Axarquia 16 – 22 February 2023 Issue 1963

Issue No. 1963 16 - 22 February 2023

SONG CONTEST

TORRE DEL MAR’S Weekend Beach

Festival is set to be the biggest ever edition of the event later this year, and a contest offering performers a chance to take to the stage at the festival has received more than 90 sign ­ ups from a broad range of groups and individual performers.

Voting in the competition has now begun online on the festival’s website, where it will remain open until Monday, February 27.

The two groups or individuals who receive the most votes will be invited to perform to a huge crowd of music fans from all over Europe, an incredible opportunity, particularly for up­and­coming performers. Competition winners will also get the chance to record their own LP in a local recording studio.

The groups who entered the contest have diverse musical styles, ranging from house and techno DJs to indie performers. The eclectic mix matches the festival’s unique

and diverse line ­ up of performers, which this year includes DJ Carl Craig, Latin hitmaker Maluma and fusion hip ­ hop and rap musician

DELLAFUENTE as headliners. The festival is set to take place from Wednesday, July 5 for four music­filled days and nights.

All records smashed

TOURIST information offices in Velez­Malaga smashed all records kept since they opened in 2022 with a staggering 40,000 visits made to the town’s two tourist information offices and more than 90,000 visitor enquiries answered.

Velez­Malaga’s councillor for Tourism, Jesús Atencia

Pérez announced the staggering statistics on Tuesday, February 8, saying they are evidence that the town’s ‘smart tourism’ policy is bringing visitors to the town.

The statistics are an encouraging start to 2023 for the town’s Department for Tourism, particularly considering that all travel restrictions were not yet lifted at the start of last year. The

Tropical chef contest

figures are also an improvement on data collected before the pandemic, signalling a start of a tourism boom for the town.

Pérez highlighted the improvement in figures since his team came into office, a 40 per cent increase in visitor interaction since 2015.

A tourism camera set up on the beachfront also saw an average of 500 views per day with a total of 167,000 views recorded during 2022.

ALMUÑECAR is warming up to host a thrilling cookery contest in March, to find the best ‘Tropical Chef’. This year’s contest will be held at the Playa Victoria Hotel in the town and will focus on the papaya as a central ingredient, aiming to find a chef skilled with tropical flavours. After being postponed for several years due to the pandemic, the com ­

petition is back to its vibrant self from Tuesday, March 14 for the semifinal, before the final one week later.

Competitors will be tasked with preparing two dishes featuring the distinctive tropical fruit, one savoury and one sweet. Participants will have 15 minutes to prepare and five minutes to assemble their dish for a chance to win a huge cash prize.

‘Tropical Chef’ contest organisers pose with this year’s key ingredient, the locally-grown fruit, papaya.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Almuñécar (via email)

SMART TOURISM: Authorities in Velez-Malaga recorded their best visitor interaction rate in 2022 with 90,000 tourist enquiries answered.

Voting in a contest has begun, two winners will be selected to perform at one of Axarquia’s biggest events in July, Torre del Mar’s Weekend Beach Festival.

Italian exchange

STUDENTS in V elez-Malaga played host to a group of Italian students from Sicily last week as part of an Erasmus+ European youth educational exchange.

A group of 10 students and two teachers from the Liceo Statale Polivalente ‘Quintiliano’ high school in Sicily arrived in the Axarquian town for a week-long visit, leaving on Monday, February 6.

Earthquake relief effort

Betty Henderson

AUTHORITIES in Almuñecar

thanked fire and rescue services in the town for sending support to Syria and Turkey in the aftermath of the fatal earthquake which struck last week, claiming the lives of thousands of people.

Four members of Almuñecar’s K9 fire search and rescue team, the Arcón Method Canine Rescue Unit (UCRMA) headed to Turkey last week with a central government team.

The mayor of Almuñecar, Juan José Ruiz Joya, thanked the team and their chief, David Cabrera for their unhesitating response to the disaster, during a visit to the

fire station on Monday, February 13.

The team left immediately with dogs Maya and Zeus to help conduct search and rescue operations on the ground in Turkey. Since arriving they have faced cold conditions and tragic scenes in the aftermath of the disaster which has claimed more than 35,000 lives.

Joya shared the town’s admiration for the group saying, “Your work is a source of pride not only for the fire service but for all of Almuñecar.” Cabrera described the conditions as “very tough,” thanking his colleagues for their dedication.

The educational visit was part of a link established between the IES Reyes Católicos school in Velez-Malaga and the school in Italy, facilitated by European funding. This year was the second

edition of the exchange in which young people enjoyed a range of activities focused on language learning and cultural exploration.

Exchange students stayed with host families during the week and enjoyed a variety of trips including a day out to Granada and visited museums and other attractions in Velez-Malaga itself.

Velez-Malaga teacher, Hilario Bautista said “Judging by the tears on students’ faces on the last day of the exchange, this has been a huge success.” Bautista added that she was looking forward to making the trip to Sicily next month, from Wednesday, March 8.

Magical Masquerade Ball

THE Nerja branch of the Royal British Legion is preparing for one of its biggest events of the year, the Spring Masquerade Ball. This year’s edition is set to take place in the middle of spring on Saturday, April 22.

The ball is set to be a dazzling affair and includes a three course meal at the Caves Restaurant in Maro, near to Nerja. Guests will receive a

welcome drink, canapes and meal choices for the threecourse meal as well as wine and water during the meal. After the meal, guests will get the chance to socialise with each other and meet other members of the branch of the Royal British Legion which represents and supports current and former members of the British and allied armed

TORROX is preparing for a musical extravaganza in March with a diverse range of performances from flamenco to rock concerts, and even a magic show in the town’s Teatro Villa.

The programme is set to begin on Friday, March 10 with the first performance in the ‘Flamenco In Progress’ project, putting a

forces. Incredible entertainment will also be provided by performers Ricky Lavazza and Laura Elen.

The event is always popular, so prior booking is essential. Tickets for the evening cost €45 for members and €50 for non-members. To book, please contact Kim Bowe by email: kim_bowe1@hotmail.com or by phone: 711 077 576.

Magical March

new perspective on the traditional discipline, expressing the essence of Andalucian life.

Maui de Utrera will take to the stage in the first performance date, blending a touch of humour with the

signature arts discipline. The show costs €5 and tickets are available online: www.mientrada.net or at the theatre’s box office.

A punk rock tribute to the 80s hitmakers, Héroes del Silencio is set to take place the following night on Saturday, March 11. The show again costs €5 and guarantees to be filled with nostalgia and energetic tracks.

TV magician, Toni Bright is also set to entertain an audience in Torrox with his show, ‘La Magia de la Mente’ on Saturday, March 10. The magician is one of the most talented in Spain, with a show costing €10 that’s sure to blow all spectators’ minds!

The spring spirit is set to arrive in Torrox with a diverse range of events.

Photo credit: BigDane

shutterstock.com

Almuñecar’s rescue services stand in solidarity with Turkey and Syria after the devastating earthquake that has claimed thousands of lives.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Almuñécar (via email)

NIBS EXTRA

Tree tribute

NERJA celebrated the ‘Day of Love’ differently this year, planting four trees in Plaza de Andalucia to pay tribute to four couples who have spent more than 50 years together. One of the couples has been married for 70 years!

Volunteer help

APAA Nerja are calling for new volunteers to run their boutique shop and charity shop in Nerja after several staff shortages due to holidays and sickness. To volunteer your time, please visit the shop to register your interest with staff.

Battling blaze

COURAGEOUS firefighters in Velez­Malaga took on a huge fire in a warehouse which gutted three recycling lorries and damaged another three on Sunday, February 12. Onlookers raised the alarm after seeing clouds of black smoke. The causes remain unknown.

Motorbike mad

RINCON DE LA VICTORIA is set to host a major motorbike meet in April, welcoming more than 500 motorbike enthusiasts to the area. The day will include a mass bike ride, communal dinner and activities based on a shared passion.

Flood defence

AUTHORITIES in Torre del Mar have invested more than €500,000 from European funds in improving the town’s flood defences. The work will protect areas in the town centre and the east of the town against flooding during heavy rain.

Drug bust

A CRIMINAL ring of 29 people, led by three businessmen, has been broken by National Police in Axarquia. The group were allegedly in possession of more than 7,000 marihuana plants and were involved in a money laundering operation.

Betty Henderson AUTHORITIES in Axarquia have announced the completion of a stunning hiking route that offers outdoorlovers an incredible journey, showcasing the best of the region.

The 44.5 kilometre route consists of four stages with footpaths that were opened on Tuesday, February 8.

The project to create the route had an investment of more than €66,000 which included the creation of the trail, maps and accompanying resources for walkers.

The scenic trail passes through eight towns in Axarquia; Riogordo, Comares, Cutar, El Borge, Almachar, Macharaviaya, Moclinejo and Rincon

Trail triumph

press conference where regional government representative and mayor of Rincon de La Victoria, Francisco Salado explained, “With this trail we wanted to enrich residents’ quality of life as well as generating employment and boosting tourists’ interest in our local area.”

STORIES IN THIS WEEK'S

A new hiking route through Axarquia will allow walkers to discover more of the region, including the town of Cutar.

de la Victoria, where it joins the Gran Senda de Malaga hiking trail.

The

The route is also known as the ‘GR242’, and covers unique mountain and coastal landscapes as well as Axarquia’s distinctive agricultural sites, and offers hikers a chance to visit wineries, restaurants and farms.

Holy Week

AFTER several years of the pandemic disrupting trips, Nerja History Group’s trips have returned in style! Thirtyfour members of the group enjoyed a three­night trip to view historic sights and enjoy gastronomic delights in Valencia.

In Valencia, the group took several tours with local guide Angela including of the city’s Estación del Norte, several fascinating squares, markets,

silk exchange, and Valencia’s gothic cathedral where they viewed the Holy Grail! Members of the group enjoyed trips to the city’s various museums.

The group also explored the avant­garde City of Arts and Sciences space, opera house and CaixaForum which

offered memorable views.

After the success of the excursion, plans for the group’s next adventure are already in the pipeline!

Nerja History Group was established by a former nun, Dr Dorothy Price back in 2002, uniting a group of people around a shared love of histo­

ry. With more than 20 years of experience, the international group regularly hosts talks and takes trips sharing their historical expertise.

Further information about the group is available online: http://nerjahistorygroup.com / or by email: nerjahistory group@yahoo.com.

Inthe air

Visit to Valencia Carnival returns

VELEZ ­ MALAGA’s longawaited carnival returned on Saturday, February 11 after a more than two­year hiatus due to the pandemic. The lengthy absence of the town’s carnival only seems to have made revellers more creative as the streets filled with incredibly costumed carnival­goers.

People of all ages gathered in vibrant costumes, from fairground themed outfits to elves and fairies along with huge accessories and floats including an enormous galacticallythemed whale! Not even strong winds could put festival ­ goers off after two years without carnival, the

town’s streets were rapidly filled with lengthy processions and marching bands.

The biggest parade of the carnival also took place on Saturday, finishing in the Plaza de Las Carmelitas where carnival­goers were awarded prizes for the most inventive costumes in several different categories including for children, couples and large groups of more than nine people.

This year’s carnival concluded with a community meal of paella in the San Francisco Market which saw hundreds of people come together to socialise and soak up the carnival atmosphere on Sunday, February 12.

LOVE was all around in the last week in Torre del Mar as the town celebrated Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, February 14. A love themed photocall arrived in the town, offering couples and friends a chance to record their memories of a special date.

The photo opportunity featured a red campervan lit up by a lights display and a lighting message reading ‘I love you’.

The unique design will remain in the town centre until tomorrow, Friday, February 17, to allow all that want to get a photo or to soak up the loving atmosphere the chance to do so.

The deputy mayor of Vélez­Málaga and councillor for Tourism, Jesús Atencia Pérez announced the initiative saying, “Although it is not an official holiday, Valentine’s Day is an impor­

tant holiday for many couples in our town and across the world, so we wanted to give them a memory of this special day.”

A range of local businesses also felt the love over the last week with restaurants offering Valentine’s Day meals and offers on gifts.

HOLY WEEK might still be a little way off, but preparations in Almuñecar are already underway. The town launched its official Holy Week poster last week, eight weeks before celebrations begin.

Holy Week is an important celebration across Spain due to Catholic traditions, but particularly in Andalucia where the week before Easter has been declared an important cultural heritage event.

Almuñecar is no different, with 16 different processions around the town led by different ‘brotherhoods’ of faith. Each of the processions commemorates a different stage of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, with intricately decorated ornaments and platforms.

The streets of the town are filled with heartfelt devotion during this week as locals and visitors express their Catholic faith.

This year’s design is an image of a statue of Jesus dramatically lit to show the significance of Holy Week.

new trail was unveiled at a

A whale even took to the streets of VelezMalaga in one of the most eye-catching scenes at the town’s carnival.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Vélez-Málaga (via Facebook)

Torrox’s tapas trail

Betty Henderson

TORROX is inviting visitors and residents alike to get involved with a delicious culinary incentive to introduce more people to the region’s delectable cuisine. Organisers have designed a tapas trail around 18 different restaurants and bars in the event which runs until Sunday, March 5.

The event got underway on Friday, February 10, with organisers encouraging all to get involved and try delicious tapas in ‘Europe’s best climate’. The tapas trail offers a specially curated menu of tapas from each of the 18 participating restaurants, showcasing local ingredients and exquisite wine pairings.

As well as sampling a variety of regional dishes during

the event, tapas trail participants will also have the opportunity to enter a raffle to win incredible gastronomic prizes. The prizes are sure to delight any food lover, includ­

ing three trips to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, a breathtaking coastal town in Cadiz with delicious seafood. The trips include a visit to the town’s iconic Barbadillo wineries. Twenty cases of wine are up for grabs in the prize draw. To enter the raffle, guests must complete the tapas trail by trying each of the 18 tapas over the three weeks.

A LOCAL arts group is preparing to host its annual general meeting on Friday, February 24. The Arts Society Nerja will hold its AGM in the Museo de Nerja from 12pm on the day, followed by an exclusive talk and book launch.

During the AGM, members will vote for a new committee to lead the group through their diverse programme of cultural events in 2023, including a trip to the Netherlands in April. The first call in the meeting is set to take place at 10.15am before a second call at 10.45am.

Authors Linda Decker and Peter Lawrence are set to launch their book, ‘Impressions of Andalucia during the event. The coffee table book, ‘Impressions of Andalucia’ is a cultural journey through the region.

The Nerja Arts Society is a branch of the British Arts Society group who meet regularly

EVERYONE knows that Axarquia’s grapes are some of the best in the world, but they are now officially recognised as an important heritage symbol by the FAO (SIPAM in Spanish), the United Nations’ body for agriculture.

The regional government received a certificate from the FAO recognising the historic, cultural and gastro ­

Arts AGM

to discuss cultural and artistic projects as well as participating in art­related workshops. More information about the group is available online at: https://www.facebook.com/theartssociety nerja?__cft__[0]=AZWh0mpv1hFWeLaewLkc9nyBdUAXhAJzLvpOlC5flpKZF4sXzrfjTKCGz znpVJ9cUlqRR5tRVvhruwLwjjgbZBiSWF cYye842KfreTazq­wUNKehsH6OkikHefvihx uu6s&__tn__=­UC%2CP­R as well as on their website where memberships are also avail able for purchase at: https://www.theartsso cietynerja.com/?fbclid=IwAR0UdGdldMnBicF cIkIkAy_VA45dtxYdgWSC7IjhheEo4QMnDB nCKushJdM

Glory for grapes

nomic value of the ‘uva pasa moscatel’ muscatel grape.

Representatives from the regional government, the FAO and other agricultural organisations came together in the town of El Borge, north of Velez­Malaga to receive the certificate. The

Muscatel Grape Association was created in El Borge back in October 2021.

José Juan Jiménez, President of the regional government thanked the body for the award and highlighted his commitment to the local community.

The prestigious award means that authorities will now create an app and online presence to encourage visitors to enjoy the delicious local grape and grape products, like wine.

Torrox launched a tapas trail over the weekend featuring 18 different dishes and the chance to win local wines and a trip to Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Torrox

‘‘The course of true love never did run smooth’’ Meaning that true love is never easy and can incur difficulties. This expression derives from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1598.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

THE otter has reproduced in Spain’s Mogent River for the first time after more than four decades.

The Mogent River is in the north­east of the Iberian Peninsula, a tributary of the Besos, which runs through the province of Barcelona.

The new family group is made up of a female and two cubs, born in the summer, who already make daily trips accompanied by their mother. They will continue to do so until they reach approximately one­yearold, which is the average age of emancipation of this species.

In recent years, individuals had been detected periodically in the River Mogent, a tributary

Baby otters

ing shows the relevance of the work for the conservation of habitats in order to preserve their biodiversity.”

of the Besos River, but they were otters who were passing through and who came from other areas.

Antoni Alarcon, Director of Barcelona Zoo, said: “This find­

SPANISH fiction for film and television will have the largest representation in the European Film Market (EFM) to date. This year in Berlin, Spain is set to participate with more than 20 companies from the audiovisual sector.

The European Film Market is one of the three most important meetings for the international audiovisual industry. In 2023 it will celebrate its 35th edition from February 16 ­ 22 at various locations in the city of Berlin. The event will coincide with the 73rd edition of the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival.

178 Leopard 1 tanks have been sent to Ukraine by Germany.

Film & TV

A total of 33 Spanish films will be screened at the festival by eight sales agents who, together with the nine film commissions, will make up EFM’s Cinema from Spain stand. For the first time, Spanish content and serialised talent will be present at the Berlinale Series Market. Berlinale Series Market is held in cooperation with Berlinale Series, a section that offers a first look at the latest series productions from around the world.

NEW FAMILY: Two cubs were born in the summer.

Image: Barcelona City Council

Tunnelling through

Plans for a tunnel between Spain and Morocco are back on the table.

Pandemic recovery plan

THE Bank of Spain released its economic forecast for the pandemic recovery plan on Monday, February 6, saying that it predicts a direct GDP improvement of 1.15 per cent per year, which could rise to 1.75 per cent annually.

Economists at the Bank of Spain note that funding from the European Union would have the greatest impact on sectors related to digitalisation like the information and communication industries and technological services as well as the construction sector.

Increased productivity in the transport sector since material shortages have been re-

solved is also expected to have a positive knock-on effect. However, the Bank of Spain has warned that a skilled labour shortage could reduce the effects of the plan. The plan was approved by the EU at the end of 2022.

Advertising Feature

MINISTERS assured the public that plans for a land tunnel between Morocco and Spain are still on the table after the two countries held a summit in Morocco.

The Spanish government included a sum of €750,000 in their budget for 2023 to fund studies into the viability of a tunnel which would run through the Strait of Gibraltar.

The most optimistic reports suggest that a 42 kilometre tunnel could be built and opened to the public between 2030 and 2040 if work gets underway soon.

While there are no official plans for the tunnel, it was one of the topics of discussion between President Pedro Sánchez and Moroccan Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch.

The long-awaited project was first proposed back in 1979 and a committee of North African and European delegates meets regularly to discuss it after plans were revived in Spain’s 2021 budget.

Cancer research Highly contagious

ON Tuesday, February 7, the Junta de Castilla­La Mancha activated the immobilisation protocol for all livestock in the Castilian­La Mancha provinces, except in Guadalajara. This was due to a new outbreak of sheep pox.

It is not transmitted to humans or to the milk or cheese the animals produce, but is a highly contagious disease with high mortality among farm livestock.

The measure affected 6,000 sheep and goat farms in Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Toledo, and Albacete, with some 3.5 million head of cattle.

Regarding the movement of animals, only those going to the slaughterhouse are authorised, although milk can continue to be collected on the farms and the animals can also be grazed.

Experts were said to be surprised by the rapid transmission of the virus. It began as an outbreak of sheep/goat smallpox in Granada, which then made the leap to Cuenca. Since then it spread in the Castilian­La Mancha region, causing 25 outbreaks and leaving livestock immobilised. As a result, 38,000 animals have already been slaughtered.

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SPAIN’S Minister for Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, visited the Research Foundation of the Hospital Clinico de Valencia where she highlighted that in the period 2018­2022, the ministry allocated more than €480 million to research projects to tackle this disease.

Morant stated that the fight against cancer is a national priority for the government of Spain and pointed out that the largest amount of money invested in health research is directed at this disease, which has a great impact not only on patients, but also on their families and their environment.

During her visit to the hospital, the minister visited the Immune 4 ALL project which aims to detect biomarkers that can predict the effect of immunotherapy on tumours with high mortality rates such as those involved in breast, ovarian, cervical, colon, biliary tract and liver cancer. Eight autonomous communities and nearly 1,600 patients are taking part in this project.

The minister also conveyed the government’s commitment to promoting precision medicine, which combines healthcare and research through strategic projects.

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1,000 electric vehicle charging points are to be installed across Spain by Adif.

Betty Henderson

ALGERIA has knocked the USA off the top spot as the biggest natural gas supplier to Spain in data from the start of 2023. Figures released on Friday, February 10 showed that most of the liquified natural gas received in Spain came from the North African nation.

Providing 8,545 gigawatt hours (GWh) of natural gas to Spain, Algeria was the country’s biggest partner, leaving the USA in second place. The USA provided a total of 7,102

New partner

GWh to Spain in second place before Nigeria who provided 6,932 GWh.

The figures paint a picture of a shifting energy market in Spain. Although Algeria became the biggest supplier of natural gas, the country actually provided 11.17 per cent less gas than this time last year. Meanwhile, the USA took a huge cut in natural gas

sales, providing nearly 46 per cent less natural gas to Spain than in January 2022. Nigeria provided 37 per cent more natural gas than in January last year.

Spain imported less natural gas this year than last, partially due to warmer weather, as well as sanctions on the former biggest gas provider, Russia.

Six arrested, seven to go

THE National Crime Agency and partners have renewed an appeal to help trace some of the United Kingdom’s Most Wanted fugitives.

Twelve months ago the NCA launched its most recent appeal to find 13 men on the run ­ all believed to be hiding in Spain or with strong links to the country.

In that time, six wanted men have been traced, arrested and are at various stages of the extradition and judicial process.

Today, the appeal ­ run in conjunction with independent charity Crimestoppers, Spanish law enforcement, and UK policing ­ is renewed.

The wanted men are:

Heavily tattooed Jack Mayle, 31, on suspicion of supplying Class A drug MDMA and other drugs.

Asim Naveed, 31, and 6ft 2in tall, is accused of playing a leading role in a highly organised crime group (OCG) that trafficked 46 kilos of cocaine into Wales.

Calvin Parris, 33, who has gold upper teeth, is accused of being a customer of Naveed’s OCG and selling cocaine on in Cardiff.

John James Jones, 32, of Ormskirk, Lancashire, is wanted for wounding with intent.

Callum Michael Allan, 24, of South Shields, is sought for 12 alleged offences.

Mark Francis Roberts, 29, of Liverpool, is wanted for alleged grievous bodily harm.

Alex Male, 30, of Weston­super­Mare, is alleged to be a regional distributor of drugs across the south west of England. He has links to Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

Steve Reynolds, NCA regional head in Spain, said: “Spain is immensely popular with British people who live and take holidays there, but it is not a safe haven for criminals.”

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or fill out an anonymous online form at Crimestop pers­uk.org.

Callers in Spain should dial the freephone Spanish number 900 926 111.

Dodging sanctions

RUSSIA’S invasion of Ukraine has caused many Western countries to issue broad packages of sanctions against the rogue nation.

But one panel of experts has expressed their concern that in looking for new trading options, Russia is using the Spanish enclave, Ceuta, to dodge sanctions.

Oil industry experts spoke out on Friday, February 10, saying that Russia is using international waters around 20 kilometres from Ceuta as a strategic location to load and transfer oil cargos to transport onwards to China. In the past, these transfers were completed in ports in the United States or Denmark, but both countries have now imposed sanctions on Russia.

The experts believe that Russia has transferred between 600,000 and one million barrels of crude oil between ships in the ocean off Spain’s North African enclave.

Spain does not allow these ship­to­ship transactions in its waters, but it is believed that the transfers are taking place outside of Spain’s jurisdiction.

Spain is not permitted to act unless the ships cross into national water.

Dream jobs

A BRAND­NEW study completed by global financial service, Remitly, has revealed the most sought­after job in each country. And Spain’s most popular dream job might be a surprise to some.

In the report, Spain was the only European country to record an online role as the most popular dream job, with ‘online influencer’ being the top pick. By contrast, traditional jobs like ‘lawyer’, ‘firefighter’ or ‘teacher’ were the most popular dream jobs in most European countries.

The most popular dream job worldwide was ‘pilot’ with more than a million searches, followed by writer which saw more than 800,000 searches.

FUGITIVES: The appeal for information has been renewed.

Bomb blows

A SECOND World War bomb which was uncovered on Tuesday, February 7, by construction workers in the Norfolk coastal town of Great Yarmouth reportedly exploded at around 5pm on Friday February 10.

Norfolk Police tweeted: “We can confirm the unexploded Second World War bomb in Great Yarmouth has detonated. This was not a planned detonation and happened during slow burn work to disarm the explosives. All army and emergency service personnel are accounted for. We will bring you further info when we have it.” Homes and businesses were previously evacuated in the vicinity of the £121 million project to construct a third crossing over the River Yare. Bomb disposal experts have been at the location attempting to defuse the device.

Newly announced prequel

By Peter McLaren­Kennedy

THE popular TV murder series Dexter is to get a prequel that will detail his path to becoming a serial killer.

The new series, which will be set in Miami, is entitled Dexter: Origins according to a report by a UK news source on Tuesday, February 7.

It is understood the show will start around the time he attended university and will focus on real cases from the period which will be portrayed as having influenced his decision to become a serial killer.

The series, which follows the life of forensic technician Dexter Morgan, be ­

came the most ­ watched Showtime series in 2021.

A new series of Dexter: New Blood is also planned that will follow the emergence of his son Harrison according to Dexter creator Clyde Phillips.

There are other spinoffs to the series with The Trinity Killer with John Lithgow in the lead role, a perfor ­

Invited to Coronation

IT was revealed late on Friday, February 10, that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on the guest list and will be invited to the Coronation of King Charles III in May, according to an exclusive report by a UK news source.

“They’re on the list and planning is well underway to make sure the proceedings run as smoothly as possiblewithout any drama,” a source told the news outlet.

After Harry disclosed Royal Family secrets in his recent best­selling memoir ‘Spare’, there had been doubts over whether his father would invite him to the massive event in a few

months’ time. The appearance of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could overshadow the occasion it was suggested by many.

Seating arrangements in Westminster Abbey are allegedly being done in such a precise way that Harry and his brother William will not be seen together.

The final guest list is expected to include around 2,000 names and should be confirmed in the next few weeks the source explained. Domestic and foreign royals will of course be on the list, along with world leaders and foreign dignitaries.

DEXTER: The most watched series in 2021.

mance for which he received an Emmy for bestsupporting actor in a drama series.

The Dexter prequel is going ahead but there could be more if creator Clyde Phillips has his way.

More vapes removed

ALL the leading supermarkets in the UK have confirmed they have removed some vapes from their stores over health fears. The vapes were banned after an investigation by the UK press showed the items to contain more nicotine than the legal limit of 2ml or 2 per cent strength. Sainsbury’s confirmed on Friday, February 10 that Elf Bar products are the items that were found to be unsafe, with the vapes no longer for sale. A spokesperson for Elf Bar has apologised claiming some batches were overfilled in error. A Morrisons spokesperson said: “As part of our ongoing investigation into the legal compliance of Elf Bar 600 disposable electronic cigarettes with Trading Standards, we have made the decision to remove all flavoured variants from sale.

“The products will only be returned to sale once stock that fully complies with UK legislation becomes available.”

Elf Bar is one of the leading vape brands in the UK selling around 2.5 million Elf bars weekly.

Supporting money-saving currency transfers for 20 years

1. Hi Peter, firstly, congratulations on your 20th anniversary with Currencies Direct! That’s an incredible achievement. Things have changed a lot over the last two decades, but what would you say have been the biggest changes for Currencies Direct?

Currencies Direct was established back in 1996, making it one of the first specialist currency providers in Europe.

Since then the company has experienced phenomenal growth, expanding across the world.

We now have branches across Spain (20+ and counting!) as well as branches in Portugal, the UK, South Africa, the US and India.

As the number of Currencies Direct branches has increased, so has the number of currency experts we employ to support our customers. In Spain alone we have a team of over 100, and watching our presence in Spain grow has been a pleasure.

As we’re always investing in our people and technology, our service offering has changed a lot over the years as we’ve adjusted to meet our customers’ changing requirements. A number of years ago we launched a market­leading online service and app, so while our customers can still come to see us in branch or give us a call, they also have the flexibility to manager their money on their terms and make 24/7 currency transfers.

While I’ve seen the number of currency providers increase during my time with Currencies Direct, we’ve managed to stay ahead of the curve by changing with the times and always putting our customers

first. However, one thing that hasn’t changed in the last 20 years is the unrivalled level of personal support we provide.

2. From an industry level perspective, what is the biggest change you’ve seen?

Brexit undoubtedly inspired a huge amount of change in our industry. The EU referendum and everything that followed created historic amounts of volatility in the currency market and extreme uncertainty for our customers.

Preparing for Brexit and the end of the transition period was a mammoth undertaking, but the measures we took (such as obtaining the required authorisation to operate in the EU from the Bank of Spain) meant that our customers experienced no disruption or loss of service.

3. How did Covid change your business?

Covid had a significant impact on all of us, but as a business our priority was to acclimatise to support customers as much and as safely as we could.

While we really missed being able to in­

teract with customers in person in our branches, we found many of our customers embracing our online service and app for the first time. The convenience of being able to check live exchange rates and make transfers 24/7 meant that our online service and app continued to be extremely popular even after restrictions were lifted.

However, we’re really enjoying seeing customers back in our branches again. There’s no substitute for real interaction!

4. In your opinion, what makes Currencies Direct different from other currency providers?

Factors like the exceptional exchange rates we offer, the fact we don’t charge transfer fees and our exclusive relationship with CaixaBank all help us stand out from the crowd, but it’s our individual account management and customer service that truly set us apart.

When customers register with us they’re assigned a personal Account Manager, a dedicated currency expert to work with them throughout their lifetime with our company. We take the time to really get to know our customers, understand their requirements and help them get more for their money. The success of this approach has led to multiple award wins (like MoneyAge Money Transfer Provider of the Year four times) and the highest TrustScore in our industry. We have an ‘Excellent’ five­star Trustscore on Trustpilot and thousands of wonderful reviews from happy customers, something which really means a lot to us.

5. Why have you been proud to work for Currencies Direct for so long?

Working for such a customer­centric company is a big source of pride for me, and I’ve really enjoyed playing a part in our evolution ­ it’s amazing to think of where we started to where we are now.

One of the best things about working for Currencies Direct has been working with such an incredible team. Without the dedication and exceptional performance of our employees the company wouldn’t have seen the success it has.

6. Looking to the future, has Currencies

Direct got anything on the horizon that our readers might be interested in?

We’ve actually got a very exciting development to share. In late March we’ll be introducing our customers to a better way to pay with the launch of our multi­currency debit card. Customers will be able to put funds in their EUR, GBP, AUD or USD currency wallets and spend seamlessly in over 200 countries.

They’ll also be able to withdraw money from ATMs and keep track of their spending in our app. We can’t wait to provide our customers with this great new service, and it marks another exciting chapter in our history.

7. Finally, how did you celebrate your anniversary?

I was taken out for a lovely meal and presented with a wonderful gift ­ a Spitfire experience for me and my son!

As Peter Loveday, Currencies Direct’s Managing Director of Southern Europe, is celebrating his 20­year work anniversary, we sat down with him to find out all about his time with the company and why he’s been happy to work with them for so long.

STAT OF WEEK €257 billion

is the record-breaking amount paid to Spain’s tax authority Hacienda last year, just over 15 per cent more than in 2021, and outstripping a predicted 8 per cent.

BUSINESS EXTRA Ticket to ride FINANCE

Tighter belts

AS shoppers spent less and awaited increased energy bills, UK retail sales growth more than halved at the start of the year. The country’s total retail sales grew by 4.2 per cent last month compared with 11.9 per cent in January 2022, British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed.

Art lovers

SPAIN’S millennials born between the early 80s and mid90s are not investing in art, according to several Madrid auctioneers and dealers, accounting for between 3 and 4 per cent of sales. In contrast, their international counterparts accounted for 34 per cent of new buyers, London­based Christie’s said.

Lidl surprise

MARKETING data company

Kantar revealed that customers who habitually shop at Marks & Spencer, Waitrose or Sainsbury’s spent £120 million (€135.5 million) at Lidl last year. The equivalent of £10 million (€11.3 million), this rose to (£11 million (€12.4 million) in January, suggesting a new trend.

More jobs

THE number of workers working for Spain’s largest companies rose last year by 5.2 per cent compared with 2022, tax authority Hacienda revealed. Their salaries rose by 3.7 per cent in the largest increase recorded since 2008, but well below late December’s 5.7 per cent inflation rate.

Gone to waste

MILLIONS of pounds’ worth of UK energy vouchers have not been cashed as one in five homes with pre ­ payment meters have failed to redeem approximately 380,000 of them. The government urged energy firms to ensure that vulnerable customers received the help they were entitled to.

Nissan’s veiled message

THE “economics must work” if Nissan decides to make its new Juke and Qashqai electric vehicles in the UK.

Speaking to the BBC recently, Nissan’s CEO Ashwani Gupta said that Britain faced a challenge if it was to remain competitive in comparison with other car­making countries.

Manufacturing costs were higher than in other countries owing to higher energy bills and overall inflation, he pointed out, warning that lower costs were key to keeping the UK competitive.

Also prominent in making the UK attractive to car makers was continuing government support in the transition to electric vehicles, coupled to dependable supply chains, Gupta added.

Nissan is committed to producing the Leaf electric car’s successor at its Sunderland factory which employs 6,000 people. At the same time the CEO said that the company “needed to have the economics to justify it” when allocating production of the new Juke

and Qashqai models between its 44 plants worldwide.

Determining where to build the Juke and Qashqai will not be immediate, as the new models of these Sunderlandmade best­selling cars are not due until 2027­28 and decisions are usually made two or three years earlier.

Nissan recently secured approximately £100 (€112.5 million) in public money towards the £1 billion (€1.125 billion) it will invest in expanding a Chinese­owned battery plant adjoining the Sunderland plant.

Meanwhile, as the global car manufacturing is reshaped, the US is offering tens of billions of dollars in subsidies to the car industry and EU is expected to respond with its own enticements.

Hacienda blacklist ruling

RAIL tickets in the UK could soon be priced like airline seats, based on a demand­based system now being tried out.

Mark Harper, Transport secretary, announced recently that the cost of tickets on some long­distance trains on the East Coast line run by the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) will vary according to availability.

The state­run train company would eventually phase out return tickets across its network, dependent on a pilot programme determining whether to introduce this nationally, Harper said.

The current trial follows a successful scheme selling only single­leg tickets on some longer intercity routes including London­Edinburgh.

Game over

SPAIN’S Blacklist of tax

defaulters will henceforth name only those with definite, confirmed debts.

The Supreme Court analysed four cases before announcing a decision that will now set jurisprudence. Two cases arose from the alleged debts of public bodies, including the Social Security Fund. Two others were related to two businessmen who lodged an appeal against Spain’s tax authority, Hacienda, after they appeared on its notorious 2018 Blacklist.

In all four cases, the

New clients

SANTANDER’S online Openbank is making a €50 payment to the holders of new accounts opened before February 20.

Unlike other banks whose sweeteners depend on new clients paying in their salary, Openbank is asking them only to deposit a minimum of €1,000 before March 8 and to keep it there until March 31 when they receive the €50.

The bank emphasised that there was no charge for opening, maintaining or closing the new account, and standard transfers in euros were free within the European Union.

Supreme Court concluded that the Blacklist should name only those with confirmed debts. This was the first time that the tribunal had ruled on the scope and interpretation of Blacklists

referred to in Spain’s General Tax Law.

Legal sources explained that this latest decision questions the future of this type of list, although it appears that Hacienda has asked for time to study the decision and assess its implications and consequences.

According to these same sources, the Supreme Court’s decision was based on “overwhelming common sense” as it allowed taxpayers to exhaust all available options before they could be added to the

Cosentino fined

MULTINATIONAL marble company, Consentino, was ordered to pay €1.1 million compensation to five stoneworkers who contracted silicosis.

The company’s owner Francisco Fernandez Cosentino also received a sixmonth suspended prison sentence.

In a later statement he admitted providing insufficient information to a Vigo (Galicia) firm regarding the composition of Silestone, the company’s star surface composed of minerals, quartz and recycled materials.

This posed a “much greater health risk” to the five Vigo employees than natural stone, ruled judge Montserrat Delgado.

Accepting both the sentence and compensation, Fernandez Cosentino went on to say that the five affected staff members worked at a specific workshop.

Blacklist.

The tribunal’s decision also suggested that an affected taxpayer appealing against a Hacienda decision or demand could not be included while a case was ongoing, even if the debt was not paid.

This, the Supreme Court said, was the only way of ensuring that the Blacklist complied with the Constitution “and the right to honour and privacy”, bearing in mind that the alleged defaulter could later win an appeal after appearing on the list.

Unhappy staff

PERSONNEL at privatised air traffic control towers at 16 Spanish airports intend to continue stoppages each Monday throughout February.

The 162 employees work at airports in Alicante, Valencia, Ibiza, Sabadell, Vigo, Jerez, Sevilla, La Coruña, Madrid­Cuatro Vientos, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Murcia, Castellon, Lleida and El Hierro.

In 2020 two companies, Ferronat and Saerco, paid the Spanish government €102 million to operate 12 of these airports for seven years.

The controllers decided to strike after negotiating the sector’s fourth collective bargaining agreement broke down in January.

The stoppages arrived at the same time as government plans to privatise the service at another seven control towers.

MICROSOFT’S acquisition of Activision was in question after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) predicted harm to gamers.

The (CMA) already expressed concerns about Microsoft’s plans last year, but declared recently that the deal could adversely affect fans of video games.

The CMA has now published the provisional findings of its investigation into the Microsoft and Activision deal after deciding that this could result in higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation for UK gamers.

The CMA suggested possible remedies that include Microsoft being forced to sell off Activision Blizzard’s business associated with the Call of Duty game.

Plenty space

MARK BOGGETT, Seraphim Space’s CEO, described last January’s failed Virgin Orbit satellite launch from Cornwall as “a slight setback.”

The UK, whose space industry currently supports nearly 50,000 jobs, remained a global leader, and was currently attracting more investment in space projects than any other country apart from China and the US, Boggett insisted.

Despite the Virgin Orbit setback, Boggett believed there was still “significant dry powder” by way of cash reserves that corporations and private equity funds were prepared to deploy for attractive investment opportunities in Britain’s space industry.

Photo credit: Nissan Global

ASHWANI GUPTA: Nissan CEO said company committed to producing Leaf model.

Photo credit: Zarateman

SUPREME COURT: Judges rule Hacienda may only name confirmed defaulters.

DOW JONES

Not so cheap

UK consumer association

Which? found that shopping at the big supermarkets’ convenience stores could add more than £800 (€902) to a family’s yearly food bills. Tesco Express charged higher prices, Which? said, and also found that Sainsbury’s Local outlets were more expensive for essentials.

On the payroll

ANTONIO GARAMENDI, president of Spain’s Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE), is no longer registered as a self­employed ‘autonomo’. Instead Garamendi now draws an annual salary of €400,000, an improvement of 9 per cent on his income during his first term as CEOE president.

Not me

LIZ TRUSS admitted to a Spectator interviewer that cutting the 45p (88 cents) tax rate was “perhaps a bridge too far.” She also argued that it was not fair to blame her for rising mortgage rates and said she believed that there were other factors involved apart from the mini­budget.

Profits down

SPANISH insurance company Mapfre earned €29.5 billion last year with premiums growing by 10.8 per cent to €24.540 billion. Profits fell by 16 per cent to €642 million, owing to the impact of inflation, an increase in the number of accidents and ongoing drought in some regions.

On the road

CAR sales in the UK last month grew by 14.7 per cent compared to January 2022 with a total of 131,994 vehicles registered. The MG HS hybrid was the best­selling car while Nissan’s Qashqai ­ the UK’s mostbought new car in 2022 ­ fell to third behind the VW TRoc.

Recharging Britishvolt

Linda Hall

RECHARGE INDUSTRIES, an Australian company was named preferred bidder for Britishvolt which collapsed last month.

The company manufactured batteries for electric cars and would have built a £3.8 billion (€4.3 billion) factory near Blyth in Northumberland with government funding had it found investors. Instead, it went into administration.

As reported in the Euro Weekly News, Recharge Industries, an Australian start­up, showed an immediate interest in Britishvolt and outbid rivals for the company.

Recharge Industries put together an ‘aggressive’ package that revived hopes of going ahead with the £3.8 billion (€4.3 billion) gigafactory in the north of

England, which could supply UK­built electric vehicles without relying on Chinese materials. It would also provide 3,000 skilled jobs.

The Australian company, a start­up linked to the New York­based Scale Fa­

Russian exit

cilitation investment firm, overcame three other offers to become the preferred bidder and take Britishvolt out of the administrators’ hands.

Recharge will work simultaneously on rebuilding Britishvolt and the new plant while going ahead with its own plans for a battery factory in Geelong, the former car manufacturing hub in Australia.

Thanks to Australia’s mineral deposits, the proposed lithium­ion plant would not be dependent on China or Russia and risk supply­chain delays.

Recharge’s proposals to Britishvolt’s administrators, which stressed both strategic and diplomatic ties, also received backing from the British government’s trade envoy for Australia, the ex­English cricketer Ian Botham.

Spain’s desirable renewables

GOLDMAN SACHS announced the launch of Verdalia Bioenergy involving an investment of more than €1 billion in Europe’s biomethane sector.

The American multinational investment bank and financial services company will focus on ‘developing, acquiring, building and operating’ biomethane plants across Europe, contributing to the European Union’s decarbonisation agenda.

Verdalia will invest in early­stage development projects and larger operational assets and has already signed its first agreement, subject to regulatory approval.

Once given the go­ahead, Verdalia will purchase a portfolio of biomethane projects in mid­stage development in Spain, with a total capacity of approximately 150 gigawatts per year. Goldman Sachs is joining forces with Fernando Bergasa and Cristina Avila.

The former chiefs of Spanish electricity, oil and gas distribution company Redexis, they have a strong track record in the natural gas sector, Goldman Sachs sources said. Under their leadership, Verdalia aims to become a leading biomethane operator, starting in Spain and subsequently expanding across Europe, deploying more than €1 billion over the next four years.

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (BAT), which formerly dominated 25 per cent of the Russian market, intends to leave this year.

Following the Ukraine invasion BAT, which makes Rothmans and Lucky Strike, announced that it intended to leave Russia and would sell its operation there to a local partner. It is also making plans to transfer its unit in Belarus in 2023.

The group reported an adjusted profit of £12.4 billion (€13.9 billion) in 2022, an 11 per cent increase on 2021 thanks to demand for its e­cigarettes and oral nicotine products.

Glass ceiling

“We are excited to work with Goldman Sachs Asset Management and benefit from their investment experience,” Fernando Bergasa, Verdalia’s executive chairman said.

“Renewable gas will be a key tool to assist Europe in its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.”

BBVA and Turkey

TURKEY’s disastrous double earthquake puts more pressure on BBVA’s investments there.

BBVA is the owner of Turkey’s largest bank, Garanti, which has 972 branches and more than 21,000 employees.

Adversely affected by galloping inflation and the weak Turkish lira over the past 12 months, Garanti had a bad start to 2023 with shares devalued by 31.2 per cent since January 1. They fell by 6.57 per cent on the

Istanbul stock exchange the day after the earthquake.

Garanti is proving a headache for BBVA and in the 2022 financial year its Turkish subsidiary had a €324 million impact on results owing to hyper­inflation that had reached 64 per cent by the end of December. BBVA was counting on Garanti to generate neither profits nor losses for the group, but instead the bank improved on forecasts, with benefits of €509 million.

Fish on the menu

FISHING plays a minor part in the UK economy but featured prominently in the Brexit campaign to regain control of British waters.

In 2020, when Boris Johnson announced details of his new Brexit trade agreement with the European Union, he promised that Britain would catch and eat “quite prodigious quantities of extra fish.”

Fisheries minister Mark Spencer told

MPs in December 2022 that the country was 30,000 tons better off now that it was outside the EU, although fisheries biologist Dr Bryce Stewart from York University maintained that the government had overestimated the long­term impact.

Much of the benefit arrived in 2021 when 15 per cent of the EU’s overall 25 per cent share was transferred to Britain, with much smaller transfers due between now and 2026, Dr Stewart said.

THE Women Matter España survey by McKinsey & Company, found that women occupied few senior executive posts in Spain. After studying more than 45 companies with approximately 300,000 employees between them, the international management consultants found that the glass ceiling remained relatively intact.

Only 6 per cent of director general positions were filled by women in 2022, compared with the European Union’s 8 per cent.

On the other hand, Spanish companies had more female board members, with an average of 33 per cent against 31 per cent in the EU.

Nice earner

THE UK’s 4,185 speed cameras cost almost £29 million (€32.7 million) in maintenance over the last five years.

They also brought in £391 million (€441.7 million) in fines, according to research by the new and used­car comparison site Carwow.

Councils spent £3.2 million (€3.6 million) between 2018 to 2022, police forces paid £4.6 million (€5.2 million), and transport authorities, including Transport for London, spent a hefty £20.9 million (€23.6 million).

Many authorities willingly shared their costs for running their speed cameras with Carwow but others declined, claiming that this could affect maintenance negotiation in future.

Some police forces also preferred not to divulge speed camera numbers, citing crime prevention.

BRITISHVOLT: Australian Recharge Industries has revived its hopes.

BIOMETHANE PLANT: Goldman Sachs are investing in renewable energy.

Dangerous breeds

HEART rending photos last week of fouryear­old poppet Alice Stones, savagely mauled and subsequently killed by a pet dog. How long is it going to be until the authorities realise that a number of canine breeds are actually no more adaptable to the living conditions of human beings than many dangerous wild animals?

To my mind the likes of Pit Bull Terriers, Doberman Mastiffs, Rottweilers etc should be viewed in one place and one place only; the local Zoo.

In the last 10 years there have been 34 deaths in the UK due to dog attacks, many on children, with over 200,000 reports of dog bites in the last year alone! These are horrendous figures and the most tragic fact of all is that the majority of victims were extremely young.

Many of these tots, now scarred for life, have had their whole futures altered beyond redemption, simply because the two­legged animal that should be the most responsible of all, deems for some unknown reason to allow unpredictable, potentially life destroying four legged canines to share their homes. When are they going to recognise the devastation these animals are actually capable of?

I do actually shudder when I see pho­

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

tos, or postings of dangerous dog breeds, cuddling up or licking the faces (not too hygienic anyway!) of babies sometimes a few months old. One split second vicious snap and those faces could be gone or ravaged forever.

When is the government going to see some sense and ban certain dangerous breeds altogether? Personally I am myself a true dog lover. My beautiful pet is a cross between a Boxer and a Labrador and consequently quite big. You would find it hard to meet a more loving and faithful animal.

However I can quite honestly say that if my children were still young and living with me, the chances of my precious animal actually sharing our home would be completely zero.

It’s time some of the parents who allow dangerous breeds to mix with their youngsters were locked up. Doing a bit of jail time in an environment which may

very well contain only dogs that can tear you apart, may just bring them to their senses.

I do actually remember the last time I included dangerous dog owners in my weekly blurb; I almost had to run for the hills. Once again I await the slings and arrows of DDO’s with my usual full metal jock strap firmly in place.

Just a quick final word here to those woke fantasisers, who seem to have completely lost the plot of our human existence with their paltry trans gendering pronouns and other misanthropic diversity nonsense; turn your hearts and minds to the true horror in our world; the suffering of the men, women and children, caused by war in the Ukraine and the disastrous earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Thank our true Spiritual Father it’s not you.

ARMCHAIR DETECTIVES OUR VIEW

THE hunt for missing dog walker and mother of two Nicola Bulley is almost reaching the end of its first month and police are still making repeated calls for “armchair detectives” to stop hindering their investigation.

While interest in true crime has always held a fascination for the UK public, social media and the rise in Netflix cold case documentaries has only helped increase interest.

This poses important questions about the role of the press in solving crimes. Police have traditionally issued public appeals for information via the press, often with incredible results.

However, when does this go too far? Rather than providing useful information, in the case of Nicola Bulley, many people have used her disappearance as an opportunity to vent their own theories, criticise the police, or even further their own YouTube followings with videos shot from where she is thought to have gone missing.

For more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

Police have now issued a rare order preventing the latter behaviour, but how much of their time went into following spurious leads and tackling online misinformation rather than trying to find the missing mother?

More importantly even is the effect this has on the families involved, including Nicola’s small children, who are surely the most innocent victims in this tragic tale.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

PART of me would like to see my country’s footballers win the World Cup, especially under the leadership of Gareth Southgate and also to prove a point. But then I look at the pompous attitude of so many supporters, the general public, (“we won it in 1966”) and the media (“the dust is still settling in Doha after England’s defeat”) and I sigh.

In sport, playing at home is an enormous advantage. Federer always won the indoor tournament in Switzerland and Margaret Court won 11 major titles in Australia. The UK’s record number of Olympic medals was achieved in Britain in 2012. Henry Cooper knocked down Muhammad Ali in London. England reached the final of the UEFA Nations Cup in 2021 and the Lionesses won the World Cup in 2022. Both in London, England.

WORLD CUP WALLY

played all their matches in the comfort of their capital city, while the fancied Portugal team was sent to Manchester, Liverpool and then to London to meet England in the semi­final where they narrowly lost.

that, together with decades of hooliganism, the tournament has not been held in England since.

It is especially so in the World Cup. Non ­ footballing countries such as the USA, South Africa, South Korea and even Saudi Arabia (with Arab support) have all advanced to the knock ­ out stages on their own territory, where they have the support ­ and can call the shots.

Any detraction from England’s World Cup victory in

1966 is considered sacrilege. It is too widely perceived as our greatest achievement of the last century, ahead of the 1940 Battle Of Britain, the 1947 foundation of the NHS and our 1974 admission to the EEC. World Cup Willy was a mascot introduced for the 1966 World Cup taking place in England. In that year the FIFA president was English. England

Blatant tactical decisions by English referees had already ensured the early elimination of the strongest teams (Brazil and Hungary). Brutal fouls on Pele and his teammates were not penalised. Against England, Argentina’s captain was sent off after half an hour for no explicable reason. Argentina’s 10 men lost to a late goal by England.

Finally, England was awarded a winning ‘goal’ in the final against West Germany when the ball had not crossed the goal line. Everything was contrived to guarantee a World Cup for England. In these circumstances it is not surprising

To this day, England is the only World Cup winner not to have won it (or even reached the final) on foreign soil.

Over 56 years later, there is still no end to the gloating over England’s 1966 triumph every time the World Cup is mentioned, but the ‘fixing’ (or assisted passage) of the results is never mentioned. “Football’s coming home” they chant every four years, as if England has an unalienable right to lift the trophy. Surely, the true home of football is Brazil ­ or Argentina, Germany or Italy.

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In financial distress

THE Brish Benevolent Fund tries to help those Britons in extreme financial distress often for no fault of their own.

With the after effects of Brexit still being felt by many people we have an increasing number of cases of people who have found themselves without residency rights, which include the ability to work legally in Spainyet they remain.

For those people, many of whom are living in precarious circumstances, living off casual cash in hand and temporary jobs ­ many people have done this for years and been able to make a living and lead a life.

With those who do not have residency rights that also means the right to work.

Once that work dries up difficult choices need to be made including repatriation to the UK.

Once such applicant came to us over Christmas. He had been living rough for some months aer years of living and working in Spain.

He lost his job and no wages were given. He had no rights and soon found himself in the downward spiral of depression

and ill health due to his circumstances.

He had placed his belongings in a station locker but no longer had the funds to retrieve them.

The British Benevolent Fund was able help him with recovering his possessions, and provide emergency accommodation and a flight back to the UK, where we had arranged for him to be met by an aiport care team.

For many like him a return to the UK is not a welcome one. There is no cup of tea and a help to get yourself back on your feet. From being homeless in Spain he went to being homeless in the UK.

Like so many he had to prove that he was living in the UK by passing the Habitual Residency Test ­ which takes up to three months before it is processed.

In the meantime he was on the streets begging and spending nights in homeless sheltersas far away as can be imagined from his life in Spain.

He still has one month to go before he can apply for state support and housing so he can put his life back together. Please visit our website www.britishbenevolentfund.or g or contact me olaf.clayton @britishbenevolentfund.org.

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

David Worboys’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

England have won the World Cup once (at home). Pele has won it three times (away from home).

Photo Credits: sportskeeda.com and rudebutgood.blogstop.com

GOD BLESS YOU

HI

Leapy

Due to Brexit, which I voted for and still wholeheartedly believe is the best option for the United Kingdom, I have to adhere to Schengen rules which is not a problem as my husband and I get the best of both worlds in our lovely homes in Javea, Costa Blanca and Weston Super Mare, North Somerset.

So that I don’t miss your weekly column I get the Euro Weekly online each week when I am in England.

Keep doing what you’re doing and God bless you for doing it

Best wishes

Julia

I need to retire

HOW amazing is it that we are part of the 71.6 million tourists that come along to Spain every year. I can remember coming to Spain when there were no real tourist attractions other than the beach, fishing huts and predominately all Spanish­speaking. I have been coming to Spain for the best part of 40 years and the only linguistic knowledge and ability that I have found to do me well is ‘la cuenta por favor’ and ‘cerveza’. The life over here is so much better, I am in in my 70s and still haven’t retired, but I know that I need to. Spain is calling my name and I know that I need to enjoy it before it gets too late. Three weeks in the sun in July isn’t enough, I need it and want it 24/7.

Need to retire

BYE BYE FLYBE

ry and Meghan are about to do next regarding Archewell. It says in their usual way of talking ‘the key pillars are building a better online world, restoring trust in information and uplifting communities.

We’ve rolled up our sleeves, opened our arms, and opened our hearts, creating connections through care and compassion’ ­ I think that is enough of that rubbish. How can they be for caring about mental health when they are causing so much in their own families? Poor Camilla has been targeted and used as a punch bag, all because Ginge’s father loved her. It was obviously OK for Meg to be married before.

Obviously that woman who went to Buckingham Palace looking to trap someone into being an alleged racist would never have done that without Harry’s stupid lie, that he later retracted, about the Firm being racist. That didn’t do a lot for the victim’s mental health. I guess only he and Megan’s mental health matters.

My main question this week is thoughdoes he realise what a major thing that was for the late Queen, allowing Harry and Meg to marry in church in pomp and circumstance, designer dressed in white, when she was a divorcee. What a favour the royal family did them. Charles and Camilla slipped away quietly and married. You cannot please that awful man.

Rant over. Sylvia

Thank you

David

IT is awful to see so many airlines go down the drain these days, so many livelihoods gone. I remember the first time I went on a plane it was to the Isle of Man to watch the TT. It was like a tin shack in the sky, and I was holding on for dear life. I felt like what I would imagine the motor cyclist most have felt like going around the track but a day prior and a further drop. The pilot’s name was even ‘scary’. That was something for the books.

With love, Mairie

Beaver access

HOW incredible, something positive and something the kids can learn now and watch before they fall asleep. Thank you, Euro Weekly , for putting these snippets of information in. You don’t know how much it helps.

Thank you! Jessica Rant over

LEE, I was just reading the report of what Har ­

What interesting Breaking Views articles, thank you, Nora. Long may you write your amusing column for the Euro Weekly News . I always read it. Well done and keep it up!

Alex Walker

Slow down

UK car production has slowed down, that is not a surprise to me. It just feels like we are outsourcing more and more these days. Long gone are the days for many car producers and producers of ‘British’ products. It was something to see in its day. My father was a mechanic, and everything had to be so pristine and perfectly done. Even down to the shining of the chrome in places where it is least likely to be seen by a normal eye. The old car shows, show you a snapshot of what it was like, the human assembly line of what it used to be, and all the men in their blue boiler suits. My father looked so handsome in his. It seems so trivial these days, but these are the things that stand out for me. I wish we were able to have more British things, it makes you proud of where you come from. Obviously, these days it is easier to get things from abroad, but it was nice to relive a memory I haven’t thought about in a long time.

Yours, Sandy

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RAIN STOPS PLAY, BUT PLENTY MORE TO CONTEMPLATE!

THE inclement weather last week prevented any matches going ahead: this was more about player safety when travelling to grounds than the condition of pitches! However, there is still much to ponder over, beginning with the EWN league standings as they were at the beginning of this week:

on Saturday February 25 at El Canadon, Las Lagunas de Mijas, kicking off at 11.30am and continuing well into the afternoon. Apart from two home sides, this also involves teams from Benahavis, Alicante and Scotland! Refreshments will be available and entrance is free. This would be a great opportunity for you to find out what Walking Football is all about!

Former Austrian star shot dead

AN argument in a Vienna café led to the shooting of the former Austria international and Feyenoord star

Volkan Kahraman.

It is understood the 43year­old former professional met a friend for a coffee but that an argument ensued resulting in Kahraman being shot in the head.

A local news source said that the argument on Wednesday, February 8 ended when the shooter then committed suicide.

Upcoming Events

Walking Dead WFC Charity Gala

As mentioned previously, the Walking Dead Walking Football Club are organising a ‘Gala Night’ in conjunction with and at The Millenium Cocktail Bar in Calahonda on Saturday March 25. As well as raising awareness of prostate cancer, the aim is to raise over €2,000, with all proceeds being donated to the health charity Prostate Cancer UK. Good luck, Walking Dead!

El Canadon WFC Tournament

Malaga WFC are holding a friendly, fun WF tournament

Although no motive for the shooting has been given, bystanders suggest that “jealousy” may be involved describing the atmosphere as “heated.”

Karhaman, of Austrian Turkish descent, was born in Vienna and is considered one of the country’s all­time greats. Feyenoord signed the youngster in 1995 while still playing for Austria Wienm, with his first team debut coming just two years later.

He played three times for Austria before moving on to other Turkish and Austrian clubs in the twilight of his career.

WALKING FOOTBALL: Come along and join in.

KAHRAMAN: Shot in the head.