Costa Blanca North 9 – 15 February 2023 Issue 1962

Linda Hall

ONE determined man, one 240­kilometre walk.

Result: €10,000 raised for the Akira dog sanctuary.

When Akira volunteer Lee Harker announced his plans for a 240­kilometre walk to Valencia and back over six days to raise €10,000 for Akira’s Angels, even the charity’s most ardent supporters were sceptical.

Lee confounded the doubters, completing the walk in six days after leaving the Moraira dog park at 8.30am on Monday, January 30.

He arrived back there on Saturday, February 4 at 5.25pm with blistered feet and an exhausted body, proud not only of himself, but of all the people who donated to his GoFundMe page. The current total is €10,456 with donations still coming in.

“Lee’s strength, determination and stamina are an inspiration. His motivation was to help us fund improvements to create a better life for the dogs in our care, which will cost at least €50,000,” com­

HE DID IT!

Restoring the past

LA NUCIA Town Hall is currently restoring the old washhouse in what is now the tourist attraction of Fuente de Favara. During the €500,000 project, which will take four months to complete, the children’s swings, picnic area and waterfall will be fenced off as the work is undertaken.

As in so many other Costa Blanca villages, local women did their laundry the hard way at a roofed washhouse fed by the Fuente de Favara stream.

After it fell into disuse in the 1970s, the town hall resurfaced the area, covering over the washhouse’s long trough which came to light last year when repairs were carried out at the public toilets.

“After finding that the structure was there and in good condition, we decided to restore it,” La Nucia’s mayor Bernabe Cano said.

mented Lin di Stefano, Akira president. Much of his training for the walk was done in a gymnasium on board a ship, as Calpe resident Lee works for a company installing offshore wind turbines in Asia.

“I had to reach the point where my body could cope with walking 40 kilometres a day,” he said. “It was hard, I admit, to go to the gym having done a

12­hour shift.”

“I’m grateful to everyone who has donated and for every single euro,” he said. “I’ve been blown away by all the words of support every day of the walk. It kept me going when the going got tough!” There is still time to donate on Lee’s https://gofund.me/b8fc3014 GoFundMe page.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Lee with Akira president Lin di Stefano. Lee Harker and Max, an Akira dog.

Photo credit: Sharon Taylor

Rockin’ fundraiser

Betty Henderson

AN incredible afternoon filled with electrifying rock music by the OK band has raised more than €1,500 for a children’s home near Benissa. It’s All About The

Children local charity organised the event on Friday, January 20 to raise funds for their children’s home, the Preventorio.

Guests got their jive on to the OK band’s lively musical

Community work for Akira

entertainment and brought in plenty of donations for the children’s home.

The money raised at the event will go towards It’s All About The Children’s incredible work at their home. The children’s home was established back in 1948 by the Little Sisters of Saint Joseph of Montgay nuns who managed the home up until 2013, through old age.

• Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound Rx

• Clinical tests and serological tests, internal medicine, parasitology

• Soft Tissue Surgery and Traumatology

• Ethology, behavioural disorders and animal behaviour

• Physiotherapy, acupuncture, custom recovery and Healing touch

• Ophthalmology

• Dentistry and dental surgery & more

• Import - Export

Since then, the Nuestra Señora del Amparo Autonomous Foundation took over and relies on a team of dedicated volunteers from It’s All About The Children and other local organisations and volunteers.

The home currently cares for 54 disadvantaged children, but with only three full­time staff, the home relies on the hard work of volunteers and donations.

More information about the home can be found online: https://www.itsall aboutthechildren.es/about

SPECSAVERS ÓPTICAS in Calpe put out the call for food, blankets and toys for the dogs at Akira Animal Sanctuary in Benissa and the animal loving community responded with great generosity.

Between mid­November and mid­January, they collected in store and this month handed over the donations to grateful representatives of Akira. They collected; towels, blankets, two cooling blankets, dog leads, toys, medicine, approximately 75kg of dog food and €575 in cash donations.

Linda Hall

Store Director Chantelle Hayward commented, “We’d like to say a massive thank you to all our generous clients and local residents who came in with donations over the Christmas period. These donations

ALFAZ Town Hall’s departments of Education, Culture and Social Welfare recently announced their Cyber February programme.

This sets out to introduce the very young and the over­55s to new technologies, with workshops and free activities directed at both age groups that will start on February 20.

Education councillor Loli Albero said that places were limited and advised those who were interested to enrol without delay at the Casa de Cultura.

This will not be necessary for workshops and activities held at Alfaz’s three primary schools

will really help Akira to continue to care for the dogs. Thanks to everyone who gave cash donations when they had their free eye test ­ what an amazing result!”

Billie­Jo Johnson­Roberts from Akira commented, “A huge thank you to Specsavers Opticas in Calpe and their clients for collecting donations for the dogs at Akira. We are very grateful to Specsavers for their time and effort to raise awareness of our dogs.”

www.akira­animals.com

www.specsavers.es

Digital gap

where pupils will be introduced to information technology in a bid to close the digital gap.

On the other hand, enrolment will be necessary for young people’s workshops at the Municipal Library and the Hogar del Pensionista, said Culture councillor Manuel Casado.

The digitisation workshops for the over­55s will be held at the Centro de Formacion Ocupacional from February 21 onwards and are limited to 15 attendees, with registration at the Casa de Cultura.

Staff from Specsavers with members of Akira.

NIBS EXTRA

Mask free

THE Minister of Health Carolina Darias has confirmed that the requirement to use masks on public transport was no longer necessary from Wednesday, February 8. The change means that no masks will need to be worn on aeroplanes, buses and trains, however, remain mandatory in health centres, hospitals and pharmacies.

Cashing in

BENIDORM Town Hall imposed €2,000 fines on three companies who were given a month to remove 96 unlicensed cashpoints labelled as ATMs to attract tourists in the Levante beach and Rincon de Loix areas. None of the companies involved were paying tax on the machines, municipal sources revealed.

Elite race

ALTEA provides the finishing line for the 132­kilometre third stage of the Valencia Community Women’s Cycling Week Race on February 18. After leaving Agost, the cyclists will enter via Avenida de La Nucia at the Calle Benidorm and Calle Juan Alvado roundabout, ending in Plaza de la Cruz.

Loved up

CALPE Town Hall and the local branch of the Marina Alta Economic Recovery and Activity Consortium (Creama) announced a joint campaign promoting local shops and businesses for St Valentine’s Day. Principal streets will have themed lighting and there will be four ‘selfie points’ where sweethearts can take photographs.

Starring role

THE Javea Film Office issued permits last year to 21 companies who filmed two full­length films, seven publicity spots, five photographic sessions, a documentary and a foreign television programme. This was slightly below 2021’s figures.

ANIMAL lovers in Teulada will be pleased to hear the city council has now inaugurated the new Pinar del Pla dog park.

This project has fulfilled its objectives of adapting an area suitable for the recreation of dogs, adapting part of the plot and the accesses to it; has also made functional, endowment, aesthetic and landscaping improvements; as well as the installation of agility elements, benches, litter bins, etc.

Doggy park

ment as it’s so important for their health and well­being.

“It’s wonderful to see so many dogs already enjoying the new facility.”

The councillor for Animal Welfare, Sara Richardson, said she was “delighted that we now have a park in Teulada where dogs can safely exercise and socialise off leash in a natural environ­

THE first semi­final of Benidorm Fest held on Tuesday, January 31, has officially been declared a resounding success. This is both in terms of audience and impact on social networks, as shown by the data released on February 1.

The hashtags #benidormfest and #benidormfest2023 reached 284.1 million and 53.9 million views on TikTok within 24 hours of the Fest. In total, that equates to 338 million.

The mayor of Teulada Moraira, Raul Llobell, confirmed: “This project was a much ­ needed service and one that was in great demand by the public, and now it is a reality: the town of Teulada has a new dog park which, together with the one in the town of Moraira, make up two essential public services for the animal welfare of our municipality.”

Eurovision success

On Twitter, the Benidorm event was in first position in the national and global trending topics with 166,204 mentions between 10.00pm and midnight.

On Twitter, in addition to the impact in Spain (61.5 per cent), the impact registered in Spanish­speaking countries stands out, with almost 20 per

Singing smiles

Betty Henderson

THE Costa Blanca Male Voice Choir showed their community spirit with a generous donation of €1,000, raised at their Christmas concert, to children’s charity, ‘Make a Smile’. Members of the choir officially presented a cheque for the sum to the charity after a rehearsal on Wednesday, January 25.

The children’s charity thanked the choir, saying the money had been used to fund their Christmas activities and any leftover money will be spent on educational projects.

The choir is actively recruiting new members, particularly after tragically suffering the loss of several longserving members this year. Publicity Officer Vernon Pearce said,

“There are no auditions to join the choir and you don’t need any previous experience ­ as long as you want to sing and enjoy the company of like ­ minded men.”

The majority of songs are arranged and performed in English, and the group is welcoming to singers from any background with any musical knowledge.

Anyone who would like to join the choir can also get involved by calling: 965 744 577 , or email: info@costablan camalevoicechoir.com

cent in Argentina, 6 per cent in Mexico, or 2.6 per cent in the United States. Continuing with the impact on social networks, it should be noted that more than 90 per cent of those who viewed or commented on them were in the age group between 18 and 34 years old, 52.9 per cent were men, and 47.1 per cent were women.

Recycled image

THE glass recycling containers in Benidorm have a new personalised image based on a design by the graphic artist Malagon.

The councillor for the Environment, Monica Gomez, explained: “The new personalised image can now be seen on many of the glass recycling containers installed on public roads. This is a combined initiative in which the city council and Ecovidrio, a non­profit entity, have collaborated.

“This initiative has reached 35 containers so far. The vinyl design signed by Malagon is based on Benidorm’s iconic skyline and constitutes one of the most recognisable images of Benidorm, in a visual game of skyscrapers and glass.”

Gomez highlighted that “year after year Benidorm is among the Spanish cities with the highest rates and

volumes of glass recycling and also one of those with the highest percentages of containers per inhabitant.”

Last November the mayor, Toni Perez, collected the Green Flag Award, with which Ecovidrio annually distinguishes the municipalities that present the best recycling numbers during the summer season.

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

It’s a Bogey

MONTGO Golf Society played a Bogey Competition on Thursday February 2 at Oliva Nova Golf Course. Our sponsors this week were Brian and Claire Stringer, thank you to both. In this competition members try to beat the par for Oliva GC using their handicaps. The winner this week was Caz Welch playing off 23 and she was four up against the course. In second place was Alan Lowans playing off 28 and he was three up against the course and in third place was our Secretary Simon Fox playing of 20 and he was one up against the course. Well done to all. We had two nearest the pin prizes on the fifth in two, one for the men and one for the ladies taking home the spoils was Simon Fox and& Liz Butler. We had three two’s with our handicap secretary achieving two of those on the 11th and 16th. Franz Budnik also on the 16th. Next week’s competition is the Santana Shield Trophy.

Even

and

is FREE and we promise to always keep it that way.

NEW FACILITY: Was in great demand by the public.

Image: Teulada City Council

Choir President Mike Evans and Treasurer Roy Brown present head of ‘Make a Smile’, Tony Grande with a cheque for €1,000.

Photo credit: Vernon Pearce (via email)

Community support

THE Royal British Legion (RBL) are there to support its community through thick and thin and the Javea Branch does just that.

Dedicated to the cause, Pam Dawes, who retired as membership secretary in 2022 and as treasurer earlier this year, confirmed the group is always on the lookout for new members.”

Pam said “All age groups are welcome and I would like to thank all the members of the Royal British Legion for their help and support throughout the years. Just after Brexit, when membership dropped as people headed back to the UK our wonderful members kept the branch going

Amazing feat

Betty Henderson

as it did throughout the pandemic.”

Pam spent 22 years as treasurer as well as carrying out other duties at the Javea Branch and was also Treasurer for District North Committee for seven years.

Even though she has now retired Pam remains committed to the Branch.”

For more information email: SpainNorth.Com munitySupport@RBL.Com munity or call (+34) 676 451 780. You can also visit www.britishlegion.org.uk

AFTER completing a transnational challenge, a group of friends who travelled by motorbike from the UK to Benidorm announced their final fundraising total on Wednesday, January 25, promising that a new challenge is already in the pipeline.

The friends, who held the ‘Benidorm Bound’ challenge in memory of Rod Haynes last year, raised more than €25,000 to be split between Macmillan Cancer Care and Lindsey Lodge, the hospice who cared for Rod in his final days. The group presented the final cheque to the hospice in January.

The group travelled through six countries in just six days in the challenge last May. After setting off from Winterton in

North Lincolnshire, England, the group biked for six days on Honda C90 motorcycles and camped along the way, before reaching Benidorm.

The group of six men, John Haynes, Lee Baker, Jonny Miller, Steven Joyce, Matthew Joyce and Jez Teasdale undertook the gruelling challenge in memory of John’s father, Rod who passed away in March 2021. As a group, they travelled from the UK to the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Andorra, before reaching Spain.

Linda Hall

CALPE Town Hall is currently studying potential sites for the new ITV installation due to open on March 4.

The vehicle roadworthiness­testing service is no longer outsourced and has reverted to the regional government, the Generalitat.

Calpe mayor Ana Sala explained the town hall wanted to ensure the service could continue without interruption and residents would not have to leave the municipality for their ITV test.

On February 2, Sala met Josep Albert, director of the

PROVERBOFTHEWEEK

ITV request

public­sector company, Sociedad Valenciana de Inspeccion Technica de Vehiculos, to study the best location for the new centre.

Until now a mobile ITV testing unit operated in Calle Finlandia, which the town hall closed to traffic.

“There has been a lack of planning and I have asked Josep Albert to speed up the process so that the Calpe service is not disrupted and residents do not have to go elsewhere for their ITV testing,” Sala said.”

Pam remains dedicated.

Image: Roger & Pam Dawes

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Meaning you must begin something if you hope to finish it; something that takes a long time to finish begins with one step. The origin comes from the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, the quotation is from Chapter 64 of the Dao De Jing ascribed to Laozi, written around 700 BC.

Cheaper prices

VILAJOIOSA’S Vilamuseu has now updated its public prices in a bid to take a step forward as a social museum.

The change in prices takes into account the current nature of visits to the municipal museum and aims to facilitate access to the museum for a greater number of people.

One of the main changes is free admission until the age of 18 for all people and until the age of 25 if you can prove you are a student. With this, the museum strengthens its educational, cultural and leisure activities for young people, a public that has been growing significantly in the museum in recent years.

Another of the main novelties of the new Ordinance is the annual pass for only €5, which also includes attendance to two guided visits.

With this, the Department of Historical Heritage seeks to encourage the public, especially the local public (local and regional ) , to repeat visits and access the museum whenever they want, even if it is just to see a single piece, to enjoy an exhibition without haste and in parts, or perhaps to be inspired.

Never enough days!

MEMBERS of U3A Marina Baixa never have time to become bored. Over the last week members have enjoyed lunch at Sunrise Restaurant in Albir, joined the Strollers Group for a walk to Punta de Cavall in the Rincon de Loix area of Benidorm and a charity walk for Alicante Cancer Care.

Thanks to Hazel Layt, Social Events Co­ordinator, for organising the meal. On Friday February 3, 13 members joined Kaithe Greene (Group leader) for a walk to the Punta de Cavall which is now a National Heritage site within the Sierra Helada Natural Park. The following day, 18 members met along with expats and locals from numerous nationalities in the church square in Alfaz del Pi to take part in the walk in aid of Alicante Cancer Care. The walk took a circuitous route through beautiful countryside finishing at the Forum Mare Nostrum for light refreshments. On Monday February 13 there will be a picnic on the outskirts of La Cala Finestrat and on February 24 the Transylvania

JAVEA has already launched its cultural programme for 2023, which will include an exciting line ­ up of drama, music, art, and literature festivals.

On April 29, ‘The Colours of Music’, will feature Simona Todaro Pavarotti, daughter of the famous Luciano Pavarotti, and will pay homage to this incredible singer.

The Regional Choir will perform on March 10 and the winter ‘Jazz a 100’ festival will include performances by Sergio Pereira, Ales Cesarini, Kontxi

Restaurant in Albir has been booked for lunch.

U3A Marina Baixa has been providing social activities for English­speaking expats for over 16 years. With membership at just €10 for the year it is a lovely way to make new friends, learn new skills and visit new places. Their next General Meeting is on Monday February 27 at 11.00am in the Casa de Cultura, Alfaz del Pi. You will be made most welcome.

Cultural Javea

Lorente & Latino Blanco, Eva Catalá and Joan Soler and Sara Dowling.

Later on in the year, there will be festivals such as Xàbia Folk (fromMay 5 to 7) and new events like Arenal Blues March 17 to 19).

Swing Sun ­ Day will delight lindy hop fans and tempt them onto the dance floor in Comare Maruja Varó square.

Add to this photography and art exhibitions, film screenings and book presentations, and there is something for every ­

one.

All the activities will be free or with very affordable tickets (between €3 and €5) to make culture available to everyone.

The Strollers on their charity walk.

Juliet Allaway

6 municipalities from Malaga are in National Geographic’s most beautiful villages in Spain.

Linda Hall

ELS FAROLETS, literally Little Lanterns, are returning to Finestrat. Members of the town’s Associacio de Dones (Women’s Association) are recommencing one of last year’s most successful projects.

This involved crocheting colourful Afghan squares which were attached to wire frames that were then strung across the street in Finestrat’s Old Town, giving the impression that it was full of lanterns.

This was timed to coincide with the week of events programmed for International Women's Day on March 8.

Finestrat lit up

successful,” Teresa Climent, the Associacio de Dones president said.

New image

ALICANTE’S Department of Culture now has a new corporate image under the name of ‘Cultural’.

FINESTRAT:

Now the association’s members are crocheting again, ready to decorate Finestrat once more in March, extending the project to include Calle Fonteta.

“We knew that it was going to look good, but we never expected that it would be so

THE 19th edition of Teulada­Moraira’s Cursa Popular race will take place on April 1.

This year’s Cursa Popular, which is integrated in the Circuit a Peu Marina Alta ­ a series of races run through 12 local municipalities in the area ­ coincides with the Circuit’s 25th anniversary. The start of the Marina Alta circuit was officially announced at an event held in Denia at the headquarters of the Denia­based shipping line, Balearia.

The event was presented by sports journalist Xavi Blasco and attended by local town halls as well as members of local town halls, athletics clubs and sports associations. Teulada­Moraira

“In fact, the Farolets became another tourist attraction and some have been taken abroad.”

Anybody who would like to collaborate on making Farolets is invited to go along each Wednesday to the Social Centre in La Cala’s Calle Marina Baixa between 5 and 7pm or the Associacio de Dones premises in Carrer Nou in the town centre between 5 and 7pm on Thursdays.

Ready to race

was represented by Sports councillor Luis Caballero, who was accompanied by Vicente Ivars, his assistant from the same department.

The Cursa Popular, with categories for all ages, will be run over a 10­kilometre route through Teulada town centre and the adjoining Font de l’Horta rural zone.

“This race is part of our municipality’s sporting history,” Caballero said. “Thousands of people are looking forward to April 1, planning to put on their trainers and enjoy the meeting.”

This is a concept that unites Culture and Alicante and becomes an umbrella under which all the cultural products of the department directed by Antonio Manresa will be grouped.

Mayor, Luis Barcala, confirmed: “when we took office we found an area that was lethargic and dispersed.

“We started, then, to do management and today, finally, we present this new logo, and not the other way around, as we are used to in other administrations.”

Barcala pointed out that “the new image is the result of the work we have done. We have quadrupled the resources of the Department of Culture. This is not just intentions or empty announcements, it is to dress up the work already done so far.”

Farolets provide a riot of colour.

Photo credit: Finestrat town hall

Car hijacking fail

A 47-YEAR-OLD man who attempted a car hijacking failed miserably after it turned out he did not know how to start the vehicle.

Although the event took place in January the story has only come to light now being covered by a local news source on Saturday, February 4.

According to the driver’s statement, the would ­ be thief said: “Give me the car or I’ll shoot you, I have a gun.”

Not wishing to be injured the driver jumped out of the vehicle only to see the man fail to make his escape as he couldn’t turn the car on. The driver contacted the police who were on the scene quickly to arrest the man. During the arrest, it became clear he did not have a gun, but he did resist injuring one officer in the process.

It also turned out that he was known to some of the officers who had evicted him from a local bar after an altercation earlier in the day.

“My life is in danger”

By Peter McLaren­Kennedy

THE former Bath rugby star who went missing in Barcelona in October has said in a video recording that: “My life is in danger.”

Levy Davis recorded a video to say that he was being blackmailed after he had been drugged, raped and recorded after starting a friendship with an unnamed famous person he met while trying to kick ­ start his music career.

The recording is said to

be around 15 minutes long according to a local news site on Saturday, February 4 and starts with him saying “My name is Levy Davis, my life is in danger.”

He added: “We started a relationship, a friendship. We saw each other many times. But the last one I was drugged and blackmailed.

“After that, I asked my club for help and advice from my agent. I don’t blame anyone, because

we all own our own decisions.”

The videos he says, are posted in the deep web and are the work of an organised gang, not one individual. By all accounts, he did post the video on Instagram, but it was quickly deleted with some suspicion that the blackmailers did so.

The investigators say it is clear he fled London to escape the criminals who are believed to be Somali mafia.

ON Thursday, February 2, the Castilla y Leon branch of the Spanish consumer’s association FACUA, denounced the Segovian restaurant La Olma de Pedraza for charging its customers €4.50 for a glass of tap water.

In the ‘Our menu’ section of the website of this Segovian establishment, there is a segment that reads: ‘tap water service (per person), we will give you free water’. The owner of the restaurant insisted that the charge is not for the water, but for the service.

The association sent a

letter to La Olma de Pedraza on January 16 urging it to withdraw the aforementioned charge for serving tap water to customers from its online publicity.

According to a statement released by FACUA, it understands that the fact of stating in the online menu that ‘we give you the water’ means that what is charged relates to filling the glass and bringing it to the table, is a tortious interpretation of the norm by the company.

FACUA highlighted that catering establishments cannot charge consumers

for tap water. However, in practice, it often happens in many Spanish establishments that bottled water is offered by default and it is the diner who has to specify that they want it free and from the tap.

Leading currency provider celebrates special anniversary

CURRENCIES DIRECT have been helping people save time and money on their currency transfers since 1996, making them one of the longest­standing currency providers in Europe.

This month they would like to celebrate one of their longest­standing employees, Peter Loveday, Managing Director ­ Southern Europe.

In the 20 years Peter has been with the company he has been instrumental in overseeing and supporting its growth across Southern Europe. Under his leadership Currencies Direct has opened 20 branches across Spain, and now employs over 100 people and that expansion is set to continue.

The team at Euro Weekly News would like to join Currencies Direct in congratulating Peter on this incredible milestone.

€4.50 for ‘free water’

LEVY DAVIS: Has been missing in Barcelona since October.

€66

million is how much the unclaimed lottery ticket in Malaga is worth.

Spain and Morocco

SPAIN’s President, Pedro Sanchez has confirmed that: “The High-Level Meeting between Spain and Morocco consolidates the new stage of bilateral relations.”

The meeting was held on Thursday February 2, in which 11 Spanish ministers and 13 Moroccan ministers took part.

Sanchez highlighted achievements in four areas: “First, monitoring mechanisms have been adopted for the effective implementation of the agreements. Second, Spain and Morocco have agreed to move forward on migration issues from a constructive perspective, seeking to open up new channels for regular migration.

“Third, Spain highlighted the impetus that both countries have given at this High-Level Meeting to a new advanced economic partnership. Spain wants to be a benchmark investor in Morocco. To this end, a financial protocol has

Best Villages

THE United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has included three Spanish villages in a list of 32 worldwide destinations of ‘Best Tourism Villages 2022’

been announced, endowed with up to €800 million, to promote investments in sectors such as railways, water, agri-food and tourism.

“Finally, the two countries are strengthening their cooperation in the fields of culture, education and vocational training and higher education. Several agreements have been signed to allow the opening of bilingual teaching centres.”

Passage to Portugal

Betty Henderson

WITH the return of international travel and a focus on sustainable transport, Spanish train company Iryo’s plans for a new link between Spanish cities and the

Portuguese capital of Lisbon seem to have charmed the European Union.

The European Commission announced its endorsement for a rail link between A Coruña and Lisbon, placing it on their top 10 list of rail projects to be carried out in the near future.

The train company expressed their delight at being selected but said that “obstacles” remain in their path to creating the rail link, particularly in the lack of infrastructure agreements between Portugal and Spain.

Portugal currently has

very limited rail infrastructure which the company believes will “serve as an impetus for other companies to develop their own sustainable transport”.

However, Iryo remains ambitious about the project saying, “This train will become the most popular choice with travellers since it will be comfortable and sustainable”. Iryo already operates several train lines in Spain including a highspeed service from Madrid to Barcelona and connections to the south of the country.

Important congress

BARCELONA is set to host the International Social Housing Festival ( ISHF), the most important international social housing congress in Europe

On June 7, 8 and 9, the fourth edition of the ISHF will be held at the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona, which expects to bring together between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees from all over the world.

While habitat systems around the world have experienced a decline in the role of the public sector in the regulation and direct provision of habitat in recent decades, in some cities - including Barcelonainnovative habitat policies are being implemented to respond to the social emergency, as a result of the financialisation of habitat, the lack of affordability, inequalities, and the increase in sentiment or migratory flows, among other phenomena.

In addition to the main events at the Palau de Congressos, the ISHF will feature around 100 activities, including parallel sessions and visits, and is expected to attract between 1,500 and 2,000 visitors.

This figure is more than any other country worldwide.

The list recognises villages which are excellent examples of rural tourism with accredited cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote rural and communitybased values, products, and lifestyle. Included destinations must have a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects: economic, social and environmental.

The three villages in Spain included in the list: Alquezar in Aragon; Rupit in Catalonia; and Guadalupe in Extremadura, all meet the criteria.

Manuel Butler, the Director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK, confirmed: “We are delighted that the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has placed Spain as the country with the most appearances in their list of Best Tourism Villages around the world.”

“We aim to promote community-led tourism across Spain and are thrilled at the international recognition of Spanish sustainable tourism in all aspects.”

€220 has been charged to thousands of self-employed people in Spain accidentally.

President Sanchez, met with the Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Image: Government of Spain.

Valentine’s choice

THE Spanish company, eBooking, a leader in offering online tourist accommodation bookings, has analysed the national destinations preferred by couples to spend the night of Saint Valentine’s and the following weekend. In 2023, Madrid is the city with the highest number of bookings by couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day, followed by Granada, Cordoba, Barcelona and Cadiz.

The company eBooking, which operates in 205 countries and has more than 380,000 accommodation references, places the Spanish capital in first place, with 7.8 per cent of the bookings registered by eBooking are for accommodation in Madrid.

“The incredible gastronomy of the city, its good connection with the rest of the territory and the wide cultural offer, together with the multitude of romantic plans available:

Tourism triumph

IN 2022, 71.6 million international tourists visited Spain, spending €87.061 billion, up 86 per cent and 95 per cent, respectively, compared to 2019.

MADRID: City with the most bookings.

watching the sunset in the temple of Debod, a boat ride on the Retiro pond, a picnic in Casa de Campo, etc. have made Madrid this year the preferred destination for Valentine’s Day for many Spanish couples,” confirmed Toni Raurich, Director of eBooking.

As for international destinations, Paris (3.1 per cent), London (1.9 per cent) and Venice (1.6 per cent) are the cities that have registered the most bookings.

WITH reference to a recent statistic in the newspaper, there have been some enquiries as to what a tin shop is.

The tin workshop is in in the town of Pedraza, in Segovia Province. The workshop itself has been running for over 55 years and was once a booming business with over 14 artisans. The Estaños de Pedraza workshop now only has three, who are all set to retire this year.

Founded by Paco Muñoz in the 1950s, he came to the town of Pedraza and fell in love with it,

This means that Spain outperforms pre-pandemic data in terms of average spending and length of stay by international travellers.

The average stay of these travellers was 7.5 days in 2022, exceeding 7.1 days in 2019. The average spend of international tourists in Spain in 2022 was 10.5 per cent higher than in 2019. This

Last tin workshop

buying dilapidated real estate and began renovations.

Due to his investment both monetarily and physically, the mayor years later asked that he help prevent the brain drain of the town and to help build something that would make Pedraza worth visiting and living in again.

With only one restaurant in the area, Muñoz

is reflected in the data from the surveys on Tourist Movements at Borders (Frontur) and Tourist Expenditure (Egatur), published by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

On Thursday, January 2, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes

took on the challenge. He and a few apprentices went to Portugal to learn the true art and crafting of tin. Afterwards, they set up a workshop where they created over 400 original pieces, such as bowls, jugs, candlesticks and more.

Tin is a metal that is constantly fluctuating in price and because of that there were times when profit wasn’t made after the man hours and labour put behind it and is one of the contributing factors as to why Estaños de Pedraza is one of the last tin workshops in Spain.

Maroto, confirmed: “The data we know today confirms the strong recovery of the tourism sector in 2022. The expectations we had of recovering the majority of international tourists from before the pandemic have been fulfilled, but the most important thing is that spending and the average length of stay are growing, and this means an improvement in the quality and profitability of our sector.

“According to our forecasts, tourism will complete its recovery in 2023.”

Image: Catarina Belova / Shutterstock.com

Tourism recovery in 2023.

Image: Balasioiu Sorin Ionut / Shutterstock.com

£220,000

is the cost to the public of Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence.

PARADORES, Spain’s staterun network of luxury hotels, is offering stays in historic and cultural properties in top cities, regional gems and areas of natural beauty.

Paradores has now extended its nature­based project, Nature for the Senses ‘Naturaleza para los Sentidos’, to include Parador Almagro and Parador Manzanares, both located in La Mancha.

The project aims to revitalise rural areas and amplify opportunities for sustainable development, as well as promote economic and social growth in surrounding areas,

State-run hotels

Parador Almagro 167exterior architecture.

giving travellers the opportunity to discover the local traditions, culture and environmental diversity.

A number of experiences have been made available at

both Paradors including a workshop on how to cultivate pistachios and olives and uncover their health benefits, a visit to an eco­friendly farm, home of the Castilian black hen which is currently in danger of extinction, and a wine tour that highlights the link between the product and nature and includes a tasting of artisan wines and regional tapas.

For more information head to paradores.es

Iconic fashion designer dies

THE iconic Spanish fashion designer Paco Rabanne, real name Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo, has died aged 88.

A French news source reported Rabanne’s death on Friday, February 3 in the French town of Porstall, where he lived.

Rabanne, who hailed from San Sebastian, was a pioneer on the catwalks in the use of materials such as metal, plastic and paper, joined by welds and rivets. The son of the chief seamstress of the design­

Lifetime gift

THE Euro Weekly News’ latest columnist, Emma McGrath, has had a gift for insight since birth and has been providing professional readings for the past seven years. Here, she talks to the EWN about angel readings, tarot, and how she now plans to help our readers.

true and they started recommending me.

“I then started an Instagram account and it went from there really.”

er Balenciaga and the colonel of the Republican forces, Francisco Rabaneda Postigo, he was born in 1934.

Rabanne, who had experienced somewhat of a renaissance following the death of Pierre Cardin in 2020, was also renowned for some unusual views but was by all accounts well­liked by villagers in his adopted home town.

In recent years Rabanne is said to have kept a low profile enjoying the restaurants of the region.

Known as The Angelic Medium, Emma, 40, told the EWN she first noticed her gift at a young age: “When I was little, I started crying once and saying my twin sister had been hurt. About 20 minutes later she fell and hurt herself in the garden while I was still upstairs. Lots of things like that happened when I was younger.”

It wasn’t all plain sailing though. Emma explained: “I was born with this gift and was in and out of using it for a while. In my 20s I started using it again and it became overwhelming.

“About seven years ago I woke up one day and I felt ready though.

“First I started doing readings for friends and family members. All their readings came

For the past seven years, Emma has been helping clients around the world, even predicting public events, including Bianca Gascoigne’s pregnancy, when she would give birth and the baby’s gender. She also predicted she would do a dancing show in Italy and the position she would come in at.

“I’m sometimes asked for things like lottery numbers but this is a gift for the greater good so I don’t use it in those ways,” she added.

Instead, Emma says she’s most often asked about love and work. She explained: “I am a medium and do readings, angel readings and tarot.

“In my column I want to talk about how to work the law of attraction, gratitude, and moon cycles. I want to get a lot of positivity in there ­ you may be going through a tough time but there are the reasons for it and

ways you can improve things.

“It’s important to go back to basics and be positive.”

She added: “I’ll be doing a different card pull every week. I will sit with my cards and tune in to what people are feeling and what they can do with those emotions.

“If I reach just one person I will have done my job.”

Emma will also be encouraging readers to get in touch. She explained: “I will do a reach out at some point so readers can write in and then I’ll do a reading with them and publish the results.”

The medium, who is based in the UK, but often does readings in Marbella and the Canaries, is also planning live events in the Canary Islands later this year. You can read Emma’s column every Thursday in EWN

EMMA MCGRATH: The medium is the Euro Weekly News’ latest columnist.

Credit: Emma McGrath

Smoothing tensions A close call

AN Iberia passenger jet had a close call after lightning pierced the nose of the aircraft as it was approaching the airport in San Sebastian.

The A319 Airbus was reported by a news source on Monday, January 30 to have suffered damage to the radome.

The radome is the nose cover that provides the plane with improved aerodynamics but is also the protection for the plane’s radar equipment.

The lightning bolt is said to have pierced the cone coming out the opposite end of one of the horizontal stabilisers, which burst as a result.

Although the strike caused damage to the passenger jet it is understood that it managed to land safely and without harm to any of its crew and passengers.

THE Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez arrived in Morocco on Thursday, February 2 for a summit with top officials in the country. Among other topics, the countries are looking to recover their bilateral agreements on migration after relations broke down in recent years.

Pedro Sánchez declared a “new era” in relations between the two countries at the start of the summit adding, “We are committed to transparency and keeping all channels of communication open”.

During the first day of the conference, Foreign Ministers, Fernando Grande­Marlaska and Abdelouafi Laftit met to discuss immigration issues.

Agreements reached include strengthening relationships between law enforcement agencies working on trafficking cases, tightening migration controls and developing better repatriation proce­

dures to fight illegal immigration.

The Spanish delegation expressed their satisfaction at Morocco’s economic development, particularly with a new trade deal between Spain’s North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, for which test ­ operations have been running smoothly.

Sánchez also highlighted the Spanish government’s objectives of developing better social and cultural ties with its North African neighbour, saying education and employment exchanges will be the focus of discussions.

MUNICIPAL Police officers in Madrid had a huge shock on Tuesday, January 31, when they stopped a vehicle during a routine control in the city centre.

A car circulating on Madrid’s main street, Gran Via, was found to

have €200,000 of banknotes in its boot.

As reported by the force through their Twitter account, the occupants of the vehicle could not justify why they were travelling with such a large amount of money in their vehicle. The identities of the two persons have not been revealed.

€200,000 found in boot Gang crackdown

By Peter McLaren-Kennedy

THE National Police said on Monday, January 30 that efforts to clamp down on gangs had paid off with guns and other dangerous objects also being seized.

Following the success of the intervention ministers have issued an order to enforce better surveillance of weapons and calls for violence on social media.

According to the police, the reinforcement plan resulted in more than 600,000 actions being taken to reduce the incidence of youth violence and to prevent a repetition of the scenes seen last year.

Some 1,700 sites were also inspected resulting in action being taken against nearly 220,000 people for alcohol and drug abuse.

It is understood that the experience gained from the crackdown on Madrid gangs that resulted in more than 500 arrests is being shared with divisions throughout the country in an effort to reduce crime generally.

They wrote: “€200,000 in a control of a vehicle on the Gran Via. Its occupants could not justify the movement or the origin of the money, so the officers of #CentroNorte proceeded to transfer them to the PN Police Station and start proceedings for money laundering. #PMM".

Given the fact that the origin of the money could not be explained, proceedings for money laundering have subsequently been initiated against the two individuals. The cash was transferred to the National Police Station in Madrid.

The cash found in a car boot in Madrid.

Credit: Twitter@policiademadrid

€36 billion is how much Shell Oil company has made in profits in 2022.

HOW can I get divorced in Spain?

In Spain, you can get divorced either in Court (which is the most common way) or before a Notary Public. However, if there are minor children in the marriage, it is not possible to get divorced before a Notary, and you are required to resort to the Courts.

What types of divorce are

Frequently asked questions about Divorce in Spain

there in Spain? In Spain there are two ways of getting divorced. Divorce by mutual agreement and contentious divorce. The first one involves the spouses reaching agreements on the economic and personal conditions that will apply to their divorce. These

agreements will be compiled in a document known as a ‘Settlement agreement’. The contentious divorce occurs when the spouses do not reach an agreement and resort to a Judge to decide on this matter.

What causes must be proven in order to get divorced in Spain?

In Spain it is no longer necessary to prove grounds or cause to get divorced. Once three months have passed since the celebration of the marriage, either of the spouses can apply for divorce. You can get divorced even if your partner does not agree and wants to continue the relationship.

I am a foreigner; can I get divorced in Spain?

Yes. Generally speaking, if you have your habitual residence in Spain (or if the last family domicile is in Spanish territory) the Spanish Courts would have jurisdiction.

Can Spanish law be applied to the divorce?

If your habitual residence is in Spain, the Spanish law may apply to the divorce. However, it is important to bear in mind that if

you got married outside Spain (or after the marriage you lived in a foreign country) the applicable law to your matrimonial property regime, might be the law of that country. This is why it is necessary to study the specific circumstances of each case. What documentation do I need to get divorced in Spain?

You will need to present your marriage certificate, the birth certificate of your children, deeds or documents concerning your real estate, proof of your habitual residence, etc. Please note that some of these documents may require a sworn translation and apostille/legalisation if they were issued abroad.

Do I need a solicitor and a procurator to get divorced in Spain?

If you get divorced before the Courts, you will need to be assisted by a solicitor and a procurator. If the divorce is by mutual agreement, both spouses may share solicitor and/or procurator.

In case of divorce… Who keeps the children? What types of custody are there?

If the spouses cannot reach an agreement on the custody of the children, the judge will decide. There are different types of custody. On the one hand, there is the single­parent custody. When custody is awarded to only one of the parents. On the other hand, it also exists a shared custody, in which both parents alternately share custody of the children. This type of custody is increasingly common in Spain.

How does the existence of minor children affect the divorce process?

When there are minor children in the marriage, it is compulsory to get divorced in

Court. The Public Prosecutor’s Office will intervene in the process and will ensure that the interests of the minors are respected. When the Judge passes sentence, besides deciding which spouse gets the custody, he or she will also decide on other issues. The visitation and communication regime of the non­custodial parent; the payment (or not) of child maintenance, etc.

Am I entitled to financial compensation from my spouse?

Article 97 of the Spanish Civil Code foresees a compensatory pension between spouses to compensate for the economic imbalance that may result from the divorce. Its amount will be calculated according to the dedication of the spouses to the marriage, the economic means of each spouse, the duration of the marriage, etc.

Is there any other type of compensation I can claim?

Yes, among others, art. 1438 of the Spanish Civil Code also contemplates a compensation, when the matrimonial property regime of the spouses is separation of property.

Good neighbours rewarded

A LANGUAGE school that does more than teach language, a help line for vulnerable women, and a support group for new arrivals in Spain have earned their organisers accolades in the Good Neighbour award scheme, launched recently by Age in Spain.

The scheme is designed to acknowledge the often­unsung heroes who go beyond the call of duty to help in their community. The awards were judged by an international panel and endorsed by the UK Ambassador to Spain, HMA Hugh Elliott.

Outright winner of the award was Lucia Miguel Bores

who lives in Carrion de los Condes. Lucia was nominated for the Good Neighbour Award because the language school she started, Forum Idiomas, has become a portal for newcomers to Spain. As

well as teaching them language skills, she helps her students with the challenges of everyday life in a new country.

There was a special commendation for Kay Rowbottom in Mojacar whose action during lockdown to help local women who felt isolated or vulnerable led to the setting up of an online support group ­ Kay Frances SturdygirlsRus. Beginning as a local group for Spanish women and incomers, it now has more than 1,500 members throughout the world offering mutual support.

Pat Love, one half of the ‘Love Team’ in the Loja area of Granada won special commendation for the group she started for English­speaking migrants to Spain. With her husband, Peter, who passed

away recently, Pat co­ordinated with UK Consular services in Granada and Malaga to help newcomers navigate their way through unfamiliar aspects of a new country.

The winners have received certificates from Age in Spain and commendation from HMA Hugh Elliott, who said:

“These awards are a great recognition of the difference that so many people make to their communities and I was truly delighted to see the number of English speakingnationals nominating their Spanish neighbours and vice versa. The variety of ways in which people have, generously and compassionately, supported those around them is the very definition of neighbourliness. Congratulations to all of them.”

Age in Spain. www.ageinspain.org

Email: info@ageinspain.orgTel: +34 932 209 741

Kay Frances.

Lucia Miguel Bores.

Pat and Peter Love.

Chaos in Cantabria

IT has been discovered that new Cercanias trains designed for railway routes in the Cantabria region do not fit through the tunnels.

Miguel Angel Revilla, the President of Cantabria in northern Spain on Friday, February 3, demanded answers from the government. It was discovered that the dimensions of the new Cercancias suburban trains designed to run on routes in the region are actually too wide to fit through the tunnels.

As a result, there will be a

Cercanias trains too big.

lengthy delay in rectifying the fault before the fleet can be finally rolled out. He called the design error “a monumental botched job” and said he hoped that “heads will roll.”

Speaking to RNE, the Cantabrian president said

AFTER months of speculation, the Spanish Royal Family revealed that Princess Sofía will head to the UK to finish her high school education in a press release on Monday, February 6.

The Royals’ youngest daughter will follow in her older sister, Princess Leonor’s footsteps, as she heads to the UWC Atlantic College of Wales in the UK. The Palace announced that the 15year­old has completed the application process for the prestigious international school and has now been accepted.

Princess Sofía is expected to start the school in time for the next academic year in September 2023, where she will study their International

Credit: Juanjo_Almeria1/Shutterstock.com

that he expected Raquel Sanchez, the Minister of Transport, to “give explanations” during her planned visit to Castro Urdiales.

Renfe has reached an agreement with CAF, Adif, and the Agencia de Seguridad Ferroviaria (AESF) to unblock the problem with the gauges of the new metric gauge trains. They were destined for suburban and medium­distance services mainly in Cantabria, but also for Asturias, the Basque Country, Galicia, Castilla y Leon, and Murcia.

Packing her bags

Baccalaureate programme. As well as academic subjects, the school has a community­centred approach with volunteering opportunities.

The UWC Atlantic College is a boarding school for students aged 16 to 19 and is located in south Wales around 20 miles west of the capital, Cardiff. As well as her older sister, the school’s other regal alumni include Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, who currently studies there and members of the Belgian and Jordanian royal families.

Can you help?

ON January 20 last year, Carly Lesley’s beautiful little boy, Reggie, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at eight years old. Carly confirmed: “As a parent, there is nothing that can ever prepare you to hear the words that your child has cancer, it’s heartbreaking, to say the least. Reggie was transferred from our local hospital to Great Ormand Street within 48 hours where he is currently receiving treatment.

“There will never be enough words to express our gratitude to GOSH they truly are amazing, the doctors and nurses go above and beyond

every day for Reggie and the children going through this awful illness, but to continue the work they do saving many children lives and making the huge difference they make every day to families they need as much support as possible.”

Carly never thought she’d need the help of Great Or­

Flybe slots

LUFTHANSA and Air France / KLM are said to be competing to buy Flybe which went out of business last week.

mand Street and as parents, we hope and pray we never need to call on them. But we are lucky to have such a pioneering children’s hospital in the UK. Even a spare £1 can help keep this fabulous facility going.

To donate head to www.justgiving.com/fundrais ing/Carly­Lesley.

Rail links

EARLIER this month, the UK and Welsh governments announced a new study to improve transport connectivity between south­east Wales and the west of England.

The study, which is backed by £2.7 million of UK government funding, will look at options for new railway stations and rail services on the South Wales Main Line.

This project will focus on relieving congestion on the M4, a vital connector between south Wales and the rest of the UK UK Transport Minister, Richard Holden, confirmed: “Delivering better transport links is a vital part of how we transform opportunities for people from across the United Kingdom.

“That’s why I am so delighted that, working with the Welsh government, we are getting the ball rolling on in­depth work to boost connectivity and drive growth.”

The Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, said: “Good transport connections between south Wales and western England are essential for the economy in Wales.”

According to a news source on Monday, February 6 the two companies are not bidding to reinstate the airline but to acquire their landing rights in the UK. In particular, the companies are said to be after Flybe’s landing slots at Heathrow airport.

Flybe also had landing slots at Schiphol in Amsterdam adding to the value of the defunct company and the interest of the two leading European airlines.

For both Lufthansa and Air France / KLM the landing slots are vital to their ability to grow their transit offering, as the Dutch government has restricted the number of flights that can operate from Schiphol.

1.5% to 3%

Report from French economist proposes a progressive rate for tax fortunes over $100 million.

GOSH: Even a spare £1 can keep this fabulous facility going.

Image: Carly Lesley / Just Giving

Funds investigated

THE National Audit Office (NAO) is considering a formal investigation into how £220,000 of public money was used to fund Boris Johnson’s legal Partygate defence.

According to a news source on Wednesday, February 1 no formal decision had been made on whether to investigate the issue although discussions are taking place between the NAO and the Cabinet Office.

The six­figure sum is, however, not the end of the story with more money potentially being set aside to cover ongoing investigations by the privileges committee.

Labour’s leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on the prime minister to cut the funding saying that he should tell Johnson “that as he made the mess, he can pick up the bill.”

It is understood that the initial contract issued to Peters & Peters to cover Johnson’s defence was for £129,000, but that the contract had been extended until this month given delays in obtaining information from the government. That extension provides for a budget of £220,000.

Whilst there is legal precedent for funding of this nature, critics say that the circumstances are different and that the public funding for Johnson’s Partygate defence needs to be investigated.

Talks “very constructive”

EUROPEAN Commission

President Ursula von der Leyen has called talks on Northern Ireland with the UK very constructive.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, February 1, von der Leyen said that no deal had yet been reached.

She said: “You know the principle: that everything is only negotiated at the very end when you know what the result is and you give a final signature.”

According to a news outlet she said a deal had all but been agreed upon after she spoke of the good relationship that she has with British Prime Minister

Rishi Sunak. She added that: “our teams are working together to find solutions” on the issue.

Although technical discussions have gone on for months, the combative approach from the UK and the threat of unilateral action yielded few results.

With the third anniversary of the deal signed by Boris Johnson that put a border between the UK and Northern Ireland,

all parties are keen to bring an end to differences and to resolve the issues without endangering the Good Friday agreement that brought peace to the region.

Von der Leyen has refused to be drawn on how close to the two parties are to a deal but the recent intervention of more senior staff would suggest the two parties are close to a deal.

River search for dog walker

DOG walker Nicola Bulley who seemingly disappeared into thin air days ago is now thought to have fallen into the river according to an update from police.

According to the police, an extensive search of the area along the River Wyre had not resulted in Bulley being found, which they now believe may be because she fell into the river.

A search of the river started on Friday, February 3 a week after she disappeared.

Friends have retraced the route taken by Bulley but that has not yielded results either. Police searches found her springer spaniel running loose, as well as her mobile

which had been left on a bench. The 45­year­old’s partner had said earlier that he will “never lose hope.”

Paul Ansell told a news source that he kept playing “every scenario” in his head “around and around” but that his focus had to be supporting their two young daughters.”

Ansell continued: “We’re never, ever going to lose hope, of course we’re not, but it is as though she has vanished into thin air.”

Bulley, a mortgage adviser, dropped her six and nine­year­old daughters at school, shortly before taking the dog for a walk. She has never been seen since.

Northern Ireland border.

JOHNSON: Partygate defence.

Image Jonny McCullagh / Shutterstock.com

Image Michael Tubi Shutterstock.com

€4.5 million Subway co-founder leaves his share of company to be given away to charity.

Clarkson backlash grows Firefighters strike looms

By Peter McLaren­Kennedy

THE backlash against Jeremy Clarkson following his trashing of Meghan Markle is growing with at least three stars due to appear on a celebrity ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ refusing to appear with the host.

According to a news source on Saturday, February 4, ITV has had to shelve plans for the show as a result of the refusal by the three unnamed stars to appear with Clarkson. They are said to have made their opposition to appearing with him, “very loud and very clear.”

Filming of the show was postponed earlier this month due to “scheduling issues” but it is now apparent that was not the reason. A source said: “ITV were left with no choice but to postpone the show.

“The feelings were made loud and clear that they didn’t want to share a platform

A NEW online tour gives the public ‘virtual’ access to beavers for the first time.

The National Trust has launched a virtual tour of its beaver closure on the Holnicote estate on Exmoor in Somerset, three years after beavers were first introduced. A first for the UK, the new tour can be accessed on the charity’s website and uses cutting­edge technology to provide users with virtual access

with Clarkson and, in doing so, risk being seen to legitimise his misogynistic comments.

“They were appearing on the show to raise money for charity, and were acutely aware they didn’t want causes special to their heart to be caught up in any backlash. They just had to walk away.”

Beaver access

to the 2.7 ­ acre enclosure where beavers were released by the Trust in January 2020. The footage was captured using professional, high­resolution 360° video equipment. The immersive experience features trail camera footage of the beavers’ everyday lives,

FOR the first time since 2003, members of the Fire Brigades Union in Britain on Monday, January 30, voted in favour of industrial action. According to a union spokesperson, with a 73 per cent turnout, 88 per cent of its 32,000 members chose to down tools. Similarly, in Northern Ireland, on a turnout of 68 per cent, 94 per cent of firefighters voted to strike.

The union bosses offered the government one last chance to improve its offer by giving

drone footage of the enclosure and wider estate with links to other National Trust projects and a ‘question and answer’ session with the charity’s beaver expert, Ben Eardley.

Other wildlife captured on the 360° video and trail cameras include kingfishers, stoats, roe deer and bullfinch. The tour will add additional footage as the site develops.

them another 10 days to think about it. A 5 per cent increased pay offer was declined by the union last November.

It claimed one in five jobs has been cut since 2010, with firefighters’ real ­ terms earnings also dropping by 12 per cent.

“Firefighters have faced a sustained attack on pay for more than a decade, with average

pay falling by about £4,000 in real terms. Our members face hazardous situations every day and sometimes risk their health to do the job,” stated FBU general secretary Matt Wrack.

According to reports, office and cleaning staff have been undergoing emergency training in anticipation of any industrial action occurring.

Led by Donkeys

treatment

MICHELLE MONE, the Tory peer who was found to have used her connections within government to make millions out of supplying PPE during the pandemic has had her luxury yacht branded by the ‘Led by Donkeys’ group.

The group posted a video of them giving her luxury yacht the treatment on Wednesday, February 1. Mone, it is alleged, profited from the supply of defective PPE equipment during the 2020’s pandemic. The company, with whom she has links, supplied more than £200 million worth of equipment but is now being sued for the return of £130 million.

Mone’s yacht has been given the ‘Led by Donkeys’ treatment with a banner that reads ‘pandemic profiteer’.

JEREMY CLARKSON: Facing backlash.

Image Eeli Purola / Shutterstock.com

Tragic loss

SURREY Police were investigating on Sunday, February 5, after 45­yearold Emma Pattinson, the head of Epsom College, was discovered dead on the grounds of the £42,000 per year Surrey school. The bodies of her 39­year­old husband George, and seven­yearold daughter Lettie were alongside her.

According to the force, no third­party involvement is suspected and they believe this is an ‘isolated incident’, as reported by a news source.

“On behalf of Surrey Police, my team, and I, I first want to express my sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Emma, Lettie and George, as well as to the students and staff of Epsom College, for their tragic loss,” said Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey.

He continued: “I want to give my assurance that we will conduct a thorough investigation into what took place. I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time.”

“On behalf of everyone at Epsom College, I want to convey our utter shock and disbelief at this tragic news,” said Dr Alastair Wells, Chair of the Board of Governors at Epsom College.

Blackouts normal

By Peter McLaren­Kennedy AVOIDING

blackouts by cutting energy use “is likely how we’re all going to operate in the future” according to the head of markets for the UK´s National Grid.

A news report on Friday, February 3 said that the scheme whereby customers volunteer to use less electricity had proven effective and had already been used twice this winter.

The National Grid’s Claire Dykta said that the scheme was an effective “insurance policy” and one that would be important as the country moves to clean renewable energy.

She said: “Demand flexibility is going to be a really

important component of our energy supply mix going forward and it will grow and grow as something that we all get used to.

“Once we’ve got electric cars and we don’t have gas boilers anymore, we’re going to be using energy very differently from how we use it today. Consumers be­

No longer historic drama

HELENA BONHAM CARTER, who played Princess Margaret in the third and fourth seasons of the ‘The Crown’, said it’s time to bring the show to an end as it’s no longer a historic drama.

Variety magazine quoted Bonham Carter on Wednesday, February 1 as having told a news source that the fifth season of the show brought it out of the past. The fifth season covers events in the 90s, which she said: “I should be careful here too, but I don’t think they should carry on, actually.”

Saying she was proud of her role in the series, it was no longer a period drama. She said: “When ‘The Crown’ started it was a historic drama, and now it’s crashed into the present. But that’s up to them.”

ing able to shift their demand is likely how we’re all going to operate in the future.”

Those that have signed up to the voluntary scheme have said that they are happy to save electricity if it means someone else who needs it more is able to continue as normal.

Violating sovereignty

THE entry of two Spanish Customs Surveillance Service officers onto Gibraltar’s Levante beach while attempting to abort a cache of smuggled tobacco on Friday, February 3, has been described by the Government of Gibraltar as a “very serious breach” of its sovereignty and jurisdiction.

During the intervention by the two Spanish officers in the early hours of Thursday morning, they were injured to varying

degrees after being hit with stones by a group of people allegedly linked to tobacco smuggling.

This intervention “would constitute a very serious breach of the law,” if “it were confirmed that the Spanish officers fired their weapons in Gibraltar,” said the government. It was also a “reckless and dangerous” action in an area, they stressed, “with a high density of civilian population, given the

proximity of a residential development.”

In this context, the Gibraltar and UK governments considered that the events “will require careful assessment as to the nature and level of the diplomatic response.”

They explained that they “will contact Spanish officials to seek clarification on this violation of Gibraltar's sovereignty before making a final decision on the action to be taken.”

This is not the first time she has been at odds with the producers. In 2021 she said the show should be accompanied by a warning that it is “a historical fiction.”

The show has received a negative reaction from many within the Royal family, supporting Bonham Carter’s view that they have “a moral responsibility” to make it clear the storyline is fiction.

UK WIND FARMS: Moving to clean renewable energy.

POPE FRANCIS condemned ‘economic colonialism’ in a message directed towards western and European powers in a speech given in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday, January 31.

In the speech, given in Italian at the capital, Kinshasa’s presidential palace, the Pope said that “terrible forms of

Hands off Africa

exploitation, unworthy of humanity” are responsible for the ongoing conflict in the country.

The Pope added, “Hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa: it is not a mine to be stripped

or a terrain to be plundered”. Natural resource wealth has led to decades of economic and political turmoil after the Democratic Republic of the Congo won its independence from Belgium in 1960. In the country of 100 million people, it is estimated that 26 million face severe hunger problems.

The Pontiff is in the central African country for the first visit by a leader of the Catholic church since Pope John Paul II’s visit to Zaire as it was formerly known in 1985.

21

Art theft trial

A UKRAINIAN man accused of directing the theft of a €1.5 million piece of artwork went on trial in Paris on Monday, January 30. The anonymous suspect allegedly masterminded the raid on the Musée de Beaux­Arts in Nancy, France in 2018.

The suspect was arrested in Kyiv one year later by police who had been searching for a murder suspect, when they came across the century ­ old painting that had seemingly disappeared without trace.

The valuable painting by Paul Signac, ‘Le Port de La Rochelle’ was stolen from the gallery by three people. Museum staff reviewing the

footage were shocked by the thieves’ brazen attitude which saw them enter the museum with only head coverings and their faces visible before removing the painting from its frame with a box cutter.

The thieves supposedly rolled up the canvas and carried it out of the museum under one of their coats, all in broad daylight.

The man on trial has repeatedly accused fellow Ukrainian, Vadym Huzhva of coordinating the attack. Huzhva has denied any link to the robbery, and was himself serving time in an Austrian prison for another art robbery at the time.

Doppelganger death

PROSECUTORS in a murder case in Germany believe the suspect got in contact with a lookalike online in order to fake her own death. Police issued arrest warrants for the suspect and an alleged accomplice at the end of January.

The body of a young woman discovered in August 2022 was originally identified as ‘Sharaban K’ a 23­ year ­ old Iraqi­German beautician. Members of the woman’s family assisted police in identifying the body, but the next day it was identified as another

person, ‘Khadidja O’, a 23­year­old Algerian beauty blogger in a post­mortem report.

Police believe ‘Sharaban K’ and an accomplice reached out to ‘Khadidja O’ via Instagram message and lured her to an address where they stabbed her and feigned ‘Sharaban K’’s own death.

German police described the women as looking “strikingly similar” due to make­up, complexion and hair styles, leading the cases to be referred to as the “doppelganger murder.”

Pope Francis arrives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the first papal visit since Pope John Paul’s visit.

Photo credit: Franciscus (via Instagram)

Doctor Phil is to stop talk show after his 21st season.

Photovoltaic complex

Credit: Iberdrola.com

By Peter McLaren-Kennedy

LIDL is reported to have said that it will drastically reduce its meat offerings in the coming years and that it will ramp up its ‘veggie’ offerings.

Christoph Graf, Chief Buyer for Germany, told a news source at the end of ‘Green Week’ on Saturday, February 4 that the need for climate protection was dictating the change.

Echoing the words of climate protesters he said that there is “no alternative” because there is no second

IBERDROLA announced on Monday, February 6, that it obtained an environmental permit to build the largest photovoltaic project in Europe. With 1,200 megawatts (MV) of installed power, it will be located in the municipality of Santiago de Cacem (near Sines, a logistics hub in southern Europe), in Portugal. The plant will be called ‘Fernando Pessoa’ in homage to the Portuguese poet and is expected to be operational in 2025. It will be capable of supplying clean energy be capable of supplying the annual needs of 430,000 homes. Its network connection will be contracted with the Portuguese operator REN. The new plant will avoid the con ­

sumption annually of 370 million cubic metres of gas and act as an example of the coexistence of new renewable developments.

Portugal recently announced a regulatory programme to promote and expedite the deployment of clean energy, attract investor confidence, achieve climate targets, and accelerate the response to the double challenge of the climate and energy crisis in Europe.

Iberdrola affirmed an investment of an “additional €3,000 million in wind and solar energy” in the country for the next few years. As a result, it will operate more than 92 MW of wind power distributed over various parks.

No more meat

planet. He continued by saying that we must learn to eat in a way that takes into account the limits of the planet with the world only able to sustain 10 billion people if we reduce our meat consumption.

Asked whether he was concerned about what the change meant for the chain he said that he hoped it would improve Lidl’s image in the market, especially

among younger people. Referring to the wider population he said it was about motivating people to eat products other than meat. As a result, Lidl would be holding more themed weeks to promote meatless products.

Timing is perhaps good for Lidl to announce the change with the cost of meat soaring and becoming less affordable for many.

Couple abandon baby

A COUPLE who had not bought a travel ticket for their baby abandoned it at the Ryanair check-in at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.

The couple, who were travelling on Belgian passports, were detained by police according to the UK press on Wednesday, February 1.

The baby’s parents when they realised they did not have a ticket for the baby simply strolled across to passport

control, put the baby who was in a car seat down and tried to leave. A shift manager is said to have taken the couple ‘back to the flight counters and called the police and a security guard.

The couple were taken for questioning. According to the Israel Airports Authority, the couple had arrived late for their flight with the counter having already closed.

The Ryanair desk manager

said: “We couldn’t believe what we were seeing.”

€200,000 in banknotes discovered in boot of vehicle in central Madrid.

PROPOSED PARK: Will be the largest photovoltaic project in Europe.

Victory, Czech!

Betty Henderson

THE hotly­contested Czech leadership election came to an end on Friday, January 27, with former army general, NATO commander and pro­western politician, Petr Pavel sweeping to power.

Pavel won the election with 58.3 per cent of votes, a landslide victory over rival and former Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš who won 41.68 per cent of the vote. The result is the most decisive victory ever recorded in a Czech leadership election.

Russia’s invasion of

Ukraine appears to have been a key factor in making voters’ minds up in this year’s elections. Pavel’s victory over Babiš, a populist billionaire, has been widely seen as a victory for liberal democracy.

The two leaders repeatedly butted heads in the leadership contest where Babiš’ strong opinions, including saying he would not send troops to defend ally Poland in the event of Russian invasion appears to have backfired.

Pavel attracted support from younger and more liberal swathes of the pop­

Pressure mounts

ulation, including the gay community as he endorsed gay marriage which remains illegal in the country. Pavel has called his win a victory for “truth, dignity, respect and humility”.

300

POWERFUL western nations have given Serbia an ultimatum over normalising relations with Kosovo after tensions between the Balkan states simmer on.

Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic announced on Monday, January 27 that his government had received a proposal from western nations including France, the USA, Germany, Italy and the European Union in a bid to put an end to the tensions.

Vucic said his government was under pressure to accept the demand to normalise relations saying the western leaders told him, “Accept the conditions or you will face the interruption of the process of European integration, the halting and withdrawal of investments and comprehensive economic and political measures that will cause great damage to the Republic of Serbia”.

The Serbian President said that his country’s parliament would need time to discuss the proposal, but emphasised that Serbia needs the EU, else it would become “isolated”.

Discussions between the countries have repeatedly faltered in recent months over fears that key Serbian ally, Russia could interfere in the region, distracting from the war in Ukraine.

Protest sparks outrage

THE Norwegian Ambassador to Turkey is the latest diplomat to have been summoned by the country over Quran protests. Police in Oslo banned a planned protest in the country’s capital on Thursday, February 2 over security concerns.

Police stepped in in response to reports that a group of protestors planned to burn copies of Islma’s holy book, the Quran at a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Oslo on Friday, February 3.

The police are believed to have acted in response to Turkey summoning Ambassador, Erling Skjonsberg earlier on Thursday.

Oslo’s Police Commissioner, Martin Strand released a statement saying, “The police emphasise that burning the Quran is a legal political statement in Norway, but this event can’t go ahead due to secu­

Global Gateway

OFFICIALS from the European Union announced a major investment of €280 million for South Africa, for the ‘Just and Green Recovery’ in Pretoria on January 27.

€87.5 million of the funding will come directly from the EU’s budget, while further sums will come from EU member states. The project is aiming to support South Africa in goals established by the country to tackle its pressing socioeconomic challenges, improving infrastructure and improving policy dialogue.

The EU funding aims to help South Africa achieve these goals through a sustainable framework which will foster biodiversity within the country and support an environmentallyfriendly circular economy.

rity concerns”.

In recent weeks Turkey has summoned the Swedish Ambassador to Turkey and denounced protestors in Kurdistan over similar Quran burning protests. Turkey has also reportedly struck a deal with Swedish authorities to tighten laws on terrorism in a bid to reverse the country’s objections to Sweden joining NATO.

The funding will be used in various different ways including supporting the repurposing of the country’s coal mines in compliance with global objectives of moving towards sustainable energy generation.

The project is part of the Global Gateway project which is providing a total of €300 billion to African countries.

Muslims across the world have been outraged at Quran burning protests in several places including a planned protest in Norway.

Photo credit: Loredana Sangiuliano / shutterstock.com

million + olive trees in Spain.

Romantic night

A ROMANTIC evening of harp and guitar music will set the tone for Valentine’s Day in Alicante. The Skylarkin’ musical duo will take to the stage for the heart­warming performance at Entre Bambalinas on Sunday, February 12.

Harpist Lara Szabo and guitarist Kevin Jenkins will showcase their incredible skills in the ‘World Cafe Fusion’ performance that blends a mixture of genres. The performance will include a romantic twist to help put guests in the mood for Valentine’s Day. Most of the songs will be instantly recognisable to audiences, with a few original pieces mixed in.

Lara Szabo is a talented harpist with a wealth of experience and anecdotes that she loves to share with interested audiences with the duo sayiing, “Please don’t be shy! Lara has a bottomless pit of stories and facts about her instrument and she can’t wait to tell you about it all!”

Lovebirds and hopeless ro­

mantics alike are invited to the event which costs €10 to enter, which will be charged directly at the venue. The event begins at 9pm and more information is available online: https://www.face book.com/events/859724441

900594

MiRA Arts Fair

A STREET art spectacular is returning to Gandia this spring. The MiRA Arts Fair returns for its fourth edition from Friday, March 24 until Sunday, March 26.

The popular art fair sees street artists from all disciplines take to the streets of Gandia with unique exhibitions, shows and workshops, many of which the public can get involved with.

The fair, which was created more than four years ago, aims to bring together performers from all kinds of different backgrounds, and this edition looks to do just that. Performers from across mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands as well as French and Italian performers are set to participate in this year’s event.

This year’s arts fair is set to be the biggest since the event began with more than 140 different performers arriving in the town. As well as street exhibitions, two theatre productions for local schools have also already been announced.

Lara Szabo, a talented harpist will perform a romantic medley of songs with guitar virtuoso Kevin Jenkins in Alicante.

Photo credit: Lara Szabo (via Facebook)

Denia opera opulence

A GLAMOROUS evening at the opera is coming to a Gandia golf resort. The Marriott Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in Denia is hosting an evening of Italian opera on Sunday, February 19 with music beginning from 7pm.

The event, just after Valentine’s Day makes for the perfect romantic evening with a loved one. The Madrid Opera Company is holding the event in Gandia as part of a national tour it is currently embarking on, performing classic Italian opera pieces including La Boheme, Don Giovanni, La Traviata, Rigoletto, Un Ballo In Maschero and El Barbero De Sevilla.

The Madrid Opera Company consists of some of the country’s most talented performers, who will serenade an audience with a beautiful variety of classical songs. The company often tours the country and has performed at the venue to sold out audiences in the past.

Tickets for the event start at €25 and purchases can be made online at: https://www.eventbrite.es/e/la­opera­ital iana­gala­opera­hotel­marriott­golf­tickets526775067407?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tl d=1 or by phone by calling: 665 111 426

Free February fitness

IF you missed the fitness bandwagon in January, there is still plenty of time to get fit, and in a fun way! Calpe Council is offering free Zumba classes in the town throughout the month of February.

The classes, which began on Friday, February 3 are being held three times per week at the Pista Azul, next to the Domingo Crespo Pavillion in the town centre. The classes take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for one hour, from 9.30am until 10.30am.

The fun fitness discipline was invented in the 90s by a Colombian fitness enthusiast and blends a passion for lively and energetic music with fitness. Zumba classes are accessible to people of all levels of fitness and are an excellent way to get active while having fun and meeting new friends.

For more information on the classes contact the council by calling: 965 833 600. The classes do not require prior registration and no equipment is necessary, except a bottle of water!

A Denia golf club is set to be transformed into an Italian opera house for one night only later this month.

Photo credit: Angelo Cordeschi

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Best place

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL’S annual report on 180 countries pronounced Denmark as the world’s least corrupt country in 2022, awarding it 90 points, followed by Finland and New Zealand in second place with 87. Somalia in Africa, embroiled in ongoing conflict, was ranked last with 12 points.

THE NETHERLANDS

Coffee joint

CANNABIS sellers in The Netherlands are developing a national quality certificate for coffee shops to assist in improving relationships with local governments and the law. The PCN shop-owners’ union explained to members that obtaining the certificate would involve training for coffee shop employees and introduce product quality control.

BELGIUM

Powered down

BELGIUM shut down its Tihange 2 reactor on January 31 as the country winds down its reliance on nuclear power. The 40-year-old installation near to the German border was also a source of friction with its neighbour, who cited security concerns after cracks were found in the reactor’s pressure vessels.

GERMANY

Old-timers

ARCHEOLOGISTS believe Neanderthals lived in larger groups than previously thought, hunting elephants that tripled the size of today’s. After studying 125-year-old skeletons of straight-tusked elephants found near Halle in central German where Neanderthals once lived, researchers found these were clearly hunted by “large social units.”

FRANCE

Beetling off

A FACTORY in Dole (France) is the world’s largest vertical insect farm, accommodating approximately three trillion mealworm beetles which are raised from larvae to adults. When mature, they are humanely dispatched before being harvested for oil and fertiliser as well as protein for animal feed.

NORWAY

All alone

SINGLE men were likely to have lower quality of life than single women and were less satisfied with their social relationships, a survey by Statistics Norway, the country’s official data agency, discovered. It also found that men without a spouse or partner usually had poorer living conditions.

FINLAND

Cold comfort

JANUARY was “unusually and exceptionally mild” in much of Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) said. Average temperatures in some regions ranged between a benign two and five degrees while Rovaniemi City in Finnish Lapland saw its warmest January since monthly records began in the late 1950s.

IRELAND

Another patron

IRELAND observed a public holiday honouring St Brigid of Kildare who is steadily gaining a following in Ireland and abroad rivalling the country’s traditional patron, St Patrick. Devotees see Brigid, and the ancient Irish goddess whose name and attributes she shares, as personifying feminine spirituality and empowerment.

ITALY

Home truths

ITALY’S Supreme Appeals Court ruled that children need not see their grandparents unless they wished. The decision followed an appeal by the parents of two children after lower courts backed the grandparents’ complaints that they never saw the children, who allegedly did not enjoy the visits.

PORTUGAL

Deadly bug

THE Xylella fastidiosa bacterium which has attacked trees in some parts of Spain is spreading fast in Portugal. Unlike Spain where the infestation has been largely limited to almonds, vines as well as trees bearing citrus fruit, cherries, peaches and olives have been affected in the Oporto area.

UKRAINE

Clean sweep

UKRAINE launched a far-reaching anti-corruption drive that included raids on high-profile persons following increasing pressure from its Western partners, notably the EU, to tackle corruption. When voted into power in 2019, Ukraine’s president Volodymir Zelensky cited the fight against corruption as a principal priority.

SWEDEN

Hard task

SWEDEN’S Climate minister, 27-year-old Romina Pourmokhtari, said she would resign if the country’s ambitious climate and environment goals cannot be reached. This could prove difficult as the coalition government elected in October 2021 includes the Sweden Democrats party which regards climate change as ‘a myth’.

BUSINESS EXTRA Drink up FINANCE

Pastures new

DE LA RUE’S chief financial officer Rob Harding will be leaving the banknote printer to join retail payments business PayPoint, the company announced. Harding will remain for up to six months to assist with an orderly transition, sources said.

Helping out

SPANISH companies working with plastics have “serious doubts” about applying the new tax on non­recyclable containers as well as paying it. The government is offering a six­month moratorium and tax authority Hacienda is operating an online service to answer queries.

Wage gap

BANKERS’ pay rises have tripled those of nurses since the 2008 financial crisis, found a TUC study. Pay and bonuses in finance and the insurance sector rose by an average 6 per cent compared to 2 per cent for nurses.

Turn-off

BRITONS cancelled approximately two million subscriptions to services like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ in 2022 as they cut down on non­essentials. Households with at least one paid­for subscription fell from 17.12 million in 2021 to last year’s 16.24 million.

Sunny outlook

ENERGY COMPANY Iberdrola received the go­ahead to build Europe’s biggest solar power plant in Santiago de Cacem (Portugal). As well as providing 2,500 jobs the installation will produce enough electricity for 430,000 homes, equivalent to double the population of Oporto.

Hacked off

SOME customers of car retailer

Arnold Clark learnt their personal information could have been stolen in a cyber­attack. The car retailer, which sells more than 300,000 cars each year, said the stolen data included bank details as well as ID documents.

STAT OF WEEK €87 billion

129.5 per cent more than in 2021, was the amount spent by the 71.6 million tourists who visited Spain last year according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Record year for BBVA

Linda Hall

BBVA bank reported a record year with its biggest­ever net profit of €6.42 billion, up 38 per cent on 2021.

Outstripping both the €6.12 billion that the bank posted in 2007 and 2018’s €5.32 billion, this year’s showing was aided by a double­digit increase in lending income and a strong performance in Mexico.

Thanks to these results, BBVA announced its largest cash dividend for 14 years, paying out 31 cents per share, and also revealed a share repurchase plan of €422 million. In all, the bank is assigning €3 billion to shareholder distribution, 47 per cent of the bank’s 2022 net profit.

ALMOST 13,000 offshore companies which hold UK property have not declared their ultimate owners.

They now face fines and a ban on selling their land, the government said, as Martin Callanan, minister for Business, Energy and Corporate Responsibility, commended the new register listing the overseas owners of UK properties.

This was “invaluable” for tax and revenue services, Callanan declared, as it brought transparency to opaque offshore trusts.

Nevertheless, as only 19,510 of 32,440 registered overseas organisations have disclosed the identities of their beneficial owners, this

Renting out

BUYING a garage space with a view to renting it out could be an enticing option for modest investors.

Acquiring one ranges from €20,256 in the Basque Region in northern Spain to €7,170 in Murcia, according to the online property portal, Fotocasa.

On average, this will bring a return of 7.5 per cent nationwide, while another real estate website, Idealista, put it at 7.1 per cent.

Fotocasa’s Maria Matas also pointed out that both garage and house or apartment rentals were at present more profitable than any other financial product.

“2022 was a year of growth for BBVA,” said the bank’s chairman Carlos Torres Vila. “We had the highest profit in our history, with significant growth in lending and major advances in our strategy, focused on digitisation, innovation and sustain­

ability.” Torres Vila added that looking ahead, and despite world uncertainty, BBVA would continue to create opportunities and contribute to the economic and social growth of the countries where it had a presence. Mexico accounted for more than 60 per cent of BBVA’s net earnings in 2022, with a net profit rising 64 per cent and income from lending increasing by 44 per cent. This year the bank has predicted mid­teens growth in lending income and double­digit growth in loans there.

At the same time, some analysts have cited risks from BBVA’s exposure to Turkey where the bank has started to implement hyper­inflationary accounting.

No hiding place

Guernsey and Luxembourg.

ALCOHOLIC drinks brand Diageo exceeded first­half predictions as prices rose and people drank more spirits.

Organic net sales rose by 9.4 per cent instead of a predicted 7.9 per cent in the six months to December 31 for the Londonbased multinational which makes Tanqueray gin, Captain Morgan rum and Ketel One vodka. Net sales during the same period rose 18.4 per cent to £9.4 billion (€10.6 billion).

The group will return approximately £500 million (€563 million) to shareholders in addition to this financial year’s buyback commitment.

Athlete first

PABLO FERNANDEZ from Madrid entered the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest swimmer to cover five kilometres in the open sea with shackled feet.

indicates that 12,930 did not.

Roughly 75 per cent of those registering their ultimate owners are based in the British Virgin Islands, Jersey, the Isle of Man,

Callanan said that Companies House and the Insolvency Service would receive more investigatory powers, along with approximately £20 million (€23,632 million) to spend on dealing with money laundering via companies that own UK property. Callanan warned there was no hiding place for “criminals and corrupt elites” now that the January 31 deadline for registering had passed.

“We will be using all the tools at our disposal, including fines and restrictions, to

A family affair

BARCLAYS and Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) face questions about their links to Roman Abramovich. The Oligarch files, leaked documents seen by the Guardian newspaper, reveal that the banks held at least $940 million (€860.5 million) on Abramovich’s behalf before the Ukraine war.

Shortly before Moscow entered Ukraine, much of Abramovich’s vast assets had been transferred to his children.

The Guardian files suggest that in the last week of February 2022, once the reorganisation had been completed, Barclays and UBS were told that Abramovich’s children were now the ultimate beneficial owners.

Following the UK and EU’s sanctions, Barclays and UBS will almost certainly be asked to explain how they responded to the modifications and whether the children have benefited from assets that belonged to their father.

crack down on foreign companies who have not complied,” he said.

Unregistered overseas companies are now automatically rejected from registering ownership of new land by HM Land Registry, while UK buyers cannot transfer their title to the deed of any property acquired from non­compliant organisations.

“If you ignored warnings and failed to register before the deadline, you will face consequences,” Louise Smyth, CEO of Companies House, said.

Recycling plan

FASHION label Ralph Lauren is collaborating with a recycling programme for no longer wearable cashmere.

Consumers living in Britain, the European Union and the US can obtain a printable, postage­paid label from the Ralph Lauren website to send unwanted 100 per cent cashmere items from any brand for reprocessing.

The discarded woollies go to ReVerso in Tuscany (Italy) which recycles yarns and fabrics for fashion companies that include Stella McCartney.

Some fast­fashion companies offer textile recycling, although there is uncertainty regarding the clothes’ destination, and they increasingly use recycled materials but this is the first time that a designer label has embraced large­scale recycling efforts.

The 42­year­old is also a businessman who in 2016 founded online car sales company Clicars which he sold in 2022 for more than €100 million. Despite his entrepreneurial success, he recently told an El Pais interviewer that he views himself principally as an athlete.

“Businesses come and go but swimming is constant,” he said.

Fernandez also swims 15 kilometres in a counter ­ current swimming pool installed in the Clicar’s repair shop which he visits each day.

Streamlining

APPROXIMATELY half of the staff at a Hanley (Stoke­on­Trent) government call centre which closed in January are relocating or will be redeployed.

Shutting down 13 sites by June is expected to bring savings of between £80 and £90 million (€90,514 and €101,857 million) annually from 2028 onwards, government sources said.

Seventy­four Hanley employees agreed to the changes, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed, with others preferring to take voluntary redundancy.

The DWP said the closure, which formed part of wider plans to modernise and streamline its estate, involved only back office staff and would not impact public­facing roles.

Photo credit: BBVA

BBVA: Chairman Carlos Torres Vila announced best-ever year.

Photo credit: CC/Chris McAndrew

MARTIN CALLANAN: Business minister welcomed register of the overseas owners of UK properties.

DOW JONES

BUSINESS EXTRA

Record year

SANTANDER, like BBVA, Sabadell and Bankinter, has had a record year, with profits of €9.6 billion, 18 per cent more than in 2021. The bank will distribute 40 per cent of this, more than €3.8 billion, amongst shareholders split evenly between dividends and share buy­backs.

Job choice

UK supermarket chain Tesco is cutting 1,750 shop manager and team leader jobs, offering staff the option of moving to lowerpaid shift leader roles or redundancy. Those staying can take a lump sum to compensate the shortfall or receive the same pay for two years.

Slowdown

UK car production fell by 10 per cent last year in its worst performance since 1956, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said. The struggle to obtain parts during the pandemic and semiconductor shortages hit the sector worldwide, but Britain was also affected by factory closures.

Rare minerals

SUSANA TIMON, who heads Spain’s Geology and Mining Institute, said that Spain is geologically complex with “great mineral wealth.” As a leading producer of copper, strontium and wolfram, she said evidence suggested it would be “interesting” to exploit Spain’s lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earths.

Iceland record

CHRISTMAS sales broke records for £4 billion (€4.5 billion) family firm Iceland whose share of frozen food spending now rivals Tesco. Chairman Richard Walker, who has taken over from his father Malcolm, also plans to enter politics but insisted this would not be a distraction.

All change at Orange

LUDOVIC PECH, currently Orange Middle East and Africa’s chief financial officer, takes over as the telecom giant’s CEO in Spain next April.

He will replace Jean­François Fallacher who in turn substitutes Fabienne Dulac, head of the French operation for the last eight years.

Fallacher will retain his links with Orange Spain on the board of directors while supervising the ongoing merger with rival MasMovil, the company announced.

Pech joined Orange in 1998 and since then has worked in Romania, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain. Insiders at Orange explained that he was more than familiar with the

ORANGE: Change of posts at French telecoms company.

Spanish market where he held the position of financial director between 2000 and 2010 with internet service provider Wanadoo and former mobile operator Amena.

Water on tap

Announcing the changes, the company emphasised that the new appointments underlined Spain’s importance within the group, coinciding with the MasMovil merger which was signed last July.

Once completed, this will put Orange at the head of Spain’s telecoms sector, with more telephone clients and broadband users than any other company, accounting for 31 million lines.

The combined joint venture controlled equally by Orange and MasMovil will be worth €18.6 billion, compared with the €19.6 billion originally announced when the agreement was first made known in March 2022.

UK is on the right track

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) in its latest World Economic Outlook update.

This would contract by 0.6 per cent instead of growing by 0.3 per cent as predicted last October. The UK was also expected to perform worse than other high­income economies, including Russia, as the cost of living continued to affect households, the IMF said.

Nevertheless the IMF update added that it believed the UK was on the right track despite high energy prices, increased mortgage costs and raised taxes, together with worker shortages.

The IMF report on January 31 arrived three years on from the day that the UK left the European Union although it forbore to name Brexit as an element in the country’s failure to perform as well as others.

Only days before the IMF’s pronouncement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt Jeremy Hunt had disparaged gloomy interpretations of the UK economy, taking on the “declinists” whom he described as “permanently pessimistic” regarding Britain’s future.

Responding to the IMF update, Hunt also maintained that the UK was

JEREMY HUNT: The UK is strong, Chancellor declared

strong and had outperformed many forecasts in 2022.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman pointed out that the UK was predicted to grow faster than Germany and Japan in coming years while adding that the IMF itself had said that the UK was on the right track.

Iberdrola rumours

IBERDROLA reportedly intends to sell some of its renewable assets in Spain.

Three different sources told news agency Reuters that Iberdrola was working with Deutsche Bank on selling the portfolio, which could raise more than $700 million (€637.3 million).

The bank is said to have begun the sale process and is contacting potential buyers who include infrastructure investors, fund managers and industrial groups.

The portfolio includes a 1.6 gigawatt combined cycle power plant (CCGT) and 300 megawatts of onshore wind capacity, together with projects for developing 500 megawatts of solar plants that would integrate with the gas plant.

The sale is still at an early stage and Iberdrola could delay or even abandon plans to sell them, the sources said. Meanwhile both parties have declined to comment on the issue.

Back to the office

COMPANIES introduced remote and flexible working during the Covid pandemic and many employees are reluctant to lose their newfound freedom.

Tony Danker, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said recently that most bosses wanted to end work­from­home.

“The whole world of work has gone crazy since the coronavirus pandemic,” Danker told the BBC.

“This led to a shift to working from

WATER bills in England and Wales will rise by 7.5 per cent in April, their biggest increase in 20 years.

A normal household’s annual bill could set them back around £448 (€502), with customers paying an average £31 (€34.7) more than in 2021.

Consumer groups warned that the increase would adversely affect households when one in five already found it difficult to pay bills.

Water UK argued that the rise for most customers would still be below inflation, maintaining that in real terms, bills were lower than 10 years ago.

It’ll cost you!

SPANISH shoppers who buy online from Zara must now pay if they want to return a purchase.

“Returns after February 1 will cost €1.95, deducted from the amount reimbursed,” the Zara web page explained. This applies only to postal returns, as no charge is made for items bought online if they are taken to a Zara outlet in the same region or country.

Referring to the returns policy, Oscar Garcia Maceiras, CEO of parent company Inditex, said that this had been “wellreceived” in other countries, with “absolutely no impact on sales.”

A no show

DAME ALISON ROSE, NatWest’s CEO, was accused of avoiding scrutiny by failing to appear before the Treasury select committee on January 21

The UK’s four biggest bank chiefs were called to explain savings rates, as politicians believe that lenders are procrastinating over an increase but pass on higher mortgage and other costs.

home for many people who used to work solely from the office.

“You ask most bosses, everybody secretly wants everyone to come back to the office,” added Danker, who represents the interests of 190,000 UK businesses.

“I just don’t think that is going to happen overnight,” he admitted.

“I think we are all coping with this but we’re going to be talking about it for a few years. We have no idea where it will end.”

Lloyds CEO Charlie Nunn and HSBC head Ian Stuart agreed to attend, while Barclays will send Matt Hammerstein, CEO of Barclays UK, since Vencat, the group’s chief executive is receiving cancer treatment.

The taxpayer owns 46 per cent of NatWest, but Rose claimed she was too busy to attend although insiders predict she will finally appear to silence her critics.

NOT only is Vladimir Putin a gangster, he is actually your classic gangster. I think the facts speak for themselves. He is undoubtedly an ego maniac and a bully. He is surrounded by thugs, hit men and bent politicians. He rubs out or ‘subdues’ any opposition. As a warning to others, those he considers ‘ratfinks’ are ruthlessly hunted down and ‘eliminated’. Both he and his henchmen are worth billions, and the general public of his domain consider him a hero. You don’t get more classic than that. Of course, that is where the resemblance ends.

His operation makes the Capone, Gambinos and Mafia Dons of yore look like *******. However, in my opinion, through all this worrying new ‘subzero war’ era, I believe we can all console ourselves with one fact; Putin won’t attack the West, certainly not nuclear.

Why would he? He still earns a big chunk of his ill­gotten gains from the West. He’s not involved in his skullduggery operation from a view of patriotism, or the old communistic idealsheaven forbid. He’s in it purely for the power and the money. To take out Boris, which would presumably include London, would be like Al Capone destroying Chicago. He definitely doesn’t want to terminate a future golden egg layer of our magnitude.

All that aside, with the advent of the

Kremlin

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

Ukrainian war I do truly believe that at this moment in time we are nearer to the ultimate holocaust than we have ever been ­ even during the Cuban missile crisis. At least in those days the USA and the USSR pulled most of the strings. Both of these powers were fairly stable and had reasonably sane leaders. Now they are all at it, and in my opinion a number are nowhere near stability.

North Korea, still run by a man/boy who thinks he’s playing video games. Iran, who probably have a few tucked away by now, is run by a fanatical regime who have vowed to destroy Israel, also a nuclear power. India is still in an uneasy extremely precarious ‘truce’ with fellow nuclear power Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, threatening to develop nuclear weapons if Iran doesn’t halt its own programme (some chance), France mmm! The ever­unpre­

UNFORGIVEABLE OUR VIEW

dictable China. And, top o’ the bill, two megalomaniacs in the shape of Biden and Putin, who both think they are infallible. Sounds pretty volatile to me.

Oh, I forgot about the good ol’ UK. Well I wouldn’t worry too much about us. If Starmer gets elected we’ll probably all be sheltering behind our Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament badges. Perhaps that means they’ll leave the UK alone? Ha ha! Good luck all!

As most of you know, I have always believed in free speech. Thank the Lord I write for a publication that, although it may not always agree with my views also considers free speech a ‘uman right!’ Have a woke free week y’all.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland. Mon. & Fri. !pm till 4.

For more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

THE week that Gary Glitter was released from prison after serving around half of his sentence for child sex crimes has raised the general question; are some crimes just too awful to ever allow the perpetrator to be released?

The prison system ­ developed by the Victorians ­ is based broadly on three basics principles. It is there to punish criminals, to keep members of the public safe from them, and to rehabilitate them.

But are some people simply beyond rehabilitation?

Glitter had already been convicted twice previously for child sex crimes before his most recent stint at a prison in the UK. Does that suggest that mindset of someone who has been reformed and is safe to be among the general public, or the pattern of someone who will offend again?

Beyond the danger to the public that some convicts pose, there is the cost involved in then keeping them safe once they are outside of prison. In Glitter’s case, there was a disturbance outside his bail hostel a day after he was released.

Taxpayer money will now need to be used to protect Glitter from the general public, not the other way around should there be any threats to his safety. This hardly seems to serve as either vengeance to his victims or as any form of common sense, particularly at a time when the UK is going through a cost of living crisis.

Of course, keeping him in prison is expensive too. But at least that way, the disgraced pop star’s victims could have slept a little sounder.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

By Clinica Britannia

WHEN searching for a new dentist, it is important to take various things into consideration, one important one being can they offer advanced dental treatment at a realistic and affordable price. Confirm with the dentist that they have a 24­hour emergency number to help put your mind at rest just in case you need it in the future.

It is important that your dentist can fully explain exactly what treatment is necessary so you can understand and feel at ease during it. Also check that the quality of the materials used are of a high standard, and if they offer a guarantee on work carried out.

Good dentists should offer the most cutting­edge technology, this being especially significant for dental X­rays, which are crucial to detecting major oral health issues. These radiographs

Feel at Ease

Three tips

MARGARETA MAGNUSSON, author of The Swedish Art of Ageing Exuberantly, agreed that ageing is hard.

No ­ one can stop the march of time but there was nothing to you from keeping a clear and positive mind, the 86­year­old explained from her Stockholm home.

Winter warmers

AS those with arthritis already know, a Mediterranean winter can strike cold once the sun goes down in the early months of the year.

IMPORTANT: Specialised dentists working in a team.

allow dentists to see the results within just a few seconds allowing for a treatment plan to be put into place immediately.

Important check list when searching for a Dentist:

• Strict protocol against infection.

• Denture repairs within the hour.

• Specialised dentists working in a team.

• High­tech equipment.

• All types of services provided.

• Easy access to the surgery.

• Painless procedures.

• Emergency 24h/365d.

• State of the Art technology.

• Fluent in English, Dutch, Spanish, French, German, Flemish and Romanian.

• Amazing quality/price ratio.

Remember take time and choose your Dentist carefully, for that Perfect Match.

“You can be young upstairs in your head even if your joints creak,” she said.

Magnusson passed on three tips for making life worth living.

First off, she recommended regarding each obligation or irritation as something to appreciate, like resenting having to pay a bill, but being glad you have the wherewithal.

Secondly, surround yourself with the young, who supply fresh ideas and perspective. Thirdly,

say “yes” whenever possible. “Give it a try, whatever it is,” she urged.

5.51 million estimated gym memberships in Spain.

Vital vitamins

WINTER woollies are all very well, but vitamins can help to keep colds and flu at bay.

For the immune system to do its job, it needs four big hitters: Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Vitamin K.

As well as meat and blue fish, don’t forget potatoes and bananas as a Vitamin B6 source.

Vitamin C is present in fruit and greens, but it’s there in potatoes, too.

The Arthritis Foundation explains that although the cold doesn’t cause arthritis, it does increase joint pain, although there are various ways of dealing with it. Stay warm and protect hands, knees and elbows with layers which can be removed if it gets too warm.

Swim in a heated pool which, even if yours is not, should be easy to find on the Costas where most towns boast a heated municipal pool.

Failing either, a soak in a hot bath will bring relief when temperatures plummet.

Regular exercise also helps to cope with arthritis, increasing strength and flexibility while boosting energy and easing discomfort, the Arthritis Foundation recommends.

BANANAS: A great source of Vitamin B6.

For Vitamin D take cod liver oil, eat sardines and calves’ liver while soaking up Spanish sun.

And for Vitamin E, feast on avocado and reach for the olive oil.

Natural wonder

DRUGS containing butylphthalide, a chemical that occurs naturally in celery seeds, could assist the recovery of stroke patients.

Those prescribed the medication in China had less severe neurological symptoms and better mental skills than those receiving a placebo.

“This is the first trial to show the benefit of using medication that protects the brain from damage caused by a lack of oxygen to brain tissue,” said Dr Baixue Jia, from the National Clinical Research Centre for Neurological Diseases in Beijing.

Mask masquerade

AS face masks are gradually phased out ­ now necessary only in Spain’s health and social care centres ­ South Korean researchers discovered that some people are still reluctant to discard them.

As well as the ultra­cautious who fear Covid, they found that people who saw themselves as unattractive preferred to continue masking up.

“We saw that self­perceived attractiveness has significant effects on mask­wearing intentions in the post­pandemic era,” the Seoul National University investigators concluded after quizzing Americans with three different questionnaires. Their findings suggested that mask­wearing could sometimes shift from a Covid self­protection measure to a belief that face­coverings could enhance looks.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Pasja1000

Photo credit: Pixabay/t¬_watanabe

By Clinica Britannia

How to detect gallstones

I SUFFER intense cramps and pain in my stomach after eating, my Mum had to have her gallbladder removed, could I have the same problem?

The gallbladder is a small organ situated below the liver, its main function is to store bile produced by the liver to digest fat, and aid with the absorption of nutrients in the body. When it malfunctions, this causes an imbalance in the chemical make­up of the bile creating gallstones.

Gallstones are somewhat unique in that they often can happen without the patient showing any symptoms. Many people don’t notice they have one until they feel an intense and sharp pain in the abdomen often after eating a large meal.

Mild discomfort to severe cramping in the upper right side of the abdomen is caused often with added symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Females over 40, diabetics, obese people and those that eat a diet high

Gallstones may not show symptoms.

in fat are more prone to produce gallstones, but they can also be hereditary.

A simple blood test can show signs of jaundice and inflammation caused by gallstones, but it is essential to perform an abdominal ultrasound, which can detect gallstones in an instance.

However, if the stones are deep within the abdomen a CT or MRI scan will be necessary to confirm a positive diagnosis.

IGUANA CAUGHT

WHAT is it these days and people having extraordinary but unconventional pets. The closest thing we got to majestic back in my day was a tortoise or a parakeet. Now people have Iguanas as pets! How and why I, I will never understand and them getting out on the loose is becoming extremely common too. Does anyone else remember about the big cat that ended up in somebody’s garden a few weeks ago. It is shocking.

More needs to be done to make sure that these animals don’t get out of their enclosures or owners’ homes. It is so unsafe; these things could attack anyone or anything and who would be responsible then? I hope I don’t find some majestic animal in my back garden anytime soon. I can’t even deal with the mosquitos, never mind a big cat or something that resembles a dragon making their appearance known around me.

Yours faithfully, Joan

Fixing football

FIXING football games and over 23 people involved in the process, how sick. It took a lot in my day and it takes a lot now to become a professional athlete and to get yourself to a certain level and schemes like this aggravate me. I will say I don’t agree with how much footballers are paid. However, I do think you should give credit where credit is due and respect the sport. So many young kids look up to these sports men and women. They are inspirational. Especially from some of the stories that you hear from the players that came from nothing. It is just sad that something so special for so many people can just be taken advantage of, just to make sure somebody else’s pockets are nicely lined up with money. I hope more is done to prevent this and catch this out sooner in the future. It is so hard to know what is real and what is not anymore.

Annoyed, Jett

The ‘ole boy’

DEAR Sirs,

Reading Leapy over the past couple of weeks, I cannot but wonder if a little bit of ‘wokery’ is subduing the ‘ole boy’.

I guess the freedom of speech we used to have as expats has been curtailed by the omnipresent agents of the increasingly dystopian world around us.

As an aside it can get a little silly, Leapy often refers to himself as an ole boy, I recently got an email from my old school ‘advertising’ forthcoming old boys’ events. I was surprised to notice the inaugural LGBT dinner (tickets 40 quid!), it seems the promoters are also puzzled as it would surely be non pc to call it an old boys dinner.

Nonetheless as it is a boys’ school there can be little doubt that the attendees, at least at the age of 11 had grown a *****. (column 2­8 Feb).

Keeping up the good fight!

JD cyber attack... you’re never going to get me

THESE days the internet is a wonderful but mischievous place, and I can’t believe that things such as cyber ­ attacks are a thing. My grandson first told me about this and then I came across it in the newspaper. I think sometimes the less you have the better it is, and I will tell you now that these attackers won’t be getting me. I keep it simple, no Facebook, no Instagram, no social media. Just a phone and a phone book and if you need me or if I need you well you will have my number and I will have yours. The old way of thinking works and people do need to be more cautious!

Don’t leave or put just anything on the internet. It has such an impact and I enjoy having my diary, I think more young ones need one these days.

Best, Harry

Sir Paul McCartney

IF there had been another disaster of a Beatles member I don’t know if I would have been able to take it. They were and are my youth.

They have given me my best memories and continue to do so today. I have grandchildren and with all this earache that is called ‘music’ today it is funny to see what way they react when I put on my old tunes. I think the older style of music breathes a bit of fresh air in comparison to all those drums and bass. Yesterday is Julie, my eldest granddaughter’s favourite while Kylie loves Norwegian Wood. They both take after me with their impeccable taste in Beatles songs. I think they didn’t believe me when I told them the Beatles had a song called Octopus’ Garden or Yellow Submarine.

These days I wish sometimes I could just go deep dive in the yellow submarine and get some peace and quiet. But duty calls when you’re a grandmother.

Dancing in strawberry fields, Martha

Wrapping up

WHOEVER oversees the pictures that go into the paper ­ thank you for the tremendous laugh you gave me when I saw the Dachshund with a bright yellow jacket on, in page 45.

That has made my day and is now living on my fridge cut out.

The simplest things in life make it the best and I can tell you this, that has made my day.

I remain, Yours faithfully Barry Morgan

Just waiting for the missus to notice and see what she thinks. Let’s hope she lets me keep the wee doggo up.... going to need a name for it now.

Let’s hope I don’t get a woof time, David

My card pull of the week is Trust your Path

What the universe has in store

NOW we have come to the end of January that brought a lot of us challenges, changes and fear. You may be feeling a sense of why is this happening to me? I don’t understand or I feel alone? The answer is the universe puts us in a position in our life path that removes any negative energies that may include, relationships, family, friendships and work opportunities, to clear your path for your true purpose in life.

Now at this time you may be feeling on a low vibration and loss of faith however, if it was that easy to get to your main goal in life you would never learn the lessons that we are all here to learn. Each of us has a purpose, a gift that we are given at birth and it is our job to work out what that is,

this all starts with our mind set. If we wake up in the morning and feel like every day is the same or you are not happy with the way your life is going then you have the power to change it. This all starts with you. It’s the little goal settings that will help you lift you.

When you go to bed at the end of each day and you start counting the things in your head what you haven’t done, this causes the reaction of over thinking and this starts of anxiety if you go to bed and start counting the things you have done even if it is the smallest thing then you have a win. Count the things you have achieved and be grateful, the more gratitude you have the more you will receive.

So, let’s start with goal setting. I find it really helpful to physically write down my goals for the year. then gradually start to break down how I am going to achieve them. I find doing this on

a weekly bases is manageable. Every Sunday I think of three things I want to achieve this week whether it’s making the beds every morning (my house is so busy in the morning trying to get three boys ready and off to school. On time) or making sure I have time for myself even if it just 15 minutes in the morning to do my affirmation.

Once I have achieved my weekly goals it resets my mindset in to a positive state which attracts positive vibrations in to my life which will help me achieve my bigger goals and start ticking off my goals for the year.

Right, back to the card, ‘trust your path’ the universe always has your back, keep on going you will always get to where you are meant to be and keep the faith. If you knew you would be supported what would you do? I’m going to leave you with that question, set goals and count your little wins!

If you would like to know more or have a reading please go to my website to book your very own session with myself, you can find me on Instagram @theangelic.medium or visit my website.

https://www.theangelicpsychicmedium.com sending lots of love your friend Emma.

A-hunting we go

CASSANDRA NASH

PEDRO SANCHEZ already has one headache ­ a full­blown migraine in fact ­ caused by the Only Yes Means Yes law promoted by the PSOE’s coalition partner, Unidas Podemos.

Now UP’s hackles have risen over the Animal Welfare law promoted by Social Rights minister Ione Belarra because the text excludes hunting dogs, sheep dogs and those used by the police and armed forces.

Belarra, who is also secretary general of Podemos, the other half of the Unidas Podemos two­party alliance, is not happy.

She is frequently not happy about many things, and recently made headlines after describing Juan Roig, Mercadona’s relatively benevolent president, as a “pitiless capitalist” lining his pockets at the expense of the poor.

Most people, especially those who do their shopping at Mercadona, would not agree with Belarra’s take on Roig but would concede that the lives of Spain’s hunting dogs can be very grim and their fate invariably worse.

Trouble is brewing because Sanchez refuses to include working dogs’ protection in the bill.

Spain’s hunting sector generates more than €5 billion a year in economic activity according to Deloitte, and obviously should be afforded every consideration. But there is more to it than that.

Months ago, PSOE party headquarters in Madrid had to reassure rural mayors up for re­election next May that the new Animal Welfare law introduced by Unidas Podemos was not going to spoil hunters’ fun.

Hunting in Spain generally means shooting and although killing animals for fun is an elite pastime, it is also, and always has been, a hobby for the nonelite in the depopulated country areas that are less inclined to vote PSOE than in the past.

Most of those hunters use dogs and although many should ponder on the new law’s declaration that animals are sentient beings, it is unlikely to stop them from hanging podencos from trees once their useful days are over. Or, indeed, encourage them to vote for the PSOE, let alone Unidas Podemos.

Here be monsters LINDA

HALL

A BRITISH family returned from Lanzarote not long ago complaining that they all came down with food poisoning after eating their hotel buffet’s half­cooked beef.

Worse still, they said, they spotted cockroaches near the outdoor dining area. Undercooked beef? Possibly, as the Spanish happily eat it dripping with blood, but I’m surprised about the cockroaches.

They’re still around but less in evidence than formerly, thanks to town hall fumigation programmes. When I first saw people wearing hazmat suits carrying weird equipment and peering into drains in the small inland city where I now live, I was initially worried, but reassured to learn they were killing off the cockroach population.

That wasn’t the case many years ago when I lived in a semi ­ rural area on the coast and cockroaches were still free to roam, along with rats and snakes.

We lived in the bottom half of a

rambling old house surrounded by fruit trees, vegetable patches and fallow land which our cats patrolled and hunted. One day, Skittles, the biggest and fiercest, returned with a small snake in his mouth and dropped it at my feet.

I was outside with Marcela our landlady as we gardened together, and I stopped talking and shrieked in horror. Marcela, a countrywoman practically twice my age, raised an eyebrow, bent down and picked up the snake with her secateurs. Reaching for mine she proceeded to snip the dangling snake into neat sections.

“You don’t want one of those getting into the house, now do you,” she said, sensing that I was going to shriek again.

Mopping the porch not long after, I lifted the doormat outside the front door and saw what appeared to be a neatly coiled belt stuck to it. A closer look revealed that it was a slim snake with pretty marking which was quite flattened and very dead. But I shuddered then and shudder now to wonder how many ever made it indoors without my knowing.

Purrfect pet nutrition

WE hear a lot about how to adapt our own diets during the winter to make sure we get all the right vitamins and minerals to deal with temperature drops, but how can we do the same for our pets?

Size matters

The first thing to have in mind when feeding your pet over the winter is its size and age. Some pet owners increase their pets’ meal sizes during the winter to keep them warm, but vets advise against this, particularly in cats as overfeeding can lead to health issues and obesity.

Plush fur

Vets also recommend increasing oily foods, particularly in dogs’ diets over the winter. This can give their fur an outward shine and also build fur strength, essential to keep their bodies warm. Hydration is also crucial.

Active lifestyle

It is important to keep your pet active during the winter. If you want to stay in, or have a cat, play with your pet to keep their body and mind active.

One in 10 pets will develop a tumour in their lifetime

CANCER is one of the biggest concerns for dog and cat owners. It is the leading cause of death in geriatric animals. For this reason, owners and veterinarians have been becoming aware of the need to provide special care for their pets. There have been great advances in veterinary medicine and surgery, especially in the field of cancer treatment. Early diagnosis is essential. The checkup that is carried out on your pet every year should be more exhaustive from six years of age.

Any patient suspected of having a malignant process should be thoroughly investigated by the veterinary team.

This information will help us to know which treatment to use and will inform us of the prognosis, time and cost necessary for the treatment.

We can only establish a complete therapeutic protocol and with probability of success if we have information on the extent of the process. This way we can answer the pet owner’s questions about the prognosis and quality of life. Specific laboratory tests, ultrasound, endoscopy, CT or MRI may be necessary.

Rub-a-dub pup

LOVE it or loathe it, bath time is a key part of having a dog, and in the winter it can be a little harder to get your pet into the bath. Today we’re bringing you some vetapproved tips on how to get your dog squeaky clean despite the cooler temperatures!

How often?

While your dog might love to splash around in the summer to cool off, the bath is less appealing in the winter. Experts recommend bathing your dog no more than once a month during winter, but it’s important to brush your dog more often.

Gently does it

If bathing isn’t your dog’s favourite activity, introduce it to the water slowly. Start by wetting your hand and running it through its fur. Next try a water ­ soaked sponge before moving into the bathtub. Experts also recommend talking to your dog in a gentle voice throughout.

The aftermath

Reward your dog for good behaviour with a treat after­

wards and make sure you have a warm, dry towel on hand to dry it off quickly.

Pet-friendly travels

GETTING away and travelling to new places is one of life’s great pleasures, and can be even fun if you take the family’s faithful companion along too.

There are many destinations in Spain which pet owners can enjoy in the company of their canine friends, from rural mountain retreats to the country’s extensive and varied coastline; these days there are even beaches with dedicated dog­friendly areas.

Cities too can be an option for travellers with their pets by their side, as a growing number of hotels and hostels do now admit dogs.

Planning ahead and checking out accommodation with a pets welcome policy is a good idea: some establishments have certain limits, perhaps on the size of dog they admit.

Even if a hotel is pet­friendly, dog owners should use their common sense during their stay. Most establishments do not want dogs to be left on their own in rooms. Keep them on a lead in communal areas, not only so they won’t run off, but to prevent altercations with other four­legged guests.

Also recommended is dogs wearing collars with name tabs, just in case they do manage to wander off on their own.

A diet rich in protein, carbohydrates and washed down with plenty of water is recommended to keep your pet active through the winter.

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STRUCTURAL SURVEYS

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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PAINTERS/DECORATOR

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TRANSLATIONS

SPANISH INTERPRETER for all your appointment needs, has car. Effective, Friendly & Affor dable service. Call 609 679 808 (290313)

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Mazda 3 - an attractive package

ROAD TEST

byMarkSlack

TWO quick glances ­ inside and out ­ might well be enough to put this Mazda

high on your list of desirable medium sized hatchbacks. The Mazda 3 line­up offers both hatchback and saloon priced from €25,963/ £23,265 and €29,307/ £26,265 respec ­

tively.

All engine options are based on a 2.0 four cylinder, natural ly aspirated petrol unit with mild hy brid assistance and mated to either a manual or automatic transmission.

Six trim levels, five in the sa loon models, of fer an excellent standard features list and in the GT Sport Tech on my driveway the list is extremely comprehensive.

Powered and heated door mirrors, auto dimming mirrors, adaptive LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors with 360 ­ degree camera, auto lights and wipers, power sunroof, privacy glass, dual zone climate, head ­ up display, heated front seats and steering wheel, intelligent cruise control and a comprehensive sound system

that incorporates navigation and Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

My test model was finished in Soul Red, a particularly head ­ turning colour and for the right reasons even if it does add €972/£870 to the final bill. However, this latest Mazda 3, priced at €33,992/ £30,465, has more than colour on its side.

The GT Sport Tech has a clever 2.0 ­ litre petrol engine that comes with what Mazda calls spark controlled compression ignition which mixes conventional petrol engine technology with a touch of diesel cleverness to produce better economy and emissions.

Developing 186PS and mated to a six­speed manu­

al gearbox the car returns 5.3l/100 km (53.3 mpg).­

ther improve economy,mance and help reduce ­

The rest of the car is more typically old school Mazda, which is nearly all a positive. You will find a cockpit that’s well put together but veers (correctly) on the side of simpler usability, with switches and knobs rather than taking the full touch screen route that looks sexy but is simply annoying to use.

Add the sharp styling package and the Mazda makes for a competitive and attractive motoring package.

MAZDA 3: Makes for a competitive and attractive motoring package with sharp styling.

RESCUED ALIVE from rubble

CHRISTIAN ATSU

ball international who had spells with both Chelsea and Newcastle in England has been rescued alive from rubble after the Turkey earth quake.

According to a Portuguese news outlet, Atsu was rescued alive from the rubble of a col lapsed building after the earth quake. They reported that At su was in the hospital with injuries to his right foot and has breathing difficulties.

The former Newcastle United and Chelsea player is currently on the books of Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor. Along with his teammates and coaching staff, Atsu was inside a building in the city of Hatay at the time of the massive tremor.

Rescue

teams also pulled Onur Ergun and Burak Oksuz from the remains of the building, while Kerim Alici managed to escape by his own means. The Portuguese player Ruben Ribeiro and Cape Verdean Ze Luis have also been found alive added the publi­

There was no indication however that the club’s sporting director, Taner Savut, and a club interpreter ­ who had been located. Atsu represented Newcastle United between 2016 and 2021 and in 2017 helped them gain promotion from the Championship back into the top tier of

His spell at Chelsea was not such a success. he joined the Stamford Bridge outfit in 2013 but found himself being loaned out to Everton, AFC Bournemouth and Malaga, and never played one competitive game for the Blues.

CHRISTIAN ATSU: Along with teammates and staff, he was staying in Hatay.

Verstappen keeps focused Another manager fired

MAX VERSTAPPEN, the Red Bull World Champion, is reported to have installed a F1 simulator in a private jet to enable him to train whilst travelling between racing venues.

A Dutch sports site reported on Monday, February 6 that Verstappen had the simulator installed so that he could make good use of travelling time to brush up on his knowledge of individual racecourses.

Verstappen, a competitive individual, is apparently very happy with the addition to his Dassault Falcon 900EX believing that it will help to keep him focused and give him some competitive advantage.

Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko said: “Verstappen has had his private jet converted so that he can fly around with a simulator in the future.

“That’s a good thing, because Max needs this distraction. In any case, it didn’t do him any favours when you look at his two world championships.”

Formula 1 drivers are pushed to the limit of endurance. But they also spend as much time in the air as they do on the track.

This Marko suggested, could give Verstappen up to 240 more hours of practice time in comparison to the competition.

ENGLISH Premier League side Leeds United sacked their American manager Jesse Marsch on Monday, February 6. The club has gone seven games without a win and is languishing near the foot of the table. The news was confirmed by

Sunday February 5. A string of terrible results probably gave the Elland Road hierarchy no other option as they try to salvage their season and survival in the top flight. They are without a win since early November 2022.

Marcelo Bielsa. The 49year ­ old kept them in the Premier League thanks to a vital victory on the final day of the season.

It is rumoured that Carlos Corberan, the 39year ­ old current manag ­

er of West Bromwich Albion could be considered for the vacant job. He was at Leeds previously as a coach with the U23 players, and last season led Huddersfield Town into the Championship play ­ offs.

Boxing star’s comeback

ANTHONY JOSHUA will go toe ­ to ­ toe with Jermaine Franklin in a bout confirmed for April 1 in London.

The Brit has been out of action since suffering back­

€450,000

to­back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

However, Joshua will now take on Franklin on April 1 at The O2 in the capital, with the American having lost in his last fight against Joshua’s long ­ term rival Dillian Whyte in 2022.

Weighing up the the fight, Joshua said: “I’m looking forward to stepping back into the ring on April 1 at The O2 in London. Mentally and physically, I feel ready.

“Franklin has a good style and a great attitude, which he has shown in recent fights.”

JESSE MARSCH: Joined Leeds less than one year ago.

Photo credit: Leonard Zhukvosky/Shutterstock.com

Alessia Russo has been paid and makes her the most expensive player in women’s football.

D rivers p ushed to the limit.