Costa Blanca Nort 15 – 21 June 2023 Issue 1980

TOP FOR TRAVEL RECOVERY

BENIDORM is officially the second best tourist destination in the world to recover from the Covid pandemic.

A report entitled Post­Pandemic Travel: Unlocking the Secrets to Review Recovery published by YouTrust places Benidorm’s recovery strategy as the second most effective after Paris of the 81 most popular international tourism destinations analysed, where only 10 were classed as effective.

YouTrust compiles 90 per cent of the world’s tourism reviews on a daily basis and sources data from global review sites and opinion databases of 92 per cent of the world’s hotels.

The 10 destinations showing a ‘notable recovery in the volume of opinions’ are Paris, Benidorm, Marseille (France), Maldives, Lille (France), Paphos (Cyprus), Bern (Switzerland), Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Amiens (France)

and Valletta (Malta).

Regarding Benidorm, the report states that the town “took proactive action to ensure health and safety, thus gaining the confidence of travellers.”

Mayor Toni Pérez explained that up to one month before the national State of Alarm was declared, “we began to analyse the risks and prepare contingency and action plans, as our top priority was to ensure the safety of residents and tourists while preserving the Benidorm brand.”

The mayor also added that Benidorm’s strategy was so

effective and universally applauded thanks to the cooperation between the authorities and the tourism business sector, with national and interna­

tional organisations mentioning the town as an example of success.

Sr Toni Pérez explained that the town’s Covid strategy was

based on “data analysis, active listening, an immediate response focused on physical, health and emotional safety, and the synergy of interests”

of all parties involved.

The mayor added that the pandemic “was a crisis situation that was negative for a high­density destination like Benidorm, but we turned it into a nationally and internationally recognised opportunity.”

The Organisation for Economic Co­operation and Development (OECD) included the Marina Baixa destination as one of four examples of successful management during the pandemic at its meeting in Paris in November 2020 together with Finland, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Image by Benidorm Town Hall

BENIDORM: Town of saints and sinners.

Out of the frying pan

FOUR new cooking oil recycling containers have been installed around Ondara.

They are located at the recycling points in Pamis, Avinguda Marina Alta, the

Prado indoor market and Carrer Constitució.

The installation is part of an ‘information and citizenship’ campaign launched this year by Ondara Town Hall and munic­

ipal cleaning service Sinma entitled ‘Si t’estimes Ondara’ (‘If you love Ondara’) aimed at boosting recycling.

Sinma warns that used cooking oil cannot be disposed of in any other type of recycling container and must never be poured down the sink, as it is highly polluting if not correctly treated and recycled.

One litre of used cooking oil has approximately 5,000 times more contamination potential than the wastewater that circulates through the sewage system and can pollute up to 40,000 litres of clean water ­ the equivalent of one person’s yearly consumption ­ according to the municipal cleaning company.

Recycled oil can be used to make biodiesel, soap and paint, among other materials, reusing up to 97 per cent of the waste product.

Benidorm summer

BENIDORM Council is organising this year’s Summer School for children from July 3 to September 1.

Inscriptions are open until Friday June 16 and once again the town hall is offering grants of up to 50 per cent of the cost for families registered on the local padrón town census.

In addition, the Social Welfare department will pay for assistance and the canteen service for children from families with economic difficulties.

All activities will take place at the CEIP Puig Campana school in Els Tolls neighbourhood and are aimed at children aged three to 14 years old, and will include handcrafts, games, musical activities and day trips.

Happy anniversary!

The regular school hours will be from 9am to 2pm from Monday to Friday, although the council is also offering the possibility of extending these hours to facilitate the conciliation of family and work for families who need it.

The price per student for one month is €150 for members of local parents’ associations and €180 for non­members, with different prices for weekly and fortnightly participation.

For further information and inscriptions visit www.trokolo.com/inscrip cionveranobenidorm.

THE British Sierra Bernia School in Alfaz del Pi celebrated its 50th anniversary last week. To mark the occasion, the centre is preparing a gathering of former students before the end of the year and will also host a Britishthemed summer camp from July. Sierra Bernia School was founded in 1973 by a group of parents in a chalet in La Estrada with an initial 15 students until it was taken over by director Duncan Allan in 1977 and moved to its current location outside the town.

Sierra Bernia currently has 240 students aged three to 18 from many different nationalities including British, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, Ukrainian, Chinese, German and French. Alfaz mayor Vicente Arques, together with Education councillor Loli Albero and the councillor for Residents of Other Nationalities, Martina Mertens, met with Duncan Allan to congratulate him on the anniversary and to wish the school many more years of success.

Summer school ready.

Image by Benidorm Town Hall

Free service

CALPE Town Hall has relaunched its free mediation service for residents aimed at facilitating conflict resolution without having to go to court. It will be run by Dam Abogados at the local Juzgado de Paz via appointments made at cmorato@ajcalp. es or by calling 661 981 646

US students

ALICANTE provincial government has signed an agreement with California University to encourage North American students to visit Costa Blanca. The provincial Tourism department has organised two autumn trips for students from the prestigious university.

Double mayor

FOLLOWING the local elections in Denia on May 28 two political parties will share the mayor’s office for the first time. Incumbent Mayor Vicent Grimalt (PSPV) will govern for the first three years and then pass on the post to Rafa Carrió (Compromis) in 2026 for the last year.

Get swimming

INSCRIPTIONS are now open for the municipal swimming course in Finestrat. Classes take place from July 3 to 21 from Monday to Fridayfrom 12.15pm to 1pm and from 1pm to 1.45pm. The course costs €20 and is open to babies from six months old to teenagers aged 15.

Sewage sorted

BENITACHELL Council has begun work on the sewage system in the old town. The initial goal is to draw up a plan outlining the improvements needed to prevent leaks and to connect all the houses up to the network over the next few years.

Too noisy

DENIA Council has had to lower the volume of the machines used to scare away seagulls from the castle following complaints by residents.

Women support network

THE ‘Purple Tourist Points’ women support network has so far reached 100 destinations throughout the Valencia Region.

These ‘Puntos Violeta Turísticos’ are spaces providing help to victims of gender violence and sexist assault or harassment, as well as raising awareness among visitors and residents.

Villajoyosa was one of the founders of the service and joined the network in May 2001. The ‘Punto Violeta Turístico’ is located at the

Regional Tourism Director General Herick Campos visited the Villajoyosa centre last week accompanied by Mayor Andreu Verdú to celebrate the opening of the 100th office in the Valencian Community and to insist on the importance of making the town and the region safe holiday destinations for women.

So far this year there have been 47 new reports of gender violence in Villajoyosa plus a further 16 cases from previous years being reactivated.

Seabed clean-up House front restoration

ALTEA Town Hall has launched a new series of grants to restore house fronts in the old town and Altea la Vella.

The grants include €500 for painting, €350 for treatment of damp patches, €150 for removing exterior air conditioning units and another €150 for adapting advertising signs to façades.

“Taking care of house fronts is vital for the general appearance of a tourist destination like ours, as our old town is one of our main attractions,” declared local Town Planning councillor Jose Orozco.

Applications can be filed

at the Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana in the ground floor of the town hall or at the municipal administration building in Altea la Vella, or else online through the Seu Electrònica section on the Town Hall website www.altea.es

The deadline for applications is June 26 and work can be carried out until October 31, with the programme open to all homeowners and communities.

A TEAM of volunteer divers cleared 70 kilos of underwater rubbish from Denia port and the Marineta Cassiana beach last week.

The third edition of the ‘Bussejadors pel medi ambient’ (‘Divers for the environment’) was organised by Denia Town Hall in collaboration with the local fisherman’s guild.

The refuse collected will be stored for future environmental awareness campaigns, such as the one carried out last October with the installation of a sculpture made out of scrap metal and the handing out of broom handles made from recycled plastic

Hotels open up

HOTELS in Benidorm are increasingly starting to open up their restaurants and other services to the public as opposed to reserving them for guests.

Managers are diversifying menus to attract visitors and residents, and many have begun designing packages such as one ­ day experiences offering access to swimming pools, spas and other facilities to non­guests.

A growing trend is for hotels to swap their previous large dining rooms for restaurants with their own brand and

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Be safe

TEULADA Moraira Local Police officers last week gave a series of talks and practical examples on road safety to children at the CEIP Sant Vicent Ferrer public school in Teulada. Students were shown the rules of cycling, pedestrian regulations, police instructions and the meaning of traffic signs, among other vital information.

decoration, offering a la carte menus featuring their own creations.

Rooftop cafés and restaurants are rapidly becoming the in ­ thing in Benidorm, while others offer live music and unique experiences for customers.

Valencian hotelier association Hosbec explains that businesses are finding new ways to diversify and increase profit margins while clients are increasingly looking for new and original options.

collected from the seabed.

This year’s edition of the clean ­ up campaign also yielded a surprise discovery, as several archaeological remains were found among the rubbish, including pieces of amphoras and other ceramics that have been handed over to the municipal archaeology department to be dated and identified.

Teulada Moraira mayor and Local Police councillor Raúl Llobell explained that “it is vitally important to restore road safety education among young people, so that from an early age they are familiar with the correct functioning of the rules of the road, as well as becoming familiar with the work of the Local Police so that they know who they can turn to in case of doubt or emergency and thus avoid possible accidents.”

Tourist Info office on Calle Colón and is run by trained staff who are on hand to of­

fer support and information regarding all the services available to victims.

Image by Villajoyosa Town Hall

PROVIDING HELP: Andreu Verdú and Herick Campos at the Punto Violeta Turístico.

Restoring Altea houses.

Image by Altea Town Hall

Diving team volunteers.

Image by Denia Town Hall

JACK STONE, a 28­year­old pottery worker from Stokeon­Trent went to the popular Costa Blanca resort of Benidorm in April to celebrate his birthday.

Tragically, he collapsed suddenly in the street on April 21

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

Repatriation appeal

and ended up in the intensive care unit of the Marina Baixa hospital.

The initial diagnosis on admission said that Jack’s col­

Meaning people do things more quickly and easily when they work together. A very ancient proverb known to both the Greeks and the Romans - it first appeared in English by John Heywood in 1546.

lapse was due to hypoglycaemic encephalopathy (extremely low blood glucose).

He was admitted straight to the facility’s ICU where surgeons performed a tracheotomy and inserted a feeding tube. As a result of hydrocephalus ­ a build­up of fluidJack also suffered seizures and swelling of the brain.

Although it is still too early to offer a full prognosis, the

hospital doctors think he might have suffered brain damage.

His family is desperate to fly Jack back to England. Unfortunately, they discovered that because he did not declare on the holiday insurance forms that he had T1D (Type 1 Diabetes), he is not covered for repatriation costs.

Three days after her son was hospitalised, his mother, 64­year­old Sue Stone, flew to Spain to be at his bedside. She quickly learned that her son’s possessions had mysteriously disappeared, including his passport and mobile phone.

Sue is receiving muchneeded assistance from the British Benevolent Fund in Spain as well as Help Interna­

tional Benidorm.

HELP volunteers have also been supporting Sue at the hospital with interpreting and translating, and helping her to understand the process and the medical diagnosis (and prognosis).

The hospital consultant informed Sue that her son is in no way fit to fly unless accompanied by trained medical professionals and he is not considered fit enough to travel by ambulance.

They have been quoted in the region of €25,000 by a UKbased company to fly Jack home, but the family has not got sufficient funds for that and the British government seems to be unable to help.

A Just Giving page (Help get Jack home) is on social media and a fundraising event is being held in his home town.

• Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound Rx

• Clinical tests and serological tests, internal medicine, parasitology

• Soft Tissue Surgery and Traumatology

• Ethology, behavioural disorders and animal behaviour

• Physiotherapy, acupuncture, custom recovery and Healing touch

• Ophthalmology

• Dentistry and dental surgery & more

• Import - Export

Facelift for Denia

DENIA town centre is currently teeming with construction workers, diggers and noise as several renovation projects are underway simultaneously.

However, they are all timed to finish in July and will reportedly not interfere with the major local summer fiestas, according to the council.

Work is concentrated on Calle Cop, Calle Ramón y Cajal and the Carreró de Morand, some of the most historic streets of the old town centre.

Improvements include replacing the old paving, which will not be the same in each area and with different colours granting each street its own distinct identity.

The most striking change

14

The number of overseas territories

has taken place in Calle Cop, where the old pink paving that had characterised this street since it was pedestrianised in the 1980s has been replaced with the same ochre or yellow tiles with black bands.

Lighting up

VILLAJOYOSA Town Hall has renovated the lighting at the Parque de Puentes del Moro.

The newly installed light points are equipped with state­of­the­art LED technology that offers greater energy efficiency, reducing electricity consumption and providing a brighter and more welcoming environment at night in this busy part of the town.

The renovation of the park’s 30 streetlights was necessary due to the deterioration of many of them due to vandalism or malfunction and is part of a wider project to improve Villajoyosa’s urban infrastructure.

“Many hands make light work”

the UK has across the globe.

THE traditional San Juan celebrations in Finestrat have been awarded the title of Tourist Interest Fiesta by the regional Valencian government.

San Juan marks the summer solstice and takes place every June 23 throughout the Valencia Region.

In Finestrat thousands of revellers have taken to La Cala beach for the last

A magical night

15 years to build bonfires, jump the waves and make a wish in what is one of the most magical nights of the year.

The distinction awarded by the Generalitat recognises the popular and

Motorbikes and hospitals

TEULADA Town Hall and the Ugly Motorcycle Club have joined forces to redecorate the Paediatric Emergencies department at Valencia’s La Fe Hospital.

The aim of the new decoration is to “humanise and improve the experience of children in hospital, making the stay more pleasant for the patients and their families,” according to Teulada Council.

The new vinyl decorations have been designed by Graphic Design students at the Barreira centre in Valencia and show animal motifs with rounded shapes and pastel colours.

For several years now the Ugly MC has held the Ugly Day rock music festival in Moraira to raise funds for the improvement of children’s hospital spaces.

Teulada Moraira mayor Raúl Llobell pointed

out that “the best reward is to see that we have been able to turn a hospital space into a welcoming, colourful place for children, a gratifying way of bringing smiles to those who need it most.”

Last year La Fe Hospital attended to around 60,000 paediatric emergencies, with respiratory pathology being the most common.

Youngsters bear the brunt

YOUNG people in Alicante Province are bearing the brunt of the increasingly precarious working conditions and low salaries.

A report by trades union

UGT has revealed that workers under the age of 25 earn an average of €500 a month on temporary contracts and up to 86 per cent are forced to

live with their parents as they cannot afford a place of their own.

Those who do manage to rent their own home are forced to spend up to 70 per cent of their earnings on the rent and many are forced to share with other tenants.

Average yearly income for that age group sits at around

€6,680, a figure that is far below the minimum wage but which actually shows an improvement with regards to previous years.

Spokespeople for UGT confirm that young people under 25 have the lowest wages of any age group in the province and also face greater difficulties finding work.

deep-rooted nature of the event, which encourages the participation of all residents and visitors and helps to promote La Cala as a tourist destination.

Finestrat Fiestas councillor Héctor

Baldó welcomed the award and highlighted the importance of San Juan as part of the yearly fiesta calendar.

This year’s celebrations are scheduled to begin at around 5.30pm on Friday June 23 with a zumba session, a children’s disco, live music and a mobile disco, as well as a popular bar organised by the fiesta committee.

JOINING FORCES: To redecorate hospital.

Image by Teulada Town Hall

Barbarians rugby summer camps

THE Barbarians Marina Alta rugby club will be offering two special courses this summer for boys and girls of all ages to enjoy and develop their rugby skills alongside our qualified rugby coaches.

The Academy Course is aimed at teenagers and young adults from 14 to 20 years old and will run from Friday June 23 to July 31, and will include topics on physical exercises to increase mobility and patterns of movement, strengthening exercises and coaching on passing, footwork, tackling, evasion and contact skills.

The course is held from Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm at the Denia rugby stadium.

The price of the programme is only €100 and will benefit all aspiring teenage academy rugby players.

The Summer Sports Camp is aimed at children

and teenagers from five to 14 years old. They will be offering games from a variety of sports from June 19 to July 31.

This course runs from Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm and will in ­

Healthy school breakfast

A BENIDORM school is offering healthy breakfasts for pupils throughout the month of June.

clude a range of fun activities utilising the skills associated with several sports including rugby.

For further information call Santi (Spanish) on 676 612 357 or Mac (English) on 609 646 349.

Doctors under attack

DOCTORS, nurses and reception staff at hospitals and health centres throughout Alicante Province are reporting an increase in physical and verbal attacks on behalf of patients and relatives.

Alicante Medical School filed eight reports of physical assault against doctors in 2022 and four so far this year, plus another eight reports for threats and four for verbal assault.

These are added to another 12 cases that are currently pending trial and 20 that did not make it to court after the victims withdrew the charges for various reasons.

Possible explanations for the spike in at­

tacks and threats on healthcare staff reportedly include delays in obtaining appointments and the refusal to sign work leaves and tests on demand.

According to the Medical School, up to 70 per cent of attacks are aimed at women doctors.

The association offers free legal assistance for healthcare workers and the regional Health department has launched a plan to prevent attacks in hospitals and health centres that includes employing private security personnel and providing staff with a panic button to press in case of assault.

Nearly 400 Infant and Primary School students at Leonor Canalejas public school are taking part in the project subsidised by the European Social Fund to promote healthier eating habits among children, encourage the integration of children of poverty­stricken families and prevent school absenteeism.

Menus typically include hummus, scrambled eggs, vegetable drinks, porridge, natural yoghurt and fresh fruit, with no chocolate milk, sugary cereals or cakes in sight.

Many of the young participants have never tried some of these products and frequently go to school either with just a glass of milk or with no breakfast at all due to lack of time or money on behalf of their parents.

Last week parents were also invited for a healthy breakfast and an informative session by a nutritionist, who explained how much sugar and processed products are present in many children’s diets.

SUMMER CAMP: For boys and girls of all ages.

Image by Barbarians Marina Alta

2005 year Spain legalised same-sex marriage.

AT the AGM in March Pam Brooks announced she would be standing down as the President of Jalon Valley Help (JVH), and Maggie Mooney also decided to step down from her role as Treasurer.

Many thanks to both ladies for giving so many years of service to the charity, 14 and eight respectively. Everyone wishes them both enjoyment of their spare time and with future travel plans.

With two candidates for each post the election was held in May, when Richard Green was elected as Presi-

dent and Phillip Ashley as Treasurer.

Following his handover briefing Richard would like to express his thanks to both Pam and Maggie for the strong financial position of the

charity. He is looking forward to continuing and expanding both the excellent work done by the charity and the range of nationalities assisting with, and benefiting from, JVH’s activities.

The next JVH event to look out for is a performance by the OK Band at Los Arcos (Pedreguer) on Thursday July 6.

For further information about future events please contact eventsjvh@gmail.com and for information about the charity visit www.jalonvalley help.com.

Return to the wild

DENIA Town Hall and staff at Valencia’s Oceanogràfic aquarium last week released three turtles back into the sea at Punta del Raset beach.

The event was timed to coincide with World Oceans Day on June 8 and also included a talk on sea turtles and marine conservation for pupils at the local Alfa&Omega and

MONTGO G olf Society

Jalon Valley Help Montgo Golf

played a Stableford Competition on Friday June 9 at Oliva Nova Golf Course sponsored by Steve Blewett. Thank you Steve.

The winner was the sponsor, Steve Blewett, with 41 stableford points, but as the sponsor cannot win his own prizes taking top spot was Stella Fox with 39 points.

In second place was Willie

Montgó schools, who had won awards for projects on climate change and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The turtles were released after spending time recovering at El Arca del Mar centre at the Oceanogràfic, where they were taken after they had been victims of accidental capture by fishermen and plastic ingestion.

Larkins with 38 points and taking thirrd place was Simon Fox.

There were two nearest the pin prizes on offer, 3rd and 16th, with Heiko Schram and Alan Lowans taking home the spoils. There were three twos with Alan Lowan, Heiko Schram and Simon

Fox taking home coveted Montgo golf balls. Well done to all the winners.

Next Friday’s competition (June 16) is three clubs and a putter sponsored by veteran John Day.

For further information visit www.montgogolfsoci ety.net

72% of the population speak Spanish in Spain.

Wedding feature window in JVH’s Orba shop.

Image by JVH

A job for Obelix Airlines under investigation

PAYING for hand luggage or to choose seats on flights could soon be a thing of the past.

The Spanish government is currently investigating seven low-cost airlines over their hand luggage and seat allocation policies that could result in fines of up to €100,000 or between four and six times the amount obtained due to ‘allegedly irregular’ business practices, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

The probe is focusing on the charging as ‘extras’ of ser-

vices deemed by the Ministry to be ‘necessary and vital’ to travellers and whether these practices could be considered ‘abusive or unfair’ and contravene consumer law.

In addition, the authorities

are also investigating whether other policies such as price segmentation could be generating privileged positions for airlines in search engines such as Google and online comparators, by offering prices that are much lower than what the customer actually ends up paying.

The airlines currently under investigation reportedly represent a market share of more than 30 per cent both inside and outside Europe, so these practices could potentially affect millions of travellers.

Discounts for shoppers

OVERPOPULATION of wild boars and rabbits is affecting numerous towns throughout Alicante Province.

Up to 97 municipalities in the Marina Alta and Baixa are registering damage to crops and other problems due to boars, while 78 in the Marina Alta are affected by excess populations of wild rabbits.

DENIA

Hall this week launches a series of vouchers offering discounts for local shops in a bid to promote local commerce.

All residents aged over 18 with a valid DNI, NIE or TIE number and who are registered on the municipal padrón town census are entitled to request the coupons of €10, €20 and €50 to spend in any of the 90 local shops in Denia and La Xara that are taking part in the scheme.

In order to use the vouchers, shoppers are

required to spend at least double the amount of each one, so by spending €20 they receive €10 back, and the same for the €20 and €50 ones.

The vouchers, as well as the full list of participating businesses and general information, can be obtained at www.bonsconsum.denia.es and each applicant is entitled to three coupons of different amounts, ie one for €10, one for €20 and one for €50.

The regional Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition department launched a campaign to inform local councils about the resources and measures they have at their disposal.

These measures include making the authorisation of hunting licences more flexible, quick and easy and holding informative talks.

Hand luggage charges.

Town

Image by Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock

Bullring conversion Stags and hens

STAGS and hens are ditching Dublin for Benidorm - because the booze is ‘10 times cheaper’, according to Last Night of Freedom.

The budget-friendly Spanish resort has leapfrogged the Irish capital this year to be crowned the EU’s most popular stag do destination.

An industry expert believes Dublin’s demise is down to the “eye-watering” price of a pint. “A beer in Temple Bar can set you back €10, while in Benidorm you can pick up the same pint for €1,” said Matt Mavir, Managing Director of Last Night of Freedom.

Figures supplied by the firm

BENIDORM: Bookings have more than doubled this year.

- Britain’s leading stag and hen party provider - show trips to Dublin are down by around 15 per cent this year. However Benidorm bookings have more than doubled as stags and hens flock to the

Credit: Last Night Of Freedom

Costa

According to Matt, Benidorm’s boom could be worth a staggering €40 million a year to the resort’s economy - while trips are forecast to double again in 2024.

3, 2, 1… Action!

A WAR thriller filmed by award-winning British director Guy Ritchie in Villajoyosa is now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

The Covenant features a climax scene shot at Amadorio reservoir, as well as exterior footage filmed in different locations throughout Alicante Province. The film stars Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and was premiered in the States in April. It is inspired by reallife events following the evacuation of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 and based on direct testimonies of soldiers.

More than 100 people in-

cluding actors and crew took part in the secret filming over several weeks at Amadorio reservoir for the final scene that also features practical and digital special effects.

Prime Video currently has more than 6.6 million subscribers according to figures released by the platform for 2022, which means the recognisable Villajoyosa landmark will be seen in thousands of households all over the world.

The Covenant has also arrived at cinemas in more than 25 countries, but in Spain will only be screened on the online streaming platform.

WORK is underway to transform Ondara bullring into a permanent multi-purpose events space. The local council last week launched a project to adapt the installations and bring them into line with current regulations to house all kinds of shows and events without having to request special permits each time.

Ondara Maintenance councillor Miguel Gomis announced that the first measure being carried out is the installation of a fire prevention system with water hydrants, which as of this year is obligatory for bull-running and bullfights, as well as all other types of events.

Sr Gomis added that work will be completed in time for the local fiestas in July.

7.2m

Number of international tourists in Spain in April 2023.

Blanca resort.

Complete recovery

Anna Ellis

SPAIN received 7.2 million tourists in April, which is 20 per cent above the best prepandemic figure.

In the first four months of 2023, Spain received a total of 21 million arrivals, 32.4 per cent more than in the same period of 2022.

Visitor and spending records were also broken in April: €8.48 billion, 22.7 per cent more than in 2022 and

Betty Henderson

THE ongoing negotiations between Spain and the United Kingdom regarding Gibraltar’s post­Brexit status have hit a roadblock due to the recentlyannounced Spanish elections.

The elections, which have been announced for Sunday, July 23, could bring about a change in national leadership.

When the European Union and the UK finalised their Brexit agreement, they failed to address the pressing issue of Gibraltar’s border condi­

20.2 per cent more than the best pre ­ pandemic figure (2019).

Spain was visited by 7.2 million international tourists in April, 18.5 per cent more than in the same period of 2022, and 1.2 per cent more than in April 2019.

These figures represent an all­time record in terms of visitor numbers and spending: €8.48 billion, 22.7 per cent more than a year ago and

20.2 per cent more than the best pre­pandemic figure, according to Frontur and Egatur data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Hector Gomez, confirmed: “These are extraordinary figures that demonstrate, once again, that Spain is at the forefront of world tourism, and that the tourism recovery is complete.”

tions. As a result, negotiations have been ongoing for two and a half years, with 13 formal rounds of talks held since October 2021.

However, with the Spanish democratic process now in full swing, sources from the Gibraltar government have confirmed that both the UK and the EU have agreed to suspend further formal meetings until a new Spanish government is established. Infor­

mal discussions, however, are expected to continue.

Gibraltar’s gridlock 5 M

passports issued in the UK every year

Property pursuit

Betty Henderson

AMERICAN business magnate Warren Buffet has set his sights on Spain’s booming property market.

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Buffett’s luxury property firm, recently expanded its presence in Spain with a second office in Malaga. The company announced plans to continue growing by targeting the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and the Mediterranean coast on Friday, June 9.

CEO Christy Budnick sees immense potential in Spain’s luxury housing sector. She is pleased with the company’s progress, focusing on exclusive areas in Barcelona, Madrid, and Mar­

Anna Ellis

SPAIN’S unemployment fell by 49,260 people in May to 2,739,110.

The decline extends to all economic sectors, to all autonomous communities and to both men and women. The rate of monthly percentage decline in youth unemployment is double the overall rate.

The number of people registered in the State Public Employment Service Offices (SEPE) at the end of May fell

bella. Despite rising interest rates affecting the property market, Budnick believes luxury property prices will continue to rise, especially in exclusive locations. The Covid­19 pandemic has shifted housing preferences, with buyers seeking comfortable homes with outdoor spaces for family and friends.

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services acquired Catalan firm GTS last year and is considering acquiring companies in Ibiza, the Costa Brava, and the Valencia region to strengthen its Spanish presence as well as its ventures in Mallorca.

The luxury property business has a presence in 14 different countries across the globe.

More in work

by 49,260 people (­1.77 per cent) compared to the previous month.

Registered unemployment stood at 2,739,110 people, the lowest figure for the month of May since 2008.

This is a very positive decline in the context of quality recruitment and record highs in both affiliation and the labour force.

In year­on­year terms, un­

employment has fallen by 183,881 people, a hefty percentage drop of 6.29 per cent. Unemployment of young people under 25 fell in May by 7,208 people (­3.69 per cent) compared with the previous month, doubling the percentage rate of the general decrease. The total number of unemployed young people is the lowest in the historical series: 188,043 people.

Everything you need to know about the New Property Law in Spain. Rental contracts. Tax Benefits. Eviction court Process. Legal advice. (Part 2)

AS we explained in last week’s article, the new Property Law came into force in Spain on 26.05.23. In our previous article we analysed its main novelties: rent update cap, concept of large tenants, stressed

market areas, changes in IBI surcharges, etc. This week we focus on other equally important aspects: how the law affects eviction processes, minimum information to be provided to buyers/tenants of

a property, personal income tax benefits for landlords, etc.

• Changes in the Eviction Court Process in Spain

The new housing law incorporates many changes into the eviction process. The most relevant ones are listed below:

From now on, landlords who initiate an eviction court process must inform the court whether or not the property constitutes the tenant/occupant’s habitual residence.

Furthermore, the owner must certify whether or not he/she is considered to be a large landlord, by means of a certificate issued by the Land Registry. As of today, more than two weeks after the entry into force of the law, this certification is still not available at the Spanish Land Registry.

When the landlord is considered a ‘large owner’, in addition to the above, he/she must confirm whether or not the tenants/occupants are in a situation of economic vulnerability, by means of a report issued by Social Services.

If the tenant/occupant is in a situation of vulnerability and the landlord is considered a large owner, the eviction court process cannot be initiated directly. Prior to this, the owner must try a conciliation or mediation procedure with the occupant/tenant, through the competent administration.

In cases of mortgages executions, the requirements listed above will also apply, with small variations.

• Protection and transparency measures in purchase and landlord transactions

Before formalising the purchase or rental of a home, or handing over any amount on account, prospective buyers/ tenants will have the right to

receive the following information, in an accessible and durable format. Useful and constructed surface area of the property. Age of the building. Energy efficiency certificate.

Main actions or renovations carried out in the dwelling. Individual and community services and installations. Certificate of habitability. Etc.

In addition, when renting a property in a stressed market area, the landlord or real estate agent must inform future tenants of the amount of the most recent rent that had been in force in the rental of the last five years.

• Tax incentives in the IRPF (Personal Income Tax) for landlords

The new property law includes a series of tax benefits for landlords who formalise new rental contracts in stressed areas. A reduction of up to 90 per cent of the posi­

tive net declared by the landlord when the rent is reduced by more than 5 per cent (compared to the last contract).

When renting for the first time in a stressed market area, to people between 18 and 35, the reduction will be 70 per cent. If the property has been renovated in the previous two years, the reduction will be a maximum of 60 per cent. These incentives will enter into force on January 1, 2024.

• Conclusion

The new property law has introduced numerous changes that we have tried to analyse in detail for our readers in the last two articles.

If you are going to sign a lease, as a landlord or tenant, at White­Baos Lawyers we are experts in real estate law. Do not hesitate to contact us. We will study your case and offer you expert legal advice.

The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys information relating to legal issues.

Look Right, look Left

Linda Hall SPAIN, which was not due to hold a general election until December this year, will go to the polls on July 23.

Following dismal results for the governing PSOE and Unidas Podemos (UP) coalition in the May 28 local and regional elections, the president of Spain’s government, Pedro Sanchez, announced the new date the following morning.

Which way will the Spanish vote?

Partido Socialista Obrero Español (Spanish Workers’ Socialist Party) Written and referred to as PSOE (pronounced pay ­ soee) it is Spain’s oldest political, founded in 1879 by Pablo Iglesias.

Middle­of­the road un­radical socialism, although the party shies away from mentioning or laying claims to being a centrist party. It has been in government since June 1, 2018 after a no­confidence vote defeated Partido Popular president Mariano Rajoy. In power thanks to an uneasy alliance between the PSOE and far­left UP, which itself is a coalition of the Izquierda Unida and Podemos parties.

Party logo: a fist clenched round a red rose.

Partido Popular (People’s Party) Written and referred to as PP (pronounced paypay), the Partido Popular dates back to 1989 as the result of a rebranded Alianza Popular,

founded in 1977 to stand in Spain’s first democratic general elections.

Middle­of­the­road conservatism now headed by Alberto Nuñez Feijoo who was president of the Galicia region between 2009 and April 2022 when he took over as the PP’s president.

The PP was phenomenally successful in the May 28 municipal and regional elections, and now controls all but two of Spain’s regional governments and most of its important city halls.

Party log: a blue seagull.

As neither the PSOE nor the PP is likely to wake up on July 24 with an overall majority, Sanchez will have to look further to the Left and Feijoo to the Right if either is to form a government.

Sanchez already knows that he will have backing from Sumar A coalition of 15 parties to the Left of the PSOE that was only registered on June 9. Created by minister of Labour Yolanda Diaz, who belongs to Izquierda Unida and consistently overtakes Pedro Sanchez in popularity polls.

Feijoo will have no problem in enlisting the help of Vox Formed in 2013 by Santiago Abascal, Vox entered the Spanish parliament in 2019. It is old­school, antiimmigration, anti­LGTB, antiabortion, anti­EU. Although he knows Vox’s cooperation will be forthcoming, Feijoo also realises this could cloud the PP’s centre­right reputation and ambitions.

MONCLOA PALACE: July 23 will decide its next tenant.

Photo credit: CC/Yeray Diaz Zbida

€500 note still legal

WHEN the concept of introducing a euro zone currency was first muted, each member state was invited to join and to confirm what denomination of coins and bank notes they wanted.

At that time Germany, supported by Austria didn’t want to see large notes disappear as many transactions in those two countries were carried out in cash and as Germany had a 500 Deutschmark note, it was agreed that there should be a €500 note.

As time passed and the membership expanded to 20, so did the fear that many countries had that a €500 note was ideal for money launderers and smugglers as well as counterfeiters.

It was calculated that if they wanted to move €1 million anywhere around the world, the weight when using €500 notes was 2.2 kilos as opposed to 20 kilos if using €50 notes and obvi­

ously the packages were much smaller as well.

When new bank note designs were being considered, the European Central Bank confirmed that with effect from the end of 2018, no new €500 bank notes would be printed, except in Austria and Germany where they would continue for a further three months.

Many people in Spain are of the opinion that the €500 note has been withdrawn completely, but in fact they are legal tender across the Euro Zone and

may be used legally for transactions in Spain, although there are rules concerning the amount of cash that may be tendered when settling an invoice.

1,900 Banco Santander branches in Spain

LEGAL TENDER: Real or fake?

Credit: Ivan Radic flickr

Royal collections

Anna Ellis

SPAIN’S King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will inaugurate the Royal Collections Gallery at the opening ceremony on June 28.

Madrid boasts several world­renowned galleries, such as the Prado Museum, the ThyssenBornemisza, and the Reina Sofía. However, next month, Spain is poised to unveil one of Europe’s most anticipated cultural highlights of the year: The Royal Collections Gallery.

The new museum will showcase a remarkable assortment of paintings, tapestries, sculptures, decorative art pieces, and royal furniture accumulated by Spanish monarchs over a span

BY country, the UK continues to head the list of source countries for the tourist market to Spain with 1.4 million visitors in April. This represents a strong growth of 8.7 per cent compared to the same month in 2022.

France and Germany were the next countries with the most tourists visiting Spain, with more than one million visitors each. Tourist numbers from France grew in April by 26.9 per cent in the annual rate, and those from Germany by 2 per cent.

of five centuries, over the Hapsburg and Bourbon dynasties of the empire.

The exhibition will present 650 selected pieces out of the vast collection of over 150,000 artworks managed by Patrimonio Nacional.

Spain’s visitors

Among the other source countries, notable was the annual growth of tourists from the US (60.7 per cent more than in April 2022), which was the country with the highest growth that month, followed by Italy (29 per cent more than a year ago) and Portugal (29.6 per cent more).

In the first four months of the year, visitors from the US increased by 75.4 per cent, as the country of origin with the

highest growth in tourist arrivals compared to a year ago.

NEW EXHIBITION: Will open in Madrid.

Image: Patrimonio Nacional

1 in 4

adults read print newspapers every day in the UK.

Anna Ellis

HOTELBEDS is seeing a notable rise in consumer demand for luxury travel with travellers around the world seeking more premium experiences than ever before.

The United States, Mexico and Europe are among the largest source markets for luxury travel for Hotelbeds, while travellers from India (109 per cent), Australia (216 per cent), China (78 per cent) and Spain (66 per cent) have been increasingly looking for a premium experience over the

Betty Henderson

66 per cent

“The post­Covid carpe diem mentality shows no sign of abating.”

past year versus the previous 12 months.

Nicolas Huss, Hotelbeds’ Chief Executive Officer, doesn’t see this momentum subsiding any time soon.

SPAIN continues to bask in the glory of international recognition as it adds another accolade for its tourism industry. The Spanish city of Bilbao was named as one of the best cultural destinations in Europe by European Best Destinations. The tourism industry portal revealed their top picks in their Traveller Review Awards 2023, released on Thursday, June 8. Bilbao emerged victorious in the ranking, leaving popular destinations across Europe trailing behind.

Bilbao was the only city in Spain to make the top 12 list which was created based on more than 500,000 votes from travellers from more than 178 countries globally.

The north city rose above the competition to

The CEO added: “Travellers want to make the most of every day and they don’t want to compromise. We’re seeing spending on travel remaining a top consumer priority with people actively seeking unforgettable trips and are willing to pay for a high­quality experience.”

Cultural crown

claim its spot among the world’s cultural elites thanks to its unique attractions. Bilbao’s charming old town, culinary delights, the iconic Guggenheim Museum, and its unusual spider sculpture helped to secure its well­deserved position on the European Best Destinations list.

These awards celebrate exceptional accommodations, transportation services, local experiences, in cities and regions and are highly regarded in the international community.

The incredible rating goes to show Bilbao’s cultural wealth and its opportunities for visitors.

Image: Antonio Guillem Shutterstock.com

Luxu ry travel on increase.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: The bloke who does voices

THERE is a long history of impersonators in the UK and the latest name to catch the attention is Danny Posthill who is a regular visitor to both the Costa del Sol and Mallorca.

Following a recent visit to see his aunt Sylvia who was celebrating her 90th birthday in her home in Fuengirola he was catching up with friend, popular local singer Mario Ross who asked if he would act as auctioneer at the Children with Cancer UK fundraiser at Villa Tiberio in Marbella on Sunday May 28.

After returning to the UK and then flying out to Cyprus for a show, Danny found time to speak exclusively with Euro Weekly News about his career and the way in which it has blossomed since reaching the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2015.

Asked about how he discovered his talent for voices

Danny explained “I guess that most impressionists will tell you it dates back to schooldays, I wasn’t a great scholar but could make my friends laugh by mimicking the voices of various teachers.

“One day everyone was amused by my take on a science teacher and suddenly the room went quiet and I sensed a presence behind me

and sure enough it was that very teacher.

“Soon after I moved to a new class and the joke was on me, because my new teacher had obviously heard about that discovery and simply refused to allow me into his class in case I did the same, before telling me he was winding me up.”

As it happened, he went on to win the school talent show and then decided to get into entertainment, firstly working in holiday camps, being in charge of competitions for the kids and then it was off to Mallorca, but times were hard and he ended up sleep­

ing in a hotel sauna because he couldn’t afford a room.

Things got better and as he honed his skill, he got a job on a cruise ship but always wanted to be a full time entertainer and in 2013 he got an agent and became a full time professional.

“It’s not really a proper job, and although sometimes it’s stressful and there is a lot of travelling, I’m doing what I love and it’s so nice that I can make people laugh.”

Quite surprisingly, Danny mimics a number of female celebrities because he recognises his vocal range and doesn’t stray out of it, al­

though he suspects it may change as he gets older.

“Basically, I have a fairly high pitched voice which means that I can become Sarah Millican, Dianne Abbott, Priti Patel and Nicola Sturgeon, although I have to admit that my two favourite impressions are Donald Trump and Michael Mcintyre.”

If you visit Danny’s website https://dannyposthillofficial.c om/ you can arrange to have a personalised message from any of the above and many more to be sent to as a special greeting to a friend, family member or as a prank.

“I think it helps that my partner Aimee Cole is a dancer and choreographer so we both have to make allowances for the other’s working pattern and it certainly makes life easier for us both.”

From early days working at the Yaramar Hotel in Fuengirola, to his time in Mallorca (where he still performs regularly) and of course his aunt being here means that he is drawn back regularly and he and Aimee will be holidaying in Spain in September.

That is if a prospective script for a TV series which he has written doesn’t suddenly take off!

Credit: Dany Posthill Facebook

Danny and Aimee outside Villa Tiberio.

Jetflix and chill

FANS of the newly released movie The Little Mermaid are flooding online to book their own under­the­sea adventure on the shores of Sardinia, with months of build up to the release driving a 216 per cent increase in search results on the easyJet Holidays website.

As set­jetting gains popularity, fuelled by the prevalence of international settings in popular TV shows and movies, easyJet Holidays has discovered a significant yearon­year increase in searches for destinations providing TV

escapism. The Little Mermaid isn’t the only watch fuelling demand for European travel.

Unsurprisingly, the second season of Emmy­winning drama The White Lotus has also seen a tourism spike of 198 per cent to Sicily as wander­

Emotive exhibition

lusters seek to holiday like wealthy but miserable romantic Tanya McQuoid­Hunt and her put­upon assistant, Portia. Whilst the premiere season of House of the Dragon, has inspired die hard ‘Thronies’ to flock to the Spanish city of Granada, which has seen a 132 per cent increase in searches. Similarly, the iconic capital of France is seeing unwavering interest year on year as hopeful romantics yearn for their own Emily in Paris experience, recording a 143 per cent increase.

Anna Ellis FOR the first time, the history of the 5th Marquess of Anglesey is shared throughout the house at Plas Newydd through an emotive exhibition.

All that was left tells the story of Henry Cyril Paget and the Great Anglesey Sales which saw all he had owned, sold to pay his debts.

Henry Cyril Paget (1875 ­ 1905) succeeded the title of the 5th Marquess of Anglesey and inherited Plas Newydd in 1898 along with about £110,000 a year, which is the equivalent of about £18£20 million today. He renamed it ‘An ­

glesey Castle’ and spared no expense in making it his own.

He surrounded himself with luxurious clothing, costumes, and jewellery; he staged performances and fancydress balls in his own theatre for local people and he indulged in new technologies including motor cars and photography. However, the world the 5th Marquess created was unsustainable.

Due to his mismanagement of money, the Marquess was eventually declared insolvent, such that everything he owned had to be sold to pay off his debts.

Locked down in security alert

LATEST figures show that visitors donated more than £2.5 million to the National Trust through purchasing second­hand books at Trust properties in 2022.

Record-breaking

This record­breaking income for the Trust in this area could in part be reflective of the growing awareness amongst society of the need to reduce and reuse in a bid to cut consumption. This has been seen particularly strong amongst those with small children, with books aimed at this audience making up

a higher proportion of donations. The rapid growth in the pre­loved economy that was reported by the Centre for Economics and Business Research last October as a result of the cost of living crisis could also be a factor.

The Centre said that Britain’s pre­loved market grew to approximately £6.5 billion in 2022 and it is expected to double to £12.6 billion over the next five years. The Trust has also seen an increasing number of rare and high­value books making an appearance.

FOLLOWING reports of a mysterious package, security officers had to place roadblocks around Whitehall in London.

On Wednesday, June 7, officers were placed on high alert when they received reports of a mysterious package at 12.13, in a tweet from MPS Westminster.

Very few details about the incident were available at the time, but an online statement said: ‘Road closures are in place around Whitehall while officers assess a suspicious package. We were called at 12.13hrs and remain in the area.’

The area swarmed with police as the area was locked down while the

package was investigated.

The police then posted an update at 1.48pm which reassured: ‘The item has been assessed as not suspicious and road closures are being lifted.’

This latest security alert follows a recent incident in which a car crashed into the gates at Downing Street.

Adventure in Sardinia.

Image: Visit Sardinia / Facebook

British Embassy Cocktail Party

IT was with great pleasure that the proprietors of Euro Weekly News , Michel and Steven Euesden were invited to the Spring Cocktail Party at the British Am­

bassador’s Residence in Madrid on Tuesday June 6.

It was a glorious day and there was a very large number of guests who took advantage of the

large garden which gave them the opportunity to chat with friends old and new.

Temperatures were soaring in Madrid, a true

reflection on the world of commerce in the region and it seems that the after effects of Brexit and Covid now seem to be a distant memory.

Speaking to those present, Ambassador Hugh Elliott explained that interrelationships between Spain and the rest of the world have never seemed to have been in such a sturdy state.

The investments coming in from South America are most definitely making the economic recovery a far easier journey with regards to the economic growth of Spain and the region and coincidentally there has been a massive hike in property prices in this region.

La Cámara, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce saw a change of PresidentHugh Elliott gave a massive thanks and round of applause to demonstrate his appreciation for all the work done by Aida Garciaand welcomed the opportunity to work with lawyer and long­standing member of the BCC, Ralph Smith.

The Ambassador was in excellent form on this occasion and Olaf Clayton was a wonderful networker and introducer which comes as no surprise given his role in the British

Benevolent Fund, which is the oldest charity for for eigners in Spain today and Olaf is THE conduit of communication between a problem and a solution.

Be it a victim of domestic abuse ­ violencedependency ­ when all help fails us the foreigner here in our adopted land ­ Olaf and his team somehow find the resources to offer a solution.

It was a superb evening of celebration and almost gaiety, although the tide of business attire did not reflect the optimism and excitement of times to come here in Spain

It is getting towards the end of the tenure of Hugh Elliott and although the Euesdens have said it about the past three Ambassadors they do believe he has survived some hard times with aplomb.

He is very much like the IF character of Rudyard

Kipling…

IF ­ you can keep your head when those around you are losing theirs … They were and he did!

Apart from the many people they met at the event, Michel and Steven were pleased to catch up with their friend Derek Langley of the British Chamber of Commerce and would like to thank the Ambassador for such a superb evening of commercial celebration ­ it was an honour to be invited.

Olaf Clayton with Michel and Steven Euesden. Ambassador Elliott and Steven Euesden.

Guests at the event.

Anna Ellis

A PACK of robotic dogs have been harnessed to help Dounreay with monitoring work on site. Dounreay is a small settlement and the site of two large nuclear establishments on the north coast of Caithness in the Highland area of Scotland. Spot, a robotic quadruped dog from Boston Dynamics, has the ability to climb stairs, avoid obstacles, and move over rough ground, allowing it to monitor and collect data in hazardous areas.

Heather Fairweather, the innovation team’s project manager for the work, confirmed: “Spot is not just a gimmick; it’s a practical tool that we can use to survey and monitor in areas where people should not or cannot go.

“I believe that this is the way forward where operators can minimise their dose rates but still get the job done. It’s not to replace operators,

THE UK’S National Railway Museum’s largest ever familyfocused visitor experience named Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery is set to open on Saturday, July 22.

The first tickets are now available via the museum website and, to celebrate, residents of York can upgrade their day ticket to an annual visitor pass for no extra charge.

The museum is also moving to a permanent seven­day opening for the first time since

Robot dogs

but to help them.”

The work at Dounreay complements and builds on the recent deployment of Spot at Sellafield, demonstrating how learning is being shared across sites to deliver better outcomes, move people further away from harm and decommission more efficiently.

the Covid­19 pandemic reflecting a significant return in visitor numbers at one of the region’s busiest attractions.

Over the two­week Easter holiday, the National Railway Museum received more than 52,000 visitors ­ boosted by the visit of Flying Scotsmanachieving more footfall than in the same period in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Rose Mockford, of the National Railway Museum, said: “Wonderlab will celebrate the inventiveness and wonder of engineering, science and the railways and it will enable thousands of young visitors to take the first steps on their journeys of creativity, experimentation and finding solutions to the challenges of the future.”

SPOT: Can monitor and collect data.

Image: UK Government / NDA

U3A Marina Baixa An evening of magic

THIS month’s Wine and Dine will be on Friday June 23 at Restaurante Xorta near Guadalest providing members with an opportunity to enjoy a wander around the village or to visit the many interesting museums such as the Salt and Pepper Museum and the Miniature Museum, as well as the Motorbike Museum.

The next General Meeting will be on Monday June 26 at 11am in the Auditorium at the Casa de Cultura, Alfaz del Pi. Visitors are always welcome as are new members. Membership is just €10 for the year.

For further information visit ‘U3A Marina Baixa’ on Facebook.

ONE of the greatest illusionists of our time will be performing at Villajoyosa’s Teatre Auditori on Saturday June 17 at 7.30pm.

The Mago Yunke is an innovator of magic and an inventor of illusions. With his show Conjuro, Yunke presents his best illusions and his latest magical creations, which have made him one of the most renowned magicians in the world.

His magic is full of mystery, beauty and risk. His illusions are breathtaking and hypnotic. He has taken his magic to

ILLUSIONS: Magic full of mystery, beauty and risk.

five continents and performs on television shows all over the world. His illusions are unique and his magic is different.

Art and Craft Fair

THERE are only two Sunday mornings left to visit the weekly Art and Craft Fair on the seaside boulevard in Javea port.

Stroll along the seashore enjoying the original craft work on sale, recharge your batteries on one of the terraces along the beach or explore the neighbourhood with its shops, bars and the modern Church of the Virgin de Loreto.

The fair is attracting more and more artisans and public, thanks to the fame it has gained for its varied offer of authentic arts and crafts. This initiative of the shopkeepers' association is being organised by craft association Amata.

That is why you have the guarantee that only true artisans participate, who only sell their own work and will be happy to carry out special orders, if you do not find what you are looking for.

On June 30 and in July and August the weekly fair will be followed by Amata’s traditional summer fair which you can visit every afternoon from 7.30pm in the same place (the little square at the end of Avenida Jaime I in Javea port).

News updates about both fairs are published at ‘Javea/Xabia Feria de Artesania puerto’ on Facebook.

His spectacular illusions intertwine with music and an impeccable staging, enriching the interaction with the audience. Conjuro presents a type of illusionism never seen before in Spain, a theatrical show that ranges from very powerful and spectacular numbers to games that will delight all kinds of audiences.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office up to one hour before the performance at the usual opening hours (Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5pm to 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 1.30pm) and online at Instanticket.es

Join Wine and Dine.

L’Alfas Party 2023

THE Youth department of Alfaz del Pi Town Hall has organised a technology and gaming event from Saturday June 17 to Sunday 18 in the gymnasium of the IES L’Arabí.

Doors will open at 4pm on Saturday afternoon and remain open non­ stop until 8am the following morning, giving participants the chance to make the most of the highspeed internet connections and multitude of activities on offer.

L’Alfas Party 2023 will feature different areas. The Land Zone will be private access and have limited places for participants to access the net with their own devices.

The Free Zone will be open

to the public with access to more than 20 Microsoft video consoles, as well as other activities relating to technology and videogames.

Participants will be able to show off their skills at FIFA 23, NBA2K, Fortnite, Brawl Stars, Just Dance, Clash Royale and many more for

CAZZIE and Doug of the U3A Denia Guitar Group welcome you to their next Open Mic night on Thursday June 22.

The event will take place at La Bresca restaurant in Els Poblets where there will be a full menu available from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Tickets cost €3 including raffle prizes and nibbles.

A variety of musicians will perform on the

mobile, XBox and PS5. Entrance and participation are free but require prior registration, which can be done through www.logrodesblo queado.com. For further information contact the Youth Information Centre on 610 205 329 or 965 887 435, or email juventud@lalfas.com.

Open Mic night

night and there are hygienic microphone covers available, but participants may bring their own. There is no facility for backing tracks. For more information call Cazzie on 633 488 448 or email expat_dragon@hotmail.com

GAMING EVENT: Many different activities on offer.

Fogueres de Sant Joan

THIS week and next is Javea’s main fiestas, the Fogueres de Sant Joan.

The bull­running is one of the key attractions with different types of sessions taking place on Thursday June 15 from 7pm to 12am and again at 7pm on Friday 16, Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 (also 12am). Music plays a vital role with several concerts and DJ sessions, including a 60s and 70s night on Friday 16 at 10pm in the Plaza de la Iglesia followed by a mobile disco in the bullring at 11pm, a Hawaiian­themed disco on Sunday 18 at 5.30pm in C/ Foguerer, concerts

CANTÃMUS CHOIR will be celebrating Midsummer with a concert called Midsummer Music at the Ermita de San Josep, La Fustera (Benissa coast) on Friday June 23 at 4pm.

The eclectic mix of music in the concert is designed to appeal to a wide audience; there is classical, pop and some musical theatre. The different types of music has been challenging and fun for the choir who are singing songs such as Love Can Build A Bridge, Circle of Life, The Impossible Dream and a

by Diàspora, Green Valley and Buhos at midnight in the Plaza de la Constitución, and many more.

Sunday 18 is Children’s Day with a pingpong tournament at the Palau d’Esports at 9.30am, bouncy castles and water games in the Plaza de la Constitución from 11.30am, free macarrones (pasta with tomato and mince) for children in the Plaza de la Constitución at 2pm and giant paella for everyone in the Parque Montaner at the same time…

For full programme of events visit www.javea.com.

Cantãmus Choir

be served at your table during the interval. Tickets are limited and booking is essential to allow for the catering. A portion of the ticket money will be given to Caritas so they can continue their work in the local community.

The Entertainers

THE ENTERTAINERS continue their early summer programme of live shows this week.

They will be performing at Los Arcos in Pedreguer today, Thursday June 15 in aid of SCAN animal charity and on Saturday June 17 they will be at the Marriot Hotel in La Sella to support the Guardian Angels charity.

On Wednesday June 21 they will be at Alcalalí fiestas, and then next Friday June 23 they will be performing at Benitachell Bowls Club (charity TBC).

Don’t just stop at one event, as The Entertainers have been hard at work lay­

Celebrating Midsummer.

brand new arrangement of The Sound Of Silence.

Included in the ticket price is afternoon tea, which will

Tickets are €17.50 and are available from members of the choir, by phone on 965 581 483, or online at https://www.philipashley.c om/boxoffice.php.

ing down a completely new programmes of songs, including many upbeat numbers and classics from several of our favourite artists and featuring solos from every member of the band, as well as their usual excellent choreography.

The Entertainers will be

ARTE.44 gallery in Calpe is hosting a new art exhibition by Marietta Olivares until July 22.

The paintings by Marietta Olivares exhibited in the gallery are the mature result of a long artistic career. In many of her works, human shadows can be seen, ‘traces of being and existence’, as the artist herself calls them. Works full of sensuality, full of love, but also full of suffering. Marietta is a Spanish artist who lives and works in Paris and Alicante.

performing soon at a venue near you for many of your local and favourite charities and they will once again be providing an excellent evening of music and visual entertainment.

Visit ‘The Entertainers Marina Alta’ for updated information and concert dates.

Art exhibition

The display can be visited on Thursdays and Fridays from 7pm to 9pm and Saturdays from 11am to 1pm and from 7pm to 9pm, or by personal appointment at info@arte44calp.com.

ARTE.44 is located at Carrer del Santíssim Crist, 44 in Calpe old town. For further information visit www.arte44calp.com.

LIVE SHOWS: The Entertainers will be at a venue near you.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Budget meltdown

WOKING Council is effectively bankrupt with debts of £2 billion (€2.3 billion) following predecessors’ risky investments involving skyscrapers and hotels. Its chief executive said the full impact on residents was not yet clear, but all spending for non ­ essential services had been halted after issuing a Section 114 notice.

Fully-owned

AFTER obtaining a 60 per cent stake in 2021 and increasing this to 62.5 per cent last year, Santander Bank bought the remaining 37.5 per cent of its Brazilian subsidiary Toro Investimentos. Santander did not reveal the sums involved on acquiring the online brokerage company, which has 1.3 million clients.

Sad loss

THE death was announced on June 7 of Sir Ivan Menezes (63), British ­ American long ­ time chief executive of Diageo, following a brief illness. He joined London­listed £75 billion (€87.2 billion) Diageo, now the world’s largest spirits manufacturer, after its formation following the 1997 merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan.

Nadal plans

FOLLOWING the success of Tatel in Madrid, and the Toto Italian restaurants, tennis ace Rafael Nadal and Baleares hoteliers, the Matutes family, intend to open similar restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There are also future plans for more eateries in Marbella, London, New York and Milan.

Tough times

CHALLENGING months lay ahead, the owner of the Simply Be and JD Williams home shopping companies warned after going into the red. Shares in N Brown Group, which also owns men’s clothing brand Jacamo, slumped after reporting annual losses of £71.1 million (€82.6 million) for the year ending on March 4.

Linda

Hall

SPAIN will ask Brussels for a total of €94 billion from the Next Generation’s Recovery and Resilience plan introduced to offset the after­effects of the pandemic.

“This will activate all the transfers and loans that have been assigned to Spain,” announced Nadia Calviño, who is the government’s principal vice­president as well as minister of Economic Affairs minister.

Addressing the June 6 Cabinet meeting, Calviño explained that Spain has also added a request for a further €10.3 billion to its initial recovery plan via the Next Generation fund. This will be used for 12

STAT OF WEEK €1.5 billion

plans to build Spain’s biggest shopping centres in Torremolinos and Valencia have been renewed by Eurofund Group following changes in the local governments after the May 28 elections.

More cash from Brussels

CALVIÑO: Spain has applied for all assigned EU cash, Economic Affairs minister said.

strategic projects that are already underway, she said.

The €84 million in ‘soft’ loans will provide Spain with a safety net which would permit ‘a strong rhythm’ of public and private investment for the future.

Calviño stressed that

CHIEF executives at companies linked to the UK’s soaring household bills have enjoyed multimillion paydays.

According to figures released on June 6, the National Grid, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer rewarded their top people with top earnings although all have been accused of profiteering from food inflation and the energy crisis resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

National Grid’s John Pettigrew received £7.2 million (€8.4m) for the last financial year, compared with £6.6 million (€7.7m) in 2021 according to the FTSE 100’s Power Networks Company. Pettigrew’s fixed pay fell although his variable pay, which included bonuses and long­term incentives, increased

Sandals in

PROFITS slid by 10 per cent for Dr Martens boots, the Northampton company’s most famous product. Sales fell 10 per cent in 2022 following errors in the US after the company concentrated on other items and battled problems at its Los Angeles warehouse.

Distribution in Latin America and China was also affected. In contrast, the footwear specialist said that sales of its sturdy sandals and shoes rose by approximately 50 per cent and represented approximately a third of total sales.

The ‘challenging consumer environment’ also produced a fall in demand in the US owing to high inflation, the company announced.

Best yet

These loans will be channelled through various financial vehicles, Calviño said, citing the Autonomous Communities’ Resilience Fund, which would be allocated €20 billion to finance sustainable investment projects.

MAHOU SAN MIGUEL reported a €1.7 billion turnover last year, 18.4 per cent more than in 2021 and the best figure in its history.

this did not imply an immediate increase in the country’s debt as there will be a 30 ­ year repayment period with an extra 10 years’ grace. The government calculates that this works out at around 35 basis points cheaper than raising the money through Treasury bonds.

The EU cash is to be handled in collaboration with the European Investment Bank, the vice­president said, although the Official Credit Institute would channel a further €22.5 billion to be used for business projects ­ particularly those involving green investment ­ with €1 billion set aside for tourism.

Payday bonanza

year and earned £4.9 million (€5.7m), overtaking his rival at Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket chain, after reaching profit, cashflow and personal targets.

The increase was partly due to a £2.3 million (€2.7m) long­term bonus, although Roberts also received a £1.7 million (€1.9m) annual bonus together with a 3.5 per cent rise that brought a £905,625 (€1.05m) salary.

Sales were boosted by higher consumption of beer and water, the company said, although net profits fell by 0.8 per cent to €102.1 million, affected by lower margins owing to higher costs.

These were not entirely passed on to consumers, while the company explained that it spent €499.2 million31 per cent more ­ on modernising factories, as well as a 6 per cent rise to reduce the impact of inflation on Mahou San Miguel’s 4,068 employees.

Good news

THE Organisation for Economic Co­operation and Development (OECD) increased Spain’s 2023 growth forecast from 1.7 to 2.1 per cent.

The OECD also increased its 2024 forecast from 1.7 to 1.9 per cent.

from £5.2 million (€6m) to nearly £6 million (approximately €7m).

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive received a 3.5 per cent rise last

Bank takes action

THE Daily and Sunday Telegraph will be auctioned off after their owners, the Barclay family, lost control of their two principal media assets.

Earlier, Lloyds Banking Group had threatened to put Press Acquisitions, which owns the newspapers’ parent company Telegraph Media Group (TMG), into administration after the breakdown of talks regarding loans that had accumulated over time.

On June 7, the UK media reported that Lloyds had appointed consultants AlixPartners as the official receiver for the Barclay family’s shares in the holding company which controls both newspapers and the Spectator magazine.

‘Multiple’ sources revealed that the bank, finally frustrated over repayment of a loan of ‘hundreds of millions’ of pounds, had decided to take action by removing Barclay family­appointed board members before auctioning the Telegraph titles and the Spectator magazine.

As sales and profits jumped, Stuart Machin, Marks & Spencer’s co­chief executive, received £2 million (€2.9m) last year, which included a £1 million (€1.16m) bonus.

Push off

UK banks will eventually have to refund all victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud within a week.

These scams occur when criminals trick victims into handing over a security code sent by their bank, allowing them to ransack their accounts.

Last year victims lost £485.2 million (€564.4 million) to this type of fraud, but banks are currently not obliged to refund them, although many have signed a voluntary agreement requiring them at least to consider cases.

In practice, however, banks refuse to pay around half of APP fraud refunds but Britain’s Payment Systems Regulator plans to introduce stringent rules for refunding customers in 2024.

The organisation placed Spain’s economic progress at the head of the eurozone, expecting growth of approximately 0.9 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent in 2024.

In the “challenging environment” caused the Ukraine war, the OECD predicted that inflation in Spain would fall more rapidly than anticipated, averaging 3.9 per cent both this year and in 2024.

CBI wins vote

THE Confederation of British Industry emerged unscathed from a confidence vote in London on Tuesday June 6.

Ninety­three per cent of the 371 members of Britain’s foremost business lobby group backed proposals to overhaul its ‘governance, culture, and purpose’ in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations. The result was “a really strong mandate from our members,” the CBI’s director general, Rain Newton ­ Smith said although leading companies including Aviva, BMW, BT, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Rolls Royce, have either left or suspended their membership.

NADIA

NATIONAL GRID: Chief executive John Pettigrew received €8.4 million last year.

Photo credit: Pool Moncloa, Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Photo credit: Pexels/Jan van Bizar

- FTSE 100

DOW JONES

Turkish delight

STRUGGLING Asos shares rose by 7 per cent following reports in the Sunday Times that it had received a £1 billion (€1.16 billion) takeover bid from the Turkish online retailer Trendyol last December.

Asos, which owns Topshop and Miss Selfridge, was valued at between £10 and £12 (€11.64 and €13.96) a share by Trendyol.

Old favourite

LINGERIE and stockings

company Marie Claire, founded in 1907, is in talks with the unions, employees and clients that include El Corte Ingles to find a solution that will allow it to survive. If an answer cannot be found, the firm will be obliged to start insolvency proceedings involving the loss of 280 jobs.

Whistle-blowing pays

Linda Hall

THE UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is stepping up its enforcement work against illegal cartels. These are businesses which cheat customers by agreeing not to compete in order to keep prices high, stopping the public and other firms from getting a fair deal and also stifling competition.

People who tell the CMA about unlawful cartel activity they have witnessed can now claim a reward of up to £250,000 (€290,308), in ­

Domestic priorities

IBERIA’S domestic flights provide 1,852 jobs and contribute €130 million to Spain’s gross domestic product as well as €199 million to tourism. Spurred by France’s decision to eliminate routes that could be covered by train in two and a half hours, the airline, together with consultants PwC, analysed the consequences of introducing a similar measure in Spain.

Economic considerations apart, the study

also established that 40 per cent of passengers took domestic flights to connect with another flight.

Eradicating these flights would require between eight and 10 high speed trains, connecting travellers with Spain’s Adolfo Suárez­Madrid Barajas airport on an hourly basis.

“At present there are none,” pointed out Iberia’s Sales director Beatriz Guillén.

No win

creased from £100,000 (€116,134).

“Businesses that participate in cartels, knowing them to be illegal, often go to great lengths to keep the cartel hidden and secret,” the CMA said.

“This makes them difficult to detect and harder to bring eliminate.”

The CMA’s ‘Cheating or Competing’ campaign has advice for people and businesses to help them spot, report and deter illegal anticompetitive practices. It encourages those who have witnessed illegal activity to report it by protecting their anonymity as well as offering a reward.

Businesses found to have been involved in illegal cartels can be fined up to 10 per cent of their annual turnover. Individuals directly involved can face up to five years in prison, while company directors risk disqualification from holding directorial positions for up to 15 years.

CORREOS cancelled the fouryear, €67 million contract for telecommunications services that it signed with Telefonica in February.

The decision to cancel the deal followed an appeal from Telefonica’s rival Orange, previously barred from the tender for alleged breaches, after the French company complained that revealing Telefonica’s financial offer had put all the other competing companies at a disadvantage.

Playing safe

JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP, which experienced a third year of losses and axed the staff bonus for only the second time since 1953, is spending more than £1 million (€1.16 million) on revitalising its children’s range. Executive director for John Lewis, Naomi Simcock, said the business wanted to create “an immersive experience” and a destination, “not just a shop.”

ILLEGAL CARTELS: Britain’s CMA will pay for information

Photo credit: Pixabay/elbgau

Beer crisis

SMALL craft beer manufacturers are going out of business as consumers choose cheaper options due to the cost of living crisis. Forty­five breweries entered insolvency in the year ending March 31 compared with 15 in 2022, according to Insolvency Service statistics.

Bank on it

SPAIN’S BBVA and Santander banks are amongst those handling America Movil’s 130 billion peso (more than €7 billion) fiveyear bond issue. The phone company, which is Telefonica’s principal rival in Latin America, is also using the services of the HSBV, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan banks.

Cleaning up

MITIE, a UK professional services and outsourcing company, announced a record full­year £4.05 billion (€4.7 bn) compared to £4 billion (€4.6 bn) in 2022. Contract wins, renewals, acquisitions and inflationary contract repricing offset unrenewed contracts and the previous year’s benefits from shortterm Covid work.

Football fans

TURNER, a subsidiary of Spain’s ACS Group which is chaired by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, will build the €1.4 billion New Highmark Stadium, future home of the Buffalo Bills American football team. The installation, with a capacity for 63,000 people, is due to open in 2026.

Ash cash

WE SODA, the world’s largest producer of natural soda ash, will be 2023’s first major float in London. The Turkish chemicals giant announced that it would seek a stock market listing this year in a deal that could put a value of between £6 to £7 billion (€6.97 to €8.13 billion) on the company.

Brexit seen from afar

Linda Hall

BREXIT was a “historic economic error” that helped to fuel the UK’s high inflation, a former US Treasury chief declared.

Talking to the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, Larry Summers said Brexit and other policies meant Britain’s economic problems were more acute than those of most other major countries.

“The UK’s economic policy has been substantially flawed for some years,” Summers said.

“Brexit will be remembered as a historic economic error that reduced the competitiveness of the UK economy, put downward pressure on the pound and upward pressure on prices, limited imports

and the supply of labour,” he added.

This all combined to contribute to higher inflation, maintained the for­

Gigaplant

mer Secretary of the Treasury who had advised both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Summers also slated the Bank of England, saying it had kept interest rates too low for too long, while the UK’s higher levels of inflation were reinforced by “very ill­judged” monetary policies that were too expansionary for too long.

The Bank of England has raised rates 12 times since the end of 2021, taking it to 4.5 per cent in May, although Summers said the only option was to stay the course with base rate hikes, although this would inevitably hit activity and growth.

“I’d be very surprised if Britain avoids a recession in the next two years,” he told the BBC.

Breaking more records

INDITEX earned a record €1.2 billion during the first quarter of the company’s fiscal year, 54 per cent more than during the same period in 2022.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased by 14 per cent to €2.2 billion. Earnings before interest and taxes rose 43 per cent to €1.5 billion, while profits before tax rose by 52 per cent to €1.5 billion.

The Galicia ­ based clothing giant, which owns the Zara, Massimo Dutti and Bershka labels amongst others, pointed out that this year’s results were especially buoyant, bearing in mind that last year’s first quarter figures had included a €216 million provision for Russia and Ukraine.

“The Spring ­ Summer collections continue to be very well received by our customers,” the Inditex interim report revealed. “Store and online sales between May 1 and June 4 have also increased by 16 per cent compared with the same two months in 2022.”

The Board of Directors will propose a dividend of €1.20 per share for the 2022 fiscal year at

A MULTINATIONAL car manufacturer intends to build a €4.5 billion gigafactory in the Valencian Community. The news was initially reported in the regional daily Levante­EMV and subsequently the national publication, Cinco Dias.

The regional government has signed a confidentiality agreement with the company in question while negotiations are underway. Although no name has been revealed, Tesla was mentioned by sources close to the process. Should the project materialise, investment would top Volkswagen’s €3 billion plant producing battery cells for electric vehicles in Sagunto (Castellon), although this could increase to €4.5 billion by 2026 should annual production capacity increase from 40 gigawatts per hour to 60.

Pensions result

the Annual General Meeting to be held next July.

The first interim payment of €0.60 per share was made on May 2 this year and the final dividend payment will be paid on November 2, Inditex announced.

Looking elsewhere

BEFORE the Ukraine invasion, Spain imported Russian crude oil. Now it looks to Venezuela (258,000 tons during 2023’s first quarter), Ecuador (148,000 tons) and Trinidad and Tobago (101,000 tons).

Colombia exported 586,000 tons to Spain between January and April,

four times more than during the first quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, shipments from Brazil grew to slightly more than two million tons, compared to 1.5 million tons in the first four months of 2022. Mexico, which sold over 2.7 million tons to Spain between January and April ­ 46 per cent more

ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS (ABF) is buying dairy technology company National Milk Records (NMR).

The company, which owns Primark and Twinings, has struck the £48 million (€55.8 million) deal in a bid to strengthen its agrifoods division. ABF is paying 215p (€2.50) a share for the Chippenham­based firm, an 87 per cent premium on NMR’s closing price two days before the announcement.

The acquisition would “significantly” boost its agriculture food business, AB Agri, which currently works with over

than during the same period in 2022 ­ is now Spain’s principal supplier of crude oil, ahead of the 2.2 million tons imported from the US. In contrast, oil purchases from Africa fell by 26 per cent, while those from the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia dropped 14 per cent.

Milky way

2,000 dairy farms globally, ABF told its investors.

NMR, founded 80 years ago, was previously part of the Milk Marketing Board, which controlled the UK’s milk production and distribution and ensured a minimum price for dairy farmers.

The takeover will also improve farmers’ profits and productivity and accelerate NMR’s strategic objectives, ABF said.

THE second phase of Spain’s state pensions reform will boost the Social Security system’s income in line with Brussels’ call for improvements ensuring the scheme’s financial viability.

A Bank of Spain analysis of the government measures that was published on June 7 concluded that this is most likely to affect middle­aged, well­paid, highlyqualified employees who work for big companies. The Bank also calculated that this would raise Social Security revenue by 0.9 per cent of the gross domestic product in 2050, two­10ths of a percentage point below the government’s estimate.

Women losing out

A WOMAN’S private pension pot in the UK is usually worth 35 per cent less than a man’s on reaching 55. After analysing data for both sexes between 2018 and 2020, government researchers found that, on average, women will have accumulated just £65 (€75.5) for every £100 (€116) in men’s private pensions.

As a result, women risk losing out on thousands of pounds as a result of the greater numbers who work part­time, their lower overall earnings and more time off for childcare or other caring duties, the investigation concluded.

LARRY SUMMERS: Brexit ‘a big mistake’ according to the former Secretary of Treasury.

INDITEX: Earnings rose by 54 per cent during Zara owner’s first quarter.

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

AH well, where shall we start this week ­ what about with young Prince Harry? Firstly we can’t of course refer to the ginger whinger as ‘poor’ Harry. He is actually sitting on millions, or the wife is! This henpecked hustler is now using up his precious gift of time by endeavouring to get a whole corporation of journalists prosecuted for handing out publicity which made him feel uncomfortable when he was a teenager.

This, sadly pathetic individual, who has been brought up with no financial or real survival worries whatsoever, has now married a partner whose life has probably been positively riddled with obstacles.

This mixed race young actress, who, when you examine her friends and nonassociation with her own father, or her attitude toward British royalty, appears to rather dislike anyone bearing Caucasian originality, has now obviously succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. She has reached the staggering achievement of becoming a

Fancy a bet?

globally recognised Princess/Duchess, a Queen of Hollywood, a Royal sister­in­law and an advisor to the brother of the future king of England. Not bad apples.

She obviously already rules the roost; in fact he’s actually just announced that he’s bringing the whole case just for her. That should get him a few cuddles! I’ll give ‘em a couple more years. Anyone fancy a bet?

Moving on. The conspiracy to bamboozle the public, particularly the youngsters, that the UK is a blissful society of mixed marriages and culturally entwined citizens is gaining ground by the day. Not only is the media now so full of misrepresentations and non ­ existent standards, it is guilty of committing enough false impressions to be up for prosecution. It has now been joined by the woke academics of the university of Cambridge, which is insisting to its students that Anglo Saxons actually didn’t exist as an ethnic group.

A further part of their conspiratorial efforts to undermine what they call the ‘myths of nationalism’. In

other words they are now trying to maintain that our ancestors never truly existed.

This of course gives even more ammunition to the multi ­ culturist brigades who are intent on overpowering the rights of the millions of true Anglo Saxon descendants that still dominate the citizenship of the United Kingdom (85 per cent)! Are they winning? Well they may be under the impression that they are, but of course the true battle, which they are too full of their own importance to realise, is actually the ever growing threat of Artificial Intelligence.

When this takes over, which it will, all their bull…t attitudes and theories will disappear along with the rest of us firmly entrenched under the new rulers of our planet ­ the purveyors of Artificial Power. An outcome which will ultimately be impossible for any of us to compete with. Whatever colour or nationality you happen to be.

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon and Friday 1pm till 3pm.

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

SAFER DRIVING OUR VIEW

IT must be assumed that speed limits in Spain are set with an eye to making it as safe on the road as possible for all parties.

However, it is not unusual to see drivers speeding and if the government really wanted to enforce the law and make a lot of money in fines, then speed cameras in every tunnel on every motorway would be the ideal option as few drivers seem able to drop from 120kph to the average 80kph which is the norm.

The Guardia Civil issue regular explanations about the proper use of lanes in roundabouts and considering how in Spain, roundabouts are almost national monuments with each being named and having special decorations, you would think that most drivers would understand the rules and follow them.

In the UK, drivers should stop if they

see pedestrians waiting to move onto zebra crossings but pedestrians are taught to actually check the safety of the road whilst the Spanish seem to have a belief that they should just be able to walk straight onto the crossing expecting as a matter of fact that drivers will automatically stop for them even if the paint on the road is so indistinct that unless you know the area, you might not even be aware that the crossing exists. Perhaps one of the most dangerous habits in Spain is the fact that many drivers of school coaches simply don’t take any notice of the speed limits, especially on dual carriageways and whilst they are charged with delivering their charges safely to and from school, they not only speed but then stop wherever they feel like to drop the children off.

By Clinica Britannia

We can change the look of your teeth

DO you want a smile that is bright and dazzling looking back at you in the mirror?

Then professional teeth whitening may be the answer for you. It is the most popular, affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure available and can amazingly change the look of your teeth.

Almost everyone experiences some teeth darkening or discolouring, this can be due to food and drink, medication, or just general ageing. Fortunately, now it’s easy to reverse these issues with tooth whitening.

Professional tooth whitening is a permanent non­invasive dental cosmetic procedure that can have a powerful impact on your overall appearance. Giving

Slim down with good fats

TEETH WHITENING: Give your confidence a boost.

you that fantastic smile you are looking for can increase your confidence no end.

The treatment can be performed both in­office by using a powerful and effective gel or in the comfort of your own home with custom made trays and gel.

With professional treatment you will not suffer any damage or sacrifice the strength of your teeth. Re­

sults can be seen within as little as an hour, and your teeth can become up to 10 shades lighter than their original colour.

If you want to give your confidence a boost, then contact our Dental Department at Clinica Britannia who can give advice on what tooth whitening method would be best suited to you.

Linda Hall SOME foods have the same effect as weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, an Australian nutritionist revealed. Originally created to help diabetes patients control their blood sugar, both mimic the GLP­1 hormone, telling the pancreas to make more insulin.

Sleep apart

THE NHS recommends between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for adults.

Nevertheless, stress and worry, a bedroom too hot or too cold, loud snoring, external noise or uncomfortable bed means many Britons are sleep deprived.

For those who believe snoring ought to top the list, Russell Foster, professor of Circadian Neuroscience at Brasenose College in Oxford suggested couples get rid of ear plugs in favour of sleeping separately.

They also make us feel full but, although safe, side effects can include nausea, constipation and diarrhoea.

Dr Emma Beckett, a senior lecturer in Food Science and Human Nutrition believes that good fats present in avocado, nuts and eggs produce the same effects, along with foods high in fermentable fibres like vegetables and whole grains.

“The nutrients that trigger GLP ­ 1 secretion are macronutrients,” Dr Beckett explained, writing in academic publication, The Conversation.

“This is why high fat, high fibre and high protein diets can all help you feel fuller for longer.”

Crisps win

A SALT tooth does exist.

A recent YouGov poll found that 40 per cent of Britons preferred crisps to chocolate, which could explain why the British Heart Foundation recommended following the World Health Organisation’s salt limit of five grammes a day by 2030.

“The result would be up to 1.4 million fewer new cases of high blood pressure and 135,000 fewer new cases of coronary heart disease,” the foundation said.

“There would also be up to 49,000 fewer new cases of stroke and more than 450,000 extra years in good health.”

Flips flop

FLIPFLOP weather is here, but a podiatrist advised against them.

Paul Macauley, a medical professional who treats of disorders of the feet and ankles, said that on putting your foot through a flipflop’s loops, you have to grip the sole with your toes.

“This can cause clawtoeing, when the joints in the toe bend like a claw and become inflexible. Constantly wearing flip flops can also lead to tendonitis which causes pain and stiffness, he said.”

MACRONUTRIENTS: Lean protein like eggs trigger GLP-1.

Photo credit; Pixabay/Couleur

Hearing Care Costa Blanca: Belonging again

HEARING care professionals can play a crucial role in the lives of hearing­impaired individuals by providing essential services and support to help improve their overall quality of life. The team at Hearing Care Costa Blanca possess specialised knowledge and skills in diagnosing, managing, and treating various hearing­related conditions, helping you to enjoy everything life has to offer and bring a sense of belonging back.

Losing our hearing can be an upsetting and confusing

time, making it difficult to navigate the world around us and communicate with others. Each individual’s hearing needs are unique.

Hearing Care Costa Blanca offers personalised care and treatment plans, taking the time to understand any specific concerns, lifestyle and communication goals to provide tailored solutions.

All of the hearing care professionals are reliable and trustworthy and work in collaboration with general practitioners as well as ENT doctors.

Hearing care is constantly evolving. Hearing Care Costa Blanca keeps up ­ to ­ date with the latest innovations and advancements in technology and can offer you effective and customised solutions to suit your needs and lifestyle. They use state­of­

By Clinica Britannia

the­art equipment and offer affordable, modern hearing aids and assistive listening devices. All of the dedicated hearing care professionals have extensive experience and qualifications, as well as being StAr registered (Stichting Audiciensregister).

The team are ambulatory hearing care professionals and have sitting addresses at several clinics spread across the area. In addition, they can visit you at home if preferred, providing you with diagnosis and solutions without having to leave your house. The various options provided make it even easier for clients to attend appointments, follow­ups and emergencies.

Hearing care is a journey, that’s why Hearing Care Costa Blanca offers continuous support and follow­up care, providing regular check­ups, adjustments, and maintenance services for hearing aids and other devices. Your situation will be carefully assessed and the team will discuss suitable solutions for your needs, taking into ac­

New flexible denture now available

count the cost and suitability. In addition to hearing aids, they can also supply customised hearing protection and swimming caps.

Led by Ali Jonker and Johan Sagel, who have been helping people with their hearing care and solutions for over 30 years, the team have a shared goal to “help hearing impaired people belong again and connect them with their family, friends and environment.”

Their objective is to promote the health, independence, and comfort of their clients, accompanying you on the journey to better hearing health.

Get in touch with the friendly and professional team now to discuss how you can enjoy the sounds of life again!

Natural selection

NATURAL deodorants without aluminium are supposedly safer than those we have been using for decades.

DENTURES: More comfortable and easier to use.

LOOKING for a fast and professional denture service?

Then look no further.

Here at Clinica Britannia we are happy to offer our existing and new patients an Express Service for the repair of any type of dental prosthesis (denture) within as little as one hour, due to our onsite laboratory and technicians. If you already have existing dentures and want them to look like new again, then why not have

them cleaned and polished, we can make that happen whilst you wait.

Did you know that a completely new set of dentures can now be made within four days, allowing you to enjoy your new smile within record time, you could even have them made without interrupting your vacation.

Now available is a new flexible denture, which is made of a material known

as nylon. This semi­flexible high­quality material is almost transparent and can be made to mimic the natural colour of the gums, for a completely natural look.

Thanks to the technological advances in the world of dentistry, the materials used for the creation of dental prostheses has improved immensely, making them last longer, much more comfortable and easier to use.

For further information contact our Dental Team at Clinica Britannia who will be happy to answer all your questions.

Dermatologists, skin microbiome experts and even an oncologist said there was no definitive evidence linking regular deodorants or antiperspirants to Alzheimer’s disease or breast cancer. Neither do they destroy ‘good’ bacteria living under your arms or prevent armpits from eliminating ‘harmful toxins’ that build up in lymph nodes as was once claimed.

And natural deodorants can still contain problematic ingredients or substances that irritate your skin, the experts pointed out.

Better hearing health.

BotHair® UltraPlus: Redefining hair transplants

BOTHAIR® UltraPlus is Insparya’s groundbreaking technology, revolutionising the field of hair transplants. This innovative device ensures higher precision in extracting follicular units while streamlining the entire transplant process and reducing the risk of damage.

By simplifying the extraction procedure, we have significantly shortened the overall transplant time, providing an unmatched patient experience.

BotHair® UltraPlus combines the extraction and preservation of follicular units into a single step, eliminating the need for excessive handling. This preserves the vitality and future hair production capacity of the units, resulting in faster and more successful transplants. Our advanced so­

Early start

IF you want to target ultra ­ processed foods, breakfast is the best time to start.

Eliminating habitual favourites like croissants, cereal and white toast, together with sweetened drinks, fruit juice or flavoured yoghurts, could cut your daily intake by more than a third, food expert Professor Tim Spector from King’s College London said.

“Substitute them with natural yoghurt and mixed nuts, mixed beans or mushrooms on sourdough bread, or make a spinach and cheese omelette,” the professor advised in a podcast.

lution allows for piercing the skin surface, detaching and aspirating the follicular unit, and transferring it to a storage location with a preservative solution. The device features a motor with optimal rotation speed and a hollow punch that

applies suction during aspiration. This unique architecture improves clinician handling, streamlining the process and delivering superior outcomes in a single six­hour session!

Benefits of BotHair® UltraPlus:

Ageless taurine?

1. Patented Technology: BotHair® UltraPlus is the result of our proprietary research and development, giving us a distinctive advantage in the market.

2. Shorter Procedure Time: By consolidating multiple transplant stages, BotHair® UltraPlus significantly reduces procedure time. Extraction and aspiration of follicular units are combined, directly transferring them to the preservation solution.

3. Minimised Damage to Follicular Units: With reduced handling, the risk of trauma and damage during extraction is minimised, ensuring higher viability and improved quality of the units.

4. Enhanced Survival Rate of Hair Follicles: BotHair® UltraPlus optimises extraction, resulting in a greater volume of

viable follicular units and improved transplant outcomes.

5. Comfortable and Automated Process for the Medical Team: The automated nature of BotHair® UltraPlus reduces the medical team’s movements from 4,000 to an average of just 160, enhancing procedure quality and safety while preventing injuries.

6. Reduced Risk of Errors: With fewer movements required, the risk of errors during the transplant process is significantly reduced, ensuring patient satisfaction and optimal results.

BotHair® UltraPlus is a game ­ changer in hair transplant technology, offering unparalleled precision, efficiency, permanent results. Experience the future of hair restoration with Insparya’s innovative solution.

Linda Hall

LABORATORY mice given taurine, an ingredient added to energy drinks, lived an extra three to four months.

Columbia University scientists in the US also found that taurine slowed the ageing process, helping the mice to ward off agerelated issues.

An essential amino acid considered vital for maintaining muscle function, eyesight and metabolism, research suggests that taurine supports the nervous and immune systems.

It is produced naturally in the body and is present in meat, seafood, dairy products and eggs.

Although the study did not demonstrate that taurine could improve human lifespans, but the researchers said they believed it had “potential.”

TRANSPLANTS: Experience the future of hair restoration with Insparya.

TAURINE: Essential amino acid is added to energy drinks.

Double-edged sword of AI: Saviour or destroyer?

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) is no longer a concept confined to science fiction. It’s become an integral part of our daily lives, from the voice assistants on our phones to selfdriving cars and medical diagnosis systems.

However, with great power comes great responsibility and as we increasingly rely on AI technology, it’s important to consider both its advantages and threats. One of its most significant benefits is its ability to increase efficiency in various industries. In healthcare, AIpowered diagnostic tools can analyse vast amounts of patient data much faster than doctors, not only saving time, but also reducing errors in diagnoses. In addition to improving efficiency, AI can also help us make better decisions by providing insights that humans may overlook due to cognitive biases or limited processing abilities. For instance, stock traders use algorithms that analyse market trends and predict future outcomes more accurately than any human could.

Another advantage of AI is its potential for

automation, improving productivity while reducing labour costs since machines don’t require breaks or wages ­ or go on strike!

Nonetheless, experts warn about the dangers posed by unchecked development of AI intelligence technology. One major concern is job displacement as machines replace human

workers across many industries leading to mass unemployment. Furthermore, it’s feared if left unregulated, the rapidly advancing capabilities of AIs may soon surpass those of even highly­trained professionals like lawyers or doctors. They could even become redundant and their livelihoods destroyed.

Those in creative industries worry too. ‘Succession’s’ Jeremy Strong claims AI can’t write ‘Succession’s’ ‘killer lines’. Similarly, Michelin star level chefs maintain only a human can distinguish between ‘different levels of flavour, depths... more nuances’.

Another threat posed by advanced AIs concerns ethical considerations when they’re used for tasks requiring moral judgement, empathy or compassion. They can tell you what you want, but not what you mean. For instance, asked how to reduce diabetes, one bot answered: ‘Kill all the obese’. Again, AI in the military can make decisions about who to target during a conflict without considering the ethical implications. Remember the recent USA ‘rogue AI drone’ that supposedly ‘killed’ its operator?

In addition to these concerns, there’s also the possibility that AIs could pose an existential threat to humanity if they were allowed unchecked access and control over critical in­

frastructure such as nuclear power plants or weapons systems. Such scenarios could lead to catastrophic consequences beyond our ability to comprehend.

AI technology has enormous potential for improving efficiency and productivity across all industries. However, it’s essential that policymakers regulate the use of AI technologies so that it balances benefits with risks. And so help ensure that humans remain firmly in control while reaping maximum benefit from these powerful new tools ­ and double­edged sword. And, finally, dear readers, did you know how certain earlier inventions came about? Did you know, for instance, that women’s corsets led to the invention of the modern umbrella? Or that the hovercraft emerged from an empty cat­food tin? Or how the Internet really came into existence? And do you think there’ll ever be an invention to cure men’s snoring or leaving dirty socks anywhere but the laundry basket?

No, I didn’t think so either…!

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

but now I just put my headphones on either to watch a film on my laptop or listen to music.

WHILE I was still in the USA and I know I have written about this place before, but I have to relate a couple of things that happened to me whilst I was there.

I went to see a doctor in Houston and then took a flight to Las Vegas on a small puddle jumper.

That is what they call the planes that fly the short trips. I get in my seat and buckle up ready for my flight. I’m in the window seat. I look up and coming down the aisle is a large man - a very large man! I’m talking omfg large!!

Now let me point out he is not fat ( I’m not even sure I can say that anymore). He is just a huge bloke and of course he manoeuvres into the middle seat next to me. Now I’m not a great chatter on a plane and never have been.

I’m not interested in striking up a conversation with a complete stranger who wants to know my life story. So as soon as I sit in my seat I make myself busy. It used to be reading all the stuff in the seat pocket, including what to do with the sick bag,

Anyway he sits down and within a few minutes he has his head back and is asleep, but he has the whole armrest and is now well into my seat too! So what do you do? Well I’m not well known for my ‘suffering in silence’ abilities so when the cabin crew lady with the trolley asks if I want anything out comes, “Yes a bigger seat please as I’m sharing mine with him”! He looks at me and says, “What’s the matter”? I tell him that he is invading my space ( I’m being American - it’s what they say)

There is no apology. Nothing. Just a big huffing noise and a horrified look from the air hostess. Well, I’m not doing this PC stuff anymore. He moves his arms so I can have my seat to myself. I really don’t get it. Why am I made to feel bad because he is a big guy?

The rest of the flight was OK but I don’t think I’m on his Christmas card list and it was interesting to see the reaction of other people that heard what was going on. What would you have done? I’d be interested to know.

Email me at mikesenker@gmail.com let me have your thoughts.

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.

I’m not doing this PC stuff anymore

Help in times of need

EXPAND YOUR SPANISH

A DOMESTIC disaster can strike in the best­run and happiest of households, and at this point you are going to need practical help.

That will be a workman, a tricky word from the equality and inclusivity point of view although it must be admitted that when the person who turns up to sort out your wiring or plumbing, 99.9 per cent of the time will be a male. You can expect the same odds when looking for a mechanic for your car.

So the first thing you’ll say will be:

I’m looking for a plumber/ electrician/mechanic/carpenter/builder/ locksmith….busco un fontanero/electricista/mecánico/carpintero/albañil/ cerrajero

So far, so good but although handymen abound here, pinning one down with a specific name is less easy, so if you want someone to do a job that you don’t fancy doing yourself, you’ll need to say, as a Spanish person would:

I’m looking for someone to fix a blind/doorknob/canalón…..busco a alguién para arreglar una persiana/un pomo/un canalón

This kind of small job, once carried out,

Gold, sweetheart!

can be described as Una chapuza, an interesting word which can mean an improvised and sometimes virtuoso repair job that can last for years or a shoddy piece of work that immediately collapses or explodes.

If you have found the person you are looking for, ask:

Can you come straight away?.....¿puede venir en seguida?

When can you come?.....¿cuándo puede venir?

What time are you coming?.....¿a qué hora vendrá?

Once they are there:

It’s not working/it’s broken…..no funciona/está roto(a)

Can you mend it now?.....¿podrá arreglarlo ahora mismo?

How long will it take?.....¿cuánto va a tardar?

How long before the spare parts arrive: ¿cuánto tardarán las piezas en llegar?

Then comes the serious business: How much is it going to cost…..¿cuánto me va a costar?

I’d like a written estimate…..me gustaría un presupuesto por escrito Estimado, in contrast, means esteemed and although it sounds as stilted in Spanish as it does in English, it’s used where we say Dear when starting a formal letter.

LINDA HALL

POPE BENEDICT XVI visited Valencia in July 2006, although his Oliver Twist moment was reported only by the regional media.

Apparently Benedict was given horchata at the Archbishop’s palace where he stayed overnight. He liked it so much that before saying Mass to the usual multitude next day he asked for more horchata.

Not water, your Holiness? No, it had to be horchata and as this is principally a summer drink served ice ­ cold or as a shaved­ice granita, the pope’s request for more made sense.

You’ll find horchata wherever you go in Spain, although it originated in Valencia, where it is traditionally accompanied by sausage­shaped buns going by the unfortunate name of fartons.

Horchata is made from chufas, the little brown nutty things we called tiger nuts when I was little. Depending on which Google explanation you like best, something like horchata appears to have arrived with the Moors in the ninth century although the drink origi­

nated in the Sudan.

According to archaeologists, it was habitually left amongst the afterlife provisions in Egyptian tombs while Persian and Arab writers praised its digestive and antiseptic qualities. Even now, drinking horchata is still a popular household remedy for an upset stomach.

Nevertheless its name comes from the Italian orzata, which in turn derives from the Latin ordeata ­ made from hordeum or barley ­ meaning that horchata wasn’t always made from tiger nuts.

In Valencia, they tell you another different story, maintaining that in the 13th century the king of Aragon, Jaime I El Conquistador who retook Valencia from the Moors, was given a sweet, white, milky concoction to drink.

He asked what it was and the girl who was serving him explained that it was chufa milk.

“¡Aixo no es llet! ¡Aixo es or, xata!” he exclaimed (“This isn’t milk ­ this is gold, sweetheart!”). Fortunately for posterity, they were both speaking Valenciano and Jaime was able to combine or and xata to create a name for the drink we know today.

Unvarnished news LETTERS

I have recently taken on a new role with Euro Weekly News and am Editorial Consultant reviewing the type and style of articles that are published both in the seven weekly editions of the newspaper as well as the web page.

One story that we have been concentrating on, which appears to be ignored by much of the mainstream media, is the plight of some 104 followers of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light sect who have been arrested and allegedly tortured due to their beliefs in Turkey.

It has been quite incredible how many supporters of this peaceful faith community which follows many of the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed have read and responded to these articles thanking Euro Weekly News for reporting their case.

Many of the comments are in Arabic but EWN has arranged for them to be translated into English so that readers can understand their comments.

It is very heart­warming to know that the largest English language newspaper in Spain is reaching across the world and doing something, no mater how little, to spread the unvarnished news.

Visit https://euroweeklynews.com/ 2023/05/27/104­members­of­a­religiousminority­face­imprisonment­or­executionon­the­turkish­bulgarian­border/ to read the full story.

John Smith Editorial Consultant EWN

Tourism fight back

There is a Facebook group called ‘180 days in Spain’ trying to get the UK government to reach a bilateral agreement with the Spanish government giving UK citizens equal rights to those of EU citizens arriving in the UK, who can stay for six months without a visa. This would help UK citizens who own homes in Spain and allow for both Easter holidays and summer holidays.

David Candlish

To David Worboys

“Third, cats are discreet…”

And where do you think they poop? That’s right, they poop in the neighbour’s property! These selfish animals keep their home clean. That’s why they prefer the clean garden of the neighbour ­ very social!

Maybe people will get cats because they have the same mindset and traits ­ BRAVO! Sometimes your column is useful, but this time it was an ill­considered own goal...

Regards

Ralph / Torre del Mar

Hi Anna

Just a quick thank you for running our football donation article. It was a great advert for the club.

Regards Duncan

Leapy

You’re welcome Graham. Yours is the first page I turn to when the paper comes out every week. I like a person who speaks their mind, and I sometimes share your column with friends in Britain. Many say that wouldn’t be allowed over there, but like your honesty.

Keep up the good work.

Hi Lee

Regards

Colin

100% agree with your comments in EWN I presume that you have read ‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley. Prescient is a word that comes to mind.

Have you looked at Reform Party? I reckon they deserve a chance.

Vids worth watching:

History debunked

Rotten Politics

Mahyar Tousi

...and in USA:

Crossroads with Joshua Philipp

Best regards and keep up the great work!! Max

Jumped ship

Well, I expect you have heard by now that Britain’s answer to Trump has resigned. Even in his resignation statement Boris Johnson can’t tell the truth. He isn’t being forced out anti democratically. His departure is a nail in the Brexit coffin, which I expect you will have a comment to make about. He’s looked at the report, he knows the damage it will create, so he is avoiding the humiliation. He jumped before he was pushed.

I expect you know that there are now eight ex PMs and they are entitled to public financial support which was established after Margaret Thatcher resigned. The PDCA allows a former prime minister to claim up to £115,000 a year paid for by the tax payer. Of course they can earn a lot more on top of that by travelling around the world making speeches, while the average British tax payer struggles to pay electricity, gas, water and food bills.

Trump and Johnson are both Americans, both born in New York, both got silly hair cuts, both lie. The only difference is Johnson hasn’t got a ginger face.

Regards

Colin

CAN WE CONTROL OURSELVES?

THE opportunities and the dangers in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have received increasing publicity over the past 50 years, especially in the last 10. The benefits of increasing advances in technology are extraordinary. From distance and direction sensors to language translation, from speech and facial recognition to journey mapping and robots in manufacturing and medicine, it seems that human intelligence is becoming superfluous. AI can even convert text into video.

All these advances were achieved by humans, but can we regulate AI’s advance or can it eventually take control of us?

One of the dangers is the loss of jobs. How to distribute a nation’s income and wealth generated by AI in the absence of labour and wages or profession and salaries? But, beyond that, what will be the nature of the human race.

Will human evolution lead to the ability to create future humans by means other than natural procre­

ation? Humans have already been cloned in China, but will we be able order or otherwise acquire a madeto­order son, daughter or cross­between­the­two? This would involve modifications to the existing cloning procedures. Let’s take the cases of Ben Dover and Helen Highwater (not their real names!).

Ben Dover has an inflated ego and a high opinion of himself and would like a son exactly in his image. The same blue eyes, dark hair

and smug smile; the same interest in Mexican history and modern art; the same prowess in business and tennis. So, he goes to the necessary authority, presents his specifications and orders a suitable baby.

Helen Highwater, herself rather plain, reads fashion and celebrity magazines with envy and wants a daughter with good looks and style. Can the stem cells be engineered to produce these features?

If such human­created bodies

start to populate the planet, they will lack the distinguishing feature of all humans who have existed until now ­ the soul. So, could the planet be populated by a mixture of natural humans and created ones? And, if so, would the vast majority of artificial humans (without souls) be in the technologically developed countries? Which species would have dominance? And how could they be distinguished?

The AI humans can compose music, paint portraits and create art and scientific concepts but would they be able to make plans for the future and reminisce over the past?

To imagine hypothetical situations or feel emotions? To distinguish between right and wrong?

Humans can already create a body and a brain ­ but not a mind. The brain responds to and is controlled by the mind. The mind, in turn, can´t function without the use of the brain. Furthermore, it is surely impossible for humans to create a soul or a spirit.

Could a manufactured mind have feelings of guilt, forgiveness, sympathy and euphoria? It is surely the soul that distinguishes humans throughout history from the alarming possibilities of the future.

We help with your support

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

In that time the expat community has grown a hundredfold while the number of visitors has reached heights unforeseen back then.

Of the 18 million plus visitors from the UK to Spain each year the vast majority are without incident ­ and not all visitors are here for a two week break on the beach. Many come to see friends and family.

The UK consulates do an incredible job sorting out problems when they arise but many people are under the mistaken view that the consulates can also pay for someone’s repatriation or expenses if things go wrong.

Earlier this week we were alerted by a UK consular office of a young British woman who had come out to see her boyfriend who was working in a bar at a coastal resort.

She had planned to spend a few weeks ­ maybe longer and was thinking that maybe if things worked out she would stay and see how things went.

Nothing concrete ­ just an idea in her head to be with a guy she liked and was starting to think of something more long term.

It turned out to be the opposite ­ in fact within a few days she had already seen that not only was he a very heavy drinker but was violent towards her, so much so that the first day she was too numb to move.

He started attacking her the next night after a drinking session and hit her repeatedly causing injury. This time she screamed for help and fled into the night.

She was picked up by a Guardia Civil patrol and taken into town ­ she used the last of her money for a ticket home and tried to make the flight ­ but she arrived too late and had to contact the local consulate for help as she had no friends or family who could help ­ they in turn contacted the BBF to pay for her flight home which we were able to do on the same day.

She is now back home. We can only help people with your support. If you would like to make a donation please visit www.british benevolentfund.org to see how you can make the difference. Thank you on behalf of all the beneficiaries of your generosity.

Olaf Clayton, Chair BBF.

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

In very different ways, Frankenstein and Alan Turing made us aware of the possibilities of artificial intelligence.

Photo credits: tcm.com and turingarchive.org

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

Caring for birds

PET birds are unique and fascinating companions, offering a different ex perience compared to more tradi tional pets such as dogs and cats. Caring for these exotic creatures may seem daunting, but with a little knowl edge and dedication, you can pro vide a loving and nurturing environ ment for your feathery friend.

A bird’s cage serves as its home, providing a safe and comfortable space for it to live in. Ensure the cage is spacious enough for your pet bird to stretch its wings and move about freely. Also make sure it is away from direct sun light, draughts, and extreme temperatures and filled with everything it needs like perches of various sizes and materials for foot ex ercise and comfort, food and water dish es that are easily accessible and easy to clean, and safe toys for mental stimula­

House-sitters care for dogs

tion and entertainment. Regular cleaning is a must.

A well­rounded diet is essential for your pet bird’s overall health.

Avoid feeding your bird an all­seed diet, as this can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Offer your bird a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables just make sure to avoid feeding your bird avocado, chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol, as these can be toxic to them.

Finally, dedicate time each day to interact with your pet bird through play, training, and cuddling, and allow your bird to spend time outside of their cage daily, under close supervision. Ensure the room is safe, with all windows and doors closed, and remove any potential hazards. This time outside of the cage allows your bird to explore, stretch their wings, and bond with you.

Cat-proofing hacks

AS much as we love our feline friends, their playful nature can wreak havoc on our furniture. Scratched couches, chairs, and tables are a familiar sight to most cat owners. However, cat­proofing your home does not mean sacrificing style for function.

Thankfully, there are some easy hacks you can use to keep your home safe and kitty­friendly. One simple trick is to cover up any exposed wires or cords so that your cat can’t chew through them.

Another is to keep fragile or valuable objects out of your cat’s reach by placing them on high shelves or in cabinets with secure doors.

Finally, make sure to keep all household cleaning products stored safely away from your cat’s reach. With these simple hacks, you can create a safe and happy home for you and your feline friend.

When it comes to having cats in the house, it’s important to set some boundaries right from the start. One of

the best tips is to block off areas that are off­limits to your feline friends, such as stairs or high counters. This will help keep them safe and prevent any potential accidents from happening. Using childproof locks or gates is a great way to secure these areas and ensure that your cat doesn’t explore where it shouldn’t. Remember, creating a safe and comfortable environment for your cat is key to keeping them happy and healthy.

HOUSE-SITTERS can play a vital role in the care of pet dogs, especially in the summer months when we tend to holiday away from home. Most of our house­sitters have dog care experience and know that keeping them cool and entertained and healthy while you are a way is vital. Housesitters can help you with that.

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

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

needed

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

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

How does it work?

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

who’ll care for your pets. Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesit match.com

I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent.

Tristram Cosgrave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga

How do you join?

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

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

Photo credit: Pixabay/JamesDeMers

Benji loves swimming in a pond to keep cool in the summer months.

Photo credit: Pixabay/luxstorm

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PROPERTY WANTED

RETIRED couple looking for long term rental in La Marina Baixa - prefer two beds. Needed urgently - call Janice on 0044 7736 251 800 (279523)

COSTA BLANCA CASASVilla rentals. Do you still want to rent your property this summer? It’s not too late ! Give us a call 0034 666 327 729 (303580)

REMOVALS/STORAGE

BENIDORM and surrounding areas. Two-man removal. 622 658 992

MAN & VAN for hire, cheap & reliable. Jalon Valley & surrounding area. Call/Whatsapp 636 100 873 (303571)

ROLLER SHUTTERS

ROLLER SHUTTER REPAIRS, awnings, motors, mosquito blinds. Calpe + 50 kms. 659 464 992 www.toldosalche my.com

JAVEA SKIP HIRE. CALPE TO DENIA. 2.5M AND 3.5M SKIPS. GARDEN OR RUBBLE.TEL:692 588 088. (302905)

If you can read it, so can your clients. Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS

MARK PADDON BSc Hons. MCIOB, CAAT – for buyer’s survey & defects advice. Tel: 653 733 066 / 962 807 247 www.costablancasurveyors. com

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM

TEL: 902 889 070 (2001)

TRANSLATIONS

SPANISH INTERPRETER for all your appointment needs, has car. Effective, Friendly & Affordable service. Call 609 679 808

HIGH-quality professional document translation for immigration, legal, academic, financial, literary and advertising purposes. All languages. +34 645 367 157. www.wordsmith translations.com

INSURANCE

MG3 - well priced, endearing and fun

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack

MG are making a bit of a name for themselves producing affordable EVs,

and pitting themselves against more established makers charging a premium for their EVs. MG’s main models though are SUVs, understandable given their popularity,

but the non ­ electric MG3 (available when MG start ed under its new Chinese owner) remains in the price lists.

This five ­ door hatchback is smart and equipment laden and by today’s standards a bit of a bargain. The two models start from €16,162/ £13,820 with standard equipment in cluding powered and heated door mirrors, air conditioning, power windows, DAB sound system with Apple Car Play, Bluetooth, remote steering wheel controls, eight­inch colour touchscreen, hill hold and auto door locking. The higher trim version at €18,151/£15,520 adds navigation, cruise control, parking camera and sports seats.

The Achilles heel of the MG3 is its engine, a fourcylinder, 1.5 ­ litre petrol unit that is best described as old school technology.

Mated to a manual fivespeed gearbox the combination is adequate, but lacks sufficient power and at cruising speed you always find yourself going for a sixth gear that isn’t there.

At 70mph the MG sits at around 3,200 rpm, which makes things a tad busy where a more relaxed gearing pattern would help. The need to work the engine also

doesn’t help the economy, my mainly local driving week saw a 7.2 l/100km (39mpg) average.

On cross country roads the MG comes alive with decent steering and a slightly firm suspension set ­ up that keeps the car sitting quite flat through energetic cornering. The power is at the higher end of the engine’s rev range and with a nice

gear change makes it a fun drive.

As an example the admittedly more adept and capable Vauxhall Corsa will still set you back €22,296/£19,085, that’s a substantial difference. Of course, the Corsa will depreciate less, most likely prove as, if not more, durable on the quality front and overall feel more polished. Keep the MG for a longer time though and allied to that cheaper price tag it makes for an appealing proposition.

Despite some misgivings the MG is an endearing car, it handles well, is good fun and very well priced. It’s comfortable with a good driving position and for those on a budget the cheapest way to get a new car that is a bit different to the normal mass of budget cars, and actually doesn’t look like a budget model.

MG3: Smart, equipment laden and by today’s standards a bit of a bargain.

BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather Jr on Sunday June 11, took on the grandson of New York gangster John Gotti in Florida in his latest exhibition fight. But a brawl broke out when the fight was halted in the sixth round.

The fight was due to be eight rounds of two minutes each, but the referee Kenny Bayliss waved it off in the sixth, which greatly displeased Mayweather’s opponent. Daily Loud posted a video on Twitter saying: “Floyd Mayweather’s exhibition fight with John Gotti III ends in massive brawl.”

Gotti, 30, evidently didn’t believe the fight was over as he pushed past the referee to swing at Mayweather after the fight had officially ended. He had been clearly irritated by Mayweather’s dominance and had wanted to get the last word in.

Unfortunately, he was up against the living legend ‘Money’ Mayweather, who in typical style weaved and bobbed until he could land the superior strike in the postfight exchange. Shortly after this, the fighters’ teams swarmed the ring and chaos ensued.

The chaos spilt over into the crowd and backstage area of the FLA Live Arena in Florida.

Boxing match ends in chaos

Floyd Mayweather, you my enemy for life.” He tagged Conor McGregor in his post. McGregor who also lost to Mayweather in a boxing fight is an MMA legend.

The BBC quoted Floyd Mayweather as saying after the fight: “That’s why they pay the big bucks because I put on a show.” The fight had been Mayweather’s first exhibition fight in the US since he beat Logan Paul in 2021.

Police had to clear the arena as tempers seemed to flare among fighters, staff and spectators alike. Despite showing a lot of humility towards Mayweather before the fight, those feelings have appeared to evaporate since.

Gotti is 5­1 in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and a professional boxer with a 2­0 record, later reacted on Instagram by saying: “Punk b****,

Always keen to strut his still very effective style, despite his 46 years, ‘Money’ Mayweather will no doubt be back looking to further top up his bank balance.

MAYWEATHER: Always keen to strut his very effective style.

England Ace off to Real Madrid Messi set for Inter Miami

AFTER much conjecture, the news is that Lionel Messi, arguably the world’s greatest football player, has finally made up his mind about his next team.

Lionel’s father Jorge has been very outspoken about his son’s future team and said that by Wednesday, June 7, a decision would be announced, according to a news source.

Although no official signing has taken place as yet, and despite strong offers from Barcelona and Saudi Arabia, the smart money is on Inter Miami, which is partly owned by David Beckham.

There was strong speculation that the seven­time Ballon d’Or winner would follow his heart and return to Barcelona. A decision that was also his wife Antonella’s preferred choice.

Sadly, a return to the Spanish club isn’t likely, partly because of a persistent lack of trust with La Blaugrana president Joan Laporta.

Even Guillem Balague, Messi’s biographer was confident enough to post even a message early on Wednesday afternoon: ‘Messi has decided. His destination: Inter Miami. Leo Messi goes to Inter Milan.’

An extremely lucrative offer to play in Saudi Arabia wasn’t enough to turn the player’s head it seems, as Lionel and his wife reportedly do not see themselves and their three boys settling in the Gulf desert.

All of this leaves Inter Miami currently sitting in pole position. If Messi’s destination is indeed Florida, Barcelona fans’ disappointment may be short­lived, as talk of a much­anticipated loan spell at Barça could be on the cards.

Messi is expected to announce his decision in a statement on his social networks as soon as it becomes confirmed

ENGLAND’S rising star Jude Bellingham has signed a dream contract with Real Madrid at the tender age of 19. A €103 million deal has been agreed as reported on Wednesday, June 7.

Fabrizio Romano posted on Twitter saying: “Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid, here we go! Agreement in place with Borussia Dortmund. It’s a done deal. Fee: €100 million plus add­ons. Bellingham will sign six­year deal valid until June 2029 agreed in April. Medical tests already booked as Madrid wanted to get it done this week.”

His move from Borussia Dortmund will see the continued ascent of Bellingham, whose agreement could be worth closer to €130 million with add­ons.

Manchester City and Liverpool were amongst other suitors, but Real Madrid acted quickly and decisively to bag the England star who becomes football’s third

most expensive teenager af ter Kylian Mbappé and Joao Felix.

Bellingham was one of the stars of England’s last World Cup campaign and also Bundesliga player of the year and is set to become Real Madrid’s second most expensive signing after Eden Hazard.

The move will see Bellingham join a team that could help him become one of the world’s top players. Of

course, his future is still very much down to his drive and determination as Hazard

failed to deliver to his po tential when he arrived at Madrid from Chelsea in 2019.

Jude Bellingham’s true worth may be determined at this juncture in his career, but if he can continue to grow with a super­successful club like Real Madrid backing him, England may have a generational talent on their hands in what we all hope will be a win ­ win situation.

1,872 golf courses in England, the largest number in Europe.

Bellingham has signed a dream contract.