Mallorca 28 March – 3 April 2024 Issue 2021

Queen in Palma

Amy Watts

QUEEN SOFIA attended the 15th solidarity concert held at Palma Cathedral, on March 25.

All the proceeds from the event help Projecte Home Balears to provide treatment and prevention programmes in their outstanding work fighting addiction.

The Queen Emeritus arrived at 8.30pm with her sister, Irene of Greece and was greeted by the

authorities at the entrance of the cathedral.

The crowd of 1,800 people welcomed her with a round of applause before she took her seat in the front row to listen to Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ in D minor, played by the Balearic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Pablo Mielgo.

The participating choirs were the University of the Balearic Islands Choir, directed by Núria Cunillera,

and the Capella de la Seu, under the baton of Joan Company. As always, the purity of their voices and subtlety of the dynamics thrilled the audience.

The exceptional soloists were the soprano Irene Mas, mezzo-soprano Begoña Gómez, tenor Joan Laínez, and baritone David Menéndez, who really brought the music to life.

Projecte Home Balears was set up in 1987 to tac-

Jeffrey Archer book signing

THE best-selling author will be ensconced on the terrace of the hotel Zel in Palmanova at mid-day on Saturday, April 27, ready to sign copies of his books. Each winter, Je rey Archer hand writes the fast draft of his latest novel at his home in Mallorca.

What better time to be signing his novels than during the ‘ esta of Spanish books’?

The festivities begin on April 23 with the customary book fair, when traditionally gifts of a rose or a book are exchanged. The name

has been changed from San Jordi to Saint George in Calvia, in gratitude for the loyalty of English tourists over the years.

kle addiction issues in the Balearic community. It finds solutions that work for individuals and families dealing with addiction problems. The focus is on research, developing prevention programmes, and providing therapy tailored to each person’s needs. The goal is to help people affected by addiction find their independence, grow personally, and smoothly integrate into society and work.

Culinary delights in Calvia

THE Calvia Destino Gastro conference on March 25 presented a new concept to promote Calvia as a culinary destination.

Mayor Juan Antonio Amengual explained that the aim of promoting Calvia as a ne dining destination is to extend the tourist season. Deputy mayor for Tourism, Eli Montserrat, wants the municipality to become a benchmark for culinary excellence.

The culinary show in April, known as La Mostra takes place twice a year, in April and October. Many of the 52 restaurants participating in the Mostra have been collaborating for many years.

The Gastro Menu o ered by some establishments is a tasting menu with a free format and price (from €50).

During the weekends of April, complete menus are being o ered at reduced prices to boost the tourist attractions in Calvia at di erent dates in four di erent zones.

• Issue No. 2021 • 28 M - 3 A 2024 FREE FREE FREI GRATIS GRATIS GRATIS GRATIS GRATUITO VRIJ LIVRE ILMAINEN

G F E GRATIS GRATUIT S G

Mallorca on 13

QUEEN SOFIA: The crowd of 1,800 people welcomed her with a round of applause.

The Gastro Menu

Enjoy a Gastro Menu.

Credit: Casa de S.M. Rey

Preparing the beaches

Amy Watts

CALVIA 2000, the company responsible for cleaning the beaches in the district, is working hard to prepare the beaches for the influx of of tourists and residents expected in Calvia during the Easter period. Seventy per cent of hotels in the district have opened.

Andrés Barceló, manager of Calvia 2000, pointed out that “cleaning begins now and is maintained throughout the season, depending on the circumstances and storms.” Along with the cleaning, the sand is being flattened and walkways and litter bins are being installed. The Posidonia (Mediterranean seagrass) accumulated during the winter is being removed and stored away from the beaches until it can be returned to the coast to continue with the natural cycle of regeneration.

The reed barriers installed to prevent the loss of sand caused by storms and strong winds are also being

removed. These are necessary preliminary steps before the beach furniture such as walkways and litter bins can be put in place.

Regulations allow urban beaches to be cleared of Posidonia from March 15 and the campaign has started in Santa Ponça. Special machinery can be used on beaches considered to be urban.

Natural beaches with services will be cleared from May 1.

Machinery cannot be used at all on natural beaches without services, where removal must be carried out by hand.

At the end of the season,

the stored Posidonia is returned to the beach: “A special shovel attachment is used to clear the beaches so that the sand is not removed. It is then returned to the beach to preserve the natural barriers that prevent the loss of sand in winter storms.”

EACH of The 12 Tenors is a unique international talent. Together, they are a tour de force.

For more than 14 years, The 12 Tenors have playing to packed theatres, interpreting much-loved arias and rock-pop anthems, accompanied by a live band.

With their powerful voices and irresistible charm, they leave audiences spellbound in concerts all over Europe, China, Japan and South Korea.

On their ‘Music of the World 2023/24’ tour, The 12 Tenors pay tribute to the show-stopping songs that have made history and to the global hits that still thrill millions, crea-

ting unforgettable moments.

Their new live show is a blend of cultures, taking audiences on a magical mystery tour filled with emotions, memories and surprises.

And they are playing at the Auditorium in Palma on Friday April 12, at

9.30pm.

Their one-night show in Palma in 2021 was a smash hit and soon sold out. They wowed audiences with choreographed, high-impact versions of Dancing in the Street, Come Together, Good Vibrations, and many more classics.

Most expensive urban plots are in Balearics

AT the close of the last quarter of 2023, the highest average urban plot prices in Spain were in the Balearic Islands.

While the national average stood at €154.6 per square metre, in the Baleares the average price was €304, according to data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda.

This was followed by Madrid (€291.3 per square metre) and the Canary Islands (€250.8 per square metre).

In towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants, the average price per squa-

re metre increased by 3.6 per cent between October and December, to reach €278 per square metre.

The highest absolute prices in towns were recorded in Zaragoza (€694.4), Aragon (€524.1), the Balearic Islands (€438.7) and Madrid (€431.6).

Calvia 2000 tractor clearing the beach.

Clocks go forward

DAYLIGHT Savings Time begins on Sunday March 31 at 2.00am. At this time, clocks will ‘spring forward’ as we welcome in the longer days and sunnier seasons of spring and summer.

New ring road

THE €100 million plans for the new ring road in Palma were presented on March 25. An 800m tunnel with a dual carriageway will be built to relieve traffic at the Coll d’en Rebassa/ Son Ferriol junction.

Scooter rule

THE mayor of Palma, Jaime Martinez, has announced that civil responsibility insurance will be required for electric scooter users. The new regulation will come into effect around mid-June. Fines are also going up to between €300 and € 750.

Fines rising

FINES for antisocial activities such as property damage through graffiti, and ‘botellon’ drinking parties in public spaces, are increasing to between €1,500 and €3,000.

Giant screen

A GIANT screen will be erected at the Placa de Cort in Palma so that citizens can view the Copa del Rey final at 10pm on April 6. Pre-match entertainment with a DJ is planned from 6pm.

Airport delays

DELAYS at the security gates on March 15 caused some passengers to miss their flights. There is no strike action or go-slow, but also no overtime being worked over Easter.

Rafa Nadal Foundation awards

Annette Christmas

THE second Rafa Nadal Foundation awards ceremony was held Es Baluard Museum in Palma on Wednesday, March 20.

Five di erent projects and outstanding social initiatives were awarded €15,000 each.

The Sports category was won by the La Vinya Foundation project “Mou-te amb mi” (“Exercise with me”), as part of the project “Embellir-se envellint” (“getting older more beautifully”).

This promotes active and healthy aging in women over the age of 65, combatting loneliness and ageist stereotypes.

The project CIM Burkina won the Development Cooperations prize for providing drinking water and proper sanitation in schools: by building a well and toilets at the Tambour de Gaoua school in Burkina Faso.

Charter flights

RCD Mallorca has only won the cup once, in 2003. It thus comes as no surprise that thousands of fans will want to travel to La Cartuja stadium in Sevilla to watch the match against Athletic del Bilbao.

More than 15,000 Mallorcans are expected to travel to Sevilla to attend the nal. A total of 21,000 tickets for the stadium are available for the club on April 6.

Airlines have reserved 29 ights for these passengers, leading to the cancellation of many charter ights which travel agencies were trying to book.

The reason is simple: the airlines can e ectively charge a lot more for a scheduled ight because residents of the Balearic Islands enjoy 75 per cent discount, paid for by the Spanish State.

While travel agencies have been marketing charter ights for up to €400 with transfers and insurance, others are advertising them for €250, with the 75 per cent discount applied. Thus, the actual price of these ights is €1,000 once the State has subsidised the remaining 75 per cent.

The Miradas Foundation was awarded the Social Innovation prize for its “bbMiradas” programme to detect and intervene in cases of autism in babies below the age of 36 months.

The fth category, Heal-

th and Welfare, went to the Cudeca Foundation for its Cudeca Pediatric Day Care Unit project. This o ers children and adolescents with incurable diseases non-medicalised care in a specially designed environment.

War memorials gone

THE town council of Arta has removed the cross commemorating the fallen on the Francoist side of the Civil War from the esplanade of the Torre de Sant Miquel by the Sanctuary of Sant Salvador.

The one-sided war memorials were erected throughout Spain at the end of the Civil War, on the orders of the new Franco regime. They were only allowed to commemorate the fallen on the side of the victors of the war.

When the rst democratic town council took o ce, the plaque with the Francoist inscription was replaced by a new one commemorating “all the victims of the Civil War”.

However, more concerted action was desired because the memorial left out those who had su ered persecution and repression during the dictatorship.

The monument was thus included in the list of elements relating to the democratic memory of the Balearic Islands, which led to the removal of Francoist symbols, inscriptions and mentions. The cross was taken down on Thursday March 21.

Bars to return to Es Trenc

COUNCILLOR for the Environment for Campos, Rafel Adrover, spoke on IB3 television on March 21.

He said the municipal council has filed a lawsuit against the Natural Resources Management Plan (PORN) of the protected area of es Trences Salobrar in Campos. The aim is to have the old beach bars and restaurants rebuilt.

The council says the motive for this is to cover the elevated costs of recovery and cleaning of the emblematic Es Trenc beach. This, despite express prohibition of these uses in a natural area of special protection, as set out in the Natural Resources Management Plan (PORN) concerning the Es Trenc-Es Salobrar Campos Natural Park.

Es Trenc had six popu-

lar beach kiosks or bars until five years ago. The last of these were demolished and removed in 2022, following the declaration of the zone as a natural park in 2017.

The council’s initiative coincides with the review and extension of the restrictions on the uses of natural areas in the Balearic Islands announced by the Popular Party government.

FEELINGS are running high over the Balearic Government’s proposed and controversial ‘amnesty’ for illegal builds.

The controversy centres around an imminent decree of administrative simpli cation.

The President of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, has expressed a wish to pass the decree without waiting for the announced laws on urban planning and territory, on the grounds that the process is complex and is leading to long delays in resolving issues.

The owners of long-established illegal builds cannot carry out repairs or replace the roof under the present laws, nor legally have the property connected to mains water and electricity supplies, although many have found ways around this.

Rafa Nadal Foundation award winners

Buying to let in Mallorca

RENTING your property out can be a lucrative venture given the island’s popularity as a tourist destination.

One of the best value places to buy property in Mallorca is said to be the picturesque, centrally located, traditional town and countryside of Petra, and demand is high for most locations in Mallorca.

To buy a property, you will need a Spanish fiscal identity number (NIE), if you are not already a resident. And to rent it out as a holiday let you will need to be a resident of Spain.

And your quick ticket to a residency visa could be to invest £500,000 in property, under the Golden Visa scheme.

The holiday letting market is strictly regulated in the Balearic Islands and the rules can vary from one town to the next.

The following is not a definitive guide, and you should always check for the latest details with the

local authorities or a legal expert before renting out your property in the short term.

The Balearic government authorised certain zones to offer holiday rentals, and each local authority can decide whether apartment rental is permitted or whether a whole property must be let.

You will require an ETV licence (Estancia Turísticas en Viviendas) to legally rent out your home in Mallorca for shorter periods of one month or less.

It is worth looking for a property which already has an ETV licence so you can start renting it out immediately.

For eligible properties, each owner is entitled to offer a maximum of three for holiday lets. Apartments cannot usually be let short-term.

Long-term lets are subject to other regulations.

Certain properties may not qualify for an ETV licence, for example if it is less than five years old, or in a protected or other special area.

Once you have the right permit, there are countless websites and portals where you can advertise your property for rent. You will need a system to manage bookings and many holiday let portals have these built in.

Honouring Eye Care Professionals for World Optometry Day

ON World Optometry Day Specsavers Ópticas highlighted the importance of optometrists and their contributions to vision care around the world.

Working as an Optometrist for over 15 years, Gloria Pujol is currently training to become a director of Specsavers Ópticas Santa Ponça. She is also an official delegate for the National College of Optometrists in the Balearic Islands.

“The best thing about being an optometrist is being able to help people with their eye health. I was recently able to help a customer with advanced keratoconus, when the cornea becomes thin and develops a cone-like bulge. He had been offered a corneal transplant, but came to our store first to see if we could correct this anomaly in a non-surgical way.

“We were able to fit him with scleral contact lenses, which work perfectly to improve vision and reduce discomfort for people with for keratoconus and he’s delighted that he doesn’t have to undergo surgery.

“On another occasion, a pregnant customer came in, as she noticed that her glasses were not correcting

her vision as they used to. I carried out diagnostic tests and observed changes in both of her retinas. When I referred her to a doctor, they detected gestational diabetes associated with pregnancy, and were able to control it so that she could give birth safely to a healthy baby.

“Many people don’t know that eye tests can reveal signs of health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and cancer, as well as protect their visual health and quality of life. A comprehensive and regular eye test can help detect vision problems early, allowing for timely and effective treatment.”

www.specsavers.es

Fewer flights to Palma

COMPARED to 2023, there will be 40 per cent fewer international flights landing at Palma Airport at Easter this year, in part because it falls unusually early.

The official start of the season is not the Easter holidays but the month of April.

President of the Hotel Business Federation of Mallorca (FEHM), María Frontera, has praised the commitment of the hotel staff to reopening and the efforts hoteliers have been making to start the tourist season earlier.

More than 71 per cent of the hotels in Mallorca have already opened, and occupancy stands at over 60 per cent.

Celebrating VW Golf

TWENTY-FIVE cars met for the March 2024 Touristic Classic Car Club Mallorca Drive, organised by G Westphal, celebrating the classic VW Golf. A red VW Golf MK1 GTI was driven by rally driver Enrique Carbonell, accompanied by his daughter. Glasson Fitzpatrick and his brother David drove a Black Golf MK2 16V a white MK1 respectively.

After meeting at Tafona Son Catiu, the varied route went through Llubi, Santa Margalida, Santa Margalida, Muro Inca, Selva and Caimari.

PETRA: Centrally located but traditional town.

Credit:

Las Fallas

Anna Akopyan

DATING back to the 18th century, Las Fallas is included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and continues to be an event which touches the hearts of families across Spain and beyond.

During the festive week, it is impossible to miss the Falleras. Dressed in traditional costumes, the young girls and women from the local towns parade proudly down the spring streets.

Being a Fallera is a commitment. The majority of the Falleras come from families in which generation after generation, women have been partaking in the celebration.

Dressed in traditional Valencian silk, embroidered and costly, the women and girls shine in family jewels as they compete for the prestigious title of the Fallas Queen.

It is not only the royal title which is associated with wealth and status, but the mere participation, being costly due to the exceptionally crafted costumes and jewels, is well-respected in the community.

As grandmothers watch their granddaughters in family heirlooms, one can see their excitable faces, remembering their past and looking forward to the future: a spring rebirth which Las Fallas represents.

Saved by the bell

SPAIN’S National Court ordered a temporary ban on the country’s fourth most-used messaging service, Telegram, on March 22.

FACUA (an NGO for the defence of consumer rights) released a statement that Telegram would cease to offer a service sometime the following day but complained that it would cause “enormous harm” to millions of users

The Court made the decision based on copyright infringement claims from a number of companies including Mediaset, Atresmedia and Movistar Plus.

The businesses declared that Telegram was granting users to upload content without permission.

The service however continued over the weekend without any interruption.

It then transpired on Monday March 25, that the Judge had rescinded his order to allow for a police report on the platform to be reviewed as well as give an explanation of how a ban would affect users.

He also commented that to ban Telegram would be an “excessive and disproportionate measure.”

Cherry buds blossom

THE buds are appearing and will soon explode into a shower of pink petals.

The TV-Asahi cherry blossom avenue on the popular Berlin wall trail in Teltow is beginning to bud.

The best time to see the cherry blossoms is from mid-March and mid-April.

The trail was built on the border strip directly after the fall of the Wall, with financial support from a Japanese television station.

The Asahi channel launched a fundraising campaign to send this positive messa-

ge after the reunification of Germany.

Over 1,000 Japanese ornamental cherries were planted between 1990 and 2010 and still bloom once a year.

For the past 20 years people have been flocking to the area to enjoy the blossoms and take selfies.

Artist Christian Badel from Berlin is among them. “It’s nothing short of a miracle,” he says: “Where a wall once separated East and West Berlin, flowering cherry trees now line the path, scattering their petals across the street.”

LAS FALLERAS: Dressed in traditional costumes.

Credit: Anna Akopyan

ABBA royalty

Claude Norris

performed for the marriage celebration of the King and Queen Silvia in 1976.

ONE of the world’s most cherished bands, ABBA, has been given a special honour by the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, for exceptional contributions to music and culture.

The members, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Reuss have all become the Commanders of First Class of the Order.

This marked a historic

achievement, as the King welcomed the musicians to the Order of Vasa; one of the most esteemed orders of chivalry in Sweden. This was the first time in half a century that new members have been included.

The candidates were nominated by the public, and the government and the King made an official approval statement.

King Carl XVI Gustaf has shown his value of the band in the past, as ABBA

After 52 years of the band’s formation, ABBA’s songs continue to light up the lives of many with enchanting melodies and touching lyrics, elevating pop music to a royal level.

On May 31, an official ceremony to award the band will be held at the Royal Palace in Stockholm; a city where ABBA was born in 1972.

Waiting lists

THOUSANDS of residents in need of healthcare have been on lengthy waiting lists across the Netherlands; the number of patients needing medical assistance continues to rise.

In December 2024, approximately 5,300 Dutch residents were registered on waiting lists, and by March, the situation only declined, reported the Dutch Healthcare Authority.

Not only does the waiting time for treatment appear to rise, but the majority of general practitioners no longer register new patients, with mental healthcare specialists holding the patients on hold for more than

THE Netherlands introduced ‘Amsterdam rules’ to reduce nuisance tourism with the use of specialised websites and campaigns.

The website, largely addressing visitors from England, Scotland and Ireland, holds quizzes which ask potential tourists about their plans in Amsterdam and targeting potential issues.

The city centre chief, Sofyan Mbarki, spoke about the campaign: “We are taking a different approach this time. Now we are focusing on the things some tourists associate with the city, associations which we want to demolish.”

four weeks at least.

The most critical cases occur in Heerenveen, Tilburg, Enschede, Leeuwarden, Apeldoorn, and Zwolle.

As the salaries and office costs hold fixed amounts across the country, the practitioners working in areas with higher living costs struggle the most. “This is a poor decision and is unfair to doctors,” argued the Association for General Practitioners in Amsterdam, Huisarten Coöperatie Amstelland.

The city council is now developing a plan of action by allocating the professionals to their own workplaces, according to what they can afford in each case.

Stay away

Videos in the ‘Stay Away’ campaign display the problematic situations which many tourists create when visiting Amsterdam.

“The site is now live for British nationals and will soon be published in Italian, Spanish and French. There will also be a website focused on Dutch tourists from outside the capital,” stated Sofyan Mbarki.

The city centre chief said: “We want a different image for our city.”

CHERISHED BAND: ABBA in 1974.

Credit: ABBA, Facebook

IRELAND

Opposing views

MICHAEL HEALY-RAE, chairman of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying, was accused of undermining the findings of the final report which recommended legalisation “in very limited circumstances.” Healy-Rae personally opposes the measure and fellow committee members said his position was now “untenable.”

From afar

FOREIGN AFFAIRS minister Micheal Martin announced that the Irish government is committed to contributing $2 million (€1.36 million) to developing a new venue for the Canada Ireland Foundation in Toronto. It will be housed on Eireann Quay near the memorial to Irish immigrants who arrived there during the Famine.

NORWAY

Scandi noir

NETFLIX plans to begin filming a series based on Joe Nesbo’s thriller, The Devil’s Star, which will be directed by Oystein Karlsen and produced by the UK production company Working Title. Nesbo, who is also responsible for the scripts that feature his antihero Harry Hole, will be making his debut as a screenwriter.

Cold call

PARATROOPERS from the Eleventh Airborne Division parachuted down to Norway’s Lake Takvanet on March 18 after taking off from Alaska and flying over the North Pole as part of their cold-weather field training. Together with 100 soldiers from Norway’s army, they were taking part in Nato’s Arctic Shock exercises.

EURO PRESS

DENMARK

Gender bias

ONLY five of Copenhagen’s 101 statues depict women, although 70 are dedicated to men and 16 to animals. Culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt admitted that “mythical beasts and horses” outnumbered women and said the government would spend 50 million Danish kroner (€6.7 million) on addressing the imbalance.

ITALY FRANCE

Lost legend

MARCELLO GANDINI, the Italian car designer responsible for the “Lamborghini doors” also known as “scissor doors” used on luxury sports cars, died aged 85 on March 13 in Turin. Gandini created his first concept car when he was only 20 years old and joined the Italian industrial design company Gruppo Bertone aged 27.

Taxing times

ITALY’S tax authority, Agenzia delle Entrate, hopes to encourage more people to pay their taxes by making the system more user-friendly. Innovations include making more of the Agency’s services available online and introducing a system for a prior appointment instead of taking a number and joining a long queue.

GERMANY PORTUGAL

Flying visit

SMART detectors, which use robotic technologies and belong to Andalucia’s Astrophysics Institute, registered a fireball travelling at 61,000 kilometres per hour on entering the atmosphere over Portugal early on March 16. It broke up 87 kilometres after entry at an altitude of 19 kilometres near Cano (Alentejo).

Early settler

PORTUGUESE, Spanish and German paleontologists identified a new type of dinosaur that lived 150 million years ago in the Lourinha area. The relatively small herbivorous species, which would have walked on two legs, was first discovered in 2021 during excavations at the fossil-rich rock at Porto Dinheiro beach.

Sly spy

A PROFESSIONAL soldier posted to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, was charged with spying for Russia. Held in custody since August 2023, he offered his cooperation to the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian embassy in Berlin, Public Prosecutors said.

Plain speaking

THE Bavarian government approved a regulation that limits the use of gender-sensitive language in official documents and in public places. Officials and teachers in the region may no longer use asterisks, colons and other symbols to make nouns more inclusive “because language must be clear and understandable.”

Big honour

PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron presented the world’s richest man, LVMH-owner Bernard Arnault, with France’s most prestigious award, the Legion of Honour, at a state dinner on March 14. Also present were Beyonce and Elon Musk as Macron declared that Arnault “knew how to sell a form of eternal Frenchness.”

Drink up

THE outdoor terraces of cafes, bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open until midnight instead of having to close at 10pm during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Paris City Hall announced. The ruling will benefit 3,000 of the city’s 15,000 business owners who have licences for summer terraces.

FINLAND

Not popular

AN online exit poll revealed that only 10 per cent of Russian citizens living in Finland voted for Vladimir Putin in the recent elections. Forty-four per cent had voted for Vladislav Davankov, 20 per cent deliberately spoilt their voting papers and approximately 25 per cent declined to reveal how they voted.

Drive on

FOLLOWING the March 15 “transition period” deadline, Russian-registered vehicles will be legal so long as the driver can demonstrate their legal right to use it. The Enforcement Department explained that the concession also covered individuals who have fled the Ukraine war and are under international protection.

SWEDEN

Drinking less

ALCOHOL consumption in the over-15s fell to 8.6 litres per head in 2023, according to the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN). Except for 2020 during the pandemic, this was the lowest level in almost 10 years, which CAN’s experts attributed to the economic situation.

Milk run

DRONES will soon be delivering milk in an initiative that debuts in May in Varmdo, near Stockholm, but will eventually reach the entire country. Customers using the existing Foodora food and grocery deliveries app can place orders that are delivered by Aerit Nimbi drones which can carry up to four kilos.

Protected past

FLEMISH HERITAGE minister Matthias Diependaele announced that the remains of a Carolingian-era fort in Lanaken will receive official protection as an archaeological site. Discovered by chance seven years ago, the fortress would have controlled the access road to the River Maas (Meuse) and Maastricht in approximately 750 AD.

Second-hand

ORANGE BELGIUM opened an online store for reconditioned smartphones, as the operator emphasised its commitment to a “green and circular” economy. In 2023, the operator collected 37,000 mobile phones and sold 13,500 refurbished devices in Belgium, where more than three million new smartphones are unused.

NETHERLANDS

Flower power

ROBOTS now patrol tulip fields examining plants for sick flowers, which they then remove along with virus-infected bulbs if necessary. The back-backing job was once carried out by human checkers but, as one grower said, “The robot is expensive, but there are so few people left who can detect sick tulips.”

Bank spoof

CENTRAL bank De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) warned that scammers are sending out fake emails, messages and phone calls from supposed employees. The tricksters persuade victims to transfer money or give access to their accounts after demonstrating that the number they are calling from appears on DNB’s website.

LITTLE MERMAID: Copenhagen landmark is a mythical female.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Powering up

ROLLS-ROYCE will invest £55m (€64.4m) and create 300 jobs as demand grows for engines for large non-military aircraft, chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic announced. Half of the investment and 200 of the new jobs will go to the Derby plant while the remainder will go to Dahlewitz in Germany.

Tesla hike

OWING to stalled sales, the cost of Tesla’s Model Y went up by €2,000 on March 22 after the company announced price increases in several Europeancountries. Although the electric carmaker did not specify the countries involved beforehand, sources revealed that Spain, where the cheapest Model Y cost €42,900, would be affected.

Going further

ASTRAZENECA will pay

$2.4 billion (€2.2 billion) for Canadian cancer specialist Fusion Pharmaceuticals, which is developing nextgeneration treatments that minimise damage to healthy cells. This follows the UK company’s $1.2 billion (€1.1 billion) purchase of Chinese cell therapies company, Gracell Biotechnologies.

Slim chance

MEXICAN business magnate Carlos Slim controls practically all of Spanish property developer, Realia, after acquiring the 15 per cent owned by the Polygon Group for €138 million via FCC, which he bought in 2016, and his company Finver Inversiones. Slim now owns 92.6 per cent of Realia, valued at €865m.

Ads slump

AS advertising revenue dips, ITV is cutting jobs at its inhouse advertising agency and introducing £150m (€175.6m) cost-cutting plans a year earlier than intended. Chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall also reported further restructuring that would save an additional £50 million (€58.5 million) each year.

€2.98 billion STAT OF WEEK

turnover in 2023 for MasMovil - a 3 per cent increase on 2022 - during the company’s last year as an independent operator prior to its merger with Orange.

Going down, down

INFLATION in the UK dipped to 3.4 per cent in February, its lowest for two and a half years.

The decline in the consumer prices index (CPI) from January’s 4 per cent was partly due to slower price rises for food and restaurant price, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on March 20.

Second-hand car prices have fallen by 7.3 per cent over the last year compared with an annual decline of 5.9 per cent in January. The figure for core inflation, which omits unpredictable items like oil and food, dro -

pped from 5.1 to 4.5 per cent.

Services inflationclosely watched by the Bank of England for clues of an easing in domestic inflation - fell by 0.1 percentage point less than expected

TENDAM, best known for its Cortefiel, Springfield and Women’s Secret labels amongst others, is preparing to go public.

As predicted, based on October 2023 Reuters reports, Tendam has selected Paribas, Citigroup and JPMorgan as the lead managers and global coordinators of the initial public offer (IPO) with an estimated value of €2 billion.

Societe Generale, Credit Agricole, BBVA and CaixaBank will join the investment banks as co-managers, with the further addition of a ‘third line’ expected in coming weeks, the financial daily Cinco Dias revealed

from 6.5 to 6.1 per cent.

Earlier, analysts had predicted that the CPI would fall to 3.5 per cent instead of the 3.4 per cent that took inflation to its lowest level since September 2021 when it stood at 3.1 per

cent. It was also the fastest fall in inflation since 1978.

“Good news for you, your family and the country,” Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak said on March 30.

It was also good news for Sunak as well as the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, now that inflation gives every indication of being on track to reach its 2 per cent target by April 2024.

The February figures also give weight to the assumption that the Bank of England will now be able to cut interest rates in the summer.

Getting ready to float

on March 20.

The private equity groups CVC and Pai Partners, Tendam’s owners since 2005, have also appointed Rothschild as the operation’s financial adviser.

During the first nine months of Tendam’s financial year, which finished in February 2024, the company reported a turnover of €884.3 million, 5.2 per cent more than the previous year. It now expects a gross profit of €310 million for 2022-2023.

Inventive Spain Colour it green Nice work

TWENTY-THREE Inditex executives earned €116.5 million between them in 2023, an 11 per cent increase on 2022 and a new record for the company.

This does not include Inditex chief executive Oscar Garcia Maceiras, but covers members of the boards of Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti and Bershka, together with high-ranking employees responsible for Inditex’s Finance, Sustainability, Human Resources and Online departments.

As well as the executives’ salaries and bonuses, the €116.5 million included severance pay for those who left the company in 2023.

IBERDROLA, Spain’s biggest electricity company has accused Repsol, the country’s biggest oil company, of greenwashing.

Months of behind-the-scenes skirmishing were finally made public on March 18 when Iberdrola launched legal proceedings in Santander (Cantabria) where it is based.

Repsol’s advertising campaigns included “deception and misleading omissions” regarding the company’s environmental commitment, Iberdola said.

Repsol attempted to depict itself as an energy transition leader but was Spain’s “largest emitter of greenhouse gases”, a 107-page document submitted to the Santander court maintained.

This also pointed out that Repsol had already been sanctioned on two occasions by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for making similar greenwashing claims in its British campaigns.

SPANISH designers and innovators presented a record 2,111 applications to patent their inventions in 2023.

According to figures released by the European Union, the European Patent Office (EPO) processed 199,275 patents in 2023, an average increase of 2.9 per cent on 2022.

Spain’s applications rose by 6.9 per cent, the EPO revealed, most coming from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

Global technology company Amadeus filed 47 applications, followed by Multiverse Computing (24), Telefonica (17) and the Tecnalia Research & Innovation Foundation (17).

MIKE REGNIER, chief executive of Santander UK, said that Britain was an “unattractive” place for investment owing to its high taxes.

Talking to the Treasury Select Committee, Regnier explained to MPs that Britain’s tax rates were higher than those of many other countries which Santander UK had to contend with.

“Even in a really good year, the level of returns that we’re able to make in the UK aren’t as high as the shareholders of our parent company would expect,” he pointed out, in an oblique reference to Spain-based Santander.

Veiled warning Virgin doubts

NATIONWIDE is facing calls to consult its 16 million members regarding £2.9 billion (€3.7 billion) plans to take over Virgin Money.

On March 7, the building society announced a preliminary agreement to pay its rival’s shareholders 220p (€2.58) for each share, a 38 per cent premium on Virgin Money’s current price. The deal, if allowed to go ahead, would produce the UK’s second-largest savings and loans group with 700 branches and assets of £366.3 billion (€428.8 billion).

It would also mean taking on the Northern Rock mortgage business while providing Sir Richard Branson with an a £400 million (€468.3 million).

Lighten up

THE British American Tobacco (BAT) dismissed rumours that it could leave London to list in New York.

Tadeu Marroco, BAT’s chief executive, told the Financial Times that he doubted the benefits were as evident as some reports claimed.

“There is nothing to suggest that it’s a no-brainer to go to the US,” he said, insisting that BAT was committed to Britain despite legislation disclosed at the Conservative party’s 2023 conference.

This would eliminate smoking by increasing the legal age by one year from 2027 onwards.

Photo credit: CC/ZaratemanSuzuki

Photo credit: Simon Dawson/No 10

GOOD NEWS: Britain’s Prime Minister and Chancellor welcomed February inflation figures.

TENDAM: Cortefiel owners preparing an IPO

That’s rich

BENTLEY, now owned by Volkswagen, delivered 13,560 cars in 2023, making an operating profit of €589m with sales of €2.9bn that gave the luxury carmaker its bestever year after 2022, the company announced. “Our customers can still afford our cars,” Bentley’s chief executive Adrian Hallmark said, “even if some hesitated at first.”

Home truths

FIFTY-ONE per cent of Spanish employees whose work could be carried out remotely told an EADA Business School survey they preferred this to working in an office, and felt they were more productive. Fifty-seven per cent said they would change jobs if their company was not prepared to let them work from home.

Ice-cream spinoff

UNILEVER will de-merge its ice-cream division as part of plans to save approximately €800 million over the next three years.

The Anglo-Dutch whose brands include Marmite, Dove and Domestos bleach, also intends to dismiss 7,500 of the 128,000 people it employs worldwide, although staff will be consulted about the reductions beforehand.

Cutbacks will affect office staff at Unilever’s

WALL’S ICE-CREAM: Owned by Unilever.

London headquarters as well as employees in other countries, said chief execu-

Grape profits

SPANISH private equity firm, ProA Capital, has engaged Deutsche Bank to sell its holding in seedless grape production company, Moyca.

ProA paid €200 million for a 50 per cent stake in 2016, ahead of other funds like Alantra or MCH.

Moyca president Enrique Moya has a 15 per cent holding in the company, while founders, the Canovas family, own more

than 30 per cent.

In 2021, the last year for which official records are available, Moyca reported a €144 million turnover and net profits of €5 million.

After eight years, ProA calculates that Moyca, which finished 2023 with a gross profit of €25 million, should bring in approximately €400 million, double its original investment.

The company produces five of the world’s 10 best-selling ice-cream brands which include Wall’s, Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s and Carte d’Or as well as the popular US make Breyers.

Industry sources believe that a spinoff of Unilever’s ice cream division, whose annual revenues of €7.9 billion account for 16 per cent of the group’s sales, was the most likely result of Unilever’s future plans.

The demerger is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, insiders said. Schumacher avoided revealing where the subsequent ice-cream business, currently run from Rotterdam, would be listed.

All options were being considered, the chief executive said. “But this doesn’t mean that icecream will be a Dutch company or a UK company,” he added.

Next up

FASHION and home products retailer Next said that despite the Red Sea chaos, its prices were 2 per cent lower than in 2023 and it foresaw a 0.5 per cent deflation by the end of the first half of 2024. Shipping times had increased by up to 10 days but this was factored into prices, the company said.

Fizz fears

CAVA, Spain’s answer to Champagne, enjoyed a record year with 252 million Designation of Origin (DO) bottles sold worldwide in 2023 and €2.2 billion in sales that were 8 per cent up on 2022. Bodegas nevertheless warned that drought will take a toll, especially in Catalonia where grape production has fallen by almost 30 per cent since 2021.

tive Hein Schumacher who took over from Alan Jope in 2023.

Photo credit: CC/Chris Sampson

Spring is in the air

LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

DON’T be drawn into the misconception that the immigration foray may be letting up. Just because the biased British media has decided to ease up on its reporting; this year another 4,500 migrants have already traversed the channel to the UK’s ‘promised land’.

With the majority still appearing to be young fit men, does it not strike anyone that it is highly suspicious how they all manage to survive with no visible means of support? Many are wearing pricy designer gear and trainers, and just about all seem to carry expensive phones.

They also have to find the equivalent of £3,000-£5,000 to pay the people smugglers. Most, if not all, have travelled through a number of countries in their quest to reach soft touch Britain. How did they manage to even eat over the many months these treks lasted? They are all supposed to have originated in war torn impoverished countries, so where does all their mo-

ney come from? Someone somewhere is obviously bankrolling them. Are the women and children they’ve left behind being somehow supported? This of courses raises the obvious question as to why? Whatever the reasons, you can bet your lives it’s not from the kindness of anyone’s heart. There has to be an ulterior motive. Well I personally think someone is generating a sleeping army. There are now thousands of these fighting age Middle Eastern men entrenched all over the UK. If a non-friendly nation is paying the bills you can rest assured they will also have underground contacts creating arm caches and bomb factories everywhere.

Putting them up in hotels and lavishing them with benefits is actually verging on naïve lunacy. Don’t even bother to mention Rwanda! They should all be put into camps and intensely interrogated as to their origins, and specifically where their finances are coming from. You can rest assured that if it ever does become necessary for them to pay their particular piper; the UK could finish up looking like the aftermath of the Second World War.

The irony of that particular scenario is they will then have managed to turn the UK into something resembling the places they’re all supposedly trying to run away from! I also consider it highly suspicious, that of the thousands that have made successful crossings, one of the extremely rare sinkings usually turns out to be one that just happened to be a boat carrying women and children.

As I mentioned in a past column, if you want to throw the enemy off the scent, what better way to create a red herring than sacrificing a few female and children’s lives? Easily done; simply make their boat faulty, sit back, and when they all drown, watch the UK’s bleeding heart woke brigade give it maximum, sympathy provoking publicity. Far-fetched? I think not.

The Mid-Eastern masters of war have very little regard for human life - particularly when it suits their own evil ends. Ah well, spring and a possible election is in the air. Onwards and sideways. Never ends.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

Jimmy Page replica guitar

THERE are a lot of very expensive ‘boy’s toys’ about at the moment, but one of the newest is a limited edition double neck Gibson guitar with a price of $49,999.

This is the same type of guitar that Jimmy Page played live with Led Zeppelin on such blockbuster numbers as Stairway to Heaven and The Song Remains

The Same and he has been personally engaged in this project as Gibson celebrates 130 years of involvement in the music business

This is officially entitled the Jimmy Page 1969 EDS-1275 Doubleneck Collector’s Edition from Gibson Custom, produced in a limited run of just 50 guitars and not only has Page been invol-

INTERVIEW

ved in development at all stages, but will have personally played each one.

But that’s not all, as it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity Book, a wooden Pick Display with Herco® Flex pick played by Jimmy Page on the specific serialised guitar, a Premium Cherry/Black Leather Strap and Vintage Replica Strap, Schaller Strap Locks, an Embroidered Dragon Guitar Shroud, and a Gibson Doubleneck Stand.

For some lucky people this will be a dream come true, but for others, they’ll stick to their somewhat cheaper Air Guitars!

Loves the lifestyle

FROM an early age, Antti Pekkarinen visited the Costa del Sol from his home in Finland as his parents owned a property here.

IT was in 2005 that he finally decided that the lure of what is known as Finland’s southern-most town (Fuengirola) was just too much to ignore and he moved over and se ttled here.

His first really successful venture was a weekly Finnish language publication Fuengirola.fi which was a great success and is still going strong all these years later.

Antti and his wife love the Spanish lifestyle and the fact that unlike his homeland things move at their own pace, so that if something isn’t done today, it will happen but there might be a bit of a delay and “let’s not get stressed.”

make a point of returning to Finland for a month to enjoy the very short summer, that’s long enough and I don’t really miss anything except my family.”

Antti Pekkarinen your host at Kukko Events.

“One of the reasons that I moved here was for that lifestyle which is helped so much by the climate and although I

He works hard and apart from the newspaper also runs a very popular restaurant Kukko Events at Avda de Los Boliches 4, Fuengirola which is open for breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday and then in the evening with entertainment seven nights a week.

When asked whether he had any advice for fellow countrymen thinking of moving to Spain, he said “it is different for everyone depending on age, whether they have families, want to set up a business or are retiring, but my one recommendation is simply come over and enjoy it!”

LEAPY

Leapy Lee’s

Good Neighbours

John Smith

THESE are the last of those commended for the Good Neighbour Awards 2024 as announced by Age in Spain.

Kimberly Olsson, from Torrevieja, has a reputation locally for caring for the feral cats in the neighbourhood. But recently, while feeding the colony of cats that come to her, she found a man whom she initially thought was dead.

When she discovered he was still alive, she took responsibility for finding him shelter, washing and ironing his clothes, and dealing with the bureaucracy around getting him into the social care system.

She registered him with Helping Hands in San Luis to provide food for him and has followed this up by ensuring that he is in contact with a

social worker. Says the neighbour who nominated this Good Samaritan “He is a gentle Spanish man who had fallen on hard times. Without Kimberly I don’t know what would have happened to him.”

The final commendation was for Esther de Veer from Lloret Blau, nominated by her 90-year-old neighbour whom Esther has been helping in all sorts of ways since the neigh-

bour had a bad accident.

Apart from shopping and cooking for her neighbour, Esther has been walking her dogs and dealing with all the requirements of daily life. Her neighbour commented “As I live alone and recently celebrated my 90th birthday, it gives me great peace of mind to know Esther is at the end of the phone.

“I believe she helps others, but she doesn’t talk about it.”

My words of wisdom

MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION

VIEWS OF A GRUMPY OLD

SINCE I haven’t moaned to you all for some time I’ve got a bit a backlog of things that get on my nerves and stuff that’s just not right. For instance, what’s all this nonsense about a cashless society? Who does it benefit? Only big brother governments, banks and people that want to control everything we do. Many will say it helps stop tax evasion. Well bitcoin has already got round that one apparently. And what tax evaders? The girl that washes your hair at the hairdressers? The waiter that serves you that you bung a couple of euros to? I’ve already been told by a couple of waiters that they aren’t allowed to add a tip to your bill if you are paying by card, too much admin for the owner. I’ve watched people pay 80c on a card to park. It must cost more than that to process payment.

But I’m also worried about the bigger picture. What if ‘they’ actually want to control how much you spend? For example, you go to buy a new pair of trainers, you present your card and up comes a message in the shop and on your phone - ‘You’ have

The Virgin de la Pieda

John Smith

SOME Spanish towns are known for street art, Smurfs or witchcraft whilst others stand out for a single event which takes place annually.

In the 15th century, a worker from the town of Guadix in Granada, Juan Pedernal, was demolishing a wall of an abandoned mosque in neighbouring Baza when his pickaxe almost destroyed a hidden 12th century statue of the Virgin.

Legend says that the Virgin uttered the words “Baza - Guadix, have mercy on me” as the pickaxe just touched her cheek and since that day she has been known as the Virgen de la Piedad (pity or compassion).

Where should the Virgin reside though? Both towns claimed her and it went to the courts but no formal decision was made, however it was agreed between the Burgers of the two towns that

it would stay in pristine state in the Merced church in Baza and once a year on September 6, a representative from Guadix could try to claim it.

Whilst it sounds easy, this is not the case as the person chosen, known as Cascamorras, a semi-religious character, dressed in a multicoloured costume, similar to that of a harlequin, leaves Guadix en route for Baza.

At 6pm on September 6, a rocket is fired and a drum is beaten and the

festival begins and to be successful the Cascamorras must recover the Virgin without a single stain appearing on his costume but locals who are out in force are armed with thick black paint and they chase him around the town ensuring that he and most of them are painted black.

From time to time, the people of Guadix are allowed to borrow the Virgin for a few days on the understanding that it is returned home on September 9.

already purchased three pairs of trainers this month. This purchase exceeds your limit. Please try again in three months.’ Ridiculous? I don’t think so. Just think about how many times you are discussing some product and suddenly you get these products, or similar, appearing on your phone apps like Facebook or Instagram. Lots of people complain about things that happen on social media but forget one thing - we are not the customer, we are the product. We’re being sold and traded to massive corporations and there is nothing you can do about it unless you get rid of all your technology. Be warned - remember Mr Grumpy’s words of wisdom.

Anyone watch Martin Lewis? He’s a great consumer warrior. But it made me think how things have changed from when, in 2011, he was advising how to get 20 per cent discount on your duvet purchase to now how he’s desperately telling you how not to get evicted, manage to eat and heat your house at the same time. I fear for our kids.

Also, how come fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing? And why do all aerosols pack up when only half used and it doesn’t matter how hard you shake just a feeble dribble just comes out?

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

Kimberley Olsson. Esther de Veer.

The clean Cascamorras on his way to Baza.

Credit: Baza Council

• News Across The Regions •

Costa del Sol

The 20 happiest towns

RONDA is the ‘happiest’ town in Spain and four towns in Cadiz and Malaga Province are in the top positions.

Also making the top 20 is Benalmadena according to a study in which more than 1,000 inhabitants participated and voted for the happiest towns in Spain.

March 20 was the International Day of Happiness as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013. And to mark the occasion, every year the international ranking of the happiest countries in the world is presented.

A study was carried out which set out to discover which are the happiest people in Spain. The study concludes that these towns have conditions that favour the well-being of their residents, including a warm and friendly atmosphere, a slow and calm pace, free of stress, the enjoyment of the outdoors, and local cuisine.

Axarquia Care crisis

THE Cudeca Foundation, renowned for its palliative care for cancer and advanced illness patients, faces increasing demand yearly. As the number of patients seeking their services rises, the foundation emphasises the crucial role of community support in sustaining its mission.

“Our patient count escalates each year, underscoring the significance of your collaboration to maintain our entirely free care for individuals nearing the end of life,” stated a spokesperson.

The foundation appeals to individuals to become members and contribute to their cause. Interested individuals can sign up at cudeca.org/hazte-socio or reach out via email at socios@cudeca.org or phone 692 257 053.

By extending a helping hand, supporters not only aid in providing essential care but also offer comfort and dignity to those in their final stages.

Costa Blanca South Relocation quest

MARIA and the Pink Ladies, located at Playa Flamenca Beach CC, sadly have to close their office because of ongoing flooding issues.

For months, around 50 litres of water have been coming in daily from a leak in a unit two floors above.

Despite efforts to clean up by Carl, a member’s husband, the situation has become too difficult.

Because of safety concerns, the Pink Ladies have come to the difficult decision to stop working from this location.

However, they are still very much committed to helping the community and will keep arranging screening appointments for the public.

The ladies are now looking for a new place to work and are asking for help from the community to find an affordable place to rent.

Costa Blanca North Save My Life

ON April 28, Save My Life, is holding an impressive day of live entertainment at Benidorm’s largest event venue, the Benidorm Palace.

After successful donations in the past, the charity returns to the Benidorm stage for the 11th edition of Save My Life.

The shows in the past marked the life-changing rehoming of the local cats and dogs into the homes not only of Costa Blanca’s residents but also visitors across Europe.

Last year, Save My Life raised more than €23,000, €8,000 of which were spent on Vet fees, €2,500 on food supplies, and a large amount donated to local animal charities.

Imagine Benidorm’s grand venue, filled to its 1,660-seat capacity, every ticket saving the life of an animal in need.

If you want to donate, PayPal savemylife charity@gmail.com.

Almeria Coffee morning

COMMUNITY Choir All Aloud hosted a charity Coffee Morning in Oria on Saturday March 23 to support the Children’s Ward at La Immaculada Hospital in Huercal-Overa.

The event surpassed expectations, raising over €1,100, with more donations still coming in. Attendees enthusiastically participated in activities like lucky dips, raffles, browsing the New-to-you clothes rail, and trying their luck at winning bottles of gin. However, the real highlight was the cake and pastry stand, where treats sold out rapidly.

All Aloud chose to support the Children’s Ward after learning their yearly budget for activities was a mere €100 and the group’s Treasurer, Dr Jan Wilson, organised the Coffee Morning to kickstart fundraising efforts. This successful event marks a fantastic start to the group’s fundraising endeavours for the year.

Costa Calida Underwater wine

IMAGINE wines ageing not in traditional cellars but beneath the sea’s surface. In Aguilas, Murcia, Bodegas Verónica pioneers this unique process, maturing wines at a depth of 40 metres below the sea, where darkness and marine silence contribute to their transformation. Spearheaded by entrepreneur Pedro Martínez Cáceres, this venture requires extensive knowledge of both winemaking and marine environments.

Over a decade of experimentation has refined the process, with wines of various origins and varieties undergoing underwater ageing, resulting in a reduction of acidity, moderation of alcohol sensation, and enhanced tannin definition. Despite challenges like preventing seawater contamination and adapting to marine conditions, the venture has garnered success, attracting partners and expanding operations to Cartagena.

Tips for a radiant summer

AS the temperature rises, it’s time to adjust your beauty routine for the sunny days ahead. Start by protecting your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen to shield against harmful UV rays. Hydration is key, so opt for lightweight, oil free moisturisers to keep your skin supple without fee ling greasy.

Swap out heavy foundations for tinted moisturisers or BB creams for a natural, dewy look. Embrace vibrant hues with co lourful eyeshadows and lip tints to complement the season. Don’t forget to pamper your feet with regular exfoliation and moisturising to keep them sandal-ready.

Stay fresh all day by using setting sprays or powders to com bat shine, and keep make. up in place during hot summer days.

Lastly,

remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and incorporating juicy fruits and veggies into your diet for a radiant summer glow.

Sweat smart

SWEATING excessively can be bothersome, but natural remedies can help manage it effectively. Begin by maintaining proper hygiene with daily showers and using anti bacterial soap to combat odor. Choose loose, breathable clothing, preferably made from cotton or linen, to allow air circulation and minimise sweat accumu lation.

Stay hydrated by drinking ample water throughout the day to regulate body temperature and flush out toxins. Incorporate stress-reducing practices like yoga or deep brea-

thing exercises into your routine, as stress can trigger sweat production.

Adjust your diet to include foods rich in magnesium and potassium, such as leafy greens, bananas, and nuts, which can help regulate sweating. Additionally, consider herbal remedies like sage tea, known for its natural antiperspirant properties. By implementing these simple yet effective strategies, you can naturally control sweating and enjoy greater comfort and confidence, even in the warmest weather.

PETS

Magic of baby talk

ENGAGING in baby talk with your furry companions is more than just a heartwarming gesture, it’s a powerful tool for building a stronger connection. Speaking to your pet in a higher-pitched, softer tone, often associated with baby talk, has been shown to soothe and comfort animals. This gentle approach communicates affection and reassurance, fostering a sense of security for your pet.

conveys warmth and love, establishing a positive association with interaction. Not only does this benefit your pet’s emotional well-being, but it also contributes to your own sense of joy and companionship. So, go ahead and indulge in those sweet, silly conversations with your pet.

Furthermore, baby talk can enhance the human-animal bond by creating a unique form of communication. It

The magic of baby talk is a delightful language that transcends species, creating a harmonious and loving connection between you and your cherished companion.

Do you have dogs who love company? Find dog-sitters

FINDING dog-sitters through Hou sesit Match gives peace of mind

Benji and Jonty’s owner travels quite a bit. And she can’t always find sitters nearby. So she places an advert on HouseSitMatch and the checked house-sitters apply through the site. The house-sitting is undertaken as a fair exchange for both parties. No money changes hands the dogs are cared for by pet lovers, in the dogs’ own home.

It’s a fair exchange

All our sitters offer a fair exchange - free accommodation for free pet care and an online review. It’s a win win!

If you’re planning a trip for the holidays, don’t delay. Register today as a member of our network to find affordable home and pet care.

Plan ahead to secure great sitters

However long your trip pets need someone with them at home. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from routines undisturbed.

Benji and Jonty tend to stay at home when their owner travel. She finds dog-sitters for them.

Plan ahead of time to find house and pet-sitters who will come to you for free!

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

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

2. Choose a Standard account

(£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed

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

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

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch helps you find sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert with trip dates. House-sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter you want.

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House-sitting is a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20% discount code 20EWN.

UK’s illegal pet trade

THE UK government has announced its support for a significant step in combating the illegal smuggling of cats and dogs.

On Friday, March 15, a pivotal advancement was made with the introduction of the Animal Welfare

(Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets)

Bill. Spearheaded by Selaine Saxby, this bill aims to plug the gaps that dishonest breeders and dealers use to unlawfully bring pets into the UK.

The UK is a pioneer in animal welfare, being the

first country in the world to outlaw cruelty towards animals, and according to World Animal Protection’s Index is the highest-ranked G7 nation.

This new bill is a testament to the nation’s ongoing commitment. Each year, the UK sees a large number of pets entering the country, with 320,000 under the Pet Travel Scheme and 44,000 as commercial imports in 2023.

The legislation seeks to amend the Pet Travel Scheme, limiting the number of animals per vehicle to five and three per pedestrian or air traveller. It ensures that pet movements coincide with the owner’s travel within a five-day window. This measure is designed to prevent the fraudulent import of animals under the guise of pet ownership.

Under the bill, future regulations will increase the minimum age for importing puppies and kittens to six months.

Playing around

A PLAYFUL chase with your furry friend might just be the secret to longevity, suggests a recent study. This research indicates that incorporating short bursts of activity into your daily routine, such as a spirited game of fetch or a romp around the garden your dog, could be linked to a lower risk of death.

These findings are a breath of fresh air for those who struggle to fit lengthy gym sessions into their schedules. The study posits that these mini workouts, however informal, count towards the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.

Engaging in these spontaneous acts of movement

not only strengthens the bond with your canine companion but also provides cardiovascular benefits, akin to more structured forms of exercise.

The implications are significant: every sprint and frolic with your contributes to your body’s overall health. Such activities can enhance heart health, improve agility, and elevate mood, combining the joy of pet ownership with practical health

In a world where sedentary lifestyles are common, this study provides a compelling argument for embracing the joyous chaos of playing with a pet.

It’s a delightful and accessible approach to health that emphasises the fun in functional fitness, with man’s best friend as the perfect workout partner.

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Female Olympian retires

LAURA KENNY, the United Kingdom’s most accomplished female Olympian, has announced her retirement from competitive cycling.

At 31 years old, with five Olympic gold medals under her belt, she decided not to go ahead with the Paris Games this summer. She shared her thoughts with the BBC, marking the end of an era.

“I always knew deep down I would know when was the right time. I have had an absolute blast but now is the time for me to hang that bike up,” Kenny said, now that prioritising family time has become her main focus.

This decision comes after a celebrated journey in the sport, alongside her husband, Jason Kenny (seven Olympic golds), who holds the title of Britain’s most decorated Olympian.

Laura’s illustrious career includes victories in team pursuit and omnium gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, plus a madison gold in

2020.

With a haul that also features seven world championships and 14 European championships titles, her decision reflects a desire for new beginnings rather than a lack of achievements.

“Going on to win another gold medal, as much as I would love to do that, it wasn’t giving me the energy I wanted anymore,” she reflected on her decision.

Laura took the time to post a brief message on Instagram: ‘Thank you cycling for everything you’ve given meincluding a husband and our growing family!

‘Having people say I have inspired women and girls to get active and get on a bike means the world to me. Thanks to Team GB, British Cycling and all the partners who have supported my journey.

Looking ahead, although she rules out coaching due to the pressure, she is eager to support young talent in other ways.

F1 – A night-time spectacle?

THE Spanish capital, Madrid, is poised to make a grand entrance into the F1 scene in 2026 with the possibility of an innovative night race in the Ifema Valdebebas zone, drawing inspiration from the resplendent Arabian nights of Jeddah.

In January this year, representatives from Spain’s forthcoming Grand Prix visited Jeddah to observe the Saudi Arabia GP, which this year marked its fourth edition.

Their goal was to gather insights into hosting a night race, scrutinising not only the spectator and VIP accommodations, but also the logistical complexities of setting up a paddock for potentially more than 20 teams, including F2 and F3 contenders.

Organising such an event is no small feat, with considerations ranging from electrical installations to catering services for the numerous workers expected in 2026.

Madrid’s ambitious plan, heralded with the promise that ‘Madrid will be the best F1 experience in the world,’ aims to

Looking awesome

THE much-anticipated return of Mike Tyson stepped up another notch as he released footage of his first day of training on social media.

Mike Tyson has fuelled the excitement of boxing fans by posting his initial training session online in preparation for a much-debated summer clash with Jake Paul.

After nearly 20 years since his last professional fight, one question remains: can experience overcome youth in the boxing ring?

The event, set to take place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas on July 20 and to be globally broadcast on Netflix, will see the 57-year-old boxing legend Tyson come out of retirement to face Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer 30 years his junior.

Despite not competing professionally since 2005, Tyson’s return to the ring for this exhibition match

against Paul has already begun.

Earlier in March, Tyson shared a video of himself training, showcasing his signature explosive power.

“It’s day one, the fun has just begun,” he remarked, demonstrating his seriousness about the upcoming fight.

The match-up has drawn criticism from va-

blend a unique track design by Dromo with the allure of a night race, potentially a first in a major European city outside of the traditional Monaco Grand Prix.

The concept of night racing adds an extraordinary layer of spectacle, with plans for emergency lighting and generators stretching over 5.5 km.

After witnessing Jeddah’s dazzling setup, Madrid is seriously contemplating embracing this nocturnal approach, which could distinguish its race as an unmatched visual and sporting event on the F1

negotiations between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury fell through, leading Paul to Tyson. “It started with Tommy Fury, he wanted more money and there wasn’t more money,” Jake Paul explained.

Tyson, for his part, sees this as a thrilling full-circle moment. “I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul.

rious quarters, with concerns about Tyson’s age and fitness for such a bout.

Promoter Eddie Hearn labelled the event a ‘sad day for boxing’, while Jake’s brother, Logan Paul, expressed his own reservations, deeming Tyson ‘too old’ and ‘senile’.

The origins of this unusual match began when

“He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT,” Tyson stated, underlining his eagerness for the challenge.

This upcoming battle not only represents a clash of generations, but also highlights the evolving nature of celebrity boxing matches, where the lines between traditional and entertainment-focused sport cross.

calendar.

While the event’s promoters are yet to be disclosed, speculation hints at a collaboration between Ifema, the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Liberty Media F1, and possibly international entities like Mexico’s Ocesa.

Madrid’s return to the Formula 1 roster after 45 years promises not just a race but a spectacle, blending tradition with modernity.

As preparations continue, all eyes are on Madrid to deliver an unforgettable race night in 2026.

The worst offenders

IT’S not unusual for followers of American Football or Rugby League and Union to suggest that Football is not a real contact sport.

New research carried out by NoDepositDaily has analysed the number of yellow and red cards awarded to football players in the Premier League between 2019-2024 to determine which players have the worst conduct.

To help determine the ranking, a yellow card is equivalent to one point, and a red card equals two. The number of fouls over the past five years was also considered to create an accurate ranking.

Yves Bissouma, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a defensive midfielder, takes top spot as the worst-behaving footballer, with 45 points in total having accumulated 39 yellow, three reds, and 197 fouls between 2019 and 2024.

Second and third place are claimed by Aston Villa players, Douglas Luiz with 41 points based on 37 yellows (eight so far this season), two reds and a staggering 232 fouls, whilst third place is taken by teammate John McGinn, with a total of 39 points with 37 yellows, one red and 231 fouls.

The only other team to have two offenders in the Top 10 is Manchester United with Luke Shaw on 37 yellows and Bruno Fernandes with 32, but at least neither has been sent off.

Others in the Top 10 are Conor Gallagher of Chelsea, James Tarkowski now of Everton, Rodri of Manchester City, Joelinton of Newcastle United and with four red cards, the player most sent off in the past five years is Lewis Dunk of Brighton & Hove Albion

SUMMER CLASH: Mike Tyson in training.

Credit: MikeTyson/X

Credit: SaudiArabianGP/X

Ariel view of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.