Costa Calida 6 – 12 April 2023 Issue 1970

Issue No. 2 (1970) 6 - 12 April 2023

BABYSITTING GRANT

MURCIA’S town hall has launched a new programme to support families and help reconcile family and professional life. One of the services offered in this new programme is a babysitting service. You can already apply for this service if you have children aged from 0 ­ six years old. The service supplies a babysitter for a maximum of four hours per day and a maximum of 40 hours per year. The service is available between the hours of 8am and 8pm and they can care for a maximum of two children at the same time.

Within this programme, another service is being trialled in the towns of Lobosillo, Beniján, Alquerías, and Murcia. They will open schools from 4pm to 8pm to provide after­school care for children. All of the services are free and are part of a pilot programme. The town hall will use this pilot programme to gather information with the intention of expanding it depending on the demand.

The mayor of Murcia, José Antonio Serrano, highlighted that this is

the first programme of its kind. More than €456,000 were invested into this programme. The funds were provided by the Spanish government and the Murcian government.

During the Easter holidays, there will also be a number of ‘holiday camps’ available for children, you can check with your town hall to see if your town is running one. They are also free of charge.

Semana Santa Murcia

SEMANA SANTA or Holy Week is a major religious and cultural event in Spain. It is the most important religious event, commemorating the last week of Jesus’ life.

The Catholic religious brotherhoods (cofradía) perform processions through the streets of all Spanish towns during the last week of Lent, the week leading up to Easter.

Likewise in the Region of Murcia, you can attend the processions in your local area but the most popular processions are held in Cartagena City and Murcia City. Make sure to look up the timetable of the processions as the processions in Cartagena have their own particular order.

The main processions in Murcia during Semana Santa are held on Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursdaythe silent procession ­ , Good Fri ­

Boat Show 23

THE 11th edition of the nautical fair is to be held in San Pedro del Pinatar in the Region of Murcia. The boat show will take place in ‘Marina de las Salinas’ and will run from Thursday, April 6 until Sunday, April 9. The boat show is part of San Pedro del Pinatar’s Easter programme called ‘San Pedro Te Mueve’.

Access is free for all members of the public and the timetable will be from 10am until 8pm, with no break for lunch or siesta for the four days.

Approximately, 15,000 visitors are expected to the boat show during the four days with visitors expected from other regions of Spain and even some visitors from other countries like France and Belgium. The Nautical Fair of Marina de las Salinas along with the Nautical association of the Region of Murcia (ANAM) will also offer a restaurant and leisure area with shops and a number of catering stands available to make it the perfect family day out.

PROCESSIONS: Are carried out in most towns in Spain over Easter.

day, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Each town hall will have the schedule of their processions and will usually point out the starting point. In some regions of

Spain Easter Monday is a bank holiday but not in Murcia. Murcia’s bank holidays during Semana Santa are on Thursday, April 6, and Friday, April 7.

BOAT SHOW: The perfect family day out.

NEW PROGRAMME: Supporting local families.

Cruising around in Miami A Pirate’s life

SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL

is the most important international fair in the cruise industry, which is held in Miami, and the Cartagena Port Authority attended this fair endorsing Cartagena Port as one of the finest in the world. The Cartagena delegation represented by the heads of Business Development Fernando Muñoz and Hortensia Sánchez were involved in a number of important meetings with the

PAACK is a leading transport and package delivery company and they have joined Amazon at the logistics park ­ el Parque del Sureste ­ close to the Region of Murcia airport (RMU).

This logistics park in the southeast of Murcia continues to grow. Amazon put this park on the map when they opened their logistics centre there. It has many advantages, its proximity to

world’s leading shipping companies highlighting the advantages of the Mediterranean port.

Cartagena port is known

for its gastronomy, culture, and sport. The port of Cartagena is only a short picturesque walk from the city centre full of shops, restau­

rants, and of course many museums, among them the famous Roman Theatre. They also pointed out that Cartagena Port is one of the most competitively priced ports in the world and with prices soaring at the moment that will certainly set this destination apart from most. The bars, restaurants, and museums are not the only attraction as the port offers a modern infrastructure for cruise liners.

Follow the Paack

the airport and the motorway connecting it to both Murcia City and Cartagena City.

Paack is reportedly planning to process between 8,000 and 10,000 packages per hour in their new facility and so can expand their service in the Murcia Region.

Paack is not the only company to choose this logistics park with over 30 new companies setting up in this area. Among those are ProNuvo the Costa Rican company now a resident there and Hispavima an industrial and logistics company also has a warehouse there.

THE town of Los Alcazares has some special events lined up for Semana Santa. The events will take place from today April 6 until April 9 in the Plaza de Ayuntamiento. The festivities will begin each day at 11am until 2pm and then begin again in the evening from 5pm until late. The theme of the events is based on the ‘Barbary Raids’ the North African pirates that terrorised the Mar Menor region in the 16th and 17th centuries.

These raids prompted the construction of the watchtowers in Los Alcazares. Events range from parades to storytelling, Arabic music and dance, and a medieval market. You will be able to take a ride on a camel, meet some farm animals or enjoy live music! There will be something for everyone, even the youngest members of your family. You can find more information on the Los Alcazares Town Hall web page.

New green area

PLANS for a new green area in Torre Pacheco were presented by Mayor Antonio León. He was accompanied by the town planning councillor Alberto Galindo. The work will take place in the area of Los López in Torre Pacheco.

The mayor pointed out that the neighbours in Los López have nowhere at the moment to take their chil­

dren for a walk or just sit outdoors and enjoy the scenery. This new green area will be bordered by paths that will be illuminated. They highlighted that they will maintain the original trees and vegetation and just add more trees, plants, and garden areas to what already exists. The budget for this project will be more than €200,000.

CARTAGENA PORT: One of the most competitively priced.

Paack joins Amazon.

Cheapest towns

ARE you looking for a property to rent? With prices souring in recent months here are the towns in Murcia named as the cheapest in the region: Puente Tocinos, Los Dolores, Beniaján, Los Ramos, Santo Angel, El Raal, Patiño, La Alberca, Casillas and Santa Cruz.

Another hot one

IT was another record breaking weekend in Murcia with temperatures continuing to soar. One of the street thermometers in Murcia City displayed 45º. It feels more like summer not spring!

President TikTok

THE president for the Region of Murcia, Fernando López Miras, has joined TikTok and posted his first video. Already a presence on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook he has now joined the social media app most popular among young people. López Miras uploaded his daily routine as his first video and got 40,000 views and 1,000 likes.

Mar Menor

THE rice dish Caldero is a famous Murcian dish. This typical dish from Mar Menor area is for fish lovers with the main flavours based on fish. What began as a classic fisherman’s dish has turned into one of the most popular dishes in the region.

Cleaning wicker

WICKER, the oldest furniture making method dating as far back as 5,000 years ago is still one of the most popular. But how should we clean it? Apparently, hoovering the dust off is the best method.

No sugar please

UCAM (San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia) has recently published a report in the International Journal of Mental Health and addiction that explained the links between lower academic performance and bad grades with the consumption of sugary drinks.

Easter message from the EWN

AS Easter approaches, the Euro Weekly News would like to wish all of our readers a happy and joyous holiday. Easter is a time of deep significance for many residents in Spain, as it represents the triumph of life over death and hope over despair. At the Euro Weekly News, we are proud to be a part of the vibrant and

diverse community in Spain. We believe that it is important to not only report on the news, but to also engage with the communities that we serve.

As we celebrate Easter, we are reminded of the values that are important to us as a community. We are reminded of the importance of compassion, forgiveness,

Police radars

SEMANA SANTA is here and with it a massive influx of tourists, both Spanish and European flock to the coast to spend the Easter holidays on the beach. Rightly so. The quiet coastal towns along the Costa Calida are bursting with holidaymakers and while we enjoy the added ambiance in the bars and restaurants we don’t necessarily enjoy the added chaos on the roads. Tourists in holiday mode and unfamiliar with their surroundings can make for crowded and sometimes dangerous traffic situations. The Guardia Civil anticipating this has put in place a

special operation that will see approximately 200 Guardia Civil police officers carrying out surveillance, control, and regulation patrols. There will also be five fixed speed control points and five mobile vehicles with radar. The operation is concentrated around the entrance of the tourists and their exit where the traffic is due to be more intense, for example on the A­7 where it links with the A­30 and the RM­19. This operation will also include alcohol and drug patrols, it strives to prevent as many accidents as possible so we are free to enjoy the Easter holidays.

Cultural activities

ARCHENA are running an extensive cultural programme called ‘Archena Tu Paraíso’ (Archena your paradise). It is ongoing until May 26.The programme includes many activities like a show cooking event along with a market where you can purchase fresh produce and then take part in the cooking show. There will be a conference about Pablo Picasso and a cocktail workshop. There will be live music and wine tastings, galas and festivals. They have included some sporting events like the ‘Crazy Run Huertana’, a fight night and a sports day.

There will of course be a range of activities for children like a circus workshop, the children’s folklore festival, concerts for teenagers and other activities such the Escape Room in the youth centre. This cultural programme will also hold an employment fair and a business and commercial Gala.

Some events have an entrance fee, most are free of charge. For more information about the schedule, the location of each event etc you can find the full programme on the ‘Turismo Region de Murcia’ web page (Tourism Region of Murcia).

and hope, and we are grateful for the opportunities to celebrate with our loved ones and neighbours.

We wish you all a happy Easter. May this holiday bring you peace, joy, and renewed hope for the future, and may we continue to come together as a community in the spirit of love and unity.

YOUR EWN HAS

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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Getting active

SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR is encouraging everyone to get active this Easter, with a host of activities available for all.

The title of their indicative is called ‘San Pedro Te Mueve’ (San Pedro Moves you) and it runs from Thursday, April 6 until Sunday, April 9. The programme of activities is extensive including sports and cultural activities that will be scheduled to complement the San Pedro de Pinatar processions.

Lagoon protests

NEIGHBOURS and ecological associations assembled in Cala del Pino and on Playa del Turco in La Manga to protest about the construction underway in the natural area of the Mar Menor. The protest began with the symbolic planting of some pineapple trees. The protesters highlighted that the area needs more vegetation not more concrete.

Teresa Vicente for the ILP Mar Menor Platform said “we have come to support the rights of the lagoon to be preserved as a natural environment.”

They commented on the amount of construction taking place around the Mar Menor lagoon and they want to try and protect the natural spaces that remain, Cala del Pino, the Dunes of Veneziola and the green belt of Miteco.

Some of the protesters

tried to slow down the ongoing construction of a chalet in the Cala del Pino by placing themselves in front of an excavator. The three women that did this have been summoned to the police station of Benemérita in Cabo de Palos to give statements and will most likely face an administrative sanction.

Some of the activities we can look forward to are the Artisan Market La Sal, the Microtheatre at Sea, Street Theatre and Storytelling, free guided tours of the Salinas of San Pedro del Pinatar Natural Park, a masterclass and exhibitions of street dance, parkour, skateboarding, a free concert and much more. More information on the details and the timetable for all the events can be found on the town hall website and on social media outlets also.

MAR MENOR: Protestors want more vegation not concrete.

Murcia’s Spring Festival starts

MURCIA kicks off its Spring Festival on Sunday April 9 and it has an extensive programme. There are shows for children of all ages in the planetarium in the Museo de la Ciencia y el Agua (the Museum of Water and Science) and an Easter egg hunt in the Thader Commercial Centre.

There will be many art exhibitions all over Murcia, on Avda de la Libertad, in the Thader commercial centre, the Ramón Gaya Museum and the Cultural Centre Puertas de Castilla. You can take a boat trip for just €1 along the Segura river.

If you are aged between 16 and 29 you can enter a photography competition as part of the spring festival with your best photographs of Murcia.

There will also be some parades and processions related to the very popular Murcian festival the ‘Banda de la Huerta’ which will take place on Tuesday April 11.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

Duo’s world class jam

ONE of the world’s top jams is made here in the Region of Murcia. The sister and brother team of Mari Paz and Francisco José Fernández from Archivel, a hamlet of Caravaca de la Cruz using their family recipe have placed themselves into the international elite of gastronomy. Their jam was voted in the top 10 in the world and its success is in its simplicity.

The jam which consists of just fruit and cane sugar sets itself apart from most other jams as it

does not contain a long list of ingredients such as fructose syrup, gelling agents, potassium sorbate, or citric acid for example.

They also commented that they only use the highest quality fruit in their jams and that is why they only produce a

New promenade for Mazarron

A GOVERNMENT delegate José Vélez along with the mayor of Mazzarrón, Gaspar Miras announced the project to construct a promenade in El Alamillo in the port of Mazzarrón.

limited amount of their world ­ class jam. The dynamic duo revealed one of their family secrets explaining how the centuries ­ old copper pots that they use in the production of their jam react with the fruit and the sugar giving it a unique texture and flavour.

An investment of €2.6 million from the ‘Recuperation, Transformation, and Resilience Plan’ will fund this project.

The project consists of the construction of a six metre wide promenade which will have a bidirectional bicycle lane. It will be 1,280 metres in length and will connect the current Rihuete promenade with a new viewpoint, forming part of this project.

A concrete structure in the shape of a boat is planned as the viewpoint allowing neighbours and visitors to use its bow and its stern as vantage points. The walkways will be open to both pedestrians and cyclists.

The promenade will have 58 lighting structures eight metres high, 112 palm trees, 10 bike parking stands, benches every 30 metres, two accessible toilet cabins, eight footbaths, and almost 60 bins.

FRUIT JAM: Has

a unique texture and flavour.

“A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Originating from a Chinese proverb meaning that however big the task is, it starts with a

small step.

415

Brits spend more than £415 million on Easter eggs.

LIKE many other towns along the Costa Calida this Easter, La Manga is also planning activities for the residents, visitors and tourists that will flock to the region. One of those activities is a medieval market called ‘II Mercado de Epoca, La Manga, San Javier’. This will be the second

Blue flagged beaches

year they will host this market. It begins today April 6 and runs until April 9 and its location is: entrada Puerto Tomás Maestre km 12. It will be full of activities for all including young and old with

animation, live music and many artisan market stands of course. The activities are programmed throughout the weekend. There will also be food stands available throughout the market.

WITH the temperatures soaring on the Costa Calida and the summer months approaching we start to think about those lazy beach days.

A cool drink in one hand and a book in the other the sound of the ocean in the background. We are spoiled for choice on the Costa Calida

Medieval Market La Manga

THE LA MANGA 365 COMMITTEE backed La Manga as a year­round destination in their recent congress. The Region of Murcia boasts 300 days of sun per year with an average temperature of 19 degrees and La Manga with the Mar Menor lagoon on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other is the perfect location for water sports.

The event which was held at the Club Náutico Dos Mares with more than 150 attendees was a success and they plan to

with so many beautiful beaches to choose from, but how many of those beaches have the Internationally recognised Blue Flag awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education?

Here are the top 10 beaches in Murcia for 2023 with the all­important blue flag:

Playa La Higuerica, Aguilas, Murcia

Playa Calarreona, Aguilas, Murcia

Playa La Carolina, Aguilas, Murcia, Playa Matalentisco, Aguilas, Murcia

Playa Poniente, Aguilas, Murcia

Playa la Colonia, Aguilas, Murcia

Playa Levante, Aguilas, Murcia

repeat the event next year. Elite sportspeople like David Meca, the Open Water World Champion and Olympic gold medallist in Windsurfing Marina

Alabau spoke at the event. The committee’s objective is to continue to generate tourist activity beyond the summer. They also discussed the expected occupancy for the Murcia region during Semana Santa which as previously reported in the Euro Weekly News is expected to be more than last year’s 93 per cent.

Playa Las Delicias, Aguilas, Murcia

Playa Isla Plana, Cartagena, Murcia

Playa San Ginés, Cartagena, Murcia

Looks like we’re going to Aguilas, I’ll see you there!

Beer Garden

THE Alhambra Garden of Beers (El Jardín de Cervezas Alhambra) returns to Murcia in April after it had much success last autumn. It will be located outside the Artillery BarracksCuartel de Artileria ­ on Calle Cartagena in Murcia City. It will be free entrance for all until it has reached its capacity. It opens on Monday, April 10 from 6pm.

The garden will be open during the month of April and apart from being a relaxing and atmospheric place to have a beer, it will offer: tastings, acoustic concerts, gastronomic experiences, DJ sessions, and workshops.

WATER SPORTS: La Manga is the perfect location.

Controversy over birth

THE latest report on surrogacy in Spain has found that 2,500 babies have been born via surrogate, despite the practice being illegal in the country.

The news comes after Spanish sit ­ com actress

Ana Obregón faced backlash for announcing the birth of her baby via surrogacy in the USA on Wednesday, March 30.

Obregón’s decision attracted criticism due to the “clear poverty bias” be ­

Destroyed by blaze

AN intense fire engulfed a famous restaurant in Spain, completely destroying the building on Thursday, March 30.

According to the Catalan fire services, Bombers de la Generalitat, over 11 fire brigades were rushed to the site of the restaurant Fusta Mar, in the Arc de Barà campsite, which is located in the municipality of Roda de Berà (Tarragona province).

The fire was reported a few minutes after 7.00am, and despite several attempts by the fire department, nothing could be done to save the structure, which collapsed.

Firemen working at the scene said that the fire grew fast as the structure was entirely made of wood.

Fusta Mar was not only a famous gastronomic space but also held concerts and social events.

This restaurant had previously also been featured on a major Catalan show on TV3 called ‘Joc de Cartes’ and was frequently visited by people not only living at the campsite, but also from other parts of Spain.

Authorities have now said that investigations will be carried out by Mossos d’Esquadra, to check if there was any kind of criminal connection which resulted in the fire.

tween women who pay surrogates and women who become surrogates because they need the funds, according to Spanish Equality Minister, Irene Montero.

Obregón has previously talked about her struggles regarding children after she lost her only son to cancer at the age of 27 in 2020. She announced her happiness via Instagram with a cover she shot for iHola ! Magazine, writing “A light has arrived in my life, bringing happiness into my darkness. I will never be alone again. I AM ALIVE AGAIN.”

Spain’s law forbids the “transaction of a human being,” which includes surrogacy. However, there is a legal loophole that allows for the registration of children born through surrogacy abroad, in accordance with the Hague Convention. To register a child in a Spanish consulate, only a birth certificate is required.

Private jets soar

SPAIN has long been popular with the superrich and the country’s status as an exclusive destination appears to be here to stay. A report released on Thursday, March 30 found that Spain registered the fourth­highest number of private jet flights in the EU in 2022.

The report found that there were a total of 45,633 flights last year. In 2022, around 8 per cent of all private jet flights came from Spain, according to an analysis by Greenpeace.

The report showed that domestic private jet travel also increased by 74 per cent in just one year, from 26,239 in 2021 to 45,633 in 2022. The spike in private jet travel could be due to the pandemic, but it also raises concerns about emissions.

The increase in private

jet flights has led to a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. This trend is

alarming, considering that private jets are known to be the most environmentally ­ damaging form of transportation.

Palma Airport topped the list of the number of private jet flights in Spain, followed by Ibiza Airport. Both airports ranked ninth and 10th in Europe, respectively, by the number of flights in 2022.

Spain recorded the fourth highest volume of private jet flights in the EU.

Photo credit: Laurent ERRERA from L'Union, France / Wikimedia Commons

431,090 tons of olive oil produced in Spain in first 3 months 20222023 season.

Girl injured after bus accident

A 13-YEAR-OLD girl was transferred to the Virgen de la Arrixaca hospital after being hit by the bus on the Gran Vía Escultor Francisco Salzillo , in the municipality of Murcia .

The event occurred around 7.58pm on Tuesday March 28, when the ‘1­1­2’ Emergency Coordination Centre in the Region of Murcia received a number of calls reporting the accident.

A Local Police patrol, a Mobile Emergency Unit of the Emergency and Emergency Management ‘061’, travelled to the scene. The girl was treated “in situ” and then taken by ambulance to hospital where she remained for treatment.

New chapter

Betty Henderson

PEDRO SÁNCHEZ is making waves in China! The Spanish president arrived in the global superpower on Wednesday, March 29 where he participated in the opening of the Boao Economic Forum, also known as the ‘Chinese Davos’.

During his trip, he had the opportunity to meet with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, as well as other key national figures including the Chinese Prime Minister, the President of the National People’s Assembly, and Chinese tour operators who work in the Spanish tourism market.

Sánchez talked about a variety of topics during his visit, including the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the economic ties between Spain and China.

However, the Spanish government carefully

avoided several sensitive topics including bans on technology companies Huawei and TikTok that several other countries have imposed due to concerns about potential espionage activities.

Despite controversies over technology and China’s international policy, Sánchez has remained op­

Rare dragon

A SPANISH zoo successfully bred five baby Komodo dragons for the first time in 10 years. The species, known as the largest surviving land lizard in the world, is now considered endangered, which makes their hatch in the institute ‘very important’.

“There are approximately 1,500 specimens left in the wild which is why the species maintenance and reproduction in animal institutions is so important,” said Milagros Robledo, Head of Herpetology Department at Bioparc Zoo in Fuengirola, Spain.

Scientists took 12 eggs after they were laid, five eggs were selected for incubation. It took eight months for the lizards to hatch.

“Komodo dragons are difficult to breed for a number of reasons,” said Jesus Recuero, Technical Director and veterinarian.

Taking a shot

timistic about the future of economic cooperation between Spain and China. During his visit, he emphasised the importance of continued collaboration between the countries.

Sánchez visited the country as a national representative rather than an EU delegate.

GLOBAL drinks giant Coca­Cola is shaking up the drinks market yet again with its latest venture into the world of alcoholic drinks. The brand announced the development of a mixed drink, combining its famous cola drink with Jack Daniel’s whiskey on Friday, March 31.

The iconic brand made its first foray into the Spanish market with the launch of Topo Chico, a refreshing, fermented beverage with an alcoholic twist that didn’t quite take off. However, the brand has not been put off, and is set to launch its Jack Daniels collaboration in the coming weeks.

The exciting collaboration was made possible by an agreement last year. The drink will come in a regular 330 millilitre can with both brands’ logos and an alcohol content of 7 per cent.

The Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez was welcomed to China on Wednesday, March 27 for a long-awaited summit between the two countries.

Betty Henderson

Photo credit: Pedro Sánchez (via Instagram)

AFTER victory in the race to become the new SNP leader, Hamza Yousaf has been elected as Scotland’s new first minister Humza Yousaf was officially elected as the new first minister of Scotland on Tuesday, March 28, after he was backed by a majority of MSPs. This announcement comes just a day after he won the race to become the new leader of

the Scottish National Party. Yousaf’s name was then submitted to the King, with a formal swearing in ceremony subsequently taking place at the Court of Sessions in Edinburgh.

While speaking to the MPs, Yousaf, as cited by a news source said, “I will never shy away from tackling the big issues our country faces. I will lead a govern­

Terror alert in Northern Ireland

ment that listens carefully and respects the views of all MSPs.”

He added, “My starting point will always be that we all want the best for Scotland and the people that we are so privileged to represent, and I will stand up unequivocally for this parliament and against any attempts to undermine devolution.”

Yousaf is first minister Prisoner denied parole

CHARLES BRONSON has been denied parole after he spent nearly half a decade in prison due to ‘risk of future violence’.

The decision regarding his parole was taken by a board during a public hearing which started in March.

Bronson has been in and out of prison since 1974 and was jailed for the first time when he was 22 years old for armed robbery.

He has since admitted to nine rooftop protests and 11 hostage sieges, per a local news source.

The notorious prisoner, who is now 70 years old, will continue to sevre his sentence after the ruling by the board.

BRONSON: Will have to stay in jail.

The decision of his parole was taken after a two­day hearing, which resulted in the board ruling that he “doesn’t have the skills to manage his risk of future violence.”

The most recent parole hearing was the eighth time Bronson has asked for his release.

THE threat level due to a terror attack in Northern Ireland has been raised, as officials warn “attack is considered highly likely.”

The level was raised by the British MI5 after police were targeted by “groups intent on politically­motivated violence.”

The announcement of the change in threat levels comes just a few weeks before a visit by US President Joe Biden, who is scheduled to arrive in the middle of this month.

Tensions have been high in Northern Ireland, especially after an attempt was made to murder a high­profile police official, Detective Chief

Inspector John Caldwell, in Omagh last month.

According to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris HeatonHarris, by a local news source, “The threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism is constantly monitored and

is subject to a regular formal review. The threat level review takes into account a range of factors and analysis of recent incidents.”

He also added that “The decision to change the threat level is taken by MI5, independently of Ministers.”

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Levelled off

DENMARK’S cannabis sales fell in 2022 after five years of growth, health authority figures revealed. Sales grew from approximately 30.8 million Danish kroner (€4.12 million) in 2018 to 64.3 million kroner (€8.63 million) in 2021, before falling to 62.5 million kroner (€8.4 million) last year.

THE NETHERLANDS

IT items

DUTCH companies spent €2.5 billion on telecommunications and computer services from India last year, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This accounted for more than 10 per cent of total spending in this sector and made India the country’s fourth-largest supplier after the US, the UK and Ireland.

BELGIUM

In a trap

BELGIUM’S Westmalle beer made by Trappist monks is under threat as all authentic Trappist products must be made inside an abbey and supervised by monks and nuns. Westmalle’s secular director Philippe Van Assche admitted that he doubted whether people would seek to become monks in 10 or 20 years’ time.

GERMANY

Early settlers

ARCHAEOLOGISTS found a large settlement from the early Neolithic era near DobelnGartitz (Saxony) covering an area of more than 10 hectares. The site, which contained dozens of houses, the largest of which was 30 metres long and eight metres wide, was clearly occupied for several hundred years.

FRANCE

Waste not

FRANCE’S president Emmanuel Macron wants to introduce a new pricing system for water that would encourage responsible and penalise waste. The plan is included in national efforts to cut down on water consumption, improve water management and combat the effects of climate change.

NORWAY

Good egg

NORWAY seeks an exemption to European rules on shelf-life for eggs, citing its good salmonella record. A recent directive stipulated 28 days between the date that eggs are laid and consumed, but Norway, which belongs to the European Economic Area (EEA), wants to continue its 35-day system.

FINLAND

Nickel project

BLUEJAY MINING began a short follow-up programme in Enonkoski (Finland) as the London-based company in partnership with Rio Tinto seek nickel-bearing ore. Bluejay explained that their objective is to test the geological model, following “encouraging” results from explorations earlier this year.

IRELAND

Welcome home

BALLINA (Eire) is anxious to greet President Joe Biden when he visits Ireland this month. The small market town, known for salmon fishing, considers Biden a native son as his great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt was born there before emigrating to Scranton, Pennsylvania, to escape the 1840’s famine.

ITALY

Hats off!

LEGENDARY Italian brand Borsalino is back in business again after it was driven into bankruptcy in 2017. Philippe Camperio, a French-Italian financier has put it back on its feet and revived sales of the fedoras worn by Humphrey Bogart and Michael Jackson while retaining traditional manufacturing techniques.

PORTUGAL Gas cash

PORTUGAL intends to auction the rights to sell hydrogen for injection into the national gas grid. Galp Energia will buy the hydrogen mixed with natural gas from producers and resell it to meet demand, a system aimed at boosting investment in production by giving suppliers a guaranteed buyer.

UKRAINE

Staying put

MONKS refused to leave the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, Ukraine’s most revered Orthodox site which is the property of the government, after the deadline to vacate the complex expired. They belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has long been accused of links to Russia.

SWEDEN

False alarm

POWDER enclosed in letters sent to 18 county councils in Sweden was harmless, police said. According to Swedish media reports, employees were evacuated in some places and at least two taken to hospital after the letters arrived although analysis later showed that the powder was not dangerous.

STAT OF WEEK €5.5 billion

will be paid out in dividends to BBVA, CaixaBank and Inditex shareholders in April and May, following record years and profits for both banks and the fashion retail giant.

BUSINESS EXTRA Charged up FINANCE

Booted out

BOOTS could be sold or floated by late 2023 as its US parent company is pressured into breaking up the global pharmacy giant. Owned by the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, its investors and board members want to speed up plans to refocus the business on the US.

Bank ranks

IBERCAJA and Caixabank have higher liquidity ratios (LCRs) than other Spanish banks, management consultants Alvarez & Marsal found. Spain’s banks all exceed EU requirements but Ibercaja’s 306 per cent ratio and Caixabank’s 284.2 per cent mean they have reserves for three months and 2.8 months respectively.

Meters matter

ENERGY companies in the UK used warrants to install 94,000 prepayment meters in 2022, with Scottish Power and British Gas ordering most. The government has now agreed with suppliers to halt forced installations amid concerns that rules to protect vulnerable households were not complied with.

Lucky middle

SPANISH salaries grew in 2022 in all categories, although rises were below the inflation rate of more than 8 per cent. Middle management posts benefited most with an average increase of 6 per cent, compared with 3.4 per cent for executives and 3.71 per cent for employees.

Factory closes

MORE than 100 workers lost their jobs after Kettle Interiors, a Corby (Northamptonshire) furniture business went into administration. The administrator cited “economic challenges” including increasing freight costs for the familyrun firm which sold furniture under different brand names to UK and European retailers.

Next step for Cath Kidston

Linda Hall

NEXT has bought the Cath Kidston brand name for £8.5 million (€9.6 million) after the British retailer fell into administration for the second time in two years.

Cath Kidston, which once had 60 stores in the UK as well as worldwide franchise outlets, was bought by restructuring experts Hilco in July 2020 but put on the market again earlier this year.

Approximately 125 jobs could be lost as PricewaterhouseCoopers’ administrators prepare to close Cath Kidston stores in London, Ashford (Kent), Cheshire Oaks and York once their stock has been sold off.

The Cath Kidston website is also be­

ing licensed back to the administrators for 12 weeks.

Acquiring the vintage­inspired name is Next’s latest step in adding to its brand portfolio, which includes distribution rights to the US chains Gap and Victoria’s Secret in the UK.

Joules and the online furnishings specialists Made.com were also brought out of administration by Next

as the company helps ailing brands maintain a presence in the UK. Next is also using some of these well­known names to fill spaces in high street stores while reaching to a wider audience.

Next anticipates increasing prices more slowly over the next 12 months after better­than­expected annual profits. The retailer saw annual pre­tax profit increase by 5.7 per cent to £870.4 million (€990.1 million) in January, which was higher than the forecast £860 million (€978.2m). Full­price sales rose by 6.9 per cent year­on­year. The group, which raised prices to counteract higher costs, said price inflation was likely to be more benign than previously predicted.

Fishing for investment

ABANCA which owns 97 per cent of Nueva Pescanova,

synonymous with frozen fish in Spain, is reportedly looking for a business partner or a potential sale.

Based in Redondela (Pontevedra) Nueva Pescanova operates in 17 countries on five continents, selling its products in more than 80 countries.

Formerly known as Pescanova, which still appears on retail products, the original company collapsed and was refunded in 2015.

Kind gesture

HSBC is the first UK bank to delay closing a town’s only remaining branch until alternative arrangements are in place.

Banks agreed last year to fund hubs where all branches were closed and the cash machine network Link ­ which connects practically all the country’s ATMs ­ decided that a hub was needed to ensure continued access to cash.

Launching hubs has been slow, taking a year on average owing to difficulties in finding sites. This prompted HSBC to announce that it would suspend closures in Oakham (Rutland) Ripley (Derbyshire) and Colwyn Bay (Conwy) until cash deposit services were established.

Canadian seafood combine Cooke Inc was said to be in negotiations to buy a majority stake in the company in late February. It now has competition from US company Red Chamber

Group, which entered negotiations with Abanca in midMarch according to the Spanish digital newspaper, El Confidencial.

The deadline for paying a €150 million debt to Sabadell, Caixabank and Santander loomed at the same time although Nueva Pescanova announced beforehand that this would be paid “with total normality and full financial independence.”

Nueva Pescanova had total sales of €1.08 billion in the financial year that ended in

Essex freeport

DP WORLD, which owns P&O Ferries, will participate in the Thames Freeport in Essex.

Included in Rishi Sunak’s ports scheme, it will be co­run by DP World, car manufacturer Ford and Forth Ports, with a £25 million (€28.4 million) allocation in government funding. This will go to local authorities, as the government tries to attract another £4.6 billion (€5.2 billion) in public and private investment.

The port is expected to generate more than 21,000 direct and indirect jobs.

DP World dismissed 800 P&O employees without giving them notice in March 2022, replacing them with foreign agency workers paid less than the minimum wage.

The government said at the time that the employees’ treatment was “wholly unacceptable” and two months later cancelled a P&O Ferries contract in response to the sackings.

LOWER energy prices in the UK now mean that the cost of ultra ­ rapid charging for an electric vehicle costs less per mile than filling up with petrol.

The Electric Vehicle Recharge Report published by the Automobile Association found that drivers could save 8p (24 cents) per kilowatt by charging during off ­ peak hours, but emphasised that savings were made only when plugging in at the right time.

Electric vehicle charging was ‘brilliant value for money’ compared to filling up with petrol and diesel, the report said, but warned that different operators had different off ­ peak times, with some available only after 8pm.

March 2022, doubling its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) to €80 million compared with its €39.5 million results in 2020.

Despite these buoyant figures, the La Voz de Galicia predicted that the next fiscal year was likely to be “well below” the 2021 result.

Meanwhile, referring to negotiations with Cooke Inc and Red Chamber Group, Nueva Pescanova’s CEO Ignacio Gonzalez said Nueva Pescanova was not for sale.

Up goes Ale-Hop

GIFT shop chain Ale ­ Hop had a 2022 turnover of €170 million, 70 per cent more than in 2021.

Instantly recognisable because of the trademark black ­ andwhite cow outside the shops, Ale ­ Hop was boosted by increased post­pandemic sales but also expansion plans resulting in 48 new shops during the last financial year.

The company could meet the cost of the 2022 openings as a result of its policy of zero debt and reinvesting profits, said AleHop’s director general, Dario Grimalt.

The company, which now has more than 280 shops in Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Mexico, hopes to increase this to 300 by the end of this year.

Selling brand

RECKITT BENCKISER is selling its Spanish detergents division.

Headquartered in Britain, the €50 billion multinational which owns Durex condoms, Strepsils throat lozenges and Air Wick amongst other brands, will divest itself of Colon detergent and Flor fabric conditioner, two household names in Spain. It acquired both in the 1990s from the Catalan company Camp Hermanos, after fighting off Procter & Gamble in a bidding war, paying more than six billion pesetas (approximately €36 million) at the time.

Now, 30 years later, Reckitt Benckiser expects to sell for around €200 million.

Cutting salary

FLORENTINO PEREZ, president of construction, concessions and services company ACS, has forgone €1.5 million of his salary over the last two years. Owing to the economic slowdown during the pandemic he waived 30 per cent of the variable compensation added to his basic salary at the end of 2021, reducing this from €3.4 to €2.4 million owing to “exceptional circumstances”.

The Real Madrid president waived another €500,000 in 2022 after explaining that despite ACS’s good results, the group had not yet returned to pre­pandemic levels.

QUIRKY DESIGNS: Next has acquired the Cath Kidston brand.

IGNACIO GONZALEZ: CEO of Nueva Pescanova insists that the company is not for sale.

Photo credit: Cath Kidston

Photo credit: nuevapescanova.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

BUSINESS EXTRA

Asda compromise

ASDA is prepared to sell 13 petrol stations with adjoining grocery stores to allay competition concerns over its £600 million (€680.5 million) acquisition of the Co ­ op petrol forecourts. The response came in the wake of a Competitions and Market Authority’s warning made two weeks ago.

Pricey billets

A NEW luxury hotel, JW Marriott, has opened on Madrid’s Golden Mile in front of Four Seasons and the Canalejas Shopping Centre. “Expensive hotels are here to stay,” said AC Hotels president Antonio Catalan during the inauguration.

“Tourism has more than enough clients but insufficient prices.”

Vauxhall plans

LUTON BOROUGH COUNCIL has approved plans to turn the site of the former Vauxhall engineering and styling centre into warehouses.

The manufacturer announced the end of Luton car production with the loss of 2,000 jobs in December 2000. The company, now owned by General Motors, blamed the decision on “rapidly changing European market conditions” and “over­capacity.”

Development company Prologis UK explained to a re­

Mango joins organisation

SPAIN’S Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE) announced that fashion chain Mango has joined the organisation as an associate company.

The move follows the recent incorporation of Spain’s Retail Textile Association (ARTE), to which Mango and other leading clothing chains already belong.

Mango is the second big textile firm to join the CEOE in its own right after Zara owner, Inditex.

Toni Ruiz, Mango’s CEO explained that the incorporation would enable the firm both to put across its business vision and give greater visibility to the one the country’s outstanding brands.

Royal Mail impasse

cent council committee meeting they could boost the local economy with 450 jobs by creating 34,250 square metres of flexible industrial and logistics floorspace at the 18­acre Griffin House site in Osborne Road.

The hybrid plans will first require a favourable response from the Environment Agency.

A restored river channel will be running through the site with a wildflower meadow on one side and pedestrian and cycle access path on the other.

“We have worked hard to open up and celebrate the River Lea as a key feature by providing a linear park through the centre of the site,” Caroline Musker, UK head of planning at Prologis, said.

“This represents a £30 million (€34 million) investment in construction,” she revealed.

AS long ­ running talks between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) threatened to collapse, another strike looked inevitable.

The postal service, already losing more than a daily £1 million (€1.13 million), is projected to lose more than £350 million (€397.5 million) during the financial year that ends in April.

The board of the 507­yearold company has met in London, trying to find a solution, but warned that further walkouts could eventually see it put into administration.

The board regards the bombshell move to declare Royal Mail insolvent as a last resort, but the drastic measure has already been raised with the CWU.

Hopes of a deal have gradually faded, as obstacles not only include disagreements over pay but also changes to working practices, which Royal Mail maintains are interdependent.

LUTON: Council gives permission to develop former Vauxhall plant.

Photo credit: Flickr/Doyle of London

Euro

EUR/GBP: Unchanged at £0.88

EUR/USD: Down from $1.06 to $1.09

The euro witnessed some dramatic swings over the past month as a crisis in Europe’s banking sector infused volatility into the single currency.

At the start of March the euro was supported by European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate expectations, in response to stronger-than-expected inflation releases from France, Spain and Germany. EUR exchange rates then nosedived in mid-March after a 30% plunge in shares at Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse triggered a wider selloff across the European banking sector.

However, the euro was quick to bounce back. The ECB’s decision to press ahead with a 50bps rate hike helped the single currency to find its feet, before EUR surge after UBS’s acquisition of Credit Suisse stabilised European bank shares.

Going forward, EUR investors are

BUSINESS EXTRA

English fizz

TENTERDEN (Kent) winemaker Chapel Down had record sales of “traditional method” sparkling wine last year, selling 790,000 bottles, up from 522,000 in 2021. Revenue rose 53 per cent to £9.6 million (€10.9 million), offsetting a 45 per cent drop in still wine sales owing to a poor harvest.

Share shareout

FOLLOWING its 2022 results, Naturgy, formerly Gas Natural Fenos, is paying a dividend of €1.2 per share, of which 70 cents was paid out in August and November with the rest due this April. Naturgy will maintain the same dividend level next year, company president Francisco Reynes announced.

Currency outlook: Euro rocked by European banking crisis, Fluctuating Fed bets infuse volatility in US dollar

likely to keep a close eye on the European banking sector. Assuming no more hiccups emerge, the euro may be able to resume its positive trajectory.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Unchanged at €1.12

GBP/USD: Up from $1.20 to $1.23

The pound was initially buoyed as we entered March. Sterling sentiment strengthened as stronger-thanexpected UK PMIs boosted Bank of England (BoE) rate hike expectations.

This upside was reinforced by the announcement of a UK-EU deal to resolve the dispute over the controversial Northern Ireland protocol.

However, these gains were also immediately reversed following comments from BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, in which he suggested UK interest rates may have already peaked. Fears of potential policy divergence between the BoE and Federal Reserve then plunged the GBP/USD exchange to a threemonth low. Before a surprisingly

IN

strong rebound in UK GDP at the start of 2023 helped Sterling to rebound. After fluctuating amid the banking sector jitters, the pound then firmed following the BoE’s March policy meeting after the bank proved more hawkish than expected.

Looking ahead, if UK inflation indicators remain elevated it may boost expectations for additional BoE rate hikes and help to underpin the pound in the coming month.

US Dollar USD/GBP: Down from $0.82 to

$0.81

USD/EUR: Down from €0.93 to €0.91

The past month has been a rollercoaster ride for the US dollar. This started with a softening of the ‘greenback’ amid a bullish market mood in early March.

USD exchange rates then raced to multi-month highs after Fed Chair Jerome Powell stunned markets with a particularly hawkish testimony before Congress. Catapulting USD exchange rates higher as investors be-

Biggest contract ever

IBERDROLA formalised one of its largest-ever contracts on Tuesday March 28.

The Spanish multinational’s subsidiary Scottish Power, one of the UK’s largest green energy developers, formalised a £1.3 billion (€1.48 billion) contract with Siemens Gamesa for 95 wind turbines for the East Anglia Three project.

The offshore windfarm, the world’s second-biggest, will be constructed in the southern North Sea, 69 kilometres off Great Yarmouth in Norfolk.

Iberdrola president Ignacio Galan visited 10 Downing Street where he met the PM Rishi Sunak and Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Energy Security.

“The scale and ambition of this investment will support the UK’s commitment to net zero and energy security,” Galan said. “The East Anglia Three offshore windfarm will bring homegrown green electricity to the grid for 1.3 million homes. And, as part of the East Anglia Hub projects, it will deliver billions of pounds in investment and support thousands of jobs

BIG PROJECT: Iberdrola subsidiary Scottish Power will build world’s second-largest windfarm.

in the East of England and across the UK.

“I am delighted that Scottish Power and Iberdrola are investing in the UK, creating thou-

sands of jobs and crucially helping millions of families keep their homes warm with cheaper, renewable energy,” the Prime Minister said.

Calviño answers back

SPARRING continues between Spain and multinational Ferrovial, which is shifting its headquarters to the Netherlands. Economic Affairs minister Nadia Calviño again insisted that there was nothing to prevent a company from listing on both the Spanish and US stock exchanges, as Ferrovial maintains.

“The National Securities Commission (CNMV) and Stock Exchanges and Markets (BME) analysed this in depth, going to the United States to speak to their American counterparts who identified no differences between Spain and any other country that justified Ferrovial’s reasons for relocating to the Netherlands,” Calviño said.

gan to price in a 50bps hike in March.

However, the US dollar’s gain evaporated almost immediately as the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank reversed these rate hike bets.

The days leading up to the Fed’s March rate decision saw the ‘greenback’ fluctuate wildly as USD investors repeatedly repriced their Fed rate hike expectations.

The Fed ultimately delivered another 25bps hike. But its dovish forward guidance piled pressure on the US dollar and sent USD exchange rates tumbling to a one-month low.

Turning to April the direction of the US dollar may be dependant on the outlook for the global financial system. Further uncertainty, or fears of a recession could see demand for the safe-haven ‘greenback’ strengthen.

Currencies Direct have helped over 430,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.

From office to store

EL CORTE INGLES is transferring 2,324 office and administrative staff to its stores.

Last February, Spain’s leading department store chain announced that it would be taking this step to provide more support for its stores and shops “while addressing sales growth and improving customer care and service.”

A statement issued by El Corte Ingles explained that its agreement with the unions was based on maintaining employment and at the same time providing “voluntary severance” for the chain’s longest-serving employees.

Measures include an incentivised redundancy scheme for 630 employees who will be over 59 by June 30 this year, 40 more than was originally announced.

The agreement reached with the unions also improved the exit deal for employees who preferred to leave owing to the “substantial change” in their future roles.

That’s the spirit!

ON taking over as chief executive at Diageo, Debra Crew will be one of the few women at the head of an FTSE 100 company. Before her appointment as chief operating officer in October 2022, Crew was previously president of Diageo North America, overseeing the company’s largest market.

She joined Diageo in 2019 after heading tobacco firm Reynolds American, until it was acquired by British American Tobacco (BAT), having previously spent five years at PepsiCo.

Diageo, which makes Johnnie Walker, Guinness and Baileys and is the world’s biggest spirits manufacturer, employs 28,000 people globally and sells more than 200 brands in more than 180 markets.

MARCH: The euro was supported by the ECB interest rate expectations.

DOWNING STREET: Rishi Sunak, Grant Shapps and Ignacio Galan.

Photo credit: Iberdrola

CAN anyone please tell me what is actually occurring on this planet of ours? The whole shebang seems to be teetering on some kind of destabilising precipice, with our socalled leaders stumbling through it all in a complete befuddled daze.

Politicians groping through a tangled jungle of confusion and governmental garbage, getting all their priorities wrong and having no knowledge or way of even vaguely coming to grips with it all. Those, who are laughingly under the impression that they can make a difference, are all rushing around, trying to look important and ultimately reversing up their own backsides. I cannot help but think we are yet again all pawns in some devious plan, set in motion by those who truly run our lives.

Shadowy figures, who walk the secret corridors of those who hold the wealth of the world to their electronic bosoms. These individuals instigate, and even rely on worldwide destabilisation, confusion and chaos to put their own conniv ­

Good luck all

ing and self­gratifying schemes into operation. Dividing and prospering is their specialty. Another Leapy rant I hear you say? Well I was accused of plenty of those, when I warned 30 or more years ago that if we didn’t come to terms and sort out the immigration problems, it would be too late and our enemies would be everywhere.

So, don’t dismiss the ol’ boy’s ramblings too flippantly. Look at the state we’re all in. Those who pronounced they were ‘offended’ with Christmas celebrations and preferred ‘Happy Holidays’ have managed to cover the whole of London’s West end with Ramadan lights and paraphernalia during the Christian celebration of Lent!

Most of the dissenters originated in the Middle East. They were welcomed into the country by a caring race of people, willing to share the peace and love instigated by their ancestors, who died in their millions to build a society of citizens that due to order and constructive hard work didn’t have to roam the

land or exist in chaos.

I would also like to have been a fly on the wall of Putin’s palace when he met the Chinese PM. China isn’t quite ready to take over the world yet (50 years to go!) and its weapons are at the moment still electronic. The criminal elements of Russia are still fighting with the antiquated abilities of the Second World War, which the Chinese will only use when its enemies have been brought to their knees by electronics and nukes.

I just can’t shake off the feeling that the whole operation is some kind of smoke screen, devised by these hidden manipulators to create some form of new world order which will be beneficial to only them. Islamic leaders in Saudi Arabia don’t seem to be experiencing too much turmoil. They are actually building a whole modern city underground. When it all hits the fan, that’s where the Sheiks and all their oily mates will be.

Good luck all.

Keep the Faith love leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthe publishers,advertisersorsponsors.

OUR VIEW

BRITS BANNED?

THE news that Amsterdam is trying to deter British stag groups from its famously tempting streets can only be good for other European destinations. After all, the campaign is hardly likely to stop stag groups travelling abroad, but it may just change where they go.

But is singling out particular groups ever really the answer to anything?

If what Amsterdam is hoping to achieve is fewer British men roaming the streets looking for cheap drink, legal drugs, and an availability of women for sale, perhaps they should begin by looking at what caused men to flock there in the first place; Holland’s own laws.

A famously open ­ minded culture though, it would probably go against the Dutch grain to delegalise some of the things the country is best ­ known for. Therefore, why not take the same liberal approach to the types of people who want to visit Amsterdam?

If what their government values highly is a live and let live society therefore perhaps it is unfair after all to single out one type of traveller.

With Love is much more than a gift shop

FOLLOWING the incredible success of With Love situated in Ciudad Quesada they are proud to announce a second store to be based in Camposol, Mazarron. Located in Sector B being previously Just Fabulous, With Love will open its doors on Easter Monday April 10 at 10am.

With Love is so much more than a card and gift shop. Their aim is to provide an amazing choice of cards and gifts at great prices. With card prices starting at just 0.75c and all small cards priced at just €1 you are sure to find the perfect choice. Large cards will start at just €2 meaning you get an amazing card shop selection six days a week at market prices!

In addition to offering an extensive range of cards and gifts, With Love incorporates ‘All in 1’ offering a comprehensive range of services including British Passport Service in a relaxed environment, which includes taking your passport photos, completion of the passport application and safe courier service returned di-

rectly to the shop. There is both a UK and Worldwide Postal/Courier service and secure inbound post facility.

The shop is bright and airy being modern with a spacious feel. This air condi-

tioned store means you can relax and shop in comfort. With Love also offer a

host of other services listed here:

Helium Balloons, Partyware, Stationery, Graphic Design, Business Card, Mobile Top-Ups / SIMS, Canvases, Photo restorations, Flight bookings and Boarding Passes, NIE/TIE/Visa and ID Photographs, Photocopying, Laminating, general printing and much more!

Stock is constantly being refreshed giving customers plenty of choice so you are sure to find something suitable. Giftware ranges from inexpensive impulse gifts to the more exclusive items. For special occasions, they even offer a personalised giftware range to add that unique touch, yet the prices remain attractive throughout the store.

With Love is open Monday to Friday 10.00 until 16.00, Saturdays 10.00 until 14.00.

So please come and join them for a glass of bubbly from midday Easter Monday to celebrate the new store opening, they will be happy to see you.

C.C. El Saladillo Local 38, Camposol Sector B, Mazarron (Murcia) 30875

You can make a difference

THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to provide help for those Britons in Spain in extreme financial distress.

Over its many years of existence, the BBF has acted as a ‘charity of last resort’ for those who have nowhere else to turn. It has seen more than in its fair share of the worst that life can throw and the resilience of people once they have a lifeline.

Sometimes a small amount makes a big difference.

Barry was a 62, had been living as a resident in Spain for years, lived alone doing seasonal and temporary work.

When the pandemic began, he was an early casualty ­ but there was no work ­ the bars closed, and the streets empty. He applied for state aidwhich was declined ­ had no savings and with no income was forced to go to food banks and charities to survive. He did not have the rent to pay and would soon be on the streets.

And there was no sign of work. One of the charities who were helping Barry was one of

the BBF’s many partner charities found at https://www.sup portinspain.info/ who got in touch with us to see if there was a way to helping him through.

The BBF always looks for a solution and any funds are used in order to find one ­ in this case ­ there was no work and the BBF does not have the resources for ongoing payments.

But a plan was put togetherin the hope that work would come ­ and he would move out of the apartment and move to a room in a shared property.

The lifeline was just enoughwithin a few weeks he had found some part time work and then a few weeks later some more work.

Within a year he was managing a bar on the coast.

It was a long year coming ­

and Barry had many dark days but the lifeline kept him goingfinancially and more importantly that people wanted to help spurred him to every effort to get back on his feet.

Where he remains.

The BBF can only help people like Barry with your help ­ if you would like to support our work with a donation please visit our website to see how www.britishbenevolentfund.or g. Thank you. Olaf Clayton,

Chair.

With Love is opening on Monday April 10.

BBF

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

Top class LETTERS

HELLO

I was just sitting down to message you and say congratulations to the team on an outstanding edition of Euro Weekly

The Women in Business section is top notch. These women are deserving of recognition, brilliant.

Apart from that the paper appears to have more interesting features than normal. I feel it’s like a Sunday paper but without the colour supplement.

Really first class. Thank you.

Berni Albrighton, Almeria

Dear Editor

IT is over 100 years since the First World War which lasted from 1914 till 1918 and this trench warfare is now being re­enacted in Bakhmut.

To get an idea of this, just watch ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’.

Absolutely horrific for all men there fighting for their country.

Putin has a lot to answer for!

Brian Johnston, Benalmadena

Delivery service

First of all I would like to thank you on behalf of the community of Caravaning & Camping La Manga for starting to recommence the delivery service of the Euro Weekly News to our site. It’s been long awaited and understand the reasons why due to the impact of the past few years that rocked the nation and the world. Hopefully we can all try and get carefully get back to some kind of normality, but not forget the virus still lingers on.

Anyway, having seen that we have received the first batch of papers. May I request an additional 50 copies be delivered knowing the amount of residents that reside here. The numbers will go up especially during the winter months from September to late March when the snow birds come down for the winter sun. The papers are so informative and would be gratefully received. Hopefully you can supply more now and a further increase later after the summer.

Yours gratefully

Mr S L Tryner (Resident)

Joe’s letter

Whilst I sympathise with him, he admitted living illegally in Spain for 13 years, only returning to the UK when the 90/180 day rule caught up with him. For 10 years of that 13 he would have been on a UK state pension, so if registered here, eligible for S1 free medical cover for him and his wife. He therefore did not ‘need’ two lots of expensive private

health insurance for 10 of the 13 years. He also paid non­resident tax unnecessarily for 13 years.

He said he and his wife did not register in Spain because they wanted access to NHS in UK. That of course was not legal. On returning to the UK he was not able to get a hernia operation on the NHS, so went private. Had they been legal they could have continued living happily in Spain and had free medical treatment for his hernia, gall stones, enlarged prostate, wife’s Parkinson’s, etc.

Lastly; He adversely compared his failure to get an NHS hernia operation with Gary Glitter, who had a knee operation on NHS. However Glitter although convicted, was legally entitled to NHS cover in UK.

Sorry Joe but honesty often is the best policy !

John Carrington

Blue Badge

Like Valerie Neale, I know that getting a Blue Badge is not easy, and it is not issued by one’s GP.

Some years ago I investigated the procedure which involved an appointment with Social Services at the town hall where the procedure is started.

Next, you go to your GP so that they can certify that the applicant, my wife in this case, does indeed qualify for a Blue Badge.

When you have that, back you go to the town hall, and are told you might get your Badge within two years! Because I drive and my wife has a wheelchair, I gave up as we have not met any situation, so far, where a Blue Badge would have helped. Regards.

Ken Cook, Gata de Gorgos

Breaking point!

Zimbabwe’s economy has been devastated by corruption and more than two decades of sanctions. The latest Al Jazeira four­part documentary has began to completely expose and reveal the illegal mafia type organisation that is ZANU­PF. It is clear that the Zimbabwean president position is unattainable after the exposure of the gold scandal. Gold Smuggler, Ewan Macmillan tells us that another Gold smuggler Simon Rudland has unfettered access to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Mr John Mangudya. It was also revealed that the gospel minister, Ubert Angel, obtains the highest level rank of dimpomacy in Zimbabwe. Angel is heard saying in his own words, “The president will rule until he dies.” Corruption in Zimbabwe is clearly at an all time high. The world cannot watch such atrocities happen and do nothing.

Michael Tinarwo

PETS

Petsitters care for Dolly the dog

MANY of our pet owners find trusted pet­sitters through our network because the pets love the company. Dolly is a perfect example of that. She loves playing and having a pet­sitter in­house while her owners are away suits her and her owners perfectly. If you are planning a trip later this year, register now to find pet­sitters in time.

Even if it’s just a short trip, you’ll know that sometimes you just have to leave pets at home. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying in their own home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed. Let us help. Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and petcare. These are the steps to take:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

2. Choose a Premium account (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when

needed

3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house

4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sitters apply and you choose.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you

Children & pets

choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 /

5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesit match.com

I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent. Tristram Cosgrave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga How do you join?

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DO your kids and pets see eye to eye or does skin and hair fly? We know that having a pet can benefit our kids, they can help with learning, provide comfort and company to kids. They have even been known to boost a kid’s self­esteem and keep them healthy. As both children and pets both vie for their parent’s/owner’s attention how can we keep the peace between them? Also how can we help them to play nicely? Here are some top tips to help our furry friends get along with our childen.

1. Supervise the interaction between our children and pets. Our pets, even though they are part of the

family, are still animals after all and we cannot eliminate the risk of aggression towards children. Especially as kids are known to pull a tail or an ear every now and again.

Animal Welfare Law Spain

THE new animal welfare law approved by the Spanish Congress of Deputies is now in effect. What do we need to know about this new law and what’s new. Here are the 10 new obligations for dog owners.

1. Take out civil liability insurance for damages to third parties, whatever the breed or size of the dog.

2. Take a mandatory course. Everyone who has a pet or wants a pet must take a course and will have a period of two years to do it. All the details are not clear yet about this course but it will be free and online.

3. All dogs must pass a sociability test, those that don’t pass will be required to wear a muzzle and a short leash until they improve.

4. A dog may be alone at home for a maximum of 24 hours. They cannot live on balconies or in basements. The fine for this can reach €10,000.

5. Pets must be integrated into the family nucleus and kept clean.

6. Avoid uncontrolled reproduction. Breeding may only be carried out by approved breeders.

7. It is forbidden to leave them at any time inside a closed vehicle.

8. They can not be tied up or wander through public spaces without supervision.

9. They should not deposit their droppings or urine in places of habitual passage. If it happens the owner must clean them.

10. Facilitate veterinary treatments.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

2. Assign an area where the pet can retreat to when he needs time alone without interaction with the little ones.

3. It helps to define the different areas in the household so for example a play area and a rest area. The use of security gates can help identify each area.

4. As well as training your pets it is helpful to educate children how to play and interact with animals, respecting them and their space.

5. When bringing a pet into a household or a baby into a household with an existing pet it is helpful to warn the animal or the child beforehand.

Pawsome teachers

IN an effort to help children manage their emotions and improve the relationship between animals and other children some schools in Spain have introduced dogs to the classroom.

They hope this initiative will help combat bullying at schools and stop violence against dogs. It is a programme of Assisted Interventions with Animals (IAA) that is specifically designed to work on empathy and emotions toward them.

With 24.4 per cent of primary and secondary Spanish students observing bullying in their school this is a very important topic. This programme offers emotional intelligence tools and develops social­emotional skills among minors and works on the benefits of mindfulness through this practice.

Nuria Máximo, the director of the URJC the Animal and Society Chair spoke about the positive feedback that has been received from this programme and because of this has decided to renew it again for a third year.

Some of this course is taught online but some modules are taught in person with experts in educational psychology and canine educators. They use dogs that have been adopted and already trained.

Dolly loves playing with her petsitter while her owners are away

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1-0 Win

THE Mar Menor football club based in San Javier triumphed over Sevilla Atlético by 1­0. The Mar Menor team, who play in the Segunda Federación, group 4, can maintain the pressure on the teams above them as they continue to fight for a play off position.

The only goal in the match came from Pipo Ramos in the 84th minute. Mar Menor are now in seventh position two points off the play off positions. Sevilla Atlético stay in 15th in the relegation zone after their defeat at the Pitín stadium in San Javier.

UCAM Murcia CF also won their match at the weekend away from home against Cádiz CF Mirandilla by four goals to nil. UCAM are in fifth position battling it out to maintain their position in the play off zone after a succession of draws.

Real Murcia triumph

REAL MURCIA secured a comfortable win against UE Cornellá on Sunday April 2. Real Murcia faced the Catalan team at home in their stadium Nueva Condomina. Real Murcia sailed to a win by four goals to nil with two goals from Dani Vega and one each for Aguza and Pablo Ganet.

This important win places Real Murcia in fifth position one point behind Barca Atletic and more im ­

portantly in a play ­ off position. UE Cornellá move down into 12th posi­

An important game

AN important win for FC Cartagena away from home in the Estadio Municipal de Butarque ( the municipal stadium of Butarque) beating Leganés 1­3. FC Cartagena sit in seventh position in ‘La Liga SmartBank’ two points behind Albacete BP and those all­important play­off spots, although Albacete have a game in hand.

It was anything but a straightforward win for Cartagena with the referee awarding Leganés a penalty in the 38th minute which Jose Arnaiz scored. Cartagena left it late with Ortuño getting a goal back in the 77th minute. Feuillassier scoring again three minutes later. Finally Nyom scored an own goal in the 90th minute making it look like a comfortable win for Cartagena. CD Leganés stay in 15th position one point behind Real Zaragoza and six points off relegation. Cartagena will face CD Mirandés Sunday April 9 at home in the Cartagonova Stadium.

Futsal final

tion after their defeat.

Real Murcia will face Real Unión Club, currently in 17th position in the relegation zone, on Sunday April 9 away from home in the Basque Country eager for another win to keep the pressure on the Barca B team and to maintain their presence in the play off positions. This comfortable win will come as a welcome relief after drawing their previous five matches.

World No1 spot lost

CARLOS ALCARAZ, hailing from El Palmar in Murcia, is probably the most exciting player in Men’s tennis in the world right now. Unfortunately he was defeated by Jannik Sinner in the Miami Open semi finals 6­7 (4) 6­4 62 having spent just two weeks back as the world’s number one knocking the Serbian Novak Djokovic off the top spot after winning Indian Wells. The match between Alcaraz, 19, and another rising

tennis star the Italian Jannik Sinner, 21, was another competitive duel, many agreeing that their match at the US Open was the match of the season. Sinner who is currently ranked 11th in the world is guaranteed a spot in the top 10 possibly reaching 6th if he can beat Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Alcaraz spoke about his loss after the match saying “All I can think about is to improve my level to beat Jannik.”

THE RFEF ­ Royal Spanish Football Federation ­ announced the venues of the main tournaments for the next four seasons of the Futsal Finals. The Murcia region will host along with the region of Andalucia the five biggest Futsal competitions until 2027.

José Miguel Monje, president of the National Futsal Committee, was in charge of announcing which autonomous communities will host the following: the Spanish cup, the Spanish youth cup, the Copa del Rey, the Queen’s cup, and the Spanish male and female Super Cup.

It had been announced that the Region of Murcia would host four Spanish Futsal Cups but in a lastminute change, Murcia was assigned two Spanish Futsal Cups instead of four in exchange for two King’s cups (Copa del Rey) a Queen’s Cup and a Super Cup. The regions then agreed to share the Futsal finals.

A comfortable win for Real Murcia.