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Vol. 3 Issue 67 www.theolivepress.es November 8th - November 21st 2019
See pages 7 & 10
Unsavoury An investigation uncovers Mallorca restaurant serving up ‘contemporary slavery’, threats and worse EXCLUSIVE By Jacque Talbot
AN Olive Press investigation can reveal the identity of a now-notorious restaurant owner, who presided over alleged ‘slave-like’ conditions. After local media reported this week about a restaurant in Escorca that employed staff on just €2.80 an hour for up to 14-hour shifts, we can reveal the restaurant is Es Port, in Sa Calobra, owned by local businessman Pedro Vicenc. While he refused to comment this week - merely confirming his arrest
and his pending court date - we claims. spoke to other local restaurateurs The facts are simple: seven people who backed up the shocking were allegedly found to be working under ‘inhumane’ conditions. According to a police investigation they received just €40-a-day without proper breaks and under a ‘climate of fear’. The restaurant ‘took advantage’ of the seven ‘immigrants’, who felt forced to accept the slave-like conditions and work, usually six days a week. One local restaurant owner, who asked not to be named, told the Olive Press: “I don’t recall seeing a single Spaniard or Mallorquin working there. All workers looked like they came from Morocco. “There were always a lot of strange goings-on at that restaurant. It’s been very unsettling.” Another, who has known the owner for years, said: “It’s a disgrace and has been going on for years, along with various other things. “I am so pleased it is finally being dealt with.” He revealed how over a dozen police swooped the restaurant Untitled-1.pdf 1 on 16/06/2017 15:36 about three weeks ago. Mayor of Escorca Antoni Solivel-
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las said it was an embarrassment for the resort and that Vicenc had been known for his ‘modus operandi’ for some time. His downfall came a few days after plainclothes cops had staked out the joint. Official court documents show that the staff were under constant threat of dismissal and forced to lie about any accidents at work. They were also refused holidays and often had to juggle multiple jobs as cooks, cleaners and maintenance staff. Staff were forced to sign off their criminally-low payslips or face the threat of being sacked.
Meanwhile Albert Rivera’s Ciudadanos will be reduced from 57 to 14. In the 40dB poll Vox is set to gain 14% of the vote, alongside the PP in second place with 21.2% and 91 seats and the PSOE coming first with 27.3% and 121 votes. The PSOE’s predicted victory would see the party with two less seats than in April’s last election, prompting another headache for its leader Pedro Sanchez as he tries to form a government. Opinion page 6
Keys Isl nd to the
Court
The restaurant, which is in the heart of the port of scenic Sa Calobra, is administered under the company name Colobra SL. Owner Vicenc told the Olive Press last night: “I can’t say anything now. People can hear what I have to say when I’m in court.” He was arrested along with two other bosses, who have also been charged with crimes against workers’ rights Police rumbled the operation following a tip off in September.
It’s Sophie’s Choice
Amanda Butler wonders who on earth to vote for in the forthcoming UK elections See page 14
Opinion page 6
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A DANGEROUS lurch to the right could see Spain’s anti-immigrant Vox party becoming the kingmakers in this weekend’s general election. The massive surge - off the back of the recent Catalan crisis and a fear of Islam - could see the party seizing 15% of the seats in Parliament. The expected gains will seriously damage centre-right Ciudadanos, which could lose over half its seats, while the ruling PSOE and left wing Podemos are also expected to suffer. Vox, which has pledged to ‘defend’ Spain from immigrants, is predicted to finish third in the country’s fourth general election in as many years. The latest polling suggests Vox, led by Santiago Abascal, will increase its 24 seats in Spain’s 350-seat parliament to 46.
Failed
IDYLLIC: Yet seven ‘slaves’ were forced to work 14-hour days metres from Sa Calobra beach
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Belt-tightening for winter MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER Dear Reader, You may have noticed that we have slimmed down for winter, when most things usually fatten up. We thought it best to explain why, before one of our bitter rivals flies in from Torremolinos telling you we are about to fold and pull out of the island. Nothing of the sort. It is just a simple economics lesson. With the closed season beginning to bite and Brexit making things doubly hard this year, advertising has understandably tailed off a little. We do not, and never have been, a paper that offers the pack-em-high, sell-em-cheap deals you might see in other rival freesheets. Our lifeblood is not slick sales people and hard selling. We simply offer good, solid content. At least 50% of the paper and employ a team of a dozen NCTJ-trained journalists and writers around Spain, capable of covering all the issues that matter. In the last four weeks alone we have been in Barcelona for the Catalan riots, watched former dictator Franco dug from his grave in Madrid and visited Spain’s hottest new theme park in Toledo. We vow to continue publishing these exclusive features and dispatches and as much news as we can fit in, which you can find anyway on our website or on our Facebook page, which has over 20,000 GENUINE followers. Remember, our website www.theolivepress.es gets 1.4 million visitors a month and is - by far - the most highly-ranked English website in Spain, 70 times higher than the Daily Bulletin and over three times bigger than the Euro Weekly News. We are also more highly ranked globally than the Daily Record in Scotland and the Liverpool Echo in the UK. Whatever, we continue to maintain a presence on the island with a good local journalist Gillian, our distributor William and sales boss Charlie, who visits on a regular basis. We don’t promise the earth, but trust me, we’re here to stay on the island. Yours, Jon
CRIME
November 8th - November 21st 2019
Expat rapist jailed Sadistic Irishman is caged for series of evil crimes against ‘slave’ girlfriend
A SADISTIC expat has been banged up for nine years after raping his girlfriend in a two day torture ordeal at their Spanish home.
Dylan Rogers, 28, smashed his victim’s head against the wall while raping her in the jealousy-fuelled attack at their apartment near Playa de Palma.
La Paca punished THE infamous matriarch of a Mallorca drug gang has been jailed for three years and fined €12 million for money laundering. Francisca Cortes Picazo known as ‘la Paca’ - was the leader of a notorious drug gang, that sold heroin and cocaine around the island. Police seized €4.3 million and 7.5kg of jewellery buried in the garden of her home in the run down illegal Son Banya settlement on the outskirts of Palma. The drugs baroness accumulated the possessions between
CAGED: Gypsy Queen 2000 and 2009. Before the gang was busted in 2008, Picazo lavished her narco-fortune on three houses in the Mallorcan capital, two farms, a nightclub and numerous luxury vehicles.
Palma court heard how the former grammar school boy from Northern Ireland subjected his girlfriend, 23, to a series of sado-masochistic acts. These included pepper-spraying her and forcing her to dance naked for him. Bangor-born Rogers embarked on the 48-hour torture spree on August 7 last year, after he accused his victim of looking at another man on the beach. He told her he was going to cause her pain to ‘compensate’ for the damage she had done to him over the sleight. He referred to the girlfriend, believed to be British, as ‘his slave’ during the ordeal, which involved tying tape over her mouth and around her head. “He said he didn’t care whether he had to kill her,” insisted the prosecution. His victim managed to escape from the eighth-floor apartment, while the former Ireland Under-19 rugby player was taking a shower. She was naked, wearing only a towel at the time and was taken
SICK: Rogers jailed to hospital for cuts, bruises and other injuries. The court heard how Rogers had previously changed his girlfriend’s phone SIM card so that she would lose her contacts and he could exert more control over her. In addition to the prison sentence, the Irish expat was ordered to complete 80 days of community service. He was also served with a 21year restraining order preventing him from contacting or going near the woman.
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Ronaldo back in the red CRISTIANO Ronaldo and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez have stolen the show at the MTV EMA awards in Sevilla. The pair dazzled, stepping out in contrasting colours, with the footballer donning a red suit and white trainers, while his better half sported a blue dress that revealed one leg. Spanish model Rodriguez is adjusting to family life with Ronaldo and his children Cristiano Jr., nine, two-yearold twins Eva and Mateo, and Alana, age 22 months. The former Real Madrid star, who now plays for Juventus, recently said of their relationship: “She has helped me so much.” He added: “I’m in love with her and we’ll be married one day, for sure. It’s my mum’s dream as well.” His 25-year-old girlfriend recently admitted that’s ‘not easy’ being in a relationship with someone as famous as the Portuguese star.
NEWS
A little sprinkle of Hollywood
November 8th - November 21st 2019
3
But grumpy Bake Off star threatens to fill in Olive Press’ cake hole for asking a question GREAT British Bake Off host, Paul Hollywood has spent some of his dough on a Halloween visit to Spain. The greying star - who made €10million last year - has been spotted running a rule over a number of local bakeries on the Costa Blanca, where his dad lives. Fresh from finishing another Channel Four series of the baking show, the 53-year old was spotted chewing over baguettes, bloomers and pastries in two cafe/bakeries in Quesada and Benijofar. At one, Redz, he has been a regular for years, coming over a number of times a year to see his dad
EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke and Simon Wade
himself, never engaging with his TOUGH COOKIE: Hollywood (inset) fans.” wouldn’t smile for the Olive Press, but He is also a regu- he does like Hamilton’s display (above) lar at Benijofar’s John, a former butcher from the celebrated Hamiltons, which is cakes and buns,” he told the Olive Wirral. one of the most popular expat Press this week. “He’s here every day of his holibakeries on the Costa Blanca Cheshire-born Hollywood has day with his dad,” said one of the south. judged on the Great British Bake waiters. Boss Martin Ronald Dean, a forOff since 2010, forming an easy“Our boss Samantha has got mer croupier, who set up the bakgoing on-screen relationship some pics, but she can’t share ery and cafe seven years ago, said with Mary Berry, that the Guardthem as he doesn’t like selfies the TV star was a very private ian newspaper described as the or going on social media,” he man of little words. show’s ‘secret weapon’. added. “He doesn’t say much, but he did However, off the show life has “He basically has a full English say he really liked our display of been far more complicated. breakfast and keeps himself to Apart from a long and acrimonious divorce from his wife of 19 years Alexandra, he has just broken up from his girlfriend of two years Summer, 24. The split came after he tried to get her to sign a legal agreement The Olive Press has been reporting for 14 years in Spain. not to talk to the press earlier this And in all that time we have met and bumped into hundreds of celebrities from David Beckham to Alexei Sayle and Hugh year. Grant to that lot from TOWIE. It went down like a collapsed pie Yet not one of them behaved in the despicable way Bake Off in the oven and she moved her star Paul Hollywood - worth over €10m - did last week. clothes and various other items Indeed, every time we have stopped to say hello to someone from their shared home in Kent famous, asked them about the weather or their holiday or life last weekend. in Spain, whatever, they smiled and at least declined to comment It was perhaps not surprising politely. then, that when the Olive Press Hooligan Hollywood in contrast acted like a gangster swaggering politely asked him for a quote into his local bar to give us a countdown to leave ‘or else’. for a brand new issue of the paOne might call it comical. Others might say he needs to learn per on the Costa Blanca south, he FULL ENGLISH: At Redz some manners. couldn’t have been blunter. each day It just goes to show all the dough in the world doesn’t buy class. “You’ve got ten seconds to get out of here or else,” he threatened, afHE’S lived in Spain for the past six haven’t got a clue,” he admitted. ter pulling up in a Jagyears, playing in front of thousands of Bale, who earns £93,000 a day, said he uar at a local cafe in his Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu. was mostly just interested in golf. dad’s urbanisation of So perhaps he might be excused for not “I follow the golf, that’s about it. I Montebello, near Beniknowing who the current British Prime can tell you who’s number one in the jofar. Minister is. world.” Despite merely asking In a shocking interview with the Tele- The Cardiff-born striker, who has an him what he liked about graph, the Welsh footie ace said he apartment in Marbella, and is often the area - and what he thought Boris Johnson was still the seen teeing off at nearby Finca Cortethought of the local mayor of London. sin golf course, has been linked with a bread and pastries - he He added he knows almost nothing move from Real Madrid all year. continued: “You lot are about Brexit. It came after he was subject of harsh all the same, get lost. “I look in terms of stuff financially, be- public criticism from Galacticos boss “I told you stop talking cause [Brexit] affects me in a certain Zinedine Zidane, while rumours have just get out and leave,” way for investments or money, because swirled about a rift between him and he added, in the worst things change, but I don’t read most of his Real teammates. The winger was manners ever witnessed the nonsense. I genuinely don’t know close to a move to China in the summer by this newspaper in 99 per cent of Brexit. I don’t even know before Real called the deal off due to fi14 years publishing in who the prime minister is anymore. I nancial concerns. Spain.
OPINION
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JOLLY: Jolie in Spain
Blown away not blown up SMILING Angelina Jolie put on an Oscar-winning show of calmness as she enjoyed a day out shopping in Spain. The 44-year-old was all smiles in the Canary Islands, despite having been evacuated from a film set following a bomb scare. An unexploded device found in sand on the set forced the American star to flee the set in Fuerteventura, where she was filming upcoming Marvel film The Eternals last week. The Maleficent star was accompanied by three of her children as she was spotted breezing through the streets of the island, famous for its winds.
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NEWS IN BRIEF Wrong Victim THE chief of police in Valldemossa suffered fractures in his tibia and fibula after being knocked down by a drunk driver.
Picture perfect TWO Joan Miro lithographs that were stolen from a property in Selva have been recovered by police.
Knife thief POLICE have arrested a 26-year-old man who allegedly robbed at least three petrol stations in Manacor.
Scooting off TWO men have been arrested in Palma for attempted murder after they tried to run over a man riding on a scooter.
Scummy mum AN expat mother in Benalmadena has been jailed for six years after making sex videos with her young daughters aged just 8 and 14.
Bus strikes PALMA’S buses will come to a Christmas standstill, after EMT staff have announced two days of strikes. Workers are staging two fullday walkouts on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in protest at poor working conditions. Union bosses said staff face ‘exploitation and anxiety,’ due to a shortage of employees. They say a lack of drivers was making it impossible to have days off or holidays. EMT employees are also set to hold a series of four-hour walkouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout December.
Expat flasher AN expat who flashed several women in the centre of Palma has been arrested. The 34-year-old Chilean exposed himself to a number of women and asked them to perform oral sex. Police arrested the man after identifying him from descriptions provided by some of his victims. The suspect, who has recently arrived in Palma, is facing charges of exhibitonism and sexual assault.
November 8th - November 21st 2019
Nolotil warnings A year since the lethal drug’s ban, activist claims it is still being handed out without prescriptions EXCLUSIVE By Robert Firth
A CAMPAIGNER against lethal painkiller Nolotil has revealed it is still being handed out over the counter, despite health authorities banning its use without a prescription 12 months ago. On the anniversary of the drug’s ban, medical translator Cristina Garcia del Campo revealed she was able to buy the painkiller in pharmacies across the Costa Blanca.
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scription following a two-year campaign by the Olive Press, alongside a separate one by Cristina. ‘You’re killing us!’ Nolotil, also known as Tragic end Metamizol, is Spain’s most sold medical drug and is marNO LO TIL KILL THE keted as an alternaVI CT OR Y tive to Ibuprofen or DRUG Paracetamol. However, the drug 902 123 282 has been linked to nushe told merous deaths and serious the Olive illnesses among British exPress. SALE pats and tourists, from sep“They are In a shock-59 *Offer ends 30/11/18. Not valid for renewals. Subject to conditions. Mosquito sis and a drop in white blood Screens even giving study cell count. ing it to she found people who the drug PROBE: Garcia with reports tell them available Struggle over the counter in De- specifically ‘I don’t want it’. The medication, which is nia, Javea and other towns They are coming out and usually harmless, is thought around Alicante province, they’ve been prescribed it.” to particularly affect Northwithout a prescription this The study comes after the ern Europeans with fair Spanish Medical Agency summer. complexions. “In Denia they are giving it (AEMES) banned the mediIt is already banned in the left, right and centre now,” cation’s sale without a preUK, Ireland and Sweden. Garcia is now calling on the sale of Nolotil to be banned completely to people whose home country the drug is illegal in. tween 20% and 45% tions associated with But she says she’s facing an during their pregnan- maternity is inadmis- uphill struggle against many Spanish health professioncy and maternity leave. sible’. Their claim comes off It comes despite the als who refuse to accept the the back of a Supreme Mallorca health autor- danger the drug poses. Spanish are convinced Court ruling that de- ity approving an end to “The that Nolotil is a safe meditermined that ‘any un- wage reductions dur- cation,” she said. “They just dervaluation or dam- ing pregnancy and ma- shrug their shoulders and age to working condi- ternity leave in April. say if you don’t want it, go away.” Stars from Anne Hathaway to Jodie Whittaker keep visiting Ronda, find out why in our travel supplement inside
New Andalucia Rough Guide See inside
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November 7th - November 20th 2018
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errania de Ronda
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November 7th - November 20th 2018
Picture perfect Andalucia’s city in the mountains is a hot ticket for world leaders and their wives despite Hemingway’s lukewarm words, writes Elisa Menendez
‘
NICE promenades, good wine, excellent food and nothing to do…’ Thus Ernest Hemingway wrote off the town where he spent numerous holidays drinking the local wine and carousing at corridas, no doubt disappointing many of Ronda’s proud residents with his puzzlingly lacklustre review. Most of today’s travellers - including Britain’s last two prime ministers and an American First Lady - would certainly disagree with him. Ronda has been crowned Andalucia’s third most-visited town and it’s not hard to see why. The so-called ‘City of Dreams’ is a true wanderlust gem and somewhat of a celebrity hang-out. This year alone, Theresa May, Anne Hathaway, Ricky Gervais, Jodie Whittaker, Gordon Ramsay, Kristin Scott Thomas and Spain’s ex-premier Mariano Rajoy have all allegedly visited the stunning mountain town... so say locals in the know.
Obama
Michelle Obama also made headlines when she visited in 2010, touring the old town and discovering the Moorish dynasty with her daughter Sasha. Celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli went house hunting in the town after falling in love with it in 2009. With its spectacular high sierra setting, leafy parks, cobbled lanes and atmospheric ventas it’s no wonder Ronda has stolen the hearts of so many travellers. Over the centuries a slew of writers have waxed lyrical about its timeless character, stunning views and charming locals. The German poet Rilke baptised it the ‘City of Dreams’, Orson Welles took a shine to its bullfighting scene and
GRAND TOUR-ISTS: Painters tackle the gorge, while (inset) recent visitors Anne Hathaway, Gordon Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker and Ricky Gervais
Continues on Page 18
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Vol. 11 Issue 271
Save our home!
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EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
A BRITISH expat couple are fighting to save their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality. Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked in a battle with their town hall, which claims their house in Almayate is illegal. Just yesterday the retired couple from Cornwall were given
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August 2nd - August 15th 2017
THE Olive Press is giving away three pairs of tickets for two of the best concerts on the Costa del Sol this summer... And all you have to do is answer two simple questions! Michael Bolton takes to the stage for an emotive end of season night at Marbella’s Puente Romano on August 10, while pona is set for its biggest rock concert Estein years with mammoth
“IT’S a dirty world that I don’t want to live in anymore.” These were the intended last words of a British teen who had embarked on a suicide pact with her 16-yearold boyfriend in Marbella. The privately-educated expat, 14, added: “I’m Sorry: To anyone who has ever loved/known or supported me, thank you, I love you and I will miss you.”
WIN WIN WIN: Bolton and Pink Purple Zep
However, her heartfelt messages had a cruel, bizarre twist, when her British-Brazilian boyfriend Richard Fitzsimons managed to take his off the top of the Corte Ingles life department store, while she miraculously survived. It came as a hero security guard somehow managed to grab the before she was able to plunge to girl her death after her lover. In a tragically sad incident - that has shocked the coast and made headlines around the world - the teenager, who we are not naming for legal A LETHAL painkiller believed to be rereasons, is now requiring serious sponsible for the deaths of dozens of expats is finally being regulated in Spain. Nolotil, which the Olive Press has invesContinues page 2 tigated for nearly two years, has been TM
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EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
A BRITISH expat couple are fighting to save their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality. Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked with their town in a battle claims their house hall, which in Almayate is illegal. Just yesterday the ple from Cornwall retired couwere given
Vol. 11 Issue 271
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15th 2017
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THE Olive Press pairs of tickets for is giving away three tribute bands certs on the Costa two of the best con- Whole Lotta Think Floyd, Deeper Purple and And all you have to del Sol this summer... of Pink Floyd,Led rocking out the greatest hits do is answer two simDeep ple questions! at the Plaza del TorosPurple and Led Zeppelin Michael Bolton takes For a chance to win on August 26. emotive end of season to the stage for an Bolton, just answer a pair of tickets to see night at Marbella’s Puente Romano on was Michael Bolton the question; what year August 10, while Estepona is set for its biggest For the Pink Purple born in? rock concert in years with mammoth tell us; Where was Zep Fest in Estepona, just Jimmy Page born? answers to the newsdesk@theolivepress.es. Email WIN WIN WIN: Bolton
Doctors and dentists join Olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
KILL THE DRUG Need for more
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Irish tourists. Expats in Spain will now be administered Nolotil on a short term prescription only. Furthermore it can only prescribed after a detailed analysis be CAMPAIGN: of Previous SALE issue the patient’s medical his59 despite various side effects,Mosquitowhich tory and heritage. Screens It will also have to be can cause a rapid drop in white blood much more closely mon- cells, leaving patients unable to fight infections. Medical translator, Cristina itored. It comes after an Olive Garcia del Campo, who has pulled toPress investigation into gether hundreds of case studies from the mysterious deaths victims for the AEMPS’ probe, said she of expats from was ‘very happy’ the authorities the drug was have finally reacted. FolSee page 43 launched lowing the results of her KILL THE in rigorous investigation she 2016, DRUG along with a has now demanded that 1,000-strong the drug must not be sold petition to have it reguwithout a prescription and a detailed patient analysis. lated a year later. Nolotil, also known as “I am very happy that the problem has Metamizole, is banned in been dealt with,” she told the Olive the UK, the US and most Press. “I will be making sure that the AEMPS recommendations are carof Europe. Despite this, the drug is ried out and if necessary make sure it’s still one of the most pop- banned completely.” The Olive Press ular painkillers in Spain, began investigating after a trio of expat families told us how their relatives had died unnecessarCASHBACK ON ily in excruciating pain, after YOUR HOUSE taking the drug in Andalucia. In April, the paper revealed the first steps towards regulation had been taken, with Marina Salud, a big health network in Alicante, issuing a warning to PAYBACK WHEN stop administering the drug to British, Irish and Scandinavian YOU SELL patients. www.oaklandfurniturespain.com
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THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats. British dentists are supporting and doctors the ban after Briton Graham complained to the Ward, 75, Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil drug by a dentist last week. one month to knock down their same drug that It’s the very only property (pictured Dr Nina King, of Oasis above). for killing his wifewas blamed In a court order in 2006. the campaign, telling Dental Care in Marbella, fully The Marbella-based Olive Press, the seen by the supports the Olive Press the she prescribes. expat drug is not something was furious when warned they will be Wards are he was told “It’s not a drug I use, held crimito take the painkiller nally responsible if she said, “And after I stick to safe and standard medication,” they refuse. by his Spanish dentist, “I don’t know what I won’t be using in seeing what damage it can do, ing from a difficultafter suffermore, I’m at the to do anyit’s a drug Marbella-based the future.” His wife Mary, 59, abscess. private doctor Dra. tether” Gill told the end of my had died afAlmeda also agrees Olive Press, Victoria María ter being prescribed “I’m totally exhausted the drug,” she told the drug is dangerous. “I don’t Chacón the same from the drug following a whole ordeal.” prescribe the Olive Press, “I tients and I am aware have lots of tomy at Costa deldouble vasecThe retired pair, who Sol Hospital. “There needs to be of what it is capable of doing.British pa“Within 24 hours spent thousands of have now a lot more research on its impact.” in intensive care, she was gal costs, bought euros on leblood cell count her white doctor to get house ‘in ruins’ the old farmplummeted in 2004, and to zero within days,” renewal in April,a were given permission The dad-of-two from Graham, a former explains tests showed the Velez-Malaga town later died from computer hall to retechnician, from drug had caused build it. HAPPIER TIMES: septic shock – London. Graham with She never regained a toxic poisoning But when the original wife, and Billy believed to be Smyth wall colness and was on conscious- again. in his bone marlapsed of its own linked to taking a life support “He said Metamizole, machine for FOUR she would be alive row construction, the accord during the Nolotil. if in the US, theNolotil is banned bloodand his white months, she hadn’t before spending tect told them it Wards’ archiUK, Ireland and Another cell was three years heard fromtaken it, but I have most of Europe, Britfighting the impact dangerously low. and that he wouldwould be fine dozens of Brits ish expat Hugh let the town of the and Irish scribed widely in but it is pre- Billy, drug, which led hall know. Unfortunately Wilcox was preSpain. a keen to organ fail- it,” addedwho have been given Irishman for ure. Graeme. William scribed the same ‘Billy’ sportsman, develIt is the third victim Smyth was given Continues on Page “The chief surgeon medication a five-day oped sepsis and of 8 for pital promised me at the hos- drug the Olive Press has the course of the drug in Febru- necrotising fascimild shoulder re- ary. he would ported on in never prescribe itis as a result and pain on the Costa that drug Sometimes under a year. known also as But when the 66-year-old re- required ‘radical surgery’ del Sol. turned to a different to He developed severe head Spanish remove the affected tissue in an attempt to save his life. Continues
banned for tourists in Spain. In a breakthrough move, The Spanish Medicine Agency (AEMPS) has finally issued a directive to all healthcare bodies to stop giving the drug to British and
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Dr Nina King, of Oasis Dental Care the campaign, telling the Olive Pressin Marbella, fully supports the drug is not something she prescribes. “It’s not a drug I use, I stick to safe and standard medication,” she said, “And after seeing what damage it can do, it’s a drug I won’t be using in the future.” Marbella-based private doctor Dra. Victoria María Chacón Almeda also agrees the drug is dangerous. “I don’t prescribe the drug,” she told the Olive Press, tients and I am aware of what it is “I have lots of British pacapable of doing. “There needs to be a lot more research on its impact.”
The dad-of-two later died from septic shock – believed to be linked to taking the Nolotil. Another British expat Hugh Wilcox was prescribed the same medication for mild shoulder pain on the Costa del Sol. He developed severe head
Lethal painkiller BANNED for Brits after hard-fought battle
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doctor to get a renewal in April, tests showed the drug had caused a toxic poisoning in his bone marrow and his white blood cell was dangerously low. Billy, a keen sportsman, developed sepsis and necrotising fasciitis as a result and required ‘radical surgery’ to remove the affected tissue in an attempt to save his life.
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THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats. British dentists and doctors are supporting the ban after Briton Graham Ward, 75, complained to the Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil drug by a dentist last week. It’s the very one month to knock down their same drug that was blamed only property (pictured above). for killing his wife in 2006. In a court order seen by the The Marbella-based expat Olive Press, the Wards are was furious when he was told warned they will be held crimito take the painkiller by his nally responsible if they refuse. Spanish dentist, after suffer“I don’t know what to do anying from a difficult abscess. more, I’m at the end of my His wife Mary, 59, had died aftether” Gill told the Olive Press, ter being prescribed the same “I’m totally exhausted from the drug following a double vasecwhole ordeal.” tomy at Costa del Sol Hospital. The retired pair, who have now “Within 24 hours she was spent thousands of euros on lein intensive care, her white gal costs, bought the old farmblood cell count plummeted house ‘in ruins’ in 2004, and to zero within days,” explains were given permission from Graham, a former computer Velez-Malaga town hall to reHAPPIER TIMES: Graham with technician, from London. wife, and Billy Smyth build it. She never regained conscious- again. But when the original wall colMetamizole, Nolotil ness and was on a life support “He said she would be alive if in the US, the UK, is banned lapsed of its own accord during machine for FOUR months, she hadn’t taken it, but I have most of Europe, Ireland and construction, the Wards’ archibefore spending three years heard from dozens but it is pretect told them it would be fine fighting the impact of the and Irish who have of Brits scribed widely in Spain. and that he would let the town William drug, which led to organ fail- it,” added Graeme. been given Irishman ‘Billy’ hall know. Unfortunately for Smyth was given a five-day ure. It is the third victim “The chief surgeon at the hos- drug the Olive Press of the course of the drug in FebruContinues on Page 8 has re- ary. pital promised me he would ported on in under But when the 66-year-old renever prescribe that drug Sometimes knowna year. also as turned to a different Spanish
TOXIC: Oil refinery plumes
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ENVIRONMENTAL groups are taking legal action against the Junta ‘failing to tackle toxic air’ in the Campo for de Gibraltar. Ecologistas en Accion has filed a complaint with the Health Ministry, claiming nothing has been done to protect citizens from a rise in air pollutants caused by the expansion of ‘toxic’ industries in the Bay of Algeciras. According to the green group, more than 10,000 tonnes of dangerous lutants were released into the atmosphere pollast year. This includes potentially lethal cancer-causing chemical benzene, as well as other fine particles. The writ comes as Cadiz province was officially declared to have the air quality in Spain. worst And alarmingly, La Linea, which borders Gibraltar, ranks as the 30th polluted place in the world in terms most The shocking stats were revealed of air quality. tion report which lists the world’s in a damning World Health Organisa‘most contaminated’ towns and cities. Adding salt to the wound, Cadiz Continues page 11 also came bottom in
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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.
OPINION Vox comes knocking Predictions that Vox could become the kingmakers if this weekend’s elections prove again to be inconclusive are worrying for expats and Spaniards alike. The far-right nationalists have pledged to retake Gibraltar and ban political parties that support Catalan independence. Its leader, Santiago Abascal, is anti-Islam and has called for a reconquista - a rollback of five or more centuries when Jews and Muslims were expelled from Spain. Vox want to ‘Make Spain Great Again,’ according to a poster they used during the April election campaign. And unlike the American president, whose slogans the party mimic, its members back up their words with action. In 2016, their current leader unfurled a giant Spanish flag on the rock of Gibraltar, an act he was willing to be arrested for. With a coalition between the bickering centre-left PSOE and leftwing Podemos still looking unlikely, the PP and Ciudadanos may be tempted to break the impasse and make bedfellows with the far-right xenophobes. But they would be foolish to do so, as it could sent Spain into a dangerous spiral of populism and lead to the expelling of expats and many other decent hardworking immigrants.
Poisonous TO those unlucky enough to stumble across Es Port restaurant in Sa Calobra during their travels around the island, most found it overpriced and underwhelming, according to Trip Advisor. What they probably didn’t know is what they were eating was the produce of slave labour. For the workers were being paid less than €3 per hour and forced to be on their feet for a shocking 14 hours a day. What is even more alarming though is nothing was done sooner. As we have discovered, various other restaurateurs in the village and even the local mayor had - at least caught a whiff of Es Port’s unsavoury working practices. Why then did it take until just over a month ago for someone to finally tip off police? For what to some was merely lurid gossip, was to others their daily lives. Let’s hope that if this sorry episode teaches anyone anything, it’s to stop whispering and start speaking up when we hear of tasteless goings-on.
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Franco exhu from his Vallmed ey of the Fallen grav after agonisi e 44-year wai ng t
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SPAIN is rejoicing as one of the been exhumed from the grave world’s cruelest dictators victims. has he shared with his Civil War Finally the relatives conflict have been of those killed in the Franco’s death. offered some solace, 44 country’s bloodiest years after General The facist leader Fallen alongsid had been buried in Madrid’s Valley of year regime. e some of the 500,000 who died under his the 36-
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Millions around Spain rejoiced after the remains of evil dictator Franco were finally removed fro m his controversial burial spot. The Olive Press sent Heather Galloway to witness the historic day.
N the event, it was an ignominious affair with even Franco’s staunchest supporters in short supply. What had been billed as a momentous occasion - something of a seminal turning point in Spain’s traumatic history - turned out to be a distinct anti-climax. With more of a whimper than a bang, the former dictator’s remains were finally unearthed from their burial place under the basilica at the Valley of the Fallen, and taken somewhat unceremoniously by helicopter to their new location, also near Madrid. Without any of the pomp and circum stance of his first send-off almost 44 years ago, Francisco Franco was reintered at Mingorrubio-el Pardo cemetery next to his wife, Carmen Polo. The low-key transfer took place in front of just a handful of supporters and family and with only two members of the Franco clan allowed to see his actual exhumation. The family had fought tooth and nail with Pedro Sanchez’s socialist government for years to keep their grandfather’s embalmed body in the basilica next to his far-right Falangist hero, Jose Antonio Prima de Rivera. But therein lay the problem - their bodies lay in the vicinity of some 30,000 victims of the Spanish Civil War (many actually killed by Franco’s troops), for whom the monument was actually built. So here I was alongside hundreds of journalists and a handful of Franco diehards gathered at the entrance to the monument, built 40 kilometres north of Madrid, as watched the two family members arrive for the exhumation being carried out several kilometres away beneath the towering 150-metre high cross. After being searched for recording devices, they stood within the screened-off area around Franco’s tomb along with Spain’s Minister of Justice Dolores Delgado, a forensic scientist and several other officials to record the historic event. Alongside me, there was some considerable indignation and rage. “The fact they have closed the basilica for two weeks and not allowed the faithful in to pray is an attack on Christianity and religious freedom,” Estefania Aguirre, 34, told me, adding that she was a personal friend of the Valley’s
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Benedictine Prior, Santiago Cantera, who ers and a crane had been on standby since Ocfought along with the family against exhuming tober 11 and trundled into action at 10.30 am Franco’s remains. on the morning of October 24 to lift the 1,500 “I think the whole exhumation has breached kilos of granite that covered the tomb. Church and State relations and we’re going to Once the flagstone was removed, there was see more and more attacks against religious reportedly a layer of lead and cement to get liberty in Spain.” through before the coffin could be lifted out. Her Barcelona-born mother Laura Wachter Inside, Franco’s body was sealed in zinc, which was holding a banner next to her reading sim- would have preserved it perfectly according to ply ‘Estado Dictatorial’, likening the actions to Dr Antonio Piga, one of the forensics who emthat of a dictatorship. balmed the dictator on his death. “This is North Korea,” she said repeatedly. “The tomb will be dry and the body in perfect “It’s very sad that Spaniards are being pitted condition,” he insisted. “Franco will be desicagainst one another when there are many cated like an Egyptian mummy; dry and hardmore important issues to tend ened but with all his organs.” to.” Curiously though, there was In another huddle, the most no Spanish flag draped on the vocal member, Pilar Gutierrez, “Franco will be coffin as it was borne away on who also happens to be a psythe shoulders of the family who desiccated like had by then been waiting over chologist, was entertaining the press with her views. two hours to receive it. an Egyptian “Some 8,000 people were No doubt it was a bitter mokilled for just being Catholic mummy; dry and ment; a year ago, they called during the war and this is what the exhumation ‘an act of retrohardened” this government wants to bring spective revenge without precback,” she railed. edent in the civilized world’. “You can only expect the worst Now, Europe’s last monument from the Socialists.” to a fascist dictator had finally morphed into Taking an equally strong line was a former something else. member of Spain’s army, who came sporting After a 15-minute flight to Mingorrubio, just 50 his green beret. kilometres away, the helicopter landed within “We are here to show our loyalty to our lead- the Royal Guard’s old firing range where 22 er,” Lorenzo Fernandez Navarro, 69, told me. family members were waiting to follow the Cau“When Franco died, I was a lieutenant in the dillo’s body in a cortege towards the cemetery. Sahara. We swore to respect and obey our Security was tight. The gathering had been leaders. And always means always, whether planned by the Franco Foundation ‘to pray for they are alive or dead. We have come here to the soul of Francisco Franco Bahamonde’ and comply with our oath that this government has lay flowers on his tomb but this was banned by insulted.” the Government the day before on the grounds Less vociferous, was his colleague Adolfo Co- it posed a risk to public order. loma, 66, who explained: “More than being Reduced then to include mainly family, the about one side or the other, the monument subsequent funeral was conducted in the cemstood for reconciliation. etery’s Pantheon by Prior Santiago Cantera, “We have managed to overcome the divisions and also intriguingly by Ramón Tejero, the son in Spain. To speak now about who killed more of Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero, who infapeople is bad news.” mously led 200 members of the Civil Guard in Judging by how long it took before Franco’s an attempted coup on February 23, 1981. body was raised heavenward by a military he- Spain’s national newspaper El País described licopter, excavating the Caudillo was no easy the exhumation as Pedro Sanchez’s ‘most feat. symbolic achievement’. Heavy machinery, including a forklift truck, roll- He has certainly managed to belittle the dictator’s legacy and close a chapter of Spain’s painful history, though as the authorities filed out of the valley, the Francoists berated their ‘evil’ actions with cries including: ‘You have not seen the end of this!’ The prophecy would seem to have little foundation given that the majority of Spaniards have shown themselves to be relatively diffident about Sanchez’s project. The statistics show that only 36% of the country agreed with the action, while an even smaller 28% were against. Clearly a full third of Spain would much rather get on with dealing with ‘more important’ matters. Either way, for those with Republican loved ones buried at the Valley of the Fallen - or in the thousands of other mass graves around Spain - it will be a day to savour for the rest of their lives. ‘FRANCO LIVES’: The dictator’s
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THE PAPER WITH THE REAL NUMBERS
Spaniards are heading to polling booths for the fourth time in four years as voters hope to bring an end to the country’s political stalemate. But who’s contesting it? What do they want? And what are their chances of success?
A
s Britain prepares for a snap general election, Spanish voters are getting ready to go to the ballot box themselves ahead of an election this Sunday. While Spaniards have cast their votes once already this year, no single party got a majority. The largest party, the left-leaning PSOE, called new elections after its coalition talks with left-wing upstart Podemos broke down. While the PSOE led by Pedro Sanchez is expected to emerge as election winners again, it is far from certain whether they will win enough votes to gain a majority. And with the Catalan riots causing waves across Spanish society and polarising opinions, a surprise could still be in store come Monday.
While the socialists are expected to emerge on top again, leader Pedro Sanchez looks unlikely to get the majority he was hoping for when he agreed to go back to the public in September. His backtracking, at least rhetorically, on his support for further Catalan autonomy has been attacked by Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias who has accused him of mimicking PP and Vox. Nonetheless, he remains popular with vast swathes of the electorate for increasing the minimum wage and rolling back some austerity measures.
I Spain’s centre-right party had taken a lurch to the right recently, in an attempt to claw votes back from farright Vox, which has eaten into its traditional base. During the recent Catalan riots against the imprisonment of pro-independence politicians, he called for the immediate suspension of Catalan autonomy on the pretext of restoring order to the region. While Pablo Casado’s party is expected to make some gains, it remains tainted in the minds of many Spaniards for implementing crushing austerity policies and a string of corruption scandals when it was last in government.
The left-wing anti-austerity party sent shockwaves through the Spanish political establishment back in 2016 when the new party stormed to third place. However, it has struggled to capitalise on its gains since. It is the only major party which supports granting a vote on independence to Catalunya and is hoping to distinguish itself from the PSOE with its ambitious social policies, including reducing the working week to 34 hours and imposing rent controls.
Dubbed as Spain’s answer to Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche party in France after it rocketed to third place in April’s elections, the centrists have been beset by a chain of damaging controversies ever since. Its eagerness to enter regional alliances with Vox saw Barcelona Pride ban the party from the city’s Pride parade in June and its tough stance on Catalan independence has seen it shed more left-leaning voters.
T’S not every day you knock a well known regional newspaper, a national newspaper and a popular consumer site into a cocked hat! But this week we find the Olive Press website ranking at 12,636th position in the world, according to Amazon’s Alexa.com. That is out of billions of websites and, in perspective, puts us above both the respected Liverpool Echo (13,156th), Scotland’s prestigious Daily Record (22,815th) and well known Mumsnet at 17,210th position. It also places www.theolivepress.es in the Top 1000 sites in Spain and the UK. By traffic numbers - around 40,000 to 50,000 visits a day - we are in 606th position in Britain and 910th in Spain. Meanwhile we rank at 813th in Ireland and 79th in Gibraltar, while 3% of our visitors come from America and 3% from Holland, Germany and France. Other local newspapers Sur in English and Euro Weekly News came in at a lowly 155,869 and 31,529th. The Mallorca Daily Bulletin ranks at 875,718, while the Costa Blanca News ranks at 2.9m, Costa-news at 1.23m, Alicantetoday at 2.51m and Typically Spanish at 1.5m
MILLIONS OF VISITORS This boils down to visitor numbers and pages viewed and we had 1.5 MILLION pages read over the last four weeks (see Google Analytics graph above), with 1.2 MILLION visits. Using the research of another respected site Similar Web we discovered that the Euro Weekly News is getting under a third of our traffic, while the Sur in English and the Costa Blanca News a fraction of that. Much of this is due to the sheer number of thirdparty sites linking into us over the last three months. The total is a healthy 1,057 sites, and this includes nine sites in the world’s Top 20, as well # as many from global media groups, including the BBC, the New York Post and the Daily Mail.
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The animal rights party PACMA, which wants to ban the sale of animals had its best showing yet in the April elections, gaining over 300,000 votes. The anti-war party also wants to ban bloodsports, such as bullfighting.
The far-right party’s hardline anti-independence stance on Catalunya has proved popular among the Spanish electorate following the October riots in Barcelona, with a recent poll putting the party in third place. Its leader Santiago Abascal recently described Catalan Independence as a ‘coup d’etat’ against the Spanish state. The party has also threatened to ban pro-independence parties and to take back Gibraltar from Britain if it gets its hands on the reigns of power.
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The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: - British father and son who vanished from Spain’s Costa del Sol likely ‘killed in botched drug deal’ as ransom call from Morocco revealed (29,598)
2 The Catalan pro-independence party has surged in popularity in Barcelona following the jailing of the organisers of Catalan’s illegal independence referendum. Its jump in support comes on the back of the collapse of Ciudadanos in the region, who are against self-determination.
# 910
Google Analytics is a transparent measuring tool and cannot be fiddled. Make sure that before you undertake any advertising campaign, you always ask for the last few months OFFICIAL visitor figures. Quite simply our 1.2 MILLION visitors a month, coupled with the 250,000 readers of our printed papers can guarantee your business gets the best exposure possible among the expat - as well as - key tourist market coming to Spain. We promise a keen and competitive price and that your business will be seen by millions of potential clients each month.
1
- Mystery man found dead in ditch on Costa del Sol ‘had no roots’ in Spain and was killed ‘just a few hours before’ being dumped (27,152)
3 4 5
- ‘Well-known’ restaurant owner in British tourist hotspot in Spain arrested for treating desperate staff like slaves with €2.80 per hour salaries and 14-hour days (26,369)
- Temperatures to soar on Spain’s Costa del Sol this holiday weekend starting from TOMORROW (23,375) - Number of British expats registering on Spain’s Costa del Sol SURGES as Brexit looms (20,443)
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www.theolivepress.es
November 8th - November 21st 2019
Better help Greta!
Shell raisers POLICE have returned 20 turtles to a couple who allegedly stole 1,000 of the protected reptiles, following months of legal wrangling. The German suspects were accused of illegal animal trafficking at their farm in Llucmajor and have only been allowed to keep the turtles deemed ‘not a protected species’. The animals have been in the care of sanctuary, Natura Parc and have cost around €20,000 a month to feed and care for. The couple originally brought 400 turtles to the island when they moved to Mallorca, but their lawyer pointed out that if they were selling the animals they would have fewer than they started with. The couple were jailed for nearly a month following a Guardia Civil probe into illegal animal trafficking. Since receiving 20 of their turtles on their release, they expressed their worries for the care of the other turtles and pointed out the Natura Parc made a mistake by returning two turtles that are in fact protected.
Teen activist needs YOUR help to make it across the Atlantic to Spain for key international climate summit By Charlie Smith
SHE’S galvanized children across the world with her impassioned speeches on climate change. Kids in 4,000 cities staged mass walkouts to protest against adults and politicians polluting the planet. But now celebrity activist Greta Thunberg is facing her biggest challenge yet as she bids to cross the Atlantic for a critical climate summit, just announced for Spain. The 16-year-old Swede, who
was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, is currently stuck in Texas, as she aims to make it to the Madrid conference over land and sea. Famed for her low carbon footprint, she is looking for help from expats across America and Europe as she refuses to fly or drive, instead preferring greener transport like trains and boats. But her green footprint has left her in trouble after the location for the UN COP25 climate summit was switched at the last minute from South America to Spain. Her plans to head to Chile have had to be shelved, with the showdown now moved to Madrid, after a series of massive protests scared off organisers in Santiago. But after Thunberg made her way to New York City by boat in August, en route to South America, she found herself
It shall not pass
stuck 5,700km from the Spanish capital. “It turns out I’ve traveled halfway around the world, the wrong way,” the teen wrote on her Twitter account, which has STRANDED: Environmental three million fol- campaigner Thunberg needs a lowers. lift to Madrid by boat and train “Now I need to find a way to cross the Atlan- with a little over three weeks to tic,” she wrote, this week. “If make it to Madrid. anyone could help me find She already has an offer from transport I would be so grate- Spain’s Minister for the Environment, Teresa Ribera, who ful.” The Olive Press has stepped in said: “We would love to help to offer her a lift in an electric you to cross the Atlantic. car from any of the ports she “It would be great to have you can make it to on the Iberian here in Madrid.” Peninsula, that could include After she had made it all the way to LA, Thunberg is now Cadiz, Lisbon or A Coruna. The summit that aims to im- heading back towards Amerplement the 2015 Paris agree- ica’s east coast, having made ment, will take place from stops in South Dakota and December 2-13, leaving Greta British Columbia. Thunberg will be one of 25,000 EXPATS joined hundreds of lo- people to attend Spain’s first cals to protest against the con- ever climate summit, which struction of a new path along will cost around €90 million the coast in Portocolom. to hold. The protesters are angry that It comes as Spain’s governone of the only natural bits of ment may be locked in political coastline left is now being al- crisis again, as the latest polls tered. suggest that no party will seA spokesman for green group cure an overall majority in the Salvem Portocolom said: November 10 general election. “There is no justification for the work, as many people use it Can you help Greta without any pathway.” Thunberg cross the The Town Hall has agreed to Atlantic? Get in touch at meet up with the group to dis- newsdesk@theolivepress.es cuss the 300m path.
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Cages
The EU average stands at just 52%, while other countries in the 28-member bloc, like Germany and the Netherlands have just 10% of their total eggs coming from furnished cages. Despite the seemingly shocking statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, there is evidence that attitudes in Spain are changing. Welfare-conscious egg production increased from 7% in 2016 to 17.6% in 2018, according to data from the Spanish Egg Producer Society (Aseprhu). Furnished cages were originally designed to be an improvement on the ‘battery’ method of hen farming. But, according to the RSPCA, the cages are still a problem, as hens’ natural behaviour is ‘not able to be expressed’.
Across
Would you like to represent our award-winning media group? The ite Olive Press newspaper and webs is currently looking to fill the
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MORE than 80% of Spain’s egg-laying hens are still locked up in cages, new government data has revealed. In total 30 million birds live in the ‘stressful’ and ‘overcrowded’ conditions provided by the ‘furnished cage system’. The hens are in ‘constant stress’ and are forced to lay around 470 eggs in a 100-week period, according to El Pais. Hens’ beaks are also allegedly trimmed, and the birds are kept without sunlight, each living in a space the size of an A4 piece of paper. Spain houses 82% of its hens in these kinds of cages - the highest percentage across the European Union (EU), along with Portugal.
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LA CULTURA It’s all Bo
DIJOUS Bo, Mallorca’s biggest fair has returned to Inca to celebrate the town’s centuries-old Thursday market on November 14. The aim of the festival is to bring
After a lengthy absence, one of the most elaborate Hebrew bibles will return to Spain, for an upcoming exhibiton ONE of the world’s most ornate and expensive Hebrew bibles is to returned to its birthplace in Spain from the UK. The 500-year-old Kennicott Bible will be displayed in Santiago de Compostela, the Galician government has announced. Many Jews who fled during the Spanish Inquisition smuggled out many books and artifacts out with them that would have otherwise been destroyed. The Kennicott Bible was written by Moises Ibn Zabara and illustrated by Joseph Ibn Hayyim for influential Jewish businessman Isaac di Braga. It is named after Benjamin Kennicott, a scholar whose work led to the book being stored at Oxford University. The prestigious establish-
people together while boosting trade for small businesses and local crafts. The streets will fill up with hundreds of market stalls, including fresh produce, unique local foods and a variety of crafts. “Dijous Bo gives us the opportunity to show off to the thousands of
9
November 8th - November 21st 2019 visitors who pass through our municipality every year,” said Mayor Virgilio Moreno. Live music, parades of giant puppets and livestock shows take centre stage, with events beginning at 11 am and continuing into the night.
Back from the grave ment, which owns the copy, has only agreed to lend the Bible to the Museo Centro Gaias in Santiago for the exhibition - Galicia, a Story of the World. Roman Rodriguez, minister for culture and tourism in the Galicia government, said: “The Kennicott is one of the world’s great Bibles and it has a dual value: a technical one because of its spectacular artistry, but also a symbolic one.
“It shows how, at one time, people of three religions – Jews, Muslims and Catholics – coexisted in Spain. “It also shows how at one time there was a strong cultural and economic Jewish presence in Galicia, but it was forced out – as Jews were from the rest of Spain.”
Very appt
A NEW app has been launched that lets people listen to the stories of women locked up under Franco. Created by Madrid artist Toxic Lesbian and the Institute of History, the interactive app lets users listen to the stories of women interned in mental homes. Users can even take a selfie with the
The Kennicott Bible is worth millions and its pages teem with mythical beings and animals, while others feature geometric patterns. Its completion took 10 months and was finished in 1476.
women from the various sites, including Madrid’s ‘House of the Demented’, Santa Isabel. The women’s stories were gathered from the book Letters from the Asylum published last year, which details patients’ experiences from 1852 to 1952. Toxic Lesbian said: “Patients with mental health problems have been marginalized and remain so. Here they are empowering themselves with their own experiences.”
King of Pop THE world’s only Michael Jackson tribute endorsed by the singer’s family, Forever – King of Pop has arrived in Mallorca. The two-night extravaganza follows the emotional journey of the late musical icon, his philosophy and the legacy he left behind. “Not only is it a great show, but my brother’s heart is on stage,” said Michael’s sister La Toya Jackson. “I would love to see this show on Broadway.” “It’s too good to be real. I thought I saw Michael there,” his father Joe added. Even Michael’s brother Jemaine added: “The show is excellent, everyone does an extraordinary job”. Tickets for the show at Palma Auditorium from November 16 and 17 are available from the box office.
what’s on Autumn fair All in the mind
CALVIA celMARBELLA’S Anebrates anH10audalucia Plaza Hotel tumn fair full hosts of the Mind, Body & Spirit stalls, animals, Festival from October workshops and26 - parades 27, 11am to 8pm. in Es Capdella on November 16 and Fun-gus 17 – local restaurants have JUZCAR is special holding autumn menus on its popular Mushoffer. room Gathering Weekend, a guided walk through the forests foraging for Palma tapas mushrooms, from November - 10. TAPAS is8all the rage in Palma as around 40 restauAbsolutely rants collaborate in the food fair, nuts TaPalama, from November 27 THE ‘Big Chestnut Roast’ 1 with intDecember Ojen, Malaga, will four its 27th different have edition to follow. in‘routes’ the village square, on November 3 where visitors can also enjoy games and food.
Jazz festival BIG names in the You’ve been jazz scene are deTango’d scending on Pal-
ma for the Jazz Voyeur Festival, at Es Gremi from LA Portena Tango will November 13 to celebrate its 10th an16. niversary in Nerja on November 8 with a huge
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LA CULTURA
10 10
October 9th8th 25th - October - November 22nd 10th 2019 2019 November - November 21st 2019
To be or not to be From Springsteen to Shakespeare, the surprising passions of the Spanish political leaders vying for your vote.
SPAIN goes to the polls on November 10 for yet another General Election. But in a break from politics - who hasn’t had enough of the Brexit shambles in the UK after all - we checked out the main Spanish candidates’ cultural credentials to see what makes them tick. No one makes model buses like Boris Johnston but from secret Springsteen fans to Game of Thrones addicts, their passions may surprise you.
Pablo Iglesias
His education might have put him on a different side of the camera as the Podemos leader studied television at the Metropolis Professional School of Audiovisual Arts, short films at the Carlos III University School of Arts and speech and programme presentation at the RTVE. Wow! He was also the founder of the political theatre company Antigona and has acted in some of their works. Given his studies, it’s no wonder that TV hit Game of Thrones is a firm favourite in his casa. When not checking out the machinations of the Lannisters and Targeryens, he listens to godmother of soul, Aretha Franklin. He has also confessed to buying some of his clothes at discount hypermarket Alcampo.
Alberto Rivera
Books and films take up much of Snr Rivera’s time away from the political arena. His favourite read is The Human Factor by John Carlin which tells the story of how Nelson Mandela challenged apartheid in South Africa. It was also the basis of the film Invictus starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, which focused on how Mandela’s work brought a nation together to see the Springboks triumph in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. Rivera’s favourite literary quote is from French writer Victor Hugo: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea that has reached its time.” No doubt he will be putting some of those ideas forward during the campaign.
Santiago Abascal
Passions of a different nature float the VOX leader’s boat. He is a true nature boy, enjoying hiking and mountaineering, and is a member of the Spanish Ornithological Society. Photography is a passion and friends say he has a talent for photographing wild animals and birds. He must also be a very patient man as another hobby is growing and trimming Bonsai trees - not the easiest of horticultural species to cultivate.
Pedro Sanchez
Alongside officiating at friends weddings, where he reads poems he has personally chosen for the happy couples, the currentPrime Minister has a wide range of interests. Speaking fluent English, he cites Shakespeare as one of his favourite playwrights. That’s in complete contrast to his musical choice as you’re likely to find indie bands Arcade Fire and Muse along with rocker Bruce Springsteen on the PM’s Ipod playlist. Spanish cinema is high on his list of ways to relax, as is chilling in front of the television. But even in his own living room Snr Sanchez is never far away from politics, with The West Wing and Game of Thrones among his favourite shows. Let’s hope he is not getting too many ideas from either of these cutthroat epics.
Pablo Casado
Less is known about PP leader Casados’s cultural leanings, but he confesses to being a keen chef. And apparently he is quite talented - although he admits he could never better his wife Isabel’s signature squid dish. Looking after himself, staying fit and eating healthily are his favourite things. Unsurprisingly his dishes are Medbased and include heaps of local fresh fish.
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LA CULTURA
11
November 8th - November 21st 2019
To rest is to rust Heather Galloway meets Spain’s cult film director Carlos Saura who has no time for reactionary trends and at age 87 is launching a new photography exhibition
M
ost people fear change, but not Carlos Saura. Instead, the 87-yearold award-winning Spanish film director from Huesca revels in it. One of Spain’s most treasured exports along with Rioja and Manchego cheese, he stands among 118 of the photos he has shot over a period of 70 years that chronicle the evolution of Spain and his own career. “The photos are the foundation of my films,” he says clearly touched by the atmosphere of affection, admiration and respect in Madrid’s Circulo de Bellas Artes where the exhibition of his work has just opened. It wasn’t always like this. There was, in fact, a time when Saura, a close friend of the late offbeat Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel, claimed he was better treated outside his own country than within, winning the Berlin Festival’s Silver Bear for his
1966 movie The Hunt, a BAFTA for Carmen in 1983 and three Oscar nominations in 1980 for Mama reaches 100, in 1984 for Carmen and in 1999 for Tango. Now though, he is ubiquitously recognised as an icon of Spanish cinema, one who has distilled the essence of his country’s culture with understated yet powerful narratives, evident in movies such as Raising Ravens, 1976, Ay Carmela!, 1990, and The 7th Day, 2005. And anyone who has watched Taxi, his 1996 film about a group of extreme right-wing taxi drivers who take it upon themselves to cleanse the streets of Madrid of immigrants and other ‘undesirables’, has probably never felt the same again about taking a cab in the capital. Starring Ingrid Rubio and Carlos Fuentes, the protagonists are embroiled in a sinister response to migrants – accounting for just 1.4% of the population at that time – who are per-
ceived to pose a contaminating threat to what was still a rather insular society. As a man of left-wing principles, a prolific film-maker, photographer and writer, Saura flagged up the changes afoot – the clash between ‘the family’ – as the taxi-driver clan dubbed themselves – and outsiders – which did not, of course, refer to the Brits, Scandinavians and Germans making their home along the Spanish coast. Foreigners now account for around 12.8% of Spain’s population and much has changed since Taxi was made, not least in Saura’s own journey. A renaissance man at heart, Saura is the
David Bowie of film, constantly reinventing himself and refusing to be labelled. “I am an anarchist,” he tells me. “I don’t belong to any particular party and never have. Of course, people have linked me to communism and socialism. But I like to be free of labels and have the freedom to change.” His hands flutter with resignation when asked about Brexit and the rise of right-wing populism in Europe, which appears to be harking back to an earlier age. “I’m not a politician,” he says, shaking his head. Perhaps these issues feel too familiar t o
CREATIVE: Saura with camera and (above) La Procesion, La Alberca, 1954
interest Saura. And perhaps too, as he advances into his twilight years, he is letting music rather than political views dominate his work, evident from more recent films such as Flamenco Flamenco, 2010, J: Beyond Flamenco, 2016, and I, Don Giovanni, 2009 and the musical King of the Whole World, 2019, starring his wife, Eulalia Ramón. But music and dance, often with a strong flamenco bias, played a significant role in even in Saura’s earliest films. And now, for the first time, he is directing an opera – none other than Don Giovanni in A Coruña. “To rest is to rust,” he said recently, as though determined to ring the changes and face new challenges for as long as he is able. “I’m someone who is divided into cycles,” he says. “And sometimes when I see a photo from an earlier period, I don’t recognise myself. I see somebody else. But that doesn’t bother me. I’m not concerned with the past. I only care about the present and, as I have reached a certain time in my life, the future.” As might be expected from someone who does not spend time looking over his shoulder, Saura’s personal life has also been colourful. Married three times, after his first marriage to Adela Medrano, he went on to have a 13-year relationship with Geraldine Chaplin that ended when he fell in love Jude Law-style with their son’s nanny. Chaplin packed her bags, took the boy and left. Saura proceeded to marry the nanny, Mercedes Pérez. But he was never one to hang around once the passion had gone. His current relationship with actress Eulalia Ramón, who had roles in Taxi, The 7th Day and Dispara!, has, however, lasted 26 years, suggesting that, in this department, at least, Saura is happy to put his feet up.
ICONIC: Carlos Saura’s Las ninas de Cria Cuervos, Madrid, 1975
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November 8th - November 21st 2019
Dominance risk IBERIA airlines has bought out Air Europa in a €1 billion takeover, meaning it now controls around 80% of flights between Mallorca and the mainland. The purchase by Iberia’s parent company IAG Group, which also controls Vueling, now leaves Ryanair as the only real competitor for the Spain-Mallorca route. In the first nine months of 2019, 4.4 million made the journey with either Vueling, Iberia and Air Europa, totalling 77.5% of all passengers. Ryanair took just over 1.1 million passengers, accounting for just over 20% of travel on the same service. Many associations in the local travel industry have raised concerns about one company having such ‘dominance’ over the market and the impact it could have on flight prices.
BUSINESS
Santander PROFIT drop Spain’s biggest bank’s profits drop in first nine months of the year as Brexit bites into British arm’s profits. BREXIT has made a dent in the profits of Spanish bank Santander. The Spanish bank recorded a 35% drop in its net profits during the first nine months of the year, after its British subsidiary’s profits fell 19%. Spain’s largest bank recorded a net profit of €3,732 million between January and September, while its British arm earned €828 million. Difficulties in the UK were offset by a 19% increase
in profits in Brazil, where the Spanish bank earned €2,249 million. The bank’s Brazillian arm remains its most profitable subsidiary. The company’s American division witnessed the biggest leap in profits, seeing them rise to €619 million, an increase of 27%. Profits were also up significantly in Mexico, which saw a 14% rise to €659 million and in Portugal where profits surged 12% to €385 million.
Hit the high street The company’s Spanish wing remains its second most profitable division,
Shelf stacking graduates ONE in three workers in Spain are stuck in a job unsuited to their level of education. A new study by the EU found that 36.3% of workers are working in roles below their level of education. The findings back up research by temping agency organisation, Asempleo, which found that 41% of women across Spain were overqualified for their jobs. The EU study also found that better than average job growth
in the Canary Islands, Murcia and Valencia has led to more people working in jobs they're overqualified for. People in the north of Spain are more likely to be working in jobs mismatched to their level of education than workers in the south. It is thought this is because more skilled workers are attracted to cities in the north, where there is a higher concentration of highskilled sectors.
seeing profits rise by 3% to €1.185 million. Ana Botin, the group’s president, said that the company had maintained ‘good trends’ despite a difficult business environment. She said: “We have achieved the figures thanks to the strength of our business model and our new regional organization structure announced in April.” Botin added that diversifying into both European and American markets had helped Santander distinguish itself from competitors. The bank has added six million customers in the last twelve months and already serves 144 million people worldwide.
RETAIL sales surged in September, meaning that there has now been 12 months of consecutive growth in the sector. Sales across Spain rocketed by 3.4% in September compared to the same month last year. Small chains registered the largest jump in sales of 6.5%. Despite September seeing the biggest increase in sales since August 2016, when retail sales rose by 3.8%, job growth in the sector remained stagnant. There was a 0.9% increase in retail jobs overall, but a 0.7% fall in jobs with large chains. Madrid saw the biggest rise in retail sales, 7.6%. The poorest performing regions were Ceuta and Asturias, where sales dropped -1.2% and -0.8% respectively.
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL SPAIN has some of the world’s best restaurants, but not a single one of them is in the south. Three Spanish restaurants made it into the top 15 in Trip Advisor’s annual Travelers’ Choice Restaurants Awards 2019. El Celler de Can Roca in Catalunya is the best Spanish restaurant, according to Trip Advisor. The restaurant in Girona, which has three Michelin stars, was voted the eighth best in the world by travellers. Restaurante Martin Berasategui near San Sebastian was voted the eleventh best eatery worldwide, making it the second best in Spain.
Roca-fellas Spanish restaurants are the flavour of the world according to Trip Advisor, but there is a north-south culinary divide
Barcelona’s Disfrutar was voted thirteenth best globally. It means the ultra modern restaurant is the third best eatery in Spain. Voters snubbed Andalucian and Alicante restaurants,
Fungi fair
IT’S mushroom season in Mallorca and locals and visitors wander the woods in search of truffles and wild mushrooms. As autumn weather comes in, Mallorca’s favourite fungi
13
known as l’esclatasangs grow quickly in the moist mountain areas. The little village of Mancor de la Vall hosts their annual mushroom fair centred around the l’esclatasang on November 23 and 24. This meaty mushroom is large and perfect for grilling or roasting and you can try it in a wide variety of tasty dishes at the fair. Traditional music and dancing fill out the rest of this mountain festival.
with not a single one of them making it into the top rankings of best Spanish restaurants. Catalunya has the best chefs in Spain, with four restaurants located in the region making the top 10 list of best restaurants nationwide. And unsurprisingly the Catalan capital is the undisputed culinary capital of the country, with three of these four restaurants being situated in Barcelona.Lounge bar cum restaurant Acces and Con Gracia, which specialises in contemporary updates of Cat-
alan classics, were the Barcelona names joining Disfruta in the top 10. A total of 584 restaurants worldwide gained a place in the 2019 edition of the culinary rankings. Trip Advisor said the chosen restaurants had ‘consistently received high marks and praise from diners around the world.’
November 8th - November 21st 2019
Cereal killer ALMOST two thirds of breakfast cereals sold in Spain contain so much sugar they shouldn’t be consumed by children. A shocking 63% of branded cereals exceed the EU’s recommended limit of 15g of sugar per 100g for children, a study by the European Commission has found. Some cereals had as much as 45g of sugar per 100g. It means that a 30g recommended serving would contain 13.5g of sugar, over half of the 24g of sugar that children should consume each day. A quarter of cereals studied were found to contain excess salt and another 44% contained too little fibre.
Vegan Spain - no bull! SPAIN might be famous for cured meats and seafood dishes, but it seems Spaniards are increasingly opting to go meat free. Online food order company Deliveroo has reported a 134% increase in people within Spain ordering vegan options. The rise is being driven by people living in Spain’s biggest cities. Barcelona residents buy the
What’s on for foodies!
D
ine out less
FOOD Passion festival is back in Port Adriano with six of the port’s finest restaurants offering three-course menus for €20 or less including a drink – every weekend in November. Salud.
V
ermouth fest
INCA will host the 5th Vermouth and Tapas Festival on November 9, with special tastings all day, accompanied by live music and food trucks.
B
ee sweet
most meat and dairy free dishes, followed by people in Madrid and Valencia. Deliveroo already has over 30 restaurants on the app which specialise in vegan food. The most popular is Teresa’s in Barcelona, followed by Fit Kitchen and La Trocadero both also in the Catalan capital. Teresa’s roasted carrot and avocado salad is Deliveroo customers’ favourite dish.
BEEKEEPERS from around the Balearics unite for Llubi’s Honey Fair on November 17, with honey competitions and stalls of honey liquors and rums, beeswax and more.
Friends.
Reset.
Music.
At OD Port Portals we have our own star rating. In fact, we have all the stars of the Mallorca sky and we will enjoy them all together every summer night at OD Sky Bar, on our spacious terrace and at our restaurant On Top. A hotel full of local experiences, music, art, gastronomy, yoga, pre-parties, flea markets, brunches, concerts, Pilates, tardeo, sea, sun and all the stars. A hotel full of life.
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PROPERTY Mortgage crash
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October 25thNovember - November8th 10th 2019 21st 2019 - November
Keys Isl nd
By Amanda Butler
to the
Sophie’s choice
place – all of which is good news for us. Tourism turnaround There has been a concern there would be a drop in airline seats due to the collapse of Thomas Cook, a subject which tourism minister Iago Negueruela addressed at the launch of World Travel Market in London this week. Negueruela stated he anticipated a “full recovery” from the collapse during 2020, with an increase in airline seats from UK airports during the winter months – more good news.
Amanda Butler may be in despair over Brexit and the UK elections, but has some good news to brighten autumn days SO… October 31 is in fact Delay Day rather than D-Day for Brexit. I guess we all saw that coming. Now delayed until January 31 and in the meantime a general election is now set for December 12th, itself extremely unusual as general elections are generally avoided when most will need to set off in the dark and drizzle to vote. I’m not sure about you, but out of all the candidates who does one back - and does one vote for the party´s manifesto and overall leader, or one ́s constituency MP as should actually be the case? Might there will be a surprise candidate that jumps into the ring to provide us with a little confidence that they know what they’re doing and have the future of Britain at heart? I sincerely hope so although again, it all looks a bit ‘Sophie’s Choice’. In the meantime, according to official British visitor figures for
A Charitable Gesture
September, the Balearic Islands received over 600,000 tourists, up by 12% on September 2018. Although they will no doubt have been soaked by the customary September thunderstorms, this
increased activity was reflected in the real estate market place, with the volume of viewings and sales increasing substantially since June this year, according to many agencies in the market
On a charitable note, and since we are coming closer to Christmas, both myself and my designer Sandy Graham of Seesite 3D CGI have put a great deal of effort into creating a beautiful charity calendar, with all proceeds going to children in need in Mallorca. So, if you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift that your friends or corporate clients will use all year long, please consider buying the 2020 ‘Diversity of Mallorca’ JoyRon Foundation Calendar, available through the following website, or from specific sales points on the island detailed therein https://www.joyronfoundation.org/calendar-2020. Only 47 days to Christmas …... so start buying your Christmas presents if you haven’t already!!
Number of new mortgages plunges in third quarter due to new law
THE number of new mortgages registered in Spain has taken a dramatic nosedive compared with the previous year. This August there was a 29.9% decrease on the same month in 2018. The data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) reveal that the uptake in mortgages for the eighth month of the year was also the worst since 2015. In total 20,385 new mortgages have made it onto the Land Registry in 2019 so far. Of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities, La Rioja experienced the most negative mortgage drop off, with a decrease of -61.5%. The regions with the next largest slumps were Extremadura (-53.8%), Navarra (-52.9%), the Canary Islands (-49.7%), Balearic Islands (-42.5%), Madrid (-37.6%) and Andalucia (-34.4%). The poor mortgage data has been blamed on Spain’s new property law, which was implemented this summer. Article 20 of the Real Estate Credit Act was enacted by the Spanish Government in
June, and according to the INE, ‘could have affected data published in August’. Expats The new law makes it more difficult for expats seeking a mortgage if they are not in the eurozone, specifically, if they derive their incomes in a currency other than the euro. This is because the borrower has the right to convert the mortgage into their own currency, under certain circumstances, at a later date. This means that some banks are only lending to euro earners and others are reducing their loan-to-values for British clients, in particular.
Star in the east
FOREIGN buyers are most in love with Alicante. An astonishing 41.81% of homes sold in the province were snapped up by foreigners, in the second quarter of 2019. It was followed, at some distance, by the Canary Islands where 28.91% of homes were bought by expats, Malaga (27.9%) and the Balearics (27.49%). The north west of Spain was the least popular area for foreign buyers. In all four provinces within the Galicia region, buyers from abroad accounted for less than 1% of property purchases.
The paper NOT to miss on Mallorca island THE Olive Press is now distributing all over the island in an incredible 500-plus locations. Found at golf courses, tourist offices, museums and petrol stations, it has become the most sought-after English newspaper in MalAlaro Alcanada Alcanada Alcudia ALGAIDA Andratx Andratx BENDINAT BENDINAT BENDINAT Binissalem Cala Estancia
lorca every fortnight. Look out for one of our many stands, as seen here at Santa Catalina market, in Palma, and in Andratx town centre. We print between 7,000 to 8,000 copies every issue and take our distribution very seriously,
Aim estage agent Alcanada Golf Spar Tourist Information EROSKI Tourist Information CCA Andratx CAN NATURA Lindew Hotel Real Golf at Bendinant Eroski Aqua Restaurant
EASY TO FIND: Fara Homes in Andratx
Cala D’or Cala D’or CALVIA CALVIA Cala Llamp CAMP DE MAR CAMPOS CAN PASTILLA CAN PASTILLA CAN PASTILLA Can Picafort COSTA DE LA CALMA Costa den Blanes Costa den Blanes Deia Deía EL TORO ES CAPDELLA Esporle Festival Park Inca Inca Llucmajor MAGALUF Maioris Manacor Manacor PAGUERA PAGUERA PALMA
and need you, the readers to keep us informed of numbers... and more importantly if each location needs more or less papers. We also want to know where you would like to see it and where you don't think we should
Yacht Club Eroski ROSITA RESTAURANT TOWN HALL Gran Folies Golf De Andratx HIPER CENTRO SPAR EROSKI AQUARIUM Ponderosa Beach Bar THE GLASGOW SUNDOWNERS MOODS Robert Graves Museum Forn Deía SPAR BAR NOU Spar Tourist Info Office Barretts Hipercentro EROSKI Golf Club Pontiene Maioris Gof Club Lidl Bar Mingos VILAMIL HOTEL TOURIST INFORMATION BOATHOUSE
bother. Here are a select group of a few dozen key drops. Please get in touch at Newsdesk@theolivepress.es to find your nearest drop or suggest another.
WELL STOCKED: Stands are always regularly stocked such as Santa Catalina market PALMA PALMA PALMA PALMA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMANOVA PALMANOVA Palmanyola Pollensa
Santa Catalina market Palma University Real Club Nautico First Mallorca Eroski Tourist Office GOLF FANTASIA EROSKI Palmanova Gardens Mari Cunningham Son Termens Golf Pollensa Golf
Pollensa PORT ADRIANO Port Alcudia Port Andratx Port Andratx Port Alcudia Port Pollensa Port Pollensa Port Soller PORTALS NOUS Portixol PUERTOPORTALS
Eroski Sansibar Lidl Cepsa Garage Tourist Office Eroski Real Club Nautico The Stay Hotel Jumeirah NICE PRICE Portixol Hotel Reeves
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SPORT SPORT
15
November 8th - November 21st 2019
On a higher plane La Liga rule book ripped up as Barca and Madrid do battle with Andalucia’s best GRANADA’s unprecedented run may have taken a tumble in their last game but the side is making brilliant progress in La Liga this season. The newly-promoted club sit sixth in the league, high enough for a European spot, and are only two points off the top of the table. The Andalucian team have made serious strides this campaign despite their small stature but now face two tough
fixtures, as they prepare to face Valencia and Atletico Madrid the following game. The hope is that momentum isn’t lost after the southern side
suffered a late blow in their last game against Real Sociedad, losing 2-1 at home. In September, Granada turned over current league-leaders
Sinful streamers OVER half of Spaniards have used illegal platforms to stream sports games. Some 56% of Spaniards acknowledged having used an illegal platform to watch sport, according to results found by Smart Protection, a company dedicated to combat online piracy and counterfeiting. Its investigation also revealed that
while 36% have never streamed sports illegally, a large 74% knew someone who had and 32% knew more than one person who had. Interestingly, 60% of respondents agreed they should pay to watch a live match. However the report found that 36% of Spaniards resort to pirate transmissions because they can’t afford the subscription.
Howtogetyourgreencard What is the car insurance Green Card? The Green Card or International Insurance Card is an international certificate of insurance accepted by the authorities of all 48 countries for which the Green Card is valid. It certifies that visiting motorists have the minimum compulsory third party liability insurance cover required by law. The Green Card System Each year over 400,000 road traffic accidents occur in member countries of the Green Card system. The system was founded in 1949 to provide a series of guarantees compensation for victims of cross-border road traffic accidents and its handling bureau ensure legitimate claims can be settled in accordance with national legal provisions. It also facilitates the flow of cross-border traffic by avoiding the need to obtain insurance cover at each of the 48 member countries. Member countries Austria, Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany,
TM
Denmark, Spain, Estonia, France, Finland, Liechtenstein, UK, Greece, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Israel, Iran, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Morocco, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. (Source: The Council of Bureaux). The following countries are eligible for future membership: Algeria, Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya and Syria. How do I get it? Motorists can obtain a Green Card from the provider of their motor insurance policy. Currently the UK and Spain belong to the European Economic Area, which means that the cost for the Green Card is included in the price of the insurance policy. surge protectors and remember to unplug your most prized electronics during thunderstorms.
902 282provided in this article is of interest. We hope123 the information If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 14 78 34 More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com
* Fu l l y co m p re h e n s i ve o f fe r v a l i d fo r n e w c u s to m e r s o n l y. G u a ra n te e s u b j e c t to cove r, re p a i r a t a p p rove d g a ra g e, a n d co u r te s y ve h i c l e av a i l a b i l i t y. S u b j e c t to co n d i t i o n s. O f fe r e n d s 3 0 / 1 1 / 1 8 .
2/8/18 17:01
Barcelona 2-0, and the team has gone from strength-tostrength ever since. Diego Martinez Penas, the manager, was appointed in 2018 and helped the side achieve promotion to Spain’s top league. This year, his side made their best ever start to a La Liga campaign. The end of October even saw the Nazaries sit top of La Liga for a period, and though they have dropped off slightly, fans should be expecting more than just survival this season. In 12 games, Granada have won six, lost four and drawn two games.
Racism shame SHAMELESS Spanish football officials have demanded an English team apologise over racism allegations they made against an Andalucian club. Queens Park Rangers’ under-18 side were forced to walk off the pitch during a match against Sevilla team AD Nervion in August. It came after opposition players made monkey noises and taunted them, saying ‘n*****.’ The London-based club demanded an apology from the Spanish team. But now, in an extraordi-
nary turn of events, the Andalucian FA has ordered QPR to apologise to them for ‘undermining the good name’ of the region. QPR Chief Executive Lee Hoos said: “It’s a joke and it’s clear nobody cares.” “Had this incident occurred in England I have no doubts the issue would be dealt with swiftly. “Unfortunately, it seems some countries have a long way to go in this respect.” Hoos had previously asked UEFA to look into the incident, which occurred during a friendly match.
Picking up DELIVEROO has announced the launch of a collection service in Spain, where users can order their food and pick it up personally.
FINAL WORDS
Vox pop TEMPERS had to be calmed and security called at a VOX party rally in Barcelona when one attendee said to another: “I am not Spanish? I am more Spanish than you - you have a monkey face.”
Late post A DECORATOR from Essex received a postcard he had sent to his parents 28 years ago while on holiday in Benidorm.
Light fingered AN ALGERIAN expat has been arrested after he was caught stealing lighting and sound equipment from a circus troupe’s tent at dawn in Palma.
OLIVE PRESS
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Vol. 3 Issue 67 www.theolivepress.es November 8th - November 21st 2019
Stolen pooch
OAP: Old age paradise Sunny Spain named best country in Europe to enjoy your golden years
SPAIN is the best country to retire to in Europe, according to a new report. Blacktower Financial Management has revealed the best - and worst - European countries for retirees based on cost of living, crime rates, life expectancy, property prices and
population age. The country scored highly in every section with its average paving the way for it land the top spot overall. Spain has beautiful surroundings, towns, cities, and of course lots of sunshine - which makes it a perfect
cBlunder
A TASTELESS McDonald’s promotion for Halloween ice cream has caused the conglomerate to issue a grovelling apology. The company used the term ‘Sundae Bloody Sunday’ in its advertising campaign during the spooky season, in Portugal. It caused a huge uproar among the public who felt it was insensitive to the atrocities that occurred in Northern Ireland, in 1972, where 14 civilians were shot dead by British police. “Please give some f**king history lessons to your marketing department,” said one angry customer. A McDonald’s spokeswoman said: “It was intended as a celebration of Halloween, not as an insensitive reference to any historical event.”
A PITBULL named Mike has been stolen from the Calvia animal shelter he was staying at. There are fears he may be used in barbaric, illegal dog fights because of his breed. Police are searching for the eight-year-old dog after thieves setting for those approaching cut the fence to his cage at SOS their final years. Animal shelter and snatched Second in the rankings is Fin- him. land, somewhat suprisingly. “Mike is chipped and wears a The chilled Scandinavian brown leather collar,” a spokeatmosphere and gorgeous man at the shelter told the Olive magic of the Northern Lights Press. “He is nice and friendly – makes it a great choice for re- we are desperate,” he continued. tirees.
Grey
Italy came in third place, a country known for its wines, olive oils and pasta - a winning combination for when you’re past the point of no return and have no problems in packing on some extra pounds. The UK featured in 17th place - despite the perception of grey skies and constant rain, the rolling hills of the north are a joy to see, whatever the weather, and the south-west has with it some gorgeous coastline, and opportunity to grab a board and make for the waves - hitting retirement age gives some people a new lease of life.
Angels in
THE charity Angels Without Wings will turn on the Christmas lights in Palma this year. The organisation recognise those ‘angels’ who change the world in the little and ‘selfless’ things they do. The city’s lights will be turned on during a big bash at 7pm on November 28. The ‘Your Best Wish’ campaign will be launched at the event. Citizens can send Palma city council their wish for the community and some will be included in a montage of ‘best wishes’ at the Christmas light turn on.