Mallorca 11 – 17 May 2023 Issue 1975

Chopin Centre

BUDDING pianists had the chance to show off their talent on Friday May 5 with seven grand pianos set up at different points for the public to play throughout the day in Palma centre.

The spectacular instruments could be found in the Rambla, Plaça de la Mare de Deu de la Salut, Plaça del Mercat, Cort, el Born, L’Hort del Rei and Carrer Mirador from 11am to 8pm.

‘Palma s’omple de pianos’ (‘Palma is full of pianos’) was organised jointly by the Fundacio Jesus Serra and the Maria Canals International Music Competition to promote the universal practice of music through citizen participation.

The first edition of the initiative drew the attention of all kinds of players including music school students, children, amateur musicians and curious people with no musical knowledge.

Some even took along other instruments from home to play along, including violins and saxophones.

RESIDENTS in the Plaza de la Lonja in Palma have hit out at a recent ruling by the regional High Court (TSJB) allowing bars and restaurant terraces to open until 12.30am.

In 2019 Palma Council ordered the establishments to close at 11.30pm, which triggered a long legal battle between the affected restaurateurs and residents.

Finally the TSJB ruled in favour of the businesses and decided to countermand the order due to an administrative defect in the original ruling by the town hall.

Spokespeople for the sa Llotja­Es Born neighbourhood platform, who have been

fighting against noise pollution in the area for more than 30 years, insist that they are ‘not going to surrender’ and will explore all available legal alternatives to overturn the ruling.

The platform is also considering installing decibel sensors at strategic points to measure noise levels to prove the ‘daily aural torture’ they face.

On the other hand, restaurateur union CAEB Restauración ­ who raised the matter with the TSJB following the council ruling in 2019 ­ has welcomed the sentence but insists on the importance of ‘coexistence’ among all parties.

THE superyachts of two of the richest men in the world coincided at Palma’s Club de Mar last week.

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and his counterpart at Aliexpress, Jack Ma, had a chance to compare the size of their luxury vessels, with the former winning by 39 metres.

Bezos’ new schooner, baptised as Koru, measures a staggering 127 metres long compared to Ma’s 88metre engine­driven yacht Zen.

The Amazon boss is expected to take ownership of his new boat in Mallorca this summer.

Superyachts THE BATTLE OF THE TERRACES

Image by Neme_jimenez/Shutterstock

Palma full of pianos.

Image by Fundación Jesús Serra/Facebook

NOISE POLLUTION: The Plaza de la Lonja in Palma.

LIFEGUARDS in Palma are complaining of a “disastrous” start to the summer season.

The Mallorca Lifeguards Union reveals that the installations do not meet the minimum requirements and that the new contract that establishes salary increases and more staff has not yet been made effective.

This year’s lifeguard season began on May 1 at six beaches in Palma, namely Cala Major, Can Pere Antoni, Portitxol, Ciutat Jardi, Cala Estancia and Playa de Palma.

However, the professionals have reportedly been forced to start working without the necessary equipment and

Lifeguards up in arms

buoys marking the bathing area are not yet in place ­ a situation they claim is repeated in most areas.

The lifeguards blame Palma Council for starting the service without having implemented the new working conditions negotiated by the service.

with deteriorated installations.

According to the Union, in Ciudad Jardin the nursing de­

THIS year’s Blue Flag awards were awarded last week.

The Blue Flag is an award given annually since 1987 by several European and international bodies to beaches and marinas that meet a series of environmental conditions and facilities.

The criteria for obtaining the Blue Flag are divided into four main areas, namely the quality of the water, environmental information and education, environmental management and safety, services and facilities.

Mallorca has obtained 21 awards this year for beaches in Felanitx, Muro, Palma, Pollença, Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Santa Margalida, Santanyi, Ses Salines and Son Servera.

Regarding marinas, Mallorca obtained 10 awards for Port de Mallorca, Palma Yacht Club, Port d’Andratx Sailing School, Porto Cristo Yacht Club and S’Arenal Yacht Club, among others.

partment is not set up, the toilets and showers are closed, there is no electricity or running water and the

Waving the flag

In addition, the Union is requesting that new lifeguard towers are installed at the Arenal ­ where there are currently only seven for four kilometres of beach ­ and at the Peñon in Ciudad Jardin.

Caravanners take to the streets

UP to 300 caravan and motorhome owners took to the streets of Palma on Saturday May 6 to demand areas to park and spend the night in the capital city.

On the downside, three beaches lost their Blue Flags this year with regards to 2022, namely Cala Estancia and s’Arenal in Palma and Cala Gran in Santañi.

The Playa de Palma Hotelier Association has accused the local and regional authorities of causing the loss of the awards due to delays in authorising the necessary services on the capital’s beach.

Bicipalma arrives at Son

THE municipal Bicipalma bicycle service has arrived at Son Espases University Hospital.

The new station is located at the entrance to the Àrea

Espases

d’Hospitalització and has space for 30 bikes, the largest together with the station on Via Roma.

This is the 75th Bicipalma station opened in the city

Calls for island pact

THE Balearic Islands Government commemorated Europe Day this week by issuing a statement defending a common strategy for all islands within the EU.

The declaration highlighted the opportunity offered by the fact that Spain will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2023 to achieve an island pact at the European level.

In addition, the Govern celebrated the Union’s 73rd birthday by calling for peace and solidarity with the Ukraine.

An institutional event was held at Es Baluard museum and the Consolat de Mar regional government headquarters, as well as several other emblematic buildings throughout the Balearics, were lit up with blue to mark the occasion on Tuesday May 9.

and the aim is to arrive at 85 by the end of spring.

The new Bicipalma service is financed with EU Next Generation funds and was launched at the end of last year with a completely renewed system of sustainable mobility that allows the public bicycle service to reach 20 more neighbourhoods than before.

It incorporates a total of 930 new bicycles, of which 270 are electric ­ the model most frequently used ­ and 660 are mechanical.

Users of the new Bicipalma service have multiplied by six over the last four months, shattering the expectations of the town hall’s Mobility department, who admit to being “pleasantly surprised” as the initial expectation was to double the number of users over the first year.

The protest gathered 100 vehicles that assembled in Calle Camp de Deu opposite the Brico Depot at 5pm, leaving 90 minutes later to embark upon a circular route through Calle Manacor, Avingudes, Indústria, the Passeig Maritim and back to Son Malferit.

The protesters demanded to stop being treated “like delinquents” and called for a solution to be found for a situation that is “unsustainable and unjustified,” as quoted by a local press source.

Spokespeople for the group claimed that they are accused of not contributing to the local economy and leaving rubbish behind, but insisted that the political authorities are to blame for not taking any steps to remedy the situation.

Others pointed out that Mallorca is the area of Spain with the most restrictions for caravanners and that they need parking areas with 72 ­ hour time limits with more water filling and emptying points ­ one of which is located in Palma.

LIFEGUARDS: The season began on May 1.

Image by Sergi Lopez Roig/Shutterstock

BLUE FLAG: The awards are now out.

Keeping clean

PALMA municipal cleaning service Emaya has rein‐forced its team for the sum‐mer with 170 new employ‐ees, extra vehicles and higher refuse collection fre‐quencies. The company be‐gan taking on new workers at the beginning of April ready for Easter, with the summer campaign set to continue until the end of Oc‐tober.

Two plus two

UP to 300 schoolchildren aged five to 13 from all over Mallorca took part in the 10th edition of the Mental Arithmetic Championship at the weekend. Participants had to solve up to 70 mathe‐matical operations in just five minutes with the help of only their mind and an aba‐cus.

Bomb!

PALMA’s Passeig d’es Moli‐nar had to be closed off for half an hour on Friday morn‐ing following the discovery of a mortar bomb. The de‐vice was found buried in the sand near the Rosa de los Vientos by a passer‐by and was removed by the Nation‐al Police explosives unit.

Health centres

PLANS have been rap‐proved for two new health centres in Palma’s Son Fer‐riol and Bons Aires neigh‐bourhoods. Between them the city’s Primary Care ser‐vice will be boosted with 105 extra surgeries, a new A&E department and a car park, with both projects costing a total of €26.3 mil‐lion.

Finca sold

A YOUNG German en‐trepreneur has purchased and redesigned the Finca Son Coll estate near Arta that used to belong to tennis ace Boris Becker. The 13‐bedroom property had been abandoned for several years and overrun with squatters until the new anonymous owner took it over.

APRIL was warmer than usual in Mallorca.

According to the Balearic Islands delegation of the State Weather Agency (Aemet), the average tem‐perature last month was 15.3ºC, nearly one degree higher than normal.

The highest figure was registered on April 29 when Llucmajor hit 33.7ºC ‐ the highest ever April temperature in the town since records began in 1975.

Warmer April

month with an average of 18.2 litres falling per square metre compared to the 42.8 litres that are nor‐mally registered ‐ a 58 per cent drop.

YOUR

108

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

On the other end of the scale, last month there were three days with frost in Escorca Son Torrella ‐when there are normally two ‐ and one in Campos, where there are usually none in April.

Regarding rainfall, it was also an unusually dry

But things look likely to change this week, with heavy storms predicted to hit the island tomorrow, Friday May 12, according to the Aemet.

The agency expects tem‐peratures to fall by 7ºC with regards to last week‐end, reaching a maximum of 21ºC.

Antisocial behaviour Airport peace deal

TAXI and minibus drivers in Palma have arrived at an agreement to stop their on‐going dispute at the air ‐port.

Association representa‐tives for both parties in Mallorca met last Friday, May 5 to discuss ways of solving the confrontation and agreed to try out a new passenger collection system that satisfies them both.

Taxi association presi ‐dent Biel Moragues re ‐vealed after the meeting that under the new agree‐ment minibus drivers are not allowed to pick up groups of less than five pas‐

sengers and must focus on groups of five to 19 people. Moragues added that this initial deal will not solve the problem of the ‘pirate’ transport activity at the airport “but is a big step towards ending it.”

Minibus and taxi drivers had staged several con ‐frontations at Son Sant Joan over previous weeks, with travellers landing at the airport being greeted by crowds of arguing drivers fighting for cus ‐tomers in what Sr Mor ‐agues described as “a third‐world image” of Palma that was bad for business for everyone.

THE Balearic Islands Gov ‐ernment has announced a clampdown on antisocial behaviour this summer.

This will be done by ap‐plying the regulation against ‘tourism of excess’ enforced by the regional executive, and was an ‐nounced during last week’s meeting of the Commission for the Pro ‐motion of Civility presided by Economic Model and Tourism councillor Iago Negueruela.

“The regulation is very effective and provides in ‐struments that have a great impact, such as pre‐cautionary closures of es ‐

The Coll moves!

MORE than 250 schoolchil‐dren and teachers took part in an urban cycle march in the Coll d’en Rabassa area of Palma on Friday May 5 to call for a safe school environment and encourage sustainable transport.

‘Es Coll es mou!’ (‘The Coll moves!’) gathered students and teaching staff from all the area’s schools for a 2.9‐kilometre circular route starting

No dancing

A DISCOTHEQUE in Maga‐luf has been sealed off by Calvia Council for allegedly ‘objectifying and hyper‐sexualising’ dancers.

from the CEIP Coll d’en Rabassa at 10am, passing by CC Sant Vicenç de Paul

and the CC Lladó.

The cyclists stopped off in Son Perera park on the way for a healthy snack provided by MercaPalma and to read out a mani ‐festo calling for a ‘safe and sustainable neighbour ‐hood’ and suggesting the creation of a cycle route to access local services such as the library, the Casal, edu‐cation centres, the health centre and the municipal parks, among others.

tablishments, which allow us to tackle these be ‐haviours and act with the maximum forcefulness,” declared the councillor, adding that “we will do ev‐erything necessary.”

Representatives for Pal‐ma Town Hall at the meet‐ing revealed that last year the local authorities issued 7,000 reports for antisocial behaviour, mostly on Playa de Palma.

Calvia Council reported 34 interventions including establishment closures for very serious offences, ‘bal‐coning’ ‐ jumping off bal ‐conies into swimming pools ‐ and unlicensed ad‐vertising including offering discounts and ‘happy hours’, among others.

The owners of Stereo Temple are also facing a fine of at least €60,000 for reportedly employing dancers in the VIP lounge on the upper floor of the disco that can be clearly seen from the street in what the council has termed a very serious of‐fence under regional law.

Owner Gabriel Car‐bonell has announced plans to appeal the ruling that he has described as “discriminatory and non‐sense,” as it does allow the same activity in other areas located just 100 me‐tres away from the VIP lounge.

The dancers them‐selves have announced their intention to set up an association to defend their rights against the “deni‐grating” law and demand “respect” for what they describe as “a very digni‐fied” profession, as quot‐ed by a local news source.

Image by Perfect strangers/Shutterstock

You might need your brolly again this weekend.

Image by Palma Town Hall

Urban cycle march.

Unlicensed fitters

A LACK of licensed air conditioning fitters in Mallorca is leading to an increase in ‘piracy’, according to regional installation union Asinem. With sales of air conditioning units expected to outweigh last year’s figures and sellers reporting a surge in sales as early as April, Asinem are warning that more than 72 per cent of installation companies are having trouble finding qualified fitters.

PROVERB

This is leading to an increase in unqualified workers who do not have the necessary authorisation to handle this type of equipment, reports Asinem president Mayra Argüelles, who adds that safety and not a low price is the prime concern in the sector.

Sra Argüelles reported that installation companies have stocked up with air conditioning units ready for a surge in demand, suggesting that

Classic Car Club happy days

any delays this year will be caused by the lack of workers and not by equipment shortages.

The Asinem president informed customers that they can check whether an installation company has all the necessary permits by introducing the firm’s NIF or Registro Industrial number in the search engine in the ‘Tramitación UDIT’ section of the Balearic Islands Government website www.caib.es.

APRIL’S Car Run was held on Sunday 30 and was called ‘Happy Days’. It was organised by Helen Pitt who put together a great route, which took in some spectacular and stunning coastal scenery on the western coast of Mallorca. The group also held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), which brought members up to date with the Club’s activities and finances.

Nearly 40 members met at the Amadip Café in Palmanova and enjoyed a croissant and coffee before starting the car run at 11am.

The route led north to Calvia and then to Es Capdella, and from there towards Andratx and the turning for Estellencs along the coast road, and then on to Banyalbufar. From there participants headed south to Esporles, taking the turn for Puigpunyent and headed towards

A SUSPECTED pyromaniac was arrested for allegedly setting fire to 13 vehicles and a house front in Porreres in the early hours of Tuesday May 2.

Alarmed neighbours called the Guardia Civil at 3am to report that a car parked on a street in the town was engulfed in flames, which was shortly followed by others in different areas.

The authorities, with the support of the Local Police and the fire department, set up a large emergency operation to catch the culprit, and eventually identified and detained a 23­year­old local resident.

Palma on the Ma1041.

Drivers then took the Ma1016 for Calvia and then the Ma1043 to Genova, arriving at Lume & Co restaurant, which concluded the car run. The restaurant was especially good with some delicious food in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

The next car run will be on Sunday May 28.

Porreres pyromaniac arrested

Groups of angry neighbours gathered in the streets to express their outrage and revealed that a number of the affected cars were new, as the fire services worked until dawn to extinguish the flames

and repair damage to street furniture.

Police sources reveal that the amount of the damage could climb above €70,000, with many of the vehicles being written off.

The incident has triggered complaints about the lack of police officers on call at night in many towns throughout Mallorca, which leads to delays in dealing with crimes.

Rare disease

INVESTIGATORS at Palma’s Son Espases University Hospital have discovered a very rare disease that is only suffered by 13 children all over the world.

The discovery was made possible after a brother and sister in Mallorca were found to carry an abnormal gene that causes severe cranial haemorrhages during pregnancy.

Researchers at the hospital’s Genetics department launched the study after the second sibling with the same condition was born to a Mallorca couple, leading experts to confirm that the cause was genetic.

A two­year investigation by professionals from several medical specialities eventually revealed that the condition is only shared by 13 children from eight families throughout the world, most of whom are Turkish.

HAPPY DAYS: The group also held its AGM.

Image by Classic Car Club Mallorca

OF THE WEEK

“It’s all Greek to me.”

Means that something is difficult to understand due to its complexity. This expression was coined by Shakespeare who used it literally in Julius Caesar.

1st ever novel was written in Spanish.

30th Anniversary concert

ROTARY CLUB INCA celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

To mark the occasion, the association has organised a charity concert at the Teatre Principal in collaboration with the town hall and the Fundació Teatre Principal.

Welcome guide

MANACOR Council has published a ‘welcome guide’ for new residents.

“Following the Covid­19 pandemic and the consequent restructuring of the Social Services department to attend to all needs, we set up a triage service where social workers and educators provide an initial welcome session for new people arriving in Manacor,” explained Social Services delegate Carme Gomila.

The new guide reinforces that service and has been published in Catalan, Spanish, English, German and Arabic.

“The aim is to open the doors of Manacor Town Hall to new residents, so that they not

only become familiar with the services we offer them, but also know their rights and general information about the town,” explained Manacor mayor Miquel Oliver.

Information includes advice on how to register on the municipal padron town census, how to enrol children in school and how to obtain the public health service card, as well as advice on education and employment, public transport, participation in local culture and sports and more.

The Guia d’Acollida Municipal (‘Municipal Welcome Guide’) can be found at the town hall, health centres, the hospital and education centres throughout the town.

Inca mayor Virgilio Moreno, Rotary Club Inca president David Fernández and the president of the regional delegation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), Ricardo Parra, presented the event last week.

The concert will take place at 12pm on Saturday May 13 and will feature Carlos Casanovas and Solistes del Mediterrani, who will perform a selection of classical pieces by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Weber and Rossini.

All proceeds will go towards the Balearic Association Against Cancer.

The Rotary Club Inca was founded in 1993, following

the example set by Paul Harris (Chicago, USA), who created the first Rotary club in the world in 1905. Today, there are 46,000 Rotary Clubs spread over the five continents.

Rotary’s motto is service

to the community and encourages peace and friendship. For this reason, since its inception the Rotary Club Inca has carried out numerous actions of solidarity with the most vulnerable people and entities.

Cable sparks row

THE pressure group set up by residents in Alcudia against the plans for the second high­voltage line connecting Mallorca to the mainland have accused Mayor Domingo Bonnín of infringing a series of motions passed by the council.

A spokesperson for Alcudia Residents Affected by the Cable (VAAC) read out a statement at the latest plenary session in the town hall on Thursday May 4.

In the text, the protesters accuse Sr Bonnin of “publicly supporting the platform due to social and media pressure but he has not moved a finger to help us,” adding that the mayor has instead “slowed down our initiatives” against the project.

The spokesperson listed a number of proposals approved by the council since the end of last year but which have not yet materialised, including the promise to hold an open meeting between members of the public and political representatives to offer up­to­date information and discuss the project.

The group also criticised the fact that the environmental reports had not been requested from an external company or from the Balearic Islands University on the different alternatives proposed for the entrance of the electricity cable to the island.

Manacor mayor Miquel Oliver (left) handing out the guides at a local health centre.

Image by Manacor Town Hall

Dealing with the crowds

THE arrival of the summer holiday season is causing concern among the authorities that this year could see a repeat of the problems caused in 2022 by the mass influx of visitors at some of Mallorca’s most popular tourist spots.

Issues that the Govern, tourism chiefs and environmentalists wish to avoid include traffic jams, access points to beaches blocked by cars parked incorrectly, and vantage points such as the Mirador de Es Colomer in Pollença saturated with huge numbers of people at certain times of day.

These ‘hot spots’ have been identified and measures to prevent saturation will be introduced from now until the summer season, such as the ban on private vehicles on the road to Formentor lighthouse from June to September ­ as reported last week by the Euro Weekly News.

Beaches and bays are another major concern, including Calo d’es Moro in Santanyi ­ where there were queues of up to four hours last year to get to the sea ­ Cala Varques, Es Trenc/Ses Covetes and Es Caragol.

In Es Trenc, a park ­ and ­ ride bus service was launched last year to prevent crowding on the accesses through Ses Covetes, a problem that also affected

We are the champions!

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Palma Futsal indoor football team.

The squad beat Sporting Clube de Portugal in the final of the Champions League at the weekend in front of a packed Velodrom Illes Balears in Palma.

the Cala Varques in Manacor, where dozens of cars were seen badly parked on the access road and which led the local council to create a car park for 32 vehicles and 15 bicycles.

Es Caragol beach on the road to Cap Salines lighthouse is another major draw for visitors and residents alike, with accesses by road and even by sea registering a large volume of vehicles, as it is also one of the preferred destinations at which to arrive by boat.

Sa Foradada vantage point is an irresistible draw at sunset, with the spectacular views proving a magnet for photographers and leading to large crowds forming at the same time every day during the high season.

The nail­biting final ended with a penalty shootout after both sides drew 1­1, which triggered fears of a repeat of past major clashes when Palma seemed doomed to always lose in these situations.

But the fears were unfounded and Palma Futsal ended up winning the penalty round by 5 ­ 3, to the ecstasy of players and fans.

The historic occasion was compounded by this being

the first ever time the local team had competed in a major international clash at this level.

The party spilled over to Monday, when the team, coaching staff and management boarded an opentopped bus to drive around Palma and share the trophy with the fans.

25 years service

ZAQUEO soup kitchen in Palma’s Plaça del Mercadal celebrated its 25th anniversary last week with a meeting of volunteers and collaborators.

The association was set up by Paco Sans in 1998 to help those less fortunate and in its early years mainly provided a service for drug addicts, prostitutes and homeless people from the Sa Gerreria neighbourhood.

But since the Covid pandemic more than 250 crisis ­ hit residents pass through its doors every day to get a hot meal.

Sra Cunill explained that the profile of users had changed in recent times and that they now serve all kinds of people, “even elderly people with small pensions.”

The association president also added that due to the increasing numbers, users no longer eat at the centre but are instead given “a bag with a lunch box containing hot food, bread, water, fruit, some sweets and milk once a week” for them to take away.

Follow Associació Zaqueo on Facebook for further information.

No to solar installation

MURO Council has approved a motion to oppose plans to build a solar panel installation on protected rustic and forest land in the Vinroma area between the town and Can Picafort.

The project is currently being processed by the Balearic Islands Government and is set to occupy 108,705 square metres with more than 15,000 solar panels.

According to the plans, the installation will cost

Mallorca Island Council

President Catalina Cladera took part in the celebrations in the Plaça de l’Hospital, where she danced with team captain Carlos Barron before the bus continued on to Cort, where 300 fans cheered each player as they appeared on the town hall balcony.

Bullying

UP to 10 per cent of primary education schoolchildren in Mallorca suffer bullying, according to a new nationwide study.

The Spanish Ministry of Education aims to tackle bullying in the classroom in the same way as it did years ago with gender violence, by bringing it to light and considering it a state issue.

The first step is to identify and quantify the problem, as until now there were no official government statistics on the issue and analysts relied solely on research by individual organisations.

€6.3 million and the energy generated would supply 2,292 households.

According to the town hall’s statement, it would “cause an environmental imbalance and affect an enormous amount of fertile land that will be rendered unusable.”

Alternatively, the statement suggests installing solar panels on roofs, terraces, car parks, empty spaces on roads and motorways and on unusable plots of land.

Researchers at a Madrid university were tasked with asking more than 35,000 primary level schoolchildren all over Spain whether they had ever felt bullied at school, to which nearly 10 per cent answered affirmatively.

In addition, nearly 5 per cent admitted having bullied other students.

On the plus side, the 300­page report reveals that figures are lower than previously suggested in surveys by education organisations.

WELL DONE: Palma Futsal beat Portugal in the final.

The Calo d’es Moro is a ‘hot spot’.

Image by Mallorca Palma Futsal/Facebook

Image by Marina Kryuchina/Shutterstock

No corkage in Ronda

RONDA in the province of Malaga on the Costa del Sol has been forced to put a stop to corkage due to the drought conditions.

The drought has been felt in the public forests of Ronda in an area of Serrania, even though it usually gets more rain than the rest of the season. This year has been an exception.

As a result, the town council has taken the measure of prohibiting the collection of cork used by cork men in a tradition that goes back to ancient times.

The measure is taken as a form of protection for cork oaks, since the lack of moisture this year could cause damage to the trees if they are peeled for cork.

The municipal delegate of the Ronda mountains, Jesus Vazquez said: “At

the moment there is only a small plot where corking cannot take place. There are other plots that have adequate conditions, although as the uncorking date approaches inspections will be carried out to verify that the

cork can be removed without damage to the trees.

Production will be lower this year, but a rise in prices ought to offset the income which is one of the most important in the towns of the Tagus.

Betty Henderson

IN final figures, authorities say that this year’s Feria de Sevilla (April Fair in Sevilla) brought in a whopping €930 million.

The event, which came to an end on Friday, April 28 was a major success, breaking records in terms of attendance, spending, transport, horse­drawn carriage rides, and hotel occupancy.

This year’s festival saw an increase in public transportation usage, with over 1.1 million people using the public transport system. Horsedrawn carriages, which are a staple of the festival, also saw a 6 per cent increase in use.

John Ensor

Fantastic fortune

tional flamenco music playing all around, couples dancing ‘Sevillanas’ dances with women in flamenca dresses and the classic Feria drink ‘Rebujito’, a mixed drink of sherry and lemonade flowing.

Hotel occupancy reached an impressive 85­88 per cent during the week and 92 per cent on weekends.

The festival sees the city transported back to the 19th century for a week of tradi­

THE controversial film star, Amber Heard, has left the hustle and bustle of America and relocated to Spain to dedicate more time to her family.

After the acrimonious high­profile case with Johnny Depp, Amber Heard has decided to move to Spain’s capital Madrid, in a move away from her film career, in order to spend quality time with her daughter according a news source on Friday, May 5.

Heard’s daughter, Oonagh, was born in 2021 via surrogate, the move from America to Spain is believed to be to take her away from the media spotlight.

The atmosphere at the Feria de Sevilla was lively, colourful, and festive, with streets lined with ‘Caseta’ fair tents fully equipped with bars and table service.

The festival’s incredible income makes it one of the biggest economic events for Spain.

Life after Depp

In 2018, Heard published an article detailing her being the victim of domestic abuse, which led to the six­week­long trial. The court decision ultimately ruled in favour of Depp who won more than $10 million in defamation damages.

Last year’s court case took its toll emotionally and financially, leading the actress to sell her home in Los Angeles to pay her legal fees.

According to a close source, Amber is ‘happy’ in Spain and ‘raising her daughter away from all the noise.

International art theft

A MAJOR international investigation into the illegal art trade across 14 European countries has recovered over 11,00 artefacts and has so far resulted in 60 arrests.

Operation Pandora VII was led by Spain’s Guardia Civil, along with the support of Europol and INTERPOL, in a report published on Thursday, May 4, by Europol.

The Pandora operation was conducted between September 13 ­ 24, 2022, with the aim of targeting criminals who profit from the theft and distribution of items of cultural heritage. Thousands of checks were carried out at numerous airports, ports and border crossing points, as well as in auction houses, museums and private houses.

Over 8,495 online investigations were also conducted last year in May and October, which successfully retrieved 4,017 stolen goods. Currently, around 130 investigations are still ongoing, with an international team of investigators expecting the number of arrests and seizures to rise.

Some notable results included an operation conducted by the Guardia Civil in Sevilla, where a Roman marble bust of a woman, believed to represent Salonia Matidia the niece of the emperor Traian, was recovered.

Photo credit: Madison Hennig (via WhatsApp)

CORK TREES: The oaks are being protected.

‘Caseta’ fair tents line the streets in Sevilla’s iconic Feria fair.

The UK tax year started on 6 April, so how will this impact your pocket? UK tax changes can affect you even if you are living in Spain, so here we outline the key announcements in the last two UK budgets.

Lifetime Allowance and other pensions tax changes

Probably the biggest surprise of the UK’s 2023 spring budget was the abolition of the pensions Lifetime Allowance and resulting tax charges.

While the Lifetime Allowance itself remains in place for now, the tax rate for breaching the limit is 0% from 6 April 2023 onwards. It will be scrapped entirely in the 2024 Finance Bill.

First introduced in 2006, your Lifetime Allowance is the amount you can hold in combined UK pension benefits (excluding state pension) before incurring additional tax charges – 55% for lump sums or 25% for income or overseas transfers. It has been cut significantly over recent years, from £1,800,000 in 2011 down to £1,073,100 before being scrapped.

The new UK tax year

lowance and minimum Tapered

Annual Allowance from £4,000 to £10,000, and from £40,000 to £60,000 for the Annual Allowance for contributions.

UK income tax

By Cathal Rochford, Partner,

contributions and growth. A future government could, however, reverse this move and the Labour Party quickly pledged to do so. Since pension transfers can take up to six months, there may be a limited opportunity to transfer your pension out of the UK and avoid any future UK charges.

The spring budget did not include any significant changes to income tax, but the autumn statement included measures to increase taxation.

The income tax personal allowance, higher rate threshold, national insurance contributions, upper earning limit and upper profits limit were frozen at their 2021 levels for another two years, until April 2028.

Freezing allowances and thresholds is often referred to as ‘tax by stealth’ since it increases taxation without putting up tax rates.

The income threshold for the additional 45% tax rate (47% in

Corporation tax increased to 25% for businesses making over £250k in profits.

Capital gains and dividends taxation

As announced in the Autumn Statement, the Capital Gains Tax Annual Exempt amount has dropped from £12,300 to £6,000 for the 2023-2024 tax year. It will be cut in half again, to £3,000, in April 2024.

The Dividend Allowance has also been halved, from £2,000 to £1000 from April 2023, and then to £500 in 2024.

UK inheritance tax

Both the general Nil Rate Band and Residential Nil Rate Band will remain frozen at £325,000 and £175,000 respectively until April 2028. Coupled with rising house prices, this will drag more and

frozen since 2009, which has impacted many families.

Cross-border tax advice

Take personalised advice from a cross-border specialist to establish if and how the UK tax changes could impact you and your family, even as a non-resident. If you have not yet left the UK, take advice before you dispose of UK assets to ensure you do that as taxefficiently as possible.

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

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the

Blevins Franks

Keep it in the family

AS a foreigner, moving to a village in rural northern Spain means you are a curiosity. Neighbours will begin circling, not unlike sharks. Peeking through your gate like you’re an animal in the local zoo.

Of course, they are curious about your strange ways. How you venture out of the confines of your home in outfits in which they wouldn’t be caught dead, as you sweep your front porch without wearing the requisite apron of all women sweeping front porches. I can hear their thoughts. ‘Has she no shame?’

After two years, we had begun to rack up an

impressive stack of social faux pas. Erecting a fence to keep our dog in might impede hunters from crossing our land toting shotguns while chasing a pack of baying dogs. There were many more.

We were given a wide berth when we would walk down to the village to order a coffee or a glass of wine. They took our money and handed over the beverages, but they didn’t look happy about it. But then, it all changed.

I needed a housekeeper. I called local businesses and asked everyone I met. No one would respond. So, I cleaned my own home without wearing an

apron. Heresy. Then, one day there was a knock at the door. A small woman stood there. She spoke only Gallego but, apparently, was here to clean my house.

Her apron was my first clue. Where she had come from, I didn’t know. But I hired her on the spot. And it turns out she’s the cousin of the people who own the café in the village. Suddenly, my lack of an apron doesn’t seem to matter anymore. The hunters totally understand why we have a fence for our dog. And, while we are no longer exotic zoo animals, my house has never been cleaner.

Mallorca Live Festival

THE Mallorca Live Festival lands with full force next week from Thursday May 18 to Saturday May 20 and this is your last chance to snap up some of the remaining tickets that are selling out fast.

The Kooks, Black Eyed Peas and The Chemical Brothers will headline the three nights at the old Aquapark in Calvia, preceded by a selection of the most exciting international and national acts making it once again the most important live music event in the Balearic Islands.

Among the luxury line­up are Vetusta Morla, one of the indisputable references of Spanish indie music, who are on tour to present their latest album Cable a Tierra. Among their achievements is the milestone of being the first Spanish band of their genre to bring together 38,000 people at their own concert.

León Benavente, another of the great luminaries

of Spanish indie rock, will share the bill with the Madrid band on the opening day of the festival, while another essential alternative rock band, Viva

THE Mallorca Progress Society and Innovate Mallorca are inviting you to an innovation and art exhibition and auction at Plaza Mayor, E3 in Palma from today, Thursday May 11 to Saturday May 13.

Join us during our threeday event aiming to promote various Business Innovation projects from Mallorca and a

mark on

Innovation and art exhibition

painting and sculpture exhibition by various local and international artists, including an auction of some of their works on Saturday May 13 at 5.30pm with wine and canapes, after an environmental workshop for children at 3pm.

Artists include Sylvia Baker de Perkal, Alina Poloboc, Jose Maria Fayos, Gael Lambiotte, Laura Carbajo and Ernesto Benítez.

Innovation participants include the Cleanwave Foundation, Laminar Pharma,

Medgardens, Llanatura and PalmaVideoStudios.

Come and be inspired by the ingenuity and creativity of our featured innovators and artists as they present their latest works.

Admission is free but preregistration is required to take part in the auction.

By investing in the art you will be supporting the JoyRon Foundation to provide help for children in need in the Balearic Islands.

For further information visit www.innovationandart.es.

A YOGA and coaching retreat is taking place at Finca Emunah in Son Español on Sunday May 28.

“They who master their mind master their life and can achieve anything they set their minds to,” said organiser Gloria Pons.

“In this retreat you will learn to connect with your body and your intuition, recognise your resistances and reprogramme your subconscious mind, transforming your energy. You will create a clear vision of your future along with a specific plan to achieve what you desire. It’s not your circumstances, it’s your inner self. Don’t wait for things to change or for someone to come along and give you a chance and give it to yourself.”

The retreat will start at 10.30am and ends at 5.30pm, and will include a workbook, talks, practical exercises, group dynamics, yoga sessions, meditation, a midday brunch, a nature walk and some surprises. For further information contact Gloria Pons through Facebook.

Volga Mediterrani

THE Balearic Islands Symphony Orchestra will be performing tonight Thursday May 11 at 8pm, at Trui Teatre as part of a series of eight concerts under the name Volga Mediterrani.

The programme focuses on two of the most influential Russian composers of the 20th century, conducted by Gianna Fratta.

Sergei Prokofiev’s Concert for Piano No. 3, which will feature solo pianist Alba Ventura, will be the first of the works to be performed by the Orchestra.

The concert will end with Igor Stravinsky’s Petruixka.

The Russian composer conceived this work for piano and it was the founder of Russian ballet, Sergey Diaghilev, who persuaded him to turn it into a ballet.

Tickets cost €30 from www.truiteatre.es and from www.simfonicade balears.com

Suecia, will make their

the closing day. For further information and tickets visit www.mal lorcalivefestival.com

HEADLINERS: The Kooks, Black Eyed Peas and The Chemical Brothers.

Phone call

THE Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak spent time on a call with Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez.

The call took place on Thursday 4 May. The pair welcomed the strong and growing economic, security and cultural ties between the UK and Spain, as well as wider cooperation with European partners.

Mr Sunak highlighted the importance of cooperation between Spain and the UK on issues such as illegal immigration and energy security.

He also acknowledged the opportunity both men will have when they address these shared challenges when the UK and Spain host future meetings of the European Political Community.

The two leaders also spoke about Gibraltar. They both agreed that progressing with negotiations on a UK­EU Treaty was of importance, especially in concluding an agreement as soon as possible.

The war in Ukraine was also discussed. Both Sunak Rishi and Pedro Sanchez agreed on the UK and Spain’s enduring support for Ukraine’s defence against the illegal invasion by Russia and President Zelensky’s plan for peace.

Royal UFO

A PHOTOGRAPHER in Lon­

don was shocked to see the results in a photo clicked during King Charles’ Coronation ceremony after he noticed a mysterious object on one of them. Simon Balson was photographing the aerial spectacle during the Red Arrows flypast when he noticed something he claimed to have ‘no idea’ about.

In a quote cited by a news source, Balson said, “I was shooting some photos from the 13th floor of my apartment building in Limehouse while the red arrows did

Ed wins case

IT’S official, Ed Sheeran did not rip off Marvin Gaye, a Manhattan jury has decided.

The high­profile case held in a Manhattan federal court was concluded on Thursday, May 4, when the question of plagiarism was answered with an emphatic not­guilty verdict, according to a news source. The $100 million copyright trial centred around Sheeran’s hit song ‘Thinking Out Loud’ being stolen from Marvin Gaye's classic ‘Let’s Get It On’.

The 32 ­ year ­ old singersongwriter successfully proved to the court he did not infringe copyright. When the verdict was announced Sheeran buried his face in his

hands before standing up to hug his lawyer in relief.

The Yorkshire­born singer had vehemently denied the song had been stolen, so much so, he vowed he would give up music if he was found guilty. Hence the verdict must come as a massive relief to his many fans around the world.

The 1973 hit ‘Let’s Get It On’, was co­written by Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend who died in 2003. The lawsuit was brought by Townsend’s heirs.

During the trial, Sheeran said, “I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it.”

Empty-handed

their fly­over.”

Due to the bad weather, Balson said that he did not check the images at the time.

He said, “When I did, though, I spotted this weird object and just thought what the hell is that.

“All I could get is that it had a little bit of a red top, but I have no idea what it could be.”

He said “There have been lots of strange ‘UFO’ sightings recently, so I thought other people might be able to guess what it was.”

AN elderly bank robber used a handwritten note to announce his intentions but it backfired when puzzled staff couldn’t decipher it. In February, 69­yearold pensioner, Alan Slattery, went to banks and building societies in East Sussex in an attempt to rob them, only to be thwarted by his handwriting, according to a news source.

The attempted robberies occurred when Slattery went to a National Building Society in St Leonards, another in Bexhillon­Sea, East Sussex, and at Natwest in Bexhill. The same threatening note was used each time, ‘Im not f*****g

DJ out of hospital

John Ensor

AFTER a three­week stay in hospital, people’s favourite Tony Blackburn has been discharged.

and am now at home to have some more treatment by having a daily injection for a few days from a hospital near me.

about, just pass me the 10s and 20s now and no­one will get hurt.’ On each occasion, however, he walked away empty­handed as bank staff refused to comply with his demands. Inspector Olivia Carroll, of Hastings and Rother Neighbourhood Policing Team, said “Slattery is well­known for his previous offences in the area and was easily identified by staff who reported the incidents to us.

“This led to him being quickly arrested and charged within just 12 hours. He was also remanded in custody to prevent him from re­offending.”

The 80 ­ year ­ old radio star was released from hospital and shared a tweet on Wednesday, May 3, with his many fans on his latest health check ­ up, said a news source.

Listeners were in shock when Tony revealed in April he would not be presenting his usual radio show due to a serious chest infection, an illness that led to him being hospitalised for three weeks.

He told fans although he was out of hospital, he hadn’t received the all­clear. Mr Blackburn confided he still required daily treatment from staff at the hospital.

In a tweet he wrote: “After three weeks in hospital I have just been discharged

“Thanks to everyone at the Wellington Hospital in London for looking after me. After my treatment and a rest I look forward to getting back @BBCRadio2 and @BBCLOCALRADIO to doing what I love doing.

“Just want to thank all my friends for your lovely messages. Xx”

TONY BLACKBURN: Has had a chest infection.

36 billion cups of tea are drunk per year in the UK.

Coronation a roaring success Royal guests

FOLLOWING the coronation ceremony, the focus then turned to Buckingham Palace where the new King and Queen appeared, to the delight of the multitude that had gathered there.

Saturday, May 6 was the day Britons celebrated their newly crowned King and Queen, a historic event watched by millions worldwide.

Despite the rain, family squabbles and the threat of disruption from anti­monarchists the day was a complete success.

The King and Queen took their places on the balcony to welcome the royal flypast and as they waved to crowds below a huge roar went up in celebration.

However, due to the weather, the Ministry of Defence had to send a slimmed­down version of the six­minute flypast, trimmed to just two and a half minutes instead.

The original plan was for over 60 aircraft, which included some vintage bombers, to

THE surrounding area of Buckingham Palace was left littered with soggy tents and other discarded belongings on May 7, after heavy rains at the weekend’s coronation event.

The Buckingham Palace Mall was left a ‘right royal mess’ after revellers left the site after the coronation. With some supporters of the newly crowned king having camped there for up to a week and the weather being, well, terribly British, there will be plenty of clearing up to do.

Chris Ship, the ITV News Royal Editor, posted a video of the aftermath of the Coronation of King Charles III saying:

“A few short hours ago, there were crowds and carriages and crowns. Now the Mall resembles an abandoned campsite after a wet

make an appearance, but ultimately some helicopters and the Red Arrows were the only ones to take part.

The procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace was accompanied by 4,000 troops from the army, navy and RAF.

The first recorded monarch ever to appear before crowds on the famous balcony was Queen Victoria, when she stepped out for the opening of the Great Exhibition in 1851.

Clearing up

weekend at Glastonbury #Coronation.”

Carrie McInnis posted an image of the mess on Twitter, saying: “Buckingham Palace Mall littered with tents in coronation aftermath and News #GreenEnergy #SustainableEnergy #CleanEnergy #Energy [Video] Buckingham Palace Mall could be seen littered with rubbish including tents and flags in the aftermath of King Charles.”

No doubt the surrounding of Buckingham Palace will get back to its former glory and despite the debris, there is no doubt the Coronation of King Charles III was done on a grand scale and thoroughly enjoyed by many.

WELCOME guests at the Coronation of King Charles III were Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.

The kings are distant cousins and prior to the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Felipe was 567th in line to the British throne.

The visit was short as His Majesty had to be back to present the Copa del Rey on the evening of Sunday May 7 but the royal couple attended a reception hosted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace on May 5.

The following day when attending the Coronation, they looked resplendent, the King in formal military uniform and the Queen appearing graceful and refined in a pink dress with a large pink accented hat.

KING CHARLES III: A historic event watched by millions.

DISTANT COUSINS: King Felipe VI with Queen Letizia.

Betty Henderson TOTALENERGIES, the French oil giant, is making headlines as it takes on environmental group Greenpeace in court over a report claiming that the company massively underestimated its greenhouse gas emissions. The oil company announced its decision to sue on Wednesday, May 3. The report, which was published last November, accused TotalEnergies of emitting around 1.64 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019, compared to the 455 million tonnes that the company disclosed in public statements. However, TotalEnergies says that the report is filled with false and misleading information, and that the calculations were based on dubious methodologies. Greenpeace and FactorX, the climate consulting firm behind the report, say that the lawsuit is an attempt to muzzle the environmental group before the TotalEnergies general assembly on Friday, May 26, where activist shareholders will push for stricter climate commitments.

Environmental groups are

‘Total’ misunderstanding

calling for entry to be blocked at the company’s global oil and petroleum projects in protest. Meanwhile, the court hearing on Thursday,

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise appearance in the Netherlands on Wednesday, May 3. An‐nouncing his appearance, sources said he would speak at The Hague and vis‐it the International Criminal Court which is in the pro‐cess of investigating alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

In the meantime, explo‐sions were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, just a day after Russia ac‐cused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the Kremlin. Zaporizhzhia and Odessa in the south were also reported to have been attacked.

Russian officials claimed Ukraine attempted to as‐sassinate President

PRESS EUROPEAN

September 7 is eagerly awaited by onlookers, as the case promises to be a significant one, given the high stakes involved.

Hague help

Vladimir Putin, but Zelensky firmly denied these allega‐tions. Instead, he stated that Ukraine is “defending our villages and cities” and demanded more military support, including long‐range weapons and fighter jets from Dutch Prime Min‐ister Mark Rutte.

Some commentators have argued that the al‐leged drone strike on the Kremlin was internally con‐ducted and purposefully staged by Russia, while oth‐ers disagree, stating that it would make Russia look “weak” and vulnerable.

The situation remains tense as Russia threatens to retaliate when and where it considers necessary.

DENMARK Going home

DENMARK will reduce its military presence in Iraq in early 2024 in order to focus on Baltic countries. “We must prepare for a long-term Danish presence in the Baltic to establish a balance between soldiers on the ground and readiness to deploy them from Denmark,” Poulsen said.

THE NETHERLANDS

Hot stuff

THE meteorological office in De Bilt, (Utrecht) in the centre of the country, registered the Netherlands’ first warm day on May 4 when the temperature rose briefly to 20 degrees for the first time this year. Weather is deemed officially warm once the temperature rises above 20 degrees.

BELGIUM

Party time

MORE than 10,000 people attended an unauthorised rave at a disused airbase in Sint-Truiden at the end of April after the organisers broke into the base. Police set up roadblocks to stem the flow of revellers but admitted they were powerless to evacuate so many people from the site.

GERMANY

Fax and figures

EIGHTY-TWO per cent of German companies still use fax machines, according to a survey of firms with at least 20 employees carried out by digital association Bitkom. A third of those taking part in the survey said they continued to use the fax machines “frequently or very frequently.”

FRANCE

Nuclear pact

FRANCE and Japan signed a nuclear cooperation agreement in Paris on May 3 which pledged to ‘deepen and accelerate ties’ in researching and developing next-generation fast reactors, while continuing to work on the safe life extension of existing reactors and the decommissioning of nuclear plants.

NORWAY

High hopes

NORWEGIAN Kristin Harila, 37, the fastest female to climb the world’s 14 highest mountains, now aims to beat a male climber’s 2019 record. She successfully scaled Mount Cho Oyu and Mount Shishapangma in China and has arrived in Kathmandu (Nepal) where she will begin climbing this month.

FINLAND

Big noise

RUSSIA complained to Finland that a group of people threw “an explosive noise device” and broke a window at their consulate in the Aland Islands in the Baltic. The case was “regrettable”, the Finnish Foreign Ministry said, and police were “clarifying and investigating” the incident.

IRELAND

Badger jabs

FIVE thousand badgers were culled in Ireland in 2022 and a further 7,000 were vaccinated for tuberculosis under a Department of Agriculture prevention programme. The department explained that it now plans to phase out the culling programme as this was not a sustainable long-term solution.

ITALY

New claim

THE abbey of San Claudio in Macerata is described as 11th century, although locals insist it is two centuries older. They also believe Macerata was the headquarters of Charlemagne, the ‘Father of Europe’, between wars and that the town, not Aachen in Germany, is also his final resting place.

PORTUGAL Going down

PORTUGAL fell from seventh to ninth place in Reporters with Borders’ Press Freedom rankings, classing it as ‘satisfactory’ this year, compared with 2022’s verdict of ‘very good’. The NGO placed Norway at the top of its list, followed by Ireland, Denmark and Sweden in second, third and fourth places.

UKRAINE

Old tech

UKRAINE'S 28th Brigade has begun using an antiquated wind-up field telephone for vital communications. Russia’s electronic warfare systems can detect and intercept mobile phones and radios, but the men said that although the ancient field telephone’s technology was very old “it works really well.”

SWEDEN

Job losses

VOLVO will cut 1,300 office posts, approximately 6 per cent of its employees in Sweden, in an attempt to reduce costs. Volvo’s CEO Jim Rowan explained in a statement that last year’s cost-cutting measures had started to get results “but it’s clear that we need to do more.”

FINANCE

Things to come

is the amount of a government contract awarded to Hispasat to close the digital gap by providing Spain’s rural areas with a broadband internet connection until December 2027. STAT OF WEEK

€76 million

Telepizza restructuring shakeup

Linda Hall

BUSINESS EXTRA Keep right on

BRITAIN’S Foreign Secretary

James Cleverly warned that armed conflict between China and Taiwan would destroy world trade, dealing a catastrophic blow to the global economy. Discussing Britain’s relations with Beijing, Cleverly said no country could shield itself from the repercussions of a war in Taiwan.

Fair shares

SPAIN’S capital gains tax charged at a maximum of 26 per cent when selling shares is 6.45 percentage points higher than the EU’s 19.55 per cent. The Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Slovenia charge nothing at all, while Belgium charges 0.15 per cent on transactions over €1 million.

Off the menu

PREZZO, affected by soaring energy and food costs, will close 46 loss ­ making Italian restaurants in the UK and where the post­Covid recovery proved harder than the private equity­owned chain had anticipated. Approximately 810 workers were at risk of redundancy due to the overhaul, Prezzo said.

Fast lanes

SPANISH toll road company

Albertis is bidding a total of €6 billion for three contracts to manage the Attica motorway in Athens, four motorways in Puerto Rico and the 16.5­kilometre State Highway 288 in Houston. With two lanes in each direction this is one of the busiest roads in Texas.

Downsizing

JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP will halve the size of its central London headquarters now that thousands of employees work from home. The offices occupy 220,000 square feet (approximately 2,044 square metres) but only half of that is being used and some floors have been completely closed off.

TELEPIZZA has survived and can live to deliver pizzas another day.

Bondholders and Santander, the fast­food company’s largest creditor signed an agreement on May 2 that has saved the Spanish multinational chain. Sources close to the operation told financial daily, Cinco Dias, that the private equity investors and the bank agreed to a write­down of around half of Telepizza’s liabilities, estimated at approximately €400 million, in exchange for 100 per cent of the company. As a result,

the bondholders headed by the Oak Hill, Blantyre, HIG, Fortress and Treo are now majority shareholders in the company, renamed Food Delivery Brands, and own 75 per cent of the capital.

Santander lent Telepizza €40 million that was guaranteed by Spain’s Official Credit Institute (ICO) during the

pandemic. A Telepizza statement had announced at the time that it needed between €95 and €115 million to cope with its problems and that the situation created by the Covid restrictions had endangered the company’s ability to meet its liquidity needs.

Santander and ICO itself,

together with other financial bodies which have yet to be named, will now share the remaining 25 per cent between them.

Shareholders including KKR, Arta, Torreal, J Safra Group and Altamar, who lose their entire stake, have come off worst in the deal.

Telepizza, was originally founded in Madrid as Pizza Phone by Leopoldo Fernandez Pujaz, a Cuban­born US businessman, in 1987.

There are now more than 1,600 Telepizza outlets worldwide, of which 694 Telepizza are located in Spain.

Dyson goes abroad again

DYSON will open a new battery factory in Singapore while investing in technology centres for Bristol and Santo Tomas (Philippines).

Although the Singapore outlay will be ‘significantly larger’, the UK and Philippines investments will involve a respective £100 million (€113.4 million) and £166 million (€118.2 million).

This latest announcement confirms billionaire Sir James Dyson’s policy of basing manufacturing operations outside Britain while retaining research and development functions in the UK. These includes research and robotics facilities in Malmesbury and Hullavington in Wiltshire.

Great news

SPAIN’S Paradores continues to benefit from the tourism boom following the pandemic years. The state­owned chain of 100 hotels announced a turnover of €310 million last year, the first time that this has risen above €300 million in its 95 years of existence.

The good results continued during the first four months of 2023, with earnings between January and April rising by 1.4 per cent to €80 million, an unprecedented amount for that time of the year.

“These figures are formidable,” said Pedro Saura, the Paradores’ president. “They are better than we expected and promise very positive prospects for all of 2023.”

James Dyson, whose company is habitually linked to vacuum cleaners, was a prominent Brexit supporter, maintaining that the UK would gain more by leaving Europe than it would lose. Inevitably, he faced strong criticism in 2019 for relocating the company’s headquarters to Singapore, where it already owned factories.

Cold

call ban

THE UK will ban all cold calls selling financial products.

The crackdown is being introduced to prevent fraudsters from selling sham insurance or cryptocurrency schemes.

A new fraud squad will be created with a staff of 500 compared to the existing 120, although Labour and the Liberal Democrat MPs described the plan as “too little, too late.”

Consumer group Which? welcomed the strategy, but also criticised the government for not acting sooner.

Fraud is now the UK’s most common crime, with one in 15 people falling victim to scams. Media regulator Ofcom revealed that 41 million people were targeted by calls and texts last summer, with an online element present in most fraud.

The ban will be introduced this summer, with the financial products to be covered decided after consultations.

UK employees are likely to be working into their 70s, according to findings that were released on International Workers’ Day, May 1.

Rest Less, an online community for the over­50s which provides advice for older workers, concluded that many people had little choice but to continue working owing to the cost­of­living crisis.

There were 446,601 over­70s still in employment last year, a 61 per cent increase compared with 277,926 in 2012, Rest Less, said. While most were male, the rise has been more marked among women as a result of the gradual equalisation of pension ages between 2010 and 2020.

New boss

The new Singapore plant will be its biggest ever investment in “advanced manufacturing,” Dyson said. The Philippines technology centre, which will engage 400 new engineers, will double the amount of factory space devoted to advanced technologies. The Bristol site will hire more software, AI and connectivity engineers, revealed Jake Dyson, the founder’s son and chief engineer.

The Singapore plant will produce batteries using proprietary new technology but Dyson preferred not to give more details, citing ‘commercial sensitivities’. Nevertheless, it appears the company believes it can make smaller, lighter and more energy­dense batteries.

Good earners

POTTERY, flags, t­shirts, Westminister Abbey­shaped biscuits and tins to put them in have been produced round the clock for the Coronation.

The UK is spending around £250 million (€284 million) on souvenirs and memorabilia, the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) said.

This could mount up to far more, as the CRR believes the final figure will top £1.6 billion (€2.8 billion) once tourist cash, plus spending on parties and going out is included.

Bridgewater Pottery, for instance, have sold more than £1 million (€1.1 million) worth of items emblazoned ‘Three Cheers for King Charles’, although normal sales were currently a struggle, owner Emma Bridgewater said.

VODAFONE appointed interim boss Margherita Della Valle as its permanent chief executive.

Bringing to an end almost five months of uncertainty, the British multinational telecommunications company said that Della ValleVodafone’s former chief financial officer ­ was hired after a “rigorous internal and external search.”

She occupied the CEO role on an interim basis after Vodafone sacked predecessor Nick Reid last December after four years, amid concerns over the company’s performance.

Della Valla will take on the job parallel to her role as Vodafone’s finance chief while a replacement is sought.

Sweet notion

LEFTIES, part of the Inditex group, will start selling sweets in their principal stores.

The affordable fashion chain, launched as a Primark competitor, has come to an agreement with the Murcia confectionary company, Golosinas Fini.

This takes Inditex a step further in its plans for Digital Stores incorporating technological advances that integrate the digital and inperson channels.

These will offer music booths, make­up services, retro­type video and basketball games, drinking fountains for pets, as well as persons and a customised clothes service creating unique items.

MULTINATIONAL: A Telepizza branch in Santiago de Chile.

DYSON HEADQUARTERS: Moved to Singapore in 2019.

Photo credit: CC/Carlosyo

Photo credit: CC/Westliche

DOW JONES

Power play

ITALY’S government, a major shareholder in Enel, recently dismissed Francesco Strarace, the power company’s longstanding CEO. Enel, the parent company of Spain’s Endesa in which it has a 70 per cent holding, is now rumoured to be seeking a substitute for the latter company’s CEO Jose Bogas, to the disquiet of the Spanish government.

Listen up

AT Unilever’s annual general meeting, 58 per cent of participating shareholders voted against the consumer goods group’s pay report for 2022. Unilever said it was disappointed by the outcome, while stressing that the vote was advisory rather than binding. “We are committed to shareholder engagement and will listen carefully to feedback,” the company added.

Tips to be protected

WITHHOLDING tips from staff will be unlawful in the UK.

More than two million workers will have their tips protected and they will also be able to view an employer’s tipping record.

An estimated £200 million (€227 million) a year will now return to staff pockets as employers are banned from withholding tips under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023. Hospitality workers rely on tips but are often powerless if businesses fail to

Reluctant scientists

THE Spanish Space Agency recently held its first board meeting in Sevilla.

This was chaired by the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, who announced that with its annual budget of €700 million the agency should begin drafting the National Space Plan as soon as possible.

Its staff of 75 should be operational by the next quarter, Morant added.

This could be problematic, however.

Twenty employees from the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), whose functions were assumed by the agency, have not yet made arrangements to leave Madrid.

They have been promised transfers with identical conditions but are still negotiating the move with the Ministry of Science and the Administration.

pass on customers’ service charges to staff.

The new measures are due to come into force in 2024.

This overhaul of tipping practices will benefit at least two million workers in the UK across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors, helping to ease cost of living pressures and giving them peace of mind, knowing that they will keep their hardearned money.

“As people face rising living costs, it is not right for employers to withhold tips from employees,” Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said.

“Whether you are pulling pints or delivering a pizza, this new law will ensure that staff receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and customers can be confident their money is going to those who deserve it.”

Team spirit

SPAIN’S First and Second Divisions are in profit again after their losses during the pandemic. According to the estimate announced on May 4 by LaLiga, to which the 42 clubs belong, they will have made a net profit of €27 million by the end of the season, compared with the €1.039 billion losses incurred in 2020 and 2021.

No net

ONE in four people aged between 25 and 49 save nothing and would have no safety net in an emergency, a YouGov survey for wealth manager True Potential found. Forty per cent have slashed the amount they save each month owing to the cost of living, while those who save put aside less than £50 (€57.13) a month.

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY: Tips will go to staff by law.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Arttabel

BUSINESS EXTRA

Pay up

A VISIT to Hampton Court gardens, open to the public since Queen Victoria’s reign, was once free, but now costs up to £29 (€33). Hampton Court, owned by the royal family, blamed financial difficulties after the Covid pandemic for locking its gates for the first time in 185 years.

Different label

TONI RUIZ, Mango’s chief executive since March 2020, told a La Vanguardia interviewer that the fashion chain wished to lose its “fast fashion” label. “We have a team of 500 people designing 100 per cent of our clothes in Barcelona, working with best­quality, sustainable fabrics,” Ruiz said.

Fast work

RESTAURANT GROUP , which owns Wagamama, Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquitos, will close 23 outlets by the end of May. The group, which currently runs 410 venues, intends to speed up closures after announcing earlier that it would shut 35 of its loss­making casual dining restaurants.

Top earners

BANCO SANTANDER’s millionaire executives increased by 37.62 per cent last year from 202 to 278 employees on more than €1 million annually, according to its Prudential Relevance Report 2022. BBVA’s millionaire employees also increased, although by 5.66 per cent to just 56 executives.

Not quite

HEALTHCARE company Haleon’s profits fell slightly short of expectations in the first quarter as the consumer giant’s margins were affected by higher costs.

The GlaxoSmithKline spinoff behind brands including Sensodyne toothpaste posted revenues of about £3 billion (€3.4 billion) for this year’s first quarter.

Inflation or ‘greedflation’

Linda Hall

THE UK’S Competition and Markets Authority should investigate whether supermarkets were profiteering, Liberal Democrat Ed Davey said.

Industry statistics revealed that food price inflation shot up to a record high of 15.7 per cent in April, adding to pressure on households countrywide, Davey claimed.

According to government figures, food and drink prices rose by almost 20 per cent in the 12 months ending in March, the fastest annual rate since 1977. Lib Dem analysis also showed that a typical shop had risen by almost £12 (€13.6) a week in the last year.

Supermarkets have raked in bil ­

lions of pounds in profits, Davey maintained, and although the biggest grocers recently reported falling profits, experts said more could be done to help struggling shoppers.

Adif quandary

Union leaders also maintained that supermarket bosses were squeezing customers to benefit from ‘greedflation’ where firms exploit high inflation to create excessive profits.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s announced £690 million (€782.3 million) profits for the year until March, with profit margins slipping from 3.4 to 2.99 per cent, as chief executive Simon Roberts insisted that the chain was determined to fight inflation.

Tesco’s profits of £753 million (€854 million) were half those of the previous year, while chief executive Ken Murphy declared that the retailer was “robustly challenging every cost increase” with suppliers and had not passed on all of its additional costs to customers.

Look back with nostalgia

CAR sales remained buoyant as April ended.

Registrations grew by 8.2 per cent with a total of 74,749 vehicles sold, consolidating the industry’s recovery during the first four months of the year with sales of 312,314 units, an increase of 33.7 per cent.

This was due to improvements both in production and deliveries, announced car manufacturers’ association Anfac and distributors Faconauto and Ganvam.

In contrast, 2022 was catastrophic, owing to the microchip crisis and bottlenecks when transporting vehicles, they said.

Despite the increase, registrations are a long way from the pace and volume of pre ­ pandemic transactions when April 2019 saw sales of more than 100,000 vehicles, 28.4 per cent more than in April 2023.

“April’s figures make us look back with nostalgia to before the pandemic when, as summer approached, the market had no trouble in exceeding 100,000 registrations,” Raul Morales, Faconauto’s Communications director.

Sales of cars and SUVs to companies and rental firms were 8.9 per cent up

SKY is allegedly planning hundreds of job cuts as it gets to grips with a move to streaming.

According to reports in the UK media, cuts are likely to affect customer services staff and the engineers who install satellite dishes.

The broadcaster experienced an 11.5 per cent fall in revenues to £14.3 billion (€16.2 billion) in 2022, al­

on last year, with sales of 30,615 units, with rent­acar registrations improving by 30.6 per cent to 15,753 units. Sales to private individuals fell by 1.9 per cent with 28,381 registrations last month, although light commercial vehicle sales rose by 12.9 per cent compared with April 2022.

Outlook cloudy

though profits and the number of customers increased.

US media giant Comcast bought Sky for £30 billion (€34 billion) in 2018 but took a £6.8 billion (€7.7 billion) write­down on the value of the business last October, which it attributed to “challenging eco ­

ADIF, Spain’s publicly­ owned rail infrastructure company, is scrutinising bids for a €621 million tender (€513.3 excluding IVA) for its largest project in recent years.

This involves putting below ground Barcelona’s R2 track as it crosses Montcada i Reixac.

So far, Ferrovial’s €446.6 million bid (excluding IVA) is apparently the most viable, although the multinational’s decision to relocate its headquarters to the Netherlands still rankles with the Spanish government.

So much so that Adif is taking the unusual step of bringing in an external engineering consultancy to analyse all the bids competing for the contract, possibly in hopes of finding a valid reason for eliminating Ferrovial.

Pub facelift

BREWING giant Heineken is planning a £40 million (€45.5m) cash injection into UK pubs. Upgrading 570 pubs, practically a quarter of Heineken’s UK premises, will create approximately 600 jobs this year.

The company runs 2,400 pubs in the UK via Star Pubs & Bars and Lawson Mountstevens, the operation’s managing director, stressed the importance of continued investment in Heineken’s venues despite the “uncertain” consumer panorama.

nomic conditions.”

Sales of the company’s much­proclaimed Sky Glass ­ a TV that has built­in Sky and streaming apps which eliminate the need for a satellite dish ­ have not so far been impressive.

“It’s in a really tough place,” a source said.

On the scent

SPAIN exported €6.515 billion in perfumes, cosmetics and essential oils last year, 21 per cent more than in 2021.

These figures were the highest since it first began carrying out surveys in 2017, announced Spain’s National Association of Perfumes and Cosmetics (Stanpa).

Cosmetics are now one of Spain’s principal exports, ahead of wine and footwear, each of which registered international sales of approximately €3

billion in 2022. They also outstripped olive oil exports of €4.2 billion, Stanpa pointed out.

The industry now exports to more than 175 countries, compared to 150 in 2021 when Europe accounted for 82 per cent of Stanpa members’ foreign sales.

These fell to 51 per cent in 2022, with the remaining 49 per cent destined for the US, UK, Mexico, China and United Arab Emirates.

The group revealed that 100 pubs are in line for full revamps which will cost around £200,000 (€227,445) each as part of its investment programme.

Slowdown

JOB vacancies grew rapidly in the north during 2022, but 2023 is now preparing for a slowdown.

Professional vacancies in the north grew faster than in the rest of England and Wales in 2022, with over 81,500 new jobs registered, a 16 per cent year­on­year increase, according to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), the trade association for the professional recruitment sector.

However, year­to­date vacancies in 2023 have not kept up with last year’s numbers, although forecasts show that northern vacancies could reach over 74,300 by the end of 2023.

FOOD PRICES: Shot up to a record high in April.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Volzi

CAR REGISTRATIONS: Improvement on 2022.

THE Left wing propaganda machine, which is relentlessly eating into the UK’s very subsistence, has become absolutely staggering. Just how are the wokes and their fellow conspirators able to get away with it? Their political activities and media indoctrination presents a constant barrage of animosity against any who would embody alternative ideals. They firmly support the unions, who are quite happy to encourage the workforce with strikes, particularly industrial actions that spread misery and chaos among the general public.

They have managed to completely obliterate freedom of speech and frighten the white population to the core, citing accusations of racism involving almost any remark or observation they may even accidently express concerning non­white society. This attitude is of course totally reversed should it concern black citizen’s actions or comments appertaining to any white member. A prime example of this was the black male who imitated a sex act on a white policewoman at the Notting Hill Carnival. He eventu­

Propaganda

ally received no more than a slap on the wrist from the local police. Had it been a white man committing this disgraceful act against a black policewoman he would, after the protests, still be serving his time in prison.

With the advent of the Coronation, they are naturally pulling out all the stops with their fellow conspirators to decry the monarchy. This is of course an institution they are utterly committed to destroying and holds no place in the plans they have for a ‘democratic’ society run by a single authority, along the lines of those depicted by George Orwell. As far as their media indoctrination is concerned it has now passed all bounds.

They have announced two comedy shows. One entitled ‘No more Monarchy,’ (which seems to have somewhat oddly disappeared). The other the return of the satirical anti royal series

‘The Windsors’; a snip being shown actually depicts Camilla telling Charles they will all gather on the balcony to ‘wave at the idiots out front.’ Eighty per cent of ads now feature a veritable dominance of black actors in all man­

THE FIRM OUR VIEW

ner of situations, including mixed marriages among elderly couples; giving the impression that this particular practice has been prevalent for many years, which is of course ridiculous , but not of course to the young, which is the inexperienced innocent population they are actually endeavouring to influence. Popular TV series show whole neighbourhoods existing as mixed cultures enjoying similar lives together, giving a wide berth to the degradation and run down areas that exist in many of the big cities.

Actually, according to some of my colleagues, many intelligent non­white members of society are actually irritated and angered by the whole hypothetical and abstract representations. Racism is on the rise all over the country, which is exactly what the brainwashing instigators desire. They will then have every excuse to form a coordinated army of riot police that will ultimately control all of its citizens. Welcome to 1984 in its entire horrific eventuality.

AT the time of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II she was recognised as Head of State by a selection of countries, some of which were considered Dominions and others Colonies and during her reign there was a total of 32 independent countries.

In addition, there were several small Colonies such as Bermuda, Falkland Islands and Gibraltar who became known as Overseas Territories and they alongside Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man also recognised her position.

Over the years, as Independence took place a number of new countries declared themselves Republics and whilst remaining as part of the Commonwealth of Nations no longer acknowledged the Monarch as Head of State.

Now 70 years later, that figure has dropped to just 15 (including the UK) plus the Overseas Territories and already it looks as if the next to go will be Belize, followed almost certainly by Jamaica, New Zealand and possibly Australia.

There is no doubt that the British Royal Family is no longer viewed as being above reproach, with family feuds, infidelity, marriage breakdowns, paper bags full of cash and more which means there is something of a divide between the young and old over the relevance of the ‘family firm’. What has become clear from the scenes leading up to the Coronation of King Charles III is that not just the British but many nations, both home and abroad do still have affection for the pomp and circumstance of a well organised event and one can be pretty certain that the majority of even the most cynical would jump at the chance of having tea at Buckingham Palace.

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

WITH many struggling to buy food, pay electricity bills and heat homes, there’s lots of coverage in the UK press currently of budget supermarkets in competition with more traditional ones. And during a cost­of­living crisis, shopping at Aldi or Lidl can be one practical solution to save money.

But what about farmers’ markets? Can savings be made there too?

For some, these markets are merely a marketing scam that add a shallow veneer of artisanal authenticity to otherwise basic food items and rarely offer more than marginal improvements over cheaper brand name items. They are mere entertainment, a theme park for the upper middle class to pretend they’re country folk and being eco. Supermarkets (though often accused of screwing farmers) offer better value and efficiency and are one of the great successes of modern supply chains.

The reality of these markets is then, for some, a superficial facade, a delusion and a rip­off. Yes, some of the sourdough breads, cheeses and sausages are

How to weather an economic ‘Perfect Storm’

ent areas of London are merrily trying to fleece customers with more money than sense wherever they can. In my experience here in Spain, though, there are many great places where overall quality of food is indeed higher than at the supermarket, you’re less likely to buy stuff you don’t need and there’s way less plastic involved. It’s just a shame not everyone has the budget or time (or inclination) to shop there.

But what gets me is ‘artisanal coffee’? How is that artisanal? It’s grown, picked, imported and roasted and bagged just like any other. There must be a word like greenwashing for all this. ‘Artisanwashing’? Artisan, my ****!

specific products and the selection is often more limited. They’re known for their long checkout queues, they generally don’t offer loyalty programmes or rewards for repeat customers and, typically, have fewer staff members, making it difficult to find assistance when needed.

So, to put it bluntly, shopping at Aldi or Lidl low­price supermarkets during a cost ­ of ­ living crisis can be a smart way to save money, but the limited selection, long checkout queues and lack of loyalty programmes may not work for everyone...

terrific. But in the end, it’s a lifestyle choice. It’s entertainment and the wealthy buyer is getting more of an experience than a tangible bang for their buck.

However, not all farmers’ markets are the same. Doubtless the ones in afflu ­

Of cabbages and kings

LINDA HALL

I THOUGHT I was going to see a coronation on November 22, 1975, when I went to the hotel over the road from where we lived in Benidorm.

We didn’t have a television ­ that’s a story for another day ­ and my daughter and I were lucky to get a seat in the already ­ crowded television lounge.

It was winter and the low season, but a party of high­ranking Army officers was staying there, although I never did find out if they were on a jolly or business.

Franco had died two days earlier and the man whom he had named as his successor, Juan Carlos, Prince of Asturias, was proclaimed King in the Palacio de Las Cortes, Spain’s parliament building.

Spain was still shellshocked, although Franco’s long ­ drawn ­ out death came as no surprise. And yes, I did see people toasting his death on November 20.

In those days I did my shopping at a

small indoor market in the centre of the town and when I went in as usual, one of the stallholders, a greengrocer whom everyone knew was a communist, was drinking cava, although we called it Champagne in the days before the French lay permanent claim to the name.

There were more people knocking it back on the corner of the street too.

Two days later, I was disappointed to see that the crown and a sceptre, accompanied by a crucifix, remained throughout on a footstool covered in red and gold brocade.

Instead Juan Carlos, still handsome and with his copybook still unblotted, was not crowned but sworn in as King in a proclamation that ended with the words ¡Viva el Rey!

At which, all the Army officers present leapt to their feet and bellowed in unison, “¡Viva el Rey!”

Some people joined in, some didn’t but we all stood as the Spain’s national anthem was played, aware ­ in one of those moments that nobody ever forgets ­ that this was the start of something new.

And as for Aldi and Lidl, let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider before making the switch. These supermarkets offer products at significantly lower prices than traditional ones. And despite their low prices, they offer a wide selection of high ­ quality products, from fresh produce to household essentials. A simple, efficient, no ­ frills shopping experience with sustainable options, such as organic and locally sourced products.

On the other hand, Aldi and Lidl are often smaller, making it difficult to find

Or for one of my neighbours. “The problem with Aldi,” he moans, “is that you go in for some carrots and come out with a chainsaw. Or in for a tin of tomato soup and out with a mini generator.”

Couldn’t have put it better it myself. And, you may have noticed, I didn’t!

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.nora ­ johnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

We help with your help

THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to provide financial relief for those Britons in Spain who were in extreme difficulties and with no other recourse.

As a charity of last resort, the BBF has helped countless thousands of Britons over the years overcome the worst of life’s challenges.

We try wherever possible to find solutions to problems, a hand up not a handout but sometime a difficult situation can turn into a blessing with a bit of focus and of course ­ luck.

Sarah is a single mother of two teenage children.

She worked full time with a modest income which paid the bills and supported her family.

She was officially resident, and the children born in Spain.

The father had not contributed to any payments, and sometimes it was a struggle to get to the end

of the month. She had no savings.

Shortly before Easter she was referred to us by one of our partner charities at www.supportin spain.info

She had got in touch with them because her employer had run into difficulties, and she had not been paid that month and there was a possibility of the company going under.

She had applied for state benefits and would be entitled to some help for unemployment, but it would take a while to come through.

She needed immediate help for basic food and household items for the children which the BBF

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

was able to provide ­ in fact it took two months for the state support to arrive, but we were able to agree a grant to cover her that took a big worry away while she looked for other work.

She was able to find a new job which was better paid and with better conditions and she was even able to retrieve her back pay owed to her.

The BBF is only able to help people like Sarah with your help. If you would like to support our work with a donation, please visit www.british benevolentfund.org.

Thank you on behalf of all.

Olaf Clayton, Chair BBF

Nora Johnson’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

Nora’s latest thriller.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

Dear Leapy LETTERS

I love your articles and eagerly look forward to reading your columns.

If only more people were like you and I and had the balls to speak their mind!

I’m definitely not PC and don’t intend to start at age 67. I’m constantly in trouble with my wife and my three daughters and just about everyone who listens to me banging on about why we are expected to pander to our foreign friends when in our own country/culture. ♂

Keep up your great work Leapy, we must not let the b******s grind us down.

All the best

Jim

Hello Maureen

My husband told me he had sent you an email about me and I was truly delighted ­ and surprised ­ to see my face on your front page (edition 1969)!

I’m sorry it has taken me a while to reply and say thank you but Tony, my husband, hasn’t been too well lately (another heart attack) so I’ve rather had my hands full. He even turned out to be allergic to Heparin! We see the cardiologist on Wednesday so I’m hopeful of some good news.

I shared your front page on my Facebook page and received many lovely comments that have helped me tremendously during this difficult time.

Thank you again and kind regards.

Tricia Gabbitas.

Dear Sirs

Can you please ask your readers if any of them suffer from awful administrators. For nearly 30 years I let mine use my bank account, until I realised that there were irregular transactions. When he was confronted, all I got was the Spanish shrug. Needless to say I put a stop to it.

The problem now is he keeps coming up with all sorts of jobs that need more and more money. He is well paid from all the owners. In fact he put his fee up again three months ago. We are intimidated by him.

He is very arrogant. He never explains who these people are that he has to pay extra money to. Most of us are senior citizens. We have talked to solicitors who have taken our money, listened, but done nothing.

Please ask your readers for their advice.

Best regards Margaret, Benalmadena

Same problem

Hi,

We too had Gwendolyn Ottley’s Travel Insurance problem but we have found an Insurance Brokers called Mena Cotos Y Tejada in San Pedro Alcantara who arranged Travel Insurance for us with ARAG and NO age limit !

It is not cheap, but our minds were/are at ease ……

We are in our 80s and travelling again fully Insured ! Good luck,

Margaret Hayes

Extra payment

We live in Orihuela Costa and like many others we pay our SUMA in May each year. Approx four/six weeks before the payment date we receive from the SUMA office an email detailing the amount that we owe. We always pay by Direct Debit. This year without any notice the Suma office took an extra payment.

We were told this was to cover street cleaning and bin emptying. We never set up a direct debit with our bank for the new amount and have been told that as the Suma office is responsible for tax collection they can set up the payment without our prior agreement.!!!!

We have tried to phone and visit the office but they don’t answer the phone and at our last visit there was over 25 people waiting for an appointment!!

We are more than happy to pay our taxes but really wonder why the Suma office bother to send us details of the required payment if they then add to it.

The extra payment is supposed to cover the street cleaning etc. We just hope that it will be spent for that purpose as the streets and bins of OC are in a disgusting state and have been for years. and no doubt will stay like that until OC has its independence from Orihuela town.

Terry and Shirley

Still trying

Hi all,

Thank you for your reply to my letter re travel insurance.

I rang Stay Sure travel and was told their age limit was 85 years, so no help there as I am 86 years old.

I tried to get travel insurance from England, but they will not do it as I am a Spanish resident.

I am now at a loss as to what to do.

Kind regards

Gwendoline Ottley

PETS

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If you’re planning a trip register now to find pet­sitters in time. Whether your trip is short or long, you’ll know that sometimes you must leave pets at home. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed. Join our pet and house­sitting network, and the sitters come for free!

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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 choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets. Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesitmatch.com

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NEW legislation in the UK will affect dog owners which will end a practice many call ‘cruel and unnecessary.’

From February 2024 the UK will bring into force a ban on electric shock dog collars, according to a news source on Saturday, April 29.

The move has been praised by the charity, Dogs Trust. Dr Rachel Casey commented,

New UK legislation

“we welcome this announcement from Defra that handheld electric shock collars are to be banned in England. It is both unnecessary and cruel to use these collars on dogs.

“Research has shown that electric shock collars negatively impact dog welfare and in­

UK dog food may harm pets

stead of improving behaviour, risk causing further behaviour problems. Worse still, they can be a mechanism for abuse if used in anger.”

The collars are activated by a radio­controlled device which can be used from a distance of about two miles, which are capable of giving painful electrical shocks for up to 11 seconds at a time Figures indicate that one in 20 British dog owners have used the controversial collars on their dogs, which are cited as a training device.

Mark Beazley CEO of Charity The Club Kennel said, “There is simply no excuse for using these devices.”

DOG food sold in the UK may harm your pet after some have been found to contain high levels of toxic lead according to campaigners at Wild Justice.

According to the organisation, more than three quarters of samples from three raw pheasant­based dog foods tested for lead exceeded the maximum level recommended for animal feed.

They contend therefore that the use of lead shot in shooting means pet owners are unwittingly feeding their dogs levels of lead that may

harm their health.

Chris Packham said “That people might be unwittingly poisoning their beloved companion animals is outrageous.

“It’s clearly a failure of our regulatory systems when products like raw pheasantbased dog foods can be sold containing such high lead levels.

“No animals should be exposed to these levels of lead in their food. Wild Justice is taking legal advice on these shocking findings.”

New research published in the journal Ambio stated

that tests were undertaken on samples from raw, airdried and wet dog food products purchased in the UK that contained pheasant meat.

They found that about three quarters of samples from raw pheasant­based dog food packs exceeded the EU maximum lead levels permitted in animal feed.

Wild Justice believe that raw meat diets for pets are on the increase in the UK, and products containing raw pheasant are widely available online.

Hidden danger in our homes

CAT and dog owners have been warned that even if the water in our taps is safe for us to drink it may not be for our beloved pets.

Water filtration expert, Gene, revealed that the water from our taps could be ‘slowly poisoning’ our

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

furry friends, according to a news source on Thursday, May 4.

Certain elements found within our water may be toxic to our animals and could lead to chronic illnesses.

Fitzgerald, who works for Best Osmosis Systems, said, “Hard water contains high levels of calcium and/or magnesium. For pets, this can be harmful.

“If a dog drinks too much hard water for too long a period, for example, they can develop conditions such as urinary tract and/or bladder infections, cystitis, urinary obstruction, crystalluria and stone formation.”

Other complications such as skin problems, as well as digestive and dental issues can also be attributed to pets drinking hard water.

However, some tap water is perfectly suitable for our pets, the key to it all is the location and the quality of the water, which can vary so much.

One way to improve the water for our animals is to remove the harmful elements from hard water which will greatly reduce the risk to our pets.

Simple testing equipment can be purchased online, or simply use filtered tap water.

The three founders of Wild Justice.

A dog-sitter is a companion to your pets.

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Audi e-tron GT quattro - simply stunning!

ROAD TEST

byMarkSlack

IT seems that manufacturers think EVs need to look quirky and left field, you expect combustion engine cars redesigned for all electric power to look essentially the same but all new EVs seem to be distinctly avantgarde. However some have taken a different route with their EVs. Take a bow Audi!

The e ­ tron GT is a stunning head turner that attracted nothing but positive comments and admiration from all who saw my car. It’s not surprising given the swooping lines, purposefully wide stance and sleek profile. Although styling is very subjective I think few would disagree that it’s a darned good looking car from every angle.

There are just two models, the GT quattro and RS

GT with five trim levels and prices starting from a not inconsiderable €97,649/ £85,185, with the higher

performance RS version from €133,185/£116,185. As with any EV it’s all about range and the GT has an of­

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Audi e-tron GT quattro

• Engine: 93 kwh battery – 530 PS – 11kw on-board charger

• Gears: 2-speed automatic

• Price: €97,649/£85,185

ficial maximum of 487km/ 303 miles on a single charge with a 50kw charger taking one hour 30 minutes

• Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) 4.1 seconds/Maximum Speed 245 kph (152 mph).

• Range: 303 miles on single charge

• Charging: 50kw DC charger from 10% to 80% = 1 hour 30 minutes/150kw DC charger from 10 to 80% = 23 minutes/Home wallbox 7kw AC charger from 10% to 80% = 14 hours

• Emissions: 0 g/km

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices

EVs falling behind

DESPITE an exceptionally strong start to 2023 in the UK, with growth recorded in overall car buying demand, new and used car sales, and average prices, the electric vehicle (EVs) share of the retail market is falling behind where it needs to be to meet the government’s 2030 targets.

According to Auto Trader’s Road to 2030 Report, the government must step in with a detailed programme of tax incentives to improve the affordability of EVs and support the industry’s efforts in driving mass consumer adoption.

The largest automotive marketplace’s latest insight into the electric

vehicle market warns that whilst consumer demand for used EVs is robust, buyer interest in new has dropped by almost two thirds ­ or 65 per cent ­ since the beginning of 2022. This is due in part to the rising cost of living, higher borrowing costs, and the well documented hike in energy prices.

from 10 to 80 per cent or just 23 minutes if you can locate a 150kw charger.

In reality, depending upon your driving style and how much of the considerable performance you use, the real world range is somewhere in the order of 270 miles. Ranges have improved, and will doubtless continue to improve, but then they need to get better with the lamentable public charging network. One can’t help sympathising with car makers!

As with all Audis there’s a feeling of solidity and quality with an interior is pleasingly free from much of the touchscreen mania that seems to afflict many interiors these days. There’s an enviable standard equipment list too, but the optional extras can raise the

list price to lofty heights. It also feels special from its sweeping curves to its Alcantara clad interior. However those sweeping lines do have the effect of making the interior feel somewhat compact given the e ­ tron’s exterior dimensions. You do slide rather than climb into the car.

On the road the e ­ tron doesn’t disappoint with blistering acceleration and handling to match. There’s synthesised sound that offers a suitably aural background for such sporting looks and despite its considerable size the GT is remarkably nimble and enjoyable on cross country drives. It’s also a distinguished cruiser on A roads and motorways.

If you’re looking for style and class in EV form, and you have the financial wherewithal, then the etron GT is definitely your kind of car.

Tighter checks

NEW measures will safeguard passengers and crack down on unfit taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) drivers, with tighter checks introduced across UK local authorities.

Building on existing legislation, councils in England will now be mandated to use a national database to record instances where taxi and PHV drivers have their licences removed for misconduct. This new law will prevent them from simply reapplying for a licence in other areas by alerting the system to concerns about their prior behaviour.

This will ensure

passengers can use taxis and PHVs with greater confidence that these modes of transport are safe, helping to strengthen communities and restore pride in towns and high streets across the country.

While the vast majority of taxi and private hire trips are safe and efficient, there have been a small number of reports linking a minority of drivers to incidents of sexual harass ­

ment, abuse and poor driving.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said: “The safety of passengers, especially women and girls, is paramount. That’s why I’m bringing in tough new measures to ensure that when you catch a cab, you can be confident your driver will take you from A to B safely and without incident.”

The market for new EVs is still hampered by a lack of affordable choices, with the number of new electric models between £20,000£30,000 decreasing, less than seven years before the government’s ban on new petrol and diesel sales comes into force. Safeguarding passengers.

A car full of style and class.

Lack of choice.

Copa del Rey winners Goal-scoring record smashed

REAL MADRID beat Osasuna on the evening of Saturday May 6 to win the Copa del Rey.

Although the team have won the Copa del Rey 20 times, it’s been nine years since they last lifted this trophy.

Osasuna has never won the cup, but they fought well against the reigning Spanish and European champions.

Real Madrid went ahead after only two minutes of the game when Rodrygo fired the ball into the net after a run down the left from Vinicius.

But Lucas Torro gave Osasuna hope for better things when he scored in the 58th minute.

Then Brazilian winger, Vinicius scored again for Madrid.

Ancelotti the Real Madrid coach said after

the game “They made the difference; Vini unbalanced them and Rodrygo scored two goals.” He also said it was time to celebrate, but not too much. “The Copa arrived at an important

moment, we came through some tricky ties, it’s a deserved prize against strong opponents.

“This night we will celebrate, a little bit, not too much, and then we

will get back to work for Tuesday.

Real Madrid has now won all six of the trophies they have played for during Ancelotti’s second time at the club, after he returned in 2021.

A PREMIERSHIP goal­scoring record has just been smashed in an impressive display and with five games still in hand.

Man City striker, Erling Haaland, 22, is in the record books after setting a new record for being the all­time Premier League’s top goal scorer in a single season, according to a news source on Wednesday, May 3.

The 28­year­old record of 34 goals in a season was jointly held by sporting legends Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, but City’s win over West Ham puts Haaland at 35 goals, and there’s still time to set the bar even higher with five more games to play.

The incredible Manchester City goal­scoring machine has so far scored 35 goals in 31 games.

Back in the day when Shearer and Cole claimed their tally, the football season comprised 42 matches, nowadays it’s down to 38 games, as if to further reinforce Haaland’s remarkable feat.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Haaland said, “[It’s a] special night and a special moment. I’m really happy and proud.”

Following the game, his teammates formed a guard of honour, although Haaland admitted, “it was really painful this guard of honour, everyone hit me in the back, but it was really nice. I’m really happy.”

Manager, Pep Guardiola enthused, “He’s unbelievable, a unique person, he deserves the guard of honour because it’s an incredible milestone.”

Former Manchester City player, Micah Richards, was full of praise for the young star “Honestly, Erling Haaland is absolutely incredible. Astonishing scenes from a top, top individual.

“This is his debut season, to do what he has done is absolutely breathtaking.”

I thought he would score goals but I didn't envisage this many. I thought debut season, 25 goals. But to beat the record in 31 appearances, it's astonishing.’

REAL MADRID: Champions on the night.

Credit: Casa S.M. el Rey

Klopp in hot water with FA

FOLLOWING his comments about the referee, Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp found himself in hot water with the Football Association (FA).

The FA has charged Klopp with alleged improper conduct after his remarks about referee Paul Tierney following their match against Tottenham on Sunday April 30, said a news source.

In a post ­ match rant Klopp criticised referee Tierney, for having an agenda against the Reds.

The FA deadline was Friday for Klopp to answer the charge against him, namely that his comments, ‘imply bias, and/or question the integrity of the referee, and/or are personal/offensive, and/or bring the game into disrepute.’

The German had said in his post­match interviews following the 4­3 thriller against Spurs that Tierney seemed to have some ­

thing “against” Liverpool following previous runins, with Klopp having been booked for celebrating Diogo Jota’s lastgasp winner at Anfield in front of the fourth official.

A statement issued by the FA, said “Liverpool FC’s Jürgen Klopp has been charged following their Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 30 April.

“It is alleged that the manager’s comments regarding the match official during post­match media interviews constitutes improper conduct in that they imply bias, and/or question the integrity of the referee, and/or are personal/offensive, and/or bring the game into disrepute.

In a press conference, Klopp said he regretted his comments. The Liverpool boss could face a hefty fine and a touchline ban.

Legendary ex-boss of Real and Deportivo passes away

IT was a sad day for football as Arse nio Iglesias, the former coach of De portivo and Real Madrid has passed away.

On Friday, May 5, legendary football coach Arsenio Iglesias died at the age of 92 in A Coruña, as reported by a local news source.

Hailed as one of Spain’s greatest coaches, who made history and shaped Superdépor, one of those teams that will always be remembered, marking a special era in Spanish football.

Speaking to Radio MARCA, former player Djukic said, “It is very sad news for all Deportivistas and for the whole world of football. He was one of the key pieces of Superdépor.”

Arsenio Iglesias was born on December 24, 1930 in Arteixo, he was a footballer, coach and was known as the Bruxo de Arteixo. His coaching career began in 1970, when he took

Deportivo to the First Division. He then also coached Hércules for four seasons, as well as Zaragoza, before

returning to Dépor for his most brilliant period.

His success at the Galician club led him to coach Real Madrid in 1996, when he replaced Jorge Valdano. He stayed at Real Madrid for 19 games.

In previous periods he coached Burgos, Elche, Almeria and the Galician national team.

As a footballer, he wore the shirts of Deportivo, where he played in the First Division between 1952 and 1957, he played for Sevilla in the 1957/58 season, Granada between 1958 and 1964 and Oviedo between 1963 and 1965. He played a total of 238 games in the top­flight and another 63 in the second division and promotion.

Iglesias is the most prolific coach in charge of Dépor with 568 matches and is credited as the most influential person on the pitch in the 116 years of Deportivo’s history.

DEPORTIVO: Iglesias was their most prolific coach.