ALICANTE’S housing market has become one of the hottest in the country by number of sales according to the latest report from the Association of Registrars, released on Thursday, February 16.
The report found that property sales increased by a staggering 37.9 per cent in Alicante Province in 2022, with a total of 49,977 homes sold.
The astonishing figures mean that property sales in
IT is good news for Spain and tourism as AENA network of airports has confirmed that it has exceeded prepandemic data for the first time since Covid, reaching a whopping 16,930,100 passengers in January 2023.
It looks as though things are really starting to pick up as AENA (the airport management group which includes AlicanteElche Miguel Hernandez Airport) closed the first month of the year 2.1 per cent up on the same
month of 2019 and 62.7 per cent more than in 2022.
Alicante Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport saw 795,148 passengers through its doors in January (+1.3 per cent more than the same month of 2019 and +68.1 per cent more than January 2022).
Of the total number of travellers recorded in January, 16,858,135 were commercial passengers, of which 10,724,913 travelled on international flights, a 99.2 per cent recovery from
January 2019 and 72.1 per cent more than in 2022, and 6,133,222 travelled on domestic flights.
This figure is 7.3 per cent more than pre pandemic and 49.3 per cent more than last year.
creased more in Alicante last year than anywhere else in the country. In fact, Alicante’s closest competitor on the list was Las Palmas where sales increased by 32.2 per cent.
The huge increase in property sales in Alicante places the region in third place for properties sold in total during 2022 after the country’s biggest cities, Madrid and Barcelona who recorded 83,388 and 66,537 sales respectively.
The figures are almost unparalleled, representing the largest volume of property sales since the market boom of 2007 when 52,816 properties were sold.
Property experts are crediting Alicante’s property boom to foreign interest in the market, particularly after the pandemic. However, they highlighted that sales slowed in the final quarter as interest rates rose.
ALICANTE’S Department of Culture now has a new corporate image under the name of ‘Cultural’.
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.”
The councillor for Culture, Antonio Manresa, pointed out that: “The new image, much more contemporary and dynamic, is based on the council’s intention to be open to different ideas and cultures.
“The aim is to bring culture closer to more people.”
FANS of Jazz will be pleased to hear that Murcia City Council has now confirmed the Jazz Festival will take place in the municipality between March 3 and March 26.
In total, 12 concerts are scheduled in the various municipal theatres and auditoriums, as well as in other venues and squares in the area.
The lineup of the programme remains within the wide and eclectic
GRAB your running shoes and join in the almost 1,000 athletes who have already signed up for Torrevieja’s Half Marathon and 5K that will take place on Sunday February 26.
ON Saturday February 25, at 7pm in the Auditorium of Torrevieja, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Torrevieja will offer the third concert of its season 20222023. They will perform a selection of the best opera overtures and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
range of different styles of the genre. There will be Latinjazz, classical vocal, swing and fusion ranging from soul to funk and hiphop, to name a few
Murcia’s councillor for Culture, Tourism and Sports, Pedro Garcia Rex, confirmed that: “Murcia will once again be the national capital of jazz in March. We are proud to announce we will be in the presence of outstanding names of international stature.”
This 35th edition of the Half Marathon is set to feature, at least, athletes from 19 nationalities, including European athletes and those from other countries such as the US or the British Virgin Islands.
Registrations to participate in this historic test of athletics in Torrevieja are now open, through the website: mediomaratontorrevieja.es. The
price is €15 for the half marathon and €10 for the five kilometre run. The registration period is open until today, February 23.
The circuit of the race is approved and is part of the national calendar of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation. Throughout the course there will be a large deployment with medical assistance to attend to any incident and a field hospital will be set up at the finish line.
In addition to the Local Police and Civil Protection, around 200 volunteers, are expected to be present along the entire route of the race.
Tickets can be obtained from the Theatre Box Office: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 8.30pm two hours before the concert on online at https://www.entradas atualcance.com/ticketsmu sica para sonar#/sell/ events/8592/sessions/ 13260.
€2,032.05 is the total wage cost per worker in Spain.
AN internet and computer help club has launched to help La Marina residents learn more about their devices and resolve any technical issues users might be facing. The club meets every Tuesday from 10.30am at La Marina Social Centre.
TORREVIEJA’S branch of the Rotary Club is inviting new members to join their community and professional network. The group holds regular talks on fascinating global topics, cares for the community with a range of charity events and environmental action.
A TORREVIEJA-INSPIRED fashion collection went on show at Madrid Fashion Week on Friday, February 17. Designer Eduardo Navarrete launched a swim collection featuring 25 different pieces in his 61st collection with designs inspired by the coastal city.
A BRAND-NEW charity shop has opened in Sax, raising money to rescue cats in the Alicante area. The Joe the Cat Man charity or Asociación Joe el Hombre Gato has a new charity shop, open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am 2pm.
AUTHORITIES in Orihuela announced a price freeze for bus season tickets used by students travelling to university at the Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela. The bus pass will now remain at €27, encouraging students to take the bus.
POLICE in Murcia have detained a man on suspicion of scamming more than 100 people out of €100,000. The man contacted victims through social media, promising wealth through a getrichquick scheme.
PINOSO has confirmed that for its February blood collection a total of 25 people attended the Health Centre to donate their blood and 24 of them were able to do so.
The town council has requested that anyone who is eligible to donate blood attend the next collection at the Health Centre on Monday, March 20.
The council added that there are three very important reasons for donating: Blood cannot be manufactured, it is essential for operations and emergencies and has a shelflife so cannot be
IF you are in a rush to get your Padron uptodate, Torrevieja is here to help as it launches the automation of the municipal register.
The councillor for Census and Statistics, Inmaculada Montesinos, highlighted the importance of the new service which will expedite the procedures for applying and obtaining your Padron.
Using the website torrevie ja.es, citizens can request and
ber of components, including red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Each of these can be used to treat many different conditions.
stored indefinitely. Blood or the components of blood are used to treat patients with medical conditions
such as anaemia, cancer blood disorders, and those having surgery.
Blood is made up of a num
Blood is usually separated into its individual components or parts, so a patient can be given the particular component they need. This makes the most of every blood donation, as the components in one unit of blood (or one donation) can be used to treat different patients.
obtain the individual and collective certificates of the Padron directly through a digital device.
The means to request it are by electronic ID, digital certificate, pin code or permanent code. Once all the processing documents have been filled out, you will receive a commu
IN a bid to make Santa Pola shine brighter, a total of seven companies have submitted their bids to the tender for the contracting of energy services and maintenance, with full guarantee, of the outdoor lighting installations, traffic lights and Smart City devices.
The duration of the contract is 15 years, with a base budget of €17.56 million for the total contract.
The councillor for Infrastructures, Trini Ortiz, has highlighted that “among other aspects, 5,739 luminaires will be replaced which represents 85 per cent of the total existing in the city.”
Ortiz stresses that “the estimated savings, in principle, were between 50 per cent and 80 per
cent of the current consumption. As a result of the recent sharp increase in the cost of energy, this saving could be reduced until the situation in the electricity market stabilises.”
Santa Pola will have an operations, control, supervision and management centre that will unify the management of all the services and the current control and surveillance systems, allowing for the smart management of the city.
IF you enjoy a wander around Alicante and a visit to Santa Barbara Castle you are not alone. The Castle has registered a total of 690,245 visits in its first year of tourist promotion.
This figure is almost double the expectations for the first year that the Alicante City & Beach Tourist Board had in mind.
nication from the city council in your email to be able to download it and have access to the notification.
Councillor for Innovation and Modernisation, Ricardo Recuero, highlighted that since Monday, February 13, 237 certificates have already been issued electronically with this
new municipal digital register service.
The Department of Census and Statistics also has a new telephone appointment service which can be used by calling (+34) 607 822 861, between the hours of 9.00am and midday, Monday to Friday.
AN over 50s football team is inviting residents in Pinoso to relive their youth with a social kickabout every week. The group also plays competitive matches against other over 50s teams in the Costa Blanca region.
The club has around 30 members made up of lifelong football fans, players and novices who come together to enjoy a fun game, light exercise and a couple of social drinks too. Practice is held every Thursday at 10am at the astro turf pitch behind Pinoso Sports Centre.
The group are also a generous bunch and hold a Christmas donation campaign for local charities each year as well as sponsoring three talented young football players from disadvantaged backgrounds in Pinoso by paying their kit and club membership costs.
Organiser Gary Hawkins
describes the club as a great way to get some fitness back in your life” and a “cracking way to make new friends.” Hawkins encourages players to get down to the sports centre on a Thursday morning whether it’s to “join in or just watch and then come for a drink or two afterwards.”
The service contractor, Esatur, took over the promotion of the Castle in January 2022 and the forecast was to reach 400,000 visitors in one year. By the end of January 2023, the number of visits had reached almost 700,000.
The Head of the Alicante City & Beach Board, Mari Carmen Sanchez, said “the success of this initiative with which we have managed to bring the Castle back to life. This is thanks to the guided tours and cultural and leisure activities designed for all ages which had been programmed throughout the year.”
“This was our goal, that locals and tourists could enjoy our city,” she added.
Very important to help different patients.
ELCHE City Council made its support for the city’s Symphonic Orchestra known on Wednesday, February 15, with the announcement that it will double funding to €120,000.
City mayor, Carlos González, announced that his administration will double funding during a meeting with the President of Elche Symphonic Orchestra (OSCE), Carlos Pérez. The funding is set to be used in a variety of concerts, events and community engagement projects in the next year and support the orchestra’s new foundation.
González threw his support behind the OSCE saying, “We
want to provide stability to the orchestra and show our support for the artistic work and musical values of what is undoubtedly the longestrunning orchestra in the province of Alicante.”
With more than three decades of history, the orchestra is a pillar of culture and arts in the city and the council wants to guarantee its legacy in educating locals in music and putting incredible concerts on to delighted audiences.
The orchestra is made up of around 80 skilled musicians whose performances have placed the OSCE within the top 10 orchestras in Spain.
A WHOLE host of local organisations in Elche sprung into action to help those affected by the tragic earthquake in Syria and Turkey recently.
Elche City Council announced an emergency relief campaign on Wednesday, February 9 that has seen a fantastic response from the community. Organisations including Elche Refugee Organisation and Conciénciate came together to create four donation points to be taken to the survivors and those affected by the terrible natural disaster.
The appeal called for sleeping bags, blankets, small tents, longlife milk, tinned products and other nonperishable food items. The products that were collected have been condensed into containers which were shipped to Turkey on Thursday, February 16.
The President of Conciénciate, Gorka Chaz
This means that a group or organisation can only be as successful as its least successful or powerful person. The first form of this proverb appeared in Thomas Reid’s ‘Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man’, which was published in 1786.
arra, said that residents can make a direct donation by bank transfer to the account: ES46 2100 2190 9202 0049 9492, using the account name ‘Ayuda a personas refugiadas’.
Elche Refugee Organisation’s President, José Agulló added his thanks to everyone in Elche for responding to the campaign with generosity, highlighting the acute humanitarian crisis in Syria, following 12 years of war.
STUDIO32 Musical Theatre Company are hard at work rehearsing for their performance of Jerry Herman’s energetic ‘Hello Dolly’, a musical filled with charisma and with heart.
Studio32 are also looking for men of any age to join the group in the ensemble for this forthcoming production and a young male person aged between 18 and 30 for a principal role that is still to be cast.
If you think you have what it takes, rehearsals are at Casa Contenta restaurant, Rojales on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7.00pm and 9.30pm. If you require any further information, contact Linda on 679 062 272 or visit the Studio32 Musical Theatre Company Facebook page.
To book tickets online for the upcoming show please visit www.studiothirtytwo.org, email tickets@studiothirtytwo.org or call 679 062 272.
Betty Henderson AUTHORITIES in Torrevieja announced the hiring of a further 122 health professionals on Wednesday, February 15, spelling good news for waiting times in medical centres across the city.
The city council has hired 122 professionals in a whole host of health industry positions including nurses, paediatricians, doctors, and porters. The move is set to reduce waiting times for non urgent healthcare appointments from the current length of 4.85 days.
Broken down, 46 of the positions are as doctors, three paediatricians, 57 nurses and 16 porters. The new staff have been hired in recent days and will start work in several health centres and hospitals in the city region. The recruitment drive was part of a city council strategy to hire more staff since the pandemic caused waiting times for appointments and operations to skyrocket and led to staff losses.
Department Manager José Cano explained, “These recruitment figures reflect a significant effort to recruit staff at a time when there is a lot of pressure on care and there is a lack of professionals at a national level.”
16.1 is the Business Turnover Index of Spain in November 2022.
WORK on a memorial garden dedicated to the victims of the Covid19 pandemic in Elche has been completed.
The memorial garden will officially open to the public on Tuesday, March 14, to mark the day Spain declared a national emergency back in 2020. The garden, which is located in the Carrús area of the city was a council project to add 50,000 square metres of green space around the Old Cemetery.
The space is a new ‘green lung’ providing a lovely area for local residents to spend leisure time in, and reflect. It links a residential area with the
60 space, park and ride car park and boasts excellent features including play equipment for children, walkways and newly landscaped areas.
THE penultimate round of the CarpRUs Winter League was fished on the Canal del Progres Guardamar (Mercadona stretch). The water level on the stretch was low and dropped a further few centimetres during the match leaving the water quite shallow, but despite this, everyone caught fish.
The best weights came from the upstream end of the stretch, near the N332 road. First was Paul Burton with 6.76kg from peg 2, just pipping Richard Crawshaw
The project received an investment of nearly €1 million, funded partially by the city council and European funds.
who had 6.64kg from peg 1. Both caught carp on maggot. Third, and catching his first fish in a match this year, was Roy Dainty with 3.56kg from peg 3, and fourth on peg 5 was Terry Screen with 2.62kg. Further information about the club can be found on its website www.carp rus.weebly.com or on the Facebook page CarpRUs Fishing Costa Blanca.
ELCHE’S mayor has put forward La Finca restaurant as an example of innovation in the presentation of the Sustainable Suns of the Repsol Guide.
The Repsol Guide, in support of the food service industry and as part of its constant search for innovative initiatives, has created this certification the only one of its kind in Spain specifically for the Spanish restaurant industry.
With this certification, awarded by Repsol and verified by AENOR, the Repsol Guide aims to showcase sustainable projects based on respect for the environment and
GOOD news for travellers who like to pick up a flying bargain as AlicanteElche has confirmed that it is adding 10 new air routes to its list this year thanks to lowcost airlines. These new routes are expected to bring movements of close to one million passengers to the terminal.
At the moment, the airport is connected to 24 countries and more than 100 cities around the world. Now that normality is returning, all fore
energy efficiency.
Whilst handing the award to the owner of La Finca, Susi Diaz, the mayor, Carlos Diaz confirmed: “The catering industry,
apart from doing what is fundamental, which is to go out of its way for its customers, is fully involved in the fight against climate change.”
casts indicate that this year could see the best results in many years, after a period marked by health restrictions.
At present, it is the lowcost airlines that are bringing the largest number of passengers to the airport. In the next three months, between February and April, the terminal has an air capacity for 1.83
million passengers, of which 1.63 million correspond precisely to lowcost flights.
The new routes include Belfast, Fez and Rome with a weekly frequency of three flights; Frankfurt, Klagenfurt, Lodz, Paderborn, Santander and Turin, with two flights a week; and finally, Warsaw, with four flights a week.
VISITORS to and residents of Murcia will be pleased to hear that Murcia City Council is set to take over and manage the Plano de San Francisco car park.
This will result in lower parking rates as the council will offer parking at affordable prices for visitors and residents of the area. Murcia City Council has set up a Municipal Technical Committee to review the current situation of the contract and the conditions for the reversion of the Plano de San Francisco car park.
Once the car park becomes municipal property, it will make it possible to reduce tariffs.
Empark Aparcamientos y Servicios, SA currently holds the concession for this 24hour car park, with 427 parking spaces.
MEMBERS of the SAMM Cruising and Independent Group and friends recently met for one of their biannual social gathering lunches at the Mar Menor Club de Regatas Los Alcazares, before group coordinator Heather had to return to the UK under the 90 day rule, and a good time was enjoyed by all.
The Cruising Group comprises owners of sailing cruisers and other SAMM members who are available and interested in crewing. Most boats are currently based in marinas close to the Mar Menor.
Boats make regular, often every week, day sails along the Mediterranean coast or on the Mar Menor and back to their home port, an
Betty Henderson
AUTHORITIES in Orihuela announced a plan for the local environmental services to clean the Ociopia river and its dam in the coming week, giving the natural landscape a muchneeded facelift.
Waste rapidly accumulates in the river and dam, meaning that regular cleaning is necessary to keep the environment looking clean. In the announcement given on Thursday, February 16 Orihuela
choring for lunch and a swim in suitable weather. But also longer trips for an overnight stay at another marina or at anchor at somewhere like Tabarca Island.
Regular two or three week cruises, often in company as a small flotilla, north to say Denia, south towards Almeria or across to the Balearic Islands are also organised most years.
SAMM is always looking for new boat owners to join the Cruising Group so, if you have boat in a marina between say Cartagena and Guardamar and want to meet and sail with like minded people email cisailing3@ gmail.com.
council explained that during the last cleaning session, more than 11 tonnes of floating waste was removed from the river and dam.
The council regularly holds cleaning and environmental initiatives such as this one to maintain a clean and healthy landscape and guarantee outdoor spaces for local residents and visitors to enjoy in their
free time. The councillor for the Environment, Guillermo Cánovas, explained that the action is necessary since the last cleaning took place at the end of January. The council environmental services have already coordinated with utilities providers to lower the level of water in the dam, allowing the cleaning to get underway in due course.
10.12
is the number of universities that Spain has in the list of top 500 in the world.
GERMAN supermarket giant Lidl solidified its presence in Alicante, opening its sixth supermarket in the city on Thursday, February 17.
Alicante’s newest Lidl is located in the La Florida area, near to the Puerta de Alicante shopping centre. The newest development brings the German supermarket group’s total locations to six shops in the Alicante City region. Lidl has 35 shops in the province which provide employment to 623 people, soon to rise as the new supermarket opens.
The supermarket chain has its gaze firmly set on the Costa Blanca city with plans for another two branches to open in the near future. One of the
EXPANDING: The supermarket chain Lidl now has six branches in Alicante thanks to a new opening.
new developments will be located on Avenida de Novelda in the Ciudad Jardín area on a plot of land that the supermarket has already purchased.
Regional Director Miquel Alberola said that the latest supermarket shows Lidl’s com
TORREVIEJA gets an A+ for being clever as the councillor for Traffic, Frederico Alarcon has reported that intelligent traffic signals are in the process of being installed.
He confirmed that some have been installed and are already working in order to increase road safety in some parts of the city.
The intelligent signals have already been placed in different locations on Avenida Gregorio Maranon and Avenida Desiderio Rodriguez, among other locations.
The councillor confirmed that: “These are light signals that are activated through sensors, which send a signal when they detect the pas
mitment to “the economic development of the region.” Alberola added, “In 2021 we contributed around €405 million to the Alicante City region’s GDP, a figure which we expect to grow in coming years thanks to our expansion plan.”
sage of a car, either numerically or with icons, the driver receives the necessary information and warnings. In addition to improving people’s safety, smart signs are more sustainable and economical, since they work using solar panels.”
Pedagogical radars are specially indicated to influence the behaviour of drivers, and they moderate their speed, making them aware they are exceeding the speed limits in areas especially sensitive to inappropriate speed such as urban environments, the proximity of traffic pedestrians, schools, etc.
ORIGINALLY from the UK, singer songwriter Debbie James has now settled in
Calahonda in Malaga spending her time making people’s dreams
come true.
As well as being a phenomenal performer, Debbie is also an A&R (artistes and repertoire) Manager for the AMG media company.
Having been involved in showbiz since a young age Debbie confirmed: “I have always been involved with music, either performing or producing.
“I am currently working on a project with Loris Holland; he is a legend and I am really excited because he is so utterly talented. My first official cut will be on an album that he has produced.”
Lori Holland is a Grammy/Emmy Awardwinning performer/producer/com poser/arranger and conductor who has developed a clientele of greats including Mariah Carey,
George Clinton, Whitney Houston, Billy Ocean and Aretha Franklin, to name a few.
In between living the dream, Debbie has somehow found the time to create a global songwriting network and is also the co founder of the Jud Friedman Workshops.
The singer said: “We have already completed very successful workshops worldwide, in the UK, Canada, Italy and also in Los Angeles. We are delighted to be able to add Spain to the list as we are bringing a songwriting retreat and workshop to Fort Ingles in Malaga from March 4 until March 7.”
Debbie added: “The workshops are great and we encourage all levels of experience from experi
enced songwriters/ artists/producers to those who are just starting out! Teamwork really does make the dream work!
“Jud is amazing, he is a six time Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe nominated, award winning, Billboard No.1 Hit songwriter and producer and is now offering workshops
to share his wealth of knowledge.”
For more information or to book your place head to www.globalsongwrit ersnetwork.com.
Debbie added: “Anyone based in Spain is lucky enough to receive a 30 per cent discount. Just input the code SPAIN at the checkout.”
WHEN we moved to Spain in 2018, we sold everything. But there were things I couldn’t let go of. Mostly my Louboutins and some expensive handbags. But there were a few other things that were coming with us. My husband, Jeff, moved his motorcycle over. And I moved my sofa in a container ship through the Panama Canal and the Atlantic. Did people in Spain think I was crazy to move a sofa? Yes. Did I care? Nope.
The sofa took five months to arrive. So, in the meantime, I bought a filler sofa. Jeff just rolled his eyes. When my fabulous American sofa arrived, I was ecstatic,
nearly jumping up and down when the lorry pulled up. But my euphoria would be shortlived. When they went to get it into the lift, it wouldn’t fit. Fine. The two strong men carried it up seven flights of stairs to our apartment. And it was then that we learned it wouldn’t fit through the door. I was horrified.
But the men had an idea. We could crane it in through the window. So, we put the sofa in our parking spot, and they left. I called a crane company, and they came out two weeks later.
In the meantime, our Valencian neighbours gave us weird looks. Likely wondering if all Americans store their sofa in the parking garage of
their homes.
The day came, and the furniture crane arrived. We then discovered, as it was dangling above the street, our sofa was ½ inch too large for the window. No amount of pushing or pulling would make it budge. My American sofa was dead on arrival.
The moral of this story is that when you move to Spain, get rid of everything. And I mean everything, including the Louboutins. Don’t remind Jeff, but I haven’t worn them once in five years.
Coming soon: Age in Spain’s Guide to Moving to Spain, a free e book for you to download. Reserve a copy at www.ageinspain.org
THE introduction of the ‘Only yes is yes’ law in Spain has received significant negative publicity after it led to the reduction in the sentences of many of those convicted of sex crimes.
Although Spain signed up to the Istanbul Convention agreed in 2012 by the 34 member states of the European Union, significant opposition in the House of Deputies meant that concessions were made in trying to get an agreement on changes to existing laws.
But it also meant revising existing laws to meet the wording of the convention, which recognised the need to protect women from violence, to end discrimination and to ensure equal rights. In terms of Article 1 of the convention Spain is required to:
1. Protect women against all forms of violence.
2. Contribute to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and promote substantive equality between women and men.
3. Implement policies and measures for the protection of and assistance for all victims of women affected by violence.
4. Promote international cooperation with a view to eliminating violence against women and domestic violence.
5. Support and assist organisations and law enforcement agencies to cooperate and adopt an integrated approach to eliminating violence against women and domestic violence.
But in making concessions and in adopting the wording from the final agreement, it opened the door to challenges by convicted sex offenders looking to have their sentences reduced.
The law came into force in August 2022 after narrowly making it through the House of Deputies with 205 votes in favour, 141 against and 3 abstentions.
Broadly speaking the law was intended to take away the assumption of consent, which could not be provided through
silence or by default. Essentially the law was intended to make consent only if it is explicitly given, hence ‘Only yes is yes’.
The problem is that sexual abuse was removed from the penal code and is instead deemed to be assault. Under the changed law, sexual violence will be considered assault, harassment, exhibitionism, street stalking or harassment, sexual provocation, prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, corruption of minors, female genius mutilation, forced marriage, sexual femicide and, in the digital sphere, sexual violence transmitted by technological means, sexual extortion and nonconsensual pornography. Some of these crimes come with shorter sentences and it is this redefining of the law under which criminals may have been convicted that has led to a reduction in their sentence. It must be stressed, however, that only around half of those who applied to have their sen
tences reduced have been suc
cessful with their application.
SPAIN has recorded a more than 80year low in births registered in 2022. The report by Spain’s National Office of Statistics (INE), released on Wednesday, February 15, re
vealed that the country has the second lowest birth rate in Europe.
The data collected states that just 330,000 babies were born in the country last year, the lowest rate recorded since the agency opened in 1941. The country’s birth rate began to decline in 2016 and has continued to drop every year since.
The low birth rate of just above 329,000 babies means that Spain’s population is declining as less babies are born than people die in each year.
Experts say that there are
THE weather experts at Meteored warned allergy sufferers in Spain on Thursday, February 16, to be aware that many trees begin their flowering processes in February. This can lead to the onset of symptoms such as itchy nose and eyes, runny nose, throat irritation, sneezing and tiredness. Although allergies are more associated with springtime, weather conditions such as high environmental humidity and abundant rainfall are favourable for trees such as alders and cupressaceae to flourish and release their contents.
Alder pollen is usually released at the end of
Spain’s birth rate has been on a downward spiral since 2016.
numerous causes for this decline in births, including that Spanish women typically opt to have children later than in other countries.
The ageing population, social and economic issues and pandemic uncertainty were also cited as causes.
January, with a maximum peak in March. Other similar pollens would be those of birch and hazelnut, so it could affect people who are allergic to these as well.
When flaring up in the winter weather, these first allergies of the year are often difficult to differentiate from the start of a possible cold or flu. Allergies last as long as the pollen is in suspension, while flu and colds usually last four to seven days Meteored pointed out.
17% is the amount food CPI would have gone up without the VAT reduction
THE 19 year old Spanish pro cyclist Estela Dominguez of the Sopela Women’s team has died in a hit and run incident while out training in Salamanca.
Her death was confirmed by her team on Friday, February 10 with a local news outlet saying that the accident hap
pened at the junction of the A 62 with the N 620 as you leave Villares Polygon. It is understood that she died at the scene after paramedics were called at around 6.32pm
on the Thursday evening.
The daughter of former pro cyclist Juan Carlos Dominguez who had a successful career in the 90s, Dominguez had a promising cycling career ahead of her having recently signed up with Sopela. She had also finished seventh in the Spanish Cyclocross Championship and had been
called up by the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC), to participate in the Cyclocross World Cup.
Dominguez, the 19year old Spanish pro cyclist killed in the hit andrun incident, was attending Salamanca University where she was studying Labour Relations and Human Resource Management.
Betty Henderson
RELIGIOUS leaders came together in Madrid at the Spanish Episcopal Conference to sign a new declaration on topics including euthanasia and abortion on Wednesday, February 15.
Leaders from the Catholic church, Russian Orthodox church, Reformed Episcopal church, Romanian Orthodox church, Orthodox Ecumenical church and the Spanish Islamic Commission signed the agreement on ‘the dignity of human life’ at the Spanish Episcopal Conference in Madrid.
The statement announced that the leaders are “increasingly concerned by how for decades Spanish law has, in some cases, left human life seriously unprotected,” in relation to laws on abortion and euthanasia. They say that,
“respect for the dignity of life” is a sign “of progress” in a society.
The religious leaders also expressed their concern at the Constitutional Court’s decision to reject an appeal from the conservative PP asking them to cut the deadline for permitting abortions.
Representatives of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain refused to join in signing the accord.
SPAIN’S National Police have arrested a French fugitive wanted for the theft of 11 million Swiss francs, as reported on Thursday, February 16.
The French fugitive, who had a European Arrest Warrant issued by France for a robbery which dated back to August 2019 in Switzerland when two armoured vans were held up by 10 hooded and heavily armed individuals who made off with 11 million Swiss francs.
Subsequently, a police investigation into the crime was set up and in October 2020, officers managed to track one of the thieves to Spain.
The man had been living in a small isolated rural property on the outskirts of Girona’s Llers.
Inside the property, officers found a marihuana drying shed, as well as narcotic substances in different quantities with a total weight of approximately 7.83 kilograms.
They also found an illegal firearm, a magazine with 12 cartridges, €2,625 in cash, a French identity card and a French passport with a fake name.
is the inflation rate across Europe.
RESEARCH carried out on behalf of Specsavers Ópticas by Curated Digital, revealed that futuristic styles are here for 2023. The London based digital consultancy spe cialising in data driven and insightled marketing found that there was a 3,250 per cent increase in searches in Spain for the term ‘futuristic glasses’ from January 3 to February 3. This reflects a similar trend in the UK, where searches on Pinterest for futuristic glasses were up 70 per cent and searches for dystopian outfits and avant garde outfits were up 215 per cent and 225 per cent respectively.
The trend was identified as part of the informative report State of Eyewear 2023, reviewing both search data and trends being seen on the catwalk and on the high street. The report explains that they expect scifi and cyber eyewear to take centre
stage in 2023, inspired by cinematic epics such as Avatar and Dune. The dystopian core of this trend and the dark and daring aesthetic was reflected on the catwalks in shows by Givenchy, Celine and Dior and searches peaked during Paris Fashion Week. The report highlighted a number of trends and commented, “Over recent years, eyewear fashions have been dominated by decade nostalgia with retro nods to the oversized 70s square shapes, cat eye revivals and the 2000s comeback. And, although we still predict some of this homage to continue such as the persistence of Y2K and oval styles this year the past truly will be the past with a new wave of futuregrade glasses. Taking centre stage will be space themed, alien like shapes and chunky maximalist esque frames.”
THE only pyramid in Spain is reportedly set to be demolished under the country’s democratic memory law. The decision to knock down the ‘Pirámide de los Italianos’, near Burgos, was announced early in February.
The 20metre stone pyramid was erected 83 years ago by Francoist troops to pay homage to the nearly 400 Italian soldiers who died fighting Republican forces during the Battle of Santander during the Spanish Civil War.
Franco, used slave labour from Republican prisoners to build the mausoleum in Puerto del Escudo, which was constructed over a mass grave of
RESEARCHERS at the Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra have given prostate cancer patients in Spain a reason to feel optimistic. The results of their recent study showed that 85 per cent of patients treated with irreversible electroporation saw their tumours controlled.
Of these patients, 100 per cent retained their urinary continence capacity and 91.8 per cent retained their sexual
The Italian government also shared concern “Why erase history with the stroke of a brush, wouldn’t it be better to remember this war so that it is never repeated?”
Spain’s Pirámide de los Italianos is now to be demolished.
the buried Italian soldiers.
The pyramid is now dividing public opinion with some saying the structure is no longer a symbol of fascism, especially since the Italian soldiers’ remains were removed in the 1970s.
potency prior to the intervention.
According to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), cancer continues to be one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. In Spain, it is estimated that new cancer diagnoses will reach 279,260 cas
100,000
es in 2023. Of these, prostate cancer is the most common among men.
In fact, the Cancer Centre of the Clinica Universidad de Navarra has been the first in Spain to offer the entire diagnostic and therapeutic arsenal for the management of benign and malignant prostate pathology, as reported by a national news outlet on Tuesday, February 14.
cruise passengers expected in port of Malaga this summer.
SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER announced on Sunday, February 19, that he has been bestowed the great honour of composing a new anthem for King Charles’ Coronation. On May 6, Charles will be officially crowned as the King of England in a spectacular ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
Posting on his official Twitter profile, the legendary British musician wrote: “I am incredibly honoured to have been asked to compose a new anthem for the Coronation. My anthem includes words adapted from Psalm 98. I have scored it for the
Westminster Abbey choir and or gan, the ceremonial brass and orchestra. I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion.”
The ceremony will be followed the next day, May 7, by a massive Coronation concert at Windsor Castle. Its organisers are hoping to attract some of the biggest stars of the entertainment world to perform in this unique event to be broadcast by BBC. But two stars have confirmed they are unable to attend.
Ed Sheeran has a prior engagement in Texas while there was no explanation offered on Adele’s part. It is believed The Spice Girls and Lionel Richie are close to confirming their participation in the event.
GAVIN BURROWS, the leader of a team of private investigator looking into the disappearance of Levi Davis have uncovered a network of blackmailers associated with the XFactor TV series. Burrows told a news source on Tuesday, February 14: “We have received valuable information from a number of former contestants on the XFactor show.” He continued saying they have spoken to people involved in or have
been part of the show adding “they have confirmed that the claims of blackmail made in Davis’ video appear to be true and verified by third parties.” He added: “We believe these people remain hidden because they fear for their safety.” Burrows had said people connected with the show had taken extraordinary interest in their investigations, but had been less interested in finding Davis.
AN international choir is warming up for three incredible performances in venues across the Costa Blanca south region this April. The Crescendo International Choir have announced three concert dates for this spring. The group of international singers will first take to the stage in a free performance at the Salt Church in Los Montesinos on Saturday, April 1. The concert, which is set to take place at 6pm after doors open at 5.30pm, will also raise money for charity with donation buckets available at the end of the performance.
Crescendo International Choir will next perform an evening concert at 8pm on Saturday,
MURCIA is preparing for a jazz extravaganza with the Murcia Jazz Festival set to return for its third edition from Friday, March 3 for more than three weeks of smooth musical entertainment.
Murcia Jazz Festival will last for three weeks in the city until Sunday, March 26, with a whole host of international performers expected to take to the stage. The
April 15. This performance will take place at the Iglesia de Santiago in Benijofar directly after mass, and is a charity performance raising money for vulnerable families in the local community. Audience members will be asked for a donation towards the collection.
The choir will perform one last concert in the series on Monday, April 17 at 6.30pm at La Siesta Evangelical Church. The concert will be free to enter, but the group will hold a collection in aid of the church charity.
More information about the choir is available online: http://www.crescendochoir. com.
sweet sounds of jazz will fill musical venues throughout the city, from auditoriums and concert venues to outdoor public spaces. Internationally acclaimed performers including New Orleans saxophonist Donald Harrison, a master of jazz, soul and funk, American jazz and soul vocalist José James and José James Sings Badu; the Cuban pianist are top acts on
this year’s lineup. This year’s varied programme will not be limited to classical jazz, but will blend a fusion of genres from blues to R&B to entertain audiences as well as educate them further on an incredible genre of music with a documentary screening and a variety of talks.
More information is available online: https://murcia jazzfestival.wordpress.com.
THE Legends Festival is preparing to rock the Alicante region for a weekend in March. What’s more, the music festival is in aid of a whole host of local charities.
The festival will land at Alannia Events’ venue near Elche on Saturday, March 25, showcasing musical talent from across the region.
Guests will rock out to a packed programme of varied tribute acts including a Beatles tribute (The Liverpool Band), Cher, Queen, ABBA, Westlife, Status Quo and Elvis tributes and an Eagles tribute (Desperados) over the two
days at the festival.
As well as providing electrifying musical entertainment, the festival will also offer a range of market stalls selling artisan goods, delicious food
IT’S time to brush up on your general knowledge in time for a quiz event set to arrive in La Marina on Thursday, March 2.
Organisers promise an afternoon full of trivia fun, exciting entertainment and socialising with friends, and it’s all in aid of an excellent cause. The quiz afternoon will raise funds for La Marina Street Cats charity.
The quiz is due to get underway from 3pm in The Hillside Bar and Snooker Centre located on Calle Bilbao in La Marina. Tickets for the event cost €3 which can be purchased on the door.
The event follows a successful games night which also raised funds for the charity. Following the last games event, La Marina Street Cats charity are also holding another games afternoon at Cheers Bar in La Marina on Thursday, February 23, where guests will compete
A TALENTED duo are set to take to the stage in Murcia’s Teatro Romea on Thursday, February 23. This performance showcases one of Spain’s most quintessential arts disciplines, flamenco. Alba Molina, has become a renowned flamenco singer in her own right since releasing her first single aged 18 and Pepe Rivero is a piano virtu
stalls, craft stalls, a barbecue and a car show.
The festival is set to raise funds for three deserving local charities; the Red Cross, Rock Against Cancer and Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre.
The festival will be held at Alannia Events’ five star venue off the AP7 near to Crevillente. Tickets for the exciting event have gone on sale online on the organiser’s website, where accommodation packages are also available: https://promo.alannia resorts.com/legendscharityfiesta/?fbclid=IwAR0jLLSiG0S 7.
in the game ‘Beetle Drive’. The games event will take place from 4pm.
La Marina Street Cats works to help abandoned and abused cats and street cats on the Urbanisation in La Marina, giving them a second chance at life and a loving home.
oso whose jazzy touches will highlight the velvety tones of Molina’s voice. The evening promises to be filled with Andalucian passion, traditional styles, as well as classics from a variety of artists. The performance entitled ‘Nuevo día’ is set to get underway from
8pm in the Teatro Romea in Murcia City centre.
Tickets for the event start at €15 and can be purchased online from:https://www.ba cantix.com/Entradas/Web Forms/Forms/Venta.aspx?id= TeatroRomea&codi go=000073001000769000578
Leading Hand Benjamin Thomas opened on Friday February 9, although the Navy have yet to provide more details.
According to a national news outlet the Royal Navy stated “The thoughts and sympathies of the Royal Navy go out to the family and friends” adding that: “It would be inappropriate to
comment and any further queries should be directed to the Coroner.”
Thomas died at HMS Raleigh shore base, Torpoint, which according to the Navy’s website is “The ‘front door’ for entry into the Royal Navy, where ratings from all branches receive their 10week Initial Naval Training.
“On a typical day there are around 2,200 people on site.”
The Royal Navy, who have recently been in the news after their aircraft carrier broke down for the second time, has also not revealed when further details regarding the sailor’s death at the Cornwall training base will be released.
CRITICS of European human rights laws have blamed the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for stopping Britain from deporting known terrorists.
A report by a national news outlet on Sunday February 12 claims that Article 3, which prohibits torture and inhumane treatment; Article 5, the right to liberty and security; and Article 8, the right to private and family life are being successfully exploited.
The report found that a growing number of extremists are using these articles to prevent deportation with most living in the UK at the taxpayers’ expense.
These include Al Qaeda and
THE UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has said that there are more stories of losing investment than there are of being won, the latest a £320 million AstraZeneca investment that is destined for Ireland.
AstraZeneca Chief Execu
Islamic State terrorists as well as those granted asylum in the country but who have been guilty of plotting or carrying out terrorist activities in their new home.
The ECHR was introduced after the Second World War in an effort to prevent a repeat of
atrocities such as the holocaust, but some lawyers and politicians believe it to no longer be fit for purpose. More specifically they say it fails to deal with modern issues of mass migration, litigation and lonewolf terrorism and is subsequently being misused.
tive Sir Pascal Soriot was reported by Hunt to have said the decision was due to the UK’s “discouraging” tax rate.
Hunt, who said he agreed with the firm’s “fundamental” argument on taxes, was criticised by a local news source on Friday, February 10 for simplifying the issue to push his own agenda. They said that Hunt had failed to mention the obvious advantages that an EU hub based in Ireland offered the company.
The loss of the investment follows warnings from the group for some time that the UK government need to take its life sciences sector seriously.
147 minutes is the average time a person spends on social media every day.
ONE year ago, on February 24 in 2022, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, launched an invasion of Ukraine from the north, east and south.
At the time Putin explained that the “special military operation was aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine in a bid to protect ethnic Russians, prevent Kyiv’s NATO membership and to keep it in Russia’s sphere of influence.”
As of February 12, 2023, the Office of the United Na
tions High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) tragically verified a total of 7,199 civilian deaths during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Of them, 438 were children.
Furthermore, 11,756 people were reported to have been injured. However, OHCHR specified that the real numbers could be higher.
Innocent civilians have
Betty Henderson
ITALY’S former Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi has been cleared of allegations that he bribed witnesses in a previous trial into his infamous ‘Bunga Bunga’ parties. A Milan court cleared the 86yearold billionaire on Wednesday, February 15, putting an end to the case which has overshadowed his reputation for the last decade.
The former trial accused Berlusconi of paying a 17yearold Moroccan nightclub
dancer for sex at one of his ‘Bunga Bunga’ parties. Speculation began during and after the trial that the politician had paid off 28 people to give false testimonies about the events at his infamous gatherings. Some women deny any wrongdoing at the parties, while others said orgies took place and female guests dressed as nuns to give erotic dances. Berlusconi has always denied charges describing it as a smear campaign.
been cruelly caught up in the conflict and over 5.9 million people have been internally displaced.
There has also been catastrophic damage to civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools.
And now? It has been a year since Russian forces rolled into Ukraine and there does not appear to be any real signs of a way out of this terrible conflict.
Neither Ukraine nor Russia, Zelensky or Putin appear primed for an outright military victory, and progress at the negotiating table is highly improbable.
NATO websites, including those of the Headquarters of the Alliance’s Special Operations Forces, were hacked on Sunday, February 12, according to a representative of the organisation who spoke with a German news agency.
Cybersecurity experts were said to be actively investigating the incident, which affected ‘several websites’ of NATO, said the source. The alliance only noted that it constantly faces hacker threats and takes the
IBERDROLA, the world’s largest producer of renewable energy, has announced that it has been awarded its first floating solar power plant in France, with a total capacity of 25 megawatts peak (MWp).
Iberdrola is now specialising in the development of floating solar projects on active industrial sites as part of its commitment to establishing a longterm presence in France.
Thierry Vergnaud, Iberdrola France Director of the onshoreissue of ensuring security in cyberspace ‘very seriously’.
According to the German news agency, there were allegations made earlier in the day on social networks in particular on Twitter that activists from the proRus
division (onshore wind and photovoltaic) confirmed: “We are very proud to contribute to the development of green energy production solutions alongside the municipality of Kurtzenhouse.
“This project strengthens Iberdrola France’s position in the Grand Est region where the company is already devel
sian Killnet group were behind the attack.
Killnet was associated with a recent attack in January on the websites of German government agencies and banks.
Commenting on this information, Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, told reporters that the Kremlin is surprised that any group of hackers is associated with Russia, noting that he considers this accusation to be absurd.
oping a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant for Solvay to supply its Tavaux plant (Jura) with green electricity.”
AMERICAN carmaker Ford announced it will cut almost 4,000 jobs across Europe as it grapples with the increasing cost of manufacture and changes to the motoring industry in an announcement made on Wednesday, February 15.
The majority of the positions cut will be in Germany with 2,300 redundancies expected. Another 1,300 of the positions cut will be in the UK, with the rest of the jobs cut in other European countries.
The Detroitbased manufacturer said it made the
decision as it tries to transition to a greener model and moves away from petrol and diesel engine production. The majority of jobs cut in the announcement are in engineering positions, which account for around 2,800 of the jobs cut, while a further 1,000 will be cut in administrative roles.
Martin Sander, the head of electric operations in Europe explained the changes saying “We are moving into a world with less global platforms where less engineering work is necessary.”
AN IT fault left thousands of passengers stranded on Lufthansa flights across Europe on Wednesday, February 15.
Flights across the German carrier and its associated groups were grounded for much of the day after construction work damaged glassfibre cables in Frankfurt.
The technological fault caused disruption to the company’s digital systems which forced airport staff to check in passengers using pen and paper and disrupted luggage check in services. The fault also caused delays and cancellations to flights affecting thousands of passengers.
Lufthansa took to Twitter to apologise for the fault, acknowledging that it was causing flight delays and cancellations.
The disruption caused shares in Germany’s flagship airline to drop by 1.5 per cent on Wednesday morning. The company also owns several other European airlines including Brussels Airlines, Swiss, and Eurowings.
879,997 hectares of land has been lost to soil erosion this year (ha).
INVESTIGATORS examining dead hedgehogs brought in by members of the Danish Hedgehog Project discovered that Thorvald, who died in a Silkeborg rehab centre, was later found to be 16, making him Europe’s oldest ever. The record was previously held by an Irish hedgehog aged nine.
THE NETHERLANDS’ 32-million page war archive will become available without restrictions in 2025, announced the War in Court (Oorlog voor de Rechter) group. The descendants of Second World War collaborators now fear the reopening of old wounds as data protection laws do not cover the dead.
BELGIUM’S Cyber Security Centre (CCB) has promised protection from prosecution for hackers or organisations reporting security vulnerabilities affecting systems, networks, or applications located in Belgium. Protection would depend on meeting “strict” conditions, the CCB said.
A WOMAN of 82 inadvertently drove into a Munich shopping centre, breaking through its side entrance and crashing into an escalator. The driver escaped with minor injuries, but was taken to hospital as a precaution while an 18-year-old on the damaged escalator was able to jump to safety.
FRANCE’S lynx population, reintroduced in the 1970s, is at risk of disappearing and requires special measures to increase numbers, experts said. A recent study found that around 150 adult lynxes currently inhabited the mountains of north-eastern France, separated from healthier groups in Germany and Switzerland.
EXPERTS completed the reconstruction based on the skull of a teenage boy who lived 8,300 years ago in modern Norway. Nicknamed Vistegutten, ‘the boy from Viste’ his skull was deformed and he apparently died alone, as his remains were found as though resting against the wall of a cave.
FOREST MOVEMENT activists disrupted treefelling operations for the fourth time in Aalistunturi in Finland, an area which is likely to become a national park. Loggers, who must stop work whenever anyone enters the area near their machinery, said the protests were costing them €15,000 a day.
IRELAND has cancelled ‘golden visas’ for nonEU nationals worth at least €2 million who invest in the country. Ireland's Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, said that the scheme, established in 2012 in return for creating jobs had had been under review for “quite a period of time.”
ITALY intensified its opposition to EU plans to ban the sale of all petrol and diesel cars after 2035 to achieve 100 per cent zero-emissions for new vehicles. Transport minister Matteo Salvini condemned a rapid switch to electric mobility as “suicide” and a “gift” to Chinese industry.
ETIHAD AIRWAYS are expanding their European network this summer with a new direct route between Abu Dhabi and the Portuguese capital Lisbon, starting in July. The new service, the Middle Eastern airline’s first route into Portugal, will operate weekly flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays.
BUSINESSES worldwide are jockeying for position for multibillion reconstruction contracts in Ukraine once the war ends. Tymofiy Mylovanov, former Economy minister and now president of the Kyiv School of Economics, said with funding from all over the world “businesses want to be part of rebuilding.”
A CYBERATTACK temporarily prevented access to the website of Sweden’s national broadcaster SVT on February 14. The attack was not unexpected as the hacker group Anonymous Sudan called for cyberattacks against Swedish authorities and banks following the Koran burning in Stockholm.
CHOCOLATE makers Cadbury have reduced the sizes of their medium and large Easter eggs while their prices remain the same, shoppers found. Amongst other scaleddown products, a Twirl egg now weighs 198 grammes compared with 237 grammes in 2022, but still costs £3 (€3.40).
SPAIN’S gender wage gap fell to 20.9 per cent in 2021, almost six percentage points below 2018 thanks to a higher minimum salary, a Comisiones Obreras survey found. Differences persisted for carers’ posts as well as parttime jobs and the lowerpaid traditional “women’s jobs”, the union said.
A TOTAL of 512 UK pubs and bars went into administration last year owing to higher overheads and falling sales, revealed accountancy company UHY Hacker Young. The government could alleviate pressure by extending the energy bill relief scheme to the hospitality sector, the company suggested.
THE ItalianSwiss cruise company MSC expects a record 2023 following last summer’s good results and increased sales for cruises this winter. The company plans to make 500 stopovers in Spanish ports this year, a 23 per cent increase on last year’s 407, announced director general Fernando Pacheco.
CARLOS TORRES VILA, president of BBVA, which made €6.42 billion profits in 2022, earned €8.29 million last year, 5.8 per cent more than the €7.83 million he was paid in 2021. Onur Genç, BBVA’s CEO, earned €7.15 million, 4.9 per cent more than the €6.81 million he received last year.
in compensation and a six-year prison sentence await Pescanova’s former president, Manuel Fernandez de Sousa-Faro, for irregular financial practices while he headed the company between 1985 and 2013.
Linda Hall
UK inflation fell for a third consecutive month in January, but remained in double digits.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the annual inflation rate measured by the consumer prices index fell to 10.1 per cent last month, following December’s 10.5 per cent and October’s 11.1 per cent peak. City economists had forecast a more modest drop to 10.3 per cent.
The latest fall was assisted by the ongoing fall in petrol and diesel prices for motorists earlier in the year, as well as reductions in air and coach travel after their hefty rise last December.
Restaurant, cafe and takeaway prices also fell, with the cost of furni
ture dropping during the January sales.
Nevertheless, food and drink inflation remained close to their highest rates since the 1970s as milk, bread and the cost of other essentials soared by almost 17 per cent in a year.
The ONS figures came as the Bank of England contemplated another interest rate rise to tackle the highest inflation levels since the early 1980s.
UK inflation is still higher than in the European Union’s 20 eurozone countries or the US, which some forecasters attributed to the UK’s chronic worker shortages and constraints including Brexit that have added to inflationary pressure.
“While any fall in inflation is welcome, the fight is far from over,” Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said.
“High inflation strangles growth and causes pain for families and businesses. That’s why we must stick to the plan to halve inflation this year, reduce debt and grow the economy.”
INDITEX, Mercadona and El Corte Ingles have been listed amongst the world’s 120 largest familyowned firms.
Multinational auditors
EY and Switzerlandbased St Gallen University, who publish their Family Business Index every two years, placed the three Spanish companies high on their list.
Inditex, which owns Zara, Pull & Bear and other labels, was ranked in 51st place in the 2023 edition, followed by supermarket chain Mercadona (54) and
HUNTER BOOT whose £125 (€140.7) wellingtons are worn by royalty and rainedon festival goers, is seeking a buyer.
The company, which was founded in 1856 and holds two royal warrants, is seeking potential acquirers amid a postCovid boom. Sales plummeted during the pandemic but demand surged during the summer festivals once restrictions were lifted. The Edinburgh company is nearing completion of a £7 million (€7.8m) cash injection, in addition to separate sale discussions. Its most recent accounts revealed a £5.1 million (€5.7m) loss on £10.8 million (€12.1m) sales in the year to January 2022.
the El Corte Ingles department stores (117).
Eight other Spanish companies, Acciona, Gestamp, Ferrovial, Grifols, Catalana Occidente, Antolin Irausa, Prosegur y Tecnicas Reunidas were named in the Index’s 500strong list.
Between them, these 11 companies, all of them family owned, had a turnover of €120 billion, and employed a total of 445,000 people. Worldwide, family businesses earned more than €8 trillion and provided jobs for 24.5 million people, a 10 per cent increase on the 2021 index.
“According to the International Monetary Fund, the global economy grew by 6 per cent in 2021 and is forecast to grow by 2.7 per cent in 2023,” said EY’s Global Family Enterprise
BARCLAYS is allegedly under investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regarding possible flaws in compliance and antimoney laundering measures.
The FCA requested an independent review of the bank’s systems last year after noticing a high volume of moneylaundering and “know your customer” incidents, the Financial Times said.
“Know your customer” checks, which focus on a new client’s identity and risk factors, are aimed at preventing the concealment of funds obtained from criminal activity.
The Financial Times stated that the FCA had written to Barclays’ requesting a “skilled persons review” by an outside party like a legal or accounting firm.
The financial regulator has brought several highprofile money laundering and compliance cases in recent years as it attempts to lose its reputation for being overlenient when dealing with financial offences.
EXTENDING BarcelonaEl Prat airport could involve a 3,400runway, one nautical mile (1.8 kilometres) out to sea.
A private consultancy firm has sent details of the €2.1 billion project to Catalonia’s regional government, where sources said all options should be studied and it was “positive” that experts were working on the issue.
The chosen location would lessen the environmental impact on the area, the scheme’s supporters maintained, although Barcelona city mayor Ada Colau immediately criticised the project.
It would be very expensive and the money would be better spent on the Mediterranean Corridor rail link between Catalonia and Valencia, she said.
leader, Helena Robertsson.
“This shows that family enterprises have been growing at nearly twice the rate of advanced economies and at around one and a half times the rate of emerging market and developing economies.
“In fact, their contribution is so significant that if they were a national economy, they would be the third largest among the club of 19 ‘trilliondollar economies’ that exist in the world, after the US and China,” she said.
SPAIN has 11,113 taxpayers who earn €601,000 a year or more.
Almost half live in the Madrid Community, the only region in the country which charges no Wealth Tax at all although those who would be liable to pay it elsewhere must make a yearly declaration.
This strategy has clearly paid off, as 5,176 (47 per cent) of the country’s biggest earners live in the Madrid Community, Tax Authority Hacienda revealed.
Next comes Catalonia which has 2,334 taxpayers earning an annual €601,000 or more (21 per cent) followed by the Valencian Community’s 887 (7.9 per cent) and Andalucia with 799 top earners (7.2 per cent).
THE European Banking Authority’s president said he did not believe that Spain’s bank windfall tax would have a negative impact on banking or limit credit.
Referring to the 4.8 per cent tax on a bank’s net income and net commissions above €800 million, introduced to subsidise inflationbusting measures, Jose Manuel Campa told an El Pais interviewer that the tax was valid.
It had been proposed by the government and approved by parliament, the Oviedo born economist and former politician pointed out. “It is legitimate. There’s nothing more to be said,” he declared.
COURIER firm DX Group admitted that rival Tuffnell Parcels Express was taking legal action against the company following accusations of corporate espionage. The admission followed a Sunday Times report which revealed that three DX staff members, all former Tuffnell employees, had conspired to obtain daily customer service reports.
A DX employee allegedly offered a Tuffnell traffic clerk a £50 (€56) payment in exchange for the confidential information.
Sheffieldbased DX declined to comment further, “as matters are now subject to legal proceedings,” a company statement added.
DEFENCE and aerospace
heavyweight Babcock secured a £400 million (€449.3m) contract to operate the UK Ministry of Defence’s military satellite communications system. The company has signed a sixyear deal to manage the Skynet 6 programme, which provides work for 400 in southwest England.
BARCELONAbased multinational, Grifols, announced plans to let go 2,300 employees as part of a costcutting plan aimed at saving an annual €400 million. Most of the workforce cuts will be in the US, but 100 of the 300 administrative job losses correspond to Spanish staff.
SECONDHAND car sales fell last year with fewer used models reaching the market, according to figures from the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A shortage of parts during the pandemic meant fewer new cars were produced, prompting people to keep their cars longer.
FREEDOM from maskwearing on public transport earlier this month was welcomed by Spain’s population but greeted with less enthusiasm by manufacturers. Having spent €1 million on equipment, one factory owner said that she was now in a position where she saw no possibility of recouping her investment.
SPAIN, together with Portugal, Canada and New Zealand was another of the countries affected by the new Netflix limit on password sharing. Customers are being asked to pay an extra fee if they want friends and family not living with them to be able to share their subscription.
Linda Hall
PARENTS in the UK are gifting or informally lending millions to their adult children.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimated that this year they would help out with around £17 billion (€19.13 billion) on marriage or buying a house.
Around 30 per cent of young adults in their late 20s and early 30s can expect to receive at least one substantial transfer of £500 (€563) or more over any eightyear period from their parents, the IFS revealed.
“These transfers are very unequally spread,” IFS inves
PARENTS: Increasingly likely to provide financial assistance.
tigators said, as the children of university educated, homeowning parents received up to six times more in their 20s and 30s than those who families rented.
White young adults were
also three times more likely to receive a substantial gift than Pakistani or Bangladeshi young adults, the IFS said.
The report found that children in the highestincome
fifth of society received 26 times more than their peers in the lowest fifth during early adulthood. Help amounted to £6,300 (€7,094) on average for the wealthiest, compared with £240 (€270) for the poorest.
People were more likely to receive a large gift on marrying but were unlikely to receive transfers when facing adverse events like losing their job.
Those in the leastwealthy third also tended to use gifts to purchase a new car, to pay off debts or for educational expenses, the IFS added.
VOLKSWAGEN intends to spend more than €1 billion on electric vehicle production at its Landaben (Navarra) plant.
The future Volkswagen ID.2 and a Skoda urban crossover will be built there, thanks to what the regional president Maria Chivite described as the region’s greatestever investment.
Visiting the VW headquarters in Wolfsburg (Germany) on February 14, Chivite met Christian Vollemer, who heads the Production and Logistics department, and Michael Hobusch, president of Volkswagen Navarra.
All coincided during the meeting on their desire to maintain the present “very good” level of cooperation between Volkswagen and Navarra regarding transformation, training and environmental measures.
“It’s crucial that we all row in the same direction, especially in a time of change,” Hobusch said, while Chivite stressed Volkswagen’s importance to the region of Navarra.
The regional president also drew attention to the need to work together on the electrification project, while both underlined the group’s “positive evolution” in the region, which confirmed that the “future was assured.”
Addressing the regional parliament on her return,
ELIMINATING Saturday letter deliveries would save Royal Mail hundreds of millions of pounds in its battle to curb soaring losses. The Universal Service Obligation (USO) requires Royal Mail to deliver letters six days a week although a 2020 Ofcom report found that fiveday letter deliveries would meet the needs of 97 per cent of users.
The group could save £250 million (€282.1 million) annually by abandoning Saturday deliveries, helping to slash projected losses of between £350 million and £450 million (€506.2 million and €393.7 million) by more than half.
ORGANIC pearl company Majorica, which filed for bankruptcy in 2020, has emerged from administration.
Chivite said Volkswagen’s investment was a vote of confidence in Navarra’s worth, capacities and potential, together with guaranteed future employment and activity.
“This is great news for the community, the company, its employees and the automotive industry,” she said.
ORANGE and MasMovil have given the European Commission (EC) formal notification of their merger plans.
The EU’s antitrust regulators now have until March 20 to decide whether to approve the €18.6 billion deal between the French company and its Spanish rival.
If they have serious concerns regarding the merger they could also decide to launch a further, more extended investigation.
Last July MasMovil and Orange signed an agreement which, if allowed to go ahead, would create a forceful mobile and broadband offer to challenge Telefonica. Analysts predicted at the time that this could open the door to similar agreements in the UK, Italy and Portugal. If the EC says ‘yes’ to the deal it would leave thirdranked Vodafone stranded, although insiders point out that it enjoys a more consolidated market.
FARMS risk going out of business after receiving a minimal amount of the government fund that was created to replace European Union subsidies.
To compensate for losing the Brussels’ Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which provided financial support for agriculture, the UK government introduced its own scheme.
This commenced with the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) that pays farmers for looking after their soil.
With each passing year, the UK government has reduced the payments that farmers received under the old system, cutting them by an average 22 per cent in 2022.
Last year £10.7 million (€12.05 million) was paid out under the SFI scheme from a budget of £2.4 billion (€ 2.7 billion).
Only 0.44 per cent was assigned to them under this new system, raising the question not only of where the money has gone, but how farmers can survive.
Now the property of Gregoire Bontoux Halley, a member of the family that founded Carrefour, the company foresees a turnover of approximately €22 million this year with sales equalling those of the prepandemic years.
The company, which has 120 employees, announced plans for expansion in markets which include Germany, the US and Mexico where the brand is already wellknown. There will also be an increased presence in Asia, where the fifth Majorica outlet opened recently.
NOFRILLS supermarket chain Aldi will open 40 new stores this year in locations that include Norwich, Newcastle, Huddersfield and Shrewsbury.
Plans involve an additional 6,000 employees, the Germanowned company revealed.
Like Lidl, Aldi’s brisk trading over Christmas has continued through 2023 as the cost of living crisis prompts shoppers to forsake pricier rivals and choose their lowerpriced options.
Both increased their share of the UK’s grocery market by one percentage point over the past 12 months, data company Kantar said.
Aldi’s 9.2 per cent share of the UK market makes it the country’s fourthbiggest chain ahead of Morrisons and behind only Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda.
IN the light of the left bending over backward to portray the UK citizens as grovelers at the bottom of the Conservative catastrophe barrel, I have decided to run in the next British election. I hereby present my manifesto for The Leapy Loopy Party. (I thought this title would meet with the approval of a few readers!) As follows.
1. All legal British citizenship applicants required to pass more stringent entrance examinations, including basic English, oral and written and knowledge of British history and culture. Examinations to be set and overseen by a committee of British nationals who have resided in the UK for at least three generations.
2. No free NHS for unregistered nonEuropean nationals, except in dire emergencies.
3. Genuine asylum seekers grants capped at 6,000 per year. Only exceptional circumstances considered after this figure reached.
4. A restriction on numbers of specific religious buildings allowed per capita.
5. Rigorous inspections of schools suspected of disproportionate religious curriculums. With no gender or major sex ed
ucation for pupils under the age of eight.
6. ‘Young’ and ‘Juvenile’, offender ages reduced.
7. A reintroduction of two years National Service for male and females at age 16. (Bona fide students exempt)
8. Strict boot camps for young offenders, to be run on army lines by the military.
9. Immigrant boats and/or occupants immediately returned to country of embarkation.
10. Working camps for illegal immigrants and those without papers or proof of nationality.
11. All lawyers’ dealing with immigrants and immigration matters, to have legal fees capped.
12. ‘Stop and search’ immune from all charges of racism or discrimination.
13. A total ban on full face masking of any description in public places.
14. Solitary confinement prisons built specifically to house serious terrorist offenders.
15. All overseas aid to be examined in depth and cut by at least twothirds.
16. A court of frivolity. Selected judges to hear appeals from those who feel they have been accused for frivolous reasons, ie political correctness, health and safety is
sues, racism etc. Heavy punishments for claims considered to have contained malicious or irresponsible content.
17. Numbers of nonwhite media performers restricted to population percentages.
18. The hierarchy of the BBC dismantled, dismissed and replaced.
19. All historical criminal accusations against service men and women dropped.
20. MPs to attend the house for at least three full days a week except during canvassing periods
21. A force of highly trained specialised, armed rapid response police/army units to be assigned to reported trouble spots.
22. Verbal abuse of police officers treated as seriously as physical attacks and heavy punishments for similar attacks on all medical workers.
23. Proven fake news in any form treated severely, ie falsified derogatory statements appearing to issue from the mouths of politicians or leading figures, to result in heavy fines and/or suspensions of media licences.
24. Legal gender decided by genital type. Chance would be a fine thing! Keep the faith Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com
REBECCA SERWOTKA “We sell houses! It’s what we do, it’s ALL we do!” Your favourite local resale property expert, of Inmobiliaria Real Estate Agents in Ciudad Quesada. Published author of ‘Moving Forward 25 Essential Rules For Buying & Selling Real Estate Without Going Crazy’. Request your FREE copy! Featured on Best Buy Spain. Prestige Award Winner for ‘Real Estate Agency Of The Year 2021/22 & 2022/23’.
If you’re purchasing your dream home on the Costa Blanca and need a mortgage, the banks do like to encourage you to take out insurance.
But what type of insurance will you need? According to
Selling in the Ciudad Quesada
ON Friday, February 24 it has been exactly one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, targeting some of its most populated areas, including the capital Kyiv.
Since then, tens of thousands on both sides have lost their lives, cities have been destroyed, and communities changed forever.
In that year, several things have become clear. First on that list is how fragile peace is, and how quickly life as we currently understand it can change.
In that year, we’ve also learned more about the astonishing courage and ingenuity of human nature when it is pushed to its limit.
Even more heart warmingly though, we’ve also seen the kindness of ordinary people all around the globe who, touched by what they have seen in Ukraine, have donated, fundraised and even given their lives to help people they have never met. Many of those people are here in Spain.
While the war has also given us plenty of insight into the darker parts of the human experience its irrationality, its cruelty, and its unfairness it is that light in the dark that we must focus on.
Because it’s only through doing this that we will see an end to this conflict.
Spanish mortgage regulations, the ONLY insurance you are obligated to take out is FIRE INSURANCE. All other insurances are optional.
Neither are you obligated to take out insurance the bank are offering you. You can shop around. However you will need to make the bank as the beneficiary on the policy.
You are not obligated to take out life insurance, or any other insurance policies for that matter, apart from fire. I will point out though… it is common practice for your local bank/branch to make it a requirement of your mortgage application, that you take out life insurance.
CALAMINE lotion, an oldfashioned but effective treatment for chicken pox in children, is hard to find at present. The culprit is a TikTok influencer who recommended using it as a makeup base for skins prone to spottiness.
Doctors warned that calamine lotion is a medicine, not a cosmetic. “Using it every day not only strips the skin of moisture, but thanks to its phenol content, it can worsen rosacea, eczema and spots,” health professionals said.
GWYNETH PALTROW’S fame as an actress has since been eclipsed by the wacky wellness products touted by her Goop brand.
Known for promoting a goat milk cleanse and vaginal steam, the 50year old also recommends being stung by bees.
Paltrow believes that the bee stings, which have been described as an organic alternative to Botox, eradicate inflammation and scarring, leaving radiantlytransformed skin.
“I’ve been stung by bees,” she told an interviewer. “It’s a treatments that’s thousands of years old, called apitherapy.”
The actress and apitherapy’s other devotees maintain that the bee stings stimulate blood flow and collagen in the face, which smooths out wrinkles. All admit, however, that the process “is painful.”
SPRING: Season of allergies and colds.
Linda Hall
SPRING, almost here, is an in between time with some sunny days and others when we freeze again.
As the weather changes, we require extra vitamins and minerals, so start with Omega 3 to promote brain and heart health, while protecting against chronic conditions.
Severe allergies require medical treatment, but people reacting to the burgeoning blossom and blooms can benefit from a zinc supplement to boost
the immune system.
Magnesium also makes a big difference to spring allergies, helping to relax airways and lungs while reducing congestion.
Spring, when we shed our winter woollies and spend more time out of doors, calls for multivitamins, with special emphasis on Vitamins B and C. Finally, everimportant and immuneboosting Vitamin D compensates for reduced sunlight exposure on those chilly days when winter temporarily returns.
Not a solution
16%
growth is what is estimated for the global cosmetics industry in 2023
CUTTING calories helps to lose kilos but investigators found that it also halted ageing in those not overweight.
Researchers worked with 220 volunteers living in New Zealand aged between 26 and 45, one third of whom reduced their calories by 25 per cent for two years. The remaining twothirds ate normally.
OWNING a domestic animal brings health benefits. Scientific studies have shown that interaction with a pet can have a powerful impact on mental, physical and social health. Pets are recognised as helping to buffer stress and address social isolation. Medical research also
Cutting calories by a third also cuts ageing.
Testing for higher blood pressure and cholesterol was matched with genetic activity
demonstrates that pet owners generally have lower blood pressure. Dogowners in particular were more likely to achieve recommended levels of daily exercise and less likely to be obese.
ANYBODY who has ever been tempted to go to bed with wet hair should think twice. It will do more than leave you with damp pillows, a top haircare expert warned. Hair is at its most fragile when it is wet, she explained and the friction between wet hair and the pillow will cause serious breakage and frizz.
within the body to gauge the degree of ageing that was present in the final blood test.
Investigators found that those on fewer calories appeared to age up to three percent more slowly.
“This study is very exciting,” said Dr Daniel Belsky, who led the study. “Slowing down biological aging means living longer and getting ill later.”
THERE are still February days when it is more inviting to remain indoors than venture outside. But that’s no reason not to enjoy simple chair exercises that will ensure muscles and bones remain strong, reduce pain resulting from arthritis and assist in controlling blood pressure.
Begin with ankle rolls, before continuing with seated marching accompanied by some vigorous armswinging. Finish by stretching the chest muscles five or six times.
COST-OF-LIVING crisis, fuel poverty, soaring inflation. Can things get any worse? Yes! Because step forward the sophisticated chatbot, ChatGPT, that can write essays, stories and even makes a pretty good stab at newspaper columns. But it’s not perfect, our jobs are safe for now.
But let’s get something clear straightaway. I write this column and all my psychological crime novels. Me! The one with my photo above. Not Metal Mickey Mouse. Just see him handle all the psychological curve balls and plot twists of crime writing!
Readers tell me I have a good sense of humour (I regularly get great comments about it to my website!). So I asked ChatGPT to write jokes, but not one was funny. They had the form, but not the content of a joke. It’s like any other technology: a tool with certain uses we humans can put it to, and many things it can’t do.
Nonetheless, it’s the chatbot that helped Jeremy Hunt write his speech on the economy and helps millions of others with homework, computer code, essays, poems and business presentations.
While it has been banned from universi
cohost a podcast. And has passed US medical licensing, MBA and Bar exams.
Indeed, a professor from the Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania put it to work on its MBA final exam. It did an ‘amazing job’ answering basic business questions on case studies but less so on basic maths and advanced analysis, according to the study’s author, Christian Terwiesch. Final grade? B or B minus.
It also makes for a passable lawyer, having earned a C+ from the University of Minnesota on its Bar exam, although that would have led to a real student being placed on academic probation. Like any good polymath, it also passed the US medical licensing exam.
a lot of inaccurate information, requiring several questions to arrive at some semblance of the truth.
Its source material is the internet the place where you can find every loony idea, conspiracy theory, oversimplification, common misconception etc. Great, you’d think, on what Jeremy Clarkson would probably call a cellular level. On another level the bit with the brain you might wonder whether this wasn’t just smoke and mirrors.
ties and even a machinelearning conference, it has spawned versions that can give you bespoke recipes, build apps and even
Basically, ChatGPT is an AI programme called a large language model, trained on billions of words from the internet and then refined by humans. Its power comes from being able to write sentences because it can accurately predict the next word to write, like autocomplete but on a huge scale. Users can ask it questions in a prompt box and it returns the answer almost instantly.
However, ChatGPT can also deliver quite
Even if what it finds is right, there’ll be no originality, surely the most important output of ‘real’ intelligence. However, this first test does at least show it’s supremely suitable for the output of practically every politician out there.
So, couldn’t we use ChatGPT to replace our own useless politicians who make up policy on the hoof with no reference to reality or facts? It couldn’t do a worse job...
Nora Johnson’s 11 critically acclaimed psychological crime thrillers (www.norajohnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.
ON visiting San Javier Health Centre, I was handed a paper. For over three months I have been attempting to obtain an appointment at the Social Security Office, Cartagena to register a form S1 to obtain access to the Spanish healthcare system.
Every time I attempt to obtain an appointment, by phone or online, I am told no appointments available. I am aware many other people, including translators/solicitors are having the same problem no appointments available.
It appears the Murcia healthcare system is not functioning as it should.
Linda RogersWAS reading your thoughts on dangerous dog breeds and the amount of recorded bites, but you don’t count the bites reported by other breeds. I have had both big and very small dogs in my life time. I have had rottweilers, German shepherds, mastiffs and pitbulls and out of all these never once have I had any that where aggressive, even my last dog which was a rescued ex fighting dog who turned out to be the softest thing on four legs and I have vets who can confirm all my dogs were no danger to anyone. But what is the problem is HUMANS who get the dog they want not the dog they need, why get a high maintenance dog if you don't plan on putting in the work and what I suggest you do is tell people to study the breeds of dogs and what requirements they need to be a calm submissive pet, not a dog that you leave in a garden when it actually needs to be kept very active and a job given for it to focus. There are no bad breeds but bad humans, so many dogs are already put to sleep because of their breed.
Paulle MilnerNO shortage of people in Barcelona. Barcelona has got its population back? Whoever thought it would have been low! The amount of times I have gone down Las Ramblas and all you could see was quite literally a sea of people. When the kids were young, we always had them dressed in brightly coloured clothes so we could easily find them if they somehow got lost. It is crazy to think that the population was low. Ok the areas I was in were quite touristy but even in the not so touristy parts it was always filled with so much fun and people just enjoying life. Life really is sweet when you get the chance to live it.
Thanks, Barbra
REIGN reign go away never come back again. I don’t know why in this day and age there are such things as royalty, kings and queens or princes and princesses. The real age of royalty and true royalty is gone, all it is these days is tabloid this and tabloid that. They aren’t doing anything for us but giving us TMI, especially with Harry’s book. I did not need to know about Elizabeth Arden cream. The royals haven’t seemed to bring along any happiness in the longest time. Even the Spanish royals. It all just seems dreer and drab. The real royalty left when the Queen and Prince Phillip sadly passed.
Yours, Anthony
IF cleaning really does help you burn the calories Tommy will be in for a shock tomorrow! I am restyling the living room and it is going to be cleaned from head to toe. You know one of my most favourite things about all this new technology nowadays is the fact that you can have the world at our fingertips and even our wrist with all these fitness watches. I got one with my Easter egg last year from Tommy, I don’t really know what he was trying to say doing that... But I will be wearing it tomorrow when I am doing the cleaning to see just how many calories I do burn. Hopefully it is enough to make up for all the chocolate I’ll be eating on Pancake Day.
Love Glen
HA turns out I wasn’t such an idiot at school and sleeping actually does help, 10 minutes does you the world of good. Ok I don’t think I should have been sleeping in class, but if I had to hear another second of Shakespeare, I think I would have jumped out the window (this is when we were all studying in mobiles, I’m not that dramatic). Some subjects were good, but some were just blatantly awful. The only good subject for me was Home Economics where you got to eat what you made, the girls used to take pity on Patrick and I. We would just sit there like the numptys we were and still get the truffles out of it. Ah how I miss the good old days of school and then they would just slide over the bowl for us to lick the spoons. Of course, the teacher always kicked up a fuss but how could you know you weren’t supposed to lick the spoon and how unhygienic it was... always took the fun out of everything. We still did it though and I still do it now.
Joe
HELLO my Angels, how we all feeling this week? The card I have pulled for this week is boundaries, so this is for anyone that is a yes person! You know who you are the people pleasers of the world! I know because I am one myself, I find it very difficult to say no to anyone and if I do say the word no, well I start to feel a little bit weird like I have done something wrong.
I start to sweat a little and overthink things like oh my goodness what have I done, this person really needed my help and I have said the word no. It just doesn’t sit right, however this is not okay within itself, because how can I give from an empty cup? This meaning there is a reason why I have said the word no to whatever it is I couldn’t give it, because who is there to support me when I have nothing left to give? Yes I have family and friends, but as I am the people pleaser I am often the giver not receiv
er, so when I do need something from others I tended not to ask because again it makes me feel all of those things I felt before when I have said no to someone.
Now the universe is always preparing you for your future so it is time to make a change, get confutable being unconfutable, let’s start making some boundaries. You see when you have boundaries everyone will start to respect you and appreciate you in every way, if you keep doing things for people how are they going to learn their own lessons in life, if you are there to keep picking up the pieces every time they ask? And they are only asking you because you have set the boundary at a very low level because your own vibration is low. If you gave time to do everything that everybody asked you to do before giving some time to your elf, it’s because you still have the lid on and we need to take the lid off. You see the universe has a plan for you, each one of us has been born with a gift but to many people because they
refuse to sign the lease on their gift, you keep looking outside of your self, stop!! What is it you do at the absolute best with the lest amount of effort? This is your gift but if you keep looking outside and you don’t start from within you will never find your purpose and every one of us has this. So just start taking time for yourself even if it’s early in the morning start using the word no if it is putting you out and you have to rearrange your day to please other people, start pleasing yourself. I am not saying start to be unkind or saying no to everyone, just set some clear boundaries with the small things and watch your life become better so you can get to the goals you have set for yourself.
Right back to the card ‘Boundaries’. Every morning when you wake up you need to power up get your mind going in the right direction say to yourself, I am strong, I am confident, I am excited at the start of the day. Set your victory, remember every little win counts.
If you would like to know more or have a reading please go to my website to book your own personal privet reading with myself you can find me on Instagram @theangelic.medium or visit my website. https://www.theangelicpsychicmedium.com sending lots of love yours Emma.
My tarot card I have pulled of this week is ‘Boundaries’
IT’S often been said that political careers almost never end well. They do after all generally finish with someone losing an election (and that’s when they don’t end in a call girl scandal/expenses probe/ tabloid expose).
And the reason for that is perhaps one of the most human of all; hope. Which of us, after all, ever quits while we’re ahead?
But like her or loathe her that’s what Nicola Sturgeon appears to have done.
Yes, there are whispers that her abrupt resignation as Scotland’s first Minister had more to do with avoiding a campaign funds investigation than simply a change of career. But let’s assume both for legal reasons as well as for the sake of not being cynical that she genuinely walked away while broadly still at the top of her career.
Let’s also assume that the exact reasons she gave for resigning were sincere that the ‘brutal’ (her words) world of politics genuinely does take its toll.
Certainly New Zealand’s prime minister until just weeks ago, Jacinda Ardern, gave similar reasons.
If they are both telling the truth then, does this say more about the state of modern politics or about them as individuals?
If true, it does at least show an element of selfawareness that you would presumably like to see from anyone within sniffing distance of nuclear codes.
If their jobs really were so tough though, does this tell us what grit both had for sticking it out for so long, or that they ultimately weren’t the right people for the job?
The latter is a much easier issue to resolve; there are already plenty of people waiting in the wings to battle it out for Sturgeon’s role.
But if the issue is the political atmosphere itself then we have a much bigger problem.
After all, if the pressures of 24hour rolling news cycles, constant public scrutiny and an increasingly volatile global backdrop mean we ultimately lose our best candidates, then who are we left with?
THE British Benevolent Fund is the oldest Englishspeaking charity in Spain. It has existed for over a century to provide assistance for British nationals in Spain who face extreme financial hardship. We look wherever possible to help people get back on their feet and for some getting back on their feet it can seem like a mountain to climb.
Late last year the BBF was approached by a partner charity one of many that we work with listed on the embassy supported www.supportinspain.in fo to see if we could help.
The case involved a man in his 50s who had lived in Spain for most of his adult life he was a legal resident and had been working doing odd jobs and gardening but had had increasing difficulty making a living.
He was barely able to work over the pandemic, during which he found himself unable to pay rent and was forced out.
He had applied for state assistance but it turned out that he had made an administrative error and was deemed to owe
many thousands in social security payments which he did not have.
By the time he was referred to us he was living precariously out of his car and relying on a local food bank to survive.
It seemed as if the mountain was insurmountable.
The very best seemed that he would have to return to the UK and restart his life therehomeless and without income or savings. We were going to have a difficult conversation.
He was determined to stay and made the case that he would be able to find work but he needed help to get it.
We agreed to give it a go.
We were able to provide him with a modest sum for emergency accommodation, basic living expenses for a month and some help with clothing.
It did the trick. With a clean shave, new clothes and a bed to sleep in, a weight had been lifted and he was able to focus on finding work. Which he did within a few short days. We all need a helping hand sometime.
The BBF can only do this with your donations. If you would like to support our work supporting the vulnerable across Spain visit www.britishbenevo lentfund.org or email olaf.clay ton@britishbenevolentfund.org
THEY do say that life comes round in cycles, and the team at Neater Heater are inclined to repeat a phrase that Derrick Trotter might say: “It’s Dejavu all over again, Rodney.”
NEATER HEATER started life in the last cost of living crisis after the world’s economies were crashed by the banks in 2008. Primarily looking for ways to heat their kids’ bedrooms, Richard and Tony had both decided separately on electric heaters. However, when shopping around they had discovered that the ones on offer were either very expensive to buy, but not too expensive to run, or were very cheap to buy but cost a small fortune to run.
One thing they all had in common was that they were not very efficient. This story is told in detail on their website www.neatrheater.es but the gist is that through luck they discovered a Norwegian Convector heater that they could import at a reasonable cost and was cost effective to
run. It enabled them to heat a room for less money. It is not a magic solution, it is a solution borne of efficiency and effectiveness. It is like buying a more efficient car when petrol prices go through the roof.
your bills with a Neater Heater. They had a customer let’s call him Geoff. Now Geoff had bought a couple of small oil filled
heaters from the ferreteria near him, but he wasn’t happy with them. He thought they were defective as his electrics frequently tripped when he was using them. He then called NEATER HEATER and told them the size of the rooms he wanted heating. Both small bedrooms at 9sqm. He was provided with two 600Watt heaters. When fitting these heaters Tony and Richard looked at the small ferreteriabought heaters and saw that they were each 2,200 Watts. In total 4.4 kilowatts. Geoff said that they just about took the edge off the cold. (He also only had a 5kW allowance, so when he put the kettle on the electrics tripped). Anyway, his bedrooms are warmer now, his electrics no longer trip, and he is saving 3.2 kilowatts every hour! In fact, possibly more as NEATER HEATERS have thermostats to further reduce consumption.
NEATER HEATER Letting your money go further.
A HOSPITALITY Association in Almeria is calling on regional authorities to control illegal motorhome and campervan sites, saying they pose a ‘security threat’ as campers are not subject to the same regulations as those staying in accommodation such as hotels.
The Provincial Association of Hospitality Entrepreneurs of Almeria (ASHAL), sent a letter to the mayor of Almeria, asking her to act in response to illegal campervan settlements on Monday, February 13. ASHAL said the illegal encampments “have invaded dozens of areas in the community and continue to grow.”
In the past, authorities have argued that campervan travellers are subject to the same security controls as people staying in other types of accommodation, saying they are re
quired to submit the same documentation during their stay.
ASHAL said that in reality, people staying on illegal campervan sites are breaking rules including ecological regulations on waste, damaging the environment with sewerage, and disrupting the peace for local residents. ASHAL also says that these sites are damaging the camping sector’s economy.
ASHAL is asking the regional government to step in by providing police powers to disband illegal encampments.
CAMPING with your dog can be so rewarding, although living in a small space can bring some challenges, here are some tips to happy camping with your canine companion.
• Have a test run
Do some practice sessions in your backyard or during the off season when there are fewer people camping to teach your dog how to behave when camping.
• Sleeping arrangements
Most of the time dogs sleep in the tent with you.
Though some dogs are more comfortable sleeping outside on a blanket, while others may prefer to have their own tent or sleep in the car for a secure, quiet space. Keep your dogs’ nails trimmed regularly. Try not to let them on top of your sleeping pad without the sleeping bag on top. Don’t let your dog play on your bed. If they get excited, take them outside to play with a toy.
• Keeping a secure camp
You can use a handsfree leash or secure line to con
Betty Henderson
SPRING is in the air! And that means a return to camping trips as we put the winter weather behind us. But camping at this time of year can have its own challenges.
• Be prepared
nect your dog’s collar to a stable structure like a tree. Sometimes it’s best to keep the high energy dogs attached to the owner.
• Leaving the dog alone
This really depends on your dog. Well behaved dogs in cooler temperatures are just fine in a tent alone. Puppies or dogs that are easily stimulated can easily tear a hole in a tent.
Ensure that you know the campsites rules and regulations relating to dogs and be prepared for all weathers.
Unlike summer, camping in the spring can mean unexpected showers, even in Spain. Weather in the spring can be unpredictable, so be sure to check the forecast before heading out and pack some waterproofs and clothing that you can layer easily if it’s unexpectedly warm.
• Book ahead
As the tourist season isn’t completely underway, some sites and attractions may not be open yet. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.
• Kit picks
When camping in the spring, the best equipment to take differs a bit from other seasons. A popup canopy is an excellent choice if you have one or can hire one as it provides shade during sunny spells and shelter during rain, especially for meal preparation or eating.
CANCER that affects the brain is not uncommon in old dogs and cats. The problem of the need for advanced diagnostic imaging techniques such as High Field Magnetic Resonance (MRI) to detect a tumour in the brain means that it is often not diagnosed. Although it occurs more frequently in advanced ages, there are breeds in which it occurs in young dogs, such as the Boxer and Boston Terrier.
The diagnosis of a brain tumour involves a coordinated effort between the vet who usually cares for the patient, the neurologist, the radiologist, the oncologist and the surgeon. Given this situation, it is necessary to advise the owners of the affected pets in the best way.
Signs of brain tumours are: seizures, abnormal behaviour, loss of vision, head tilt, wobbly gait, etc.
They vary widely in their degree of malignancy hence the importance of advanced diagnostic techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging or, failing that, Computerised Tomography (CT).
There are three ways of treating brain tumours: neurosurgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
CAPTURING that magic moment of your family pet to share with your family and friends or post on social media can be a tricky task, not least because many of them refuse to sit still for any length of time. Here are a few tips on how to get that perfect picture.
Pets all have their own distinct personality, whether you own a sleepy house cat or a cocker spaniel that can’t stand still, try to photograph your pet in a situation that best sums up their personality, also try and set your focus point on the pet’s eyes or head, just as you would when photographing a person.
Sometimes putting a person in the shot can give scale and extra meaning to a photo. Zoom in tight, so that you fill most of the frame with them, otherwise they might get lost in the background.
AGE can creep up slowly on our pets and every pet ages different, so changes can happen at anytime. What’s more, agerelated changes can be easy to miss because they appear so gradually. Being aware and proactive is the best thing pet owners can do to help their pets stay healthy as they age and it’s recommended that pets have a full ‘MOT’ at about age six or seven. This allows the vet to address any current concerns or potential health risks, including nutritional considerations.
Because pets are generally much smaller than humans it’s a lot easier to play around with interesting angles rather than just shooting sideon or headon.
A prop can also change the mood of a photo, maybe a large pair of sunglasses or a hat, so long as it doesn’t cause your pet discomfort, anything goes.
The most important thing is to be patient, the best shots nearly always come to those that wait.
CATS are caring and funny creatures with quirky and mysterious personalities that become a part of our family and steal a place in our hearts. But, how much do you really know about your cat? We have put together some fun facts that you may not know!
In terms of development, the first year of a cat’s life is equal to the first 15 years of a human life! After its second year, a cat is 25 in human years. And after that, each year of a cat’s life is equal to about seven human years.
Domestic cats spend around 70 per cent of the day sleeping and 15 per cent of the day grooming, leaving only 15 per cent for other activities.
The hearing of the average cat is at least five times more advanced than that of a human adult and cats can rotate their ears 180 degrees and can hear much higher pitches than we can, and their range goes even above that of dogs!
A cat cannot see directly under its nose and most cats have no eyelashes. Meowing evolved in order for cats to communicate with humans cats don’t meow to each other, only to humans!
When selecting your pet’s diet ensure food includes key nutrients important for older pets such as, high quality protein, balanced levels of phosphorus and sodium, essential amino acids, Vitamins E and C, and Lcarnitine.
In addition to making nutritional adjustments it is essential to provide regular exercise and interaction with family members which will help keep older pets in shape and their minds actively engaged.
Regular veterinary check ups are so important for diagnosing and or monitoring any health issues your pet may have.
Image: Shutterstock.com/ fongbeerredhot
HEALTH ISSUES: Just like us our pets have additional needs as they age.
Betty Henderson
FLUFFY and soft, your pet’s luscious coat is one of its best features! But that doesn’t mean you want pet fur all over yourself and your lovely furniture. Today we’re bringing you some top tips and tricks to help you in the battle to get pet fur out of your clothes.
• Solid strategy
Prepare your clothes for the washing machine by doing a quick onceover with a fabric brush or lint roller. Other tricks include rubbing clothes with latex gloves or even tape to pick up loose fur.
• Household hacks
Pet owners swear by
vinegar as a tool to get fur out of clothes. Vinegar can soften clothing fabric, making fur much easier to get out.
• Clean equipment
Don’t make your job harder than it needs to be, wipe down your washing machine and dryer often to stop fur residue getting stuck to your next load of washing.
• Specialist products
There are lots of products on the market designed specifically to remove pet fur from clothes, by catching it in the washing machine or petspecific dryer sheets to loosen fur from clothes.
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CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campello@ hotmail.com (95475)
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Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462)
CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH Tel: 950 617 549 www.giving light.com.(10006)
FREEMASONRY . Are you aware that Freemasonry is thriving on the Costa Blanca? There are various Lodges meeting up throughout the Valencia region. If you already are a Mason or simply wish to know more about Freemasonry in Spain please contact sec@glpvalen cia.com Tel 600 841 064 (95477)
HELP VEGA BAJA. We are a non-profit making organisation that helps and supports anyone, without prejudice, in times of need or crisis within the Vega Baja area. Our offices are based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega 46 (Tel 966 723 733), Torrevieja at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 (Tel 965 704 282). We are online at www.helpvegaba ja.com and also on Facebook. You can email the San Miguel Centre at office@helpvega baja.com. We also have a
24-hour Emergency helpline which is available to both members and non-members on 966 723 733 (95456)
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY, TORREVIEJA Calle Beniajan 16, Torrevieja 03185, Alicante Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday morning Services at 11.00am. All nationalities welcome - Contact 966 752 543 / 966 799 273. For other church matters phone: 966 799 273 / /617 215 463 www.icatorrevieja.org (95476)
LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English-speaking church. For more information, including details of our services, see our website www.lasiestaevangeli calchurch.org (10005)
PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information. (95459)
PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www.pi larchurch.org Reg No: 2009SG/A (95463)
ROYAL Air Force Association Costa Blanca Registered Members Group: The RAFA Costa Blanca RMG replaces the RAFA Costa Blanca Branch 1359 which is now closed. The RMG is a social group of caring people and remains affiliated to the parent Association. Contact with the Royal Air Force Association and the RMG can be made via the RAFA website rafa.org. uk Tel:0044 800 018 2361. (238593)
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - Why not make this year the year you volunteer? See how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvis its@gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with
signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, http://branches.britishle gion.org.uk/branches/orihuelacosta - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl.co.uk.
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch. For info, contact the branch Secretary at granalacant.secretary@ rbl.community
ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION (Costa Blanca) The aim of the Association is to bring together not just ex Royal Marines, but ex Service personnel with an affinity to the Royal Marines. For further details contact Hon Sec P S Wilkins Tel: 966 194 158 email: inkinspain@yahoo.co.uk
ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION
For information please contact Chairman Anthony Jenkins +34 693 866 709, Vice Chairman Dusty Miller +34 711 006 670, Secretary Mike Cockman +34 670 224 822, Treasurer Carl Louden +34 678 518 202, email rnatorrevieja@aol.com (95455)
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THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION
COSTA BLANCA BRANCH. Former & serving aircrews of the UK or Allied Armed Forces are welcome to join this convivial & friendly organisation, now in its 21st year. www.acacostablanca. org or call the Secretary on: 966 495 042 (95465)
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188. (95461)
THE BAKER Foundation Spiritual Centre Playa Flamenca. Calle Luis Gordillo, 1 Playa Flamenca Alicante 03189. You can join us on Facebook, The Baker Foundation spiritual centre. Or contact Linda Schug Tel. 606 990 665 for more details (95458)
THE PATIENCE LODGE No 2177 of the R.A.O.B Please call Secretary Dave Tonge on 688 704 091 for further information. (253807)
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byMarkSlack
FROM the earliest days of motoring, cars were built on a rolling chassis to which a body could be added by a coachbuilder. Some of the best known proponents of this art were, and are starting to be again, RollsRoyce.
Names such as Mulliners, Hooper, Park Ward and Thrupp and Maberly produced bodies that adorned the likes of Rolls Royce, Bentley, Alvis and Daim ler. In the 1960s
Vanden
Plas featured on models such as the Vanden Plas Princess R pow ered by a Rolls gine. More ignominiously
it also appeared on much later BL models such as the Allegro! Another coachbuilder was Swallow, based in Blackpool, which started life as Swallow Sidecars and ultimately became Jaguar.
Coachbuilt cars were still not uncommon in the early 1960s, but as monocoque construction took hold it reduced production
sounded the death knell for the coachbuilding industry and if names survived they were reduced to little more than a badge on a posh version of a mass produced model.
A couple of years ago Rolls Royce produced three coachbuilt Boat Tail models that at the time were rumoured to be the most expensive cars in
each. Many luxury car makers use a spaceframe sub structure which allows for more design and manufacturing freedom. However the costs of such cars will always be beyond normal motoring folk.
Inadvertently though we may have already witnessed the birth of a new generation of effectively coachbuilt
Many car makers have amalgamated, for example Stellantis owns Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Opel, Vauxhall plus a slew of other brands.
Volkswagen Audi Group is another example with the Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda brands amongst their particular garage.
mation, automotive coalescences have taken place. The reportedly less than harmonious RenaultNissan alliance has survived for over two decades, and Toyota has a small interest in Suzuki. All these couplings allow manufacturers to share underpinnings of body and mechanical components. Toyota’s Supra and BMW’s Z4 share the same underpinnings despite one being a roadster and the other a coupe.
Skoda’s Octavia, SEAT’s Leon and Audi’s A3 all share the same platform under their bodies. So even those of us that drive more humble vehicles may have inadvertently become the owners of a new generation of coachbuilt cars.
VOLVO bring good news to the motoring industry as it has reported that with sales of 48,520 in January, it means figures are up 2 per cent compared with the same month last year.
US sales reached 7,693 cars, up 8.2 per cent compared with January last year. The share of Recharge models accounted for 30.8 per cent of the total sales for the month.
IT’S good news for the UK motoring industry as the results for UK used car transactions for the fourth quarter of 2022 have now been released.
“Against an uncertain economic and political backdrop, the used car market remains in good health,” confirmed Ian Plummer, Commercial Director at Auto Trader.
“The ongoing dearth in
supply caused a softening on 2021’s exceptional performance, but the market closed 2022 in a strong position, and critically, carried some great momentum with it into the new year.”
Ian added: “January 2023 saw a record 80 million visits to our marketplace nearly 10 million more than a year ago and according to our data, a
circa 8 per cent year onyear increase in used car sales across the market.
“2022’s EV boom is however at risk as our data shows demand for used electric vehicles has been dampened by high energy prices in the last few months. A surge in supply over the last year has resulted in five consecutive months of decline in used EV values.”
Sales of Volvo Cars’ Recharge models of fully electric and plugin hybrid cars increased by 31 per cent in January year onyear, accounting for 40.7 per cent of all Volvo cars sold globally during the month. The share of fully electric cars stood at 16.2 per cent.
European sales for January reached 21,436 cars, up 14.7 per cent compared with the same period last year. The increase was led by markets such as the UK, Italy and Belgium. Recharge sales, which in addition to fully electric cars also includes plug in hybrids, accounted for 59.8 per cent of the total sales in the region during the month.
Image: Auto Trader
LATEST FIGURES: UK used car transactions for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Good news.
UK Sport has confirmed an additional £4 million of funding for summer Olympic and Paralympic sports as preparations gear up for the Paris 2024 Games.
The increased investment which was confirmed on Monday, February 13, will spread across 33 sports and will support athletes in their preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes allowing athletes to attend extra competitions that have been added to the international calendar and are essential to qualification for the Paris Games, in addition to training camps.
DICKIE DAVIES , a giant among sports commentators, passed away on Sunday, February 19. His death was confirmed by fellow broadcasting legend, Jim Rosenthal on his Twitter profile.
Posting on behalf of Dickie’s family, the post read: “With huge sadness, we an
Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
Following last year’s significant uplifts of £11.2 million of additional investment in summer sports on top of the original Paris cycle awards the latest round of investments prioritised support on activities and requirements that will have a direct impact on Paris 2024 qualification.
Within the additional £4 million of funding, 26 World Class Programmes will benefit from £3.5m of extra investment.
A further half a million pounds of investment will be invested across Progression sports, those with identified longterm medal potential and National Squads Support Fund sports, where funding is designed to support the costs associated with forming and fielding squads for competition on the Olympic and Paralympic qualification pathway.
nounce Dickie Davies passed away this morning. So proud of his 20 years of World of Sport, three Olympic Games and a brilliant career on the telly. He is survived by a loving wife, two adoring sons, four grandkids and two beloved dogs.”
Jim added: “Would appreciate some privacy as we
mourn and celebrate his life. Dickie was a wonderful friend and colleague… RIP DD.”
Dickie’s career in broadcasting is legendary, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest British television sports presenters of all time. Among other things, he
anchored World of Sport from 1968 until 1985. After World of Sport ended in 1985, Davies stayed with ITV, presenting boxing, darts, and snooker, as well as playing a part in their coverage of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He left ITV Sport in August 1989.
RUGBY fans will have seen the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship began with a win for the Netherlands.
On what was a highly emotional day in Amsterdam on Saturday, February 11, the Netherlands kicked off the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship 2023 with a convincing 3812 win against Sweden.
Playing in their first game since the death of teammate Inge van der Velden from cancer last month, aged 30, the Dutch ran out with a framed number 11 shirt in memory of the former winger whose sis
ter, Linde van der Velden lined up at number eight.
In the buildup to the match, head coach Sylke Haverkorn had said: “We’ve never had more reasons to win than now, especially after the past intense and emotional weeks. The girls are ready to show what they’re made of.”
Backing up the words of their coach, the Dutch were on it from the getgo and raced into a 335 halftime lead.
Spain, ranked in 11th, hosted the Netherlands on Sunday February 19 with Sweden travelling to face Las Leonas on Saturday February 25.
