Costa de Almeria 18 – 24 May 2023 Issue 1976

EPIC WALK

MOJACAR Freemasons Graham, John and David set off on Monday, May 8, to walk the 1,400km Camino de Mozarabe from Almeria Cathedral to Santiago de Compostela to raise €10,000 to support the charity Age in Spain.

Age in Spain volunteers provide timely, caring support to over 2,500 vulnerable people and their carers every year and many thousands more through their free online information service at www.agein spain.org.

Keen Camino walker Graham Adkins explained: “Getting older, wherever we live, brings change and challenge! Keeping active and contributing to our communities helps us to give back and ensure maximum independence in later life. But sometimes, everyone

AENA (the airport management group which includes Almeria) closed the first quarter of 2023 with 77,466,138 passengers, 32.7 per cent more than in the same period last year and 1.9 per cent more than in the first four months of 2019.

Nearly 24 million passengers were reached in April, exceeding pre ­ pandemic data for the fourth consecutive month.

This also represents an increase of 16.4 per cent

needs a helping hand, this is where we and Age in Spain step in!”

Chief Executive of Age in Spain, Helen Weir, said “We are overwhelmed by the Freemasons’ generosity and the chance that these vital funds will give us to make a

difference for older people in Almeria, Andalucia and beyond. We urge everyone to follow this journey and add their own donation to the Age in Spain Camino fundraising page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/age ­in­spain.

24 million

compared to April 2022.

Of the total travellers recorded in April, 23,756,597 were commercial passengers.

Of these, 15,996,343 passengers travelled on international flights, down 0.1 per cent from April 2019 and up 16.9 per cent from 2022.

Meanwhile, 7,760,254

Beach fun

IN a bid to give the area around Andarax Delta a facelift, Almeria City Council has confirmed that the recreational area next to the beach will be ready in time for the summer season.

Five hectares of a historically degraded space have been stripped. The new area which will be surrounded by palm trees will offer open­air physical exercise elements such as bike lanes, beach volleyball courts and a callisthenics area, to name a few.

passengers travelled on domestic flights, 8.8 per cent more than before the pandemic and 15.4 per cent more than last year.

Between January and April, 695,549 aircraft movements were recorded (1.5 per cent higher

than in 2019) and 336,909 tonnes of cargo were transported, which represents 0.1 per cent more compared to the same period in 2019.

Image: Age in Spain / Facebook

Walkers: Graham, John and David.

BUDDING acting and background artists are required for a short film.

A group of filmmakers from the National Film and Television School in the UK are shooting their graduation film in the Hotel El Puntazo in Mojacar from June 28 until July 7.

The group are looking for local actors to cast in their short film as supporting characters or background artists.

The film plot looks at the dynamics between a mother and two older daughters on their first family holiday since the mother has recovered from

psychosis.

On the holiday, each of the women is on a journey to rediscover their individuality outside of their family unit and the roles that they revert to when they are together.

Through their individual experiences, they are brought back together and discover

A TOTAL of 451 people registered for this year’s Walk for Life in Arboleas on Saturday, April 29. They ran or walked 6k or 3k in blistering heat and high humidity.

The committee wants to say thank you to everyone involved.

Walk for Life is a voluntary group committed to helping people with cancer. It obtained Charitable Status on March 14, 2014.

The charity is located in Arboleas in Almeria and has been operating for the past 10 years.

The Walk for Life committee meets regularly

BUDDING ACTORS: Are you interested in taking part?

that, though they may not ever be perfect, they are family and they can be at peace together.

If you are interested in participating fill out the contact form on the Indalo Players website www.indaloplayers.es and your details will be passed to the producer.

Lights and action Walk for Life

and remains in constant touch with each other to ensure they administer to the needs of their client base in a quick and conscientious manner.

All of the people the charity help are dealt with in the strictest of confidence. Walk for Life has a data protection policy in line with current legislation.

To volunteer email: claire.walk4life@gmail. com or telephone (+34) 644 602 249.

If you require help email: irenewalk4life @icloud.com or telephone (+34) 643 638 177.

NIBS EXTRA

US promise

PEDRO SANCHEZ , President of the Spanish government, met with Joe Biden, his American counterpart, on May 11, with three blocks of issues among which was the removal of soil contaminated by radiation in the Almeria nucleus of Cuevas del Almanzora.

Golden Draw

MAYOR of Adra, Manuel Cortes, is immersed in the Red Cross campaign Golden Draw which will be held on July 30. The draw will distribute more than €7 million in prizes. Cortes thanked the Red Cross for “its important work to help the most vulnerable in the municipality.”

The wait

‘ LA ESPERA ’, by Galician filmmaker Pedro Diaz, has won the Fuente de Oro Award for Best National Short Film at the fourth Festival de Cine Nacional de Berja. The film, a candidate for the Goya Awards, tells a story about old age, isolation, the technological gap, fears and traumas.

€1 more

THE government is set to raise the price of access by car to the natural beaches located west of the district of San Jose and between Genoveses and Cala Carbón, all located within the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata­Níjar to €6.

Disability day

SOME 17,000 people in Almeria, mostly women, suffer from fibromyalgia. On World Day for the Disability, May 12, sufferers of the disease demanded the government now offer a 33 per cent disability recognition.

A milestone

ROQUETAS handball team won the Silver Division of Honour and will now fight for a place in the Guerreras Iberdrola League, the highest category of Spanish women’s handball.

ALMERIA has confirmed its commitment to being a friendly city particularly when it comes to the elderly and children.

The city council has unanimously approved the adhesion and incorporation of the Almeria capital to the World Network of AgeFriendly Cities and Communities, and to UNICEF for the renewal of the recognition of Almeria as a Child­Friendly City.

The plan is one with which the council intends to “provide better living conditions for the elderly in Almeria, making them known and asserting their rights through coordination and municipal management,” explained the spokesperson for the Government Team, Ana Martinez Labella.

The project will consist of eight areas that comprise the urban and social environment that influence people’s health and quality of life: outdoor spaces and buildings; transportation

and communication; living place; respect and social inclusion; social participation; communication and information; employment and citizen participation and community support for so­

ALMERIA

CITY: Plans to provide better living conditions for the elderly.

cial and health services.

Lines of action are contained in the so­called ‘Vancouver Protocol’, a research document promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Levante Cup Festivities fun

ON Saturday, June 10, Vera will experience the big day of its patron saint’s festivities, with a mass and subsequent procession of praise of the Virgen de las Angustias, followed by its popular festival in the Plaza Mayor.

The festivities in honour of the Patron Saint of Vera will be held from June 8 to 11.

The mayor of Vera, Alfonso Garcia Ramos, confirmed: “The festivities of the Patron Saint are one of the most beautiful times of the year. Vera is filled with joy and activities from a wide and varied programme.

“The festivities which have taken place for a decade make our town the epicentre of celebration of the whole province, thousands of people will visit us to enjoy our town and our festivities.”

The councillor for Festivities, Amparo Garcia said: “The town hall will once again set up the balcony, façade and shop window beautification competition, the song and music competition for our patron saint during the procession and the women’s basketball tournament.”

FOOTBALL fans will be delighted to hear that HuercalOvera is once again hosting the Levante Cup this year.

The mayor, Domingo Fernandez, confirmed: “HuercalOvera is once again hosting the Levante Cup after last year’s good experience. Sport is fundamental for the development of our children and young people and that is why we continue to promote training and events in different sporting disciplines.

“The Levante Cup is a benchmark in the national calendar of competitions with big clubs including top clubs, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atletico de

Reopening soon

THE AquaVera water park is located in the middle of a pine forest, on top of the so­called Cabezo de la Pelea, where two varieties of pines coexist: the stone and the Mediterranean.

When it was decided to build AquaVera an environmental commitment was made to plant 10 pine trees for each one that was uprooted.

During this process, most of the existing pines were respected and those that were planted were placed on the

back slope of the park that adjoins a pedestrian walkway just behind.

The pine forest is the park’s jewel, it is a source of pride for AquaVera and also a differentiating feature.

The pine forest is AquaVera’s pride and they work and maintain it so that it continues to grow healthy and offer its visitors that much­appreciated and coveted natural shade in the hot months.

The park is ready to reopen for the summer season on May 20.

YOUR

121 STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S

Forty years on

ALMERIA is ready to celebrate a new pilgrimage after four years.

It will be a special year for the Rocio de Almeria Brotherhood as they celebrate 40 years since the rociera seed that gave rise to the foundation sprouted in 1986.

Madrid, Villareal, and Betis.

“Huercal­Overa had to be at their side,” added the mayor.

It is estimated that the Levante Cup will attract an influx of 20,000 people to the region with around 3,000 participants, with the competition taking place from May 26 until June 25.

The mayor requests local residents enjoy football in this tournament and wishes visitors a pleasant stay in Huercal ­ Overa “where there is much to discover, being this sporting event a perfect opportunity to further promote tourism in the municipality.”

In addition to celebrating 40 years since the rociera seed germinated in the city, this year, for the first time, the choir will sing the Holy Rosary prior to the departure of the Blanca Paloma at dawn on May 29.

Even

way.

Carpet mosaics

BEAUTIFUL mosaics carpeted the streets of Tijola in honour of the Virgin of Fatima as Tijola celebrated its Patron Saint on May 13 and 14.

The entire streets of Tíjola were converted into a highly spectacular setting given the originality with which they are adorned with stunning patterns and extensive carpets of coloured sawdust shavings.

The Fatima festivity in Tijola, which has been celebrated since 1951, is currently one of the most artistic manifestations of ephemeral art in the province of Almeria due to its beauty and showiness.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

The festivities, which will receive the declaration of Andalucian Tourist Interest this summer, were enjoyed with paella, live music and a popular festival.

The vice president of the Provincial Council, Fernando Gimenez, toured the streets of the municipality together with the mayor of Tíjola, Jose Juan Martinez, who proudly showed him one of the traditions that have been kept alive since 1951.

The urban artistic beauty is created by the local residents themselves who take to the streets every year with their cardboard patterns to draw the decorations on the asphalt.

Welcome to Almeria

Anna Ellis

THE port of Almeria was delighted to receive, for the first time, a visit from the luxury cruise ship SeaDream II on Tuesday May 16.

The lucky cruise passengers took the opportunity to get to know the city and its gastronomy.

The shipping company SeaDream Yacht Club has confirmed that it is committed to the destination of Almeria this season in which its two tourist ships will make their first call at the Almeria dock.

SeaDream II docked with 104 passengers and more than 80 crew members.

When the cruise ship docked, the councillor for Tourism, Jose Angel Velez,

said: “For Almeria, it is a pleasure to receive tourists who will have the opportunity to enjoy our cultural heritage and at the same time taste our best gastronomy.”

He also highlighted “the work carried out by the Port Authority to promote tourism through the arrival of cruise ships in our port.” It is about, as he explained, “betting between all the administrations for a quality and sustainable tourism that

continues to make Almeria an increasingly attractive destination.”

10

SEADREAM II: The passengers took the time to visit the city.

Image: Sea Dream Yacht Club Facebook

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”

The meaning is don’t depend on someone else to do a good job, do it yourself. This was first used by Napolean Bonaparte.

Top 10 universities in the world include Oxford and Cambridge.

Breaking language barriers

THE countdown is on ahead of Spain’s municipal elections on Sunday, May 28, and one local man is helping the local English-speaking community to find out more about the PSOE’s election promises in Zurgena.

Jim Simpson, a passionate local resident, has taken the initiative to organise a series of exclusive meetings, catering specifically to non-Spanish speakers. Residents can enjoy a series of meetings with the charismatic candidates vying for the mayoral position with the PSOE party, and find out about the changes they promise.

Five local residents from almost every part of town; Chrissy Maywood, Carasoles Carasoles, Shelagh Murdoch, Cucador, Volker Bendel Alfoquia, Tom Taylor, Palaces and Chris Hart Zurgena will be supporting each of the sessions in the lead-up to elections.

The meetings will take place on these dates: Tuesday, May 23, 11am, School, Palaces, Wednesday, May 24, 10.30am, Bar los Camioneros, Carasoles, Wednes-

day, May 24, 12pm, PSOE Office Av 19 de Octubre, Zurgena, Thursday, May 25, 11am, Heathers Bar, Alfoquia, and Friday, May 26, 11am, La Vida Restaurant, Cucador Norte.

All are invited to meet their local representatives. For further information, contact Jim: (+44) 7936 8990809 or: jimszur gena@gmail.com.

Tabernas Desert

CYCLING fans will be pleased to hear that the Tabernas Desert 2023 mountain bike race is ready to return.

On June 9, 10 and 11, the seventh edition of the Tabernas Desert 2023 race will be held. It is the most extreme MTB sporting event sponsored by the Oasys MiniHollywood theme park.

On June 9, the first timed stage will take place, which will start and leave from the Oasys MiniHollywood film sets. It is one of the toughest and most extreme tests nationwide and all visitors will be able to enjoy the activities that the park will offer on the day.

The main route will take place through the natural environment of the only Desert in Europe, the Tabernas Desert, making the race legendary as it mixes a unique landscape, with a high level of complexity, forcing participants to

have great expertise and suffer extreme risk areas.

Great riders at the national level will participate in the test, with all kinds of mountain bike models, in an extreme sport test of great difficulty for which they have been training all year.

Image: Oasis MiniHollywood

PSOE Zurgena (via Facebook)

PSOE candidates are eager to serve the community.

BIKE RACE: One of the toughest tests nationwide.

THE Dona Pakyta Art Museum is now hosting its exhibition dedicated to the artist Gines Parra.

The monographic exhibition, dedicated to the work of the local artist has been made possible thanks to his works from the 30s, 40s and 50s, some of which have not even been exhibited before.

The 28 works, of different techniques, show the singularity of Gines Parra’s plastic proposal.

Visitors will have access to a complete vision of the the­

Unique and exquisite

matic universe developed by the Almanzorian painter through his landscapes, still lifes and human figures, including on this great occasion some of his unique works on religious themes.

Until May 31, the museum will be open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am until 1.30pm then from 5.00pm until 8.00pm.

From June 1, the opening hours will be a slight change in hours to 10.30am to

Doggy Day

AA DOG Rescue (AADR) enjoyed a fantastic turnout at their Dog Rescue Dog Show which took place on Sunday May 14.

The charity is very grateful and wishes to say a big thank you to everyone who visited and made the day so successful.

A whopping €1,617 was raised for our furry friends in need.

AADR are now able to transport your dogs, cats and ferrets from Spain to the UK and from the UK to Spain.

Their transport costs are very competitive as they treat it as a donation which goes straight back to helping our rescue dogs. So

1.30pm, then from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.

On Sundays, it will remain open from 10.30am until 1.30pm.

The museum is located at Pl. de Emilio Perez, 2, 04001 Almeria.

For more information, email: comunicacionmuseo dearte@gmail.com or call (+34) 670 494 096 for general information and (+34) 680 990 592 for guided tours and activities.

your pets ultimately help the rescue pups and dogs!

For more information on the charity, head to the website: https://www.aadogrescue. org.uk/ or email homing@aadogrescue. org.uk.

Dog show.

Image: AA DOG Rescue / Facebook

Ghost Band

Mozarabic Race

ALMERIA closed the weekend on Sunday, May 14, after two days bursting full of sporting activity, including the Third Mozarabic Bike Race. The cycling event takes place every year on a route filled to the brim with history.

DIRECTOR J uan Rafael Gomez presented his new production on Monday, May 15.

Entitled The incredible stories of intrepid Ralph Lee - The ghost band, the production was shot in part on the cinematographic sets of the Oasys MiniHollywood sets in Almeria.

This new story will narrate the lives of various characters who are part of The Ghost Band, who have terrorised the city of Tombstone with a continuous wave of robberies, as well as Umi, eldest daughter of the Navajo chief and Ralph Lee, a friend of the town sheriff, Wyatt Earp, who goes to the call for help to solve a grue-

some murder and robbery spree.

After several investigations and unexpected plot twists with the help of nearby Indian tribes and Mexican towns, it is discovered that there is an infiltrator in the Ghost Gang, helping the outlaws in their misdeeds.

The unique atmosphere that is breathed in the western town of Oasys MiniHollywood has also made it a unique space for recording all kinds of audiovisual projections.

Oasys MiniHollywood supports the promotion of national projects to increase the legend of the province of Almeria and the cinema.

The Municipal Sports Complex of Los Angeles was the final destination to receive the more than 300 riders who took part.

The event united the province of Granada with that of Almeria and started from La Alhambra at 6.00am. Thirty­six municipalities were traced under a great physical and climatic demand marked by the 220 kilometres and 4,500 metres of positive difference in altitude.

The councillor for Sports, Juanjo Segura, congratulated the winners saying: “After an event full of effort and sacrifice, it is a pride to receive you in Almeria. You have put in value a path that has a sporting, historical and cultural value.”

Inexplicable phenomena

THERE are phenomena that seem inexplicable and while science is there to let us know what it’s all about, we can’t help but marvel.

When one of those seem-

ingly unattainable phenomena touches you up close the mystery is even greater and that has happened with an aurora borealis that was seen from the Calar Alto Observa-

tory in Almeria towards the end of April.

Aurora borealis also known as the northern lights are an atmospheric phenomenon in which undulating waves of green, purple, and red lights dance across the sky. They occur when waves of energised particles from the sun called solar wind bombard our atmosphere.

The visibility of the phenomenon at the latitude of the observatory confirms the power of the solar eruption that took place and the exquisite transparency of the skies over Calar Alto.

Aurora borealis are common phenomena at high latitudes and even more spectacular during the maximum of solar activity that has a cycle of 11 years, but the auroras are very rare in the Iberian Peninsula.

The last sighting of an aurora in Spain took place 20 years ago.

MINIHOLLYWOOD: A unique space for filming projects.

Image: Oasys MiniHollywood

Journey to Tiritiri

AROUND 60 people gathered on May 4 at Charlotte’s Bar in Albox to support the local APSA charity.

The event was organised by Berni Albrighton who took the audience on a journey to the New Zealand conservation island of Tiritiri Matangi.

The journey started by catching a ferry from downtown Auckland and sailing across to the island. Once there, Berni introduced everyone to the wildlife that lived there and shared wonderful stories that were amusing, interesting and poignant.

The event raised €1,029 for APSA and was supported by a host of local businesses, in­

cluding The English Gem, Bar Lepanto, Casa Colorida, La Meseta in Bedar, Kates Corner Cafe in Zurgena and many more.

In addition to a raffle, there was an auction of art.

Michele Winfield of Purchena Art Space donated an original piece called ‘Zebra’ which was bought for €85.

Bandidos blast Bedar

SIXTEEN Los Bandidos runners took on the third race in the Circuito de Carreras Populares Diputacion de Almeria 2023 in Bedar on Saturday, May 15.

Unlike last year’s race, when the start had to be delayed due to the heat, it was a dull, grey start with rain and thunderstorms forecast. Luckily there was no thunder but there were a couple of light showers.

The hilly route went through the village, out into the campo, through some puddles due to the rain earlier in the day, and then climbed steeply back into Bedar.

Some of the Los Bandidos ladies were helped back to the finish line by one of the super speedy runners who had already finished the race! Aki was the first lady overall and five Bandidos won trophies in their age groups and as a team finished fifth with four fastest runners.

Times were generally faster this year, due to the cooler conditions, but on such a tough course, the winner still finished in an impressive 33:45, with Aki, the first lady in at 44:46. 168 runners crossed the finish line.

Fran Fajardo, known as ‘My name is Fran’ on Facebook, created a very large painting of birdlife on the island. This stunning piece of work fetched €302.

“Feedback from the audience was wonderful and I really loved sharing the island with them,” confirmed Berni.

Beautiful beach

A STUDY on waste found on the coast of Nijar carried out by students of the IES San Isidro School has been recognised as the winner of the My Beautiful Beach contest for the quality of the research carried out.

The students collected samples on tourist beaches such as Agua Amarga, Las Negras and San Jose.

They found remains of cigarettes, corks, hard plastics and bottles. After showing the analysis of this waste the students proposed to work on its elimination through several different measures.

These measures for elimination include the promotion of environmental education, the use of the ‘mechanical shark’ that devours garbage, the promotion of garbage collections, the installation of specialised areas for smoking with cigarette containers based on surveys and carrying out greater control of beaches with fines, among others.

My Beautiful Beach is a pilot programme in which the University of Almeria are involved to give participation and voice to local youth on the environmental problems of their municipality while giving them the opportunity to participate in the policy proposal.

ON

JOURNEY: Artwork by Fran Fajardo of birdlife on the island.

Artwork by Fran Fajardo

THE luck of the Irish was smiling down on a Spanish motor cyclist on May 14 as six Dublin firefighters were heading for Malaga Airport after attending a course in Sevilla.

As they were driving along the A92 near to the town of Alcala de Guadaira which is about 17 kilometres outside of Sevilla they saw that the biker had just fallen from his motorbike so as trained personnel they sprang into action.

They set up a protected area, posted signs and got on with finding what they could do to help the middle­aged biker who was unconscious, with multiple injuries and couldn’t breathe.

The team of paramedics managed to stabilise the in­

Good Samaritans

Bologknese for dinner

John

Ensor

LIKE something from a weird horror movie, a well ­ known Spanish influencer fed her boyfriend spaghetti bolognese that actually contained part of her own knee.

jured man so that he could start to breathe which they believe saved him from potential respiratory failure and a cardiac arrest.

THE President of Barcelona Tourism wants to extend the tourist tax that people already pay when they stay in accommodation in Barcelona. He says he wants to extend the tax to other areas of tourism. But his plan has hit a wall.

The Barcelona Restaurant Association has said they will refuse to put a tax on clients because they don’t serve tourists and residents will end up paying as well.

A team from the Spanish Emergency Service arrived shortly afterwards and took over the situation and he was rushed to hospital.

Hopefully, when he recovers, he will be delighted to discover that six strangers from Ireland were able to save his life.

Refusing to tax tourists

Roger Pallerols, the director of the Barcelona Restaurant Association which represents around 3,000 bars and restaurants in the city said that his members have flatly refused to cooperate.

Tourists coming into Barcelona on cruise ships and those staying in tourist

accommodation currently have to pay a daily rate. But costs are set to rise with a payment of €3.25 a night for any cruise or establishment from 2024. Meanwhile, the bars and restaurants in the city have said it would be impossible to ask for the passports of every person.

Paula Gonu from Spain has over 228,00 followers on social media and recently confessed to eating part of her knee which she cooked into a spaghetti bolognese, according to a news source on Wednesday, May 10.

Thirty ­ year ­ old Paula Gonu explained about her recent knee surgery, which was performed under local anaesthetic. The glamorous model and influencer remained awake throughout the whole procedure and asked the surgeon to explain everything as it went along.

Gonu watched the

whole grisly event live on a screen. As the minor operation neared its end the doctor surprised her by asking if she wanted a little souvenir and asked her if she would like to keep the cartilage he had removed.

Things took a bizarre twist about a week later when Gonu was having a laugh with her boyfriend and the thought of eating her own knee cartilage popped into her mind.

She told him, “I told him I wanted to eat it because it was part of me, and I had to put it back in my body.”

She then explained how she made a spaghetti bolognese and added the cartilage to the sauce before both she and her boyfriend settled down to enjoy dinner.

Credit: Emergencias Sevilla

MOTOR CYCLIST: Irish paramedics saved the man’s life.

Space odyssey

IN a groundbreaking announcement, on Friday, May 12, Spain announced it will take part in the prestigious Artemis space programme, spearheaded by the United States. The revolutionary initiative aims to create rules that will ultimately govern a permanent moon mission and that will shape the exploration of planets like Mars.

A high­ranking US official revealed the news, just before a meeting was scheduled to take place between US President Joe Biden and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, with the space mission on the agenda. The announcement comes two years after the Spanish government created the Spanish

Betty Henderson

IN a highly­anticipated press conference about the oil industry on Thursday, May 11, Exolum CEO Jorge Lanza gave more details about the importation of Russian oil into Spain. While Lanza stated that, at present, oil coming directly from Russia is not believed to be entering the country, he acknowledged the challenge of closely tracking individual molecules of oil to their origin.

Space Agency with its headquarters in Sevilla. The centre plays a pivotal role in coordinating Spain’s space ambitions and is also key in collaborations with global space agencies, including NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). Spain joins 24 other countries that are part of the Artemis programme. Signatories to the programme commit to peaceful space exploration, sharing scientific discoveries, and the creation of ‘safe zones’ where each nation can run operations on the moon’s surface without interference.

Other signatories include the US, Japan, Australia, France and the UK.

In the pipeline

Lanza conceded that this does leave room for the possibility that Russian oil could be blended with supplies from other sources.

Lanza reassured the public that the ships arriving in Spain are complying with the sanctions imposed on Russian products following the Ukrainian invasion. He also highlight­

ed his company, Exolum’s ongoing collaboration with the government to strictly obey laws and prevent the import of oil coming from Russia.

Lanza said that Exolum does require importers to provide a declaration to say that the oil was not produced in Russia, though he accepted this method was not foolproof.

Spanish elections

THERE will be two different elections taking place in Spain and the islands on Sunday May 28.

These are the precursors to a General Election which is likely to be held on a Sunday in December this year.

Every municipality that has its own council will be involved in the local elections whilst the regional elections are staggered with just 13 Autonomous Communities up for grabs.

These are Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla­La Mancha, Extremadura, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, La Rioja and Valencia whilst elections will also take place in Ceuta and Melilla.

In the municipal elections, 35,414,655 voters will be able to vote, including 414,581 belonging to EU countries and countries with which Spain has signed a reciprocity agreement to exercise the right to active suffrage and who have expressed their intention to vote in these elections (and this includes UK passport holders resident in Spain).

In the regional elections 18,382,505 voters will be able to vote, of which 1,046,757 are Spanish residents living abroad.

In broad terms there are several politi­

cal parties contesting the elections ranging from far left to far right with a number of small local candidates also taking part.

Basically, the PSOE (Socialist Party) will be fighting it out with the Partido Popular (like the UK Conservative Party) and it is more than likely that the PP may have to form alliances with the more right wing Vox Party whilst PSOE will try to obtain assistance from left wing Podemos and the less powerful centrist Ciudadanos.

The government of PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez rules thanks to a coalition with a number of other parties and independents, but all eyes will be on these two elections as they may give an idea of how the December General Election is likely to turn out.

Two different elections are taking place.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Changes for landlords

John Ensor

THE new Housing law has left many landlords wondering if they will be better or worse off, and how will it impact younger people trying to set up home.

The new law has been drawn up in over a year of negotiations and is expected to be passed before the May 28 municipal elections, according to a news source.

The main issues are the limits placed on landlords with regard to increasing the rent for their tenants and who is now responsible for monies payable to real estate agents.

Last year the government set up a temporary rent ceiling that will carry on throughout 2023. That limit is currently set at 2 per cent on increases to rents.

Betty Henderson

THE Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez, travelled to Washington DC on Thursday, May 11 ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday, May 12. This highly anticipated meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between Spain and the United States and pave the way for significant agreements, including discussions about the 1966

However, this will change in 2024 when the limit will be adjusted to 3 per cent.

‘Stressed’ areas will be subject to special controls regarding how rents are regulated. A ‘stressed’ area is basically an area with high rents which have forced tenants to leave.

Local authorities will decide which areas fall into the ‘stressed’ category and will review their status every three years.

The other major change are the fees payable to real estate agents. In a bid to stop legal loopholes, real estate agency fees and expenses are now the responsibility of the owner, not the tenant. Landlords will also be prevented from increasing the tenant’s payments as a result of building work, garbage collection, or other such unagreed payments.

Stateside summit

Palomares nuclear accident in Almeria. The meeting comes at a significant moment in relations for the two countries after Spain recently agreed to a migration deal with the US, meaning that it will welcome refugees from several South and Central American countries to help the US deal with its border crisis.

Spain and Canada have both agreed to house processing centres for refugees to submit asylum applications. Other topics on the agenda included the conflict in Ukraine, climate change, EU and US relations and global democracy.

Before meeting with the President, Sánchez first headed to the Spanish Ambassador’s residence where authorities held a ceremony in honour of the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

Business travel boom

SPAIN’S corporate travel industry has experienced a remarkable surge according to a report released on Friday, May 12, doubling its revenue in 2022 and setting its sights on surpassing pre­pandemic figures in 2023.

The barometer report by Braintrust for the Spain Convention Bureau estimates a revenue total of more than €12.1 billion for 2023.

The report found that more than 80 per cent of business meetings are expected to return to in­person formats during 2023, with the country’s meeting spaces projected to have an average annual occupancy rate of more than 75 per cent.

The report also found that the average daily spending per business traveller reached €335 in 2022, surpassing the 2019 figure of €319.

European medical milestone

SURGEONS in a Spanish hospital have broken new medical ground by performing the first­ever operation in Europe to successfully implant a wireless pacemaker in a baby.

The groundbreaking surgery was carried out by cardiologists in the Arrhythmia Unit of the Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe in Valencia. They were assisted by medical colleagues from the facility’s Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Services.

According to Joaquín Osca, head of the Arrhythmia Unit, the baby, weighing just one and a half kilos, had a complete congenital atrioventricular block. This caused a severe bradycardia that placed the child in a lifethreatening situation he explained.

In a statement from the Generalitat, Osca revealed that the technique to relieve the baby’s heart blockage: “required the implantation of a pacemaker to guarantee an adequate heart rate for the patient’s needs.

“The implantation of a pacemaker in neonatal age is performed through a surgical access, since percutaneous implantation, the normal procedure in adults, is not possible,” he continued.

In order to perform this operation, the surgeons had to take into account that the pacemakers currently available are designed only for use in adults, which means their size is large for a neonate.

As a result, the one that was been implanted was an adaptation of the smallest existing pacemaker.

HOUSING LAW: Landlords are now limited with regards to rent.

SHUTTERSTOCK

1863 London’s subway is the oldest in the world.

Airlines plan strike action

TRAVELLERS to Spain could face a turbulent time this summer with many Spanish airlines threatening industrial action over the holiday season. According to a report in a UK newspaper on Friday, May 12, Britons could face travel misery as over a dozen airlines are thinking about walking out.

The Spanish airline pilot union SEPLA are considering a series of strikes in a move that could affect lots of holidaymakers.

If SEPLA decides to go ahead with industrial action it could heavily impact many airlines including, Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Jet2 and Norwegian.

In addition, Iberia, Iberia Express, Air Nostrum, Air Europa, Swiftair, Plus Ultra, Eurowings and Evelop, are at high risk of being impacted.

SEPLA is concerned the cur­

rent strike action being taken is proving ineffectual, as Spanish legislation demands a minimum service even on strike days, which cancels out the impact of industrial action.

SEPLA announced new action on May 22, 23, 25, 26, 29 and 30. Also, on June 1 and 2 at all airports in Spain, and warned that more strikes will follow if agreement was not reached. UK travellers can also expect more delays at the airport if fewer staff are available to stamp their passports.

Demonstrators support squatters

HUNDREDS of demonstrators took to the streets of Barcelona following calls for two protests organised, both in favour, and against the occupation of two estates next to the Plaça de la Bonanova.

The focus of both the demonstration is on the buildings, known as ‘La Ruïna’ and ‘El Kubo’, which have been occupied for years by squatters.

According to a news source on Thurs­

day, May 11, tensions have escalated due to the election campaign in Barcelona, which has put these properties under the spotlight of the right­wing parties, along with calls from the company ‘Desokupa’.

Authorities in Barcelona have deployed nearly 400 Mossos d’Esquadra officers in the area, after the calls for the protests.

Supporters of the extrajudicial evic­

tion company Desokupa marched to Bonanova square to reach the squatted buildings, while a police cordon was set up to stop them.

The pro­occupation demonstrators dressed in masks and black clothes protested on the other side of the police cordon, as the parameter was set up in order to stop both sides from clashing. Police helicopters were also flying in the area to monitor the situation.

Whale attacks

ATTACKS by pods of killer whales on boats sailing in the Strait of Gibraltar are becoming increasingly frequent.

This tension between killer whales and boats is

creating a danger for crew members, as another attack was reported last weekend.

According to a news source on Sunday, May 11, two victims of the most re­

cent attack, were sailing off the coast of Cadiz, when they were surprised by a pod of killer whales.

The two sailors named Pablo and Alfredo were in the waters off the town of Barbate in Cadiz when the whales started swimming around the boat and smashed into the hull several times.

This resulted in them breaking the rudder of the boat before they finally left.

The presence of killer whales on the Andalucian coast is quite common, as they visit the area at the beginning of the year.

But for the past four years, their visits have become an increasingly uncomfortable reality in the area.

Their arrival in the area also coincides with the almadraba season, which is the local name for fish traps used to catch bluefin tuna off the coast of Cadiz for thousands of years.

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G7 support for Kyiv

AS Germany prepared to send a €2.7 billion arms package to Ukraine, the G7 vowed on Saturday May 13, to up their support in a bid to end the war.

The G7 group, containing seven of the most economically advanced nations in the world, vowed on Saturday in Niigata, Japan, its continued support for Ukraine and for sanctions against Russia.

The summit has seen bank chiefs and ministers of finance vow to help countries suffering

from debt, high inflation and on a more individual level, the swollen cost of living. Further to this, they hope to build more diverse supply chains that offer greater stability.

And stability they believe requires an end to the war in Ukraine, with aid to the wartorn nation expected to increase to $44 billion moving into 2024.

It could be construed though that more military aid may not be the solution to ending a war, as a news

source reported on Twitter: “The UK has been threatened with a military response by Russia after pledging to send long­range missiles to Ukraine.

As more opposition mounts to Russia, there will undoubtedly come such threats of retaliation. Further to this, China, which hasn’t presented a firm position on where it stands, has been known to be an ally to Russia and may choose yet to supply them with reinforcements.

Tipped to be new Bond

SINCE the departure of Daniel Craig as James Bond there has been much speculation as to who will take over the famous role, but it seems a frontrunner has now emerged.

A leading bookmaker has announced that 32­year­old British actor, Aaron Taylor­Johnson is their hot tip, following a sudden surge in bets they have just taken, according to a news source on Friday May 12.

Since then Coral noted a scramble to place bets on the High Wycombe­born actor to become the new 007.

In fact, the odds of Taylor­Johnson be­

coming Bond are now 2­1, following a successful screen test at Pinewood in front of Barbara Broccoli, head of the James Bond franchise.

Many other well­known names have been associated with the vacant 007 seat including, Tom Hardy, James Norton, Idris Elba and Richard Madden who all at one time have been lined up to replace fivetime Bond star Daniel Craig.

Aaron’s previous roles have included TV roles in Casualty and The Bill and film roles such as the lead character in Kick­Ass. He subsequently appeared in a host of Marvel films.

Archbishop caught speeding

cording to a news source.

BEST

PRICE. BETTER COVER.

JUST days after crowning a new king, the archbishop of Canterbury was convicted of speeding.

On Wednesday, May 10, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby was convicted in a private hearing for breaking the speed limit, as well as three penalty points on his licence. He also has to foot a whopping £510 bill for legal fees, ac­

This comes just days after the eyes of the world saw the 67 ­ year ­ old Church of England leader conduct the historic coronation of King Charles III.

The incident occurred on October 2, 2022, when he was clocked by a speed camera, driving along the Albert Embankment, central London in his VW Golf

towards Lambeth Palace.

After the camera footage was assessed, the Metropolitan Police contacted the archbishop, who confessed he was behind the wheel at the time.

The speed limit along the embankment is 20mph, which was imposed three years ago, and his Grace was spotted doing 25mph.

G7 GROUP: Vowed to continue its support for Ukraine and for sanctions against Russia.

Betty Henderson

THE serene Swiss village of Brienz became the centre of a high­stakes evacuation operation from Tuesday, May 9 as authorities feared an imminent catastrophe caused by an impending rockslide.

Residents were instructed to urgently evacuate their homes by evening on Friday, May 12. The residents were forced to flee their homes due to the looming threat of a rockfall, of a colossal mass of Alpine rock totalling a staggering two million cubic metres.

At a recent town hall meeting, local leaders revealed that geologists had observed a rapid acceleration in local rock movement. The unsettling prognosis suggested that within seven to 24 days, up to two million cubic metres of rock material could collapse or slide, endangering lives and properties.

Situated in the picturesque Graubünden region, Brienz is a historic village known for its unique blend of German and Romansch cultures. However, the village has experienced an

AS she prepares to leave office, Finland’s Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, has also announced that she is divorcing her husband Markus Raikkonen.

In an Instagram story on Wednesday, May 10, the leader expressed her gratitude for the couple’s 19 years of shared memories and the love they built together. Amidst the divorce proceedings, the pair remain committed to their five­year­old daughter.

This revelation comes at a critical moment for Marin, who is set to leave office following her party’s defeat in the recent general election. The centre ­ left coalition, under her leadership, faced a nail ­ biting race against the National Coalition Party and the right ­ wing populist Finns Party, ultimately losing by a narrow margin.

At just 37 years old, Sanna Marin made history as the world’s youngest prime minister when she assumed office in 2019. Her tenure garnered immense public support, particularly for her deft handling of the Covid ­ 19 crisis and successful navigation of Finland’s path to NATO membership.

As the Finnish government enters a caretaker phase, Ms Marin’s depar­

alarming increase in rock movement over the past two decades, with the landslide now progressing at a rate of approximately one metre per year. Experts continue to investigate countermeasures but have already ruled out controlled explosions or protective walls due to impracticality.

A Race against time Parting ways

ture marks the end of an era. The race for a new government is underway,

and her successor is expected to be appointed by June.

War on Wagner

IN a bold move, France is urging the European Union to officially designate Russia’s notorious Wagner mercenary group as a ‘terrorist organisation’. In a groundbreaking resolution passed by the French parliament on Wednesday, May 10, lawmakers announced their deep concerns about Wagner.

Calling for the EU to change its stance, French lawmaker Benjamin Haddad explained that Wagner members are not an average mercenary group. He described them as strategically advancing Putin’s aggressive policies, spreading violence, and engaging in heinous acts with impunity.

Wagner’s anti­French propaganda campaigns in Africa, particularly in Mali, have raised alarm bells.

France hopes its call will inspire all 27 EU members to list Wagner as a ‘terrorist organisation’. The Ukrainian President Zelenskiy praised

France’s decision, urging global unity in the face of terrorism.

Following the French decision, the UK said it will also take action. The Home Office has been building a case against Wagner, and soon, it could become a criminal offence to support or associate with the group on British soil.

This coordinated effort against Wagner marks a turning point in the international fight against terrorism, with France leading the charge.

65% of Brits over 60 still prefer to watch traditional TV channels.

Photo credit: MilaJac Wikimedia Commons

BRIENZ: The picturesque village was facing evacuation.

Party for world’s oldest dog Unusual campaign

THE local elections in Albania took place on Sunday May 14 and The Socialist Party of Albania had made an impressive move by allocating part of their campaign budget to plant trees

in every city across the country.

Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama stated that his and his party’s aim is to seed the future for the generations to come, by

leaving something good behind after these elections. Thus, the slogan ‘Only Forward. Never Backwards’.

He added that citizens are tired of negativity and harsh rhetoric in every election campaign, and that his party doesn’t need to pollute the social environment of the citizens of Albania with all the shouting, the bullying, and the political games, unlike his opponents. Instead, the party is taking a long­term view, demonstrating a commitment to the wellbeing of Albanian citizens.

“We have decided to have a minimal appearance of large screens, pompous scenes, and advertising materials,” Rama explained at the campaign launching event.

“We want to set a good example on how a campaign doesn’t have to leave a trail of trash, pollution, and negativity behind.”

THERE was a big party held on Saturday May 13 in Portugal as the world’s oldest living dog celebrated his birthday.

Guinness World Records announced last week that Bobi turned the grand old age of 31, on May 11.

Bobi, Born on May 11, 1992, is officially the world’s oldest dog ever, a title held previously by an Aussie cattle dog named Bluey who lived to be 29 years old.

Bobi is a Portuguese Rafeiro do Alentejo breed and has lived all his life in the village of Conqueiros, Portugal.

Leonel Costa, who owns Bobi, confirmed it was a ‘very traditional’ Portuguese party, with even a

dance troupe performing. Bobi, who does not eat dog food, was served locally­sourced fish and meat. Over 100 guests were expected to attend, with many jetting from overseas for Bobi’s special day.

Leonel attributes Bobi’s old age to a life lived in a ‘calm, peaceful environ­

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

ment,’ where he has been free to roam without a chain or leash.

As with anyone of advanced years, Bobi struggles to walk nowadays, and owing to poor eyesight often bumps into things when he walks. After a meal, he always takes a snooze.

BOBI: After a meal, he always takes a snooze.

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Bingo bust

A COPENHAGAN court ruled in favour of the country’s official gambling regulator who found that a local association had offered illegal bingo and banko games for several years. The club, not a non-profitmaking organisation, was fined €2,014 while the authorities impounded a further €671,248.

THE NETHERLANDS

Less snow

THE Netherlands had under-average snowfall for the 10th consecutive winter, snowing on only 13 days between mid-autumn and midspring, instead of the habitual average of 20 days. The last time the Netherlands had more snow than usual was in 2013, when snow was registered on 34 days.

BELGIUM

Bombs away

A 30-KILO bomb that was approximately 60 centimetres long and 25 centimetres wide was detonated on the beach at Koksijde during ongoing work to rid the beach of explosives dating back to the Second World War. The beach was closed as a crew carried out a controlled explosion.

GERMANY

Hot topic

GERMANS assure pollsters that they are concerned about the climate crisis and the consequences of global warming. Nevertheless, opposition to the Economics and Climate ministry’s new home-heating law revealed that they are reluctant to modify lifestyles or pay higher prices to curb emissions

FRANCE

Drought crisis

THE Pyrenees-Orientales coastal region’s drought is officially classed as a crisis, with the River Agly practically dried-up since the middle of March. Restrictions to save as much of the tourist-dependent area’s drinking water as possible include a ban on car-washing, watering gardens and filling swimming pools.

NORWAY

Early settlers

ELISE, an eight-year-old girl from Vestland, went to pick up a piece of glass while playing near her school but instead found an interesting piece of stone. She showed to her teacher, who contacted the county council whose archaeologists confirmed that it was a Stone Age dagger created 3,700 years ago.

FINLAND

On record

FINLAND’S new canine register finally opened on May 7 following a delay of several months owing to technical problems. By 4pm that same day the system run by the Finnish Food Authority had registered around 4,000 dogs, following which they will eventually be microchipped.

IRELAND

Double identity

AIDAN BYRNE, 75, who used his dead brother’s identity to claim more than €93,000 in benefits, was jailed for two and a half years by a Donegal court. He hoodwinked the social welfare system with a birth certificate belonging to his brother, Anthony, who died in a 1972 drowning accident in England.

ITALY

Flat rate

THE super-rich are moving to Italy to enjoy financial benefits introduced in 2017. In exchange for an annual fee of €100,000 those taking up residency are exempt from paying tax on income generated overseas. The initiative also extends to family members for a yearly payment of €25,000 per person.

PORTUGAL

Close friends

PORTUGAL and Spain’s a new Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, which confirms their shared values, came into force on May 11. Both governments explained that the new agreement also updates the 1977 Treaty, which played a crucial role in Portugal and Spain’s parallel development as democracies.

UKRAINE

Cyberwarfare

UKRAINIAN communications have been subjected for years to slick and inventive cyberattacks from Russia and Ukraine has increasingly hit back, particularly since last year’s invasion. Now security firm Malwarebytes have tracked a new group operating against both Ukraine and Russia whose motives “are still unclear.”

SWEDEN

Taking charge

SWEDEN will make history opening the world’s first permanently electrified stretch of road in 2025 on the E20 road near Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo. The electric road system (ERS) will enable electric vehicles to recharge on the move, enabling them to travel greater distances between charging stations.

FINANCE

STAT OF WEEK €36.5 million

is the amount of Ryanair’s order for 300 Boeing aircraft, the first 150 of which will be delivered by 2025 with a further 150 ready between 2027 and 2033.

Cheaper butter

TESCO, Aldi and Lidl are following Sainsbury’s lead by lowering the price of their own­brand salted and unsalted butter from £1.99 (€2.29) to £1.89 (€2.17) for a 250­gramme pack while also cutting the price of ownbrand bread. Meanwhile, Asda and Morrison have yet to follow suit.

Tesla choice

TESLA chose Barcelona­based Holaluz to install Powerwall home batteries in Spain, an integrated battery system which stores solar energy for backup protection so that power stays on when the grid goes down. The system detects outages and automatically recharges with sunlight to keep appliances running for days.

Sporting chance

JD SPORTS plans to acquire French sportswear retailer Courir for €520 million, which includes paying €325 million via existing cash resources, and taking on a €195 million debt. The London ­ listed sportswear giant revealed that it did not expect to complete the deal before the second half of this year.

Tax break

SPAIN’S tax authority Hacienda announced a 25 per cent income tax (IRPF) reduction on the net yield of 828,000 drought­affected agricultural growers and livestock farmers. The measure applies to their 2022 tax declarations for those using the module system, the country’s official state bulletin (BOE) confirmed.

Lift-off

MELROSE INDUSTRIES’ shares soared after outstripping expectations and announcing that it would focus on the aerospace industry after de­merging its automotive business. It expects fullyear sales of between £3.35 and £3.45 billion (€3.8 and €4 billion), well within the company­compiled £3.4 (€3.9 million) estimate.

Linda Hall

A POLITICAL party’s proposal to create a chain of publicly­owned supermarkets would be unworkable, Spain’s Manufacturers and Distributors Association (AECOC) said.

The Podemos party’s scheme was “out of touch with reality,” it was “posttruth” and “contributed nothing,” AECOC’s director general Jose Maria Bonmatí declared.

He also lamented that Podemos’s secretary general Ione Belarra had labelled food distribution bosses as “capos.”

Spain’s National Statistics’ Institute (INE) announced that prices rose by 16.5 per

Not a good idea

report emphasised.

BUSINESS EXTRA Scam amends

“A public supermarket would contribute nothing in a sector that is enormously complex,” Bonmati said, speaking in Madrid on May 9. “Many links are involved and it must be taken into account this is a sector with a great deal of competition.

BANK customers refused scam refunds are receiving sizeable payouts after referring cases to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

cent in March, and Belarra’s latest outburst had irritated the sector, Bonmatí explained, as prices had risen owing to higher costs and their profit margins had suffered.

Government figures submitted to the European

THREE water company chiefs have rejected their bonuses this year.

Nicola Shaw (Yorkshire Water), Sarah Bentley (Thames Water) and Susan Davy (South West Water) have all recognised the public’s anger over the amount of dumped sewage that has reached Britain’s rivers and coastal waters. She understood the “strength of feeling,” Nicola Shaw said on announc ing that she would not accept her first bonus since joining the com pany in May last year. This would have been between £600,000 (€691,671) and £800,000 (€922,072) based on Yorkshire Water’s annual accounts.

“It just did not feel like the right thing to take performance­related pay this

Grifols change

BARCELONA­based pharmaceutical company Grifols announced executive chairman Thomas Glanzmann as its new chief executive.

The founding family’s move arrived at a difficult time for the multinational group, which manufactures medicines using blood plasma, but was badly hit during the pandemic due to shortages in supplies.

Glanzmann, who served on the board as vice­chairman since 2017, was named chairman in February after Steven F Mayer’s resignation as Grifols’ executive chairman on “health and personal” grounds.

The former co­CEOs from the Grifols family will remain on the board, but in new roles.

commission have demonstrated that 95 per cent of Spain’s food inflation was the result of the higher price of imported raw materials in 2022.

The steep rise was not due to internal problems in the food supply chain, the

The AECOC chief also maintained that there were “all kinds of commercial offers” in Spain and that the consumer had an “enormous capacity” to choose.

“I can’t see that this proposal would contribute much of value, not when there are so many operators who offer affordable products,” Bonmatí concluded.

Bosses forgo bonuses

year,” said Sarah Bentley who last year received £496,000 (€571,714) while Thames Water’s chief financial officer, Alastair Cochran, who received £298,000 (€343,442, also turned down 23 payout.

“This is the right thing to do. We’re listening to our customers, we get it,” said Susan Davy, whose company spilled untreated sewage 37,649 times last

Deloitte audit probed

THE UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is investigating Deloitte in connection with its audit of Joules’ 2021 accounts.

Clothing company Joules called in the administrators in November, endangering 1,600 jobs and 132 shops, after failing to secure emergency funding.

Creditors, who included HM Revenue and Customs, suppliers and staff, were owed more than £100 million (€115.2 million), according to a statement from the administrators.

The following month, fashion and homeware retailer Next came to the rescue in a £41 million (€47.2 million) deal that saved 100 shops and 1,450 jobs by teaming up with Joules’ founder Tom Joule.

Accountancy watchdog FRC revealed that it has opened an investigation relating to Deloitte’s audit of Joules’ accounts up to the year ending in May 2021 without stating the reason for its investigation.

year. Davy runs Pennon Group, owner of South West Water, and has turned down a pay rise for the last two years.

Chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, Emma Clancy, applauded the executives’ decisions.

“Our recent research, Bridging the Gap, shows bonuses add to people’s current frustration with the water industry,” she said. “This announcement shows people’s concerns are being listened to.”

The Financial Times reported on May 8 that Britain’s privatised water and sewage companies paid £1.4 billion (€1.6 billion) in dividends in 2022, an increase from £540 million (€662.2 million) in 2021.

Another Zara

ANTONIO CATALAN, president of AC Hotels by Marriott, will make use of smaller hotels.

Teleworking has considerably reduced the volume of business tourism, Catalán recently told a news interviewer.

“It’s necessary to find an alternative use for the hotels that depended on this type of activity,” he said.

He hopes to create a low­cost brand, “a Zara of hotels,” Catalán revealed.

It now remains for him to convince Marriott, he said, explaining that he would use as an example the evolution of Armani from an elitist and exclusive label into a brand that included Armani Jeans, Emporio Armani and the cheaper Armani Exchange range.

Scam victims whose banks refused to compensate them were often trapped by a loophole which meant they lost refund rights if they had voluntarily paid somebody who was later found to be a scammer.

Legally, victims of what is known as “authorised push payment” fraud should be entitled a full refund from their bank under UK financial regulation.

Nevertheless, many failed to receive compensation until they took their fight to the FOS, receiving amounts that varied from hundreds to thousands of pounds.

King’s weather

WET weather, once known as the Queen’s weather and presumably now the King’s weather, boosted gazebo sales over the Coronation weekend.

Street party organisers began panic­buying as the rain set in, with retailers reporting an “unprecedented” rise in sales while gazebo hire firms were inundated with last­minute bookings.

“As a home and leisure retailer we are used to seasonal swings but this spike in sales for gazebos was unprecedented,” Shaun Eldridge, spokesperson for The Range told a news source.

Some gazebos sold out entirely, including a £49.99 (€57.47) line decorated with the Union Jack “which flew off the shelves,” he said.

Peace reigns

ANTONIO GARAMENDI, who is president of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE), foresees social peace until 2025.

He was “especially pleased and proud,” Garamendi said, after having signed the Fifth Employment and Collective Bargaining Agreement (AEMC) with Spain’s unions. The pact was balanced as well as good for the country’s stability, the CEOE president said. He also went on to stress, in an oblique reference both to the government and to political parties, that nobody should be allowed to try to appropriate the pact.

OOD INFLATION: Not due to supply chain problems, government says.

SUSAN DAVY: Chief executive of Pennon Group, South West Water’s owners.

DOW JONES

Gold rush

AN ounce of gold now costs

$2,050 (€1,877, comfortably close to the $2,100 (€1,923) that it fetched during the summer of 2020 when investors were spooked by Covid. Banking crises, interest rate volatility, economic slowdown and the war in Ukraine have all contributed to gold’s 10 per cent price rise since January, analysts explained.

Encapsulated

LIQUID capsules are the fastest­growing detergent and have become the most popular way of doing the laundry in the UK, although only 0.1 per cent are made by eco­friendly brands. Wilton have now reinvented the laundry pod, a new carbon­neutral capsule range that comes with the added benefit of 100 per cent plastic­free packaging.

What a difference!

ONLY nine women directors are included amongst the 160 highest earners working for companies listed on Spain’s Bolsa (Stock Exchange).

Minimum thresholds for female directors in listed companies have been raised over the last 10 years and the Spanish government has set a July 1, 2024, deadline for listed companies to increase this to 40 per cent.

Figures for 2022 submitted to the National Securities Commission (CNMV) nevertheless demonstrated that quotas for women in big companies focused

Trade or pin money?

THE UK’s tax authorities are sending reminders to thousands of online sellers whom they believe might not have declared tax.

HMRC, who can access abundant data, have been cracking down on online traders who have omitted to declare taxes for annual sales of more than £1,000 (€1,151).

eBay, apps and websites including De­

pop, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted, have all grown in popularity since the pandemic.

Millions use them to make some extra cash or, in cases like Etsy, to launch a business.

Most people sell a few items and are not professional traders but HMRC is likely to regard as a business anybody who sells regularly to make a profit, or buys in bulk.

mainly on quantity, not quality, the 11th survey of salaries by El Pais concluded.

Few women executives were truly in charge, analysis revealed.

The continuing imbalance was also reflected in women’s salaries, the newspaper pointed out, although this was not exclusive to females.

El Pais found that the best­paid executive directors of the Ibex 35 companies ­ equivalent to the UK’s FTSE 100 ­ earned an average of €4.73 million in 2022.

This amount was 81.5 times greater than the annual €58,095 earned by the employees of the companies they managed.

The divide has also widened in comparison to previous years, as the difference between boss and employee was 76 times greater in 2021 and 79 times more in the 2020 pandemic year.

Plan needed

BRITAIN should relaunch industrial strategies and stop ‘floundering’ over initiatives preventing it from falling behind on the global stage, warned Make UK, which represents 20,000 manufacturers.

UK businesses risked losing out to companies elsewhere around the world owing to the government’s lack of a long ­ term industrial plan while Biden’s $369 billion (€335.5 billion) Inflation Reduction Act diverted investment.

Intern misuse

MURCIA’S Upper Court of Justice High Court of Justice (TSJ) confirmed an IT company’s earlier sentence and a €52,000 fine from the Work Inspectorate for having 31 interns and 27 employees.

The interns outnumbered regular staff in all departments, the TSJ judges said, demonstrating that the company’ staffing needs were covered by students in an “undercover employment relationship.”

MADRID’S BOLSA: Few women amongst listed companies’ executives.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Drink up

THE City Pub Group said after an ‘anaemic’ Coronation Day, sales the next day, Sunday, had been “really, really” strong. Longer opening hours would bring a boost of around £104 million (€119.8 million) to the sector the Centre for Economics and Business Research had forecast beforehand.

No takers

BUSINESS­OWNERS are finding it increasingly difficult to cover job vacancies and engage sufficient staff to complete their workforces. “This is a problem affecting all sectors and qualification levels, warned Andrés Sendagorta, president of Basque multinational Senera and the Institute of Family Businesses (IEF).

Love in the air

AS predicted, ITV’s advertising revenues dropped by 10 per cent during the first quarter of this year. The broadcaster said it expected declining advertising sales to be compensated by the next series of Love Island and the Rugby World Cup which would draw large broadcast and streaming audiences.

Going green

CEPSA signed an agreement to supply European energy service provider GETEC with green hydrogen from 2026. This will give the Spanishbased oil company a direct link to its industrial customers in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy, Cepsa’s Hydrogen director Joaquin Rodriguez said.

School bills

IT costs families at least £39 (€44.9) a week in transport, lunches, uniform, learning materials and school trips to send a child to a state secondary school according to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). This fell to £19 (€21.87) a week for a child at primary school.

Linda Hall

JOHN LEWIS staff backed the group’s chairwoman Dame Sharon White during the recent twiceyearly meeting of the partnership’s 60 ­ strong council on Wednesday May 10.

The department store and Waitrose supermarket owner reported a £234 million (€269 million) loss over the year ending last January, despite £12 billion (€13.8 billion) in sales, obliging it to abandon the staff bonus for only the second time since 1953.

Although the votes were symbolic rather than binding, they also carried considerable weight, as the council has the power to oust the chair of the partnership at any time should the members decide.

Earlier, White had courted criticism following reports that she was contemplating selling a stake

Staff back Stone

billion (€2.3 billion).

“I want to be absolutely categorical,” White declared prior to the vote. “The John Lews Partnership will always be an employee­owned business, no ifs, no buts. There is absolutely no question of demutualisation.”

White also said that the company would consider external investment if the partnership should ever find itself unable to fund plans through its own means.

Stepping down

SIMON THOMPSON is allegedly preparing to step down after a stormy two years as Royal Mail’s chief executive.

Thompson, who attempted to introduce large­scale changes to existing working conditions as well as cost­cutting measures, encountered strong resistance and strikes. The unions which represent Royal Mail employees accused him of fuelling acrimonious industrial disputes.

in the company, which has belonged to the staff since the 1920s, in a bid to raise a much­needed £2

But, she pledged, this would be done in a way that was consistent with the practice of all partners sharing in the benefits of the business, as promised in the original staff ownership deal.

Repsol goes electric

REPSOL, Spain’s largest oil company, now provides electricity for just over one million customers.

It acquired 50.01 per cent of the country’s seventh ­ largest electricity company, CHC Energia, and another 356,000 customers, after CIDE Servicios Comerciales, which owns 100 per cent of CHC Energia, approved the sale on Tuesday, May 9.

The CHC operation was Repsol’s largest in the electricity sector since acquiring Viesgo ­ and more than 750,000 customersfive years ago in an operation valued at more than €730 million.

That was followed by Gana Energía ­ in which Mercadona chairman Juan Roig was a shareholder ­ that brought Repsol 37,000 more customers and another €25 million in turnover in 2021.

Repsol then went on to secure the Capital Energy’s portfolio of a further 25,000 contracts at the beginning of 2022.

The company’s quota of the energy market has now increased from 4.9 per cent to 6.6 per cent, in fourth place after Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy.

The CHC transaction

THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposes to simplify listing rules that currently discourage companies from joining the UK’s stock markets.

This arises from reproaches that the British semiconductor and software design company Arm and other businesses shunned the UK market and preferred to list in the US.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposes to

comes at a time when Repsol, along with its competitors, wants to divest itself of its oil company label.

Instead, it aims to become a multi ­ energy company with interests that reach far beyond fossil fuels and produce net zero emissions by the middle of the century.

Stay in the UK

simplify listing rules in the UK which are putting off companies wishing to join the country’s public markets.

Companies intending to list shares must at present hold a premium listing, obliging them to comply with the UK’s highest regulation standards.

The FCA now wants to

eliminate the requirements which include a three­year financial and revenue­earning track record that makes it impossible for newer businesses to list.

“We want to encourage more companies to list and grow in the UK,” the FCA’s chief executive Nikhil Rathi said.

Deposits shuffled

SPAIN’S six big banks lost €35 billion in deposits, a reduction of 2.9 per cent, reports for 2023’s first quarter revealed.

Sources at the banks involved hastened to clarify that in part it was a seasonal effect as 43 per cent of this amount ­ €16.34 billion ­ occurred as companies withdrew cash accumulated at the end of the previous year to pay bills, complete impending transfers and pay executives’ bonuses.

The same sources explained that there were various reasons for the loss of the remaining 57 per cent, approximately €22 billion but this was principally the result of transferring funds from savings accounts to products generating better returns.

Clients had not withdrawn money, but instead had moved it to investment accounts, the banks stressed, or had acquired Spanish government bonds.

His standing was questioned after a Commons select committee appearance in January this year, prompting some members of the board of International Distributions Services (IDS), Royal Mail’s parent company, to conclude that new leadership was required.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail and IDS said they did not comment on rumour or speculation.

Welcome reduction

ENERGY bills for an average UK household are expected to dip to an annual £1,900 (€2,187) this summer following a reduction in gas prices.

The present energy price cap, set in April, stands at £3,280 (€3,776) a year.

Annual gas and electricity charges are falling as normality returns to the energy market with lower wholesale gas prices beginning to show up on power bills.

Figures currently demonstrate that the price of gas has returned to where it was in February 2022, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine transformed the energy sector.

Telefonica increases turnover

TELEFONICA announced a net profit of €298 million for the first quarter of 2023 on May 9.

This was 57.8 per cent lower than the €706 million reported during the same period last year, owing to higher debt costs.

Revenue between January and the end of March reached €10.05 billion, 6.7 per cent more than 2022’s first quarter, with increases in all business divisions and Telefonica’s key markets of Spain, the UK, Germany and Brazil despite ongoing inflation.

The company’s net financial debt fell by €244 million to €26.44 billion.

JOHN LEWS: No change in staffowned status, Dame Sharon White pledged.

REPSOL: Now Spain’s fourth-largest electricity company.

Photo credit: Flickr/Repsol

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

THINK IT

PERSONALLY I think the voting age should be raised to 21. It’s not that I consider the young lacking in intelligence, or am ignorant of the view, that if you’re old enough to die for your country you should at least have a say in who runs it.

The fact is they lack experience; they simply haven’t been around long enough. An 18­year­old today, was not even born when the last Labour government was elected and five when they were put out of office by the Conservatives.

They have no idea what it is like to exist under the depressing, inept incompetence of a left wing government.

They have never experienced the sight of the fat cat bully boys of the unions, fresh from their Marbella villa holidays, emerging from Downing Street and announcing that half the nation would be on strike if the ‘workers’ weren’t given what they (the unions) demanded. Of times when ‘everybody out’ issued from the employees of one vital institution after another, until

Young voters

the whole country staggered from one crisis to the next and employers were blamed for everything from the price of soap to the shortage of cat litter.

They have no knowledge of a country, run by a party who bribes its constituents by creating whole diversive cultures of benefit scroungers, and to pay for these free handouts, taxes those with any initiative to create jobs and wealth to such a degree that they leave the country in droves.

Labour is a party that has no idea how to actually create resources and always uses the wealth, painstakingly earned by previous governments to create the illusion that they are a successful organisation by pouring investments into popular schemes that will ingratiate them to their constituents.

When there is no longer any previous legacy to use, they borrow, beg and steal ( Brown stole most of the country’s gold reserves and sold it for a pittance!) until ultimately there is nothing left and they are fi­

nally voted out, leaving the incoming party to once again pick up the pieces.

Margaret Thatcher actually summed up this bunch of incompetent con artists perfectly, when she stated that the Labour party were fine, until they ran out of other people’s money.

So, to all the young voters, who believe the Woke, Maoist propaganda, ‘all men are equal, tax the rich and ban the Monarchy’ that issues from the left, are the answers to what ails us, I suggest you all think again. I’m not saying it’s going to be plain sailing. But at least with the Right we have a chance.

Do you really want to witness the likes of Angela Rainer, the repetitive, insipid Keir Starmer or the pink hat of Eddie Izzard, gloating from the steps of Number 10? Keep

SUNDAY OPENING OUR VIEW

SPAIN still doesn’t officially allow large stores and supermarkets to open on most Sundays but there are exceptions.

This means that those areas which are recognised as being ‘Areas of Great Tourist Influx’ will be given special dispensation for Sunday opening across most of the country.

Although generally left to each autonomous province to decide, what this means is that shops with more than 300 square metres of space such as department stores and supermarkets may open on the agreed Sundays whilst certain essential services such as fuel, bakers etc are not constrained by time or day. There are also some markets (often collectibles or crafts) which are also open on Sundays so it does mean that there will be plenty of choice for shoppers during the summer period.

Starting on May 21, if you live in one of these special areas, large stores will be allowed to open between noon and 8pm every Sunday with the last approved opening being September 10 but the decision to open lies with the individual company and it is known that some stores such as Mercadona don’t open every supermarket every week.

With so many tourists expected this year, it makes sense to ensure that they are catered for but while the decision will no doubt be welcomed by the owners of those businesses that can take advantage of the relaxation on Sunday closing; it may not go down so well with workers who must give up more Sundays as well as smaller businesses who may lose out on sales. Shopaholics will also look forward to the end of November and whole of December when the stores are able to open again.

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

CRACKING DOWN ON CHEATING

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

IDENTICAL twins accused of cheating in an online US medical exam during the pandemic were awarded $1.5 million in damages after they sued for defamation.

Decades ago, twin cousins of mine sat a business management exam with one exam paper about the legal system, commercial law etc. They both answered the same questions and achieved similar results.

It was first thought they’d somehow colluded but the invigilator publicly stated they couldn’t have as he had seated them on opposite sides of the room with 50 other candidates. Basically, they revised together, bounced ideas off one another and were therefore drawn to the same questions.

A friend dealt with many sets of identical twins with identical patterns of behaviour and attainment. They chose the same exam questions, answered in the same way and got identical grades. Even in Literature, where the choice of texts taught can make a significant difference and marking is more subjective,

identical twins with different texts and teachers gained identical marks in exams marked by different examiners. The issue here is that the online medical exam was during the pandemic when online exam fraud soared.

Schools and colleges will doubtless be extra vigilant during the current exam season... However, any kind of cheating in exams is understandably a serious issue that affects the integrity of the educational system and the credibility of the qualifications obtained.

So it’s important to understand the various forms of cheating ­ including, sometimes, by identical twins too. Identical twins share a unique bond, and in some cases this can lead to collaboration. This might take the form of one twin taking an exam for the other or communicating answers during the exam itself. This type of cheating’s particularly difficult to detect, as the twins often have similar physical characteristics and mannerisms, making it difficult for invigilators to simply tell them apart! While it may seem like a harmless prank or a way to help each other, cheating has clearly serious consequences.

Students who cheat are essentially breaking the rules and undermining the value of their own and others’ qualifications. This can lead to loss of credibility and a tarnished reputation that can have long­term implications for their future careers. Cheating may even result in disciplinary action like suspension or expulsion with a significant impact on a stu­

dent’s future prospects. This whole issue of exam cheating by identical twins and others, especially during the pandemic, highlights the need for a robust system to prevent and detect it. Measures such as increased surveillance and monitoring during exams, stricter procedures for student identification and random checks of answers against past papers are of paramount importance.

Basically, though, what’s truly essential is to address the root causes of cheating, such as pressure to perform, lack of understanding of the subject matter or fear of failure. Teachers and parents can play a key role in creating a supportive environment for students, providing them with the necessary resources and guidance to succeed. This should include encouraging them to seek help when they’re struggling and promoting a culture of honesty and integrity. With talk of artificial intelligence taking over jobs from us all, the future’s only going to get tougher...

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.no ra­johnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

€389,000 euros

EXCLUSIVE TO NEXT HOUSE ALME­

RIA... A magnificent three bedroom villa on a large plot with panoramic mountain views, an impressive swimming pool and outdoor bar, an independent two bedroom annex, a spacious casita and a large storage room located on the outskirts of Albox.

This villa has been finished using high quality materials and is beautifully decorated by the owners,.There is a fantastic living space, three very spacious and bright bedrooms, two bathrooms and a guest house with two double bedrooms, bathroom, living room and an independent kitchen, which is completely separate from the villa. Additionally, there is large shed/storage room, a casita which is currently used as a gym/storage room which could easily become another bedroom or a pool house/ games room.

Electric wrought iron gates open up on to a large patio covered with marble tiles, with ample room to park numerous cars, on the right is the

guest house (71 m² of construction). This apartment has an independent terrace across two levels. From the upper terrace is access to the fully fitted kitchen, on the right is the delightful living room with a log burning fireplace and a patio door out onto the terrace. From the kitchen a hallway on one side leads to a spacious bathroom with a walk in shower and two good sized bedrooms. There is airconditioning and ceiling fans throughout. Through a pedestrian gate be­

tween the villa and the guest house there is a paved walkway with a mixture of mature palm, olive and fruit trees and a vegetable patch. At the end of the path, you have the second outbuilding (57 m² built), currently being used part gym, part billiard room and a chill out area.

Outside, facing the swimming pool there is a covered outdoor bar equipped with LED lighting, marble worktops and around the side there is an outdoor sink and dining area.

In the front of the villa a huge terrace surrounds the exceptional swimming pool which is larger than average (10x5m) with a beautiful dolphin tiled design and an outdoor shower. There are several different seating areas to relax and enjoy the fabulous views, some terraces are covered providing a shady haven and others are uncovered, ideal for sunbathing. Next to the staircase to the villa there is a Jacuzzi which seats up to six people.

This property is ready to move straight in to, everything has been recently renovated and painted. Perfect for those looking for a new life in the sun or your dream holiday home. This would be ideal as a large family home, or for anybody looking for a house with B&B potential.

Contact us for more information and visits to this spectacular and unique property.

We have your Next House in Almeria!

Nora Johnson’s

NORA’S LATEST THRILLER.

Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist.

UNIQUE PROPERTY: Ideal as a large family home or for anyone looking for a house with B&B potential.

Linda Hall

APPROXIMATELY 3.5 million Britons were using artificial sweeteners twice a day by 2021.

Nevertheless dietitian, nutritionist and author Dr Megan Rossi questioned if this was entirely beneficial.

“Far from saving our waistlines, research suggests that sweeteners may, in some cases, expand them,” she explained recently in the UK media.

The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has published research demonstrating that consuming sweeteners increased the appetite of fruit flies by activating AMPK, an enzyme that plays a part in stimulating

Sweet idea

ARTIFICIAL: A little sugar could be a better option than sweeteners.

the production of hunger hormones.

“If you want sweetness,

choose a little sugar over sweeteners,” Dr Rossi advised.

Fruit juice warning

SOME nutritionists now condemn fruit juice as worse than fizzy drinks.

They base their criticism on its high sugar content, arguing that although the sugars found in fruit juice are natural they remain sugars.

Drinking copious amounts could lead to a rapid spike in blood sugar levels, which could be problematic for people with diabetes or insulin resistance.

Consuming large amounts of sugar in any of

its guises also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, health experts say.

They also point to fruit

juice’s low fibre content, which again can produce a rapid rise in blood sugar levels.

Learn Spanish Statin stats

GOOD news for all those living in Spain who are determined to get to grips with the language. Brain surgeon and neuroscientist Dr Rahul Jandial declared that people who learn a second language get a significant brain boost.

“A remarkable 2007 study in Toronto showed that people who speak more than one language developed symptoms of dementia about four years later than those who only spoke one,” Dr Jandial said.

He is also an advocate of skipping breakfast and the benefits of intermittent fasting. Going without food for a day contributes towards increasing the brain’s natural growth factors.

DESPITE the benefit of statins in controlling cholesterol levels, approximately 50 per cent of those prescribed them have reduced their dose or stopped taking them.

Their principal complaints centre on muscle pain and constipation, although a 2022 study of four million patients published in the European

15% of the population of UK hold a gym membership card.

Heart Journal claimed that statins’ side­ effects were probably close to 10 per cent.

Other researchers maintained that muscle pain, for example, was more likely to be the result of ageing rather than the medication.

Choc defence

NUTRITIONIST Rhiannon Lambert, author of Re­Nourish: A Simple Way to Eat, debunked as a myth the popular belief that chocolate causes acne. “Small amounts of chocolate won’t hugely impact skin health although chocolate with less sugar and dairy is preferable,” she said.

Linda Hall

Photo credit: Pexels/Jeshoot

FRUIT JUICE: Could be less healthy than we believe.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Segerst

ALTHOUGH it affects around 60 per cent of adults, many are unaware that they have high cholesterol levels. But looking at their feet could provide them with a clue, Dr Sami Faroozi from the Harley Street Clinic recently told the Huff Post.

When the blood contains too much cholesterol, this can cause peripheral aerial disease (PAD) where fatty plaque has built up in the arteries and limits blood flow to the legs.

This in turn can affect the toenails, making them grow slowly or become brittle.

While the condition can occur in any blood vessel, it is most common in the leg, hence its affect on toenails, Dr Faroozi said.

Differences of opinion

Linda Hall

ULTRA­PROCESSED foods are currently the villains of the piece, blamed for obesity and increased cancer risks.

But the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) charity maintained that baked beans, fish fingers and wholemeal bread were unfairly demonised and could form part of a healthy diet.

The BNF experts also gave the thumbs­up to tomatobased pasta sauces, wholegrain cereals and fruit yoghourts, pronouncing them “healthier processed foods.”

As well as being convenient and affordable, they were a source of important nutrients, the BNF said, urg­

WHOLEMEAL BREAD: Unfairly demonised, food charity said

ing the government not to include ultra ­ processed foods in national dietary guidelines.

There was a lack of ‘agreed definition’ regarding

AIR­DRYING your hair can give it a welcome break from blow­drying and heated styling tools.

Advocates explain that this prevents moisture loss and keeps your hair hydrated for longer.

They also stress that it’s vital to untangle your hair while it is still soaking wet ­ ideally when in the shower ­ as brushing or combing

which foods belonged to the ultra ­ processed category and concerns about its usefulness in identifying healthier products, the organisation said.

Air-conditioning

once it starts to dry will only cause frizz and fluffiness. The hardest part comes once you’ve applied an air­drying cream, spray or lotion and styled your hair approximately as you want it, as you must resist the temptation to touch or tweak it until it is totally dry.

That’s batty!

BATS rarely get a good press but scientists believe they hold a secret that could slow down human ageing.

As they live for approximately 20 years and are impervious to diseases like Ebola and ­ ironically ­ Covid, which can be fatal for humans, Duke­NUS Medical School (Singapore) have studied these flying mammals to discover the key to their resistance to disease.

The researchers found that they possess an altered version of the ‘bat ASC2’ protein which halts their inflammatory response and provides them with their resilience to viral infections.

Mice which had been genetically engineered to carry the protein have produced ‘promising results’ in experiments, the Singapore scientists said.

Their findings, they hope, could one day save millions of lives, helping to combat heart conditions, arthritis and Covid, amongst other conditions.

Blame the weather

SUMMER arrived early on the Costas but has now surrendered to typically unpredictable May weather.

Inevitably, the changes in weather patterns have had an effect on our health, prompting many people to link their allergy­related

symptoms to the increased presence of pollen in the spring.

But in certain cases, anomalies in atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity can lead to the onset of allergies and symptoms not caused by pollen.

Ryanair stag-do riot ruins dream holiday LETTERS

I was on this flight! It was actually worse than described in your article. We had three female flight attendants, one of whom had been on the job for two days and admitted to me that she felt unsafe coming to work. The 20 or so men on the flight as part of ‘Ryan’s stag do’ (they all had personalised t ­ shirts) were visibly drunk when they boarded the plane. The crew told me that the mistake was made by the ground staff who “shouldn’t have let them board the plane” and that all they could do was “manage the situation”. Three tiny female humans dealing with large volatile males of the species. And they sold more booze, again and again. They were shouting profanities from the beginning of the flight. Obscenities and obscene gestures, loud arguments, I made notes, there was nothing else to do, no escape from the awfulness of the experience. Announcements were made that they would be met by police upon landing if they were drunk, vaping, drinking their own alcohol ­ which they openly did when after three rounds of bar service a decision was broadcast that there would be no more sale of alcohol on the flight. We all saw them drinking from bottles they were handing around, we all saw them openly vaping whilst walking around the cabin. Ryanair’s response is predictably driven by greedcan there be another reason for abandoning their duty of care for passengers on the flight. It was a miracle that it didn’t get nastier.

Sasha Alevropoulos

So predictable

Mr Leapy you are as predictable as a ‘cover it all newspaper Astrology page’. Can’t deny you have a bunch of fans out there. Don't know why myself but there we are, no counting for human difference.

Speaking for myself I believe in the freedom to protest peacefully for you or less right wing folk. The UK government don’t and introduce legislation to curtail peaceful protest. Again I don’t know why but there we are.

I am old enough to to remember the peaceful protest by Bertram Russell a great British philosopher, against nuclear arms in 1961. He was put in prison for a week or so and ended up getting massive publicity for CND. As a case in point the anti monarchists, few in number, are getting massive publicity even from king of Brexit David Davis MP and other top Tories because they realise this new legisla­

tion has not been thought out.

You talk of British values which have included the right to peaceful protests.

As a member of The Royal British Legion can I remind you thousands lost their lives defending freedom. Three members of my own family gave their health and well ­ being fighting in the Second World War to defend our freedom against such tyranny.

Are you clearly saying they were wrong. Freedom to express a fundamental difference to the status quo is our basic right.

Yours faithfully Helen

Hallam Malaga

Used worldwide

Hi,

I'd like to reply to an article that caught my attention in Issue 1970 (6th ­ 12th April) as to wrong context written by Bernard Butler. Éire is very much used in sending postcards and letters around the world and nationally too. I use Éire all the time myself. As an Irishman Bernard doesn’t know his geography, as Ballina is in County Mayo. regards,

James Looney

Hi Leapy

Well done for your comments ref the blacks. I get so fed up watching TV commercials etc and other programmes full of blacks its no wonder we white people are beginning to be racist and as for that black actress saying on TV about our Royal family on the balcony at the lovely coronation being a white balcony, what the hell does she expect our Royals are white, thank goodness. Keep up the good work Leapy, love reading your comments you say what the majority of people are afraid to say well done.

Audrey Nosworthy

EU boiler ban

The stupidity of the climate useful idiots never ceases to amaze me. By the time the public wakes up they will have wasted billions. Then we all be better living in Senegal.

Roger Miller

Natural gas

Let’s hope now we are free of the EU that our government does not follow their idiotic rulings. It’s proved that air source heat pumps provide insufficient heat for radiators and only work for low temperature underfloor heating. Biomass has other health issues as other contributor explains. Stick with natural gas and top up with solar.

David Goulty

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

MUSIC is the art of sound that expresses ideas and emotions through elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and colour. Yehudi Menuhin said: “I can only think of music as something inherent in every human being ­ a birth­right. Music coordinates mind, body and spirit.” According to Anton Bruckner: “it is better to listen to music and not understand it than to understand it and not listen to it.”

Like many people I was first exposed to music through nursery rhyme jingles sung by my parents or played on the radio. At school I was a fan of Doris Day and Bing Crosby before becoming aware of some of my father’s classical music.

From the mid ­ 50s for me it was all New Orleans and traditional jazz, from the records of Jelly ­ Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong to Chris Barber and Humphrey Lyttleton, and jiving

IT’S MUSIC TO MY EARS

was taking a break from studies and listening to Claudio Arrau playing Beethoven’s third piano concerto.

While I was buying my first property, I was frequently listening to records of Hank Snow and the Sergeant Pepper album. In both cases, the event and the music are permanently linked in my mind.

lie in the imagination of European composers, many of them German and Austrian. But some of the great interpretations of these works are performed by musicians and conductors from China, Japan and the Americas, whose own traditional music is very different.

in the ubiquitous jazz clubs. I still love this music, but it is rarely performed today by anybody under 95. Then followed Bill Haley, Jim Reeves and the Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, Dean Martin and Leonard Cohen.

As the 60s dawned, I began to discover classical music through Viennese waltzes and the symphonies of

Tchaikovsky. At first the melodies were the attractionbefore I discovered the ‘hidden depths’.

Music is one of the senses that anchors us to past situations, whether pleasant or not ­ rather like the fragrance of a special perfume, a movie or the sound of an air ­ raid siren. When I heard of the assassination of President Kennedy, I

Popular music follows fashion and tends to be ethereal. People, especially the young, tend to follow the American way which is first adopted by the UK, and then Europe, before spreading throughout the world, except where it is not permitted.

Young people in China, Japan, India and Indonesia prefer western hits to their own traditional music.

Classical music transcends language, cultures and fashion to reach the universal spirit common to all of us. Its roots

AMAFI in Alicante

THE motorhome market is constantly growing, and the trend indicates that it will continue like this for the next few years, at least on the European continent.

According to estimates, the annual growth rate will be more than 7 per cent for the period between 2020 and 2025.

With this in mind, AMAFI Caravanning is in the process of opening a new motorhome rental headquar­

MOTORHOME RENTALS: AMAFI specialises in this sector.

Camping with kids

CAMPING with kids is a great option for a family holiday, time spent outdoors in nature is good both for their physical health but also their emotional health. Camping and the tasks involved to set up a camp can keep them away from their mobiles and other electronic devices. Camping with kids can also be a challenge so here are some top tips to help make your trip a success. Keep the trip short and choose a kid­friendly campground with a playground, a beach, or some kid­friendly hiking trails. Another sugges­

tion is to include children by assigning them ageappropriate tasks like filling water bottles, gathering firewood, and collecting rubbish. Some more practical tips include bringing more clothes than you think you will need as there are so many ways for kids to get dirty while camping.

Finally, bring lots of snacks! Kids need to eat more frequently than adults and being outdoors will increase their appetite. It helps to prevent low blood sugar to avoid hungry moments from spoiling the holiday.

ters in Alicante.

There are two well ­ defined segments in the market, those who buy the vehicles and those who rent them and AMAFI specialises in this last sector.

One of the most striking options offered by motorhome rentals in Alicante is the Elnagh Baron 581 model. This vehicle has a rear suite with a double bed on an island, a bathroom and a separate shower, guaranteeing high levels of comfort during trips.

In addition, it has the capacity for five people, a rear parking camera, stereo, GPS with maps of the entire European continent and radar alert, hands ­ free, Bluetooth and USB to play music and videos of different kinds.

It also has a comprehensive heating system, a full kitchen and free Wi­Fi service to connect up to 10 devices.

This illustrates how the music of Beethoven is for the benefit of all of us ­ not just Germans; not just Europeans.

There are recent theories that listening to classical music can reduce stress and blood pressure, improve quality of sleep, boost the memory and even manage pain. It can also bring enormous pleasure.

For more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

Survive the heat

SURVIVE the heat while camping during a heatwave. You have a trip planned but the temperatures are set to soar, and the added heat will tire you out, you worry about whether you will enjoy the trip. It’s not ideal but you can still have a great time! Make sure to stay hydrated, and continue to drink water even if you don’t feel like it. You can get dehydrated so easily in high temperatures and before you know it you are lethargic and irritated. Stay away from fizzy drinks and especially alcoholic drinks as they will dehydrate you faster.

Wear loose breathable clothing that covers your skin, don’t be tempted to expose too much skin this will actually make you feel hot and sweaty in the long run. Keeping your skin covered will keep you cooler for longer and protect against sunburn. It goes without saying that suncream is a must, apply factor 50 and keep it topped up and always wear a hat of some kind to protect your head from the sun.

Try to keep your tent open as much as possible and avoid sitting inside for too long as the air will become hot and stuffy and even humid sometimes making it uncomfortable when it’s time to get some sleep.

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

Both Josef Haydn and Dean Martin have brought pleasure to millions through their different forms of music.

Photo Credits: thefamouspeople.com and maxfm.com.tr

Image: AMAFI

SINCE 2006, Graham and his son Paul have been providing quality wood products in Almeria and beyond. With over 65 combined years in the timber industry, the family­run Wood2Go are a knowledgeable and experienced provider and creator of wooden structures in the area.

Whether you are a keen DIY’er wanting to create your own beautiful pieces for your home or business, or a professional builder or joiner, Wood2Go’s doors are open to provide you with the best products, pieces, and advice. From their large workshop situated on the Industrial Estate of Velez Rubio, the experienced team custom­makes all of their projects for clientswhether it is a pergola, gazebo, door/window canopy, carport, decking, shed, trellis, fencing, porch, summer house, or anything else that may be requested.

Wood2Go install the majority of the structures made for their clients and also offer a kit form if self­installation is desired. All timber used in the fabrication of any project, except the redwood roof battens, is ‘Glulam’ ­ or Glued Laminated Timber. Glulam is made by gluing together, under pressure and heat, laminates of timber that have been accurately planed. The resulting product is strong, stable, and corrosion­proof

with significant advantages over structural steel and concrete. This type of product is perfect for the hot climate in Spain as it’s less likely to twist or warp and is stronger than ordinary timber. The team have been using this material in their pergola kits, sheds, skirting boards, T and G boarding, and decking boards with great success over the past 15 years. Wood2Go deliver to a wide range of areas, including Murcia,

Almeria, and Granada, and can legally carry up to eight metres in length on their vehicle (but up to 12­metre lengths are also possible).

They are continually expanding their products and invite you to discuss your needs. To find out what Wood2Go provides, their custom­made projects, and for advice on your own DIY, contact the friendly and professional team today!

Suppliers of timber products in Almeria GO LOCAL

WOOD2GO: Will custom-make for their clients anything they wish, be it a pergola, gazebo or carport.

PETS

Sitter cares for Rio at his home

A DOG-SITTER is a companion as well as a pet minder to your pets. The most important thing to note is that they care for your pets in their own home. Their routine stays the same, the place where they sleep stays the same, it is more relaxing for your pets and less disruptive. Find a dog­sitter to care for your pets at home and help to minimise any separation anxiety by keeping them where they feel at home.

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!

Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care. These are the steps to take:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSit Match.com

2. Choose a Standard account (£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed

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

4. Post an advert for the dates when you want

to go away. Sitters apply and you choose. How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets. Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesitmatch.com

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

How do you join?

Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com.

Pet owners should know first aid

THE people’s dispensary for sick animals (PDSA), a leading animal care charity has stated that the vast majority of people are not trained in pet first aid.

The charity wants to encourage pet owners to learn basic pet first aid which could help an animal in distress before a vet can be seen.

In a survey carried out by the PDSA they found that 80 per cent of pet owners don’t own a pet emergency first aid kit and don’t know how to deal with common injuries or illnesses.

The survey also highlighted the fact that 75 per cent of pet owners said they wouldn’t know how to perform CPR on an animal and 46 per cent of owners said they wouldn’t know how to treat their pet for heatstroke.

As a result, the PDSA has written a guide to first aid

which you can download from their website. It gives pet owners information about how to deal with injuries such as bleeding, or broken bones. There are also tips about reducing the risk of an emergency such as not feeding pets toxic human foods and keeping medicines out of reach.

Lynne James, a PDSA vet said “The figures highlight the extent of the skills gap when it comes to basic pet

first aid skills. However, owners often don’t realise how important first aid training is until they need it, which can sometimes be too late.”

She went on to say “I’d encourage anyone who doesn’t feel confident providing treatment to their furry friend in an emergency to download our pet first aid guide, which includes a host of resources that could prove vital.”

PARROTS are social animals and have remarkable intelligence that requires stimulation to keep them entertained. Parrots are very popular pets and are often chosen because they are low maintenance when compared to other animals. For this reason, parrots can spend a lot of time alone and are suffering from loneliness and even depression.

In some cases, the isolation of parrots causes them emotional distress or even psychological disorders which can manifest some self­harming behaviours such as plucking feathers.

In a mission to combat these issues, some scientists designed a technological interaction model so that a group of parrots could make

Call your parrot

video calls with almost no human intervention. Eighteen parrots were chosen for the experiment and the first step was to teach them to recognise the digital tablets bell and the next to show them how to call or decline a video call. The results showed that out of 234 possible calls the parrots made 147 calls, and 74 per cent responded positively to requests to hold video conferences with other parrots typically consisting of a five­minute video call!

The carers noted during the experiment that the birds enjoy contact with other par­

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

rots: they approach the screen, offer food to them and even sing in coordination. And when they move or disappear from the screen the parrots reacted by look­

ing behind the device hoping to find them there. The experiment is ongoing but has already demonstrated an improvement in the mood of the birds selected.

FIRST AID: Learn the basic skills, it could be important.

AIR CONDITIONING

CARS FOR SALE

TURRE EVANGELICAL CHURCH We meet every Sunday at 10.30. For worship. We believe you’ll find us ‘relaxed’, welcoming’ and ‘informal’. Find us on Turre’s main street, towards the motorway at the far end on the left. To know more contact 617 914 156 (10021)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION -

BUILDERS

ALMERIA BUILDERS : Fully Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed. 659 685 133 www.almeriabuilders.com (253556)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

CHURCHES

PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

BUY & SELL CARAVANS

MOBILE homes & static caravans bought, sold and transported. +34 630 055 418 or elsyd7@hotmail.com (302142)

Ifyoucanreadit,socan yourclients.Contactus andhaveyourbusiness growat+34951386161

BEDS

LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) church services at Mojacar Los Llanos Del Peral and Alhambra. Communion every Sunday in Mojacar at 11am. Communion at Los Llanos every Sunday except the last Sunday in the month when there will be Prayer and Praise all at 11am. The services that were being held in the South American church Albox have now returned to the chapel and Communion is held on the second Thursday of the month at 11am. Priest in charge Rev Canon Alan Bennet telephone number 680 243 436. For further information, please go to The Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida web page. Or contact Tony Noble 950 069 103. (10002)

Why not make this year the year you volunteer? Call and see how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvis its@gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, www.britishle gion.org.uk/counties/spain -north ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thursday and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at La Parrilla Hotel Albox, for further details please email zurgenarblchair man@gmail.com - (253989)

DRAINAGE

INSURANCE

ELECTRICAL

Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (303141)

ESTATE AGENT FOR SALE

PETS

VOSS HOMES are a professional, British family-run Estate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialise in selling and renting properties in the HuercalOvera, La Alfoquia, Zurgena & Taberno area. Andy, Anna, Jess, Adele, Hannah, Amy & Karen look forward to helping you buy, sell or rent your ideal property. Please call 678 002 006 for more information

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel –678 716 693 (288662)

INSURANCE

MOTOR INSURANCE . For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 952 147 834, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 952 147 834 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbey gateinsure.com

LANGUAGE CLASSES

THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Little dogs €7.75, medium dogs €8.50, big dogs €9.25, cats from €7.00 a day. 630 234 556 / the5bonehotel turre@gmail.com fiveboneho tel.com (301372)

PLUMBERS

KNOWLES PLUMBING No 1 for all plumbing jobs big or small. Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 606 807 797 or 684 143 560 (302581)

POOLS

SOLAR ENERGY

SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 20 years installation experience. Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria.com (303112)

PROP FOR RENT WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693

MOTORING

FOR SALE

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834.

OTHERS

Male/Female viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly, mixed trial packs available, all areas mail order. 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

ABBOTT ELECTRICS . From a Light

Renault Arkana - presence and style

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack

ITS looks more coupe crossover, think slimmed down BMW X6, and Renault’s Arkana certainly adds a dash of style with my test model looking particularly stylish thanks to its splendid Zanzibar Blue paint finish. Although it adds €747/£650 to the car’s price tag, it’s a standout colour for all the right reasons.

Prices start at €32,630/£28,395 for the lead ­ in Evolution model, with three further trim levels and full hybrid powertrains. The 1.6 ­ litre petrol full hybrid unit develops 142hp and has a six­speed clutchless automatic.

Standard equipment is good with all models having automatic lights and wipers, climate control, front and rear parking sen­

sors and rear view camera. My test model was the Techno model starting at €34,928/£30,395, in cluding adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, LED lights, keyless entry and start, navigation, privacy glass and auto dimming rear view mirror plus a host of safety and other kit. Oddly there’s no rear wiper, although it doesn’t seem to ob struct vision in wet weather, but still a strange omission.

The Arkana’s full hybrid system allows the car to

sort out when to go electric, petrol or both, and to lect pure electric for short distances. It makes for a very easy drive with smooth transitions be ­

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Renault Arkana Techno Full Hybrid

• Engine: 1.6-litre petrol developing 142 bhp with hybrid electric power

• Gears: 6-speed clutchless automatic

• Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) 10.8 seconds/Maximum Speed 172 kph (107 mph)

• Economy: 3.99l/100km (58.9 mpg) Combined driving (WLTP)

• Emissions: 108 g/km (WLTP)

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

hard acceleration, as the engine revs rise and wait for everything else to catch up. It’s a trait that isn’t unique to Renault transmissions of this type, and to be fair this is one of the better systems in this regard. Go for smooth, progressive acceleration and the Arkana will power itself away with a delightfully unruffled air.

With a 107 mph top speed and 62 mph passed in 10.8 seconds it’s by no means pedestrian. Despite a taller stance the Arkana handles well and rough roads do not upset the car’s comfortable ride.

Inside there’s a nicely laid out, modern looking dash with buttons (hurrah!) and sensible touchscreen operations. The central touchscreen is portrait orientated, rather than the more usual landscape, and works better for it in my view.

The Arkana’s style won’t be to everyone’s taste but it has real presence without the compromised looks of similar coupe crossovers. There’s a feel of quality along with decent levels of interior space. It’s definitely one that should be high on the buying hit list for those seeking something a little different to the conventional norm.

Yellow junctions

THE RAC has uncovered problems with nine ­ in ­ 10 yellow box junctions that UK councils want to enforce.

On the back of the government’s decision last

year to let councils outside London and Cardiff apply for powers to enforce moving traffic offences, some 27 local authorities have put forward proposals to enforce 111

yellow box junctions, a new report from the RAC reveals.

After commissioning chartered engineer Sam Wright, who was formally responsible for the design and approval of yellow boxes on the Transport for London road network, to review the applications the RAC believes there are issues with 90 per cent of the boxes which are likely to lead to drivers being fined unfairly.

The RAC confirmed:

“More than half (61, or 55 per cent) directly contravene the current government guidance, sometimes on multiple counts.

“The purpose of yellow boxes is to prevent the blocking of ‘cross’ or ‘through’ traffic movements. If a box, or part of a box, does not protect a cross­movement, it serves no purpose and any fine issued there is unnecessary.”

ARKANA’S STYLE: Won’t be to everyone’s taste but it has real presence.

Opel and ADAC

Second-hand

THE average price of a used car in the UK was £17,843 in April, up 2.7 per cent year­on­year and 1.5 per cent month­on­month, the biggest monthly increase since November 2021

According to the latest data from the Auto Trader Retail Price Index, which is based on circa 900,000 daily pricing observations across the whole retail market, growth in second­hand car

prices accelerated in April due, in part, to the ongoing strengthening in consumer demand.

The average price of a used car was £17,843 in April, which on a month­onmonth and like­for­like basis is a 1.5 per cent rise on March’s levels and marks the largest monthly increase since November 2021.

Auto Trader’s Director of Data and Insight, Richard

Walker, said: “The used car market has had a strong year so far, which is reflected in the record levels of consumer engagement on our marketplace over recent months.”

He added: “Rising used car values have done little to dampen demand and based on what we’re tracking across the market, there’s no indication of it slowing significantly anytime soon.”

OPEL has reaffirmed its commitment to the world’s first electric one­make rally cup, previously known as the ADAC Opel e­Rally Cup, which has been renamed and will be called ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSe’.

Like Opel’s future, the brand’s motorsport activities are electric. That is why the name of the new sporty sub ­ brand GSe (Grand Sport electric) can

now also be found in the title of the electric racing series. The ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSe’ will also be even more international in the 2023 season: A total of eight events in four countries (Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland) are on the calendar.

In addition, Opel and ADAC have extended their existing agreement until 2024.

Opel CEO, Florian Huettl,

confirmed: “Opel and the ADAC created the world’s first electric one­make rally cup together.

“This pioneering spirit has set a powerful and important example in international rallying. We will continue and further develop this innovative racing series together in line with our sporty GSe top models and our strategy of becoming a fully electric brand in Europe by 2028.”

RALLY CUP: Opel and ADAC have created the world’s first electric one-make rally cup.

Image: Stellantis

Prices are up.

Image: Vladyslav Starozhylov / Shutterstock.com

Arsenal drop baton on the final leg Premier battle

ARSENAL’S 0­3 loss to Brighton on Sunday, May 14, may have been the end of their title race as they hand the initiative to Manchester City, having led the Premier League for most of the season.

Arsenal flew out of the blocks this Premier League season and led the table up until recently, locking horns with Manchester City as the two teams exchanged the top spot.

But for an Arsenal who mid seemed capable of salvaging any match, with what must have been some heroic half ­ time talks from manager Mikel Arteta, they have come up short at the crucial part of the season.

Arteta, a prodigy of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola even issued an apology after their de feat to Brighton. BeIN SPORTS posted a video of his state ment on Twitter: “We have to apologise for the perfor mance in the second half. Mikel Arteta reflects on a frustrating afternoon for Arsenal.”

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard speaking to

Sky Sports said: “It is going to be very difficult now, we have to be honest. It is tough to take. It is not a good feeling at the moment. The way we played, particularly in the second half, I don’t know what happened to be honest.”

Football Talk on Twitter posted a disconsolate photo of Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, saying: “On January

teams can catch Manchester City and Arsenal now, so it is left for these two to tussle it out, but City have one hand on the title and it really is theirs to lose now. With a win on Sunday, May 21, against a floundering Chelsea the title is theirs.

Manchester City have a game in hand against Arsenal, meaning Arteta’s side would need to win both of their final two games of the season against Nottingham Forest and Wolves respectively, while City at the very least require two draws from three games.

With City currently on a 20­goal advantage in terms of goal difference, Arsenal look likely to be very disappointed with a season that began in magnificent fashion. They need a small miracle now.

With seasoned campaigners like Guardiola and notably Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, having to dig in and show plenty of grit this season, it seems like Arteta has lessons to learn.

But looking at how an exciting, young Arsenal side fared for much of this Premier League campaign, it would be impossible to write off this talented young coach.

AFTER another hectic weekend of Premier League action, this season’s relegation battle in the English Premier League looks like it could go right to the final round of matches.

Southampton are already doomed to drop into the Championship after 11 seasons in the top flight. Their fate was sealed last week following a 2­0 loss against Fulham.

Hovering about the Saints, four teams are separated by just four points. Two of these four will definitely be playing in the lower league next season after May 28.

Leicester City have a formidable run of final matches. They occupy 19th spot right now and must face Liverpool at Saint Mary’s Stadium, followed by an away fixture at Newcastle United, and then, West Ham at home on the last day of the season.

Sam Allardyce has a monumental task on his hands at Elland Road. Their new manager must keep Leeds United from dropping back into the Championship with his side now in

18th spot. They gained an important point on Saturday, May 13, in a thrilling 2­2 draw at home to Newcastle. They only have two games remaining, one of which is massive, away to West Ham United. After a 3­0 home defeat on Sunday 14, to Manchester City, Everton currently stand just one point above the three relegation places.

Their climax to the season is somewhat easier with Wolves away and finally, Bournemouth at Goodison Park. New manager Sean Dyche must rally his players for one final attempt at remaining in English football’s top league. Over at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest have two matches left to play. They are currently in 16th, four points clear of Leicester City, and three more than Leeds United. Steve Cooper’s men face Arsenal at home followed by a trip to Selhurst Park to play Crystal Palace in the final game of the campaign. Meanwhile West Ham United appear to be safe.

Credit:MikelArteta CreditArsenalFC Twitter Seems like Arteta has lessons to learn.