Mallorca 1 – 7 June 2023 Issue 1978

Ryanair meeting demanded Sustainable love THE RETURN OF THE PP

THE government of the Balearic Islands has demanded an urgent meeting with Ryanair after the airline tried to charge two passengers €45 each to bring a pastry on a flight with them.

The airline claimed the ensaimada, a traditional Mallorcan pastry, exceeded hand luggage allocation and demanded a fee from each passenger.

With the airline refusing to back down on the fee, both passengers abandoned their pastries and boarded the flight.

Now, the government of the Balearic Islands along with the local pastry makers association have demanded a meeting with the airline.

Balearics’ tourism minister, Iago Negueruela said the meeting was called “in order to defend local produce and avoid any kind of discrimination.”

The president of the Balearic Islands pastrymakers association, Pep Magraner said the charge discriminated against local suppliers as passengers can bring ensaimadas on board for free if bought at the airport’s duty­free shop.

“All the other airlines allow passengers to take two ensaïmadas on board,” Magraner said. “It’s only a problem with Ryanair.”

LAST Sunday’s local and regional elections have left a very different political map in Mallorca.

The conservative Partido Popular (Popular Party, or PP) led by Marga Prohens swept to victory by winning 25 seats in the regional parliament, which makes Sra Prohens the only possible candidate to lead the Govern.

However, her majority is not quite enough to do so on her own, as she will need at least an abstention from the far ­ right party Vox, who took eight seats, in order to take charge.

Meanwhile, incumbent Balearic Islands President Francina Armengol won 18 seats for the PSOE (Partido

Socialista Obrero Español, or Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), one less than in the previous elections in 2019.

Many major towns and cities throughout the island also changed colour on Sunday. In Palma, the left­wing block made up of PSOE (8), Més (3) and Podemos (1) lost by 17 councillors to 12 at the hands of the PP (11) and Vox (6).

The same situation was

repeated in the Mallorca Island Council, where the PP’s Llorenç Galmés beat Catalina Cladera’s PSOE by 13 seats to 10 and will also need the support of Vox to take charge.

The overall result of the PP’s landslide not just in the Balearics but throughout Spain led Spanish President Pedro Sánchez to bring forward the general elections from December to July 23 by surprise this week.

LOVE is in the air in Mallorca once more, with Love Island 2023 expected to hit screens on Monday June 5.

As ever the Love Island villa has been put under the spotlight in the build­up to the show. This year’s property features a large pool with spacious areas all around, as well as spectacular sea views. It has also been given a revamp to ensure that the show can be produced in as

sustainable a manner as possible, with solar panels fitted to lower the production team’s impact on the environment.

Image by the Balearic Islands Government.

Incumbent Balearic Islands President Francina Armengol (second from right).

Ryanair pastry debate. Credit Shutterstock

Love Island 2023.

Image by Love Island/Facebook

SHARKS and rays are the species most at risk of extinction in the Balearic Islands, according to a new nationwide study.

‘El Estado de la Biodiversidad en España’ (‘The state of biodiversity in Spain’) has been carried out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) together with an organisation from the Canary Islands.

The report concludes that there are 27 species in the Balearic Islands that are listed as critically endangered and another 46 as endangered.

Among the former, the most abundant species are cartilaginous fish, ie sharks and rays, followed by plants.

THE Balearic Islands Environment department has launched a campaign encouraging the use of menstrual cups as a more ecological alternative.

Posters reading ‘Fes servir la copa menstrual’ (‘Use the menstrual cup’) have been put up at pharmacies throughout the Balearic Islands reminding customers that the cups produce much less waste than

Protect our seas

The tiger ray is one of the species in the most critical situation, while among the plant species, the most worrying are endemic plants such as the Apid d’en Bermejo (Apium bermejoi).

The group of critically endangered birds includes the Sociable Lapwing and, among the molluscs, the Vitrea striata, a species endemic to Ibiza that may already be extinct.

Regional Marine Resources director Antoni Grau admits that sharks and rays “have always been the forgotten ones” in preservation campaigns and highlights the project currently underway to reintroduce the nursehound shark in Cabrera national park.

Use the cup

pads or tampons and are free of toxins and plastics.

According to the Govern, in 2021 nearly 127,000 units of disposable menstrual products were used in the Balearic Islands that generated more

than 1,520 tonnes of refuse.

Environment councillor Miquel Mir explained that this campaign “continues the collaboration that we started during the pandemic with the collection of masks.

“Being able to join forces with the pharmaceutical trade to improve people’s health and that of the environment is always good news,” Sr Mir added.

The councillor also recalled that the Rezero Foundation launched a pioneering study on the waste generated in the Balearic Islands by menstrual hygiene products.

Along these lines, Mir pointed out that “we are taking steps to comply with the Law on Waste, which establishes the need to prioritise reusable menstrual products.”

New airport plan

THE more ­ than ­ likely new mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, has announced that among his first measures if he manages to form a council following his victory in Sunday’s local elections will be to approve a new plan for the airport.

The so­called Special Plan for Son Sant Joan was presented by national airport managing body Aena in 2021 but was paralysed by the local Town Planning department.

As a result, companies such as Ryanair have been unable to develop ‘complementary activities’ at the airport, such as building hangars for maintenance and repairs of planes.

Speaking to a Mallorca news outlet, Sr Martínez insisted that the Plan “boosts everything related to the aeronautical industry at the airport,” as well as creating “quality employment and positioning the airport at an international level.”

The future mayor stressed that the document does not entail expanding the airport with new runways, but rather “encouraging a sector with high added value for the aviation and industrial sector in Mallorca.”

Jaime Martínez (PP) will shortly begin negotiations with far­right party Vox, who obtained six seats in the elections, to form the new local council.

Record year ahead

THE summer tourism season has kicked off in the best possible way in Mallorca and the predictions for the central months ­ June to September ­ are very positive.

Last year saw a firm recovery of travel and occupation figures following the Covid pandemic and analysts suggest that the upward trend will continue this year.

April set new records for numbers of arrivals at the airport and more than 3.1 million visitors stayed at Mallorca hotels last monththe highest number ever for April and a 20 per cent increase with regards to the same month last year.

The German market is said to be leading the charge, which has increased much more than the British one so far this year and helped compensate for a reduction in numbers of Spanish visitors last month.

Even so, numbers of British travellers still increased by nearly 13 per cent compared to April 2022 and by 3.5 per cent with regards to 2019, ie before the pandemic.

Hoteliers reveal that profits soared with the average income per available room sitting at nearly €75 ­ 13.6 per cent higher than last year.

RISK OF EXTINCTION: A tiger ray is one of the species in the most critical situation.

Image by Aappp/ Shut t er st ock

A helping hand

THE Spanish food bank federation has announced a collection campaign from Friday June 2 to Sunday 4 to increase stocks at warehouses throughout Spain in order to continue helping thousands of crisis-hit families. Donations can be made at the checkouts in most supermarkets.

Tofu alert

THE Spanish food safety authorities have recalled two batches of Taifun brand tofu distributed in the Balearic Islands due to the presence of metal fragments. The affected product is called ‘Tofu Spinacia’ and consumers who may have it at home are urged not to eat it.

A swift rescue

PALMA fire department this week rescued a stray swift that had become trapped inside a lamp in the patio of the city courthouse. Workers discovered the bird and called the emergency services, who were able to free it safe and sound.

Bins back

PALMA rubbish collection agency Emaya has installed 16 new litter bins along the seafront promenade following an official complaint lodged by residents, visitors and businesses regarding the lack of bins.

Road closed

SES SALINES Town Hall has denounced the sudden closure of the road linking the town to Colónia de Sant Jordi due to roadworks. Mayor Juan Rodríguez insists the Roads department of the Island Council had promised not to close it.

Rent-a-pool

A NUMBER of new websites have appeared offering the possibility to use private swimming pools in exchange for a small fee. Private owners have begun renting out their pools for between €4 and €9 with added extras.

Community power

RESIDENTS in Palma’s La Soledat neighbourhood have stopped waiting for the authorities to restore the block of council flats known as the ‘64 casas’ and have begun doing so themselves.

The block was built in the early 1980s and has never been restored, leaving it dishevelled and in need of urgent repairs.

In what has become a pioneering project in the whole of the Balearic Islands, neighbours, social workers and students from Aurora Picornell college have joined forces to give the area a

much­needed facelift.

Their first move has been to clean up a patch of land used as a car park to create a rest area with benches, a pergola, plants, exercise benches and a play area for dogs using recycled materials. Despite the success of the community effort, the impromptu neighbourhood association are currently working to involve Palma Town Hall and the institution that owns the council flats to help them carry out repairs to the building itself and to improve the energy efficiency of the block.

Football success Holiday rental

ONLINE house rental platform Airbnb is facing a fine of at least €125,000 for advertising tourist lets in multifamily residential blocks in Palma.

The Mallorca Island Council banned this type of rental and since November has ordered companies like Airbnb and Expedia to remove all adverts found to be illegal from their websites.

Since then the Tourism Inspection Service has notified both platforms of up to 200 cases of adverts that did not comply with the current legislation. Spokespeople for the Council have revealed that Expedia have complied with the obligation and removed all offers for house lets under one month for tourism purposes that contravened the law.

But Airbnb has reportedly not followed suit, which has now resulted in the opening of disciplinary proceedings by the island authorities that could result in a fine of between €125,000 and €400,000.

MALLORCA Palma Futsal

indoor football club continues going from strength to the strength.

This week the under­21 team claimed the bronze medal in the World Cup in Paranagua (Brazil) by beating home squad Magnus Futsal by 5­0.

Oscar Tesias’ squad repeated the result obtained last year, which was the first time Palma Futsal took part in the world championship, completing a great tour ­

Sustainable moorings

THE Balearic Island Government has reached an agreement with the central executive to create 15 new ‘fields’ of sustainable boat moorings.

These low­impact buoys will be placed at strategic points in the sea off the islands to prevent vessel owners from throwing anchor and damaging the highly valuable Posidonia Oceanica seagrass meadows.

In Mallorca the new buoys will be placed in Es Calo, Sa Foradada, Alcanada, Portocolom and Portals Vells­El Mago.

The regional port authority already manages three of these ‘buoy fields’ in Mallorca, located in Cala Blava, Sant Elm and Formentor, which will enter operation in June and can already be reserved

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

THE owners of the Formentor estate in Pollença have launched a project to restore its agricultural and forestry land.

by boat owners.

The new devices, which as well as helping to protect the Posidonia will also provide an effective and sustainable response to the existing demand for boat moorings, are expected to be ready for the 2025 summer season.

nament that Barcelona

Atletic won also for the second consecutive time by beating Brazilians JEC Krona in the grand final by 4­6.

In another football ­ related development this week, a local trainer from Ses Salines celebrated his second Premier League title.

Carlos Vicens is a member of Manchester City’s training staff led by Pep Guardiola, and was photographed this week with the league trophy for the second time in his career after the Blues claimed the Premiership title.

While all eyes are currently on the controversial plans to reopen the Four Seasons Resort hotel, the owners of the establishment and the estate are looking to improve its more than 1,250 hectares of land and turn them into an attraction for visitors as well as an allotment.

The focus is on agriculture, forestry and heritage, with Ses Cases Velles as the main attractions. Once the resort opens in spring 2024, guided tours of the vineyards, the olive grove, the new orchard and the forest around Ses Cases Velles are planned.

Visitors will also be able to visit the inside of the old farmhouse and learn about its history.

Image by Wikimedia Commons

REPAIRS BEGUN: Aerial view of La Soledat neighbourhood.

BOATS: Low impact buoys to be placed.

Image by the Balearic Islands Government

SAMARITANS IN SPAIN provides a confidential listening service to all English speakers, of any age in mainland Spain and the islands totally free of charge.

They do this because they believe in the importance of having the opportunity to explore difficult feelings and in doing so, alleviate the despair that can lead to suicidal thoughts.

Samaritans in Spain want everyone to know that there is someone there who is ready to listen, without judgement or prejudice.

It is important that people understand that they do not need to be feeling suicidal in order to call, their trained listeners are there to provide confidential support to anyone who is feeling in distress or despair.

Samaritans in Spain are

available on freephone 900 525 100 between 10.00am and 10.00pm, 365 days a year.

As a self­funded charity run entirely by volunteers, they rely on donations and support from businesses as well as the general public.

It costs an average of €16 per each call taken, or to put it another way, to hear the words “I am feeling better about things now.”

Further information about Samaritans in Spain is available at www.samaritansinspain.c om.

THERE are currently only 30 food safety inspectors to control 21,000 bars, restaurants, supermarkets and shops throughout the Balearic Islands.

In Mallorca there are 16 inspectors for the Palma area, four for Inca and seven for Manacor and surroundings.

INCA Town Council has become the only one in Mallorca to obtain a transparency certificate for its institutional website.

As reported last week by the Euro Weekly News, Barcelona University has carried out a study into the level of compliance of local councils in the Balearic Islands with the national Transparency Law that obliges all central, regional and local administrations to post ‘regular and updated publications of relevant information related to the functioning and control of public action’ on their institutional websites.

Sea science meeting

PALMA will host a major international water sciences gathering from Sunday June 4 until Friday June 9.

The ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting will be held at the Palacio de Congresos and is expected to be attended by more than 2,300 experts from 70 different countries.

The event is entitled Resilience and recovery in aquatic systems and will focus on sustainability.

With 85 per cent of town halls in the Balearics receiving a slap on the wrist for failing to meet the required standards and only 10 of the 67 towns and cities passing the test, Inca is the only one in Mallorca to be awarded a Seal of Approval.

The town comes in third on the list for the whole region with a near­perfect score of 9.2 over 10.

Inca mayor Virgilio Moreno has welcomed the award and reveals that the town has gradually improved in this regard over the last few years, going from a 6.7 in 2021 to an 8.1 in 2022 and now up to 9.2.

Samaritans in Spain Seal of approval Not enough inspectors

Although new food outlets continue to pop up everywhere due to the success of the tourism and services trades, the number of inspectors is not increasing accordingly.

The regional Food Safety body warns that the limited workforce means that they can only perform one official visit to each establishment every six years, when the law states that it should be no more than 18 months.

According to spokespeople for the service, this means that they are often unable to follow up on previous checks to ensure that any requirements

have been carried out.

The urgency of the situation has led the Food Safety inspectors to request that the regional government treat it as a matter of public health and take action to improve the service by taking on more staff.

They warn that a major food safety problem at the height of the tourist season could severely damage Mallorca’s international image.

Participants will present the latest studies on the Posidonia oceanica seagrass including the effects on the highly valuable plant of storms, brine spills from desalination plants and changing temperatures, its accumulation of ultraviolet filters, the effect of plastics and heavy metals, the absorption of CO2 and the conservation, restoration and recovery of Posidonia ecosystems, among others key points.

The various organisations will also share their scientific research on the biodiversity of the coastal seabed, the transport and cycling of greenhouse gases between the ocean and the atmosphere, plastic waste pollution and climate change.

Spokespeople for the congress centre explained that the meeting “will turn Mallorca into the world epicentre for the exchange of aquatic scientific knowledge” and highlight the Balearic Islands’ own scientific community.

Image by Neme Jimenez/Shutterstock

OF THE WEEK

“No man is an island.”

Winfrey in Mallorca

Image by Joe Seer/Shutterstock

Best wishes

AN anonymous Mallorca resident has gone viral on social media throughout Spain by posting positive and uplifting messages on lampposts and walls throughout Palma and other towns and cities on the island.

The person known only as ‘Hechosoechas’ said that they began putting up the A4 sheets of paper as a hobby and that they do not expect anything in return, “only to cheer people up and make them smile,” as told to a local newspaper.

One of his or her latest messages found in the Plaza de España in Palma reads “If you suffer or have suffered from anxiety, take a piece of paper (it’s free),” in Spanish, next to a shoe box.

The box contains a collection of small notes written by the author offering advice and supportive messages.

Hechosoechas also reveals that they have started meeting up with followers on his or her social networks who put up the posters while he/she films it, a move that has now caught on in other cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.

FAMOUS North American chat show host Oprah Winfrey was in Mallorca at the weekend.

The popular journalist and presenter was spotted sailing the waters of Sa Calobra on board the superyacht Eos, property of The Simpsons’ creator Barry Dillers.

Reports suggest that Oprah’s stay was relatively short, only three days in which she did not set foot on land but could be seen enjoying meals on the deck and taking in the spectacular scenery before heading off to Barcelona port.

She was said to be in mourning over the sudden passing of her friend Tina Turner that same week, which she heard about while she was in Italy.

This is not the first time for Winfrey in Mallorca, as in 2019 she was invited to spend a few days on the Rising Sun, another superyacht owned by cinema mogul David Geffen.

Good luck Alba!

A 22 ­ YEAR ­ OLD model named Alba Rodríguez from Palma will represent the Balearic Islands in the Miss Continental Spain pageant taking place in Marbella (Andalucia) in July.

Alba, who combines her work on the catwalk with Criminology studies and her passion for looking after children, will pose with the regional flag at the national competition with a speech in favour of ‘breaking beauty norms’ and saving the sea, according to a local news source.

The Mallorca model does not conform to traditional beauty contest standards and insists that the 60 ­ 90 ­ 60 stereotype ‘no longer exists’, warning of the negative effects photoshopped and fake photographs on social networks can have on impressionable young women.

On the other hand, Alba encourages budding models to follow their dream irrespective of their appearance, insisting that “it is not a limitation to take part” and that “there are

girls with a lot of potential who do not have that physical appearance but do have the necessary values to become a Miss,” she told a Mallorca newspaper.

Flight cancellations

AIR EUROPA airline cancelled four flights to and from Palma on Monday May 29 due to a pilot strike.

The affected flights were Palma ­ Barcelona (1.30pm), Barcelona­Palma (3.30pm), Palma­Madrid (4.45pm) and Madrid­Palma (7pm).

Up to 14 flights were affected nationally including connections between Madrid, Bilbao and Malaga with Rome and Milan.

The strike was due to last until Friday June 2 and at the time of reporting four more cancellations had been announced at Palma airport each day on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Air Europa apologised to passengers through its website for the ‘inconvenience caused by this situation’, and offered several alternatives for affected passengers, including changing the date of the flight within 30 days after the date of their original flight and on the same route, changing their destination to another airport operated by Air Europa within three days before or after the original date of their flight, or requesting a voucher for the amount of the ticket.

Oprah was spotted on board a superyacht.

RESIDENTS and hoteliers in Can Picafort (Santa Margalida) are up in arms about a large music festival scheduled to take place in July.

The Reggaeton Beach Festival is billed as the largest event of its kind in Europe and will be held in the Son Bauló area on July 15 and 16.

Up to 15,000 festival­goers attended last year’s event at the Mateu Cañellas sports centre in Inca, which reportedly resulted in severe damage to the installations.

Residents and representatives of the area’s tourism trade fear that a similar situation could take place this year, with the added concern that Son Bauló is a delicate area from an environmental point of view as the beach of the same name borders the Son Real public estate, which is part of the Llevant nature park.

Managers of the two hotels located next to

the festival grounds have also warned that the crowds could have a negative impact on their business, which is aimed at families looking for a quiet and relaxing stay, and fear revellers could break into their establishments to use the swimming pools.

THIS year’s apricot campaign in Porreres has kicked off with better forecasts than in 2022.

Apricots are the star product of the town and thousands of people visit the area every year just to buy the local produce.

With the first batches arriving at the local Farming Cooperative, producers believe this season will be better than last year with up to 11 tonnes of the fruit expected to be harvested, one tonne more than in 2022.

Festival worries Life is peachy No rent cap

As well as quantity, the quality this year is expected to be higher, with sweeter fruit and a more standard size.

However, the amount is still far below that of 10 years ago, when up to 70 tonnes of apricots could be harvested in one season.

Spokespeople for the sector suggest that the

THE next Balearic Islands regional government to be formed by Marga Prohens after winning the elections on Sunday will not apply the limitation on house rental charges.

As previously reported by the Euro Weekly News, the central Spanish government recently passed the new Housing Law establishing a series of measures to make renting

main reason for the drastic drop is climate change, as the unstable weather conditions prevent farmers from making accurate previsions. This is said to discourage young people from taking over the trade from their parents, meaning that as producers retire there is no one to fill their shoes.

more accessible, especially to young people with small incomes.

One of the measures is a cap on the monthly rent charged by landlords in ‘stress zones’ such as city centres, with the decision whether or not to apply it falling to regional governments.

The acting Balearic Islands government led by Francina Armengol had welcomed the legislation. But the Partido Popular led by Sra Prohens has already revealed that they will not apply it as they see it as an “interventionist” measure. Instead, the next regional executive will incentivise owners with tax benefits in exchange for putting their homes on the rental market.

Today’s

chuckle

SUPPOSEDLY some passengers travelling First Class on certain British Airways flights were worried about a redesign which meant some lavatories have windows. A woman travelling to New York complained that there were no blinds. She was told by a quick thinking stewardess “Madam if some pervert is clinging to the side of this aircraft at 35,000 feet, they deserve to see everything!”

Sweeter fruit this year.

Image by Sima/Sutterstock

BEACH FESTIVAL: Will take place in July.

Image by Reggaetonbeachfestival.com

EXCLUSIVE: True Brothers in Arms

HISTORY shows that Brothers in Bands are often initially a recipe for success and then can quickly become a saga of fights and falling out.

The Everly Brothers, the Gallaghers in Oasis, the Knopflers in Dire Straits and many more bear witness to this reality.

There is one band however that completely bucks the trend and although not everyone will have heard of them, The Jets have been playing together since 1978 and are constantly in demand.

There are three brothers, Bob, Ray and Tony Cotton and whilst their music is most easily explained as Rockabilly, oldest brother Bob doesn’t quite agree.

Speaking exclusively to Euro Weekly News following two triumphant gigs in Benidorm, Bob said “We understand that everyone likes to buttonhole music, but we are really more than Rockabilly as we play a blend of 1950s Rock and Roll.

“Funnily enough we are coming back to Spain for the Psychobilly Meeting which takes place in Pineda de Mar (Barcelona) between July 4 and 11 as one of the headline bands.”

Bob said “We really enjoying playing in

Spain and normally visit two or three times a year with our next visit to the Costa del Sol in the autumn in Torremolinos where we find a very mixed audience of British, Spanish and other Europeans who love their music.

Back in 1974, Bob and Ray were members of the Boy’s Brigade in their hometown of

Northampton and they decided to form a band with two friends to entertain at one of that organisation’s concerts.

Bob explained that “I got hold of a KTEL album of rock and roll’s greatest hits and had seen Showaddywaddy on Top of the Pops so that was us, we learnt all of the numbers and

seemed to go down pretty well.”

They kept going and youngest brother Tony who started off with them before he was in double figures was too young to play officially but was there with tambourine and percussion in the background until he became old enough to join the band full time.

So, The Jets released the first of 16 albums in 1978 and had a couple of hit singles in the 1980s with Yes tonight Josephine and Love makes the world go round which saw them playing in a host of TV programmes like Tiswas and Crackerjack and they have just kept going.

To show how close the brothers are, two of them suffer from an inherited kidney complaint so Bob donated one of his kidneys to brother Roy and then happily Tony was able to obtain a transplant from a general donor.

During lockdown, they recorded two albums at home and according to singer and double bass player Bob, “it was quite an experience as we are so used to recording together in the studio that for myself, Ray on guitar and drummer Tony it was quite a challenge to adapt to doing everything at out home studios independently but it worked!”

Rocking with The Jets.

UICC urges action

THE Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) called for greater action for World No Tobacco Day on Wednesday, 31 May, to prevent over 2.5 million cancer ­ related deaths due to tobacco.

This was announced on Tuesday, May 30, in a statement released from its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

UICC is the leading global organisation committed to reducing the burden of cancer around the world. It works with WHO and civil society organisations at the international level and has developed a range of resources to support its 1,200+ members across 172 countries and territories in advocating for stronger tobacco control policies nationally.

According to Prof Jeff Dunn, AO, the President of UICC: “While there is still much to do and we must remain vigilant, Australia is a prime example of what can be achieved if effective regu­

lation is passed on taxation, advertising, packing, points of sale, raising awareness and protecting people from the effects of tobacco.”

UICC has also featured tobacco control on social media, in numerous articles published on its website and most recently in its podcast series, Let’s Talk Cancer, entitled ‘Tobacco and alcoholmanipulative marketing and how to counter it’.

This podcast and many of UICC’s articles highlight the insidious commercial inter­

General election for July 23

WITH Spanish regional and municipal elections, May 28, strongly favouring the opposition parties, President Sanchez has called an early general election as the left­wing coalition prepare to fight for their position.

A news source posted a video of Sanchez on Twitter saying: “Breaking news: Sanchez brings forward the general elections to July 23 after the PSOE’s debacle in the municipal and regional elections.”

ests that lie behind the sale and promotion of cigarettes. Tobacco companies prioritise profits over public health, employing aggressive marketing strategies that target vulnerable populations, including young people and low­income communities.

In its statement, UICC emphasised the urgent need for governments, civil society and international organisations to join forces and see more countries implement proven anti­tobacco measures.

Sanchez believes the time is due to let the Spaniards have their say, as he himself was not elected by the Spanish people. He had in fact come from a more administrative role in the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) where he had been Secretary­General.

He only became leader to try and fight the threat of the left ­ wing opposition Podemos party, with whom he is now in the coalition.

He replaced Mariano Rajoy when he was ousted via

a vote of no confidence in 2018. Rajoy subsequently stepped down as leader of the conservative People’s Party (PP) but the PP have become resurgent in last weekend’s local elections.

Sanchez had the option to wait until December to call a general election.

It would appear though, with an apparent lack of faith in the current government, the time is ripe to put the decision of national governance back to the Spanish people. July 23, could see a wholesale change of direction in Spanish politics.

July 23 could see a complete change in Spanish politics.

Photo credit: Pedro Sanchez/Twitter

NO TOBACCO DAY: There is still much to do.

Credit: Nopphon_1987/Shutterstock.com

Live music in Palma

LIVE music fans in Palma are in for a treat over the next couple of weekends.

Maico, one of the leading lights of the Mallorca pop scene, are presenting their new album entitled Imposible at the Auditorium at 9.30pm on Saturday June 3.

Their first album was released five years ago under the title Emotional Tourist with English lyrics to great critical acclaim. On this occasion, after a long process of reflection, the group faces a new, more personal and risky challenge, which includes the transition from English to Spanish as a way

of consolidating their roots.

Described as ‘an intimate and highly elaborated work’, Impossible represents a turning point in the trio’s career, a gamble

Yoga and women

Image by Trui Teatre

clearly marked by the difficulties of recent years in which it has not been easy to get any projects off the ground.

Tickets for the concert cost €25, for further information and to book visit www.auditoriumpalma.co m.

Then on Friday June 9, Trui Teatre will host a performance by Coldplay piano tribute act Candlelight at 9.30pm.

Tickets cost €25 for further information and to book visit www.truiteatre. es.

ARATI YOGA has organised two special yoga sessions for women this weekend.

‘Yoga and menopause’ takes place on Friday June 2 and offers “a sanctuary of practice and sharing in femininity. We will have a brief presentation of the changes we are going through and a practice of asana, pranayama and meditation designed to reduce body temperature,” according to the organisers.

‘Intensive workshop on hormonal yoga’ takes place on Saturday June 3. “During three hours you will learn about the main ways of communication between you and your hormones. In the theoreti­

Incart

cal section, we will take a vital journey through our experience as women, making brief stops at the three great cycles: menstrual cycle, maternal cycle, menopausal cycle.

“In the practical section, we will do a practice of somatic yoga, pranayama and meditation where we will find a balance between action and calm.”

Both sessions take place at the Arati Yoga school in Manacor (C/ Capellà Pere Llull, 4). Tickets for the Friday class cost €20, €40 for the Saturday workshop or €50 for both.

For further information and to book call 639 932 543 or visit arati­yoga.com and ‘Arati Yoga’ on Facebook.

Next Meet Up

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP MALLORCA are holding their next monthly Meet Up on Tuesday June 6 at 6.30pm at The Guinness House (Parc de la Mar, Palma).

“Come and join us for our monthly Meet Up, an informal setting where we can chat and get to know one another,” reads the event on Facebook. “Everyone is welcome: patients, members, volunteers, family members, relatives, friends, carers, collaborators and anyone who is interested in finding out more about what we do.”

The event is held outdoors and the bar/restaurant offers tapas, meals and unbeatable views of the Cathedral, with a public car park next door.

For further information and to confirm attendance visit ‘Cancer Support Group, Mallorca’ on Facebook.

THIS is your last chance to visit the Incart contemporary art exhibition organised by Inca Town Hall.

More than 50 artists are displaying their work until Saturday June 3 in the Claustre de Sant Domingo, Sa Galeria Can Marc, Sa Quartera Centre d’Art, Espai On Som and Can Blancos Espai Cultural.

“For us Incart is not only a festival of contemporary art, but from the beginning we have created it as a showcase to promote and encourage local production. In addition, we always leave a space for young people who are studying the artistic baccalaureate in our town to show their proposals,” said Inca Culture councillor Alice Weber during the presentation of the exhibition.

For further information visit ‘Claustre de Sant DomingoCultura’ on Facebook.

Parkour for children

THE monthly open ­ air parkour mini ­ camp for children takes place in Palma on Sunday June 4.

“Parkour is a training discipline that uses the environment as a playground, aiming to get from one structure to another using precision, coordination, flexibility, strength and mobility,” explain organisers.

“The monthly minicamps offer an opportunity for your children to experiment with their developing parkour skill set in a different environment. We will use their parkour vocabulary to create unique flows and adapt to changes in the urban setting as we explore other parts of Mallorca.”

The event is aimed at children aged six to 11 and takes place from 10am to 12.30pm. Tickets cost €25, for further information and to book email info@danielsonic rojas.com or visit www.danielsonicrojas. com.

COLDPLAY: A piano tribute performance.

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DENMARK is lowering the age of abortion without parental consent from 18 to 15, Gender Equality minister Marie Bjerre announced on the 50th anniversary of the law granting women the right to terminate a pregnancy. “We want young people to choose whether or not to involve their parents,” she said.

THE NETHERLANDS

Too darn hot

A GROUP of people with Dutch citizenship living on the Caribbean island of Bonaire, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, have asked the government to protect the island from global warming. Failing to do so would result in a court case along with Greenpeace, the islanders said.

BELGIUM

Riot act

LEFT-WING political parties and unions in Belgium are opposing a proposed law banning ‘rioters’ from protests. The new legislation could be misused to curtail the freedom to participate in protests and strikes, they said, voicing doubts shared by the High Court and the Federal Institute of Human Rights.

GERMANY

Climate crims

GERMAN police swooped on the homes of climate activists from the Last Generation environmental group in Hesse, Hamburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Bavaria, Berlin, and Schleswig-Holstein. They are charged with having organised a campaign to raise funds that would have been used to finance ‘criminal actions’.

FRANCE

Fizzled out

BORDER police in Le Havre destroyed 35,000 bottles of a bright orange soft drink called Couronne Fruit Champagne originating in Haiti but destined for consumption in France. Only sparkling wine products from the French Champagne region can use the word, according to a ruling accepted by 121 countries.

NORWAY

Spy whale

NORWAY’S Fisheries Directorate asked the public to protect a friendly beluga whale living in the inner Oslofjord from accidents or injury by limiting contact with him. Hvaldimir became famous in 2019 when he appeared wearing a camera harness, suggesting that he was trained by the Russian military.

FINLAND produced so much clean electricity on May 24 that the price was “slightly below zero,” energy provider Fingrid announced. The price drop was triggered by an abundance of renewable energy thanks to a new nuclear reactor while spring floods pushed up production at hydroelectric plants.

IRELAND

Meta cutback

META, parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, announced that jobs are to be cut at its Irish headquarters. Inside sources revealed that the reductions, thought to number approximately 490, would affect several teams including finance, sales, marketing, analytics, operations, and engineering.

ITALY

Bear appeal

MAURIZIO FUGATTI, governor of Trentino, is awaiting a court decision on his latest attempt to put down the bear believed to have fatally attacked and killed Andrea Papi. The 26-yearold runner’s parents oppose Fugatti’s reprisal, arguing that killing the young bear “will not give us back our son.”

PORTUGAL

Law row

PORTUGAL’S president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa signed a euthanasia and assisted suicide bill last week. The law is not yet in force and opposition from the medical and political establishments, including the president himself who is a practising Catholic, could make it difficult to put into practice.

UKRAINE

Future plans

EUROPEAN companies are already earmarking locations and planning projects in Ukraine for reconstruction worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Most projects focus on restoring infrastructure damaged or destroyed since the Russian invasion, but also anticipate a wave of investment once fighting ends.

SWEDEN

Fewer homes

SWEDEN is experiencing its worst construction crisis since the 1990s, affecting young adults hoping to get a foot on the property ladder. Sweden’s Housing minister, Andreas Carlson, blamed the worsening conditions on external factors that were related to rising interest rates, inflation and increased energy prices.

FINANCE

STAT OF WEEK €128 billion

- 7 June 2023 is combined worth of the portfolio of current projects that belongs to Spain’s multinational infrastructure and construction companies ACS, Ferrovial, Acciona, Sacyr, OHLA, FCC, and Grupo San José.

BUSINESS EXTRA Green hydrogen

Front runners

JD SPORTS expect profits of £1 billion (€1.15 billion) this year as it expands into the US and Europe, foreseeing a continuing trend for trainers and sports leisurewear. Re gis Schultz, chief executive, said that JD’s young shoppers had more work opportunities, enabling them to “buy the gear they love.”

Cigarette break

SMOKING has been banned in all Spanish workplaces since 2011, but a study by the Jobatus employment agency found that each employee who smokes spends an average of 16 minutes a day smoking outside. This costs companies a yearly total of €26 billion, the agency calculated.

Damage done

FORMER CBI president and outgoing Tesco chairman John Allan will also step down as chair of housebuilder Barratt Developments on June 30. The latter company announced that Allan was resigning to prevent allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ against him from becoming ‘disruptive’ to the company.

Opposing views

SPAIN has 140,000 unfilled jobs, the highest proportion in its history, and eight out of 10 companies cannot cover vacancies, according to professional services company KPMG. Meanwhile, the unions claim that with a 13 per cent unemployment rate, three million people were unable to find work.

Oil recoil

REPRESENTATIVES from Trinity and Jesus colleges in Cambridge and the Universities of Newcastle, Sussex and Bristol have written an open letter to the asset management industry. All are calling for ‘bold action’ on their part to rebel against the boards of fossil fuel companies and their backers.

Linda Hall

EU red tape on wine will unlock £180 million (€206.9 million) and give the UK’s wine industry the freedom to flourish.

SCRAPPING

Cheers for British wine

“The UK has over 800 thriving vineyards at home with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of wine trade that goes through UK ports every year,” said Food and Drink Secretary Therese Coffey.

“But for too long our producers have been held back by cumbersome inherited EU regulations. We can now give them the freedom that they need to thrive.

“These reforms will put a rocket under our wine makers’ businesses, growing the

economy, creating jobs and supporting a vital part of our food and drink sector,” Coffey declared.

Thanks to the proposed changes to retained EU laws on the production and marketing of wine, makers will now be free to select from a wider range of vines, includ­

IGNACIO GONZÁLEZ steps down as the Nueva Pescanova Group’s chief executive on June 16, seven and a half years after joining the company.

A statement from the frozen fish group, a household name in Spain which is popularly referred to by its original name of Pescanova, announced that González’s reasons were “strictly personal” and had been reached “by mutual agreement.”

His resignation comes not long after the news last April that Nueva Pescanova’s largest shareholder, the Galician bank, Abanca, was selling 80 per cent of its holding to Canadian seafood company Cooke Inc. The transaction, which put an €800 million value on the company, has yet to be definitively formalised.

The outgoing chief executive’s role will be taken over by José María Be­

Loophole

SPAIN’S banking sector has found a way of reducing the amount of the temporary windfall tax it must pay the government since 2022.

Currently subject to a 4.8 per cent levy applied to income from net interest and net fees over €800 million, the banks insist they are complying with regulations introduced to help the government ease the cost of living crisis.

Banks also admit that they are making their own interpretations of what constitutes the tax base. As a result, the majority exclude income from their overseas branches and operations that are not related to the granting of credits.

ing more disease­ resistant varieties.

Domestic wine makers will also be free to show a variety and vintage of any wine without having to go through laborious, previously EU­mandated applications processes.

“Needless red tape stifles

innovation and growth. Now we have taken back control of our laws, we can ensure they work in the best interests of our businesses,” Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said.

Meanwhile, Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association welcomed the new measures, many of which it had already publicly proposed.

“By introducing greater flexibility, wine producers and importers won’t be forced to do anything differently but will be able to innovate,” he said.

Pescanova exit

process,” a Nueva Pescanova communique announced on May 23.

Gonzalaez, who is also president of AECOC, which represents 26,000 Spanish companies dedicated to manufacturing and distribution, has been Nueva Pescanova’s only chief executive since its creation in 2015 following the collapse of Pescanova.

CHEMICALS and sustainable technologies company Johnson Matthey signed a three­year supply agreement with Norway’s Hystar to increase green hydrogen production.

The London­based firm, most of whose income is earned from catalytic converters, is increasingly focused on new sustainable technologies, including green hydrogen. This zero­carbon fuel is produced using renewable wind and solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen and Johnson Matthey will supply Hystar with membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) to ramp up its green hydrogen production. The latest partnership follows a similar Johnson Matthey deal this year with Plug Power, a US company which is producing green hydrogen.

Co-op concern

NINETY­SIX per cent of the Cooperative Group’s 32,000 members voted at the last annual meeting to improve welfare for chickens reared for meat.

navent, who has been the group’s executive chairman since 2020 and chairman of its board of directors since 2019.

“His extensive experience in the company will allow him to continue with the

Strong M&S results

DENIM, dresses, office wear and more affordable food increased sales and profits at Marks and Spencer over the past year.

The retailer will restart dividend payments to shareholders after underlying pre ­ tax profits rose by 21.4 per cent to £475.7 million (€546.4 million) in the year ending on April 1, with sales increasing 9.6 per cent to £11.9 billion (€13.7 billion).

Chief executive Stuart Machin nevertheless warned of a challenging year ahead as costs continued to rise but stressed that, unlike many other retailers, the number of clothing and food items sold had risen at M&S, helping to increase the company’s market share.

The company had made changes to its ranges, Machin added, taking a hit on profit margins to hold down prices relative to rivals, while improving its clothing styles.

In 2021, the last year for which figures were available, Nueva Pescanova made a net profit of €7 million ­ its largest to date ­ with a turnover of €1.09 billion. In contrast, its principal shareholder Abanca’s 2022 accounts revealed losses of €60.5 million during the first nine months of the company’s financial year.

Increased hold

LONDON­BASED Amber Capital has increased its holding in Indra to 7.239 per cent, equivalent to 11 million shares.

This provides the investment fund, which is also a majority shareholder in Prisa (El Pais and Cinco Dias publisher), with the opportunity of sitting on the technology, transport and defence company’s board, which requires a minimum holding of 7.14 per cent.

There also happens to be a seat to spare on Indra’s board, following the resignation of former director Axel Arendt on May 18.

Arendt announced his own departure after that of Indra’s former chief executive, Ignacio Mataix, and his substitution by José Vicente de los Mozos.

A motion led by the Humane League UK campaign group asked the mutual to adopt the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) standards already accepted by Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Greggs, reporting on welfare improvements in a year’s time.

They were partly overruled by the company’s directors, who explained that they wanted to keep prices down, but warned that profits were likely to fall over the coming year.

Phasing out

THE European Commission (EC) called on Spain to phase out its energy support measures by late 2023.

Introduced in October 2022 to counteract high energy prices caused by the Ukraine war, these should be totally eliminated in 2024, Brussels said.

This would limit spending and make savings that could be used to reduce the public debt.

Should future energy price increases make further support measures necessary, these should be fiscally affordable and introduced to protect only the most vulnerable households and businesses, the EC said.

BRITISH WINE: Camel vineyard in Bodmin (Cornwall).

IGNACIO GONZÁLEZ: Nueva Pescanova’s CEO steps down next month.

Photo credit: CC/Nilfanion

Photo credit: Nueva Pescanova

DOW JONES

Flight fight

SPANISH airlines will not follow France’s lead in banning domestic flights for journeys that can be completed in two and a half hours by train. Javier Gándara, president of the Spanish Airlines Association dismissed it as “more theatrical than effective” while Willie Walsh, director general of International Air Transport Association (IATA), described it as “completely absurd” and “useless.”

On the spot

STATE­OWNED Ineco intends to open a permanent office in California as plans are reactivated to build the first high­speed railway line between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Spanish engineering company will now seek short­ and mediumterm opportunities to participate in the $400 billion (€93 billion) project.

Tata plum for Bridgwater

INDIAN carmaker Tata has reportedly chosen the UK and not Spain for a multi­billionpound electric car battery plant.

According to the BBC, the owner of Jaguar­Land Rover intends to build its new factory in Bridgwater (Somerset) near to the M5 motorway.

Tata’s chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran is due to fly to London within days where he will meet the UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. Although the

No time to relax

THE days of fiscal relaxation are numbered.

The European Commission (EC) announced that it will no longer turn a blind eye to countries that exceed their debt limit stipulated by EU regulations­

In recommendations to members states issued by Brussels on Thursday May 25 Spain ­ along with 13 other EU countries ­ will be placed under fiscal

surveillance in spring 2024 owing to its excessive debt.

According to Brussels’ forecasts, Spain’s debt will rise to €50 billion, 4.1 per cent of its gross domestic product (PIB) by the end of this year, although the Spanish government places it at 3.9 per cent.

Whichever figure is accepted, this is still above the EU’s 3 per cent threshold.

deal has yet to be signed, proceedings have progressed from negotiations to drafts and outlining how the project is to be presented, sources close to the initiative have said.

The plant will be the most significant investment in UK car manufacturing since Nissan came to Britain in the 1980s, industry insiders said, and will create up to 9,000 new jobs.

Money was not mentioned, and while the government has not confirmed subsidies of around £500 million (€576.8 million), “hundreds of millions of pounds” will be involved, the BBC said.

Tata has important UK steel interests which include its Port Talbot plant in South Wales and the government will offer approximately £300 million (€346.1 million) to subsidise, upgrade, and decarbonise operations there.

The two investments will not be announced simultaneously but are linked, government sources confirmed.

VAT gaffe

BURBERRY’S chief executive Jonathan Akeroyd said the UK was at a “competitive disadvantage for global shoppers” after scrapping the VAT tax break for tourists. Sales to foreign visitors rose by 19 per cent in London during the first quarter of 2023, but increased by 300 per cent in Paris and 43 per cent in Milan, Akeroyd pointed out.

Going down

THE UK government’s holding in NatWest now stands at below 40 per cent after selling £1.26 billion (€1.45 million) of its stake. The government has set itself a 2026 target for reprivatising the bank, 18 years after the taxpayer paid £46 billion (€53 billion) to save NatWest Group, then known as Royal Bank of Scotland Group, from collapse.

BRIDGWATER: Practically confirmed as site of Tata’s new electric car battery factory

Photo credit: visitbridgwater.co.uk

Euro EUR/GBP: Down from £0.88 to £0.87

EUR/USD: Down from $1.10 to $1.07

The euro weakened at the end of April after Eurozone GDP missed forecasts, before the start of May brought more headwinds for the single currency as markets responded to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) interest rate decision. The ECB slowed its pace of policy tightening and did not commit to further rate hikes, triggering an EUR selloff.

Hawkish comments from ECB officials cushioned the euro’s losses. ECB President Christine Lagarde insisted that ‘we’re not pausing’, while other rate setters advocated more tightening.

However, consistently weak German data raised fresh concerns about a recession in the Eurozone’s largest economy, keeping pressure on the common currency.

A strengthening US dollar also

BUSINESS EXTRA

Crashing down

VIRGIN ORBIT, billionaire Richard Branson’s satellite launch company, is shutting down and selling off assets worth $36 million ( €33.1 million ) Branson had little luck with the venture, which included the failed orbital mission in the UK that received funding of more than $20 million ( €18.5 million ) from British taxpayers.

US project

COSENTINO, the marble multinational based in Almeria, will build a production plant in the US. The company announced that it has signed an agreement with city hall in Jacksonville ( Florida ) to acquire land for the future factory which will require a total investment of approximately $270 million ( €250 million).

CURRENCY OUTLOOK: EURO WEAKENS AS MARKETS REIN IN RATE HIKE EXPECTATIONS, US DOLLAR REBOUNDS ON FRESH FED BETS

weighed on the euro due to EUR’s negative correlation with USD, although ongoing hawkish ECB rhetoric saved the single currency from steeper losses.

The ECB’s June policy decision is in the spotlight for EUR investors over the coming month. A 25bps hike is expected. But could a dovish outlook see the euro fall further?

Pound

GBP/EUR: Up from €1.13 to €1.14

GBP/USD: Down from $1.24 to $1.23

Sterling found success through late April and early May, despite a scarcity of impactful UK economic data. Market bets on another Bank of England (BoE) interest rate rise boosted the pound.

An upward revision to the UK’s final services PMI then lent GBP further support. Activity in the UK’s vital services sector hit a one-year high in April.

However, the middle of the month brought headwinds. Following the BoE interest rate decision, the

bank’s Governor Andrew Bailey said inflation is set to fall sharply from April, which saw markets pare back expectations for further tightening.

Mixed GDP data then saw Sterling waver. The UK economy expanded by 0.1% in the first quarter of this year, but unexpectedly contracted by 0.3% in March.

The pound still rose against its weaker peers, despite a shock rise in UK unemployment, as concerns about second-round inflation effects kept BoE bets alive and GBP afloat.

The BoE will meet towards the end of June to set interest rates. If persistently high core inflation prompts the bank to raise rates again, Sterling could soar.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Unchanged at £0.80

USD/EUR: Up from €0.91 to €0.92

A pullback in Federal Reserve rate rise bets put the US dollar on the backfoot through the end of April.

Fresh turmoil in the US banking sector saw markets revise their expectations for further policy tightening,

Inflation-food seesaw

Linda Hall

UK inflation fell last month although the reduction was less than hoped for.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that annual inflation as measured by the consumer prices index (CPI) dropped to 8.7 per cent in April, following March’s 10.1 per cent cutback. The rate peaked at 11.1 per cent last October.

Electricity and gas prices contributed approximately 1.4 percentage points to the fall according to the ONS.

This was partly counterbalanced by food prices which continued to rise at their fastest annual rate since 1977, with the increased cost of the weekly shop shooting up by 19 per cent in the year ending in April owing to soaring food and non-alcoholic drink prices.

Economists had predicted a larger drop to 8.2 per cent, while the Bank of England said earlier this month it had expected inflation to fall to 8.4 per cent in April.

These latest ONS statistics were announced as analysts warned that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s target of halving

the rate of inflation this year would be closer run than was originally envisaged.

The ONS announcement prompted financial markets to

forecast it was practically a given the Bank of England would increase the base interest rate by a quarter-point from4.5 per cent when they next meet in June.

while weaker-than-forecast GDP added to the downside.

USD faced further losses through the first week of May. Although the Fed raised rates by 25bps, it signalled a potential pause in its hiking cycle.

A souring market mood helped the safe-haven ‘greenback’ recover as the month went on, despite some disappointing US economic data.

Hawkish comments from Federal Reserve policymakers also helped USD continue to claw back its earlier losses.

Looking forward, the Fed’s rate decision in mid-June is the key event. If the bank leaves rates unchanged, USD could slump. Before then, investors will use the latest inflation and jobs data releases to gauge how the Fed might act.

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

Ace year for Acerinox

THE Acerinox Group’s 2022 results were the best since its creation in 1970, announced chief executive Bernardo Velázquez. The Spanish stainless steel group’s €8.69 billion turnover was 30 per cent up on 2021 thanks to good demand, although net profits of €556 were 3 per cent down, owing to €204 million losses by Bahru Stainless in Malaysia.

Acerinox had an EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) of €1.27 billion, Velázquez announced, despite the instability caused by the geopolitical situation with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The company also had to contend with inflation - especially energy prices in Spain - supply chain problems and the collapse of nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange in March, he added.

Following an unsuccessful merger attempt with the Mittal family’s Aperam last year, the company continues to look for opportunities to continue growing especially in the US.

Damm good A toxic situation

BREWERY group Damm foresees a record turnover this year. Announcing sales of €1.87 billion for 2022 at the recent shareholders’ meeting, executive chairman Demetrio Carceller Arce revealed that the Barcelona-based company expected an even better 2023 despite inflation and its consequences for consumers and monetary policies.

Damm’s €101 million net profit last year was 10 per cent down on 2021 and the lowest since 2016, although Carceller pointed out that the company had increased its market share.

ROYAL MAIL’S woes do not abate. A vote by employees on a deal intended to end a rancorous dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions while securing the future for all involved was suspended owing to differences between the postal service and the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

The environment in which it was endeavouring to deliver the agreement remained ‘toxic’, the CWU said on May 24.

As a result, it suspended the timetable for a member vote until it is satisfied that what it described as “attacks” on members in the workplace had come to an end.

Royal Mail had agreed a new deal with the union in April following months of tense negotiations and a series of strikes which it blamed for losses of £1 billion (€1.15 million) and the departure of its chief executive Simon Thompson in mid-May.

FOOD INFLATION: Families still spending more on food.

Photo credit: Pexels/Julia M Cameron

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

WITH their, plastic bottles, food cartons and litter left laying everywhere in their wake, plus causing the output of untold thousands of vehicle exhausts as they idled in traffic jams, badly mislead young ‘climate changers’ are leaving a carbon footprint that will probably not be ‘offset’ until they reach their coming of age.

This present generation has to be the most spoiled, self­centered, misinformed bunch of easily led youngsters the civilised world has ever produced. They have air­conditioning in the classrooms, mobile phones and gismos, they ride in cars to school, they suck up junk food like hoovers and insist on the latest trendy outfits at all times.

All of these luxury products, which they seem to think are their God given right, are manufactured or supplied by ginormous companies that pour billions of tons of carbon dioxide emission into the Earth’s atmosphere. These children’s selfish attitudes and life styles cause far more damage to our environment than the previous generations they are so

No respect

keen to accuse. Those preceding them were mobile and ‘designer’ free and took bicycles or walked to their destinations. Most had never experienced jet travel or air conditioning and opened windows when it was hot, instead of closing them.

They received new shoes or clothes only when the previous attire needed replacing, ate home ­ made sandwiches instead of Whoppers and read books. However, in these modern day youngsters’ defence, most have of course been brainwashed and mislead by the ‘usual suspects’!

Many of the culprits are those who laughingly profess to be ‘schoolteachers’. Stringy haired trendies, who actually started the rot when the first long haired leftie ‘free thinker’ plonked his behind on his desk and told the class to call him Jon! The same leftie brigade who welcome drag acts into the classrooms to ‘enlighten’ four­year­olds, abolish winning and losing and teach tiny tots to ‘touch’ and ‘feel’ themselves. Well this is the result.

WATER WOES OUR VIEW

A whole generation of young children who not only have no respect for their elders, but truly do believe they are actually superior. Unfortunately, ever increasing numbers of them would rather walk into the class with a knife than a ruler. What I did find interesting this week however was the reaction to something I shared on FB. I literally received hundreds of ‘likes’ to the following notice, publicly displayed on a notice board by a youngster of around seven or eight. It read. ‘I’m not old enough to drink, let alone choose my sexuality or gender. How about you let me enjoy being a child and leave me alone?’ Sounds good to me; perhaps there is still some semblance of true stability in their young lives yet?

You listening out there? All you woke infested imbeciles that should actually be locked up ­ and would be if I had any say in the matter. Keep the faith. Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon and Fri. 1pm till 4.

AFTER the devastating rainfall which hit Almeria as well as parts of Costa Blanca and Murcia last week it seems that the weather simply isn’t being favourable to Spain at the moment. Certainly, there have been repeated fears of drought conditions across parts of the country which is threatening the livelihood of a very large number of farmers, yet torrential rains are also likely to devastate crops.

There is internal wrangling, some of it clearly political, about the allegedly illegal incursions on protected areas of wetlands where farmers are being allowed to drain water and to some extent, we must recognise commerce may on occasion be stronger than conservation.

The governments of Spain and Portugal are now jointly approaching Brussels asking for the adoption of measures to alleviate the effects of the drought on European agriculture and this of course means that they want more money and to be able to give more money to the agriculture section. Water however doesn’t grow on trees although it does help trees to grow and neither does money, although with €2.2 billion already allocated by the Spanish Government to drought relief it might appear that it does. If aquifers are being raided and there isn’t enough rain, it seems that one option is to build more desalination plants in order to provide water, hopefully potable, but if not, at least suitable for agricultural purposes. Another option is to ensure that sewage plants, many of which simply seem to exist to cause nasty smells around their vicinity are updated so that they can supply more water for agriculture and the ever thirsty golf courses that so many people enjoy.

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

THE dramatic departure of ‘smiley’ sofa host Philip Schofield from ‘This Morning’ coincided with that of the equally ‘smiley’ couple whose renovations of a derelict property in northwest France provided the basis for the reality TV show ‘Escape to the Chateau’.

Basically, unreality television! And there’s so much of it: the oh­so­cosy repair workshops and get­rich­quick property and antique shows. That’s why I can’t watch any breakfast news programmes or morning chat shows with co­presenters. It’s all too sickly and unreal with their false smiles and scripted banter. ‘The One Show’ is another example. It’s just too nice and they all sit too close together... ugh!

So many sofa hosts ooze professional fake charm. That’s showbiz. Just like politicians of all parties do all the time, being friendly, pleasant, seeking your blessing. As politicians they’re after your vote; as TV celebrities, your rating. They’re all about performance, the dark art of deception. Mutually ­ desired outcome: career ­ advancement. Sofa­type breakfast shows and political appeals to camera are exactly alike.

This Holly and Phil saga demonstrates why we shouldn’t idolise celebrities, and I really hope it is symptomatic of a sea change in how people view entertainers, especially of the light entertainment kind.

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

SOFAGATE

even relatively benign non­entities like Holly and Phil are indicative of a similar sort of thing.

These people are not your mates. You don’t know them or have any personal link with them. They’re just individuals who are photogenic, charismatic and ambitious enough to provide linking chatter between musical acts or to present breakfast shows. You don’t know them any more than you know the nice estate agent attempting to flog you a flat by complimenting your getup, hairstyle and keen eye for property. Believe it or not, he might just be attempting to flog you a flat.

As for me, I always had my doubts about Hughie, ‘Sincerely folks’ Green, the presenter of ‘Opportunity Knocks’. Thankfully, however, the real monsters have been unmasked. For years, Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris, Stuart Hall and pop star Gary Glitter were adored by fans ­ but the horrifying truth of how they abused vulnerable fans and junior employees finally emerged. These men ­ national treasures unmasked as national disgraces ­ were serial abusers, getting away with impunity for years and years.

The most serious, toxic examples we’ve seen? The Saviles, Harrises, Glitters etc. But

Vetting procedures

I’ve noticed that he/she has weepy eyes… ..veo que tiene los ojos llorones

Years ago, a pal of mine ­ a media PRworked with a male presenter who was adored by women of a certain age for his massively popular morning show and who came across as warm, cuddly, caring and empathetic. Behind the scenes, though, he was really unpleasant, particularly to junior staff, and mean ­ ‘thank you’ was rarely said ­ and he had a vast sense of entitlement. Fundamentally, he was an actor ­ he could switch on the charm and charisma at will, particularly when on air or in the limelight.

And we’re still reminded of the contradictory personas TV celebrities so often project with the recent death of the disgraced children’s entertainer, artist and convicted paedophile, Rolf Harris...

As usual, Shakespeare put it better and more succinctly: “One may smile, and smile, and be a villain” ­ ‘Hamlet’.

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

Talking canned wine

LOUIE ON WINE

VISITING a Costas vet is unlikely to be hindered by non­communication.

Practically all of them understand and can make themselves understood in English because foreign residents make up a large part of their clientele.

Even so, you will share a waiting room with Spanish clients with a wailing cat carrier on their knee or an unhappy dog shuddering at their feet.

A cat (gato) was formerly tolerated as a mouser while a dog earned its keep as a hunter (perro de caza) or a herder (perro pastor).

Anything else was dismissed un perro faldero or a lapdog, scornfully used in both languages for a subservient person who idolises, or is controlled by, somebody else.

Instead, cats and dogs have now earned the affectionate label of animales de compañía or the twee­sounding mascota which sounds less twee to a Spanish­speaker.

Meanwhile, back at the vet’s….. la consulta del veterinario/de la veterinaria:

He/she is off­colour…..no está bien

He/she is off his/her food…..no come bien

I think he/she has a temperature… ..creo que tiene fiebre

He/she has a runny nose…..está moqueando

He/she is scratching his/her ears…..se rasca mucho las orejas

Depending on your speech patterns: I want to sterilise/spay/neuter/doctor my dog/cat…..quiero esterilizar/castrar mi perro/mi gato

I would like to microchip my dog/cat… ..quiero poner un microchip a mi perro/mi gato

I want to vaccinate my dog/cat…..quiero vacunar a mi perro/gato

I want to get rid of fleas /ticks …..quiero un producto para eliminar piojos/garrapatas

There will be things you might not want to hear:

He/she has distemper/mange/fleas/ worms…..tiene moquillo/sarna/ piojos/lombrices or parásitos internos/ We need to operate…..hay que operar

And something you might have to accept:

We need to put your dog/cat to sleep… ..hay que sacrificar, dormir, practicar la eutanasia a tu perro/gato

Having ended on an unhappy note, bear in mind that miseria in Spanish means poverty, not misery, although both conditions are pretty miserable, whichever way you look at them.

THE world of wine can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be! I’m Louie and I’ve made it my mission to explore wine and all its jargon, and report back to you in a way that makes sense.

I run a digital agency, Corking.Digi tal, that helps wineries with their so cial media presence, and during that time I’ve tasted my fair share of wine … and food to go with it. If you like what I write, you can head to @Cork ing.Wine on Instagram, where I snap photos of things I eat and drink ­ it’s not as boring as it sounds, I promise.

This week we are talking canned wine ­ the portable and sustainable little sister to the glass bottle. Al though not necessarily the cheapest option, canned wines are becoming a popular staple amongst those picnic hampers and beach bags. In fact, I’m finding that the quality of canned wines often surpasses many of their glass bottled brethren.

Quick tip: look for canned whites with Macabeu or Verdejo grapes, and

rosés from Garnacha.

Head to www.euroweeklynews.com to find my full article with recommendations, including my favourite ­ Can Vi.

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

NORA’S LATEST THRILLER.

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

Article by Louie Rodrigues

Cheers.

ALOUD

ALTHOUGH cats are self­sufficient they are regarded as selfish and lacking in loyalty to their owners. This is probably because their pampering is restricted to being stroked and the occasional dish of milk or fish.

There are several reasons why I like cats. First, they don’t bark. When two cats meets another, they don’t cause a disturbance in the neighbourhood by howling greetings at each other. When you walk past a house or a garden with a cat in it, your senses are not assaulted by an aggressive chorus of barking. And on ringing somebody’s doorbell you are unlikely to be greeted by a menacing yowling sound. A cat is quiet unless involved in a short­term squabble over territory ­ or if its tail is trodden upon.

Second, they are dignified animals. When one cat meets another, it doesn’t sniff the other’s private parts. When the door of a cat­owner is opened, the animal

WHY I LIKE CATS

In a similar way, I like people who don’t cackle loudly when they are drunk, interviewers who don’t interrupt their guests and footballers who don’t wrestle and pull shirts. I like the simple things that we should take for granted, like plenty of legroom in aircraft, fastmoving arrival checks at airports and guaranteed seating on trains.

does not leap at your midriff, sniffing, snorting, slobbering, snarling and pawing at your legs. It remains asleep in a chair.

Third, cats are discreet about crapping ­ normally burying it, where circumstances allow. They don’t crap all over the streets, parks and beaches and are not allowed in bars and restaurants. They also take great pains to keep themselves clean and therefore

they don’t stink.

Fourth, cats are independent. They find their own form of exercise and don’t require daily walks in the rain, the snow or blazing heat. They don’t require a licence of ownership or a tag, and a driver who hits a cat on the road and kills it is not required to report the fact.

Fifth, and most important, cats never kill babies or children. Obviously, big cats are another matter,

but we are concerned with the domesticated species. There is therefore no danger in the free movement of cats among us. Unless you are a mouse, a small rat or the occasional bird.

In fact, most of these attributes apply to cows, pigs, and pelicans. In very different ways, horses and pigeons fail on the street­crapping issue but are generally as harmless as cats. And they don’t bark.

And the civilised things in life like welcoming service in restaurants and bars, a gesture of thanks when opening a door for somebody, and letting a driver through from a side road.

There are a lot of good things around us, but in the end it is all relative and certainly subjective.

For more from our columnists please scan this

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

Vote early, vote often

LINDA HALL

IT must have been just as summer began in 1976.

My husband was working away and because school had finished, our daughter and I went with him.

We were watching the news after lunch in the hotel where we were staying when suddenly it all became much less boring when a very handsome man appeared on the screen.

He was wearing the white summer uniform of the Movimiento, the only thing approaching a political organisation that was still permitted seven months after Franco’s death.

“Who’s that?” I asked my husband.

“Adolfo Suárez, the Movimiento minister,” he said, with a distaste which intensified after I remarked that he was exceptionally good­looking.

When Suárez was named president of the Spanish government days later, my husband like many others, thought little would change.

He was wrong. In November that same year, the Cortes ­ not yet the parliament we know now ­ announced

Some people have bad luck

the December 15 referendum on political reform that opened the door to the Transition.

On the very few occasions when the Spanish had voted in past referendums, they voted the way they felt they were supposed to, so 97.36 per cent said Yes this time too.

Nobody needed to buy votes that day although it was obvious that not everybody had quite got the hang of voting.

Chatting that afternoon in the small Benidorm supermarket near our apartment, the owner mentioned that he and his wife had made an early start to go up to Callosa to vote. In those days practically all the supermarkets ­ and stalls in the municipal market ­ were owned by Callosines, so it made sense that they’d have gone there to vote.

“Then of course we had to get back here in time to vote again,” he told me. “It’s important to vote, you know, especially if you want a favour from the town hall.”

Neither Callosa nor Benidorm were Chicago, but it definitely gave a Spanish accent to the exhortation, ‘Vote early and vote often’.

FOR over a century the British Benevolent Fund has been providing emergency financial assistance for Britons in Spain who have no other recourse.

The BBF is the charity of last resort and works with partners across Spain as well as the UK consular network to find solutions for people facing some very challenging situations. Some people also just have very bad luck.

Lucy is a young English woman who came to Spain to work as a TEFL teacher in an academy. She was working in a secure environment with a decent pay cheque at the end of the month. She soon found a partner with whom she moved in with. They were in love and very quickly had made plans for bigger things. Life was good. But too good to be true. In quick succession her world unravelled.

She arrived home one day to discover the police insideas well as the landlord ­ who had not only not been paid was not even aware that his property was being occupied.

Horrified and confused she tried to call him, but he didn’t pick up or reply.

She was given 20 minutes to collect her things and go. The police took her details in case she had some involvement. And the horror took on a new form, when she went to get some money out of their joint account to find it empty ­ all her savings and earnings had gone into it.

She was numb. Just as things couldn’t get worse, she went to her boss to see if the academy could give her an advance on her wages. They couldn’t and in fact told her that they couldn’t keep her on after the month was up.

It took a while for the numbness to wear off ­ when it did she decided to fight back. She went to the police

to report her erstwhile boyfriend then went looking for work.

In the meantime she survived off the generosity of friends and support from a local charity who were the ones who put her in touch with the BBF. Once she had secured work and it was clear she was able to salvage the situation we were able to provide a grant to help her with her accommodation and a sum to live off until her job started. Which it has ­ and Lucy ­ a lot wiser and a bit older ­ is back. We can only help people like Lucy with your help. If you would look to support people in terrible situations with a donation please visit www.britishbenevolent fund.org . Thank you, Olaf Clayton, Chair BBF.

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

Cats and pigs have two things in common. They don´t bark and they don´t crap in the street.

Problem solved LETTERS

Hi all, I would like to thank you and your readers for your help re my travel insurance.

I contacted the people you suggested and I now have insurance.

The people in their office were very helpful, and the price was reasonable.

Once again I thank you all, I can now enjoy my holiday.

Regards Gwendoline Ottley

Thank you

Thank you for what you are writing.

I’m a Dutch guy currently residing in Spain. Reading your article on Propaganda in the Euro Weekly. It is a relief to find you and read what you are saying.

So, just saying: THANKS!! Stay strong.

Dear Leapy

With Love, Louis

I am an avid reader of your column every week but am surprised you have not mentioned the dangerous antics of the, fast becoming more popular, scooters on the roads, or pavements! Risking life and limb to themselves and other road users. However, there seems to be no action taken by the police! Would love to read your comments in one of your weekly comments.

Best regards, DMP, Albatera

Dear Editor

A simple question for Remainers

Do you want to be ruled by the unelected EU or our own elected Parliament?

I know Leapy’s answer!

Spain joined the EU and have prospered with approximately €800 billion in loans. Greece borrowed approx €2 trillion.

I wish I could get a big money interest free loan that never needs to be paid back or does it?

Brian Johnston ­ Benalmadena

Well done

To Lee Graham

Fantastic, keep up the good work.

Regards

Are you watching?

will send an email, but I thought you probably get too many emails in your busy life. However, having just now read your article in EWN I thought I would email anyway. I am not racist and all the people in the programme were very nice. It’s just a matter of fair representation of course and it is annoying.

Best Wishes, Graham PS I remember you on the telly with Little Arrows

Hooked

In my nearly 40 years of residence here I have never had much interest in the English language media but I am becoming hooked on your comedy page featuring Lee. I use the surname as he refers to a knight of the realm as Starmer. His ultra right wing, and often racist, rantings are hilarious in their eccentricity, but as one of the few expat socialists on the coast I know that he is preaching to the converted.

Philip Flaxman Mijas Costa

Closer ties

The UK left the EU because the government didn’t want to accommodate the ‘humanising’ rules imposed by the EU and wasn’t prepared to relinquish any sovereignty. The vote was really close. The UK has to undertake a new referendum to see what the outcome might be. It could be a lot different. Also, wanting to re­apply will require that the UK follows the requirements of the EU, will less protest.

Dik Coates

Stormy forecast

Biblical storms and hailstones have battered the area here hard with the aftermath of cleaning up yet to start, let’s hope every drop of water is not wasted, and will give us a head start in the coming months. Mark

Deportation

Shirley Hunt

I was watching CH5 Rich House Poor House recently where they swap houses for a week. The Poor House ­ Single mum was black and the Rich House featured two gay men. This programme often includes minorities. I thought at the time, I wonder if Leapy is watching this. Perhaps I

This article sheds light on the heartbreaking situation faced by the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light at the TurkishBulgarian border.

It’s truly disheartening to see how they are being denied entry, facing violence, and the threat of deportation. Their religious beliefs should not be a reason for persecution. We must stand together to protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their faith.

K Jula

PETS

How to find a cat-sitter

FINDING suitable cat­sitters for when you go on holiday can be a challenge. You want your cats to be cared for where they are comfortable, their routines maintained. It means that when you get home after your absence, your pets are relaxed and happy to see you, just like you’ve both had a lovely holiday.

Finding a cat­sitter through Housesitmatch means you have someone to care for your pets at home that doesn’t cost you any more than the annual membership fee!

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

Doggy day-care

DOGGY day­care or pet play schools are becoming more popular around the world. Pet parents are opting to pay approximately €350, in Spain, to leave their pets at daycare rather than leave them home alone.

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.

Need a pet or house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20% discount using coupon code 20EWN - Reader exclusive offer.

To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.

OVER two­thirds of dog owners seek solace from their pets over anything else.

Research from The Kennel Club reveals that dog owners are turning to their four­legged friends first and foremost, to help with feelings of stress and sadness.

Following a turbulent few years, the research shows dogs have provided a vital source of

Furry friends

comfort to their owners, with more than two­thirds (69 per cent) claiming that stroking or cuddling a dog would be their first port of call when feeling stressed or down.

Not only that, three in five

(59 per cent) suggest they find more comfort in their dog than humans, while 67 per cent say their dog is their ‘best friend’. Nearly half (48 per cent) of owners aged over 55 agree that their dog makes them less stressed, while more than a third (37 per cent) of owners aged between 16­24 admit that their dog makes them feel less anxious.

“This research really shows how the relationships we have with our pets are amongst the most important when it comes to our mental health,” said Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club.

These centres say they offer a solution to loneliness which can sometimes cause behavioural problems and help dogs socialise with other dogs. Some of these centres provide an individualised training programme for your dog. Your furry friend will be fed and walked all while you are at work. They promise that when you pick up your dog you will find them relaxed and happy.

The day­care centres have a sleeping area and playrooms where the dogs are usually separated into groups selected by size, temperament, and age.

In Spain, people are adopting or purchasing more and more dogs with an increase of 38 per cent in the last three years. According to experts, there is a ‘greater sensitivity’ to their needs saying ‘People who have dogs focus a lot on giving them everything they need.’ With this combination, it is clear to see why these services are on the rise.

Doggy day care owners said they noticed that after the pandemic more people chose

These services are on the rise.

to leave their dogs with them. Dogs suffered from separation anxiety in the wake of the pandemic and this prompted pet parents to seek solutions to reduce their pet’s stress.

Better with pets

PURINA the pet nutrition company announced the winners of their Better With Pets Prize 2023. The objective of these awards is to fund impactful organisations that are ‘striving to change society in a positive way through the power of the pet­human bond.’

Two UK charities and one Spanish charity were chosen as the winners from more than 110 organisations across Europe.

The first prize went to Pets As Therapy, a national charity that enhances the health and well ­ being of thousands of people across

the UK by providing therapeutic pet visits to establishments such as care homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, and prisons. Pets As Therapy was awarded a two­year grant of €50,000 per annum.

The second prize went to the Spanish organisation Center de Teràpies Assistides amb Cans(CTAC).

CTAC is a charity that provides dog ­ assisted therapies and activities at care

homes, schools, prisons, and residences for people with disabilities and hospitals. They were awarded a two­year grant of €30,000 per annum.

And the third prize went to Street Vet, a team of professional vets and veterinary nurses that provide essential care to over 2,000 people and their pets across the UK. They were awarded a two­year grant of €20,000.

WINNERS: Three charities were awarded grants.

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SsangYong Rexton - luxury as standard

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack

IT may be an unfamiliar name but SsangYong has been producing vehicles since 1954. The company currently has a three model line­up ­ the Tivoli, Korando and Rextonplus the Musso pick ­ up range.

It’s the large Rexton SUV that’s the focus of our road test this time. There are three versions, the Ventura, Ultimate and Ultimate Plus, with the lead­in version priced from €44,698/£38,745. All use a four ­ cylinder 2.2litre diesel power unit mated to an eight ­ speed automatic gearbox and selectable four ­ wheeldrive with low ratio.

The standard equipment list is very generous even on the lower specification model. Across the range you get a heated

steering wheel, powered front seats, third row seating, front and rear heated seats and the front are also ventilated, cruise control, auto dimming rear view mirror, auto lights and wipers, LED lights front and rear, powered, heated and folding door mirrors, keyless entry and start, front and parking sensors plus camera, dual zone climate control even for the rearmost seating, navigation and of course Bluetooth

Facts at a Glance

with Car Play and Android Auto connectivity. Phew!

To say the Rexton is large is somewhat of an understatement. With seven seats it’s not only a genuine family holdall but a capable off roader too.

Fold down both rear rows of seats and you have the carrying capacity of a small van, albeit a

very luxuriously appointed one.

On the road the Rexton’s slightly old­tech 2.2­

litre diesel isn’t the most refined unit, particularly under hard acceleration, but nonetheless has a de­

signed for pinpoint handling and twisting roads do highlight some body roll if you’re too exuberant.

The build quality is excellent and it has a premium feel throughout with sensible controls and buttons as opposed to the increasing trend of over digitalisation. Styling is very subjective and it’s fair to say the Rexton is distinctive, that overly large grille certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste.

• Model: SsangYong Rexton Ventura

• Price: €44,698/£38,745

• Engine: 2.2-litre turbo diesel

• Gears: 8-speed automatic with selectable all-wheel-drive and low ratio

• Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) 10.7 seconds/Maximum Speed 183 kph (114 mph)

• Economy: 8.59l /100km (32.9 mpg) WLTP Combined

• Emissions: 225 g/km WLTP Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

punch and returns decent fuel economy.

If you found the roughest road surface possible I really don’t think it would upset the Rexton’s interior comfort, such is the suppleness of the ride. No vehicle of this size is de ­

At its price the Rexton is tremendous value, but residuals will not be to the level of more established badges. Having already driven the excellent Korando, SsangYong’s smaller SUV, the Rexton is a similarly impressive story. Even bearing in mind the residuals, don’t let the relatively unknown badge put you off investigating the range more thoroughly.

Catherine McGeer

THE electric car firm Lunaz which is backed by David Beckham is a UK­based car restoration and electrification firm. The company’s profile is growing more and more as they upcycle and electrify stunning classic cars ‘to further the legacies of the most beautiful cars in the world.’

They have remastered some iconic cars like the Aston Martin DB6, Bentley, Jaguar, Range Rover, and even a RollsRoyce. Lunaz works with some

Anna Ellis

of the rarest luxury cars on the planet like the 1961 Bentley S2 Continental and they believe that it is their mission to breathe new life into the most significant cars ever created.

The company was founded in 2018 and has its headquarters in Silverstone, England.

David Beckham who purchased a 10 per cent stake in the company said “I was drawn to the company through their work restoring some of the most beautiful classic cars through upcycling

DODGE’S ‘Last Call’ tribute to the Charger and Challenger HEMI models, which as of 2024 will no longer be produced in their current version in line with the brand’s electrification path, is also continuing in Europe.

Electric classics Last Call

To celebrate these historic lines, in their last months of existence, the American brand has decided to launch a revised version of seven iconic models in order to give enthusiasts a unique opportunity to purchase an absolutely exclusive product.

Five of them will also be marketed in Europe. The second model in the limited­edition series

Not on target

and electrification.”

The attention to detail can be seen on their website where they take you through each stage of the restoration process. It is clear to see this company’s dedication to classic cars and to a more sustainable world as they have partnered with Biffa, the UK’s leading sustainable waste management company.

They plan to upcycle diesel refuse lorries rather than scrap them to create a zero­emissions fleet.

to land in Europe is the Dodge Challenger Black Ghost: it follows the footsteps of the Dodge Challenger Shakedown, which was launched on the European market in March 2023.

“There are so many legendary muscle cars in Dodge brand history, it was hard to choose the seven vehicles we wanted to pay homage to,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer.

ELECTRIC CHARGING: Less than a quarter of motorway services have enough chargers.

THE UK Government looks unlikely to meet its target of having six or more rapid or ultra ­ rapid electric vehicle chargers at every motorway service area in England by the end of 2023, new research conducted by the RAC reveals. Less than a quarter (23 per cent ­ 27) of 119 motorway services reviewed by the RAC on Zapmap currently have the target number of chargers to serve the UK’s estimated 760,000 battery electric vehicles.

The RAC’s research found there are around 400 high­powered charging units situated at motorway services capable of charging 682 electric cars at one time.

This means there is currently an average of just over three (3.4) rapid or ultrarapid chargers at motorway services.

RAC EV spokesperson Simon Williams said: “Installing these types of units is not straightforward as connecting to the electricity grid is expensive and timeconsuming, but clearly more needs to be done to make this process simpler than it is currently.

“While we understand the government is taking steps to expedite matters, the importance of ensuring sufficient high ­ powered charging is readily available up and down our motorway network can’t be emphasised enough.”

Image: Southworks / Shutterstock.com

REXTON SUV: Don’t let the relatively unknown badge put you off investigating the range more thoroughly.

New Chelsea manager

MAURICIO POCHETTINO has finally signed as the new head coach of Premier League side Chelsea.

The Argentine put pen to paper at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, May 28. He will replace interim manager Frank Lampard on a deal that ties him to the club until June 2026. His appointment was confirmed on Twitter by the respected sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, who wrote: ‘Mauricio Pochettino has finally signed the contract as new Chelsea head coach after verbal agreement reached two weeks ago’.

‘#CFC Official statement ready, he’s starting his job as Chelsea manager next week. Contract will be valid until June 2026. Here we go confirmed’, he continued.

The 51 ­ year ­ old was expected to be announced as Chelsea’s new boss after a lengthy period where the club interviewed several potential candidates after sacking Graham Potter. An official statement from Chelsea FC was expected to be released confirming the news.

Pochettino will be fully aware of the task he faces with the Blues currently enjoying one of their worst seasons in a long time, languishing in mid­table.

Todd Boehly splashed an incredible amount of cash on new players before the start of this season but they were unable to inspire the team to success. It is rumoured that many of those same new recruits now face be ing moved on to fresh pastures, along with a number of the origi nal squad.

Rice could join Bayern Munich

A GIANT spanner was thrown in the works on Monday, May 29, when it was revealed that Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel allegedly called Declan Rice.

According to the reputed football journalist Florian Plettenberg, the West Ham and England star had a ‘good talk’ with the former Chelsea manager who is now in charge of the Bundesliga champions.

In a tweet, he wrote: ‘News #Rice: There was a phone call with #Tuchel a few days ago! Been told it was a good talk. Both appreciate each other. Rice is open to join Bayern & Tuchel. FCB wants to in tensify their efforts now. He’s still a transfer target. But: Time is run ning as he could sign for Arsenal. @SkySportDE’.

That news will not have been music to the ears of Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag, both of whom are known to be chasing the signature of the

old midfielder and West

Although his team struggled in the Premier League, eventually avoiding relegation, he has led the Hammers to a Europa Conference League final with Serie A side Fiorentina. Winning West Ham’s first major trophy since 1980 would be a rather fitting way to say goodbye to London at

Tuchel has also been the subject of rumours regarding his future in Germany since the club won the title. As reported by a news source, just after Bayern were proclaimed champions, CEO Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic were both fired.

Rice is open to joining Bayern Munich.

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Mauricio Pochettino.

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