Olive Press Valencia - Issue 5 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Fat not fit is what matters IT’S impossible to be ‘fat and fit’ and even if you are slightly overweight you are unhealthy, a new study found. Researchers in Spain found the risk of heart attacks and strokes rockets as BMI increases. And while they agree that exercise does reduce the risk of some illnesses like diabetes and hypertension, those who were active and obese were twice as likely to have high cholesterol than inactive people of a normal weight. The findings challenge the long-held ‘obesity paradox’ belief that it’s possible to be fat and not at an increased risk of death from heart disease. The study of over 520,000 Spanish adults by the European University, in Madrid, revealed that overweight people were actually four times more likely to have diabetes... and five times more likely to have high blood pressure. “One cannot be fat but healthy,” said lead researcher Dr Alejandro Lucia. “This study shows that being regularly active is not likely to eliminate the detrimental health effects of excess body fat. “Our findings refute the notion that a physically active lifestyle can completely negate the deleterious effects of obesity.” The team found that while exercise undeniably had positive effects, participants that were overweight or obese were undeniably more at risk of developing major health problems. “More activity is better, so walking 30 minutes per day is better than walking 15 minutes a day,” Dr Lucia said. “But exercise does not seem to compensate for the negative effects of excess weight.”

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VALENCIA / COSTA AZAHAR FREE Vol. 1 Issue 5 www.theolivepress.es January 28th - February 10th 2021

Model justice? SOUGHT: Kirby

Expat fashion designer due in court over €35 million pension plunder trial

The

While other health tips for the new year include...

A WELL-KNOWN British exBy A ex Tre nsk pat and former glamour model is set to go on trial this week. How the Other Half Lives Jody Smart, 44, has been about her fashion business she called to answer questions in boasted how she was worth a multi-million euro pensions €13 million while showing off scam that lost hundreds of ex- her floor- to-ceiling shoe pats their life savings. collection and She is set to wearing limited be joined by OLIVE edition Jimmy PRESS three other Choos. former emThe trial, which IL A TR R PE ployees of PA resumes in DeContinennia this week, tal Wealth will ask her M a n In denial and fellow emagement ployees Paul (CWM) at Clarke, SteOLIVE the Costa phen Ward PRESS Blanca hearand Anthoings that834are ny Downs 952 147 Movers a year behind - what hapschedule. pened to cliFashion deents’ money signer Smart that was put - aka Jody in high-risk Bell and Jody investments. Kirby - will be The private grilled over prosecution how her Deagainst the nia-based four co-defencompany GUI DE Making the headlines dants has been CWM colbrought by 17 lapsed in 2017, leaving many former CWM clients. The last of the firm’s 750 mostly-Brit- court date was in February, ish clients with huge financial with April hearings postponed problems. due to the pandemic. Law authorities are also trying Last year we exposed former to trace her ex husband Dar- CWM advisor Neil Hathaway ren Kirby. for stealing hundreds of copWhile many of CWM’s vic- ies of the Olive Press after we tims lost all their savings, and reported how he was being a couple committed suicide, grilled as part of the legal proSmart allegedly travelled busi- ceedings. ness class to America and lived We tracked the disgraced fiin huge luxury villas. nancial advisor down to his She also allegedly received multi-million euro villa above up to €1 million to set up her Javea, where he admitted it, company Jody Bell SL and whining that he had ‘also lost launched charity Grant a a lot of money’. Wish, which received lavish Legal action coordinator, Anpraise and publicity in various gela Brooks, told the Olive local publications. Press that she was ‘glad’ the In a Channel 4 programme trial was finally on. “The trial resumption will bring some long-awaited comfort to everyone who has waited for these defendants to be brought to justice.” The private action accuses Darren Kirby, Jody Smart, Paul Clarke, and Stephen Ward of fraud, disloyal administration, and forging signatures on investment dealing MARSH: Luxury lifestyle instructions. COSTA BLANCA

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COVID vaccine 100% effective in first tests with human trials poised to start

App ‘n go

have been AN app to prove people COVID is to be immunised against days. launched in the coming those who have The Junta says that of the vaccine been given two doses the app, will be able to download code. This will which will show a QR so people can be able to be scanned vaccinated. This prove they have been them travel decould be used to let example. spite restrictions, for

Watch that chat

Esteban. ‘creates 100% against researcher Mariano has verified that the vaccine susceptible to proven to be 100% effective Arriaza said that the team in a humanised mouse SPANISH vaccine has protection against SARS-CoV-2 important.’ COVID-19 in mice. infection, which is very been modified to replicate Mariano Esteban and Juan will the SARS-CoV-2 The jab, developed by virologists the MVA virus has Centre for Biotechnology, In the Spanish vaccine, of SARS-CoV-2, which is the key that allows Garcia Arriaza at the National S protein ‘within weeks’. to eradicate the complete to enter human cells. move on to human trials of the virus that was used the coronavirus the protein and teaches the Journal of Virol- It therefore introduces the immune system to The vaccine uses a variant the results published in smallpox, according to and eliminate it. vaccine protected belonging it how to recognise one or two doses of the ogy. Spanish biotech giant Biofabri, According to the study, mice from COVID-19. It is being developed withplans for clinical trials already in motion. vaccine blocked repli100% of the ‘humanised’ to the Zendal group, with jab uses the ‘Modified Ankara vaccinia’ vi- Arriaza added, however, that two doses of the in the lungs. protein that manDubbed MVA-CoV-2, the coronavirus COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 a the of to transport the coronavirus, cation results demonstrate that the MVA vector-based rus (MVA) as a vehicle animal system defense against “These and complete efficacy in the reages to stimulate an immune for Scientific Research. produces robust immunity clinical trials,” the Spanish Medi- vaccine and supports its future application in reported the Higher Council models, for the green light from Biofabri is now waiting the first of two clinical human trials, which searchers declared. progressing before weeks could begin in a few cines Agency to kickstart Clinical phases I and II could start in a few weeks.the MVA-CoV-2 vaccine candidate gener- to phase III. on hamsters and macaques. of neutralising “We have observed that now also be carried out response with the production explained Tests will ates a robust immune of T lymphocytes in mice,” antibodies and the activation

DELIGHTED: Virologists

Mariano Esteban and

9th 2021

R-RATED

a 10% rise in SCIENTISTS say that the chance of mask wearing triples infection rate keeping the R number for COVID below one. Health, reWriting in Lancet Digital the numsearchers said that keeping the pandemic is ber below one means shows the numshrinking. The R rate by each carrier ber of people infected of the coronavirus. people in the They studied 300,000 conclusion. their reach to USA

Juan Garcia Arriaza,

developers of the vaccine

chat without a HAVING a 30-secondventilated room facemask in a badlycoughing for half could be worse than to COVID ina second when it comes fection. of CamA study by the University College London bridge and Imperial results in a found that while coughing droplets, speech large number of big These then produces finer particles. air for longer – stay suspended in the up to an hour. people to wear a The report advises and othmask to protect themselves just talking and are they if even ers, not coughing.

GOOD START

race to vaccinate its AS Spain started the Andalucia was population against COVID, an early leader. the vaccination proIn the first weeks of Spain’s first tranche gramme one in four of in the region. of injections was made

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SPAIN’S prime accused Catalan minister has leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing of independence. a declaration Mariano Rajoy demanded clarify if he he had really declared independence day’s nail bitingfollowing Tuesaddress to the Catalan parliament. If so, Rajoy trigger Articleinsisted he could 155 of Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid take direct control to of Catalunya. “There is an urgent need put an end to Catalunya isto the situation that going through - to Continues

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Expats lose millions in life

savings CONFUSION reigns over should foot who through failed hotels hit bythe bill for Mallorca investment line Monarch.the collapse of airscheme Balearic hotels are facing €10million a bill over the lapse that saw colEXCLUSIVE the emergency repatriation By Joe Duggan back to the of over 110,000 UK, many Palma. from HUNDREDS

Administrator of British KPMG told Olive Press the to expats are battling retrieve Monarch to ‘the debt owed by hoteliers will sions after their penas an unsecured rank £20 millionlosing up to claim’ against the defunct in a failed airline. pension “They will have investment OFF TO to file a claim scheme. the joint administrators OZ: Boss to Kirby Spanish-based and (above) the money they for all team at financial advisory a spokesman. are owed,” said firm Con- March charity bash “It has not tinental been determined agement Wealth Man(yet) how much (CWM) folded Many of money available to creditors.” will be last month transferred them had

obliteratUntitled-1.pdf ing many their private heartbroken 1 16/06/2017 UK Brits’ life savings. pensions through15:36 the company,

SPECIALIZING IN: CRIMINAL LAW CIVIL LAW BANKING (FLOOR CLAUSE) FAMILY LAW

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whose boss Darren Kir- It is believed by has at least allegedly 300 of CWM’s moved tonow Australia. clients 900 One Costa-del-Sol- pension have had their based expat pots deciOlive Press told the mated, with victims he sunk shocked to £59,000 later dis- to end up through cover the value CWM, only back in Britof their ain on benefits.” realising he investments had lost £39,000 had plum- “I have when meted dramatically. his pension nothing but praise for Tony trustees However, sent a statement. Barnett close to thea source [Trafalgar MD] “I couldn’t Stewart Davies and have lost believe it. I sisted: ‘There case in- mentum [Moare still pounds,” thousands of many customers chef execurevealed the are happy who tive]. They victim, asking with their magnificent have been to re- pension portfolio.’ main anonymous. ing to recoup in tryAndaluc “The adviser people’s ia money.” ing me, ‘This kept tell- tax specialist- b a s e d The Olive Press teed, it can’t is guaran- Brooks, a leadingAngie derstands ungo below a pert on excertain level’.” it is highly pension libpossible eration schemes legal His money, and may be taken by action others acrossand that of the founder of Pension parties against some Spain and Life, has now France, CWM, high-risk was put into a fight to helplaunched get vicinvestor ‘professional tims’ money back. assets, it She is working has been only’ claimed. alongside pension trustees Trafalgar International and Momentum sions. Pen- based out of headquarters in Alicante, “People are and its terribly executives. distressed,” based Brooks Granada- Both the office in told the and the website Javea Olive Press. have lost large “They have recently shut. amounts of When the their retirement Olive Press ings.” sav- spoke to boss Kirby ‘definitively’ he She added: denied these people “Some of responsibility over are going crash. “I have the lost my world,” he A close said. associate Kirby’s told of the Olive Press former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. “It is still quite raw for them, working and they are what to do 4, Palma next,” he out said.

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SPAIN’S PP party cious plans has set out for a audaback control power grab to take from Valencia and the a u t o n o mother ous regions. Leader Casado Pablo announced commitment his strengthen to the central government’s to the national role in the run up He insisted elections in a fortnight. that such prevent corruption a move in taxes. and lead to would a drop It comes as off the threatthe party attempts EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Party, whose from an insurgentto see Parfitt autonomous leader has described Vox the THE cer of Spain’. parliaments as beleaguered the ‘canUnder the wealth managementboss of plan, the PP a failed se resources allegedly wants to increalost expats company which delegations for regional government million has more than ignored a €20 transfer of and paralyse any court. summons power to the further to Darren regions. Kirby, of Continental Alicante-based Wealth (CWM), Supremacy Management Casado insisted court on failed to turn up at Denia the move Spain being AccordingMarch 26. administered would see was to Olive Press tively’. due to ‘more effecsources he The election business turn up, alongside party would hopeful stated The case partners, who did former that his involves a turn up. view of how carry out a sweeping who trio re- moneylost substantial of investors, operate lookingthe regional authorities amounts when the at ‘efficiency ty.’ of company 2017. and equifolded in Spain’s quasi-federal Kirby allegedly fled to Australia of ‘autonomous llowing political HOW WE fothe constitution states’ was system ning to the collapse, finally TOLD IT: added to Alicante last Our 2017 returin 1978. Prime ter Pedro Sanchez, “Darren reports England.” has been year. whose party Minis- which the constitution, The Olive drafted will he didn’t sign sent a Burofax Press exclusively plan, insisting strongly opposed for, how now have former member the PSOE revealed the ways,” to pursue so the court losingCWM abruptly ‘tooth and would defend of staff. folded him in other “It was a source said. nail’ the principal hundreds nal self-government. “A judge of expats’ in 2017, day theya prestigious place vings in the of regiolife sabut one it’s under is dealing with The firm, process. said, askingjust shut the door,” legal review,” this and “We understand not to Marriott which was based out she Victims he added. of the asked had raised be named. he is currently to ten’ Hotel, in Denia, in ttered telesales staff and had ‘eight tions to sign blankfears about being dealing around Europe, clients scaand their pensions instrucvested revealed NO SHOW: a large in high-risk assets being incommissions. which paid Darren Kirby One pensioner res. “It is based on ta Blanca wherever, a blank cheque the told the to invest lost €210,000 Olive PressCos- “It is verywhenever. he investing worrying after transferring €470,000 as they were despite stating clients’ money low to medium risky “I was asked, risk attitude.he had a funds investments as well in highly just because as dubious ‘Can you blank form. gher commissions.” they paid sign the hils.’ I did thatWe will fill in the this He added detaiin my best trusting they would investors that losses sustained interests,” act verable should however, “They should by he said. as the investments be recofor me and have been looking led to perform, that faiout linked their own they were just feathering or went bust, to life insurance were what they nests. To me they When were doing.” knew hold the Olive Presspolicies. Lawyer Antonio of Kirby Flores, whose Lawbird in Octoberfinally got denied all See pages responsibility. 2017, he firm my 26-29 of victims,is representing a world,” he “I have lost said. ment sheetssaid signing blanknumber investwas ‘very “This negates Are you worrying’. the very financial member? a victim or former essence of advisory services,”said Tel. (+34) 96 649 18 29 the case? Do you know more staff info@hispaniahomes.es Contact the Floabout newsdesk@theolivepress.es Olive Press www.hispaniahomes.co.uk at

Judge set to take further boss of suspect steps after investment to turn up companyexpat at court fails

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VENDORS Wickedness GUIDE Want to sell In what is Spain’s largest your property? legal scrutiny of British-run ABSENT: Kirby (above) was a no-show at court, 96 649 1883 financial scams to date, Jodie (right) and a previous Olive Press front page the trio were grilled about falsifying documents and Another is widow Karen ” Smart has previously demiss-selling toxic invest- O’Hagan, who lost €72,000 nied ever dealing with climents. of her RBS pension. ents or having anything A total of 17 claimants have It came after she was told to do with the running of brought the private prose- by CWM staff that transfer- CWM other than promotion cution as Denia court seeks ring the money was the only online and in the media. to bring former boss Kir- way to protect it for her two by and sole director Jody young children if she passed Smart to justice. away. Kirby failed to attend the hearing on February 24, and could now face arrest. Meanwhile, Smart was able Angela Brooks, who is leadto delay attending the hearing the private prosecution, ing until next month due to told the Olive Press the case damage to a restaurant she will set a major ‘precedent’ across Europe. owns during Storm Gloria. Court transcripts passed to “It’s a disgrace that it’s the Olive Press reveal how taken a Spanish lawyer in the ex-employees denied all Spain and a Spanish criminal judge to recognise the accusations put to them. The defendants claimed wickedness of actions taken that former boss Kirby was by all parties concerned. responsible for moving “There is no precedent for the funds from low-risk to this. It is going to shame all the other jurisdictions high-risk. One of the victims, former throughout Europe and beBlackpool bus driver Les yond into acknowledging Hutchings, 67, lost nearly what many offshore advihis entire €117,000 private sors have been doing for pension when it ended up in years. “The scale of this case toxic portfolios without his has made the courts sit up and take notice. knowledge.

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EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

HUNDREDS of British expats to retrieve are battling sions after their pen£20 millionlosing up to in a failed pension investment scheme. Spanish-based financial advisory firm Continental Wealth Management (CWM) folded Many of them last month obliterat- transferred their had Untitled-1.pdf ing many vate priheartbroken 1 16/06/2017 UK Brits’ life savings. pensions through15:36 the company,

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Expats lose millions in life savings through failed investment scheme

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Disgraced businesswoman Jody Smart A WELL-KNOWN GUIDE accused in financial expat fashion designer has been accused scandal EXCLUSIVE of receiving up to €1million from three British claimants By Joshua Parfitt an unlicensed Costa Blanca financial advisory are seeking criminal charges for aggravated after CWM’s company. Companies in Jody huge sums ‘without accounting and belonging fraud, fake left him with September 2017 collapse falling into losses’. given the money by Smart’s name were Worse, it comes to a criminal investments just €22,000 from initial organisation. defunct Continental as it emerges that Wealth Management of more than ₤800,000 (CWM) in the two ens of victims left destitute and doz- The complaints concern years’ before its bungled house (approx €900,000). high-profile collapse less by the Denia-based firm penni- transactions, unpaid left hundreds of investors loans and failed Davison was diagnosed with depresare suing Smart and her former sion just weeks after an estimated partner Darren pension investments that lost the claim€20million out of ants over €1million pocket, it can be re- Kirby. turning to alcohol the collapse, before between them. vealed. In the first case ing type-2 diabetes, abuse and developto reach the courts, One of the victims, Mark Davison, A total of €999,435 according to a video ically died, aged trag59, in July this year shot just before his death. to her fashion label was paid Jody Bell His body, covered SL and property holding with lesions and sores, had lain undiscovered pany Mercurio Conpro coma week in the mid-summer for up to tween 2015 and 2017, SL beheat at his home in Sanet. ing to bank statementsaccordIn documents “Mark died as a result shown to the Olive Press. Press, CWM wasseen by the Olive done to him,” Timothyof what had been Brit Jody, 43, was commission for paid €3,391,873 of Benjamin, a low claimant, told selling insurance a €144,000 salary also paid bonds and investments the Olive Press. fel“By the end he didn’t telling a court that - despite by two Cyprus-based financial want the daylight she ‘did not to appear.” firms, between know what it meant October 2015 and to be a Benjamin, 67, likewise sole director of company’ A January 2019 September 2017. felt ‘ashamed’ after he lost his €250,000 and was only involved Spain’s financial statement from private penin ‘marketsion, reinvested by regulator revealed ing and PR’. insurance bonds CWM into ‘risky’ investments, via QROPS. In a series of shocking breach of the law. were sold in In his official testimony declarations given What is certain he told the to Denia’s court how he had Court of Instruction funded a ‘lavish is that this money transferred ₤325,000 No.3 it (€375,000 approx) lifestyle’ for has emerged that players Kirby and Smart, whoits key sale to CWM on the from a property ny could ill afford the compain a relationship were to pay these investing it in a villa basis the firm was to March 2017, together from 2011 But court papers in Monte Pego. staff members. according to former went directly to revealed ₤200,000 the bank account of

and Selection of draught ales bottled craft beers and

N expat fashion signer has been accused deof receiving up to €1million from an unlicensed Costa Blanca financial advisory company. Companies in Jody huge sums ‘without falling into losses’. given the money by Smart’s name were Worse, it comes defunct Continental as it emerges that Wealth Management (CWM) in the two ens of victims left destitute and dozyears’ before its high-profile collapse less by the Denia-based firm pennileft hundreds of investors are suing Smart and her former an estimated partner Darren €20million out of pocket, it can be re- Kirby. vealed. In the first case to reach the courts, A total of €999,435 was paid to her fashion label Jody Bell SL and property holding pany Mercurio Conpro comSL between 2015 and 2017, ing to bank statementsaccordshown to the Olive Press. Brit Jody, 43, was a €144,000 salary also paid telling a court that - despite she ‘did not know what it meant to be a sole director of company’ and was only involved in ‘marketing and PR’. In a series of shocking declarations given to Denia’s Court of Instruction No.3 it has emerged that ny could ill afford the compato pay these

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me they knew what they were doing.” He added: “I believe some rying’. the investments of “This negates were made without my knowledge. the very essence of the service they I think that is the case offer,” said Flores. are meant to recall signing because I do not cheque to invest“It is a blank investments I sheets for all the wherever, had.” whenever. An email, seen has gone down “If standard by the Olive Press, shows CWM by half and I need compensation very worrying. practice, this is asking a client to sign and to get it back on track. “Signing blank return a blank dealing instruction. documents “But some people Another British would be seen have is trying to expat, 55, who thing lost everyas irregular in €200,000, saidrecover around have and don’t court of law. Thea some pensionenough ers ‘have lost everything’. problem live on. One to with “My paper work rethese firms is that tired has been altered, that I sent has victim only they were all PENSION vesting inwas changed frommy risk level from€50,000 left in highly OUTRAGE risky €480,000.” ‘medium’ to ‘high’ and my investments Andalucia-based dealing instructions have been without the lawyer Antonio photocopied repeatedly for ents knowing.”cliFlores, buying and sellwhose ing assets I didn’t He claimed that firm authorise,” Lawbird he said. losses sustained are represent“I still have some by investors ing some CWM money and I am still would hopefully young enoughleft victims, said signing get compensation, be to vestment blank as the investments recoverable but my fund sheets was ‘very inthat failed worto perform, or went bust, were linked to life insurance policies. Pension trustees Momentum and Trafalgar ing to recoupare now attemptCMW clients’ SPECIALIZING IN: losses. The Olive Press CRIMINAL LAW has so far been unable to discover if CWM was registered to CIVIL LAW provide investment advice with BANKING (FLOOR Spain’s official financial regulator CLAUSE) CNMV. Voted

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Expats millionslose

whose by hasboss Darren Kir- It is believed moved now allegedly 300 of to Australia. at least One CWM’s Costa-del-Sol- clients have based 900 pension had their Olive expat told pots Press the mated, with deci£59,000 he sunk shocked victims CWM, to later through cover the value had lostonly realising dis- to end £39,000 he investments of their ain on up back in his pension benefits.” Britwhen meted dramatically. had plum“I have sent a statement. trustees However, praise for nothing “I couldn’t close to a source [Trafalgar but Tony Barnett have lost believe the thousandsit. I sisted: ‘There case in- Stewart MD] pounds,” and are still mentum Davies revealed of many customers victim, [Mothe are happy asking tive]. Theychef execumain anonymous. to re- pension with who “The adviser portfolio.’ their magnificent have been A ing to ing me, in trykept tell- taxn d a l u c i a specialist b a s e d money.”recoup people’s teed, it ‘This is guaranBrooks, can’t go certain a leadingAngie The Olive below a pert of them level’.” ing many obliterat- transferred Untitled-1.pdf derstands Press erationon pension ex- possible had His money, and unBrits’ life heartbroken vate it is 1 16/06/2017 schemes libthat of the founder pri- others UK their savings. legal highly through15:36 pensions France,across and may be taken action of Pension the company, high-risk was Spain and Life, has parties put into a fight now launched againstby some investor ‘professional to help CWM, tims’ money get has been only’ assets, back. vicclaimed. it She is working side pension alongTrafalgar trustees International and sions.Momentum Pen- based “People out of headquarare terribly ters in Alicante, distressed,” executives. and its based Brooks Granada- Both the Olive Press. told and the office in Javea lost large “They the recently website amountshave When their have shut. of ings.” retirement the Olive sav- spoke to Press She added: boss Kirby ‘definitively’ these people “Some he of responsibility denied are going crash. over world,” “I have lost the my A closehe said. associate Kirby’s Find out told of Press more on formerthe Olive staff page XX 20 set’. were all ‘veryCWM up“It is still quite Ave de Gabriel for them, Roca 4, Palma working and they raw next,” he out what to are do said.

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PENSION OUTRAGE

SPAIN’S accused prime minister Catalan has Puigdemont leader sion’ after of causing Carles ‘confusigning of independence. a declaration Mariano clarify if Rajoy demanded he had he independence really day’s nail followingdeclared Catalan biting address Tuesparliament. to the If so, Rajoy insisted trigger he Article constitution 155 of could Spain’s take direct to allow Madrid control of to “There Catalunya. is an urgent put an end need to Catalunya to the situation is going through that - to Continues

in CONFUSION life savings reigns over should foot through who hotels hit the bill for Mallorca by the collapse failed line Monarch. investment of airBalearic scheme €10millionhotels are facing a lapse that bill over the colrepatriationsaw the emergency EXCLUSIVE of over back to By Joe 110,000 Duggan Palma. the UK, many from Administrator HUNDREDS Olive Press KPMG ish expats of Brit‘the debt told the Monarch to retrieve are battling to hoteliers owed by as an unsecured sions after their will rank the defunct penclaim’ against losing up £20 million “They will airline. to pension in a failed the joint have to file a scheme. investment the moneyadministratorsclaim to OFF TO for all Spanish-based they are a spokesman. OZ: owed,” said and (above) Boss Kirby cial advisory “It has finanteam at tinental firm Con- March charity (yet) hownot been determined agement Wealth Manbash available much money to creditors.” will be (CWM) last month folded Many

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CATALUNYA’S leader has vowedbeleaguered to fight on from abroad. It came after mont handed Carles PuigdeBelgian police himself in to when a European arrest warrant was issued. He and four other politicians are accused on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, and breach of disobedience trust. A judge in Belgium now has up to two weeks EXCLUSIVE they will extraditeto decide if By Joe Duggan the group to Spain. BRITISH expats who lost up to €20 million Fight sion advisory in a failed pensignatures mayfirm believe their Given the whole tocopied onto have been phoextradition investment docuprocess can ments. take up to 60 days, it means Around 300 Brits, he may have to run his in Spain, are battlingmost living campaign forentire election their to retrieve the Catalan funds after European Democratic firm ContinentalAlicante-based Party from Belgium. agement (CWM) Wealth ManHis party wants folded in September, for continued him to fight Olive as first reported in the the regional leadership of Boss Press a month ago. the December parliament in tralia Darren Kirby left for Ausfollowing Puigdemont 21 elections. the company’s the closure of denied he had fled to Brussels main Javea offices. to avoid justice but that Victims, who are he left because the Spanish government spread across Spain, was lorca, as well as in Ibiza, Malpreparing a ‘wave Portugal, France of oppression and violence’ and Turkey, fear against illegal practices separatists. after being asked “I’m absolutely to sign blank dealing instructions. convinced that the state Their pension a harsh wave was preparing invested pots were in high-risk then for which we of repression which assets would have all promised been held responsible,” commissions. to pay out large said yesterday. he One 69-year-old “The Spanish pensioner told the Olive mitting a brutalstate is com€210,000 afterPress he lost if we don’t battlerepression… €470,000 despite transferring repression together, the stating he had a ‘low to may win this Spanish state to risk’ attitudemedium aversion BOSS: Kirby now In a show of fight.” to investment. in Australia “I was asked, ‘Can support to the deposed president, blank form. We you sign this he said. around 200 Catalan will fill in the details.’ Untitled-1.pdf “They that trusting they dence mayors pro-indepen- would I did 1 16/06/2017should have been looking travelled to act in my best 15:36 Brussels on Tuesday interests,” out for me but feathering their they were just to stage a rally. own nests. To

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WOAH: Emerging the rock, from stunning this home in Valencia is trademark Fran Silvestre, a Spanish architect who is continuing to make mark in his the architectural world. See Fran-tastic page VI

ROCK STEADY

HE average property two consecutive price years for in Spain has grown The national the first time average house for Along the3.9% to 8.4%, according Prices rise price rose in a decade. Mediterranean from most foreigners to for two consecutive coasts andvarious sources. between while mortgage buy, the average cording to on Tinsa, Spain’s price hike the islands, where But the figures values continueyears, leading property has been However, have during the 4.06%, ac- Balearic Islands. he added to grow Spanish property long six mostly not yet made appraisal company. ‘at the very “Prices have year recession, up Mortgage continued least, the data with the for the big drops but nothing been rising most like exception years January lending to home to grow last year.’suggests that the to 19,390 of the enough to claw they did in the boomsince the recovery Spanish Notaries. new loans,buyers meanwhile back respected was up 6.1% analyst Markthe ground lostyears, and nowherebegan, The average according to the Association in the bust,” in near Stucklin, of Spanish explained an increase ofnew loan made in of January Property 0.9% in a Insight. residential acquisitions year. As long had a value of the last few as mortgage €135,616, years, the continues to increase, lending Spanish property for as market is it has done for set to grow.

FACE THE MUS IC

SPAIN’S PP cious plans party has set out for a audaback control power grab to take from Valencia and the a u t o n o mother ous regions. Leader Casado Pablo announced commitment his strengthen to the central government’s to the national role in the run up He insisted elections in a fortnight. that such prevent corruption a move in taxes. and lead to would a drop It comes as off the threatthe party attempts EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Party, whose from an insurgentto see Parfitt Voted autonomous leader has described Vox REuse expat REduce cer of Spain’. parliaments as the the THE beleaguered paper REcycle in Spain ‘can- wealth Under the Govt in managementboss of a failed plan, the PP Voted exile se resources allegedly wants to increaexpat lost expats company which paper delegations for regional government million has REuse more than in Spain REduce ignored a €20 transfer of and paralyse any REcycle court. summons power to the further to Darren Kirby, Confusion regions. reigns of Alicante-based Continental Supremacy (CWM), failedWealth Management Casado insisted court on March to turn up at Denia the move 26. Spain being According administered would see was to Olive Press Who’s tively’. paying us? ‘more effecdue to turn sources he up, alongside The election business partners, former party would hopeful stated The case involves who did turn that his up. view of how carry out a sweeping a trio who the regional re- moneylost substantial of investors, operate looking amounts Should at ‘efficiencyauthorities 2017. when the company of ty.’ have Three Lions and equipub folded in legged it Spain’s quasi-federal Kirby allegedly fled to of ‘autonomous Three Lions llowing the political system HOW WE pub collapse, Australia fothe constitution states’ was added TOLD IT: ning to Alicante finally returOur 2017 in 1978. Prime to “Darren ter Pedro Sanchez, last year. England.” reports the constitution, whose party Minis- which he has been sent The Olive a Burofax drafted didn’t sign Press exclusively plan, insisting strongly opposed will now have for, how former member the PSOE revealed the ways,” to pursue so the court losingCWM abruptly ‘tooth and would defend of staff. folded “It was him in other a source said. nail’ the principal hundreds nal self-government. “A judge of expats’ in 2017, day theya prestigious place vings in the of regiolife sabut one it’s under is dealing with this The firm, process. said, askingjust shut the door,” legal review,” which was and Marriott not to “We understand she based out Victims he added. of the asked had raised be named. he is currently to ten’ Hotel, in Denia, fears about in ttered telesales staff and had ‘eight tions to sign blank dealing being around Europe, clients scaand their pensions instrucvested revealed NO SHOW: a large in high-risk assets being incommissions. which paid Darren Kirby One pensioner res. “It is based on ta Blanca wherever, a blank cheque to the told the invest lost €210,000 Olive PressCos- “It is verywhenever. he investing worrying after transferring €470,000 as they were despite stating clients’ money low to medium risky he “I was asked, risk attitude. had a fundsinvestments as well in highly just because as dubious ‘Can you blank form. gher commissions.” they paid sign the hils.’ I did that We will fill in the this He added detaiin my best trusting they would investors that losses sustained interests,” act verable should however, “They should by he said. as the investments be recofor me and have been looking led to perform, that faiout linked their own they were just feathering or went bust, to what they nests. To me they When thelife insurance policies.were were doing.” knew Olive Press Lawyer Antonio hold of Kirby Flores, whose Lawbird in Octoberfinally got denied all See pages firm my responsibility. 2017, he 26-29 of victims,is representing a world,” he “I have lost said. ment sheetssaid signing blanknumber investwas ‘very “This negates worrying’. Are you the very financial advisory member? a victim or essence Tel. (+34) 96 services,”said of the case? Do you knowformer staff 649 18 29 info@hispaniahomes.es Flo- newsdesk@theolivepress.es Contact the more about Olive Press www.hispaniahomes.co.uk at A PALMA thief MY months in jail is facing 18 for stealing a leg of ham. CY Prosecutors are requesting the lengthy term CMY for taking the eight kilogram co Jotas' ¡ jamon leg of 'CinK from a shop in the capital. The Iberico ham is valued at €685, and has yet to be recovered.

NOTORIOUS: Disgraced businesswoman Jody Smart accused in financial scandal

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A BRITISH tourist has been stabbed, robbed and hospitalised by three minors who recorded the attack on their phones. The trio were cuffed by police in Sant Vicent de Raspeig, near Alicante, after their victim suffered a collapsed lung and had to undergo emergency surgery. A statement said the group stabbed the victim in the back with a pen-knife, whilst recording the attack on their mobile phones. The unnamed holidaymaker was taking a morning stroll when he sensed he was being followed, so returned home as a precaution. The gang caught up with him and a struggle ensued, where he was attacked and robbed of his wallet and mobile. A passerby stopped to help, calling an ambulance straight away. The man suffered a collapsed lung and immediately went into surgery. CCTV quickly established the identity of the attackers, two of which were already known to police. Matching clothing and the weapon used in the attack were found in subsequent house searches. The 16 and 17-year-olds arrested were charged with the crimes of robbery with violence and wounding with intent.

Defendants in ‘landmark’ case against fraudulent financial firm claim they did not know clients’ pensions were put at risk

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DEFENDANTS in a ‘landmark’ case against a British-run financial firm have denied all knowledge of a scam that lost €35 million of its clients pension investment. Instead they blamed the boss of Continental Wealth Management (CWM) Darren Kirby (above) for destroying the hopes and dreams of 750 expats around Spain. In a tense hearing at Denia Court three former employees denied they knowingly put their clients funds into ‘high risk’ investments. The trio, Anthony Downs, Neil Hathaway and Dean Stogsdill, are accused of fraud, disloyal administration and falsifying commercial documents.

situation to the CWM As for here helphe on‘didn’t go out EXCLUSIVE in he insisted grilled over his involvement Costa and addBy Jon Clarke anybody’ Manto scamthe the Continental Wealth took Blanca lost ‘a lot of monhe had of luxury with sports ed as well, but declined to agement (CWM) scandal, ey’ appear- lived lives umbrage to his name March cars, exotic foreign holidays say howstories Contact them with any much. or news on 951 273 575 or email ing in an article in our and designer clothes. a fash- Denia newsdesk@theolivecourt is set to conpress.es launched 5 edition. into how 750 In declarations Hathaway, the Director Jody tinue its probe contacts with at made in February, He insisted he had takenwith ion label and twice flew to New victims (Personal 6) millions, loston page other former week, according papers as he ‘was angry’ entire pen- along with two Downs LIVE their least 17Olosing Denial’, York fashion colleagues Anthony claimed the story headed ‘In his col- to official court documents. PRESS Shame Press tracked sion pots. Black- and Dean Stogsdill, about how he and of When the Olive his These include former former boss Kirby was leagues scammed hundreds Hathaway down to driver Les Hutchings, their bus frauds. pool estimated an mansion of entire responsible for the investors out multi-million euro 67, who lost nearly hispension Pensions investigator Angela hills above Javea he €35 million. by Jody in the deny the theft, with €117,000 private high-risk Brooks told the Olive Press the The company, owned is couldn’t when it ended up in knowl- case would set a major ‘preceSmart and Darren Kirby, his SUV parked in the drive. portfolios without his dent’ across Europe. accused of fraud and falsifying “But it was a lot less papers edge. that it’s takcommercial documents. taking than the police claimed,” he Another is widow Karen O’Ha- “It’s a disgrace in Spain is now Vol. of her en a Spanish lawyer The1 Olive IssuePress €72,000 insisted. 16 lost judge www.theolive who British and a Spanish criminal just very angry, as gan, pension. legal action against the was press.es October a “I was angry, 24th - November from RBS recognise the wickedness 6th 2019 financial advisor, who which you printed documents told by CWM staff that to actions taken by all parties She was was of shareholder of CWM, the court,” he added. scale of this transferring the money was based at Javea’s upmarket “My wife was approached at the only way to protect it for concerned. The courts sit up just protecting my if she case has made the Marriott Hotel. every- work. I was with everything her two young children and take notice.” While many victims lost name along passed away. added. thing and, at least one commitbosses else,” he ted suicide, the CWM

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PAPER THIN: GOTCHA: crooked A KEY associate of a Financier wealth management company stealing has been accused of Olive banged hundreds of copies of the docuPress newspaper, court to rights ments have confirmed. wealthy Police have grilled the of up stealing moneyman over the theft tel: 966 46to38 bundles of the paper in 2045 Olive Press the Javea area. witnesses spotto after er comes It newspap ted Neil Hathaway jumping lifting out of a black SUV and stands cover up his entire bundles from our accomplice. links to fraud along with anwho had been Hathaway, trial WWW.JAVEABLINDS.C FREE OM

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NEWS IN BRIEF Jab order A JUDGE has ordered two elderly nursing home residents in Valencia Province to get coronavirus vaccines after relatives stopped them receiving the injections.

Scammed TWO Valencia men scammed €27,000 from online accounts by pretending to be Microsoft engineers. Victims were phoned about a computer infection warning and told to download spyware which gave the conmen unfettered access to their personal details.

January 28th - February 10th 2021

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE AN expat has been reunited with his car after an eagle eyed Olive Press reader spotted it a year after it went missing. Kenny Greenhow, 63, went on an audacious lockdown journey to retrieve his beloved BMW which had apparently been stolen by local expat-run transport company Mission Impossible. Greenhow, who has lived on the Costa Blanca for years, was horrified to discover that his convertible had apparently ‘disappeared’ while it was being transported back to the UK. After doing some digging he discovered that the transport company’s owner Simon Davies was a conman, who had

THREE people have been arrested for arranging ‘marriages of convenience’ to get residency rights. The scam was blown apart when a woman complained to the Guardia in Novelda that ‘several’ people had offered her €3,000 to marry an Algerian man. She was desperate for money and got a partial payment, but changed her mind. The gang threatened her and demanded a refund, which prompted her to report them.

Brit expat gets back his stolen car after Olive Press reader tip-off

TAKE BACK: Kenny (above) ‘steals’ back his car from Davies (left) been at least twice convicted of fraud in the UK. However, despite reporting the

Marriage Con Three arrests were made in Canals, Oliva, and La Pobla Llarga. A 47-year-old Algerian man, who ran the operation, was detained along with two Spanish women aged 21 and 25. The women tried to find people that were in dire financial straits and would agree to getting married in return for cash.

stolen car to both the Spanish and British police, he feared he would never see it again. But that was before the Olive Press had run a front page story on the missing car and its alleged theft in January last year. Also appearing online, it luckily struck a chord with one of our regular readers who remembered the story when he saw the top-of-the-range white BMW and the alleged thief driving it this month in Almeria. He immediately got in touch with us telling us it was in the small seaside town of Palomares and even pinpointed the exact location. When we passed on the information, Greenhow was ecstatic and said he was immediately set to go on a ‘Mission Impossible’ of his own.

FOUR Russians accused of being part of a mafia gang have been freed on bail. They have been ordered to handover their passports, but do not have to report regularly to the court - even though that is a usual condition in such cases. They were placed into custody after being arrested in a major investigation into organised crime. The men, including their alleged ringleader, Altea solicitor Alexey Shirokov, were bailed by a Benidorm judge. Another 19 people were arrested including politicians and police officers in what the Policia Nacional described as the ‘biggest East European mafia’ probe in Spain for a decade. The gang is said to have tried to ‘infiltrate’ Spanish institutions through bribery to control sectors of the economy. Accusations include money laundering

Bail for Russian ‘mob’ with profits from Russian businessmen ‘invested’ in properties and hospitality outlets on the eastern coast of Spain and in the Balearic Islands.

Fraud A solicitor acting for the one of the arrested Russians, Javier Ruiz Blay, said: “The police operation was a fraud and a failure of an investigation that did not yield conclusive results in its seven years. “The police see crimes where there are only legal enterprises and that businessmen are being criminalised for being Russian,” he added.

Mask denier jailed A MAN who refused to wear a mask, despite being offered one by police because ‘he didn’t want to’ is cooling his heels in jail. The 28-year-old – who has a history of bodily harm, disobedience, assault on an officer and resisting arrest - was spotted without the obligatory COVID protection equipment by a police patrol on Benicassim avenue in Valencia. He told them he did not have a mask, but when offered one by the officers, the suspect snapped back that he was not wearing one because ‘he didn’t want to’. He then refused to show his ID and was arrested for serious disobedience. He has now been remanded in custody after he continued to refuse a mask even when being interviewed at the police station.

Lucky

Despite the latest lockdown taking a grip on the Costa Blanca and particularly Murcia that had closed its borders he realised he had to make a move. Enlisting a local pal from his village of Lo Crispin, near Ciudad Quesada, he grabbed his spare key and immediately got on the road. “Some 160kms later and there it was,” he told the Olive Press this week. “It felt like we were stealing it back and it was definitely exhilarating.” It turned out the car had been parked right outside conman Davies home. “My heart was certainly pounding, but I knew I had to get my car back and tell the police,” added Greenhow.

INTRODUCING

Reporters Glenn Wickman, Simon Wade and Alex Trelinski

Your local journalists in the Comunidad Valenciana Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es (Personal contacts on page 6)

Wife beater A COURT has released a man awaiting trial despite him being charged with raping, beating and trying to strangle his eight week pregnant wife. The 27-year-old is alleged to have attacked the 26-year-old woman in the Valencia suburb of Horta Nord

THREE teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of gang-raping a 15-yearold girl. The suspects are aged between 14 and 17, and have been remanded in custody in a young offenders home awaiting trial. The incident took place in the garage of one of the suspects, when the teenager allegedly invited the victim over to see his new motorbike. Once there, the three suspects reportedly assaulted and abused the girl until a neighbour unexpectedly arrived. The girl then told her parents what had happened, who reported the case to the police in a Valencian town that has not been named. The authorities arrested the

during an argument. She managed to escape his clutches and ran to a balcony to shout for help, attracting a large crowd. The man then went on the run for nearly a month before being tracked down. A restraining order has been placed on him.

Rape arrests suspects and handed them over to Valencia juvenile prosecution service. If the rape accusations are confirmed, it would constitute the first group sexual assault in the Valencia region this year, but the fourth since last July.

Assaulted

In just four months in 2020, three underage girls were sexually assaulted by gangs of underage teenagers in La Safor, Vall d’Albaida and Massamagrell – all in Valencia Province.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es JAMES BLUNT has offered a cash reward for information on the thieves who broke into his family home in Ibiza. The ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer revealed that his villa in Santa Gertrudis was robbed last week. The crooks stole his cufflinks, clothes and sunglasses as well as a pocket watch given to him by his grandfather and a bayonet from his days as a soldier. In a statement to Diario de Ibiza, Blunt said with a touch of humour: “The thieves took about 100 items, including a black and white rug that

More stars join live music plea OVER 100 more UK musicians have joined criticism of Boris Johnson’s failure to help them tour Europe for free. Bob Geldof, Ed Sheeran and Liam Gallagher have joined a petition demanding the British government agree to visa-free tours of the EU to avoid 'costly’ work permits. Even Brexiteer Roger Daltrey signed the open letter which claims they have been 'shamefully failed' by the government over post-Brexit travel rules.

Overseas

Sir Elton John, John Lydon and Sting have also been outspoken on the issue, despite the latter two actually living abroad. Government Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden however, hit back insisting the musicians should be asking the EU why they 'rejected a sensible UK proposal'. The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier insisted that the UK government had actually rejected an offer to grant exemptions to musicians and other artists. An online petition calling for a visa-free travel cultural work permit with the EU has so far attracted more than 263,000 signatures.

Blunt reward

my wife did not like, so I suspect she could be involved. “They also took all my t-shirts and shirts, so they must not have a very good sense of style, since I am not known for mine.” He continued that he ‘understood that it was a difficult time for many people on the island’ but that his ‘only real sadness’ is that they took an old watch that belonged to his grandfather and a bayonet from his time serving in Kosovo.

Not missing a beat Steel Pulse could join British stars including Baxter Dury, Sham 69 and Metronomy in Spring invasion A RAFT of British musical legends are set to land on Spanish shores this Spring despite the toll of COVID and Brexit. Led by reggae stalwarts Steel Pulse, the groups will play a series of shows around the country.

By Glenn Wickman

Assuming COVID restrictions lift in time, bands including Sham 69 and Metronomy, will take to the stage in March and April. Steel Pulse are the first to

ROCKERS: Sham 69 land, playing Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia between April 20 and 23. The legendary Birmingham rastas, who formed in 1975, will present their latest album Mass Manipulation, as well as playing many of their old hits, including Handsworth Revolution. Meanwhile, Punk and Oi! founders Sham 69, whose continuing legacy and influence on the global streetpunk movement cannot be overstated, will (hopefully) tear up Madrid on March 6 and Barcelona on July 31.

Festivals

INVASION: Steel Pulse leading the way

TOM Jones and Lionel Ritchie have confirmed their appearances at this year’s Starlite Festival. The Marbella-based series of concerts has planned ‘coronavirus restriction compliant’ events for its 10th anniversary. Organisers will be hoping that travel restrictions are lifted for the festival, which will be held between July 2 and August 28. Last year the festival managed to go ahead, although

Sexbomb

several concerts were cancelled as the event scaled down to comply with strict rules about social gatherings. Organisers say no cases of COVID have been reported as being traced to the event, so they have decided to go ahead again this year. Concerts will be restricted to 1,500 spectators, with founder Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan saying: “Our rigorous compliance with health regulations has led tit to be an example throughout the world for the return of live music to the stage.”

ORIGINAL IRISH TAVERN

And Devon-based electronic outfit Metronomy are booked to play Madrid’s La Riviera on Wednesday April 7, Barcelona’s Razzmatazz on April 8, and the Primavera Sound in Barcelona from June 2 to 5. Finally Indie icon Baxter Dury also hopes to make it over the pond to grace the Barcelona area, with an appearance at the Vida Festival in Catalunya in July.

Sadly we are closed due to covid restrictions until further notice. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, hope to see you all again soon. Traditional Irish Pub and Sports bar in Valencia serving a wide selection of the highest quality beers, cocktails and delicious food. tel: 96 393 30 18, Calle Yecla 24 Valencia www.irishpubvalencia.es

Zapped by virus THE romance dubbed the ‘pandemic love story’ has come to an end as Hollywood actor Ben Affleck and Spanish TV star Ana de Armas part ways. Heartthrob Affleck, 48, has now promised to take a vow of celibacy after his split from Armas, who grew up in Madrid. The pair began their relationship right as the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping the world after meeting on the set of the soon to be released Deep Water in New Orleans. The 32-year-old Bond star moved to Los Angeles to live with Affleck and his daughter from his former wife Jennifer Garner. However after just one year under strict confinement laws, the pressures of lockdown have finally taken their toll.

Gap

Friends of the couple claim the 16-year age gap pushed too much of a divide between them. “Anna did not want to live in Los Angeles with Ben in the end, but with the confinement she had no choice and the pressure became too much.” Armas has now moved to New York where she recently posted a new hairstyle on Instagram. Ana de Armas was born in Cuba before moving to Madrid as a teenager. It was then when she became the darling of Spanish television, starring in a number of hit TV shows such as El Internado and starred in films such as Sex, Parties and Lies. She gained dual Spanish-Cuban citizenship before moving to Hollywood where she starred in a number of high grossing hits, including Bladerunner 2049 and Knives Out.

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Weekend shutdowns in Valencia BORDERS of 16 Valencia municipalities will be closed every weekend from tomorrow (January 29) to try to stem the rise in new COVID-19 cases. New rules to severely limit social contact were also introduced this week following spiralling infections, deaths and hospitalisations in the region. This means that no more than two non-family members are allowed to meet outdoors. Existing restrictions, including the 10pm curfew starttime and the closure of hospitality businesses, have been extended until at least February 15. The

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Valencian Health Minister, Ana Barcelo, said: “The virus is out of control in the region with 70% of outbreaks caused through socialisation between families and friends.” The weekend perimeter closure has been imposed on all cities with a population of 50,000 and more. The cities are: Valencia, Alicante, Elche, Castellon, Torrevieja, Torrent, Orihuela, Gandia, Paterna, Benidorm, Sagunt, Alcoy, San Vicente del Raspeig and Elda-Petrer. Restrictions will run from Fridays at 3pm and finishing on Mondays at 6am. Nobody will be allowed to enter or leave the designated cities except for good cause like work and getting medical attention. It’s estimated that 2.3 million people will be hit by the new rule, accounting for 45.6% of the region’s population. The other big change is that people who do not live together cannot go to each other’s homes. Exceptions to house visits include caring for children, dependent people and the elderly; people who live alone and who are part of a ‘bubble’; and partners/married couples who have different addresses. Just two people who do not live together are now allowed to meet outdoors. Schools, colleges, work-places, and public transport are among the exemptions.

January 28th - February 10th 2021

New Kirsty TV Probe

Ban extended SPAIN has extended the travel ban by sea or air from the UK until 6pm on February 16. The ban was initially introduced on December 22 and has already been prolonged once. Although the health ministry stated that it could be lifted before February 16, this does not look likely considering the coronavirus situations in both the UK and Spain. The ban does not apply to Spanish or Andorran nationals or those who are officially resident in Spain or Andorra, nor to travellers entering Spain overland.

Olive Press roped in to uncover the truth of Scottish balcony death on Costa Blanca THE Olive Press is helping a UK documentary team in a new investigation of the Benidorm balcony death of Kirsty Maxwell in April 2017. The TV programme is being made by Viacom Studios. Their camera crews and producers have been in the resort trying to find fresh evidence of what happened

By Alex Trelinski

to the 27-year-old at Apartamentos Payma nearly four years ago. The expertise and local knowledge of the Olive Press has been used as the production team conducted interviews around Benidorm. Any fresh findings are being kept secret for the time being, and there is no transmission date yet for the documentary. It’s not the first TV programme to feature 27-year-old Kirsty’s story. BBC Scotland aired Killed Abroad, presented by retired detective, David Swindle, who has been assisting her family in their search for the truth since 2018. Kirsty, from West Lothian, was in Benidorm for a hen party when tragedy struck shortly before 8am on April 29, TRAGIC: Kirsty fell to death

2017. She woke up and walked by mistake into a tenth-floor room in her accommodation block. The room was occupied by five British men from the Nottingham area, who were partying in it moments before she walked in. Kirsty subsequently fell to her death from the room’s balcony.

Secret A Benidorm judge ruled in September 2019 that the men had nothing to do with what happened to Kirsty. Her parents, Brian and Denise Curry, appealed to the Alicante Provincial Court, who declared last July that there was no ‘strong evidence’ of criminality. The Currys have criticised the way Spanish authorities have investigated Kirsty’s case including the disappearance of possibly vital DNA evidence.

Spied on A SPANISH security firm spied on Julian Assange on behalf of the USA while he was in London. UC Global SL was allegedly employed to protect the Ecuadorian embassy during the Australian whistleblower’s long controversial stay but the company is said to have struck a deal with the CIA to record confidential meetings and conversations between the Wikileaks boss, his lawyers and associates.

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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 two million people a month.

OPINION Power of the press OUR army of readers prove expats care deeply about community and justice. Take the case of the British expat who was able to retrieve his beloved BMW thanks to the help of an eagle eyed Olive Press reader a year after it was stolen. Despite reporting the theft to the police, it was the wider Olive Press community that was able to solve the crime in the end Our reader spotted the culprit - and car - exactly a year after we first reported that it had been nicked. It was a clear case of better late than never when Kenny Greenhow was able to retrieve his car from under the thief’s nose last week. A wonderful victory that shows what can be achieved when our readers swing into action. Day in, day out, week after week, we work tirelessly to expose misdoings and uncover the truth. But this story proves we are nothing without our readers’ support. The response shows that despite the madness of the last 12 months, we truly do still care about what is happening on our turf. We came together in a common cause and were victorious. It wasn’t the first time this has happened - and we know that it won’t be the last.

NEWS FEATURE

TANDING in the Patio of the Lions admiring the world’s most famous collection of big cats, I am drawn to one major difference. There is no sound of clicking, no enane selfies and no endless lines of tourists interrupting your every view. With up to three million visitors normally descending on the Alhambra Palace each year, you not only need to plan your visit to Spain’s top site carefully, but you normally have to book at least a week or two in advance. But this spring, things are rather different. On a recent visit to the city of Granada, we had the choice of every half hour slot throughout the day - and at 4.30pm there were still well over

Getting a Grip 'Out of control' was the pandemic verdict from Valencia's health minister, Ana Barcelo, this week. Her comments are echoed around Spain irrespective of political colours and each region is demanding more power to introduce tougher COVID restrictions. Longer curfews have been rejected by Spain's ex-health minister, Salvador Illa, who is now leading the PSOE charge in the Catalan regional elections. It therefore falls on his replacement, Carolina Darias to give the regions the tools to do the job. Spain's toughness was rightly applauded last year, but at the moment it appears weak in comparison to its neighbours.

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The 10 secrets to understanding Spain’s top monument, writes Jon Clarke 150 spaces available to visit the celebrated Nasrid palace. Arriving at 2.30pm for a good stroll around the gardens and the nearby Generalife Palace, we were amazed to find the place so empty. Indeed, we probably saw no more than 100 people in the entire afternoon, with our

he throne room, of the Hall of the Ambassadors, was designed so that subjects would only ever see the silhouette of the caliph. He would sit on his throne with light emanating in from behind, so no-one would get a good look at his face. Meanwhile, take a close look around and you will see that the throne room is based on amazing symmetry and is known for its precision.

T FIRST GLANCE, you might think a sci-fi writer had dreamed up this polar scenery of icelike foam sheets atop a dazzling green sea. Small natural pockets, akin in appearance to the breathing holes of Arctic seals, disrupt the venous white plains that extend over 1000 hectares. In the middle reside pools of deep emerald liquid and channels of the same colour criss-cross the surface, creating patterns in this surreal landscape. The result is an area of unusual beauty – at least when viewed from above. The reality on the ground, however, is a different story. Born through careless dumping, these lakes of phosphogypsum and other dangerous substances are located only 500m from the urban centre of Huelva, Andalucia. They are the waste products of fertiliser production, a business which began in the region during the days of Franco, when environmental laws were lax. For almost 30 years, fertilis-

MUST LOOK UP! Keep your eyes peeled for the stunning cedar wood ceiling in the throne room. The intricate design has over 8,000 multicoloured panels and symbolizes the seven heavens of the Koran. It is adorned with stars and diagonal lines that radiate from the centre, representing the four trees of life.

Toxic cover-up Fertiliser company’s plan to bury its past is a ticking chemical time bomb, writes Laurence Crumbie

CONTAMINATION: Earth and clay could be used to protect the lakes er company Fertiberia produced 2.5 million tonnes of phosphogypsum annually, discharging 20% of it into the Odiel river estuary. Some of the lakes’ contents have seeped into the sea, drawn out by the tide.

In response to an order from the National Court to prevent contamination, Fertiberia has proposed to cover the lakes in earth and clay. But not everyone is pleased with the plan. ‘It is a joke and they will leave a chemical bomb under the

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protection of the tides and climate change,’ said Julio Barea, head of a water campaign for Greenpeace. Likewise, Aurelio Gonzalez Peris from Mesa de la Ría, an environmental group that has been critical of Fertiberia for years, said that the proposal threatens both the nearby marshes and the wellbeing of Huelva residents.

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guide Asier saying he had never seen fewer people. There has never been a better time to visit the best example of Islamic architecture in Europe and possibly the only existing medieval Muslim palace left around the world. Here are some of the key things to look out for during your visit:

Hiding on the throne

Justice for Kirsty The Olive Press is pleased to bring its expertise to help in a new TV documentary being made over the death of Kirsty Maxwell in April 2017. Kirsty fell from a Benidorm apartment balcony after going into a room occupied by five British men. The Spanish courts concluded last year that nothing suspicious happened. Kirsty’s parents and husband disagree and have fought tirelessly to find the truth. We are proud to be helping a new private probe that will hopefully uncover fresh evidence to help in the family's quest for answers.

Keys to the

WASTELAND: Lakes of phosphogypsum are found 500 metres from Huelva

Although a group of 19 scientists have said that burying the lakes would put them at the mercy of earthquakes, the plan has gained initial approval from the government. Now, the future of this toxic legacy lies in the hands of the Nuclear Safety Council and the Junta.

January 28th - February 10th 2021

Alhambra Assault on the senses

ll the patios of the Alhambra - like the majority of Nasrid palaces in Granada - take the same basic format. They were designed to be an assault on all five senses, so most of them have myrtle hedges for scent and a gentle trickle of water for sound. Most importantly, they have rectangular pools in the middle, which appear to increase the size of the palace buildings utilising a mirror effect. Finally, take note: You never enter at one end, but normally a third of the way along one side, creating privacy and intimacy.

seen’ - feared his ‘scribbling’ would never do justice to the city’s crowning monument. But his book, the Tales of the Alhambra are as popular today as they were nearly 200 years ago, and a plaque has been placed in his honour above his former apartment.

Trickle down effect

he clever use of water in the Alhambra gardens is synonymous with the way the Moors cleverly utilised water in Andalucia… and it transformed the once-barren Sabika hill into a microclimate of lush woodland and forestry. Look out for the main water channel, called the Acequia real (its original arabic

name), which still functions to this day. It divides into a series of channels that ran directly into the Generalife gardens and then down into the Alhambra itself. In an inspiration to gardeners the world over, the channels reached all corners of the gardens and even the fountains with enough pressure and they still do today.

Sight for royal eyes only

ichly decorated with mosaics and lit by rosettes and stars, the baños reales are a wondrous part of the Alhambra that few lay eyes on. They are not normally open to the public and are so private that in the days of the

hey can grow to 30m high and live as long as 1,000 years. And the cypress trees that you see all around the Alhambra are also seen in abundance in the ancient Albaicin quarter on the facing hillside.. And indeed most of Granada. But that’s not all. Two sections of the Generalife gardens are named after them - Patio de los Cipres and the Paseo de los Cipreses - and the cypress tree has effectively become the national tree of Spain, like the oak in the UK, or the yew in France, with the Alhambra palace its most celebrated home.

You read it here first!

nce the stage for bullfights, the remarkable circular courtyard of the Palace of Carlos V was one of the few surviving works of Pedro Machuca, a former pupil of none other than Italy’s Michaelangelo. Its comAbination of Ionic pillars and coffered ceilings, added as recently as the 1960s, make it a striking and atypical piece of Renaissance architecture.

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Michaelangelo’s influence... in a roundabout way

bling sound of water, which is both soothing and doesn’t even cause the faintest ripple on the pool.

Touching the skies

Yankee retreat

The palace was once home to American ambassador to Spain, Washington Irving. The former politician, best known for his romantic writing, actually lived in a private apartment created for King Charles V for nearly a year in 1829. Built around the atmospheric Lindaraxa Courtyard Garden, he shared the 16th-century apartment with a host of cats, a few donkeys and a lunatic. The American author - who described Granada as ‘a most picturesque city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever

Keystone fountains Look carefully and each pool will normally have a keyshaped fountain at one end. From here emanates the bab-

Nasrid dynasty singers and musicians who performed there were blind, the legend goes, to conserve the modesty of the royal harem. While closed, you get glimpses of their splendour via doorways along the Patio de la Lindaraja.

Keeping it minimal

HE ancient Islamic rulers of the Alhambra did not clutter their palaces with furniture, but preferred to keep things minimal. They would have the odd seat (or throne), corners of rooms would have but mostly sat on cushions or had beautiful vases and the brightly-coloured rugs, while the occasional musical instrument.

La Linea shut down THE border town of La Linea de la Concepcion has been handed extra harsh coronavirus strictions by the Junta rede Andalucia. The municipality, which borders Gibraltar, placed into Level has been 4.2 of the region’s coronavirus tier system. The town is facing edented climb in an unprecthe number of cases and was forced to order all non-essential and trade to cease business activity from midnight on Sunday. This includes shops, restaurants and bars hotels, - with the exception of businesses such as essential supermarkets or petrol stations. Experts made the along with regional decision Juanma Moreno on president Friday after the town’s cumulative incidence rate reached 1,247.9 cases per 100,000 people.

Double

That is more than average rate of thedouble the besieged Campo de currently Gibraltar health district, which stands at 506.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The whole district, made up eight towns, is currently closed down, meaning no one can leave or exit without a justified reason, such legal or for work. as medical, These measures will remain in place until at least January 25, Moreno said at a press conference today. The campo was first closed off when health authorities discovered the more UK variant of the contagious arrived in Gibraltar.virus had Since then, La Linea, receives cross-border which ers daily, has seen workan extremely sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. One worker told Press this week thatthe Olive the situation in the area was ‘out of control.’ The young woman, who works on the Costa del Sol in the Campo, and but lives ner are still both her partwaiting to be tested after coming into direct contact with infected person. a COVID-19

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PERI-LESS CROSSING

HE tale of Joseph Lathey’s Nando’s border drama has made headlines around the world. The Olive Press’s frontpage exclusive last edition was quickly picked 952 147 834 up by national newspapers in the UK, Spain and even as far away as Russia. We first told the story of how Spanish customs officials confiscated Joseph’s Nando’s Peri-Peri sauce at the Gibraltar border, claiming new Brexit rules as justification. And it wasn’t long before the yarn was picked up by LadBible, followed by the Sun, the Daily Mail and eventually the FRONT PAGE of the Telegraph, and later Russia Today (RT). Even several Spanish publications, including the popular 20minutos, ran with the story. “It has definitely kicked off,” Joseph told the Olive Press this week following almost a fortnight of media appearances, “Nand o s h a v e already contacted me and are going to be sending me a parcel.” It was just one of several exclusives - spread across our six regional editions that we continue to deliver every fortnight. Dark times

THERE have been a total of 16 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic first struck in Gibraltar. The last four occurred weekend the vaccines on the arrived on January 9. finally The majority of the deaths were of elderly people with underlying conditions although there were also some exceptions. COVID-19 active cases passed the 1,000 mark surjust after the Christmas period although they have since stabilised. The strict measures imposed in the social lockdown introduced by the government on ber 27 and January Decem2 have finally taken effect. Public health experts believe the start of the third wave was initiated by Black Friday shopping on November 29. As the pre-Christmas shopping spree continued and families started to meet it is believed to havetogether spread further.

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STUMPED: Lathey was angry when his chilli and cloves were accepted but his Peri-Peri hot sauce A BRITISH expat was confiscated at the has branded border Spanish border officials and ‘clueless’ after they ‘ridiculous’ his Nando’s Peri Peri confiscated sauce at the Gibraltar border. Joseph Lathey, 27, was when much of his weeklyleft fuming shopping was binned as he tried to cross back “I said it was ridiculous into La Linea. as that would mean most of This meant seeing his Exclusive by my shopping prohibited list. But Spanish would also not be allowed legisleeks being tipped intobananas and Laurence Dollimore lation, specifically law in.” a customs Indeed, officials officer’s bin. told the Brit the dictates that vegetables 2019/2072, only items from his £55 and vegetawho asked not to be named, It also included his vegetable saadmit- ble-based products are prohibited could cross the frontier shop that ted that he stuffed mosas, one of his favourite bacon down his from entering the peninsula weekly cloves and chilli powder. were his underwear after from a treats he buys from hearing they were ‘third country.’ Ramsons, on “It didn’t make any sense,” Waterport Road. he add- seizing the majority of someone The Gibraltar Government ed, “they seemed to be told the Meanwhile, his chilli Olive Press: “The pretty clue- else’s products. less. The EU now classes were deemed acceptable.and cloves understanding is thatGovernment’s “I asked them to provide EU law third country, bringingthe UK as a cifically “I was completely stumped. exempts plant productsspein tougher I had a to justify what they were documents controls on what chicken which I thought inthey just sent me a phototaking and cross the border can and cannot tended for personal consumption been stopped but not might have from official controls at into of the a link bloc. the Peri-Peri to a Spanish Government Border ConAccording to the Gibraltar sauce,” Lathey told the Olive Press. Gov- trol Posts on introduction to the EU. Lathey was told he couldwebsite.” “The officials said it contained take his ernment website, several items shopping back onto puree, meaning it containedonion the Rock to for personal consumption are now store it. proAgreement banned, including all cessed veg and was meat and milk therefore not “I ended up selling it allowed over. all for £20, products (bar powdered infant milk, “Therefore, the Government will which is better than nothing,” be baby added for food and special food required seeking to clarify this matter with medical reasons or pet the relevant Spanish Authorities. Lathey. food re- “Until the final agreement It comes after quired for animal health reasons). several reports You cannot bring in more than 20kg respect to Gibraltar’s future with on social me- of any fish product or more than 2kg tionship with the EU is settled,reladia of Brits of other specific animal products, unless the Government advisesand See page 16 on including honey, oysters, specific having food live mus- ogationsbridging measures or derseized at the sels and snails. having been agreed whilst The Government reminder, that agreement is negotiated, border. pub- braltar Gilished on January 4, will be treated as One expat, vegetable does not products as being on list country for the purposes of a third EU custhe toms controls.”

British expat left fuming including the Peri-Peri after most of his shopping sauce - was labelled at Gib border due to ‘contraband’ new Brexit rules

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The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: - Listed: The municipalities ordered to close borders 1Spain’s and those facing total lockdown in malaga province as Andalucia announces new COVID-19 restrictions (20,645 views)

- Breaking: Spain’s Andalucia announces new 28pm COVID-19 restrictions as it requests permission for curfew and total lockdown of 91 municipalities (15,811 views)

president calls for home confinement in 3- Junta Spain while notifying mobility will be limited in Andalucia (14,176 views) - Breaking: Majority of Spain’s Costa del Sol de4including clared an extreme risk for COVID-19 transmission Marbella, Estepona, Mijas and Manilva (14,069 views)

British wife of chronically ill husband 5- Exclusive: cannot return to Spain unless he is close to dying (12,822 views)

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LA CULTURA

Ye Olde Dagger

EXPERTS have discovered a 3,000-year-old crystal dagger in an ancient tomb in the Sevilla area. The remains of several people were found buried in a ritualistic way but what caught the eye was the rock crystal dagger. It has been dated to at least 3,000 BC, making it the ‘most technically sophisticated and impressive collection of rock crystal material culture ever found in Prehistoric Iberia’, according to site investigators. Prehistoric humans in Europe made most of their tools from chert and flint. Tools made by knapping ‘rock crystals’ (macro-crystalline quartz) were far less prevalent but manufacturing techniques were created in the south-west part of the Iberian Peninsula. Although rock crystal tools were more difficult to fashion and the raw materials weren’t as abundant as sedimentary rock, prehistoric people cherished them due

January 28th - February 10th 2021

Blown out again Valencia’s Fallas are cancelled for the second consecutive year due to COVID, the longest gap since the Spanish Civil War

THE world-famous Fallas festivities in Valencia have been cancelled again this year due to COVID-19. City mayor Joan Ribo made the dreaded – but expected – announcement on Radio Valencia, ahead of the official statement by the regional Health department.

A SPANISH playwright has written a modern take on a show first performed a century ago – but this time from a murdered woman’s point of view. Award-winning Lola Blasco has taken an unfinished 19th century story and re-written it in a way that examines gender violence. The story was first turned into the opera Wozzeck by Austrian composer Alban Berg,

Flames This will be the second consecutive March without the spectacular paper-mache statues decorating the streets for a week before going up in flames, together with the daily mascleta firecracker displays, processions, flower offerings and months of partying

THE restoration work on Antequera’s Dolmens Museum has been completed. After an investment of €4.5 million and 33 months of work, the centre in the Malaga town will open to the public this year. The inauguration is expected to take place towards the end of the year and will be dedicated, respectively, to the researcher Manuel Gomez-Moreno and the

RENOWNED: Fallas festival will be missed

and preparations. Added to last year’s cancellation, this is so far the

Cave reviews poet Jose Antonio Muñoz Rojas. With the construction of the site completed, the centre is now working on the design of its first two temporary exhibitions. The dolmens are a World Heritage Site with three structures dating back 5000 years.

second longest gap in the fiesta’s long history, only ‘beaten’ by the three-year Civil War period from 1937 to 1939. The decision has not come as a surprise for anyone involved, but has still triggered intense feelings of sadness and loss throughout the huge Fallas community. Neither did anyone need to be reminded of the reasons for putting the much-loved festivities on ice once again.

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Time to think again just under 100-years ago. It focused on a poverty-stricken soldier who killed Marie, the mother of his child. But in Blasco’s version, Marie, attention is thrown on Wosseck’s victim, rather than her being used as simply an element in the anti-hero’s downfall. The co-production between Madrid’s Teatro Real opera house and the smaller Teatro de La Abadia, is intended to make people think more critically about gender violence in Spain. Blasco said Marie is a symbol of all the women who have died due to gender violence and whose stories are then told by others, with more attention often given to the perpetrator than the victim.

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LA CULTURA

January 28th - February 10th 2021

Weeding between the lines

How a Spanish weed (not that kind) promoted literacy in Victorian Britain, writes Jack Gaioni

ARTISAN: Weaves create many styles

DESIGNS: Include cactus and belt

EVOCATIVE: Uses today include the classic blinds so typical of inland Andalucia

“

THE English ceased to be one of the most aggressive, brutal, rowdy, outspoken, riotous cruel and bloodthirsty nations in the world and became one of the most inhibited, polite, orderly, tender-minded, prudish and hypocritical.” So said British historian Harold Perkin in reference to England’s Victorian Age. More than anything else, Perkin saw the era (18371901) as one of sexual restraint, rigid morality and a strict code of conduct. Indeed! However, there was so much more to the era. The Industrial Revolution was at its apex and saw many British technological innovations. It was England’s Imperial Century where ‘the sun never set on the British Empire’. It was also the Age of Literacy. Both the desire and the ability to read and write soared exponentially as literacy for all became paramount in public consciousness. This was the time of Dickens, Tennison, the Bronte Sisters and Thomas Hardy, when penny novels and serialised fiction were immensely popular. Newspapers were coming of age. Advertising for the masses was in its infancy. Libraries were being established along with competing publishing houses. And the Foster’s Education Act (1870), a milestone in educational development, set the framework for public schooling for all children aged five to 12. But it was the discovery of an inconspicuous

Andalucian roadside weed that changed the way Victorian Britain learned. If there was one common denominator in Britain’s rise in literacy, it was the need for paper - but papermaking in 19th-century England was far from cutting edge. It was primarily made from old cloth rags combined with wood pulp but supplies were limited and the manufacturing process crude, labour intensive, expensive and dirty. Experiments in using other materials everything from sawdust and bamboo to hay and cabbage stalks - had produced less-than-perfect results, until manufacturers discovered esparto. This unassuming grass indigenous to north Africa and southern Spain - commonly used today in everything from shopping baskets to espadrilles - was found to be the perfect base for paper. Its fibres and cellulose properties produced a very durable, soft, clean paper which held ink well and could be produced at a fraction of the cost. In 1839 the first patent to manufacture paper from esparto was registered in England. Paper prices dropped by as much as 75% as public demand for print soared. Enterprising British entrepreneurs began to lease large Spanish estate farms in Murcia, Almeria and Granada to cultivate esparto. One man in particular, a Scotsman named William McMurray, monopolised Spanish exports to the British market. His company, Es-

parto Fibre Compania, cultivated, harvested, possible - was met. dried and bundled the raw material on leased It’s probably a misnomer to dismiss esparto ‘espartero estates’. as simply a ‘weed’. Granted, it’s considered It was then transported using British-built a nuisance, especially among olive growers; and controlled railways (e.g. The Great Sou- but it has been a part of Andalucian material thern Spain Railway), to the coastal ports of culture for millennia. Aguilas in Murcia and Cartagena, loaded onto Archeological discoveries have uncovered company-owned steamboats and shipped to esparto baskets and mats as far back as the Great Britain. Neolithic Age roughly 7,000 years ago. The The quantities of exporPhoenicians, Greeks, Roted esparto to Britain mans and Moors used it were so vast that the in ropes, shoes, harnesloading docks required ses, blankets and more. special canals to handToday, although it has le the increased barge given way to new technotraffic. One canal at the logies, esparto is making mouth of the Wandle a bit of a commercial coRiver and the Thames meback. It is still used to even became known produce a higher-quality as McMurray Canal. premium paper for books, At its height, the corridiplomas and important dor between Granada, documents. In the home December 6th - December 19th 2017 northern Almeria and fashion world, Amazon coastal Murcia exported features chic esparto de31,000 tonnes yearly, signer rugs and wall hanmaking esparto Spain’s PRINTERS: Used mostly esparto gings. And chemists have leading export second only to iron-ore. recently discovered that the lining of the December 6th -much December 19th World War I was the death-knell for the inesparto plant, like flax oil, has2017 a benefidustry as shipping was disrupted and new cial antioxidant quality. From Page papermaking technologies became more pro- Esparto’s fortunes have varied over time but1 fitable. But for almost 100 years the symbiotic Heforeven Victorian Britain this humble grass played got himself a financial advice slot on a well relationship between Andalucia’s esparto and known no small part in transferring knowledge radio station, through which snared to unsuspectDecember 6th - December 19thhe2017 Great Britain’s thirst for paper was a net posithe vast ing victims.majority of literate Britons. American tive for both countries. Spain had a valuable However, poet Ralph Waldo EmersonOlive said Press it best:investigation ‘What a comprehensive exFrom Page cash crop and Victorian England’s demand for posed is a weed? It isthat a plant whosestamps, virtues have not1 gold. his scams involved coins and paper - the medium that made mass literacy He yeteven been discovered.’ We also revealed how ahefinancial and his close palslot Barry got himself advice on Nathan a well

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Rags and discarded cloth were in such acute demand during the early Victorian4 Era that there were actually ‘rag wars’. England prohibited rags to www.theolivepress.es be taken out of the country and rag smuggling became a lucrative enterprise among black marketeers

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Recent archaeological discoveries at Las Cuevas de los Murcie lagos in Cordob , in Granada, confirm that esparto has long been a 4a and Abunolwww.theolivepress.es part of Andalucian materi al culture. Many of the artifacts are on display at The National Archaeological Museum in Madrid

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Thanks to esparto SOME 14 fire bosses importhave s, rag and wood pulp newsprint that cost the equiva lentarrested been allegedly of 0.28for cents a pound in 1846 London, plunged to 0.02 cents by 1897 embezzling €7 million in

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Not ‘He deserves it’ Not enough ‘He deserves it’ Not

Costa del Sol Hot hotel has three water months to Costa del Sol fight decision Hot 4 www.theolivepress.es hotel has three before it is water months to demolished DID YOU fight decision Costa del SolKNOW? Hot beforehas it is hotel three water demolished months to

public funds. The Policia Nacional found that the Consortium of SOME 14 fire bosses have Bomberos Cadiz out been arrested for took allegedly mass early retirement insurembezzling €7 million in ance policies. public funds. But Policia when their employees The Nacional found retiredthe early,Consortium chiefs siphoned that of SOME 14 fire bosses have

A HOTEL is to be knocked down for not having enough class! Benalmadena’s Hotel Vista de Rey must be demolished

‘He deserves it’

wined and up through to a dozen criminals, anonymously, known radiodined station, which he snared unsuspectthrough the food column. ing victims. He eventually fled the country following our expose, However, a comprehensive Olive Press investigation exFrom 1 gold. but wehis soon tracked him down to the UK,Page where he had posed scams that involved stamps, coins and changed his namehow by deed pollhis and waspal selling and We also revealed he and close Barrycoins Nathan

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denuncia to the Guardia Civil under 24 hours in advance and EXCLUSIVE and reported Griffiths to Malaga was therefore ‘not entitled’ to a By Joshua Parfitt Trading Standards (OMIC). refund. But without any registration de- However clause 11 of the contract, I was absolutely speechless,” Ma- tails it will be difficult to see re- seen by the Olive Press, makes no sults. mention of cancellations and inria told the Olive Press. “Articles from the Olive Press “I’m determined to stop this stead details what will happen in the event no person is present to came up over a number of years man,” insisted Vila. about dogs dying in transit and “He is so dodgy, using his moth- receive a pet. other problems. I then found Jer- er’s address and an English moemy insisting one poor client’s bile number.” Heart-attack dog had died because it was ‘over- When contacted by the Olive Press, Griffiths was unrepentant He said the money would be used weight and fat’.” over a pet ‘for chariShe continued: “Most pet trans- and insisted his business was reg- to help bring porters I’ve known are amazing istered in the UK – however Com- ty’ in the future. Dianne Lunt, from and will bend over backwards for panies House has no record of the It comes after her pet pug sufMarbella, said a beloved pet, but this man is an company ever existing. A spokesperson for the UK’s De- fered a heart-attack while in tranutter crook.” from Spain in She immediately cancelled the fra Transport Compliance Team sit under Griffiths order and asked for a refund for confirmed in emails that there is 2013. ‘no transporter authorisation for Another expat, Alec Strathern, the January 25 trip. also denounced Pet Taxi TransHowever, when no refund was Mr Griffiths’. his three dogs made, she was forced to shell Griffiths, based in Torre del Mar, port after claiming in a van without out an extra €275 for a separate near Malaga, added Maria had were transported and with holes transport company to deliver ‘violated clause 11’ of the com- ‘air conditioning’ her kitten.She has now made a pany’s contract as she cancelled in the floor.

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WE CAN DO ANYTHING! getting heard, and action women is still alarming. Last is being taken. But there is year was a dark 12 months still so far to go. We may be in Spain with 55 women kicelebrating the downfall of lled either by partners or ex Harvey Weinstein, and the partners. The highest figure shaming of Placido Domin- since 2015. It's not the only go over his admission of se- country where these figuxually harassed women, but res are rising. However, in in Saudi Arabia women are a disturbing move still high fiving their right to party is lobbying the Vox for cuts own a passport without the in funding to combat genconsent of a male guardian. Continues overleaf Gender violence against

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that we needed to change the work culture and in doing so society if we wanted to see advances in the field of equality. Ana Botín, “Since then these ideas have been reflected President of in the equal opportunity policies that we first pushed for the Santander in Banesto, then in Santander in the UK and more banking group recently in the Santander group as a whole,” she ot only was Ana Botín made an honorary continued. “In that speech I emphasised the benefits of diversity in the company. And dame by Queen Elizabeth II for services with data to the from different studies, I explained Financial sector in 2015, she was also awarded more women in managerial positions,that having the first Award for Responsible Capitalism apart from after being fair, was good for business. taking the helm the year before. Besides talent, women bring skills to business that complement Ana, 59, is also a pioneer. The first woman a major European bank, she’s been rankedto run those of men – better interpersonal communicaon the Forbes’ list of World’s Most Powerful eigth tion, cooperation, horizontal thinking and a capamen. Within her corporation, this financial Wo- city to really listen as well as more empathy and whizz the ability to prioritise.” has made a point of boosting female direction, ai- Botín has also introduced ming for 30% of its CEOs to be women by 2025 scheme because, ‘one of the a life-work balance (they currently account for 20%). Beyond keys to equal opporthe aim is technical equality, which means 2025, tunities lies in domestic work.’ a 60%- She said: “For men to increase 40% ratio, irrespective of gender. their share responsibility, we need public policies thatof this In an article she published on her LinkedIn allow in response to a debate over her feminist page for greater flexibility in the workplace.” tials, she wrote, “I have spent years as creden- Ana is adamant there will be no discrepancy in tive; years in which I have seen enoughan execu- salaries between male and female staff members to know taking on equal responsibility in that in general women don’t get a fair deal… a banking instituIn a tion that is ranked 16th in the world. speech delivered to a room full of men in 2008, I talked about the importance in Bilbao Forbes magazine also notes that Botín has a poof women licy of ‘backing small companies acting with more confidence in ourselves and companies and owned by women’.

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SWATHES danger of of rural Andalucia The hulking being concreted are in a new planning shell of concrete set for a over after by the regional law was brought remained311-room mega resort- once in Green groups government. work was an eyesore for years - has tas en Accion including Bunkers halted by the courts. after Ecologisare also being joined with and Greenpeace 700-home hundreds have golf course dug to stop a ciations Nerja, which to fight on of local assoscheme, fronts opened will near a series of ment of one of thesee the developup during new crisis. final stretches the COVID Costa del They are Sol’s And protestersof pristine coast. SOON LEGAL?: up in arms called LISTA digging in over Algarrobico in to stop Mijas are also the lockdown law - passed the so- one, but used to build the during beaches TWO new hotels - that is dozens of in woods law being the sea at set to allow in the supposedlyon virgin overlooking ed natural ects to go previously outlawed The first El Chaparral. ahead. protectproj- The first park of Cabo In particular, took placeof many planned de involves activists a 30-room about a the green Gata. la Cala de outside council protests are light for hotel course in controversial outraged famous It could Mijas this week. offices in Bahia denear the globally also see stand of Nerja, as well new golf beach, while Los Genoveses Valdevaqueros the controversial as a final star the They arewoodland in Mijas. project hotel close second is for a of homes also furious go up on of hundreds to the pristine two- tected de San Pedro about not Protestors a heavily-probay (pictured Cala Under virgin beach, the recentlynear Tarifa. now allow fear the new law above). project, backed the legalization will also resubmitted Rosa Quintana,by TV celebrity of nearby between the stunning Ana El AlgarroBolonia see a series and Tarifa area bico hotel, Ecologists of hotels get built. would built dis- Los are gracefully Merinos also worried that project the courses on a virgin and hundredsfor two-golf See page es on UNESCO-protected beach, near of hous24 land near Carboneras, Ronda could virgin despite being due to be p l a n n i a preme Court. quashed by revived, the Sumix up. n g Fairway to hell: See page 6

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Dear Olive Press,

British wife of seriously-ill husband cannot return to Spain ‘unless he is close to dying’

Mallorca - Issue 97 is desperate to get

back to husband Frederick mare for the pensioner, long lived with her who has Mallorca who have not been able Spanish citizen. husband, to return Frederick, 81, both home - even in from Ports- cases mouth, in a villa at La those with the correctsome A British Embassy spokesperson Herradu- perwork pa- told the Olive Press ra, in Granada. in order. be looking into it, as they would “The Spanish Despite having a negative we went to PCR that unless he Embassy told me press. test, which set her is on his deathbed, back €120, I won’t Carole was told that having be allowed a de- said.“It’s horrific, back,” Carole pendent husband did Compassion my husband as an exemption. Hernot qualify should not be going out but he is She said: “We have situation alone and reflects that of many raised the ispeople on It comes has no choice.” sue of compassionate after Spain brought cases with in the tougher restrictions have Spanish authorities, who on UK arrivals fol- sider, confirmed they will conon a case-by-case basis, lowing the discovery the of a more contagious who circumstances of nationals coronavirus strain, try wish to enter the counSee page 5 dubbed the UK vari- to on compassionate grounds support a vulnerable ant. family member.” Anyone returning from the UK must be either a resident or a Opinion Page 6

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British wife of seriously-ill husband cannot return to Spain ‘unless he is close to dying’

IF this gentleman is so seriou go to the UK to deliver par sly ill, why did his wife mas with her family insteadcels and spend Christof with her ‘seriously ill’ husband? If she has lived in Spain for ample opportunity to obtain 20 years she has had wait until two weeks beforeher residencia, and not Brexit became official to get it. We have had loads of remind ernment website, and others ers by the British gov, to do it over the past three years. In your article you quote her husband should not be goinsaying ‘It’s horrific, my and has no choice,’ yet she g out but he is alone UK over him when she wen chose her family in the By December 19 it was stat there for Christmas. ing in the Olive Press, that ted everywhere, includSpanish citizens and expatsSpain would only allow mentation, as well as a neg with residencia docuative COVID-19 test, to come to Spain. Please, you are a good new does nothing for your reputa spaper but this article tion. It is ver y biased.

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British wife of seriously-ill husband cannot return to Spain ‘unless he is close to dying’

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

A BRITISH expat stranded in the UK has been told she can only return to her chronically ill husband ‘if he is on his deathbed.’ Carole Clarke, 68, is pleading for help after she got stuck in Belfast after flying out on December 19 to deliver Christmas presents to her daughter and grandchildren. is Her husband Frederick, 81, chronically ill back at home near Almuñecar, suffering lung disease COPD and diabetes. Despite this, the former nurse and aerobics instructor, who has lived in Andalucia for 20 years, was refused boarding on her easyJet flight back to Spain after new coronavirus measures demanded she must prove her residency. “I have been trying to get an appointment since December to start the process but it was impossible, ” Carole told the Olive Press. “There were none available anywhere.” I She added: “If I had known would be not allowed I back would not have flown in the first place.” has It turned

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contagious coronavirus strain, dubbed the UK variant. Anyone returning from the UKa must be either a resident or Spanish citizen. A British Embassy spokesperson told the Olive Press they would be looking into it, as we went to press.

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WHILST feeling sorry for this couple, I must say that they have brought this on themselves. Having seen the chaotic shambles of the Brexit negotiations, any sensible person would conclude that it would end badly, and would not have waited until past the last minute to try to legalise themselves. These people are typical of the average head-in-the -sand Brits.

Compassion

OLIVE PRESS

She said: “We have raised the issue of compassionate cases with the Spanish authorities, who have confirmed they will consider, on a case-by-case basis, the circumstances of nationals who wish to enter the country on compassionate grounds to support a vulnerable family member.”

Opinion Page 6

VALENCIA / COSTA AZAHAR FREE Vol. 1 Issue 4 www.theolivepress.es

Your expat

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January 14th - January 27th 2021

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A BRITISH expat has branded Spanish border officials ‘ridiculous’ and ‘clueless’ after they confiscated his Nando’s Peri Peri sauce at the Gibraltar border. Joseph Lathey, 27, was left fuming when much of his weekly shopping was binned as he tried to cross back into La Linea. This meant seeing his bananas and leeks being tipped into a customs officer’s bin. It also included his vegetable samosas, EXCLUSIVE one of his By Laurence Dollimore favourite weekly treats he A BRITISH expat stranded in the buys from UK has been told she can only R a m s o n s , return to her chronically ill huson Water- band ‘if he is on his deathbed’. port Road. Carole Clarke, 68, is pleading for Meanwhile, help after she got stuck in Belfast his chili and after flying out on December 19 cloves were to deliver Christmas presents to deemed ac- her daughter and grandchildren. ceptable. Her husband Frederick, 81, is “I was chronically c o m p l e t e l y Almuñecar, ill back at home near suffering lung diss t u m p e d . ease COPD and diabetes. I had a c h i c k e n Despite this, the former nurse and aerobics instructor, who which I t h o u g h t has lived in Andalucia for 20 might have years, was refused boarding on been stopped her easyJet flight back but not the Peri Peri sauce,” after new coronavirus to Spain measures Lathey told the Olive Press. demanded she must prove her “The officials said it con- residency. tained onion puree, meaning “I have been it contained processed veg pointment trying to get an apsince December to and was therefore not al- start the process but it was imlowed over. possible, ” Carole told the Olive “I said that that was ridicuPress. “There were none availlous as most of my shopping able anywhere.” would not be allowed in.”

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British wife of seriously-ill husband cannot return to Spain ‘unless he is close to dying’

CAPTION

She added: “If I had known I would not be CONCERNED: Carole is desperate to get back allowed to husband Frederick back I mare for the w o u l d long lived pensioner, who has the Costa Blanca and Valencia from the UK not have Frederick, with her husband, who have not been able to return ident or a must be either a resflown in mouth, in a81, both from Ports- home - even in some cases those A British Spanish citizen. Embassy spokesperson villa at La Herradu- with the the first ra, in Granada. correct paperwork in told the Olive Press they would place.” Despite having a negative PCR order. be looking into it, as we went to “The Spanish It has test, which set her back €120, that unless he Embassy told me press. t u r n e d Carole was is on his deathbed, told that having a de- I won’t out to be pendent husband be allowed back,” Carole Compassion a total as an exemption. did not qualify said.“It’s horrific, my husband Her situation should not n i g h t - reflects that of many people on alone and be going out but he is She said: “We have raised the ishas no choice.” sue of compassionate cases with It comes after Spain the Spanish authorities, who brought in tough- have confirmed they will coner restrictions on sider, on a case-by-case basis, UK arrivals follow- the circumstances of nationals ing the discovery of who wish to enter the counSee page 9 a more contagious try on compassionate grounds coronavirus strain, to support a vulnerable family dubbed the UK vari- member.” ant.

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Go home AS as an expat from the UK I think Spain is right to stop Mrs Clarke from returning. This couple and many thousands of people like them live in Spain without having the correct paperwork. Anyone in Spain this long - 20 years - who does not have 100% of the paperwork Spain requires should be sent back to their own country and not be allowed to apply for it at the 11th hour . If these people want to be together let him go to England. And hopefully take with him all the other paperless Brits with him.

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Paul Ely (by email)

No sympathy I HAVE no sympathy for this person. She had six months to get her TIE card. And as usual did not think of the amount of expats who would all want to get their card. So leaving it at the last minute is stupid. PK (via OP website)

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DID your reporter ask Carole why they did not already have residencia papers, having been here for 20 years? Did he also ask if they have spanish driving licences, for the same reason? With the background of the governments of both Spain and the UK making travel policy decisions, why did she take such a risk of travelling on December 19, being on a plane with possible positive cases, leaving a vulnerable person exposed for her return? It is difficult to have any sympathy for her in such poor decision making but hope he survives the trauma ok.

to get back to husband Frederick

out to be a total nightmare for the pensioner, who has long lived with her husband, Frederick, 81, both from Portsmouth, in a villa at La Herradura, in Granada. Despite having a negative PCR test, which set her back €120,

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Carole was told that having a dependent husband did not qualify as an exemption. Her situation reflects that of many people on the Costa Blanca and Valencia who have not been able to return home - even in some cases those with the correct paperwork in order. “The Spanish Embassy told me that unless he is on his Jávea / Altea deathbed, I won’t be allowed back,” Carole yorkshirelinencostablanca.com said.“It’s horrific, my husband should not be going out but he is alone and has no choice.” It comes after Spain See page 17 brought in tougher restrictions on UK arrivals following the discovery of a more

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Back to his old tricks SOCIAL media recommendations can be life-saving – but for one over-trusting Costa Blanca expat a post led her into the hands of an alleged serial conman. The recommendation for a pet transport company on Facebook saw Maria Vila lose €350 to a firm she claims is a ‘scam’ and operating ‘without appropriate licences’. The 43-year-old had contacted Pet Taxi Transport to arrange the travel of her cat from London to her home in Spain in January. Despite further checks she paid the company in full to bring her kitten, a Cornish Rex called Gatsby to her villa in Gandia, Valencia. It was only when owner Jeremy Griffiths (above right) refused requests to provide basic company information that Vila became suspicious. “I then put his name into Google to find his company website, and

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PLUS: The opinions of ten leading ladies to celebrate International Women’s Day

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The best nearby the lockdown escapes once ends see p11

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She added: “If I had known I would not be a l l o w e d CONCERNED: Carole is desperate to get back to husband Frederick back I mare for the w o u l d long lived pensioner, who has the Costa Blanca and Valencia from the UK not have Frederick, with her husband, who have not been able to return ident or a must be either a resflown in mouth, in a81, both from Ports- home - even in some cases those A British Spanish citizen. Embassy spokesperson villa at La Herradu- with the the first ra, in Granada. correct paperwork in told the Olive Press they would place.” Despite having a negative PCR order. be looking into it, as we went to “The Spanish It has test, which set her back €120, that unless he Embassy told me press. t u r n e d Carole was is on his deathbed, told that having a de- I won’t out to be pendent husband be allowed back,” Carole Compassion a total as an exemption. did not qualify said.“It’s horrific, my husband Her situation should not n i g h t - reflects that of many people on alone and be going out but he is She said: “We have raised the ishas no choice.” sue of compassionate cases with It comes after Spain the Spanish authorities, who brought in tough- have confirmed they will coner restrictions on sider, on a case-by-case basis, UK arrivals follow- the circumstances of nationals ing the discovery of who wish to enter the counSee page 21 a more contagious try on compassionate grounds coronavirus strain, to support a vulnerable family dubbed the UK vari- member.” ant.

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OLIVE 952 147 834 PRESS

A BRITISH expat has branded Spanish border officials ‘ridiculous’ and his ‘clueless’ after they confiscated at Nando’s Peri Peri sauce the Gibraltar border. Joseph Lathey, 27, was left fuming when much of his weekly shopping was binned as he tried to cross back into La Linea. This meant seeing his bananas and leeks being tipped into a customs officer’s bin. It also included his vegetable samosas, one of his favourite treats. Meanwhile, his chilli and cloves were deemed acceptable. completely was “I stumped. I had a chicken which I thought been have might stopped but not the Peri Peri sauce,” Lathey told the Olive Press.

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The Olive Press front page article threat, all editions) has Gibraltar - 952 147(Deathbed 834 Issue 139 drawn a huge response from readers. Opinion is divided on whether CarOLIVE PRESS ole Clarke was right to leave her seriously ill 81-year-old husband Frederic in Spain to deliver presDEATHBED ents in the UK at Christmas, only THREAT to find herself unable to get back to care for him due to coronavirus restrictions. While most responders have criticised the expat of over 20 years, from Almuñecar, others are more sympathetic to the plight the couple have found themselves in.

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New shelves are finally up No weeds in the garden Parking spaces everywhere

Run by Visit Valencia it offers a huge range of discounts for museums, events, restaurants, transport and even hotels. You can find it at www. valenciaon.com, and it is completely free. Roland Wareham, 55, a company director from Andalucia, was impressed by how well the city was handling the pandemic. On a business trip from his native Mijas this week, he said: “I was struck by how normal life seemed. In Ruzafa, all the bars and restaurants were open, and the terraces were crowded with families and friends enjoying the al fresco lifestyle. “In Andalucia, meanwhile, bars and restaurants must close by 6pm, and my town is like a ghost town at night. “Valencia should serve as a blueprint for the rest of Spain.” Opinion, page 6

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tween keeping life normal and keeping it safe.” While tourism is down 80% on last year, the tourist boss says all activities, including cinemas and museums, are open. Best of all, unlike much of Spain, locals and tourists must only stay in between midnight and 6am. “It’s a great time to discover the city as there are no queues,” adds Bernabe. “We take the pandemic seriously, but we also believe in the right to have a full life.” Currently few places in the Comunidad face tough restrictions due to high infection rates. The city meanwhile, has developed an activity card called Valencia On, an app anyone can download, not just aimed at tourists.

Taoiseach Martin said ‘by the end of this Vol. 1 Issue 23 www.theolivepress.es By Dilip Kunar week we could see the outlines of a deal’. FREE He said it would come down to ‘political will, both in the United Kingdom and I’m promise in order to get an agreement. is there from the EuFrance had previously been refusing to clear the political will SOMETHING back down on any fishing deal, demanding ropean Union’. EU ambassadors were told over the weekFOR THE near-parity to the UK’s coastal waters. with Britain is on the It comes as the governor of the Bank of En- end that a trade deal WEEKEND? gland warned that a no-deal Brexit would verge of being finalised. of the 11 main be more economically damaging than They were told the majority Take a visit to Spain’s negotiation issues have ‘joint legal texts COVID to the UK. secret Acropoli outstanding points’. Andrew Bailey said failure to get a deal with fewer and fewer president, Ursigned would create a massive cross-border The European commission See page 10 struck a positive note, trade blockage and damage goodwill be- sula von der Leyen, weeks with very, very saying: “After difficult tween Brussels and the UK for years. have seen in the last Meanwhile, Ireland leader Micheal Martin slow progress now we more movement on said on Monday he was hopeful that a Brex- days better progress,is good.” important files. This it deal would be completed this week.

Hotel and restaurant owners watch with fear as the coronavirus tightens its grip on Spain and Europe ahead of Semana Santa

She added: “If I had known I would not be allowed back I would not have flown in the first place.” It has turned out to be a total night-

at the border but his Peri-Peri hot sauce was confiscated his chilli and cloves were accepted STUMPED: Lathey was angry when A BRITISH expat has branded Spanish border officials ‘ridiculous’ and ‘clueless’ after they confiscated the his Nando’s Peri Peri sauce at Gibraltar border. prohibited list. But Spanish legisJoseph Lathey, 27, was left fuming lation, specifically law 2019/2072, Exclusive by when much of his weekly shopping “I said it was ridiculous as that dictates that vegetables and vegetaLaurence Dollimore was binned as he tried to cross back would mean most of my shopping ble-based products are prohibiteda into La Linea. would also not be allowed in.” the from entering the peninsula from who asked not to be named, admitThis meant seeing his bananas and Indeed, officials told the Brit his ‘third country.’ ted that he stuffed bacon down leeks being tipped into a customs only items from his £55 shop that they were Government told the the frontier were his underwear after hearing someone The Gibraltar “The Government’s officer’s bin. sa- could cross majority of Olive Press: the seizing powder. It also included his vegetable chilli and cloves understanding is that EU law speany sense,” he add- else’s products. mosas, one of his favourite weekly on “It didn’t make to be pretty clue- The EU now classes the UK as a cifically exempts plant products intreats he buys from Ramsons, ed, “they seemed consumption third country, bringing in tougher tended for personal Border ConWaterport Road. less. what can and cannot from official controls at Meanwhile, his chilli and cloves “I asked them to provide documents controls on trol Posts on introduction to the EU. they were taking and cross the border into the bloc. were deemed acceptable. a to justify what me a photo of a link According to the Gibraltar Gov“I was completely stumped. I had they just sent ernment website, several items Agreement chicken which I thought might have to a Spanish Government website.” his for personal consumption are now take could he will be told been stopped but not the Peri-Peri was Lathey to banned, including all meat and milk “Therefore, the Government sauce,” Lathey told the Olive Press. shopping back onto the Rock to clarify this matter with products (bar powdered infant milk, seeking “The officials said it contained onion store it. required the relevant Spanish Authorities. with selling it all for £20, baby food and special food puree, meaning it contained pronot “I ended up than nothing,” added for medical reasons or pet food re- “Until the final agreement relacessed veg and was therefore better which is respect to Gibraltar’s future quired for animal health reasons). Lathey. allowed over. tionship with the EU is settled, and It comes after You cannot bring in more than 20kg 2kg unless the Government advises on several reports of any fish product or more than COSTA measures or derbridging BLANCA SUR / MURCIA on social me- of other specific animal products, specific having been agreed whilst ogationsVol. 2 Issue 31 dia of Brits including honey, oysters, live mus- FREE Giwww.theolivepress.es January 14th - January 27th 2021 that agreement is negotiated, food sels and snails. having See page 16 braltar will be treated as a third seized at the The Government reminder, pubpurposes of EU cuson January 4, does not list country for the lishedexpat border. A BRITISH has branded as being on the toms controls.” products expat, vegetable One Spanish border officials ‘ridiculous’ and ‘clueless’ after they confiscated his Nando’s Peri Peri sauce at the Gibraltar border. Joseph Lathey, 3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 . 27, was left E n d s c o n d i t i o n s . t o fuming when much of his weekly shop21/6/19 13:30 ping was See page 21 binned as he tried to cross back into La Linea. This meant seeing his bananas and leeks being tipped into a customs officer’s bin. It also included his vegetable samosas, one of his favourite weekly treats he buys from EXCLUSIVE Ramsons, By Laurence Dollimore on Wat e r p o r t A BRITISH expat stranded in the Road. UK has been told she can only M e a n while, his return to her chronically ill huschilli and band ‘if he is on his deathbed.’ c l o v e s Carole Clarke, 68, is pleading for w e r e help after she got stuck in Belfast d e e m e d after flying out on December 19 a c c e p t - to deliver Christmas presents to her daughter and grandchildren. able. “I was Her husband Frederick, 81, is c o m - chronically ill back at home near p l e t e l y Almuñecar, suffering lung disstumped. ease COPD and diabetes. I had a Despite this, the former c h i c k - and aerobics instructor, nurse who en which has lived in Andalucia I thought might have been for 20 years, was refused boarding on stopped but not the Peri Peri her easyJet flight back to Spain sauce,” Lathey told the Olive after new coronavirus measures Press. demanded she must prove her “The officials said it contained onion puree, meaning residency. it contained processed veg “I have been trying to get an apand was therefore not al- pointment since December to lowed over. start the process but it “I said that that was ridicu- possible, ” Carole told was imthe Olive lous as most of my shopping Press. “There were none availwould not be allowed in.” able anywhere.”

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A TRADE deal between the EU and Britain is on the verge of being finalised, after the EU looked set to cave in on fishing rights. An MEP broke ranks to say that it looked likely the French would have to compromise with Boris Johnson’s demands over UK waters. Christophe Hansen said the EU would have to meet the UK’s demands to clinch an agreement. "There will be compromises to be made on fisheries. The status quo, that is somewhere we're not going to land,” he told an event. French fishermen are understood to have backed the compromise despite losing out on access to certain fishing grounds. It came after the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier demanded the need to com-

THERE have been a total of 16 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic first struck in Gibraltar. The last four occurred on the weekend the vaccines finally arrived on January 9. The majority of the deaths were of elderly people with underlying conditions although there were also some exceptions. COVID-19 active cases surpassed the 1,000 mark just after the Christmas period although they have since stabilised. The strict measures imposed in the social lockdown introduced by the government on December 27 and January 2 have finally taken effect. Public health experts believe the start of the third wave was initiated by Black Friday shopping on November 29. As the pre-Christmas shopping spree continued and families started to meet together it is believed to have spread further.

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“Life goes on and we must move forward,” insisted Antonio Bernabé, director of the Turismo Valencia Foundation, to the Olive Press, this week. “We have struck a good balance be-

Page 16

Lifting the Val

N equal world is 1911, so now in a new cen- Over a century after an enabled world. tury and a new decade are This is the theme of we making a difference? International Women’s Day International Wo- At first glance, it’s easy to first started, Karen Livermore men's Day 2020. On March say yes. There’s something asks, are 8 the spotlight turns to wo- in the air that things really any feels like real men throughout the world change. The better in 2020? #metoo who are striving for gender #timesup movements and parity in the workplace, in a palpable moment were media giants, companies, unpalatable men from their where politicians and stars. Be- positions, their businesses, in sports, women were not but the views only being ing male, rich and powerful in culture and arts, and in heard, but their they represent, from public voices were was suddenly no longer a acceptance. their communities. powerful. They were calling shield. Out of it has come a The movement started in out previously untouchable real effort to shift, not only Things that matter to and affect women, are finally

most of his shopping British expat left fuming after- was labelled ‘contraband’ including the Peri-Peri sauce rules at Gib border due to new Brexit

Dark times

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Mijas Costa

on a cornucopia of Emerald Isle col- turning it into Spain’s smallest lectibles… and it even has Guinness pub. And if I say so myself, we’ve done a grand job.” on draught. “After being cooped up like a man Called El Irlandes, after his favourin solitary in March I came up with ite Martin Scorsese film, it happily a plan,” the Valencia-based real es- fits his closest pals in for the usual tate consultant told the Olive Press. Friday night Blarney. “I had an old shed in the garden. I Wilde, from Skerries, near Dublin, got the lads over – Tuejar, El Gal- has run the Found Valencia agency lego & Champ – and we set about for two decades.

A bunch of crooks tried to sell my hotel for a song

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control.’ The young woman, who works on the Costa del Sol but lives in the Campo, and her partto ner are still both waiting dibe tested after coming into rect contact with a COVID-19 infected person.

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TWO SPANISH HEROINES: One who escaped Franco to another whose infamous name has been adopted by a train station

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habitants. The whole district, made up eight towns, is currently closed down, meaning no one can leave or exit without a justified reason, such as medical, legal or for work. These measures will remain in place until at least January 25, Moreno said at a press conference today. off The campo was first closed when health authorities discovered the more contagious UK variant of the virus had arrived in Gibraltar. Since then, La Linea, which receives cross-border workers daily, has seen an exin tremely sharp increase COVID-19 cases. One worker told the Olive Press this week that the situof ation in the area was ‘out

OLIVE PRESS

With Semana Santa starting on April 5, businesses in Spain are worried about whether one of Spain’s busiest weeks will go ahead as normal. More than a million visitors traditionally NERVOUS hoteliers and restaurateurs descend on Sevilla and Malaga combined are bracing themselves for the devasduring Holy Week. tating effect coronavirus could have on A total of 14% of Spain’s Gross Domestic Spain’s tourism industry. Product comes from tourism, according They are joined by tourist chiefs who fear to the European Travel Commission. a major hit to critical Semana Santa week, It’s Executive Director Eduardo Santandwhich heralds the start of the holiday seaer said: “The impact of the virus on Euson. It comes as Spain has seen its number of the company that owns British Airways, ropean tourism will be massive — we’re cases soar to over 150, with the number in Vueling and Iberia suffering a drop in talking about big losses.” in cases here, the Madrid doubling almost overnight. value of more than 9%, the highest of any But despite the surgeyet to issue travel UK authorities has Data from travel analytics firm Forward- company in the Ibex 35. Keys shows international flights booked The International Air Transport Associa- warnings to the country, as Spain has from the UK and the US were down al- tion estimates that the virus outbreak will done with Italy. most 20% for a five-week period up until cost the sector more than €26 billion in The UK Foreign Office simply insists that travellers should comply with any addiFebruary 23. 2020. British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair and Travel and tourism analyst, Ralph Hollis- tional screening measures put in place by Lufthansa have all started cancelling ter, from GlobalData said: “If the virus is the Spanish authorities. flights within Europe and those to China. still having the same impact by the end Meanwhile, football may be the most Some have drastically cut prices in order of April, cancellations could start to insee page 4 to fill empty seats, with Ryanair reducing crease at a rapid rate as consumers deem flights to Italy by 25%. the risk to their health to be greater than Opinion Page 4 Stocks are plummeting too, with IAG, their need for a holiday.”

PERI-LESS CROSSING

That is more than double the average rate of the currently besieged Campo de Gibraltar health district, which stands inat 506.5 cases per 100,000

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Valencia is open!

VALENCIA remains open for visitors, with COVID restrictions more relaxed than most other regions, insists tourist chiefs. The city has been praised by businessmen and tourists alike for its

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UNABLE to have his regular Friday night down the boozer during lockdown, expat Conor Wilde hit on a novel idea for this one - to build his own pub! The Irish expat, 46, got his mates over and converted his garden shed into what he claims is Spain’s smallhole. FORGET THE DRAUGHT: Conor est watering2.4m by 2.5m, it counts Measuring and pals at makeshift local

COUNTDOWN TO BREXIT

Don’t forget The new rules allowing you to drive in Spain until next summer Page 6

28th 2021

How Amy’s guitar-maker from Valencia won over the world Page 15

Mijas Costa

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G RATIN CELEB

A BRITISH expat has TROUBLE branded Spanish border officials ‘ridiculous’ and ‘clueless’ after they confiscated his Nando’s Peri Peri sauce at the Gibraltar border. Joseph Lathey, 27, was left fuming 952 147 834 when much of his weekly shopping was binned as he tried to cross back into La Linea. This meant seeing his bananas and leeks being tipped into a customs officer’s bin. It also included his vegetable samosas, one of his favourite weekly EXCLUSIVE treats he By Laurence Dollimore buys from Ramsons, A BRITISH expat stranded on Waterin the UK has been told she port Road. return to her chronicallycan only M e a n ill husband ‘if he is on his deathbed.’ while, his chilli and Carole Clarke, 68, is pleading for cloves were help after she got stuck in Belfast deemed ac- after flying out on December 19 ceptable. to deliver Christmas presents to “I was com- her daughter p l e t e l y Her husbandand grandchildren. Frederick, 81, is stumped. I chronically had a chick- Almuñecar, ill back at home near suffering lung disen which ease COPD and diabetes. I thought Despite this, the former m i g h t and aerobics instructor, nurse have been who has lived in Andalucia stopped for 20 years, was refused boarding but not her on easyJet flight back to the Spain sauce,” Lathey told Peri Peri after new coronavirus the Olive Press. demanded she must measures prove her “The officials said residency. tained onion puree, it con- “I have meaning been trying to get an apit contained processed veg pointment since December and was therefore to not al- start the process but it lowed over. possible,” Carole told was im“I said that that the Olive was ridicu- Press. “There lous as most of my were none availwould not be allowedshopping able anywhere.” in.”

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border THE town of La Linea de la Concepcion has been handed extra harsh coronavirus restrictions by the Junta de Andalucia. which municipality, The borders Gibraltar, has been placed into Level 4.2 of the region’s coronavirus tier system. The town is facing an unprecedented climb in the number of cases and was forced to order all non-essential business and trade to cease activity from midnight on Sunday. This includes shops, hotels, restaurants and bars - with the exception of essential businesses such as supermarkets or petrol stations. Experts made the decision along with regional president afJuanma Moreno on Friday inter the town’s cumulative cidence rate reached 1,247.9 cases per 100,000 people.

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All solutions are on page 22

But not everyone was unsympathetic to the plight of the Clarkes…

Have a heart

Just shocking

JUDGING by some of the online comments, many people are condemning this couple. Surely this is missing the bigger picture. In a case like this, humanitarian reasons should be taken into consideration. Frederick needs help and his wife is willing to give i. What should she not be allowed back into the country to help her loved one?. I am sure she wuld be happy to take PCR tests and maybe isolate in a hotel to ensure she was not infected?

IT is just shocking that Carole Clarke cannot get back to her husband. My partner is in the same situation, but luckily we are both in good health. I am in Alhaurin el Grande which is a little far to Almuñecar but if I can her husband in any way, maybe by getting a support group going that is more local to him, I will. Maybe people can help his shopping or something ? I hate to think he is struggling alone.

James Johnson, Castellon (Valencia)

Kerri Geddes , Alhaurin El Grande (Malaga)

Our front page story of a man having his groceries confiscated (Peri-less crossing, all editions) also proved a hot topic...

Try to understand

Stop remoaning!

A MAN is complaining that some of his merchandise was confiscated when he crossed the EU border from Gibraltar to buy groceries (Peri-less crossing, the Olive Press, all editions)? We have a pandemic with strong recommendations not to make any unnecessary travel and constantly changing rules. Why take the chance and travel anyway, in particular outside the EU? Millions of people all around the world have not had the possibility to meet their friends and family due to the pandemic. On top of that there’s Brexit. The UK is no longer in the EU. There are import rules no matter if you shop in Gibraltar or Afghanistan. It’s no longer business as usual but time to learn new habits. It’s sad that so many people have not understood this.

WITH regard to your front page article and Alex Trelinski’s Brexit article (Old and the new as Brexit bites, all editions), mean my wife are in our 70s and have lived in Spain for over 16 years, voting ‘out’ in the referendum. We have only been out of the EU for less than two weeks and already the remoaners (sorry remainers) are queuing up to tell us, ‘we told you it wouldn’t work’. The difference between the remoaners and the Brexiters is that the Brexiters knew that the EU would give Britain a hard time when we left ,and that we knew that Britain would have a hard time for three to four years before things started to get better. What the remoaners have got to realise is that it is not Britain which is stopping people at ferry ports and border crossings and saying you can not take these sandwiches or this bottle of sauce (Peri-less crossing the Olive Press all editions) into the EU but it is their beloved EU doing it. We would still vote out again if we had to.

Bo Edlén, Denia (Alicante)

Tony and Sue Wade, urb la Marina (Alicante)

ll about

Vol. 1 Issue 5

Good health

From mice to men A

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SPANISH vaccine has proven to be 100% effective against COVID-19 in mice. The jab, developed by virologists Mariano Esteban and Juan Garcia Arriaza at the National Centre for Biotechnology, will move on to human trials ‘within weeks’. The vaccine uses a variant of the virus that was used to eradicate smallpox, according to the results published in the Journal of Virology. It is being developed with Spanish biotech giant Biofabri, belonging to the Zendal group, with plans for clinical trials already in motion. Dubbed MVA-CoV-2, the jab uses the ‘Modified Ankara vaccinia’ virus (MVA) as a vehicle to transport a SARS-CoV-2 protein that manages to stimulate an immune system defense against the coronavirus, reported the Higher Council for Scientific Research. Biofabri is now waiting for the green light from the Spanish Medicines Agency to kickstart the first of two clinical human trials, which could start in a few weeks. “We have observed that the MVA-CoV-2 vaccine candidate generates a robust immune response with the production of neutralising antibodies and the activation of T lymphocytes in mice,” explained

COVID vaccine 100% effective in first tests with human trials poised to start

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January 28th - February 10th 2021

R-rated SCIENTISTS say that a 10% rise in mask wearing triples the chance of keeping the R number infection rate for COVID below one. Writing in Lancet Digital Health, researchers said that keeping the number below one means the pandemic is shrinking. The R rate shows the number of people infected by each carrier of the coronavirus. They studied 300,000 people in the USA to reach their conclusion.

App ‘n go AN app to prove people have been immunised against COVID is to be launched in the coming days. The Junta says that those who have been given two doses of the vaccine will be able to download the app, which will show a QR code. This will be able to be scanned so people can prove they have been vaccinated. This could be used to let them travel despite restrictions, for example.

Watch that chat

researcher Mariano Esteban. Arriaza said that the team has verified that the vaccine ‘creates 100% protection against SARS-CoV-2 in a humanised mouse susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is very important.’ In the Spanish vaccine, the MVA virus has been modified to replicate the complete S protein of SARS-CoV-2, which is the key that allows the coronavirus to enter human cells. It therefore introduces the immune system to the protein and teaches it how to recognise and eliminate it. According to the study, one or two doses of the vaccine protected 100% of the ‘humanised’ mice from COVID-19. Arriaza added, however, that two doses of the vaccine blocked replication of the coronavirus in the lungs. “These results demonstrate that the MVA vector-based COVID-19 vaccine produces robust immunity and complete efficacy in animal models, and supports its future application in clinical trials,” the researchers declared. Clinical phases I and II could begin in a few weeks before progressing to phase III. Tests will now also be carried out on hamsters and macaques.

DELIGHTED: Virologists Mariano Esteban and Juan Garcia Arriaza, developers of the vaccine

HAVING a 30-second chat without a facemask in a badly ventilated room could be worse than coughing for half a second when it comes to COVID infection. A study by the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London found that while coughing results in a large number of big droplets, speech produces finer particles. These then stay suspended in the air for longer – up to an hour. The report advises people to wear a mask to protect themselves and others, even if they are just talking and not coughing.

Good start AS Spain started the race to vaccinate its population against COVID, Andalucia was an early leader. In the first weeks of the vaccination programme one in four of Spain’s first tranche of injections was made in the region.

12 January 28th - February 10th 2021

Vaccine passport holders will be able to skip restrictions THE first so-called ‘vaccine passports’ will be handed out to residents in Andalucia ‘within days’, the Junta has announced. Spokesman Elias Bendodo told a press conference today that those who have received their second dose of the COVID-19 jab ‘will be able to prove it with a QR code.’ “The QR code will act as a certificate so they can prove it when taking a trip or any other activity that requires it,” Bendodo said. He added that Andalucia has so far administered 163,048 doses, more than 75% of the total number of vials sent to the region. “We will reach 80% between today and tomorrow,” Bendodo said, “And we will maintain a strategic reserve of 20%.” He added that the third wave of the virus ‘is the most aggressive we have suffered due to its explosive evolution.’ The QR code will be sent to the mobile or any other device of people who have received two jabs. It can also be printed as a paper

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Jab and go? valencia certificate for those who do not own a mobile or tablet. The Junta announced plans for a vaccine passport last year, vowing that those in possession of one would be able to skip certain restrictions. Junta president Juanma Moreno said on December 19 that the plan was to make events and travel safer in the future by knowing ‘who has been vaccinated and who has not’. “Of course no one will be forced to get the jab, but if someone is going to want to go to sporting or cultural events or travel, they will have to be vaccinated,” Moreno said at the time. It has not been confirmed when those who are first to receive their vaccine certificate will be permitted to travel or skip other restrictions.

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Milk matters Children who drink full-fat milk are less likely to be overweight than those given skimmed or semiskimmed. The findings were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and they found that children who drank whole milk had 40% lower odds of being overweight or obese compared with their peers who drank lower-fat varieties. It has been speculated that whole milk causes children to feel fuller, which reduces snacking. The research combined the results of 28 studies that were conducted across seven countries, which had explored the correlation between children drinking cows milk and the risk of being overweight.

FREE ASSESSMENT WEEK

The magnificent seven active ingredients of a southern Spanish lifestyle

TRADITIONALLY a time for detoxing and gruelling health regimens, those beginning the new year in Spain are luckier than most. The Mediterranean diet is frequently lauded by health experts but there are many more natural remedies on our doorstep that come with the territory. Check out these magnificent seven health benefits of a Valencian lifestyle.

1. Food glorious food Often dubbed the ‘market garden of Spain’, Andalucia abounds with fresh fish and seafood, veggies, fruit, grains and pulses but its olive oil may be the star of the show. The American Food and Drug Administration prescribes a daily dose of 1½ tablespoons to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

2. Europe’s best healthcare Analysis by Bloomberg recently revealed that Spain’s public health service is the best in Europe and third best globally. Taking into account efficiency, as well as cost, the analysis put Spain way ahead of the UK, just behind Singapore and Hong Kong.

3. A sporting chance Exercise can reduce your risk of major illnesses like cancer and heart disease by up to 50% and decrease the likelihood of an early death by 30%, according to the UK’s NHS. And in Andalucia, home of the outdoor lifestyle, you won’t need to go far for hiking, swimming, paddle tennis, football, golf and even horse riding.

Good health

13 January 28th - February 10th 2021

January 27th - February 9th 2021

5. Curative costas

4. 320 days of sunshine The Costa del Sol gets its name for a reason, and scientists have long linked catching some rays to prolonging life. Two Malaga doctors, Raul J. Andrade and Maribel Lucena, recently said that soaking up Vitamin D can stave off the risk of Multiple Sclerosis.

With over 1,000km of coastline, many Andalucians are hardwired to love the ocean - something scientists call the ‘blue mind’. Dr Thomas W. Ferkol is one of those who extols the sea’s benefits, claiming salt clears lungs and is antibacterial, while beach life can improve sleep patterns.

6. Red red wine Every year the benefits of a ‘small’ amount of red wine are proclaimed, it being proven that ‘vino tinto’ is packed full of antioxidants. Now the latest study by a Spanish research team, in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, also finds it can reduce tooth decay and gum disease.

7. Soothing siestas

It is one of Spain’s most enduring images, especially to foreign eyes, but a siesta can lower blood

pressure and is part of a natural sleep cycle. According to the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physi-

cians, it should be no longer than a 30-minute catnap taken on a sofa or chair.

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January 28th February 10th 2021

ll about

Good health

Into the abyss

T felt like being slotted into a sock, or the middle of a doughnut, and had it not been for the panic button I’d have fought my way out in a chispa. But as the MRI scanner whirred into life, I lifted my COVID mask up over my eyes and started to count my breaths and meditate. I was in for a 90-minute screening and once cocooned in my own darkness I soon forgot the constraints of the narrow tube I had been strapped into. I had chosen a full medical

Getting an MRI scan, while terrifying, gave JON CLARKE an intriguing indepth analysis of his health

check at Executive Health, in Marbella, overseen by leading heart scientist Dr Henrik Reinhard as a new year resolution to keep closer tabs on my health now I’m in my 50s. The annual screening package involves a detailed exam of the abdomen, pelvis and thorax, as well as a clinical evaluation of the heart and lungs and an analysis of blood, urine and stools. The MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine was the highlight, using a powerful magnetic field combined with specific radio frequencies to create detailed images of my internal body structures. Enabling Dr Henrik to take a close look at my bones, tissues and organs, he would be able to detect any abnormalities, such as cancerous growths, inflammation, infections and more. While the advancement of heart disease follows a more predictable pattern, requiring APPREHENSIVE: Jon gets prepared for the screening every scan

TREASURE: Elissa’s elixir of love WHEN it comes to love and passion during coronavirus lockdowns, it seems that women have needed a little help. Perhaps being in close proximity to loved ones for extended periods of time has proven to be a little bit too much of a good thing, and bedroom activities have gone a trifle stale. But not ones to take this state of affairs lying down, many British women have apparently turned to a ‘Viagra’ for ladies to keep them in the mood. The maker of Elle Sera, which was launched before the first coronavirus lockdown, says that sales have soared during the pandemic. Also known as the Empowerment Pill, it is not a medicine, but is sold as a ‘supplement’. Elissa Corrigan, the 35-year-old veteran of Bear Gryll’s reality show Treasure Island is behind the golden tablet. She claims that sales have grown 400% as woman want to ‘feel sexier and flirtier’. But this feeling comes at a price - a 30-day supply costs around €70.

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five years, cardiologist Henrik advises yearly screening for cancer. But the first test was actually managing to stay inside the MRI machine. “It’s true quite a few people can’t handle the claustrophobia,” admitted Henrik. “Particularly men, so you did well to fight it off.” Ordeal over, I stepped into his office for an immediate consultation, in which he reported he could see no obvious signs of disease. A few days later I was back to get the full results and see some, quite frankly, fascinating scans and images. While it looked like a haunted face from a ghost train (see above), my main chest and heart scan was apparently ‘pretty healthy’ and Henrik gave me a 3% chance of heart issues over the next decade, but based on current risk factors measured my lifetime as over 50%.

“That’s 10% higher than the average risk in in Western countries, but you can get that down pretty easily,” he explained, insisting it could get down as low as 8%. The best way to do this is with diet, cutting down meat to once a week and eating more ‘good fats’, which was basically fish and nuts, as well as a lot more vegetables, particularly kale, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower. While my blood and urine tests were normal and my kidney and liver function were fine, my blood sugar levels were elevated and I would have to bring them down to avoid developing diabetes. I also needed to lose a bit of weight, which was no surprise after the festive period, when I had put on nearly three kilos. Last, but not least, he spotted I had a small 2cm opening of a hernia in my left groin, which had indeed been giving me a little bit of grief over the last few months. But he said this could be improved by losing some weight and could easily get better on its own.

Great Dane The Danish doctor Henrik Reinhard, 45, and team spent two years researching the best place to open his Executive Health clinic with its MRI scanner and other high tech machines. Costing over €1m to buy and over €300,000 to install he needed to find the perfect location. “We tried and paid for “check up” at five clinics on the Costa del Sol and wasn’t exactly impressed with the results,” he explains. “I knew we could do a lot better.” In the end the father-of-three was able to rent a floor of the Helicopteros Sanitarios clinic in Puerto Banus, which ticked many boxes for its central location and large membership of potential clients. Going into partnership with a Swedish businessman, the clinic opened in aprhil 2017. And he and his wife Rikke have now more than settled on the Costa del Sol, having previously lived in Australia and Trondheim in north Norway, and are expecting 2021 to be a busy year. “We are working really hard to give the best possible service and finding the clients very receptive,” he adds. “In particular because with all the COVID issues I am sure that many Olive Press readers have not been getting their normal health checks at the local hospital. We can do the same and a lot more in a far safer environment.” Contact Executive Health at info@executivehealth.es or visit www.executivehealth.es

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SPECIAL OLIVE PRESS OFFER In a special new year’s deal for Olive Press readers, the Executive Health clinic is offering a full annual medical check up with 4 MRI scans for just just 895 €895, euros, or over or over half halfnormal the the normal price. price. The significant annual health check needs to be booked in in advance advanceand anddepends dependsononavailability. availability. Visit www.executivehealth.es for more details

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BUSINESS

Marina d’Or in trouble MARINA d’Or, the mega holiday complex on the coast of Castellon’s Oropesa del Mar, will not be reopened according to plan. Initially scheduled to open its doors again in February, the resort will not welcome visitors until at least April – COVID permitting. The delay is just the latest in a series of severe problems faced by Marina d’Or in recent months, with the pandemic forcing managers to reorganise the company to guarantee its survival. The most drastic measure has been the sale of its bank debt to a consortium of investors led by US-based fund Farallon Capital Management. The company’s most recent public audit in 2018 revealed a deficit of €111 million, a figure that is undoubtedly much higher now. The sale is expected to grant Hoteles Marina d’Or sufficient liquidity to overcome its most immediate threats, among them the

tourism crisis caused by the coronavirus. In addition, an external management company has been brought in to help refloat the venture. Specialised in ‘hotel recovery’, the firm has successfully rescued other ailing establishments throughout Spain, including the Hotel Juan Carlos I in Barcelona and the Denia Marriott La Sella resort in Denia (Alicante). Plans are also on the table to invest an extra €10 million in the Castellon complex to renew and improve the installations. All things considered, and following a stabilisation process of two to three years, the market value of Hoteles Marina d’Or is expected to shoot up to around €200 million. The famous seafront complex in Oropesa del Mar features five, four and three-star hotels, holiday apartments, eight amusement parks, swimming pools, a wellness centre, restaurants and a hospital.

SPECTACULAR: Marina d’Or holiday complex is struggling to survive

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January 28th - February 10th 2021

Bailed out THE Valencian regional government has announced a €340 million bailout plan for small businesses and self-employed workers to help mitigate the disastrous economic effects of COVID-19. President Ximo Puig unveiled the Plan Resiste aimed at saving those sectors that have been most affected by coronavirus restrictions. These range from grants to low cost loans. The aid plan was reportedly drawn up and agreed by the Generalitat, trade unions and the employers’ board, and is expected to benefit 21,000 companies and 43,000 Valencian self-employed workers.The financial support will target four sectors that have suffered the most due to the mobility restrictions enforced

I N T E R N AT I O N A L Airlines Group (IAG) - owners of BA and Iberia - has agreed a takeover of struggling budget rival Air Europa. IAG completed the long awaited agreement in what has been a long, drawn out process thanks to the

Valencian government announces €340 million aid package for selfemployed workers and businesses

HANDOUT: Puig announced the aid for the self employed ators and reservation services By Glenn Wickman - nightlife and artistic activities such as live music and by the authorities as a result theatre. of COVID. Official figures show that These include hotels and these trades account for 30% restaurants, tourism – tourist of the total loss of income due lets, travel agents, tour oper- to the pandemic and 59% of job losses in the Valencian Community. Up to €280 million will come from the EU rescue funds, as the Valencia region is entitled COVID-19 pandemic. to receive €1.2 billion of the The worldwide critotal €8 billion assigned to sis also cut the askSpain. ing price for Spain’s Possibly the most significant third largest airline by – and vital – part of the aid half, with the contract package involves €8 million being signed for just in direct grants for autono€500 million, half the mos whose employment original asking price. ceased completely or whose income was drastically reduced.

Air raising

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WHEN it comes to finding the best place to live, look no further than Valencia. The city pipped iconic cities including London, New York and Paris in a list of 66 global cities rated as offering the best lifestyle. As well as coming top overall, it ranked as best for quality of life and for cost of living. It also came in third for finance and housing, fourth for

Plaudits keep coming for Valencia

getting settled, and achieved a 92% happiness level from expats. While Alicante came second and Malaga and Madrid also made the top 10, expat residents in Valencia said it was also great for socialising, finding new friends and health. “Health and culture are great

in Spain,” the boss of InterNations, Malte Zeeck, who conducted the study told the Olive Press. “However, it has always been difficult regarding employment,” he added. “Spain’s performance was really exceptional this year and out of the five Spanish cities in the ranking, four have made it into the top 10, which is very impressive,” he said. “Expats love the wonderful climate in Spain and find it fairly easy to get settled in. They are also happy with the cost of living,” Zeeck continued. “Last but certainly not least, expats report very high happiness levels in all five Spanish cities, which I think says a lot about the country.” Notably, it was only Barcelona that has not scored a spot in the top 10 list. However, the city still ranked 25th in a list of 66 locations. In second place, Alicante has proven a retirees paradise, with 81% of expats happy with their financial situation and ability to get settled in their new home. Over 15,000 expats participated in the survey.

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PROPERTY

Hot property THE first week of 2021 has seen the number of Brits hunting for second homes in Spain rocket by nearly 40%. Despite Britain leaving the European Union at the beginning of the year, families in the UK are scrambling to set up home in Spain, with properties in Alicante, Mallorca and Costa Blanca selling particularly well. According to real estate company Taylor Wimpey Espana, the number of people from the UK looking to buy in Spain has risen by 39%.

Interest

Av. Regne de València 15-3, 46005 València (España)

But it’s not just Brits looking to make the move, the realtors also noted a rise in interest of 55% from Germans and 44% from families in Belgium. Also on the rise is the number of would-be expats willing to purchase homes without even stepping a foot inside as virtual tours fast become the norm. Marc Pritchard, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Espana, said: 'Unfortunately, both the UK and Germany are in lockdown right now, while Spain, France and a whole host of other countries have extensive restrictions in place. 'But that doesn't mean that would-be buyers aren't dreaming of owning a home in the sunshine. The appeal of Spain's golf courses and expansive beaches is only emphasised by stay-at-home orders. 'Families are itching to return to normality with a new found zeal for travel and leisure time.'

January 28th February 10th 2021

Permission to buy, Sir! Expats may have to ask military for go-ahead to purchase By Alex Trelinski

ISSUE: Jesualdo Ros wants action

BREXIT will make some property purchases more complicated for British people in some parts Spain due to an old law dating back to the days of the dictator, General Franco. The Provincial Association of Promoters(Provia) claims that around 800 home sales in the southern part of the

Good value ONLINE property portal Hogaria, which lists more than 1.5 million properties across Spain, has launched an automated valuation tool or owners looking to sell their homes or buyers wanting to check the value of their target purchase. Struggling with coronavirus restrictions on movement that have slashed footfall and left properties vacant for months, more Spanish real estate firms have moved online with virtual visits or e-signatures to draw in clients. Hogaria chief executive Francisco Loriente said: “Now more than ever, the real estate sector needs greater digitalisation to avoid unnecessary movement,” He added that the tool was designed before the pandemic, but the roll-out had been accelerated.

SPAIN’S home ownership figures are likely to fall as young people turn to renting, according to a major developer. With young people increasingly unable to save enough to make down-payments on homes, a trend toward increased home rentals may accelerate, according to David Martinez, chief executive officer of Aedas Homes. Aedas this month signed a deal with two developers to build 655 apartments for the Spanish rental market. That’s part of the firm’s view that a generational change is underway in housing that will see Spain slowly pivoting closer to the situation in Germany where only about half of people

Costa Blanca region could be delayed each year due to the legislation. The same regulations apply all across Spain, but it is unknown exactly how many properties could be affected. Provia’s general secretary, Jesualdo Ros, said: “There is a 1975 Francoist law that forces non-EU citizens to apply to the Ministry of Defence for permission to buy property in areas that have been classified as being of strategic interest for the defence of the country.” The law decrees that non-EU nationals have to obtain ‘military authorisation’ if they plan to buy a home close to restricted areas, before a deed is granted or registered. The obligation applies in Alicante Province to property purchases in parts of Orihuela, Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada, and San Miguel de Salinas. Technically it means that nonEU buyers would have to get their hands on documentation that was required to be filled-in over 40 years ago and wait for up to six months for the Ministry of Defence to grant a permit.

Brexit

Switch to rent own their own homes. At 76%, Spain has the highest ratio of home-ownership in Western Europe after Malta. In an interview with Bloomberg News, David Martinez said: No one can question that there’s a generation of young Spaniards who don’t have access to housing. The pandemic has accelerated that shift toward a German model.” Martinez said that Aedas expects to announce similar rental apartment agreements by the end of March. Rental prices fell 7.3% in Madrid last year, the first decline for the city since 2014, and 9.4% in Barcelona, according to property website, Idealista. Aedas’s competitors are also entering the rental sector. Neinor Homes in September bought a 75% stake in Renta Garantizada, a rental management platform with 2,500 units under management. Banks have also begun to tighten credit for developers, according to David Martinez. “The cost of credit has gone up and lenders are also now insisting on 50% of homes in a project are sold before construction commences compared with 30% before the pandemic, he commented.

Jesualdo Ros said: “This has always been an issue, but with Brexit, it becomes a bigger problem, since it will also affect British customers and permit requests are going to increase six-fold.” Provia estimates that British buyers account for around 80% of purchases in the designated areas that need a permit. Based on 2019 sales figures, they project that around 800 sales will be delayed each year. Promoters have spent years lobbying different Madrid governments to remove the permit obligation which was tagged onto the new Spanish Constitution created after Franco’s death in 1975. Alternatives proposed have included making a straight-forward declaration from a home purchaser. “There are many easy and modern ways of military authorities getting full details on a house buyer,” said Jesauldo Ros. “Details supplied to a public notary and a mortgage lender should be sufficient to ensure that everything is above board and that money laundering is not happeni n g , for example.”

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

January 28th - February 10th 2021

Seeds of the future

Bleaching heck!

MERCADONA has launched a disinfectant for fruit and vegetables. The product is sold under the supermarket giant’s Bosque Verde cleaning brand and promises a ‘thorough’ cleaning of food products. Costing €2 per 500ml bottle, users add three caps of the product to one litre of water and submerge their fruit and veg, without peeling, for five minutes - or 15 for a ‘thorough’ cleaning. They must then rinse them with ‘plenty of water’ before consuming. The product is made by the SPB Global Corporation, based in Valencia.

HE is Spain’s definite Chef of the Sea, an off-the-wall maverick, more than worthy of his three Michelin stars. But now Angel Leon of Cadiz’s revolutionary Aponiente believes he has found a global food breakthrough that could be a game-changer for sustainability. His super-food ‘Zoster’ has just been approved by the UN as an official grain.

Tourist pains SPAIN’S tourism sector lost €106 billion last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Exceltur trade organisation’s annual report the worst-hit holiday area was Barcelona, which saw tourist-related business slashed by 90.9%. It was followed by the Costa Dorada on 83% and the Costa del Sol with a 79.7% fall. The Costa Blanca came fourth in the country’s largest falls in tourist sales with a 76.6% drop. The Exceltur report says direct and indirect tourist revenue collapsed by €106 billion in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The sector has seen 293,000 people lose their jobs permanently with 435,000 others on the ERTE furlough scheme. While unemployment figures have risen in Spain by 2.5%, the figure leaps to 38% in the tourist sector.

YUM!: Apparently edible

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Let it snow!

THE record-breaking snow and sub-zero temperatures brought by Storm Filomena are set to do wonders for wine growers across Spain. The accumulation of snow has helped vineyards from Granada to Madrid and Rioja build up their water reserves, making them less likely to dry out in the crippling summer heat. And because the snow falls softly and is less abrasive than rain, there is little to no soil erosion or damage to the vine.

Culinary genius gets his underwater ‘superfood’ approved by the UN

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation has given him carte-blanche to develop it and will promote it in turn. Better known as eelgrass, it is not only healthy but it is extremely good for the environment. As well as providing a home to numerous species of marine creatures, seagrass

meadows absorb CO2 up to 35 times more efficiently than rainforests do. The cultivation of eelgrass could also help to regenerate degraded coastlines – of which there are many in Andalucia and around Europe. He believes the creation is the ‘most important of his career’. “The possibilities are endless,” he told Sur. “If resources are put into this discovery, we can possibly cultivate other products under the sea.” He has spent years working with the straggly grass as he scoured the seabed for potential new ingredients. But he did not know it was edible until he came across a Science article from 1973 documenting the diet of the Seri, hunter-gathers from Mexico, who had created a paste out of the grain and ate it with honey. “You can do anything with it that can be done with rice, from eating it whole

Vines

CHEF: Angel Leon

grain or refined, to making flour and pasta. It takes two minutes longer to cook than normal rice,” he explained.

Sowing seeds

Small and dark in appearance, the eelgrass seed is said to taste like a cross between rice and quinoa, boasts high levels of fibre and omega-3 fats, and is gluten-free. Of the some 22,000kg of eelgrass seeds that he is due to harvest this year, 19,000kg will go towards creating more farms as Leon once again sets his sights on sowing the seeds of future dining – quite literally, on this occasion.

Freezing temperatures can also kill off disease-causing parasites which tend to hide in the bark of the vines during winter, waiting for the heat to strike. The benefits of snow has long been known to wine growers, hence the popular Spanish phrase ‘Año de nieves, año de bienes’, which roughly translates as ‘A year of snow is a year of prosperity’. It’s good news for the likes of Castilla La Mancha, the largest wine growing region, which suffered a drought last year. Pelayo de la Mata, Marqués de Vargas and president of the homonymous wineries, said snow helps ‘preserve a good sanitary state of the vine’.

Dear Jennifer:

So what’s changed? FOR years now, we have heard the word Brexit mentioned many, many times. Often, when I spoke to people about Brexit and the possible changes that would occur as a consequence, I just usually got a shrug or ‘what do you think is going to change – after all, we are British and Spain needs us’ but at the end of the day, we are now classed as immigrants. That of course, is true, but as we can see, there are already changes. Firstly, there is the TIE. If you are a resident, and have the green residencia document or card, it is just a case of changing over. If you are not a resident, and plan to stay, you need to start this process if you haven’t already. This will require a Padron, proof of income and healthcare. For those with UK registered vehicles, they will need to be changed to Spanish plates if you are here for more than 90 days, as will your driving licence. There is no alternat i v e if you wish t o continu e liv-

Taking a look at some of the new rules after Brexit ing in Spain. The Spanish government is now in talks with the UK and there may be some changes at some point, as separate agreements are made, which will include, hopefully an alternative to the EHIC card. But as there is very limited travelling at the moment, due to the COVID situation throughout the world, there is no immediate necessity for this.

Vaccine

My world, like everyone’s has become smaller and very frustrating and I just hope quantities of the vaccine will soon be available to take one factor away, which of course, is fear. I try not to become a recluse, as I so enjoy going out for meals, and looking at the sea, and chatting, but all the time, you are just keeping your fingers crossed, but this has now stopped. I do, however, feel safer in Spain as they seem to be far stricter on mixing and especially the wearing of masks. I do not understand, with such a high death rate in the UK, why mask wearing is not mandatory at all times, like here. As I am convinced it does help and anything that helps, must be beneficial.

For help, advice and information, please contact one of my offices or visit my website www.jennifercunningham.net

January 28th - February 10th 2021

Spain is famous for its cornucopia of home-grown produce but you won’t find all its exotic offerings down at your local supermarket. Charlie Smith samples some of the more surprising specialities in its culinary larder Percebes DANGEROUS DELICACY

Found clinging to the cliffs of Galicia, this tiny delicacy known beyond Spain as the gooseneck barnacle - is highly dangerous to harvest. The percebeiros of Galicia risk their lives plucking these revered crustaceans f r o m their habitat, making it one of the most expensive forms of seafood around. One kilo can fetch over €200. Compared to sweet clams and lobster, the edible part is contained in a black sleeve, capped by a spiky shell resembling a dinosaur claw. The soft pink flesh is boiled in seawater and traditionally served with a simple aioli dressing.

Angulas SLIPPERY SPECIALITY Known as ‘glass eels’, these slippery customers can cost more than €1,000 per kilo. They traditionally appear on Spanish menus on Christmas and New Years Eve and the Day of San Sebastian on January 20. In the original recipe from Bilbao (angulas a la bilbaína) the eels are fried in garlic and chilli until crunchy. Their journey starts when mature 10-year-old eels swim from European rivers to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and die. The hatchlings then drift towards Europe on the Gulf Stream where fisherman on Spain’s Atlantic Coast wait with nets. Though legal in Europe, angulas are so popular in Asia that illegal trade in them bagged one Spanish gang over €37 million.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Something special, sir? Organic caviar - WORLD FIRST

Black truffles BLACK GOLD Spain is one of the world’s largest exporters of truffles, and the expensive subterranean fungus is readily found in the mountainous east of the country. These so-called black diamonds are notoriously difficult to find and fetch up to €600 per kilo on international markets where truffles are prized for their delicate but instantly recognisable flavour. Truffle season is February to March and the provinces of Huesca, Teruel, Soria and Castellón are particularly known for the delicacy. The truffles are sniffed out by trained dogs that can detect their aroma at 50m away, even when buried 50cm deep.

The tiny village of Riofrio in Granada province hit the headlines way back in 1960 for producing the world’s first organic caviar. And celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey is one of many fans. The sturgeon are farmed in crystal clear spring waters from the mountains and have European-cer-

tified organic production. But what is most unique about Riofrio’s black gold is the time it takes to produce. Patient farmers allow 16 years for the female sturgeon to grow naturally to double the length of other caviar-producing sturgeon on the market

Ethical foie gras - WORLD FIRST Controversially, the production of foie gras uses the inhumane ‘gavage’ system, where geese are force-fed corn through a tube. But Extremadura company Sousa & Labourdette have taken the cruelty out of the process to become world leaders in the production of ethical foie gras. Run by farmer Eduardo Sousa and bird expert Diego Labourdette, the pair allow their se to feast naturally and - most crucially whole year to proworld-renowned appears on the has even been serby chef Dan Barber.

European greylag geeon wild grass, seeds - acorns, waiting a duce a batch of their product. Their caviar world’s top tables and ved to Barack Obama

Orange and cannabis wines RIOJA RIVALS Andalucia’s urban orange trees are not just for decoration and marmalade. The bitter fruit are also in big demand for flavouring vino de naranja - and there are regional differences. Those from Sevilla should be sipped like a fine whiskey. Producers there use an oloroso sherry base, made from Garrido Fino and Pedro Ximenez grapes, and age the wine for between five and seven years. Huelva and Málaga use the solera system where white wine is flavoured slowly. The orange peel is dried and then macerated in the alcohol. The Málaga version is almost clear while Huelva’s is a richer brown shade. If cannabis is more your thing, Andalusian winery Pisando Fuerte has a weed wine that will have you in high spirits. It is the first red wine steeped with cannabis, which is actually classed as hemp due to its low THC content, at the legal maximum of 0.2 per c e n t . Rafael Hoyos is the brains behind this this smoking hot vino, which combines Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes with cannabis leaves. The company has just launched the first 500 bottles of their ganja-grape concoction.

January 28th - February 10th 2021 Gamoneu cheese - SPAIN’S STINKIEST Gamoneu, named after the Asturian town where it is made, is a fatty cheese made with cow, goat and sheep milk. It can take up to five months to mature in caves where it grows slightly mouldy, gaining a blue tint round the edge. It has a light smokey flavour, a thin rind and will set shoppers with fat wallets back a whopping €35 per kilo. The cheese is DPO-protected and has a reputation for being Spain’s stinkiest, only thought to be the second most pungent worldwide after Italy’s Casu Marzu ‘maggot cheese’.

Lampreys - ROYAL CONNECTIONS Lampreys, better known by the bloodthirsty nickname ‘vampire fish’, have lurked in the rivers of Galicia for over 500 million years. They have eel-shaped bodies and gruesome circular rings of teeth adapted for feasting on the blood of larger fish by sucking them dry. Don’t be put off though, as they have a delicious flavour, especially when cooked in red wine. In Arbo, Pontevedra, near the Portuguese border, there is a food festival at the end of April dedicated to these prehistoric monsters. They were the favourite food of King Henry I of England who reportedly died from ‘a surfeit of lampreys’ but it was probably food poisoning. Málaga mangos EUROPE’S BEST

Saffron - WORLD BEST Saffron de la Mancha has its own Protected Designation of Origin (DPO) - the only spice in Spain with this national quality guarantee. One of the most exclusive spices in the world, saffron was introduced in La Mancha during the Caliphate of Cordoba. Every saffron flower produces very little of the sought-after golden powder and it is harvested by only experienced pickers. It takes 25,000 flowers to produce 500 grams and Spanish saffron is renowned for its quality, which explains how one kilo can cost €3,000.

Axarquía is home to more than 4,000 hectares of mango-growing land. Producing between 10,000 and 30, 000 tonnes annually, the area east of Málaga grows more mangos than avocados - another of its staple exports. The exotic fruit originally came from Southeast Asia, but was introduced to Andalucia in the 1980s. Now Spain leads European commercial mango production, also having sites in the Canary Islands. Sicily is the only other serious European player in the mango game.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

A land of bears and bagpipes

Author David Baird explores the hidden charms and traditional trades of Asturias, one of Spain’s least known regions

NORTHERN: Asturias is on the Atlantic coast of Spain modern touch — live electric wires. One of the best spots to view bears, especially in spring and autumn, is the Ibias river valley between Cangas del Narcea and Degaña. To reach it, you journey up the Narcea valley and through a long tunnel beneath the 1100-metre-high Puerto del Rañadoiro. From here take a trip to the last of the ‘cunqueiros’ (makers of wooden bowls). The road spirals up over another pass, the Alto del Campillo, to reach the remote hamlet of Tablado. Only 10 of the 52 houses are occupied. Firmly in place, however, are the García family, employing ageold methods to carve utensils from ash, birch and chestnut. Vitorino and his 20-year-old son Victor turn out such items as cachos del vino (wine bowls), barbeiras (for shaving) and cibreiras (for keeping food warm). Little has changed here; they continue using the traditional tools and a foot-operated lathe. But wait a moment — these days you can find them on the Internet. In the past the women of the four villages of this valley saw their menfolk for only three months of the year. During the other months the ‘cunqueiros’ were selling their wares across Spain. They trekked across the peninsula carrying their possessions on mules, setting up portable

lathes to produce wooden products to order. They had their own dialect and jargon making their conversation unintelligible to other Spaniards. The last of these itinerant workers died in 1985. Other crafts survive too near Cangas. Although the hamlet of Llamas del Mouro, high on a hillside, appears to slumber, the Rodríguez Suárez family, Manuel, daughter Veronica and his brother Marcelino, are usually busy in their workshop. The last of a long line of ‘alfareros’ (once Asturias had more than 150), they turn out a variety of utensils, bowls, wine jars and stew pots. They are much in demand, both for their quality and their distinctive black colour. The secret is in the cooking. The pieces are packed into a wood-fired oven, where they are baked for around 15 hours at up to 800 degrees. Smoke is trapped inside the oven, penetrating the clay and turning it black and extra resistant. Just down the hillside, at Pambley, more artisans are at work. Raul Martínez and his father chisel skilfully away, producing a variety of wooden products. Probably their biggest sellers are the ‘madreñas’, clogs carved from birch wood. “We make about 800 pairs a year and 90% are for actual use rather than ornament,” says Raul.

But my most recent journey to Asturias, one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions, took me to the less-visited southwest corner. The only town of any size, Cangas del Narcea, squeezed into a valley at the junction of the Narcea and Luiña rivers, is strategically placed to explore the 600-square-kilometre nature park of Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias. Coal-mining brought a brief surge of prosperity to Cangas, but that HISTORY AND NATURE: Asturias is a land of verdant industry is declining. These days the area empha- hillsides, vast forests and many ancient traditions sises its ecological resources, its hearty wine and the survival yed a big part in saving the bear still come across people speaking Asturian, formerly known as of ancient crafts. But first let’s and other endangered species. It rescues wounded animals, Bable. check out those bears. Optional in schools, it has its Only 30 years ago it seemed runs environmental education programmes and own Academy of the Asturian that the days of organises vo- Language. Difficulty of access the brown bear lunteer workers, has helped preserve the languawere numbered. Quench your planting such ge and local traditions — and also The 100 or so survivors in thirst with cider trees as elder, Spain’s largest oak forest. walnut and cheThis lies within the Muniellos Spain were a target for poachers, and hear another rry in bear habi- Biosphere Reserve. Only 20 trophy-hunters language known tats. Today more visitors a day are allowed to enthan an estima- ter the reserve, dense with ash, and farmers deted 200 bears birch, maple and willows. A path termined to proas Bable roam the Canta- winds by tumbling waters and up tect their lambs. brian mountains. to a series of lagoons, passing In other parts of Unlike the grizzly, ancient oak and chestnut trees, Europe, the bear had long disappeared. Even after the brown bear is not aggressive. some with massive trunks. This Although it can weigh up to is the habitat of wolves, deer, being declared a protected species in 1973, it was under threat 200 kilos, it usually beats a re- ibex, wild boar and more than in Spain. However, tougher con- treat on sighting humans. The 100 bird species, including the trols, heavy fines and a growing only time it can turn nasty is if comparatively rare capercaillie, emphasis on ecological values a mother thinks her cubs are or wood grouse (about 400 are have changed the situation. Na- threatened. Local guide Chema reckoned to survive). As bee-keeture conservation organisation Diaz, who specialises in nature ping is permitted within the natuFapas, founded in 1982, has pla- tourism, notes: “Attitudes have re park, you often come across changed dramatically. Until the groups of hives. 1970s there was a lot of Older ones are carved from poaching. Miners would chestnut tree trunks. go hunting in their free They need special protection time. Now there is as bears will smash open hives much more awareness to satisfy their hunger for honey. of the value of our natuThus, hives are usually shielral resources.” Chema ded by high stone walls, plus — a PROTECTION: Bee hives needed shielding from bears guides visitors through parts of the Fuentes del Narcea park, a sparsely populated area with nearby peaks that soar to 2,000 metres. Quick Crossword It is common for snowfalls to cut villages Across: 1 Blooms, 4 Scour, 8 Attack, 9 Erased, 10 Reagan, off from the outside 11 Sifted, 12 Gut, 13 Those, 15 Posse, 17 Hub, 19 Presto, world. “One old fellow 21 Rise up, 23 Shoals, 24 Credit, 25 My God, 26 Aspens. who lived to 107 recalled that he had only left Down: 1 Bathe, 2 Oranges, 3 Making, 5 Chaff, 6 Useless, his village twice in his 7 Beast, 14 Harshly, 16 Obscene, 17 Hoist, 18 Bricks, 20 whole life,” said Chema. SE A T O, 22 Units. POACHING: Trophy-hunting led to the near-extinction of bears In these valleys you may

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hen temperatures soar in August and visitors by the thousand crowd the beaches of the Mediterranean, it’s good to remember that there is another — very different — Spain. This Spain is a land of remote valleys and vast forests, of secluded bays and mist-shrouded peaks, of fast-flowing trout streams and ancient crafts. A land that is green. This is Asturias. Head directly north and you find it, fringing the Bay of Biscay. But first you have to scale some mighty mountains — in fact, the Visigoths were so impressed by that barrier that more than a thousand years ago they declared the region was ‘walled in by the hand of God’. Don’t look for flamenco, toros and paella here, all those stereotypes employed to sell Spain to the tourist. Instead you can hear the skirl of bagpipes, quench your thirst with cider and hear another language, known as Bable. If you are a hiker, a fisherman, a bird-watcher or any sort of nature-lover, this is the place for you. It’s a land where wolves still prowl — and also the brown bear. Indeed, you may be lucky enough to sight bears within hiking distance of the city of Oviedo. Climbers head for the spectacular, saw-tooth summits of the Picos de Europa and surfers love the numerous beaches.

January 28th - February 10th 2021

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es A SPANISH city is leading the way in trying to persuade people to switch to solar energy by offering swingeing tax cuts. Homeowners across the country will be looking at the scheme with interest, hoping that their regions follow suit. Valencia city has decided to offer people whose properties generate electricity a 50% discount on their IBI property tax. The deal has been announced by mayor Joan Ribo as part of a new packet of tax measures aimed at encouraging reliance on renewable energy sources. Ribo revealed that an estimated 90% of households in the regional capital will be eligible for the tax cut, applicable for a maximum of 10 years. In addition, property owners who fit the panels will also be able to apply for grants covering 95% of the so-called ‘Icio’ tax, payable upon installing

Shine on me Switching to green energy could save homeowners half their IBI over 10 years By Glenn Wickman

solar power systems. The council leader explained that these changes to the municipal income laws are part of a wider series of new policies aimed at fighting climate change. Ribo also recalled that in 2009, Valencia joined an international alliance of cities against the climate emergency, with a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40%, increase energy efficiency by 27%, and promote the

Hunt’s over

production of energy from 100% renewable sources until at least 27% of the total power used by the city or town, by the year 2030. Accompanying the mayor was local Finance councillor Borja Sanjuan, who explained that,

if the IBI reduction scheme goes according to plan, the town hall will raise an estimated €5.5 million less in taxes over the next 10 years. Sanjuan did not clarify how that missing income would be recovered.

January 28th - February 10th 2021

Going solar IKEA is launching an all-in-one solar panel service in its Spanish stores. The Swedish home decor giant has teamed up with Contigo Energia to offer what it calls a ‘turnkey solution’ for solar home energy. Contigo Energia will be responsible for the installation and management of the systems, which are expected to start from just over €4,000. Launched this Spring, the product ‘Home Solar’ is already sold in nine other countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands. “We want to make clean energy available to many people,” said a spokesman. “To have a real impact we know we need to make our offer affordable, and combine it with an attractive financial offer. “Our home solar solution is designed to do just that. It includes solar panels to be fitted on the roof, and an easy control system that monitors production. “It’s a cost-efficient solution that allows as many people as possible to generate their own power, reduce carbon emission – and save money at the same time.”

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THE Ministry for the Ecological Transition has proposed to increase protection of the Iberian wolf, meaning it would be illegal to hunt the animal except under exceptional circumstances. The move has been lauded by Ecologistas en Accion and other wildlife organisations, though cattle farmers and the governments of the autonomous wolf communities are less enthused. Some 2500 specimens inhabit the Iberian peninsula, spread mostly across the northwest of Spain. Currently, the Iberian wolf is the only species of wolf that it is legal to hunt, yet only in Spain.

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SPANISH superstar Rosalia has teamed up with American sensation Billie Eilish to produce a haunting yet melodic number called Lo Vas a Olvidar? - or Can You Let it Go?, as they translate it.

Spotless streets A VIRAL video of a robot vacuum that escaped from a shop in Barcelona and began hoovering the pavement has got people wondering whether they have just witnessed the future of street sweeping.

Beer talk CRUZCAMPO has used AI to resurrect the voice and features of legendary Spanish singer Lola Flores for its latest, controversial advertising campaign.

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VALENCIA / COSTA AZAHAR FREE Vol. 1 Issue 5 www.theolivepress.es January 28th - February 10th 2021

Back from dead A GRIEVING husband who had been told his 85-yearold wife had died of COVID had the shock of his life when she turned up at his care home 10 days later. Rogelia Blanco had been taken to hospital from the

Spanish woman who ‘died’ of COVID returns 10 days later San Bartolomeu de Xove care home in northern Spain on December 29 after testing positive for the

virus. Her family was not allowed to visit her because of coronavirus restrictions. They

The Great Wall of CASTELLON A MAN from Vilafranca (Castellon) is building a replica of the Great Wall of China around his home, entirely by hand, in his spare time. Work began 20 years ago, and the wall currently measures two kilometres long by up to 2.5 metres high at some points. Francisco Javier Deusdad Ros, 49, explains that the idea for this highly ambitious and spectacular project stems from his love for a primitive construction method known as

Photos by Javier Ortí

Reuse Reduce Recycle

Coca-dillo

ROCK STAR: Fruit of Ros’s labour pedra en sec (dry stone), invented by farmers in medieval times and which forgoes the use of cement or mortar, fitting the individual stones together like a jigsaw puzzle.

were told that she died on January 13 and been quickly buried with none of the family in attendance. Husband Ramon - who lives in the same care home – was distraught, telling La Voz de Galicia newspaper: “I could not believe it. I was crying after the death of my wife.” But after 10 days of grieving Rogelia turned up. While for her family shock turned to joy, the opposite was the case for her roommate. An identification mix-up meant that the unnamed woman’s family had been told she was alive. Her brother said: “They told me she was cured, I traveled to see her and when I arrived I found out that she had been dead for 10 days.” Now a court will have to annul the death certificate for Rogelia – until that is done she is officially dead.

POLICE in Spain have discovered a brick of cocaine hidden inside a sandwich in northern Spain. At least one arrest was made in Lugo, Galicia, after officers opened up the jamon bocadillo to discover 300g of the drug. “Hey, you have a bit of sandwich in your drugs,” Policia Nacional jokingly tweeted alongside a video of the find. “This sandwich had more than just flour in the bread. “It was carrying 300g of cocaine hidden inside. Arrested in Lugo.” The suspect has been charged with drug trafficking.

Moodunnit? LA Linea council is searching for the owner of a cow that wandered over the Higueron motorway on January 18, causing an accident in which a vehicle was damaged and the animal lost its life.