Costa Blanca North 16 – 22 May 2024 Issue 2028

A Marine Legacy

COSTA BLANCA became a pioneer of the Blue Flag; the Valencian Community now has the most Blue Flags in the world.

With a total of 159 beaches

awarded the Blue Flag, the Valencian Community is at the forefront of the global marine environment as

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Costa Blanca North • Issue No.

Benitachell beach.

Outstanding

from Front page

Spain continues to lead the way in Blue Flags with 730 destinations, followed by Greece, Turkey and Italy.

Nowhere else but on the Costa Blanca can you find the highest number of Blue Flag beaches. With the beaches

of Cala de la Granadella and La Grava in Javea being recognised by the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education, the iconic Blue Flags throughout the region continue to represent the outstanding nature of the region.

Other locations on the Cos-

ta Blanca North include Cap Blanc, La Roda and L’Espigo in Altea, Llevant and Mal Pas in Benidorm, Cala Fustera and Baladrar in Benissa, La Fossa, Cantal Roig and L’Arenal-Bol in Calpe, Les Bovetes, Les Doveses, Les Marines, Marineta Cassiana, Molins and Punta del Raset in Denia.

Sand parking

RESIDENTS of Benidorm were surprised to find a parked car on the Poniente Beach, stuck in the sand on May 12. The Mercedes-Benz A200d was fined and towed by the Local Police once discovered in the broad daylight, as reported by multiple witnesses.

Benidorm Local Police reported the incident on their Facebook account, stating that even though Benidorm beaches can be “tempting”, this was a step taken too far for the driver.

It is unclear who the owner of the car is or what their reasons were for parking on the sand, and although the Local Police treated the situation with humour, they made a reminder to the

Beach police.

citizens about the 3,383 free parking spaces in Benidorm’s Poniente area and beyond.

The Judge

THE Justice of the Peace of Calpe, Juan Santos, said farewell to the municipality, replaced by Bernat Banyuls on May 10. Juan Santos spent almost 26 years as the Judge and was thanked by the mayor, Ana Sala for his efforts.

Life Awards

THE town council presents its first Teulada-Moraira Life Awards Gala to be held on May 23. The Gala aims to give recognition to the citizens who have made significant contributions to the life, protection and care services in the municipality.

Jiu Jitsu

THE sports pioneer, La Nucia, hosted the AJP International Jiu Jitsu Tour, uniting 400 athletes from more than 40 countries to participate in the Jiu Jitsu martial arts tournament, held on May 11 at the Ciutat Esportiva, Camilo Cano.

Renovations

THE works on the pavement of the Domingo Crespo pavilion began in Calpe, estimated to be completed within two months. The sports centre was awarded €161,536 for the works.

Benidorm sky-high

KNOWN as the Manhattan of Spain, Benidorm is the one-of-a-kind city that has been reaching sky-high records since the 1920s.

With a population of more than 70,450 in its 38.51 km squared area, Benidorm continues to hold global appeal for both residents and visitors.

From a tiny shing village to Costa Blanca’s cosmopolitan centre, Benidorm has been hosting and delighting tourists since the Golden 20s and in the 1960s claimed its worldwide recognition for the spectacular shows at the Benidorm Palace, luxurious

hotels and stunning sea views. The city has always been a pioneer and today, in its unique balance between ecology and infrastructure, is the leader in urban living and architecture. For the past 20

years, Benidorm has been building up, making the best use of its space and promoting sustainability.

Back to its roots

BENIDORM commemorated the 699th anniversary of its foundation in a weeklong programme, celebrating the heritage of the city.

May 8 marked the 699th anniversary of the granting of the Town Charter by Admiral Bernat de Sarria in 1325, founding the city of Benidorm. A commemoration was held in a programme developed by the Grup Carta de Poblament in collaboration with the Departments of Fiestas, Culture of Benidorm City Council and Associació de Penyes.

On May 8 the institutional plenary ses-

sion was held in the Plenary Hall of the City Council, followed by a concert by the Chamber Group of Benidorm Union Musical, who performed the timeless works of Vivaldi, Dvorak and Mozart.

On May 11, the granting of the Population Charter was recreated in the Placa de Sant Jaume, based on the text by Professor Pasqual Almiñana, performed by the members of Grup.

From May 9 until May 12, Benidorm returned to its roots as the Elche Park hosted Benidorm Medieval Fair, promoted by the Departments of Festivals and Commerce.

Electrifying night

THOUSANDS of music fans gathered at Benidorm’s Julio Iglesias Auditorium to watch the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday May 11.

With electrifying lights and giant TV screens, the Euroclub party celebrated the competition, embracing the diverse cultures and styles of the performers.

Not just on screen but in live performance, musicians including Bianca Paloma, Noan,

Mantra and So a Coll, among others, sang live in Benidorm, sparking the dancing and cheering of the crowd. Top DJs kept the energy sky-high the entire night.

The visitors followed the competition from three giant screens in the Auditorium and held standing ovations for Spain’s contestant, Nebulossa. The venue hosted at least 3,000 people from all over the world, not only supporting their nation, but celebrating the joy of music and performance.

Unfortunately, the public vote did not coincide with the crowd’s excitement and the Spanish duo was placed 22nd in the Eurovision Contest.

Green City

BENIDORM recently welcomed 200 new trees in the Els Tolls neighbourhood; the municipality now has more than 25,000 trees, an impressive amount for a city of its size.

The councillor of Citizen Participation, Ana Pellicer, encouraged Benidorm residents to list their suggestions of future locations for tree plantations in the city. €600,000 will be distributed to the plantation in 2025.

Europe’s highest hotel, Benidorm, at the same time, homes more than 250,000 trees.

Its diversity re ects in the international population; a favourite amongst the Brits, having the popular TV show produced in its name, Benidorm highlights its diverse residence with street names ranging from Moscow to Romania and Hamburg.

Irish pubs, golden Intempo towers, narrow streets of the old town and shopping centres; Benidorm has it all.

In March, the largest development plan in Benidorm’s history was authorised, 570,000 square metres of underdeveloped land will be transformed into 2,300 homes, 20 hotels, 660 public houses and more, for Benidorm doesn’t miss a thing.

“We are carrying out an important improvement in the neighbourhood with the planting of about 200 specimens of mulberry, banana and tipuana, which are species that come in very handy,” shared the councillor of Parks and Gardens, Jose Gonzales de Zarate about the Italia neighbourhood in Benidorm. He reinforced the importance of further plantation: “to achieve comfortable and pleasant neighbourhoods that have shade,” and highlighted the city’s achievements: “Few cities the size of Benidorm or similar can say that they have that many trees.”

The latest tree planting covered the entire Els Tolls neighbourhood from Andalucia Avenue to Virgen del Rocio.

Benidorm City.

Bridgette Hudson

SHOW your family how much you care with La Nucia’s sixth Family Day on Saturday May 18; uniting families from all nations and backgrounds.

Family Day

The value of community in La Nucia is highlighted once again, welcoming families for a gleeful time for the sixth time in the town’s history.

The event will be held from 10am until 2pm, organised by the Department of Social Welfare with the collaboration of the Department of Sports and the ‘Co-Responsibles’ of the Ministry of Equality.

Better healthcare

A space “without cell phones or electronic devices,” emphasised the organisers, the celebration grants families the delight of spending entertaining, quality time together, which they may not have in their daily lives.

Free of charge for all visitors, the Muixara car park and the Pavilion will host a diverse programme for all members of the family, including inflatables, attractions, toy duck fishing and the Gymkhana competition, in which the participants can challenge other families.

All visitors are also encouraged to raise funds for the upcoming August Fair by using the set-up bars by Els Majorals and Penya Els Penjats.

THE HCB (Hospital Clinica Benidorm) continues its outstanding service, receiving the international health certificate for the second time in the hospital’s history.

The accreditation from the Joint Commission International is the second most prestigious certificate in healthcare, which evaluates hospital efficiency on 1,200 different quality standards. To become accredited, hospitals must score at least 9.8 points out of 10, which HCB successfully did, becoming the first private hospital in the Valencian Community to hold the certificate.

Alongside its new qualification, HCB also introduced a new hospital unit of Pain Relief, headed by Dr Jorge Orunda in Denia. The Unit consists of healthcare professionals who will assist patients with chronic pain, allowing them to manage pain and live life to the fullest despite illness.

On the map

Claude Norris

THIRTEEN municipalities in the Valencian Region are being visited by the special Google Maps Car to update the street views offered on the application and website.

The Google Maps Car began circulating the region in January 2024 and will continue its route until next year.

Google Maps is the most popular tool for finding locations and guidance and is regularly updated with street views and images of locations.

The car is now going through the Valencian Region to create virtual representations of towns including Torrevieja, Benidorm, Calpe, Denia, Gania, Alza, Sagunto, Villena, Caudete, Elche, Alicante, Valencia and Castelo.

The value of community in La Nucia is highlighted.

HCB in Benidorm for outstanding service.

GET the TIE now is the message from the British Embassy in Madrid, ahead of the EU’s Entry Exit System coming into force.

The British Embassy is therefore urging all British people who live in Spain and are still in possession of a Green Certificate to apply for the TIE, or Tarjeta de identidad de extranjero, if they haven’t done so already.

The biometric TIE, which came into force in 2021, proves that the holder is a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary with the right to reside and work in Spain.

Most British people living in Spain already have the TIE, having abandoned the formerly issued paper Green Certificate following Brexit.

The British Embassy is asking those still using a Green Certificate to follow suit and get a TIE as soon as possible, ahead of the introduction of the EU’s new Entry Exit System (EES), expected in autumn this year.

His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott said: “It’s really important that any British person who lives in Spain gets the TIE - not only because it is the most durable and dependa-

Useful Links

Exchange your Green Certificate for a TIE

ble way to prove your rights in Spain, but also to avoid disruption at the border when the EU’s Entry Exit Scheme comes into force.

“We are working with the Spanish government and the EU to prepare for the implementation of this new scheme and we have requested that more TIE appointments are made available.

“Please keep checking our Living In Guide and social media pages for more information.”

The EES will require all non-EU short stay travellers to register via an automated system at the border. They will need to provide their name, passport details, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images)

Credit: Hugh Elliott X

and the date and place of entry and exit upon entering Spain.

This will replace the current passport stamping at the border. These details will be held on file for three years, meaning Britons making repeat visits to Spain within a three-year period will not have to go through the same registration process each time.

To be exempt from registering with the EES, British residents in the EU will need to show a valid uniform-format biometric card, which in Spain is the TIE.

The non-biometric Green Certificate, though a valid residency document in Spain, was issued prior to EU Exit and does not feature in the EU-UK Withdrawal

LiG: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain#visas-and-residency EU Guidance: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en Spanish residency guidance: https://www.inclusion.gob.es/en/brexit_en/residence/ in-spain-on-12-31-2020

Spanish TIE application: https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/servicios-al-ciu dadano/tramites-y-gestiones/extranjeria/oficinas-para-tramites-de-extranjeria/

Agreement or in Annex 22 of the Schengen Border Guard Handbook. Therefore, it is expected that Green Certificate holders may lose out on the chance to be exempt from registering.

As a result, they may en-

counter difficulties and delays at the border, especially when entering other EU countries where the Green Certificate may not be recognised.

The process for securing a TIE appointment and the card itself is run by the Spanish government. More information on how to apply, including links to Spanish government websites where the applications are made, can be found on the ‘Living in Spain’ guide on gov.uk.

HE Hugh Elliott in the grey suit.

Health Week

Thank you

A CHEQUE for €1,000 was presented by W/Bro John Lonsdale from the Caledonia Lodge No.68 to Mary Chambers on Friday May 4 at the DEBRA Charity shop in Urb. La Marina.

FROM May 13 until May 18, Alfas del Pi Town Council is hosting the celebration of Health Week, developed by the local Department of Health.

With the initiative to promote healthy habits and health awareness in the municipality, the council presented an engaging programme of events.

“The ultimate goal is to promote healthy lifestyle habits among the population of all ages and educate about disease prevention,” said the councillor for Health, Marisa Cortes. Events are:

May 16 5pm Dance Workshop at the Casa de Cultura and First Aid Workshop at the Health Centre.

May 17 9.30am Pilates Workshop on the Raco Beach by María Dolores. Reservations on 658 970 216.

9:30am-1pm Informational Stand at the Alfas Market by Health Centre staff.

1:30pm Basic Health, XarxaSalud Council talk at the Plenary Hall of the Alfas City Council

May 18 Dance for Health Workshop on the Raco Beach.

On behalf of DEBRA, the Butterfly Children Charity, they would like to thank Caledonia Lodge No.68 for their kind and very generous donation.

In 2007 the charity was looking to open a second charity shop this time in Urb. La Marina and with the much-needed help from Caledonia Lodge No.68, who raised over €17,000, this enabled DEBRA to transform a unit into the shop many people visit today.

With two charity shops opened in 2007 this allowed DEBRA to secure continued funding for two full-time Nurses.

As a charity they continue to grow and today have 11 charity shops which raise over 60 per cent of the charity’s funding.

Healthy living in Alfas del Pi.

Credit: LAlfasES, X

FOLLOWING the recent increase in temperatures and forest fires, Javea Council took new measures to ensure safety in the Montgo area.

Protecting Montgo

A meeting was held between the mayor of Javea, local Security Council, Environment Council and the Guardia Civil representative to discuss the risks of forest fires.

The Security councillor of Denia, Javier Scotto, Security councillor of Gata, Joanvi Valles, and Fire Sergeant of the Denia Park also attended the meeting, as Javea’s ma-

Glamping

Anna Akopyan WHO would have thought that glamour and camping could complement each other so well?

‘Glamping’ is a phenomenon that uno cially dates back to the 16th century, when kings travelled the world, staying in luxurious camps. The modern equivalent is camping with everything you need for comfort.

Spain is at the top of the list of glamping destinations, and Javea has now joined the collection.

“We are pleased to announce that today we have acquired a camp located in Javea, a coastal town known for its extraordinary views and natural beauty,” stated Meridia, a Spanish investor.

The camp is located in

yor, Rosa Cardona appealed for support from the nearing municipalities to protect the region.

Although the surveillance had already been intensified in recent years by commencing a month

Javea, next to the Cami de la Fontana, and is now Meridia’s 10th.

The site covers 4.8 hectares and has 12 accommodations with 200 pitches. Meridia explained that by acquiring this site, the company is able to enter “into one of the most valued areas of the Community of Valencia.”

To further enhance

the beauty of the location, the Avanza company will conduct a “repositioning remodel to elevate the site and introduce the wecamp brand.”

Wecamp represents the best spots for glamping across Spain, focusing on comfort, sustainability and nature and Javea is now another image of the brand.

earlier than before, the council concluded that further measures needed to be applied.

The meeting concluded on the agreement that the entire Mongto area will be supervised, as divided

amongst the authorities of Javea, Denia and Gata.

The mayor also took the opportunity to thank the Guardia Civil for their recent control of the fire in the Hedra, which spread to the nearing municipalities. In uniting municipal forces, the authorities are able to handle the risk of future fires.

Javea’s beautiful camp view.

Montgo mountain by the sea.

Credit: Rafael Crespillo. Flickr

CALPE Town Council

‘breaks the gender gap’ with the new programme by the Equality Department, in renaming the municipal streets in honour of women.

In order to ‘promote gender equality in public spaces’, the town will ‘feminise’ its streets.

A recently created wor-

Street gender

king group, held their first meeting, consisting of the councillor for Equality, Itziar Doval, the councillor for Tourism Planning, Mireia Ripoll, the represen-

tative of the Popular Party, Francisco Fernandez de Ybarra, the secretary of the body, the Equality Officer and three representatives of the Association of Women for Equality.

In order to promote gender diversity, Calpe’s current street names will now be reviewed to ensure that ‘they reflect diversity and

promote the recognition of outstanding women in history and society’. The initial suggestions for the names included remarkable women including Maria Moliner, Maria Montessori, Isabel de Villena, Adela Cortina, Clara Campoamor, Anna Bofill, Simone de Beauvoir and Marie Curie.

“Calpe marks a signi-

ficant milestone with the creation of this working group, an important step towards building a more inclusive and fair community,” said the councillor for Equality.

The group is open to new suggestions from Calpe’s citizens, transforming the town with the resonance of female voices from the past.

More mobility

THE Dual Train-Tram “will directly link Benidorm and Denia,” placing the Valencian Community “at the forefront of sustainable transport,” stated the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazon after his visit to the Mascarat bridge.

Mazon evaluated the bridge works and the emergency action on Line 9 of the Alicante Tram, accompanied by the Minister of Environment, Water, Infrastructure and Territory, Salome Pradas.

The Alicante Tram and the Mascarat-Algar viaducts are part of the building project financed with a budget of €17,9 million by the EU Next Generation Funds.

The Head of the Council stated that the modernisation of Line 9 of the Tram will be completed “before the end of the year,” highlighting the “right of citizens to enjoy good mobility.”

Mazon reinforced the council’s commitment to sustainable public transport, noting that the renovations will “solve the Botànic disaster, which made it clear that the new trains were heavier than the old ones.”

He also stressed the public anticipation of this project, stating that the development “will make it easier for citizens to access their jobs or enjoy all the options offered by one of the largest tourist, leisure and alternative residence centres in all of Europe.”

NEW PROGRAMME: Calpe Town Council meeting.

Carlos Mazon at the Mascarat bridge.

Recognition Healthy mind

SPAIN is preparing to recognise the Palestinian State on May 21, according to Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez.

“I had a conversation with the prime minister of Ireland about the willingness of both governments to recognise the Palestinian state and to coordinate our efforts to bring it to fruition. The two-state solution is the only way to achieve a future of peace, security, and stability in the region,” said Sanchez on May 6 after a meeting with the Irish Prime Minister, Simon Harris.

The Prime Minister made claims to join Ireland, Slovenia and Malta in recognising the State of Palestine on May 21.

The day will be mar-

ked by the last meeting of ministers before the commencement of the European elections campaigns on June 9.

Pedro Sanchez is supported in this decision by the leftist coalition, Sumar, members of which have been anticipating his announcement.

The Popular Party however, has declared that although it su-

pports the two-state solution and the recognition of Palestine, it believes that the time is “not right” to do so.

Today, 142 of the 193 United Nations states have recognised the Palestinian State. Spain is yet to follow but the government’s statements point to the upcoming recognition.

Trevor Colt

THE Generalitat is finalising the implementation of 22 Early Detection Units in educational establishments, which are responsible for the early detection of mental illness in students.

In parallel to this development, the tendering process has been launched for the creation of 36 mental health day centres, focusing on 18 centres for adults and 18 centres for children and adolescents.

The head of the Auto-

nomous Mental Health and Addictions of the Valencian Community, Bartolome Perez, said of the centres: “They will work directly in schools,” referring to the deployment of psychologists in schools.

In addition, an investment of €9 million has been earmarked for the programme to identify and treat addiction problems, depression and suicide, among others.

In order to provide e ective treatment for adults and children, the

Generalitat is planning to build 36 new psychiatric clinics. Bartolome Perez emphasised this goal: “We will solve one of the fundamental problems that occurs in the eld of mental health, which is the lack of continuity in care.”

With these developments, which are expected to be operational in 2025, the Valencian Community will, as Bartolome Perez emphasised, “place itself at the same level of management as Catalonia, Euskadi or above Madrid.”

Credit: Indra Mind Healing Centre, Flickr

Child psychology.

Pedro Sanchez with Simon Harris.

Credit: Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, Facebook

Bridgette Hudson

A HOTEL built in paradise may just come true, as Villajoyosa’s building development moves forward.

The town council released the decisions made during a plenary session on May 2 to enhance the evaluation of the plot in Paradis beach, where a hotel is being built.

The building development began this

Paradise hotel

year with an investment from the Sol y Sombra Benidorm-based company, who are part of the Media Hoteles group.

The plot on which the hotel is being installed used to belong to the town

council who put it up for auction, after which it was bidded and bought by Hotel Sol y Sombra.

The company shared the potential of the plot, stating that it is located in an “important residential population

and close to the sea, with a beach and promenade, which represent a relevant demand.”

In building, the land allows for a ground floor with an addition of eight floors and has 30 per cent green area in response to the total surface; together making it a highly appealing tourist destination, a hidden paradise in Villajoyosa’s coast.

Javea in blue

Anna Akopyan

TWO of Javea’s beaches hold the prestigious Blue Flag status in 2024, awarded by the ADEAC (Asociacion de Educacion Ambiental y del Consumidor).

This award represents top quality, safety and environmental awareness of Javea’s beaches, including Cala de la Granadella and La Grava Beaches.

Cala de la Granadella is renowned for its secluded location, clear water

and amazing offers of kayaking, positioned in a hidden cove by Javea’s coast.

La Grava Beach, with a rocky and wide landscape, is particularly popular amongst divers and is the perfect place to host all-day beach picnics.

In addition to the awards granted to the beaches, Javea’s Nautical Club also received the Blue Flag status in the Sports Marina category, for its exceptional contri-

bution to the local marine environment.

The central Arenal beach did not make it to the Blue Flag list due to the ongoing repair work on the outflow pipe, however, before the incident, it was awarded in 2022.

Part of the Valencian Community, which hosts 159 Blue Flag beaches, Javea is a town like no other to discover Mediterranean nature; maintained pure with the help of the local community.

Cala de la Granadella Beach, Javea.

Atleet store

TO the delight of sports and style enthusiasts, a new Atleet store opened in Teulada-Moraira on Friday May 10, providing fashionable sports equipment, shoes and garments.

The new store is located in a large 250 square metre premises that replaces the Atmosfera Sport store on the Moraira-Calpe Highway, N.4.

“We have designed a space where functionality and fashion come together to offer a wider range of products and exclusive brands, including sections specialised in running, trail running, paddle tennis and football; sports with a high number of fans in the area,” commented Atleet Director, Vicente Marti Fabregat.

The store not only offers the most innovative sports equipment but also provides a wide variety of casual clothing. “The trainer concept is designed for those looking for comfort and style, combining jeans and top quality rainers,” said the Atleet manager.

Atleet will be open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 2pm and from 5pm until 8.30pm.

To welcome the visitors to the new and highly anticipated shop, a special promotion of 15 per cent off all items started on May 10 and ran until Monday May 13.

“We deeply appreciate the loyalty of our customers during these 27 years and we hope to continue being their reference in fashion and sports equipment,” Vicente Marti, thanking the local community.

Bridgette Hudson COSTA BLANCA breaks European records by becoming the home of the largest electric car battery recycling plant.

The GDV Mobility (platform for electric vehicles) received funding from the Valencian government to place the EU’s largest electric car battery repair plant in Alicante, building a factory in the Llano de los Espartales with an area of 3,000 square metres.

Electric cars

Last year, GDV Mobility saved approximately 200,000 lithium batteries by preventing between 0.6 and 1.2 tons of lithium from being crushed per day, making a significant contribution to the efforts in sustainability.

will become five times larger, rising to approximately 4,000 tons of lithium.

Through this development, battery costs will also be reduced by up to 80 per cent, addressing one of the biggest concerns of high expenses which electric car owners face.

At the moment, the company recovers electric batteries to 90 per cent of their initial capacity and 80 per cent of battery life through their innovative methods.

The company revealed that in the new factory, its production capacity

Not only will this installation become the largest electric car battery recycling plant in Europe, but it will become the first hazardous waste management plant in the Valencian Community.

ELECTRIC BATTERIES: Recycling plant receives funds.

Credit: Atleet, Facebook

NEW STORE: Trainers at Atleet.

ONE of the non-negotiable commitments of Euro Weekly News is to ensure that articles in the seven weekly editions are wherever possible positive about our adopted homeland.

When the producers of the TV programme Hold the Front Page featuring Josh Widdicombe and Nish Kumar approached the proprietors of the paper, Michel and Steven Euesden, they had to consider whether it would be wise to get involved.

Considering that the programme had never previously been filmed outside of the UK, it was a great honour to be invited to take part, as it clearly demonstrated the fact that of all of the English language newspapers in Europe, let alone Spain, the achievements of the Euro Weekly News had meant that our status was recognised.

At the end of the day, no matter that it would see Euro Weekly News promoted to a large TV audience, there was the need to consider whether, what is essentially a comedy show, could damage not only our image, but also that of Benidorm.

Whilst the Euesdens would be involved in the filming, they had to be confident that the editing would not distort the actual story or paint Benidorm in a bad light.

After discussions about the aims

Benidorm on TV

of the programme with creators CPL Productions, they were comfortable to give the go ahead so, the

two comedians and crew travelled to Benidorm in September 2023 for a week of filming.

This was the real thing, not a set up and Josh and Nish became reporters for the week, trying to find

stories suitable for the paper and they were partially successful with three appearing, but whilst they missed the Front Page, they did make it to page 2.

Sky Max premiered this edition on Wednesday May 8 and this was the first time that Michel and Steven had seen the finished article and they were delighted as Josh and Nish were so positive and personable that they took Benidorm by storm.

They were obviously very taken with the area and spent time not only in the buzzing centre of the city but also discovered the quiet charm of the village of Polop encouraging them to say that there are two Benidorm’s, the bustling city centre and the charming surrounding rural areas.

It was clear that they enjoyed their week in Spain and although they may have arrived with preconceptions of what Benidorm would be like, they came away saying what a good trip this had been.

There is no doubt that the city can be a little brash and noisy, but this programme will have done nothing but good to promote Benidorm and we at Euro Weekly News are delighted to have been able to facilitate this and of course are able to enjoy our exposure to a wider TV audience.

The two cub reporters getting ready to hit Benidorm.

Dublin and NY link

WHEN they hear the word portal, most people immediately think of Science Fiction and movies such as Star Trek or The Final Countdown.

On Wednesday May 8 portals appeared in Dublin and New York City but happily these weren’t the opening steps of an alien invasion, but a planned link between the two cities, by artist, Benediktas Gylys.

The idea, which was endorsed by the authorities in Dublin and New York, consists of 24-hour online video connections which allow real time communication and interaction across the Atlantic.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste who was present at the launch said: “One of my key aims as Lord Mayor is to make the city more inclusive.

“The Portals project embodies this, bringing together technology, engineering and art to bring communities from across the world closer together and to allow people to meet and connect outside of their social circles and cultures.

“We are delighted to connect Dublin with New York which we share a deep historical and cultural bond with.”

Later this year, Dublin will also share portal links with cities in Brazil, Lithuania and Poland and the launch ceremony for this first portal saw dancers and music with the idea that special pre-announced performances will take place in the future.

The New York portal is located near the city’s Flatiron building while the Dublin portal faces O’Connell Street.

Prison opens for tourists

PART of a historic prison on the idyllic island of Pianosa where Italy’s most notorious gangsters were held, has been restored to promote tourism.

Situated between Corsica and mainland Tuscany in Italy’s Tyrrhenian Sea is the remote but paradisiacal island of Pianosa where some of Italy’s most notorious criminals and mafiosi have served long prison sentences.

Now, the island - with a current population of five - is to open a newly renovated section of a derelict prison in a bid to boost visitor numbers. Known as the ‘Alcatraz of the Tyrrhenian Sea’, Pianosa became a penal colony under the reign of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1856. It served as an island prison from Roman times until the 1990s.

In 1992, some 55 mafia bosses including Michele ‘the Pope’ Greco, the first head of the

Sicilian Mafia, were imprisoned and held incommunicado on the island following the murders of judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.

Five years after this, the Italian government decided to close the prison for good and transfer the prisoners, leaving the island abandoned. From then on, the island came under the management of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, which carried out a restoration of a section of the prison and which is now open to the public.

The island has remained linked to the prison system as part of an innovative rehabilitation programme; convicted criminals who have served a third of their sentence are transferred to Pianosa to work as cooks, receptionists and cleaners at the Milena Hotel, the only one on the island.

PLANNED LINK: The opening day in New York.

HISTORIC BUILDING: Has been restored to promote tourism.

Photo: Milena Hotel

IF you have suffered damages to your property and you want to claim, it is important to consider a series of legal issues among which the statute of limitations stands out. In other words, the deadline for claiming in court from the moment the damage occurs. In this week’s article we look at this fundamental issue for a successful property damages claim.

Statute of limitations: How long do you have to make a claim?

In principle, if a third party causes damage to your property, the deadline to claim depends on the origin of the damage. If it’s a contractual liability (art. 1964.2 of the Civil Code) in principle you will have a period of five years to claim from the time the damage occurred. An example of this type

of liability would be damage caused to your property by a tenant. However, in cases of non-contractual liability (eg if a neighbour causes damage to your house when undertaking home renovations, damp from the flat above, etc) under articles 1902 and 1968.2 CC, the deadline to claim would only be one year.

In both cases the time limit always starts to run from the moment the damage occurs. Although, as we will see below, there are some exceptions.

The special case of continuous damage.

There are situations where the property damages are not simply the result of a single event. Rather, it is damage that continues over time, sometimes imperceptibly but

constantly. These are known as ‘continuing damage’ and present an additional challenge in legal terms.

Unlike instantaneous damage (damages to a neighbour’s wall during a home renovation, etc) continuing damage can manifest itself and worsen gradually over time. For instance, and depending on the case, water leaks in a dwelling. This complicates the determination of the exact moment at which the limitation period for taking legal action against the tortfeasor begins.

Spanish Supreme Court case law on continuing damage.

In cases of continuing damage, Spanish courts establish that the limitation period does not start to run until the definitive result of the damage oc-

curs. This may occur long after the commencement of the activity or situation that caused it. In other words, in these cases, the deadline does not start ‘as soon as the injured party knew about it’ (as in the case of ordinary torts). In continuous damage, the statute of limitation does not start counting until the production of the ‘definitive result’. That is, until the full extent of the damage and its final impact is clearly identified.

The specific case. New court success.

For these purposes, we refer to a judgement in which the Provincial Court of once again confirmed our position in a trial on continuous damage to a terrace. Our firm represented a community of owners who argued that the deadline to claim had expired because

it was not a continuous damage. And that the origin of the problem was in fact a permanent damage. You can read the full judgement by visiting our website white-baos.com.

Conclusions.

At White-Baos Lawyers we are experts in court claims and damage law. In property damages claims, the statute of limitations is key. If you are faced with this problem, in one way or another, do not hesitate to contact us. We will study your case and offer you expert legal advice on the subject.

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

ABOGADOS / SOLICITORS

Behind the scenes with Josh and Nish

Catherine McGeer

ON a sunny September morning in Albir on the Costa Blanca, the Euro Weekly News office is bustling with activity. The last scenes are being shot for the episode of Sky Max’s hit TV series Hold the Front Page featuring the dynamic duo of Josh Widdicombe and Nish Kumar are in the making.

Josh and Nish spent some time working as local reporters for the Euro Weekly News and their time on the coast of Spain is coming to an end. The crew meticulously arranges shots while animatedly chatting about the highlights of their time here.

Josh and Nish dressed in their cream linen suits and Panama-style hats patiently perfected their scenes entering and arriving at the office time and again. As the director gives a nod of approval, I seize the opportunity to sit down with the two British comedians. I am eager to find out more about their insights on the world of local reporting in Benidorm and the surrounding areas.

Tell me about your experience and what you enjoyed about it.

Josh: I’ve loved it I’ve had a really nice time. Slightly too hot at times, I’m not good with the heat I struggle with the heat but beyond that, I loved my time. As I said to Michel and Steven (the owners of the Euro Weekly News) the paper is central to the community and so multicultural.

Nish: It’s been interesting to see a side to Benidorm that’s actually people

We really enjoyed going up to Polop, it was nice to go up to the hills and see towns where people actually live, that was really lovely. It’s completely different. I guess there are two Benidorm’s, the one that people visit and the one that people live in. Benidorm is its own little place.

Is there anything you didn’t like?

Josh: I wouldn’t say the centre of the Benidorm strip on an evening is the best place to be when you have recently quit drinking! Let’s put it that way.

Nish: Yeah, it’s a boozy place but again that’s one of the two Benidorm’s, the tourist side is definitely a particular flavour.

Yes, Benidorm is unique to the rest of Spain but it is a really fun place.

Josh: I loved the TV show Eldorado back in the day so it was good to live it.

Nish: I have never heard of this TV programme!

Josh: Benidorm is like Eldorado but with less drama…

Nish: I was disappointed not to run into Ray Winston in orange underpants. Sexy Beast is really my version of English people living in Spain. I guess in retrospect it’s probably a good idea we didn’t run into any of them.

What surprised you the most?

Nish: Well I guess you have no sense of what people who actually live here are

keep my pink sunglasses.

Josh: I lost mine on day one.

So have you lost your sunny outlook on life then?

Josh: Well that’s what I’m blaming. I found the Euro Weekly News had a unique approach to the news in that it is good to be somewhere where there is positive news. It’s a good lesson to take into life but I’ll probably forget by the time I’ve landed in the UK.

like. So that was really nice and surprising and pleasant.

Josh: Yeah I thought meeting Colin (they are referring to one of the articles they wrote Dragtastic which appeared in the Costa Blanca North edition on October 4) was just incredible. You see a man who has come out here and created a totally unique life as a drag artist. Doing six shows a week, you are probably going to struggle to do that in the UK.

Nish: Yes, I don’t think the combination of horse sanctuary and drag artist is one that is very typical. It is quite specific and quite difficult to pull off and also just the fact that you can have that amount of farmland where those animals can safely live and then he can drive an hour and a half down the road and do a drag show is a very specific thing to be able to do.

Josh: I was also impressed at people drinking lager at breakfast!

Nish: Breakfast lager €1 a pint!

What was your favourite story that you covered?

Nish: Definitely Colin.

Josh: Colin as well, but I’ll say something else. Psychic dating was certainly a unique experience

So will you guys be keeping the pink sunglasses for life?

Nish: Yes I am definitely going to

The Euro Weekly News episode of Hold the Front Page aired on Sky Max on May 8 and for those who missed it, it should be available to see on catch up.

What was the difference between covering the local news in the UK and here in Spain?

Nish: It’s so hyper-specific. It isn’t just about an area, it’s about a specific community within an area. We always knew this was going to be an episode unlike any we’ve done across two series of the show.

Josh: Also, and I can’t emphasise this enough, Michel is the best-dressed editor we’ve worked with.

Were you scared of the nails?

Josh: They did initially but I’d say she’s not as scary as she tries to make out.

Nish: Yeah, she’s lovely.

Catherine: Yes, she is quite inspiring to work for.

Nish:Yeah great, I bet she is.

Josh: You’ll have to grow those nails out!

Catherine: I’m working on it!

Josh and Nish with Michel and Steven and Lynn from the EWN team.

Josh and Nish with Steven and Ben. Credit:

Goats take over

ALICUDI, a small island with a dormant volcano in the Aeolian archipelago and a population of 100, is ove rrun by goats.

The island abandoned its agricultural past for tou rism long ago, and the herd of goats that a farmer brou ght there 20 years back has gone feral. They now out number year-round resi dents six-to-one.

The males with impo sing horns are enormous and have become aggressive, raising fears that sooner or later somebody will be gored. Alicudi mayor Riccardo Gullo came up with the idea of giving the goats away, with farmers on neighbouring islands the most likely applicants. Instead, word got out and he has been inundated with 1,900 offers from not only from Europe but also the US and Africa. “The response has been great, but we’ll to have to turn the majority down,” Gullo told the media.

Photo credit: CC/Godromil

Doctor’s no-show charge

DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT: Deposits not allowed in Belgium.

First, though, the goats must be rounded up and then shipped off the island, a job that has been allocated to Gianni Dell’Acqua, director of Ru-

ALCUDI: Now depends on tourism, not agriculture.

ral Development for Messina.

After they have been blood-tested and checked for disease they will have to be herded down to the port, from where they will be transported to Milazzo (Sicily). Here they will spend two months in quarantine.

Sicily’s regional authorities will then select the goats’ future owners, but people hoping to install a billy goat or nanny goat in their back garden need not apply.

“The goats will go only to farmers who know how to raise them and provide the environment they need,”

Dell’Acqua said.

BELGIUM’S Order of Physicians suspended an Antwerp general practitioner who asked patients for an €80 deposit before making an appointment.

A spokesman for the Order agreed that many patients often failed to turn up for a consultation after making an appointment but said that GPs could not demand deposits.

“This is not allowed,” the Order’s Dr Michel Deneyer told broadcaster VRT News. “It makes the threshold to visiting a doctor even higher for people with financial problems, and there are more of them than you might think,” he added.

“The Order’s provincial councils can take action against this practice with a disciplinary sanction,” Dr Deneyer said. This was the case

with the Antwerp doctor who was later suspended for one week.

According to a report in the Specialist magazine, a patient lodged a complaint with the Order of Physicians’ Provincial Council, explaining that he had paid an €80 deposit but then wanted to cancel. The GP was willing to refund €50 but kept the remaining €30 to cover administrative costs.

“In some areas between 8 per cent and 12 per of patients don’t keep their appointments, which results in wasted time and loss of income for the doctor. It also means that other patients must wait longer for an appointment,” Dr Deneyer said.

“However, asking for a deposit is the wrong way to address the issue,” he stressed.

Photo

Female coach takes top position

SABRINA WITTMAN’S ascent from a youth coach to interim head coach at Ingolstadt has marked a significant step forward in breaking gender barriers within the sport.

In a recent interview with the German Football Association website, Wittman stressed the importance for female role models in football. Just a few weeks later, she was given the opportunity to take charge of Ingolstadt’s performance.

While Wittmann is not the first woman to lead a men’s team in Germany, her appointment distinguishes her from her predecessors, who coached in the fourth division.

Inglostadt’s sporting director,

an excellent fit for the role. Born and raised in Ingolstadt, Wittman played as an amateur for her home town club from 2011 to 2013, before moving on to other teams in the southern state of Bavaria. She turned to coaching while still playing in 2017, and has since worked with several youth teams at Ingols -

Ingolstadt’s commitment to nurturing talent based on merit underscores their progressive approach to talent development and inclusivity.

Self-made wealth

Bridgette Hudson

QUOTE’S Dutch Top 100 Young Self-made Millionaires include only six women this year.

Although an improvement from 2022, with just three women listed, women in the Netherlands continue to face financial difficulties. The government of the Netherlands revealed that every one in six women in the country are not economically independent, earning an income less than 70 per cent of the net minimum wage.

The wealthiest women of the country include Sharon Hilgers, the founder of My Jewellery, Loes Daniels, from Experiencegift and Bibi Lemmers from Flexhaus amongst others, with all three in the top 50.

The men, including a number of

DJs such as Martin Garrix, Afrojack, Hardwell and Sam Feldt are all amongst the top 100, Strikingly, 31 of the listed entrepreneurs use AI in their work, including Derk Arts who uses AI in medical science research, Indra den Bakker who employs technology to prevent forest fires and Kai Bakker, whose company Data Chip AI assists accountants.

Concerning the notable difference between men and women’s incomes, the Netherlands recently implemented new strategies to promote equality, including the requirement of 5,000 of the country’s largest companies to ensure an equal participation within the two genders, encouraging wealth amongst women.

A role model for women in sport.

Bornholm Island: A rising star for international residents

BORNHOLM ISLAND, in the Baltic Sea, is increasingly becoming a sought-after destination for internationals seeking both a unique lifestyle and professional opportunities. According to recent data, Bornholm witnessed a significant influx of international residents in 2023, with notable contingents arriving from Germany (18 per cent), Ukraine (10.6 per cent), Italy (8.6 per cent), Poland (8.3 per cent), and Sweden (7.1 per cent).

Bornholm’s mayor Jacob Trøst shed light on the growing appeal of the island among internationals. Bornholm boasts an array of attractions, from a favourable microclimate offering Denmark’s highest sunshine hours to pristine white sand beaches, reputedly fine enough to have attracted Napoleon’s attention! The island’s cultural richness includes Denmark’s tallest waterfall, the expansive Hammershus castle ruin, and historic round churches believed to have Templar origins.

Despite its modest population of 40,000, Bornholm draws a staggering 600,000 visitors annually, predominant -

ly from Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. The peak tourist season typically spans from mid-Ju-

ne to early August, although locals attest that favourable weather persists well into September.

Beyond its natural and historical appeal, Bornholm presents a growing job market, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, agriculture, and tourism. The island’s tranquil ambiance cou -

pled with professional opportunities has positioned it as one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for internationals seeking a balanced lifestyle and stunning scenery.

As Bornholm conti -

nues to attract a diverse array of residents and visitors, its reputation as a creative hotspot and haven for professionals appears set to flourish further in the coming years.

Riverdance star launches whiskey

FOR 25 years, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance show has dazzled audiences around the world with its high-energy Irish dancing. Flatley’s journey began with Riverdance and a performance that caught the world’s attention at Eurovision 1994.

Now, Michael Flatley has channelled the same drive and ambition which led him to create one of the greatest dance shows into the launch of his first signature whiskey.

Irish whiskey has always held a special place in Michael Flatley’s heart. It was the first spirit he ever tasted and a favourite of his father’s.

“He was a lover of Irish whiskey, and through his passion, I came to appreciate its complex flavours. For me, Irish whiskey, much like Irish dance, embodies the essence of Ireland, its history, its spirit, and its ability to bring people together in celebration,” says Michael Flatley.

Well known to be a perfectionist, throughout his career in dance Michael searched for excellence

in everything he did. So when the idea to create his own whiskey took hold, he got together with one of the best Irish Master Blenders, Noel Sweeney.

Together, they created a whiskey that captures the essence of Ireland in every drop, “Noel understood my vision, my desire to craft a whiskey that would be remembered from the first sip,” said Flatley.

Flatley Whiskey embodies the remarkable saga of Michael Flatley’s life, distilled into narrative-rich blends. ‘The Dreamer’, the first whiskey to be launched, celebrates the aspirations of Michael’s career in dance.

Best for women

SWEDEN was claimed the best country for women by the World of Statistics on the social media platform, X.

Placed number one in the list of the best countries for women to live in, Sweden was followed by Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands.

The World of Statistics shared the information according to the US News and World Report from 2023 Best Countries for Women rankings. The survey was composed of responses from almost 9,000 women, listing the countries according to the respondents’ views about gender equality standards in their country of residence.

The women surveyed were asked about income, career, safety and the legal rights of women in their countries. They were also questioned about the state of the justice system

and cases of violence against women, placing Sweden on top of the safest places in the world for women.

The latest study from the UN World Report also stated that 91.7 per cent of legal frameworks in Sweden promote and monitor gender equality. While the gender pay gap still exists, in Sweden it is estimated that an average woman makes approximately 87 per cent of a man’s monthly salary, which is above other European countries and the United States.

MICHAEL FLATLEY: Got together with one of the best Irish Master Blenders.

Photo: Facebook / Flatley Whiskey

Sweden - best country for women.

German donerflation

John Smith

IN the 1960s as the West German economy started to boom, the government introduced the ‘Gastarbeiter’ rule which saw some 650,000 Turks arrive.

They brought with them spouses and families and today, Turks are not only the largest minority in Germany but they imported a number of specialist dishes including the now incredibly popular Doner Kebab.

It is estimated that there are least 16,000 kebab shops in Germany and like currywurst the kebab is one of the most popular fast foods in the country.

Germany, like every other member of the European Union, has seen prices explode and now a new catch word is being bandied about by lovers of the kebab and even political parties which is ‘Donerflation’.

So worried is one left wing political party about the way that the price of kebabs keeps going up that it is demanding, apparently in all seriousness, that the price in the shops should be subsidised by the German government

Preference for hybrid working

THE third MARCO Global Consumer Report 2024, has revealed intriguing insights into the evolving landscape of work preferences worldwide. The report, based on a comprehensive survey spanning 11 diverse countries, sheds light on the shifting attitudes towards workplace flexibility and personal balance.

A standout revelation from the study is the resounding preference for the hybrid working model, where employees split their time between office and remote work. Across the globe, 44 per cent of respondents favour this arrangement; 40 per cent preferred office work and just 16 per cent favoured fully remote work. Portugal has emerged as a frontrunner

in embracing hybrid work culture, with 53 per cent of its workforce desiring this model. The Portuguese are not fans of a fully in-office set-up, with only 3 per cent of partici pants preferring this option.

In contrast, 54 per cent of Americans lean towards a tradi tional in-office working envi ronment, moving away from recent global preferences for hybrid and remote work.

These findings reflect a global shift towards flexible work arrangements.

and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has even admitted that he is regularly asked what he is going to do about it!

The proposition is that with Doner Kebabs currently costing in the region of €7.90 and likely to reach the dizzy heights of €10 in the not too distant future, a cap of €4.90 for adults and €2.50 for younger people should be introduced.

The problem for the Chancellor, according to a national German newspaper, is that some 1.3 billion kebabs are sold every year and this would cost the taxpayer more than €4 billion.

Germans have adopted Doner Kebabs as a national dish.

In Memoriam

THREE Spanish government Ministers, Pablo Bustinduy, Fernando Martínez and Ángel Víctor Torres travelled to the former Nazi concentration camp of Mauthausen, in Austria. Their purpose on May 5 and 6 was to pay tribute to the 9,300 Spaniards who were consigned to various camps, although the largest number, almost 7,000 ended up in Mauthausen which was liberated in May 1945.

Pablo Bustinduy said “I come to pay tribute to those murdered here and those who suffered the atrocity of these camps. Many of them were Spanish republicans who ended up in French camps after going into exile.

“They fought against Franco and Hitler, and were forgotten by our country and by the European democracies when they did not come to rescue Spain from Franco’s dictatorship.”

He also took the time to remember the Jewish and Gypsy victims who were exterminated in the camp and said that it should never happen again whilst also taking the opportunity to publicly criticise certain policies being promulgated by Spanish Parliamentary opposition Partido Popular and Vox.

Portugal’s food fests

PORTUGAL has an impressive programme of food festivals lined up across the nation for 2024. Each event has its own unique vibe, with renowned chefs breathing new life into age-old recipes, ensuring each dish tells a story of Portugal’s heritage and culture.

Among the must-visit events are the Vila do Conde Gastronomy Fair, the delicious Obidos International Chocolate Festival, and the quirky Octopus Festival.

Estoril’s Chefs on Fire promises culinary spectacles, while the National Gastronomy Festival of Santarem will offer traditional flavours and innovation.

In the south, food festivals pay homage to the coastal environment. The Sardine Festival and the Olhao Seafood Festival offer contemporary twists on traditional seafood dishes. The Lagos Street Food Festival celebrates the street food culture of the region.

A special mention must go to the Feira de Gastronomia de Vila do Conde. Between August 16 to 25, the festival transforms the city centre into a gastronomic wonderland, playing host to diverse restaurants and stalls. Visitors are taken on a journey through Portugal’s culinary heritage. Enjoy traditional breads, artisan honey and handcrafted sausages

An innovative twist on traditional dishes.

Ricky Martin returns!

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

FANS rejoice as the legendary Puerto Rican pop star returns to Spain in 2024 for his latest tour.

Ricky Martin ended his tour in Marbella in 2023, and received a barrage of prayers to return, but due to health problems and marital problems, the future looked bleak for them.

The announcement of the return came on Thursday May 9 from the promoters

Instagram accounts such as 6 Pasos, L.A. Rock Entertainment and ProActiv Entertainment at around 12.00pm.

Fans speculated whether this would actually come to pass or not after going through the divorce with SyrianSwedish painter Jwan Yosef in 2023, as well as cancelling shows due to health issues last year.

The Latin King of Pop will be kicking off

his tour in Sevilla for the Iconica Santalucia Festival among other big artists on July 3, and then continuing on through other cities such as Murcia, Granada, Cadiz, Madrid, Valencia and then will say adios in Mallorca on July 28.

Overall, it’s an exciting musical journey for fans across Spain, and they can secure their tickets through El Corte Inglés, Ticketmaster, and entradas.com

Weekly Highlights

PROJECT 4 ALL is delighted to welcome a new volunteer chef and restaurant owner, Fabrizio Pellegrini from 9…donde Fabrizio in Javea´s Old Town, to the P4A community. Fabrizio will be assisting Project 4 All volunteers in making delicious food for the homeless in our community. Fabrizio’s first generous step was making a huge home-made Italian pasta dish to be delivered to those less fortunate.

Project 4 All has been collaborating with local restaurants, chefs and everyone else willing to donate time and efforts to helping our neighbours in need. The P4A volunteers bring stability and comfort to the lives of the homeless.

Wine Fair

THERE is nothing like the rich taste of Spanish wine and succulent local delicacies. For a tasteful experience, visit the fourth Wine Fair of Marina Denia on May 24-25.

Denia’s gastronomy and wine experts will deliver their best offers of wine and cuisine, free of charge, on May 24 12pm-2pm, 6pm-10pm and May 25 11.30am-2pm, 6pm-10pm.

The event is organised by Marina Denia in collaboration with Denia Council and last year welcomed at least 6,000 people and 21 company representatives.The Director of Marina Denia, Gabriel Martinez, highlighted

the importance of the occasion in promoting the deseasonilisation of tourism in Costa Blanca: “We want to join the tourism that enhances the area and bet on other events that attract tourists who are looking for other experiences; not just the sun and the beach.” The event is sponsored by Fine & Country, who emphasise: “We are a real estate company, but we not only sell a house but also a lifestyle, which is why we think it is very important to support events like this.” The event will take place at Denia’s Port, with stunning views to complement the exquisite experience of local wine and cuisine.

food with the help of 55 volunteers. This year, the organisation continues its growth in the community, welcoming new members from all backgrounds to cook, donate or deliver to those who need it the most.

The organisation also welcomes sustainable food donations for dropoff in LifeLong Learning Centre in Moraira.

Donate or become a volunteer at https://www.project4all.org/.

Last year, Project for All distributed 82,000 kg of

Photo credit: spirit97/Flickr

Anna Akopyan

Credit:

Denia Marina, Facebook

Business Brunch

Claude Norris

SPEND your morning in good company and productivity with a Business Brunch on Wednesday May 29.

From 10am until 1pm, experts from a diverse range of fields will bring life to new collaborations at Javea’s Pinosol Aparthotel. Explore the unique opportunities of Costa Blanca with a networking session where local entrepreneurs motivate and inspire each other.

The event will begin with a sumptuous buffet breakfast with drinks and will be followed by the first session, held at a leisurely pace to share advice and form long-lasting relationships.

B2B

The following sessions will be up to four minutes in duration per table. Prepare your business pitch and present it before the local business owners to gain valuable feedback, help your career growth.

Given the bustling nature of the community, it is requested to arrive on time and not leave abruptly to gain the best experience.

To reserve your place for €10, email gemma@vivespons.com and provide your details if you’re new to Javea’s networking circle, including your name, company name, company type, email address and phone number.

The local business community is waiting for you, eager to assist you in your unique personal and professional journey.

Dance into summer

DANCE into summer with Azahar County Line Dancing at the Isla Bonita on May 19.

The non-stop dance event in Isla Bonita, Javea, invites dance enthusiasts of all levels to a sociable and invigorating evening of line dancing.

From 5pm until 8pm, the professional instructor, Nigel Hobman will lead the group through the dance routine that everyone will have mastered by the end of the event.

With the energy pool of line dancing and the freedom to experiment with their own dance style, participants will develop their dancing skills and greatly improve their health by toning the body and building balance.

The event is even more lively at the Isla Bonita venue, offering views of a Mediterranean paradise as you wind down the evening with a glass of cava or a fresh juice.

Azahar County Line

Dancing lessons usually take place in Javea, Denia and Moraira, but Nigel also offers customised classes for special events, including weddings and parties.

At Isla Bonita, Karting Javea, Calle Cannes 1. Easy parking available. Book your place at azaharcoun tylinedancing@gmail. com or 644 724 244 Entry only €6 at the door. Azahar County Line Dancing at the Isla Bonita.

Credit: Vives Pons Lawyers & Accountants, Facebook

Credit: Azahar County Line Dancing,

Swap in style

Bridgette Hudson

King Living Clothes Swap is taking place at L’Espai Comboi, Av. del Puerto, 20, Local 2, 03730 Javea, on May 17, 7pm-9pm for just €12.50 entry.

COME to the clothing swap in Javea on Friday May 17 to purchase pre-loved pieces from the spring-summer collection. If you want to free your closet and stay sustainable, why not give them a second use? Bring the pieces you no longer want and donate them to the community. Look through a vast collection of garments in different sizes and styles to find pieces which suit you and rehome them to help protect the environment. Jewellery, shoes, scarves, dresses, trousers; anything you can search for is found here.

Afternoon T ea

COME to support Jalon Valley Help with an Afternoon Tea on May 16.

From 2.30pm a generous community will get together to enjoy unlimited tea and coffee, scones, sandwiches and savoury and sweet treats at the vibrant and homely Citrus Bistro Bar. In aid of Jalon Valley Help; a local charity assisting those in need, friends will engage

in a charity raffle and watch a facial yoga demonstration by Dionne Hughes.

Jalon Valley Help continues to make meaningful contributions to the local community through fundraising events, uplifting every person involved. Come to Jalon Valley Help’s next meeting for a €15 deposit.

Booking on 622 949 879.

Credit: Kind Living, Facebook

Credit: Bodega Casa Benjamin, Facebook

Thriving crowd

Anna Akopyan WELCOMED by sky-high performers on stilts and the sweet smell of citrus trees, Lulu Beachclub gathered a thriving crowd of visitors for its May 1 Grand Opening.

Located by the Montgo mountain, the unique oasis of the Lulu Beachclub introduced yet another refinement of their venue with the new bota-

nic garden. An international crowd of supporters came to the restaurant for an immersive experience of the vibrant life on Costa Blanca.

The new botanical garden offers exclusive Zen Lounge Beds in which groups can feel secluded as they delve into Lulu’s delightful menu, offering seafood, dry-aged meat, and plant-based dishes.

Meticulous attention to detail was seen in every part of the event, from the exquisite drinks to the fabulousness of the drag queens who welcomed the guests. The DJs including Niklas Becher, Gerard Ekdom and Nicky Louwers ft. John Woolf kept the guests enthralled in dancing; all dressed to their finest for such a special occasion.

Operating for just a year, the venue has already become the favourite spot of both Spanish and international clients who all share a love for quality experiences. At Carrer Benitachell 183, 03739 Javea.

Open Monday-Sunday 12am-12pm

Book your table at https://www.fa cebook.com/Lulubeachclub/

Cake and colour

A DAY of cake and colour was enjoyed by the European Union of Women,

international artists and art lovers at Dar Social Club. A loving group of

women got together on May 5 to explore the history of colour in art, with an engaging presentation by the Dutch painter, Marina DeRijke.

Marina shared her passion for colour and her knowledge of art history, followed by Cream Tea, organised by the members of the European Union of Women. Delighting in home-made pastries and classic Cream Tea treats, the women shared their experiences of living in Costa Blanca. Some having spent more than 20 years living in Spain and some only a month, the women exchanged advice, helping each other´s integration into the local community. The Dar Social Centre is hosting the European Union of Women’s programme of events until May 16, which will be marked by a live music and poetry performance by Anne Gerald. If you’re looking for a supportive community, find out more about the European Union of Women at https://www.facebook.com/groups/324 955725471278/.

Credit: Gemma Saunders

Credit: Lulu Beachclub

Malaria makes a comeback

IT had been more than 50 years since there had been a trace of it, but Anopheles Sacharovi, one of the main strains of malaria in Italy, is once again causing concern among ex perts after a disco very in Puglia, on the Salento coast between Lecce and Otranto.

The news, as repor ted by the local press, co mes from a study conduc ted by Donato Antonio Reale and Maria Assunta Cafiero of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Puglia and Basilicata and published in the specialist journal PubMed.

Photo: Flickr CC / Mario Yordanov

Malaria is causing concern in Italy.

A specimen of Anopheles Sacharovi - which was last seen in Italy during the late 1960s - was collected in the municipality of Lecce as part of a surveillance project. During the survey, Anophe -

les Sacharovi larvae was found at six different sites and seven adults were infected. A result, say the researchers, that calls for increased surveillance in southern Italy to prevent the risk of reintroduction of the disease.

Malaria is a tropical disease that affects more than 200 million people

quito bite.

In 2015, according to WHO data, there were 214 million cases worldwide and malaria killed 438,000 people, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa, 80 per cent of the deaths occurred in children under the age of five.

In 2016, the WHO declared Europe free of malaria. Now it seems it might be making a comeback.

Denmark thinks twice

DENMARK appears to be rethinking plans to outsource asylum processing to Rwanda, which it ‘temporarily’ shelved in January 2023.

Minister for Immigration Kaare Dybvad said then that Denmark wanted to advance with its European Union partners and was aware that his country’s solution would do little to solve current pro-

Fast forward to May 6, 2024, when Copenhagen hosted an international conference focusing on immigration attended by more than 250 political leaders and representatives from international organisations including the UN and Europol.

Under discussion was the search for lasting solutions that also covered agreements with third-party nations which could help to regulate arrivals and speed up returns.

When greeting delegates, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen from the Social Democratic party pointed out that the immi-

gration and asylum systems used at present had collapsed.

The EU’s Migration and Asylum pact had a solid basis on which it was possible to build, Frederiksen said. “But we also need broader and more equal partnerships, and a commitment to a long-term sustainable solution,” she added.

Inevitably, UK plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda were scrutinised, although Denmark, had sig-

ned its own bilateral cooperation agreement in September 2022.

Despite suspending plans to relocate asylum seekers and refugees there, Kaare Dybvad said during the conference that cooperation with third countries outside Europe would “reduce the incentive to come here.”

The Immigration Minister also emphasised that the Danish government viewed this system as fairer and more humane.

KAARE DYBVAD: Denmark’s Defence minister reconsidering Rwanda for asylum processing.

IRELAND

Stay in

MOST of the respondents in a European Movement Ireland survey said they believed the country should remain a member of the European Union, a viewed shared by 84 per cent in the Republic of Ireland and 76 in Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, only 50 per cent believed that the EU “was going in the right direction.”

Rock solid

A ROCK with mysterious parallel markings found by a geography teacher in his Coventry garden originated in Ireland more than 1,600 years ago, an archaeologist told him. The inscriptions were written in ogham, an alphabet used for writing the Irish language at a time before vellum was used for manuscripts.

NORWAY

Back to school

THE government backtracked on plans to save 515 million kroner (€43.93 million) by cutting subsidies for 150 private schools announced in the 2024 Budget. After the centres warned they would have to close, the government has now pledged 484 million kroner (€41.30 million) which will be distributed “more evenly” than before.

Cash haul

THE Customs Authority confiscated a record 4.2 million Swedish krona (€358,536) which they found after stopping a Norwegian-registered car with two occupants at a border crossing in eastern Norway. Officials said they believed that the plastic bags filled with banknotes belonged to an organised crime network.

ITALY

Join in

WELCOMING a new group of young Swiss Guards, Pope Francis urged them to “ditch their phones” and to get out and about in Rome. Rather than spend their spare time looking at phone and computer screens, the pope encouraged the 34 newest members of the world’s smallest army to become part of the local community.

Clan war

A TEACHER in Ostia who was attacked by the mother of a pupil she had scolded, called the 118 medical emergency number once the woman left but was later refused treatment. Her assailant belonged to the Spada family which, despite police efforts, has been responsible for extortion, illegal loans and drugs in Ostia for decades.

EURO PRESS

DENMARK

Close shave

A VIDEO released on social media by the sailing boat Freya Njord on May 5 showed the 4,200-ton heavy-lift Eemslift Ellen scraping the side of a bascule bridge while crossing the Hadsund Strait. The bridge was practically undamaged, while the Dutch-registered vessel managed to avoid the Freya Njord at the last moment.

SWEDEN

Hardly hurt

Credit: Freya Njord

EEMSLIFT ELLEN: Tight fit for the Netherlands-registered ship.

ELEVEN soldiers from Italy, Hungary and the US were treated in hospital after they were injured while practising parachute jumps during a Nato exercise in Smaland. “We’re talking wounds and fractures, no one has life-threatening injuries,” a Nato spokesperson said to the Aftonbladet newspaper afterwards.

Bets are off

SWEDEN’S one remaining casino could close next year if, as is likely, the government passes a law that would remove land-based gaming as a state-licensed activity. Svenska Spel confirmed that amending the 2018 Gambling Act would lead to shutting down its Casino Cosmpol venue in Stockholm, and the loss of 200 jobs.

PORTUGAL BELGIUM

Wasted water

THE Sustainable Water Platform (PAS) criticised plans to bring water to the Algarve from the Guadiana in Pomarao (Mertola). This major engineering project with huge environmental and social impacts that wasted a “scarce resource” like water on “intensive and polluting agriculture” was unjustified, PAS said.

Fewer swallows

PORTUGAL’S Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) warned that the number of swallows had dropped by 40 per cent over the last 20 years. Climate change was affecting the signals that told swallows when to migrate and also reduced the abundance of insects they needed to feed their young, SPEA explained.

GERMANY

Campaign risks

SOCIAL DEMOCRAT politician Matthias Ecke is recovering from a broken cheekbone and eye socket inflicted when he was attacked while putting up campaign posters in Dresden for the European elections. Politicians from all parties said they increasingly encountered unprovoked insults, threats and intimidation.

Day off

TESLA closed its Grunheide factory near Berlin on May 10 following days of protests against a planned extension. The management had already decided to halt the assembly line on May 10, following the May 9 national holiday, and a Tesla spokesperson said it was later decided it would be wiser for all employees to stay home.

FRANCE

Get a room

LAURENCE DES CARS, director of the Louvre in Paris, suggested that the Mona Lisa, which is visited by 20,000 people a day, could be moved to its own purpose-built room. Isolating Leonardo’s masterpiece would also save other works from the pollution produced by thousands of tourists passing them by without a second glance.

Flaming glory

MORE than 230,000 people gathered in Marseille on May 8 as the Olympic torch arrived at the end of a 12-day voyage from Greece in the Old Port aboard the three-masted sailing ship Belem. “With the arrival of the flame, the country enters the Games,” President Emmanuel Macron declared as the torch was brought ashore.

FINLAND

Age matters

A YTK UNEMPLOYMENT FUND survey, which interviewed more than 23,000 people who had worked in different sectors throughout the country, revealed that the majority believed age was a problem when looking for work. This was particularly true of the 55 to 64 age group, regardless of their qualifications, YTK found.

Strike rules

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN members of the Finnish parliament supported a law defining the duration of political and industrial strikes. A political strike called to obtain political or social goals is limited to 24 hours while a stoppage stemming from a dispute between unions and employers may last up to two weeks.

No drinking

BRUSSELS city hall approved transport authority MIVB’s new rules for bus, metro and tram passengers. Amongst other innovations, the amended regulations bar them from drinking alcohol or using drugs while they are on public transport, unlike the previous stipulation that passengers should not be “visibly intoxicated.”

EV surfeit

BELGIAN ports are swamped by imported Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), some of which have been parked for a year or longer. Between 600,000 and one million more vehicles are expected to arrive at Antwerp-Bruges throughout 2024, as manufacturers take advantage of the EV subsidies offered by most EU governments.

NETHERLANDS

Piece of cake

A TILBURG woman must repay the €17,500 she received in welfare benefits over the past five years as she had baked hundreds of cake during that time. Although she insisted that she baked cakes for people as a hobby, a court upheld the local authority’s claim which maintained baking was an activity “with a money value.”

Tulip time

THE Netherlands delivered tulips to the Ottawa Hospital and a video message from the Dutch royal family coinciding with the Tulip Festival held there between May 10 and 20. Princess Margriet, born there in 1943, also thanked Canada for providing a “safe haven” for the Dutch royal family during the Second World War.

Wild boar disease

SWINE fever is putting the production of Parma ham, an award-winning Italian food exported all over the world, at risk.

The ever-increasing number of cases counted in Emilia Romagna is endangering the supply chain. Several wild boar carcasses were found in the area and, after analysis, were found to be infected with the disease

The danger is not for human health, but for

the commercial sector, which for months has been struggling to stay afloat by dealing with the continuous restrictions that see new countries refuse to import Parma’s famous ham. And the companies, with exports blocked, are calling for drastic measures.

Currently, according to a local newspaper, at least 15 Parma ham producers can no longer ex-

port to Canada, a country that does not accept products from restricted areas. But China, Japan and Mexico have also blocked exports, and the United States and Australia could be next.

The threat is the passage of the virus from wild boars to pigs, a spread that would put livestock farms at serious risk. The Region is now calling for drastic action to eradicate the virus in order to help farms. The Coldiretti union, which points out that the sector is worth over €20 billion to the economy, therefore wants to mobilise the army in a cull of wild boar to save the industry.

Mayors voice concerns

LOCAL authorities in France fear that too many of their police officers will be seconded to Paris for the Olympic Games.

Jean-Paul Fournier, mayor of Nimes, said he was relieved the Pentecost Feria held between May 16 and 20 fell early this year.

Cancelling the Feria, which will attract a million visitors would have had an adverse effect on the local economy, he told a local newspaper, but added that he was more concerned about the Nimes Festival concerts in July, when almost 40 per cent of the Nimes police would be in or around Paris.

The Gard area authorities questioned the Nimes figures, maintaining that “on average” 15 per cent of the area’s police, and 18 per cent of Nimes’ total, would be involved in the Ga-

mes which begin on July 26.

Fournier’s concerns are repeated throughout the country and, above all, in coastal areas which cannot count on State Security Police (CRS) officers to patrol their beaches.

In Biarritz, mayor Maider Arosteguy said the town had decided to cancel the traditional July 14 fireworks display, which has been moved to August 15. Arosteguy also pointed out that a great many Parisians will leave Paris during the Games and the resort could be swamped at a time when it was short of police.

The Ministry of the Interior, headed by Gerald Darmanin, countered complaints from local and regional authorities by explaining that there will be no summer holidays for police forces this year.

MAIDER AROSTEGUY: Biarritz mayor predicts police shortage this summer.

Photo credit: Maider Arosteguy

Wild boars at risk. Photo:

BA disabled review

IT is di cult enough to deal with transit through most airports if you are healthy and t but for those with disabilities, ying can be a nightmare.

British Airways (BA) has not always been at the forefront of disabled passenger care but hopefully this is about to change as British Airways has created its new Customer Access Advisory Panel, aimed at engaging with members of the community to improve the endto-end experience for its

ty requirements.

The independent panel, comprised of individuals with both visible and non-visible disabilities, will come together every few months to provide invaluable feedback and discuss and review new initiatives, to ensure that British Airways’ products and services are designed and built with accessibility and inclusion in mind.

The panel is chaired by Mary Doyle, a proud wheelchair user and accessible

dedicated to providing organisations with practical support around inclusivity.

Other panellists include someone who is deaf, another who is blind, a frequent traveller who su ers from autism and another wheelchair user together with the editor of the Disability Power100.

As IAG, the parent of BA also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, it is to be assumed that similar regard for disabled passengers will exist in those com-

QUIRKY TOWN

Phylloxera Festival in Catalonia

John Smith

YET another unique and very enjoyable event in Spain is the Phylloxera Festival which takes place in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia (Penedes Catalonia) on September 7 and 8 each year.

It is held to mark the fact that at the end of the 19th century, the Catalan wine-growing regions su ered a major economic crisis due to the phylloxera, a tiny but enormously proli c insect that saw entire vineyards wiped out.

It was only in 1982, that a band of locals decided to host what was then known as the Phylloxera Show and since then it has grown spectacularly.

Now in its 43rd year, the festival sees 230 adults all dressed in bright yellow follow a giant moving insect which they eventually destroy with the application of more than 4,500 reworks.

There is a parade of the so called Seven Wise Men of Greece, a group of vineyard owners who decided to restock the land with vines imported from North America and it is thanks to their e orts that the new grapes were mainly suited to light wines which is why so much cava is bottled in Catalonia.

As with many Spanish festivals, wine (at least 200 bottles), music (at least 100 musicians) and dancing form a major part of the fun and it is even possible for visitors to pre-order and enjoy an inexpensive lunch box containing food and a small bottle of cava. Due to the volume of potentially dangerous reworks, the children have their own somewhat less hazardous parade and 240 of them take part, also dressed in yellow.

SPECIAL THE

Norway May 17th HAPPY CONSTITUTION DAY NORWEGIAN

ON May 17, in the vibrant streets of Spain, a unique fusion of cultures emerges as Norwegians living abroad celebrate Norway’s Constitution Day, known as ‘Syttende Mai’.

This day marks the signing of Norway’s constitution in 1814 and is a symbol of national pride and unity for Norwegians worldwide. In Spain, expatriates and locals alike come together to honour Norway’s rich heritage and traditions. Festivities typically

include lively parades adorned with the Norwegian flag, traditional folk music, and the vibrant display of bunads, Norway’s colourful national costumes. Families join together for joyful gatherings, indulging in traditional Norwegian cuisine such as cured salmon, meatballs, and lefse, while toasting with aquavit or elderflower Champagne.

The celebration extends beyond Norwegian expatriates, drawing in curious Spaniards eager

to experience the cultural exchange. It becomes a day of mutual appreciation, where Norwegians share their customs and values while embracing the warmth and hospitality of their Spanish hosts. Through the celebration of May 17, the spirit of Norway transcends borders, fostering friendship and understanding between nations, and reminding everyone of the beauty found in diversity and unity.

CARLOS SORENSEN DIGON, a Spanish-Norwegian physiotherapist and osteopath, and founder of Clinica1, was born in Benidorm and raised in Oslo. Carlos studied in Madrid and Valencia before returning to the Costa Blanca to establish his first practice. Since 2006, Clinica1 has specialised in physiotherapy and osteopathy, expanding to offer podiatry/chiropody, nutrition, and personal training services. The team consists of three physiotherapists, two osteopaths, a podiatrist, a nutritionist, and a personal trainer, all fluent in Norwegian, Danish, English, and Spanish. Clinica1 provides a comprehensive range of treatments in the aforementioned specialties, addressing issues such as pain relief, mobility restrictions, balance-related problems, migraines, pre and post-operative physiotherapy such as hip and knee replacements, post-Covid syndrome and many more.

Now based in the centre of Albir, although the first clinic was started

ADVERTISING FEATURE

nearly 20 years ago in Alfaz del Pi, Clinica1 has assisted thousands with rehabilitation, pain, and injuries. The clinic has also been linked to the Norwegian national healthcare system (Helfo) since 2009 and therefore has a vast and wide experience with the Norwegian and Scandinavian community. This means that Scandinavian patients can reclaim the costs of their treatments through that system and that they help them with the paperwork. Clinica1 has patients from various backgrounds, including English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Russian and also accept clients with private insurance where applicable. Please call for more information or to schedule your appointment.

Pasaje Haendel, local 8 and 9, Edificio Olson, 03581 El Albir. 966 860 294 or 606 518 158 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10.00-16.00 Sat 10.00-13.00

Website: www.clinica1.es

A gift from Norway

Jessica Sweeting WHEN Norway was occupied by the Nazis, the Royal Family split up with Crown Princess Märtha and her three children fleeing to neutral Sweden.

King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav made their way to the UK and spent the war years there, figureheads for the Norwegian Resistance, even though the Nazis made the Norwegian Parliament depose the king.

When the war ended, the Royal Family were welcomed back to Norway and in 1947, in recognition of the support that Britain had given and as a sign of permanent friendship King Haakon decreed that each year, Norway would send a giant Christmas tree to London.

Every November a Norwegian Spruce, measuring around 20 metres which had been growing for 50 to 60 years is cut down at a special

ceremony in Nordmarka outside of Oslo which is attended by the British Ambassador to Norway, the Mayor of Oslo, and the Lord Mayor of Westminster.

It is then shipped to the UK and erected in Trafalgar Square, covered with decorations and 500 lights and is a major attraction to those living in or visiting London when it is officially inaugurated on the first Thursday of December.

At the base of the tree which remains in place until January 6, is a plaque which states “This tree is given by the city of Oslo as a token of Norwegian gratitude to the people of London for their assistance during the years 1940-45.”

Trelawney Bresic

Celebrating Norway May 17th

MAY 17 is a day of significance for Norwegians worldwide. This cherished celebration marks the signing of Norway’s constitution in 1814.

One of the most iconic traditions is the wearing of the bunad, a Norwegian folk costume worn by men and women.

Each garment features intricate details that reflect the wearer’s regional heritage. It is often teamed with silver accessories and buckled shoes. The costumes are often passed from generation to generation and become cherished family heirlooms.

Another prevalent tradition is the May 17 breakfast, which includes Champagne or sparkling wine with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon.

Peter Qvam, a school headmaster, is thought to have come up with the idea of holding a children’s parade as part of the celebrations in 1869.

Qvam was a close friend of the author Bjornstjerne Bjornson. Norway’s Constitution Day not only symbolises unity, but also resilience, in remembrance of the nation’s journey towards sovereignty.

Whilst the celebrations have evolved over the years, they remain a key part of the country’s cultural identity.

In 1906, King Haakon and Queen Maud introduced

the custom of appearing on the Palace balcony to greet the children’s parade.

This custom has been maintained ever since, except for 1910, when the Royal Family attended the funeral of King Edward VII, and during the Second World War II years.

Today, the Royal Family gathers to greet the children’s parade from the palace balcony each year. Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra is the fifth generation to uphold this cherished tradition.

GRATULERER MED DAG EN!

Photo:

MAY 17 in Alfas

Anna Akopyan

FOR more than five decades, the streets of Alfas del Pi have been celebrating Norway’s Constitution Day, which brings the nation and visitors together on May 17.

This year’s programme begins at 10.15am with an open-air church service in the Plaza Mayor, followed by a parade at 11am from the Hotel Moli to the Casa de Cultura.

At 11.30am, a group of majorettes will join the parade, with speeches by the mayor of Alfas del Pi, Vicente Arques Cortes, the chairman of the May 17 committee, Bjarte Buen, and the council leader of the secondary school Den Norske Skole Costa Blanca, Nagel

Severinsesn, highlighting the significance of the Norwegian nation in the municipality.

Traditional Norwegian dances and songs will enliven the streets of Alfas performed by the Norske Skole students. From 12pm, ice cream, sausages, cakes and refreshment will be available on the sports field behind Casa Cultural. A raffle with a draw will begin at 1.30pm and games for children will entertain kids and adults until 2pm at the municipal sports centre.

More than 1,000 native Norwegians as well as visitors and residents from all over the world are expected to attend this colourful, celebratory cultural event.

Back & neck problems

Headache & migraine

• Dizziness

• Joint problems

• Muscle pain

• Sprains and Strains

• Nerve pain

• Posture correction

• Pre/post-natal issues

• Stiffness and tension

• Sports injuries

• Improve performance • Rehabilitation

Focusing on the root cause

PHYSIOPLUS is a clinic where we focus on finding the root cause of problems and use manual therapy and functional training to fix it. We are one of three clinics in Spain where therapists are trained in Active Release Techniques (ART) which is a method designed to alleviate pain and restore function in individuals suffering from various musculoskeletal conditions.

ART is based on the principle of identifying and treating adhesions or scar tissue that have formed in or in between soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves due to overuse (this includes static working positions), trauma or repetitive strain injuries.

As ART therapists we have gone through intensive post graduate training. Treatment involves the therapist locating very specifically where the problem is, applying correct level of compression and tension and combining this with

movement to stretch the affected area. We often see rapid results, even to conditions people have suffered with for a long time. We deal with both acute and chronic conditions and help improve performance in athletes.

We focus on the cause rather than just treating symptoms. Relieving tension, restoring soft tissue flexibility and health as well as improving joint mobility are all important factors in order to alleviate pain, restore balance and enhance the body´s natural ability to heal itself.

We have fantastic facilities including our own gym where our personal trainer can help you achieve long term results. It is easy to find us and we are lucky to have plenty of parking next to our clinic in the centre of Albir.

We have just added another two treatment rooms so hopefully we will soon be able to offer other types of treatments.

Credit: Alfas del Pi Council, Facebook

COSTA BLANCA BOLIG, a reputable Norwegian-owned real estate agency with over 14 years of experience in the real estate industry, is opening a new office in La Nucia, a charming town located along the beautiful Costa Blanca coast.

With the success of their existing office in Ciudad Quesada, Costa Blanca Bolig has established a solid foothold in the Costa Blanca region and has built a reputation for delivering top-notch real estate services to both local clients and international buyers. The opening of the new office in La Nucia underscores the company’s commitment to meeting demand and serving a growing market.

La Nucia, with its idyllic location between the mountains and the sea, attracts a diverse audien-

ADVERTING FEATURE

Costa Blanca Bolig is expanding its presence with a new brokerage office in La Nucia.

ce of homebuyers seeking a unique blend of nature, culture, and lifestyle. The new office will serve as a central resource for those seeking properties in the area, offering a wide range of properties, from luxury villas to charming apartments, to cater to various needs and preferences.

With a dedicated team of real estate experts who have extensive knowledge of the La Nucia market and surrounding areas, Costa Blanca Bolig’s new office will provide tailored services such as guidance through the purchasing process and after-sales support to ensure a seamless and secure real estate transaction for their clients.

As an integral part of the local community in La Nucia, Costa Blanca Bolig looks forward to contributing to the area’s growth and development while continuing to deliver outstanding real estate services that meet customer expectations. With the

new brokerage office, they are setting the stage for an exciting phase of growth and success in the Costa Blanca real estate market.

The team at Costa Blanca Bolig looks forward to welcoming all customers! The planned opening is at the end of June 2024. Follow us on social media for updates on the office opening.

You can find the new office at Avinguda Serra D Aitana 1a, 03530 La Nucia. costablancabolig

Reuma

‘ENJOY a vacation without limitations’, is Reuma-Sol’s slogan, and the company stands by it, offering high quality Norwegian treatment in Alfas del Pi.

The centre has 44 apartments, eight of which are designed for people with physical disabilities, and offers a treatment house with a rheumatology department, a heated indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi, physiotherapy and even hairdressing and beauty services, including massages, manicures and facial treatments.

beatable,” stated a comment on TripAdvisor. Located in the tranquil area, Reuma-Sol offers daily activities and excursions in the region, adjusted to your needs, introducing you to the local culture and nature.

Norwegian in Villajoyosa

The room of every guest includes a balcony with stunning views of the coast. Reuma-Sol’s 24-hour reception and wake-up service will ensure that you feel at ease throughout your stay.

The centre also offers daily meals, rich in flavour and nutrients. “It lacks nothing. The price quality is un -

Reuma-Sol belongs to the NRF (Norwegian Rheumatism Association), dedicated to assisting people with musculoskeletal health conditions, with approximately 30,000 members in the organisation.

The Reuma-Sol Wellness Centre is located at Calle Helecho 3, 03570, Alfas del Pi.

INVITING all residents of Villajoyosa and beyond to spend May 17 in the cherished celebration of the Norwegian Constitution Day. The celebratory event in Villajoyosa will begin at 11am with a Church Service in the Norwegian Church to honour the nation’s devotion to faith and traditions.

From 12pm a procession from the church to the Hacienda del Sol will be open to all visitors, and at 12.15pm hot dogs, paella, ice cream and drinks will be on offer outside the Hacienda del Sol restaurant. From 1.30pm until 2.30pm, the mayor of Villajoyosa, An-

dres Verde Reos, and the president of the Norwegian-Spanish Chamber of Commerce will give speeches on the role of Norwegian culture in Spain and beyond.

The celebrations will continue with traditional music and entertaining activities for all ages and nationalities, with a focus on Norwegian culture. With the extensive programme, the municipality continues to support its Norwegian population and commemorate the country’s independence and unity, as well as allowing visitors to embark on a journey through Norwegian heritage.

Anna Akopyan

Credit: Reuma Sol

Credit: Ivar Husevag Doskeland, Flickr

ADVANCED CHIROPRACTIC in Albir was established in 2004 by Aleksander Bjargo, who holds the title Doctor of Chiropractic from the USA.

More than 10,000 patients have been treated at the clinic since then, and it continues to serve the community in Costa Blanca and beyond. The clinic’s chiropractors, Aleksander and Sindre, are from Norway, where chiropractic is part of the national healthcare service.

In Spain, despite two different chiropractic studies, in renowned universities in Barcelona and Madrid, chiropractic is still largely unregu-

We believe in quality care, as opposed to quantity care!

lated. Therefore it is recommended to do your diligence when seeking a chiropractor, as uneducated manipulations of the spine can be harmful.

What can you expect at Advanced Chiropractic?

We focus on correcting the misalignment in the spine, and its effects on the nervous system which is the controlling system of the body.

A misaligned segment in the spine causes a local inflammatory process that affects the nerve signals going through that area and consequently lead to dysfunction

and symptoms. Therefore it is of vital importance that the overall structural alignment of the spine is in optimal condition.

The chiropractors use state of the art evidence based methods when addressing the underlying structural cause of your health issues.

We utilise in-depth radiographic analysis to determine care plans that are as appropriate and effective as possible.

Along with guided exercises for the supportive musculature for the spine we strive to obtain long term results.

Calle Pau Casals 7 Edificio Palatino 2 03581 Albir, Alicante 966 865 432 643 229 377 info@bjargo.com chiropractorinspain.com

MAKING YOUR TRAVEL DREAMS A REALITY

MARIANNE TOURS, a renowned travel agency based in Costa Blanca, first opened its doors in 2006. With almost 20 years in the market, this company has earned a reputation for providing exceptional travel experiences to its customers. Let’s delve into the history of Marianne Tours and discover what makes them stand out in the competitive travel industry, it has established itself as one of the leading transport companies in the Valencia region.

Marianne Tours started as a small family-owned business with a passion for travel. The company’s founders, Marianne and her husband, had a vision to offer unique and unforgettable experiences to travellers visiting the beautiful region of Costa Blanca. With their dedication and hard work, Marianne Tours quickly gained popularity among tourists looking for personalised and high-quality travel services,specialising in transport and custom made travels.

What sets Marianne Tours apart from other travel agencies is their personalised approach to travel planning. The team at Marianne Tours goes above and beyond to tailor each itinerary to meet the unique needs and preferences of their customers. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach holiday, a cultural adventure, or a culinary experience, or just a simple transport to/ from airport or locally in Costa Blanca, Marianne Tours has something for everyone.

Shuttle bus, private taxi transport with carts/minivan to big buses, adapted transport and transport with special child safety (isofix, backward seats etc) - we can provide any transport for you, your friends and family, groups.

As Marianne Tours celebrates almost 20 years in the market, they continue to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of the travel industry. With a focus on sustainability and responsible tourism, Marianne Tours is committed to promoting eco-friendly practices and supporting local communities. The company’s dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction ensures that they will remain a top choice for travellers seeking unforgettable experiences in Costa Blanca and beyond.

In conclusion, Marianne Tours has established itself as a leading travel agency and transport in Costa Blanca, thanks to its commitment to quality, personalised service, and customer satisfaction. With almost 20 years in the market, Marianne Tours continues to set the standard for excellence in the travel and transport industry. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family holiday, or a group adventure, Marianne Tours has the expertise and experience to make your travel dreams a reality.

Office : 0034 965 887 462 (Monday to Saturday 10.00-15.30)

mail@mariannetours.com

A BEDS - OCCASIONAL PIECES -

FIRESIDE CHAIRS - RECLINER CHAIRS - POWER RISER

RECLINER

CHAIRS

Top destination

FRANCE remains a top destination for European tourists, attracting 100 million visitors in 2023.

This shows a 7.5 per cent increase from the previous year and 10 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.

While it leads in the number of travellers, it falls behind Spain’s tourist income.

The French government, gearing up for the Paris Olympic Games next summer, highlights a 12 per cent rise in income from international tourists in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching €63.5 billion.

According to central bank data, France ranks second in income, trailing Spain’s €84.9 billion, surpassing Italy and Germany.

Tourist income in France surpassed pre-pandemic levels every month of 2023, with peak earnings in August (€6.9 billion) and July (€5.4 billion).

The surge in income reflects both inflationary effects on tourist prices and increased visits from neighbouring countries like Belgium (+37 per cent), the Netherlands (+28 per cent), Switzerland (+23 per cent), and the UK (+20 per cent).

American visitors notably returned in large numbers, up 52 per cent com-

pared to 2019.

However, Asian visitor numbers, while increasing from 2022, still lag behind pre-pandemic levels, with Japan up by 70 per cent and China by 30 per cent.

Despite these fluctuations, France achieved a positive balance of payments from international tourism, reaching a new high of €18.1 billion in 2023.

Sir David’s record

SIR David Attenborough, at the age of 98, has recently concluded his latest series, ‘Mammals’, setting new records for the longest career as a TV presenter and TV naturalist. His career spans an impressive 70 years and 246 days.

His television journey began on September 2, 1953, when he debuted as a presenter on the BBC Children’s Television show ‘Animal Disguises’, which was a spin-off of his earlier production and direction work on ‘Animal Patterns’ earlier that year.

Throughout eight decades of television work, Sir David stands as the sole recipient of BAFTA awards for series across black and white, colour, HD, and 3D formats.

Adapting to the modern era, Sir David made headlines in 2020 by breaking the record for the fastest time to reach one million followers on Instagram, achieving this feat in just four hours and 44 minutes, surpassing

INTERVIEW

Jennifer Aniston’s previous record by 32 minutes.

In his inaugural Instagram post, he expressed concern for the world’s troubles, albeit he stopped using the platform after six weeks, leaving followers with the message, “What happens next is up to us.”

Beyond his television le-

gacy, Sir David’s extensive body of work, blending entertainment and education, along with his prominent environmental advocacy, has earned him over 30 honourary degrees and two knighthoods. In 2022, he was honoured with entry into the Guinness World Records Hall of Fame.

Speaking European –Jonas Olsson

JONAS OLSSON became familiar with the Torrevieja area through frequent visits with his golf-loving parents, soaking in the Spanish sun.

After years of such visits and the addition of two children with his partner, they seized the opportunity to relocate to the pleasant climate.

Jonas and his partner Caroline, who worked in the Swedish Health Service system for a long time as chiropractors, decided to pursue their dreams and open a clinic in the vicinity of Torrevieja. Despite the hurdles posed by Covid-19, they courageously pursued their vision and succeeded in establishing a thriving business, Swedish chiropractor in Los Dolses . While missing family and friends back home is natural, Jonas draws strength from his prior experiences living abroad, which have equipped him to navigate new cultures and unfamiliar territories. Now,

with his focus squarely on his children’s well-being, Jonas finds profound contentment in their happiness.

The change has brought Jonas immense satisfaction, not only for the weather but also for the quality of Spanish education, evident in his children’s multilingualism and seamless integration into Spanish culture.

“They have friends from various nationalities with whom they can enjoy spending plenty of time outdoors, which is incredibly enriching” Jonas said. Whilst life in Spain is clearly very different from Sweden, these are challenges that people are happy to encounter to discover another life philosophy.

Jonas Olsson has built a new life in Spain.

Sir David’s career has earned him two knighthoods.

France attracted 100 million visitors a year in 2023.

Image: Paris je t’aime / Facebook.

Desirable property for sale

THE only remaining privately-owned land in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago is up for sale with a €300 million price tag.

The Sore Fagerfjord land at Wedel Jarslberg, which was described by global estate agency Knight Frank as having “environmental, scientific and economic importance,” covers an area of around 60 square kilometres and is 10 times bigger than Gibraltar.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire land on one of the world-famous Svalbard islands,” Knight Frank’s Will Matthews, told a news source.

Svalbard is strategically important because the islands are located midway between the north coast of Norway and the North Pole, and have been described as the gateway to the Arctic. All other properties in the region are controlled either by Norway or Russia.

The lawyer representing the company

which owns the land said it would “sell to the highest bidder,” according to Bloom berg, which first reported the sale.

“We are currently speaking with a collection of ultra-high-net-worth indi viduals from across the globe who each have a passion for conservation and phi lanthropy,” Will Matthews said.

The Bloomberg article also recalled the 2014 controversy when another private ly-owned property in the region, known to have rich coal deposits, received an offer from China. The sale was eventually prevented from going through when the Norwegian government stepped in and bought the land.

Italy says no to China

The future purchaser will be required to come from one of the countries that have signed up to the Svalbard Treaty, which was originally ratified in 1920. There are now 46 signatories and they include Russia and China.

THE council and the mayor of Modena have lashed out at the Chinese electronics company, Xiaomi, saying they are guilty of improperly using the name ‘Modena’ to name the chassis of its electric car.

The government, Made in Italy and Modena Town Hall are leading the battle over the improper naming of a car not produced in Italy. The Chinese consumer electronics giant has named the platform on which it has based its first electric car, the Xiaomi SU7, ‘Modena’.

The mayor of the city of Modena, Gian Carlo Muzza-

relli, in a speech at the Motor Valley Fest, voiced his opposition to the issue, stating that the city absolutely cannot accept the idea of a Chinese carmaker using the name Modena for a car with no connection to Italy.

The mayor said he had instructed the city’s lawyers to figure out what to do to prevent the Modena brand, inextricably linked to car manufacturing and particularly with the Ferrari brand, “being exploited by someone who is not even present in Italy and does not produce here in our territory.”

Alfonso Urso, Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy supported the protection of the name ‘Modena’ (used for a car entirely produced in China), also on the basis of current legislation against the use of Italian symbols or names in products made in other countries.

Xiaomi responded that, “it has always been committed to complying with all applicable European and Italian regulations, including the regulation on the protection of geographical indications.”

WEDEL JARSLBERG: Sixty square kilometres of private land for sale, Sore Fagerfjord.

Photo credit:CC/Gary Bembridge

The chassis of the electric car was named Modena.

Telegram review

Paul Edwards

THOSE who aren’t impressed by the European Commission may suggest that the decision to ask Belgium to keep an oversight on the Telegram App is awed. Telegram was banned and then not banned in Spain in late March and the communications App which was founded by two Russian brothers in 2013 has been under review in many countries throughout Europe and as a far a eld as Brazil. It is argued that there is a great deal of either illegal or inflammatory content on Telegram and it may fall foul of the European Digital Services Act (DSA) which is why

The Telegram App does have many followers in Europe.

the Commission has decided that it needs oversight and a body which can accept complaints from anyone within the European Union.

The only problem is that in order for the Belgian Institute of Post and Telecommunications (BIPT) to accept the challenge, it has to have the decision ratified by Belgium’s Federal, Flemish (Dutch speaking), Walloon (French speaking) and German speaking Parliaments which could take some time. There are an estimated 40 million Telegram-users in Europe which is not a great number when according to Backlink there are 32.2 million WhatsApp users in Spain alone which comes in at number nine in the top 10 country users of WhatsApp in the world.

Paying off debts

THE debts of 1,000 low-income Dutch households are being paid o by one of the country’s wealthiest families.

The Van der Vorm family, which according to Quote is worth €9 billion, works with charitable organisations to contribute more than €8 million to paying o the debts of families in need.

The charities aid Dutch families with at least one child whose nancial situation has been partly caused by life-changing events including death or illness, which includes approximately 15,000 families in Rotterdam.

“We feel a responsibility to think together with society about debt problems and

solutions,” said Bas Woudstra, director of Nieuw Vaarwater, who works with the Van der Vorms. “We can talk forever about why people are in debt, but the fact is that the children are su ering,” Bas Woudstra told the press.

However, some Dutch authorities doubt the e ectiveness of this scheme and believe that the central government should make changes instead.

Godfried Engbersen, professor of sociology at Erasmus University, commented to the press: “For some, this is a lottery ticket, while others are left sitting on their debts. We have to be careful that we do not become increasingly dependent on private initiatives.”

Stop this nonsense!

YOU all know I’m not one to moan but sometimes even my sweet temperament is pushed to its limit. I was at the airport waiting to get a ight. I was helped all the way by special assistance and they left me by the gate in a little area where there are only three disabled seats. I parked my wheelchair next to them and then a perfectly healthy young woman came, sat on one and put her bags on another. She proceeded to get her phone out and started doing seles, obviously doing a TikTok or Instagram thingy. I gave her the Mr Grumpy stare but she was totally oblivious to the whole situation. I let it go because after many years of confronting these sel sh idiots you learn to choose your battles. This was one I wouldn’t win. Next, I get to the gate and get charged €46 for my carry on. Again I took it on the chin as I was never going to win a row with Ryanair (journey back cost €6).

Watching MasterChef the other day and a guy taking part was asked what

he did for a living. He replied, ‘I’m Head of Customer Success’. What on earth does that actually mean? So I google it –‘Head of Customer Success leads the customer success function with a vision and strategy to provide customers with a voice, support, guidance, and knowledge resources that will facilitate the achievement of their business objectives using the organisation’s products and services and drive sales and increased revenue’. What? I still have absolutely no idea what he does for a living but the pay is over £80,000 a year. Not bad for a job that nobody has ever heard of! Utter nonsense! There are so many of these made up names now - fancy being Director of Happiness or Chief People Person - real job titles!! Solutions Specialist sounds interesting! Please stop this nonsense - it’s ridiculous.

I went for a meal with my daughter. The ga was pretty dimly lit, or ambient lighting, as they would say. Anyway I couldn’t read the very small writing on the menu. So Sarah read it and ordered a sh dish that we said we would share as we were not that hungry. It was €47, except it wasn’t; it was €47 per person! She didn’t see the tiny p.p in the dark!

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

VIEWS OF A GRUMPY OLD MAN

MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION

Credit: Julia M Cameron, Pexels

Credit: Microsiervo flickr

Why Queen Letizia has to wear trainers

ON Monday, May 6, during the ‘Emocionarte’ concert at Teatro Real, Madrid for the Princess Girona Foundation, Queen Letizia debuted her new look. Dressed in a red tweed jacket and white trousers, one eye-catching detail was her choice of footwear, white trainers.

Over the recent weekend, while attending the anniversary of King Felipe VI’s Flag Oath in Zaragoza, the queen, wearing her usual formal choice of shoes, appeared to move with a little more caution.

She later revealed the cause, a fracture in the proximal phalanx of her right foot’s central toe. In layman’s terms, this bone is similar to a knuckle, starting at the base of the toe.

The injury, sustained after a mishap

Brit tourist’s

with her right foot, required bandaging to immobilise the area and assist in its recovery. As a result the queen has been forced to stay away from high heels for the next few weeks.

This marks the first occasion Queen Letizia has donned trainers at an official event, though not the first time she has been photographed wearing them.

She’s previously sported them during a family photo before Infanta Sofia’s departure to college in the UK, and at La Palma’s El Fuerte barracks visit post the Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption.

For the time being, Queen Litizia’s footwear choice will be limited, but luckily with changing times, trainers have become more acceptable for formal occasions and work situations.

tattoo upsets Benidorm police

ON a recent holiday in Benidorm, Richard Hart, a 60-year-old retired bar owner from South Wales, had an unwelcome encounter with the Spanish police due to an X-rated tattoo covering his abdomen.

“I was in Benidorm and it was boiling hot, I took my top off and two police came and told me to cover up or they would handcuff me,” Hart revealed.

Hart’s tattoo, inked 20 years ago to mark his 40th birthday, features a large naked woman with her legs spread, using his navel to represent an intimate part of the female anatomy.

This bold design stretches from his chest down to the

lower end of his torso. “If they gave me a pound for every guy who asked me to take a photo with her, I would be a very rich man,” Hart commented to the local press.

Despite the artistic intent, this piece of body art led to a heated exchange when temperatures soared and Hart chose to walk shirtless through the city.

Lower prices

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The Spanish police informed Hart that he must cover up the tattoo or face arrest. “We got into a bit of an argument - I had to wear a t-shirt for the rest of the holiday.”

Hart expressed his frustration over the incident. He admits to keeping the tattoo hidden from his grandchildren, acknowledging it’s for adults-only.

Queen Letizia presides over the ‘EmociónArte’ concert.

Italians say “I do” in the nude

Pandamonium in Chinese zoo

John Smith

SOME people get married on a boat, some in a eld, some on a mountain, but there are also those who would like to do it naked by the sea, perhaps on a beautiful beach in Sardinia. Just a bouquet of owers for the bride and a bow tie for the groom, then nature will do the rest.

After receiving a request from a German couple, to be able to get married in the nude on the beach on the border of Is Arenas, the mayor of San Vero Milis, in the Oristano area, has decided to make this

wish come true. Luigi Tedeschi is obtaining the necessary authorisations so that the naturist beach of Is Benas can become a place where civil ceremonies can be o cially celebrated without clothes, so that those who wish can fully experience the culture of nudity.

There are many couples wishing to marry by the sea, especially from Europe where there are about 20 million naturism practitioners. In Italy, on the other hand, there are about 500,000.

For Tedeschi, this could be an important opportunity for the development of active and eco-sustainable tourism.

The initiative is supported and promoted by the Nudiverso association, which has always been committed to spreading and promoting nudist culture. “We are working to break down fences, in a peaceful coexistence between those who decide to wear a costume and those who choose not to wear one,” said spokesperson Pamela Deiana.

A PAIR of Chow Chows have been causing ‘pandamonium’ after being exhibited as panda dogs in the small Taizhou Zoo in China.

They appear quite oblivious to the fact that they have been dyed black and white with splodges of colour in order to make them appear as panda like as possible.

Whilst some visitors took it in good stead, others have reportedly complained that they have been deceived into believing that the zoo somehow

discovered a completely new breed which was related in some way to the Giant Panda.

According to a report in Global Times, the English Language media arm of the Chinese Communist Party, the Xiong Mao Quan (Panda Dogs) were unveiled for the May Day holidays with tickets priced at 20 yuan (€2.60) per adult and 10 yuan per child for entry.

A worker employed by the zoo told the Global Times that the zoo does not consider their scheme to be a case of fraud. “This

is just a new display we o er to visitors. We are not charging extra. The wording featuring Chow Chow dogs is correct and exactly describes what they are, so we are not cheating our visitors.”

Recently, a café in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, o ered to dye your pet dog’s fur with the classic black and white marking of a panda for only 1,500 yuan (€196).

The zoo claims that the dye is harmless but admits that this promotion has attracted more visitors than usual.

NUDIST BEACH: There are many couples who wish to marry by the sea.

The zoo insists they explain the animals are Chow Chows.

Photo: Shutterstock / Alex Zabusik

Carles Puigdemont

VOX Pop

IN light of Carles Puigdemont’s recent announcement regarding his intention to return to Spain against the backdrop of the Catalonia independence saga, opinions across the spectrum are as diverse as ever. We took to the streets to talk to the Euro Weekly News readers to see what they thought about his return. We also asked if his return would cause more unrest in the region.

Bernadette from Dublin, a resident in San Pedro del Pinatar said “Yes I think it will cause upheaval. Why is he returning now, has he another agenda?”

Joaquin a Spanish resident from San Javier said “The situation for Spain is embarrassing. He should return but to face justice. Without it, we cannot say we have a democracy in this country if he can continue to a ect the government from his position. We need closure on this topic as soon as possible.”

Joe from Ireland resident in Lo Pagan said “I was wondering why it had gone nice and quiet in Barcelona over the last few years, he’s been in Brussels serving as an MEP. I think he should stay where he is, his return will only bring more upheaval to the area.”

Alex Baader who lives in Palma observed “Puigdemont’s return may deepen divisions. There are those who support his cause and are willing to rally behind him, but there are also Catalans who oppose independence or who are weary of the ongoing political turmoil.”

There was some understanding from Bob McNabb who lives in Vera who commented “As a Scotsman, I understand the theoretical wish for Independence, but like Brexit it causes division and neither Catalonia nor Scotland can stand alone economically.”

Nataliya Kulakova from Russia who lives in Calpe was quite decisive with her opinion “I believe that once Puigdemont gets close to victory, nothing will stop him. And it is clear to me that over the years he has prepared carefully for his return. It is not in Spain’s interests to allow him to come back and I hope that upon arrival he will be arrested.”

JOE

CARLES PUIGDEMONT.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Iran alibi

SANTANDER UK informed the US government it had blocked all new accounts belonging to clients with links to Iran. After an “exhaustive investigation” Santander “categorically” claimed that it had complied with all regulations, despite Financial Times reports that Teheran had used a Santander subsidiary.

Cost-cutting

SIEMENS ENERGY, which announced at the end of 2023 plans to return Gamesa, its Spanish wind turbine subsidiary, to profit, announced “staff adjustments” on May 8. The Germany company added that it hoped to maintain “more or less” the same number of employees and that changes would focus on relocations.

Going wild

ANIMAL welfare charities as well as chefs and food experts all opposed the decision to allow ‘Scottish farmed salmon’ to be packaged as ‘Scottish salmon’, which they said was misleading. Producers argued it made no difference as the public was well aware that wild salmon was no longer available in supermarkets.

Rival bids

IBERDROLA and Repsol, which accuse each other of ‘greenwashing’, are competing for a contract to build a windfarm in the Gulf of Maine, US. Both submitted bids for the €30bn project to supply sustainable electricity to five million homes in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Sad story

BOOHOO GROUP’S revenue slid 17 per cent to £1.46bn (€1,69bn) in the year ending February 29, 2024, with statutory pre-tax losses of £159.9m (€185.96m) compared to £90.7m (€105.48m) the previous financial year. This was attributed to “difficult market conditions.”

STAT OF WEEK

paid out in dividends on May 7 by airports management company Aena, in which the Spanish government holds a majority stake.

Pick-me-up for pubs

HEINEKEN, which owns 2,400 pubs and bars in the UK, will spend £39 million (€45.32 million) on reopening 62 UK pubs and renovating 612 others.

Ninety-four suburban pubs will have renovations costing around £200,000 (€232,382) to convert them into ‘premium locals’ as the world’s largest brewer makes the most of the tendency to work from home.

The initiative will also target people who want to economise on travel costs and drink nearer to where they live.

These plans will create approximately 1,075 new jobs while providing more business for each pub as

the cost-of-living crisis eases and inflation begins to remit, Heineken said.

Statistics from the British Beer and Pub Association nevertheless show that pubs had begun to close in the UK even before the Covid pandemic

temporarily shut them all down, as numbers shrank from 60,800 in 2000 to 47,200 in 2019.

Nor is Heineken alone in deciding to invest in its pubs.

JD Wetherspoon announced that pre-tax

profits for the six months ending in March 2024 had risen to £36 million (€41.81 million), compared with £4.6 million (€5.34 million) for the same period in 2023.

The chain’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, revealed that he has listed 130 towns and cities where he wants to open more venues in addition to the existing 814 Wetherspoon pubs, down from 955 at the end of 2015.

Meanwhile the British pub and brewing company Greene King announced that it was investing £40 million (€46.46 million) in a new brewery in Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk).

Land Rover leads Jaguar

JAGUAR LAND ROVER ESPAÑA finished its April 2022-April 2023 fi nancial year with a €2.28 million net profit.

This was 45 per cent more than the previous year, revealed results deposited with the Registro Mercantil, equivalent to the UK’s Companies House.

The Spanish subsidiary which, like its parent company, is owned by the Tata Consortium, had a €317.1 million turnover, up 26 per cent on the 2021-2022 financial year. Vehicle sales accounted for €243.8m

We’re staying

MURRAY AUCHINCLOSS, chief executive of BP, was adamant that the oil giant had no plans to leave London’s stock market.

‘It’s not on our agenda,’ he declared as BP reported a 45 per cent first-quarter dip in profits to £2.2 billion (€2.05 billion) amid falling energy prices.

The pledge coincided with increased pressure on Auchincloss to narrow the gap with competitors like Shell and the US’s Exxon Mobil and Chevron.

of the total, while the remaining €73.3m came from the sale of spare parts.

The company sold 3,437 of its different Defender, Discovery and Land Rover models between April 2022 and April 2023, a 4 per cent increase on the previous year.

This was well ahead of the Jaguar, with sales of 701 units which were 63.7 per cent down, owing to WLTP emission regulations and a shortage of semiconductors for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Going it alone

BANCO SABADELL arranged a meeting in London with its principal shareholders from the big international investment funds to justify its rejection of the BBVA bank’s takeover bid.

The Catalonia-based bank headed by Josep Oliu explained that Sabadell was worth more than the BBVA’s €11.2 billion offer which would have exchanged one BBVA share for every 4.83 Sabadell share, a 30 per cent premium on Sabadell’s April 29 closing price.

Oliu also pointed out that following a record 2023 with a net profit of €1.02 billion, Sabadell made a profit of €308 million between January and the end of March, 50 per cent more than during the first quarter of 2023.

Fair shares

SPAIN’S Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (Sepi) currently owns 6.169 per cent of Telefonica.

The state-owned industrial holding company, now entitled to a seat on the board, has nominated Carlos Ocaña, substituting Carmen Garcia de Andres who has resigned for personal reasons.

Sepi is finally a majority Telefonica shareholder ahead of the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) which is backed by the Saudi government and acquired 4.9 per cent of Telefonica shares and 5 per cent of Telefonica financial instruments in September 2023.

The central government intends eventually to obtain 10 per cent of Telefonica, which was privatised in 1997.

THE Financial Reporting Council (FRC) fined two Big Four auditors for blunders during the £237 million (€275.65 million) London Capital & Finance (LCF) debacle in 2019.

LCF was a savings and investment company which sold unregulated mini-bonds, promising returns of up to 11 per cent.

PwC must pay £4.9 million (€5.69 million) and EY £4.4 million (€5.12 million)reduced from an original £7 million (€8.14 million) - for neglecting to understand LCF’s actions and internal controls and “not applying sufficient scrutiny,” the FRC said.

ADDRESSING a parliamentary committee on May 7, Bank of Spain governor Pablo Hernandez de Cos foresaw 1.9 per cent growth for 2024, up from 1.6 per cent. The country’s gross domestic product increased by 0.7 per cent during the first quarter of 2024, outstripping other large European Union economies, the governor said. Based on these figures “and second-quarter information,” the Bank of Spain expected to revise its growth projections in its next update, due in mid-June, De Cos announced on presenting the Bank’s annual report.

Smashed plates

THE taxman is chasing Thomas Goode, which supplies fine china and silverware to the royal family, for an outstanding bill.

HMRC has issued a winding-up petition, which can lead to compulsory liquidation but can also be withdrawn once the company has managed to settle the debt. The latest available accounts for Thomas Goode showed that creditors were owed around £5 million (€5.81 million) by the end of March 2022 in amounts that were due to be paid within 12 months.

HEINEKEN: Reopening 62 closed UK pubs.

DEFENDER: Boosted Jaguar Land Rover sales in Spain.

Photo credit: Cc/Brodie319

Group 2.752,0 +4,0 +0,15% 39,41K

American 2.788,0 +52,0 +1,90% 315,71K

2.278,00 +48,00 +2,15% 126,91K

Group 5.890,0 +18,0 +0,31% 23,10K

British Foods 2.700,4 +14,4 +0,54% 42,04K

12.354,0 +22,0 +0,18% 76,19K

213,07 -0,18 -0,08% 3,59M

Developments 495,00 +3,80 +0,77% 392,48K Beazley 666,00 -0,50 -0,07% 49,79K

5.240,0 +75,0 +1,45% 9,60K BP 508,90 +4,80 +0,95% 2,10M

American Tobacco

+19,0 +0,79% 362,89K

Group 106,60 +0,60 +0,57% 3,36M

3.186,0 +12,0 +0,38% 22,20K

Group 1.178,5 +17,5 +1,51% 129,80K

137,75 +1,70 +1,25% 1,51M

Cola HBC AG 2.730,0 0,0 0,00% 15,63K

2.290,56 +8,56 +0,38% 81,43K

Group 262,00 +0,20 +0,08% 146,12K

Intl 4.894,0 +17,0 +0,35% 13,76K DCC 5.805,0 +20,0 +0,35% 5,05K

2.834,8 -2,5 -0,09% 220,16K

3.850,00 +2,00 +0,05% 6,42K DS Smith 360,80 +0,80 +0,22% 97,15K

Mining 1.743,00 +37,00 +2,17% 17,85K

785,60 +3,60 +0,46% 77,14K

3.408,0 +10,0 +0,29% 30,79K F&C Invest 1.035,28 +3,28 +0,32% 28,63K Flutter Entertainment 16.280,0 +235,0 +1,47% 32,53K Frasers

326,80 -1,20 -0,37% 523,02K

2.313,0 +9,0 +0,39% 27,51K

Full throttle

TRAIN manufacturer

Talgo finished its 20232024 financial year with a €10.4 million net profit, quadrupling the previous year’s €2.4 million. The company expects a decision regarding a €619 million takeover bid from Hungarian consortium GanzMavag, a deal the Spanish government views with suspicion.

Off the list

OXFORD CANNABINOID TECHNOLOGIES, backed by rapper Snoop Dogg, is delisting in London, owing to the “continuous, irrational and regressive pressure” on its shares. It would have greater access to far more capital once it was private, the company said.

Lower profits

Shot in the arm

Majority undermined

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

DELIGHTED to begin this week’s blurb by thanking the lady who wrote apologising for considering me a racist. The lady informed me that although she had perused the column for many years and often found the subject matter interesting, she had always judged a number of my comments to incorporate racial and biased cultural views, of which she totally disagreed; well not any more.

Watching the UK disintegrate into a society which she and many of her British friends no longer feel a part of, the lady had no hesitation in telling me that many of the forewarnings and premonitions I wrote about have indeed come true and therefore apologises unreservedly for often condemning many of my early subject matter and opinions.

Oddly this week I received a second letter from a gentleman who had also enjoyed the column for many years and actually congratulated me on my observations telling me it was a shame

they weren’t published in a few of the nationals in the UK.

He also wrote that he and many of his friends were actually frightened to express their own views in public, because these days you could actually be arrested for a vast number of personal opinions which don’t concur with the ‘woke authorities’ = the faceless individuals who seem to be somehow running the country irrespective of which government happens to be in power.

Wow, I don’t quite know how to react to letters of this ilk. I do of course thank the writers for their views, but feel utterly saddened that the British majority are being undermined and slowly but surely sucked into some form of non-British culturist state which is basically unworkable in the country their ancestors fought and died for.

Those of my (thankfully few) readers who still exist in some sort of cuckoo land and seem to endorse the changes that are being virtually forced on British residents, should perhaps write to me and explain their opinions on some 40 or more local town and city officials who were recently elected into office purely because they supported Gaza; and another, who at the announ-

cement of his victory, screamed Allah Akbar to chanting mobs of his supporters who voted him in.

I thought that officials who were voted in to British local council positions were put there to support local operations, ie make sure the buses ran on time, potholes were repaired or the local populace was suitably cared for; not elected because they supported a war taking place in an alien country thousands of miles away! Well, to this ol boy it is blatantly obvious that the idiot woke power mad brigade has finally and totally overstepped the mark.

The idea of creating a new voting mainstream in the UK by supporting and combining all the minorities, irrespective of their opinions or actions, is a ridiculous conspiracy that will utterly wreck the pride and ambitions of the true British public and is actually turning residents against the diversified cultures being forced on them; actions that could almost certainly lead to the violence and destruction I prophesied some 30 years ago.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

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

How do Spain’s fjords compare to Norway?

NORWAY is famous for its spectacular fjords which are a huge draw for tourists. However, one might not have to travel quite so far as Spain offers its very own which are arguably just as stunning.

A fjord is typically a long, deep inlet surrounded by steep cliffs, carved by glaciers. Countries such as Norway, Iceland, and New Zealand are renowned for these geological wonders.

Spain’s version swaps rivers for the sea, boasting equally dra-

matic landscapes. Let’s travel through Spain to discover some of the country’s most breathtaking natural features.

Exploring Riaño in Leon

In the province of Leon, the Picos de Europa National Park marks one of Spain’s oldest protected areas. Established in the early 20th century, this region later saw the addition of the Riaño reservoir to its protected status in 1994.

The area features mountainous terrains with altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 metres and river valleys that create fjord-like formations.

Gilbo Peak, reaching a height of 1,679 metres, is a favourite among hikers.

The Riaño area is also home to wildlife such as

the brown bear and the capercaillie, whose presence adds to the region’s natural allure.

Arribes del Duero’s natural splendour

Moving to the border of Zamora and Salamanca, the Arribes del Duero offers spectacular fjord-like views formed by the erosion of the Tormes, Duero, Huebra, Uces, and Camaces rivers.

These waters have carved through the mountains over centuries, creating deep canyons. Among them, the Uces River reveals the breathtaking Pozo de los Humos waterfall, one of the Iberian Peninsula’s most picturesque sites.

The Arribes del Duero Natural Park can be explored by boat from Miranda do Douro or Aldeadavila de la Ribera. For panoramic views, the viewpoints of Ledesma, Mirador del Fraile, Picon de Felipe, and Las Barrancas are outstanding.

The majestic Sil River Can-

Most popular baby names in Germany

IN a recent report from the Society for German Language, Sophia emerged as the most popular name for girls, with Emilia coming in at a close second. Noah is continuing its reign as the most popular name for boys.

The list of names favoured by German parents remains steady, with names like Emma, Mia, Hannah, Leon, Paul, and Emil retaining their popularity.

Two new names have appeared in the Top Ten: Lia for girls and Liam for boys. Experts have observed a trend towards shorter names.

Regional variations painted a diverse picture of trends across the nation. In northern regions, Ida and Frieda are popular names for girls and Theo is a favourite for boys. In the south, Marie, Anna, and Leonie are on trend, while in the east, Mathilda and Charlotte are top picks. In the west, Felix and Jakob are names frequently chosen for boys.

The Association for German Language, with headquarters in Wiesbaden, has been carefully documenting and disseminating these trends since 1977.

yon

In Galicia, the Sil River carves through the landscape, creating one of Spain’s most stunning fjords in the Ribeira Sacra.

The river’s erosive power is evident in the steep, vegetation-covered cliffs that frame the waterway.

The best way to experience this natural beauty is by catamaran, which tours the municipalities of Parada de Sil, Nogueira de Ramuin, A Teixeira, and Sober, with piers at Santo Estevo, Doade, and Augas.

The dramatic Hoces del Rio Duraton

Established in 1989, the Hoces del Rio Duraton Natural Park in Segovia showcases a remarka-

ble section of the river extending from Sepulveda to the Burgomillodo dam. Here, the river’s meanders create cliffs up to 70 metres high, displaying vibrant green and ochre hues.

The natural beauty is complemented by the presence of griffon vultures, golden eagles, Egyptian vultures, and peregrine falcons soaring above, providing a stark contrast to the human perspective from scenic viewpoints or canoes.

Spain’s fjords are a testament to the country’s diverse and spectacular landscapes, rivalling those of Norway and offering a closer look at nature’s magnificent artistry.

Popular baby names vary from region to region.

Gravina: Ronda’s twin in Italy

GRAVINA is a small clone of Ronda which is located in Puglia, the boot of Italy, several thousand kilometres from Malaga. The similarity between the two towns is hard to believe and for the magazine Viajar they ‘could well be twins’ because of their similar characteristics. “At first glance it is difficult to find more than five differences,” reported the magazine.

Gravina and Ronda share more than just their majestic bridge. Geographically there are also similarities. While Ronda remains stately on the plateau that cuts the gorge of the Guadalevín river, Gravina also has a similar gorge eroded by the Gravina stream, a tributary of the river Bradano.

Now, Ronda Town Hall has signed with the Comune of Gravina, a protocol of intentions to start a twinning procedure between the two towns, due to the many similarities they have in historical, landscape, social and economic areas.

The mayors of both towns highlighted all the things that unite the two municipalities

and therefore bring them closer, despite their distance, such as their two bridges, which link both parts of the city, a historical past, their caves and grottoes, the production of oils, cheeses and wines, and an economy very focused on agriculture and livestock production.

Above all, the people in charge of Gravina are very interested in learning about Ronda’s tourist management, which has made it one of the most visited cities in Andalucia.

Although the Italian town has great potential in terms of its heritage and historical resources, the promotion of its tourism is underdeveloped. For this reason, they intend to maintain regular contact with those responsible for Turismo Ronda, with the aim of learning more about the activity and the projects it develops.

The signing of this agreement took place during the San Giorgio Fair, an agricultural, livestock and gastronomic event very similar to the one that takes place in Ronda during May.

Look at the label

BREWERS in the Netherlands are calling for uniform European rules and labelling for alcohol-free beer.

They say this would forestall unfair competition and prevent confusion regarding exactly how much alcohol an alcohol-free beer can contain.

In the Netherlands this is limited to just 0.1 per cent of alcohol, although alcohol-free wine can contain 0.5 per cent and anything above these levels and up to 1.2 per cent is described as ‘alcohol-poor’.

In contrast, Belgium and Germany are allowed to label beer with 0.5 per cent as alcohol-free while Spain and Italy go even further and an alcohol-free drink can contain 1 per cent in Spain and 1.2 per cent in Italy,

These imported beers are also on sale in the Netherlands where supermarkets sell them as alcohol-free although they can contain up to 1.2 per cent alcohol, which Dutch brewers maintain represents unfair competition.

According to EU rules, beer and wine containing 0.5 per cent of alcohol can be sold as non-alcoholic, and some Netherlands brewers are opting for the English term for products not eligible for the alcohol-free description.

European regulations were confusing, Dutch brewers agreed, but added that they were not misleading as they kept scrupulously to the rules.

“But it’s in the consumers’ interest to know what is in the beer,” said Jos Oostendorp, chairman of Craft, which represents 200 small breweries.

hol should examine labels to check the alcohol content.

A Netherlands Ministry of Health spokesman also said that people who cannot - or do not want - to drink alco-

Photo of Gravina: Shutterstock

Photo credit: Pexels/Ketut Subiyanto

ALCOHOL CONTENT: Some beers are less alcohol-free than others.

Glowing glamour

IN summer 2024, the allure of glossy skin and high-shine make-up finishes will continue to captivate beauty enthusiasts worldwide. This trend, which gained momentum in recent years, shows no signs of fading as individuals embrace a radiant and luminous complexion.

From dewy foundations to glossy lip glosses, the emphasis remains on achieving a youthful and healthy glow. High-shine finishes add dimension and depth to make-up looks, creating a mesmerising effect that catches the light and enhances natural features.

Whether opting for subtle shimmer or bold gloss, individuals are drawn to the effortless elegance and modern sophistication of glossy skin and high-shine make-up. As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of beauty trends, one thing remains certain, that the timeless allure of luminous skin and radiant finishes is here to stay.

DEMENTIA, a debilitating condition affecting memory and cognitive abilities, can be daunting, but certain lifestyle choices can help mitigate its onset. Experts suggest a holistic approach focusing on both physical and mental health to keep dementia at bay.

Lifestyle choices

Firstly, maintaining a healthy diet plays a crucial role. Foods rich in antioxidants, such as leafy greens, berries, and nuts, are essential, as they combat brain cell damage from oxidative stress. Additionally, regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish like salmon and trout, supports brain health.

Physical activity is equally important; engaging in regular exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which is vital for maintaining cognitive function. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, inclu-

ding strength training, which has been linked to improved brain health. Mental stimulation is another key factor. Challenging the brain with puzzles, reading, or learning new skills can enhance neuroplasticity, which is the

brain’s ability to form and reorganise synaptic connections. Lastly, social engagement and maintaining strong relationships contribute to emotional health and reduce stress, which can exacerbate dementia symptoms. Combining these strategies offers a robust defence against the onset of dementia, enhancing overall well-being and cognitive resilience.

Digital nutrition

ORDERING personalised vitamins online has revolutionised how we approach supplementation, offering convenience and customisation at our fingertips.

The process typically begins with an online assessment, where users provide information about their health goals, lifestyle, and dietary preferences. Based on this data, algorithms generate personalised vitamin recommendations tailored to individual needs. This streamlined process eliminates the guesswork and ensures users receive vitamins that address their specific deficiencies and optimise their well-being.

Moreover, online platforms often offer subscription services, delivering vitamins directly to your doorstep on a regular basis, saving time and hassle.

However, potential drawbacks include the reliance on self-reported information, which may not always accurately reflect individual health needs, and the lack of in-person guidance from healthcare professionals. Despite these limitations, the ease and accessibility of ordering personalised vitamins online make it a convenient option for those seeking tailored wellness solutions.

By Clinica Britannia

Sweet solutions

REDUCING sugar intake is a vital step towards a healthier lifestyle, and making simple swaps can make a significant difference. Instead of sugary sodas, opt for sparkling water infused with fruit for a refreshing and hydrating alternative.

Have regular eye exams

AS the candles on the birthday cake increase, so does the risk of age-related eye diseases. Conditions like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts can sneak up quietly, often without warning signs, until vision is significantly affected, and the quality of life negatively affected. However, regular eye exams become the secret weapon in identifying these conditions at their onset. Early detection is a proactive approach that can open the door to timely intervention where treatments can be started sooner, potentially slowing, or halting disease progression, preventing irreversible vision loss, thereby preserving precious sight. The eyes can also reveal signs of systemic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. An eye exam may uncover these issues even before other symptoms appear. Being overwei-

ght or obese can also surprisingly cause eye problems. Remember, prevention and early intervention are key to maintaining healthy eyesight. Good vision is closely tied to a good quality of life. Being able to read, drive, and engage in daily activities not only brings joy, but also maintains cognitive functions and promotes independence. Contact us at Clinica Britannia for further information.

Crown comfort

IN the realm of personal care, the scalp often takes a back seat to other parts of the body. However, neglecting scalp health can have significant consequences for both men and wo-

A well-nourished scalp is the foundation for healthy hair growth, as it promotes stronger, shinier locks and prevents issues like dandruff and scalp irritation. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy scalp can contribute to overall well-being, reducing the risk of discomfort and boosting confidence.

Simple practices such as regular cleansing, moisturising, and protecting the scalp from environmental stressors like the sun can go a long way in preserving its health. By prioritising scalp care, individuals can enjoy not just luscious locks, but also a happier, more comfortable lifestyle.

When craving a sweet treat, choose fresh fruit or unsweetened yoghurt with berries instead of reaching for sugary snacks. Replace sugary breakfast cereals with whole grain options topped with nuts and seeds for added nutrition and sustained energy.

Also, swap sugary sauces like ketchup and barbecue sauce for homemade versions with less sugar or opt for herbs and spices to flavour meals.

By incorporating these swaps into your diet, you can reduce your sugar intake and improve your overall health and well-being.

Inclusive scents

THE fragrance industry is undergoing a significant shift towards gender neutrality, challenging traditional notions of scent as strictly masculine or feminine. Perfume houses are increasingly introducing unisex and gender-neutral fragrances, blurring the lines between traditional gender distinctions.

This evolution reflects a growing demand for inclusive and diverse scent options that cater to individual preferences rather than societal expecta-

tions. As consumers, we can expect to see a wider range of fragrances designed to appeal to a spectrum of tastes and identities.

Additionally, marketing campaigns and packaging are likely to reflect this shift, embracing themes of inclusivity and self-expression. Ultimately, this transition marks an exciting era in the fragrance world, where everyone can find a scent that resonates with their personal style and identity.

By Clinica Britannia

What is Glutathione and its

GLUTATHIONE consists of three amino acids, glycine, cysteine, and glutamate that our bodies can naturally produce. It acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to neutralize toxins, heavy metals, and pollutants, which can then be eliminated effectively from the body.

Immune Health: It also supports our immune function by enhancing the activity of immune cells, regulating immune responses, and promoting overall immune health.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, which can benefit conditions like arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory skin disorders.

Sleep: Improved quality of sleep.

Memory: Improves mental focus and clarity and can alleviate stress.

Skin Health: Higher glutathione levels are also associated with longevity

benefits?

and healthy ageing. It is very effective in skin care due to its astonishingly natural results and has gained popularity for its potential skin-lightening effects. By inhibiting melanin production, it helps to reduce hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and uneven skin tone, giving the skin a more youthful and radiant look.

Contact us at Clinica Britannia for a consultation with our medical specialist who can advise if this treatment is suitable for you as individual responses to glutathione supplementation can vary,

Additionally, seeking advice from our Nutritionist is a useful tool, she can inform and give guidance about the impacts of a balanced diet rich in foods containing cysteine to help support natural glutathione production in the body.

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

Daring hair trend

MICRO-FRINGES, the daring and dramatic hair trend, are capturing the attention of fashion-forward individuals worldwide. Characterised by their ul-

tra-short length, these fringes sit well above the eyebrows and often feature a blunt, choppy finish that makes a bold statement. This edgy style draws ins-

piration from vintage looks of the 1950s and 1960s but with a modern twist, reflecting a rebellious, avant-garde aesthetic.

By Karan Sud Dental

Dental Insurance plan

The rise in popularity of micro-fringes can be attributed to their versatility and the unique flair they add to any hairstyle. They can be paired with long, flowing locks, bobs, or pixie cuts, providing a striking contrast that enhances facial features. Celebrities and influencers have embraced this trend, showcasing the look on red carpets and social media, which has played a significant role in their resurgence.

Micro-bangs are not just a fashion statement; they allow individuals to express their personality and individuality. As more people seek distinctive styles to stand out, micro-fringes offer a fresh, eye-catching option in the evolving world of hair fashion.

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.

Costa del Sol Loose change adds up • News from Our Other 6 Newspapers •

ALAN BOARDMAN has raised €1,377.54 through donations of loose change with his Copper up for Cudeca promotion.

Bars in the Mijas and Fuengirola area all had collection tins on prominent display for anyone to contribute those small coins we all hate. We accumulate them in change but can rarely spend them, however it all soon adds up as Alan found out - over €1,300!

Ricardo Urdiales, President Cudeca Cancer Care Hospice, said, “our sincere gratitude for your generous donation of €1,377,54 thanks to your campaign ‘Copper up for Cudeca’, to support the professional palliative care which is provided to patients and family, without cost, by Cudeca Hospice. The help we receive from understanding supporters like yourself enables our special care to be available to those in need, mostly people suffering from cancer and other advanced illnesses.

Axarquia Motril airshow

THE International Air Festival of Motril will take place on June 9, 2024, and is a highlight in the airshow calendar. Featuring a diverse lineup of aircraft and demonstrations including combat planes, aerobatics, helicopters, and parachutists, it attracts everyone from aviation enthusiasts to families.

Notable participants include the Pilatus PC9M, SOLOTÜRK, HA-28 TIGRE, MUSTANG X-RAY, the Acrobatic Patrol of Morocco, and PIPER J-3 CUB. Besides aerial displays, the festival offers ground activities providing insights into aviation and opportunities to interact with pilots and teams. As one of Spain’s foremost air events, it significantly boosts tourism and the local economy, drawing thousands of visitors.

The International Air Festival of Motril promises a day filled with thrilling aviation spectacles against the backdrop of the beautiful coastal scenery, making it a must-attend event for everyone.

Mallorca Ironman 2024

ON Saturday May 11, Alcudia played host to one of the largest IRONMAN 70.3 events in the world. The town saw enthusiastic spectators lining the streets and beach to offer their encouragement to competitors, creating an electric atmosphere.

The race began within the tranquil waters of the Bay of Alcudia, offering a picturesque setting for the 1.9km swim sector. Athletes started and finished at Playa d’Alcudia. As competitors emerged from the swim, they were greeted by a cheering crowd lining the 100-metre stretch of IRONMAN red carpet.

Following the swim, athletes embarked on a challenging 90km bike ride, navigating through mountainous landscapes. The subsequent three-loop, 21.1km run unfolded along the scenic Alcudia Bay, culminating in a triumphant finish on the beachfront.

Costa Blanca South Seriously soaring

ALICANTE-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport achieved its best April on record, welcoming 1,590,828 passengers.

This marks the fourth consecutive month of record-breaking numbers, surpassing April 2023 figures by 10.8 per cent.

International travellers remain predominant, contributing 1,365,202 passengers, marking a 10.1 per cent increase. National traffic also saw a notable rise, with 223,594 passengers, up by 15.8 per cent compared to the previous year.

Breaking down international visitors by nationality, the United Kingdom topped the list with 552,320 travellers, followed by the Netherlands (102,913), Belgium (81,690), Germany (81,538), and Norway (71,056). For the first four months of the year, the airport handled a total of 4,819,105 passengers, marking an 18.5 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2023.

Almeria Sparkling coastlines

THIS summer, Almeria’s coastlines are set to sparkle with 35 prestigious Blue Flags, a notable increase from last year’s 33.

The Blue Flag mark of excellence, issued by the Environmental and Consumer Education Association (ADEAC), recognises the outstanding quality and services provided by the beaches, including lifeguard and first aid facilities, accessibility, and communication.

The distribution of Blue Flags across Almeria for 2024 is as follows: Roquetas de Mar (6), Adra (4), El Ejido (4), Mojacar (4), Pulpi (4), Almeria (3), Carboneras (3), Nijar (2), Balanegra (1), Vera (1).

The accolades extend beyond beaches to marinas, with new additions this year including the Marinas of San Jose (Nijar), Adra and Roquetas de Mar, bringing the total of Blue flags to 35.

This endorsement serves as a beacon of pride for local councils, confirming their dedication to environmental stewardship and excellent visitor experience along its diverse coastline.

Costa Calida Blue Flag beaches

AGUILAS proudly reclaims its title as the area in the Murcia Region with the highest number of prestigious Blue Flag awards, securing nine for its beaches and two for its sports ports. This year, the Murcia Region has garnered a total of 33 Blue Flags, just one fewer than last year. Of these, 27 are for beaches, while six will fly over sports ports.

In Aguilas, the Blue Flags will be on the shores of Calarreona, La Carolina, La Casica Verde, La Colonia, La Higuerica, Las Delicias, Levante, Matalentisco, and Poniente.

Lorca maintains its blue flag for Calnegre Cove. San Pedro del Pinatar maintains its three blue flags along with San Javier and Cartagena.

Unfortunately, the beaches along the Mar Menor will not bear the Blue Flag due to the ongoing environmental problems affecting the quality of the water.

PETS

Fighting fleas

WHEN battling fleas in your home, opting for environmentally friendly methods ensures effective pest control without harming the planet. Start by regularly vacuuming carpets, floors, and upholstery to remove flea eggs and larvae. Wash pet bedding and linens in hot water to kill fleas and their eggs. Natural remedies like diatomaceous earth, a fine powder that dehydrates and

Photo: Shutterstock/ UniqSnaps

Why join a house-sitting platform like HouseSitMatch

LEAVING pets anywhere when you travel on holiday can be stressful. And many believe it is always best to keep them at home in their own surroundings if at all possible, ideally with a caring pet lover who’ll watch over them.

and your pets. If you’re travelling in 2024 join now and get organised today:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

2. Choose a Premium account (£89 pa) to ensure you get help online

kills fleas, can be sprinkled on carpets and pet bedding. Essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus can also repel fleas when diluted and sprayed around the house. Additionally, consider using flea traps with light and sticky pads to capture adult fleas. By incorporating these eco-friendly practices, you can rid your home of fleas while preserving the environment.

By joining a house-sitting platform like HouseSitMatch we can help you meet checked house and pet-sitters who will travel to your home and care for your pets for free!

Plus HouseSitMatch Saves Money because the Pet-sitting is Free!

If you use HouseSitMatch.com you find free checked pet-sitters who pay their way to stay in your home caring for your pets in your absence. It’s an arrangement facilitated by a managed online system.

Our house and pet-sitting works as an exchange of services - free accommodation for free pet care!

A house-sitting platform like HouseSitMatch can help you find free checked pet-sitters.

HouseSitMatch is Safe - All Members Are Checked

All members are checked for safety, and you choose which house-sitters come to care for your pets in your absence. Your pets stay at home - Safe and Undisturbed

All pets benefit from staying at home, so their routines are undisturbed. Choose Housesitmatch. com for affordable travel, home and pet care and peace of mind for you

3. Create a profile with photos of your pets and home

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

How does it work?

Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety, then build an advert to find sitters. House-sitters see your advert, respond and you choose from the applicants.

Trustpilot Testimonials - 4.9 /

5 Excellent I have used HouseSitMatch for the last three years and would highly recommend it. Very easy to communicate with and very helpful by phone if needed. Janet Bryant, pet ow ner

How do you join? Register online via www.Housesitmatch.com

Need a pet or house-sitter? House-sitting is a win-win, free house and pet-sitting exchanged for free accommodation! Reader exclusive offer - 20% Off Any New Membership Register as either house-sitter or homeowner. Get a 20% discount - Use coupon code PERFECT20.

INVESTING in expensive dog or cat collars may seem extravagant, but it comes with pros and cons.

On the one hand, luxurious collars can be a fashion statement, showcasing your pet’s style and status. They may also boast high-quality materials and craftsmanship, ensuring durability and comfort for your furry friend. However, the hefty price tag can be a deterrent, especially considering that pets may outgrow or lose collars. Additionally, overly extravagant collars may pose safety risks if they are too heavy or adorned with sharp embellishments.

AIR CONDITIONING PLUMBING

AIR CONDITIONING

POOL SERVICES

TV & SATELLITE

SHOWERS

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

WASHING MACHINE BROKEN? Call Bluesky Repairs for ALL your domestic appliance repairs. 626 430 671 (WhatsApp) (305215)

ARCHITECTS

BUGGY TOURS

BUY & SELL

PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

I BUY RECORDS 50s to the 90s. Best prices for good records. Tel: 622 750 117 / 962 851 809 (304600)

BUSINESS OPP

LOOKING for silent partner in private care home, near Alicante.50k buy in, 50 %. 20 k net per year return. Call 747 4382 25. (305759)

FOR SALE: ENGLISH Mini Market on large urbanisation. No competition. Same owners for 17 years. Sale due to retirement. Opening hours 9.00am to 5.00pm. Tel: 966 455 491. (305817)

CARE HOME

PRIVATE CARE HOME Full Board and Care. Also, Dementia care. British Owned near Alicante. Luxurious Villa.

€1,200 per month. Call 747 438 225 (305685)

CHARITY

EL CAMPELLO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY – Life and Family Sunday Service at 11 a.m. Bilingual (English and Spanish) at San Bartolome, 35 (Bajo No. 6), El Campello.For more information visit www.elcam pellochristiancommunity.org, email campellocc@gmail.com or call Juan Zúñiga –686203183 (Spanish) or Jim Eaton - 680594134 (English). (233602)

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) www.helpbenidorm.org and on Facebook VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, particularly if you speak Spanish, and have a car (although this is not essential). Tel President 607 387 040. We are an English-speaking charity that assists residents and tourists of all nationalities in times of crisis. We meet every Thursday at 11am in Jose Llorca Social Centre C. Goya s/n. Benidorm. We loan out mobility and medical equipment including oxygen concentrators on a short-term basis. (288658)

THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA This association, formed in 1988, exists to foster comradeship amongst those who, having been awarded an official flying badge, have qualified to operate military aircraft and are serving or have served, as military aircrew in the armed forces of the United Kingdom or those nations which are allies of the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THIS POPULAR ASSOCIATION, CALL the Secretary on 966 495 228. (295990)

THE ALFAZ SPIRITUAL FRIENDS CENTRE OFFER A WARM WELCOME AT ‘THE COMM’ - (EX THE FORUM/ MARE NOSTRUM) CAMINO DEL PINCHO 2, L’ALFAZ DEL

PI, 03580 ALICANTE. VISITING MEDIUM EVERY WEEKSERVICE STARTS 6.30PM EVERY THURSDAY. CONTACT DOT 634 320 013. EMAIL dorothydorothy608@gmail. com (295995)

ELECTRICIAN

MB ELECTRICS. Approved electrician. Any electrical repair. Iberdrola paperwork. Affordable prices. Miquel 655 282 175 www.mbelectrics.es (302561)

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

ALL METAL WORK AND MOBILE WELDING. +44 7787 585 714 (302963)

WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHATSAPP TOO) OR VISIT www.sosinsurancein spain.com or email tracey@ sosinsuranceinspain.com (305189)

BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@ beneficialinsuranceinspain. com or visit www.beneficialin suranceinspain.com for online quote. (303245)

MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 952 147 834, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 952 147 834 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www. abbeygateinsure.com

MASSAGE

WIGS

WWW.WIGS-R-US.ES Iindoor market, Rincon De Loix Benidorm. Monday to Friday 10 -4pm Sat 10 – 3pm scrunchies, ponytails, toppers, fascinators, headwear etc. Private appts after 3 pm 681 049 502 (304723)

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PROFESSIONAL TANTRA MASSAGE in Denia. Ritual and deep relaxation. Teya: 692 450 679. (304390)

RELAX CENTRE in BENIDORM - Excellent atmosphere. Expert Masseuses. 24/7 Outcalls - Tel: 603 324 564 (305206)

NATURIST male gives relaxing massage €50. For men and women. Private and discreet at my home in Jávea, WhatsApp Rob on 613 831 380 (305902)

MEETING POINT

MATURE RESPECTABLE gentleman based in Teulada, would like to meet a nice female

companion for Eurpopean & UK travel in a luxury Motorhome with separate beds. Please Text/WhatsApp +34 722 586 199 or email travellinglight dude@gmail.com (305896) METAL WORK

AUTO BASTIAN mobile mechanic. Tel 608 860 725. (290141)

WE are currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

MISCELLANEOUS

GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

MOTORBIKES

PETER ZWAAN MOTORBIKES, A+ Occasions Showroom, Triumph Rocket III, 2300 cc, yr. 2008, 35.000 kms, E 8.400,= CostaBlancaMotorbikes.com (305907) MOTORING

VIAGRA / KAMAGRA / CIALIS. BEST PRICES. FREE DISCREET DELIVERY. ALL AREAS COVERED. TEL: PETER 644 139 274 (305678)

EDS?  We have the solution , Kamagra pills & jells, Cia lis, Sidenafil, over 7 products for men & ladies, mixed trial packs.Available by mail-order. WhatsApp or call 603 117 394

PAINTERS/DECORATORS

DECORATORS W.D. GILMOUR. Painter & Decorator. Established 35 years in Moraira. ESTIMATES FREE. Call William on 609 691 776 or 966 490 602 (305078)

PETS

NEED YOUR PETS TAKEN CARE OF? Not kennels, just a friendly home. Large fenced area. 699 790 080 Altea (1296233)

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

PRIVATE Investigator, Debts Collected, Bad Tenants, Solicitor Services. 747 438 225 (305759)

PROPERTY WANTED

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

COSTA BLANCA CASASVilla rentals. Do you still want to rent your property this summer?  It’s not too late

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REMOVALS/STORAGE

BENIDORM and surrounding areas. Two-man removal. 622 658 992 (304544)

MAN & VAN for hire, cheap & reliable. Jalon Valley & surrounding area. Call/

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ROLLER SHUTTERS

ROLLER SHUTTER REPAIRS, awnings, motors, mosquito blinds. Calpe + 50 kms. 659 464 992 www.toldosalchemy. com (303757)

SITUATIONS VACANT

BLUE SQUARE REAL ESTATE is currently searching for Sales Executives to work in the Denia / Oliva area. A training package is provided and excellent incentives. Multilingual candidates, Spanish, French, Dutch and German are sought after. Please email hr@ blue-square.com your CV (304549)

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS

MARK PADDON  BSc Hons. MCIOB, CAAT – for buyer’s survey & defects advice. Tel: 653 733 066 / 962 807 247 www.costablancasurveyors. com (294923)

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WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel678 716 693 (288662)

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TAX ADVISORS

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YACHTING

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Mercedes Benz C-Class premium motoring

ROAD TEST

By Mark Slack

MERCEDES BENZ has long been at the forefront of pre mium motoring and its latest range is no exception. My con centration here is the C-Class saloon range that offers plugin hybrid petrol and diesel power units. Prices start from £45,180 for the AMG Line which comes with standard features such as LED lights with adaptive high beam assist, keyless start, navigation with smartphone inte gration, cruise control, automatic wipers, climate control and heated front seats.

My test model was at the higher end of the range, the AMG Line Premium Plus with diesel power under the bonnet and priced at £52,590. While it may carry the AMG name the AMG Line versions have all the styling cues, but the mechanical side of things remains unmolested in terms of power. The 1.9-litre diesel in the test car produces 265 hp and being die-

you would be hard pressed to tell it’s a diesel providing the not inconsiderable accelerative capacity. Also the mid 50s fuel economy is impressive for a car of this class.

Inside it makes a pleasant change to find a car, especially a German model, that isn’t graced with a surfeit of sombre tones, most often black or grey. Lightening up my test car’s interior, and adding a dash of additional class, were

tobacco coloured centre seat panels and matching door cards. With the rest of the interior in darker colours matched to the external grey paintwork it made for a nice contrast.

On the road the C-Class is a refined and smooth drive with plenty of power in reserve should you require it. A sleek style, despite being a saloon, makes for a striking look and doesn’t really com-

promise headroom access to the rear as is the case with many rakish saloons. The suspension draws a nice line between being compliant enough to soak up the bumps but with enough control to deal with twisty tarmac. Add driving modes of Comfort, ECO, Sport, Sport+ and Individual and you can see why it makes for an exemplary sports saloon. Mercedes has had a reputation of being slightly more sedate than some rival German competitors but has more than levelled the field with the C-Class AMG Line models. It’s also a somewhat more individual choice with less aggressive styling, an altogether more-subtle approach.

Electric car sales

DESPITE the ongoing demand that drivers should be gearing up to buying electric cars, the most recent figures published in Europe for 2022 suggest that there is a long way to go.

The Eurostat figures of number of cars registered by country has been reviewed and compared to the number of electric cars registered by Vignettecroatia.com and whilst Scandinavia and Norway in particular come out top,

the figures are still low.

Norway leads the way for electric vehicle use by far, with 20.12 per cent of all registered vehicles (just over three million) being electric but moving on to second place the percentage plummets with Denmark second at just 4.02 per cent and Sweden third at 3.97 per cent.

When one looks at the larger countries, the figure for Germany is 2.08 per cent and the UK 1.93 per cent.

In Spain, although there are many councils obtaining electric vehicles for workers and Local Police and with hea vy promotion from the government, the percentage is well below 1 per cent although the Statista global data and business intelligence platform forecasts that this figure will grow dramatically over the coming years.

Readers of Euro Weekly News have

cent who commented indicating that they were opposed to being forced to buy an electric car and want to stay with diesel or petrol due to cost and because they don’t believe that they are significantly more damaging for the planet than electric.

Cyclists can be fined up to €1,000

DRIVERS are constantly reminded of the rules and regulations of the road, but cyclists might not be fully versed in the regulations set by the DGT (Directorate-General for Traffic).

Ignorance is no excuse and could cost them dearly, with fines ranging from €200 to €1,000 depending on the infraction.

The DGT is intensifying its efforts to ensure that cyclists adhere to the Highway Code, emphasising compliance to avoid substantial fines.

For instance, cycling outside designated lanes can lead to a fine of €1,000. Moreover, transporting passengers over

seven years old on a bicycle is an infraction that incurs a €100 penalty. It is also crucial for cyclists, especially those carrying children, to use approved safety devices at all times.

The Guardia Civil warns that cycling on pavements and using mobile phones while riding are punishable offences.

Each of these actions can attract a €200 fine.

Cyclists must also be wary of alcohol consumption limits, which mirror those for motor vehicle drivers, set at 2.5 grams per litre of blood and 0.25 milligrams per litre of expired air.

Breaching these limits could

result in fines between €500 and €1,000. In addition, failing to observe traffic signs can re sult in fines ranging from €100 to €500. Remember, bicycles are legally considered vehi cles, and thus must adhere to the same rules as cars.

For the safety of everyone on the road, it’s paramount that cyclists maintain a high level of caution and respect for all tra ffic laws. This diligence is not only about avoiding fines but also about reducing accidents and fatalities on the roads.

Whether you’re a cyclist or a driver, understanding and res pecting the rules can lead to safer travels for everyone.

Electric cars come in different sizes for different ranges. Credit: Mariordo CC

Olympic Exclusives

THE top sports fans are spending up to €463,870 on limited edition Olympic packages to gain access to exclusive events with their idols.

These packages are part-owned by the associates of Rafael Nadal and LeBron James. They offer personal meetings with top athletes, a visit to the Athletes’ Village and ‘the chance to attend the Opening Ceremony’.

The managing director of GR8 Experience, Barnabas Carrega, told the Press that he is “very selective” in choosing the athletes he works with: “Some athletes with a huge name but (might) not have the charisma needed for the clients.”

Yet, the International Olympic Committee spokesperson stated that customers who purchase hospitality packages outside of the official channels run “the risk of not having their tickets or packages delivered or being denied access by the Paris 2024 Organising Committee.”

A GR8 spokesperson claimed that the company “does not sell Olympic tickets,” but only “experiences around Olympic events.”

Barnabas Carrega hinted there is still a limit to access the exclusive experiences: “Obviously at this price you have to be a very qualified person to want to spend that money.”

Djokovic knocked out in Rome

NOVAK DJOKOVIC suffered an unexpected defeat in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, failing to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in his career. The Serbian tennis star faced Chilean player Alejandro Tabilo, showcasing a performance far below his usual standard. This defeat comes on the heels of a recent incident where Djokovic was accidentally struck on the head by a water bottle while signing autographs after a match. The impact left him feeling dizzy and nauseous, contributing to his performance issues in the subsequent match. Djokovic was able to find the funny side and turned up the following day wearing a helmet.

Addressing reporters in the press room shortly after his departure from the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome, Djokovic expressed his concern about his performance. The world No. 1 said he felt disconnected when talking about his straight-sets loss, 6-2, 6-3.

At 36 years old, the six-time champion in Rome had previously defeated Corentin Moutet in his first match of the ATP Masters 1000. However, he encountered a setback when the metal water bottle fell on his head while leaving the court.

When asked if the incident had influenced his performance against Tabilo, Djokovic mentio-

ned a different training session feeling off-balance, and lacking coordination during the match. Despite the loss, Djokovic praised his opponent, acknowledging Tabilo’s skills and congratulating him on their first encounter on the ATP tour.

Looking ahead, Djokovic admitted the need for improvement in all aspects of his game if he aims to secure his 25th Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. With a current season record of 12-5, Djokovic recognises the challenges ahead as he strives for success in upcoming tournaments.

Marseille’s ready for the Olympics.

Djokovic’s Rome stumble.