A NEW law that could have saved a tourist’s life in Mallorca has been floated in honour of a cat.
It comes after an expat’s feline ‘saved her life’ after the clever moggy ‘warned’ her of carbon monoxide (CO2) poisoning inside their flat.
Debbie Lush was forced to act after her kitty, named Coco (above), refused to stop meowing at the boiler inside her rented apartment in Marbella.
Suspecting something was amiss - following weeks of ‘crippling’ headaches - the estate agent, from Dublin, bought a carbon monoxide detector, which began immediately beeping.
Lethal
Alarmingly, when she called in a plumber the next day, he insisted he had fixed the problem after hoovering away some dust.
But, that night, Coco continued to ‘howl’ at the boiler, so Debbie (below) sensibly sought a second opinion.
Fortunately another plumbing firm discovered a hole in her cavity wall leaking the lethal gas.
She was told her boiler needed immediate replacement.
“Coco knew something was wrong and would not let up,” she told the Olive Press.
“Since being fixed, I haven’t heard anything more than purring!”
Now she is calling for a so-called ‘Coco’s Law’, which would require all Spanish homes to be fitted with a CO2 detector.
Every year dozens of people die from CO2 poisoning in Such a law would have saved a Dutch tourist, 21, who died in a rented Playa de Palma villa, when a bird’s nest blocked a ventilation pipe.
He’s a British cyclist called ‘Stephen’ and he’s been in a coma after an accident… but that’s all he knows
A BRITISH pensioner has made a heartfelt appeal after getting ‘trapped’ in hospital in Spain having forgotten his surname.
The elderly man, believed to be aged around 70, woke up from a coma in a Costa Blanca hospital suffering from amnesia.
He told doctors in Torrevieja that he has literally no idea where he was going, where he lives or what he used to do.
All that is known is he was travelling by bike in Alicante province on September 24 when he suffered a stroke.
He had been cycling along the road between San Fulgencio and La Marina, according to local police, who are now helping him.
He told them he only remembers his first name as ‘Stephen’, and cannot recall any family members or relatives.
He also insisted he has no idea why he is in Spain, if he lives here or is on holiday. Meanwhile, alarmingly, no one has reported him missing, complicating the police investigation.
After an Olive Press online appeal over the weekend, we hoped we had a breakthrough when an old friend of an ‘avid cyclist’ from Cambridgeshire insisted he was ‘Steve Presland’.
A decade-old photo of Presland showed an uncanny resemblance, with others also recognising him as Presland. They both had the same colour-patterned beard and bushy eyebrows, plus an identical nose, as well as shared a passion for cycling.
However, the theory was seemingly put to rest on Monday after a member of the Ely Running Club said they had ‘tracked down’ Presland in the UK. Stephen Howard told the Olive Press: “Steve has just called me back and
said it is not him in your article, sorry!”
We asked to be put in touch with Presland but we have yet to hear back. Adding to the mystery, social media posts appealing for information on Stephen have strangely disappeared - but police are very much still trying to identify him.
Worried
The pensioner, who remains in hospital, asked that his photo and story be published by us in the hope that someone will recognise him.
The Policia Local in San Fulgencio told the Olive Press last night that Stephen is starting to get really worried.
A detective has been assigned to the case and is liaising with this paper in a bid to solve the mystery.
If you think you recognise Stephen or know who he is, do not hesitate to contact us at tips@theolivepress.es.
By Alex Trelinski
Water worries
ARTA and es Pla have been put on drought pre-alert, one level down from emergency status. They join Formentera in having new restrictions such as watering bans.
Time’s up
TWO Italians who stole an €80,000 Rolex watch from a British tourist in Magaluf last April have been arrested after returning to Mallorca to carry out more robberies.
Fire fought
A FOREST fire in s’Albufera that destroyed over 100 hectares of land on Wednesday has been extinguished. It is the third forest fire in the S’Albufere area in a fortnight.
Final race
A 41-YEAR OLD woman drowned last week while taking part in the gruelling 226km Ironman Triathlon in Barcelona. It is thought to be an accident.
Maddie suspect will ‘move to Africa’
MADELEINE McCann sus-
pect Christian Brueckner will flee to Africa if he gets out of prison next year, the Olive Press can reveal.
The 47-year-old paedophile and rapist could be free as early as next September, after being sensationally cleared of a string of rape and child abuse allegations in Portugal.
A source close to his legal team told the Olive Press moving to Africa would be the ‘safest place’ to live.
“He won’t be recognised there and he won’t be going after any of the witnesses or victims who named him as a rapist and abuser,” said the source.
“He doesn’t want to get caught again and go back to prison.”
Brueckner - who is currently serving a sev-
Appeal launched as fears grow German paedophile will flee Europe if released next year
en year sentence for raping a pensioner - could also consider Cambodia, where he has an old friend, an IT specialist.
German Christian Post, who was ordered to give evidence at the trial, currently lives in Kampot, a magnet for child sex abusers.
The news comes after the paedophile was shockingly found not guilty of five separate sex offences in a German court last week.
The crimes, which all took place in Portugal, included playing with himself while sitting under a slide in a children’s playground in Messines in June 2017.
However, despite four children seeing him with his trousers down by his
EXCLUSIVE
By Jon Clarke
ankles and their parents finding no sign of urine, Judge Ute Engermann believed he was having a pee.
She ruled him not guilty of four other offences, including three rapes and another child sex assault on a beach near Praia da Luz, a month before Maddie went missing nearby.
German prosecutors have now formally appealed the sentences on the basis of bias, among other claims.
Bias
Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said: “We will make an appeal to the Supreme court. They have the power to order a retrial with new judges.
“We think there is a case to show bias among the judges and we believe we can show that.”
Victim Hazel Behan, told the Olive Press, she will ‘definitely’ support the appeal and prays for a reversal.
Repellents, Paints and Coatings
RISING
“I’m utterly devastated by the ruling,” she said from her home, near Dublin, this week.
“They’ve got it completely wrong and I’m still certain Brueckner was my rapist.
“I’ll never forget his eyes. They are bored into my head and soul. I still see them at night.”
Another witness, Helge Busching, who was described by the judge as ‘a liar’ has also hit out at the ruling.
He told the Olive Press the ruling was a ‘total scandal’, adding he was not going to let the judge’s claims ‘go unanswered’.
The German had first pointed the finger at the accused in 2008 and told the court he had watched two videos of Brueckner raping a teenage girl and another pensioner.
His claims were backed up by a fellow friend Manfred Seyferth, but because a third former pal, Mario ‘Cheyanne’ Schonburg, denied he had seen them, the judge appeared to side with him instead.
She also brushed aside the testimony of leading prison
psychiatrist, Christian Riedemann, who labelled Brueckner a very real danger to the public, telling the court he was in the ‘top league of dangerousness’. The same prosecutors are also now working to build a water tight case against Bruckner over the abduction of Maddie. They are expected to launch official proceedings against him over the next few months. They have already confirmed they have proof that the British toddler is dead and their prime suspect is Brueckner, who was outside her holiday home in Praia da Luz the night she vanished.
Opinion Page 6
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NOT GUILTY: of five sex crimes but official charges over Maddie (far left) loom for Brueckner
INIESTA OUT
SPANISH football legend Andres Iniesta, who scored the decisive goal in the 2010 World Cup final, has today announced his retirement from soccer at age 40.
In a 22-year professional career, Iniesta's illustrious journey also included two European Championship titles and four Champions League trophies with Barcelona.
At an emotional ceremony in Barcelona, Iniesta reflected on his career: “All the tears are of pride, not sadness. I achieved
the dream of becoming a soccer player through hard work and sacrifice.”
Iniesta made 674 appearances for Barcelona, where he was instrumental in the tiki-taka style that defined an era, playing alongside greats like Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Lionel Messi. He won nine La Liga titles and six Copa del Reys during his time with the club.
Jailhouse rock
The incredible tale of the Scottish drug smuggler who found stardom in the 80s with a prison band –and then lost it all
THEY say everyone deserves a second chance.
By Walter Finch an old man might get the chance to rekindle the whole music thing, you know? A second bite at the cherry.”
And for one former jailbird narco-trafficker turned rocker, it comes 30 years after he nearly hit the big time with a band he formed while in a Spanish prison.
Former Costa del Sol resident Allan McCarthy, 61, once found minor fame as the front man for Berlin 90 (named after the wall which had just fallen), even playing live on national television from jail.
While performing shows for Spanish television and radio, the gregarious Scotsman penned the song Runaway from his cell.
Now, McCarthy, who is back living in Spain on the Mar Menor, is re-releasing the song with a slick new music video..
“My dream got taken away from me and my story ended abruptly when I was moved to Carabanchel [pris on] and then deport ed,” the ageing rocker re flected to the Olive Press
“I’m hoping that now,
Runaway became a sleeper hit in Spain in the late 80s, making the charts and
even propelling McCarthy’s four-piece band out of prison to perform live shows in public – something that the Scotsman claims was against all the rules.
The musical talent landed himself in Sangonera prison in his mid-20s after a car he was riding in was busted with a consignment of hashish near Murcia in 1988.
“But what they never found was the half a kilo of coke underneath the seat!” McCarthy chortled.
Unbelievably, a chequered stint behind bars started to miraculously transform itself into a platform to launch a musical career.
But when McCarthy (left) found himself languishing in Madrid’s infamous Carabanchel Prison towards the end of his stretch in the early 1990s, the
dream appeared to be over.
Originally built in the 1930s for the political enemies of the Franco regime, 50 years later the prospect of being sent to Carabanchel made even Spain’s most hardened criminals quail. “Carabanchel was like the bogeyman for these guys,” McCarthy told this newspaper. “It was like Spain’s Alcatraz.”
When he was suddenly released four years into his six-anda-half sentence – something
unheard of at the time – and promptly deported from Spain, it seemed to dash his musical ambitions.
But all that might be set to change.
As well as rekindling the flames of his musical career, McCarthy is also set to write a book on his journey as a reformed con. He also plans to return to Sangonera, in Murcia, to perform one last time in the jail where he made his name.
PHONE CHARGE
MANCHESTER City's Matheus Nunes was arrested last month after allegedly stealing a mobile phone while at a Madrid nightclub.
The Portuguese midfielder, 26, was held at a police sta tion for questioning following an incident at the La Riviera club.
Nunes was taking advantage of a season break to enjoy a night out in the Spanish capital.
A fan tried to take a photo of the player without his permission in the toilets of the nightclub.
Nunes allegedly snatched the high-end phone from the man’s hands and refused to return it to him. He now potentially faces a trial on theft charges.
TOWER POWER
MORE than 20,000 spectators gathered to watch the biennial human tower competition in Tarragona.
Some 32 teams compete in the Concurs de Castells in Catalunya, home of the sport since the 18th century.
Teams carefully build their towers by placing their stron-
gest and heaviest members at the base, arms interlocked, while the lightest and littlest climb to the top.
A group from Vilafranca del Penedes won the contest for the eighth year in a row. UNESCO declared the towers as a valued example of intangible cultural heritage in 2010.
AMBER Heard - the Aquaman star and former flame of Johnny Depp - has been spotted dining in style at Cordoba’s La Taberna de Almodóvar.
Heard, 38, known for her high-profile legal battle with Depp, stunned the restaurant staff when she walked in for a casual yet lavish lunch, tucking into seasonal veggies, grilled sole, and melt-in-your-mouth premium
Open from Monday to Sunday 13:30 – 17:00
(Last reservation at 15:30) 19:00 – 00:00
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Heard AND seen aged beef.
But the real sizzle of the day? Amber, dressed in a laidback yet chic outfit, reportedly spoke flawless Spanish and posed for a snap with Angel Sanchez, the manager of the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand eatery.
The restaurant wasted no time sharing the news on social media, gushing: “It was an absolute pleasure to host the incredible actress and model Amber Heard! A day we won't forget!”
CELLMATES: Allan (second from left) with his group Berlin 90
HYPER SMITH
A NEW ‘hyper-club’ backed by Will Smith is set to open in Ibiza next year.
UNVRS, formerly the site of the superclub Privilege, is The Night League’s latest project, following its other ventures Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza.
According to CEO Yann Pissenem, a hyper-club is a fusion of a club, an arena and a luxury hospitality space and will have space for 15,000 people.
Hollywood star Smith featured in the venue’s first marketing gambit, appearing in an Instagram video claiming he had ‘seen a UFO’ which led him to the club construction site.
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Horror death
Bones found at waste incinerator in hunt for missing woman
THE hunt for a missing 24-year-old expat has taken a grim turn, as police now fear the young woman may have been incinerated after becoming trapped inside a rubbish container.
Bone fragments of Argentinian Agostina Rubini have been found at the Son Reus waste plant.
By Yzabelle Bostyn
Forensic scientists are now examining them to confirm it is Agostina.
The student from Argentina vanished after a night out on Palma’s Paseo Maritimo on October 2.
What was supposed to be a
STONE ME
AUTHORITIES have seized over 987 kilos of stones, fossils, and shells from beachcombers flying out of Menorca airport in the past year.
The seized items will be returned to their natural environment. Every year there is significant pilfering from the island’s beaches which has an impact on the geological heritage of the island.
Biosphere Reserve head, David Vidal, said: “These items play a key role in beach ecosystems.”
“It is vital that we learn to respect the environment in order to guarantee that Menorca remains intact for future generations.”
fun evening has turned into every parent's worst nightmare, with detectives suspecting the unimaginable.
They have confirmed she may have fallen into a rubbish container while searching for a lost item, possibly her phone.
Her handbag and jacket were found next to the underground bin on the night she disappeared.
Police have been tracking Agostina’s last known movements through phone signals.
It led them to the horrifying conclusion her trail ended at the Son Espases incineration plant, where waste is destroyed.
Officers say she would have died in the truck on the way to the plant as conditions on board are ‘not compatible with life’.
They’ve ruled out foul play, believing she may have lost consciousness due to a mix of alcohol and medication she was on.
Police are still officially treating it as a ‘missing person case’ until her death can be confirmed.
New border delay
THE EU's long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) has been delayed once again due to a number of countries still not being prepared.
The automated computer system will apply to British and other 'third-country' nationals travelling to any of the 29 Schengen Area countries, including Spain.
It will scan their passports instead of stamping them and automatically track the number of days they have spent in the EU.
The move is to avoid people from non-EU countries overstaying their typical 90 in 180 day limit.
Suspended
However, despite being due to roll out on November 10, it has been ‘suspended indefinitely’, with no new start date announced.
The further delay occurred with countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands, simply not being ready to implement the system.
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, announced: “I hope we can start as soon as possible but there's no new timeline so far.”
Opinion Page 6
Pool suction death probe
A COURT has ordered an investigation into the death of a British girl who allegedly got sucked to the bottom of a faulty swimming pool.
Sofia Draper, nine, got trapped on the floor of her grandfather’s pool in Girona on March 31 last year, yet a police probe was dropped after just four days.
Her grandad was filming her glide along the bottom of the pool when her chest suddenly became trapped by the suction of the filter.
It comes nearly five years since a British family drowned in a mysterious incident at a swimming pool in Mijas.
Christmas
Prosecutors launched an investigation after the Christmas Eve incident in 2019 in which tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died.
Incredibly, an investigation found there was nothing wrong with the pool at Club la Costa, despite eyewitnesses describing powerful suction leading to the deaths.
Now Sofia’s parents, Julian and Olga Draper, hope they will have more luck at Girona Court, which finally agreed to reopen the investigation.
The probe aims to clarify if a builder or maintenance technician flaunted regulations when fitting the suction plate.
When Sofia’s body was fished out, police found she had a clear, circular bruise on her chest measuring 30cm in diameter.
According to her family’s lawyers, the suction system was operating at three times its intended level and the opening was too large. “It was a very dangerous set up that
REST EASY
VAN life has exploded in popularity over recent years, with school buses, fire trucks and ice cream vans all converted into tiny homes.
The Balearic Islands are also at the epicentre of a nationwide housing crisis, leading many to sleep in their cars.
This chilling situation has even led one enterprising Ibiza resident to convert a hearse into a cosy-coffin home.
The unique vehicle appeared in the ‘Nice & Cheap’ Facebook and could be yours for just €4,500.
A Mercedes Benz, the car is ‘in very good condition and has up to date checks, including an MOT until 07/2025.’
Mournfully, it has done 189,000 kilometres and is from 1993. Thankfully, the bed is not a coffin but a fitted mattress.
There is also a solar panel system with a new 140Ah battery and a 230V converter, but be careful not to go towards the light.
By Laurence Dollimore
we had at home and nobody warned us,” mother Olga explained.
“What we are trying to do is to ensure that another family does not find themselves in the same situation as us.”
TRAGIC: Sofia was ‘dragged down’ to the bottom
Five years after the tragic deaths of a British family, a nineyear-old girl has also drowned here in Spain
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
Quelle surprise!
SO the seemingly cursed Entry/Exit System (EES) is delayed until further notice - yet again.
The long-awaited scheme by the EU wants to scan passports of travellers from ‘third’ countries - like Britain - to ensure they’re not breaking the 90 in 180 day limit. But let’s be honest, the programme is obviously designed to teach us Brits a lesson over Brexit, and to ward off other member states from following in our footsteps.
While we were no supporters of the Leave camp, it is rather laughable that some of the EU’s biggest players, including France and Germany, simply cannot get themselves organised in time.
Ironically, they are probably being held back by the red tape and bureaucracy that inspired many people to vote for Brexit in the first place.
Instead of thinking up ways to keep Brits out of Spain and the Schengen Zone, how about introducing laws for those who are non-resident but bought homes before the disastrous Brexit vote?
They pay millions in taxes each year and can now only use their hard-earned properties for three months at a time. It’s high time they are granted extra visa or travel rights, as is currently - and yet again - being discussed in France.
Makes you sick
THE total acquittal of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner over five sex crimes is a bitter pill to swallow. Now to add salt to the wound, we reveal in this week’s edition how he could be planning to move to Africa if he is freed next year. His current sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Portugal is due to expire in September 2025, although his lawyer is now aiming to get that conviction squashed. It’s safe to say that if he made it to Africa he could escape justice for the rest of his life.
And god knows how many more potential victims there would be there.
BLOOD MONEY
ALEGION of Spanish banks have financed Israel’s arms suppliers to the tune of €3.8bn, it has emerged.
At least a dozen banks made a staggering 4,000 investments or loans between 2011 and 2024, with the majority taking place in the last five years. A total of seven arms manufacturers who sell weapons to Israel (five based in the US, one in Italy and two in Germany), benefitted from the deals.
The data was released by the Delas Study Centre for Peace to commemorate the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 last year.
The terrorist outrage that killed 1200 people sparked a devastating and still ongoing response from Israel which has seen more than 42,000 Palestinians killed.
According to the study, Santander and BBVA are the two biggest investors in armaments for Israel, collectively providing 95% (€3.6bn) of the money.
The third largest financier is the Caixa Group, which has handed over €99 million, followed by Bestinver (€59.5 million) and EDM Group (€7.95 million).
In fourth place was Ibercaja, which provided €2.26 million, followed by Banco Caminos, Dux Inversores, Abaco
During his latest sex crimes trial in Germany, one expert psychologist predicted Brueckner was very likely to strike again within two years of being released.
We sincerely hope German prosecutors have a plan and some solid evidence that will allow them to charge him for the disappearance of Madeleine and keep him locked up until trial.
PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es
Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es
Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es
Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es
Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es
Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es
Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es
Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es
Cole Sinanian cole@theolivepress.es
Spanish banks - including BBVA and Santanderhave financed €3.8bn worth of weapons used by Israel in Gaza, writes Yzabelle Bostyn
DEMANDS: A global outcry is demanding an end to the invasion that has killed 42,000 and flattened Gaza
Capital, Renta 4 Banco, GVC Gaesco and Banca March. According to the study, 11 of the 12 banks have bought stocks in businesses that sup-
ply arms to Israel.
The main one is British multinational RollsRoyce, which also part-owns German manufacturer MTU Friedrichshafen. BBVA, Banco Santander and Caixabank have also lent more than €3.1bn in revolving credits and corporate loans to these businesses, while the former two have also invested €660 million in bond underwriting.
Dubbed the ‘Bank Armada’, the report states that Spanish funds are being used by Israel to ‘commit crimes against humanity, including genocide’. The report also revealed how Israel
Dark side of the green boom
New film lifts the lid on the social - and environmental - impact of renewable energy
ANEW documentary has exposed the unsettling truth behind Spain’s ‘green energy’ transition.
Unrenewable Lives (Vidas Irrenovables) investigates 50 communities throughout Spain affected by the move to renewable energy.
Last year, over 50% of Spain’s energy came from renewable sources, much more than its European neighbours.
By 2030, it is expected to rise to 81%, almost triple the amount produced in 2020.
However, the government’s plans are ironically causing the destruction of many natural habitats, the film by Metafora Visual claims.
“This rollout is causing many problems for ecosystems, the lives of local people and the environment,” explained director Francisco Vaquero, 39 (below).
“It’s not been planned in a way which has considered all the effects on people that live in rural areas. It’s destroying forests, agricultural land and ways of life. We’re trying to give these people a voice.”
Solar panels are limiting space for wild animals to live, hunt and nest, while wind turbines are known to kill birds, bats and other species.
Incredibly, areas of woodland are even being cleared to allow for the installations.
In Amil, Galicia, the construction of a wind farm actually destroyed the
By Yzabelle Bostyn
town’s natural water source, and its residents now rely on a neighbouring town for supply.
“If it continues this way, I’m not sure what will be left of the country,” explains Vaquero, in the fascinating film, which has been previewed this month, before release in January.
“Spain is being devoured and southern Europe has become a ‘sacrificial zone’ for renewable energy,” he adds.
Alarmingly the average life cycle of turbines is between 20 and 25 years and currently the blades cannot be recycled. There is also currently no plan to recycle solar panel parts.
By 2050, there will be around 80 million tonnes of renewable materials, much of which ‘will be buried underground’, further disrupting ecosystems.
“They think they are taking care of the planet, but really they just want to own it,” said Marisa Casal, who appears in the documentary.
A long-term campaigner, she got involved four years ago when a megaproject of 10 million square metres threatened her local area of Coin, in Malaga.
Her local group, the Valle Natural Rio Grande association, is particularly
worried about the risk of cancerous chemicals in solar panels leaking into the town’s water system.
She said: “It’s terrifying, but we will keep fighting for young people.”
The project is an amalgamation of seven estates in the La Jara area, which borders the Sierra de las Nieves National Park.
Providing 560 megawatts of energy, this megaproject is one of 214 licensed projects passed in Spain between 2022 and 2023.
There are a staggering 800 more in the pipeline for Andalucia alone.
Around half of the projects are being funded from foreign investment, the film claims.
The project in Coin, for example, is being part-run by a giant investment fund, Q-Energy, based in Berlin, with support from local firms Natera Solar, Orla Solar and Admiralty Management SL.
In total, 15,000 of the 31,500 megawatts so far licenced in Spain are managed by foreign companies.
The biggest player, Endesa, is surprisingly now 70% Italian-owned.
(right)
BACKLASH: The report (left) has led to sharp criticism and protests against the banks that support Israel’s leader Netanyahu (centre)
EU’re a tsar
THE European Union has appointed Danish politician Dan Jorgensen as ‘housing tsar’ tasked with tackling the continent’s property crisis.
Part of his task will be to attract investment in new housing and slashing the costs of construction.
Jorgensen will be working to develop a comprehensive European Affordable Housing Plan, which could provide much-needed support for Spain and other member states.
Shortage
He will also be expected to address the shortage of housing close to workplaces, and optimise the use of existing housing stock.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the gravity of the situation.
“Millions of young people and families are struggling to find affordable housing across Europe,” she told Jorgensen in a mission statement.
“We must address this crisis by helping member states tackle structural issues and unlock both public and private investment.”
GIVE OUR MONEY BACK!
By Walter Finch
TENS of thousands of homebuyers in Spain are taking advantage of new EU lender rules.
The Spanish banking regulator has received over 40,000 requests in the first half of 2024 alone following the ruling. It could see millions of mortgage holders recoup millions in unfair fees.
Notary fees
The expenses - which include notary fees, agency fees, appraisal costs, taxes, and land registry fees - are often as much as 3% of the total mortgage costs.
Now, the European High Court has ruled the costs should be shared, with homeowners expected to recoup
‘Thank you Olive Press for trying to find Orville!’
PROPERTY queen Jasmine Harman has personally thanked the Olive Press after we launched an appeal to track down her daughter’s lost teddy Orville.
The A Place In The Sun star, 48, said: “I wanted to thank you so much for sharing our search for ‘Orville’, my daughter’s soft toy. We haven’t found him yet, but we are still hopeful… thank you!” The toy was misplaced while Jasmine and her family were shopping around the Parque Comercial Miramar in Las Lagunas, Mijas area on October 5. Her daughter Joy has had the stuffed green teddy since she was a baby and it is of great sentimental value.
an average of €1,500 each from their bank.
Regulator, the Bank of Spain, announced that many banks are voluntarily returning these fees to customers without the need for legal action.
However, an alarming 61% of claims are being rejected due to incomplete information, customer service rejections and fraud. Anyone who took out a mortgage before June 2019 and paid all the associated expenses is entitled to make a claim.
Hugenumberof claimants demand a refund of mortgagefeesasclaims floodtheBankof Spain
Around 15 million mortgages were taken out in Spain between 2003 and 2018. Homeowners can still claim even if they’ve paid off their mortgage in full. To claim, you’ll need your mortgage deed and related invoices.
KEY POINTS:
● Claims are valid for mortgages signed before June 2019
● The EU ruling extends the deadline for filing claims
● Expect to recover between €1,500 and €3,000, depending on your mortgage
A COSTA Blanca resort, home to gangster expat John Gilligan (below), is the cheapest place to buy on the Spanish costas.
Torrevieja is excellent value with homes going for around €1,700/m2. It means you can snare a two-bedroom apartment near the beach for just €65,000. There are even homes for as little as €34,600, although they require extensive work.
A two bedroom home on the Costa del Sol would be difficult to find for less than €200,000 in comparison, while in Marbella you would need at least €275,000.
Coastline
Bustling Torrevieja is just south of Alicante city, which costs an average of €2,298/m2, while Benidorm comes in at €2,868/ m2.
Fancy the north Costa Blanca you will need to shell out €2,864/m2 in Denia while Moraira, an expat hotspot, remains one of the most expensive at €3,956/m2.
CAN YOU PLACE THIS IN THE SUN: The Harman family Orville
Have you seen Joy’s teddy Orville? Contact tips@theolivepress.es
If you don’t have them, you can request copies from your bank or agency.
● You can still claim even if you’ve paid off or sold the property.
MINI-MOGULS
SOME 91% of real estate crowdfunding investors are men. Walliance, a crowdfunding platform operating in Spain, Italy, and France, examined over 170 projects, following the company’s acquisition of the French platform Lymo Finance.
The report reveals that the average investor is 44 years old, with participants from 74 countries, primarily Italy and France.
Walliance noted that new construction projects have seen the highest demand on the platform.
Most investors are small savers with limited real estate knowledge but eager to grow their assets. They club togeth er with other small investors via a website to buy a stake in the real estate project.
The platform’s average investment in 2024 was €3,902, with 57.87% of funds directed toward new developments.
Torrevieja, though, has everything, including 14 kms of coastline and a warm climate with an annual average temperature of 18C.
It has around 89,920 inhabitants and is packed with British expats, alongside 121 other nationalities.
Irish gangster Gilligan received a suspended sentence for drug dealing at Torrevieja Criminal Court last year. He was accused of smuggling cannabis and sleeping pills into Ireland as well as owning a gun found in his back garden. While he faced eight years in prison, he instead got handed a 22-month suspended sentence and a €14,000 fine. When asked by the judge if he accepted the deal, Gilligan replied: “Yes, I am guilty.”
REGULATOR: The Bank of Spain estimates €1,500 per purchase returned
November 29thDecember 12th 2023
IN THE FRAME
THE architecture shortlist for this year’s prestigious Dezeen Awards has been revealed.
A total of 82 projects are competing for awards across 15 architecture categories, submitted by studios from 32 countries, including Spain, Germany, Bangladesh, Rwanda, Turkey, Taiwan, Niger, and Mexico.
The most represented countries are the United Kingdom with 10 shortlisted projects, followed by the USA with nine, and China and Australia with seven entries each.
Notable projects include a solar farm hub in Turkey clad with mirrored steel panels, and a sprawling, plant-filled airport terminal in India spanning 255,000 square metres.
By Dilip Kuner
Also on the shortlist are a renovated bookstore in China, a Tokyo development with undulating green roofs, and a treetop walkway in Norway made from pinewood.
A housing prototype for displaced communities, developed by Holcim in collaboration with the Norman Foster Foundation and showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale, has also been nominated.
Chris Cooke, a Dezeen Awards judge and head of design collaborations at Bentley, commented: “Our partnership with Dezeen Awards continues to spotli-
HOUSE (RURAL) CATEGORY Barneys Ruin
UK
Patrick Bradley Architect’s Barneys Ruin project in Maghera, UK, took an innovative approach to preserving historical ruins. “The clients were determined to keep the ruins untouched,” said Bradley, which led to a concept where a new structure delicately floats above the existing site. The house weaves through the ruins, creating a powerful contrast between the old and the new, preserving the site’s heritage while introducing modern design.
The Dezeen Awards architecture shortlist has been announced and we bring you six of the best
ght ambitious and innovative projects. This year’s shortlist is filled with sophisticated, thoughtful designs, many of which reflect a strong commitment to environmental responsibility.”
The shortlisted projects were evaluated by a distinguished architecture jury, including architects Keiji Ashizawa, Francine Houben, Dong Danshen, and Sumaya Dabbagh.
Winners for each category will be announced live during the Dezeen Awards ceremony on November 26.
The 15 category winners will then compete for the coveted architecture project of the year award. Here, the Olive Press has chosen half-adozen standout projects from the shortlist…
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT PROJECT
Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2
CIVIC PROJECT
Beijing City Library
Beijing, CHINA
Terminal 2 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, India, reimagines the airport experience by incorporating natural elements. Designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill as a ‘terminal in a garden’, the 255,000-square-metre space connects passengers to nature, inspired by Bangalore’s reputation as the Garden City. The terminal boosts the airport’s capacity by 25 million passengers annually and serves as a gateway that integrates lush landscapes into the typically bustling airport environment, setting a new standard for international terminals.
HOUSE
The Beijing City Library claims to be a modern landmark. “It boasts the world’s largest climatised reading space and China’s largest load-bearing glass system,” says Snøhetta, the architecture firm behind the project. The library’s design is inspired by Beijing’s natural landscape, inviting the outdoors in through sculpted interior forms. It features a variety of informal zones, reading spaces, and conference rooms, making it a hub for learning, culture, and community in the digital age.
In Madrid, the Beyond-the-family Kin project redefines living spaces for older residents, fostering intergenerational care and social connections. The design, by Ignacio G. Galan and OF Architects, creates diverse living arrangements that challenge the isolation often faced by the elderly, promoting independence while offering communal care options. The architectural layout supports flexible living arrangements, with financial strategies designed to enhance the quality of life for its occupants.
Photo by Zhu Yumeng
Photo by Ar. Ekansh
Goel/Studio Recall
Photo by Joe Laverty
Photography
HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROJECT Atmosphere
Leogang, AUSTRIA
Designed for the Hotel Krallerhof in Leogang, Austria, the new Atmosphere facility integrates seamlessly into the surrounding mountain landscape. The curved split-roof structure extends over 100 metres, lowering toward a spring-fed lake and enclosing a 50-metre-long infinity pool. The design by Krallerhof and Hadi Teherani Architects incorporates sustainable materials and regional partners,
emphasizing a harmonious connection with nature. A retractable glass facade allows the interior to blend with the surrounding environment, creating a peaceful alpine oasis for relaxation.
Academy
Bookstore Beijing, CHINA
Trace Architecture Office (TAO) transformed the historic Weishan Chongzheng Academy in Beijing into a multifunctional bookstore. Collaborating with the local government and Librairie Avant-Garde, TAO’s design preserved the building’s original atmosphere while adding modern functionality, including exhibition spaces, a small theatre, and a coffee shop. The design approach focused on minimal intervention to protect the existing structures, including the preservation of courtyard trees, reflecting a deep respect for the site’s historical and natural heritage.
Photo by HG Esch
Photography
Photo by Arch-Exist Photography
Pasaje 19 de Marzo, 10 y 11, Poligono Son Bugadellas, Calvia, Mallorca
is using the weapons financed by Spanish banks.
According to the study, guided bombs and missiles produced by American companies Boeing and General Systems, have been used in many attacks across Gaza and Lebanon.
Although the Spanish government has insisted it ceased selling arms to Israel after the October 7 attack, the Centre Delas found at least one company, Nammo Palencia SL, had sold arms to the country. It emerged sales were not registered in Spain as they were carried out from their Norway branches.
“They have caused the deaths of hundreds of people, falling on residential areas, schools and hospitals,” claimed the report.
Caixabank (€198 million), BBVA (€1.4bn)
and Santander (€1.2bn) have financed Boeing, while BBVA has sent money to General Dynamics.
The report also highlighted the exportation of combat planes and helicopters such as the Boeing Apache used in attacks on Gaza, including last June’s assault on Rafah.
King: Palestine must exist
The monarch criticised those who chose war over peace, saying ‘changing the lives of millions of innocent civilians, ending lives while redrawing borders and displacing popu- lations: it is unacceptable’.
Felipe met with the Jordanian King, Abdullah II, on October 6, accompanied by Spain's Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares. Spain and Jordan, Felipe insisted, are united by a shared desire that 'the only possible way out of this endless cycle of violence is through two states, Israel and Palestine, liv- ing side by side in peace and stability'.
It also reported the use of F-35 aircrafts, produced by Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Leonardo, which have been used in many missile attacks in Gaza.
Leonardo, the report recognises, has received €1.8bn from BBVA and Banco Santander.
Renewable energy is big business and the large oil companies are already heavily invested in the industry, as it allows them to lower their overall carbon footprint and, therefore, taxes.
“It’s all about money,” explained Marisa to the Olive Press this week. “If they really wanted clean energy, they would be helping people to become self-sufficient with localised, shared renewable energy sources.
“But, of course, if they do that people won’t need to pay them any more.”
The research also referenced the ‘indiscriminate’ use of Rh-120 tanks, produced by Rheinmetall, which has factories in Spain.
The German firm has been slammed for allowing its tanks to attack civilians, journalists and aid convoys.
It is also possible that its tanks may have killed Spanish aid workers, including volunteers from Spanish chef Jose Andres’ NGO, World Central Kitchen.
“These banks are the main drivers of the military economy that allows armed conflict and human rights violations to continue around the world,” said the report.
Instead, they propose ‘ethical finances’ that reject any investment in arms products and promote a finance model based on reducing inequality and social injustice.
The Centre Delas mainly used data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the majority of cases occurring after October 7.
Since then, Israeli forces have fired over 70,000 tonnes of explosives in Gaza, accounting for 35 kilos per inhabitant.
Today, some 90% of the population has been displaced on at least one occasion and over 42,000 have died.
GIVING BACK
Only by registering on our website can you take part in our competitions and giveaways
THE Olive Press has yet more happy customers after giving away two free tickets to Annie The Musical in Fuengirola last week.
The competition was just one of the many prizes we have arranged in conjunction with our partners and advertisers this year.
Last week, expats Pamela and her husband were the lucky pair chosen to attend the Annie show at the Salon Varietes theatre.
Pamela wrote to us afterwards: “We have just returned to Almuñecar after seeing tonight’s production, which was amazing! It was well worth the journey down.
“Thank you so much for the tickets, we had a great evening.”
In the last 30 days, more than 3,500 people have registered an account at theolivepress.es.
It means we now have more than 53,300 registered users on our website.
Registering an account allows you to access another free article and lets you comment on stories and engage with other readers.
Registered users are then sent weekly newsletters on travel, health and property, keeping them informed of the latest news in Spain.
And increasingly, they have the privilege to take part in exclusive competitions and be sent offers from a growing list of big-name partners.
We have given away concert tickets to DJ Pete Tong, top-quality mattresses and free days and meals out at popular beach clubs and restaurants.
And advertisers should also be taking note, as our large database means we can generate fantastic sales opportunities through competitions, deals, and other offers that are beneficial to both reader and advertiser.
If you want to advertise with the OP, please contact sales@theolivepress.es or call our office on 0034 951154841 for more information.
“On some occasions they are even seizing agricultural land by decrees, which takes job opportunities away from our young people and worsens depopulation,” explained Marisa.
Locals and expats need to ‘wake up and fight’ Spain’s energy problem
Perhaps the most alarming effect of the green revolution however is the amount of agricultural land which is being appropriated or sold for ‘pennies’, as Marisa describes it.
As EU laws have made foreign food imports cheaper than domestic produce, farmers are ending up making much more money by selling - or leasing the land - to renewable firms.
As Francisco explains in the film: “There’s something very dark behind this.
“The plan isn’t to create green energy but to make people dependent on big energy companies, force them out of the countryside and into cities, so they control the land.
“I’m sure it’s the big foreign investment funds like Blackstone and Vanguard that are buying up the country. It’s colonialism.”
He continues that locals and expats need to ‘wake up and fight’ against Spain’s growing renewable energy problem.
The activists insist they are not against renewable energy, but the huge scale of Spain’s current macro projects and their impact on the environment.
Massacre
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has since recognised Palestine as a state and urged for an end to the conflict. He was recently joined by the King (see inset above).
“The international community cannot remain silent for one more minute in the face of a massacre turned routine,” said Sanchez last month.
“We cannot normalise the deaths of innocent civilians nor stand by while International Human Rights are put into question. It’s time to say enough is enough.”
His statement was followed by protests all over Spain on October 6, where thousands of demonstrators urged world leaders to ‘free Palestine’.
Over 200 Spanish trade unions and NGOs have spoken out against the conflict, calling for a nationwide strike.
The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, branded the demonstrations ‘unacceptable’, saying: “Spain has become a breeding ground for hate and destruction…it is not right to allow the glorification of terrorism.”
SPAIN’S King Felipe has called for a ceasefire in Gaza during a visit to Jordan.
DESTRUCTION: The largely foreign owned companies are ‘driving people off the land and back to the cities’ and killing wildlife, such as eagles (left)
How the circular economy works in the world of business and everyday life, explains Christin Hagemeier
Repair and recycle!
HAVE you heard of the circular economy? Even if you haven’t, you’re likely familiar with examples from the past and present where it’s been naturally practiced.
In this article, I’ll explain what the circular economy is, how it differs from the linear economy, why it’s so important, and what each of us can do in daily life to support it.
As the name suggests, the circular economy is based on using raw materials in a cycle. This means materials should be used for as long as possible and, even after they’ve fulfilled their original purpose, repurposed. This process distinguishes between recycling, upcycling, and downcycling.
‘Upcycling’ refers to the process of enhancing materials, creating something more valuable from old resources. ‘Downcycling’ produces something of lower value, such as generating thermal energy through the burning of raw materials. ‘Recycling’, on the other hand, involves reusing raw materials to create the same product, like melting old glass bottles to produce new ones.
The difference from the ‘linear economy’ is clear: in the linear economy, raw materials are discarded after use. But where do we dispose of waste on a finite planet? A shocking example is the massive plastic vortex in the Pacific Ocean, which consists of improperly discarded plastic waste. This vortex has grown to three times the size of Spain!
The linear economy has serious drawbacks. Another major issue is the availability of resources, especially rare earth elements. These are essential for our electronic devices and batteries, but exist in limited quantities.
The EU has also recognised the importance of the circular economy. With the "Action Plan for the Circular Economy," it has introduced regulations to promote the careful use and reuse of resources. This plan now includes three comprehensive packages aimed at encouraging more sustainable practices.
What can we do in our daily lives? The key is to repair and reuse - and move away from disposable products. For nearly all disposable items, there are sustainable alternatives: reusable containers instead of takeaway packaging, cloth bags instead of plastic, second-hand clothing, and beeswax wraps as a substitute for cling film.
Another crucial step is repairing. Whether it’s a car, bike, or clothing— many things can be fixed instead of thrown away. Electronics, especially smartphones, are often designed to be irreparable. However, a new EU regulation aims to introduce the ‘right to repair,’ a vital step toward a sustainable future with our resources.
Please send your questions or comments on how to be greener to christin@theolivepress.es
Paradise won
New
‘natural paradise’ will open in Mallorca next year after yearslong conservation project by the WWF
By Yzabelle Bostyn
ALCUDIA is about to undergo major change as the WWF restores 50 hectares of wetlands. The project, Restauralcudia, has been underway since 2017 and has just hit a major milestone.
Together with nearby hotels, schools, the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and the local council, the WWF has restored the area, removing tonnes of rubbish and invasive plants.
Now, they are set to create a natural paradise for locals and tourists alike.
By December 2025, they will create 13 lakes from the existing two lagoons, enriching Alcudia’s biodiversity.
“This is a really important area for Alcudia, there are many different habitats, including saltwater and freshwater lagoons, they attract hun-
IN DECLINE
AROUND 40% of the vertebrate animal population in the Iberian Peninsula is in decline according to study done by researchers from Alicante and Barcelona universities.
Of the more than 400 species analysed, the groups with the highest rates of decline are amphibians like frogs and toads, along with freshwater fish.
Roberto Rodriguez-Caro from the University of Alicante's ecology department said: “Extinction rates are very high and are expected to continue to increase if conservation measures are not applied to mitigate their threats.”
The main warning signs of possible extinction is a fall in population. “Assessing whether populations are stable, increasing or declining is key to being able to identify problems and look for solutions," said Rodriguez-Caro.
The study - funded by the Iberian Society of Ecology - has created the largest database of population trends in Spain and Portugal. Some 21 scientists from different research centres have been working since 2021 to collate figures.
Researchers say the new database has tripled the amount of information, which has shown unfavourable results.
Amphibians and inland fish have had the highest rates of decline, so improvements in habitats and mitigating threats are essential for their preservation, according to the results published in the Biological Conservation journal.
Not everything is negative, with fauna, mammals and birds showing optimistic results due to conservation work being focused on them.
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dreds of species,” explains WWF Coordinator, Carlota Viada.
To accommodate them, the project will add 40 nests for small birds and bats, make the lakes deeper for toads and create small islands as a refuge for cormorants, ospreys, kestrels and barn owls.
The lakes, in Maristany and el Estany dels Ponts, will be surrounded by public paths and a biodiversity guide will be available to guide visitors. Some of Spain’s olympic kayaking team even trains in the wetlands and they have been helping the WWF to save the habitats.
Experts from UIB have also been taking water samples and monitoring birdlife in the area, which is showing steady numbers.
Wildlife
Not only to encourage wildlife, the project also aims to curb flooding which hits Alcudia every year, often damaging the port and beach.
The land was originally owned by Santander Bank but was donated to the local council.
Once a protected area, hotels sprung up in the 1960s and the lagoons laid as a forgotten dump for over 50 years.
“They are jewels in the middle of hotels,” said Viada.
“In fact, they have asked for them to be cleaned up again and again, they are really happy and fully support the project.”
Restauralcudia is fully financed by €2.2 million in EU Next Generation funds.
LA CULTURA
ONE OF A KIND: This could be the only surviving Republican
FROM SCREEN TO CANVAS
DEEPLY DEPP:
AN art exhibition by actor Johnny Depp could come to Spain after Spanish investors backed it. His inaugural show, A Bunch of Stuff has started in New York but will soon undertake a world tour. One of these stops could be one of Johnny’s favourite countries, Spain. Not only is the actor a frequent visitor to the country, where he often attends the San Sebastian Film Festival, but the project is financed by a Spanish investment group.
Stoneweg Places & Experiences is the property and culture finance group behind the exhibition, run by Spaniards Jaume Sabater and Juan Manuel Sevillano. The exhibition is an ‘immersive’ look into Depp’s creative process and artwork, including personal belongings and narration from the actor.
OP QUICK CROSSWORD
WAR MURAL UNCOVERED
A MURAL dating back to the Spanish Civil War featuring a soldier hammering the heads of dictators Franco, Hitler, and Mussolini on a dragon has been found hidden under whitewash in a factory.
The Centre for Contestano Studies (CEC) stumbled on the rarity when they went to recover some industrial
archaeology from the premises in Cocentaina (Alicante province).
CEC president, Pere Ferrer, said: “We are speechless as a mural of this grandeur is not normal.
“Practically no similar example has been preserved anywhere in Spain and this might be the only such mural,” he added.
Measuring six by three metres, it features slogans from the Republican anti-Franco movement during the war between 1936 and 1939.
The work was done by soldiers billeted during the war at Cocentaina who were members of Alicante's 6th Rearguard Battalion of Alicante.
Nobody knew of the mural's existence as it had been covered by whitewash either by the Republicans or Francoist authorities.
Bacteria the saviour
Female Spanish duo fuse art and science with new glue-eating bacteria to save historic church frescos around Europe
A SPANISH mother and daughter have teamed up to pioneer a new art restoration technique using specially trained glue-eating bacteria. The project involves 75-yearold Pilar Roig, an art restorer, and her 42-year-old microbi ologist daughter, Pilar Bosch. Together, they have combined their unique skill sets to save historic artworks in Valencia’s Santos Juanes Church, one of Spain’s oldest churches, as part of a €4 million project. The duo's innovation involves
Across
6 Prepares for an attack (6,2)
7 Smartphone ancestors (1,1,2)
8 Goes off (12)
10 Political slants
13 Regular customer
14 Speak (3)
15 “The Mission” co-star, with Irons (2,4)
16 Like most eyeglasses (6)
18 Misguided dreamers
bomb directors
22 Hard punch
23 Vicious (8) Down
1 Returning fighter’s diagnosis (1-1,1,1)
2 Midge (4)
BLESSED BACTERIA: The scientific breakthrough will save many frescoes
were not only painstakingly slow but risked damaging the artwork.
3 Heady coffee (8)
4 Island off Malta (4)
5 Meek oath corrupted after deductions (4-4)
7 Spectre (7)
9 Former Basque separatist group (1,1,1)
11 It’s licked in the summer (3,5)
12 Down-and-outer’s district (4,3)
13 Some royal tombs (8)
17 Besmirch (3)
19 Pole (4)
20 Frozen princess (4)
21 Glided on ice (4)
break it down. The bacteria were then mixed with a natural algae-based gel
The solution to Roig’s prob lem took root in 2008 when Bosch was researching her doctoral thesis and stumbled upon an article about bacteria being used to clean frescoes in Bosch’s research led her to a breakthrough – by ‘training’ bacteria to feed on the glue made from animal collagen, they found they could nat urally produce enzymes to
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By Walter Finch
The exhibition is an intense look at the actor
mural in Spain
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Spanish company wants to fly people to the moon by 2030
ELCHE company PLD Space hopes to fly people to the moon from 2030 in what will be Europe's first private human spaceflight programme.
The announcement was made at the launch of its new rocket factory at the Elche Business Park, which was attended by Science Minister Diana Morant.
The flight rockets will be called Miura Next and will use the Lynx capsule, which is the first for space travellers to be made in Europe.
PLD Space co-founder Raul Torres, said the Lynx Project objective was to provide ‘transport for cargo and humans by launching them
ONE SMALL STEP…
By Alex Trelinski
into orbit and bringing them back safe and sound’. The company is already developing a recoverable and reusable launcher that, by combining several units, will be able to reach the power necessary for such missions.
Team game
IF you ever fancied working for football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, then his Madrid hotel is offering jobs - so long as you have experience in the hotel trade.
Five vacancies have been advertised at the Portuguese player's Pestana Plaza Mayor, which is part of his Pestana CR7 chain. The terms appear to be good with annual salaries of up to €30,000 a year, along with 50 days leave and free health insurance.
The Pestana Plaza Mayor is looking for a doorman, junior bartender (two vacancies), a second head of reception, and a junior waiter.
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The ultimate guide to creating uncrackable passwords (because ‘password123’ just won’t cut it!)
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N today’s digital jungle, hackers are the sneaky predators… and your password? Well, it’s your first line of defence.
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Ryanair face-off
BUDGET airline Ryanair is being investigated by the European Union over its use of facial recognition in the company’s customer verification process. Ireland's Data Protection Commission(DPC) has launched a cross-border probe covering the EU.
Miura 5, its first rocket capable of carrying commercial cargo, is expected to make its test flight late next year or in early 2026.
The development will continue on recoverable launches with an objective to carry 50 tons into space, as opposed to 500 kilos via Miura 5.
For the manned missions, the aim is to have a Lynx capsule recovery test next year, when it is launched from a helicopter. In 2028 there will be a real launch test but without a crew and then once everything is secure in regard to technology and safety, the first manned mission is slated for 2030.
Torres said he wants PLD Space to be Europe’s aerospace industry leaders, a mantle they were encouraged to take up on a recent visit to the site by the director general of the European Space Agency, Josef Aschbacher.
The aim will be to find out Ryanair has complied with its various obligations as set out in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), especially with regard to legality and transparency in data handling. Ryanair requires additional identity verification from people who book tickets through third-party platforms or travel agencies.
Olive boost
SPAIN'S olive harvest is expected to rise by a hefty 48% this month compared to the previous October.
After two poor harvests caused by the ongoing drought, 1.26 million tons is expected to be collected in the main regions of Andalucia and Castilla-La Mancha.
Agriculture Minister, Luis Planas, described the figures as ‘positive’ and the recovery of production ‘will allow the markets to return to normality’. The rains of last spring have allowed a good flowering and fruit setting of olive trees.
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Think of your password like a secret recipeequal parts clever, complex, and just the right
You need something so unpredictable that even hackers will get a headache just looking at it. Aim for at least 12 characters - long enough to make any cybercriminal throw in the towel. Using real words in your password? That’s like leaving your house keys under the mat - just begging to be found.
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Get creative! Mix in some gibberish, throw in a random number, and don’t be afraid to make it weird. Something like ‘PizzaLlama!42’ is both deliciously random and hacker-proof. Passphrases are like the Swiss Army knives of passwords - versatile, secure, and easy to remember. Picture something like ‘FlyingPenguins!Dance@Midnight’. It’s weird enough that no one would ever guess it, but still easy enough to recall when you’re logging into Netflix at 3 am.
Spain and the 27th fastest growing company in Europe across all sectors, according to Financial Times.
Reusing the same password for everything? That’s like wearing your pyjamas to a job interview. You wouldn’t do that, right? Give each account its own unique password - think of it as a wardrobe for your digital life. Stylish and secure. Oh, and if you’re thinking of using your birthday, pet’s name, or favourite flavour of ice cream as a password… don’t. Hackers love to easy-toguess personal details. Keep your passwords a mystery - like a riddle wrapped in an enigma inside a digital vault.
Speaking of vaults, enter the password manager: your personal password butler. It remembers all your passwords, generates new ones,
OP EXCLU S I RAPEV SRENT HIP
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Now, let’s talk about two-factor authentication (2FA) - aka, the superhero sidekick of your passwords. With 2FA, even if someone tries to sneak in with your password, they’ll hit a second wall of security, like a text message code or a fingerprint scan. Think of it as the VIP pass to your own account, and you’re the only one on the guest list. Feeling fresh? Good, because your passwords should be, too. Change them regularly, like you would your socks. Every six months or so, hit that refresh button and swap out the old for the new. Fresh passwords are like a digital facelift for your security. And let’s not forget about phishing - those shady emails or links trying to trick you into spilling your secrets. They’re like those scam calls
Change passwords regularly, like you would your socks
If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of something, AnyTech365 can help you detect and avoid these tricky scams. Your password is more than a string of characters - it’s the lock on your digital vault. By adding variety, using passphrases, leveraging password managers, and embracing 2FA, you’ll become a cyber-fortress. So, wave goodbye to ‘password123’ and say hello to a more secure, hacker-proof digital life. And remember, if you need help along the way, AnyTech365 is just a click away to keep your accounts locked up tighter than Fort Knox!
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FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL
Spice of life
A TOP neurologist has revealed that adding five common spices to your coffee could supercharge your brain and memory.
Dr Brandon Crawford, a US-based neurologist, claims that cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, and black pepper can transform your morning mug of coffee into a brain-boosting elixir. These spices are packed with an -
UNDER THE SEA
By Laurence Dollimore
AN amazing underwater theme park is one step closer to becoming a reality in Spain.
Dubbed the Underwater Gardens, the project is planned for Tenerife and vows to be an ‘eco-friendly and innovative’ experience.
After being given the green
The French are coming
THE Brits have been knocked off their perch as Spain’s best customer – by the French.
New figures show that the UK’s long-running spell at the top of the visitor charts has come to an end, as 2.14 million Frenchmen came to Spain in August compared to 2.12 million Brits. It’s the first time the Brits have been dethroned since the Covid pandemic, when German tourists outnumbered their British counterparts in 2020.
Advantage
However, it is likely to be only temporary, as August-holidaying French folk took advantage of the land border with Spain to pop over for a visit.
Brits are still on top overall, with 12.6 million visitors in 2024, way ahead of second-placed France with 9.2 million. Traditional competitors Germany could muster only 1.2 million tourists in August, and 8 million for the entire year.
tioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that protect your brain from damage and lower the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s, he claims. Cinnamon is a standout, fighting oxidative stress and regulating blood sugar, crucial for cognitive function.
Ginger helps balance neurotransmitters, sharpening your focus, while turmeric boosts brain health by promoting neuron growth - especially when combined with black pepper. Nutmeg, meanwhile, protects neurons and boosts your mood.
BE SECURE A
RE you prepared to protect your family? Life insurance is essential for parents and anyone with financial dependents.
A life insurance policy is something almost everyone needs, but too few actually have.
light on September 27, it will now under -
go various environmental assessments before being granted final approval.
The ambitious park promises to be a game-changer
in the world of tourism due to its positive impact on the environment.
This includes its own regenerative sea gardens,
Cheers for the beers
A NEW study has revealed that four Sevilla, Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga are among Europe’s top 10 beer-consuming cities.
Each of the Spanish cities averages 104 litres of beer swigged down per person annually.
Despite Spain’s impressive beer consumption, the country still trails behind Europe’s leading beer capitals. Prague tops the list with a remarkable 144 litres per person, followed by Warsaw, Krakow, and German cities Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin.
Across: 6 Stands to, 7 P D As, 8 Deteriorates, 10 Biases, 13 Patron, 14 Say, 15 De Niro, 16 Rimmed, 18 Board members, 22 Blow, 23 Sadistic.
Down: 1 P-T S D, 2 Gnat, 3 Espresso, 4 Gozo, 5 Take-home, 7 Phantom, 9 E T A, 11 Ice lolly, 12 Skid row, 13 Pyramids, 17 Mar, 19 Mast, 20 Elsa, 21 Slid.
that are placed on the local seabed.
The theme park will be split into two areas, the above-shore ‘Garden Gate’ and the underwater ‘Sea Garden’.
The former will offer ‘leisure and educational activities that invite visitors to discover and learn about the ocean through games and fun’.
The latter promises ‘authentic diving experiences in an underwater landscape, which has been tailor-made for the surroundings: a unique environment inspired by nature’.
The project will install underwater ‘architecture’ on the sea bed that is specially designed to regenerate marine life.
These will be available to view during special diving tours, during which participants can ‘actively take part in regeneration tasks’.
An indoor diving centre and ‘aquademy’ are also among the plans.
There will also be a bio lab, where visitors can learn all about local sea life, plus an underwater aquarium and indoor diving centre.
It’s easy to delay getting a policy when you’re young and healthy, but the longer you wait, the higher the risk of something happening before you’re covered. Losing a loved one creates a financial burden on any family. With the right protection in place, if the worst were to happen, your loved ones could be financially secure through a lump-sum payment.
Dependents aren’t limited to children - your partner or other family members may also rely on your income. If you were to become critically ill and unable to work, would your dependents be able to manage, or would they struggle without your income?
We can tailor your policy to include critical illness coverage, providing a payout if the unexpected happens. Additional benefits can be included, such as Permanent Absolute Disability, Death by Traffic Accident, and Permanent Absolute Disability due to a Traffic Accident.
For example, €100,000 in death-only coverage for a 50-year-old male starts at just €27 per month.
We also offer mortgage repayment protection, which will pay off any remaining mortgage debt if death occurs during the policy term, ensuring your family can stay secure in their home.
To be eligible, you must be a resident of Spain and complete a simple online health/medical questionnaire. These policies are available with monthly direct debit payments, and all documentation will be provided in English.
or more
ECO: The theme park is in harmony with marine life
Supermarket weep
A SPANISH TikToker tested an 18-year-old Lidl advert promising a full trolley for €30, he found that now, the average trolley totals €188.
Running man
BRIT Mike Humphrys is undertaking 30 marathons in 30 countries in 30 days, starting in Barcelona. He is running in aid of Motor Neurone Disease research.
Pet betrayal
A COLOMBIAN woman has died in Castellon after being bitten by her children’s pet hamster. An autopsy will now confirm the cause of death.
TRANS FC Death defying
A FOOTBALL team consisting totally of transgender men is playing its first season in a lower regional league in Catalunya.
It’s the first all-trans squad to be awarded federated status in Europe and, though they lost their first match 19-0 last month, the symbolism is more important than the result.
The team, named Fenix FC after the mythical bird symbolising rebirth, competes in a fifth-tier league after being incorporated into the Sant Feliu de Llobregat club near Barcelona.
Hugo Martinez, 24, said he faced abuse when he began transitioning with gender-affirming hormone therapy and was forced to leave the women’s football that he had played for.
“I was a boy playing in the girls’ team, but without a changed ID, so I wasn’t yet allowed to play with boys,” he said.
Fenix rises for first transgender male soccer team in league action
By Alex Trelinski
Martinez added that other players, coaches and parents often insulted and threatened him. He decided to go online and appeal for other trans men seeking to play soccer in a safe environment, which resulted in the setting up of Fenix FC.
Worried Skipper Luke Ibanez, 19 (above right), said he was worried about playing for a side with non-trans men due to fears of violence or not fitting in.
“Fenix is a team of trans boys created entirely by trans boys, but I think it's more than that - a family, a safe space where you can be free and express yourself however you want and how you really feel,” he said.
THE world’s highest ‘death dive’ has been recorded in Jaen, measuring a terrifying 44 metres.
Frenchman Come Girardot took on the challenge - equivalent to 15 floors - at the Cimbarra waterfall in Aldeaquemada. “The jump felt way higher than I thought,” said the 22-year-old.
“I planned all my movements but once I reached the end of my routine I was still 25 metres over the water. It felt way bigger than I thought. My body just took over.”
A medical and safety team were waiting at the bottom for him with a sign announcing his success.
A sniff of success
A DOG that can sniff out a human body from over 100 metres away has been awarded a medal of honour by the Policia Nacional.
Scottex the labrador celebrates his sixth birthday on November 1 and has been a member of the Policia Nacional’s Canine Guide Unit for four years. He has been involved in leading cases across Spain involving body
detection. He received his medal in Sevilla on Police Day, accompanied by his handler, Manuel Cortes. In June, Scottex located a Madrid man that had been missing for two years after his body was dumped into a two-metre deep septic tank that was then buried under cement and bricks in a kitchen.
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