Costa Blanca North 6 – 12 March 2025 Issue 2070

€15m transformation

Benidorm Town Hall has announced plans to transform Plaza de Toros

AFTER years of disuse Benidorm has formed plans for the old bullring, it is to be converted into the new Benidorm Open Arena.

Three parts of the modern vision for the arena have been announced by the town council. The first is the Live Arena, with €10.5 million worth of investment in this space used to rehabilitate and convert the bullring “into a large multifunctional space for cultural, social and sports activities” according to Mayor Toni Perez.

Some €3 million of investment will go toward a Youth Arena, with a youth centre. Perez said they aim to create a space for integration, training and leisure for local young people. Finally, there is the Arena Encuentro, a development

of local connections and communities around Plaza de Toros improving public spaces, with

green zones and resting areas. The plans are dependent upon EU funding although the city is

guaranteeing €6 million investment. They could have the space completed by 2029.

Costa Blanca North • Issue No. 2070 •

Carnival cancellations

BAD weather has affected carnival and festival dates across the Costa Blanca.

A yellow warning for inclement weather has forced many town halls to postpone events.

Benidorm’s carnival has moved by one week to Saturday, March 8 when both the children’s and adults’ carnivals will go ahead. The times of the individual carnival events are currently unchanged.

El Campello, for the moment, seems to have cancelled their carnival celebrations completely, as

have Finestrat, although they originally suggested holding them inside. Xixona has moved their carnival to March 29 and Alfas del Pi

has also moved their carnival dates back to later in March to March 22.

The weather forecast had shown yellow warnings over the first weekend of March with the whole area suffering from strong winds and heavy rainfall.

One of the few carnivals that didn’t change their dates over the weekend was Villajoysa who celebrated as planned with parades full of incredible costumes and a huge music concert where thousands turned up to enjoy the evening.

Moving towards Lent

THERE is a local Church of England service in the Costa Blanca North.

The Costa Blanca Chaplaincy of the Holy Spirit serves many people who love a traditional Church of England Service. They are gearing up for Lent and are holding a Zoom Lenten Course at 7pm on Wednesday, March 12. The

theme of the course will be the Nicene Creed as it is its 1700th anniversary. Anyone wishing to join the course, can send their name and email address to Elaine Mitchell at albirchurch@ gmail.com.

Prior to Lent there will be a service on Ash Wednesday, March 5 at 9.30am. There will

also be services held for Maundy Thursday, April 17, Good Friday, April 18 and then a big celebration on Easter Sunday, April 20.

The Chaplaincy says “everyone is received with a warm welcome.” Their services are held at The Comm. They hold regular services as well as for special dates, with a service of Holy Communion held in Alfaz del Pi every Sunday at 9.30am.

They have a regular weekday service every Thursday at 11am with a service of healing and wholeness on every second Thursday monthly. They say their “Altar is open to all.”

If you need any further information please telephone their secretary, Elaine Mitchell on 636 164 467. Find out other locations and service times here www.costablancaanglican-chaplaincy.es.

Guide to banks in Spain Top EU Pension System

Spain’s best and worst banks ranked

PEOPLE love simple, straightforward banking. So which banks are truly meeting those needs in Spain? Let’s look at the winners and losers.

A study published by the Spanish Consumer Association (OCU,) has revealed the best banks in Spain according to their customers. They asked thousands of bank users how they felt about their banking experience. Spoiler alert: it’s not the giants of the banking world that are leading the pack. Instead, it’s the newer, online-based banks that are stealing the spotlight, offering low fees, excellent customer service, and ease of use. Let’s break down what makes these banks so popular and why some of the biggest names in the business are left in the dust.

The fall of the traditional banking giants

For the big players - think BBVA, Banco Santander, Banco Sabadell, CaixaBank, and Unicaja - the news is grim. Their ratings are lower than the average, with many customers criticising the lack of customer support, convoluted fee structures, and appalling web experiences. These old-school institutions, laden with physical branches, are struggling to compete in an increasingly digital world.

SPAIN ranks among the top EU countries in pension income, with retirees receiving 77 per cent of their late-career earnings, according to Eurostat’s Aggregate Replacement Ratio, with data extracted in June 2024.

This places Spain just behind Greece (78 per cent) and ahead of Italy (75 per cent), making Southern Europe one of the most pension-friendly regions.

However, the gender gap in Spain’s pension system is striking. Spanish men receive an average of 83 per cent of their pre-retirement salary, while women receive just 63 per cent. This makes Spain one of the most challenging countries in the EU for female retirees. However, just last year, Spain introduced the Parity Law to address gender inequality.

Across the EU, pensioners receive an average of 58 per cent of their late-career earnings, but disparities are evident. At the lower end, Croatia (35 per cent), Lithuania (36 per cent), and Ireland (39 per cent) provide the least pension income relative to wages. Among the EU’s largest economies, Germany’s rate is just 49 per cent, significantly lower than France’s 59 per cent.

While some of these banks are making efforts to improve, the results are clear - customers are voting with their feet, opting for newer, leaner alternatives.

Top of the class: Newer, online banks take the crown

Don’t be fooled by the big names - it’s the smaller, tech-savvy banks that are getting the highest ratings. Caja Rural de Asturias tops the list, followed by the international N26 and Caixa Guissona. ING and Pibank round out the top five, offering customers a level of service that’s hard to beat in Spain.

Interestingly, the big banks, not so much. No big surprises here: the traditional banks have failed to meet the mark for many customers.

Spain allocates a significant portion of its GDP to pensions, following a broader Southern European trend. According to Eurostat’s social protection statistics, old-age pensions accounted for 12.9 per cent of the EU’s GDP in 2021, with Greece (16.4 per cent) and Italy (16.3 per cent) leading the way.

Spain’s pension expenditure remains substantial, ensuring higher-than-average replacement rates for retirees.

EU clamps down on cash Spanish airline Volotea steps in

New rules to curb crime

THE EU is tightening its grip on cold, hard cashslapping a continent-wide cap on how much can be splashed in one go. From 2027, payments in physical euros will be restricted to a maximum of €10,000 across all 27 member states. The move aims to crack down on money laundering, shady deals, and tax dodgers who love to keep things off the books.

For years, different nations have played

by their own rules - some strict, others as loose as a lottery winner on payday. While Spain and France already have tight caps (limiting cash transactions to just €1,000), others like Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands have let citizens pay in cash without a second thought. Now, Brussels is stepping in to level the playing fieldand not everyone’s happy about it.

Critics claim the move is just another step towards a cashless society where every penny is traceable. Privacy campaigners argue that, while the measure targets crime, it also penalises law-abiding citizens

who prefer to pay in notes rather than plastic.

What does it mean for you?

If you’re in Spain, you won’t notice much difference - the country already enforces a tough €1,000 cap on cash payments between individuals and businesses. But in nations where cash has flowed freely, this is a game-changer. Belgium, Italy, and Portugal will need to slash their current €3,000 limit, while Poland - where transactions of up to €15,000 are allowed - will be hit hardest by the new rules.

Love it or loathe it, from 2027, if you’re planning a big-ticket cash splurge, you’d better think twice… or switch to card!

THOSE travelling to Spain could soon have alternative flight options as Spanish airline Volotea has offered to take over some of Ryanair’s scrapped regional routes.

The announcement follows Ryanair’s decision to cut its Spanish services by 18 per cent this year, equating to around 800,000 fewer seats.

Ryanair is set to completely withdraw from Valladolid and Jerez airports while also reducing operations in Santiago, Vigo, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander. The Irish airline has blamed rising airport charges and insufficient incentives from Spain’s airport operator, Aena, for its decision. Volotea’s CEO, Carlos Muñoz, assured that the airline is prepared to step in. “If Ryanair leaves regional airports, no one should worry because Volotea is there,” he stated.

The airline, which specialises in connecting small and medium-sized cities, currently operates from Asturias and Bilbao and plans to open two more bases in Spain within the next five years.

Volotea has reported its most profitable year yet, with sales growing 17 per cent year-on-year, generating €811 million in revenue.

Meanwhile, Volotea has been caught up in a legal dispute over extra airline fees. Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs recently fined five airlines a combined €179 million for charging for hand luggage, seat selection, and ticket printing. Ryanair received the largest penalty at €107 million, while Volotea was fined just over €1 million.

Cash crackdown: Brussels lays down the law.

Not all Spanish banks are created equal: Your guide to banks in Spain.

Credit: Shutterstock, M21Perfect

THE seaside destination frequented by visitors, hopes to improve the tourist experience for people with mobility issues by offering adapted equipment.

The Calpe Town Hall said it “has already received the adapted equipment that will allow people with functional diversity to improve their experience when visiting the municipality.” And that “it intends to advance in its bid to become an inclusive tourist destination.”

It has acquired an all-terrain Joelette chair that allows people to hike and walk with their families or to access areas that conventional wheelchairs cannot go. They have also got an electric bicycle with a built-in wheelchair called an OPair, it acts as a tandem bicycle so that people with reduced mobility can share in the experience of cycling with another person.

The town hall said that “Individuals or local companies in the sector who would like to have this equipment should simply send an email to request it. In addition to these

MILLIONS of euros will be put into a project to reintroduce green spaces and nature back into Villajoyosa.

The town hall has announced the project La Vila in Verd; it wants to

Accessible tourism

vehicles and to make beaches more accessible to, there are also two amphibious chairs and 10 lots of amphibious crutches that can be used and will be available from the beginning

of the summer.

Calpe aims to improve and expand the supply of inclusive and accessible tourism in the town. The project is part of the Sustainability Plan.

Green project

add and encourage green spaces in 59.52 square kilometres of Villajoyosa.

Environmental coun-

cillor, Carlos Soler, has said that the aim is to turn Villajoyosa “into a greener and more sustainable town, which will improve the quality of life of citizens.”

The council are not just considering planting trees, instead the project will comprise of new bike lanes, park and rides, new pedestrian routes and the rehabilitation of natural green spaces.

According to the town hall these actions will encourage unity between improved sustainability in nature and urban development. Their intention is that Villajoyosa is “in harmony with its natural environment.”

The plans will cost €3.5 million which has been applied for from the Foundation for Biodiversity. There are four phases to the plans, the first is to improve ecology in specific areas that are already naturally biodiverse like the Xarco ravine.

The second phase is to improve walking and cycling routes around the town so that they connect natural spaces and urban development seamlessly. The third phase includes managing forest areas to improve “their resilience to climate change” and “reduce the risk of fires.”

Finally, there are plans to add additional green spaces, trees and plants into the town itself.

The project is part of the Sustainability Plan.

Photo Credit: Ayuntamiento de Calpe

Putting nature back into Villajoyosa.

Altean competes in France

LOCAL Altea resident Anneke de Vree, has started the 2025 season with an international working equestrian competition in France. The rst competition of the year was held at the exclusive equestrian club Lege-Cap Ferret.

Anneke’s horse Tonge-

renhof Paragon or Teddy, has been Spanish Champion Paradressage twice, Paradressage Champion of the Valencian Community and two times Champion Dressage of the Valencian League. He is focusing solely on working equitation at the moment. Not wi-

dely-known the discipline will shortly have its rst competition in Valencia at Benigifa in May.

In his rst competition Teddy scored 70.64 per cent in the classical dressage test and took second place. The second part of the competition was a trail part

Pet Shop Boys in Benidorm

BRITISH Synthpop duo the Pet Shop Boys are going to be playing in Benidorm this summer at the Low Festival.

The festival starts July 25 and continues until July 27, it is the 15th anniversary of the festival and they have planned a very special lineup of acts including the Pet Shop Boys to celebrate.

The Pet Shop Boys have been creating timeless classic pop songs since the 80s, with hits like West End Girls and Always on My Mind. They will be taking this opportunity to promote their latest album Nonetheless, which came out in April 2024.

They have added the Low Festival to a packed touring schedule in Spain as they tour with Dream World, Pet Shop Boys, The

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the two artists who make up the Pet Shop Boys have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and have achieved 22 top 10 hits in the UK charts. They were part of a number of British bands that broke into the notoriously dicult to conquer American music scene, with success in the 80s. Other well-known artists have been added to the lineup such as Australian pop duo Empire of the Sun and The Kooks. A basic ticket currently costs €74.78 and can be bought on their website. There is also a larger list of participating acts there too.

with various obstacles like a gate and a round pen which Anneke described as ‘quite cheeky’. They overcame the hurdles to nish with 73 and 74 per cent from the judges.

Anneke said “as we arrived at the nal test of the competition, we were in rst place and only had the speed test to ‘manage’. She said “we did an excellent job, except the tricky part between the single side the double slalom costs us our position. In the end we were sixth, with compliments from judges, and public, Teddy clearly has a fan club.”

They plan on travelling to Madrid next for ParaDressage Competition of the Year.

Anneke says “Anyone in-

terested in Working Equitation can contact me through Euro Weekly, there are monthly training sessions in Valencia.”

Anneke de Vree with Teddy.

Photo Credit:

Anneke de Vree

Greatest Hits.

Photo Credit: Facebook Pet Shop Boys

Women’s contributions

ON Saturday, March 8, a celebration will take place at Carrer Fonteta, and Carrer Nou. This will be in honour of International Women’s Day and will be under the campaign slogan ‘Dones que fem Poble’ (Women who make our town).

Locals and visitors are invited to participate and witness the creative e orts of the women from the Associacio de Dones and the Cala Social Centre, who have spent months preparing for this very special occasion.

Credit: ayto-finestrat.es

Zipline connection

Central to the festivities will be some unique and very striking coloured lanterns that are known as ‘fanalets’. More than 60 of these intricately crocheted lanterns will be on display, illuminating the centre of Finestrat with a powerful symbol representing International Women’s Day.

In addition to the lanterns, there will also be an open-air exhibition (weather permitting) that will showcase more than 40 pieces created by women from l’Escola Art Puig Campana. This collection of artwork draws inspiration from women across mul-

ti-faceted aspects of life.

Speaking about the chosen slogan, the councillor for Equality, Nati Algado, explained that it recognises the countless women whose daily e orts, perseverance, and dedication have aided in shaping Finestrat into the town it is today.

As Finestrat is transformed into a vibrant display of art and creativity, it underscores the town’s commitment to promoting equal opportunities for all genders

A ZIPLINE connecting the towns of Polop and La Nucia has been suggested by the councillors.

The zipline would be 1.5km in length and sit 80m above the ground, it is part of a joint project plan for urban sustainability between the town halls of Polop and La Nucia. The project has been put forward to European Regional Development Funds, who would have to contribute 60 per cent of the overall funding

to get the expansive and expensive project o the ground and into the air.

There are other elements to the joint plans including new bike lane networks between the two towns, the rehabilitation of buildings in the two towns including a museum and improved energy e ciency in public buildings in both zones.

Another exciting addition to the plans is a subterranean gallery in the old town of La Nucia, from La

to Porvilla, with a brand-new modernised entrance area and a well-lit tunnel in which to walk.

The town halls announced “the union of the two municipalities in this overall common project that encompasses the improvement of historical heritage to enhance cultural and active tourism, as well as connectivity, energy eciency to improve the development of the area” in a joint statement.

Favara

Finestrat celebrates International Women’s Day.

The zipline is just one of the exciting plans ahead.

Photo Credit:

de La Nucia

A Costume Carnival

POLOP Carnival was a roaring success with a parade and indoor activities set up for the children.

The carnival was organised by the department of education and youth.

Polop Town Hall said that the “festive atmosphere flooded every corner, infecting everyone with joy to the rhythm of the vibrant music that marked the rhythm of the celebration, inviting all the little ones to dance and enjoy.”

A huge tent had been placed in the Plaza de la Ermita, it was strung with fairy lights and the magic was palpable. Carnival organisers have said it “will remain engraved in the hearts of the hundreds of attendees who crowded the streets and the giant tent.”

There were games, a costume parade, snacks, a raffle and prizes for the best group costume, original costume and individual costume.

The group prize went to a team of flies, the original prize to a team dressed as vehicles and the individual prize was for a vending machine costume.

Open-water swimming competition

ON Tuesday March 4, the fifth edition of the exciting open-water event was announced as taking place on Gandia beach on April 19. The competition will cover a challenging 2,200 metres, with the race starting and finishing at the scenic location near Paseo Maritimo 85, providing a beautiful backdrop for both swimmers and spectators.

In announcing the event, councillor for Sports, Jesus Naveiro said: “This is truly a spectacular event that celebrates the passion for open-water swimming. We are hopeful that both participants and spectators will have an unforgettable day filled with excitement and athleticism.”

The local community is warmly encouraged to get involved, whether as a

swimmer or onlooker. Registration for the event has already opened and individuals interested in signing up for it can do so by visiting https://www.cro no4sports.es. There is a maximum limit of 300 swimmers so it is advisable to secure your place sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

Announcement of the fifth edition of the Swim Channel Crossing.

Credit: gandia.es/2025 AlexOltra

A festive atmosphere. Photo

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Polop

EL CAMPELLO Town Hall released a message on Monday, March 3 to say that the usual fish market at Cofradia Pescadores El Campello would be cancelled and that further cancellations may be possible. The closures are a result of terrible weather, sea storms have been so severe that fishing vessels couldn’t go out to collect fish.

The effects have continued to hinder fishing along the coast according to the fish market Cofradia Pescadores

Storms affect fishing

El Campello who on Tuesday also announced that their market could not open.

“The sea storm continues to prevent the boats of El Campello going out to fish, so today Tuesday, March 4, there will be no fish auction. We hope that the conditions improve.”

The council said “Due to the sea

storm that affects our area, the boats have not been able to go out to fish.”

They went on to advise that the week ahead was “looking complicated, as weather conditions will not improve until Thursday March 6.”

Daily reports on any new developments due to the weather have been promised.

Alfas Choir travelled to Teruel

THE Polyphonic Choir L’Alfas Canta participated in the 24th edition of the Choral Encounter in the city of Teruel.

They performed this weekend with more than 100 musicians, in the gloriously beautiful Cathedral Santa Maria de Mediavilla. They sang on Saturday evening in front of an audience.

The artistic director of the Polyphonic Choir L’Alfas Canta José Antonio Rubio said “We are very proud to have been invited to perform, together with the Polyphonic Turolense and the Choir of Haro, in a combined musical event in Teruel, which is traditional… and which is held in an incomparable setting, in front of the main altarpiece of the Cathedral.”

The councillor for Culture Manuel Casado, congratulated “all the alfasina voices that make up our choir.” He also thanked its director and described them as “ambassadors of our town.”

The Polyphonic Choir L’Alfas Canta, has 40 singers who come from all over Europe. With more than 10 nationalities present, who all reside in Alfas. The

programme that was performed was composed from multiple classic works by El Grillo, Josquin Desprez; Laudate Dominum, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Zorongo, Federico García Lorca and Don Gil de Alcala.

Photo

More than 100 musicians took part.

The fish market was cancelled.

JUAN and Thierry Lallemand and their yacht Guaguanco IV have won Altea’s 39th edition of the 200 miles A2.

In just 27 hours and 35 minutes they completed the epic course to win its title. The team will add this to their recent wins of first place at the 300 Miles A3, Moraira and second place at the Mallorca A3. The team also won big, back in 2023 when they were awarded the A2 World Championships.

The youngest member of the Guanganco IV team, Juan, Thierry’s son, learned to sail with Altea’s Sailing Club, they wrote on social media of their pride: “especially for Juan, a sailor at our Club, who, from being a little boy sailed in our schools and now he is at the top of cruising sailing.”

The Altea Sailing Club have a lot to be happy about as this year they also retained the winning title from last year’s race.

Father and son go the distance Valencian vs Spanish

This is the third time the club has won the title.

The race itself is known for its difficulty and competitiveness, 30

teams took to the waves this week leaving Altea on Friday, February 28 early in the morning and headed for Ibiza,

where they battled more difficult winds and sea conditions, the winning team made it back to Altea, Saturday March 1.

WHILE it was thought that offering parents the opportunity to choose between Valencian and Spanish would be a fair way of expressing preferences, the process has been far from plain sailing. Given the impact this will have on teaching going forward, it has led to numerous confrontations and evidence of coercion.

According to the president of the Association of Directors of Infant and Primary of the Valencian Community, Isabel Moreno, “The nervousness is noticeable among families because what one votes for is going to influence the result of the children of others.”

This is because deciding how many classrooms will adopt one language over another in schools will depend on the percentage of parents choosing each option. However, according to the small print of the Educational Freedom Law, there is a likelihood that not all students will be guaranteed their place in the language of their parents’ choosing.

The situation has become so fraught that Stepv, the main teachers’ union, has claimed to have received a stream of complaints from teachers in the Marina Alta and Marina Baixa areas of the region. On Monday, March 3, this escalated into an organised protest outside the Territorial Directorate of Alicante.

The main reason for this was to argue against what the union is describing as the Ministry of Education exerting ‘undue pressure’ by sending inspectors to evaluate posters promoting Valencian language in schools.

The father and son team won Altea’s 39th edition of the 200 miles A2.

EUWMA celebrate International Women’s week

THE EUROPEAN UNION OF WOMEN MARINA

ALTA is joining with their sister organisations and councillors from Benitachell, Javea and Teulada-Moraira for this week’s celebrations of International Women’s Day 2025.

They are inviting you to bring family and friends along and find a new passion. They say that “community starts with events like these.”

This week’s events start on Thursday March 6 with a visit to the Library in Teulada where there will be a book presentation of No Son Heroinas (They are Not Heroines).

Then on Friday, March 7 at 10.30am the EUWMA will host an intercultural coffee morning at the Municipal Library in Javea. March 7 is a busy day, with a midday manifesto reading in Javea at the town hall.

Then on Saturday

March 8, International Women’s Day, in Teulada there will be the Inauguration of an exhibition: Professional Women in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Sunday, March 9 at 9.30am there will be a Solidarity march for women, in association with the Teulada Moraira Association Against Cancer the walk will leave Plaza de Constitucion, Teulada

and walk 1.7km before arriving at a new winery and indulging in a tasting.

For this event people must register before March 7.

EUWMA invite and encourage women from all the nationalities in the Marina Alta to come and celebrate womanhood!

For up-to-date information look at EUWMA’s Facebook or see https:// euwmarinaalta.org.

Freezing cancer cells

ALICANTE Hospital is using a technique that destroys breast cancer cells through freezing them for the first time.

The technique is called cryoablation and was successfully trialled on a 90-year-old patient, the hospital is looking for an alternative to surgery for tumours in their early stages as part of treatment for breast cancer.

The technique fills a treatment void that many people fighting breast cancer were falling into. The minimally invasive procedure kills the cancer tissues without the invasiveness of a surgery, meaning women who had previously been unable to receive surgery because of their age or a heightened risk when put under anaes-

thesia may now have a viable option of removing tumours.

Although this style of procedure has been regularly used to remove bone tumours and soft tissue tumours it has only recently been tested on breast cancer patients.

Doctor Isabel Moya explained the process “it is an ultrasound-guided technique that consists of inserting a very fine needle through a small incision in the skin, which has a system that reaches extremely cold temperatures, below -40ºC, freezing the tumour and destroying the tumour cells.”

The whole process, which includes multiple rounds of freezing the tumour, takes less than hour.

Family and friends are welcome to join in.

Photo Credit: EUWMA

The hospital is looking for an alternative to surgery.

Photo

Culinary excellence The Best Ninots 2025

THE Mostra de Cuina Marinera is a culinary event that showcases the excellence of local food, it was held in the Villajoyosa Municipal Market.

Ten local restaurants unveiled their dishes and menus to be tested and tasted, with each chef preparing one dish including white shrimp from the fish market itself.

The mayor of Villajoyosa Marcos Zaragoza and the councillor for Tourism and Commerce Rosa Llorca, plus a representative from the Fisherman’s Guild, Mateo Espin all attended. The mayor reminded residents that during

the event people can buy white shrimp just like those used in the events recipes, which is a quality local product from the fish market at a special price. If they are feeling inspired by the dishes, they have seen they too can enjoy making something delicious without it costing the earth. This event marks the 25th anniversary of the La Vila Gastronómica.

“We will promote our culinary traditions, our gastronomic heritage and our fresh seafood products, always supporting our sailors,” added the mayor.

DENIA’S favoured Ninots have been chosen ahead of the Las Fallas celebrations.

Two papier-mache figures, beautifully made by local teams, have been saved from the bonfires later in March.

The Germanor a feast and festival that was held Saturday, March 1 went ahead despite the rains.

The new museum, Museu Fester, opened its doors to the judges and they picked two of the magnificently crafted figures to remain whole and be kept as part of the history of the unique festivities.

There were two categories, the winning children’s Ninot and the Ninot 2025. The children’s Ninot showed a jungle carnival scene, with a jaguar turned into a float and children

playing instruments both on and around it, it came from the falla Port-Rotes team.

The Ninot 2025 came from team falla Darrere del Castell with their slightly larger Ninot. Check out their Facebook pages to see more.

The winners of the Children’s Ninot 2025 said it was “a milestone that fills [them] with joy!”

The event marked the 25th anniversary.

Photo Credit: Ayuntamiento de Villajoyosa

WHEN purchasing, selling, or renting a property, it is crucial to understand certain legal aspects that may impact the transaction. In the Valencian Community, the Responsible Declaration of Occupancy (Occupation Licence) has gained increasing importance in recent years. What exactly is this document? When is it required?

We explain everything in detail below.

What is the Responsible Declaration of Occupancy?

The Responsible Declaration of First or Second Occupancy is the document that has replaced the former Occupation Licence or Habitability Certificate. Its primary purpose is to certify that a property is fit for habitation from an administrative perspective.

In other words, it confirms that the dwelling meets the required habitability conditions and complies with the applicable urban

planning regulations. The regulations governing this document vary between Spain’s autonomous communities. In the Valencian Community, responsibility for managing and granting it lies with the local town halls.

Regulations governing the Responsible Declaration in the Valencian Region.

The Responsible Declaration is regulated under Decree 12/2021 of January 22 by the Valencian parliament. The current legislation simplifies the process, allowing a property to be occupied without the need to wait for an express resolution from the authorities. This means that, once the declaration has been submitted to the corresponding town hall, it is automatically deemed valid, authorising the legal occupation of the property.

However, the authorities retain the right to review the sub-

mitted documentation at any time. If they detect an error or a non-compliance issue, they could revoke the validity of the Responsible Declaration.

When is the Responsible Declaration of Occupancy required?

The Responsible Declaration of First or Second Occupancy is mandatory in the following cases:

- First occupation of newly built properties.

- Properties that have undergone major renovations that substantially alter the conditions under which the original licence was granted.

- Change of property use (eg, from commercial to residential).

- Second occupancy of previously owned properties, where ownership is transferred or new utility contracts are required.

- Rental and tourist letting.

- Etc.

What documents are required when submitting a Responsible Declaration?

The documentation required depends on whether the property is a new build or a previously owned home. The requirements for new properties are significantly more extensive.

For resale properties, it has traditionally been sufficient to provide utility bills (water and electricity), proof of property tax (IBI) payments, and a habitability certificate signed by an architect. However, this is not always the case, and each situation must be assessed individually.

Many town halls also require proof that the property is connected to the sewage system or, alternatively, that it has a septic tank complying with current regulations. This is the case, for example, in Denia. Furthermore, if the property is over 50 years

old, a Building Evaluation Report (IEE) may also be required. Conclusion.

The Responsible Declaration of Occupancy (formerly known as Occupation Licence or Habitation Certificate) is a crucial document in any property transaction and is often a source of disputes between buyers and sellers.

At White-Baos Lawyers, we are experts in property law and legal claims relating to real estate transactions. We can assist you - please do not hesitate to contact us.

The information provided in this article does not constitute legal advice but is intended for general informational purposes only.

ABOGADOS / SOLICITORS

Costa shift

THE Costa Blanca has been a popular destination for foreigners looking to buy a second home in Spain.

New data for 2024 reveals changing trends in demand, influenced by geopolitical factors. One major shift is that more buyers are spending the whole year in Alicante, 24 per cent of buyers now live there year-round, doubling from the previous year. While 45 per cent still spend just two months a year, this group made up over half in 2023.

The buyer demographics have also changed, with more people from Eastern and Northern Europe. Polish buyers now represent 30 per cent of property purchases, up from 18.5 per cent in 2023. Spanish buyers remain at 17 per cent, and Belgians

now account for 8.9 per cent.

Other nationalities, including Germans, Dutch, Ukrainians, Russians, Norwegians, and Swedes, make up the rest of the market. Notably, Norwegians have overtaken the British in property purchases.

In terms of buyer profiles, the typical buyer is 51 years old, married, and looking for a two-bedroom apartment of around 117 square metres. Ukrainian and German buyers tend to prefer larger properties, while younger buyers, typically single and working remotely, are more likely to seek smaller one-bedroom properties.

Most buyers (66 per cent) are married, followed by 18 per cent who are single. These trends are consistent with the previous year.

Teulada Moraira Lions receive recognition

ON Saturday, February

22 Benitachell Pro tection Civil held its 15th anniversary celebration in Benitachell Town Hall. The mayor, Miguel Angel Garcia, welcomed all the attendees and awarded the organisation and its members with a very special comme morative medal.

As an acknowledge ment and thanks for its continuing support and cooperation the Teulada Moraira Lions group were also extended an invitation to the celebrations, and awarded its own special celebratory framed photo of Benitachell.

recently in the Valencian flood disaster, assisting in the maintenance of peace and order and in the protection and rescuing of the civil population during the period of emergency. As well as national disasters the Benitachell Protection Civil has been actively delivering food, water and medicines to the elderly and those dependants that need it.

The Protection Civil is a component of the Spanish Department of

Interior, responsible for promoting, planning and coordinating the protection of people, the environment and property against all kinds of natural disasters. They have been heavily-involved

Teulada Moraira Lions said “Thank you to the Benitachell Protection Civil service who help protect our local people… You are truly a special group, and we appreciate your dedication.”

View of Alicante from Santa Barbara Castle.

15th anniversary celebration.

Image: margouillat photo / Shutterstock.com

Photo Credit: Teulada Moraira Lions

Awakening of spring

THE Calpe Department of Culture has announced the upcoming Street Decoration competition, which will be held under the theme ‘The Awakening of Spring’. This year’s winner will receive a tidy €3,000, and second and third prizes of €2,000 and €1,000 will be awarded, respectively.

This year’s theme, part of the ninth edition of Art al Carrer 2025, aims to inspire creativity and celebrate the beauty associated with the season. The contest is geared towards local associations in Calpe, with the hope that it encourages them to enhance the spaces within the Old Town for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.

Using a lottery system to ensure fairness, each participant will be assigned a specific street or public space to decorate. Once the space has been allocated, the association will need to submit a de -

tailed draft of their proposed design. In coming up with the design, they will be given unlimited creative freedom with the understanding that the entire installation can be removed once the display period comes to an end. In addition, they will need to en-

sure that it does not produce noise that is likely to disrupt the peace of the neighbourhood.

Installations will be judged on their originality, technique, use of recycled materials in the artistic creation, adaptability to the assigned space, and weather resistance.

More flights, more fun

WITH summer approaching, airlines are preparing for a record-breaking season.

Alicante-Elche Airport has scheduled 14.7 million seats, and after a strong start in January, passenger numbers are expected to keep growing in 2025.

Ryanair, the airport’s leading airline, is expanding its network following recent route announcements from easyJet and Wizz Air. In 2024, Ryanair transported 7.3 million passengers and will now introduce three new routes. This summer, it will launch flights connecting Alicante with Bydgoszcz in Poland, as well as Linz and Salzburg in Austria. Tickets for these new routes are already available on the airli-

ne’s website.

Flights to Bydgoszcz will begin on March 31 and operate twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. Linz flights will start on July 1, with service on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Salzburg, known as Mozart’s birthplace, will also have new connections beginning March 31, running on Mondays and Thursdays. Other airlines are also expanding their services. Jet2 is adding more flights to London and a new route to Bournemouth. easyJet is launching flights from Alicante to Athens and Naples, providing even more travel options for passengers this summer.

Art al Carrer in Calpe.

Credit: noticias.calp.es

Alicante-Elche airport getting ready for a record-breaking season.

Lost and found

A PAINTING by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, stolen over 50 years ago from Poland’s Gdańsk National Museum, has been found in the Netherlands at the Gouda Museum.

Both the Dutch institution and art detective Arthur Brand confirmed the discovery.

The 17th-century artwork, just 17 centimetres in diameter, depicts a peasant woman carrying a bucket of water in one hand and hot coals in the other, represen-

ting an old proverb about mistrust. It had been in Gdańsk since 1944 but was not initially declared stolen. Brand noted that while absolute certainty is impossible, the painting was not listed as looted property at the time. Its value remains unclear. “Some Brueghel works sell for millions, but this one is relatively small,” the art detective said. “Still, it’s highly sought after in Poland.”

The theft was discovered by accident when a maintenance worker

knocked the frame, exposing a reproduction in place of the original.

An article in the art magazine Vind led Arthur Brand to investigate further. By checking Polish museum records, he confirmed that the painting displayed in Gouda was the missing piece.

The Dutch owners had inherited the artwork without knowing its history, and the Gouda Museum maintains it acted in good faith, as the painting was not in any stolen-art databases.

Irish air force

FOR the past 50 years, the Republic of Ireland has relied on the United Kingdom to provide air cover in the face of an unlikely invasion, making it the most vulnerable country in the European Union.

It was in 1988 that the Irish Air Force scrapped its Light Strike Squadron which consisted of a number of near obsolete French Fouga CM170 Magister jets and since that time it has had no strike jets or indeed a military class radar system.

Now this is all about to change as following a 2022 report on its defence capability which recommended an increase in air combat and intercept capability through the acquisition of a squadron of combat aircraft.

It can’t rely on NATO air support as it is not a member and prides itself on its neu-

trality but you can only remain neutral if your perceived ‘enemy’ allows you to.

It’s not just money that is involved as at the moment the Irish Airforce consists of just eight Pilatus PC-9M trainers for aerial combat which although able to be fitted with some armaments, are considered slow and ok for pilot training but not much more.

This means that not only will Ireland have to find the money to purchase new aircraft and radar system, it will also need to recruit new pilots and find a friendly air force to train them over a period of years.

The minimum number needed is eight fighter jets, but depending on availability and finance this would ideally be increased to 14 aircraft at an overall cost of around €2.5 billion.

Credit:

Retired Irish Air Force Fouga.

Simon Boddy CC

Image: Gouda Museum

Gouda Museum in the Netherlands where the painting was discovered.

Car sharing lane

DRIVING in Paris can be confusing, especially for visitors, but driving on the ring road known as the péripherique can be a nightmare with many driving aimlessly for kilometres if they choose the wrong entrance.

Hopefully intended to make things easier, although time will tell, it has now been decided to dedicate the left hand lane of the mo-

torway to car sharing only during rush hours with effect from March 3.

This means that all private vehicles must contain no less than two persons (driver and passenger) in order to be allowed onto that lane which is traditionally the fastest on the ring road.

Interestingly, although heavy goods vehicles are exempt, all public transport, taxis, emergency services and even disabled drivers have to comply with the new rules.

The intent is to try to cut some of the pollution as well as speed up traffic on what is one of the worst of Europe’s busy roads and is being

implemented following the relative success of a similar scheme introduced for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Even though the special lane is identified by white

IN a northern German forest, there’s a special oak tree that has been connecting lovers for over a century. Located in the Dodau Forest, about 250 kilometres (155 miles) north of Berlin, the Bridegroom’s Oak, or ‘Bräutigamseiche’ in German, is home to a unique knothole that serves as a mailbox.

Since 1892, the knothole has been used to exchange love letters, with the tree even receiving its own postal code. Every month, 50 to 60 letters are delivered to this unusual mailbox by German postal workers, who climb a ladder to reach the knothole, positioned about three metres (10 feet) above the ground on a 25-metre (82-foot) oak that’s over 500 years old.

Some of the letters are sent from

diamond signs on a blue background that are lit up from Monday to Friday from 7am to 10.30am and 4pm to 8pm, even the police recognise that this could

cause some confusion with drivers, so although there is to be a fine of €135 for those who break the sharing rule, these won’t be introduced until May 1.

other parts of the world, and visitors to the tree can read them, sometimes even finding potential pen pals among the writers. This unique form of communication has even led to a few marriages over the years, as the postal service reports. The tradition began in the 19th century when a forester’s daughter and a chocolate manufacturer from Leipzig used the knothole to exchange letters. The forester had initially opposed their romance, but the couple continued their correspondence until they were eventually married under the oak in 1892.

If you want to send your own love letter, you can reach the tree at: Bräutigamseiche, Dodauer Forst, 23701 Eutin, Germany.

The Paris ring road introduces new car sharing lane.

Unique tree serves as a mailbox.

Fraud scams triple

REPORTS of fraud on Booking.com in the Netherlands more than tripled last year, in 34 cases money was stolen.

The Dutch anti-fraud hotline Fraud Helpdesk received 101 reports about the travel accommodation site during 2024, the average financial loss was €854 per person.

This is up from 30 reports in 2023, when there were 13 cases of financial loss recorded with each customer losing an average of €484. Reports of fraud to the hotline are voluntary, so instances of it are likely to be higher than those recorded.

A spokesperson for the Fraud Helpdesk said: “There are multiple variants in which the Booking.com name is misused. Think of fake emails or fake advertisements on the Booking. com website, for example.”

The majority of reports described travellers who made reservations then receiving fake messages from

Booking.com blames the rise in cases of fraud on AI.

the site requesting verification of payment details or personal data. Booking.com ascribes this leap in cases of fraud to artificial intelligence (AI) becoming a more sophisticated and commonly used technology, which scammers deploy to mimic company emails.

The travel site’s internet safety head said last year that scams using AI had

caused “anywhere from a 500 to a 900 per cent increase” over an 18-month period. A spokesperson for the platform said: “If a new property on our platform appears to be requesting to confirm a reservation or make a payment outside of Booking.com, we strongly advise customers not to provide any personal information.”

Airport expansion

BARCELONA City Council has officially backed a motion to expand its international airport, despite objections from environmental groups and opposition parties. Led by the People’s Party (PP), the proposal was supported by the ruling Socialist Party (PSC), along with Junts and Vox, while Comuns and Esquerra Republicana (ERC) opposed it. First Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet defended the decision, insisting that airport growth must align with environmental commitments while addressing compensation issues from previous expansions, such as the third runway and Terminal 1.

A crucial aspect of the approved plan is a feasibility report commissioned by the mayor, set to be presented within a month. PP councillor Daniel Sirera questioned the delay in making the findings public, asking, “Why are they hiding it?” Bonet assured

transparency, stating that the Infrastructure Advisory Council would first review the report before releasing it. She also cited Boston’s airport as an example of how long-haul flights can enhance a city’s global presence, arguing that Barcelona must have “infrastructures capable of achieving that goal.”

Comuns and ERC strongly opposed the expansion, with Comuns councillor Guille López warning that limiting cruise ships while increasing air traffic sends mixed signals. He criticised the Socialists for supporting both the Climate Plan and airport growth, calling it contradictory. Bonet countered that Barcelona needs competitive airport infrastructure, advocating for better coordination between Barcelona, Girona, and Reus airports, alongside improved railway links to balance economic growth with sustainability goals.

Barcelona Airport, soon to undergo expansion following the city council’s approval of a plan prioritising both growth and environmental safeguards.

Credit: Flickr: Ivan Radic

NEWS Travel

Cantabria - Where nature meets tradition

CANTABRIA is a wonderful destination for campervan explorers. It offers a diverse range of experiences, from beautiful beaches and mountain views to rich cultural traditions. There’s no shortage of places to explore and things to do in this charming region.

Coastal beauty

If you love the sea, you’re in for a treat. Cantabria’s coastline is a blend of golden beaches and dramatic cliffs. Take a drive along the Costa Quebrada, where rugged cliffs meet crashing waves - a sight you won’t forget!

with Hispavan Campers

Playa de Somo is a top destination for surfers, offering consistent waves and a lively atmosphere. On the other hand, Playa de Oyambre is the perfect spot to unwind, with its soft sand and mountain views

Festivals and traditions

If you’re visiting in August, don’t miss the Batalla de Flores in Laredo, where the streets burst with colour as floral floats parade through the town. In Santander, the Semana Grande festival is another highlight, with music, dancing, and fantastic food stalls - you won’t want to miss it!

Traditional villages

Cantabria is home to charming traditional villages that offer a glimpse into its history. Santillana del Mar, a beautifully preserved medieval town, features cobbled streets and historic buildings.

For a taste of rural life, visit Barcena Mayor, one of the oldest villages in Spain set in a picturesque mountain valley. To travel further back in time, don’t miss the Cave of Altamira, famous for its prehistoric cave paintings that provide a glimpse into ancient life.

Stops and routes

Travelling by campervan means you can stay wherever the views are best. The coastal town

Iberia overhauls loyalty programme

SPANISH airline

Iberia has announced major changes to its frequent flyer program me, which will take effect from April 1, 2025.

The revamped pro gramme, now called Club Iberia Plus, will move towards a spending-ba sed points system rather than calculating points based on distance travelled.

Iberia announced major changes.

Under the new system, Iberia Plus members will earn one Elite Point for every euro spent on airfares, additional services like seat selection and priority boarding, and purchases from brands

associated with the programme. Passengers purchasing Óptima, Confort, or Flexible fares will receive extra points per flight segment based on route and cabin class.

Iberia claims this approach is “a fairer and

PORTUGAL’S exports to Germany grew exponentially and reached new highs in 2024. In their highest figures since 2000, Portuguese exports to the central European powerhouse grew by 18 per cent and reached €9.76 billion.

Germany has become Portugal’s second largest consumer of goods behind Spain. According to reports this growth reflects a new found competitiveness and the sale of premium goods Germany needs to sustain its industry.

Although Portugal is known for its traditional trade of textiles and shoes, it has advanced into machi-

more transparent way of rewarding our most loyal customers.” Beatriz Guillén, Iberia’s Director of Global Sales and Loyalty, stated.

Club Iberia Plus will introduce a fifth membership tier: Platinum Prime,

Exponential export growth

nery, parts for transport, medicines and technologically cutting-edge products. It has grown to the point where it has become invaluable in its exports of goods and transitioned into industries that improve its global importance in trade. It has also managed to lower its trade deficit with Germany whilst increasing its exports to the country.

Portugal’s Diplomatic portal describes the trade relationship between the two countries, saying that

which comes with greater benefits, including more Avios points accumulation, additional free cabin upgrades, and exclusive redemption campaigns.

Platinum Prime status can only be achieved by spending a specific amount of money, whereas the standard Platinum level can still be earned through flight numbers. Both Platinum and Platinum Prime correspond to Oneworld Emerald status.

Additionally, Iberia will lower the number of required flights per year to attain Silver (Plata) and Gold (Oro) membership.

The way Avios, the programme’s rewards currency, is earned and spent remains unchanged.

“Germany is an important partner for Portugal, both bilaterally and within the EU.”

In a 2024 meeting to solidify trade commitments between countries, the German ex-Chancellor Olaf Schulz and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said in a joint statement: “We are both committed to making our relationship more intense, which, from a trade viewpoint, makes Germany Portugal’s second most important partner.”

That has clearly paid off, with Germany gaining necessary goods for their consumers and Portugal raising the bar for European trade.

Mayor dismisses critics

MONEMVASIA’S mayor has blasted ‘mountains of moaning’ over plans for a cable car in the town’s storied Upper City, insisting the scheme is set in stone - and could be just the ticket for boosting tourism!

Mayor Iraklis Tricheilis says the newly completed architectural plan for the cable car is a ‘minor intervention’ designed to offer easy access to the elevated part of the historic castle town in southern Greece, especially for those who struggle with the notoriously steep climb.

“This project has been in the works for years,” he stated.

Critics had accused the mayor of undermining Monemvasia’s unique heritage, but Tricheilis was swift to dismiss these rocky relations. He insists the delicate design won’t

chip away at the site’s medieval charm. Local sentiment appears to be largely

on his side. According to Tricheilis, most residents are backing the cable car, hoping it will reel in extra revenue for local businesses. Ticket sales are expected to cover the operational costs - giving Monemvasia a financial lift as well as a physical one. So, while some critics might be feeling a little on edge over this project, the mayor remains unshaken. For him, it’s a rock-solid move towards making Monemvasia’s lofty heritage accessible to all.

Wine & wafers

CHURCH leaders have addressed requests for gluten-free bread and alcohol-free wine in the Eucharist but have upheld traditional requirements. They ruled that wine must be fermented grape juice, as removing all alcohol would violate Church law. Similarly, bread must be made from wheat flour, meaning alternatives like rice or potato flour are not allowed.

Bishop Michael Ipgrave emphasised two key principles: the necessity of these elements for consecration and the belief that receiving Communion in one form - such as only the bread or wine - still counts as full participation. He reassured that those unable to partake physically are still spiritually included. However, some worshippers struggle

with gluten or alcohol intolerance. Rev Canon Alice Kemp raised the issue at the Church’s General Synod meeting, suggesting that gluten-free and alcohol-free options could remove the ‘injustice’ of exclusion.

Despite this, Church leaders upheld their stance that only wheat flour bread and fermented grape juice wine would be allowed.

The General Synod’s Legal Advisory Commission clarified that alcohol can be partially removed from wine, but some alcohol must remain to meet legal requirements. For gluten-free options, they stated that low-gluten wafers are acceptable, but alternatives made from rice, potato, or tapioca flour cannot be used.

Mayor dismisses critics of Monemvasia cable car. Credit: Shutterstock, Georgios Tsichlis

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

165 Wines to choose from Rock On

WITH its stunning terrace and internal restaurant’s comfortable, modern feel the Shiraz Wine & Gastrobar is one of the most spectacular food and wine centres in Altea.

It has an expansive wine menu of 165 wines, with exquisite selections from all over the world and locally sourced wines too, their sommeliers can walk their diners through the process of picking a wine that best suits their chosen food.

Visit their Facebook to see some of the stunning plates of food they produce for their clients. Their menu is split into four sections, warm, cold, sharing platters and desserts.

Well-priced for a high-dining experience, sharing platters range from just under €15 to up to €58.50 for the Big Shiraz Fish Platter with Tuna Tataki, scallops, octopus, salmon and gyozas made from langoustines. You can tailor your evening to suit you and your dietary needs. They serve impeccably plated dishes with some Asian fusion elements in their main menus and their desserts are decadent.

The restaurant invites visitors to ‘Enjoy a quiet and unforgettable evening in a cosy atmosphere’.

Check out their menu and reserve with them via their website to have an exceptional dining experience.

Visit them in person: Shiraz Wine & Gastrobar, Calle Mestre Música, 8, 03590 Altea, Alicante

Website: www.shirazaltea.com

Phone Number: 0034 652 456 212

THE newly opened Roger’s Temple, live music venue at Villajoyosa invites you to rock with them at their Temple Rock Night.

On Saturday, March 15 two bands the Varones and Los Magnetics will be playing in a concert night dedicated to rock’n’roll and punk.

Take a look at the band’s profile before you see them in action, The Varones are a band from Tarragona who have released an LP with tracks in the style of classic rock and punk that you cannot help but listen to again and again.

Los Magneticos are a band known for their guitar rock and American

EXCITING news from the Alfaz Spiritualist Friends Centre this spring as they release their Mediums list for March.

This month they have a list of mediums that include some local favourites and two new mediums travelling from the UK to their centre for the congregation, they have said private readings are also available.

have a lot of history together and as such are well established in the rock music scene. The event opens at 7.30pm and music is scheduled to begin playing

at 8.30pm and will continue until after midnight giving you plenty of time to headbang till your heart’s content.

You can buy tickets online from Rogers Temple for €20 and that includes a drink.

You will find the event venue at the following address Roger’s Temple, Plaça Bulevar 3 Pp 33, 4F, 03570, Alicante.

Roger’s Temple has everything from jam sessions and DJ sets to tribute nights planned throughout March and the rest of the year, they regularly post updates on their website and Facebook.

Find a Friend

“Everyone is invited to come along to receive a warm welcome and messages from loved ones in spirit.”

March 6 regular medium Debbie from Murcia will be guiding the congregation. March 13 - Lindsay from the UK will be arriving to act as medium. Another

local favourite Len from the Hondon Valley will be giving a service March 20 and finally, Clara another exciting addition from the UK will give the service on March 27.

On March 13 and March 27 there will be a €5 charge to enter the services. Free spiritual healing is

available after each service. Services take place on Thursdays at 6.30pm at The Comm (The Forum/ Mare Nostrum), Camino del Pincho 2, 03590, Alfaz del Pi.

As always there will be a Freewill offering/Collection.

Please contact Dorothy on 634 320 013 or at the email address dorothydo rothy608@gmail.com.

Photo Credit: Facebook Shiraz Wine Gastrobar

Photo Credit: Facebook Roger’s Temple

A celebration of music and joy

JOEY SOMMERVILLE aka ‘Papa J’ is an exceptional talent whose musical journey effortlessly blends modern jazz, root-sy blues, silky grooves and electrifying performances. Known for his remarkable trumpet skills, booming voice, rich musicality, and undeniable stage presence, Joey has earned his reputation as one of the most dynamic and sought-after artists in contemporary music.

The Costa Blanca is in for a special treat on March 15 when Soundica Global presents trumpeter, vocalist and multi instrumentalist Joey Sommerville with his world class US based band for a night of festive American Jazz and Blues at the Auditori Teulada-Moraira. The evening also features special guests, pianist and vocalist Dara Carter and one of the most talked about young blues rock guitarists, Tyler Neal. As a very special treat, Joey and the band will be joined by a virtuoso Spanish horn section. It’s sure to be a Jazz and Blues Party!

With a career spanning over two decades, Joey has performed and recor-

ded with some of the biggest names in music, including The Cirque du Soleil, Phish, Earl Klugh, Ronnie Laws, Prince, Sheila E, Jeff Lorber, Marion Meadows and more. This extensive experience has shaped his sound into one that effortlessly crosses genres and captivates diverse audiences around the globe.

Sommerville’s ability to blend jazz improvisation with blues, th R&B and funk influences has garnered him widespread recognition in the world of contemporary jazz. His music is infused with an emotional richness that resonates deeply with listeners.

Joey’s versatility and command of the stage make every performance an unforgettable experience. His unique ability to craft songs that connect on an emotional level has earned him critical acclaim and a loyal following.

But Joey Sommerville’s talent goes beyond just his music; he has a genuine passion for inspiring others. Through his work with music education programmes and mentorship opportunities, he has played a crucial role in helping the next generation of musicians find their voice and grow in their craft.

From intimate jazz clubs to large-scale festivals, Joey Sommerville’s name is synonymous with excellence in live performance. His energy, skill, and ability to engage with audiences make every show an electrifying journey. For those seeking an unforgettable musical experience, Joey Sommerville’s artistry is a must-see - an evening with Joey is more than just a concert; it’s a celebration of the joy and beauty that music brings into our lives.

Teulada-Moraira box office.

Captivating concert

EXPERIENCE a concert by three incredible female artists at the Espacio van Eijle, in Javea.

Friday, March 7, at 6pm you can explore a unique art gallery as performers captivate you in a concert celebrating International Women’s Day.

The gallery describes the event as giving you an opportunity to ‘explore the unique gallery and gardens of Espacio van Eijle, a space where nature and art converge’.

The performers are from all over Europe, Tania Muñoz of Spain will be delighting liste-

ners with her passion for her chosen means of expression and with her ability to explore performance through singing in a deeply personal and thought-provoking manner.

Ros Woodham from the United Kingdom will be blending her acoustic folk-pop and lyrics with Vicent Botella who works with traditional Latin American folk and jazz, his music will go well with Woodham’s acoustic melodies, in what is sure to be an exciting fusion of music genres.

Then there is a per-

formance

from the Carolina Hidalgo Trio, Carolina Hidalgo is a German/ Spanish singer and songwriter, she gives expressive performances with a powerful operatic voice. When she sings in Spanish, the performances are notable for moving listeners, capturing their hearts. Her trio is also made of Jai Larkan and Anya Leva, who play stell string and classic guitar.

Tickets can be bought for €21, a glass of cava is included as you enter, to book phone 676 925 870.

Photo Credit: EVE

A watchtower city tour

DENIA Town Hall invites visitors to take part in a guided tour of their interpretation centre, the tour is called Denia, a watchtower city.

It takes place every Sunday at 11.30pm and begins in La Sala Oriental of the Governor’s Palace at the top of the Castle. The tour doesn’t cost anything although there is a fee for entry to the castle.

The tour covers five important periods of Denia’s history, the Iberian, Roman, Taifa, modern, and 19th century. The town hall say the experience takes you through a ‘time tunnel’ with a book detailing each period.

The Interpretation Centre set in Denia Castle is a fascinating part of local history, the head of the department of Archaeology and Museums, Massu Senti, described the castle when it first opened in 2025 as “a small open window to raise awareness of the city.”

You do not have to book in advance.

Hike to a Hermitage

LOOKING for a beautiful nature adventure that also lets you learn a little about Spanish culture?

Benissa Tourism are promoting their hiking route, called the Route of the Hermitages, it can be walked or completed primarily by car. The route takes you to different Hermitages which date from the 19th century. With one very special site, the Hermitage de Santa Anna, dating back to 1613, it is the oldest hermitage featured on the route.

They Benissa tourism office say that historically “The large expansion of the municipality of Benissa allowed the development of numerous rural areas, which led to the construction of small hermitages in the most populated, such

as Sta. Anna, Pinos, Benimarraig, Lleus, Benimarco and Pedramala at the beginning of the 19th century.”

As well as taking a look at these treasured parts of Spanish religious heritage and architecture, the route takes hikers or drivers to some outstanding vista points. The route begins in Benissa at the Plaça Rei Jaume I and then branches off to each location, it is not a circular route, each walk or drive to a hermitage begins again at Benissa.

It is recommended that trail walkers carry water, there is a little difficulty associated with the walk as it takes in some slopes, the highest point reaching 768m. You can get more details from benissa. es.

Photo Credit: CostaBlanca.org

Photos Credit: Benissa.es

Ermita de Santa Ana.

Ermita de Sant Jaume.

Portugal–Spain high-speed rail

A HIGH-SPEED rail link between Porto and Vigo is ocially set for completion in 2032, marking a major step forward in cross-border travel between Portugal and Spain. Portuguese Minister of Infrastructure Miguel Pinto Luz con rmed the timeline during a business forum in Vigo, assuring that the project is no longer just a concept but a rm commitment. He expressed con dence that Spain would also complete its section on time, ensuring seamless travel between the two nations.

Once operational, the line could rede ne the economic landscape of northern Portugal and Galicia, creating what Pinto Luz described as a ‘new macro-region’ with signi cant geostrategic potential. He stressed that Portugal’s economic future should not be limited to Lisbon, positioning Porto and Galicia as key players in the Iberian Peninsula’s development.

Porto mayor Rui Moreira echoed this vision, highlighting that demand for the Porto–Vigo route is ‘seven times greater’ than for Lisbon–Madrid. He urged authorities on both sides of the border to prioritise action over rhetoric, stating that ‘countries do not end in their capitals’. Regional leaders also emphasised the sustainability bene ts of high-speed rail, viewing it as a crucial investment in cleaner and more e cient transport.

With 2032 set as the target date, the Porto–Vigo high-speed rail line is expected to boost connectivity, economic growth, and regional integration, reinforcing northern Portugal and Galicia’s role as a competitive European hub.

AFTER several years of discussion, Finland’s national airline, Finnair signed a service agreement with the Civil Aviation Administration of Taiwan on February 28.

The signing took place in Helsinki between Taiwan CAA Director-General Ho Shu-ping and her Finnish counterpart Jari Pöntinen and is believed to be the first such service arrangement between Taiwan and a Nordic country.

There will be an option for each country to run up to 14 round trip flights a week between the two countries covering both passenger and freight options although there is no confirmation of when, or even if, services will commence, although he Finnair website infers that a flight to Taipei may be introduced in October of this year.

Taiwan-based China Airlines, EVA Airways and Starlux Airlines all sent officials to join the Taiwan delegation’s visit to Finland and one of the attractions to Finnair is that it will have the rights to pick up and disembark passengers at third party airports, especially those in Asia.

Although China regularly ‘rattles its sabre’ against the ongoing existence of Taiwan, it somehow continues to not just exist but ge-

New fl ights

Signing of agreement between Taiwan and Finnair.

nerate a very financially sound economy despite the fact that it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

Currently it has signed agreements with some 58 countries

with regards to flight rights, although it only has direct flights or services to 34 of them, so the extension to Finland is an important step forward which may open other routes to Scandinavia.

FRANCE DENMARK

Work and stay

ELIGIBLE Argentinians and Chileans may now apply for a 12-month Working Holiday residence permit for travel and work purposes, Denmark’s International Recruitment and Integration Agency (SIRI) said. The 150 permits issued for each nationality are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, SIRI added.

Old timer

THE 150-million-year-old skeleton of a Stegosaurus discovered on a Wyoming ranch in 2017 and excavated in 2019 will be on display at Knuthenborg’s Museum of Evolution from March 29. The 12.8-metre Stegosaurus, now named Stephanie and 80 per cent intact, is one of the most complete fossils ever found.

PORTUGAL

Road risks

FORTY-EIGHT people lost their lives on Portugal’s roads between January 1 and February 15 this year, according to PSP police and GNR Guardia Nacional Republicana figures quoted by the Correio da Manha newspaper. The statistics also showed that 24 of the deaths involved people on motorcycles or e-scooters.

Blind eye

THE PJ Judicial Police swooped on several ports, acting on suspicions that Customs Service corruption was facilitating the entry of Latin American cocaine into Europe. Employees could have been bribed to look the other way by the Brazilian Mafia and Colombian drug cartels when shipments arrived, police said.

NORWAY

Bear alert

THE authorities in Svalbard issued a polar bear warning on February 23 after one of the animals was spotted in Advent City, a former mining village. Residents were advised to stay indoors or to carry a firearm if they went out, but the alert was lifted later that same day after the bear was seen swimming out to sea.

Egg recall

NORWAY’S biggest egg producer, Nortura, had to recall more than 670 tons of eggs and compensate 3,700 consumers after hens were given feed that contained unacceptably high levels of Vitamin D. All were removed from supermarket shelves and customers advised to discard the eggs or return them for a refund.

EURO PRESS

ITALY

Water warning

ITALY’S Agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida, brotherin-law to PM Giorgia Meloni and grandnephew of the legendary actress, maintained that drinking excessive amounts of water ‘can kill you’. The gaffe-prone minister was responding to a European Union warning regarding wine consumption.

No escape

Photo credit: CC/European Union

DRUG dealer Mohamed Amra aka The Fly, sprung from a Normandy prison on May 14 in an operation that killed two prison guards, was recaptured in Bucharest (Rumania) on February 22. Now in solitary confinement in Condé-sur-Sarthe (France), Amra’s charges include murder, attempted murder and criminal conspiracy.

Still friends

LOLLOBRIGIDA: Warned of perils attached to drinking water.

FRANCE, which continues to sever the ties to former colonies in West Africa, handed over its only remaining Cote d’Ivoire military base to the local authorities last month. Both sides emphasised that relations remained cordial, while Ivorian Defence minister Tene Birahima Ouattara foresaw ‘a new era in friendship’.

IRELAND FINLAND SWEDEN

Dream job

RECENTLY-WED Camille Rosenfeld from Minnesota and James Hayes from Tralee were chosen from 80,000 applicants for the post of caretakers on remote Great Blasket Island between April and October. Despite no mod-cons, apart from a small generator to charge their phones, they said the job was ‘right up our alley’.

Holiday hell

A DUBLIN travel agent and TUI airline were ordered to pay €21,000 compensation to Emma Doyle who woke in her holiday hotel in Crete to find her hair and bed swarming with ants. Clumps of her hair had fallen out and since returning to Dublin, Doyle said she suffered from flashbacks, insomnia and panic attacks.

GERMANY

Green slump

ROBERT HABECK, Germany’s Economy minister and the Greens’ candidate for Chancellor, announced after his crushing general election defeat with only 11.61 per cent of the vote, that he was resigning from the party leadership. “This result does not meet my expectations. It is not a good result,” Habeck admitted.

Spy ships

THE keel was laid on February 25 for the first of the Navy’s three new signals, intelligence and reconnaissance vessels that will be built at the NVL group’s Wolgast Peene shipyard. The highly specialised ships that can spend a year at sea, incorporate helipads and are equipped to bring down drones.

Meagre diet

AS their reindeer go hungry owing to milder winters in Sweden, Sami communities have requested official help to feed them. Alternating snow, thaws and rain produced deep ground frost and ice, making it hard for the reindeer to penetrate the frozen ground to reach the lichen, ferns and grasses they normally eat.

Further use

SWEDEN’S Defence ministry intends to withdraw 45 of 105 operational single-engine supersonic Gripen fighter planes as it switches to next-generation aircraft. Unconfirmed sector sources have suggested that the pensioned-off planes, together with spare parts for 14 of the older models, could be destined for Ukraine.

NETHERLANDS

Kibble quibble

THE Dutch Consumers and Markets Authority (ACM) told pet food suppliers that they should stop ‘recommending’ the prices that shops ought to charge for their products. Companies failing to comply face fines of up to €900,000 or 40 per cent of turnover, with nine firms formally warned so far, the ACM said.

US shooting

SHAMAR DUNCAN, a US citizen who shot and killed Dutch commando Simmie Poetsena and wounded two others in Indianapolis in 2022, has received a 105-year prison sentence. The survivors, who were on a training exercise in the city, said afterwards that Duncan and his two brothers ‘were looking for a fight’.

Too soon

ANTTI HAKKANEN, Defence minister, told state broadcaster YLE that it would be ‘unrealistic’ to reopen Finland’s borders with Russia at present. “We know that Russia wants to continue sending migrant flows to Finland,” he said, commenting that its neighbour would first “have to change its behaviour.”

Not so fresh

AIR quality declined owing to abnormally high levels of fine particles arriving from Eastern and Central Europe, Finland’s Meteorological Institute said on February 25, and could get worse in coming days. The particles were the result of heavy traffic, industry and the use of wood and coal for heating, the Institute said.

BELGIUM

Your problem

A GOVERNMENT Biodiversity Barometer revealed that almost 90 per cent of Belgians were concerned about biodiversity loss and disappearing plants and wildlife. This was prevalent amongst women, the under 34s and those with higher education although all felt it was mainly an issue for future generations.

Day off

AFTER the new federal coalition agreed that Belgian regions could have their own public holidays, Flanders said it would celebrate Flemish Community Day on July 11 as an official, paid holiday. But it would only do so, Flanders’ minister-president Matthias Diependaele said, if another national holiday were abolished.

FRANCESCO

A BEDS - OCCASIONAL PIECES - FIRESIDE CHAIRS - RECLINER CHAIRS

- POWER RISER RECLINER CHAIRS

Whale rescue mission

A RESCUE team have successfully freed a whale from fishing nets just off the Polish coast in the Baltic Sea. The team of wildlife experts spent an hour cutting away nets from the whale which had been spotted on Wednesday morning February 26 near a popular beach resort in Miedzyzdroje.

WWF Poland’s Konrad Wrzecionkowsi described the rescue: “The situation was very stressful for him, but with time, when the nets were getting looser, he seemed to understand that we were trying to help him and the untangling became easier.”

A WWF rescuer described the “great and positive impression” the whale left on him.

The team used boathooks on extended poles to remove the nets rather than knives to avoid harming the whale. Once they eventually managed this “he swam off into the sea,” said Wrzecionkowsi. He described how the whale had made a “great and positive impression” on him, but mentioned that the rescue was a stressful and potentially dangerous operation. “You have to approach these animals with a lot of respect,” he said. “We knew that if it chose to wave its tail, we would all find ourselves in the water.” The whale was at least twice the length

of the three metre (10 feet) boat the rescuers were in. Whales ordinarily live in the open waters of large oceans, though some occasionally swim from the Atlantic Ocean through the Danish Straits into the Baltic Sea. The rescuers hope the whale finds its way back to the more suitable environment of the Atlantic Ocean.

Battle for Crete

ACCORDING to research, the largest number of Greek settlers outside of Greece are based in Melbourne, with some 400,000 people who claim Greek heritage with a further 130,000 in Sydney.

Much of the exodus from Greece took place after the end of the Second World War and also following the Greek Civil War which ran from 1946 to 1949.

Prior to this however, the there was a strong link between the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand troops) and Greece due to the failed Defence of Crete in 1941 which saw the ANZACs joining Greek and British soldiers as well as local partisans trying to stem the Nazi invasion of the island.

Basically, it was a military disaster for

the Allies and they were forced into a retreat from Maleme to Hora Sfakion under relentless fire from the German war machine with the ANZAC troops having to undertake a 100 kilometre trek.

Now, 84 years after the historic Battle of Crete, a group of Greek-Australians is preparing to honour the sacrifice of the ANZACs in a unique way in Greece.

This May, the team will retrace the 100-kilometre retreat in order to honour the mainly Australian sacrifices whilst at the same time, they hope to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. It’s not going to be an easy march as it will take at least five days with those taking part having to cope with climbing across the rugged terrain of rural Crete.

Credit: Flickr: Gillaume Baviere

Unveiling of Perth’s Battle of Crete memorial. Credit: Greek Embassy

Lost & found

Wacky waiting spot Biggest fondue in history!

A BUS stop in Fowey, England, has been getting creative makeovers from locals for the past 20 years.

Known as the Pretty Bus Stop on Lankelly Lane in Cornwall, its first transformation was done by Jane Tinsley to discourage vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Since then, the stop has been decorated in a variety of themes, including a tea room, a yacht race, a library, and even an Elvis tribute. Each year, volunteers take turns giving the bus stop a new look, especially in winter.

Sarah Worne, an artist who has been involved since 2021, recently created a plant-themed design called Thyme to Stop. It features real and painted pots of seedlings and plants, giving the stop the feel of a greenhouse. “It was cold heading into February, and everyone needed a bit of warmth,” Sarah said. “This design makes it feel cosy while people wait for the bus.”

Sarah enjoys the project because it brings joy to others. “I always like keeping busy and doing things that make people smile, just for fun,” she added.

The bus stop even has a dedicated Facebook page with over 2,700 followers, showcasing its many designs over the years.

“We love getting the community involved,” Sarah said.

AS glaciers melt worldwide, ancient artefacts - from wooden tools to human remains - are being uncovered, drawing archaeologists to icy mountain regions.

Norway is at the forefront of gla cial archaeology, with over 4,500 artefacts found, accounting for more than half of global discoveries. According to Espen Finstad, co-leader of the Secrets of the Ice project, these finds reveal ancient trade and hunting routes that once crossed the glaciers, dating back to the Stone Age.

FRANCE has just pulled off the ultimate melt-off, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest cheese fondue ever cooked up by humans - and it’s left the Swiss in a right gooey mess.

The Juraflore cheese company in Les Rousses, eastern France, took on the colossal challenge at Fort des Rousses, preparing an eye-watering 4,800-pound vat of cheesy, boozy goodness.

They didn’t skimp on the ingredients, either! The giant copper cauldron was packed to the brim with 40 wheels of comté cheese - each matured for nine, 15, and 21 months - along with Chardonnay and Sauvignon white wines, a whopping 4.4 pounds of garlic, 3.3 pounds of white pepper, and 121 pounds of cornstarch to keep things smooth and creamy.

For centuries, these objects remained frozen, but rising global temperatures have exposed them. The summer of 2024 saw rapid melting, leading to a surge of discoveries.

Finstad’s team explored nearly a dozen sites and recovered two of the best-preserved arrows they had ever seen, one lying fully intact

on the ice, requiring no excavation. Arrows are common finds, as reindeer hunting was a major activity in the Iron Age and medieval times. Some arrowheads were made from distant river mussels, highlighting extensive trade networks. Remarkably, some prehistoric arrows still had fletching, the delicate feathers used for stabilisation, making them rare and valuable.

With glaciers continuing to recede, archaeologists anticipate even more discoveries in the near future.

And not just that - chefs used a giant food processor to mix the molten marvel into the perfect consistency.

Juraflore didn’t just set a new world record, they also neutralised the Swiss! Their 4,800-pound fondue smashed the previous unofficial record of 3,175 pounds, held by La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland since 2009.

With a Guinness World Record’s adjudicator present to certify the attempt, there’s no doubt about itFrance has stirred up history and left Switzerland feeling ‘grately’ disappointed...

Ancient artefacts uncovered.

Image: Secrets Of The Ice / Facebook

Image: Fowey Pretty Bus Stop / Facebook

Jam or cream first design.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY:

The Origins

ON March 8, women around the world are celebrated for their contribution to society. That’s because this date is ocially recognised as ‘International Women’s Day’. This acknowledgement is largely down to one woman, Clara Zetkin, who was deeply involved in politics for most of her adult life. She was considered to be a German Marxist theorist, communist activist, and, most of all, advocate for women’s rights. This was demonstrated by her role as the editor of the SDP women’s newspaper Die Gleichheit (Equality) between 1891 and 1917. In addition, she undertook the role of leader of the newly founded ‘Women’s O ce’ at the SDP in 1907. In fact, this latter role led to her participation in the second International Conference of Working Women, which took place in Copenhagen in 1910. This is a very poignant event in

Key Events

SINCE its inception in 2011, the concept of International Women’s Day (IWD) and all that it stands for has spread far and wide. Some of the key milestones in its calendar are as follows:

1913: First observance of IWD in Russia, with socialist women organising protests and rallies demanding better working conditions, equal rights and the right to vote.

1922: Vladimir Lenin declares March 8 IWD in honour of the role women played in the Russian Revolution.

1975: United Nations marks IWD, setting 1975 as International Women’s Year.

history because it is where the idea for a ‘women’s day’ was rst proposed. Zetkin put forward the notion that there should be a speci c day on which women are celebrated every year in every country More than 100 women from 17 countries attended that momentous conference.

Collectively, they represented unions, socialist parties, and working women’s clubs, and even included the rst three women ever to be elected to the Finnish parliament. They wholeheartedly supported the proposal, and International Women’s Day was founded.

While no speci c date was chosen, International Women’s Day was honoured for the rst time on March 19, 2011, with Austria (Austro-Hungary), Denmark, Germany and Switzerland participating.

2001: IWD website launches as a free, not-for-pro t, user-generated resource hub to ‘Support the Supporters’ and grow mainstream awareness of IWD.

2003: IWD march in Mexico City on March 8 becomes one of the largest IWD events globally, with hundreds of thousands of participants. March 9 is #UNDÍASINNOSOTRAS, (A Day Without Us), where women ‘disappear’ by not going to work, school or public spaces

2005: Google launches its rst IWD Google Doodle.

2019: The largest international IWD concert, ‘Global Citizen Festival: Power of Women,’ is held in New York City.

Accelerate Action

EVERY year, International Women’s Day is centred around a theme, and 2025 is no di erent. This year’s theme is the very powerful ‘Accelerate Action’. It is positioned as a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources and activities that positively impact the advancement of women in society.

While it is recognised that signi cant barriers to gender equality still exist, the best way to press forward is to understand what works and to do more of it faster. This is what ‘Accelerate Action’ is all about: providing the necessary support and resources to ensure that initiatives that work are implemented quickly and on a larger scale. In this way, meaningful changes that empower women and promote equality can be realised. According to the International Women’s Day website, current projections indicate that at the present pace of progress, full gender parity will not be a reality until 2158, a staggering ve generations from now. This prediction underpins the need for change and the choice of theme for 2025.

Most Powerful Woman 2024

EVERY year, Forbes creates its top 100 list of ‘The World’s Most Powerful Women’, an incredible accolade for women who have made their mark on the world. This list is determined by four main criteria: money, media, impact and spheres of inuence. This results in a list of 100 women across nance, technology, media, and beyond.

Top of the list for 2024 is Ursula von der Leyen, who holds the esteemed title of President of the European Commission, European Union. Born in 1958 in Brussels, Belgium, von der Leyen is a prominent German politician and physician with a distinguished career in public service. Throughout her political career, she has held multiple positions within the Ger-

man government which has led to more than 14 years of experience as a Federal Minister. This includes the role of Germany’s Federal Minister of Defence which she held between 2013 and 2019. This is signi cant because it made her the rst woman to hold this position, where she was responsible for overseeing Germany’s military and its strategic direction through various global challenges.

Aside from politics, Ursula von der Leyen also boasts an impressive academic record in medicine. After obtaining her medical licence in 1987, she went on to obtain a doctorate in 1991, followed by a Master of Public Health in 2001.

Ursula von der Leyen attends talk in Kyiv.

Strike the #AccelerateAction pose.

Do you see the current political climate in a negative light? Your VOICE

IT’S hard to deny that politics today feels more chaotic and divided than ever before. Across the world tensions are rising, alliances are shifting, and leaders are clashing, making it difficult to predict what lies ahead. Whether it’s international conflicts or internal political struggles, there’s no shortage of challenges that are shaping the future.

Take the US, for example. Recently, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a public exchange at the White House that grabbed a lot of attention. Their discussion focused on Ukraine’s mineral wealth, highlighting just how complicated the situation in Ukraine has become.

Trump’s comments about Zelensky and ongoing debates over US involvement in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia are only deepening the divide between the two countries and making the balance of power even more precarious.

With everything happening around the world, it’s hard not to see the political landscape as more unstable and polarised than befo -

ying to divide Europe and other western nations.”

Judith Dominique Wolfenegg agrees, writing: “Since Pato Donald is turning the most powerful democracy into a western North Korea, we are sitting on a gunpowder keg... Americans are taking it to the streets already, more and more of them regret their vote.”

David Cooke expresses his concerns, saying, “Negative... Eurolandia is full of power hunger socialist coalitions giving their cultures away to illegal immigrants and separatists bit by bit while the working class follow along paying for it instead of fighting back...”

Deb Horses also paints a negative picture, writing, “We are living bad times. The USA used to influence the world in many positive ways (to be honest, negative too), but right now, that influence is more negative than anything else. Remember Ghost Busters? How the Slim fed off of negative spirits? Well, we are at that point... As level-headed Europeans, we need to band together with a positive and uniting Spirit.”

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Refinery plans

THE UK government will spend £200 million (€241 million) on attracting new companies to Grangemouth, once Scotland’s only remaining oil refinery has closed. When decommissioning is completed by May, more than 400 people will be out of work, although the closure will also affect thousands of indirect jobs.

Out of the red

PHARMACEUTICAL group Almirall, headquartered in Barcelona, reported a net profit of €10.1 million last year, compared with €38.5 million losses in 2023. Markets welcomed the 2024 results that were announced in late February, with Almirall shares rising to €9.45, giving the company a value of €2.017 billion.

On top

WOMEN occupied 43.4 per cent of seats on the boards of the UK’s FTSE 350 companies, compared to 42.1 per cent in 2023, the annual FTSE Women Leaders Review announced. Percentages were even higher for the country’s largest FTSE 100 companies, which climbed from 42.6 per cent to 44.7 per cent.

Going up

VODAFONE SPAIN reported revenues of €913 million for the third quarter of its fiscal year between October 1 and December 31, an increase of 1.1 per cent on the preceding quarter’s €903 million. The company’s adjusted gross operating profit after leases reached €320 million, 0.63 per cent up on the second quarter.

Two suitors

HONG KONG-BASED CK Infrastructure has lodged a £7 billion (€8.4 billion) bid for a majority stake in Thames Water, according to the Financial Times. This offer coincides with another from the US private equity group KKR which has made a separate £4 billion (€4.8 billion) offer for another majority holding.

STAT OF WEEK

€14 billion

in excess capital for Spain’s banks this year, 37 per cent more than the total for Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, Sabadell, Bankinter and Unicaja between them in 2024.

Unexpected exit

UNILEVER showed the door to its chief executive Hein Schumacher on February 25.

In a move that apparently surprised the Dutch businessman, he will step down on March 2 and leave on May 31.

Unilever’s board, which includes billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz, ‘was unified in its decision to oust Schumacher’ an insider told Reuters.

Shares in the company, which owns Marmite, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s and Hellmann’s amongst other brands, have risen by 9 per cent since Schumacher took over in July 2023, but fell 3.4 per cent with the news of his exit.

Schumacher’s departure came shortly after the company announced that turnover increased by 1.9 per cent to €60.8 billion in 2024. With a €6.4 billion net profit, the

FATIMA BAÑEZ, who was Spain’s minister of Labour and Social Security between 2011 and 2018, has returned to multinational energy company Iberdrola.

Currently president of the CEOE Foundation attached to the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations, Bañez joined the board of Iberdrola’s US subsidiary Avangrid in 2022 but left when the company was de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange. The former minister now

company’s full-year results were viewed as ‘underwhelming’.

Chairman Ian Meakins said the board was ‘pleased’ with Unilever’s 2024 performance ‘but there is much further to go to deliver best-in-class results’.

Nevertheless, on February 25, Meakins thanked Schumacher for resetting Unilever’s strategy, ‘for the focus and discipline he brought to the company and the solid financial progress delivered during 2024.’

Schumacher will be replaced by Unilever’s chief financial officer, Argentinean Fernando Fernandez, who joined the company in 1988.

According to media reports, the board prefers Fernandez’s ‘appetite’

for executing the next phase of the company’s turnaround.

The outgoing chief executive will receive his fixed pay of €1.85 million until May31, plus a payment in lieu of the remainder of his notice period.

Fernandez will receive a fixed salary of €1.8 million.

Big names at Iberdrola

joins the board of Iberdrola Energia Internacional, the sub-holding com pany that coordinates Iberdola’s activities in Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Portu gal and other countries inclu

SPAIN’S Cabinet has approved Aramco’s purchase of a 10 per cent holding in Madrid-based Horse Powertrain. The Saudi Arabian oil company announced in June that it would acquire a stake in the automotive firm that is jointly owned by Renault and the Chinese car manufacturer Geely.

This required the Spanish government’s permission, which Aramco received in late October although it was not made public until now.

Aramco paid €740 million for its 10 per cent stake, giving Horse Powertrain a market capitalisation of €7.4 billion.

ding Australia. The company has been headed since January 1 by Hugh Elliott, Britain’s ambassador to Spain until September 2024.

Argentina farewell Just Eat

NETHERLANDS’ investment group Prosus has paid €4.1 billion for the online food delivery firm Just Eat.

The company, founded in Denmark and later headquartered in London, was acquired by Dutch company Takeaway in 2020 to create Just Eat Takeaway, dropping its London dual listing and trading only in Amsterdam.

Although the company was worth €17.1 billion at the height of the pandemic, the €20.30 per share that Prosus paid was a 49 per cent premium on Just Eat’s average price over the last three months.

TELEFONICA is selling its Argentina operations to Telecom Argentina for $1.25 billion (€1.19 billion).

The Spanish telecommunications multinational has been a presence in Argentina for the last 30 years but had intended since 2019 to scale down its exposure to Latin America, company sources explained.

Following the announcement on February 24, Telefonica shares immediately rose 1.5 per cent while those of Telecom Argentina, which is partly owned by Clarin, the country’s largest newspaper, gained 3.4 per cent.

Argentina’s president Javier Milei warned that his government intended to appraise the deal as a possible monopoly that would put 70 per cent of the country’s telecommunications in the hands of one group.

Another instantly-recognisable Iberdrola name belongs to the footballer and coach Vicente del Bosque who took Spain’s national team to World Cup victory in 2010.

Iberdrola sponsored the Spanish side between 2009 and 2016, and Del Bosque joined Iberdrola Energia Internacional board in 2014.

Ercros losses

SPANISH basic chemicals company

Ercros lost €11.7 million last year, compared with a €27.6 million profit in 2023.

Figures submitted to Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) revealed that sales of €643 million were 9 per cent down on the previous year. When taking into account the company’s total income of €700 million in 2024, which included services, these fell 8 per cent.

The Ercros results coincided with rival takeover bids from Italian company Esseco and Bondalti in Portugal, both of which await a decision from the CNMV.

Meanwhile both have been rejected by 27.5 per cent of Ercros shareholders.

BROOKFIELD is expected to finalise the $1.7 billion (€1.62 billion) purchase of National Grid’s US operations by the end of September.

The Canadian asset manager is acquiring National Grid’s onshore wind, solar and battery plants in North America as the FTSE 1000 company disposes of part of its portfolio.

Now focusing on infrastructure rather than energy generation, National Grid is also preparing to sell Grain LNG, its liquid natural gas terminal on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary.

SIR JIM RATLIFFE, the UK’s second-richest man, also owns 28.94 per cent of Manchester United.

Ratcliffe’s INEOS group, now managing the football club’s finances, has ordered the closure of the Old Trafford staff canteen and plans to replace the current free lunches with fruit.

Players will still receive free meals, but the team’s non-players will be offered only soup and bread as Ratcliffe aims to save £1 million (€1.2 million).

Photo credit: Unilever

Photo credit :pp.es

FATIMA BAÑEZ: Former minister joins Iberdrola Energia Internacional board.

HEIN SCHUMACHER: Has stepped down as Unilever chief executive.

3I Group 3.963,00 3.982,00 3.959,00 33,79K Admiral Group 2.876,7 2.881,0 2.866,0 10,47K

Airtel Africa 141,40 143,10 141,40 85,69K Anglo American 2.348,5 2.353,0 2.331,0 64,94K

Antofagasta 1.745,50 1.749,50 1.732,50 31,29K Ashtead Group 4.811,0 4.836,0 4.801,0 32,91K Associated British Foods 1.890,0 1.904,5 1.889,5 19,35K

11.954,0 12.018,0 11.914,0 108,03K Auto Trader Group Plc 775,20 776,80 773,60 34,27K Aviva 539,00 544,40 537,66 382,47K

B&M European Value Retail SA 275,03 277,20 274,90 78,75K

BAE Systems 1.645,50 1.666,50 1.552,00 3,22M Barclays 306,77 310,70 306,45 2,63M Barratt Redrow 422,50 426,00 422,40 72,03K

Beazley 879,50 882,00 877,50 57,9K

Berkeley 3.648,0 3.664,0 3.602,0 29,15K

BP 437,80 438,90 437,30 1,15M British American Tobacco 3.069,0 3.080,0 3.065,7 166,8K BT Group 157,95 160,15 157,65 744,71K

3.196,0 3.334,0 3.186,0 247,21K

150,25 150,55 148,95 689,2K

Cola HBC AG 3.372,0 3.381,8 3.354,0 21,94K

2.782,00 2.783,00 2.773,00 55,02K

Euro

EUR/GBP: Down from £0.84 to £0.82

EUR/USD: Unchanged at $1.04

The euro has traded in a wide range over the past month. Starting with a slump at the end of January as another European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate cut coincided with stagnant Eurozone GDP growth.

Early February extended the EUR selloff amid tariff threats from US President Donald Trump. Before the euro was able to claw back a good portion of its gains thanks to a weakening US dollar and the prospect of a peace deal in Ukraine.

However, the euro then came under pressure again as the exclusion of European representatives from US-Russia discussions on ending the war in Ukraine raised concerns about Europe’s influence in the peace process.

Looking ahead, the euro likely faces more bumps in the road as

Currency outlook: US dollar rocked by Trump’s tariff agenda, Euro undermined by Ukraine uncertainty

the fallout from Germany’s federal election, the Ukrainian peace process and erratic US trade policy are all likely to infuse volatility into the single currency.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Up from €1.18 to €1.20

GBP/USD: Up from $1.23 to $1.26

Trade in the pound has been erratic over the past month. In late January, Sterling strengthened due to improved UK eco-

nomic optimism and Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ growth-oriented speech.

However, these gains were swiftly reversed after the Bank of England (BoE) delivered a dovish interest rate cut and halved its 2025 growth forecast.

An unexpected uptick in UK GDP brought fresh relief, before GBP investors largely shrugged off stronger-than-expected UK inflation and wage growth figures, on the expectation the BoE will sti-

ll cut rates again in May.

Turning to March, the main focus for GBP investors will likely be the Chancellor’s Spring Statement. Expect any tax hikes or spending cuts to sap Sterling sentiment.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Down from £0.81 to £0.79

USD/EUR: Unchanged at €0.95

The US dollar has faced significant volatility in the first four wee-

ks of Donald Trump’s second term in office.

This has been primarily driven by the President’s scattergun approach to his tariff announcements, with USD investors left reeling by his inconsistent position on trade.

On the more positive front for the US dollar was the Federal Reserve’s decision to pause its cutting cycle and a hotter-than-expected US inflation print.

No doubt USD investors will be kept on their feet by Trump in the coming weeks. With the President’s erratic policy announcements likely to infuse further volatility into the US dollar.

Currencies Direct have helped over 500,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.

Looking ahead, the euro likely faces more bumps in the road.

Heaven help them all

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

I’M assuming that most of our readers observed the White House / Trump meetings involving Starmer and Zelenskyy this week. As far as Starmer was concerned, I considered his interview an embarrassment.

It made the same impression on me as the pathetic ‘deal’ that ridiculous Reeves recently negotiated with China for some pitiful investment of 600 million peanuts over the next five years. When Starmer gleefully extracted the Kings invitation ‘trump’ card from his inside pocket, he was like a self-centred schoolboy, inviting teacher to attend his dad’s birthday party! Heaven help the UK.

Zelenskyy of course was a totally different concern. What the UK public were (naturally) not informed of was the fact that after the event, he was subsequently escorted from the oval office and ultimately the White House, missing the lunch altogether. The problem with it all is that the

only way to end this ever-running, terrible conflict, is by compromise.

Zelensky was being offered a way to restore the best part of his country, while saving thousands of lives.

Still, I understand chicken nuggets at Burger King filled the buffet gap.

Mind you, signing the restaurant receipt for $12.50, was not quite the bill he had in mind after a brunch with Trump! In my opinion, always wearing that ridiculous t-shirt, which is so obviously a PR throwback to his show biz days, depicts he most certainly is not the right man for the job. I await the slings and arrows.

Yet again, I reiterate that in my opinion the irresponsible idiots who sanction sex ‘education’ films for children as young as four, are no better than the sick paedophiles that lure youngsters into their homes and force them to watch sleaze.

It is the same type of attitude that has lowered the standards of British education to such an extent that thousands of pupils are leaving school hardly able to read or write.

Their ‘leftie’ legislations have meant, that not only are vast numbers of young people virtually illiterate,

this incompetent bunch of educationalists then proceed to dumb down exam questions, thereby creating a high pass rate in a further attempt to hoodwink us all in to believing they’re doing a good job. Give us a break.

The minute the first ‘eight o’clock shadow’ long haired schoolteacher took off his tie, perched his behind on the edge of his desk and told his pupils to call him ‘John’, the die was cast for the biggest plunge in education and moral standards since the British school system began. I thank the Lord my children have all been educated in Spain and truly feel sorry for British parents, who must often feel they have to protect their offspring from the very people they should be able to trust implicitly. Heaven help them all.

Thanks for all your letters and even the few words of encouragement in public places. They really do mean a great deal. Certainly, sends the ol’ boys’ fervour up.

Keep the faith. Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.co

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

Street art sensation

A MASSIVE mural in Eindhoven, titled Echoes of Harmony, has been voted the best in the world for 2024.

Standing 20 metres high, it is also the largest piece created in the city by Dutch street art duo Studio Giftig.

The international street art platform

Street Art Cities nominated Echoes of Harmony as one of the top murals of the year. After a public vote, the artwork claimed first place in the Expert Spotlight category, which recognises exceptional murals selected by top curators, directors, and gallery owners.

This is not the first time Studio Giftig, founded by Kaspar van Leek and Niels van Swaeman, has earned international recognition. In 2022, one of their murals in Tilburg was also named the best in the world. ‘We’re beyond excited’, the artists shared on Instagram, celebrating their latest win.

Located behind Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, the mural portrays a street musician and a concert violinist embracing, symbolising music’s ability to break down barriers and unite people.

Art lovers don’t need to visit a museum to admire this masterpiece, anyone walking along Jan van Lieshoutstraat near the concert hall can see this award-winning work of urban art.

Europe’s first air taxi

BENIDORM made history by hosting Europe’s first simultaneous flight of an air taxi and multiple drones in an urban environment. The demonstration, part of the European U-ELCOME project and coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), took place over the Poniente and Levante beaches, marking a major milestone in urban air mobility.

The EH216-S air taxi, developed by EHang, flew alongside a dozen drones performing tasks such as cargo transport, survei-

U-Space service providers - ENAIRE, ITG, and UAB - managed the flight operations through advanced digital platforms, ensuring seamless coordination and safety under Europe’s evolving U-space regulations.

Local officials, including Mayor Antonio Pérez, praised Benidorm’s leadership in aerial innovation, while UPV and EHang representatives highlighted the city’s role in accelerating air taxi adoption.

Israel Quintanilla, head of UPV’s Official Drone

Commission, stated that the success of this trial will fast-track the regulatory framework and infrastructure needed to integrate air taxis into European cities.

Despite the breakthrough, challenges remain before air taxis become a regular sight. Regulations must be finalised, vertiports need construction, and public trust in passenger drones must grow. However, with the U-ELCOME project set to conclude by year’s end, Benidorm’s demonstration offers a glimpse into a future where urban air travel

INTERVIEW

Roxana Ștefan from Romania - Speaking European

Many Romanians have chosen to relocate to southern Spain in search of a better quality of life. Roxana Mihaela Ștefan, a 37-year-old Romanian woman from Constanța, moved to Benalmadena about two years ago with her family.

EWN: Why did you decide to move here?

Roxana: A vacation here eventually led to our final move two years later. There were several key reasons behind our decision: a better healthcare and education system, the warm climate, and an overall im proved quality of life.

EWN: What do you work at here?

Roxana: I work in the tourism industry, managing several holiday apartments on the Costa del Sol.

EWN: How do you find the cost of living compared to Romania?

Roxana: Lower. Food is slightly cheaper, and dining out at a restaurant is affordable. We also save on fuel since there are good transport connections

Fake or fortune

OLD MASTER paintings are in theory as scarce as ‘hen’s teeth’ but reality there are plenty around and in the case of Peter Paul Rubens around 600 have been authenticated.

For some years it has been suggested that his painting Samson and Delilah which cost the National Gallery in London several million pounds as early as the 1980s is in fact a fake, based on an AI study in 2021 which was since debunked.

Living in Antwerp (now Belgium but then part of the Holy Roman Empire,) in the late 15th century, Rubens is considered Belgium’s greatest Old Master and was kni ghted for his work by both Spain and Britain.

The latest suggestion that this is a 20th-century copy comes from Greek art historian Euphrosyne Doxiadis in her new book ‘The Fake Rubens’ al though this accusation finds little support from one of Belgium’s top Rubens experts Bert Watteeuw.

Not only does he pour scorn on her status as a genuine expert, suggesting that anyone of any standard would have already checked with his Antwerp Rubens House and other specialist houses about the painting.

Whilst the National Gallery has kept a dignified silence on the matter of the painting, it is no doubt delighted that one of the great Rubens scholars has come out publicly to dismiss the claim by Doxiadis which Watteeuw considers is purely invented to promote her book.

to Malaga. Additionally, unlike in Romania, here public schools offer extended hours with extracurricular activities for a very low fee.

EWN: How is life in the Malaga area?

Roxana: The job market isn’t particularly well-paid, and you won’t get rich here, but the peaceful lifestyle makes up for it. For children, there are plenty of opportunities, from sports to beautiful places to visit. Also, the weather allows them to spend a lot of time outdoors.

EWN: Do you see yourself returning to Romania?

Roxana: We’ve invested here, and I don’t think we’ll be going back to Romania anytime soon.

Roxana Mihaela Ștefan.

An example of the EH216-S air taxi concept, capturing Europe’s groundbreaking step into real-world urban air travel.

Credit: Rubens House

Rubens expert Bert Watteeuw.

Ready to cope

A EUROPEAN survey revealed that only 4 per cent of European Union citizens felt that their countries were well-prepared for natural disasters.

When Eurobarometer questioned more than 26,000 EU citizens in 27 members states it emerged that the majority wanted better information for coping with disasters and emergencies.

The same survey drew attention to Storm Boris which affected central Europe in 2024, together with the devastating floods that took the lives of at least 258 people in Spain and Germany.

These three disasters were not only ranked amongst the 10 costliest climate-linked catastrophes in 2024, but they also demonstrated

the importance of being prepared for these types of emergencies.

Overall, only 9 per cent of all those asked know about their city, region or country’s procedures for handling a disaster or emergency or their plans for evacuations, alternative accommodation or accessing help.

Fewer than one in 10 of the respondents to the survey said that they were familiar with their localities’ plans for this type of situation.

Percentages changed significantly depending on the country involved and ranged from only 2 per cent for those living in Malta or Greece to 20 per cent for Sweden and 19 per cent for Finland.

Nevertheless, the EU survey pointed out the highest scores were still relatively low.

Police needed

THE upswell in violence and explosions in Sweden has prompted the National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh to comment on the state of the manning of the police force.

There is some difficulty in recruiting officers especially in the Stockholm area with its population of just under one million, whilst the force consists of just 2,434 according to 2024 published figures.

There are a total of 40,000 employees of the Swedish Police Force but of those, only 24,000 are actually police officers rather than civilian support.

In the past nine years, the number of police has risen but only by 2,202, less than 10 per cent, but as populations increase as does reported crime, this is simply too few.

Commissioner Lundh has made it clear that there is an absolute need for

the recruitment of more officers in order to ensure that there is a visible presence on the streets, not just to deter criminals but also to give residents some form of confidence in the ability of the police to protect them and their loved ones.

Things may be getting better as last autumn, all places at the police academies were filled for the

first time and the number of uniformed police officers in external service for the whole country increased by 716.

Many may have been encouraged to join the service as police salaries have increased over the past two years, with the average monthly salary now standing at Skr31,000 (€2,780 approximately).

Night train resumes

EUROPEAN SLEEPER has announced that its Brussels to Venice night train will finally operate as planned from March, after initial disruptions forced passengers to change trains in Austria. The service, which launched in early February, was unable to secure Italian track approval in time, leading to last-minute transfers in Innsbruck. Co-founder Chris Engelsman explained that misaligned internal authorisations caused the issue but assured that full operations are now on track.

Starting in March, the ‘Good Night Train’ will run directly to Venice, passing through the picturesque Brenner Pass and stopping in key Italian cities like Bolzano/Bozen. Southbound journeys were scheduled for March 4 and 12, while northbound departures will take place on

March 8 and 18. The route promises travellers a seamless overnight rail experience, combining winter sports access with a convenient city-break option in Venice.

For now, European Sleeper considers this winter a pilot phase, with only seven round trips scheduled over two months. Ticket prices start at €49 for standard seats, €79 for couchettes, and €159 for private sleeper compartments.

While confident about the service’s future, the company acknowledges ongoing challenges, including coordinating timetables across five countries and navigating Italy’s complex railway requirements. However, with strong demand for eco-friendly rail travel, European Sleeper is already exploring an expanded service for winter 2026.

VALENCIA FLOODS: Paiporta in October 2024.

Photo credit: CC/Enkantari

Stockholm police force is understaffed.

Credit: Patrick Buechner flickr

European Sleeper’s night train, poised to offer a direct Brussels–Venice service from March as part of its new pilot project.

Flu season hits hard

THIS year’s flu season is turning out to be the worst since 2009, with hospitals overwhelmed and over 800,000 hospitalisations reported since October. With two aggressive strains circulating, health experts are urging people to take every precaution - from flu shots to maintaining a strong immune system through diet. While vaccines and hygiene practices remain critical, what you eat also plays a major role in how well your body can fight off infections. Essential nutrients like Vitamins A, C, D, and E, along with Zinc, Selenium, and Omega-3 fatty acids, help boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and support faster recovery.

INVESTING in quality make-up brushes is essential for flawless application, but proper care is key to ensuring they last. With the right maintenance, your brushes can stay in excellent condition for years, saving you money and improving your make-up routine.

Incorporating immune-boosting foods into your diet doesn’t have to be complicated. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are packed with Vitamin C, while spinach and kale offer a mix of Vitamins A, C, and E. Eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds, and lean meats also contribute valuable nutrients to keep your body strong. Simple meal ideas include oatmeal with berries for breakfast, a smoothie with spinach and yoghurt as a snack, and soups loaded with beans and vegetables for dinner. While no diet can completely prevent illness, giving your body the right fuel can make a big difference during this tough flu season.

Beauty begins with hydration

HYDRATION is key to maintaining both good health and radiant beauty. Drinking enough water supports nearly every function of the body, from digestion to temperature regulation, and plays a significant role in maintaining healthy skin. When properly hydrated, the skin stays supple, preventing dryness and premature ageing. Water helps flush out toxins, which can lead to clearer skin and a healthier complexion. Hydration also promotes elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Beyond beauty, staying hydrated boosts overall health. It aids in the efficient circulation of nutrients and oxygen, which supports energy levels and mental clarity. Proper hydration helps to regula-

Long lasting beauty

Regular cleaning is the most important step. Brushes collect product residue, oils, and bacteria, which can affect application and even cause skin irritation. Wash them weekly using a gentle brush cleanser or mild shampoo with lukewarm water. Always rinse thoroughly and reshape the bristles before allowing them to dry naturally, ideally laying them flat to prevent water from loosening the glue. Storage also plays a role in lon-

gevity. Keep brushes in a clean, dry container, ideally upright, to maintain their shape. Avoid storing them in humid environments, like bathrooms, as moisture can weaken the bristles.

Lastly, be gentle when using brushes to prevent unnecessary shedding or damage.

te body temperature and supports kidney function by flushing out waste. It can also improve digestion and prevent constipation, as water helps to break down food and keep the digestive system moving smoothly. Additionally, water helps maintain healthy joints by lubricating them, reducing the risk of stiffness and pain. When you’re properly hydrated, your body performs at its best, giving you more energy, better skin, and an improved sense of well-being. For the best results, aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and adjust this amount based on physical activity and environmental conditions. Proper hydration is a simple, effective way to enhance both beauty and health.

Navigating grief

GRIEF is a deeply personal experience, one that unfolds in its own time and in its own way. There is no set formula for coping, nor is there a right or wrong way to grieve. It can come in wavessometimes overwhelming, sometimes gentle - but always a reminder of love and loss intertwined.

Acknowledging emotions without judgement is a crucial step. Sadness, anger, guilt, and even moments of relief are all natural reactions to loss. Suppressing these feelings often prolongs the healing process. Speaking to trusted friends, joining support groups, or seeking professional guidance can

provide a vital sense of connection.

Routine can be a stabilising force, offering a sense of normality when everything feels uncertain. Engaging in simple activities - whether a daily walk, tending to a garden, or revisiting a favourite book- can provide moments of peace.

Grief does not follow a schedule, nor does it ever truly disappear. Rather, we learn to carry it differently over time. Being kind to oneself and allowing space for healing is not a sign of forgetting, but of honouring both the love that was shared and the life that continues.

Broad benefits

PLAYING cards and board games isn’t just an entertaining pastime - it also offers a range of health benefits for the mind and body. Engaging in these activities stimulates cog-

nitive function, enhances social connections, and even reduces stress levels, making them a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.

One of the primary benefits is improved brain function. Strategy-based games require problem-solving, memory recall, and critical thinking, all of which help keep the mind sharp. Studies suggest that regularly playing board games can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and conditions like dementia by keeping the brain actively engaged. Card and board games also provide a natural way to relieve stress. The enjoyment and laughter they bring help reduce cortisol levels, which can improve overall well-being. Additionally, they encourage social interaction, essential for mental health, reducing feelings of loneliness. For families, playing games together strengthens bonds and improves communication skills. Whether for relaxation or mental stimulation, incorporating games into daily life can be a fun and beneficial way to enhance overall health.

Growing it out First things first

PATIENCE is key when growing out a hairstyle, but the right care routine can make the process smoother and healthier. While hair growth itself is determined by genetics, there are ways to encourage length and maintain healthy strands.

Regular trims might seem counterproductive, but removing split ends prevents breakage, helping hair appear fuller and stronger.

A trim every eight-12 weeks keeps hair in good condition without sacrificing length. Gentle brushing with a wide-tooth comb or soft bristle brush prevents unnecessary breakage, especially when detangling wet hair.

A balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins, and healthy fats supports hair growth from within. Biotin, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids contribute to stronger, shinier

strands. Staying hydrated also helps maintain scalp health.

Avoiding excessive heat styling, harsh chemical treatments, and tight hairstyles reduces damage and breakage.

Using nourishing hair masks, leave-in conditioners, and scalp mas-

sages with essential oils like rosemary or coconut oil can stimulate growth and improve texture.

Growing out a hairstyle requires care, but with the right routine, hair can remain strong, healthy, and beautifully long throughout the transition.

THE first thing people do in the morning often depends on personal habits and routines, but here’s a breakdown of these common morning actions:

1. Stretching

• Why? Many people stretch instinctively upon waking to loosen up stiff muscles and improve blood circulation.

• Benefits: Increases flexibility, wakes up your body, and reduces any tension or stiffness from sleep.

2. Drinking water

• Why? After hours of not hydrating, your body may crave water. Some reach for a glass right away to rehydrate and kickstart metabolism.

• Benefits: Helps boost energy, aids digestion, and clears toxins from the body.

3. Going to the bathroom

• Why? It’s a natural reflex for most people after waking. Your body processes liquids overnight, making this a top priority for many.

• Benefits: Relieves discomfort and sets the tone for starting the day fresh.

What’s your morning priority?

Each of these has its merits. Some people combine them (eg, drinking water while stretching) or prioritise one based on what feels most natural or beneficial to their routine. What do you do first?

Navigating grief

GRIEF is a deeply personal experience, one that unfolds in its own time and in its own way. There is no set formula for coping, nor is there a right or wrong way to grieve. It can come in wavessometimes overwhelming, sometimes gentle - but always a reminder of love and loss intertwined.

Acknowledging emotions without judgement is a crucial step. Sadness, anger, guilt, and even moments of relief are all natural reactions to loss. Suppressing these feelings often prolongs the healing process. Speaking to trusted friends, joining support groups, or seeking professional guidance can

provide a vital sense of connection.

Routine can be a stabilising force, offering a sense of normality when everything feels uncertain. Engaging in simple activities - whether a daily walk, tending to a garden, or revisiting a favourite book- can provide moments of peace.

Grief does not follow a schedule, nor does it ever truly disappear. Rather, we learn to carry it differently over time. Being kind to oneself and allowing space for healing is not a sign of forgetting, but of honouring both the love that was shared and the life that continues.

Broad benefits

PLAYING cards and board games isn’t just an entertaining pastime - it also offers a range of health benefits for the mind and body. Engaging in these activities stimulates cog-

nitive function, enhances social connections, and even reduces stress levels, making them a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.

One of the primary benefits is improved brain function. Strategy-based games require problem-solving, memory recall, and critical thinking, all of which help keep the mind sharp. Studies suggest that regularly playing board games can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and conditions like dementia by keeping the brain actively engaged. Card and board games also provide a natural way to relieve stress. The enjoyment and laughter they bring help reduce cortisol levels, which can improve overall well-being. Additionally, they encourage social interaction, essential for mental health, reducing feelings of loneliness. For families, playing games together strengthens bonds and improves communication skills. Whether for relaxation or mental stimulation, incorporating games into daily life can be a fun and beneficial way to enhance overall health.

Growing it out First things first

PATIENCE is key when growing out a hairstyle, but the right care routine can make the process smoother and healthier. While hair growth itself is determined by genetics, there are ways to encourage length and maintain healthy strands.

Regular trims might seem counterproductive, but removing split ends prevents breakage, helping hair appear fuller and stronger.

A trim every eight-12 weeks keeps hair in good condition without sacrificing length. Gentle brushing with a wide-tooth comb or soft bristle brush prevents unnecessary breakage, especially when detangling wet hair.

A balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins, and healthy fats supports hair growth from within. Biotin, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids contribute to stronger, shinier

strands. Staying hydrated also helps maintain scalp health.

Avoiding excessive heat styling, harsh chemical treatments, and tight hairstyles reduces damage and breakage.

Using nourishing hair masks, leave-in conditioners, and scalp mas-

sages with essential oils like rosemary or coconut oil can stimulate growth and improve texture.

Growing out a hairstyle requires care, but with the right routine, hair can remain strong, healthy, and beautifully long throughout the transition.

THE first thing people do in the morning often depends on personal habits and routines, but here’s a breakdown of these common morning actions:

1. Stretching

• Why? Many people stretch instinctively upon waking to loosen up stiff muscles and improve blood circulation.

• Benefits: Increases flexibility, wakes up your body, and reduces any tension or stiffness from sleep.

2. Drinking water

• Why? After hours of not hydrating, your body may crave water. Some reach for a glass right away to rehydrate and kickstart metabolism.

• Benefits: Helps boost energy, aids digestion, and clears toxins from the body.

3. Going to the bathroom

• Why? It’s a natural reflex for most people after waking. Your body processes liquids overnight, making this a top priority for many.

• Benefits: Relieves discomfort and sets the tone for starting the day fresh.

What’s your morning priority?

Each of these has its merits. Some people combine them (eg, drinking water while stretching) or prioritise one based on what feels most natural or beneficial to their routine. What do you do first?

Spain’s property market sees a surge in international investments, with South American buyers leading the trend

South Americans in Spanish market

SOUTH AMERICAN interest in Spain’s property market has surged, with purchases rising by 325 per cent over the past decade. Transactions jumped from 988 in 2014 to 4,198 in 2024, re ecting broader migration patterns and economic opportunities.

While South Americans account for just 2.5 per cent of non-EU property buyers, their growing presence is reshaping the market. This shift coincides with Spain’s rising foreign population, which reached 48.6 million in 2024. More than 1.3 million South and Central Americans now hold residence permits, with Colombians leading the in ux. In 2023 alone, Spain’s Colombian population grew by 124,566, making it one of the fastest-growing communities. Venezuelans and Peruvians are also settling in increasing numbers, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona, where 40 per cent of Spain’s South American residents live.

The pro le of buyers is evolving, with a uent investors from Venezuela, Mexico, and Colombia driving demand for luxury properties. Many purchase high-end homes for residency purposes or to accommodate children studying in Spain. As a result, the supply of properties priced above €800,000 has surged by 150 per cent since 2019. Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and Alicante have become key hotspots for these buyers. Beyond numbers, this trend re ects deeper cultural and economic ties between Spain and Latin America. The growing South American presence is not only transforming real estate but also strengthening historical connections and investment opportunities in Spain’s property sector.

Cable now restored

THE undersea bre optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden has been fully restored after being damaged in January.

According to reports, engineers and a specialised repair vessel completed the reconnection on Friday, February 28.

Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC) stated that “the functionality of the cable, equipment and connections in Ventspils and Gotland have been tested, and the service to LVRTC customers has now been completely restored.”

Final work is still ongoing, as the cable needs to be lowered to the seabed, but favourable weather conditions are expected to allow completion soon.

The cable was damaged on January 26, in Swedish economic waters, 130 km from the coast of Latvia. Swedish authorities initially seized a vessel as part of the investigation - a Vezhen dry cargo shipying the Maltese ag, according to Baltic

News Network (BNN).

Although there were initial concerns about sabotage, Swedish prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist later clari ed: “The damage to the cables was caused by a combination of adverse conditions - weather conditions, de ciencies in the equipment and lack of shipping knowledge.”

The Swedish prosecutor’s o ce ruled

A NEW report from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights has called on Ireland to repeal its trespass laws, arguing they prevent Traveller and Roma communities from practising their traditional nomadic lifestyles.

Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty, an Irish human rights lawyer, released the memo on Tuesday, February 25, highlighting that the legislation criminalises Travellers for residing on both public and private land.

The 2001 Trespass Legislation, along with the Housing Miscellaneous Acts of 1992 and 2002, allows authorities to evict and imprison Travellers who settle in unauthorised locations. Additionally, local authorities have placed boulders on traditional halting sites, further restricting movement.

As a result, only 15-20 per cent of Travellers continue to live in mobile homes or trailers, often in overcrowded and substandard conditions without access to basic utilities like water and electricity.

O’Flaherty’s report aligns with previous recommendations, including a 2019 review by a government-appointed expert group, which also suggested repealing these laws un-

out deliberate sabotage, acknowledging the ship had caused the damage but determining it was accidental, according to a report by LSM+.

Despite Sweden’s ndings, Latvia’s State Police have launched a criminal investigation under three articles of the Criminal Law, including damage to property.

Travellers targeted

til su cient transient sites are available. Despite these calls for reform, the Irish government has stated that a review of the trespass legislation is “not currently considered.”

The report also draws attention to broader issues facing these communities, including poor living conditions, housing and employment, and a high prison population.

The cable under the Baltic Sea was damaged in January of this year.

Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland.

Amsterdam bans AI tools

AMSTERDAM has officially prohibited the use of generative AI by municipal employees, citing concerns over misinformation, hate speech, and potential data leaks.

The ban affects popular platforms like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Gemini, and Midjourney, according to an internal memo obtained by local broadcaster AT5. Authorities fear these tools could inadvertently spread false information or compromise sensitive city data, undermining public trust.

Officials argue that unregulated AI could amplify propaganda and hateful content, making strict oversight necessary. The municipality has clarified that employees may only use AI tools that comply with Dutch regulations and Amsterdam’s internal policies.

This move follows previous digital restrictions in the city, including a

An example of generative AI software, which Amsterdam has now banned for city employees due to concerns over misinformation, data leaks, and hate speech.

ban on TikTok for work phones in 2022 and a similar block on Telegram last year.

By proactively monitoring AI developments, Amsterdam aims to stay ahead of potential risks while maintaining a secure digital environment.

Despite the restriction, the city is piloting ‘Chat Amsterdam’, an initiative to explore AI’s potential

in public administration. This controlled approach seeks to determine whether AI can enhance efficiency without exposing the city to security threats.

As European cities navigate the challenges of artificial intelligence, Amsterdam’s firm stance could set a precedent for future municipal AI policies.

Baby rhino debutante

NOVA the white baby rhino made her first public appearance at Belgium’s Pairi Daiza zoo on Wednesday February 26. She entertained visitors whilst playing and jumping alongside her mother Ellie in a public enclosure. Born on January 2, Nova was a long time coming after the 18-month gestation period! Following her birth, she had been kept in a secured and heated space to gain weight and strength safely. She had already met other rhinos at the zoo accompanied by her mother earlier in the week.

The zoo has shared videos of Nova timidly greeting them, including her brother Kodjos, half-brother Willy and his mother Madiba. Pairi Daiza is a privately owned zoo and botanical garden located by the Bel-

gian town of Brugelette. It has won several awards as the ‘Best Zoo in Europe’ and is certified ‘Three Stars’ in the Michelin Green Guide. Nova is the fourth child Ellie has given birth to at the zoo, and one of a subspecies of rhino from Southern Africa that are endangered. Two genetically different subspecies are found in northern and southern Africa. Only two northern white rhinos, both female, are known to exist.

The vast majority of the 18,000 southern white rhinos inhabit South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya. They were at near extinction levels in the early 1900s but protection and management measures implemented at the start of last century have improved their classification to ‘near threatened’.

Nova is one of a near threatened subspecies - the Southern African white rhino.

FOMO Fever: How the digital age turned us into obsessed, anxious voyeurs

HOOKED on the highlights of others’ lives, we scroll, we envy, we despair - welcome to the addiction no one wants to admit!

Why wasn’t I invited? Why didn’t I go to that meeting? Oh, how much I missed!

Read this with curiosity, not FOMO-induced anxiety. The name itself sounds like a villain from a movie saga, right? And yes, it can be just as evil. So, let’s talk about this time-wasting, soul-sucking affliction of the digital age.

Do you ever feel like you need to be everywhere at once? Welcome to FOMO - Fear of Missing Out. I feel it too! Especially when I see a friend enjoying a Bon Jovi concert in Rio. What? I missed it?!

FOMO is that itchy feeling of exclusion - like the universe forgot to invite you to its latest, greatest event. It’s the fear of not being needed, not being there when it all went down. And the worst part? Social media shoves it in our faces, in high definition, with filters.

We live at the mercy of algorithms, feeding on curated glimpses of others’ so-called perfect lives. Everyone is a modern trailblazer, sprinting through life, imposing their urgency on the rest of us. But urgency for what? And more importantly, why must we always press that call-to-action button?

The cure for FOMO? Reconnect with reality.

Let’s start with small steps. Ban phones at dinner. Look at your partner, your friend, your cat - talk to them. Limit screen time. The more we scroll, the more we suffer over things that don’t even matter. Most of the time, we’re not missing anything - except our own lives while mindlessly double-tapping someone else’s.

FROM COAST TO COAST

So, FOMO, be gone! Pack your bags, exit my brain, and leave my phone. From now on, I choose joy over jealousy, presence over paranoia. And music - because that never makes me feel like I’m missing out.

Funny Guide: Overcoming FOMO for the chronically jealous

Convince yourself you never wanted to go anyway

“Oh, a luxury yacht party? Sounds awful. I’d much rather be home watching my ceiling fan spin.” Lie to yourself - confidence is key!

Post fake flexes like a pro

Missed an exclusive event? Post a random sunset pic with “What a night! No words. Just vibes.” Let them wonder. (Even if ‘what a night’ just means cereal in bed.)

Remember: Your wallet is winning

They’re sipping overpriced cocktails in Ibiza. You? You saved $1,000 and still have working liver cells. Who’s the real winner here? (Hint: It’s you, financially stable legend!)

So, wave goodbye to FOMO! I was miserable while you lasted, but now? I’m too busy enjoying life.

And before I go, here’s a reminder: “It’s okay to take a moment From an anxious, fractured mind. The world will not stop turning While you get realigned.”

- ‘The Mountain”’ by Laura Ding-Edwards

Art of chocolate

ALTHOUGH not mentioned in the same breath as Belgium, Switzerland or more recently Dubai, the Portuguese do enjoy a taste of their own local chocolate.

After a number of chocolate fairs over previous years, the National Chocolate Platform has been created in the town of Obidos.

It’s a joint operation between the local council and the Portuguese Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHRESP) which is intended to boost the business of chocolate making and promoting the local product.

Prior to the opening of the National Chocolate Platform, a signing event between the two organising parties took place and the much respected Obidos International Chocolate Festival is due to take place between March 21 to April 6 at weekends from Friday to Sunday.

According to Carlos Moura of AHRESP “The platforms aim to promote less-mediated economic activities and value professionals who, in the case of chocolate, are real artisans and a human heritage.”

There is a financial obligation to the town in the district of Leiria and Mayor Filipe Danie confirmed that setting up the Platform (the second to be registered in the country,

after the Bread Platform) would cost an estimated €50,000 in 2025, with a further investment of €25,000 the following year in order to keep it running. If Portuguese born discoverer of the ‘New World’, Christopher Columbus had realised the importance of the cocoa beans presented to him by an Indian chief, the whole history of Portugal and chocolate might have been so different.

Barcelona’s secret weapon!

FOR British visitors to Barcelona, the heart of the city beckons, especially the lively Las Ramblas. This iconic promenade, separated from the modern L’Eixample district by the grand Plaça de Catalunya, winds its way down to the port and the Portal de la Pau square. Here, you’ll find the towering Christopher Columbus Monument commemorating the explorer’s famous discovery of America.

But the best way to soak up the atmosphere is with a stroll down Las Ramblas. These wide, pedestrian walkways, lined with shady trees, are a hive of activity. Here you’ll find stalls selling everything from flowers and pets to the latest bestsellers and newspapers.

Barcelona’s skyline reflects its embrace of the contemporary. The modern buildings lining Avenida Diagonal might catch your eye, but nothing quite compares to the whimsical genius of Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan architect who left his indelible mark on the city.

His most famous creation, the Insta-friendly Sagrada Familia, the co -

lossal and intricately detailed church I’ve described here before, has become Barcelona’s undeniable symbol. In fact, Gaudí’s fingerprints are all over the city, from the whimsical apartment buildings Casa Batlló and Casa Milá (La Pedrera) to the fantastical Güell Park. Unsurprisingly, Gaudí’s visionary works were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, a testament to his enduring legacy.

Gaudí truly is Barcelona’s secret weapon - making the city a must-see destination!

Nora Johnson’s 13 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers, including the latest ‘The Girl across the Lake’ (www.nora-johnson. net), all available online at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

LUCCA MOVALDI PRESIDENT: AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL CLUB MARBELLA

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

Chocolate platform created in Obidos.

Credit: Obidos Council

SOS for Rome’s cinemas

DIRECTORS and actors in Europe and the US are campaigning to save some of Rome’s most iconic cinema buildings.

Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Jane Campion and Ken Loach are just a few of those supporting 87-year-old architect Renzo Piano who recently wrote to the La Repubblica newspaper.

“This is my heartfelt appeal to ensure that the cinemas, these precious ‘places for the people’ are preserved in the urban fabric of our cities, and in particular those of Rome,” wrote Piano, who designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris and London’s Shard.

Concern for Rome’s cinemas grew in late February when asset management companies Colliers Global Investors and Wrm Capital paid a reported €50 million for nine cinemas.

Some, like the Adriano, built as a theatre in 1898 and now a multiplex, still function although others were

closed years ago. The acquisition coincided with a proposed legislation to change the regulations which currently prevent Rome’s cinemas from being converted into anything other than cultural centres.

Instead, the new legislation would allow up to 50 of the city’s oldest but closed cinemas to become shopping centres, supermarkets or hotels.

Scorsese has written an

open letter signed by 500 of cinema’s biggest names that asks politicians including prime minister Giorgia Meloni and Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella to block the development plans.

“Such a transformation would represent an irrevocable loss, a profound sacrilege not only to the city’s rich history but also to the cultural legacy for future generations,” Scorsese wrote.

‘Bad nudist’ crackdown

ifs, no buts: beach wardens in a German sea resort, have officially been given the power to tell textiles to take a hike.

Rostock, on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast, has declared new rules demanding visitors on designated nudist sections do exactly what it says on the tin - go nude. The port city’s new regulation means anyone wearing clothes in designated naturist-only zones could face a ban.

Local authorities, who oversee 19km of pristine coastline scattered with 37 official nudist beaches, have decided enough’s enough after a flurry of complaints from both sides of the sunbathing divide. According to the new guidelines, ‘The presence on nudist beaches is reserved exclusively for people practising nudism. Clothed bathing and clothed sunbathing are not permitted.’

City patrols will politely remind any overly shy swimmers that it’s time to peel off their cossies or move along. No fines will be issued yet, but officials are determined to keep these sandy stretches in the spirit of Freikörperkultur (Free Body Culture), a long-standing German tradition that kicked off some 130 years ago. Germany, boasting more than 3,700km of coastline on both the North and Baltic Seas, has long been a nudist haven. The Freikörperkultur movement, or FKK for short, promotes a celebration of the human body and a belief in better mental and physical health through naturism. However, times are changing, with fewer younger people joining the movement. Critics also claim the crackdown might be out of date and unenforceable - but for now, it’s no clothes, no problem.

NO

ADRIANO CINEMA: Built as a theatre in 1898 and still functioning .

New rules on bad naturist etiquette in Germany means absolutely no clothes!

• News from Our Other 6 Newspapers •

Costa del Sol Sierra Nevada strike

SKI fans who had planned to spend the long weekend in Sierra Nevada were left disappointed on Saturday, March 1 when unions called workers out on strike.

Negotiations over conditions between workers of Cetursa, the company that runs the resort, and their employers broke down, leading to a walkout, with the Pradollano resort already packed with families hoping to get some ski practice in.

The slopes were completely closed, according to a statement from union officials, early Saturday, March 1, and remained closed all day and night.

According to those unions involved in calling the strike, unless demands are met, stoppages will continue Saturday, March 8, 14, 22, 29, and again the first three Saturdays of April.

Cetursa has announced it will refund anyone affected who already has bought a forfeit, and those who have bought them online will receive an automatic refund.

Axarquia Open-air libraries

THE authorities of Velez-Malaga have started to install BookCrossing points in various parks of the town. This way, some public spaces of the town will become open-air libraries, according to the town hall.

BookCrossing is a community-driven project that encourages the free exchange of books. The concept behind it is simple: readers can take any book, enjoy it, and then return it for others to read. Everyone can also contribute by leaving behind books they have finished. The project wants to promote a love for reading, knowledge-sharing, and free access to literature for all.

BookCrossing movement is not new for Velez-Malaga. The Axarquia town already has designated book exchange points along the beaches of Torre del Mar, Caleta de Velez, and Benajarafe. In fact, Torre del Mar expanded its beach library in April 2024, due to increasing demand. The facility now offers a shaded reading area, board games, a book lending and storage service.

Mallorca Promising future for Palma

THE renovation of Palma’s Paseo Marítimo is scheduled for completion by April 2025, following almost two years of extensive work. The transformation will bring significant improvements to the seafront, with wider pedestrian and cycling paths, making it more accessible for everyone. New green spaces, rest areas, and enhanced lighting will provide a more pleasant environment.

While businesses along the promenade have faced challenges during the construction period, they can look forward to increased foot traffic and tourism once the project is finished. The new layout will create an inviting space for outdoor events and cultural activities, boosting the local economy.

The overhaul also prioritises sustainability, with eco-friendly design elements and a commitment to improving the quality of life for residents. This transformation is set to position Palma as a modern Mediterranean city.

Costa Blanca South Lights, Camera, Alicante

CIUDAD DE LA LUZ Film Studios in Alicante is expecting a strong 2025 after a very successful 2024, which hosted major productions.

A top North American studio - possibly Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros, Disney, or Sony - is in talks to film a major project there, potentially booking the entire facility for the year.

SPTD, which manages the studio, is leading negotiations under strict confidentiality. If secured, this production could delay other projects, requiring careful scheduling.

In 2024, the complex hosted 14 productions, generating €60 million. Highlights included Venom 3, Bad Influence, Under Paris, and The Tigers, along with TV series like The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and The Law of the Sea.

SPTD is also improving infrastructure, including a €1.17 million solar power project to boost energy efficiency. These upgrades reinforce Ciudad de la Luz as a key player in the global film industry.

Almeria Major Almeria investment

PUBLIC buildings across Almeria Province are receiving a significant boost thanks to government investment aimed at preserving cultural heritage and improving community spaces. The initiative, which funds essential renovations, ensures that key facilities remain accessible and functional for future generations.

Among the standout projects is the rehabilitation of the Gabriel Espinar municipal library in Huercal-Overa. With a grant of €626,000, the library has undergone extensive improvements to enhance accessibility and preserve its historic character. This investment highlights the commitment to maintaining vital learning spaces and cultural hubs. Another major success story is the transformation of the Molino del Lugar in Zurgena. Once an old mill, the building has been restored and converted into an ethnographic museum, showcasing the area’s rich history. Funded with €650,000 from the PIREP programme, this development brings new opportunities for tourism and education.

Costa Calida

Corvera’s summer flights

HOLIDAYMAKERS flying to and from the Region of Murcia will still have plenty of travel options this summer as Ryanair announces its 2025 flight schedule from Corvera Airport. The airline will operate eight routes, connecting the Costa Calida to Birmingham, Bournemouth, Dublin, East Midlands, Glasgow, and London Luton and Stansted. This summer’s schedule has two fewer destinations than last year, as flights to Manchester and Marrakech have been removed. However, Ryanair has increased overall seat availability by 7 per cent, ensuring more passengers can take advantage of these routes.

The airline also highlighted its contribution to the local economy, stating that the summer schedule will help support over 450 jobs in the region.

To celebrate the launch, Ryanair is offering special fares starting at €21.99 for travel until the end of April. These discounted tickets are available to book on www.ryanair.com

Woodhenge fi nd

ARCHAEOLOGISTS in Denmark have uncovered a 4,000-year-old wooden structure in Aars, resembling Stonehenge in Britain.

Construction workers building a housing estate came across the site, revealing 45 wooden posts arranged in a 30-metre-wide ring. Researchers believe this ‘woodhenge’ could o er insights into connections between Neolithic cultures across Europe.

Initially thought to be simple post holes, the structure’s signi cance was quickly identi ed by excavation leader Andreas Bo Nielsen and Sidsel Wåhlin, curator at Vesthimmerlands Museum.

Experts estimate it dates back to 2000 BCE.

Similar wooden circles have been found in Britain, Ireland, and other parts of Europe, often associated with sun worship and agricultural ceremonies. While Stonehenge, built between

3100 BCE and 1600 BCE, features massive stone slabs, wooden versions may have served similar purposes. Wåhlin believes this nd strongly connects to British henges and researchers are investigating whether it has an inner circle, like Stonehenge.

Before this discovery, archaeologists had already found an early Bronze Age settlement (1700-1500 BCE) at the site, including a chieftain’s grave and a bronze sword, further proving the

area’s historical importance.

To learn more, experts are analysing the wood and searching for ritual deposits such as int arrowheads and daggers. These nds could provide clues about the beliefs and customs of the people who built the structure.

While smaller wooden circles have been found on Denmark’s Bornholm island, Wåhlin notes that this is the rst large-scale structure of its kind available for study.

Hollywood to Hydra

DESPINA MOIROU, Greek actor, stand-up comedian, singer and astronomer is back in front of the cameraand this time, after working on Johnny Depp’s Modigliani biopic ‘Modi’ she traded artistic madness for ma a mayhem, lming in the heart of Brooklyn. Moirou joined forces with Mickey Rourke in Avé U, an action ick about a crime family’s power struggle.

The whirlwind Hollywood success of the multifaceted Greek actress is just one of the reasons why she is a burgeoning world star to watch who even has a cosmic connection with Elon Musk.

Moirou is also celebrating the recent acquisition of her lm So Long Marianne by Apple TV, where she embodies Sophia Loren. The project, showcases the stunning Greek island of Hydra, once home to singer / songwriter of the 60s classic ‘So Long Marianne’. The lm’s pickup by Apple TV signals a key moment for Moirou.

As well, Despina Moirou has been moonlighting at New York’s Comedy Store, and has enjoyed numerous encounters with legends. One of her most quoted favourites being the late Quincy Jones as a standout. Then Elon

Musk, a connection through their shared passion for astronomy, met at a party discussing SpaceX and NASA’s Artemis programme.

From Brooklyn’s underworld to Hydra’s sunlit shores, and even the red plains of Mars, Despina Moirou’s career de es boundaries. With Avé U in production and So Long Marianne charming Apple TV viewers, whether behind the scenes or centre stage, her star keeps rising.

Construction workers found the site.

Moirou - a rising star.

Image: Vesthimmerlands Museum / Facebook

PETS

Ewa’s pet-sitter house-sits across Europe

TERESA, Ewa’s owner, travels between a number of countries in Europe. It’s not always possible to take Ewa with her so Teresa finds housesitters through HouseSitMatch. The pet-sitters stay with Ewa and care for her when Teresa and her husband are away. The service means that Ewa gets to stay in her own home where she is safe and comfortable, without too much disruption. And it saves Teresa money too!

HouseSitMatch saves you money

We promote collaborative exchange through our managed online system - free accommodation for free pet care! It’s a real win win!

HouseSitMatch is safe - all members are checked

All members are checked for safety, and you choose which housesitters 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.

If you’re planning travel this year, join now. Get organised today:

1. Register as a house-sitter or a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

2. Join for as little as £89 / €99 per year

3. Create a profile with photos

4. Sitters apply for the available house-sits, you hold a video inter-

view via the site and match! How does it work?

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

Trustpilot Testimonials - 4.8 / 5 Excellent

Unbelievably good service! HouseSitMatch take the worry away from leaving your dog. Lamia and her team helped me through the whole process of finding the right sitter for my slightly nervous dog.

HouseSitMatch’s professional approach and secure platform allowed me to have confidence in the people who applied to look after my dog.

All sitters are checked and referenced before they can approach available ‘sits’, so I found it easy to select the person based on their likelihood of getting on with my pet and our home location.

Teresa, dog owner

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!

Claws for celebration!

CUTTING your pet’s nails can be a simple task if done correctly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you keep your pet’s nails trimmed and healthy.

1. Gather the right tools

Before you start, ensure you have a pair of pet nail clippers and some styptic powder in case you accidentally cut too close to the quick.

and relaxed. You may want to do this after a play session or cuddle time. Gently handle their paws and get them used to having their nails

touched for a few days before trimming.

3. Inspect the nails

Look for the clear or slightly pinkish ‘quick’, which contains blood vessels. Avoid cutting this part, as it can cause bleeding. angle, following the natural curve of the nail. For cats, trim only the sharp tip to avoid discomfort.

5. Reward your pet

After each session, reward your pet with praise or a treat to reinforce positive behaviour.

If you’re unsure about trimming your pet’s nails or if your pet is particularly nervous, consider seeking help from a professional groomer or vet. They can guide you through the process or perform the task for you, ensuring your pet stays safe and comfortable.

EACH breed of cat and dog has its own set of needs for how often they need to be groomed, pets with longer fur need to be groomed more regularly than shorterhaired breeds.

This is Ewa, and like her owners she lives between two homes.

TV & SATELLITE

Love Bugs parade

IN 1938, the Volkswagen company came up with the idea of producing an affordable ‘people’s’ car which became known as the Beetle.

Since that time, it became a favourite around the world and was produced in huge numbers and different styles from then (with a move to military vehicles during the Second World War) until the last traditional Beetle was made in 1997.

Anxious to take advantage of the popularity of the Beetle, Volkswagen designed and produced an updated version known as the ‘New Beetle’ which was roomier and slightly sportier but it didn’t find favour with the new generation of drivers and was taken out of production in 2003.

Part of its popularity was rekindled by a series of Disney films with the original Herbie – The Love Bug (a sentient Beetle) being one of the highest grossing movies of 1969 which was soon followed by a further four films all of which continued to promote Herbie

IT’S been nearly a decade since Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), introduced its now-infamous environmental stickers, categorising vehicles based on their emissions - or rather, their registration date. And that’s where

Fast forward to today, and these stickers have become essential for driving in cities with Low Emission Zones (ZBE). In places like Madrid, failing to display the right sticker can mean a €200 fine - unless, of course, you’re driving a historic car, which gets a free pass.

to ardent film goers.

In 1965, the Belgian VW Club was created and now in its 60th year it has run its 16th Love Bugs Parade in the Jubel Park in Brussels where some 300 Beetles were attracted from across Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Luxem -

bourg.

The event was a huge success with many visitors enjoying and discovering the wide range of different versions of the Beetle from the traditional version, the Surf Van, split window versions and different types of military versions.

DGT sticker not

‘technically’

Despite the chaos, the DGT has never made the sticker officially mandatory nationwide. Instead, it passed the buck to local councils, leaving them to decide whether to enforce it.

And in cities like Madrid, they absolutely have.

So, is it really compulsory? Technically, no - but in practice, it might as well be. If you’re planning to drive in any

required

major Spanish city, having the right DGT sticker is the safest bet.

The good news? You can grab one for just €5 at tobacconists, post offices, or online. It’s a small price to pay to avoid a costly fine and a run-in with Spain’s ever-confusing traffic laws.

So, stick it or risk itthe choice is yours!

Love Bugs parade in Brussels.

Credit: Autoworld Facebook

New generation Subaru Forester retains its go-anywhere ability

By Mark Slack ROAD

TEST

SUBARU has revealed prices and specifications for its all-new Forester e-BOXER, marking the official UK launch of the latest generation of Forester. Back in 1997 the first-generation Subaru Forester was launched, arguably making it one of the first ‘crossover’ SUVs. Its rather subtle styling, compared to most large SUVs, won it many fans and it was, and remains, surprisingly capable off-road. It’s not merely a rutted track or field only vehicle.

The new and latest generation All-Wheel Drive Forester retains the Subaru’s renowned all-weather, go-anywhere ability with prices starting from €47,233/£38,995 for the Limited model, rising to €52,072/£42,995 for the range-topping Touring variant.

Subaru’s signature combination of Permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and e-BOXER hybrid powertrain has been retained and Subaru say the famed 2.0-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine features 24 technical improvements.

With 220mm of ground clearance and good approach and departure angles and a 1,870kg towing capacity it’s one of the most durable and practical estates. Despite its ride height the Forester

looks less SUV and more estate which will appeal to those who eschew the current trend for everything SUV.

Inside the Forester there is a new 11.6-inch full HD infotainment system that very sensibly retains physical buttons and switches for climate control and other key functions. The updated infotainment suite includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, as well as enhanced navigation supporting both Apple Maps and what3words - ideal for tracking down remote locations. The interior is also equipped with both Type-C and Type-A charging ports, so electronics can be

easily topped up, even when in the wilderness.

Other practical touches include a generous boot capacity and an optional hands-free power tailgate. All-round direct vision has been optimised through carefully designed pillars and an extensive glass area, something on which the Forester was always ahead over more visionary claustrophobic rivals.

This is complemented by the new 360° Multi-View Monitor system, aspherical door mirrors, and LED cornering lamps.

The Limited trim model starts the and includes 18” Alloy Wheels, Illumina-

ted Ports & Wireless Charger, Memory Driver Seats, Electronically Adjustable & Heated Front Seats, Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror, Wireless Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™, 360 Degree Surround View Camera.

Moving on to the mid-range Field version from €48,977/£40,440 additional features over LIMITED trim include Privacy Glass, Heated Steering Wheel, Powered Gesture Tailgate and In-built Satellite Navigation. Heading the line-up is the Touring model that features larger alloy wheels, Heated Rear Seats, Power Sliding UV Glass Sunroof, Black Leather Interior Trim.

Credit: Shutterstock, Krzysztof Dzidek

Formula 1 and LEGO

FORMULA ONE and the LEGO Group are set to enhance the fan experience this year with new interactive activities and a fresh range of LEGO F1 products.

Following a successful launch last year, the partnership will now bring immersive at-race experiences and exclusive merchandise to select Grand Prix events worldwide.

Starting March 1, LEGO Speed Champions sets allow fans to recreate F1 moments in brick form. This will be followed by the launch of LEGO F1 Collectibles on May

1. These join the existing LEGO DUPLO and LEGO City collections, offering something for fans of all ages.

Beyond the products, LEGO will introduce dedicated LEGO Fan Zone Activations at select F1 races, giving attendees the chance to participate in exclusive build challenges, photo opportunities, and hands-on experiences celebrating F1’s engineering excellence.

Fans attending races will have access to the LEGO Pit Shop, popup stores featuring the full F1 product range, including sets repre-

senting all 10 Formula 1 teams. Additionally, LEGO stores in Europe, the US, Canada, the Middle East, Africa, and China will host racing-themed activities and play experiences.

For those unable to attend races, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres and LEGO Discovery Centres worldwide will introduce build challenges designed to educate children about F1’s technical aspects. Meanwhile, a new LEGO F1 game will launch on the LEGO website and LEGO Play App, allowing fans to engage with the sport digitally.

Real Madrid leads Europe in wages

REAL MADRID is the club with the highest wage bill in European football, spending €272 million per year, according to industry estimates.

At the top of their payroll is Kylian Mbappé, signed on free in the summer of 2024 from PSG. The French star’s annual salary reaches €31.25 million, excluding bonuses. Other important earners from the Real Madrid squad include David Alaba (€22.5 million) and Vinícius Júnior (€20.83 million).

Just behind Madrid is Bayern Munich, with a total wage budget of €264 million. The Bundesliga giants invest a big part of this sum in top players like the Englishman Harry Kane, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, and midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who lead their squad in salaries.

Despite an underwhelming season by Pep Guardiola’s team, Manchester City completes the podium with a €242 million salary outlay. Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Jack Grealish are the top

earners at Etihad, according to Capology’s experts.

The next clubs on the list are Manchester United, Arsenal, PSG, and Chelsea, all exceeding €200 million in annual salaries. Barcelona, known for their financial difficulties in recent years, follows in eighth place (€192 million), while Liverpool and Inter Milan round out the top 10.

Bayer Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions, ranks only 26th in wage spending. Despite operating on a €78 million salary budget, just over double Mbappé’s wages alone, the team coached by Xabi Alonso continues to perform excellently on the pitch.

Kylian Mbappé comes out tops.