Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Dec 1

FEATURED ARTICLES: "Painkillers banned in the UK linked to expat deaths in Spain" and "Cheap high-speed trains between Murcia and Madrid on track to begin in December"

And so we enter the start of the most wonderful season of all, not least because next week there are two – count ‘em – TWO festivos coming up. Wednesday December 6 is the Day of the Spanish Constitution and Friday December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which means that Thursday December 7 is naturally a write-off for schools and probably some business and shops, too. So nicely to do the dates fall this year and so long is this long weekend that instead of a ‘puente’, some wags are calling it an ‘acueducto’, an aqueduct.

Don’t worry, we’ll still be around as usual with your Friday bulletin next week, although we will be taking a break for a couple of weeks over Christmas. I’ll remind you again closer to the time.

For now, though, back to the week in hand, and there’s an incredibly concerning story about foreign tourists in Spain falling sick and dying from using a common Spanish medication that is actually banned in many other countries, plus our usual collection of the local news in Murcia, Alicante and Andalucía.

UK citizens poisoned with Spanish painkillers

Every once in a while, a scandal emerges that grips the nation and nothing is more frightening than a controversy that could potentially harm our health. Recent reports and studies coming out of Spain have people as far away as the UK and Ireland scrabbling through their medicine cabinets to check if they contain a possibly deadly drug: Nolotil.

The Association of Drug Affected Patients (ADAF) is suing the Spanish government after several expats and holidaymakers became seriously ill and even died after taking the painkiller metamizole, which is widely sold in Spain under the brand name Nolotil.

Nolotil was the best-selling drug in Spanish pharmacies in 2022. It is an analgesic used for the treatment of everything from acute post-operative pain to simple fevers. However, its less publicised side-effect, at least until now, it that it can cause ‘agranulocytosis’, a condition that suppresses the production of white blood cells, decreasing the system’s immune defences and increasing the risk of serious, even fatal, infections.

For this very reason, the drug has been banned in more than 40 countries including the UK, the US, India and Australia, and a study conducted by the Javea-based ADAF found that its use led to sepsis, organ failure and amputations in at least 350 people between 1996 and 2023, 170 of whom were Britons either living or holidaying in Spain at the time.

Furthermore, ADAF has discovered around 40 fatalities among British patients that it believes could be related to taking the painkiller and has demanded tighter controls over the controversial drug.

A study carried out at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella revealed that two thirds of patients affected by agranulocytosis were foreigners, and up to a third of them were UK nationals. Symptoms of this condition include fever, chills, general weakness, sore throat, and, in severe cases, pneumonia and shock.

Bizarrely though, this sometimes deadly side effect is almost non-existent in Spaniards, purportedly due to genetic factors.

Questions will now have to answered by both the Ministry and AEMPS, especially since the results of a 2018 study on the drug have come to light. At the time, the medicines agency recommended that health professionals limit the use of metamizole in patients that can’t be properly screened, or the “floating population”, which would include British holidaymakers.

Israel-Spain spat

A diplomatic row has erupted between Israel and Spain over how the former has responded, and continues to respond, to the Hamas situation.

Even as Hamas release Israeli hostages and Israel free Palestinian prisoners in return, the bloody battle between the two still rages, with thousands of innocents caught in the crossfire of targeted bombs and missiles.

Spain’s old-new President, Pedro Sánchez, has gone on the record as saying, “With the images we’re seeing and the growing number of people – especially children – who are being killed, I have genuine doubts that they’re complying with international humanitarian law.”

This prompted Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to brand Sánchez’s words as “shameful” and the Foreign Minister to call them “outrageous”, summoning the Spanish ambassador in Tel Aviv for a smart dressing down and even recalling the Israeli ambassador from Madrid due to what it sees as Spain “giving support to terrorism”.

Sánchez has tried to provide a measured response, underlining that “we’ve said from the very beginning that what Hamas did in Israel is absolutely atrocious and abominable” but not shying away from the fact that “we have to tell Israel, with the same conviction, that its actions must be based on international humanitarian law.”

This latest act of the Spanish PM rubbing the Israelis up the wrong way comes shortly after he hinted that, even if the European Union as a collective refuses to recognise the state of Palestine, Spain may decide to do so unilaterally.

Normally, Spain acts in accordance with what the EU does but it seems that, buoyed by his recent ‘electoral’ success, Sánchez feels he can flex his muscles. He himself has been very heavily involved in the peacekeeping mission between Israel and Hamas and been a vocal critic of Israel’s tactics.

Since Hamas terrorists stormed the border and took Israeli hostages almost two months ago, on October 7, there has heavy shelling in Gaza and it’s estimated that around 15,000 people, 6,000 of them children, have been killed in the Israeli strikes.

This is not the first time ambassadors have been recalled from Spain due to international crises.

Morrocco recalled its ambassador in Madrid in 2021 after Spain allowed for Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to be treated in a Spanish hospital; Algeria recalled its ambassador in 2022 following a dispute over Spain’s position on the Sahara region, and only just sent a new ambassador this month; and Nicaragua also recalled its ambassador from Spain after Foreign Minister Albares demanded the country comply with human rights law.

It’s worth noting that all of these recent incidents came under the leadership of Pedro Sánchez.

8 things you should always keep in the car when driving in Spain

We all have our routines before setting off on a road trip, most of which are confined to checking that we have enough fuel and making sure the car is packed with plenty of snacks. But what many people don’t know is that in Spain, whether you’re heading on a long journey or just nipping around the corner to the shops, there are some vital documents and safety equipment that you have to keep in the car at all times.

Without exception, according to Car Registrations Spain, every vehicle on Spanish roads must carry the following 8 things:

Driving licence: When driving, you must always have your licence on your person, but you can also upload a digital version through the MiDGT mobile app.
Permiso de circulación del vehículo: This document certifies that the vehicle is registered and allowed to circulate on public roads and just like the driving licence, it can also be carried electronically on the app.
ITV sticker: Similar to the MOT in the UK, all cars of a certain age in Spain must pass a roadworthiness test known as the Inspección Técnica de Vehículos (ITV). The ITV must be valid and up-to-date and always displayed clearly in the windshield.
Insurance: In Spain, motor insurance has to cover at least third-party liability and the proof should be stores in your glove compartment.
Accident forms: This paperwork is standardised throughout Europe and should be filled out by the driver immediately following any kind of accident.
Emergency triangle: If you breakdown or have an accident and your car is stationery in the road, a warning triangle needs to be placed 50 meters in front of and behind the vehicle. Since July 2021, drivers can use V16 light signals, which are placed on the roof of the car, instead of triangles. These lights will completely replace emergency triangles and become compulsory on January 1, 2026.
Reflective vest: Reflective vests must be kept in the car, not the boot, and all passengers as well as the driver must wear one if they step outside the vehicle.
Spare tyre: In case you get a flat while out driving, all vehicles in Spain must carry a jack and wheel brace, or a puncture repair kit in some newer models.

Failing to carry any of the mandatory documents or other compulsory items can lead not only to expensive fines, but can also jeopardise the safety of the driver and passengers. Drivers are strongly advised to regularly check that they have all the necessary items to avoid any problems on their travels.

Be sure to join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for all your latest motoring and travel news!

Murcia

Last week, we brought you the story of the loud cracking sound of the sonic booms that could be heard over Murcia and the south of Alicante as a result of fighter jets breaking the sound barrier. This week, in the same area, strange looping contrails could be seen hovering in the sky.

We’re all used to seeing contrails in the sky of course – those long, straight white lines made by air condensing in the wake of an aeroplane and which some conspiracy theorists erroneously think are pumped full of chemicals trying to poison us. But it’s not so common to see those white lines of vapour looping, swirling and curling like mad all over the sky.

At first, people thought it could be all sorts of things, from UFOs to a lost or drunken pilot, but then it became clear that there were several planes up there chasing each other around like kittens playing.

Of course, these were more military drills from fighter jets doing their usual wargames out of the Los Llanos airbase in Albacete, near the northern border of Murcia. This time, it consisted of a series of jets from the UK’s Royal Air Force and a Dassault Falcon 20, a non-military aircraft that is normally used for making business trips.

It seems that the Dassault Falcon 20 was swerving and swooping in the sky in evasive manoeuvres as ‘target practice’ for the RAF jets. The scheduled drills finish this week, so if you see any more weird lines in the air or hear more loud booming sounds from now on, this time it really could be a UFO!

Not all of us are lucky to be able to get around by supersonic jet, but luckily the new ‘AVLO’ low-cost Alta Velocidad AVE trains will be starting up soon between Murcia and Madrid.

These ultra-fast, super-cheap train from state rail operator Renfe will connect Murcia city with the Spanish capital’s Chamartín station beginning Sunday December 10, and tickets have already gone on sale for as little as 7 euros each way.

The plan is for one train going in each direction per day, meaning 5,000 seats every week. From Murcia, they will make stops in Orihuela, Elche, Alicante and Albacete Los Llanos, as well as a couple of other stops.

While Murcia’s Government has complained in the past about the lack of transport links to and from the Region, not just planes but also trains, you can’t deny that they’re certainly doing their best to provide more and more options all the time.

Yes, you still have to travel via Alicante to get to Madrid, and so the journey time is not so short as it would have been if you made a straight shot right up to the capital, but it’s still better than nothing, and much better than the train services available in some other countries that shall not be named…

Even better, with Renfe willing to invest in rail connections with Murcia, it might inspire others to do the same. Don’t be surprised, now, if we get more announcements of bigger, better, faster and cheaper trains from Renfe’s competitors Ouigo and Iryo!

Talking of new arrivals, a new Mercadona supermarket has opened up in Cartagena’s La Rambla shopping centre. Okay, so it’s not really new since it comes as a replacement to the one on Calle Ramón y Cajal, which has just shut down, which has a lot of people in that part of town grumbling. But it is good for La Rambla.

The shopping mall used to house the Eroski supermarket, before it was shut down in 2019. Then it was used as a mass vaccination point during the Covid pandemic. Now it’s back in action as a shopping mall again, though at the moment the only shop open there is Mercadona.

It was built by prolific local businessman Tomás Olivo (well, not literally; he just paid for other people to build it) in the 1980s, before he sold it and then bought it back in 2019 with grand, long-term plans to open loads more stores there and build new residential properties too. So far, though, nothing has been done about building new apartments on the plot and no new businesses have applied for licences to open there, so don’t get too excited.

From new openings to fond farewells, work has finally begun this week to tear down the hated eyesore that is the Lagomar ‘ghost’ hotel in La Manga del Mar Menor. The hotel began to be built in the 1970s but was never finished, and for 50 years this prime piece of real estate on the La Manga strip has been lumped with a great hulk of steel exoskeleton right next to the Doblemar hotel.

They’ve been trying to knock it down for years now, but never had success until now. San Javier Council, in whose jurisdiction the building is, said enough is enough and finally took matters into their own hands, using the fact that the building was in danger of falling in on itself as justification to take it apart piece by piece and pass the 800,000-euro bill onto the owners, commercial company Intramanga Turística.

While it would undoubtedly have been more fun and infinitely more satisfying if they’d have blasted it to the ground, it was deemed safer to dismantle it a little bit at a time and the work is expected to be finished in three months’ time.

So what will happen to the land after that?

Mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo, didn’t give many details but promised that the area “will enjoy a new opportunity” and that it will “flourish in the way we all want”. Which will be exciting to see, whatever that means.

Remember, you can always check the EVENTS DIARY to see what’s coming up soon in the Region of Murcia:

Spain

Christmas has come early for those drawing a pension in Spain with news that the contributory payment is set to increase by 3.8% in the New Year. This benefit is always paid in 14 monthly instalments, so the hike means that the average amount will go from 1,378 euros per month to 1,430.

And the next gets even better, since the experts believe that as more and more ‘baby boomers’ reach retirement age, pensions will continue to grow.

In addition, non-contributory pensions where people haven’t paid into the Social Security system will also jump by 6.8%, entitling retirees to 517 euros per month in 14 payments (33 euros more than in 2023); The minimum vital income for an adult without dependents will rise to 604 euros per month in 12 payments (38 euros more) and the minimum contributory retirement pension with a dependent spouse will grow to 1,032 euros per month in 14 payments (66 euros more per month).

Renfe is also doing it bit to help passengers out financially. The rail operator has teamed up with digital bank WiZink, Aplazame to offer customers the option of paying for expensive train tickets in four interest-free instalments when booking online.

The only catch is that the total purchase has to come to 150 euros or more.

The company promises that the process is quick and easy, since customers will simply have to select the ‘Aplazame’ option from ‘Other payment methods’ when checking out.

“Travellers arrive at their destination with all the comfort and the best travel experience, quickly and safely, being able to combine several plans without cost being an impediment,” Renfe said in a statement this week.

Staying with Renfe now and the state-owned company has followed the lead of several local governments by introducing a blanket ban on electric scooters and other battery-operated personal mobility vehicles on all its regional and national trains.

The tough decision has been made following several on-board accidents across Spain where these devices spontaneously caught fire or exploded.

The measure, which will come into force on December 12, won’t affect vehicles for people with reduced mobility or electric bicycles.

The dangers associated with electric scooters, usually caused by owners tinkering with the battery, using the wrong charger or degradation over time, are gradually being realised not just in Spain but all across Europe.

Several railway operators in the UK and Ireland have already stopped passengers carrying personal mobility vehicles on board, and the London Underground and Hamburg Metro services have both issued a ban on their trains.

Alicante

Criminals all over Spain have been perfecting the ‘hugger mugger’ or ‘love thief’ scam for years, a trick so crafty that most victims don’t even realise they have been targeted until it’s far too late. One British man fell prey to this technique in Benidorm, and was relieved of a very valuable piece of jewellery for his troubles.

The UK tourist was waiting on the street for a taxi when he was approached by a young woman who began flirting with him and touching him affectionately. She then tried to entice him away with her but the man wisely declined, hopped into a cab and headed back to his hotel.

It was only when back in his room that the holidaymaker realised the hugger mugger had filched a gold chain worth 6,000 euros from around his neck and swiped more than 600 euros in cash.

The victim made his way back to the scene of the crime the next day and while there was no sign of the perpetrator, another woman told him she was posted photos of herself on Facebook, brazenly posing with the stolen jewellery.

Armed with this new information, the Briton reported the theft to the National Police, who soon identified the culprit as a 39-year-old Bulgarian woman with a string of previous arrests for similar crimes.

Although the perpetrator was arrested, the British man’s valuable gold chain has yet to be recovered.

It’s the end of an era as Benidorm this week said goodbye to its most legendary X-rated performer Sticky Vicky, who passed away after a long illness surrounded by family and friends. The 80-year-old, whose real name was Victoria María Aragüés Gadea, has been delighting and shocking tourists for more than three decades with her outrageous erotic magic show.

Originally from Tenerife and classically trained in ballet, Vicky moved to Benidorm in 1980 and set up her one-of-a-kind performances, which involved pulling a variety of items such as umbrellas, ping pong balls and even a machete from her nether regions.

Vicky was always grateful for the support of her UK fans, who she said were largely responsible for keeping the show going over the years.

“I never thought I could be on a stage at my age, and it is all thanks to the English public,” she said.

RIP Vicky

Last weekend, former England football manager Terry Venables also passed away in the UK, but did you know that he was intimately linked to Spain, not only through his football career but also in his personal life?

It all started when he became manager of FC Barcelona in 1984, where he stayed until 1987 and earned himself the nickname ‘El Tel’. He later returned to England, of course, and led the national squad to (near) victory in Euro 1996, but he wasn’t done with Spain yet.

Venables was so taken with Spain and the Spanish lifestyle – as so many of us who visit the country are – that in 2014 he bought and ran a hotel in Penàguila in Alicante with his wife Yvette.

The Hotel La Escondida, an out-of-the-way hidey-hole whose name translates appropriately to ‘The Hidden One’, was originally built in 1891 and (also very appropriate) even has a lawn that was once a football pitch.

For five years, Terry and Yvette ran La Escondida, before selling up and moving back to the UK in 2019.

RIP Terry

Lastly, the Christmas festivities in Benidorm kick into high gear this weekend with several days packed full of activities for all the family between December 2 and 6. The Christmas House in l’Hort de Colón will open its doors for the first time at 6pm on Saturday and just an hour later, the city will be lit up during the big switch-on of the Christmas lights.

Check out the Costa Blanca What’s On and Where to Go Facebook group to see more things to do around Alicante province!

Andalucía

Almost a week ago now, there was a tragic double suicide in the Andalusian city of Seville, both of which happened in the same very public way and one of which involved an Irishman, although the two cases do not seem to be connected to each other.

The first of the two bodies to be found was dragged from the Guadalquivir river shortly after midnight on Sunday November 26. The victim, a 58-year-old holidaymaker from Ireland, had jumped from the iconic Triana bridge at a spot close to the Altonzano chapel, a central landmark in the city.

Several witnesses claimed to have seen the man dive off the bridge and plunge to his death. It took mere minutes for experienced teams from the National and Local Police, Guardia Civil, Firefighters and emergency services to get to the scene and pull the Irishman from the water. They tried to resuscitate him for a full 30 minutes but he was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, just a couple of hours later, at around 2am, another man in his 50s jumped into the same river. This time, he was identified as a Spanish man from Alicante who was visiting Seville with some friends.

It is not known what led these two men to – independently of one another – leap to their deaths, but sadly these are far from isolated incidents and a voluntary plunge into the icy waters of the Guadalquivir is a common mode of suicide for people in Seville.

To finish on a brighter note, though, we head west to the edge of the province of Seville, where the Doñana National Park straddles Sevilla, Huelva and even a little bit of Cádiz. We have written about this protected wetland reserve before, and how its natural pools and wading birds such as flamingos are under threat from water shortages and how, incredible as it may seem, there were plans to plant water-intensive crops such as strawberries and other berries there, and even build a golf course, all of which would guzzle even more precious water resources from the park.

Well, the good news this week is that the Spanish government and the Regional Andalucía government, along with the provincial authorities in Huelva, Sevilla and Cádiz and several towns that sit on the edge of the National Park, have all come together to formalise a plan to protect Doñana.

Basically, after weeks and years of negotiations, the deal they have hit upon consists of funnelling loads of money into the area, first and foremost in the form of subsidies paid to farmers to either abandon highly water-intensive crops in favour of hardier, organic species, or to rewild their land.

The technocrats up in Brussels have been keeping a close eye on the Doñana situation, just in case there was any evidence of Spain committing prosecutable offences against the environment there. With this new deal, they hope to put such fears to bed.

As well as trying to balance the needs of farmers and the wildlife by granting up to 20,000 euros per hectare of farmland per year, money will also be set aside for various other initiatives in the area, including 30 million euros for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the area; 32 million euros to improve the living conditions and accommodation of seasonal (and mainly migrant) workers who come to Huelva each year to harvest crops and 335 million euros for new hydraulic infrastructure works.

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That’s this week over, but as I said earlier, we’ll be back next week even if it is a festive-acqueduct-bridge-thingy.

Take care!

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