Olive Press Mallorca Issue 168

BOTTOMS UP: The Olive Press chooses...

SPAIN’S BEST 35 WINES

The

OLIVE PRESS MALLORCA

Your expat

voice in Spain

FREE Vol. 6 Issue 168 www.theolivepress.es November 3rd - November 16th 2023

NOLOTIL WARNING

A LETHAL painkiller is STILL being given to Brits five years after it was banned, the Olive Press can reveal.

It comes as a reader contacted us to sound the alarm after he was given the potentially deadly drug while receiving treatment at HCB Hospital in Denia, Alicante.

Nolotil, also known as Metamizol, is the most common painkiller in Spain and is often marketed as an alternative to Ibuprofen or Paracetmol.

Deaths

But the drug has been linked to several deaths and serious illnesses among British expats and tourists visiting Spain.

Though usually harmless, Nolotil can affect Northern Europeans with fair complexions and is banned in the UK, Ireland, Sweden.

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ll about

November 7th

Issue 304

- November 20th

17

2018

errania de Ronda November 7th

- November

20th 2018

Picture perfect

Vol. 13

www.theolivepress.es

in the mountains and Andalucia’s city for world leaders is a hot ticket Hemingway’s their wives despitewrites Elisa lukewarm words, Menendez

‘

good wine, exNICE promenades, nothing to do…’off cellent food and wrote Thus Ernest Hemingway he spent numerthe town wheredrinking the local ous holidays at corridas, no wine and carousing many of Rondoubt disappointing with his puzzlingly da’s proud residents lacklustre review.travellers - including Most of today’s prime ministers and Britain’s last two Lady - would certainan American Firsthim. Ronda has been ly disagree with third most-visited crowned Andalucia’s hard to see why. town and it’s not of Dreams’ is a true of a ceThe so-called ‘City and somewhat wanderlust gem lebrity hang-out.Theresa May, Anne HaThis year alone, Jodie Whittaker, thaway, Ricky Gervais, Kristin Scott Thomas Gordon Ramsay, Mariano Rajoy and Spain’s ex-premier visited the stunning have all allegedly so say locals in the mountain town... know.

Obama

also made headlines Michelle Obama in 2010, touring the Moorish when she visited discovering the old town and daughter Sasha.

Novelli dynasty with her Jean Christophe after Celebrity chef in the town went house hunting it in 2009. falling in love with high sierra setting, With its spectacular lanes and atmoRonda leafy parks, cobbled it’s no wonder spheric ventas hearts of so many has stolen the travellers. a slew of writers Over the centuriesabout its timeless have waxed lyrical views and charmcharacter, stunning it the ing locals.

Rilke baptised The German poet Orson Welles took a ‘City of Dreams’, scene and shine to its bullfighting Continues on

PainGRAND TOUR-ISTS: gorge, whiters tackle the visitors le (inset) recent Gordon Anne Hathaway, Whittaker Ramsey, Jodie and Ricky Gervais

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November 20th 2018

WITH RESERVATION

MESSAGES: Left for

A

Clarke

New Andalucia Rough Guide See inside

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Stars from Anne Hathaway to Jodie Whittaker keep visiting Ronda, find out why in our travel supplement inside

WIN, WIN!

against the Junta for are taking legal action ENVIRONMENTAL groups claimair’ in the Campo de Gibraltar. ‘failing to tackle toxic has filed a complaint with the Health Ministry, Ecologistas en Accion done to protect citizens from a rise in air pollutants the Bay of Algeciras. poling nothing has been of ‘toxic’ industries in caused by the expansiongroup, more than 10,000 tonnes of dangerous According to the greeninto the atmosphere last year. benzene, as well as lutants were released lethal cancer-causing chemical This includes potentially declared to have the worst other fine particles. province was officially The writ comes as Cadiz 30th most the as ranks air quality in Spain. which borders Gibraltar, And alarmingly, La Linea, in terms of air quality. polluted place in the worldrevealed in a damning World Health OrganisaThe shocking stats were the world’s ‘most contaminated’ tion report which lists

teen

Tragic end

I don’t want “IT’S a dirty world that to live in anymore.” last words These were the intended had embarked of a British teen who her 16-yearon a suicide pact with old boyfriend in Marbella.expat, 14, The privately-educatedanyone who added: “I’m Sorry: To or supported has ever loved/knownyou and I will love I you, me, thank miss you.”

Bizarre

messages However, her heartfelt when her had a cruel, bizarre twist, Richard British-Brazilian boyfriend take his life Fitzsimons managed to Ingles deoff the top of the Corteshe miracupartment store, while lously survived. guard It came as a hero security grab the girl somehow managed to plunge to her before she was able to death after her lover.

- that has In a tragically sad incident made headshocked the coast and - the teenaglines around the world for legal er, who we are not naming serious reasons, is now requiring

‘You’re killing us!’

into the Campo

in towns and cities.

Cadiz also came bottom Adding salt to the wound,

NOLOTIL VICTORY

TOXIC: Oil refinery

plumes black smoke

Continues page 11

Lethal painkiller BANNED for Brits after hard-fought battle Book with the coast’s most trusted transfer company

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EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

A BRITISH expat couple are fighting to save their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality.

Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked in a battle with their town hall, which claims their house in Almayate is illegal.

Just yesterday the retired couple from Cornwall were given

www.theolivepress.es

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats.

British dentists and doctors are supporting the ban after Briton Graham Ward, 75, complained to the Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil drug by a dentist last week. It’s the very same drug that was blamed for killing his wife in 2006.

The Marbella-based expat was furious when he was told to take the painkiller by his Spanish dentist, after suffering from a difficult abscess.

His wife Mary, 59, had died after being prescribed the same drug following a double vasectomy at Costa del Sol Hospital.

“Within 24 hours she was in intensive care, her white blood cell count plummeted to zero within days,” explains Graham, a former computer technician, from London.

She never regained consciousness and was on a life support machine for FOUR months, before spending three years fighting the impact of the drug, which led to organ failure.

“The chief surgeon at the hospital promised me he would never prescribe that drug

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THE Olive Press is giving away three pairs of tickets for two of the best concerts on the Costa del Sol this summer...

And all you have to do is answer two simple questions!

Michael Bolton takes to the stage for an emotive end of season night at Marbella’s Puente Romano on August 10, while Estepona is set for its biggest rock concert in years with mammoth

Doctors and dentists join Olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil

one month to knock down their only property (pictured above).

In a court order seen by the Olive Press, the Wards are warned they will be held criminally responsible if they refuse.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, I’m at the end of my tether” Gill told the Olive Press, “I’m totally exhausted from the whole ordeal.”

The retired pair, who have now spent thousands of euros on legal costs, bought the old farmhouse ‘in ruins’ in 2004, and were given permission from Velez-Malaga town hall to rebuild it.

But when the original wall collapsed of its own accord during construction, the Wards’ architect told them it would be fine and that he would let the town hall know. Unfortunately for

tribute bands Think Floyd, Deeper Purple and Whole Lotta Led rocking out the greatest hits of Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin at the Plaza del Toros on August 26.

For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Bolton, just answer the question; what year was Michael Bolton born in?

For the Pink Purple Zep Fest in Estepona, just tell us; Where was Jimmy Page born? Email WIN WIN WIN: Bolton and Pink Purple Zep Fest tickets answers to the newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

KILL THE DRUG

Need for more research

Dr Nina King, of Oasis Dental Care in Marbella, fully supports the campaign, telling the Olive Press the drug is not something she prescribes.

“It’s not a drug I use, I stick to safe and standard medication,” she said, “And after seeing what damage it can do, it’s a drug I won’t be using in the future.”

Marbella-based private doctor Dra. Victoria María Chacón Almeda also agrees the drug is dangerous. “I don’t prescribe the drug,” she told the Olive Press, “I have lots of British patients and I am aware of what it is capable of doing.

“There needs to be a lot more research on its impact.” doctor to get a renewal in April, tests showed the drug had caused a toxic poisoning in his bone marrow and his white blood cell was dangerously low.

Billy, a keen sportsman, developed sepsis and necrotising fasciitis as a result and required ‘radical surgery’ to remove the affected tissue in an attempt to save his life.

The dad-of-two later died from septic shock – believed to be linked to taking the Nolotil.

BritAnother ish expat Hugh Wilcox was prescribed the same for medication shoulder mild pain on the Costa del Sol. He developed severe head

Irish tourists. in Spain. will now be administo be re- banned for tourists move, The Spanish Expats in Spain a short term prescripon breakthrough A LETHAL painkiller believed issue has finally tered Nolotil of dozens of ex- In a it can only be CAMPAIGN: Previous SALE sponsible for the deaths Medicine Agency (AEMPS) tion only. Furthermore 59 in Spain. to all healthcare bod- prescribed after a detailed analysis of pats is finally being regulated Mosquito which effects, has inves- issued a directive Screens British and the patient’s medical his- despite various side in white Nolotil, which the Olive Press has been ies to stop giving the drug to blood can cause a rapid drop tory and heritage. tigated for nearly two years, Continues page 2 unable to fight It will also have to be cells, leaving patients TM translator, Cristina much more closely mon- infections. Medical who has pulled toGarcia del Campo, itored. case studies from It comes after an Olive gether hundreds of said she probe, into AEMPS’ the victims for Press investigation was ‘very happy’ the authorities the mysterious deaths Folhave finally reacted. her of expats from lowing the results of the drug was KILL THE rigorous investigation she launched See page 43 DRUG has now demanded that 2016, in sold the drug must not be deSee page 11 along with a a without a prescription and 1,000-strong petition to have it regu- tailed patient analysis. the problem has “I am very happy that told the Olive lated a year later.

Nolotil, also known as been dealt with,” she sure that the Metamizole, is banned in Press. “I will be making ns are carthe UK, the US and most AEMPS recommendatiomake sure it’s ons. ried out and if necessary Olive Press bject to conditi of Europe. for renewals. Su The UK BASED 11/18. Not valid Despite this, the drug is banned completely.”after a trio of ex*Offer ends 30/ still one of the most pop- began investigating their pat families told us how ular painkillers in Spain, relatives had died unnecessar2/8/18 17:01 transfer after Reliable private hire in excruciating pain, services for any occasion CASHBACK ON ily taking the drug in Andalucia. the • Luxury vehicles for Spanish In April, the paper revealed YOUR HOUSE service • Door to door first steps towards regulation residents Marina • Airport collections had been taken, with in • Weddings transport Salud, a big health network to trips www.globelink.co.uk • Sightseeing day Alicante, issuing a warning drug to • Restaurant shuttles stop administering the WHEN K Scandinavian and PAYBAC British, Irish Find out more at: 96 626 5000 patients.

YOU SELL www.simply-shuttles.com Continues on Page 8

HAPPIER TIMES: Graham with wife, and Billy Smyth

again.

“He said she would be alive if she hadn’t taken it, but I have heard from dozens of Brits and Irish who have been given it,” added Graeme.

It is the third victim of the drug the Olive Press has reported on in under a year.

Sometimes known also as

Metamizole, Nolotil is banned in the US, the UK, Ireland and most of Europe, but it is prescribed widely in Spain.

‘Billy’ William Irishman Smyth was given a five-day course of the drug in February.

But when the 66-year-old returned to a different Spanish

Continues on Page 2

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Outrage as dangerous Spanish painkiller continues to be given to Brits despite being banned EXCLUSIVE

By Yzabelle Bostyn

launching a lawsuit against the Spanish Ministry of Health after she claims doctors are not following the guidelines and patients are still being given the drug ‘against their will’.

A spokesperson for the hospital said: “HCB Hospitals follows the recommendations of the AEMPS, and particularly those for the foreign population, we are very aware of the recommendation not to prescribe Nolotil to foreign patients.”

It insisted that the recommendation is followed and patients are informed about the best available treatments.

In October 2018, the drug was banned for sale without a prescription to British people visiting Spain following a months’ long campaign by this newspaper and tireless medical campaigner Cristina Garcia del Campo.

Recommendations were also issued advising medical staff to avoid giving the drug to patients in urgent care and to carry out follow up blood tests if the drug is given for seven days or more.

The directive note, issued by the Opinion Page 6 Spanish Medicine Agency (AEMPS), recommended medical staff monitor patients given the drug to check for potentially deadly side effects like low white blood cell count and sepsis.

However Cristina, founder of the AffectOVER 1,000 people took to the streets ed by Pharmaceutiof Palma to demand ‘less tourism, more life’, ahead of an EU tourism summit becals Association, says ing held in the city. the guidelines are Protestors marched from Porta de Santa ‘not strong enough’.

Catalina to Passeig Born, where a mani“It's worrying befesto backed by 77 groups was signed. cause this is someThe manifesto, read by author Clara Inthing that can kill gold, spoke out against the ‘lack of’ susyou, it has killed so tainable tourism. many people,” she She added there were far too many holitold the Olive Press. day rentals and labelled tourism a ‘devasNow, Cristina is tating industry’.

conditions.

2/8/18 17:01

WARNING: Cristina has campaigned against Nolotil alongside the Olive Press

NEED FOR CHANGE

The protest on Monday also called for an end to pollution, overcrowding and the growth of more tourist lets.

It comes after growing frustration from residents who claim their quality of life is being sacrificed for the comfort of visTOO MUCH: locals rail against 'overtourism' itors.

The protest was in response to the meeting of EU tour- who rent legally.” ism ministers in Palma.

She also highlighted climate change as a significant chalThe European Tourism Forum brought industry leaders lenge for the islands. together to discuss the social sustainability of tourism.

“We are a limited, small and fragile territory. We have The summit aimed to find ways to promote ‘alternative’ just over one million inhabitants and receive 15 million destinations. tourists a year.

Balearic President Marga Prohens urged EU leaders to “We want to minimise the negative effects of tourism bring in new laws to regulate holiday rentals. and be sustainable from an economic, social and enviShe said: “Holiday lets present a great opportunity to ronmental point of view. If just one of these things fails, share the wealth generated by tourism. However, illegal everything fails.” ones create unfair competition for hotels and owners Ministers took part in a series of discussions at the summit this week to try and combat the negative impact of the trade.

In particular, they signed a joint declaration in favour of social and sustainable tourism.

In the declaration, ministers agreed to advocate for ‘greener, more digital, inclusive, resilient and responsive’ tourism.

See pages 9 & 11 They also vowed to create job opportunities and ensure the ‘long-term well-being of everyone in the value chain, especially the local populations’.

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CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Crazed Barber PALMA residents are up in arms after a crazed barber who has terrorised them with machetes, samurai swords, and even hairdressing razors has once again been released from jail.

Critical state TWO sisters are in critical condition after a fire in their Palma flat. Police are investigating as they believe it could be the result of a suicide pact or murder.

Badly hurt A SCOOTER rider is in a serious condition after colliding with a van after the driver failed to see him. The man was found unconscious in Palma de Mallorca this morning.

Tasty treat A MALLORCA restaurant, Izakaya, has been recognised as one of Spain’s most popular restaurants in the latest Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards.

A GERMAN national has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a man to death after an ‘argument in a bar spilled onto the street'.

The 27-year-old suspect, who lives in Palma, is alleged to have got into a heated argument with

Bar stabbing a 37-year-old Dominican with a German passport in a bar in Arenal de Palma.

November 3rd - November 16th 2023 The argument then descended into a fight in the street at around 2am, when the German stabbed the Dominican ‘multiple times.’

The suspect tried to flee the scene but was later tracked down and arrested.

Levi probe halted X Factor rugby star likely drowned in the port area of Barcelona POLICE have suspended an investigation into missing British rugby player Levi Davis.

The former X Factor: Celebrity contestant was last seen in October, last year, outside the Old Irish Pub in Barcelona.

His passport was found in the port area three weeks later, while neither his bank cards or phone have been used since he vanished.

A court has now ruled police will only continue with their inquiries if new information appears.

Authorities have effectively ruled out any criminality behind his disappearance after he travelled to the Catalan capital from Ibiza.

It's believed Levi, 24, drowned near the port, where the last signal from

By Alex Trelinski

his phone was 'pinged' by a mast in the early hours of October 30.

It came after cruise ship staff claimed to have seen a man in harbour waters shouting for help.

"Four staff confirmed seeing a man in the water… and asking for help in English, and gave the colour of his clothing,” said Levi's mother, Julie, this week.

She added a life jacket was thrown from the ship and emergency sea and air rescue services searched the area but they were unable to find him.

Police divers started combing nearby wetlands in May for his body, but were unsuccessful.

Levi Davis was a promising young rugby player for Bath, and became the first player to come out as bisexual in 2020.

After taking part in ITV's X Factor: Celebrity, he confessed he had suffered from

‘depression, anxiety and alcoholism’ as a result.

Intriguingly, his mother revealed he had been blackmailed over compromising photos and the day before he disappeared, his Only Fans account posted a full nude photo of him.

A private detective firm later told La Vanguardia newspaper Levi ‘owed £100,000 to Somali mafia’ and he had fled Ibiza, where he was staying with a friend, to go to Barcelona ‘to flee these criminals’.

This has now been ruled out, in particular by his own mother, who said it was not being investigated.

Sniffed out A COLOMBIAN-led narcotics ring that flooded the Balearics with cocaine from Barcelona for the past six years has finally been brought down.

The crack police investigation, which saw over a tonne of drugs seized and 72 arrests across Spain, marks the dismantling of the largest drug trafficking operation in the Balearics to date.

All those caught were from Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Spain, and aged between 20 and 50.

The operation also uncovered three cutting edge drug labs hidden around Barcelona which were used to process the pure cocaine into street-level ‘bricks’ branded with the notorious Nazi ‘Imperial Eagle’ logo.

Killers traced

NOT RIGHT SWEEPING raids across Germany aimed at the farright right music scene spread to Mallorca after Spanish police also kicked down doors.

The far-reaching investigation is targeting the production of hatred-inciting ideology, which is banned in Germany, through heavy metal music.

The Policia Nacional carried out a search in Mallorca at the request of their German counterparts.

Although they interrogated an unknown number of people, no arrests were made ‘due to a lack of suspicion of criminal activity.’

TWO men have been arrested for killing a young German tourist in Mallorca over a year ago. They are accused of throwing him out of a van straight in the path of an oncoming car.

The victim, 20, known as Tim V, died on October 8 last year with the initial view being that he had drunkenly stumbled into the road.

But when the story hit the local media, an eye witness contacted the police to say he saw a body being thrown from a white van at the time of his death.

After over a year of detective work, police tracked down the van and arrested the man who drove it.

However, he was then ruled out.

But that same day police arrested another man in Malaga and a third the following day in Palma.

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AN evil Mexican cartel boss lived a low-key ‘no frills’ life among expats years before being arrested, it has emerged.

The paranoid chief was the suspected head of the infamous Los Zetas gang (right) operations in Europe for seven years.

He regularly drove to Murcia, Valencia and, even Badajoz, using up to seven cars along the way to avoid detection.

Yet, incredibly, he lived an anything but luxurious life in a normal back street of Fuengirola, police have revealed.

Having finally arrested him at another home in Madrid, it emerged he lived in leafy Calle Nuñez Balboa for some years, while renting a small chalet in Mijas, where he took many ‘girlfriends’.

The drug lord, whose name was given as Said.R, 54, was arrested following a joint operation between Spanish, Colombian and US authorities.

He was picked up in Madrid, where he was ‘feared by everyone’, according to detectives, due to his gang’s violent nature.

HIDE OUT: Millionaire boss of savage drug cartel lived ‘no frills’ life in Fuengirola The Los Zetas gang is described by the US authorities as ‘the most technologically advanced, sophisticated and violent’ paramilitary-style gang in South America.

They are known for their brutal tactics in Mexico, including mass killings, beheadings, kidnappings and torture.

Said, who also had homes in Madrid, avoided capture for years by driving all over Spain for his business discussions, which were as short as 20 minutes and ‘as early as 5am’, He would mostly meet in roadside ventas and local tapas joints, one of his favourites being in Guarroman in Jaen, a three-hour drive from Fuengirola.

The majority of his phone calls were taken while moving in a car or in areas with poor signal, including next to the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, in inland Malaga.

When he was arrested this summer, police found eight SIM cards hidden in his phone case.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

November 3rd - November 16th 2023

3

ROYAL ASCENT SPAIN’S future queen, Princess Leonor, celebrates her 18th birthday today (Tuesday) and her family has released a portfolio of hitherto unpublished photographs to mark the occasion.

The teenager is seen celebrating Spain’s Euros soccer victory in 2012, awaiting the birth of her sister Sofia as well as photos taken before her graduation at Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan this year.

Leonor has been making solo appearances and training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to ensure she’s ready for the throne.

HAPPY FAMILY: Snaps from the album She’s also seen giving public speeches like at the recent Princess of Asturias awards, which she has addressed since She was 13-years-old.

The Royal Mint has also created a limited edition €40 coin to mark her birthday.

Old age wonder Genes of completely healthy 116-year-old Spanish woman to be studied

Maria’s tips to a long life

al yocredited eating natur Maria has previouslyher longevity, and avoiding ghurt each day for “I have always eaten little, ‘excesses’, adding: I have never followed any rebut everything, and red from any illness or been gime. I have not suffe g room.” through an operatincret to a long life, she tweetse r he t ou ab th famAsked , good connection wi ed: “Order, tranquility ct with nature, emotional ay from ily and friends, conta ivity and keeping aw stability, lots of posit ves it is toxic people.” d that she also belie However she admitte ck’. down to genes and ‘lu

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SCIENTISTS in Spain have taken samples from the oldest woman in the world in a bid to discover her secrets to a long life - and to develop cures for diseases.

Maria Branyas is an incredible 116 years old, but has no health complications other than hearing and mobility issues.

The ‘Super Grandmother’, who regularly updates her followers on X (Twitter), beat Covid in 2020 and has survived the Spanish Civil War, a deadly earthquake in the US and a major fire.

She previously advised anyone hoping to live a long life to cut out ‘toxic people’ and avoid ‘excess’.

Unlike most people her age, she has zero cardiovascular problems nor memory issues, and can recount stories from the age of four as if they happened yesterday.

‘She’s incredible,’ said Manel Esteller, director of the Josep Carreras leukaemia research institute and a professor of genetics at the University of Barcelona.

Manel has taken DNA samples (saliva, urine and blood) from Maria, whom he visited at her care home in Olot, Gerona, in northern Spain.

By Laurence Dollimore

Manel, a world leader in genetics, wants to discover how far Maria’s genes go in explaining her longevity, and how much is to do with her lifestyle.

Maria, the daughter of a journalist from Pamplona, was born in San Francisco (United States) on March 4, 1907, but returned to Spain as a child.

Dame good looking!

DAME Maggie Smith has sprinkled a little magic on Spanish design house Loewe.

The 88-year-old British actress - who famously played Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise - is starring in the luxury brand’s latest advertising campaign.

She looks spellbinding in the photos taken by celebrity German fashion photographer Juerguen Teller, and many of her fans are enchanted by the result.

There has been a tremendous response on social media, with fellow Downton Abbey star Lily James saying ‘wow wow wow wow’, and Outlander actress Catriona Balfe sharing three love hearts.

It might have taken 70 years, but being the face of Loewe’s Spring-Summer collection is the perfect riposte to her mother, who once famously told her ‘you will never be an actress with a face like that’ when Maggie was still a teenager.

In her long career Dame Maggie has won two Oscars - as Best Actress in The Prime of Miss Brodie and as Best Supporting Actress in California Suite.

She also has a Tony, five Baftas, three Golden Globes, and four Emmys.

Sir name-a-lot

A SPANISH aristocrat has been ordered to shorten the name of his newborn daughter after he tried to register her with a name that comprised 11 different words.

Fernando Fitz-James Stuart, the 17th Duke of Huescar and heir apparent to the dukedom of Alba, found his daughter’s name fell foul of the Civil Registry.

The 33-year-old and his wife, Sofía Palazuelo, recently christened their second child ‘Sofía Fernanda Dolores Cayetana Teresa Ángela de la Cruz Micaela del Santísimo Sacramento del Perpetuo Socorro de la Santísima Trinidad y de Todos Los Santos’.

This name needs to be shortened to either a compound name (hyphenated name) or two separate names to comply with regulations.

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NEWS

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BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES

MALLORCA has been battered by the biggest tropical storm of the year so far.

Storm Ciaran arrived with fierce winds of up to 110km/h last night,

with colossal waves expected to reach up to nine metres in size..

Given the name by the UK Met Office, Ciaran has already pummelled much of Western Europe, including

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mainland Spain.

It brought with it the lowest sea-level pressure seen for 200 years, according to climate scientist Ed Hawkins.

A severe wind warning was issued yesterday morning on the island, with extremely heavy rainfall and rough seas also predicted.

The emergency services advised people to be aware of the risk of flooding if torrential rain begins.

It is five years since extreme flooding led to the death of 13 people on the island(pictured left).

Most of those died around Sant Llorenc when some people were even swept away in cars.

The authorities yesterday warned people not to go out in extreme weather and told them to make sure doors and windows were securely shut.

Individuals were also told to steer clear of ledges, trees, walls, construction sites, or cranes.

The temperatures at least were expected to remain relatively stable, with highs ranging from 21°C to 23°C.

Brits to the rescue SPAIN’S tourism industry is set to break all records after raking in more than €84 billion so far this year - with Brits once again leading the foreign market.

More than 66.5 million tourists enjoyed a holiday in the country between January and September, representing a year-onyear boost of 18.8%.

In total they have spent €84.6 billion, some 24% more than in 2022.

The figures, shared by the National Statistics Institute (NIE), show the number of arrivals is just 0.6% below the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.

Spain’s tourism minister Hector Gomez said he ‘welcomed’ the figures, adding that other factors are also being studied, in-

UK holidaymakers remain the most important foreign market for Spain, figures

By Laurence Dollimore show

cluding the environmental impact of tourists.

Industry leaders are looking to grow tourism in a more sustainable way following a wave of anti-tourism movements across the country this summer.

The latest statistics show that despite the cost-ofliving crisis unfolding back in the UK, Brits are continuing to flock to Spain, almost 13.8 million so far this year, to be exact (up 14.6% on last year).

Following in a distant second is France with 9.4 million (up 18%) and Germany with 8.4 million (up 9.6%).

The Brits also contributed the most to Spain’s coffers between January and

September, accounting for 18.7% of all tourist spending.

As with most years, Germany was a distant second on 11.9% of tourism spending while France came in third with 9.3%.

The most popular regions for tourists also remain unchanged, with Catalunya - the home of Barcelona - receiving 14.2 million visitors, a year-on-year increase of 22.2%.

Hot on its heels is the Balearic Islands with just under 12.6 million tourists in the first nine months of 2023, a jump of 8.6%, followed by the Canary Islands, which welcomed just under 10 million holidaymakers (up 14.1% on 2022).

HEY BIG SPENDER! AMERICAN visitors to Mallorca spend twice as much as Brits and Germans.

Tourists from across the pond have splashed €520 million across Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera this year.

Although the islands’ main visitors are Germans and Brits, the 204,487 US visitors spend significantly more.

According to official figures 3.2 million German tourists spent €3.63 billion.

Meanwhile, 2.7 million Brits spent €3.1 billion.

American tourists have increased by almost 70% since 2019.

In the past four years, tourism from the States has risen by 24%, with a 22% rise in the last year alone.

It is believed luxury shopping including clothes, jewellery and shoes could be behind the rise.

Americans also spend more on gastronomy, including splashing out on more fine wines.

The influx of American tourists is not unique to Mallorca and has been seen around many parts of Spain.

A tourist convention in San Sebastian particularly highlighted the improving exchange rate between the dollar and the euro as a key factor.

Experts at Turespaña also predicted American spending will beat previous records in 2024.

There has also been a 63% increase in reservations this winter from Americans.

TONGUE TIED

POLICE were called when a couple’s sex game went awry.

An elderly woman called the police after seeing her neighbour, gagged and bound, being put into a car boot.

Policia Local launched a swift investigation into the supposed kidnapping, employing four patrol cars and various motorbikes in the search for the ‘victim’.

Law enforcement found the vehicle within a few minutes and asked the driver to step out of the car.

Upon asking the suspect to open the car boot, they found a woman tied at the hands and feet, dressed only in lingerie.

The woman quickly admitted the incident was part of a sex game and that it made her ‘very horny’ to be tied up and thrown in the back of a car.

The couple, both Spanish, were in their forties.

The case has now been turned over to the Guardia Civil to investigate.

Red card THE current president of FC Barcelona has been formally accused by a judge of bribing a referee.

The charges being faced

by Joan Laporta relate to his first tenure at the head of the club, from 2003 to 2010, when he is accused of paying bribes to the former vice-president of Spain’s Technical Referee’s Committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

The two presidents who succeeded Laporta, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, are also facing charges for the same offences.

Negreira and his son are alleged to have received €7.3 million from FC Barcelona between 2001 and 2018.

If found guilty of continuous bribery, Laporta could be facing six to seven and a half years in jail.

www.theolivepress.es

PROST! German drinkers grab world record in Mallorca downing 1,254 beers in less than THREE hours A GROUP of Germans have set a new beer drinking record, guzzling 1,234 beers in less than three hours in Mallorca.

The group spent a giant €2,838 on the largest round ever ordered, with each beer costing €2.30 each.

The 55 person team, including 13 women, drank on average 22.4 beers, or 10-per-hour.

The feat kicked off at 10.30am in the morning and took an hour and a half longer than expected, clocking in at two and a half hours.

The hardy drinkers did not know each other before the session, which was organised through a travel agent.

The participants met in a Whatsapp group before flying out to the island to undertake the challenge at Bamboleo restaurant, in Playa de Palma.

After the victory, the group celebrated at the popular Megapark beer hall, partying until the early hours.

The record has become a competition among Germans travelling to Mallorca.

The tourists beat the previous record, set in July, when a group of Germans enjoyed 1,111 beers at Bi-

Shorter hours

By Yzabelle Bostyn

erkönig, also in Mallorca.

The record was organised by travel agent Kai Kahmann, 62, who admitted he had to go to be early that night at 7pm.

NEWS

November 3rd - November 16th 2023

5

Luck’s in LADY luck came to the door of one Mallorca resident.

One solitary winner has correctly guessed all six numbers - as well as two lucky stars - to clinch the €27 million EuroMillions jackpot.

This life-changing ticket was bought at the Lottery Office No. 1 in the tiny village of Lloseta.

However, the winner might be irked to find out that 20% of the winnings will be shaved off by the taxman.

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SOME 338,000 Balearic citizens could benefit from a 37.5 work week if PSOE and Sumar are successful in their bid to form a government.

Calculated by the Spanish Workers Commission (Comisiones Obreras), the figures do not include public sector workers, who already work less than 37.5 hours.

The measure, agreed by a coalition of left-wing parties, could affect the 91% of people in full-time employment who work more than 37.5 hours.

The Spanish Workers Commission has expressed their support for the measure, saying: “it would have a positive knock on effect.”

WORK RECORD SPAIN’S labour market has set a new record, as the number of people in work broke the 21.3-million barrier for the first time.

This is according to figures for the third quarter of the year from the Active Population Survey, which is compiled by the country’s National Statistics Institute (INE).

There were 209,100 more people in work compared to the previous three months.

But the number of unemployed in Spain also grew 3.3% from the second to the third quarter, to 2.86 million people or 12% of the active population.

The reason for these two seemingly contradictory statistics lies in a sharp increase in the active population itself (those either working or seeking work), which went up by 301,000 people from the second to the third quarters.

And now, for every new car, home or life policy you take out, you’ll get €50 cashback!

Visit quote.libertyexpatriates.es and ask for a quote Cashback promotion valid for policies issued and in force between 29th of August and 27th of November 2023 inclusive. Policies must be paid by direct debit. Applies to new car, home and life policies only. Not for renewals or replacements. Conditions and minimum premiums will be applied in all cases. Visit our website or ask your Broker/Agent for full details. Liberty Seguros, Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros, S.A. (with VAT number A48037642 and registered offices in Paseo de las Doce Estrellas, 4, 28042, Madrid, Spain) is responsible for this offer.

THE OLIVE PRESS (all editions) - PROMO 2 - JP 250 X 200 - OCTOBER 18, 19, 20 2023

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 Nolotil shame IT’S disheartening to hear that the dangerous drug Nolotil is still being administered to northern European patients, despite it being banned five years ago (Nolotil warning, page 8).

The campaign to bring in regulations against the drug was one of the biggest successes achieved by the Olive Press.

With the help of tireless campaigner Cristina Garcia del Campo, we persuaded the national government to stop the drug being given to light skinned foreigners without a prescription.

There are now another string of rules attached to the medication, which has been known to cause serious illness and even death in people of northern European descent.

We implore any Brit receiving care in Spain to avoid taking Nolotil wherever possible, and can only hope that the case of the British expat being given the drug at a hospital in Alicante was an isolated incident.

If you have been given Nolotil with no warning, medical advice or prescription, please contact us at newsdesk@ theolivepress.es.

Time to talk THE number of visitors visiting Mallorca is on an ever upwards trend.

Some 12.6 million tourists were welcomed to these shores in just the first nine months of 2023, a jump of 8.6% This is most impressive when you consider that the population of Mallorca itself is just over one million.

It is evident that the sheer number of visitors is putting a strain on life in Mallorca - from service provision to drunk and disorderly behaviour in public.

So the Balearic government has cut back on allowing homeowners to rent their properties to tourists.

Evidently, this is not a ‘nothing’ problem, with a variety of politicians and civil groups speaking out that numbers need to be better controlled, as our front page story shows.

Improved dialogue is needed between the Spanish government in Madrid, the local authorities in Mallorca and resident groups on the island.

While business bosses and many politicians see tourism from the financial angle, Mallorquins look at it more from a social sense and the two parties must meet in the middle.

Mallorca cannot afford to lose its tourism industry but making this more sustainable by attracting visitors equally around the entire year and diversifying the economy, the future certainly looks brighter on the Balearics.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Cristina Hodgson cristina@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

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Fighting for the young In the past eight years, Spain has seen a 25% rise in breast cancer with one in 10 cases among the under 40s.

YZABELLE BOSTYN asks why and what is being done

L

AST year, an estimated 35,750 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Spain, a shocking 7,000 more than in 2015.

This rise is partly due to the growing numbers of younger women diagnosed with the disease.

This year, an estimated 4,132 people under 44 are expected to have been diagnosed with breast cancer here, a 9% increase compared to 2021.

It’s an alarming rise, but what is being done about it?

“It’s a fact that breast cancer is increasing in younger women,” oncologist Dr Javier Salvador at Sevilla’s Hospital Virgen del Rocio told the Olive Press.

“The general occurrence of cancer is rising and it is fundamentally associated with unhealthy habits. Breast cancer is no exception”.

In the past 30 years, cancer incidence in the under 50s has risen by an incredible 79% according to a Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, and it's no coincidence that during this time our lifestyles have changed dramatically.

Alcohol is believed to have been a major factor in 18% (2,100) of Spain’s breast cancer cases in 2020. And on a European level, 4,600 breast cancer diagnoses were linked to drinking just one glass of wine a day, according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM).

“Cancer is fundamentally caused by changes in lifestyle choices,” explained Dr Ana Casa, founder of charity Actitud Frente al Cancer,

FRONTLINE: Dr Javier Salvador is at the forefront of cancer research in Spain who herself has had breast cancer.

“Changes to diet, obesity, how we raise children, how much alcohol and tobacco we consume all make a difference,” she added.

Leading a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, exercise and limited tobacco and alcohol intake, is therefore key to reducing the risk.

Dr Casas also highlights that while unhealthy habits are influencing the disease, rates are also rising due to better detection via increased screening campaigns and improved awareness.

In Andalucia, for example, the Junta has widened its ‘Early Detection Screening Programme’, from 50 to 69-years-old to 47 to 71-years-old. The new measures give access to screenings every two years and have already had a significant impact in the region.

In just the nine months up to October this year, 387,906 women have been checked, which is a third more (34%) than in the whole of 2018,

when 289,552 people were screened.

As a result, 881 women have been diagnosed.

In Valencia, the Breast Cancer Prevention Programme screens 800,000 women aged between 45 and 69 every two years.

The programme has been judged a success by the health authority - and since the programme started in 1992, almost five million mammograms have been undertaken.

Last year, a total of 329,367 women were screened in the region and 1,420 cases of breast cancer were detected, the vast majority in an early stage.

This early detection is vital, according to Dr Casas: “If we detect the cancer earlier, there is a much higher chance of survival,” she explained to the Olive Press.

But for women who have experienced the aggressive disease first hand, 47 is simply not young enough to start screening.

Expat Lisa Burgess was just 55 when doctors discovered she had 15 tumours in her

MAFIA EXPOSED After the Olive Press exposed how a key Russian Oligarch still owns a luxury villa in Marbella, Alex Trelinski and Laurence Dollimore explain how illegal Russian cash was laundered into shady property deals and used to buy influence on the Costa Blanca

I

T’S long been rumoured the Russian mafia has been wielding its influence along most of the Spanish costas.

Now, a long-awaited trial is set to lift the lid on just a few of its alleged clandestine operations.

Some three years after they were arrested, a judge in Benidorm has set a trial date for five members of a suspected Russian money laundering gang - including a well-connected lawyer.

They are accused of using dirty Russian cash to buy millions of euros worth of property while pressuring politicians to act on their behalf even including apparently trivial matters such as introducing speed bumps around luxury urbanisations.

It comes after 40 people were investigated by the Policia Nacional in December 2020 in what the force branded the ‘biggest operation against eastern European mafia’ for a decade.

As the Olive Press reported at the time, Operation Testudo focused on the Marina Baixa area of Alicante province with arrests in the exclusive upmarket areas of Altea and Finestrat, as well as in Alicante City.

In a Spanish-wide dragnet, gang members were also detained in Ibiza, Madrid, Andalucia and Valencia in a joint operation with Europol.

The investigation started in 2013 and culminated in 18 raids on December 14, 2020.

Russian businessmen were among those arrested and included a solicitor - Alexey Shorikov (left) - who runs an Altea estate agency and was de-

scribed by the judge as a ‘lobbyist’ for the conservative Partido Popular. In alarming claims, the judge accused him of creating a network of contacts with councillors and public officials as well as the police.

On one occasion, a Policia Nacional inspector was handed an envelope stuffed with cash to speed-along immigration proceedings, while it is alleged the chief of Altea’s Policia Local was ‘persuaded’ to install speed bumps on an urbanisation where one of Shorikov’s clients lived. “The influence of Alexey on Altea town hall was noteworthy,” the judge said.

“Intercepted telephone conversations revealed that Alexey, in appreciation for favours done for him, gave gifts and rewards via his businesses and clients.”

The well-connected legal eagle is also accused of laundering his own money and that of clients by making bank transfers that were difficult for authorities to trace.

According to court documents, Shorikov is also alleged to have funnelled laundered cash into an Ibiza warehouse and restaurant owned

by Russian businessmen linked to organised crime.

They are known only as Maxim K and Nikolay M, and they have also been charged.

But conveniently, most of the suspects, including several politicians, were let off the hook following a series of shocking judicial errors.

Charges were dismissed against 18 people after the authorities forgot to ask the courts for a time extension for their trial dates.

And after the initial arrests and investigations in December 2020, PP councillors in Altea and Benidorm had charges against them suddenly dropped due to a lack of evidence.

November 3rd - November 16th 2023

7

WORTH PAYING FOR

W

E at the Olive Press are always keen to talk to our readers to get constructive comments and feedback.

After all, without readers – whether for our printed papers or our website and online platforms – there is little point to our job.

But one question we continually get online when faced with our paywall introduced in 2020 is ‘What do I get for my money?’ ‘Why should I pay? And ‘What am I paying for?’

Group Coordinator of the Andalucia Society of Medical Oncology, says there is no need to further drop it.

He told the Olive Press: “There isn’t any solid data saying that it would be beneficial to do screening on women under 40.

“Of course in some circumstances it would be sensible, if say, there is cancer in the family or if the woman has some sort of predetermined factors. But in general, I don’t think it's necessary to start earlier than 47.”

In time, research will make this decision with hundreds of studies being carried out around Spain at present.

The research gives patients more chances ‘to be attended to by oncology services’, ultimately giving them more opportunities for treatment and a better chance of survival.

At Hospital Virgen del Rocio, in Sevilla, current research is focussing on identifying cancer biomarkers for more effective treatment.

Biomarkers are genes, proteins or other substances which can provide information about the type of cancer a patient has.

MAFIA HIDEOUT: Altea in Alicante Each persons’ biomarkers are unique and allow doctors to identify how effective treatments will be for the patient.

The process means that patients can avoid unnecessary toxic, invasive and painful treatments.

Alongside cancer screenings, the treatment will make treatment shorter, less traumatic and ultimately more successful for patients.

Identifying the most appropriate treatments is also key to preventing the recurrence of the disease.

But five are still facing charges, with the court claiming the Money Both Andalucia and Laundering Division of the Policia Nacional detected suspicious monValencia are heavily ey transfers between Russia and Spain via ‘shell’ companies. involved in Natalee, The funds were transferred to real estate and leisure businesses on an international study the Costa Blanca and the Balearic Islands, which the judge said came focussing on combinfrom ‘Russian businessmen linked to ex-Soviet organised crime’. ing treatments to preSuspicious purchases include a €600,000 home in Altea Hills, where vent breast cancer Shorikov acted as an ‘interpreter’ and a €484,000 La Nucia property. recurrence.

A lump sum of €440,000 was also transferred from Russia and SwitThe treatment comzerland to buy land in Altea so that it could be turned into a campsite. bines the drug riboA Ukrainian hacker in Alicante’s San Juan beach area known only as ciclib with endocrine Denis K was also arrested in 2018 for being the alleged mastermind therapy to stop the of a gang of cyber thieves that stole over a billion US dollars from cell cycle, preventing banks around the world. cancer growth.

Denis K is said to have worked for the two alleged Russian gang Some 190 Andalumembers, Maxim K and Nikolay M, who gained access to a bitcoin cian and 88 Valenwallet worth €55 million which was allegedly laundered by Shorikov cian patients are for their Ibiza purchases. involved in the interBut whle the net is drawing close around mafia activities, the Russian national study, which oligarchs seem to be getting away with massive money laundering in has already reduced Spain. Last edition the Olive Press revealed that Alexey Chepa, an MP the risk of breast in Moscow’s State Duma, is still in possession of a huge €15m estate cancer recurrence by in Marbella through a shell company owned by his son, despite sanc25%. tions. There is still a huge amount of work to be done by the police.

Thanks to ongoing research projects like

The answer is simple: What you get is journalism… paying for people who excel at storytelling and uncovering information.

Paying for journalists to do the work they love and the job they were trained to do.

breasts.

The British-Irish journalist, based in Mijas, underwent four gruelling operations and has since become a pillar of support for other expats suffering from the disease.

“I know from experience of the healthcare system that a lot of women are contracting cancer in their 30s,” she explained. “It’s getting really serious and the authorities need to start focusing on prevention, on detecting it earlier and at a younger age.

“If it had been detected even in my 30s, it would have been much easier, possibly just radiotherapy. Not a mastectomy.”

Research shows that young women diagnosed with breast cancer often have more advanced and aggressive forms of the disease, as a lack of screening allows the tumour to grow undetected.

However, not everyone agrees on lowering the screening age.

Fernando Henao, Breast Cancer Working

Being behind a paywall frees us from the tyranny of hated ‘clickbait journalism’.

With the knowledge that money is coming in, we do not have to chain our reporters to their desks to continually chase page views.

Thanks to those people who have signed up for just €1.50 per week (often less), we can afford to free our journalists to do what they do best – get out and about, meet people and report back to you, our readers.

It is how we spent a few days in Ibiza tracking down the dodgy fashion boss accused of molesting young models and how we spent months probing the movements of dangerous sex offender Christian Brueckner around Spain and Portugal.

Killing Eve

ON THE MEND: Lisa Burgess was 55 when she discovered she had 15 tumours Natalee, survival rates globally have gone from 70% to 90% in the past 50 years.

Just last year, a Mallorcan study succeeded in curing tumours initially resistant to treatment in the most aggressive form of breast cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer usually affects younger women and is the fastest developing form of the disease.

Studies like this help to give women the hope Dr Casas advises for those newly diagnosed.

Reflecting on her own experience battling breast cancer, she said: “Firstly, learn as much as you can about the tumour and make informed decisions.

“It’s important to have an active attitude. Secondly, be hopeful because treatments are greatly improving. Have hope and trust in the research.”

For people suffering with cancer, much of this hope is found in the support of their community. For Lisa Burgess - who wrote a regular Olive Press column on her year of treatment - there was no better support than her fellow expats.

“I received a lot of support from the expat community. They were completely wonderful.

“Now, I speak to women everyday who have been diagnosed. It’s my small way of giving back. I support them as much as I can.”

A strong sense of community, innovative research and forward thinking screening programmes clearly make the fight against breast cancer a more positive one.

If you have not received a letter about booking a screening, contact your Primary Care District (Distrito de Atención Primaria), Health Management Area (Área de Gestión Sanitaria) or family doctor, who will give you an appointment.

Then there was the week spent tracking down the former ETA terrorist who had inspired hit BBC drama Killing Eve (above) in Extremadura.

And more recently to Granada, to bring unrivalled coverage of the dramatic threeday hunger strike launched by the mother of ousted football boss Luis Rubiales (left).

A testament to the quality of our reporting, it was picked up by The Telegraph, the Sun and even a string of Spanish national newspapers.

Closer to home, we always strive to be first on the scene to bring you the latest updates.

Hence this Saturday two journalists rushed to Marbella after three hitmen opened fire in front of Brits and locals just as they were sitting down for lunch.

Once again, our exclusive reporting was used by the UK nationals, this time the Daily Mail and Sun. Couple this with all our exclusive restaurant reviews, travel articles and cultural features and, all in all, it explains why we have had thousands of new registered users and subscribers over the last two months.

So thank you to everyone who has recognised that quality journalism is worth paying for!

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

LA CULTURA Puppet donation Real art buffs 8

A TEAM led by Taiwanese opera director Tseng Tao-hsiung will perform Spanish composer Manuel de Falla's puppet-opera 'Master Peter's Puppet Show' this month.

The puppets will then be donated to The Museum of Manuel de Falla in Granada.

They were first made for the opera's premiere in Taiwan in 1995.

The performances will be at the Enrique de la Cuadra Municipal Theatre in Sevilla on November 4 and the Madrid Higher School of Singing on November 6.

November 3rd - November 16th 2023

Museum throws open its doors to nudist club THE exhibits in Barcelona’s Museum of Archaeology of Cataloni a were treated to quite the sight when it played host to a 90 minute nudist tour.

Members of the tour strolled through the museum’s halls completely in the buff, offering a more

STANDING TO ATTENTION: Naked tourists take in the exhibition

By Walter Finch

‘natural’ perspective on various works of art.

Edgar Maestre, the guide for this event, explained: “We wanted people who came to see it to feel exactly the same as the work they were looking at.”

In this case they had the opportunity to admire the ‘Bronzes of Riace’ exhibition, featuring Luigi Spina’s photographs of two Greek bronze statues of naked warriors dating back to the 5th century BCE. The objective was to convey the emotions and sen-

sations that these artworks evoke by allowing visitors to share a similar state of

DRINK TO THAT: Swimming dinos found in Rioja The Rioja University researcher found the ichnites - fossilised footprints - on one of the escarpments of the Leza River.

There are only a few other ichnites of swimming dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous period, dated between 145 and 100 million years ago.

MERYL Streep wowed the Spanish Royal Family with an emotional speech which paid tribute to the country’s rich cultural past.

The Hollywood actress, 74, waxed lyrical about Granada poet Federico Garcia Lorca and Malaga painter Pablo Picasso as she accepted the prestigious Princess of Asturias award for her decades of contribution to the arts.

The Devil Wears Prada star gave her speech in front of King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and their daughter Leonor, whose title is the Princess of Asturias.

When Meryl finished, the King could be seen saying ‘muy bonito’ to his wife.

He then gave his own speech, in which he branded Meryl ‘majestic’ and ‘incredibly talented’.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD Across 7 Indian class (5) 9 Simian (3-4) 10 At the apex (7) 11 Affliction is cruel cut (5) 12 Russian sleigh (6) 14 Energetic (5) 17 Tolerate (5) 19 Rarely encountered (6) 22 Get new guns (5) 24 Lunges (7) 25 No good (7) 26 Simultaneous firing of artillery (5) Down 1 Transparent overlay (7) 2 Do over (6) 3 Engrossed (4) 4 Tie up rescue craft (6) 5 Spine separator (4) 6 Earth (5) 8 Champion (7) 13 Facilitate (3) 14 Ballet step (3) 15 Sun protector (7) 16 Income earned in the past (7) 18 Show song (6) 20 Pre-revival zombie (6) 21 Arrogant (5) 23 Blows away (4) 24 Cooking measure (4)

OP SUDOKU

FOOTPRINTS: found in cave

A TEAM of researchers have found a site of swimming dinosaur prints, of which there is very little evidence in the world.

Palaeontologist Pablo Navarro discovered the prints in Laguna de Cameros, Rioja, with help from the municipality’s residents in 2020.

undress.

The museum’s website even promised attendees the chance to ‘admire the works by posing in the same situation as they are, completely naked and surrounded by other bodies.’

This kind of event is relatively rare in Spain but has been previously held in other parts of the world, such as Paris.

The King and Meryl

All solutions are on page 15

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LA CULTURA

November 3rd - November 16th 2023

CREDIT: All Pictures by Yzabelle Bostyn

10

LIERATURE FLOWS: through every aspect of life in the Alpujarras

INSPIRATION: Even the flower pots follow the literary theme - seemingly on every corner

Hiking by stanzas N

A Literary escape: From bins bearing Harry Potter covers to plant pots inscribed with poetry, is this the most cultured corner of inland Spain, asks Yzabelle Bostyn

ESTLED in the heart of the Alpujarra mountains of Andalucia lies the most charming village you've never heard of: Mecina Bombaron is a fairytale come to life, not least because it is an official ‘book town’ that has works of literature inscribed on practically every section of its whitewashed streets.

Quite simply, books are infused with everyday life in this quiet spot, from plant pots paint-

COMFY SEATING: Benches outside Mecina Bombaron town hall pay homage to children’s classics

ed with poetry to bins bearing Harry Potter covers.

You live and breathe everything from the stanzas of Federico Garcia Lorca to the tomes of Ernest Hemingway, the prose of Cervantes to the rhyming couplets of Shakespeare.

And that’s not all. Mecina Bombaron is one of four book towns now connected by a series of stunning hiking trails, making the region the perfect escape for walkers and literary lovers alike.

Together with Yegen, El Golco and Montenegro they have added a new exciting chapter on the history and cultural importance of the rich and varied Alpujarra region.

The idea came about in the height of the Covid pandemic, when the Mayor of Mecina Bombaron, Jose Antonio Gomez, was confronted with a rapidly declining population, which dipped alarmingly below just 1,000 inhabitants in 2020.

Together with leaders from neighbouring Yegen, El Golco and Montenegro, they put their heads together to come up with a plan to save the village through the power of literature.

Inspired by celebrated British author Gerald Brenan, who lived in Yegen for many years, Granada’s ‘book towns’ were born.

A great hook to celebrate the literary history of the area, the South of Granada author

brought London’s famous Bloomsbury Group to Spain in the first half of the last century.

The likes of Virginia Woolf, Bertrand Russell and Lytton Strachey beat their way to his door in the rural escape, a hop and a skip from the snowline of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

The legendary travel writer Bruce Chatwin even wove his way up to the 1,000-metre high village in the 1970s, later comparing the region to Afghanistan.

So important was Brenan's love affair with the Alpujarras, he has been fittingly immortalised with a British-style blue plaque dedicated to him in Yegen (see sidebar on next page).

From this humble beginning, the project is now thriving, explains the Mecina Mayor: “Literature is such a wide reaching topic it allows us to develop in many different ways, so it's a very sustainable idea,” he told the Olive Press.

“It also complements the beautiful landscapes we are already surrounded by.

The population here is seeing it more and more as their project and they choose the books we use.

“That means the project has a future and so do we.”

Visitors can take a stroll through the villages, spotting their favourite novels on benches, stables and fountains while admiring sweeping vistas of the nearby hills.

The mix of classics like Don Quixote and Romeo and Juliet, alongside children’s books such as The Little Prince, make this a great activity for families, couples or solo travellers.

Located in old phone boxes you will even find book exchanges, which are a free initiative designed to give locals and visitors the chance to discover a new book.

And then comes the best bit with a series of carefully marked

WHERE TO STAY

● Benarum Hotel and Spa, Mecina Bombaron After a long day, relax at this spa-hotel with its steam room, jacuzzi and sauna or discover the Alpujarran way of life at its Casas Blancas rural accommodation. ● La Almunia de la Alpujarra, Yegen These cosy apartments are decorated in a traditional Alpujarran style with wooden beam ceilings and roaring fires. This tranquil oasis is surrounded by trees and the terrace offers panoramic views over the hills.

WHERE TO EAT

● El Rincon de Yegen, Yegen Offering traditional tapas and delicious pizzas, this restaurant is ideally located near the centre of Yegen. There is also an outdoor pool and plenty of beer, making this the perfect place to relax. ● Restaurante El Tinao, Yegen This restaurant prides itself on its great service and beautiful views over the town of Yegen. Serving simple but tasty tapas with a friendly atmosphere and rustic surroundings, this is a truly Alpujarran locale.

YEGEN: Which has long been a literary haven hosting Gerald Brenan and The Bloomsbury Club

LA CULTURA

routes going between all the villages, the best being the walking route inspired by Gerald Brenan around Yegen.

But if a serious hike isn’t for you, a stroll around Mecina Bombaron’s acequias (streams) is a tranquil way to spend an afternoon, even in the summer thanks to the abundant shade of thousands of chestnut trees.

Start at the ‘Fuente Libro Don Pio’, a delightful book-shaped fountain inspired by Pio Navarro Alcala Zamora’s sociological study of the town.

Follow the ‘Acequia Baja’ which leads to a series of ramshackle stone houses and bubbling brooks, with views in abundance.

On your return make sure to grab a coffee or cana at either Casa Joaquin or Bar Nevaillo. But beware, the sign outside the latter which warns customers; ‘I open when I come, I close when I go’, encapsulating the town’s

s-256x170-CAR-4.indd 1

Story of the south

laidback lifestyle.

This relaxed attitude is not one officials want to change with their new influx of tourists: “The world is continually getting faster, more stressful and more artificial,” explains Gomez.

“We offer a return to nature and the quiet life.”

In the future, council leaders hope to expand the project, with plaques on each street dedicated to novels.

They will be accompanied by a QR code so visitors can learn more about the novel, alongside a translation in braille.

The towns are also now home to the Andalucian Poetry Prize (Certamen Andaluz de la Poesia Alpujarra) and next year, they hope to launch a new literary prize as well as literature conferences and talks.

As poet Gabriel Garcia Lorca, a frequent visitor from nearby Granada city once said about the area: “There is nothing as sad as being blind in Granada.”

Brenan moved to Yegen in 1919 and began writing his most famous book, South from Granada in the early 1920s. Described as ‘an indispensable point of reference for modern ethnography’ it is one of the most in-depth, colourful books ever written about Spain, alongside the best

by Laurie Lee, George Borrow and, of course, Chris Stewart, more recently.

Recounting Brenan’s remarkable rural life in the village, which had no proper roads, nor running water or electricity, it paints a wonderful picture of this sleepy corner of Spain untouched by modern

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November 3rd - November 16th 2023

SETTING: Yegen was an inspiration to the British author

life and is still a joy to dip into today.

He lived in the village until the mid 1930s when he moved to Churriana, near Malaga, where his home has now been turned into a

museum, thanks in part to an early campaign to save the cortijo from demolition by the Olive Press.

AT HOME: Visit the Brenan museum in the charming village

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Simply the best

GROUNDED?: Short haul

Short-haul threat A DEAL struck between the socialist PSOE and the Sumar party includes plans to cut domestic flights.

The proposed law would target routes where there is a rail alternative of less than two and a half hours.

There are only three regular air routes that meet this condition; Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Alicante and Madrid-Valencia, which all take less than two hours and 20 minutes by train.

Three other routes, however, are just a few minutes over the 2.5-hour mark, including Madrid-Seville, Madrid-Málaga and Madrid-Murcia. It is not yet known if they will be included.

The plans are still in their infant stage with a study still to be carried out if the socialist pact is able to form a government.

November 3rd - November 16th 2023

Why Spain has been branded among the top holiday destinations for 2024 SPAIN is the most sustainable holiday destination in the world and should be top of your list to visit in 2024.

That’s according to the latest rankings by the highly-respected Lonely Planet.

The country was named as the most sustainable in the publication’s Best In Travel awards, which were released to celebrate 50 years of the travel guide.

A spokesperson said: “One of the globe’s most popular destinations, sun-washed Spain is making enormous strides in boosting off-sea-

By Laurence Dollimore

son travel to spread visitors across the year and to encourage travel to overlooked destinations.

“New cycle paths, electric buses and train routes offer flight-free ways to see the country.

“Creative small-scale hotels and other initiatives are revitalising the country’s rural areas and new train routes are making flight-free travel a breeze.”

Lonely Planet cited the Jar-

FRENCH winemakers launched a stunning ambush on a convoy carrying Spanish wine and delicacies that they claim is undercutting their livelihoods.

With howls of anger and frustration, the French farmers boarded the Spanish lorries and proceeded to throw all the boxes, crates and wine into the street.

Like highwaymen from days of yore, around 500 indignant French farmers had set up a roadblock near the Le Boulou tollbooth, a mere 15 kilometres from the French-Spanish border.

SUSTAINABLE: The Jardin del Turia in Valencia

din del Turia in Valencia as a prime example of Spain’s strides towards a sustainable tourism model.

The urban park, one of the largest in Spain, is spread

Sacre rouge!

Videos from the scene showed the carnage and destruction of Spain’s national produce, as the streets turned red with cheap sparkling wine.

The destruction was part of a ‘war against economic criminals who abuse ruined winegrowers,’ according to Frederic Rouanet, the president of a local winemaker syndicate that organised the protest.

over nine kilometres and features picturesque paths lined with orange and palm trees, becoming a tourist attraction in its own right.

And in a bid to reduce pressure in tourism meccas like Barcelona and the Costa del Sol, Spain is encouraging holiday makers to visit lesser-known villages and towns.

It comes after a wave of anti-tourism campaigns cropped up across the country this year, including in Marbella, Sevilla and the Balearics.

Vigo, in Galicia, for example, was recently voted as one of the best locations to explore, according to flight comparison app Skyscanner.

Gordon’s gong KITCHEN hellraiser Gordon Ramsey has returned from an around-the-world culinary odyssey raving about a dish he tried in Madrid.

He concluded that the top three dishes on the planet emanate from Laos, Vietnam and Spain - specifically the Spanish capital.

The celebrated chef lauded Madrid’s famous 'Cocido madrileño’, which is a stew made from chickpeas, vegetables, pork, and beef.

Ramsay was captivated by this feast of complex, slowcooked flavours, which he said created an irresistible blend of aromas and textures.

In Laos, he identified the traditional 'Laap,' a salad made from marinated beef or chicken with lime, fresh herbs, chilies, and toasted rice and in Vietnam, Gordon discovered the legendary 'Pho,' a noodle soup with beef or chicken that is a cornerstone of Vietnamese cuisine.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL S

POP THE CORK!

Spanish wines are now definitely - among the best in the world, alongside its chefs, writes Jon Clarke and Elsa Ibanez

PAIN is gradually shedding its inferiority complex regarding wines, and it is high time.

Alongside the country’s world-beating culinary skills, its winemaking acumen is now up there with the world’s best in France and Italy.

According to the UK wine bible, Decanter, Spain is now very

much part of Europe’s ‘Power Trio’.

In this year’s ranking of a record 18,250 wines, Spain matched France with eight ‘Best in Show’ medals, followed by Italy with seven.

On Spain’s performance in the summer competition, respected Master of Wine, Sarah Jane Evans MW stated: “Spain is the most exciting wine-producing country in Europe.”

Apart from the exciting improvements in the traditional winegrowing region of Rioja - which scooped 23 Golds and two Best in Shows - she singled out the Alicante and Galicia regions.

In particular, it was the north west appellations of Ribeira, Bierzo and Rias Baixas that she really liked.

Meanwhile a pair of Best in Shows came from Jerez, in Andalucia, both sherries over 30 years in age, from Harveys and Lustau.

It was a similar situation with America’s hugely-influential Wine Advocate, based on the scores of doyenne Robert Parker and his team.

Not only are Spain’s bodegas rapidly climbing up the charts, but in Marques de Murrieta, Spain now has a winery in the world’s top 10.

Thanks to scoring yet another top score of 100 this year for its Castillo de Ygay white ‘Reserva Especial’, it now ranks alongside the world’s best vineyards, including Cheval

SPAIN’S BEST November 3rd - November 16th 2023 35 WINES Blanc, Petrus and Chateau d’Yquem.

In total, 30 Spanish wines have so far scooped the maximum 100 score from Wine Advocate, which is nearly 15% of the total.

The reason it is not much higher is largely due to logistics and time, rather than anything else.

Until 2007, there were no Spanish wines in the 100-club, mostly as Parker rarely had time to try wines from Spain, after he categorised French, Italian and American ones.

Indeed, it wasn’t until 2013, that the guide started to take the country seriously, when it hired a professional full time wine expert.

And even that was controversial, with Luis Gutierrez, based in Madrid, previously being a senior executive at Tetra Pak. That said, Gutierrez comes highly-rated in the wine world and tastes an average of 3,600 wines a year, according to Expansion newspaper.

He had a wine column in El Mundo and arrived on the scene having worked as the Spanish correspondent for the respected UK wine website Jancisrobinson.com.

Financial Times columnist Jancis herself is a regular visitor to Spain and even made an effort to visit Ronda for a series of tastings a decade ago.

She is now a keen advocate for the fast-improving wines in Ribera del Duero and has seen the country adapt to the high temperatures to make some fabulous wines today.

“After years on the sidelines of the

world of fine wine, Spain is now a major player,” she says. “Investment and ambition in vineyard and winery are resulting in more and more rich – often highly alcoholic – spicy reds that are finding increasing favour among international consumers.”

In particular, she also praises the wide variety of local indigenous grape varieties and mixture of styles.

Another globally important wine critic, James Suckling, of the Wine Spectator, has recently praised the huge leaps Spain has made over the last decade.

In his Annual Report 2023 of 3,800 Spanish wines, he insisted the country is going through a ‘dynamic transformation led by an audacious new generation of winemakers’.

“They are shifting the focus of wine appreciation toward a lighter, more delicate style that highlights clarity and drinkability over opulence and richness,” he explained.

Apart from putting seven Spanish wines in his All-Time top 100 wines - including Lustau’s aforementioned 30-year-old Amontillado - he selected six for the perfect ‘100’ category this month.

For the record they are L’Ermita 2021, from Priorat, Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2012 and Viña El Pisón 2021, from Rioja, Comando G’s two wines Rumbo Al Norte 2020 and Tumba del Rey Moro 2021, from Madrid’s DO, and finally Ribera del Duero’s Pingus 2021.

And, in case you hadn’t guessed, these According to the Spanish Wine Federation, Spain exquisite fine wines owns 13% of the world’s vineyards and is rewere already expensponsible for 25% of European wine production. sive, before Mr SuckSpain can also boast of being the country with ling and Mr Parker the most vineyards worldwide. put their global 100 It has 70 DOs (denominations of origin) , 42 top score rankings on protected geographical indications, and 26 sinthem. gle-varietal wines.

As a rule of thumb, Spain has its own local Peñin Guide which rates most of the 100 score wines under the best value-for-money criterion. wines cost from €150.

Factfile

TOP RATED: The Ramon do Casar vineyard and (left) their ‘excellent’ wine

SPAIN’S BEST 35 WINES

(Compiling Decanter, Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator’s scores, with vintages if particularly good) ● Castillo de Ygay Blanco Reserva Especial 1986, Rioja ● Castillo de Ygay Tinto Reserva Especial, Rioja ● Vina El Pison, Rioja 2004 ● Contador, Rioja, 2004 and 2005 ● Lalomba Finca Ladero, Rioja, 2018 ● Finca Lagunazuri, Rioja 2018 ● Las Beatas, Rioja, 2015 ● Remírez de Ganuza Gran Reserva, Rioja 2004 ● Numanthia Termanthia, Castilla y Leon 2004 ● Pingus, Castilla y León (2004, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2021) ● Vega Sicilia Unico, Castilla y

Leon (1962) ● Rumbo al Norte, Comando G, Castilla y León (2016 y 2018) ● Tumba del Rey Moro 2021, Castilla y León ● Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo de Borja (2007 and 2009) ● L’ermita, Priorat (2013 and 2019) ● Clos Erasmus, Priorat (2004, 2005 and 2013, 2020) ● Nit de Nin Mas d’en Caçador 2020, Priorat ● Les Manyes 2016 de Terroir Al Limit, Priorat ● La Faraona, Bierzo, (2014 and 2018)

● Viariz La Muria, Bierzo 2021 ● Las Tres Filas Mencía, Bierzo 2020 ● Sorte O Soro, Valdeorras 2020 ● Casa Castillo Pie franco, Jumilla 2020 ● Mar de Frades, Albariño, Rías Baixas 2018 ● Ramon do Casar Treixadura, Ribeiro, 2022 ● El Corral Cremat Brut, Albet I Noya, Penedes ● Arrels del Priorat Ca Les Viudes Vi de Mare 100 Anys ● Don PX Toro Albalá Convento Seleccion 1946, Montilla Moriles, Cordoba

● Alvear Pedro Ximenez Vintage 2011, Montilla Moriles, Cordoba ● 1905 Amontillado Solera Fundacional Lot B 2016, Montilla Moriles, Cordoba ● Moscatel Valdespino Los Toneles, Jerez ● Reliquia Barbadillo de Palo Cortado, Jerez ● La Bota de Amontillado 49, Navazos, Jerez ● 30 Years Old, Oloroso, Lustau, Jerez ● 30 Years Old, Amontillado, Harveys, Jerez

TOP TIPS

The Peñín Guide to the Wines of Spain 2024 has awarded its maxim iconic Spanish reds, two um score to three del Duero and one fro from the DO Ribera m the DO Rioja, and for the first time to a wh ite wine, from the DO Rías Baixas.

Specifically, the 100 poi era reds Vega Sicilia Únints went to the Ribco Reserva Especial (which includes wines from the 2010, 2011, and 2012 vintages) and Sisseck, the Rioja La RioPingus 2021 by Peter 890 from 2010 and the ja Alta Gran Reserva Pazo Señorans Selección Pontevedra Albariño de Añada 2013.

HEALTH

November 3rd - November 16th 2023

GOOD NEWS

BREAKTHROUGH

SPANISH scientists are working on a new way of treating cancer, which involves ultra-fast blasts of powerful radiation.

The Institute of Instrumentation for Molecular Imaging (i3M) is running experiments involving radiation being administered via a laser for less than a second on living cells.

The study will investigate the impact of different dose rates.

The Polytechnic University of Valencia is one of the institutions involved in the project. A spokesman explained that conventional radiotherapy sees a continuous beam of particles applied to a patient, which can have bad side effects.

He added that if a higher radiation dose is given in less than a second, then the negative impact on healthy issues appears to be considerably reduced.

A STUDY has revealed that in 2016 cancer deaths were 42,132 lower than expected in Spain, representing a 30% decline.

The study carried out by Frank R. Lichtenberg, from the University of Colombia (USA) was published last week.

Titled ‘The relationship between pharmaceutical innovation and mortality from cancer in Spain between 1999 and 2016’, the research evaluated treatments for 56 different types of cancer.

The study found that new pharmaceutical innovations caused the mean global age at which

patients died to rise by almost three years between 1998 and 2015.

According to the findings, the more modern the treatment, the less likely the patient is to die prematurely.

In Spain, the years of potential life lost before the age of 75 was reduced by 333,000 as a result.

During this period, Spain spent €1.09 billion on cancer treatments.

Although Spain was behind in the use of combined cancer treatments, it is set to double their use in the next five years.

APPY DAYS

Phone app for food allergy sufferers could save lives

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A PHONE app that could help save the lives of food allergy sufferers has been inspired after a Spanish allergy specialist treated a girl whose father is into modern technology.

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My advice to you is to go nowhere without insurance, and that includes visits to the UK, especially after Brexit.

The free app called AllergApp can ‘prevent scares and save lives’ according

Virus arrives

A DEADLY tick-borne virus has been detected on the French-Spanish border.

The illness is reported to kill up to four in 10 people who catch it and the ticks which carry it have been detected in France for the first time.

Known as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), the virus is closely related to Ebola.

Commonly seen in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Balkans, the illness is rarely spotted in Europe, with occasional appearances in southern Europe, including Spain.

However the effects of climate change are now pushing the disease further north, with more occurrences in Spain, France and even Britain.

The disease was detected on cattle in the Pyrenees when live ticks were found harbouring the illness.

Symptoms, which appear suddenly, include achy muscles, abdominal pain, vomiting and a sore throat.

Broken capillaries can also trigger bleeding from the eyes, nose or skin.

A MOBILE health unit offered free flu jabs at Casemates Square to elderly residents before the start of the winter season.

The walk-in mobile vaccination clinic vaccinated people over the age of 50-yearsold and anyone with a long-term health condition or those caring for them.

The service added to the vaccines the local health service offers at the Primary Care Centre on Monday to Friday afternoons.

Pregnant women, elderly residential home dwellers, health and care workers can also take the jab.

The GHA will also give the vaccine to children via a nose spray at their respective schools.

New GHA Director General, Kevin McGee, who took over the job at the beginning of October urged elderly and long-term ill patients to take the jab.

“I encourage all who are eligible to be administered the flu vaccine to avail them-

to its creators.

Around 6% of under 15s are susceptible to food allergies.

The adult population that has to be careful about what they eat is around 1.5% to 2.0% of the population.

Doctor Antonio Letran has been treating a girl called Alba who suffers from a nut allergy.

She endured an accidental poisoning and part of the problem was trying to have all the necessary information quickly at hand and an allergy.

He built up a friendship with Alba's parents, including her father Jose Carlos Toajas, who is a project manager at an aeronautical solutions company.

“I knew that Jose had developed an app for something else and I suggested

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one should be developed that would allow a caregiver or allergy sufferer access to all the information in two or three clicks,” explained Doctor Letran.

The app is simple as once diagnosed with an allergy, the patient transfers all their personal data, including height, weight and age, as well as the treatment prescribed to combat any reactions.

The app includes a virtual 'first aid kit' with a list of the needed drugs and doses depending on the phases of the allergic reaction because, as Letran points out, ‘the sooner it is treated, the sooner it is controlled’.

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FINAL WORDS

A BENT Ukrainian priest is among five arrested after police in Spain tracked down 11 historical gold items dating to the 8th century BC worth €60 million that disappeared from a Kiev exhibition.

Dirty devil AN easyJet flight from Tenerife to London was cancelled after a passenger defecated on the toilet floor, but not before passengers were left waiting onboard for 3.5 hours.

Good news FENTANYL, the synthetic opiate that is causing a major health crisis in the United States, is yet to arrive on Spanish shores, officials have said.

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Monkey business

TAKING THE P**S

Baker who urinated in bowls used to prepare food awarded €25k compensation for ‘unfair dismissal’ A BAKERY worker who was sacked after being caught on camera peeing into food preparation bowls has won €25,000 compensation after a tribunal decided her privacy was infringed.

The Catalan court ruled that her rights had been violated when the bakery rumbled her with a secret camera.

Footage showed her squat-

By Walter Finch

ting down and filling cookery bowls with her pee in the food production area.

She would then lightly rinse them in the sink and place them back among the clean items for use in the preparation of bread and pastries.

Neucroissant, the owner of

THIS is the moment a no-nonsense police officer was willingly tasered by colleagues as part of a bizarre training session in Sevilla.

A video from Guardia Civil training shows an officer being shot in the back with the electrical weapon - sending bolts of electricity charging through his body.

He screams in agony before two other officers, who are holding onto each of his arms, place him

the Cafe de la Estacion in Barcelona’s main train station, then fired her by letter for ‘breach of the contractual good faith and abuse of trust in the performance of work’.

Shock tactics down on a blue gym mat.

The officer holding the weapon then zaps his calf for good measure, causing him to shriek once more.

The room is then heard erupting into applause as he says: “Ouff god, what a trip, my soul left by body!”

She received the dismissal letter while she was on sick leave due to another unspecified workplace incident.

Outraged at her treatment, the worker filed a complaint with the Labour and Social Security Inspection. She alleged that she was dismissed during her sick leave and did not receive documentation related to her disability and unemployment benefits.

The court ruled that her dismissal was unfair, but not for the arguments she put forward.

Instead, they decided the company had violated her privacy by filming her without her knowledge using a hidden camera.

BIZARRE dolls depicting monkeys dressed in baby clothes have sparked a racism debate.

A stall at the San Pedro Feria in Marbella was pictured selling the souvenirs next to dolls that mostly depicted black children.

This led observers to accuse the seller of making a clear comparison between black people and monkeys, much like the centuries’ old racist trope.

However many locals and Brits argued online that there were also a handful of white baby dolls and that people ‘look for any excuse to be offended these days.’

One commenter wrote: “THIS is called racism!”, while another said the monkey dolls were racist because their palms are lighter, while ‘in real life gorillas are 100% black.’

They added: “So we already know what has inspired the creator of these dolls.”

However scores of mostly Spanish locals hit back, claiming people were overreacting.

One wrote: “There are white babies, black babies and baby monkeys… the only thing racist is your mind.”