New voices

IN a historic first, the Montserrat Monastery, located near Barcelona, announced it would admit women and girls into its famous choir on Wednesday, March 16.

Escolania choir has been an all­boys choir for its 700 year history, but now it will be joined by a separate chamber choir made up of around 25 boys and girls aged 17 to 24. According to senior priests, the new mixed choir will also occasionally take over liturgical duties to give the all­male choir a break.

This move is a response to an increasing demand for girls to be included in the choir to reflect the changing times we live in. Father Efrem de Montellà, the monastery’s spokesperson described the issue as a "complex and difficult question" but said they realised that they had to respond, making changes.

TWO British men, aged 49 and 52, have been arrested in Madrid trying to leave a bar without paying their rather hefty champagne bill.

The pair, who claimed to be millionaires, were drinking in the Commo bar in Madrid and are said to have tried to leave the nightspot around 3am on March 16, without settling a €2,200 (£1,930) drinks bill they owed.

Police sources cited by Spanish media said the men shouted 'We're millionaires'

AFTER undergoing intensive training in Zaragoza, a group of 55 Ukrainian soldiers are now ready to operate and maintain the Leopard 2 A4 tanks, which Spain is expected to send to Ukraine.

Officials announced on March 15, that the monthlong training program had now concluded. Training consisted of a mix of theoretical and practical lessons using simulators and field manoeu­ before inviting other revellers including several pretty women to around 90 glasses of champagne and telling staff they would pay.

Bar staff are understood to have let them rack up the large bill because they had previously settled an earlier bill for €1,000 (£880).

Police were called after the men allegedly refused to hand over any more cash and 'began to show a violent attitude', they were subsequently arrested on suspicion of committing fraud. It had not been confirmed if the drinks bill was eventually settled and whether the men, have appeared in court.