Mallorca Olive Press - Issue 98

Fat not fit is what matters

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

January 27th - February

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

Watch that chat

A

Mariano Esteban and

Juan Garcia Arriaza,

developers of the vaccine

INTO THE ABYSS: Proof that Editor Jon Clarke DOES have a heart - see page 12

R-RATED

App ‘n go

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

GOOD START

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

Model justice?

SOUGHT: Kirby

A WELL-KNOWN British expat and former glamour model is set to go on trial today.

Jody Smart, 44, has been called to answer questions in a multi-million euro pensions scam that lost hundreds of expats from across Spain including Mal-

a 10% rise in SCIENTISTS say that the chance of mask wearing triples infection rate keeping the R number for COVID below one.

Health, reWriting in Lancet Digital the numsearchers said that keeping the pandemic is ber below one means shows the numshrinking. The R rate by each carrier ber of people infected of the coronavirus. people in the They studied 300,000 USA to reach their conclusion.

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

Esteban. ‘creates 100% against researcher Mariano has verified that the vaccine susceptible to proven to be 100% effective Arriaza said that the team in a humanised mouse SPANISH vaccine has protection against SARS-CoV-2 important.’

COVID-19 in mice. infection, which is very been modified to replicate Mariano Esteban and Juan will the SARS-CoV-2 The jab, developed by virologists the MVA virus has Centre for Biotechnology, In the Spanish vaccine, of SARS-CoV-2, which is the key that allows Garcia Arriaza at the National S protein ‘within weeks’. to eradicate the complete to enter human cells. move on to human trials of the virus that was used the coronavirus the protein and teaches the Journal of Virol- It therefore introduces the immune system to The vaccine uses a variant the results published in smallpox, according to and eliminate it. vaccine protected belonging it how to recognise one or two doses of the ogy.

Spanish biotech giant Biofabri, According to the study, mice from COVID-19.

It is being developed withplans for clinical trials already in motion.

100% of the ‘humanised’ the vaccine blocked replito the Zendal group, with jab uses the ‘Modified Ankara vaccinia’ vi- Arriaza added, however, that two doses of in the lungs. protein that manDubbed MVA-CoV-2, the COVID-19 to transport a SARS-CoV-2 the coronavirus, cation of the coronavirus that the MVA vector-based in animal rus (MVA) as a vehicle system defense against “These results demonstrate and complete efficacy ages to stimulate an immune for Scientific Research. produces robust immunity clinical trials,” the rethe Spanish Medi- vaccine its future application in reported the Higher Council for the green light fromhuman trials, which models, and supports waiting now is Biofabri before progressing searchers declared. the first of two clinical could begin in a few weeks cines Agency to kickstart Clinical phases I and II could start in a few weeks.the MVA-CoV-2 vaccine candidate gener- to phase III. on hamsters and macaques. of neutralising “We have observed that now also be carried out response with the production explained Tests will ates a robust immune of T lymphocytes in mice,” antibodies and the activation

DELIGHTED: Virologists

9th 2021

Vol. 4 Issue 98 www.theolivepress.es January 29th - February 11th 2021

And much more in our special four page pull-out - see page 9

orca the r e sav ngs gramme How the Other Ha L ves She s set to be o ned by three other or- about her ash on bus ness she boasted mer emp oyees o Cont nenta Wea th how she was worth €13 m on wh e Management (CWM) at the hear ngs show ng off her floor-to-ce ng shoe that are a year beh nd co ect on and wear ng m ted ed t on J mmy Choos schedu e Fash on des gner The tr a wh ch resumed n Den a th s morn ng w ask her - and e ow emSmart - aka Jody Be p oyees Pau C arke Stephen Ward and Jody K rby - w be gr ed over how her and Anthony Downs - what happened Den a-based compa- to c ents money that was put n h ghny CWM co apsed n r sk nvestments The pr vate prosecut on aga nst the 2017 eav ng many o our co-de endants has been brought the firm s 750 mosty-Br t sh c ents w th by 17 ormer CWM c ents The ast court date was n Febhuge finanruary w th Apr hearca probOLIVE ngs postponed due to ems PRESS the pandem c Law auLast year we exposed thor t es are PAPER TRAIL ormer CWM adv sor a so try ng Ne Hathaway or to trace her stea ng hundreds o ex husband cop es o the O ve Darren K rOLIVE Press a ter we reby PRESS ported how he was Wh e many 147 834 s be ng gr ed as part 952 o CWM ProfitsMovers o the proceed ngs v ct ms ost and We tracked the a the r savlosses d sgraced financ a ngs and a adv sor down to h s coup e commu t -m on euro m tted su v a above Javea c de Smart where he adm tted a eged y travt say ng he had a so e ed bus E ost a ot o money ness c ass to Making theGUID headlines Lega act on coord Amer ca and ved n huge uxury nator Ange a Brooks to d the O ve IN COURT: Jody Smart Press that she was g ad the tr a was v as She a so a eged- fina y on y rece ved up to €1 “The tr a resumpt on w br ng some ong-awa ted com ort to everyone who m on to set up her company Jody Be SL has wa ted or these de endants to be and aunched char ty brought to ust ce ” Grant a W sh wh ch The pr vate act on accuses Darren K rSee page 14 & 16 rece ved av sh pra se by Jody Smart Pau C arke and Steand pub c ty n var - phen Ward o raud d s oya adm nstrat on and org ng s gnatures on ous oca pub cat ons nvestment dea ng nstruct ons In a Channe 4 proCOSTA BLANCA

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Wickedness In what is Spain’s largest legal scrutiny of British-run financial scams to date, the trio were grilled about falsifying documents and miss-selling toxic invest-

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BACKING

DOWN: Carles

Confusion reigns

SPAIN’S prime accused Catalan minister has leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing of independence. a declaration Mariano Rajoy demanded clarify if he he had really declared independence day’s nail bitingfollowing Tuesaddress to the Catalan parliament.

If so, Rajoy trigger Articleinsisted he could 155 of Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid take direct control to of Catalunya.

“There is an put an end to urgent need to Catalunya is the situation that going through - to Continues

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They’ve been getting stoned for centuries.

Now UNESCO is interested in Mallorca walls.

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October 12th

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As Spain celebrates Hispania Day, the Olive Press runs a rule over Columbus

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26th 2017

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obliterating many heartbroken Brits’ life savings.

SEE PAGE 10

their private UK through the pensions company,

SEE PAGE 20

whose boss Darren Kir- It is believed by has at least allegedly 300 of CWM’s moved tonow Australia. clients 900 One Costa-del-Sol- pension have had their based expat pots deciOlive Press told the mated, with victims he sunk shocked to £59,000 later dis- to end up back through cover the value CWM, only of their ain on benefits.”in Britrealising he investments had lost £39,000 had plum- “I have when meted dramatically. his pension nothing but praise for Tony trustees However, sent a statement.

Barnett close to thea source [Trafalgar MD] “I couldn’t Stewart Davies and have lost believe it. I sisted: ‘There case in- mentum [Moare still pounds,” thousands of many customers chef execurevealed the are happy who tive]. They victim, asking with their magnificent have been to re- pension portfolio.’ main anonymous. ing to recoup in tryAndaluc “The adviser people’s ia money.” ing me, ‘This kept tell- tax specialist- b a s e d The Olive Press teed, it can’t is guaran- Brooks, a leadingAngie derstands ungo below a pert on pension excertain level’.” it eration schemes lib- possible legalis highly His money, and may be taken by action others acrossand that of the founder of Pension parties against some Spain and Life, has now France, CWM, high-risk was put into a fight to helplaunched get vicinvestor ‘professional tims’ money back. assets, it She is working has been only’ claimed. alongside pension trustees Trafalgar International and Momentum sions.

Pen- based out of headquarters in Alicante, “People are and its terribly executives. distressed,” based Brooks Granada- Both the office in told the and the website Javea Olive Press. have lost large “They have recently shut. amounts of When the their retirement Olive Press ings.” sav- spoke to boss Kirby ‘definitively’ he She added: these people “Some of responsibility denied are going crash. “I have over the lost my world,” he A close said. associate Kirby’s told of the Olive Press former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’.

“It is still quite raw for them, working and they are what to do next,” he out 4, Palma said.

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PENSION OUTRAGE

Expats lose millions in life

savings CONFUSION reigns over through failed should foot who hotels hit bythe bill for Mallorca investment line Monarch.the collapse of airscheme Balearic hotels are facing €10million a bill over the lapse that saw colEXCLUSIVE the emergency repatriation

By Joe Duggan back to the of over 110,000 UK, many Palma. from HUNDREDS

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

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SPAIN’S PP party cious plans has set out for a audaback control power grab to take from Valencia and the a u t o n o mother ous regions.

Leader Casado Pablo announced commitment his strengthen to the central government’s to the national role in the run up He insisted elections in a fortnight. that such prevent corruption a move in taxes. and lead to would a drop It comes as off the threatthe party attempts EXCLUSIVE

By Joshua Party, whose from an insurgentto see Parfitt autonomous leader has described Vox the THE cer of Spain’. parliaments as beleaguered the ‘canUnder the wealth managementboss of plan, the PP a failed se resources allegedly wants to increalost expats company which delegations for regional government million has more than ignored a €20 transfer of and paralyse any court. summons power to the further to Darren regions.

Kirby, of Continental Alicante-based (CWM), failedWealth Management Supremacy to turn up Casado insisted court on March at Denia the move 26.

Spain being According administered would see was to Olive Press tively’. due to ‘more effecsources he The election business turn up, alongside partners, former party would hopeful stated The that his who case involves awho did turn up. view of how carry out a sweeping trio re- moneylost substantial of investors, operate lookingthe regional authorities amounts when the at ‘efficiency ty.’ of company 2017. and equifolded in Spain’s quasi-federal Kirby allegedly of ‘autonomous fled to Australia llowing political HOW WE fothe constitution states’ was system ning to the collapse, finally TOLD IT: added to Alicante last Our 2017 returin 1978. Prime ter Pedro Sanchez, “Darren year. reports England.” whose party Ministhe constitution, which he has been sent a The Olive drafted didn’t sign Burofax plan, insisting strongly opposed will now have for, so how CWMPress excl usively former member the PSOE revealed the abruptly ‘tooth and ways,” a sourceto pursue himthe court losing would defend of staff. folded “It was nail’ the principal hundreds in other said. nal self-government.

“A judge of expats’ in 2017, day theya prestigious place vings in the of regiolife sabut one it’s under is dealing with The firm, process. said, askingjust shut the door,” legal review,” this and “We understand not to Marriott which was based out she Victims he added. of the asked had raised be named. he is currently to ten’ Hotel, in Denia, in ttered telesales staff and had ‘eight tions to sign blankfears about being dealing around Europe, clients scaand their pensions instrucvested revealed NO SHOW: a large in high-risk assets being incommissions. which paid Darren Kirby One pensioner res. “It is based on ta Blanca wherever, a blank cheque the told the to invest lost €210,000 Olive PressCos- “It is verywhenever. he investing worrying after transferring €470,000 as they were despite stating clients’ money low to medium risky “I was asked, risk attitude.he had a funds investments as well in highly just because as dubious ‘Can you blank form. gher commissions.” they paid sign this the hils.’ I did thatWe will fill in the He added detaiin my best trusting they would investors that losses sustained interests,” act verable should however, “They should by he said. as the investments be recofor me and have been looking led to perform, that faiout linked their own they were just feathering or went bust, to life insurance were what they nests. To me they When were doing.” knew hold the Olive Presspolicies.

Lawyer Antonio of Kirby Flores, whose Lawbird in Octoberfinally got denied all See pages firm 26-29 of victims,is representing a my world,”responsibility. “I 2017, he have lost he said. ment sheetssaid signing blanknumber investwas ‘very “This negates Are you worrying’. the very financial member? a victim or former essence of advisory services,”said Tel. (+34) 96 649 18 29 the case? Do you know more staff info@hispaniahomes.es Contact the Floabout newsdesk@theolivepress.es Olive Press www.hispaniahomes.co.uk at

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

Pension peril

PENSION OUTRAGE

Pointing the way to two great Easter travel excursions from the hills of Javea to the wilds of Galicia

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ABSENT: Kirby (above) was a no-show at court, 96 649 1883 Jodie (right) and a previous Olive Press front page Javea - Denia La Sella Golf Area tel: 966 424 505 mob: 647 575 152

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Another is widow Karen O’Hagan, who lost €72,000 ments. of her RBS pension.

A total of 17 claimants have It came after she was told brought the private prose- by CWM staff that transfercution as Denia court seeks ring the money was the only to bring former boss Kir- way to protect it for her two by and sole director Jody young children if she passed Smart to justice. away.

Kirby failed to attend the hearing on February 24, and could now face arrest.

Meanwhile, Smart was able Angela Brooks, who is leadto delay attending the hear- ing the private prosecution, ing until next month due to told the Olive Press the case damage to a restaurant she will set a major ‘precedent’ across Europe. owns during Storm Gloria.

Court transcripts passed to “It’s a disgrace that it’s the Olive Press reveal how taken a Spanish lawyer in the ex-employees denied all Spain and a Spanish criminal judge to recognise the accusations put to them.

The defendants claimed wickedness of actions taken that former boss Kirby was by all parties concerned. responsible for moving “There is no precedent for the funds from low-risk to this. It is going to shame all the other jurisdictions high-risk.

One of the victims, former throughout Europe and beBlackpool bus driver Les yond into acknowledging Hutchings, 67, lost nearly what many offshore advihis entire €117,000 private sors have been doing for pension when it ended up in years. “The scale of this case toxic portfolios without his has made the courts sit up and take notice. knowledge.

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” Smart has previously denied ever dealing with clients or having anything to do with the running of CWM other than promotion online and in the media.

house searches.

The 16 and 17-year-olds arrested were charged with the crimes of robbery with violence and wounding with intent.

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SPAIN’S prime accused Catalan minister has leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing of independence. a declaration Mariano Rajoy demanded clarify if he he had really declared independence day’s nail bitingfollowing Tuesaddress to the Catalan parliament.

If so, Rajoy trigger Articleinsisted he could 155 of Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid take direct control to of Catalunya.

“There is an urgent need put an end to Catalunya isto the situation that going through - to

FREE

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13 www.theolivepress.es

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October 12th

- October

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PENSION OUTRAGE

Expats lose millions in life

savings CONFUSION reigns over through failed should foot who hotels hit bythe bill for Mallorca investment line Monarch.the collapse of airscheme Balearic hotels are facing €10million a bill over the lapse that saw colEXCLUSIVE the emergency repatriation

By Joe Duggan back to the of over 110,000 UK, many Palma. from HUNDREDS Administrator of British KPMG told Olive Press the to expats are battling retrieve Monarch to ‘the debt owed by hoteliers will sions after their penas rank losing

whose boss Darren Kir- It is believed by has at least allegedly 300 of CWM’s moved tonow Australia. clients 900 One Costa-del-Sol- pension have had their based expat pots deciOlive Press told the mated, with victims he sunk shocked to £59,000 later dis- to end up through cover the value CWM, only back of their ain on benefits.”in Britrealising he investments had lost £39,000 had plum- “I have when meted dramatically. his pension praise for nothing but trustees However, sent a statement.

Tony Barnett close to thea source [Trafalgar MD] “I couldn’t Stewart Davies and have lost believe it. I sisted: ‘There case in- mentum [Moare still pounds,” thousands of many customers chef execurevealed the are happy who tive]. They victim, asking with their magnificent have been to re- pension portfolio.’ main anonymous. ing to recoup in tryAndaluc “The adviser people’s ia money.” ing me, ‘This kept tell- tax specialist- b a s e d The Olive Press teed, it can’t is guaran- Brooks, a leadingAngie derstands ungo below a pert on excertain level’.” it is highly pension libpossible eration schemes His money, legal action and may be taken others acrossand that of the founder of Spain and Life, has now Pension parties againstby some France, CWM, high-risk was put into a fight to helplaunched get vicinvestor ‘professional tims’ money back. assets, it She is working has been only’ claimed. alongside pension trustees Trafalgar International and Momentum sions.

Pen- based out of headquarters in Alicante, “People are terribly executives. and its distressed,” based Brooks Granada- Both the office in Javea told the and the website Olive Press. have lost large “They have recently shut. amounts of When the their retirement Olive Press ings.” sav- spoke to boss Kirby ‘definitively’ he She added: denied these people “Some of responsibility over are going crash. “I have the lost my world,” he A close said. associate Kirby’s told of the Olive Press former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’.

“It is still quite raw for them, working and they are Ave de Gabriel Roca what to do next,” he out 4, Palma said.

£20 million up to in a failed pension investment OFF TO scheme.

OZ: Boss Kirby Spanish-based and (above) team at financial advisory firm Con- March charity bash tinental Wealth Management (CWM) folded Many of them last month obliterat- transferred their had Untitled-1.pdf ing many vate priheartbroken 1 16/06/2017 UK Brits’ life savings. pensions through15:36 the company,

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Property Malaga’s property bestmagazine

expat fashion designer has been accused of receiving up to €1million from an unlicensed Costa Blanca financial advisory company.

Companies in Jody huge sums ‘without falling into losses’. given the money by Smart’s name were Worse, it comes defunct Continental as it emerges that Wealth Management (CWM) in the two ens of victims left destitute and dozyears’ before its high-profile collapse less by the Denia-based firm pennileft hundreds of investors are suing Smart and her former an estimated partner Darren €20million out of pocket, it can be re- Kirby. vealed.

In the first case to reach the courts, A total of €999,435 to her fashion label was paid Jody Bell SL and property holding pany Mercurio Conpro comSL between 2015 and 2017, ing to bank statementsaccordshown to the Olive Press.

Brit Jody, 43, was a €144,000 salary also paid telling a court that - despite she ‘did not know what it meant to be a sole director of company’ and was only involved in ‘marketing and PR’.

In a series of shocking declarations given to Denia’s Court of Instruction No.3 it has emerged that ny could ill afford the compato pay these

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businesses while rakes in €1million for her financial ruin, trio of British claimants battle cancer and depression

Disgraced businesswoman Jody Smart A WELL-KNOWN accused in financial GUIDE expat fashion designer has been accused scandal EXCLUSIVE of receiving up to €1million from three British claimants

By Joshua Parfitt an unlicensed Costa Blanca financial advisory are seeking criminal charges for aggravated after CWM’s company.

Companies in Jody huge sums ‘without accounting and belonging fraud, fake left him with September 2017 collapse falling into losses’. given the money by Smart’s name were Worse, it comes to a criminal investments just €22,000 from initial organisation. defunct Continental as it emerges that Wealth Management of more than ₤800,000 (CWM) in the two ens of victims left destitute and doz- The complaints concern years’ before its bungled house (approx €900,000). high-profile collapse less by the Denia-based firm penni- transactions, unpaid left hundreds of investors loans and failed Davison was diagnosed with depresare suing Smart and her former sion just weeks after an estimated partner Darren pension investments that lost the claim€20million out of ants over €1million pocket, it can be re- Kirby. turning to alcohol the collapse, before between them. vealed.

In the first case ing type-2 diabetes, abuse and developto reach the courts, One of the victims, Mark Davison, A total of €999,435 according to a video tragically died, aged 59, in July this year shot just before his death. to her fashion label was paid Jody Bell His body, covered SL and property holding with lesions and sores, had lain undiscovered pany Mercurio Conpro coma week in the mid-summer for up to tween 2015 and 2017, SL beheat at his home in Sanet. ing to bank statementsaccordIn documents “Mark died as a result shown to the Olive Press.

Press, CWM wasseen by the Olive done to him,” Timothyof what had been Brit Jody, 43, was commission for paid €3,391,873 of Benjamin, a low claimant, told selling insurance a €144,000 salary also paid bonds and investments the Olive Press. fel“By the end he didn’t telling a court that - despite by two Cyprus-based financial want the daylight she ‘did not to appear.” firms, between know what it meant October 2015 and Benjamin, 67, likewise to be a sole director of company’ A January 2019 September 2017. felt ‘ashamed’ after he lost his €250,000 and was only involved Spain’s financial statement from private penin ‘marketsion, reinvested by regulator revealed ing and PR’. insurance bonds CWM into ‘risky’ investments, via QROPS. In a series of shocking breach of the law. were sold in In his official testimony declarations given What is certain he told the to Denia’s court how he had transferred Court of Instruction funded a ‘lavish is that this money ₤325,000 (€375,000 approx) No.3 it lifestyle’ for has emerged that players Kirby sale to CWM on the from a property and Smart, whoits key ny could ill afford the compain a relationship were to pay these investing it in a villa basis the firm was to March 2017, together from 2011 But court papers in Monte Pego. staff members. according to former revealed ₤200,000 went directly to the bank account of

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April 11th

April 2019

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

See Fran-tastic page VI

ROCK STEADY

T

HE average property two consecutive price The national years for in Spain has grown the first time average house for Along the3.9% to 8.4%, according Prices rise price rose in a decade.

Mediterranean from most foreigners to for two consecutive coasts andvarious sources. between while mortgage buy, the average cording to on Tinsa, Spain’s price hike the islands, where But the figures values continueyears, leading property has been However, have during the 4.06%, ac- Balearic Islands. he added to grow Spanish long six mostly not yet made appraisal company.

“Prices have year recession, property ‘at the very least, up Mortgage continued the data with the for the big drops but nothing been rising most exception like years since January lending to home to grow last year.’suggests that of the enough to claw they did in the the the recovery boom Spanish to 19,390 new loans,buyers meanwhile respected back Notaries. analyst Markthe ground lostyears, and nowherebegan, The according was up 6.1% average in the bust,” to the Association Stucklin, near in of Spanish explained an increase ofnew loan made in of Property January had 0.9% in a residential Insight. year. As a value of the last fewacquisitions continues long as mortgage €135,616, years, the to increase, lending for Spanish property as market is it has done for set to grow.

FACE THE MUSI C paid for)

- April 24th

See Property Magazine inside

2019

SPAIN’S PP cious plans party has set out for a audaback control power grab to take from Valencia and the a u t o n o mother ous regions.

Leader Casado Pablo announced commitment his strengthen to the central government’s to the national role in the run up He insisted elections in a fortnight. that such prevent corruption a move in taxes. and lead to would a drop It comes as off the threatthe party attempts EXCLUSIVE

By Joshua Party, whose from an insurgentto see Parfitt Voted autonomous leader has described Vox REuse expat REduce cer of Spain’. parliaments as the the THE beleaguered paper REcycle in Spain ‘can- wealth Under the Govt in managementboss of a failed plan, the PP Voted exile se resources allegedly wants to increaexpat lost expats company which paper delegations for regional government million has REuse more than in Spain REduce ignored a €20 transfer of and paralyse any REcycle court. summons power to the further to Darren Kirby, Confusion regions. reigns of Alicante-based Continental Supremacy (CWM), failedWealth Management Casado insisted court on March to turn up at Denia the move 26.

Spain being According administered would see was to Olive Press Who’s tively’. paying us? ‘more effecdue to turn sources he up, alongside The election business partners, former party would hopeful stated The case involves who did turn that his up. view of how carry out a sweeping a trio who the regional re- moneylost substantial of investors, operate looking amounts Should at ‘efficiencyauthorities 2017. when the company of ty.’ have Three Lions and equipub folded in legged it Spain’s quasi-federal Kirby allegedly of ‘autonomous fled to Three Lions llowing the political system HOW WE pub collapse, Australia fothe constitution states’ was added TOLD IT: ning to Alicante finally returOur 2017 in 1978. Prime to “Darren ter Pedro Sanchez, last year.

England.” reports the constitution, whose party Minis- which he has been sent The Olive a Burofax drafted didn’t sign Press exclusively plan, insisting strongly opposed will now have for, how former member the PSOE revealed the ways,” to pursue so the court losingCWM abruptly ‘tooth and would defend of staff. folded “It was him in other a source said. nail’ the principal hundreds nal self-government.

“A judge of expats’ in 2017, day theya prestigious place vings in the of regiolife sabut one it’s under is dealing with this The firm, process. said, askingjust shut the door,” legal review,” which was and Marriott not to be “We understand she based out Victims he added. of the asked had raised named. he is currently to ten’ Hotel, in Denia, fears about in ttered telesales staff and had ‘eight tions to sign blank dealing being around Europe, clients scaand their pensions instrucvested revealed NO SHOW: a large in high-risk assets being incommissions. which paid Darren Kirby One pensioner res. “It is based on ta Blanca wherever, a blank cheque to the told the invest lost €210,000 Olive PressCos- “It is verywhenever. he investing worrying after transferring €470,000 as they were despite stating clients’ money low to medium risky he “I was asked, risk attitude. had a fundsinvestments as well in highly just because as dubious ‘Can you blank form. gher commissions.” they paid sign the hils.’ I did that We will fill in the this He added detaiin my best trusting they would investors that losses sustained interests,” act verable should however, “They should by he said. as the investments be recofor me and have been looking led to perform, that faiout linked their own they were just feathering or went bust, to what they nests. To me they When thelife insurance policies.were were doing.” knew Olive Press Lawyer Antonio hold of Kirby Flores, whose Lawbird in Octoberfinally got denied all See pages firm my responsibility. 2017, he 26-29 of victims,is representing a world,” he “I have lost said. ment sheetssaid signing blanknumber investwas ‘very “This negates worrying’.

Are you the very financial advisory member? a victim or essence Tel. (+34) 96 services,”said of the case? Do you knowformer staff 649 18 29 info@hispaniahomes.es Flo- newsdesk@theolivepress.es Contact the more about Olive Press www.hispaniahomes.co.uk at

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Holiday hell

A BRITISH tourist has been stabbed, robbed and hospitalised by three minors who recorded the attack on their phones.

The trio were cuffed by police in Sant Vicent de Raspeig, near Alicante, after their victim suffered a collapsed lung and had to undergo emergency surgery.

A statement said the group stabbed the victim in the back with a pen-knife, whilst recording the attack on their mobile phones.

The unnamed holidaymaker was taking a morning stroll when he sensed he was being followed, so returned home as a precaution.

The gang caught up with him and a struggle ensued, where he was attacked and robbed of his wallet and mobile.

A passerby stopped to help, calling an ambulance straight away.

The man suffered a collapsed lung and immediately went into surgery.

CCTV quickly established the identity of the attackers, two of which were already known to police.

Matching clothing and the weapon used in the attack were found in subsequent

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

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The Olive Press joined thousands of Spaniards and Brits in last ditch Brexit protest See page 5

DEFENDANTS in a ‘landmark’ case against a British-run financial firm have denied all knowledge of a scam that lost €35 million of its clients pension investment.

Instead they blamed the boss of Continental Wealth Management (CWM) Darren Kirby (above) for destroying the hopes and dreams of 750 expats around Spain.

In a tense hearing at Denia Court three former employees denied they knowingly put their clients funds into ‘high risk’ investments.

The trio, Anthony Downs, Neil Hathaway and Dean Stogsdill, are accused of fraud, disloyal administration and falsifying commercial documents.

EXCLUSIVE

See page

BREXIT

* O f f e r

Your fraud article (right) reporters,

situation to the CWM As for here losses helphe on‘didn’t go out EXCLUSIVE in he insisted grilled over his involvement Costa and addBy Jon Clarke anybody’ Manto scamthe the Continental Wealth took Blanca lost ‘a lot of monhe had of luxury with sports ed as well, but declined to agement (CWM) scandal, ey’ appear- lived lives umbrage to his name March cars, exotic foreign holidays say howstories Contact them with any much. or news on 951 273 575 or email ing in an article in our and designer clothes. a fash- Denia newsdesk@theolivecourt is set to conpress.es launched 5 edition. into how 750 In declarations Hathaway, the Director Jody tinue its probe contacts with at made in February, He insisted he had takenwith ion label and twice flew to New victims (Personal 6) millions, loston page other former week, according papers as he ‘was angry’ entire pen- along with two Downs LIVE their least 17Olosing Denial’, York fashion colleagues Anthony claimed the story headed ‘In his col- to official court documents.

PRESS Shame Press tracked sion pots.

Black- and Dean Stogsdill, about how he and was of When the Olive his These include former their former boss Kirby leagues scammed hundreds Hathaway down to pool bus driver Les Hutchings, the frauds. investors out of an estimated multi-million euro mansion 67, who lost nearly his entire responsible for he investigator Angela Javea Pensions pension hills above €35 million.

by Jody in the deny the theft, with €117,000 private high-risk Brooks told the Olive Press the The company, owned is couldn’t when it ended up in knowl- case would set a major ‘preceSmart and Darren Kirby, his SUV parked in the drive. portfolios without his dent’ across Europe. accused of fraud and falsifying “But it was a lot less papers edge. that it’s takcommercial documents. taking than the police claimed,” he Another is widow Karen O’Ha- “It’s a disgrace Spain is now en a Spanish lawyer in Vol. The1 Olive IssuePress 16 www.theolivep who lost €72,000 of her and a Spanish criminal judge British insisted. just very angry, as gan, pension. legal action against the was a ress.es October “I was angry, 24th - November the wickedness from RBS 6thwas financial advisor, who which you printed documents 2019 CWM staff that to recognise by told parties all by She was of actions taken shareholder of CWM, the court,” he added. scale of this transferring the money was based at Javea’s upmarket “My wife was approached at the only way to protect it for concerned. The courts sit up just protecting my if she case has made the Marriott Hotel. every- work. I was with everything her two young children and take notice.” along While many victims lost name away. passed added. thing and, at least one commitbosses else,” he ted suicide, the CWM EXCLUSIVE

952 147 834 Tel: stop Please 9

in car above over CWM

March 5th - March 18th 2020

In denial

Reporters Simon Wade and Joshua Parfitt

PAPER THIN: Hathaway

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

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IT’S impossible to be ‘fat and fit’ and even if you are slightly overweight you are unhealthy, a new study found.

Researchers in Spain found the risk of heart attacks and strokes rockets as BMI increases.

And while they agree that exercise does reduce the risk of some illnesses like diabetes and hypertension, those who were active and obese were twice as likely to have high cholesterol than inactive people of a normal weight.

The findings challenge the long-held ‘obesity paradox’ belief that it’s possible to be fat and not at an increased risk of death from heart disease.

The study of over 520,000 Spanish adults by the European University, in Madrid, revealed that overweight people were actually four times more likely to have diabetes... and five times more likely to have high blood pressure.

“One cannot be fat but healthy,” said lead researcher Dr Alejandro Lucia. “This study shows that being regularly active is not likely to eliminate the detrimental health effects of excess body fat.

“Our findings refute the notion that a physically active lifestyle can completely negate the deleterious effects of obesity.”

The team found that while exercise undeniably had positive effects, participants that were overweight or obese were undeniably more at risk of developing major health problems.

“More activity is better, so walking 30 minutes per day is better than walking 15 minutes a day,” Dr Lucia said. “But exercise does not seem to compensate for the negative effects of excess weight.”

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me they knew what they were doing.”

He added: “I rying’. believe some the investments of “This negates were made without my knowledge. of the service the very essence I think that is the case they are meant offer,” said Flores. to recall signing because I do not cheque to invest“It is a blank investments I sheets for all the wherever, had.” whenever.

An email, seen has gone down “If standard by the Olive Press, shows CWM by half and I need compensation very worrying. practice, this is asking a client to sign and to get it back on track.

“Signing blank return a blank dealing instruction. documents “But some people Another British would be seen have is trying to expat, 55, who thing lost everyas irregular in €200,000, saidrecover around have and don’t court of law. Thea some pensionenough ers ‘have lost everything’. problem live on. One to with “My paper work rethese firms is that tired has been altered, that I sent has victim only they were all PENSION vesting in€50,000 left my risk level was changed in highly from €480,000.”

OUTRAGE risky ‘high’ and myfrom ‘medium’ to Andalucia-based investments dealing instructions have been without the lawyer Antonio photocopied repeatedly for ents knowing.”cliFlores, buying and sellwhose ing assets I didn’t He claimed that firm authorise,” Lawbird he said. losses sustained are represent“I still have by investors ing some CWM and I am still some money left would hopefully victims, young enough get compensation, be to vestmentsaid signing blank inas the investments recoverable but my fund sheets was ‘very that failed worto perform, or went bust, were linked to life insurance policies.

Pension trustees Momentum and Trafalgar ing to recoupare now attemptSPECIALIZING IN: CMW clients’ losses.

The Olive Press CRIMINAL LAW has so far been unable to discover if CWM was registered to CIVIL LAW provide investment advice with BANKING (FLOOR Spain’s official financial regulator CLAUSE) CNMV. REuse REduce REcycle

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What do Fatboy Paul Haggis, JohnSlim, director Dean Norris and Travolta, have in common?Pilou Asbaek all had links to They’ve the Balearics this week

Pension peril

CATALUNYA’S leader has vowedbeleaguered to fight on from abroad.

It came after mont handed Carles PuigdeBelgian police himself in to when a European arrest warrant was sued. isHe and four other politicians are accused on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, and breach of disobedience trust.

A judge in Belgium now has up to two weeks EXCLUSIVE they will extraditeto decide if

By Joe Duggan the group to Spain.

BRITISH expats who lost up to €20 million Fight sion advisory in a failed pensignatures mayfirm believe their Given the whole tocopied onto have been phoextradition investment docuprocess can ments. take up to days, it means 60 Around he may have 300 Brits, most to run his living in Spain, are battling campaign forentire election their to retrieve funds after the Catalan European Democratic firm ContinentalAlicante-based Party from Belgium. agement (CWM) Wealth ManHis party wants folded in September, for continued him to fight Olive as first reported in the the regional leadership of Boss Press a month ago. the December parliament in tralia Darren Kirby left for Ausfollowing Puigdemont 21 elections. the company’s the closure of denied he had fled to Brussels main Javea offices. to avoid justice but that Victims, the Spanish he left because Spain, who are spread across government preparing a ‘wave was lorca, as well as in Ibiza, MalPortugal, France of oppression and violence’ Turkey, fear and against illegal practices separatists. after being asked “I’m absolutely to sign blank dealing instructions. convinced that the state Their pension a harsh wave was preparing invested pots were in high-risk then for which we of repression which assets would have all promised been held responsible,” commissions. to pay out large said yesterday. he One 69-year-old “The Spanish pensioner told the Olive mitting a brutalstate is com- €210,000 Press he lost if we don’t battlerepression… €470,000 after transferring repression despite stating together, the had he may win this Spanish state to a ‘low to medium aversion BOSS: Kirby risk’ attitude now in In a show of fight.”

Australia “I was asked, to investment. support to the ‘Can you sign deposed president, blank form. We this around 200 Catalan will fill in the he said. details.’ Untitled-1.pdf “They should have that trusting they dence mayors pro-indepen- would I did 1 16/06/2017 been looking travelled to act in my best 15:36 Brussels on Tuesday interests,” out for me but feathering their they were just to stage a rally. own nests. To

A PALMA thief MY months in jail is facing 18 for stealing a leg of ham.

CY Prosecutors the lengthy are requesting CMY term for taking the eight kilogram co Jotas' ¡ jamon leg of 'CinK from a shop in the capital.

The Iberico ham is valued at €685, and has yet to be recovered.

e-mail: advocat1@demicco.es mobile number: 636 307 533 WWW.DEMICCO.CH

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Expats millionslose

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

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

in CONFUSION life savings reigns over should foot through who hotels hit the bill for Mallorca failed by the collapse line Monarch. investment of airBalearic scheme €10millionhotels are facing a lapse that bill over the colrepatriationsaw the emergency EXCLUSIVE of over back to

By Joe 110,000 Duggan Palma. the UK, many from HUNDREDS Administrator Olive Press KPMG ish ‘the debt told the to expats are of BritMonarch retrieve battling to hoteliers owed by as an unsecured sions after their will rank the defunct penclaim’ against losing up £20 million “They will airline. to pension in a failed the joint have to file a scheme. investment the moneyadministratorsclaim to OFF TO Spanish-based for all they are OZ: a spokesman. owed,” said and (above) Boss Kirby cial advisory “It has finanteam at tinental firm Con- March charity (yet) hownot been determined agement Wealth Manbash available much money to creditors.” will be last (CWM) folded Many month

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

e-mail: advocat1@demicco.es mobile number: 636 307 533 WWW.DEMICCO.CH K

NOTORIOUS: Disgraced businesswoman Jody Smart accused in financial scandal

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NEWS IN BRIEF Stranger danger A 41-year-old man was arrested for allegedly attempting to abduct an 11-year-old girl in Sant Bartolome de s'Arenal.

The pervert followed the youngster home and took pictures of her with his phone before the failed abduction.

Squat locks A GROUP of squatters attempted to seize a security firm’s building in Palma. Police were immediately notified when the company’s alarm went off, however the squatters had already changed the locks by the time officers arrived.

Young thug A TEENAGER has been arrested for robbing a shop that sold electric scooters in Santa Catalina in November.

The thief ran over the saleswoman on one of the nabbed vehicles as he fled the scene.

Fine time!

Hefty sanctions totalling €57,000 handed out to COVID protestors SIXTEEN protestors demonstrating against coronavirus restrictions have been fined a whopping total of €57,000.

Hardest hit was one man who has been ordered to pay

January 29th - February 11th 2021

Homeless fire horror

Photo by Allan Binderup

2

PROTEST: 850 cars joined in. File photo

By Dilip Kuner

€15,600 for ‘causing disorder on roads and public spaces’.

He was fined an extra €600 on

each of two charges for breaking a restriction on foot traffic and disrespecting police.

Two more protestors were fined €15,600 each on the disorder charge, plus a €600 fine

Fright train

Party’s over

A MAN has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

The alleged pervert, aged 43, was taken into custody on Saturday evening after commuters at Palma’s Intermodal Station raised the alarm.

Investigators say the underage girl was pinned to a wall by the man in the station and had her breasts repeatedly groped.

Locals came to the teenager’s aid and restrained the man until police arrived at the scene.

Officers say the man showed ‘a hostile and aggressive attitude’ when being questioned and threw a barrage of insults at them.

He also ignored their repeated instructions to put on his face mask correctly before police charged him with sexually assaulting a minor.

TWO court officials have been slapped with a fine after being found partying in a bar despite strict coronavirus restrictions.

The Palma Court employees were seen drinking near the capital’s Via Alemania on Friday evening.

Police had been patrolling the area at the time when they heard loud music and singing coming from the premises.

Inside they spotted the owner of the bar and six people, including a woman dancing on a table, another sitting at the bar and four men smoking on the terrace.

Officers swiftly shut down the illegal party and all the partygoers were handed a fine for breaching the COVID-19 restrictions.

for violating the cars-only order and not sticking to the planned demo route.

All 16 were part of a public protest over the hospitality industry closure that has left many local businesses struggling to survive.

Friday’s demo in Palma was officially allowed to go ahead with the proviso that all participants stayed inside their cars.

Police say at least 850 vehicles took part but 1,000 people flouted the rules to join in on foot. Sixteen of them are now having to pay a hefty price for their participation.

Of these, 13 - including a teen have been ordered to pay €600 for ‘minor infractions’, with three of them being slapped with a second €600 fine for ‘disrespecting’ police officers.

Police also handed out several fines to people who were not wearing facemasks and warn that they are still trying to identify other protestors who may also be sanctioned.

See More of this on Page 4

A WOMAN, 49, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly trying to set her boyfriend on fire while he slept.

Investigators said the homeless woman targeted her partner after he fell asleep inside the derelict watchtower of the former prison in Palma.

His girlfriend allegedly set fire to his blanket, with the flames rapidly spreading to his clothes.

Thankfully, the man’s friend, who was also asleep next to him at the time, woke up and was able to put the fire out.

Hearing the commotion, a local alerted the emergency services with firefighters and police arriving at the scene a short time later.

The man suffered burns to his body and was taken to hospital.

HORROR: Crime scene

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es JAMES BLUNT has offered a cash reward for information on the thieves who broke into his family home in Ibiza.

The ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer revealed that his villa in Santa Gertrudis was robbed last week.

The crooks stole his cufflinks, clothes and sunglasses as well as a pocket watch given to him by his grandfather and a bayonet from his days as a soldier.

In a statement to Diario de Ibiza, Blunt said with a touch of humour: “The thieves took about 100 items, including a black and white rug that

More stars join live music plea OVER 100 more UK musicians have joined criticism of Boris Johnson’s failure to help them tour Europe for free.

Bob Geldof, Ed Sheeran and Liam Gallagher have joined a petition demanding the British government agree to visa-free tours of the EU to avoid 'costly’ work permits.

Even Brexiteer Roger Daltrey signed the open letter which claims they have been 'shamefully failed' by the government over post-Brexit travel rules.

Overseas

Sir Elton John, John Lydon and Sting have also been outspoken on the issue, despite the latter two actually living abroad.

Government Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden however, hit back insisting the musicians should be asking the EU why they 'rejected a sensible UK proposal'.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier insisted that the UK government had actually rejected an offer to grant exemptions to musicians and other artists.

An online petition calling for a visa-free travel cultural work permit with the EU has so far attracted more than 263,000 signatures.

my wife did not like, so I suspect she could be involved.

“They also took all my t-shirts and shirts, so they must not have a very good sense of style, since I am not known for mine.”

He continued that he ‘understood that it was a difficult time for many people on the island’ but that his ‘only real sadness’ is that they took an old watch that belonged to his grandfather and a bayonet from his time serving in Kosovo.

Steel Pulse could join British stars including Baxter Dury, Sham 69 and Metronomy in Spring invasion A RAFT of British musical legends are set to land on Spanish shores this Spring despite the toll of COVID and Brexit.

Led by reggae stalwarts Steel Pulse, the groups will play a series of shows around the country.

3

Blunt reward

Not missing a beat

By Glenn Wickman

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

Steel Pulse are the first to

ROCKERS: Sham 69 land, playing Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia between April 20 and 23.

The legendary Birmingham rastas, who formed in 1975, will present their latest album Mass Manipulation, as well as playing many of their old hits, including Handsworth Revolution.

Meanwhile, Punk and Oi! founders Sham 69, whose continuing legacy and influence on the global streetpunk movement cannot be overstated, will (hopefully) tear up Madrid on March 6 and Barcelona on July 31.

Festivals

INVASION: Steel Pulse leading the way

TOM Jones and Lionel Ritchie have confirmed their appearances at this year’s Starlite Festival.

The Marbella-based series of concerts has planned ‘coronavirus restriction compliant’ events for its 10th anniversary.

Organisers will be hoping that travel restrictions are lifted for the festival, which will be held between July 2 and August 28.

Last year the festival managed to go ahead, although

Sexbomb

several concerts were cancelled as the event scaled down to comply with strict rules about social gatherings.

Organisers say no cases of COVID have been reported as being traced to the event, so they have decided to go ahead again this year.

Concerts will be restricted to 1,500 spectators, with founder Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan saying: “Our rigorous compliance with health regulations has led tit to be an example throughout the world for the return of live music to the stage.”

And Devon-based electronic outfit Metronomy are booked to play Madrid’s La Riviera on Wednesday April 7, Barcelona’s Razzmatazz on April 8, and the Primavera Sound in Barcelona from June 2 to 5.

Finally Indie icon Baxter Dury also hopes to make it over the pond to grace the Barcelona area, with an appearance at the Vida Festival in Catalunya in July.

LOVE LOCKDOWN: Pair shacked up

Zapped by virus THE romance dubbed the ‘pandemic love story’ has come to an end as Hollywood actor Ben Affleck and Spanish TV star Ana de Armas part ways.

Heartthrob Affleck, 48, has now promised to take a vow of celibacy after his split from Armas, who grew up in Madrid.

The pair began their relationship right as the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping the world after meeting on the set of the soon to be released Deep Water in New Orleans.

The 32-year-old Bond star moved to Los Angeles to live with Affleck and his daughter from his former wife Jennifer Garner.

However after just one year under strict confinement laws, the pressures of lockdown have finally taken their toll.

Gap

Friends of the couple claim the 16-year age gap pushed too much of a divide between them.

“Anna did not want to live in Los Angeles with Ben in the end, but with the confinement she had no choice and the pressure became too much.”

Armas has now moved to New York where she recently posted a new hairstyle on Instagram.

Ana de Armas was born in Cuba before moving to Madrid as a teenager.

It was then when she became the darling of Spanish television, starring in a number of hit TV shows such as El Internado and starred in films such as Sex, Parties and Lies.

She gained dual Spanish-Cuban citizenship before moving to Hollywood where she starred in a number of high grossing hits, including Bladerunner 2049 and Knives Out.

SINGING: Baxter Drury

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4 www.theolivepress.es Lock them up!

AN expat has been reunited with his beloved BMW after an eagle eyed Olive Press reader spotted it a year after it went missing.

Kenny Greenhow went on a mission of his own to track down the convertible which had apparently been stolen by transport company Mission impossible.

He had been horrified to hear that company boss Simon Davies was a convicted fraudster after his car disappeared while

January 29th - February 11th 2021

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

supposedly being transported to the UK. Not one to be outsmarted, Greenhow grabbed his spare key and made a 100 kilometre dash from his Costa Blanca home to ‘steal’ back his own car 12 months on from its disappearance after the Olive Press alerted him.

A reader had seen the car and suspected thief, both of which had featured on the front page of this paper more than a year ago.

We had reported that Mission Impossible was paid to take the rare convertible back to the UK in late 2019, before it - and the car - disappeared without TAKE BACK: Kenny (above) trace. ‘steals’ back his car from Davies Despite reporting the

alleged theft to both Spanish and British police, Greenhow feared he would never see his BMW again, until our newsdesk received an email.

Davies had been seen behind the wheel of the very same car in and around Palomares in Almeria, over 100 kilometres away.

Greenhow - originally from South Shields - responded immediately by driving down with a friend from his home in Lo Crispin, near Ciudad Quesada.

There he found the car parked outside Davies’s home, so the spare key was used to retrieve the car back from under his nose.

Greenhow said: “My heart was pounding, but I knew I had to get my car back and tell the police.

“There was the slim chance that the car might not actually be mine, but when the door opened, I almost leapt for joy.”

More of this

Coronavirus restrictions extended CURRENT coronavirus restrictions will be extended for at least 15 more days.

The tough measures, which saw all ‘non-essential’ services being forced to close in Mallorca, were meant to come to an end this weekend.

But now all current restrictions on shopping centres,

By Isha Sesay

gyms, bars and cafes will stay in place until at least February 15.

President of the Baleares, Francina Armengol, decided that ‘the infection rate is still dangerously high’ so an ‘extension is absolutely necessary’.

She said: “Our argument is simple. The infection rate is not where it should be and these restrictions are showing us that they are effective in changing the evolution of COVID-19.”

Unions representing those that work in bars, restaurants, gyms and shops, all of which are currently closed, had appealed to the govern-

Photo by Allan Binderup

DOCTORS are calling for home confinement to be enforced in a desperate bid to slow down the rate of infection across the island.

The group, led by virologist Doctor Jordi Reina, has warned Mallorca’s health system could be at risk of collapsing if the surge in hospital admissions continues.

Reina, who works at Son Espases Hospital, said: “The population should be confined for two or three weeks to allow the health system to recover and reduce the spread of coronavirus.”

This plea is backed by the Balearic Medical Union which said a ‘short, restrictive home confinement of about two weeks’ would be ‘absolutely necessary’.

Union president Miguel Lazaro said that hospitals are now at breaking point due to a lack of available beds for coronavirus admissions and a shortage in medical staff.

“At present, there are more than 100 doctors under active surveillance for COVID-19 and who are therefore unable to work,” said Lazaro.

The president of the College for Doctors, Jose Manuel Valverde, also weighed in on the matter in an interview with Ultima Hora, asking for more help from the Balearic government.

He said:”New ICU beds have to be created because the pressure is enormous and the number of deaths is very high.”

NEWS

BLEAK: Non-essential businesses remain closed

ment to allow for their reopening and return to work.

Armengol rejected their pleas and said: “Gradually they can recover their activity, but only when the health situation improves and al-

Flight risk SPAIN has denied claims it plans to stop tourists flying in until after the summer.

Tourist Minister Reyes Maroto said it is untrue and he wants to welcome the first arrivals by the end of spring.

He insisted the country was hoping to ‘reactivate tourism’ as soon as possible and that the vaccination programmes in other countries could help see the return of holidaymakers quicker.

It comes after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a tourism conference in Madrid that when 70% of the Spanish people are vaccinated, the sector could see a return to ‘normality’.

That vaccination target, he said, would likely be hit at the end of summer.

But minister Maroto contradicted his statement saying: “Our priority in 2021 is to reactivate tourism and resume safe mobility on a global scale as soon as possible,” he insisted.

“We hope that at the end of spring and especially during the summer, international travel will resume and travellers will choose Spain as their destination.”

Quarantine

The risk now lies in the rules set by the British government regarding the need to quarantine for holidaymakers’ returning home.

Boris Johnson is under pressure to extend new rules that enforce passengers from 30 ‘red list’ countries to isolate at an airport hotel for 10 days on their return to the UK. Spain is not on the list as yet. “It would be a sure fire way to destroy our aviation and travel industries,” said Paul Charles, boss of travel company PC Agency.

It came after fellow agency Nemo revealed it had seen bookings to Spain increase by 300% in early January compared to November.

However, Brits appear to be booking for later in the year in the hope that there will be fewer travel restrictions.

Advantage Travel Partnerships, one of the largest travel companies in the UK, said 40% of its bookings are between September and December while 27% are in 2022.

ways with an eye on starting the tourist season by the beginning of the summer.”

One association which has openly supported the government is the Balearic Workers’ Union (CCOO).

Its general secretary, Jose Luis García, said it would be ‘absurd to allow a complete reopening when the infection and occupation rates of the ICU’s are still incredibly high’.

At present, the number of patients with COVID-19 in intensive care is at a record high in the region.

Critical

In Mallorca, there are 109 people in the ICU – the highest number recorded since the start of the pandemic, and in Ibiza, which has only one public hospital, there are 22 with operating rooms now being turned into critical care units.

Meanwhile, Armengol has asked the Spanish government for the power to be able to enforce home confinements and to bring the curfew forward to 8pm.

“If the management of the pandemic is in the hands of autonomous communities, we must also be given the necessary tools to stop the virus,” said the President.

Last week, the Balearic government was left disappointed after the state executive voted against enforcing an earlier curfew.

Rent aid A PARISH in Mallorca has launched a crowdfunding project to house people who are unable to pay rent.

The Mare de Deu de Montserrat Parish in Palma wants to renovate classrooms in its building in order to accommodate those in financial difficulty.

Financed through a crowdfunding project named Projecte Sojorn, the parish aims to raise €30,000 to complete the work.

As well as providing a warm room to sleep in temporarily, the parish aims to promote a ‘lifestyle where not only spaces are shared, but also where socio-environmental objectives are achieved’.

Poverty

In total, the adapted space will be able to house 16 people in 11 different rooms.

Last month it was estimated that over 33,000 people are suffering from extreme poverty in the Balearic Islands due to the coronavirus crisis.

The bleak findings, published by the Balearic Social Observatory, revealed that the pandemic has increased poverty and exclusion, as well as worsening existing cases of vulnerability.

There has been a sudden growth in demand for aid to cover basic needs in the social services system since the state of alarm was enforced.

Moreover, the region’s high dependence on tourism left thousands without work and money to cover basic needs such as food or rent.

New Kirsty TV Probe THE Olive Press is helping a UK documentary team in a new investigation of the Benidorm balcony death of Kirsty Maxwell (inset) in April 2017.

The TV programme is being made by Viacom Studios. Their camera crews and producers have been in the resort trying to find fresh evidence over what happened to 27-year-old Kirsty at Apartamentos Payma nearly four years ago.

Secret

The expertise and local knowledge of the Olive Press has been used as the production team conducted interviews around Benidorm. Any fresh findings are being kept secret for the time being, and there is no transmission date yet for the documentary. It's not the first TV programme to feature 27-year-old Kirsty's story. BBC Scotland in 2018 aired Killed Abroad,'presented by retired detective, David Swindle, who has been assisting her family in their search for the truth.

Kirsty, from West Lothian, had been for a hen party weekend in Benidorm, before tragedy struck shortly before 8am on April 29, 2017, when she fell from a room belonging to five men from Nottingham celebrating a stag party.

A judge ruled Kirsty’s death as accidental.

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es A SPANISH city is leading the way in trying to persuade people to switch to solar energy by offering swingeing tax cuts.

Homeowners across the country will be looking at the scheme with interest, hoping that their regions follow suit.

Valencia city has decided to offer people whose properties generate electricity a 50% discount on their IBI property tax.

The deal has been announced by mayor Joan Ribo as part of a new packet of tax measures aimed at encouraging reliance on renewable energy sources.

Ribo revealed that an estimated 90% of households in the regional capital will be eligible for the tax cut, applicable for a maximum of 10 years.

In addition, property owners who fit the panels will also be able to apply for grants covering 95% of the so-called ‘Icio’ tax, payable upon installing

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

By Glenn Wickman

solar power systems.

The council leader explained that these changes to the municipal income laws are part of a wider series of new policies aimed at fighting climate change.

Ribo also recalled that in 2009, Valencia joined an international alliance of cities against the climate emergency, with a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40%, increase energy efficiency by 27%, and promote the

Hunt’s over

production of energy from 100% renewable sources until at least 27% of the total power used by the city or town, by the year 2030.

Accompanying the mayor was local Finance councillor Borja Sanjuan, who explained that,

if the IBI reduction scheme goes according to plan, the town hall will raise an estimated €5.5 million less in taxes over the next 10 years.

Sanjuan did not clarify how that missing income would be recovered.

January 29th - February 11th 2021

5

Going solar IKEA is launching an all-in-one solar panel service in its Spanish stores.

The Swedish home decor giant has teamed up with Contigo Energia to offer what it calls a ‘turnkey solution’ for solar home energy.

Contigo Energia will be responsible for the installation and management of the systems, which are expected to start from just over €4,000.

Launched this Spring, the product ‘Home Solar’ is already sold in nine other countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands.

“We want to make clean energy available to many people,” said a spokesman.

“To have a real impact we know we need to make our offer affordable, and combine it with an attractive financial offer. “Our home solar solution is designed to do just that. It includes solar panels to be fitted on the roof, and an easy control system that monitors production. “It’s a cost-efficient solution that allows as many people as possible to generate their own power, reduce carbon emission – and save money at the same time.”

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THE Ministry for the Ecological Transition has proposed to increase protection of the Iberian wolf, meaning it would be illegal to hunt the animal except under exceptional circumstances.

The move has been lauded by Ecologistas en Accion and other wildlife organisations, though cattle farmers and the governments of the autonomous wolf communities are less enthused.

Some 2500 specimens inhabit the Iberian peninsula, spread mostly across the northwest of Spain.

Currently, the Iberian wolf is the only species of wolf that it is legal to hunt, yet only in Spain.

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6

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION Power of the press OUR army of readers prove expats care deeply about community and justice.

Take the case of the British expat who was able to retrieve his beloved BMW thanks to the help of an eagle eyed Olive Press reader a year after it was stolen.

Despite reporting the theft to the police, it was the wider Olive Press community that was able to solve the crime in the end Our reader spotted the culprit - and car - exactly a year after we first reported that it had been nicked.

It was a clear case of better late than never when Kenny Greenhow was able to retrieve his car from under the thief’s nose last week. A wonderful victory that shows what can be achieved when our readers swing into action.

Day in, day out, week after week, we work tirelessly to expose misdoings and uncover the truth. But this story proves we are nothing without our readers’ support.

The response shows that despite the madness of the last 12 months, we truly do still care about what is happening on our turf.

We came together in a common cause and were victorious. It wasn’t the first time this has happened - and we know that it won’t be the last.

S

NEWS FEATURE

TANDING in the Patio of the Lions admiring the world’s most famous collection of big cats, I am drawn to one major difference. There is no sound of clicking, no enane selfies and no endless lines of tourists interrupting your every view.

With up to three million visitors normally descending on the Alhambra Palace each year, you not only need to plan your visit to Spain’s top site carefully, but you normally have to book at least a week or two in advance.

But this spring, things are rather different. On a recent visit to the city of Granada, we had the choice of every half hour slot throughout the day - and at 4.30pm there were still well over

Getting a Grip Baleares President Francina Armengol has asked the Spanish government for the power to be able to enforce home confinements and to bring the curfew forward to 8pm. Her comments are echoed around Spain irrespective of political colours and each region is demanding more power to introduce tougher COVID restrictions. Longer curfews have been rejected by Spain's ex-health minister, Salvador Illa, who is now leading the PSOE charge in the Catalan regional elections. It therefore falls on his replacement, Carolina Darias to give the regions the tools to do the job. Spain's toughness was rightly applauded last year, but at the moment it appears weak in comparison to its neighbours.

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The 10 secrets to understanding Spain’s top monument, writes Jon Clarke 150 spaces available to visit the celebrated Nasrid palace.

Arriving at 2.30pm for a good stroll around the gardens and the nearby Generalife Palace, we were amazed to find the place so empty.

Indeed, we probably saw no more than 100 people in the entire afternoon, with our

T

he throne room, of the Hall of the Ambassadors, was designed so that subjects would only ever see the silhouette of the caliph. He would sit on his throne with light emanating in from behind, so no-one would get a good look at his face.

Meanwhile, take a close look around and you will see that the throne room is based on amazing symmetry and is known for its precision.

A

T FIRST GLANCE, you might think a sci-fi writer had dreamed up this polar scenery of icelike foam sheets atop a dazzling green sea.

Small natural pockets, akin in appearance to the breathing holes of Arctic seals, disrupt the venous white plains that extend over 1000 hectares.

In the middle reside pools of deep emerald liquid and channels of the same colour criss-cross the surface, creating patterns in this surreal landscape.

The result is an area of unusual beauty – at least when viewed from above. The reality on the ground, however, is a different story.

Born through careless dumping, these lakes of phosphogypsum and other dangerous substances are located only 500m from the urban centre of Huelva, Andalucia.

They are the waste products of fertiliser production, a business which began in the region during the days of Franco, when environmental laws were lax.

For almost 30 years, fertilis-

MUST LOOK UP! Keep your eyes peeled for the stunning cedar wood ceiling in the throne room. The intricate design has over 8,000 multicoloured panels and symbolizes the seven heavens of the Koran.

It is adorned with stars and diagonal lines that radiate from the centre, representing the four trees of life.

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

CONTAMINATION: Earth and clay could be used to protect the lakes er company Fertiberia produced 2.5 million tonnes of phosphogypsum annually, discharging 20% of it into the Odiel river estuary.

Some of the lakes’ contents have seeped into the sea, drawn out by the tide.

In response to an order from the National Court to prevent contamination, Fertiberia has proposed to cover the lakes in earth and clay. But not everyone is pleased with the plan.

‘It is a joke and they will leave a chemical bomb under the

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protection of the tides and climate change,’ said Julio Barea, head of a water campaign for Greenpeace.

Likewise, Aurelio Gonzalez Peris from Mesa de la Ría, an environmental group that has been critical of Fertiberia for years, said that the proposal threatens both the nearby marshes and the wellbeing of Huelva residents.

Legacy

Deposito Legal MA: 835-2017

AWARDS

guide Asier saying he had never seen fewer people.

There has never been a better time to visit the best example of Islamic architecture in Europe and possibly the only existing medieval Muslim palace left around the world.

Here are some of the key things to look out for during your visit:

Hiding on the throne

Justice for Kirsty The Olive Press is pleased to bring its expertise to help in a new TV documentary being made over the death of Kirsty Maxwell in April 2017. Kirsty fell from a Benidorm apartment balcony after going into a room occupied by five British men. The Spanish courts concluded last year that nothing suspicious happened.

Kirsty’s parents and husband disagree and have fought tirelessly to find the truth. We are proud to be helping a new private probe that will hopefully uncover fresh evidence to help in the family's quest for answers.

Keys to the

WASTELAND: Lakes of phosphogypsum are found 500 metres from Huelva

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

January 29th - February 11th 2021

Alhambra Assault on the senses

A

ll the patios of the Alhambra - like the majority of Nasrid palaces in Granada - take the same basic format. They were designed to be an assault on all five senses, so most of them have myrtle hedges for scent and a gentle trickle of water for sound.

Most importantly, they have rectangular pools in the middle, which appear to increase the size of the palace buildings utilising a mirror effect.

Finally, take note: You never enter at one end, but normally a third of the way along one side, creating privacy and intimacy.

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

O

Trickle down effect

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

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

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Sight for royal eyes only

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

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

You read it here first!

nce the stage for bullfights, the remarkable circular courtyard of the Palace of Carlos V was one of the few surviving works of Pedro Machuca, a former pupil of none other than Italy’s Michaelangelo.

Its comAbination of Ionic pillars and coffered ceilings, added as recently as the 1960s, make it a striking and atypical piece of Renaissance architecture.

T

T

Olive Press online

‘Spain’s best English news website’

Michaelangelo’s influence... in a roundabout way

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

Touching the skies

Yankee retreat

The palace was once home to American ambassador to Spain, Washington Irving. The former politician, best known for his romantic writing, actually lived in a private apartment created for King Charles V for nearly a year in 1829.

Built around the atmospheric Lindaraxa Courtyard Garden, he shared the 16th-century apartment with a host of cats, a few donkeys and a lunatic. The American author - who described Granada as ‘a most picturesque city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever

Keystone fountains Look carefully and each pool will normally have a keyshaped fountain at one end.

From here emanates the bab-

7

Nasrid dynasty singers and musicians who performed there were blind, the legend goes, to conserve the modesty of the royal harem.

While closed, you get glimpses of their splendour via doorways along the Patio de la Lindaraja.

Keeping it minimal

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

La Linea shut down THE border town of La Linea de la Concepcion has been handed extra harsh coronavirus strictions by the Junta rede Andalucia.

The municipality, which borders Gibraltar, placed into Level has been 4.2 of the region’s coronavirus tier system.

The town is facing edented climb in an unprecthe number of cases and was forced to order all non-essential and trade to cease business activity from midnight on Sunday.

This includes shops, restaurants and bars hotels, - with the exception of businesses such as essential supermarkets or petrol stations.

Experts made the along with regional decision Juanma Moreno on president Friday after the town’s cumulative incidence rate reached 1,247.9 cases per 100,000 people.

T

Double

That is more than average rate of thedouble the besieged Campo de currently Gibraltar health district, which stands at 506.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

The whole district, made up eight towns, is currently closed down, meaning no one can leave or exit without a justified reason, such legal or for work. as medical, These measures will remain in place until at least January 25, Moreno said at a press conference today.

The campo was first closed off when health authorities discovered the more UK variant of the contagious arrived in Gibraltar.virus had Since then, La Linea, receives cross-border which ers daily, has seen workan extremely sharp increase in COVID-19 cases.

One worker told Press this week thatthe Olive the situation in the area was ‘out of control.’

The young woman, who works on the Costa del Sol in the Campo, and but lives ner are still both her partwaiting to be tested after coming into direct contact with infected person. a COVID-19

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PERI-LESS CROSSING

HE tale of Joseph Lathey’s Nando’s border drama has made headlines around the world.

The Olive Press’s frontpage exclusive last edition was quickly picked 952 147 834 up by national newspapers in the UK, Spain and even as far away as Russia.

We first told the story of how Spanish customs officials confiscated Joseph’s Nando’s PeriPeri sauce at the Gibraltar border, claiming new Brexit rules as justification.

And it wasn’t long before the yarn was picked up by LadBible, followed by the Sun, the Daily Mail and eventually the FRONT PAGE of the Telegraph, and later Russia Today (RT).

Even several Spanish publications, including the popular 20minutos, ran with the story.

“It has definitely kicked off,” Joseph told the Oli v e Press this week following almost a fortnight of media appearances, “Nand o s h a v e already c o n tacted me and are going to be sending me a parcel.”

It was just one of several exclusives - spread across our six regional editions that we continue to deliver every fortnight.

Dark times

THERE have been a total of 16 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic first struck in Gibraltar.

The last four occurred weekend the vaccines on the arrived on January 9. finally The majority of the deaths were of elderly people with underlying conditions although there were also some exceptions.

COVID-19 active cases passed the 1,000 mark surjust after the Christmas period although they have since stabilised.

The strict measures imposed in the social lockdown introduced by the government on ber 27 and January Decem2 have finally taken effect.

Public health experts believe the start of the third wave was initiated by Black Friday shopping on November 29.

As the pre-Christmas shopping spree continued and families started to meet it is believed to havetogether spread further.

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STUMPED: Lathey was angry when his chilli and cloves were accepted but his Peri-Peri hot sauce A BRITISH expat was confiscated at the has branded border Spanish border officials and ‘clueless’ after they ‘ridiculous’ his Nando’s Peri Peri confiscated sauce at the Gibraltar border.

Joseph Lathey, 27, was when much of his weeklyleft fuming shopping was binned as he tried to cross back “I said it was ridiculous into La Linea. as that would mean most of This meant seeing his Exclusive by my shopping prohibited list. But Spanish would also not be allowed legisleeks being tipped intobananas and Laurence Dollimore lation, specifically law in.” a customs Indeed, officials officer’s bin. told the Brit the dictates that vegetables 2019/2072, only items from his £55 and vegetawho asked not to be named, It also included his vegetable saadmit- ble-based products are prohibited could cross the frontier shop that ted that he stuffed mosas, one of his favourite bacon down his from entering the peninsula weekly cloves and chilli powder. were his underwear after from a treats he buys from hearing they were ‘third country.’

Ramsons, on “It didn’t make any sense,” Waterport Road. he add- seizing the majority of someone The Gibraltar Government ed, “they seemed to be told the Meanwhile, his chilli Olive Press: “The pretty clue- else’s products. less.

The EU now classes were deemed acceptable.and cloves understanding is thatGovernment’s “I asked them to provide EU law third country, bringingthe UK as a cifically “I was completely stumped. exempts plant productsspein tougher I had a to justify what they were documents controls on what chicken which I thought inthey just sent me a phototaking and cross the border can and cannot tended for personal consumption been stopped but not might have from official controls at into of the a link bloc. the Peri-Peri to a Spanish Government Border ConAccording to the Gibraltar sauce,” Lathey told the Olive Press.

Gov- trol Posts on introduction to the EU. Lathey was told he couldwebsite.”

“The officials said it contained take his ernment website, several items shopping back onto puree, meaning it containedonion the Rock to for personal consumption are now store it. proAgreement banned, including all cessed veg and was meat and milk therefore not “I ended up selling it allowed over. all for £20, products (bar powdered infant milk, “Therefore, the Government will which is better than nothing,” be baby added for food and special food required seeking to clarify this matter with medical reasons or pet the relevant Spanish Authorities.

Lathey. food re- “Until the final agreement It comes after quired for animal health reasons). several reports You cannot bring in more than 20kg respect to Gibraltar’s future with on social me- of any fish product or more than 2kg tionship with the EU is settled,reladia of Brits of other specific animal products, unless the Government advisesand See page 16 on including honey, oysters, specific having food live mus- ogationsbridging measures or derseized at the sels and snails. having been agreed whilst The Government reminder, that agreement is negotiated, border. pub- braltar Gilished on January 4, will be treated as One expat, vegetable does not products as being on list country for the purposes of a third EU custhe toms controls.”

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

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

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

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

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8

LA CULTURA

In the footsteps of hit BBC show The Mallorca Files

January 29th - February 11th 2021

Set jetters STARS: Rhys and Looman

By Isha Sesay

THE world-famous Fallas festivities in Valencia have been cancelled again this year due to COVID-19.

City mayor Joan Ribo made the dreaded – but expected – announcement on Radio Valencia, ahead of the official statement by the regional Health department.

Flames

The second season is set to air next month with filming for the third season already

Ye Olde Dagger

EXPERTS have discovered a 3,000-year-old crystal dagger in an ancient tomb in the Sevilla area. The remains of several people were found buried in a ritualistic way but what caught the eye was the rock crystal dagger. It has been dated to at least 3,000 BC, making it the ‘most technically sophisticated and impressive collection of rock crystal material culture ever found in Prehistoric Iberia’, according to site investigators.

Prehistoric humans in Europe made most of their tools from chert and flint. Tools made by knapping ‘rock crystals’ (macro-crystalline quartz) were far less prevalent but manufacturing techniques were created in the south-west part of the Iberian Peninsula. Although rock crystal tools were more difficult to fashion and the raw materials weren’t as abundant as sedimentary rock, prehistoric people cherished them due to their social value.

underway.

Copies of the map have been published in four languages including Catalan, Spanish, English and German.

C e n t e r i n g around workaholic British policewoman Miranda Blake and laidback German detective Max Winter, the show follows the pair as they join forces investigating crimes in Mallorca’s privileged expat community.

Starring Elen Rhys and Julian Looman, the series was created by Good Karma Hospital’s Dan Sefton and is co-produced with German channel ZDF.

This will be the second consecutive March without the spectacular paper-mache statues decorating the streets for a week before going up in flames, together with the daily mascleta firecracker displays,

processions, flower offerings and months of partying and preparations.

Added to last year’s cancellation, this is so far the second longest gap in the fiesta’s long history, only ‘beaten’ by the three-year Civil War period from 1937 to 1939.

The decision has not come as a surprise for anyone involved, but has still triggered intense feelings of sadness and loss throughout the huge Fallas community.

Neither did anyone need to be reminded of the reasons for putting the much-loved festivities on ice once again.

Dramatic

Highlights of series one included the dramatic tale of a missing German supermodel on the famous Soller train with filming taking place on the railway itself.

The second series promises even more spectacular scenery with the unlikely duo once again ready to brighten our screens and kick crime in the Balearic sunshine.

RENOWNED: Fallas festival will be missed

OP QUICK Crossword Across 1 Flowers (6) 4 Look high and low (5) 8 Set upon (6) 9 Stormy Red Sea blotted out (6) 10 US President with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (6) 11 Went through (6) 12 Kind of reaction (3) 13 That group (5) 15 Deputised group (5) 17 Centre of activity (3) 19 "Hey ---!" (6) 21 Ascend (4,2) 23 Sandbanks (6) 24 Recognition at the end of a film (6) 25 "---, ---, why has thou forsaken me?" (2,3) 26 Quivering trees (6)

Down

OP Sudoku

THE Mallorca Film Commission has created a map of locations where the hit BBC series The Mallorca Files was filmed.

Pinpointing diverse locations across the island such as Palma’s historical quarters, the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, Sa Calobra and the Cuevas del Drach, the map also offers a synopsis of each episode.

It's aim is to reinforce the promotional impact of the detective drama which in its first series attracted more than six million viewers.

Blown out again

1 Wash (5) 2 Nell Gwyn sold them (7) 3 Whipping up (6) 5 Badinage (5) 6 How a submariner might view a parachute (7) 7 Cruelly rapacious person (5) 14 Without mercy (7) 16 Too blue? (7) 17 Lifting device (5) 18 Good-hearted people (6) 20 1954-77 Far Eastern alliance (2,1,1,1) 22 Squads (5)

All solutions are on page 14

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Vol. 2 Issue 48

Good health

From mice to men A

www.theolivepress.es

SPANISH vaccine has proven to be 100% effective against COVID-19 in mice.

The jab, developed by virologists Mariano Esteban and Juan Garcia Arriaza at the National Centre for Biotechnology, will move on to human trials ‘within weeks’.

The vaccine uses a variant of the virus that was used to eradicate smallpox, according to the results published in the Journal of Virology.

It is being developed with Spanish biotech giant Biofabri, belonging to the Zendal group, with plans for clinical trials already in motion.

Dubbed MVA-CoV-2, the jab uses the ‘Modified Ankara vaccinia’ virus (MVA) as a vehicle to transport a SARS-CoV-2 protein that manages to stimulate an immune system defense against the coronavirus, reported the Higher Council for Scientific Research.

Biofabri is now waiting for the green light from the Spanish Medicines Agency to kickstart the first of two clinical human trials, which could start in a few weeks.

“We have observed that the MVA-CoV-2 vaccine candidate generates a robust immune response with the production of neutralising antibodies and the activation of T lymphocytes in mice,” explained

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

SPONSORED BY

January 29th - February 11th 2021

R-rated SCIENTISTS say that a 10% rise in mask wearing triples the chance of keeping the R number infection rate for COVID below one.

Writing in Lancet Digital Health, researchers said that keeping the number below one means the pandemic is shrinking. The R rate shows the number of people infected by each carrier of the coronavirus.

They studied 300,000 people in the USA to reach their conclusion.

App ‘n go AN app to prove people have been immunised against COVID is to be launched in the coming days.

The Junta says that those who have been given two doses of the vaccine will be able to download the app, which will show a QR code. This will be able to be scanned so people can prove they have been vaccinated. This could be used to let them travel despite restrictions, for example.

Watch that chat

researcher Mariano Esteban.

Arriaza said that the team has verified that the vaccine ‘creates 100% protection against SARS-CoV-2 in a humanised mouse susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is very important.’

In the Spanish vaccine, the MVA virus has been modified to replicate the complete S protein of SARS-CoV-2, which is the key that allows the coronavirus to enter human cells.

It therefore introduces the immune system to the protein and teaches it how to recognise and eliminate it.

According to the study, one or two doses of the vaccine protected 100% of the ‘humanised’ mice from COVID-19.

Arriaza added, however, that two doses of the vaccine blocked replication of the coronavirus in the lungs.

“These results demonstrate that the MVA vector-based COVID-19 vaccine produces robust immunity and complete efficacy in animal models, and supports its future application in clinical trials,” the researchers declared.

Clinical phases I and II could begin in a few weeks before progressing to phase III. Tests will now also be carried out on hamsters and macaques.

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

HAVING a 30-second chat without a facemask in a badly ventilated room could be worse than coughing for half a second when it comes to COVID infection.

A study by the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London found that while coughing results in a large number of big droplets, speech produces finer particles. These then stay suspended in the air for longer – up to an hour.

The report advises people to wear a mask to protect themselves and others, even if they are just talking and not coughing.

Good start AS Spain started the race to vaccinate its population against COVID, Andalucia was an early leader.

In the first weeks of the vaccination programme one in four of Spain’s first tranche of injections was made in the region.

10 January 29th - February 11th 2021

Vaccine passport holders will be able to skip restrictions THE first so-called ‘vaccine passports’ will be handed out to residents in Andalucia ‘within days’, the Junta has announced.

Spokesman Elias Bendodo told a press conference today that those who have received their second dose of the COVID-19 jab ‘will be able to prove it with a QR code.’

“The QR code will act as a certificate so they can prove it when taking a trip or any other activity that requires it,” Bendodo said.

He added that Andalucia has so far administered 163,048 doses, more than 75% of the total number of vials sent to the region.

“We will reach 80% between today and tomorrow,” Bendodo said, “And we will maintain a strategic reserve of 20%.”

He added that the third wave of the virus ‘is the most aggressive we have suffered due to its explosive evolution.’

The QR code will be sent to the mobile or any other device of people who have received two jabs.

It can also be printed as a paper

Elixir of

Jab and go? certificate for those who do not own a mobile or tablet.

The Junta announced plans for a vaccine passport last year, vowing that those in possession of one would be able to skip certain restrictions.

Junta president Juanma Moreno said on December 19 that the plan was to make events and travel safer in the future by knowing ‘who has been vaccinated and who has not’.

“Of course no one will be forced to get the jab, but if someone is going to want to go to sporting or cultural events or travel, they will have to be vaccinated,” Moreno said at the time.

It has not been confirmed when those who are first to receive their vaccine certificate will be permitted to travel or skip other restrictions.



Milk matters Children who drink full-fat milk are less likely to be overweight than those given skimmed or semiskimmed.

The findings were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and they found that children who drank whole milk had 40% lower odds of being overweight or obese compared with their peers who drank lower-fat varieties.

It has been speculated that whole milk causes children to feel fuller, which reduces snacking.

The research combined the results of 28 studies that were conducted across seven countries, which had explored the correlation between children drinking cows milk and the risk of being overweight.

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espaÑa The magnificent seven active ingredients of a southern Spanish lifestyle

TRADITIONALLY a time for detoxing and gruelling health regimens, those beginning the new year in Spain are luckier than most.

The Mediterranean diet is frequently lauded by health experts but there are many more natural remedies on our doorstep that come with the territory.

Check out these magnificent seven health benefits of a Mallorcan lifestyle.

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

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

3. A sporting chance

椀渀昀漀䀀氀愀琀攀爀氀椀昀攀⸀攀猀 眀眀眀⸀氀愀琀攀爀氀椀昀攀⸀攀猀

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

Good health

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January 27th - February 9th 2021

January 29th - February 11th 2021

5. Curative costas

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

With over 1,000km of coastline, many Andalucians are hardwired to love the ocean - something scientists call the ‘blue mind’.

Dr Thomas W. Ferkol is one of those who extols the sea’s benefits, claiming salt clears lungs and is antibacterial, while beach life can improve sleep patterns.

6. Red red wine Every year the benefits of a ‘small’ amount of red wine are proclaimed, it being proven that ‘vino tinto’ is packed full of antioxidants.

Now the latest study by a Spanish research team, in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, also finds it can reduce tooth decay and gum disease.

7. Soothing siestas

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

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

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

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Olive Press Mallorca– 170mm x 256mm – Colour

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January 29th February 11th 2021

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Good health

Egg on Into the abyss my face I

British ex-COVID denier felt close to death after testing positive for the disease EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

A BRITISH expat has admitted he was wrong to doubt the dangers of COVID-19 after becoming infected while visiting the UK. Marbella-based Richard Williams, 49, said he initially thought the disease was a hoax but began to have his doubts after ‘carrying out his own research.’

These doubts were confirmed when the Forex trader started to feel ill over Christmas while back in Birmingham, before testing positive for the disease on January 4.

“I thought I had just overdone it at Christmas,” the former professional kickboxer told the Olive Press.

“But I ended up being hit really hard. I was a right mess in there, I don’t think people wanted to come near me, it was like a scene from Contagion on Netflix.”

Williams’ test on January 4 came back positive and his wife Helen tested positive the following day.

Williams, who has lived in Marbella for 10 years, was told to self-isolate at home, but his condition rapidly worsened.

“When I was sat up shivering at 3am night after night I felt so weak I just wanted to give up,” he added.

“I felt like it was never going to end, my wife called the doctors every day for a week because I was getting worse.”

Williams said he was eventually prescribed amoxicillin for possible bacteria in his kidneys and co-codamol for his aching joints.

CONVERT: Richard Williams was wrong

“It started out like a cold runny nose and sneezing, but then the sweats really kicked in and these ruined me as I was waking up drenched in cold sweat, freezing cold and then roasting hot, that was probably the worst part.

“I also have dry mouth, aching joints, non-stop migraines, lower back pain and aching kidneys, all preventing me from a decent night’s sleep.

“We almost called the ambulance when my dry cough and tight chest caused real breathing problems.”

Conspiracy

He added: “I think I’ve been wrong to say it’s bullshit..

I never believed in it and I wasn’t quiet in saying so.

“I do now and I’ve got egg on my face.”

It comes as conspiracy theorists around the world have claimed the disease is a hoax designed to ‘control the population’.

Wilder theories claim it is all a ruse to allow for a mass vaccination campaign so that Bill Gates can inject people with microchips.

T felt like being slotted into a sock, or the middle of a doughnut, and had it not been for the panic button I’d have fought my way out in a chispa.

But as the MRI scanner whirred into life, I lifted my COVID mask up over my eyes and started to count my breaths and meditate.

I was in for a 90-minute screening and once cocooned in my own darkness I soon forgot the constraints of the narrow tube I had been strapped into.

I had chosen a full medical check at Executive Health, in Marbella, overseen by leading heart scientist Dr Henrik Reinhard as a new year resolution to keep closer tabs on my health now I’m in my 50s.

The annual screening package involves a detailed exam of the abdomen, pelvis and

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

thorax, as well as a clinical evaluation of the heart and lungs and an analysis of blood, urine and stools.

The MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine was the highlight, using a powerful magnetic field combined with specific radio frequencies to create detailed images of my internal body structures.

Enabling Dr Henrik to take a close look at my bones, tissues and organs, he would be able to detect any abnormalities, such as cancerous growths, inflammation, infections and more.

While the advancement of heart disease follows a more predictable pattern, requiring screening every five years, cardiologist Henrik advises yearly screening for cancer.

But the first test was actually managing to stay inside the MRI machine.

“It’s true quite a few people can’t handle the claustrophobia,” admitted Henrik.

“Par ticularly men, so you did well to fight it off.”

Ordeal over, I stepped into his office for an immediate consultation, in which he reported he could see no obvious signs APPREHENSIVE: Jon gets prepared for scan of disease.

In the mood

TREASURE: Elissa’s elixir of love

WHEN it comes to love and passion during coronavirus lockdowns, it seems that women have needed a little help.

Perhaps being in close proximity to loved ones for extended periods of time has proven to be a little bit too much of a good thing, and bedroom activities have gone a trifle stale.

But not ones to take this state of affairs lying down, many British women have apparently turned to a ‘Viagra’ for ladies to keep them in the mood.

The maker of Elle Sera, which was launched before the first coronavirus lockdown, says that sales have soared during the pandemic.

Also known as the Empowerment Pill, it is not a medicine, but is sold as a ‘supplement’.

Elissa Corrigan, the 35-year-old veteran of Bear Gryll’s reality show Treasure Island is behind the golden tablet.

She claims that sales have g r o w n 400% as woman want to ‘feel sexier and flirtier’.

But this feeling comes at a price - a 30-day supply costs around €70.

A few days later I was back to get the full results and see some, quite frankly, fascinating scans and images.

While it looked like a haunted face from a ghost train (see above), my main chest and heart scan was apparently ‘pretty healthy’ and Henrik gave me a 3% chance of heart issues over the next decade, but based on current risk factors measured my lifetime as over 50%.

“That’s 10% higher than the average risk in in Western countries, but you can get that down pretty easily,” he explained, insisting it could get down as low as 8%.

The best way to do this is with diet, cutting down meat

to once a week and eating more ‘good fats’, which was basically fish and nuts, as well as a lot more vegetables, particularly kale, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower.

While my blood and urine tests were normal and my kidney and liver function were fine, my blood sugar levels were elevated and I would have to bring them down to avoid developing diabetes.

I also needed to lose a bit of weight, which was no surprise after the festive period, when I had put on nearly three kilos.

Last, but not least, he spotted I had a small 2cm opening of a hernia in my left groin, which had indeed been giving me a little bit of grief over the last few months.

But he said this could be improved by losing some weight and could easily get better on its own.

Great Dane The Danish doctor Henrik Reinhard, 45, and team spent two years researching the best place to open his Executive Health clinic with its MRI scanner and other high tech machines.

Costing over €1m to buy and over €300,000 to install he needed to find the perfect location.

“We tried and paid for “check up” at five clinics on the Costa del Sol and wasn’t exactly impressed with the results,” he explains. “I knew we could do a lot better.”

In the end the father-of-three was able to rent a floor of the Helicopteros Sanitarios clinic in Puerto Banus, which ticked many boxes for its central location and large membership of potential clients.

Going into partnership with a Swedish businessman, the clinic opened in aprhil 2017.

And he and his wife Rikke have now more than settled on the Costa del Sol, having previously lived in Australia and Trondheim in north Norway, and are expecting 2021 to be a busy year.

“We are working really hard to give the best possible service and finding the clients very receptive,” he adds. “In particular because with all the COVID issues I am sure that many Olive Press readers have not been getting their normal health checks at the local hospital. We can do the same and a lot more in a far safer environment.”

Contact Executive Health at info@executivehealth.es or visit www.executivehealth.es

SPECIAL OLIVE PRESS OFFER In a special new year’s deal for Olive Press readers, the Executive Health clinic is offering a full annual medical check up with 4 MRI scans for just just 895 €895, euros, or over or over half halfnormal the the normal price. price.

The significant annual health check needs to be booked in in advance advanceand anddepends dependsononavailability. availability. Visit www.executivehealth.es for more details

PROPERTY

January 29th February 11th 2021

Switch to rent

Home ownership dreams die for Spain’s youngsters

SPAIN’S home ownership figures are likely to fall as young people turn to renting, according to a major developer.

With young people increasingly unable to save enough to make down-payments on homes, a trend toward increased home rentals may accelerate, according to David Martinez, chief executive officer of Aedas Homes.

Aedas this month signed a deal with two developers to build 655 apartments for the Spanish rental market.

That’s part of the firm’s view that a generational change is underway in housing that will see Spain slowly pivoting closer to the situation in Germany where only about half of people own their own homes. At 76%, Spain has the highest ratio of home-ownership in Western Europe after Malta.

Model

In an interview with Bloomberg News, David Martinez said: “No one can question that there’s a generation of young Spaniards who don’t have access to housing. The pandemic has accelerated that shift toward a German model.” Martinez said that Aedas expects to announce similar rental apartment agreements by the end of March. Rental prices fell 7.3% in Madrid last year, the first decline for the city since 2014, and 9.4% in Barcelona, according to property website, Idealista.

By Alex Trelinski

Aedas’s competitors are also entering the rental sector.

Neinor Homes in September bought a 75% stake in Renta Garantizada, a rental management platform with 2,500 units under management.

Banks have also begun to tighten credit for developers, according to David Martinez.

“The cost of credit has gone up and lenders are also now insisting on 50% of homes in a project being sold before construction starts compared to 30% before the pandemic,” he commented.

Good value ONLINE property portal Hogaria, which lists more than 1.5 million properties across Spain, has launched an automated valuation tool or owners looking to sell their homes or buyers wanting to check the value of their target purchase.

Struggling with coronavirus restrictions on movement that have slashed footfall and left properties vacant for months, more Spanish real estate firms have moved online with virtual visits or e-signatures to draw in clients.

Hogaria chief executive Francisco Loriente said: “Now more than ever, the real estate sector needs greater digitalisation to avoid unnecessary movement,” He added that the tool was designed before the pandemic, but the roll-out had been accelerated.

Nomad invasion

THE number of young Brits looking to make the leap and move to Spain jumped by nearly 500% last year, new research has revealed.

Online property platform Kyero.com says they saw a 446% year-on-year increase in Britons aged 18 to 24 viewing Spanish property on its website.

Site founder Martin Del said: “A new, younger generation of ‘corona nomads’ are embracing a move to Spain.

“With no office job, mortgage or family responsibilities to tie them down – as well as no prospect of getting on the UK housing ladder – an increasing number of young British people are considering buying property abroad in Spain.”

He added: “While we’ve seen increased interest in Spanish properties from younger people of all nationalities over the last year it was British interest that really skyrocketed, suggesting that Brexit is a key factor.”

Alcaudete, Deltebre and Jerez De La Frontera in Cadiz were among the areas that saw a massive increase in property enquiries in 2020, with the latter seeing a 70% jump in searches.

“Many young people don't want to lose their freedom of movement across Europe, and by becoming Spanish residents, they regain their pre-Brexit rights as EU citizens,” said Bell.

“There is little doubt that coronavirus and higher levels of remote working has driven up interest in property overseas as the dream of moving to Europe becomes a realistic possibility. And it also appears that many young people disillusioned by Brexit are searching for a European lifestyle in the sun.”

Attractive

Another trend that Kyero has identified is a change in the types of locations becoming more popular for overseas buyers.

Bell said: “Because of the surge in remote working, people can often base themselves anywhere for longer periods these days, making more remote and often cheaper areas of Spain increasingly viable – and therefore popular – options. Combined with Spain’s already affordable property prices, it’s a very attractive option for young UK buyers.”

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Permission to buy, Sir! BREXIT will make some property purchases more complicated for British people in some parts of Spain due to an old law dating back to the days of the dictator, General Franco.

The Provincial Association of Promoters (Provia) claims that around 800 home sales in the southern part of the Costa Blanca region could be delayed each year due to the legislation.

The same regulations apply all across Spain, but it is unknown exactly how many properties could be affected.

Francoist

Provia’s general secretary, Jesualdo Ros, said: “There is a 1975 Francoist law that forces non-EU citizens to apply to the Ministry of Defence for permission to buy property in areas that have been classified as being of strategic interest for the defence of the country.”

The law decrees that nonEU nationals have to obtain ‘military authorisation’ if they plan to buy a home close to restricted areas, before a deed is granted or registered.

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COLUMNISTS

January 29th - February 11th 2021

Lisa Burgess

Just wish it was over Changing times

W

HEN I flippantly mentioned in my last column that I didn’t see many people writing that 2021 would be their year, I didn’t actually think that I would be wishing for the end of it just three weeks in.

Having reported on the pandemic since the early days of last year, I always thought I was more aware of catching the virus than most.

Living in splendid isolation on the lake I don’t really meet that many people, plus radio broadcasts mainly involve sitting in

2021 gets off to a miserable COVID start for Giles

an empty room talking to yourself. Your basic job for mad people.

The only time I met up with others was to see some of the Goddaughters over Christmas. My friend works at Bioparc Fuengirola, she is tested on a regular basis for the very good reason that you can’t really multitask when it comes to zoo animals. “Jose, I know that you normally feed the small reptiles, but Pedro has COVID, so could you just pop into the Tiger enclosure at feeding

Coping with the pandemic needs ingenuity

time?”

By the way. If you are wondering how you give a gorilla hand sanitiser, the answer is very, very carefully...

Even my hermit-like, if not downright anN old proverb says ‘a wise ti-social, behaviour couldn’t save me from man adapts himself to the virus however. After the test revealed I circumstances, as water was positive (and as a long time Marbella shapes itself to the vessel party person I’ve had worse things shoved that contains it’. This pandemic up my nostrils, trust me) it was off for a has been an enormous struggle MY daughter: spot of Fear and Self isolating in Istan. for every business. Some have Georgia adapted in unique ways and you Downey And although I may grumble have to admire their ingenuity. about people in Marbella at the Many restaurants in Spain have changed their business best of times, as soon as my model from dining to delivery and takeaway. Large globfriends found I was unwell they al companies such as LVMH, the company behind Louis were in touch bringing more Vuitton, immediately started making hand sanitiser in food, fuel and even ready preresponse to coronavirus. pared meals. I was half expectMany more small businesses have been truly innovative ing a bouncing bomb style packsystem to the point Terenia Taras from a travel package agent who started a log delivery age across the lake... where you don’t know Telling it like it is business, a singing teacher who launched a singing stuWith the symptoms not shifting what the hell you’re aldio called Sing Space that now has 11k members, to a after my quarantine, friends suglowed to do anymore! Then our landlord gave us wedding florist who now sells house plants online. gested that I get checked out at the news about having to move out! Oh and let’s the hospital.

It was the busiest not forget the COVID show running in the backthat I have seen, but the staff ground. We get a vaccine finally, yay! Then the were unflappable and unflusbloody virus hits back with a new strain, he’s got I started my own online digital media marketing busitered, even when a Brit, bored some bigger, badder mates to take even more ness, Media Savvy, during the pandemic. We bring busiof waiting, ripped his tube out people down! Come on life, enough is enough, nesses online and manage, analyse and increase their of his arm, leaking blood everyhow much more do we need to endure? digital media presence. It has been brilliant to see true where.

Ok, it’s a new year, ‘onwards and upwards’ I said! technophobes adjust.

I’m happy to say that I seem to So back to our home in Mallorca after enduring If you don’t have a business that can go online during be on the mend and will soon be another PCR test to get back into the country. these challenging times then why not gain other qualiback to normal.

Whatever that Since we returned all I seem to have done is fications to either start a new business or get that new is.

Stay safe.

And wear a mask. view apartments back-to-back until they started job? There are a myriad of courses online to choose merging into one. Then we go into another lockfrom especially now. down and in the words of Amy Winehouse, back Take my daughter, Georgia Downey for example. After to black! lockdown she pursued her passion for beauty.

And that was the moment, people, that I lost my She now has certificates and training in Gel Nails, Eyeshit! lash Extensions, Brow Lamination, Lash Lift & Tint, Brow There were tears of sheer frustration after trying Shaping & Tinting, Lash Botox Therapy & Brow Botox so hard all of 2020 to build a new life and earn Therapy and has started her own business! At first eva living here in Mallorca amidst the pandemic. I eryone is hesitant to try something new because it takes was desperately missing my son who was also confidence and that can be hard to muster but you have on lockdown in the UK and with movement benothing to lose by forging ahead. Always remember that tween countries proving near impossible unless challenges are what make life interesting and overcomyou’re COVID-free and a Spanish resident, I feel ing them is what makes them meaningful. like we’re all just trapped for now.

How much worse can things get when we’re already at the threshold of hell! Oh and did I mention that I suffer from anxiety, which up until this point I had managed to keep a lid on?

Well the lid has blown and I’m having to up my medication just to keep the panic attacks at bay!

Quick Crossword Please life give us all a frickin break before the sh•tshow tips those of whose mental health is Across: 1 Blooms, 4 Scour, 8 Attack, 9 Erased, 10 Reagan, really starting to suffer over the edge and others 11 Sifted, 12 Gut, 13 Those, 15 Posse, 17 Hub, 19 Presto, joining our party!

21 Rise up, 23 Shoals, 24 Credit, 25 My God, 26 Aspens. *And another thing. At the time of going to press my son in the UK rang to say he had COVID! Down: 1 Bathe, 2 Oranges, 3 Making, 5 Chaff, 6 Useless, 7 Beast, 14 Harshly, 16 Obscene, 17 Hoist, 18 Bricks, 20 YOU CAN FOLLOW ME @tereniataras SE A T O, 22 Units.

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ELL, it finally happened! I had the mother of all meltdowns last week!

I have really tried to be positive throughout the whole COVID crisis but whilst we were in the UK for Christmas and New Year our landlord contacted us to say he was having to move back into the apartment which we rent from him.

That was the final straw which broke the camel’s back because our home here has been the only constant in a year of total uncertainty and stress.

We moved to Mallorca less than a year ago and a few months prior to that I moved with my son from our home in Harrogate into my partner’s house.

So that involved consolidating two houses full of our stuff into one house and the rest was given away or put in storage. We then moved country to arrive in Mallorca just in time for the COVID sh•tshow to begin.

My PR consultancy business, which was doing great up until then, took a slow and steady decline as businesses were closed and people furloughed. Not to worry, I could always write and work as a journalist! Paul, my partner who works as a pilot for Jet2 has yet to even take off, as he’s not flown since we came to Mallorca and was put on ERTE. Ok, we have some savings between us so we’ll manage.Then he broke his leg falling off his road bike, so that put us both out of action for several weeks as he was laid up and I took on the role of carer and general run-a-rounder.

I’ve got this! Once Paul was back up and about again, life resumed until we both tested positive for COVID, back to self-isolation, do not pass go, do not collect £100! This game of life was starting to get a bit frustrating now. But we got over COVID with the help of Netflix and plenty of vino tinto!

We flew back to Britain for Christmas on a 12-hour journey via Madrid and had a lovely Christmas despite moving up and down the tier

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Bleaching heck!

MERCADONA has launched a disinfectant for fruit and vegetables.

The product is sold under the supermarket giant’s Bosque Verde cleaning brand and promises a ‘thorough’ cleaning of food products.

Costing €2 per 500ml bottle, users add three caps of the product to one litre of water and submerge their fruit and veg, without peeling, for five minutes - or 15 for a ‘thorough’ cleaning.

They must then rinse them with ‘plenty of water’ before consuming. The product is made by the SPB Global Corporation, based in Valencia.

January 29th - February 11th 2021

Seeds of the future

HE is Spain’s definite Chef of the Sea, an off-the-wall maverick, more than worthy of his three Michelin stars.

But now Angel Leon of Cadiz’s revolutionary Aponiente believes he has found a global food breakthrough that could be a game-changer for sustainability.

His super-food ‘Zoster’ has just been approved by the UN as an official grain.

Tourist pains SPAIN’S tourism sector lost €106 billion last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Exceltur trade organisation’s annual report the worst-hit holiday area was Barcelona, which saw tourist-related business slashed by 90.9%.

It was followed by the Costa Dorada on 83% and the Costa del Sol with a 79.7% fall. The Costa Blanca came fourth in the country’s largest falls in tourist sales with a 76.6% drop.

The Exceltur report says direct and indirect tourist revenue collapsed by €106 billion in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The sector has seen 293,000 people lose their jobs permanently with 435,000 others on the ERTE furlough scheme.

While unemployment figures have risen in Spain by 2.5%, the figure leaps to 38% in the tourist sector.

YUM!: Apparently edible

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Let it snow!

THE record-breaking snow and sub-zero temperatures brought by Storm Filomena are set to do wonders for wine growers across Spain.

The accumulation of snow has helped vineyards from Granada to Madrid and Rioja build up their water reserves, making them less likely to dry out in the crippling summer heat.

And because the snow falls softly and is less abrasive than rain, there is little to no soil erosion or damage to the vine.

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

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation has given him carte-blanche to develop it and will promote it in turn.

Better known as eelgrass, it is not only healthy but it is extremely good for the environment.

As well as providing a home to numerous species of marine creatures, seagrass

meadows absorb CO2 up to 35 times more efficiently than rainforests do.

The cultivation of eelgrass could also help to regenerate degraded coastlines – of which there are many in Andalucia and around Europe.

He believes the creation is the ‘most important of his career’.

“The possibilities are endless,” he told Sur. “If resources are put into this discovery, we can possibly cultivate other products under the sea.”

He has spent years working with the straggly grass as he scoured the seabed for potential new ingredients.

But he did not know it was edible until he came across a Science article from 1973 documenting the diet of the Seri, hunter-gathers from Mexico, who had created a paste out of the grain and ate it with honey.

“You can do anything with it that can be done with rice, from eating it whole

15

Vines

CHEF: Angel Leon

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

Sowing seeds

Small and dark in appearance, the eelgrass seed is said to taste like a cross between rice and quinoa, boasts high levels of fibre and omega-3 fats, and is gluten-free.

Of the some 22,000kg of eelgrass seeds that he is due to harvest this year, 19,000kg will go towards creating more farms as Leon once again sets his sights on sowing the seeds of future dining – quite literally, on this occasion.

Freezing temperatures can also kill off disease-causing parasites which tend to hide in the bark of the vines during winter, waiting for the heat to strike.

The benefits of snow has long been known to wine growers, hence the popular Spanish phrase ‘Año de nieves, año de bienes’, which roughly translates as ‘A year of snow is a year of prosperity’.

It’s good news for the likes of Castilla La Mancha, the largest wine growing region, which suffered a drought last year.

Pelayo de la Mata, Marqués de Vargas and president of the homonymous wineries, said snow helps ‘preserve a good sanitary state of the vine’.

Psychiatrist assessment on arrival | Private en-suite rooms | 1 to 1 therapy Group therapy | Fitness program | Weekly excursion | Massage | Private chef Pick up and drop off service | Family visiting days | After care

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FINAL WORDS

SPANISH superstar Rosalia has teamed up with American sensation Billie Eilish to produce a haunting yet melodic number called Lo Vas a Olvidar?

- or Can You Let it Go?, as they translate it.

Spotless streets

Your expat

voice in Spain

Vol. 4 Issue 98 www.theolivepress.es January 29th - February 11th 2021

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

Rogelia Blanco had been taken to hospital from the

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

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

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

virus.

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

The Great Wall of the costa A MAN from Vilafranca (Castellon) is building a replica of the Great Wall of China around his home, entirely by hand, in his spare time.

Work began 20 years ago, and the wall currently measures two kilometres long by up to 2.5 metres high at some points.

Francisco Javier Deusdad Ros, 49, explains that the idea for this highly ambitious and spectacular project stems from his love for a primitive construction method known as

Photos by Javier Ortí

Dreamy duet

Coca-dillo

MALLORCA

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

were told that she died on January 13 and been quickly buried with none of the family in attendance.

Husband Ramon - who lives in the same care home – was distraught, telling La Voz de Galicia newspaper: “I could not believe it. I was crying after the death of my wife.”

But after 10 days of grieving Rogelia turned up.

While for her family shock turned to joy, the opposite was the case for her roommate.

An identification mix-up meant that the unnamed woman’s family had been told she was alive. Her brother said: “They told me she was cured, I traveled to see her and when I arrived I found out that she had been dead for 10 days.”

Now a court will have to annul the death certificate for Rogelia – until that is done she is officially dead.

POLICE in Spain have discovered a brick of cocaine hidden inside a sandwich in northern Spain.

At least one arrest was made in Lugo, Galicia, after officers opened up the jamon bocadillo to discover 300g of the drug.

“Hey, you have a bit of sandwich in your drugs,” Policia Nacional jokingly tweeted alongside a video of the find.

“This sandwich had more than just flour in the bread.

“It was carrying 300g of cocaine hidden inside. Arrested in Lugo.”

The suspect has been charged with drug trafficking.

Moodunnit?

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

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952 147 834 * O f f e r

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