Costa Blanca North 11 – 17 April 2024 Issue 2023

The Ghost Pipers

Anna Akopyan

THE Ghost Pipers of the Somme marched the streets of Denia to the sound of live bagpipes and the colours of the Scottish ag, commemorating their ancestors lost to the First World War.

On April 5, the centre of Denia united the community in the streets where native music, costumes and ags were exhibited to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of the Somme during the First World War.

With the collaboration of Denia’s Culture Department and the Denia-Fane Ouverture Francophone Association, the day was marked to remember some of the bravest Scottish and Irish soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Somme and who after the war had to rebuild their lives in France.

Traditional Irish hymns swayed the town, performed live by the French band made up of descendants of the courageous Scottish and Irish soldiers.

The consequences of the Battle resulted in British soldiers relocating to France and played a large part in creating diversity in the French population. To this day, families whose ancestors had witnessed the terrors of the War, continue to pay tributes to the

The 1916 Battle of the Somme, fought by the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire, marked one of the largest and most tragic war losses in all human history.

cultural heritage, strength and unity of the British and the French nations.

With Denia being a town which not only holds Spanish citizens, but many of whom include the Scottish, the Irish, and the French, the event gathered the international community to uplift and honour the tragic past, to never be repeated.

The mayor of Denia, Vicent Grimalt, spoke out on

the event on X: “When the ghost of a possible third world war is being discussed again on TV today… MEMORY.”

The Ghost Pipers in Denia.

Credit: Denia Council, X

FIFTEEN people were evicted on April 8 in Teulada-Moraira, after the fireworks of the San Vicente Ferrer celebration provoked a forest fire.

According to the Guardia Civil, Teulada residents in the affected area were fleeing their homes and saving their vehicles, when the spread of the fire damaged some of the cars and burnt 2.5 hectares of nearby bush.

Two horses were wounded but rescued from the fire. The only houses affected were non-residential and abandoned.

Fire in Teulada

According to the authorities, the fire began near the town’s cemetery and was immediately alerted to the firefighters.

The mayor, Raul Llobel, urged people to cease fireworks and clear the roads to facilitate the work of the firefighters, the Local Police and the Guardia Civil.

Although the reaction of the authorities was quick, so

was the rise of the fire, due to weather conditions.

The wind pushed the fire towards the crop near the sports court where the fireworks were originally set off. Due to the dry vegetation of the area, the fire grew with a concerning speed.

Stuck on Montgo

red her foot in an accident while hiking and couldn’t make her way back.

Switch to solar

the annual cost of energy is reduced by 34 per cent and CO2 emissions by 57 per cent.”

ronment.

On April 3, at 5.52pm the local firefighters received a notice from three women trapped in the Montgo mountain and immediately began their search. One of the women, 23 years old, inju -

An Alpha 1 helicopter was called to the scene but could not intervene due to the strong wind. The mountain rescue group of the Alicante Fire Consortium and a rescue van assisted the Marina Alta firefighters as they efficiently brought the three hikers back to safety.

Hotel owners found that using thermal solar panels to heat water and photovoltaics to attain solar radiation greatly reduces expenses.

The head of Hosbec (Hotel and Business Association), Nuria Montes disclosed: “With solar panels,

With such impressive results, more establishments are planning a future installation and Generalitat Valenciana recently approved the Next Generation Funds as it is often costly to the hotel owners.

Moreover, many face the struggle of not having enough space for the renovations. Some, like The

Primavera Park Hotel in Benidorm, have fortunately found it on the top floor: “We opted for renewable energy to be able to afford what is needed for the facilities,” said the Hotel owner to the Press.

However, as Montes noted: “We must rely on traditional electrical energy. You have to cover what you can’t reach, for example at night when there is no sun.”

Will the developers discover a way to resolve this?

Trevor Colt ONE in four hotels in Spain relies on renewable energy; it is now a rising tendency across Costa Blanca; saving both the costs and the envi-

Hotel Primavera Park, Benidorm.

Credit: Hotel Primavera Park, Facebook

A TEAM of firefighters rescued three women hikers unable to make their way back from Denia’s Montgo mountain.

TINDER DRY: The fire grew with a concerning speed.

Credit: Martin_vmorris, Flickr

NIBS EXTRA

Gypsy equity

BENIDORM City Council illuminates the Levante and El Castell with the colours of the gypsy flag to commemorated the International Day of the Gypsy People on April 8. The council presented another funded programme, promoting the inclusion of the Roma people.

Gandia-Denia

ON April 5, Generalitat president, Carlos Mazon, announced that the Minister of the Environment, Water, Infrastructure and Territory, Salome Pradas, signed the invitation to tender the Gandia-Oliva-Denia tram, to be executed within “12 months.”

Calpe cycle

CALPE participated in the third edition of the Bologne Cycle Tourism Fair on April 5 - April 7. The council is preparing for a rise in cycling tourism, following the EU’s Next Generation funds which are developing the local infrastructure.

New hotel

SH HOTELS announced that a four-star hotel in Javea will open in the spring of 2026. The hotel will be built with a €20 million investment, consisting of 131 rooms, a spa, a swimming pool, lounges and a gourmet restaurant.

EU’s grant

THE mayor of Alfas del Pi, Vicente Arques, announced a municipal renovation beginning in midMay. Local infrastructure will be modernised with a €964,000 investment granted by the EU´s Next Generation funds with the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

Global pick

THE World of Statistics posted a statement on X, revealing the top holiday destination choices worldwide. Spain came as the front-runner.

In a study of tourism tendencies from 2016 until 2023, The World of Statistics disclosed that Spain was the top pick of Iceland, Ireland, England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Germany and Denmark.

Spain continues to be the most visited country in Europe, having registered more than 100 million international visitors in 2022, according

to Statistica. Not only does

Spain maintain its popularity amongst international tourists, but domestic travel has been increasing; The World of Statistics stated that Spanish residents prefer to stay in the country for the holidays, travelling to di erent regions of Spain.

Statistica revealed that in 2022, just after the Covid-19 crisis, Spanish resi-

Athletic health

THE UFC World Champion, Ilia Topuria visited the CTN centre in La Nucia to learn about the latest developments in athletic health.

The Hispanic-Georgian renowned athlete, Ilia Topuria was appointed as the Ambassador of the Finnish health recovery studio, CTN, which has recently expanded to La Nucia.

The athlete was welcomed by the town mayor, Bernabe Cano and the councillor for Sports, Sergio Villalba, to discover the state-of-the-art services of the CTN.

The mayor expressed the importance of Topuria’s interest in the town: “At La Nucia we are committed to collaborating with CTN. This is helping to promote La Nucia, City of Sports even more and bringing in world champions like Topuria, who has become an ambassador of the brand.”

The CTN Studio was established in La Nucia in 2022; the first studio to be installed outside of Finland.

155 million trips within Spain, resulting in €50 billion of spending. This February, Spain broke another record with a 15.9 per cent increase in spending from 2023, which continues to strengthen the country’s economy and uphold its global signi cance.

Teulada twins

THE two Teuladas of the world; one Spanish and the other Italian, unite for six days to nourish their friendship, which has remained appreciated for more than 40 years.

Nestled in the province of South Sardinia, an Italian municipality with a tranquil beach and authentic churches, holds 3,988 inhabitants; it is the Italian twin of Teulada.

This year, Teulada’s (Spain) mayor, Raul Llobel welcomes the Italian visitors to see the town in its full glory during the Sant Vicent Ferrer festivities.

With an immersive programme, the Italian representatives are guided on excursions across the town, visiting the mass and the vibrant parades held in honour of Teulada’s patron saint.

With oats, artisan costumes, reworks, and tasting of local products, Italian visitors enter the captivating community of the Spanish Teulada.

To emphasise the twinning fellowship of the two towns, a symbolic planting of an olive tree will take place on April 11 in Plaza Jaume I.

Patron Saint festivities

EACH year, following the grand Easter celebration, the Valencian Community celebrates its patron saint, San Vicente Ferrer.

This year, April 8 was marked as an o cial holiday in Valencia and the days before are celebrated in commemoration of San Vicente Ferrer across 198 towns in the Valencian Community.

Vicente Ferrer was a 14th-century saint born in

Valencia, the Confessor of the Spanish King, Juan I de Aragon.

He was renowned as a prophet who foretold the rise of Calixto III, the Pope appointed in 1455, whom he had met when he was young and prophesied to become the ‘pride’ of his family and country.

During the festivity, the community gathers to express gratitude for the saint’s virtues.

Amongst his many achievements, San Vicente Ferrer was ascribed to founding the rst children’s orphanage in Europe in 1410, which still operates in Valencia to this day.

During the celebration, the community attends Church service and day processions, as well as setting up reworks, hosting miracle performances and o ering owers.

APRIL 7 marked six months since the Hamas attack on Israel; six months since the beginning of the shattering terrors in Gaza and the losses of the Palestinian people.

To stand in solidarity and condemn the aggression of the Zionist State of Israel, the Marina Alta Peace Movement gathered at least 80 people to protest in Denia.

During the demonstration, a manifesto was read; “There is no justification for what is happening before our eyes.”

Even in the safety of our homes, this crisis affects every human being, seeing the worst of our history.

The manifesto addressed the local community: “We want to celebrate the institutional support in solidarity with the Palestinian people of the Marina Alta councils.”

The town’s Council and the community have been consistently expressing their denouncement of terrorism.

Segovia, Spain.

Credit: Jo Kassis, Pexels

RESIDENTS: Registering for free parking.

Free car park

FROM April until October, all Benitachell residents can park their car for free in any of the 15 bays of the municipality, making beach trips ever so tranquil.

The town established a mobile app Reservas Cala Moraig and the website Calamoraig.es for free parking bookings to facilitate the residents.

Without the online bookings, the spaces can be acquired via the ticket booth in person if there is space available.

For disability cardholders, there are five parking slots available, which can be booked for

the residents will have to present identification, disability card and vehicle registration via email to documentacion@cala moraig.org or in person at the town hall’s customer service desk on Calle Les Escoles, within four days.

INCREASING the efforts to maintain cleanliness, Acciona launched a mobile app to build a bridge between the citizens and the waste disposal services.

After booking special parking for the disabled,

To prevent car emissions and overcrowded beaches, Benitachell charges all visitors of the town with a €12 flat fee. Twenty minutes of pickups, drop-offs and parking searches are granted free of charge.

The new app, City in Touch, allows all users to have direct communication with Acciona; all incidents or comments about Calpe’s cleanliness or the waste disposal system, can be immediately reported via phone.

This is yet another measure which Acciona takes to ensure open communication between all members of the local community and spread the importance of the cleaning services.

The recent dispute with Calpe’s street cleaning employees, who threatened to go on strike, was resolved by Acciona adapting to the workers’ needs, and the new app is a further effort to ensure that all residents, visitors, and workers of the town are satisfied with their living conditions.

Access City in Touch for iPhone at https://apps. apple.com/es/app/cityin touch/id6448528145?l=en -GB

For all other phones, search for City in Touch in the app store.

Credit: Benitachell Council

THE Alicante Provincial Council held a plenary session on April 4, unanimously approving subsidies of €300,000 to prevent forest fires in Alicante Province.

Fighting fires

To combat the recent rise in forest fires, the council is implementing phytosanitary control of the forest mass, including the removal of dead trees and the planting of plant species to provide a nurturing supply and foster diversity in the forests of the Alicante Province.

FOURTEEN companies are bidding for buildings in Altea, intending to rehabilitate properties with great potential.

Altea Town Council presented the 24 buildings to tender divided into 13 lots, subsidised by the EU’s Next Generation Funds.

Within the wider plan of rehabilitating 346 homes and renovating two streets, the Urban Planning councillor, Jose Orozco stated that the aim is to make the properties “more sustainable”, “benefiting practically 1,000 people.”

So far, each of the 13 lots offered obtained bids.

The budget for each of the lots ranges from €21,000 to €55,000, taxes included.

These are located at Avenida Rei Jaume I, Zubeldía, Metge Adolfo Quiles, Camp Preciós, Bon Repós, Conde de Altea, Garganes and Ga -

The council grants a maximum budget of €60,000 as requested by the town coun-

cils, who will have 30 days from the announcement to submit applications.

The towns chosen for the subsidies will be based on having a high risk of fires, being declared as a low forest, holding high landscape interest, or struggling with drought.

Bids in Altea

briel Miró. The contracting table is currently reviewing the bids from the 14 companies.

Once obtaining the contracts for technical assistance in project drafting, construction management and health and safety coordination, the companies will have 12 months to execute their developments.

These actions are targeting forest fires which have been occurring as a result of climate change and the drought increase across the country.

Credit: Yuri Meesen, Pexels Forest fire.

First policewoman

Bridgette Hudson

ON April 4, Javea Local Police held a meeting at the town hall to pay tribute to Lola Ivars; a hard worker who became the first woman to join the local force.

Lola joined the security force almost 40 years ago and is now retiring. Her family, friends, former colleagues and retirees from the past united to express their gratitude for her continuous service.

In the town hall, Lola was awarded a medal and a plaque for her commitment and contributions over the years.

“May this recognition be a constant reminder of her valuable work and the positive impact she has left on the municipality,” stated the plaque.

The Chief Mayor of the Local Police, Jose Antonio Monfort, said: “Lola has given everything she had to give,” as he congratu-

lated her on her achievements in the police force, alongside Javea’s mayor, Rosa Cardona.

Today, authorities reveal that women make up 14.8 per cent of the entire police force in Spain, which is the highest it has been; making Lola Ivars one of the first women to enter the profession, and the very first to do so in Javea.

Special offers

DENIA held an outstanding Stock Fair, presenting 36 stores ranging from fashion to food for special discounts.

The residents and visitors of Denia gathered on April 6 at Calle Marques de Campo, spending an entire day shopping for clothes, food, electronics, sports equipment, and more. The public was immensely pleased with the unique offers at the Fair; the mayor of Commerce, María José García, revealed that the event “allows businesses to sell products from the latest editions at a

very discounted price.”

Not only was the market scene exceptional, fabulous entertainment was also offered, with activities for children and families.

Kids spent the day in active games and learnt about the importance of nature in a Posidonia Workshop, in which they crafted a hanging mobile from a Mediterranean Sea plant.

The Stock Market was organised by the Council of Commerce.

PAYING TRIBUTE: Javea Local Police.

Credit: Javea Council, X

Claude Norris

DENIA’S regional government continues the school development scheme set up in 2015, granting bene ts for refurbishing the local school establishments.

The Pla Edi cant campaign was founded to de-

Better schools

centralise the schools in Denia and allow management by the local council.

In 2017, the scheme greatly improved local educatio-

nal facilities including the Llebeig school, which will now undergo further development.

As reported by Denia’s

Charity walk

Claude Norris

PEOPLE of all ages eager to support those facing cancer are invited to join in the sixth Solidarity Walk Against Cancer on April 21 in Denia.

The walk is organised by a local non-pro t organisation, Amunt Contra el Cancer. The organisation holds various workshops for the community, as well as assists with hospital procedures and grants nancial support when possible.

All of the proceeds from the walk will be forwarded to cancer research.

You can contribute by making donations, buying a custom t-shirt, or by simply taking the solidarity walk.

Planning councillor, Maria Josep Rioll, the primary school will receive improved energy-e cient system air conditioning and heating. After considering the demands of both teachers

and pupils, Denia’s government built a new primary school in La Xara and renovated the facilities in the Pou de la Munanya primary school. Rioll shared the campaign’s plans: “We’re still pushing for the extension to Maria Ibars High School, the complete rebuild of Raque Paya special

school, a canteen for Jesus Pobre’s Pare Pare primary, the new Gent de Mar school and a new music conservatory.” She emphasised the importance that the learning environment has on the lives of children: “It’s a matter of resolving basic issues to improve children’s well-being.”

The group will meet at La Marina car park in Denia at 10am to charge up with Zumba. At 10.30am the group will set o . The walk will be supervised by Denia’s Local Police and Guardia Civil volunteers.

All customised t-shirts by the Amunt Contra el Cancer can be bought Monday-Friday at Campo Torres 13, 11am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.

Polish demand

LAST year, Costa Blanca welcomed 57,694 Polish tourists within two months; this year, even more are expected.

The Valencian Community is becoming the Polish favourite and this month, the tourism sector is developing new strategies to continue attracting the Poles.

On April 9 and 10, Turisme CV presented itself in Warsaw and Katowice in collaboration with the tour operator, Nekera, and the Spanish Tourist O ce of Warsaw.

On April 26 and April 28, Tursime CV is hosting an information point about the Valencian Community tourism in a central shopping centre in Gliwice.

Amunt Contra el Cancer walk 2023.

Credit: Amunt Contra el Cancer, Facebook

Pop revelation

THE winners of the Benidorm Fest, musical duo Nebulossa take the spotlight once again, awarded the FAM Culture Pop Eye Revelation Award before their launch to Eurovision. The duo from Ondara who will soon perform in Sweden

for the 2024 Eurovision Contest, was chosen as FAM’s Pop Revelation for their characteristic style and confidence.

The FAM will be hosting the 17th edition of its award ceremony, this year for the first time in Valencia at the Palau de les Arts.

The artists will be awarded on May 25, alongside Nebulossa including Joan Manuel Serrat, Dover, Agustin Pery, Fernando Navarro, Chimo Bayo and Birds Are Indie.

Not only is the community of pop fans excited for this event but Valencia’s Councillor for Tourism, Innovation and Investment Acquisition, Paula Llobet, highlighted the importance of these award ceremonies and their attendees.

“The fact that this gala is held in Valencia is a recognition not only of the cultural wealth that our city has but also the innovation it exudes, which has made us position ourselves as one of the best cities in the world to visit and also to live.”

Coast refugees

Anna Akopyan

DUE to the destabilising conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Slavic natives are fleeing and many find their new home in Costa Blanca.

The Notarial College of Valencia disclosed a 47,4 per cent increase from 2023 in the property sold to foreigners across Costa Blanca.

This year has marked a period of success for the real estate market, with 31, 691 of these citizens purchasing a home in the region.

Almost 20 per cent of this market is made up of Eastern European nationalities, breaking a record in the Alicante Province.

“The situation of instability prompted the arrival of buyers from this entire area,” commented the Vice Dean of Valencian Community’s notaries, Delfin Martinez.

The nationalities which moved to Costa Blanca this year included a large number of Ukrainians, Romanians, and Poles; who became the most nu-

merous foreign buyers in Benidorm.

An increase in Russians is also noticeable. As Martinez stated: “They have had it more complicated, but they have looked for a way to do it.”

The contrast between the state of these countries and the tranquillity of the Spanish coast continues to bring Slavic refugees to Costa Blanca, with a large impact on community and economy.

Heritage sold

DENIA’S local government acquired the town’s historic 16th-century house for €800,000.

Located in the old town of Denia, between Plaza del Ajuntament and Loreto, one of the oldest houses in the municipality remained deserted for many years before finally being purchased by Denia’s town hall.

For Sale postings have now been removed, as the government finalised the purchase. The town hall included this sale in the municipal budgets for 2024 and had now reached an agreement with the owners, reducing the price.

The building of the house dates back to the time of Felipe III, standing three floors high, and holding 630 square metres.

With its ancestral origin and the significant location in Denia’s historic centre near the Roques neighbourhood, the house, now more than ever, serves as a recovered patrimony, belonging to the town itself.

The town council has not announced their further plans for the house but with the government’s value of preserving heritage, it is certain thatit will be used for public purposes, reminding residents and visitors of Denia’s history.

Credit: Nebulossa, Facebook Nebulossa live at Arrecife.

Credit: KXSH Media, Pexels

The UK Spring Budget and new tax year

UK Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his Spring Budget 2024 to parliament last month. Expected to be his last budget before the General Election, it included various tax changes.

UK non-domiciled status abolished

The biggest announcement was the abolishment of the UK’s non-domiciled status. This reform will go through the consultation process, to come into effect in April 2025.

Much of this reform affects foreign nationals living in the UK and their tax liabilities. But the domicile regime also has a significant impact on an individual’s liability to UK inheritance tax.

The UK government now plans to replace these non-domiciled rules with a residence-based regime for inheritance tax. It will consult on a 10-year exemption period for new arrivals in the UK as well as a 10year ‘tail-provision’ for those who leave the UK and become non-resident.

By Brett Hanson, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks

Other changes

• The higher rate of capital gains tax for residential property gains reduced from 28% to 24% from the 2024/25 tax year starting on 6 April 2024.

• From 6 April the main rate of primary Class 1 National Insurance contributions has been cut from 10% to 8% and Class 4 contributions from 8% to 6%.

• From this April, new legislation restricts the scope of agricultural property relief and woodlands relief to property actually in the UK.

• The Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime will be abolished from April 2025, eliminating the

tax advantage for landlords who let out short-term furnished holiday properties over those with long-term tenants.

• An additional Individual Savings Account (ISA) with a £5,000 allowance was announced. The government will consult on the details.

• A consultation will seek views on the implementation of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) amendments to the Common Reporting Standard (CRS2), the international tax transparency regime for the automatic exchange of information on financial accounts.

Tax allowances remain frozen

Many of the UK’s tax allowances have been frozen since April 2021, instead of increasing with inflation, including the income tax personal allowance and higher rate threshold. As announced in previous budgets, the freeze will last until April 2026 – there was nothing in this 2024 budget to change this.

Freezing allowances has a similar effect as raising taxes – hence often referred to as ‘stealth taxes’. As incomes and assets increase with inflation while allowances remain static, more people pay more tax, an effect known as ‘fiscal drag’. The impact for taxpayers increases considerably when freezing is accompanied by high inflation.

Following the March budget, the Institute for Fiscal Studies illustrated that the National Insurance cut, though very welcome, would not compensate for the impact of the other tax measures introduced over the government’s term in office.

The inheritance tax nil rate band has been frozen at £325,000 since 2008, while the residence nil rate band remains at its 2021 level until 2026. This pushes more families into the IHT net and increases their tax bill.

2023/2024 tax allowance reductions

The UK’s Autumn Statement 2022 included cuts to tax

allowances and thresholds.

The income tax additional rate threshold was reduced from £150,000 to £125,140 from April 2023. The capital gains tax annual exempt amount was halved from £12,300 to £6,000 last year and is reduced to £3,000 from 6 April 2024. The dividend allowance, previously cut from £2,000 to £1,000 is now £500.

British expatriates who retain UK assets could be impacted by some of these tax measures. Seek personalised cross-border advice for clarification and to establish how to improve your position.

The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice.

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www. blevinsfranks.com.

Anna Akopyan

MEET the rest of the 10 men who spent their March supporting Javea Cancer Care.

• Charlie

“I’m more of a designed for comfort, not speed, kind of individual,” says Charlie, but in March of this year, he committed to walking

Men’s Health Matters III

200 km to help Cancer Care Javea.

Charlie has witnessed his loved ones battle cancer, and he has witnessed them winning too, so took on the challenge.

• Mick Ward

Mick Ward played gigs to fund his engineering degree and found that music was his real vocation.

This month Mick committed to exercising for

at least one hour, daily. After losing his wife, Mick dedicated himself to his music and children.

• Alastair Wallace

A businessman consultant and the Chairman of Javea Players Theatre, Alastair leads a bustling life: a husband and a father to three.

For charity, Alastair spent March alcohol-free, even on St Patrick’s Day.

• Boudy

Boudy lost his father to cancer and his 86-yearold mum is battling can-

Charlie took on the challenge.

cer for the third time.

With his two sons, he committed to doing 6,000 sit-ups throughout the month, even though he hasn’t done a single one for the past 30 years.

To donate, visit Javea Cancer Care on Facebook or Paypal cancerca rejavea@outlook.com .

Children’s aid

BENIDORM City Council has expanded their aid to families with special needs children, enhancing the ‘personal and academic’ development.

This year, 143 children in Benidorm will be granted private therapy and nancial support to help facilitate their needs. The city council allocated €173,010 for children’s treatments in disorders including ADHD, OCD and cognitive delay.

The councillor of Education, Maite Moreno, highlighted the growth in the nancial aid given to these children: “Compared to the €98,000 granted in 2019, this year’s has been resolved with €173,010, almost 77 per cent more funds in just ve years.”

The aid targets registered and enrolled students of schools across the municipality who have been diagnosed with learning di culties or psychological disorders.

The aid ranges between €95 and €230 per month throughout 10 months, except July and August, with a maximum of €2,000 per child, depending on the services required.

Pego wine

Eva Alvarez

ON May 5, Pego will become Spain’s natural wine hub, hosting producers from Marina Alta, Valencia, and Catalonia. Spain’s winemaking tradition, spanning millennia, features over 600 grape varieties, with 88 per cent of production concentrated on 20 types like ‘Airen,’ ‘Tempranillo,’ ‘Garnacha,’ ‘Monastrell,’ and ‘Bobal.’

In Pego, locals honour this legacy with the second edition of the Natural Wine Fair, inviting visitors to delve into natural winemaking’s essence. At the event, attendees can immerse themselves in winemaking, with over 20 vintners showcasing creations.

For €10, guests can partake in a tasting experience, o ering a journey through Spanish wines’ diverse avours. Handpicked based on yearly variations and personal tastes, these wines are ideal for sharing. Vicent Tomas Soler will be a revered

guest of honour at the Natural Wine Fair 2024. Coming from Carricola in Vall d’Albaida, Vicent Tomas leads Spain’s natural wine movement as president of the PVN association. His vineyards cultivate diverse grape varieties using agroecological and biodynamic methods. From whites to reds, his meticulously crafted wines re ect a deep connection to Valencian culture.

THIS month, 11 Altean restaurants will present their nest rice dishes, ranging from starters to desserts, renovating the classic Mediterranean ingredient.

From April 12 until April 21, the second edition in the history of Altea Rice Days will be held, organised by the Altea

Altean Rice Days

group.

“I think that rice is a very signi cant product of Altea’s gastronomic culture, which, with the good work of our restaurants, proposes very varied menus

Harvesting grapes from the vineyard.

Safe with taxes

ADJUSTING to the Spanish taxation system can seem burdensome but it is vital to ensure a proper tax submission to avoid fines which can be easily averted.

With the tax income campaign now in motion, the application date of July 1 is insistently approaching; preparing your tax declaration as early as possible is wise to avoid making errors.

The residents subject to providing the tax income declarations are employed workers who have re ceived a salary of more than €22,000.

Most common mistakes are con cerned with the tax domicile; the lo cation in which the taxpayer is registe red. Providing a false registration direction can cost you a fine of

up to €100.

Other potential errors to watch out for are not indicating your Tax Identification Number, including false deductions and documents, and incorrect declared inIf you abstain from filing your income tax return, the Tax Agency will declare a penalty ranging from 5 to 20 per cent, deducted from the required fee to the Treasury, depending on the de-

More access

CALPE Council makes further efforts to develop the local infrastructure, creating wider access to roads and addressing driving safety issues.

Calpe’s mayor, Ana Sala held a meeting with the Provincial Ministry of Transport Chefs alongside the Town Planning councillor and the councillor for Traffic and Road Safety.

Two main aims have been set in place; the access of Maryvilla and the improvement of the N-332 lane.

There have been complaints about the lack of access to Maryvilla from the N-332, as the road forces drivers to undertake dangerous turns and doesn’t allow the resi-

dents to access the lane to Altea.

The council addressed this issue, proposing to build central lanes to Maryvilla at the 165-kilometre point of the N-332.

Another point of focus was the deteriorating tunnel which was built more than 40 years ago and is now unsuited to the traffic increase.

The council has commissioned a study of the area in the following months to decide on the solutions.

To ensure these developments, the council is arranging a meeting with the Director General of Roads in Madrid, as the mayor highlighted: “We will go to Madrid to insist on the need for an immediate solution.”

Credit: Got Credit, Flickr

Can the heirs in Spain force the surviving spouse to exchange the usufruct for other assets or money?

INHERITANCE proceedings are not always straightforward. Contentious inheritances. Disagreements between the heirs about the valuation of the assets and/ or the distribution of the same. Will contestations. In this week’s article, we analyse the usufruct of the estate. And we answer the following question: Is it possible to force the widowed spouse to exchange the usufruct for other assets or capital?

Widow’s usufruct. Rights of the surviving spouse

Spanish law reserves a portion of the inheritance assets to certain individuals. These are known as forced heirs or legitimated heirs. A clear example is the widowed spouse. When he or she participates in the inheritance with the children of the deceased, the surviving espouse is entitled to the usufruct of 1/3 of the inheritance (art. 834 Spanish Civil Code).

What rights does the usufructuary have?

The usufruct is the right of use, benefit and enjoyment that someone has over a certain asset, despite not being its owner. Thus, the usufruct on a property gives the right to live in it (or rent it and receive the rents). The usufruct on a bank account entitles to receive the interests. The usufruct of shares, to receive the dividends, etc.

Is it possible to exchange the usufruct for other assets?

Yes. The legal justification for this possibility is foreseen in articles 839 and 840 of the Civil Code:

Article 839: “The heirs may satisfy the spouse’s share of usufruct by assigning him/her an annuity, the proceeds of certain assets, or a capital sum in cash, proceeding by mutual agreement and, failing that, by virtue of a

court order.”

Article 840: “When the widowed spouse concurs with children only of the deceased, he may demand that his right of usufruct be satisfied, at the choice of the children, by assigning him a capital sum in cash or a lot of inherited property.”

In other words, in principle, it may be possible to exchange the widower’s right of usufruct for other assets in the inheritance, or for capital (money).

Doctrine and case law of the Supreme Court on the capitalisation of usufruct

The case law of the Spanish’s Supreme Court understands that it could be possible for the heirs to oblige the spouse to capitalise his or her usufruct on the basis of the aforementioned articles. Ruling of October 25, 2000, admits this faculty for “the heirs, whether voluntary or forced, testate or intestate, or even legatees affected

by the legal usufruct of the widower, whether they are descendants, ascendants or collaterals of the deceased.” In any case, each case must be studied individually, as there is no unanimity in the doctrine.

Can the surviving spouse refuse to exchange the usufruct?

We understand that refusal is not possible, since Article 839 contemplates the possibility of making this ‘change’ without the widower’s agreement being necessary. However, both parties (widower and heirs) must jointly determine the value of the assets part of the inheritance. The heirs cannot impose the value on the spouse, and it is necessary that both parties agree about it.

How is the usufruct calculated?

To calculate the usufruct value, the formula used is: 89 - age of

the usufructuary. If the value of the state is €400,000. And the surviving spouse is 75 years old (89-75 = 14), the value of the usufruct of the spouse will be 14 per cent of €400,000.That is, €56,000.

And the children of the deceased, could exchange the usufruct of the widower, eg by assigning him/her an annuity, assets of this value, etc.

Conclusion

At White-Baos Lawyers, we are experts in Inheritance Law. If you would like to know more about this and other issues related to inheritance, wills, etc. please do not hesitate to contact us.

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

Mobile-free dining

IN an era in which smartphones seem to have become a natural extension of our hand, there is a restaurant in Italy that invites you to rediscover the pleasure of conversation at the table, free of all digital distraction.

This is Separè 1968, a restaurant and wine bar run by Niccolò D’Andrea on the seafront in Tuscany’s Marina di Cecina. Here, couples who choose to dine without their mobile phones for a few hours are rewarded with a discount voucher, in a social experiment that aims to promote greater human connection.

The idea, for which D’Andrea admits he was inspired by Scandinavian practices, invites diners to deposit their phones in a basket at the entrance, promising in return a €20 voucher valid for the next dinner. This initiative, ca-

lled ‘Let’s talk again’, was enthusiastically received by customers, many of whom thanked the owner for “reminding them what it means to enjoy a few hours like this”. The initiative also addresses the dilemma of those who, while wanting to disconnect, feel compelled to remain reachable for emergencies, especially parents. D’Andrea proposes a simple but effective solution: leave the restaurant’s number as an

emergency contact, thus ensuring peace of mind for customers without sacrificing the immersive dining experience.

D’Andrea says that the absence of the mobile phone increases attention to the food, the flavours, the smells and, of course, to the person sitting opposite. In an increasingly connected world, sometimes disconnecting can be the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our loved ones.

IN Barcelona, a Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) cruise ship found itself anchored indefinitely at the port, its voyage to Croatia stalled by a controversy over visas.

On Wednesday, April 3, the ship, carrying approximately 1,500 passengers, was detained due to 69 Bolivian passengers with documents under scrutiny by the National Police. The issue prevented passengers’ disembarkation in the European Schengen zone.

Angry songs

Jules Phillips

A RECENT study has discovered that song lyrics have become an- grier and more repetitive since the 1980s.

The study, conducted by Eva Zangerle and her team from the University of In nsbruck, Austria, analysed 12,000 English-language songs released between 1980 and 2020, along with their po pularity on the online platform Genius.

According to the findings, rap songs exhibited the most signifi cant increase in anger and ne gative emotions, while coun try songs showed the least. Zangerle suggests that the rise in anger-related words might mirror broader changes in society and culture.

The study also highlighted that lyrics have be come simpler and more perso nal over time, making them easier to understand. Interestingly, there has been a decline in the variety of words used within songs, particu

larly noticeable in rap and rock music. Zangerle noted the transformation in music consumption over the past 40 years, from purchasing records in stores to accessing vast libraries of songs on streaming platforms. This change, she suggests, has influenced the way people

Examining page views on Genius, the researchers found that older rock songs tended to attract more views compared to newer ones, whereas the opposite was true for country songs.

Zangerle illustrated the contrast between complex and simpler song writing with examples like Bruce Springsteen’s intricate 1973 track ‘Spirit In The Night’ and Miley Cyrus’s repetitive 2019 hit ‘Slide Away’.

Songs more repetitive since the 80s.

Passengers stranded

Social media became a platform for airing grievances, with travellers expressing frustration over the delay.

One passenger named Paul voiced his frustration on Twitter/X, posting: ‘We should have left yesterday towards Ajaccio and we have been informed several times of changes in the itinerary but each

time we are informed we are told that the departure is delayed with a lot of uncertainty and nothing clear.’ He later added: We ask the Spanish company/authorities to find a quick solution to continue with our trip’.

The Spanish and Bolivian authorities collaborated to speed up the necessary administrative steps. The

These observations shed light on the evolving nature of song writing and audience preferences over the decades.

Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the predicament of its nationals on MSC Armonia, highlighting their departure from Brazil for a Mediterranean tour. MSC Cruises have confirmed they were working with Spanish officials to address the issue, stating the passengers’ documentation appeared valid at the time of boarding in Brazil. Despite this, it was later revealed the visas were invalid for entry into the Schengen area.

Rediscover pleasure of conversation.

Photo: Shutterstock / IKO

Credit: Creative Common

Welcome to Hell

Together at the table

John Smith

Discovering Hell.

Image: Visit Norway.

George Cunningham

IN Norway, there’s a quaint village named Hell with just over 1,000 residents.

It’s pretty special because it’s close to Trondheim’s international airport and has its own train station, which adds to its charm.

Naturally enough, English-speaking tourists show considerable interest in the place and the name Hell.

Most head for the major landmark, the Hell railway station, where people are photographed under the famous sign ‘Hell Station - God Expedition’.

Although the station is now closed, most trains stop here (on signal).

But there’s more to this village than just its name.

If you take a short walk from the station along a marked trail through the forest, you will find ancient rock carvings of reindeer, thought to be about 5,000 years old.

These carvings give us a peek into the area’s long history and cultural heritage.

Besides its historical significance, Hell has modern stuff too.

There’s a hotel and a small shopping centre for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Despite its quirky name, Hell is a beautiful and interesting place, blending old treasures with modern comforts.

It’s a memorable stop for anyone exploring the region.

IT is only about once every 30 years that Ramadan and Easter coincide and 2024 was one of those rare occurrences which saw a very sharing experience in Antwerp.

An organisation comprised of around 150, mainly immigrant, associations, FMV, created a new Belgian record by hosting a special open air meal on Easter Sunday, March 31 which stretched along two kilometres of road.

Following the day of fasting, Muslims refer to the time that they are allowed to eat as Iftar and it was decided that to celebrate this unusual coincidence of celebrations that Christians, Muslims and indeed anyone else should be invited to attend.

Those joining the tables in the Turnhoutsebaan area in Borgerhout had a choice of bringing their own food and drink or purchasing some of the

items available from caterers brought in by the organisers.

There was a whole selection of food including some Belgian favourites as well as examples of favourite Arabic food from Morocco, Palestine, Syria plus other suitable Halal dishes.

Between 6,000 and 8,000 people attended the dinner and speaking to

the Belgian News Agency, Mayor Mariam El Orsi of Flemish green party Groen said “We are going for a zero waste event by only using reusable materials.” She added, “This is not easy in terms of organisation, but it is necessary. We are also asking people to prevent food waste. So providing an excess of food is really not necessary.”

Enjoying the Iftar event on Easter Sunday.

Cooking a revolution

A COOKING school for Down’s Syndrome children has opened in a villa confiscated from the mafia.

Casa Mehari belonged to Camorra boss Nicola Imbriani but now the confiscated villa has be come a cooking school where children with Down’s Syndrome can as pire to become chefs. Be lieving in the ‘Cooking a Revolution’ project is Mi chelin-starred chef, Gen naro Esposito, who had gathered the support of other colleagues to put together the neces sary funds for the purchase of a profes sional kit chen.

The villa is in Na ples, in the south of Italy where chef Gen naro has his own res taurant, the Torre del Saracino in Vico Equen se near Sorrento. “I am

sure that this learning opportunity proposed for the children will be well received. Kitchens are places of inclusion where teamwork and mutual respect win out,”

Gennaro told Ansa.

“A professional kitchen for young people has always been one of our dreams and today we have finally realised this goal,” said Maria Trapanese, of ‘La Bottega dei Semplici Pensieri’, a non-profit association set up by family members of people with Down’s Syn-

The inauguration of the cooking school was held on Wednesday April 3 and Gennaro told those present that, “the kitchen is a magical place. A magic that, judging by the smiles and a few tears that escaped the boys at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, has already taken up residence in this place ready to christen the first chef trained at Casa Mehari.”

Sir Penguin

Anna Ellis

IN the realm of animal tales, one story stands out: the remarkable journey of Nils Olav, a penguin at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.

While it’s true Norway didn’t knight a penguin, the Norwegian King’s Guard did bestow upon him a series of honorary military titles.

Nils Olav’s story began in the early 1960s at the Edinburgh Zoo, where he lived among his penguin pals.

His life changed when a Norwegian regiment visited the zoo in 1961.

The soldiers took a liking to Nils Olav, sparking a special connection.

In 1972, during another visit, the Norwegian King’s Guard named Nils Olav as their official mascot.

This marked the start of his unique military career.

Over the years, Nils Olav rose through the ranks within the Norwegian King’s Guard.

He received promotions during their visits, with ceremonies attended by royal family members and dignitaries. In 1987, he became a Corporal, and in 2001, a Sergeant.

A highlight came in 2008 when the Norwegian King’s Guard knighted Nils Olav in a grand ceremony witnessed by thousands.

He became Sir Nils Olav, Knight of the Norwegian King’s Guard, solidifying his status as a symbol of friendship between Norway and Scotland.

Nils Olav’s knighthood was just the beginning and he has continued to receive honours.

In 2023, Nila was promoted to Major General in the presence of 120 guardsmen.

Michelin chef Gennaro Esposito.

Photo: Facebook / Gennaro Esposito

SIR NILS OLAV: Now Major General.

Image: Edinburgh Zoo

Killing the Bear

John Smith

GOING back to Roman times, pagan festivals celebrated the New Year and this still carries on across Europe with Silio’s Vijanera being Spain’s most famous version.

Soon after Franco gained control of the country, bowing to complaints from the Catholic Church, the many Vijaneras which took place across northern Spain were banned.

It wasn’t until 1981 that a group of residents of the town of Silio (a suburb of Moledo in Cantabria) decided that the time had come to resurrect the festival although in that first year, it took place in the summer.

From 1982 onwards it returned to the turn of the year and is celebrated on the first Sunday of January each year when at 6am youngsters go through the town ringing bells and shout out that this is a special day.

As there were still a number of people alive who

remembered the Vijanera prior to its banning, it was relatively easy for the new version to follow the traditions of the past.

Around 150 mainly male locals dress up in 80 different costumes representing animals, wood sprites (Trapajones) men, women, hun-

ters (Los Zarramaco) and many more.

The Zarramaco are dressed in sheepskins with large cowbells and it is their duty to hunt the Bear which represents evil and once it is killed so the New Year may be welcomed in with the promise of a fresh start.

Some of the 80 different characters. Credit: Vijanera Facebook

The Bear captured by the Zarramacos. Credit: Vijanera Facebook

“Those who study have a home. Those who have a home have company.”

This is the motto of the ‘Aconchego’ programme, which is aimed at people over the age of 60, living in the municipality of Porto, in Portugal, who live alone or with their spouse and have the accommodation to host students. It’s a partnership with the Academic Federation of Porto (FAP) and is now in its 20th year.

Through ‘Aconchego’, the Municipality and the FAP are trying to achieve two objectives: to house university students in the homes of seniors living in the city and to promote the well-being of seniors and their families, alleviating the feeling

of loneliness and reducing the level of worry that many children feel because their parents live alone, especially at night.

This intergenerational project has already won international awards and provides participants with an

Rare find Helping each other

exchange of experiences between generations, companionship for the seniors and reduced accommodation costs for the student. The students make a symbolic contribution in kind, which can be food, to help cover additional expenses such as

water, electricity and gas. ‘Aconchego’ takes seniors out of loneliness and helps students get accommodation: win-win. The programme lasts for one academic year and can be renewed until the end of the course.

MARVIN GAYE, a music legend, has been celebrated for 40 years, alongside icons like Elvis and The Beatles. Despite his tragic death in 1984, his music remains immensely popular, with millions of streams each month.

Recently, a remarkable discovery has emerged in Belgium: a collection of audio tapes containing unreleased material recorded by Gaye. This treasure trove, hidden for over four decades, includes not only new music but also stage costumes, notebooks, and other memorabilia associated with the artist.

Gaye’s connection to Belgium is fascinating. He moved there in the 1980s, seeking refuge from personal struggles and revitalising his career. Now, Belgian lawyer Alex Trappeniers, along with the Dumolin family who possess the collection, sees the potential in sharing this newfound music with the world.

While the legal ownership of the material is complex, with the Dumolin family claiming rights, questions about intellectual property and music publishing rights remain. Negotiations with Gaye’s heirs, Marvin III, Nona, and Frankie, are pending, raising hopes for a compromise that respects

everyone’s interests.

The discovery of Gaye’s Belgian archive holds immense significance for music history. With the potential for new albums and collaborations, the world eagerly awaits the outcome of these negotiations. Forty years after his passing, Marvin Gaye’s legacy continues to captivate and inspire, marking a remarkable chapter in showbiz history.

MUSIC LEGEND: Marvin Gaye in 1973.

Plethora of pants

A USA museum, that’s home to a gigantic pair of underwear, invited people to become world record holders by wearing pants on their heads.

A total of 355 people joined together at City Museum in St Louis, Missouri, to set the record for the largest gathering of people wearing un-

derwear on their heads.

The idea came about as the museum is hosting the touring Science of Guinness World Records exhibition, produced by

Fountain of hope

IF you’ve ever strolled through Rome, chances are you’ve taken part in the age-old tradition of tossing a coin into the famous Trevi Fountain.

Every year, this tradition generates over €1 million, all collected from the waters of this stunning 18th-century monument.

Every day, about €3,000 in loose change is thrown into its waters, totalling up to €1.5 million annually.

Several times a year, city workers are sent to collect this fortune. Using brushes attached to long poles, they sweep the coins into piles before using a suction hose to retrieve them from the water. Under the watchful eye of law enforcement, the coins are then bagged.

In 2001, the mayor decided to donate the collected funds to a local charity to discourage theft from the fountain.

Since then, the loose change collected from the fountain has been given annually to Rome’s Catholic charity, Caritas. This contribution has been vital, making up 15 per cent of the charity’s yearly budget.

Caritas uses these funds to help Rome’s impoverished and needy re -

sidents, supporting initiatives like soup kitchens, homeless shelters, free supermarkets, and various other projects.

Additionally, the money aids in maintaining a facility on the outskirts of Rome, offering essential services like nursing care, meals, and dental care to those in need in the city.

Ripley’s & Science North.

Museum bosses decided to mark the arrival of the exhibition and celebrate one of their most popular attractionssome giant undies - at the same time.

The pants on display at the museum were created in 1997 by St Louis-based artists Pat Eby and Ann Paidrick.

They have a 16-foot waistband and are seven feet wide and six feet tall when laid out.

And although they aren’t officially the world’s largest underpants, they sure get a lot of visitors.

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Michael Empric was invited to the museum to count the number of people who dropped by to pop a pair of undies on like a hat. People were on hand with hundreds of pairs of pants, handing them out to museum fans who came along to join in the fun. Everyone was required to gather together and keep the underwear on their head for a full minute, with just one person being deducted from the final count, a child who removed their makeshift hat before the time was up.

TREVI FOUNTAIN: Funding charity.

Image: Italy Luxury Life / Facebook

Kate’s cookery course

HAVE you ever imagined what world-famous celebrities do when they’re not making Hollywood blockbusters?

This month, the county of Cork witnessed Oscar-winning film star Kate Winslet, 48, enrolling in a cookery course at Ballymaloe Cookery School.

On a quest to improve her kitchen skills, Winslet joined a class at the well-known culinary school managed by famed Irish chef Rachel Allen, earlier in April.

Nestled in the lush landscapes of County Cork, the school is known for its comprehensive cooking courses.

Local media said the actress was seen in the company of Rachel Allen and her husband, Isaac, exploring the pictu resque locales of Cork.

She repor tedly stayed at the prestigious Ballymaloe Hou se and visited the scenic Ballyshane Coastal Retreats with a friend.

Engaging in a short but intensive two-and-

a-half-day cooking course, Winslet is among the celebrities drawn to Cork’s vibrant culture and culinary prestige.

This particular week, Rachel Allen is leading a fully booked course titled ‘Cooking for Family and Friends’, which spans three day and costs €865. It highlights the diverse interest in culinary arts, even among the glitterati.

KATE WINSLET: Improving her kitchen skills.

Credit: GabboT/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

IRELAND

Richest Irish

ONLY one Irish billionaire did not maintain or increase his wealth in 2023, Forbes’ annual billionaires list revealed. Construction tycoon Shapoor Mistry headed the list with $9.9 billion (€9.1 billion) but the fortune of John Armitage, who is the co-founder of Egerton Capital, fell to $1.5 billion (€1.38 billion).

Lost weekend

AN inspector from the Roads Policing Unit told the RTE broadcaster that an “alarmingly high” number of people were arrested over the Easter weekend while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and sometimes both.

This was confirmed by the Garda’s Roads Unit who arrested 140 for “driving while intoxicated.”

NORWAY

Threat defused

THE Police Security Service (PST), working with Oslo police, traced a person who made one of the two bomb threats that the Norwegian parliament received on April 3, the PST told state broadcaster NRK.

A spokesman from the PST declined to confirm if the same person was responsible for making both the threats.

Golden eggs

SUPERMARKETS expressed their “frustration” at the continuing shortage of eggs over Easter although Nortura, the egg industry regulator, explained that production numbers were no different from Easter 2023.

“The recent focus on eggs has probably led to a lot of hoarding,” a Nortura spokesperson suggested.

EURO PRESS

Strait talking

A BRIDGE over the Strait of Messina connecting Sicily with the mainland is a step nearer after a compulsory purchase order for the necessary land was published in local and national newspapers. The notice follows approval six weeks ago by the board of state-owned Stretto de Mesina which will build the bridge.

MESSINA: Soon to be linked to the mainland by bridge, not ferry.

SWEDEN

Bike it

STATISTICS SWEDEN found that nearly a third of Sweden’s working population lived 15 minutes by bike from their workplace although most used other forms of transport.

Municipalities with populations below 100,000 were more likely to have a cycling commute of less than 15 minutes, the survey found.

April snow

HEAVY snow around the Gothenburg area on April 2 was responsible for such long tailbacks on the E20 motorway and National Road 26 that police declared a major incident. With traffic held up for hours on some stretches, they recommended that motorists avoided both roads until conditions improved.

PORTUGAL BELGIUM

Mystery cargo

AFTER years spent analysing the remains of crockery and cutlery washed ashore in 2014 at Belinho beach, near Porto, experts dismissed original theories that they came from a wrecked Iberian vessel. They believe they were the cargo of a prosperous 16th century merchant who would have sold them for use aboard ship.

Worth its salt

THE future Albufeira desalination plant has received a favourable preliminary assessment on its environmental impact although another will be required at a later stage.

Despite the need for a reliable water supply, not all locals support the project, owing to its heavy carbon footprint and effect on seawater salt levels.

DENMARK GERMANY

Jet sale

ARGENTINA will buy the 24 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft which Denmark is replacing with F-35 jets, Defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced. “The sale was carried out in close collaboration with the US government, who has approved the sale of the American aircraft,” the Defence Ministry said.

Long journey

THE message in a bottle that five-yearold Harry Liddle threw into the sea in Sunderland on August 28, 2023, was found on March 6 by Frederik Bilgrav Schramm, from Romo who contacted the Liddles on Messenger.

Harry, who imagined the bottle would be found on the Sunderland beach was “super-excited”, his mother said.

NETHERLANDS ITALY

Stoked up

SEVEN coal-fired power stations were closed down in late March, energy companies RWE and LEAG announced.

Two were already operating after their planned shutdown but five more were started up last winter to compensate for a shortfall in gas supplies as Germany reduced its dependence on Russian supplies.

Trunk call

BOTSWANA’S president Mokgweetsi Masisi considered sending 20,000 elephants to Germany after the Environment ministry proposed limiting imports of hunting trophies to prevent poaching.

Botswana has an elephant population of 130,000, the President said, and hunting kept them in check while protecting crops and property.

FRANCE

Orca loss

INOUK, a 25-year-old orca who spent his life in captivity, died at Marineland in Antibes, the second orca to die there in six months.

The cause of Inouk’s death has not yet been established, but he had severe dental problems and mouth ulcers after wearing down his teeth by constantly gnawing the sides of his concrete tank.

Ethical chocs

CONCERNS about child labour and underpaid cocoa-bean farmers in Africa are growing in chocolate-loving France where each person gets through seven kilos a year. Members of the Committed Chocolatiers Club announced that they will promote a “greener and more ethical” process that pays producers more fairly.

FINLAND

Sky-high

AMPERE (population 226,696) will have the world’s tallest cable car system linking an 88-metre-high hotel in the city centre to the Nasinneula observation tower 1.5 kilometres away.

Originally planned as a ski-lift over Mustanlahti Bay, the project has evolved into what developers say will become a Tampere landmark.

No change

FINLAND’S eastern border with Russia, closed since December following an influx of undocumented asylum-seekers, will not reopen when the current schedule expires on April 14.

The government will also announce its decision on international protection applications, resulting in possibly just one entry point.

Steady rises

BELGIUM’S minimum wage rose to a pretax €2,029.88 per month on April 1 after a €76.28 hike in April 2022 that was followed by a €35.70 rise on April 1, 2024, with another planned for April 2026. The increases will benefit 80,000 employees nationwide, according to figures released by the ACV union.

In bloom

THE Halle Bluebell Festival begins on April 13 but the first blooms were in flower a week earlier in the Halle woods not far from Brussels, days before crowds would flock to see them.

As usual, Halle City Hall will be putting on a free shuttle bus service to the woods each weekend until the end of the month.

Go easy

DEBT collection agencies must now respect more stringent rules, which include a new law that bans them from exerting pressure on debtors and obliges them to register with the authorities.

Existing agencies were given a year to sign up but new companies must do so immediately, the Justice and Safety department said.

Call-up

APPROXIMATELY 200,000 young people who are 17 or about to celebrate their 17th birthday are currently receiving conscription papers.

Although they will not have to complete military training, all Dutch citizens between the ages of 17 and 45 must be prepared to be called up “in exceptional circumstances.”

Photo credit: CC/Oursane

Make paella

Claude Norris

MASTER the art of pre paring the perfect paella while delighting in delicious wine tasting at La Carneceri’´s Seafood

Paella

Master class on April 23.

There’s not a fla vour more exemplary of the richness of Mediterranean cuisine than that of a perfectly crafted seafood paella enjoyed with a glass of wine.

On Thursday, April 23, La Carneceria in Javea invites visitors to elevate their skills in crafting the classic Spanish dish with the assistance of a professional chef, Harrison, and enjoy wine tasting with the sommelier, Christian Aron.

Serving paella is almost like a performance, and this is one of the reasons why it’s been Spain’s signature dish for more than 400 years.

Surprisingly simple to make, paella can be served at any event, destined to gratify all family members and guests at any event or occasion.

In this Masterclass, visitors get a chance to develop a broader palate in both Spanish cuisine and wine, discovering their new favourite flavour.

Beginning at 1pm at La Carneceria, Calle Cervantes 22, Javea. €55 per person.

Bookings on 638 336 770 or Facebook La Carneceria Javea.

RAISING FUNDS:

Bollywood night

RAISE funds for charity in a night of mesmerising Hindu dance performances, native cuisine and raffle tickets at Kathmandu on April 17.

Two committed non-profit organisations and a group of talented dancers invite guests to a Bollywood night in Javea’s Indian restaurant, Kathmandu.

The price of €25 includes a meal with a drink and the €5 donation is forwarded to the charities Tanamera Rescue and Catland Javea.

The Tanamera Rescue is an organisation run by Jacky Hazelger, devoted to rescuing, rehoming and rehabilitating ex-hunting dogs across the Valencian Community.

Catland Association is the first cat shelter ever created in Javea, nurturing homeless cats, working with a full zoological licence to host up to 100 cats at a time.

This April will mark the fifth edition of the Bollywood Night, which in the past, has raised

more than €1,000.

The dance performance is orchestrated by the winner of the World’s Best Instructor prize, Marina Theobald and her fabulous FitSteps Costa Blanca group.

The event begins at 7pm and the performances are followed by a DJ set by Mick Dennison.

For bookings call 656 549 617, Janet.

Keep up with FitSteps Costa Blanca, Tanamera Rescue, and Catland Javea on Facebook.

Bollywood Night FitSteps Costa Blanca.

PERFECT: Signature seafood paella. Credit: Marina Theobald

Anna Akopyan

FROM April 19 until May 17, Javea will host an Art Exhibition saturated with gifted women, celebrating femininity and leaving their mark in the world of art and culture.

The exhibition is coordinated by the EUWMA (European Union of Women Marina Alta); an

Women’s art

alliance of women using their strength and compassion to empower the community.

Morrison. Artworks by students of the Lady Elizabeth School will also be featured.

Workshops and pre sentations by outstan ding women will be held, including Lauren Staton and Anne Grip ton.

EUWMA held their first Art Exhibition last year and had received such a large artist demand that a second edition had to follow. This spring, 23 women artists will display their work: ‘Women Who Shaped the World’.

The organiser, Emma Lawton, will be presenting her work, alongside internationally established artists including Marissa Oosterlee, Teresa Fons and Jenny

“This is not some quiet sterile sort of exhibition where you walk around in hushed silence,” confessed the President of EUWMA, Margaret Hales: “We are going to celebrate women with enthusiasm, admiration and love.”

CALPE Town Council in collaboration with the Department of Culture is organising the first municipal Piano Festival, hosting international professional piano players throughout this spring. The concerts will take place at Casa de Cultura, Salo Blaue, beginning at 8pm, and free of charge.

- April 6

Silke Ribes; a distinguished student at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Musica in Madrid.

- April 8

Hang and Kai Lin Chen; two brothers living in Calpe, aged 13 and 16, exceptionally skilled and passionate.

- April 12

Italian piano teacher, Guilano Adorno, winner of more than 30 awards worldwide.

- April 19

Hungarian teacher, Isvan Szekely, who works in Madrid and La Nucia.

- April 26

Rosa Blanco, a pianist with training from Madrid and Germany

For more information contact euwma.treasurer @gmail.com or visit Women of Marina Alta on Facebook

At DAR Social Club & Community Centre at Carretera Jesus Pobre 196, Javea.

Piano Festival

Free piano performances this spring.

- May 22

Antonio Galera, organiser of the Iturbis Festival of 2019.

- May 30

Armenian postgraduate of the Manhattan School of Music in New York, Sofya Melikyan.

Painting by Emma Lawton.

Credit: Emma Lawton

Credit: Ludwig Kwan, Pexels

Savour life and celebrate

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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At the helm are the dynamic duo of Alison ‘Ali’ Wolfenden-Jones and her husband, Keith Jones, this visionary partnership breathes life into every corner of the establishment.

With roots tracing back to the verdant landscapes of Mid Wales, Ali and Keith infuse Champions Pub Albir with an unmistakable British charm, delivering an authentic taste of home.

Enjoy

From favourite culinary traditions to warm hospitality, every aspect of the pub reflects their shared passion for creating memorable experiences.

At Champions Pub Albir, every moment is an opportunity to unwind and connect while enjoying panoramic views of the glistening coastline.

Whether you’re sipping on an exclusive pint of Guinness on the terrace or gathered around the 100-inch screen for a thrilling sports match, the atmosphere is electric. With football, motor racing, and various sports showcased, there’s something for everyone. Additionally, the pub offers a pool table and a dartboard.

Indulge in delightful offerings like hearty Sunday roasts and classic allday breakfasts.

From Friday quizzes to Wednesday karaoke sessions and during the summer months, don’t miss out on mouth-watering barbecues that add a sizzle to your days.

Getting in touch with Champions Pub Albir is as easy as pie! Call 602 439 497, or send an email to champions.albir@gmail.com whilst you can use WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram to stay informed on their latest events and offerings. Good times and great memories await at Champions Pub Playa Mar 1 Paseo de las Estrellas, Locales 12-15, 03581, Albir which is open daily from 9 am to 12 am.

“COLOUR is what brings positive energy and joy into our lives,” reminds us Lorette Kos, a Dutch painter who recently moved to Oliva.

In her apartment near the sea, she continues her work, inspired by the coastal landscape and the vibrant colours of Spain.

Lorette just moved from Javea to Oliva and before, was living in La Palma. Her journey to Spain began eight years ago when she moved away from the Netherlands.

“I wanted a different lifestyle,” Lorette recalled, “Back in Holland everybody is always in a hurry; it is a rat race.”

In Spain, Lorette found serenity and space for expression. Her recent collection, Set Yourself Free, evokes an impressive life-like quality; the colourful diversity of being.

Life-like

“I want people to let go of limiting beliefs and reconnect to their inner strength,” stated Lorette.

It is with her knowledge and experience as a Life Coach that she crafts her art; guiding people to reach their potential and truly enjoy their life.

Since 2003, Lorette’s work has been exhibited in galleries across the Netherlands and Spain.

From April 19 until May 16, Lorette will exhibit at the DAR Centre, Javea, for the Art Exhibition by the European Union of Women.

Discover Lorette Kos´s art at https://kosart.com/

Anna Akopyan

SET YOURSELF FREE: Inner Joy painting by Lorette Kos.

Credit: Lorette Kos

favourite culinary traditions.

Jules Phillips

FOOTBALL fans from England and Scotland have been given a headsup about the potency of German beer ahead of Euro 2024. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has issued official advice, urging fans to drink responsibly during their visit to the continent for the summer tournament.

The FCDO cautioned that getting too drunk and causing trouble could result in fans being banned from entering stadiums, especially considering England’s strong chances in the competition.

The advice stresses the importance of knowing one’s limits and adhering to local laws to avoid any issues.

Unlike the average strength of lager and ale in the UK, which is around 4.4 per cent, German beers tend to be stronger, ranging from 4.7 per cent to 5.4 per cent. This difference in alcohol content means

Potent beer

Animal advocacy

BE CAREFUL: Beer is stronger in Germany.

fans need to be extra cautious while enjoying the local brews.

In addition to responsible drinking, the FCDO also reminded fans to respect local customs and cultural sensitivities to avoid any unintended consequences. With around half a million Britons expected to travel to Germany for the tournament, it’s crucial for

Credit: Creative Commons

everyone to be mindful of their actions.

Euro 2024 will see matches played across 10 German cities from June 14 to July 14. Scotland will kick off the tournament against hosts Germany in Munich on the opening day, while England will begin their campaign two days later against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.

THE great debate, the question of whether animals are more deserving of support than humans often sparks heated discussions. While some argue that animals, being voiceless and vulnerable, deserve special attention others say that human needs should always take precedence.

We took to the streets to talk to the Euro Weekly News readers directly.

• MARGARET from Birmingham but a longtime resident of San Pedro del Pinatar said “Charities supporting animal causes are essential, we give them our voice as they can’t speak for themselves.”

• CARMEN from San Javier said “Animals are just innocent and are at the mercy of humans. It is our obligation to put them first as they cannot speak for themselves. I always support charities supporting animals.”

• MICHAEL from Dublin, on holiday said “I think we must look after animals as well as wildlife and the environment but at the moment we have to focus on more

pressing issues facing humans like homelessness and poverty.”

• CRISTINA from Balsicas said “I have worked with animals and I have seen the connection between humans and animals. It’s not about choosing one over the other, we should recognise that we are all connected.”

• JOHN from Scotland paused briefly to say “I love dogs don’t get me wrong but do we really need so many animal charities?”

• MARIA a young waitress from Santiago de la Ribera said “Animals are cute but we have to care for each other first!”

• CHRIS from Burnley who has a holiday home here said “I have a dog but at the end of the day we have to remember that animals when it comes down to it they can fend for themselves. We are the ones who are struggling to put food on the table and pay our bills. Don’t get me wrong donate your old clothes to the dog charities and that but we have to come first.”

This collection of opinions by the international and Spanish residents and visitors to Spain offers a glimpse into the daily outlook of the local community, highlighting the diverse spectrum of opinions on the subject.

It perhaps highlights the impact of current global issues, such as widespread conflicts and escalating inflation, which inevitably influence our current perspectives.

What do you think, should animals’ care be prioritised, or should we put our welfare first?

Image: Shutterstock/ Ann Tyurina

Image: Shutterstock/ Elizaveta Galitckaia

THE Bayeux Tapestry, a unique document from the 11th century, is a wool embroidery on linen canvas.

Stretching almost 70 metres long and 50 centimetres high, it depicts the conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy.

Bishop Odon likely commissioned this masterpiece of Romanesque art to adorn the Bayeux Cathedral.

Alcohol-free Unravelling history

Preserved remarkably well, the tapestry is included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register for its universal significance.

Displayed at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Bayeux, France, since 1983, it attracts nearly 400,000 visitors annually, offering an immersive experience of its history and creation.

Eva Alvarez

IS the surge in non-alcoholic options signalling a shift in our relationship with alcohol? Today, consumers enjoy a diverse array of choices, from alcohol-free wines to CBD-infused drinks, crafted with artistry and precision. This trend reflects a broader movement towards moderation, as seen in the rise of ‘sober curious’ individuals exploring reduced drinking habits.

Non-alcoholic beverages, once viewed as childish, now offer a sophisticated alternative between intoxication and abstinence. Paris leads this transformation, with boutique stores like Le Paon Qui Boit offering chic alternatives to traditional drinks. Founder Augustin Laborde sees this trend

as a move towards inclusivity and health-consciousness, with clear labelling ensuring informed choices for all customers. Even establishments like the Ritz Paris embrace guilt-free cocktails, embodying indulgence without compromise.

The World Health Organisation supports this shift, advocating measures to reduce alcohol consumption by 10 per cent per capita. Another measure is proposing to increase taxes on alcoholic beverages, implement restrictions on advertising and marketing, reduce availability, and mandate health warnings on labels.

However, it warns against overindulgence, emphasising the need for moderation even in non-alcoholic choices.

The museum provides an entertaining and educational tour, featuring audio guides in multiple languages, a permanent exhibition revealing the tapestry’s secrets, and a film reenacting the Battle of Hastings.

This accessibility makes it a popular destination for history enthusiasts worldwide.

For those intrigued by this historical marvel, a visit to Normandy offers a rich experience.

Booking museum visits on the website: bayeux museum.com in advance is recommended, especially during peak tourist seasons.

LARGE CHOICE: An assortment of non-alcoholic cocktails. Credit: meeuwesen, unsplash

It’s all a charade

‘POLITICIANS come and go but governments go on forever’. Didn’t this quote hit the nail squarely on the appendage? As I have observed in this blurb on a number of occasions, the whole political masquerade is merely an illusion. Because we freely elect our politicians, we are under the almost laughable impression that we also in some way control our own future.

Ha! Pure naïve bunkham. We are all players in a subversive system implemented by the shadowy billionaires that are our true masters. A preconceived plan to keep us all happy and firmly convinced that our democracy and ‘freedom’ are so important to us they are ultimately worth dying for. The truth is the more chaotic and precarious our societies become, the more the money manipulators like it. Keeps us all nicely occupied ya see.

I was recently speaking to a member of the Home Office and asked him if a newly elected government made

any difference to the workings of his department. With a barely detectable smirk he told me that, apart from a few small ‘irritations’ at the outset nothing changes at all, the department simply carries on just as before. In fact, he went on to say that many new politicians are so inexperienced, they actually ask the department to advise them on what procedures they should follow. This is precisely what happens with the world’s faceless financiers; they simply carry on business as usual, irrespective of governments or politicians. And they all cover each other’s backs.

Remember that Khashoggi, embassy murder affair a few years back? Did you honestly think the King of Saudi Arabia, (Family worth an estimated $2.4 trillion!) would have his position threatened in any way by the actions of these assassins; even though, in my opinion, he almost certainly instigated the whole unsavoury affair himself? Why not? Because he’s in league with the true rulers of the planet - as any leader of that oil-soaked country of corruption will always be. Murder means nothing to them.

These people are a law unto themselves, an elite ‘club’ of secrecy and subterfuge who don’t care what government or dictator happens to be in power, just as long as they don’t threaten their own exalted positions.

Among the many disruptions to society these faceless few revel in war, it’s a wonderful source of income and keeps the participants thoroughly occupied and out of their hair. They are no doubt also revelling in all the Mideast war and unrest, which is also keeping enormous numbers of the peasants extremely busy.

It’s all a charade and they the all-powerful puppet masters. Their aim is to make us fear life itself. They want us to hate ‘the other’. They love confusion. They want us to practise aggression. They seek to divide us all. With division comes chaos and chaos is their greatest ally. And there ain’t a darn thing either you or I can do about it.

On a lighter note ra tah! I see the pests of summer are already arriving. Flies, mosquitos, tics, cyclists, etc!

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

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

Feathered fiasco

A BIRD caused disruption at Brighton train station on April 2 by wandering onto the tracks during rush hour.

Thameslink had to shut down three platforms around 7.00pm to safely remove the bird, which was identified as a herring gull.

This affected services such as the Brighton to London route and the Gatwick Express, causing delays until around 8.20pm.

Thameslink advised passengers to leave 20 minutes earlier for their journeys and to check for updates on departures.

Some passengers joked about the situation being an April Fool’s prank or questioned if herring gulls are truly endangered.

One traveller expressed frustration over cancellations and feeling stranded in bad weather.

Thameslink later apologised for the inconvenience and reassured passengers that the bird was removed safely, even sharing a picture of the young gull.

Despite being common in coastal areas, herring gulls have been on a conservation watchlist since 2009 due to declining populations.

This status indicates increasing concern for their conservation, as determined by leading bird conservation organisations in the UK.

A Brush with history

an attempt to smarten up his church for Holy Week, a local priest on Tenerife, Héctor Lunar, unintentionally whitewashed listed 300-year-old frescoes at St Anthony of Padua Church in El Tanque. The blunder sparked outrage among locals, leading to an investigation by the Canary Is -

Lunar, once threatened in Venezuela for criticising the regime, claimed ignorance of the frescoes’

The 16th-century church, rebuilt after a volcanic eruption in 1706, held the hidden gems under

Lunar admitted that he had no idea what was on the walls he ordered to be stripped and repainted, and that the church’s heritage status meant he should have first consulted the Canary Islands’ government.

Local and regional heritage experts are examining the walls to see if the frescoes can be salvaged. Meanwhile, his apology was accepted by the local religious bro -

NORA JOHNSON

BREAKING VIEWS

NORA IS THE AUTHOR OF POPULAR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE AND CRIME THRILLERS AND A FREELANCE JOURNALIST.

therhood that had called for him to be replaced as parish priest.

In this island drama, with tensions as hot as Tenerife’s volcanic past, only time will tell if Lunar’s blunder will fade into history or leave a lasting mark on El Tanque’s cultural legacy. Indeed, the priest’s inadvertent brushstroke serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us all to tread carefully when painting over history.

Meanwhile, locals jest, “Only in Tenerife could a priest’s brush be mightier than his sermon!”

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers, including the latest ‘The Couple across the Street’ (www.no ra-johnson.net), all available online at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

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

Leapy Lee’s

Gets better every day

WENT to a very nice restaurant the other day - I can’t name it because I’m about to rip into them. I booked a table and when we arrived we were told we only had the table for two hours as it was booked again later. What’s that all about? I was told by the friends we were with that two sittings is quite common now - is it? Not in my world it isn’t. There were six of us and four are good drinkers - me and the Mrs not drinkers at all.

One of the wonderful things about living in Spain has always been the leisurely lunches and dinners especially when tapas are involved but now we are on the hurry up. I told the restaurant the only way I would be leaving in two hours is if I had finished and suggested they change this new rule if they ever wanted me back there again. By the way I’ve been going to this place for years. I don’t see how this can work or why punters would stand for it. Oh and there was entertainment there too and according to their new rules we would have to leave

before the entertainment had finished. We didn’t leave in two hours and actually if I had finished I wouldn’t have gone on principle and I won’t be going back till they decide it’s a dumb ass thing to do!

Have you noticed now on Facebook and Instagram all the videos that pop up are part one and you can’t find part two anywhere? One was titled ‘Imagine a busker playing an Eric Clapton song and suddenly Eric walks past’. Well no I can’t because although the busker is playing the song Eric never turns up!! I’m not playing that game anymore. As soon as I see ‘part one’ or stars turning up to listen to their song, I’m gone. Shove your click baiting right where the sun don’t shine.

Looking at some old photos the other day made me realise with all the great cameras we have on our phones we don’t get the old red eye pics. Used to ruin so many photos - bit of positive stuff there folks.

I was reading about the cost of sending all the asylum seekers to Rwanda and realise that, as it stands at the moment, there has been more UK Home Secretaries sent there than asylum seekers. Just gets better every day.

Email: mikesenker@gmail.com

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

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Shelling out

BRITISH taxpayers will have to cover part of the expense of dismantling some of Shell’s most polluting North Sea platforms. The Ospar Convention governing marine pollution ruled that waste should be removed from the oil rigs and both the UK Treasury and Shell must pay the £400 million (€467.2 million) cost between them.

Broken toys

IMAGINARIUM, which in 2021 closed most of its toy shops in Spain, announced on Facebook that it was closing its last store in Zaragoza, leaving 101 redundant employees without compensation. The sale of shares to investors in Costa Rica could not revitalise the chain and the company went into receivership in 2022.

Chelsea pad

SHEIKH Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ), the United Arab Emirates president, has paid £65 million (€75.9 million) for a mansion in exclusive Chelsea, Bloomberg revealed. Located on the site of a former telephone exchange, the transaction is one of the biggest home purchases in London since the pandemic.

Grifols mission

NACHO ABIA, a former executive with Japanese firm Olympus and a Grifols board member since February 2024, took over as chief executive of the Barcelona-based pharmaceuticals company on April 1. His initial objectives involve demonstrating greater transparency and reducing Grifols’ €9.420 billion debt.

Family affair

DAVID AL-MUDALLAL, Frasers Group’s 31-year-old chief operating officer, was promoted to its board, making him one of the youngest directors of an FTSEs 100 company. He is also dating Matilda Ashley, whose father founded the £3.6 billion (€4.2 billion) company and is a majority shareholder.

STAT OF WEEK

€15 billion

in dividends is due to be paid out by 12 leading Spanish companies between April and June, with CaixaBank, Inditex and BBVA all paying more than in 2023.

Can Royal Mail deliver

ROYAL MAIL owner Distribution Services (IDS) wants regulator Ofcom to allow it to reduce second-class deliveries to two or three days a week.

That would mean cutting almost 1,000 jobs while saving an annual £300 million (€350.4 million, IDS said.

Ofcom calculated that delivering the existing universal service obligation (USO) costs between £325 million (€379.5 million) and £675 million (€788.2 million) a year. Reducing the number of delivery days could cut costs by up to £650 (€759 million), it predicted.

The Royal Mail sugges-

tion followed consultations with Ofcom on restructuring regulations in light of the declining volume of letters now sent, although IDS emphasised its commitment to continue delivering first-class letters from Monday to Saturday.

This pledge was received with relief by wee-

NATURGY shares have lost a quarter of t eir worth this year, giving the company a stock market value of €20 billion.

Nevertheless, Naturgy shareholders voted in favour of all proposals at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 2 although some smaller investors were dissatisfied.

“I bought at €25 and now the shares are worth €20. Their price is lower than Endesa, Iberdrola or Repsol’s,” one pointed out during the AGM.

Naturgy is Spain’s leading natural gas company and second-largest electricity supplier however its sha-

kend magazine publishers as well as greetings card manufacturers and small businesses who rely on Saturday deliveries in time for celebrations like Easter and Mother’s Day that fall on a Sunday.

Ofcom suggested a series of options for solving Royal Mail’s problems

which included reducing the service from six to five or, possibly, three days a week. Some plans would have involved changing regulations but IDS said its own scheme would not entail legislative changes and called on Ofcom to “take swift action” and introduce reforms by April 2025.

Together with its ”alternate day” plan, IDS said that first-class letters could be delivered via the Royal Mail vans that are used for parcels, while business mail including utility company bills, would become second-class mail delivered within three weekdays instead of two.

Highs and lows

Nice little earner No trains today

ALSTOM’s Litchurch Lane plant in Derby, the UK’s largest rolling stock factory, is making plans to lay off hundreds of workers.

Its final production run has been completed and with no further government orders on the horizon, the management is launching a voluntary redundancy programme.

So far, however, Alstom has not mentioned closing the Derby site although this could be ‘inevitable’ unless more orders materialise to cover the two empty years that the France-based company must fill until it starts building the HS2 trains.

SPAIN’S First and Second Division football clubs earned €4.349 billion during the 2022-2023 season. This was 11 per cent more than the previous season, which was 6.4 per cent up on 2020-2019, a survey by DBK Sectors Analysis found.

Excluding players’ transfers, last season’s income of €3.985 million was 8.7 per cent more than in 2021-2022, with €3.644 billion from the First Division and €341 million from the Second.

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona accounted for 41.4 per cent of the revenue between them, four percentage points more than during the 2021-2022 season.

Real Madrid’s €843 million – 21.1 per cent of the total - not only outstripped other Spanish clubs last season but all European clubs, including Manchester City. Barça contributed 20.2 per cent of the total with €806 million.

res began dropping in late 2023 but exclusion from the influential Morgan Stanley Capital International indexes (MSCI) in February this year was the biggest blow.

The MSCI moves multibillions in worldwide investments and Naturgy shares have fallen by 14 per cent since then.

Despite Naturgy’s lower share capital, the company made a €1.2 billion profit in 2021, €1.65 billion in 2022 and €1.98 billion in 2023.

REVOLUTION BARS shares were suspended on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) as the company tried to raise cash.

The chain, which runs more than 50 bars and clubs as well as 20 pubs across Britain, could close up to 25 per cent of its venues to prevent its collapse.

Revolution Bars lost £22.2 million (€25.9 million) in the year ending June 30, 2023, and its shares have dipped by nearly 70 per cent over the last six months.

Increased energy costs, the cost-ofliving crisis and Generation Z’s lack of interest in alcohol were responsible for the company’s problems, insiders said.

MERGED Orange and MasMovil, now called MasOrange, hosted a meeting for 3,000 employees at the WiZink Centre in Madrid on April 2.

Another 2,000 staff members attended online as chief executive Meinrad Spender and chief financial officer Ludovic Pech outlined the new company’s future plans which include making a combined profit of €490 million within four years.

MasMovil would move from Madrid’s Alcobendas to the Orange headquarters in Pozuelo’s Finca business estate.

Spenger stressed there were no plans for compulsory redundancies but the new telecommunications company might be offering early retirement and voluntary redundancy options.

First appearance Blown away

MORE than £16 billion (€18.7 billion) could be squandered this decade because Scotland produces more wind power than it can send south.

Owing to regulatory and planning delays, there is insufficient infrastructure to transmit the renewable energy from Scotland, where most is produced, to England, where it is needed. Windfarms are currently paid to switch off their turbines while gas-fired power stations in the south have to be paid extra to produce more electricity. This cost more than £700 million (€817.3 million) in 2023 alone, the Carbon Tracker thinktank said.

Sevilla in Saudi Revolution revelations

AYESA recently won a €95 million contract to design 190 water distribution and wastewater treatment plants in Saudi Arabia.

The company’s Saudi deal with the National Water Company (NWC) will incorporate ‘innovative and sustainable technologies’ for water treatment, as well as measures to reduce energy consumption.

The agreement with the Sevilla-based company is part of NWC’s commitment to spend approximately €200 billion on providing safe drinking water and effective sanitation for the entire country by 2030, explained Jose Ramon Delgado, Ayesa’s manager for Saudi Arabia.

Photo credit: CC/Naturgy Energy Group

Photo credit: CC/Kolforn

ROYAL MAIL: First-class letters could be delivered with parcels.

FRANCISCO REYNES: Naturgy chief executive announced increased profits

Fare play

SPAIN’S National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) is analysing the track access charges that train operators Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo pay state-owned infrastructure-providers

Adif and Adif AV. These charges are amongst the highest in Europe after France and the UK.

Double trouble

EVERTON FC lost £89.m (€103.9m) during the 2022-2023 season, almost double the £44.7m (€52.1m) losses of 2021-2022), which the club attributed to the suspension of sponsorship deals. The club’smajorityshareholder

Farhad Moshiri said he “remained confident” the takeover by Miami-based investment company 777 Partners would soon be completed.

On track for Egypt

BRITISH STEEL has won a contract to supply railway tracks for Egypt, the company announced.

The deal involves producing approximately 9,500 tons of rails at British Steel’s Scunthorpe works for the Green Line railway linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

The route will be Egypt’s first fully-electrified mainline and freight network, with trains capable of reaching 250 kilometres per hour.

“We are delighted that British Steel will be involved in such a transforma-

tional project for Egypt,” the company’s Commercial manager Jerome Bonif said.

Dorna Sports takeover

LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, which owns Formula One motor racing, now controls MotoGP after acquiring 86 per cent of Dorna Sports.

Liberty Media Corporation’s president and chief executive Greg Maffei confirmed motorsport’s most important corporate transaction for many years in a €4.2 billion deal on April 1. The remaining 14 per cent stake remains in the hands of Madrid-based

Dorna Sports’ management.

The deal, due to be officially concluded in late 2024, also includes exclusive rights to Moto2 and Moto3 races as well as the FIM Enel MotoE World Championship for electric bikes.

Carmelo Ezpeleta remains as Dorna’s chief executive and continues at the head of the company, which will maintain its headquarters in Madrid.

Without disclosing the sums involved, he revealed that supplying rails for the 660-kilometre network would involve “multimillions.”

The April 2 announcement followed February 2024’s protests over future job cuts in Scunthorpe if blast furnaces were closed and replaced with an environmentally-acceptable electric arc furnace in line with British Steel’s objectives of creating ‘a green and sustainable company’.

These plans would put up to 2,000 people out of work, the unions warned.

Meanwhile, owners China’s Jingye Group maintained earlier that it had invested £330 million (€385.3 million) in steelmaking in the UK.

The first shipment of track will be sent from Britain to Alexandria in North Egypt in April with a further delivery scheduled for June.

Office jobs

BIG FOUR accountant

Deloitte is renting three floors of a Farringdon block near its New Street Square headquarters, two years after reducing its London office space by 250,000 square feet (23,226 square metres). This helped to reduce overheads during the pandemic as employees worked from home, although more are beginning to return to the office for team projects.

Flight plan

CONSTRUCTION starts in two years’ time on what will be one of the biggest plants in Europe for generating renewable kerosene (SAF) from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Once in full production, the €780 million site in Garay (Soria) is expected to produce an annual 60,000 tons of kerosene, enough for 12,000 flights between Madrid and Palma de Mallorca.

Photo credit: CC/Geograph Britain and Ireland

SCUNTHORPE WORKS: British Steel plans blast furnace closures.

Sponsored by

By Karan Sud Dental

Dental Insurance plan

DENTISTRY in the UK has become almost non existent, impossible to get an appointment. We have so many patients travel here to get treatment.

They all have a similar fear that they may lose their registration, as our database of patients is phenomenal.

So we have decided to introduce a monthly insurance plan for peace of mind, similar to those in the UK such as Denplan.

Our scheme will be a monthly payment of €14 per person.

This will entitle the holder of the policy to have priority treatment including two exams, two scale and polishes and routine X-rays a year.

When we all worked in the UK, we found these plans work very well as it encourages patients to maintain their check-ups and cleans due to

the fact they are paying monthly, and it’s such a low cost amount you don’t even notice it.

We will develop more comprehensive plans in the future which will include discounts on fillings, crowns and bridges.

For more information or if you wish to sign up, please contact our reception and we can arrange a time for a chat. www.ksuddental.com.

IN a departure from the pastel palette of seasons past, red emerges as the standout shade for spring 2024. With pink saturation reaching its peak after the Barbie-inspired trends of 2023, fashionistas are turning to the bold

Red reigns

By Clinica Britannia

Hormone replacement therapy

HORMONES are an important part of our body’s messenger system. These chemicals send signals to almost every part of our body, coordinating everything from appetite, digestion, immune function, libido, and mood. When these hormones become even a fraction out of balance, it has a direct impact on our health and well-being.

Hormone replacement therapies are prescribed to rebalance the bodies hormones. One such, natural therapy is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). These hormones are derived from plant oestrogens and are chemically identical to those produced by the human body. They are designed so our body uses them in the same way it does our own hormones. Oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are among those most replicated and can be administered in various ways. Now available are specialised gels and creams that are tailor-made spe-

cifically for the individual patient’s needs.

BHRT can be used to treat men as well as women but is most frequently used to ease symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.

Common symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, concentration issues, mood swings and lack of libido can all be successfully treated. It is also used to ease symptoms of cancer treatment and to treat adrenal, insulin, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia.

Contact our Specialist at Clinica Britannia who can advise if this treatment is suitable for you.

Appointments Landline: 965 837 553 / 965 837 851 • 24H/365D Emergency Number: (+34) 607 255 755 • Opening Times: Mon - Fri: 9:00am / 5:00pm

Clinica Britannia Calpe Av. Ejercitos Españoles 16 BIS, 1st Floor, Calpe

and vibrant allure of red to make a statement. From fiery scarlet to rich burgundy, red exudes confidence and sophistication, injecting energy into wardrobes weary of pastel overload.

hue in your spring attire, whether through a statement coat, a bold lip, or striking accessories.

As we bid fa

Embrace this daring

of yesteryear, let red reign supreme, infusing our wardrobes with renewed vitality and flair for the season ahead.

Mental health

A COLLABORATIVE study between Spain and the United Kingdom has resulted in effective results for the most serious of mental health conditions.

In December, a joint research effort revealed

the efficacy of paliperidone, a second-generation antipsychotic, in a ground-breaking study.

Participants included Juan Antonio Garcia-Carmona, a neurologist at Santa Lucia Hospital in Cartagena, and Pilar Campos Navarro, a psychiatrist at the same facility, alongside teams from various medical centres including the Imperial College of London.

The study has put paliperidone under the spotlight for its potential to manage psychotic breaks with just two annual injections.

This novel approach was preferred by 43 per cent of the participants for its minimal administration frequency, according to Garcia-Carmona and Campos Navarro. ‘43 per cent of patients indicated their preference for treatment with fewer administrations as the main reason for switching to semi-annual

paliperidone’.

The adherence rate to the semi-annual injection plan was remarkably high, reaching 94 per cent after six months. This figure significantly surpasses that of other injectable schizophrenia treatments.

Such a high adherence rate underscores the treatment’s potential to transform patient management in this area.

The research, detailed in ‘Therapeutics Advances in Pharmacology’, is not only pioneering in its approach but also comprehensive in scope.

Set to conclude in 2025, the final report will assess quality of life, patient self-perception, and metabolic impacts. This broad spectrum of analysis promises to offer a holistic view of the treatment’s benefits and potential side effects.

The study’s findings offer a beacon of hope for those living with this condition.

Brushing brilliance

SELECTING the right hair brush is essential for maintaining healthy locks and achieving desired styling results. For fine or thin hair, a soft-bristled brush or a boar bristle brush can gently detangle without causing breakage. Thicker or curly

hair benefits from a wide-tooth comb or a paddle brush with flexible bristles to minimise frizz and evenly distribute natural oils. For straight or wavy hair, a round brush with nylon or ceramic bristles provides volume and smoothness during blow-drying. Ultimately, the best hair brush varies based on individual hair type and styling preferences. Experimenting with different brushes can help you discover the perfect tool to keep your locks looking luscious and well-groomed.

Shutterstock/ Davizro Photography

Eco chic nails

ACHIEVING strong, resilient nails doesn’t always require harsh chemicals or artificial treatments.

Embracing organic methods can promote nail health while minimising

exposure to potentially harmful ingredients.

Start by nourishing your nails from the inside out with a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients like biotin, vitamin E, and protein. Incorporate foods like nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and lean meats to support nail growth and strength.

By Clinica Britannia

Don’t suffer in silence

Externally, opt for organic oils like olive oil or coconut oil to moisturise and condition your nails and cuticles. Regularly massaging these oils into your nails can improve flexibility and prevent breakage.

Finally, protect your nails from damage by wearing gloves when doing household chores and avoiding harsh chemicals. By prioritising natural nail care practices, you can achieve strong, beautiful nails without compromising your health or the environment.

LIFESTYLE changes such as exercising and eating a healthy diet are the first line of defence against high cholesterol. But, if you have implemented these important changes and your cholesterol levels remain high, your doctor might recommend medication. The choice of medication or combination depends on various factors, including your personal risk factors, age, and your overall health.

Now available is a vaccine that can be used with diet alone or together with other cholesterol-lowering medicines in adults with high blood cholesterol levels to reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. This will help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease heart attack, stroke, and certain types of heart surgery.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are another major public health problem affecting millions of indi-

viduals each year. Recurrent UTIs are usually managed by long-term antibiotic use, which in turn can cause antibiotic resistance and an adverse effect on our gut microbiome which is essential to our overall health. A revolutionary vaccine that raises protective, longterm antibody responses against UTI-causing bacteria helping to stop future UTI infections is now available.

Don’t suffer in silence, contact us now at Clinica Britannia for further information.

Bob Marquess

THIS summer presents a unique opportunity for visitors to explore parts of Balmoral Castle, traditionally used by the British royal family, for the rst time.

Guided tours will take place from July 1 to August 4, just before Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive for their summer retreat.

Each tour group will be limited to 10 people.

Tickets for the ‘castle interior tour’ are now available, priced at £100, or £150 with afternoon tea included.

With only 40 tickets o ered per day, they are in high demand and selling rapidly.

According to the Balmoral Castle website, these tours mark

Hidden treasure

GERMANY’S national postal service, Deutsche Post, has made a signi cant change by discontinuing domestic deliveries of letters and parcels by air.

The nal domestic air mail ight took o from Berlin on March 28, heading to Stuttgart.

This decision re ects the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and reducing CO2 emissions.

By shifting to ground and rail transportation for domestic deliveries, Deutsche Post

INTERVIEW

the rst time visitors can explore the castle’s interior since its completion in 1855.

The tours promise a historical journey through several exquisite rooms within the castle, providing insight into its origins and its signi cance to generations of the royal family.

Participants will trace the castle’s history from its acquisition by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to its present-day use by Their Majesties The King and Queen, as well as other royal family members.

Highlights of the tour

Grounded for good

expects to achieve an 80 per cent reduction in emissions for each delivered letter.

Domestic airmail ights have a long history, spanning 63 years, primarily operating overnight. In the 1960s, air transport was the fastest way to deliver mail, telegrams, and parcels, especially before instant messaging became prevalent. However, the volume of mail transported by air has steadily declined.

Spain is now home

Simone Elster, originally from Germany, was pursuing her studies in hospitality management when she made the decision to relocate to La Marina, where her parents were operating a restaurant.

VIEWING it as an opportunity for an international experience and career advancement, she embraced the move. However, upon arriving in Spain, she quickly found herself falling in love with the country and its lifestyle.

Twenty-five years later, Simone remains happily settled in Spain, with no intentions of returning to Germany.

Her life took a signicant turn with the arrival of her two sons, prompting her to prioritise family over her demanding career in hospitality. Transitioning to a new role at Falken Tours, she has spent the past 13 years spreading joy to others.

Although she admits to missing aspects of Germany, such as her family

and certain cultural elements like lush green landscapes and traditional sausages, Simone expresses a deep a ection for her adopted home. She highlights Spain’s warm, open minded and friendly people, the sunny climate, picturesque palm trees, delicious cuisine, and relaxed lifestyle as reasons why she considers it home.

Re ecting on her early days in Spain, Simone recalls the initial challenges she faced, but also the immense support she received from the local community. Through dedication and immersion, she quickly mastered the Spanish language, describing it as “beautiful” and expressing her love for its elegance.

Initially, ights connected routes between Stuttgart-Berlin, Hanover-Munich, and Hanover-Stuttgart in both directions, with six aircraft carrying around 1.5 million letters each night, averaging approximately 270,000 items per aircraft.

Nowadays, there’s a consensus in Germany that same-day delivery of most domestic letter mail is no longer essential.

include access to the ballroom, showcasing Charles’ watercolour collection depicting scenes from Balmoral, Highgrove, and Sandringham, along with a display of out ts worn by Charles, Camilla, and the late Queen Elizabeth II.

While previous tours focused on the castle’s grounds and gardens, access was limited to the ballroom.

These new interior tours promise a deeper exploration of Balmoral’s rich history and royal signi cance.

Visitors can now explore Balmoral Castle. Image: Balmoral Castle / Facebook

Image: Deutsche Post / Facebook

Simone Elster.

• News Across The Regions

Costa del Sol Restrictions more flexible?

THE rains that fell during Easter Week have brought good news to Andalucia. The Concepción reservoir has gained 10 cubic hectometres of water, and the level now exceeds 66 per cent, the highest since July 2023.

The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, headed by Carmen Crespo, confirmed the region will reduce the current restrictions on average per capita water consumption, irrigation in the countryside and use in the industrial sector.

According to the councillor, thanks to the intense rainfall, the summer is expected to have “more capacity and possibilities,” which is why it might be possible to make the restrictions more flexible.

The committee will now analyse whether or not to relax the ban on filling private swimming pools for the summer.

Axarquia

Nerja uncovered

IN a quest to unearth the hidden treasures of Nerja, one family from a well-known social media account made up of three influencer families from Navarra, collectively amassing over 68,000 followers on Instagram under the alias ‘Se Me Cae la Casa Encima,’ (The house is falling on me) enjoyed an expedition through the town. Specialising in chronicling travels, accommodations, and experiences across Spain, these families are celebrated for their insightful content.

One of these families graced Nerja’s shores, getting to know the stunning coastal town. Welcomed by Tourism councillor Ana María Muñoz at the local Tourist Office, they were warmly thanked for selecting Nerja as their destination. This visit not only showcases Nerja’s attraction but also underscores the growing influence of social media in shaping travel preferences.

Mallorca

34 evacuated in Soller

FIRE broke out in the the Bens d’Avall urbanisation in Soller during the night of Sunday April 7, destroying pine and olive groves and requiring the evacuation of 34 people.

Residents sounded the alarm at 12.30am on Sunday, having noticed the fire near the road junction between Soller and Deia. The evacuees were lodged in a hotel in Soller.

It took almost 12 hours to bring the fire under control due to high temperatures, low humidity and strong gusts of wind.

The all-clear was given the next morning. Some people decided to return to their homes to check for damage and collect some personal belongings, before going back to the hotel.

The Guardia Civil’s official investigation is still open.

Costa Blanca South Shipmates’ support

THE shipmates of the Torrevieja Branch of the Royal Naval Association (RNATB) make donations to different charities each year.

This year one of the shipmates’ four chosen charities to receive a donation was the Movers & Shakers.

The Association of Movers & Shakers (AMS) is a charity supporting people with five neurological diseases and their families.

The local Almoradi-based group working across the Costa Blanca meet regularly each Friday.

AMS also have a Facebook page and their website amscb.org.es has more details of the five diseases including Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

RNATB shipmate Brenda Maw nominated the Movers & Shakers as one of the charities for this year and was at the presentation of the donation from RNATB Treasurer, Carl Louden to AMS President, Marion Smith.

Almeria Saving lives

A MAN from Almeria has saved five lives by donating his organs, as reported by Torrecardenas University Hospital. The generous act of his family made it possible for different organs and tissues to be transplanted, with teams from various countries and provinces collaborating in the process.

The hospital management expressed gratitude towards the donor’s family for their solidarity during such a difficult time. They also thanked the professionals involved in the transplant procedures, both within the hospital and those from other parts of Spain.

Transplant coordinators provide families with information and support during the grieving process, emphasising the positive impact of organ donation on the lives of others. Increasingly, families are volunteering to donate organs and tissues upon learning of critical illnesses with poor prognoses.

Costa Calida Skydive success

IN a remarkable display of courage and compassion, Mark Wilson soared through the skies in support of MABS Cancer Support Fundación. Wilson’s daring skydive served as a fundraiser for the organisation, which provides crucial assistance to people suffering from cancer.

The event garnered widespread praise, with supporters expressing immense pride in Wilson’s accomplishment.

MABS Cancer Support Fundación is dedicated to offering practical aid and solace to those impacted by cancer in Spain. Their unwavering commitment revolves around the mantra of ‘To care, comfort, and counsel people affected by cancer.’

MABS emphasises that their services are available to those directly diagnosed with cancer, as well as people affected by a loved one’s diagnosis or loss.

PETS

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Animal welfare law

ON Friday, March 29, the new law imposes strict regulations on the ownership of certain wild and exotic animals. However, some have criticised the shortage of centres able to accommodate these pets.

Individuals who possess pets that are now deemed illegal, face a crucial deadline. They are required to report their ownership to the authorities or face severe penalties.

Such pets include venomous creatures like

scorpions, reptiles weighing over two kilos such as iguanas, any primate species, and wild mammals heavier than five kilos such as the Vietnamese pig.

The legislation not only bans the captivity of wild animals and their use in entertainment but also ends a six-month grace period for circuses to comply.

The law’s reach extends beyond public entertainment, impacting private pet owners who now confront the end of a grace period to declare their animals.

Those found guilty of illegal possession or trafficking of protected or banned species could incur fines up to €30,000 for the most severe breaches, €2,000 for significant infractions, and up to €500 for minor offences.

Despite the law’s intent, there’s a growing chorus of concern over its practical implications. Many have highlighted a lack of preparedness for the law’s consequences. They argue that there has been no infrastructure brought in to house the potential influx of animals.

Critics argue that the legislation was enacted without adequate consultation with hobbyists, veterinarians, or scientists.

The uncertainty now facing pet owners is palpable, with many reluctant to part with their animals. The coming weeks will undoubtedly reveal the law’s real-world effects, as pet owners navigate this new legal landscape.

Credit: Cocos.Bounty/Shutterstock.com

IGUANAS: Now banned from being kept as pets.

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THE SALVATION ARMY English Speaking Church of Denia Worship Service. Sunday 10.30am followed by a time of Fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Come as you are! For more information:

Dieter Zimmerer +34 698 609 658 or Barbara Zimmerer +34 652 319 810 Email dieterzimmerer@hotmail. com, www.centrosaron.com (10008)

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RECENTLY, the DGT declared a change in the speed regulations for electric scooters, aiming to tackle the growing concerns over road safety in urban environments.

This adjustment seeks to unify the rules across Spain and enhance the safety for both the riders and pedestrians.

Until now, local municipalities had their own

New scooter restrictions

sets of rules for electric scooters, leading to a confusing mixture of regulations.

The introduction of a nation-wide speed limit, set between six and 25 km/h, marks a significant step towards standardising scooter use in urban areas.

This decision was prompted by the need to mitigate accidents, with statistics from the DGT reporting eight fatalities in 2022 and an additional three in 2023 all involving electric scooters.

Besides the speed cap, the DGT’s new policy encompasses va-

Spain’s green road lines

IN Spain, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) is experimenting with a novel road marking that could improve road safety.

The colourful initiative, launched on specific roads within Palencia Province, includes painting bright green lines along the edges of lanes. But what’s the reasoning behind this striking choice of colour?

The essence of these green lines lies in their psychological impact on drivers. By visually narrowing the lanes, they induce a natural response to slow down.

This simple yet effective technique aims to keep vehicles within speed limits, enhancing road safety. Initially trialled on the CL-613 (Palencia-Sahagun) and CL-615 (Palencia-Guardo) roads, the concept draws inspiration from successful schemes within Europe.

The introduction of green lines is part of a broader DGT strategy to mitigate speeding and accidents. This approach includes other innovative markings like ‘dragon’s teeth’ - patterns drawn alongside railings to achieve a similar speed-reducing effect.

Such initiatives reflect the agency’s commitment to utilising visual cues for traffic management.

Interestingly, the green line concept isn’t a DGT original. Its roots trace back to Dutch experiments that resulted in promising outcomes in traffic safety.

Inspired by these international successes, Spain seeks to replicate the benefits on its roads. This cross-border learning showcases the global quest for safer driving environments.

rious safety measures.

Riding on pavements, pedestrian zones, highways, expressways, inter-urban roads, and urban tunnels is now strictly forbidden.

Scooter riders are held to the same legal alcohol limits as other vehicle drivers, and drug influence while driving is banned outright.

Moreover, the use of headphones and mobile phones during rides is also prohibited to prevent distractions.

A notable aspect of the law is the compulsory use of protective helmets, although the specifics will be determined through further regulation. The DGT is actively working with local councils to ensure the effective implementation of these rules.

This collaborative effort aims to safeguard all personal mobility vehicle (PMV) users and foster a safer urban transit environment.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

By Mark Slack ROAD TEST

THE original BMW X2’s rather lowslung driving position didn’t really mark it out as an SUV, yet it wasn’t exactly a coupe either. With the latest X2 this arguably problematic identity crisis has been resolved as the new version’s rakish rear roof line make for an undeniable SUV-Coupe.

Think of a more diminutive X4 and X6. In its new guise with a choice of petrol, mild hybrid and full electric power, all automotive bases are covered. In iX, all-electric guise, it’s an obvious competitor for the Polestar 2, while in petrol mode Audi’s Q3 and others are likely rivals.

The range encompasses four models, two electric and two petrol, with prices starting from €46,622/£40,515. As with all BMWs there’s a feeling of driving something premium, a little bit special and even at these prices there are alternatives that don’t possess that ambience.

Standard fare includes LED headlights and rear lights, auto tailgate, auto air dual zone conditioning, heated front sports seats, cruise control with brake function, parking assis-

tant and automatic transmission.

The lead-in engine is a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol with mild hybrid assistance developing 124kw/167hp.

There’s also a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an impressive 219kw/295hp and all-wheel-drive. In electric power there’s the single motor eDrive20 with 152kw/204hp and the dual motor xDrive30 with 225kw/306hp and all-wheel-drive with ranges of 455km/283 miles and 429km/267 miles respectively.

On the road the iX2 offers the promise of a decent range, however as with all statistics conditions such as the type of driving and the weather

can all affect the ultimate range. In most cases, according to BMW’s research, EV customers largely charge their cars at home so ultimate range may not be an issue that often. It doesn’t change the fact though that when you need to undertake a long journey the public charging network, while marginally better, still needs major improvement.

Back to the BMW! The good news continues as the iX2 is noticeably lacking in road and wind noise, not always a given with EVs. The ride quality, as you might expect from BMW, is suitably tight and more than capable of being hustled along twisting cross country roads with aplomb.

Facts at a Glance

Model: BMW iX2 XDrive30 MSport AWD

Engine: 64.8 kwh battery –225 kw/306 hp

Gears: Automatic

Price: €66,956/£57,445

Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) 5.6 seconds/

Maximum Speed 180 kph (112 mph).

Range: 429 km/267 miles on single charge

Emissions: 0 g/km

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

At the forefront of bold design BMW realise that some may not take to the iX2’s styling, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I can see more than a few drivers falling for the iX2.

BMW iX2: At the forefront of bold design, I can see a few drivers falling for this vehicle.

Paris Olympics news

IN what is denied as being a U-Turn, the British government has reportedly written to the Presidents of the Olympic and Paralympic Committees given an unexpected approval.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2023 which was supported by Belarus, the then (and still) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer was quoted as saying that “any plans to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in Paris are not credible.”

This followed a decision announced by the two Committees that both countries would be banned from competing in Paris in 2024 and this in turn was supported by a 36 country summit chaired by Lucy Frazer.

Now however the Olympic Committees have had a change of

heart and are prepared to allow athletes from Belarus and Russia to compete in Paris provided that they are not part of any team and should they win medals their national anthems would not be played, no flags would be raised and their kit would not bear any country emblems.

In addition, they must not have publicly supported the invasion nor could they be in any way associated with the military of either country.

With the impositions of these restrictions, the UK government has confirmed that it supports the decision so, some athletes from the two countries may appear in the 2024 Olympics which run from July 26 to August 11 and the Paralympics which take place from August 28 until September 8.

Smiles and tears at Copa del Rey final

Sven Larson

OPTIMISM soared at the 20-minute mark in the final of the Copa del Rey when a long-range shot by Mallorca’s Vedat Muri- qi gave Mallorca their first

nalty area before Dani Rodríguez shot it in.

Bilbao then relentlessly went on the attack, but Mallorcan goalkeeper Dominik Greif thwarted numerous attempts to score.

llorcan team’s hard work defeating the onslaught of Athletic Bilbao throughout the match ultimately unravelled during the penalty shootout.

Mallorca scored two penalties but let in four shots by opponents Athletic Bilbao, whereas opposing goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala managed to fend off the Mallorca penalty shots.

Athletic Bilbao thus scored a perfect four in a row to win 2-1.

Mallorcan fans felt that it was frustrating to come so close to such an important victory only to lose on penalties, but that Mallorca had played magnificently.

In a post-match interview with IB3 mid-fielder Sergi Darder said, with tears in his eyes, that perhaps in years, months or weeks to come we would recall the day’s events with more joy but that “right now it is very complicated and hard.”

Trainer Javier Javier Aguirre emphasised that the team is “beyond reproach” and that he was “very proud and glad to be here” at the final.

Mallorca last won the cup in 2003.

Vedat Muriqi fends off Oscar de Marcos.

Credit: RCD Mallorca