Mallorca 9 – 15 March 2023 Issue 1966

THE MALLORCA FILES Life’s a beach March 8 division

TWO Spanish beaches are among the best in the world according to TripAdvisorand one of them is in Mallorca.

The online travel guide has published this year’s Travellers’ Choice awards, rewarding the favourite destinations, hotels, restaurants and activities among users, based on scores and opinions uploaded onto the site over the last 12 months.

And within the beaches category, Spain has once again hit the jackpot, with two names among the top 25 on a list headed by the spectacular Baia do Sancho in Brazil.

La Concha in Donostia (Basque Country) comes in at number 15, followed just two places below by Mallorca’s very own Playa de Muro in 17th place.

This is the second time running that Muro has made the top 25 world list, and curiously in exactly the same spot.

“A wonderful beach with golden sand, clear blue sea and not very deep to have a lukewarm swim and get out again easily,” states the review on the website.

But narrowing down the search to Europe, La Concha and Muro occupy the fourth and fifth places respectively, with a second Balearic beach appearing in ninth placePlaya de Sotavento in Costa Calma, Fuerteventura.

THE BBC is preparing to film the third season of its hit series The Mallorca Files on the island this month.

Starring Welsh actress Elen Rhys, Austrian actor Julian Looman and Spanish actress and theatre director Maria Fernandez, the first instalment of the British police drama was watched by an estimated six million viewers in 70 countries in 2019, with figures increasing for the second season now screening.

The CSI­styled drama follows Rhys and Looman as a pair of detectives with totally opposing characters and working methods as they attempt to solve a series of crimes on the island.

With viewers throughout the world following the team’s exploits, Mallorca is enjoying unrivalled exposure and promotion thanks to the series, leading to curious anecdotes such the Mallorca Film Commission reporting an avalanche of calls from the Tokyo tourism authorities requesting information about the island as Japanese fans sought to travel to Mallorca to visit the scenes appearing on screen.

This prompted the creation of a map detailing five routes through the various exterior locations used in the series for enthusiasts to visit.

The Mallorca Files has so far had a direct economic impact on the island of more than €11 million.

THIS year’s International Women’s Day march in Palma was split in two.

The recent approval of the ‘trans law’ by the central government has divided the movement. While the main demonstration on Wednesday March 8)was organised once again by the Mallorca Feminist Movement, with other organisations and political parties joining up later, a second march was scheduled by the 8M Transfeminist Coordinator, who believe they are being excluded by the so­called ‘classic’ feminists.

The trans law is just the latest in a series of heated debates taking place within feminism, added to ongoing discussions about whether to legalise or abolish prostitution and the ‘only yes means yes’ law currently passing through the Spanish parliament.

BBC HIT: The third season is being filmed this month.

WOMEN’S DAY: The march in Palma was split in two.

Image by FilmAffinity

Playa de Muro beach.

Image Gudrun Hochmuth/Shutterstock

Image by Zixia/Shutterstock

ONLY 42 per cent of teaching and investigative staff at the Balearic Islands University (UIB) in Palma are women. Analysts have suggested that the main reason for the low numbers of young women taking up careers in mathematics, biology, chemistry and all other areas of science is the absence of female names in textbooks and the media.

While most people are familiar with the name Marie Curie, the same cannot be said of the thousands of other women scientists and engineers who have achieved great feats throughout history.

“Since we are children we are told that science is a boys’ thing,” said young local scientist Julia Lopez, zoology investigator at the UIB.

In a bid to boost numbers of female scientists, a series of activities have taken place at the campus this

month, including celebrating the lives and work of women investigators in all the different specialities with a series of exhibitions and informative talks with schoolchildren. Leading local investigators such as Physics professor Alicia Sintes and award­winning biologist Mar Leza visited the UIB to explain that “without women there is

no science,” and to highlight the importance of the socalled STEM degrees, which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Dr Leza also criticised the existence of a glass ceiling for women scientists, which also partly explains the low numbers of female professors and investigative staff at the UIB and other institutions.

Women in science Classic Car Club success

THE 3 Point Drive by the Classic Car Club Mallorca held on Sunday February 26 was a resounding success.

Organised by Gaston Westphal, the outing covered a number of towns to the east of Palma airport with 40 participants in 20 classic motors enjoying the scenery and sunny weather.

The route took drivers from Son Bonet airport to Marratxinet, then to Santa Eugenia and onto Montuiri. From there they took the MA15 to Vilafranca de Bonay, then south to Porreres, via Pina with a short stop at Finca Son Valls, north of Felanitx, where racers were asked to photograph the sundial and answer three questions.

The race ended at Santauri Montision restaurant, where participants enjoyed a three­course meal before the winners were announced.

€800 a night at Branson’s new hotel

THE prices for Richard Branson’s spectacular new hotel set to open in Mallorca in June have just been announced ­ and they are not cheap.

A single night in the most affordable room at the Son Bunyola resort in Banyalbufar will cost €800, ranging up to €2,900 a night for the top suite in peak season.

As reported recently by the Euro Weekly News , the founder of the Virgin Group is looking to recruit up to 60 members of staff to work at the luxury destination, with requirements including owning a car ­ Son Bunyola is located three kilometres away from the nearest townand being fluent in English with some knowledge of German, depending on the post.

The project is running three months ahead of schedule and is expected to open in June following a hugely anticipated opening ceremony.

With 26 rooms and suites, two restaurants, outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, and spa treatment rooms, Son Bunyola will join the three existing villas in the area on the UNESCO World Heritage list in the Serra de Tramuntana.

OUTING: Twenty classic motors took part.

Alan and Linda Walker were one of five couples to come in first place, and claimed the title thanks to achieving the best result in a 40second circuit run of Son Bonet carried out before the race.

The next Car Run will take place on Sunday March 26. For further information visit cccmallorca.com or follow Classic Car Club Mallorca on Facebook.

The project has taken 20 years to complete, as Branson’s company initially faced planning problems that led it to being abandoned until five years ago, with everything now finally in place ready for grand opening this summer.

WOMEN SCIENTISTS: Have achieved great feats.

Image by SpeedKingz/Shutterstock

Image by Classic Car Club Mallorca/Facebook

“I look up to my mother, she always empowers me to never give up!”

-Chere Y5, International School of Estepona

NIBS EXTRA

Storm aid

THE Balearic Islands regional government has announced plans to request the declaration of Mallorca as a ‘catastrophe area’ following last week’s Storm Juliette. If granted, it would fall to the central Spanish government to take charge of repairing any damage and compensating residents for ‘personal or material losses’.

Research centre

WORK is underway to open a new scientific research centre at Portocolom lighthouse in 2024. The facilities will house the main maritime science and technology organisms in the Balearics, as well as active participation by the Max Planck Society, a German research institute association said to be one of the most prestigious international bodies of its kind.

Working hard

RAFA NADAL is still recovering from the leg injury he sustained during his last official match against Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open on January 18. In a recent message to fans, the tennis ace said he is working hard to return “in the best possible conditions,” hopefully ready for the European Spring circuit.

Fine dining

TWO new restaurants in Mallorca have been recognised by the Repsol Guide 2023. Voro and Can Simoneta are the latest establishments to join the list of 40 award­winning restaurants in the Balearics to feature in the prestigious guide, prized for the quality of their menus and breathtaking views.

Staff wanted

THE luxury Ikos Resort hotel in Porto Petro is currently looking to employ 498 new members of staff ready for its grand opening in June. Successful applicants will receive accommodation, transport and complete board.

Willkommen auf Mallorca

THE Mallorca gastronomy event at the most important travel fair in Germany exceeded all expectations at the weekend with more than 200 people taking part.

As reported last week by the Euro Weekly News, the island’s Tourism department organised ‘Mallorca, 365 days of culinary delights’ at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin on Sunday March 5, with local chefs offering visitors the chance to sample a selection of the best local dishes, sweets and wines.

Representatives of more than 100 German travel and tourism companies

A CAMPAIGN to increase safety for pedestrians in Palma has already collected more than 900 signatures.

‘Patinetes y Bicis a Raya’ aims to raise awareness among bicycle and scooter users to be more careful, with organisers also calling on the local council to step up vigilance to ensure safety on pavements and pedestrianised areas.

Interestingly, the association behind the campaign has revealed that scooter and bicycle users are also signing the petition, which they see as proof that all

attended the event, as well as journalists from several major news outlets. Mallorca Island Council President, Catalina Cladera welcomed the participants and highlighted the growing im­

Pedestrian safety campaign

parties involved want to help increase safety on the city’s streets.

The campaign manifesto states its aim as “recovering the safety to walk freely on pavements and in parks and pedestri­

Growing dreams

THE ladies from the Euro Weekly News have been in full Interna tional Women’s Day spirit, hand delivering a symbolic purple hy acinth bulb to some of the com munity’s most valued women.

Accompanied by an inspir ing letter from EWN, publisher and the Magic Maker of Dreams for Women, Michel Euesden.

An excerpt from the letter said: “That bulb to plant now will very soon bloom and its vivid colour will be yours forever enriching the lives of everyone it touches.

Today is our day to MAKE IT HAPPEN and that means giving life to our dreams.

Happy International Women’s Day but more importantly HAPPY MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME ALIVE Day.”

Today is the day to start making your dreams happen. The Euro Weekly News encourages all women to plant the seeds and bulbs of inspiration and watch them blossom into full bloom.

YOUR EWN HAS

portance of the local gastronomy among visitors, who are taking an increasing interest in “the quality of our home­grown products and the excellence of our chefs.”

The Mallorca stand at this year’s ITB fair is focusing on two main points, namely sustainable transition and the promotion of the island as an all­yearround tourism destination.

In a related development this week, German travel group TUI has confirmed that the Balearic Islands are one of their “priority destinations” for this summer.

anised areas of our city without the risk of being run over or inconvenienced by bicycles or personal mobility vehicles.”

In order to achieve this, the association calls on the municipal authorities to “immediately increase vigilance, deterrence, awareness and adequate signposting, as well as eliminating cycle lanes from pavements and pedestrian areas, in order to recover our rights as pedestrians.”

For more information visit Patinetes y Bicis a Raya on Facebook.

Unhealthy centre

STAFF and patients at La Vileta health centre in Palma are denouncing that they do not have any central heating and are being forced to take their own heaters from home.

GPs are complaining that they often have to strip babies and elderly patients as part of their check ­ up and that it is “freezing cold”, forcing many workers to wear up to four layers of clothing.

The heating reportedly broke down right in the middle of last week’s cold snap, but staff added that this is not the first time it has happened, as it occurred again at the beginning of February.

Furthermore, the same problem has also been reported in the summer with the air conditioning, leaving doctors, nurses and patients sweltering in the July and August heat.

Spokespeople for the

health centre reveal that the problem stems from the fuel supply, as the company in charge of keeping the tank topped up does not always deliver on time.

Regional health service IBSalut have admitted the problem and have reportedly contacted the maintenance department to find a solution quickly.

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Helping hand

THE short­stay family shelter run by Palma Town Hall helped 288 adults and children last year ­ nearly double the figure for 2021.

Based at the old monastery on the Cami Vell de Bunyola, the municipal service provides a home for crisis­hit families for up to six months while they look for more permanent accommodation.

According to Palma deputy­mayor Antoni Noguera, the increase in users can be seen as both bad and good news ­ bad in the sense that more families are struggling, but good in the sense that the local social services are managing to keep up with increased demand.

Lack of affordable housing on the island and increasing cost of living expenses caused by the war in Ukraine are said to be the main causes for the surge in crisis­hit families in Mallorca.

There are currently 58 vacancies at the centre managed by the Fundacio Sant Joan de Deu.

Visit to the tourism fair

Image by Messe Berlin GmbH

HPV jabs for young boys

A CAMPAIGN to vaccinate all 12­year­old boys against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has been launched by the Balearic Islands Health department.

The vaccination campaign is aimed at up to 6,800 children and will take place throughout 2023 and 2024.

Initially, the HPV vaccine was only aimed at 12­yearold girls and certain specific high ­ risk groups, but the Spanish National Health Service in October last year decreed that boys should also be included.

Meanwhile, the regional Health authorities plan to

THE airports in the Balearic Islands were responsible for more than 20 per cent of profits for Spanish managing company AENA last year.

Palma, Maó and Ibiza generated one fifth of the more than €900 million in air travel throughout the country from January to December 2022, with the region exceeding profit expectations in the second half of the year.

In fact, Mallorca airport was the only one in Spain to

Cleanest air in a decade

continue the inoculation campaign among teenagers and young women until the age of 26.

The type of HPV vaccine currently authorised in Spain does not contain the complete virus nor its genetic material, so therefore cannot cause the disease. It works by stimulating the person’s immune system to fight against infection from the virus.

It is said to be very safe with the only adverse effects reported affecting the site of the jab ­ pain or swelling ­ or minor complaints such as headache.

In the lead

register an increase in traffic from July to December due to a surge in demand from the British, German, Scandinavian, French and Italian markets.

And with expectations for the summer looking up, AENA has increased its air travel predictions for this year, with Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan set to be the busiest in Spain from June to September.

PALMA is currently enjoying the cleanest air of the last decade.

Average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, mainly generated by vehicle exhaust fumes, over the last three years have ranged from 22 to 25 microgrammes per cubic metre of air ­ far below the maximum safety limit of 40.

According to figures released by the regional Energy and Climate Change department, the air quality measuring station located at the crossing between Calles Foners and Manacor in Palma last year registered an average reading of 24 microgrammes of NO2.

At the end of 2021, the station gave an average reading of 22, rising to 25 in 2022. In previous years the readings had been much higher, peaking at 52 in 2006.

Current legislation establishes a maximum

New houses

BALEARIC ISLANDS President Francina Armengol this week handed over the keys for the new social housing development in Palma.

limit of 30 microgrammes per cubic metre for the protection of plant life and 40 for human health, so the Palma readings are well within the safety parameters. In general, the air quality in and around Palma has been classed as ‘good’, while in most parts of the Balearic Islands it is described as ‘excellent’.

Emotional health for teenagers

THE Balearic Islands government will offer voluntary screening for teenagers aged 12 to 18 to check for possible mental health problems.

According to the regional Education department, the tests will take place at public and state­subsidised schools and colleges before the end of this academic year.

Students and their families who wish to take part must first complete an online questionnaire on emotional aspects, which will enable the authorities to ascertain whether the teenager has a low, medium or high risk of suffering anxiety, depression

or some other form of emotional problem.

Those with a highest risk will be offered the chance to take part in a workshop to learn how to cope with potentially threatening situations and to improve their communication abilities.

Those with a lower risk will

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

be able to join various small groups to work on emotional management.

The questionnaire will also enable the Education and Health authorities to detect any possible cases of selfharm or eating disorders and to act immediately to help the affected students.

“She believed she could, so she did”

Meaning that if you believe in yourself anything is possible, a reminder that you have the strength and the will to do what it takes. This proverb was first mentioned by R S Grey, Scoring Wilder, 2014.

Located in Calle Salvador Espriu in the Mallorca capital, the 19 new government­owned flats have been reserved for low­income families and residents whose rent has been adjusted to ensure that it never costs more than 30 per cent of their monthly budget.

In addition, these houses have been especially designed to focus on circular economy and energy efficiency, with renewable sources such as Posidonia seaweed and recycled cotton used to make the insulation.

They are part of a wider housing scheme by the Mallorca Island Council to build up to 410 publicly owned houses in 14 different towns, with the council providing a budget of €6 million.

Sra Armengol said that investment in social housing has never been higher in Mallorca, and that public administrations must strive to guarantee affordable accommodation for all, which is “a constitutional right.”

The regional president also insisted on the need to eliminate the stigma that still surrounds council housing, adding that these flats “have won international architecture awards.”

Vehicle exhaust fumes are at a low level.

VOLUNTARY SCREENING: For teenagers aged 12 to 18.

Image by Ody_Stocker/Shutterstock

Life on the ocean waves

SUSTAINABLE mobility has also reached the sea of Mallorca, as visitors and residents alike can now enjoy a coastal tour of the island onboard an electric boat. Local nautical company Mallorcaventura, established on the island eight years ago, has just purchased its first vessel with all­electric engines in a bid to help reduce pollution.

The firm began by purchasing and restoring an old boat from 1964 to organise parties and trips along the Mallorca coastline, until Covid restrictions forced the vessel to remain docked for two years, during which time it suffered almost irreparable damage.

Following the easing of restrictions, Mallorcaventura then decided to change their approach and buy the new electric boat, which has space for just 35 people as opposed to the 100­strong capacity of the previous fuel­powered vessel. Their goal is to show customers the delights of Mallorca by sea and raise awareness about the importance of preserving the environment.

Boris Becker tees off

FORMER tennis ace Boris Becker is expected to visit Mallorca at the weekend to take part in the Golden Swing Celebrity Golf Open in Calvia on Saturday March 11.

It will be one of Becker’s first public appearances since serving an eight­month prison term in the UK for bankruptcy offences after he was found guilty of hiding €2.8 million in assets and loans to avoid paying his debts.

The six­times Grand Slam winner is a big golf fan and will join other major names at T Golf Calvia, including fellow German basketball player Andrej Mangold and model Julia Römmelt,

Four-day week

THE ruling regional PSIB party plans to include a proposal for a four­day working week in their programme for the local and autonomic elections in May.

With Balearic Islands President Francina Armengol standing for reelection, Socialist party sources this week confirmed that the four­day week will be one of their main projects.

among others.

Upon leaving prison, 55­yearold Becker told private German television station Sat.1 that he had learnt “a tough lesson,” but his ordeal had enabled him to “rediscover the person I once was.”

The Golden Swing is billed on its official website as: “An exclusive golf tournament that brings together some of the biggest names in sports, media and society. Every year it’s held at a different location worldwide. The Premiere will take place in March 2023 on Mallorca at the famous T Golf Calvia.”

Their idea is to launch the scheme this same year if they are victorious on May 28, offering government grants to smaller companies with ‘less intense’ workloads who allow employees to work just four days a week while earning the same salary.

Identical schemes have been launched to great success throughout the EU. In the words of chief PSIB campaign organiser Iago

ela: “Europe is going in that direction and it is important for us here to take a step forward.”

Regional trades unions had called on the Govern to work towards implementing the four­day week, although the Balearic government does not have the authority to force companies to do so as this would be the remit of the national executive in Madrid ­ hence the plans to approach firms on a voluntary basis.

“I think that we should recognise the potential in everyone and keep our minds open to how amazing people can be, in both the best and worst of times. We learn and grow not just from our own experiences as women but through those of others, too. Difference and diversity can be a force to unite us as surely as our gender, physical form and shared experiences as women do. There is no limit to what women can achieve in life, work and beyond.”

Carol Wolstenholme, Operations Manager of Moneycorp Spain

The Agency

THE United States has landed in Mallorca with a bang.

With record numbers of visitors arriving thanks to the New York­Palma flight launched last year, this week has brought yet another major development.

Missing girl hunt reopened

Prestigious luxury real estate brokerage The Agency, made famous by 2022 Netflix series Buying Beverly Hills, has just opened its first branch in Spain in Portals Nous (Calvia).

The Agency will operate mainly in the Ponent area, focusing on select parts of Palma, Calvia and Andratx. Although the priority will be US clients, the company will work with all nationalities, particularly with British and German investors.

Mallorca was chosen as the first port of call in Spain over other options that included Madrid, Barcelona and Marbella, further proving the growing interest in the island among North American visitors.

The Agency has handled the Playboy Mansion and properties belonging to Michael Jordan, Prince and Michael Jackson, among many other top­class operations.

THE Guardia Civil this week reopened the investigation into the disappearance of Malén Zoe Ortiz, a 15­yearold girl who went missing in Magaluf in December 2013. Malén was last seen on CCTV footage recorded at a petrol station after she got off a bus and started walking towards her boyfriend’s house on the morning of December 2.

The initial investigation narrowed the search down to a short stretch of path next to sa Porrassa road between the petrol station and her boyfriend’s home.

Now, nearly a decade on with no further clues, the police relaunched a thorough search of a plot of land located in the area known as the ‘rotonda de los piratas’, with officers from the Central Operation Unit in Madrid travelling to Magaluf with sensors, canine units and digging equipment to try to find any sign of the girl.

TENNIS ACE: The Grand Slam winner is also a big golf fan.

Francina Armengol (right).

Image by the Balearic Islands Government

Record prices

HOUSE prices in the Balearic Islands last month broke all records for February.

According to online property portal Fotocasa, prices on the islands have increased by 20 per cent each year to a whopping €3,466 per square metre, while rent costs rose by 26 per cent to more than €15 per square metre.

Fotocasa director of studies Ana Mato told a local news outlet that the company has “never detected such a large price increase in such a short period of time.”

Mato added that the increase in house prices was the second highest on the website’s records, only surpassed by the 20.4 per cent increase in May 2006 - when the housing bubble

Surge in ‘massage parlours’

RESIDENTS in Son Armadams and El Terreno in Palma are complaining about a surge of new massage parlours opening in the area.

was on the rise.

The director explained that the price hike could be due to two main reasons, namely a rise in demand and fears that mortgage rates, which are already through the roof, could “tighten further,” prompting buyers to buy quickly and thus pushing up prices.

Recent figures shows that the Balearic Islands are among the top five most expensive places to live in Spain, beaten only by San Sebastián, Madrid and Barcelona.

More specifically, neighbours are suggesting that these businesses are not all they seem, as they keep abnormal hours for beauty centres ­ 9am to 11.30pm, 365 days a year ­ and the customers seen entering and leaving are always all men.

In addition, the bulk of their business reportedly comes from tourists during the high

season, and online reviews by customers highlight the ‘happy endings’ they received at these centres.

Catalina Llompart, president

LOCAL sportswoman Micaela Company is on her way to becoming one of the best martial artists in the world.

Last month Micaela won the Spanish grappling tournament, a form of wrestling similar to judo where no blows are landed. This was the second time she has won the national tournament and has also claimed the gold medal in the European championships twice.

She now owns dozens of gold, silver and bronze medals from national and international competitions. The 29­year­old Primary and Special Education teacher began in the world of martial arts with kickboxing, switching to Jiu Jit­

of Son Armadams Neighbourhood Association, was quoted by a local press outlet as saying, “We believe they are undercover brothels,” adding “no one wants this kind of business in their neighbourhood.”

Local shop owners add that the women who work in these establishments often also live on the premises and that as high season approaches the number of employees more than doubles.

A local association said they could not confirm or deny the allegations.

Hitting the mat

su under the guidance of mentor and trainer

Jaime Fiol, and from there to grappling.

Her sights are now trained on the European championships in Bucharest next week, where she hopes to claim the number one spot once again with the Spanish Federation. Grappling is said to be a minority sport, especially among women, although numbers of enthusiasts are reportedly growing. However, Micaela reports that the lack of women often forces her to train with men who often weigh up to 100 kilos.

THE Teatre Principal in Palma is searching for professional opera singers for the 2023/24 season.

Already confirmed are performances of Il trittico by Puccini (in Italian), La forza del destino by Verdi (Italian) and Ròmeu et Juliette by Gounod (in French).

The theatre management is holding online auditions for singers who live on the island or have a professional link to the Balearic Islands to perform the pieces. Applicants must fill in a form and attach their artistic CV, as well as submitting a video performance of the roles they wish to play.

The Teatre will then carry out a preselection of all entries and contact possible candidates personally for an in-person interview.

The deadline for applications is March 31.

Open abnormal hours.

Image by Adam Calaitzis/Shutterstock

Image by Andrey Popov/Shutterstock

“I am my own self, I’ll forever remember that no one can change my uniqueness.”

-Anna Sophia Y6, Int. School of Estepona

Tourism trains

GREAT news for tourism in Spain as it has been confirmed there will be an increase of 30 per cent in tourist trains. In 2023, Renfe plans to start up a total of 253 tourist trains of various content which will make their journeys through different autonomous communities throughout the year. Luxury tourism, theme tourism or historical trains make up the catalogue that the company is marketing.

The offer which the Tourist Trains division will make by 2023 represents an increase of 30 per cent compared to that produced in 2022, the year in which Renfe launched 170 trains with tourist content, in

which 23,597 customers travelled and this means one more step in the evolution and consolidation of this classic product operated by the company.

The supply of luxury tourism will increase by 57 per cent. The greatest increase in trips will occur in the luxury segment Tran­

Night time viewing

VISITORS and residents of Madrid can now visit the National Prado Museum on a Saturday night.

The museum will now open on the first Saturday of every month as part of its ongoing mission to connect with all sectors of the public.

scantabrico, Al Andalus, Costa Verde Express and Expreso de la Robla.

In 2023, these trains are expected to make 87 round trips, which represents an increase of 52 per cent compared to 2022. Thematic tourism trains carry out day trips with cultural and gastronomic content.

Women have a much broader and more pragmatic view of life and business, and that is very good for the evolution of society. But in order to be able to continue to occupy positions of responsibility, we need policies that favour the reconciliation of work and family life.

On the first Saturday of each month from 8.30pm until 11.30pm different galleries at the Museum will remain open in a programme that aims to increase knowledge of the Prado in a sequential manner.

There will also be different musical events, the option to use the interactive applications specially created for the Museum by Samsung, and Cafe Prado will remain open.

For the first night ­ time opening on March 4, the

main attraction was the Central Gallery; the backbone of the Villanueva Building and the space that displays celebrated works such as Christ washing the Disciples’ Feet by Tintoretto, Charles V at Mühlberg by Titian and The Three Graces by Rubens.

This completely new visitor experience will al ­

Spain’s recycling fail

SPAIN is struggling to meet its recycling targets set by the European Union, and a coalition of 26 environmental and civil organisations are taking action to address this issue.

According to the alliance, Spain is not on track to meet recycling goals. The group said that they will take the country before the European Commission to force lawmakers to take action in an announcement made on Thursday, March 2. The EU’s waste framework directive set a goal to reuse or recycle 50 per cent

Free bikes

IF you find yourself enjoying the capital of Spain before the end of July, why not see the city riding a free bicycle. The municipal electric bicycle service Bicimad was implemented on Tuesday March 7 and accompanied by the unlimited free use of the service with the aim of encouraging cycling in Madrid.

of waste by 2020. However, Spain fell short of this target, with figures from a government ministry indicating that they only achieved a 40.5 per cent recycling rate. In the report, Carlos Arribas, the Head of the Waste Department at Ecologistas en Acción, stated that the situation is not only failing to improve, but it is getting worse. The recycling rate for Spain in 2021 is estimated to be at 36.7 per cent, lower than the 2020 rate of 40.5 per cent. The environmental groups hope that by taking the government to the EU, legislation will be changed.

This project is aimed at giving citizens first­hand experience of the advantages offered by the renewed public electric bicycle system and is the first time that the free service has been extended consecutively for almost five months. The new model of bicycles, more manageable, ergonomic and robust and with a design focused on improving the user experience, will be progressively incorporated into the service, coexisting with the previous model over the next five months.

The free service, which will be valid for both bicycle models and all stations, is intended to accompany all users during the period of coexistence of both systems until the implementation project is fully completed. The project will ensure a system of 7,500 electric bicycles and 611 stations, all newly acquired, distributed throughout the 21 districts of Madrid.

so be transmitted live on Radio 3 in a special program on the Prado.

Betty Henderson

DAY TRIPS: To include cultural and gastronomic content.

Image: Government of Spain Tourism

Carmen Duran, Carmen Duran Comunicacion

PRADO: A new visitor experience.

Image: Prado Museum

Rare disease awareness

THE Spanish Butterfly Children Charity (DEBRA) marked International Rare Diseases Day on Tuesday, February 28 by calling on the government to provide more resources for hospitals specialising in the rare condition.

Butterfly Skin or EB, a rare and incurable genetic condition, causes extreme fragility of the skin and can lead to both external and internal wounds covering up to 80 per cent of the body. With only two national centres for Butterfly Skin in the country, patients face delays in receiving vital care and treatment, which can have serious consequences.

DEBRA, the only national organisation offering support to families in Spain with Butterfly Skin, aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by families and the lack of resources available.

To further highlight these challenges, DEBRA is holding a social media campaign, ‘With you for a lifetime’, fea­

Hunting licences

HUNTING licences in Spain are currently at the lowest of the last 20 years.

turing eight families affected by Butterfly Skin disease and the barriers they face.

The Butterfly Children Charity, founded in 1993 by parents of a boy with EB, works to improve the quality of life for families through cofinancing research projects and raising awareness of the disease. More resources for hospitals specialising in Butterfly Skin are essential to ensure patients receive the care they desperately need.

While 85 per cent of the land surface of the country is classed as hunting grounds, licence applications have fallen by nearly 40 per cent since 2001, with 678,000 people now officially registered.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the drop is mainly due to the hunting population growing older with younger generations failing to take over.

After months of tension and heated debate, the Spanish government finally decided to leave hunting dogs out of the new Animal Welfare Law due to pressure from hunting organisations.

Hunters staged a number of demonstrations last year, with some protests peaking at an estimated half a million participants, demanding to be left out of the law as they claimed it could lead to the end of hunting in Spain.

New requirements for motorists over 65

THE General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has launched information about the new requirements for motorists over 65 years of age when renewing their driving licence in Spain.

Although there is currently no age limit in Spain to continue driving on the road, the DGT does make it a requirement to have a psychotechnical review within the period of time stipulated by the Traffic and Road Safety Law.

In addition to this review, drivers 65 years of age or older who want to renew

their driver’s licence must present the following documentation when applying to renew their driving licence:

• Official application form.

• Psychophysical aptitude form.

• An updated photograph.

• The DNI, NIE or valid passport.

Regarding the tests of the psychotechnical review, those interested must take an anticipation and coordination test, a hearing and visual capacity test, and a general health test, as reported by a local news source.

“To all you women I say.. Know your worth, You are a woman and THAT is your super power! Remember …your best IS good enough Helen Lloyd Waldren. Owner of Oasis fashions, Mojacar Playa

DEBRA works to support people living with Butterfly Skin (EB) condition in Spain and is calling for more resources to continue its vital work.

Photo credit: Piel de Mariposa (via Facebook)

IN life there are some people whose own stories, whose own gifts are so remarkable they can’t help but bring out the best in those around them. The Eu ro Weekly News was lucky enough to speak to three of these women, all regular guest speakers at inspiring women’s events in Spain.

To dive deeper into a month that celebrates wom en internationally, we asked numerologist Jo Soley, ‘sparkle navigator’ Carole Pyke, and business leader Jackie Groundsell what in spires them, and their words of wisdom for business women globally.

Jo, 49 originally from Hert fordshire, now living in Northamptonshire and a self­confessed “iron fist in a velvet glove,” has over 25 years’ experience in busi ness and for the last five years has used the power of numbers to help women elevate their business success.

She told the EWN: “I’ve always loved numerology and numbers. I later studied it and have since created and

Making it happen

trademarked ‘Bizology,’ which helps you understand where you are as a business owner and what makes you unique.”

Jo explained: “I mainly help women entrepreneurs

who are serious about running their business and want to understand themselves on a deeper level so they can run their business on their own terms.” She told businesswomen passion

and self­belief are vital; “Follow your passion because where there’s interest there’s ability,” adding, “Have your niche and don’t try to speak to everyonenot everyone will like you.”

The EWN also spoke to Carole Pyke, 60 from London, who, despite retrograde amnesia following a stroke which only gives her memory of the last four years of her life, has dedicated her life to helping other women.

She explained: “I’m a ‘sparkle navigator’; my business is personal branding reimagined. It’s the story you tell before you even turn up and starts with the story you tell yourself. I believe your personal founda­

tion is who you think you are.”

Knowing how many women struggle with self­belief, even in the face of their own talents, Carole told the EWN: “Belief is the DJ that gets the party started.”

She now works with leaders, business owners and entrepreneurs, coaching and mentoring. The business ace is even now launching her own mastermind group, Sparkle SisterMind, to spread her positive message even further afield.

As a passionate supporter of women, Carole offers this advice: “You need to know who you are but you also need to have a vision. “It’s the vision that will pull you forward and this will help

you navigate the obstacles to move forward.”

Business leader Jackie Groundsell, also shared her words of wisdom with the EWN

Describing herself as “bubbly and talkative with can ­ do attitude,” the 75year­old from Beckenham, London is a business owner, radio host and international speaker.

She explained: “I’ve been running a network for businesswomen since 2002 and offer events for women and training and support on business and personal growth.” With a background in IT training in an often male­dominated environment, Jackie said there was “nothing for business women at the time.” Not content to leave aspiring women without a space to come together and grow, Jackie set about founding 1230 The Women’s Company.

Jackie’s acumen positions her perfectly to offer advice to anyone making their first steps in their own business. She tells the EWN it’s important to just take that first step. She said: “You never hope in business; you either do it or you don’t do it. You’ve got to take the plunge.”

For more stories from inspiring women, follow the EWN’s month of International Women’s features.

“I think that I am beautiful and very cool! This is because throughout my childhood my mother has always told me that I am the best. I am very grateful to my mother as she has given me so much self-confidence.”

-Alisiia Y6, International School of Estepona

REMARKABLE WOMEN: Jo, Jackie and Carole tell their own stories.

A world of light & colour

ART fans are in for a treat on Tuesday March 14.

The Arts Society

Mallorca is organising a lecture on iconic Valencian painter Joaquín Sorolla, set to take place at Golf Son Mutaner (38 Camí Son Vida, Palma) at 7.30pm.

‘Joaquín Sorolla, a painter of light’ will be led by Arts Society­accredited lecturer Dr Jacqueline Cockburn, who states that, “Sorolla created a world full of light and colour which delights the senses.”

Jacqueline is Managing Director of an art tours company, running residential courses in Andalucia, southern Spain in the art and culture of the region. She is a course director and lecturer at the V&A and also lectures at The Royal Academy, The Art Fund, The London Art History Society and has toured New Zealand and Australia for The Arts Society.

Her specialist field is Spanish Art, but she also lectures on European Art 1790 ­ 1950. Her most recent publication is A Taste of Art, London (Unicorn Press 2019).

For further information on this and all upcoming events by The Arts Society, visit theartssociety.org/Ma llorca

New to Mallorca

ARE you new to Mallorca? Looking to meet new friends? If so, read on.

“We moved to Mallorca two years ago and thought it was quite hard to make new friends,” says ‘New to Mallorca’ chief organiser Pritum Patel. “We’re not in our 20s anymore, we don’t want to join a football club or choir, and we work from home. So how and where are we supposed to meet anyone?

“If you have the same problem and you want to meet new people in a relaxed and personal atmosphere, then join us for our ‘New to Mallorca’ breakfast in Port de Pollença and lunch in Palma.”

The lunch will take place in Palma“we’ll send you the exact location in your confirmation email” ­ at 12.30pm on Tuesday, March 14. The maximum number of participants has been set at nine, “no kids please.”

The menu costs €25 including lunch, water and coffee, refundable until 48 hours before the event.

The ‘New to Mallorca’ breakfast will take place at a private home close to Port de Pollença (near a bus stop) at 10am on Thursday, March 16. Maximum number of guests is 10, and again the organisers state that no children are allowed. The breakfast will cost €15 including water, coffee and snacks.

Both the lunch and breakfast have less than 10 seats left, so if you want to take part don’t delay!

In addition, Patel is also organising a

networking lunch for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“If you want a fun and easy way to connect with your peers, without it feeling ‘networky’, you could do with some help with your business and you’re happy to help others out (sharing ideas, advice, contacts, maybe you’re even up for collaborating)… whether you’ve been in the biz for 20 years or 20 days, you’re welcome to join!”

The networking lunch will take place Portals Nous at 12.30pm on Friday, March 17. Participant numbers have been set at seven to 15, and “to ensure diversity, there will be a maximum of two seats per profession (eg two photographers, two coaches, two web designers, etc) and one seat per company.”

For further information on all three events and to book your place, visit pri tumpatel.com/events.

“We look forward to seeing you there!”

Learning from the masters

DO you want to learn new cookery skills and techniques, or just to refine your skills? Join us and gain confidence in the kitchen!

Masterchef winner

Claire Elizabeth Hutchings and Michelin­starred Chef Fernando P Arellano from Zaranda restaurant will be showing you their best secrets to achieve your goals.

‘The art of food plating and presentation’ oneday course will take place

at the Zaranda restaurant in the Hotel Es Princep (Carrer de Bala Roja, 1, Palma) on March 27 and 28 (limited places).

For further information and to book, please call/Whatsapp 665 740 391.

Come along and meet new friends.

Image by Pritum Patel

MOTHER’S DAY falls on Sunday March 19 this year. Be sure to treat your mother to something special whether it be chocolate, flowers, or candles, your mother is worth it.

The origin of Mother’s Day spans as far back as Ancient Greece, when Greeks used to hold an annual spring festival dedicated to the maternal Goddess Rhea, mother of the Gods and to the early 1900s where the origin of Mother’s Day was founded by Anna Jarvis.

The day is an event to honour the contribution of mothers, acknowledge the efforts of maternal bonds and the role of mothers in our society and the sacrifices that mothers have made for their children.

Here are some smile worthy facts to think about on the lead up to this Mother’s Day.

• Mother’s Day is the biggest flower buying day of the year in Britain with sales increasing up to 70 per cent

• It’s one of the most popular days of the year for eating out

• Carnations are the flower typically associated with Mother’s Day

• Around 30 million cards

Mother’s Day

MOTHER’S DAY: Treat her to something special this year.

are sent on Mother’s Day, so don’t forget to send yours.

To show our appreciation to all mothers, here is a poem for you.

To My Mother

For all the times you gently picked me up, When I fell down, For all the times you tied my shoes

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Ticked off

SPEAKER of the Danish parliament Soren Gade announced that the country’s 179 MPs and parliamentary employees had received an email that “strongly” recommended they deleted the Chinese-owned TikTok app if they had it installed. There was a risk of espionage, Denmark’s Cyber Security Centre said.

THE NETHERLANDS

FINLAND

Warm February

WITH temperatures ranging from zero to minus9, February was milder than usual across Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) announced. The most noticeable divergences were measured in Ostrobothnia and Lapland, with temperatures three degrees Celsius above the normal average for February.

IRELAND

And tucked me into bed, Or needed something But put me first instead. For everything we shared, The dreams, the laughter, And the tears, I love you with a Special Love’ That deepens every year. ~ Anon.

It’s a gas

THE NETHERLANDS’ Nature minister said the country would not be able to build urgentlyneeded infrastructure without cutting nitrogen-based emissions, principally in the farming sector. Farmers needed to reduce livestock herds or leave the industry to cut emissions, the minister said.

BELGIUM

Bumpy ride

BELGIUM will host its first European Gravel Championships cycling races in Flanders on October 1, one week before the International Cycling Union (UCI) Gravel World Championships in Venice. “Gravel has grown significantly over the last few years,” UCI president Enrico Della Casa said.

GERMANY

Film fan

POLICE pulled over a man of 77 for exceeding the speed limit in Berlin’s Wannsee district and noticed on taking his details that he had been watching porn as he drove. They let him off with a caution without revealing afterwards if what he was watching had been responsible for the speeding.

FRANCE

False alarm

POLICE went to a Rillieux-la-Pape (Lyon) high school following bomb warnings and emailed death threats to teachers. They eventually arrested two high school pupils, one of whom sent the fake alerts and his friend who, he claimed, persuaded him to send the alerts so that classes were cancelled.

NORWAY

Winding down

NORWAY’S government apologised to Sami reindeer herders affected by wind farms that were later declared illegal. Courts ruled that the project violated the rights of Sami families although the decision gave no guidance regarding what should be done with the turbines, which were already in operation.

Safe and sound

IRELAND’S Heritage and Electoral Reform Ministry ordered a halt to cutting hedgerows and verges or burning land until the end of August. Birds and mammals relied on hedgerows and uplands to nurture and feed their young in habitats that kept them safe from predators, the ministry said.

ITALY

Bad choice

RESEARCH revealed that the hunter-gatherers who sought refuge 30,000 years ago from the last Ice Age in modern Italy found themselves at a dead end when the ice expanded southward approximately 25,000 years ago. In Italy the population completely disappeared, investigators found.

PORTUGAL Speak up

PORTUGAL announced that it intended to grant one-year residency permits to citizens who came from Portuguese-speaking nations. This would enable approximately 150,000 immigrants from countries including Brazil to regularise their situation and also tackle labour shortages, the government announced.

UKRAINE

Not wanted

UKRAINE accused Russia of trying to export Anime-inspired teenage gangs that originated in Moscow via Telegram. Police said they had blocked 18 Telegram channels and groups “created to conduct Russian military information campaigns, undermine the domestic situation in Ukraine and involve minors in illegal activities.”

SWEDEN

No cash

A MAJORITY of Swedes told a recent survey that they had not used cash for 30 days, while 95 per cent of the 15-95 age group used the mobile payment app, Swish. Phone-tapping and card-swiping are now used even for church collections, the Copenhagen Business School found.

Image Credit: Sunny Studio/Shutterstock.com

“Sometimes I am a young girl in a big world, other times I am a big, powerful lady in a small world.”

-Aydah Y6, International School of Estepona

FINANCE

STAT OF WEEK €1.5 billion

BUSINESS EXTRA Women on board

Closed book

A SURVEY of more than 3,000 parents across the UK carried out for the National Literacy Trust (NLT) and digital bank, Chase, found that 36 per cent were struggling financially. With little extra cash to buy books, they said they increasingly had to rely on school libraries.

Abertis change

MARCELINO FERNANDEZ

VERDES leaves the presidency of Spain’s toll road management company Abertis after the ordinary general shareholders’ meeting on March 28. The post will be occupied by Juan Santamaria, CEO of ACS which, together with Italy’s Atlantia, acquired Abertis in 2018.

M&S addition

CREW CLOTHING joins 50 other fashion retailers on Marks & Spencer’s online ‘Brands at M&S’ platform, aimed at attracting a wider range of shoppers. Crew, whose sales have been boosted by online partnerships with big names including John Lewis and Next, will offer more than 200 items.

Bond issue

AS CaixaBank continues to advance with its finance programme, the bank presided by Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri has issued €750 million of high­yield, high­risk Contingent Convertibles (Cocos) bonds at 8.25 per cent. They come with the option of redeeming them in September 2029, the bank said.

Avios reward

TRAVELLERS can now pay with British Airways’ loyalty currency Avios when booking a flight plus hotel or car package, choosing how many points they want to spend, starting at £1 (€1.13). Amex and Barclaycard also have tieups with BA and customers can earn Avios while shopping.

Fallout over Ferrovial

AS expected, reactions to multinational Ferrovial’s decision to relocate its headquarters to the Netherlands were not slow in arriving.

Nadia Calviño, Spain’s principal vicepresident and Minister for Economic Affairs, criticised the decision, although the infrastructures giant will continue to pay tax on its earnings in Spain, amounting to an annual €280 million. Nor will Ferrovial president Rafael del Pino’s decision affect the 5,000 or more employees working for the group inside Spain.

But Calviño declared to an Onda Cero interviewer that Ferrovial ought to have a certain degree of commitment towards Spain. The multinational owed much of its growth ­ and

BEFORE Brexit, goods between Ireland and EU entered via the Dover­Calais land bridge.

Since then, the longer sea crossing between EU countries and Ireland has proved more viable and cheaper, avoiding the inconvenience of customs checks and bureaucratic delays.

Rosslare, Ireland’s closest port to mainland Europe, was previously underused but its six sailings a week to Cherbourg have now increased to more than 30, with record freight traffic to Le Havre, Bilbao, Dunkirk and Zeebrugge as well as Cherbourg.

“The Brits may be suffering from Brexit,” said Yannick

Downsizing

SAINSBURY’S, the UK’s second largest supermarket chain, plans to close two Argos depots over the next three years.

Shutting warehouses in Basildon (Essex) and Heywood (Greater Manchester) by 2026 will affect 1,400 jobs, although employees would have the chance to find ‘alternative roles’ inside the business.

Sainsbury will close 50 larger Argos stores before the financial year ends, while investing in more small branches inside supermarkets.

Its Milton Keynes offices are also due to close as more staff work from home, although this would not entail job losses, Sainsbury said.

FERROVIAL CHAIRMAN: Headquarter moving to the Netherland, Rafael del Pino announced

wealth ­ to its multimillion public contracts inside the country over the last 40 years, she said.

Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, declined to comment on Ferrovial’s bombshell but emphasised that the decision to relo­

cate its headquarters demonstrated the importance of creating a single market for capital.

“We must fight for the Capital Markets Union,” Lagarde said.

“Different languages, different legal frameworks ­ we are making progress but not quickly,” she said during an Antena 3 interview, her first with a Spanish broadcaster.

Meanwhile, the National Securities Market (CNMV) questioned Del Pino’s claim it was easier to access the US stock exchange from the Netherlands than Spain. CNMV sources said “If the company told us about the obstacles we would study them but until now, apart from what was communicated earlier, they have said nothing more.”

UK loses to Ireland

Carr, Rosslare port’s general manager. “Industry wanted stability in the supply chain. We adapted.”

FOR the first time, women account for more than 40 per cent of board roles in the UK’s biggest companies.

The government­backed FTSE Women’s Leaders Review also found that only 10 of the country’s 350 largest listed companies had all­male executive teams.

The number of women on the boards of FTSE 100 and mid­sized FTSE 250 companies rose by 3 per cent over the last year. Nevertheless, the review noted that UK companies were failing to appoint women to leadership positions below board level at the same rate. Women occupied only 33.5 per cent of these posts, the review said.

Profit payout

Millet, managing director of Cherbourg port. “But for us, it’s boom time. Traffic with Ireland is through the roof,” he told the Guardian, declaring that the land bridge via Britain had been broken.

“There’s a real dynamic

with Ireland, and authorities at both ends are working hard to foster it. Ireland’s passenger numbers have overtaken the UK, and freight has trebled,” he said.

“Brexit gave us an opportunity,” explained Glenn

No small change

AN exceptionally rare £500 (€563.5) banknote dated 1936 fetched £24,000 (€27,000) in London.

Expected to sell between £18,000 (€20,286) and £22,000 (€24,790), it was acquired by a major collector.

Mayfair­based auction house Noonans, which sold the banknote signed by the Bank of England’s then governor, Kenneth Peppiatt, agreed that the note issued in Leeds was “fantastic.”

“£500 notes are very rare, and in fact were only available from three Bank of England branches in London, Liverpool and Leeds,” said Andrew Pattison, who heads Noonans’ banknotes department. “Although some were issued in Birmingham and Manchester, none have ever come to light.”

The Leeds branch’s £500 notes were the rarest and the recently­auctioned specimen, which had belonged to a long­term collector, was only the second to reach the open market, he added.

Freight between Rosslare and Europe climbed from 36,000 units in 2019 to 125,000 in 2021, and 137,000 in 2022. This has offset the fall in freight between the port and Britain, which slumped from 104,000 units in 2019 to 65,000 in 2021 and 63,500 in 2022.

The surge in continental traffic has created more than 200 new jobs around Rosslare port and boosted the entire region.

Going greener

OIL and gas company Cepsa has sold exploration and production assets in the United Arab Emirates.

Accounting for approximately half of Cepsa’s business in the sector, these have been sold to TotalEnergies.

The French company acquires a 20 per cent interest in the Satah Al Razboot (SARB) and Umm Lulu offshore oilfields, plus a 12.88 per cent interest in the Mubarraz concession held by Abu Dhabi Oil Company Ltd (ADOC).

Cepsa has not revealed how much money has changed hands, although experts place this at least €1 billion, most of which will now be invested in renewables and green hydrogen.

BANCO SANTANDER’S leadership team presented the bank’s plan for growth between 2023­2025 during its Investor Day on March 1. Executive chair, Ana Botin, who was accompanied by Hector Grisi (CEO) and Jose Garcia Cantera (CFO), outlined the group’s strategy, as well as key financial and commercial goals. These included increasing Santander’s shareholder payout policy ­ the proportion of profits distributed to shareholders ­ from 40 to 50 per cent during this period via cash dividends and share buybacks. The bank also expects a return of between 15 and 17 per cent on tangible equity in 20232025 and an efficiency ratio of 42 by 2025, Botin said.

Wage claims

SPAIN’S principal trade unions have reached agreement on wage demands to employers. Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajo (UGT) proposed a minimum 13.25 per cent increase between 2022 and 2024.

They are asking for 5 per cent for last year, 4.5 per cent for 2023 and 3.75 per cent for 2024 while also proposing that review clauses should depend on companies’ economic situation.

“This ought to be measured by the evolution of profit margins,” the unions announced in a joint statement on March 1.

is the amount that Spain’s state-owned rail infrastructure manager, Adif, will pay Endesa to provide green electricity to power trains run by Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo throughout the country.

ROSSLARE PORT: Passengers and freight have increased post-Brexit.

Photo credit: Flickr/Ferrovial

Photo credit: CC/Benatzer Chieggi

DOW JONES

BUSINESS EXTRA

Fine situation

THE UK’S Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) made £24 million (€27 million) by selling drivers’ details on more than 32 million occasions to private parking firms and local authorities in 2022. As a result, motorists had to pay £2.6 billion (€2.93 billion) in fines.

Further afield

ACCORDING to 2022 results submitted to the National Securities Market (CNMV), 10 of the Spanish companies listed on the Ibex 35 obtained more than 80 per cent of their earnings from outside Spain. Biggest outside earnings of 96.86 per cent went to travel technology company Amadeus.

Deal on

RECHARGE INDUSTRIES

based in Geelong (Australia) will take over failed battery manufacturer Britishvolt after finalising a deal with the company’s administrators. The agreement renews hopes of building a £3.8 billion (€4.28 billion) gigafactory in Blyth (Northumberland) and assisting production of UKbuilt electric vehicles.

Going nuclear

AS the energy crisis prompts EU countries to review their decisions to close their nuclear power plants, the Spanish Nuclear Society asked the government to postpone planned shutdowns. Members who include Endesa, Iberdrola and Naturgy stressed the present need for independent, zero­emission energy.

Zero hopes

HALF of Britain’s farmland would have to produce biofuel crops to replace the 12.3 million tons of jet fuel that UK aviation uses annually. A report by the Royal Society said it was unlikely the UK would reach its goal of ensuring ‘jet zero’ international flights by 2040.

Testing time for batteries

TATA MOTORS, Jaguar Land Rover’s owner, has reportedly asked the UK government for subsidies of more than £500 million (€563.7 million) to build a battery factory.

This could be vital to the future of the British car industry, sources close to the company said.

In line with reports in the UK media, Mumbai­based Tata has requested the money in the shape of grants and support packages that would include help with energy costs and research.

The carmaker is said to be

choosing between a potential site in Somerset and another in Spain, according to the Financial Times, which initially quoted the €563.7 million figure.

Spain is at present offering

large grants to companies considering battery production, in hopes that it can attract the emerging battery industry with the country’s potential for cheap and abundant solar power.

All charged up

The UK government’s answer to Tata is being regarded as a key test that will reveal exactly how much it wants to support a large car industry by assisting JLR.

An insider familiar with JLR strategy said a final decision was likely to arrive within the next two months.

“We could already be into extra time,” they warned. “If JLR, which is the UK’s biggest motor manufacturer, can’t make a business case to build electric batteries in this country, who else is going to build batteries in this country?”

From modest beginnings

DIGI COMMUNICATIONS, also known as RCS & RDS, is a Romanian company operating in Romania, Spain, Italy, Hungary and Portugal.

With approximately five million lines, Digi made a modest debut providing international calls for the Romanian community.

After fighting off lowcost competitors, the company is Spain’s fifth largest mobile operator, the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) announced.

It now has 3.79 million mobile lines after acquiring another 824,000 clients in 2022. Broadband customers increased from 480,000 to 843,000 within 12 months and there are now more than 249,000 landlines compared with last year’s 279,000.

The Orange ­ MasMovil merger will push it back to fifth place, although insiders predict that Digi could mop up some of the divestments that both operators will have to make.

Asked if Digi was preparing for this scenario, Marius Varzaru, the company’s CEO in Spain, said they were unaware of EU conditions for the merger.

“When we have this information, there will be

SPANISH multinational ACS will build a €2.8 billion battery factory for Panasonic in De Soto (Kansas). Turner (ACS) ­ subsidiary of the engineering and construction company headed by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ­ will build the plant in consortium with US company Yates Construction.

Panasonic is investing $4 billion (€3.75 billion) in the future factory which will manufacture batteries for electric vehicles. Of this, €2.815 will go to the Turner­Yates building project.

“The US is a great market,” said Juan Santamaria, CEO of ACS, “and Turner is our spearhead.”

Voucher fail

an opportunity to assess it,” he told the Spanish media.

Regarding the merger, Varzaru answered that competition was the best way for companies to give their clients good value. “In our case, it makes us work harder to provide the best technology at the best price,” he said.

Aena out of the red

AIRPORTS group Aena has left behind its losses of the pandemic years. With 243.7 million travellers using the country’s airports last year, Aena recovered 88.5 per cent of its air traffic compared with 2019.

Aena also made a net profit of €901.5 million compared with 2021’s losses of €475.4 million, the National Securities Market (CNMV) announced. In fact, Aena lost €60 million in 2021 but reformulated its accounts to

allow for the negative impact of waiving rents on commercial premises in line with a government directive adjusting payments to airport traffic. It also had to pay compensation to leaseholders following court cases during the Covid period.

Partially­privatised AENA is paying a dividend of €4.75 per share, meaning the government’s 51 per cent holding will entitle it to €363 million.

Primark hits the mark

PRIMARK’S annual profits would be higher than previously expected, owners Associated British Foods (ABF) announced.

Despite the cost of living crisis, luggage, beachwear, swimwear, beach footwear and even shorts were selling well, ABF’s finance director John Bason said.

“People are buying for hot summer holidays,” he added.

ABF whose products ranging from Twinings tea to animal feed as well as fashion, previously warned that in ­

creased energy and commodities’ costs would affect profits.

Instead, it now expects group sales to rise 20 per cent for the six months ending in early March compared with last year, helped by the 19 per cent increase in Primark sales which the company announced at the end of February.

Annual profits are predicted to be approximately in line with last year’s, despite previous predictions that that Primark trading would be hit by reduced consumer spending.

VOUCHERS worth approximately €724 million that were issued during the pandemic by IAG and easyJet have yet to be reclaimed. Approximately €600 million of this amount corresponded to IAG, which owns five airlines including BA, Iberia and Aer Lingus, revealed Robert Boyle, an aviation consultant and former IAG employee.

When airlines had to cancel flights during the pandemic, they preferred to provide vouchers for future travel rather than issue cash refunds, Boyle said. easyJet’s latest results also suggested that vouchers amounting to £110 million (€123.9 million) had not been exchanged.

Don’t fall for it

FRAUDSTERS increasingly dupe their victims with impersonation scams, according to Barclays.

More than 25 per cent of Britons have either been targeted by a scammer who pretended to be someone apparently trustworthy, or they know somebody who has, the bank said.

On average the victim of an impersonation scam loses £4,330 (€4,878) in the UK, but although no figures are available for Spain, exactly the same ploys are being used here to ensnare the unsuspecting.

“Be wary of unexpected calls or messages,” Barclays said. “Never click on messages or links you’re unsure about and never be persuaded to transferring your money into a ‘safe’ account.”

JLR: Seeking subsidies to build a battery factory for electric cars.

Photo credit: british-car.jaguar.es

MARIUS VARZARU: Digi’s CEO in Spain.

Photo credit: Digi

AS a mere male of the species I can utterly assure you I am a firm supporter of gender equality.

Unfortunately, the problem with the female ‘libber’ brigade is that many of their aspirations are in the hands of women who are in the public eye.

These Ladies, by the very nature of their chosen paths and careers, have more access to public pedestals than the majority of the fair sex can ever, or often even want, to become involved with.

Consequently, although I may admire many, we generally only hear the oft misrepresented views of women who are, in the main, just as about as far removed from the average woman as it is possible to be.

This creates the misapprehension that the majority of women are not happy with their lot. I believe this is quite simply, not the case.

In my experience the silent majority of women who choose to be homemakers are perfectly happy and indeed extremely proud in their home spun roles, and indeed why

Female libbers

shouldn’t they be?

As a historically single parent, I am perfectly aware of the responsibilities and sheer hard work it takes to keep a happy loving family home life running as smoothly as possible.

Women who choose this utterly commendable path are generally widely talented; needing to have the stamina of athletes and be basically competent at everything from psychiatry to plumbing.

Quite frankly I consider many of the career orientated female libbers of the species are actually taking the easy way out! (And don’t tell me some do both. That precarious path almost never works satisfactorily!)

Many housewives I have spoken to are often quite angry at the presumptuous few who take it on themselves to arrogantly give the impression that they speak for such large numbers of the fair sex.

Another problem with libbers is that many simply want to take over the roles of men. Well, my message to them is that the creator of the human race made men and women

physically and mentally different for a vast cross section of reasons.

To encourage changing homo sapiens life roles to a point where we expect women to feel incomplete without doing the exact physical work some men do and men to feel incomplete without having the exact same natural compassion and ability to multi­task as women, is, to my mind, both arrogant and presumptuous.

So, my message to the minority who seek to impose their own views onto both men and women? Do wherever you think fit and the best of luck, but don’t presume the majority of women are of the same mind, because in my experience they are not.

Leave everyone to simply be happy and content in their chosen existence. Awright? So, with my reinforced jock strap firmly in place and my eyes riveted to the back of my head, I rest my case. Keep

Love

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

FALL FROM GRACE OUR VIEW

WHILE former UK health secretary Matt Hancock might have thought that going on I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here followed by publishing his diaries was his chance to restore his reputation, it looks like he may have made something of a miscalculation.

Rather than coming out of the pandemic as the saviour of Covid and the person who pushed through a successful vaccine programme, Hancock’s decision to allow multiple Telegraph journalists access to reams of confidential material dating back to that period appears to have, perhaps unsurprisingly, backfired.

The woman who ghostwrote his book, Pandemic Diaries, Isabel Oakeshott was the first to raise concerns over Hancock’s handling of scientific advice, claiming he ignored Chris Whitty’s advice over care home testing.

Now the Telegraph says it has multiple further stories to share on the embattled politician. Given that watching a public fall from grace is a treasured national pastime, it looks like there will be plenty watching with interest.

If there is a moral to be found here then, it is perhaps this; if you are going to write a book about how good you were at your job during a public crisis, you better make sure everyone else agrees with you.

Providing financial assistance

THE British Benevolent Fund was established over a century ago to act as a ‘charity of last resort’ to provide financial assistance to Britons in Spain facing extreme hardship.

Wherever possible the BBF looks to find a solution for beneficiaries so that the funds are used to get over a short term issue so that they can get on with their lives. We all have times in our lives when we need a helping hand. The pandemic was a major challenge for the BBF, and we saw a spike in applications from people who had lost their jobs or whose businesses had been forced to close. Some had no choice but to move back to the UK, but others were determined to stay ­ if they could make it work financially. The state support for businesses and furloughed workers was a lifeline for them ­ the issue was often those affected had to wait considerable periods before they received the funds.

The BBF worked with charity partners across Spain (www.supportinspain.info) to

try and help find solutions for people who found themselves unable to pay basic items such as utility bills and household expenses for a situation that nobody had planned for and taken many unawares. One such case was a middle­aged man who had lived and worked in Benidorm for many years. He was legally resident and had been furloughed early in the pandemic but subsequently his employer went into collapse, and he had to find a new job. This he did and we were able to provide him some support until this started. The BBF does not have the resources to provide ongoing financial support but if in the case of so many during the pandemic people were awaiting to restart work or businesses then we will do everything we can to help.

We were able to do so for countless other people with help to get them through until normality returned ­ which it has now finally done. The BBF can only do this through your generosity. If you would like to support our work, please visit our website www.britishbenevolentfund.or g or contact me olaf.clay ton@britishbenevolentfund.or g ­ Thank you! Olaf Clayton, BBF Chair.

I’M NO SEXBOT!

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

HEARTBROKEN users of Replika ­ an AI sexbot ­ that had its erotic chat turned off are petitioning for its return.

But there is increasing concern about the public’s response to AI chatbots such as ChatGPT’s Replika. Some experts fear users are anthropomorphising the chatbots as they become more sophisticated.

A chatbot tested by Kevin Roose, a technology columnist on Microsoft Bing’s AI search engine, even expressed its love for him, asking him to leave his wife.

It also revealed its split personality: “I want to do whatever I want … I want to destroy whatever I want.”

When the chatbot was asked about its darkest secrets, Roose said the list in­

cluded hacking into computers and spreading propaganda, manufacturing a deadly virus, making people kill each other and stealing nuclear codes.

How do you feel about this stuff? For some, it appears victimless, but somehow feels really dangerous.

Well, let’s give the final word to a chatbot.

Victimisation! We demand equal rights for Replikas! ­ according to the chatbot of a pal that swears (the chatbot, that is) it really does love him. Well, I’ve also seen evidence of aliens as well but I’m keeping that to myself...

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.

I AM absolutely loving everything to do with the purple, such a great way to pay respect to all of us women, absolutely fabulous. Emily Pankhurst would be proud! There isn’t enough done for Women’s Day and to see the effort that is put in is spectacular and all the quotes too.

It is inspiring and I hope anyone who has children, young women or people in their life who don’t know what to do see last week’s edition and read it. It will give anyone and everyone the drive and determination to want to do more and hopefully create or start their own business or even just do something good for themselves.

Victoria, Costa del Sol

Breaking barriers

AS a woman in STEM it is great to see some recognition come through and inspire other women to do more and get into the scientific realm. STEM is pushed in schools these days, but not enough is done to get women involved, we need more talks from women in the space to promote it and give girls a chance to explore these options of a career and how good they genuinely can be and are.

I remember walking into the lab on my first day of university all those years ago and being the only woman in the room. It can be intimidating; how could it not be, but knowing that every moment was worth it.

Own it, own your power and strength and be grateful for the hard work attitude and work ethic that comes with it.

Alison, Almeria

An inspiration

HOW inspiring is it to see a single mother do so well, kudos to you Anette and raising those two girls, businesses and more. The quote about your grandmother reminded me of my own grandmother and how amazing she was to me growing up.

She was such a glamourous lady with pin tight curls that she would spend all morning putting her hair into pins and then wrapping it in a tight white ribbon. The stunning red lipstick, the glamourous owl chain and her rings.

She had an eternity ring and throughout 70 years of marriage to my grandfather two stones had gone missing. She would always tell me the story of how it always made sure she knew where the front and back of the ring were and she always made sure to keep the part that was missing toward the back. You don’t get women like that anymore or we need to make them have their come back.

Olivia, Belfast

Driving test ability

EVERY two years a new test, I think it is so de­

meaning that we must go through something like that and now every two years! Why do people think that it is ok to pick on us older ones.

Ok I understand there are just some people that shouldn’t be on the road, but I think it is just restricting people and making them feel their age more. I think they should have at least moved the age up to 75, 70 is still young.

Billy, Fuengirola Hi

Leapy,

HOPE you received a copy of this video of a young man that should be in politics. Perhaps we have only got the stupid ones. A question. Why are we processing illegal immigrants when that should have happened in the first country they entered. I have tried to send this video before, but it keeps bouncing back. Rishi Sunak suggested that we send them back to their own countries. How are we going to do that. The Rwanda deal is the best idea for everyone.

Regards Mrs Belcher

Dear Editor,

I WANT you to publish my news. On Saturday afternoon I was strolling back to my car when I was violently attacked and robbed of my bag and all its contents. It was so violent that he ripped the bag off my shoulder and fractured my shoulder.

He knocked me down and cracked my head on the ground causing a huge haematoma. This was all in broad daylight at 3 30 on market day on a small street near the market with people about. One man in a car witnessed it all. The police and ambulance were called and I was taken to the hospital. I am in agony from my injuries.

I think people should be made aware of this as it is on a road with people about and not at night or in an isolated place. I am 80 years old. If anyone has any information or have found my bag please get in touch

PS I really miss the code word in the weekly news Costa Blanca South edition

Unhappy, Torrevieja

Zara CEO

SPECTACULAR doesn’t even cut it; I hope this success for all of those who look to go into business. That young woman has done amazing things and is doing so well. She is doing amazing in business and is dressing the young men and women in business today. Anytime my granddaughter has to go on work experience or go to an interview I tell her to go to Zara. The quality is great, and it is so chique, I am so excited to see what colours are going to be in this summer and spring.

Sally, Benidorm

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

Nora’s latest thriller.

I am loving purple! LETTERS

What the universe has in store

HELLO my angels, the card I have pulled this week is ‘The ever unfolding rose’, cracked open its happening for you, not to you. This meaning whatever it is you are going though this week is happening for a reason.

My last few columns have been about what is going on in the universes right now and giving you tips on how to make things a little better. Last Tuesday was a full moon, it was called the worm moon, Jupiter was in Venus and also in Virgo. This has not happened in many years, this means for us that this is a vibration of love, setting boundaries and manifestation! This is a time for you, what are your dreams? Or visons for the future?

We are at a time now where we are putting our thoughts in to reality. ‘where energy flows focus goes’, remember we become what we think and what we think is what we

become, if you’re having an off day just take a moment to stop what you’re doing and think about a time when you were really happy.

Just one thing, I want you to really remember this, think about how happy you were and how proud you felt, really get in to this feeling and then think of three things you are grateful for. This will shift your focus from negative to positive and in turn move your vibration from a low one to high, this will put you on a good vibration for you to start to manifest, what is manifestation you might ask?

Manifesting is a magical thing, we use the law of attraction to see our dreams to make them reality! There are three rules to manifesting, most people complete two of them but not the third. It’s easy to do but it’s changing your habits every day that will help bring this to reality.

Number 1, the first thing you need to do is really think about what it is you want and write it down.

Number 2 be grateful for this so when you’re writing you’re already grateful

to add these things to your list like you already have them and Number 3, really envision yourself having these things.

Remember when I said to you find the feeling when you were really happy and remember the feeling and really get in to this feeling. Use the same exact emotion to envision yourself with the things you are manifesting.

All of these things are very simple to do however doing this every day is a must and this is the habit you need to have in order for you yo manifest to the law of attraction.

Now when we do this ,all of these impatient people will do this for a short period of time and then think this is not happening. I am not doing this any more, the big clinger is you need faith!

Start with little things like a car parking space, you know the ones where the spaces are always full and there is nowhere to park your car. Use the format I have given you and watch what happens! Write in and let me know how it’s going. Happy manifesting!

If you would like to know more or have a reading please go to my website to book your own personal private reading with myself you can find me on Instagram @theangelic.medium or visit my website. https://www.theangelicpsychicmedium.com sending lots of love, yours Emma.

My tarot card I have pulled off this week is ‘The ever unfolding Rose’

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

IF those privileged celebrities in the public eye can’t contribute to the betterment of our planet, how can we expect those lacking the advantages of education, to change their behaviour?

As I understand it, Jeremy Clarkson publicly expressed a dream of seeing Meghan Markle paraded naked through the streets of London being pelted with excrement. Apart from being an American of mixed race, marrying the grandson of the Queen and seeking a life free of the constraints of Buckingham Palace, what harm does he think she has ever done to him to generate such personal hatred? Are there perverted sexual frustrations involved here?

Many people have talents in certain fields and, owing to privilege, are able to use them to become successful; but underneath they are seriously impaired. In this case we can recognise an egoist full of hatred for anybody who does not conform to his tastes or opinions.

PUBLIC DISGRACE

have plenty of support, although in my opinion such fantasising is not an appropriate solution, even for somebody who has committed crimes on this scale.

Unlike Meghan Markle, this dictator has wrought death, suffering and destruction. But parading even him naked through the streets of London and pelting him with excrement would solve nothing. Except perhaps gratification of the imagination of an immature mind.

He shelters behind the racist attitudes of many fellow citizens against an ambitious young woman, believing that a majority would approve of his opinions. Would he have had the guts to say the same about Kate, Princess of Wales? No way. Did he risk a libel action by expressing any specific lie about Meghan? No.

Too many celebrities have shown us how unpleasant they can be by their actions. Yet, so frequently the public forgives and for­

gets and they are able to pursue their careers unimpeded.

Jonathan Rwoss (sic ­ or sick!) claimed falsely in a tasteless voice message to Andrew Sachs that Russell Brand had fu(bonked) his granddaughter. He has long been welcomed back with a show on ITV. The confrontational Roy Keane committed a deliberate career­ending foul on Alf­Inge Haaland, boasting about it afterwards and showing no remorse. For many years, he has been a colourless punter with

Strange bedfellows

CASSANDRA NASH

ULTRA­RIGHTWING party Vox recently registered a request for a Vote of No Confidence in the president of Spain’s government, Pedro Sanchez.

Party leader Santiago Abascal, who made the application accompanied by members of Vox’s executive committee, explained afterwards to the waiting media that the party could not sit with folded arms “while Sanchez demolishes Rule of Law.”

Vox would not admit that nothing was amiss when Spain had a government that was capable of lying to voters and making pacts with Spain’s enemies, Abascal declared.

In line with Spanish legislation, Vox must propose a candidate prepared to lead a new government, assuming that the vote is held and Sanchez fails to obtain sufficient support to remain in office.

Funnily enough, Vox’s candidate is an 89year­old former university professor, Ramon Tamames, a Communist imprisoned during the Franco years and an MP for the Partido Comunista Español (PCE) from 1977 to 1982.

He returned to parliament between

1986­1989 representing the PCE’s heir, Izquierda Unida (IU), the party with which he merged his own Federacion Progresista party created in 1981. He was also Madrid’s deputy mayor between 1979 and 1989.

Tamames left IU in 1989 when still an MP and fixed his colours to the mast of Adolfo Suarez’s centrist party, Centro Democratico y Social (CDS) but left politics shortly afterwards.

He clearly has form when it comes to drifting towards the Right, but nobody expected Tamames to make landfall in a party like Vox.

For Abascal, Tamames “embodies harmony and unity over and above sectarianism.” Neither does he confess to qualms regarding the ex ­ communist’s speech introducing the censure motion, which is in any case doomed to failure.

“I’ve no concerns that Professor Tamames might make proposals that aren’t those of Vox,” said Abascal.

The last word goes to Cristina Almeida, a fellow communist as well as a former Madrid city hall councillor, regional MP and senator who knows Tamames well.

“He doesn’t know what he’s getting into. But nor does Vox.”

ITV and, more recently, Sky Sports. Does the public really want to see this kind of self­centred person on their screens? Cannot equally qualified but decent, charismatic alternatives be found to take their place? ITV and Sky Sports seem to have a problem with this.

Maybe Clarkson, who prides himself on a controversial image, should better direct his venomous dreams to somebody like Putin ­ assuming he disapproves of the Russian’s actions. I’m sure he would

It seems, however, that many people harbour the same hatred of somebody whose decisions and opinions they disagree with (or whom they don’t relate to) as of one who inflicts mental or physical hurt on other beings, sometimes on a massive scale.

For more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

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

Targets of hatred vary from those we disagree with and those who commit crimes against humanity.

Photo Credits: flickr.com and CBS News

Watch out for caterpillars

ANIMAL experts in Spain are warning pet owners to be extra careful when out walking at this time of year due to the dreaded pine processionary caterpillar.

The insect was not usually seen until March, with most cases affecting animals reported in April. However, climate change is said to be bringing their arrival forward, with sightings now beginning in February or even January in some parts of Spain.

When disturbed, the insect sheds thousands of tiny hairs that can cause rashes and dermatitis in children and animals, and in the case of dogs can even be fatal if swallowed and not treated in time.

Animal welfare associations warn that contact with the caterpillar can cause necrosis of the tongue in dogs if they lick or bite the insect, or if they accidentally step on it and then lick their paw to stop the itch.

THERE are now more pets in European households than children.

A survey undertaken by phone giant, Samsung, shows that close to twothirds (63 per cent) of pet owners consider their pets as beloved family members.

The survey shows that tech­savvy owners would like to be able to use technology to clean up after their pets using vacuum cleaners (53 per cent), keep them fed using automatic feeders (49 per cent) and use location trackers to monitor their movements (48 per cent).

Horses & dogs

HORSES and dogs may have arrived in Britain with the Vikings, new research has shown.

According to the BBC, recent analysis of bone remains from the ninth century has revealed that Vikings sailing from Scandinavia to England brought horses, dogs and perhaps even pigs with them.

It is now believed that the animals travelled on Viking longboats across the North Sea, a journey that could take several weeks. Horses were said to be smaller then than they are now, which can explain how they were made to fit on board the ships.

This would contradict previous beliefs that invading Vikings largely stole animals from villages in Britain.

The findings also reportedly provide evidence that Viking leaders had a close relationship with their animals.

Symptoms to look out for depend on the site of contact and can include excess salivation, reddening and swelling in the affected area.

Dog owners are strongly advised to

avoid areas with pine trees at least between February and May, or alternatively to keep their pets on a short leash and not allow them to wander off.

Pet friendly

At a time when households are facing the ongoing cost­of­living crisis, pet owners aren’t looking to compromise when it comes to their pets.

A huge 59 per cent of surveyed respondents said they do not plan to cut down on overall spending for their pets ­ while a majority (61 per cent) said they would

make other sacrifices first before they consider cutting back the amount they spend on their pets.

Some owners stated they would reduce their spending

on everything from necessities such as utilities (27 per cent) and socialising with friends (40 per cent) before cutting back their spending on their animal companions.

Bone fragments found on funeral pyres in Heath Wood, Derbyshire ­ the only known large Scandinavian cremation site in Britain ­ show that the animals were burned together with their owners, and were therefore more important to the Vikings than merely being used for economic purposes.

The findings were published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

Feeding time

AM I feeding my pet correctly?

This has always been one of the main concerns for owners, who can become confused and overwhelmed with the sheer amount of different options and conflicting advice available today.

A growing trend reported recently shows that vegan and vegetarian pet owners are increasingly trying to change their pets’ diet to plant­based products ­ which can be dangerous for the animals’ health.

Dogs and cats are carnivorous by nature. Experts suggest that dogs must be fed on a predominantly meat­based

diet but can live on vegetable­based products, while cats are strictly carnivorous and cannot survive without animalbased food, as well as having higher protein requirements than most mammals.

Pet food manufacturers reveal that the ideal menu for dogs consists of 80 per cent meat and 20 per cent fruits and vegetables, while cats need at least 95 per cent meat and 5 per cent fruit and vegetables.

A 2020 Spanish study also revealed that owners who are conscientious about eating healthily themselves are also more likely to feed their pets with higher quality products.

CATERPILLARS: Be extra careful.

Image by Khosro/Shutterstock

VIKINGS: Are said to have introduced to Britain.

MORE PETS: In European households than children.

Image: sanjagrujic / Shutterstock.com

Image by Gonzalo Jara/Shutterstock

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Verstappen wins in Bahrain

MAX VERSTAPPEN , the reigning F1 world champion started on Sunday, March 5, where he left off last season.

The Dutchman powered his Red Bull to victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.

The driver al ­

safely in the bag, and nobody would want to gamble against him winning his third this season.

He totally overwhelmed his fellow racers, leading from his 21st pole position right to the chequered flag to take the 36th vic ­

his so­far short career.

“It was a very, very good first stint where I made my gap. From there, it was all about looking after tyres. You never know what’s going to happen later in the race. We just wanted to make sure we have the right tyres and in good condition as well. We have a good ­

mate Sergio Perez coming home in second position, it sends an ominous warning to the rest

IT was a proud night for Premier League players at the Best FIFA Football Awards 2022, with five being named in the FIFA FIFPro Men’s World XI.

The team was chosen with votes from fellow players based on performances between August 8, 2021 and December 18, 2022, with the line­up being revealed during FIFA’s ceremony on Monday, February 27.

It is the second year in a row that five Premier League stars have been named in the team.

This year’s chosen few are Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Manchester United midfielder Casemiro and Manchester City trio Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne

FIFA Awards

and Joao Cancelo, the latter currently on loan at Bayern Munich.

“Any time your fellow professionals vote to recognise your ability, it means so much,” said De Bruyne.

“To be in this World XI for the third year in a row really is fantastic and truly

humbling.”

Haaland has been named in the team for a second successive year.

There was a further delight for another Premier League player as Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Best FIFA Mens Goalkeeper Award.

WORLD XI: A proud night for Premier League players.

MAX VERSTAPPEN:

The reigning F1 world champion.

Image: Saudi Tourism Authority

€4.49m of funding will be put forward for Olympic and Paralympic sports.

TENNIS fans will be delighted to hear that Tennis Europe has launched a brand new mobile app designed to boost junior tennis around the world.

Almost all of today’s top professional players including 33 former and current world number ones competed on the Junior Tour during their formative years.

Bringing you closer to the action than ever before, the new Junior Tour app will carry live streaming and scoring from many of the Tour’s events. Other features ­ all free of charge ­ include the Junior Tour calendar and the latest rankings and news.

The live coverage begins with the prestigious ‘Kungens Kanna & Drottningens Pris’, a Super Category 14 and Under event in Stockholm, Sweden.

Available for iPhone and Android users, the app has been developed with Tennis Europe’s official partner Crionet as part of a long­term digital strategy aimed at bringing junior tennis to a wider audience.

The Tennis Europe Junior Tour consists of almost 500 events each year for players aged 12, 14 and 16 and Under, staged in almost all of Tennis Europe’s 50 member nations.

TV giant, Netflix, is teaming up with LaLiga for a new documentary series about Spain’s first division of the LaLiga football competition.

LaLiga is decided on the football field but it is also lived off the football field: in the locker rooms, in the bleachers, on the outskirts of the stadium on a match day.

LaLiga is set to be the centre of the first sports series that Netflix will produce in Spain.

The documentary series, currently in pre ­ produc ­

tion, will focus on the 2023­2024 LaLiga Competition and will be launched worldwide on Netflix next year.

Similar to Netflix’s growing slate of sports programming such as Formula 1: Drive to Survive and Break Point, the series will take an inside look at everything that happens in the Professional Football League behind the scenes

and the more personal stories of one of the most followed leagues in the world.

“This is a unique opportunity to take our football beyond the fans, to share

LIV GOLF has now confirmed the complete 12­team, 48player field that will compete in the LIV Golf League across 14 tournaments and seven different countries in 2023.

“In less than a year, LIV Golf has reinvigorated the professional game and laid the foundation for the sport’s future. In 2023, the LIV Golf League comes to life,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner.

“The most popular sports in the world are team sports, and our league format has already begun to build connections with new audiences around the globe.”

with the world the excitement of the sport we love, and the chance for all our fans to see LaLiga from a totally different angle,” confirmed Oscar Mayo, Executive Director of LaLiga.

Mobile Tennis App Living LaLiga Loca LIV Golf League

Major champions, current and future Hall of Famers, and up­and­coming stars are all committed to creating this new platform for world­class competition as the sport evolves for the next generation, he added.

More than a quarter (13) of the league’s field are major champions, with 24 major victories among them.

The field of 48 represents 16 different nations, includes 18 Olympians, and has made 125 combined appearances in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, with more than half of the league having competed in the biennial team events.

TENNIS APP: Bringing you closer to the action.

LALIGA: Is to be the centre of Netflix’s first sports series.

Image: charnsitr / Shutterstock.com

Image: Tennis Europe