Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 204

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“I think the threats scared them a little,” he said.

According to sources, the couple had also recently re-

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OLYMPIC gold medal winner James Cracknell has vowed to become a new hero for the Rock.

Rower Cracknell - who is standing as a candidate for the MEP elections in May 2014 - told the Olive Press he would ‘fight the corner’ of Gibraltarians in their current dispute with Spain.

He insisted he would campaign on their behalf in Brussels, and would ‘not take no’ for an answer.

Cracknell - who was burgled last week while receiving treatment for a brain condition in a London hospital - added he was buoyed by Gibraltar’s sense of community and passion for politics.

firmed they had recently received threats from the owner of a valuable table and chairs, ‘worth tens of thousands, but sold for just 600 euros’.

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The fire broke out in the early Bennie months the comhours of Friday morning at In recent been the subject of the Atena Commercial Cen- pany had by some customtre, completely destroying the complaints were unhappy with showroom, as exclusive Olive ers who they had received, the service Press photos show. contacting the As firefighters struggled to with several control the massive blaze, Olive Press. of the couple conthe area was cordoned off as A friend

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Vol. 9 Issue 204 www.theolivepress.es

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January 8th - January 21st 2015

The good, the bad and the ugly of 2014 See our round-up of the year, starting on Page 15

MISSING: Amy and Agnese MISSING Amy Fitzpatrick’s family have joined the campaign to find a second missing Costa girl, Agnese Klavina.

Amy’s aunt Christine Kenny offered her support to Agnese’s family to mark Amy’s disappearance on New Year’s Day 2007.

Meanwhile Agnese, 30, has not been seen since leaving a Marbella nightclub last September. Kenny said: “Agnese went missing not too far from where Amy did.

“We are trying to help each other.

“There are said to be eight other women who have gone missing on the Costa del Sol since 2005 and too little is being done to help find them.”

More than 80 expats, including Amy’s mother Audrey Fitzpatrick and partner Dave Mahon - who is currently on bail for murdering Amy’s brother Dean - also attended a service in Fuengirola.

On Monday, the body of a young woman was rumoured to have been found by police in Istan lake.

However, Guardia Civil told the Olive Press yesterday that no such find has been made.

Turn to Page 2

Chateau Putin EXCLUSIVE

By Tom Powell

HE is one of the richest, most controversial men in the world and – it seems – somewhat the wine buff.

Russian president Vladimir Putin is planting his very own vineyard at the multimillion euro home he is developing in the hills above Marbella, it can be revealed.

Olive Press sources insist that the Russian gourmet, 62, has dug 25 plants from Spain’s top bodega Pingus into a series of terraces around the mansion, in Benahavis.

In a huge mega-deal he has also contracted the vineyard’s owner Danish oenologist Peter Sisseck to oversee production of the wine.

The wine will be produced in two huge underground cel-

Three wine cellars and a crop of Spain’s most-exclusive Pingus vines for Russian president’s luxury Marbella hideaway

lars at the 10-bedroom palace in the exclusive enclave of Zagaleta - complete with private helipad and 22-car garage.

A series of French oak barrels will store the wine.

The climatised cellars cost an estimated €1 million to install and also include a separate champagne room with its very own fingerprint code entry system.

“It is an amazing project and

no expense is being spared,” said the source.

A spokesman for the small five hectare Pingus holding in Burgos - whose wines are Spain’s most expensive at €1,000 a bottle - was unable to confirm the purchase.

“I am not able to give out any information about grapevines being sold, only about the bottles we sell and distribute,” she said.

GRAPE ESCAPE: Putin is to grow his own wine in this incredible Benahavis mansion

In October 2012, the Olive Press was able to link the ExKGB boss Putin to a consortium of six wealthy businessmen behind the €19 million Zagaleta project.

The epitome of extravagance, his 18,000m² plot boasts its own spa and gym, a cinema, piano bar, and two swimming pools.

Putin has long been a big Hispanophile having visited

Spain on many occasions, with a recent book claiming he came in ‘illegally’ 37 times on false documents in the 1990s alone.

He has also been linked to a Spanish construction company.

It is also clear that Putin appreciates his wine, as his South of France mansion was revealed to have expansive wine cellars too, back in 2001.

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Body mystery From front page Sources claim the lake, near Marbella, was searched after a man ‘gave up the information’.

The ex-boyfriend of Agnese, Michael Millis said last night: “We’re not being told anything. It is very frustrating.”

Acid attack!

A 23-year-old man has been arrested for throwing a corrosive substance at a 20-year-old man leaving a Marbella nightclub.

The victim suffered severe burns to his face and chest and was treated at Marbella hospital.

The incident took place last month following an alleged scuffle inside the club.

CRIME NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

(Still) Wanted man

Goldman fraud case moves to Fuengirola court as victims continue to demand justice

THE on-going investigation into British fraudster Nigel Goldman – now Howard Del Monte – has been moved to a court in Fuengirola.

It comes after the case, now 14 months old, was wrongly filed to courts in Barcelona and then Marbella.

The infamous conman fled the Costa del Sol just over a year ago, amid accusations of stealing thousands of euros from his investment clients.

The Olive Press tracked him down to the UK, where he was discovered selling coins and antiques on eBay from a

By Tom Powell

small cottage in the Berkshire countryside.

“The Courts have not dropped the case, in fact, they would never do so until Goldman is interrogated,” said Antonio Flores, of legal firm Lawbird, who represents 12 separate victims.

Goldman has now moved to a different nearby home in Berkshire to escape his victims, but the pressure is ramping up once more.

Victim Roy Feather, who is

Hokey cokey A SPANISH national flying in to Malaga from Brazil was caught with five kilos of cocaine concealed in crisp bags, toothpaste tubes and coffee packs.

Arriving from Sao Paulo, the 26-year-old man was arrested

by Guardia Civil officers after customs officers discovered the drug in his checked-in luggage.

The cocaine, in powder and semi-liquid form, was hidden in false bottoms within everyday household objects like toys, chocolates, gel and shampoo.

Hoax chaos at Atocha

FRAUDSTER: Goldman is still hiding in England owed €550,000, said: “The paperwork is filed in the court, but there still hasn’t been an arrest warrant, and it’s already taken 14 months to get this far.

“You would think they would at least bring him in to answer our claim, given the huge amount of evidence, it’s ridiculous.”

Meanwhile, Vanity Fair and El Pais have both been begun separate investigations into

the criminal, following the Olive Press’ coverage.

In his own book, High Stakes, Goldman admits to having been jailed twice previously for fraud.

The Jewish poker fanatic, who has bizarrely declared his support for controversial British party UKIP on his Facebook page, was one of the coast’s most colourful characters before his sudden flight to Britain.

A MAN claiming to be a suicide bomber has caused chaos at Madrid’s Atocha train station.

Bomb disposal protocols were enforced and the station evacuated after a man carrying a rucksack announced that he was going to kill himself.

He was arrested by police but bomb disposal experts found ‘no trace’ of explosives in his rucksack, which reportedly contained only a bottle of water.

The railway station was the scene of a terrorist attack in 2004. An al Qaeda-inspired terror cell targeted packed commuter trains, killing 191 people and injuring 1,800.

Bombed out EUROPE’S former ‘most dangerous woman’ IRA bomber Donna Maguire has been released without charge, after being arrested in Malaga.

Maguire, 57, and her husband Leonard ‘Bap’ Hardy, 54, were allegedly detained as part of a major Spanish police operation against tobacco smuggling to Ireland and money laundering.

The couple were arrested in a Malaga apartment on Tuesday last week, along with a suspected Irish tobacco smuggler and a

Spanish man.

The parents-of-four have previously served prison sentences in Holland and Germany for their involvement in IRA attacks in Europe in the late 1980s.

Former convent girl Maguire was convicted of attempted murder in 1995, along with four others.

Hardy, now 53, was sentenced to six years in jail in 2006 by a court in Celle, Germany, for his part in the plot.

But he walked free because the offence took place be-

LET OFF: Maguire fore 1998’s Good Friday Agreement.

This agreement saw those convicted of IRA terror offences released from prison.

Hardcore partying

A NEW Year’s Eve illegal rave near Valencia attended by over 3,000 people lasted five days before finally being shut down following repeated police complaints.

Police set up two check points and 64 officers identified 1,341 ravers, inspected 405 vehicles and opened 42 separate cases, including 18 for drug possession and six for firearm possession.

PARTY HARD: Ravers

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

January 8th - January 21st 2015

Fashion in the fast lane

Robbie to launch European tour in Madrid

Let me entertain you SUPERSTAR Robbie Williams is set to entertain in Spain in March, and tickets are finally on sale.

The 40-year-old father-of-two is heading to Madrid on March 25, and following it up in Barcelona on March 27.

But with just two Spanish dates, tickets are hot property.

To buy tickets, visit tickets.robbiewilliams.com

Yorkie talkie Luca the wonderdog rescues boy in Christmas lift drama

A HELPLESS 14-year-old boy trapped in a lift over Christmas was heroically saved by an expat’s dog in Nueva Andalucia.

Norwegian expat Rowley Burger’s feisty Yorkshire terrier came to the rescue when Lucas Schmitz became trapped between floors in an apartment block lift shaft.

With no way of contacting the outside world, the intrepid animal - coincidentally named Luca - rushed to the lift doors ‘barking like crazy’.

“We were having breakfast and all of a sudden the dog went absolutely ballistic,” said Burger, 61.

“He ran over to the lift doors and wouldn’t stop barking so I called the reception who alerted the mainteSAVIOUR: Luca did not leave until the job was done, nance team. and (inset) Lucas

Moonlight flit EXCLUSIVE A MAJOR star from hit TV show Benefits Street has gone AWOL after being offered a new life in Spain.

The Olive Press can reveal that former crack cocaine addict James ‘Fungi’ Clarke has flown the nest after his PR manager lined up work for him in Magaluf.

The PR company has not heard from Fungi in over two months and have now ‘dropped him’.

“He was due to appear in Magaluf and I gave him money to get a passport,” Fungi’s former PR manager, Barry Tomes, told the Olive Press.

“That is when he disappeared and no passport ever came for

NO SHOW: Benefits Street’s Fungi him, so we dropped him.”

Fungi’s co-stars have had mixed experiences since life on Benefits Street, with fan-

favourite Deidre ‘White Dee’ Kelly reportedly well on her way to becoming a millionaire.

P-p-p-pick up a Picasso PICASSO’s granddaughter is selling off a collection of his works, and his famous French Riviera villa, for an estimated €242 million.

Marina Picasso, who claims her ‘cold’ grandfather left her and her brother to grow up in poverty, is selling at least seven of his works.

She is also offering her grandfather’s estate in Cannes, ‘La Californie’, following the deaths of Picasso and her brother.

Marina claims that she and her brother used to visit the artist as children at the villa, only to be told to wait at the gate until Picasso had finished working.

Despite having a world-famous artist as a grandfather, she says Picasso was unwilling to provide any financial assistance to the family.

CRUEL: Picasso

3

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

“Luca has ears the size of an elephant’s. He can hear things that humans could never hear, thankfully he heard Lucas calling out, otherwise goodness knows how long he would have been down there.”

The rescue effort took over an hour and Luca wouldn’t leave the scene until Lucas was successfully pulled from the shaft.

After he had been retrieved, Lucas was reunited with his family who are staying in Nueva Andalucia on holiday.

Although a little ‘shaken up’, Lucas’ father Gerhard Schmitz said his son ‘is fine’ and extended his thanks to Burger and Luca.

SUPERMODEL Kate Moss is showing no signs of slowing down on a motorcycle fashion shoot in Ibiza.

The 40-year-old mother has teamed up with British motorcycle brand Matchless, to become the face of its 115th anniversary campaign.

Shot in a desert-like field on the party island, leatherclad Kate is pictured lounging across motorbikes, alongside French male mod- RIDER: Kate Moss el Clement Chabernaud.

Honest Nick

DEPUTY UK Prime Minister Nick Clegg has rubbished the idea of using his Spanish wife as a ‘PR seesaw’, despite her growing prestige.

The popularity of Miriam Gonzalez Durantez has rocketed over the past 12 months as her work for women’s rights has gained momentum.

But in the couple’s first joint interview with Red magazine, Clegg denied that he was planning to capitalise on his wife’s ‘fan base’ to enhance the Liberal Democrats’ electoral fortunes this year.

“We’re husband and wife,” he said. “I don’t think of Miriam as some sort of PR seesaw. It would literally never occur to me.”

Durantez’s rise to fame took off following her involvement with the Inspiring Women campaign, which sends female role models into secondary schools to encourage teenage girls to consider their career options.

Meanwhile, Clegg’s popularity rating continues to plummet as the Liberal Democrats struggle to recover from an embarrassing showing in last year’s local and European elections.

4 NEWS IN BRIEF

4

A TOTAL of 3,129 interventions were carried out by firefighters in Malaga province during 2014, with 15% relating to agricultural fires.

Prison break

Expat gong BRITISH expat lawyer Ralph Smith has been awarded an MBE for his services to the British Embassy and expat community in Spain.

Royal death A 20-YEAR-OLD man playing Balthazar in a Three Kings parade in Nijar, in Almeria, has died after the throne he was riding in hit an overhead cable and overturned.

On track THE AVE is set for an expansion in 2015.

More than 1,000km of track are planned to include eight further provincial capitals, including Alicante and Murcia.

www.theolivepress.es

The word is ....

Fired up

IBERIAN Funeral Plans has won the contract to provide schemes to employees of the UK-based Sodexo Justice Services, which operates prisons in 80 countries worldwide.

NEWS

January 8th - January 21st 2015

FAMOUS FACES: Legendary ‘selfie’

CERVANTES will turn in his grave after ‘selfi’ was named Spain’s word of the year by the Fundeu BBVA Language Foundation.

Almost unheard of 12 months ago but now the most used term in the Spanish language, it is a twist on the English ‘selfie’ which was Britain’s 2013 word of the year.

Meanwhile, the UK’s most popular term for 2014 isn’t a word at all but a character: the heart emoticon (<3) - more widely used by bloggers, news outlets and social networkers than any traditional word.

End of the line Expat property fraudster jailed after long Spanish spree AN expat estate agent has landed a two-year jail sentence after a lengthy fraud spree came to a shuddering halt.

Marbella-based British businessman Olufemi Jaiyeola was found guilty of stealing money from at least five victims in a bogus buy-to-let scheme.

A Spanish court heard how the Mancunian conned expats out of €90,000 with victims paying up to €24,000 each.

Dozens of other foreign investors claim to have lost money to Jaiyeola - also known as Femi Jaye and Akan Jaye.

Thanks to a determined seven-year campaign spearheaded by expat Alec Knox, based in Almeria, Jaiyeola was finally brought to justice.

Knox, originally from Sussex, told the court in Fuerteventura that he was conned out of €6,000 in 2007.

EXCLUSIVE

By Imogen Calderwood The accountant told the Olive Press: “My lawyer said it could take years for the case to come to court, but I was determined not to give up.

“I don’t think I have any hope of seeing my money again, but at least I’ve got justice.”

Jaiyeola posed as an agent for Sol Bank, working with company Arcosa Financial SL, to offer his victims access to a ‘buy to let’ scheme at Fuerteventura Park Nuevo Horizonte.

The three to five-year ‘plan’ promised clients a profit of up to €70,000, and as a ‘registered finance broker’ Jaiyeola also guaranteed they would get a mortgage of 70% of the property’s value.

Clients were asked to for-

NAILED: Olufemi, sutied and booted into jail ward a €4,000 reservation fee to Arcosa, to buy one of the 24 units, each selling at €48,000, but with a bank valuation of €91,500.

But the money, according to court documents, was instead transferred to his personal account.

Jaiyeola, who is said to be renting a home in Marbella, launched an appeal against

the sentence on December 22.

Meanwhile his passport has been confiscated by police, while other victims are also coming forward.

One victim Kieran O’Hagan - who invested €10,000 has set up a website www. avoidthisman.com to warn people about Jaiyeola.

Various phone numbers for Jaiyeola went unanswered.

AUTHOR: Chris Stewart

Chris on the Costa

YOU’VE read the extracts, now meet the author as Chris Stewart comes to the Costa del Sol. Chris will be heading down from the Alpujarras for a ‘Meet the Author’ event at Sabinillas’ English Bookshop, where his publications have been selling like hot cakes.

After book-signings and delivering a talk about his life in Spain, Chris will then head upstairs for the grand opening of the Olive Press’ new office.

For more information, contact the bookshop on 952 891 545 or 619 480 089.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

5

Truth, lies and Diana A PLAY claiming a former Marbella restaurant owner is the father of Prince Harry has reignited unfounded paternity rumours.

The play – called Truth, Lies and Diana – has been branded ‘horrible and despicable’, prior to its transfer to London’s West End. Long-time Marbella-based ‘cad’ James Hewitt, a former household cavalry officer, was made famous by his five-year love affair with Princess Diana.

But 56-year-old Hewitt returned to the UK (to live with his mother) in 2013 after his restaurant, Polo House, closed.

WHO’S YOUR DADDY: Diana, Harry and Hewitt Harry’s biographer, Penny Junor described the play as ‘horrible and despicable’.

But writer James Conway claims it is based on years of research, including an in-

depth interview with Hewitt in Spain.

Despite claims to the contrary, Conway insists the affair started 18 months before the birth of Harry.

Don’t freeze us out!

Petition hots up as UK government axes expat fuel allowance

A CAMPAIGNING expat has launched a petition after the UK government axed the Winter Fuel Allowance in Spain.

Maureen Andrews, 62, is furious that she will be losing the allowance with her village of Canillas de Aceituno, in the Axarquia, regularly seeing temperatures drop to zero degrees in winter.

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

She will no longer get the allowance of €250, which rises to €380 for over 80s, from September.

A new ‘temperature test’ will see subsidies cut in countries where the average annual temperature is higher than

PROTESTING: Maureen and husband Bill the UK’s warmest region – the South West – at 5.6 degrees.

Andrews, from Sutton Coldfield, has now launched the petition after being ‘incensed’ by secretary of state Iain Duncan Smith’s claim that it was ‘absurd and offensive’ for expats to receive an allowance.

“The pensions secretary seems to think we are wealthy pensioners living it up in Marbella,” she said.

“In reality we use the Winter Fuel Allowance to buy wood to heat our houses to keep warm, we do not go throwing it around in bars and fancy restaurants.

“It can get very cold here at night in winter.”

She continued that after her husband Bill paid UK national insurance for 46 years he should be allowed to choose where he lives on retirement.

“This is an entitlement for pensioners and it should remain – regardless of where we choose to live,” Andrews said.

And it would appear that many share her view.

In its first week, the petition addressed to 10 Downing Street has gathered 568 signatures.

It was posted on the Facebook page of the Axarquia Local Info Group.

“The response has been overwhelming,” Andrews added.

New fuel allowance restrictions are expected to cut the UK’s costs from €29.5 million to €9 million.

To sign the petition visit: www.rivoice.net/petitions and search ‘expats to lose winter fuel allowance’.

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

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the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

OPINION Winter ‘cruel’ allowance PLANS to cut the winter fuel allowance to elderly expats living in warmer climates are an outrage.

To assess whether or not pensioners – most of whom have paid their taxes throughout their working lives – need to heat their homes in winter based on an average annual temperature is madness.

Yes it’s hot here in summer, but anyone in Spain can attest to the fact that temperatures fall rapidly in winter… in the inland hills to frequently well below zero.

And with homes lacking proper insulation, these British pensioners should not be frozen out.

Search ‘expat winter fuel allowance’ on Rivoice.net, and sign the petition.

Giant step for expats THE news that expats will soon regain their right to vote in future UK general elections is music to the ears of the million or so Brits living in Spain.

After a long campaign to get the bill pushed through, parliament looks set to enforce the law in the upcoming months.

The timing of the general election may see expats ineligible to vote in this year’s elections but that will only slightly sour the celebrations of those who have campaigned long and loud for this change.

Greetings for Chris and good tidings for all IT is no secret that the Olive Press is a huge admirer of Alpujarras author Chris Stewart and the example he sets for expats.

So it is with big smiles that we welcome him to our neck of the woods, and specifically Sabinillas bookshop directly below our new office.

So if you do come along to the book signing, watch out (and come and say hello) to our team of talented, if a little over-enthusiastic, journalists!

Olive Press payments

THE following companies are no longer allowed to do business with the Olive Press (Luke Stewart Media SL - CIF B91664029), due to long standing debts: - MWM Investments Ltd - Petersham Coins, Marbella - Investor Spain - Simple Care - Autotunes Manilva - Hotel Embrujo, Arriate

- Jaipur Purple, Estepona - Reservatauro, Ronda - Webuycarsinspain.es - Motor Trader The details are being published in support of other companies that may be unaware of the problems that might be faced by providing credit facilities to the businesses and their present individual owners.

the EE

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The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

olive press

Tel: 951 273 575 / 665 798 618 (admin) Accounts: 658 750 424 Sales: 655 825 683

or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month.

Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 951 273 575 or 951 127 006 Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5 Edificio centro comercial El Duque, planta primera, 29692 San Luis de Sabinillas, Manilva Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Reporters: Newsdesk Newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tom Powell Tom@theolivepress.es Imogen Calderwood Imogen@theolivepress.es

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The battle for oil Spain’s escalating oil exploration dispute is taking on the proportions of the epic seafaring battles of old, as Rob Horgan reports

T

HE waters are turning perilously choppy around Spain’s coastlines. It’s not the second Armada, although recent clashes at sea between Spanish Navy and Greenpeace ships might suggest otherwise. But this is a battle being fought on land as well as sea, and a demonstration of ‘people power’ against the Government rather than nation pitted against nation… although many of the protestors themselves hold high government office.

Over the last 12 months, tourist boards and green groups have declared themselves ready for a long drawnout fight against Spain’s new fossil fuel fixation. But oil’s not well in love or war. It represents a major u-turn from the country’s once admirable green agenda, with one tourism chief declaring that the country ‘cannot afford the luxury’ of an environmental conscience. And, despite thousands of people joining in the protest over offshore drilling, the Spanish government’s pursuit of ‘black gold’ shows no signs of relenting in 2015.

Flotilla protests off the coast of Fuengirola and ‘occupy’ movements in the Canary Islands have been a common sight over the last year as the Spanish government steps up its oil exploration programme. For the most part, the protests have been peaceful, as has the government’s response to them. But as the year drew to a close, the ‘cold oil war’ showed signs of hotting up.

PASTURES NOT GREENER: Oil rigs are set to pop up around Spain in 2015, while (below) wind turbines could become rare

Caption: Here

In November, a Spanish Navy vessel rammed a Greenpeace dinghy, injuring four people and landing a 23-yearold woman in hospital. Then, a week later, Spanish authorities seized the Greenpeace ship, Arctic Sunrise, and the outlook began to look distinctly stormy. As Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy continues to increase his support for oil against greener alternatives, environmentalists continue to turn out in heavy opposition.

On October 18, a civil rights group organised a protest across the seven Canary Islands in opposition to explor-

atory work in the archipelago’s surrounding waters.Supported by international organisations, including Greenpeace and the WWF, more than 21,000 people turned out under the slogan, ‘We live here, we decide here’.

The protesters’ main concerns are focused on the environmental impact of drilling on the Canaries’ rich marine wildlife. “The waters surrounding the Canary Islands are home to nearly a third of the world’s whale and dolphin species,” said WWF Secretary General, Juan Carlos del Olmo. “We’re talking about an area that is Eu-

Can they really win?

In the first of a regular column from the capital, journalist Mario Alegria questions Podemos’ political weight

T

he big question this year is whether Podemos will still be able to carry its political weight through to November’s elections.

The sudden rise of this political party, which proposes radical changes to almost every Spanish institution, has been much more than just a nuisance to the ruling Popular Party (PP) and opposition PSOE. Podemos officials, including its leader Pablo Iglesias, with all his lacklustre, have been hitting the Spanish airwaves ever since they surprisingly won a chunk of seats in the European Parliament last year. And their numbers in the polls have been rising.

Yet this radical group, which has attracted many followers, is still having a difficult time trying to calm the fears of many who believe that Podemos will try to impose a Venezuelan-like government in Spain.

And that fear campaign – no doubt launched by the PP and Socialists – is only just beginning. We have already seen several Podemos members on the defensive after they have been asked about their more-than-average wages, publicly paid university contracts, and fees as ‘consultants’ to the Venezuelan government. Iglesias explained at a rally last year that both major parties are running scared, and he may be right in that sense.

The two-party system has monopolized Spanish politics for more than 35 years, fueling corruption, engaging in questionable power-sharing partnerships at differ-

ent institutions, and pretty much ignoring the beckoning calls by citizens to act swiftly against corruption.

If the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy intends to stop Podemos’ rise from what is quickly becoming a moribund system, immediate action is needed to improve government and party transparency and overhaul the country’s archaic judiciary.

The only way Rajoy can achieve this is to ask the Socialists for their help in pushing through these reforms before the elections. There is already talk of a political coalition between the PP and PSOE to stop Podemos.

But with ancient wounds that still need healing inside both organizations, such a move is a recipe for a disastrously short government and would only serve to give Podemos more time to convince today’s reluctant voters of its need for significant change.

the theolive olive press press- -November January 8th 13 - January November 21st 262015 2014 7 www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015 www.theolivepress.es

7

Oil by numbers 250,000 - Jobs could be created by the oil and gas industry

2031 - Year Spain could become a gas exporter 99% - Percentage of oil and gas Spain currently imports

21,000 - People protested on October 18 in the Canary Islands 70 - Licences granted to oil exploration UPROAR: Protestors claim oil drilling in the Canaries will damage tourism

rope’s richest when it comes to whales, and one of the top in the world.”

Del Olmo said whales and dolphins would be at risk from oil spills, contamination and harmful noise pollution if the drilling goes ahead.

There has been concern from the tourism industry as the prospect of drilling looks likely to threaten the island’s biggest source of income.

The Canaries currently attract 61 million visitors a year, and the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean are a big attraction.

“We have little to gain and a lot to lose,” commented Mario Cabrera, President of the local government of Fuerteventura. “The Canary Islands need tourists to survive, and tourism in the Canary Islands needs a clean sea.”

Similar concerns have been voiced by the Ibiza govern-

They organised a human chain of objectors along the seafront ment, with spokesman David Sala slamming the ‘exploitative’ technology.He said: “Just because we have the technology to exploit nature, we can’t continue to use technology that destroys the environment and, by extension, ourselves.”As a result of mounting pressure from the individual islands, the President of the Canary Islands’ regional government, Paulino Rivero, called a referendum for November 23 to ask islanders whether they were ‘for’ or ‘against’ oil exploration.

Rivero outlined the issue in a letter to Rajoy but on October 25 Spain’s Deputy PM, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, announced that the national government would be appealing the legality of the referendum. Less than two weeks later, the Constitutional Court unanimously suspended the

SAVE OUR SOULS: Rallying cry in Fuerteventura

DEFIANT: Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise

planned referendum, following Madrid’s formal appeal.

Meanwhile, back on the Costa del Sol, a fleet of more than 100 boats set off from Fuengirola port to protest Repsol’s plans to drill for gas off Mijas Costa in the upcoming months. Backed by the Junta’s Tourism Minister, Rafael Rodriguez, the flotilla was joined by Greenpeace’s icebreaker ship, Arctic Sunrise, in opposition to the ‘Siroco’ project which aims to

drill wells 12km southwest of Fuengirola. Members of a local citizens’ movement ‘against the prospecting of hydrocarbons’ have also been vocal in their opposition. As well as protests and petitions, they organised a human chain of objectors along the seafront and staged a recreation of an oil spill on the beaches of Mijas. Rajoy’s decision to revive Spain’s hunt for domestic energy after decades of dis-

CAMPAIGN: For renewable energy

interest demonstrates a dis- sources. At present, the countinct change of policy within try depends on imports for the Spanish government. For 99% of its oil and gas needs. the past 20 years, the coun- And with unemployment still try had all but abandoned high – running at 33% in the attempts to uncover fresh oil Canary Islands – Industry supplies to focus on renew- and Tourism Minister Jose ables.

Manuel Soria has insisted Spain became a global lead- that Spain ‘cannot afford the er in the world of luxury’ of an hydroelectricity, environmental with only China conscience. and America hav- The government As the econoing built more my shows only has brushed aside feeble signs of dams.

The country’s any environmental recovery, the ageing nuclear Spanish govconcerns power stations ernment has also meet 20% of brushed aside the grid’s demand, while wind any environmental concerns and solar energy contribute a to give the green light to the combined 23%.But the days oil companies. of ‘doing it green’ now look to A report by Deloitte in March be a thing of the past. predicted that the oil indusThe current government is try could create 250,000 losing its patience and en- jobs and constitute 4.3% of thusiasm for renewables, and Spain’s GDP by 2065. is now pinning its hopes on The report – based on an esfinding fossil fuels to power timated 2 billion barrels of oil the country. and 2.5 billion cubic metres Aside from a few remaining of gas being extradited – also coal mines in the north of predicts that Spain could the country, Spain has never become a gas exporter by been blessed with energy as early as 2031, while pro-

ducing 20% of the oil it consumes.

A total of 70 international licences have so far been granted to energy companies to search for both shale gas and conventional resources off Spain’s coasts, including the waters surrounding the Canaries.

Last month, Turkish company Genel Energy announced that it had uncovered two ‘significant’ offshore deposits off the coast of Morocco, and the prospect of fracking in the Canary Islands became very real.

After a long time with its proverbial big toe dipped in the waters of renewable energy, the pursuit of ‘black gold’ – and the short term wealth which comes with it – appears to be too great an economic opportunity for the Spanish government to miss.

With politicians doing everything but ‘pour oil on troubled waters’, protests from antidrilling platforms will only grow louder in a story that looks set to run until the New Year grows old, and beyond.

8

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

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POLITICAL NEWS

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015 www.theolivepress.es

Have your say at last MORE than 1.5 million British expats living in Europe are a step closer to winning back their right to vote in UK elections.

Campaigners are already claiming ‘victory’ after MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown proposed the bill in the House of Commons last month, receiving no opposition.

It means expats will be eligible to vote in future general elections, possibly even one scheduled for later this year.

Campaigner Harry Shindler MBE said: “Sadly the timing of the general election could delay the bill until after the next election.

Won “But it can only delay the inevitable – our regaining the right to vote.

“Arguing whether we vote at the 2015 or 2020 election means we have won. It is now just a matter of time.

“So that is how we enter the new year, in the knowledge that our campaign is nearly over.”

To register for your vote, visit: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

www.theolivepress.es

9

Cracking on

By Imogen Calderwood

THE new year opens with 150 corruption cases in the courts.

More than 2,000 people stand accused in the current nationwide crackdown on corruption, according to a Europa Press estimate.

So important has become the issue, the King focussed on it during his annual festive address.

In his honest, debut speech, he insisted that there must not be special treatment for those occupying positions of public responsibility.

It became particularly poignant when it was announced that his very own sister Princess Cristina was ordered to appear in court in the Noos case, set to begin later this year.

It will be the first time a direct royal family member has sat in the dock with the princess facing eight years in prison, while her husband Inaki Urdangarin faces up to 20 years.

CROWDFUNDING websites have created a loophole in party financing legislation that could be used to dodge legal restrictions on donations.

Online donors are not required to provide name, ID and address the way other donors are, making it difficult to identify individual donors.

CORRU

Eye on

More than 2,000 of Spain’s ‘corrupt’ can look forward to court dates in 2015

PTION R.I.P: The fake Rajoy

Grave joke

IN THE DOCK: Among the accused are Pujol, Princess Cristina, and Barcenas The Gurtel case meanwhile, with former PP party treasurer Luis Barcenas in the dock, is expected to begin in October, coinciding with the general elections.

A total of 43 people are under investigation in the corrup-

tion case which is looking at illegal funding of the ruling PP party between 1999 and 2005.

Barcenas was imprisoned last summer when it was discovered he had a fortune stashed in Swiss banks.

The coming year will also see further investigations - and, no doubt, revelations - in the ERE redundancy scandal.

Furthermore the Pujol family investigation in Barcelona as well as the Caja Madrid ‘magic’ cards probe.

Donation dodging Spain’s Audit Court is demanding that the websites are now more closely regulated to prevent parties taking advantage of the loophole.

Anti-corruption party Podemos

used crowdfunding websites to finance its European election campaign.

A report from the watchdog breaks down party spending during the lead up to the elec-

tions in May last year.

It reveals that nearly €50,000 in individual donations were not properly identified, alongside other ‘deficiencies’ and ‘inconsistencies’.

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A FAKED picture of prime minister Mariano Rajoy in a coffin has caused outrage after a PSOE member posted it on Facebook.

The controversial image was posted by PSOE spokesperson Victor Ruiz on January 5 as an early ‘Three Kings present’.

It showed Rajoy in a coffin with his eyes closed and his tongue hanging out as if he was dead.

The message accompanying the image read: ‘Lets hope we wake up tomorrow and receive this great present for Reyes (Three Kings)’.

After coming under fire Ruiz withdrew the post saying that it had been in ‘poor taste’.

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January 8th - January 21st 2015

NEWS IN BRIEF Pretty as a Princesa VELEZ-MALAGA Town Hall has announced €683,000 plans to redevelop one of the key roads in Torre del Mar, Calle Princesa.

Officer down A 47-YEAR-OLD Guardia Civil officer died after his Yamaha 250cc motorbike collided with a road barrier in Calaceite, between Nerja and Torrox.

Gala glory A CHRISTMAS gala for learning difficulties charity Taller de la Amistad at Nerja Cultural centre raised more than €1,500.

SATELLITE RECEIVERS always in stock:

Big win!

A PENSIONER from Canillas de Aceituno has won a massive €9 million in the first El Cuponazo lottery draw of the year.

Jose Torres, 81, was revealed as the lucky winner

AXARQUIA

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Task force targets thieves

Pago Benamar expats blighted by burglary spree EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

A SPECIAL task force has been set up to catch a group of serial robbers following a spate of burglaries in the Pago Benamar area of Torrox.

The team was established by the Guardia Civil in response to 15 reported burglaries in December.

Spaniards and expats of all nationalities have fallen victim to the gang. People who travelled home for Christmas may have been purposefully targeted.

English expat Joy Floody was burgled in December and is now appealing for neighbours to ‘look out for anything suspicious’.

“It is unbelievable that no one has been apprehended yet, considering the limited ac-

cess to the area,” she said.

“No one in the area has seen any strange persons or vehicles so it is presumed they are sat hidden watching properties and breaking in during the day.

“The houses have been completely turned over with every drawer and cupboard emptied. They appear to be going for electrical items such as TVs, laptops, cameras, mobile phones and also jewellery.”

If you have any information contact newsdesk@ theolivepress.es or the Guardia Civil on 952 538 800.

in a statement by mayor of Canillas de Aceituno, Vicente Campos.

The Spaniard – who previously lived in Switzerland and France – said he will

give the money to his two sons, one a widower with two children and the other unemployed.

Campos added: “This money solves the lives of chil-

dren, grandchildren and perhaps also the generation after that. It is great news for this man to be able to leave such wealth to his family.”

TARGETS: Family homes

GREEN NEWS

Caravan of cruelty Animal abuse overshadows Reyes Magos celebrations

By Jacqueline Fanchini

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MORE than a dozen dromedary camels have been found crammed into shipping containers sailing from Lanzarote, their legs and necks tied.

The desperate condition of the animals – being taken to Reyes Magos (Three Kings) parades in Spain – prompted shocked ferry passengers to call the Tenerife branch of SEPRONA. Two trucks, one containing 13 camels and another carrying two, were intercepted by police. The animals were rescued and the transporters fined.

PACMA, the country’s only political party devoted to fighting for animal rights, followed the incident with a complaint to SEPRONA. Investigations to identify the perpetrators are under way.

CRAMMED: Camels Three Kings Day is celebrated nationwide with exchanges of gifts and sweets, and flamboyant parades.

Camels are a prominent feature in the parades as legend tells that Gaspar, one of the three Magi, arrived in Bethlehem on one.

Activists, however, have raised concerns over the plight of live animals used in the parades.

A statement from PACMA read: “It is clear that no political party cares to seek alternatives to the use of animals in shows and celebrations. They are embarrassed to show our children images of abused, terrorised and humiliated animals during the Three Kings parades.”

Juiced giving

THOUSANDS of tonnes of oranges and clementines are to be made into juice for charities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment has announced.

www.theolivepress.es Gibraltar

NEWS IN BRIEF Rapist rumbled AN alleged paedophile from La Linea wanted on rape charges has been handed over to Spanish authorities after hiding out on the Rock.

Dog attacker A 70-YEAR-OLD British national has been charged for stabbing a dog on New Year’s Day while on holiday in Gibraltar.

NEWS

11

Time’s up - now what?

11

KEEP IN CONTACT IN SPAIN

AND ABROAD! 400 MIN 500 MB

Setting sail ABANDONED cruise ship, the Deutschland owned by bankrupt German operator Peter Deilmann - has been sold for €50 million after sitting off Gibraltar for over a year.

ON the Rock January 14-31

Major art exhibition celebrating the life of Gibraltarian artist Mario Finlayson, at the Gustavo Bacarisas Galleries at Casemates Square.

Visit www.visitgibraltar.gi/events

January 16

Businesses interested in getting involved with the Student Careers Fair 2015, must apply by this day. Visit www. careersfair.gi

Until January 23

The Affordable Art Show, at the Fine Arts Gallery at Casemates Square. Entrance free.

Call 200 521 26.

Existential crisis GIBRALTAR’S Chief Minister has warned that if the UK exits the EU it could create an ‘existential issue’ with political and economic consequences.

Fabian Picardo said the Rock’s EU membership has boosted its ability to stand up to Spain, particularly to its attitude towards freedom of movement and border controls.

“Of course Gibraltar would always be able to survive but I don’t think Gibraltar would be able to thrive economically should we be outside the EU,” said the Chief Minister.

Picardo denounced the issues surrounding a UK exit on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and deplored the problems Gibraltar would have to face should it be unable to profit from rulings by the European Commission.

FOR ONLY

IVA INC EUROS

DECISION TIME: Philip Hammond

BRITAIN could take Spain to the European Court of Justice over its ‘flagrant breaches of sovereignty’ in Gibraltar.

A six-month ultimatum by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee required Spain to clean up its act in regards to water incursions and border controls.

With the deadline for the ultimatum now passed, the committee is now piling pressure on Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to deal with the issue.

Committee chairman Richard Ottaway said: “We have been a soft touch for long enough. We told the government that if there was no improvement in six months, Article 259 of the Lisbon treaty should be invoked, and we should take Spain to the European Court of Justice.

“Well, six months have passed and little has changed: the delays are still going on, Spain is still il-

Tough choices for UK Foreign Secretary after Spanish ultimatum runs out

NO TIME COMMITMENTS

TRY US NOW

By Rob Horgan legally intruding in British territorial waters and airspace, and Madrid is unwilling to enter into even ad hoc talks with Britain.”

A Foreign Office spokesman added: “We are continuing to take robust action to defend Gibraltar’s interests, including by protesting at the highest levels against continuing incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and delays at the border, both with the European Commission and the Spanish Government.”

Spaced out A BRITISH minister stormed out of a top EU meeting after Spain successfully blocked Gibraltar from entering a new EU air safety deal.

Robert Goodwill quit the Brussels summit after the decision was made to exclude the British territory from plans to make flights quicker and safer by merging European airspace.

The EU Transport Council later declared itself unable to pass the document because of Goodwill’s objection.

“I left the council in protest at what was a completely unacceptable situation,” said Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough.

Spain gained the support of Italy to exclude Gibraltar from the deal in order to engineer its passage.

With the deal in stalemate, a new round of negotiations will now be required.

Gone in a puff of smoke A TOTAL of 60,000 cigarettes and a car were seized by HM Customs officers in an operation targeting illegal tobacco exports on January 5.

The cigarettes, worth £5,000, were found in a building near Emmerson’s Place and one person has been arrested in connection to smuggling tobacco across the border.

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THE OLIVE PRESS – 344mm x 126mm

8th January

12

LETTERS

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 77.31% Same week last year: 73.51% Same week in 2004: 54.40% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.18 American dollars 0.78 British pounds 1.40 Canadian dollars 7.44 Danish kroner 9.16 H Kong dollars 9.12 Norwegian kroner 1.59 Singapore dollars

Cracks are clear to see

ple have had to cut back on spending in the recession and as things get better so will the looks of an area.

Ants angst

DEAR OP, Sunshine will keep your spirits up for a while but it is not enough to make you happy all year round. The daily grind of corruption and bureaucracy will eventually take their toll with even the most patient of people. Then there are others who cannot simply afford to leave and cannot sell their houses, especially as house prices have gone up in the UK whilst they have slid in Spain, not to mention the thousands with illegal homes.

Hundreds of thousands have left Spain over the last year including the Spanish themselves. Even retiring there is not easy now as they want to know about your worldwide assets and relieve you of some of them if they are over a certain limit so the wealthy are not staying here either.

Unfortunately Spain is going downhill and I cannot see how that is going to change. If you take inflation into account, I do not believe house prices are any higher than 15 years ago in most areas, add running costs on and you are out of pocket. One more thing, even in many highly populated coastal areas you cannot receive high speed

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John Lightfoot, Nerja

Mystery muscles

GRUESOME: Giant ants adorn the new A7 roundabout near Estepona IT feels like an eternity since construction began on the new roundabout on the A7 between Estepona and Casares. I can scarcely remember the blissful drive to work before I had to slow down and crawl past cones twice a day.

But at least it has been tastefully decorated with... ants. Massive statues of ants. All crawling over the newborn roundabout in what I can only assume is a totally misjudged

internet, and I do not call 8mb high speed. Relying on pensioners to keep your economy going is not great, you need industry and companies willing to invest. I’m afraid cappuccinos and canas just won’t do it.

Mark Reap, Fuengirola

Winter freeze I HAVE just read that if you have worked in the UK all your working life you ARE entitled to the Winter Fuel

attempt at creating something Damien Hirstesque. It really is horrible. Perhaps they are still waiting for a shipment of cast iron 15 foot tall cockroaches... that must be why they haven’t taken away the cones and properly opened it. What a load of ants!

Allowance? (see Page 5) The fat cats have absolutely no idea how cold it gets here and are not interested. Just keep paying all the ones who do not want to work and supporting those who haven’t spent their entire life paying into the tax systems.

Jacqueline Coles, San Roque

Hardly a tonic MY wife and I moved to Spain 14 months ago, and like many British expats, we have found the constant paper-chase fairly challenging.

But my greatest concern arose last week when we had to re-visit the medical centre in La Cala.

On noting my wife’s situation, the doctor unsympathetically, and without any concern of what it might mean to a person with a mystery ongoing medical worry, said ‘Spain won’t

Steve Clarke, Estepona

want you here’.

Both of us paid into the British system for more than 40 years, and though now no longer working, have looked to Spain for our retirement.

But in all honesty, should we perhaps be having a rethink… even though the Spanish health authorities are - I believe - reimbursed for Brits who seek medical care locally.

R.S Riviera del Sol

EVERY golfer knows that soft hands are the trick to golf, so sorry Gareth Bale it wasn’t golf that gave you those bulging biceps (see Real Mad-ripped, issue 203). Funny story but something similar happened to that Ronaldo chap when he moved to Real Madrid too. Hmm. Adam Campbell, La Linea

Tobacco traffic BRITISH tourists buy their tobacco on the Spanish costas because it’s cheaper.

That’s OK. French people cross the border at la Jonquera to buy cheaper tobacco. That’s OK. Spanish people buy it in Andorra. That’s OK too.

So what’s the problem with Spanish people buying in Gibraltar? It’s a feeble excuse for provoking queues at the border.

Karl Darlow, Malaga

Ghost towns ON my last visit to my house in Nerja I noticed that shops everywhere are empty. It is the same all over the UK as well due to the financial mess the world has got itself into, but it is somewhat sadder to see in such a beautiful part of the world. I also feel that run down can be a bit misleading maybe giving the impression of lots of boarded up properties and abandoned cars. Most peo-

Balls up TERRY Venables hotel ‘La Escondida’ translates as ‘the hidden away’ (see Hotel El Tel, issue 203). If the idea was to call it the hideaway/ hiding place it should be called ‘El Escondite’.

Penny Wilde, Campillos

Letters should be emailed to letters@theolivepress.es. The writer’s name and address should be provided. Opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.

CROSSMOT 48 Across 1 Fábulas (6) * 4 Caliente (6) * 9 Lograr (7) * 10 Herramientas (5) * 11 Swan (5) * 12 Convertir (7) * 13 Limitation (11) * 18 Químico (7) * 20 Acted (5) * 22 Desatar (5) * 23 Violet (7) * 24 Silky (6) * 25 Rough (6).

Down 1 Francia (6) * 2 Owls (5) * 3 Elemento (7) * 5 Comido (5) * 6 Stumbled (7) * 7 Unties (6) * 8 Descriptivo (11) * 14 Elegido (7) * 15 Lápices De Colores (7) * 16 Se Produce (6) * 17 Basement (6) * 19 Artículos (5) * 21 Holds (5).

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Mr Barrie Nathan

THE Olive Press is pleased to withdraw accusations made against Barrie Nathan that brought into question his reputation.

The Olive Press now acknowledge that he has never knowingly or in-

tentionally been involved in any wrongdoing nor any financial impropriety, and his hitherto impeccable reputation was sullied by our articles.

We apologise for any grief, stress or pain our articles may have caused.

la cultura

13 www.theolivepress.es

13

what’s on

Black-tracking

Ice rink and children’s rides, bungee-trampolines with crepes and hot drinks.

Petition calls for end to ‘senseless’ tradition

E

stepona, until January 18

A

lmunecar, January 19, 8pm

Concert of works by Turina, Toldra and Sarasate, performed by a violinist and pianist.

At the ‘Jose Martin Recuerda’ auditorium, in the Casa de la Cultura.

A

lhaurin de la Torre.

January 16 - February 13

Exhibition of Islamic art from artist Rafael Ray, at the Centro Cultural.

M

arbella, until February 20

Exhibition of paintings donated by artist Luis Feito, at the Museo del Grabado, Plaza de los Naranjos.

BLACKING up for the Three Kings procession was as normal as ever this year, despite public outcry to ban the ‘racist’ tradition.

More than 62,500 people signed an online petition demanding an end to white politicians painting their faces black to play the roles of the three kings.

But despite the public’s demands, cabalgatas across the country still continued the ‘outdated’ practice on January 5.

“It is senseless and unnecessary in this day and age for the King Balthazar to be a white man painted black,” argues Miguel Calabria Abad, author of the petition on change.org, delivered to Madrid City Hall.

But Madrid City Hall says it is

FESTIVALGOERS should zero-in on the Canary Islands as they prepare to play host to multiple festivals in the upcoming couple of months.

From January 11 to February 13 the Canary Islands International Music Festival will fill 20 stages with the world’s most talented classical conductors and soloists.

This unique festival coincides with the Santa Cruz Carnival - on from January 21 till February 22 – which is considered to be the world’s second most famous carnival

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015 13 13

OUTDATED: Ex-justice minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon playing Balthazar when he was Madrid’s mayor in 2006 not racist, simply traditional.

Since Franco’s death, city councillors decide who will play the kings by drawing lots.

“We don’t have any non-white councillors, and nor can I remember there being any,” explained a spokesperson.

For Esteban Ibarra, the leader of Spain’s Movement Against Intolerance, the problem is

lack of political representation for minority groups.

“As well as black people, Gypsies, Muslims or Jews do not have any public presence either,” said Ibarra.

“Spain reflects its diversity poorly and this is reflected in ridiculous incongruities, such as having a white councillor blacking up to be Balthazar.”

Party time

after the Rio de Janeiro’s.

Costumes, fireworks and dancing are most notable highlights and on February 18 the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ sees a giant mock sardine in a parodied funeral procession to mark Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent.

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la cultura

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

Olive Press Chris Stewart:Layout 1 30/12/2014 14:55 Page 1

The Sabinillas Bookshop

Beheaded for home THE 330-year-old skull of a Spanish priest has been transported from Spain back to the place of his death.

The remains of 17th century Jesuit missionary Father Manuel de Solorzano have been returned to the island of Guam, over 300 years after he died there.

Solorzano - originally from Extremadura - was stationed

Chris Stewart

Meet the Author 22nd January, 5pm

The Bookshop Sabinillas Tel: 952 891 545

For more information please email steve@sabinillasbookshop.com

in Guam to represent Roman Catholic organisation, The Society of Jesus.

However, an uprising in June 1684 led to the priest’s gruesome death, in which his body was crushed and his head nearly severed.

His head was returned to Spain where it has remained until now.

A descendant of Solorzano is

RETURNED: Father Manuel de Solorzano accompanying two researchers to Guam where the skull will be displayed for viewing at a cathedral.

Sizzling escapes

IF you enjoy Olive Press columnist Belinda Beckett’s travels through Andalucia, you can now follow in the Mistress of Sizzle’s footsteps with her new online trip planner.

The Beckett List – a play on the idea of a ‘Bucket list’ of things to do before you die – is an interactive guide to 12 hot events and secret escapes on the coast and beyond – one for every month of 2015.

Direct links to videos and websites allow users to armchair travel, check out restaurants menus, book hotels and plan itineraries.

Highlights include: · The world’s weirdest outdoor art gallery in Vejer · Donana via the road less travelled - by river ferry · A thrilling boat trip to watch tuna being landed at sea · How not to get caught in the Gibraltar border queue To banish post-Christmas blues and get a head start on planning fun family days out for the coming year, get your free copy at www. belindabeckett.com BUCKETS OF FUN: Great days out Mistress of Sizzle-style

2014 Round up

15 15

The movers and shakers In a year full of big names, the Olive Press has compiled its own roll call of 2014 personalities who deserve to take a bow

Woman of the year: Judge Alaya SPAIN’S unstoppable judge has earned star status since her involvement in the ongoing ERE case.

Thrust into the media limelight, Alaya has continued to expose bent politicians in Andalucia’s largest public money scandal.

And with King Felipe calling for a nationwide clampdown on the country’s corruption, the tireless work of people like Alaya deserves credit for starting the ball rolling.

Man of the year: Pablo Iglesias

Sportsperson of the year: Dani Alves

THE rise of the pony-tailed Podemos leader sparked a much-needed shake-up to the status quo that even mystic Meg could not have foreseen.

Since the anti-corruption party emerged this year, claiming five MEP seats in June, their popularity has grown exponentially.

And with the general election c o m ing up this year, Spain’s twoparty powerlock looks set to be rocked to i t s founda-

THE world went bananas for Dani Alves in 2014 after the Barcelona right-back responded to racist fans by eating a banana thrown at him. The incident sparked an Instagram revolution, with stars around the globe posing with bananas in support of the man from Brazil.

CONGRATULATIONS to Andy Chapell and Pauline Elkin at Hotel Molino del Santo, for another year at the helm of one of Spain’s best hotels.

The Molino del Santo was crowned Spain’s second best hotel in June by travel website TripAdvisor, and scooped a coveted Travellers’ Choice award.

LOVE was in the air for The Beach House owner Guy McCrow at his August wedding to his beautiful wife Lucy. The beachside wedding featured paddling, dogs and some dramatic acrobatics from an Andalucian horse.

Child of the year: Ashya King A ROLLERCOASTER year for brave brain cancer boy Ashya King looks to have ended on a high note. The five-year-old, recovering from treatment at his parents’ holiday home in Malaga, has reportedly taken his first unassisted steps and is ‘improving every day’.

Criminal of the year: Nigel Goldman

HE fled the Costa del Sol in a cloud of smoke after losing hundreds of thousands of euros of his clients’ money last Christmas.

But the investment conman has had anything but a smooth year since.

After his English country hideout was exposed in the Olive Press in June, Goldman - now Howard Del Monte - was forced to flee to a new home, and a new eBay account.

GUY wasn’t the only one to tie the knot. La Sala Group chairman Ian Radford also said ‘I do’, with former Big Brother contestant and long-term partner Claire Strutton.

The fairytale ceremony in Buckinghamshire lasted four days, with guests including footballers David Bentley and Stephen Carr.

CUDECA founder Joan Hunt OBE retired in April after more than two decades as president of the cancer care hospice foundation.

The 85-year-old made the grand announcement during the presentation of the hospice’s annual report, which revealed revenues of more than €3 million.

Cudeca named lawyer Ricardo Urdiales as her successor.

Expat of the year: Michael Owens ANIMAL activist Michael Owens leapt to the Olive Press’ attention after rounding up more than 65,000 signatures calling for an end to ‘cruel and painful’ pony carousels in Mijas. And it worked; they are now banned.

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2014 Round up

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

Oh what a year it was!

From a brand new king to the uplifting story of Ashya King, 2014 was a right royal year for Spain making international headlines, many first brought to you by the Olive Press. So ring out the old with our review of the stories that left us shaken and stirred

January

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Right royal mistake Spain’s royal crime case of the century saw Princess Cristina (right) charged with fraud and money laundering, alongside her husband Inaki Urdangarin. Money laundering charges have now been dropped but the tricky royal is set to stand trial for tax fraud in 2015.

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PITIFU Massive scenes outcry aft er horrifi at the of animal cru c ‘Ausch witz for elty filmed anima ls’

Animal Auschwitz And the The Olive Press uncovered ‘the Spanish Auschwitz for animals’, exposing shocking photos of live dogs caged with their dead companions in Sevilla. Activists broke into the centre to free 200 captive canines overnight.

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to keep offiis It is this failure of attacks thatthe Calderwood, cial records to tackle

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Press has s becoming a ly in also failed the Olive severity of numerou “It is clearly cation of the ered evidence a terrifying ger issue and particular variety of Spanish a source at problem, despite attacks at a Puerto Bain sexual attacks the summer,” said Hall. year.

60% increase resorts including la and Magaluf. resorts last Marbella Town just don’t Fuengiro in Spanish bosses revelation “The problem is we nus, , back it up.”

The shocking from spikAt one nightclub for spikstatistics to the have the comes as assaults sacked an employee drink, without to soar, with ing begin ing a client’s police, while at even callingteenage expat reanother, a a man had bravealed how a powder’ to her ‘added zenly indrink.

Mallorca, hit Magaluf, in headlines this ternational

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Smash the spiking Cat-calling

video of a British week after a g oral sex or teenager performin A on a dance-flo REALITY: on 24 men in Marbella, HARSH went viral. clip shows stations in Fuengirola night out can end The two minute led on by a Police y Malaga, Mijas, real danger were shockingl the young blonde g crowd. and Mallorca any statischeering, cat-callin ld from Northunable to provide king.

The 18-year-o about drink-spi has since claimed Police came ern Ireland were spiked and tics Malaga National our request her drinks raped. insisting no she was later has led many back ‘unauthorised’ – with diex- was The incident on why - before tourists - and its headconcerned the ability explanati questions to question recting to to pats Madrid. s in Spain quarters in of the authoritie king seriously. take drink-spi 6

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Spain’s national police shared its top tips for drug-smugglers, via Twitter. “It’s better if you’ve already rolled them [joints] and hide them where the sniffer dogs can’t detect them, a cigarette packet maybe?” Does that make them Twits of the Year?

Were you ready?

Mistaken identity

The Oscars were all of a twitter when the Academy’s live Twitter feed mistook Penelope Cruz (right) for Salma Hayek (above). Well, they are both Latinas.

Theatre of dreams

Expats throughout Spain and Gibraltar were left in the dark by the Big TV Switch Off on February 4. The programming disaster spawned a glut of gizmos and gadgets for bringing Auntie Beeb & Co back into our lives.

Gibraltar proudly unveiled audacious plans for its new 8,066-seat UEFA football stadium. Nine months on, it’s still an unconfirmed fixture, amid protests over the proposed Europa Point location.

23 2014

SPIKED!

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has Mijas. re- Costa, in del Sol firewatch group local bookbanning the Costa event, while has withHall for not high fire alert The on nilva Town slammed the bookshop to see lease, with the coast Spring.

Sabinillas party is set infer- shop the lanterns from sale. insisted ible’ beach ‘illegal’ Chinese after an extremely dry however drawn coast saw three of AN ‘irrespons of hundreds fire risk, claim It comes after thewith Competa, Casares Manilva Town Hall on July 12 the release will go ahead a clear ing serinos last week the free event all experienc lanterns, despite will see and Torremolinos on Page 3 continues campaigners. Full Moon party guests as planned. lanterns at ous fires. than 1,200 The Sabinillas 5,000 At the weekend, more from el Club La of the candle-lit the launch by an estimated be evacuated also had to the midnight, watched Marevellers. s have criticised INVEOlive Pr However opponent ST es

Full Moon

February

Europe’s biggest ever antifraud operation saw 84 arrests in boiler rooms across Spain, including 75 Brits. A huge stash of guns, cash, jewellery and luxury cars were seized by more than 300 police officers.

European migration became a hot topic after Spanish border guards fired rubber bullets at Africans attempting to swim from Morocco to Ceuta, leading to the deaths of at least 12 people.

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Most are oming woe. on to across the floor is strewn denounced , which has food is scatte ver he agree keen to been to allow and on ‘nume casions d red along scant establish The pens, rous’ oc- activists tolocal charities side it. groups, by local anima each conta dozens Turn to l rights hundreds offind homes for and is run by man - and SAVED: page 3 the dogs in a busin not beenof dogs, had ining A lucky ess- ter. the shelPedro Luis reportedly not weeks cleaned for clearly Some Galgo EXCLUSIV Fernández a vet - It is said to receiv days, if lo, who of . dogs a E has a privat e up Castil wounds, the animals had month, next e kenne - hunting many to 250 A tribute signs of while there open Accordoor. dogs, with of them ls bers malnutrition ding to were rious illnes increa the Presid numsources, sing as mate Micto my and sesion has ent s.

Dozens the recesthe One deepened. €100,000 is paid an estim hael gathered of angry prote Olive Press Jacobs by the differor more each ated sters reader tora de outside the By his best year ent his Rena town ‘anim ProtecTurn to friend Chris by activiAnimales - descr In 2012,al sanctuary’.halls for page 2 Stewart ibed My dear Auschwitzsts as ‘the Borm Maire Michael friend Saturday for anima Spanish their na actually ujos and ls’ - on - Page arrangeme withdrew ing action afternoon dema 16 poun . nd- nuncid, after a nt with the Later that night as again string of detreatment. st it for activists misHowever the presid ent sued

A GLASS

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- PAGE

The Olive Press went undercover in Puerto Banus and Magaluf to reveal the shocking failure of authorities to police drink-spiking, leaving tourists and locals at risk of sexual assaults and m u g g i n g s . We launched the ongoing ‘Smash the spiking’ c a m p a i g n to bring the problem into the public eye. s UK TV Solution Installations g Troubleshootin

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Bulled over

Pamplona’s iconic San Fermin bullrunning festival took to the streets, with the Olive Press in hot pursuit, always ready to grab the proverbial by the horns to bring you the news as it happens.

August Botox baddie We cornered a mental health nurse, David Hill – previously jailed in Britain for torturing an 85-year-old dementia patient – giving unlicenced Botox injections on the Costa del Sol.

Pathetic punch-up Orlando Bloom (below left) and Justin Bieber (below right) had starring roles in what became known as ‘history’s most pathetic celebrity scuffle’ - a rum punch-up on the party is-

Brave victim

Norwegian expat rape victim, Goril Hvidsten, spoke out against her three attackers after she was raped on a night out in Alicante province, having had her drink spiked.

September Mad manhunt Cancer boy Ashya King’s family triggered an international manhunt after they were accused of snatching their son from his UK hospital bed and fleeing to their Costa del Sol home, just metres from the Olive Press office. Ashya is now recovering well in Spain after undergoing treatment in Prague.

Daylight shooting

When Irish gangster Gerard ‘Hatchet’ Kavanagh was shot dead in broad daylight in a packed Elviria shopping centre, the Olive Press was the first newspaper on the scene.

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Ebola outbreak fear

The Rock’s big day What’s red and white and proud all over? Gibraltarians on their National Day.

1

28/08/14

15:02

The Olive Press congratul ates Gibraltar on its

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MALAGA is facing tial Ebola outbreaka potenafter a Nigerian man, 40, displayed symptoms of the deadly virus.

The Carlos Haya hospital (above) launched emergency protocols on Sunday, while hospital sources admitted they were ‘completely pared’ for an outbreak. unpreThe man is being kept in protective isolation until results are received. It is feared he contracted the disease on a trip home to Nigeria.

"If it turns out that Ebola, then we will he has got a hospital worker all get it," said, adding that the hospital is unable to deal with such serious The man - who lives cases. quera - arrived with in Antea high fever, and was immediately put into isolation.

Aside from the fever, not show any other he did recognisable symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and At least two otherbleeding. victims in Spain suspected have out to be false alarms turned over the last fortnight.

See page 20

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Vol. 8 Issue 195

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17 2014

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Migrant SOS

Save Our Son Malaga

EXCLUSIVE: Costa friends reveal Ashya King was Spain, where his diagnosed in previously lived family had for many years

September 4 - September

A GIANT stand-off ensued this weekend Spanish enclave on the border of grants storming Melilla with Morocco, with hundreds of the the of miIn another attempt border. to enter Europe, a held up for two hours Tangier to Tarifa selves in the motor. on Sunday, after three migrants ferry was Intershipping ferry, Passengers watched from the hid themdeck of the hiding place near as the Moroccans were hauled from have already died the blades. It is estimated that 1,800 their trying to cross the Mediterranean this people year.

See our feature on drug- and people-traffick ing on Page 6

By Tom Powell and Rob Horgan in Casares Joe Chivers in and the Axarquia TERMINALLY ill Ashya King was diagnosed with a brain tumour in Spain before being rushed back to England for emergency treatment, the Olive Press can reveal.

The seriously-ill child - whose parentsBritish Brett and Naghmeh fled last week sparkingEngland ternational manhunt an in- had been taken to a local clinic after suffering headaches.

“He had been having headaches back in the UK as well so they took him to a doctor who referred hospital for a scan, him to which was when they found out he had just months said family friend to live,” Joseph Lathey, 20, who knows the Kings from Jehovah’s Witness meetings.

The family-of-nine just returned to had only they have owned the home in Casares for the last decade, forward to a long looking summer holiday.

The Olive Press they have been can reveal living on/ off in Spain since buying the beachside apartment 10

REUNITED: Ashya King and family (right)

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the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

Royal rumours Rumours were rife of a sovereign visit to Gibraltar. It would be the first time the Queen sets foot on the Rock in 60 years but it turned no official plans have been announced as yet.

Callous crime A British millionaire businessman was shot dead in Estepona by his jealous ex-girlfriend but it was no crime of passion.

Slovakian model Mayka Kukucova (right) allegedly lay in wait for two days inside his home before killing him.

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The Olive Press revealed that convicted fraudster Nigel Goldman was back in business under new name ‘Howard del Monte’. In a four-page expose we discovered the web of criminal personalities surrounding the conman. It became very clear that ‘all that glitters is not Goldman’...

Long live the king!

Spain welcomed its new monarch on June 19. King Felipe VI succeeded his father Juan Carlos, along with his former journalist wife, the new Queen Letizia. Approval ratings for the former king’s reign increased from 41% to 65% following his abdication. His jumbo mistake was going on that €10,000-a-day elephant shoot …

Migrants’ journey

Murder charge

The Olive Press travelled to Ceuta and Morocco to meet the migrants who had fled their war-torn and poverty-stricken homelands to reach European soil.

Missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick’s step-father, Dave Mahon, was charged with her older brother Dean’s murder. Dean, a father-of-one, was stabbed outside his Dublin home, reportedly after confronting Dave about Amy’s disappearance in La Cala.

Small parties hit the big time

Casa de Putin

Name change

The Olive Press hit the Presidential trail, gaining unprecedented access to Spain’s exclusive La Zagaleta estate to discover the truth behind the rumours that Vlad Putin was building a €19 million palace in the grounds.

The tiny village of Castrillo Matajudios – or Fort Kill Jews – was rechristened the more ‘PC’ Castrillo Mota de Judios – Hill of Jews. A case of antisemitic semantics.

Europe’s parliamentary elections saw UKIP take an unwanted seat in Gibraltar, while Pablo Iglesias and his anti-corruption party Podemos made their grand entrance in Spain.

October

December

November

Made a hash of it

OLIVE PRESS INVESTIGATES

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Kim’s Animal Rescue Centre near Mijas went into to crisis, following allegations of neglect and abuse. The Olive Press stepped in with a campaign to gather volunteers, donations of food, bedding and offers of homes so that every dog could have its day. It remains a work in progress.

28/08/14

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EXCLUSIVE

By Tom Powell THE mystery surrounding a missing expat girl has deepened after three men - at least one likely to be British - were arrested for kidnapping.

The news came as it emerged that the mayor of Marbella’s stepson and his cousin had been out partying with missing Latvian Agnese Klavina, 30, on the night she disappeared.

The Olive Press can reveal that both voluntarily went in for questioning after their friend was ushered into a car outside Puerto Banus nightclub Aqwa Mist, at 6am, on September 6.

42

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Missing expat mystery

Brit vicar ‘holidayed’ with sex ring priests EXCLUSIVE

By Jacqueline Fanchini A BRITISH vicar has told the Olive Press how he spent family holidays with a trio of priests arrested in an alleged Granada sex ring.

The Dorset-based clergyman explained that the group seemed ‘so nice, open and hospitable’ during holidays with his wife and children in the city.

The holy man, who asked for his identity to be protected, insisted the group of priests ‘acted like a family’ and were ‘very supportive of each other’.

While three priests have so far been arrested, up to a dozen more are still under investigation.

LAST SIGHTING: Agnese Klavina and (left) with friends at Aqwa Mist

Illegal detention

She has not been seen since, despite her clothes, passport and personal possessions being at her shared home in Nueva Andalucia.

Now three men, ‘one bald, stocky and British-looking, wearing shorts’, have been arrested and charged with ‘illegal detention’.

While National Police are refusing to confirm ages, nationalities or, even initials,

Ebola and out

Police arrest three - one allegedly British - over the disappearance of Agnese, who was out with mayor of Marbella’s stepson on the night she vanished they have apparently been released on bail.

According to mayor Ange-

The day the Olive Press met the world’s most titled woman

les Munoz’s stepson, Joakim Broberg, the arrests came after police scoured CCTV evidence from around the resort, as well as the nightclub itself.

“They showed me a still from the CCTV and asked if I could identify a bald man seen outside the club,” Broberg, 42, told the Olive Press.

He added that rumours sweeping the town of his involvement were ‘a load of bulls**t’.

However the estate agent, whose father Lars Broberg is

married to the PP mayor, admitted that he had been out with Agnese on the night.

“I went home with my girlfriend at 3am while Agnese, my cousin Niclas and a few others went on to Aqwa Mist.

They left the club at around 5am after Agnese met another girl.

“I sent her a WhatsApp on the Saturday but it never came up as delivered, and when no-

Missing mystery goes on

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Apology

body could reach her we reported it to the police.”

While the investigation continues in ‘secret’, Olive Press sources reveal that police have searched six houses and several cars.

There is talk of links with other missing women.

What is certain is that Agnese, 30, had been living in Marbella since May, initially moving here on a three Continues on Page 4

The probe in the Zaidin parish was launched after one victim, abused from the age of 13, wrote to Pope Francis, who in turn encouraged him to go to the police in Spain.

He later phoned the man, now a 24-year-old teacher, in person and has since apologised on behalf of the Catholic

Church.

According to sources, the priests were said to have convinced young boys that having sex with them would not be a sin.

It has been alleged that the group of 10 priests and two Turn to Page 2

Made in London, Page 6

The virus of the year arrived in Spain, when nurse Teresa Romero Ramos was diagnosed with Ebola in Madrid. Despite fears of a country-wide epidemic, the only permanent casualties were her dog, Excalibur, and the career of disgraced Health Minister Ana Mato.

News of a massive hash haul thrown overboard during a storm and washing up in Cadiz went viral on social media. Now 70 people are facing jail time for scooping the drugs out of the sea and causing marijuana mayhem.

Priest pocketed

As a sinister paedophile sect led to the arrests of three Granada priests and a religious teacher, the Olive Press went underground in the Catholic church to ask whether its days of influence are numbered.

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The hunt for missing expat Agnese Klavina made international headlines after the Olive Press exclusively revealed that three men had been arrested for her kidnap. The news came amid rumours that the Mayor of Marbella’s stepson had been out partying with the 30-year-old on the night she disappeared. But the search for Agnese continues. www.alpusat.com

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Might milestone!

Slope time And to finish the year, the Olive Press sloped off to the Sierra Nevada for a White Christmas.

Happy anniversary to us! The Olive Press celebrated its 200th edition with a bumper issue, packed with competitions and exclusives.

Final farewells

As 2015 gets underway, we pause to reflect on some of the country’s most iconic figures who are no longer with us - gone but not forgotten

Michael Jacobs

Paco de Lucia

Adolfo Suarez

Tom Stewart

Duchess of Alba

Just 11 days into 2014, the country was mourning the death of one of its most famous adopted sons. Writer, art historian and gastronome with a passionate enthusiasm for the Spanish way of life, Michael Jacobs died from cancer at 60.

The tragic death of worldrenowned flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia shocked the country in February. The celebrated musician died at the age of 66 after a heart attack, while playing with his children on a beach in Mexico.

In March the country mourned the passing of Adolfo Suarez, former Prime Minister of Spain who steered the country back to democracy after Franco’s dictatorship. The respected statesman died aged 81, after a decade battling with Alzheimer’s disease.

In August, the Olive Press suffered the pain of loss close to home, when popular Axarquia distributor Tom Stewart died of a heart attack at the age of 62.

Born in Scotland, Tom lived the last 12 years of his life in Coin.

Spain lost one of its most adored and avant garde public figures in November. Renowned for being the world’s most titled woman, the 18th Duchess of Alba - known as Cayetana de Alba - died at the age of 88. A wealthy and eccentric aristocrat, the Duchess will be remembered as a darling of the gossip magazines.

18 18

2014

www.theolivepress.es 18 18

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

Round up

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

A wwwinner!

‘Appy New Year!

Stats show, www.theolivepress.es had the online wow factor in 2014, as THE key local news website for expats - as our social media platforms also gained massive momentum Bounce rate -

Most viewed stories:

Total story comments -

Top commented on stories:

Web users - 958,377 up

1) Brit expats in Spain lose all BBC channels with ITV and C4 to follow

1) Brit expats in Spain lose all BBC, ITV and C4 channels 95,388 views

Page views - 4,772,886

2) Ryanair flight attendant sacked for eating a sandwich

Pages per session -

3) Trouble in the skies over Gibraltar

Total stories on website -

10,673

36,225

37.72%

up 125.87%

up 69.45%

down 78.97%

Visitors from around the globe (compared to 2013): UK Spain USA Ireland

+48.7% +30.06% +23.31% +17.9%

Gibraltar Germany Netherlands France

Figure comparisons with 2013

+3.34% +99.78% +64.07% +55.3%

2) Man injured by 396 gallons of water dropped from plane in ice bucket challenge stunt 66,640 views 3) Plaza Margaret Thatcher, Madrid, vandalised less than 24 hours after inauguration 44,197 views 4) Magaluf police investigate ‘mamading’ oral sex contest for free drinks - 33,506 views 5) Ex-soldier claims he saw Madeleine McCann by Nerja swimming pool - 31,412 views

EASY-READ: Read the Olive Press on our Apple and Android apps completely free

GETTING your hands on a copy of the Olive Press each fortnight is even easier this year.

After the success of the Olive Press iPhone app, launched two years ago, the newspaper is now available on all Android mobile phones and devices – totally free!

Updated the same morning that the newspaper hits the streets, the app makes it easy to flick through the pages, zooming in and out.

You can also scroll back through previous editions, as well as scour the packed classified section and find your favourite articles with an easy-touse search box.

The app has been developed and is hosted by PageSuite, one of the UK’s leading online developers.

Life is getting Tweeter WHEN the Olive Press launched nearly a decade ago a tweet was just the sound a bird makes and a ‘retweet’ was, well, nothing.

But in 2014 we gained more than 1,000 new Twitter followers, taking our total to nearly 4,000.

Follow @OlivePress to be the first to read all the big-

gest stories as they break.

Meanwhile our Facebook page - www.facebook. com/OlivePressNewspaper - is growing faster than ever, currently on 6,375 ‘likes’.

This burgeoning community is ideal for sharing and commenting on the stories that affect expats most.

Podemos - 2015 elections could see the party thrive.

La Linea - Booms thanks to Gibraltar’s jobs market.

Chinese bazaars - They’re here, there and everywhere.

Caminito del Rey - Spain’s deadliest walkway to reopen.

Temperatures - Hottest summer since 1857.

UP DOWN Princess Cristina - Faces tax fraud charges in 2015.

Spanish football - A dismal World Cup was the start of the rot.

Petrol prices - Down 20% in 12 months!

Visit Google Playstore on Android devices or Apple store on iPhones to download the app.

Top knots and beards - Summer’s gone and so should they be.

Google News - Closed in Spain after a law change.

Property

20

20 20

Losing the plot

By Imogen Calderwood FALLING property prices in 2014 have set Spain’s ‘bad bank’ up for a second consecutive annual loss.

Experts believe that a cleanup of the country’s financial sector could take longer than planned as a result.

Sareb, the ‘bad bank’, holds €50 billion in land, buildings and loans inherited

Sareb experts predict second year of loss because of falling property prices

from other bailed-out banks during the crisis. It was set up in 2013 to supposedly put an end to Spain’s banking and property troubles.

After a first-year loss of €261 million in 2013, experts are predicting that 2014 will produce a similar result.

Now entering its third year, experts familiar with Sareb say they are worried that the continuous fall in property prices is eroding its capital, according to Reuters news agency.

In 2015, Sareb will outsource the management of most of

its assets to new property companies, in an attempt to sell more of its portfolio through their networks.

House sales are slowly increasing in Spain, though prices are still falling and have almost halved since 2008.

Peas in a pod JAPANESE-INSPIRED ‘pod hotels’ could soon be arriving in Spain.

The British micro-hotel company Yotel is eyeing Madrid and Barcelona with a view to global expansion.

Inspired by first-class aircraft cabins, the tiny rooms are described as ‘flexible spaces with every comfort’.

The rty Prope r InsAiddameNeale

COMPACT: Pods at Amsterdam’s Yotel hotel include 24/7 ‘Food to go’, free wifi and a TV

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The human touch

he internet has been called the great disintermediator, enabling buyers and businesses to deal directly with one another, cutting the cost and time of getting things done. In doing so, it has also cut countless industries to shreds. Think travel agents, insurance brokers, bookshops...

Now, some new start-ups in the US and the UK are betting that the real estate business will be next. And, let’s face it, of all the middle-people many would wish to cut out of the picture, estate agents must be close to the top of the list.

The USP of the online business model is fixedfee (rather than commission-based) payment with the promise of big potential savings, compared to ‘traditional’ agencies like ourselves.

Online agents claim they can charge less, and pass savings on to clients, because they don’t need to rent expensive high-street locations, employ staff, or even make calls. Clients communicate with them online or via a 24/7 call centre, located somewhere in the ether.

The one thing that unites them all is the bold claim that their business is the way forward and ‘traditional’ estate agents are history. For all the talk of the end of an era, two recent articles in The Economist reveal some interesting data about why our business is still about bricks and mortar, metaphorically speaking.

The latest, in November, noted that despite the number of property websites out there, only 9% of US home sales in 2013 were achieved without an estate agent. Even more surprising was that the share has dropped since 2008, when it hit a high of just 13%.

Nor do online agencies appear to be putting too many old-school agents out of a job. In June, The Economist reported a 16% rise in the number of people working for UK property firms in 2013, a faster growth rate than any other sector.

The data suggests most people still prefer to work with traditional agents, even if that means paying higher fees than offered online. While many surf the net for properties from the com-

BLISS: A real estate agent provides it

fort of their own homes, when it comes to buying or selling they demand the local knowledge and one-to-one service only a ‘human’ agent can provide.

The UK’s leading property site, Rightmove, reported this September that online agents account for just 2% of listings, a tiny fraction of the market. Its research suggests sellers and landlords rely on agents with a local presence, and rate this highly when assessing service and trust. ‘Traditional’ agents offer added value. It may be the hours spent talking with sellers about what makes their property special, or the kilometres in the car with buyers looking for their dream home; but what we really offer is personal service.

Rather than replace traditional agencies, the internet adds value to an existing business model. More than 80% of server traffic at Inmoba, an Estepona-based industry network that lists 16,000 properties on the Costa del Sol, comes via Google; but 100% of their listings come from real-world real estate agents, just like us.If buying a home were that simple, Amazon would sell houses. But when selling or buying what, for most of us, is the biggest asset we’ll ever own, most of us would rather deal with a human being than a robot - even if he or she is an estate agent!

Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona. Tel: +34 951 318480.

Office Mob: +34 678 452109

Top Dollar

www.theolivepress.es

21

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

January 8th - January 21st 2015

Dogs with a bone

‘Forensic’ report reveals further excesses of Caja Madrid top dogs

TOP DOG: Miguel Blesa CAJA Madrid’s top executives allegedly received almost €15 million more than they should have in the last two years of Miguel Blesa’s presidency.

A ‘forensic study’ exploring the bank’s salaries – created by PricewaterhouseCoopers for Spain’s Orderly Bank Restructuring Fund (FROB) – claims that the senior management of Caja Madrid committed ‘a wrong amounting to an estimated €14.8 million’.

An estimated 80% of this excessive payout – received during 2007 and 2008 –

went to the 12 top members of the bank’s board.

These include: bank president Miguel Blesa; business director Matias Amat; financial director Ildefonso Sanchez Barcoj; board secretary Enrique de la Torre and the general manager Ricardo Morado Iglesias.

The FROB’s dossier details the methods the management team allegedly used to bag the money: irregular bonuses, undeserved pay rises and suspicious pension plans.

Blesa is also implicated alongside former IMF boss Rodrigo Rato in an ongoing case at the High Court for the ‘magic’ cards expenses scandal.

Lavish spending on credit cards issued to Bankia and Caja Madrid executives and directors reached a reported total of €15.5 million between 2003 and 2012.

Both Blesa and Rato were ordered to repay a total of €19 million by judges last October.

AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

AUCTION rigging is a form of illegal collusion in which property speculators manipulate the bidding process to their advantage. Taking place most often at public foreclosure real estate auctions, it is a practice that is all too frequent here.

In some countries, it can incur jail penalties up to 10 years and fines as high as €1 million.

The US Department of Justice claims that over the past three fiscal years, it has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants, almost a third of them involving real estate.

Fiddling the bids

You can witness the fraudsters in action in Spain by going to more or less any busy auction where a desired property is due to come under the hammer.

Let’s take Marbella for example. Here, a selected group of subasteros - a term that describes a combination of speculator, opportunist, fraudster and liar - operate with alarming impunity. These guys are familiar faces who turn up day in day out to hijack the process. They chase away legitimate bidders

– occasionally with threats - demand money from serious contenders in exchange for their non-participation, or alternatively offer them money to refrain from bidding themselves, or escalate the bids to force out a newcomer.

The erstwhile boss of this Mafia-style syndicate was a bold (also bald), overweight individual. He had experience, money and contacts in the courts, but he now appears to have taken a step back. Perhaps his promi-

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nence was beginning to mirror his physique; perhaps he started to feel, quite sensibly, that it was time to retire. But his cohorts, and hundreds of others, remain.

There is a simple and obvious solution: ‘first price’ auctions in which the potential buyers place their bids in sealed envelopes and simultaneously hand them to the auctioneer.

Sadly, our lawmakers have so far failed to bring this in, or to tackle any of the flaws that are glaringly obvious in the current system.

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st

21

Top TopDollar Dollar

22 22 the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

BUSINESS IN BRIEF Back to work UNEMPLOYMENT numbers fell by 253,627 between December 2013 and December 2014, showing the biggest year-on-year fall on record, of 5.4%.

Hot wheels NEW car sales in Spain have jumped by 21.4% year-on-year in December, the 16th consecutive month of growth, according to car manufacturers’ association Anfac.

Tourist spree

www.theolivepress.es 22 the olive - October the olive press - January 8th -press January 21st 30- November 12 2014

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

New Year’s revolutions

T

HE year ahead looks to be an intriguing one full of political posturing as the UK prepares for the General Election in May. Particularly interesting will be the impact (or not) of UKIP and whether no c l e a r majority between Labour and the Con-

THE government has launched a Shopping Tourism Plan 2015, with a public budget of €2.8 million, in a bid to become a European leader in shopping tourism.

servatives is the outcome of the vote again. There is already speculation that there may even be two elections in 2015 if that situation arises.

For the average person, the trouble is that all we have to rely on is what the politicians say and, of course, there is always political spin and self interest at heart in their speeches.

One thing is for certain, the creedence given to the opinions voiced by UKIP has made the mainstream parties rethink some of their policies. Perhaps a ‘kick up the backside’ from UKIP will have done no harm?

When it comes to New

Year’s resolutions, the only decision I made this year is not to make any. This time last year I predicted that 2014 would see the FTSE100 share index break its previous 1999 record, but I was proved wrong. The Dow Jones in the US did manage to break through, however, and remains strong into the New Year.

For those with pension funds, what we also know is that we have some revolutionary changes in pension legislation and new benefits on the horizon.

Simply put, the majority of people over the age of 55 will have full access to their pension funds after April and we have

seen confirmation that the new rules will also be applicable to people who have transferred to QROPS. It is fair to say, however, that it will be up to the QROPS provider and their jurisdiction to determine whether they wish to allow the new rules to apply.

Market pressure is likely to have an impact in that regard and time will tell how many people will exercise the option to take more from their pension funds than they were previously allowed to do.

The new rules do not apply to all UK pension schemes as the pension fund needs to be held in a defined contribution arrangement for the flexibility to

apply for people with defined benefit/final salary pensions, they may not be able to transfer to an appropriate plan.

I see the new rules as a positive step as they will heighten awareness and will allow a far greater range of options when considering overall financial planning. However, with more options, the need for careful consideration and perhaps professional advice are more important than ever.

The government has promised ‘free guidance’ for all, but this can only be generic in its nature – very different to receiving personal financial advice.

Happy New Year.

Richard Alexander Financial Planning Limited is an appointed representative of L J Financial Planning Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Contact him at Richard@ra-fp.com

OIL ABROAD

PLUMMETING oil costs are greasing the wheels of Spain’s tourism industry with massive reductions in 2015 flight prices.

2015 looks to be a year of politics and pensions

Holidays for this year could cost half as much as 2014.

Spain is still the number one destination for Brits, according to Travel Supermarket,

and Easter flights to Spain have already seen up to 50% discounts.

Bookings from tourists looking to soak up some New Year

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sun are well underway and travel industry experts say the discounts will cover the Easter and summer holidays too.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said lower oil prices and stronger worldwide financial growth are the main reasons for the savings.

Joel Brandon-Bravo, UK managing director of Travelzoo, said: “With the low airfare prices we are seeing for the new year, early 2015 is set to kick off with some great travel offers.”

Is it all Crisis talks Uber?

BANNED car-ride app Uber has announced that it will be closing its service ‘temporarily’ in Spain, despite insisting that it would continue to operate.

CEO of Uber Spain, Carles Lloret, announced that the company was closing while a court order against it is appealed.

“We are temporarily suspending services in Spain while we appeal the court ruling and look to develop new options to give Spaniards access to safe, reliable rides,” he wrote.

A Spanish judge ordered telecom companies and payment service providers to block Uber - founded in California.

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PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy has claimed that 2015 will be ‘the year when our economy really takes off’.

In his end-of-year address, the PP leader insisted that 2014’s recovery was due to his government’s tough austerity measures.

Now his priority for the new year – the last of his current term in office – is to ‘recover the standard of living for Spaniards lost during the crisis’.

He added: “A year ago I predicted that 2014 would be better, and that expectation has been exceeded.

“Now is the time to overcome the effects of the crisis.”

However, at his own end-ofyear news conference, PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez claimed the crisis is not yet over for ordinary Spaniards.

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35

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st

Glaucoma is known as the ‘silent destroyer of eyesight’ and a common cause of avoidable blindness. Amrik Sappal from Specsavers Fuengirola has the lowdown Q. What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is often related to a change in the flow of the fluid inside the eye, which leads to an increase in pressure and damage to the optic nerve.

PROTEST: Hepatitis C patients want new drug

Life and death HUNDREDS of hepatitis C patients in need of life-saving drugs are planning to form a human chain around Moncloa, the Prime Minister’s residence.

Protesters will also launch a criminal complaint against former Health Minister Ana Mato for failing to provide proper care and preventing access to a new drug.

Campaigners from the Platform for Hepatitis C Sufferers said access to the drugs is ‘a matter of life and death’ and that an estimated 12 people die each day from the disease in Spain.

The Spanish Health Ministry said it was consulting with experts ‘to ensure access for patients to the treatments they need in line with clinical criteria’.

Last month, The Platform for Hepatitis C Sufferers held several protests, including a human chain around the Health Ministry.

Q. How is it diagnosed and treated?

Some types of glaucoma develop gradually, and the sufferer is often unaware of any problem until it is quite severe. Early detection and treatment is vital as glaucoma need no longer lead to blindness.

SIMPLE: Three tests for spotting Glaucoma There are three simple tests that opti- coma sufferer have approximately eight cians perform to spot glaucoma during times the normal risk of developing prian eye test; a visual examination of the mary open-angle glaucoma. optic nerve head, a check of the field of Diabetics, Afro-Caribbeans and very vision and measurement of the pressure short-sighted people are also at greater within the eye. If caught early enough, risk.

Glaucoma can be treated with drops.

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Crisis point HOSPITALS dissolved into chaos over the Christmas period as staffing levels fell dangerously low.

Denouncing the staffing levels in hospitals in Malaga province, nurses’ union Satse warned that the problem is set to worsen.

According to a statement released by the union, the Carlos Haya hospital in

Malaga did not have sufficient numbers of staff to carry out emergency operations in late December.

A boy needing an urgent operation on his appendix could not be operated on because nurses were busy treating minor injuries.

Satse has warned that the problem also spread to the pediatric and maternity de-

partments.

Workers in the hospital’s emergency department threatened to strike during the Christmas period in protest of low staff levels.

Shortly after this, workers in the maternity ward complained that the responsibility for the classification of patients had fallen to administrative staff rather

LED eye sore A LIFE spent staring at screens could rack up health problems far graver than ‘square eyes’.

Spanish researchers have found that the adoption of light-emitting diode (LED) technology in everything from ordinary light bulbs to computers, tablets and smartphones is having a negative impact on our eyesight.

The study suggests that high exposure to LED technology can lead to anything from insomnia to blindness.

Celia Sanchez-Ramos, a researcher at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, said: “Comput-

ers, tablets and smartphones that have LED screens are probably worse for our eyes than lightbulbs because we don’t look at them directly for extended periods.”

She added that it will take another ‘10-15 years to properly demonstrate the dangers of LED technology’ but stressed that measures should be taken now to safeguard our eyes.

She suggests taking vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc tablets to ensure healthy eyes, while wearing modified glasses will prevent harmful blue light from entering the eye.

than nurses.

Five non-urgent operations were carried out on children without any nurses present.

The hospital’s HR department explained that as the hospital had not yet met the required number of surgeries for the year, staff were pushing through nonurgent surgeries before the end of the year.

Unlucky break MOST cancers are the result of sheer bad luck, according to new research.

In most cases unhealthy lifestyles, diet and inherited genes are not to blame, claims scientists from John Hopkins University.

Random mutations in DNA when cells divide cause twothirds of adult cancers.

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25 The Olive Press’

OP

The Messi factor

BARCELONA superstar Lionel Messi is having as big an impact on UK classrooms as he is on the Camp Nou pitch.

Entries for Spanish GCSEs have rocketed and are likely to displace French as the most popular language taught in British Schools, as children see it as more useful.

Exam chiefs have attributed it to the ‘Messi impact’ and the growing dominance of Barcelona and Real Madrid on the world football stage.

“Young people are more exposed now to Spanish culture, from music to food to highprofile Spanish-speaking personalities such as Lionel Messi,” said Lesley Davies, Director of Standards at Pearson, owner of the Edexcel board.

Last year saw a 1.9% increase in children taking Spanish GCSEs, while those taking French dropped by almost 3%.

X

monthly youth and education section

the olive press - January 8 - January 21

treme

Hero’s return Football star returns to roots to give children a Christmas to remember

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: Isco surprises children at his former school

REAL Madrid star Isco Alarcon plays football on the world’s greatest stage but he is keen to remember where it all started.

The ex-Malaga playmaker surprised hundreds of children with a present they will never forget on the final day of term, children at La Leala primary school received an early Christmas present in the form of a signed postcard from the Spanish international.

The card read: “Dear pupils at La Leala, as many of you will know, I was once a student at your school.

“I still feel great affection for my old teachers and for the past and presents pupils.”

The card also included a signed picture of the winger playing for the Madrid outfit.

After celebrating Real Madrid’s win at the Club World Cup, Isco spent a few days on home turf with his family before returning to the capital.

Art with heart

THE aptly-named University of Emotions is living up to its name with its heartfelt art project, aimed at children with autism.

Teaming up with 28 artists, painters and sculptors, the university has set up a scheme to end the isolation of a group of 32 autistic children from Cordoba.

The artists have been breaking down communication barriers by tapping into the youngsters’ creative abilities.

The programme’s positive results so far have encouraged organisers to take the project to other cities.

Best improver SPANIARDS are speaking better English than ever, according to a new study.

Spain has ranked 20th among 60 countries in the Education First Proficiency Index, and was named the fourth best improved globally.

The government has ranked English as one of seven basic skills, alongside Spanish and maths.

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Resolving not to

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015

the olive press - January 8th - January 21st 2015 the olive press - December 11- December 24 2014

Belinda Beckett, aka Mistress of Sizzle, is making no promises for 2015

I

HAVE just one resolution for New Year 2015 and that’s to stop making them.

I’m already on the road to hell so why bother paving it with good intentions?

Anyway, resolutions are just guilt trips waiting to happen.

Statistically, only 8% of us actually keep them.

Take dieting... although I’d rather not. You start weighing lettuce leaves, you drop a dress size, you celebrate with the remains of the Christmas Quality Street and, before you know it, you’re back on the scales where you started, with added interest.

My weight has crept up by an average of one British Imperial pound per year, whatever fad diet I try. It only slowed down when I came to metric Spain because it takes twice as long to gain a kilo.

All this ballooning up and down has the worst possible effect on the skin – and if you’ve got any balloons still hanging around from the yuletide festivities, you’ll know what I mean.

I’m not giving up alcohol ei-

ther. The tubo of beer I look forward to at lunch time, the G&T before dinner, the wine with it and the tot of brandy afterwards have kept me out of the funny farm. Shrinks cost money and I'm not in BUPA. End of story.

Forget giving up smoking too.

Santa brought me a very nice e-cigarette for Christmas, and I’ve got ten cartons of flavoured fluids to get through first!

Take up a hobby? I have. Vaping’s a hobby, they have clubs for it!

Get in shape? I am. Round is a shape!

Do charity work? I do, of sorts. Half my wardrobe is hanging in the local branch of Cudeca because it no longer fits me.

Be more honest? I know someone who was twice sued and once divorced trying to keep that one.

Besides, not a lot of people know that the Oxford Dictionary has other definitions for the word ‘resolve’, which are quite opposite to its popular meaning: ‘dissolve’, ‘disinte-

CHEERS! Belinda has resolved to give up giving up

grate’, ‘dissipate’... which is exactly what happens to resolutions and the people who make them.

Prolonged abstinence dissolves the resolve, disintegrates the integrity and ultimately (when you realise that deciding to give up giving up is the only promise you’re likely to keep), leads to largescale dissipation. Another double Baileys please.

And if you look up ‘dissipation’, your Oxford Dictionary will confirm that it means ‘a frivolous or dissolute way of life’.

Mmm. I’ll have some of that, too!

Five resolutions I am training my moggies to keep - We will not sit on the computer keyboard ‘delete all’ button · We will not throw up fur balls in Mum’s slippers · We will not speed dial Dad’s family in New Zealand · We will not pretend to be a herd of wildebeest stampeding across the Serengeti Plains on any human’s bed when they’re asleep · We will eat the cheaper cat food

Slip sliding away…

T

HERE’S finally water in the lake. For months my normally lakefront cottage has overlooked a dustbowl of Steinbeck-esque proportions.

Although it did inspire me to begin my own Great American Novel – though admittedly due to the hedonistic excesses of my youth (and beyond) this autobiographical work is less ‘The grapes of wrath’ and more ‘The wrath of grapes’.

But once again I digress. The rain finally came and with it the reservoir began to fill up. As it collects the water from the Sierra de las Nieves plus the nearby La Concha mountain it began to fill rapidly, and there was a constant background noise of rushing water for the following few days. The current brought down all sorts of flotsam and jetsam, including tree trunks, plastic bottles and the body of the occasional Russian mafia member…

Soon the level began to rise which left me with just a slight predicament. One of the boats had been marooned in the middle of the lake since summer and had filled with water and so I scrambled down and bailed it out.

Unfortunately I decided not to moor the boat, as the water was at least 15 feet away.

A few quick glances from the FULL AGAIN: Rain brings water back to desolate lake

terrace during the afternoon confirmed that the water level was rising slowly. ‘Not a problem’, I thought to myself, ‘I’ll nip down after I’ve watched my film and moor up’.

Two hours after the latest Guy Ritchie movie I trudged down to the water’s edge in my dressing gown, to see the boat quietly floating out across the lake in the moonlight. As it was only 20 feet or so from where I stood, I briefly toyed with the idea of wading out to retrieve it, but then remembered that last time I tried that, I ended up six feet under the surface when I stepped off a submerged ledge.

Deciding that I’d look for it in the morning, I had a fitful night’s sleep, imaging the boat being taken by a fast flowing current and slamming into the dam at the far end of the lake, or worse, incurring a huge fine from the Junta for not mooring correctly.

Up at crack of sparrow fart the next morning I was hugely relieved to see that the boat had come to rest on the bank opposite the casita, so I paddled over with the kayak and rowed the boat back Gondolier style.

If you heard a snack of ‘O solo mio’ echoing through the hills above Marbella, it was probably me…

FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

30

Ramsay’s real kitchen nightmare

‘F words’ abound as chef battles phoney Tenerife restaurant

LOOK-A-LIKE: Imitation restaurant in Tenerife and (inset) chef Ramsay

Real Madrid restaurant for Dubai

Local issue 42:The Local Issue 5 9/12/13 11:52 AM Page 51

REAL Madrid superstars said farewell to 2014 with a bang at the inauguration of the world’s first Real Madrid restaurant in Dubai.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema, Ikar Casillas, Isco and Toni Kroos were all on hand to meet fans and foodies alike.

Competitions where winners will have the chance to meet the whole team kick-started the cafe’s life, according to Arabianknightonline.com.

Red is dead

Daring to be different

“Expect great and exciting things to come as our operations come into full swing, promising our guests a superb dining experience that no other restaurant can offer,” said Louis Alberts, general manager of the Real Madrid Café.

The café has already created a buzz among diners, with its ‘exhilarating’ range of Spanish dishes.

Football fans can enjoy live broadcasts of league games and take in the club merchandise and memorabilia lining the walls.

TV chef Gordon Ramsay is seeking legal advice in Spain to combat his own kitchen nightmare.

The Scot has been locked in a four-year legal battle with ‘the worst cafe in Tenerife’ which goes by the name Gordon Ransay’s.

Ramsay claims his own organisation has received ‘thousands of complaints’ due to the imitation restaurant.

One reviewer on TripAdvisor labelled the Tenerife cafe ‘the worst food in Tenerife’ while another said she ‘had to wrestle a big cockroach for a table’.

Ramsay first took legal action against the restaurant in the holiday resort of Puerto Colon in 2010.

At the time a spokesperson for the restaurant – which claims to sell ‘the coldest pint in town’ – said that it was paying Ramsay to use his name.

Despite Ramsay’s continual challenges, the restaurant keeps thriving as clueless diners mistake it for the real deal.

The cafe serves up a full English breakfast for just €4.90 while dinner in one of Ramsay’s London restaurants can cost up to €250 per person.

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Grape gripe SPANISH wine experts are joining a Mediterranean-wide crusade to protect native grape varieties.

Vineyards across Spain are being restructured at a rapid pace as high-yielding foreign varieties, such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay, take over.

Fernando Martinez de Toda, a La Rioja-based

Wine pros get vocal about growing local agricultural engineer, first noticed the effect 25 years ago and launched a research project to protect native species.

“People were taking out lesser-known varieties to put in French varieties, or THE EU has now increased the sum available for promoting wine over the period of 2014-2018 by 121%, to €1.15 billion.

Olive oil prices soar PESTILENCE and last year’s extreme heat have sent olive oil prices rocketing upwards.

Growers have named 2014 a ‘black year’ for production. The International Olive Council (IOC) said it will hit its lowest level in 15 years, with the total annual yield down by almost a third.

Market observers say a bottle of good olive oil could soon cost more than a bottle of premium wine, as wholesale prices

have climbed by more than 100% over the past 12 months.

Insects such as the olive fruit fly – whose maggots hatch deep within the olive before gnawing their way out – and large flocks of starlings have devastated vast swathes of crops.

An exceptionally warm May and June also affected the blooming of trees at a time when moisture is vitally important to olive development.

better-known Spanish ones, like Tempranillo,” he said.

Since then, he estimates that his project has rescued 40 rare varieties of native grapes, through the stashing and cultivating of samples.

“People called us crazy, but we were losing varieties without even knowing what we were losing,” he said.

“We decided just to keep them somewhere and see if we could find a future use for them.”

Martinez’s team has introduced five varieties to La Rioja, certifying them for wine production in La Rioja’s denominacion de origen.

According to Martinez, it is one of the first times in the world that varieties had been authorised from a research project.

He continued: “Varieties that are native to the region have a completely different footprint.

“It’s an obligation that we have – we can’t deprive future generations of the varieties that made it all the way up until now.”

olive press F

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January 8th - January 21st

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Public exhibitionism FLAUNTED: Giant vagina

Too many holes

A COURT case against a group of people who carried a ‘giant vagina’ in a parade has been discharged.

The judge said there were too many holes in the case and threw it out of court.

The Malaga judge believes it is impossible to prosecute as the culprits, who wore balaclavas, cannot be identified.

The case had been launched by the Spanish Association of Christian Lawyers after women’s rights campaigners paraded the four-foot statue of a vagina dressed up as the Virgin Mary through Malaga.

While he summed up that it was a crime, the case could not be pursued.

POETIC: Art in London and Paris

THE writing could be on the wall for street art royalty as a new Spanish contender gains ground for his poetic daubings around Europe’s cities.

Although some have branded him as the ‘new Banksy’, the reserved artist only known as ‘Pejac’ uses humour and melancholy to promote reflection, instead of bold and controversial imagery. “Adult life is pure inertia, which seems to be broken only by bad news or incentives, and if I can make people think, it all

makes sense,” says Pejac.

His work appears both outdoors and indoors, and has

been spotted in London, Moscow, Istanbul, Paris and across Spain.

Up there with New Orleans and Johannesburg, Malaga is the world’s second hottest tourist city

By Tom Powell travel guide has picked it out as one of the world’s hottest travel destinations for the

Home win for Moyes?

THE only British football manager in La Liga, David Moyes, has been linked with a move back to England after just two months in charge of Real Sociedad.

The Scot, 51, is among the favourites to take over at Newcastle United, following the departure of Alan Pardew.

The former Manchester United boss has won twice in the league so far with Real Sociedad, who are based in Santander, including a memorable victory at home to Barcelona.

He is now at 50/1 with bookmaker Paddy

Power to become the boss of Newcastle this January, having been the bookmakers’ favourite to replace controversial boss Pardew throughout last summer.

Moyes, who managed Everton for 11 years, made the switch to Spain in November, with plans to use a translator and undertake intensive Spanish lessons.

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ANDALUCIAN TV station Canal Sur has released a two minute video to apologise for a technical fault that ruined the midnight moment on New Year’s Eve.

Real prospect REAL Madrid look to have snapped up Europe’s hottest footballing prodigy, 16-year-old Norwegian Marin Odegaard.

Homeward bound

Must-do Malaga MALAGA has been hailed as the second top city to visit in 2015 by Rough Guides.

The Andalucian port is in the midst of a booming cultural revival, and the renowned

Midnight mess-up

coming year.

The annual top 10 rankings are headed by Johannesburg in South Africa, with New Orleans in third place and, perhaps more surprisingly, Birmingham in England makes the list in ninth place.

With the Picasso Museum, the soon-to-be-opening Cube in the harbour and a burgeoning art scene, Malaga is beginning to really put its name on the global map.

“Founded by the Phoenicians, the ancient city of Malaga has far more to offer than the usual Spanish cocktail of sun, sea and sangria – though all of those things are still in plentiful supply,” states the Rough Guide.

“Projects signalling Malaga’s cultural revival include a new museum of Russian art, set to

light up a former tobacco factory, and the continued development of a mural-daubed Soho, which attracts trailblazing artists.”

Tourism in Malaga has increased by a reported 8% this year. In April the city was named one of Spain’s top 10 travel destinations by TripAdvisor.

Top 10 for 2015 1. Johannesburg (South Africa) 2. Malaga (Spain) 3. New Orleans (USA) 4. Hamburg (Germany) 5. Nizwa (Oman) 6. Wellington (New Zealand) 7. Belgrade (Serbia) 8. Salta (Argentina) 9. Birmingham (UK) 10. Yangon (Myanmar)

A BRITISH family in Alhaurin de la Torre got the best Christmas present imaginable when a vet in Sevilla discovered their beloved dog six years after he had been stolen.

FINAL WORDS

the

Covering Andalucia in 2014 with over 200,000 papers (130,000 digital) and around 300,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

E RE

Into the valleys WELSH NHS bosses have been forced to employ 70 Spanish nurses over Skype, amid a staffing crisis in the country’s health system.

Mouse takes the mickey A STOWAWAY mouse delayed a Qatar Airways flight from Madrid to Doha by more than six hours after sneaking on board.

Passengers on the previous flight alerted the airline after the rascally rodent made its way down the aisle as the plane touched down at Madrid’s Barajas airport.

The airline took immediate action to fumigate the aircraft, resulting in a six hour delay as the fumes dissipated and the mouse’s corpse was removed from the scene.

This isn’t the first time a rodent has caused problems for air passengers. In October, a flight from Zurich to Malaga was delayed by five hours after a mouse checked in on board.

And last December, a flight from London to New York was cancelled after a mouse was spotted on the plane.