Olive Press Costa Blanca South and Murcia Issue 101

TIME TO Party Autumn festivals you won’t want to miss

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COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA FREE Vol. 4 Issue 101 www.theolivepress.es October 19th - November 1st 2023

The Spanish inland gem you’ve likely never heard of See page 14

Russian MP and pal of Putin still has access to multi-million Spanish villa thanks to legal loophole A RUSSIAN warmonger has held onto his multi-million euro villa despite being the subject of tough international sanctions, the Olive Press can reveal.

Alexey Chepa, an MP in Moscow’s State Duma, is still in possession of a huge estate - worth an estimated €15m - in Marbella.

He even has staff, including a full time Ukranian gardener, at the mansion in leafy Guadalmi-

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Spread across 10,725sqm, Chepa’s luxury home features a sports area with a full-size tennis court and a huge swimming pool.

There are several outhouses, including one just for security, while the main villa consists of a living room, dining room, library, five bedrooms, g a m e s room and more.

The property is just

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SWEEPING: Russian oligarch’s €15 million villa in Guadalmina

Bosque.

Incredibly, the estate has not been embargoed even though Chepa is a staunch supporter of warring president Vladimir Putin.

This is despite the MP, who represents five regions of Russia, being under sanctions in the EU, UK and America following his country’s ille-

gal invasion of Ukraine.

International body, the Anti-Corruption Foundation has discovered paperwork showing it is owned by his son Daniil Chepa, via an investment firm called Betren Inversiones S.L. The charity is now demanding that the estate be seized, as well as all other assets linked to Chepa.

Kyiv

Ironically the gardens are being tended by local firm Jardineria del Sol, run by a gardener originally from Cherkasy, near Kyiv.

Cherkasy has been a massive target for Russian missiles since the war began, with a huge strike causing massive damage just weeks ago.

The Olive Press has contacted the gardener and Spain’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs for comment.

Opinion Page 6

IT COULD BE MAGIC! LEGENDARY boyband Take That are coming to Spain.

The Back For Good singers will perform in four separate cities next summer as part of their 'This Life Under The Stars' tour.

They will perform in Barce-

lona on July 13, followed by Marbella ‘s Starlite Festival on July 15, Sevilla (16) and Madrid (17).

The band is currently made up of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, with Robbie Williams unlikely to join.

RICH LIST

AIGUES is the richest municipality in Alicante based on income tax returns.

The Tax Agency puts the gross average income at €46,093, with San Joan d'Alacant a distant second on €29,412.

El Campello is third with €29,302, followed by Mutxamel on €29,200, and Alicante City with €28,086.

The rest of the top 10 from income declared in 2021 is made up by Javea, Denia, Banyeres de Mariola, Ibi, Altea and Teulada-Moraira.

2

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Mixed picture ALICANTE-ELCHE airport clocked up a record September with 1.56 million travellers but Murcia’s Corvera had just 111,457 passengers - down 14.6% on 2019 figures..

Hurt cop AN ALICANTE Guardia Civil officer was seriously injured after a driver refused to stop to identify himself, before dragging him along the road for several metres.

The motorist, 19, has been arrested.

More capacity IMPROVEMENTS to the drainage capacity of the Segura river costing €3.8 million will be made to reduce potential blockages that contributed to the severe September 2019 Vega Baja floods.

Expert view SPECIAL tours are being set up so visitors can view craftsmen working on a year-long restoration of Murcia Cathedral.

FOUR GEORGIAN men rented Torrevieja area holiday homes over the summer to use them as bases to rob properties across the Vega Baja and Medio Vinalopo areas.

The Guardia Civil identified 16 break-ins committed by the gang

Holiday heists

in Almoradi, Albatera, Aspe, Guardamar de Segura, and Novelda.

One of the crew members was an expert locksmith who forced his way in through the front door.

October 19th - November 1st 2023 The value of the stolen money and items was estimated to be over €100,000 with some of the goods recovered during Guardia raids on three Torrevieja addresses.

They included 150 pieces of jewellery, 35 watches and 26 high-end glasses, plus € 600 in cash totalling

up to around €45,000 in value.

All four men have been jailed, while a woman who helped them sell off jewellery is being investigated.

Authorities expect further robberies linked to the gang to be added to the charge sheet.

What justice?

Irishman accused of concealing murder of compatriot Carl Carr dies before facing trial AN Irish fugitive wanted in connection with the brutal murder of Carl Carr has died suddenly before he could face justice.

Simon Fahy was accused of helping cover up the killing of his compatriot, who was beaten to death at an apartment in Torrevieja’s La Siesta urbani-

By Alex Trelinski

sation in September 2018.

In January 2019, Carr’s body was found buried in a shallow grave on the side of the AP-7 motorway, in nearby Rojales.

Fahy, 30, was one of six people wanted for the crime and a

INSIDE JOB

AN ALICANTE hotel worker has been caught stealing money from room safes by using a universal access code to open them.

The 24-year-old Spanish woman - who was the hotel housekeeper - has been arrested after two guests reported they had money taken.

Both clients had deposited cash in their room safes and lockedthe room doors when they went out.

But on their return the money was gone and there were no signs of a forced entry.

Police discovered that the only person who had full access to the rooms via a master key and who knew the safe codes was the housekeeper.

COVER UP: Fahy (middle) was accused of concealing murder of Carr (left), over relationship with Leonard

European Arrest Warrant was issued for his arrest, but Ireland refused to extradite him to Spain.

He taunted Spanish authorities on social media up until his death on October 6.

Wayne Walsh, 35, from Kilkenny, is accused of using a knuckle duster to beat his housemate Carr to death.

He is said to have flung into a fit of rage over a relationship Carr was having with his 'onoff' girlfriend, British model Mily Leonard.

Leonard along with bar manager Natalie Edwards, who Walsh was also said to be in a relationship with, both spent two months in custody in 2019

after being charged with concealing a crime.

They were freed after posting bail that was reported at the time of being up to €20,000 each.

Walsh was granted bail in August 2020, but as previously reported by the Olive Press, he was back behind bars this year after being accused of running a Torrevieja-based drugs gang.

His gang is accused of using parcel companies to send hashish and other narcotics to the UK, Ireland, and the United States.

Walsh was one of four people arrested by the Guardia Civil after being detained at Madrid airport in January.

Hitman fail AN expat allegedly hired two groups of hitmen to kill her ex-partner so that she could collect a €100,000 life insurance pay-out.

The middle-aged Peruvian national was left disappointed by the contract being unfilled on both occasions and has been arrested by the Policia Nacional.

After an acrimonious break-up of their relationship, the woman wanted to take revenge on her former partner - a Spanish national.

She contacted a group of Madrid-based hitmen for a two-stage operation which saw her pay an undisclosed sum to burn her ex-partner's car to scare him, and then to kill him in a beating.

When they failed to carry out the hit, she hired another gang for €40,000, only for one of the men to turn on her and warn the victim - who in turn shopped her to police.

NEWS

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WON CARLOS

SPAIN'S former monarch, Juan Carlos, has won a bid to throw out a £126 million London lawsuit brought by his ex-lover.

The 85-year-old ex-king was being sued

by Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, (right) who alleged Juan Carlos orchestrated a campaign of threats, surveillance and intimidation against her from 2012 after she refused to return millions of euros to him.

Incidents such as gunshots damag-

October 19th - November 1st 2023

ing security cameras at her property were raised in her allegations, pointing to the former king's displeasure at her refusal to get back together with him.

Judge Rowena Collins Rice ruled in the former monarch’s favour, saying that Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein's lawsuit did not contain reasonable grounds for bringing the claim.

3

Ogrein-law

Dropped the ball The Beckhams almost split while living in Spain after David’s alleged affair, documentary reveals VICTORIA and David Beckham have admitted that their time living in Spain was the ‘unhappiest stage’ of their marriage.

Victoria, AKA Posh Spice, 49, lived in the capital between 2003 and 2007, when her football star husband, now 48, was playing for Real Madrid.

But in the couple's new Netflix documentary series, Beckham, the pop star-turnedfashion designer revealed it was the most testing time for their relationship.

It was during this period that David had his alleged infamous affair with his personal assistant Rebecca Loos (left), which he always denied.

By Laurence Dollimore

Victoria, who shares four children with David, never mentioned Loos by name in the series but said: “It was the hardest period for us. Because it felt like the world was against us.

“Here's the thing, we were against each other, if I'm being completely honest. Up until Madrid, sometimes it felt like us against everybody else. But we were together, we were connected, we had e ach other.

“But when we were in Spain, it didn't really feel like we had each other either. And that's sad. I can't even begin to tell you how hard it was. And how it affected me.

“The press said all the time that I hated Spain or hated Madrid, but it wasn't because of Spain as we had to think about family.”

David added: “I don't know how we got through it, in all honestly.

Victoria is everything to me, to see her hurt was incredibly difficult, but we're fighters and at that time we needed to fight for each other, we needed to fight for our family.”

He added: “There

BATTLING: Victoria and David were ‘against each other’ in Madrid

were some days that I would wake up and think, ‘How am I going to go to work?… I felt physically sick every day when I opened my eyes.”

In an interview with Sky News in 2004, Loos claimed she had slept with David at least four times, saying: “I would always say to myself

‘don’t risk your job’ and I knew there was a huge risk involved if I got involved with this man... That night we just really hit it off. It was the first time, we were just locked into each other all night conversation-wise.

We just connected. People noticed it.”

POP STAR Shakira has still got plenty to say some 18 months after splitting from her former footballing boyfriend, Gerard Pique, but this time his dad is the target.

The Colombian star, now living in Florida, has blamed her father-in-law Joan Pique for all her tax problems as she gets ready for a fraud trial.

She says Joan ran many of his son's companies in which Shakira also had an involvement.

Journalist Siliva Taules says that the relationship between the two got so bad that she nicknamed Joan as 'the ogre' and used that name in front of her children Milan and Sasha.

Gerard Pique has opted to stay silent over the attacks against his father.

FINAL BELL FORMER world champ martial artist and boxer Xavi Moya has been killed in a horror motorbike accident in his native Barcelona.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the 55-yearold’s death. No other vehicles were involved.

Moya was a world renowned boxer and martial artist, becoming one of the few fighters to win World Champion titles in three different events.

He won a TWBA boxing title, and was nine times world champion in Full Contact, as well as winning the Kung Fu world title once and numerous European titles in martial arts.

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NEWS

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October 19th - November 1st 2023

Find the Vegan drug king and more!

A VEGAN ‘drug trafficker’ and a ‘cocaine kingpin’ are among the four most wanted Brits currently hiding in Spain, it has emerged.

Asim Naveed and Jack Mayle are both being hunted by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and believed to be hiding on the Costas.

Naveed, aged between 25 and 30, is accused of running a €9 million cocaine empire in Cardiff.

The NCA says Naveed, who has a scar on his left wrist, left the UK in July 2020 on the Eurostar and travelled down to Malaga.

Dumping disgrace ECOLOGISTS have blasted an illegal waste dump in the Hondo Natural Park that is threatening local wildlife, including a rare duck species.

Accio Ecologista-Agro has sent a file of photographs featuring a mix of construction material, electrical goods and large bulky waste that have been fly-tipped and which they say poses a threat to the local wetlands.

Meanwhile Mayle (right), who is also wanted for drug trafficking, is said to be living in Marbella.

Surrey Police say he was supplying drugs from the dark web such as MDMA, and was the leader of a drug gang called Flavour Quest.

The vegan has a gym body and multiple tattoos - the most recognisable being a diamond underneath his left eye.

He also has ‘Croydon’ tattooed on his left forearm and the words ‘money never sleeps’ on his left hand. Police have warned that he may be

armed.

The other two British fugitives in Spain are John James Jones and Calvin Parris.

The first ‘stabbed’ two people in Lancashire and fled to Ibiza, via Madrid.

Parris, meanwhile, is also wanted for drug trafficking and living somewhere in Spain.

RAT HORROR

Costa Blanca nursing homes are under fire for cockroach and rat infestations

RATS and cockroaches are crawling on the faces of elderly residents at care homes in Alicante, it has been claimed.

The shocking allegation is one of many facing three nursing homes, as campaigners demand TORREVIEJA'S main promenades and the port urgent inarea will fall under the city's Low Emissions Zone spections restricting polluting vehicles. from the All cities with populations above 50,000 have a Valencia legal duty to establish such a zone this year, with governTorrevieja keen to do so to avoid losing substanment. tial EU aid for a variety of key projects.

The alleThe proposed areas include the Juan Aparicio gations and Vista Alegre promenades. stem from

CONGESTION PLANS

By Alex Trelinski

an investigation by ReCoVa, which represents families and users of residential homes across the region.

The facilities under fire are the Domus VI Aljub and Altabix centres in Elche and Savia Villamartin, in Orihuela.

ReCoVa claimed that a 'lack of staff and care, poor food and human rights violations' were noted at the homes.

They are calling on Valencian authorities to inspect and sanction the 'chaos' of the residences.

Savia Villamartin has had rat and cockroach infesta-

LURKING: Rat on a kitchen shelf and (inset) cockroach tions in some areas, due to dards. a 'lack of hygiene' with res- “We cannot tolerate that idents being bitten and wak- residents do not have basic ing up with cockroaches on hygiene: changing nappies, their faces. cutting nails, shaving and Another claim is that resi- feeding,” explained a ReCodents are not being given the Va spokesman. right medication or appro- At the Domus VI Aljub cenpriate food to eat, with over tre in Elche, there have been half of its workers on leave complaints over inadequate with the remainder unable staffing and air conditioning to cope'. failures over the summer.

The staff shortages mean There has been no comment that residents are not get- from the Valencian governting minimum care stan- ment or the three centres.

Hope for homeowners A FRENCH politician has called for Brits who have owned second homes in France since before Brexit to be granted ‘special status’.

The proposal could become part of a new immigration bill in France, leading to pressure on Spain to do the same.

Around one million Britons are currently unable to enjoy their second homes in Spain as often as they would like.

Senator Martine Berthet, of Savoie, said: "British citizens who own second homes actively contribute to the local economy, I want to highlight the difficulties they face when coming to France."

She pointed out that they are subject to the 90-day limit or must undergo annual visa formalities, which involves a lengthy and complex process.

Brit biker killed A BRITISH motorcyclist died in a head-on collision with another car - also driven by a British national - in the San Miguel de Salinas area.

The accident happened at around 2.30pm Monday on the CV-95.

The 62-year-old male biker went onto the opposite lane of the highway on a bend and hit an oncoming vehicle driven by a British man, who was unharmed.

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NEWS

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October 19th - November 1st 2023

FOUR DAY HOPES

VALENCIA’S four-day working week experiment has brought positive results, including well-being and health benefits.

The two-month Spring trial also led to an overall cut in pollution due to fewer work journeys.

But not everyone was a winner as retail sales were reduced by 20% and residents increased their tobacco and alcohol consumption by having one extra leisure day per week.

The Valencia City Council commissioned the study of 2,100 people who were quizzed about the initiative that affected

Valencia could introduce four-day weeks after a ‘very promising’ trial

By Alex Trelinski

around 360,000 people in total.

These workers all saw their working week cut to 32 hours in April and May in a bid to increase productivity.

Experts in areas including health, the environment and economics also took part in the study.

One of the big positives of the reduced hours was that employees reported a lower stress level and spent more time on healthy activities - almost 40% reported doing more physical exercise.

Some 46% increased the time they spent reading, 28% went to the cinema, 42% studied more and 40% went sightseeing or travelling.

Diets also improved with more time to eat home-cooked food – 35% have reduced their intake of pre-cooked food – and about 73% spent more time with friends.

In addition, more than half of those surveyed (57%) confirmed they spent more time with their children.

Drinkers and smokers increased their intake by 25% and the study also concluded increased pressure on emergency medical care services.

5

Been a while

EUROPE’s last ever crocodile has been discovered by paleontologists, near Granada.

Experts at the site, in Baza, found the 4.5-million-year-old fossil among mammoths and small vertebrates.

Martinez Navarro, the paleontologist leading the excavation, said: “It is a species from Africa that reached the Iberian Peninsula just before the Mediterranean dried up during the Messinian Salinity Crisis, just over six million years ago”.

JABBING CAMPAIGN DOUBLE vaccinations against flu and Covid-19 have begun across the Valencian Community, with age categories extended at both ends of the scale.

Children aged six years and under will be able to get a flu shot, while the age of seniors has been lowered from 65 to 60 years to get a double dose.

Other priority groups will continue to be people living in nursing homes, health and social health personnel, pregnant women, and others who have specific medical conditions.

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Terror alert SPAIN has ramped up security at the Israeli embassy in Madrid after the unprecedented attacks carried out by Hamas.

The order came for increased vigilance on the very morning that the assault began, and included all areas where Jewish communities congregate across the country.

Countries across the EU are on high alert after former Hamas leader Khaled Mashal called for Muslims to ‘take to the streets’ in a 'day of Jihad', as part of a global protest against Israel.

Robert Greenway, director of the Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation, said this was ‘an unambiguous global call to arms’ and predicted that ‘there will be blood’.

According to a reports, the security forces will be on an even higher alert in Spain after Mashal’s comments.

UK nazi group rounded up A DANGEROUS neo-nazi group with links to the UK has been rounded up around Spain.

Members of Combat 18 - which takes its name from the initials AH, or Adolf Hitler - were picked up in Malaga, Madrid, Catalunya, Galicia and Toledo.

The crackdown on the group, launched in the UK in 1992, is part of a wider investigation around Europe.

Since its creation the group has called members to exercise violence against immigrants, ethnic minorities and the LGBT community.

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6

NEWS FEATURE

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 Sanctions must bite WHEN Russian tanks rolled across the border into Ukraine the international community was swift to react with a slew of sanctions.

These were placed against Russian state interests, including banks, as well as the infamous oligarchs who made billions from their corrupt collusion with President Putin.

As multi-million euro yachts were seized and billions in assets were frozen a warning was sent to these oligarchs by the likes of Boris Johnson and Pedro Sanchez that they could not escape sanctions.

But those ‘promises’ are sounding hollower and hollower by the day.

It is proving all too easy for the oligarchs - who mostly support the war against Ukraine - to evade sanctions and continue to live a billionaire lifestyle on money stolen from the Russian people.

As Putin lackey Alexa Chepa has found, it is simply a matter of having no property in his own name.

In Chepa’s case, his palatial €15m villa in Marbella is technically owned by his son Daniil through an investment company, so the entire family can continue to enjoy the ill gotten gains of Chepa senior, and his wealth is protected.

He is by no means the only oligarch who has hidden his assets - but the Olive Press asks quite simply ‘why are they allowed to get away with it?

In Spain alone, billions of Euros worth of property are thought to be still in the possession of shady ‘businessmen’ from Russia.

Surely it can not be beyond the wit of the authorities to tighten the screw on these men who are hiding behind wives, children and girlfriends in a desperate bid to escape sanctions.

The international community - and in Spain the Spanish government - should and must ensure dodgy assets are seized.

And any cash raised should be sent to aid Ukraine.

BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS Anti-tourism campaigns are surging in Spain as new Sevilla political party becomes the latest to demand controls on holiday rentals

S

PAIN is increasingly finding itself in a catch-22 situation when it comes to tourism.

Its economy heavily relies on the industry, which is expected to bring in a staggering €172 billion this year, and which - for at least six months of the year - creates millions of jobs.

However it often comes at a price for locals who happen to live in the most popular areas for holiday makers - including Mallorca, Valencia and the Costa del Sol. A surge in Airbnb apartments is creating a scarcity of long term rental and buying options for residents, in turn causing prices of both to increase dramatically.

Meanwhile, more and more tourists are visiting, creating what campaigners have branded an ‘excessive model’ which brings too much noise and rubbish pollution and often crime, such as fighting and increasing numbers of sex offences.

Is it any wonder a wave of anti-tourism movements and protests have been pop-

By Laurence Dollimore

ping up across the country.

The most recent involved a man arrested for targeting foreign plated cars with graffiti and puncturing their tyres along the Golden Mile in Marbella. The high-end cars, including Mercedes and Porsches, were left with zig zapped pink graffiti along their wings.

Meanwhile, in Barcelona, dozens of walls were daubed with the message: ‘Go home, tourists!’. And in Mallorca, locals erected fake signs in English and German declaring beaches and other landmarks were closed, with a small print in Mallorquin revealing they were in fact open.

The ruse was an attempt to keep the beauty spots, mostly small beaches and coves, free from foreign visitors, who they blame for rising property prices and other local woes.

Now, joining their chorus are the locals in Sevilla, which has become the latest destina-

VANDALISM: Foreign plated cars have been targetted

FAKE: Signs to keep tourists away and one not so subtle

tion to launch an anti-tourism campaign amid skyrocketing rents and creeping inflation.

Fed-up Sevillanos gathered in the streets last month, to demand more controls for the industry, which they claim is ‘devouring’ the historic capital of Andalucia.

The new ‘Sevilla is dying’ campaign (Sevilla se muere)’ claims tourists are causing too much pollution while sparking a surge in Airbnb properties that only serve to make long-term rentals less available.

This, in turn, forces locals to move further away from the city centre due to increasing rents.

The city is now the second most visited in Spain, after Barcelona, thanks to its celebrated landmarks such as the Real Alcazar palace, the cathedral, La Giralda and its iconic Plaza de Espana.

Some three million tourists visited the city last year and the numbers will be even higher this year.

And with a population of around 688,000, that equals about five tourists per inhabi-

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SPEAKING SPANGLISH N OBODY likes a false friend.

They’re a thorn in our relationships, and a downright disaster when it comes to language learning.

Of course, in linguistic terms a ‘false friend’ is any word that sounds familiar to us but means another thing entirely.

Like when you try to say you’re ‘embarrassed’ in Spanish and end up admitting you’re pregnant (embarazada).

Or when you stop a supermarket attendant to ask which bread contains ‘preservatives’ but end up suggesting the Spanish like to eat condoms (preservativos).

Luckily there are hundreds of English words almost entirely stolen from Spanish.

Here are 30 English words you didn’t know were actually Spanish in origin and may help you out in a pincho.

(Wrong. A pincho is a type of tapas dish.)

English words you didn’t know were stolen from Spanish

^ AFICIONADO – From the Spanish mean-

ing connoisseur or fan of a subject. ^ ALLIGATOR – From the Spanish el lagarto or ‘the lizard’, which English-speaking settlers picked up from earlier Spanish explorers in Florida. ^ ANCHOVY – From the Spanish anchoa, itself probably from the Basque anchuva meaning ‘dry’. ^ ARMADILLO – From the Spanish meaning ‘little armoured one’. ^ BARBEQUE – From the Spanish barbacoa, itself from the Arawak (native Caribbean). ^ BREEZE – From the Spanish brisa. ^ CANNIBAL – From Christopher Columbus’ expeditions where native Carib people called themselves Caniba. He thought they meant they were Asian people of ‘Khan’ while the word later become corrupted to mean ‘savage’. ^ CHILLI – Another Nahuatl word in Spanish usually rendered as chile. ^ CIGAR – From the Spanish cigarro, from which also comes ‘cigarette’ or cigarillo in Spanish. ^ COCKROACH – From the Spanish cucaracha.

^ EMBARGO – From the

Spanish verb embargar, of the same meaning in English. ^ FLOTILLA – Another war-related term from the Spanish meaning ‘a little fleet of ships’ and from the Spanish verb flotar, or ‘to float’. ^ GUERILLA – From the Spanish word guerra, or ‘war’, and meaning ‘little war’ and then ‘independent fighter’. ^ LASSO – A cowboy termed picked up in the New World, from the Spanish lazo or ‘knot’. ^ MACHO – From the Spanish, meaning masculine. ^ MARMALADE – From the Galician-Portuguese marmelada, itself from marmelo or 'quince'. ^ MOSQUITO – From the Spanish mosca – which means ‘fly’ – and meaning ‘little fly’. ^ PATIO – From the Spanish, meaning ‘an inner court open to the sky’. ^ POTATO – From the Spanish patata, itself from the Carib of Haiti’s batata. ^ QUIXOTIC – Meaning ‘absurdly romantic’ or ‘striving for an unattainable ideal’ after the half-mad Don Quijote.

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Expat slammed ISLAND Expat resident says he was UK hospital bill with €23,000 after bowel brutally beaten up by Guardia explodes WINNER during visit Civil officers

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THE main parties have now released contesting the 2023 election The bitter political their manifestos. now try to convince rivals for the last 30 years will with them in the the people of Gibraltar to stand next elections

17th 2023

MALLORCA is the top European A BRITISH expatdestination for Brits this summer. has been slapped with on a According £20,000 to hotel From By searches Yzabelle BostynA PERUVIAN expat has called in EXCLUSIVE (€23,000) hospital betwee website Expedia until August it lawyers over claims he was beatn the posts thousa

By Alberto Lejarraga after her bowel CRAIG SACARELLO ndsbill comes top, beating the exploded of bed to Algarve en up by police and left in hospital during a trip to salute weeks posts...the into second place.

Latin the UK. Family business owner we retired Britwith wasa ruptured bladder. lothario Helen Winslade, faced and Iglesias with with marketing a whopping the alarming alleged attack, Di- day,” explained his friend, who is Tenerife, Barcelona Julio experience. Former 55, who as Malaga, also a builder. lives in Almeria, also he from the NHS, despiteInbill hits made top80 ten.

GFSB and Together Vice Chairman of visit- theBritish ego herArmando Torres, insists he was The victim claims he was then taking home in early was Mallorca is describedcitizenship. in the Lone- punched and kicked by six Guardia en to the Guardia Civil barracks in Preferred Post: Gibraltar candidate.

July when See she had to undergo Tourism, Business, Welsh native featureThe'ever-popular Planet starwasCivil on page sav-as the di- agents on a Friday night.

Manilva where he was grilled on Port COST ing surgery, losinglylife agnosed expat 12with a rare Even A BLAN a the more shocking, he claims he what he was doing in Spain. partMediterranean'. of of bowel cancer FREEformtied her small intestine.of CA SUR and a plastic bag was “I was very scared and just wanted asVol. 4 up The procedure GIST tumours. knownwas Issuehead JOELLE LADILSAUS / went well, According 100 nearly put over his to call someone,” he said. “Evenwww.tsuffocat-MUR but CIA amazingly, Lawyer. “I will continue to her brother, heolive ing him. within Karl Winslade, tually they agreed but as I left my to embrace values I hold dear “I actually feared for my life, par-press.e phone the car I couldn’t remems in in all my relationOctober not expecting to Helen was ships: integrity, trust when one officer told me ber any numbers 5th -apart stay in ticularly from my the and sincerity,” October UK for an extended Preferred Post: ‘you’re going to die’,” he told the brother’s, who lives in Norway, 18th 2023 period Health and care and their ‘small Olive Press this week. and they refused to call a foreign YOUSSEF pension’ could not fund EL HANA The ac- incident happened when he number.” commodation, Helen’s and Studied Biomedical a friend were heading home to It was then that a couple of the offood Science and with travel costs.

Sabinillas 9:15pm, on June 16.

See page LIFE at ficers started slapping him in the ters in Cancer Biology and MSc MasSAVED: But at in Karl launched a a hefty International Relations.

9 Diego, 37, who arrived Spaincost to to face him to ‘shut up’.

Helentelling and hubbie Former Student The Carlos campaign to get fundraising impacttwoofmonths work as a builder “I remember there were up to six Union activist. Qualified Teacher.

Covidago, ‘wiped arethem to Spain, where Helen back not taking had been outout’ for their some business, drinks 19 in of a UK resident, turns to slap me,” Preferred Post: Housing, he said ‘her Care, Social Security leaving must prognosis would produce relevant you nearby Estepona. the couple to he insisted. expat doclive umentation ‘on a pulled ter’ due to shorter be bet“We were over pension’. at a motorvery small “After a whileto they took me back to receive free The case times. She finally waiting way police check before arriv- NHS All UK & International the car.treatment I was terrified and I startis ajust warning - includto any ing ATRISH SANCHEZ Grou in late Septemberreturned ing inexpats Sabinillas,” he explained. an EHIC TV systems considering ed screaming for Then, one of (ahelp.

European p visiting Senior Compliance of a home health months-long ordeal. after “They stopped us and asked my frien without the officers punched me in the face card) officer. or GHIC Masters degree medical in Criminology. Social card,cutting ds kille whil CCTV - Sound Her husband, matesurance to step out of the car. I inini- or a so-called through the open policy advocate. or failing S1 orwindow, e celeb Carlos, had Preferred S2 form. to travd Post: Education tiallyel stayed in the passenger’s been left holding & Vision with the open my30th left eyebrow.” ratinand birth correct and Skills forms seat,inbutcase thenofgotan out to ask what At this point the attack Seron, while she the fort in g aTraining got far Grateful day unexpected inDANIELLA 4G Internet was health going on. in the UK short was stuck ‘illegal’ more sinister, he claims, after the scare.

Fiber Optic & of funds. “TheUnder TILBURY agentscurrent told me to be quiet and Alternatively, police took himyou backcan to aredifferent nigh laws, if Academic. youif quest tclub not to speak, but I asked again Provisional smallera and darker room Re- at theGibraltar Former Vice Chancellor of placement everything was okay.

University. Social station.

Certificate, 952 763 840 policy ad“The police are now saying that I which “Theywill tiedcover my ankles and wristsvocate with the UN and EU. Worked healthcare internationally in the used force and kicked one of them, Spain´s best restaurants UK for together, covered my head with a at the length of Preferred Post:various universities. your but this is not true. trip.bag and started punching 635 400 099 plastic See inside Environment, Development and Planning E “Suddenly they snapped and forced Since See page a Go Fund and kicking me in Me the stomach,” he EXCLUSIV me to the ground I was hand- was launched at the page claims. down a See and page info@theskydocto 13car.” of “When tracked erareacostablanca.com cuffed and taken to a police August,I only r.com was about tostart asphyxiate, BEATEN: Diego with ruptured bladder and face with cuts and €210 of Press has by controv GIOVANNI the www.theskydocto His mate, from Bolivia, who wants couple’s ORIGO they would remove 966 112 428 €5,000 y rentedboss Luis RubiThe Olive r.com targetthe bag then bruisesLawyer. Interest 10’ to remain anonymous, confirmed been putraised. it back on. They didhas this many in new technology. villa allegedlkiss rowwith ‘eight to Advocates protecting the heavy-handed arrest.

He was taken to Marbella’s Costa Karl times.

“The worst ones were, I estimate, orgy individual rights. says he is ‘eternally See full sial football Preferred host an in an “But when I dared ask a policemangrateful’ Post: while del Sol Hospital, where he understory See page 5 “An officer also stepped on my onin theirTransport 30s and 40s, twoChange, Climate for any contribution. ales to women. ais nestled p4 why they were doing it, he replied; head, causing * O f f e r me injuries and younger agents, probably in their went emergency surgery on a ‘rupare g home l urbanis v a l i d young sonAGENCY o r ‘do you also want to get hit?’ n e Tropica bruises. They kicked and punched 20s, did not do anything and actu- tured bladder’. ngESTATE Thef stunnin YOUR REAL FOR CALPE, c u s t Spanish o m e e Costa w ousted “Diego was put in a car and that me in the stomach until I passed ally tried to comfort me.”

He also ‘presented bruises on the o n l y . rtless’ exclusiv where the up in Motril,r s and you BENISSA, MORAIRA AND REGION S u b j e c t was the last time I saw him that out from the pain. t o After the brutal assault, he was head and face’ according to the c o n d i t tion, near boss grew by ‘hea ing rent mother i o n s .

TheOlivePress-256x170-HOM E n d s held the taken to the Policia Lo- official medical report seen by the FA (RFEF) 3 1 / 1 2 / miss Single squatters E02.indd 1 1 9 . a. to have SIVE never Granad s is alleged Salobrena, with cal Station in Estepo- Olive Press. the EXCLU Dollimore branded Rubiale na, where he was put Diego has since taken legal advice despite Unique product selection ce ‘orgy’ in 18 during ngA BRITIS MORAIRA PLUMBING HEATING son and

By Lauren late nightas young as2020, accordi slapped in a cell and fell asleep, and is currently waiting to hear is being H expat landlord a young in Outstanding in-store motherin Spain PLUMBING & AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALISTS n with women s. but woke up around back from a public defender to file has ss with (€23,0 single 21/6/19 13:30 been not t o c o n d i t i o n s .

E n BRITIS 3H1 / 1 2 home / 1 9 . an ongo“I’ve alCovid lockdow 3am with agonising an official complaint.

Juan Rubiale left homele experience £20,00 A d s bowel 00) hospita a Orri. led in Press: from her r - despite A Guardia Civil official report Giastu Aroma 2 l bill after 0 him from to his uncle stomach pain. their dog the Olive and did everyare embroi evicted the UK.exploded during t in SEVEN a squatte her The pair after Luis sacked paymen Despite begging to go claims Diego was arrested for kickKate told my rent by the rental 2,5 kw R32 gas refrigerate A+++20db for beinga rentSPECIAL a trip at RFEF. Helen we to Winsla ing feud officer role nights, which told to ng to think ways paid to hospital it wasn’t ing one of the agents, which he her sevmissing. in was ALL YOUR LEGAL 3 years warranty and de, I Almeri Covid press 44,21/6/19were OFFER 55, 13:30 given his of wildand broke early thing y, it’s terrifyi until 9.20am that completely denies. aw, YEARS with Julya, was visitingwho lives streets. season including standard ISSUES compan DEALT WITH! Lucas The series y, after three Guardia agents Leading Marbella lawyer Antonio Kate Langsh until 6am but popular when be on the summer home in dergo ’ installation and material propert -old son went on anything the Olivea Presslife saving she had could all still in the to find a new returned and took him Flores, described the case as ‘an en-yearto leave their in an inherito un- amazingly, part of are your andto help urs, Here afford school. rules, was “We with to a GP in Estepona, atrocity’. her smallsurgery, losing 627€ (inc IVA) notice ng embroiledthe owner retired within neighbo The the my I cannot up n “If proved, this would be an atrochere, son’s proced angry intestin and Brit where the doctor told weeks becomirow g the whopp betwee he was ies ure went was faced an son.life in near my have to give ur reinSpain including e.

SOLAR ELECTRIC ENERGY NOW BEING INSTALLED the e can reveal. er when propert times the officers he had to ity. First, these officers should be y handlin neighbo tance even ss’ politicig her case lo- place well, but despiteing bill from with happier compan to continu “I remembcrazy,” one boom until be heartthewills, residency, “I mightvery few rental her British be taken to hospital her ‘heartle the NHS,a Lucas in Air Conditioning | Bathroom Fitting The Welsh lly was

By Yzabell would Kate winnin , particContinues on Page 2 boom, was lots of as stood in inist the rentaladvised her dog buying Kate and urgently. mother still noise Despite e Bostyn taxthe returns, native citizenship. pets which but especia son, who anti-fem on the there of girls. : Mum Gas and Oil Central Heating | Electrics tenancy rent to the papers the vealed. “Boom, was diagno accept g for me hours, g May, the s for the to reverse in Javea EVICTED from anxiety paying as official notary e was based some years ago, g and lots laughin selling property three sed Winslade, Helen Certification & Inspection | Pool Solar Energy the early breakin cal| election He suffers for his mental was able in justand drinkin them all six in the ing stay w i t died land and ularly ed that Christin Bas family, was not music, my son. is crucial h 661to889 hear appeal tel: (+34) 104 in tel: +34 620 523 613 / +34 Vox 966party, 498 993 five or for a coua tried to of homes, e English Orri We speak language! being n on could the your indicat Costa Blanca, rare ed period andthe UK for an expectand a slew the soninstead of “I partying until decisio . that I’m I hear form (+34)could email: info@morairaph.com 971 104 941their ‘small extendover how in a were here leaving to his wife Christin not fund and s. be fair health. n. of dation, & RENTALS SPECIALISTS ful owner. last year, months remain so rapidly Centroits Comercial Arenal, g. They pay him e of €200 pension can it It’s SALES b name madnes childre years Helen’s to o Finally money Calle Mulhalcen 3, Ctra Moraira de Calpens 142b, success w her for mornin a a “How four food and Kate Questiowas made is famed increas having gaveALL owned accomm ’ Avenida del Pla 126, Office out?

217, yet take three c a n c e l Karl launch was be‘bully’ - and his had been Moraira Teulada 03724, Alicante travel costs. her with an ple of days.”who only y isYOUR r, and okicked that it can Moriara•Calpe•Jalon•Javea•Denia•Altea that ruling er and urbanJavea 2026. despite propert d 03730 LEGAL local, k n o we r campaign ed the mum The father system ISSUES. as a sinNew location further down the road towards town Pepe stories an actual squatte receive month, in place until took The said the ty develop legalMoraira swoman DEALT to get a fundraising tel:the 966 943 219 to leave as GISTn Spain, t more a proper pace. the Covid WITH! centre, next to Gemisant & Kostas slow Restaurant e, has nott from busines large Don off Javea’s to evict Helen asked he insteadwas a as Maria, during Arenal g but nosis where he said back to aft u Avenida del Golf 16, Santa Ponsa www.mylawyerinspain.com fixed contrac hind the isation just for examply paymen failed, am being paying rent.” the milg she con- by an Italian“It was Here I years would this annoyin Kate, ted to ‘her when tial no e four help alimon added:and it was shorter mours.

When court, claimin www.morairaph.com because progSon Thomàs 17, Pol.Son Bugadelles 07181, celebra www.moraira-hamiltons.net gle mother began with influen FLAGSAvda OF SHAME: Map lists worst beaches aadunnbutcher@yahoo.com she had proving She a singleof her son for waitingbe better’ due ic violenc ic r of to lifepolice urs we your ly returne in Spain A c the h of the Comp beach. pandem Santathe Mallorca www.hgmallorca.es times. call the neighbo The issues r’ because- despite and how OP Calviá has reported Cala Moscad a numbe the her to ful domest father patriarc told are Ponsa, She in late s,includ in ‘squatte cordin - ter a month him since 2017. any we did notthe kind ofwills, thouHe left ents lionaire ing scandal funerals Septem finalRubiale ter a successhim. othg Her tens of residen rent lePlans tract with Madrid to right to on that’s not year, Juan apartmplus various in husban s-long ordeal. ber afcosts, her left case against cover cy, trial had paidhe had the to) LIFE which tax Last RFEF now facing court she d, return SAVED: b is the block, whole over in roth are.” useds, buying ruption holding Carlos, She as usufruc of Spain for an ted rent of euros But at He claimed illegally villa er, Karl- while she the fort had been er homes, s are underan anti-corhad and ng rent. s (known sands and backda of being selling Interest squabhefty costa Luis in Seron, was earning short of y, includifailed in Denia the luxury free paymen the sibling property gal feesthe prospect to have from ruled that to rent We funds. stuck in the case to Helen €2,250 the propert The t stood a judge usu- funds speak your er his - and or as plans unas €29.16 * O f f e r v a l i d f o r n e UK w c u s impact t o m eofr s o n l y .

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Kate for unexpe at Today’s Funeral wait forclaims Kate. to July void. visited Under scare. should suing cted over UK this l ropean Price citizen e tion would tract own get totals tance,” not a UKcurrent laws, iona he is now means s. some Unbeknwho beCard), Health an EHIC (Eurnat be residen Worse, ted rent which if duce relevan exother free, althouattenKate, t, you you are her Spain which is Insurance & Inte ems may apply backda 0. countr the local a receive t docum must progh in Orri gan renting villa ies people and availabfree in All UKTV syst €30,00 has shocked has set up entatio his dog cluding free NHS treatm locals on the same charges nd with le needs two-bed case n enroll which to to pay. their mother Kate The Sou nity, Lucas basis ed with in Salobreent - inhealth an EHIC in Vto help from a new as ATISED: It does bed villarsial kiss (a Europe departregional health e pat commu * O f CCT Vision TRAUM Me pagea deposit for so-call card) or GHIC f e r OUS: Four Christin Danie privat not cover & See page This ment. rnet GoFund and v a l card, oran SUMPTU (top) his controve Alternaed S1 or S2 e Inte i d 2017, son . ed Dan5 a legal costs gency ensures emerd to accosts healthcareany f o r 4G na, while nt. a Provisitively, you form. if needed has contact such or health deeds n e w manage ic & comme home, is 19 turn can the onal as Press for availab tificate reques a rein fl c u s care Replac quire r Opt TheOlivePre The Olive the agency le home t o m See page trips to It also ight. ss-256x170 Fibe care in , which will ement Cer-t e r s Bas and to the the UKduring -HOME02.in iel o n cover EU countr er yourdoes not the UK 840 dd 1 your trip. and l y .

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cher Plan zur Ein Deutsch-Französis dazu führen, Reform der EU könnte Königreich als dass das Vereinigte wieder aufge"EU-light"-Mitglied nommen wird. Änderung würde Im Rahmen dieser "assoziierte MitGroßbritannien eine Union erhalten gliedschaft" in derreibungslosen Zuund wieder einen bekommen. gang zum Binnenmarktdas Vereinigte Im Gegenzug müsste VerpflichtunKönigreich bestimmte darunter die Zahgen akzeptieren, und die lung in den EU-Haushaltauch nach Rückkehr zur Freizügigkeit Großbritannien. könnte Eine solche Entwicklung ungeliebten Visadas Ende der für Briten und beschränkungen sitzer in Spanien Zweitwohnungsbe bedeuten. bekannt, als der Das Vorhaben wurde Keir StarSie wurde am 13. von einer Gruppe Although in our first exclusivementhauses architects have Labour-Partei Vorsitzende mit Präsident 1.30 Uhr nachts laut serialisation of a brilliant newStraße.

Skifahrerin mer bei einem Treffen resurrected derelict NotStudentin und begeisentdeckt und warStun- Anne war eine hervorragende sich während ih- Macron in dieser Woche die Ringebu in junger Leute book on Spain, Paul RichardsonDie beliebte 2022 verliebte sie bereits rund zehn Skifahrerin aus buildings die Beziehungen s in Spanien, recalls his regular August battlesterteNähe von Lillehammer wurde Gutachten zur wendigkeit betonte, eingeflogen worden. in Mad- res Auslandssemester Königreich Oslo tot. der ErstiAusbildung in den Vereinigten die dem See page 13 Botschaft sie eine against heat and fires und wies die Frau, Die norwegische in Fu- während Trainerin an der norwe- zwischen tot aufgefunden September 6th 2023 Das bedeutet, dassAugust FREE Vol. 5 Issue 113 www.theolivepress.es Tod -dort Frankreich zu stärken. ihrem24th BezieSee page 20 rid und die Seemannskirche unter- PersonalPrivatschule Active Educa- und Málaga lebte, nach Vision von engeren sein muss. haben die Familie gischen Fuengirola Starmerszu Europa dürfte bei den Parabgelegt worden in Spanien engirola ein hungen tion im nahe gelegenen im nächsten Jahr Während ihr Namebekannt gege- stützt.

Tod in ihrem absolvierte. der hat lamentswahlen sein. bezeichnete noch nicht offiziell er von den Be- Unterdessen eine Welle der Trauer potenzieller Wahlsieger Manager Ola Furseth Heimatdorf ben wurde, wurde bestätigt. "sehr traurig" und Umfragen zufolge hat die britische die Nachricht als seien ausgelöst.

Brexit entschiehörden in Norwegen der örtlichen Schule, fügte hinzu, seine Gedanken Autopsie steht Öffentlichkeit dem gekehrt: Eine klare Die endgültige der toxikologische Der Direktor erklärte gegen- "bei den Angehörigen". den den Rücken einen Havard Gangsas, noch aus, bevor spanische Polizei Mehrheit (56 %) hält ihn für dafür sehr mit der Todesursache Er hoffe, dass die 32 % Klärung über VG: "Wir fühlen Bericht die genaue ein sehr tragisches mit Hilfe von Kripos zur könne. Fehler, während nur noch A BRITISH paraplegic has had a Familie. Dies ist EXCLUSIVE klären kann. sind alle sehr der Todesursache beitragen Mordkommissind. ‘miracle’ baby with the local SpanEreignis, und wir

By Laurence Dollimore Die Ermittler der Überwachungsvi- Der von Deutschland und Frankreich aus, dass sie Die Polizei soll ish beauty who nursed him back to befragt traurig".

Bericht wird auf Zeugen sion gehen davon und gegebene gewaltsaeines health. deos gefunden zur fraglichen Zeit in Auftrag Gipfel der Eurowahrscheinlich Aktiv sich ist, es wird dem bevorstehenden Gemeinschaft Expat Aaron Salter, 30, was para- worse and developed sores, leaving ist haben, die men Todes gestorben dass Jugendzentrum eine in der Gegend aufhielten. Autopsie- päischen Politischen lysed from the waist down following him practically bed-ridden for nine Königausgeschlossen, örtliche Miguel Das friend jedoch auf den Thenicht happyeiner couple welcomed their wasfür auch das Vereinigte Monat "allergischen ab 18 Uhr a horror car crash in Plymouth in months.

Sie wartet noch Abendand vorerst - zu der heutedriving sie aufgrund ver- into daughter, eine also Substanz" named Estrella, they want- ung geund möchte sich gehört - im kommenden reich 2015, breaking his spine in multiple It was then that local stunner Estrel-Reaktion Gedenkveranstalt Tagesgutachten auf der spezielle Todesursache oben auf la Garrido, now 36, began managing the world almost exactly a year ago. ed to imprison him for in Granada ganz places. nicht zur genauen öffnet. starb.

The entirewurde local village heldSeia street two years, but Aaron war Anne in stehen. einer He immediately froze his sperm, his care. lokalen Berichten Leiche week toincelebrate the tot's Lautinsisted wurde angeb- ordnunghatten sowohl die Tories als theySkiclub didn’tRingebu- äußern. im hoping that one day he would meet “I had always known of her and sheIhreparty last Leiche der Frau Bislang der Benyamina-Allee Jugend ihre Brexitihrerand first birthday. he wasund given a sus-unter an- Die ohne Ausweispapiere aufgenahm the woman of his dreams and be was amazing with liaising with thetenstraße auch die Labour-Partei zum Strand hinaktiv lich dieLes Fåvang town hall and other authorities on mygefunden, Granddad told the Olive Press: pended sentence.” ihre Handtasche Positionen vor den Parlamentswah2018 teil. able to start a family. funden, obwohl an derisNM-Staffel “I was amazed to hear Estrella Aaron für wasderem Sportgymnasium auf der Straße neben ihr gefunden len nur vorsichtig vertreten.

Einheit After 18 months in hospital, he was behalf,” Aaron told the Olive Press. unterführt. das currently besuchte norwegische pregnant, I was so proud ofhat him, itSie locked in a years-long arbeitete in einem worden sein soll. able to return to Spain and stayed “She started caring for me and our Die t, Kripos, und page 11 Gausdal battle See has made me feel touched. against unterstützt in legalFeinkostladen. with his father Les Salter, 72, in the feelings for each other just grew and Schwerkriminalitä had his life in front of him the insurance compadie“HeErmittlungen aus andlokalen Tagen quaint village of Salinas in Valencia. grew, and here we are.” letzten in den from the und weist were setting him up with our ny, with a decision on However he took a turn for the He added: “The support Morken Matheatown has been so kennels business and that was all a multi-million euro TRAGISCH: Anne overwhelming, taken away in an instant. To know payout expected immithere’s been so he has a lovely lady that loves and nently. much love shown cares for him, and now a family, He added: “Aaron’s that’s lovely for me.” been through the ringto me.

“I never knew if Les and an eight-year-old Aaron had er. I think the next step I was going to be moved to Spain in 2001 following will be marriage but rating Aaron is waiting to see Celeb a dad but I froze the death of his wife to cancer. my sperm just in He set up a kennels business in Sax, the outcome of the court 2023 near Salinas, and began transport- case. case. ber 19th through “We did IVF ing dogs from Spain to the UK for “He had to -go Septem yearsber of 6th treatment and treatment at a adoption.

NOW: Aaron happy with family .es Septem deliverspecialists and the payclinic in Alican- Aaron and two others were epress birthday when out has been compiled heoliv te, it was much ing pups on his 22nd www.t they all asleep while driving the by our lawyers into a valuation of of his life, including a £7,000 wheel427fell cheaper than Issue Vol.it17 company van through Plymouth, around £7.8 million. chair and prosthetic legs which are the UK and FREE the veering off a motorway and colliding “We’re not looking to make money, costly.” worked pull-out inside specialAaron after the we just want to make sure that Aarfirst time thank with a tree.

Wth ourTHEN: Opinion Page 6 horror 13smash His father explained: “His best on can afford treatment for the rest god!”

Skandinavische Familie und Einheimische fordern dringende EXKLUSIV jungen Frau, die & Die Leiche einer Von Dilip Kuner in TorreAntworten an einem Zebrastreifen COSTA BLANCA Laurence Dollimore wurde, wurde molinos abgelegt identiim Fall der in als 21-jährige Ausländerin auf, bestätigte die Torremolinos fiziert. stammende ckungsanzeichen Polizei. aus Norwegen einem Jahr nach spanische über ihre To"erstickten" SUMMERDie Frau, die erst vorwar, lag tot in der Ihre Familie, die jetzt wurde, for- Your gezogen informiert Norwegerin eines Apart- desursache LOVING Spanien expat der dert Antworten.

Nähe des Eingangs Discover how September gegen in Playamar auf

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GIBRALTA

Vol. 8 Issue 208

A DISPLAY by on October 12.

On the one hand, the Red Arrows Menorca has been over the slogan ‘Keep the GSLP/Liberal coalition has cancelled at the last minute after went for ‘Make theGibraltar Safe’ while the GSD change for a Bright While the GSLP/Liberals allegedly blocked Spanish authorities Future’. the team from perare allied to the bour and Liberal forming in Gibraltar.

UK Labeen allied to the Democrat parties, the GSD has The tit-for-tat decision,

by UK Defence They have rung Conservatives since 2004.

Secretary Grant the changes in slates, with the GSLP/Liberals their respective RAF crews were Shapps, came as the bringing in five new faces and the GSD planes were beinggearing up and the bringing in six of their own. way in Sant Lluís. fuelled on the runThe Spanish government objected to a planned had earlier performance over Gibraltar, CHRISTIAN SANTOS provocation’ as labelling it an ‘act of it would entail Hawk jets entering RAF Created the successful Spanish airspace.

Gibraltar It obviously caused Academy of Music and Ministry of Defence, outrage at the Mayor of Gibraltarthe Performing Arts. in London, given the team were obviously Preferred post: from 2021 to 2023.

Health and care due to perform later in Spanish airspace over the Balearics.

GEMMA ARIAS-VASQUE MoD sources told Z authorities were the UK media the to the Rock Former president of the needing to need to Gibralexpat tarEverything the Gibraltar show.being ‘dicks’ about fuel in Federation you of Small Businesses order to reach a take on more election, took the (GFSB). Led know They revealed that more threat the about...

Spain had actual- emergency airport, such as distant requested the Ministry seriously and campaign locally. successful Remain ly threatened to Jerez or cancel of Defence to Lawyer. ban inbound civilian Sevilla. the show.

Preferred Post: flights to Gibraltar In turn, this would Equality and Youth, Culture have hit airlines The spat prompted Shapps as their designatedfrom using Malaga with increased to during the airshow diversion airport ducing flights costs, potentially re- the decision to cancel last week’s make NIGEL FEETHAM in Menorca. show to Gibraltar The decision wouldif it went ahead. and6 hurting Vol. Issue 160 www.theolivepress.es July 14th - July 27th 2023 FREE See inside The Red Arrows have seen flights the peninsula’s economy.

Top insurance and have managed to Gibraltar officials, perlawyer. Advised the financial services facing an upcoming form in Gibraltar just twice government at no in the last 30 years, the last expense to the taxpayer. time in 2009.

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REAL REPORTING

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HE Olive Press continues to be the ONLY expat paper filled with original reporting.

We don’t just run council press releases or charity appeals, or merely translate news from our Spanish edition.

This issue alone is packed with exclusive content that can only be achieved thanks to our LIFE CUT SHORT WOLVES team of fully-qualified journalists.

OLIVE San Pedro Be it the homeless Alcantara PRESS woman in need of help, an update on a FAR RIGHT pension fraud, or dig- BOLTHOLE ging into a mystery death, it needs skillful handling of the authorities and the subjects involved.

This involves picking up the phone, taking a drive and, above all, knocking on Tel: doors and 952 147 834 952 147 834 asking the awkward questions that most other SKY LOU NGE freesheets fail to do.

Take our revealing of the movements of dangerous British racist Tommy Robinson… that involved a number of days and well over 1,000 kms of driving.

Then there was the social media post doing the rounds last month about a Spanish man who stole a cat in broad daylight. Only the Olive Press managed to track down the owner and investigate the whole story, securing exclusive video footage along the way.

It made the lead on our crime page last issue, which also featured two other exclusives.

CRIME One was about a new IS R PA R FO PRAY witness in one of the many rape allegations facing Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner - a case New witness in Maddie case the Olive Press has long been on top of.

The other was an exclusive angle on a devastating fire at an expat bar in Calahonda - which, after speaking to the owner, we revealed was confirmed as an arson attack.

It’s called real reporting and we work tirelessly to find our own stories and to go beyond the headlines of what you may have already read elsewhere.

Quite frankly, no one does it better!

Body of expat Anne found ‘asphyxiated’ in Torremolinos

Friends or foes?

Special report page 6

tant, meaning the city often feels swamped with visitors.

In a bid to battle the ‘oversaturation’ of the city, a new political party has been formed, called SevillanosORG. A video shared on Twitter a fortnight ago showed the city centre filled with tourists wheeling their suitcases, even in late September.

“This is the 25th of September… completely invaded by tourists. We must act now or we will end up like Venice,” announced the clip.

“In the next elections don’t vote for political traitors, vote for SevillanosORG, who want to save Sevilla!”

Despite promising to cut back the granting of tourist accommodation, the current conservative city council, led by Partido Popular’s Jose Luis Sanz, approved 16 licences for tourist apartment complexes in July alone.

Yet, during his election campaign, he had

vowed not to allow ‘even one more tourist apartment’ in the city. Typical politician.

David Lopez, a representative for Sevilla Se muere, claims the city is being ‘devoured’ by ‘uncontrolled’ tourism.

He told the Olive Press tourists are ‘invading’ public spaces and making them ‘unlivable’ for locals, who now feel like mere ‘extras’.

Local Veronica Conde added she is tired of having to live with the noise and garbage of tourists who treat her community ‘like a hotel that the locals pay for’.

Sevilla’s city council stressed the need to ‘work on tourist coexistence’ and confront ‘the problem of tourism phobia that we are beginning to have.’

However locals rejected that term, claiming they do not reject tourism, only its current ‘excessive form’ which they say ‘violates the fundamental rights of citizens, saturates our public services and degrades our spaces, coexistence, and historical, natural and cultural heritage.’

But it seems the government has little desire to rein in an industry that brings so much to the economy.

For property owners, for example, it is far more lucrative to turn your flat or home into a short-term holiday rental than to rent it out long term.

ORIGINS: Quixotic, rodeo, tornado, coxkroach and marmalade are rooted in Spanish

– From the Spanish renegado, originally meaning a Christian who converted to Islam. ^ RODEO – From the Spanish verb rodear or ‘to go round’ and picked up by cowboys in the New World. ^ SAVVY – West Indies slang from the Spanish sabe usted? (‘do you know?’). ^ STAMPEDE – From the Spanish word estampida. ^ SUAVE – From the Spanish word for 'soft', and meaning in English 'charming' or 'confident' of a man. ^ RENEGADE

^ TOBACCO – From the Spanish word

tabaco, itself from the Taino (native Caribbean) language in the New World. ^ TOMATO – From the Spanish tomate, itself from the Nahuatl tomatl. ^ TORNADO – From the Spanish tronada, from the Spanish verb tronar, meaning ‘to thunder’. ^ VIGILANTE – From the Spanish meaning a ‘watchman’, itself from the Spanish verb vigilar meaning ‘to keep watch over’.

The

See page 2

ANDALUCÍA

And focus on

Your expat

voice in Spain

FREE Vol. 17 Issue 428 www.theolive

press.es September 20th - October

3rd 2023

& Guadalmina See page 13

REVEALED: Tommy Robinson’s luxury €1.6m where he filmed far-right villa billionaire boss of Jaeger podcasts is owned by and Austin Reed

AN investigation is underway into how Tommy Robinson accessed a stunning costa villa British billionaire to owned by a film his extreme far-right podcasts, the Olive Press can reveal.

EXCLUSIVE former president Donald

By Walter Finch & Trump was forced to disBy Laurence Dollimore tance himself from her.

Other controversial figures are former €5,000-a-month property of fash- leader Guramit Sikh EDL ion tycoon Philip Day Singh Kaseries of US and Britishto promote a lirai, rapper Young Spray extremists. and bare knuckle fighter Videos filmed at Danny Christie. the €1.6 mil- The MANSION: Owned by impresario hate-filled podcasts lion villa show contain Philip Day (inset) used for far-right podcasts many homophoRobinson - real bic, (right) misogynistic and anti-Islamic name Stephen statements, that he has any links with him.

Yaxley-Lennon the Prophet including referring to When contacted hiding out in the area Mohammed as a ‘paeby the Olive ing after break- chatting with dophile’ Press, a spokesman said Day was UK a High Court injunction in the a string of white In one, and ‘rapist’. ‘shocked’ and ‘furious’ for Robinson supports that one of his filmairing defamatory claims in nationalist lead- rious Silenced. misogynist Andrew noto- his properties was being used by ers and racists.

Tate, Robinson.

The controversial currently facing documentary They include trafficking and charges of human “[The management could rape in Romania. company] will after land him behind bars again Gavin McInnes, The take immediate he previously villa in L’Albir, on the the founder of Blanca, Costa that Robinson action if they find for assault, mortgagehad stretches boasts six bedrooms still has fraud, travelany access ling white and at all,” he said. nation- seven bathrooms, on false documents and cona swimming “They’re alist group ‘the pool tempt of court. very and a state-of-the-art EXTREME PALS: Robinson Proud security this and verygrateful you’ve raised Several British (right) and McInnes Boys’, system. keen to ensure it’s expats said they which helped have dealt with firmly and won't happen cent seen Robinson around in relead the again.” weeks and he is still believed Tycoon shocking to be staying in the area But Neil Bennett of Maitland PR thanks to 2021 as- According to public data from the later explained he had been ‘mis- an Irish passport. sault on Spanish land registry, It is thought that a informed’ and network of A m e r i - ty is owned by EWM the proper- the situation’. Day ‘is unaware of sympathisers and direct online doINVESTCO ca’s Capi- LIMITED, linked to nations have been supporting “[Day] has no his tol build- Day, 56, through British tycoon the company, control or say over lifestyle. which is managed by his ownership ing. of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill a professional team and owns mul- He posts frequent social media He also Group. photos of his workouts tiple properties,” he added. and was h o s t e d The impresario - who owns a string But when later pressed, he finally even recently pictured posing L a u r a of high street names for selfies with a young Compare funerals ional including admitted Day’s management com- Benidorm’s fan on L Internat Peacocks, o o m & pany Jaeger and Austin takes the allegations notorious party strip.

All UK ‘very er, an - denies any involvement Reed seriously’ and the team Plans cover the TV systems in the tigating are ‘invesa v o w e d podcasts. the matter.’ whole of Spain I s l a m o - There is no suggestion Trump Day, who is believed CCTV - Sound phobe so port-born businessman, the Stock- tween Switzerland to reside be- He also tucked Interest free payment & Vision into an ice cream plans estimated to and Dubai, is from €2,250 or as e x t r e m e be worth €1.3 billion, little had any knowl- known to own a number of proper- in L'Albir with Loomer, who was Internet as €29.16 per month that even edge of Robinson using 4G tipped ties & and to join Trump’s businesses in the villa, nor Fiber Optic team until background campaign Curiously, L’Albir is L'Albir.

Plans range from the same Alchecks resimple unattended icante resort where vealed she had branded herself a direct cremation to a Hitler-loving neo-Nazi 'proud Islamophobe'.

952 763 840 more traditional send off Kris ‘Charlie Big Pota- Over 40 members of the Proud Boys comparefuneral.org toes’ Kearney lived be- have been charged for their role in 635 400 099 fore being extradited the insurrection to overturn the US +34 951 120 752 back to the UK to be elections on January 6, 2021, with See pages 9, 22 & 32 Tomorrows Funeral info@theskydoctor.com imprisoned on terror- four receiving jail sentences so far, one as long as 18 years. at Today’s Price ism charges last year. www.theskydoctor.com Robinson, infamous for his anti-immigrant Have you met Yaxley or Kearney?

What do you think views, has also been of them? Email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

The former leader of the far right English Defence League (EDL) has been using the

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Not to mention 2 the legal nightmares that can come with tenants who refuse to pay for months on end, or even worse, squatters.

Elsa Ferrer and her brother own three properties in Sevilla and Marbella telling the Olive Press they simply cannot afford to rent them out long term.

“When we rent long term it’s always given us loads of problems as the law always protects the tenant without any protections for the landlord,” explained Ferrer, a journalist and teacher, who lives in Marbella.

“Once they sign they can stay for up to five years which was never a problem, but a new law this year says that you cannot raise their rent by more than 2% each year.

“This is ridiculous when interest rates are soaring and causing a big rise in mortgages.

“In fact, it is costing us more than €1,000 extra per month and we simply can’t cover the costs.”

While she insisted she does ‘really understand’ both sides of the argument she feels there are not enough incentives for homeowners to rent out long term.

It is why many are only letting out to students, who leave after a year, or teachers, who leave before the summer.

“It is much more convenient to hand over the properties to a management company and rent them out as tourist accommodation,” continued Ferrer.

“There’s also a big feeling of hostility against landlords, as if I’m some evil billionaire which is ridiculous.

“I’ve sacrificed so much to be able to invest in property. I’ve been saving since my early 20s, missed out on holidays for years and decided against sending my kids to private school so that I could save and invest.

“I really understand both sides but I simply can‘t cover the costs, it’s impossible.

“The government, both in Madrid and in Andalucia, needs to work out ways to make it worthwhile to rent out long term.

Until they do we have no other choice.”

October 4th - October 17th

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Out to pasture NINE wild horses were in found shot to death Galicia. If caught, the culprit could be charged under Spain’s new animal cruelty laws.

is on €3,000 reward as hunt British for catnapper who stole expat’s pet Sphynx E

away from the property.

The footage him shows removing the feline’s collar

tracker and THIS is the brazen moment before placBy Laurence Dollimore a cat a man allegedly stole ing it on the had a cruur’s from his owner’s doorstep, the sunglasses and his leg, was n e i g h b oleavsparking outrage among wall and cifix tattoo on the home expat community. with heading towards and moth- ing the area.47, CCTV footage shared Louise, a of British expat Franklin.

Killer date Olive the Louise the Olive Press shows told a limp er-of-two later, he is seen “We tattooed man with Press: Moments Ovejero, JULIAN his way down a holding Louise’s six-year- are absolutemaking around Pardubbed the ‘Grindr devastatstreet in Marbella, at old Sphynx cat, named pace ly at killer’, who stabbed 12.30pm. ed, my kids white is, while walking a man he met on The man, who donned adored Parthe app to death has is, she was to been sentenced adored by us 20 years in jail. all.

“I knew she had been stoScandi noir because len ‘others’ I found her DISTRAUGHT: he evidence comes after climb POLICE hope an autopA NEW witness claims on louise with Paidentified seeing a man tracker sy will solve the mysterisaw Maddie McCann suspect up to attack Hazel Behan, 20, the wall next ris and (right) ous death of Norwegian Christian Brueckner running suspect door. expat in 2004. she Anne Mathea Morken, from a rape of a young have Behan, now 40, believes her “I to 21, who was discovered days in Portugal.

Al- was followed home been searching for 12 any asphyxiated in TorreThe hotel worker on theGer- apartment, which had a balwith barely straight the saw he molinos last month. claims onto’. have garve in cony ‘easy to climb blondesleep and the police man fleeing the apartment “I’m sure it was, nothing so far.” found dawn. at spoke a who Portimao him haired Brueckner,with a GerLouise is now offeringsafe Knife party He was able to identify English €3,000 reward for the Brueckner to me in ed Olthe told blonde-hair she as mask man accent,” return of Paris.

A BOOZY British toursold as he had taken off his re- ive Press this week.

Sphynx cats are being or ism company has been forward came “He Portuguese flee.

“If to €1,000, a She added: online for up to banned from a town for kitcently with his evidence,” its cops had put a ‘call’ out even more if they are in Catalonia after source told the Olive info at the time, this witness German ’ very tens. three day ‘weekender Press. “His testimony is might have come forward party descended into seen credible.” ar- then.”

Anyone who may have knife fights, with four The employee had been contact when Paris is urged to arrests - one for atss.es riving early for work His See Countdown, page 6 newsdesk@theolivepre tempted murder. he allegedly spotted him.

EXCLUSIV

2023

‘Concrete proof’ of expat bar arson

EXCLUSIVE

exTHE owner of a popular an arpat bar destroyed in it son attack has described horror like a ‘scene from a

movie’. told Zoltan Eisenberger, 49,Irish the Olive Press how his Calapub, the Harp Bar, in ruins honda, had been left in after the 5am attack. g Police are now investigatin handed after the Hungarian of who over ‘concrete proof’ undertook the attack. and “Someone set it on fire Zolwe have evidence,” said bar the tan, who has owned for 10 years. the at“The person behind knew tack wasn’t stupid and exactly what he was doing. comThe beer garden is the pletely destroyed and bar is gutted, like something movie.” out of a horror was a He added: “Maybe it or a jealous business rival ex-employee, disgruntled who knows.” footage It comes after video the showed flames engulfing in firesite as locals called fighters. his Zoltan ran the bar with before Irish partner Bernie she passed away.

omic concept at Discover a new gastron restaurant right in the Candela Marbella, a old town. heart of the charming

and national dishes Enjoy traditional local touches and with unique international chef Andy Zillner flavours thanks to head arbella.com tel: 646 88 84 31 candelam 29601 Marbella, Málaga Pl. Gral. Chinchilla, 2,

day And what about a dream on out with a gourmet lunch yacht?

Candela’s stunning new

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: t menus, “A choice of four distinc fun a one vegan, perfect for - or romantic - day out on the high seas!”

star Jasmine Harman mo1- A Place investhetoSun Spain’s Costa del Sol - Shocking moment suspected body of missing 2carriages Alvaro Prieto, 18, is seen trapped between of moving train during live TV report Squatters take over almost 40 rooms at a 3-single hotel on Spain’s Costa Blanca in nightmare for owner found IS of missing Alvaro Prieto as 4-itBody emerges footballer, 18, was kicked off train by security at Sevilla station - Prieto mystery continues as Renfe says 5service train where body was found had not been in for WEEKS and was stationary at the time he vanished

Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for more info

8

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es

October 19th - November 1st 2023

BOILING HOT RECORD

Tree ring analysis reveals Spain had hottest summer for 700 years SPAIN experienced its hottest summer in 700 years in 2022, according to analysis of tree rings from north-east Spain.

The data was collated by experts from the National Research Council after the Spanish summer featured record high temperatures due to hot air mass coming from North Africa.

The scientists say policy changes are needed to mitigate problems caused by global warming.

Looking at weather figures stretching back 130 years, scientists found that the average sea surface temperature was 3.3C warmer than average.

On land, the 2022 summer was 2.1C hotter than average.

Researcher Ernesto Tejedor

Fart power SPANISH oil giant Cepsa is planning to establish up to 15 biomethane plants in Spain by 2030, enough to generate four terawatts per hour.

The plants will harness agricultural and livestock waste to produce biomethane, designed to replace natural gas in Cepsa’s industrial operations.

The impact of this shift is significant, as it promises to recycle a staggering 10 million tonnes of waste annually while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 728,000 tons each year.

The first five of these groundbreaking plants are slated to come online between 2025 and 2026.

By Alex Trelinski

said: “In the last 20 years, heat waves and drought episodes in Spain are becoming more frequent, but 2022 was an exceptional summer in this regard, breaking temperature records.

“The main factor was the arrival on the Iberian Peninsula of extremely warm air masses from Africa which were more frequent and persistent than

usual,” he added.

Using the tree ring analysis, the scientists said it was ‘highly probable’ that last year was the RECORD: Summer was blisteringly hot hottest summer since 1322 down the impacts of climate and the driest in the last 279 change, especially in cities years. where heat islands affect the The country’s drought was most vulnerable populations, also dramatically exacerbated is fundamental,” said Tejedor. by hot temperatures, which “We suggest measures like sucked more moisture from creating climate shelters and the land through evaporative improving resilience and addemand. aptation of climate change,” “Establishing a plan to cut he concluded.

DOCK OFF

BARCELONA has banned all cruise ships from docking at the city’s most central port from October 22 in a bid to reduce emissions in the city centre.

It means passengers will not be able to disembark at the northern Muelle Barcelona docks next to the World Trade Centre - just a short walk away to major attractions.

They instead will have to use the southern port at Moll Adossat pier, which is already used by major operators like Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises.

Tourists arriving at Moll Adossat will have to use a shuttle bus to get to the city, which takes about 30 minutes to Las Ramblas compared to the 10 minutes it takes by foot from the Muelle docks.

Across Europe the increase in temperature last month was 2.5C higher than the long term average

‘GOBSMACKING’ DATA SHOCKS SCIENTISTS

N

OT a scientific phrase normally associated with the white coat brigade, but ‘gobsmacking’ sums up perfectly in layman’s terms the world’s global warming problems.

Last month saw the highest recorded temperatures for September across the globe.

Not a marginal increase but a huge jump. On-

going emissions of warming gases through burning fossil fuels and the impact of El Niño saw September’s temperature rise by 0.93C. And it doesn’t stop there. Across Europe the increase in temperature last month was 2.5C higher than the long term average. In many parts of Spain records were smashed.

2023 is set to be the hottest year on record.

Climate scientists are genuinely worried…it’s hard to ignore the facts.

We continue to witness disasters around the world caused by global warming. Horrific flooding in Libya has been attributed to climate change. Antarctic ice is at an all time low.

Australians are bracing themselves with fears of intense wildfires as summer approaches.

POPE FRANCIS JOINS IN

DISARTER: Warming is killing off wildlife

God bless the Pope.

The Catholic Church, under Pope Francis, has put its support behind the call for action in tackling global warming.

Green

Matters

By Martin Tye

POPE: Right is on his side

This month he warned that: “God’s increasingly warming creation is fast approaching a point of no return.”

He’s right. I hope his shaming of the world’s leaders can bring about concrete action in the fight we are currently losing to curb emissions.

If the Pope himself cannot wake up political leaders in the run up to COP28 in Dubai in November then who can?

There is still no clear pathway as to how we are going to achieve the holy grail – net zero.

Martin Tye is the owner of Mariposa Energía, a green energy company specialising in solar panel installations.

Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es or call +34 638 145 664

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TheOlivePress-256x342-legal0823.indd 1

15/8/23 18:05

PEACE OF MIND

It has never been more important to have health insurance

I

APPRECIATE everything has changed due to Brexit, but it is now far more important to have health insurance.

And when finding the right policy, you need to make sure there is an English speaker who can help you understand exactly what you are purchasing and how to use it.

We can provide ASSSA health policies, which are accepted for your Residencia, TIE and both Non Lucrative and Digital Nomad visa applications as they provide the legal certification required for the process.

My consultants will be able to guide you to the correct policy necessary for your visa process.

It is vital you follow the guidelines for using the policy, especially in regards to emergencies and hospitalisation. Indeed, you may find yourself with a hefty bill to pay if you do not follow the correct procedures.

If you decide to use the Spanish National Health Service you will be required to provide a SIP card, EHIC or payment before treatment.

The Spanish health system is stretched and this means waiting lists. ASSSA provides hospitals, clinics, specialists and doctors, many of whom speak several languages to make your health decisions easier and faster.

Obviously, if you are in acute pain, you do need to discover what is causing it and within the state system this can take many months to resolve. Private health care offers the opportunity to speed up the process. ASSSA also provides emergency cover and their own ambulances, which will take you to a hospital related to ASSSA, a list of which you can find in your ASSSA book.

My company has an ASSSA administrator to help answer your questions, process your authorisation requests and liaise with ASSSA on your behalf if you so wish.

Yes, there are many cheaper options that you could consider. Do not be tempted by the price, you will not get what you need or expect. All private health insurance in Spain is limited in certain areas, so be sure to understand these limitations before purchasing.

Unlike health insurance in the UK you will be pleasantly surprised at the prices here in Spain. The difference is the Spanish government encourages the use of private health care, therefore the prices and the taxes are far lower than you may think.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR A QUOTATION, PLEASE CALL ONE OF MY OFFICES, EMAIL INFO@ JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET

10

BUSINESS

GOING DIGITAL!

SPANISH banks have been putting the concept of a ‘digital euro’ through its paces, and the results suggest it could become a reality sooner than anticipated.

These extensive tests covered a range of scenarios, including face-to-face transactions and online payments.

The goal was to explore the technical, operational, and business implications of introducing a digital euro to Spain alongside existing payment methods.

The implementation of the electronic currency is hoping to

BATTERY GRANT

New electronic euro may be a reality sooner than we think: Spanish banks lead the way in testing phase

piggy-back on the already-existing infrastructure of Bizum, Iberpay, and Redsys.

One advantage of this approach would be the smooth integration of the digital money into existing systems, providing consumers and businesses with a familiar, fast, and secure user experience.

The European Central Bank,

AN ALICANTE-BASED electric battery recycling company has been picked-out as a ‘strategic’ firm which has earned it a cash grant from the Valencian government.

Tera Batteries Recycling is setting up a pilot project to disassemble and then recycle electric

has long sought to interconnect faster payment services across Europe and is expected to wrap up its research into the implementation of a digital euro later this month.

It differs from traditional money in that it would be a purely electronic form of the currency and will not be represented by physical banknotes or coins.

Some conspiracy theorists believe that the digital euro is car batteries. part of a wider, orIt will also be opening up its first chestrated program centre to repair electric batteries of state control. in November.

They contend that the “These facilities are fully equipped government could and will be the first to reach our program it to limit target market including car worpurchases, coerce citkshop networks and insurance izens, or introduce a companies, which we will launch social credit system. before the end of the year,” said However, the EuroTera CEO David Santiago. pean Central Bank The company was specially creahas stated that the ted to deal with maintaining and digital euro would conserving electric batteries. not be programmable money.

October 19th November 1st 2023

Good news and bad THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Spain’s gross domestic product (GDP) will grow this year and next at a faster rate than many other advanced economies.

But its World Economic Outlook report admits that its forecast for Spain’s 2024 GDP has been downgraded to 1.7% rather than the previous estimate of 2%.

In the document, however, the IMF states that it is not altering its Spain forecast for this year, and that GDP will rise by 2.4%.

This would mean that the country’s economy will outperform those of other developed nations.

The Washington-based organisation of 190 countries – which works to secure financial stability and facilitate international trade, among other functions – has also reduced its growth forecasts for India and Russia.

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LA CULTURA ALL ABOUT High art THE BASS

October 19th - November 1st 2023

RESIDENTS of one Fuengirola neighbourhood have been marvelling at the handiwork of a local ‘graffiti-loving troublemaker’.

Alejandro Bermejo del Río, better known as Not Japi, was asked by the town hall to paint the side of an entire building in El Boquetillo neighbourhood after they saw his previous murals on social media.

The contents of Not Japi’s mural - the Sohail Castle, a turtle, and the underwater world - are all a homage to the town where he was born.

Alejandro began his journey in graffiti at the age of 10 and gradually evolved and adapted his work into other formats.

Legendary American jazz musician Ron Carter strums in Cartagena AMERICAN bass legend Ron Carter will be one of the headline acts of this November’s Cartagena Jazz Festival.

Ron Carter’s visit last year had to be cancelled after the musician suffered a fall.

He’s regarded as one of the most prolific bass players in the genre, and worked with Miles Davis by being part of his legendary 60s jazz quintet that also featured Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, and Wayne

STATE broadcaster RTVE has received 825 submissions to become Spain’s Eurovision Song Contest entry next year, All of the entries have also been submitted with the names of the artists who will perform them, with 23 of them having been written at a special ‘song camp’ organised by RTVE which gathered both national and international composers.

A jury now has the task of listening to the songs and cutting them down

By Alex Trelinski

Shorter.

It will be one of the last live performances for the 86-year-old who will be accompanied by his prestigious quartet, Foursight, at the city’s Neuvo Teatro Circo on November 10.

The three-times Grammy award winner has appeared on 2,221 recording sessions- making him the

Eurovision quest to a shortlist of 16 that will take part in January’s Benidorm Fest.

The lucky entrants will be unveiled on November 11 in Sevilla which is hosting the Latin Grammy Awards.

This year’s flamenco-style entry from Paloma Blanca didn’t go down well with viewers and finished in 17th place in Liverpool.

most recorded jazz-bassist in history.

He’s also a top class cellist who has recorded many times on that instrument, which was the first one that he learned to play at school at the age of 10 before switching to the bass.

Carter has been honoured by countries around the world including France and Japan, and taught as an emeritus professor for 20 years at the music department of the City College of New York.

The Cartagena Jazz Festival in Murcia is one of Spain’s oldest and other names slated in for November include Morgan, Steve Coleman, Nubya Garcia, Josemi Carmona accompa-

11

SANDALS SURVIVE

CAMDEN CONNECTION: Legend Carter will be joined by Nubya Garcia nied by Javier Colina and Bandolero, and the jazz fusion ensemble Patax.

Other artists, including Nuria Graham, Pol Batlle, and Santero Los Muchachos, will also be performing at the festival.

Composer and saxophonist Nubya Garcia, one of the shining stars of contemporary English jazz, will open the festival on November 3.

Despite being only 32 years old, she’s often compared to greats like Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, who influenced her as an artist growing up in Camden Town.

THE oldest pair of shoes in Europe found in a Spanish cave may be much older than first thought, according to scientists.

Experts used carbon-dating techniques on 76 objects from the Cueva de los Murcielagos, at Albuñol, Granada which were dug out by miners in the 19th century.

About 20 pairs of the sandals are at least 6,200 years old — and possibly older — while other woven objects in the cave are dated back 9,500 years, according to a new study by scientists.

The shoes were 20.5 centimetres long and were well-preserved as where with the rest of the finds, helped by the low humidity levels of the area.

The oldest footwear in the world dates back approximately 10,000 years and was discovered in Fort Rock, Oregon, back in 1938.

FOOTWEAR: Are at least 6,200 years old

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LA CULTURA TIME TO 12

Party

By Yzabelle Bostyn

F

ROM flour fights to kite competitions, there’s something for everyone to look forward to this Autumn.

Although many Spanish festivals take place in the warmer months, there’s still plenty of bizarre traditions to experience as the year draws to a close with offerings for foodies, history buffs and culture lovers alike.

FLOUR FIGHT, ALICANTE (ELS ENFARINATS) On December 28, Ibi, a small town in Alicante, is taken over by ridiculous, flour-wielding rebels in a mock coup d’etat. Half of the town becomes enfarinat, the floured, a rebel group who take control and establish absurd laws, fining anyone who dares to break them. But don’t worry, all the money goes to charity.

Rebels donned with devil horns take control through the ‘flour war’, a huge food fight that leaves the town covered in a layer of white.

Then, rebels swap flour for firecrackers in the second battle of the day.

Once the

October 19th - November 1st 2023

Five festivals coming up that you can’t miss

rebels are defeated, you will find locals dancing around town, ending up at a party at the Municipal Sports Hall. Enemies become friends as they dance together in traditional clothing.

The festival is over 200 years old and is believed to be inspired

by King Herod’s ‘Massacre of Innocents’ where all baby boys near Bethlehem were killed to protect the king’s throne from Jesus. The day is now recognised as ‘The Feast of Holy Innocents’, but the festival could also be linked to the Spanish version of ‘April Fool’s Day’ which takes place on the same day.

SANTIAGO TAPAS FESTIVAL (SANTIAGO(É)TAPAS), GALICIA Take a different kind of pilgrimage this October to taste the best of Spanish tapas.

Between October 16 and November 12, thousands will flock to Santiago de Compostela to vote for the city’s best tapas.

Over 40 restaurants will be taking part in the competition, where punters can vote for their favourite dishes from the traditional, creative and cocktail categories. One for bargain hunters, each dish will cost just €2-3 each.

A new kind of

Flour Fight

International Kite Festival,

‘camino’, there are special routes throughout the city. If you manage to eat your way through all of Santiago’s culinary delights you’ll be in with the chance to win a prize, so come with an empty stomach.

Last year over 24,000 plates of tapas were served alongside 27,000 cocktails. But in the end, the winners included brown chicken in wonton ravioli, pulled pork tacos and roast chicken bao buns.

MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL, ALICANTE Step back in time and discover what Elche, Alicante, was like in the Middle Ages with this immersive festival taking place between October 26-29.

The only festival in Spain named a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, the festival will see the city’s history come alive.

People in medieval dress will wander the streets amongst aerial acrobats, musicians and theatre performers. You can also catch shows in the impressive Basilica de Santa Maria, Gran Teatre d’Elx and Iglesia de San Jose.

A family friendly festival, there will be games for the kids and a market to explore. At night, expect pyrotechnic performers and fireworks to send off the weekend with a bang.

In 2022, over 100,000 people visited the festival and this year it’s expected to be even bigger, with the festivities dedicated to women in the medieval arts. According to organiser Marga Anton, the festival will bring to light many female writers and performers whose work was stolen by men or hidden by male pseudonyms.

INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL, FUERTEVENTURA Between November 6-12, the blue skies of the Corralejo Dunes will be filled by colourful kites in every shape and size as the International Kite Festival gets underway.

After three days of practice, the festival will truly begin on November 10, when the kites take to the skies. In the following days, there will be acrobatic kite performances and fighting. A bizarre spectacle, ‘kite fighting’ is where participants attempt to cut each other’s strings by colliding and tangling their kites.

If you feel inspired, you can also attend kite making workshops and there will be a bouncy castle to keep the kids entertained. In the evenings, the ‘Wind Festival’ will get underway, with performances from brass bands and Coldplay tributes.

Last year, over 40,000 people attended the festival, spotting their favourite cartoon characters, animals and flowers over the sand dunes. Over 200 kites took to the skies representing 15 different countries and this year, the 36th of the festival is expected to draw even more punters.

MIGRATION FESTIVAL, MADRID (FIESTA DE TRANSHUMANCIA) Every year - this weekend - from October 20-22, the streets of Madrid are taken over by sheep in this festival celebrating farming, conservation and biodiversity.

The festival started in 1994 to encourage authorities to pass the ‘Livestock Routes’ law, recognising the city’s roads as public property. Today, the festival is a unique part of Madrid’s cultural heritage and has gained new meaning in the wake of climate change as an act of conservation.

The migration will begin on October 20, when the herd is welcomed to Madrid, passing through Po-

Migration Festival zuelo, Casa de Campo and Puerta del Zarzón. This is a great opportunity for adults to enjoy a walk through the parks surrounding Madrid whilst guiding the sheep on their journey. The next day, children over seven become shepherds for the day as the sheep rest at Casa de Campo.

On Sunday, sheep will fill the centre of Madrid in the festival’s main event. Line the streets to Plaza de Cibeles to see this woolly spectacle and if you’re lucky, you might see the shepherd’s pay the mayor a tariff of 50 gold coins, a tradition dating back to 1418.

A FESTIVE FALL Whichever festival you decide to visit, there’s no doubt you’ll discover Spain’s rich gastronomic, artistic and social history. But if you can’t make it to any festivals, there’s still plenty of ways to engage in Spain’s autumnal traditions.

Snack on some roasted chestnuts, go wild mushroom foraging or enjoy churros con chocolate to settle into the colder months.

Medieval Festival

Santiago Tapas Festival

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL BUDGET BROS

October 19th - November 1st 2023

13

Bit of a tart A MALAGA bakery has been awarded ‘the best cake’ in Spain crown for its delicious apple tart.

La Pasteleria Daza has been using the same simple recipe for 12 years using only puff pastry, apples and patisserie cream.

According to the owner Antonio Martín, it never occurred to him to enter the tart into a competition before because ‘what we were doing was very basic’.

“We just never bothered.”

But his star baker Noelia Acedo’s tart impressed judges at the San Sebastian Gastronomy Championships who ranked it best in Spain.

British TikToker goes viral for bargain €100 long-weekend trip to Spain

A SAVVY Brit was able to enjoy a three-day holiday in Spain with his friend for less than €100.

TikToker Callum Ryan, 22, booked a return Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport for just €57.

The Milton Keynes native then took a bus to the centre of the northern city for just €2, before walking to his room at a hostel, which set him back just over €33.

In addition to airport parking in the UK at

SOME 31% of Spanish tourists stayed in their home country this summer, with a northern coastal city stealing top spot.

According to Citavitis, Vigo in Galicia was the most visited tourist destination for Spaniards, followed by Santiago de Compostela and Madrid.

Last year, 6.5 million tourists flocked to the beachside city, known for its rich history, colourful buildings and

By Laurence Dollimore

around €15, his grand total came to £99.37, roughly equating to €115.

The internet star is known for finding bargain travel plans, which he shares with his more than 66,000 followers.

Callum said: “I was surprised that we found somewhere so cheap. We decided to book the trip the day before and to get a full holiday for less than £100 last minute. I

thought it would be impossible.

“It was a fun and enjoy-

Vigo in vogue

able trip. The best thing for me was meeting the locals.

“It was out of season and we mainly chilled with the locals - we have made friends for life.”

Vibe

diverse bird population.

Popular tourist activities include a guided boat tour to Cies Islands or a jaunt around the Monte del Castro Park, with beautiful seaside views.

The second most visited tourist destination was Santiago de Compostela, known for the famous pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago which ends at the emblematic cathedral.

% 0

5

SAVVY: Callum Ryan in Santander

Santander offers very much a city vibe but also boasts stunning beaches and popular countryside walks.

It is also known for its fantastic food, particularly fresh fish and shellfish, with clams, mussels, crayfish, crab and more all sourced locally from the Bay of Santander.

Gourmet win A TRIO of little known costa restaurants have landed top spots in the annual Trip Advisor awards.

El Xato, in La Nucia, on the Costa Blanca, AlmaMater, in Murcia, and Kutral, in Ronda, in Malaga were all singled out.

Kutral, run by expat Martin Abramzon, is perhaps the most surprising at Number Six. The post-industrial steak restaurant sits in the mountain town’s industrial estate a mile from the main sites.

However, the cool Argentinian - who trained with Martin Berasategui and previously ran the town’s Michelin-starred Tragabuches - has grafted hard to make it one of the hippest joints in Andalucia.

Top of the annual ‘fine dining’ list was Berasategui’s three Michelin star joint in the Basque region.

El Xato came second, and AlmaMater third. Fourth was La Gaia in Ibiza and fifth El Celler de Can Roca, in Girona.

Globally the best restaurant is Bougainville, in Amsterdam, according to restaurant and travel site.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

SECRET ESCAPE

October 19th - November 1st 2023

Autumn is the perfect time to visit the Renaissance gem of unknown Ubeda and experience its medieval charm writes Dilip Kuner

STUNNING: Views from Ubeda reach to the moutains of Cazorla and take in millions of olive trees

O

NE of the delights of Spain is visiting its unspoilt interior where historic buildings are often set in a landscape virtually unchanged for centuries.

While the coastal regions of Andalucia and Valencia are well known and the famous cities of Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada too, a trip inland to the unfashionable province of Jaen is well worth the effort.

Here you will find Ubeda, known for its medieval charm and well-preserved Renaissance architecture.

The city’s historical monuments are its main attraction, offering visitors a glimpse into its rich past and cultural heritage and the views from the escarpment on which it stands give an excellent clue to its past wealth.

The town is literally surrounded by

gently rolling hills dotted by neat rows of olive trees - millions of them - as far as the eye can see. Indeed the bearers of ‘green gold’ stretch as far as the mountains of the Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park – where the Guadalquivir River that cuts Andalucía in two has its source – to the south and east.

With olive oil prices soaring through the roof it’s likely the wealthy old days are about to make a return! Particularly as Jaen has two of Spain’s top DOs (denominacion de origin) for extra virgin olive oil.

Glance the other way and you can catch a glimpse of Ubeda’s smaller (although some would say prettier) twin town of Baeza just eight kilometres away.

The two were listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 and both are worth a visit, although Baeza is definitely the smaller weaker sister.

Although Ubeda dates back to the Islamic occupation, being founded in the ninth century, it was one of the first southern cities that was reconquered.

The Castilians liberated the city in 1233 (some 250 years before Granada fell) and for a long time it was a border town between the Christian and

RENAISSANCE: The streets of Ubeda hark back to a Golden Age

Muslim worlds.

This led several of the noblemen of Ubeda to occupy important positions at the royal court, in Madrid, with the prestige, land and money this brought.

After the reconquest the town grew in importance until the grandeur of Ubeda reached a peak during its 16th century Golden Age. The richest families started building their own palaces and churches, which today are the main attractions of the Casco Antiguo old town.

Unlike other cities in Andalucia, such as Granada or Ronda say, Ubeda doesn’t have many traces of its Islamic origins, having been in Christian hands for much lonANCIENT: the Church of El Salvador dates ger.

To fully experience Ubeda’s back to 1536 charm, it is best to wander the narrow cobblestone streets of the Like most of the Renaissance buildings in Ubeda, the palace was constructCasco Antiguo.

The city itself is like an open-air mu- ed with weather resistant sandstone seum, with a lot to see and visit, and blocks. The building hides an attractive walking the streets is part of the expe- arcaded courtyard inside. rience. Leave the car in the car park The Chapel of El Salvador is considthough - driving through the old centre ered to be one of the finest examples is not recommended, with many parts of Spanish Renaissance architecture.

It was built in 1536 by Diego de Siloe, closed to traffic.

The main tourist draw is the Plaza de who was also responsible for the caVazquez de Molina. Named after one thedrals of Granada and Malaga. of the noble families, it contains more Next head to the Plaza de Mayo 1, Renaissance mansions and churches which is a quaint little square surroundthan you would ever expect to see in ed on all sides by buildings with lavish a single visit. If you are really rushed, facades and luxury interiors. It once make sure to make time for the Palacio held executions and burnings during de las Cadenas and the Chapel of El the Spanish Inquisition but now it is a tad less grim! Its San Pablo church Salvador.

Today, the Palacio de las Cadenas – or at the northern end is an interesting the Palacio de Vazquez de Molina as it hotchpotch incorporating architecture is called in some guidebooks – is home from the Renaissance, Gothic and Roto the town council. It was built in 1568 manesque periods. as a home for Juan Vazquez de Molina, From here stroll up Calle Losal to the the private secretary of King Felipe II. town’s old walls and the potter’s quarter beyond.

The traditional terraced houses double as the workshops and homes to the town’s existing master craftsmen. And they are well known around the country.

Ubeda’s pottery is quite different from that of Granada. Whereas blue

IMPRESSIVE: The church of Santa Maria de los Reales Alcazares and the courtyard of the Hospital de Santiago

WHERE TO STAY Palacio del Deán Ortega (El Parador de Ubeda) The first palace to be converted into a parador, the 15th century palace is ideally located in Ubeda’s central plaza . paradores.es Hotel Alvar Fañez This charming hotel dates back to 1865 with rustic stone walls, panoramic city views and antique furnishings. hotelalvarubeda.es

WHERE TO EAT Restaurante Cantina la Estación Run by a sommelier, this restaurant offers elegant small plates paired with local wines in their vintage dining room .

Cantinalaestacion.com Gastrobar Llámame Lola This restaurant offers fresh, traditiona l Andalucian dishes with organic produce sourced from their own farm . llamamelolagastrobar.es

and white are the colours of that province, a brilliant deep green is the colour here.

Olive stones are added to the fire to create a thick smoke, giving the pottery its colour and sheen.

Also well worth a visit is the Sinagoga del Agua: a unique attraction in Ubeda, this underground synagogue showcases the city’s Jewish heritage.

These are just some of the monuments with many more well worth a visit. And if you have time, make sure to take a ride to Baeza on the way home.

Also famous for its Renaissance architecture and historic charm, it is a great place to stop for lunch, in particular the excellent Canela en Rama.

HEALTH La Fe top THE EMERGENCY department at Valencia's La Fe Hospital has been voted as the best in Spain for the second year running in the 'Best Spanish Hospitals Awards'.

The jury used various indicators including triage systems and average waiting times as well as length of treatment before giving La Fe the top honour again in the public and high-tech hospital section.

The 'Best Spanish Hospital Awards' are about acknowledging top health management as a way to encourage improvements at hospitals across the country.

Share

La Fe Hospital Emergency department head, Javier Millan, said he wanted to thank and share the award with the entire ER team which is made up of 400 people.

He went further by dedicating the honour to all health emergency service professionals who described as 'fundamental pillars of our health system'.

Hospital manager, Jose Luis Poveda, said the Emergency department treats over 700 patients a day and that the award reflects its objectives of high quality patient care and safety.

October 19th - November 1st 2023

LITTLE BITERS

Alert as bed bugs multiply across Spain A PLAGUE of bedbugs is moving into Spain after infesting thousands of homes, hotels and businesses in Paris.

The tiny insects, which feed on human and animal blood, have multiplied in recent years across Europe due to increased tourism, climate change and insecticide resistance.

According to data from pest control company Anticimex, reports of bedbugs in Spain have increased by 71% between January and September 2023 compared to the

same period last year.

The most affected areas include cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, as well as inland regions of Catalunya, Aragon, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands.

Malaga's Civil Hospital suffered a bed bug plague in August, which generated a health alert and a complaint from the UGT union.

Bed bugs are mainly spread by transporting people and infested objects, such as suitcases, clothes or furniture.

The situation is so bad

BROWNIE TRANCE A FEMALE student is lucky to be alive after eating a home-made marijuana brownie, which made her believe she was being kidnapped - leading her to leap from a third-floor window.

The woman is said to be out of danger after several days in Malaga’s regional hospital’s ICU following the incident.

Inquiries have ruled out her friends from directly causing her fall, with authorities concluding that the young woman suffered a hallucination after eating a small piece of the drug-laden brownie.

The concoction included three grams of marijuana and had been baked by a student group who followed a YouTube instructional video.

in parts of France that the government has announced a €4 million action plan.

It includes measures such as the creation of a free green number to advise citizens, the YUCK!: Bed bugs are spreading fast development of a national protocol for dis- a foreign trip, washing fabinfection, the reinforcement rics with hot water or even of health controls and the freezing them if they are sustraining of professionals in pected to be contaminated.

Mattresses and bed sheets the sector.

To prevent the spread of bed should be inspected for bugs, it is recommended to stains or insects, and a profollow some basic guidelines, fessional pest control exsuch as checking luggage and pert should be contacted if clothes when returning from an infestation is detected.

OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 7 Elbow, 9 Unusual, 10 Letters, 11 Soapy, 12 Weaver, 14 Weirdo, 17 Detest, 19 Sprint, 21 Fetch, 23 Skiddoo, 24 Optimum, 25 Sheen.

Down: 1 Newly-wed, 2 Abstract, 3 Rubs, 4 Aussie, 5 Puma, 6 Play, 8 Where, 13 Rot, 14 Was, 15 Reindeer, 16 Outgoing, 18 Scheme, 20 Plies, 21 Flog, 22 Tots, 23 Some.

15

Going digital AROUND 70,000 patient files at Orihuela's Vega Baja Hospital are to be digitalised at a cost of over €656,000.

A contract has been advertised for the process to happen, with the documents physically stored at the hospital and the Elche Business Park in Torrellano.

A mixture of electronic and paper records are currently used with the Orihuela Health Department saying the current system is inadequate for proper patient care.

The contract winner will have four months to achieve the digital transfer.

The

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FINAL WORDS

Tipsy trip A DRUNK electric scooter driver was stopped by Elche after they spotted his vehicle veering from side to side. The man found with drugs inside one of his socks - then shoved an officer against a car.

Poo-dunnit AN easyjet flight from Tenerife to London was grounded after a passenger defecated on the toilet floor, forcing flyers to stay another night in Spain.

Tacky city SEVILLA locals have taken to social media outraged at a Daily Mail article putting the city on a list of ‘tacky’ destinations to avoid thanks to ‘boozed up Brits’, calling it ‘hypocritical’.

Your expat

voice in Spain

COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA FREE Vol. 4 Issue 101 www.theolivepress.es October 19th - November 1st 2023

All at sea

Birds dropping Padel courts could face regulation if found to be linked to a rise in bird deaths A PROBE has been launched to explore whether the explosion in numbers of padel courts around Spain could be harming birdlife.

The government is investigating whether the glass-walled courts could be in breach of the new Law for the Protection of Animals, which came into effect last month.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

It is believed the 15,000-plus courts that have been built around the country - most in the last few years - could be leading to a sharp rise in deaths.

Authorities are now investigating whether the sport

Weaponized mayor THE MAYOR of a town in Toledo faces a fine for carrying a large shotgun during his town's fiesta parade.

The Partido Popular's Julian Torrejon carried the unloaded weapon during the parade during Pantoja’s fair.

While the gun was not loaded, he is being investigated over the incident.

could lead to a rise in birds being injured - or even killed - by flying into the glass walls.

If they are found to ‘threaten’ local wildlife, a u t h o r i t i e s FUN BUT TRAGIC: Padel is could be held taking a toll on birdlife responsible for managing their environ- p r o b l e m , mental impact. the issue “The birds often hit the walls was passed during a game,” said one to The Enplayer. vironmen“It’s not a bird per game, but tal Prosecutor’s Office to init does happen pretty often.” vestigate on a national level.

Local authorities had already According to the new law, been asked to collect data the courts could constitute about birds injured or killed abuse, defined as ‘any beby glass structures, especially haviour that causes pain, sufpadel courts. fering or harm to an animal.’

It came after the Barcelona The nation-wide study is exForestry Unit published a re- pected to finish by the end of port claiming padel is a ‘seri- the year. ous threat’ to birds.

Padel, played in doubles, is But as the study was unable among the fastest growing to identify the scale of the sports in the world.

EUROPE’S first ever reusable rocket has been - err - lost.

While Spanish firm PLD Space is celebrating the blast off of Miura 1 from Huelva, not all objectives were met.

The craft reached an altitude of 46 kilometres - half of what had been expected before falling back to Earth and splashing into the Atlantic.

It hasn’t been seen since.

While the Valencia firm claims Spain is one of only 10 countries to ‘have gone into space’ - NASA defines space as beginning 80 kilometres up.

No sign

It is the first European rocket designed to be recoverable but unfortunately by the time recovery ships arrived on the splashdown scene there was no sign of it.

PLD Space bosses think it hit the ocean at the wrong angle and sank.

The Elche firm explained that fewer than 3% of rockets launched have ever been recovered.