Mallorca 2 – 8 March 2023 Issue 1965

WALKING AGAINST CANCER

MALLORCA resident Anita Vince is organising Walk Against Cancer, a fun and healthy initiative to raise funds for Cancer Support Mallorca.

Anita had breast cancer in 2014 and as part of the healing process she decided to organise a walk over the Tramuntana mountain range with friends. Every year since the first walk in 2016, Anita and her crew have walked the GR221 to raise money for Cancer Support Mallorca.

The walks always take place over the Easter period in April, and so far they have raised over €15,000 for the charity.

After a few years off due to Covid, the ladies

went island hopping last year to walk the GR223, otherwise known as the Cami de Cavalls, in Menorca. They will be returning this year to com ­

plete this walk and as always will be looking for sponsorship as they do this.

In addition, Anita came up with the Walk Against

Cancer initiative, where participants can walk the distance of the GR221 throughout April, in their own time, at their own pace, with family or

Inca celebrates IWD

INCA Town Hall has organised more than 15 activities to commemorate International Women’s Day on Wednesday March 8.

The events are aimed at “demanding real and effective equality between women and men and promoting the elimination of gender discrimination,” declared local Equality councillor Antonia Maria Sabater.

A mural dedicated to women in the traditional shoe­making trade by local artist Margalida Vinyes has been inaugurated on the Avinguda del Tren, and on Saturday March 4, a pottery workshop will take place at the Museu del Calçat.

Sunday March 5 will see a Women’s Day basketball tournament in Plaça de Mallorca starting at 10am, with

several theatre performances focused on women taking place at the Teatre Principal all month.

Wednesday March 8 is the big day, with a march in favour of women in education starting at 10am through the streets of the town followed by the raising of the Women’s Day flag at the town hall and a concert by Sant Francesc de Inca Women’s Choir in Plaza de España at 7pm.

A solidarity market will take place at the Espai de Dones on the morning of Saturday March 11, followed by the main Women’s March at 4pm.

friends.

In general terms people

who sign up will challenge themselves to walk a certain number of steps during the month of April, the total steps equalling the steps needed to walk the whole or part of the GR221.

There will be a registration form on the www.cancersupportmal lorca.com website. Registration costs just €10 and includes a t ­ shirt, cloth bag, sponsorship materials and a progress chart.

For more information, contact details and sponsorship, visit ‘Walk the GR221 for Cancer Support Mallorca’ on Facebook.

Image by Rebecca Upton/Cancer Support Mallorca

CANCER SUPPORT: A fun and healthy initiative to raise funds for cancer in Mallorca.

Presentation of the Women’s Day activities at Inca town hall.

Image by Inca Town Hall

Juliette whips up a storm

MALLORCA is reeling this week under the effects of Storm Juliette, a whirlwind of snow, wind and rain that has broken all records and left a trail of destruction in its wake.

The most visible and spectacular effect was the opening of an eight­metre sinkhole on the main Avenidas avenue through the centre of Palma, causing traffic chaos and exposing the remains of the ancient 16th century wall that used to enclose the city.

As council workers rushed to cordon off the gaping hole, another two smaller sinkholes appeared ­ one opposite the El Corte Inglés department store, also on the Avenidas, and a third on the Paseo Maritimo in front of Pacha discotheque.

The council is currently investigating the causes of the Avenidas collapse, which is thought may have been caused by a leaking underground pipe, and confirmed that it will take at least a week to repair.

Elsewhere on the island, the authorities urged drivers to refrain from using their vehicles as much as possible due to severe traffic problems and tailbacks in Manacor and Felanitx, as 13 towns

suffered power cuts and the northern and Llevant parts of the island registered up to 200 litres of rainfall per square metre in just two days.

Roads through the Tramuntana mountains were closed off due to falling trees and up to four metres of snow in some parts ­ the highest snowfall since 1985 ­ while 25­foot waves crashed into the coast and temperatures sat below zero in many areas, with fierce gusts of wind hitting up to 105 kilometres per hour in Capdepera. At the time of going to press, a slight improvement of conditions was predicted for yesterday (Wednesday), just

Going BIG for International Women’s Day

AS a proud female-owned business which has always put women at the forefront of its ethos, the Euro Weekly News is this year celebrating International Women’s Day throughout the whole month of March.

Both in print across our six editions and online, expect to find inspirational interviews, thought-provoking quotes and female-focused features from Wednesday, March 1 onwards.

in time for the Balearic Islands Day celebrations, although it was unclear which events could finally go ahead in Mallorca.

The cold weather was expected to continue throughout the week, but with temperatures recovering gradually each day until nearing average levels for the time of year.

On a positive note, the island’s freshwater reservoirs are expected to increase their capacity to up to 90 per cent when the snow melts, a major improvement from the 60 per cent registered before the storms and good news ready for the summer dry season.

Yes, while others may be content to celebrate women just one day a year, at the Euro Weekly News we believe that women - responsible for some of the world’s biggest feats and advancements - should be given far more of a spotlight.

Better still, the month will culminate in our Internation-

al Women’s special, celebrating extraordinary women from across Spain and further afield!

To let us know about an inspiring woman you know, who you think we should be featuring, contact the Euro Weekly News at editorial@ euroweeklynews.com.

STORM JULIETTE: Broke all records and left a trail of destruction.

“When people go low we go high, I look up to the likes of Lynn McCabe for never giving up and to just believe in yourself.”

Eimear Wilson, Creative Marbella

International Women’s Day

Empowering Women’s Day

• “Extremists have shown what frightens them most. A girl with a book.”

Malala Yousafzai

• “There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.”

W E B Dubois

• “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”

Michelle Obama

• “I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.”

Mary Shelley

IN celebration of all the women in the world, cities and towns across the globe will be celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) on Wednesday March 8.

The origin of IWD is drawn from more than one historical event and began as an acknowledgement of women’s struggle to make their workplaces better.

Created out of protest and political action, it is a symbol for all those who honour women’s struggles to improve their lives. Originally the day of remembrance symbolised the efforts to end appalling working conditions endured by women in sweatshops.

At the beginning of the 20th century, many women in industrially­developing countries entered the labour force taking jobs with low wages, poor working conditions and little or no chance of improvement.

Such conditions led to industrial disputes, involving both unionised and non­unionised women workers.

It was their struggle that created the global impetus for International Women’s Day.

Today, it is also seen as a day of celebration of women, of all that they do, and the accomplishments they have made.

Women and men celebrate International Women’s Day to honour those who began the struggle and those who continue to work for change and recognition of all efforts to improve the lives of women, both locally and globally.

Jayne Harris, Harris Furnishings

‘‘A woman’s touch is very important especially in this line of work, I do all of the buying and styling, a woman’s touch is powerful, we make the home work.’’

Rebecca Serwotka, Inmobiliaria Estate Agents

“We continue to live in a male dominated world and that still shows in our industry. It’s important to support women, especially as they offer a tremendous amount of dedication in whatever they turn their hands to. But most of all, women can multitask!

There is never the perfect work/home life balance. Don’t be hard on yourself and just do the best you can!

Emma Quantrill, Golden Leaves

‘‘I heard an interview with Tom Hanks some time ago, they asked him what would you have liked your younger self to have known - he said “this too shall pass,” this resonated with me as all things pass good and bad, time is your friend not the enemy - learn and grow from your experiences it will give you the drive, ambition and determination to develop your skills to become the very best in your chosen field of expertise’.’

YOUR EWN HAS

Caroline Smith, Grupo Platinum

‘‘All I would say is women in business are as good or better than men at times. Each person is their own world and have their own ideas and thoughts. Choose to do something you love and that inspires you. Life should be enjoyable after all.’’

• “How wrong it is for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants rather than to create it herself.”

Anais Nin

• “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

• “It’s okay if you fall down and lose your spark. Just make sure that when you get back up, you rise as the whole damn fire.”

Colette Warden

• “What’s the greatest lesson a woman should learn? That since day one, she’s already had everything she needs within herself. It’s the world that convinced her she did not.”

Rupi Kaur

• “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.”

Hillary Clinton

• “I don’t like to gamble, but if there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.”

Beyoncé Knowles

• “One is not born a woman, but becomes one.”

Simone de Beauvoir

In celebration of all women.

Image: Southworks Shutterstock.com

Antisocial behaviour

PALMA Town Hall this week presented the municipal plan against antisocial behaviour in the beach area and city centre over the summer season.

Fines of up to €3,000 will be issued for offences classed as ‘very serious’ in the so-called ‘special tourism intervention zones’ ( ZEIT) from April to October.

The restrictions will apply 24 hours a day from Monday to Sunday, with four new areas falling under the ZEIT plan compared to last year. Neighbourhood groups and Platja de Palma Hotel Association worked closely with the local council to draw up the plans, aimed at keeping

Thank you Nicole!

the city clean and safe this summer.

Local Police officers will clamp down on a wide range of activities deemed antisocial for residents, including street drinking parties on the promenade or the beach, crowding outside bars and nightclubs, noise, inconveniencing passers-by while under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs, and vandalism.

In addition, owners of biergardens are required to fence off their terraces to prevent the consumption of alcohol on the street, and establishments will be fined for ‘indiscriminate advertising’, ie littering the street with thousands of flyers.

Mobile alert system

MALLORCA has been included on a nationwide emergency alert system launched this week.

ES-Alert sends automatic warning messages to all mobile phones located within areas affected by emergencies or catastrophes such as earthquakes, forest fires or floods.

Local, regional and national administrations will contact a central coordination base with last-minute information on any major incident, with the service then collating the data and sending out the messages to residents.

This will provide users with detailed advice on what to do to stay safe, thus enabling the emergency services to act faster and more efficiently.

THE presence of Hollywood star Nicole Kidman in Mallorca last month filming her new series Lioness has brought more great news for the island.

Not only did the Australian icon grace the area with her professionalism and charisma, helping to put Mallorca on the map thanks to a series of videos and photographs uploaded onto her social networks with the tag ‘Loving Mallorca’, Kidman is also partly to thank for an exciting announcement made by the island council this week.

As a result of the surge in applications by major movie and series producers to film on the island, Mallorca Film Commission is planning to build the largest film studio in Spain, covering more than 5,000 square metres in Marratxí industrial estate and set to include

a water filming tank and a wide range of services for filmmakers.

The idea is to create all the necessary conditions for major international film companies to extend their stay on the island beyond simply shooting open-air scenes, eliminating the need for them to travel to other cities for interior filming, set building, post-production and other requirements.

Construction is due to begin shortly, with the authorities hoping to open the installations in 2024.

“Always do your research first make sure what you have is a good idea and is something that will last, the market can be oversaturated and you need to be careful. Adapt to the markets, don’t go against them.”

Lina

Hodgkins,

Marketing

Director

Lineker’s Bar, Puerto Banus

Going... gone

PALMA C ouncil has begun removing all the public telephone boxes in the city.

There are still 115 payphones dotted about Palma, which have fallen into disuse and vandalism since mobile phone use has become widespread.

Workers this week began dismantling the cabin and cementing over the gap left in the concrete at Plaza Paris, from where they will continue until removing all of them.

Palma mayor Jose Hila declared that the removal of the phone boxes was an ongoing request by residents, as “over the years, the cabins had become black spots, full of graffiti and dirt.”

The famous Telefonica phone boxes have been disappearing gradually from streets and squares throughout Spain, as most had been out of order for years.

Bank scam alert

THE Guardia Civil are currently investigating a massive bank scam in Mallorca.

Victims are contacted by phone, with the scammers impersonating their bank telephone number so that the target thinks they are talking to a branch employee.

Ironically, the fraudsters actually pretend to be helping the victim from falling prey to a cyberattack.

According to a report by a local news source, users first receive a text message stating: ‘(Name of the bank) has stopped a transaction of €2,000 to Amazon Poland. Our agents will call you’.

A member of the gang then telephones the victim and tries to keep them on the line, insisting that it is vital to “stay in touch until your account is fully secure.” The scammers then convince the victim to tell them their PIN number to

withdraw money from cash machines, or alternatively ask for the account code and within seconds steal up to €2,000.

Dozens of people have reportedly been affected, with more than €30,000 stolen each month. If contacted, the Guardia Civil advises potential victims to hang up immediately and report the call to the authorities.

Major banks, such as BB­

Refugees welcome

MORE than 150 families in the Balearic Islands who are housing Ukrainian refugees are receiving compensation from the regional government.

Households with one guest are entitled to €200 a month, rising to €300 for two plus another €50 for each successive person.

The emergency grants were launched by the Govern in March last year to help cover the basic living costs of Ukrainian nationals seeking international protection in private households.

In total, the Social Services department has issued payments to the tune of €460,000 for hosts on the islands.

Regional councillor Fina Santiago highlighted the fact that these grants are awarded to families who “voluntarily and selflessly welcomed people who are fleeing the war in Ukraine into their homes.”

VA, remind their customers that they will never ask for personal or sensitive details over the phone, neither by call nor text message, and urge never to click on links sent out apparently in their name.

If in doubt, customers are encouraged to contact their branch directly, either by phoning the official number ­ as opposed to receiving a call ­ or in person.

The fact that these are long ­ term and indefinite stays “reflects the solidarity and commitment of the Balearic people,” said the councillor.

Up to 3,185 Ukrainian citizens have sought refuge in the Blaearic Islands so far.

ONE YEAR ON

In a related event this week, hundreds of people gathered in Palma’s Plaza de España on Friday to commemorate the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

“Stop the war, we want peace” was the main slogan of the gathering that was organised by local charities Amar Ucraina, Ayuda a Ucrania and Familia Ucraniana.

Participants flew dozens of flags and carried placards calling for the end of the invasion, as well as messages against Putin and the killing of Ukrainian civilians.

TEXT MESSAGE: But all is not what it seems!

Image by Edaccor/Shutterstock

Pilots strike

AIR NOSTRUM pilots this week launched another indefinite two ­ day weekly strike throughout Spain. Stoppages will take place at all bases ­ including Mallorca airport ­ every Monday and Friday this month until an agreement is reached between the company and Spanish airline pilot union Sepla regarding working conditions and wages.

This is the third monthly strike of its kind launched by the Valencian airline, following identical walkouts in December and January. Spokespeople for the company believe the strike

the fact that it will “severely inconvenience travellers” on the two busiest days of the week.

Air Nostrum bosses are calling on pilots to call off the action, to no avail ­ up to 93 per cent of pilots agreed to take part in the strike at the last union

Discounts

Sepla staged stoppages on eight days between December 22 and January 3 in protest over the company’s efforts to block the general wages agreement, as employees demanded that their salaries be updated to cater for the cost of living increase and inflation.

Palma on two wheels

THE new Bicipalma municipal bicycle renting service is proving to be a resounding success with more than 6,300 users in the first two months.

Up to 930 new bikes, both electric and mechanical, are

available for users at 51 points throughout Palma, with plans to gradually extend the service to 20 new neighbourhoods over the next few months.

The new, improved Bicipal­

ma was inaugurated in January and also features new parking facilities and easier booking access via a mobile phone app.

In order to use the service, users must be inscribed on the municipal padron town census and fill in an application at www.bicipalma.com

Applicants then receive an email with a PIN to activate the service via the Bicipalma app, which grants permission to start renting the bikes.

For further information on how the system works and prices, visit the aforementioned website (available in English).

PALMA T own Hall will launch a series of discounts for shops around the city at the end of March to give residents and local businesses a helping hand during these tough economic times.

The PalmaActiva campaign will offer shoppers vouchers of €10 for every €16 spent in local shops, with a maximum of nine vouchers per person and three for each store.

Up to 100,000 discount tickets for a total value of €1 million are expected to be given out over the six weeks of the campaign, with 400 businesses predicted to take part.

This is the fourth edition of the scheme, timed to coincide with what is usually a low point for commerce. The idea to limit the number of vouchers to three per establishment is to prevent queues outside certain stores - as occurred last year - and to share the benefits among more businesses.

In order to obtain the discount vouchers, shoppers only have to show their ID at the till when paying for their products.

AIR NOSTRUM: Employees demanding a wage increase.

“When people go low we go high, I look up to the likes of Lynn McCabe for never giving up and to just believe in yourself.”

Eimear Wilson, Creative Marbella

Early summer for hotels

SUMMER has come early for hotel managers in Mallorca.

Up to 88 per cent of establishments are due to open in April due to the surge in flights scheduled at Palma airport - one month earlier than in 2019, ie before Covid.

Tourism figures are much higher than usual for this time of year, with German airline TUI breaking all previous records for visitor arrivals at the island since midFebruary and bookings from the UK also at an all-time high.

According to Mallorca Hotel Federation (FEHM) vicepresident Maria Jose Aguilo, hotels will open “gradually depending on the area,” but 88 per cent will be in full operation by the end of next month, rising to 99.7 per cent in May.

Sra Aguilo said that the great summer predictions for the island are due to the “good work” done by businesses and the “proven success” of the destination, adding that the extension of the holiday campaign will have a very positive impact on employment on the island.

A total of 840 hotels offering more than 200,000 vacancies are currently part of FEHM, with Platja de Palma, Alcudia, Pollença, Cala Millor and Calvia among the most popular areas among holidaymakers.

In addition to the British, German and Spanish markets, this year is also expected to see a surge in Italian, French, Scandinavian and North American visitors, the latter thanks to the new connection by United Airlines.

PAPER recycling figures are growing steadily in Mallorca.

According to the island’s Environment department, nearly 34,300 tonnes of paper and cardboard were recycled in 2022 ­ a 14 per cent increase with regards to the previous year.

The arrival of more visitors following the dropping of Covid travel restrictions is said to be behind the increased refuse collection figures, especially considering that the largest amounts of paper and cardboard were collected in June, July and August last year.

Environment councillor

THE regional Environment department of the Balearic Islands has launched the yearly protection campaign for birds.

Efforts focus mainly on the Kentish Plover, a small shorebird that breeds on the shores of saline lakes, lagoons and coasts.

It is said to be the only wading species to nest on the shoreline of the Balearic Islands, and is classed as “under special protection” by the authorities.

Paper recycling figures up

ments unless absolutely necessary, and using recycled paper where possible.

RECYCLING CONTAINERS:

Make sure you use the correct one.

Aurora Ribot declared that the statistics show “the ongoing efforts of the island’s population to improve in the collection and recycling of waste.”

However, the authorities

insist that there is still room for improvement, and urged the public to limit the use of paper as much as possible.

Suggestions include refraining from printing docu­

Bird watching

In Mallorca, the Kentish Plover can be found in the Albufera, s’Albufereta and Es Trenc nature parks, as well as on Es Cavallet beach, between March and June.

However, the arrival of large numbers of visitors to the beaches of the island at this time of year can have a negative impact on the nesting pro­

cess.

This has led the authorities to create protected ‘breeding

Users are reminded that paper products go in the blue container, including newspapers, magazines, envelopes, sheets of paper, cardboard boxes, notebooks and wrapping paper. However, used kitchen roll and drink cartons should not be deposited in the blue container, and should instead go in the organic ­ brown ­ and yellow containers, respectively.

islands’ of up to 300 square metres, as well as clearing undergrowth for the birds to feed and installing information panels requesting visitors to keep off the sand dunes.

Image by Ground Picture/Shutterstock

“It is difficult to be a woman in business but if you have the determination you can do anything. Do your research and be knowledgeable, the first year is always the hardest. It’s the workers that make the company successful and us women do make a difference. “

Diana, Top Mark Fires

Determining and proving domicile

Domicile is an important issue for British expatriates. You remain liable to UK inheritance tax on your worldwide assets for as long as you are domiciled in the UK. While it can be possible to change your domicile, it depends on your circumstances and intentions and should be a carefully considered and planned process.

The basic rule is that a person is domiciled in the country in which they have their home permanently or indefinitely – the country you regard as your homeland – ‘the place where you intend to die’. You can live in Spain for years and remain domiciled in the UK.

Domicile and inheritance tax

Anyone deemed UK-domiciled is liable to 40% inheritance tax (IHT) on their worldwide assets. Each individual has a £325,000 nil rate band plus a £175,000 ‘family home allowance’ if they meet certain conditions. Any balance not

By Cathal Rochford, Partner, Blevins Franks

partner.

While assets passed from one spouse/partner to another are generally not liable for IHT, this is only when both are UK domiciles. If this applies to you seek personalised advice.

Non-UK domiciles remain liable to IHT on UK assets.

mon law ascribes a domicile of origin to every individual at birth. Generally the father’s domicile, or the mother’s if single.

Domicile of dependence – applies to women married before 1974, minors and legal dependents.

Domicile of choice – As HM Revenue & Customs explains, “any individual who has legal capacity can acquire a domicile of choice”.

To acquire a domicile of choice you must be physically present and tax resident in your new country and intend to live there permanently or indefinitely.

Since HMRC could look for indications you see Britain as your homeland and may return in future, you need to sever as many ties as possible. Electing for UK succession law to apply over Spanish succession law could also be a tipping point in combination with other UK ties.

UK resident for 15 of the last 20 tax year; you return to UK for more than a year, or move to a third country.

Proving domicile

Domicile determination is a highly specialist area; you need professional advice to ensure you get it right. If HMRC determine you are a UK domicile at death, your heirs will face an unexpected tax bill.

HMCR could request detailed information during a domicile enquiry, such as your place and nationality at birth; information on all residences since birth or available for your use; clubs, associations etc that you are a member of; your wills and professional and personal advisers. You’ll need documentary evidence and perhaps personal correspondence, electronic records etc.

Remember, it may be your heirs and/or executor who have to deal

It is important to take professional, specialist advice; which is very specific to your circumstances and intentions. Couples need to carefully consider if the surviving spouse may return to the UK after the first one dies.

Whether or not you have UK domicile status, there are tax planning arrangements available to reduce your liabilities. An expert in this area will help you establish your domicile status, how inheritance tax interacts with Spanish succession tax, and what steps you can take to minimise unnecessary taxes for your heirs.

The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice.

You can find other financial ad-

Cats rescued after ordeal

A COLONY of more than 20 cats has been rescued from a plot of land in Son Oliva where they had been trapped for 10 years after a construction company walled off the plot.

Animal welfare activists reported that a metal grille was replaced by large walls in 2012 to stop the proliferation of cockroaches and rats on the patch of wasteland.

The problem is that the workers left the cats inside, where they have been trapped since then without shelter and with no one doing anything about it.

A neighbour reportedly visited them every day with food, which enabled the animals to survive until a new resident moved in and filed a complaint with the local authorities.

Animal welfare group Progreso en Verde managed to contact the proprietors of the plot and obtained permission to access the site with cages to trap the cats and take them to a local shelter, where the animals are currently receiving veterinary treatment.

MALLORCA will enjoy a privileged spot at one of the most important travel fairs in Europe this month.

Mallorca in Berlin Taxi!

Fundacion Mallorca Turisme (FMT) will be present at the Balearic Islands section at ITB Berlin from March 7 to 9 ­ a major event for the island given the importance of the German tourism market.

With all predictions suggesting that this will be a fantastic summer, the timing was perfect for the FMT to travel to Berlin for the first in­person edition of the fair since Covid.

Several towns and cities will have their own stands within the Mallorca section, including Palma, Calvia, Pollensa, Son Servera, San Lorenzo, Alcudia, Llucmajor, Manacor and Capdepera.

As well as promoting the new flight connections with the USA and Portugal, the

Mallorca delegation will organise a special event featuring the main cultural and gastronomic elements of the island.

‘Mallorca, 365 days of culinary delights’ will offer visitors the chance to experience a traditional island festivity, with local chefs cooking typical dishes and serving a selection of the area’s best wines. More than 150 people have already booked to take part in the event, with numbers growing daily.

The tourism department has scheduled a packed di­

ary of meetings with all the major international tourism operators, agents and media outlets to discuss all the different elements that make Mallorca a “sustainable, diverse, competitive and quality” tourist destination, according to the FMT. One of the main points of interest this year will be the booming local audiovisual sector, which is gradually growing in importance for the area’s cultural scene, economy and labour market, as well as being a great advertising outlet for the island.

TAXI drivers in Mallorca are confident that an increase in rental cars this summer will help alleviate the service and prevent last year’s congestion problems. According to Mallorca Taxi Association president Biel Moragues, this year will “be nothing like 2022,” when drivers were unable to cope with the huge demand from holidaymakers.

Somewhat ironically, as it effectively means less business for taxi drivers, plans to increase the rental fleet on the island over the coming months are being welcomed by the association. However, Sr Moragues is critical of the local and regional authorities, whom he claims have failed to take into account requests by the association to improve the service. Among their suggestions was

the creation of a unified mobile phone app to connect customers with the whole fleet operating on the island, which they believe would streamline the booking process and make it more efficient, but which was reportedly ignored by the Govern and the town hall.

According to Sr Moragues, more than one third of Palma’s 1,200 taxis do not have a communication system with users, leaving them at a disadvantage with regards to other vehicles while others are unable to cope with the huge demand.

A unified booking system would solve this issue, the association president believes.

Travelodge for Palma

THE second largest hotel chain in the UK is set to open its first establishment in Palma. Travelodge is currently expanding throughout Spain, with the company’s most recent opening featuring a 79­room hotel near Madrid airport and plans underway for new branches in Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Bilbao, Granada, Mala­

ga and Sevilla.

With rooms starting at just €19 a night, Travelodge has become the UK’s premier value hotel brand and the country’s number one independent chain.

The firm currently has more than 590 hotels and 40,000 guest bedrooms across the UK, Ireland and Spain.

“We are so lucky to have access to university education because of the women who fought before us, for our rights. Thanks to them I am in the position I am in. I work for myself and I am very grateful for the past. I have so much hope for equality. My mother inspires me, her strength gave me strength.”

Daniella Hunter, Lawyer

TRAVEL FAIR: A major event for the island.

Image by Hakkiceylan/Shutterstock

Charger surge

Betty Henderson

SPAIN made the EU’s top five for the most public electric car chargers in an announcement made on Thursday, February 23. The announcement spells good news for the Spanish green energy transition which is gaining traction.

The data released in a report by the European Observatory for Combustible Fuels found that Spain has a total of 34,380 public electric car charging points.

The impressive figures place Spain in the top five Eu­

ropean countries for electric car chargers alongside electric vehicle heavyweight countries Germany and the Netherlands.

Experts have highlighted that Spain still has a long way to go however. The country has stated in its Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan its goal is to have more than 100,000 electric vehicle chargers by the end of 2023. Spain also has a relatively low volume of electric vehicles, accounting for just 9 per cent of all vehicles.

SPAIN’S pharmaceutical industry expanded by 53 per cent in foreign markets in 2022, making it the country’s third largest exporter according to a new report released by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

Data revealed that the industry recorded sales of €2.6 billion to foreign countries, making medicine the third most popular export from Spain. The transport industry accounted for the largest income from foreign sales, followed by the fuel and mineral industry, then the pharmaceutical industry.

The EU is the biggest purchaser of

Although the data shows an improvement in access to electric chargers in Europe, there is still work to be done. Forty­two per cent of the European Union’s total chargers are in Germany and the Netherlands, an access gap that needs to be bridged.

Export progress

medicines manufactured in Spain, followed by Switzerland, the USA, Canada, China, then the UK. Industry representative Farmaindustria released a statement calling the development, “a milestone after years of sustained growth.”

Data has been boosted significantly by the manufacture of Covid­19 vaccines, but Farmaindustria insisted that figures across the industry suggest that investment and foreign exports are expected to continue.

Electric vehicle chargers are good news for Spain.

Anette Qviberg

ANETTE QVIBERG has conquered life in the most amazing ways and is an inspiration to women who want to go out and conquer the world one step at a time. From being a stylist, fashion icon, interior designer, respected businesswoman, single mother and more! Women have been an essential part to Anette’s life, and the strong ethos of her hard work and career, her fascinating life story is something to be shared and is inspirational to those who might be going through something similar.

Having been born, raised and educated in Sweden, Anette knew that there was more to the world than what her hometown had to offer and at the age of 18 moved to New York. Anette was able to fulfil her love for fashion and not be stuck to the normal societal ways of Stockholm and experience more of life and what it has to offer by stepping out of the box and become the free thinker and doer

that she is today.

Previously married to Dolph Lundgren, Anette comes from a long line of inspiration and fashion, her mother was the designer to the Queen of Sweden, had her own fashion lines and even made clothing for Anette when she was younger.

When talking to the Euro Weekly News and asked what women she looked up to for inspiration, Anette spoke fondly of her grandmother, “She came to Sweden from Norway to escape the war, they had textile factories back in Norway but had to leave. She was extravagant in the best way; she didn’t fit in a box or category. I can remember

her in her Yves Saint Laurent suit and high heels. She was a magnet, she did so much for people and for those in the LQBTQ community, then they looked to her as an icon, she was such a character she introduced me to Cabaret on her 60th birthday!”

After 15 years of back­andforth from the US to Sweden Anette received her Green Card from the lottery and was able to officially settle down.

Having set her new roots in Los Angeles after New York, to start her own business designing jewellery and continue styling, she has since come to Marbella and gone into the world of interior design with Ida Ayu Design.

When asked what advice she would give a woman in business today, Anette said, “Don’t stop, don’t stop with your creativity if you have something that you know can work, it is worth it, luck does play into it too. Be proud of yourself and have your own style, be your own individual self. Your friends should be copying you, not the other way around. Be your own individual self and be proud of what you have done so far.”

Today Anette is an interior designer who styles and dresses homes, apartments, restaurants and more, allowing your vision to become a reality. Anette has her own team and is dedicated to her work, you will be blown away with what she has and can accomplish, “Each project has its own style, whether it be a private home or a restaurant, you must take everything into consideration. It is psychological, you have to know the client’s wants and desires, I know how to make it work and have everything come together.”

When talking about her history in business and the male dominated industries of fashion and how to get your voice to be heard Anette said, “Work a lot and show up. If you have to be the underdog, be it, be smart, let those around you feel comfortable and do the important things asked of you. It is hard but it is worth it when your voice is finally heard. My daughter is an actress and a model, and she wants her independence. There might be misconceptions because of who I am, and her father is, but she is just like everyone else and will have to work harder to get over the miscon­

ceptions. You need to work from the bottom up or you will never be confident and that is key to getting anywhere. You need to be hungry and take advantage of what you have in front of you, it’ll help you in so many ways.”

Along with her successful career, Anette is also a single mother to Ida and Greta Lundgren. When talking about the work life family balance Anette said “It made more sense for me to go into interior design, I had time for the projects, and I wanted to spend time with my girls. We’re all very close but it was hard to be mum and dad. It is tough, your kids are going to do what you do, they look to their parents as an example, I wanted them to know I was working for a reason and by working while they were growing up it has made them tough. I have always showed them love, but I have also shown them respect and that there is no shame in asking for help, whether it be if I need a tea or they do, we look out for each other and have an open relationship and work together.

“If you are looking to have a better connection with your children, be open and honest with them and let them be open and honest with you and with no judgement. Don’t restrict them and care about their needs.”

Anette has lived in Marbella now for over 20 years, but it has always been a home from home, having visited the area from when she was little throughout the holidays with

her family, Marbella has always been a part of Anette’s heart.

“When the girls were starting to grow up, I knew I couldn’t do it in New York or LA, I wanted them to grow up around nature. Here is the best place for me, there is a sense of community, so many different nationalities, you create your own community here, it is amazing.”

When asked about the best advice she has ever received, Anette went back to her family and her stepfather and grandmother. They said, “Try to live in the moment and try and make the situation as best you can. The sentence it’s never going to work should never cross your lips. Everyone has a chance, everyone fails and don’t be afraid of failure, it makes you stronger. Don’t be scared to be different, do what you can, be true to your word and yourself, there is no harmony in lying.”

When asked what advice she would give women today, she said, “Always focus on positive reinforcement, be an honest person, look at what is in front of you and value it. Be empathetic, value the small things in your community, give rather than show off. Look to those around you who need help and once they are happy, then look further afield. Put down your phone, be proud of yourself and know you have the drive and determination to succeed, it doesn’t matter who has more money, everyone has their dignity and show respect to everyone.”

you would like to see more of what Anette is up to and her exciting upcoming project with Minotti, who she will be working with closely on the Costa del Sol, to create a cosy, warm and beautiful environment with her own personal touches. Visit her Instagram @interiorbyanetteqviberg, @anetteqviberg or email anetteqviberg@gmail.com

Anette is an inspiration to all women.

Ida and Greta Lundgren.

Spring healing market

HEALING PROJECT

health and wellness association is organising a Spring Healing Market at the Can Benu farm in Llucmajor on Saturday March 25.

Visitors will enjoy a wide range of events including entertainment, art, culture, vibrational music, meditation, dance and vegetarian diet.

Stalls will offer information and demonstrations of holistic therapies, soul healing, reiki, massages, astrology, tarot, energy healings, crafts and much more.

The event starts with an orbit ecstatic dance at 11.30am, followed by a vibrational medicine concert with Noah Sita at 1.45pm, an ambiental music show at 2.45pm, a bossa nova chill out session with Marlon Showman at 4pm, a creative concert with White Mirror Composer at 5.15pm, and a sacred movement display with Seraf AlZaruk and Olga Manzanaro at 6.30pm.

Entrance is €10 on the door and free for children, which includes the market and participation in all the events.

For further information, directions and suggestions search for ‘Spring Healing Market’ on Facebook.

Calvia set to rock

CALVIA is gearing up for the sixth edition of the largest live music event in the Balearic Islands ­ Mallorca Live Festival.

Taking place at the old water park from May 18 to 20, this year’s event is expected to shatter all previous records of attendance with a huge lineup of international and national stars.

Already confirmed are British stars The Kooks and The Chemical Brothers, who will headline the Thursday and Saturday nights respectively, with the Friday headliner still to be confirmed.

Brighton­based pop­rockers

The Kooks are famous for such hits as She moves in her own way, Naive and Seaside, among many others, and will take the opportunity of leading the main stage on the first day of the Mallorca Live Festival to

present last year’s album, 10 tracks to echo in the dark.

Manchester rioters The Chemical Brothers will bring the house down with their electronic beats, landing in Calvia after more than 30 years playing all the major events in the world and collaborating with such legendary names as The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim, among a wealth of others.

On the national side, Madrid­born singer Quevedo has just joined the Friday lineup to celebrate his resounding

success as the most­played national artist in Spain in 2022, when he shattered all previous records for Spanish musicians on Spotify. This will be his first visit to the Balearic Islands.

The Dandy Warhols, Vetusta Morla, Moderat, Peggy Gou, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bomba Estereo and The Reytons are just some of the more than 50 other big names set to grace the stages of the Antiguo Aquapark in May. For information and tickets visit mallorcalivefestival.com.

Full speed ahead

THIS year’s Rally Clásico Isla de Mallorca is set to shatter all previous records.

The event was officially presented in Calvia last week, when event director Toni Dezcallar revealed that 125 teams from 11 different countries including Switzerland, Austria, Argentina and Canada have signed up for what is hailed as the leading classic car rally in the Mediterranean.

As reported recently by the Euro Weekly News, the Rally Clásico kicks off from Puerto Portals on Thursday March 9 for three days of races over 500 kilometres of coastal and mountainous terrain throughout the island.

This is the 19th edition of the world­class event, which attracts classic motoring fans from all over the world.

A novelty this year will be a new, exclusive 19­kilometre stretch from Lluc to Puig Major through the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains, replacing the previous Sa Calobra route due to problems caused by recent rainfall.

This is also expected to be one of the most demanding and competitive editions yet, with leading national and international racers vying for the podium including three­

times winners Nadal Galiana and Dominik an der Heiden, and two­times winners Kris Rosenberger and Seb Perez.

The oldest car taking part this year will be an Austin Healey from 1954, designed by famous British rally driver and designer Donald Healey, of which only 640 units were made throughout the world. For further information and to follow the race online, visit www.rallyislamallorca.com

MALLORCA LIVE FESTIVAL: Set to return in May this year.

Image by Mallorca Live Festival/Facebook

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Green energy

DENMARK will put nine gigawatts of offshore wind capacity out to tender by late 2023, increasing output fivefold by 2030, the country’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities announced. The green electricity would cover the annual consumption of more than nine million households, the ministry said.

THE NETHERLANDS

Butt out

THE Netherlands’ government is losing its battle against cigarette ends that litter streets and beaches. One filter tip can contaminate 1,000 litres of water, but the current policy of discouraging smoking to limit the toxic plastic waste that they produce was ineffectual, the Environment Ministry admitted.

BELGIUM

Hello dad

BELGIUM’S 88-year-old monarch, King Albert recently embraced his illegitimate daughter Princess Delphine, 54, in public. It was the first display of affection between them since a court ruled that he was the father of Delphine Boel, daughter of his long-time mistress Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps.

GERMANY

Fast track

INTERNATIONAL goods trains entering and leaving Germany via the Decin bridge and tunnel that link the country with the Czech Republic can now increase their speed. Improvements involved replacing the superstructure of the 265-metre bridge, built over the Elbe 1916, and rehabilitating the tunnel.

FRANCE

Dolphin watch

ENVIRONMENTALISTS pressured the French government to protect dolphins as hundreds wash up on France's Atlantic coast and thousands more die in fishermen’s nets each year. The real number could be far higher, scientists said, as 80 per cent of dead dolphins sink or decompose at sea.

NORWAY

New arrivals

SCIENTISTS detected 58 new types of midges and 47 water mite species in Norway, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology announced. Finding so many new species was due to increased funding and the presence of two of Europe’s leading experts in the field, the university said.

FINLAND

True or false

FINLAND is less susceptible to fake news than other countries, Bulgaria’s Open Society Institute found. Researchers placed the US, UK, France and Germany in a second group, followed by Italy and Israel in third place, with Georgia, Turkey, Kosovo, Albania, Moldova and Bulgaria ranked fourth.

IRELAND Gas guzzler

IRELAND trails Europe in reducing natural gas consumption, figures from Eurostat, the EU’s statistics agency revealed. In the half-year between August 2022 and January 2023, Ireland reduced its natural gas consumption by 0.3 per cent, compared with 19 per cent in the 27 EU countries.

ITALY No hassle

ITALY has the EU’s best passport and is the third most powerful worldwide behind Singapore and Japan. Travelling on an Italian passport in 2023 ensures entry to most countries in the world, although those who are Italian citizens can enter 45 countries with just a valid ID card.

PORTUGAL Locked out

LOCKBIT ransomware took credit for February’s attack on the public water system in Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city. Aguas e Energia do Porto announced that it had been hit, but its security team had limited the damage and the water supply and sanitation were not affected.

UKRAINE Keep going

BUSINESS for Ukrainian pet food manufacturer Kormotech and its 1,300 employees was initially disrupted by the Russian invasion. A year later, thanks to the Lviv-based company’s agile decision-making and good fortune, sales are up, while also providing Ukraine with muchneeded tax revenue.

SWEDEN

Jobs lost

ERICSSON will cut 1,400 jobs in Sweden, the company said in late February. The telecoms giant had already announced in December that it intended to save nine billion krona (€824.9 million) by the end of 2023 as demand slowed in some markets, including North America.

BUSINESS EXTRA Share-out FINANCE

Bonus boost

UNION leader Sharon Graham called for a windfall tax on UK banks after NatWest’s CEO Alison Rose received £5.2 million (€5.9 million) in pay. The bank recently reported its largest profits since 2007, increasing its bonus pool from last year’s £298 million (€338.4) to £367 million (€416.8).

Leaving home

THE Basque Region’s autonomous government is making plans to introduce payments of €300 in 2024 to assist the emancipation and independence of the 25 to 29 age group. The grant will be limited to those earning less than €28,000 a year, announced regional president Iñigo Urkullu.

Get online

THE cost of living continued to strain household budgets, pushing people into digital exclusion, warned Baroness Stowell, chairwoman of the Lords Digital Committee. Ending this exclusion could generate £13.7 billion (€15.5 billion) in economic benefits over 10 years while costing only £1.4 billion (€1.6 billion).

Backpay time

ELDERLY women could receive nearly £1.5 billion (€1.7 billion) in state pension arrears, the UK government admitted. Former Pensions minister Steve Webb agreed that some women’s payments were not increased when their husbands reached retirement age or died, or when they themselves reached 80.

Fewer hours

BANK OF SPAIN analysis of the country’s working hours concluded that although these had partly returned to normal following the pandemic, employees in most sectors worked fewer hours than in 2019. The only exceptions were agricultural workers and those in the property sector.

STAT OF WEEK €8.2 billion

was generated by Spain’s perfumes and cosmetics sector last year, a figure which industry sources said was “extremely positive” after the sales setback caused by the pandemic.

Zara’s secret weapon

Linda

Hall

AS International Women’s Day approaches, Marta Ortega prepares to celebrate her first year as Inditex president.

She is the 39­year­old daughter of Amancio Ortega, Spain’s richest man and one of the richest in the world, who founded the Inditex empire based on the Zara clothing chain.

Kantar, which ranks world brands, placed Inditex at the head of Spain’s top brands in 2022 for the fifth consecutive year, ahead of Movistar, Iberdrola or Santander.

Ortega’s daughter succeeded Pablo Isla, who twice received Harvard Business Review’s Best­performing CEO award. He was Inditex’s executive

SPAIN’S gender pay gap grew to 25.5 per cent in 2021 according to Gestha, which represents tax authority Hacienda’s employees.

The union’s Brecha salarial y techo de cristal (Salary Gap and the Glass Ceiling) found that on average men took home €4,713 more than women in 2021, an increase of €120 on the preceding year.

Gestha noted that the difference in earnings was accentuated in 2021 owing to a reduction in the number of furloughed workers during the pandemic.

Short straw

THERE are twice as many women working on temporary contracts in Spain’s public sector than men. By the last quarter of 2022, 352,300 men and 712,000 women were not established workers, announced the CSFI union which represents public sector employees.

These figures were practically identical to those of pre­pandemic levels, the CSFI said, and indicated the existence of greater instability than in the private sector, where there were fewer situations like these. Women taking leave of absence to look after family members quadrupled the number of men, with six times as many likely to reduce working hours, the union added.

president between 2012 and 2022 and when the company announced in November 2021 that Ortega would take over as executive president in April 2022, share prices fell sharply. Nevertheless, last year’s results have been hailed as ‘spectacular’. With net profits of €3.1 billion in 2022 and a 19 per cent increase in sales, Amancio Or­

tega’s daughter demonstrated the wisdom of a meticulous strategy which began in 2011.

After finishing a degree in Business Studies in London, she began working at the age of 23 in Zara’s Chelsea branch, before moving on to Bershka and eventually to the Inditex head office in Arteixo (La Coruña).

There was never any doubt that Ortega, described by the Wall Street Journal as “Zara’s secret weapon,” would take over from her father.

“She has lived the business from the inside, alongside Amancio,” journalist Jesus Salgado Alvarez said recently.

“He saw that they shared the same interests. She was the one, and insiders never questioned her appointment.”

Mind the gap

that the increases in 2022 and 2023 would produce a “notable reduction.”

It would take 40 years to close the gulf entirely, the union predicted.

The report pointed out that Spain’s minimum wage increases between 2019 and 2021 had “significantly” reduced the wage gap and foresaw

The salary differences were especially substantial in Madrid, Gestha said, where women earned €7,511 less each year, compared to €1,956 in the Canary Islands.

The survey also discovered that women actually earned between €226 and €153 more than men on lower­paid salaries of €20,055 and €33,425 a year but received €40,381 less once these rose be ­

Sparky idea

MARKS & SPENCER are testing a premium version of their Sparks loyalty card.

Perks that will come with the £120 (€136.3) fee include free and unlimited next ­ day deliveries, a monthly £10 (€11.6) voucher and a free coffee each month from any M&S cafe.

Sparks customers will also have a weekly chance of winning their shopping free every week across 1,487 stores and one free drink for every six that they buy in­store.

The retailer explained that the trial involved existing Sparks customers and it would await results before widening the service nationwide.

Experts said the move would also guarantee M&S upfront cash from regular shoppers.

ANA BOTIN, president of Santander Bank, received a 2022 bonus of 736,160 share options at €3.08 each, instead of their current €3.54 market price.

Payment in options is an alternative to a cash bonus, entitling Botin ­ whose bank made a net profit of €9.6 billion last year ­ to obtain the shares at a fixed price over a certain period.

Should the share price rise, Botin could then acquire them at the reduced rate before selling at a profit. But she could also run the risk of seeing the shares fall below €3.08 and reduce the value of her bonus.

Piece of cake

yond €133,700.

Age played an important part, the Gestha experts found, with a difference of between €682 and €1,339 for the under 25s which rose to €6,537 from the age of 56 onwards, reaching €10,763 for women who were 65 or over.

“This is a clear reflection on the amount of time that women devote to their families to the detriment of their professional development,” Gestha said.

What it costs

EACH year the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) produces a report on the cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 18.

In 2022 this amounted to approximately £150,000 (€170,335) for a couple and £200,000 (€227,2145) for single parents.

“Childcare has become an increasingly large component of this outlay for working parents who are not fortunate enough to have unpaid family care available,” the November 2022 report said. “Rising childcare costs now comprise 60 per cent of the lifetime cost of a child for a couple who work full time, compared to around 40 per cent in 2012.”

A study by Raisin Bank put the cost of caring for a child from birth to adulthood in Spain still higher, requiring €300,000 for healthcare, education, food and clothing.

FINSBURY FOOD GROUP, the speciality bakers behind Mary Berry’s cake range, have posted double­digit sales growth.

The company, which supplies supermarkets and makes cakes, bread, buns and snacks welcomed an ‘encouraging’ firsthalf performance.

Revenues had increased 15 per cent to £191 million (approximately €271 million), thanks to higher prices although the group warned of challenges, as profits were hampered by cost inflation.

Operating profit was flat at £6.5 million (€7.4 million) which the group, listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), ascribed to higher input costs which ate into margins.

Windfall tax

SPAIN’S energy sector has now paid an upfront €817.4 million on a 1.2 per cent windfall tax on 2022 and 2023’s excess profits.

Banks have also provided another €637.1 million through a 4.8 per cent levy on their net profits over €800 million, announced Finance minister Maria Jesus Montero on February 20 when 50 per cent of the taxes fell due.

Both of the temporary taxes were introduced to compensate for the government’s anti ­ inflationary measures offsetting the cost of living crisis faced by many families.

Photo credit: Flick/Paolo Rose

GLOBAL BRAND: A Zara store in Sydney (Australia).

WAGE GAP: Will take women 40 years to catch up with men.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Rodrigo Salomon HC

- FTSE 100

DOW JONES

Currency outlook: US dollar firms in risk-off trade, Pound rocked by fluctuating BoE rate expectations

Euro

EUR/GBP: Unchanged at £0.88

EUR/USD: Down from $1.08 to $1.06

Trade in the euro has been erratic over the past month amid a repricing of European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate expectations and concerns over the conflict in Ukraine.

EUR investors were confident going into the ECB’s February policy meeting that the bank would deliver several more hikes this year.

While the bank delivered a 50bps hike and signalled it would pursue another increase of equal size in March, it indicated it’s March hike might be its last for now. Triggering a slump in EUR exchange rates.

The euro was then subsequently pressured by concerns over Russia’s next moves in Ukraine, amid considerable speculation Vladimir Putin would launch a new ground offensive to coincide with the first anniversary of the war.

Coupled with the single currency’s negative correlation with the US dollar this kept the pressure on EUR exchange rates.

Going forward it’s likely that events in Ukraine may continue to dictate movement in the euro. Any escalation of the conflict is likely to exert more pressure on EUR exchange rates.

BUSINESS EXTRA

On the scent

SPAIN is the EU’s second most­affected country regarding counterfeit perfumes and cosmetics, losing 16 per cent of genuine sales amounting to €1 billion each year, revealed Spain’s National Perfumer and Cosmetics Association (Stampa). As well as damaging the firms’ reputations, the fakes also destroyed an annual 8,000 jobs, Stampa said.

Strike off

THE Inditex retail clothing chain has agreed to pay a fixed minimum salary of between €18,000 and €24,500 a year for all employees, the majority of them women, who work in their shops. The wages pact, described as “historic,” arrived only hours before a strike was due to begin.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Unchanged at €1.13

GBP/USD: Down from $1.23 to $1.20

Heading into February, the pound enjoyed relatively robust support amid Bank of England (BoE) interest rate speculation.

Sterling then quickly fell from grace at the start of February, with the GBP/EUR exchange rate plunging to a four-month low after the BoE’s first rate decision of the year. While the bank raised rates by 50bps, its dovish signals lead to speculation the BoE might be nearing the end of its hiking cycle.

Trade in the pound was then choppy in the

weeks that followed. Buoying Sterling sentiment were some hawkish comments from BoE policymakers in addition to confirmation the UK narrowly avoided slipping into a recession at the end of 2022.

A softer-than-expected inflation print in January then placed renewed pressure on GBP exchange rates in mid-February. Before a surprisingly strong PMI release helped to revive BoE rate hike bets and catapult the pound higher again.

Looking ahead, it’s likely BoE rate speculation will remain a key catalyst of movement for the pound. If GBP investors grow more confident

Her father’s daughter

Linda Hall

JUANA ROIG, the 32-year-old daughter of Mercadona’s owner Juan Roig, heads the supermarket chain’s online division.

Responsible for leading the company’s digital transformation for the last five years, she was recently asked if she ever considered taking over from her father.

Speaking during a podcast for the Barcelona Itnig startups hub, Roig immediately answered no. She said she hoped that particular moment would be a long time in arriving.

She added that it made sense for an executive to be a family member before declaring that shares, not the post, were inherited. “We’d see who was bestprepared when the time came although we’re not there yet,” she said, echoing her father’s pronouncement that legacies can be bequeathed but not management or jobs.

Juana Roig also dismissed the possibility of floating Mercadona on the stock exchange or selling the chain.

“Right now, it wouldn’t be

sold for anything in the world, it’s like my father’s fifth daughter,” she declared. She admitted that being her parents’ daughter was probably her career’s most relevant achievement, emphasising that it had not been exactly easy. “Being the boss’s daughter is hard, as it has its good side and its bad side. You wear a label, you know that and you accept it. Nobody sees the real you,” she said.

Ask uncle for a loan

ANYONE looking for a pawnshop can still find one by looking for three golden balls hanging outside.

According to legend, the balls honour St Nicholas who saved three girls from destitution by lending each a bag of gold as a dowry so she could marry. Dowries are no longer a necessity but pawnshops remain and two pawnbrokers, H&T and Ramsden, are quoted on the stock market.

As the cost of living rises, they and others are doing a roaring trade, and not only with those of modest means.

The well-heeled are increasingly pawning Rolex watches, diamonds and fine art in preference to pay-day loans when needing some ready cash, sector insiders said.

the bank will deliver at least two more hikes and Sterling is likely to strengthen.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Up from $0.80 to $0.82

USD/EUR: Up from €0.91 to €0.93

The US dollar traded sideways through the end of January as a prevailing risk-on mood countered a stronger-than-expected US GDP print.

The start of February then saw the US dollar briefly plunge to a nine-month low against the euro after a dovish 25bps interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve.

However, the ‘Greenback’ was quick to find its feet as January’s non-farm payroll release smashed expectations. Coupled with a hotterthan-forecast inflation print these revived expectations for at least two more interest rate hikes from the Fed this year, and underpinned USD demand through the first half of February.

The US dollar then extended these gains in the second half of a month as a stark rise in geopolitical risks bolstered the currency’s safehaven appeal.

The US dollar now looks well positioned to extend these gains into March as the currency is likely to be underpinned by Fed rate hike bets and souring risk appetite.

Brexit-hit farmers

MINETTE BATTERS, president of the UK’s National Farmers Union, urged the government to support food producers.

This was the only way that farmers could supply British households and a growing world population, she said.

Batters, who owns a cattle, sheep and arable farm in Wiltshire, said farmers and growers had “an opportunity and a duty” to make the most of Britain’s maritime climate by producing food for consumers at home and abroad.

Farmers, unenthusiastic about the government’s postBrexit subsidies introduced to compensate for the loss of the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP), were also affected by a chronic labour shortage, Batters said.

Agricultural overheads had risen by nearly 50 per cent since 2019 and this, together with huge cost inflation, could trigger a slump in UK food production, she warned.

Full nest syndrome

THE empty nest syndrome that hits mothers when children leave home no longer affects 20 per cent of British families.

Research by credit card firm Capital One UK found that around one in five parents expect at least one of their adult children to move back as inflation and high rents put a strain on their finances.

Seventy-five per cent of the 2,000 parents taking part in the survey told Capital One that they would welcome their children with open arms if they were struggling financially. Researchers also learnt that nearly half the participants already had friends whose adult children now lived in the family home again. However happy parents might be to re-accommodate their offspring, the cost could hit them hard. The average family expected energy and food bills to rise by £272 (€308.8) a month, Capital One found.

STERLING: Heading into February the pound enjoyed relatively robust support.

JUANA ROIG: In charge of Mercadona Online.

Photo credit: Juana Roig, Mercadona

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

WHAT a dreadful state the human race now finds itself in. Every week I mentally rumble on through possible subject matter to feature in my weekly blurb and every week I generally leave all the turmoil behind and revert to some other focus of interest. One of the problems is that world events now seem to proceed at such a pace that we sometimes require daily publications, simply to keep up. This month has been no exception.

Delilah, a song, written by pals of mine and loved by millions, is banned because it offends a handful of woke numbskulls. Biden visited the Ukraine. All well and good; if President Roosevelt had offered the same aid to Poland in 1939 Hitler would have been stopped in his tracks. Let’s just hope that China doesn’t decide the time is right to join Russia and go nuclear.

The horrendous earthquakes in Turkey have caused supposed illegally erected buildings to crumble. Let’s trust those responsible are brought to book and punished accordingly.

I’m a poster boy

The tragic case of Nicola Bulley has been a terrible strain both on her family and a caring public. I will be interested to hear why the police took so long to find her body in the river and if there is any evidence of assault or criminal intent. Then we come to the heart­ rending murder of Brianna Ghey.

This was the 16­year­old transgender girl, fatally stabbed to death last week. Two 15 ­ year ­ olds have since been charged with her murder. To me crimes of this intensity are undoubtedly instigated by the woke insurgents, who are attempting to change the society and culture of the West at such a gangbuster rate that is causing alarm and a whole multitude of misgivings and issues to spread among the heterosexual and white majorities ­ particularly the young.

Over 70 per cent of media advertisements and documentaries now contain non­white actors, who actually represent only 15 per cent of the population. Ads depict large numbers of mixed marriage and relationships, with many black actors cast in the leading roles of those giving advice

WOMAN POWER OUR VIEW

and information to white members of the community. This is more woke indoctrination, promoting minorities, causing more harm than good and creating a rising tide of racist violence and gender antagonism by the day. Oddly the advertisement which actually shows the true make ­ up of British culture is the one which depicts the post code lottery. As this takes place among true, non­typecast members of UK neighbourhoods, the winners from all these areas are predominately white. A true and nonwoke example of what the majority of UK districts truthfully represent.

Just to round off this week, I recently had the oddest occurrence. LBC, which is of course one of the UK’s biggest radio stations, broadcast a caller who weirdly announced that Leapy Lee had become the ‘poster boy for the anti­woke society’.Yaaay. And Nicola Sturgeon has finally given up. Yaaay.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.

Mon. Fri. 1pm till 4.

Division bells

SALLY UNDERWOOD POLITICAL ANIMAL

IT seems appropriate that in Parliament the alarm that goes off when a vote is called in the House of Commons is named the ‘division bell’.

From slanging matches at Prime Ministers Questions to battles on Question Time, we know that politicians are normally divided on… well pretty much everything.

What we’re not so used to though is the public being quite so politically at odds with itself.

From old to young, rich to poor, Brexiteers to remainers, and pro to anti vaxxers (and don’t even get us started on the immigration issue), I can genuinely say I’ve never seen us this… divided.

Apart from being simply wearing though, history tells us that internal fighting is an ultimately fruitless task.

Surely then the answer is something we can all get behind. A new national holiday (I suggest something both heartwarming

and totally uncontroversial; ‘Hug a grandma day’ or similar), or a particularly good Richard Curtis film.

In seriousness though, while we are all so busy pointing fingers at each other we’re less likely to be focusing on what we could all be doing to fix, well almost everything.

Perhaps that’s because it’s far easier to tear down than it is to build, and at least criticism makes us feel like we’re doing something in an increasingly chaotic world.

While we’re busy fighting each other too though, we’re also less aware of the bigger issues.

And when we’re refusing to listen to each other properly we’re less likely to share the ideas and discoveries that transform our worlds.

After all, if Alexander Fleming had left pencillin in the petri dish exactly where he’d found it ­ only occasionally syphoning some off for personal use ­ where would we be now?

If the result of embracing each other’s view points and ideas then has the potential to genuinely make the world a better place, roll on the next Richard Curtis rom com.

Sallysopinionsareherownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

ON Thursday, March 8, nations across the world celebrate International Women’s Day.

Created in 1977 by the UN as a day to raise awareness of different women’s issues globally, International Women’s Day shows us how far the world has come; and how far it has left to go.

Think of the world just 100 years ago when women couldn’t vote, mothers couldn’t work, and women couldn’t apply for loans without a male guarantor, or evenly inherit money if there was already a male heir. In short, anything that allowed women to have what we would now consider an actual life of their own.

There were always exceptions of course (Gentleman Jack, Beatrix Potter) but as well as being generally wealthier to start with (giving them considerably more freedom than many other women), they really were the exception, not the rule.

In the western world at least, freedoms, rights and equalities really are now the rule.

While there is a lot to celebrate in this though, let’s not allow this success to make us forget the same is not true to women everywhere in the world. And that we can only truly celebrate equality when it actually applies equally to all women.

Prohibition Era

LINDA HALL

YOU’D need to be well advanced in years to remember the ‘You’ve come a long way, baby’ advertisements.

They appeared in American magazines which, when I first lived here, were a welcome change from Woman and Woman’s Own and light years away from Teresa ­ published by the Movimiento, the only permitted political movement at that time ­ or pious Telva. The US adverts featured Virginia Slims, marketed exclusively for women, although in Spain women hadn’t even begun, let alone come a long way.

Females, ‘nice’ females, didn’t smoke although I did. They most certainly did not smoke in the street which, again, I did, although decades later I look askance at women smoking in the street. To be fair I also look askance at men who smoke in the street too, as no ­ one is more intolerant than somebody who has kicked a 60­a­day Ducados habit.

In the late 60s there were so many things that a young woman didn’t do.

For instance, when lunching or dining out you didn’t directly address the waiter, but told your (male) companion what you wanted, who relayed your choice. And you never, never paid.

It was frowned upon for a young mother to carry a baby on her hip: “That’s what gypsies do,” my appalled mother ­ in ­ law told me, although I continued doing so for convenience’s sake in the days before baby slings.

You didn’t raise your voice in public and the last thing you could do was to cry.

“Why?” I wanted to know.

“If you ever see a woman crying in public, it’s because her husband beats her,” my own husband explained. “It looks bad,” he added vaguely.

It wasn’t hard to see the logic, although neither was it hard to perceive that it was the beater, not the beaten who looked bad, laying the blame unfairly but traditionally on the woman.

Spain has come a long way since then and is much further on than that. I hope.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

We all need a helping hand

THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago with the aim of providing assistance to those British nationals in Spain who face severe financial issues.

We work with the UK consular network and many charity partners from www.supportin spain.info/ across the country in order to do this.

The issue of Brexit is a real one for many people who although have lived in Spain years did not for whatever reason complete the paperwork to be considered officially resident under the terms of the UK withdrawal from the EU.

For elderly and vulnerable people requiring medical treatment in Spain from the public health system this can be an acute issue.

For those unable to afford private health schemes the payment for medical treatment can be an enormous and, in some cases, insurmountable amount.

Last year we were approached by one of our partners to help a British lady who

had been living off a small pension and found that post Brexit she was no longer eligible for Spanish health and state benefits as she had not registered as a resident by the deadline.

As she was facing several serious health issues which needed treatment this was an acute issue that needed resolving.

We were being asked to pay for her medical treatment which was a considerable sum as well as being an ongoing one and it was necessary that she had her paperwork in order or face the difficult decision of repatriation to the UK.

Thankfully we were able to provide some initial sums for her medication whilst her paperwork was being done .

Even so it was not a straightforward process ­ even to get an appointment let alone the

DEBBIE JAMES

considerable documentation that was required now that the deadline had passed.

However, working with the partner charity we were able to provide a grant for her medical expenses and she was then fortunate to be able to access the Spanish public health system.

Please visit our website www.britishbenevolentfund.or g or email olaf.clayton@british benevolentfund.org for further information.

I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO A HUMAN!

Question: Why is it so difficult to speak to a human in wealthy, successful organisations?

WHAT an inspiration to women and young girls, pursuing her passion and making it her life’s work. It is so easy these days to go down the route of a normal job. There is one thing that doesn’t get enough attention to it, and it is the arts. If you have a passion, hobbies and think it could be something, do it. You don’t know where you could end up. You could be like Debbie and have a fantastic career and create a spectacular community. I hope I’ll be able to go to one of the workshops she was talking about some day. Thank you, Debbie, if you’re reading this, you have inspired me to pick up my paintbrushes after so long and I have just bought your book, I can’t wait to read it.

Victoria, Arboleas

Thinking of Estela

IT is such a tragic thing when you hear about people getting into accidents, Estela was going to be one of the greats and you can tell. It is so awful when this happens, it makes you think about everything and just how lucky you must be and feel to be able to get up in the morning. After reading the story I felt an overwhelming sense of I need to get up and enjoy my day because she would only love to be here to do that. Such a young woman too. I am only sending best wishes and strength to her family and the cycling community.

Dear Leapy

THERE are so many things wrong in the UK currently that it’s practically impossible to get numbers down to even a top ten. Whenever back there, however, one of my almost daily frustrations is attempting to speak to a human in any organisation via any medium.

Some have removed phone contact, others email addresses and even chat messages (although that point may not be a bad thing with banks, with which you ‘live chat’ only to discover that the agent is actually dealing with some 300 ‘chatters’ and may get back to you tomorrow). And why are so many actual staff still working from home, especially government agencies like HMRC, DVLA etc?

Answer: Because they become successful initially by being small, flexible and customer­focused. Then they trade on that reputation to grow to a size where they're bought out by MegaGlobalCorp Inc, who keep those direct debits rolling over whilst sacking everyone and closing down most of the back ­ office operation. Customer service’s an irrelevance, and if they spend any money it's on daft advertising campaigns.

Lordy, another lie down needed!

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.

Emily, UK

YOU’D certainly get my vote. A brilliant Manifesto, especially about the ‘Asylum seekers’. Don’t reply because I’m not online, sending this by mail boxes email.

Regards

Marcia van der Wal, Altea

MY husband and I are absolutely with you and love your manifesto. Little worried about overseas aid as, if we don’t, then the Chinese or the Russians will. But otherwise fabulous. Go on, go for it. Love love love.

Jeff and Jane

Judi Dench

IT is sad to hear that Judi Dench is no longer able to read her scripts due to her failing eyesight, but I find that with her expertise, charm and quick wit that Judi might not have needed a script anyway. She is a strong and powerful woman and the fact that she has said that she isn’t thinking of giving up acting anytime is just what we need to hear. Imagine being 88 and as fit and as amazing as she is, going to the Oscars, filming movies, my favourites must be

the Bond films and her role in Philomena, well it was just so heartwarming and breaking. The fact that she can play so many characters and wear so many ‘hats’ is stupendous, she has worked in the film industry for a very long time and even on stage in shows!

Saddened, Benidorm

Bee stings

I THINK some people just don’t know what to be at these days. The fact that Gwyneth Paltrow has said that bees’ stings are natural Botox, I don’t know what to believe. Ladies, gents or anyone who thinks they need any of these enhancers or take awayers just remember that you are beautiful inside and out. I can understand that it can increase confidence and that you can feel better about yourself but your little quirks, the smile lines are what show that you have had a fantastic and happy life, that you have character and something special too. Do as you please, but think about what you do and where you get it done, I have seen too many of those botched programmes and I hope that nobody ever experiences that.

Alexandra, Fuengirola

Hip fractures

LINDA if I had known that I think I would have had some better luck and I would have drunk more tea! If anyone doesn’t know what I am talking about apparently more protein and tea, or coffee could reduce hip fractures in women. So, if you don’t drink tea, get drinking it now! The pain of a hip fracture is something you should take seriously, and I am telling you now, it is no joke. From here on out I’ll be making sure the girls and granddaughters are drinking more tea and coffee. I am so glad to hear about this and if you have any more tips, keep them coming! If we can avoid more things like that with something so simple, then I’ll be getting all the tea bags I can get.

Vanessa, Almeria

Leapy laws

I HAVE just read your manifesto ... I agree 100 per cent with the laws you would like to introduce to England. I feel sure if you could send this as a questionnaire to every adult in England, the majority would tick yes to each ruling.And to those who disagreed they could return to their original homeland. I wish you every succes.

Although we have lived in Spain for some 22 years and would never wish to return to England, we still keep up with how life is for family and friends back there.

Regards Wanda

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

HELLO my angels, the card I have pulled this week is the great gathering. In the past few months the vibrational shift around us has seen us either cut off people that no longer serves us, we either out ­ grew them, or they have chosen to walk away.

Even though this might be hurtful and painful when this happens it’s making room for growth within yourself and for new people to come in more in line with your vibration. There is a saying that goes “some people are in your life for a lifetime or a season and there is always a reason.”

You have to make the decision of what person fits where, everyone is either a lesson or a blessing and this will help you learn your lessons for your path of where you are meant to be, this is happening at all ages, whether you’re single, married, divorced, what ever age you are it

does not matter, the universe wants you to grow and align yourself with whatever door is opening for you, the door of opportunity and greatness, and with that along comes people that will help lift you up and be your biggest cheerleader, wherever you are this is where you are meant to be.

At the moment you are never on your own even if you feel like you are, you are making room for what is to come, remember to drop the fear it’s easy to make excuses because you’re fearful of what’s to come so ask yourself this question, how is life working out for you at the moment with not having any faith? Because being fearful if you do not have any faith, either in the universe or within yourself that you can attract and achieve your goals however big or small they are.

As soon as you make the decision to better your life it will feel like you can breathe, the new people that come in to your life will only enhance you and you feel a sense of balance

and peace and everything will flow more easily to you. So now let’s start looking forward to the new people, new experiences and new opportunities. This may both focus on what lights up your soul, and the right people will align towards you. Maybe it’s time to start the new class you have been dreaming about or start the gym membership you have been planning to, all these things you have been putting off, sometimes we feel we are too busy to put new things in our life, so why not start online? Online group of your interest, start that dating profile you have been thinking about doing, remember the universe is a magnet and by taking the right steps and by taking actions today you will be attracting the people you need in your life right now. And creating a path that fulfils your deepest dreams.

Let me know how this is going, next week I will be talking all things manifestation and how you can attract everything you can desire in to your life.

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.

What the universe has in store

My tarot card I have pulled off this week is ‘The Great Gathering’

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

BEFORE the laws of political correctness, we told jokes. Many were profane. They could be sacrilegious, obscene, racist or downright sick. Some of these I found funny while at school and shortly after, but no longer do. Others are still funny but not very pleasant.

Looking back I chortle or snigger at the clever ones, many of them two ­ liners. But it is a long time since I heard anybody tell a joke. Is it because we stop telling them as we age or is it that we no longer have the same sense of humour? We need to laugh. We must be joking.

It is difficult to imagine any ‘snowflake’ being offended by this: Customer: “Fish and chips twice, please.” Waiter: “I heard you the first time.” Or the Sunday night weather forecast: “Tomorrow will be muggy, followed by “Tuegy, Weggy, Thurgy ….” Maybe such jokes turn up on social media, but I very much doubt it.

WE MUST BE JOKING

not overlook the scriptwriters.

Today, comedians are treading on eggshells. It’s not only the more risqué that need to be careful, but the inoffensive as well. This is because there are so many sensitive groups who object to the mildest hint of criticism or discrimination. Is this why they are no longer so funny? Or is it me?

On the other hand, many people today would be outraged by this: Customer: “I’ll have the pissoles and chips.” Waiter: “Sorry?”

Customer shows waiter the menu: “Here; pissoles and chips!”

“That’s not a P, it’s an R.” “Okay, then; arseholes and chips.” And yet the F ­ word is used as frequently on television today as the word ‘never’.

In the past, comedy shows commonly raised their laughs by the

way the lines were spoken. In many cases, as long as a poor ‘joke’ was delivered in a Cockney or northern accent, audiences would howl with (canned?) laughter. Today, it seems that a gay accent has the same effect.

More recent popular television comedies included ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ while today’s most popular comedian seems to be Michael McIntyre. I rest my case.

On the other hand there used

The open door

CASSANDRA NASH

SPAIN’S government has 23 ministers and 14 of them are women, successors to Federica Montseny, Spain’s first female minister and one of the first in Europe.

Montseny was born in Madrid in 1905 although her parents, both teachers and both anarchists, were Catalan by birth. She was initially home ­ schooled but studied Philosophy and Literature at Barcelona University where she joined the National Confederation of Labour (CNT) and wrote for anarchist publications.

The Republican Prime Minister, Francisco Largo Caballero offered Montseny the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance in November 1936, four months after Franco’s uprising had precipitated the Civil War.

She remained there until May 1937 when she resigned in protest at the government’s treatment of anarchists in Barcelona. During that time she introduced a short ­ lived Abortion Law and opened centres where prostitutes found accommodation and training to help them seek alternative employment.

Montseny and her family fled to France in February 1939 when the Civil War was all but lost. She died in Toulouse in January 1994 and one of her daughters, Vida, later said ­ not without bitterness ­ that Federica had turned her back on the role of wife and mother to devote herself to politics and the rights of women.

Forty­five years were to pass before Spain had another female minister, when Soledad Becerril was Minister of Culture in Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo’s Union de Centro Democratico (UCD) government from December 1981 until December 1982.

In all there have been 61 female ministers since the Transition to democracy on Franco’s death in 1975.

The majority of Montseny and Becerril’s successors have belonged ­ or belong ­ to the PSOE socialist party and the conservative Partido Popular.

There have also been Independent ministers affiliated to no party at all, two from Podemos and one from Spain’s PCE communist party.

What Federica Montseny would have made of her successors and their policies is beside the point. She was there first and she held the door open for them.

to be many very funny and very clever comedians and comedy sketches. From the respectable Two Ronnies and the saucy Benny Hill to Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, and from Monty Python to Spitting Image and the situation comedy of Fawlty Towers, they were very amusing. And we had unique stand­up comedians ranging from Bob Monkhouse to Les Dawson and from Spike Milligan to Jasper Carrott. And we should

Recently, a sitcom from the 70s ‘Rising Damp’ may be edited to be rerun for modern audiences on the grounds of racial slurs. Likewise a proposed resuscitation of Fawlty Towers is to be scrutinised for gratuitous violence (against Manuel)!

If shown again unedited, it would be an interesting test of how far we have come ­ up or down ­ since the 70s.

For more from our columnists please scan this

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

The quality of comedy and humour is compromised by obsessive yielding to sensitivities. We need to laugh.

Photo Credits: bbc and Kremlin.ru

THERE are lots of reasons why a cat might hide. Cats hide to feel safe, and in order to protect themselves from things they perceive as dangerous or stressful so it’s important to find out the reasons why your cat is hiding.

Cats as a species are self­reliant, so when faced with a difficult situation your cat would naturally prefer to avoid it rather than charge in and fight.

Your cat will hide when there is something, or someone, nearby that is causing them concern. They may be frightened or just wary about something unfamiliar and might want to keep out of the way, just in case.

If you leave them to it you will usually find that they will come out of hiding once they have realised that whatever it was they were frightened of isn’t actually scary at all.

Hiding places are one of your cat’s basic needs. Providing a selection of

Hidey holes

Different walks

DOGGY walkers based in Sussex, England, are in the enviable position of now being able to take their furry friends on a dog walk with a difference.

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, England, has now opened its spectacular landscape to dogs seven days a week.

For the first time, dogs and their owners can visit Wakehurst seven days a week and have the chance to walk the world from the heart of Sussex, exploring an incredible range of habitats across the 535­acre site.

Over 10km of paths designated for dogs will wind through the gardens, traversing paths alongside towering woodland species from Australasia and North America, ravines of rhododendrons from eastern Himalaya, and the peaceful oasis of the Water Gardens filled with flourishing seasonal flowers.

possible options, such as some open cupboard doors, areas under beds, cardboard boxes and gaps behind so­

fas will give your cat a choice of places to go when they feel like hiding.

Crufts TV takeover

DOG lovers will be treated to a record­breaking 16 hours and 30 minutes of Crufts coverage as the world’s greatest dog show returns to Channel 4 and More4 this March.

With an additional 15 minutes more coverage than last year and over 100 minutes more than the 2020 show, viewers can look forward to a total of nine and a half hours of Crufts on Channel 4 alone!

Clare Balding will host daily highlights of the world’s most

famous dog event live from the NEC, Birmingham and will be joined by a team of reporters including Radzi Chinyanganya and, returning for her second year, Sophie Morgan, along with canine experts who will be covering the show.

Vanessa McAlpine, Crufts Show Manager, said: “We are delighted that Channel 4

and More4 will be offering viewers at home the opportunity to enjoy this year’s Crufts, with more coverage than ever. The event celebrates everything that we love the most about dogs and highlights the benefits that dogs bring to our lives, so it’s no surprise that it holds such a special place in dog lovers’ hearts.”

Director of Wakehurst Ed Ikin says, “At Wakehurst, we believe a stroll through our wild landscape forms a dog walk with a difference. With each visit, people walking their dogs will be contributing to Kew’s critical conservation work and pioneering science research undertaken to combat biodiversity loss.”

Furry friend exhibition

FANS of our furry friends will be pleased to hear that a new dog photography exhibition has opened at the Kennel Club Art Gallery.

A special capsule exhibition by Lincolnshirebased photographer, Kirsty Bevan, has just opened at The Kennel Club Art Gallery, showcasing and celebrating the different breeds of Setter.

The capsule, which is open for public viewings at The Kennel Club in London until the end of May 2023, features photographs from various locations around the UK of all four Setter breeds: the Irish Red Setter, the English Setter, the Gordon Setter and the Irish

Red and White Setter. Kirsty shared the inspiration behind her latest project: “I have always been around Setters, so I knew that my first photography project had to be on them!

“The sole aim of this project is to capture the inquisitive personality of the four Setter breeds and showcase their naturally regal appearance.”

The exhibition is open to the public at The Kennel Club Art Gallery at 10 Clarges Street, Mayfair, W1J 8AB, from Monday to Friday between 9.30am to 4.30pm.

To book your visit, call (+44) 20 7518 1064.

PEEK-A-BOO: Cats like to hide.

Image: Kew Gardens

WILD LANDSCAPES: A dog walk with a difference.

CRUFTS: The event celebrates everything that we love about dogs the most.

Image: Sue Thatcher / Shutterstock.com

Image: Koldunov Alexey

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A superbly accomplished package

ROAD TEST

byMarkSlack

SO many people think that unless you have owned an Alfa Romeo you are not a true petrol head, and you can kind of see their point. While classic Alfas probably still deserve their reputation for being temperamental, newer models have in theory left that reputation behind.

The trouble is reputations can take a long time to disappear and that’s a shame because it prevents many people from enjoying some cracking cars, and they don’t come anymore cracking than the Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

The ‘standard’ Stelvio range is by no means backward in accelerating forward, with even the least athletic engine producing 190hp and the most powerful 280hp. It is the 510hp Quadrifoglio that is the re­

al star though, it’s like an automotive Summanus. This is an SUV very defi nitely designed with per formance, rather than off ­ roading in mind, and it REALLY performs.

It doesn’t come cheap though with prices starting at €90,247/£79,619, which puts the Alfa against some very stiff competition from arguably much more premium badges. Standard fare on the Quadrifoglio is suitably generous, as you would expect on a car of this price, and the interior is a heady mix of leather.

On the road the Quadrifoglio has a bit of a dual personality. It is quite happy to potter through urban streets, but show it an open road and its inner darkness is revealed.

Reaching 62mph in 3.8

seconds is good in anyone’s book, but when you’re talking about a large SUV it is particularly impressive. The Quadrifoglio is light thanks to the use of aluminium and carbon fibre but it’s the allround performance, not just speed, from the way it puts the power down, to the handling and steering.

It’s a superbly accom ­

Uptick in demand

plished package.

The power delivery is nothing short of vicious and the exhaust note delivers a much more tuneful, if equally loud, output as many a supercar.

This is a well ­ honed, well ­ crafted and hugely entertaining car. It manages to combine so many positive attributes and is a

delight to drive.

It’s achilles heel is price, the competition is just so much more premium in not just badge but build quality and feel. The Stelvio isn’t bad by any means, but it just isn’t £80k worth of quality. It’s for this reason that I suspect many premium badge drivers will stay loyal to their usual fare, but the few that don’t will not be disappointed.

Facts at a Glance

Model: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

Price €90,247/£79,619

Engine: 2.9-litre, bi-turbo, V6-cylinder, petrol

Gears: 8-speed automatic

Performance: 0-100kmh/62mph 3.8seconds. Maximum Speed 283kmh/176mph

Economy: 11.8 litres per 100km/23.9mpg combined driving WLTP

Emissions: 267g/km WLTP

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

EV charge points

GOVERNMENTS across the world are ploughing funds into the green agenda which involves electric vehicles.

The UK is set to spend £56 million of public funding for electric vehicle charge points. Electric vehicle drivers from Cumbria to West Sussex will benefit from the continued expansion of electric vehicle charging points across the country.

The funding will expand

the current Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot, boost the existing OnStreet Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) and help councils secure dedicated resources to develop in­house expertise and capability to coordinate charge point plans and deliver a more comprehensive and reliable network of charge points for drivers.

The government has already spent over £2 billion to

support the move to zeroemission vehicles, helping drive forward the decarbonisation of the UK’s entire transport system.

Running out of gas or electricity produces the same result: your car will stop. In the case of a gas car, a roadside service truck can usually bring you a can of gas, or tow you to the nearest gas station. Similarly, an electric car can simply be towed to the nearest charging station.

POSITIVE news arrives for the motoring industry as it has been confirmed the UK used car market continues a positive trajectory in February 2023 as prices, sales and demand record an uptick.

According to the latest data from Auto Trader, the health of the used car market is continuing to build momentum, with growth recorded in demand, sales,

and retail prices.

In fact, Auto Trader’s Retail Price Index, which is based on daily pricing analysis of circa 900,000 vehicles across the market, shows the current average price of a used car is £17,880, which marks a 1.7 per cent year­on­year increase on a like­for­like basis.

Although the rate of growth is down significant­

ly from a peak of 32 per cent year­on­year in April 2022. This current rate is on top of the massive 31.9 per cent year­on­year increase recorded this time last year. It also marks a monthon­month increase of 0.7 per cent, which is not only ahead of the 0.3 per cent recorded last month, but also the 0.4 per cent February average between 2011 and 2019.

STELVIO RANGE: A well-honed, hugely entertaining car.

Image: Alberto Zornetta Shutterstock.com

Positive motoring news.

More funding.

Image: UK government Department of Transport

Manchester United win

MANCHESTER UNITED and Newcastle United faced off in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, February 26. Erik ten Hag’s side eventually ran out 2 ­ 0 winners to land the Red Devils’ first piece of silverware since 2017.

Casemiro broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. The Brazilian playmaker met Luke Shaw’s free ­ kick and headed it beyond Loris Karius to give United the lead. Just six minutes later it was 2 ­ 0 when a shot from Marcus Rashford was deflected into the net by Sven Botman.

Eddie Howe has done a fantastic job since taking charge of the Magpies, but his strikers seem to have become goal­shy recently. His attempts to stage a comeback in the second half proved fruitless. His club has now gone since 1969 without winning any trophies.

United continued their fine form on all fronts in today’s match. Jose Mourinho was in charge the last time the club won anything, which was the exact same trophy. One can only feel though that under the control of their new Dutch manager, this will not be the last time.

Lost by a split decision

YOUTUBER Jake Paul lost the biggest fight of his short boxing career so far on, Sunday, February 26, in Saudi Arabia. Up against the professional boxer Tommy Fury, he eventually succumbed to a split­decision defeat after eight rounds in the Diriyah Arena in Riyadh, broadcast on BT Sport.

This was Paul’s first time in the ring with a real boxer and he held his own in all fairness. He even put Fury on the canvas in the final round with a left ­ handed jab, producing the only knock ­ down of the fight. “That wasn’t a knockdown, that was a slip. That was genuinely a slip. I got up … I came right back into it,” claimed Fury.

Speaking in the ring after the decision was called, an emotional Tommy Fury said: “All the way through these two and a half years, I had a dream, I had a vision that I would win this

fight, and no one believed me.

“Now I can stand up and everybody can take note. In my first main event, at 23 years old, I had the world on me. I had pressure on my shoulders, and I came through,” he added.

Although Fury is a pro boxer, coming into this fight with an impressive 8­0 record, the half­brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury had not really been tested. “If he wants a rematch, he can have a rematch,” Fury told the fans.

TOMMY FURY: If he wants a rematch, he can have one.

MAN UTD: Continued to play in fine form.

Image: Saudi Tourism Authority

50% of women worldwide are interested in sport.

Agriculture & rugby 30 countries propose ban

THE governments of 34 countries worldwide have spoken in favour of a ban on the participation of representatives from Russia and Belarus in international sports competitions. It comes as a result of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

SOME might consider agriculture and rugby an odd combination but together they are stronger and have decided to collaborate for the 59th edition of the Farming Fair.

They are two events, two distinct spheres, two different missions but both rooted within the French regions, sharing common values (team spirit, drive, strength of the collective) which naturally led to this union.

Until March 5, at the Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles in France, for the first time, the Hall 1 entrance will be dressed in the colours of the Rugby World Cup 2023.

From September 8 until October 28, 20 teams from every continent will face each other on French soil, creating unique moments of emotions, celebration and sharing.

Rugby World Cup 2023 will also be the occasion to shine a light on its regions, its craftsmanship, and the local products of French territories on display during the International Agricultural Fair.

This will come to life thanks to the involvement of the French Chefs of the XV de la Gastronomie, who will put local products at the heart of the competition and its Official Hospitalities.

This news was announced in a joint statement published on Monday, February 20, on the website of the British Ministry of Culture, Media and Sports of the

United Kingdom.

“There are serious concerns about how justified it is for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in neutrality given that they are directly funded and supported by their respective states,” the statement said.

It also emphasised that “there are no grounds for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider the decision.” This referred to the decision adopted last year on the

non­admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus.

The statement also alleged that there are “strong ties and jurisdiction of Russian athletes with the Russian armed forces.”

In the statement, the

countries called for the IOC to explain the definition of neutrality towards athletes from Russia and Belarus.

Until this is done, it is proposed not to allow them to participate in international competitions.

Copenhagen calling

COPENHAGEN is preparing for an urban festival with street activities in the heart of the Danish capital when the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 Europe Cup Qualifier and 3×3 Europe Cup 2025 take place.

“We are really happy and proud of bringing the 3×3 Europe Cup to Denmark for the first time,” Kamil Novak, FIBA Europe Executive Director said, adding: “Copenhagen and Denmark are perfect matches to 3×3 as one of the missions of this discipline is to bring basketball to the people and show that everyone can be successful in 3×3.”

The 3×3 Europe Cup will be staged in September 2025 in a public square in central Copenhagen with a venue large enough to accommodate 1,200 spectators.

In 2024, the Copenhageners can warm up with the 3×3 Europe Cup 2024 Qualifier. The activities and side events also include school programmes, exercise, and competitions enabling the children to try the urban and Olympic disciplines.

Denmark’s Basketball Federation expects between 7,000 and 8,400 paying spectators for the Europe Cup 2025 and up to 90,000 spontaneous spectators.

FARMING FAIR: Two different missions.

OLYMPIC GAMES: Other countries wish to ban Russia.

Credit: kovop/Shutterstock.com

Image: World Rugby