Tik talks

SOCIAL Media platform TikTok now includes subtitles in Catalan for adverts following talks with various public bodies and businesses.

The video sharing app is currently available in several languages and the company has expressed its commitment to include Catalan in its user-interface and to make Catalan subtitles available to individual content creators.

By Alex Trelinski

weekend.

Last year Spain had nearly 500 serious wildfires which devastated 306,000 hectares - three times more than in 2021. A serious lack of rain is feared to be set to make 2023 even worse.

STRONG GUSTS: Winds and hot weather blamed

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.

Voted top expat paper in Spain OPINION

Desperate action

MARK Saxby’s decision to go on hunger strike over his denial for residency is certainly taking matters to the extreme.

But you have to admire his tenacity in contacting the European Commission and the Ombudsman to argue that he didn’t get enough time to submit proof of health insurance ahead of the January 2021 deadline.

That was an error on his part as rules changed some years ahead of Brexit which demanded all EU incomers to show they had enough money in the bank as well as health cover.

But the UK Withdrawal Agreement did allow for two months for mistakes to be cleared up.

And what was certainly not his fault was the autumn 2020 appointments logjam caused by the Covid pandemic. Moreover he is paying taxes into the Spanish system and just wants to be a good citizen rather than a villain who wants to live ‘under the radar’.

Surely some common sense from authorities is in order so that he can enjoy a hearty meal as soon as possible.

Easter warning

SO often have the Semana Santa processions been cancelled to the disappointment of millions that it’s become a bit of a running joke that ‘it always rains at Easter in Spain’.

This year, we could be forgiven for hoping the joke is fulfilled.

Much of Spain, as we report on page 8, is officially in drought. As reservoirs dry up, rain is desperately needed, with crops threatened.

Indeed, even a bishop has got involved to lead a special mass to call for rain (see back page).

But the real answer is, of course, nothing to do with prayer. There can be no doubt that climate change is taking effect.

It may be too late to reverse the damage, but it is within the power of all of us to at least try to stop things getting worse. Governments and big business must get their act together and take action much faster to combat CO2 emissions. Otherwise we had better all start praying.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Anthony Piovesan anthony@theolivepress.es

Jo Chipchase jo@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

ADMIN Sandra Aviles Diaz (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es