to bear the brunt of the trade war fallout.

In 2024, Andalucia exported €3.1 billion worth of goods to the US, with nearly half of that coming from the agri-food sector. Olive oil alone accounted for a staggering €860 million. Now, producers are fearing the worst, as years of hard work expanding the market in the US could be undone. Experts warn thousands of jobs are on the line, especially in rural areas reliant on agri-food exports. Rafael Pico, head of the Asoliva exporter group, slammed the move as ‘unfair compe tition’, pointing to Turkey and Morocco, which will only face 10% tariffs, as winners in the trade war.

Dialling the changes

Backed by private equity firms KKR, Cinven, and Providence, a Spanish

stock market listing could come as soon as next year. While no immediate changes are expected for customers, the move may eventually affect service and pricing. MasOrange is also expanding its fibre optic network, partnering with Vodafone to reach over 12 million homes by next year.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

tap into new markets in Asia and the Gulf.

Wines – including sherry –rice, vegetables, seafood and even natural stone have also been dragged into the dispute. Aeronautics exports worth €138 million in 2024 could also be affected.

23 Across) (4)

Black olives are already hit with a hefty 31.5% tariff following a 2018 dispute, and the new tariffs could push the total to over 50%, wiping out Spain’s remaining market share. Meanwhile, olive oil co-ops in Jaen, Cordoba, and Sevilla are desperately trying to

Experts

Not everyone is panicking. Some experts believe strong demand and high US consumer prices may absorb the extra costs. “A 20% tariff won’t stop olive oil sales,” said agro consultant Juan Vilar.

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez is pledging €14.1 billion in aid for struggling industries.

SALES of electric cars made by US manufacturer Tesla, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, plummeted by 49% in the EU across the first two months of 2025. Just 19,046 units were sold according to ACEA the EU association of car manufacturers in what appears to be a pushback against Musk working for US president Donald Trump. Electric vehicle registrations as a whole rose by 28.4% over the same period, with a big rise in Chinese imports.

Spain's automotive association Anfac reported that deliveries from China's BYD soared by 563.5% in the first two months of the year. It also said deliveries of the Dacia Spring have tripled as electric car registrations grew by 54.9% between January and February reaching 11,124 units.

MORNINGS ONLY

DRINKING coffee brings positive health benefits, so long as you drink it at the right time of day - and in moderation Its benefits depend on things like how much you drink, your age, being biologically male or female, medicine you take, and even your genes. Some plus sides are linked to caffeine, while other components of coffee will also bring health pluses. Evidence shows that the chances of getting Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimers's disease, as well as severe liver and kidney problems are reduced.

But cardiologist Aure lio Rojas believes that all of the benefits could be wast ed if coffee is drunk at the wrong time.

He says on his social media channel that drinking

Coffee is good for you - at the right time of day

By Alex Trelinski

coffee later in the day will have negative metabolic effects and cause sleep problems. Rojas also suggests that drinking it all day is somewhat counterproductive and that the key time to enjoy it is in the morning. He referred to a European Heart Journal study which showed drinking coffee in the morning cut the chance of death from heart issues by up to 31% while premature deaths fell by 17%.

The research says that drinking coffee at other times alters circadian rhythms and counters melatonin and cortisol which are two important hormones for staying awake and having a good sleep.

Later drinking also raises blood pressure and the chance of inflammation, resulting in potential heart problems.

Aurelio Rojas said: “It seems that people who drink coffee only in the morning have a longer life expectancy and a lower probability of suffering a heart attack.”

He also said that he was surprised to see social media postings from people recommending coffee drinking later in the day.

“This would have a higher chance of raising stress levels, and therefore stopping proper rest,” he added.

LA CULTURA

Facing the divine

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

FALLEN CROSS

Giant symbol to stay at controversial Franco era mausoleum

SPAIN’S biggest symbol of the fascist Franco era - the Valley of the Fallen cross - will remain according to the country’s Catholic Church.

By Alex Trelinski

Bullfight threat

SPAIN’S parliament will vote this year on whether bullfighting remains a sport classified as being of cultural heritage.

THE face of Saint Teresa of Avila - one of the most influential figures of Spain’s Catholic Church - has been reconstructed in a special bust to mark the 510th anniversary of her birth. Her image has been immortalised by Italian sculptor Bernini in The Ecstasy or a portrait by Rubens, as well as an El Greco wood carving. General Franco even kept a sculpture of one of her hands on his desk.

The 150-metre tall structure will not be taken down as the government seeks to ‘resignify’ the site, according to church spokesperson, Bishop Francisco Cesar Garcia Magan.

He admitted that taking it down had been an option but that had now been rejected.

The world’s biggest cross stands over the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum situated 50 kms outside Madrid.

The complex was builtmainly through forced labour - in the wake of the Civil War of the late 1930s. Construction was finished in 1959 and consists of a basilica situated underground in an excavated space in the mountain, the cross, a Benedictine monastery, and a school, Up to 50,000 Spaniards from both sides of the conflict are interred there.

General Franco’s body was exhumed from the site on the orders of the Pedro Sanchez government in

2019 and transferred to a private plot.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the dictators’ death.

Initial plans for ‘resigni-

fying’ the area included de-consecrating the church and closing the monastery.

The country’s Central Electoral Board on Monday said that a 664,777 signature petition will have to be debated in Congress- demanding the repeal of the law. The minimum required signatures to force a vote is 500,000.

The move has been spearheaded by the No Es Mi Cultura group.

It says if the 2013 law is scrapped, it will make it much easier for local authorities to veto bullfighting events.

A debate has to be held within six months.

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Sculptor Jennifer Mann from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine in Australia has now created what she believes is a life-like bust of Teresa. Mann gathered all the existing information about her including body measurements, x-rays, and previous pictorial depictions.

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SPAIN’S Eva Yerbabuena walked away with a prestigious Olivier award at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday. She won the Best Achievement in Dance honour for her show, which she staged twice last year at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Eva, 54, is regarded as one of the world’s leading flamenco dancers. She becomes the second Spaniard to win the same award fol-

Olivier winner

lowing in the footsteps of Sara Baras in 2020.

Jorge Bosch was nominated for best supporting actor in Kyoto - a political thriller running at the Soho Place Theatre until early May, but lost out to Elliot Levey for his performance

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Talks between Catholic authorities and the government however have ensured that worship will continue and the Benedictine monks will remain.

All religious elements outside the basilica will continue to be ‘respected’ including the cross.

Bishop Garcia pointed out that the deal still has to be finalised despite the government pressing ahead.

He added that he did not know what the timetable is for implementing the changes.

AI, ARE YOU TRYING TO REPLACE ME?

AI started off as a cute little assistant—autocorrecting our typos, suggesting slightly too personal Netflix recommendations, and helping us find the ‘best pizza near me (which, somehow, is never the best). But now? AI is writing emails, answering customer service calls, and making decisions faster than we can say, ‘Wait, I wasn’t ready for that’. So, should we be worried? Or should we just sit back, relax, and let AI handle everything while we sip coffee and pretend to be productive?

At first, AI-powered chatbots seemed like the ultimate solution. No more waiting on hold for an eternity! But then we realised… they respond instantly, yes, but mostly with completely useless advice.

It will force Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, to make his position publicly clear on a topic he's skirted round since being first elected seven years ago.

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You type: “My internet is really slow.” The AI bot, in its infinite wisdom, replies: “Have you tried checking our website for solutions?” Ah yes, brilliant. Let me just struggle through three minutes of buffering to read an article that will inevitably tell me to ‘restart my router’.

And when you finally give up and beg, ‘TALK TO A HUMAN!’, the AI re sponds: “Before I transfer you, have you tried turning it off and on again?”

This is exactly why AnyTech365 ex ists - to ensure that when technology fails, you get real, AI-powered solutions from actual experts, not just a bot pretending to understand your pain. Smart assistants are great - until they get too smart. You mention buying new running shoes, and suddenly your phone bombards you with ads for gym memberships and diet plans. You casually joke about moving to Spain, and next thing you know, AI is sending you ‘Great properties in Marbella!’ listings.

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music, and even writing screenplays. Pretty soon, we’ll be watching Oscar-winning films written entirely by AI. But don’t worry - AI is powerful, but it still struggles with one thing: being human.

That’s why at AnyTech365, we believe in AI-powered cybersecurity with a human touch. Sure, AI can analyse data in milliseconds and detect cyber threats before you even realize something’s wrong, but sometimes, you need an actual

Coincidence? Not a chance. AI isn’t reading your mind… yet. We used to think creativity was safe from AI. Then AI

expert to walk you through a problem - especially when your password ‘isn’t working’ (spoiler: CAPS LOCK was on).

So no, AI isn’t here to replace you. It’s here to make life easier, smarter, and more secure. And as long as it doesn’t start making life too easy (looking at you, AI-generated excuse emails for skipping work), we’re happy to

STAYING PUT: The giant cross in the Valley of the Fallen

Sol or Sombra?

As the bullfighting season starts, aficionado Michael Coy gives some insiders tips on going to see ‘los toros’

THE bullfighting season has arrived, and, if you live in Andalucia, there’s no escaping the buzz.

Sevilla’s iconic ‘ cartel’ (poster) is

out, marking the official launch on Easter Sunday.

As tradition dictates, Sevilla kicks things off with a 10-day festival of toros , featuring three legendary matadors: Morante, Talavante, and Daniel Luque.

I should point out things are different over in Valencia where the season started with the region’s Fallas festival last month.

So, you’ve decided to attend a bullfight. What should you know before stepping into the ring?

First, avoid buying tickets from a tout.

You’ll find plenty of them hanging around major bullrings like Sevilla’s historic La Maestranza and Las Ventas in Madrid.

If this is your first bullfight, however, you may find yourself in a smaller ring, such as Inca in Mallorca (and there’s a fascinating corrida there on Palm Sunday).

IT is a name that resonates around the bullrings of Spain.

Simply known as El Fandi, David Fandila, is a 43-year-old, Granada-born matador who remains one of the most electrifying figures in the world of bullfighting - a true granadino de pura cepa (Granada lad through and through).

If you haven’t witnessed his daring artistry yet, now might be your last chance. Catch him in Sevilla on Wednesday, April 30, or during Granada’s feria in mid-June. Why do bullfighters adopt nicknames? In Andalucia, names like Juan, Javier, or Manuel

But even in Inca, be -

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ware of the ‘scalper’ - they’ve got an eye for tourists and will try to offload overpriced tickets to unsuspecting visitors.

It’s time for the ultimate Spanish experience: the ‘cushion dilemma’

The solution? Head to the official ticket office (the taquilla ), as even on the evening of the event, it’s rare that a bullfight will sell out, and you’ll avoid being ripped off.

Next, decide: ‘ sol ’, ‘ sombra ’, or ‘ sol y sombra ’?

Sol tickets are budget-friendly, but there’s a catch: you’ll be roasting in the sun for over two hours.

Plus, the matadors have a preference for the shaded ar

Pure blood

The ‘reckless’ youth who became a torero legend

are so common that standing out requires a moniker with flair.

Take the legendary Manolete - his real name was Manuel Rodriguez, essentially the Span ish equivalent of John Smith.

Enter El Fandi, a name as distinctive as his style. Bursting onto the scene in the mid-90s as a teenage novillero (rookie bullfighter), El Fandi could have taken a very different path. He was once a star skier, his agility honed on snowy slopes serving him well in the bullring. But his choice wasn’t about fame or spectacle - it was about courage. “To face a bull without fear is nothing,” say the old masters. “To face it despite fear—that’s something.”

eas of the ring, so the bulls will tend to end up there, leaving you squinting and missing much of the action.

Sombra tickets, on the other hand, place you in the shade, offering the best view of the action - but they come at a premium price.

Then there’s the sol y sombra option, where you get the best of both worlds: part sun, part shade.

Ticket-sellers might ask if you have a preferred ‘ tendida ’, which refers to the sections or ‘segments’ of the bullring.

If you’re aiming for authenticity, tendida 7 is where the true aficio loud cheers, occasional catcalls, and the spirited energy of diehard fans. Now, with your ticket bought, you’ve got an hour to kill before the event begins.

Granada, El Fandi took on all six bulls himself - a feat typically shared among three matadors. Gored in the stomach by the third bull, he refused to back down. After being stitched up, he returned to finish the fight.

El Fandi also revolutionised tradition by placing the banderillas (decorative sticks) himself - a task usually reserved for assistants.

His speed and footwork are unmatched; he’s faster running backward than most people sprinting forward.

Early critics feared he might become a tremendista, prioritising flashy theatrics over skill. But he silenced doubters by proving himself not just as a performer but as a master of his craft. Today, he’s even respected as a bull breeder.

Yet El Fandi seems to defy this wisdom, showing no trace of fear at all. His daring is legendary. In 2012, during a hometown fight in

With El Fandi in action, expect breathtaking agility and fearless showmanship that leave audiences spellbound. Whether you’re seated on your rented cushion or swept up in the fervor of the crowd, one thing is certain: this is more than just a performance - it’s history in motion.

Ready? Vamonos

The tradition here is that the real locals won’t be at the ring just yet. They’re all in nearby bars, enjoying a pre-fight drink.

If you show up early, don’t be surprised to find yourself surrounded by a sea of foreigners - Spaniards are in no rush. When it’s time to head in, find the gate marked with your ticket details. If the signs aren’t clear, don’t hesitate to ask one of the helpful stewards. They’ll point you in the right direction.

Once inside, it’s time for the ultimate Spanish experience: the ‘cushion dilemma’.

For a few euros, you can rent a charity cushion to soften the hard concrete seating - highly recommended if you want to survive the two-and-a-half-hour ordeal without discomfort.

And then the fun begins. A steward will lead you to your ‘ fila ’ (the row of seats you’re assigned). It’s perfectly fine to tip them for their help, though it’s not obligatory. But hold on - what if the old guy in the beret is sitting in your spot? This is all part of the spectacle. In Spain, personal space is a foreign concept, and within seconds, the crowd will be up in arms, debating whether the beret-wearing man or you deserves the seat. Don’t expect a quick resolution. When the old chap realizes you’re not going to back down, he’ll shuffle off, and you can finally settle in.

As you catch your breath, ensuring you’ve got your white linen handkerchief on hand, you’ll find that the real action hasn’t even started yet.

Just another part of the unique charm of the bullfighting experience!

El Fandi used to be a skier

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Have bike, will travel

Moving to a new job at the Olive Press, kiwi journalist Samantha Mythen takes the scenic route on two wheels from Granada to the Costa del Sol

THE road unfurls before me, a silky black ribbon of tarmac meandering through a living painting of a landscape.

Rolling hills, cloaked in a pattern of shimmering silver-green olive groves, stretch out to the horizon. The gangly tree limbs reaching up to the Andalucian sun.

I turn my face towards the sky too and feel the soft spring warmth on my cheeks.

Whitewashed villages perch on the hillsides, peeking out across the valley. Their terracotta roofs glow in the morning light.

Behind me, Granada’s historic grandeur has already faded, its labyrinthine alleys and towering Moorish relics now just a memory.

In a week, the charm had turned to claustrophobia, the narrow streets blocking out the generous spring sunshine.

But now, I am free. I am moving to Estepona and a job at the Olive Press and rather than taking the bus - a quick, forgettable three hours - I have chosen the challenging, rather richer route: Nearly 300 kilometres of back roads in three days, just me, my bike, and the open road.

With Lujar set as my first destination, I set off, my wheels humming beneath me.

The city fades behind me as I follow a bike path out of Granada, soon trading smooth pavement for

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of Haribo sweets, my secret weapon against fatigue.

The next stretch is a gift. For five blissful kilometres, I coast downhill on an old paved road running parallel to the A-44.

It feels like my own private highway, the absence of cars making it even sweeter. But, inevitably, the climb begins.

stunning Lecrin Valley, just un der two hours away.

I am now in true Olive Press territory, with the paper regularly arriving in this pretty village.

Breakfast is a feast fit for a long day in the saddle: jamon, sliced straight off the bone, draped over toasted bread rubbed with ripe tomato, alongside

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a second helping topped with creamy avocado.

The waitress chuckles at my appetite, and in my broken Spanish, I explain that a big day demands big fuel.

A café con leche fortifies me further as I roll on to the supermarket, where I stock up on essentials - fruit, protein bars, nuts, and an oversized bag

The A-348 snakes its way into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, guiding me through the postcard-perfect villages of firstly Lanjaron, then Las Barreras, and, finally, Orgiva, where the story of my new job, first began (entirely unbeknown to me, I hasten to add, but the Olive Press was founded here).

Whitewashed houses with wrought-iron balconies cling to the mountainside, their flower pots bursting with fuchsia and crimson geraniums. A cool mountain breeze drifts down from the snowcapped peaks above, refreshing but also whispering of the challenge ahead.

A ‘shortcut’ lures me off the main road, but first, I pause for lunch. Settling among the grassy slopes, I glance back at the valley I conquered this morning.

The villages now sit far below me, their tiled rooftops a patchwork of earthy reds and oranges. I breathe in deeply, savouring the quiet joy of being here.

When you’re bikepacking, life distills into its simplest form: move forward, eat, rest, repeat. Having left my homeland of Aotearoa, New Zealand to start fresh in Spain, the weight of change lingers in my thoughts. But here, on the road, it all melts away. That peace, however, is short-lived. Ahead, the road writhes its way uphill, a serpentine stretch that promises two hours of slow-motion suffering. This is ‘Type 4 fun’—an experience

best appreciated in hindsight. I pedal on, stopping only for a handful of Haribo, their sugary punch the only thing keeping my legs moving. And then, finally, the reward. Cresting the summit, the Alboran Sea shimmers below, a vast expanse of blue that makes every agonizing

pedal stroke worth it. But Google Maps, my ever-unreliable guide, has one last trick up its sleeve. My supposed ‘shortcut’ turns out to be an hour-long descent on a gravel-strewn nightmare of a road. My hands ache from gripping the brakes as I navigate through a gauntlet of jagged rocks. Towering cliffs loom above me, the sheer scale of the landscape making me feel deliciously insignificant. When I finally spot

smooth black pavement aheadgleaming as if freshly laid - I could kiss it.

The last push to Lujar is short but steep, my tired legs protesting every turn of the pedals.

The village is still, its narrow streets bathed in golden evening light and at the Albergue I have the eight-bed dorm to myself - a luxury after such a grueling day.

Dinner is a pizza, its crisp crust adorned with salty olives, lovingly prepared by the hotelowners-turned-chefs.

Sleep comes easily.

lounge by the sea.

I’ve pedaled

100 kilometres, my legs ache, but my heart is full

The next morning, my ritual begins: find coffee within an hour’s ride, then go.

Dawn reveals one of the most breathtaking vistas I’ve seen all year.

As I round the first bend out of Lujar, the Costa del Sol unfurls before me, its blue horizon melting into the sky.

Today is a long one - seven hours, 120 kilometres to Malaga- but every few kilometres, I find myself stopping to snap another photo. The views are just too good.

A cyclist’s dream road greets me at sunrise: empty, sweeping downhills that let me fly.

Having learned my lesson, I ignore Googles’ suggestion of a gravel track and stick to the smoothly paved GR5207.

By breakfast, I’m basking in the sun outside a café near Motril, devouring a tuna-and-egg bagel and my second coffee of the day.

Along the coastal road, lycra-clad cycling groups surge past, and I shout cheerful ‘holas’ - it feels particularly good when I’m zipping downhill and they’re toiling uphill.

The N-340 carries me most of the way, but I veer off whenever possible, detouring onto beachfront promenades where Saturday sun-seekers

At La Herradura, I refuel at Coche Coche, a cycling cafe where a cappuccino revives me. Further on, in Torre del Mar, I indulge in a lemon-pie-flavored gelato at Heladería La Nonna. By then, I’ve pedaled 100 kilometres. My legs ache, but my heart is full. Looking back along the coastline, I spot the wind turbines near Lujar, now tiny silhouettes against the sky, a marker of just how far I’ve come. The last of my Haribo stash disappears as I roll into Malaga. Freshly showered, I celebrate at The Kiwi House of Beer, a craft beer haven run by fellow New Zealanders. A hazy IPA from DosKiwis Brewing in Girona is the perfect toast to the near-end of my journey.

The Final Stretch

With two days of relentless riding behind me, my body protests, but Estepona awaits.

The morning ride out of Malaga is gentle, leading me to Cafetería El Pasaje in Alhaurin de la Torre, where a vegetable-and-egg sandwich and a massive swirl of churro fuel me.

The road weaves around the foothills of the Sierra de las Nieves, carrying me through sleepy villages where life moves at a blissful pace.

In Monda, I pause in the sun, savouring fruit and a cold Coke Zero, knowing the final stretch looms ahead.

The last push is an hour of chaotic highway along the A-355, but at least it’s mostly downhill.

In three days, I’ve seen more of Spain than in my first two weeks. My bike has been my ticket to freedom, a passport to winding roads, hidden cafes, and endless plates of Spanish cuisine. As Estepona finally comes into view, I know this is just the beginning.

CHALLENGE: The route twists and turns largely on the back roads and tracks

OLD FOLKS’ HOTEL

Lovers tiff

A JEALOUS girlfriend caused mayhem at a packed nightclub in Malaga after pepper spraying her own boyfriend during a blazing row –triggering the evacuation of 300 clubbers.

Kinky thief

AN Alcoy (Alicante) man was arrested after twice breaking into a flat opposite his own to steal women’s underwear, using a ladder to access the window and escaping with lingerie.

Scooped up

A TRADITIONAL

UK-style ice cream van operated by a British man has been seized by Benidorm police after locals shopped him for not having a licence.

Dog’s dinner

Gourmet squid and prawn dish for pampered pooches

MOVE over, Michelin-starred menus - there’s a new foodie craze in town, and it’s strictly for the ‘paw-sh’ crowd. Yes, Britain’s most discerning dogs are now dining on ‘chef-crafted King Prawn and Giant Squid Paella’. Because Pedigree Chum is so last season. Fresh dog food brand Years. com has unleashed its first dish in the swanky ‘Chef’s Collec-

By Dilip Kuner

tion’, and it’s a canine twist on a Spanish classic. Forget your average bowl of brown mush; this limited-edition delicacy features saffron-infused rice, fire-roasted piquillo peppers, and - wait for it - marinated squid tentacles. That’s right, your furry friend can now eat better than you.

A 27-year-old Brit got himself into a sticky situation in Benidorm after attempting to channel his inner Spiderman and getting stuck on top of a shop sign. The daring tourist found himself trapped on Gambo Street, much to the amuse ment (and concern) of hundreds of onlookers.

Emergency services quickly swooped in, with police cordoning off the area and advising our wannabe web-slinger to stay put. Firefighters soon arrived to save the day,

The mastermind behind this tail-wagging treat? Luke Alke made, a chef with a resume so fancy it practically wears a cravat. From Michelin-starred kitchens to luxury yachts, Alkemade has now turned his talents to feeding Fido. Working with veterinary nutritionists, he’s created a meal that’s not just delicious but also delivers 100% of your pup’s daily nutritional needs.

Web you believe it!

though it's unclear what inspired the man to shimmy down the building facade in the first place.

No word yet on whether he was trying to avoid the pub crawl or just thought it was a new way to avoid the crowds. Local reports confirm he’ll be facing no charges, but surely he’s learned to keep his feet on the ground next time.

At £6.95 (€8.22) a pop, this isn’t just dinner - it’s an ‘experience’. But act fast! Only a limited number of these posh pooch plates are available online. According to Years.com CEO Darren Beale: “Too many dogs are stuck eating bland biscuits. We’re here to spice up their bowls - and their lives.”

So, if your pooch deserves more than pedestrian doggie food, why not let him dive into some decadent seafood? Just don’t be surprised if they start demanding sparkling water with their meals. Bon appetit, Bowser!

AFTER years of court battles and protests, the infamous Algarrobico Hotel in Almeria might finally have a purpose: a ‘luxury retirement home for rebellious seniors.’

Writer Luis Martinez Reche suggests turning the abandoned 411 room monstrosity built on a virgin beach into the ultimate pensioner paradise. With ocean views, spacious rooms, and endless staircases for fitness, it's the perfect spot for bingo nights and unlimited pudding. Environmentalists want it demolished, but let’s be real – it’s sturdier than most grandpas' hips. Welcome to ‘Algarrobico Seniors' Paradise’!

iThief

A BRITISH tourist whose bag was swiped at Malaga airport is tracking the thief’s every move through her Airpods. Lauren Morley, 29, has spent days spying on the thief’s routine, learning the street they live on and workplace - the airport. Frustrated by the police’s lack of action, Lauren’s now calling for an army of amateur detectives to help her catch the airport bandit and reclaim her stolen stuff.