Axarquia 25 – 31 May 2023 Issue 1977

OLYMPIC STAR

NERJA, has become a hub for elitelevel athletes in recent years, and continues to attract top­tier athletes seeking to elevate their performance. The latest addition to Nerja’s roster of elite athletes is none other than Karsten Warholm, the world record holder and Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo.

The Norwegian athlete started training camp in the town on Tuesday, May 23 and appeared to be getting his bearings as he posted an Instagram picture exploring the town and enjoying an athletics training session in Nerja.

He wrote “Arrived in beautiful Nerja for training camp,” adding that he was preparing for outdoor season, which starts soon.

Warholm’s presence in Nerja signifies the town’s growing reputation as a training haven for athletes. The warm climate, picturesque landscapes, and state­of­the­art facilities provide an ideal environment for athletes to refine their skills and

achieve peak performance.

Warholm is a three ­ time world champion in his favoured discipline of 400 metre hurdles, and also holds the current world record for the distance.

The renowned Nerja Athletics Club, considered one of the best in

Andalucia and Spain, offers excellent facilities including the Enrique López Cuenca Stadium, which hosted the Spanish Championship last year and recently held the renowned Nerja Challenge.

As the 27­year­old embarks on his journey to the Budapest World Championships, Nerja provides him with the perfect backdrop to finetune his skills and strive for further success. With the support of the Nerja Athletics Club and the warm embrace of the town’s athletic community, he stands poised to make his mark on the world stage once again.

Warholm is part of a remarkable generation of Norwegian athletes who have chosen to train in Andalucia including football sensation Erling Haaland and fellow athlete Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Nerja, with its charm and unparalleled training opportunities, continues to shine as a beacon of athletic excellence, drawing athletes to its vibrant sporting scene.

Beachfront bliss

THE beachfront at La Herradura is set for a major transformation thanks to the beginning of the El Fuerte Hotels eco ­ hotels project, and the Local Government Board is paving the way for its completion on time.

Led by Deputy Mayor Daniel Barbero, who is also the councillor for Tourism and Beaches, the board approved the hotel’s request to begin an Environmental Impact Study on Monday, May 22, marking a significant milestone in this ambitious project.

The Almuñecar City Council’s Local Government Board has given preliminary approval for the Partial Development

Plan. Now, however, it’s off to the Andalucian Regional Government to get the ball rolling on the Environmental Impact Study, which is an essen ­

tial step before construction can begin on the planned five ­ star luxury hotel.

Barbero said he believes that the comple ­

tion of this grand beachfront hotel will take La Herradura’s tourism to the next level, attracting sustainably ­ minded visitors and giving the local economy a boost, including the hospitality and retail sectors.

The hotel, called Daia Slow Beach Hotel, will be a swanky five ­ star resort boasting 200 luxurious rooms.

It will grace the beautiful La Herradura coastline, occupying prime land that Hoteles Fuerte acquired more than 20 years ago.

The project aims to be completely eco ­ friendly using sustainable materials while focusing on energy efficiency.

THREE firemen from the Almuñecar fire service were called out to assist colleagues from the Local Police and Civil Protection after a driver had an unfortunate mishap.

Somehow or other on Sunday May 21 they managed to park their car in a very unusual position as they drove over the sea wall above Playa Cotobro.

Although no­one was hurt, the brown coloured car was left hanging vertically onto the beach and had to be winched out by the officers, leaving part of the wall damaged.

To date, no explanation has been given for how this particular accident occurred, but it certainly gave both members of the emergency services and bystanders something to talk about as possibly the strangest accident that anyone had seen.

Photo credit: Karsten Warholm

World Champion Karsten Warholm trains in Nerja.

The deputy mayor throws his support behind the project.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Almunecar

An unusual parking space

Credit: Bomberos de Almuñecar

Driving change

Betty Henderson

REGIONAL authorities from the Diputacion de Malaga announced exciting plans to create sustainable transportation in Axarquia’s rural regions during a meeting on Tuesday, May 23.

During the meeting, authorities and transport experts discussed the benefits of these transportation plans and the practicalities of creating a new system. Not only will the plans help the environment and make it easier for people to move around, but they are also expected to bring in money from European funds to the region.

To make these plans a reality, authorities have approved a budget of €252,404. They have also enlisted expertise from Tragsatec logistics company to assist them in developing the plans, who will assess the needs of each town.

Authorities also announced a list of towns ex­

pected to be part of the project, which include: Alcaucin, Algarrobo, Almachar, Benamargosa, Canillas de Albaida, Colmenar, Comares, Competa, Frigiliana, La Viñuela, Periana, Riogordo, and Sayalonga. Transport issues are one of the greatest concerns for residents living in these towns, each with a population lower than 20,000 people, so these plans are expected to improve quality of life for residents, improve accessibility, and promote sustainable transport options.

IN a heartwarming initiative to promote inclusivity and accessibility, Almuñecar Council has announced a new service aimed at assisting disabled people and people with reduced mobility during the upcoming Municipal Elections on Sunday, May 28.

Spearheaded by the local branch of the Civil Protection Group, this innovative initiative offers support to those interested in exercising their right to vote.

IN an exciting cultural exchange, a group of teachers and students from Italy, France, and Czechia have arrived in Velez­Malaga to participate in the Erasmus+ exchange programme.

On Tuesday, May 23 Mayor Antonio Moreno Ferrer and councillor for Education Lola Gámez warmly welcomed the group at the Velez­Malaga Town Hall. Coordinated by IES Reyes Católicos, this Erasmus+ programme aims to provide an educational exchange between participating students, enriching their education and showcasing the edu­

Wheels of democracy

Individuals who require assistance can sign up for this service by contacting the helpline at: 958 635 822 or 607 604 620 . The service will be available from 10am to 2pm and again from 4pm to 7.30pm. Dedicated volunteers from the Civil Protection Group will pick up interested individuals from their homes, accompany them to their designated polling stations, and ensure their

safe return afterward. This remarkable initiative showcases the council’s commitment to fostering an inclusive electoral landscape, where every resident’s voice can be heard. By providing support to those with reduced mobility and disabilities, Almuñecar is setting a shining example for other municipalities to follow, ensuring that no one is left behind in a democracy.

Cultural connections

cational model in Velez ­ Malaga’s schools on the international stage.

Expressing their delight, Moreno Ferrer and Lola Gámez were thrilled to host such a large group of international teachers and students.

This visit promises a mutual enrichment of educational experiences from each country, while also highlighting the local heritage, traditions, and customs from Velez ­ Malaga within the wider European educa­

tional community.

As a token of appreciation for their visit to Velez­Malaga, students from IES Reyes Católicos and representatives from the three visiting institutions; the ‘Carano­Mazzini’ Comprehensive Institute from Gioia del Colle (Italy), the ‘Collège Joseph Lakanal’ from Aubagne (France), and the ‘Základní škola’ from Lanškroun (Czech Republic), were presented with commemorative gifts from the council.

Authorities announced the plans in an online meeting.

Photo credit: Diputación de Málaga

Summer school

ALMUÑECAR Council has launched an engaging online summer school with Matrícula 10 designed to boost employability. It covers hospitality, healthcare, IT, and languages, with a 50 per cent tuition discount for unemployed people. Courses start on Monday, July 3.

Art extravaganza

AN exhibition by talented local artist Margaret Riordan has gone on show in Torrox in Cafeteria JEMS. The exhibition is open from 10am4pm daily, except Mondays. Guests are invited to check out her varied artwork while enjoying delicious cakes.

Sunny solution

AUTHORITIES from VelezMalaga’s tourism department have installed free sunscreen dispensers in tourism information offices, residences for elderly people and lifeguard stations in Velez­Malaga and Torre del Mar in a move to fight skin cancer and other conditions.

Picture perfect

AFTER being selected several months ago as one of the 100 most beautiful villages in Spain by the National Geographic, Frigiliana has once more caught the eye of the illustrious nature and travel magazine, appearing in a new magazine feature.

Harmony calling

CORAXALIA International

Choir welcomes new singers at any point during term time. The group rehearses on Thursdays from 5.30pm8pm in the Casa Hermandad de la Cofradía de los Estudiantes in Velez­Malaga. Please contact 657 951 755

Kiosk care

THE council in Nerja has granted ownership of a kiosk in the town centre to the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC). The organisation will use the kiosk as an information hub about cancer.

Betty Henderson

IN a bid to combat the severe drought crisis during recent years, Francisco Salado the mayor of Rincon de la Victoria held an important technical meeting with Álvaro Real Jiménez, the Director General of Water Infrastructure at the Department of Agriculture, Water, and Rural Development from the Andalucian Regional Government on Thursday, May 18.

Representatives from companies involved in the emergency works taking place along the coastline also took part in the meeting.

During the meeting, authorities assessed the progress of the emergency work. Some areas are nearly finished, while others are around 70 per cent complete. Both the regional government and the companies agreed to speed up the work by assigning more workers to the project. After the meeting, authorities made a site visit to target locations in­

Drought busters

cluding the seafront promenade in Rincon de la Victoria.

Salado highlighted the urgency of accelerating the works and urged the regional government to take immediate ac­

Turning new page

GREAT news for bookworms in Nerja! The local council has given the green light for the Municipal Library project. Located at Calle Iglesia, 1 near the iconic Balcón de Europa, this initiative has received unanimous support during a vote at the council on Thursday, May 18.

After receiving positive feedback from the during a technical review, the project has been given the official go­ahead. This significant project includes an investment of more than €1,300,000, €1 million of which is expected to come from the re ­

gional government, while the remaining funds will come from the local council.

The new library will be a spacious public facility, covering an area of over 800 metres squared, spread across three floors and two underground levels. Additionally, visitors will have the pleasure of enjoying a delightful terrace offering breathtaking sea views, where they can read in peace.

The next important step is a detailed planning approval session which will set in motion the bidding process for construction work at the site.

tion. He had previously met with the companies and Patricia Navarro, the Government Delegate of the Junta de Andalucia in Malaga to speed up the project.

PREPARE to be mesmerised as Almuñecar’s renowned Solange Janssens Professional Dance School launches their highly anticipated dance festival, entitled, ‘Turning Your Heart’s Desires into Reality’, showcasing the beauty and grace of movement.

Taking place in the auditorium of Almuñecar’s Casa de la Cultura, the three­day dance extravaganza will see dancers grace the stage each day from Friday, June 9 until Sunday, June 11, starting at 7pm each day. Solange Janssens herself, the visionary behind the school, revealed the thrilling details during an announcement on Monday, May 22.

“This will be a show like no other. We have 200 talented dancers, ranging from ages two and up, all coming togeth­

Foul play

HOW the mighty have fallen as Malaga FC, one time flying high in the first rank of La Liga, were officially demoted to the third tier of Spanish football on Sunday May 21.

It wasn’t even a close shave as they were effectively eight points (on goal difference) away from safety and whilst the previous season they just missed promotion back into the top tier, this season has been disastrous.

New show

THE management and staff join with the members of the Costa Press Club in sending our condolences to the family of press club President Jesper Sander Pedersen who passed away following a short stay in hospital in Malaga.

Jesper was president of the club for much of its 21 years. His enthusiasm for a liberal media and the integration of foreign nationalities into Costa del Sol life abounded.

er to create an incredible performance,” Solange explained.

Tickets for the festival, supported by Almuñecar Council’s Cultural Department, are now available for purchase from the Solange Janssens Professional Dance School. Guests can visit the school between 4pm and 6pm daily to secure tickets, or purchase them at the venue up to an hour before the event begins.

He dedicated much of his personal and professional time tirelessly making people feel welcome, always with a smile and genuine interest.

Our thoughts go out to his wife Rocío, their son Jakob and Jesper’s family and friends at this difficult time.

A mass for Jesper was held at the Torremolinos cemetery on Tuesday May 23.

Just 10 years ago under the management of Manuel Pellegrini, the team made it to the quarter finals of the Champions League, but after he jumped ship for better things at Manchester City, they have been on a slippery slope.

An injection of cash from the club’s Qatari owners has not been forthcoming, so they are back in the third tier for the first time since 1998.

Even

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Rincón de La Victoria

URGENT WORKS: Authorities inspected emergency water work to fight drought.

The dance school regularly wins awards.

Photo credit: Solange

Janssens

Dominguez

Eye-catching exhibition

RENOWNED Mexican artist Erik Rivera’s latest exhibition, ‘titled Vernáculo’, is currently on display at Casa Fuerte Bezmiliana in Rincon de la Victoria after launching on Wednesday, May 24.

Rivera’s collection showcases a captivating selection of mainly oil­on­canvas portraits, characterised by subjects with large, expressive eyes and vibrant, contrasting colours. With ‘Vernáculo’, the artist aims to engage viewers by showing his personal perspective.

The exhibition is open to the public with free admission until Sunday, June 18. Visitors can explore the artwork from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10.30am and 1.30pm, and from 5pm to 8pm. On Sundays, the exhibition is open from 10.30am to 1.30pm at Casa Fuerte de Bezmiliana, located on Avenida del Mediterráneo in Rincon de la Victoria.

Erik Rivera, born in Mexico City in 1979, holds a degree in Graphic Communication from the UAM XOCHIMILCO university. He began his artistic career as an editorial designer at the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico before gaining recognition for his distinctive style fo ­

PROVERB

cused on the gaze of his childlike characters.

His works have been showcased in various venues across Mexico and Europe and can be found in private collections worldwide.

Property paradise

A BRAND­NEW report released on Monday, May 22 has revealed that three Axarquia towns are among the most sought­after destinations for foreign people buying property in Spain.

Competa ranked highest, in seventh place on the national list with a 57 per cent interest rate from buyers searching for property. Sayalonga and Canillas de Albaida came in ninth place in a tie, both attracting a 54 per cent interest rate from buyers seeking property.

Situated in the easternmost part of Malaga Province, within the beautiful region of Axarquia, Competa and Canillas de Albaida lie at the foothills of the Natural Park of Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara, and Alhama.

They are also close to well­known destinations Frigiliana, Nerja, and Velez­Malaga, which are widely celebrated as the jewels of the region. Sayalonga, not far from Velez­Malaga and the entire coastal area of Axarquia, completes this trio.

According to the report, Idealista currently lists 398 properties for sale in Competa, followed by 95 in Sayalonga and 90 in Canillas de Albaida. The average price per square metre of property in Canillas de Albaida is the lowest, standing at €1,443.

Traditional celebration

THE towns of El Trapiche and Los Pepones in Velez­Malaga were a hub of excitement and cultural celebrations as they hosted their traditional Romeria festivals over the weekend.

These traditional religious celebrations saw locals pay homage to San Isidro Labrador and the Inmaculada saints, with pilgrimage processions that captivated locals and visitors alike on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21.

Cuban sensations

THE renowned musical trio ‘Habana Vieja’ is preparing to take to the stage at Almuñecar’s Casa de la Cultura in a performance on Thursday, June 1, bringing a sensational medley of Cuban music to town.

Hitting the stage in the auditorium with their infectious rhythms from 7pm, Habana Vieja promises to deliver the very best of Cuban music in a lively performance. The Malaga­based band bring the authentic beats of Cuba to the stage in performances that regularly attract rave reviews from audiences.

Organised by the Friends of El Trapiche Association and the Ermita de Los Pepones Association, the festivities were a testament to the rich heritage of the region with locals turning out in traditional Andalucian flamenco dress for the occasion. El Trapiche saw a lively religious procession, led by the renowned ‘Coro Romero de El Trapiche’ choir which left the parish church and wound around the town’s streets before culminating at the scenic Benamocarra School Farm.

Meanwhile, Los Pepones saw a heartfelt pilgrimage from the chapel to the town’s river, followed by a community meal at the picturesque Benamargosa River.

The events concluded with solemn masses before the return processions, leaving lasting memories of cherished traditions and the traditional spirit of Velez­Malaga.

Their carefully curated repertoire includes beloved classics such as ‘Guantanamera’, ‘Che comandante’, ‘La Negra Tomasa’, and ‘El camisón de Pepa’. Audiences will be transported straight to the heart of the Caribbean by their stirring performance.

The concert marks the beginning of a vibrant cultural programme for the month of June.

The artist with one of the works in the ‘Vernáculo’ collection.

Photo credit: Erik Rivera

OF THE WEEK

“Laughter is the best medicine.”

Laughter relaxes the whole body, relieving tension and stress. This phrase originates from the Bible - Proverbs, Chapter 17, verse 22.

21 nations speak Spanish on a daily basis.

Culture to canvas Rain or shine

VELEZ­MALAGA’S

Convento

de San Francisco is currently hosting an extraordinary exhibition titled ‘My Land... My People’ by renowned artist Maria Carmen Polo. This captivating display consists of 68 incredible paintings that beauti­

fully depict her artistic journey spanning 35 years.

Local councillor Cynthia Garcia, accompanied by the talented artist herself, visited the exhibition on Friday, May 19. During the visit, Garcia expressed her admiration for the

Colourful shade

TORROX’S vibrant spirit has returned once again as the town’s eye­catching umbrella display returned to the Plaza de la Constitución on Friday, May 19.

The umbrellas that provide shade during the summer months have now made their triumphant return. The cheerful, colourful umbrellas have become a beloved tradition in recent years, and this year is no exception.

As temperatures rise, these umbrellas serve a practical purpose by offering much­needed shade to passers­by. But they have also become an emblem of Torrox, boosting tourism and garnering international media attention. Their unique charm has captured the hearts of many, with residents and tourists eagerly calling the Tourist Offices to find out the installation dates.

The local tourism department said that some tourists even say they plan their holidays according to the dates of umbrella installation, making sure they can capture that perfect holiday snapshot under the umbrellas while exploring the historic streets of Torrox’s town centre.

vibrant collection, which showcases the beauty of the Axarquia region.

Polo shared her inspiration for the artworks, expressing gratitude to her family, friends, and mentors, particularly Antonio Valdés.

She also highlighted her daughter’s contributions to the exhibition and credited her husband’s photography for influencing many of her paintings. Additional thanks were extended to her uncle and mother for their unwavering support.

The exhibition features a diverse range of subjects, including family portraits, landscapes, religious motifs, and scenes inspired by Velez­Malaga. Maria Carmen Polo’s skillful use of different techniques, including oils, watercolours, pastels and ink adds depth and richness to the collection.

The exhibition is open for public viewing from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10am2pm, and from 5pm­9pm. On Sundays, visitors can enjoy the showcase from 10am­ 2pm.

Betty Henderson

THE Nerja and Torrox Coasters (NTC) cycling community fearlessly took on the elements during their unforgettable ride on Thursday, May 18. Despite an unforeseen weather twist, the NTC Thursday Ride to Chilches became a memorable adventure.

Setting off smoothly along the coastal path towards Malaga, the cyclists were propelled by a pleasant breeze. Excitement grew as they warmly welcomed new riders into their fold.

As the group savoured coffee at a beachfront bar in Benajarafe, ominous dark clouds gathered, accompanied by news of thunder and torrential rain from Frigiliana. Undeterred, they pedalled eastward, battling against intense winds.

Nature unleashed its

full force on the outskirts of Torre del Mar. Seeking sanctuary, they found refuge in a cosy ice cream shop with a sheltered terrace, where they indulged in comforting coffee and cake.

With the rain persisting, the cyclists strategised to stay dry on their homeward journey, turning an unexpected twist into an

added dose of fun and excitement.

The growing cycling and social group welcomes riders capable of an average ride profile of 50 ­ 80 kilometres. Join their dynamic community by visiting their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.co m/groups/198372609857 9656/permalink/ 3510530972565820/.

The riders refuelled and warmed up with a coffee.

Photo credit: Laurie Bidwell

ON Saturday June 3, the very popular From the Jam will make their first ever Spanish appearance at the Benalmadena Auditorium.

Prior to their arrival, one of the founding members of The Jam spoke exclusively to Euro Weekly News about his long career and how this band was formed.

It was in 1977 that The Jam obtained their first recording contract and the trio consisting of former Woking schoolboys, Bruce Foxton, Paul Weller and Rick Buckler burst on the scene.

They couldn’t really be categorised as punk but with their Mod image and biting music certainly ruled the record charts until 1982 when they broke up.

During that time, they had 18 consecutive top 40 singles before Paul Weller decided to call it a day in 1982 and they disbanded.

Bruce, the bass player spent 15 years in punk band Stiff Little Fingers and then formed another band Casbah Club with Russell Hastings and more by luck than judgement they

Bruce Foxton is From the Jam

sell for so long and having seen the reaction from fans who enjoyed the music so much, the pair decided to keep on playing the songs that they and their audience loved so much.

They are still going strong with literally hundreds of gigs booked through to 2024 but there was an opportunity to visit Spain for the first time, so the expanded band which has added Andy Fairclough on keyboards and Mike Reddon on drums decided it was time to bring their brand of music to a Spanish audience.

“The closest I’ve been to Spain is when my wife came as part of a hen party” laughed Bruce “but why ignore a chance to bring our music to both an established as well as a hopefully new audience.”

were booked to play a gig with a band which included former Jam drummer Rick Buckler.

Bruce explained, “we had no intention of forming a new band but thought it might be fun to play a couple of old numbers during the sound

check and it sounded and felt really good!

“There were a few more similar sessions and we kept in touch with each other and then in 2007 decided to form From the Jam.”

That lasted a couple of years but in

2009 Bruce said “I received an email from Rick simply saying he was leaving the band with no explanation and I still don’t know what happened, although he appears to have wanted to become a writer.”

Having worked with guitarist Rus­

When asked if he ever got bored with playing the same songs, Bruce said ”Although the set will be pretty much all Jam songs apart from a couple from my album with Russell Butterfly Effect there are so many Jam songs, we can change the set list every time we play.”

Tickets for the June 3 event (where they are supported by veteran British punk band The Wasps) are available at https://www.ticketsource.eu/wag-promotions and let’s hope for viewers of BBC 1’s Have I Got News For You that they play News of the World, a definite Jam favourite. If you can’t make the gig then visit https://www.fromthejamofficial.com/ to get their live album.

FROM THE JAM: The latest line-up on stage.

Credit: Steve White

GARRAPATAS as they are known in Spain can be passed from animals to humans and they can cause some serious diseases. Common illnesses associated with tick bites include Lyme disease and encephalitis.

Those at risk of tick bites

Ticks - A rising health threat in Spain

are people that walk in rural areas, especially during the spring. The problem is that the number of ticks appears to be rising.

The warmer weather is increasing the tick’s repro­

ductive period and so they are producing more ticks, more often in a greater space of time.

This year the weather has favoured a species of ticks that don’t require hu­

midity to reproduce.

People should be aware when walking through grassland, but each government administration should be working towards controlling the tick

Dangerous toxins in almonds

AS reported in a statement from the Guardia Civil on Saturday, May 20, a joint operation with the Tax Agency saw 25 tons of almonds with very dangerous toxins seized in Spain.

‘Operation Nuts’ was conducted in the Spanish ter ritories of Mallorca and Alicante. As a re sult, three Spanish na tionals were arrested along with a Dutch citizen. They were detained for the alleged crimes of forgery of documents and

against public health.

The operation was launched last January following the arrival in Spain of 25 tons of almonds from Australia.

Once the almonds ar ­

rived in Alicante, an analysis of the fruit was carried out, with very high levels of aflatoxins being found. The importer of the shipment was subsequently informed they had to be

destroyed.

Residing on Mallorca, this individual undertook to do so and requested authorisation for the transfer of the cargo to Mallorca.

However, once the almonds arrived in Mallorca, those responsible for transporting the merchandise allegedly broke the seal of the container. Instead of destroying the almonds, they replaced the merchandise with shells of other almonds with a similar volume. Fake certificates were then obtained for the goods.

population by looking after grassland and rural areas where people like to walk.

It is recommended that people walking their dogs should have their pets

treated to avoid the parasite. And, when they have finished their walk people should check their bodies for any signs of ticks. The places a tick like to attach itself are around the groin area, the head, the back of the ears, elbows and knees.

IAlmonds were imported.

Credit: Harsha K R/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

Air Force jet crashes

A SPANISH Air Force F­18 fighter jet aircraft crashed at the Zaragoza airbase on Saturday, May 20. Thankfully, the pilot managed to eject before the plane hit the ground.

As reported by the Air Force, the jet was participating in an aerial exhibition when the incident occurred just after midday.

The plane came down on one of the runways at the airbase in the Aragonese capital.

The pilot was immediately rushed to the Miguel Servet Hospital in Zaragoza. He was said to have suffered trauma and injuries to his legs, hips and arms on impact.

According to a news outlet, the pilot was a veteran captain with more than 1,000 flight hours experience.

At the time of the crash, he was conducting aerial manoeuvres in preparation for an exhibi­

tion that will be staged during an event at the facility in Garrapinillos on June 10.

F-18 HORNET: The aircraft was completely destroyed.

The F ­ 18 Hornet was completely destroyed after exploding on impact with the ground.

Brits wanted

IF you would like to get your 15 minutes of fame, have an eye for a bargain and are a British expatriate living in Spain then here is your chance to get on TV.

This opportunity to get your face and story on the small screen is here so if you fit the bill it’s time to apply. The TV company are looking for contestants based in Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca.

Sofie Hegre Olsen is look­

ing for potential candidates for this Red Sauce TV production with this post on Facebook:

“Hi everyone! If you are interested in joining the next season of Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun please feel free to contact me on the email below or message on Facebook. sofie.hegre olsen@redsaucetv.com Looking forward to hearing from you!”

Credit: Bernardo Fernandez copado/Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

FOREIGN embassies in Beijing, including European embassies, have been instructed to remove what China’s foreign ministry calls “politicised propaganda” from their buildings according to reports released on Wednesday, May 17.

It is believed that this directive is aimed at the Ukrainian flags proudly displayed by several missions as a show of solidarity following Russia’s invasion. The notice, issued earlier this month, cautioned against placing provocative displays on the exterior walls of embassy buildings that could incite disputes between nations.

The UK, Canadian, US, and EU embassies, along with others, have been exhibiting the Ukrainian flag as a symbol of support. Embassies often display flags or banners to express solidarity with var­

Flag fiasco Race against nature

ious countries or causes, such as the LGBTQ+ Pride flag.

However, at least one diplomat told Reuters that their mission has no intention of complying with the request.

China’s stance on the Russia­Ukraine conflict has drawn attention. While Western nations have condemned Russia’s actions, China, a staunch ally of Moscow, has remained notably silent.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has attempted to position himself as a mediator in the conflict while openly expressing support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Shook up

SEISMOLOGISTS could not understand why they recorded minor tremors on the Danish island of Bornholm on May 13. They called the recordings “acoustic pressure waves” and after ruling out earthquakes and explosions as the source, now believe that “some unknown atmospheric event” is the only answer.

THE NETHERLANDS

Short read

FINLAND

War-torn

FINLAND awaits news regarding the European Union’s position regarding Russians who fled the country to avoid conscription. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) said 1,109 Russian citizens so far have sought asylum in Finland to avoid being called up to fight in the Ukraine war.

IRELAND

Cool it

ITALY’S northern Emilia­Romagna region has been plunged into chaos as torrential rains triggered catastrophic flooding, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

The deluge has claimed the lives of nine individuals, with several others still missing. Desperate scenes unfolded as 10,000 residents were forced to evacuate, some desperately clinging to their rooftops until rescue helicopters swooped in on rescue missions.

The flooding caused fourteen rivers to burst their banks, submerging 23 towns in the region. Landslides have severed crucial roads, isolating communities and exacerbating the already dire situation.

The devastation came just days before the Emilia­Romagna F1 Grand Prix, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 20, which had to be cancelled.

With further rain on the horizon, Emilia­Romagna has

braced itself for the possibility of more devastation. Regional President Stefano Bonaccini has spoken out, urging residents to steer clear of rivers and seek shelter on higher ground.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also chaired a crisis meeting and expressed gratitude to the brave rescuers risking their lives to save others. Volunteers have flocked to the region to provide support to overwhelmed emergency services.

CHILDREN'S reading skills have deteriorated faster in the Netherlands than other countries, education experts found. They concluded that lessons missed during the pandemic were unlikely to be the only cause and believe the short texts used in Dutch schools do not prepare pupils for longer passages in literacy texts.

BELGIUM

On mute

BELGIAN workers now have the legal right to switch off their work phones outside working hours without fear of complaints from their employer. The new regulations apply only to firms with 20 or more employees and excludes those working in emergency services or the aviation sector.

GERMANY

Print job

HEIDELBERG will boast Europe’s largest 3Dprinted building, which will be 54 metres long, 11 metres wide and nine metres high. The ground-breaking project, which commenced on March 31 this year and should be completed by late July, will eventually house an IT company’s cloud and data centre.

FRANCE

Green scheme

FRANCE is promoting green initiatives and tax credits to attract billions of euros in investment, boosting French industry and countering Biden’s $369 billion (€422.3 billion) Green Plan. Measures include linking subsidies for electric vehicles to environmental restrictions that favour European manufacturers.

NORWAY

Wedded bliss

MORE couples are marrying in Norway and staying together longer than in the past, with approximately 21,000 people formalising their partnerships in 2022, an increase of 4,700 compared to 2021, the Norwegian Statistics Agency said. Although 17,000 spouses separated, this was the lowest number since the 80s.

JIM CHAMBERS, 62, and Stephen Cole, 40, who operate rival ice cream vans, appeared at Falcarragh District Court (County Donegal), the pair accused of fighting over the same beachside pitch. Both faced breach of the peace charges but were let off after agreeing to put aside hostilities for the summer.

ITALY

Fewer babies

FOR the first time, the number of annual births fell below 400,000 in Italy, averaging 1.25 babies per woman, official figures for 2022 revealed. The replacement rate is now negative, with the number of deaths currently exceeding the number of births, with 12 people dying for every seven babies born.

PORTUGAL

Home again

DOZENS of European Jewish community leaders attended a conference on communal strategies in Porto, whose 1,000-strong Jewish community has tripled in recent years. This was partly thanks to a 2015 law giving Portuguese citizenship to descendants of Jews expelled during the Inquisition, which began in 1536.

UKRAINE

Grain deal

AGREEMENT has been reached on extending by two months the deal allowing grain exports from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. The agreement between Ukraine and Russia, signed last year and brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, would otherwise have expired on May 19.

SWEDEN

Smoke-free

SWEDEN could become one of the world's first ‘smoke-free’ countries, with less than 5 per cent of the adult population smoking. With smoking rates falling from 15 to 5.6 per cent over the past 15 years, it is on course to reach this milestone within months, 17 years ahead of the EU's 2040 target.

STAT OF WEEK €1.4 billion

will go to Spain’s rolling stock manufacturer for supplying a second delivery of 56 trains under the contract it signed with Germany’s rail operator Deutsche Bahn in 2019.

BUSINESS EXTRA Sorry about that

Tasty pasty

GREGGS announced that sales have increased by 17 per cent over the last year, saying its products remained “compelling” to customers in the cost ­ of ­ living crisis. The bakery chain, which first opened in Newcastle in 1951, opened 63 new shops this year and extended some opening hours.

Defence gambit

AEROSPACE, defence and security company, Escribano Mechanical & Engineering, acquired 3 per cent of Indra, Spain’s leading IT and defence systems multinational. The €65 million transaction makes Escribano’s Indra’s second industrial partner and strengthens its presence in the Defence sector.

Winter duels

STRIKES wiped out more than 2.8 million working days in the UK during the ‘winter of discontent’, with 566 lost in March alone, official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed. Industrial action between October 2022 and the end of March was the worst since 1989, the ONS said.

Main concern

DESPITE the cost of living crisis, 30 per cent of Spanish consumers are more concerned about sustainability than price, EY consultants found. The tendency to take environmental factors into consideration before looking at price tags was usually generational, and more common amongst the young, researchers said.

Helping hand

FAMILY members spent £38 billion (€43.76 billion) on assisting relatives over the last five years, according to a survey by insurance firm SunLife. The most common reason amongst the over ­ 50s was helping their children to buy a house, with 26 per cent contributing an average of £26,680 (€30,730).

Linda Hall

THE European Commission (EC) gave the go­ahead to Microsoft’s $69 billion (€63.21 billion) merger with Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard.

Brussels made the proviso that Microsoft had to ensure that Activision’s game catalogue was freely available on other cloud gamestreaming providers over the next 10 years.

The decision was announced weeks after the merger was blocked by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), whose chief executive Sarah Cardell defended the watchdog’s earlier decision.

It was not her intention to

Game on, Brussels says

countable” regulator, maintaining the English Channel had never seemed wider for attracting businesses.

“There’s a clear message here, the EU is a more attractive place to start a business than the UK,” Smith declared.

HUW PILL, the Bank of England’s top economist, apologised for suggesting that people should accept they were poorer.

create a hostile environment for businesses in the UK, Cardell told MPs a day after the European Commission approved the merger.

The CMA wanted to “create and support” the best conditions for competition, enabling companies big and small to thrive, she insisted.

REPSOL and Italian energy company Eni could begin importing Venezuelan gas and gas condensates by June.

The news was announced by Pedro Tellechea, president of state­run Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), who confirmed that both companies wanted to increase the volume of their operations inside the Latin American country.

The agreement increases Europe’s supply options in the context of the energy crisis created by the Ukraine war, while bringing investment and royalties to Venezuela’s beleaguered economy.

The deal will allow Repsol and Eni to concentrate on their Perla gas field, a joint project located in the Cardon IV block in the Gulf of Venezuela. Regarded as having ‘enormous potential’, the offshore operation has increased activities reccently, up 30 per cent on 2019.

Apollo backs off

PRIVATE equity firm Apollo abandoned its £1.66 billion (€1.91 billion) takeover of the oil and gas services company, Wood Group.

The Aberdeen­based company said earlier that it would “engage” with Apollo’s final offer of 240p (€2.76) per share, after rejecting four earlier proposals which it said were too low.

Instead the New York firm announced on Monday May 15 that it would not make another offer for the business, two days before the deadline for making a firm bid or turning its back on the deal.

The European regulators said the commitments offered by Microsoft and Activision to maintain competition provided significant benefits for competition and consumers.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s vice­chairman Brad Smith referred to the UK’s “unac­

“Global innovators will take note that, despite all its rhetoric, the UK is clearly closed for business,” Smith had said following the CMA’s decision to block in April.

Microsoft and Activision are currently setting up legal team to challenge the UK ruling.

Gas from Venezuela

stepped up sanctions against Venezuela.

Washington hopes this will encourage Nicolas Maduro’s government ­ regarded as a dictatorship ­ to allow more political freedom inside the country.

“Economic projects like these benefit both Europe and Venezuela,” said EU’s High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

Censured by unions, businesses and the public, Pill’s critics included his own chief, the governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey, who said the economist’s choice of words “was not right.”

“If I had the chance again, I would use somewhat different words to describe the challenges we all face,” Pill said.

“Although we have some difficult messages to bring. I will try to bring them in a way that is perhaps less inflammatory than maybe I managed in the past.”

Google’s Spanish profits

GOOGLE SPAIN made a €44.7 million profit in 2021, a 79.5 per cent increase on 2020.

Income rose to €214 million, 44 per cent more than during the previous year, thanks to increased demand for the company’s services, according to Google Spain’s accounts filed with the Registro Mercantil.

The Venezuela exports also required US State Department authorisation as its oil­for­debt arrangement was halted two years ago when Washington

No quick solution

MARGHERITA DELLA VALLE, Vodafone’s new chief executive, confirmed on May 16 that the company would “strategically review” the future of Vodafone España.

The telecoms company faced stiff competition in a country that was “obviously very complicated,” Della Valle acknowledged on the same day that she announced worldwide staff reductions of 11,000, approximately 10 per cent of Vodafone’s workforce.

She was reluctant to specify whether this review envisaged a sale of Vodafone Spain, as analysts already suspect.

“We cannot jump to conclusions about the steps we will take,” she said, while admitting that there were no quick solutions for Vodafone’s Spanish business.

The company had a turnover of €3.9 billion in its fiscal year that ended on March 31, a 6.5 per cent reduction on the previous fiscal year’s €4.18 billion.

“Venezuela is at present burning gas it cannot use, although its gas is not subject to sanctions, only oil,” he told news source last month. “It is one of the countries that produces the most methane but this is benefiting nobody, while in the EU we need gas,” Borrell said.

Up for sale

THE Center Parcs chain of holiday villages has been put up for sale by its owners, the Canadian private equity firm Brookfield.

The company, which bought the business for approximately £2.4 billion (€2.77 billion) in 2015, expects to raise between £4 and £5 billion (€4.61 and €5.76 billion), the Financial Times said.

Center Parcs real estate was independently valued at £4.1 billion (€4.7 billion) in April and Brookfield has also spent £100 million (€115.19 million) on technology upgrades.

Revenues for the year ending April 21, 2022, reached £503.4 million (€571.9), with £245.6 million (€282.9) profits returning the company to the black following 20202021’s pandemic losses.

As is habitual with US technology multinationals who operate abroad, these figures do not reflect the company’s real business in this country.

Google Spain registers its sales in Ireland and only takes into account earnings from marketing and support services to Google Ireland and research and development services for Google LLC.

Bank offers

SPANISH banks continue to vie with each other to attract new customers.

Banco Santander, for instance, promotes online accounts by paying €50 for each recommendation resulting in a new customer whose salary is paid directly to the bank.

The new customer also receives €150 thanks to this offer which ends on June 12.

Another Santander offer, which continues until June 30, pays €150 to new customers who open an account and pay in a monthly salary of at least €600. This rises to €350 for salaries of more than €2,500.

SARAH CARDELL: Defended CMA’s opposal to MicrosoftActivision Blizzard merger.

VENEZUELA: Huge gas deposits will help to ease Europe’s energy crisis.

Photo credit: CC/British Government

Photo credit: Luis Noguera for PDVSA

DOW JONES

No break

SEAT plans to take on 900 temporary workers between June and September to ensure that production need not be affected during the holiday period. Above all, this should prevent the Martorell (Barcelona) factory from having to close in August and allow the plant to produce an additional 14,000 cars, principally the Cupra Fomentor model.

Going up

CURRYS increased its annual earnings outlook following better­than­anticipated sales across the UK after initially reducing its full­year prediction to £104 million (€120 million). The electrical goods retailer adjusted its forecast and now expects pre­tax profits of between £110 million (€126.8 million) and £120 million (€138 million) for the 12 months ending on April 29.

Royal Mail in red

ROYAL MAIL reported a £1 billion (€1.15 billion) loss for the year ending March 26.

Bosses blamed industrial action by employees and a failure to increase productivity during 12 months in which 10,000 jobs were cut.

International Distributions Services (IDS), Royal Mail’s owner, announced an overall loss of £748 million (€869 million) compared with a £577 million (€861 million) profit a

Home comforts

WORKING from the office should be employees’ default mode, according to the UK’s Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt.

Speaking on Wednesday May 17 to business leaders attending the British Chamber of Commerce conference in London, Hunt said that he believed working from home could stifle creativity.

He added that he felt firms were gradually reversing the shift to teleworking that began during the Covid ­

19 pandemic.

Despite the Chancellor’s conviction that employees would return to offices “unless they had a good reason not to,” flexibility was a top reason why employees accepted new jobs, post ­ Covid research confirmed.

In deciding between jobs with similar pay or benefits, the opportunity to work flexibly could become a deciding factor, investigators found.

Wind power

7

year earlier.

IDS said Royal Mail was in the red mainly due to strikes by “unionised staff” over pay and working conditions. This unrest ultimately led to the departure of Royal Mail’s chief executive Simon Thompson who resigned on May 12 after only two years in the post, although he will remain until October as IDS seeks a fourth chief executive in as many years.

Royal Mail’s owners also attributed the postal service’s losses to its “inability to deliver the in ­ year benefits of planned productivity improvements.”

Although the company has finally thrashed out a deal which the union agreed to put to its membership in April, Royal Mail has been affected by the consequences of a drop in demand for Covid test deliveries. There was also a dip in delivering online shopping, which had flourished during the pandemic.

ARDIAN, a leading private investment company, agreed to sell for an undisclosed sum its ASR Wind portfolio of 12 windfarms as well as a hybrid solar energy plant, to Naturgy, the Spanish renewable energy group. The windfarms, which are located in several regions across Spain and have 422MW of installed capacity, were all built between 2005 and 2012.

Boo-hoo!

ONLINE fast fashion retailer Boohoo.com plunged almost £91 million (€105 million) into the red as annual sales dived and the retailer had to cope with higher levels of returned products.

The label aimed at the 16 ­ 30 age group announced that sales fell 11 per cent to £1.8 billion (€2.1 billion) in the year ending on February 28.

POSTAL SERVICE: £1 billion (€1.15 billion) loss for last fiscal year.

BUSINESS EXTRA

All change

BRITISH American Tobacco’s finance director Tadeu Marroco took over immediately after the announcement of his appointment as new chief executive. Marroco, who has worked for the tobacco giant since 1992, replaces boss Jack Bowles, who stepped down after four years as CEO and 20 with the company.

Cloud cover

CAIXABANK and Google

Cloud signed an agreement to speed up the Catalan bank’s digital transformation. Under the deal the bank will use the cloud to boost data analysis technologies in the coming years while creating new products and services by personalising its commercial offer.

Worse off

BRITONS’ overall wealth fell to a 10­year low as a third had to dip into their savings over the last year, taking out an average of £3,500 (€4,033). More than half told LifeSearch insurance firm’s Health, Wealth and Happiness 2023 Index that they were worse off financially than last year.

Cheap labour

WOMEN residents born outside Spain account for 6 per cent of the population but occupy 160,000 ­ 44 per cent ­ of the 368,000 new jobs that were created over the last year. They earn an average €11,800 pre­tax, lower than the minimum wage and less than half the national average.

Course work

OVERHAULING apprenticeships would help to kickstart the economy, Tesco chief Ken Murphy said. Despite a huge increase in the number of courses equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree between 2014 and 2022, courses equivalent to GCSEs had plummeted by 70 per cent, Murphy pointed out.

Negotiation needed

STELLANTIS, which manufactures Vauxhall and Fiat vehicles in the UK, called on the government to renegotiate Brexit rules.

“The UK must reconsider its trading arrangements with Europe,” Stellantis told a House of Commons enquiry.

Not doing so could mean closing some UK operations and endangering thousands of jobs, said the world’s fourth­biggest carmaker, which also produces Citroën and Peugeot vehicles.

Two years ago, Stellantis declared that the future of its plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton were assured, but it now warns that it can no longer meet Brexit trade deal requirements.

These stipulate that 45 per cent of

the value of a vehicle’s components should be sourced in the UK or the EU by 2024, but the manufacturer can no

Aussie takeover

longer comply with these conditions, owing to an increase in the cost of the raw materials used for electric car batteries.

This means the electric vans made at the Ellesmere Port plant will face 10 per cent tariffs when exported to mainland Europe in 2024 as they will have too few locally­sourced parts.

This would put the future of the plant in question, the company said.

Ellesmere Port, where electric vehicle production is due to start later this year, provides jobs for 1,000 workers, while another 1,200 make Vauxhall and Fiat vans in Luton.

Thousands more work in UK businesses dependent on the plants.

Rafa hits a winner

TENNIS legend Rafael Nadal is as successful off the court as on it.

The Mallorca ­ born sportsman’s investments in several companies made an €11.4 million profit ­ a 104 per cent increase ­ in 2021 via his Aspemir company, according to accounts submitted to Spain’s Registro Mercantil, equivalent to the UK’s Companies House.

Nadal owns, or has invested in, companies in the sports, real estate, hotels, renewable energy and brokerage sectors. He is involved in Netflix series like Soy Georgina and La Marquesa through Mabel Capital, in which he has a 33.3 per cent holding.

This company has also built luxury apartments in Madrid and owns restaurants in Madrid, Ibiza and Valencia as well as six other cities outside Spain, together with projects in the Costa del Sol, Portugal and California.

The holding company’s turnover improved by 15 per cent to €20.75 million, of which €12.6 million originated outside Spain.

The 2021 result also profited from currency fluctuations to the tune of €3.3 million.

THE GMB union wants the government to intervene if Australian banking group Macquarie gains control of a vital section of the UK’s gas grid.

The Macquarie Asset Management­British Columbia Investment Management Corporation consortium acquired 60 per cent of the equity in National Grid’s gas transmission and meter business in a £7.5 billion (€8.6 billion) deal last January. This covers 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometres) of gas pipes.

According to a UK news source, a clause in the deal allows the consortium first refusal to buy the remaining 40 per cent later this year.

Digi digs in

Aspemir’s principal holding is the Centre Esportiu Manacor, which runs the facilities and accommodation linked to the Rafa Nadal Academy. Centre Esportiu Manacor had a turnover of €19.7 million, a 40.9 per cent year­on­year increase, in 2021, and showed a profit of €2.3 million.

Taxed to death

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE, one of Britain’s richest men, warned that the UK government’s windfall tax could destroy the North Sea’s oil and gas industry.

“Taxes are so high that profits no longer fund future investments,” the Ineos chemicals group founder told a UK news

source.

The government resorted to ‘primitive politics’ when Rishi Sunak, who was Chancellor at the time, put an extra 25 per cent tax on industry profits following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This was later raised to 35 per cent by Jeremy Hunt, who took over as Chancellor.

Ratcliffe argued that the levy ­ in effect a 75 per cent tax on North Sea profits which helps to fund government support schemes for household fuel bills ­ jeopardised the energy industry. No thought was given to the long­term consequences of this “tax it to death” concept he said.

Knotty Banco Popular tangle

THE European Central Bank (ECB) had never expressed concerns about the situation of the defunct Banco Popular.

José María Sanz Olmeda, a PwC audit partner who examined the Banco Popular books between 2009 and 2015, told an investigating National High Court judge that he detected “no anomalies” during this period. Meanwhile, the ECB decided on June 6, 2017 that Banco Popular was “failing or likely to fail” and noti­

fied the Single Resolution Board. According to the financial daily, Cinco Dias, legal sources familiar with the proceedings maintained that this was one of the cases “most relevant testimonies.”

This, they say, could clarify contradictions in various reports from expert witnesses regarding whether or not the Banco Popular should have reflected losses before the 2016 capital increase of more than €2.5 billion.

SPAIN’S mobile phone operators announced their first quarter accounts in a period that was dominated by fierce competition from the low­cost segment.

Romania ­ based Digi again demonstrated its strength compared with the bigger companies’ modest growth while the sector is at fever pitch owing to the MasMovil­Orange merger and the Vodafone crisis.

Digi, meanwhile, increased its earnings by 29.4 per cent to €143.3 million, owing to its aggressively low tariffs. At the same time, the company’s commercial aggressiveness also reduced the average spend per client by 4.1 per cent to €9.3.

Kid glove treatment

NEW regulations coming into force on July 31 will ensure that people receive better treatment from companies providing them with financial products.

Banks, building societies, insurers, investment firms and other businesses have been warned to prepare for one of the UK’s biggest­ever consumer­finance upheavals. The Financial Conduct Authority’s new regime will see the introduction of the ‘consumer duty’, which sets higher and clearer standards of protection, while explicitly requiring companies to put customers’ needs first.

The FCA want the initiative to produce ‘good outcomes’ for consumers, with reduced call­waiting times and an end to rip­off fees.

FIAT VANS: Manufactured by Stellantis in Luton.

RAFAEL NADAL: Savvy businessman as well as a tennis champion.

Photo credit: Flickr/Tanya Cicconte

TRULY don’t quite know where to start this week. So much has occurred I would need a couple of pages to achieve some kind of completion.

It actually started out with a number of letters (some obviously not for publication) thanking me for using subject matter that would simply not be allowed in the woke infested PC society that has now impregnated the UK.

One missive from a friend informed me that were my views publicised in a UK national I could be expecting a ‘knock on the door’­ What! Some PC authority knocking on my door presumably to threaten me for doing nothing more than applying my totally lawful freedom of speech?

Don’t scoff; I’m utterly convinced that if Starmer’s lot finishes up in Downing Street there will undoubtedly be an Orwellian department created to impose this devious control. The diversity dealers are already ensconced among the media hierarchy and they are not even in power yet.

The casting and presentation of TV programmes has now gone completely off the non­equality scale. Mixed mar­

Advertising Feature

Where to start

riage contestants are now being featured in a totally disproportionate number of quiz shows.

These special quizzers must be extremely difficult to find as the majority only actually make up 0.2 per cent of the population. Presentations such as ‘Rip Off Britain and ‘Front Line Fightback’ which are aimed at the seedier side of the UK, predominately feature the white populace appearing as investigators, victims and of course perpetrators.

Programmes displaying run down living accommodation and poorly treated tenants mainly depict nonwhite or immigrant residents. ‘Homes under the Hammer’ now primarily promotes property investors of non UK descent. If a news subject is considered ‘racist and possibly undermines black residents, it is given minimum coverage or ignored altogether.

This was exampled this week by the disgraceful attack on a fairly elderly teacher by a young black student after the teacher had confiscated his phone. Not only was he unassisted by any member of the now utterly brainwashed teenage youngsters that were

MASK SHAMING OUR VIEW

present, but the attack was actually filmed by a number of his classmates. Naturally none of this was featured on the main news media, but a considerable number of disgruntled observations were prominent on social outlets.

Recently I was informed from a very highly placed source that large numbers of immigrant staff employed by hospitals are so low in understanding that they are actually affecting the running of many establishments. As bosses are unable to sack any at the risk of being accused of racism (or the knock on the door!) they are promoting them to different departments, (bit like the civil service!) which is resulting in whole organisations teetering on the brink of disaster.

If you honestly don’t consider the UK in the grip of a conspiracy to reshape the whole of British society, then I truly believe that these faceless people will one day take over the whole shebang. Assuming they haven’t already done so.

AS fewer people are required to wear masks in public places, so at least one Human Resources Department has come up with new advice for employers as how best to deal with those who still want to wear a mask for a variety of reasons.

Employees are to be advised that they should be tolerant of those continuing to wear masks, as to make fun of them or comment about their decision is an example of what is now termed mask shaming!

Indeed, they go as far as to insist that anyone who needs to speak to someone who is wearing a mask should put their own mask on as a mark of respect and understanding.

Whilst it is difficult to see what anyone could gain from teasing or criticising someone who wants to continue to wear a mask, it seems surprising that HR advisors should actually go into print to require this and at least one entity requires individual staff members to confirm in writing that they will comply with the instruction.

There is no doubt that HR guidance in many areas is very useful, especially as far as bullying in the workplace is concerned, but nowadays it almost seems that some of these apparent professionals are creating rules that really aren’t needed just to justify their position.

Interestingly, during times of global depression, HR advisors aren’t particularly needed as staff are generally anxious to keep their jobs or management who can’t see the point of employing them but in times of financial growth, with staff more mobile and difficult to retain, a good HR department is useful for both sides.

The healthiest rest comes to Estepona

MALAGA ­ based company MiColchón plans to open a new rest centre in July, firmly placing it as the leader and largest distributor of rest equipment across the Costa del Sol.

Continuing its expansion strategy in Andalucia, MiColchón will open in a new destination this summer: Estepona. The Malaga firm cements its leading position in the sector, now covering the entire Costa del Sol. MiColchón Estepona will be the 11th store for the group and will be located on Calle Fahrenheit on the industrial estate of Estepona.

MiColchón Estepona will have an incredible 300 m2 showroom dedicated mainly to rest, with the best beds and equipment in Europe and featuring the most recognised international brands such as Tempur, Sealy, Flex, Nessen, Relax, Hukla Germany and Emma.

MICOLCHÓN: The Malaga company has more than 40 years of experience and is a leader in its sector.

In addition, customers can enjoy the largest variety of chairs and armchairs of the highest quality and European manufacture. This includes the prestigious Stressless brand ­ the best relax armchairs from Norway ­ and the comfort­

able Nessen armchairs which are fully customisable and exclusive to MiColchón, made with the best stain­resistant fabrics and the best Italian leather, featuring motorised relax systems such as the new ‘Zero Gravity’ mode that im­

proves blood circulation.

From this July, the people of Estepona will be able to enjoy personalised advice on the healthiest and most restorative rest provided through Mattressology®, MiColchón’s exclusive business phi­

losophy comprised of a specialist team that provides personalised advice on how to get the best rest. Whatever your back ailment, at MiColchón you will find the ideal sleeping equipment for you and your loved ones.

The Malaga company has more than 40 years of experience and is a leader in its sector, achieving record business figures in the last year with 25,000 mattresses sold, more than 5,000 sofas and armchairs, and a track record of more than 500,000 satisfied customers. Their excellent service and range of products speak for themselves, with zero complaints and thousands of positive reviews.

MiColchón Estepona will be offering special opening prices and its usual services and guarantees: transport, assembly and removal of used products for FREE and products at the best prices.

To find out more about the opening of MiColchón Estepona you can follow MiColchón on social networks: Facebook: micolchon - Instagram: @micolchon_spain - YouTube: @micolchonspain9357 - Website: www.micolchon.com

Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own

NO MORE JOKES ABOUT TEXANS?

I HAVE just heard of yet another tragic mass shooting in Texas; this time eight people gunned to their deaths in a shopping centre in Dallas. This is the city where President Kennedy was assassinated 60 years ago. And yet, the gun lobby enjoys majority support, nowhere more than in this gun­toting state. Explaining to Texans that universal gun ownership equals innocent deaths is like trying to teach a giraffe to play basketball.

An American acquaintance told me that there are proposals in some states to monitor and discourage jokes about Texans. If this is true then political correctness is alive and flourishing.

Jokes have abounded about other groups of people ­ often those of neighbouring nationalities. They have been directed against Dutch, Norwegians and Scots (for perceived meanness) and Americans, Irish, Poles and East Silesians (for alleged stupidity). And, of course, the Texans.

The foreman on a building site in Texas shouted “Hey Chip! Bring me a wheelbarrow.” Five minutes later Chip returned, wheeling a large wheelbarrow with a smaller one inside it. “Chip! I asked for one wheelbarrow, not two.” “Well, did you expect I was gonna carry the darn thing?” OK; this may or may not have happened.

However, I have personally met a Texan who believed that Jesus Christ was an American, and I know he wasn’t joking. Surveys

have shown that a disturbing number of Americans think that both Jesus Christ and Christopher Columbus were Americans. And then we had the reaction to Corona virus. In Texas there was a dramatic drop in the sale of Corona Mexican beer for fear that it would pass on the virus.

But we have learned so much from our American friends, as we adopt their culture ­ not just by murdering people in schools. We eat hamburgers, drink beer from

bottles, watch American football, become obese, hold hot gospel church services and address our friends as “you guys”.

We choose an American slavery song for England’s rugby world cup theme (‘Swing low, sweet chariot’). In 1996 Leeds rugby team was renamed Leeds Rhinos in deference to American football teams such as Chicago Bulls. And the once­stoic British now weep during television interviews.

There is a difference between

the evolution and the mutilation of a language. The British have amusing expressions such as “Everton are pants” and “Johnson is toast”. The misuse of a word or the invention of a new one is another matter. A loo or lavatory is not a ‘bathroom’ or ‘restroom’. ‘He sucks’ should not mean he’s unpleasant. ‘Woke’ should not mean socially aware. ‘And stuff’ should not mean etcetera. ‘Cool’ should not mean impressive.

Nevertheless, most of the ‘progress’ in recent years has been in technology. Through computers, smart phones, numerous information and communication platforms and space research, we can achieve so much without the intervention of humans. Here, Americans have been at the forefront.

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

YOUR boat has been locked away in storage, and with the sunny weather fast approaching you are itching to get her wet for the first time this season! You get her de­winterised, antifouled and everything gets checked over thoroughly before you experience the exhilarating feeling of taking her out to your favourite spots. Even though you have taken care of all the physical aspects to make sure your rides will be pleasurable and trouble free, it is easy to forget to take care of any unforeseen and above all unhappy events that might occur whilst taking your prized possession for a spin.

It’s plain sailing with Boat Insurance by Liberty Seguros

Nevertheless, regardless of whether you own a dinghy, jet ski or a luxury super yacht, taking care of the body work and mechanics is only one aspect that goes towards assuring your safety. Sailing is a sport of variables and the unforeseen can unfortunately happen; however, having the right cover in place with an insurance company that you can trust will go towards preparing you for any eventuality. This is where LIBERTY SEGUROS

the preferred expat insurer in Spain ­ can help.

LIBERTY SEGUROS has designed a policy with the expat in mind that extends far beyond mandatory liability cover. With added benefits that include voluntary public liability, theft, damage to the vessel itself (as well as auxiliary craft, wreckage removal, special fixtures and personal belongings, amongst others), damage caused by third parties and damage due to pollution risks and coastal regattas, its marine insurance provides comprehensive protection both when moored and out on the seas. What’s more, should the unimaginable actually happen, its marine policy will cover loss of life, permanent disability and injury to occupants for accidents that take place both on the boat as well as accidents that occur whilst boarding or disembarking. This policy can also be tailored to individual needs to cover solicitor’s fees, medical bills, loss of wages and other aspects that are important to you. LIBERTY SEGUROS can also insure your vessel under the traditional Institute Yacht Clauses (IYC).

Texans are not afraid of guns but are terrified of catching a virus from Mexican beer.

BOAT INSURANCE: SAILING IS A SPORT OF VARIABLES.

Dear Leapy LETTERS

Everything you said is absolutely true. Yes, you are totally free to say what you believe to be the case, but at what cost? If you said this in Britain your ability to continue earning a living would be made almost impossible. The direction Britain is heading is very frightening.

Keep up the fight.

Justice

Phillip Walker

Having happily lived in Spain since 2003 my wife suddenly and unexpectedly passed away a little over a year ago.

I need to return to the UK to be close to family but have to realise the equity from the house sale.

This is proving to be a huge problem despite numerous viewings.

The problem is three noisy dogs next door, when would­be buyers hear the dogs they immediately write the property off.

I have spoken to the neighbours on several occasions but they choose not to take action.

Can you please help me with this health threatening predicament.

Paul Greswolde

Good morning Lee

I know you often get flack for your printed views. I would like you to know that I look forward to Thursdays to hear your latest rant. I moved to Mallorca in 1997 and I did meet you a couple of times and have seen you perform several more.

I think it’s a pity you never moved in to politics. You have some great ideas.

Greetings from the Spanish Aragonés Mountains.

Bruce

Mrs Feelgood

Something seriously amiss within the BBC. All part of the conspiracy I sometimes mention. Onward all.

With thanks

Thank you very much indeed, again, for including our article, about Celebrating the Coronation, in last week’s EWN!

It was good of you to have included our article and is much appreciated.

Thank you for your continuing support, also much appreciated.

From a very soggy Moraira.

Warmest regards.

James Bond

who only payed him once. After Roger Moore I gave up, they just didn’t have the authenticity.

Naimah Yianni

Intruder arrested

How can you get arrested when you are on public property, not on private property? you can go and stand in any street anywhere surely? As long as you are not committing a crime then how can you be arrested? No sympathy for these idiots as it goes.

Life of Brian

Symbolic of his struggle against reality. Absolutely says it all. What is going on in our country. Now we have a theatre that wants to put on a play for a black audience, no whites allowed. God help us all and I am not religious.

John Little

Good evening,

It is wonderful to have our own regional newspaper ­ thank you. But, it would be nice to have the two motoring pages which you print in the Costa Blanca South edition.

Best regards Annie

Busch

Dog attacks

Far too much of this is going on throughout the UK and Europe. Maltreated, fighting dogs that turn on their owners. I have no sympathy for the victim, only regret that the animal had to be destroyed. From my point of view, a huge crackdown on the breeders/owners of fighting dogs is long overdue.

Bob Saunders

Brexit fail

It must be something in the water, or the food, or the air. Or all three, to produce such brain­dead people. Sadly, though, Brexit was never about making the public more prosperous, only to bring more prosperity to a chosen few. And that doesn’t even appear to have been successful ­ yet.

Stephen Ashley

War on Wagner

Max, Aircrew Association

That makes it sound like Sean Connery only played Bond once, but it was George Lazenby

I as well as my guys were actually digesting the good ideas from your website then at once I had a terrible feeling I never expressed respect to you for those secrets. The men ended up for that reason warmed to read them and have really been enjoying them. Appreciation for actually being quite kind as well as for making a decision on certain amazing subject matter most people are really wanting to be informed on. My sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to you earlier.

Cornwell

PETS

Dog-sitter entertains Tilly

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. Tilly is a smart black Labrador who needs entertainment and challenge, not just physical exercise. Her dog­sitter knows she loves playing and they tease each other constantly. With the live­in dog­sitter her routine stays the same, and she is stimulated and entertained.

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:

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Pet allergies

A

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

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AUSTRALIAN fashion week is making the headlines this week as a new designer collaboration is turning heads. But it is not the usual designers like Dior or Chanel that everyone is talking about, this time it is Petstock. That’s right Petstock introduced their new designer collection with Australian designers THE UP ­

Model pups

SIDE, Romance Was Born, and Double Rainbou. To show off their collection the most adorable dogs strutted their stuff on the runway with models wearing matching outfits.

The collection features doggy jackets, jumpers, bow ties, leashes, collars, and bandannas. You can even purchase matching outfits to step out in style for your next dog walk.

There are three distinctive collections, a sporty athleisure style, a fancy glamourous style, and a beach babe coastal style. Twenty per cent of the Designer Collection will help pets and people in need with the proceeds of this limited edition collection being donated to the Petspiration Foundation.

PETS can suffer from allergies just like you and me, especially dogs and cats. They tend to be determined by their genes and their breed but in the last 20 years, we have seen an increase in pet allergies. This increase is due to an increasingly artificial diet, and a polluted environment. The most common types of allergies in dogs and cats are atopic dermatitis, food allergy, and flea bite dermatitis.

If your dog is scratching more than usual and you notice redness in the folds of their skin, especially around their armpits and neck areas, their paws, and ears it is possible they have an allergy. They may also have conjunctivitis. Cats tend to have more specific allergic reactions, it is also called Feline Cuta­

COMPLICATIONS: Cats can suffer from asthma.

neous Atopic Syndrome. They can have respiratory complications like asthma, which is rare in dogs, and digestive or food atopic syndrome which basically means they have an intolerance to certain foods.

Some breeds of dogs are more likely to suffer from allergies like the French bulldog, the West Highland

white terrier, the German shepherd, and the golden retriever.

If you suspect your pet has an allergy their vet can help you determine if they do and then take steps to find the cause. They will then look for a treatment that can ease the symptoms like a hypoallergenic diet.

Dog central

THE Ifema events, trade fair and congress centre in Madrid are hosting the 100x100mascota (100x100pets) show on May 27 and 28. This will be the 12th edition of the fair turning Madrid into the dog capital of the world. They expect to welcome around 3,000 dogs from more than 250 different breeds and more than 12,000 visitors.

Special guests at the event will be the Chongqing Dog, one of the rarest and most unknown breeds in

the world. They have a long history in China and have become the symbol of the area of Chongqing in the southwest of the country.

The fair is aimed at dog lovers but also cats and pets in general as there will be

20 different breeds of cats such as Russian Blues, Persian and British shorthairs. Fifty animal shelters will also be present at the fair as many people take their first steps to adopt a pet at this fair.

dog-sitter

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THE ANGLICAN Chaplaincy of Nerja & Almunecar. Every Sunday there is a Holy Communion service at midday in San Miguel church in Nerja. Every Wednesday morning at 9.30 we have an online ‘Zoom’ HC service - please contact Fr Nigel with an email address if you would like to join us. Priest in Charge, Father Nigel Thomas. Tel: Church House - 951 815 736, Mobile: 608 695 756, email: cofenerja@gmail.com

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EWN Over 50s League

El Canadon 0 v 12 The Walking Dead

It must be said that the visitors played some terrific football! Their passing was crisp and accurate and the ability to create space for attacking teammates was a pleasure to watch! In truth, El Canadon were overwhelmed and, try as they did, found it difficult to mount any kind of meaningful challenge against a Walking Dead side playing with such flair and confidence. Their welltaken goals showed what a worthy victory this was.

Nerja United 5 v 2 Boca Seniors Competa

(Match report not available.)

EWN Over 60s League

Torrox Tornadoes 1 v 3

Malaga

The game was played in a friendly but competitive spirit. However, both sides appeared tired, misplacing passes all over the pitch and spurning so many chances to score, although it was clear to

The end is nigh (Walking Football Season)!

lines and Competa Chicas in second and third place respectively. Benalmadena also won the penalty competition which followed.

Arsenal hand third title to Man City

A 1­0 DEFEAT at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Saturday, May 20, saw Arsenal hand a third consecutive Premier League title to Manchester City.

riously affected the Arsenal players over the last few weeks as the prize came within their grasp.

see that everyone was trying their hardest to perform to the best of their abilities! Frustration abounded all over the pitch and this only served to create more mistakes for both teams. This was a fairly even game and it was only in the closing minutes that Malaga began to pull ahead and seal the victory.

Meanwhile, elsewhere…

Recently, the first Com­

Manchester City crush Real Madrid

ON Friday, May 17, Manchester City not only went through to the Champions League Final, but they did it in style, beating a dejected Real Madrid 4 ­ 0 at the Emirates Stadium.

It’s a 5 ­ 1 aggregate win for Pep Guradiola’s side, with two goals from Bernardo Silva, one from Julian Alvarez and an own goal from Madrid’s Militao to cement Manchester City’s progression to the Champions League final.

This keeps them on track for a triple trophy haul this season as they lead the Premier League and they play the FA Cup final on June 3 against Manchester United.

But the Champions League is the one that evades them and they will be very hungry to take that trophy under Guardiola. They are now set to take on Inter Milan on June 10, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey.

Mirror Football said on Twitter: “Man City have knocked Real Madrid out of Champions League for a place in the final.”

With a few domestic duties to see to on the way, we look forward to seeing you all for what could be Pep and Manchester City’s crowning glory in Istanbul.

peta Chicas Walking Football Tournament took place, contested by Competa Chicas themselves, Benalmadena Ladies and The Felines International.

The ominous weather held off, enabling all three teams to play some attractive football, in an excellent spirit of fair play and good humour, all splendidly refereed by Austin Fenn. Benalmadena Ladies were the eventual winners with The Fe­

The afternoon showcased the best of Women’s Walking Football, and it is hoped that the number of participating teams will increase next year. Thanks go to Competa Town Hall, Alternative Properties and Libra Recruitment and all players for making this project a reality!

The Finale!

Don’t forget that the Final of the Costa del Sol Walking Football League Cup will be contested between Malaga WFC and The Walking Dead WFC at El Canadon on Tuesday May 30, kick off at 19.45.

Mikel Arteta’s side was in with a slim chance of taking the battle to the final day of the season, but a single goal from Taiwo Awoniyi was enough to condemn the Gunners to a well­deserved second spot in the table.

As a consequence, City’s match with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday would serve as nothing more than an early celebration of a stunning third title in three seasons under Pep Guardiola.

With an FA Cup Final to come in June against their cross­city rivals Manchester United, and a Champions League Final lined up with Inter Milan, a historic treble is well within Guardiola’s sights.

The pressure of leading the title race for the majority of this season appears to have se­

They played out far too many draws though, culminating in defeat today at the City ground by a team battling against relegation.

Forest played it calm in the first half and capitalised on a very rare mistake from the Gunners’ captain Martin Odegaard in the 19th minute. As the Danish international’s pass went astray, it was collected by Mogan Gibbs­White.

What appeared to be a failed pass from Gibbs­White suddenly ricocheted into the Arsenal net off Awoniyi’s boot after a sliding tackle from Gabriel to put the home side in front.

If Steve Cooper expected to face a late onslaught from the Gunners, he was in for a surprise. Arsenal offered very little by way of a threat and in the process handed the title to City on a silver platter.

Vinicius Jr racial abuse: Real Madrid call out hate crime

REAL MADRID have filed a legal ‘hate crime’ complaint following abuse to star winger Vinicius Jr as they lost to Valencia on Sunday, May 21.

Racist abuse was hurled at the Brazilian which he highlighted to the referee. As he became more and more infuriated with the abuse he had an altercation with Hugo Duro and was shown a red card.

Luis Miguel Echaegary posted this post­match interview with Carlo Ancelotti on Twitter. The Real Madrid Manager only wanted to talk about the racist incident. Echaegary said:

“Interviewer wants to ask about the game itself. Ancelotti: “You want to talk about the game?” Interviewer: “Well yesI want to ­.” Ancelotti proceeds to use his time to talk about the disgusting racist abuse towards Vinicius Jr.

Ancelotti was quoted as saying in the a local news source:

“La Liga has a problem. For me, Vinicius is the most important player in the world. These episodes of racism have to stop the match.”

“It’s the entire stadium that is insulting a player with racist chants and the match has to stop. I would say the same if we were winning 3­0. There is

no other way.”

Real Madrid released a statement in which they said: “These events constitute a direct attack on the model of coexistence of our social and democratic State under the rule of law.

“Real Madrid considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime, and has therefore filed the corresponding complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office, specifically with the Prosecutor’s Office against hate crimes and discrimination, so that the facts can be investigated and responsibilities can be established.”

It remains to be seen if the formal complaint will lead to any prosecutions, but it is the continuation of a problem that many footballing nations have suffered over the years. It is a problem that appears to keep rearing its ugly head.

VINICIUS JR: Ended up being shown a red card.

The afternoon saw the best of Women’s Walking Football.